Alpharetta-Roswell Herald - May 7, 2026

Officials gather to hail launch of Roswell’s Hillrose Market

By HANNAH YAHNE hannah@appenmedia.com

ROSWELL, Ga. — Community members, developers and city leaders gathered May 7 near the construction site of Hillrose Market to celebrate breaking ground on the $120 million

multi-use space across from City Hall.

The 7-acre site will offer more than 140 apartments within walking distance to 75,000-square-feet of retail, dining and office space.

“This is a result of multiple administrations and countless

numbers and members of city leadership taking deliberate approach to this space,” Mayor Mary Robichaux said May 7. “Together, I think we landed on something we’re going to be very proud of.”

See HILLROSE, Page 25

Alpharetta holds talks on TSPLOST III projects

By ANNABELLE REITER annabelle@appenmedia.com

ALPHARETTA, Ga. — Alpharetta residents opened direct dialogue with city officials April 28 to discuss projects to be funded through the countywide transportation sales tax up for voter renewal in November.

The city has until May 31 to submit its list of proposed transportation projects to Fulton County.

This would be the third iteration of the five-year transportation

tax, or TSPLOST III. Alpharetta officials anticipate $71.6 million in revenues from the 0.75 percent sales tax through 2031.

Alpharetta City Councilwoman Katie Reeves led the meeting at City Hall with Public Works Director Pete Sewczwicz. They presented the latest version of tiered potential projects and responded to questions.

“I’d like to communicate better,” Reeves said.

ANNABELLE REITER/APPEN MEDIA

Alpharetta City Councilwoman Katie Reeves speaks to a room of constituents at Alpharetta City Hall April 28. Reeves and Director of Public Works Pete Sewczwicz presented the updated tier list for proposed projects under a renewed transportation tax on the November ballot. The city has a May 31 deadline to turn the list in to Fulton County.

HANNAH YAHNE/APPEN MEDIA

Roswell Mayor and City Council members stand alongside developers of the Hillrose Market at the ground breaking ceremony May 7 outside of City Hall.

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Mall retailer reports theft of clothes, beauty products

ALPHARETTA, Ga. — A North Point Mall shop reported the theft of more than $1,400 of underwear and other merchandise.

Alpharetta police said officers were dispatched to the business about 11 a.m. April 4. A store manager said a theft occurred March 30.

The manager said two women, who appeared to be working together, stole items.

One woman allegedly stole 60 pairs of cotton panties. Another woman allegedly stole 21 beauty care items and perfumes.

No one was reported arrested.

The incident was classified as a felony shoplifting of more than $500.

— Jon Wilcox

Police recover cards after shoplifting report

ROSWELL, Ga. — An employee at the Target on Woodstock Road called police April 28 after observing a young male hide packs of trading cards in his sweatshirt pocket.

The suspect left the store and drove away in a grey Ford Fusion before the responding officer arrived.

CUSTOM FRAMING

Using security cameras to view the car’s license plate, the officer discovered it was registered to an address off Laurel Lake Drive where officers found and arrested the suspect.

The 15 packs of Magic: The Gathering trading cards he allegedly stole earlier that evening were recovered.

This was the third time the store reported seeing the suspect stealing

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cards. Each time, the suspect has taken Magic: The Gathering trading cards and hiding them in his sweatshirt pockets.

The previous thefts totaled more than $250, and those items were not recovered.

The suspect was taken to the Smyrna Jail and given a misdemeanor citation for shoplifting.

— Hannah

Yahne

Man discovers fraud on cell service accounts

ALPHARETTA, Ga. — A 59-year-old Alpharetta man reported fraudulent activity on his cellular service account April 6.

Alpharetta police said the man reported he discovered on April 5 that fraudulent accounts were opened in his name.

The man said two AT&T and one Verizon account was opened using his private information.

The man said he discovered the fraudulent activity after returning from vacation April 5.

The incident was classified as a felony identity fraud of a person.

Jon Wilcox

Concert booking firm scammed by fake text

ROSWELL, Ga. — The Roswell Police Department was alerted to a possible incident of elder abuse and financial fraud at a private residence April 22. It occurred while a 79-year-old woman was living with her daughter off Nesbitt Ferry Road.

The woman was admitted to a nursing and rehabilitation center on Cliffton Road and disclosed to a social worker that she was not properly cared for while living with her daughter. She reported she would only receive one change a day when multiple changes were required.

She also alleged that her daughter would use her debit card without permission and make unauthorized

THE PICTURE FRAMER

purchases and withdrawals. She was unable to provide specific dates or amount of money taken.

The Roswell Police Department said it would file an inquiry with adult protective services.

— Hannah Yahne

Woman cited for battery of Amazon delivery driver

ROSWELL, Ga. — A witness called Roswell Police to report a fight at the scene of what looked to be an accident involving a car and an Amazon delivery vehicle on Willeo Road.

When police arrived, the delivery driver had blood on her face, arms and hands. There was also blood on the vehicle.

The delivery driver told police that she was making stops on Willeo Road and driving slowly while looking at directions. She heard the car behind her honk and attempted to pull off the road so it could pass.

When she pulled over, the car struck the rear driver’s side of the delivery vehicle resulting in minor damage.

The delivery driver said the car’s driver yelled, then exited her vehicle, struck her in the face with her phone and fists. The delivery driver said she began to fight back after being struck while sitting in her vehicle.

During the altercation, the car driver allegedly bit the delivery driver’s left forearm and right pinky which drew blood.

The car driver stated that she had been attacked by the delivery driver while she was sitting in her car.

Two witnesses corroborated the delivery driver’s story.

One witness said the delivery driver was punched in the face at least five times while sitting in the delivery vehicle. The other witness reported seeing the car’s driver trying to pull the other woman from her delivery vehicle.

Police arrested the car driver for battery and took her to the Fulton County Jail.

— Hannah Yahne

Housing study: Alpharetta on target with rental-owner ratio

By JON WILCOX jon@appenmedia.com

ALPHARETTA, Ga. — A new study says Alpharetta is meeting its goal of maintaining a desired balance between renters and homeowners, a ratio Mayor Jim Gilvin said helps preserve the city’s sense of community.

The housing study, conducted by KB Advisory Group, was presented at the May 4 City Council meeting. It shows Alpharetta is at its 68-32 percent target between homeowners and renters, matching the goal set out in the city’s comprehensive plan.

Gilvin said the data helps the city track whether it is creating a place that supports families, businesses and long-term residents. Apartment renters are more likely to move sooner, possibly making them less vested in the city and its political process, he said.

“What has made Alpharetta special is people moved here from all over the world, and then when they had the opportunity to take a job transfer somewhere else, they stayed here,” Gilvin said.

The mayor said he supported studying the city’s housing and residents more than 10 years ago when he was a city councilman and noticed a

DRIVEWAYS & CONCRETE

CITY OF ALPHARETTA/PROVIDED

A graph shows the increase of single- and multifamily homes in Alpharetta since 2010.

high number of apartments receiving government approval.

“I take a moment to thank Councilman Gilvin back in 2014, who lost a lot of 6-1 votes on apartments,” the mayor said, adding, “If you don’t have people vested in your community, you are not going to have a stable community.”

The study comes amid housing market changes across the nation and North Atlanta, said Geoff Koski, president of KB Advisory Group.

As prices of entry-level homes rise, renters are becoming more affluent. It’s in part a result of professionals turning to renting rather than ownership, driving demand for more expensive rentals.

Within the past 10 years, Alpharetta renters earning more than $100,000 have increased by 9 percent, the study said. Over that same time, renters earning less than $50,000 increased by 4 percent.

“Today, it's nearly impossible for an

DRIVEWAYS

entry-level employee, even with a good job, to find a home that is appropriate to their income,” Koski said after his presentation. “New housing prices are above $500,000 or $600,000.”

City Councilman Dan Merkel said he thinks market demand primarily determines the kinds of housing available in Alpharetta, and the city’s high property values inform developers about what kinds of projects they seek.

Alpharetta has become an attractive place to live because of its numerous amenities and services, he said. The city boasts a low crime rate, bounty of nightlife and restaurants, upscale mixeduse shopping centers and good schools, he said.

It also provides considerable pedestrian infrastructure, such as the Alpha Loop and Big Creek Greenway.

In the past 20 years, Merkel said he has seen the price of his own home rise from about $450,000 to about $1.3 million.

Merkel said he is not set on a specific figure for a renter-owner split, but he thinks between 60-70 percent of the city’s stakeholders should be owners.

“What you're looking for is that the majority of the people in the city are invested in the future of the city because they own their property,” he said.

34th Annual TASTE OF ALPHARETTA in

MAY 14, 2026 • 5–10 PM DOWNTOWN

Former Alpharetta bank official charged with money laundering

Federal probe linked to mail theft scheme

ALPHARETTA, Ga. — A former Alpharetta assistant bank manager faces federal charges after attempting to launder millions in a mail theft scheme, authorities said.

