Forsyth Herald - July 13, 2023

Forsyth County business owner to lead construction trade group

FORSYTH COUNTY, Ga. — The construction trade organization

Associated General Contractors of Georgia named Forsyth County resident Brian Newsome as its 2023-2024 president June 26.

Newsome currently serves as CEO of Albion General Contractors, a management, design and general contracting firm based in Sandy Springs that serves higher education, health care, religious, commercial and city industries.

He and his wife Kim purchased the business in 2003. They live in Forsyth County with their four children.

“I’m honored to represent my industry peers with my service leading the [Associated General Contractors] Georgia board during the next year,” Newsome said.

Newsome also serves on the Georgia State Finance and Investment Commission Advisory Board, the Associated General Contractors of Georgia Board of Directors and the Kennesaw State University Advisory Board.

— Shelby Israel

Forsyth County commissioners approve Halcyon density growth

By SHELBY ISRAEL shelby@appenmedia.com

FORSYTH COUNTY, Ga. — Forsyth County commissioners approved a request to increase the density of Halcyon July 6 following persistent efforts to draw a luxury grocery store to the site. Officials approved a series of changes to the county unified development code allowing

for the added density. County Attorney Ken Jarrard said the language was tailored narrowly to only apply to Halcyon.

The code modifications will allow an additional 265 apartments at the mixed-use site, which opened in 2019. The measure prohibits the units from being occupied until the grocery store is occupied.

To construct the new apart-

ments, Halcyon developer RocaPoint must also host at least two public events per week, open a commercial off-leash dog park and provide a minimum of 10 apartments at half cost for county first responders. If the grocery store lease is executed and the apartments are built, the density of Halcyon

See HALCYON, Page 21

ASSOCIATED GENERAL CONTRACTORS OF GEORGIA/PROVIDED

The Associated General Contractors of Georgia welcomes Forsyth County resident Brian Newsome, left, as its 20232024 president. Newsome also serves as CEO of Albion General Contractors, based in Sandy Springs.

Photos: Crowds flock to Forsyth for Independence Day parade

► PAGE 4

Board seeks poll workers for upcoming elections

► PAGE 3

SHELBY ISRAEL/APPEN MEDIA

Danielle Handy, Government Relations and Development manager for Halcyon developer RocaPoint, seeks approval of additional apartments and a grocery store at a Forsyth County Board of Commissioners meeting July 6. Commissioners approved the request in a 3-1 vote.

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Suspect charged with assault after alleged threat with gun

FORSYTH COUNTY, Ga. — Forsyth County deputies arrested a Cumming man for aggravated assault June 23 after he allegedly threatened a man with a firearm following a roadway dispute.

Deputies reported responding to an argument on Neisler Road around 6 p.m. The apparent victim said he did not want law enforcement to be involved, but that Louis Heard, 39, of Cumming had been firing a handgun.

Heard told deputies he was driving on Namon Wallace Road when the other man tailgated him, the report states. Heard said he brake-checked the driver, then stopped his vehicle, forcing the other driver to stop as well. Heard said he then panicked and reversed his vehicle into the man’s vehicle before leaving the scene.

Heard reported observing the man had followed him to his mother’s home on Neisler Road. Heard said he grabbed his firearm and fired “warning shots” into the woods because he thought the man was dangerous and wanted to fight, the report states.

Heard’s mother told deputies the driver of the other vehicle was angry but not threatening, and they agreed she would pay him $100 for the damage Heard had caused when her son arrived with the firearm.

The driver of the damaged vehicle played a video of the dispute for deputies that allegedly showed Heard aiming the gun at him and saying, “I will kill you.”

The man told deputies he began following Heard after Heard had cut him off on Dawsonville Highway, and he came to the house to discuss the damage to his vehicle.

Heard was charged with felony aggravated assault with a gun and misdemeanor

reckless conduct and discharging a firearm near a roadway.

Cumming man charged in traffic stop on Ga. 400

FORSYTH COUNTY, Ga. — Forsyth County deputies arrested a Cumming man June 23 after a traffic stop reportedly uncovered illegal substances and an open container in the vehicle.

Deputies reported stopping a vehicle for driving over the fog lines on northbound Ga. 400 near Peachtree Parkway around 2 a.m. The driver Varnell Rifin, 27, said he was driving home from a friend’s house off exit 11 and did not realize he had strayed from his lane.

Deputies also reported smelling a strong odor of marijuana coming from the vehicle, and Rifin allegedly admitted there was marijuana in the center console.

During a search of the vehicle, deputies reported locating a packaged cannabis product, a small bag that appeared to contain psilocybin mushrooms, an open beer and an unopened can of Bud Light.

Rifin was charged with two felony counts of possession of a schedule one controlled substance, as well as misdemeanor failure to maintain lane, possession of an open alcohol container and defective brake lights.

Cumming pair cited for drug possession

FORSYTH COUNTY, Ga. — Forsyth County deputies arrested two men June 23 on drug possession charges during a warrant service at a residence on Springmonte Place around 1 a.m.

Deputies reported arresting Andrew Fisher, 31, of Cumming, on two outstanding warrants for misdemeanor simple assault. While searching Fisher, deputies located a small bag of a substance that tested positive for heroin, the report states.

In the vehicle Fisher arrived in, deputies reported observing a glass pipe

containing a white crystalline substance. They then conducted a probable cause search.

Deputies found small bags with residue that was consistent with methamphetamine, a small glass pipe, cellphones and a torch lighter, the report states. Fisher reportedly said the glass pipes were his.

The driver of the vehicle, Zachary Jean-Baptiste, 21, of Cumming, said he and Fisher were playing video games, and he drove Fisher home. He said the pipes were not his, but he knew the items were in the vehicle.

Jean-Baptiste also reportedly said the bags were his, and he used them for marijuana.

Fisher was charged with felony possession of heroin and methamphetamine, as well as misdemeanor possession of drug-related objects. He was also arrested on the two simple assault charges.

Fisher is being held at the Forsyth County Jail. Bond is set at $27,270.

Jean-Baptiste was charged with felony possession of methamphetamine. He is being held at the Forsyth County Jail with a $11,130 bond.

Footage shows suspect burglarizing business

JOHNS CREEK, Ga. — Police were dispatched to J’s Asian Cafe on Jones Bridge Road in reference to an alarm July 2.

When police arrived, they noticed a window on the side of the business had been shattered, and, inside, they found cash registers open and empty.

Police reviewed video footage showing a suspect entering the business and retrieving cash from the registers. The manager of the store said the business usually keeps $200 of cash in the registers.

The manager and his wife believed the suspect was at the business the previous day and sat outside for a few minutes, also captured on video.

