Johns Creek Herald - November 2, 2023

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Fulton County acts to remove Cheeley from CID position

By SHELBY ISRAEL shelby@appenmedia. com

AMBER PERRY/APPEN MEDIA

Volunteers with One Johns Creek, a coalition aimed at reducing youth substance abuse, as well as members of the Johns Creek Police Department and the Citizens Auxiliary Police Services gather at the DEA’s National Prescription Drug Take Back event in October at Kroger on State Bridge Road.

Community tosses medications during nationwide DEA event

By AMBER PERRY amber@appenmedia.com JOHNS CREEK, Ga. — As part of a biannual DEA-led initiative, the Johns Creek community had the opportunity to safely discard prescription medications, either expired or no longer needed, at Kroger on State Bridge Road.

Cardboard bins were placed outside for individuals to throw out pill medications. And, for the second time, there was an option to dispose of liquid medications, made possible through a partnership with the Fulton County Board of Health.

Medicines, like cough syrup, were poured into a jug with a charcoal mixture that deactivates

active ingredients.

“All the medication is in there deactivated by that mixture, where there’s no risk of environmental impact in the landfill and also, no risk of someone getting in there to try to misuse what’s in that jug,” said Kendal McMichael, youth and

See MEDICATION, Page 21

METRO ATLANTA — The Fulton County Commission is seeking to remove Bob Cheeley from the True North CHEELEY 400 board, a move officials said is supported by county code.

The resolution also says the decision comes after Cheeley attempted to undermine Fulton County’s elections.

True North 400, formerly the North Fulton Community Improvement District, is a selftaxing business district dedicated to community, transit and road improvements between Mansell and McGinnis Ferry roads. Its coverage area encompasses parts of Roswell, Milton and Alpharetta.

North 400 is managed by a board with at least seven members who each represent a Metro Atlanta business. State Sen. Brandon Beech is executive director of the CID. Under Fulton County code, the Board of Commissioners can appoint two members to the CID board if more than 50 percent of land within the CID lies in

See CHEELEY, Page 22 JOSHUA CURRAN, CFP® JOSHUA CURRAN

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PUBLIC SAFETY

Arborwoods Drive home destroyed in Oct. 23 fire

By AMBER PERRY amber@appenmedia.com

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JOHNS CREEK, Ga. — Johns Creek firefighters responded to a house fire on Arborwoods Drive at around 3:30 a.m. Oct. 23, where they found 75 percent of the structure engulfed in flames.

While there was an initial concern of entrapment, Fire Chief Chris Coons said everyone had escaped the home. He said there were no injuries to firefighters, civilians or pets. But, he said the house is

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Business owner reports threats from ex-employee JOHNS CREEK, Ga. — A Johns Creek man reported to police Oct. 19 that he had been receiving threatening text messages from an employee he had previously fired.

The man told police that he owns a home repair company and hired the suspect, an Atlanta man, to do some AC work for him on a project, but that he fired him because he was stealing equipment.

The man said the suspect began contacting him for his payment for work he had performed, according to the police report. The man told police he plans to pay the suspect $6,000 when the project is complete.

The man said the suspect then sent a photo of his vehicle parked outside of his home, indicating he knew where he lived, as well as threatened to send his “youngins” along with other vague threats.

Police reported failing in attempts to contact the suspect.

Man extorted for $100 with edited nude photo JOHNS CREEK, Ga. — A Johns Creek man reported to police Oct. 18 that he had been extorted for $100 after someone had photoshopped his face to a nude male and threatened to send it to his contacts.

At 12:30 a.m. that morning, the man told police he received a text from a number

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likely unsalvageable.

Coons said the cause of the fire is still unknown, and with a fire this size, the investigation will take some time. He listed some common causes of house fires like unattended cooking or charging phones and electric cars as well as faulty electrical wiring. He also said Johns Creek sees a great deal of lightning strikes.

“There’s a million different things,” said Coons, who noted regular cautionary alerts to the public about potential fire hazards from the Johns Creek Fire Department.

According to the incident report, it took firefighters nearly seven hours to get everything settled.

“It takes a long, long time to get everything cooled down where it’s not smoldering anymore,” Coons said. “We go ahead and actually push over some of the walls and things so that they’re not a hazard for folks that may try to get in there and take a look.”

He also said the Fire Department spends time on scene assisting the victims, like coordinating a place for them to stay.

he didn’t know. He said the suspect told him they had photos of him and his phone contacts, then sent a photo that consisted of his face overlaid onto a separate image of a nude male.

The suspect told the man that if he did not send them $100, they would send the photo to his contacts, according to the police report.

The man complied with the suspect’s request and sent the money to a phone number listed in the Philippines, the police report said. The man told police the suspect sent the image to his father, but that they both have blocked the number.

POLICE BLOTTER

Police investigate threats reported at Home Depot

JOHNS CREEK, Ga. — A Johns Creek man reported to police Oct. 16 that he and his family’s business were victims of fraud after $4,500 had been withdrawn from his father’s bank account.

The man told police that $9,000 had been transferred from the account of his family’s Atlanta furniture business to a linked bank account belonging to his father. He said that a $4,500 check had then been cashed from his father’s bank account and issued to an identified man for “Hvac Work.”

According to the police report, the cashed check was forged, and the victims did not issue the check to anyone. The man said he nor his father gave anyone authorization to move, sign or cash a check from the accounts, which have since been frozen.

JOHNS CREEK, Ga. — Police criminally trespassed a Jacksonville, North Carolina, man Oct. 18 from the Home Depot on State Bridge Road after he allegedly threatened to cut people with a blade in the store’s bathroom.

While on the scene, police spoke to the store manager who said the suspect had been in the bathroom for two hours. When the suspect exited the bathroom, police searched the suspect for weapons and asked the victim, a Duluth man, and a witness for a statement.

The victim told police the suspect said he was “lucky that he did not have a razor,” the police report said. The witness also told police he had heard the suspect say he

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.

would cut people.

While the victim declined to press charges against the suspect, the store manager asked that the man be criminally trespassed from the property.

Family business account defrauded through forgery

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NEWS

Mayors chart economic course, tout wins North Fulton County cities, business leaders forge economic design

By HAYDEN SUMLIN hayden@appenmedia.com SANDY SPRINGS, Ga. — North Fulton County is home to six cities, each with a distinct character and vision for the future.

The Greater North Fulton Chamber of Commerce hosted a summit Oct. 26 drawing on political and business leaders to help chart an economic course for the region.

About 200 business and community leaders packed the City Springs Studio Theatre on Galambos Way to hear an economic accounting from the six North Fulton County mayors on what lies ahead for their cities.

True North 400 – formerly North Fulton Community Improvement District – Executive Director Brandon Beech touted the organization’s transportation and infrastructure projects.

“I talk about three economic engines in our state, HartsfieldJackson International Airport, the port of Savannah and the World Congress Center,” said Beech, who also serves in the Georgia Senate. “I add a fourth economic engine when I speak now, and that’s the Ga. 400 corridor.”

Beech said the growth of the financial and technology industries in North Fulton is one reason the state is spending $1.6 billion dollars on two lanes of bus rapid transit for MARTA’s expansion on Ga. 400.

“We’re going to continue to invest in Ga. 400 because we know this is an economic engine,” Beech said.

HAYDEN SUMLIN/APPEN MEDIA

Sandy Springs Mayor Rusty Paul, far right, highlights the success of City Springs at the North Fulton Futures Summit Oct. 26. Paul was part of an economic development panel that included, from left, MARTA Board member Freda Hardage; Alpharetta Mayor Jim Gilvin; Roswell Mayor Kurt Wilson; Johns Creek Mayor John Bradberry; Mountain Park Mayor Jim Still; and Milton Mayor Peyton Jamison.

Samir Abdullahi, director of Select Fulton, which advocates for Fulton County economic development, said his agency seeks to partner with the six cities to bring redevelopment, investment and jobs to North Fulton.

One role for Select Fulton is to serve as a liaison between the business community and residents.

Its services include incentives, site selection and information sharing for business growth and development.

Abdullahi said he thinks people are missing the story with economic development in the region. People want to live and work here, he said, because of the quality of life in the area.

Abdullahi was part of a panel that included Joshua Barnes, vice president of real estate investments at Orkin & Associates in Milton; Bob Mullen, communications director

for the City of Johns Creek; and John Curcio, managing director of infrastructure and technology at Morgan Stanley in Alpharetta.

Curcio joined E*TRADE before it was acquired by Morgan Stanley in Oct. 2020. He said the multinational financial company quickly recognized the region’s value, with the number of employees at Morgan Stanley’s Alpharetta branch tripling since the acquisition.

Parts of the region with less commercial development, such as Johns Creek and Milton, have begun to create a modern town center.

The other two panelists discussed their work on Town Center East in the Crabapple Market District of Milton and Toro Development’s Medley, planned at the 192-acre Johns Creek Town Center.

Milton and Johns Creek have developed plans for future development at their town centers, which allows each community to carefully consider what is built.

“These are the parameters we want to work in,” Mullen said. “There wasn’t a lot of vagaries, but there were some good specifics that set up the guardrails for what that vision of the Town Center and master plan would be.”

While Johns Creek is focused on attracting more commercial tenants like Boston Scientific to their town center, Milton is focused on Ga. 9 development to match their bucolic environment.

Hearing from the mayors MARTA’s Fulton County Director

Freda Hardage moderated the regional mayor’s panel.

“I think the thing that I noticed in being able to work with them is how well they all work together,” Hardage said.

While all six cities compete to attract economic development and investment, municipal governments cooperate on projects that involve state routes and Fulton County.

North Fulton is home to older communities in Alpharetta, Roswell and Mountain Park, and newer communities in Milton, Johns Creek and Sandy Springs.

Economic development may have different characteristics in Roswell — incorporated in 1854—than in Sandy Springs — incorporated in 2005.

