FORSYTH COUNTY, Ga. — After trading accusations in a heated discussion, Forsyth County commissioners postponed a decision on rezoning 140 acres in the southern part of the county to allow for a mixed-use development.
The proposed development has garnered support and concerns from residents for months.
CUMMING, Ga. — Close to two dozen residents at the Oaks at Hampton assisted living facility tapped their feet, clapped their hands and nodded their heads side to side listening to Nick Vernola and his brother Mike play familiar tunes.
Gathered around in big, comfy couches and armchairs, residents listened to songs from the “Great American Songbook.” Some dogs were
wandering about, probably feeling the music too.
“That's a fictitious book that exists, but everybody knows what songs are in it. It’s songs that everybody knows — that’s why,” Nick said.
Wearing a red beret and shirt with musical notes, Nick took the lead of the set and introduced songs with history lessons and personal anecdotes. He played the virtual accordion, as part of the moniker Memory Lane.
See MUSIC, Page 6
To book a show with the Nick Vernola, visit accordionshow.com
He’s open to playing private parties, restaurants, nursing facilities, retirement and senior living centers as well as farmers markets.
Project staff presented plans to rezone land on Mullinax, Union Hill and Fowler Hill roads from agricultural to a master planned district at the June 15 Board of Commissioners. The master planned district zoning designation – or MPD – allows for mixed commercial and residential uses.
Northpoint Capital Investment Holdings introduced plans for the site at an April 25 Planning Commission meeting. The site is home to the former Kennemore Wholesale Nursery. The redevelopment calls for 88,000 square feet of commercial space, 284 residential lots and 120 attached homes with a density of 2.88 units per acre.
See COUNTY, Page 8
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FORSYTH COUNTY, Ga. — Forsyth County deputies arrested a Cleveland man June 2 who is accused of shoplifting from a Cumming Walmart twice in less than a week.
Deputies reported receiving a call from the loss prevention officer at the Walmart on Browns Bridge Road around 5 p.m. June 2. The employee said they wished to file charges against Timothy Cantrell, 52, who allegedly shoplifted two crossbows, bolts, a crossbow center shot and a DC backpack from the store May 23 and 28.
The employee reported the total value of merchandise stolen at $988.47.
Cantrell left the store June 2 before deputies could make contact, the report states, but he returned to the Walmart later and confessed to deputies.
He was charged with one felony and two misdemeanor counts of theft by shoplifting.
Cantrell is being held at the Forsyth County Jail with a $13,480 bond.
FORSYTH COUNTY, Ga. — Forsyth County deputies arrested a motorcyclist June 2 for alleged drug possession after a speeding stop on Ga. 400.
Deputies reported clocking two motorcycles speeding 91 mph in a 65-mph speed zone on southbound Ga. 400 near McFarland Parkway and initiated a traffic stop near Union Hill Road around 9 p.m. May 27.
When one of the motorcyclists, Brandon Goodman, 29, of Roswell, provided deputies his driver’s license,
a plastic baggie that contained a pink powdery substance fell onto the ground, the report states. Goodman reportedly told deputies the substance was “probably food coloring.”
Deputies reported the substance tested positive for MDMA/methamphetamine. Deputies also searched Goodman and his backpack and located a rock that appeared to be crack cocaine, a clear crystalline substance, a glass pipe with burnt residue and a marijuana grinder.
Goodman was also operating his motorcycle outside of daylight hours, which is prohibited by state law under a motorcycle instructional permit.
Goodman was charged with felony possession of MDMA/meth and crack cocaine, as well as misdemeanor possession of marijuana under 1 ounce and drug-related objects, speeding and violation of permit conditions.
He is being held at the Forsyth County Jail. Bond is set at $25,860.
The second rider was issued a citation for speeding.
FORSYTH COUNTY, Ga. — Forsyth County deputies arrested a Dacula man June 3 on DUI, drug and insurance violation charges following a traffic stop on Ga. 400.
Deputies reported observing a Honda Accord that was fluctuating below and at the speed limit while swerving on northbound Ga. 400 near Majors Road around 2 a.m. Deputies ran the vehicle’s tag, which was flagged for not having insurance, and they conducted a traffic stop.
While speaking with the driver, Brandon Sloan, 42, deputies reported observing signs of impairment and conducted a DUI investigation. Deputies determined Sloan to be impaired to the extent that is less than safe to drive and placed him under arrest, the report states.
Deputies also reported finding a Ruger-5.7 handgun, a plastic bag contain-
ing cocaine, a bag containing marijuana in the center console, a second plastic bag containing burnt marijuana cigarette roaches and an open bottle of vodka.
Sloan reportedly denied owning the gun.
He was charged with felony possession of cocaine, possession of a firearm during commission of a felony, weapon receipt by a convicted felon and misdemeanor possession of marijuana under 1 ounce, DUI, possession of open alcohol container and failure to maintain insurance.
He is being held at the Forsyth County Jail on a $48,960 bond.
FORSYTH COUNTY, Ga. — Forsyth County Sheriff’s Office deputies arrested a Stone Mountain motorist June 4 on DUI and drug charges after he had allegedly gotten lost on his way home.
Deputies reported conducting a traffic stop on a driver for failing to maintain lane, driving in the gore and illegal use of a wireless device at Peachtree Parkway and Stoney Point Road around 2 a.m.
Deputies observed a strong smell of alcohol coming from the driver Duery Pope, 48, who said he had gotten lost on the way from Atlanta to his home in Stone Mountain, the report states.
Deputies determined Pope was impaired to the extent that is less than safe to drive and placed under arrest, the report states. Deputies reported locating open containers of alcohol in Pope’s cupholders, a firearm in the center console and a single MDMA pill in a bag in the back of the vehicle.
Pope was charged with felony possession of a Schedule I controlled substance and a firearm during commission of a felony, as well as misdemeanor DUI multiple substances, possession of an open alcohol container, failure to maintain lane, driving in gore and unlawful use of a wireless device.
FORSYTH COUNTY, Ga. — The Forsyth County School Board bowed to disgruntled taxpayers at two crowded meetings June 15, effectively lowering its proposed property tax rate following weeks of protests.
County Schools Chief Financial Officer Larry Hammel presented a fourth version of the district’s proposed budget at a meeting and public hearing June 15. The new proposal lowers the upcoming fiscal year’s property tax rate to 16.718 mills, marking a full 2-mill decrease from the previous year.
The tax rate is divided into a 15.3 mill levy for maintenance and operation and 1.418 mills for debt service.
One mill represents $1 in taxes for each $1,000 of a property’s taxable value.
Hammel said the millage rate will save county residents over $62 million in taxes.
At the public hearing for the previous version of the draft budget, county residents urged board members to understand the financial strain of their increased property taxes and the rising cost of living. School Board Member Mike Valdes and Planning Commissioner Stacy Guy supported a 2-mill decrease to ease the burden on Forsyth County taxpayers.
With the new rate, Hammel said the school district will see its lowest combined mill levy since 2006. The revenues from property taxes with the 15.3-mill maintenance and operation rate total $304 million.
The school system’s excess revenue would be roughly $7 million, a nearly $21 million decrease from the previous proposal.
Hammel said over half of the budget’s 10 percent increase from last year is because of state-mandated health care and teacher pay raises. The remaining 3.8 percent rise is for local expenditures.
