Alpharetta-Roswell Herald - October 30, 2025

North Forsyth tops Alpharetta in Friday battle of the Raiders

By ANNABELLE REITER annabelle@appenmedia.com

FORSYTH COUNTY, Ga. — After scoring the first touchdown of the game, Alpharetta was shut out in the second half by North Forsyth High Oct. 24, unable to recoup the 28-7 final deficit.

North Forsyth celebrated their

homecoming by exploding for three touchdowns in the fourth quarter after nearly two full quarters of a tied game at seven points apiece.

Alpharetta’s defense couldn’t hold up and the young offense couldn’t keep up, with many players working nonstop on both sides of the ball.

See RAIDERS, Page 13

Residents talk school board tax reprieves

By JON WILCOX jon@appenmedia.com

JOHNS CREEK, Ga. — An education tax break for seniors on this election’s ballots became a focal point for constituents during a Fulton County commissioner’s town hall meeting Oct. 21.

About 50 North Metro Atlanta residents attended the meeting at Ocee Library to visit with District 1 Commissioner Bridget Thorne, state Rep. Scott Hilton and other officials. The meeting covered a variety of topics from youth endeavors to the county’s downtown jail, but much of the discussion centered around public school taxes.

Voters will consider two questions about ad valorem tax breaks on the November ballot. The items ask whether voters support a new 50 percent and 25 percent homestead exemption from Fulton County school system for residents ages 70 and 65 and older.

Thorne said numerous residents at the meeting asked why Fulton County lacks a full tax break for education taxes.

“A lot of people wanted to know why we didn’t have a full tax break,” Thorne said. “Surrounding counties have a full tax break, and why can’t Fulton have a full tax break?”

See THORNE, Page 13

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Bicycle reported stolen from apartment

ALPHARETTA, Ga. — A $2,500 bicycle was reported stolen from an apartment complex Oct. 12.

Alpharetta police said officers were dispatched to the Thompson Street apartments about 5:30 p.m.

A woman told officers her bike was stolen from a rack at the apartment’s parking garage. She said she suspected the theft occurred Oct. 11.

The woman provided a surveillance video recording to police.

The incident was classified as a felony theft by taking greater than $1,500.

— Jon Wilcox

After car break-in, resident reports credit card fraud

ROSWELL, Ga. — A 34-year-old Roswell woman said someone rung up her credit cards for $1,500 after her vehicle was broken into Oct. 20 at Roswell Area Park off Woodstock Road.

The victim said she parked her Kia Telluride at an activity building within the park before taking her children inside. She said she received a fraud alert on her phone, warning that her debit card was being used at the Mansell Road Walmart.

When she returned to her vehicle, the Roswell woman said she found her pink Kate Spade wallet missing from the console of her unlocked vehicle.

An officer, who spoke with the victim on the phone, said the wallet contained a Chase Bank debit card, two Visa credit cards and her driver’s license.

The Roswell woman said her Capitol One card was charged $1,000 and her United Airlines card was charged $500,

adding that the debit card declined.

The officer said the victim told him she canceled the stolen cards and thinks the fraudulent charges will be reversed.

— Hayden Sumlin

Police investigate alleged fraudulent vehicle purchase

ALPHARETTA, Ga. — A fraudulent purchase of a vehicle was reported by a Ford dealership Oct. 7.

Alpharetta police said officers were dispatched to the Mansell Road dealership about 11:20 a.m.

A loss prevention officer told police a 30-year-old Atlanta man purchased a 2022 Ford Explorer with a bad check in February.

Ford employees realized two months later the man’s bank account reportedly lacked funds.

The dealership was unable to locate and repossess the vehicle.

Police then located the vehicle in South Carolina where it had been sold. The Atlantwa man allegedly was in possession of the vehicle’s title.

The incident was classified as a felony theft by conversion. — Jon Wilcox

Police investigate battery after men left unconscious

ROSWELL, Ga. — Roswell Police are investigating an aggravated battery after an unidentified suspect knocked out two men Oct. 17 at a bar off Atlanta Street.

Officers said the victims, a 27-year-old Roswell man and a 29-year-old Texas man, were left unconscious for a few minutes after the altercation.

Later, they were transported to Wellstar North Fulton Medical Center for treatment of their head injuries.

Multiple witnesses on scene, including the restaurant manager, told officers that the two men were left unconscious on top of one another outside in the parking lot.

A 25-year-old Sandy Springs man

THE PICTURE FRAMER

working next door said he heard a loud thud on a window. He said both men were unconscious for several minutes.

A 35-year-old Marietta man said he saw the suspect, a 5-foot-10-inch man of unknown ethnic origin with a stocky build, knock out each victim with a single blow to the head, one after the other.

After reviewing security footage, an officer said he confirmed the witnesses’ account of the aggravated battery but did not have enough evidence to bring any charges.

One of the witnesses mentioned a possible suspect, and officers said they instructed him to come by headquarters to see if he matches the suspect in the restaurant’s security footage.

—

Hayden Sumlin

Roswell neighbors report three attempted car thefts

ROSWELL, Ga. — Roswell Police are investigating the attempted theft of three Kia vehicles, which were locked and damaged, from Riverwood Lane Oct. 15.

An officer said he met with the one of the victims, a 31-year-old Cumming woman, who had the driver’s side window shattered on her Kia Optima.

The Cumming woman said she last saw the vehicle in good condition around 6 p.m. Oct. 14 and found it damaged at 7:10 a.m. Oct. 15. She said it appeared that someone tried to hotwire her vehicle, causing it to be inoperable with damages totaling $2,200.

While on scene, the officer said two additional Kia owners in the neighborhood approached him about damage to their vehicles from attempted break-ins.

The additional victims, two Roswell men in their late 30s, told the officer they were getting a quote for the repairs.

The case remains active as of Oct. 21.

— Hayden Sumlin

Alpharetta greenlights new Alpha Loop section, marks progress

By JON WILCOX jon@appenmedia.com

ALPHARETTA, Ga. — One of the Alpha Loop’s hidden gems is on track to be connected with the rest of the citywide trail network.

At its Oct. 20 meeting, the Alpharetta City Council discussed a short Alpha Loop connection at Lakeview and Morrison parkways as progress on the trail continues past the halfway mark. The connector will bridge a gap between a lake and the nearby Gathering mixed-use center, which remains in development.

Council members unanimously approved an agreement with the True North 400 tax district to build the connector.

Valerie Henderson, an Alpharetta resident who was walking by the lake Oct. 24 with her three dogs Winston, Basil and Hudson, said the area is one of her favorites.

Surrounded by woods, the lake is home to deer, carp, herons and otters. It offers about half a mile of trail, wood bridges and overlooks.

“This is just like a little piece of heaven,” she said.

Henderson said the Alpha Loop and the section by the lake provide her and her husband a much-needed escape. Henderson, who frequents other sections of the Alpha Loop, said the section by the lake is her favorite.

“Me and my husband are big outdoors people, and so getting to have this like so close to home is just cool,” she said. “You can't get that everywhere.”

She said she looks forward to sharing the section with others when the connector is completed.

Yolanda Williams, who also was walking by the lake, agreed.

Williams, an Alpharetta resident of 15 years, said the Alpha Loop is one of the city’s best endeavors. The relaxation and exercise she gets from regularly walking the trail are paramount to her routine, she said.

“Peace of mind is everything,” she said.

The city will contribute as much as $300,000 to the connector project’s $750,000 cost. True North is contributing all funds for its design, including the expansion.

To date, 6.7 miles of the path have been completed with 4.7 miles in various stages of development.

Work remains, but the trail’s success and importance are becoming increasingly apparent, Councilman

John Hipes said.

“It’s the most transformative thing in Alpharetta,” said Hipes, who recently walked the loop. “Seeing other people and residents taking advantage of the Alpha Loop …, just 10 years ago those would have been unicorns out walking around, and now it’s sometimes heavily trafficked.”

