Sandy Springs Crier - March 16, 2023

Murder charges filed in fentanyl-related death

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Sandy Springs to host fire station ceremony

SANDY SPRINGS, Ga. — The City of Sandy Springs will break ground on its newest fire station at a ceremony at 2:30 p.m. Thursday, March 16, at 7800 Mount Vernon Road.

Sandy Springs Fire Station 5 will be

built as a state-of-the-art, 10,000-squarefoot firehouse and will serve the city’s northeastern “panhandle area.”

“The city’s “panhandle area” is currently served by Fire Station No. 51, located on Spalding Drive at Roberts

Road,” officials said. “Response time to reach some areas within this district can take from 10 to 15 minutes. The new station is designed to blend in with the residential character of the neighborhood and will significantly reduce

response times by as much as seven minutes.”

Last September, the City Council approved an $8.4 million construction contract with Reeves and Yong to build the new fire station.

City approves funds for $5.7 million park recognizing veterans

By ALEXANDER POPP alex@appenmedia.com

SANDY SPRINGS, Ga. — City officials plan to have a fully completed park honoring local veterans in downtown Sandy Springs by Veterans Day this November,.

The Sandy Springs City Council gave final approval March 8 to a $5.7 million construction contract with Reeves Young to build Veterans Memorial Park on a triangle-shaped property between Roswell Road, Johnson Ferry Road and Mt. Vernon Highway, directly adjacent to City Hall.

Plans call for the park to include a series of large

fountains that mirror the Sandy Springs Performing Arts Center fountains on Roswell Road, a memorial area commemorating local veterans and wide multi-use sidewalks connecting the park to City Springs and the rest of the city.

The park project, which has been under consideration for more than 10 years, was approved by a split 3-2 vote, with District 6 Councilman Andy Bauman and District 4 Councilwoman Jody Reichel casting dissenting votes.

Bauman and Reichel each said that while they

See PARK, Page 6

CITY OF SANDY SPRINGS/PROVIDED

This rendering shows the future Sandy Springs Veteran’s Memorial Park, which will be built at Roswell Road, Johnson Ferry Road and Mt. Vernon Highway, adjacent to City Hall. A $5.7 million construction contract for the park was approved at a City Council meeting March 8.

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2022

2018

By ALEXANDER POPP alex@appenmedia.com

SANDY SPRINGS, Ga. — Investigators in Sandy Springs have charged an alleged Cherokee County drug dealer with murder in connection with a fatal 2022 overdose.

Sandy Springs police arrested Jacob Cain Anglin of Woodstock Feb. 26. He is charged with murder, making false statements to police, and possession of cocaine, arrest reports

and Fulton County Jail records show.

In an email to Appen Media, Sandy Springs Public Information Officer Matthew McGinnis said they believe Anglin is responsible for supplying fentanyl-laced pills that killed, James Travis Edenfield, a 26-year-old Thomaston, Ga. man Oct. 3, 2022.

Sandy Springs police have refused to release additional information about this case, including Appen Media’s open records requests for warrants filed. Documents obtained

from the Fulton County Superior Court allege that Anglin “frequently” sold pills to multiple individuals at the Comfort Inn on Roswell Road in Sandy Springs, that he knew were laced with fentanyl.

Arrest warrants alleged that “irrespective of malice” Anglin committed murder by knowingly selling laced pills that killed Edenfield. Anglin was taken to the Fulton County Jail and is being held without bond.

Man charged with murder in Sandy Springs fentanyl death Sandy Springs Police Reports

Each week Appen Media requests police incident reports to inform residents about the safety of their community. Sandy Springs continues to withhold what it calls the "narrative reports." It is

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.

Car reported stolen recovered in Dunwoody

DUNWOODY, Ga. — Dunwoody police have arrested a Jonesboro woman allegedly found driving a stolen car last week.

Police reports said officers were contacted at about 3 p.m., March 6, by a person who was tracking his stolen car on GPS as it traveled through Dunwoody. With the victim’s help, officers located the

the only city Appen Media covers that follows this practice, which goes against guidance from the Attorney General, Georgia Bureau of Investigation, Georgia Sheriff's Association, Prosecuting Attorneys'

Council of Georgia and Georgia Press Association. Appen Media will continue pursuing the release of documents that belong to the public in order to inform residents how safe - or unsafe - the city is keeping it.

car at a maintenance shop on Chamblee Dunwoody Road, being looked at by a mechanic.

Police arrested the vehicle’s driver, identified as a 43-year-old Jonesboro woman. The suspect first told police she had taken the car from her father, but she later admitted she stole the vehicle from a truck lot in Forest Park that morning.

The woman was charged with theft by receiving and was transported to the DeKalb County Jail.

Woman reports threat in road rage incident

DUNWOODY, Ga. — Police said a woman was threatened with a gun by another driver during a road rage incident on Perimeter Center in Dunwoody March 3.

The woman told police the incident occurred after she made a U-turn from Ashford Dunwoody Road into the parking lot of an Exxon station at about 9 a.m. and she was approached by a man driving a white BMW.

The BMW driver allegedly followed the victim as she left the gas station and continued down Ashford Dunwoody Road. When they pulled up to a stoplight, the BMW pulled alongside her, and the driver allegedly pointed a gun at her while calling her names.

After an investigation of FLOCK traffic cameras in the area, police were able to identify the vehicle, but noted that the registered owner did not match the victim’s description of the suspect. No suspect was identified at the time of the report.

City to host career expo March 30

DUNWOODY, Ga. — The City of Dunwoody will partner with multiple Metro Atlanta business organizations this month to host a comprehensive career expo for hundreds of job seekers at Perimeter Mall.

The HIREDunwoody career expo will be held Thursday, March 30 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the Dillard’s wing of Perimeter Mall and will feature a wide range of industries and companies from Dunwoody and the surrounding area, including the Dunwoody Police Department, Northside Hospital, IHG, Hapag-Lloyd, UPS and State Farm.

“We’re grateful for our partners and our common goal of helping job seekers discover new opportunities with room to

grow,” Dunwoody Mayor Lynn Deutsch said. “Easy access from MARTA, I-285 and Ga. 400 make Dunwoody a great fit for so many job seekers and employers.”

The event will begin at 10 a.m. with an hour-long career workshop presented by WorkSource DeKalb, Corners Outreach and IN THE DOOR, a workforce development strategy and training firm. The workshop will focus on polishing resumes and will provide job seekers with tips and tricks for navigating career fairs.

WorkSource DeKalb will also be on site with its Mobile Career Resource Center, a 13-station, state-of-the-art computer lab, that can be used by participants to update

and print resumes for prospective employers.

“HIREDunwoody is designed to be a one-stop shop, where you can learn about job openings, meet with hiring managers and explore a new career path,” George Northrop, Career Center director at the Community Assistance Center said. “Career expos like this help companies connect with job seekers who might not make it through the usual resume screening but have the skills or experience that make a great employee.”

This event is free and all job seekers are welcome to attend. To register for this event in advance and learn more information, visit http://hiredunwoody.com/.

Dunwoody launches community survey

DUNWOODY, Ga. — If you receive a call, letter or email in the coming weeks asking for feedback on services provided by the City of Dunwoody, it’s not a scam or sales call.

City officials have contracted the national research firm, Probolsky Research, to conduct a community survey on a wide range of city services and programs from a “representative statistical sampling” of local residents.

