Johns Creek Herald - January 19, 2023

10-year parks plan moves forward

School unveils book vending machine

By AMBER PERRY amber@appenmedia.com

JOHNS CREEK, Ga. — Hidden under a tarp for weeks, emitting mysterious flashing lights, Inchy the Bookworm Vending Machine made its debut Jan. 13 at Abbotts Hill Elementary School.

Instead of the typical money-fed vending machine with edible snacks, Inchy dispenses brain snacks for students who have earned special tokens through “excellence points” for good behavior, participating in monthly Learning Commons contests and completing book bingo.

This month’s contest asks students to recommend and illustrate the cover of their favorite book for a chance to win a token raffle. The contest table sat front and center with William the Wooden Boy sitting atop wearing a tiedyed Abbotts Hill T-shirt.

A poster slowly getting filled with student illustrations was plastered to the wall outside the library. All book winners will have their picture posted on a specially designed poster board near the school’s front entrance.

The Abbotts Hill Elementary Parent Teacher Association funded the vending machine through its annual Fun Run. The PTA will set aside funds in subsequent years to keep the machine stocked and working.

Seven students, one from each grade, were in the school’s library ready to stick a token in, push numbers and pull a book from the machine’s slot. Parents were asked to submit pictures of their kids doing something fun over the holiday break, and their names were pulled from a hat.

The machine holds books from different grade levels. Titles alternate as they are dispensed. Each student made their selections in excitement. Once they pressed “enter,” the machine spoke and said, “One book coming right up.”

Johns Creek Manager of the Office of the Mayor Pamela Sutton, Superintendent Brian Downey and Fulton County School Board Member Kristin McCabe stood nearby as students made their selections, cheering them on.

“This is exciting for our school because this is an opportunity to celebrate our students for positive behavior as well as encouraging them to actually

Kemp maintains focus on education in his second term

By CANDY WAYLOCK candy@appenmedia.com

ATLANTA —In a spirited inaugural address Jan. 12, Gov. Brian Kemp took media and pundits to task and renewed his commitment to make education a priority in his second term.

“We listened to the people of our state…not the cocktail circuit [or] the so-called experts,” Kemp said before the crowd gathered at Georgia State University’s Convocation Center. “We gave Georgians the opportunity to go back to work, get their kids back in the classroom…and protect freedom to live their lives without fear of more government lockdowns, mandates and overreach.”

Kemp followed up on his commitment to education the next day by sending his amended FY 2023 budget to the Georgia Legislature which includes a $2,000 raise for teachers, pre-K teachers and certified kindergarten through 12th grade personnel.

If approved by the Legislature, the starting salary for first-year teachers will rise this year to $40,500 and average more than $62,000 for the state’s 115,000 public school teachers. The increase could place Georgia among the top 20 states for teacher pay, which was a goal Kemp set in his first run for office.

Kemp pushes income tax refund

pick up a book and be able to read a book,” Abbotts Hill Principal Roytunda Stabler said.

PHOTOS BY AMBER PERRY/APPEN MEDIA

Abbotts Hill Elementary School PTA member Dawn Rogers helps a student select a book from Inchy the Bookworm Vending Machine Jan. 13. The device is intended to encourage reading through good behavior and participation.

William the Wooden Boy greets students who enter a raffle to win a token for the book vending machine.

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Youth suffers gunshot near IMT Deerfield

By AMBER PERRY alex@appenmedia.com

MILTON, Ga. — Milton Police responded to a noise disturbance call around 9:30 p.m. Jan. 7 near Ivy Vine Way involving disorderly juveniles and later discovered that one of them had been shot.

Closer to 10 p.m. that same night, police were dispatched to a welfare check on Aven Court related to a call at an emergency room in Roswell. Police obtained information regarding a juvenile, thought to live on Aven Court,

POLICE BLOTTER

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

Police impersonator scams Subway employee

JOHNS CREEK, Ga. — A man posing as a police officer called a Subway employee and tricked her into buying $118 in Subway gift cards, using money from the Subway cash register

The woman told Johns Creek Police Jan. 5 that a man with a country accent called and provided a badge number and asked that she provide her name and cell phone number, the police report said. The caller said the transaction was at the request of the Subway manager and that she should go to Kroger to make the purchase.

After the woman purchased the card, the man called her again and got the information necessary to cash the cards. He then told the employee to cut the card up and throw the pieces into separate trash cans. She complied.

When the suspect asked that she not tell anyone about the transaction, the woman became suspicious and told the Subway manager. The manager said she did not authorize the transaction.

As police were gathering information about the incident, the

who came to the emergency room with a grazed gunshot wound.

The boy claimed he was walking in front of IMT Deerfield when he heard a loud pop and then felt pain.

According to Milton Police Capt. C. Barstow, the boy has since been released from the hospital.

Because no one appeared to be at the boy’s residence, police returned to Ivy Vine Way to investigate whether the two calls were related. Police connected with a girl on Ivy Way who said she knew of someone who said the boy

suspect called the woman again, and her boyfriend was able to get the IP address.

New Years Eve party results in stolen items

JOHNS CREEK, Ga. — Johns Creek Police responded to a woman on Jones Bridge Road, who said a number of name brand clothing pieces and accessories were taken from her home.

The woman told police Jan. 6 that she manages music artists, such as rappers, and is often gifted with items from time to time. The value of the missing items are estimated to be at least $24,000.

The items were thought to be taken between Dec. 30 at 3 a.m. to Jan. 4 at around 5 a.m. While out of town, her son texted her Dec. 31 asking if people could come over to watch the UGA football game. But the gathering spiraled into a New Year’s Eve party, where her son didn’t know many of the guests.

Once the woman found that her basement door was left open, she inspected the residence to see if items were stolen.

She said she tries to keep her job unknown to strangers, but the truth about her employment still gets out from time to time. The woman said she suspects one or more of the party guests were responsible for the theft.

The incident was not categorized as a burglary because the possible

had been shot. Police then called the source, who told officers she saw a “grown man” point a gun at her and her cousin.

The cousin said the suspect was an older, bald Black man, wearing a white T-shirt, and that the incident occurred on Ivy Vine Way near the original call.

In an email, Barstow said detectives are following up on a number of leads and have interviewed several people who provided “actionable information” for the Milton Police Department to use in identifying a potential suspect.

suspects did not enter the residence without authority.

Woman gets wise to fraud attempt

JOHNS CREEK, Ga. — A woman told Johns Creek Police Jan. 7 that she was contacted by an individual on Instagram regarding a photo she posted of herself in a traditional Indian dress. The person offered the woman $500 to paint her portrait.

The woman sent the person her checking account number. She was sent $1,000 to her account and then an additional $2,000. She became suspicious because she was only offered $500 to begin with.

The woman went to the bank and voided the checks, returning them to the sender. After the process was completed, she received threatening text messages.

One said, “Hey, I’m an assassin, and I have been paid to kill you since you are trying to ghost me with the money.”

Another text was received from someone who said they were an FBI agent with the Fraud and Scams department. The text stated he was contacted by a friend, confirmed the money was sent to her bank, and charges were being investigated for fraud and were going to be pursued if the money was not returned.

The woman said she would block all communication and ensure that the bank would return all funds by Jan.13.

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Stakeholders map strategy for Macedonia Cemetery

By AMBER PERRY amber@appenmedia.com

JOHNS CREEK, Ga. — Last year, the City of Johns Creek installed a fence at Macedonia Cemetery to enclose the site’s known graves. But Kirk Canaday, Johns Creek Historical Society member, knows there are more.