Planning for the Alpha Loop began in 2016 with the first section completed in 2020. The project aims to connect various parts of the city and some of its most popular destinations, including Avalon, the Big Creek Greenway, downtown, City Center, North Point Mall and the upcoming Gathering mixed-use center.

City officials have said they envision the path as a crucial part of making Alpharetta a healthy and walkable community.

Council members thanked partner organizations such as the Alpha Loop Foundation, which has coordinated fundraising and public outreach.

Formed about four years ago, the Alpha Loop Foundation coordinates fundraising for the trail, including improvement projects that include signage, public art, lighting and other amenities.

Currently, an artist is painting a mural on a bridge near Rainwater Drive. The foundation also expects three sculptures to be installed by the end of the year.

Earlier this year, the foundation celebrated the addition of two other bridge murals.

Councilman Doug DeRito thanked the organization, saying the work is an enormous benefit to all residents.

“I’m in awe of the progress of the foundation and what you have done to enhance the Alpha Loop and will continue to enhance with people like yourself volunteering, really helping our city grow,” DeRito said.

Alpharetta’s new smart lights would offer Wifi, data collection

By JON WILCOX jon@appenmedia.com

ALPHARETTA, Ga. — Intelligent street lights could make Alpharetta safer and more prosperous, city officials say.

At its Oct. 27 meeting, the Alpharetta City Council approved a $27,820 contract with Comcast Cable Communications for a Juganu smart lighting pilot program. Funding is provided through the city’s Transportation Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax.

The city will at first install only two of the lights to allow council members to decide whether the rest should be equipped. The technology will be installed in existing street lamps downtown along Georgia 9 from Academy Street to Old Milton Parkway.

The plan, which will serve as a pilot with the potential for expansion, calls for 17 smart lights, 35 traditional lights and two centralized access points.

City Administrator Chris Lagerbloom said the technology could provide benefits to Alpharetta from making the area more enjoyable to aiding economic and city development.

The lights’ brightness is fully programmable, meeting the city’s initial desire for a brighter downtown. Their color also is controllable to the extent

CITY OF ALPHARETTA/PROVIDED Juganu street lights will be installed in downtown Alpharetta after the City Council approved a pilot program Oct. 27.

that the area could be lit a festive green for St. Patrick’s Day if so desired.

The technology also will provide WiFi access to visitors strolling the area, although some questions remain about whether that might cause some to camp downtown, Lagerbloom said.

Lagerbloom said he is particularly excited about demographic collection and analysis capabilities. For example, cameras could capture video in the Town Green and other areas, providing real metrics for how many visitors make use of city attractions at certain events and times.

“We could use it for economic development and recruiting to the downtown,” Lagerbloom said, adding, “It would be nice to have real data.”

That capability has its roots in technology that was initially created to monitor supermarket aisles, Lagerbloom said. The lights’ creator, Juganu, which was incubated at Peachtree Corners’ Curiosity Lab, has since adapted it for municipal applications.

The smart lights also could provide a host of public safety benefits from gunshot and smoke identification to assistance in apprehending suspects, Police Chief Trent Lindgren said.

The city’s staff report for the program says it also, “can identify distress signals, pinpoint suspicious activity, provide people density heatmap and produce real-time video streams.”

Alpharetta began seeking better lighting and security camera solutions after the 2024 fatal shooting of Alpharetta resident Justin Mourning. Detectives arrested the suspect, Jaden Lewis, on murder and aggravated assault charges the day after Mourning was found shot near Ga. 9 and Milton Avenue.

The city’s security cameras failed to capture the shooting because the area was too dark, forcing police to rely on a driver’s dashcam, Lagerbloom said.

That dash camera and cityrun security cameras are powerful crime-fighting tools, allowing police to apprehend suspects as quickly as possible and potentially preventing additional violence, Lindgren said.

Often, cameras can provide descriptions of suspects and their vehicles and mean the difference between “having a lead and having nothing,” he said.

“What it did is it allowed us to get that person quickly … we would have caught them eventually, but would that be weeks? We don’t know,” the police chief said.

But Lindgren said he also understands many residents may be wary of how common cameras may have become. Law enforcement’s job is to prevent crime and apprehend criminals, but if residents are wary of cameras as crime-fighting tools, he invites them to speak out.

“Nobody wants to live in a society where every piece of your movement is tracked, and I think that's why it's important that there's rules and there's laws around this,” he said, adding, “I would always encourage anyone to share their opinion with the council. That's why we live in America. That's what this country is all about.”

Roswell finance department estimates 2025 savings, approves 2026 budget

By HANNAH YAHNE hannah@appenmedia.com

ROSWELL, Ga. — As it crept close to midnight in the council chambers, Roswell City Council members voted to approve the 2026 budget with a spending plan of nearly $230 million. The millage rate is estimated at 4.949 mills and will see a formal vote prior to issuing tax bills in 2026.

Like some other Fulton County cities, Roswell sets its annual budget first before assigning a millage rate.

While no residents spoke during the hearing, Councilmember Sarah Beeson asked for clarification on some of the city’s increased expenditures. The budget includes a contract with Fulton County for $250,000 to cover election costs, a majority of which are being covered by the state. The construction of the parking garage on Green Street raised contracted amounts to account for landscaping and interior maintenance of the deck. Most of those costs will be recurring, Deputy City Administrator Jeff Leatherman said, and the line item includes one-time expenditures for equipment.

The council approved the budget following a presentation of the city’s third quarter financial results. Based on planned expenditures through the end of the year, Chief Financial Officer Bill Godshall said that the city’s General Fund expenditures are expected to finish $1.3 million under budget. After bills were sent out earlier in October, the city estimates adding $34.4 million in property tax revenues to the city’s unrestricted fund balance, bringing it slightly over $46 million by the end of the year.

With the estimated increase in property tax revenues, Roswell’s unrestricted cash amounts could cover around 46 percent of budgeted expenditures in 2026. It also allows the city to hold above the required minimum reserve balance of 25 percent.

The city continued to see savings while approving contracts under the budgeted amounts for various projects during the Oct. 27 meeting. City Council approved a $172,500 contract that will convert two

tennis courts at Crabapple Center into six pickleball courts. Construction is estimated to begin in December and be completed by March 2026.

The city approved a contract with Azimuth Contractors for nearly $3.2 for phase two of the Woodstock multi-use trail. The 2025 budget authorized over $3.3 million to construct 36.38 miles of trail, which is expected to take 10 months to complete.

Chief Financial Officer Bill Godshall received kudos for saving the city $500,000 in costs related to annual lease payments on the city’s three fire apparatus that were delivered earlier in the year. After obtaining quotes from four banks at various interest rates, the city selected to execute a lease agreement with JP Morgan Bank, with an annual lease payment of $376,000 for 10 years at an interest rate of 4.53%.

Another redevelopment project known as City

Center is very early on in the deal-making process, according to Deputy City Administrator Jeff Leatherman. Council members approved to enter a Memorandum of Understanding with intentions of developing the 47 acres at the corner of Highway 9 and State Route 140 into a mixed-use development. Morris and Fellows, Inc. is currently named as the master developer of the plan, and city staff said the property could include a sports facility or amphitheater.

Plans to sell about 6 acres of city-owned property can proceed after the city entered a Project Intergovernmental Agreement that outlines responsibilities of the city and Roswell Development Authority. The Authority was authorized to negotiate the sale of the property and entered a Letter of Intent with SJC Ventures Partners, LLC, to sell the property at $5 million, with Roswell keeping 2.5 acres for a future fire station.

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PPE manufacturer opens $2 million Alpharetta facility

ALPHARETTA, Ga. —

International personal protection manufacturer Ansell celebrated the opening of an Alpharetta demonstration center Oct. 22.

