Roswell Remembers
Ceremony pays tribute to fallen heroes
By SARAH COYNE sarah@appenmedia.com
ROSWELL, Ga. — Thousands gathered at Roswell City Hall for the 26th annual Roswell Remembers Memorial Day Ceremony May 26.
A sea of red, white and blue overwhelmed the city’s greenspace to
Garden club wins statewide award ► PAGE 4
honor members of the U.S. military who died in service to their country.
The award-winning event is sponsored each year by the City of Roswell and Roswell Rotary Club.
Mayor Kurt Wilson, a U.S. Army veteran, welcomed guests to remember and mourn those who served.
“These are the men and women who answered our nation’s call and never came home,” Wilson said. “They are not just names etched in stone or pictures in a frame. They are sons and daughters, moms and dads, husbands and wives, neighbors and friends.
See MEMORIAL, Page 17
ICE detains recent bride in Alpharetta
By JON WILCOX jon@appenmedia.com
ALPHARETTA, Ga. — Richard Landin was shocked when U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents showed up at his Alpharetta apartment May 12 and handcuffed his wife.
Married for three months, Richard watched in disbelief as agents announced they were detaining Daniela Joy Landin, who entered the U.S. last year as an asylum seeker from Colombia.
“My wife looked at me, teary-eyed and terrified,” Richard said. “And she was like, ‘Wait, what’s going on?’”
See ICE, Page 16
LANDIN/PROVIDED Richard Landin and Daniela Joy Landin enjoy time together after a small, intimate wedding in Alpharetta Feb. 8.
SARAH COYNE/APPEN MEDIA
Retired Col. Carl Hamilton (Skip) Bell honors service members who died on the battlefield and those who later died from injuries sustained while serving. Bell’s remarks were part of the Roswell Remembers Memorial Day Ceremony at Roswell City Hall May 26.
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Authorities seek couple in theft of sunglasses
ALPHARETTA, Ga. — Police are seeking a couple seen on surveillance video stealing thousands of dollars’ worth of sunglasses from an Avalon shop May 13.
Alpharetta police said a store manager reported that a man and woman had entered, picked up four pairs of glasses and left. The man and woman had no interaction with staff.
Shop surveillance cameras show the man and woman entering at 2:16 p.m. and concealing the glasses before leaving at 2:19 p.m.
The suspects wore gray shirts and black pants. The woman had a large cream-colored purse. The man wore a black hat.
Three pairs of Chanel brand glasses and one pair of Ray-Bans were taken.
The glasses are valued at a total of $2,599.
The incident was classified as a felony theft by shoplifting over $500.
— Jon Wilcox
Michigan man arrested for driving stolen vehicle
ROSWELL, Ga. — Roswell Police arrested a 40-year-old Michigan man May 20 after a license plate check showed the Toyota Camry he was driving had been stolen out of Atlanta.
An officer said his automatic license plate reader notified him that the Camry exiting northbound Ga. 400 at Holcomb Bridge Road had been reported stolen in Atlanta the prior day.
The officer said he confirmed the stolen status of the vehicle before calling a backup unit.
After confirming the registered owner of the vehicle was not driving it, officers initi-
ated a “high-risk stop” along Holcomb Bridge Road near Eves Road.
During the stop, officers said they drew their firearms, instructed the driver to throw the keys out the window, step out of the vehicle and slowly walk away before detaining him.
After reading him his Miranda rights, officers said the driver refused to talk at first.
The driver, who was found with an expired license, eventually said he worked at an auto repair shop in Atlanta, which gave him permission to operate the car.
Officers contacted the owner of the auto repair shop and the Camry owner. The vehicle owner said she called Atlanta Police the day before, after the business had been burglarized and the car was stolen. She told officers that she did not know the Michigan man.
After a criminal search history, officers said the Michigan man was on probation and had no state identification, listed home address or phone number.
Officers charged the man with felony theft by receiving stolen property, misdemeanor marijuana possession, drug paraphernalia possession, open container and driving while unlicensed. He was transported to the North Fulton County Jail.
—
Hayden Sumlin
Man seen entering store, taking cash from register
ALPHARETTA, Ga. — A theft was reported at an Old Milton Parkway automobile service business May 15.
Alpharetta police said officers were dispatched to the business about 8 a.m.
The owner told officers a man had entered the business about 7 p.m. May 14, walked behind the reception desk and took $60 from the cash register.
Surveillance video footage shows the suspect wearing a black cap and shirt and blue jeans.
The recording shows the man counting the money before placing it in his pocket. As he exited the business, he bent over to hide from employees in the workshop.
The business closed about 7 p.m., but the door had been left unlocked.
The incident was classified as a felony burglary of a commercial building.
— Jon Wilcox
Roswell, Alpharetta police arrest car break-in suspect
ROSWELL, Ga. — Roswell and Alpharetta police arrested a 25-year-old Austell man May 20 after tracking his vehicle traveling to multiple area parks where break-ins had occurred.
A Roswell officer said two patrons of Big Creek Park off Old Alabama Road discovered their car had been burglarized after hearing glass shatter and their alarm going off.
The owner said she spoke with two witnesses who said they saw a four-door Chevrolet sedan with two masked individuals leave the parking lot.
The officer said vehicle’s owner reported receiving notification of three charges of more than $1,000 at nearby stores. The charges had been declined because she had frozen the accounts. She also reported several other stolen items, totaling at least $100.
The officer said the rear driver’s side window was shattered, and he received permission to tow the vehicle back to headquarters for fingerprinting.
Using the city’s license plate reader system, officers identified the suspects’ vehicle as a gray Chevrolet Malibu with an obscured California license plate.
Officers said the vehicle traveled to Gerard Landing, East Roswell Park and Big Creek Park between 7:50-8:31 p.m. on the day of the break-in.
Later, Alpharetta police located the vehicle at the Ga. 400 exit near North Point Parkway, initiated a traffic stop and detained one suspect.
Roswell police transported the driver, a 25-year-old Austell man, to Wellstar North Fulton Medical Center and then North Fulton County Jail in Alpharetta.
Later, officers secured a warrant for entering a motor vehicle with the intent to commit a felony and transported him to the Rice Street jail.
According to jail records, he was released May 23 after posting a $5,000 surety bond.
THE PICTURE FRAMER
— Hayden Sumlin
Fulton County officials stress progress on jail facilities
By HAYDEN SUMLIN hayden@appenmedia.com
ATLANTA — The Fulton County Commission heard updates May 21 on organizations that affect the more than one million people living in Georgia’s largest county.
Fulton County’s justice system involves several organizations that operate independently, including the District Attorney’s Office, Sheriff’s Office, Superior and State courts and the Solicitor General.
Justice System Programs Director Steve Nawrocki told commissioners the average monthly inmate population across all county jail facilities continues to increase each month.
Nawrocki said the population of unindicted inmates is ticking up in 2025 but the average length of stay, around 214 days as of mid-May, is down more than a week since March.
“Looking at the upcoming activities, refining the options and costs are targeted for the month of June with a final report in July, and then a presentation to the board in August,” Nawrocki said. “Overall, we’re tracking on schedule and continue to make good progress.”
Priorities include continuing to report data on the justice system, automating the jail population analysis and collaborating with the courts.
District 5 County Commissioner Marvin Arington asked if county staff is working with the consent decree monitor, Kathleen Kenney, to develop the capital projects and plan needed to address the dangerous and
unhealthy conditions at the Fulton County Jail.
There are long-standing problems at the Rice Street jail requiring a lengthy and costly process with a consent decree monitor reviewing conditions to ensure the rights of incarcerated citizens are not violated.
The probe into the county’s Rice Street facility and three annexes, including one in Alpharetta, began in 2023 after the murder of an unindicted inmate who had been in custody for eight months.
Nawrocki said the county does plan to engage the monitor. The capital improvements to the jail began before the federal consent decree, he said, and the county is making progress.
“We know the monitor is now engaged with the county,” Nawrocki said. “We will engage with them as we refine the scope to ensure that we are hitting compliance, these are meeting the humanitarian needs.”
Fulton County Commission Chairman Robb Pitts seconded Arington’s push to involve the monitor.
“The question though is, is everything we’re doing consistent with what we should be doing based on the report?” Pitts asked.
Nawrocki said the issues will be addressed in the current capital program or an upcoming one.
