Forsyth Herald - June 8, 2023

County Commission splits over term limits

By SHELBY ISRAEL shelby@appenmedia.com

FORSYTH COUNTY, Ga. — Backed into a corner for their political survival, two Forsyth County commissioners squared off with colleagues at a June 1 meeting in a heated debate over term limits.

The Board of Commissioners discussed a proposal that would

limit service to a maximum of three consecutive terms for a total of 12 years.

If the measure is enacted, commissioners Todd Levent, first elected in 2010, and Cindy Jones Mills, first elected in 2012, would be ineligible for another term.

Neighboring counties such as Fulton and Gwinnett do not impose term limits on county commissioners.

While the item came up only for discussion and not for a vote, Commissioner Laura Semanson and Chairman Alfred John said term limits would allow other community members a chance to serve and prevent commissioners from becoming too entrenched in their positions.

See LIMITS, Page 5

VIETNAM VETERANS OF AMERICA CUMMING/PROVIDED

The Cumming chapter of the Vietnam Veterans of America visits the Celebration Village Forsyth senior living home. The organization aims to provide veterans a chance to socialize and share their stories.

Vietnam veterans group pays visit to area seniors

FORSYTH COUNTY, Ga. — The Cumming chapter of the Vietnam Veterans of America visited dozens of World War II, Korean War and Vietnam War veterans at the Celebration Village Forsyth senior living home in Suwanee.

The chapter made routine visits to community senior homes to offer veterans of all wars a chance to socialize. During visits, members shared their personal stories of military service over coffee and pastries.

Members of the group also presented veterans who live in the homes with a cap embroidered with the name of their branch of service.

— Shelby Israel

SHELBY ISRAEL/APPEN MEDIA

The Forsyth County Board of Commissioners discusses imposing term limits at a meeting June 1. If approved, the measure would prohibit commissioners from running for more than three consecutive terms, or 12 years.

NEWS TIPS

POLICE BLOTTER

770-442-3278

AppenMedia.com

Contact reporters directly or send story ideas to newsroom@appenmedia.com.

LETTERS, EVENTS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS

Send your letters, events and community news to newsroom@appenmedia.com. See appenmedia.com/submit for more guidance.

ADVERTISING

For information about advertising in the Forsyth Herald or other Appen Media properties, email advertising@appenmedia.com or call 770-442-3278.

CIRCULATION

To start, pause or stop delivery of this newspaper, email circulation@appenmedia.com or call 770-442-3278.

All crime reports published by Appen Media Group are compiled from public records. Neither the law enforcement agencies nor Appen Media Group implies any guilt by publishing these names. None of the persons listed has been convicted of the alleged crimes.

Three from Cumming face felony drug charges

FORSYTH COUNTY, Ga. — Forsyth County deputies cited three Cumming suspects on multiple drug-related charges following a traffic stop May 21.

Deputies reported stopping a vehicle with no tag at the intersection of Mini Trail and Keith Bridge Road. After a search of the vehicle, deputies reported locating drugs and paraphernalia.

The driver Caleb Ingram, 31, was allegedly in possession of a gray scale that contained methamphetamine. Deputies reported one of the passengers, Melissa Mullinax, 45, had a clear plastic baggie of heroin between her legs, three baggies of methamphetamine and a glass smoking utensil.

Deputies reported the third passenger Susie Brogdon, 37, also had methamphetamine inside a compartment in her wallet.

Ingram was charged with felony possession of methamphetamine and misdemeanor possession of drug-related objects, driving while license suspended and driving with canceled registration. He is being held at the Forsyth County Jail with a $13,725 bond amount.

Mullinax was charged with felony possession of heroin and methamphetamine and misdemeanor possession of drug-related objects. She is being held at the Forsyth County Jail, and bond is set at $23,446.

Brogdon was also charged with felony possession of methamphetamine.

Flowery Branch man cited for drug possession

FORSYTH COUNTY, Ga. — Forsyth County deputies arrested a Flowery

Branch man May 21 on drug charges stemming from a late-night traffic stop.

Deputies reported observing a CUV traveling with no tag light at 3 a.m. on Browns Bridge and Keith Bridge roads and initiating a traffic stop. After a brief pursuit, the vehicle stopped near Little Mill Road, the report states.

Deputies reported smelling marijuana in the vehicle while speaking to a woman in the driver’s seat and with Tobyas Batts, 35, who was in the passenger seat. The couple denied there were any drugs in the vehicle.

Deputies located methamphetamine, marijuana, a digital scale and other drug paraphernalia inside a black backpack in the vehicle, the report states. The woman told deputies the backpack was not hers, and Batts had asked her to switch seats with him before they were stopped.

Surveillance footage from a nearby QuikTrip gas station showed Batts driving the vehicle, the report states.

Batts was charged with felony possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute and misdemeanor driving while license suspended, fleeing or attempting to elude, license plate light violation and possession of marijuana and drug-related objects. He is being held at the Forsyth County Jail with no posted bond amount.

Lawrenceville woman cited for drugs in purse

FORSYTH COUNTY, Ga. — Forsyth County deputies arrested a woman on felony drug charges May 20 after reportedly locating methamphetamine in her purse during a traffic stop.

Deputies reported observing a pickup truck jerking while traveling on Buford Highway around midnight and conducting a traffic stop at Bonnie Brae Road.

While speaking with the driver, deputies reported noticing signs of

impairment and determined he was under the influence to the extent that is less than safe to drive. The man was arrested and charged with misdemeanor DUI drugs.

Deputies reported searching the vehicle and locating two bags of methamphetamine and a glass pipe with burnt residue in a purse that belonged to the passenger, Jamyne Rivera, 42, of Lawrenceville.

Rivera was charged with felony possession of methamphetamine. She is being held at the Forsyth County Jail with a bond amount of $11,130.

Man wanted on warrants eludes police after chase

MILTON, Ga. — Police were dispatched to Deer Valley Drive in reference to a man yelling outside.

When police arrived, they observed the suspect sitting in a black sedan in a cul-de-sac. The suspect sped away, and after the chase was canceled, police saw the suspect drive through The Juncture Apartments and stop at a red light. Police again attempted to intercept the driver by pulling in front of the vehicle. The suspect pulled forward, almost striking the patrol vehicle, then began backing.

With a weapon drawn, police commanded the suspect to put the vehicle in park, but he took off. Police asked dispatch to advise the Forsyth County Sheriff’s Office of the suspect, whose driver’s license was suspended.

The suspect also had an active warrant in Forsyth County for a probation violation on the original charge of DUI drugs. The warrant also had a miscellaneous comment about an aggravated assault charge, weapons, obstruction and drugs.

Alpharetta Police notified Milton Police that the vehicle’s tag was captured with a Flock camera. The vehicle was registered to the suspect’s mother, the police report said.

Police obtained electronic warrants for the suspect’s arrest for fleeing and eluding police, reckless driving and driving while license suspended.

School Board may cut tax rate as revenues expected to climb

By SHELBY ISRAEL shelby@appenmedia.com

FORSYTH COUNTY, Ga. — The Forsyth County School Board might adopt a lower tax rate on property this year, but that doesn’t mean homeowners will be spared.

With a significant increase in the value of commercial and residential property, Chief Financial Officer Larry Hammel told members of the Board of Education May 31 the district is recommending a tax rate on property, or mill levy, of 17.718 mills.

The new rate, Hammel projects, will amount to an effective increase of 17.39 percent in tax revenues from last year. In the 2023 budget, the district decreased the debt service levy by 1 mill, which Hammel said will result in over $40 million saved in ad valorem taxes for county property owners when combined with the new rate.

Hammel said the district anticipates costs to increase just over 10 percent in the 2024 fiscal year, the result of state mandated pay increases for teachers, health care costs and further salary and step increases for employees. The district also projects student enrollment to increase to 54,535, a 13.4 percent increase from 2018.

With the proposed budget, the district would see $28.5 million in excess revenue for the 2024 fiscal year.

Schools Superintendent Jeff Bearden said the district receives quality basic education funding from the state, and in recent years, the state has been able to grant full funding without requiring austerity cuts, which can happen during a recession.

