A u g u s t 1 8 , 2 0 1 6 | 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 1 , N o . 3 3
Fall Sports Preview Sponsored section ►►page 15 - 26
Councilman pens second book
Kunz writes about leadership ►►page 6
3 suspected in car break-ins
Part of ring that’s now broken up ►►page 9
News from the trail Appen Publisher hiking Appalachian Trail ►►page 8
Cambridge vs Creekside in the 7:30 p.m. game.
Isakson talks campaign
MILES GARRETT/HERALD
Seeks third term ►►page 12
Cambridge hosts preseason scrimmages North Fulton vs. South Fulton teams square off to open season. Read more on page 34.
RHS mourns Natalie Henderson MILES GARRETT/HERALD
Milton vs Westlake in the 5:00 p.m. game.
Large crowd gathers in Roswell Square ►►page 32
2 | August 18, 2016 | Milton Herald | NorthFulton.com
Public Safety
Pedestrian struck by car dies Was stabbed prior to collision By JULIA GROCHOWSKI julia@northfulton.com ROSWELL, Ga. — Lawrence Cornelius Range, 35, of Marietta died July 29, two days after being stabbed and then hit by a car on Ga. 20 in Roswell. Roswell police are still looking for information about Range’s injuries and whereabouts before the collision. At 4:52 a.m., July 27, Range was
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 ►► John C. Mott Jr., 81, of Singletree
Trace, Alpharetta, was arrested Aug. 3 on Crabapple Road in Alpharetta for DUI and failure to yield vehicle while turning left. ►► Phillip Ryan Cook, 27, of Settingdown Road, Cumming, was arrested Aug. 3 on Ga. 400 in Alpharetta for DUI, failure to maintain lane and following too close. ►► Jenna Elizabeth Wallin, 28, of Ankonian Drive, Alpharetta, was arrested Aug. 2 on Old Milton Parkway in Alpharetta for DUI and driver to use due care. ►► Linda Diane Brabson, 61, of Brown Thrasher Trace, Cumming, was arrested Aug. 4 on Windward Parkway in Alpharetta for DUI and failure to maintain lane. ►► Loucas Owen Kobold, 35, of Cypress Court, Alpharetta, was arrested Aug. 7 on North Point Circle in Alpharetta for DUI. ►► Thomas Carl Cowden, 26, of Roswell Road, Atlanta, was arrested Aug. 7 on
struck by a black Acura traveling eastbound on Ga. 120. According to Roswell’s Public Information Officer Lisa Holland, Range was in the roadway and not the crosswalk when the incident occurred. Range was transported to North Fulton Hospital with life-threatening injuries, Holland said. He died just two days later. Doctors evaluating Range discovered that he was stabbed “several times prior to the accident.” Police are not releasing what hap-
pened to Range before he was hit as the investigation is still ongoing. The female driver “was very cooperative” with the Roswell police officers and stayed on scene while the man was sent to a local hospital, said Holland. No charges against the driver have been filed. One witness saw an old, tan sedan flee form the accident scene. People who have any information about that vehicle or the victim prior to the accident are urged to contact Detective P. Reid at 770-640-4522.
Ga. 400 in Alpharetta for DUI, failure to maintain lane and speeding in a construction zone. ►► Sri Hari Annoji, 42, of Averly Glen Drive, Alpharetta, was arrested Aug. 7 on Webb Road in Milton for DUI, failure to maintain lane and expired registration. ►► Justen Kyle Gentry, 26, of Harbors Landing, Norcross, was arrested Aug. 7 on Mayfield Road in Milton for DUI, failure to maintain lane and wanted person. ►► Joshua Neal Starkey, 22, of Bucksport Court, Roswell, was arrested July 21 on King Road in Roswell for DUI. ►► Robert J. Lynn, 29, of Deerchase Drive, Woodstock, was arrested July 20 on Hardscrabble Road in Roswell for DUI and following too close. ►► David Earl Dority, 34, of Saratoga Drive, Alpharetta, was arrested July 16 on Holcomb Bridge Road in Roswell for DUI. ►► Elizabeth Ann Harris, 25, of Pecan Lane, Buford, was arrested July 16 on Holcomb Bridge Road in Roswell for DUI, obstruction of an officer, suspended license and possession of a schedule III/IV/V controlled substance. ►► Felicia Amber Francois, 29, of Belmont Drive, Alpharetta, was arrested July 22 on Champions Green Parkway in Roswell for possession of
marijuana and failure to maintain lane.
DRUG arrests ►► Eric Samuel Sapoznik, 30, of Forest
Pond Lane, Roswell, was arrested July 22 on Mansell Road in Alpharetta for possession of marijuana. ►► Miles Brandon Hicks, 28, of Bourbon Drive, Gainesville, was arrested July 27 on Old Milton Parkway in Alpharetta for possession of methamphetamines, wanted person and suspended license. ►► Tavis Terrell Lewis, 24, of Glenwood Avenue, Atlanta, was arrested July 17 on Crabapple Road in Roswell for possession of marijuana and speeding. ►► Timothy Michael Vandyke, 26, of Shawn Lane, Chatsworth, was arrested July 16 on Holcomb Bridge Road in Roswell for possession of marijuana and headlight violation. ►► Penny Diane Brannon, 46, of Hugh Stowers Road, Dawsonville, was arrested July 30 on Roanoke Road in Cumming for possession of methamphetamines and possession of drug related items.
NorthFulton.com | Milton Herald | August 18, 2016 | 3
NEWS
4 | August 18, 2016 | Milton Herald | NorthFulton.com
Milton approves emergency moratorium Bars acceptance of applications of conceptual plats on Ga. 9 By KATHLEEN STURGEON kathleen@appenmediagroup.com MILTON, Ga. – The Milton City Council approved a 30-day emergency moratorium Aug. 15 that bars acceptance of applications of conceptual plats for subdivisions located along Ga. 9. The ban extends from the Forsyth County line south to the Alpharetta city limits. City Attorney Ken Jarrard said the point of the moratorium is to stop activity and maintain status quo while local governments change city codes. Jarrard said he and his staff will be working on making regulatory changes to the city’s code after he was notified of a possible loophole in the process. Councilmember Rick Mohrig told the group while he was in a meeting this topic was brought forward. Milton currently has a Ga. 9 overlay that covers the city’s largest commercial corridor which was being used for commercial development. “When we changed to form based code, it allowed for residential properties to actually front along (Ga.) 9, not an entrance to a back end,” Mohrig said. Community Development Director Kathleen Field said within the form there are certain uses allowed, including office, commercial and residential.
Also at the meeting, the City Council: • Approved a resolution to transmit the draft Milton Comprehensive Plan Update 2016 to the Atlanta Regional Commission and Georgia Department of Community Affairs • Approved a resolution transmitting a draft Capital Improvements Element 2016 Annual Update relating to the city’s impact fee program to the Atlanta Regional Commission for regional and state review • Approved a resolution regarding criteria for a park and green space bond • Approved a resolution adopting the Milton Parks and Recreation Department revised facility and fields use policy
When we changed to form based code, it allowed for residential properties to actually front along (Ga.) 9, not an entrance to a back end.” Rick Mohrig Councilmember “The market being as it is, the easiest type of development to build these days is residential,” Field said. “But the code doesn’t distinguish between uses. It just mandates form. So the form says ‘the building shall be fronting the street.’ So the different uses allow residential. That’s the issue.” Mohrig said people started developing the parcels as high density town homes, with two developments already approved, he said.
“Is that what we think is going to be a consistent use of (Ga.) 9 for commercial corridors?” Mohrig said. “Do we want high density housing facing what’s going to be a four lane highway?” Councilmember Karen Thurman said originally that space was intended to be a commercial corridor. “I think we need to do whatever we can to protect our corridors,” Thurman said.
GARAGE SALES See more garage sales in the classifieds
JOHNS CREEK: 7795 Cavendish Place. Friday 81/9 and Saturday 8/20, 8am-3pm. Moving sale. Sports equipment, tools and household goods JOHNS CREEK/DULUTH, entire Sugar Mill Subdivision! Abbotts Bridge/120, just East of 141. Friday, Saturday, 8/19, 8/20, 9am-2pm. JOHNS CREEK-30005: Ashland multi-family. Ashvale Overlook. Friday 8/19, Saturday 8/20, 9am-1pm. Household; baby/womens’/mens’ clothes; jewelry; cookbooks; crystal ALPHARETTA: Hanover Place Subdivision off Union Hill Road., 1825 Lynwood Place 30004. Saturday, 8/20, 8am12pm. Furniture, appliances, home decor, clothing, kitchen items, patio furniture and more! MILTON: Multi family yard sale, Waterside Subdivision, 505 Waterhaven Lane. Friday 8/19, Saturday 8/20, 8am-1pm. JOHNS CREEK: Silver Ridge Subdivision, 4695 Agate Drive. Friday 8/19 and Saturday 8/20, 8am-1pm. Moving sale. Furniture, antiques, tools and MUCH MORE! ROSWELL, Devereux Downs/ State Street Subdivisions. Multi-family yard sale. Woodstock Road at Devereux Chase 30075. Saturday 8/20, 8am-2pm. Rain/shine!
DEADLINE
To place garage sale ads: Noon Friday prior week • Call 770-442-3278 or email classifieds@appenmediagroup.com
NorthFulton.com | Milton Herald | August 18, 2016 | 5
6 | August 18, 2016 | Milton Herald | NorthFulton.com
“To God and My Country”
COMMUNITY
Milton Councilman’s book a treatise on leadership Scout experiences served as life lessons By HATCHER HURD hatcher@appenmediagroup.com MILTON, Ga. – Matt Kunz is a businessman, family man and civic leader which includes serving on the Milton City Council. But he has also found time to be an author, and his latest effort details how leadership is a skillset – a skillset he learned in his journey to become an Eagle Scout. The book is called “To God and My Country” with the title taken from the Scout’s Oath. Scouting is a rite of passage for many young boys who start in Cub Scouts and go on to Scouting’s Tenderfoot, Second Class, First Class – and on up the ladder to the rarified air of Eagle Scout. Many begin the Scouting journey, but few make it to the Eagle’s aerie as Kunz did. Fewer still have gone back to study the values and lessons that are built into that journey that can shape one’s character and hone the skills of leadership. In “To God and My Country,” Kunz recounts his experiences growing up in Scouting as a paradigm for learning leadership. From his role as assistant patrol leader of his patrol to that of senior patrol leader of the entire troop, Kunz discovered he had learned many valuable lessons about leadership and taking responsibility that Scouting inculcated into boys who accepted the challenges leadership offers.
“Leadership is a quality many people talk about, but most personally avoid. It is my opinion that our world is starving for leadership,” he wrote. “Leaders are often chosen by default because no one else is willing to stand up.” Leadership is not just a willingness to stand up, but a skill that has to be learned. Scouting’s chief byproduct is to inculcate leadership qualities into the Scouts as they grow in the program. “To God and My Country” is This is what Kunz Matt Kunz’s second book. does, using examples This one covers his experifrom his experiences in ences as a youth learning Scouting to show how the skills of leadership as a leadership is nourished Boy Scout. by his Scout leaders. And Kunz proved to be an apt pupil. He said he might never have run for City Council if he had not run for senior patrol leader all those years ago.
