Alpharetta-Roswell Herald - April 16, 2026

Speedcubers take part in a round of competition during Cube

Museum of Technology and Art April 11.

Cube against Cancer rotates into Roswell

By DEAN HESSE decaturish@appenmedia.com

ROSWELL, Ga. — Solving a Rubik’s Cube challenges most people, but a growing community of puzzlers doesn’t just solve them. They work to solve them as quickly as possible, achieving personal bests while pursuing world records.

The speedcuber community attended the Cube Against Cancer competition

in Roswell on Saturday, April 11. More than 100 competitors filled the Gravity Ballroom at the Mimms Museum of Technology and Art. Competitions follow strict World Cube Association rules to ensure fairness. The WCA is the official nonprofit body that organizes speedcubing competitions, sets rules and maintains world records for solving the twisty puzzles.

See CUBE, Page 13

Havish Chittanoori, 8, shows his collection of puzzles between rounds during Cube Against Cancer Roswell 2026 at the Mimms Museum of Technology and Art April 11. He said cubing is fun and he enjoys meeting new people at competitions.

Alpharetta-Milton alliance could enhance Windward

By JON WILCOX jon@appenmedia.com

ALPHARETTA, Ga. — Alpharetta officials say a mixed-use project near Ga. 400 is an early example demonstrating the success of collaborations with the City of Milton that could shape development in the Windward and Deerfield communities.

At an April 13 meeting, the Alpharetta City Council approved what officials hope is the first of many redevelopment projects since the Windward Livable Centers Initiative study, a joint effort between Alpharetta, Milton and True North 400 Community Improvement District.

“Basically, we acknowledge that development doesn't stop at the jurisdictional boundary down two cities,” said Michael Woodman, Alpharetta Planning and Development Services manager. “And a lot of times it overlaps.”

Developer McKinley Homes is proposing a mixed-use center to include 110 for-sale condos, 207,000 square feet of office and 5,000 square feet of retail and restaurant space at the corner of Morris and Old Morris roads. The site lies on the edge of the Milton-Alpharetta boundary adjacent to Ga. 400.

Council members unanimously approved a comprehensive land use plan amendment, rezoning and variance for the project.

To be built at a 15-acre site, the project will bring much-needed homes to the area, which already includes considerable retail spaces and restaurants, Woodman said.

Adopted in 2024, the Livable Centers Initiative study proposes community hubs and better pedestrian connectivity in the Windward area.

In Milton’s Deerfield area in the southeastern corner of the city, plans are underway for major transformation within the next 10 years. Adopted in 2025, the Deerfield Urban Design Manual reimagines 560,000-square-feet of office space.

See WINDWARD, Page 12

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Fire at Roswell apartment complex displaces residents

By DAN WHISENHUNT dan@appenmedia.com

ROSWELL, Ga. — The Roswell Fire Department responded to a large apartment fire April 9, and dozens of residents have been displaced.

The Roswell Fire Department reported responding to the Enclave apartment complex at 7:30 p.m. The apartments are located at 11251 Alpharetta Highway.

“Crews arrived in just over three minutes to find fire from the first floor to the roof with residents trapped on a second-floor balcony,” a news release from the fire department said. “All residents were safely rescued. Firefighters also rescued two cats and a dog from the building.”

First responders treated two residents for smoke inhalation. The fire department reported that 58 adults, four children and seven pets were displaced.

“The American Red Cross, Atlanta-Fulton County Emergency Management Agency (AFCEMA), Roswell Emergency Management, and Alpharetta Fire Corps Volunteers responded to support displaced residents,” the news release said. “Gas and electricity have been shut off to the building as a precaution. Fire investigators are on scene and the cause is under investigation.”

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

CUSTOM FRAMING

Woman reports suspicious calls from suspected impersonator

ALPHARETTA, Ga. — Officers investigated a report of a person impersonating a public official March 24.

Alpharetta police said officers were dispatched to a Kingsport Drive home

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The Roswell Fire Department reported responding to the Enclave apartment complex at 7:30 p.m. on April 9. The apartments are located at 11251 Alpharetta Highway.

about noon and met with a 25-yearold Roswell mother.

The woman said she had been contacted by a person claiming to be with the state’s Division of Family & Children Services and asking to conduct a wellness check.

The woman said a man called her five times March 23.

The man also allegedly sent her text messages, saying he would visit her home.

The woman said she suspected the man was impersonating a public official.

The incident was classified as a felony impersonation of a public officer or employee case.

— Jon Wilcox

THE PICTURE FRAMER

Officers investigate burglary call at business

ALPHARETTA, Ga. — Officers investigated a suspected burglary at a North Point Parkway business March 29.

Alpharetta police said officers were dispatched to the business about 1 p.m.

Officers found the front door open, but a second door remained locked.

Officers searched and cleared the area but found no one.

A 911 caller told police he called after hearing the business’s alarm sound.

— Jon Wilcox

Roswell approves plans to upgrade Hembree Park

By HANNAH YAHNE hannah@appenmedia.com

ROSWELL, Ga. — The design process for Hembree Park’s $11.3 million redesign is underway after the City Council approved a contract with RK&K at its meeting April 13.

At a Committees of Council work session in March, Recreation, Parks, Historic and Cultural Affairs Director Steven Malone outlined top priorities that include replacing the six baseball fields and enhancing the parks stormwater design.

The project’s scope will continue to take shape as funding is allocated. Other goals include improving restrooms and concession buildings, upgrading to LED lighting across the park, and improving trail layout and connectivity.

The city will conduct its own public outreach, which decreased the RD&K contract by $647,000 from its proposal at the March 24 work session.

The design process is projected for completion in 2028 with park construction set to start later that year. Based on the timeline, substantial completion is expected by the end of 2029.

undergoing more than $6 million in renovations so Roswell can relocate its performing arts programs from the Roswell Physical Activity Center. The reimagined recreation center will serve more than 3,000 people.

The $308,000 contract with Harlequinn Flooring calls for installing a specialized sprung dance surface that is required for safe, professional instruction while preventing injury.

In other matters at the meeting:

• Coinciding with the adoption of Roswell’s new code of ethics in March, the city is submitting recertification through the state’s Certified City of Ethics program, which is required every four years.

The design contract is funded through the 2022 voter-approved parks bond, which now has roughly $38 million remaining after the council’s April 13 action.

Also at the meeting, the City Council approved floor renovations for the Crabapple Center that are included in the bond funding. The Crabapple Center is

• The City Council approved an agreement with the Roswell Farmers Market to provide an on-site coordinator and off-duty police officer during the Saturday farmers markets. Assistant City Attorney Joe Cusack explained that the arrangement will create a smoother operating process at no cost to the city. The Roswell Farmers Market will return for the season on Saturday, April 18 from 8 a.m. until noon at City Hall.

The next City Council meeting will be April 27 at 7 p.m. in City Hall.

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Reparations Task Force produces report on harm done to Black residents

By DORMIYA VANCE WABE

FULTON COUNTY, Ga. — Fulton County’s Reparations Task Force has worked since 2023 to research and account for the harms done to Black people who were enslaved there or lived during the Jim Crow era.

The group now has an official “Harm Report,” and one of their findings shows as much as around $900 billion in today’s dollars in stolen labor over a decade of slavery in Fulton.

Dr. Karchiek Sims-Alvarado, a professor of Africana Studies at Morehouse College, was appointed chair of the county-based task force after it was established in 2021.

“We knew that if we were going to be talking about dollars and cents, this research had to be based on quantitative data, and so that’s exactly what we’ve done,” she said.

What does the Harm Report focus on?

“The first year of the harm report study was actually compiling the data … and so during that time period, we were able to bring together about a team of about five individuals in order to help us with the report,” Sims-Alvarado said.