The overall jail population remains much lower than it was in summer 2023. A part of the reason is an ongoing “Jail Blitz” capital repair program, which is expected to wrap up in August. The maintenance has put some 500 beds out of service.
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Joseph Davis, director of the county’s Real Estate and Asset Management Department, said the number of monthly work orders at the jail varies between 950-1,700 individual requests.
Davis said coordination with the Sherriff’s Office to ensure contractors are safe while on-site has been working well and allowing the timely delivery of upgrades.
Last August, commissioners approved $3.2 million to upgrade fire alarms, modernize elevators and replace appliances. Davis said the remaining work is going out for bids.
Because a lot of the damage inside the jail is caused by inmates, District 1 Commissioner Bridget Thorne asked if the behavior is being addressed.
Davis responded that the Sheriff’s Office brings additional charges based on the level of damage.
In other business at the commission meeting, representatives from MARTA and Atlanta Beltline gave updates on capital projects, user and ridership data and follow-through with affordable housing goals.
While both organizations are focused on completing projects for the 2026 World Cup, Commissioner
Thorne shared her support for path and trail connectivity and asked about plans to connect the Beltline with North Fulton.
Federal funding cuts jeopardize plans from both organizations, and both representatives reported they are preparing for the worst to ensure projects have the capital to move along.
The PATH Foundation’s multiuse trail along Ga. 400, a key to connect the Beltline’s Northwest Trail to Buckhead and Central Perimeter north of I-285 has the federal funding required to complete construction in the next four years.
From there, trail networks throughout Sandy Springs and Roswell could eventually connect into Alpharetta’s Alpha Loop farther north.
“I’m a long-time advocator for the paths and connecting the communities,” said Thorne, who sat on a vision board for the Alpha Loop. “I’d like to look at the impact on the whole region on how the Beltline is going to have that ‘halo effect,’ connect other cities and benefit the taxpayers from the entire county, from North to South.”
Roswell Garden Club celebrates state award
By SARAH COYNE sarah@appenmedia.com
ROSWELL, Ga. — As president of the Roswell Garden Club, Debbie Vann never expected her group to win The Georgia Garden Club of the Year for 2025, let alone five other times in the past 18 years.
Her small but passionate group of 35 women meet once a month from September through May to socialize, learn and volunteer in the community.
“I didn't think we would be able to ever win this award again,” Vann said.
On May 20, Vann and her girls celebrated their accomplishments at the last meeting of the season.
Mayor Kurt Wilson and City Councilwoman Lee Hills joined in on the fun to read a proclamation to the club to celebrate their hard work.
“It is a big deal to get a proclamation,” Vann said. “We're interested in making this city aware of garden clubs right now. We've kind of encouraged [and] want new members.”
As affiliates with the National Garden Club, The Garden Club of Georgia, Inc., Deep South Garden Clubs, Dogwood District and The Fulton Federation of Garden Clubs, Vann and her group traveled to Augusta April 29 for the 97th annual Garden Club of Georgia Convention.
Vann’s group added its 6th Garden Club of the Year trophy to its collection. The Roswell Garden Club placed first out of 273 groups in the state.
“I’ve been over the moon about this award,” Vann said.
The group was also given the Bird Award, Cemetery Award, Herb Award, Gardens for Challenged Award, Special Achievement Award, Public Relations Award, Garden Therapy Award and two Publications awards.
To win The Garden Club of Georgia Trophy, the team of ladies must define and address the club’s membership, financial management, service, club projects and club representation at the state convention, district meetings and programs.
The Roswell Garden Club was also celebrated for its holiday decorations, member participation and
horticulture program.
The group will be celebrating its 75-year anniversary next year at the Roswell History Museum.
Throughout those 75 years, the Roswell Garden Club has committed to its motto, “Roswell, Ours to Beautify, Educate, and Conserve.”
The ladies have established gardens at the Archibald Smith Plantation Home, Mimosa Hall and Barrington Hall. The club also works with the community in various ways including garden therapy, youth and senior projects, educational handouts and holiday decorations.
Educational programs are presented at each meeting to keep members up to date with the latest gardening techniques and trends.
“Perhaps most importantly friendships are built, and self-growth continues to take place,” member
Dotty Etris said. “This happens within the club membership from all walks of life. Gardening is a soul journey that brings happiness on many levels.”
The club also maintains two plots at the Roswell Historic Cemetery.
Vann, who’s favorite flowers are clematis, poppies and dahlias has been club president since 2003. She wants the city to know that the club is not your grandma’s club. The group is meant for anyone, at any age who is passionate for gardening.
The first meeting for the next season will be Sept. 23 from 9 a.m. to noon at the Roswell Area Park Community Activity Building. All meetings will be on the fourth Tuesday every month from September to May.
To learn more, contact Debbie Vann debgailvann@ gmail.com or visit the Roswell Garden Facebook page.
SARAH COYNE/APPEN MEDIA
Mayor Kurt Wilson and members of the Roswell Garden Club celebrate the group’s accomplishment May 20 at the Roswell Area Park Community Activity Building.
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Robotics class opens doors for Forsyth County students
By JON WILCOX jon@appenmedia.com
ALPHARETTA, Ga. — A simple, twowheel robot gave Forsyth County kids a jumpstart on becoming the technologists of tomorrow.
“You just nudge them in the right direction, and they can do amazing things,” said Pranjal Mishra, a wealth division technologist working at Alpharetta’s Morgan Stanley campus.
Mishra and other Morgan Stanley employees guided about 20 Forsyth County middle schoolers through a robotics class at the Forsyth County Family YMCA this spring. Together, they built and programmed robots, learning about artificial intelligence, computer programming and automation.
On May 8, the youths visited the company’s Alpharetta campus at 1 Edison Drive where they proudly demonstrated their creations and accepted certificates while munching on pizza.
The graduation was the culmination of an about month-long STEM robotics course hosted by Morgan Stanley and the YMCA.
The robots were relatively simple in design, capable of moving forward and backward and turning, but the concepts behind their function were profound. The young participants used a Microsoft interface to
create instructions for Raspberry Pi computer chips and infrared receivers.
The four-week course taught powerful programming ideas like variables, functions and hardware. Those lessons may provide a foundation for future careers of many kinds, for which programming is becoming increasingly essential, Mishra said.
For example, Mishra said programming and artificial intelligence are even becoming essential tools in the financial industry.
During the past 10 years, artificial intelligence has emerged at many cutting-edge financial firms to facilitate high-speed trading, according to an International Monetary Fund blog. The technology also is allowing firms to analyze vast quantities of data to create powerful forecasts.
Marsha Nichols, vice president global tech philanthropy, said the course aims to provide opportunities for kids by giving them the tools they need to use technology as adults. It also provides them with a chance to develop soft skills like problem solving.
“You hope the next generation takes it in the right direction, in a positive direction, and that technology is not something that's eliminating opportunities for them,” she said.
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JON WILCOX/APPEN MEDIA
Course participants grab their robots to demonstrate them during a graduation ceremony at Morgan Stanley’s Alpharetta campus May 8.
Groveway schedules trip to Legacy Sites
ROSWELL, Ga. — Groveway Community Group invites the community to the Legacy Sites in Montgomery, Alabama, July 24.
The Georgia Coach Lines bus trip will include a visit to the Freedom Monument Sculpture Park, the Legacy Museum and the National
Memorial for Peace and Justice.
The Legacy Sites serve to engage visitors with America’s history of racial injustice, in the heart of where the Civil Rights Movement began.
The day begins at 7:30 a.m. and ends at 8 p.m. Cost for adults is $75, and $60 for children under 15.
Anyone under 15-years-old must be accompanied by an adult. Attendees do not have to be from Roswell to join.
A nonrefundable deposit of $30 is due by June 16, and the full payment is due July 16.
The fee will include travel, light
breakfast, entry into all three museums and a boxed meal on return.
For more information call, 770-992-4245 or visit www. grovewaycommunitygroup.org.
— Sarah Coyne
Voter education team reaches out to residents
By JON WILCOX jon@appenmedia.com
FULTON COUNTY, Ga. — Fulton County is working to inform voters about the issues that impact them directly.
The Voter Education and Outreach Team is a nonpartisan group seeking to provide election information to enhance voters’ experiences, said LaShandra Little, Fulton County voter education and outreach manager.