“Most school systems, when they went through the recessions in the late

2007, 2008, whenever that time period was before 2010, they either had to freeze salaries or had a reduction in staff because there's really nowhere else to go,” Bearden said. “We’re a people business. We’re 89 percent people … For a school system, you have to cut into your budget, you have to cut into people.”

However, Board Member Mike Valdes said the Board of Education has received feedback from concerned homeowners, and with the rising cost of living, he thinks the School Board should consider lowering the tax rate by 2 mills.

“If we're predicting and we're anticipating, we’re expecting our revenues to be in question because of a potential recession, is this really the time to do something that's not sustainable, right?” Valdes asked. “I think we fund our $645 million budget, and the excess revenue, we give it back to the taxpayer.”

Five county residents addressed board members with their financial concerns.

"I'm here on behalf of our children,” speaker Nancy Babbitt said. “I think we have great schools, and I think we do a great job, but what good is it if they can't afford to live here when they graduate?”

County Planning Commissioner Stacy Guy attended the meeting to speak as a citizen and a taxpayer, and he agreed the millage rate should be lowered 2 mills.

“These are real, kitchen table economics types of issues,” Guy said. “At the end of the day, the amount of taxes in real dollars that you're assessing on the community, the people that live here, is astronomically exploding.”

Hammel said the upcoming fourth version of the budget should be the final one. The next public hearing is scheduled for June 15.

SHELBY ISRAEL/APPEN MEDIA

Forsyth County Planning Commissioner Stacy Guy speaks as a citizen at a Board of Education called public hearing May 31. Guy said the value of tax assessments on county homeowners has exploded, and he thinks the School Board should lower the mill levy.

Packed shelters offer free Friday adoptions

METRO ATLANTA, Ga. — LifeLine Animal Project, the organization that manages four shelters across Fulton and DeKalb County will offer free dog adoptions on Fridays throughout the summer starting June 2.

The free Friday adoptions will only apply to dogs who weigh 25 pounds or more and include spay or neuter surgery, vaccines and microchip services worth about $300.

The organization has struggled with overstuffed shelters for months. In January, hundreds of people turned out to the shelters after LifeLine announced it needed to adopt 150 dogs that faced

euthanasia.

Now, for the first time in its 21-year history, all four shelters are operating at “critical capacity. In total, 1,366 animals are living at Fulton Animal Services, DeKalb County Animal Services, LifeLine Midtown and Community animal Center.

The Fulton Animal Services shelter is under quarantine until June 7 due to an outbreak of the canine flu.

LifeLine Animal Project asks people who can’t adopt a dog to foster animals in need or donate to the organization.

Roswell launches first of outdoor concerts

ROSWELL, Ga. — The city of Roswell will host a free monthly summer concert series, Music on the Hill starting Friday, June 9, on the Roswell City Hall lawn at 38 Hill Street.

Residents can come to the free outdoor concert with blankets, chairs, picnics and bottles of wine to hear live music that spans decades of popular songs and genres. The concerts will be held every second Friday of the month

from June to September from 7 to 9 p.m. Guardians of the Jukebox, an ’80s cover band will kick off the series at the June 9 concert. On July 14 country music cover band Chuck Martin and the Line Up will perform. The August 11 concert is a ’70s funk music themed show by BJ Wilbanks, and the Sept. 8 band The Geek Squad will perform a selection of Motown, jazz, funk, hip hop and popular music.

Wire and Wood festival announces headline acts

ALPHARETTA, Ga. — Wire and Wood announced Susto and Marc Broussard as the headliners of its 10th annual songwriters festival in downtown Alpharetta 5-11 p.m. Oct. 13-14.

Rock, soul and R&B-inspired artist Broussard will perform Oct. 13, followed by the indie rock band Susto Oct. 14. The headliners will be joined by more than 30 artists on six outdoor stages downtown.

Genres include Southern rock, indie,

Americana, pop, country and others.

The festival will be preceded by a kick-off on the plaza at Avalon Oct. 12. During the event, Music Match will highlight local musicians at participating businesses downtown in partnership with Wire and Wood. Admission is free, and the festival will take place rain or shine. Updates and lineup information can be found at wireandwoodalpharetta.com.

— Shelby Israel

JOHNS CREEK, Westbury Subdivision; 580 Sheringham Lane 30005. Moving sale. Friday 6/9 and Saturday 6/10, 8AM-3PM. Holiday decorations, household, technology, furniture, frames, glassware, clothing, entertainment, books, home brew and lawn equipment, etc.

To

Forsyth County students engage in Day of Giving

FORSYTH COUNTY, Ga. — More than 1,000 Piney Grove Middle School students participated in community service projects at the school’s Grizzly Great Day of Giving May 19.

Piney Grove Principal Tameka

Osabutey-Aguedje said the day is dedicated to educating students on the importance of service, engaging them with hands-on projects and empowering them to find service opportunities in their own lives.

Leading up to the event, students donated food and hygiene products during the Grade War. Sixth and seventh graders also assembled summer fun kits, snack bags, hygiene kits and cat and dog toys. Eighth graders volunteered at libraries, schools, churches and charities to prepare other children for summer reading, visit animal shelters and play

Limits:

Continued from Page 1

“The population has been generally wary of elected officials who have stayed in office for decades, and even locally, you’ve seen some examples of that,” John said. “After a few years, the incumbent kind of becomes entrenched and pretty influential. They also get a tremendous amount of campaign contributions, which tends to be a barrier for entry for people.”

Levent and Mills argued on the contrary, commissioners who spend years in office are more intimately acquainted with their constituents.

Mills said her decade in office has allowed her to accomplish more.

“I know through my experience and doing two overlays and doing a trail plan and seeking grants for Eagles Beak Park and seeking grants for Bennett Park and different things, there is no way I had that level of knowledge in my first or my second term,” Mills said. “The Coal Mountain Town Center took me six years to do.”

Levent also said county commissioners’ closeness to the community prevents them from becoming career politicians because they typically only last two to three terms.

“We represent an area,” Levent said. “We vote county-wide, and when the people are done with us, they’re done with us. That’s why we don’t last very long.”

Commissioners reached no

games with assisted living residents.

Osabutey-Aguedje said 1,050 students completed projects on campus and across Forsyth County and learned about future opportunities with local high school organizations on the day of giving, which also included guest speakers and a lunch on the lawn to celebrate students’ accomplishments.

“My favorite part of [the day] was writing people little notes of encouragement,” eighth grader Scout Zeitlin said.

The Grizzly Great Day of Giving also supports community organizations including Meals on Wheels, the Humane Society of Forsyth County, Backpacks of Love, Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta and the Forsyth County Sheriff’s Office.

consensus on the topic, and no action was taken, but some of the exchanges threw political decorum out the window.

At one point, Semanson said it’s easy to become “jaded” when one spends a long time in office, and John emphasized the state Legislature makes the final decisions on votes, not the Board of Commissioners.

The comments drew quick reprisal from Mills.

“I think it’s very vain to think that our board or the state legislators know better than voters,” Mills said.

“I think it is very, almost bordering narcissistic, that we can sit up here on our throne, and maybe like Commissioner Semanson says, we get to feeling so big that we think we know better than voters.”

But Semanson reiterated her belief that those in office remain aware that they not only serve the people, they are the people.

“One of the important things to remember in all of this, though, is that we’re policymakers,” Semanson said. “We’re laypeople just like all of our citizens are, but we’re here to represent them and produce good policy. Things move on whether it’s us or somebody else. This county will continue, and we have some great staff and some great management to keep it flowing.”

Also at the meeting, commissioners recognized retiring Department of Parks and Recreation Deputy Director Tommy Bruce for his years of service and for expanding park facilities in the county.

Shelby Israel

Faith-based leaders join affordable housing discussion

By DELANEY TARR delaney@appenmedia.com

FULTON COUNTY, Ga. — A North Fulton think tank hopes to bring faithbased workforce housing to Metro Atlanta as congregations nationwide have started building affordable homes.