Tonya Bailey, who was an assistant financial center manager at an Alpharetta bank, conspired with Francina Juantez Sutton, a 46-yearold Smyrna woman, to open accounts to launder a $4.9 million U.S. Treasury check, the U.S. Attorney's Office, Northern District of Georgia, said.

Sutton received the stolen check, credit cards, gift cards and other items from Shanda Goode and Carnisha Hamilton, who were then employed as mail carriers assigned to the Ralph McGill Post Office in Atlanta and the Marietta Main Post Office.

The carriers allegedly stole the items from March 2020 to September 2025.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office announced May 7 federal charges for those involved in the alleged scheme.

In February 2023, Bailey assisted Sutton in opening an account in the name of an entity that resembled the name of the payee listed on the stolen check with the manager’s assistance, the U.S. Attorney’s Office said.

Two weeks later, Sutton drew two cashier’s checks for $150,000 each from the account and opened two new bank accounts using stolen

personally identifiable information, the U.S. Attorney's Office said. Sutton and Bailey then allegedly deposited $300,000 into the new accounts.

The U.S. Secret Service seized more than $4.7 million from the bank accounts.

Goode, Hamilton and Sutton face federal charges for conspiracy and theft of mail by a postal employee.

Sutton and Bailey are charged with conspiracy to commit bank fraud, bank fraud, money laundering conspiracy, money laundering and aggravated identity theft.

Sutton also was charged with possession of stolen mail, access device fraud and felon in possession of a firearm. Sutton has prior felony convictions for theft, forgery and identity fraud.

This case is being investigated by the U.S. Postal ServiceOffice of Inspector General, U.S. Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration and Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation. The U.S. Secret Service and U.S. Postal Inspection Service also provided assistance.

IRS Special Agent in Charge Demetrius Hardeman said authorities will continue to investigate the crimes, following the money to expose those who profited from the alleged fraud.

“The U.S. Postal Inspection Service relentlessly pursues criminals who exploit the U.S. Mail for unlawful purposes,” Hardeman said.

— Jon Wilcox

Seasonal state burn ban

runs through September

FULTON COUNTY, Ga. — The state’s annual burn ban for 54 North Georgia counties starts May 1, adding to the 91 counties in South and Central Georgia under a 30-day ban to prevent wildfires.

State law prohibits the open burning of yard and land-clearing debris in Metro Atlanta between May 1 and September 30. This is in addition to the year-round state ban on the burning of household garbage.

The ban is enacted to lessen the likelihood of wildfires and to enhance air quality in the dryer months.

Whether it’s before or after May 1,

open burns for the disposal of yard debris are not allowed year-round in parts of Milton that aren’t zoned agricultural.

The burn ban coincides with the majority of Fulton County experiencing an extreme drought, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor, despite recent rainfall.

Wildfires continue to break out in counties across South Georgia after the burn ban was implemented April 22. The two largest wildfires, the Pineland Road Fire and Ga. 82 Fire, have burned nearly 55,000 acres combined.

— Hannah Yahne

Just opened?

Appen

Casa Nuova block party raises $30,000 for cancer research

By HANNAH YAHNE hannah@appenmedia.com

ALPHARETTA, Ga. — Since 2000, Casa Nuova Italian Restaurant’s annual block party has served as owner Maria Fondura’s way of thanking the Alpharetta community for more than two decades of support.

More than 600 people attended the restaurant’s May 3 block party. They filled a buffet line that wrapped around the building as they awaited pasta, empanadas, brisket and seafood paella cooked live at the center of it all.

For Fondura, caring about guests and making them feel welcome is central to the restaurant’s identity.

“It’s a marriage, the service and the food,” Fondura said.

Peter DeJesso has been eating at Casa Nuova in Alpharetta for more than 20 years.

“She always comes around and gives people hugs because she’s just that kind of person,” DeJesso said. “She likes to make sure everyone’s happy.”

Family friends Henry Santos and his daughter Jennifer Santos Sosa traveled from St. Augustine, Florida, to cook paella at the gathering – a tradition spanning most of their 19-year friendship with the Fonduras.

“You get to see a lot of people, old friends,” Henry said. “Every time we come, they’re all looking for us and expecting us to be here, so that’s a good thing. That makes us feel proud, that we’re doing

something great.”

The families met through both their sons’ time at Georgia Tech, and Santos said there was an instant connection.

He spoke about Maria’s husband, Antonio, who died in 2021 after more

Chapel of Reflections

than 45 years in the restaurant industry.

Antonio founded Alfredos, an Italian restaurant known in Atlanta for highquality, comfort food that closed in 2017. In the 1980s, he pioneered the city’s first open-kitchen concept.

After stepping away from the industry, Antonio wanted to recreate Alfredos closer to the family’s new home in Milton.

Between her intelligence and drive, and Antonio’s perseverance and talent, Santos said they created a legacy.

All that’s asked of guests in exchange for free food is a donation to Fondura’s nonprofit, Purple Pansies. This year, attendees donated more than $30,000 to fund pancreatic cancer research and provide financial support to patients and their families.

“Every dollar that we raise goes directly to our cause,” Fondura said.

After losing her mother in 2007 to pancreatic cancer within three months of a diagnosis, Fondura began collecting donations at her annual gathering to give to existing charities. What started as a grassroots effort became a nonprofit

in 2017 that has raised more than $8 million toward clinical trials, research and emergency grants for families.

“Every time that I have a campaign for pancreas cancer as Purple Pansies, I’m honoring her … she’s still alive,” Fondura said.

She said it’s rewarding to see patients with hope – something that Fondura’s mother didn’t have after her diagnosis.

Each year, Purple Pansies hosts a fundraising gala and invites local survivors to meet those supporting research.

Pancreatic cancer survivor Maryanne Winchester from Roswell was invited to the gala and was pleased to learn about a local organization supporting this cause.

“The thing that hits home for us is because … I know where these funds go,” Winchester said. “The research is amazing because it gives all of us a hope that there’s something else to try when we need it.”

To learn more about the Purple Pansies or donate, visit purplepansies. org.

Jennifer Santos Sosa serves paella at Casa Nuova’s community block party May 3. She travels from Florida every year with her father, Henry Sosa, to make paella live at the annual event in Alpharetta.

PHOTOS BY: HANNAH YAHNE/APPEN MEDIA

From left, Maria Fondura, owner of Casa Nuova Italian Restaurant, takes donations at the May 3 block party with Janice Chalovich, executive director of the Purple Pansies.

Roswell parking deck opens with free access for 7 months

By HANNAH YAHNE hannah@appenmedia.com

ROSWELL, Ga. — Roswell’s Green Street parking deck opened May 4, offering free parking for the next seven months.

Roswell elected officials, staff and private partners gathered on Kevin Cash Memorial Drive to cut the ribbon on opening day.

In April, the City Council voted to name a new road adjacent to the parking deck in honor of the Roswell firefighter who died in the line of duty in 2020.

With an additional 395 spots available in Roswell’s downtown area, Mayor Mary Robichaux said they have significantly increased downtown’s capacity and are marking a huge milestone for the city’s growth.

“For years, we’ve talked about the need for more parking and better access in out vibrant downtown,” Robichaux said. “And, today, we’re finally cutting the ribbon.”

Roswell voters approved $20 million of bond funding to build

the parking deck in 2022. Three years later, the City Council awarded a $14.5 million design and construction contract to Winter Construction.

At the project’s groundbreaking last year, former Mayor Kurt Wilson announced that Roswell residents would park for free at the deck.

Under the new mayoral administration, the City Council voted to implement a pay-topark pilot program that will gather data to inform parking rates in 2027.

In the weeks following the vote, Roswell announced that it will provide free parking at the new parking deck while Green Street is shut down for construction. With that decision, the city will forgo an estimated $262,000 in parking revenue that will not be collected during the pilot period.

Roswell will still collect parking revenue on Canton Street, Elizabeth Way and East Alley which offers dynamic pricing for all users on an hourly basis.

Roswell city leaders gather outside the parking deck at the corner of Ga. 9 and

to celebrate its official opening May 4. The deck adds nearly 400 parking spots in the city’s downtown.

HANNAH YAHNE/APPEN MEDIA

Green Street

Commercial areas prioritized for Roswell TSPLOST 2026

By HANNAH YAHNE hannah@appenmedia.com

ROSWELL, Ga. — Residents had an opportunity to learn more about ideas for Roswell’s updated comprehensive plan and how potential transportation projects fit into that vision at a community open house April 30.

Two dozen residents were seated for the presentation from Eric Bosman with Kimley Horn, the consulting firm working with Roswell staff to update the comprehensive plan. He explained this is a key tool that ensures policy decisions are aligned with the community’s 20-year vision.

Bosman said they are prioritizing Roswell’s five commercial activity centers and how the city can reinvest in those areas to enhance residents’ quality of life.

When the plan was updated five years ago, it focused on the preservation and protection of neighborhoods.

“That single-family vision is still prized, it’s still a priority,” Bosman said. “Just the thrust of what we’re doing this time is how do we address those commercial centers to enhance the economic sustainability and viability of

Roswell’s potential projects that could be funded through transportation sales tax overlap with that same area.