Schools Superintendent Jeff Bearden said the four goals of the budget are maintaining instructional quality for students; ensuring that staff salaries are regionally competitive; being financially efficient and sensitive to residents’ needs; and preparing for potential future reductions in state funds.
In the event of a recession, Bearden said the district may face austerity cuts during years in which the state cannot afford to fund its portion of the budget. He emphasized 89 percent of the district’s expenditures is reserved for
salaries and benefits.
Roughly 73 percent, or $470 million, of Forsyth County Schools’ expenses goes toward instruction.
“If this budget is passed as now it has been amended, I believe all four priorities will be met,” Bearden said. “The Board and I have listened, and we will continue to listen. We will continue to operate a world-class school system as our citizens expect, and we will do so in a financially efficient manner, as our community also expects.”
Even with concessions on the tax rate, some speakers at the hearings asked board members to consider further ways to reduce costs, such as consolidating schools into fewer facilities and rolling back the millage rate to maintain previous tax rates.
“This isn't about percentages,” speaker Andrew Oviatt said. “This is about dollars ... The reality is, it's not just this year, this new budget. It’s last year. It's the year before, and it has been increasing at an incredible rate.”
Oviatt, who said he purchased his home in 2006 for $200,000, said his property taxes have increased 49 percent.
Speaker Stephen Emmett, who moved to Forsyth County in 2002, said he is concerned that senior citizens who live on fixed incomes may be forced to leave the county with rising costs.
School Board Chairwoman Darla Light said seniors 65 years and older are exempt from school taxes, and an upcoming homestead exemption will provide further relief.
Upcoming hearings on the millage rate are scheduled for 9 a.m. and 7 p.m. June 22. Final approval is slated for 5 p.m. June 29.
FORSYTH COUNTY/PROVIDED
A portion of Shiloh Road east of the Ga. 400 overpass will be closed June 23-27 for repaving. Forsyth County motorists will use Majors Road to cross the highway until work is completed.
FORSYTH COUNTY, Ga. — Forsyth County motorists traveling on Shiloh Road will face intermittent delays June 23-27 during a full-depth pavement replacement at the location of the future intersection with Ronald Reagan Boulevard.
County officials said drivers traveling in either direction on Shiloh Road will detour to cross Ga. 400 at Majors Road. Work will run from 8 p.m. June 23
through 8 a.m. June 27.
The repaving is part of the Ronald Reagan Boulevard Extension, an ongoing road project that will run parallel to Ga. 400 and connect Majors Road to McFarland Parkway.
The time frame of the roadwork is subject to change in the event of inclement weather. Updates can be found at forsythco.com.
— Shelby Israel
PEACHTREE CORNERS ESTATE SALE. Moving overseas. Brookwood; 6225 Brookwood Road 30092. Friday 6/23, 9AM-5PM, Saturday, 6/24, 9AM-3PM. Bring cash, & help for moving large items. Everything goes INCLUDING PLANT SALE!
To place garage sale ads: Noon Friday. Call 770-442-3278 or email classifieds@appenmediagroup.com
See more garage sales in the classifieds
JOHNS CREEK-30022. 675 St. Fillans Court. Saturday 6/24-Sunday 6/25, 9AM-3PM. HUGE! Furniture, lighting, mirrors, art, etc...
To place garage sale ads: Noon Friday. Call 770-442-3278 or email classifieds@appenmediagroup.com
PROVIDED
The Northern Ridge Boy Scout District (cities of Roswell, Alpharetta, John’s Creek, Milton) has announced its newest Eagle Scouts, who completed their Eagle Board of Review on April 27 at Johns Creek Presbyterian Church.
Top row, from left:
Evan Self, Troop 51, sponsored by American Legion Post 201, whose project was the design and construction of a bench, rebuilding thee existing benches, and rebuilding and painting a set of bleachers for the Wexford Neighborhood HOA.
Aarnav Shankar, of Troop 2000, sponsored by Johns Creek Presbyterian Church whose project was the design and construction of two life jacket loaner stations, awareness information boards about life jacket safety at Old Federal Campground and Bolding Mill Campground at Lake Lanier.
Dominic DeLuca, of Troop 143, sponsored by John’s Creek United Methodist Church, whose project was the design and construction two garden beds after leveling the ground for Christ the Sheppard Lutheran Church.
Shaktik Bhattacharyya, of Troop 3143, sponsored by John’s Creek United Methodist Church, whose project was the design and construction of two benches and the painting of a border fence for the Children's Development Academy of Roswell
Reece Hannah, of Troop 431, sponsored by Roswell United Methodist Church, whose project was the installation of a 100’ French drain with seven catch basins, outside the front doors of Roswell North Elementary School. Reece also removed dead plants and bushes and relandscaped with flowery bushes and river rock.
Patrick Flood, Troop 87, sponsored by Roswell Presbyterian Church,
Continued from Page 1
Nick’s instrument had been programmed with a couple hundred different types of recordings, or samplings. But that day he used all orchestrations, with sounds from the saxophone, clarinet, trumpet and harmonica.
The first of two solos was “Begin the Beguine” by Cole Porter, written in World War I to an African drum beat.
Later introducing a re-recording of a 1930s song by Willie Nelson, Nick said music is timeless.
“It travels through the years,” he said. “It stays with us.”
It also stays with the residents, despite mental handicaps, re-animating them and carrying them back to days long ago.
the Vernolas following a song, one of a catalog of 300 they practice. Songs are from the “Great American Songbook.”
ment because I was born one block off of Broadway in Times Square,” Nick said.
whose project was the renovation and restoration of the front landscape area, by installing two concrete footings for two benches he constructed, dug out several dead bushes, weeded the area and then mulched the area for Masonic Temple at Roswell.
Front row, from left:
Kayden Pham, of Troop 226, sponsored by Bridge to Grace Church, whose project was the design and construction of a kiosk to hold a map of the property for the Holy Vietnamese Martyr's Church
Michael Wilson, Troop 69, sponsored by Alpharetta First United Methodist Church, whose project was repairing a fence that covers a cooling tower outside of Alpharetta First United Methodist Church, as well as replacing the 6-foot fence with an 8-foot fence.
Christopher Slemmer, of Troop 356, sponsored by Fellowship Christian School, whose project was the design and construction of four planter boxes for Roswell High School.
Henry Brown, of Troop 3000, sponsored by Birmingham United Methodist Church, whose project was designing and constructing a 10'x7'6" garden shed for the Milton High School Garden Club.
William Harrison, Troop 51, sponsored by American Legion Post 201, whose project was the design and construction of six wooden benches for the Children’s Development Academy of Roswell.
Aiden Clark, of Troop 3000, sponsored by Birmingham United Methodist Church, whose project was design and construction of a pergola and one accompanying bench and filling the area under the pergola with gravel for the Lion Heart School at The Cottage.
“I try to calculate when they were 18 to 24 years old because that’s when people remember the most about the music, and sometimes playing music that their parents listened to really works as well,” Mike said.
Other classics in the one-hour set were Tommy Dorsey’s “Tea for Two Cha-Cha,” Glen Miller’s “Moonlight Serenade” and Louis Armstrong’s “What a Wonderful World,” sung in part by Nick who assumed Satchmo’s distinct gravelly voice.
Soon, the Vernolas will also have a projector set up behind them as they play, casting old television programs like “The Ed Sullivan Show,” and maybe some silent clips of The Beatles and Bing Crosby.