“The first and earliest graves were near the [original] church,” Canaday said.

There were two churches on the property. Canaday said the original church was burned, and then a second, made of cinderblocks, was vandalized and torn down by Fulton County around 2001.

At a Jan. 9 meeting, Canaday urged Johns Creek City Manager Ed Densmore to clear ground of trees and seek services for ground penetrating radar to find additional graves. The meeting was the first to include family members of those buried at Macedonia.

Sabrina Aquell, who attended the meeting, has several family members buried at the cemetery. Aquell is related to Reuben Chandler, who has the earliest grave marker (18481893). She is also related to many of the Ousleys buried at the cemetery. Through stories passed down to her, Aquell said she has a strong connection to her grandfather, Sam Jones, who is buried there as well.

“Someone besides me, and families,

[are] interested in my ancestors,” Aquell said. “It’s very important.”

Ground penetrating radar Madyun Shahid, a descendent of April Waters — one of the few marked and documented burials on site — helped coordinate the meeting, which sought feedback from engineering consultant Eric Nelson and geophysicist Rauf Hussein.

Several factors affect the efficacy of ground penetrating radar, Hussein said, including ground leveling, wetness and casket material. Graves without any casket at all, like most at Macedonia, are the most complicated to detect, he said.

Canaday, alongside former Johns Creek Councilwoman Stephanie Endres, sat on his porch for four hours to formulate the cost of tree clearing and ground penetrating radar. They estimated the project at around $100,000.

The amount was later budgeted by the city, with some funds earmarked for the cemetery’s strategic plan completed last August. The heavily criticized report does mention tree removal to “create a more open environment,” but no ground penetrating radar was mentioned.

Canaday confirmed that probes have been employed by the Georgia Department of Transportation and New South Associates, but he said radar

UGA alumna Shelby Israel joins Appen Media staff

ALPHARETTA, Ga. — Appen Media Group announced Jan. 19 that Shelby Israel will join its staff as a reporter. Israel will cover local government and public safety in Forsyth County and the City of Alpharetta. She will report to Carl Appen, director of content and development, and be based in Alpharetta.

“Shelby is a magnificent addition to our newsroom,” Appen said in a statement. “She has sharp news judgement and experience leading a quick-moving staff. She’ll bring a lot of fuel for the fire of our developing team.”

Israel graduated from the University of Georgia Grady College of Journalism & Mass Communication in Dececember 2022 with a minor area

of study in English. During her time at UGA, Israel served as a contributor, campus news editor and editor-inchief at The Red & Black, as well as news intern at Flagpole Magazine.

“I have always wanted to write,” Israel said. “Before, it was a creative pursuit, but through experimentation with my major at UGA, I found that I could still write while contributing to something important. I love local news and community-driven stories, and I am excited to cover the news scenes of Forsyth and Alpharetta.”

Israel takes the position as Appen reporter Alex Popp moves to cover the Perimeter.

To contact Israel with news tips or story ideas, email shelby@ appenmedia.com.

AMBER PERRY/APPEN MEDIA

Johns Creek Historical Society member Kirk Canaday and Johns Creek City Manager Ed Densmore discuss upcoming work to the Macedonia Cemetery on Medlock Bridge Road. The Jan. 9 meeting was the first that included family members of those buried at the cemetery.

Johns Creek City Council examines Parks & Rec draft plan

Item draws comments from interested youths

By AMBER PERRY amber@appenmedia.com

JOHNS CREEK, Ga. — While still in the draft stage, Johns Creek now has a roadmap that anticipates more than $110 million in spending to fund current and future recreation and parks projects over the next 10 years.

Brian Trusty, principal at Pros Consulting, was on hand at the Johns Creek City Council work session Jan. 10 equipped with a draft of the city’s Recreation and Parks Master Plan. Trusty has taken lead on the project which seeks to build off the 2016 Recreation and Parks Strategic Plan by incorporating fresh community input and other data gathered over the past year.

The 95-page document centers around five strategic initiatives, which include Cauley Creek Park, Creekside Park, trails, programming enhancements and updates to existing parks.

Trails were the highest priority, according to community feedback.

“It was surprising to me the lack of connectivity within the community,” Trusty said. “We heard loud and clear from residents in all forms of engagement — that’s a major priority.”

In the short-term, the plan outlines the completion of the 5K perimeter loop trail at Cauley Creek Park and the engineering of the trail connection from the park through Abbotts Bridge Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area to Abbotts Bridge Road. The report also suggests that the City Council continue the conversation surrounding personal transportation vehicles.

Visionary plans for the city’s trails are on the docket. They include completion of the Chattahoochee Greenway along the Chattahoochee River and a north-south spine along the Georgia Power utility easement that would connect from the Chattahoochee River to the northern border of the city.

Youth sports

Following Trusty’s presentation of the report, councilmembers fired off questions spanning an array of focus areas, like accommodating youth sports at a limited number of fields.

The city sits at around 40 percent of demand-supply with its three existing fields, Trusty said. But with four fields coming online at Cauley Creek Park and the prospect of lighting fields at Shakerag and Newtown Park, more

needs will be met.

To help coordinate use of the new Cauley Creek Park field space, Trusty suggested employing more Recreation & Parks staff. Employees in the Johns Creek Public Works Department, which supervises Recreation & Parks, are contracted workers from Jacobs Engineering. There are around four full-time employees and a handful of part-time workers.

Indoor gym space was another area of concern raised in community surveys, and it drew another dozen or so public comments at the City Council meeting later that night. In a coordinated effort, young athletes, coaches and parents advocated for indoor gym space.

“I don’t like sunscreen and stuff like that,” one 8-year-old athlete said. “So, that’s why if I had an indoor basketball court, I could play it all year long and don’t have to put on sunscreen.”

Others asked for lights at Newtown Park for nighttime flag football.

The City Council plans to revisit the Recreation and Parks Master Plan draft at its retreat, scheduled for the last weekend in January. A vote to approve the plan will follow.

Elections

The City Council also approved a resolution calling for the 2023 municipal election of council posts 2, 4 and 6 positions, currently held by

Brian Trusty of Pros Consulting presents the Recreation and Parks Master Plan draft at the Johns Creek City Council Jan. 10 work session. While a plan was passed in 2016, the City Council sought an update in 2022 that would guide the city for the next 10 years with specific plans for redevelopment and expansion of city parks, facilities and other opportunities.

councilmembers Stacy Skinner, Chris Coughlin and Erin Elwood.

The City Council briefly discussed the potential of self-run elections, referencing the City of Milton’s recent decision to run its own municipal election this year.

Johns Creek Mayor Johns Bradberry

said he received a text from a mayor while in the City Council meeting, who informed him that cost per voter would be $9.38.

Noting the huge increase from the current $2-and-some-change voter cost, Bradberry said, “It’s something we’re going to have to take very seriously.”

PHOTOS BY AMBER PERRY/APPEN MEDIA

About a dozen young athletes advocate for indoor gym space at the Jan. 10 Johns Creek City Council meeting. Comments followed the City Council’s work session, where councilmembers discussed the Recreation and Parks Master Plan draft.

Strength. This is Y.

Focus:

Continued from Page 1

“We know we need more teachers,” said Kemp, whose daughter is a teacher. “We [also] need to help our kids recover from learning loss, to keep our classrooms safe and [commit] to fully funding our schools once again.”