The scene was turned over to detectives.

Forsyth County seeks additional poll workers

FORSYTH COUNTY, Ga. — The Forsyth County Voter Registrations and Elections Office is seeking individuals 16 and older to serve as poll workers for upcoming election cycles.

To qualify, applicants must be a Forsyth County employee, resident or resident of an adjoining county; must be able to speak, read and write in English; must attend required training; and cannot be a convicted felon unless voting rights were restored at least a decade ago.

Prospective poll workers also cannot be a spokesperson for any party, candidate or issue on the ballot; and cannot be a candidate or relative of a candidate in the precinct in which they work.

“Poll workers are the foundation of the election process,” Voter Registrations and Elections Director Mandi Smith said. “People may not realize that it takes 650-plus poll workers to make an election cycle happen.”

Those interested can attend preview sessions in July, August and September at the County Voter Registrations and Elections Office at 1201 Sawnee Drive.

Seats are limited. More information on duties, registration and requirements can be found at forsythco.com/pollworkers.

For direct information, you can also call 770-7812118 or email pollworker@forsythco.com.

— Shelby Israel

Poll sessions dates and times

Gainesville woman charged in Parks Road traffic death

FORSYTH COUNTY, Ga. — A Cumming man died July 5 from injuries sustained in a head-on collision on Parks Road around 6:45 p.m.

The Forsyth County Sheriff’s Office reported a Dodge Ram 2500 was traveling west on Parks Road when it crossed the centerline and struck a Ford F-150 that was towing a landscaping trailer.

The driver of the Ford, Salvador Cervantes Bernal, 48, was pronounced dead at the scene.

Deputies determined the driver of the Dodge, Yamilet Sanchez Pagan, 24, of Gainesville, to be under the influence of drugs at the time of the accident.

Pagan was charged with homicide by vehicle in the first degree, DUI drugs, reckless driving, driving while license suspended, failure to maintain lane and failure to maintain insurance.

She will be arrested upon her release from the hospital.

The investigation remains ongoing.

— Shelby Israel

“People may not realize that it takes 650-plus poll workers to make an election cycle happen.” MANDI SMITH

Voter Registrations and Elections Director

Crowds flock to Forsyth County for Independence Day parade

By SHELBY ISRAEL shelby@appenmedia.com

FORSYTH COUNTY, Ga. —

Thousands lined the streets of Cumming on a humid July 4 to celebrate Independence Day at the city’s Thomas-Mashburn Steam Engine Parade.

The 66th annual celebration showcased floats from local businesses, vintage cars and steam engines that were preserved by the families of A.G. Thomas and Jim and Marcus Mashburn. The parade

began 10 a.m. at Forsyth Central High School and concluded at noon at the Cumming Fairgrounds.

Following the parade, the fairgrounds hosted family events, contests, live music and vendors from 4-10 p.m., as well as a fireworks display around 9:30 p.m.

The 2023 celebration was sponsored by Andean Chevrolet, Discover FoCo, the Forsyth County Chamber of Commerce, Mr. Value Electricians and Arc Electrical Supply.

Members of the Sons of the American Revolution Robert Forsyth Chapter throw candy to onlookers at the Thomas-Mashburn Steam Engine Parade in Cumming July 4. Local groups joined vintage cars and tractors at the 66th annual event.

PHOTOS BY SHELBY ISRAEL/APPEN MEDIA

A man blows the whistle of a small steam engine at the annual Thomas-Mashburn Steam Engine Parade in Cumming July 4. The historic machines were collected by A.G. Thomas and Jim and Marcus Mashburn.

THOMAS-MASHBURN STEAM ENGINE PARADE

THOMAS-MASHBURN STEAM ENGINE PARADE

Riders in a Humvee pass out candy to children at the annual Thomas-Mashburn Steam Engine Parade in Cumming July 4. The parade began 10 a.m. at Forsyth Central High School and ended noon at the Cumming Fairgrounds.

Riders on a Warbington Farms float toss candy to children and onlookers at the annual Thomas-Mashburn Steam Engine Parade in Cumming July 4. The farms offer strawberry picking in the springtime.

More online: See more photos at appenmedia.com

PHOTOS BY SHELBY ISRAEL/APPEN MEDIA

Thousands line Tribble Gap Road to watch passing steam engines at the annual Thomas-Mashburn Steam Engine Parade in Cumming July 4. The parade also showcased floats from local businesses and vintage cars.

A vintage Chevrolet and International Miss 2023 Preteen Kylee Zulauf drive down Tribble Gap Road at the annual Thomas-Mashburn Steam Engine Parade in Cumming July 4. The celebration was sponsored by Andean Chevrolet, Discover FoCo, the Forsyth County Chamber of Commerce, Mr. Value Electricians and Arc Electrical Supply.

A member of the Forsyth County Republican Party hands out American flags at the annual Thomas-Mashburn Steam Engine Parade in Cumming July 4. Various political groups, including the Forsyth County Democrats, Cumming City Council campaigns and the Forsyth County Tea Party, displayed floats.

Legion Post 201 honors 4 students with scholarships

ALPHARETTA, Ga. — The Alpharetta American Legion Post 201 issued $1,500 scholarships to four recently graduated high school seniors at a meeting June 20.

The post awarded Denmark High School graduate Kayleigh Kilgore of Cumming a scholarship to fund her upcoming education at the University of Georgia. Kayleigh Kilgore hopes to become a physician’s assistant.

Pope High School alumnus Chandler McDade of Marietta will study engineering at the University of Tennessee in the fall. McDade aspires to join the Army ROTC and become an Army Ranger.

The post also awarded scholarships to Kayleigh Kilgore’s twin brother Brady and Blessed Trinity High School graduate Jack Parsons of Alpharetta, who were unable to attend.

Brady Kilgore will attend Georgia Southern University this fall, and Parsons will attend Auburn University.

Shelby Israel

AMERICAN LEGION POST 201/PROVIDED

Commander Tom Billings grants two scholarships on behalf of American Legion Post 201 to recent graduates Chandler McDade and Kayleigh Kilgore at a meeting June 20.

all about inclusivity.

ERIKA RAQUEL, Marketing coordinator, Battle and Brew

Battle and Brew creates geek and gamer haven

By DELANEY TARR delaney@appenmedia.com

SANDY SPRINGS, Ga. — The team behind Battle and Brew has spent the past 15 years creating a hub for all things game and geek culture in Sandy Springs, where people can find community and comfort through pop-culture offerings.

Battle and Brew was the first video game restaurant, bar and venue in the United States according to the establishment’s general manager Ryan Blake. The concept came out of the “natural evolution” of gaming and its popularity.