Author Matt Kunz Kunz’s anecdotes in Scouting run from the banal to the hair-raising, but as a youth living through them, they were all the same size. Summoning the
See KUNZ, Page 37
NorthFulton.com | Milton Herald | August 18, 2016 | 7
8 | August 18, 2016 | Milton Herald | NorthFulton.com
OPINION
Goodbye, summer internship; hello world When Fulton and Forsyth grade schools return for the fall, I begin packing for my return to college. This year is different, however: my senior year at Ole Miss, a scary subKYLIE McFADDEN ject that has been Appen Intern floating in the back of my mind for years. The insecurity of not knowing where I would go or what I would do after college has always nagged me. I began my internship with Appen Media Group in June, and in the 10 weeks since I started, I have felt my stress about graduation slowly ease. I came into this internship with a lot of preconceptions about how the newsroom would function and how I would function in it. Between my classes and working at my school’s student newspaper, I felt like I was already prepared. Experiencing it firsthand proved I still had a lot to learn. When I started, I was not expecting my role would be as hands-on as it was. My assignments were small at first, but the amount of responsibility I was given after my first few weeks allowed me to push myself and constantly build on what I had learned the week before. I felt like a reporter, not just an intern. Going into college, I was not sure how I would use my planned marketing communications degree. This summer has shown me what my future might look like if I decide to pursue reporting full-time. After 10 weeks writing almost every kind of newspaper story for every Appen newspaper, I have a much clearer sense of what I want to do in the future. To the newsroom staff that supported my work and growth, I can’t say “thank you” enough. You all were so patient and treated me with such
Making the final push Appen Media Group publisher Ray Appen is still hiking the Appalachian Trail and making a final push to the end. Ray is focusing all of his efforts on reaching the end in Maine and will not respect from day one. You pushed me to do my best, answered my hundreds of questions and constantly helped me improve, and I know I’m a better writer and journalist because of your help and support. To the high school and college students who are on the fence about whether to work an internship or not, go for it. Whether you end up loving it or deciding it’s not for you, your internship will set you on the right path to find your passion, even if you still have a few years until you graduate college. To my family who encouraged me as I applied for internship after internship, thank you for keeping my spirits up constantly. To those of you who have read my stories this summer, I hope you enjoyed reading them. I know I enjoyed writing each one. I will miss not only the people I had the pleasure of working with every day, but the people I got to meet in interviews and the things I have learned just by interacting with so many people. It’s been a great summer. The future doesn’t seem so scary anymore.
My assignments were small at first, but the amount of responsibility I was given after my first few weeks allowed me to push myself and constantly build on what I had learned the week before. I felt like a reporter, not just an intern.
have a column this week. Below is a map with Ray’s previous checkpoints. Read about his journey online at northfulton.com/ray-appen.
August 15
Where’s ray? August 1
July 19
June 27
June 5 May 17 April 27
Start date: March 6
NEWS
3 suspects arrested for car break-ins Police believe ring broken up By Julia Grochowski julia@northfulton.com ALPHARETTA, Ga. — Three alert Alpharetta police detectives turned their lunch hour into a Crimestoppers episode Aug. 9 when they netted three alleged thieves who were breaking into cars. Two men and one woman were arrested on multiple charges after three Alpharetta detectives who were leaving a local restaurant spotted them acting suspiciously. When the officers saw that the suspects had seen them as well, the alleged thieves tried to get away. But all were caught in possession of stolen items taken from cars in the area. The detectives had gone out to lunch and were returning to their vehicles around noon when they noticed three people who appeared to be breaking into a parked car. “One of the men was getting into a [black SUV] when the officer saw him. He looked at the officer, hopped out of that car and got into a different car,” said Alpharetta Public Information Officer George Gordon. “With a crew like this, one is usually a lookout, while the other breaks into the vehicle. They quickly grab anything of value and then they get back in their vehicle and leave.” As the detectives approached the trio, the woman, who had been sitting nearby in an idling car, took off. She was later identified as 33-year-old Kimberly D. Cole of Cartersville. One of the detectives followed Cole in an unmarked car, while the remaining two started talking to the two men identified as 35-year-old Anthony Raynard Malone of Smyrna and 42-yearold Sunrah Sergio Nunley of Lithonia. The officers took several drivers’ licenses, credit cards, checkbooks and cellphones from the suspects. All turned out to be previously stolen. Police also found wigs and a large bolt cutter in their possession. Nunley and Malone had been sorting through the stolen items when the detectives saw
SEND US YOUR NEWS
Email your news News@appenmediagroup.com
them. According to the detectives, it appeared that the trio had been preparing to commit some sort of fraud at the bank across the street using stolen IDs and credit cards. The detective purCOLE suing Cole coordinated with nearby patrol officers to pull Cole over. They discovered she was using a stolen license plate. When Cole got out of the car, she continued to attempt to run away on foot, but was caught by two pursuing officers. nunley All three suspects were arrested for theft by receiving along with loitering and prowling. Cole was additionally charged with five traffic violations, fleeing an officer and possession of tools to commit a crime. Nunley was also malone charged with possession of tools to commit a crime as well as giving a false name, fraud and forgery in the fourth degree. He has an extensive history with narcotics and had multiple warrants out for his arrest. “The three have been working together to commit crimes for quite some time,” said Gordon. Alpharetta Public Safety Director Gary George said he was pleased with the police work of his officers. “Clearly the recovery of wigs and a large bolt cutter was indicative of the fact this crew intended to commit other crimes in our area,” said George. “Because of the good work done by our detectives, their crime spree has come to an abrupt end in a jail cell.”
NorthFulton.com | Milton Herald | August 18, 2016 | 9
10 | August 18, 2016 | Milton Herald | NorthFulton.com
COMMUNITY
Carl Lewis eloquent on excellence 10-time Olympic medalist took no shortcuts to victory By HATCHER HURD hatcher@appenemdiagroup.com ALPHARETTA, Ga. – What better athlete for Comcast to bring out to introduce the media giant’s all-out effort to bring the Rio de Janeiro Olympic Games than sprinter-long jumper Carl Lewis? Lewis won 10 Olympic medals, nine gold and one silver, and made every American Olympic team from 1980 (the games President Jimmy Carter made us
sit out) to the Atlanta Games of ’96. He was such a dominant force in track and field from the time he was a high school sprinter in 1979 until he retired in 1996, that he won many accolades including “World Athlete of the Century,” by the International Association of Athletics Associations, “Sportsman of the Century” by the International Olympics Committee and “Olympian of the Century” by Sports Illustrated. Lewis always performed best on that world stage that the Olympics provided. His feats were enormous and one wonders how much more glory he would have amassed had the American team gone to the then Soviet Union. We’ll never know, but what is well
See LEWIS, Page 36
Comcast, Olympian Carl Lewis roll out Rio coverage Olympic champion did it right way, Comcast in Rio goes for gold too By HATCHER HURD hatcher@appenmediagroup.com ALPHARETTA, Ga. – It was Comcast’s chance to roll out its expanded coverage of the Rio de Janeiro Olympic Games, but five-time Olympic athlete Carl Lewis stole the show. Lewis was at the Greater North Fulton Chamber of Commerce breakfast July 29 with Comcast as host to reveal its expanded coverage bringing 6,000 hours of live, on-demand and online streaming content. The crowd at the chamber was excited to see and hear Lewis, but Comcast was there to show why it claims to have the best Olympics coverage ever. Comcast Vice President of External Affairs Andy Macke said the Olympics are a special time to be proud of American athletes and Comcast is going all-out with a feature called X1 to make the most interactive Olympics ever. “Comcast viewers will be able to personalize their Olympic coverage like never before,” Macke said. “With Comcast technology every
event will be live-streamed. People will have all the content they want. It’s the Front Row to Rio and we’re launching a lot of new technology so that you can personalize your experience and browse by sport, athlete or nation.” Comcast promises Front Row to Rio will be “seamless, intuitive and easy to navigate.” But perhaps the most intriguing aspect is its voice search. The X1 voice remote lets the user navigate the entire Olympic experience by voice. Whatever the channel streaming Olympic coverage – NBC, NBC Sports, Telemundo or USA Network – it will guide viewers to the right place. The livestreaming coverage allows viewers to hop to various competitions. If you like one and want to see what you missed, just ask X1 to start from the beginning. There is also the “Gold Zone” where Comcast will take viewers from one medal event to the next. The X1 service integrates traditional TV coverage, on-demand viewing and live streaming.
NorthFulton.com | Milton Herald | August 18, 2016 | 11
NEWS
12 | August 18, 2016 | Milton Herald | NorthFulton.com
Isakson running at arm’s length from Trump Senator says November focus will be on own campaign By HATCHER HURD hatcher@appenmediagroup.com ROSWELL, Ga. – It was like homecoming when Sen. Johnny Isakson came to speak Aug. 11 to the Rotary Club of Roswell. And while he is seeking a third term in the Senate, he made it clear without mentioning Donald Trump’s name that he is only campaigning for himself. When asked about supporting Trump’s presidential campaign, Isakson replied without mentioning the GOP presidential candidate’s name. “There are many important races for the Republican Party that are of interest and importance in November. But the person I am most interested in getting re-elected is me,” Isakson said. “I have two opponents, one is a Libertarian. So I have to get 50 percent of the vote plus 1.” Isakson said after he gets re-elected he will turn his full attention to the Republican Party. “I do think it is important for the party to be united. If it remains fractured after the election, that won’t be good.” Isakson said coming back to the Roswell Rotary was like coming home again. He recalled how his father, Ed Isakson, founder of Northside Realty, was a longtime member of the Roswell chapter. “Dad would tell me the most important hour of the week was that hour spent at Roswell United Methodist Church to listen to one of [the Rev.] Malone Dodson’s sermons. But I know the most fun hour of the
HATCHER HURD/Herald
U.S. Sen. Johnny Isakson addresses the Rotary Club of Roswell and report on the latest events in Washington.
week was when he came to eat fried chicken at Roswell Rotary,” he said. It was at that point the Rotarians put down their chicken and began eating out of the senator’s hand. But Isakson came to talk serious issues. He is the only Republican senator who chairs two committees – the Senate Ethics Committee and the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee. He also sits on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee among others. He spoke of the war on terror and
See ISAKSON, Page 13
Isakson: Continued from Page 12 on Isil. He said there is no retreating with an enemy such as Isil. “You cannot contain them. You have to go in and get them. Radical Islam is the enemy of all religions,” he said. He rolled of a litany of heinous crimes perpetrated by Isil, including the beheading and burning alive of prisoners, indiscriminant terror killings of innocent civilians in the Middle East, Europe and America. He noted most of the atrocities are performed on other Muslims. “There is no treaty you can make with them. You have to just take them out,” he said. He criticized President Barak Obama’s leadership in the war on terror and called for America to take a larger role in the Middle East. He doesn’t favor large numbers of troops there, but we could send cadres of U.S. Special Forces personnel to train and lead elements fighting Isil. “I have had leaders telling me they are waiting for America to lead and they will follow,” Isakson said. He called Obama Care a failure, but vowed to keep Social Security and Medicare “inviable.” But it must be put on an actuarial basis. America must take
NEWS note that people are living longer. “To keep benefits at the same level, we have to recognize our children will live to be 90. So benefits will have to kick in at a later age. It’s 66 now, but we have to look at looking further out if we are to keep Social Security solvent,” he said. “The system has to reflect longevity and lifestyle. We have to do something before the hill gets too steep. We have to plan for 2037 now. That means we have to recalibrate the formula.” As chairman of the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee, Isakson said he would see to it that long waits in lines would disappear and to end G.I. suicides over lack of care. “It will take time. I have confidence in Robert McDonald as secretary of Veterans Affairs. He is the former CEO of Procter and Gamble and led a corporation with 110,000 employees. “As secretary of the VA, he oversees 350,000 employees. The only organization bigger than that is the U.S. military. It is going to take time.” Those changes include allowing veterans to get treatment at facilities near them instead of a few centrally located VA facilities. “The VA is including private providers so that veterans can get to care more easily. It will take a couple of years to get that in place, but we’re working on that now,” Isakson said.