All six mayors acknowledged the competition between the cities but emphasized the value of cooperation.

Milton Mayor Peyton Jamison said the success of neighboring cities has stimulated the development of the Ga. 9 corridor, which the city shares with Alpharetta.

“The energy has been brought to all of us,” Alpharetta Mayor Jim Gilvin said. “I’ve never seen this type of cooperation, while there may be competition and the slinging of a few elbows.”

Sandy Springs Mayor Rusty Paul said he’s seen more cooperation in North Fulton since the incorporation of Johns Creek, Milton and Sandy Springs in the early 2000s.

Each mayor came with their individual city’s plan for the next decade.

While Johns Creek and Milton are beginning to build town centers, more developed cities like Roswell are looking for redevelopment opportunities to increase connectivity.

“Each of the cities have done a very good job of carving out their identity,” Roswell Mayor Kurt Wilson said.

The 100,000 residents of Roswell are opposed to stand-alone, multifamily housing regardless of demographics, Wilson said.

Roswell’s 20-year plan intends to increase residential property values without sacrificing community and investment from the private sector, Wilson said.

Mountain Park Mayor Jim Still said his residential-only community of about 600 is invested in its neighboring North Fulton cities because residents access their amenities and visit their economic corridors.

“I look forward to what these guys are going to say about what’s going to happen in North Fulton,” Still said.

AppenMedia.com/Johns_Creek | Johns Creek Herald | November 2, 2023 | 5

6 | November 2, 2023 | Johns Creek Herald | AppenMedia.com/Johns_Creek

NEWS

Alpharetta residents weigh in on short-term rental regulation

By LUKE GARDNER newsroom@appenmedia.com ALPHARETTA, Ga. — Alpharetta city officials hosted an open forum Oct. 18 at City Hall to discuss the possibility of regulating short-term rentals in the city.

The goal of the conversation, which drew about 30 people, was to decide whether Alpharetta should regulate the properties, and, if so, what rules should be implemented.

City Administrator Chris Lagerbloom said the city is not setting out to ban all short-term rentals and that such an option wasn’t being considered.

“We’re completely open to hearing what you all have to say tonight,” Lagerbloom said. “We didn’t come here tonight … to convince you to see it one way or the other. This truly is an interest of hearing what you all have to say as members of our community.”

Many of those in attendance were owners of short-term rental properties who came to share their experiences and express why they think the properties are beneficial to the community. Others at the

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meeting raised concerns about the effects of an increase in short-term rental properties in residential neighborhoods.

One common theme expressed by short-term rental owners was the incentive to be great neighbors by keeping tidy spaces and vetting guests. They argued that in order to maintain a five-star rating on platforms like Airbnb and Vrbo, property owners strive to be good hosts by keeping the property clean, safe and in compliance with code enforcement and local HOA regulations.

Online platforms also allow owners to choose which guests they rent to, allowing them to select well-reviewed guests. These rating systems also incentivize guests to follow the rules, so as not to get poorly rated or banned from the platform.

However, not all short-term rental properties are listed through online platforms, creating a potential for some property owners to lack certain accountability standards.

Several residents said that they moved to Alpharetta specifically for a sense of community and to

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know their neighbors. Others noted that the constant come-and-go of strangers next door can be jarring.

“I no longer have a community,” one homeowner said. “I have transients in my neighborhood… I don’t know if they’re there scoping the kid down the street. I don’t know if they’re there to case my place. I don’t know what happens when you can’t rent it for three months and some of the homeless people from down the street are squatters next door to me.”

Another frustrated community member spoke about houses in his neighborhood that had received multiple police visits after being used for partying. Still another raised concerns about cars racing down a residential street and shared how drama surrounding a short-term rental in their neighborhood resulted in a multimillion-dollar lawsuit and the dissolution of a sense of community.

“My question to you all is: have you ever rented a short-term rental?” one rental owner asked. “Have you ever been on vacation? Do you consider yourself a transient? Do you consider yourself a menace? … I don’t think these people are transients. I think they’re just like you and I. They just want a better option than a hotel. [They want] somewhere that is spacious, potentially room for the dog, and somewhere they can have family game night with their children.”

The property owners said the most common short-term renters in Alpharetta are those who are staying for extended periods of time for work or to visit family and want more comfortable lodging than a hotel.

Other common guests include those with pets, people transferring into the community and those who live in the community and have a sudden need for a place to stay.

“Most of the people that use my Airbnb are locals,” one renter said.

“When we had that really cold storm last winter, a lot of people had pipes that burst. We had [guests] whose home in Alpharetta had gotten flooded and they needed a place where their kids and their pets could all come. A hotel couldn’t really accommodate.”

Other owners noted that owning short-term rentals allows them to check on the property more frequently than if it was rented out long-term. They say it also creates revenue for local shops and jobs for local cleaners and gardeners.

Some owners mentioned

technology, like door cameras and audio monitoring software, that automatically notifies them of rowdy behavior. Almost all owners also said they met their neighbors and gave them a direct line of contact in case renters caused a disturbance.

Other rental owners told more personal stories of finding purpose in welcoming guests into their homes after becoming empty nesters, or of becoming close friends and even family with people they rented to.

One person shared a story of renting to an immigrant family and becoming a grandmother figure to the family’s young children.

But some homeowners said that while they understood most rental owners have good intentions and contribute positively to the community, they sought regulations to help govern “bad actors” and corporations without ties to the community.

“LLCs and private equity will come in and [buy homes to rent,]” one person said. “It’s a cash business, and they don’t care about who is living next to it. It’s going to be another item in their book.”

Some people argued that short-term rentals are for -profit businesses, and they should not be allowed in areas that are zoned residential.

“The fact of the matter is, you have opened a business,” one speaker said. “You make money — that’s why you do it, but you’ve opened a business next to our homes.”

Some said that those operating short-term rentals should obtain a business license.

The role of local HOAs was also debated. Some felt that HOAs should regulate short-term rentals, but some HOA members said they don’t have the resources to properly enforce more regulations or to handle ligation expenses.

Still, some people living in communities without an HOA felt their neighborhoods lacked regulation to deal with short-term rentals, and they could be fair game for the practice.

Throughout the forum, Lagerbloom noted the complexity of the issue, saying that he understood all sides and was excited to see people engaging in passionate, respectful conversation.

He suggested that more conversation on the issue take place in the future.

“We’re a ways off from getting to where we need to be to make a recommendation,” Lagerbloom said.

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We’re intentional about what our goals and values are… community, coaching and programming.”

Mike Vialpando, owner and head coach, Forge Roswell 8 | Johns Creek Herald | November 2, 2023

Pandemic-forged Roswell gym strives to shape community

By HAYDEN SUMLIN hayden@appenmedia.com ROSWELL, Ga. — When you think of a CrossFit gym, a group of people with different skills, circumstances and strengths may not be what comes to mind.

Mike Vialpando said it’s a dream to be in his third year as owner and head coach of Forge Roswell at The Mill in Historic Roswell, 23 Maple Street.

“What separates us, I believe, from other gyms is not that we’re ‘better,’” Vialpando said. “We’re intentional about what our goals and values are… community, coaching and programming.”

While some members joined the gym for general conditioning and a sense of community, Forge Roswell’s unique style has allowed it to retain and expand membership.

The workout programs at Forge Roswell are geared toward the individual’s desired level of functionality. Most gyms affiliated with CrossFit differ in some ways.

While some are geared toward CrossFit competitions and highintensity workouts, others, like Forge Roswell, modify the fitness regimen to suit individuals.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, many gyms across the country closed permanently.

When Vialpando acquired CrossFit NBK in Oct. 2021, membership had declined amid lockdowns.

The 6,000-square-foot gym needed a community based revival, Vialpando said.

“We’ve been growing ever since,” Vialpando said.

There was a group of five coaches from the prior gym when Vialpando acquired it in 2021.

Today, there are 10 coaches at Forge Roswell.

The start of Vialpando’s coaching journey began when he left a 10-year healthcare career at St. Joseph’s Hospital of Atlanta. He said starting a youth fitness program was spurred by his desire to address healthcare before patients reached the hospital.

Because of his experience in a hospital, Vialpando said he thinks the cost of a gym membership is much less than the cost of healthcare later in life.

“I created youth programs to get ahead of it,” Vialpando said.

Prior to acquiring the gym, Vialpando was head coach and manager for several years at another gym in Metro Atlanta.

“In the Roswell area, we are saturated with other CrossFit gyms specifically [and] just fitness organizations for adults, so there’s a lot to choose from,” Vialpando said.

Following a 2020 controversy in the CrossFit organization, in which founder Greg Glassman resigned amid charges of racism in his social media posts, Vialpando and his coaching staff have taken measures to promote an inclusive culture at Forge Roswell.

See GYM, Page 9

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FORGE ROSWELL/PROVIDED

Roswell Forge staff and gym members gather in the middle of the 6,000-square-foot facility at 23 Maple Street, Roswell. Owner Mike Vialpando sits at center, wearing a cap and light blue shirt.

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Gym: Continued from Page 8 “CrossFit comes with some stigmas,” Vialpando said. “But if somebody steps into our gym, they will see themselves reflected in the leadership.”

Forge Roswell has community events, like Trivia Night at Summit Coffee on Atlanta Street Oct. 19.

The community at the gym participates in competitions and gatherings around North Fulton, Vialpando said.

“Ruck the Mill” is a 1-hour hike, two Sundays a month at 8 a.m. Forge Roswell invites anyone interested to enjoy the Vickery Creek Trail at Roswell Mill.

The Forge Roswell coaches have crafted unique classes with modifications for individuals based on their fitness condition and lifestyle.

The gym has programs for CrossFit athletes, as well as a low-impact functional training program for people with less experience.

There are six CrossFit classes Monday through Friday, with two classes on Saturday and Sunday.

