Milton Herald - July 31, 2025

Home baker turns passion into business

By SARAH COYNE | sarah@appenmedia.com

WMILTON, Ga. — hile juggling the busy stay-at-home mom life with her three children, Karen Bates still finds time for her passion, baking.

In her kitchen, Bates bakes up a storm, creating delicious art for friends, family and customers. Bates’s micro bakery, Karen B Cakes, sells custom-made cakes, cupcakes and loaves of sourdough. Soon, she will add muffins and macarons to the menu.

Although Bates has been baking her whole life, the idea to share her gift with others started when her daughter had her second birthday while they lived abroad in China for her husband’s job.

“I was really craving American cake,” she said. She found some ingredients to make the cake, and the rest is history.

See BAKER, Page 8

County commissioner blasts proposed property tax hike

By HAYDEN SUMLIN hayden@appenmedia.com

ALPHARETTA, Ga. — Fulton County

Commissioner Bob Ellis said he is “vehemently opposed” to increasing the property tax rate above it current 8.87 mills.

The rate has remained flat since 2022.

In a 4-3 vote June 18, the Board of Commissioners tentatively adopted a 2025 millage rate of 9.87 mills – a full mill higher. If formally adopted Aug. 6, the levy would represent a tax increase of 12.5 percent over the rollback rate.

Georgia law requires that a rollback

millage rate be computed that will produce the same revenue as last year’s rate would have produced had no reassessments occurred. Even if commissioners keep the rate flat, property owners will likely still pay more.

See ELLIS, Page 21

SARAH COYNE/APPEN MEDIA

At left, Karen Bates, owner of Karen B. Cakes, stands in her kitchen next to a custom-made cake she made for her nine-year-old daughter’s birthday.

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POLICE BLOTTER

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Florida man arrested for breaking candle

MILTON, Ga. — A Florida man was given a criminal trespass warning July 18 after allegedly breaking a candle in the Five Below on Ga. 9.

A store employee called police stating that a man entered and attempted to use the bathroom. After noticing the bathrooms were locked, he then went to the candle section and dropped a glass candle, causing it to break.

Police confirmed the statement after watching surveillance footage. The officers stated that it seemed he deliberately dropped the candle.

Police found the man in the shopping center and confirmed his identity as a Florida resident with no warrants. The man told police that he dropped the candle.

The officers gave the man a disorderly conduct charge and criminal trespass warning and transported him to the North Fulton County Jail.

— Sarah Coyne

Churches report unlawful dumping

MILTON, Ga. — On the morning of July 20, two Milton churches reported unlawful dumping on their properties.

At 10:20 a.m., police responded to the first call at Boiling Springs Primitive Baptist Church on Birmingham Road. A church member told police that several members noticed a pile of broken-down cardboard boxes and trash bags in the parking lot.

Officers responded to a second call at 1 p.m. at Hopewell Baptist Church on Ga. 9. A church member told police that several black bags, paint cans, boxes and toys were dumped near the cem-

etery on the property July 19.

Officers were able to trace back the trash to a man who was hired to remove garbage from a residence. Police called the man, who refused to return to the locations to remove the trash.

Police obtained two arrest warrants for unlawful dumping and placed them on the Georgia Crime Information Center.

— Sarah Coyne

Police arrest motorists for possession of drugs

ALPHARETTA, Ga. — Two Alpharetta residents were arrested on drug charges during a Ga. 120 traffic stop July 9.

Alpharetta police officers stopped a car on Ga. 120 just west of Morris Road.

Officers searched the vehicle, discovering marijuana, methamphetamine, opioids and cocaine.

A 47-year-old man was arrested on charges of possession of marijuana and providing false information to an officer.

A 44-year-old woman was arrested on charges of possession of cocaine, methamphetamine and a Schedule II controlled substance.

A 54-year-old Rocklin, Cal., man was cited for failure to register a vehicle, having no tag displayed and not having proof of insurance.

— Jon Wilcox

Two paddleboards stolen from Martin’s Landing

ROSWELL, Ga. — Roswell Police are investigating the theft of two paddleboards worth a combined total of $1,700 from an activity building at Martin’s Landing July 20 near the Chattahoochee River.

The victim, a 59-year-old Roswell man, said he locked up his paddleboards on a rack behind the activity building around 3 p.m. July 17. When he returned three days later, the man said they were missing.

The stolen belongings include a $900 11-foot-long red BIC paddleboard and a $700 10,5-foot-

long white Tahe paddleboard.

The officer said the man suggested someone cut the paddleboards’ straps because the steel cable used to secure the paddleboards was undamaged and remained attached to the rack.

The owner said the kayaks behind the building were untouched from when he last saw his paddleboards.

The officer said he would follow up with the homeowners association and review footage from nearby security cameras.

The victim told the officer he wanted to press charges and would send him photos of the stolen paddleboards.

The case remains active.

— Hayden Sumlin

SUV linked to burglaries escapes police pursuit

ALPHARETTA, Ga. — An SUV evaded Alpharetta police in a pursuit after officers investigated a report of vehicle burglaries July 9.

Alpharetta police said officers attempted to stop a black Nissan Rogue traveling east on Webb Bridge Road near Webb Bridge Way about 2 p.m. Officers said the vehicle appeared to carry three male passengers.

Officers investigated the area after they were notified a vehicle was suspected of being involved in vehicle burglaries in Sandy Springs.

The Nissan sped around officers, almost struck other vehicles, made a turn without signaling and exceeded speeds of 65 mph.

Police decided to end the chase after the vehicle sped through a red light.

Alpharetta officers later learned law enforcement in Oconee County attempted to stop the Nissan, which then fled into South Carolina.

A records search revealed the vehicle was rented in Boca Raton, Fla. Attempts to reach the rental agency were unsuccessful.

— Jon Wilcox

THE PICTURE FRAMER

A gated oasis located in the heart of Milton, Mayfair Estates features large home sites and meticulously curated floor plans.

Police chief submits request to double school liason officers

By SARAH COYNE sarah@appenmedia.com

MILTON, Ga. — The Milton Police Department is seeking two more school liaison officers for 2026 as city leaders begin drafting next year’s budget.

The start-up cost would be $350,000, which includes two full-time employees with salary, benefits and equipment. The projected operating cost would be $229,000 the following year.

Owner John Hogan & Designer Bobbie Kohm, re-imagining how bath & kitchen remodels are done. Complete Remodeling Design and Installation Services. We even remove walls! Guiding you through the whole design process. Ask about our 3D Renderings. Making bath & kitchen remodeling fun, easy and affordable. Open to Public 9-5 Mon-Fri • 10-4 Sat Showroom – Design Center 10591 Old Alabama Road Connector Alpharetta, GA 30022 (near Northpoint Mall)

“These officers serve as mentors and trusted partners, building meaningful relationships with students, staff and their families,” Police Chief Jason Griffin told members of the City Council July 21.

Under the proposal, the Police Department would double the number of officers it has working with local schools – public and private.

“This team will be focused on school engagement during the academic year and will transition to community focused responsibilities such as outreach events and public engagement during weekends, summers and non-school hours,” Griffin said.

In the west zone of the city, two officers will supervise Birmingham Falls Elementary and Crabapple Elementary. The officers also will share representation at Milton High School, Northwestern Middle School and Mill Springs Academy.

“It's a pretty healthy balance,” Griffin said.

In the east zone, two officers will be split between Cogburn Elementary and Summit Hill Elementary. These officers will share representation at Cambridge High School, Hopewell Middle School and Saint Francis.

The City Council will weigh the request for funding against other obligations as it works to adopt a final 2026 budget before the start of the fiscal year, which begins Oct. 1.

The budget presentation by Deputy City Manager Bernadette Harvill also included proposals for several capital works projects. The requests include two vehicles for the school liaison officers, $160,000 worth of city structure removals and money for ADA compliance updates.

The Georgia Department of Transportation notified city staff that the city must develop and submit annual updates on an ADA transition plan to continue to receive federal funding. City staff plan to fund the completion of the plan with the Safe Streets and Roads for All grant program.

“It's currently underway and we expect it to be done in early 2026,” Public Works Director Sara Leaders said.

The action plan will identify roadway deficiencies, repair costs and completion dates.

City officials are proposing to put a $50,000 placeholder funding request toward the ADA compliance updates. The operating impact for 2027-2032 is projected to be $300,000.

Owner John Hogan & Designer Bobbie Kohm

SARAH COYNE/APPEN MEDIA Chief of Police Jason Griffin discusses the decision to employ two school liaison officers at the City Council meeting July 21.

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Historic Black school redevelopment plan remains at standstill

By JON WILCOX jon@appenmedia.com

ALPHARETTA, Ga. — The historic BaileyJohnson School remains shuttered and in disrepair three years after the Alpharetta Development Authority approved a tax abatement bond arrangement for its redevelopment.