The North Fulton Improvement Network describes itself as a “think tank” made up of community leaders from local nonprofits, faith groups and government organizations focused on “exploring financial vulnerability in our community.”

North Fulton Improvement Network Chairman Jack Murphy has focused his sights on affordable housing in North Fulton County. The homes are “workforce housing,” dedicated to middle-income workers.

“One of the reasons for that is people in middle incomes can’t afford to live here anymore,” Murphy said.

The improvement network said North Fulton County has become an increasingly less affordable area to live in over the years, particularly for minimum-wage workers.

In Georgia the minimum wage is $7.25 an hour. Even with many employees making more than that, Murphy said the income does little to offset high housing costs in North Fulton County.

In Roswell, one of North Fulton County’s larger cities, the population has remained largely the same in recent years, increasing by about 0.1 percent to about 92,000 since 2020.

The median gross rent is $1,447.

Murphy said “unbridled growth” is great for the North Fulton communities that have expanded significantly over the decades, but they run the risk of “becoming exclusive.”

Instead, he advocates for more affordable housing where people who work at local businesses can live. The larger question for Murphy and the improvement network, though, is how to get there.

The think tank originally looked at governments for development but quickly decided to pivot to private organizations.

“We’re doing what we call quiet advocacy, with large business owners or employers talking about building over parking lots,” Murphy said.

The group is also looking at faith-based housing funded by local congregations. At a May 23 North Fulton Improvement Network meeting, national nonprofit Enterprise Community Partners, which is dedicated to increasing housing supply, held a presentation on faithbased workforce housing development for members of the think tank.

“We help by deploying capital and communities to support the creation of affordable housing,” Enterprise Senior Program Director Timothy Block said.

The organization also advocates for certain policies and supports community development organizations.

Block said houses of worship are a key target to build affordable housing, because many are struggling to bring

in parishioners, leaving them with extra property to use.

“Do they sell it, close it, shrink it? There’s a lot of opportunity to work with houses of worship,” Block said.

The nonprofit program director said across all of Fulton County, faithbased organizations own 3,214 parcels that equate to about 6,278 acres which can be used for community development.

While the houses of worship have land, they have little expertise in development. Block said Enterprise runs a development initiative to help faith leaders get more comfortable with the process.

Comparing the approach to “not in my backyard” and “yes in my backyard” philosophies, Murphy said the area needed to take a “YIGBY” approach: Yes in God’s backyard.

“It’s our 10th year of doing this, we’ve got to get moving,” Murphy said.

The Rev. Oliver Wagner, senior pastor at Alpharetta Presbyterian Church, said the issue comes down to a “continuum of care.”

His congregation is primarily involved with emergency needs, helping place people in temporary housing through organizations like Family Promise North Fulton. Wagner said for nonprofits the consensus is clear: there simply is not affordable housing.

“We help people through these difficult transitions, but then where do they go?” Wagner said.

The pastor said many of the people they help with financial literacy,

temporary housing and education are doing everything the congregation asks, but they still cannot find housing. His church can only provide temporary shelter, though.

Wagner said his church is too small to develop affordable workforce housing, and that even if they did, it would be a “smaller part of a much bigger effort” that requires support across every sector.

“That’s a bigger all-in question across the community,” Wagner said.

The solution, he said, should be a coalition between congregations, private businesses and local governments. That way, as congregations and nonprofits help people through emergency needs, other groups can take on longer-term challenges.

“We do our part, but the part we need we can’t do alone,” Wagner said.

The pastor said he hopes the “political needle will move” as the conversation around affordable housing continues. Eventually, he aims for a wide partnership with citizens and civic support.

“One of my older church members realized that all these wonderful people who serve her dinner in her community can’t afford to live there,” Wagner said.

Wagner knows there are people who can buy an expensive meal and pay pricey rents, but he wants North Fulton County to be an option for everyone.

“Communities need diversity of housing,” Wagner said.

Court denies councilman’s petition to reverse Milton ethics panel ruling

By AMBER PERRY amber@appenmedia.com

MILTON, Ga. — After a monthslong court battle, the Fulton County Superior Court May 18 denied Milton City Councilman Paul Moore’s petition that sought to reverse an ethics panel decision from August.

The panel, composed of three attorneys, determined that Moore had violated three of the city’s ethics codes when he voted to defer an item related to White Columns, the neighborhood in which he resides. The council discussion pertained to reimbursing part of the costs for traffic calming devices installed by the White Columns Community Association.

Moore’s petition also sought reimbursement for attorney fees spent during the panel investigation from Tony

Palazzo, the Community Association's president. Palazzo had filed the ethics complaint.

The court found that Moore’s petition, filed in November, failed to meet time requirements because it had not been filed within a 30-day time frame following the ethics panel’s final order Aug. 30.

Moore’s attorney, Doug Chalmers, said he “respectfully disagrees” with the court’s decision and plans to file an appeal. He had argued that the City Council’s final determination was a “quasi-judicial” process, meriting Moore’s petition as timely.

“We intend to do everything in our power to assure that Paul is ultimately vindicated as he should be,” Chalmers said.

The court has also given Palazzo 30 days to seek damages from Moore,

which he plans to do. Palazzo said he has incurred around $30,000 in fees throughout the process.

He said the ruling was a “resounding victory” for all Milton residents.

“Ultimately, this isn't about me,” Palazzo said. “It's about transparency and accountability in local government.”

The city had acted as “bystanders” throughout the process, Palazzo said, washing its hands of the matter. He said the city and the city’s ethics panel should have been the parties responsible for opposing Moore’s petition.

While they had been named in the case, Palazzo was the defendant.

“It's extremely important that the average citizen should not have to incur these costs, because it's wrong and sets a dangerous precedent that, if left unanswered, will keep citizens from bringing forth potential wrongdoing of

elected officials in the future,” he said. Palazzo shared remaining concerns about the City Council, which had “ignored” the ethics panel recommendation that Moore receive a written censure or reprimand outlining the ethics violations he committed and that they be publicly announced at one of its regular meetings and included in the official minutes.

In October, Milton Mayor Peyton Jamison announced Moore had been already “sufficiently sanctioned.” Palazzo said Moore was then “rewarded” by the City Council’s vote to make him mayor pro tempore in January.

“I think there's a ton more work to do,” he said. “But this should be a wakeup call for our public officials, elected public officials, including Mr. Moore, who sued me as being a concerned citizen.”

Seven Sisters eatery tells its story in scones

By DELANEY TARR delaney@appenmedia.com

JOHNS CREEK, Ga. — Farrah Haidar knows that a scone shop seems like a “random” choice for Lebanese immigrants, but Seven Sisters Scones incorporates her family’s core food experiences into a menu packed with variations.

Farrah and her sister Hala Yassine operate Seven Sisters Scones and Kitchen on McGinnis Ferry Road in Johns Creek, combining local dining with a national shipping operation. Opened in 2015, the sisters started off shipping the scones to online buyers and have slowly expanded to a fall breakfast and lunch menu for locals.

The pair are two in a family of seven sisters and two brothers. Not everyone in the family is involved in the operation, but Haidar says they share opinions and input. The sisters chose the name because food was essential to the family.

“Food for us was a way of connecting growing up, we always had large family dinners,” Yassine said.

Yassine, the head chef, said she has always seen food as a way to nurture people.

Haidar said she felt Yassine’s nurturing spirit growing up.

“She was always kind of the mom in the family,” Haidar said. “Hala pretty much raised me.”

When Yassine started her own family, she used food as her way to nurture them. She started making scones after she had a child. As a new mother, Yassine took time off from work as a chef and licensed family therapist to care for her family.

She realized her husband needed a quick breakfast to take during his morning commute.

“I made (scones) out of a box mix and looked at it and thought yeah, I could make It better than that,” Yassine said.

Her first scone recipe was cranberry orange, which is still her husband’s favorite. Yassine quickly got bored and started experimenting with new flavors.

“People started asking about flavors, and I would say ‘sure, I can make that!’” Yassine said.