The team demonstrates electronic voting equipment, provides information for working at the polls and issues free Georgia Voter Identification cards. Presentations are given at a variety of locations, including senior centers, schools, neighborhood and civic meetings, churches and social meetings.
“This is our responsibility to the voting process,” Little said.
To become a deputy registrar, email veo@fultoncountyga.gov or call 404-612-7020.
On May 7, members of the team set up a table in the foyer of Ocee Library, 5090 Abbotts Bridge Road, in one of dozens of similar appearances scheduled for May.
“The Voter Education and Outreach Team of Fulton County aims to educate, empower and inform voters on legislation and regulations impacting them, increase and nurture enthusiasm for the electoral process and reach out to all eligible voters throughout the county,” Little said.
As a part of the county’s Department of Registration and Elections divisions, the team is funded through the county and run by staff. Residents who train as deputy registrars may volunteer.
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A mobile voter education vehicle is visiting sites as part of the county’s nonpartisan Voter Education and Outreach team.
This is one of the most important economic regions for the whole Southeastern region.
RUSTY PAUL, Mayor of Sandy Springs
8 | Alpharetta-Roswell Herald | May 29, 2025
Envision Perimeter pitches district as Atlanta’s headquarters
By HAYDEN SUMLIN hayden@appenmedia.com
SANDY SPRINGS, Ga. — Elected leaders and a few hundred members of the business community gathered May 20 for the inaugural Envision Perimeter on the 12th floor of the King building.
Envision Perimeter is the product of several groups coming together, the Perimeter Community Improvement Districts, the new Greater Perimeter Chamber and the business community that backs both.
Since commercial owners rallied together to form a self-taxing commercial district just north of I-285 in 1999, Central Perimeter has gone from farmland to one of the largest edge cities in the United States.
Central Perimeter sports some of Metro Atlanta’s newest Class A office space.
According to data from global commercial real estate firm Cushman & Wakefield, the commercial district outperformed all Metro Atlanta submarkets in leasing activity throughout 2024. With more than 1.3 million square feet of new leasing and the largest year-over-year increase, Perimeter just beat out midtown Atlanta. Cushman & Wakefield cites proximity to downtown Atlanta, relative affordability when compared to the urban core and a strong talent base as reasons for a spur in demand.
The event was thrown as a community celebration of progress within the business district, which encompasses pieces of the cities of Brookhaven, Dunwoody and Sandy Springs.
Regent Partner Principal John Bell, whose team leases the King building, is an Atlanta native, Marist graduate and member of the Perimeter CIDs’ Fulton County Board. He said he’s had a front row seat to Central Perimeter’s growth, from farmland to urban streetscape.
“This development has long been a part of the Perimeter story,” Bell said. “An icon, a landmark? Yes, but also a symbol of what this district is: established, resilient and forward-moving.”
The theme of the summit was “Every Piece in Place,” a nod to the wrap up of major enhancements to the Ga. 400 and I-285 interchange just north of “Pill Hill” in Sandy Springs.
Getting infrastructure on par Situated at Ga. 400 and I-285, the
King and Queen buildings off Concourse Parkway gave attendees a 360-degree view of Central Perimeter with the Buckhead and Atlanta skylines on the horizon.
Georgia Department of Transportation Commissioner Russel McMurray said the wrap-up of the $800 million Transform 285/400 project at the major intersection is the first critical piece of the puzzle for mobility improvements within Metro Atlanta.
“Today is a full circle moment. This is where we did a ceremonial groundbreaking, too long ago I might add, for this big project,” McMurray said. “Back when we were struggling to figure out how to fund [the project] … PCID came through with a $10 million investment to help us advance the project.”
That project broke ground in 2017, indicating the protracted timeline that typically goes with major infrastructure improvement projects.
McMurray said the ongoing progress on PATH400 is one piece of the puzzle and an example of several organizations and cities coming together. The multi-use trail along Ga. 400 checks a lot of boxes for regional trail advocates. When completed, it will allow pedestrians and cyclists to get from Central Perimeter to Buckhead and the Atlanta Beltline.
The Georgia Department of Transportation built a part of the trail system through one of the busiest interchanges in the country, allowing each Central Perimeter city to build their own connections. Sandy Springs has its portion of PATH400 funded up to Central Perimeter.
McMurray wrapped up by mentioning the kickoff of work on the Ga. 400 Express Lanes project, from the North Springs MARTA station in Sandy Springs to McFarland Parkway in Forsyth County.
“We’re going to give you a reprieve from orange barrels for a little bit,” he said. “Enjoy the Transform 285/400 for now … there’s more investment coming in future mobility that will continue to make this Perimeter Center thrive economically and competitively.”
Picking Central
Perimeter
Perimeter CIDs Executive Director Ann Hanlon said another critical piece of the puzzle is public safety, which the commercial district financially supports.
“We’re all really trying really hard to make this a great place,” Hanlon said. “But the foundation of that success, one of the things that makes our job easy, is that Perimeter is the safest, most accessible market in Metro Atlanta.”
Hanlon then introduced the police chiefs in Brookhaven, Dunwoody and Sandy Springs to discuss how their departments partner with the Perimeter CIDs and each other to ensure they’re where they need to be in the community.
While the Dunwoody Police Chief Mike Carlson touted camera technology and drone usage, Sandy Springs Police Chief Kenneth DeSimone touted his department’s new electric motorcycles and bicycles for patrols along PATH400 and throughout Central Perimeter.
Sandy Springs Mayor Rusty Paul said it’s hard to believe that a quarter of the 21st century is already behind us and it’s his job to prepare for the next 25 years.
“This is one of the most important economic regions for the whole Southeastern region,” Paul said. “That doesn’t mean we can rest on our laurels. We’ve got to do a refresh and look at what demands are going to be in the next 2530 years to be able to hold onto what we have here, expand it and grow it.”
One panel during the summit featured
Cushman Wakefield Executive Director Ken Ashley, a Dunwoody native, in conversation with representatives of new Central Perimeter tenants like Newell Brands, TriNet and Marketwave.
Each corporate leader spoke on what attracted them to Central Perimeter, citing the district’s amenities, transportation options and community energy.
Another panel, “The Perimeter Experience: Culture, Community & Belonging,” promoted sponsorships and community service at the Dunwoody Nature Center and commuting shuttles through the CIDs’ Perimeter Connects program.
Looking at next steps
Dunwoody Mayor Lynn Deutsch introduced the keynote speaker, citing intentional public and private investment that seeks to balance density in Central Perimeter.
“Projects like High Street and Ashford Lane show that density done well has tremendous positives, and we plan for much more of this in the future of Dunwoody” Deutsch said. “Dunwoody is thriving to be a happy, connected city.”
Tristan Cleveland, an urban planner with a doctorate in philosophy from Dalhousie University’s Healthy Populations Institute, said suburban retrofitting began in Miami-Dade County in the early 1990s.
“All of this great works that’s happening across Atlanta of bringing walkability and transportation design, it can thank this change,” Cleveland said. With urbanization and growth comes resistance from some residents of Central Perimeter cities. Whether it’s apartment renters being priced out with ongoing redevelopment or homeowners frustrated with neighborhood encroachment, some people are not on board.
Cleveland said skyrocketing housing values is an issue for low-income people, but it also increases the commercial tax base and decreases the residential burden.
In Dunwoody, residents fight city plans to put 12-foot-wide paths in front of single-family homes. In Sandy Springs, homeowners and schools fight over field lighting.
Two things that seem popular among a large majority of residents across north Metro Atlanta are increasing walkability in commercial areas with paths and expanding access to natural landscapes with trails.
PHOTOS BY: HAYDEN SUMLIN/APPEN MEDIA
Dunwoody Mayor Lynn Deutsch and Sandy Springs Mayor Rusty Paul speak on how both sides of the county line are investing in Central Perimeter’s growth, making it a more attractive commercial district.
BOOK EVENTS
Wendy Wax’s Roswell launch gets beach-read season going
By KATHY DES JARDINS CIOFFI newsroom@appenmedia.com
Readers bound for sand, surf and sun have long known to pack Wendy Wax’s seaside stories. The author, born and raised in Florida, moved back in 2022 after decades in Atlanta. She has the word “beach” in the title of six of her 17 novels and two novellas, and numerous others feature beaches on the cover and/or as the setting.