“We conduct a community survey every

few years as a way of measuring satisfaction levels with city services, amenities, and quality of life,” Dunwoody City Manager Eric Linton said. “We look forward to comparing 2023 to prior surveys to see where we’re hitting the mark and identify areas for improvement. This will be a valuable tool to plan for the future.”

Probolsky Research will contact a random sample of select residents by mail, phone, email and text over the next several weeks, city officials said.

Street art course registration underway at Spruill Center

DUNWOODY, Ga. — Spruill Center for the Arts and Brave Nu Ventures announced open registration for “Exploring Street Art in Atlanta,” a six-week course that explores the art form transforming the city.

Exploring Street Art in Atlanta, one of a handful offered in the United States, will run April 15-May 20. Classes will be held on Saturdays from 2:30-4:30 p.m. at the Spruill Center and at key street art locations in Atlanta.

Full scholarships are available to young adults who qualify. The link to the scholarship application is spruillarts.org/scholarships.

Exploring Street Art is open to the public and includes talks, mixed media projects and field trips:

• Week 1: Intro to Street Art Lecture –overview of Atlanta’s evolving cityscape from an urban art scholar.

• Week 2: ATL Street Art Tour – two-hour trek through Castleberry Hill & Downtown to learn the stories behind iconic works.

• Week 3: Is Graffiti Art? Workshop – a closer look at graffiti and arguments for

and against its merits.

• Week 4: Graffiti Painting – a hands-on, and legal, workshop to create a piece with a graffiti teaching artist.

• Week 5: Artist Studio – an opportunity to meet the muralist behind several works and learn about their creative process.

• Week 6: Public Art Installation – a rare chance to work on a public mural with a local artist.

Brave Nu Ventures designed the course over 12 months, working with local artists, creatives and street art insiders. The course features a team of facilitators who will lead individual sessions.

Students will learn about the cultural significance of street art in Atlanta. They will see and discuss the iconic murals, the contributions of edgier, and even anonymous artists, and the issues being addressed. By making art and touring the city, students will develop an aesthetic sensitivity to street art forms and techniques – from graffiti styles to how murals are made.

To enroll in Exploring Atlanta Street Art, go to spruillarts.org/ classes.

Residents will be asked about their priorities for the city and their satisfaction level with current city services, programs, management and many other topics.

The survey will take less than 30 minutes to complete, and responses will be confidential. The results of the survey will be presented to the City Council and will be available to the public when complete.

Quick action saves life at Roswell Area Park

By DELANEY TARR delaney@appenmedia.com

ROSWELL, Ga. —The last thing Nick Bogle saw before his heart stopped beating at Roswell Area Park was two people inspecting the park’s automated external defibrillator, or AED.

The 63-year-old Milton resident was walking past the park bathrooms toward his soccer practice Feb. 4 when he experienced sudden cardiac arrest. Within moments, a fellow soccer player and retired fire chief started CPR on him.

When CPR proved ineffective, the pair inspecting the AED acted. Jeff Freemyer, a board member of elder-focused soccer club FC Georgia United, called 911. Alina Waring, an emergency physician administered the AED.

After only a few minutes and a single shock from the defibrillator, Bogle was revived and taken to the hospital by emergency medical services. Bogle spent four days in the hospital where he had an internal cardio defibrillator placed in his heart. If his heart stops again the device will restart it.

Weeks later Bogle is back on his feet, preparing to return to his athletic lifestyle.

“My recovery really is going to be complete because they got to me so quickly,” Bogle said.

The soccer player called the lifesaving measures a “miracle.” Bogle said he was lucky to be right by the AED, and he was lucky the device they inspected was charged and ready for use.

Bogle ran through everything that could have gone differently, that could have kept the three individuals from saving his life. The American Heart Association says 436,000 Americans die from cardiac arrest every year.

Somebody could have been in the bathroom where the AED is stored, Bogle said. The device could have been dead. He could have been alone.

Thankful for his recovery, Bogle said he wants to raise awareness about the lifesaving measures around Roswell parks. He credits the city for keeping AEDs at all the fields.

Recreation and Parks Department Director Jeffrey Leatherman said the city has 31 AEDs spread across the parks, recreation centers and art centers.

“We want people to be as safe as they can be in our parks and facilities,” Leatherman said.

The devices are stored in women’s restrooms, usually around active areas like the sports fields. While the devices are readily available, Leatherman knows they can blend into the background.

“When you notice them all the time, you forget they’re even there,” Leatherman

After experiencing sudden cardiac arrest at

said.

Leatherman encourages people to “be conscious” and take mental notes of where the devices are in the parks. He said staff are also available to help in emergency situations.

“It’s just a way we can all help take care of the community and take care of our neighbors,” Leatherman said.

Bogle said the other part of community safety falls on “individual responsibilities,” and everyone should take the time to learn CPR. If performed immediately, the American Heart Association said CPR can double or triple survival chances for cardiac arrest.

He also said people should learn how to use the AED devices, because they can be “intuitive, but intimidating.”

The devices all have directions printed on the outside, as well as audible commands and photo instructions. The defibrillator only activates when all the systems are hooked up correctly.

Leatherman said the device manufacturers also have how-to videos online.

Bogle and his soccer club have helped fund some of the devices because, as an older group, they must prepare for heart attacks.

Bogle emphasized that cardiac arrest could happen to anyone, no matter their age or fitness level. He named Damar Hamlin, a 24-year-old professional football player who experienced sudden cardiac arrest on the field as an example.

“I didn’t think this could ever happen to myself, and I was a little bit arrogant about it,” Bogle said. “It shows it can happen to anyone really.”

As he prepares to resume sports again, Bogle said he’s grateful for the community who came together, from his family and teammates to the doctors and nurses at the hospital.

“This story has nothing to do with me, and everything to do with everybody else around,” Bogle said.

DELANEY TARR / APPEN MEDIA

Roswell Area Park on Feb. 4, Nick Bogle was revived with the help of people around him and an automated external defibrillator, or AED.

Park:

Continued from Page 1

support the idea of having a veterans memorial in the city, they were concerned with the high costs associated with the park’s fountain.

“I'm thrilled we're supporting a salute to our veterans,” Bauman said. “Ultimately, you know, this is a town also founded on fiscal responsibility. To quote one of my colleagues in a different context, but the same project, ‘Have we lost our minds? This has gotten out of hand.’”

Architects initially estimated the park would cost $4.7 million to build, but the price tag has since grown by $1 million due to site logistics and utilities, said Mike Iezzi, a Reeves Young project executive.

Sandy Springs currently has $3.1 million in funding available for the project, Iezzi said, but they have funding sources lined up for the additional $2.6 million that will be needed.

The park was also designed with an alternate no-fountain option, which would instead feature large planters with trees, shrubs and flowers along Roswell Road, he said. This option would knock nearly $700,000 off the cost.

However, officials said that without the fountains, the park will be much less shielded from road noise.

Reichel said she couldn’t support either option, because the proposed cost was too expensive to justify, especially when other city parks have financial needs for active uses, like baseball and soccer.

Going back to the drawing board and figuring out a different way to memorialize veterans would be the better option, she said.

“I don't think that me not supporting spending millions of dollars on either flowers or a fountain, takes away from my support for the veterans,” she said.

Councilmembers also heard from several local veterans at the meeting, who said they believed the fountain was an integral part of the project.