Around six years ago, Nick met a woman at a homeowners association function, who said an assisted living center off Tribble Gap Road was looking for entertainment. He and Mike have been touring senior living facilities ever since.
Over time, they developed a catalog of about 300 songs and practice at Mike’s house. Newer songs are introduced as crowds change with age.
The brothers play all over North Georgia, in Cumming, Roswell, Canton and Gainesville, and book over 100 performances a year with repeat clients, playing at the same facilities every month. They know some residents by name, like a woman named Georgia who was front and center to “Georgia on My Mind” at Oaks at Hampton.
Originally from New York, the Vernolas had a musical upbringing. Their parents always had the phonograph on. They also played in bands albeit in different decades — Nick is 15 years older than Mike, and he had exposure at the 1964 New York World’s Fair as well as a restaurant on Broadway.
“I was destined to be in entertain-
Mike pulled up an old photo of himself in the ’70s with big hair, holding a guitar.
“I had dreams of being a rock star. You want to conquer the world. You want to build a business. You get past all of that,” Nick said. “Now, I just want to give back.”
For the first year and a half, Nick and Mike played for free but began charging a nominal fee of $50 once they saw more demand. Before the COVID pandemic, they put on nearly 300 shows a year.
“You know, we watched our father wither away in a nursing home” Mike said, describing a time when an older fellow walked into his father’s facility, setting up and strumming a guitar. “We said to each other — ‘Boy, I’d like to be doing that.”
Earlier that day, the Vernolas played for the same facility’s memory care unit — coined as the “mile-long walk” by Laurie Owens, assisted living lifestyle director at Oaks at Hampton.
Owens grew up at Oaks at Hampton, taking her mother’s position when she retired. Her twin sister works there, too. Nick and Mike had been playing before Owens began working there, and she wanted to continue their shows for residents — her “adoptive grandparents.”
“[Music] lets them reminisce, and bring back memories,” Owens said.
While the brothers enjoy playing at independent living residences, where there are full-blown dance parties, memory care is their most rewarding show.
During one performance at a memory care facility in Gainesville, one woman mouthed all the words to all the songs. After the performance, Nick and Mike were told by an employee that she never spoke.
“You get a lot of stuff like that,” Mike said.
JOHNS CREEK, Ga. — Because Barnwell Elementary School didn’t have an official kindergarten graduation ceremony this year, one parent took it upon herself to host one at her home.
Khadijah Bronson’s son, a twin, had some anxiety about moving onto first grade. So, she wanted to do something to show his accomplishments.
“He's doing very well here, and I just wanted to do something for my kids,” Bronson said.
Her family moved down from Washington, D.C., less than a year ago.
While the event was initially going to be more simple, Bronson sent out invites to her children’s
two kindergarten classes. For the event, there was a cookout and pool party. Bronson funded everything herself, denying donations.
About 20 students arrived at Bronson’s home June 3. Wearing their caps and gowns, and on a red carpet, they received their diplomas teachers had signed. Takisha
ALPHARETTA, Ga. — Appen Media staff won multiple division titles in the Georgia Press Association’s 2023 Better Newspaper Contest at the Jekyll Island Club Hotel June 9.
feature writing category, and Amber Perry received the third-place title.
Benning, Barnwell’s principal, announced each student over the phone, followed by a speech.
“One of the kids was like, ‘Can we throw our caps up?’” Bronson said. “At the count of three, everybody threw them up, then we threw the confetti up. They were just so happy.”
The 136th annual competition recognizes state journalists for outstanding achievement in newspaper reporting. Appen Media staff won second place in general excellence and page one, lifestyle and local news coverage in the F Division for weekly papers with a circulation of 15,000 or greater.
Company staff also scored third place in the lifestyle category, as well as breaking and local news coverage.
Appen Media reporter Delaney Tarr was awarded first place in the division’s
Alex Popp was awarded first place for best news photograph, and Perry won second place.
Former reporters Chamian Cruz and Jake Drukman were recognized as the top two winners of the division’s business writing category.
Publisher and CEO Hans Appen won first place in serious columns, and columnist Bob Meyers was awarded the secondplace title. Columnist Steve Hudson also won second place for best lifestyle or feature column. Managing Editor Pat Fox took the third place price for best humorous column.
— Shelby IsraelContinued from Page 1
At the planning meeting, project attorney Christopher Light said the vision for the rezoning is to create an improved version of developments, like Vickery Village.
While some residents have expressed support for the project, saying they would like to have the deteriorating plant nursery addressed and an entertainment hub within walking distance, others argue the plot does not belong in the middle of subdivisions.
Speaking at the County Commission meeting, resident Beth Tipton said she had gathered nearly 3,000 signatures of nearby residents in opposition to the site plans.
But, County Commissioner Todd Levent said there has been misinformation distributed to residents about the project. Levent said other properties in the area share similar densities to the proposed development.
Commissioners Levent and Cindy Jones Mills voted to allow the rezoning, but the measure failed, 2-3.
Mills accused other commissioners of intentionally denying the project because of its location in Levent’s district.
“We have land use maps that we approved 5-0,” Mills said. “They went to the Planning Commission, and they were approved 5-0 … I just hate it when zonings become less about the community and more a ‘gotcha’ toward the district commissioner, and that’s what’s happening on this zoning, and there’s no doubt about it.”
County Commission Chairman Alfred John and Commissioner Kerry Hill defended their vote, saying they each spent considerable time reviewing the project. Hill, a former member of the Planning Commission, said she based her vote on what she thinks is best for the community.
“I feel like the [master planned district] category is getting overused,” Hill said. “I’ve always had a hard time with the usage of the MPD category here … I do worry that we’re starting to take away usage of other areas because we’re putting something else
right next to it, and we won’t be able to support these sorts of things.”
With commissioners at an impasse, County Attorney Ken Jarrard said developers could not propose new plans for the land for six months or substantially similar developments for a year unless a compromised motion was passed, or the item was approved or deferred.
With a crowd awaiting the decision, the County Commission voted to postpone the project to a July 20 meeting.
ALPHARETTA, Ga. — No longer rotating between the Alpharetta Arts Center, Joann Fabric and Crafts, restaurants or homes, the Alpha Arts Guild has secured a permanent home 15 years after it began.
“We were just vagabonds,” said Barbara Rush, president of the Alpha Arts Guild. She joined the group about two years ago.
Opened in mid-May, The Scene is an 11,269-square-foot space on the second floor of North Point Mall that includes a gallery as well as a classroom area. It’s exclusively for Georgia artists, and the Guild is looking for those who want to consign their family-friendly art in a juried selection for three- to six-month contracts.
“We're all about the arts,” Rush said. “We love talking with other artists about techniques, and we share information here.”
The Alpha Arts Guild, open to all Georgia residents, is a nonprofit arts community with 50 members. Its mission is to learn and inspire one another through their work. Mediums vary.
“We have such a melting pot of nationalities that have come to our local area,” Rush said, represented throughout the gallery.
There were more than 100 pieces by 35 artists, many of them Guild members, hanging on the walls that day. Rush had her own work on display — what she calls “geocubism,” consisting of colorful animal portraits formed through geometric shapes.
She highlighted several artists throughout the gallery. Hope Riveron, Guild member, uses herbs, ground seeds and berries to create the pigments for her paintings. Sangeeta Lal, another longtime member, dyes silk for her vibrant work.
