Milton Herald - May 28, 2026

Custodial staffs recognized for district’s cleanest schools

FULTON COUNTY, Ga. — Two North Fulton schools were awarded the Jerry Coker Award for Custodial Excellence in May for scoring the highest on cleanliness across the district.

Across two inspections, Crabapple Middle School in Roswell scored the highest average with a custodial team led by Ned Zahirovic. The school’s principal, Stephanie Haga, said she is grateful for their commitment and pride the custodial staff brings to Crabapple Middle.

"We are proud to be recognized as the cleanest school in the district,” Haga said. “This honor reflects the dedication and hard work of our incredible custodial team. They go above and beyond each day to create a safe, healthy and welcoming environment for our students and staff.”

Sal Sapina and the custodial staff at Hembree Springs Elementary School, also in Roswell, scored second. Global Impact Academy in Fairburn placed third.

See STAFF, Page 24

Milton approves $3.4 million for annual road improvements

By HANNAH YAHNE hannah@appenmedia.com

MILTON, Ga. — The Milton City Council approved a contract with Blount Construction May 18 to complete the city’s annual road resurfacing and reconstruction with a budget of nearly $3.4 million.

It was the largest contract included on the council meeting’s consent agenda, which included multiple transportation contracts.

Planned improvements include roads in four subdivisions: Sable Pointe North, Henderson

Heights, South Holcombe Farms and Waterside. Roadway improvements include Hopewell Road between the roundabouts at Birmingham Road and Hamby Road; on Deerfield Parkway between Ga. 9 and Webb Road; and on Thompson Road near the Hopewell Road roundabout.

Funding will come from the city’s capital fund, the Local Maintenance and Improvement Grant and Transportation Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax (TSPLOST) II.

See MILTON, Page 26

FULTON COUNTY SCHOOLS/PROVIDED

Crabapple Middle School custodian Selma Sahinovic accepts the Jerry Coker Award for Custodial Excellence in May on behalf of head custodian Ned Zahirovic (not pictured) from Fulton County Schools officials and staff in May.

OKSANA SOLOVEI/PROVIDED

City Clerk Tammy Lowit calls items from the agenda for the May 18 City Council meeting where officials approved multiple contracts related to local transportation projects.

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Sheriff’s sergeant accused of attacking detainee

FULTON COUNTY, Ga. — A former Fulton County Sheriff’s sergeant is accused of punching a detainee and directing his subordinates to deactivate their body-worn cameras.

Louis Brown III, a 41-year-old Smyrna resident, was arraigned May 15, the U.S. Department of Justice said. A federal grand jury indicted Brown May 12 on a charge of depriving a person of civil rights under color of law.

Brown was working at the Fulton

County Courthouse June 4 when he allegedly repeatedly punched and slapped a handcuffed detainee. Brown ordered deputies to turn off their cameras in order to get away with the assault, the department said.

Nevertheless, one deputy’s camera recorded the attack and showed the detainee was compliant and nonthreatening, the department said.

The Fulton County Sheriff’s Office use-of-force policy forbids force when

a person is compliant and not resisting arrest.

U.S. Attorney Theodore S. Hertzberg said law enforcement officers who violate the public’s trust must be held accountable.

“Brown allegedly betrayed his badge by punching a handcuffed detainee without justification and by directing his subordinates to turn off their body-worn cameras to try to get away with his crime,” he said.

— Jon Wilcox

Alpharetta couple charged with money laundering

ALPHARETTA, Ga. — Two Alpharetta residents are accused in a scheme to launder drug money through group homes for at-risk children.

Kristin Draper has been arraigned on federal charges for allegedly conspiring to launder money with her boyfriend Antwaun Brown, the U.S. Department of Justice said May 19.

An investigation allegedly revealed Draper used the funds to purchase a $3 million home in Forsyth County and a Lamborghini SUV worth more than $200,000. She was arrested March 21 while driving the SUV with nearly

Alteration business owner reports theft of dresses

ALPHARETTA, Ga. — The owner of an Alpharetta clothing alteration business reported the theft of six prom dresses April 25.

Alpharetta police were dispatched to the Haynes Bridge Road business about 1:20 p.m.

The woman said an employee was working on the dresses at her Woodstock home and sent them back

10 pounds of fentanyl inside, the department said.

Brown is a felon with state and federal convictions for trafficking crack cocaine and heroin. He faces federal drug charges related to the 2025 seizure of a large amount of fentanyl in Sandy Springs.

Draper is the owner of Reflections Group Home and operates three group homes in Dayton, Ohio. The facilities have space for 15 children.

Draper allegedly earned more than $1 million from Reflections in 2024.

A grand jury returned a superseding

POLICE BLOTTER

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

after work was completed. The dresses were sent using a rideshare app.

The app showed the driver stopped after traveling most of the way to the business, police said.

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indictment against Brown and Draper in May.

U.S. Attorney Theodore S. Hertzberg said Draper was entrusted with protecting children but used her position to profit off the sale of illegal drugs.

“My office will continue to work tirelessly to aggressively prosecute the drug dealers who poison our communities, as well as the money launderers who facilitate crime by concealing the proceeds of illicit activity,” Hertzberg said.

— Jon Wilcox

The driver nor the dresses ever arrived, police said.

The business owner was forced to repay the owners for the dresses and additional funds because the prom was scheduled for April 25.

Four of the dresses were valued at a total of $3,300. Police were awaiting cost estimates for the remaining two.

The incident was classified as a felony theft by taking.

— Jon Wilcox

Milton cross country team to co-sponsor charity run

By HANNAH YAHNE hannah@appenmedia.com

MILTON, Ga. — For the first time, the cross country team at Milton High School is opening its course to the public June 27 for a charity run benefitting two local nonprofits.

Donations will be split between the Stella Love Food Pantry in Roswell and the Pedal Forward Foundation, a nonprofit directed by one of the team’s captains, Jonathan Thai.

The charity 5K hopes to bring together more than 150 walkers and runners to experience one of the toughest courses in the state.

Fellow team captain Tyler Nix said this year that the six captains wanted to get the team more involved with the community and actively give back to where they grew up.

“We wanted to do something that stands out from what people have done in the past,” Nix said.

So, when Stella Love’s Pantry Director Jeong Lee approached Thai about hosting a fundraiser, the partnership came naturally.

The two nonprofits serve similar populations, Lee said. Clients at the food pantry have signed up their kids for bike

How to sign up

Visit: runsignup.com/Race/GA/Alpharetta/PedalForwardandStellaLoveNonprofit and register for the 5K fun run/walk. Entry is $50 for the 5K, and kids can enter a 1K fun run/walk for $40. The kids’ race will begin at 7 a.m., followed by the 5K at 7:30 a.m.

lessons at Pedal Forward camps, and Thai has raffled off bikes at previous Stelle Love holiday gatherings.

“I thought that this would be the

perfect opportunity to make our mark,” Thai said. “And, really, turn running not just about running itself, but giving back to the community and making the team

kind of larger than it already is.”

Donations raised will be split between Stella Love Food Pantry and the Pedal Forward Foundation.

At Stella Love, Lee said donations will go toward stocking up on dry goods, such as rice, cereal and diapers, and providing food for 200-250 families each week. It will also allow them to continue expanding their initiatives and provide services, including English classes for adults and tutoring, to a larger portion of North Fulton.

“Every dollar gets poured back in to the work that we do,” Lee said.

Nix said he has seen what these donations can do for people.

“This will definitely have a huge impact,” Nix said. “I’ve seen the things it can do for people’s lives, so I’m just excited to make a difference … and actually help people out.”

Donations to the Pedal Forward Foundation will provide bikes and helmets to underprivileged youth at no cost so they can learn how to ride. Thai said one of the most rewarding parts will be seeing the donations have an impact on local families in need.

“It’s families helping families and cross country bringing all of these families together,” Thai said.