“Where there are investments here that contemplate growth, there is also generally a transportation strategy for how we prepare and plan for that,” he said.

Residents asked about the potential for more affordable housing to help attract younger residents as Roswell’s average population grows older. Bosman said the key is crafting repurposed commercial structures into multi-use developments that can eventually be surrounded by different types of housing units.

“It’s not redeveloping single-family neighborhoods,” Bosman said. “It’s reinvesting in the commercial centers and thinking differently about what the housing component of that can and should be in the future.”

the city and the community.”

Many of the activity centers fall within Roswell’s East-West Connection Tax Allocation District, a funding

mechanism started in 2024 that supports reinvestments in the Holcomb Bridge Road corridor.

Bosman highlighted that many of

Roswell sought residents’ input on the 2045 Comprehensive Plan through May 4. At the community open house, the survey had nearly 300 respondents. The city will publish a draft of the comprehensive plan for public review in the coming weeks. Any changes made will come before the City Council for its approval no later than October 31.

PHOTOS BY: HANNAH YAHNE/APPEN MEDIA George Vail asks a question at the open house hosted April 30 at Roswell City Hall for residents to learn more about progress on updating the city’s 2045 Comprehensive Plan.

From left, Transportation Planning Manager Mark Dana speaks with resident Jason Yowell April 30 about potential transportation projects planned for Roswell if Fulton County’s transportation sales tax is renewed this fall.

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How to win as a buyer in Milton and Alpharetta right now

Brought to you by – Heather Taylor | Associate Broker, Founding Member | HOME Luxury Real Estate, North Atlanta | 770.876.4240 | Heather@HOMEgeorgia. com | Instagram: @heathertayloratl

If you are thinking about making a move into a bigger home, a better neighborhood, or finally that property with the land and lifestyle you have been picturing, this market has real opportunity in it. But it also has some quirks that can trip up buyers who are not prepared. After thirteen years of working in this market, here is what I am seeing and what is producing results right now.

Understand what you are walking into Milton and Alpharetta are not the same markets they were two years ago, and that’s really good news for buyers ready to make a move. Days on market have ticked back up, which means you have a little more room to breathe than you did during the frenzy of 2021 and 2022. You are not

writing blind offers anymore. That said, do not mistake a calmer market for a soft one. Well-priced, well-presented homes are still moving. The window is just a little wider now.

Sell with intention, buy with a plan

The biggest mistake I see buyers make is treating the sale of their current home and the purchase of the next one as two separate events. Unless you plan on keeping both homes, they are not. This is one coordinated move, and the sequencing matters enormously. Before you start falling in love with listings, get crystal clear on your numbers. What does your current home realistically sell for? What will your next home actually cost? What does your monthly picture look like after you close? I spent eight years in finance before getting into real estate,

and the buyers who come in having done that math are calmer, more decisive, and get better outcomes.

Know your neighborhood

Milton and Alpharetta are not one market. If you are drawn to acreage, privacy, and a more rural feel, you are looking at a completely different inventory than if you want walkability and proximity to Downtown Alpharetta. Getting specific about what your daily life will look like in your next home narrows your search in a way that saves time and prevents you from chasing the wrong properties.

You have more leverage than you think

In certain price points, sellers are more negotiable than they have been in years. That does not mean lowball offers will land, but a well-prepared buyer coming in with a clean offer, with financing dialed in, and a clear timeline has genuine negotiating power right now. Use it.

Timing the market is the wrong goal I hear this constantly. People waiting for rates to drop, prices to soften, or some signal that the moment is finally right. In a market like Milton and Alpharetta, waiting has historically cost people more than it has saved them. The right time to make your move is when your life is ready, your finances support it, and the right property is available. Those three things lining up matters far more than what the Fed does next month.

The bottom line

Making a move in this market is not about being fearless. It is about being prepared. Know your numbers, know your neighborhoods, and know what you want your next chapter to look like. The buyers who win here are not the ones who waited for perfect conditions. They are the ones who showed up ready. If you are thinking about making a move this year and want a straight conversation and a strategy for your specific situation, I would love to help you get there.

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The standard you set

Brought to you by – The Dolan Group

There’s a version of every experience that’s merely adequate.

The contractor who shows up — but has to come back twice. The financial advisor who answers your questions — but never anticipated them. The service that gets the job done without ever making you feel like it mattered.

And then there’s the version where someone has clearly thought about you.

Where the process feels less like a transaction and more like a partnership. Where the person across the table understands not just what you’re asking

for — but what you actually need.

That gap — between adequate and exceptional — isn’t about price. It’s about intention. It’s about who’s in your corner and how seriously they take that role.

In a community like Milton and Alpharetta, where the decisions people make are deeply personal ones, that standard matters. It’s the one we hold ourselves to — and the one we’d encour age anyone to expect from the people they trust with the important things.

Luxury isn’t a price point.

The Dolan Group | Ansley Real Estate | Christie’s International Real Estate

The most dangerous place for seniors

Brought to you by – Bath and Kitchen Galleria

The bathroom, a place we take for granted, transforms into one of the most hazardous areas in the home for aging seniors. With slippery surfaces, high tub walls, and the need for frequent maneuvering, the risk of falls—the leading cause of injury among older adults—spikes dramatically. John Hogan, President of Bath and Kitchen Galleria and Aging in Place Expert says, “Proactive bathroom modifications are not merely an upgrade; they are an essential investment in the long-term safety, independence, and dignity of our seniors.”

To mitigate the dangers, several specific aspects of the bathroom should be modified to create a supportive and accessible environment:

Shower and Bathtub: The single greatest fall risk is often stepping over a high tub wall. The ideal solution is a curbless or low-threshold walk-in shower to eliminate this barrier entirely. For added security, install a permanent shower seat or bench and a handheld showerhead to allow for comfortable, seated bathing. Shower floor should have non-slip tile surfaces.

Grab Bars: Strategically placed sturdy, professional-grade grab bars are critical. They must be securely anchored into wall studs, not just

the drywall. Placement is key: near the toilet to assist with sitting and standing, and both inside and just outside the shower/tub for secure entry and exit. Modern grab bars come in a variety of stylish finishes to seamlessly blend with your décor.

Toilet Area: A standard toilet can be difficult to use for those with limited mobility. Installing a comfort-height or raised toilet seat reduces the strain on joints and makes the transition from sitting to standing much easier. Pairing this with well-placed grab bars provides a significant boost in stability.

Flooring and Lighting: Replace slippery tile or remove loose bathmats and throw rugs, which are tripping

hazards. Install slip-resistant flooring throughout the bathroom. Finally, good lighting is paramount. Bright, even lighting—including motion-sensor nightlights—helps seniors navigate safely, especially during middle-of-thenight trips.

By implementing these thoughtful changes, the bathroom can evolve from a high-risk area into a secure, comfortable, and accessible space that supports an aging senior’s desire to age in place safely at home. For more information visit Bath and Kitchen Galleria’s showroom at 10591 Old Alabama Rd Connector in Alpharetta (no appointment needed) or call them at 678-459-2292.

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Long Hollow Landing | 7970 Beryl Overlook

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Creekside Overlook debuts near Lake Lanier with model now open and homes from the $700s

Brought to you by - LLANE & Co.

A rare opportunity for spacious, refined living has arrived just minutes from Lake Lanier with the official debut of Creekside Overlook—now selling from the $700s. Featuring a beautifully decorated model home now open for touring, this new community offers a distinctive blend of luxury, privacy, and convenience in one of North Georgia’s most desirable settings. Creekside Overlook is designed for buyers seeking more room to live, entertain, and unwind. Homes are situated on expansive homesites ranging from .59 acre to over 1.39 acre, providing a level of space and separation that

is increasingly hard to find in today’s market. The community’s natural setting, paired with its generous lot sizes, creates an elevated residential experience that feels both private and connected to the surrounding landscape.

The newly opened decorated model home offers a firsthand look at the thoughtful design and craftsmanship that define Creekside Overlook. Built by David Patterson Homes these floorplans showcase open concept living, designer finishes, and seamless indoor-outdoor flow. The model highlights how today’s buyers can enjoy both everyday comfort and upscale entertaining. From spacious kitchens and inviting gathering areas to well-

appointed owner’s suites, each home is designed to reflect modern lifestyles with timeless appeal.

Beyond the homes themselves, Creekside Overlook’s location is a major draw. Just minutes from Lake Lanier, residents have easy access to boating, waterfront dining, and yearround recreation. Whether it’s a morning on the water, an afternoon hike, or an evening out nearby, the community offers a lifestyle that balances relaxation with activity.

At the same time, Creekside Overlook remains conveniently connected to major thoroughfares, shopping, and dining, allowing homeowners to enjoy the tranquility of a more natural set -

ting without sacrificing accessibility. Currently Creekside Overlook has 5 Homes Ready for Move-In this summer. With homes now selling from the $700s, a decorated model open for tours, and up to $45K in special incentives, Creekside Overlook is poised to attract buyers looking for space, style, and a location that truly stands apart. For those seeking a new home near Lake Lanier with room to grow and room to breathe, Creekside Overlook delivers a compelling new choice in the North Atlanta market. Open House every weekend – Saturday: 11am –5pm and Sunday: 1pm – 5pm. Sales and Marketing by LLANE & Co. Equal Housing Opportunity.