Blake pointed to the popularity of arcades in the past, usually located in shopping malls. People could go to play casually for hours. Some restaurants may have also featured an arcade game in their dining room, but Blake said the Battle and Brew team wanted to modernize the oldfashioned approach.

“As times evolved, gaming systems became more elaborate,” Blake said. “If you want to keep their interest you have to keep up with the times.”

Thus, Battle and Brew opened with a pay-as-you-play hourly game model. The restaurant and bar features various console games, including Xbox, Nintendo and PlayStation models. It also offers desktop computer games, set up next to each other for potential multi-player gaming.

Customers can pay an hourly fee as an individual or group for unlimited play at any of the desktop setups or communal couches. They can also opt for board

See BREW, Page 9

DELANEY TARR/APPEN MEDIA

Battle and Brew, a video game restaurant and bar, is a hub for all things game and geek culture in Sandy Springs. The food and drinks menus are jam-packed with pop culture references.

Brew:

Continued from Page 8

games and tabletop games, like Magic: The Gathering and Dungeons and Dragons.

The restaurant has had to keep up with an ever-expanding catalog of video games, particularly as gaming continues to grow mainstream popularity. A 2022 report by the Entertainment Software Association found about two-thirds of Americans, more than 215 million people, play games regularly.

But Battle and Brew wants to cater to all types of people and subcultures. Blake said many customers who come in don’t even play games, rather, they participate in events and partake in the food and drinks.

The menu is jam-packed with pop culture references, which the manager said comes with not being a “corporate” establishment. Battle and Brew’s chefs, bar managers and bartenders all get to concoct their own seasonal offerings.

The cocktails vary from drinks like the Princess Peach, a reference to the Super Mario franchise, to Eda the Owl Lady, named after a character in Disney’s animated show the “Owl House.”

Together, the food, drinks and ambiance combine a host of different subcultures — which Blake said is “not defined by one thing.”

To play into different interests the

business hosts various events, like trivia, cosplay nights and miniature figurine painting sessions. Blake is particularly proud of the trivia nights, which switch up themes every week.

“We’ve always believed this is the hardest trivia in Atlanta,” Blake said.

The events are a hit with customers. On an average night, they have about 30 teams attend the competition. For more popular themes like Disney trivia, up to 75 teams turn out.

“The entire restaurant was in full Disney cosplay,” Blake said.

The night turned into a full-throated Disney sing-along party for the 200 people in attendance.

“It’s the fact that they’re comfortable here,” Blake said. “It’s an environment where they come in and express themselves without judgement, without any kind of strange looks.”

The manager said people come to Battle and Brew for the food and drinks, but even more so for the comfort and community bonds. Many customers will arrive on a typical night dressed up in cat ears or full costume. Some employees do

the same.

Blake admits for people less keyed into geek culture, the first trip to Battle and Brew can be a surprise.

“For people who have never been here before, they go ‘What did I just walk into?’” Blake said.

Without fail, after a beer and some time, the manager said many people get back into playing a game and “going back to their childhood.”

The restaurant and bar has many regular adult customers, but it’s also family friendly. Battle and Brew is open to all ages before 11 p.m., although children under 16 must have an adult companion. Marketing coordinator Erika Raquel said the establishment aims to welcome everyone from every background.

“We’re all about inclusivity,” Raquel said.

Blake sees Battle and Brew as a haven for geeks and gamers, and he hopes people can form bonds from “sharing the same passion.” As video games and tabletop games like Dungeons and Dragons gain attention in mainstream media, he hopes those bonds will increase.

“It’s always been cool, but people also just now realize ‘Hey, I’m not the only one,’” Blake said.

With strong community bonds at the Sandy Springs location, Battle and Brew plans to expand to The Battery Atlanta shopping mall by October, with a few more hopeful locations down the line.

Healthy transitions: First steps

Brought to you by – Michelle Wilson, Wilson Legal, PC

Looking ahead: the four to ‘fore’ in life's fairways

health to preserve your overall wellness!

“Fore” is defined as a warning cry in golf to alert others about the flight of the ball. While this term is commonly used in the sport, its essence can be applied to various aspects of our lives. Looking ahead is vital in mental health, physical health, interpersonal effectiveness, and intrapersonal connection.

• Mental health: Psychological and social well-being. It’s essential to recognize warning signs, such as feeling sad, withdrawal from activities or socializing, trouble sleeping, or difficulty coping with stress - the “fore” reminding us to take action and seek support.

• Physical health: Being sound in body, mind, and spirit. Engaging in regular self-care and exercise can maintain our physical wellbeing. Heed the “fore” in physical

• Interpersonal effectiveness: How we relate to others. To hit a metaphorical “hole in one,” focus on active listening, clear communication, and empathetic understanding.

• Intrapersonal connection: How we connect with ourselves. Is your inner dialogue positive and understanding, or is a “fore” warranted if you tend to speak to yourself negatively? Take steps to shift your inner dialogue and increase self-love.

Just as in golf, the “fore” serves as a crucial warning in life. By being attentive and proactive in these vital areas, we can navigate life’s challenges with resilience. Let us look ahead and prioritize our well-being, both on and off the golf course of life. To learn more about our services, visit summitcounseling.org!

This month I talked to a client, (we’ll call her Alice) whose husband, (we’ll call him Mike), has a form of dementia. Hank needs more of his wife’s help every day. She does his medicines for him, tells him where to go in the car, and stops him from showering a second time before bed because he forgot that he already showered. She’s afraid to leave her husband for a 2-week vacation because his son and daughter-in-law only help begrudgingly. She feels indispensable and she hasn’t seen her family in 2 years. In situations like this, it’s important to understand how much care is needed and to take care of yourself before exhausting yourself caring for another. After a recent surgery, Alice was dependent on friends to bring her meals, wash

her hair and change her bandages.

I asked her to track the time she spends caregiving for Hank.

When someone has dementia, transition can be really hard. If you hire a caregiver early, then you have time to interview and find someone you and your spouse really like. If you wait until you have an emergency, you’re looking for anyone who’s available and that person is then suddenly in your space. I showed her the care.com website and gave her a care log page to use to track her caregiving time. Relieved, Alice committed to tracking her caregiving time and looking at the website.

Eldercare attorneys help families to transition with dignity. If you know of someone who is having trouble letting go of how life used to work for them, send them to Wilson Legal for help with their new beginning.

Brought to you by - Lanota Fludd, Staff Therapist at Summit Counseling Center

PEXELS

WILSON

Flying free of skin cancer – Part 2

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

In last month’s article about aviation and skin cancer, we looked at FAA regulations relating to pilots, melanomas, and the importance of early detection. This month, we’ll look at the question of whether flying in general causes skin cancer. Are you assuming much risk of cancer by flying at 35,000 feet? What if you’re a frequent flier?