Educators express support

The Professional Association of Georgia Educators praised the governor’s budget proposal, pointing to the challenges of retaining teachers in the classroom over the past few years. (Statewide study probes deeper into teacher burnout | School News | appenmedia.com)

“We are encouraged by Gov. Kemp’s announcement today of a proposed $2,000 increase to the state salary schedule for Georgia pre-K–12 teachers and certified K-12 personnel,” said PAGE Executive Director Craig Harper. “There is no doubt that a salary increase would assist with recruitment and retention of excellent educators for Georgia’s children.

Four years ago, in his first run at the state’s top office, Kemp won ona platform of public education support. He was able to push through a $5,000 salary increase for teachers during that term.

If Kemp’s amended FY 2023 budget is approved by the Legislature as expected, teachers on the state salary schedule will have received a $7,000 pay hike in his first five years in office.

Moving into FY 2024, which begins July 1, Kemp’s proposed budget includes over $150 million in one-time grants for school districts to address school security, learning loss and create pathways for paraprofessional staff to become fully certified teachers.

Officials with the Georgia School Boards Association praised the governor’s efforts to continue supporting teachers and

students.

“Governor Kemp has been financially supportive of Georgia’s public schools once again this year, [and] we are particularly happy to see funding for items we asked for,” said Justin Pauley, director of communications for the association. “It may not look exactly as we hoped, but the school safety funding and additional counselors is greatly appreciated.

Georgia’s coffers are full

The state is well-positioned financially to support education, Kemp noted, despite the disruptions of the COVID-19 pandemic and shaky national economy over the past three years.

“As we look ahead to the upcoming fiscal year, we expect the state’s economy to be well positioned to withstand any further national economic slowing,” Kemp wrote in letter to lawmakers that accompanied his budget. “The amended FY 2023 and FY 2024 budgets [will] continue to meet our financial obligations as a state while also investing in the education, health, and safety of our citizens.”

Georgia is coming out of the pandemic in better shape than many states, with a projected surplus of $2.4 billion this year. Kemp noted Georgia has been among the top 10 states for business for the 9th year in a row.

If the governor has his way, much of the state’s tax surplus will be returned to taxpayers this year through tax refunds and a one-time homeowner property tax relief grant to help with rising local property taxes.

“Instead of catering to the talk shows or what is [trending] in media, this administration and the leadership in the General Assembly are going to put you and your families first…and spend the next four years focused on growing Georgia,” Kemp said in his inaugural speech. “This old construction guy from Athens has never been more optimistic about the future of our state.”

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Atlanta animal shelter lowers adoption rates

FULTON COUNTY, Ga. — Throughout January, you can adopt a pet from LifeLine Animal Project for $23. The “new year, new friend” deal includes spay and neuter, vaccines and microchip. Typically, dogs have an $85 adoption fee at Lifeline, and cats have a $65 fee.

The organization also opened a new pop-up dog adoption center for the month at 981 Howell Mill Road NW in Atlanta.

The adoption center is open seven days a week.

LifeLine Animal Project also manages Fulton County and DeKalb County Animal Shelters and provides animal enforcement services in Fulton County. As the largest animal welfare organization in Georgia, Lifeline aims to “end the shelter euthanasia of healthy and treatable animals.”

Macedonia:

has yet to be performed, and that the process requires tree removal.

Next steps

While Densmore said that removing a considerable number of trees would lead to erosion issues involving stormwater runoff, Canaday is most concerned with the northwest area where there are tree saplings, and whose removal will have less of an impact.

Nicole Washington, Impact Johns Creek founder, suggested that the project be targeted toward specific areas, rather than the entire site. Canaday wants to target an area that is around 50 feet by 100 feet on the north end of the site, where the original church was located.

Densmore explained the city’s bidding process for completing the ground penetrating project. Depending on the price point, he said he would have to seek other bids. But Nelson, who is based out of Little Rock, Arkansas, said he would survey the land at no cost.

Canaday plans to coordinate with Nelson for the site survey.

Joan Compton, Johns Creek

Historical Society president, said preserving the current grave markers should also be a priority, noting their degradation over the years.

The strategic plan lacks a blueprint, she said, and the timeline to create the Macedonia nonprofit is questionable. The Johns Creek City Council recently approved plans to create a nonprofit intended to provide Macedonia stakeholders a formal route to make requests to the city.

“It could be summer before anything is done,” Compton said. “And in the meantime, those gray stones are sitting there in the elements face up.”

Continued

AMBER PERRY/APPEN MEDIA

Nicole Washington, founder of Impact Johns Creek, suggests specifying areas for ground penetration at the Macedonia Cemetery.

LIFELINE ANIMAL PROJECT/PROVIDED

Golf cart dealer keys in on Milton’s slow, simple lifestyle

By ALEXANDER POPP alex@appenmedia.com

MILTON, Ga. — If you’ve ever been out on the road in any of the dozens of golf cart friendly cities, you might have asked, “Why would anyone chose to drive around in one on the street?”

They’re slower than a car and are almost always open to the breeze. Worse, your range while using one is about 50 miles before they’ll need another charge or fill up.

But according to Robert Copenhaver, a partner with Low Speed Vehicles of Alpharetta, those are all the reasons you should consider a leisurely open-air ride in the Milton community.

Copenhaver opened LSV of Alpharetta as a licensed golf cart dealership with three partners in May 2022, out of a building off Mayfield Road in downtown Milton. The 24-year-old entrepreneur recalls that the idea goes back to his parents’ garage and a side hustle during college.

Growing up in Roswell, Copenhaver started and ran a successful landscaping company for several years until his business was acquired by a larger company in 2019.

“But while I was doing that, I was kind of hustling on the side and selling golf carts out of my parents’ garage,” he said. “It was like super random, I would buy one and then fix it up, make it look nice and then sell it.”

Copenhaver graduated from Kennesaw State University at about the same time his landscaping company sold, and he was left with a big question, ‘What would he do next?’

For about a year and a half he

worked for a developer in Florida, and while there he made a connection with his initial partner, John Gaston, who owned a building in downtown Milton. Before long, he was introduced to two other partners with existing connections to the golf cart manufacturer EZ-GO, who saw a viable business in him that could thrive in Milton

“It was three local partners in the Milton area,” he said. “They said, ‘We’ve got a connection to EZ-GO, you know how to sell the carts … and here we are today.”

With those opportunities and connections, they quickly set up shop in Gaston’s Milton building. Copenhaver said Milton is one of the most golf cart friendly cities they could

have picked for the business.

When they opened, Copenhaver said it was like the floodgates had opened and demand went off the charts. He thinks that’s due mostly to the golf cart ordinance Milton city officials passed in 2020 and the fact that there really isn’t another golf cart dealer nearby.

ALEX POPP/APPEN MEDIA

Robert Copenhaver, a partner with Low Speed Vehicles of Alpharetta, sits at the wheel of a brand-new golf cart at the company headquarters in downtown Milton Dec. 9. Copenhaver started the business with a group of partners in May 2022.

“It sounds super cheesy, but you’re selling a lifestyle,”

ROBERT COPENHAVER, co-founder of Low Speed Vehicles of Alpharetta

“It just made sense to kind of make our home base here,” he said. “Milton’s golf cart friendly, they passed the ordinance about a year before we got here. So, we jumped into that.”