NorthFulton.com | Milton Herald | August 18, 2016 | 13
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.
Instagram scam costs victim $400 MILTON, Ga. — A woman reported a theft Aug. 6 after realizing she had run into a scam over Instagram that bilked her of $400 cash. The woman had met with an old acquaintance from high school who told her about how she had made extra money through an investor. The acquaintance gave the victim an Instagram account belonging to “Robbie” to contact. Robbie’s account listed him as an entrepreneur working in penny stocks, and he told the victim to put $400 cash in a local mailbox so he could start her first investment. After she dropped the money off, Robbie told her the money was missing. The victim said that at that point, she realized she had been scammed and told Robbie she was reporting him. He immediately blocked her and
deleted their messages, but the victim managed to screenshot a few of their exchanges.
Computer towers missing from storage JOHNS CREEK, Ga. — Police responded Aug. 6 to a report of multiple storage unit burglaries on Abbots Bridge Road. A rental tenant of two locked units reported that the units had been burglarized while he was out of town. The tenant told police that the only missing items were two computer towers, valued at $200 each.
14 | August 18, 2016 | Milton Herald | NorthFulton.com
From rags to riches:
COMMUNITY
Founder of Automated System Designs set to retire Left job at General Motors to pursue entrepreneurship By KATHLEEN STURGEON kathleen@appenmediagroup.com ALPHARETTA, Ga. — Growing up, Bob Eskew didn’t know his family was “poor.” After the Atlanta native’s dad died, he grew up with a single mother. His mom, who didn’t have a driver’s license at the time, got a job working in the school lunchroom. “We were poor, but we didn’t know we were poor,” Eskew said. “Everything was clean. My mom used to say we had ‘rules and regulations.’ I always grew up with a big dream that one day I’d be successful but I didn’t know how that would happen.” His premonition would turn out to be correct when he later founded the Alpharetta-based Automated Systems Design, a four-time Inc. 5000 company that provides design, engineering and project management services, including
creating construction documents for include access control and surveillance, audio/ visual systems, structured cabling systems, surveillance systems, sound and paging and mass notification. And now after 29 Eskew years, he is retiring from the business he created. Before he started his own company, Eskew worked for General Motors building cars at the Lakewood Assembly plant. “I thought I was set for the rest of my life,” Eskew said. “I was going to move up in the ranks of General Motors and I was going to retire there.” However in 1986, he was approached by a friend who asked if he was interested in building a computer cable. Eskew thought if he could build a car then he could build a computer cable, even though he didn’t know what a computer cable was. The friend gave Eskew the specifications and parts needed, then sold the product once it was complete. A
few months later the same friend asked whether Eskew wanted to install the cables, so he did. Eskew eventually came up with a price per foot for installation and continued his side job. Six months in, he had $150,000 from this business, all while still working at GM. “I had to make a career decision at that point,” he said. “Do I stay in the comforts of General Motors, or do I leave and go into the unknown and unsecured world of entrepreneurship?” He chose the latter, and on April 15, 1987, he started full time as the owner of ASD. “I didn’t have any business experience, college degree or role models,” he said. “I only had the dream of being successful. I was in the right place at the right time.” The business grew quickly and was named one of the fastest growing companies in America at one time. ASD not only made that list three times, but the Inc. 5000/500 lists five times. One reason for his success could be his business philosophy. He once heard someone say “If you help others get what they want, you will get what you want.” Eskew decided to
live by that saying. “I decided ASD will be my vehicle to help other people succeed,” Eskew said. “I had a great company, but I totally changed how I looked at the business and how it rewarded other people.” With his new mindset, Eskew said he’s created a couple of millionaires, helped families buy houses and put kids through school. And when the time came to sell the business, he wanted to be sure the deal wasn’t only benefitting him, but his employees. He recently sold the company to Kevin Kiziah, president and CEO of ASD. “Kevin has been my right-hand man at ASD for many years and has 21 years of dedicated service to ASD,” Eskew said. “Kevin and his team of highly skilled managers are leading ASD well into the 21st Century.” Eskew is now a board member, a small shareholder and self-proclaimed “No. 1 fan” of his company. “ASD is a great company that will continue to grow,” Eskew said. “I couldn’t be happier with my decision.” For information on ASD, visit asd-usa.com.
NorthFulton.com | Milton Herald | August 18, 2016 | 15
Milton Herald, August 2016
Cross Country, Softball and Volleyball
High School Fall Sports 2016 Season Preview is sponsored by:
16 | August 18, 2016 | Milton Herald | NorthFulton.com
Fall Sports Preview • Sponsored Section
Fall Sports Preview • Sponsored Section
NorthFulton.com | Milton Herald | August 18, 2016 | 17
New competition in Region 7-AAAAAA softball Cambridge looks to continue success in Class 6A By JOE PARKER news@appenmediagroup.com NORTH FULTON, Ga. -- The 2016 softball season is underway, and the public schools of North Fulton will see a host of new competition. Cambridge, winners of the Region 7-AAAAA championship in 2015, joins fellow North Fulton teams Johns Creek, Chattahoochee, Centennial, Northview and Alpharetta in Region 7 of Class 6A. Also in the region will be new additions Pope, North Atlanta and Dunwoody. Exiting the region this year are the Forsyth County teams. The loss of the Forsyth County teams, which dominated the standings in the region the past few years, should shake up the region standings. Of the added region opponents, both Dunwoody and Pope will enter with successful seasons in recent years. The Greyhounds won the 5A state championship in 2012, were the 6A state runners-up in 2014 and have made the state playoffs for the past six seasons. Dunwoody won its sub-region title last year and has had three straight winning seasons, including a 23-6 record last year when the team was upset in the first round of the state playoffs. North Atlanta, meanwhile, has not had a winning season since 2010. Cambridge enters its new region and new classification after an outstanding 2015 season that ended bitterly in the playoffs. In 2015, the Bears had one of the best defenses in the state, giving up just 18 runs in 25 games. Their offense also averaged four runs per game, leading the Bears to a 20-2 record entering the second round of the state playoffs. The Bears were then upset by Jones County, losing games 1 and 3 of the series, 1-0 and 2-0, ending their season. Cambridge looks to bounce back from the disappointing end to 2015 with a major core of last year’s team still intact, and it already shows. The Bears are
Photo provided by Donna Allen
currently 3-0 with wins over Centennial, Dunwoody and Collins Hill, outscoring the three opponents 23-0. Johns Creek went 9-9 in region play last season, but many starters return now with another year of play under their belt. Though top pitcher Rachel Fletcher graduated, Maddie Horn and Ashley Shore return. As a freshman last year, Horn was 2-1 in decisions. Shore, a senior, compiled a 4.67 ERA with 16 strikeouts. The duo is 1-1 to start the season. Carly Peterson, Abigail Quidley and Brittany Roberts also return for the Gladiators. Alpharetta has started its season with a 1-1 record. The Raiders were young in 2014 and 2015 but enter this season with more upperclassmen and added experience that could likely see them improve from their recent woes. Northview enters its fourth season in Class 6A and will look to improve its disappointing 7-11 region
record last season. That improvement must start defensively after Northview gave up an average of 7.1 runs per game last year. The Titans began their season with a 20-11 win over North Atlanta last Thursday. The Cougars finished fifth in the region standings last year behind the four now-departed Forsyth teams, and have begun their season with a blowout win over North Atlanta. The Cougars return pitchers Kamryn Taylor and Jordan Campagnolo, who had a combined ERA of 2.8 last season. Returning seniors Krystyn Fisher and Emma Kenfield, Hooch’s captains, also return. Fisher led the team with a .548 batting average and was second on the team in RBIs with just 14 appearances. Kenfield compiled a .397 batting average and stole eight bases. For the Centennial Knights, the only direction is up. Centennial went 1-21 last season and was 0-18 in region play.
Northview boys cross country poised for success Girls team looks ahead without Lindsay Billings By JOE PARKER news@appenmediagroup.com JOHNS CREEK, Ga. -- There are two burning questions for Northview’s cross country teams in 2016: How will the girls perform without standout Lindsay Billings, and will the boys make a run for the state title after many of the powerhouses of 6A moved to Class 7A? Head coach Tony Cianciola, who has been with Northview since its opening in 2002, says he is confident in the latter question. “The boys team is going to be really strong this year,” Cianciola said.
“We have a good group of solid seniors that have been with the program for the past four years and have stepped up this year. My top runners are seniors, and we have a couple of solid juniors and we have a good group of underclassmen that have a potential to run varsity races, too. We have a good group of boys coming in as underclassmen and a solid group of upperclassmen that I’m looking to hopefully be contenders in our [classification].” Seniors Ryan Larcinese, Bryce Meyer and Joe Whalley, and juniors Michael Smith and Paul Graham will be Northview’s top five runners this
season. Larcinese, Whalley, Meyer and Smith all have personal bests under 17.5 minutes, with Larcinese having a personal best of 16.49. Larcinese, Meyer and Smith all competed for Northview at the state championships last season where Northview finished 19th in team scores. Though going from 19th to a state championship seems like wishful thinking, consider this: The top 18 teams to finish in the Class 6A state championships last season have all moved to Class 7A. Of the 32 teams to qualify for last year’s 6A state championship meet, only five still remain in Class 6A.
See NORTHVIEW, Page 21
18 | August 18, 2016 | Milton Herald | NorthFulton.com
Fall Sports Preview • Sponsored Section
Cambridge volleyball enters 2016 season more experienced Most of youthful 2015 team returns By JOE PARKER news@appenmediagroup.com MILTON, Ga.- In 2015 Cambridge’s volleyball team was filled with underclassmen, yet the team still compiled a 31-12 overall record. Those underclassmen enter 2016 with an added year of experience under their belt as the team looks to its first season in Class 7A. The Bears will play their inaugural season this year with fellow North Fulton teams in Class 7-AAAAAA. The Bears won their sub-region title last year with a 7-0 record on their way to a state playoff appearance where they earned a No. 2 seed of the eight Class 5A teams. In the semifinals, Cambridge was handed a heartbreaker, denying them a state championship appearance. The Bears were tied with Sequoyah at two sets each after four sets, setting up a decisive fifth set with a state championship appearance on the line. In the fifth set, Sequoyah was able to slip by the Bears, 16-14.
The Bears return their top performers in blocking, serving, assists, digs and kills this season. Two juniors, Sterling Hines and Ellah Klinnert, and seniors Lauren Swift and Regan Swift return to lead the Bears’ attack. The four players combined for nearly 800 kills last season. Hines led the team with 326 followed by Klinnert with 261. The junior duo will lead what should be a tough front line for the Bears. The Swift duo led the Bears in blocks last season. Lauren compiled 188 while Regan earned 125. Hines was also crucial for the Bears in digs, leading the team with 461 digs Junior Anna Youngs returns for the Bears’ after leading the team in total serves and aces last season. Along with Youngs, fellow junior Shelby Luxton also returns. Luxton compiled 429 serves last season with 55 aces and a 97 percent serving percentage. Top setter Olivia Hansen returns for her senior campaign after leading the team in assists last season, followed by Luxton. The Bears have opened the season with wins over Lovett and 7A’s Forsyth Central.
Cross Country schedule* * Some schools did not have a finalized schedule at time of press.