And, there’s space for more. Rush pointed out newly painted sculpture stands waiting to be used, sitting by the breaker box she opened to flip more than a dozen light switches in the backroom. Tables were gathered and chairs were stacked in the same room for upcoming monthly artist workshops.
“I never thought that I'd be flipping switches,” Rush said.
It took a year and half to close the deal on The Scene. Rush said it was a “big undertaking” for the Guild’s
For Georgia artists looking for consignment at The Scene, apply online at thesceneartgallery.com.
To join the Alpha Arts Guild, apply online at alphaartsguild.org
board of directors, who have volunteered time and energy into making the gallery their new home.
“We have been through many trials and tribulations and have chosen to continue moving forward without looking back,” Rush said. “We are The Scene, but we are also the Alpha Arts Guild, and together we pulled all of this together.”
FORSYTH COUNTY, Ga. — In a cozy shop in The Collection at Forsyth, Amy Moreau invites guests to travel from Metro Atlanta to vineyards abroad with a unique repertoire of wine and a friendly experience.
While Moreau was doubtful about starting a business immediately following the Great Recession, she identified the need for a wine experience that is elevated and accessible to local residents and opened Talk of the Table in 2013.
“I was a stay-at-home mom for a very, very long time and went through a divorce, and during that process, knew that I was going to have to start working full time again,” Moreau said. “I had little kids, and I needed to be able to find something that was close by that I could manage my schedule.”
Moreau, who previously operated a small catering business, said she had liked wine before opening her shop, but it was a trip to a wine bar and a cheese shop in California that inspired her to conceive Talk of the Table.
A place like no other
Moreau’s boutique sells roughly 300 different wines, many sourced through distributors from small wineries. She said one of the shop’s core principles is offering customers a variety not available at other major retailers like Costco and Total Wine.
“There are so many wine producers out there, whether it’s in the United States or anywhere else, that make amazing
wines that are not super expensive that don’t get a lot of representation,” Moreau said. “And the reason they don’t get a lot of representation is because they’re small, but I wanted to make a commitment that I was going to taste every single wine that I put in my store.”
Daily at 1 p.m., Talk of the Table hosts Flights out Front, a sampler of four wines. Themed, educational tastings are Fridays at 7 p.m. and Saturdays at 4 and 5:30 p.m.
“[Educational tastings are] where you come in, you taste through the wine, somebody leads the tasting, we talk about the grapes and how they’re grown and how they’re harvested and any interesting winemaking techniques that are used to make the wine,” Moreau said.
Tucked away in the back of the boutique is a tasting room with a table that seats 12 and a wall made of multicolored wine bottles. Here, customers can socialize and learn more about the wine they taste.
The shop also sells cheeses to pair with wines, salami, herbed almonds, gift bags and accessories, such as corkscrews and decorative stoppers.
“I wanted to make sure that when you came in to Talk of the Table … whether you knew nothing about wine, or whether you had incredibly high preferences about wine, that we approached you in the same way, and we could meet you at your level of knowledge about wine,” Moreau said.
While many customers enjoy tasting in the boutique, Moreau also provides special event services; custom gift baskets; a wine
See WINE, Page 10
I wanted to make sure that when you came in to Talk of the Table…we could meet you at your level of knowledge about wine.
AMY MOREAU, founder, Talk of the Table
Continued from Page 11
club for customers to sample new blends each month; and international trips to the vineyards from which the wines originated.
“Part of the mission of the store from the very beginning was to have a wine club,” Moreau said. “That community has become just an amazing group of people that are very, very, very connected.”
Recently, Moreau traveled to Spain to visit Casa Rojo Bodega y Viñedos and Yllera Bodegas y Viñedos, whose products are on her shelves.
When Moreau decided to pursue her own business in 2010, she attended formal classes to learn more about the specifics of wine. She said she is studying for the Certified Specialist of Wine Exam offered by the Society of Wine Educators, a nonprofit that recognizes experts of the beverage.
Moreau said she also learns from experience. Trips to foreign vineyards and frequent visits from winery representatives allow her to disseminate what she has learned to customers.
She also said Forsyth County has been helpful in accommodating code changes. As a retail location, she said she
was originally unable to allow tastings. That changed in 2012 when the code was revised to allow customer samplings under her packaged beer and wine license.
With her current licensure under the county and the Department of Agriculture, Moreau is allowed to offer tastings and food that is already cooked. Now, she is asking the County Commission to allow her to sell wine by the glass in addition to food.
Celebrating her 10th year of business, Moreau said running Talk of the Table has broadened her palate and appreciation of wine. In the beginning, she said she focused more on domestic wines, but now the shop has ventured into selections from Slovenia, Croatia, Lebanon, Hungary and Israel.
“Wine has been part of our history for thousands of years, and what I have learned is that it is not only an agricultural product, but part of our history in terms of food and medicine and culture,” Moreau said. “I have an immense appreciation for people that have continued to carry on that legacy.”
With a recent franchising underway, Moreau will open her second location in Sugar Hill in the coming weeks, where she hopes to continue her easygoing approach to the world of wine.
Talk of the Table is open MondaySaturday noon-7 p.m. and Sundays noon-5 p.m. in Suite 218 at 410 Peachtree Parkway.
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 – Jay Looft, Senior Source Medicare
No, I don’t mean that kind of SOB. I’m talking about the Medicare Advantage Summary of Benefits (SOB).
The SOB is the guide to your Medicare Advantage Plan Benefits. Each calendar year, the insurance carrier will produce a new Summary of Benefits specific to your Medicare Plan. It’s important to keep around because it will lay out your costs when you use medical services such as doctors’ visits, hospital stays, MRIs, lab tests, and prescription drug costs.
In addition to medical and prescription drug costs, the Medicare Advantage Summary of Benefits outlines much more. Additional Benefits that will be addressed in the Summary of Benefits are:
• Dental, Vision, Hearing Aid Coverage
• Therapy Programs for Physical and Mental Health
• Allowance Cards for Over-The-Counter Items
• Reward Programs for Healthy Living
• Resources for Healthy Living
The above benefits are built into most Medicare Advantage Plans, but many go unused by beneficiaries. Reading through your Summary of Benefits will allow you to
unlock these additional resources.
The aim of these additional programs is to encourage better health, while saving a little money in the process. Every Medicare Advantage Plan will offer a variety of these benefits, so it’s important to tell your Medicare Insurance Agent which are most important to you.
I have recently met too many Medicare Advantage Plan Beneficiaries that were not previously aware they had Allowances and Reward Programs.
Review your Medicare Advantage Plan’s Summary of Benefits and stay informed!
If you need helping finding your SOB, visit our 2023 Summary of Benefits Webpage at www.SeniorSourceMedicare. com/2023-benefits-summaries. You’ll need your Plan ID Number, which can be found on the bottom right-hand corner of most Medicare Advantage ID Cards.
We work with all three Medicare Options; including Medicare Advantage, Medicare Supplement, and Stand-Alone Medicare Prescription Drug Plans. If you need further assistance with finding your Medicare Advantage Summary of Benefits or need help finding a new plan, please give me a call today at (770) 315-8145 or online at www.SeniorSourceMedicare.com
Brought to You by - Michelle Wilson, Wilson Legal, PC
It’s vacation time and many of our readers are off to their favorite vacation spots. For many, that means heading to their beach houses or mountain cabins. You will enjoy the beach house while you are living then pass it to your kids. You have a will. You feel that things are buttoned up. It’s not. There’s a hidden expense in your plan that your kids will find after you die. What is it? Extra probate fees.