HANNAH YAHNE/APPEN MEDIA

From left, Milton High School cross country captains Tyler Nix, Will Chambers, Jonathan Thai, Ava Kane, Aubrey Milman and Claire Falor are organizing the team’s first charity run June 27 to support the Pedal Forward Foundation and the Stella Love Food Pantry.

Davenport is pleased to announce

Doug Gedhardt has been promoted to SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT, PUBLIC FINANCE

Miller Levitt has been promoted to ASSOCIATE VICE PRESIDENT, PUBLIC FINANCE

Milton artist’s works featured at University of Buffalo gallery

MILTON, Ga. — The University of Buffalo will showcase an exhibit by a Milton artist.

The university’s art gallery will host “Clayton Pond: A Retrospective,” an exhibit that includes the artist’s colorful paintings, screenprints and sculptures. The exhibit is on display through July 31.

Born in 1941 in Bayside, New York, Pond moved to the Milton area after his family relocated there. In Milton, he installed his studio on the lower level of his home and produced his distinctively personal paintings in oil and acrylic on canvas and other surfaces.

He is known for a unique style that brings painstakingly rendered interpretations of the ordinary, including mechanisms from machinery and streetside columns.

Pond often works in series, enlarging details from his paintings and reshaping existing images into screenprints.

Anna Wager, curator of exhibitions at the University of Buffalo’s art gallery, said Pond is an artist who is always observing with humor, cynicism but mostly delight.

“He is inveterately curious, and his capacity for attention is so evident in the work,” Wager said. “It invites us to look at our own surroundings with the same care.”

Pond earned his Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from Carnegie Institute of Technology, now Carnegie Mellon University, in 1964. He received a Master of Fine Arts degree from Pratt Institute in 1966.

At Pratt, he developed his distinctive drawing style, cultivating a keen interest in bright, intense color relationships and teaching himself the serigraph process.

In 1966, Pond began working in SoHo’s industrial loft buildings, where the interiors of his studio and the cast-iron façades of the neighborhood became central subjects in his work.

Columns, architectural fragments and utilitarian objects recur throughout his paintings and constructions.

He continues to produce drawings, collages, paintings and painted relief sculptures.

Robert Scalise, University of Buffalo art gallery director, said Pond’s work marks an important piece of postwar American art.

“To present a retrospective of his work is to fulfill our core purpose, bringing meaningful, lasting art into the lives of our students and community and honoring the collection that made this institution possible,” Scalise said.

— Jon Wilcox

FAMILY/PROVIDED

Clayton Pond hangs his painting, "Cables with Catwalk and Cables," at the Marathon Performing Arts Center in Findlay, Ohio, in May 2023.

UNIVERSITY OF BUFFALO/PROVIDED Clayton Pond, “The Kitchen Sink,” 1966.

GUIOMAR

OBREGÓN, Precision 2000 CEO

Sandy Springs CEO earns dual honors for leadership

Construction executive seeks women for work

By DYANA BAGBY dyana@appenmedia.com

SANDY SPRINGS, Ga. — Guiomar Obregón has spent nearly three decades leading her company building roads, runways and drainage systems across the Southeast. Her work and success have put her in the spotlight.

The Sandy Springs resident is CEO of Precision 2000 Inc., a civil engineering and construction firm. She was inducted this spring into two prestigious programs: the Georgia Titan 100 Hall of Fame on May 7 and the Georgia Tech College of Engineering's 2026 Academy of Distinguished Engineering Alumni on March 21.

The Titan 100 Hall of Fame honor came after Obregón was named a Georgia Titan 100 for three consecutive years. The program selects 100 top CEOs and C-level executives annually across Georgia. Hall of Fame status is awarded to just 10 of those honorees and recognizes executives who demonstrate “exceptional leadership and community impact,” according to its website.

At Georgia Tech, Obregón made history. In the academy's more than 20-year history, she is the first Hispanic woman inducted and one of fewer than five Latin American honorees overall.

"These are very meaningful to me," Obregón said. "It shows that it can be done. It takes time, effort and perseverance, but you can be successful. It’s really nice to be among the top of the top.”

BUSINESSPOSTS

CEO:

Continued from Page 8

Obregón co-founded Precision 2000, known as P2K, in 1998 with her husband, Carlos Sánchez, following the construction boom sparked by the Atlanta 1996 Olympic Games. The Chamblee-based firm specializes in civil infrastructure and transportation projects, with clients including Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, the Georgia Department of Transportation, MARTA and the City of Atlanta.

“We saw an opportunity, and decided, let's give it a try,” she said. “We were young, had lots of energy.”

Born in Boston and raised in Colombia, Obregón earned a civil engineering degree from the Colombian School of Engineering before coming to Georgia Tech, where she completed a master's degree in structural engineering and an MBA. Her parents were both engineers. Her mother served as dean of engineering at the National University of Colombia, and her father earned a doctorate from MIT.

Under Obregón's leadership, P2K has earned national recognition, including the Minority-Owned Small Business of the Year by the U.S. Small Business Administration in 2024 and the Minority Construction Firm of the Year award from the U.S. Department of Commerce's Minority Business Development Agency in 2003.

The company was instrumental in the Transform 285/400 project in Sandy Springs. Crews installed storm drainage systems with reinforced concrete pipes ranging from 18-inches to 48-inches along the new lanes and shoulders along 6.2 miles of Ga. 400 from the Glenridge Connector to Spalding Drive.

World Cup boon

P2K is currently working near Mercedes-Benz Stadium on sidewalk, intersection and traffic improvements ahead of Atlanta's hosting of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Obregón wants to attract more Hispanics and women into the construction industry and has funded nearly $500,000 in scholarships at Georgia Tech.

"Guiomar is the epitome of service and walking the walk," said Patricia White, director of development at Georgia Tech's School of Civil and Environmental Engineering. "Her leadership helps diversify the student body and launch the careers of young Hispanic engineers."

In 2012, she co-founded the Georgia Hispanic Construction Association to create networking and

mentorship opportunities for Hispanic business owners and workers. She also helped launch the association’s Latinas in Construction program to support women seeking a path into the industry.

Obregón says it is important that P2K is known as a familyowned business. Her daughter, Cristina Sanchez, 28, is a SCAD graduate and oversees marketing. Her son, Diego Sanchez, is 19 and a sophomore at Georgia Tech studying computer science and participates in internships in the summer. Her mother, now 85 and retired, would do whatever was needed, Obregón said. Her mother also inspired her to start an internship program to bring civil engineers from Colombia to practice in the U.S.

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Being a business owner has given her the flexibility to work and have a family, she said, although it is not always easy. But watching your children grow, and your business grow, is rewarding, she said.

“You have to juggle a lot,” she said. “My company is like another kid. I get to see them grow and mature, and they have issues sometimes. Overall, I’m very happy, very grateful for how things happened.”

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Ancient India, syphilis, war and cancer – The journey to rebuild a nose

For as long as humans have had noses, we’ve had reasons to repair them. The nose sits at the center of the face, essential not just for breathing, but for identity. The history of nasal reconstruction is therefore not just a surgical story— it is deeply human, shaped by conflict, disease, and ingenuity.

One of the earliest chapters begins in ancient India, around 600 BCE. In some regions, nasal amputation was used as punishment for theft or adultery. This harsh practice drove innovation. Surgeons developed a method to rebuild the nose using a pedicled facial flap—the “Indian method” of nasal reconstruction. This technique is attributed to Sushruta, often considered one of the fathers of surgery. In these descriptions, a facial flap of tissue is measured, raised while maintaining a living attachment for blood supply, and transferred to reconstruct the nose, with small tubes used to preserve the airway during healing.

Over time, this tradition evolved into what is most closely associated with the modern forehead flap. Today, a segment of forehead skin is elevated on a preserved arterial supply, left attached at its base, and rotated down to reconstruct the nasal tip. In modern Mohs and reconstructive surgery, it remains a cornerstone technique after skin cancer removal and one of the most reliable methods for complex nasal defects.

From ancient India, the narrative jumps forward two millennia. But what about Greece? What about Rome?! Didn’t Rome invent everything?