Word has spread about LSV mostly through word of mouth and social media, he said. But it also doesn’t hurt that they’re located on Mayfield Road where traffic backs up near the roundabout at Heritage Walk in the afternoon, providing them a valuable place to advertise their vehicles.

“We put golf carts out front, and everybody sees them,” he said. “It’s funny because when they come out of the roundabout, they’re going like 5 miles an hour, so everybody slows down and they’ll look at our carts.”

To handle local demand for carts and the price of real estate space in the community, he said they opened with a “Tesla model” — putting their show room at a prominent location in Milton and opening a 5,000 square foot offsite service department on McFarland Parkway in Alpharetta.

Copenhaver said that if you asked him 10 years ago, he would have never expected to go into this line of business, but he has been

At Low Speed Vehicles of Alpharetta, located off Mayfield Road, people can buy a method of transportation that’s simple, flexible and perfect for trips in the community, business Co-Founder Robert Copenhaver says.

continuously surprised at how fun and interesting the golf cart business has been.

“It sounds super cheesy, but you’re selling a lifestyle,” he said. “It’s a high-ticket item, but there’s so much you can do with it, and you can go anywhere.”

That lifestyle is one of LSV’s main selling points to those interested in

buying a golf cart, but for Copenhaver, the draw of low-speed vehicles boils down to having a simple, convenient method of getting around town that doesn’t require maintenance or attention.

“Our whole society, I feel like, is moving towards the live-work-play model,” he said. “Everybody wants to live where they work and play … a

lot of people don’t want to take their cars out, they don’t want to struggle with parking, they don’t want to drive around a parking deck at Avalon, they don’t want to fight traffic.”

To see LSV of Alpharetta’s inventory and learn more about street-legal golf carts, visit them at their headquarters in Milton at 850 Mayfield Road or online at lsvofalpharetta.com.

ALEX POPP/APPEN MEDIA

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Know your rights with estate planning

Estate planning isn’t about how much money you have. It’s about protecting what you have for you and your loved ones. Whether your estate plan includes just a Will and Power of Attorney, or if you’ve set up a trust, estate plans go a long way in making sure that what you leave behind goes to the people you care about.

So, what is an estate plan and why should you create one? To answer the second question first, Georgia is a state in which the right of survivorship is not automaticmeaning that you could lose control of your house if your spouse passes away while owning the property jointly. Not to mention, if you don’t prepare an estate plan that avoids probate court, you could lose a significant amount of your assets, as probate court is the only way to reclaim an estate - even if you have a will. In probate court,

anyone can go after the assets of your loved ones, but some notable contenders include Medicaid, creditors, debtors, and of course, the government.

The last thing anyone wants to do is to have to fight for the assets of their loved ones right after losing someone precious. That’s why an estate plan is essential if you want to leave your family with a peace of mind. An estate plan is an asset protection plan that focuses specifically on ensuring that what you own goes to the people you want it to go to. Simple estate plans generally include establishing a trust, which is one of the few ways to avoid probate court. More advanced plans will include not just a trust, but also a healthcare directive, Power of Attorney, will, and many more documents to prepare for every scenario.

If you pass away tomorrow, are you certain that everything will be in good hands? If not, then it’s time to start strategizing to make sure no court battles or obscure law will take what you own from you.

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The multi-aged classroom gives every child regular opportunities to be the learner as well as the leader in the security of a home-like environment which is cared

for by everyone in it, teacher and student alike. The Montessori classroom is ordered and beautiful, filled with materials that are aesthetically pleasing, materials which capture the imagination and assist in physical, academic and social development.

Montessori develops children who are responsible, creative, innovative, respectful and kind. Montessori children are truly the citizens of the future, equipped to face challenges with confidence and competence.

Located near the intersection of 141 and McGinnis Ferry Road in Johns Creek, Johns Creek Montessori School of Georgia provides excellence in Montessori education for infants, toddlers and children to six years old. JCMSOG provides an authentic Montessori environment, where each individual’s needs are respected, and everyone works together for the good of the community. The focus is always on helping the children to develop themselves in a caring, peaceful environment. By helping children to develop independence, we assist them in their physical and emotional development. As their sense of security in their ability to care for themselves and their environment grows, their brains have more energy or “bandwidth” for increased academic learning. Additionally, this focus

on development of muscular control is a first step in developing self-discipline. The JCMSOG Difference is best experienced in

person. Please schedule a visit with your child to observe our “Montessori Magic”www.JCMSOG.org 770-814-8001

Mount Pisgah Christian School is educating with intention

Mount Pisgah Christian School is a top-rated independent Preschool-12th grade school located in north Atlanta. Known for providing an outstanding college preparatory education grounded in Christian faith and values, 100% of students are accepted into a four-year college or university.

MPCS is educating with intention through personalized, studentcentered learning with small class sizes brought to life in academics, athletics and spiritual life. A purposeful education prepares students to be critical thinkers, ready to succeed in an increasingly competitive world.

Mount Pisgah fosters innovation by valuing the opportunities students have to create, explore, and ask questions.

MPCS is a place where students encounter foundational truth in the Word of God and experience God’s love and grace in the classroom, on the field, and beyond.

Extracurricular offerings include 46 competitive athletic programs, music and visual arts programs,

as well as the Mount Pisgah Arts Academy. The after-school Arts Academy classes and lessons including drama, art, music and dance are available to all students in the community.

New Preschool Facility

The new, state-of-the-art Stuart

and Eulene Murray Academy is set to open at the start of the 2023 school year. The Academy will be home to the Mount Pisgah Christian School Preschool program for PK3 and PK4 students, and will be located on South Campus in the same building as the Lower School.

The new facility includes many

wonderful and exciting educational opportunities, including new classrooms, theatre, innovation center, interactive play spaces, and an outdoor nature-inspired playscape unlike anything offered by schools in our area.

To learn more, visit mountpisgahschool.org

Brought to you by - Mount Pisgah Christian School

A letter to students

Brought to you by - Woodward Academy

1. You are awesome. Be confident in who you are. I promise you’ll meet peoplewho are smarter than you, and that’s OK. You don’t have to be the smartestperson—oddly enough, sometimes being the smartest person is difficult. I alsopromise that you will be smarter than most. Enjoy that; while being smart isn’teverything, it is definitely something. Be confident in your intelligence, but notarrogant. I’ve found that, most of the time, being arrogant backfires on you. That leads into point two…

2. Sometimes it takes more courage and intelligence to be silent than to speak. It took me a long time to understand and respect silence. I’m still learning that it’s a mark of maturity and, most of the time, intelligence. Also, respect everyone’s differences and challenge yourself to learn about them.

3. Never stop learning. I don’t mean that in a teacher way, I mean it in a learning life sort of way. You are constantly growing, maturing, and developing, so enjoy it. Life is a condition to which no one is immune. We learn something every day. Our taste in music, food, TV, and the people we surround ourselves with evolves. It’s natural for these preferences to change. I wasted a lot of time trying to be someone I wasn’t because I thought I was supposed to be someone else. To complete number three, you need to invest in number four…

4. Spend time with yourself. Since you’ve been in my class, I’ve learned how amazing you are each in your own way. If you sit and spend time with you, I think you’ll feel the same way. I’m such a people person, but sometimes the best thing is time alone with great music, a book, TV, or whatever. As cheesy as this sounds, be your own best friend. The sooner you learn that all of your faults and idiosyncrasies are what make you awesome, the sooner you will be a better person and enjoy life so much more. That leads to number five…

5. Everyone has faults. With the advent of social media, I sometimes find myself comparing my faults with everyone else’s highlights. Scrolling through

your Twitter feed (or Snapchat or TikTok), you see people lauding their accomplishments, great times, and great friends. There’s absolutely nothing wrong with this, as long as you understand that what you see on social media is an incomplete picture. If you compare all of your faults to those highlights, you may feel a bit inadequate. Everyone has faults, so embrace yours. Grow from them and know that they add to what makes you, you. And remember, you’re awesome.