Farrah Haidar recalled her sister’s kitchen packed with endless new scone recipes and flavors. She said people would walk into her kitchen, grab a scone from the freezer and leave. The family decided to sit Yassine down and tell her to turn the scone operation into something more.

“People love free things, but they won’t buy scones,” Yassine responded.

She had little faith in the business but agreed to a farmers’ market. At that point Yassine had over sixty scone recipes created from years of baking the pastry. She made $100 on her first day

See SCONES, Page 9

ABBY BREAUX PHOTOGRAPHY/PROVIDED

Hala Yassine and Farrah Haider own and operate Seven Sisters Scones and Kitchen. The scone business started after Yassine realized she needed to make a quick breakfast for her husband’s work commute.

It was really trial by fire, because we went from 1,000 to 2,000 scones in a week to 25,000 scones in four days.

FARRAH

HAIDER, Seven Sisters Scones and Kitchen

Scones:

Continued from Page 8

at the market.

While Yassine didn’t profit off the first farmers market, she decided to go all in on the company.

“I’m going to either take it seriously or let it go,” Yassine said.

She established Seven Sisters Scones, which grew quickly. They expanded from one to six farmers markets across Georgia and moved into a shared kitchen space.

Eventually the operation grew large enough to open a brick-and-mortar spot. Yassine found a space about seven minutes from her home in Johns Creek and called Haidar to ask her to move from Boston to Georgia.

Haidar moved in July 2015. Two months later, Seven Sisters Scones in Johns Creek was up and running.

The scones are a “modern take” on the traditional pastry, Haidar said. They opt for a moister and bouncier scone over the expected dry and crumbly texture.

Haidar said marketing a sconefocused business was an “uphill battle.”

“The challenge with scones is they aren’t very sexy,” Haidar said.

The team experiments with different flavored scones to get customers

interested. So far, they’ve released more than 100 flavors, including strawberry champagne, caramelized onion and lemon poppyseed.

Yassin said the menu has a “standard eight” scones and rotates out the rest seasonally.

The bakery grew slowly, with a focus on national shipments of handmade scones. In 2018 they got the chance to appear on the television network QVC. The response was immediate.

“It was really trial by fire, because we went from 1,000 to 2,000 scones in a week to 25,000 scones in four days,” Haidar said.

It was a lot of work, but Haidar said the process showed they could scale up their operation. During COVID-19, Haidar said their shipping business “exploded.” They started using a space next door to Seven Sisters Scones to store shipment materials. The landlord eventually asked them to start leasing the space.

Haidar said they split the space into storage and 40 indoor seats for Seven Sisters Scones. With the seats came a “slow evolution” of the menu to include breakfast and lunch items. The restaurant portion split off into Seven Sisters Kitchen, with Seven Sisters Scones dedicated to nationwide shipping.

At first, the menu only featured “sconewiches” with scones as bread.

The kitchen then expanded to soups and plates. Haidar said the flavor palate is influenced by Lebanese cuisine, as well as Latin American and Korean foods thanks to a diverse team of cooks. Customers can eat in the restaurant or buy meals like za’atar chicken and couscous or Asian glazed eggplant to go.

“Every meal we put out actually has a bit of a story behind it,” Haidar said.

The tight-knit team runs the daily kitchen operations as well as the national shipping business.

“It’s challenging sometimes, doing that on two levels especially when you’re a small, tight team,” Haidar said. “But it’s also, I think, been the reason we survived.”

Chef Yassin said community is at the core of her business, both on a local and national level.

“Food has always been about that for me, it’s a creation of community,” Yassin said.

That comes through at Seven Sisters Scones and Kitchen. The restaurant has a group of regulars, and Yassin said the staff remembers customer names because its “important.” She said if a customer comes in to chat, the team will always be ready for conversation. On a broader scale, Haidar said the business donates food to local charities when they can.

“That’s my favorite part of this business,” Yassin said. “The people.”

Seven Sisters Scones and Kitchen in Johns Creek offers a variety of scone flavors, from lemon poppyseed to garlic and herb. Started in 2015, the business ships scones nationwide and runs an attached café.

DELANEY TARR/APPEN MEDIA

Roswell, Milton residents decry antisemitic leaflets

By DELANEY TARR delaneytarr@appenmedia.com

ROSWELL, Ga. — Metro Atlanta residents and officials are speaking out against a series of antisemitic and racist fliers spread across driveways in Roswell and Milton in May, mere months after similar leaflets were found in Dunwoody and Sandy Springs.

Roswell resident Andrea Ferrard, who lives in the Edenwilde neighborhood off Etris Road, said May 28 was an average Sunday morning. She got an early start to let her dog out and grab the newspaper when she saw a flier in her driveway, tucked into a plastic bag of corn kernels.

The paper announced antisemitic rhetoric and conspiracy theories. Ferrard said she was saddened to see the message spread in her neighborhood, particularly as a resident who grew up in Roswell and Dunwoody.

“I came back home to be in Roswell because it’s a great place to raise kids, I’ve been here over 20 years and never seen anything like this,” Ferrard said.

The resident had security cameras outside her home, but they caught no footage of people dropping the bags.

Ferrard filed an online report with the Roswell Police Department in hopes they could investigate further.

Ferrard also reached out to City Councilwoman Sarah Beeson, who lives in a nearby neighborhood off Etris Road.

“I need to speak up because it’s not okay,” Ferrard said. “Our diversity is what makes us strong.”

Beeson did not see a flier on her driveway but said about 400 homes in her area were hit with the papers.

“The majority of them were antisemitic propaganda, but there were also some that invoked race,” Beeson said.

Beeson said the distribution seemed random, although her Black neighbors specifically received fliers about race and found an egg smashed on their garage door.

“I think it’s incredibly disappointing, not only because it’s not a reflection of our community, but to hit peoples’ homes on Memorial Day weekend” Beeson said.

The councilwoman said the fliers were an act of division on a weekend that is meant to “bring together the country.”

Beeson said somebody in her

Up40% to off cruise fares

neighborhood who had awakened early saw the “baggies of hate” and picked them up, sparing many residents from seeing the flyers themselves.

Beeson, who serves as the City Council’s liaison to Public Safety, said the baggies likely did not violate any laws. They were not put into mailboxes or attached to anything, but simply dropped into people’s yards. The baggies of corn were used to weigh down the papers.

“They knew what they were doing,” Beeson said.

Still, she urges people to file police reports online if they received the fliers. That way the department has a record of the incident and a “pathway for investigation.”

Roswell Police Department Public Information Officer Timothy Lupo said several residents have already reported receiving the fliers.

“We’ve been reviewing the distribution and content for any criminal violations,” Lupo said.

When other cities like Dunwoody were hit with the same fliers, the individuals responsible for the distribution were identified but no charges were pressed. The city’s police chief said it was a “free speech issue.”

Georgia State Sen. Josh McLaurin (D- Sandy Springs) took to social media on May 28 to disavow the antisemitic messaging in Roswell.

“This is the effort of a very small and loosely organized group of people,” McLaurin said in a Twitter thread. “This isn’t from our neighbors.”

The legislator said the “whole point” of the fliers is to scare and harass people and make it seem like the group has more members than it does.

Miles away in the Kensington Farms neighborhood in Milton, resident Bill Anderson said his neighborhood was hit with antisemitic and homophobic fliers a week earlier on May 23. He said the papers were wrapped in plastic, so he picked it up. When he realized what it was, he was surprised and disappointed.

“That kind of hatred doesn’t have a place in our society,” Anderson said. “I absolutely despise bullies, and that’s exactly what these people are trying to do.”

Anderson gave the materials to the Milton Police Department, and he said he believes the people who distributed the papers should be prosecuted for a crime akin to intimidation or “hate mail.”

Muralist carries smarts to Spruill street art class

By AMBER PERRY amber@appenmedia.com

DUNWOODY, Ga. — Areas of sidewalk at the Spruill Center for the Arts are now covered in chalk murals, created by a class of around a dozen who participated in a street art course recently.

Since mid-April, Brave Nu Ventures’ Rachel Griner and a team of local street art experts and creatives have led workshops on the history and varied meanings behind the medium that covers Atlanta. Students also made their way around the city’s Castleberry Hills neighborhood and South Downtown to get a first-hand look at the work — big, often colorful and thoughtprovoking.