Construction originally was set to begin in mid-2022 and be completed by the end of 2023.

On July 21, doors to the school remained padlocked. The red-brick exterior showed no sign of renovation progress, and weeds grew through cracks in the parking lot.

Alpharetta City Administrator Chris Lagerbloom said the city is not certain about the project’s future.

“I don’t think that project ever happens,” he said. “I’ve heard different development concepts, but it will require another public process to determine.”

In July 2022, the Development Authority agreed to temporarily take ownership of the property through a bond-for-title deal, allowing North Crescent Communities to make reduced payments in lieu of taxes.

Under the agreement, the North Carolina-based developer pays 50 percent of the property tax obligation in the first year.

Payments increase 5 percent annually over 10 years until the developer assumes the full obligation.

Crescent Communities partnered with Kimball Bridge Venture Partners to create 160,000 square feet of office space and retain much of the school’s size and design.

The project value at the time was estimated at $70 million.

Venture declined to answer questions about the project.

Katie Harris, Crescent PR senior account executive, said the developer is work-

JON WILCOX/APPEN

MEDIA

The doors to the Bailey-Johnson School are padlocked July 21 as progress for a redevelopment project remains on pause.

ing through “predevelopment efforts,” but offered no additional details.

“We’ll be sure to share updates as soon as we can on the site’s activity and how the team plans to celebrate the history of the Bailey-Johnson School,” she said.

Located at 154 Kimball Bridge Road just south of Avalon, the Bailey Johnson School was North Fulton County’s first Black school, offering an education opportunity for grade 1-12 students before desegregation.

Originally named the Alpharetta Colored School, it was renamed the Bailey-Johnson School three years after its opening in honor of Alpharetta blacksmith George Bailey and former slave Warren Johnson.

Venture Partners and Crescent Communities have dubbed the project “Garren on Kimball,” as an homage to the two men’s first names.

Former student Charles Grogan said he

has fond memories of his time at the school from 1957 to 1965.

“I hate to see it torn down and forgotten all together,” he said.

The site serves as a powerful reminder of a history that matters to him and Alpharetta, he said. He hopes to one day show his great-granddaughter the renovated school.

“I’m going to bring my offspring, my people, to see where I went to school,” he said. “It’s important to me for her to know where her great-grandaddy went to school.”

Development Authority Chairman Jack Nugent said plans called for transforming the 21,321-square-foot school into a studio creative office space. He described the project as exciting and an asset for the city.

It is one of more than 20 properties that the Development Authority in Alpharetta is involved in. The assessed value of those properties is more than $430 million.

“When they came to us with that

proposal, that was a signature project for Alpharetta,” said Nugent, who was with the Development Authority in 2022.

Nugent said he thinks the project has remained paused for 18-24 months because of supply chain problems and rising costs. Nevertheless, he hopes the project will be completed.

“It is still on our docket for wanting to see this through,” Nugent said. “My guess is that they will probably come back at some point in the not-too-distant future hopefully, and you’ll have some modifications to it.”

Nugent said he still considers the original bond deal a success for the Development Authority.

“The way it works when we get involved is a developer will come to us and say, essentially we’d like your help in getting this project done,” he said. “They asked us to be a vehicle for enabling this to happen … We will be the vehicle that issues bonds.”

Purchased from the Fulton County School District, the site originally generated no taxes as a public property.

In 2024, the property paid $36,855 in taxes.

If the developers decide they cannot complete the project and sell the property, a new bond deal would likely need to be obtained, he said.

Nugent said the Development Authority has limited tools when it comes to ensuring progress of the project.

“We essentially require the developer to take the lead, and our steps kind of fall in place as the developer moves forward with the project,” he said. “We cannot be proactive about a development. We have to react as a development moves forward.”

Until then, progress remains paused at the school, which sits empty, overgrown and locked.

Can you afford to live within North Fulton?

By HAYDEN SUMLIN hayden@appenmedia.com

Community engagement is an essential part of Appen Media’s newsroom strategy.

That’s why reporters for the Herald and Crier newspapers seek out all sorts of reader questions. Sometimes those inquiries don’t lead to standalone stories because of time constraints or, more simply, the answers can be short.

Here is a question Appen has received and the answer your reporter dug up.

What is the cost of living in Fulton County?

Essential workers in North Fulton cities, including teachers, public safety personnel and mechanics, often live outside of the region in more affordable communities.

In early May, Roswell resident Courtney Rozear asked a series of questions about housing attainability and average wages for workers after the city shut down the Economy Hotel off Old Dogwood Road.

The cost of living for the average family of four in Fulton County requires an annual household income of $107,508, according to a 2022 study from United for ALICE.

In comparison, the “household survival budget” for a family of four in Butts County is $77,856.

Georgia United Ways produced the statewide report documenting the number of households below the federal poverty level.

The report also included the number of ALICE (Asset Limited, Income Constrained,

Have a

question?

Send your story tips and ideas to newsroom@appenmedia.com. Ask questions about the community at appenmedia.com/ask and we’ll do our best to find the answer.

Employed) households, which earn above poverty levels but not enough to afford the basics in the communities where they live.

The North Fulton Improvement Network, a local think tank dedicated to workforce housing, income and employment, transportation, child well-being and food security, cited the study in a June 2025 report.

In North Fulton cities, Sandy Springs leads the pack with 8 percent of households below poverty level and 32 percent of them ALICE.

Financial hardship varies by location, and there are not cost of living estimates for individual North Fulton cities.

Roswell is in the middle of the pack in North Fulton with 5 percent of households below poverty level and 31 percent of them ALICE.

Johns Creek has the lowest percentage of households below poverty level in the region, while Milton has the lowest percentage of ALICE households.

Across Fulton County, 67 percent of individuals under age 25 are below poverty level or unable to afford necessities in their community. But when compared to the 13-county metro area, Fulton has the least amount of young people in the category.

AMERICAN LEGION POST 201 EVENTS

OPEN TO THE PUBLIC

OLD SOLDIERS DAY OPEN HOUSE

Saturday, Aug. 2 – 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Visit www.legion201.org for Details

10 a.m. – Alpharetta Brass Ensemble 10:30 a.m. – Opening Ceremony

11 a.m. – Clubroom/Bar Open to General Public

12 noon – Food for Sale at Concession Stand

1 p.m. to 4 p.m. – VA Reps Available to Meet & Provide 1-to-1 Guidance to Vets on First Come, First Served Basis; New Membership Info & Renewal for Legion, Sons of the Legion & Auxiliary

4 p.m. – “Truths and Myths about the Vietnam War” 47-minute Documentary Honoring Those Who Served

PURPLE HEART DAY CEREMONY - Thursday, Aug. 7, 6 p.m.

Light refreshments served in the Clubroom afterward.

RSVP: Ellen Terrell-Youngblood, 678-462-9003; or eftot57@gmail.com

Dances & Dance Instruction

For all the details visit www.club201dance.com

Each week Appen Media asks a staff reporter to profile a business, nonprofit or commerce group they find interesting. The selection can be from anywhere in the Metro Atlanta area. The decision is up to the reporter and is made entirely independent of the sales department. Find other pieces at appenmedia.com/business.

Baker:

Continued from Page 1

“That’s kind of where it started, where I started really being like ‘Oh I like this,’” Bates said.

When her family moved to Singapore, Bates was able to sell her first cake to someone she didn’t know. A Milton resident for the past decade, Bates transformed her passion into an LLC in January.

She operates on a cottage food license, which allows her to run her bakery out of her home, so long as she adheres to certain requirements such as cleanliness and food labels.

She brainstorms her recipes with her family and now offers 13 cake flavors, such as Cookie Monster, which consists of a chocolate chip vanilla cake covered in cookie dough buttercream or Razzmatazz, which includes vanilla cake filled with raspberry preserves and raspberry buttercream iced in vanilla.

“A lot of it is what my family likes,” she said.

Buttercream rules

Her business is an all-buttercream micro bakery that does not use any fondant. For custom-made cakes, Bates tries to decorate her pieces with all edible materials, using a range of sprinkles, frosting, rice paper and spring roll wrappers.

“Sometimes they take on a life of their own,” Bates said. “I love that it is edible art. You can do really fun things with it, and then it goes away.”

Her favorite part about the job is seeing people’s reactions to the edible art.

“It makes them so happy,” she said.

To Bates, her micro bakery is more than just a side hustle, it’s a way to make traditions, just like her ancestors who immigrated from Armenia to the United States.

“When they came over from Armenia, they stopped speaking Armenian and only spoke English,” Bates said. “The only thing that they did keep, though, was the food. I feel like that's a really strong thing.”

The “B” in Karen B Cakes is a symbol for her loved ones, reminding people that family comes first. The “B” represents her grandfather who was an entrepreneur and beekeeper.

“It just really makes me think about him and how hard he worked,” Bates said.