Each class throughout the day is 60-minutes and designed for people with CrossFit experience.

The competitive lifting class is 6:30

BUSINESSPOSTS p.m. Thursday and 8 a.m. Saturday.

The low-impact functional training classes are twice a day Monday through Friday.

Vialpando’s own LIFT classes are designed to sustain everyday activities by focusing on strength training and aerobic conditioning.

Vialpando said he thinks Forge Roswell’s modified CrossFit workouts create a community designed for any committed individual regardless of experience.

“Our goal is to help support the activities that you’re already doing,” Vialpando said.

Vialpando encourages men and women of all ages to consider a 60-minute class at Forge Roswell.

The gym also has a summer teen program, which meets three days a week starting June 5.

“We taught kids how to safely and properly lift and move weights,” Vialpando said. “The whole goal is to create an active lifestyle.”

Kids who play year-round sports and kids with other interests are encouraged to attend youth classes at Forge Roswell.

Vialpando said he hopes to start week-long youth programs when school is out for the holidays.

To learn more about classes at Forge Roswell, visit https://www. theforgeroswell.com/

AppenMedia.com/Johns_Creek | Johns Creek Herald | November 2, 2023 | 9

FORGE ROSWELL/PROVIDED

Gym members hang from pull-up bars during gymnastics class at Forge Roswell.

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NEWS

Innovators strive to make government more accessible

By AMBER PERRY amber@appenmedia.com ROSWELL, Ga. — When James Dillard created Recap Roswell, a website that breaks Roswell City Council meetings into digestible chunks, he drew from his time living in Switzerland as inspiration.

“Switzerland is a very high trust society with a very high degree of civic participation,” he said. “When you’re living abroad, you see your home differently, and that caused me to place a greater value on participating, in making the system work.”

Dillard also said Robert Putnam’s nonfiction book “Bowling Alone” was an influence. Putnam writes about the decline of social capital, how society is becoming less participatory, even in smaller institutions like social clubs.

Dillard is not alone. Other innovators are developing tools to help keep citizens engaged in government.

“I feel like Roswell, Georgia, the United States would be healthier if we have more of those institutions, or micro institutions, where people are connecting and going through the process of deciding what they think

they should do together and then, trying to make that happen in the real world,” Dillard said.

In May, Dillard built Recap Roswell from scratch using ChatGPT, an AIpowered language model developed by the nonprofit organization OpenAI. For each post, he creates a transcript from the video recording of the latest council meeting. Then, he runs the transcript through the OpenAI API, based on a chain of different requests which synthesizes it down to a quick summary.

“You now are taking hundreds of hours of time and condensing it to something that someone, like yourself, can get through in 15 or 20 minutes,” Dillard said.

But, using AI is not without its pitfalls. He has to check the summary for “hallucinations,” or errors presented as fact.

“I don’t want to minimize the chance that I invent a decision by the City Council,” Dillard said.

He said Recap Roswell also spawned from wanting to understand where the political fault lines are in Roswell government.

“All of the candidates sort of say the same things,” Dillard said,

ALPHARETTA ALPHARETTA

referring to his latest post on candidates in Roswell’s upcoming municipal election. “It’s very difficult to parse what the choice actually is between them, right?”

Roswell’s local election is one of the most contested in north Metro Atlanta, where at least two candidates are vying for each seat. In other cities, some candidates – many of them incumbents – will automatically get a council seat because they have no opponents.

Because there were no contested races in Alpharetta this year, the city canceled its municipal election. It did the same in 2015 for the same reason.

In the past couple of decades, other area cities have canceled their municipal elections, including Roswell in 2003, Johns Creek in 2009, Milton in 2013 and Cumming across three years. There have been cancellations in Sandy Springs, too.

Incumbents who get their reelection bid without challenge might mean there’s less accountability, said Saba Long, executive director of Atlanta Civic Circle (ACC).

With the slogan “Complexity shuts you out, ACC opens the door for you,” the nonprofit is a civic engagement

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“When an elected official is not adhering to the public trust, when they are not making decisions that are in the best interest of their constituents and the public at large, then they should be contested,” Long said.

She said the number of candidates running for office runs parallel to the level of civic engagement.

“When more people are engaged in their local government, the more likely it is that people will vote; the more likely it is that people will run for office; and the more likely it is that they have a stake in what’s happening,” Long said.

To increase public engagement, and thus accountability, she said local government meetings need to be “de-mystified.” She said a solution could be that municipalities add a webpage explaining how citizens can sign up for public comment or interact with elected officials.

“Public meetings can be intimidating for those who aren’t Presented Presented by Presented by familiar with it and don’t know by about it,” Long said.

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AppenMedia.com/Johns_Creek | Johns Creek Herald | November 2, 2023 | 11

Book events for November include honoring veterans

By KATHY DES JARDINS CIOFFI newsroom@appenmedia.com During this month of giving thanks, another holiday has captured the collective interest of grateful authors and readers alike.

It’s Veterans Day. And, as several nearby November book events illustrate, there is no shortage of titles celebrating stories by, or about, individuals who have served their country.

From the Civil War to the Vietnam War, upcoming author talks touch on a range of conflicts, sometimes in very personal detail. Details about those and other upcoming book activities are below.:

Thursday, Nov. 2, Ginger Pinholster and Mickey Dubrow. The awardwinning authors will chat about Pinholster’s second novel, “Snakes of St. Augustine.” 6:30 p.m. Free. Read It Again Bookstore, 3630 Peachtree Parkway, Suite 314, Suwanee. 770-2329331. read-it-again.com Saturday, Nov. 4, Katrina Moore. The author and elementary school teacher will read and sign a selection of her picture books, including the newest, "Sometimes Love.” 11 a.m. Free. Read It Again Bookstore, 3630 Peachtree Parkway, Suite 314, Suwanee. 770-2329331. read-it-again.com Saturday, Nov. 4, Angela Williams.

Williams will personalize copies of her recent release, “Loving Me: After Abuse,” a comforting, candid conversation about working through childhood trauma. Noon. Free. Read It Again Bookstore, 3630 Peachtree Parkway, Suite 314, Suwanee. 770-2329331. read-it-again.com Tuesday, Nov. 7, “Operation Tailwind: Memoirs of a Secret Battle in a Secret War.” Celebrating Veterans Day, local author and retired Marine Barry Pencek will recall serving as a helicopter pilot during the Vietnam War. 6:30 p.m. Free.

Sharon Forks Library, 2820 Old Atlanta Road, Cumming. 770-781-9840. forsythpl.org/event/8834281 Thursday, Nov. 9, A Salute To Our Veterans. Presented by A Novel Idea, Rona Simmons, Jan Slimming, Rita Roberts and Ed Gruber will talk about their war-themed titles and insights, from the Civil War to the Korean War. Copies will be available to purchase at Bookmiser’s table. 7 p.m. Free.

Brimstone Restaurant and Tavern, 10595 Old Alabama Road, Alpharetta.

770-509-5611. anovelidea.us Saturday, Nov. 11, Bob Dickinson.

Book discussion series by the author of “Me, Jesus, a Beer and a Cigar.”

10 a.m. Free. Sulit Coffee and Wine

Several local writers with war-themed titles will be discussing their books during author events in November.

Bar, 4150 Old Milton Parkway, Suite 120, Alpharetta. 470-395-5163. jeremiahjames.org Saturday, Nov. 11, Clint Hall. The storyteller, speaker and podcast host will sign his debut sci-fi tale, “Steal Fire from the Gods.” Noon. Free. Read It Again Bookstore, 3630 Peachtree Parkway, Suite 314, Suwanee. 770-2329331. read-it-again.com Saturday, Nov. 11, Atlanta Authors Series. Rona Simmons returns to honor local veterans by recounting her books, “The Other Veterans of World War II” and “A Gathering of Men,” copies of which Bookmiser will have available for purchase. Free. 2 p.m. Roswell Cultural Arts Center, 950 Forrest St., Roswell.

770-509-5611. forl.net/atlanta-authors Sunday, Nov. 12, Paige Watts. The seasoned travel writer will detail “What’s With Atlanta?” her guide to some of the most unique aspects of Georgia’s capital city. Free. 4 p.m.

Bookmiser, 3822 Roswell Road, Marietta. 770-509-5611. bookmiser.net Friday, Nov. 17-Sunday, Nov. 26, Atlanta Indie Bookshop Crawl. Join Read It Again and over 20 other bookshops for a celebration of indie bookstores. For more information, go to atlantaindiebookshopcrawl. com or Read It Again Bookstore, 3630 Peachtree Parkway, Suite 314, Suwanee. 770-232-9331. read-it-again. com Sunday, Nov. 19, Chris Negron. Negron, a Georgia Author of the Year finalist, will sign copies of his new middlegrade release, “Underdog City.” Free.

1 p.m. Posman Books, 4105 Avalon Blvd., Alpharetta, 470-509-5727. posmanbooks.com Saturday, Nov. 25, Amy S. Hobbs.

The author of “The Bucket List Journey Home: A Story of Hope and

Healing” will have a meet-and-greet signing. Noon. Free. Poe & Company Bookstore, 1890 Heritage Walk, Suite P101, Milton. 770-797-5566.

Poeandcompanybookstore.com Thursday, Nov. 30, Karen White.

Do some holiday shopping during a sip and sign with the New York Times bestselling author. White will

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Cork & Glass, 5670 Atlanta Hwy, Unit A2, Alpharetta. 770-797-5566.

Poeandcompanybookstore.com To submit an author event for the upcoming month, email Kathy Des Jardins Cioffi at kathydesjardins3@ gmail.com by the 15th.