We know that pilots develop skin cancer at a higher rate than the general population. A large Nordic study of male pilots found that they developed 130% more melanomas than expected, 110% more squamous cell skin cancers than expected and 150% more basal cell skin cancers than expected. The risk of skin cancer increased with the time since first employment, the number of flight hours, and the estimated radiation dose from being at altitude.

What is not known is whether radiation received during flight is to blame for these skin cancers. Correlation does not always mean causation, and just because pilots had higher rates of skin cancer doesn’t mean that cosmic radiation solely is to blame. The “flight environment” includes a combination of exposures including ultraviolet light, decreased oxygen levels, ozone, disinfectants and other hazards and stressors that are uniquely combined in aviation. These confounding variables make confident blame of any one hazard difficult to prove. Still, cosmic radiation is known to cause DNA damage and is worth examining, especially given how much flying is being done by flight crew and passengers alike.

Both the atmosphere and earth’s magnetic fields provide protection against cosmic radiation. Radiation levels approximately double for every 4500 feet of increased elevation due to thinner atmosphere. Due to magnetic fields shielding less at earth’s magnetic poles, radiation levels are approximately double at the poles compared with the equator. The most radiation occurs during a flight at high altitude over one of the earth’s poles. In the European Union, airlines attempt to keep radiation levels below 6mSv per year. How much is a mSv?

We all receive about 1 mSv just from living at sea level in a year. We average an additional 1 to 2mSv from other sources such as flying, medical and dental x-rays, etc.

The International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP) recommends no more than 20mSv per year for people working in occupations such as nuclear power or radiology that

involve radiation exposure. How did they come up with 20mSv?

A generally accepted figure is that every 1000mSv of excess radiation increases one’s risk of dying from cancer by 5%. The ICRP assumed that 5% excess risk of dying from cancer is a reasonable cutoff and that few people will spend more than 50 years in any given career. 1000mSv divided by 50 years is 20mSv per year.

A pilot flying at 35,000 feet for 1000 hours each year can expect between 3 and 5mSv of excess cosmic radiation per year. This means that a pilot who works 40 years can expect 120 to 200mSv of excess radiation on average which means that a pilot’s chance of dying from cancer might be increased by about 0.6% to 1% on average. Of course, the chance of developing cancer but not dying from it is higher. Is this risk acceptable?

My assumption is that everyone in the United States drives, and we are all willing (reluctantly) to assume the risk of death that comes from driving. Driving risk is a useful benchmark when contemplating other types of risk. Let’s assume you wouldn’t want to raise your risk of dying from cancer any more than your current risk of an automobile death, which is a lifetime risk of 1% in the United States. Well, about 200mSv of radiation exposure is expected to result in that increase. Assuming 0.004mSv per hour of commercial air travel, you would have to fly 50,000 hours in your lifetime to increase your risk of cancer death from high altitude radiation enough to equal your risk of dying in an automobile accident. Almost no pilot will reach that number, and certainly few if any passengers approach that number.

A more significant risk is probably unnecessary medical radiation. See https://www.health.harvard.edu/ cancer/radiation-risk-from-medicalimaging for a complete breakdown of radiation from common medical tests. Food for thought is that each CT scan of the chest averages 7mSv. A wholebody CT scan averages 20mSV or more, and a PET/CT scan averages about 25mSv. If a patient needs the scan, then the patient needs the scan. But unnecessary scans involving radiation are to be avoided. 25mSv is more than the annual radiation limit of 20mSv recommended by the ICRP, and someone receiving a PET-CT scan receives that radiation all in a single day.

When compared with the risks of driving a car or the risk of radiation from medical imaging, the risks of cosmic radiation while flying appear acceptable. Sit back and enjoy your flight.

Start the school year healthy with proper sleep and nutrition

Brought

to you by

- Dr. Brandi Lewis, pediatrician at Wellstar Health System

Going back to school can be stressful for both parents and children, but it doesn’t have to be. Optimizing your child’s sleep and nutrition are two things that can help ensure a successful school year.

Setting a sleep routine

If you ask any child what the best things about summer are, they will say being able to stay up late and sleep in. During the summer, this isn’t a problem. However, continuing this routine into the school year can have detrimental effects. Inadequate sleep has been shown to negatively affect development, academics and memory. Here are some things you

can do to help your child get enough sleep:

• Practice good sleep hygiene by setting up a consistent evening and bedtime routine for your child.

• Ensure your child gets regular exercise, which has been shown to improve the quality of sleep.

• Try to establish a consistent bedtime and wake time.

• Adjust your child’s routine if it doesn’t allow them to get enough hours of sleep. The following are the recommended hours of sleep according to age:

• Preschool: 10 to 13 hours (including naps)

• School Age (six to 12 years): Nine to 12 hours

• Teens: Eight to 10 hours

• If possible, avoid screen time one to two hours before bedtime.

• If your child has problems falling asleep, staying asleep or snoring, seek advice from your pediatrician.

Importance of a healthy diet

As children go back to school, parents start to focus on academic achievement. Nutrition is important not only for overall health, but also for academic success. Healthy diets have been shown to have positive effects on memory, focus and academic accomplishment. Conversely, diets that are high in saturated fats, processed foods and junk foods have been associated with lower scores on standardized tests. Ensuring your child eats a wide variety of foods is the best way to safeguard proper nutrition and help them perform their best in school.

Here are some examples:

• Foods that are high in omega3s have been shown to have positive effects on memory, learning and brain development. Fatty fish such as salmon, flax seeds and chia seeds are a few examples of foods that are high in omega-3s.

• Diets that are rich in

antioxidants not only support good immune health, but also support a healthy brain. Encourage your child to eat a diverse diet with a variety of vegetables and fruits to increase antioxidant intake. Examples of foods high in antioxidants are berries, red grapes, tomatoes and spinach.

• Having iron deficiency early in life can impact mental processing, memory and learning. If you suspect that your child may be low in iron or has been anemic in the past, you should discuss it with your pediatrician.

Adequate sleep and a healthy diet are essential for a thriving school year. To learn more about how sleep and nutrition can benefit your child, talk to your pediatrician.

Schedule a visit with Dr. Brandi Lewis at Wellstar Avalon Health Park by calling (470) 267-0380. Learn more at wellstar.org/schoolkidcare.

LEWIS

MOVIES AT THE PARK: “DC LEAGUE OF SUPER-PETS”

What: As part of Movies at the Park, a free summer outdoor series of familyfriendly movies, “DC League of SuperPets” will be shown. Pre-show activities include an inflatable moonwalk, face painting, children’s activities, giveaways and music.