Fittingly, “Just Beachy” is the author’s latest release. Wax will return to Georgia for the book’s Roswell launch June 7 and a series of additional appearances around the metro area sponsored by Bookmiser.
The new novel’s name aside, however, Wax’s books are far more than “beach reads.”
“My protagonists are primarily female,” the USA Today bestselling author said, “and I write journeys of self-discovery and the bonds of friendship that get us through the toughest times. I deal with serious subjects. I just believe that Mary Poppins had it right. A spoonful of humor helps the harsh realities go down.”
Wax first hit on that winning formula for contemporary women’s fiction in the early 2000s. After graduating from the University of Georgia and following a broadcasting career as a television writer, producer and on-camera talent, she was at
Tuesday, June 3, Rita Daniels on “Harriet Tubman: Military Scout and Tenacious Visionary: From Her Roots in Ghana to Her Legacy on the Eastern Shore.” Friends of the Sandy Springs Library and Bookmiser will spotlight Daniels, a Tubman descendent, at 5:30 p.m. Free. Sandy Springs Library, 395 Mount Vernon Highway Northeast. 770509-5611. bookmiser.net/events.html
Saturday, June 7; Monday, June 9, Wendy Wax Georgia launch week sponsored by Bookmiser. On June 7, Atlanta Authors will present Wax in conversation with Karen White at 2 p.m. Roswell Adult Recreation Center, 830 Grimes Bridge Road. On June 9, Friends of the Sandy Springs Library will feature Wax at 6 p.m. with Colleen Oakley. Sandy Springs Library, 395 Mount Vernon Highway Northeast. Two additional appearances will be held in Newnan and Dahlonega. All are free. 770-509-5611. bookmiser.net/events. html
Saturday, June 7, illustrating books with Rob McClurkan, children’s book author and illustrator. 4 p.m. Free. Hampton Park Library, 5345 Settingdown Road, Cumming. 770-781-9840. forsythpl.org/event/13298617
USA Today bestselling author Wendy Wax will launch her latest novel, “Just Beachy” June 7 in Roswell.
home with a newborn and a 2-year-old when she decided to write a novel.
“I chalk that up to post-pregnancy hormones and lack of sleep,” she joked. “I didn't realize how hard it would be, but I needed something creative to focus on in the midst of changing diapers and cleaning up messes.”
And focus she did – to the tune of nearly a book a year since 2003.
As something of a thank-you for that diligence, Atlanta is rolling out the red carpet for “Just Beachy.” The book launches with an afternoon tea in Roswell alongside New York Times bestseller Karen White on June 7, followed by additional appearances in Sandy Springs, Dahlonega and Newnan.
Details about Wax’s North Fulton events are below, along with other June events.
Wednesday, June 11, Emily Carpenter with Kimberly Belle, discussing Carpenter’s latest thriller, “Gothictown.” 5:30 p.m. Free. Poe & Company Bookstore, 1890 Heritage Walk, Suite P101, Milton. 770-797-5566. Poeandcompanybookstore.com
Tuesday, June 24, Johns Creek Books and Gwinnett County Public Library will host Katherine Scott Crawford with her May release, “The Miniaturist's Assistant.” 6 p.m. Free. Duluth Library, 3180 Main Street, Duluth. 770-696-9999. johnscreekbooks.com
Friday, Saturday and Monday, June 27, 28 and 30, Friends of the Roswell Library Book Sale. See website for hours and details. Roswell Library, 115 Norcross St., Roswell. 404-612-9700. forl.net
Sunday, June 29, Books & Brews with Christopher Swann. Hosted by Read It Again Bookstore at Pontoon Brewing, Sandy Springs. 1 p.m. Free. Pontoon Brewing, 500, 8601 Dunwoody Place, Sandy Springs. read-it-again.com
To submit an author event for the upcoming month, email Kathy Des Jardins Cioffi at kathydesjardins3@gmail.com by the 15th.
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JOANNA SOUZA/PROVIDED
School district to use Spalding site for offices, museum
By HAYDEN SUMLIN hayden@appenmedia.com
SANDY SPRINGS, Ga. — After shuttering Spalding Drive Elementary this February, Fulton County Schools announced plans to convert the building into administrative offices and a consolidated teaching museum.
The district said a group of parents reached out shortly after the closure with a proposal, which was shared with district leadership and board members, for a charter school at the Spalding Drive site.
State law requires the school district to consider facility use options, including potential charter school partnerships, when a building is no longer in operation.
Eventually, Fulton County Schools (FCS) opted against the charter option, saying it came to a decision that best supports its “instructional and operational priorities across the district.”
District staff recommended May 6 moving the FCS archives, along with two existing Teaching Museums, to the site.
FCS Chief Operating Officer Noel Maloof said the district, “would also plan to house some of the regional administrative staff, such as special needs and social work,” there.
The district expects to start using the space for administrative staff in July, with the archive and museum relocations finished by August 2026.
“This move will improve district-wide access to educational programming and historical materials, consolidate staff and resources currently spread across two separate facilities, and allow the district to reduce its overall facility footprint,” Brian Noyes, chief communications office for the district, told Appen Media. “Renovation needs at the Spalding site are minimal; s two teaching museums, one in the city of Roswell at 793 Mimosa Blvd. and the other in the city of Hapeville at 689 North Ave. The district says the teaching museums provide hands-on educational exhibits and arts-based programming.
Noyes said instructional programming at the teaching museums
will continue without interruption. Both current sites will be considered for disposition once the transition is complete next fall, he said.
It’s not clear how many administrative offices will be relocating to the former elementary school building.
The school district’s rational for closing Spalding Drive Elementary School was declining enrollment across the city and an aging facility in need of repairs.
Superintendent Mike Looney told board members the decision was between cutting expenses or raising taxes.
In a May 7 statement, Spalding Drive Elementary School parent Raymond Grote asked district leadership to cancel its conversion plan.
“Amid rising costs, staff reductions and lunch price hikes, Fulton County Schools is turning down a $10 million
offer from a nationally recognized charter school operator to purchase the former Spalding Drive Elementary School — opting instead to convert the building into a ‘teaching museum’ and new administrative site,” Grote wrote.
Grote told Appen Media he has spoken with four nationally recognized operators and two of them are interested if parents can secure the former elementary school property.
However, he doesn’t expect the school district to pivot from its plans.
In a recent budget update, Fulton County Schools said it is facing revenue challenges and rising costs. Leadership cites declining enrollment, inflation and a new local tax exemption for seniors as causes of shrinking revenue.
The district says it is using a portion of its financial reserves to cover shortterm gaps while adjusting its long-term budget strategy by cutting central office
spending, eliminating unfilled positions, raising school meal prices, closing the two elementary schools, reviewing contracts amid other cost-cutting measures.
Grote said many former Spalding Drive Elementary families are moving to other counties like Cobb or sending their kids to private school. As for his own family, he says they moved to Sandy Springs specifically for the highperforming Spalding Drive Elementary School.
Mayor Rusty Paul told Appen Media he fully supports the efforts to keep Spalding Drive Elementary open and operating as a neighborhood school.
“I’m curious as to why it could be used as a teaching museum if the building is in such disrepair as the school system alleged,” Paul said. “I’m even more curious as to why there is no effort at least to cooperate with the parents.”
FULTON COUNTY SCHOOLS/PROVIDED
Spalding Drive Elementary School, which the Fulton County School Board voted to shutter earlier this year, is set to become a new teaching museum and administrative offices for Fulton County Schools. A group of Spalding Drive parents said the school district has misplaced priorities after shuttering the high-performing school and declining a charter school proposal.
Thousands turn out to view Johns Creek Touch-A-Truck
By JON WILCOX jon@appenmedia.com
JOHNS CREEK, Ga. — The Johns Creek Touch-A-Truck show was an opportunity for Lincoln Josey’s toys to come to life.
“Our son loves fire trucks and excavators,” said the boy’s mother Lashaun Josey. “He has all the toys at home, all the construction vehicles, a whole fleet.”
Lincoln and hundreds of other local kids and their families flocked to the Johns Creek City Hall parking lot May 17 to get up close and personal
with a host of big vehicles. This year’s lineup included various trucks, an excavator, fire engine, rescue boat, SWAT vehicle, crime scene investigation van, police vehicles and more.