›

12 | November 2, 2023 | Johns Creek Herald | AppenMedia.com/Johns_Creek

Calendar

NOV. 2 — NOV. 12

SKYLER SAUFLEY

What: Skyler Saufley, a blues player, will perform at this free concert. No coolers, outside food, outside alcoholic beverages, cans, glass bottles or smoking allowed. Friendly dogs onleash are welcome. Bring your own lawn chairs or blankets.

When: Friday, Nov. 3, 7-9 p.m.

Where: Lou Sobh Amphitheater at Cumming City Center, 423 Candon Road More info: cummingcitycenter.com

PUPPET PALOOZA SATURDAYS

What: In collaboration with Piccadilly Puppets, Stage Door Theatre will host a puppet show as part of a series.

When: Saturday, Nov. 4, 10:30 a.m.

Where: Stage Door Theatre, 5339 Chamblee Dunwoody Road, Dunwoody Cost: $10 More info: stagedoortheatrega.org

‘HAMLET’

What: Presented by Act1 Community Theater, “Hamlet” is Shakespeare’s most popular play. It follows the form of a “revenge tragedy,” in which the hero, Hamlet, seeks vengeance against his father’s murderer, his uncle Claudius, now the king of Denmark.

Much of its fascination, however, lies in its uncertainties.

When: Friday & Saturday, Nov. 3-4, times vary Where: Brooke Street Park, 2 Park Plaza, Alpharetta More info: act1theater.org

DIWALI FESTIVAL

What: To celebrate the symbolic meaning of Diwali, a “victory of light over darkness, good over evil and knowledge over ignorance,” this familyfriendly festival will feature a DJ, performances as well as a variety of food and retail vendors.

When: Saturday, Nov. 4, 4-8 p.m.

Where: Atlanta Athletic Club, 1930 Bobby Jones Drive, Johns Creek More info: johnscreekga.gov

THE ELEGANT ELF HOLIDAY MARKETPLACE

What: This two-day gift market features more than 80 carefully selected vendors who offer hand-

‘HAMLET’

What: Presented by Act1 Community Theater, “Hamlet” is Shakespeare’s most popular play. It follows the form of a “revenge tragedy,” in which the hero, Hamlet, seeks vengeance against his father’s murderer, his uncle Claudius, now the king of Denmark. Much of its fascination, however, lies in its uncertainties.

When: Friday & Saturday, Nov. 3-4, times vary Where: Brooke Street Park, 2 Park Plaza, Alpharetta More info: act1theater.org

crafted items, artistic creations and the latest gourmet delights.

When: Saturday & Sunday, Nov. 4-5, times vary Where: Sandy Springs Performing Arts & Conference Center, 1 Galambos Way, Sandy Springs More info: sandyspringssociety.org/ the-elegant-elf

WALTER ISAACSON, ‘ELON MUSK’ AUTHOR TALK

What: The 32nd Edition of the Book Festival of the MJCCA presents Walter Isaacson, who authored “Elon Musk,” in conversation with Gail Evans, former executive vice president of CNN and bestselling author.

When: Saturday, Nov. 4, 8 p.m.

Where: Marcus Jewish Community Center of Atlanta, 5342 Tilly Mill Road, Dunwoody Cost: $38 More info: showclix.com/event/ walter-isaacson-elon-musk

‘ONE PINT AT A TIME’

What: As part of the Southern Circuit

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.

Tour of Independent Filmmakers, a free screening of “One Pint at a Time” will be featured. The film, directed and produced by Aaron Hose and co-produced by Brigitte Hose, is about Black brewers, brand owners and influencers reshaping the craft beer industry.

When: Monday, Nov. 6, 6-9 p.m.

Where: Roswell Cultural Arts Center, 950 Forrest Street, Roswell More info: roswell365.com

stage show that’s dance, music and theatrical performance blended in one rhythm when matchboxes, brooms, trash cans fill the stage with energizing beats.

When: Friday & Saturday, Nov. 10-11, times vary Where: Byers Theatre, 1 Galambos Way, Sandy Springs Cost: $46.35 to $94.80 More info: citysprings.com

HONORING OUR VETERANS

What: The Chattahoochee Evening Stars Quilt Guild is exhibiting a collection of seasonally inspired quilts capturing the warmth of the fall season.

When: Until Nov. 14, business hours Where: Community Gallery at Alpharetta City Hall, 2 Park Plaza, Alpharetta More info: alpharetta.ga.us

What: Celebrate, honor and thank those who have served in the United States’ military services.

When: Saturday, Nov. 11, 9-11 a.m.

Where: Johns Creek Veterans Memorial Walk, 3150 Old Alabama Road, Johns Creek More info: johnscreekga.gov

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AppenMedia.com/Johns_Creek | Johns Creek Herald | November 2, 2023 | 13

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Providing an exceptional college preparatory program since 1976 Brought to you by - Saint Francis School Saint Francis School is an independent, not-for-profit school with no religious affiliation, providing an exceptional college preparatory program serving the students of metro Atlanta since 1976. The mission of Saint Francis School is to provide a college preparatory program to students with diverse academic ability in a structured environment that is challenging and supportive.

Kindergarten – 8th grades are located on the 24-acre Roswell Campus while the High School is located on the 47-acre Milton campus. The

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14 | Johns Creek Herald | November 2, 2023

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Many people add their spouses or children on the property with right of survivorship language, which allows the spouse and children to automatically inherit when the original owner passes away. However, by jointly titling your property, you forgo important tax planning opportunities during your life, potentially resulting in a higher tax bill after you pass. In addition, if you make a child a joint owner with the right of survivorship, this can be considered a taxable gift to your child, who may end up having to file a gift tax return.

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Misconception 2: The property is under a mortgage, so I can’t put it in a trust.

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The trust is ultimately one of the best ways to protect your real estate.

However, every family situation is different, and that’s why you should make sure you’re fully informed on all possible solutions. We recommend getting second opinions and reaching out to local estate planning attorneys to ensure you know all the correct laws and methods to protect your property. Finally, it’s never too early to secure your real estate, so make sure that you set up an estate plan as soon as you feel ready.

REAL ESTATE REPORT • Sponsored Section

AppenMedia.com/Johns_Creek | Johns Creek Herald | November 2, 2023 | 15

Three energy-efficient smart home upgrades for fall N A E V A H T N E M E C N U O N AN S H A R E ?

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Brought to you by – Atlanta Fine Homes Sotheby’s International Realty It’s no secret that keeping your Bill Rawlings home warm and Sherri Conrad and well-lit during the fall season means higher energy costs.

According to SaveOnEnergy.com®, utility bills rose significantly between 2021 and 2022 (about 16 percent for U.S. homeowners), a trend that makes the transition to winter the perfect time to initiate a home energy audit. Here are three ways to prime your home to fend off inefficiencies ahead of the colder months 1. Install a smart thermostat for precise temperature control.

Smart thermostats work their magic through features like personalized scheduling, geofencing technology and adaptive learning, ensuring efficient heating and cooling. They seamlessly integrate with some of the most popular smart-home voice assistants, such as Google Home, Amazon Alexa, Apple HomeKit, Microsoft Cortana, Samsung SmartThings, Logitech Harmony or Wink. Remember to verify compatibility with your existing smart home system before purchasing, and keep in mind that installation often involves extra power requirements and the establishment of wireless communication with other smart devices in your home.

Unless you have a strong background in electrical work, we recommend leaving the installation to a professional rather than attempting it as a DIY project.

2. Add smart lighting and automation to reduce energy consumption.

Intelligent lighting solutions are key to enhancing efficiency and convenience. One of the easiest and most effective ways to save money is to switch out incandescent light bulbs for smart bulbs, which consume less energy and boast a longer lifespan. If you prefer a more integrated solution, smart in-wall light switches are a fantastic option.

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While the upfront cost of energyefficient appliances is substantial, this investment can translate to significant long-term savings on your electricity bills. Moreover, many governments provide rebates and incentives that can help alleviate the initial financial burden. The top three energy hogs (read, the ones you probably want to replace) tend to be refrigerators, dishwashers and clothes washers. Look for the energy efficiency ratings provided on the appliances themselves or consult online resources that offer comprehensive energy efficiency data.

Selecting the right energy-efficient solutions can result in significant savings and a more comfortable, eco-conscious lifestyle. If you need assistance renovating your home or have any other real estate needs, please contact Atlanta Fine Homes Sotheby’s International Realty at 770.442.7300. We would be happy to assist you!

Compiled and edited by Angela Valente, Marketing Copywriter/ Copyeditor

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16 | November 2, 2023 | Johns Creek Herald | AppenMedia.com/Johns_Creek

150 SHERWOOD LANE

CANTON, GA 30115 | $1,800,000 Todd Kroupa | 770.910.4860

615 REGENCY FOREST COURT

REAL ESTATE REPORT • Sponsored Section

2905 MANOR BRIDGE DRIVE MILTON, GA 30004 | $2,999,000 Susan Feddersen | 773.710.4709

9000 EMERSON PLACE

ATLANTA, GA 30342 | $1,525,000 Anne Cintron | 404.483.7623

MILTON, GA 30004 | $1,589,000 Karen Neibert | 770.653.6601

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CLAYTON, GA 30525 | $1,313,800 Dan Woodley | 404.456.8313

MARY WARGULA

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770.475.0505 | Mary.Wargula@BHHSGeorgia.com 33 South Main Street | Suite 201 Alpharetta, GA 30009

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ALPHARETTA, GA 30004 | $1,400,000 Allison Katula | 262.442.0474

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ALPHARETTA, GA 30009 | $1,375,000 The Butler Swayne Team | 770.241.9165

“Berkshire Hathaway is who we are!

HomeServices is what we provide!

Georgia Properties is where we do it!”

©2023 BHH Affiliates, LLC. An independently operated subsidiary of HomeServices of America, Inc., a Berkshire Hathaway affiliate, and a franchisee of BHH Affiliates, LLC. Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices and the Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices symbol are registered service marks of Columbia Insurance Company, a Berkshire Hathaway affiliate. Information deemed reliable but not guaranteed. Equal Housing Opportunity.