When: Friday, July 14, 7 p.m.

Where: Newtown Park, 3150 Old Alabama Road, Johns Creek

More info: johnscreekga.gov

PHISH SUMMER TOUR 2023

What: Phish is an American rock band formed in Burlington, Vermont, in 1983. The band is known for musical improvisation, extended jams, blending of genres and a dedicated fan base.

When: Friday, July 14-16, 7:30

Where: Ameris Bank Amphitheater, 2200 Encore Parkway, Alpharetta

Cost: Tickets from $165.75

More info: livenation.com

DAVID KOZ & FRIENDS

SUMMER HORNS 2023

What: Chart-topping saxophonist Dave Koz and friends Candy Dulfer and Eric Darius will headline a summer show, featuring songs from each artist’s catalog, plus material from two previous Koz “Summer Horns” albums. Both albums debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard

Current Contemporary Jazz Albums charts. Koz has racked up an array of honors and achievements, including multiple Grammy nominations, No. 1 albums on Billboard’s Jazz charts, world tours, performances for U.S. presidents and more.

When: Friday, July 14, 8 p.m.

Where: Byer Theatre, 1 Galambos Way, Sandy Springs

Cost: Tickets from $80.25 More info: sandyspringsga.gov

DUNWOODY FARMERS MARKET

What: Open every Saturday until Oct. 28, the market will feature honey, jams, frozen treats and desserts. Enjoy kids’ activities, wellness seminars, composting and gardening tips, all while having access to fresh seasonal produce.

When: Saturday, July 15, 9 a.m.-12 p.m.

TOTALLY ENCHANTING EXOTIC ANIMALS

What: Educator Tamara Austin will take visitors on an interactive animal adventure to learn about modern day dinosaurs, marsupials, arthropods and reptiles from around the world.

When: Wednesday, July 19, 2-3 p.m.

Where: Dunwoody Library, 5339 ChambleeDunwoody Road, Dunwoody More info: dekalblibrary. org

Where: Brook Run Park, 4770 North Peachtree Road, Dunwoody

More info: dhafarmersmarket.com

HISTORY SEEK SATURDAYS: GOLD PANNING AND GEORGIA’S GOLD RUSH

What: Explore the 1828 gold rush, find out what brought settlers to North Georgia, and learn how to pan for gold. This drop-in activity for kids, ages 7 to 12, will be at the Old Machine Shop directly next to the covered bridge at Old Mill Park. Wear comfortable clothes. Participants might get a little wet while learning how to pan for gold.

When: Saturday, July 15, 10 a.m.12p.m.

Where: Old Mill Park, 95 Mill Street, Roswell

More info: roswell365.com

Market, 12650 Crabapple Road, Milton More info: crabapplemarketga.com

CONCERT BY THE SPRINGS: CHUCK MARTIN AND THE LINEUP

What: Chuck Martin and The Lineup is a high-energy country and rock band that plays all the hits from the ’90s to today.

When: Sunday, July 16, 7 p.m.

Where: Heritage Amphitheater, 6110 Blue Stone Road, Sandy Springs Cost: Tickets from $135 More info: sandyspringsga.gov

TOTALLY ENCHANTING E XOTIC ANIMALS

What: Educator Tamara Austin will take visitors on an interactive animal adventure to learn about modern day dinosaurs, marsupials, arthropods and reptiles from around the world.

When: Wednesday, July 19, 2-3 p.m.

from April through October, featuring music, food trucks and hundreds of interactive vendors. It also sees participation from the many surrounding boutiques, small businesses and restaurants. Free regular trolley service connects the free parking at Roswell City Hall and Woodstock Park to the event. Dogs are allowed at Alive in Roswell, but please bring them on a leash and clean up any deposits from your baby. Animals are not allowed on the free trolley.

When: Thursday, July 20, 5-9 p.m.

Where: Canton Street & Roswell Antique and Interiors lot, Roswell More info: aliveinroswell.com

ROTARY CLUB OF ALPHARETTA CONCERT SERIES: DOCK ROCK BAND

GREEN: ‘ELF’

INTERACTIVE MOVIE ON THE

What: Join this event for an interactive “Elf” movie experience. Interactive kits will be provided. Bring a chair and snacks.

When: Saturday, July 15, 7-9 p.m.

Where: The Green at Crabapple

FEATURE YOUR EVENT ONLINE AND IN PRINT!

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.

Where: Dunwoody Library, 5339

Chamblee-Dunwoody Road, Dunwoody More info: dekalblibrary.org

ALIVE IN ROSWELL

What: Alive in Roswell is a free family-friendly monthly festival held every third Thursday evening

follow these easy steps:

What: Dock Rock Band will take listeners on a musical journey through the iconic hits of the ’70s and ’80s. Kurt Thomas, bringing his unique style to the stage, is set to open.

When: Friday, July 21, 7-11 p.m.

Where: Town Green, 2 Park Plaza, Alpharetta, More info: facebook.com/ RotaryClubAlpharetta

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)

Here’s why roundabouts work

We need more roundabouts in our lives today – both paved and nonpaved.

Roundabouts remind me of Steve Jobs.

are compared to four-way stop intersections.

efficient than stop-sign intersections? Circles.

RAY APPEN

Publisher Emeritus

I love the paved roundabouts because they are so simple, elegant and intuitive. They just work. Today, when it feels like almost everything about our lives feels so busy, so messy, and so at best semifunctional, roundabouts remind me that not everything is broken. Roundabouts are so successful and make so much sense, one must wonder why they haven’t yet been banned, politicized or bureaucratized – or have they and I just haven’t noticed?

I could literally pull up my lounge chair and plop it down along side of a busy roundabout and watch for hours and never get bored. In fact, I think I may have to add that to my bucket list. And yes, I realize that doesn’t sound like much of a stretch-goal.

Apple, now one of the most valuable companies on the planet, built its empire on one singular core business model – simplicity, just like what makes roundabouts work so well. Apple didn’t necessarily “invent” as much as they adapted existing technology and then make it simpler, easier to use.

The portable digital music player market is a great example of the value of simplicity. Apple didn’t invent the MP3 file format that was used for most music players. Everyone, including Sony, had access to the technology. Yet by 2006, Apple’s IPod owned the MP3 player market with a 76 percent share. The next closest was ScanDisk which had a 7.6 percent share. Over the years Apple sold over 450 million iPods. Apple’s iPods didn’t necessarily have a better sound or better technology. They weren’t cheaper than the competition – in fact they charged a premium. They were just simpler, more user-friendly than the others, just like roundabouts

So, while “simplicity” is one of the reasons that roundabouts work so well, it is not the only reason. Lots of things are simple but not necessarily “successful.”

