milton herald, april 16, 2014
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April 16, 2014 | northfulton.com | 73,500 circulation Revue & News, Johns Creek Herald, Milton Herald & Forsyth Herald combined | 50¢ | Volume 9, No. 16
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MILTON, Ga. – It is a historic landmark in North Fulton that most people simply know as “the little white church on the corner.” But members of Ebenezer United Methodist Church believe it would be more accurate to call it, “the rapidly growing little white church on the corner.”
After 161 years of ex-istence, there are growing signs that new life has been breathed into the white-clap-board church, located at the corner of Ga. 140/Arnold Mill Road and Cox Road in Milton. It has been a special year at the 173-member Ebenezer, be-yond an increase in member-ship and Sunday attendance.
Last fall, the church finished construction of its new fellowship hall, featur-ing a modern, fully equipped kitchen, an expanded nursery, a rocking-chair porch and new office space.
“And the best news,” said the Rev. Glenn Hannigan, “is that we did not need to take
out a loan to complete the project. It has all been paid for by the faithful members of this congregation.”
In the past few months, the church has also reconsti-tuted its choir, which had been absent for many years, added a youth group and opened its sanctuary for prayer during the week.
161-year old Ebenezer UMC enjoys new era of growthChurch expanding building, congregation
The 161-year-old Ebenezer United Methodist Church sits at the corner of Arnold Mill Road and Cox Road in Milton. This past year has seen it grow significantly. Insert: Rev. Glenn Hannigan.See CHURCH, Page 13
Ebenezer UMC has servic-es every Sunday at 8:30 a.m. and 11 a.m. The church also has a Bible study every Wednesday at noon and a Wednesday night fellowship meal at 6:15 p.m., with choir, youth group and an adult discussion group meeting at 7 p.m.
For more information, go to ebzumc.org or call 678-386-8178.
Readers protest limited library hoursBy HATCHER [email protected]
ROSWELL, Ga. – Budget cuts have caused the Atlanta-Ful-ton Public Library System to cut back library hours – even closing most branches all day on Fridays – much to the cha-
grin of library supporters who gathered April 4 at the Roswell Library to protest the cutback in library services.
AFPLS has begun construc-tion on two new libraries in North Fulton as part of the $274 million library construc-tion program with eight new li-
braries slated countywide. But that rings hollow to the dozen or so residents who staged a protest in front of the Roswell Library.
The protesters chose last Friday to protest at Roswell Li-
Ask why build new libraries when staff insufficient now?
See PROTEST, Page 29
By JONATHAN [email protected]
MILTON, Ga. – Milton is known for its horses and rid-ing culture. Many of the back roads in the north of the city have horse farms lining both sides of the street. However, the residents still depend upon neighboring Alpharet-
ta’s Eques-trian Center and horse park for large events, being the largest in the region.
In part due to costs and the need for new sports fields, Alpharetta is consider-ing abandoning the equestri-
No plans for new horse facilities
Milton: equestriancenter not on radar
CREGGE
See HORSES, Page 28
Junior-senior warsCities crack down on teens
► PAGE 2
Earth DayMilton festival April 19PAGE 13
Chase victory!Elliott wins Nationwide NASCAR race
► PAGE 24
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Police crack down on ‘junior-senior wars’
By JONATHAN [email protected]
ALPHARETTA, Ga. – Nearly a dozen teenagers were arrested April 4 after they took part in the annual “junior-senior wars.”
Such “wars” traditionally begin the week leading up to prom at the local high schools. Juniors and seniors at the schools engage in a tit-for-tat game of pranks, typically late at night.
According to police, they received a call at nearly 3 a.m. about teenagers toilet-papering a Marin Court home and hit-ting the house and vehicles parked there with paintballs.
Police arrived and spotted two suspect vehicles trying to leave the neighborhood. Inside were 11 teenage boys. Police note there were paintball marks on the side of one of the vehicles and one passenger had a paintball gun in his lap.
A large package of toilet paper was in the rear of one vehicle.
All the boys allegedly ad-
mitted to papering the home and shooting at it and vehicles as part of the pranks.
The homeowner said her home had been targeted for the past three days and wanted it to stop. However, she declined to press charges for criminal trespass.
The 11 boys were arrested for disorderly conduct. The two boys who drove the vehicles were also charged with viola-tion of their license restric-tions.
Alpharetta has zero toler-ance for such crimes, said Al-pharetta Community Outreach Officer Phil Ritchie.
All minors – those under age 18 – are forbidden to be out after 11 p.m. during the week and midnight on week-ends in Alpharetta. Anyone found out after that time will be charged with violating curfew.
Those caught in the act of toilet-papering a home will be charged with littering.
“It’s a zero-tolerance event,” Ritchie said. “That means, if I catch you, you are not getting a warning. You get a citation.”
That could also mean a trip to jail, as the 11 teenagers found out April 4.
Parents should take heed, however. Ritchie said new for this year, parents who allow their children to take part in
the junior-senior wars can be charged with allowing a child to violate curfew and engage in illegal acts.
“We are not overreacting. Before, it used to be a minor issue,” he said. “Kids would go out and TP a house. Now, it is getting out of hand.”
Spray painting and paint-balling houses can damage them and be costly for the homeowner to fix or remove.
“These kids have weapons [paintball guns] and they are damaging people’s homes,” Ritchie said.
Every year, local police de-partments field dozens of calls about the pranks.
“It’s not an overreaction,” Ritchie said. “It’s an effort to
stop it.”And the efforts seem to be
paying off. Ritchie said Milton High School has traditionally been a large headache during the junior-senior wars. How-ever, this year Ritchie visited the school and worked with officials to explain the costs and damage the pranks are causing.
“We didn’t get one 911 call, one criminal damage call or a single house TP-ed,” he said.
Anyone seeing suspected junior-senior war activity is encouraged to call 911.
Parents could be held culpablefor pranks child commits
What are local curfews for teenagers?Alpharetta: Sunday through Thursday: 11 p.m.Friday and Saturday: Midnight
Johns Creek:No curfew
Milton:No curfew
Roswell: No loitering between 11 p.m. and 5 a.m. all days
It’s a zero-tolerance event. That means, if I catch you, you are not getting a warning. You get a citation.”PHIL RITCHIEAlpharetta Community Outreach Officer
DUI arrests
► Jimmie L. Washington, 46, of Gullwing Court, Alpharetta, was arrested March 25 on Webb Bridge Road in Alpharetta for DUI and tag light violation.
► Cristian Ojeda, 22, of Northridge Drive, Cumming,
was arrested March 26 on Charlotte Drive in Alpharetta for DUI, possession of marijua-na, possession of drug-related items, failure to maintain lane, stop sign violation and failure to signal.
► Rebecca Jones, 44, of Carnoustie Lane, Alpharetta, was arrested March 26 on Morris Road in Alpharetta for DUI, open container and fail-ure to yield.
► Everette Jon Covington, 20, of Silhouette Court, Alpharetta, was arrested March 27 on Mill Creek Avenue in Alpharetta for DUI, underage consumption of alco-
hol and failure to maintain lane.
► Vicky Darlene Childers, 36, of Weetberry Court, Alpharetta, was arrested March 29 on Old Milton Parkway in Alpharetta for DUI, failure to maintain lane and failure to signal when changing lanes.
► Paul Andre Kuehn, 47, of Birmingham Highway, Alpharetta, was arrested March 21 on Westside Parkway in Alpharetta for DUI, stop sign violation and driving on the wrong side of the roadway.Kevin Lamont Greene, 43, of Gulfport, Miss., was arrested March 20 on Haynes Bridge
Road in Alpharetta for DUI, im-proper U-turn and driving on the wrong side of the roadway.
► Kenneth S. Christian, 53, of Jones Bridge Place Drive, Alpharetta, was arrested March 20 on Westside Parkway in Alpharetta for DUI, pos-session of drug-related items, failure to maintain lane, seat-belt violation and violation of a limited permit.
► Brian Thomas Galdamez, 21, of Crestwood Court, Alpharetta, was arrested March 20 on Westside Parkway in Alpharetta for DUI, posses-
DUIS & DRUGSAll 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.
See ARRESTS, Page 25
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Employee allegedly took cashJOHNS CREEK, Ga. – A former employee is suspected of steal-ing money from his workplace April 4.
Employees of the Target on State Bridge Road told police video surveillance showed a former worker, Morgan McNeill Maynard, 21, of Suwanee, take
what appeared to be $125 in cash out of a register, along with an iTunes gift card, and leave the store.
The manager followed Maynard out of the store and watched him get into a white pickup truck and leave the parking lot.
The manager positively identified Maynard as the sus-pect and a warrant was taken out for his arrest for theft by taking.
They always return to the sceneALPHARETTA, Ga. – A Columbus man was arrested April 4 after allegedly stealing goods and then returning to
the scene for more loot.
Employees of the Sam’s Club on Windward Parkway said they saw Lawrence Xavier Spencer, 22, of Columbus, en-ter the store and pick up a set of Bose speakers.
He allegedly removed the speakers from their box and hid them in his pants. He then left the store.
Spencer then returned two hours later, allegedly in an at-tempt to steal more items.
This time, he was chased from the store by employees. Police caught him outside.
A pawn ticket on him showed that Spencer had pawned the stolen speakers in Atlanta.
Spencer was arrested for shoplifting.
Pushy ‘IRS’ agent dupes couple
MILTON, Ga. – A “pushy IRS agent” called a Morris Road couple and allegedly stole $2,000 from them.
The victim told police she was repeatedly called by a man claiming to be an Internal Rev-enue Service agent.
Over the course of three
days and numerous calls, he said the victim owed the IRS money and she needed to pay up immediately.
She was instructed to pur-chase a “Green Dot” pre-paid card from Walmart for $1,900 and paid the “agent.”
This is part of a common scam, police say. Government and law enforcement agencies do not demand money over the phone.
POLICE BLOTTERAll 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.
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4 | April 16, 2014 | Milton Herald | northfulton.com NEWS
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ATLANTA – Secretary of State Brian Kemp reminded Georgians they must be registered to vote by April 21 in order to participate in the May 20 primary election.
“Every Georgian should have the opportunity to vote in the May 20 primary election,” said Kemp. “The good news is that it is easier than ever to get registered to vote or to change your registration information.”
Georgians with a valid Georgia driver’s license can go online and reg-ister at www.registertovote.sos.ga.gov/GAOLVR/#no-back-button.
The “My Voter Page” (MVP) app, available on mobile devices on Apple and Android platforms, also allows Georgians to register to vote.
Voters can view their specific sample ballot, find their polling loca-tions, check voter registration status and track the status of their absentee ballot.
To find the app, search for “GA Votes” in the app store.
Kemp launched the new systems last week at a combined meeting of the Georgia Election Officials Associa-tion/Voter Registrars Association of Georgia in Augusta, which featured election leaders from across the state.
It is believed that Georgia is the first state in the nation to offer both online registration as well as an inno-vative mobile application that enables voter registration like MVP.
—McKenzie Cunningham
Secretary of state reminds Georgiansof voter registration deadline
ALPHARETTA, Ga. – The Alpharetta Business Association will hold a candidate forum on April 16, at 7 p.m. in the council chambers at Alpharetta City Hall. The purpose of this event is to introduce the public to the candidates run-ning for the new District 2 Fulton County com-missioner, the Fulton County chairman position and to hear comments from Liz Hausmann, District 3 commissioner.