The spirit of entrepreneurship is something she hopes will live on in her family.

“I hope that it inspires them to know that they can do something, that if they have an interest that they can take it into the community,” she said.

Bates said that being able to gift her passion for baking to the community is a blessing.

Sharing her craft

In October, she will begin to offer sourdough and cupcake decorating classes through the City of Milton’s Parks and Recreation Department.

“I hope that through the classes that I can bless other people, and they can find something that they're excited about,” she said.

Bates said she hopes the cupcake decorating course will allow parents and their children to create new tra-

KAREN BATES/PROVIDED

Karen Bates creates custom-made cakes for all celebrations, including her daughter’s birthday.

making loaves. Bates will teach how to feed the starter, how to bake sourdough bread on a schedule and how to mix, fold and score dough and what equipment is needed. Classes will be held one Saturday each month at 7 p.m.

ditions. In the course, attendees will learn how to fill a piping bag, create designs, decorate with sprinkles and create colored buttercream. Supplies will be provided for guests. The course will be held once a month, on a Saturday, from 10-11 a.m.

“I really feel like it can be something that can help build your confidence,” she said.

The sourdough course will simplify the process of

Bates said her small business has been a slow growth process, since her three children are her main priority. She hopes the business will grow steadily and become a city staple by the time her 9-year-old reaches high school, but for now she finds her number of customers perfect.

“I’m still a busy mom,” she said. “I love being able to do things here and there on the side, which is what makes it so perfect, because I can kind of have it be whatever I want.”

Those interested in ordering baked goods from Bates can visit her website, karenbcakes.com

SARAH COYNE/APPEN MEDIA

Owner of Karen B. Cakes, Karen Bates, holds a homemade loaf of sourdough that she made in her kitchen.

SARAH COYNE/APPEN MEDIA

Homemade chocolate chip cookies sit in Karen Bates’ kitchen.

Alpharetta attracts crowd of thousands for softball tourney

By JON WILCOX jon@appenmedia,com

ALPHARETTA, Ga. — Thousands of families descended on Alpharetta for the national Triple Crown Sports softball tournament July 17-20, bringing a healthy bump to the city’s economy.

The tournament drew some 1,500 players representing more than 100 teams, marking a two-fold increase from last year. With teams from across the eastern U.S., the players and their families rented lodging, ate at restaurants and purchased snacks, sporting supplies and other items during their visit.

As one of the city’s largest sporting events, the competition created a powerful “ripple” effect for local businesses, said Anita Jupin, director of PR and communications for the city’s convention and visitors bureau, Awesome Alpharetta.

“Sports tourism continues to be a key part of Alpharetta’s visitor mix, bringing in athletes, their families and fans, who stay, dine and shop locally,” Jupin said.

The tournament generated about 850 room nights, contributing an estimated $183,600 in hotel revenue. Between games, visitors also ate out at local fastfood and sit-down restaurants, perused

there,” Huter said.

During their five-day stay, the family lodged at a short-term rental and ate Einstein Bros bagels, Chick-fil-A and Taco Bell. After a Friday afternoon game, Huter said she was looking forward to getting some relief from the day’s sweltering heat by splurging on some margaritas at a local Mexican restaurant.

Triple Crown has hosted tournaments in Alpharetta and other North Metro Atlanta cities since 2015.

The tournament returned to Alpharetta this year for its 10th tournament, in part because of the excellent sporting fields and facilities, said Scott Crawford, an event director for Triple Crown Sports. Teams played on 20 fields across nine different locations.

There are few communities in the U.S. with so many fields within a short driving distance of one another, he said.

proximity to numerous recreational destinations elsewhere in Metro Atlanta.

Like many other families watching the games, Wesley Chapel, Fla., father Anthony Stephens said he was doing his best to turn his visit to Alpharetta into a mini vacation.

Stephens said he planned to take his daughter Skylah to the Georgia Aquarium. Huta said she was thinking of attending a Braves game or simply playing some cornhole in downtown Alpharetta.

Stephens said he was so impressed by the city that he was considering moving there.

Crawford said Alpharetta has remained a top-tier host city for years also because of the cooperation by city and Awesome Alpharetta officials.

shops and picked up last-minute supplies at gas stations, groceries, convenience stores and sporting goods shops. Huntsville mom Allison Huter said she made a last minute trip to Dick’s Sporting Goods for a shin guard and other items after her daughter Livy suffered a hit to her ankle.

“We had to spend quite a bit of money

PUBLIC NOTICE

QUALIFYING PERIOD FOR MUNICIPAL GENERAL ELECTION FOR THE CITY OF MILTON

In accordance with O.C.G.A. § 21-2-132, notice is hereby given that the Qualifying Period for the City of Milton’s Non-Partisan Municipal General Election, scheduled for November 4, 2025, will take place at Milton City Hall, located at 2006 Heritage Walk, Milton, Georgia 30004.

Qualifying will begin at 8:30 A.M. on Monday, August 18, 2025 , and will close at 4:30 P.M. on Friday, August 22, 2025 . Daily qualifying hours are as follows:

·8:30 A.M. to 12:00 P.M.

·1:00 P.M. to 4:30 P.M.

The positions up for election are:

Mayor (At-Large) - Incumbent, Peyton Jamison - Qualifying Fee: $894.00

Council District 1, Post 1 - Incumbent - Andrea Verhoff - Qualifying Fee: $594.00

Council District 2, Post 1 - Incumbent - Juliette Johnson - Qualifying Fee: $594.00

Council District 3, Post 1 - Incumbent - Jan C. Jacobus - Qualifying Fee: $594.00

Residents who wish to qualify as a candidate must file a Notice of Candidacy with the Office of the City Clerk during the qualifying period listed above. All candidates must declare the specific post for which they are qualifying at the time of filing.

Submitted by:

“A big part of the reason (for coming) is because you have so many facilities in such a small radius,” Crawford said. “And I don’t want to undershoot the importance of the quality of those facilities.”

Well-maintained fields, ample parking and excellent facilities were just a few of the reasons Triple Crown has repeatedly visited Alpharetta, he said.

Families also love the city’s sense of safety, nearness to a major airport and

He praised the work of staff like Awesome Alpharetta’s Director of Sports Sales Anna Mikell and Park Supervisor Chris Anderson. Those staff made coming to Alpharetta easy, coordinating with almost every aspect of the competition from lodging to marketing.

Awesome Alpharetta is discussing building on that success by potentially bringing an additional tournament to the city next year.

“That’s a big thing to talk about because longevity speaks volumes in our world of sports,” Crawford said.

JON WILCOX/APPEN MEDIA

Leslie Bethune, foreground, cheers for her daughters, with Allison Huter during a softball tournament at North Park in Alpharetta July 18.

ALPHARETTA, Ga.— The Northern Ridge Boy Scout District (cities of Roswell, Alpharetta, Johns Creek, Milton) is proud to announce a new round of Eagle Scouts who completed their Eagle Board of Review June 26 at Alpharetta Presbyterian Church.

Left to right

Ronak Nambiar, of Troop 69, sponsored by Alpharetta First United Methodist Church. His project was the renovation of the outdoor space at Alpharetta Presbyterian Church by cleaning, pressure washing, and repainting the gazebo and three wooden benches, refurbishing the outdoor

plastic furniture, designed, constructed and installed a Little Free Library, adding mulch and flowers to garden beds, pathways, and dry patches and installed a raised and bordered pathway stones with mulch to improve accessibility and safety.

Samuel Haydock, of Troop 1134, sponsored by St. Peter Chanel Catholic Church. His project was the design and construction of a large rolling bin for collecting used and worn US Flags for a retirement ceremony, the collection of 23 worn flags, and then holding a retirement ceremony for these flags, on behalf of Saint Ann’s Catholic Church in Marietta.

Samantha B. Benson,

Johns Creek: Tues., Thurs. Milton: Mon., Fri. Kaavya Chivukula, MD Johns Creek Only

Roja R. Sanikapally, MD Johns Creek Only: Mon., Tues., Wed., Fri.

CITY OF MILTON NOTICE

The City of Milton does hereby announce that the millage rate will be set at a meeting to be held at City Hall Council Chambers, 2006 Heritage Walk, Milton, Georgia on August 11, 2025 at 6:00 PM and pursuant to the requirements of O.C.G.A § 48-5-32 does hereby publish the following presentation of the current year’s tax digest and levy, along with the history of the tax digest and levy for the past five years.

City staff will present 2025 millage rate options at three public hearings in August. The State-required notice below reflects a rate of 4.193 mills, which supports a proposed balanced budget and represents a 4.47% decrease from the 2024 rate of 4.389 mills. The data below represents projected property tax collections, not any individual homeowner’s circumstance. Over the coming weeks, Council will review the proposed budget to determine a final millage rate and may adopt any rate up to 4.193 mills without requiring additional advertising or public hearings. A final decision will be made at the August 11, 2025, Special Called City Council Meeting.