6. Surround yourself with people who love you and think you’re great (but also who know and accept your faults). You need this. If someone won’t accept you for who you are, ask yourself if you really need that relationship (be it friends or more).

7. Smile. Every day. I’m not getting into the psychology of it all, but it could possibly make you happier and healthier. It works. Trust me.

8. Don’t trust people just because they say, “trust me.” Still...

9. Trust people. It’s endearing. I know this is very contradictory, but it’s true. Even though “trust me” should raise flags, trusting people means you are human and we all need people we can trust.

10. I’ve saved one of the most important tips for last: Be happy. Genuinely happy. Choose a profession that pays the bills and makes you want to go to work most days. You won’t be happy every day. You will have bad days, weeks and maybe even months, but you’ll be generally happy. Money will not, in the end, make you happy.

One of the greatest pieces of advice my dad ever gave me was to make great memories. Good and bad, and all kinds in between, they are all part of our life.

So, make them good ones and remember that you are part of other’s memories so make sure they are positive, too.

I have to end this the way my mother ended most of our conversations when I was in high school and college. Make good choices. (I repeat this often to my own kids.)

Lori Fenzl, Upper School social studies teacher

Education solutions for every mind, every age

Eaton Academy offers multiple programs, both in person and online, since a “one size fits all” approach to education is not effective in today’s world.

Academic Programs

The full-day K-12 school, with its 5:1 student-to-teacher ratio, allows instructors to address students’ individual learning styles, while maintaining social distancing. Students achieve significant academic and personal success resulting from STEAMrelated activities and multisensory instruction. The challenging collegeprep curriculum is delivered in a safe, nurturing environment.

For students with more significant academic and social needs, the Pace Program helps students develop life skills and independent living strategies. Pace students follow the traditional school day and work to develop greater self-sufficiency and independence, on their way to earning a high school diploma.

The Independent Study Program (ISP), tailored to students’ schedules and academic needs, permits individuals to work at their own pace. The tutorial setting enables aspiring athletes and

performers to work toward graduation while following their dreams. Some students enroll in ISP to accelerate their scholastic work; others seek academic remediation. ISP arranges the oneto-one sessions on a schedule that accommodates the students’ needs for flexibility.

Post-Graduate Programs

LEAP is designed to help individuals strengthen their life skills in order to achieve greater independence. Participants benefit from job readiness training, life skill development, and scholastic support.

The LIFE program places young adults into their own apartments.

Participants meet with a LIFE coach several times each week for support with topics such as budgeting, hygiene, roommate relations, and housekeeping.

Supported Employment prepares young adults for the workplace.

Assistance is given with resume writing, applying for positions, and keeping a job.

College Exploratory offers individuals college level, non-credit courses so they can gauge their readiness for university life.

Eaton Academy is the ideal place for families to discover education options and independent living solutions.

EATON ACADEMY NOW ENROLLING

Brought to you by - Eaton Academy

High Meadows School –Inspiring future global citizens and innovative leaders

Brought

to you

by - High Meadows School

There is no place like High Meadows School. Since 1973, High Meadows students in Pre-K through 8th grade have learned through experiential, immersive educational opportunities offered both in the school’s spacious, lightfilled classrooms and across 42 acres of grassy fields and scenic woodlands. High Meadows School’s progressive curriculum is focused on developing future global citizens and innovative leaders who embrace challenge and think for themselves.

High Meadows lower years classrooms offer low student-teacher ratios in which instruction emphasizes academic excellence, love of learning, critical thinking, and environmental and social responsibility. As a nationally recognized and award-winning leader in progressive education, High Meadows is an

accredited International Baccalaureate (IB) World School offering its renowned Primary Years Program for students in preschool through fifth grade.

High Meadows School’s accomplished and experienced faculty lead each student on this journey. Through interactive, inquiry-based instruction, supported by of-the-moment technology and our nature-based campus, High Meadows teachers are unequaled in their intellect, passion, and compassion for these kids. Every day they inspire authentic learning opportunities that are engaging and sticky (literally and figuratively!).

When children graduate from High Meadows, they are empowered with a deep respect for international perspectives, an intuitive understanding of life’s interconnectedness, and an exceedingly strong sense of self. Education is an expedition that starts from the moment we are born. When we teach children to be curious and inquiring at an early age,

we create within them a love of learning that lasts an entire lifetime. What is more important than that?

Come see how all this comes to life. Join us for our Winter Open House,

Sunday, January 22nd from 2:004:00pm. Please visit our website at highmeadows.org or call 770-993-2940 to learn more about High Meadows School.

Change lives, change the world

by - Wesleyan School

Wesleyan School believes faith and intellect are great partners with each other. At Wesleyan, it’s not a matter of choosing faith or intellect, but rather using both to create the best possible education for your child. Our leadership and faculty work to provide students with an atmosphere that is challenging, reinforces the value of hard work, and emphasizes character and integrity above accomplishment.

Wesleyan prepares students for each stage of life and provides them the opportunity to see all the possibilities that lie before them. Wesleyan’s school motto is JOY-Jesus, Others, Yourself, and every aspect of school life is oriented to reinforce this philosophy of putting Jesus first and others ahead of ourselves.

A college preparatory environment,

students have access to a wide range of academic opportunities along with athletics, arts, service and other extracurricular activities. Wesleyan’s 85-acre campus provides state-of-the-art academic facilities along with on-campus practice space for athletics and arts.

Located just outside of I-285 in Peachtree Corners, Wesleyan enrolled 1,207 students in grades K-12 for the 2022-2023 school year. Wesleyan offers bus routes throughout the metro Atlanta area. Supervised care before school is included in the cost of tuition and after care is available (K-8) until 6 p.m. at an affordable rate.

Wesleyan School

5405 Spalding Drive, Peachtree Corners, GA 30092 770-448-7640 https://www.wesleyanschool.org/

Brought to you

Great minds think differently

School

Since 1985, The Cottage School (TCS) has provided a comprehensive program for students with learning differences grades 3-12. TCS offers a business-based model that promotes self-advocacy and fosters self-confidence, preparing them for life after graduation to pursue post-secondary educational paths or vocational opportunities. Our accredited college preparatory curriculum meets Georgia graduation standards and HOPE scholarship requirements to take students to graduation and beyond.

Our students, in all grades, enjoy unique experiential learning with electives based on their interests and clubs including archery, drama, forensics, robotics, horticulture and amazing off-campus experiences throughout the year.

The school’s beautiful 23-acre Roswell campus is a hidden gem in North Fulton, with small class sizes our students develop meaningful connections to our teaching staff. Our cottages are unique and warm learning environments that include computer and science labs, art studios, a multi-purpose athletic and performing arts facility, indoor and outdoor classrooms, and trails for mountain biking and cross-country. TCS encourages students of all abilities to participate in athletics by

PROVIDED

offering sports such as soccer, basketball, baseball, cross-country, tennis, and golf.