Following introductions and opening re-marks, there will be a question-and-answer session. The audience will have an opportunity to submit questions in writing. After questions are read, each candidate will then be given time to respond. The forum will be moderated by Alpharetta Mayor David Belle Isle, Milton Mayor Joe Lockwood and Sen. Brandon Beach.
—Jonathan Copsey
Meet the candidatesCounty Commission forum April 16
Fulton County Commissioner candidates: District 2 District 3
ELLIS HAUSMANN
EAVES PITTS COOPER
Fulton County Chairman candidates:
BROADWELL
MILTON, Ga. – The city of Milton will hold its seventh annual Memorial Day ceremony May 26 and, in preparation, is adding veterans into the city’s regis-try of service men and women.
Through years of hard work and the generosity of residents, Milton has amassed a list of nearly 600 living and fallen veterans, almost 325 of whom are memorialized with markers placed on Deerfield Parkway the week of the holiday.
Any deceased veteran of a Mil-ton family is qualified to be honored with a marker. Information on living veterans will be used for recognition purposes.
Living veterans do not receive markers.
Each year, residents ask how their family members may be added to the registry. The city does not have access to a government database revealing who served in the military. Instead, they need residents to tell them.
Residents must fill out a form on the city’s website, www.cityofmiltonga.us, to add family members.
To access the form, click on the “Find a Form or Permit” tab at the top of the page and choose “Register military veterans’ information” from the “Online Forms” section at the top of the page.
Once Milton has the information, it will be placed in a secure database. The names will then be sent to City Councilman Bill Lusk, who for seven years has personally built, painted, engraved and placed the markers at his own expense.
Milton’s Memorial Day ceremony will take place 10 a.m. Monday, May 26 at Freedom Park, 13200 Deerfield Parkway.
—Jonathan Copsey
Markers to be placed week before ceremony
City seeks veterans’ information for Memorial Day
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6 | April 16, 2014 | Milton Herald | northfulton.com Submit your news & photos to [email protected]
ATLANTA – State Rep. Lynne Riley, R-Johns Creek, said she is backing a new non-partisan grassroots organization that wants Washington to focus on helping small businesses get the economy going again instead of the usual party politics of brinksmanship and finger-pointing.
Riley said she recently at-tended the Main Street Growth and Opportunity Coalition launch event where she sup-ported the group’s call for fed-eral lawmakers to take action on just three areas: tax and immigration reform and ex-
panded trade. The Main
Street Growth and Oppor-tunity Coali-tion, which has launched a Georgia chapter, is an alliance of businesses, local trade associations and concerned individuals. They say they are committed to sup-porting “a common sense, pro-growth agenda for America.”
It is an agenda Riley can support.
“American businesses pay way too much in taxes, and are forced to dedicate far too many resources to navigating our overcomplicated tax code,” said Riley. “If we really want the economy to grow and create more jobs, we need to relieve both of these burdens on businesses by lowering their taxes and make the tax code simpler.”
The Main Street Coalition does not offer specific solu-tions. It is more about “broad-ening a conversation” to find real solutions.
“This coalition is not really driving to identify specifics. It is more about saying enough with the over regulations, enough with the red tape and roadblocks,” she said.
Riley is a small business-woman herself who owns her own accounting firm. Govern-ment has become a stumbling block to productivity in her own field. The tax code is unwieldy, inefficient and has too many loopholes for special interest groups.
Immigration reform has been a big “hot button” issue
in Washington, so much so it rarely tackles it. And when it does come up inside the Belt-way, it doesn’t get far.
Riley said she would like to see ways for government to be “more welcoming to immigra-tion opportunities.”
It should not be so diffi-cult for people to navigate the immigration process or be so combative for people who are already here and worried about their status, Riley said.
Rep. Riley backs Main Street Growth & Opportunity Coalition
RILEY
Main Street Growth & Opportunity goals*
Tax Reform that fixes an overly complex tax code will promote fairness and stimulate growth.
Expanding trade opportunities for American businesses to drive growth. When U.S. businesses have access to new markets, they ramp up production and create jobs.
Immigration reform that is balanced and sensible to help grow the economy and strengthening our nation’s finances and programs over the long term.
*See http://www.mainstreetgrowthandopportunity.org
See RILEY, Page 25
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MILTON, Ga. – Cogburn Woods Elementary student Jack Burke has a genetic disorder called neurofibromatosis, which can cause the growth of tumors on nerve tissue and affect many parts of the body, including the brain, spinal cord, nerves, skin and other body sys-tems.
Burke is undergoing 52 weeks of chemo-therapy treatments. To show their support, students and staff wore their Cure NF shirts on Thursdays and Fridays. To learn more about Burke and neurofibromatosis, visit
CureNFwithJack.com.Pictured in the front row is Jack Burke. In
the second row, from left, are Brayden Mur-ray, Justin Bradshaw, Samantha Adrianza, Briana Schwartz, Arianna Cheng, Jack Hatcher, Claire Stagl, Jacob Estep and Jo-seph Estep. In back are Laurie Adkins, Nigil Morris, Sammy Gonzales, Shayaan Kenarah, Leah Rodabaugh, Maggie VanderRoest, Cait-lyn Jeffrey, Tvisha Nadgir, Bella LaMarca, Leah Estep, Stacy Bourff and Ismael Gabsi.
—Jonathan Copsey
Cogburn Woods supports Neurofibromatosis student
NORTH FULTON – More than 6,000 Fulton County seniors will celebrate Class of 2014 commencement ceremonies during the week of May 17-24. Graduation dates, times and locations for the school system’s 17 high schools are:•Alpharetta – May 23, 7 p.m., Verizon Amphitheatre•Cambridge – May 23, 7:30 p.m., Cambridge High School sta-
dium•Centennial – May 23, 7:30 p.m., Mount Pisgah United Meth-
odist Church•Chattahoochee – May 24, 10 a.m., Mount Pisgah United
Methodist Church•Johns Creek – May 23, 7 p.m., North Point Community
Church•Milton – May 23, 8 p.m., Milton High School stadium•North Springs – May 22, 7:30 p.m., Cobb Energy Performing
Arts Centre•Northview – May 23, 8 p.m., Northview High School stadium•Roswell – May 23, 7:30 p.m., Roswell High School stadium•Independence – May 22, 1 p.m., Milton Center auditorium
April community meetings set for school board members Members of the Fulton County Board of Education have
scheduled their April community meetings at schools throughout the county. The meetings are open to all members of the public and provide an opportunity to discuss education issues directly with their board representative. The meetings also include a review of the agenda for the April 24 meeting of the school board.Board members have set the following meeting dates for April:
Graduation dates, venues set for Fulton seniors
Linda Schultz, District 1 April 23, 6:30 p.m. Roswell High School Katie Reeves, District 2 April 22, 7 p.m. Milton High School
Linda McCain, District 5 April 22, 9:30 a.m. Johns Creek High School Julia Bernath, District 7 April 23, 9:30 a.m.Woodland Elementary School
NorthFulton.comShare your opinions
northfulton.com | Milton Herald | April 16, 2014 | 9Recycled paper | Submit your news & photos to [email protected]
10 | April 16, 2014 | Milton Herald | northfulton.com Submit your news & photos to [email protected]
By JONATHAN [email protected]
ALPHARETTA, Ga. – We all love our pets. They are there for us when we come home and love us unconditionally. But pets also have the secondary ability to relax us. It’s this ability that allows them to help schoolchil-dren learn to read – dogs don’t judge and will always love be-ing read to.
There is another benefit; one the Lionheart School in Alpharetta is tapping into – reducing anxiety in autistic children.
“Animal-assisted therapy – service dogs – has provided a lot of health benefits for our children,” said Tamara Spaf-ford, executive director of the Lionheart School. “It helps to reduce their anxiety and helps them become more interactive with each other and the dogs.”
Spafford said it was a large accomplishment for children with autism to develop social skills outside the school or family. The dogs give them a way to relax and be flexible.
“Being with the dogs takes the pressure off them” Spafford said.
The dogs are part of a new
program at Lionheart called “LionPaws.” This is a joint ef-fort between the school and paws4people, a North Caro-lina-based trainer of therapy and service dogs.
The relationship between the two groups began when Lionheart took in a service dog named “Langley.” The dog was adopted by the school as part of an animal therapy program.
That led to further discus-sions with paws4people that would help both organizations.
From those discussions came the “LionPaws” program, where puppies destined to be-come service dogs spend some of their first weeks alive being with the children, helping the dogs socialize.
It has no downside, said Spafford. The children get help with anxiety and fear, and the dogs learn how to socialize with people.
Eight puppies were brought from paws4people to spend several weeks with the stu-dents. They then go back to paws4people for training.
A fully trained dog can per-form a variety of tasks essen-tial for those with mobility or medical issues. They can carry and retrieve items, pull and
push wheelchairs, alert those with hearing impairment and alert of seizures.
“It’s very important for these puppies to be socialized and exposed to a variety of environments and children,” Spafford said. “They need to be comfortable with a lot of differ-ent noises.”
Part of their training is taking the animals to fire sta-tions to become accustomed to people in full fire gear. Another is visiting seniors.
In an effort to get the chil-dren used to being out in the community, the school rou-tinely takes them to volunteer with community groups, such as the YMCA. The dogs fill an-other socializing need.
“So many of our children have an affinity for animals – horses, dogs.
We start with the children’s interest. We find things for the kids to be interested in, and this is a beautiful bridge,” said Elizabeth Dulin, with the school.
Spafford agreed.“It’s been so remarkable for
all of us,” she said.For more information
on the Lionheart School, visit them online at thelion-heartschool.com.
For more about paws4peo-ple, go to paws4people.org.
Local school promotes socializing both
Service pups help autistic children
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Service pup, “Eve,” is held by Ali Curtin as part of the new “Li-onpaws” program, where would-be service dogs are socialized by Lionheart students.
northfulton.com | Milton Herald | April 16, 2014 | 11Submit your news & photos to [email protected] COMMUNITY
By JONATHAN [email protected]
ALPHARETTA, Ga. – Alpharetta Mayor David Belle Isle stopped by the Rotary Club of North Fulton April 8 to give an up-date on his favorite city and all the happenings since he took office.
He said his vision was to create a hometown feel for his residents. Anyone can have a house, he said, but having a home requires work.
The city is helping with that work by creating a sense of community. This is done by creating a downtown – the City Center, new shops and restau-rants with plenty of walkabil-ity – and then filling that new downtown with near-weekly events.
“You can’t have a great hometown without a great downtown,” he said. “Great downtowns are built on food and music. It is a catalyst.”
Several new restaurants have cropped up in the down-town area with plenty more to come, and the recent “Wire and Wood” street music festival brought thousands of people downtown. Weekly food truck events – which will be starting again soon – continually drew crowds last year.
“The residents don’t seem to be showing event fatigue,” he said. “It’s working.”
His efforts to create a “hometown” are attracting more than simply residents, it seems.
The city boasts one of the lowest unemployment rates in the state and the economy is picking up quickly.
“A city’s full potential lies in its greatest strength,” he said.
That strength, as he found out since becoming mayor, is in technology.
A whopping 35 percent of the state’s technology compa-nies are based in or around Alpharetta. There are 600 tech companies within the city and a further 300 in close proxim-ity. In comparison, Atlanta has 300.