In all, some 2,500 visitors attended, forming long lines to climb atop the vehicles amid blaring dance music and blasts from the vehicles’ horns. Nearby parking lots were filled to capacity, and police officers stood at intersections guiding traffic and crowds of pedestrians.
See TRUCK, Page 13
Lincoln Josey walks on top of a fire engine as his parents Lashaun Josey, left, and AJ Josey stand by during Johns Creek’s Touch-ATruck in the City Hall parking lot May 17.
JON WILCOX/ APPEN MEDIA
EAGLES 17, GRIZZLIES 5
Milton girls lacrosse hoists trophy No. 18
By ANNABELLE REITER annabelle@appenmedia.com
FORSYTH COUNTY, Ga — The Milton girls lacrosse team steamrolled their way to their 13th straight state championship with of a 17-5 victory over Creekview High for the GHSA 2A title.
The city of Milton has two state champions in girls lacrosse, as Cambridge took down Blessed Trinity 17-5 for the 1A title right before the Eagles’ game began at Denmark High School in Forsyth County.
Milton and Creekview met earlier this season on Feb. 27 with the Eagles posting a 20-5 victory. The Grizzlies hoped to continue their momentum from beating Pope 11-9 in the final four. Creekview attempted to keep the game close in the first half, until the Eagles turned on the jets in the third quarter. Milton shut out the Grizzlies in the third period while notching six goals.
2A Offensive Player of the Year Kylie Waters had a hat trick and displayed the Eagles’ toughness on rides, forcing two turnovers.
Milton won multiple 2A all-state
BEARS 17, TITANS 5
awards with the goalie of the year in Alyssa Brackley and the defensive player of the year in Ava Thompson. All three award winners will return next year. Milton had nine total players named to the all-state first-team.
Looking ahead to next season, Milton is losing eight of their 12 starters but faces no shortage of talent in the underclassmen. Sophomore Lillian Katula tied Waters to lead the team against the Grizzlies with a hat trick of
her own and pulled down three draw controls. Fellow sophomore, who also takes draws, Caroline Marshall tallied one goal.
Senior Ella Pauley has been a consistent stronghold on the circle, posting two goals, three assists and seven draw controls. Seniors Payton Kozina and Alyssa Monje notched a goal apiece in their last high school game.
McKenna Merkel, Anna Mellinger and Peyton Baker closed out their Milton careers strong with two goals each.
The Eagles have competed for the state title in the last 20 championship games since GHSA began recognizing lacrosse as a non-club sport in 2005.
Head coach Tim Godby, who has helmed for 21 years and won 18 championships, said “second-to-none” support from the school’s administration has allowed the program to remain so competitive.
“We knew we couldn’t get out-worked in this game,” he said. “We had a lot of people contribute and score like always. Making 20 championship [games], it’s just a testament to all the kids that continue to work hard every year and our parents’ support.”
Cambridge girls lacrosse goes back-to-back
By ANNABELLE REITER
annabelle@appenmedia.com
FORSYTH COUNTY, Ga — The Cambridge girls lacrosse team defended their division 1A state title May 17 with a 17-5 win at Denmark High School over the same opponent they faced in 2024, Blessed Trinity.
The city of Milton is rich in champions as Milton High won the 2A title right after the Bears’ game concluded.
Cambridge swept the class 1A all-state awards. Head coach Pam Masinko took home Coach of the Year. Freshman Susie McElheny was named Goalie of the Year. The Bears’ junior class won both Offensive and Defensive Player of the Year with attacker Kasey Dwyer and defender Gabi Johnson. Senior Jenna Lundstedt was honored as Draw Taker of the Year.
Cambridge had six total players named to the All-State First Team, including attacker Kylie Stitcher and defender Abby Johnson. Midfielder Logan Collen was named to the AllState Second Team.
The Cambridge Bears celebrate their second straight state championship at Denmark High School May 17.
Lundstedt closed her Cambridge career with a hat trick and two assists in the championship. She notched more than 900 draw wins and more
than 600 self-controls. Lundstedt will play Division I lacrosse for the University of Southern California next season.
Stitcher, the only other senior on the team, had the game of her career with five goals and three assists. When Blessed Trinity’s defense face guarded Dwyer, Stitcher stepped up to provide a needed boost.
However, Dwyer wasn’t completely shut down. Four of the Bears’ goals resulted from Dwyer placing a pick to disrupt the Titan’s defense, which was not switching defenders. Despite her noted absence from the stats sheet, Dwyer’s influence on the game was felt.
McElheny had a standout performance in the title game, allowing only three goals and saving an incredible 75 percent of shots on goal. Masinko expressed her pride in the team’s mindset being bigger than the moment.
“I don’t think anybody thought we would win by that much,” she said. “Very, very proud of this group, the way they just battled and took care of business. We have multiple players that are just selfless and willing to do whatever the team needs for that game or particular moment.”
KENNY GRIMES PHOTOGRAPHY/PROVIDED
The Milton Eagles celebrate their 13th straight state championship at Denmark High School May 17.
CAMBRIDGE GIRLS LACROSSE/PROVIDED
Pharmacy, hospital join forces to create ‘Live to the Beat’
METRO ATLANTA — Art Pharmacy is partnering with Wellstar Health System to address the isolation and loneliness pandemic.
The new program allows participants in the Wellstar Live to the Beat heart health program to improve their health by engaging in fun, nonclinical community events. Live to the Beat is a community outreach program that partners with local faith communities to connect participants with community health sources.
Art Pharmacy combines decades of research in the field of arts and health with non-clinical community events like the arts, movement, nature and service to help patient health.
The group will connect participants to community-based activities that will benefit patient’s mental health and well-being.
To learn more about Art Pharmacy, visit www.artpharmacy.co.
— Sarah Coyne
Truck:
Continued from Page 11
For many of the kids, the chance to climb aboard the vehicles was a dream come true.
“He was very excited,” Josey said. “He's normally a talker, and when he saw all of this, he was at a loss for words. He just had this big smile on his face.”
Dylan Penick, recreation coordinator, said Touch-A-Truck routinely draws large crowds. It has been held annually for almost a decade.
“The kids play with mini excavators, mini fire trucks,” he said. “And this is one of the few chances where they have just the freedom to climb on it and jump on it and blow the horns.”
Touch-A-Truck also provided city staff from various departments a chance to meet the residents they serve. Police officers, firefighters and staff from other departments were on hand to answer questions and help youngsters board the vehicles they use every day.
“You have firefighters here and construction workers and garbage truck men, and it's just like a 3- to 7-year-old’s dream,” Penick said.
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See puzzle solutions on Page 23
BINGO – 2 p.m. Sunday, June 8 & 22
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Open Dance - 8 p.m., Dance Lessons - 7:30 p.m.
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For all the details visit: www.club201dance.com
answers in line 1 are 5, 5 and 4 letters). The clues are numbered 1 through 7, with each number containing 3 clues for the 3 answers on the line. But here’s the catch! The clues are not in order - so the first clue in Line 1 may (or may not) actually be for the second or third answer in that line. Got it? Good luck!
PARTNERS
1. Jekyll’s partner. Like some gas. Garbage.
2. Sea bird. Valuable fur. Clark’s partner
3. Poe’s bird. Lum’s partner. Like a busybody.
4. Hardy’s partner. Small salmon. Kind of test.
5. Musical mark. Fibber McGee’s partner. Territory in North-Eastern Canada.
6. Baby buggy. Popeye’s partner. Latin American Dance.
7. Bird venerated by ancient Egyptians. Delilah’s partner. Half-moon tide.
1 Jekyll’s partner. Like some gas. Garbage
2. Sea bird. Valuable fur. Clark’s partner.
How to Solve: Each line in the puzzle above has three clues and three answers. The last letter in the first answer on each line is the first letter of the second answer, and so on. The connecting letter is outlined, giving you the correct number of letters for each answer (the answers in line 1 are 4, 5 and 5 letters). The clues are numbered 1 through 7, which each number containing 3 clues for the 3 answers on the line. But here’s the catch! The clues are not in order - so the first clue in Line 1 may (or may not) actually be for the second or third answer in that line. Got it? Good luck!
3. Poe’s bird. Lum’s partner. Like a busybody
4. Hardy’s partner. Small salmon. Kind of test
5. Musical mark. Fibber McGee’s partner. Territory in NorthEastern Canada.
6. Baby buggy. Popeye’s partner. Latin American dance
7. Bird venerated by ancient Egyptians. Delilah’s partner. Halfmoon tide.
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ICE:
Continued from Page 1
She remains a federal detainee.