“A commitment has been made to the citizens of Sandy Springs for a veterans fountain,” resident Drew Early said. “This is about you, the elected representatives, having made commitments to your constituency. You may not have wanted to, you may not have decided to, you may not have thought that’s what you were doing, but it’s what you did.”

Following public comments, District 1 Councilman John Paulson, a Vietnam War veteran, said the city needed to listen to what local residents wanted for the project, stop taking it back to the drawing board and

just get the park project finished.

“I hear people talk about how they support the veterans all the time … And I think that's fantastic,” Paulson said. “To me, this is also an indication of support for the veterans … and I'd like to see that true support for the veterans is what we hold up tonight.”

After council discussion, Bauman attempted to separate the project by calling for separate votes on the veterans memorial funding and the overall park project, but his motion was voted down and the complete project was approved.

With final approval from the City Council, Iezzi said they expect to break ground on the project during the week of March 20, with final completion of the project coming by Nov. 1.

ALEX POPP/APPEN MEDIA

Sandy Springs City Council members discuss the city’s future Veteran’s Memorial Park at a meeting March 8. Officials said they expect to break ground on the project this month, with final completion of the project coming in November.

Roswell receives federal funding for Greenway multi-use path

ROSWELL, Ga. — The Big Creek Greenway Community Connectivity Planning Project is getting a shot in the arm, thanks to $2 million in federal grants announced Feb. 28 by U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg.

The project aims to design a multi-use path to unite disadvantaged residents to jobs, health care, education and other civic life. It will be built on a 20-foot easement in Roswell underneath Ga. 400, land owned by the Georgia Department of Transportation.

The path will connect Roswell’s town center, Alpharetta, the historically disadvantaged Liberty Square neighborhood and Metro Atlanta through the Big Creek Greenway.

“Transportation should connect, not divide, people and communities,” Buttigieg said.

The Reconnecting Communities Program, established by President Joe Biden provides technical assistance and funding for community planning and construction projects that aim to reconnect neighborhoods split by transportation barriers.

The grants, totaling $185 million, were awarded to 39 planning projects and six capital construction projects.

Roswell Police arrest 2 on prostitution charges

ROSWELL, Ga. — Roswell police made two arrests for prostitution-related charges on March 2 at a location on Alpharetta Street.

One individual was arrested for prostitution and related sex acts for hire. Both people were arrested on a misdemeanor charge of “keeping a place of prostitution,” and for giving massages in a place used for lewdness, prostitution and other acts for hire.

Fulton County Jail records show both people were released on cash bonds the same day they entered the facility.

The arrests are part of an ongoing investigation, and the Roswell Police Department says more information will be made available as the case progresses through the prosecution stage.

DutchCrafters celebrates 20 years of handcrafted perfection

By ALEXANDER POPP alex@appenmedia.com

ALPHARETTA, Ga. — When DutchCrafters CEO Jim Miller and his partner Miao Xue first went into business in 2003, they didn’t really know what they wanted to sell.

Normally, that doesn’t bode well for the survival of a business. But Miller and Xue, both former grad students at the University of South Florida, knew that an invention called the internet was starting to show a lot of potential for matching customers with niche products that were hard to find.

DutchCrafters will celebrate its 20th anniversary later this month, marking years of hard work through recessions, a global pandemic and countless other challenges that led them to become an industry leader in selling hand-crafted furniture to customers around the world.

“It’s been a great success story,” Miller said. “But wow, there were challenges along the way. It took a lot of work.”

Today DutchCrafters is known for selling high-end custom furniture made by Amish craftsmen from communities in Indiana, Ohio and Pennsylvania. But initially, Miller didn’t even think it would be possible to sell such an expensive product on the internet, which was seen as “shady” during its infancy.

“People didn’t trust it,” he said. “Consumers weren’t there yet. In 2003, total U.S. sales of eCommerce were something like 1.25 percent.”

Instead, they began selling nifty, but less expensive, Amish-made craft items like decorative wooden lighthouses and outdoor furniture, which weren’t really

being sold anywhere else online.

All that changed when Miller and his wife, Linse, took a trip to Pennsylvania to scout for vendors, and she convinced him they’d be crazy not to try selling the beautifully crafted furniture they kept seeing.

“I said, that’s never going to work. There’s too many problems,” he said. “The next year we did about half a million dollars in revenues … So, it was a great time to be wrong.”

Like the trust they had to build with customers, Miller said they also had to slowly build relationships in the closeknit Amish craftsman community by convincing suppliers they could sell their

products faster, more consistently and for higher prices than traditional brick-andmortar stores.

“It was almost more difficult to break into the vendor community than it was with customers,” he said.

In October 2022 DutchCrafters cut the ribbon on their third location outside of their headquarters in Sarasota, Florida,

and quality control warehouse in Indiana, a state-of-the-art product showroom in downtown Alpharetta.

Miller said DutchCrafters has been serving the North Fulton area for years, and he thinks that with the new location, they can boost their business in the region, while also charting a course for showrooms to open in other cities

“We’re really thrilled with the reception that we have had here from the business community and customers in Alpharetta,” he said. “We’ve felt really welcomed by it. We want to engage in the community and be part of it.”

But customers at the showroom aren’t going to take anything home with them, like they would from an Ikea, Rooms To Go, or other furniture stores. Instead, the showroom allows customers to learn about DutchCrafter’s products and options before their furniture is custom-made by Amish craftsmen.

A custom-made piece of furniture takes much longer to arrive at its final destination, months rather than weeks, but the end product is totally unique for each customer, Miller said.

“I call it slow furniture, like slow food,” he said. “Slow Food takes a little longer, yeah. But it usually tastes pretty good, you experience it in a different way. You sit down and enjoy it together with friends.”

Beyond that uniqueness, Miller said his customers are really buying a story.

“It’s an American story,” he said. “It’s a story that engages a high degree of authenticity. Real hands, real people working in small wood shops.”

For more information about DutchCrafter’s products and story, visit www.dutchcrafters.com.

PHOTOS BY ALEX POPP/APPEN MEDIA

Jim and Linse Miller, center, stand with their staff in the showroom of DutchCrafters in downtown Alpharetta. The Amish-made furniture company opened its Alpharetta location in October 2022.

Each piece of furniture sold by DutchCrafters is lovingly hand-made by Amish craftsmen in Indiana, Ohio and Pennsylvania. Customers can now see examples of many DutchCrafters pieces at their showroom off North Main Street in Alpharetta.

PET OF THE WEEK

Oaklynn

Oaklynn (ID# 50734815) - Oaklynn is 2 years old and quite playful. He does well with people and other pets, but he's especially fond of toys. A little shy at first, he becomes very affectionate once he gets to know you. Bring a toy and come meet your new best friend today. To foster or adopt Oaklynn drop by DeKalb County Animal Services, 3280 Chamblee Dunwoody Road, Chamblee, GA 30341 or email adoption@dekalbanimalservices.com.

"Free Adoptions in February" –Expand your family by four furry little feet; meet Oaklynn and have a loving friend forever. All adoptions include spay/neuter, vaccinations and microchip. If you would like more information about Oaklynn please email adoption@dekalbanimalservices.com or call (404) 294-2165; all potential adopters will be screened to ensure Oaklynn goes to a good home.

Our shelter is full of incredible pets waiting for homes. We must find 500 homes; will yours be one of them? To foster, adopt or meet your new furry friend, stop by DeKalb County Animal Services at 3280 Chamblee Dunwoody Road., Chamblee, GA 30341.