All calculations are based upon a 100% collection rate. Figures for 2019-2024 have been updated to reflect the most recent consolidation and evaluation of digest provided by Fulton County for each year, and 2025 figures are based on current estimates provided by Fulton County.

OPINION

The history and legacy of philanthropy in America

According to the annual Giving USA report on philanthropy by the Giving USA Foundation and Indiana University, the total in 2023 was $557 billion. DealAid, a fundraiser for non-profits, reports that 56 percent of Americans donated to charity in 2024 and that the average age of a U.S. donor was 65. Twenty-four percent of the total went to religious organizations. Education and human services were tied at 14 percent each, with health-related causes at 9 percent.

In the early days of our nation’s history, religion or moral obligation played a dominant role in giving. As more people gained wealth and status, giving back to society became a key motivating factor. Famous philanthropists such as John D. Rockefeller (1839-1937), Andrew Carnegie (1835-1919), Edsel Ford who established the Ford Foundation in 1936, and more recently Bill Gates and Warren Buffett have had an enormous impact on society.

Many people donate to organizations where they have personal ties, or work for corporations with ties to particular charitable organizations. A person with a relative with cancer, for example, might give to the American Cancer Society. An employee might feel satisfaction by taking part in a company fundraiser for its chosen charity. Some give to the United , which like the charity described below distributes money to a range of charities. Someone blessed with wealth may be motivated to leave a lasting legacy through charitable giving to fill a need that is not being met in their community.

ProPublica, a non-profit news service, reports that there are more than 55,000 charities designated as 501(c)(3)s in Georgia. Donations to those entities are tax deductible. They range from small local organizations to large multi-million-dollar hospitals, churches and other large charities. A quick note: there is a big difference between a non-profit organization and a 501(c)(3). This can cause confusion. Not all non-profits qualify for 501(c)(3) status which is granted by the Internal Revenue Service following a lengthy application process. A non-profit corporation is formed under state law. It operates like a regular corporation, but its profits must serve the public good not its owners or shareholders. A 501(c)(3) is exempt from federal income tax and often state taxes as well. Importantly, donations to 501(c)(3)s are tax deductible for the donor.

Early history

Philanthropy in the United States dates back to a generous gift by a Puritan clergyman, John Harvard. When he died

Portrait of John D Rockefeller taken in 1922. After founding Standard Oil Company in 1870, he spent In retirement much of his retirement directed toward modernizing the South through the General Education Board which he established in 1902 with an initial gift of $1 million. The GEB eventually grew to more than $180 million. The GEB funded thousands of schools in rural areas of the South, teacher training, agricultural modernization, public health and medicine.

in 1638, he donated half his estate and his collection of 400 books to a young school, which named itself Harvard College after the donor the following year. The Puritans in Massachusetts and the Quakers of Pennsylvania were the first to establish philanthropic institutions in their areas in the 1600s, such as the Scots Charitable Society of Boston.

Benjamin Franklin (1706-1790) was a pioneer of philanthropy. He advocated the notion that everyone should donate for the common good consistent with his or her means. In 1729, he founded a weekly newspaper, the Philadelphia Gazette, which for the next 30 years promoted various civic projects. His efforts led to a volunteer fire department, the paving of public streets

This portrait of Andrew Carnegie, Scottish-American financier, was taken in 1865 and is part of the Brady-Handy Civil War photo collection in the Library of Congress. Carnegie built 1,800 libraries in the United States between 1898 and 1929, including more than 30 in Georgia. Worldwide, he built some 2,500 libraries.

by Cynthia Knudson. Other board members since the inception include Lara Dolan and Judy Burds. All have played active roles with the Milton Tour of Homes committee which is the major fundraiser for the organization.

Southern Magnolia Charities donates money to other local charities each year and is known as “A Charity for Charities!” Other fundraisers have included a Comedy on the Green and a cookbook offered during a three-year disruption during COVID when homeowners did not want people touring their homes. The charity has raised $361,000 and has benefited 15 local charities.

and a scientific academy that eventually became the University of Pennsylvania.

In 1835, Alexis de Tocqueville, the famous French historian who profiled the United States in his book Democracy in America wrote about the strange practice by the Americans of supporting private initiatives for the public good. He said that voluntary giving was a special characteristic of the Americans.

North Georgia example

It would be impossible to highlight multiple charities in a single column, but one that merits special mention is Southern Magnolia Charities, established in 2018 under President Marty Spear, who was succeed by Donna Savas, and is now led

The tour has become popular, and once tickets go on sale, they are sold out at lightning speed. This year’s tour is Sept. 20. Tickets go on sale Aug. 1. The website for the tour is https://southernmagnoliacharities.org/2025-milton-tour-of-homes.

You don’t have to be a Rockefeller or Carnegie to take part in giving. It is open to everyone.

Thanks to Judy Burds for her help with the column and to Marty Spear for suggesting the topic.

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

BOB MEYERS Columnist

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OPINION

Focusing on local solutions for affordable housing

By KATHY SWAHN, NANCY DIAMOND, JACK MURPHY North Fulton Improvement Network Executive Team

Lately, there’s been a lot of national attention on the role of institutional investors in the housing market. Stories of large companies purchasing homes and pricing out local families are understandably concerning, and Georgia’s elected officials have taken notice. But when it comes to the challenges we’re facing in North Fulton, the picture is more nuanced.

A recent article by the Georgia Public Policy Foundation, “Wall Street Remains Easy Target, but Tackling Housing Affordability Begins in Georgia,” reminds us that while institutional investors may play a role in some markets, they account for a relatively small share of the housing stock statewide. In North Fulton, where data shows only a modest presence of such investors, the more pressing issues lie closer to home.

Our community is experiencing the strain of limited housing options — especially for middle-income workers, young families and retirees looking to downsize. Yet the barriers to meeting this demand are largely local. Zoning rules that limit housing types, minimum lot sizes that restrict density and lengthy approval processes all contribute to the high cost of developing new homes.

Studies show that up to 27% of the cost of a new home in Georgia can be tied to regulatory and permitting expenses. For builders and developers, navigating these rules takes time and adds uncertainty, especially when projects require rezoning or special approvals. The result is fewer housing starts, slower construction and higher costs passed on to homebuyers and renters.

The North Fulton Improvement Network (NFIN) believes that meeting the housing needs of this region starts with intentional planning. That includes a willingness to rethink our land-use policies, modernize zoning and welcome a wider range of housing types — like duplexes, triplexes, quads, cottage courts and accessory dwelling units (ADUs). These “missing middle” options are essential for the teachers, healthcare workers, hospitality staff

Affordable housing continues to be a serious issue across North Metro Atlanta. Groups like the North Fulton Improvement Network are trying to help, and Appen Media is dedicated to covering the process. Send ideas, questions and feedback to newsroom@appenmedia.com.

For more information on ADU’s, check out improvenorthfulton.org

and public safety professionals who keep our communities running.

We also need more predictable timelines and streamlined approval processes so that housing projects — especially those designed with affordability in mind — can move forward without years of delay.

As North Fulton continues to grow, it’s important to focus on practical solutions that reflect both our values and our long-term needs. Ensuring that essential

workers and our own adult children can afford to live in the same community they serve is not just a housing issue — it’s a community issue.

By working together to modernize our policies and remove obstacles to thoughtful development, we can ensure that North Fulton remains a place where families of all kinds can thrive.

Share your housing experience in our North Fulton Residential Community

CITY OF MILTON

NOTICE OF PROPERTY TAX INCREASE DETAILED EXPLANATION

Survey: Kathy Swahn, Nancy Diamond and Jack Murphy are members of North Fulton Improvement Network. Learn more at www.improvenorthfulton.org.

City staff will present 2025 millage rate options at three public hearings in August.

The State-required notice below reflects a rate of 4.193 mills, which supports a proposed balanced budget and represents a 4.47% decrease from the 2024 rate of 4.389 mills.

The data below references a “tentatively adopted millage rate” for maintenance and operating purposes and a corresponding collection increase associated with reassessments of existing property (please note, the sample calculations exclude homestead exemption considerations).

Over the coming weeks, Council will review the proposed budget to determine a final millage rate and may adopt any rate up to 4.193 mills without requiring additional advertising or public hearings.

A final decision will be made at the August 11, 2025, Special Called City Council Meeting

CITY OF MILTON NOTICE OF PROPERTY TAX INCREASE AS REQUIRED BY STATE LAW

The City of Milton has tentatively adopted a millage rate which will require an increase in property taxes by 6.88 percent.