“We have the highest concentration in the South-east,” he said. “There is our strength.”
To aid this, the city has
begun programs and commis-sions to encourage new compa-nies to relocate to the city and to help existing companies do business better.
In response to this, Belle Isle said 3,500 new tech-relat-ed jobs have come to the city in recent years.
“It’s exciting to see all these things come into being,” Belle Isle said.
The Rotary Club of North Fulton meets every Tuesday at noon at the Diner at North Point. For more, visit them online at www.northfultonro-tary.org.
Alpharetta booming
Hometown feel, tech focuses of Belle Isle
JONATHAN COPSEY/STAFF
Alpharetta Mayor David Belle Isle, center, spoke to the Rotary Club of North Fulton April 8. With him is Rotary Club President Kristi Crockett.
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12 | April 16, 2014 | Milton Herald | northfulton.com Submit your news & photos to [email protected]
MILTON, Ga. – At the second annual volunteer ap-preciation luncheon Saturday, March 29, the city of Milton honored its Volunteers of the Year.
“These hardworking residents ensure everything we do in the city of Milton is well planned, well executed and memorable,” said Angela Thompson, special events and projects manager. “We couldn’t do our jobs as a municipal government without them.”
The honorees included:Volunteers of the Year: Jack and Francia Lindon
The husband and wife team of Jack and Francia Lindon are found-ing members of Milton Grows Green (MGG), starting their volunteer en-gagement in 2007. In the seven years since, Francia has been instrumental in the city earning the Atlanta Re-gional Commission’s CREATE Award and helping Milton become a National Wildlife Federation Community Habitat. She also serves as communications chairwoman and secretary for MGG, creating logos, sig-nage, brochures and
branding. Jack serves as chairman of MGG, organizing
household paint and chemical collection events, providing logistics for the annual Earth Day Festival, launching the Adopt-a-Stream program, and planning the yearly Rivers Alive clean-ups in the fall.
“The Lindons have volunteered hundreds of hours annually to make the city of Milton a cleaner and greener community, and we are extremely grateful for their efforts,” said Cindy Eade, environmental sus-tainability coordinator. Parks and Recreation Volunteer of the Year: David Winsness
David Winsness is the founder of EagleStix Lacrosse Club, now the second largest recreation program in the city of Milton with 225 girls. EagleStix, founded in 2011, takes athletes as young as 4 to the high school level in both recreation and advanced levels of play.
The program serves as a feeder for Milton and Cambridge’s programs, and has been instrumental in the Milton Lady Eagles’ string of eight state lacrosse championships in nine years.
“What David has been able to do with this pro-gram is simply incredible,” said Jim Cregge, parks and recreation director. “It’s been a pleasure seeing EagleStix become the powerhouse for lacrosse in this area.”Special Honoree: Peyton Jamison
Longtime Milton volunteer Peyton Jamison cur-rently serves on the Planning Commission, Better To-gether and is the president of the nonprofit Crabapple Community Association (CCA).
In addition to his regular volunteer duties with the city, Jamison was instrumental in launching the revamped Crabapple Fest in 2013 due to the city’s partnership with CCA. In this role, he spent hours planning and executing the largest festival in Milton’s modern history, and is already hard at work this year to bring the fall festival to fruition in October.
Board and Committee Members of the YearOne member of each of the city’s volunteer boards
or committees was nominated by the staff liaison as representative of the year. These honorees included:
•BetterTogether:TeriHarrison•PlanningCommission:PaulMoore•DesignReviewBoard:MartyLittleton•BoardofZoningAppeals:GaryWillis•HistoricPreservationCommission:TravisAllen•DisabilityAwarenessCommittee:TassWelch
Milton names volunteers of the yearJack & Francia Lindon, David Winsness, Peyton Jamison among honored
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Mayor Pro Tem Joe Longoria, left, with Francia and Jack Lindon, who were named volunteers fo the year by the city.
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Then last month, in perhaps the most significant development of all, the church purchased the 3-acre tract that surrounds its property.
“This additional property will help guarantee that we have room for future growth,” Hannigan said. “We not only needed the extra space for parking but also to support the local ministry we feel that we have been called to do. It is an exciting time in the history of our church.”
Hannigan, who is in his fourth year serving as pastor of Ebenezer, took an unusual path into the ministry. Before becoming a pastor, he was a career journalist, with more than 20 years of experience at the Atlanta Journal-Con-stitution. At the AJC, Hannigan worked in a variety of roles, including sports editor, senior news editor for the 1996 Olympics, Sunday editor and special projects editor. He also wrote a local column for many years.
“I see a direct connection between journalism and the ministry,” said Hannigan. “It is all a search for truth, isn’t it? In journalism, as with our personal faith journey, we need to be open to follow the evidence wherever it leads us.” And, at Ebenezer UMC, the evidence is clearly pointing to a time of renewal and growth.
“I don’t think we need to look for any explanations for our growth be-yond God’s blessing and God’s timing,” Hannigan said.
During his tenure at Ebenezer, Hannigan has emphasized personal
spiritual growth, prayer, Bible study and being a church that keeps its doors wide open. “When I first came to Eb-enezer, I was concerned how accepting the church members would be of people from different backgrounds, because I have a rather quirky, diverse group of friends from my career as a newspaper editor,” Hannigan said. “As it turns out, I had not a thing to worry about. Almost without exception, every person who has walked through these doors has com-mented on how welcome and accepted they have felt. I imagine that is one of the main reasons we have been so blessed.”
For more information, go to ebzumc.org or call 678-386-8178. The church is located on 12900 Arnold Mill Road, Milton.
—Jonathan Copsey
Continued from Page 1
Church:
The Rev. Glenn Hannigan has lead the congregation of Ebenezer UMC through their expansion in the past year.
MILTON, Ga. – Get ready to celebrate the planet and the fun things area residents can do to keep it healthy, because on Saturday, April 19, the city of Milton and Milton Grows Green will present the 2014 Milton Earth Day Festival.
Now in its fifth year, this Earth Day Festival is shaping up to be the best ever. Held from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. in Crabapple at Friendship Communi-ty Park, 12785 Birmingham Highway, Milton, this year’s festival features food, family-friendly entertainment and environmental vendors. Parking is available at Crabapple First Bap-tist Church and Crabapple Crossing Elementary.
Thanks to returning present-ing sponsor Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, Milton Grows Green is able to bring a wide variety of activities edu-cational exhibits and environmentally friendly products and services to the community, including:Food vendors
•BoyScoutTroop3000(hotdogs and pizza)
•DogONit•KingofPops
•NothingBundtCakes•Sip•Shane’sRibShack Free Children’s Activities •EggHunt(11:30a.m.)•RockWall•HumanHamsterBalls•MonkeyBridge•Kidscrafts•BarnyardAnimals•AnimalshowsfromtheChat
tahoochee Nature Center and Party Animals
•AppearancefromtheBagMon ster Business vendors
•Morethan45boothsfromarea businesses featuring environ mental activities and unique products and services
•Musicandentertainmentfrom North Fulton School of Music
Anyone interested in volunteering to make this event a success can con-tact Environmental Sustainability Co-ordinator Cindy Eade at [email protected] or 678-242-2509.
The 2014 Milton Earth Day Festi-val is presented by Children’s Health-care of Atlanta with support from ComfortZone,CreativeSolar,HomeDepot, Optech, North Fulton School of Music, Roswell Pediatrics Cen-ter, Scottsdale Farms, Rhino Shield, Brightway Insurance, Waste Man-agement, Verizon Wireless and RGR Motorsports.
—Jonathan Copsey
Don’t miss the 2014 Milton Earth Day FestivalFestival held April 19 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Friendship Community Park
14 | April 16, 2014 | Milton Herald | northfulton.com Submit your news & photos to [email protected] Vinyl celebrates new location, Record Store Day
By HATCHER [email protected]
ROSWELL, Ga. – Rand Cabus, owner of Mojo Vinyl Records, has moved a few yards to a new location, but he is still off Canton Street on Webb Street. Cabus is having his grand re-opening coincide with national Record Store Day April 19.
The day-long celebration will introduce Mojo Vinyl’s offerings to a wider audience while thanking the many pas-sionate customers who have fueled the store’s rapid growth to date. The ribbon-cutting ceremony also will kick off National Record Store Day 2014. Roswell Mayor Jere Wood is scheduled to assist in the ribbon-cutting and drop the needle on the first record of Record Store Day. The bands, Rye and Lauren St. James and the Dead Westerns are ready to entertain visitors starting at noon. But that is not the reason Cabus expects more than 100 people to be waiting when the doors open at 9:45 a.m.
Record Store Day – always the third Saturday in April – is when special vinyl record collections are released, and anxious vinyl-heads line up outside record stores all over the nation to snap them up.
“It’s not unusual to have 100 people waiting for the door to open on Record Store Day,” Cabus said. “Limited editions of top bands, usually with cus-tom-color vinyl are available but only in limited numbers. They range from new artists to classic bands,” Cabus said.
Record store owners like Cabus are only allowed to order a limited number of the releases to further create antic-ipation for the event. In return, store owners must pledge “not to jack up the prices,” Cabus said.
Vinyl records are making a huge comeback, one of the
reasons Cabus jumped at the chance to triple his floor space (and quadruple his inventory) at No. 2 Webb St.
In addition to adding more inventory, he is also now carry-ing new and used vinyl turn-tables.
The renaissance in vinyl records began seven or eight years ago when older audio-philes began to realize they missed something about ana-log vinyl records when record-ed music switched to digital.
“It’s all about the sound,” Cabus said. “Many people consider analog as the original sound. And it is something new to do in the man cave. There is something about drop-ping a needle that makes your heart beat a little faster, too. Playing vinyl is a physical act.”
Don Rutherford, a cus-tomer who made a special trip to Mojo while he was in town, said there is no comparison between analog and digital music.
“They got me suckered when CDs came out. But when you listen to vinyl, you can really hear the definition, the separation and the high notes. It is just a better music experi-ence,” Rutherford said.
Vinyl-heads love seeing that old album art also. Fleetwood Mac, the Beatles’ Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band, The Flying Burrito Brothers, Yellow Brick Road – these were iconic album covers. And seeing them again is like smelling Mama’s cooking in the kitchen.
“It’s nice having your MP3
music up in the Cloud. But there is something special about physically owning your music,” Cabus said.
LPs have art, liner notes and sometimes the complete lyrics. It is surprising to see how artists appear on each other’s music. You see Sting singing on Dire Straits’ “Money for Nothing,” he said.
Not only does Cabus deal in used vinyl, record compa-nies are pressing new ones – from the ‘60s to artists of today. That is why 100,000 turntables were sold in 2013.
“They never really stopped pressing records. Paul McCart-ney’s catalogue contract re-quired vinyl pressings,” Cabus said. “Now the high school kids are discovering it, and they’re finding a whole new experi-ence.
“For the older listeners, the record store is the new bar-
bershop – where you go to talk about old times.”
Record Store Day was con-ceived in 2007 at a gathering of independent record store owners and employees as a way to celebrate and spread the word about the unique
culture surrounding nearly 1,000 independently-owned record stores in the U.S. and thousands of similar stores internationally.
Record Store Day is cel-ebrated the third Saturday every April.