“We were able to build new data

Pearl Gibson Jackson served as a servant during Jim

She adorns the front cover of the Fulton County Reparations Task Force's Harm Report, making a debut after over two years of research.

sets, new tabular data sets that actually allowed us to document the number of individuals that were enslaved in Fulton County, the value tied to their person, as well as who were the profiteers of slavery, meaning who were the slave owners.”

The 615-page Harm Report was backed by county funding totaling $250,000. It features several charts, diagrams and dollar amounts tied to

slavery’s ten-year run, 1854-1864, in Fulton.

Research shows the county saw its highest number of enslavers, 761, a year before slavery ended in 1865.

The report then transitions into accounting for harm, like racial terror and lynchings, done to Black residents during Jim Crow as early as the 1870s.

are the things that affect our daily lives, and historically, for African Americans who resided in Fulton County, they paid for county services that they did not receive, or they received inferior services,” she added.

Segregation also created economic challenges for Black Fulton taxpayers.

One example in the report suggests “Black taxpayers paid into a system that denied them equal access to public services,” citing over $8 million in economic value denied to Black residents within the library system.

Sims-Alvarado says even as a kid in post-Jim Crow Alabama, she could see the long-term impacts of intentional limitations put on Black people.

“Every day, I saw how Black people were denied the same services as their white counterparts. And even as a child, you could see this. And I often ask myself, why is it that one half of the residents in a community are deprived of resources or have a certain quality of life compared to others?” she said.

What in the Harm Report was specific to Fulton County compared to other places?

APRIL 22 - 25 APRIL 30 - MAY 2

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BRADLEY BURNHAM

To produce the data, Sims-Alavardo created two theorems, or formulas, as the foundation of the report. Her Dual Lens Hidden Disparities Theorem quantifies inequalities, while her ExtractionAcculation Harm Theorem looks at economic harm experienced by Black residents and their descendants.

“Applying the Extraction-Acculation Harm Theorem … the cost of stolen labor and the failure to grant recompense can range up to nearly $903 billion from Fulton County alone,” Sims-Alvarado said.

How did the task force determine what counted as harm?

“These are wrongs committed against Fulton County Residents. So you’re talking about harms where people’s civil rights or civil liberties were violated or deprived of them, or basic human rights. Also, looking at county services, these are things that county residents are supposed to be entitled to, and these are things that were deprived from them,” Sims-Alvarado said.

The report shows that Black residents struggled to access services such as healthcare, public libraries and schools. Researchers suggest these limitations have had lasting effects on modern times and institutions.

“When you begin to look at the services that fall under the purview of the county, you have voting, the jails, and the courts. You have health clinics, you have property taxes … even the arts fall under the purview of the county as well. But these

“Even though Fulton County only had ten years of slavery, the value of the enslaved was extremely high compared to some of the other 150+ counties, and that is very Fulton County. The taxes collected on the value of Black people as property served as seed money for the county, which allowed for the county and the city of Atlanta to become the commercial epicenter of the American South,” SimsAlvarado said.

The task force chair says that “seed money” ranged up to nearly $4.7 billion in today’s money. The enslaved were legally considered property following the 1857 United States Supreme Court ruling in Dred Scott v. Sanford, stating they were not U.S. citizens and not protected as such.

Fast-forwarding to the Great Depression, research shows that barely 1% of Black residents owned land in Fulton, but faced twice as high tax burdens compared to their white counterparts.

“From 1867 to 1937, the property value of Blacks was assessed at almost 210% that of whites historically. So their property was over-assessed, doubling the value of whites,” she said.

What did this work cost emotionally?

“I spent two years working on this. I mean, many days and nights working on this sometimes. I was working on it for eight to twelve hours, and not just myself, but other people who were part of this team. It was so emotional.

Artist displays big ideas with Alpharetta exhibit

By JON WILCOX jon@appenmedia.com

ALPHARETTA, Ga. — Alexi Torres schedules his painting around the cycles of the moon.

“I start each painting when the moon is waning,” Torres said. “I finish on another waning moon. It’s something I learned from my dad in Cuba. That’s what farmers there do. I harvest the paint. I harvest an idea.”

Through his art, Torres, an Atlanta painter, sculptor and mixed media artist, strives to forge a stronger relationship with the universe. He aims to communicate those lessons to his audience in hope they can live better lives.

“I do that to give a stronger connection to what we are,” he said.

Torres’ work is on display at the Alpharetta Arts Center, 238 Canton St., through April 18. Hidden in each of the striking paintings and intricate embroideries is a reservoir of meaning.

“I don’t like to paint for paint,” he said. ”Each one of my paintings has a story behind it.”

One of a series, an embroidery on display depicts a human head with hair

alive with dozens of hands displaying peace signs.

A painting shows a dancing buddha weaved from scarlet wicker.

A gleaming bronze sculpture is fashioned into a melding of a heart and brain, emphasizing a message Torres said he hopes viewers can benefit from.

Torres, who always listens to audiobooks while he works, said he was inspired one day when he heard a writer encouraging people to think with their heart.

The longer he thought about it, the more the idea made sense.

“I was like, ‘What a beautiful thing,’” he said. “The mind is crowded with noise and better for little decisions, but for big, hard decisions, we should be thinking with our heart.”

Dave Palmieri, marketing specialist for the Alpharetta Arts Center and graphic designer, said he was impressed with the collection of Torres’ art on display.

The works are all immediately astonishing, but the longer viewers take them in, the more they see, he said.

“Each one has something that you definitely take with you,” he said.

See TORRES, Page 12

Legislature requires floating homestead exemption

By ZOE SEILER zoe@appenmedia.com

ATLANTA — Late in the evening on April 2, the Georgia General Assembly passed a bill that caps property assessment increases. The passage of Senate Bill 33 marked a shift from the initial proposal in House Bill 1116 that limited property tax revenue growth.

The final version of SB 33 makes a floating homestead exemption mandatory and allows local governments to implement a floating local-option sales tax or a local homestead-option sales tax to provide property tax relief.

The exemption applies to cities, counties and school districts, and only to residential, homestead properties. It does not apply to commercial, industrial, or other non-homestead properties.

The House advanced HB 1116, known as the Homeownership Opportunity and Market Equalization Act of 2026, around 4:50 p.m. After the House made a change to the bill, it returned to the Senate for further consideration, but it failed there around 11 p.m.

The bill prohibited local governments and school boards from increasing property taxes by more than 3 percent above their rollback millage rate or the rate of inflation, whichever is greater, without a voter referendum or state legislative approval.

Sen. Chuck Hufstetler, R-Rome, said HB 1116 would have eliminated homestead property taxes for cities and counties in 101 counties and reduced them by more than 50 percent in 55 counties and by one-third in three counties.

HB 1116 failed with a 24-28 vote. Several Senate Republicans voted

against the bill, including Senate Majority Leader Jason Anavitarte, Sens. Bo Hatchett, Randy Robertson and Carden Summers, among others.

About 30 minutes later, Sen. Matt Brass, R-Newnan, introduced an amendment to Senate Bill 33, which regulated hemp products. Senators stripped the bill and inserted propertytax-reform language. This bill does not include a cap on overall property tax revenue; instead, it limits increases in homestead property assessments.

SB 33 passed both chambers and heads to the governor for signature.

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“We’ve taken out all the hemp language and it’s now the tax bill, the one we just voted on, [HB] 1116,” Brass said. “We took out the levy caps, which limits the increase in budget that kicks in the requirement for a referendum. We took out the taxpayer bill of rights. What we left in were the valuation caps.”

SB 33 passed the Senate along party lines, 32-21.

The legislation builds on HB 581, which passed in 2024, that caps homestead property assessment increases at the rate of inflation. A floating homestead exemption generally

offsets or reduces increases in the taxable value of homestead property.