The $2 million Ansell Xperience & Innovation Studio will serve as a hub for more than 40 local employees. Located at 11580 Great Oaks Way, it includes labs and workshops to showcase products for customers and people who might use the equipment.

The company manufactures personal protection equipment, such as gloves, protective suits and other equipment, for health care and industrial workers.

Mayor Jim Gilvin, Councilman Doug DeRito and other city officials attended the event.

CEO Neil Salmon said the opening marks an important step in advancing the company’s mission of making the world safer.

“By creating spaces where our partners can collaborate with us, we’re not only addressing immediate safety challenges but also driving the insights and innovations that will define protection for years to come,” he said.

— Jon Wilcox

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Roswell approves Hill Street development

By HANNAH YAHNE hannah@appenmedia.com

ROSWELL, Ga. — Applause filled the chambers after the Roswell City Council approved the nearly $120 million Hill Street development – which is to be named Hillrose Market – at their meeting on Oct. 14.

The work to transform 6.5 acres in downtown Roswell began in 2019 when a high-density residential project fell through. After reimagining development plans, staff proposed a project providing

75,000-square-feet of retail, restaurant and office space, 143 apartments and 16 townhomes with public green space. The development will also bring 510 new parking spaces to the downtown area with 370 spots in a shared-use parking deck currently under construction on the corner of Ga. 9 and Green Street.

The Roswell Downtown Development Authority partnered with KB Advisory Group to project economic impacts of the mixed-use development in the city and across Fulton County.

The projection estimates Hillrose

Market will add $55.6 million to the city’s tax digest and bring 22,000 new visitors to Roswell.

The plan also says the project will result in 200 new jobs in the city once completed.

It estimates Roswell will see more than $200,000 in annual revenues from the project, not including any potential tax incentives for the developers.

It estimates the finished project will generate over $1.9 million in annual revenues, split between Roswell, Fulton County and the school district.

During the meeting the city council also awarded a $3.9 million contract to Reeves & Young for the construction of the E911 Call Center.

While the company’s proposal was nearly $800,000 less than the project’s authorized budget, the additional dollars will remain budgeted towards the in case of unforeseen construction challenges or the need for additional materials.

The new call center will be located at 11261 Alpharetta Highway, formerly the location of Sharp Shooters USA.

Metro Atlanta survey shows housing affordability, traffic as top concerns

By HAYDEN SUMLIN hayden@appenmedia.com

ATLANTA — Housing affordability and traffic are top regional concerns, according to the 2025 Metro Atlanta Speaks survey of more than 4,000 adults living in the 11 counties surrounding the Georgia State Capitol.

The Atlanta Regional Commission conducts the annual survey to gather key insights into quality-of-life issues like transportation, the economy, crime and education.

When asked about the biggest problem facing Metro Atlanta residents, 28 percent of respondents said housing affordability and another 24 percent picked traffic.

This year, the Metro Atlanta Speaks survey offered housing affordability as a choice to the “biggest problem” question for the first time. Last year, crime and economy were the region’s top concerns.

The survey also found support for public transit. Nearly four in 10 respondents said expanding public transit is the best long-term solution to the region’s traffic problems, ahead of improving roads and highways at 34 percent.

More than half of respondents said future growth in Metro Atlanta should be focused along existing transportation corridors and in areas where businesses are already concentrated.

ARC Chief Research & Innovation Officer Ann Carpenter said the survey has been running for just over a decade, and it’s a key “pulse check” to provide data that can inform planning decisions.

“One thing that was very clearly articulated by the respondents is that housing affordability is a huge issue for the region,” Carpenter said. “Traffic was, for places like Forsyth, Cherokee and Gwinnett, their number one issue of concern with affordable housing being number two. Traffic was one or two in every county.”

For housing, the survey asked respondents to identify the main reason for affordability problems in Metro Atlanta. Options included investors buying up properties to rent, residents opposing new housing types, developers building expensive homes and local zoning laws reducing available supply.

Nearly 80 percent of respondents said they believe investors and developers are a main reason for the region’s housing affordability problems.

While most respondents in DeKalb, Forsyth and Fulton view developers as the main cause, local zoning laws and resident opposition often drive what types of new housing are built.

In another question related to the economy and cost of living, more than 35 percent of respondents did not think they could afford to move to another house in the neighborhood where they currently live.

“There were a couple other major findings … one was around concern over the economy,” Carpenter said. “This came out in people’s outlook for the next three to four years … a bit of concern there or pessimism.”

The Metro Atlanta Speaks survey did not reflect optimism about the future of the region. Only 15 percent of respondents said living conditions will be better in the next three to four years.

However, a slight majority of residents said they would stay where are now even if they could move.

Kennesaw State University’s A.L. Burruss Institute of Public Service and Research conducted the survey in August, which also asked respondents to consider the impact of artificial intelligence on the availability of jobs, business productivity, quality of life and energy consumption.

More than 70 percent said they think artificial intelligence will decrease the number of jobs, but there are mixed views on its impact on energy consump-

tion, productivity and quality of life.

The Atlanta Regional Commission is the official metropolitan planning organization for the 11-county region, including Cherokee, Clayton, Cobb, DeKalb, Douglas, Fayette, Forsyth, Fulton, Gwinnett, Henry, and Rockdale counties.

A significant part of the ARC’s role is to allocate and manage federal funds for high-priority regional projects.

Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens,

who chairs the Atlanta Regional Commission, said the concerns over housing affordability came through loud and clear in this year’s survey.

“Each year, the Metro Atlanta Speaks survey provides valuable insights about where we are as a region, and where we are headed,” Dickens said. “Our region is making meaningful progress on [the housing affordability] challenge, but there’s no doubt we have more work to do.”

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Connect-It

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, 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!

LIVING QUARTERS

1. Moonfish. Kind of shark. Earth covered Navajo lodge.

2. Beach sight. Rustic digs. Wanderer.

3. Hyphenated snow house. Facts and figures. Collar type.

4. Rot. Domed residence. Worn out mentality.

5. Martini addiction. Sound rebound. Parson’s home.

6. “Beowulf”, e.g. Swiss mountain dwelling. Beer buy.

7. Barber’s supply. One of many residential units. Sheep-like.

1 Moonfish. Kind of shark. Earth covered Navajo lodge

2. Beach sight. Rustic digs. Wanderer

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. Hyphenated snow house. Facts and figures. Collar type

4. Rot. Domed residence. Worn out mentally

5. Martini addition. Sound rebound. Parson’s home

6. “Beowulf,” e.g. Swiss mountain dwelling. Beer buy

7. Barber’s supply. One of many residential units. Sheep-like.

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Fulton Sheriff’s Office settles open records lawsuit for $75,000

By HAYDEN SUMLIN hayden@appenmedia.com

NORTH FULTON COUNTY, Ga. — The Fulton County Sheriff’s Office has paid $75,000 to settle an open records lawsuit after unlawfully withholding video of a woman being choked by a jailer, according to law firm Spears & Filipovits.

In 2023, Casey Bennett was reportedly choked unconscious while handcuffed at the North Fulton County Jail in Alpharetta by jailer Monique Clark, who is now serving four years in federal prison for the assault.

Spears & Filipovits, which filed the lawsuit on the choking survivor’s behalf, says the settlement is a step toward more transparency and accountability in the Fulton County Jail system.

The main Rice Street jail is notorious for inmate deaths and poor conditions, as detailed in a recent U.S. Department of Justice report.

The choking incident happened, however, at the Alpharetta jail location.

The settlement followed a court’s rejection of the Sheriff’s Office claim that “security” prevented Bennett from obtaining video of her own assault. Attorneys say the Sherrif’s Office settled after threatening a retaliatory lawsuit against her.

Attorney Wingo Smith said it is an important win in the fight for transparency in jails and prisons.