Roswell record store triples space
Mojo Vinyl RecordsAddress: 26 Webb Street, No. 2, RoswellContact: 678-534-5042; mojovinylrecords.com; facebool.com/MojoVinylHours: Wed-Sat 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sun 1-5 p.m.
HATCHER HURD/STAFF
Mojo Vinyl Records owner Rand Cabus says vinyl is back and stronger than ever. People tell him the sound quality of vinyl records is better than CDs and MP3s.
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Rand Cabus, left, greets customers (and fellow vinyl diehards) Don and Deborah Rutherford who never really “left” vinyl.
northfulton.com | Milton Herald | April 16, 2014 | 15Submit your news & photos to [email protected] COMMUNITY
By HATCHER [email protected]
ROSWELL, Ga. – The Atlanta Kookaburras are a band of mostly expatriate Australians who still like to play that con-tinent’s favorite sport, Austra-lian Rules football. And what-ever you do, don’t use the “R” word (rugby) to describe it. The Kookaburras (an Australian bird of prey) gather Saturdays to play a game that predates the American version by about 30 years.
Australian football is played with 18 to a side, but then the regulation field is two Ameri-can football fields long and one football field wide. On this brisk Saturday morning at Garrard Landing Park on Hol-comb Bridge Road, they settled for seven a side and marked off a field of roughly 75 yards.
Milton resident Chris Seale was my mentor and guide on this occasion. Seale was born a Yank, brought up an Aussie (pronounced “Ozzy”) in Bris-bane, Australia, and then re-turned to America as an adult.
So he was able to translate much of what was going on.
First off, he informed me Aussies just call the game “footy.” One way to move the ball downfield is to kick it to one of your players much like a punt in American football. If your guy catches the kick on the fly, it’s called a mark and he gets a free kick on goal. If your guy makes a spectacular catch, it’s called a “speckie” and the crowd oohs and aahs similar to a dunk in that other American game.
The Kookaburras belong to the American Australian Rules Football League. But in the months of March and April, three local teams – the Ro-swell Roos, Midtown Bombers and Western Bulldogs – play as a warm-up to the season. They culminate April 26 in the ANZACAustralianSportsDayAARFL Grand Finals. Like all AARFL events, they are held at Garrard Park starting at 10:30 a.m. Be warned, however, as starting times are more of goal than a set time. No worries, mate.
Then, they come together as the Kookaburras to play regionally from June through October in home-and-home meetings with teams from Baton Rouge, La., North Carolina and Nashville, Tenn. The culmination is the USAFL
Nationals in Dublin, Ohio, where the four regions meet to duke it out. They usually have a traveling squad of 20.
You can’t pass or lateral the ball in footy. You can run with it, but you must bounce it off the ground every 15 yards, kick it to another player or “punch” it (that’s a pass using one fist to punch the ball to another player).
There are four goal posts in a line. If you kick the ball between the inner goal posts, that is six points. If the ball goes between one of the outer and inner goalposts, it is a “be-hind” and scores one point.
If you’ve got that, you know enough to piece out the rest. Oh, and there are no pads.
Players this day ranged in age from their early 20s to Jim Batten’s 57. He’s been playing football 45 of those years. To learn more, go to www.footy.com.
Up for a game of footy, mate?
HATCHER HURD/STAFF
Catch me if you can.
Garrard Landing Park hosts Australian Rules football
Fulton Science Academy Model UN excels in New York competitionNEW YORK — The Fulton Science Academy’s Model United Nations team returned from their trip to the Middle School Model UN Conference in New York City on March 30, where middle school students from around the world par-ticipated in a mock UN meeting and discussed important issues facing the world today.
Many of the FSA team members received awards for their participation. Clair Merideth-Webb and Phillip Trainor both received the gavel for being the best delegation in the United
Nations Environmental Program, where they discussed the protection and conservation of the Arctic. Chloe Richardson and Katherine Li received an honorable mention for their work in the World Health Organization’s “establishing a universal action plan for the zombie pandemic.” Finally, Shreya Rekapalli received special recog-nition in her council, the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women.
—Ryan Pieroni
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16 | April 16, 2014 | Milton Herald | northfulton.com
Our goal is to continue to be a central point for the community and it’svery important we continue to diversify and have something for everybody.
Sponsored by
By ALDO [email protected]
CUMMING, Ga. — About a year ago, the Collection at For-syth became the official name of the Avenue Forsyth.
Since April of last year, when Core Property Capital unveiled the new brand, they have not slowed in introducing new businesses to the Col-lection at Forsyth, off Exit 13 on Ga. 400 at 410 Peachtree Parkway.
The property managers have also been able to reas-sure existing businesses of the vision to continue to host fine retailers, restaurants and events.
“We’ve been able to con-tinue to have a mix of tenants coming in,” said April Rains, a spokeswoman for the Collec-tion at Forsyth.
The 566,000-square-foot mixed-use outdoor retailer hosts a DSW Shoes, Carra-bba’s Italian Grill, AMC movie theater and Children’s Health-care of Atlanta at Forsyth, just to name a few.
Late last year, the Collec-tion welcomed the high-end boutique Altar’d State.
A new store this year is Sweet Monkey, a frozen yogurt and cupcake shop.
Several new tenants in the works in the coming months include Sip Wine and Tapas, which serves more than 200 wines and a tapas style menu, Zoe’sKitchen,whichoperates
111 fast-casual restaurants serving Mediterranean-inspired comfort food, and Great Ameri-can Cookies, the Atlanta-based chocolate chip cookie phenom-enon.
In addition, Pure Barre, a fitness studio operating about 200 locations is poised to open soon.
“It’s been a great year and we’re just ready for a lot more growth and a lot more exciting tenants coming in,” Rains said.
Also under early construc-tion, organic food supermarket Earth Fare, which will open later in 2015, and a Fairfield Inn and Suites by Marriott, expected to open in 2015.
The hotel is being built adjacent to the Forsyth Confer-ence Center, which will make it convenient for travelers visiting.
“At that point, you have the shopping, the restaurants and the hotel, and anyone who comes in can stay in that vicin-ity and have what they need,” Rains said. “Our goal is to continue to be a central point for the community and it’s very important we continue to diversify and have something for everybody.”
The facility also hosts family-friendly events includ-ing a recent fundraiser for the Forsyth County Community Connection.
“We try to stay a hub for community events,” Rains said.
“That’s the expectation…Stay really connected with the community and give them what they are needing.”
For more information, visit www.collectionforsyth.com.
At least six new shops to open
Rebranding revitalizes Collection at Forsyth
ALDO NAHED/STAFF
The Collection at Forsyth has attracted many new businesses since rebranding a year ago. One of the new tenants includes a Fairfield Inn and Suites by Marriott, slated to be completed next year.
northfulton.com | Milton Herald | April 16, 2014 | 17Submit your business news & photos to [email protected] BusinessBriefs
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Atlanta Classic Carsnow offers Sprinter line
DULUTH, Ga. — Atlanta Classic Cars held a ribbon- cutting ceremony March 27 to showcase their new Mercedes-Benz Sprinter model line that includes a cargo van, crew van, passenger van minibus and chassis cab.
Bruce Lamb, general manager, and Johanna Ellis, a business partner, invited the community to celebrate the addition of the Sprinter line to Atlanta Classic Cars, 2586 Satellite Boulevard in Duluth.
For more information, visit www.atlantaclas-siccars.com or call 770-279-3696.
Benton House announces expansion, anniversaryALPHARETTA, Ga. — Benton House Senior Living recently celebrated its one-year anniversary with the announcement of an expansion.
Benton House currently serves over 60 resi-dents.
The community features senior living apart-
ments and an exclusive neighborhood dedicated to serving seniors experiencing memory loss.
The expansion will add 10 senior living apart-ments and add a second, completely new memory care neighborhood.
“The neighborhoods will be connected by a hall-way, but each will have its own living, dining and common areas and large enclosed courtyards,” said Julie Taylor, executive director for Benton House. “We really think the community within a community concept works well and want to keep that feel.”
It is expected the addition will cost $1.8 million to construct and will open in late 2014.
As a result of the new additions, the community hopes to add 15 to 20 new jobs to their existing staff of 40.
Reservations for the new apartments are now being accepted.
For more information, call 678-319-3000 or visit www.bentonhouse.com.
REAL ESTATE »
RE/MAX Center receivesfour top statewide awards JOHNS CREEK, Ga. — At a recent annual RE/MAX of Georgia award ceremony, RE/MAX Center, the independently owned real estate company with offices in Duluth and Johns Creek, was awarded three prestigious Showcase Awards as well as the Highest Net Gain Award for Georgia.
Each Showcase Award is based on agent growth, percentage of pro-ductive agents and other internal criteria.
RE/MAX Center’s more than 120 full-time sales associates specialize in residential real estate, new construction and commercial real estate throughout metro Atlanta.
“2013 was a solid year for us all at RE/MAX Center,” said Patrick Finnick, owner of RE/MAX Center. “[These awards] clearly reflect the hard work and dedication of everybody throughout our entire company.”
Homeownership Expoto be held April 24CUMMING, Ga. — Trying to buy or sell a home, or interested in learning how to spruce up your home’s exterior or interior?
The inaugural Homeownership Expo takes place from 1 p.m. to 7 p.m. April 24 at the Forsyth Con-ference Center, 3410 Ronald Reagan Boulevard in Cumming.
More than 40 vendors and various workshops will be present to offer services and advice.
Sponsored by the 400 North Board of Realtors, the expo is free.
It will include workshops on the following topics: market overview for Forsyth, Dawson and Lumpkin counties; seven layers of design in prepping your home and panel discussion covering appraisals, landscaping, inspections and renovations.
In addition, activities will be provided to enter-tain children, and from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m., various restaurants will be onsite.
For more information, call 404-732-0603 or visit www.400northboardofrealtors.org/expo.
Traton Homes to build Greenwich Park in Johns CreekJOHNS CREEK, Ga. — Traton Homes will soon begin building luxury homes at Greenwich Park in Johns Creek.
The gated community will offer 21 homes, priced from the $800,000s.
Residents at Greenwich Park will enjoy con-venient access to the area’s dining, shopping and entertainment opportunities.
Children at Greenwich Park will attend State Bridge Crossing Elementary, Autrey Mill Middle and Johns Creek High schools.
Interested home buyers are encouraged to stay informed by registering for the community VIP List at www.TratonHomes.com.
For more information, call new homes specialist Steve Lee at 678-858-1984.
OPENINGS » Sur La Table to open Alpharetta location
ALPHARETTA, Ga.— Seattle-based Sur La Table, the retail cooking store, has confirmed the open-ing of a location in North Point Mall on May 14. Opening date is subject to change.
The 5,800-square-foot store, located at 1000 North Point Circle, Suite 1082 in Alpharetta, will employ over 20 full-time and part-time employees.
“Our stores are the ultimate place for kitchen exploration and discovery and we are excited to offer our unsurpassed selection of exclusive and premium-quality goods for the kitchen and table to the Alpharetta market,” said Jack Schwefel, chief executive officer of Sur La Table.
“In addition, the store will feature our new-est cooking class program location which offers a diverse and exciting schedule of hands-on cooking classes, led by classically trained chefs.”
FINNICK
ABBY BREAUX/STAFF
From left are Atlanta Classic Cars General Man-ager Bruce Lamb, Atlanta Classic Cars co-owner Johanna Ellis and General Manager Commercial Vans at Mercedes-Benz USA Claus Tritt.