NEW BUSINESS SPOTLIGHTS

Name: VIVA Chicken

Owner: Gerald Pulsinelli, CEO

Description: VIVA Chicken, a fast-casual charcoal-fire rotisserie joint that serves distinctively fresh and flavorful chicken and sauces made from authentic Peruvian recipes, will open its second Georgia restaurant on March 1, located at 11760 Haynes Bridge Road in Alpharetta.

Opened: March 1, 2023

Address: 11760 Haynes Bridge Road, Alpharetta, Ga, 30009

Phone: (404) 474-8512

Web Address: http://vivachicken.com

Alpharetta police introduce new therapy dog

By SHELBY ISRAEL shelby@appenmedia.com

ALPHARETTA, Ga. — The Alpharetta Police Department is instating its first therapy dog to provide victim and witness support and departmental therapy.

Lt. Andrew Splawn said Det. Caitlin Lawrence pitched Scout, a 14-month-old beagle mix, to Director of Public Safety John Robison in 2022. He said Scout was approved, and Lawrence attended a 40hour basic training school with Scout in December.

Splawn said Scout came from the Brevard County Sheriff’s Office’s Paws and Stripes College in Florida, a program where select jail inmates train shelter dogs in obedience to determine whether they would be a good fit as a therapy or a comfort dog.

“They have to do a mock therapy dog interview where they’re interviewing a victim or a witness and the dog is in the room,” Splawn said. “They have a really nice program down there at Brevard County, and then after the one-week certification, then the handler gets to come back and start to do work with the dog.”

Scout’s training did not end with Paws and Stripes, Splawn said. Scout will continue to learn and improve his skills for the rest of his time at the department.

therapy dog Scout to its K9 team. Police Lt. Andrew Splawn said Scout will be used for departmental therapy, as well as witness and victim support.

Splawn said standard K9 dogs are used as tools in the field for scent detection, tracking and apprehension, but Scout will be used to bring comfort for those who have had traumatic experiences.

“Because whenever somebody’s been a victim of a traumatic crime, especially

like a person-on-person crime, being able to help them recall the details and speak about them, it’s very challenging,” Splawn said. “And if we can use therapy dogs to help them out, we’re helping the victim, but then we’re also helping to identify suspects.”

He said Scout’s primary purpose is a therapy dog for victims and witnesses, but the dog will also provide therapy for the Public Safety Department’s employees, such as firefighters and 911 dispatchers, who can witness traumatic events in the course of their duties.

Since February, Splawn said Scout has already made rounds around the department to cheer up employees, but Scout has not yet been employed in direct response to a traumatic event.

Splawn said a study conducted by the Brevard County Sheriff’s Office found that in 24 cases, 83 percent of child abuse victims made active disclosures when comforted by a therapy dog, compared to the national average 30-40 percent disclosure rate.

“It really helps victims and witnesses [who are] anxious in an interview room,” Splawn said. “It really helps calm them down, and as they get more calm, they’re able to recall more instances and details to be able to give to the police.”

Splawn said the department will review Scout’s success rate in the future to determine if more therapy dogs would be worthwhile, but the department is open to having more.

Pickleball club franchise to launch in Roswell

By DELANEY TARR delaney@appenmedia.com

ROSWELL, Ga. — Ace Pickleball Club is set to open Roswell’s first indoor pickleball club on Market Boulevard this spring. The club will feature 14 professional grade courts members can access anytime.

The membership-driven, indoor pickleball court will be the first location for Ace Pickleball Club. It will function as the headquarters and “beta-testing site” as the franchise expands nationally.

Pickleball is a sport that has skyrocketed in popularity since the onset of COVID-19 in 2020. The sport is similar to tennis but employes paddles and whiffleballs on a smaller court.

Ace Pickleball Club co-founder and CEO Jay Diederich said the sport became popular with older age groups, then grew to include the younger set.

“There are millions of people pouring into the sport and it’s no longer that retiree age group,” Diederich said. “The average age was 64 and a-half, and now we’re headed to the mid-20s.”

Diederich said the sport is starting to expand into high school programs as well. People as young as 12 and as old as 80 can play, and the gender split is even.

The club co-founder started playing the

sport with his wife while living in Florida at the start of the COVID-19 shutdowns. It was one of the few ways the couple could get out of the house.

“We were hooked immediately,” Diederich said.

Within weeks, the pair had already met upwards of 40 new people who also played pickleball. For Diederich and others, the sport replaced the gym.

But the Florida weather wasn’t ideal because of the “brutal” heat, and many tournaments and matches got cancelled or rescheduled last minute.

When Diederich’s wife suggested the sport move indoors, a lightbulb went off.

Diederich has worked in development for Sky Zone, an indoor trampoline park franchise for the past decade, so he was familiar with the concept of indoor athletic spaces. He met with Joe Sexton and Vincent Barrios, both Sky Zone employees, to “take a hard look at moving pickleball indoors.”

The co-founders knew they wanted something different than the typical entertainment establishments, like Pickle and Social or Chicken N Pickle which are primarily restaurants that use pickleball to drive traffic.

Pickle and Social had originally committed to developing a location in East

DELANEY TARR / APPEN MEDIA

Ace Pickleball Club is set to open Roswell’s first indoor pickleball club on Market Boulevard in May 2023, with 14 courts available to members anytime.

Roswell in 2020 but backed out of the deal in 2022 after they deemed the property too cost-prohibitive. The pickleball facility and restaurant opted to develop a location in Alpharetta instead.

Diederich said those places are creating family-friendly environments, but he wants to prioritize an all-ages pickleball club that’s “welcoming to all players.” That welcome extends to costs, too.

“For the price of one trip to Pickle and Social, that’s monthly access (to Ace Pickleball Club),” Diederich said.

The Roswell location will be open play-

oriented, and members will have priority access. For a monthly fee, members can come in at any time to hop into a game. There will also be member-focused events and tournaments.

“Everything revolves around the game itself, and activating more people to the sport, whether you’re playing for fun or socializing or training to get on tour,” Diederich said.

The co-founder picked Roswell after he moved his search out of Florida. He said the establishment could work in most markets, but Roswell “blew him away.”

The location is close to Atlanta’s HartsfieldJackson Airport, a perk for future business travel, and Diederich was drawn to the area’s growing film industry.

As the Ace Pickleball Club franchise headquarters, the location will be the site of future advancements, like livestreaming, instant replay and instant highlight reels.

“The Roswell players are going to be on the cutting edge,” Diederich said.

While the club will likely not open until late May, Diederich said interested players should join the waitlist now. The club has a cap on memberships to provide adequate playing time for everyone.

“We have the leg up to figure out what this can look like, what the model can look like,” Diederich said.

ALPHARETTA POLICE DEPARTMENT/PROVIDED

The Alpharetta Police Department is instating its first

MOONSHINE IN SANDY SPRINGS

What: Busting up moonshine operations was not unheard of in Sandy Springs during the 1940s, and rumor has it that one remains hidden under Lost Corners trails. Join Melissa Swindell, director of Historic Resources and Education Programs at Heritage Sandy Springs, to learn more about the fascinating and scandalous history of moonshine and prohibition in Sandy Springs. The event is free, but registration is required. Donations are welcome.

When: Tuesday, March 21, 7 p.m.