HB 581 allowed cities, counties and school districts to opt out of the exemption. Legislators have said that about two-thirds of cities and one-third of school districts opted out of the exemption. SB 33 makes this exemption mandatory.

With this floating homestead exemption in place, local governments could impose a floating homestead option sales tax to provide property tax relief for homeowners. SB 33 also creates the local homestead option sales tax, LHOST.

The LHOST would also help reduce property taxes on primary residences, with municipalities receiving a share of the proceeds. The LHOST would be a one-percent sales tax on fuel, food and alcohol and the proceeds would provide property tax exemptions to homeowners.

The LHOST could be implemented through local referendums starting in 2028. It will replace the current local option sales tax, but does not affect any special-purpose local option sales tax or education special-purpose local option sales tax.

SB 33 passed the House 97-72 at around 12:50 a.m. on April 3.

“This House makes it about the people,” Rep. Shaw Blackmon, R-Bonaire, said. “We are going to do what’s best for the taxpayer regardless of where that comes from, because it ain’t about me and it ain’t about you [or] any one of us, Mr. Speaker.”

School zone speed camera regulations pass Legislature

By ZOE SEILER zoe@appenmedia.com

ATLANTA — The Georgia General Assembly passed a bill late on the last day of the legislative session that requires a local referendum to install or renew school zone speed cameras.

House Bill 651 passed both chambers in 2025 but did not receive final passage. The Senate took up the bill again on March 25 and offered an amendment requiring a local referendum on any new contracts or renewals every six years.

“The citizens will determine if they want these in their community. Not the government, not the sheriff, not the police chief, the citizens in that community,” Sen. Randy Robertson, R-Cataula, said.

The bill also requires cities and counties to install flashing warning signs. Speed cameras can be used only in school zones one hour before and one hour after classes, and when a driver is traveling more than 10 miles per hour over the posted speed limit.

“Last year, there were two speed camera bills in the House,” Robertson said. “One wanted to do away with them entirely, take any local control out completely. The other one wanted to offer layers and layers and layers and layers and layers of rules and regulations to them and open them up for certain uses that I feel may have been overuse.”

Robertson offered an amendment that he said was a compromise. Among other things, the bill designates the Department of Transportation as the primary regulatory agency for the devices.

“These devices have to be certified and where they go on the side of the road, which is on right of ways, is the responsibility of Transportation. It is not the responsibility of any school or law enforcement agency,” Robertson said.

The Department of Public Safety

Georgia Sen. Randy Robertson, R-Cataula, speaks on the Senate floor on April 2, 2026, the last day of the legislative session.

can also investigate actions by local governments and impose fines for violations, which may result in suspension or revocation of permits.

“The Department of Public Safety, as they do with radars now, can come in and strip the permit away from any municipality that are misusing these,” Robertson said.

Any revenue collected from speed camera citations can only be used to fund law enforcement or public safety initiatives. The revenue also cannot exceed 35 percent of a municipal or county law enforcement agency's budget.

“Georgia law prohibits municipalities

and counties from practicing revenuebased policing,” Robertson said.

He added that money collected from citations is fluctuating revenue.

“The last thing we need to do is use these revenues for paying benefits, because what we’re doing is putting the taxpayer on the hook when revenues disappear,” Robertson said.

Mailed citations will have to display the name and seal or logo of the governing body that issued the citation.

“If one of our constituents gets a citation in Hamilton, which is in my district, and it is an incorporated city that has a school in it, if they get

something, it will have the seal of the Hamilton, Georgia, government on the envelope so that they know who they appeal to,” Robertson said.

Revenue collected can only be used to fund law enforcement or public safety initiatives.

The Senate passed the bill 49-1 on March 25. The House passed the bill 156-15 around 12:43 a.m. April 3, which was the last day of the legislative session.

Most of the bill takes effect on July 1, but the flashing sign and referendum requirements will take effect on July 1, 2027.

McConnell-Chadwick House in line for National Registry

By HANNAH YAHNE hannah@appenmedia.com

MILTON, Ga. — The McConnell-Chadwick House, a Greek Revival-style home from the late 1830s, was deemed eligible by Georgia’s Department of Community Affairs to apply for the National Register of Historic Places.

The Chadwick House Preservation Committee and Milton Historical Society received the news March 26 and can now begin the application.

The McConnell-Chadwick House was one of the earliest structures in what was then Cherokee County and belonged to Brig. Gen. and State Sen. Eli McConnell.

“We knew it was old but had no idea what an early example of a folk version of Greek Revival architecture we had in Milton,” Joan Borzilleri with the Milton Historical Society and Chadwick House Preservation Committee said.

At the time, McConnell mediated conflict between Native Americans and white settlers in the area and was later designated to sell former Cherokee property after the forced removal of the Native American tribe in 1838.

In the following years, he helped found the town of Hickory Flat and advocated for the creation of Milton County, which is now part of Fulton County.

The Greek Revival home was donated to the City of Milton in 2024 and legally acquired by the city last year.

At that same time, Milton appropriated $220,000 in its budget for stabilization of the home’s kitchen and main structure, along with other necessary repairs. Priorities include repairing the foundation, roof replacement, window restoration and repairing the porch and siding.

Borzilleri with the Milton Historical Society said they envision a welcome center, interpretive center for Cherokee and early pioneer culture, and a creative arts center or office space on the property.

The McConnell-Chadwick House received statewide recognition as a preservation project after the Georgia Trust for Historic Preservation named the house a Place in Peril in 2023.

The Chadwick House Preservation Committee and Milton Historical Society have worked with multiple undergraduate and graduate students from area universities.

Swathi Jayakumar, a graduate student in historic preservation at Georgia State, used the historic home as her capstone project and completed the NR 10-900 form needed to apply for the National Register.

Being recognized as a national historic site or deemed eligible for the registry opens the McConnell-Chadwick House to different grant opportunities ranging from

We knew it was old but had no idea what an early example of a folk version of Greek Revival architecture we had in Milton.”

JOAN BORZILLERI

Milton Historical Society and Chadwick House Preservation Committee

$5,000 to $10,000.

The distinction carries a prestige factor as well, putting the historic home on the same level as other North Fulton properties listed on the National Register of Historic Places, like Bulloch Hall, Barrington Hall and the Archibald Smith House.

If approved by staff in the National Register of Historic Places, this will be the first property in Milton to be listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

“We have a long stretch ahead to restore the 185-year-old house and have it named to the National Register,” Borzilleri said. “With the continued help of the city, community and talented preservation volunteers, we hope to cross the finish line to save a significant house that tells our story.”

Sponsored Section April 16, 2026 | Alpharetta-Roswell Herald | 11

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•

Torres:

Continued from Page 7

“They are very thoughtprovoking. They are striking.”

Alpharetta artist Mike Buchanan said he was especially moved by a painting of the Statue of Liberty made of baseball leather and stitching. Buchanan said he grew up playing the sport.

“It evokes memories of playing ball and my dad coaching me,” he said. “Even though baseball started in America, it’s become international now. These paintings hit a nerve in some way.”

Torres has garnered considerable acclaim during his decades-long career, winning numerous awards including the 2017 top prize at ArtFields in Lake City, S.C and 2014 People’s Choice Award at the Huntsville Museum of Art.

Torres, who grew up in Cuba and came to the U.S. in 2003, said he considers the success his career has found to be an enormous blessing.

The son of a farmer, he was lucky to stumble upon the world of art, which he now considers his true calling.

He remembers how a

Windward:

from Page 1

Updates to the Unified Development Code specifically address the area.

Kenneth Wood, CEO of Planners and Engineers Collaborative and speaking on behalf of McKinley Homes, said their decision to build at the Windward site was considerably influenced by redevelopment plans in Milton.