You see, people with wills (or those without wills) must go through the probate process ($$$ + Time consuming)
to have their executor approved before they can transfer ownership of the beach house to your kids or sell it. If the beach house is in a different state from the state you died in, then you have to go through the probate process twice. Yuck! You can avoid this outcome by using a revocable trust. With a revocable trust, your successor trustee calls the law firm to request an updated certificate of trust after the death certificate arrives and that’s all they need to transfer property or put it on the market. If you think this might be a great solution for your family, please give us a call.
Paige Gorman Agent
Brought to you by - Jason Howard, Licensed Professional Counselor at Summit Counseling Center
As a male therapist, I’m constantly surprised by my own hesitancy to ask for help. I know the benefits of regulating my emotions and opening up to someone I trust, but I also know the challenges men face when it comes to seeking therapy. Many men have grown up under pressure
to suppress emotions and maintain a tough exterior. Be vulnerable? Not today! Unfortunately, this leads many men to suppress valid thoughts and emotions, missing out on greater satisfaction in our work, relationships, and life.
Here are some helpful strategies to regulate emotions:
1. Develop emotional awareness. Recognize tense shoulders, shaky
legs, and tiredness as your emotions giving you a heads up. Next, identify your main emotional triggers, like work stress or financial problems, to know why your body is sounding an alarm.
2. Once aware, learn strategies to regulate the emotion. In the work I do with men, we process what the emotional alarms communicate and determine effective responses. Men tell me they feel more empowered and less stress when they can observe the anger or fear start in then body, and then check the facts and choose their response. Responding effectively versus just reacting is both tough and doable.
3. Create healthy coping mechanisms. It’s amazing the benefits I see in my office from straightforward actions like addressing sleep issues, drinking water, eating well, and exercising. In fact, regular exercise has been shown to be one of the most effective ways to reduce anxiety and depression and improve mood in men.
I know it takes courage to seek
help, and the benefits of improved mental health and wellbeing are well worth it. Learn more about Summit and schedule an appointment by visiting www.summitcounseling.org.
The dog days of summer have arrived, but these nearby book events are the cat’s meow. Author appearances across the area in July offer such novel approaches to beating the heat as curling up with a chilling thriller or perusing a variety of genres with a locally distilled beverage in hand.
What’s more, local luminaries are providing much of the month’s reading respite. Lisa Yaszek, the Regents
Saturday, July 8, Licia Chenoweth. Chenoweth will chat about her awardwinning debut middle-grade novel, "My Thousand Treasures.” Noon. Talk, signing. Free. Read It Again Bookstore, 3630 Peachtree Parkway, Suite 314, Suwanee. 770-232-9331 www.read-it-again.com
Saturday, July 15, Cody Ray George. George will chronicle his new occult thriller, "Good Night Room Nine." Noon. Discussion, signing. Free. Read It Again Bookstore, 3630 Peachtree Parkway, Suite 314, Suwanee. 770-232-9331. www.read-it-again.com
Saturday July 15, Boozy Book Fair. Suwanee’s Read It Again Bookstore is partnering with Distillery of Modern Art on a Boozy Bookfair showcasing a selection of carefully curated books and locally distilled beverages. 6 p.m. Free. Distillery of Modern Art, 2197 Irvindale Way, Chamblee. 404- 482-2663. distilleryofmodernart.com
Thursday, July 20, Lisa Yaszek. Yaszek, the Regents Professor of Science Fiction Studies at Georgia Tech, will detail her new anthology, "The Future Is Female! Volume Two, The 1970s: More Classic Science Fiction Stories By Women: A Library of America Special Publication.” 7 p.m. Talk, signing. Free. Read It Again Bookstore, 3630 Peachtree Parkway, Suite 314, Suwanee. 770-232-9331. www.read-itagain.com
Saturday, July 22, George Weinstein and Kim Conrey. Married Atlanta Writers Club officers Weinstein and Conrey will sign and discuss their latest works. Weinstein is the award-winning author of six titles, including the Southern Gothic historical novel “Hardscrabble Road” and its sequel, “Return to Hardscrabble Road.” Conrey’s works include the sci-fi romance series Ares Ascending and the urban fantasy, “Nicholas Eternal.” 11 a.m. Free. Poe & Company Bookstore, 1890 Heritage Walk, Suite P101, Milton. 770-797-5566. Poeandcompanybookstore.com
Professor of Science Fiction Studies at Georgia Tech, is heading to Suwanee July 20 to talk about her new anthology. Atlanta’s Thomas Mullen, an internationally bestselling author and Townsend Award finalist, will discuss his latest release in Sandy Springs July 24. And, on July 25, the powerhouse Atlanta Writers Club couple of George Weinstein and Kim Conroy are launching a pair of new books in Alpharetta.
Here are details about these and other July author events:
Monday, July 24, Thomas Mullen. Friends of the Sandy Springs Library, in partnership with Bookmiser, will host Mullen, an internationally bestselling author and Townsend Award finalist. The conversation will center on his seventh book, “Blind Spots,” a riveting crime novel with a speculative edge about the ways our perceptions of reality can be manipulated. 6 p.m. Discussion, signing. Free. Sandy Springs Library, 395 Mount Vernon Highway NE, Atlanta. 404-612-7000. bookmiser.net/bookevents.html
Tuesday, July 25, George Weinstein and Kim Conrey. A Novel Idea presents Atlanta’s philanthropic writing couple as they officially launch their latest books. Weinstein, the twice-former president and current executive director of the Atlanta Writers Club, will focus on his new release, “Offlining.” Conrey, whose many roles include serving as AWC’s vice president of operations, will be spotlighting “Nicholas Eternal.” Bookmiser will have copies of both authors’ novels for sale. 7 p.m. Celebration, signing. Free. Brimstone Restaurant & Tavern, 10595 Old Alabama Road, Alpharetta. 770-509-5611. bookmiser. net/book-events.html
Friday, July 28, Saturday, July 29, Monday, July 31: Friends of the Roswell Library will have a “Mid-Summer Sale” filled with all the boxes of treasures they can pull from storage. Old and new books, books for children and senior citizens, fiction and non-fiction, vintage and collectible, cheap and pricey, sad and funny. If weather permits, the sale will be held on the library’s front porch as well as in the meeting room and bookstore. Free. See website for hours. Roswell Library, 115 Norcross St., Roswell. 404612-9700. forl.net
To submit an author event for the upcoming month, email Kathy Des Jardins Cioffi at kathydesjardins3@gmail.com by the 15th.
What: Set in the 18th century and featuring a dozen lavishly costumed 30-inch marionettes, this production of Cinderella is a Tanglewood Marionettes showpiece. All your favorite characters are here, from gentle Cinderella to the bumptious stepsisters and the charming Prince.
When: Until June 24, times vary
Where: Roswell Cultural Arts Center, 950 Forrest Street, Roswell
Cost: $7
More info: roswellgov.com
What: Happening on select Thursdays, Sundown Social is a relaxed neighborhood gathering with live music and signature cocktails. The event will feature tours of the greenery around City Springs.
Jamie Empert, an accomplished flute player, and her husband
Joe will provide the event’s music entertainment. There will also be a mobile flower truck and food trucks.
When: Thursday, June 22, 5:30 p.m.