On May 25, she was moved to the El Paso (Texas) Service Processing Center from Stewart Detention Center near Columbus, Ga., where she had been held for two weeks, according to the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement online database.
Daniela has no criminal history, Richard said.
The ICE seizure came without warning after a case worker and attorney assured the couple that her appeal of a denied asylum status ruling would prevent her deportation and apprehension, Richard said.
Attempts to reach the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement were unsuccessful.
Richard, a soft-spoken 26-year-old, recounted the story from the living room of his mother’s Marietta home May 21. He has avoided his apartment since Daniela was taken because of the painful memories, his mother said.
“It’s been grueling,” Richard said, tears welling in his eyes. “It’s been horrifying. For my wife, it’s been torturous, It’s very painful.”
‘What’s going on here?’
On the morning of May 12, Richard, who works in corporate sales, was in the shower preparing for work when he heard his puppy Angel barking. Moments later, his wife knocked on the bathroom door, telling him someone was at the front door. He assumed his apartment’s management was visiting for a maintenance issue. But he opened the door to find agents. One was wearing a jacket emblazoned with the acronym “ICE.”
“I was shocked. I was like, ‘What’s going on here?’” Richard said, adding, “She was scared.”
Born in Colombia, Daniela came to the U.S. after she was threatened by paramilitary groups for participating in community charities that worked with youth and people struggling with drug addiction.
“It wasn’t uncommon for those groups to act openly, out in the streets, and kill whoever they decided,” Richard said.
Daniela, a 23-year-old who had graduated from La Universidad Industrial de Santander with a degree in petroleum engineering, presented herself to Border Patrol agents in May 2024 at the California-Mexico border. She had her sights set on working as a petroleum engineer.
The couple met shortly after, connecting online.
Richard said he remembers their first date at the Colombian restaurant La Ruana in Alpharetta. They talked about family, her past life in Colombia and plans for the future.
Richard was drawn to Daniela’s compassion, and there was instantly a connection between the two.
On his way home from the restaurant, he was moved to see a text from her asking if he had arrived home safely.
“It was kind of just like there’s no doubt,” Richard said, smiling. “I was very much already starting to fall for her.”
Soon, Richard introduced Daniela to his friends and family.
“Everybody really liked her,” he said.
They were married Feb. 8 at an Alpharetta event hall in a small ceremony with friends and family.
Richard’s mother, Ana Marie Landin, said the relationship has brought the best out in both of them.
“I see how much she loves him in her patience and dedication,” Ana Marie said. “I see his devotion to her and their relationship.”
Stuck in the system
RICHARD LANDIN/PROVIDED Richard Landin and Daniela Joy Landin kiss on a stone bridge at a park near Milton in 2025.
While an immigration judge denied Daniela’s claim for asylum status during an initial hearing Sept. 12, she has appealed the ruling. At the time, she had no legal representation.
In contrast with the criminal justice system, immigration judges are appointed by the Department of Justice. Also, no attorneys are provided to asylum seekers who cannot afford to hire one.
Since her initial hearing, Daniela has retained Jameel Manji, an immigration attorney based in Tucker.
Throughout her court process, Daniela has never failed to meet a deadline or make an appearance, Manji said. For five months, she wore an ankle monitor that tracked her location.
Richard said the agents who appeared on his door May 12 first said they were there to check the ankle monitor. After checking the device, they told him she had an order for deportation because her asylum had been denied.
Manji said Daniela could be released if she is granted bond, which could be reviewed in a couple of weeks. An immigration board likely will decide her appeal in a matter of months.
The board could deport her, grant her asylum or send her case back to the judge who first reviewed her case, Manji said.
Richard said his wife’s apprehension makes no sense because she was not a flight risk wearing an ankle monitor, has ties to the community and has continued her appeal for asylum status.
Daniela, whom Richard described as friendly, charismatic and caring, has dozens of friends in Alpharetta and Georgia.
“It’s very obvious to people that she has a lot of integrity,” he said. “They know friendship to her means friendship.”
With denial of her initial request for asylum status, Daniela has been unable to work. She hopes to one day become a citizen, Richard said.
In the four months since President Trump took office, the Department of Homeland Security has reported arresting more than 158,000 immigrants who, the agency says, are in the country illegally. The department oversees U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
The Alpharetta Police Department is not involved directly in the federal agency’s immigration enforcement.
“We do not provide direct assistance to ICE in detaining or picking up of individuals for immigration reasons,” said Kate Fies, an Alpharetta Department of Public Safety spokeswoman.
Under Trump’s administration, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement has dramatically changed which immigrants it detains, Manji said.
“The previous administration was focused on individuals with final deportation orders and people with criminal history,” Manji said. “This administration is openly much more aggressive.”
Rigid detention routine
During her two weeks at the Stewart Detention Center, Richard said he spoke to Daniela through a video chat app as much as possible, sometimes twice a day. During in-person visits, they spoke through a telephone, separated by thick glass.
Richard said he worries about his wife’s mental state.
“Every day my wife calls me, and every day I hear her more desperate, more depressed, more feeling like she’s losing faith,” he said.
Daniela was housed in a pod at the detention center, he said.
Overhead lights remain on most of the day. They’re shut off only between midnight and about 4 a.m., when detention officers rouse the all-female pod population, pulling off their blankets and ordering them to sit in their beds to prevent them from going back to sleep.
From 4 a.m. to about 9 or 10 a.m., the detainees sit upright and awake as the pod is cleaned. If detainees move off their beds or fail to follow the rules, they can face punishments, such as restrictions on the in-pod microwave or tablets they use to communicate with the outside world.
“She’s definitely experienced some sleep deprivation in there,” Richard said.
Detainees wear color-coded uniforms signifying their criminal history and potential danger to officers. Daniela wore a green-gray uniform because she has no criminal history, Richard said.
Daniela sometimes worked Sudoku puzzles, but managing boredom has been a challenge.
She rarely ventured out because there is no shade or access to water in the yard.
She related that the food is unappetizing “slop,” Richard said.
His wife could be released if she is granted bond at a hearing.
She is granted time to speak with her attorney once or twice a week. She often presses Richard for updates about her case.
“She always sounds very desperate,” he said. “When she calls me, she’s always asking, ‘Hey, is there an update? Do we know when the bond hearing will be?’ She feels like they’re treating her worse than criminals.”
A future together
Manji said her continued detention is heartbreaking, considering she has “done everything the right way.”
“She followed every single rule. Asylum is a legal right she is entitled to,” he said. “She is an exemplary resident and has a strong support system. She is a woman who is a stuck in a very difficult place.”
Richard said he understands Daniela could be deported, but he tries to avoid thinking about it. He says he will stay with his wife no matter what.
“Obviously I’m not going to be without my wife,” Richard said.
Instead, he thinks about what they will do together when she is released.
The couple has talked extensively about their plans, discussing where they might live and what kind of home they might have.
Daniela hopes to return to school and become more fluent in English.
They hope to have kids one day but haven’t reached agreement about how many.
“She is still dead set on one, but I’m trying to convince her on two,” he said, chuckling.
Those plans are on hold for now.
“We could definitely have a great future together, but unfortunately under the current circumstances it is hard,” Richard said.
Memorial:
Continued from Page 1
They are our greatest heroes.”
Wilson reminded guests that although the day is a national holiday, it is for neighbors and local communities to come together.
Guest speaker, retired Army Col. Carl Hamilton (Skip) Bell, from Marietta, reminded the crowd that the day was not only to remember to who died during service, but also to honor those who passed away due to trauma and illness after their service.
“For many of us, including me, Memorial Day has also become a day to honor fellow veterans who die as a result of that service, not necessarily overseas, but as a result of things that happened to them overseas that they brought back home,” Bell said.
He recounted stories of three friends who passed away, two who died due to the after effects of Agent Orange, and one in combat.
“Memorial Day is about remembering real people who served their country and who died as a result of that service,” Bell said.
Bell left the crowd with a tearful recitation of some lyrics from “More Than a Name on a Wall” by The Stalter Brothers. The song regards a mother
who visits the Vietnam War Memorial to find her son’s name.