18 | April 16, 2014 | Milton Herald | northfulton.com Submit your business news & photos to [email protected]
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Nation’s #6 Fastest Growing CityU.S. Census Bureau (2013)
America’s #1 Best Place to MoveForbes (2009)
#2 Best Place for Job Seekers in Georgia
NerdWallet (2013)
Should I get a property survey?In the state of Georgia,
surveys are not required when purchasing a property.
Most home buyers do not opt to have a survey done, in some cases due to cost. More often than not, it is because the buyer is purchasing in a planned community.
The buyer might assume that because the builder prob-ably had surveyed everything when building out the commu-nity, there isn’t likely to be any boundary line issues.
More often, surveys are done on larger parcels of land.
This may be done by the seller in advance of putting the property up for sale, or by the buyer while under contract.
When purchasing raw land
or large-acre tracts, a survey is critical, as property lines change within families and easements often occur and may have been done many years ago.
On more than one occa-sion, we have seen fences and driveways over property lines in a planned community.
Additionally, you may want to put a fence up after you
move in and a fence company will ask you for a survey in order to stay on or within the boundary lines of the property
Finally, a title insurance policy on your new home won’t cover you on a boundary line problem without a survey. In fact, you won’t be covered on any boundary line problems that are discovered with a survey. But the survey may identify the issue so a bound-ary line agreement or some resolution to that issue may occur. More often than not, the survey will reflect exactly what you think you’re purchasing, but better to pay for a survey for peace of mind than have a dispute or disagreement with your new neighbor later.
ROBERTSTRADERLocal RealtorKeller Williams Realty
Does your small business have a great work culture?
Are your employees happy?
Do you get a lot of things done because your culture enables great teamwork?
Is there the proper bal-ance of work and personal time?
Just like you build a new product or develop a new ser-vice, you need to do the same with your culture.
Creating a great work culture isn’t easy, but will significantly contribute to your success if you have one.
The first step in achieving a great culture is having the right “tone from the top” with your management team.
If the leadership of the company isn’t “walking the talk” and visually displaying the culture you want, it will never happen.
Employees will mimic the behavior of their managers, so it’s very important to make sure all of your leaders know what is expected of them.
The structure of your organization can also make
or break having a great work culture.
Multiple levels of manage-ment and the inability for employees to engage upper management with their sug-gestions and ideas will be a deterrent to having a great culture in your small busi-ness.
Hiring the right people and making sure that every-one has fun working is part of creating a great work culture.
Do novel things like set-ting up a Ping-Pong table or dart board in your office, so when your employees want to take a break they can have some fun.
Creating a great work culture in your small busi-ness will help contribute to the success of your small business.
Creating great work cultureDICKJONESFounder & PresidentJones Simply Sales
It seems everything is going up and up these days.
Capital gains, or the tax owed on selling income-pro-ducing property, is no excep-tion, as it has increased this year to 20 percent.
An additional tax of 3.8 percent is also hitting investors through the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, com-monly referred to as Obam-acare.
The combination of these two taxes is hitting investors in the pocketbook at almost 24 percent. Additionally, adding in the Georgia income tax of 6 percent yields a whopping 30 percent tax on sales of your investment real estate. But don’t despair; the Internal Revenue Service has created a way around paying it. It’s called a 1031 exchange, like-kind exchange or Starker ex-change. The 1031 comes from the section of the IRS code that allows you to defer capital gains. In 1970, a family named Stark-er challenged the IRS’s ruling on capital gains and eventually won the court case against the IRS.
A 1031 exchange merely allows you to swap properties without actually swapping the property. When you sell an investment property, IRS rules will al-low you to purchase a “like” property, of equal or greater value and defer the capital gains into the new property. A third-party company, known as an exchange intermediary, that’s approved by the IRS, will hold your funds from the sale of the first property until you are able to close on the second property. If done properly, this “ex-change” will allow you to defer the capital gains until the sale, or another exchange, of this second property. It is possible, upon your death, to bequeath the property and your heirs will not have to pay capital gains either. Through the use
of the 1031 exchange, it is pos-sible never to pay capital gains in your lifetime. There are some important cri-teria that you will need to meet to qualify for the exchange: 1) The property you sell should have specific language men-tioning the 1031 exchange. 2) You, as the seller, can’t ac-cept the money at the closing. It must be delivered to the “exchange intermediary.” 3) You have 45 days after sell-ing the property to identify the other property(s) that you will be purchasing. 4) You have 180 days after sell-ing the property to close on the new property(s). You’ve worked hard to produce passive income. Don’t let the tax man take too much of your hard-earned money. By using the tax code to your advantage, you can help preserve your real estate investment for yourself and your heirs for many years to come.
Brian Patton CCIM is a commercial real estate investor, broker, author and radio show host. Call 770-634-4848, or visit his website at www.Capit-alListings.com
Death and taxes: Two pleasant subjectsBRIAN PATTONCapitol Realty Advisorswww.capitallistings.com
ROSWELL, Ga. – There is still room for local employers to participate in the Monday, April 28, mini-job fair as part of the long-running jobs net-working ministry at Roswell United Methodist Church.RUMC partners with the Greater North Fulton Cham-ber of Commerce, Roswell Inc. and the Rotary Club of Roswell to bring speakers, of-fer job interview and resume writing tips and provide net-working opportunities. One the largest ongoing such ministries in the Southeast, the job fair routinely attracts more than 300 job seekers.
Success stories from employ-ers have confirmed that this process is working.
Employers should arrive no later than 7:30 p.m. for a quick employers’ meeting. Then, employers will an-nounce their job openings to the job seekers in attendance. Those who are a match will meet in private rooms with interested candidates.It is all over at 9 p.m., and employers leave with resumes in hand.
Everyone is encouraged to attend the dinner at 5:45 p.m., hear the dinner speaker and mingle with job seekers.
Job fair returns to RUMCEmployers invited to participate with 300 job seekers in attendance
northfulton.com | Milton Herald | April 16, 2014 | 19CALENDARSubmit your event online at northfulton.com
Submit your event to northfulton.com or email with photo to calendar@ northfulton.com. For a more complete list of local events including support groups, volunteer opportunities and business meetings visit the calendar on northfulton.com.
LOCAL LIVE MUSIC »LUDWIG SYMPHONY ORCHESTRAThe LSO presents "A Cherry Blossom Spring Fling,” a gala closing concert for its seventeenth season at the Gwinnett Center-Performing Arts Center. The evening's performance features internationally-acclaimed Korean violinist Hye-Jin Kim interpreting Saint-Saens Introduction and Rondo Capriccioso and the rare Dvorak Romance in F, Malek Jandali, American/Syrian pianist and composer, in the premiere of his Piano Theme and Variations, and local Russian artists Olga and Jacob Yampolsky performing the double concerto for violin and viola by Max Bruch. 7:30 p.m. April 26. 6400 Sugarloaf Parkway, Duluth. Please visit ludwigsymphony.org.
ART »ALPHARETTA ARTS STREETFESTCelebrate the arts at one of the city of Alpharetta’s most popular events. The streets of Historic Downtown will be filled with nearly 100 artists, musicians and performers from throughout the U.S. are showcased. Enjoy a beautiful spring weekend as you stroll through outdoor galleries filled with fine art, create children’s art and experience live jazz, Celtic music, cultural dancing and more. Admission and parking are free. 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. April 26 and 27. 2 South Main St., Alpharetta. Please call 678-297-0102 or visit awesomealpharetta.com.
THEATER » ‘CHARLOTTE’S WEB’ The Center for Puppetry Arts presents “Charlotte’s Web,” an adaptation of the novel by E.B. White, in which Charlotte the spider and Wilbur the pig become unlikely friends.
Show times vary. April 10 – May 25. 1404 Spring St. Northwest, Atlanta. Please call 404-873-3391 or visit puppet.org.
‘OLIVER’Mello-Drama Productions presents “Oliver” at the Cumming Playhouse, the classic musical based on the novel “Oliver Twist” by Charles Dickens. Show times vary. Through April 19. 101 School St., Cumming. Please call 770-781-9178 or visit playhousecumming.com.
‘TARZAN THE MUSICAL’ King’s Ridge High School presents “Tarzan the Musical.” Based on Edgar Rice Burrough’s, “Tarzan of the Apes,” and the 1999 smash-hit Disney animated film, “Tarzan” tells the story of an infant boy orphaned on the shores of West Africa, and is raised by apes in the jungle. “Tarzan” features music and lyrics by pop icon Phil Collins and book by Tony Award-winning playwright, David Henry Hwang. Show times vary. April 24 – 26. 2765 Bethany Bend, Alpharetta. Please call 770-754-5738 or visit kingsridgecs.org.
EVENTS » EARTH DAY CANOE TRIPSummer will soon be arriving, but you can get your family out early on the Chattahoochee River this year to celebrate Earth Day. Take advantage of two different opportunities to enjoy a quiet paddle along the cliffs and through the backwaters of the river. Registration required by April 17. 1 – 8 p.m. April 19. 9135 Willeo Road, Roswell. Please call 770-992-2055 or visit chattnaturecenter.org.
EGGSTRAVAGANZA CALLANWOLDE EASTER EGG HUNTA family favorite for years, Callanwolde’s egg hunt features thousands of candy-filled eggs to find and a chance to meet the Easter Bunny. There will be homemade baked goods
for sale, a cake walk and spring-themed arts and crafts for kids. Bring your basket and your camera for a fun, family day set in Callanwolde’s beautiful spring gardens and grounds. 10 a.m. - Noon. April 19. 980 Briarcliff Road Northeast, Atlanta. Please call 404-872-5338 or visit callanwolde.org.
EGGS-TREME EGG HUNTAn Easter egg hunt hosed by the Reach One Church at Friendship Park by Crabapple Crossing Elementary. 12:30 p.m. April 20. 12775 Birmingham Highway, Milton. Please visit reachonechurch.org.
9TH ANNUAL KIDS HELPING KIDS CARNIVALJohns Creek United Methodist Church Preschool is having their 9th annual "Kids Helping Kids" Carnival. Last year's Carnival was a huge success, with over 2,000 people in attendance and raising over $47,000 for Camp Sparrowwood — a camp for children with special needs — Emory Johns Creek Pediatric Patients (NICU) and the Preschool itself. This year’s proceeds will support the same causes. Bring your friends and family to enjoy pony rides, a petting zoo, carnival rides, inflatables, games and more JCUMC Preschool. Tickets sold at the door. 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. April 26. 11180 Medlock Bridge Road, Johns Creek. Please call 770-497-8215.
ELECTRATHON AMERICA ELECTRIC VEHICLE RACEElectrathon is a race in which electric vehicles compete to see how far they can go on a given amount of battery power. The race will be held at the Forsyth Central High School east campus. Come down and spectate this exciting and environmentally progressive new sport. 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. April 19. 520 Tribble Gap Road, Cumming. Please call 770-887-8151 or visit electrathonamerica.org.
EARTH WEEK RIVER FLOAT AND CLEAN UPBring your own canoe or kayak and join the National Park Service for a ranger-
led leisurely paddle on the Chattahoochee River. The down-river journey will take participants past Woodland American Indian village sites, the location were Sherman's Troops outflanked the Confederate Army, suburban homes, and forests of extraordinary beauty. There are four mild class 1.5 rapids suitable for beginners along this part of the river. Reservations are required. 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. April 26. 301 Johnson Ferry Road, Marietta. Please call 678-538-1200 or visit nps.gov.