The Cottage School has built a one-ofa-kind learning environment perfect for students who learn differently. TCS offers 12-month rolling admissions for all grade levels. Visit our website or call for a campus tour today.

The Cottage School

700 Grimes Bridge Road Roswell, Georgia 30075 770-641-8688 www.cottageschool.org

Brought to you by - Mill Springs Academy

Those are the words of Mill Springs Academy’s founder, Tweetie L. Moore, and the words that Mill Springs administration, faculty, and staff continue to live by today. Founded in 1981, Mill Springs provides a values-based college preparatory program for students with ADHD and learning differences. Mill Springs’ school-wide Community Structure encourages students to participate in their own education by teaching self-advocacy, social problem-solving skills, and how to forge their own path. Our small class sizes allow teachers to provide each student with individualized instruction. Our highly skilled faculty and counselors provide academic rigor on all levels, from kindergarten through 12, in a supportive, nurturing environment.

Mill Springs Academy also offers students a wide variety of opportunities outside the core curriculum. Mill Springs’ fine arts program encourages students to explore their creativity through painting, sculpture, set design, music, performance, and more. Our robust athletic programs allow students to play at a competitive level while building teamwork and confidence.

Mill

space,

and performing arts facilities. We serve students from over 50 different zip codes in the Metro Atlanta area and provide four bus routes with ten stops in the morning and afternoon. To learn more about Mill Springs Academy, visit us at www. millsprings.org/visit.

Brought to you by - The Cottage

Springs’ 85-acre Alpharetta campus includes indoor and outdoor classroom

athletic facilities, and visual

“If a student can’t learn the way we teach… we should teach the way a student can learn.”

Kemp pushes teacher pay hike, tax refund in inaugural address

By REBECCA GRAPEVINE Capitol Beat

ATLANTA — State employees will get a $2,000 pay raise if Gov. Brian Kemp can get the General Assembly to approve his budget request.

Law enforcement officers, school employees, and other state workers all need the raise, Kemp said during an inaugural address Thursday that marked the start of his second term as Georgia’s governor.

“If you want to keep good people in jobs critical to the safety and well-being of our children, our communities and our state as a whole, we must be willing to be competitive with state salaries,” Kemp said.

Kemp also said he plans to use part of the state’s current record surplus to fund a one-time $1 billion income tax refund for Georgians. He pushed through a similar income tax refund last year.

The governor is also recommending the state spend $1.1 billion to provide homeowners with a property-tax relief grant.

“We are putting you and your families first because that’s your money, not the government’s,” Kemp said.

Kemp plans to request $150 million for grants that school districts can apply for to address

pandemic learning loss and security needs. Some of the funding will also be designated to help current paraprofessionals become certified teachers.

And Kemp promised to continue to build on his success in bringing hightech manufacturing facilities to the state. He pointed to Archer Aviation’s plans to hire 1,000 people to build

electric vertical take-off and landing aircraft as well as Hyundai and Rivian electric vehicle manufacturing plants and an SK battery facility as prime examples of his administration’s commitment to economic growth.

“By the end of my second term, I intend for Georgia to be recognized as the electric mobility capital of America,” Kemp told the crowd of

lawmakers and supporters.

Republicans won all of the state’s constitutional offices in the November elections. Those officials were also sworn in during the inauguration event at the Georgia State University Convocation Center in downtown Atlanta.

Three former state senators took the oath of office for their new statewide roles. Burt Jones was sworn in as lieutenant governor, Tyler Harper as agriculture commissioner and Bruce Thompson as labor commissioner.

The occasion also marked the start of new terms for Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger, Attorney General Chris Carr, Commissioner of Insurance John King, and State School Superintendent Richard Woods.

Now that the inauguration formalities are over, elected officials can turn their attention to the state’s budget. Kemp is expected to release further details of his spending recommendations Friday, and the House and Senate Appropriations Committees will begin three days of budget hearings Jan. 17.

This story is available through a news partnership with Capitol Beat News Service, a project of the Georgia Press Educational Foundation.

Market keeps downtown Alpharetta bustling in winter

By SHELBY ISRAEL shelby@appenmedia.com

ALPHARETTA, Ga. — Michelle Walters never intended to expand LNB Candles beyond the immediate orbit of her daughter and her friends, but it’s success outgrew expectations.

Her small business has grown out of her home and into its own physical location, onto the shelves at Walmart and a booth at Alpharetta farmers markets.

Walters was one of the vendors at the Jan. 11 North Main Street Market at Alpharetta, a new winter farmers market that began in November. The various vendors, ranging from hot sauce shops to gluten-free tamales, set up at Henderson Commons.

Walters’ business began with a personal goal in mind. Her daughter was diagnosed with a health condition.

“We noticed she was starting to break out and get cystic acne, get very tired at night, get sleepy, and say, ‘I have headaches,’” Walters said. “And we figured out it was the candles she was burning.”

Walters said through research she

discovered that some candles contain dangerous chemicals, which led her to make her own candles out of simple ingredients.

LNB has expanded beyond candles to room sprays and car fresheners. Walters said she has recently started expanding into body lotions and body sprays.

LNB Candles can be found at 6778 Jamestown Dr. in south Forsyth County, at the Halcyon Farmers Market, on Amazon and at some Walmart locations.

Noemi Espinoza, owner of Noemi’s Tamales, also started her business through a love for family. Espinoza — who makes tamales that are organic and gluten-free, sauces and salsas — said her mother and tradition are what inspired her to the business.

Espinoza founded Noemi’s Tamales in 2009 but eventually left the business behind after the birth of her grandson in 2017. However, Espinoza said, she wasn’t able to stay away for long, and she resumed tamale sales after a fiveyear recess.

“I would make my kids, I would make them make tamales,” Espinoza said.

“Like, you just don’t have life without making tamales for Christmas.”

Other vendors at the event included Boarding Pass Coffee, Mighty Greens GA, Southern Local Nuts and B&A Bees.

Businesses like Gone Bananas, owned by Eric Luidens and his wife, began because of COVID-19, and has hung around since.

Luidens’ booth featured Caribbean banana bread, which Luidens said differs from typical Georgia banana bread in ingredients, spices and flavors. Luidens, who travels to markets as far as Macon, also sells his bread on Instagram.

“Everything is natural,” Luidens said. “We source everything as local as possible, so we know what we’re putting in it.”

For those without the taste for banana, another vendor, Phil Patisserie, boasted various pastries, both sweet and savory, with a croissant base, as well as macarons. Owner Philippe Monnerie said he has baked for 20 years and finally decided to share the treats last year.

A stone’s throw away, Point Blank Pepper Co. founder Rich Newton said he launched his business four years ago as a sideline. But, when he was furloughed from his job in 2020 due to COVID, he committed fully to selling his table sauces and peppers in brine.

Newton said Point Blank has been nominated for awards, including a 2021 Flavor of Georgia finalist and the winner of the 2022 International Fiery Flave Awards.

Joern Seigies, who manages the North Main Street Market, got into the act, too.

His Bramberi Farm booth offered berries and lamb for sale.

Seigies, who frequents farmers markets to sell his berries, said he wanted to start the North Main Street event to fill the traditional off-season.

“If it picks up and it’s a good winter market, we will keep it all year-round, maybe, if we get all the approvals for it, even into the summer,” Seigies said.

The market runs through March on Wednesdays 3:30-6:30 p.m. and is located at 735 N. Main St.