Where : City Green, 1 Galambos Way, Sandy Springs
More info: sandyspringsga.gov
What: A new event at Dunwoody Nature Center, this mead taste experience will include trying three different types of mead from Georgia’s first meadery, Monks Meadery. One drink ticket will also be included in the cost of entry. The mead tasting is for adults 21 and over. Anyone under the age of 21 is free.
When: Friday, June 23, 6:30-8:30 p.m.
Where: Dunwoody Nature Center, 5343 Roberts Drive, Dunwoody
Cost: $25 for members, $40 for nonmembers
More info: dunwoodynature.org
What: Every Saturday morning until Oct. 28, more than 30 vendors set up shop around Milton City Hall
What: Join this scrapbooking session to make an 8x8 album for yourself or a loved one. This free program is for adults and teens, ages 14 and up. Please register as space is limited.
When: Thursday, June 29, 10:30 a.m.-12 p.m.
Where: Northeast Spruill Oaks Library, 9560 Spruill Road, Johns Creek More info: johnscreekga.gov
with fresh produce, fresh meat, sweets, coffee and tea, flowers, soaps, jewelry and more.
When: Saturday, June 24, 8:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
Where: Milton City Hall plaza, 2006 Heritage Walk, Milton More info: facebook.com/ miltongafarmersmarket
What: Join award-winning European artist Diana Toma in exploring the art of intuitive painting. This workshop is about letting go of inhibitions and plunging into your own inner creative volcano while collaborating with other artists. All levels are welcome. Paint supplies are included in the $20 materials fee payable to the instructor at the workshop. Just bring two acrylic brushes and a canvas 36 inches x 48 inches or larger.
When: Saturday, June 24, 10 a.m.12:30 p.m.
Where: Spruill Center for the Arts, 5339 Chamblee Dunwoody Road, Dunwoody
It’s even easier now than ever to promote your event to hundreds of thousands of people, whether online, through our newsletters or in the Crier and Herald newspapers.
Cost: $155
More info: spruillarts.org
What: Held in memory of Johns Creek Police Sgt. Greg Whitaker, the department will host the 12th annual Guns and Hoses Golf Tournament to benefit two local special needs groups, Special K’s and North Fulton United FC. The event starts at 8:30 a.m. with registration and breakfast, followed by a shotgun start at 10 a.m., a silent auction at 3 p.m. and dinner in the club’s ballroom.
When: Monday, June 26, 8:30 a.m.
Where: Country Club of Roswell, 2500 Club Springs Drive, Roswell
Cost: $200 for general public; $125 for first responders
More info: johnscreekga.gov
What: In its premiere, the 3rd Stream Big Band combines the coolest and most highly diverse genres of music with some of the finest musicians.
follow these easy steps:
When: Tuesday, June 27, 8-11 p.m.
Where: Roaring Social, 35 Milton Avenue, Alpharetta
More info: roaring-social.com
What: Peter Kenneth Frampton is an English American guitarist, singer and songwriter who rose to prominence as a member of the rock bands the Herd and Humble Pie. He has released several solo albums and has worked with acts such as Ringo Starr, David Bowie and both Matt Cameron and Mike McCready of Pearl Jam.
When: Tuesday, June 27, 8-11:30 p.m.
Where: Ameris Bank Amphitheatre, 2200 Encore Parkway, Alpharetta
Cost: Tickets start from $35 More info: livenation.com
What: Join this scrapbooking session to make an 8x8 album for yourself or a loved one. This free program is for adults and teens, ages 14 and up. Please register as space is limited.
When: Thursday, June 29, 10:30 a.m.-12 p.m.
Where: Northeast Spruill Oaks Library, 9560 Spruill Road, Johns Creek
More info: johnscreekga.gov
What: The Walking Parade has become one of Milton’s most beloved traditions. Find your most festive red, white and blue, and dress up you and your kids, your wagons, bikes and even leashed pets to walk or ride along in the parade. Before and after the parade, which starts at 11 a.m., people and pets can earn prizes for their patriotic attire and decorations as well as participate in a host of family-friendly activities, savor some treats and more.
When: Saturday, July 1, 10 a.m.-1 p.m.
Where: Broadwell Pavilion, 12615 Broadwell Road, Milton More info: miltonga.gov
I was sitting on the patio the other day, savoring a refreshing beverage that could have had an umbrella in it, when I heard that dreaded sound: a faint, highpitched whine that seemed to come from thin air, an acoustic harbinger of what was about to come.
Sound the alarm! The bugs of summer have arrived!
The source of that sound, a small mosquito, dropped into its landing pattern before coming to rest on my left forearm. It just stood there for a moment, apparently sizing me up. Maybe it wanted to be friends? No, it wanted a free meal, and I was the buffet.
Sorry, mosquito.
“There’s no such thing as a free lunch,” I thought, an instant before I reduced it to two dimensions with a single swat from my right hand. Victory is sweet, isn’t it?
Mosquitoes? Yuck. But other bugs can be cool.
You probably know that I love to flyfish, and flyfishing by its very nature requires that bugs be part of things. But those are good bugs. Consider mayflies, for example, beautiful little aquatic insects with gossamer wings and gracefully curving tails. Mayflies feed the trout even
as flyfishing feeds my soul.
There are others, too. Caddisflies, another favorite of trout, are thick on the Chattahoochee and account for much trouty happiness. They’re not nearly as glamorous as mayflies (a caddisfly looks like nothing so much as a drab little moth). But there are a lot of them, and trout must think they taste like filet mignon, medium rare. Trout like them, so I like them too.
Sometimes, when I’m hiking to the water and about to enjoy a little fishing, I’ll pause to see what sort of bugs are active in the neighborhood. I tell myself that I do this to become better informed, to understand what sort of bugs are out and about. Armed with that knowledge, I figure, I will be a better fly fisher. I will be able to “match the hatch” and tie exactly the right fly to the end of my line. But the fact is that it’s just plain fun to look at bugs, even when you’re all grown up and aren’t supposed to spend your time doing frivolous things.
So I go into the Great Outdoors, armed with my finely honed wilderness skills and my engineered fabric outdoor attire and of course my matte finish fly rod, made with the very latest in hightech fiber technology, and I survey the world through the lenses of my graphiteframed polarized sunglasses –
And then I sit down on a log and look at bugs.
I remember one trip where bugs maybe saved my life. No kidding. I was fishing
up near Helen, and I’d hiked a couple of miles back into the woods to see this one certain waterfall and to check out the stream below it. The waterfall was neat, and the stream did hold the hoped-for Salvelinus fontinalises, which is a fancy way of saying “brook trout.” In fact, it held so many of them and I was having so much fun that I just kind of forgot about the facts that it was getting late and that I had 2 miles of hiking to get back to the car.
So, I fished and fished, using a fly that imitated an Ephemeroptera (more fancy wordage, this time for mayflies), and life was good.
Meanwhile, it was getting dark – so dark, in fact, that the trail was starting to disappear.
Let me tell you: It is an odd thing to be hiking where you cannot see the trail. At first, as the light faded, it was merely indistinct. Then it was elusive. And then it was invisible, as in “I am walking blind.”
What does one do when one is a couple of miles from the car and trying to follow a trail that isn’t there?
I stopped to consider that question and realized that, yes, I should have brought the flashlight. But I hadn’t. I hadn’t expected to be in the woods at dark…after dark…but the fishing had been so, so good…
And then I noticed something unexpected: tiny green spots moving along the ground near my feet. What’s that?