ANNUAL GARDEN FAIREBulloch Hall's Annual Garden Faire heralds the start of spring planting season and provides a one-stop shop for everything you need to make your gardening dreams reality. This free gardening event, hosted by North Fulton Master Gardeners, will have something for every level of gardener — from novice to seasoned. 9 a.m. – 3 p.m. April 26. 180 Bulloch Ave., Roswell. Please visit bullochhall.org.
BEAR ON THE SQUARE MOUNTAIN FESTIVALDahlonega's 18th annual celebration of Southern Appalachian Culture is being held in and around the town's Historic Square. Bear on the Square is a lively weekend of music and art beginning with pre-festival activities, including jamming on the square and a Country Auction, on Friday, April 25. The schedule includes free admission, on-stage performances by well known bluegrass and old-time musicians, a juried Artists Marketplace featuring mountain crafts, more jamming on the square, free music workshops/demonstrations, storytelling, an acoustic open mic event and more. 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. April 26 and 27. Main Street, Dahlonega. Please call 706-864-7817 or visit bearonthesquare.org.
RACES AND BENEFITS »ROSWELL CYCLING FESTIVALThe Roswell Cycling Festival will take place on Canton Street, and feature many fun events for cyclists of all ages. The festival will begin with the Mayor’s Ride, followed by races of various categories, and a kid’s bicycle safety course. 8 a.m. – 7:30 p.m. April 27. Canton Street, Roswell. Please visit roswellcyclingfestival.com.
RYAN PIERONICalendar [email protected]
TOP FIVE EVENTS
EASTER EGG HUNT AT MIDWAY COMMUNITY CHURCHAn Easter egg hunt for children aged toddlers through 5th grade at the Midway Community Church. Come and enjoy a fun filled day of inflatables, food, face painting and egg hunting. 2 – 4 p.m. April 19. 3365 Francis Road, Alpharetta. Please visit midwaycc.org.
SPRING "K" CLASSIC 5K AND 10KThe Kiwanis of Roswell host their Spring “K” Classic 5k and 10k run. The course is certified and chip timed. Medals will be given to the winners in each age category. 5:30 – 10 a.m. April 19. 12025 Etris Road, Roswell. Please call 404-553-2451 or visit roswellkiwanis.org.
GA.’S LARGEST EASTER EGG HUNT World Harvest Church is hosting Georgia’s largest Egg Hunt with 55,000 eggs. The event is free and open to the public. The Egg Hunt is for ages 2-13. Noon – 2 p.m. April 19. 320 Hardscrabble Road, Roswell. Please call 770-643-9223.
TASTE OF FORSYTHThe annual Taste of Forsyth and Easter Egg Hunt return to the Cumming Fairgrounds. The event will feature more than 25 restaurants, the Egg Hunt, and a Touch-a-Truck event for kids. 11 a.m. – 6 p.m. April 19. 235 Cumming Fairgrounds, Cumming. Please call 770-423-1330 or visit cummingfair.net.
ARTFUL ALPHARETTAKick off the Alpharetta Arts Streetfest at this one day event, showcasing eight of the Alpha Arts Guild’s talented and accomplished artists, each displaying numerous pieces of work in various mediums. Register onsite to win an original work of art. Refreshments will be served. Free. 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. April 26. Alpharetta Welcome Center, 178 South Main St., Alpharetta. Please call 678-297-0102.
20 | April 16, 2014 | Milton Herald | northfulton.com SCHOOLS
By CANDY [email protected]
FULTON COUNTY, Ga. – More than 1,000 people provided input on ways to improve the Fulton School System’s han-dling and response to winter weather events, weighing in on decision making, communica-tion and staff.
Two weather events – at the end of January and again in mid-February – disrupted school operations for several days and led to an unprec-edented seven days of school closures.
The online survey con-ducted last month asked for input and assessments on how Fulton staff performed, as well as suggestions for improving response for future events.
As expected, most partici-pants in the online survey gave high marks for the system’s handling of the second snow event in February, but were less generous in assessing the response to the Jan. 28 snow-storm. In that event, school system leaders were criticized
for the delay in dismissing schools, which contributed to stranding thousands of students at school for hours because of transportation problems.
When asked what issues could have been improved, nearly 98 percent of partici-pants cited the “timeliness of decision to dismiss school,” coupled with 55 percent saying “notification to parents” needed improvement.
School administrators made the decision to dismiss school at 2 p.m. on Jan. 28, but gave schools and parents little ad-vance notice. By the time the message was broadcast, the metro roadways were a parking lot, leading to schools becom-ing overnight shelters for many students and staff.
On the positive side, school employees got high marks for their supervision of students and the “caring nature” of staff.
“We have taken all of these comments very seriously,” said Fulton Schools Superintendent Robert Avossa. “First, we ap-
preciate the critical feedback, and second we are acting on it.”
Avossa is one of only three education leaders on Gov. Nathan Deal’s Winter Weather Taskforce, and noted the results of the survey and the recommendations were presented to the task force for consideration.
But the information culled from the survey will be used locally, said Avossa, with much of it implemented already.
“In some ways, our work is just beginning,” said Avossa. “Fulton County has reflected on its current winter weather and emergency procedures. Immediate changes related to winter weather protocol were in place by the second winter storm.”
For next school year, Avos-sa said school leaders will be trained and exercised on a new set of guidelines dealing with delayed openings, early release and sheltering in place.
One recommendation Avossa will be looking to implement is establishing an emergency operations center to coordinate an emergency response and provide a central working space for all respond-ers to share, track and gather information.
Another suggestion the system will work to develop is to ensure students continue learning, even when school is closed, through online learning opportunities.
Winter weather events provide blueprint for revised school planning Survey points out deficiencies, proficiencies of response
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northfulton.com | Milton Herald | April 16, 2014 | 21Submit your news & photos to [email protected] SCHOOLS
MILTON, Ga. – The Milton High School Cirque show this year, “Cirque Razstava” is set in a world of unusual mechani-cal charm where animatronic characters come to life as they are collected for a traveling exhibition.
Set in the 1910s, the story continues a decades-old tradi-tion of amusing and awe-ing spectators who enter the exhibit. One of these guests is a young boy who becomes so fascinated with what he finds at Razstava that he is willing to abandon what is familiar in exchange for a larger role behind the scenes of the ex-hibit. New acts and apparatus are guaranteed to take guests into a new-fangled realm set somewhere between real and unreal.
The Milton Cirque shows are unique pieces of theater and very popular with audi-ences. Milton is the only public high school in the country with a Cirque program as a part of the regular theater curriculum. The “audition only” class of over 60 students attracts stu-dents with various athletic and specialized skills like tumbling and dance. Cast members also train on various appara-tus including the Cyr wheel and silks, and often train with some Cirque professionals that
travel to the city to work with them on mastering specific skills.
The students begin a rigorous routine of physical conditioning in the fall, and the show’s storyline begins development with a student planning team that generates ideas. Larry Smith, the show’s director, then writes the script for the production.
“Cirque Razstava” will have a total of eight performances over two weekends. The show performs April 24-26 at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday April 27 at 2 p.m. Then, the following week-end, shows runs from May 1-3 at 7:30 p.m. and Saturday, May 3 at 2 p.m. To purchase
tickets online, please visit www.miltontheatrecompany.com.
—Jonathan Copsey
Milton Cirque to perform ‘Razstava’If you goWhat: “Cirque Razstava”
When: April 24-26 at 7:30 p.m., April 27 at 2 p.m., May 1-3 at 7:30 p.m., May 3 at 2 p.m.
Where: Milton High School
More Info: www.miltonthe-atrecompany.com Milton High School will perform the upcoming “Cirque Razstava”
April 24-May 3 at Milton High School. For information and tick-ets, visit www.miltontheatrecompany.com.
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22 | April 16, 2014 | Milton Herald | northfulton.com Submit your news & photos to [email protected] | Recycled paper
1015 Old Roswell Rd., Roswell, GA 770-993-6084�www.stdavidchurch.org
Good Friday�April 18 7:00 a.m.�12:15 p.m. (nursery)�7:00 p.m.
Mass in Spanish at 8:30 p.m.
Holy Saturday�April 19 8:00 a.m. Holy Saturday Prayer Service
(in Memorial Garden)
Easter Day�April 20 6:30 a.m.�Easter Vigil (in Memorial Garden)
7:30 a.m.�9:15 a.m. (nursery)�11:15 a.m. (nursery) Refreshments & Easter Bunny to follow the 9:15 a.m. service
Mass in Spanish at 1:15 p.m.
Crabapple First Baptist Church12760 Birmingham Highway
Milton, Georgia 30004 crabapplefbc.org • 770 475 6111
Passion Play
Crabapple First Baptist Church invites the community to The Passion Play.
April 17, 18, 19 at 7pm. Free childcare provided for ages 3 and under.
northfulton.com | Milton Herald | April 16, 2014 | 23Recycled paper | Submit your news & photos to [email protected]
24 | April 16, 2014 | Milton Herald | northfulton.com Submit your news & photos to [email protected]
By HATCHER [email protected]
ALPHARETTA, Ga. – Eighteen-year-old Chase Elliott is one King’s Ridge Christian School senior who won’t be going to college in the fall. And that is the good news.
Elliott just won his first NASCAR Nationwide Series race April 4 at the Texas Motor Speedway in Fort Worth, Texas, and is now the second-youngest driver to notch a Nationwide Series race. At this rate, he soon will no longer be introduced as the son of racing legend Bill Elliott. This son of a gun can drive.
After his big win on Friday, he didn’t have much time to celebrate. He had a math test on Monday.
Shuntel Beach, King’s Ridge’s public relations director, said Elliott handles himself with amazing maturity and ability to remain focused.
“We are all mesmerized by what he can do,” she said. “He crams five days of school into three days, so he can spend three days out of the week rac-ing. He just handles it all so well.”
Elliott has also impressed the racing community. He certainly was on every-body’s radar screen when won his first NASCAR Truck Series race Sept. 1 at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park in On-tario, Canada, in just his sixth Truck Series start.
One of those suitably impressed was Dale Earnhardt Jr. He signed the younger Elliott to his team to drive the No. 9 Chevrolet, owned by Earnhardt’s JR Motorsports and sponsored by NAPA, which is based in Atlanta.
To many NASCAR fans, it was ironic that sons are now racing on the same team when their fathers carried on one of racing’s great rivalries. But Elliott said that was their generation.
Elliott downplays that aspect. He said he and his father both see signing with JR Motorsports for what it is, a tremendous opportunity.
“Obviously, Dale Senior and my dad did some real hard racing together, and put on some of the best shows in NAS-CAR history in my opinion. But neither my dad or I are disappointed with the way things have worked out,” Elliott said. “Like I said, this is the chance of
a lifetime.“This is a dream come true for
me. And to have this happen to me at such a young age is the opportunity of a lifetime,” Elliott said of joining JR Motorsports. “I always had high hopes this would happen. This has opened up a big door for me.
“I wasn’t real sure this could hap-pen for me,” he said. “Now, I want to try to make the most of it. I really want this to be my career.”