ARVIN TEMKAR/CAPITOL BEAT NEWS SERVICE

Gov. Brian Kemp is sworn in for his second term by Justice Carla Wong McMillian in an inauguration ceremony at Georgia State Convocation Center in Atlanta on Thursday, January 12, 2023.

Happy New Year and a happy life

“If it’s to be, it’s up to me.”

That nugget of motivational wisdom was gifted to me early in life by a coach and mentor. It isn’t about rugged individualism or selfcenteredness, as that may seem selfish. True, personal and financial self-sufficiency largely is a doit–yourself project, but all of us depend on others for some aspect of our varying needs and ultimate success. Parents, spouses, loved ones, teachers, coaches, mentors, friends, business associates, doctors and nurses, military and police, and countless others, whether truck drivers, store clerks, farmers, repair specialists, etc., play a vital role in our daily rounds and life.

day. He got annoyed when he could not find the coffee. I approached him and asked, “Sir, the coffee is out in the lobby. May I get you some?

How would you like it?” He agreed and seemed pleased. As I returned with his coffee, creamer and sugar packets, a lady at a table nearby gave me a smiling nod of approval.

LEWIS J. WALKER, CFP

I remembered that incident when reading Kelly’s book. It seemed at the time to be a trivial and easy thing to do, but it was a “Holy Moment.”

Kelly defines a Holy Moment as “a single moment in which you open yourself to God. You set aside personal preference and selfinterest, and for one moment you do what you prayerfully believe God is calling you to do.”

The holy season of Advent, Hanukkah and Christmas, and thoughts about New Year’s resolutions, had me thinking about how I relate to others, spurred, too, by a new book by acclaimed author and speaker, Matthew Kelly. The powerful but short 116-page tome, “Holy Moments: A Handbook for the Rest of Your Life,” was a Christmas gift from St. Brigid Catholic Church in Johns Creek. The book is not for sale, but you can order six free copies by visiting HolyMomentsBook. com. The message is needed in these turbulent and challenging times.

This past Thanksgiving, I was staying in a hotel along the Cristina River in downtown Wilmington, Delaware. I was in town to spend the holiday with my son and his family. I was feeling a bit blue and down as it was the first Thanksgiving that I was without my wife and best friend, as Helen had passed away in July following a tough year of needing 24/7 care and, finally, hospice at home. Missing her, it was easy to feel sorry for myself.

There was a large self-serve breakfast room, but the coffee service was outside of the dining room in the lobby some distance away, a bit inconvenient. An elderly gentleman with a cane came in, walking with difficulty and looking like he was having a challenging

In that instant I could have ignored the man, seeing him as irascible as I continued to eat my breakfast, but for some reason I jumped in to help him with an act of kindness. Outside along the river it was cold, foggy and raining, a gray day conducive to the funk I was in. But helping that man, as simple as it was, gave me a lift as I began to focus not on what I’d lost, but on what I had, including the gift of my son and family with whom I was to spend the day. Helen was in my life for 56 years, one year of courtship and 55 years married. Her children and grandchildren are her lasting gift to me.

This past year I lost my wife, sister, and two dear friends, but it helps to recognize, not what is gone, but what is yet to be, appreciating the gift of love and friendship that sustains uplifting memories. Kelly advises that “the principle of Holy Moments teaches us to focus on the good we can do.”

In a recent workshop he asked participants to list the 10 aspects of life that mattered most. Cited were “health, marriage, family, spirituality, home life, finances, friendships, recreation, community, and personal growth.”

That’s an excellent list for God-centered, “Holy Momentpowered” New Year resolutions as a foundation for serious, lifechanging, and purpose-affirming planning and actions. How do your goals for 2023 and beyond relate to the list of 10?

Introducing ‘Garden Buzz’ and the North Fulton Master Gardeners

Garden Buzz is a new gardening column coming to the Appen Media Group newspapers and social media.

Guest columnists will be certified

Master Gardener Extension volunteers and members of the North Fulton Master Gardeners. Master gardeners will write about their diverse areas of expertise, including roses, daylilies, fig trees, fairy gardens, herbs, insects, and plants for water gardens, just to name a few of the many possibilities. Future columns may also address several ways to certify your garden as a wildlife habitat, how to conduct a proper soil sample, how to create a no-dig garden and other information.

We North Fulton Master Gardeners are very excited to partner with Appen Media group on Garden Buzz, another opportunity for us to provide horticultural education to the North Fulton community and beyond. If you have suggestions for future columns, please email us at

northfultonmastergardeners@gmail.com. So, what is a Master Gardener?

The Georgia Master Gardener Extension Volunteer (MGEV) Program connects the University of Georgia Extension, plant enthusiasts and communities across the state. MGEVs share UGA Extension consumer horticultural programming about selection and care of plants for ornamental value, recreation and home food production. A Master Gardener is a volunteer educator who is trained and supervised by UGA Extension, representing the university in educational events, activities and programs. Master Gardeners teach community members how to use plants and gardening to improve their environment, personal health, and quality of life. More information about how to become a Master Gardener can be found at nfmg.net/becomeMG.html.

We are a small group of people (about 105 or so!) living primarily throughout North Fulton County who enjoy plants and people. North Fulton Master Gardeners, Inc (NFMG) is a Georgia nonprofit organization whose purpose is to educate its members and the public in the areas of horticulture and ecology to promote and foster community

enrichment.

Over the years, the North Fulton Master Gardeners have provided gardening community education classes in Alpharetta, Roswell, Sandy Springs, and Farm Chastain (now transitioned to a virtual learning format due to the pandemic); gardening education for young children; university and college scholarships for horticulture students; and local demonstration gardens maintained by the North Fulton Master Gardeners and Garden Faire, which will return April 29, 2023, to a new venue at Wills Park in Alpharetta.

In response to the continuing COVID-19 pandemic, the North Fulton Master Gardeners went virtual with our pre-recorded Fall 2020 Gardening Lecture Series. The 2021 David Gibby International Master Gardener Search for Excellence (IMGSFE) Awards have recognized the North Fulton Master Gardeners for our efforts in the face of a global pandemic in successfully providing horticultural education to the North Fulton community and beyond through virtual webinar technology. The First Place Award in the Workshops/Presentations Category was made on September 15, 2021, during the virtual International

Master Gardener Conference. View our video at https://youtu.be/_1hSJfpsFS0.

More than 5,800 people have attended one or more of the 43 free NFMG Garden Lectures live-streamed on Zoom or Facebook since May 2020. An additional 25,000 people have viewed the videos on www.youtube.com/ northfultonmastergardeners. Please check out our YouTube video library.

The North Fulton Master Gardeners in collaboration with the UGA Extension in Fulton County are continuing to provide horticultural education to the North Fulton community and beyond through free virtual gardening education programming. The Spring 2023 Gardening Lecture Series begins Sunday, March 5, 2023, and will be available through live Zoom webinars and Facebook Live.

Each class emphasizes practical gardening activities at the time of year that is best suited for that activity. You may register for all five classes or just pick specific classes. Please register in advance at https://bit.ly/Spring2023NFMGGardeningLectureSeries to assure your place. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information

LEE

TANENBAUM

OPINION

Local U.S. Marine stood watch for presidents

BOB MEYERS Columnist bobmey@bellsouth.net

It is an understatement to say that entrance into the U.S. Marine Ceremonial Guard Company is a major accomplishment. Strict standards have to be met, and few volunteers make the cut.