Separated into two groups, students brought their drafted designs in the course’s last class May 20. Using a homemade projector, one group made stencils to illustrate a theme based on the concept of enlightenment. The second group, which received passerby participants, chalked a waterway with the slogan, “We’re all drops in the river.”

Changed perspective

In the last class, students also spent time reflecting on what they had learned throughout their time examining street art, Griner said. One student admitted to having a preconceived notion of graffiti as a “blight” on city surfaces but now sees it as an “entire culture.”

Griner, who developed the course curriculum over a year, said many students foresaw driving through the city, seeing a blank wall, and asking themselves: “Why isn’t there graffiti on it?”

While Griner was familiar with street art, she too learned something new — the transcendent and interrelated quality of art communities, how the barriers between street art, graffiti and public art are more porous.

“There was just a hunger and veracity for learning and for connecting with people,” Griner said regarding the students and the instructors. “We just felt connected by our curiosity and our sense of community and our commitment to art as a form of selfexpression.”

Because of its success, Griner said “Exploring Street Art in Atlanta” will be a standard course offered at the Spruill Center every spring and fall.

Uplifting communities

Aysha Pennerman, a professional muralist, guided students as they etched their images on concrete.

SPRUILL CENTER FOR THE ARTS/PROVIDED

A student of the Spruill Center for the Arts’ “Exploring Street Art in Atlanta” course and muralist Aysha Pennerman, on right, talk during the last day of class May 20. Students installed chalk murals on sidewalks at the Spruill Center, with Pennerman as a guide.

The week before, she led an artist studio and introduced students to her experiences with community-based murals. Pennerman also led discussion on how street art can be used to improve public safety, or tactical urbanism. She once created a “tactical walkway” mural in the Adams Park neighborhood in Atlanta because there weren’t any sidewalks.

Pennerman said public art can be transformative and inspirational, that it can become a source of pride for areas that are disinvested or neglected.

“It has the opportunity to bring voices to the forefront,” she said.

Pennerman often creates murals in low-income communities, at schools, and involves others in the process. From a concept developed over three sessions with students at HarperArcher Elementary School, Pennerman and students filled in her paintnumbers design that harkened back to the school’s mascot — the Trailblazers.

“I thought of a light … they will be the ones that will continue to spread light wherever they go and make an impact,” Pennerman said. “I wanted to continue to speak that into them and into the community, that they are all lights. They can all make a difference in the world.”

Flying free of skin cancer

In the last month, two airline pilots have come to see me for suspicious spots that proved to be invasive malignant melanomas. As an instrument-rated recreational pilot myself, I sympathize and understand that the stakes involved for commercial pilots are not only health and lifespan but also work and livelihood. Pilots are sometimes wary of physicians, but it is critically important for pilots and non-pilots alike to know that early diagnosis is the best way to keep your wings and your life.

The FAA is very strict with pilots’ health. Regular health examinations with an FAA flight examiner are required of all pilots. For pilots over the age of 40 acting as “pilot in command” of a commercial airline flight, a medical certificate must be renewed every 6 months by means of a thorough flight physical. The running joke among physicians who take care of pilots is that non-pilots come in with a list of ten maladies and complaints whereas pilots respond to every question about possible illnesses with single word answers ranging from “nope” to “never.” Most jokes have a grain of truth. Pilots do not want an illness on their medical record that might result in an inability to fly.

Sometimes, you can make a case for someone trying to fix an illness without a physician’s help. For example, someone at the edge of type II diabetes might restore his or her own health with disciplined diet and exercise and be healthy by the time medical certificate renewal comes around.

Not so with melanoma. Don’t delay. Don’t try to fix it yourself. If a spot is changing, get that spot checked out! Melanoma continues to grow as long as it is left in place. The single most important feature of a melanoma is how deep it has grown. A melanoma that is less than 0.80mm is generally considered “good” with a low risk of having spread to other parts of the body.

The FAA draws the line in the sand for melanomas at 0.75mm. Melanomas less than 0.75mm deep

need only documentation of no clinical signs of metastatic disease and complete removal with clear and appropriate margins. Then, the flight examiner can issue the medical certificate to allow a pilot to keep on flying. This means that a simple excision by a dermatologist under local anesthesia for a shallow melanoma in almost all cases allows a pilot to keep his or her ability to fly. Melanomas deeper than 0.80 mm often require lymph node biopsies under general anesthesia, imaging such as MRI and/or PET/ CT scans. Even then, permission to fly is not guaranteed. Instead, all documents must be submitted to the FAA for consideration of permission to continue flying which is called “Special Issuance Authorization.” It wouldn’t be called “Special” if it were routine and for everyone.

Both pilots who came to me recently with melanomas had noticed the spot changing for a few months, and both cases had measured depths of 0.7mm. Talk about cutting it close! Just a little more growth and those pilots might have lost their medical certificate. Just as importantly, a little more growth would have pushed them into a higher risk category with a much higher chance that the melanomas could have spread.

In my practice, I have so far always been able to honor the policy that a patient who is worried about a single spot that is changing and could be a melanoma can be added onto my schedule within a day for a “spot check” even if my schedule is fully booked. We might not have time to complete a full body skin exam at an overbooked appointment, but I never want scheduling problems to be the reason that a melanoma diagnosis is delayed. Likewise, I typically work from 7am to 5pm but add on melanoma excisions at 6:30am or 5pm to make sure patients are treated as quickly as possible.

For so many reasons, people are afraid to go to the doctor, but in the case of dermatology, it is in one’s interest to seek care. Getting that suspicious or changing spot checked out should be a priority. Even if your job isn’t on the line, early detection of skin cancer can save your life.

Brought to You by - Brent Taylor, MD, Premiere Dermatology and Mohs Surgery of Atlanta

The path to reconciliation

“I’m sorry. I was wrong. Please forgive me.” These words are often cited as facilitating the process of forgiveness. While helpful, they are woefully inadequate when attempting a reconciliation in the face of serious wounding and betrayal, such as infidelity and/or abuse.

When an individual has been betrayed, their world turns upside down, their trust in their betrayer is shattered, and they are plagued with grief, pain, confusion, self-doubts, longings, and lots of questions about how something so terrible could have happened to them. Forgiveness is a mere starting point on the long journey toward healing.

A huge gulf exists between forgiveness and reconciliation, bridged only by rebuilding trust. Trust must be re-established prior to reconciliation, which can only be done when the betrayer acknowledges to their partner how they understand their actions affected their partner’s life (body, mind, emotions, spirit, their understanding of trust, relationships, intimacy, and even their own self-worth), and they must express a genuine sense of devastation at having put their partner through that pain. Only then can reconciliation begin.

If you have experienced the trauma of infidelity or abuse, you don't have to struggle alone. At The Summit, many of our counselors specialize in working with trauma survivors, helping them heal and rebuild their lives. Learn more about our services at summitcounseling. org!

Brought to you by - Dr. Alice Hoag, Licensed Professional Counselor and Staff Supervisor at Summit Counseling Center

PEXELS

Team up with Wellstar to prevent these men’s health issues

Brought to you byWellstar

If you’re a sports fan, you’re probably glued to every game, rooting for your team and analyzing every play. But are you as vigilant with your own health?

In addition to knowing your health stats—those important numbers like blood pressure, cholesterol and blood sugar — you should also watch for health conditions that more commonly impact men.

An annual physical gives you the opportunity to ask your provider questions about your health, and you’ll get a few quick, crucial health screenings that can catch issues

early or put you on track for staying well.

“Men need to check in with a doctor at least once a year for their annual physical,” said Wellstar Primary Care Physician Dr. Stephen Cox. “It’s better to be proactive with your health, find issues early and prevent problems before they start.”

Take action against these conditions

Some illnesses are more likely to affect men than women, so men should be especially mindful about taking steps to prevent these health concerns:

• Cardiac issues. Heart disease is the leading cause of death for men in the United States. About 1 in 13 white men, 1 in 14 Black men and 1 in 17 Hispanic men have coronary heart disease, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Knowing your stats like blood pressure and cholesterol can help you assess your risk, and your

Wellstar provider will collaborate with you on a personalized heart health plan.