All concerned citizens are invited to the public hearings on this tax increase to be held at the City of Milton Council Chambers, 2006 Heritage Walk, Milton, Georgia, 30004, on the following dates and times:

August 4, 2025 at 9:00 AM

August 4, 2025 at 6:00 PM

August 11, 2025 immediately following the work session at 6:00 PM

This tentative increase will result in a millage rate of 4.193 mills, an increase of 0.270 mills. Without this tentative tax increase, the millage rate will be no more than 3.923 mills. The proposed tax increase for a home with a fair market value of $925,000 is approximately $99.90 and the proposed tax increase for non-homestead property with a fair market value of $900,000 is approximately $97.20.

Sandy Springs road named in honor of Dr. Leila Denmark

A road which runs between Boylston Drive and Roswell Road was named for Dr. Leila Daughtry Denmark in 2018. Leila Daughtry was born on a farm in Bulloch County, Georgia, in 1898. She studied at Tift College in Forsyth, Georgia, and Mercer University in Macon. She was the third woman graduate of the Medical College of Georgia, graduating in 1928.

Dr. Denmark participated in pioneering research on whooping cough after an epidemic hit Atlanta in 1932. She worked with Eli Lilly and researchers at Emory University to help develop a successful vaccine for the deadly illness.

According to the 1940 census, Leila and husband John Eustace Denmark lived in the city of Atlanta. They built a home in Sandy Springs a few years later. The couple first met in elementary school. John Denmark was a banker and became an officer with the Federal Reserve.

Dr. Denmark was named “Woman of the Year in Professions” in 1954, honored because of her work as a pediatrician and her contributions to the field of medicine. She had an office in the family home at 5605 Glenridge Drive, where she could work and be close to their daughter. (Atlanta Journal, Jan. 14, 1954, “Dr. Leila Denmark Woman of the Year”)

A newspaper article written in 1986 tells of Dr. Denmark’s thriving practice that year, when she was 88 years old. In 1985, Leila and John Denmark moved to a 100-year-old Forsyth

County farmhouse. She continued to practice as a pediatrician, running her office from the farmhouse. Jack Wilkinson wrote, “The parking lot beside the old white farmhouse was full.

The cars came from Cobb and Gwinnett, Floyd and Fulton, DeKalb and Cherokee counties. Some people had driven an hour to get here.” (Atlanta Constitution, April 1, 1986, “Nothing is forgotten in Dr. Denmark’s office”)

My mother never took me or my brother to Dr. Denmark, but she spoke of her often and had a copy of her book, “Every Child Should Have a

Chance.” The book was published in 1971. Tucked inside my mom’s copy of the book was the April 1,1986 newspaper article about the doctor, something my mom often did with books. I love to find these hidden treasures.

The parents who were in the office the day Wilkinson visited spoke of their concern over what they would do once Dr. Denmark could no longer be their children’s doctor. Her personalized care and concern for every child, plus her years of experience, made her a special doctor. She also charged a

CITY OF MILTON PUBLIC NOTICE

lower fee than most other doctors in 1985.

When Denmark began practicing medicine in 1928, she was the eighth pediatrician in Atlanta. She continued her work until the age of 103. Dr. Denmark died in 2012 at the age of 114.

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.

The November 5, 2025, City of Milton Municipal General Election—and any associated runoff election—will be conducted by Fulton County, through its Department of Registration and Elections. The 2023 City of Milton Municipal General Election was conducted by the City. At that time, the Mayor and City Council, as the governing authority for the City of Milton, established the municipal precincts and polling places for that election. For the 2025 elections, the municipal precincts and polling places will be the same as the Fulton County precincts and polling places within the City of Milton and are depicted in the table below:

The municipal precinct boundary map with polling places will be on display at Milton City Hall, 2006 Heritage Walk, Milton, GA 30004, and online at miltonga.gov/elections. Citizens are encouraged and invited to view the map in person or online. Following two consecutive weeks of notice in the legal organ, a final resolution establishing the above Fulton County precincts and polling places as the City of Milton precincts and polling places for the 2025 municipal election will be considered for adoption at the September 3, 2025, public meeting of the City Council. Any person with questions or comments regarding the municipal election precincts and polling places may contact miltonelections@miltonga.gov or (678) 242-2500.

VALERIE BIGGERSTAFF Columnist

What you learn when you ask ChatGPT a good question

RAY APPEN Publisher Emeritus ray@appenmedia.com

OK, many of us already use or have used the most popular/best known AI app out there – ChatGPT, right? So here is the first question on your AI IQ test.

What does the “GPT” stand for?

So, full disclosure, my knowledge of artificial intelligence is, at best, modest. I have read news stories about it in the New York Times, Wall Street Journal and The Economist these past couple years, as well as several of my online news sources including Bloomberg. Until this week, my knowledge essentially was that AI was sort of like a new Google search, except that instead of just spitting out a topic-specific definition of sorts, AI could go the next step and, after crawling the web for relevant information to your query, it could reply in narrative form that processed many relevant pieces of data from the internet and synthesized a summary based on that.

Can you write my term paper for me?

Of course, I had also read about all sorts of things that AI (ChatGPT) could do in response to a command such as “write a high school level research paper that would be appropriate for my AP high school American literature assignment which is …” Or what I heard my wife ask ChatGPT yesterday, “I have these ingredients available. What can I make with these for dinner, and how do I make it?”

Advice to CEOs

One of my friends who is a CEO of a company that runs many medical practices told me that he asks ChatGPT for advice on how to conduct annual staff evaluations. He describes the personality of each staff person to ChatGPT – their Enneagram number or their

Myers-Briggs status if he has them. Then, ChatGPT coaches him on how to communicate with each particular employee. He told me that it has greatly improved the evaluations and saved him massive amounts of time.

The possibilities, of course, are endless.

I asked Chat the following question: “What can you tell me about Ray Appen?” Within a couple seconds I got a lengthy overview about me. It surprised me – in a good way!

“Ray Appen is a media entrepreneur….. His media outlets focus on local news, government, education, and community issues – a rarity in today’s shrinking local news landscape… Appen Media has been recognized for sustaining independent local journalism despite national trends of consolidation…. Ray Appen is known for advocating civic engagement and free speech.”

I then asked ChatGPT, “What can I say to my readers about how critical – how absolutely critical – their contributions and support are to helping Appen Media survive into the future and continue producing honest, reliable, accountability local journalism? I asked it to limit the response to 200 words. Here is what I got:

Why Your Support Matters

At Appen Media, we believe that strong communities start with informed citizens. That’s why we’re committed to producing honest, independent journalism that holds power to account and keeps you connected to what matters most — your schools, your local government, your neighbors.

But producing quality, reliable reporting isn’t free. It takes time, resources, and a team of dedicated journalists who live and work in the same communities we cover. Unlike national outlets or social media, we’re not backed by billionaires or driven by clicks — we’re driven by a mission to serve you.

Your support — whether through a one-time donation or a monthly contribution — is not just helpful. It’s essential. It keeps reporters in the field, holds elected officials accountable and ensures local voices are heard. Without it, our ability to cover your city council, your school board, your community — truthfully and without bias — is at substantial risk.

If you value trustworthy local journalism, please consider supporting us today. Because when local news disappears, so does local accountability.

Thank you for standing with us.

— The Appen Media Team”

I couldn’t have said it better myself. Succent, truthful, and honest. Chat summarized very accurately what’s at stake at Appen – and all local media – and how you can help your local journalism – your local newspaper survive and continue to serve you. That’s not just words; it is reality. We need the community to support us so we can do our jobs – for you.

Please act now!

Please use this link to go to our website and join your neighbors in supporting us with an annual, monthly, or one time contribution. Our goal is to be able to sustain one full-time reporter per city via your donations and support. For the cost of a few cups of Starbucks a week or one dinner out a month, you can make a long-lasting impact on supporting your local news.

Here is the web address of the contribution page: https://tinyurl.com/AppenLinkContribute

Or you can mail a check to Appen News, 319 North Main Street, Alpharetta, GA 30009. In the subject line please put this: “Appen Press Club”

So, what does the GPT in ChatGPT stand for? “Generative Pre-Trained Transformer”! More on that later.

THANK YOU so very much and sincerely for considering supporting our efforts to keep local news alive. — Ray Appen and the Appen Media Team

Braving July heat, stream provides welcome relief

STEVE HUDSON Columnist

The other day, and despite the heat, I decide to get outside for a while after lunch.

I know, I know. This time of year, doing anything at all outdoors means dealing with sweltering summertime heat. It’s humid and sweltering. It makes you uncomfortable. It makes it hard merely to breathe. Yeah. The fact is that this time of year, it’s just too darned hot.