The rise of off-market appeal

Brought you by – Peachtree Town and Country

There has been growing conversation around homes being sold “off-market” or as private exclusives — quietly shared with a limited audience before ever reaching the broader market.

On the surface, this approach can feel appealing. It suggests discretion, control, and efficiency.

But in today’s market, it also raises an important question: what is potentially being left behind?

Value is defined by the market

A home’s value is not determined in isolation; it is established by what the market is willing to pay. And the only way to truly understand that value is through full exposure. When a home is introduced to the entire market, it invites visibility, interest, and most critically, competition.

Where competition changes everything

More buyers create more engagement. More engagement creates urgency. And urgency is what ultimately drives stronger pricing. Without that dynamic, the outcome relies on a smaller, more

limited pool of buyers—and the hope that one of them is willing to meet the highest possible value.

The power of timing and momentum

In our experience, the strongest offers rarely come from the first showing or a single interested party. They emerge when multiple buyers recognize the opportunity at the same time, understand the stakes, and act decisively. That environment simply cannot be replicated in a private, off-market setting.

Our Director of Growth and Excellence, Gina Campbell, recently shared a telling example: “I showed a couple a home that, on paper, was a strong on-market opportunity, but it ultimately didn’t feel like the right fit. Their hesitation came down to price—especially when compared to a more updated home across the street that was being offered off-market. What’s interesting, though, is that the on-market home still closed nearly $50,000 over asking—a reminder that the market ultimately tells the real story.”

Confidence drives stronger outcomes

Equally important is buyer confidence. Today’s buyers expect transpar -

ency. They want to feel assured they are seeing all available opportunities and participating in a fair, open process. When that confidence is present, it often translates into stronger offers, better terms, and a smoother overall transaction.

Our perspective is right now

For these reasons, our guidance remains clear. The most effective path for most homeowners is to prepare thoughtfully, launch strategically, and allow the full market to engage. That is where momentum is built, and where optimal outcomes are achieved.

Because ultimately, selling a home is not just about finding a buyer. It is about creating the right conditions for the best possible result. And those conditions are only realized when the market is fully aware, fully engaged, and allowed to do what it does best.

“The goal isn’t simply to find a buyer, it’s to create the conditions where the best buyer is compelled to act. When the market is fully aware, buyers move with confidence, and that confidence is what drives stronger outcomes.”

— Bill Rawlings, Founder & CEO, Peachtree Town & Country

The risks of transfer on death deeds

Brought

to you by

– Estates Law Center USA

In July 2024, Georgia quietly joined a growing number of states allowing transferon-death deeds (TODDs) for real estate. Codified under O.C.G.A. § 44-17-1 et seq., this new law allows property owners to name a beneficiary who automatically receives real estate upon death—without probate.

At first glance, TOD deeds seem like a simple, inexpensive solution. But beneath that simplicity lies a range of legal risks that can create serious unintended consequences. For many property owners, these dangers outweigh the perceived benefits.

Georgia has strict post-death deadlines. Georgia’s TOD statute includes a critical— and often overlooked—requirement:

• The beneficiary must file an affidavit and supporting documents

• Within 9 months of death

• Or the property reverts back to the estate

This creates a dangerous scenario where: 1) Beneficiaries may not know about the deed; 2) Deadlines are missed; 3) Probate becomes necessary anyway. In addition, Title companies have been refusing to provide title insurance for sale of property after death of owner because there is no probate or Trust to determine outstanding debts, creditors, and heirs.

Another failure of the TOD is there is no protection against a beneficiary from

losing your property to his or her creditors, bankruptcy and divorces. Moreover, beneficiary's divorces and creditors could put a lien on your property while you are alive for the beneficiary's interest. Instead, a Trust can shield your home from beneficiary's creditors, lawsuits, and divorces while you are alive and even after your death.

In actuality, TODs provide a false sense of security and marketed as cheap and easy probate avoidance. But that simplicity is exactly the problem that can create "complex legal and financial issues when not carefully planned. TODs cannot do the following:

• Do not address incapacity planning

• Do not coordinate your wishes for multiple beneficiaries

• Do not provide tax or asset protection strategies

• Do not prevent beneficiary's creditors and liens on the property

Bottom line-Georgia’s new TOD deed law offers convenience—but convenience is not the same as good planning

For many individuals, TOD deeds:

• Oversimplify complex estates

• Create unintended consequences

• Increase the risk of disputes and loss of control

• Increases the probability of beneficiary's creditors and divorces from putting liens on a TOD that otherwise would not exist

The reality is that TOD deeds are often a band-aid solution, not a comprehensive strategy. The biggest danger of a transfer-on-death deed isn’t what it does—it’s what it fails to do. Before using a TOD, property owners should carefully evaluate whether they are trading short-term simplicity for long-term problems.

Learn more by reserving a spot in one of our in person workshops.

HOLLY GEERDES

Each line in the puzzle below 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, 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!

WEATHER WATCH

1. Apothecary’s weight. Sultry. Gardener’s stock.

2. Breezy. Knight fight. Baker’s supply.

3. Winter forecast. Thin cracker. South American mountain range.

4. Bread unit. Bird of prey. Nice weather prediction.

5. Coffee order. Kind of prize. Umbrella weather.

6. Music genre. Wintry. Belt-shaped region in the heavens.

7. Part of AWOL. Opera star. Dry as a bone.

1 Apothecary’s weight. Sultry. Gardener’s stock.

2. Breezy. Knight fight, Baker’s supply.

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. Winter forecast. Thin cracker. South American mountain range

4. Bread unit. Bird of prey. Nice weather prediction

5. Coffee order. Kind of prize. Umbrella weather

6. Music genre. Wintry.

How to Solve: To solve the Sudoku puzzle, each row, column and box must contain the numbers 1 to 9.

A

the sum of the white squares to the right of it. A number below the diagonal line is the sum of the white squares in the sequence below it. You may only use the digits 1 to 9, and a digit can only be used once in any sequence.

Roswell native Evan Plunkett drafted fourth overall

By ANNABELLE REITER annabelle@appenmedia.com

ROSWELL, Ga. — The Premier Lacrosse League’s Denver Outlaws used their first-round pick — fourth overall — to select Army midfielder and Roswell native Evan Plunkett April 14.

The Outlaws traded three draft picks to get the No. 4 spot and grab Plunkett. One player being traded for the No. 7, 22 and 28 picks speaks volumes to the value the franchise places on Plunkett.

His lacrosse resume is lengthy, making an immediate impact upon arriving at West Point. He was accustomed to proving himself in the travel circuit and brought the same mindset to New Jersey.

“There’s definitely a chip on your back coming up [to New England] and playing a sport that’s more local to the area,” Plunkett said. “A lot of people assume off the bat that you’re not gonna be as good as everybody else… [they’re] like, ‘You’re not from a hotbed, you can’t do that good,’ so that just put the chip in my back the whole way through.”

Whether motivated by spite, love for the game, or proving his abilities, playing in a top five conference in Division I didn’t obscure the dominance Plunkett established during his high school career.

He won Patriot League rookie of the year and followed it up the next season with an even bigger honor.

As a sophomore, Plunkett was the first midfielder to win Patriot League offensive player of the year since 1997. It was announced April 27 of this year that Plunkett won his second offensive player of the year in three seasons.

Last year, he made the top 25 players in the nation when he was named a nominee for the Tewaaraton Award. This season, he’s already made the nominee list again alongside Army goalie, and fellow Georgia native, Sean Byrne.

Byrne was on the same Thunder Club team as Plunkett when they and several players were cut from the top team in ninth grade. Another 2026 PLL draft pick, Lassiter alum Braden Erksa, was in that B-team group and now is a senior at Maryland.

Plunkett said the sting of being cut lit a fire under him, and he never took his foot off the gas.

Evan, a 2021 Roswell graduate, and his younger brother Hill, class of 2023, were four-year lettermen in lacrosse and played with the Junior Hornets program. They were both dual-sport athletes in football playing defensive back, Evan a walk-up safety and Hill a cornerback. Evan recorded 60 solo tackles his senior year.

Longtime mentor of the Plunketts

their life. Early on, they thought I was giving them something, they’ve given me so much more.”

Evan and Hill both said despite the excitement of draft night, they are locked in as ever on their goal of securing an NCAA tournament appearance.

‘High-energy guys’

Army offensive coordinator Rick Lewis described the brothers as “high energy guys” in the locker room. Lewis said Evan is his own biggest critic and plays with a chip on his shoulder to prove he’s always evolving his game.

“Evan is a captain on the team, a leader, and when he talks, guys listen,” Lewis said. “I mean, you’re talking about a guy who’s a four-year starter and an elite player. He’s had the long stick [midfielder] on him from probably a couple possessions into his first game freshman year.”