• Lung cancer. Men are slightly more likely to get lung cancer — the lifetime risk for men is 1 in 16, while it is 1 in 17 for women, according to the American Cancer Society. Black men are about 12% more likely to develop lung cancer compared to white men. Patients can decrease their risk of lung cancer by avoiding smoking.

• Parkinson’s disease. Men are more likely than women to have Parkinson’s disease. Neurologists and neurosurgeons at Wellstar are experts in helping patients manage this condition.

• Kidney stones. The lifetime risk of kidney stones is about 19% in men and 9% in women, according to the National Kidney Foundation. Staying hydrated can help prevent kidney stones.

• Prostate cancer. While all men are at risk for prostate cancer,

Black men are more likely to get prostate cancer and are more commonly affected at younger ages. Men who are 50 or older should ask their doctor about testing, and Black men should discuss testing with their provider at age 45. If you have a family history of prostate cancer, you should also consider screenings at a younger age, and your provider will discuss options with you.

According to Wellstar Urologist Dr. Scott Miller, men need to stay active and stay away from smoking. He also noted a few lifestyle changes that are sometimes overlooked can make a difference in how you feel. “What’s often neglected is a full and consistent night’s sleep,” Dr. Miller said. “And keep stress under control — too much stress can negatively impact our immune systems.”

To find a primary care provider, call (770) 956-7827 or schedule online at wellstar.org.

Pain Relieving Laser Therapy

Brought to you by - Johns Creek Physical Therapy

Having treated hundreds of patients over the past 6 years with Pain Relieving Laser Therapy, it’s not hard for me to appreciate how well it works. But if you’ve never tried it, trust me when I tell you…. you’re missing out!

Several years ago, John Deere ran a promotion on their zero turn lawn mowers. They used a fun tag line, “It’s not how fast you mow, it’s how well you mow FAST!” I wish I could come up with a similar tag line for Pain Relieving Laser Therapy because it can deliver pain relief in just a few minutes. It’s not uncommon for patients to have their pain be reduced by 50% on the first treatment.

How does it work? Pain Relieving Laser Therapy uses light energy to promote healing and reduce pain. Laser Therapy is FDA cleared to treat pain, inflammation, arthritis, and muscle spasms and is a great alternative to medications and injections.

The most common thing we hear after someone tries it for the first

time is “WOW!” I’m sure if you are just reading this article, you are probably thinking, “yeah, RIGHT??!! Nothing works that fast!” But don’t

take my word for it, call our office today and schedule your FREE TRIAL. The only thing you have to lose is your pain!

Johns Creek Physical Therapy 4060 Johns Creek Parkway, Suite H Suwanee, GA 30024 770-622-5344

Adios COVID: We’re ready to move on

Ah yes, we’re back to the way it was. Not quite the rollicking good times it used to be, but just a smidgen away from normal.

A recent visit inside a bank branch confirmed COVID is firmly in our rear-view mirrors. There wasn’t a mask in sight. Seven customers, one teller and a ton of grousing from one guy making everyone miserable commenting about it taking forever to get anything done. I wanted to say, “Two words for you, Buster: Online banking.”

Mr. Happiness was giving the lone teller an earful and then some. Another thing I wanted to do was offer encouragement for him to keep up the general good vibes. “You got this handled, Buddy. Make the one person actually working feel worse.” Maybe you’ll run her off and the beleaguered Little League Mom, who looked like she’d had enough, would challenge the guy to a fistfight.

Notice these were things I wanted to say. I never uttered a peep, took

care of my business and headed out the door. But not before another customer offered this: “I tell ya’ Eustice, that ol’ boy is wearing me out.”

It might have been frustrating to all the players in this mini production. Looking on the bright side, I figured at least we were out and about instead of sequestered and sheltered in place, watching TV reruns as our minds continued to get more numb.

The grouchy skinflint at the bank hopefully had an Andre the Giant-sized time of getting what he wanted. His tirade gave pause to me appreciating just how far others have come. Not many are talking about COVID these days and the workforce is getting back to normal.

Todd Anthony is the vice president of Organizational Development for my employer, Cumberland Pharmaceuticals in Nashville. That title means he wears many hats, a phenomenon becoming more common with a returning workforce that has diminished in size.

Cumberland CEO and President AJ Kazimi is letting his people know he (and the company) care and appreciate the sacrifice of putting

COVID in the rear-view mirror and being at work all week.

Well, most of the week anyway. Cumberland has instituted giving its folks Friday afternoons off all summer.

“It’s been very well-received,” said Anthony. “People can come in on Friday for a half-day, then get an early start on the weekend.”

It makes sense that Memorial Day and Labor Day, summer holiday bookends, are now four-day weekends at Cumberland.

It’s as if workers have emerged from some sort of work stoppage primordial sludge. Some companies continue to have a problem hitting their pre-COVID stride. It’s sad but Cracker Barrel in Cumming still closes at 5 pm. Unless you want to channel a “Seinfeld” episode and pretend its early bird special time at Del Boca Vista, you’ll be eating Thursday turkey dinner elsewhere.

It's refreshing to hear of a return to normalcy here and across the country.

Longtime dear friend Klint Schahrer is retired and lives in Hayward, Calif., across the bay from San Francisco. On our regular

Zoom call, he shared he is teaching a creative writing class. That simply blew me away.

I suppose he figured if I could do it so could he.

Klint started out as a student, but when COVID-resulted attrition forced the possibility of the discontinuation of this continuing education endeavor, Klint offered to teach the class. He’s having a blast and sounds like he’s got an eclectic group of students.

I suppose having an actress who played Colonel Klink’s secretary for a few “Hogan’s Heroes” episodes qualifies as being “eclectic.”

Our Zoom calls are a perfect way to have 50-plus years of friendship memories and escapades boil to the surface, resulting in lots of laughs.

He ends every call with “I love you, Mikey.”

After inspiring so many untapped tales to be released from my memory banks, I realize I love my friend too.

Mike Tasos has lived in Forsyth County for more than 30 years. He’s an American by birth and considers himself a Southerner by the grace of God. He can be reached at miketasos55@gmail.com.

MIKE TASOS

Columnist

Best Date Night Hotspot

Best Day Spa / Massage

Best Farmers Market

Best Golf Course

Best Group/Corporate Activity

Best Gym / Fitness Facility

Best Music Lessons

Best Performing Arts / Theatre

Best Place for Kids to Have Fun

Best Sports Program

Best Summer Camp

Best Wedding Venue

RETAIL:

Best Antiques Store

Best Apparel Boutique (LOCAL)

Best Art Gallery / Retailer

Best Beverage / Wine Store (LOCAL)

Best Boutique Shop (LOCAL)

Best Bridal Shop

Best CBD Retailer

Best Consignment Store

Best Florist

Best Furniture / Home Décor

Best Jeweler

Best Pharmacy (LOCAL)

Dean Rusk: a native son on the world stage

David Dean Rusk (1909-1994) was a diplomat on the world stage during the turbulent cold and hot war decade of the 1960s. Yet little is known about this reserved and very significant public servant and North Georgia son.

Dean Rusk spent his early years on a modest farm on Arnold Mill Road in the Lickskillet community just north of Roswell in Cherokee County. His father Robert Hugh Rusk (1868-1944) and his mother Elizabeth Frances Clotfelter (1875-1959) lived a hardscrabble life as tenant farmers until Dean was 5 years old. His family moved to Atlanta where his father took a low paying job with the postal service as a mail carrier. Dean was the only one in his high school class to graduate in knickers because his parents could not afford long pants. Determined to receive an education, Dean worked his way through Davidson College in North Carolina where he played center on the basketball team. In

1932, he attended Oxford University in England on a Rhodes Scholarship where he received a master’s degree in international relations in 1934. That same year, Dean accepted a position teaching international relations at Mills College in Oakland, California, where he remained until 1940. At Mills, he met a student, Virginia Foisie (1915-1996), whom he married in 1937. While at Mills he studied law at the University of California at Berkeley, although he did not complete a degree there until 1940.