There is little evidence of formal nasal reconstruction in classical antiquity. Aulus Cornelius Celsus described facial wound care and basic repair but not structured reconstructive nasal surgery. When nasal reconstruction re-emerges in Europe centuries later, it is better understood as rediscovery rather than continuous tradition.

So, indeed, we fast forward 2000 years from ancient India.

In the Renaissance and early modern period, nasal deformities became more common due to trauma and disease. Syphilis was especially destructive, eroding nasal structures and leaving profound disfigurement. This increased interest in both reconstruction and prosthetic solutions.

Artificial noses—made from leather, metal, or wax—allowed patients to return to society with some degree of normalcy and laid the groundwork for modern facial prosthetics.

In the 1500s, Gaspare Tagliacozzi developed the “Italian method” of nasal reconstruction, transferring skin from the arm to the nose in a staged fashion. Though innovative, his work was later abandoned for centuries due to technical limitations such as a lack of modern anesthesia and antisepsis and also due to social and religious objections.

The next major leap came from war. World War I produced devastating facial injuries, forcing rapid innovation. Harold Gillies refined skin flaps, introduced staged reconstruction, and emphasized both function and appearance—principles that remain central today. World War II further advanced reconstruction through improved anesthesia, antibiotics, and surgical planning.

In the 20th century, the ancient forehead flap evolved into the modern paramedian forehead flap. A segment of forehead skin is elevated on a preserved arterial supply just lateral to the midline, kept attached at its base, and rotated to reconstruct the nasal tip. In modern Mohs and reconstructive surgery, it remains a foundational technique after skin cancer removal.

In recent decades, nasal repair has entered a more precise era. In dermatologic surgery, particularly Mohs surgery, cancer can be removed with microscopic accuracy while preserving healthy tissue. Reconstruction then restores contour and function using techniques such as the paramedian forehead flap, skin grafts and an assortment of elegant and innovative flaps. However, Mohs surgery often allows for so much tissue preservation that many wounds can close in a much simpler linear fashion further enhancing postoperative results.

From ancient punishment to modern cancer care, nasal reconstruction reflects restoration—of form, function, and confidence. It is also a story of trust. Patients facing facial cancer entrust their health and their identity to their surgeon. Modern techniques now allow us to restore not only structure and function but also the sense of wholeness that comes from having one’s identity preserved.

Dr. Brent Taylor

Kathryn Filipek, PA-C

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From refugee to physician, man returns to Johns Creek

By WAYNE TIDWELL newsroom@appenmediacom

JOHNS CREEK, Ga. — At just 6 months old, Fares Hosseinzadeh made a journey most people could scarcely imagine — carried in his father’s arms as his family fled Iran on foot in search of safety and a better future.

Today, that same child is a physician, a business owner, and a soon-to-be husband, building not only a medical practice but a life rooted in service, community and perseverance. His patients call him Dr. Hoss, and he strives to be more than just their doctor.

Born to Iranian parents of the Baha’i faith, his family faced religious persecution that forced them to leave their home country. Unable to travel freely, they first fled to Turkey on foot. From there, they were able to immigrate to the United States, settling in Kansas with the help of extended family before eventually relocating to Georgia, where relatives had already established roots.

“I was only 6 months old, so I don’t remember it,” he said. “But my dad carried me the whole way. I think I owe him a lot.”

His early years were spent in the Johns Creek area where he attended State Bridge Crossing Elementary School.

“Which is pretty cool,” he said, “because now my business is on State Bridge Road.”

He then moved to East Cobb where he attended Eastside Elementary, Dodgen Middle School and graduated from Walton High School.

Family has always been a central part of his life. With a large and blended family — including siblings by blood, adoption and marriage — he describes his upbringing as full and deeply connected.

Originally, his path pointed toward veterinary medicine. But an unfortunate personal experience shifted his direction.

“Right before I started college, my dog was hit by a car, and we had to put him down,” he recalled. “I realized I didn’t want a career where I would have to make those decisions regularly.”

That moment became a turning point. After graduating from the University of Georgia with a degree in biology, he spent two years conducting prostate cancer research at Emory University, further strengthening his interest in human medicine. In 2018, he enrolled at St. George’s University in Grenada, beginning the rigorous journey toward becoming a physician.

Like many in his cohort, his medical education was disrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic. After spending nearly two years in Grenada, he was evacuated and completed part of his training remotely before continuing clinical rotations in New York and Miami.

He went on to complete his residency at Piedmont Columbus Regional in Georgia, where he trained in an unopposed program for three years, an experience that provided an unusually broad and hands-on scope of practice.

“We did a little bit of everything,” he said. “I delivered over 50 babies, performed intubation, and handled a wide range of hospital care that a lot of family medicine doctors don’t usually get to do. It was challenging, but it prepared me.”

That preparation led to a major milestone. On Dec. 15, 2025, he opened his own clinic at 11180 State Bridge Road in Johns Creek, a primary care practice serving patients from early childhood through adulthood. His practice is minutes from where he once lived through the fourth grade.

“It’s very nostalgic,” he said. “I wanted to be on State Bridge Road, and this was a good opportunity. And I like the area a lot.”

Rather than joining an established

practice, “Dr. Hoss” chose to build something from the ground up.

“It would have been easier to step into an existing patient base,” he admitted. “The reason I want to do primary care and a big reason I opened my own clinic is that I wanted to grow something myself.”

For him, the most rewarding aspect of being a physician isn’t prestige or financial stability, it’s connection.

“My favorite part is building lifelong relationships,” he said. “Watching patients grow, seeing their kids, and really becoming a small part of their lives — that’s why I do this.”

The early days of running a practice have not been without challenges. The responsibility extends far beyond clinic hours, with constant demands and decision-making. His father helped remodel his new space that had been a dentist office and adjoining spa.

“There’s always something to think about,” he said. “Even when you’re not seeing patients, you’re still their doctor.”

Still, he feels the rewards outweigh the difficulties. There are moments, he said, when he walks into his clinic, looks around, and reflects on what he has built.

“It’s a great feeling,” he said. “Every-

thing here—this is something I created.” Outside of his practice, he is actively working to engage with the community. He is involved with the Johns Creek Chamber of Commerce, exploring partnerships with local schools and planning outreach initiatives through the Baha’i community, including offering free health consultations.

His personal life is also entering a new chapter. After 14 years together, he and his fiancée Madison Canning are preparing for their wedding in Greece, which will bring together friends and family from around the world. “Maddie” is a second-year oncology fellow at Emory University, specializing in breast cancer, and she plans to continue her career in Georgia.

Looking back, the journey has been long — more than a decade of education and training, built on a foundation of sacrifice that began long before he could remember it. From a child carried across borders by his father to a physician caring for a community, his story is one of determination, resilience, and purpose — an enduring reminder of how far perseverance can take you.

“I’ve dreamed about this for many years,” he said. “It took 11 years to get here. But now that I’m here, I know it was worth it.”

PROVIDED

Dr. Fares Hosseinzadeh cuts the ribbon at the opening of Family Health Primary Care Clinic at 11180 State Bridge Road in Johns Creek.

HOSSEINZADEH

Fulton County libraries promote summer reading

FULTON COUNTY, Ga. — Libraries across Fulton County will host kick-off parties to encourage young readers to unearth a story as part of the annual Summer Reading Program starting June 1.

Those who participate in the two-month Summer Reading Program are encouraged to improve their reading skills by cracking the covers on new books or revisiting old ones for a chance to win prizes.

Families can log their reading progress on Beanstack, a mobile app or website that connects to reading programs at local libraries. Participants can track how many pages or how long they read and earn prizes from their library.

Visit fultoncounty.beanstack.com/reader365 and register an individual, family or reading group to participate.

Upcoming summer reading kick-off parties at North Fulton libraries include:

May 30 – East Roswell Branch, 2301 Holcomb Bridge Road, from 11 a.m.–12:30 p.m.