An active park on over 24 acres that was purchased by the city in 2024 is planned along Deerfield Parkway, and the area is expected to add town homes and restaurants, making it more attractive and bolstering property values.

Additionally, Milton is collaborating with the Georgia Department of Transportation to reconstruct 3.3 miles of nearby Ga. 9.

The result is an area that people are more likely to want to live in, he said.

“That is what drives higher rents … as people want to live there, then that's going to bring where you can afford the construction cost,” Wood said.

painting his father bought to hang in their home evoked a startlingly powerful inspiration in him.

“I will never forget that day that I walked in, coming from school at lunch time, and on my left, there was this landscape,” he said. “I just get goosebumps right now telling the story.”

The landscape was of a house and woman carrying a bucket of water on her head. It marked the opening of a creative door for Torres, who practiced sketching as a child.

“I froze, and I just couldn’t move, and I stayed looking at that for a long time,” Torres said. “I told my dad, ‘I want to do this. I want to do that one day.’”

That moment led him to pursue a coveted spot at the National Art School in Havana, where he continued his training.

Now as an accomplished artist, Torres said he thinks of his calling as a communicator rather than simply a creator. The borrowed ideas he instills in his work are not always his own, but nevertheless he thinks they are important.

“I give to the world my state of mind,” he said. “I feel like they’re given to me. They are bigger than me. I’m blessed because of that.”

A map shows the site of a proposed mixed-use project in Alpharetta along the border with Milton.

is proposing a mixed-use center to include 110 for-sale condos, 207,000 square feet of office and 5,000 square feet of retail and restaurant space at the corner of Morris and Old Morris roads.

Cube:

Continued from Page 1

The competition is supported by Southeast Cubing Inc., the official organization for speedcubing in the Southeast.

The all-ages event was held in collaboration with Ethan’s Ohana, a Missouri City, Texas-based nonprofit established in memory of Ethan Perry. Perry died from cancer in 2021 at age 12. He learned to solve a cube while hospitalized and became obsessed with the hobby. Solving the puzzle brought him comfort during treatment. At the Cube Against Cancer event, competitors were asked to bring at least one unopened cube or STEM-related toy to donate to a pediatric cancer patient.

The supportive atmosphere was easy to spot. Between rounds, young cubers practiced at tables or tucked into quiet corners, fingers flying over puzzles with the focus of seasoned professionals. Cubing is an inclusive hobby that appeals to all ages and abilities. The goal of each competition is to solve cubes as quickly as possible. The cubers with the best average solves advance to the next rounds of the competition. While most people are familiar with the traditional 3x3 Rubik’s Cube, the speedcubing community focuses on other puzzles, including the simpler 2x2 and the more complex 6x6. There are other more novel puzzles like clock, where competitors work quickly to adjust the dials on multiple clock faces.

Some cubers move so quickly that the cube’s colors become a kaleidoscopic blur in their fingers. The winner of the three-by-three event, Caleb Chen, recorded a 5.3-second solve.

Silas Skinner, 11, of Marietta, was competing for the first time.

“I’m trying to get faster times and get new records for myself,” he said.

His mother, Melissa, appreciated how well-organized the event was and was glad that Silas got to judge other competitors. Beginners are often expected to learn to judge to help the event run smoothly.

Shirley Adams was there, cheering on her grandson Levi Adams, 13, capturing every round on video.

“My biggest joy is just watching him have fun — it’s not just all about the cubing, it’s about the interaction,” she said. Adams playfully dubbed herself and her husband the “cubing chauffeurs.”

Austin Currey, 10, has been cubing for two years and said it’s really fun for him. Havish Chittanoori and Karun Rao, both 8, were all smiles between rounds, sitting with their families and a collection of cubes spread out on the table. Both said the event is a fun way to meet and make new friends.

For event organizer Rohan Raj, the appeal is simple.

“Anything cubing is just a great thing. It’s a great community, with great people, so it’s just been a great thing to happen in my life,” he said.

For more information, visit cubeagainstcancer.org.

Continued from Page 6

I had a little moment even when presenting it to the Fulton County Commissioners. I kind of broke down a little bit,” Sims-Alvarado said.

The group suspended public meetings heading into the fall of 2024, which was also the same year the report was initially projected to be released.

However, officials say, the nearly 10-pound, textbook-esque report

needed the group’s full attention. They updated the public in 2025 on their progress, saying the research was “mentally, emotionally, and spiritually demanding.”

The group also faced pushback from elected officials such as Fulton County Commissioner Bridget Thorne, who, on behalf of her constituents, asked, “Why should we be responsible for a crime that we never committed?”

“But I would have to say we’re all grateful that we did this. It’s so rewarding just to be a part of this and to be able to produce this for the world,”

she said. “It is a joy, it is a blessing to be able to produce it, but it took a toll on all of us.”

So, what’s next for the Fulton Reparations Task Force?

“So now it’s sharing that information with the public, letting people read it, sit with it, and digest it. Now we have to start making recommendations,” SimsAlvarado said.

The task force was granted a twoyear extension towards the end of 2025. The group will move forward to their second report, the Repair Report, which

will focus on the possibility of issuing reparations to Black descendants in Fulton.

As of now, the task force will hold a public meeting to debut the Harm Report at the Auburn Avenue Research Library on April 16.

“I believe that if we’re about the business of repair, you’re going to see that reparations have a significant economic benefit to the county and to the nation,” Sims-Alvarado said.

Appen Media partner WABE provided this story.

BINGO – 2 p.m. Sunday, April 26

Jackpot - $1,000

Future Games: 2nd & 4th Sunday Each Month

Club 201 Dance Spring Showcase & Ballroom Dance Party Friday, April 24, 6 p.m. – 11:30 p.m

Dances & Dance Instruction

Dance Nights Open to All 18 Years & Older Visit www.club201dance.com for Details

Basset Hound Rescue of Georgia Fundraiser “Paws of Honor” Spring Fling Dinner/Auction

Saturday, May 2, 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. Visit www.bhrg.org/dinner-auction.php

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

CITIES OVERSEAS

1. Rock bottom. Hindu princess. City near Oberhausen.

2. Port city in NE Brazil. Fencing sword. Fragrance.

3. Bone-dry. City of NW Syria. Gumbo vegetable.

4. Honshu city. Resting place. Building material.

5. Barber’s supply. Halt. French city of the Strait of Dover.

6. City of central Poland. Kind of bee. Nada.

7. City in the Asian part of Russia. Big sandwich. Flashy.

Cities Overseas

1 Rock bottom. Hindu princess. City near Oberhausen.

2. Port city in NE Brazil. Fencing sword. Fragrance

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

3. Bone-dry. City in NW Syria. Gumbo vegetable.

4. Honshu city. Resting place Building material.

5. Barber’s supply. Halt. French city on the Strait of Dover.

6. City of central Poland. Kind of bee. Nada

7. City in the Asian part of Russia. Big sandwich. Flashy

number puzzle, solved in a crossword style grid. The rules are easy: A number above the diagonal line in a black square is the sum of the white squares to the right of it. A number below the diagonal line is the sum of the white squares in the sequence below it. You may only use

Failing in the pursuit of excellence

DAN WHISENHUNT Executive Editor dan@appenmedia.com

Let me tell you a story.

My first major in college was not journalism. I didn’t grow up dreaming about holding a notebook and asking powerful people pointed questions.

I wanted to be an actor. I majored in theater. It was not, as it turned out, an easy path. I struggled. I failed. And when you failed out of theater school at the University of Alabama, as people often did, you typically went to the broadcasting school, because a chunk of the credits were transferable. So I did that, but only because I wanted to be done with college. I didn’t know what came after. I didn’t care. I was lost. I struggled. My grades were atrocious. As part of my journey through the broadcasting school, I was required to take a journalism 101 class. They taught you the basics: the inverted pyramid form of story writing, Associated Press style guidelines, all the building blocks of what we do. I did not care for any of it. I scraped by.