Anticipating U.S. involvement in World War ll, Dean joined the Army in 1940 first in the Third Infantry Division and then in the Military Intelligence Service. From 1943 to 1945 he served in the China-Burma-India theater. He became deputy chief of staff to Gen. Joseph Stilwell and the protege of Gen. George Marshall who would become Secretary of State and author of the Marshall Plan for post-war European recovery. Rusk planned on a military career until Secretary Marshall asked him to join the State Department in 1947 to head the Office of Special Political Affairs. In 1950, Secretary of State Dean Acheson appointed Rusk Assistant Secretary of State for Far Eastern Affairs. During the early days of WW ll, Rusk had developed strong views that appeasement is not a viable policy, and he urged President Truman to resist communist aggression in Southeast Asia.

In 1952, he left the State Department to become president of the Rockefeller Foundation. In 1960, he authored an article in Foreign Affairs journal titled “The President,” which outlined the role of the president in developing and implementing foreign policy. Sen. John F. Kennedy was impressed by the article, and when he became president a few months later, he appointed Rusk his Secretary of State. Rusk served in that role from 1960 –1969 under presidents Kennedy and Johnson. He left office January 20, 1969, when Richard Nixon assumed the presidency, having served in that role longer than any other Secretary of State, other than Cordell Hull who served from 1933 to 1944.

Dean’s cousin David Rusk says Kennedy appointed Rusk without ever having met him because of the Foreign Affairs article and because Dean Acheson recommended him so highly. Secretary Rusk and President Johnson had a particularly close working relationship, both having come from simple rural backgrounds.

International crises dominated Rusk’s tenure as Secretary of State, including the Viet Nam War for which he was roundly criticized, the Cold War

with the Soviet Union, the failed Cuban Bay of Pigs Invasion in April 1961, the Berlin Crisis in 1961, the Cuban Missile Crisis in October 1962 and the Six Day War in June 1967. Many books and scholarly papers have been written about those events. They are beyond the scope of this column.

Rusk was appointed professor of International Law at the University of Georgia in 1970 where he led a quiet scholarly life until 1984. In 1990 he published his memoir, “As I Saw It,” with his son Richard, now deceased.

Andy Rusk, Dean’s grandson, spent a lot of time with Dean when both families lived in Athens. Andy describes Dean as “reserved but warm and caring about family. He was always curious about what we were doing. We spent Christmases together.” Andy recalls that Rusk attended his high school and university graduations “because it was important to him that his grandkids get a good education.”

There are many individuals named Rusk or married to people named Rusk in this area. Thus, family reunions have been important over the years, and Dean attended them as often as his schedule permitted. Starting in the early 1970s, reunions took place at the

Mount Gilead United Methodist Church on Arnold Mill Road in Woodstock. They moved to the Roswell Recreation Center a few years later, attracting up to 120 people. David Rusk recalls family reunions. “When Dean walked into the room, or came in by wheelchair in his later years, the room became silent. We treated him with respect.”

Dean gave many speeches, often off the cuff, according to David, including a speech at Reinhardt homecoming before 4,000 people in 1961 just a few days after the Bay of Pigs invasion.

Dean Rusk is remembered as a gentleman, quiet and unassuming, but brilliant. He was a person of strong conviction who understood that humble beginnings can lead to great results.

As his grandson Andy says, “Dean Rusk was part of the generation of statesmen that, regardless of circumstances, carried themselves with decorum.”

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

FAMILY PROVIDED PHOTOS

This is a rare photo of Gen. Joseph Stilwell and his senior staff, date and location unknown, probably somewhere in the China-Burma-India theater, circa 1943. Stillwell is sixth from the left. Dean Rusk is circled in the second row. To his right in shorts is Gen. Frank Merrill who was put in command of a special guerrilla warfare group that became known as the celebrated Merrill’s Marauders. Rusk was deputy chief of staff to Stilwell.

Human Resources Manager

Handles all employee-related processes and procedures. This role will be responsible for Recruitment and Onboarding, Job Design, Employee Relations, Performance Management, Training and Development, Employment Compliance, Total Rewards and Talent Management. This position reports to the Director of Finance and Administration and will interact with the entire management team by providing guidance on all Human Resources related topics at NFCC. Bachelor’s degree in human resources or related field and 3-5 years of Human Resources experience, preferably in multiple HR disciplines required. Please visit https://nfcchelp.org/ work-at-nfcc/ to see the full job description. To apply, submit a resume to sholiday@nfcchelp.org and to mburton@nfcchelp.org.

Technical Service Director (Alpharetta, GA):

Oversee that workflow of major engineering projects and maintenance services are executed with the approved budgets and financial policies and to strive continually to complete work on time and within allocated budget. Oversee the process of design, program and implementation of engineering projects and maintenance services to improve reliability and performance in cement operations, through the maintenance corporate policy, existing procedures and the latest best practices in maintenance and technical services. 50% domestic and international travel required. Full time. Mail resumes to Argos USA, LLC, Attn: Mark Prybylski, General Counsel, 3015 Windward Plaza, Suite 300, Alpharetta, GA 30005. Reference job number #JW498934.

Scholar IT Solutions Inc. (Duluth, GA 30097) seeks multiple Software Developers to analyze user requirements, design, develop, test and deploy various client-servers, web-based software applications.

SOFTWARE DEVELOPERS: Alpharetta, GA & various unanticipated locations throughout the U.S.: Gather, anlyz, & trnslte rqmts into techncl specns & app code. Dsgn, dvlp, mntn, & suprt entrprse apps & User Interface. Mnge source code & blds. Dvlp workflow diags & test scripts. Pfrm Unit, Regression, & UAT. Trublshot issues & prfm debug. Skills req’d: C/C++, Golang, Python, RESTful, Oracle, Jenkins, Git & GitHub. Master’s in Sci, Tech, or Engg (any) w/1 yr exp in job offered or rltd occup is req’d. Mail resume: HR, Arcean Solutions LLC, 5470 McGinnis Village Pl., Ste 101, Alpharetta, GA, 30005.

Landis+Gyr Technology, Inc.

Software Engineer

Alpharetta, GA

Landis+Gyr Technology, Inc.

Product Manager

Alpharetta, GA

Responsibilities: Manage life cycle of company’s assigned products. Manage complex engineering tools for power, electrical & utility industry & lead product lifecycle activities, including gathering customer engineering requirements, authoring Product Requirement Documents (PRDs), prioritization of sustainment activities, managing Investment Plan (IPL) & New Product Introduction (NPI) processes for assigned products.

Salary range: $100,980 - $123,420/year

Community Events Manager

The Community Events Manager is responsible for all aspects of NFCC’s community events, from inception through execution, including helping secure sponsorships. Events may include annual golf tournament, annual fundraising gala, community engagement events, donor recognition events, and other community events. Position requires a highly organized, creative, and motivated person to lead event planning, sponsorship, and community engagement. Bachelor’s Degree preferred with 2-3 years special events and fundraising experience. To view entire listing visit: https://nfcchelp.org/workat-nfcc/  To apply, send a resume to Sandy Holiday, sholiday@nfcchelp.org.

Software Developer: Degree in comp. sc. related. MS (3Yrs) OR BS (5yrs) expr. . Expr. in ASP.Net, HTML, C#, MVC, CSS, Angular JS, SQL Server, WCF, SSMS, Visual Studio, TelerikRad Controls, Integraph Smart Plant Foundation and Smart Plant 3D (SM3D) tools, Web API & Integration). Travel/Reloc. Resumes to: Attn. H.R. , eConsultants Inc. 3449 Lawrenceville Suwanee Rd, Suite A, Suwanee, GA 30024. or Email: sharmila@econsultantsinc.com.