June 1 – Milton Branch, 855 Mayfield Road, from 1–3 p.m.; Ocee Branch, 5090 Abbotts Bridge Road, from 2–3 p.m.; Northeast/ Spruill Oaks Branch, 9560 Spruill Road, from 11 a.m.–noon; Sandy Springs Branch, 395 Mount Vernon Highway, from 11–11:45 a.m. and from 3:30–4:30 p.m.

— Hannah Yahne

earth stories and a passion for reading.

Father’s Day, Sunday, June 21

5K Run/Walk • 1 Mile Walk • kids4DAD Tot Trot Peachtree Road Race Official Qualifying Event

Wills Park Pool Parking Lot Start/Finish 1815 Old Milton Parkway, Alpharetta Crash Clark, 99X, Emcee Race website: run4DAD.org

Benefiting ProstAware to help bring prostate cancer awareness to men and their families

FULTON COUNTY LIBRARIES/PROVIDED Summer reading programs at libraries across Fulton County kick-off June 1 with this year’s

What to know when Hollywood comes knocking

By GALYN CHATMAN decaturish@appenmedia.com

DECATUR, Ga. – Production season is back and Georgia neighborhoods are buzzing with activity. More than 20 projects, including "Southern Bastards," "Scooby-Doo: Origins," and "Turpentine," are currently filming, according to the Georgia Department of Economic Development.

And while many residents welcome Hollywood in their community, they also hope that filming won't disrupt their daily lives—a sentiment that industry veterans said is all too real.

Making first contact

During "production season," location managers and scouts are sent to find places fitting a film's narrative and creative vision. Once given guidelines by the creative team, they visit neighborhoods, knock on doors, and leave letters notifying of their prospective projects.

"It's my job to introduce the reason I'm knocking on someone's door," said Dodd Vickers, a location manager, scout, and member of the Television Academy, as well as the Location Managers Guild International.

"In Decatur, for example, I made it a point to speak with someone from the economic development office so that if someone from the community called, the city could say they knew who I was," Vickers recalled about filming "See You When I See You," a 2026 Duplass Brothers film. Professionals in the industry understand they are guests in residential communities.

When Fulton County resident Ricky Gaines was approached by scouts from FX's "English Teacher,” he wondered what he was getting into.

"When the scout explained they were filming a TV show in the neighborhood, he detailed why my house was a fit for what they were looking for," Gaines recalled. "It was definitely a leap of faith."

The production crew began staging an in-progress pool build—requiring removing sod, digging a massive hole in his backyard, and taking down part of his fence. But the production team's upfront communication put him at ease.

"They explained how long they needed it to be there, and what restoration would look like afterward. That made all the difference—and of course they explained the compensation," Gaines said.

Kadesha McCastle, another Atlantaarea location manager, said this level of communication should be standard practice.

See HOLLYWOOD, Page 15

DODD VICKERS/PROVIDED

Dodd Vickers poses with his location team in cone hats as they celebrate wrapping on the Decatur set of "See You When I See You." Pictured, front row from left: Juan Espinosa, Elizabeth Franklin, Dodd Vickers and Brandon Wigley. Back row from left: Jimnard Campbell, Connor O'Donnell and Gary Ivey

A construction crew member and location team member work as Ricky Gaines' backyard is dismantled in preparation for filming "English Teacher" Season 1.

North Fulton student leaders earn statewide championship

FULTON COUNTY, Ga. — The Student Leadership NORTH Secretary of State Ambassadors have claimed the Georgia Secretary of State Ambassador State Championship, surpassing the second-place team by more than 150,000 points.

Student Leadership NORTH empowers students from local high schools to interact with business and government executives to lead positive change within their communities.

This past year, the leadership

Hollywood:

Continued from Page 14

"It's crucial to outline what the production is looking for," she said. "Knowing what the timeline is, what areas of your home will be used and modified, helps homeowners feel more comfortable and prepared. They shouldn't have to guess or worry about what's happening in their own space."

Respecting the community

Netflix's "Tulsa King" recently wrapped its fourth season after filming across multiple DeKalb County locations. John Weeks, the show's construction coordinator, brings a perspective sometimes missing between residents and production operations.

"I love being a cheerleader for the film industry, but we also understand that we're sometimes speaking a whole other language from a whole other universe that people don't see every day," Weeks said. "And it just rolls into communities like a circus."

Weeks emphasized the genuine commitment crews feel to being respectful guests.

"We're all parents. Family people. And it sucks to us too if we have to leave someone waiting who has to take their child to Girl Scouts," he said. "People are justifiably concerned with how our presence is going to impact their daily lives. So, we just know to respect that they want us out of their driveway as quickly as possible."

Todd Brunsvold, vice president of zoning for the Inman Park Neighborhood Association (IPNA), works at the intersection of resident concerns and production needs.

"We embrace being a community that invites everybody in. We want to share our history and architecture," Brunsvold said. However, he said the neighborhood does not accept unlimited disruption. "IPNA welcomes productions, but we also don't want anyone to have a problem getting to the grocery store just because filming is happening."

team played a role in registering and informing Johns Creek voters, hosting multiple voter registration drives and facilitating a debate and mayoral forum for local candidates. Students also hosted two financial literacy forums in partnership with the Georgia Secretary of State’s Office.

“Our Secretary of State Ambassador teams have shown what it means to truly show up for their community,”

Executive Director Irene Sanders said.

“They have engaged with elected of -

ficials, championed financial literacy, registered voters and inspired everyone around them. We couldn’t be prouder of all that they have accomplished, and we know each one of them will carry these values with them wherever life takes them next.”

Many of this year’s Ambassador team members are preparing to head to college, where they will carry the skills, relationships and civic values cultivated through Student Leadership

NORTH into their next chapters.

The Ambassadors team was led by Program Coordinator Lucy Liu, a member of last year’s winning team.

Student leaders on the 2025-26 state championship team are:

Violette Purcell, Anay Bahukhandi, Spoorthi Kakarla, Amber Qian, Aditi Kothari, Aanya Shah, Prinsha Chanda, Vishal Varma, Zara Duque Vasquez, Elliot Shin, Benny Hamann, Ishita Tyagi and Shaurya Attal.

— Hannah Yahne

When filming wraps

Location teams commit to resetting homes to their original state, so McCastle and Vickers encourage residents to view the location department as a concierge.

"I joke that I'm a professional guest," Vickers said. "We fold the towels, make the beds, and leave everything as we found it. When production crews are good guests, the community is happy, and when the

community is happy, we get to make entertainment."

For homeowners interested in listing their properties as filming locations, visit the Georgia Department of Economic Development.

GALYN CHATMAN/APPENMEDIA Richard Gaines points out how beautifully his yard was restored after filming of "English Teacher" required turning his backyard into a swimming pool construction site.

Annual Lantern Parade lights up Sandy Springs

By STANLEY LEARY newswroom@appenmedia.com

SANDY SPRINGS, Ga. — Hundreds of residents filled the streets of Sandy Springs May 9 for the 10th annual Lantern Parade, carrying handmade lanterns along a glowing one-mile route that ended at the Chattahoochee River.

The free event, one of the city’s most anticipated community traditions, drew families, artists and neighborhood groups to the Sandy Springs Municipal Complex on May 9 before the procession made its way downhill along Morgan Falls Road to Morgan Falls Overlook Park.

This year’s format included a Pre-Parade Party at the municipal complex, which is designed to accommodate growing attendance and give participants more gathering space before sunset.

Unlike traditional parades, the Lantern Parade invites residents to join the procession rather than watch from the sidelines. Families, neighborhood groups, and artists carried illuminated homemade creations alongside large puppet sculptures and lantern installations crafted by Atlanta artist Chantelle Rytter and the Krewe of the Grateful Gluttons.

Among the most recognizable figures was “Sanderson the Flying Pig,” a recurring symbol rooted in the city’s origin story. The phrase “when pigs fly” was once used to suggest Sandy Springs would never incorporate as a city. When it did in 2005, the flying pig became an emblem of civic pride — and a fixture of the parade ever since.