Alpharetta 8/20 Atlanta Classic Meet 8/27 Bob Blastow Meet 9/10 Covered Bridge Meet 9/17 Fulton County Championships Meet 9/24 Wingfoot XC Classic Meet 10/4 Cass Invitational 10/8-10 Disney Cross Country Classic 10/15 Coach Wood Meet 10/29 Region Championship Meet 11/5 GHSA State Championship Meet
Centennial 8/11 Wesleyan Invitational 9/10 Covered Bridge Meet 9/17 Fulton County Meet 9/24 Wingfoot XC Classic Meet 10/4 Cass Invitational 10/8-10 Disney Invitational
Fall Sports Preview • Sponsored Section
NorthFulton.com | Milton Herald | August 18, 2016 | 19
TBD Sharptop Invitational 10/29 Region 7 AAAAAA Meet
10/7-8 Furman/Gene Invitational 10/15 Coach Wood Invitational 10/22 Area Meet
9/17 9/24 10/15 10/22
8/27 Bob Blastow Invitational 9/10 Covered Bridge Invitational 9/24 Wingfoot Classic 10/1 Bronco Classic 10/8 Asics Alexander Invitational 10/22 Area Meet
North Forsyth
Blessed Trinity
8/20 Pickens Preview 8/30 War Eagle Invitational 9/3 Berry College Clara Bowl 9/10 Covered Bridge Invitational 9/13 West Hall Invitational 9/17 Warpath Invitational 10/8 Asics Alexander Invitational 10/15 Sharptop Invitational 10/22 Region Meet
8/20 Our Lady of Mercy Invitational 9/3 Berry College 9/17 Milton High 9/24 Sam Smith Park 10/1 Blessed Trinity 10/8 Fox Hall Farms 10/15 Gainesville College 10/26 Unicoi State Park
South Forsyth
8/20 Our Lady of Mercy Invitational 8/27 Bob Blastow Invitational 9/10 Covered Bridge Invitational 9/14 Dual-meet (North Cobb Christian) 9/17 Warpath Invitational 9/22 Tri-team meet (St. Francis) 9/24 Wingfoot Classic 10/1 Darlington Festival 10/5 Wesleyan Invitational 10/22 Last Chance Invitational 10/27 Region Meet
Forsyth Central
Johns Creek 8/20 Pickens Preview 8/27 Bob Blastow Invitational 9/10 Covered Bridge Invitational 9/17 Fulton County Championships 10/8 Disney Cross Country Classic 10/15 Sharptop Invitational 10/26 Region Meet
Milton 8/20 ATL Classic 8/27 Bob Blastow Invitational 9/10 Double Dip Invitational 9/17 Fulton County Championships 9/24 Wingfoot Invitational
8/20 8/27 9/10 9/17 9/24 10/1 10/6 10/15 10/22
Picken Preview Bob Blastow Invitational Marist Double Dip Warpath Invitational Wingfoot Invitational Wendy’s Invitational Mountain Invitational Coach Wood Meet Area Meet
West Forsyth 8/20 Pickens Preview 8/26-28 Providence Invite 9/10 Marist Double Dip
Warpath Invitational ATC Wingfoot Coach Wood Invite Region Meet
Fellowship Christian
King’s Ridge 8/22 Mercy Invitational 9/19 Fulton County Championships 9/24 Tri-team meet (St. Francis) 9/26 Darlington XC Festival 10/10 Asics Alexander Invitational 10/29 Region Meet
Mount Pisgah 8/27 Saucony Battle of Atlanta 9/17 Warpath Invitational 9/24 Aubrae Gunderson Invitational 10/1 Darlington Invitational 10/15 Sharptop Invitational 10/26 Area Meet
St. Francis 8/19 Battle of the Fairways 8/25 Weber Race 8/30 War Eagle Classic 9/13 West Hall Invitational 9/17 Fulton County Championships 10/1 Darlington Invitational 10/13 Area Preview 10/15 Dyslexia Dash 10/22 Last Chance Meet 10/27 Region Meet
20 | August 18, 2016 | Milton Herald | NorthFulton.com
Softball schedule Alpharetta 8/16 Milton 8/18 @ Chattahoochee 8/20 Lambert 8/20 Forsyth Central 8/23 Northview 8/25 @ North Atlanta 8/30 @ Johns Creek 9/1 Cambridge 9/6 Dunwoody 9/8 Pope (Marietta, GA) 9/12 @ Centennial 9/15 Chattahoochee 9/19 @ Northview 9/20 @ North Atlanta 9/22 Johns Creek 9/27 @ Cambridge 9/29 Dunwoody
Cambridge 8/18 @ Pope 8/23 North Atlanta 8/24 Buford 8/30 Northview 9/1 @ Alpharetta 9/6 @ Johns Creek 9/13 @ Chattahoochee 9/15 Pope 9/19 @ North Atlanta 9/21 @ River Ridge 9/27 Alpharetta 9/28 Archer 9/29 Johns Creek
Centennial 8/16 @ Johns Creek 8/23 Pope 8/25 @ Chattahoochee 9/1 Discovery 9/6 North Atlanta 9/7 @ North Springs 9/12 Alpharetta 9/13 Johns Creek 9/19 @ Pope (Marietta, GA) 9/20 Chattahoochee 9/27 @ Discovery 9/28 North Springs 9/29 @ North Atlanta
Chattahoochee 8/18 Alpharetta 8/19 Blessed Trinity 8/19 South Gwinnett 8/20 Dalton 8/20 Ridgeland 8/23 @ Dunwoody 8/25 Centennial 8/30 Pope 9/1 @ Johns Creek 9/6 Northview 9/8 North Atlanta 9/9 Camden County
9/10 Westlake 9/10 Roswell 9/10 Cartersville 9/13 Cambridge 9/15 @ Alpharetta 9/19 Dunwoody 9/20 @ Centennial 9/22 @ Pope 9/27 @ Johns Creek 9/29 Northview
Forsyth Central 8/23 @ South Forsyth 8/26 @North Forsyth 8/29 @Milton 9/1 West Forsyth 9/6 South Forsyth 9/8 North Forsyth 9/13 Milton 9/15 @Lambert 9/16 @Pierce County 9/16 @Winder-Barrow 9/17 @Morgan County 9/19 @West Forsyth 9/20 @Milton 9/22 Lambert 9/29 West Forsyth 10/4 @South Forsyth 10/6 @North Forsyth
Johns Creek
8/18 @ North Atlanta 8/22 @ Blessed Trinity 8/25 @ Northview 8/30 Alpharetta 9/1 @ Chattahoochee 9/6 Cambridge 9/8 @ Dunwoody 9/12 Pope 9/13 @ Centennial 9/15 North Atlanta 9/20 Northview 9/22 @ Alpharetta 9/27 Chattahoochee 9/29 @ Cambridge
Lambert 8/17 @ Parkview 8/19 Northview 8/19 Richmond Hill 8/20 Alpharetta (Alpharetta, GA) 8/20 Richmond Hill 8/23 Milton 8/25 @ South Forsyth 8/29 @ West Forsyth 8/30 @ Forsyth Central 9/1 North Forsyth 9/6 @ Milton 9/8 South Forsyth 9/10 Etowah 9/10 Lassiter 9/13 West Forsyth 9/15 Forsyth Central 9/16 Peachtree Ridge 9/17 @ Mountain View 9/17 Mill Creek 9/19 @ North Forsyth 9/20 @ West Forsyth
Fall Sports Preview • Sponsored Section 9/22 @ Forsyth Central 9/24 North Forsyth 10/4 Milton 10/6 @ South Forsyth
Milton
8/23 @ Lambert 8/25 @ West Forsyth 8/29 Forsyth Central 8/30 North Forsyth 9/6 Lambert 9/8 West Forsyth 9/13 @ Forsyth Central 9/15 @ North Forsyth 9/20 Forsyth Central 9/22 North Forsyth 9/27 St. Pius X Catholic 10/4 @ Lambert 10/6 @ West Forsyth
North Forsyth 8/20 Buford (Buford, GA) 8/20 Jackson County 8/23 West Forsyth 8/24 @ Collins Hill 8/25 Forsyth Central 8/29 South Forsyth 8/30 @ Milton 9/1 @ Lambert 9/6 West Forsyth 9/7 @ Madison County 9/7 Lumpkin County 9/8 @ Forsyth Central 9/13 @ South Forsyth 9/15 Milton 9/19 Lambert 9/20 South Forsyth 9/22 @ Milton 9/24 @ Lambert 10/4 West Forsyth 10/6 Forsyth Central
Northview
8/19 @ Lambert 8/20 @ Parkview 8/23 @ Alpharetta 8/25 Johns Creek 8/30 Cambridge 9/1 Pope 9/6 Chattahoochee 9/7 @ St. Pius X Catholic 9/12 North Atlanta 9/19 Alpharetta 9/20 @ Johns Creek 9/28 Pope 9/29 @ Chattahoochee
Roswell 8/18 @ Lassiter 8/27 @ Hillgrove 8/29 @ Pope 9/1 Cherokee 9/9 Cartersville 9/10 Chattahoochee 9/23 @ Dacula 9/26 @ Creekview 9/27 @ Cherokee
South Forsyth 8/20 Cherokee 8/23 Forsyth Central 8/25 Lambert 8/29 @ North Forsyth 8/30 West Forsyth 9/6 @ Forsyth Central 9/8 @ Lambert 9/13 North Forsyth 9/15 @ West Forsyth 9/17 Peachtree Ridge 9/20 @ North Forsyth 9/22 West Forsyth 10/4 Forsyth Central 10/6 Lambert
West Forsyth 8/17 @ Mill Creek 8/20 @ North Gwinnett 8/20 Peachtree Ridge 8/23 @ North Forsyth 8/24 Mill Creek 8/25 Milton 8/29 Lambert 8/30 @ South Forsyth 9/1 @ Forsyth Central 9/6 @ North Forsyth 9/8 @ Milton 9/10 Brookwood 9/10 Etowah 9/13 @ Lambert 9/15 South Forsyth 9/17 Sequoyah 9/19 Forsyth Central 9/20 Lambert 9/22 @ South Forsyth 9/29 @ Forsyth Central 10/4 @ North Forsyth 10/6 Milton
Blessed Trinity 8/19 Chattahoochee 8/19 Ridgeland 8/20 Christian Heritage 8/20 Gordon Lee 8/22 Johns Creek 8/25 @ Marist 8/27 @ Holy Innocents Episcopal 8/27 Westminster 8/29 Woodward Academy 8/31 St. Pius X Catholic 9/6 Chestatee 9/8 @ Chestatee 9/13 White County 9/15 @ White County 9/17 Arabia Mountain 9/19 Walton 9/20 West Hall 9/22 @ West Hall 9/26 Wesleyan 9/27 Marist 9/29 @ Pope
Fellowship Christian
8/23 King’s Ridge 8/24 Whitefield Academy 8/27 North Cobb Chrisitan 8/29 @Walker
8/30 Mt. Pisgah 9/1 @Mt. Paran 9/6 @King’s Ridge 9/7 Galloway 9/8 @Whitefield Academy 9/12 Walker 9/13 @Mt. Pisgah 9/15 Mt. Paran 9/20 King’s Ridge 9/22 Whitefield Academy 9/26 @ Walker 9/27 Mt. Pisgah
King’s Ridge 8/18 @Mt. Paran 8/22 North Cobb Christian 8/23 @FCS 8/25 @Walker 8/26 @Galloway 8/29 @Mt. Paran 8/30 Whitefield Academy 9/1 Mt. Pisgah 9/6 FCS 9/8 Walker 9/9 Galloway 9/12 Mt. Paran 9/13 @Whitefield Academy 9/15 @Mt. Pisgah 9/19 @North Cobb Christian 9/20 @FCS 9/22 @Walker 9/27 Whitefield Academy 9/29 Mt. Pisgah
Mt. Pisgah 8/17 Walker 8/24 Mt. Paran 8/30 FCS 8/31 Whitefield Academy 9/1 King’s Ridge 9/6 Walker 9/7 Mt. Vernon 9/8 Mt. Paran 9/10 Darlington 9/19 Whitefield Academy 9/22 Mt. Paran 9/26 Whitefield Academy 9/27 FCS 9/28 Holy Innocents’ 9/29 King’s Ridge 10/3 Providence Christian 10/4 Holy Innocents’
St. Francis 8/24 @Paideia 9/6 @Drew Charter 9/21 Drew Charter 9/28 Galloway 9/29 @Weber
Fall Sports Preview • Sponsored Section
NorthFulton.com | Milton Herald | August 18, 2016 | 21
Forsyth softball rivalries to continue in 2016 Forsyth Central adds to already talent-heavy region By JOE PARKER news@appenmediagroup.com FORSYTH COUNTY, Ga. -- After dominating teams from North Fulton over the past three years in Region 6-AAAAAA, Forsyth teams will now duke it out in a region almost entirely their own. Forsyth Central and Milton will join the four former Region 6-AAAAAA 6A teams of North, South, West and Lambert in Region 7-AAAAAAA where competition should be fierce. North, Lambert and South won the past three championships in Region 6-AAAAAA, and for two of the past three years, all four Forsyth teams finished atop the region standings. Forsyth Central joins its Forsyth counterparts and adds to the talent within the region. A majority of the key players for the Bulldogs 2015 team, which compiled a 13-8 overall record, return this season.