REAL ESTATE REPORT • Sponsored Section

AppenMedia.com/Johns_Creek | Johns Creek Herald | November 2, 2023 | 17

Canton/Milton | Resort Living

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18 | November 2, 2023 | Johns Creek Herald | AppenMedia.com/Johns_Creek

REAL ESTATE REPORT • Sponsored Section

PROVIDED

Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Georgia Properties’ New Homes Division Shines again at 43rd OBIE Awards Brought to you by- Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Georgia Properties’ New Homes Division The Greater Atlanta Home Builders Association hosted the 43rd annual Professionalism (OBIE) Awards Saturday, October 21st at the Georgia Aquarium in downtown Atlanta.

Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Georgia Properties’ New Homes Division, led by President Lori Lane, and their builder clients took home an astounding 30 gold and silver awards.

With over 100 different categories, the OBIE awards celebrate outstanding achievements in homebuilding and highlight those in the homebuilding industry for excellence in building, marketing, and personal achievement.

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Homes Division was honored to receive the gold award for Best Website, Best Online Banner ad, Best Email Marketing Message, Best Newspaper Ad, and Best Print New Homes Publication to name a few. In addition to winning numerous marketing accolades, Berkshire Hathaway’s builder clients Trilith Development, Patrick Malloy Communities, JW Collection, McKinney Builders, Loudermilk Homes, Vision Development Partners, and David Patterson Homes all received top honors.

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Lori Lane, the President of the New Homes Division at BHHS Georgia Properties and Senior Vice President of Luxury and Global, attributes this success to the team’s unwavering commitment. She emphasizes, “Success is about hard work and determination, and you have to pour yourself into it every day.” Lane expresses her deep

gratitude for the opportunity to work with builder and developer clients she respects and enjoys.

Lane and her New Homes Division are redefining the landscape of new home and luxury real estate sales and marketing in Atlanta. Their continuous contributions are leaving a lasting impact on the city’s real estate industry.

The success of the New Homes Division reflects the resilience and commitment of Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Georgia Properties as a whole. Despite the challenges posed by the real estate market, this division’s unwavering dedication to excellence in sales, marketing, and client relationships has propelled it to the top ranks of the Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices regional and global network.

AppenMedia.com/Johns_Creek | Johns Creek Herald | November 2, 2023 | 19

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21 Gangster’s gun 50 48 49 23 Enduring 51 52 25 Make a sweater 26 Palooka 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 27 Overseas 62 63 64 65 61 30 Life, for one 35 Thinking cap?

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11 Merit 68 Small pastries 44 Sofas 43 No-win 69 Baby blues 12 Not in port 47 Coat part situations?

70 Proof word 13 Pigeon pea 49 Actress Farrow 45 Tax 22 Assist 71 Take up space 50 Adage 46 Kenyan 24 Consume 52 Singing voice tribesman 25 Colorful carp 53 Make do 48 Corps de ballet Down 27 Die down 54 Comply with 50 Unruffled 28 UCLA player 1 Heroic tale 55 Musical mark 51 Spanish aunt 2 Dutch export 29 Croupiers’ tools 56 See the sights 52 Unguent 3 Austen heroine 30 Word hard 58 Delhi dress 53 Send an email 4 Slow-witted 31 Effortless 59 Liberal pursuits 57 Astonish 32 Hemp necktie 5 Not moving 60 Cousin of “ahem” 58 Plant production 33 Fresh from the 6 Sir Walter, for 63 Dowel 61 Slender reed one shower 65 Woodwind 62 “My bad” 7 Stir-fry pan 34 Bone-chilling instrument 64 Autocrats of old

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20 | November 2, 2023 | Johns Creek Herald | AppenMedia.com/Johns_Creek

SPORTS

Dunwoody girls flag football team eyes playoffs

By HAYDEN SUMLIN hayden@appenmedia.com DUNWOODY, Ga. — Dunwoody High School’s girls flag football team has high expectations in its fourth season.

Head coach Montez Swinney remembers appearing weekly in the Crier as a student-athlete on the Dunwoody High School football team.

He thinks it’s time the 7-2 Lady Wildcats get their due.

“I think the girls deserve just as much opportunity as the boys,” Swinney said. “To be honest, I think they’re tougher than boys when it comes to certain things.”

Swinney said the Atlanta Falcons are a driving force behind girls flag football in Georgia.

In partnership with the Georgia High School Association, the sport became officially sanctioned in 2020.

Georgia was the fourth state to sanction the sport at the high school level.

Girls flag football was prioritized by the Falcons to provide more girls the opportunity to play high school sports.

The Falcons provided Dunwoody High School a grant to start the program in 2020.

Now, there are more than 250 teams competing across the state, sparking national attention to the success of the Falcons funding efforts in Georgia.

Swinney said NFL franchises in other cities, like the Buffalo Bills, are looking to replicate the Falcons’ model through pilot programs and sanctioned high school sports.

The Lady Wildcats have made a name for themselves.

With just 22 girls on the team in the inaugural 2020-21 season, the team

KEN LANGLEY PHOTOGRAPHY/PROVIDED

Dunwoody High School’s girls flag football program comes together for a team photo before the fall 2023 season. made the state playoffs.

“It was one of those years that everybody was trying to figure it out,” Swinney said.

The Lady Wildcats have made the playoffs each season.

“Basically, it ended up taking off,” Swinney said. “Now, we have over 100 girls coming out, and we’ve started a junior varsity team as well.”

Before practice began for the 2023 season, Swinney and his staff cut about 60 girls at tryouts.

Swinney said the problem is a good one to have.

The team sports a 7-2 record after bouncing back from a 7-8 loss to

Dacula Oct. 23.

Typically, high school girls flag football teams will play two games a night.

The team didn’t let their loss weigh on them for long, beating Chamblee 22-0 in their second game of the night at North DeKalb Stadium.

The team will play 18 games in the 2023-24 season. The Lady Wildcats will play two more non-region games, before they play rivals in their division’s area.

The top four teams from Dunwoody’s area in Division 3 will advance to the playoffs, which begin Dec. 5.

The Flag Football State Championships for each division will be played at Mercedes-Benz Stadium Dec. 11-13.

Swinney said the team’s defense is the key to everything they do on the field.

The play calling from defensive coordinator Jake Hill has been essential to the team’s success, Swinney said.

“He’s calling in plays from the sidelines, getting them in different coverages and making adjustments,” Swiney said.

On the offensive side of the ball, Swinney singled out three key players: center Laura Pollock, wide receiver Anna Kate McGee and quarterback Sadie Shulman.

“We try to spread people around and ding and dunk the ball down the field,” Swinney said. “If we see some teams easing up, catching them in cover two, we try to hit them over the top with a big play.”

It is great to see that we have gained support from our local community. Even after I graduate and cannot be a part of the team, I am excited to see the future for this great program!”

ANNA KATE MCGEE Dunwoody’s All-Region wide receiver Anna Kate McGee, All-Region wide receiver the past two seasons, is a senior at Dunwoody High School.

“It is great to see that we have gained support from our local community,” McGee said. “Even after I graduate and cannot be a part of the team, I am excited to see the future for this great program!”

McGee said she is excited to start area play against Northview and Johns Creek Nov. 1.

The team has two non-area games against Forsyth Central and Cherokee Oct. 30.

The popularity of girls flag football isn’t slowing down, McGee said.

The sport will debut at the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles.

Medication: Continued from Page 1 volunteer coordinator for the One Johns Creek Coalition.

Since its incorporation in 2020, One Johns Creek has participated in the DEA’s National Prescription Drug Take Back Day held every April and October. The coalition, centered around reducing youth substance abuse, pulls together representatives from all sectors of Johns Creek to accomplish seven strategies of community change, including things like modifying policies and laws and minimizing barriers.

McMichael said 90 percent of medications that are misused by students, or anyone under 18, come from the home medicine cabinet.

“That’s why we’re such strong advocates for getting those medications out of the home medicine cabinet if they’re expired or no longer needed, and then also a locking and/ or monitoring system in the home for medications that are needed, so that we’re really protecting our families and our students as much as possible,” McMichael said.

The group came equipped with a number of informational brochures; File of Life cards and magnets used by paramedics during at-home medical emergencies; and Naloxone spray, an opioid overdose treatment.

Deterra bags were also up for grabs, which allows individuals to dispose of prescription drugs. The bag works by placing unused pills, patches or liquids inside, filling the pouch halfway with water, then sealing and shaking the bag to dispose of it in normal trash.

In addition to student volunteers

NEWS with One Johns Creek, the Johns Creek Police Department and members of the Citizens Auxiliary Police Services, or CAPS, were there to lend a hand.

The day had been a slow one for volunteers. McMichael said there has been a decline in collections in recent years, from 300 pounds in October 2020 to about 160 pounds in April.

But, she said that was likely because there has been less stockpiling of unused medications due to a new drug drop-off location at Johns Creek City Hall.

Passed in 2021, the agreement between One Johns Creek, which sits under the nonprofit Pathways2Life, and the City of Johns Creek has allowed for easier collaboration for citywide initiatives.

October marks the first time One Johns Creek and the city have partnered up for a community survey that addresses alcohol and prescription/over -the-counter medications. A second survey on nicotine and marijuana will be sent out in November.

McMichael said the surveys will allow the coalition to collect the trend data needed to receive grant funding.

After the COVID-19 pandemic hit, students were no longer mandated to take the Georgia Student Health Survey which caused a data deficit for One Johns Creek.

But, starting next semester, McMichael said the survey will be mandatory again and that the group has been in conversation with Fulton County to make the community aware.

“We really want to know what’s going on with our students and in our communities in order to figure out what the best initiatives are,” McMichael said.