City leaders launched the parade a decade ago to create a signature arts event that would connect residents to the Chattahoochee River and reflect Sandy Springs’ growing identity. Over the past 10 years, it has grown into an annual celebration of public art, live music, outdoor recreation, and hands-on participation.

Saturday’s festivities included food trucks, performers and interactive activities before the parade stepped off at dusk. Children carrying paper lanterns walked alongside professional artists while musicians led the crowd toward the river.

The night concluded at Morgan Falls Overlook Park, where the glow of hundreds of lanterns and illuminated puppets gathered near the riverbank — a fitting close to the parade’s milestone 10th anniversary.

The Stayin’ Alive Crew, an Atlanta-based nonprofit dance ensemble for performers over 50, performs their signature routine to the Bee Gees’ “Stayin’ Alive” during the 10th annual Sandy Springs Lantern Parade on May 9, in Sandy Springs, Ga. The group performs throughout the Atlanta area with a mission to promote active living and community engagement through dance.

PHOTOS BY: STANLEY LEARY/APPEN MEDIA

Parade participants carry their handmade lanterns down Morgan Falls Road into Morgan Falls Overlook Park during the 10th annual Sandy Springs Lantern Parade May 9.

Cousins Armony and Ka-Shaun Russell wear Sandy Springs Fire Department hats given to them during the 10th annual Sandy Springs Lantern Parade.

Parade goers walk their handmade lanterns down Morgan Falls Road into Morgan Falls Overlook Park during the 10th annual Sandy Springs Lantern Parade May 9.

PHOTOS BY: STANLEY LEARY/APPEN MEDIA

Rita Dhar displays her handmade illuminated umbrella during the 10th annual Sandy Springs Lantern Parade on Saturday, May 9 in Sandy Springs, Ga.

Parade participants carry their handmade lanterns down Morgan Falls Road into Morgan Falls Overlook Park during the 10th annual Sandy Springs Lantern Parade on Saturday, May 9, in Sandy Springs, Ga.

Parade participants carry their handmade lanterns down Morgan Falls Road into Morgan Falls Overlook Park during the 10th annual Sandy Springs Lantern Parade on Saturday, May 9, in Sandy Springs, Ga.

Parade participants carry their handmade lanterns down Morgan Falls Road into Morgan Falls Overlook Park during the 10th annual Sandy Springs Lantern Parade on Saturday, May 9, 2026, in Sandy Springs, Ga.

How to get what you want, made simple

RAY APPEN Publisher Emeritus ray@appenmedia.com

"Never Split the Difference" by Chris Voss is a book that should probably be required reading for everyone. I am sure of this.

However, I am not sure if it should be read in elementary school, middle school or high school. Or maybe it should be required in every corporation at every level. It's not a new book. I read it almost 10 years ago and am rereading it now. I reread books that I think are important or magical — such as "One Hundred Years of Solitude" or "The Overstory."

In "Never Split the Difference," Voss shares the methods he used as one of the FBI's top hostage negotiators. That was his job: talking people who had kidnapped others and held them for

ransom — under threat of death — into releasing their hostages alive. There may be no bigger ask than that. Failure is not an option.

The book is engaging, highly readable and filled with accounts of actual hostage negotiations from around the world — rebel armies, prison revolts and hijackings. But its lessons are not limited to dangerous or traumatic situations. At its core, hostage negotiation is really nothing more than advocating for your wants and needs to others. In that light, consider negotiating a major software contract with a Fortune 500 company, convincing your boss to promote you with a raise or persuading your child not to quit piano lessons or drop off the travel team.

At the end of the day, life is driven by wants and needs. This book is about how to recognize them and respond appropriately, efficiently and successfully. What this book is not, however, is one of those formulaic bestsellers promis-

ing to teach you how to sell anything to anybody. It is not that.

Alongside "Never Split the Difference," another book has recently resurfaced in my memory — one I have read at least three times over the years: "Thinking, Fast and Slow" by Nobel Prize winner Daniel Kahneman. Both books are about how people make decisions, how they think, and how they process information. Think Malcolm Gladwell — "The Tipping Point," "Blink," "Outliers" and all his other books. To be clear, though, Gladwell rode to fame on the shoulders of Kahneman — as did Voss.

Voss's message is simple, profound and accessible. Getting your way with another person involves basic, teachable skills — listening better, practicing empathy, building trust and seeing the world through the other person's eyes. Step by practical step, Voss shares techniques for achieving these things, and most of what he suggests is little more than common

sense. The problem is that most of us have forgotten how to connect effectively with others because we are too busy, too distracted or not focused on what matters most to the other person. We are too selfcentered.

He brings the core pieces together and shows how each connects to the others — teaching both context and execution. It is not rocket science. It requires practice, focus and a genuine desire to achieve goals that depend on another person or organization.

Usually something happens that reminds me that wisdom from a past book needs to be revisited. Sometimes I am the one who needs the refresher course. Sometimes it is people in my orbit. In this case, it's the "other people" who sparked the memory and the motivation to reread it. They are dealing with life curveballs at the moment, and reading and internalizing the book will help them navigate forward more successfully.

There’s still gold in those thar Georgia hills

Turning on the TV these days is not much fun. I am reminded of that again just now when, out of habit, I punch the little button on the cable remote and the big screen over the mantle comes to life. It brings visions of talking heads talking, of wars and rumors of wars, and of scandal and deception. There’s a lot of talk about gold, too, and it’s all mixed up in a casserole seasoned with inuendo and outright lies.

What would Mr. Kitchens have had to say about all that?

I’m talking about the late Dan Kitchens, journalist extraordinaire. You won’t know anything about him unless you happened to have been in one of his classes at the good ol’ U-of-GA, where he took starry-eyed young writers like me and birthed them into the Way of Reported Words.

Mr. Kitchens (one always added the “Mr.”) had high standards, and woe to anyone who did not adhere.

“It is MISTER Kitchens, not DOCTOR Kitchens,” he’d say. “Do your research, Mr. Hudson, and always get it right.” There was no academic posturing in him, no holierthan-thouness, nothing like that. There was just a mantra of accuracy, completeness, and using one’s brain – and on reporting every story it like it really is. What a concept.

“Yeah,” I think to myself. “Mr. Kitchens would have plenty to say about today’s journalistic landscape, and I think most of it would not be complimentary…”

Ahhh. Such reflection is fun. But inevitably reverie fades as the blather of the newsfeed creeps back in. A different talking head is at it now – different, but spouting the same stuff as the one before. The voice is prattling on about golden glitz in high places. There’s that gold thing again. Where is this noise coming from? I check the channel. Oh, well, yeah. How did it get switched over to that one?

It is enough to make one want to turn the darned thing off.

So I do. It requires just one click of the button, and peace again fills the room.

I lean into the quiet and savor the silence. But then I realize that my mind has latched onto one of the words I’d just heard: Gold.

Okay. So gold is definitely in the news these days. Yesterday it was selling for upwards of $4,600 per ounce. That’s a lot of lunch money. Maybe that’s why I’ve been seeing more and more folks prospecting for it using gold pans in all sorts of colors, among them (though it pains me to say it) Auburn orange.

As it turns out, one of my favorite fishing streams just happens to be a popular gold panning stream too. It’s not unusual to see a prospector or two there on any sunny afternoon, working the gravel with high expectations. Sometimes, when I see someone panning for gold, I stop fish-

ing and strike up conversation. Once in a while, the prospector chats back. The exchange is usually cordial, at least until I acknowledge the little vial tucked into the prospector’s pocket and, pointing to it, ask the big question: “Are you finding anything?”

That’s when the poker face appears. The less it reveals, I figure, the more gold that bottle likely holds. But I’m not offended by the reticence. Heck, if I was finding gold, I’d play it close to the chest too.

Over time, in gold prospecting as in life, you learn things. The big thing you learn is that there’s still gold in them thar hills. Sure, those old-time prospectors found a lot of it. But they didn’t get it all.

Let me tell you a story about some of the gold they left behind.