Another part of that magic sauce that is roundabouts has something to do with how “order” is established and maintained. “Order” on roundabouts is created by not having rules. Everything basically is first come, first served. Roundabouts are democratic and respect-driven.

Southwest Airlines is another good example of the roundabout concept. People voluntarily line up in proper sequence then everyone boards and – first come, first served – has their choice of any open seat. We like choice and we don’t like rules. Simple, orderly, respect-driven with as few rules as possible. Southwest, like Apple, dumbed down an existing process and made it simpler, freer, faster, more user-friendly.

So why else are roundabouts so much better, so much faster, so more

There is something magical about circles that is hardwired into us that makes us comfortable. Most of us love roundabouts and hate four way stops. Artificial parameters are not our default; circles and self-directed “order” is.

Lots of symbols are circles. The yin and yang is a circle that first comes to my mind. I googled “circle allegory” and found the following as the second result: “A symbol of revolution. The circle will represent being inclusive, whole and united. It symbolizes focus and cycles. The circle nurtures and begins things and is perfect. It can represent the womb. Besides, it symbolized being complete.”

True that.

Somewhere in all the noise today, in all the chaos, in all the stress and disenfranchisement, there is a circle – a cycle – that can start to bring us home again, to a better place. We just must see it, slow down, reconnect to the stuff that is real and works like roundabouts work – and stop building four-way stops, fences and walls.

A summer of bombs and bucket lists

I imagine these are tough times for an owner of a fireworks stand. They’re probably as lonely as a vegetarian at a KFC.

The “Big Bang” of summer has come and gone. But I don’t feel sorry for anyone associated with legally blowing things up. From the sounds of all the booming salvos, legal fireworks ruled the holiday period that seemingly stretched from Saturday to Tuesday the 4th. Rebel yells ruled the night, coupled with the smell of gunpowder. Not everybody was thrilled. Millie, who visits regularly when her owner Davis Smith is here playing poker or building our nifty new deck, beelined down the hill that separates our houses.

She showed up at the door, not in search of ham and cheese treats from Vicki. Instead, Millie was looking for a bed to crawl under and take refuge from all the explosions. Millie was terrified. Ditto for me and when she hit our deck it was as frightening as

if there was a full-scale military battle right outside the door.

Our beloved retriever Chester was as cool as the other side of the bed when he romped at our hacienda except when the bombs burst in the air. Then he was a veritable basket case. I sure miss being called upon to comfort him.

Neighbors Jeremy and Molly Poisson gave the City of Cumming a run for its money when they entertained the neighborhood with a first-class extravaganza that, I swear, rivaled any professional display I’ve ever seen. Jeremy had a crew of buddies working unceasingly for what was an hour-long fest of a cornucopia of fireworks.

Somewhere, the Poisson’s were responsible for increasing the profitability of an overseas fireworks enterprise.

I find it ridiculously repulsive (maybe that’s a little strong) but aren’t we overdoing it a bit by sending kids back to school in the first week of August? The kids will be settling into their desks on August 3, nary a leaf to be raked or a football game in sight.

Message to those folks running the schools: “It’s summer. It’s hot. And I

haven’t had a chance to complete all my bucket list items.”

You have forced me to take action and compress all those groovy things I want to accomplish before summer is over.

Oh yeah, I don’t go to school. So what do I care? Here’s what I’ll cross off my summer fun tally.

I already saw the new Indiana Jones movie, and that was a disappointment, but it looks like “Oppenheimer,” will be worth foregoing a tank of gas to pay for tickets. It looks outstanding, as does the new “Mission Impossible,” especially since Greg showed me a video of Tom Cruise defying gravity and sanity by doing a stunt on a motorcycle. Count me in.

There are a few more Braves games left, and I’ve decided not to renew that partial season ticket package. The Braves are outstanding and have a fantastic facility in Truist Park. It’s just that I enjoy the games in front of the 85-inch Sony and don’t have to put up with nimrods incessantly talking about real estate deals and other drivel. Besides, StubHub and SeatGeek always have tickets when I want to go.

I got to see “Wicked” at the Fox with oldest son Chris. He’s angling to overtake the Atlanta Broadway Series tickets and I think that’s a pretty good idea.

Daniel Silva, James Lee Burke and Brad Thor have books due to hit my Kindle during July. I’ll be doing my reading and will have simpatico with the poor tikes driving their teachers bonkers before Labor Day.

Finally, there’s a mid-July “Guy’s Trip” to Ironhorse Motorcycle Resort somewhere up yonder in the mountains. Can’t remember my last trip of this ilk, and I can’t wait.

As I roll up the miles on my Trike, I have deepened my appreciation for the magnificence that peeks out at me around every corner.

Who knows, perhaps there just might be tales for a column?

I’ll leave a “Gone Riding” message on my computer. But I promise I’ll write.

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

Cross Roads School had humble beginnings

Cross Roads School was located where Mount Vernon Highway and Powers Ferry Road intersect, on the southwest corner. Cross Roads

couldn’t afford them. Cook lent $150 of her own money to the school superintendents to purchase new desks.

VALERIE BIGGERSTAFF

Columnist

Primitive Baptist Church was organized prior to the school on another corner. People began to call the surrounding area Cross Roads.

According to Lois Coogle’s “Sandy Springs Past Tense,” the school dates to 1886. The earliest school was held in a brush arbor with logs for seats. “When a rain came up, the school moved to Harris Mitchell’s wood shop and remained until the rain ceased, then it returned to the log seats and work resumed.”

A one-room schoolhouse was built, and by 1910 a two-room frame schoolhouse was built. Cross Roads School continued until 1924 when it was consolidated with Hammond School. Teacher Annie Houze Cook sought to consolidate the two schools, seeking the best possible educational experience for

THE INK PENN

PROVIDED

The number of students varied greatly depending on the time of year. In fall, when help was needed on the farm, the number of students dropped as low as 12. During winter, the number of students could climb up to 80.

In August of 1917, a farmer’s institute was held in Sandy Springs, and the students of Cross Roads School excelled. Students all around Fulton County formed clubs for farming and canning. Herbert Hoover, head of the newly formed United States Food Administration encouraged the people of America to conserve food to help feed World War I soldiers and relieve famine in Europe. The food conservation campaign used the slogan “food will win the war.” (The Constitution, Aug. 5, 1917, “Club kids of Fulton are doing their ‘bit’ for world democracy”)

only seven members. The girls sewed their own uniforms. At the demonstration, they made soup from okra, corn and tomatoes. Next, they gave a presentation on canning soup.