Northview: Continued from Page 17
Coach Cianciola knows this opens the door for the quick Northview team to further its chances for a possible state championship. “It definitely will help us. It should enable both of our teams to get into the state meet not being in there with some of those powerhouses. It will definitely be to our advantage,” he said. Cianciola added that in the short term, the goal for the boys team is to stay healthy. Long-term, he wants the boys to qualify for the state meet and finished in the top three. For the girls team, Cianciola said this could be a rebuilding year, but the girls are working hard and progressing well. The Titans will be without Lindsay Billings, who won three individual state
The Bulldog offense, which averaged nearly seven runs per game last season, returns Morgan Watson, Sadie Waters and Lindsay Race. Watson compiled a .618 average with 21 hits in 42 at bats last season and was third on the team in RBIs and first in on-base percentage. Waters hit 11 extra-base hits and posted a .444 average. Defensively, Central returns its entire pitching staff from last season. Gina Fishler led the team with a 4-1 record and 4.09 ERA last season as a freshman. Emma Lowe, Abby Sims and Brooke Wade will also share in pitching duties this season. The trio had a combined 8-2 record last year. South, which won its region championship last year, returns five All-Region players from 2015. Standout pitcher Katherine Heuy, who was named the Pitcher of the Year in the region, returns for her senior season. Catcher Bianca Mora and infielders Emily Harris and Jordyn Harris also return for the War Eagles. Lauren Baccari, who pitched in relief for Heuy much of last season returns as a sophomore. The War Eagles will look to continue their defensive domination behind Heuy titles, including in 2014 and 2015 in Class 6A, as well as leading the Titans to the 2014 team state championship. Billings was also named the Gatorade Girls Runner of the Year for 2015 and received a scholarship to run at Duke University. In addition to Billings, Shannon Marsh, Tiffany Yue, and Anna Barfield, who along with Billings finished third in the state in team scores last season, have all graduated, leaving large roles to be filled. “The girls have potential, and we have some good runners,” said Cianciola. “It’s going to be a little more of a struggle with the girls team, but if we can keep everyone healthy we will see how the season progresses.” Cianciola said junior Sarika TeemeBapat will likely be the top girls runner. Michaela Davis returns for the Titans after finishing 75th overall in the state championship meet last season.
this season. In 2015, the War Eagles gave up just 55 runs over 27 games. Their offense, meanwhile, averaged over six runs per game, leading the War Eagles to a 22-5 overall record. Lambert enters the 2016 season
after narrowly missing out on defending the Region 6-AAAAAA title last year against South, and now the team looks to claim the maiden Region 7-AAAAAAA championship. Dual-threat Kassidy Krupit returns for the Longhorns as a junior and looks to impact both offense and defense. Offensively, Krupit hit .391 with over 20 RBIs and 15 extra-base hits last season. As a pitcher, she compiled a 7-2 record with a 2.98 ERA. For at least the first half of the season, North will be without its standout and leadoff hitter, Haley Simpson, who is recovering from a torn ACL. The Raiders do return pitcher Sara King who posted an 11-5 record, leading a defense that held opponents to 2.9 runs per game. Also returning is offensive standout Bella Caracciolo. Caracciolo hit .432 last season with 28 RBIs and 20 steals. West, which finished fourth in the region last season, will be seeking itsr first region title this season. The Wolverines return pitcher Hannah Guthrie, who posted seven wins as a freshman in 2015. Also returning for West is catcher Alana Frye and middle infielders Carlie Behan and Bailley Concatto.
22 | August 18, 2016 | Milton Herald | NorthFulton.com
Volleyball schedule Alpharetta 8/30 Greater Atlanta Christian 8/30 Chattahoochee 9/1 @Norcross 9/7 Our Lady of Mercy 9/13 Dunwoody 9/22 River Ridge 9/27 @Centennial 9/27 Chattahoochee 9/29 Milton
Cambridge 8/23 East Coweta (At Norcross) 8/23 @Norcross 8/25 @Milton 8/25 @Walton (At Milton) 8/30 @Dunwoody 9/1 @North Gwinnett (At North Forsyth) 9/1 @North Forsyth 9/6 @North Atlanta (At Alpharetta) 9/6 @Alpharetta 9/8 @South Forsyth 9/8 @Brookwood (At South Forsyth) 9/13 @Centennial (At Johns Creek) 9/13 @Johns Creek 9/15 Johns Creek 9/15 Roswell 9/20 Chattahoochee 9/20 Northview 9/22 Harrison 9/22 North Forsyth 9/29 Lassiter
Centennial 8/16 @South Forsyth 8/18 @Norcross 8/18 @Greater Atlanta Christian 8/23 @Galloway 8/23 @Langston Hughes 8/25 @Fellowship Christian 8/25 @West Forsyth 8/30 North Springs 9/1 Lambert 9/1 Galloway 9/6 Pope 9/6 Northview 9/8 @Parkview 9/8 @Mill Creek 9/13 @Johns Creek 9/13 @Cambridge 9/15 @Hillgrove 9/15 @River Ridge 9/17 @Chattahoochee 9/20 @Dunwoody 9/20 @North Atlanta 9/22 @Lambert
Fall Sports Preview • Sponsored Section
9/22 @Northview 9/27 Alpharetta 9/27 Chattahoochee 9/29 @Lanier 9/29 @Norcross
Chattahoochee 8/18 Woodstock 8/18 West Forsyth 8/23 Lambert 8/23 Chamblee 8/24 @St. Pius X 8/30 @Alpharetta 8/30 @Greater Atlanta Christian (At Alpharetta) 9/1 @Roswell 9/1 @Milton (At Roswell) 9/6 Johns Creek 9/6 Dunwoody 9/8 @Blessed Trinity 9/13 @Pope 9/13 @North Atlanta (At Pope) 9/17 @Roswell 9/20 @Cambridge 9/20 @Northview (At Cambridge) 9/22 Milton 9/22 Marist 9/27 @Alpharetta 9/27 @Centennial (At Alpharetta) 9/30 @Blessed Trinity
Forsyth Central 8/18 @Mill Creek 8/23 @Collins Hill (At Duluth) 8/23 @Duluth 8/25 @Pinecrest 8/27 @Pace Academy 8/30 South Forsyth 8/30 North Forsyth 9/6 @Mountain View (At Peachtree Ridge) 9/6 @Peachtree Ridge 9/13 @Blessed Trinity (At West Forsyth) 9/13 @West Forsyth 9/15 @West Hall 9/20 @Lambert (At Milton) 9/20 @Milton 9/27 East Coweta
Johns Creek 8/18 @Sequoyah 8/18 @River Ridge (At Sequoyah) 8/23 @Starrs Mill 8/23 @Columbus (At Starrs Mill) 8/25 Blessed Trinity 8/25 Buford 8/30 Chamblee 8/30 FCS 8/30 North Oconee 9/1 @St. Pius X 9/1 @Decatur (At St. Pius X) 9/6 @Chattahoochee 9/6 @Dunwoody
(At Chattahoochee) 9/8 @Norcross 9/8 @Milton (At Norcross) 9/13 Centennial 9/13 Cambridge 9/15 @Roswell (At Cambridge) 9/15 @Cambridge 9/20 @Alpharetta (At Pope) 9/20 @Pope 9/22 @South Forsyth 9/27 @Northview (At North Atlanta) 9/27 @North Atlanta 9/29 Lambert
Lambert 8/18 Alpharetta 8/18 Cambridge 8/23 @Chattahoochee 8/23 @Chamblee (At Chattahoochee) 8/25 Norcross 8/25 Mill Creek 8/30 West Forsyth 8/30 Milton 9/1 @Centennial 9/1 @Galloway (At Centennial) 9/8 Lassiter 9/13 @North Forsyth 9/15 @Alpharetta 9/20 @Forsyth Central (At Milton) 9/20 @South Forsyth (At Milton) 9/22 Centennial 9/22 Northview 9/29 @Johns Creek
Milton 8/18 @Pope 8/18 @North Cobb (At Pope) 8/25 Cambridge 8/25 Walton 8/30 @West Forsyth ( At Lambert) 8/30 @Lambert 9/1 @Roswell 9/1 @Northview (At Roswell) 9/8 @Johns Creek (At Norcross) 9/8 @Norcross 9/13 @South Forsyth 9/15 @St. Francis 9/20 North Forsyth 9/20 Forsyth Central 9/22 @Chattahoochee 9/22 @Marist (At Chattahoochee) 9/27 @Creekview 9/29 @Alpharetta 9/29 @Galloway (At Alpharetta)
North Forsyth 8/20 @Pinecrest (At West Forsyth) 8/20 @Forsyth Central (At West Forsyth) 8/20 @Stratford Academy (At West Forsyth)
8/23 @Pinecrest 8/23 @Clarke Central (At Pinecrest) 8/25 @King’s Ridge 8/25 @Fideles Christian (At Kings’ Ridge) 8/30 @South Forsyth (At Forsyth Central) 8/30 @Forsyth Central 9/6 West Hall 9/6 Dawson County 9/8 @Northview 9/8 @Peachtree Ridge (At Northview) 9/13 Lambert 9/15 North Hall 9/15 Pinecrest 9/20 @Milton 9/20 @West Forsyth (At Milton) 9/22 @Harrison (At Cambridge) 9/22 @Cambridge
Roswell 8/23 Etowah 8/25 @Alpharetta 8/25 @Woodstock (At Alpharetta) 8/30 @Woodstock 9/1 Chattahoochee 9/1 Northview 9/1 Milton 9/7 Lassiter 9/8 @Riverwood (At River Ridge) 9/8 @River Ridge 9/10 @North Cobb 9/13 Walton 9/15 @Johns Creek (At Cambridge) 9/15 @Cambridge 9/20 @Wheeler 9/22 Alpharetta 9/22 River Ridge 9/27 @Cherokee 9/29 @Harrison
South Forsyth 8/23 @Alpharetta 8/25 @Cambridge 8/30 @Forsyth Central 8/30 @North Forsyth (At Forsyth Central) 9/1 Mill Creek 9/8 Cambridge 9/8 Brookwood 9/13 Milton 9/15 Alpharetta 9/20 @West Forsyth (At Milton) 9/20 @Lambert (At Milton) 9/22 Johns Creek 9/29 @Buford 9/29 @Athens Academy (At Buford)
West Forsyth 8/18 @Roswell (At Chattahoochee)
8/18 @Chattahoochee 8/23 North Cobb 8/25 FCS 8/25 Centennial 8/30 @Lambert 9/6 @North Hall 9/8 Hillgrove 9/13 Blessed Trinity 9/13 Forsyth Central 9/15 @Dunwoody 9/20 @North Forsyth 9/22 Harris County 9/29 @Lovett
Blessed Trinity * Denotes games played at Oak Ridge High School (TN) ** Denotes games played at Huntsville High School (AL) 8/16 Cambridge 8/16 St. Pius X 8/19 Clinton (TN)* 8/19 Maryville (TN)* 8/19 Stone Memorial (TN)* 8/25 @Johns Creek High School 8/25 Buford High School (At Johns Creek) 8/27 South Forsyth 8/30 Decatur High School (At Westminster) 8/30 @Westminster 9/2 Guntersville (AL)** 9/2 Hoover High School (AL)** 9/2 Hazel Green High School (AL)*** 9/8 Chattahoochee 9/8 North Springs 9/13 @West Forsyth 9/13 @Forsyth Central (At West Forsyth) 9/15 @Lovett School 9/15 @Creekview (At Lovett School) 9/20 Marist 9/20 Chestatee 9/22 Baylor High School (TN) 9/22 Woodward Academy 9/27 @West Hall 9/27 @White County (At West Hall)
Fellowship Christian
8/18 @River Ridge 8/18 @Sequoyah (At River Ridge) 8/20 TBD 8/25 @West Forsyth 8/25 @Centennial (At West Forsyth) 9/6 King’s Ridge 9/6 Mt. Pisgah 9/8 Cherokee 9/8 Mt. Pisgah 9/9 TBD (River City Rumble, Chattanooga, TN) 9/13 @Mt. Vernon 9/13 Holy Innocents’ (At Mt. Vernon)