Where: Lost Corner Preserve, 7300 Brandon Mill Road, Sandy Springs

More info: sandyspringsga.gov

‘THE NICETIES’ AT STAGE DOOR THEATRE

What: Zoe is a young Black student at a liberal arts college. What begins as a polite clash in perspectives of the founding fathers between her and her liberal, tenured professor explodes into a tightrope of what it means to hear and what it means to listen.

When: March 17-April 2, 7:30-9:30 p.m.

Where: Stage Door Theatre, 5339 Chamblee Dunwoody Road, Dunwoody

Cost: $35 for adults, $20 for students, $15 for children

More info: stagedoortheatrega.org/ the-niceties/

DUNWOODY FARMERS MARKET

What: The Dunwoody Farmers Market brings together a variety of vendors selling local and organic fruits, veggies and produce, coffee, breakfast, baked goods, prepared meals, frozen treats, eggs, grass-fed meat and fresh seafood.

When: Saturday, March 18, 10 a.m.12 p.m.

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

More info: dunwoodyga.gov

FOOD DRIVE - ALL SAINTS ST. VINCENT DE PAUL

What: All food items are essential and appreciated, however the greatest need is canned meat, peanut butter and diapers. Please no glass containers which can break in transport.

When: Saturday, March 18, 2-6:30 p.m. & Sunday, March 19, 8 a.m.6:30 p.m.

Where: All Saints Catholic Church, 2443 Mount Vernon Road, Dunwoody

More info: allsaintsdunwoody.org/ ministries/st-vincent-de-paul/

NORTHSIDE SAINT PATRICK’S DAY PARADE & FESTIVAL

What: The inaugural Northside St. Patrick’s Parade & Festival will commence with the parade honoring St. Patrick and the Irish community in Georgia and will include Irish Societ

ies, businesses and social groups, local school units, bands, families, and some pipes and drums. The parade will complete its route at the City Green where the festival will be in full swing. Local and Celtic vendors will be selling wares, and there will be Irish sports demonstrations, music, Irish dancing and more. The evening will culminate with a concert, ages 21 and over, by Kate Curran at nearby Thos. O’Reilly’s Public House.

When: Saturday, March 18, 10 a.m.

Where: City Green, 1 Galambos Way, Sandy Springs

More info: visitsandysprings.org

STUDIO SERIES: MICHELLE MALONE

What: Closing the Studio Series, songwriter and modern-day guitar hero Michelle Malone brings her unique mix of roadhouse rock ’n roll, blues, gospel, country-soul and folk to the stage.

When: Thursday, March 23, 8 p.m.

Where: Studio Theatre, 1 Galambos Way, Sandy Springs

Cost: $20-30

More info: sandyspringsga.gov

HEALTHY FOREST LECTURE WITH INTERPRETATIVE HIKE

What: If we understand the soil of today, then we can better understand the forest of tomorrow.This program will cover seed bank, soil science, soil horizon, soil testing, limiting factors, mycorrhizae, richness, biodiversity, urban forestry, fungal network (mycelium), nutrient uptake, nutrient fixing and root grafts. Participants can submit soil samples to the University of Georgia and begin a soil composition index.

When: Friday, March 24, 12:30 p.m.

Where: Lost Corner Preserve, 7300 Brandon Mill Road, Sandy Springs

More info: sandyspringsga.gov

ARTISTIC AFFAIR

What: Building off the success of last year’s groundbreaking fundraising event, Spruill Center for the Arts presents “Artistic Affair: An Arts

Experience” at Factory Atlanta. The fundraiser and auction will include a DJ, magician and fortune tellers, live art painting, open bar, hors d’oeuvres and more.

When: Friday, March 24, 7-10 p.m.

Where: Factory Atlanta, 5616 Peachtree Road, Chamblee

Cost: $75

More info: spruillarts.org/artisticaffair

SNAP!DRAGON’S GARDEN OPENING RECEPTION

What: Spring has sprung at the Dunwoody Community Garden. Visit the event for an afternoon of Instagramworthy selfies, free popcorn and garden-themed goodies for kids. Moondog Growlers will be on site with beverages available for purchase. Exhibit runs until April 1.

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

When: Saturday, March 25, 11 a.m.-2 p.m.

More info: dunwoodyga.gov

SANDY SPRING THEATRE COMPANY’S ‘SPAMALOT’

What: Join King Arthur, the Knights of the Round Table and the glamorous Lady of the Lake as they turn the Arthurian legend on its ear in their quest for the Holy Grail. Along the way they encounter dancing showgirls, flying cows, killer rabbits and assorted French people. The production is the winner of the 2005 Tony Award for Best Musical.

When: Up to March 26, times vary

Where: Byers Theatre, 1 Galambos Way, Sandy Springs

Cost: $37-100

More info: sandyspringsga.gov

FEATURE YOUR EVENT ONLINE AND IN PRINT!

It’s even easier now than ever to promote your event to hundreds of thousands of people, whether online, through our newsletters or in the Crier and Herald newspapers.

To promote your event, follow these easy steps:

1. Visit AppenMedia.com/Calendar;

2. Provide the details for your event including title, description, location and date;

3. Click the red button that reads “Create event”

4. That’s it! Submissions are free, though there are paid opportunities to promote your event in print and online.

H R NG ADVERTISING ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE

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Dunwoody Diorama records city’s history on discarded tree trunk

Dunwoody Preservation Trust will unveil a stunning piece of public art this spring which will tell the community’s history, the Dunwoody Diorama. The Diorama is a 19-foot-long wood sculpture carved in relief from the trunk of a red oak tree. Jim and Melanie Williams, past presidents of DPT and long-time residents of Dunwoody, have led the concept and funding of the project.

The 100-year-old tree was once part of the landscape of DonaldsonBannister Farm, located in front of the circa 1870 home at 4831 Chamblee Dunwoody Road. When the city determined the tree was dead and needed to be cut down, Melanie Williams had the idea to have the base of the tree carved where it was. However, an arborist determined the oak tree was not stable and had to be removed.

Chamblee sculptor Tom Williams suggested the tree be cut into thick slabs which could be cured and used to create a linear carving. In January 2020, the process began with the slabs drying outside and then in a kiln. The COVID pandemic slowed the progress of the project but planning continued.

Members of Dunwoody Preservation Trust along with Tom Williams met to discuss the details of the carving, working to incorporate as many aspects of the history as possible. Williams sketched several versions of the planned carving, working with local historians, non-profit organizations, the City of Dunwoody and other experts. He began carving soon after the final sketch was approved in early 2022.

The Diorama begins with the

indigenous people who lived in the area 8,000 years ago and continues through every stage of the community’s growth, including Dunwoody today. The carving includes iconic Dunwoody history. Images of the Roswell Railroad engine Buck, Carey Spruill and his mule Shorty, the early Dunwoody school, Thompson’s store, Cheek-Spruill House and Donaldson-Bannister Farm are included, just to name a few.

The Dunwoody Diorama will be completed, mounted and secured

under the roof of the new barn, on the Chamblee Dunwoody Road-side of Donaldson-Bannister Farm. It will be available for viewing whenever the city park and farm is open, 7 a.m. until sundown each day.

DPT is planning guided tours, brochures and a series of children’s books to tell the stories of the Dunwoody Diorama. They also plan to incorporate QR codes for self-guided tours and the use of augmented reality software to bring elements of

the Diorama to life. DPT is planning a regional history museum, and the Diorama is an important component of the plan.