“Terrible things can happen to people behind those walls,” Smith said. “Refusing to release the videos under the pretext of security harms us

Office gave some video to another jailer who was one of the defendants in Bennett’s civil rights lawsuit. That lawsuit was settled in June with the Chadha Jimenez Law Firm serving as co-counsel.

Spears & Filipovits says its ability to obtain jail footage from the Sheriff’s Office under Open Records Act requests appeared to change in late 2023, when the jail came under public scrutiny for a string of deaths in unconstitutional conditions.

Atlanta journalist George Chidi reported that the Sheriff’s Office provided him with video of a jail raid, only to revoke the release under the same “security” exemption it cited later in Bennett’s case.

In March of this year, Fulton County Superior Court Judge Scott McAfee granted Bennett’s motion for partial summary judgment, finding that the Sheriff’s Office violated the Open Records Act by improperly applying the security exemption and lacked “substantial justification” for doing so.

The Sheriff’s Office appealed the order before agreeing to settle by paying $75,000 in attorney’s fees and court costs.

Spears & Filipovits filed a civil rights lawsuit on Bennett’s behalf and requested all video of the assault.

After the Sheriff’s Office refused to release any video of the incident, Bennett and her attorneys sued in March 2024 to obtain it under the Georgia Open Records Act.

The first response from the Sheriff’s

Office, via County attorneys, was to threaten to sue Bennett for “abusive litigation.”

The Sheriff’s Office argued the footage could be withheld using an Open Records Act exemption for documents whose disclosure would “compromise security against sabotage or criminal or terrorist acts.”

Yet, the law firm says the Sheriff’s

“This case started with the Fulton County Sheriff’s Office threatening to sue our client for abusive litigation, and now it has ended with the Sheriff’s Office paying her attorney’s fees,” Jeff Filipovits said. “Pursuing this case and her civil rights lawsuit in the wake of a traumatizing and embarrassing moment of her life was not easy, and we commend her for her bravery.”

Roswell Fire, Police Departments are ‘One unit working together’

By HANNAH YAHNE hannah@appenmedia.com

ROSWELL, Ga. — In a testament to their teamwork, Chiefs of the Roswell Fire and Police Departments shared the stage at Roswell Rotary Club’s Oct. 23 meeting to share public safety updates.

The meeting was the last time Pabel Troche would appear as Roswell’s interim fire chief before being permanently sworn into the role on Oct. 27. Roswell Rotary Club President Trummie Patrick III, led the questionand-answer session with Troche and Police Chief James Conroy.

“Public safety is one unit working together,” Troche said when asked about the Police and Fire Departments working together on a scene. “…the team itself is so unified, so seamless that it’s an art just to see them operate out there when

something happens.”

Even those inside the new Public Safety Headquarters play a role in emergencies, thanks to technological advancements the city’s Police Department has gained over the years. Police can be directed to traffic accidents in real-time by accessing the Department of Transportation’s cameras or monitor a scene through officer’s body cameras.

“That technology is such a force multiplier in making us so much more efficient,” Conroy said.

Troche agreed, saying that the technological advancements made within his 25 years of service are incredible.

The Roswell Fire Department is one of 10 in the nation with access to helmets with QWAKE Technology which provides firefighters with real-time visual overlays when experiencing zero-visibility. Using

thermal imaging, the helmets outline obstacles or victims to firefighters and allow them to live-stream the scene.

Drones are another source of technology that helps save departments’ resources as they become more operational. Conroy detailed when a drone was deployed in response to a structure fire, arriving on the scene in 24 seconds and officers could see no signs of smoke or a fire before firefighters arrived on scene.

“Drones are something you’re going to see integrated into the Roswell Crime Center in the future, but they also have great technological advantages that we’re still trying to wrap our arms around,” Conroy said.

Along with physical safety, Troche and Conroy also prioritize their members’ mental health. Two years ago, the Police Department brought on

a psychologist who specializes in public safety. Conroy said he realizes that the mental and physical health of officers is extremely important, especially following the loss of Officer Jeremy Labonte earlier this year.

“We make sure that we’re fostering a culture that this is something we can discuss,” Troche said, “and it’s for the longevity of public safety to make sure that we can take care of those that are coming before us.”

Conroy and Troche said they see the same passion for public safety amongst existing and new members of their departments. Potential hires for both the Police and Fire Departments are asked why they want to serve, and Conroy said the number one answer they receive is to help others.

“We are truly in pursuit of excellence,” Troche said.

Thorne:

Continued from Page 1

Several other North Atlanta counties provide seniors a complete exemption from school taxes.

Cobb and Forsyth counties provide a 100 percent exemption for older homeowners. Cherokee and Gwinnett also provide a full exemption with minimum income requirements.

Fulton County residents 62 and older are exempted up to $10,000 if their net income is below $10,000. At age 65, an additional $10,000 exemption is provided regardless of income.

Thorne said she supports a tax break for seniors but added the policy has some opponents who worry it could harm school budgets. A senior exemption also could require younger homeowners to shoulder a heavier tax burden.

“I think they deserve it,” Thorne said. “They’re on fixed incomes.”

Alpharetta resident Betty Lou Anderson, who was present at the

Raiders:

Continued from Page 1

Alpharetta starting quarterback Matthew Schletty checked in also as an outside linebacker, recording a sack and a tackle for loss.

Even before Schletty exited the game in the second quarter due to concussion symptoms, both teams were finding more success on the ground than in the air.

Alpharetta sophomore running back Brayden Henderson rushed for his team’s only touchdown, racking up 124 yards on 18 carries and taking on further responsibility when Schletty went out.

North Forsyth running back Darron Parry responded with a quickness, rushing for 255 yards and two touchdowns, more than doubling his yard total against Alpharetta last season. On North’s first snap of the second quarter, he ran 69 yards to the house, less than 20 seconds after Alpharetta’s score.

Parry said after a slower game against West Forsyth, he was happy to push closer to his goal of 1,000 yards this season. He has 43 to go to reach four digits of rushing this year, already having eclipsed 1,200 all-purpose, with just one game remaining Oct. 31.

“We executed tonight, we pushed through after a slow start in the first quarter,” Parry said. “The o-line was there to give me holes to run through. I kept my pace throughout the game,

and the receivers were there to block to help with outside runs too.”

North Forsyth quarterback Noah Bourque had a quieter night after season-highs in passing yards and touchdowns thrown last week against West. Bourque threw 2-8 for 76 yards and one touchdown, adding another touchdown rushing.

Alpharetta linemen Duke Condie and Hudson Cueny, along with receiver/defensive back Thomas Byrd are among the pillars of the class of 2026. Head coach Brian Landis said the 12 seniors have helped to provide structure to a younger team in Landis’ first year at Alpharetta.

“Our motto for the year has been ‘choose hard,’” he said. “Our junior Raiders program is where it all starts, teaching kids how to win, how to do things right, how to keep choosing hard in their life. It’s all coming together, we have a young team this year and our big thing right now is putting four quarters together, when we can do that it’s gonna be special.”

North’s defense stepped up to keep Alpharetta stagnant once Schletty exited the game. Senior Adriel Rojas, sophomore Dan Levkov and junior Marco Troncalli each made several key tackles and Troncalli scooped up a blocked Alpharetta field goal.

North Forsyth head coach Robert Craft, sitting at No. 5 in Region 6 of 6A, needs to move up to No. 4 for his team to have an opportunity to play more than one game more this season.

“We want to be built on toughness and discipline, and that showed tonight,” he said. “We were able to

meeting, said she is in full support of the increased exemptions.

“Seniors should receive a tax discount because they’ve spent decades contributing to the community both economically and socially,” she said. “Offering a discount is a way of honoring their lifelong investment and ensuring they can continue to live in the community they helped build and sustain.”

Anderson, 61, said she has considered moving out of Fulton County because of the taxes. Her neighbors, who are in their 70s, relocated to Cherokee County from the Windward area because the county offers more generous tax reductions for older homeowners.