Teams have assigned their best midfield defenders to guard Evan, who cemented himself as one of the best players in the conference, evidenced by multiple awards.

“He’s had success since he stepped on campus,” Lewis said. “The biggest thing about him is, it’s just great as a coaching staff when your best players are your hardest workers.”

He described Evan as someone who is incredibly easy to play with and incredibly hard to play against.

Susan Plunkett recounted a story about the recruitment process when it was time for her younger son to go on recruiting visits. It didn’t take long for Hill to shut the process down. He knew where he would be playing in college.

His reasoning?

“He was like, ‘No, I don’t wanna play against Evan, ever,’” Susan said. “Hill was the first commit [in the country] for the class of 2023. He came with us for Evan’s second visit, and he had already made up his mind at that point.”

Evan pulled the trigger nearly as quickly. It took one “civilian school” visit before he called Army head coach Joe Alberici from the Boston airport to confirm where he’d spend his next four years.

and 2014 UNC lacrosse alum T.J. Kemp coaches nearby foe Lassiter but has given lacrosse lessons and private training to the brothers since 2016.

“The biggest thing that Evan brought was just an unrelenting sense of competitive spirit,” Kemp said. “It’s just one of those things where that guy had been slept on, told he was too small or that he wasn’t the right fit, or cut from the team for so long that he didn’t really care what the score was because every possession, it was personal. He was out to prove a point.”

Kemp said the competitive attitude that their parents Patrick and Susan emphasized to the brothers is “in them, not on them.” Their sisters, Lane, who lives in New York, and Alice, a junior at Roswell High, carry the same energy into their professional or cheerleading endeavors.

“Whether it’s at Roswell, on a club field, Mabry Middle School in the mud, these kids have gotten everybody better and raised the standard, ’cause that’s what Plunketts do,” Kemp said. “I have been blessed and excited to be a part of

Susan reflected on the earliest days of Plunkett lacrosse.

“I told my husband, ‘is that like cricket?’” she said. “I mean, we had no earthly idea what [lacrosse] was.”

Susan said Evan’s first lacrosse lesson was on the football field at Fellowship Christian School. It was snowing, and she had just bought him a Roswell lacrosse sweatshirt in the parking lot for extra warmth in the weather.

PLUNKETT FAMILY/PROVIDED

The Plunkett family celebrates the Black Knights’ win at the Naval Academy in Annapolis last season. Evan, bottom right, was drafted to the Premier Lacrosse League one year and two days later.

Plunkett:

Continued from Page 22

“He got back in the car, and he was like, ‘that was awesome,” she said. “And he just loved it from day one, he’s never not loved it.”

She said both her sons have been motivated from a young age to be the best player on the field. Choosing to continue their careers at a school where everyone is as disciplined as they are was exactly what they needed to maximize their success.

Next steps

Athletes at West Point who are drafted to play professional sports can be exempted from their service requirements after graduation. Evan is sticking with his plan of attending flight school for helicopters in Alabama starting in July.

The majority of players in the PLL also have day jobs and view their athletic endeavors as a sort of part-time job. Evan will follow a similar path with

the Denver Outlaws while completing his service requirement.

One of the Outlaws assistant coaches, Jeremy Boltus, is also a West Point alum and will be a pillar of support this summer and going forward. Alum support has meant a great deal to Evan, whether it be his future coaches, his current coaches, or the United COO in a desperate time of need to catch a flight to a funeral.

Evan said the Denver coaching staff is in full support of finishing the college season out strong before he shifts to professional lacrosse.

“It’s a lot of mutual respect between coaches and the player-coach relationship with that aspect,” he said. “It hasn’t set in much, trying to keep that drive going and accomplish the goals with the team I have right now and get everything done we’d like to do.”

Evan said it meant so much to be drafted while surrounded by a group that had been through the fire with him.

“The best aspect was having the guys there supporting me no matter what happened, and having my back through the whole thing no matter what position

or what name gets called,” he said. “That was probably my biggest takeaway was being able to have that moment with 60 of my closest, best, lifelong friends, especially having Hill right there next to me.”

Hill was equally moved, maybe even more so.

“I know I got chills when he got the text that it seemed like it was coming in the next few picks,” Hill said. “Hearing all the guys around him so excited for what happened and what he’s done, that was one of the coolest moments I’ve ever had.”

With Georgia lacrosse continuing to blossom, Army is one of a few teams that have taken a particular liking to Georgia natives. They have four on the roster, along with St. Pius X and Ohio State lacrosse alum Rick Lewis as the offensive coordinator.

Roswell junior Linkin Miller is up next to continue the connection with the Black Knights. He and Hill will play together for one season.

285 Lacrosse, among other organizations, has been working to narrow the gap between hotbeds like

New England or Colorado, and growing lacrosse communities like Georgia. They have hosted the Atlanta Lacrosse Invitational the past two years to bring high-level college games to Georgia.

Evan is his high school coach Bryan Wallace’s second player to be drafted to the pros after Nate Solomon in the 2010s. Evan’s No. 4 pick is the highest that a Georgia player has been recognized.

As for what advice he has for youth players today facing an uphill battle in recruiting, he said playing with a chip on his shoulder has taken him the distance.

“Ride hard, go after ground balls, and run back to the defensive end,” Evan said. “And that’s gonna get you recruited no matter where you’re from. Hustle, put the pedal to the metal and keep going.”

And to other youth athletes in Georgia who may have yet to discover the sport, he shared another message.

“If you like contact and you want to have fun and fly around the field and you’re playing football in the fall, play lacrosse in the spring,” he said. “Keep being athletic, keep running around, keep being competitive.”

ANNABELLE REITER/APPEN MEDIA

Army West Point senior Evan Plunkett weighs his options for a shot or pass at B.T. Harvey Stadium for the Atlanta Lacrosse Invitational Feb. 21. Plunkett is a Roswell High graduate and was recently selected by the Denver Outlaws as the fourth pick of the Premier Lacrosse League draft.

Farmers market seeking vendors to fill Crabapple

MILTON, Ga. — The Milton Farmers Market will return for the season, bringing fresh-grown, handmade and unique items to the Market District Crabapple starting May 20.

Vendor applications are open continuously throughout the season, and Renée Rivers, the Milton market’s manager, said they want to expand their produce and agricultural offerings this year.

The Milton Farmers Market will take place from 4-7 p.m. on the third Wednesday of every month through October.

Interested vendors can email Renée Rivers at trubluepoundcakesllc@gmail. com to participate. Residents can stay up to date on market offerings by following @miltongafarmers on Instagram.

— Hannah Ya hne

Four campers look at rocket replicas during one of last year’s summer camps at the

Mimms Museum offering tech-based summer camps

ROSWELL, Ga. — Few seats remain for the Mimms Museum of Technology and Art’s week-long summer camps centering on science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics (STEAM) taking place June 1 through July 31.

To register, go to register.roswellgov.com, click on “2026 Camps,” select the week then “Specialty Camps,” to find registration for the Mimms Museum’s offerings. Roswell residents will receive discounted registration fees.

The five-day camps are for children ages 7-14 looking to develop hands-on skills and apply knowledge to real-world challenges of robotics, artificial intelligence, coding and other types of technology.

Morning sessions will run from 9 a.m. until noon, and camps in the afternoon will go from 1-4 p.m.

Examples of camps include storytelling through 2-dimensional animations, designing apps powered by

artificial intelligence and building robots designed to compete in arena-style challenges focused on strategy and engineering.

“Empowering future creators, coders and innovators starts with giving imaginative minds the space to experiment and bring new ideas to life,” said Becah Jubon, Mimms Museum’s education and public programs manager. “By sparking curiosity and offering immersive, hands-on experiences with real-world technology, we aim to help campers develop invaluable skills and foster the passion to keep exploring and building.”

The Mimms Museum in Roswell is a nonprofit that has housed one of the world's largest collections of digital-era artifacts and technology-inspired artwork since 2019.

—

U.S. Postal Service launches food drive

ROSWELL, Ga. — Residents are invited to participate in the 33rd annual Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive May 9, a nationwide effort to collect non-perishable food items and donate to local food pantries.

Residents in participating cities, including Roswell, can leave a bag

of nonperishable food next to their mailbox for letter carriers to pick up on their regular delivery routes.

Since 1993, the National Association of Letter Carriers has organized what has grown into the country’s largest one-day food drive on the second Tuesday each May.

Examples of accepted food items are pasta, rice, peanut butter, cereal, canned soups and other shelf-stable items. Be sure to check expiration dates and avoid glass containers.

“Civic involvement and good works are at the heart of who Roswell is,” the city said in a statement. “As

residents around our city – and the country – set out their non-perishable food donations next weekend, they'll do so knowing that their generosity is making a difference for countless people and families in need."

— Hannah Yahne

the launch of the fifth annual Milton Crabapple Farmers Market May 21, 2025 at the Crabapple Market District.