Some years ago, a friend of mine – a classic man-of-the-mountains prospector type – took me into his confidence and showed me part of his personal stash of Georgia gold. This was gold he had found with his own hands, mind you, and it filled a large mayonnaise jar. It was so heavy it took two strong hands to pick it up.

Yeah, he eventually told me where he found it. Yeah, he swore me to secrecy.

And no (sorry), I will not violate that oath, not for love nor money nor even for directions to your most secret fishing hole. Some confidences just must be kept.

But there are plenty of other places where you can prospect. I’ve tracked some of them down, and I’ve found a little gold for my trouble. You can too.

How do you get into this prospecting game? Maybe you start at one of our state’s many tourist gold mines. They’re great places to learn basic panning and perhaps find a few flakes of color too.

As your panning skills develop, take it to the next level – perhaps by researching what’s known as the Gold Belt, a northeasttrending zone that starts near Villa Rica and stretches up through northeast Georgia and beyond. That’ll show you where goldbearing geology might be found. Just note the word “might,” for there are no sure bets when it comes to gold. Eventually, you must put your boots on the ground and check things out in person.

Finally, remember that there are rules regarding where and how you can look for gold. For instance, prospecting is not allowed in Georgia state parks. But you may be able to prospect in national forests or on Corps of Engineers land, though special regs may dictate where and how. To be sure you’re following the rules, it’s always a good idea to check with land administrators beforehand.

Finally, get written permission from the landowner before searching for gold on private land.

Prospecting for gold gives you a great reason to get outside and experience the natural world on its own terms. Will you find what you seek? You might.

But even if you don’t, the search yields a treasure of even greater value – a blessed opportunity, at least for a little while, to leave the talking heads behind.

STEVE HUDSON Columnist

GET OUTSIDE, GEORGIA!

OPINION

Housing market hits pause amid economic uncertainty

D.C. AIKEN Guest Columnist dcaiken.com

Inflation, mortgage rates, and gasoline prices have all surged to threeyear highs, placing significant pressure on the U.S. housing market and causing real estate activity to slow sharply in recent weeks. Mortgage applications have cooled dramatically, consumer confidence has weakened, and for many Americans the dream of homeownership once again feels like a subscription service nobody can afford.

At first glance, the outlook appears bleak. But beneath the headlines, there are signs this may be less a collapse and more a temporary economic detour driven largely by geopolitical instability.

Before the escalation of the Persian Gulf conflict on March 10, the housing market was showing meaningful signs of renewed strength. Mortgage rates had briefly moved below the psychologically important 6 percent threshold, mortgage applications during February and early March were outperforming normal seasonal trends, and home sales activity was steadily improving during what is traditionally a slower period of the year. At the same time, gasoline prices were hovering near $2.50 per gallon, and inflation readings had stabilized below 3 percent. In short, consumers were beginning to regain confidence and the housing market responded accordingly.

Then came the geopolitical shock. Since March, rising energy prices and renewed inflation concerns have driven bond yields and mortgage rates sharply higher. Consumers are now confronting borrowing costs, fuel prices and economic uncertainty not seen in several years. Add in the normal seasonal distractions of spring

break travel, graduations and wedding season; periods that historically slow housing activity even in healthy markets and the recent decline in real estate sales becomes far less surprising.

Wall Street, meanwhile, continues to react to every overseas headline like a guy trying to day-trade espresso shots. One week investors are pricing in recession, the next week they are convinced inflation is immortal. The result has been heightened volatility across both the bond and mortgage markets.

The encouraging reality, however, is that underlying housing demand did not disappear. We saw clear evidence of pent-up demand earlier this year when rates briefly fell below 6 percent. Buyers returned quickly, applications improved, and sales activity strengthened almost immediately. That demand is likely still there; simply waiting for economic stability to reemerge.

Should geopolitical tensions ease and energy markets stabilize, inflation pressures could moderate relatively quickly, allowing mortgage rates to retreat toward pre-March levels. If that occurs, the housing market may rebound faster than many currently expect.

For now, the real estate sector appears less like a market in collapse and more like a market stuck in traffic; frustrated, expensive, and wondering why the warning lights came on all at once.

DC Aiken is Senior Vice President of Lending for CrossCountry Mortgage, NMLS # 658790. For more insights, you can subscribe to his newsletter at dcaiken.com.

The opinions expressed within this article may not reflect the opinions or views of CrossCountry Mortgage, LLC or its affiliates.

OPINION

The self-care routines of a workaholic

DAN WHISENHUNT Editor dan@appenmedia.com

Dear readers, When you find your self-worth in your work, as I do, self-care can be a chore.

As a self-described workaholic, I have spent many hours in therapy trying to separate my personal from my professional satisfaction. They are entwined like a pile of jumbled wires. Untangling the pile can be a tedious, discouraging experience. It’s often easier to just “roll with it” and hope you can find your pleasures where you can.

But self-care, like therapy, is important work. It can save your life.

There are a few activities I’ve discovered I can’t do without. In honor of Mental Health Awareness Month, here are the self-care routines that I find valuable. I hope you will find them valuable, too.

Walking

Before I started my therapy journey, I weighed 300 pounds. I’m at a respectable 235 now.

Food became my go-to source of comfort during COVID, when I was running my own company. I deluded myself into thinking my dangerous eating habits were OK because I wasn’t retreating into substance abuse like so many of us were then. I was eating my way through the pandemic. It wasn’t until I was in therapy and had an embarrassing flare-up of gout that I decided to make a change.

So, I began walking and kept going. I set a goal of walking 10,000 steps (about five miles) every day. The first few weeks of this were excruciating. My legs throbbed and the gout continued gnawing at my toes. My brother, who is a CrossFit trainer, kept me focused through calorie counting and exercises designed to increase my range of movement.

After a while, the walking became easier. Then it became mission critical. I began to cherish my time away from my screen and in the sunshine. (Avoiding screens will be a recurring theme of this column.) I began walking extra miles just for my own enjoyment. Last year, I walked all the way from Decatur to the Atlanta Beltline. My community looks so different when I’m walking through it. I see the architecture subtly change as I go from neighborhood to neighborhood. I notice the clever yard signs, the people holding new babies while

walking their jilted dogs, the smell of freshly cut grass in the spring and the shuffling piles of leaves in the fall. In the summer, I wake up earlier when I can to avoid the worst of the heat. But when I sleep in, I hydrate more and endure.

The walking sustains me. It gives me clarity of thought and focus. I get some of my best ideas when I’m listening to my music and feeling the warmth of the sun on my neck.

When I miss a day or two of walking, I get antsy. It’s an essential activity for me. I swear by it.

Playing piano

I taught myself to play piano not long after my son was born. I learned a few tunes that make for great party tricks. I’m told my singing voice is nice. When I’m at the keyboard and belting out Chappell Roan or Tom Petty, I feel free, as ifsome enormous weight has been removed from my shoulders.

When I sold Decaturish to Appen Media Group, the one extravagance I indulged was obtaining an old piano. It’s a brown wooden upright I call my granny piano. It can’t hold a tune longer than a few months, and the keys stick in the upper ranges. Sometimes, on a Saturday morning when my family is sleeping, I’ll gently roll through chord progressions before moving into slow pop songs, waiting for my wife and son to come down the stairs. We make coffee. I sing. They listen. Then we go on about our day.

I love pop music. I’m learning to play “Rainbow” by Kacey Musgraves. It’s hard, but every time I learn a new section, I have to step away so my brain can rest and rewire itself.

It’s the kind of challenge that I don’t mind dipping back into. I am not overly critical of myself or my playing, unlike with my job. It’s just for fun.

Cooking

A gourmand, I am not, but I like what I like. This is peak dad energy, but there are few things more satisfying than mowing my lawn, then looking at my mowed lawn while I grill a steak. I’ve become something of a nerd about cooking steak, though inflation has limited my ability to indulge my hobby. When it’s in my budget, I inspect juicy cuts of beef behind glass the way a handyman judges the straightness of a two-by-four.