Jim and Melanie Williams have dedicated countless hours to their vision of the Dunwoody Diorama.

“This extraordinary and unique work of art will be an important educational tool and will be enjoyed by all for generations.”

The craftsmanship of wood sculptor Tom Williams has made that vision come to life.

Private donations from members of the community and local nonprofits have funded the Dunwoody Diorama project. Contact Noelle Ross, executive director DPT to contribute to this project at noelle@dunwoodypt.org or 770668-0401 or visit the website, dunwoodypreservationtrust.org/ dunwoody-diorama/.

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

VALERIE BIGGERSTAFF Columnist

Chamblee sculptor Tom Williams with one of the wood planks used for the Dunwoody Diorama.

PHOTOS PROVIDED

The trunk of this 100 year old red oak tree at Donaldson-Bannister Farm was cut and preserved to become the Dunwoody Diorama.

Tools of the trade, used by sculptor Tom Williams, sit on a portion of the carving in progress.

Jimmy Carter and the Dolvin Elementary School

At a time when many Americans are contemplating the life and legacy of former President Jimmy Carter, it is appropriate to recall the history of the Dolvin Elementary School in Johns Creek, which Carter was on hand to dedicate in September 1980. This column is the story of that event and the story of one unique woman, his Aunt Sissy Dolvin, who helped make Jimmy Carter the person he became.

Dolvin Elementary School is the oldest operating school in Johns Creek. It is known for its academic excellence and for the active interest students’ parents take in education. School Principal Karen Cooke says, “We live our school mission: inspire, challenge, achieve.”

As part of the Fulton County Charter School system which emphasizes local school autonomy, Dolvin School has an active School Governance Council whose membership is 50 percent staff and 50 percent parents, an energetic PTA and the effective Dolvin Foundation. The foundation is a nonprofit charitable organization that raises funds to support educational programs, new technology and other equipment that would not otherwise be available through the school’s annual budget. For the past two years the Foundation has focused its efforts on a Science Discovery Lab. Cooke states that the Foundation has raised more than a million dollars over the years.

The school is named after William Jasper Dolvin (1908-1974), a celebrated educator who was principal of Roswell School on Mimosa Boulevard. He was married to Emily Gordy Dolvin (1912-2006), President Carter’s beloved “Aunt Sissy.” Emily subsequently married Hubert Visscher (1914-2005), a meteorologist. Emily was a well-known community leader in Roswell for more than 50 years. She played a key role in Carter’s political success, especially in 1976 when the then relatively unknown Georgia governor ran for president. The Dolvins’ home on Bulloch Avenue, built in the 1880s, became known as the Carter Roswell White House.

June Gay, retired assistant principal at Dolvin Elementary School, remembers the dedication ceremony. “It started off in a wonderful way,” she says. “Jimmy had

just become president. The principal was Betty O’Quinn. We invited Emily Dolvin for lunch to get to know her. She liked our proposal, and she said she would call Jimmy. We moved into Dolvin School Dec. 7, 1979 and hoped to get the president to come out soon, but it was Sept. 15, 1980 before he could schedule his visit.”

June taught school the day of the dedication and had three Secret Service agents in her classroom.

“We thought we would have a lot of students attend since it was a school event, but there were so many politicians and reporters that we had to cut way back the number of students,” she recalls.

To control the crowd, the school instituted a ticket system for students and teachers.

“A Secret Service agent was assigned to me, and we had to move all the teachers into one room so the Secret Service could search the school,” June says. “When the president arrived, the agent and I stood at the door to be sure everyone who entered had a ticket. I said ‘yes’ or ‘no’ to our people who wanted to come in, and the Secret Service agent checked out the VIPs.”

June remembers that Aunt Sissy was very excited. She was raised in the Dolvin house in Roswell and was excited to show her deceased husband’s namesake, the school, to her nephew, the president.

Carter spoke to the crowd in the auditorium/cafeteria and told them how proud he was to see his Uncle Dolvin’s name on the school. He noted that he had visited the Dolvin home often “because Sissy was my favorite aunt and helped to guide me through my formative years. And as I got into politics and government, Sissy and Dolvin’s house was a good place for me to come, not only to receive love and friendship and support but also to learn. . . because he knew that I was eager to learn and to improve the educational system of our state. He taught me just as he taught his students in elementary school.”

Following the dedication, Aunt Sissy hosted a reception for about 100 people at the Dolvin residence including Mrs. Lillian Carter, the president’ mother, Governor Busbee, Senator Talmadge and Representative Fowler.

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.

ROSWELL HISTORICAL SOCIETY/PROVIDED

President Jimmy Carter speaks at the dedication of the Dolvin Elementary School in Johns Creek on Sept. 15, 1980. Standing next to him is his Aunt Sissy Dolvin, widow of William Jasper Dolvin, for whom the school is named. Aunt Sissy was a community leader for more than 50 years in Roswell and had a major influence on President Carter as a youth and adult.

FULTON COUNTY SCHOOLS ARCHIVES/PROVIDED

President Jimmy Carter and his Aunt Sissy Dolvin unveil a portrait of her deceased husband William Jasper Dolvin for whom the Dolvin Elementary School is named. Aunt Sissy, whose real name was Emily Gordy Dolvin, devoted more than 50 years to volunteer and civic activities in Roswell.

ROSWELL HISTORICAL SOCIETY/PROVIDED

President Jimmy Carter addresses a crowd during the dedication of Dolvin Elementary School in Johns Creek on Sept. 15, 1980. His favorite Aunt Sissy Dolvin is seated on to right of the empty chair. The Dolvin home in Roswell was known as the Carter Roswell White House because he visited his aunt frequently during his formative years.

The real lowdown on a meaningful life and retirement

There’s a hot new company advertising on television, The RealReal. Based in San Francisco, TheRealReal is an online resale marketplace for staff-authenticated luxury goods. If you are going to buy used Prada, Gucci, Chanel, Louis Vuitton or other upscale item, you want certainty it’s the genuine article. Anyone who has traveled and seen the guys selling “luxury handbags” on European or Asian streets, aggressive salesmen who run like rabbits at the first sign of the police, has cause to be suspicious of deals and illusions that too often are too good to be true.

Illusions portraying a happy and perpetually idyllic retirement are peddled constantly. We know that the process of growing older is not one long day at the beach, so to speak. Money worries, physical aches and pains, responsibilities in caring for oneself and others and myriad other challenges can upset the best of plans. Have you thought about your game plan?

In reality, your plan for a happy and well-adjusted life should be crafted long before retirement, ideally when you are young and just starting out. But since life is a process of learning that should not end until the day you die, you will think differently at age 22 than you will at 32, and so on at ages 42, 52, 62, 72, 82, and 92. Why count in multiples of 10? Longrange planning is always wise, but if you think too far out, the “fog of the future” can cloud your thinking. Just focus on the next 10 years. Why 10 years?

Anyone beyond age 70 will tell you that 10 years will slide past you faster than you think. You don’t want 2023 to 2033 to be your lost decade. It will be if you just drift through it. Craft a plan. Then monitor your plan and modify it as you go. Change it as you learn and life lessons force growth in wisdom and understanding. A financial plan is best couched within an overall life plan.

Ask yourself, “Who am I and why am I here?”