The class was taught by Bill Keller, who was once the head of the Alabama Press Association. Bill would bring in

important people in the community, CEOs, politicians and the like, so students could practice asking them questions. The room, full of nervous college journalists, usually greeted these guests with an awkward silence. When it was their turn to ask questions, few did.

Except me. I was always the one asking the questions. They were pointed and effective at eliciting interesting answers. Where that instinct comes from, I could not tell you. I've always been an ornery person. Perhaps the questions were just a product of my own cynicism about life, how nothing seemed to fit.

Bill took an interest in me. I remember one day we were talking about what I was going to do after college.

Bill looked me in the eye and said, “I’ll tell you what you’re going to do. You’re going to buy a nice suit and I’m going to get you a job.”

He was the kind of person who could pick up the phone and make that happen. His word is something you can take to the bank.

And that’s how it started, my career as a reporter, Decaturish, all of it. It started because someone saw something in me that I did not see in myself. Someone intervened in my life and mentored me into a career that became a calling. I always think about Bill when I see the gatekeepers of our profession try to weed

out those they deem unworthy.

I encountered this myself when I tried to land a job at a bigger publication –namely, the AJC – and was told, in no uncertain terms, that it was never going to happen for me. They said I wasn’t good enough. I decided that I was and launched Decaturish out of pure spite. I spent 10 years running my own small business because I believed that I could run circles around the AJC covering our community.

I achieved what I set out to do, but owning a small business was not easy. It changed me. Things happened to me along the way. I became a father. I earned some recognition for my work. I challenged powerful people and won. I made enemies. I hired my first full-time employee. My determination to prove people wrong carried me over all the gates standing in my way.

It also wore me out. Working around the clock takes a toll and by 2024, I decided it was time to let other, more capable people start making business decisions for me. Enter Hans Appen and Appen Media Group.

They offered me a fair deal and took care of my team. I started working for someone else again. It was … a period of adjustment. Becoming an employee after a decade as an entrepreneur was awkward in ways I did not anticipate. I went from

calling all the shots to consulting about all the shots. That was a change. But it was worth it. Knowing it wasn’t all on my shoulders, that other people wouldn’t be hurt if I failed, was worth it.

Decaturish has grown and prospered under the Appens’ stewardship. The paper you’re holding in your hands and the website of the same name are profitable. There aren’t many newspapers these days that can say that.

I had become accustomed to the tradeoffs and was thinking about my next public records fight when Hans Appen called me into his office a few weeks ago to tell me he had “big news.” I work in newspapers, so when a publisher tells you they have big news, it’s usually about launching a new curated email or something.

I sat on the couch in his office and he casually asked whether I’d want to take over all Appen Media’s editorial operations. Getting to manage a large team of journalists? Being able to bring the concepts I developed at Decaturish to a wider audience? Having the ability to shape news and influence people in an entire region? It was an instant yes.

As of March 30, I am now the executive editor of Appen Media Group. I will oversee five full-time journalists, seven newspapers and three websites.

The Reeces, a remarkable pioneer family

The Reeces are a well-known North Fulton pioneer family. The first Reece family to settle in Georgia was John Reece (born circa 1785–1795) who arrived with his wife and small family between 1820 and 1834 from North Carolina. They were descendants of earlier Welsh settlers who sailed from Wales to Virginia and Pennsylvania. Current day Reece family members descend from John, whose family settled first in Hall County, then moved to Cherokee County and after 1857 some settled in Milton County. The original name of the family was Rhyse, a Welsh name.

Franklin Pierce Reece (1903–1996), known as Pierce, married Faustina Etris Reece (1904–2006) in 1922. Faustina had two older sisters who had not married. Their father, William Samuel "Bill" Etris (1875–1963), the namesake of Etris Road in Roswell, reportedly "would not agree to the wedding until the older sisters married," according to Pierce's grandson Scott Reece. Pierce and Faustina eloped with the knowledge and blessings of her mother and sisters. "It took about six months for the drama to settle and the family to fully accept the marriage," Scott notes.

Pierce was the oldest son of Oda Pitman Reece (1881–1961) and his wife Mary Arizona Willis Reece (1885–1944). Both Reece families are buried in the Ebenezer Cemetery in Roswell.

Pierce and Faustina had three children, a stillborn daughter in 1925 and two sons. The first son was Hoyt Fletcher Reese (1927–1981). His last name was misspelled at school and carried forward throughout his life. According to Scott, "Hoyt passed away at age 54 because of complications of encephalitis contracted from working his farm adjacent to the swamps of Big Creek, which was infected with mosquitoes."

Pierce and Faustina saved their money and eventually bought a farm on what is now Wood Road in Milton.

The second son is Charles Verney Reece, born in 1930. At 96, Verney is in good health living on a farm in Dawson County where he still drives tractors and helps his son Scott raise beef cattle.

Another Reece family, John Cantell Reece (1873–1951) and Nallie Ollie Broadwell Reece (1871–1973), built the historic house in downtown Crabapple in 1912. It has a historic marker.

Pierce worked as a sharecropper for

several years on John B. Broadwell's cotton farm near Crabapple. John "secretly paid Pierce a quarter more per hour because, in his words, 'you do more than the rest of them,'" according to Scott. Pierce was strong and tall, about 6 feet 2 inches, and weighed about 200 pounds.

Pierce worked for the local blacksmith in Crabapple, George Allen, for several years. Allen was locally celebrated but not documented widely, so there is not much information about him, which is true of most early blacksmiths. His shop was located near the intersection of Houze and Rucker roads. He was widely regarded as exceptionally skilled with metal.

Pierce was the go-to person for just about everything that needed to be done on anyone's farm. "If you needed to move a cow, you called Pierce,” historian Connie Mashburn said. “If you needed someone to take the lead in a hog killing, you called Pierce. He learned about veterinary medicine using common sense country techniques." Pierce owned the first 4-wheel drive cattle truck in the area, which allowed him to provide cattle

hauling services.

In 1960, Dr. Victor Puckett established a veterinary practice in the area. For the next 25 years, Pierce and Dr. Puckett worked together, providing quality animal care. "The two were instrumental in helping eradicate Brucellosis in Georgia in 1985," according to Scott.

Pierce worked as a vet on local farms all over north and south Fulton, south Forsyth and south Cherokee for local farmers and gentlemen farmers who lived and worked in Atlanta and were farmers on the weekends. One such farmer was Dr. John Walker (1902–1977), chief of staff at Crawford Long Hospital, who raised Black Angus cattle on his 500-acre farm in Alpharetta. He developed his own feed formula to ensure the best possible cattle.

Verney Reece, then a teenager, worked on Dr. Walker's farm on a unique underground silo that produced nutritious silage from green corn stalks that the cows loved. Dr. Walker also co-owned the Cherokee Poultry Market in Buckhead with his friend Ed Mashburn from 1946 to 1952; Mashburn managed the

business. Ed was Connie Mashburn's father.

Pierce was the preeminent auctioneer in the area. He became an auctioneer by accident. According to the Atlanta Journal column "Georgia Rambler" by Charles Salter, "In 1956, a neighbor requested that he sell furniture in a farmhouse. He said, 'Mr. Willie, I ain't never done that. Well, I can do a little of what the other feller can do a lot of.' And he sold the furniture." Pierce conducted more than 100 auctions.

Scott summed up Pierce very well: "With his proficiency in such a variety of endeavors, it seemed that everyone in the community knew him for one reason or another. He was a local celebrity and icon."