Myrtie Lay and Lillian Powell of Cross Roads School won second and third prize in the county for canning in October of 1917. (The Constitution, Oct. 22, 1917, Special Prizes for Girl’s Canning Club)

Knox and Pink Barrow of Cross Roads School exhibited two Duroc Jersey pigs. The boys’ father proclaimed the secret to his two sons’ pig raising skills was that they treat the pigs like family.

Fulton County Police Chief Calvin Cates bought the old school when it closed in 1924 and transformed it into a home. Soon after, electricity was installed in the home, a short circuit started a fire and the former school burned.

children in the community. Cook started her teaching career at Cross Roads with a salary of $40 a month. She wanted new desks for the students but was told the county

Annie Houze Cook was the group’s teacher and gave all the credit to the hard work of the students. The Cross Roads Girls’ Canning Club was the smallest in the school district with

Award-winning author Valerie Biggerstaff is a longtime columnist for Appen Media and the Dunwoody Crier. She lives in Atlanta. You can email Valerie at pasttensega@gmail.com or visit her website at pasttensega.com.

Two novels that highlight strong women in the past

I gravitate toward books about strong women. Who am I kidding? I rarely pick up a novel about a woman who can’t take care of herself.

Sure, my favorite female characters suffer setbacks and endure trials and tribulations. For me, their appeal lies in how they handle what life throws at them.

“Lessons in Chemistry”

by

Bonnie Garmus

This book is everything you could want in a novel — fast paced, witty, touching in spots, and laugh aloud funny in others. Its portrayal of how women were seen in the 1950s and 1960s is more than believable, while other elements are intentionally fantastical. A character who makes coffee with a Bunsen burner and refers to salt as sodium chloride isn’t something you encounter every day.

Bonnie Garmus is a debut author

who has combined all these elements to come up with a book that entices you to finish it in one sitting. Elizabeth Zott, the main character, is a brilliant scientist in a research facility in the early ’60s. As far as her male colleagues know, she is fit only for making coffee, maybe typing research notes and running errands, but not much more. She is, after all, a woman. Why would anyone think she had a brain?

Elizabeth, in fact, has a brain that far surpasses those of her co-workers. Seeing her run circles around them, get knocked down, and get back up time after time is one of the most satisfying elements of the book. What she endures from them in misogynistic insults will make your blood boil. When she falls in love with an equally brilliant scientist who appreciates her for her brain and is equally smitten, you’ll cheer.

I predict that this book is one people will talk about for years to come. And, in case you’re wondering, I didn’t read it in one sitting, but I stayed up way too late for too many nights to finish it.

“The White Lady”

by Jacqueline Winspear

Another tour de force by this author. As a long-time fan of her Maisie Dobbs series, I knew this standalone would be a winner, and it did not disappoint. It’s main character, Elinor, was a preteen in Belgium during WWI and is living in post-World War II Britain when the story opens in 1947. The tale moves between the two World Wars and details Elinor’s role in both.

She seeks a quiet life in rural England, or so she tells herself. When she intervenes to protect the child of a neighboring farmworker, the reader wonders. Is she truly prepared to leave behind her life as a trained killer? Can she escape her past and put her demons to rest?

What follows is a story that shifts between introspection and action as Elinor follows her instincts. A bonus for me was learning about La Dame Blanche, an underground network in German-occupied Belgium. According to Wikipedia, “The network was known for its high proportion of female members; women may have made up as

much as 30 percent of its total personnel.”

Much as I did when I read the Maisie Dobbs series that spans preWorld War I through World War II in Britain, I learned a great deal about wartime life in Belgium. If you’re a history buff, this book will fit the bill as not only engaging but also informative.

Now, I’m off to cleanse my palate with a bit of lighter reading. You know what I mean, don’t you? Mysteries with witty dialogue and a bit of humor, despite the murders that are central to the plots.

Note: Are you in a book club? Would you like to have a local author speak to your group? Contact me to arrange a date! inkpenn119@gmail.com

Award-winning author Kathy Manos Penn is a Sandy Springs resident. Find her cozy mysteries locally at The Enchanted Forest in Dunwoody and Bookmiser in East Cobb or on Amazon. Contact her at inkpenn119@gmail.com, and follow her on Facebook, www.facebook.com/KathyManosPennAuthor/.

This map from Lois Coogle's "More of Sandy Springs Past Tense" illustrates the position of the Cross Roads School, indicated by the letter “S.” She also shows the location of the church and a grocery store.

KATHY MANOS PENN Columnist

Master Gardeners beautify Summerour House garden

Georgia Master Gardener Extension volunteers work throughout the state on many diverse demonstration gardens, in addition to providing educational information on good gardening practices through our speakers bureau, online classes, and Ask A Master Gardener booths at Farmers’ Markets. One such demonstration garden is located at Autrey Mill Nature Preserve and Heritage Center, 9770 Autrey Mill Road, off Old Alabama Road in Johns Creek. Autrey Mill sits on 46 acres of ravine forest and has over 3 miles of walking trails that meander past a creek, rocky shoals and wildflowers, and provides a chance to view native Georgia plants and animal life. The park features a visitor center with live animal exhibits, a heritage village with historic buildings, wildlife and animal displays, nature and heritage play areas, a farm museum, picnic pavilions and restrooms. There is also a beautiful butterfly garden filled with flowers, walking paths, a little pond and gnome homes! Recently a new wildlife rehabilitation clinic has been added to aid injured and displaced wildlife, administered by Jess Legato, licensed wildlife rehabilitator.

Originally inhabited by the Creek, and then the Cherokee Indians, the land was given to Georgia residents in the 1832 land lottery. Autrey Mill sits on several of the “gold lots,” and on the property are the remains of an old gold mine. However, not much gold was ever found, and the land was more profitable for farming cotton, corn and wheat. Several families have owned the property, and it passed to the Autrey family in 1877, who owned it until 1907. The Summerour family owned the land where the Heritage Village is today. The village consists of the Summerour farmhouse, a tenant farmer’s house, the Green General Store and the old Warsaw Church. All of these buildings were moved to the property for preservation. The village and the collections of artifacts help showcase the life of rural farmers from the mid-1800s to the mid-1900s.

In 1988, community activists saved the property from development. The Autrey

About the author

Mill Nature Preserve Association is now a nonprofit overseen by the City of Johns Creek. The Autrey family did operate a mill on the property in the late 19th century. It was located on property west of the center along Sal’s Creek. It was five stories high and built for grinding wheat flour. Only a little of the foundation remains beside the creek, but there is a photograph which documents its existence.