Bell was inducted into the Military Veterans Hall of Fame in 2023 for his bravery during the Vietnam War. He served for a total of 31 years and is the recipient of five Bronze Stars, two for valor and 15 Air Medals, one of them for valor.
“Captain Bell’s outstanding display of aggressiveness, devotion to duty and personal bravery, is in keeping with the finest traditions of military service and reflects upon great credit upon himself the First Infantry Division and the United States Army,” Chairman of Roswell Remembers Memorial Day Committee David Young said.
After his first tour, Bell returned to the United States to attend flight school. During his second tour on Aug. 10, 1972, Bell saved the life of the Senior Province Advisor and his party while under attack at a local village, which earned him the Air Medal Award with Valor.
The ceremony also honored veterans and those currently serving. Members of the military were asked to stand when their respective service branch anthem was played. Prisoners of war and those missing in action were also honored.
The ceremony closed with a rendition of “God Bless the USA” by Lee Greenwood sung by Massee McKinley, followed by a 21-gun salute.
SARAH COYNE/APPEN MEDIA
Guests wave their flags as Massee McKinley sings a rendition of “God Bless the U.S.A.” by Lee Greenwood to close out the Memorial Day Ceremony at Roswell City Hall May 26.
The story of Mike Lambert, U.S. Marine
This year marks the 50th anniversary of the fall of Saigon, which brought an end to the Viet Nam War. It is fitting that this week’s column describes the service of one North Fulton veteran.
Mike Lambert was raised in Buckhead. He and his wife Peggy grew up on the same street. Peggy had seven brothers and the first television in the neighborhood. Mike remembers that after school, the neighborhood kids would gather at Peggy’s house to watch the Mickey Mouse Club in black and white. “Her mother and my mother were best friends.”
Peggy’s brother David was a naval officer in Viet Nam. After his tour of duty, he called Mike and said let’s go dancing. Mike said “I don’t know any girls.”
David insisted, saying that his sister Peggy was in town taking a break from her job on Wall Street.
“That was our first date. I went ga ga, and we married 56 days later,” Mike says. “Now we have six children and 28 grandchildren.”
Mike attended high school at Marist College, a school run by the Marist priests in Atlanta. He graduated in 1962 and subsequently graduated from the Jesuit Spring Hill College in Mobile, Alabama.
One day a recruiter came to school.
“I had been following the war in Viet Nam,” Mike says. “In 1965 and 1966, Time magazine was covering the war positively. I thought the war was protecting people in need, and I wanted to help and to do it with the best. I signed up with the U.S. Marines in the summer of 1966, finished college, and after training went to Viet Nam in November 1967.”
Mike remained in-country until December 1968, a normal 13-month tour of duty.
Mike’s assignment as a new 2nd lieutenant was as platoon leader of a rifle platoon: the 3rd Platoon, Company H (Hotel Company) of the 2nd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment of the First Marine Division stationed at An Hoa Combat Base.
“The village of An Hoa was 29 miles west of the Da Nang deep water port,” Mike says. “It was the closest combat base to the Laos/Vietnam border in the sector around Da Nang. Our mission was to block communist infiltration into the area from the Ho Chi Minh Trail. Contact with the enemy was frequent and intense.”
Every morning, the platoon swept a 5-mile portion of the road leading from An Hoa to the Da Nang Combat Base. Each night, the local Viet Cong (VC) buried in the dirt road high-explosive mines that were detonated by pressure. Mike says that sweeping the road was slow and tedious, because if the patrol missed a mine and the mine was detonated by a vehicle or passenger bus, the result would be devastating.
Mike’s initial challenge was to quickly gain the trust of his 46-man platoon. They were seasoned soldiers, just back from a fierce battle where their platoon leader was killed. Mike was well-trained but was on his first tour of duty. The opportunity to prove himself came on day two of his tour.
About halfway up the road during the morning sweep, a sniper opened fire on the platoon from trees about 200 meters away.
“We dropped flat on the ground,” Mike says. “I grabbed my map and compass and took a bearing on the
shooter’s position. My radio operator, who was always by my side, contacted the artillery battery that supported us. I radioed the location of the sniper to the artillery fire direction center in An Hoa. Almost immediately there was an explosion where the sniper was hiding, and the sniper fire stopped. I raised my head and shouted out ‘if my Momma could see me now.’ The platoon broke out in laughter. I was THEIR platoon leader from then on.
“The area was full of North Vietnamese Army (NVA) soldiers and Viet Cong guerillas, plus many booby traps which accounted for most of my marines’ serious injuries. We would lay alongside the trails at night and ambush the North Vietnamese with claymore mines and machine guns from November 1967 to late January 1968.”
In February, the platoon was ordered to move up to the beautiful imperial capital of Hue. The communists had overrun the city in one day with 30,000 troops during the infamous Tet Offensive. Their squads would go into homes, drag the residents to the street and march some to the jungles, hold a trial and summarily execute them or bury them alive, the so-called Hue Massacre of January 1968.
“The crime that these people were charged with was being reactionary,” Mike says. “This meant they would not accept a communist form of government. Neighbors had reported them to communist agents, and these victims were on lists held by NVA political officers. There was no appeal for mercy.”
The battle of Hue lasted 26 days from January 30 to March 3, 1968, one of the longest in the war. It was considered to have had the largest atrocity of the war with several thousand residents and prisoners executed.
“The battle was fierce,” says Mike. “It took us six days to move six blocks. Urban combat was new to us. After months of jungle fighting, we learned that new and unique skill as the days progressed – on-the-job training.
and their staffs made strategic decisions based on real time information.
Following his tour of combat duty, Mike had an assignment at Camp Lejune in North Carolina as assistant officer in charge of the Counterguerilla Warfare Center and then was assigned to attend the Army Ranger School at Fort Benning, Ga. He received a Purple Heart and the Bronze Star with Combat V (V denotes valor). Mike returned to civilian life with the rank of captain. After leaving the military he worked in the magazine printing industry. His current title is “Grandpa Uber” for his many grandchildren.
Bob is director emeritus of the Milton Historical Society and a Member of the City of Alpharetta Historic Preservation Commission. You can email him at bobmey@ bellsouth.net. Bob welcomes suggestions for future columns about local history.
BOB MEYERS
Columnist
PHOTOS BY: LAMBERT FAMILY/PROVIDED
Mike Lambert, center with green necktie, gathers with family members to celebrate his and Peggy’s 50th wedding anniversary at St. Brendan the Navigator Church in Cumming.
Platoon leaders 2nd Lt. Mike Lambert and Staff Sgt. John Miller sit outside their command post at An Hua Combat Base. Command posts typically were where commanders
OPINION
The comprehensive guide to pruning hydrangeas
Hydrangeas are getting a head start with the mild spring, with blossoms forming early this year. So, let’s explore some pruning techniques that will help you enjoy these beauties now and in the future.
Hydrangeas are popular ornamental plants known for their large, showy blooms and lush foliage. Proper pruning is essential for maintaining the health, shape and blooming potential of hydrangeas. In this guide, we'll explore what you need to know about when and how to prune hydrangea plants for optimal growth and beauty.
Before diving into pruning techniques, it's crucial to understand the different types of hydrangeas and their specific pruning requirements:
• Bigleaf hydrangeas (Hydrangea macrophylla): Known for their large, round flower clusters, bigleaf hydrangeas bloom on old wood. This means they set their flower buds in late summer or early fall for the following year's blooms. Pruning at the wrong time can remove these buds, resulting in reduced flowering.
• Panicle hydrangeas (Hydrangea paniculata): Panicle hydrangeas produce cone-shaped flower clusters and bloom on new wood. They are more forgiving when it comes to pruning timing and can be pruned in late winter or early spring before new growth emerges.
• Smooth hydrangeas (Hydrangea arborescens): Smooth hydrangeas produce large, white flower heads and bloom on new wood. Like panicle hydrangeas, they can be pruned in late winter or early spring.
• Oakleaf hydrangeas (Hydrangea quercifolia): Oakleaf hydrangeas feature distinctive oak-shaped leaves and produce cone-shaped flower clusters. They bloom on old wood, so pruning should be done immediately after flowering to avoid removing next year's buds.
The timing of hydrangea pruning depends on the specific type of hydrangea you have:
• Bigleaf and oakleaf hydrangeas: Prune immediately after flowering, typically in late spring or early summer. This allows the plant to develop new growth and set flower buds for the following year.