Anderson said she initially moved to Fulton County because of the quality of education it could offer her sons. But she said as a conservative she believes in responsible fiscal stewardship.

“We are taxed on everything,” Anderson said. “I don’t think I should be carrying the burden of the school system because they don’t know how to manage their budgets.”

keep our composure and eventually took the game over. These region games mean a lot, we want the kids to enjoy wins and then turn the page on Monday and refocus and get ourselves

ready for the next one.”

North will face Forsyth Central Oct. 31 while Alpharetta will go up against West Forsyth for the last game of the regular season.

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State test scores show room for improvement in Fulton County Schools

By HANNAH YAHNE hannah@appenmedia.com

FULTON COUNTY, Ga — Students in Fulton County showcased various levels of proficiency in English Language Arts (ELA) and Math after the district reviewed scores on the 2025 Georgia Milestones during its Oct. 23 meeting.

Woodland Middle School was the only school that did not surpass the state’s growth benchmark of 65 percent proficiency on either Milestones test. Other schools –Briar Hills (formerly Conley Hills) Elementary School, McNair Middle School, along with Tri-Cities High and Banneker high schools – scored below the state’s growth benchmark on the English Language Arts (ELA) Milestone.

Results from the Math Milestones showed three elementary schools and three middle schools that scored beneath the state’s growth benchmark of 65 percent of students proficient in the subject.

Fulton County used the last

three years of Georgia Milestones scores to identify trends for each school in the district. Since 2022, all but two schools – Camp Creek Middle School and Asa G. Hilliard Elementary School – improved students’ proficiency in ELA. Briar Hills Elementary School showed the largest improvement at 10.5 percent.

Math Milestones results throughout the district showed an average increase of 8.9 percent since 2022. Scores from both Seaborn Lee Elementary School and Banneker High School improved by more than 18 percent on average. However, average results from Asa G. Hilliard Elementary School once again decreased since 2022, along with scores at Heritage Elementary School.

Fulton County Schools also compared Milestones scores of students with learning disabilities versus the rest of their peers at schools that qualify for the Georgia Promise Scholarship voucher program. Schools are identified annually as needing Targeted

Support and Improvement (TSI) or Comprehensive Support and Improvement (CSI). Nine schools in Fulton County are currently on the list but are eligible to be removed in the next two years.

The district wants the Milestone scores of students with disabilities to match or exceed the rate of those receiving general education. ELA and Math Milestones scores from 2025 showed that students with learning disabilities had lower growth percentages when compared to the general student populations at TSI schools. While the district hopes to no longer have schools on the state’s list of additional TSI schools in 2026, Chief Academic Officer Brannon Gaskins said the district will continue to work with schools and provide students with support.

“We really want to make sure that we have a well-articulated sustainability plan to support our schools,” Gaskins said.

This includes continuing to conduct weekly site visits and

monthly progress meetings, providing increased support from Math and ELA specialists during school and tutoring, and working with specially designed instruction coaches based at each TSI and Additional TSI school.

“I’m always so proud of the growth we see in our schools and our students,” board member Katherine Gregory said, “and I know it is a lot of additional support, and I am very grateful.”

Gaskins also said the school district was praised by the state superintendent at the Georgia School Superintendents Association’s fall conference for achieving a 100 percent graduation rate for the second year in a row, staying at an all-time high.

Fulton County was also recognized for its student’s participation in the ACT with 17 percent of test-takers in the state coming from the district, and whose results exceeded the average ACT score both state-wide and nationally, Superintendent Mike Looney said.

Free ‘Crush the Scale’ event to celebrate body kindness

ATLANTA — The Eating Disorder Information Network (EDIN) and the International Association of Eating Disorder Professionals (IAEDP) invite the community to come together for a joyful, empowering and free fall celebration: ‘Crush the Scale: Unweigh Yourself — A Celebration of Body Kindness.’

This unique event encourages participants to literally smash diet culture and redefine what it means to care for themselves and others. The gathering will feature a

‘scale-smashing’ activity, creative art stations, music, snacks and opportunities to connect with local organizations dedicated to mental health, body acceptance and eating disorder recovery.

The event will be Sunday, Nov. 2, 199 Armour Drive NE, Unit E, Atlanta, GA 30324. It is free and open to all ages. Online RSVP is optional but encouraged at crushthescale.eventbrite.com.

“Crush the Scale is about reclaiming joy and rejecting the

shame that diet culture promotes,” said Chandler Appen, EDIN copresident. “We want everyone to walk away feeling lighter, not because of a number on a scale, but because they’ve let go of something that no longer serves them.”

Whether you are navigating your own healing journey or showing up in solidarity, this event offers a welcoming space to practice body kindness, engage in creative expression and find community connection.

Come cozy, come curious, and come ready to celebrate yourself, exactly as you are. Together, the group will break what’s broken and build something beautiful.\

The Eating Disorder Information Network (EDIN) is a nonprofit organization based in Atlanta, dedicated to preventing eating disorders through education, outreach, and support. Learn more at edinatl.org.

— Carl Appen

Alpharetta veterans organization to hold car show

ALPHARETTA, Ga. — American Legion Post 201 will honor veterans Nov. 8 with a car show.

In honor of Veterans Day, the ninth annual “cruz-in” is scheduled

for 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at its Alpharetta location, 201 Wills Road. The show also will be held in conjunction with the second annual Stars and Stripes baseball game featuring the Alpharetta

Aviators versus the Georgia Jackets. All vehicles are welcome at the free event.

Food and drink will be available, and children are welcome to enjoy a jump house and other activities. A raffle also will be held. Proceeds will benefit veterans and their families.

Wilcox

Hummingbirds have a history, too

People, places and things generally come to mind when we think of history. However, animals and birds may also have interesting histories. It makes sense to take a look at hummingbirds since they have been taking part in their annual migration south from Georgia and other states triggered by declining day length.

Hummingbirds evolved from European ancestors some 40-50 million years ago. Over time, they gradually disappeared from Europe. Today they exist only in the Americas where they have diversified into some 350 species.

Fossils from Europe reveal that early hummingbirds lacked hovering flight ability and had short bills. Following some 10 million years of evolution, the birds had sharp pointed bills, hovering ability and high metabolism which allowed them to eat almost constantly. Then as now, they consume large amounts of sugar every day in the form of nectar to support their colossal energy requirements. According to Stanford University, they have the highest metabolic rate of any animal and consume roughly their weight in nectar every day.

European explorers of the new world first noted hummingbirds in the 16th century. In 1557 Jean de Léry (1536–1613), a French explorer and writer, published a book, “History of a Voyage to the Land of Brazil,” based on his experiences while living for a year with a Brazilian Indian tribe. Early European explorers like de Léry had never seen anything like the tiny birds. His description of hummingbirds helped generate a wide interest in the birds.

In colonial times, hummingbirds were appreciated for their beauty but were not well understood. Adriaen van der Donck (circa 1618-1655), a Dutch attorney in New Amsterdam (today’s New York), in his 1655 book, “Description of New Netherland,” questioned whether hummingbirds were birds or insects, calling them “West India bees” due to their humming flight and frequent visits to flowers. Naturalist John Josselyn (1638–1675) wrote in his 1672 book “New-England’s Rarities Discovered” that “they sleep all Winter, and are not to be seen till the Spring, at which time they breed in little Nests.” He confused migration and hibernation.

By the Victorian era, hummingbird specimens had become popular collector

BOB MEYERS/APPEN MEDIA

The striking Ruby throated Hummingbird is the most common hummingbird species in Georgia and throughout the eastern U.S. The iridescent red throat of the male is known as a "gorget." These tiny birds spend most of their time resting and consuming about their body weight every day. They move from flower to flower consuming all the nectar and small bugs they can to maintain the intense pace of their flight and their rapid wing beats of up to 80 beats per second. The sugar in nectar is particularly important as the birds bulk up for their annual fall migration from Georgia to southern Mexico and Central America. Depending on their point of departure, they fly non-stop 500 miles across the Gulf of America in one day without a stop.

items with major displays at events like the famous May to October 1851 Great Exhibition of the Works of Industry of all Nations at the Crystal Palace in London. Victorian audiences were fascinated by the exotic and by miniatures. They referred to hummingbird taxidermy specimens as “living gems.”