Soon it’s time to begin the walk back. Leaving the cool water, heat again trumps all. Sweat returns, and by the time I reach the car, I feel like leading man in a one-act play set in a planet-sized doubleboiler. But again, the car’s AC provides relief. Soon comfort and joy return. On the way home, I stop by the grocery store to pick up the makings of supper. And then, just because its close, I decide to make a quick stop at the thrift store. I’ve come to love thrift stores. I have this hope that someday I’ll walk in and there’ll be a pile of handmade bamboo flyrods with a sign that says “Fishing Poles – $2 each.” It hasn’t happened yet. But it could. And if it does, I have a fiver in my pocket. That would cover two rods and tax too. Maybe I’d even let them round it up and give them the whole thing. GET OUTSIDE, GEORGIA!

Still, I feel the need to break free of the keyboard. But to where? Maybe Stamp Creek? Over off Highway 20, it flows sedately through the Allatoona Wildlife Management Area on its way to Allatoona Lake. The creek should be cool – at least enough to knock the edge off the heat.

Wading in a creek on a sweltering July day is a pleasant prospect, all things considered. But over even that, there hangs a question: Will the creek hold any fish?

You know about me and fishing. You know I’ll just have to find out. On my way out I retrieve one of the fly rods. I also pick up an Altoids box full of flies. Dad used to carry flies in little metal Kodak film cans, though these days those metal cans are darned near impossible to find. Plastic ones show up now and then, but plastic’s not quite the same. So I’ve gravitated to Altoids boxes. They do fine too.

Is that everything? I think so. I open the garage door, and a wave of heat rolls in and swallows me up. And when I open the car door a minute later, an even more determined blast of superheated air hits me full in the face. Am I having fun yet? I will be, in a minute, once the car’s AC works its magic.

I start the engine and turn the “cold” knob all the way to 10. Unseen machinery whirrs into motion, fighting against the sweltering air, and slowly prevails.

Only then, secure in my bubble of cool air, do I set out for Stamp Creek.

The piece of Stamp Creek I’ll visit on this searing July day is accessed from parking areas near the Ga. 20 bridge. There are small parking areas on the south side of the highway on both sides of the creek. I pick the one to the west and pull off the pavement. I grab the rod, too, and then make my way downhill toward water. In an instant I’m sweating. It’s just hot.

But then I’m at the edge of the stream. Left or right? I toss a mental coin and turn left, downstream, toward the expansive waters of the lake.

The creek is cool and soothing, a perfect respite from the heat. I work my way along, in no hurry, casting now and then. Small sunfish are responsive. The day is

good, for I am catching fish and (thanks to the creek) I am cool.

each answer (the answers in line 1 are 5, 5 and 4 letters). The clues are numbered 1 through 7, with each number containing 3 clues for the 3 answers on the line. But here’s the catch! The clues are not in order - so the first clue in Line 1 may (or may not) actually be for the second or third answer in that line. Got it? Good luck!

TOOLS

1. River feature. Croupier’s tool. Hate.

2. Fireman’s tool. Family member. Conundrum.

3. Small whirlpool. Carpenter’s tool. Man of morals.

4. Dentist’s tool. Chess piece. Wanderer.

5. Saintly topper. Plumber’s tool. Killer whale.

6. Sculptor’s tool. Voting group. Sign of healing.

7. Command to a horse. Priest’s superior. Farmer’s tool.

1 River feature. Croupier’s tool. Hate

2. Fireman’s tool. Family member. Conundrum

How to Solve: Each line in the puzzle above has three clues and three answers. The last letter in the first answer on each line is the first letter of the second answer, and so on. The connecting letter is outlined, giving you the correct number of letters for each answer (the answers in line 1 are 4, 5 and 5 letters). The clues are numbered 1 through 7, which each number containing 3 clues for the 3 answers on the line. But here’s the catch! The clues are not in order - so the first clue in Line 1 may (or may not) actually be for the second or third answer in that line. Got it? Good luck!

3. Small whirlpool. Carpenter’s tool. Man of morals

4. Dentist’s tool. Chess piece. Wanderer

5. Saintly topper. Plumber’s tool. Killer whale

6. Sculptor’s tool. Voting group. Sign of healing

7. Command to a horse. Priest’s superior.

OPINION

Tips for engaging children in gardening activities

Gardening is more than just a fun outdoor activity. It’s an excellent way to engage children in hands-on learning and teach them valuable life skills. From sowing seeds to watching plants grow, gardening provides an immersive experience that fosters a love for nature, curiosity and responsibility. Here's how you can engage children in gardening and make it an exciting, educational journey.

Start simple with easy-to-grow plants

For beginners, it’s important to choose plants that are easy for children to handle. Flowers like sunflowers, marigolds, or zinnias are vibrant and grow quickly, offering instant gratification. Vegetables like tomatoes, beans, radishes, carrots or lettuce are also rewarding, as children can harvest their crops in a few weeks. Let children participate in every step of the gardening process: digging, planting, watering and caring for the plants. Children are more likely to eat vegetables they grow themselves. A 4-year-old may surprise you and eat a radish or lettuce when you never thought she would.

Incorporate fun, creativity in projects

Gardening doesn’t have to be all about the plants themselves. Children love creativity, so incorporate fun projects like designing a themed garden. Create a Fairy Garden with miniature decorations, or build a vegetable garden in the shape of a star or plant. Plant a Pizza Garden in the shape of a pizza. You could plant tomatoes, basil and peppers in the garden that you can use making a pizza.

Let kids use colorful plant markers to label their plants or design their own garden signs. You can even create a seed bomb by mixing clay, compost and wildflower seeds into small balls, which children can leave in various areas of the garden for the rain to wash the clay away and germinate wildflowers.

Teach valuable lessons about nature

Gardening offers a unique opportunity to teach children about the environment and the science of plant growth. You can explain how plants need sunlight, water and soil to thrive, and show how these elements work together. In addition, you can introduce basic concepts like photosynthesis, pollination and composting. Your child may already know these words if they are in elementary school.

Teaching children about beneficial insects such as bees, butterflies and ladybugs can also spark their interest in the ecosystem and biodiversity. By introducing them to the plant growth cycle, you help them understand the interconnectedness of all living things. Consider participating in the Great Southeast Pollinator Census on August 22-23. You can do this at home or attend one of the many public events in your area, such as the one on Saturday, Aug. 23 at the Sandy Springs Farmers Market, 1 Galambos Way, Sandy Springs, GA 30328. Children can help us count and do fun activities. Visit https://gsepc.org/ for details about doing the Pollinator Census at home.

Foster responsibility and patience

Gardening instills a sense of responsibility as children take on the task of caring for their plants. Wa-

tering them regularly, checking for pests and ensuring the soil remains healthy all require consistent attention. Additionally, gardening teaches patience. Unlike many instant gratification activities, gardening takes time. Watching a plant grow slowly from a tiny seed into a blooming flower or a ripening tomato can teach children the value of persistence and the rewards of waiting.

Incorporate learning opportunities

Use gardening as an educational tool beyond science. Introduce or enhance math skills by measuring plant growth or counting seeds and plants. Gardening can also help with reading and language skills, particularly if you have children label plants or read gardening books together. Check out books at your local library, and read them together. Fun books include “The Great Pollinator Census” by Susan Edwards Richmond and “The Saved Seed” by Brenda Moore.

Create a sense of accomplishment

One of the most rewarding aspects of gardening is the sense of accomplishment that children feel when they see their plants flourish. Whether it's picking ripe fruit, seeing flowers bloom or simply admiring the beauty of a well-tended garden, these moments can boost a child's self-esteem and provide a sense of pride.

Gardening is a powerful tool for engaging children in meaningful outdoor activities while also fostering a deeper connection with the environment. By combining

creativity, learning and responsibility, gardening provides a wonderful opportunity for kids to explore the natural world and develop essential life skills. Through gardening, children not only learn how to care for plants but also gain a greater appreciation for the world around them.

Happy Gardening!

North Fulton Master Gardeners, Inc. is a Georgia nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization whose purpose is to educate its members and the public in the areas of horticulture and ecology in order to promote and foster community enrichment. Master Gardener Volunteers are trained and certified by The University of Georgia Cooperative Extension. Learn more at nfmg.net. Previous Garden Buzz columns are featured at https://appenmedia.com/ opinion/columnists/garden_buzz/.

Save the Date: The 2025 Great Southeast Pollinator Census is August 22-23.

About the author

This week’s “Garden Buzz” guest columnist is Chris Adams, a Master Gardener for almost 20 years and a Sandy Springs resident. She loves to teach gardening classes, especially to children. She can be found once a month April-October at the Sandy Springs Farmers Market helping the children with a fun nature-based activity.

CHRIS ADAMS Guest Columnist

PHOTOS BY: CHRIS ADAMS/PROVIDED Planting tomatoes at the Sandy Springs Farmers Market

Dressed up and ready to count pollinators at Lost Corner Preserve

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Rita Loventhal

Brenda Lundy

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Kyile Marshall

Julie Martin

Carla Masecar

Valerie Matthews

William Maxwell

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Austin McCully

Diane McDonald

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Anne Peer

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Sergey Savin

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Al Merrill

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Joe Modica

Fred Moeller

Sarah Moen

Catherine Moore

Carol Morgan

Kathy Morgan

Stu Moring

Leslie Mullis

Donna Murphy

Jack Murphy

Aileen Nakamura

Cindy Nolan North

Fulton Master Gardners, Inc.