• Panicle and smooth hydrangeas: These varieties can be pruned in late winter or early spring before new growth begins. Since they bloom on new wood, pruning encourages vigorous growth and abundant flowering during the upcoming season.
Follow these general pruning guidelines for healthy, attractive hydrangea plants:
Remove dead or damaged wood: Begin by cutting out any dead, diseased or damaged branches. Make clean cuts just above a healthy bud or lateral branch. Shape the plant: Trim back any overly long or straggly branches to maintain a neat and compact shape. Aim to create a balanced silhouette while preserving the plant's natural form.
Thinning out: To improve air circulation and reduce overcrowding, selectively thin out interior branches. This helps prevent disease and promotes better light penetration, leading to healthier growth and more abundant blooms.
Deadheading: After flowering, deadhead spent blooms by cutting the flower stalks back to a pair of healthy buds or lateral branches. This encourages the development of new growth and may result in additional blooms later in the season.
Tips for successful pruning:
Use sharp tools: Use sharp, clean pruning shears to make precise cuts and minimize damage to the plant. Sanitize tools: Before pruning, sterilize your pruning tools with rubbing alcohol or a bleach solution to prevent the spread of disease.
Avoid over-pruning: While it's essential to remove dead or unwanted growth, avoid excessive pruning, especially on bigleaf and oakleaf hydrangeas, as this can diminish next year's flowering.
Monitor soil moisture: Hydrangeas prefer consistently moist, well-drained soil. Water deeply during dry periods to keep the root zone evenly moist but avoid waterlogged conditions.
Apply mulch: Mulching around the base of the plant helps retain soil moisture, suppress weeds, and regulate soil temperature. Apply a layer of organic mulch, such as shredded bark or compost, in spring to a depth of 2-4 inches.
Fertilize sparingly: Hydrangeas generally do not require heavy fertilization. Apply a balanced, slowrelease fertilizer in spring, following the manufacturer's instructions. Avoid high-nitrogen fertilizers, as these can encourage excessive foliage growth at the expense of
About the author
This week’s “Garden Buzz” guest columnist is John Fox, a 2024 Fulton County Extension Master Gardener. John was the CEO of Emory Healthcare for 16 years and has an interest in landscapes and plant biology.
flowers.
Proper trimming is essential for maintaining the health, appearance, and blooming performance of hydrangea plants. By understanding the specific pruning requirements of different hydrangea varieties and following best practices for timing and technique, you can ensure that your hydrangeas thrive with beautiful blooms year after year.
Happy gardening!
North Fulton Master Gardeners, Inc. is a Georgia nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization whose purpose is to educate its members and the public in the areas of horticulture and ecology to promote and foster community enrichment. Master Gardener Volunteers are trained and certified by The University of Georgia Cooperative Extension. Learn more at nfmg.net. Previous Garden Buzz columns are featured at: https://www.appenmedia.com/ opinion/columnists/garden_buzz/
JOHN FOX Guest Columnist
Top left: bigleaf hydrangea, photo credit Judy Peacock; Top right: panicle hydrangea, photo credit Judy Peacock; Bottom left: smooth hydrangea, photo credit Judy Peacock; Bottom right: oak leaf hydrangea, photo credit North Carolina Extension Service.
Dinnertime at Doerun Pitcherplant Bog
It’s almost too terrifying to recall, but I do it anyway. They say it helps if you confront your fears. We’ll see.
It started like this.
I’d been doing some edging and pruning, but mostly I was pulling weeds.
Weed pulling, as you know, can be serious business, and this effort was no exception. In fact, the pile of pulled weeds had grown pretty big.
My neighbor walked by about that time and saw what I’d been doing.
“Man” he said, “just wait till the word gets out in Weedville that you’ve been yanking ’em up left and right. Are they ever gonna be mad at you!”
I laughed about that and said something about revenge of the plants. Then back to work and, later, a shower, supper, some reading, and eventually bedtime.
Sleep… I was walking through the woods somewhere, enjoying the fresh springtime air and the sounds of frogs
and birds when suddenly…suddenly… everything went quiet. I mean totally silent. There wasn’t a whisper of sound. It was as if the world held its breath.
So I did too, and that’s when I heard it – a subtle stirring in in the undergrowth…a slight rustle among the leaves…right over there…
And then…and then…
Then I saw it. From the mass of ferns there rose a stalk, a green menace, quivering and shimmering and leaning toward me…
It was a plant. A plant with a hungry gaping maw – cavernous, carnivorous – and it was stretching silently and inexorably right towards me.
I stood terrified, not able to flee. The plant moved closer…closer…and then… I sat bolt upright, knocking covers and pillows aside, heart pounding. It had been a close call, I found myself thinking. But it had only been a dream. Hadn’t it?
Dream or not, I’ve always been fascinated with the idea of carnivorous (a fancy way of saying “meat-eating”) plants. Legend and lore are rife with tales of man-eating marigolds and hungry hyacinths and ravenous rhododendron
and – well, you get the idea. Fortunately, we weed-pullers hope, such legends are only that.
But the fact is that there are indeed plants that get along by eating things that crawl or fly – and as I pull into the parking area at the Doerun Pitcherplant Bog Wildlife Management Area near the community of Doerun in southern Georgia, I was preparing myself to see ’em firsthand.
Doerun Pitcherplant Bog is on Georgia Highway 133 not too far from Reed Bingham State Park. If you’ve never heard of Doerun, don’t worry about it. Just think “near Moultrie west of Adel,” and you’ll be in the right neck of the woods.
What’s drawn me to this 651-acre tract of flat South Georgia landscape is the opportunity to see these plants upclose and personal. I’ll be seeing them in their natural habitat, where nutrientpoor acidic soils means that nourishment must come from somewhere besides the ground. Given such conditions, pitcherplants and other carnivorous flora evolved to get their daily bread from another source – specifically, by tapping the abundance of bugs with which they share their little corner of the world.
The most obvious carnivorous plants at Doerun will be several species of pitcher plants, fascinating creations with hollow trumpet-like leaves. The inside surface of the leaves is lined with downward-pointing hairs, and at the bottom of each trumpet is a pool of water.
All of that is bad news if you’re a bug. You see, the color and aroma of the plants draws insects to the leaves. They creep up the outside toward the inviting lip, walking tentatively, maybe taking a step too far…for once inside, they begin to slip, sliding down-downdown until they find themselves trapped in the unrelenting embrace of that pool of no return. There they will remain,
eventually drowning, while the plant (for its part) digests them at its leisure.
But back to Doerun, where trails provide access to the area and a network of subtle footpaths branches off to let you walk the landscape and look for these plants yourself. The biggest of these is the Yellow Trumpet pitcherplant (Sarracenia flava) with leaves which can grow as much as 3 feet high. You may be able to detect their lemony aroma. Other pitcherplant species at the site include the Hooded Pitcherplant (Sarracenia minor) and the Parrot Pitcherplant (Sarracenia psittacine).
There are other carnivorous plants at Doerun, too, including the diminutive sundews. One species, the Pink Sundew, is a tiny little thing with an overall size about that of a quarter. This plant presents as a radiating rosette of reddish padlike leaves, and each leaf is covered with fine hairlike fibers. At the end of each fiber sits a drop of sweet, honey-like nectar. Small bugs who venture close for a taste soon find themselves mired in sticky stuff, and their struggles cause the leaf to slowly close around the hapless bug as a hand might close around a treasured coin or a precious stone. Once in the plant’s embrace, the bug has had it. The plant digests it, and then later the leaf uncurls and the carcass falls away.
At the Doerun Pitcherplant Bog, visitors age 16 or older will need either a hunting or fishing license or a Lands Pass in order to access the site. You may want some bug repellant, too, and by all means take your camera.
You’ll have a great time under the South Georgia sun exploring the world of Doerun Pitcherplant Bog. Then later, back home, you will also enjoy your air conditioning as you relive what you saw there. You’ll think about the plants…those meat-eating plants… until eventually, tired from the day’s excursion, you’ll probably doze off.
Then… maybe you’ll dream…
STEVE HUDSON Columnist
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Ryder System, Inc. seeks an Application Development Lead in Alpharetta, GA. Participate and provide input into the design, redesign and development of technology products and applications. Telecommuting is permitted. Apply @ https://www.jobpostingtoday.com/ #82794.
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