Hannah Yahne

MIMMS MUSEUM OF TECHNOLOGY AND ART/PROVIDED

Mimms Museum of Technology and Art.

HANNAH YAHNE/APPEN MEDIA

From left, Roswell Mayor Mary Robichaux and Councilwoman Christine Hall listen as partners on the Hillrose Market development speak to the project’s public-private collaboration May 7 at the ground breaking ceremony near City Hall.

Projects:

“As a council member, that’s something I want to work on. I was a school board member for 24 years… this is a format I’m really accustomed to, and I like our citizens, I like hearing what they have to say.”

Craig Johnson, president of the Windward Homeowners Association, said his organization is picking up over $250,000 in tax fees related to delays in the widening of McGinnis Ferry Road. He said they are preparing to get more involved in discussions of TSPLOST III.

Johnson told Appen Media he was there to represent the nearly 2,500 homes that make up one of the largest homeowners associations in the state.

He discussed the perception that many of the proposed projects are directed toward the east side of the city. He said his organization needs time to put together a proposal for projects for the west side.

Despite this, he said he has great respect for those who have been taking the charge on transportation projects in Alpharetta.

Johnson said that after working in New York City, moving to Alpharetta and watching the area blossom has been meaningful to him.

“I thought that the city has been on just a great path,” he said. “I’m confident that our city leaders will continue to keep us on a great path.”

Other community members in attendance voiced concerns about sidewalks.

Alpharetta is proposing to spend nearly $31 million of the tax proceeds on citywide maintenance. That includes traffic signals, control equipment and poles, resurfacing, striping and signage, streetlights, guardrails, bridges and

Alpharetta is considering a list of projects for funding through the transportation sales tax if approved by voters this November. Here’s the proposal as it stands:

Tier 1 — $64.3 million

• Citywide maintenance: $30.8 million

• Brookside corridor: $8 million

• Hembree Road corridor: $7 million

• Mayfield Road improvements: $5 million

• Northwinds Alpha Loop: $3.5 million

• Windward sidewalk: $4 million

• Academy Street: $6 million

Tier 2 — $10.7 million

• Kimball Bridge sidewalk widening: $4.75 million

• Mansell Road improvements: $3.25 million

• Milton Ave sidewalk: $2.7 million

general sidewalk maintenance. Changes announced from the previous tier list include moving the westside Alpha Loop project down and the Academy Street project up to tier one. The improvements on Mayfield Road and Windward Parkway were elevated as well, from tier two to tier one.

The Kimball Bridge sidewalk widening has been moved from tier three up to tier two, in preparation for the larger project of widening the entire road. Improvements to Mansell Road from Ga. 400 to Old Roswell Road have been moved up from three to two as well.

Tier three has another $200,000 addition to a proposed debt payment.

The Canton Street sidewalk project has been lowered from tier one to tier three.

Reeves said she plans to hold future meetings in the same style where residents are able to voice their concerns

Hillrose:

Continued from Page 1

The city anticipates the project will be a major economic driver in downtown Roswell generating an additional $802,000 in annual sales tax revenues and 273 permanent jobs.

The progress is being overseen by Roswell’s Downtown Development Authority which coordinates public-private partnerships to promote the growth and redevelopment of the central business district.

However, the Hillrose Market has been at the center of the City Council’s controversial

Tier 3 — $10.7 million

• Canton Street sidewalk: $9.5 million

• Charlotte Dr mini-roundabout $0.5 million

• Debt payment $0.7 million

Other projects — $35.75 million

• Big Creek Greenway boardwalk: $7.5 million

• Westside Alpha Loop: $6 million

• Haynes Bridge Road at Mansell improvements: $2 million

• Kimball Bridge Road widening from Northwinds to Westside Parkway: $7.25 million

• Kimball Bridge sidewalk from Waters to city limits: $8 million

• Traffic calming: $5 million - Douglas Road - Henderson Parkway - Southlake Drive

and said she looks forward to seeing the attendance numbers grow.

Despite this, he said he has great respect for those who have been taking the charge on transportation projects in Alpharetta.

He highlighted the New York Times naming Alpharetta the “best small city for big careers”

Johnson said that after working in New York City, moving to Alpharetta and watching the area blossom has been meaningful to him.

“I thought that the city has been on just a great path,” he said. “I’m confident that our city leaders will continue to keep us on a great path.”

Other community members who attended the meeting voiced concerns about sidewalks.

This would be the third iteration of the countywide transportation sales tax. In

decision to start charging hourly rates in the City Hall parking lot and, eventually, in the new Green Street parking deck.

Financing of the Hillrose project relies on revenue from the 350-space deck being built at the corner of Green Street and Ga. 9, which could fail if more than 100 spots remained free at City Hall.

Roswell announced in April that the parking deck will be free while major enhancements are made to Green and Plum streets, a concession that will lead to an estimated $262,000 loss in parking revenue. The city will still collect on-street parking revenue throughout the parking pilot program approved in March.

November, county residents will vote to renew the tax of three-quarters of a cent on sales that would fund transportation projects. All cities – outside of Atlanta which has its own transportation tax –must submit its list of projects for funding to Fulton County May 31.

Alpharetta City Councilwoman Katie Reeves led the meeting with Director of Public Works Pete Sewczwicz. They presented the latest version of tiered potential projects and responded to questions.

“I’d like to communicate better,” Reeves said. “As a council member, that’s something I want to work on. I was a school board member for 24 years… this is a format I’m really accustomed to, and I like our citizens, I like hearing what they have to say.”

Nearly $31 million will be dedicated to citywide maintenance. That includes traffic signals, control equipment and poles, resurfacing, striping and signage, streetlights, guardrails, bridges and general sidewalk maintenance.

Changes announced from the previous tier list include moving the westside Alpha Loop project down and the Academy Street project up to tier one. The improvements on Mayfield Road and Windward Parkway were elevated as well, from tier two to tier one.

The Kimball Bridge sidewalk widening has been moved from tier three up to tier two, in preparation for the larger project of widening the entire road. Improvements to Mansell Road from Ga. 400 to Old Roswell Road have been moved up from three to two as well.

Tier three has another $200,000 addition to a proposed debt payment.

The Canton Street sidewalk project has been lowered from tier one to tier three. Reeves said she plans to hold future meetings in the same style where residents are able to voice their concerns and said she looks forward to seeing the attendance numbers grow.

Club to honor Georgia jazz great Williams

Mary Lou Williams (born Mary Elfrieda Scruggs; 1910–1981) was born in Atlanta and was one of America's greatest and most multitalented jazz musicians of all time. She is also one of the least well-known. Today's column highlights her musical greatness as Decatur prepares to welcome the Mary Lou Williams Jazz Center, which will open in Decatur this summer. It will host a restaurant, a recording center and a music academy.

Jazz is the only musical artform that is truly and uniquely American. The well-known writer and essayist Gerald Early once said that "when they study our civilization two thousand years from now, there will only be three things that Americans will be known for: the Constitution, baseball and jazz music."

The jazz center is the brainchild of Will Scruggs, who is not related to Mary Scruggs/Mary Lou Williams. Scruggs, a professional jazz saxophonist, is "excited about the number of really great jazz players in the Atlanta area."

The center is the cooperative effort of the Cornerstone Jazz Collective that Scruggs founded. The organization is funded by about 200 local investors, which is why Scruggs calls the Jazz Center a "community owned social enterprise."

Before she died, Williams established a foundation and left all rights to her music and manuscripts to it. The Mary Lou Williams Jazz Foundation will work with the jazz center for special events such as an annual composer's festival to commission new arrangements and new recordings of Mary Lou's work.

"The festival will allow some amazing local people to reimagine her work in wonderful ways," Scruggs said.

The jazz center will occupy the former Decatur Post Office, a large New Deal white marble structure built in 1935. Scruggs' idea is to have activities going on all day. There will be jazz instruction during the day. The restaurant will feature Cuban cuisine and will be called Clave, which is a two-stick Cuban percussion instrument and a Cuban rhythm.

Jazz history

Jazz is different from classical music or rock 'n' roll because jazz musicians can improvise their music while other musicians play works that have been composed to be played repeatedly.

Jazz had its beginning in the late 19th and early 20th centuries largely

of Mary Lou Williams in her New York apartment

The photo was taken by author/photographer William P. Gottlieb who took some 1,600 photos of jazz musicians from 1938 –1948, the “Golden Age of Jazz” when swing was at its peak. It was the first time that the jazz idiom was commercially successful. The Library of Congress purchased the photos in 1995, and as Gottlieb desired, his photos were put in the public domain.

in New Orleans, although its roots go back further than that. Southern slaves brought their music to America. They came from different West African tribes with different musical traditions. One of the earliest influences was ragtime, which dates to the plantation system and was made famous by Scott Joplin and others in the late 1800s and early 1900s. Jazz was influenced by a wide range of different musical styles but always based on improvisation.