AppenMedia.com/Johns_Creek | Johns Creek Herald | November 2, 2023 | 21

AMBER PERRY/APPEN MEDIA

Cardboard bins placed outside of Kroger on State Bridge Road allowed individuals to throw out pill medications during the DEA’s National Prescription Drug Take Back event in October.

22 | November 2, 2023 | Johns Creek Herald | AppenMedia.com/Johns_Creek

Cheeley:

NEWS

Cheeley was charged with allegedly violating Georgia’s antiracketeering law; conspiracy to commit impersonating a public officer; two counts of conspiracy to commit forgery in the first degree; two counts of conspiracy to commit false statements and writings; conspiracy to commit filing false documents; solicitation of a public official to violate their oath; false statements and writings; and perjury.

The County Commission appointed Nash to the CID board in 2017. Nash, who represents Parallax Advisory Group, also serves as True North 400 treasurer.

Cheeley was appointed in 2020 and represents his Alpharetta law firm on the CID board.

The Board of Commissioners will vote on the resolution at its formal meeting Nov. 1.

Continued from Page 1 unincorporated portions of the county.

Because the percentage of unincorporated land has fallen below 50, the resolution states one of its two appointees, Bob Cheeley and Al Nash, are no longer needed. “… the Board of Commissioners finds that it is in the best interest of the CID Board, Fulton County, and the general public that Mr. Al Nash continue to serve as its appointee,” the resolution reads.

Cheeley was one of 19 defendants, including former President Donald Trump, who were indicted by a Fulton County grand jury in August for alleged attempts to overturn 2020 election results.

North Fulton charity seeks winter staples ROSWELL, Ga. — North Fulton Community Charities is seeking winter coats and Thanksgiving food for area families in need ahead of the holidays.

The nonprofit will accept new or gently used coats and winter accessories in sizes from infant to adult; $25 grocery gift cards; and Thanksgiving food.

Donations can be dropped off from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Nov. 6-8 at St. David’s Episcopal Church at 1015 Old Roswell Road.

Staff said last year’s program provided some 1,100 coats, 2,700 accessories and meals for 390 families.

The nonprofit reported the number of families who requested food and coats increased 29 percent in 2023.

“Many families in our community

are barely getting by and extra seasonal purchases can put a strain on already tight budgets,” North Fulton Community Charities Director of Development Sherri Morgan said.

“This year, we’ve had a lot more families signed up to receive this seasonal assistance, so support from the community is vital.”

Morgan said the coat program will help recipients stay warm as temperatures lower, and the food program will enable families to celebrate Thanksgiving and ensure children are fed during school break. A list of needed items and further information can be found at nfcchelp.org/seasonalprograms.

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OPINION

AppenMedia.com/Johns_Creek | Johns Creek Herald | November 2, 2023 | 23

PRESERVING THE PAST

Ancient fossils are calling across Georgia Long before the ancient pyramids and before man first walked the lands of the Southeast, woolly mammoths, eastern bison and even a few dinosaurs roamed the land where Alpharetta, BOB MEYERS Milton, Roswell and Columnist other Georgia cities are today. Michael Buchanan, local amateur fossil hunter, filmmaker and beekeeper, is excited by that. He says that 5000-year-old spear points were found when the land was cleared for North Point Mall in the early 1990s. Spear points were also found when work began on the McGinness Ferry Road/Ga. 400 interchange improvement project.

Michael notes that fossils can be found in every state and that the best places to hunt for dinosaur fossils are Wyoming, Montana, Nebraska and the Dakotas. Erosion takes place over millions of years and reveals old river bottoms where ancient creatures went to drink. Michael has found parts of dinosaurs and hundreds of bone fragments which he tries to piece together.

Georgia is fossil country to a lesser degree. It was once inhabited by animals such as mastodons, woolly mammoths, camels, bison, tapirs, dinosaurs and giant ground sloths up to 20 feet tall which were first described in 1797 by Thomas Jefferson. During the Cretaceous period (145 to 66 million years ago), the climate was tropical and there were no glaciers at the north and south poles.

Consequently, the sea level was very high and covered half of the state. Many vertebrate and invertebrate fossils were left behind including mollusk shells, shark’s teeth and some dinosaur bones.

Shark’s teeth are particularly plentiful, because a shark can grow and lose 30,000 or more teeth during its approximately 20 - 30 year lifespan. It is not surprising that the official Georgia state fossil, adopted in 1976, is the giant megalodon shark tooth. The megalodon is the largest shark to ever have lived.

They measured from 30 up to 70 feet long – the size of an 18-wheeler – and weighed between 60,000 and 140,000 pounds. Their teeth, up to 7 inches long, have been used since ancient times for their size and serrated edges as spear points, knives and jewelry. Compare those teeth to today’s great white shark’s teeth which measure about 3 inches.

Michael has found many megalodon teeth in alligator-infested rivers in South

PROVIDED

Fossil hunting in Hulett, Wyoming. Every year for four years, Bonnie Steadman spent part of her summers on the Waugh Ranch in Wyoming digging for dinosaur bones as part of a program of the Black Hills Institute of Geological Research. Over time she collected about 250 fossils.

MICHAEL BUCHANAN/PROVIDED

The megalodon shark was one of the most terrifying prehistoric predators on earth. It reached lengths of up to 60-70 feet and lived from about 16 to 2.6 million years ago.

Each shark had 276 teeth in five rows. They regularly shed their teeth which makes them relatively easy for fossil hunters to find. Teeth could grow up to 7 inches long. Here we see two megalodon teeth collected by Michael Buchanan, a local fossil enthusiast.

Carolina, a process which he describes as “a major rush.” Michael is available for presentations to schools. Contact him at mike@tinrooffilms.com.

The most common dinosaurs in Georgia were the duck billed hadrosaurs and the albertosaurus. The duck billed hadrosaurs were plant eaters and usually walked on four legs. They were about 30 feet long and weighed about three tons.

The deadly albertosaurus walked on two legs and measured about 30 feet from

their large head to their tail and weighed up to 3 tons. Both dinosaurs lived in Georgia for millions of years about 75 million years ago. Dinosaurs disappeared at the end of the Cretaceous period, possibly as the result of an asteroid or comet.

Bonnie Steadman is chair of the Alpharetta Historic Preservation Commission and has been a fossil enthusiast since she was 8 years old. She says “I would break open rocks. In one I

found a fossil and I was hooked. I took it to show at school and I still have it.”

As an adult she took classes at the Fernbank Museum and Perimeter College, joined a group of fossil devotees in Atlanta and connected with a museum in Hill City South Dakota where she learned how to dig for and identify fossils.

For four summers she returned to the same dig site in search of dinosaur fossils. Eventually she had a collection of some 250 specimens.

Bonnie believes there is always something to learn about fossils.

Researchers have found, for example, that by studying dinosaur skin it is possible to tell if a dinosaur was spotted or striped and whether or not it had feathers. Modern technology can tell what it ate for its last meal, if it had an injury or cancer. She says “The fact that a dinosaur you may find is millions of years old and that you are the first human to ever look at and touch that fossil is an amazing experience.”

Her proudest moment came when she uncovered a triceratops spike in the Hill City dig that was 3 ½ feet in length. She donated it to the local museum.

Genevieve Brown works for the Georgia Department of Natural Resources. She has degrees in geology and anthropology and knows a lot about Georgia fossils. One of her personal interests is the Georgiacetus, a giant whale no more than 20 feet long that according to Genevieve “looked like a cross between a dolphin and otter.

They had legs and were descended from land animals that adapted to life in the ocean.”

Previously unknown, the almost complete skeleton of the whale was discovered in 1983 when it was unearthed during the construction of Plant Vogtle, a Georgia Power Company nuclear facility in Waynsboro. The full scientific name of the whale is Georgiacetus vogtlensis, which means the “Georgia Whale from Plant Vogtle.”

Among the favorite fossil hunting locations in Georgia are Cumberland Island and Amelia Island.

Genevieve says that Georgia has been almost every ecosystem you can imagine, desert, forest, ocean, mountains and plains. The fossils are there for those who are willing to search for them. Can you hear them calling?

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

24 | November 2, 2023 | Johns Creek Herald | AppenMedia.com/Johns_Creek

GET OUTSIDE, GEORGIA!

OPINION

Old-time navigation tool helps you see what’s not visible Here’s a question for you: How do you know where to go when you aren’t sure where you are going?

Yeah. They say that getting from Point A to Point B can be half the fun, but only if you can find the way.

STEVE HUDSON A friend of mine Columnist from years back always made that finding-the-way thing look easy. Even hiking cross-country without benefit of trails, he never got lost.

It was uncanny, like he had a GPS unit implanted in his brain, and that was long before GPS was even a thing. He just seemed to know where he was going. He didn’t even carry a compass.

That’s a handy skill to have.

Me? I’m not so blessed in the area of direction finding. But that’s okay, I tell myself. Sometimes it’s fun just to set out and see what you find – especially if what you find is a previously undiscovered thrift store.

A thrift store? Uh huh. She does like thrift stores, you see. So, we keep an eye out for them just to see what we might find.

And when we see one?

“Want to stop?” she will ask, and I will always say, “Sure!”

I have to admit that I kind of liked thrift stores too. Like garage sales, they tease you with the promise of treasures waiting to be found. And who doesn’t like to find treasures? On occasion I’ve found nifty outdoor goodies lurking among the rows of clothing and cast-off kitchen appliances and ten-year-old computer monitors. And I keep hoping that someday I’ll walk into a thrift store and there in front of me will be a dusty cardboard box full of classic handmade bamboo fly rods, all priced at $5 apiece. Heck, if I go on “half-price day” the deal will be even better.

That hasn’t happened yet. But it could.