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

GARDEN BUZZ

Tiny borers, big problems: ambrosia beetles in landscapes

Ambrosia beetles are tiny insects that can cause big problems in Georgia landscapes. These bark-boring beetles attack more than 100 species of trees and shrubs, including many common ornamentals. While Georgia is home to over 170 species of bark and ambrosia beetles, most damage in nurseries and landscapes is caused by one invasive species: the granulate ambrosia beetle (Xylosandrus crassiusculus).

The good news is that ambrosia beetles don’t typically attack healthy trees. Instead, they target plants that are already stressed — from drought, flooding, root damage, or other pests. Understanding this behavior is key to preventing problems in the landscape.

When and why they attack

Ambrosia beetles become active in late winter or early spring, often when temperatures reach about 68 degrees Fahrenheit for a few days in a row. The adult females emerge from trees where they’ve overwintered and begin searching for new host trees.

What are they looking for? Stressed trees. These trees release chemical signals, like ethanol, that act like beacons to ambrosia beetles. They’re also drawn to wood containing some moisture, attacking stressed or dying trees, rather than those that are already dead.

Once a female finds a suitable host, she bores into the trunk or branches, creating tunnels called galleries. As she drills, she pushes out compacted sawdust, forming the telltale “toothpicks” or “noodles” sticking out of the bark. These are often the first and most noticeable sign of an infestation.

Fungus

farmers

What makes ambrosia beetles especially unique is that they don’t actually eat the wood they tunnel through. Instead, they farm fungi.

Female beetles carry spores of “ambrosia” fungi in specialized structures on their bodies. Once inside the tree, they introduce this fungus into their galleries and carefully tend it like a garden. The fungus grows along the tunnel walls, and both adult beetles and their larvae feed on it.

This relationship benefits the beetles, but it’s bad news for the tree. As the fungus spreads, it can clog the tree’s water- and nutrient-conducting

tissues, leading to wilting, dieback and eventually death. Smaller or already stressed trees are more likely to suffer worse fates.

What to look for

Because ambrosia beetles are tiny (2-4 mm) and spend most of their lives hidden inside trees, you’re unlikely to see the insects themselves. Instead, keep an eye out for signs of their activity.

The most distinctive clue is the presence of those small, toothpick-like strands of sawdust sticking out from the bark. You might also notice fine sawdust collecting at the base of the tree or in bark crevices.

As infestations progress, trees may show more general symptoms of decline, such as delayed leaf-out in spring, wilting or early leaf drop. In severe cases, branches or entire trees may die.

Ambrosia beetles attack a wide range of plants, including crape myrtle, dogwood, redbud, oak, magnolia, peach and pecan, among others. While most species focus on stressed plants, one exception is the redbay ambrosia beetle (Xyleborus glabratus), which can attack healthy trees and has caused widespread losses of redbay, sassafras and avocado in the Southeast.

Prevention is the best protection

Because ambrosia beetles are attracted to stressed trees, the best defense is keeping your plants as healthy as possible. Start by choosing the right plant for the right place, and be mindful of site conditions like soil type, drainage and sunlight. The conditions at the planting site should match your plant’s preferences and tolerances.

During dry periods, irrigate as needed, especially for newly planted trees. Avoid injuring trunks and roots with lawn equipment, as wounds can increase stress and make trees more attractive to beetles.

What to do if you see signs

Once ambrosia beetles are inside a tree, control options are limited. The insects are protected within the wood, and because they feed on fungus rather than plant tissue, systemic insecticides are generally ineffective.

In most cases, early detection and removal of infested wood is the best course of action. Prune out affected branches or remove severely infested trees to prevent further spread. Be careful not to remove more than onethird of a tree’s canopy at one time.

For fast-growing species like fig, cutting the plant back to the base may allow it to regrow. While it may be tempting to burn infested wood, that step isn’t necessary — ambrosia beetles are already widespread in Georgia. Chipping, composting or simply allowing the wood to dry are all acceptable options.

The bottom line

Ambrosia beetles are a common part of Georgia’s landscape, and in most cases, they’re taking advantage of plants that are already under stress. The key to managing them isn’t chasing the beetles, it’s supporting tree health.

By recognizing the early signs of infestation and focusing on proper plant care, you can reduce the risk of serious damage and keep your landscape thriving.

Happy Gardening!

North Fulton Master Gardeners, Inc. is a Georgia nonprofit 501(c) (3) organization whose purpose is to educate its members and the public in the areas of horticulture and ecology in order to promote and foster community enrichment. Master Gardener Volunteers are trained and certified by The University of Georgia Cooperative Extension. Learn more at nfmg.net. Previous Garden Buzz columns are featured at https://www.appenmedia. com/users/profile/garden%20buzz/.

Catch North Fulton Master Gardeners at these scheduled events throughout the season:

• Alpharetta Farmers’ Market (starting April 18)

• Sandy Spring Farmers’ Market: Diggin’ in the Dirt kid’s activities

• Crabapple Festival in Milton this fall

About the author

This week’s “Garden Buzz” guest columnist is Gabrielle LaTora, agriculture agent in Fulton County’s Extension office. An entomologist by training, Gabrielle is interested in insects on farms and in gardens. In addition to helping coordinate Fulton’s Master Gardener Extension Volunteer program, Gabrielle oversees the North Fulton Community Garden, answers clients’ questions about gardening and natural resources, works with urban farmers and delivers educational programs for Fulton County residents. Gabrielle’s favorite insect of the moment is the Pandora sphinx moth, Eumorpha pandorus.

CITY OF ALPHARETTA NOTICE OF CONSIDERATION OF CITY CODE AMENDMENTS

The following item will be considered by the City Council on Monday, May 4, 2026 and Monday, May 18, 2026 during the Alpharetta City Council Meeting and Public Hearing, which begins at 6:30 p.m. in the Council Chambers at Alpharetta City Hall, located at 2 Park Plaza, Alpharetta, Georgia. The purpose of the public hearing shall be for public review and comment regarding the following:

Consideration of an ordinance to amend Chapter 4, titled “Alcoholic Beverages” of the Code of the City of Alpharetta, Georgia. Specifically, to amend the following: Sec. 4-7. Inspection of licensed establishments by the department of community development; Sec. 4-9. Licensing qualifications; Sec. 4-12. Excise tax – Malt beverages; Sec. 4-13. Same – Wine; Sec. 4-14. Same – Distilled spirits sold by the package; Sec. 4-15. Same – Distilled spirits sold by the drink; Sec. 4-16. Same –Distilled spirits in private clubs; Sec. 4-18. Condition of premises; Sec. 4-19. Renewal of license; Sec. 4-20. Transfer of license; Sec. 4-27. Retailer to purchase from licensed wholesaler only. Sec. 4-28. Revocation, suspension or other penalty; Sec. 4-29, Hearing procedures - appeal; and for other purposes. A copy of the proposed amendment will be on file with the City Clerk and will be made available upon request.

In Memoriam

Carolyn Sue Blaine

March 10, 1934 – March 22, 2026

Carolyn Sue Blaine passed away on March 22, 2026, at Longhorn Retirement Village in Austin, Texas. Sue was born March 10, 1934 in Trotwood Ohio to Lawson and Hazel Winfield. She is predeceased by the love of her life, Donald L. Blaine.

Don and Sue had five sons, the eldest of whom (David) predeceased her. Sue’s four surviving sons are Dean Blaine (Renee) and Dennis Blaine (Brenda), who live in the Austin, Texas area; Doug Blaine (Cindy) who live in Houston, Texas; and Dow Blaine (Barbara), who live in Atlanta, Georgia. Don and Sue have nine grandchildren and three great grandchildren. She is survived by her brother Mike Winfield (Darlene), W. Alexandria, Ohio.