I often watch food YouTubers. I’m fascinated by the people who do these weird dry-aged beef experiments like encasing a steak in butter for three months, before proclaiming, “and then this happened!” Spoiler alert: Most of

the time, what happened is a culinary abomination. Better your ribeye than mine.

My favorite food YouTuber is Max Miller, who hosts “Tasting History.” He’s ridiculously charming and a great reporter at heart. He does his own research, rather than mindlessly regurgitating Wikipedia. Miller’s series on homefront cooking during World War II is simply outstanding. He makes a strong case that food history is human history.

These are some of the self-care

methods I recommend. They are not cures for unhappiness. But I can’t do without them. I’d love to know what you do for self-care and what gives you peace amid life's pressures. Drop me a line: dan@appenmedia.com. I may include some of your routines in next year’s Mental Health Awareness month column.

I remain your humble and grateful community news editor.

– Dano

Dan Whisenhunt, editor and founder

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Be on guard; It’s Bambi time in North Georgia

BOB MEYERS

It is birthing time for white-tailed deer in North Fulton County where most fawns are born in May and June. Unlike the fall breeding or rut season when bucks go crazy with lust and accidents with cars are frequent, the birthing season is relatively calm.

However, when does, female deer, cross roads in May and June in search of food for their fawns, auto accidents also occur. Both seasons are vital for the wellbeing of deer and both cause problems for humans. Just ask a gardener whose carefully planted flower garden has been selected by some whitetails for a picnic lunch.

Adult white-tailed deer range from 70 to 225 pounds, while fawns weigh about 4 pounds at birth. As protection from predators, when born, fawns’ light brown fur has some 300 white spots that begin to fade a few months later when they start to forage for food. For several months after birth, fawns give off little scent which also helps protect them. Adult females spend very little time with their offspring, leaving them alone for hours while the mother doe forages to produce milk for her fawn(s). With this behavior the mother reduces the possibility that she might carry her own scent to a fawn’s hiding place.

Charlie Killmaster, State Deer Program supervisor at the Georgia Department of Natural Resources, says that the range of deer in Georgia varies from 150 to more than 1,200 acres. Smaller ranges occur in areas with high deer populations such as North Fulton County. He notes that the high degree of urbanization in North Fulton and Cherokee County makes a quality deer habitat. Charlie says, “a lot of nutritious food from fertilized gardens coupled with less hunting in urban areas is a recipe for more deer."

Deer population is determined partly by the availability of quality food and the presence or absence of natural enemies such as coyotes and bears. Such factors are difficult to control, so the main regulator of deer populations is hunters. In Georgia, the hunting season takes place in the fall. If the deer population is excessive, the result can be disease, destruction of farm crops, not to mention the effect on local gardens. The ability of white-tailed deer to run up to 30 or 40 miles an hour and leap over fences up to 8 feet high also helps protect them. They also have a keen sense of smell, some 500 to 1,000 times better than humans, and their large ears can rotate independently to isolate sounds.

Alpharetta resident Rick Moore is familiar with deer intrusion in gardens. An

A doe and her fawn. The fawn will stay with its mother for about a year.

A fawn with some 300 spots has an instinct to remain motionless for protection from predators while it’s mother doe forages for hours. The fawn will begin to lose its spots a few months after birth when it begins to forage for food.

avid gardener with plants that are in bloom every month of the year, Rick has taken to fencing in all his gardens.

“I have tried everything but nothing else

works,” he says. Still, he enjoys watching the deer in the woods behind his house.

“I have a love/hate relationship with deer,” he says.

I am indebted to Clay Gridley, owner of Six Bridges Brewing in Johns Creek and Milton, for suggesting this topic. He sees deer in the woods behind his house in Cherokee County almost every day. He once had a fawn hiding up against his garage in some grass.

“I never saw the mother,” he says, “but I enjoy observing and celebrating the miracle of new life coming into the world.”

Clay has given up trying to grow hops and most flowers although he does protect his hostas and hydrangeas.

Living with deer in our suburban and urban environments is a challenge. Deer are herbivores, meaning they feed on plants. Depending on the season, they eat leaves, shrubs, tree saplings, agricultural products and of course flowers. In that process they help control the growth of undesirable plants while aggravating us when they consume desirable plants. Hopefully, our attitudes will be guided by knowledge and compassion as we continue to experience deer’s effect on our environment.

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

Columnist

STEVE KYLES/GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES

TOM KOEMER/U.S. FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE

PAST TENSE

Thornwell Jacobs and T.K. Peters, the Crypt of Civilization

T.K. Peters moved from Ohio to Atlanta in 1938 to work on the Crypt of Civilization project with Oglethorpe University President Thornwell Jacobs. The idea of the crypt first came to Jacobs in 1936. His goal was to preserve ancient history for future generations.

Oglethorpe was previously located in Midway, Georgia, but was damaged and closed during the Civil War.

Jacobs, who received a Doctor of Letters degree after earning his Master of Arts degree from Presbyterian College of South Carolina in 1895, began his campaign to reopen the university along Peachtree Road in Brookhaven in 1912. He achieved that goal and served as president from 1915 to 1943.

T.K. Peters worked in the film industry in the early 20th century. He traveled the world taking photographs and movies and used the footage to make travel films. He also worked on special effects for Hollywood movies. He was particularly proud of his work on the 1923 film, “The

Ten Commandments,” where he created the parting of the Red Sea scene with special effects. He had the knowledge and talent needed to assist Jacobs.

The crypt is like a time capsule, but much larger. Items are kept in a room 20 by 10 feet wide and 10 feet high. It is a sealed steel and stone vault in the basement of Phoebe Hearst Hall on the campus of Oglethorpe University. There is no gold, jewelry or other items of value in the crypt.

The purpose of the time capsule was to preserve ancient history and to give a representation of life in the 1930s. Eight hundred textbooks were microfilmed by Peters and placed in the crypt. Modern

inventions, such as motion pictures and a projector to show these films were included. Encyclopedias and phonograph records were added.

Items representing everyday life were included, such as assorted kitchen items, a fishing pole, a whistle, Butterick dress pattern, Schick electric razor, fly swatter, beer and cigarette holder. A Lionel model train and Lincoln Logs were among the toys included to represent the time. For the complete list of items in the time capsule, visit oglethorpe.edu/about/history/crypt/ inventory/.

The Crypt of Civilization was dedicated in 1938 as part of the commencement program. David Sarnoff, president of the

Fulton County Schools. He started as a head custodian at schools across all three levels and became one of the first environmental technicians in the district.

Radio Corporation of American gave the dedication. The program was broadcast on WSB Radio. (Atlanta Journal, May 29, 1938, “Oglethorpe crypt door dedicated by Sarnoff”)

The metal doors of the crypt were sealed on May 28, 1940, with a planned year for opening of 8113. Jacobs arrived at this date by taking the number of years since civilization began, according to the Egyptian calendar, 6,177, and adding that number to 1936 to arrive at year 8113.

T.K. Peters stayed in the area after the dedication, making his home along Roberts Drive in Dunwoody, where the Dunwoody Nature Center is today. Peters bought the land in 1945 and deeded half the property to his wife Grace. While they had the house built, the couple lived in a small house still standing on the land.

They remained in the home until 1971. Peters described the property for sale as “… six acres, fine, rich soil, slopes down to a stream with a waterfall, magnificent beech trees. Main residence is constructed of blocks, capable of sustaining six thousand pounds to the square inch.”

For more information on the Crypt of Civilization, which Oglethorpe describes as “The oldest millennial time capsule in conception and the largest in the world,” visit their website, oglethorpe.edu/about/ history/crypt/.

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 award is named for late environmental technician Jerry Coker who passed away while working for

"This award represents the overall collaborative efforts between administrators and custodians to provide a

clean, safe and healthy environment for students and staff to be in,” Coordinator of Environmental Services Eric Flint said. “We are so proud of these award winners who represent the overall best in each of the grade level tiers of elementary, middle and high school.”