I’ve had some smaller triumphs, though. Just the other day, for example, in the thrift store right down the road, what should I happen across but an “orienteering compass.” This compass was designed for navigating cross-country (see how we outdoor writer types eventually bring everything full circle?) using nothing more than it and a paper map. It was just the thing to help you when you weren’t sure exactly which direction was which.

So I bought the compass. I couldn’t let it go. It was a deal at $3, and since this was half-price day it was mine for the paltry sum of only $1.50, no batteries required.

About that I felt pretty good.

The compass was in good shape, all things considered, and needed only a new lanyard (can you say “old shoe lace”?) to be good as new. Then I was ready, my new

know where things are.

The author checks out the view from the Indian Seats. old-school navigational aid worn proudly around my neck. I glanced in the mirror and saw that I looked like one of the really cool hikers, too cool for technology, firmly in tune with tradition.

I adjusted my hiking slightly. Man, I was something else. All I needed was somewhere to go.

Where indeed? For a while, I’d been hearing about a place called the Indian Seats in Forsyth County’s Sawnee Mountain Preserve over near Cumming.

There really are actual seats there, carved into massive outcrops of mountaintop stone ages ago, and legend says that Native Americans used them as comfortable places from which to keep watch over the surrounding terrain. The seats are said to offer one of the very best scenic overlooks in the region, too, and that sounded like something I would like to see.

According to Whitman Morgan, outdoor recreation supervisor for Forsyth County, the Indian Seats are not actually on Sawnee Mountain itself. But Booger Mountain?

Whatever you call it, you’ll find it easy to hike to the top. Most hikers start at the Sawnee Mountain Preserve Visitor Center parking lot (set your GPS for 4075 Spot Road in Cumming) and start by following the trail to the right of the visitor center.

The Indian Seats trail, marked by blue diamond-shaped blazes, is what’s called a lollipop trail ¬– that is, an approach trail (the lollipop’s “stick”) which connects you to a loop trail (the candy). Round-trip in-andout distance is about four miles or a little less.

From the visitor center, the approach trail gently ascends to its intersection with the loop. Then you have to decide whether to turn left or right.

A lot to see on the way If you go right, you’ll initially enjoy some relatively level hiking that takes you past old gold mine workings as well as another trail access point (the parking area at Bettis Tribble Gap) before turning uphill on its way to the summit. Go left, and the

STEVE HUDSON/APPEN MEDIA

ascent begins right away. Since it’s a loop, either will work. And you’ll have the same elevation change (about 500 feet) either way.

I flipped a mental coin and decided to turn left, following the loop more or less clockwise – though with this trail’s many switchbacks and turns, it would be a strange-looking clockface indeed.

The trail is well maintained and easy to follow, though stretches can be rooty or rocky (or sometimes both). Strategically placed guideposts are located at several points along the way, helping you keep track of where you are.

But who needs guideposts? I’ve got my paper map and my compass!

I’m having a good time with that compass, too, keeping track of which direction I’m heading. Do I actually need that info? No, not really; it is a loop trail, after all. But knowing where I’m going is just kind of fun, especially on a trail that changes its compass heading as much as this one does.

I see wildlife along the way: many deer, a couple of hawks, myriad other birds, and an abundance of squirrels. One squirrel near the summit appears tame, and a mom and her daughter are having a great time feeding it nuts.

What I do not see is dogs, for dogs are not permitted on this trail.

Eventually, I reach the top. I see a short spur trail leading to a wooden overlook, and the wind picks up as I climb the steps to see what I might see.

I don’t spot any thrift stores in the distance, at least not that I can recognize.

But I do encounter a vista that you must see to appreciate. The reports are spot on.

This really is one of the most spectacular views around.

An interpretive sign helps me identify what I’m seeing. There’s Pine Log Mountain (compass heading 280 degrees). There’s Springer Mountain (compass heading 353 degrees and a bit more than 26 miles away) and Blood Mountain too (39 miles, heading 18 degrees). Just for fun, I check these bearings with my compass. It’s nice to

Out there somewhere Sometimes the adventure is in what you don’t see. For instance, the sign tells me that Brasstown Bald, Georgia’s highest peak, is 39 miles away at a bearing of 23 degrees. It’s not visible from the overlook, being obscured by other features of the landscape. But (I check my compass and sight along the bearing line) it’s there. Right there. Even though I can’t see it, I know that’s where it is.

I realize it’s getting late and that I had better get going lest I find myself hiking out in the dark.

But first ... and yeah, you knew I would … first I have to check out the Indian Seats.

The seats, those three depressions cut into the rock, beg to be sat in. Who am I to refuse?

Carefully – very carefully – I ease across some rocks and finally, slowly, settle into the first of the three seats. That’s plenty far for me. And it’s remarkably comfortable. I sit there for a while, enjoying the panorama before me. My vantage point opens up the landscape. I can see far, and clearly, and unforgettably.

What’s the official view of folks sitting in the seats?

“We urge caution,” notes Whitman Morgan. But it’s impossible to prevent folks from sitting in the seats, he says, adding, “We have yet to have any calls” about people falling. And hear this clearly: the rocks below the seats mean that a fall would not end well. So don’t take chances, and keep an eye on kids. Remember that your safety is your responsibility and yours alone.

After a while, I look at my watch and realize that it’s time to head back down the mountain. So, I ease out of the seat and make my way back to the trail.

The trail is familiar now and comfortable. I continue clockwise to complete the loop, passing more wildlife and the Bettis Tribble Gap parking area and even another old gold mine. But I don’t linger. The sun is setting. I pick up my pace a little, but it is sure-enough dark by the time I reach the car.

It was a good hike, but now I am ready to be home, to share my adventure, to tell her what I have seen. I don’t even need the compass, for now I’ve got faith in the trail.

I’ve got confidence it will take me where I want to go.

As I make the drive home, I relax in that certain peace, that pleasant restedness, that a good walk in the woods always seems to bring.

And then I spot another thrift store. It’s one I’d not noticed before. Again, I think how much she likes to visit them.

I must tell her about it. She will want to go.

AppenMedia.com/Johns_Creek | Johns Creek Herald | November 2, 2023 | 25

There’s a Podcast for Everyone!

In his long-awaited return to the airwaves, Caddy partners with his new co-host – and wife! - Donna, to bring his loyal listeners everything they’ve come to expect and love from Cadillac Jack.

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The Georgia Politics Podcast focuses on all things under the gold dome.

Show host Preston Thompson covers the most noteworthy updates to the legislative session of Georgia’s House of Representatives and State Senate.

26 | November 2, 2023 | Johns Creek Herald | AppenMedia.com/Johns_Creek

OPINION

Quincy and Amazing Grace, baby boomers in good standing Born in 1947, Quincy was an inquisitive child interested in allthings-electronic and technical. Like Sheldon Cooper of “Young Sheldon” television fame, his favorite store LEWIS J. WALKER, CFP to poke around in Columnist was Radio Shack.

The Investment Coach In 1977, Radio Shack introduced the TRS-80 home microcomputer featuring a 12-inch video monitor, a cassette recorder and a cassette tape containing the games blackjack and backgammon. It cost $599, a stretch for the young father, but Quincy really wanted it. His wife, Grace, surprised him with the purchase on Christmas morning. As an outgrowth of his interest in the expanding world of micro computing, Quincy became an early investor in emerging companies such as Intel, Microsoft and Apple, among others.

Quincy was not a speculator. Actually, he was quite conservative. He bought stock in companies he believed in, reinvested dividends and held on through market ups and downs. He had some clunkers, but in the main, he built a core group

of long-run winners. He and Grace, a school teacher, had three children. When they in succession headed off to college, Quincy used his stocks as collateral for loans from a local bank at favorable and tax-deductible interest rates, sparing his children from college debt burdens.

Graduate school was on them, however.

When Quincy and Grace retired, they had a paid-for home, a tidy financial nest egg and a strong flow of dividend and interest income. Financial freedom allowed them to travel the world in comfort.

Even before they retired, Quincy and Grace took their three children on adventures around the United States and abroad. They were active in their church, and Grace put many miles on a station wagon shuttling children to and from sports and cultural activities. An avid tennis player, Grace’s older daughter called her mom “Amazing Grace.”

Quincy and Grace embody what we call WOOFs, well-off-older-folks. Per “The Wall Street Journal,” 10/9/2023, seniors aged 65 and up comprise 17.7% of America’s population, the highest percentage since 1920. They’re an economic and “spending force to be reckoned with.” As the Journal noted, they accounted for 22% of consumer spending last year, the highest share since recordkeeping began in 1972. Americans

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aged 70 and older control almost 26% of household wealth, and they’re spending it on hobbies, travel, sports, home renovation and other interests. They are key donors to local, national, and transnational charities, often involving time and talent in addition to treasure.

Like all consumers, rising prices for food and essentials bite, but seniors did get an 8.7% cost-of-living-adjustment in Social Security payments this year. Of those, they still have a mortgage, many locked in low rates when money was cheap. Medicare helps to cushion the rising cost of medical care. Retirees aren’t worried about layoffs or job losses, unless such things adversely impact their grown children. The WSJ quoted Ed Yardini of Yardini Research, a respected forecaster, who thinks that spending by seniors will help prop up the economy, avoiding a deep recession. This thinking parallels a comment made by this writer in a previous column that the WOOFs will save Delta Airlines from a shortfall of premium-fare-paying-businessflyers flying first class domestically and Delta One internationally. The WOOFs are flying up-front on planes and buying suites on cruise and river ships.

The oldest baby boomers turn 77 this year. The Journal noted that boomers control $77.1 trillion in wealth. But as many seniors find out, the Bank of Mom and Dad never really closes. Many are assisting grown children with challenges, including helping to pay for private elementary or high school expenses or college tuition for grandchildren.