The renowned ornithologist of the time was John Gould. His book, “A Monograph of the Trochilidae or Hummingbirds,” published between 1849 and 1861 contained 418 plates of hummingbirds hand painted by teams of colorists working under Gould’s supervision. Certain galleries today sell John Gould lithographs which in most cases are hand-colored prints from his original series. These are quite valuable, much more so than modern reprints which are also available.

The famous portrait artist and naturalist Charles Willson Peale (1741–1827) kept hummingbirds in his house allowing them to fly freely, sometimes sitting on his wife’s shoulder while she fed them sugar-water according to

Alexander Wilson’s book, “The Natural History of the Birds of the United States,” published in 1878. A note: a portrait by Peale of George Washington sold in 2006 for $23.1 million.

During the second half of the 19th century, wearing the feathers or entire bodies of birds on ladies’ hats became very fashionable. Hundreds of thousands of hummingbirds were harvested for the fashion industry in New York, Paris and London every year. Not until 1918 did birds receive federal protection under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act.

Hummingbirds played important and varying roles in Native American cultures and were part of Cherokee legends for hundreds of years. Due to their ability to hover and fly backwards they implied flexibility and strength. They brought joy and beauty. In the Cherokee Talagi language the word for hummingbird is “tsuwu,” which means “summer” or “sun,” which associates hummingbirds with flowers and light. Hummingbirds carried urgent messages from the Great Spirit to humans in times of necessity.

SMITH COLLEGE PROJECT/PROVIDED Jean de Léri was a French explorer, writer and Protestant minister who wrote a book History of a Voyage to the land of Brazil in 1557. His description of hummingbirds helped generate interest in the birds.

The only hummingbird that breeds east of the Mississippi is the beautiful ruby throated hummingbird. It is by far the most common in Georgia and along the East Coast.

Migrating hummingbirds and others fall victim to collisions with windows and buildings which account for up to one billion bird collisions a year. According to the Cornell Lab of Ornithology. Atlanta was ranked the 9th most dangerous city in the U.S. for birds during their spring migration and 4th during fall migration. Hummingbirds are the most frequent victims of collisions according to Birds Georgia.

Georgians love their hummingbirds, not only for their beauty but also for their amazing abilities. They can double their body mass prior to making their non-stop journey across the Gulf of Mexico twice a year. They are defenders of their territories which includes their favorite backyard feeders. They faithfully return every year to their preferred back yard.

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

GARDEN BUZZ

Forest forensics – clues from the past in Milton

What can be discovered on a walk through the woods? The most obvious answer is trees, but there is so much more to be discovered: wildflowers in bloom, mushrooms, ferns, moss, leaves, acorns, deer, squirrels, chipmunks, invertebrates, soil microbes and even evidence of past human habitation.

Since I moved to Milton in 2008, I have been intrigued by a large rock found on a wooded section of Milton. At some point in time, the rock, now located on private property, was altered to produce the image of human face. What secrets of the past can this unique rock reveal?

The massive, 30-by-15 foot, flattop rock was chiseled and artistically transformed by indigenous humans, possibly ancestors of the Cherokee or Muscogee (Creek) Indians who lived in the area as many as 3,000 years ago. Not only is the size of the rock impressive, but the carvings on the rock demand your attention. Ancestral Indians carved a crude image of a human face on one surface of the rock as well as a silhouette of a buffalo on another surface of the rock. The rock was pitted with a sharp object to create the mane and beard of a buffalo and the rock further chiseled to form the buffalo’s nose and mouth and bearded chin.

These features of the rock prompted local historians to call this rock the “Buffalo Rock.” Recognizing the rock’s significance, in the early 1970s, the rock was named as part of the Georgia Trust for Historic Preservation.

Geological and historical study

Geologists would date the rock back millions of years, but to a historian this rock reveals evidence of a past human civilization. If the rock was modified by pre-historic humans 3,000 years ago, it could be among the oldest evidence of human habitation in north Georgia!

After the end of the ice age about 10,000 years ago, as the climate warmed, nomadic, indigenous people might have travelled and settled in northern Georgia. During the Late Woodland Period from 1,000 B.C. to 1,000 A.D., maize horticulture was thought to have been fully developed. This agricultural advancement led to a transition from a nomadic, huntergatherer society to a hunter-farm society

A front view of Buffalo Rock in Milton shows a large circular mouth.

that established seasonal settlements with permanent buildings and garden plots.

Buffalo Rock is an attention-getter because of its size and its crudely carved human face. The early Indians chiseled out a very large circular area to create a mouth. Above the mouth is a right eye. A linear indentation parallel to the bottom of the stone provides space where a rock was added to insert the

artist’s vision of human eyes. A rock eyeball remains intact on the right side, but over time, the left eyeball has vanished. The large, hollowed-out mouth might have served as an artist’s interpretation of the human mouth. My guess is that it was used to grind grain since pre-historic, indigenous peoples raised corn.

As agricultural practices improved, the indigenous population added to

About the author

This week’s “Garden Buzz” guest columnist is Carole MacMullan, a master gardener and a Milton resident. She taught biology for 35 years in the Pittsburgh area. In 2012 after moving to Milton, Carole completed the Master Gardener training program and joined the North Fulton Master Gardeners (NFMG) and the Milton Garden Club. Carole uses her teaching skills to create a variety of presentations on gardening topics for the NFMG Lecture Series and Speakers Bureau.

their cultivated crops and grew beans, squash, blueberries, muscadine grapes, tobacco and sweet potatoes. We also know that buffalo were hunted and served as another important source of food. Buffalo were not limited to the Great Plains west of the Mississippi. They also lived east of the Mississippi prior to the arrival of European settlers. Based on the time period that buffalo lived in Georgia, the silhouette image of the buffalo can be helpful in dating the rock.

More views of the past

If you are interested in learning more about prehistoric civilizations in Georgia, I would suggest you visit the National Historic Landmark, Etowah Indian Mounds, near Cartersville. This prehistoric Indian site is considered the “most well- preserved Mississippi culture site in the southeastern United States.” One thousand years ago, two thousand years after the time of the Buffalo rock, the Etowah Indians built a complex, urban settlement on the Etowah River. At this point in time, agricultural techniques had advanced to the point where these early Georgians built log homes, extensive garden plots, stone tools, pottery, and used the river for fishing and navigation.

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/opinion/columnists/ garden_buzz/.

A message to college students, part one

Millions of you, including my two boys, just started a new school year swamped by toxic politics, a tough job market, and tectonic AI shifts on campus and off.

• It’s easy to understand why stress, uncertainty and sadness are soaring.

Why it matters: I want to offer you a very different way to see the world awaiting you — one with a lot less impending doom. It’s based on a belief I grow more certain of with each passing month:

• You’re being duped!

It’s not your fault. We all are:

• You’re being duped into thinking most people are nuttier, meaner, more polarized than they actually are.

• You’re being duped into thinking America is more broken, more unfixable and more hostile than it actually is.

• You’re being duped into thinking you can’t shape your life on your terms in your own way. You actually control a lot more of you than you realize. What if I told you that politicians, the media and your social media feeds are all chasing the exact same thing … your attention?

• And all three get your attention, to varying degrees, by amplifying conflict and juicing your emotions — mainly your negative ones. Our brains are hardwired with what is called “negativity bias.” So we’re all susceptible to eating this up.

The result: Everything — and everyone — appears nastier, more outrageous, more hopeless than they really are. Think about it: Your reality is shaped by what you see, hear and read. So if your eyes, ears and mind are lit up with doom and gloom, you assume darkness and conflict are everywhere.