People have a wide range of religious and non-religious beliefs as to why they are on this planet and of what is expected of them in terms of how one relates to others. Those who are not anchored by strong beliefs en -

compassing responsibility to self and others often are adrift, lacking purpose. That does not make for a happy life at any age. Answering key questions, knowing who you are and where you are going, can be the path to an energizing, purposeful, and happy existence, regardless of where you are in “the circle of life.”

From your early 20s up until you retire from your primary work life, you are busy. You’re often tired, and a two-week vacation, if you can afford the time and expense, is welcome. Spousal responsibilities, raising children, maintaining a home, managing your career or running your own business, continuing education, caring for elderly loved ones, can be energy draining and time consuming. But what happens when you’ve made it to retirement?

Once you retire, every day is a weekend day. You’re not even working from home. You are home, 24 hours a day, 168 hours a week, 8,760 hours a year. Suppose you sleep 8 hours a day and spend two hours daily on personal grooming and other necessities of life. That leaves you with another 5,110 hours to fill over the course of a year. Now what, pilgrim? What does your major life transition called retirement look like?

If you can answer the question as to why you are on this planet, that helps to bring meaning and purpose to your retirement journey. Megachurch pastor Rick Warren in 2002 wrote “The Purpose Driven Life” to help you answer the quintessential question, “What on earth am I here for?” Whether you are a religious person, a religious humanist, spiritual but not religious, a secular humanist, agnostic, an atheist, many retirees find energy and mental- and physicalhealth bolstering purpose in helping and serving others.

Writer Mitch Anthony, author of “The New Retirementality,” now in its fifth edition, asserts that in retirement you have to have enough money to sleep soundly at night, but you need a purpose to wake up to in the morning. Many retirees who are financially secure have a fear of being bored in retirement.

That bromide may help you answer the question, “Where am I going?” Aging is not one long vacation. There are everyday aches and pains, health challenges, losses of loved ones and friends, caregiving and other responsibilities. But a purpose-driven life stems from the satisfaction of knowing that you loved others, you met their needs and did the right thing no

matter the challenges. You ran a good race, fought a good fight. Remorse is a sad thing. It’s comforting to know that when your soul shuffles off this mortal coil, to paraphrase Shakespeare, an eternal reward awaits.

A sense of hope, of purpose, of meaning right up until the day you die, is the foundation for a happy life and rewarding retirement. It’s not the “secret to life” because it’s not a secret. Read the teachings of the Old Testament prophets contained in the books of Sirach and Wisdom. Authored thousands of years ago, some advice is timeless.

Happy and fulfilling retirement is far, far away from anything that the RealReal or more spurious sellers

promise. In fact, most retirees quickly realize that they have too much stuff. Garage sale, anyone?

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

Newspaper Delivery Route Openings with Appen Media Group

We are looking for one person or couple interested in delivering weekly newspapers in South Forsyth, Alpharetta and the Johns Creek areas.

Requirements: Must have a perfect driving record and background check, reliable transportation, honest, hard-working and positive attitude.

For more information or to apply, email heidi@appenmedia.com and include a paragraph or two about who you are and any relevant background/experience. In the subject line of the email please put “Delivery Route Application.”

GARDEN BUZZ

Top Gardening Jobs for March

Our above-ground low and freezing temperatures this winter may have caused damage, injury and possibly death to some of your foundation plants. Look for signs of life by scraping a twig or stem with your fingernail. If you see green just inside the exterior, the plant has probably survived. Refrain from cutting back any plant material until you see new shoots or buds. Be cautious with pruning too early this season; we may continue to have unpredictable cold snaps. If new shoots or buds are developing, that is a positive sign. Most established bulbs should not be affected.

Spring blooming shrubs, such as loropetalums, azaleas, and forsythias will not likely have as dramatic a show as in years past. When (and if) you get flowers, you may prune lightly after the shrubs have completed their bloom cycles. Refrain from fertilizing shrubs or trees until after they begin to leaf out.

On the ground

Flip over the compost pile as your muscles can tolerate this exercise. Add moisture if needed and continue to add leaf matter that you have raked from the yard.

Clean up those plant beds. Remove excess leaves, branches, cones, and those aggravating sweetgum balls, and remove new emerging weeds underneath the leaf matter.

Amending your soil around the bases of foundation plants is important: 1) remove the old mulch; 2) add a mixture of soil conditioners and decomposed compost; 3) hand-till it in and around the established plant roots, then tamp the soil; 4) replace with 2 inches of fresh mulch. Adding in a small amount of 10-10-10 granular fertilizer (slower release) with the new soil is advisable. This is a labor-intensive activity that will pay off in the long run. A soil test through your local UGA Extension office will tell you exactly how to amend your soil for what you want to plant.

Divide and transplant perennials (including ground covers, such as sedum, pachysandra, ajuga, liriope, and creeping jenny) as they emerge from the ground. Use your amended soil to give them a healthy start. Chrysanthemums should be firmly tamped into the soil; they may have heaved or pushed themselves out of the ground during the coldest months.

It’s not too late to plant new ornamental shrubs; if you still want to plant new trees, they will require extra

attention from you throughout the warm months. Your ‘optimal window of opportunity’ with tree planting has passed. Be mindful of watering new foundation plants regularly.

Bulbs

Make room and plan (but don’t yet PLANT) summer bulbs, such as cannas, dahlias, gladiolus, caladiums and colocasia. When the soil temperatures reach at least 60 degrees, you may plant. These items perform well in containers and will mix well with summer annuals.

When spring bulbs have completed their bloom cycle, cut off the flowers and stems completely but not the leaves. Don’t forget to work fertilizer into the soil for next year’s blooms, after the leaves begin to die back naturally. The location of spring bulbs may be a good spot for planting your new summer annuals.

Pruning

Prune to remove dead, broken or diseased branches. At any time of the year, always prune out branches that are crossing unnaturally or rubbing together. Selectively thinning branches is encouraged for providing proper air circulation throughout the plant. This

prevents future disease and pest problems. Some deciduous trees may have “water sprouts”— these are clusters of very vertical branches growing straight up. They can eventually weaken a tree and are often used by an old pruning wound. Also, prune back the “suckers” found at the bases of trunks, such as crape myrtles, maples and cherry trees. Never prune river birches or maples at this time of the year; they will produce excess sap. You can also prune needled evergreens, such as junipers, hemlocks, pines and cedars. Severely pruning Rose of Sharon shrubs now will offer stronger blooms in the summertime.

Other Tips

Apply pre-emergent herbicides and lime to your turf as needed. Make sure that mower blades are sharpened and lawn equipment is serviced. Remember that the timing of lawn tasks is often determined by soil temperature.

Make a design for including specific annuals that you want in landscape beds and containers before visiting your nurseries or big box stores. Select plants based on site and maintenance requirements.

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.

About the Author

This week’s guest Master Gardener “Garden Buzz” columnist is Marlysa Raye-Jacobus. Raised on the coast of southern New Jersey, Marlysa arrived in the Atlanta area in 1997 after five corporate moves. Initially, she became a Master Gardener through Ohio State University’s program in 1996 and interned in 1997-98 in North Fulton County. She is an active member of several horticultural organizations in addition to NFMG. Marlysa is the current co-chair of the Plant! Milton gardening classes presented by the North Fulton Master Gardeners in partnership with the City of Milton. Her passions are: six wonderful grandchildren, traveling, playing tennis, reading, and attending cultural events in the ATL area with her husband and friends.