— Hannah Yahne

VALERIE BIGGERSTAFF Columnist

PHOTO FROM “THE STORY OF DUNWOODY,” BY ETHEL W. SPRUILL AND ELIZABETH L. DAVIS

T. K. Peters prepares items for the Crypt of Civilization at Oglethorpe University.

Milton:

Continued from Page 1

Nearly half of the contract will be paid through Milton’s capital fund. More than $1 million in TSPLOST funds are designated toward the project, with the remainder funded through the Local Maintenance and Improvement Grant.

The Public Works Department estimates $400,000 remains in the capital fund that is expected to be used for pavement preservation later this summer.

An additional $210,000 in TSPLOST II funds will go toward a services agreement with Hasbun Construction to build a temporary gravel walking path along Ga. 9 to the Bethany Bend intersection.

The gravel path is a temporary measure to continue pedestrian access for Crooked Creek residents and others on the corridor until a permanent sidewalk is installed as part of the Ga. 9 widening project.

Columbia Engineering contracts

In other business, council members approved a $2,300 change order with Columbia Engineering, bringing the total amount to more than $101,000 for rightof-way acquisition needed to install a traffic signal at Ga. 140/Arnold Mill Road and Green Road.

Design plans include a westbound three-lane approach on Green Road with a left turn lane, sidewalks on Green Road and a multi-use path on Ga. 140 connecting to the Kroger on Crabapple Road.

Milton has been working to gain

Request for Proposals

approval from GDOT on the improvements since 2021. The signal permit was approved in 2025 and is now advancing through the design and acquisition stages.

A separate task order with Columbia Engineering for land acquisition services for the Cox Road and Ebenezer/Etris Road roundabout project was approved on the consent agenda. The nearly $20,000 in land acquisition services will be funded through TSPLOST II.

Milton has two other task orders with Columbia Engineering related to the joint project with Roswell, which is responsible for 25 percent of all design and construction costs and all the acquisition costs for land within its city limits.

TSPLOST III projects

Milton City Council members approved a list of transportation projects to be funded through the estimated $4.2 million in TSPLOST III revenue, if approved by Fulton County voters in the fall.

The City Council must approve a list of potential transportation projects to share with Fulton County by the end of the month. A master list of projects will be generated in June, before the execution of an intergovernmental agreement between the county and all local municipalities.

TSPLOST project lists are split into three tiers based on their priority. Milton’s Tier 1 project list includes more than $37.5 million toward bridge maintenance and operation and safety improvements on major roadways. Tiers 2 and 3 include funding for pedestrian and bicyclist improvements, in addition to those budgeted in Tier 1.

Fire Station Generators - Annual Maintenance & Repair Services

RFP NUMBER 26-FD01

Proposal Due Date: June 10, 2026, 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(s) is awarded, it will be awarded to the highest scoring Offeror(s) whose proposal meets the requirements and criteria set forth in the request for proposals.

The City of Milton is seeking proposals from qualified vendors to establish a pool of contractors to provide inspection, preventative maintenance, testing, and repair services for natural gas emergency standby generators at Milton's Fire Stations. This contract is primarily intended to support Milton Fire-Rescue operations; however, other City departments may utilize the contract at their discretion if needed.

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 26-FD01, Fire Station Generators - Annual Maintenance and Repair Services will be posted on the following websites the week of May 21, 2026: https://www.miltonga.gov/government/finance/bids-rfps and https://ssl.doas.state.ga.us/gpr/

Each line in the puzzle below 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 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!

HOME IS WHERE THE HEART IS

1. Wander. Kind of tube. Jiddah denizen.

2. Tough. Corinth native. Military wear.

3. Suva resident. Squabble. Exploding star.

4. Scat. Marine NCO abbr. South African native.

5. Foot part. Mombasa native. California wine valley.

6. Vase name. Aix-la-Chapelle denizen. Barbershop call.

7. Pak Kret native. Stiff-upper-lip type. Citadel student.

Home Is Where the Heart Is

1 Wander. Kind of tube. Jiddah denizen

2. Tough. Corinth native. Military wear.

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. Suva resident. Squabble. Exploding star.

4. Scat. Marine NCO abbr. So. African native.

5. Foot part. Mombasa native. California wine valley.

6. Vase name. Aix-la-Chapelle denizen. Barbershop call

rules are easy: A number above the diagonal line in a black square is the sum of the white squares to the right of it. A number below the diagonal line is the sum of the white squares in the sequence below it. You may only use the digits 1 to 9, and a digit can only be used once in any sequence. How to Solve: To solve the Sudoku puzzle, each row, column and box must contain the numbers 1 to 9.

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THE FUTURE OF LOCAL NEWS

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Continued innovation in digital media has changed the ways in which people buy, sell and interact with products and services. It has caused businesses to reassess the ways in which it communicates with potential customers and advertises its products. It has been well documented that these changes have had a destructive impact on local newspapers, which continues to be a primary source for local news, but is no longer a primary source for local advertising dollars – historically the lifeblood for reporters and their coverage. At Appen Media Group we want to address this conflict head on, and build new and innovative approaches to monetizing local news and creating a sustainable future for local journalism in metro Atlanta.

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THE APPEN PRESS CLUB

One solution is the creation of a membership driven organization called the Appen Press Club that is dedicated to recruiting people and companies to join as members. Members pay recurring monthly or annual dues that are 100% dedicated to sustainable journalism. By providing predictable revenue, Appen Press Club members and partners help fund the salaries and expenses of local reporters who will no longer be subject to the whims of marketing budgets and an ever changing advertising world. In turn, those reporters will provide the readers they serve with highly researched and qualified journalism focused on subjects that directly affect their quality of life.

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.

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Ryder System, Inc. seeks a Sourcing & Supply Manager I in Alpharetta, GA, to contract Management-Develop and manage a contract portfolio which will entail business reviews, supplier performance management, and contract renewal activities. Telecommuting is permitted. 10% of domestic travel to local sites within 50 miles of the worksite address is required. Apply at https://www.jobpostingtoday.com/Ref #70825.

Lead Software Engineering needed by AT&T Services, Inc., in Alpharetta, GA to collaborate to gather and review software requirements/user stories, provide estimates, create software design specifications, and collaborate with engineers/ architects to assess and test hardware and software interactions. 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-108022.

Hussmann Corporation seeks Controls Engineer, Systems Controls in Suwanee, GA to work with product engineering, marketing, manufacturing, Quality, and others to capture functional requirements and design documents. Requires up to 25% Domestic Travel and up to 5% International Travel. 1 day remote work permitted/week. Apply at www.jobpostingtoday.com Ref # 34680.

Sawnee EMC is seeking a General Clerk III –Customer Service to assist in a high-volume call center. Requires high school diploma or equivalency, computer, communication, and general office skills. Requires one (1) year experience in a customer service call center or service-type organization, utility, finance, banking, or equivalent industry. Bilingual is preferred, fluent in English and Spanish (written and verbal).

Position is full-time; must be flexible to work irregular hours, to include evenings, weekends and holidays.

Applicants must complete an application prior to 5PM, May 29, 2026. Apply online: www.sawnee. coop/careers. If you require a paper application or an alternate format, please contact us at 770-8872363, 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.

Midway Preschool is looking for an experienced Young 5’s/Prek teacher for the 2026-2027 school year. Contact Beth at beth@midwayumc.org.

Lead Software Engineering needed by AT&T Services, Inc. in Alpharetta, GA to collaborate to gather and review software requirements/user stories, provide estimates, create software design specifications and collaborate with engineers/ architects to assess and test hardware and software interactions. 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-106067.

Part-time

YOUTH DIRECTOR

(Part-Time) Alpharetta Presbyterian Church — Alpharetta, GA

APC seeks a vibrant, relational leader to serve as Youth Director for middle and high school students. 20–25 hrs/week | Up to $25/hr. Ideal candidates have a passion for youth mentorship and a background in education, coaching, or youth leadership. Retired teachers and ministryminded professionals encouraged to apply. Strong volunteer team and pastoral support in place.

To apply: Submit a brief introduction and resume to jobs@alpharettapres.com.

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