I looked closely, intently, and – sure enough, and lo and behold! – there were little creatures of some sort along the edges of the trail, gently lighting up their corner of the world with a soft blue-green glow.
Glow worms. Their light wasn’t a lot, but it was enough to outline things. Yes, the bugs had come to my rescue.
So. It took a while. But with the help of some buggy luminescence, I eventually found my way back to the car.
Along the way, I had time to ponder things…among them the question of why had I not brought the flashlight.
And there was another discovery, too. As I stumbled along in the dark, I realized something. I realized that if I tried hard to focus on the trail, to focus on seeing the path ahead through my own efforts and my own strength of will, I lost my way and wandered off the trail and failed.
But if I lifted my eyes upward, up and away from the trail, something happened with peripheral vision or something, and the light of those glow worms gently but clearly outlined the way home.
Neat, huh?
The next day, after I finally got back home and had time to commiserate with myself about the adventure of the night before, it occurred to me that bugs can surprise you if you let them. That was a nice little epiphany and, I suspect, somehow makes me a better person.
But I’m still gonna swat those mosquitoes.
At my tenure on this big round ball, it’s easy to think that things are moving way too fast. Finding myself in a semi-state of confusion while glancing at a newspaper is enough to induce a panic that might make me do something really stupid.
Like try to make sense of it all. Here are some “for instances:”
Does anyone understand exactly what a “debt ceiling” is? It beats the dickens out of me, yet Washington folks who are running things seem to be in a whale of a scrap. Everyone is in a rage about this concept and the ruination it will cause.
As one who has long ago given up trying to comprehend the pure folly of politicians, this is a term that I know must have devastating ramifications for us “regular folks.”
Why? Because it is a point of common ground for both Democrats and Republicans.
While the government brain trusts huddle and portray their collective concern and empathy, I have about given up on ever trying to understand much about government bigwigs, except that: a) any money they have was made while they were in office; b) they all shiver and break into a cold sweat at the mention of “term limits”; and c) the Flat Tax concept makes far too much sense to ever be adopted.
If they want to make my list of essential human beings, let them figure out how to get the Braves some decent starting pitching.
Here in Forsyth County, property tax bills were mailed out and, as happens every year, citizens are grousing that the increases are way too steep.
No kidding!
That’s another concept that I have come to embrace: Once anyone votes for a “temporary tax increase,” you might
as well say “Sayonara” to that yen you’ll never see again. It’s rather telling that withholding tax was only supposed to be something temporary – way back during World War II.
Perhaps it’s the realization that this is it for me writing a column as a 67-year-old. I’m steaming headlong into being 68. And that makes me officially old, no matter how many pairs of thick glasses you use.
There are some definite perks to reaching this milestone. But I’ve kind of eased my way into it.
I guess I should make more of an effort to get that geezer discount offered at Publix, or better yet, at a favorite restaurant. It just feels rather cheesy to ask for 10 percent off a bowl of queso.
And as I’ve advanced, I can’t help but notice youngsters in their 40s holding a door for me and insisting I go first. It’s a nice gesture, but there are times, for the life of me, that I can’t remember why I’ve gone to the store in the first place.
It was probably either a prescription or
something to help with grooming.
I don’t know why God plays this cruel joke on us old guys. What is the purpose of having all this hair growing in my ears?
And these eyebrows! They are both as unruly as an 8-year-old on a sugar high. They grow every which way. Forget a trimmer! I need a hedge clipper and a competent gardener to stop this infestation that has taken residence in my lower forehead.
My job is keeping me challenged and I am truly enjoying the lack of travel. Unless it involves jumping on The Black Beauty, my newly named Harley Trike.
Then I’m ready to put on my helmet and head for the mountains.
That’s where I feel young again and love seeing the forest, providing no betraying mirror unveils my ears and eyebrows.
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.
unique sound. Singers sing the notes to the hymn first using the shapes (fa, sol, la, mi) before singing the written lyrics.
This June marked the 155th anniversary of the June Singing held in Alpharetta, the longest running public event in the city’s history. It dates back to 1868 a decade after Alpharetta became the seat for Milton County. Alpharetta had fewer than 300 residents.
Sacred Harp singing is a special and unique kind of acapella harmony using only four notes. It originated in England, was popular in Ireland and Scotland, then migrated to New England before moving to the rural South where it became firmly established. The “June Singing” in Alpharetta was not only an all-day event for singing hymns, it was also a social happening with families enjoying picnic lunches and meeting with friends and neighbors. At its heyday in the early 1900s, several thousand people would travel to Alpharetta in their buggies and wagons to gather every second Sunday in June.
Local historian Connie Mashburn wrote an article about the June Singing in his book “Alpharetta, Milton County – The Early Years,” in which he quoted George D. Rucker, publisher of the Alpharetta Free Press. In an article written in 1923, Rucker said “The Alpharetta 1923 June Singing has just passed. There were several thousand people present, and it was a well behaved crowd, considering the size of it. The men were sober and in a good humor, and the women were well dressed and happy, bringing their many baskets of good eats. We hope they will continue to come here from year to year, as long as people’s hearts are touched by old-time songs.”
Sometimes called “fa-so-la” singing or “shape-note singing,” the music got its name from “The Sacred Harp” hymnal tune book by B.F. White published in 1844. It uses a system of four printed shapes, instead of standard music notation, to help those who don’t know how to read music. The book and subsequent revisions helped promote shape note singing throughout the South.
In the songbook, each of the four voice parts, base, tenor, alto and treble, is printed on a separate musical staff. Singers sit or stand in a square facing the center with each group corresponding to one of the four singing group harmonies. Each singing group has its own melody which adds to the
A singer will stand in the middle of the group and lead a few songs before turning the floor over to another volunteer who will select a few more songs from the song book. Anyone is welcome to join the singers. There are no rehearsals, and unlike a choir, there are no members who must be present. While interested people are welcome to come to listen, there is no formal audience. Singers are singing for themselves.
The June Singing is an annual event held at the City Hall in Alpharetta. This year’s program, held June 11, was in the rotunda which magnifies the sound of the music manyfold. The 15 singers at this year’s event sounded to me like the Mormon Tabernacle Choir. The music is loud, bold and clearly heartfelt.
Although the songs are hymns, the June Singing is not affiliated with a specific church. One exception is Boiling Springs Primitive Baptist Church founded in 1837 in today’s City of Milton and some other Primitive Baptist Churches, which included Sacred Harp singing in every Sunday service. Boiling Springs Primitive Baptist Church Elder Randall Cagle, says “Every Sunday when I was growing up, we sang Sacred Harp for an hour as part of the church service.”
As was true with the June Singing, competition from movies, television and other distractions reduced participation over the years. It is no longer part of the Boiling Springs Primitive Baptist Church service and the number of singers has been drastically reduced at the June Singing.
Faye Holbrook, Chairman of the June Singing, says “For the singers it is pure love of the music. The music is deeply felt. Our goal is to keep Sacred Harp alive for generations that come after us.”
People who are interested in knowing more about the June Singing can contact Faye Holbrook at fholbrook218@gmail.com. For general information about Sacred Harp singing in Georgia go to www.atlantasacredharp.org.
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.