When Alpharetta resident Egil (Gil) Leines accepted the invitation to try out for the Guard Company’s elite Silent Drill Platoon in 1958, 600 to 700 Marines gave it their best, but only 36 were accepted. This is the story of this historic organization and the experiences of one of its members some 60 years ago. Many things have changed since Gil served under presidents Eisenhower and Kennedy, but the spirit and significance of the Company carries on.

The U.S. Marine Ceremonial Guard Company lived and worked in the celebrated Marine Barracks, a group of buildings also known by its location at 8th & I streets in Washington D.C. Founded in 1801 by President Thomas Jefferson and Lt. Col. William Ward Burrows, the second commandant of the Marine Corps, 8th & I is today the oldest post in the Marine Corps. Although the Barracks is historic, the building where Gil lived was very cramped.

The Barracks housed both Marine ceremonial and security units, such as the three Silent Drill Platoons, Color Guard, Body Bearers, Drum and Bugle Corps, Marine Band and the Marine Corps Institute. John Philip Sousa was director of the Marine Band from 1880 to 1892 and composed many of his famous marches during his tenure. The Barracks is also where the top generals in the Marine Corps reside. The Commandant’s home is the oldest public building in continuous use in Washington.

Gil was a member of the Silent Drill Platoon for 12 months. Rigorous training was constant for the 36-member platoon. Long hours of practice built teamwork and precision so the unit could move as one. The platoon gave frequent public demonstrations at major sporting and other events in the U.S. and abroad.

The silent drill team went to Camp David for from two to three weeks every three months for guard duty on the perimeter or at the gate.

“That took us away from

constantly shining all our equipment,” Gil says.

Following his year with the Silent Drill Platoon, Gil was appointed to the Marine Corps Color Guard unit at the Barracks. The Color Guard carries the American Flag and the Marine Corps Battle Color. Each team consists of four Marines, the flag bearers in the middle plus two Marines with rifles. The Battle Color weighs 35 pounds because the pole is metal with 55 rings around it and 55 streamers hanging from it representing more than 400 campaigns in which Marines have participated from the American Revolution to the present.

Before modern warfare, soldiers tried to keep in formation and were often separated from their units. The color guard carried flags so soldiers could locate their units. Today the color guard is largely traditional and ceremonial.

“We did not have to purchase our dress blues because they were part of our work uniform,” recalls Gill. The uniforms were tailor made. If buttons stretched at all, we went on the H&I diet of spinach and carrots until our bellies were flat again.”

“We were always with the president when he went to Camp David.” Gil says. “I was assigned to the front gate where my job was to know what military people were allowed on the property. A Secret

Service agent was responsible for non-military persons.”

While the work at Camp David was deadly serious, there were some lighter moments. One morning the officer in charge asked who among the Ceremonial Guard Company had lifeguard experience. No one responded. Then he asked who would like to be a lifeguard. Again no one responded. He then asked who could be a lifeguard.

“I said I earned a swimming merit badge when I was a Boy Scout. I spent four hours that day lifeguarding for President Eisenhower’s daughter in law and her young son,” says Gil.

The favorite time for Gil was the

summer of 1960 when President Eisenhower spent six weeks in Newport, Rhode Island, at the Summer White House on Fort Adams.

“The locals treated us very well because we were among the few who wore presidential badges.” On Sundays the unit accompanied the president and his family to church. Some unit members stood guard in the church and others stood outside the church.

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.

GIL LEINES/PROVIDED

An official portrait was made of Egil (Gil) Leines when he was a member of the elite US Marine Color Guard in 1961.

Families of Cheek Spruill House through the years

The historic Cheek Spruill House at the crossroads of Chamblee Dunwoody Road and Mount Vernon Road in Dunwoody was home to three families before it was saved from demolition by the community of Dunwoody and purchased by Dunwoody Preservation Trust in 1998.

“The Story of Dunwoody,” by Elizabeth L. Davis and Ethel W. Spruill indicates a one-level home was first constructed on the site in the 1880s by Joberry Cheek. Cheek was married to Laura Eidson and the couple had six children: Myra, William Joberry Jr., John, Bunyan, Houston and Lizzie.

Joberry Sr. also built a house across Mount Vernon Road where Panera is today, and some of the family lived in that home in the late 1800s and into the 1900s. Lizzie Cheek Newhard lived there until her death in 1978.

History indicates that the CheekSpruill home was modified to become two stories in 1906. Myra Cheek and husband William Martin were living there with their children Hiram and Gladys. When Dunwoody Preservation Trust rehabilitated the home, it was discovered that the second story was once the bottom floor of the home. The one-story home had been raised up and the new section built underneath.

William Martin died that same year and Myra married John W. Crook in 1908. Tragedy struck when Gladys died from an accident where a mill wall collapsed on her in Roswell. Hiram drowned while trying to save a young boy who also drowned.

A view of the back of the Cheek-Spruill House with the barn in the background.

Church.

Myra and John W. Crook lived in the home until 1933. Between the years 1931 to 1933, they took in boarder Dorcas Moulders, a teacher at Dunwoody School.

The next owner was William J. Church and second wife Margaret Church, who moved into the home in 1934. Church was ready to retire and looking for a country home after a career operating different stores around Atlanta. One of his requirements was that the home be near a church. The couple decided on the old home at the crossroads of Dunwoody and became members of Dunwoody Methodist

William Church’s grandson J. Edwin Dilbeck visited the farm in 1998. Dilbeck was excited to have his grandchildren see the home and share his memories of visiting there. He recalled scuppernongs growing on an arbor in the backyard and his grandfather keeping a Ford Model T in the barn. William Church never bought a newer car.

After Margaret Church died in 1943, the house and property were sold to Carey and Florence Warnock Spruill. Both Carey and Florence grew up in Dunwoody. They married on June 10,

VALERIE BIGGERSTAFF

DUNWOODY PRESERVATION TRUST

House:

1923. Their children were Hugh, Edwin and Mary Gladys.

The property included the barn, smokehouse, and corn crib in addition to the house. The Spruill’s farmed the land around the old home. In the early 1970s, Carey Spruill was still plowing fields with his mule Shorty. Those who were living in Dunwoody at the time recall how Mr. Spruill would come out on Mt. Vernon Road when he turned Shorty around.

Dunwoody Crier writer Arden Skrabanek visited the Spruill home in 1978. Florence Spruill invited her to come in and visit for a while. Carey Spruill was busy planting two rows of tomato seedlings in the garden. Shorty, 40 years old at the time, was unhitched for the day. He said the best mules came from Missouri where alfalfa was plentiful. On a second visit, Skrabanek was offered a slice of Florence Spruill’s caramel cake.

Carey Spruill died in 1983 and Florence Spruill died in 1994 after 50 years in the home. Efforts to save the

home from demolition and from being replaced by commercial development began that year. Learn more at “How the Cheek/Spruill House was saved” on the Appen Media website.

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

DUNWOODY CRIER ARCHIVE PHOTO

A 1990s snowy day at the Cheek-Spruill House, when the home was owned by the Spruill family.

Garden:

Continued from Page 24

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Happy New Year 2023 and happy gardening!

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About the Author

The first “Garden Buzz” guest columnist is Lee Tanenbaum, a master gardener since 2011. Lee is NFMG’s Communications Co-Chair for Publicity and Marketing as well as the current Interim Chair of the NFMG Gardening Education Team. Lee is a retired speech-language pathologist and public health professional, a mother of three, and a grandmother of nine. Lee loves to garden and travel, especially with her grandchildren.