• But what if I told you most people in the real world aren’t obsessed with politics, aren’t glued to MSNBC or Fox News, or don’t download X?

• Most people are the opposite of that: They’re normal — living their lives with friends and family just like you. It’s the

people lighting up your social feeds who aren’t.

• Most people don’t care about Sydney Sweeney’s jeans/genes or Cracker Barrel’s logo.

Reality check: I’m not diminishing the real-world, real-time consequences of politics in an era when we see that our communities, country and world are changing with historic and at times alarming speed. And, yes, there are big, urgent challenges, from rising pessimism to AI’s effect on entry-level work.

But let me lay out a different way to think about tackling all of this. First, some context:

• Yes, I’m in the media, so you can argue I’m part of the problem. But Axios doesn’t have an opinion page — our reporters cover their beats clinically, like doctors, and we aim to be sources of truth amid the noise.

• I come at this view as a father of two sons in college, and a daughter who graduated recently. I helped co-found two companies, Politico and Axios. I’m CEO of 450 employees — and I’m an unapologetic beneficiary of democracy, capitalism and America’s entrepreneurial spirit.

My perch allows me to talk to CEOs, political leaders, tech and business executives, and lots of young people who work at Axios or move through my daily life. Here’s what I see, and what I hope my kids and the rest of you will consider:

1. America rocks. Yes, there are countless things we could do better. And lots of areas of legit concerns. But I beg young people to understand the enormous, indisputable advantages of this country, especially compared to other nations. We’re the best-performing economic and new-idea-generating machine on the globe.

We’re blessed with two oceans on our shoulders and friendly neighbors north and south. We’re sitting on more energy than was ever dreamed possible, and we have the freedom to move, live and work anywhere. We’re leading AI and health advances — and we’re the envy of all for our startup culture and can-do spirit.

2. It’s your country. I don’t get the hopelessness and defeatism about

From Jim, part one

Axios CEO Jim VandeHei wrote three letters to college students. He gave Appen Media permission to share them with readers. This essay is part one.

changing things.

The last three presidential elections all came down to a few hundred thousand votes in a few states. The tiniest of shifts would have tipped the White House — and the House of Representatives — the other way. Hell, every president going back to Bill Clinton (25 years ago!) enjoyed all-party rule (the White House, Senate and House) for at least two years.

No stat better captures what a 50-50 nation we are. So your individual ability to change things, regardless of party or age (provided you’re 18+), has never been stronger.

3. No, things actually have been a lot worse. We all suffer recency bias. And assume “it’s never been this bad.” It sure as hell has. Crime is near a 50-year low. Murders? Low, and dropping by double digits three years in row. War? Military deaths are at a historic low. Yes, but this economy sucks! Cost of living has gone up — but inflation is nowhere near as bad as three years ago, and unemployment is holding near historic lows. But poverty. Yes, it’s 11%, which sucks — but that’s half the rate in 1959.

4. You control you. Those are the most important three words of advice I will ever offer. We’re often caught up in a blame-others or blame-life culture. It’s a stupid waste of time. And wrong. You control how early you wake up, what you eat, whether you exercise, how you treat others, whether you pray or meditate or take time to think, what you read, watch and listen to, and what you do at night.

5. You control your reality. You choose the read, watch, listen inputs that feed your mind and shape your reality. Too many feeds are awash with dumb, trivial, fake news. You choose whether to stare at stupidity or fixate on phony, airbrushed versions of people and events. There’s more high-quality, life-enhancing, mind-enriching content

available for free on YouTube, podcasts and elsewhere online than at any point in history. And it’s not close. You simply need to choose it.

6. You’re living history. Pay more attention to the world unfolding before you. The way we work, communicate, travel, learn, practice politics, wage wars and explore space are all rapidly changing before our eyes. So open them. Be curious. AI alone might be bigger than the internet or electricity. You know it’s going to change the world. So use it before you have to. Learn about it. Question it. Life is too short to be a silent, clueless bystander.

7. Get in the damn game. These might be the five most important words of advice after “You control you.” You have roughly 80 years on Earth, onethird spent asleep. So don’t piss them away wishing, wondering, whining. Jump in. Trust me, life will hit you hard with unexpected punches that truly hurt and leave a mark. So use every punchfree day to get in the fight on your terms. Try new things. Read new things. Meet new people. Find new passions. Change things you want changed. Do good things for others. Yes, America has big problems. Always has. Always will. So help fix ‘em.

8. Be grateful. It sounds cheesy and trite even to write it. But we live in extraordinary times, in an extraordinary nation, full of extraordinary people. It’s easy to doom-scroll life away, both on your screen and in your mind. Don’t. Want proof there’s more to be grateful for than you think? Starting today, keep a running list (I use the Notes function on my iPhone) of people who do things, big or small, that brighten or better you. You’ll be astonished how long this list grows — and how seemingly little things leave a big mark decades later.

The bottom line: There’s a lot to lament. Just look at social media and the email you’re about to send me telling me I’m a privileged, delusional knucklehead. But there’s a lot more to love — once you realize you’ve been duped.

Jim VandeHei is the CEO of Axios. Let him know what you think by emailing jim@axios.com.

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PAST TENSE

How Chattahoochee Nature Center came to be

VALERIE BIGGERSTAFF Columnist

In the 1970s, a movement began to conserve land and create green space along the Chattahoochee River in Roswell.

John Ripley Forbes was one of the people involved in this vision. He started the SE Land Preservation Trust to fund the purchase of green space.

In addition to Chattahoochee Nature Center, Forbes was part of the movement to create the Dunwoody Nature Center and the force behind Big Trees Forest Preserve on Roswell Road, next to the North Fulton Service Center. Forbes did this kind of work across the U.S. He is credited with setting up nature centers in over 30 states.

Frank McCamey, another supporter of nature centers, was brought in to help with the search. Roy Wood, father of Roswell Mayor Jere Wood, suggested a large privately owned property along the Chattahoochee River. The 6.7-acre tract was home to American Adventures Club. With the acquisition of this land, Chattahoochee Nature Center opened in 1976. (chattnaturecenter.org)

American Adventures Club was a family recreation center owned by Horace Holden. It offered tennis, swimming and ball fields. In 1985 and 1992, additional acreage was purchased from Horace Holden. This land was part of Camp Chattahoochee. Holden, a teacher and graduate of Emory University, and his wife Jodie started Camp Chattahoochee and school on the property with hopes to build two new school buildings in the

future. (Atlanta Constitution, June 29, 1971, “This morning campers, we hit the slopes”)

Advertised as having three lakes, the camp offered fishing, canoeing and swimming. Other activities were horseback riding, tennis, archery, campouts, arts and crafts, and gymnastics. The camp offered transportation. (Atlanta Journal, May 4, 1969, Camp Chattahoochee ad)

In 1971, they tried something new at Camp Chattahoochee, summertime snow skiing. A ski slope was constructed the previous fall with an Astro-turf surface. Then plastic snow was spread on the turf. Former

CITY OF ALPHARETTA

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING

The City Council will hold a public hearing on Monday, November 3, 2025 and Monday, November 17, 2025 to consider the following item 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 30009. All Alpharetta residents and any interested persons are invited and encouraged to attend for public review and comment.

The Code of the City of Alpharetta, Georgia Text Amendments – Chapter 10, Article IX, Massage and Spa Establishments Ordinance

Consideration of an ordinance proposing modifications regarding requirements and procedures governing background checks; to clarify requirements for applications for licensing and permitting; to provide for relevant definitions; to repeal conflicting ordinances; and for other purposes.