Around 1910, New Orleans jazz, known as Dixieland, was made famous in part by the Original Dixieland Jass Band (ODJB) that recorded the first jazz song ever issued, the "Livery Stable Blues." The band inspired the creation of many other jazz bands, and the 1920s to the 1930s became known as the Jazz Age. In 1918, the ODJB recorded "Tiger Rag," which quickly became and still is a jazz

standard. In 2003, the original recording was entered into the National Recording Registry in the U.S. Library of Congress.

The word Dixieland originally referred to the ODJB, not the music. Due in part to Louis Armstrong's All Stars association with the word in the 1940s, Dixieland became associated with the music.

Mary Lou Williams

Mary Lou Williams (1910–1981) is an integral part of the southern jazz tradition. She was a jazz pianist, arranger and composer. She recorded more than 100 records and wrote and arranged for many of the jazz greats of her time. Williams was a philanthropist, educator and mentor to young people until her death from cancer.

She was a child prodigy who was taught piano at age 3 by her mother Virginia Winn, who was an accomplished singer and pianist with classical training.

Williams' biological father left the family while she was an infant. Fletcher Burley was her stepfather who provided stability to the family even though he was not a musician. When Williams was about 4, the family moved to Pittsburgh. Williams had one older biological sister, Mamie, and five stepsiblings from Burley.

She began performing publicly at the age of seven. In 1923, at age 13, Williams played with Duke Ellington and his band. In 1927, she married John Overton Williams, a saxophonist. They moved to Memphis where Williams played piano in his band. That was followed by various jobs as a soloist and freelance arranger for Earl Hines, Benny Goodman and Tommy Dorsey. In 1942, after she had divorced her husband, she moved back to Philadelphia and then to New York to join Duke Ellington's orchestra.

In the 1940s, Williams wrote and arranged for Benny Goodman among others. She was a friend and teacher to numerous other celebrated musicians, including Miles Davis, Dizzy Gillespie, Thelonious Monk and Charlie Parker, who were frequent visitors to her apartment in Harlem, along with Sarah Vaughan. In 1945, she began a weekly radio show in New York called "Mary Lou Williams's Piano Workshop" on WNEW. She frequently visited her brother who lived in Atlanta.

In 1954, Williams converted to Catholicism. She transformed her apartment in Harlem into a halfway house for the poor and for musicians who were suffering from drug addiction.

Circa 1964, she created two companies, Mary Records, her own independent record company, and Cecilia Music, a music publisher to allow her to control her musical output. In 1971, she performed her religious piece "Mary Lou's Mass" on the Dick Cavett Show, and sometime in the early 1970s, she appeared on Sesame Street. In 1977, she performed at Carnegie Hall, and in 1980, she began teaching at Duke University as artist in residence. Sadly, she died just a year later.

Williams was an amazing woman who played throughout all the stages of jazz. The Mary Lou Williams Jazz Center will help her achieve the recognition she deserves.

Bob is a member of the City of Alpharetta Historic Preservation Commission, director emeritus of the Milton Historical Society and member of the Alpharetta and Old Milton County Historical Society. You can email him at bobmey@bellsouth.net. Bob welcomes suggestions for future columns about local history.

BOB MEYERS

Columnist

LIBRARY OF CONGRESS/WILLIAM P. GOTTLIEB COLLECTION

Portrait

circa 1946.

CITY OF MOUNTAIN PARK GEORGIA

BUDGET HEARINGS FOR FISCAL YEAR

2027 (FY27) (JULY 1, 2026 - JUNE 30, 2027)

A Public Hearing on the FY27 Budget is scheduled for May 20th at 6:00 p.m. in the Community Building located at 100 Lakeshore Drive. At this meeting, the Mayor and Council will receive comments about the annual budget for the City of Mountain Park, Georgia. The FY27 Budget will be available for public inspection during normal office hours in City Hall located at 118 Lakeshore Drive or on the city website at www.mountainparkgov.com. Public comment will also be received at the regularly scheduled Work Session on June 10th at 7:00 p.m. The Mayor and Council of the City of Mountain Park are scheduled to vote to adopt the FY27 Budget at the Regular Council meeting held on June 22nd at 7:00 p.m. in the Community Building located at 100 Lakeshore Drive.

PUBLIC NOTICE

PUBLIC REVIEW OF A DRAFT COPY OF THE CITY OF ROSWELL’S DRAFT 2026 ANNUAL ACTION PLAN

VIRTUAL PUBLICATION DATE: MONDAY, MAY 4, 2026

PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD COMMENCE DATE: MONDAY, MAY 4, 2026

PUBLIC COMMENT END DATE: SUNDAY, JUNE 7, 2026 – 5:00 P.M.

The City of Roswell will solicit comments on its 2026 Annual Action Plan at a Public Hearing held at 9:00am and 10:30am on Wednesday, May 13, 2026 at the following location: City of Roswell, 38 Hill St, Room 220, Roswell, GA 30075. This Notice will commence the City’s 30-day public comment period beginning on Monday, May 4, 2026 and ending on Sunday, June 7, 2026

The City of Roswell will submit its 2026 Annual Action Plan with list of projects funded with 2026 Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program allocations to the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) on or before June 8, 2026. The City of Roswell was allocated $443,594.00 in CDBG funding for FY2026. Proposed funding allocations for the City’s 2026 CDBG Program is listed below and on the City’s website at https://www.roswellgov.com/government/departmentsdivision/finance/grants/community-development-block-grants/.

#

1. Section 108 Loan Repayment $443,594.00

Draft copies of the 2026 Annual Action Plan will be available for examination and comment by the public via the City’s website at https://www.roswellgov.com/ government/departments-division/finance/grants/community-development-blockgrants/ will be available for examination and comment by the public during the public hearing scheduled Wednesday, May 13, 2026 at 9:00am. The required public review ends Sunday, June 7, 2026. The City will receive written comments until 5:00 P.M. on Sunday, June 7, 2026

No displacement will occur as a result of the activities described herein. Should displacement occur, the City of Roswell implements the provisions as required by CFR 570.606 (Residential Anti-Displacement and Relocation Assistance). The City of Roswell does not discriminate on the basis of disability in the admission of, access to, or treatment of, or employment, the programs and activities described herein. An interpreter is available upon request to assist persons with limited English proficiency. Any requests for reasonable accommodation required by an individual to fully participate in any open meetings, programs, or activities of the City of Roswell at (770) 641-3727.

AVISO PÚBLICO

REVISIÓN PÚBLICA DE UN BORRADOR DEL BORRADOR DEL PLAN DE ACCIÓN ANUAL 2026 DE LA CIUDAD DE ROSWELL

FECHA DE PUBLICACIÓN VIRTUAL: LUNES, 4 DE MAYO DE 2026

FECHA DE INICIO DEL PERÍODO DE COMENTARIOS PÚBLICOS: LUNES, 4 DE MAYO DE 2026

FECHA DE FINALIZACIÓN DE LOS COMENTARIOS PÚBLICOS: DOMINGO, 7 DE JUNIO DE 2026 – 5:00 P. M.

La Ciudad de Roswell solicitará comentarios sobre su Plan de Acción Anual 2026 en una Audiencia Pública que se celebrará a las 9:00 a. m. y a las 10:30 a. m. el miércoles 13 de mayo de 2026, en la siguiente ubicación: City of Roswell, 38 Hill St, Sala 220, Roswell, GA 30075. Este Aviso dará inicio al período de comentarios públicos de 30 días de la Ciudad, el cual comenzará el lunes 4 de mayo de 2026 y finalizará el domingo 7 de junio de 2026.

La Ciudad de Roswell presentará su Plan de Acción Anual 2026, junto con la lista de proyectos financiados mediante las asignaciones del programa de Subvenciones en Bloque para el Desarrollo Comunitario (CDBG) de 2026, ante el Departamento de Vivienda y Desarrollo Urbano (HUD) a más tardar el 8 de junio de 2026. A la Ciudad de Roswell se le asignaron $443,594.00 en fondos CDBG para el año fiscal 2026. Las asignaciones de fondos propuestas para el Programa CDBG 2026 de la Ciudad se detallan a continuación y se encuentran disponibles en el sitio web de la Ciudad, en la dirección https://www.roswellgov.com/government/departmentsdivision/finance/grants/community-development-block-grants/.

N.º Nombre del proyecto

Monto 1. Reembolso del préstamo de la Sección 108 $443,594.00

Los borradores del Plan de Acción Anual de 2026 estarán disponibles para su examen y comentarios por parte del público a través del sitio web de la Ciudad en https://www.roswellgov.com/government/departments-division/finance/grants/ community-development-block-grants/, y también estarán disponibles para su examen y comentarios durante la audiencia pública programada para el miércoles 13 de mayo de 2026, a las 9:00 a. m. El periodo de revisión pública requerido finalizará el domingo 7 de junio de 2026. La Ciudad recibirá comentarios por escrito hasta las 5:00 p. m. del domingo 7 de junio de 2026.