MARLYSA RAYE-JACOBUS

Guest Columnist

Gardeners can have their soil tested through a program offered through the University of Georgia Extension office.

APPEN MEDIA’S FIRST EVER

Shopping Spree Giveaway

Start the year off right with a chance to win a $1,000 Shopping Spree courtesy of Appen Media and the Crier Newspapers.

Each week, our newsroom will hide this shopping cart image in the newspaper. Once you find it, visit appenmedia.com/shoppingspree and enter

1) Your name

2) Your email

3) The page number you found the image That’s it!

The contest will run for 13 consecutive weeks, so submit an entry each week to maximize your chances of winning.

The winner will be randomly drawn, notified on Monday, April 3rd and announced in the April 13th Crier publications. HAPPY SHOPPING …and HAPPY NEW YEAR!

GET OUTSIDE GEORGIA

It’s astounding the places trout can take you

Spring’s here. I know that for sure.

The pear trees are starting to bloom, and the nose is starting to itch. Pear trees and pollen are the sure harbingers of spring.

Trout are a sure harbinger of spring too. It’s fun to fish for them, and it’s fun to just go see them too.

There are some neat places to see trout in northern Georgia, too, and one that’s near and dear to my heart is Rolater Park in the town of Cave Spring. You may remember Cave Spring as the site of Southern Flavor, that wonderful restaurant with the all-you-can-eat catfish. We’ve talked about that before, and thinking about it is making me hungry again. How long till lunchtime?

The cave part of Cave Spring, which is the centerpiece of Rolater Park, is not large as caves go. You can explore it in just a few minutes. But the spring part makes up for it. A flowing spring yields about 2 million gallons of cold, cold water a day. It’s been described as “the purest, best-tasting water you’re likely to find anywhere,” and folks come from far and wide with plastic milk

jugs and even big glass mayonnaise jars to take some of that water home. The water eventually flows into the park’s swimming lake, an understandably popular spot, especially as the days grow warmer. The temperatures are not there yet, but it won’t be long.

But today we’re looking at what happens between the cave and the swimming lake. After exiting the cave, the water flows into a nice little reflecting pond.

And said pond is usually the home to trout.

“Do people catch them?” she asked. We were waiting to go across the street to lunch, so we had a little time.

“No,” I said, “but we can feed them. Would you like to?”

“Yes,” she said. “That sounds like fun!”

I moseyed over to the cave entrance, where trout chow is for sale. For the cost of a cup of coffee, I bought three or four little plastic bags of food-for-trout – enough, I figured, to keep us and the trout entertained for a while.

I walked back to where she waited for me, there on the little walkway by the pond. The trout seemed to know that something good was about to happen. It was like the word had gone out, and just like that they all somehow congregated in the water near

where we stood.

“Watch this,” I said, and tossed a half dozen of the trout chow pellets into the water. The fish were on ‘em in a flash.

“Well!” she said.

“Now it’s your turn!” I said.

I poured some of the trout chow into her hand, and she tossed it into the water, and the trout were all over it, and water was flying everywhere, and she laughed out loud.

“This is neat!” she said.

The feeding continued, and the splashing and the laughter did too. We used up one bag of food, and then started on a second, stopping to show two young children how to feed the fish too.

“I think I need more trout food,” she said, laughing, and again I poured some into her hand.

More laughter. More splashes. Smiles all around.

She was having fun. I was too. And then…

You know that feeling you get sometimes when someone is looking at you? I got it then.

For some reason I turned around, and looked, and I saw a lady standing there near the two of us. I remember how in that instant something funny happened to the

light and how it was all bright and clear and crystalline blue all of a sudden. And then the lady looked at us – at her, at me –and then pointed at the two of us –

-- and said, “You two are perfect together” –

-- and then turned and walked away.

And then everything kind of stopped. It does that, sometimes, when something really significant is happening.

In that instant out-of-time moment, in that moment by the cool, clear water with the trout and the sky, there we were. Just the two of us, it seemed, there on the little walkway near the pond at Rolater Park in Cave Spring, Ga., zip code 30124. Nearby, the children were still feeding trout. But the scene had refocused. The center of the image had changed.

There was silence, hushed, expectant.

“Did you hear that?” she asked, her voice a little low.

“I did,” replied.

We stood there for a moment. She leaned on the railing. I looked at her, and she looked at me.

Time out of time -

And then time returned to normal. And we went and had catfish for lunch.

You never know where trout are going to take you.

STEVE HUDSON

Columnist

NFCC is looking for a full-time executive assistant to support the Executive Director and leadership team.  This person will play a vital role in help keep the NFCC leadership team organized and productive and will interact with the board of directors and other important stakeholder groups. Sensitivity, discretion and attention to detail are a must. Candidate must have a two-year degree, bachelor’s degree preferred and should have at least 2-3 years of relevant experience. For a complete job description visit https://nfcchelp.org/work-at-nfcc/

Client Services Specialist

The full-time Client Services Specialist greets visitors to NFCC and assists them with obtaining services. In addition, this person conducts followup interviews, enters data and may participate in additional follow-up activities.  A high school degree or equivalent is required along with at least one year in customer service or other relevant experience. Discretion and strong written and verbal communication skills in English and Spanish are also required. For a complete job description, please visit https://nfcchelp.org/work-at-nfcc/

Supportive Service Coordinator:

The Supportive Service Coordinator (“SSC”) will be responsible for managing the social/supportive services for a portfolio of properties, under the supervision of the Company Asset Manager. This position will serve as a liaison between the Asset Manager and the property management company. This individual will primarily be responsible for managing compliance and reporting for supportive services and, secondarily, procuring grant funding to supplement the property service budget, and identifying local service providers to augment property offerings.

Full time hours. Requires a Bachelor’s degree in social work or education and a minimum of 5 years’ experience.

For a full job description and to submit a resume, please reach out to:

Samit Patel, spatel@rhgroup.org Resource Housing Group, Inc.

Workforce Development Coordinator

Develop programs and services for clients and students who are seeking employment, post-secondary education, or other career options. The coordinator collaborates with employers in the community who are hiring. The role also includes working one-on-one on job applications, resumes, interview preparations and offers tips for successfully securing and improving employment. Bachelor’s Degree in Human Services or related field required.

For full job description see: https://nfcchelp.org/wpcontent/uploads/2023/02/Workforce-DevelopmentCoordinator-2023.pdf. To apply, send resume to cswan@nfcchelp.org.

Accounting Specialist – PART TIME

Responsible for the day-to-day transactions within the accounting department. The specialist is accountable for preparing financial transactions, processing invoices, and entering general ledger data which will assist in balancing the income statement, managing budgets, and preparing financial reports. Role works closely with the Finance Manager and Director of Finance and Administration. Bachelor’s Degree in Finance or related field required.

For full job description see: https://nfcchelp. org/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/AccountingSpecialist-02.21.23-1.pdf. To apply, send resume to jrice@nfcchelp.org.

Now Hiring: Office Coordinator

Local commercial real estate company is hiring an Office Coordinator. The role includes coordinating administrative tasks between our property management, leasing and accounting departments. The position requires exceptional communication and organizational skills, knowledge of MS Office, a strong work ethic, internal drive, and a positive attitude. This is an office only (not remote work) position. Please contact us Employment@ mpshoppingcenters.com for more information.

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