Austrian ski champion, Raimund Winkler, helped create the ski slope along the Chattahoochee. (Atlanta Constitution, June 29, 1971, “This morning, campers, we hit the slopes”)

One summer in the late 1960s, I went to Camp Chattahoochee day camp for two weeks. It was only in the last few years that I realized the camp was today home to the Chattahoochee Nature Center. I remember riding a bus with a neighbor friend and other children on a long route across town to Roswell. Horseback riding, tennis, swimming and canoeing were all fun activities, although I don’t recall wearing a life jacket in the canoe. That is not surprising, considering there were also no seat belts in cars.

Chattahoochee Nature Center was the first non-profit nature center in Georgia. Today, it is a beautiful nature preserve on 127 acres. There are trails, programs, events, exhibits and summer camps. There are special event spaces that embrace the outdoors. In the coming months, check their website for more information of their 50th anniversary in 2026.

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

CITY OF ALPHARETTA, GEORGIA

PUBLIC HEARING AND MEETING NOTICE (REDEVELOPMENT PLAN AND TAX ALLOCATION DISTRICT)

The City of Alpharetta is conducting two public meetings to consider a Resolution to consent to, approve, and adopt a Redevelopment Plan to create Tax Allocation District #3 - Alpharetta North Point Activity Center. The Redevelopment Plan and Resolution are on file in the Office of the City Clerk, 2 Park Plaza, Alpharetta, Georgia 30009, and posted on the City’s website.

The following meetings shall be held at 6:30 p.m. in Council Chambers at Alpharetta City Hall, 2 Park Plaza, Alpharetta, Georgia 30009 to consider this matter. The meetings are as follows:

1. November 3, 2025 at 6:30 p.m., a public hearing at which time the matter shall be considered, but not voted on.

2. November 17, 2025 at 6:30 p.m. for the consideration of the adoption of the Resolution.

CITY OF ALPHARETTA

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING

The following item will be considered by the City Council on Monday, November 17, 2025 commencing at 6:30 p.m. in the Alpharetta City Hall Council Chambers, 2 Park Plaza, Alpharetta, Georgia.

a. Z-25-07/CU-25-15/V-25-20 Alpharetta District Places

Consideration of a rezoning, conditional use, and variances to allow for 195 ‘Dwelling, ‘For-Rent’ units and approximately 35,000 square feet of retail/ restaurant on 3.02 acres in the Downtown. A rezoning is requested from C-2 (General Commercial) to DT-C (Downtown Core) and a conditional use is requested to allow ‘Dwelling, ‘For-Rent’. Variances are requested to Unified Development Code (UDC) Subsection 1.4.2 and Subsection 3.2.2 to allow utilities in a required landscape strip, Subsection 3.2.8(D) to reduce the landscape strip along Marietta Street, Subsection 3.2.8(K) to remove trees within the building setback along Marietta Street, Appendix A Subsection 2.3.3(E) to modify the Collector Street Commercial/Mixed-Use streetscape requirements for Marietta Street, Appendix A Subsection 2.4.4 to allow a parking structure to front on an arterial and a collector street without ground-floor active uses, and Appendix A Subsection 3.5.5 to increase the maximum building footprint and increase the maximum building height. The property is located at 0 South Main Street and 131 South Main Street and is legally described as being located in Land Lot 695, 1 t District, 2 d 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.

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

30075

June 20, 1946 – October 16, 2025 In

Donald Aichele

Donald Paul Aichele, aged 79, passed away after a brief illness and surrounded by family on October 16, 2025, in Johns Creek, GA. Born on June 20, 1946, Don led a life marked by dedication to his family, service to his community, and a successful career in business.

Don graduated from Lyons Township High School in Illinois and went on to earn a Bachelor of Science from Tennessee Tech and a Master of Business Administration from the University of Tulsa. His professional journey included significant roles at Gulf Oil and Telex, and later as the owner and operator of The Mail Chute in Tulsa, OK, from which he retired.

A veteran of the U.S. Navy, Don served from 1966 to 1968 and was a recipient of the National Defense Service Medal. His commitment to service extended into his civilian life, where he was an active member of the Johns Creek United Methodist Church, where he was the leader of the Open Door Class for ten years. He also spent significant time volunteering, including administering communion to homebound seniors, managing food banks,

and other community service. Don was an avid golfer, winning the Telex Summer Golf Classic in 1986. He took joy in wrapping all of the family’s gifts each year for Christmas, showcasing his expert gift-wrapping skills. He excelled in trivia and had an infectious and boisterous laugh that he reserved for only those moments that deserved it. His devotion to his family was unwavering. He is survived by his wife of 51 years, Dianna Aichele; his children, Nicole Duncan and Matthew Aichele; his grandchildren, Logan and Kylie Duncan; daughter-in-law, Alanna Clair; his brother, George Aichele; sister-in-law, Connie Aichele; and his niece and nephew, Sara Castle and Dan Aichele. He was preceded in death by his parents, George Aichele and Helen Pauschert Aichele.

A service to celebrate Don’s life was held at Johns Creek United Methodist Church on October 21, 2025, at 2:30 pm. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Neighborhood Cooperative Ministries, honoring Don’s legacy of service and community support.

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Truck Driver

Bilingual (English / Spanish) Donor Operations Supervisor

NFCC is seeking a Truck Driver (Donor Operations Services Associate II) to join our Facilities team.

Our Truck Driver collects scheduled donations from businesses, residential locations, and special events while serving as a key point of contact for donors to coordinate pickup appointments. As the face of NFCC during donor interactions, this role requires maintaining a professional and a welcoming presence that reflects the organization’s values. Additionally, this position contributes to facility maintenance operations as needed.

The Bilingual (English / Spanish) Donor Operations Supervisor (Full-time) manages the donation door process and delegates tasks to staff, volunteers, and community service workers. As the face of NFCC, they provide excellent customer service while greeting donors and ensuring donations are properly removed from vehicles and sorted in designated areas. They are responsible for maintaining the security of merchandise and keeping all areas clean and organized.

The Truck Driver works Monday through Friday 9am – 2pm and periodically on Saturdays or Sundays for special events.

If you have 1-2 years of Box Truck delivery experience, maintain a valid Ga Driver’s License free of any traffic violations for the past 3 years and enjoy providing excellent customer service, we’d love to hear from you! Please submit your resume to jobs@nfcchelp.org

The Supervisor must be able to lift up to 75lb frequently and be on their feet most of their shift. They must enjoy staying busy, training and influencing others to work as a team in a professional manner. Must have the ability to work Tuesday through Saturday 9am – 5pm. An extraordinary Total Rewards Package is included with this opportunity!

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

ESL Contractor Instructor (Evening)

Bilingual (English / Spanish) Donor Operations

Supervisor

NFCC is seeking an Evening ESL Contractor Instructor to teach English classes through our Adult Education program, serving students throughout North Fulton and surrounding counties. Our ESL Program runs three sessions annually, with comprehensive lessons covering speaking, listening, reading, and writing skills, along with regular assessments to track student progress.

The Bilingual (English / Spanish) Donor Operations Supervisor (Full-time) manages the donation door process and delegates tasks to staff, volunteers, and community service workers. As the face of NFCC, they provide excellent customer service while greeting donors and ensuring donations are properly removed from vehicles and sorted in designated areas. They are responsible for maintaining the security of merchandise and keeping all areas clean and organized.

We’re looking for an instructor who is available to teach evening classes. The ideal candidate will be committed to maintaining strong enrollment of at least ten students per class and who can create an engaging learning environment that supports adult learners in achieving their English language goals.

If you have a bachelor’s or master’s degree in TESL, TESOL, English with a TESL certificate, linguistics or applied linguistics with a TESL certificate, we’d love to hear from you! Please submit your resume to jobs@nfcchelp.org

The Supervisor must be able to lift up to 75lb frequently and be on their feet most of their shift. They must enjoy staying busy, training and influencing others to work as a team in a professional manner. Must have the ability to work Tuesday through Saturday 9am – 5pm. An extraordinary Total Rewards Package is included with this opportunity!

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

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