No se producirá ningún desplazamiento como resultado de las actividades aquí descritas. En caso de que ocurra un desplazamiento, la Ciudad de Roswell implementará las disposiciones exigidas por el CFR 570.606 (Asistencia Residencial contra el Desplazamiento y para la Reubicación). La Ciudad de Roswell no discrimina por motivos de discapacidad en la admisión, el acceso, el trato o el empleo en los programas y actividades aquí descritos. Hay un intérprete disponible, previa solicitud, para asistir a las personas con dominio limitado del inglés. Cualquier solicitud de adaptación razonable que un individuo requiera para participar plenamente en cualquier reunión, programa o actividad abierta de la Ciudad de Roswell puede realizarse llamando al (770) 641-3727.

Crabapple Road • Roswell, GA 30075

TASTE OF ALPHARETTA ROAD CLOSURE NOTICE

4:00am THURSDAY, MAY 14 through 5:00am FRIDAY, MAY 15 2026

On-Street parking will be closed on the following streets May 14 at 4:00am Vehicles left on the streets will be towed at the owner's expense.

MILTON AVENUE

Completely closed from Hwy 9 to the 92 Milton Ave parking deck entrance

OLD ROSWELL STREET

Completely closed

OLD CANTON STREET

Closed to through traffic - hotel valet access only COMMERCE, MARKET, NORTH & SOUTH BROAD STREET

Completely closed

ROSWELL/CANTON STREET - road closure beginning at 4:00am

Completely closed from Old Milton Parkway to School Drive. Access to school from Mayfield Road is for permitted residents and event parking only HWY 9 - road closure beginning at 10:00am until 1:00am

Completely closed from Academy Street to Old Milton Parkway

HAYNES BRIDGE - road closure beginning at 2:00pm

Southbound lane closed only from Academy to Old Milton Parkway

For more information, visit www.tasteofalpharetta.com

The Mayor and City Council of the City of Alpharetta plan to attend a strategic planning retreat where a quorum of the members will be present. The purpose of the retreat is to discuss the goals, initiatives, and direction for the City of Alpharetta.

The retreat will take place at Smokejack BBQ, which is located at 29 South Main Street, Alpharetta, GA 30009. The first session of the Planning Retreat will begin on Thursday, May 21, 2026 at 8:30 a.m. in Jack’s Attic above Smokejack, and the second session of the Planning Retreat will begin on Friday, May 22, 2026 at 8:30 a.m. in Jack’s Attic above Smokejack.

The agenda and minutes for the upcoming 2026 City Council Strategic Planning Retreat will be posted to the City of Alpharetta’s online Meeting Manager Portal at www.alpharetta. ga.us.

Renesas Electronics America Inc., in Johns Creek, GA is in need of: Sr. Validation Engr (RN0301) Resp for supporting Integrated Circuit (IC) Prod Test Devlpmnt, New Prod Intro ramps & maintenance. Refer to job#. Apply: us-hr-staffing@dm.renesas.com

Director of High Performance (Juniors) Cumming, GA. Lead players for tournament & scholarship. Parents & players comm. Plan weekly lessons & tournament scheds. 35% trvl req domestically & internationally to attend tournaments. Req: 2 yrs exp in job offered or closely rel pos. Concurrent exp must incl 2 yrs exp w/ prep. lesson plans & tournament scheds; & communicate w/ parents/ players. Mail resume: Calena Redondo, 7CA Tennis, Inc. 3350 Elder Field Lane, Cumming, GA 30040

Senior Systems Administration needed by AT&T Services, Inc in Alpharetta, GA to be responsible for 24x7 operations, administration, and maintenance of server infrastructure in AT&T’s NC (Network Cloud) Linux based environment. Apply at http:// att.jobs/, select JOB SEARCH and APPLY and select Search by Requisition Number at the left bottom of the page and enter Job Number: R-106071.

Part-Time Bi-lingual (Spanish/English) Thrift Shop Associate

NFCC is looking for a part-time Bi-lingual (Spanish/ English) Thrift Shop Associate to join our team. In this role, you’ll deliver exceptional customer service while handling cash register transactions, managing our client clothing program, and keeping merchandise neat, clean, and organized. Above all, we’re looking for someone with a warm, welcoming presence who treats every shopper with dignity and compassion.

The schedule is Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays 9:30am–5:30pm, Tuesdays 4:30pm–8:30pm, and one Saturday 9:30am-5:30pm per month.

If you’re passionate about serving your community and connecting with people in both English and Spanish, we’d love to hear from you! Please submit your resume to jobs@nfcchelp.org.

APC seeks a vibrant, relational leader to serve as Youth Director for middle and high school students. 20–25 hrs/week | Up to $25/hr. Ideal candidates have a passion for youth mentorship and a background in education, coaching, or youth leadership. Retired teachers and ministryminded professionals encouraged to apply. Strong volunteer team and pastoral support in place.

To apply: Submit a brief introduction and resume to jobs@alpharettapres.com.

ALL-TYPE GUTTERS Repaired and Installed. Covers, siding, soffit, facia. www.aarons-gutters.com. Senior citizen discount! 678-508-2432

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Wesley Financial Group, LLC timeshare cancellation experts over $50 million timeshare debt/fees cancelled in 2019. Free info package. Free consultations. Over 450 positive reviews. 833-308-1971

DIRECTV Stream - Carries the most local MLB Games! Choice Package $89.99/mo for 12 mos Stream on 20 devices at once. HBO Max included for 3 mos (w/Choice Package or higher.) No contract or hidden fees! Some restrictions apply. Call IVS 1-866-859-0405

Jacuzzi Bath Remodel can install a new, custom bath or shower in as little as 1-day. Limited time, waving all installation costs! Additional terms apply. Subject to change & vary by dealer. Ends soon. 844-501-3208

Don’t let the stairs limit your mobility! Discover the ideal solution for anyone who struggles on the stairs, is concerned about a fall or wants to regain access to their entire home. Call AmeriGlide today! 1-833-399-3595

HUGE NEIGHBORHOOD GARAGE SALE. More than 40 homes: Furniture, collectibles, tools, sporting goods, appliances, clothing, toys and more. Streets marked with signs and homes marked with balloons. Rain or shine. MobileHelp America’s premier mobile medical alert system. Whether you’re home or away. For safety & peace of mind. No long term contracts! Free brochure! Call 1-888-489-3936

Consumer Cellular - same

Reach millions of homes nationwide with one easy, affordable buy in the ADS Network! For more information www.communitypublishers.com/ category/all-products

Pest control: Protect your home from pests safely. Roaches, Bed Bugs, Rodent, Termite, Spiders & more. Locally owned & affordable. For service or inspection today! 833-860-0657 Have zip code ready!

Peace of mind & early detection-Now more than ever, it’s important to get screened for Stroke & Cardiovascular Disease risk. Life LineScreening is simple & painless. 833-970-4172

warranty with qualifying purchase* Call 1-855-948-6176 today to schedule a free quote. It’s not just a generator. It’s a power move.

Become a published author. We want to read your book! Dorrance Publishing trusted since 1920. Consultation, production, promotion & distribution. Call for free author’s guide 1-877-729-4998 or visit dorranceinfo.com/ads

Replace your roof w/the best looking & longest lasting material steel from Erie Metal Roofs! 3 styles & multiple colors available. Guaranteed to last a lifetime! Limited Time Offer up to 50% off install + Additional 10% off install (military, health & 1st responders.) 1-833-370-1234

Home break-ins take less than 60 seconds. Don’t wait! Protect your family, your home, your assets now for as little as 70¢/ day! 833-890-1262

Need cash quickly? We buy houses in any condition. Get a fair cash offer within 24 hours! Call today. Liz Buys Houses: 833-359-4707

Professional lawn service: Fertilization, weed control, seeding, aeration & mosquito control. Free quote. Ask about first application special! 833-860-0811

Autos Wanted Miscellaneous Home Services

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THE FUTURE OF LOCAL NEWS

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Continued innovation in digital media has changed the ways in which people buy, sell and interact with products and services. It has caused businesses to reassess the ways in which it communicates with potential customers and advertises its products. It has been well documented that these changes have had a destructive impact on local newspapers, which continues to be a primary source for local news, but is no longer a primary source for local advertising dollars – historically the lifeblood for reporters and their coverage. At Appen Media Group we want to address this conflict head on, and build new and innovative approaches to monetizing local news and creating a sustainable future for local journalism in metro Atlanta.

Derek Scheidt

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THE APPEN PRESS CLUB

One solution is the creation of a membership driven organization called the Appen Press Club that is dedicated to recruiting people and companies to join as members. Members pay recurring monthly or annual dues that are 100% dedicated to sustainable journalism. By providing predictable revenue, Appen Press Club members and partners help fund the salaries and expenses of local reporters who will no longer be subject to the whims of marketing budgets and an ever changing advertising world. In turn, those reporters will provide the readers they serve with highly researched and qualified journalism focused on subjects that directly affect their quality of life.

To join go to appenmedia.com/join and follow the prompts to select your membership level and select your t-shirt size! Questions? Email Hans Appen at hans@appenmedia.com or call 770-442-3278.

Scan QR code to join the Appen Press Club

Real estate is local. Personal. Nuanced. It deserves more than a one-size-fits-all approach.

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