Tricia Novarro

Bob O’Brien

Anne Pappas

Lynn Pennington

Jonathan Peters

Kurt & Leslie Phillips

Mary & Jan Phillips

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Chuck Pugh

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Righteous PR

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The Schoenblum Family

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Susan Searles

Tina Shelton

Lisa Shippel

Joanne Simmons

To join go to appenmedia.com/join and follow the prompts to select your membership level and select your t-shirt size! Questions? Email Hans Appen at hans@appenmedia.com or call 770-442-3278.

Williams

Tom Simon

Cindy Simpson

Robert Singleton

Faye Sklar

Mitchel Skyer

Judith Slaughter

Andy Smith

Gena Spears

Donald Spencer

Melissa Spencer

Gloria Stathos

Robert Stevens

Wesley Stewart

Cathryn Stovall

Celeste Strohl

Diana Sullivan

Andy Sumlin

Mike Tasos

Candice Teichert

The Small Business Advisor

William Tietjen

Lisa Tilt

Michael Townes

Trunnion LLC

Matthew Tyser

Ollie Wagner

Lewis Walker

Jonathan Washburn

Michael Watson

Michael Weiss

Herbert Wells

Sally White

Thom White

Umpika White

Christine Williams

Jamie Wimberly

Jonathan Winkie

Nancy & Dave Wistrand

Theresa Woolridge

Carla York

Jonathan Young

Hudson:

Continued from Page 16

I park in the shade of a big tree. Just the other side of the tree is what appears to be a homeless guy fanning himself with a floppy piece of cardboard. He appears to be…wilted. But it’s no big deal. We see that kind of thing all the time here in the promised land.

As I get out of the car, he calls out.

“Brother,” he says, “could you spare a dollar?”

Well. I could, but I don’t. Instead, I walk toward the store, moving away until the voice by the tree is lost in the general noise.

The store’s entryway is one of those airlock-style double doors designed to keep outside stuff outside. As I approach, the outer doors open, letting me in. Immediately the air is cooler. Then the inner doors open too. I step through them into blessed coolness, surrounded by the castoffs of others, searching for fire-sale pricing on things I don’t even need.

I make a quick run through the store. Nothing catches my eye. So I turn to go, back through the airlock that isolates the comfort inside from the inferno beyond.

Yeah, it’s hot. But don’t they say that heat refines?

I reach the car and can’t help but look toward the tree. The homeless guy is still there. He sees me, and he says again, “Brother, could you spare a dollar?”

And I stop.

I know what you are thinking: Don’t feed the need. Don’t be an enabler. Don’t fall for it. Don’t. He will just take the money and fritter it away.

No one will condemn me, I say to myself, if I just get in the car and go. I’ve got the power – the power to do what I want with my five-dollar bill.

I open the car door and settle into the seat. I crank the engine. Cold air pours from the vents.

So heat refines?

I sigh, and I open the car door again. I climb out, back into the miserable July afternoon. I reach into my pocket and pull out the fiver and walk 7 yards and give it away.

“Thanks, brother,” he says.

Did I throw away five dollars?

“You’ve been had,” you are thinking. “He played you.”

Maybe. Maybe not.

As I get back into my air-conditioned kingdom, with my groceries on the seat beside me, on the way home to my comfortable house and my cozy life and my prospects for tomorrow, I think again of the guy under the tree.

Sure, I gave him five dollars.

Maybe I did it for him. But maybe I did it for me.

Locally Owned and Operated

Pre-planning

Police:

Continued from Page 4

Insofar as funding, the City Council will hold its first millage rate presentation and public hearings Aug. 4 at 9 a.m. and 6 p.m. Adoption of a final rate will follow a third public hearing Aug. 11 at 6 p.m.

“[We will] adopt the millage rate for calendar year 2025, which will fund fiscal year 2026 activity,” Harvill said.

The advertised millage rate for 2025 is 4.193 mills, a decrease from last year’s rate of 4.389 mills.

State law requires Milton to advertise a rollback property tax rate of 3.923 mills, which would generate the same amount of revenue as last year. So, technically, the city must advertise this year’s proposed rate as a tax increase.

The proposed tax increase for a fair market value home of $925,000 is approximately $99.90. An increase of approximately $97.20 is proposed for a non-homestead property with a fair market value of $900,000.

The city will hold two public hearings

for the 2026 budget at 6 p.m. Sept. 3 and 15. The City Council will adopt the budget at the Sept. 15 meeting.

All meetings will be at City Hall.

Following the budget discussion, the City Council approved the reimbursement of $4.9 million into the Capital Projects Fund with unallocated Greenspace Bond funding.

The funds are related to the property on Hopewell Road that the city had planned to convert into a park. On May 19, city officials chose to cancel the sale of 38.92 acres on Hopewell Road and direct staff to preserve the properties through the formal use of Greenspace Bond funding.

During public comment, neighbor Cindy Hester thanked the City Council for their decision to preserve the land.

“It'll continue to help not only us but future generations,” Hester said. “It'll help us to stay connected to the land and try to maintain a way of life that is going away in the world today.”

Public Works Director Leaders said that the reimbursed funds could go toward projects such as the Deerfield Implementation Plan.

info@northsidechapel.com www.northsidechapel.com

During these turbulent times, we would like to highlight the continued courage and commitment of everyone who works in the health care, law enforcement, childcare, food service and utility sectors. We are extremely grateful.

DEATH NOTICES

Bennett Boyd, age 55, of Alpharetta, GA passed away on July 17, 2025. Arrangements by Northside Chapel Funeral Directors & Crematory.

Sydney DeSouza, age 88, of Alpharetta, GA passed away on July 18, 2025. Arrangements by Northside Chapel Funeral Directors & Crematory.

Richard Dey, age 90, of Alpharetta, GA passed away on July 22, 2025. Arrangements by Northside Chapel Funeral Directors & Crematory.

Patrick Hawes, age 77 of Roswell, GA passed away on July 16, 2025. Arrangements by Northside Chapel Funeral Directors & Crematory.

Shaila Pandit, age 80, of Alpharetta, GA passed away on July 18, 2025. Arrangements by Northside Chapel Funeral Directors & Crematory.

Susan Stinecipher, age 53, of Alpharetta, GA passed away on July 17, 2025. Arrangements by Northside Chapel Funeral Directors & Crematory.

Elizabeth Towater, age 80, of Milton, GA passed away on July 19, 2025. Arrangements by Northside Chapel Funeral Directors & Crematory.

Lori Young, 66, Roswell, GA passed away on July 21, 2025. Arrangements by Northside Chapel Funeral Directors & Crematory.

Ellis:

Continued from Page 1

Commission Chairman Robb Pitts, a Democrat, joined North Fulton’s Republican commissioners Ellis and Bridget Thorne, to oppose capping this year’s levy 1 mill higher than county staff’s recommendation.

Property owners pay taxes to help finance the county’s general fund, which pays for maintenance and operations. The general fund budget is expected to total $974 million this year. Property taxes make up the fund’s largest revenue source, taking in close to $700 million.

If commissioners raise the property tax rate by 1 mill, revenues are expected to increase just under $80 million.

Fulton County’s fiscal year begins in January, meaning the budget is fed with revenues collected in the fall. Before the county can collect taxes, it must set a millage rate.

The county commissioners voting in favor of the 1-mill rate cap – Marvin Arrington Jr., Dana Barrett, Mo Ivory and Khadijah Abdur-Rahman – cited a need to fund jail improvements and other programs amid potential cuts in federal funding.

Ellis, who has represented District 1 since 2015, said addressing the Fulton County Jail and its federally mandated upgrades will be handled in upcoming budget cycles. He said if the county collects an additional $80 million this year, the budget will have to be adjusted to spend the funds.

“Our finances are in solid shape. We’ve got solid credit ratings [and] a solid fund balance,” Ellis said. “Yes, we have needs ahead of us that people want to point to and say, ‘oh, the county somehow in crisis and all that.’ But these are generally things that we’re going to be doing from a capital standpoint. They don’t have anything to do with the 2025 budget.”

During a July 23 interview with Appen Media, Ellis said the proposed tax hike affects residents countywide, not just District 1 in North Fulton.

Citing data shared with county commissioners in May, he said expenses are tracking below budget, coming in around 35 percent through 42 percent of the fiscal year.

“I think it’s totally unnecessary, and it flies in the face of the budget we adopted,” Ellis said. “There is no gap in revenue needed to meet our budget if we hold it at 8.87 [mills].”

A tax rate of 1 mill represents a tax liability of $1 per $1,000 of assessed value on property.