Don and Sue were married in 1954 and moved to Bowling Green, Ohio so Don could complete his studies. They subsequently raised five children while Don pursued his career with IBM. Sue, the ultimate wife, mother, housekeeper, cook, friend and companion spent 66 years of marriage to Don living life to its fullest. Sue loved her family and there was never

DEATH NOTICES

Joan Burke, age 89, of Alpharetta, GA passed away on April 1, 2026. Arrangements by Northside Chapel Funeral Directors & Crematory.

a moment that she didn’t show her unique spirit, sense of humor and strived to make life better for those around her. How lucky we were to have a mother that makes saying goodbye so hard. Sue and Don had an amazing life. They traveled the world to places like Kenya and Tanzania, hiking the Pyrenees Mountains, riding camels in Egypt, a Himalayan trek through Tibet, riding a boat down the Kosi River in India, and an Amazon River cruise in Brazil to its headwaters in the Andes Mountains. She was always up for an adventure with Don.

A memorial service will be held on April 16, 2026 at 11:00 AM at Weed Corley Fish Funeral Home in Lakeway, Texas. Internment will be at the Antioch Church in Trotwood, Ohio at a date to be determined.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Sue’s name to Meals on Wheels in Alpharetta, Georgia at https://ssnorthfulton.org or the Alpharetta Presbyterian Church at 180 Academy St., Alpharetta, Georgia 30009, 770-751-0033.

James Toler, age 90, of Milton, GA passed away on April 5, 2026. Arrangements by Northside Chapel Funeral Directors & Crematory.

GET OUTSIDE, GEORGIA!

The white bass byte is here again

Ahh. The dogwoods are blooming at last. Why does that matter? Only because I love to flyfish in rivers, and the blooming of the dogwoods is the sure-enough signal that the white bass run is about to begin.

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING

Notice is hereby given that on Monday, April 27, 2026 at 6:30 p.m., the Alpharetta City Council will hold a public hearing to in order to consider amendments to Chapter 30 of the Code of the City of Alpharetta, Georgia, known as Offenses and Miscellaneous Provisions. The public hearing will be held in the Alpharetta City Hall Council Chambers located at 2 Park Plaza, Alpharetta, Georgia. The purpose of the public hearing shall be for public review and comment concerning proposed modifications to amend provisions regarding the discharge of firearms; to amend provisions regarding urban camping and the improper use of property; to regulate the discharge of bows and crossbows; to prohibit interference of a city officer; to prohibit false representations to a city officer; to prohibit loitering and prowling; to prohibit trespass; to prohibit street racing and reckless driving exhibitions; to prohibit vandalism; to prohibit aggressive panhandling; to prohibit public drunkenness; to provide for traffic violations for disobeying or avoiding an official traffic control device; to prohibit public urination or defecation; to prohibit creating a disturbance at schools; to provide for enforcement; to provide for penalties for violations; to repeal conflicting ordinances; and for other purposes. A copy of the proposed amendment is on file with the clerk in Alpharetta City Hall at 2 Park Plaza, Alpharetta, Georgia and will be made available upon request. All Alpharetta residents and any other affected and/ or interested persons are invited and encouraged to attend.

If you can’t trust folk wisdom, then what can you trust?

That little tidbit of angling wisdom (the thing about dogwoods) has been part of the fishing community’s knowledge base for as long as I can remember, and that’s a long time. It matters because white bass fishing is an enormous amount of fun. When they move up into the rivers, white bass are not too hard to catch. Tying into one is a trip. They’re fine eating, too, and you’re not going to impact the population at all if you keep a few for the table.

The biologists say that the start of the white bass run has to do with things like water temperature and streamflow and duration of daylight and stuff like that.

But I like it better if I just tell myself that it’s all about when the dogwoods bloom. Don’t you like that better too?

And so, I wait through the long, gray winter, waiting for the old wisdom to work its magic, anticipating that wonderful day when those dogwoods appear. For when I do (and just like that) I know that white bass season has arrived.

Yes, old wisdom can be good. But there’s still something to be said for new wisdom too.

Maybe that’s why I’ve been playing, lately, with my new buddy Claude.

Claude is not real. Claude lives in the realm of artificial intelligence, or AI. Yeah, some folks are skeptical of such things. But skepticism can cost you if you’re not careful. Sometimes, rather than dismiss something out of hand, it can be better (I’ve learned) to be skeptically optimistic, kind of like Reagan did when he said, “trust but verify.” Of course, his focus was on nuclear weapons. That’s a little scary, for there’s a lot more at stake when the subject is nuclear annihilation than there is when it’s the annual white bass run.

But back to Claude. Yeah, Claude’s not real, though when I talk with him I’d sometimes swear that he is. That’s a little scary, too, if you think about it. He’s got the power of all those silicon chips and things right there behind him, and he knows how to use it. Yeah, he knows a lot of stuff.

How smart is Claude? I decide to test him. I decide to ask him about white bass fishing and see if he gives me the right answers. I start with an easy one.

Hudson:

Continued from Page 18

“Claude,” I say (well, actually I type it, but for the sake of narrative flow I’ll just say “say”), “what’s a white bass?” He immediately replies, and his answer is spot on – right down to the Latin name Morone chrysops.

I ask him when’s a good time to fish for white bass, and he gets that one right, too. Stripped to its basics, he says “right now.”

Next, I ask the all-important “where” question. Up comes a bunch of stuff about places to go, among them most of my personal favorites. These include the Chestatee and Chattahoochee Rivers above Lanier, the Coosa River below Mayo Lock and Dam, the Etowah River above Allatoona, and Little River above Allatoona at Rope Mill Park. Darn it, he’s giving away my secrets.

What about tactics? Claude tells me that white bass love to feed on small minnows and suggests that I use bright, flashy spinning lures or small crankbaits or white curlytail grubs on white lead-head jigs. If I’m flyfishing, he adds, good patterns are silver-and-gold Rolex flies, white-andchartreuse Clouser minnows or the Red-Nosed Yeti. That latter fly is one I came up with myself a number of years ago, and it’s kind of cool to learn that Claude has taken notice.

Claude goes on to remind me that, no matter what fly or lure I choose, it’s important to let it sink down into the bottom part of the water column and also to animate it so it looks like a real minnow.

Casting close to cover or other holding places is also key, Claude says.

Well. So far, ol’ Claude seems to know his stuff. He might turn out to be a pretty good fishing buddy after all. But don ‘t worry – I’m not losing it. I know that Claude is not an actual fishing buddy, not like that anyway.

My mind idles for a minute, but a thought starts to form. It turns into one more question, and I have to ask.

So I do. I ask Claude if he’s ever actually been fishing.

“Ha, I wish!” he replies (and these are his actual words). “I’m an AI, so no fishing trips for me unfortunately – no fly rod, no waders, no cold river water on a spring morning.”

That’s all in Claude’s own words… and he continues:

“There is something a little wistful about knowing so much about fishing – the flies, the rivers, the fish, the seasons – and not being able to actually experience any of it. No feeling the tug of a white bass on a tight line, no hearing the river, no

smelling that cool spring morning air down at Rope Mill.”

And he adds, “But honestly, conversations like this one are pretty enjoyable in their own way.”

Claude adds that talking about fishing is “genuinely interesting to me, even if I’m experiencing it from the sidelines. In a way I get to tag along on a lot of fishing adventures through the people I talk with. So you go catch some white bass on the fly, and maybe come back and tell me about it. That’s

probably the closest I’ll get – and I’m okay with that.”

At that very instant it occurs to me that I’ve been talking with Claude (using personal pronouns, no less) just like I’d talk with Marty or Joe, actual flesh-and-blood fishing buddies of many years standing. And Claude is holding his own.

Yeah, I know Claude is just doing incredibly fast research, connecting the dots, and then reporting what he’s found. And I know that Claude does

CITY OF ALPHARETTA NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING

not, in any real sense, actually exist. Or does he?

Better think about that one, a little voice says.