Fall Sports Preview • Sponsored Section
NorthFulton.com | Milton Herald | August 18, 2016 | 23
9/15 @Milton (At St. Francis) 9/15 @St. Francis 9/20 @Pinecrest (At Whitefield) 9/20 @Whitefield 9/22 Lovett School 9/22 South Paulding 9/27 King’s Ridge 9/27 Walker 9/29 @Greater Atlanta Christian
King’s Ridge 8/23 @Weber 8/25 North Forsyth 8/25 Fideles 8/30 Walker 8/30 St. Francis 9/1 Pace 9/1 Chestatee 9/6 @FCS 9/6 @Mt. Pisgah (At FCS) 9/10 @Loganville Christian (At Providence) 9/10 @Killian Hill (At Providence) 9/10 @Pinecrest (At Providence) 9/10 @Providence 9/13 @Pinecrest 9/13 @St. Francis (At Pinecrest) 9/15 @Etowah (At Kennesaw Mountain) 9/15 @Kennesaw Mountain 9/20 Mt. Bethel 9/22 Weber 9/22 Chamblee 9/27 @FCS 9/27 @Walker (At FCS) 9/29 @North Gwinnett 9/29 @North Springs (At North Gwinnett)
Mount Pisgah 8/20 Darlington 8/20 Savannah Christian 8/20 St. Vincent’s 8/20 Athens Academy 8/23 Marist 8/23 Dunwoody 8/24 Holy Innocents Episcopal 8/24 Mount Vernon Presbyterian 8/30 Whitefield Academy 8/30 Pinecrest Academy 9/1 @Whitefield Academy 9/1 @The Weber School (At Whitefield) 9/6 @King’s Ridge Christian 9/6 @Fellowship Christian 9/8 @Cherokee (At FCS) 9/8 @Fellowship Christian 9/10 @Providence Christian 9/10 Walnut Grove (At Providence Christian) 9/20 Walker 9/20 St. Francis 9/22 @Holy Innocents Episcopal 9/26 Lovett
New volleyball areas, softball regions open more playoff spots Local schools have better statistical chance of playoff berths By JOE PARKER news@appenmediagroup.com NORTH FULTON, Ga. — The Georgia High School Association’s new area and region assignments will give area volleyball and softball teams less competition for playoff spots after the reclassification of 48 schools into Class 7A. All local volleyball teams now compete in smaller areas. Yet, many of these areas will still be awarded the same amount of state playoff spots. Roswell and Milton, who competed in Area 6 of Class 6A last season, competed against eight other teams for the five available playoff spots. For 2016, Roswell is now in Area 4 of Class 7A, where five playoff spots will be up for grabs in an
area of only six teams. The teams of Area 5 in Class 7A also see their statistical chances of making the playoffs improve. Milton, South Forsyth, West Forsyth, North Forsyth, Forsyth Central and Lambert, the teams making up Area 5, will compete for four playoff spots. Last year, Milton was one of nine teams competing for five spots, while West, North, South and Lambert were in an area of 10 teams competing for five spots. Forsyth Central, which moves up two classifications to 7A, sees the biggest increase in its likelihood to make the playoffs. The Bulldogs competed in an Area of 13 teams last season, with just the top five being awarded playoff spots. Cambridge, which makes the transition to 7A from the same area as Forsyth Central, will also have a better chance of securing a playoff berth. Alpharetta, Johns Creek, Northview, Chattahoochee and Centennial saw the lowest increase in statistical chances of
making the playoffs. For these teams, their area will still award five playoff spots from nine teams, down from 10 teams in 2015. Blessed Trinity, last year’s state champion in Class 3A, moves to Area 7 of Class 4A, composed of five teams, four of which will make the playoffs. The five local private schools, Pinecrest Academy, King’s Ridge, Mt. Pisgah, FCS and St. Francis, will go from an area of nine teams competing for four playoff spots to this year’s Area 6, which will award four playoff spots to the area’s seven teams. In softball, each region will award four playoff spots, which plays to the advantage of those teams who were placed in 7A. Milton, Roswell and all five Forsyth County teams have been realigned to regions with fewer teams, where the four playoff spots will still be up for grabs. For local private schools, the Power Ratings system will still determine playoff berths in softball.
24 | August 18, 2016 | Milton Herald | NorthFulton.com
Fall Sports Preview • Sponsored Section
Titans volleyball looks to continue success in Class 4A BT won five state championships in 3A By JOE PARKER news@appenmediagroup.com ROSWELL, Ga. -- The dynasty that is Blessed Trinity volleyball enters a new chapter in 2016 as the team enters its first season in Class 4A after dominating 3A for a decade. The Titans won their first 3A state championship in 2006, and over the past five years have made it a habit. BT won the 3A state title in 2010, 2012, 2014 and 2015, and has advanced to the final four of the state playoffs five consecutive years. BT is no stranger to playing teams in higher classifications, but head coach Paul Stevens said his team’s move to 4A puts them in a highly competitive classification. “It’s not going to be that much harder because of the number of ‘A’s in the classification, it’s more the quality of the teams you happen to be with,” Stevens said. “I will say that 4A is arguably going to be the most competitive classification. “I’m not implying that the best teams in the state are all in 4A but rather the teams that are in 4A are very competitive with one another and very strong. It’s going to make that playoff race very challenging. But we are excited about it. We are going to match up with some great teams and see where that takes us. “Some of the teams we will play in 4A are teams we have played against for many years, but every year is different,” he said. BT returns many of its standouts from last season, a team that won its second consecutive state championship. A few new faces will also join the Titans’ lineup, but Stevens said he does not believe in rebuilding, but rather reloading. The Titans’ backcourt returns Anna MacDonald, who had a standout season for the Titans in 2015 as a freshman. MacDonald was a force in the backcourt, compiling 709 digs. She also led the team in serves, aces and successful serve receptions. Joining MacDonald will be juniors Vanessa Aehl and Marissa Hall along with sophomore Charlotte Dempsey. “We have a very strong back line and that is going to keep us in a lot of rallies and help us to transition from defense to offense very quickly,” Ste-
vens said. Juniors MacKenzie Todd and Brenna Mako step up on this year’s squad as setters. Coach Stevens said, “Both are excellent setters and should be able to put our hitters in a good position to terminate rallies.” The middle will feature Olivia Dukat, Morgan Stalcup and Kristen Glowacki. Dukat and Stalcup were second and third on the team last season in kills behind graduated seniors Sarah Parker and Remy Smith. Stalcup led the team in total blocks with 154, followed by Dukat with 91. Alyssa Kuroski returns for the Titans on the outside and will be joined by junior Courtney Finkle and freshman Faith Daniel. “We’re blessed that we have a lot of depth and a lot of quality players,” Stevens said. Stevens said the returning starters should help transition the newer players thanks to their experience. “There is no substitute for playing experience and especially state playoff and state championship experience, so that will definitely help them this year,” Stevens said. “That is something they can then share with the new players on the team in terms of what it takes to go the distance.” Entering 2016, Stevens said he is “absolutely” confident in his team. “We are definitely going to be in the hunt, there’s no question about that,” he said. “We have really good leadership on the team, and we have a very talented bunch of players. Our mantra is always to respect everyone but fear no one. We have a lot of respect for all the other teams in 4A, but we are not afraid of anyone. When we get out there if we can play at the top of our game we can compete with anyone in the state.”
Fall Sports Preview • Sponsored Section
NorthFulton.com | Milton Herald | August 18, 2016 | 25
26 | August 18, 2016 | Milton Herald | NorthFulton.com
Fall Sports Preview • Sponsored Section
Over my time in the community I’ve seen businesses get established, grow and really take off. It’s been exciting to be part of that ride. Jason Mock 27 | Milton Herald | August 18, 2016
Mock departs Forsyth chamber Director of Small Business Services moves to Texas By KATHLEEN STURGEON kathleen@appenmediagroup.com FORSYTH COUNTY, Ga. — Jason Mock is ready for his next challenge. The director of Small Businesses Services for the Cumming-Forsyth County Chamber of Commerce has accepted a new job. He soon will be known as president and CEO of the San Marcos Area Chamber of Commerce in Texas. His last day with Forsyth is Aug. 31. “It’s a great opportunity but will be a little bit of a challenge,” he said. “I’m a bit nervous about leaving Georgia, but really I’m excited about it.” Mock, who has been with the Forsyth Chamber since February 2010, has spent most of his life in Georgia. His career started in politics working on various Republican campaigns throughout the state until his current job position opened. “To be honest, we didn’t know how long I would be here,” he said. “I got into it not really knowing what the Chamber was all about.” But over the years, he said he’s learned a lot. “It’s been a fun ride,” Mock said. “It’s been a good experience. I’ve been blessed to be in a great community that has helped me get to where I am today.” Chamber President James McCoy
Jason Mock leaves the Cumming-Forsyth County Chamber of Commerce after nearly seven years as director of small business services.