A 2021 Gallup poll found that church membership and attendance strongly correlates with age. Sixty-six percent of traditionalists, those born prior to 1946, belong to a church, synagogue or mosque, versus 58% of baby boomers, 50% of Generation X, and 36% of millennials, also known as Gen Y. Quincy and Grace are even more active in their church now that they’ve retired. Seniors increasingly comprise the bulk of volunteers and donors. Their giving patterns and philanthropy objectives often reflect

religious values. Grandma and Grandpa are setting an example by attending religious services and church leaders need to step up, working to attract more young people to participate in organized religion.

Quincy and Grace are fictitious characters, but they represent a composite view of families who have achieved financial independence over my many years of active financial life planning counseling service.

They used debt prudently and invested in quality stocks over the long run, recognizing that ownership of potentially appreciating assets was the answer to everpresent inflation that varied in intensity over time. They drove used, off-lease cars and shopped for bargains, especially when the kids were growing up and expenses were high. Grace clipped coupons and was a good shopper. They maintained adequate levels of health and disability insurance, insurance on home and autos, as well as umbrella liability insurance, very important when they had teenage drivers in the family. Both Grace and Quincy carried levels of life insurance designed to support the family in the event of death of either one or both of them. Planning for death and disability is a prudent part of any financial plan.

When Mom and Dad get older and need assistance, when one passes away, becoming a widow or widower, they may depend on an adult child for help, often a daughter. Grace and Quincy arranged a family meeting with their adult children and their financial adviser. They put key documents in place along with instructions, a “family love letter,” so that when emergencies occurred, the family was prepared. Lives well lived.

Lewis Walker, CFP®, is a life centered financial planning strategist with Capital Insight Group (CIG); 770-441-3553; lewis@ capitalinsightgrp.com. Securities & advisory services offered through The Strategic Financial Alliance, Inc. (SFA), which is otherwise unaffiliated with CIG. Lewis a Gallup Certified Clifton Strengths Coach and Certified Exit Planning Advisor (CEPA).

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OPINION

PAST TENSE

Chamblee’s Lawson General Hospital during World War II Lawson General Hospital construction began in 1940, before the U.S. entered World War II. It was located on the property where CDC Chamblee campus and IRS are today, where Buford VALERIE BIGGERSTAFF Highway, Chamblee Tucker Road and West Columnist Hospital Avenue meet.

The name West Hospital Avenue reflects the former history of the area.

The hospital was completed in May 1941 at a cost of $3.5 million. Naval Air Station Atlanta was next door. (“Chamblee, GA-A Centennial Portrait, 1908-2008,” Diane J. Shearer and Brenda Deily Constan) Lawson was known for treating amputees and training them to use their prosthetic limbs in everyday life. Dr. P. J. Moore Jr. was a surgeon at Lawson General Hospital.

“I was re-amputating soldiers coming from the Battle of the Bulge and the European Theatre,” recalls Dr. Moore. “I had a ward of thirty-four beds kept full. We had five or six surgeons at Lawson.” In addition to performing surgeries, Dr. Moore demonstrated how golf was possible for recovering patients. (Personal interview, February 2020) Dr. Jack Schreeder of Chamblee worked at Lawson General after serving in the European Theater and receiving the Bronze Star and French War Cross. He attended Emory University Medical School, then did his residency at Grady Memorial Hospital and Lawson General Hospital.

Sister Frances Whitman worked at Lawson General Hospital one summer. She was a teenager attending Christ the King School in Atlanta. Whitman remembered that experience “brought home very seriously what war does to people.” She saw the sadness and devastation of war at the hospital. (Atlanta History Center Veterans History project, oral history of Sister Mary Sue Thomas and Sister Frances Whitman) Sister Whitman’s father was a warden for their Atlanta neighborhood and would sometimes patrol at night. Sister Whitman and her school friend Sister Mary Sue Thomas recall tea dances on Sunday afternoons at the Knights of Columbus Hall on Peachtree Road. All military personnel in the Atlanta area were invited to the dances.

Whitman recalled watching Lawson General Hospital baseball games after work. The hospital and NASA were both part of Atlanta’s City League. Businesses and military operations were in either the City League or the Scott League. Lawson’s Medical Department Technicians School was part of the Scott League. Whitman also played board games with patients or simply sat and listened to them talk.

PROVIDED

A volunteer at Lawson General Hospital, sometimes referred to as a Pink Lady, brings books and magazines around to patients.

Harold Russell learned to use prosthetics at Lawson General Hospital. He then moved to Walter Reed Army Medical Center for occupational therapy. He was recruited by the Army to be in a film about disabled veterans called “Diary of a Sergeant.” This short film can be viewed on YouTube.

According to the National Archives, the 1945 film led to Harold Russell being chosen to play Homer Parrish in “The Best Years of Our Lives.” Russell won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor and the film won Best Picture in 1947.

Both Lawson General Hospital and NASA were constructed on land that was Camp Gordon during WW I. Today, the former location of Naval Air Station Atlanta is home to DeKalb Peachtree Airport.

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.

PROVIDED

Dr. P.J. Moore demonstrates golf to Lawson patients. He also showed them the possibility of playing the sport, even after their injuries.

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Thomas Abercrombie, 96, of Roswell, passed away on October 20, 2023. Arrangements

by Northside Chapel Funeral Directors & Crematory.

Kathleen Rice, 78, of Roswell, passed away on October 17, 2023. Arrangements by Northside Chapel Funeral Directors & Crematory.

Isabelle Doneff, 91, of Roswell, passed away on October 20, 2023. Arrangements by Northside Chapel Funeral Directors & Crematory.

Roberta Van Pelt, 77, of Roswell, passed away on October 22, 2023.

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INVITATION TO BID CITY OF JOHNS CREEK ITB #24-320 PARSONS ROAD SHOULDER IMPROVEMENT PROJECT

CITY OF JOHNS CREEK PUBLIC NOTICE CITY OF JOHNS CREEK PUBLIC NOTICE PURPOSE An Alcoholic Beverage License Application was submitted to the City on October 20, 2023 for Consumption of Malt Beverage, Wine, and Distilled Spirits.

BUSINESS NAME Trattoria 141 Partners LLC DBA Trattoria One 41 9810 Medlock Bridge Rd Suite 100 Johns Creek, GA 30097 OWNER/OFFICERS Trattoria 141 Partners LLC DBA Trattoria One 41 9810 Medlock Bridge Rd Suite 100 Johns Creek, GA 30097 Owner, Sean Moorehead

PURPOSE An Alcoholic Beverage License Application was submitted to the City on October 17, 2023 for Consumption of Malt Beverage, Wine, and Distilled Spirits.

BUSINESS NAME Yifan Restaurant & Event Center LLC DBA Yifan Restaurant 6000 Medlock Bridge Pkwy Suite F-100 Johns Creek, GA 30022 OWNER/OFFICERS Yifan Restaurant & Event Center LLC DBA Yifan Restaurant 6000 Medlock Bridge Pkwy Suite F-100 Johns Creek, GA 30022 Owner, Fan Wang Shuhau Zhang

The City of Johns Creek extends an Invitation to Bid (ITB) to GDOTprequalified construction firms for the Parson Road Should Improvement project. ITB’s will be received electronically via the City’s bid platform, BidNet no later than 2:00 PM on November 16, 2023. A recommended virtual Prebid teleconference will take place November 2, 2023, 10:00 AM via Zoom. Questions are accepted and answered online only via BidNet. Deadline for questions is November 7, 2023 at 5:00 PM. Quotes, bids, and RFP’s are electronically managed through the Georgia Purchasing Group by BidNet, our online bidding/vendor registration system, on the City website: https://www.johnscreekga.gov/Residents/Purchasing. To access the ITB document you must register with BidNet. Go to the City website above and click the link “register and view quote/bid/RFP opportunities”.

The City of Johns Creek, in accordance with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and 78 Stat. 252, 42 USC 2000d—42 and Title 49, Code of Federal Regulations, Department of Transportation, Subtitle A, Office of the Secretary, part 21, Nondiscrimination in federally assisted programs of the Department of Transportation issued pursuant to such Act, hereby notifies all bidders that it will affirmatively ensure that in any contract entered into pursuant to this advertisement, minority business enterprises will be afforded full opportunity to submit bids in response to this invitation and will not be discriminated against on the grounds of race, color, sex, or national origin in consideration for an award.

All offerors must comply with all general and special requirements of the ITB information and instructions.

Additional information may be obtained by contacting Neil Trust at the City of Johns Creek Procurement Division at purchasing@johnscreekga.gov or (678) 512-3233. The City of Johns Creek reserves the right to reject any or all bids and to wave technicalities and informalities, and to make award in the best interest of the City of Johns Creek.

30 | November 2, 2023 | Johns Creek Herald | AppenMedia.com/Johns_Creek

ONLINE INCLUDED C a l l t o d a y t o p l a c e y o u r a d 4 7 0 . 2 2 2 . 8 4 6 9 o r e m a i l c l a s s i f i e d s @ a p p e n m e d i a g r o u p . c o m • FA X : 7 7 0 - 4 7 5 - 1 2 1 6

Full-time

North Fulton Community Charities Mission has been serving individuals and families in the North Fulton area for over 40 years. Our Mission to ease hardship and foster financial stability in our community and our purpose is to provide opportunities for the whole community to thrive. Full Time employees receive benefits on the 1st day following working 30 days.

Benefits include: Medical, dental and vision insurance after 30 days of employment. 403b retirement plan matching offered, Paid Time Off. Short and Long Term insurance and life insurance are provided by employer.

Full Time Donor Operations Lead NFCC is looking for a Donor Operations Lead is a key team member who oversees the donation door process. They may delegate to other staff, volunteers and community service at the Donation Door. This position is the face of NFCC so they are expected provide excellent customer service and treat each donor with a professional and friendly demeanor. The Associate greets and removes donations from vehicles and then sorts the 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 For a complete job description visit https://nfcchelp.org/work-at-nfcc/ Solution

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