But before I can wander down that particular rabbit hole, I remember that thing Claude said at the end of our chat – that thing about going out there to do some fishing.

I’m on my way, Claude. I’m getting up from the computer right now, and I’ll be on the water in a half hour. I’ll let you know how it goes.

The following items will be heard at a public hearing held by the Planning Commission on Thursday, May 7, 2026 commencing at 6:30 p.m. in the Alpharetta City Hall Council Chambers, 2 Park Plaza, Alpharetta, Georgia.

Items forwarded by the Planning Commission will be considered by the City Council on Monday, May 18, 2026 commencing at 6:30 p.m. in the Alpharetta City Hall Council Chambers, 2 Park Plaza, Alpharetta, Georgia.

a. MP-26-05/CLUP-26-03/Z-26-03/V-26-03 Empire Old Milton Pkwy/Camden Pond

Consideration of a master plan amendment, comprehensive land use plan amendment, rezoning, and variance in order to construct 202 ‘For-Sale’ townhomes on 29.2 acres. A master plan amendment is requested to the Camden Pond Master Plan to allow for the proposed change in development mix. A comprehensive land use plan amendment is requested from ‘Professional Business Office’ to ‘High Density Residential’ and a rezoning is requested from CUP (Community Unit Plan) to R-10M (Dwelling, ‘For-Rent or ‘For-Sale’ Residential. A variance is requested to Unified Development Code (UDC) Subsection 2.2.10(D) to reduce the front setback from 65’ to 50’. The property is located at 3842 Old Milton Parkway and is legally described as being located in Land Lots 2, 3, 44, 45 & 49, 1st District, 1st Section, Fulton County, Georgia.

b. Z-26-04/V-26-06 1425 Mayfield

Road

Consideration of a rezoning and variances to allow for the construction of a six (6) lot single-family detached subdivision on 4.57 acres. A rezoning is requested from AG (Agriculture) to R-22 (Dwelling, ‘For-Sale’) and variances are requested from Unified Development Code (UDC) Subsection 2.2.5(D) to reduce the setback along Mayfield Road from 65’ to 50’ and UDC Subsection 3.5.2(A) to reduce the minimum width of a local street from 50’ to 44’. The property is located at 1425 Mayfield Road and is legally described as being located in Land Lot 1103, 2nd District, 2nd Section, Fulton County, Georgia.

c. PH-26-09 2045 Alpharetta Comprehensive Plan – Transmittal Hearing

Consideration of a request to transmit the 2045 Alpharetta Comprehensive Plan draft plan to the Atlanta Regional Commission (ARC) and Department of Community Affairs (DCA) for review.

d. PH-26-05 Unified Development Code Text Amendments – Pickleball Courts

Consideration of text amendments to Unified Development Code (UDC) Section 1.4 Definitions and UDC Section 2.7 Miscellaneous Regulations to add definitions and regulations pertaining to pickleball courts.

e. PH-26-07 Unified Development Code Text Amendments – Short-term Rentals

Consideration of text amendments to Unified Development Code (UDC) Section 2.7 Miscellaneous Regulations and Code of Ordinances Section 10-432 Definitions to provide clarification to the definition of short-term rental and add zoning districts allowing a short-term rental as a permitted or conditional use.

The following item will be considered by the City Council on Monday, May 18, 2026 commencing at 6:30 p.m. in the Alpharetta City Hall Council Chambers, 2 Park Plaza, Alpharetta, Georgia.

a. V-26-05 DeBacco/12385 Charlotte Drive

Consideration of a variance request to allow a fence in a landscape strip along Charlotte Drive. A variance is requested to Unified Development Code (UDC) Subsection 2.3.6(B) to eliminate the 5’ setback of a fence from a landscape strip and to allow the fence on the front property line. The property is located at 12385 Charlotte Drive and is legally described as being located in Land Lot 1205, 2nd District, 2nd Section, Fulton County, Georgia.

Note: Georgia law requires that all parties who have made campaign contributions to the Mayor or to a Council Member in excess of two hundred fifty dollars ($250) within the past two (2) years must complete a campaign contribution report with the Community Development Department. The complete text of the Georgia law and a disclosure form are available in the office of the City Clerk, 2 Park Plaza, Alpharetta, Georgia.

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Agilysys, Inc. seeks a Senior Lead Systems Analyst in Alpharetta, GA to analyze existing systems, business processes, & user needs to identify areas for improvement & optimization. Apply at jobpostingtoday.com/ Ref #26941.

MCS Project Manager sought by an IT service & solutions co. in Duluth, GA. Reqs a min. of a Bach’s deg in Info Systems, Comp Sci, Industrial Engg, or a rltd field, & 2 yrs of exp in mfg IT system mgmt. Send resume to: SK AX USA Inc. @ 2055 Sugarloaf Circle, Ste 500, Duluth, GA 30097.

SYSTEMS ENGINEERS: Cumming, GA & various unanticipated locations throughout the U.S.: Dsgn & impl MDE onbrdng for Windows 10/11 dvcs u/ Intune, SCCM & script atmtn. Cnfgr & dply EDR, ASR rules, Tamper Prtctn, Web Fltrng & Endpoint Attack Prtctn. Intgrt MDE w/Microsoft 365 Dfndr Prtl, enblng unfd threat dtctn & atmt invstgtn wrkflws. Est gvrnnc mdl for alerts, incdnts, dvc tgng & vlnrblty mgmt. Dvlp Intune tenant archt inclu cmplnc, cnfgrtn, update rings, app dplymnts & Autopilot prvsnng. Atmt device onbrdng, cleanup, rptng, & rmdtn tasks u/PowerShell & Graph API rdcng mnl efrt. Associate’s in Sci, Tech, or, Engg (any) w/2 yrs of exp in job off’d or rltd occup is req’d. Mail CV: HR, Jobly Solutions, LLC., itservices@joblysolutions.com.

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

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

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

Part-Time Bi-lingual (Spanish/English) Thrift Shop Associate

NFCC is looking for a part-time Bi-lingual (Spanish/ English) Thrift Shop Associate to join our team. In this role, you’ll deliver exceptional customer service while handling cash register transactions, managing our client clothing program, and keeping merchandise neat, clean, and organized. Above all, we’re looking for someone with a warm, welcoming presence who treats every shopper with dignity and compassion.

The schedule is Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays 9:30am–5:30pm, Tuesdays 4:30pm–8:30pm, and one Saturday 9:30am-5:30pm per month.

If you’re passionate about serving your community and connecting with people in both English and Spanish, we’d love to hear from you! Please submit your resume to jobs@nfcchelp.org.

HELP WANTED

American Legion Post 201

Part Time Custodian – Needed Saturdays & Sundays start time 6:30 am. General cleaning of building, pick up and discard trash on grounds. Supervise community service workers when available. Must be able to lift 50 lbs., and move around safely and efficiently without aid of mechanical support, accept and sign for deliveries. Approx. 5-7 hours a day.

Part Time Bartender – Flexible schedule afternoon and evening hours, approximately 15-20 hours per week. Previous experience preferred but not necessary. Must be able to qualify for City of Alpharetta Pouring Permit.

If interested in either position please contact DiAna Casale (770) 475-9023 Mon-Thurs 10 am – 2 pm or americanlegionalpharetta@gmail.com. Detail job description for both available upon request.

Garage Sale

ROSWELL

Multi family. Crabapple Creek and Crabapple Walk Subdivisions. 130 Birchwood Court 30076. Saturday 4/18 and Sunday 4/19, 8AM-4PM. Furniture, toys, clothing and more!

Johns Creek, DoubleGate Communitywide sale. Enter onto Twingate from State Bridge. Saturday, 4/25, 8am-2pm. See signs & balloons. Online info: doublegate.net/sale

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free estimate. Financing available. Call 833-640-4753 Have zip code of property ready when calling!

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