The Master Gardeners maintain the garden in front of the Summerour House, an 1860s farmhouse which was moved to the property to preserve it from encroaching development. Some

This week’s guest Master Gardener “Garden Buzz” columnist is Roswell resident Dianne Short. Dianne has been a Master Gardener for 20 years, taking her initial training in Virginia. In 2013, she moved to Roswell to be near grandchildren and affiliated with the North Fulton Master Gardeners. Dianne is a retired school social work specialist. Her interests are organic gardening; native plants; and attracting birds, bees, and butterflies to her garden.

plants selected for the garden would be appropriate for that time period, but there is always the desire for a colorful display to delight garden visitors and keep the house inviting for all the activities held there, so attention is paid to both aspects of garden design. Old garden standbys coming into bloom now include bee balm, spiderwort, clematis, Stokes aster, salvia, lamb’s ear, roses and Crinum lilies. Featured for color you will find begonias, geraniums, daisies, balloon flower, and coleus. In addition to the fenced garden in front, the side, or Bride’s Garden, has recently been expanded and is still undergoing renovation. The Master

For more info

Gardeners who work at the Summerour Garden meet at least twice a month to do the necessary weeding, watering, fertilizing and “deer discouraging.”

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.

Autrey Mill is open to the public at no charge, but memberships are available for special programming. There are summer camps and home school curriculum available. The visitor’s center has a learning lab for preschoolers. Rentals are provided for weddings, receptions, celebrations, etc. And children love to come and see the chickens, ducks, rabbits and goats. There are many volunteer opportunities available for both youth and adults. You can find out more about Autrey Mill at https://autreymill.org/.

DIANNE SHORT

Guest Columnist

DIANNE SHORT/PROVIDED

Summerour House garden at Autrey Mill Nature Preserve.

Halcyon:

Continued from Page 1

would rise from about 4.9 to 6.9 units per acre.

The master planned district for Halcyon was zoned in 2015 to allow for 690 residential units and up to 550,000 square feet of commercial space. RocaPoint said Halcyon is exhausting the limits of the previous zoning.

“We want to be able to bring Halcyon to a meaningful completion in terms of construction,” RocaPoint Government Relations and Development Manager Danielle Handy said. “And we think, to continue that high-caliber, quality development that we’ve established over the years, that this would be one way, and really the only way, to execute in that fashion.”

Handy and Jarrard said the approved land entitlements will not expand Halcyon’s physical boundaries, but the additional apartments would be built on the existing site.

In May, the Board of Commissioners approved an agreement with RocaPoint allowing the developers to enter formal negotiations for the expansion, but it did not oblige the county to move forward with the project.

The code changes were formally presented to the Planning Commission in June. Despite the routine timeline allowing roughly a month between a Planning Commission recommendation and a County Commission approval, Jarrard said the item was fast-tracked based on the county’s agreement with the developers.

With planners split on approving the

project, it was ultimately denied recommendation in a 3-1 vote and moved onto the County Commission for final consideration.

Commissioner Laura Semanson said she is not a fan of apartments, but she approves of the plans because Halcyon has proven to be successful, and it is in an ideal location near Ga. 400 and McFarland Parkway. The site lies within Semanson’s Commission District 5.

Despite his colleagues’ optimism and the tailored language of the code changes, Commissioner Todd Levent said he remains unconvinced RocaPoint could not secure the grocery store without the 265 apartments.

“There’s a whole lot of density in that area,” Levent said. “I’m just not quite there, convinced that this vote is just for apartments [when] they already have entitled rights to do everything they need to do.”

The development code modifications were approved 3-1 with Levent opposed. County Commission Chairman Alfred John was absent from the vote.

Commissioners also held a first public hearing on the county’s proposed millage, or property tax, rate of 7.896 mills. Citizens have a final opportunity to speak on the measure July 20 at 11 a.m. and 6 p.m.

FORSYTH COUNTY/SCREENSHOT

A site map shows the proposed location of a high-end grocery store, labeled in red, and a new apartment building, in purple to its right, at Halcyon. Developers said both will be built on the existing acreage of Halcyon.

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.

Senior Technical Product Owner - John Bean Technologies Corporation (Alpharetta, GA): Part of team respnsbl for dsgn, develpmnt, & implmntn of digtl machn monitr & srvce pltfrm. Req: Bach (or frgn equvt) in Electrcl Engr or rltd fld & 5 yrs exp in each of: deply full-stck SW technqs & procss to faclte develpmnt of usr stries; work w/ MS Azure, Visio, Agile & Scrum; gathr techncl reqrmnts for usr stries relt to OT featrs; & provd guidnc to automte & scale of onbrd of new machns. Remte work allwd up to 40% of time. Able & will to travl domstc & int’l up to 25%. Apply at: https://careers.jbtc.com, Req ID: 11091

Is Your Company Hiring?

Submit your opening at appenmedia.com/hire

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.

Infor (US), LLC has an opening for a Senior Software Engineer in Alpharetta, GA. Develop and test code for a low code framework application; serve as primary engineer for support of the developers within the development environment. 100% Telecommuting. How to apply: How to apply: E-mail resume, referencing IN1002, including job history, to careers@infor.com. EOE.

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.

TECHNOLOGY

HP Inc. is accepting resumes for the position of Software Application Engineer in Alpharetta, GA (Ref. #6990477). Develops audio machine learning technologies for conference room products; Audio machine learning workflows: 1) Model Training and 2) Model Deployment. Telecommuting permitted. Annual Salary: $136,136.13/year to $166,136.13/year. Mail resume to HP Inc., c/o Yesenia Tejada, 3390 E Harmony Road, Fort Collins, CO 80528. Resume must include Ref. #, full name, email address & mailing address. No phone calls. Must be legally authorized to work in U.S. without sponsorship. EOE.

McCalla Raymer Leibert Pierce LLC in Roswell, GA is seek’g a Solutions Architect to lead a team that supprts apps dvlpmnt & deplymnt of tech solt’ns. No trvl; no telecomm. Send resumes to: careers@mccalla.com

Part-time

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.

NEWSPAPER DELIVERY ROUTE

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!

Call 770-442-3278 and ask for Heidi or Email Heidi@AppenMedia.com

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Tree Services

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Roofing

ROOF

Call us for roof repair or roof replacement. FREE quotes. $200 OFF Leak Repairs or 10% off New Roof. Affordable, quality roofing. Based in Roswell. Serving North Atlanta since 1983. Call to schedule FREE Quote: 770-284-3123. Christian Brothers Roofing

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Landscaping

Full Service LANDSCAPING Company

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

Ralph Rucker

678-898-7237

Deadline to place a Classified ad is Thursday at 4 pm

Retaining Walls

Brick or Wood

Contact Ralph Rucker. Many local references. Honest, punctual, professional and reasonable prices!

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