If all goes well – and so far, it has gone extremely well – Elliott will run in all 33 races in the circuit this season. His first race was Feb. 22 at Daytona International Speedway. It took Elliott just 42 days to win his first NASCAR race.
So it came to pass that it was the No. 9 car that crossed the finish line first at Texas Motor Speedway, and teammate Earnhardt finished fifth.
One step below the Sprint Series where the elite drivers compete, Elliott says you will often see those elite driv-ers competing in the Nationwide Series as well.
Often Sprint Series drivers will test some new technological wrinkle in their engine in a Nationwide Series race before using it in a Sprint Series race, where winning and losing is measured in hundredths of a second.
As if Elliott didn’t have enough on his plate, he will appear in the broad-cast booth as well. He was asked to be part of the April 12 radio lineup for the Motor Racing Network. Elliott joined the MRN broadcast crew in the coverage of the Sprint Cup Series Bojangles’ South-ern 500 from Darlington Raceway.
“Adding a driver to our broadcast team at Darlington will put listen-ers behind the wheel and give them a
look into the minds of the competitors through Chase’s eyes,” said MRN Presi-dent and Executive Producer David Hy-att. “The ‘Elliott’ name is synonymous with success at Darlington, and it’s a privilege to have one of NASCAR’s rising stars join us this weekend.”
The hype over Elliott has already begun, but he appears to have the ma-turity to handle it and keep his eye on the checkered flag.
Shows he is ready for ‘big time’ racing
Chase Elliott wins Nationwide Series NASCAR race
Chase Elliott celebrates his first NASCAR Nationwide Series race April 4 at the Texas Motor Speedway in Fort Worth, Texas.
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northfulton.com | Milton Herald | April 16, 2014 | 25Recycled paper | Submit your news & photos to [email protected]
“We want to be welcoming in allowing economic oppor-tunity as well as immigration that might jumpstart new businesses,” she said.
“Employers also find road-blocks from government in trying to utilize their talents,” she said.
The Main Street Growth and Opportunity Coalition supports comprehensive tax and immigration reform and expanding trade opportu-nities. It seeks to educate federal lawmakers and state residents about the economic benefits of these policies and illustrates the consequences of inaction.
“We want Washington to employ more common sense and allow the little guy to be more productive in his daily work and not burdened by tax policies and compli-ance issues that [hinder the economy],” she said.
As the voices of grassroots groups grow, Riley says she thinks Washington will have to listen.
One of the biggest hin-
drances to reform at the national level is the high degree of partisan politics in which the two national par-ties seem to have the destruc-tion of each other’s policies put above the interests of the nation.
“What we need is more open conversation and shar-ing of ideas. No single person or party has all the solu-tions,” Riley said.
This new coalition is the effort to begin that conversa-tion, she said.
Continued from Page 6
Riley: What we need is more open conversation and sharing of ideas. No single person or party has all the solutions.”LYNNE RILEYState Rep. Johns Creek
sion of marijuana and failure to maintain lane.
► Salvatore Frank Gambino, 46, of Chattahoochee Circle, Roswell, was arrested March 17 on Atlanta Street in Roswell for DUI, headlights required and failure to obey a traffic control device.
► Casie Marie Lantz, 36, of Penwick Drive, Roswell, was arrested March 21 on Canton Street in Roswell for DUI and hit and run.
► James Otis Landingham, 23, of Shallowford Road, Roswell, was arrested March 22 on Holcomb Bridge Road in Roswell for DUI, expired tag and possession of drug-related items.
► Lawrence R. Schmook, 50, of Grayson was arrested March 22 on Holcomb Bridge Road in Roswell for DUI, seatbelt viola-tion, possession of drug-relat-ed items and open container.
► Ronald Mosholder, 31, of Bowersville was arrested March 23 on Alpharetta Street in Roswell for DUI and sus-pended license.
► Chad David Rowland, 42, of Spring Ridge Drive, Roswell, was arrested March 24 on Holcomb Bridge Road in Roswell for DUI, open con-tainer and failure to maintain lane.
► Alexander Tyler Leonard, 22, of Woodstock was arrested March 26 on Houze Road in Roswell for DUI and speeding.
Drug arrests ► Baymon B. Jackson, 22, of
Atlanta was arrested March 22 on North Point Circle in Alpharetta for possession of marijuana and shoplifting.
► William Woolen II, 28, of Louisville, Ky., was arrested March 29 on Old Milton Parkway in Alpharetta for pos-session of a schedule II con-trolled substance, drugs not kept in the original container and possession of marijuana.
► Ricky Cox Jr., 34, of Lithonia was arrested March 29 on North Point Parkway in Alpharetta for possession of marijuana, suspended license and brake light violation.
► John Ryan Gilbert, 21, of Triple Crown Drive, Milton, was arrested March 28 on North Main Street in Alpharetta for possession of marijuana and possession of drug-related items.
► Christopher Daniel Hale, 36, of Clarkesville was arrested March 26 on Cotton Creek Entry in Alpharetta for posses-sion of marijuana, possession of drug-related items and tag light required.
► James Andrew Roberts, 23, of Summer Breeze Court, Alpharetta, was arrested March 25 on Old Milton Parkway in Alpharetta for pos-session of marijuana, posses-sion of drug-related items and obstructed tag.
► Jeremy James Patchen, 23, of Atlanta was arrested March 26 on Brookside Parkway in Alpharetta for possession of marijuana.
► Coley Isaac Squires, 22, of Dinsmore Road, Milton, was arrested March 26 on South Main Street in Alpharetta for possession of marijuana, pos-session of a firearm during the commission of a felony and expired tag.
► Hamza Vaid, 19, of Raintree Drive, Alpharetta, was arrested March 21 on Holcomb Bridge Road in Roswell for possession of marijuana.
► Jarvis Stevens Evans, 27, of Old Holcomb Bridge Way, Roswell, was arrested March 22 on Old Dogwood Road in
Roswell for possession of mari-juana.
► Tyler Ross Peacock, 21, of Chamblee was arrested March 23 on Old Dogwood Road in Roswell for possession of mari-juana.
► Steven Jermaine Tramble, 19, of Old Holcomb Bridge Road, Roswell, was arrested March 24 on Old Holcomb Bridge Way in Roswell for pos-session of marijuana.
► Trevarious Jordan Griffin, 24, of Creekside Way, Roswell, was arrested March 26 on Creekside Way in Roswell for possession of marijuana and giving false information.
► Gary Dale Setchfield, 20, of Woodstock was arrested March 26 on Houze Road in Roswell for possession of marijuana.
► Catrina Rene St. John, 26, of Summerville was arrested March 26 on Holcomb Bridge Road in Roswell for possession of marijuana and possession of drug-related items.
► Lafonzo Antonio Moody, 23, of Eagles Crest Village Lane, Roswell, was arrested March 26 on Holcomb Bridge Road in Roswell for possession of marijuana, possession of drug-related items, expired tag and no insurance.
Continued from Page 2
Arrests:
26 | April 16, 2014 | Milton Herald | northfulton.com OPINION
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The people who run the horse shows come to our city to use this facility because we give it away to them! Easy solution, make them pay more to use the facility to make it a profitable venture for us. I know how much they make, and how shady most of them are. I know they are destroying the facility; go look at what has become of the stalls, arenas, etc. It’s a sad situation. We need to ban together and get this converted to something we, the citizens of Al-pharetta, can use.
Ex-Horse Dad, Atlanta
I have been riding and showing at Wills Park for over 20 years. I believe other options need to be researched. Closing the park would be a mistake and a hard hit to the horse community. I truly believe the horse community will come together and do what we can to keep this from happening if given an option to. Carrie, Canton
I grew up at Wills Park with my horses. My first horse show was there 20 years ago. My daughter’s first show was there. I know it has grown in the area... but this generation will share no memories with parents because every-thing is being developed. We can just drive by and tell them “that’s where mommy did this,” or “daddy grew up here” as we pass the neighbor-hoods it has become. It’s very sad. This is a safe place that many have enjoyed over the years. I don’t agree with how much it is costing a year for the city. There are many events held a year that bring in lots of money to local businesses. And maybe we should make sure the city is us-ing the money the best way they can. How much are they spending on upkeep? Have they tried to get better prices? And how much would it cost the taxpayers to close it, knock it down and re-build something? It’s not just used for the horse world... what about the rodeos your kids like, and dogs shows and charitable events? Anyway, I sure hope they choose to leave it as it is. :)
Bree, Alpharetta
I have been running dogs at Wills Park for 14 years now in the arena. Some of the dog agility events held there are qualifying events for shows such as the AKC Nationals, the World Championships and the Purina Dog Challenge events (you may have seen on TV).
I sincerely hope those who have a say/vote in this decision will do their research and not just take someone at their word on the financial issues that have been brought up.
Not everyone plays soccer, tennis or swims. Horse and dog shows may not be for everyone, but why take it away from those who do love it? These shows do indeed bring in people from
other states who frequent the local restaurants and hotels.
Please think long and hard about taking this venue away from those of us who love it. Michele Gregory, Buford
Chastain Park looked at the same thing but found a way to make it more profitable. I have shown and gone to events at Wills Park since there was only one ring and always look forward to coming to the area. Remember, we spend money at hotels, restaurants and shopping. All a boost to your economy. In addition, many times there are several events happening when I am in the park. Local residents use the walk-ing trails and bring their families by to see the horses. This venue is used by so many people. Please do not deny us this wonderful park! It can never be replaced! Tina Gunby Smith, Toccoa
When I was 3, I got on a horse for the first time. Four years later, I attended my first horse show at Wills Park, which left me hooked for life. This park has allowed me to experience the excitement of competition, the thrill of win-ning and humbling losses. Not only this, but Wills Park led me to a lifelong goal to become someone great in this world and make the most out of my life by becoming an equestrian vet. Finally, Wills Park is the home to a memorial tree representing Ashley Howard, a beautiful girl who passed away. In honor and memory of her, I ask Wills Park please not be torn down. My dreams and passions flourished at Wills Park as a child and helped make me the determined, hard worker I am now. If I come home from the University of Kentucky to see Wills gone, it’ll be a hit to the heart. I hope the city finds some other way to solve their issue rather than tear-ing down this essential beloved park. Keili, Cumming
I am a resident of Alpharetta and have shown my dogs in agility at Wills Park for nearly 14 years. It is a very special place for me. People come from all over the Southeast for the multiple agility shows held there. The facility is a favorite and these competitors – like Mary Kay – spend their money at our stores, restaurants and hotels. They contribute to our overall local economy just as the horse people do. Wills is unique as it not only supports the recreational sports but also the horse and dog competitors as well. There is no other place in Atlanta that offers a facility like this. People come to watch both the horses and dogs. We need to unite and fight to keep the equestrian center open Elizabeth Downey, Alpharetta
Readers respond to Wills Park article
ALPHARETTA, Ga. – Readers of our paper took to the comment section on Northfulton.com to respond to the news that Alpharetta’s long-term plans include considering shuttering the equestrian center at Wills Park.
More than 1,000 Facebook recommends and close to 100 responses were overwhelm-ingly in support of keeping the facility.
Commenters noted one aspect of the park the article neglected – it is also a large
venue for dog shows.However, looking simply
at the cities from which the commenters hail, it seems one argument from the city is cor-rect: not enough people within Alpharetta use the park.