The CummingForsyth County Chamber of Commerce
said, during Mock’s time, he “built the Small Businesses Services Committee into a meaningful and effective resource for over 3,000 small businesses in our community. “He developed that committee into what is now known as the Business
Advancement Resource,” McCoy said. “He helped small business owners work through the challenges of owning and growing a small business – which helped to create millions of dollars in new capital investment in our community and hundreds of new jobs.”
Mock credits the Chamber for encouraging business growth and development. He said he believes the work he and the rest of his staff were able to do for the county has played a part in the boom of Forsyth. “The county has grown right before my eyes,” he said. “Over my time in the community I’ve seen businesses get established, grow and really take off. It’s been exciting to be part of that ride.” His favorite parts of his job have been witnessing businesses start from the bottom and then flourish and thrive in the local community. And all his experience in Forsyth, the nation’s 11th fastest growing county, according to the U.S. Census Bureau, will help him succeed in San Marcos, another flourishing community. “It has some similar characteristics to Forsyth County,” he said. “It’s got a lot of opportunities. There are a lot of great aspects to the community that I’m looking forward to.” Some of those include Texas State University, the Blanco River and San Marcos River. However even with all the positives to look forward to, Mock regrets leaving his home state. “I will miss Georgia,” he said. “Georgia will always be part of my life. This is where I was born and raised. But I’m excited about the opportunity that lies ahead of me. I will be able to take on the challenge of running a chamber and managing the staff, working with the board and the community to help them grow and built their organization to the next level.”
NEWBUSINESSSPOtlight
28 | August 18, 2016 | Milton Herald | NorthFulton.com
BUSINESSPOSTS
North Fulton, Forsyth home values up almost 8% For a city chartered in 1870 and being relatively close to the perimeter, Norcross has not grown as much as its suburban neighbors, either in size or population. But this charmGeoff smith ing rail-based Assurance Financial, gsmith@lendtheway.com downtown has for a long time attracted outsiders. And city officials are doubling-down on that charm with a request for proposal that looks to turn almost seven key downtown acres into its new “urban center.” Norcross’s historic downtown stretches along a rail line that also runs north through Duluth, Suwanee and Buford. The city was actually thought of as “Atlanta’s Summer Resort” back in the late 1800s, and a commuter rail ran on the line back and forth carrying visitors to and from Atlanta, according to the city’s official website. The old buildings that sit along the line today house shops and some longstanding restaurants. And here’s a fun fact: the Eastern Continental Divide runs through the center of town between the buildings and its Thrasher Park located just across the tracks. While the city has developed a couple of very attractive parks, there has been little in the way of commercial development. This new project looks to piggy-back on the construction of a new Gwinnett County library. The project includes a total of about 6.8 acres of land at two corners of the Lillian Webb Park. One section sits at the northwestern corner of Holcomb Bridge Road and Buford Highway. City officials are calling this the new “gateway” to the city. The project includes two new parking decks and three- and four-story multi-use buildings that would include retail, office
and residential. A rezoning for these uses was approved with conditions last fall. The property is owned by Norcross’s downtown development authority and sits within a tax allocation district that was created in April of last year. The district collects taxes from businesses within that district with the extra funds being used to “improve economic and social conditions within” that area. The deadline for the RFP is Sept. 2, whereby the city will begin the process of choosing a developer for the site. Just up the rail line from Norcross, Duluth and Suwanee underwent significant changes to their downtowns over the last 20 years. Suwanee actually built a downtown district on about 20 acres that at the time were woods. That successful project added multi-story buildings surrounding a huge park. I actually met with then Mayor Nick Masino, who I think was in his early 30s. He pointed out to me the woods and told me of their grand plans. Suwanee really didn’t have a downtown at the time. There was an old rail car, and that was about it. It seemed a bit far-fetched at the time. Masino and the city got the project built. It is successful, and he is now senior vice president of economic development and partnership at the Gwinnett County Chamber of Commerce. It appears they knew what they were doing.
Duluth took advantage of a huge park and enticed developers to build multi-story around it. It, too, has been a successful project for the city. While Norcross’s plan is not as large in scale as either of those two, it will be just as transformative for the small city of about 16,000 people. Suburban cities all around Atlanta are competing to create walkable, downtown centers to meet the needs of existing and potential residents. The City of Roswell’s downtown development authority recently purchased the old Southern Skillet shopping center along Ga 9 in its city center. They are preparing a request for proposal for a project that could include multiple five-story buildings and turn the old Frazier Street into another Canton Street-like corridor. 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
Using email to market your small business Are you using Email marketing to keep in touch with your current customers? Do you use Email marketing as a means to attract new customers? If not, you may not be on an even playdick jones ing field with your Founder & President Jones Simply Sales competitors who are. Today, 94% of Internet users between the ages of 18-64 send or read Email. It is also far more cost effective than direct mail, which costs 20 times as much as sending an Email. There are a lot of options to set up an Email marketing system for your business. Determining how many emails you will send, when you send them, and the type of information you include is a good starting point. You also need to make sure you are meeting your audience’s expectations by providing relevant content on topics they are interested in. The Can-Spam Act of 2003 established the first national standard requiring any electronic mail message, whose primary purpose is the commercial advertisement or promotion of a product or service, to be compliant with the law. This means Emails can only be sent to those who have “opted in,” or given you permission. There are many Email marketing systems available with very affordable prices for small businesses. They have easy to use templates to communicate your marketing message, include pictures of your products, and create links to your web site and social media pages. In today’s digital marketplace, having an Email marketing capability is a proven approach to helping a small business grow sales.
BUSINESSBRIEFS
NorthFulton.com | Milton Herald | August 18, 2016 | 29
Pieper O’Brien Herr Architects wins national award ALPHARETTA, Ga. — Pieper O’Brien Herr Architects, based in Alpharetta, has been awarded a national design award for their work on the Cobb County Health Services Center. The project was awarded a Bronze Metal Award in the healthcare category of the national 2016 Brick in Architecture Awards from the Brick Industry Association. Over 100 of the country’s most visionary projects incorporating fired-clay brick were judged in the competition. “These winners demonstrate the
best of brick’s aesthetic flexibility, and as a material made from abundant natural resources, it’s a perfect strategy in sustainable design,” said Ray Leonhard, BIA’s president and CEO. Pieper O’Brien Herr Architects provided full architectural and interior design services for the new two–story, 43,042-SF Cobb County Behavioral Health Center. The facility will provide stabilization and walk-in services for adults experience behavioral healthcare issues. The safety-net facility will house
Keller Williams welcomes new member FORSYTH COUNTY, Ga. — David Evans has joined as the newest member of Keller Williams Community Partners in Cumming. Evans is an avid real estate investor from New Jersey and Pennsylvania with significant corporate and international entrepreneurial experience. He finally settled in Georgia with his family in early Evans 2015, and said he is looking to build on his personal past success with real estate by helping others sell their home. He comes to the firm from Keller Williams First Atlanta in Sandy Springs to consolidate his real estate network in the northern Atlanta suburbs and continually improve how he serves the community he lives in. Evans said he strongly believes in building relationships based on trust and credibility over time and letting the business develop naturally from there. This belief was the inspiration for his motto, “Getting results with integrity”.
White receives national award from Northwestern Mutual MILWAUKEE, Wis. — John White Jr., a Northwestern Mutual District Director based in Alpharetta, Ga., recently received the company’s “Top Producer 2016” award based on an outstanding year of helping clients achieve financial security. “While Americans’ financial anxieties are trending up, finanWhite cial experts like John are helping people to live life differently,” said Northwestern Mutual President Greg Oberland. “Through a personalized plan that addresses clients’ complete financial pictures, our financial advisors help people build and protect wealth, enabling them to live with confidence.” Northwestern Mutual’s “2016 Planning and Progress Study” revealed that 85 percent of Americans feel financial anxiety today, and 36 percent said their anxiety has gone up in the last three years, versus only 14 percent who say it’s gone down. More than a quarter of Americans worry
three programs under one roof: a 24-bed stabilization unit with four additional transition beds, a 23-hour observation level program and a 24/7 clinically staffed walk-in center. The new program is a testament to Georgia’s commitment to expanding essential community based services in local communities. Funded by the Department of Behavioral Healthcare and Development Disabilities, the new center will serve thousands of citizens in need of immediate mental health, or addiction treatment services.
about their finances every day. Northwestern Mutual recognized White Jr. at its 136th Annual Meeting event in July, held in Milwaukee, Wis. White Jr. joined an exclusive group of financial professionals across the country who has achieved this recognition.
13 area physicians receive medical awards ATLANTA — Thirteen local physicians from Resurgens Orthopaedics, Georgia’s largest orthopaedic practice, were honored July 7 with awards for their medical performance both locally and nationally. Dr. Douglas Lundy, Resurgens Orthopaedics’ Co-President, said the practice is honored to have so Holliger many of its physicians recognized this year. “It’s extremely gratifying to be recognized by our medical peers as a practice that provides its patients with an exceptional level of care,” Lundy said. “Our physicians — both those honored as Top Doctors and those who are not — consistently demonstrate their commitment to excellence through their outstanding individualized patient care. We value Satterwhite our role in the Atlanta community and take great pride in our ability to empower our patients to return to the lives they had before they visited us.” The 2016 list of top doctors in Atlanta magazine’s July issue named doctors Erroll Bailey, Tapan Daftari, Evander Fogle, Edward Holliger IV, Robert Kelly, Scott Kelly, Douglas Lundy, Milan Patel, Byron Rosenstein, Yvonne Satterwhite and Steven Wertheim. Doctors Roderica Cottrell and Robert Greenfield were also included in the prestigious physician listing by Castle Connolly healthcare research company. Holliger practices at Resurgens’ Cumming and Roswell offices. His areas of expertise include surgery of the hand and upper extremity. He has been honored as a top doctor by Atlanta magazine for five consecutive years. Satterwhite practices at Resurgens’ Johns Creek office. Her areas of expertise include general orthopaedics, sports medicine, surgery of
Pieper O’Brien Herr Architects is recognized nationally for their project design of the Cobb County Health Services Center.
the shoulder, knee and elbow, and arthroscopic surgery. She has been honored as a top doctor by Atlanta magazine for six consecutive years. For information on Resurgens Orthopaedics, visit resurgens.com.
O’Dwyer Homes Welcomes Two New Home Specialists ROSWELL, Ga. — O’Dwyer Homes is excited to welcome a new home specialist to their team. Gloria Merrill has joined and is working at Chantrell in Roswell and The Bluffs at Jamerson in East Cobb. Merrill has held her real estate license for thirty years and has enjoyed success in the field, where she has sold out many new home communities in the East Cobb area. She has won numerous awards over the years. Some of these honors include the Atlanta Board of Realtor’s 5 million dollar club, Prudential Real Estate “President’s Circle,” Communities Magazine Top 100 New Home Agents in Atlanta and Atlanta Home Builders Sales and Marketing “Gold Circle Award for 7 Million in Sales.” Gloria has sold new homes exclusively and got her start in condos. She has represented major home builders in the metro Atlanta area and has marketed numerous new home communities that have won “Obies” over the years. For more information on O’Dwyer Homes, visit odwyerhomes.com.
Mars Petcare supports hundreds of homeless pets FORSYTH COUNTY, Ga. — On Aug. 2, Mars Petcare U.S. donated $12,000 worth of dog and cat food to the 400 animals in shelters supported by the Humane Society of Forsyth County. This donation comes as part of the company’s commercial team’s annual “Commercial Capability Week” meetings and events. Mars Petcare’s passion for pets is rooted in its deep history as part of Mars, Inc., a private, family-owned business. In the last year alone, Mars Petcare and its Associates’ giving efforts in the U.S. resulted in: • Donating nearly 13,000 hours of time, • Helping more than 38,000 pets, • Donating more than 11 million pounds of petfood, • Giving of in-kind and actual donations worth nearly $5 million.