While new state laws do not allow the taxable value of a homesteaded property to increase more than the inflation rate each year, no matter how much the home gains in real value, property owners are not protected from a hike in the millage rate.

Both North Fulton commissioners told Appen Media in July they think District 6 Commissioner Abdur-Rahman will vote to keep the millage rate flat, after her response to public opposition. Four votes are needed to adopt a final rate.

County Commissioner Ivory, representing Midtown and downtown Atlanta in District 4, indicated she is looking for three other commissioners to join her motion to adopt the 1-mill increase.

Some Fulton County residents — homeowners and renters — have made it clear that they cannot afford a tax hike and may have to move.

Nearly 50 people stopped by Assembly Hall off Pryor Street in downtown Atlanta July 9 to speak in opposition to the proposed tax increase. Another 274 signed up to comment via Zoom.

Chairman Pitts, in a July 15 meeting recap, said he has received hundreds of emails from constituents voicing their strong opposition to the tax hike.

“During my tenure with Fulton County, I can tell you that this amount of participation in public comment is truly unprecedented,” Pitts said, adding that he agrees with public opposition. “The participants hailed from every city and all corners of Fulton County, and the overwhelming majority of them have one thing in common — they are downright angry that the Board of Commissioners has proposed a property tax increase of over 12 percent.”

Pitts called the 1-mill increase “unwise and unjust,” adding that county staff advised elected officials that there is no need for an increase.

The third and final public hearing before adoption of the 2025 millage rate will take place during the Aug. 6 Board of Commissioners meeting. Following the public hearing, county commissioners will vote to adopt the official rate.

PUBLIC NOTICE

THE CITY OF MILTON WILL HOLD A

SPECIAL CALLED COUNCIL MEETING

AUGUST 4, 2025

9:00 AM AT CITY HALL

COUNCIL CHAMBERS 2006 HERITAGE WALK

MILTON, GEORGIA 30004

County Commissioner Bob Ellis says a bid to allow Fulton County to raise property taxes by 12 percent this year makes no sense. Ellis, who represents the western half of North Fulton, says the financial picture for 2025 remains strong. The County Commission will formally adopt a property tax rate Aug. 6.

Request for Proposals

Milton Fire-Rescue Structural Personal Protective Equipment

RFP NUMBER 25-FD01

Proposal Due Date: August 28, 2025, by 2:00PM Local Time

Electronic submission via: https://www.miltonga.gov/government/finance/bidsrfps

Names for submissions received will be publicly announced via a virtual bid opening at approximately 2:30 PM at the City of Milton City Hall located at 2006 Heritage Walk, Milton, GA 30004. The City reserves the right to reject any and all proposals. If the contract is awarded, it will be awarded to the highest scoring Offeror whose proposal meets the requirements and criteria set forth in the request for proposals.

The City of Milton is seeking proposals from qualified parties to provide structural fire gear and related items on an as needed basis for the Milton Fire-Rescue Department.

All qualified proposals will receive consideration without regard to age, handicap, religion, creed or belief, political affiliation, race, color, sex, or national origin. The request for electronic proposals for RFP 25-FD01, Milton Fire-Rescue Structural Personal Protective Equipment will be posted on the following websites the week of July 31, 2025: https://www.miltonga.gov/government/finance/bids-rfps and https://ssl.doas.state.ga.us/gpr/

Request for Proposals

Concession Operations for Bell Memorial Park

RFP NUMBER 25-PRO1

Proposal Due Date:

August 26, 2025, by 2:00PM Local Time

Electronic submission via: https://www.miltonga.gov/government/finance/bidsrfps

Names for submissions received will be publicly announced via a virtual bid opening at approximately 2:30 PM at the City of Milton City Hall located at 2006 Heritage Walk, Milton, GA 30004. The City reserves the right to reject any and all proposals. If the contract is awarded, it will be awarded to the highest scoring Offeror whose proposal meets the requirements and criteria set forth in the request for proposals.

The City of Milton is seeking proposals from qualified parties to provide services for concession stand operations at Bell Memorial Park for the Milton Parks and Recreation Department. Bell Memorial Park is located at 15245 Bell Park Drive in Milton, Georgia.

All qualified proposals will receive consideration without regard to age, handicap, religion, creed or belief, political affiliation, race, color, sex, or national origin. The request for electronic proposals for RFP 25-PRO1, Concession Operations for Bell Memorial Park will be posted on the following websites the week of July 31, 2025: https://www.miltonga.gov/government/finance/bids-rfps and https://ssl.doas.state.ga.us/gpr/

HAYDEN SUMLIN/APPEN MEDIA

Vice President of Client Programs

NFCC is seeking a qualified candidate to fill the fulltime Vice President of Client Programs position. The Vice President of Client Programs (VPCP) is a senior leader responsible for creating and implementing the Client Services department strategy for NFCC. This includes creating programs and services, monitoring their effectiveness and ensuring funds are distributed appropriately. The VPCP also leads a team of 13 client services staff who handle client intake, case management, impact and outcomes data, education (GED/English classes) and workforce development programs.

If this sounds like the role for you, we’d love to hear from you! Please submit your resume to jobs@nfcchelp.org

Workforce Development Coordinator

NFCC is seeking a qualified candidate to fill the fulltime Workforce Development Coordinator position. The Workforce Development Coordinator serves as a crucial link between NFCC clients, Volunteer Coaches, and local employers.

The Coordinator collaborates with community businesses to identify hiring opportunities while working closely with Volunteer Coaches who deliver career readiness services including resume writing, job application assistance, and interview preparation. Through these efforts, the Coordinator helps clients improve their employment prospects that may lead to greater financial stability.

If this sounds like the role for you, we’d love to hear from you! Please submit your resume to jobs@nfcchelp.org

Senior System Engineering needed by AT&T Services, Inc. in Alpharetta, GA [Hybrid Position] to be responsible for translating the core architecture for business requirements into the final technical solution (consisting of platform, network, software, cloud, etc.) through functional, performance, and reliability analysis using engineering models and techniques, primarily through software development throughout the vertical stack. Apply at http://att.jobs/, select JOB SEARCH and APPLY and select Search by Requisition Number at the left bottom of the page and enter Job Number: R-64826.

Administrative Assistant

NFCC is seeking a qualified candidate to fill the full-time Administrative Assistant position. The responsibilities of this critical role are to provide a wide variety of administrative tasks primarily to the President and other department leaders as needed. Duties include board meeting preparation, report preparation, general correspondence.

The Administrative Assistant takes initiative, can multitask and remain very organized. They play a vital role in helping keep the NFCC leadership team organized and productive.

If you have a bachelor’s degree in business administration, communications or another relevant field, at least two years of administrative experience and enjoy project management and coordination, we’d love to hear from you! Please submit your resume to jobs@nfcchelp.org

Senior System Engineering needed by AT&T Services, Inc. in Alpharetta, GA [Hybrid Position] to design, develop, document, and analyze overall architecture of systems including hardware and software. Apply at http://att.jobs/, select JOB SEARCH and APPLY and select Search by Requisition Number at the left bottom of the page and enter Job Number: R-68783.

Lead Software Engineering needed by AT&T Services, Inc. in Alpharetta, GA [Hybrid position] to design, develop, test, deploy, and troubleshoot applications with a focus on automation. Apply at http://att.jobs/, select JOB SEARCH and APPLY and select Search by Requisition Number at the left bottom of the page and enter Job Number: R-67911.

Big Data Software Engineer needed by AT&T Services, Inc. in Alpharetta, GA [Hybrid] to design, build, and present on-prem to Data transformation solutions, systems, and applications to address customer needs. Apply at http://att.jobs/, select JOB SEARCH and APPLY and select Search by Requisition Number at the left bottom of the page and enter Job Number: R-70983.

To place a classified ad, email classifieds@appenmedia.com. Deadline is Thursdays by 3pm

Sawnee EMC is seeking an Accounts Receivable Clerk to reconcile consumer accounts and process members’ transactions (i.e., Cash, Check, Credit Card, or Money Order). Will supply information to customers and resolve customer inquiries through face-to-face communication. Requires: high school diploma or equivalency, proficiency in mathematics, monetary, and general office skills. A minimum of two years of related experience preferred. Position is full-time; must be flexible to work irregular hours, to include evenings and weekends.

Applicants must complete an application prior to 5 PM, August 8, 2025. Apply online: www.sawnee.coop/careers. If you require a paper application or an alternate format, please contact us at 770-887-2363 extension 7568.

Sawnee Electric Membership Corporation is an Equal Opportunity Employer including Disabled and Protected Veterans. Sawnee EMC is VEVRAA Federal Contractor. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. Drug Free Workplace.

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If you love working with children, Midway Preschool is hiring Assistant Teachers.Call Beth @ 770-752-0440 or email beth@midwayumc.org

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