The center operates at a loss each year. This is not uncommon for recreational facilities, especially for one as large as Wills Park.
Instead, it’s all about qual-
ity of life. Also, many large events
bring in people, who make use of local businesses, such as restaurants and hotels, giving an indirect benefit.
The residents of Alpharetta (and their elected officials) need to think long and hard about adding more sports fields, which are certainly in high demand, or keeping the facility. One option could be getting neighboring cites to help foot the bill, taking the fi-nancial burden off Alpharetta.
Below is a selection of com-ments on the story, edited for spelling, clarity and grammar. There was only one obviously negative comment, and that is posted first.
JONATHANCOPSEYRevue & News [email protected]
Overwhelmingly supportive community
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northfulton.com | Milton Herald | April 16, 2014 | 27Recycled paper | Submit your news & photos to [email protected]
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28 | April 16, 2014 | Milton Herald | northfulton.com Submit your opinions to [email protected]
Invitation to Bid
FY14 Resurfacing ProjectBID NUMBER
14-PW6
Sealed Bid Due Date:
April 24, 2014 2:00PM Local TimeMilton City Hall
To be publicly opened approximately 2:05PM in the Courthouse
The City reserves the right to reject any and all bids.
The City of Milton is requesting submittals from interested parties for a public private partnership. The request for sealed bids (FY14 Resurfacing Project) is posted on the following websites:
http://www.cityofmiltonga.us or http://ssl.doas.state.ga.us/PRSapp/PR_index.jsp
City of MiltonNotice of Joint Public Hearing
Historic Preservation
Public Hearing: Historic Preservation Commission and Milton Mayor and City Council
Monday, May 05, 2014 5:00 P.M.
Location: City of Milton City Hall 13000 Deerfi eld Parkway, Bldg 100 Suite E Milton, Georgia 30004-6119 678-242-2500
The following case(s) are scheduled to be heard:
• Request to create the Crabapple Historic District
Deal orders DFCS review but privatization won’t workGov. Nathan Deal recently
announced plans to empanel a task force to review Geor-gia’s Department of Family and Child Protection Services’ failings, and make recommen-dations for improvement. This is a hard-won step in the right direction. • Since October, I have called
for such a task force to address DFCS’ “front-end” matters: Independent re-view of DFCS’ past and cur-rent non-redacted case logs to check for missed signs
• Insist on transparency• Improve case management,
hire quality personnel and to examine endangered
children. In January, Lt. Gov. Casey
Cagle and many Georgia state senators pushed privatization of foster care down citizens’ throats and onto the legislative floor.
In my Feb. 13 AJC article, “Screen children in danger”
[http://bit.ly/1dLq8Sy], I wrote “privatization puts the cart before the horse … chil-dren aren’t dead because of faulty foster care placements. They didn’t get that far.”
Privatization is a “back-end” matter.
Oct. 29, 2013 I asked legis-lators for “Eric’s Law,” a “man-datory referral” of children to non-agency pediatricians. Specifically, upon a third call to DFCS about a child, that child must be referred to an independent pediatrician for examination, as well as to counselor-investigators for emotional evaluation.
In a WSB-TV report, State Rep. Mary Margaret Oliver agreed such referrals would be “excellent.”
Too often, repeat calls were made to DFCS about children
suspected of being abused, yet nothing was done, or done correctly, and now children are dead. Exhibit A? Eric Forbes.
In less than a year, there were 10 calls to DFCS from teachers suspecting that Eric was being physically abused. On Oct. 11, police found Eric beaten to death, with signs of longstanding physical abuse.
Paulding County Investiga-tor Ashley Henson said it was the “worst case of child abuse ever seen.” Securing and exam-ining him, and other children, by a third party could have saved lives.
Senate Bill 350—privatiza-tion—doesn’t address DFCS’ primary problem. House Bill 923—a Child Fatality Review Panel—applies after children are dead.
A task force should have
immediately been established after the “Battered Child Syn-drome” death of Eric Forbes and subsequent deaths came to light, but better late than never. May the new empanelled commission be well-staffed, with discerning eyes, proper insight and vision.
I personally request that their recommendations will include a ‘mandatory referral’ of children to pediatricians for medical examination for children about whom sus-pected abuse has been thrice-reported.
Let’s prevent child deaths, not only review them post-mortem.
–Melody T. McCloud, M.D. Ob-gyn, author and the
founder/medical director of Atlanta Women’s Health Care. @DrMelodyMcCloud.
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an center, as their draft 2025 recreation and parks master plan shows.
Unfortunately, Milton has no plans to beef up its own horse programs or facilities in the immediate future.
“An equestrian center is not on our radar screen right now,” said Jim Cregge, Milton’s Parks and Recreation Director. “We are working on other projects.”
The expansion of Bell Me-morial Park this year is chief among those “other projects.”
Cregge said the city is working on its five-year master plan, and that horse facilities are not included.
“The plan calls for us to develop some trails for people to walk on, not necessarily horses, and more playspace,” he said. “We have nothing equestrian-focused in the next five years according to the master plan.”
All plans are guides, he said, and the master plan
could be changed if the elected officials decide it.
Milton’s existing master plan details what the city currently has and what it will need in the future. However it does not include any specific plans for horse-related activi-ties other than horse trails. It does point out the possibility of a regional equestrian facility at Birmingham Park, which is undeveloped and already a popular spot for riders.
“If and when we do some-thing equestrian, Birmingham Park is an option,” Cregge said.
Continued from Page 1
Horses:
The Wills Park Equestrian Center is used by the entire region, however, only Alpharetta residents pay for its upkeep.
northfulton.com | Milton Herald | April 16, 2014 | 29Recycled paper | Submit your news & photos to [email protected]
brary to highlight the fact that it is now closed on what had been Roswell’s busiest day.
The county slashed the AF-PLS budget by $6 million Jan. 27 in a 5-2 vote, despite levy-ing the first millage increase in the county in nearly a quarter century. That has forced a 36 percent reduction in public service hours and scores of layoffs.
The protesters say it is almost laughable to be build-ing libraries while the doors of existing libraries are locked because of budget cuts.
Susan Bergin is one of the protesters who came because she said she was angry.
“Ever since I was a little girl, I knew I always had a place I could go. When I had children, I took them to the library. Now my children want to take their children here and often as not, they can’t get in,” Bergin said.
Reigenia Frazier was one of more than two dozen residents who had come to the library, only to find it closed. She quickly became a convert for the protesters.
“Every day is busy here. And the hours are so erratic, there’s no consistency,” Frazier said when she saw the posted hours.
And she made another telling point about children’s safety.
“The library is a safe haven for children after school,” she said. “When they get off the school bus, here, they can wait at the library to get picked up by their parents. Where will they go now? This is awful.”
Janet Russell, a longtime political gadfly in Roswell, had plenty to say.
“I’m not surprised,” she said. “This [Roswell] is the sixth biggest city in the state. They didn’t consult the librar-ies which are their busiest days. Now we’re building more libraries and what will we do then? It’s just crazy.”
Fulton County Commis-sion candidate Eric Broadwell joined in the protest. He said he doesn’t understand how other departments, including the Tax Commissioner’s Of-fice and the Marshal’s Office, got budget increases and the Sheriff’s Department was up $6 million, while the library budget is almost slashed $4 million.
“The priorities should match the citizens’ needs,” Broadwell said.
A lot more goes on in librar-ies than just circulating books, the protesters said. For many residents, the computers avail-able there are their only ac-cess to the Internet. Now, the library is open one day a week past 6 p.m.
Sam Weintraub, 22, came
to use the computer, only to find the library closed.
“I was going to print out a sales pitch I want to take around. I don’t have a printer, and this is the only public printer I know of,” Weintraub said. “I guess I’ll have to wait until tomorrow.”
Jeff Schaun didn’t know about the new hours either. He was going out of town and came to pick up some materi-als he had put on hold to pick up.
“I’ll be gone for a week, so now the books I wanted will be released for circulation,” he said. “It throws a kink in my day. I assume they need new libraries, but to close the whole day? I don’t understand that.”
Since Feb. 12, only two of the AFPLS’s 33 branches — the Central Avenue Library and the Auburn Avenue Re-search Library, both in At-lanta, — have remained open seven days a week. Every other branch will be closed Fridays, and 20 of those 31 will be shut at least two days per week.
Those 33 branches in the metro Atlanta and the sur-rounding community serve a population of about one million with a collection of more than 2.5 million items. More than
4 million patrons visited last year. In all, the system’s 1,562 public service hours will be trimmed to 996, a 36.2 percent reduction from 2013.
Staffing levels are also tak-ing a big hit. AFPLS will elimi-nate 70 part-time staff mem-bers and 50 full-time positions this year. Yet East Roswell and Palmetto branches will open their doors by the end of the year with two more branches
opening in 2015.AFPLS does have $1 million
set aside for staffing these new branches as they come on line.
Continued from Page 1
Protest:
HATCHER HURD/STAFF
Local library supporters protest shortened library hours in front of the Roswell Library. Some are library patrons who showed up at the library not knowing all North Fulton libraries are closed all day on Fridays.
Charles M. Ceraso, 97, of Cumming, passed away April 3, 2014. Arrangements by McDonald and Son Funeral Home.
Sara Carolyn Crisler Cobb, 77, passed away March 27, 2014. Arrangements by Roswell Funeral Home and Green Lawn Cemetery.
Jeanne Sybil Cohen, 91, passed away March 27, 2014. Arrangements by Roswell Funeral Home and Green Lawn Cemetery.
Sarah Ann Davis, 93, passed away March 28, 2014. Arrangements by Roswell Funeral Home and Green Lawn Cemetery.
Rosa O. Johnston, 55, of Flowery Branch, passed away April 4, 2014. Arrangements by Byars Funeral Home.
Evelyn Hall, 79, passed away March 30, 2014. Arrangements by Roswell Funeral Home and Green Lawn Cemetery.
Reginald E. Hayes, 57, of Alpharetta, passed away April 5, 2014. Arrangements by Byars Funeral Home.
Sammy Gene Hines, 82, of Cumming, passed away April 3, 2014. Arrangements by Ingram Funeral Home.
Elizabeth Ivery, 91, of Marietta, passed away April 2, 2014. Arrangements by Byars Funeral Home.
Gregory Hilton Kinch, 54, passed away March 25, 2014. Arrangements by Roswell Funeral Home and Green Lawn Cemetery.
Steven N. Lokerse, 60, of Loganville, passed away April 6, 2014. Arrangements by Byars Funeral Home.
Della McGlammary Mills, 83, passed away April 4, 2014. Arrangements by Ingram Funeral Home.
Bert G. Morrow, 70, of Jasper, passed away April 7, 2014. Arrangements by Byars Funeral Home.
Michael B. Phelps, 59, of Cumming, passed away April 4, 2014. Arrangements by Byars Funeral Home.
William Francis Rowe, Jr., 89, passed away March 26, 2014. Arrangements by Roswell Funeral Home and Green Lawn Cemetery.
Fanny S. Ruben, 90, of Atlanta, passed away April 2, 2014. Arrangements by Byars Funeral Home.
Loretta R. Skwara, 79, of Cumming, passed away April 3, 2014. Arrangements by McDonald and Son Funeral Home.
Russell Delmas Woodyard, age 74, passed away on March 26, 2014. Arrangements by Roswell Funeral Home and Green Lawn Cemetery.
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