A bird that I enjoy and would enjoy seeing more often is the Eastern Bluebird. Although they remain in Georgia year-round, I rarely see them during the winter months. On Jan. 29, I was thrilled to see a bluebird for the first time in 2023. These beautiful birds with a blue head and wings and an orange breast, are a standout, and seeing one is always a memorable experience.
Bluebirds enjoy a diet of insects and fruit and will periodically appear at my suet baskets. I tried to attract them with mealworms last year without success. I have also added three bluebird boxes to the trees that border the divide between the grass-covered portion of my yard and the pine forest behind it because they like an open area in front of them and a forest behind them.
Bluebirds prefer open cavities in trees but will occupy a nesting box if a tree cavity cannot be found. Place the bluebird box near the forest edge and leave it up all year. Bluebirds will use them for shelter in the cold winter months. If you purchase or build a bluebird box, make sure it has a door that can be opened for cleaning. Add a metal guard to surround and protect the circular front opening from predators who often try to chew their way into the nest.
For instructions on building a bluebird nesting box, please consult the following website: gadnr.org/out-my-backdoorwhats-best-bluebird-box-design
Here are interesting facts about Eastern Bluebirds:
• Scientific name: Sialia sialis.
• They are approximately 7 inches in length.
• The female builds the nest and incubates the eggs.
• The female lays 4-5 pale blue eggs without markings.
• The male helps the female feed the young.
• Their main food is insects and fruit.
• Lifespan: 6-10 years.
• They live year-round in Georgia.
Happy gardening!
North Fulton Master Gardeners, Inc. is a Georgia nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization whose purpose is to educate its members and the public in the areas of horticulture and ecology in order to promote and foster community enrichment. Master Gardener Volunteers are trained and certified by The University of Georgia Cooperative Extension. Learn more at nfmg.net.
Eastern bluebird (Sialia sialis)
• https://www.thespruce.com/eastern-bluebird-387244
• https://site.extension.uga.edu/newtonextanr/2021/05/bluebird-basics
• https://fcmasternaturalists.com/eastern-bluebird/
• https://gadnr.org/out-my-backdoor-whats-best-bluebird-box-design
• Birds of Georgia, Stan Tekiela, Adventure Publications, 2002.
• Field Guide to the Birds of America, Jon L. Dunn and Jonathan Alderfer, National Geographic. ISBN: 1-4262-0071-4, pages 278-9, 82-3.
• Peterson Field Guide to Eastern and Western Birds, Seventh Edition, Roger Tory Peterson. Mariner Books, 2020, ISBN-10 132877143.
This week’s “Garden Buzz” guest columnist is Carole MacMullan, a Master Gardener since 2012 and a Milton resident. Carole describes herself as a born biologist. Since childhood, she loved to explore the out-of-doors and garden with her mother. When she entered college, she selected biology as her major and made teaching high school biology her career for 35
years. in 2012, she completed the Master Gardener program and joined the North Fulton Master Gardeners (NFMG) and the Milton Garden Club. Carole uses her teaching skills to create a variety of presentations on gardening topics for the NFMG Lecture Series and Speakers Bureau. Her favorite hobbies are gardening, hiking, biking, traveling and reading.
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.
Workforce Development Coordinator is responsible for developing programs and services for NFCC clients and students seeking employment, post-secondary education, or other career options. The workforce development coordinator collaborates with local employers to help match job seekers to open positions. They work directly with clients on the job application, resumes, and interview preparations and provide tips for successfully securing and improving employment to foster financial stability. Bachelor’s degree in a human services, human resources, or other related field required and 2 years of professional experience in human services, human resources or career counseling preferred.
To view the entire listing visit https://nfcchelp.org/ work-at-nfcc/. To apply, please submit resume to Carol Swan at cswan@nfcchelp.org.
Seeking Director of Children’s Ministry for Alpharetta Presbyterian Church. Part-time position with benefits.
The ideal candidate will have a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university. Also have classroom or work experience in education and/or children’s ministry.
Work with children’s ministry leaders to provide meaningful and engaging Sunday School and additional programs for children. Collaborate with committee, recommend curriculum to Session for approval and provide the curriculum for children’s Sunday School classes and Vacation Bible School.
Recruit, train and supervise all Children’s Ministry teachers and volunteers (this includes providing “child safety training” and assuring compliance with that policy).
• A person of mature Christian faith who will work collegially with others in support of the overall mission of the church.
Appen Newspapers is looking for one or two folks to help deliver our newspapers. Work is part time and flexible. Routes can be done at night or during the day - on your schedule - within our deadlines. Comfortably earn $550 or more a month on your own schedule.
This is a great way to get out as well as contribute to helping your local newspaper! Perfect for retired person who wants to stay active or a parent with school-aged kids - deliver during school hours. Also good way to earn supplemental income at night. We have had many retired couples deliver our papers and almost all have managed a route well and enjoyed the time and the work.
Requirements include reliable vehicle, clean driving record, availability, reliability, and honesty. Prior delivery experience is good, but not required. It helps if you live relatively close as papers are picked up to be bagged and delivered from our office in Alpharetta. Delivery areas can be Alpharetta, Roswell, Milton, Johns Creek, South Forsyth, Dunwoody, or Sandy Springs typically - depending on open routes.
Please contact our Office Manager Heidi to set up an appointment to come in and fill in paper work or start the process via Email!
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.
Entry level to Senior level.
Direct Hire and temp to hire.
Resume to lauren@discoverstaffing.com or call or text 678-393-9313 for more details.
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.
• A person of outstanding character and strong relational skills who is approachable, compassionate, energetic, honest, dependable, creative, joyful, fun, motivated and humble.
• A dynamic and grace-filled leader who is a role model for children and their families.
• Someone who is committed to setting an inspiring example, serving others, making disciples, and equipping the saints for ministry.
Qualified candidates please send resumes to alpharettajobopening@gmail.com.
HANDY HELPER NEEDED
20-30 hours/week. Call Stan 678-357-5371
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)
Call 770-442-3278 and ask for Heidi or Email Heidi@AppenMedia.com
Brick or Wood
Contact Ralph Rucker. Many local references. Honest, punctual, professional and reasonable prices!
678-898-7237
PINESTRAW, MULCH
Delivery/installation available. Firewood available. Licensed, insured. Angels of Earth Pinestraw and Mulch. 770-831-3612
Haulers
Many local referencesCall Ralph Rucker 678-898-7237
24 hour emergency service. Licensed, insured. Workers Comp, insurance claims. 25+ years experience. Family business. Free estimates. We Love Challenges!
Yellow Ribbon Tree Experts 770-512-8733 • www.yellowribbontree.com
COMPLETE TREE SERVICES
Appen-Rated 98
Text or Call us for a FREE quote appointment.
Tree removal, Pruning, Stump grinding, Free mulch. Fully insured.
Emergency 24/7 770-450-8188
Retaining walls (brick or wood), grading, sod, tree services, hauling, topsoil & more.
Ralph Rucker 678-898-7237
AARON’S ALL-TYPE GUTTERS Installed. Covers, siding, soffit, facia. www.aaronsgutters.com. Senior citizen discount! 678-508-2432
Deadline to place a classified ad is Thursday by 4 pm
Bargains –Antiques
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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
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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
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PEACHTREE CORNERS
Moving overseas. Brookwood; 6225 Brookwood Road 30092. Friday 6/23, 9AM5PM, Saturday, 6/24, 9AM-3PM. Bring cash, & help for moving large items. Everything goes INCLUDING PLANT SALE!
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
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