30 | August 18, 2016 | Milton Herald | NorthFulton.com
CALENDAR
CALENDAR
NorthFulton.com | Milton Herald | August 18, 2016 | 31
32 | August 18, 2016 | Milton Herald | NorthFulton.com
COMMUNITY
RHS students mourn Natalie Gather at Roswell Square to celebrate a special life By HATCHER HURD hatcher@appenmediagroup.com ROSWELL, Ga. – Slowly they came, entering Roswell Square in small groups of twos or threes mostly. They came the evening of August 4 to say goodbye to their friend and classmate Natalie Henderson who was so brutally torn from their side. The deaths of Natalie and her friend Carter Davis have shocked the North Fulton community right down to its very core. This kind of violence is not expected to visit in the relatively quiet neighborhoods of Roswell and its sister cities in North Fulton. And so they came to mourn young Natalie and to celebrate this young woman taken away at only 17. Yet she had left an indelible impression on so many of her classmates. And that was yet another tragedy to add to her absence – that Natalie would not know how many lives she touched with her warmth, her humor and her love. Three of her closest friends, Averie Booth, Emma “Cookie” Caldwell and Suhad Hussan, had taken it upon themselves to organize the vigil in the park to give Natalie’s friends the opportunity to come together to remember her and to say goodbye. “We’re here to celebrate her life and to honor her,” said Averie. “She was our best friend. She had such a big heart.” Emma Caldwell said it was Natalie who gave her the nickname “Cookie.” “She was a free spirit. She loved to love,” Emma said. Suhad said they had to do this vigil for their friend. “You have to cherish every moment,” she said. The RHS lacrosse team came in
their jerseys joined by Carter’s lacrosse teammates in their jerseys. Quietly, Natalie’s friends took turns sharing their thoughts of her, their memories of her and their prayers for her. They spoke of her kindness to others and how she would go out of her way to make sure someone was not left out. Teammates of hers with the band’s flag corps recalled how Natalie would run into a room and light up everyone with her smile and contagious good humor. They recalled her love for animals, especially the stray and abandoned dogs of Companion Animal Connection in Waleska. One friend, Connor Bollinger from Companion Animal, said, “She was the one always laughing and smiling. She was the happiest person you would ever see. She rescued a Chihuahua that she took everywhere. “She was always getting puppies from the shelter to get them adopted. She just had love for everybody.” That was the common theme from those who knew Natalie. She was full of life and the joy of life. As one friend said near the end of the vigil: “Just seeing her cheerful face was enough to get anyone through the day.”
NorthFulton.com | Milton Herald | August 18, 2016 | 33
34 | August 18, 2016 | Milton Herald | NorthFulton.com
SPORTS
Cambridge hosts preseason scrimmages North Fulton vs. South Fulton teams square off to open season By MILES GARRETT news@northfulton.com MILTON, Ga. — High school football in Fulton County has officially kicked off! Cambridge High School hosted the Fulton County Gridiron Challenge preseason scrimmage Saturday Aug. 13 that included eight different teams. Cambridge, Milton High School and Northview High School were among those that played in the scrimmages. South Fulton came out victorious, winning three of the four matchups with Northview being the sole North Fulton winner against Banneker High School. This is the first year the event has taken place for teams within Fulton County. “I think everyone has been really excited about it,” said Steven Craft, athletic director for Fulton County Schools.
“It’s a great opportunity for all of our Fulton schools to compete against each other. It really showcased our district as a whole, and I think that’s the greatest thing about it.” The scrimmage hosted a plethora of college scouts who surveyed individual players in the event, adding a platform for some of the athletes to showcase their skills before the regular season starts. Next year, the scrimmages will take place at a South Fulton school. “It wasn’t so much a north-south challenge for us but it was all Fulton,” Craft said. “We wanted to make this a true Fulton event.” As for the teams playing in the preseason matchups, Cambridge and Milton received good measuring points for where they stand with games against Creekside High School and Westlake High School. Creekside comes into the season regarded as one of the top-10 teams in Georgia, whereas Westlake has many highly-touted recruits on both sides of the ball. Both Milton coach Howie DeCristo-
MILES GARRETT/HERALD
faro and Cambridge coach Craig Bennett described the games as providing their teams with areas to focus on before the regular season starts and see where pros and cons lie. “I think the defense played great,” DeCristofaro said. “In a game like this, you just want to see where you’re at. I think we’ll get better and we have a chance to be pretty good this year.” Bennett added that while he was
impressed with his team’s performance, there are plenty of areas to improve upon. “We have a lot to correct and a lot to work on,” he said. “This group is young and we have to get them to believe that they can play with some teams, and I think this game showed them that. We got a step closer to that tonight.” The event also brought forth hundreds in the community as the stadium
COMMUNITY
NorthFulton.com | Milton Herald | August 18, 2016 | 35
North Fulton Community Charities presents Forks & Corks
MILES GARRETT/HERALD
was filled nearly to capacity the entire day. Parents, alumni and students packed the stands to watch the teams play to conclude Fulton County’s first official week of school. Playing host to the event, Cambridge students had a themed “jersey night” where most students came to the scrimmage wearing jerseys as they cheered on the Bears. “It’s cool to see the team come out so that we can support them before the regular season starts,” said senior Max Fleming. “It’s a good preview for what’s going to happen this season, and we get to have all of our friends
out here so it’s always a great time.” Some students came from other schools that were not even participating in the scrimmage. Kings Ridge senior Sean Lake voiced his admiration of high school football through North Fulton’s platform, “I love seeing the Friday night lights and seeing the players come back out here in a packed stadium,” he said. “It was a lot of fun.” Milton will officially start its regular season this Friday, Aug. 19 at Alpharetta High School. Cambridge will host Creekview High School Aug. 26. Milton and Cambridge will meet for the first time Sept. 2 at Milton.
ALPHARETTA, Ga. — North Fulton Community Charities brings the first annual ‘Forks & Corks’ food and wine tasting event to the lawn at Avalon on Thursday, Sept. 8. Forks & Corks will host top restaurants and chefs from Avalon to showcase their culinary craft to attendants. Guests will take pleasure in this delicious tasting event while listening to live music and enjoying a silent auction or other entertainment that evening. The evening is presented by Northside Hospital and will start with a VIP Reception from 6-7 p.m. VIP Guests will receive complimentary valet, early entry to the event and a gift bag to take home. The grand tasting will be held from 7-9 p.m., when attendants will partake in the festivities by tasting and mingling while enjoying music by Az-Izz. Director of Development Vonda Malbrough said, “There is a daily financial struggle for those who are earning less than $25,000 a year. We are excited to present this new event which will allow our community to fully engage and support programs and services offered
to low-income families in North Fulton. 100 percent of the proceeds from this event will go to help NFCC continue offering comprehensive and compassionate services and programs to these families.” General admission is from 7-9 p.m., and VIP admission is from 6-7 p.m. Advance tickets cost $75 and for $85 at the door of the event. Couples tickets are available for $140 as well. Advance tickets are available until Sept. 5, 2016 and can be purchased at nfcchelp.org/ event/nfcc-presents-forks-corks-fundraiser.
36 | August 18, 2016 | Milton Herald | NorthFulton.com
Lewis: Continued from Page 10
doc-
umented was Lewis’ commitment to excellence and he did it cleanly. Speaking to the Greater North Fulton Chamber of Commerce, Lewis said the path to excellence he found as an athlete and a coach requires two things. Repetition and excellence. He broke down the 100-meter race as knowing what you can do and when to do it. Teasing the crowd, he asked how long can a sprinter truly run at full
speed? The answer is surprisingly short: about 1.1 seconds – or about 10 meters. “So for 90 percent of the race, you are either speeding up or slowing down,” he said. So, can you set the moment when to go top speed and when to do it? The answer is yes, and Lewis said that is where repetition comes in. You have to teach your body how to perform and when. “I always had a strong finish. But my top speed was 60 to 70 meters,” he said. The next thing to learn was not to focus on the finish line. That is a distraction. “Let the finish line come to you,” he
said. “Everyone is slowing down at the end. As soon as you tell yourself ‘I got it,’ you are letting up. You have to let the finish line come to you while you are running as hard as you can. “At the end of the day, there are 10 people at the same place. It is not necessarily the fastest, but who manages their race best,” he said. In 1996, the Olympics had come to Atlanta, and so had Lewis. At age 35, he did not have quite the sprinter’s speed he had in past Olympiads. But he qualified in the long jump where he is still the world indoor record holder. A long jumper will jump 26 feet or more, but is in the air only about 1 second. In that time the athlete must choreograph every movement from the run up to launch and then into the air wind milling the arms to propel the body forward and then extending the legs as far as possible. He knew to medal one final time, it would be about focus. Again, it is repetition to train the body to do what he wants that is key. In 1996, his first jump was mechanically off and he scratched on his
second takeoff. He had to make a qualifying jump on the third and final attempt. That was where he brought full focus to what he was doing, launched himself and qualified. “When I didn’t get to go to the Olympics in 1980, it was OK. I knew I would be back. In 1996, I knew this was my last shot and I wanted to go out on a high note. This is where the training comes in. I got in my zone and composed myself.” His jump took him from 15th place to first – and by a foot. The next day, he was relaxed, and when it came his turn in the medal round, he passed and let his jump from the day before stand. “I don’t believe in psyching out the other guy,” he said. Lewis thought he would save his energy to see if he really needed it. He didn’t. He won the gold. But he did find out that out of 21 jumps on the second day, 21 were fouls. He had psyched out all of the competition at age 35.
Kunz:
Continued from Page 6 courage to offer oneself for election by one’s peers as a 12-year-old was on a par with being caught in a snowstorm in the Arizona mountains at 14. At each turn, Kunz was fortunate enough to have the guidance of leaders who would point in the right direction but not command. “It is a memoir and a tribute to those guys I cared for deeply,” he said.
NorthFulton.com | Milton Herald | August 18, 2016 | 37
“It is a tribute to them and a way to express lessons in life I learned in the simplest format.” One chapter deals with corruption in which an act of theft nearly destroyed the Scout troop. That was a challenge for which there are no textbooks. Another challenge was when 24 Scout members undertook to climb a 12,000-foot mountain in the Southwest. Twenty-four started out but only four made it. Self-reliance is only learned through experience, but once learned is a lesson for life.
“I was understanding leadership at a young age. I didn’t know it, but I was preparing myself for more trying experiences. I put myself in situations where I had to make choices to accomplish something,” Kunz said. “There is so much apathy in the world today. To be exceptional – that is true virtue,” he said. Kunz’s book already has a number of fans. Ron Wallace, former president of UPS International and an author of a book on leadership himself said the book will cause readers some “deep soul-searching.” “Once you read it, you will make the
hard choices and know the real meaning of what is easy and wrong or hard and right,” Wallace wrote in the preface of the book. Former Roswell City Councilwoman Becky Wynn wrote, “Any young person who is trying to discern their dream and follow it needs to read ‘To God and My Country.’” It is a book that imparts wisdom to both youngsters and adults. “Scouting was one of the big influences of my life,” Kunz said. “I hope this book inspires others to go find their own adventure and soar like an Eagle.”
38 | August 18, 2016 | Milton Herald | NorthFulton.com
NorthFulton.com | Milton Herald | August 18, 2016 | 39
40 | August 18, 2016 | Milton Herald | NorthFulton.com