Requirements: MS or Foreign equivalent in Comp. Sci./ IT, Engg. / Math / Science / MBA with Computer Science as major or minor/or related + 1 year of relevant IT experience using Java, Microsoft SQL Server, .Net, Salesforce (or BS or foreign equivalent in Comp. Sci / IT / Engg. / Math / Science / BBA with Computer Science as major or minor or related plus 5 yrs. of relevant IT experience using same IT skills listed above). Positions involve travel to client locations all over the USA. Send resume to HR Manager – Scholar IT Solutions Inc. 3057 Peachtree Industrial Blvd, Suite 110, Duluth, GA 30097 or hr@scholaritinc.com.

Sr. Software Engineer to support internal tools and frameworks used for the creation of mobile applications. REQUIREMENTS: Bachelor’s (or foreign equiv.) in Computer Engineering or related field & 2 yrs. exp. in job offered or Software Engineer in lottery industry or any combination thereof. Drug Test, Background Check required. Employer will accept any suitable combination of education, training or experience. Employer: Scientific Games, LLC. Qualif. applicants email resume to: Scientific Games, LLC at lottery.recruiting@scientificgames.com, reference Job #88264.00004. Job location: Alpharetta, GA. Emp. pd ad. EEO.

Infor (US), LLC has an opening for a Principal Consultant in Alpharetta, GA. Develop integration solutions per customer need; and work as part of a number of implementation teams in a customer-facing environment designing, developing, testing, and delivering integration solutions. Up to 100% Telecommuting permitted. 50% Travel required. How to apply: E-mail resume, referencing IN1009, including job history, to careers@infor.com. Infor (US), LLC is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

Responsibilities: Communicate and collaborate with Software Architects, Systems Engineering, and Product Management to understand and implement requirements. Work with teams in an Agile Scrum environment to build software rapidly and iteratively for Landis+Gyr’s Smart Grid operations.

Salary range: $80,692 - $98,624

Requirements: Bachelor’s in Comp Sci, Engg or related field & 1 yr exp in job offered or 1 yr software engg exp. Exp must include1 yr each of following: C#; Oracle/SQL Server; TFS 2017; Visual Studio 2017; & Git. Experience may be gained concurrently. Send resume & cover letter to: Landis+Gyr c/o Lisa Hudson, Talent Acquisition, 30000 Mill Creek Ave, Suite 100, Alpharetta, GA 30022 or via email to: lisa.hudson@landisgyr.com

HIRING EXPERIENCED TREE CLIMBERS GROUNDSMEN

RYAN’S GRAPPLE OPERATORS

CDL DRIVERS

770-292-1998

SUSIE@TREECAREOPS.COM

Requirements: Bachelors ’s in Electrical Engg, Comp Sci or related field & 2 yrs exp in job offered or 2 yrs exp with Oracle or SQL Server databases. Exp must include 2 yrs of exp with wireless technologies. Exp must include 2 yrs utility domain exp. Exp must include 1 yr product management. Experience may be gained concurrently. Send resume & cover letter to: Landis+Gyr c/o Lisa Hudson, Talent Acquisition, 30000 Mill Creek Ave, Suite 100, Alpharetta, GA 30022 or via email to: lisa.hudson@landisgyr.com

Volunteer Services

Volunteers Needed! Looking for a fun, impactful volunteer opportunity? One Good Deed Friendly Visitor Program of JF&CS matches older adults with volunteers for friendship and fun! Help a senior in your community. Learn more at //jfcsatl.org/ogd or call 770.677.9489.

Donor Operations Associate

The Donor Operations Associate greets and removes donations from vehicles and sorts merchandise in a designated area.  They are responsible for keeping the merchandise secure, all areas free of debris and the donor door area neat and clean.  This position is the face of NFCC so they are expected to provide excellent customer service and treat each donor with a professional and friendly demeanor.  High school diploma or equivalent preferred. Ability to perform low to moderate facility maintenance tasks.  To view entire listing visit: https://nfcchelp.org/work-atnfcc/  To apply, please complete an application for employment and email to Marten Jallad,  mjallad@nfcchelp.org.

Delivery/installation available. Firewood available. Licensed, insured. Angels of Earth Pinestraw and Mulch.

770-831-3612

Concrete/ Asphalt

Retaining Walls

Brick or Wood

Contact Ralph Rucker. Many local references. Honest, punctual, professional and reasonable prices! 678-898-7237

Home Improvement

DECKS BUILT & REPAIRED-PAINT

Decks repaired/built. Labor payment upon completion. 30-plus years experience. John Ingram/678-906-7100. Act now before prices increase next year! Heritage Home Maintenance HOMEREPAIRGA@GMAIL.COM, (HERITAGECONSTRUCTIONGA.COM)

Gutters

AARON’S ALL-TYPE GUTTERS Installed. Covers, siding, soffit, facia. www.aaronsgutters.com. Senior citizen discount! 678-508-2432

Landscaping

Full Service LANDSCAPING Company

Retaining walls (brick or wood), grading, sod, tree services, hauling, topsoil & more.

Ralph Rucker 678-898-7237

1-855-948-6176

Eliminate gutter cleaning forever! LeafFilter, the most advanced debris-blocking gutter protection. Schedule free LeafFilter estimate today. 20% off Entire Purchase. 10% Senior & Military Discounts. Call 1-833-610-1936

24 hour emergency service. Licensed, insured. Workers Comp, insurance claims.

Haulers

Bush Hogging, Clearing, Grading, Hauling, Etc.

Many local referencesCall Ralph Rucker 678-898-7237

BATH & SHOWER UPDATES in as little as ONE DAY! Affordable prices - No payments for 18 months! Lifetime warranty & professional installs. Senior & Military Discounts available. Call: 855-761-1725

Donate Your Car to Veterans Today! Help and Support our Veterans. Fast - FREE pick up. 100% tax deductible. Call 1-800-245-0398

HughesNet - Finally, super-fast internet no matter where you live. 25 Mbps just $59.99/mo!

Unlimited Data is Here. Stream Video. Bundle TV & Internet. Free Installation. Call 866-499-0141

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

DISH TV $64.99 For 190 Channels + $14.95 High Speed Internet. Free Installation, Smart HD DVR Included, Free Voice Remote. Some restrictions apply. Promo Expires 1/31/24.

1-866-479-1516

Safe Step. North America’s #1 Walk-in tub. Comprehensive lifetime warranty. Top-of-theline installation and service. Now featuring our free shower package & $1600 off - limited time! Fi-nancing available.

1-855-417-1306

Switch & save up to $250/yr on talk, text & data. No contract or hidden fees. Unlimited talk & text with flexible data plans. Premium nationwide coverage. 100% U.S. based service. Call 1-855-903-3048

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!

1-888-489-3936

Free high speed internet if qualified. Govt. pgm for recipients of select pgms incl. Medicaid, SNAP, Housing Assistance, WIC, Veterans Pension, Survivor Benefits, Lifeline, Tribal. 15 GB internet. Android tablet free w/one-time $20 copay. Free shipping. Call Maxsip Telecom!

1-833-758-3892

Inflation is at 40 year highs. Interest rates are way up. Credit Cards. Medical Bills. Car Loans. Do you have $10k or more in debt? Call National Debt Relief to find out how to pay off your debt for significantly less than what you owe! Free quote: 1-877-592-3616

Wesley Financial Group, LLC Timeshare Cancellation

ExpertsOver $50,000,000 in timeshare debt & fees cancelled in 2019. Get free info package & learn how to get rid of your timeshare! 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

Are you a pet owner? Do you want to get up to 100% back on vet bills? Physicians Mutual In-surance Company has pet coverage that can help! Call

1-844-774-0206 to get a free quote or visit insurebarkmeow. com/ads

Diagnosed with lung cancer? You may qualify for a substantial cash award - even with smoking history. No obligation! We’ve recovered millions. Let us help!! Call 24/7, 1-877-648-2503

Deadline to place a classified ad is Thursdays by 4 pm

SPECIALOFFER

Call today and receive a FREE

1-855-417-1306

With purchase of a new Safe Step Walk-In Tub. Not applicable with any previous walk-in tub purchase. Offer available while supplies last. No cash value. Must present offer at time of purchase. CSLB 1082165 NSCB 0082999 0083445