Minuteman Press just keeps rolling along ► PAGE 6
Januar y 4, 2024 | AppenMedia.com | An Appen Media Group Publication | Ser ving the community since 1976
Court issues ruling against newspaper in open records suit By PATRICK FOX pat@appenmedia.com
See TRUIST, Page 18
See RULING, Page 18
HAYDEN SUMLIN/APPEN MEDIA
The Truist Bank branch at the Dunwoody Place Shopping Center will continue to operate until March 2024. The branch will close along with seven other locations in Georgia as a part of Truist Financial Corporation’s effort to close 4 percent of its branches across its retail footprint.
Truist plans to close 8 Georgia branches By HAYDEN SUMLIN hayden@appenmedia.com SANDY SPRINGS, Ga. — Truist Bank customers in Georgia may have to find a new brick-and-mortar branch by March 2024. There are six branches closing throughout Metro Atlanta, including the Dunwoody Place Publix branch in Sandy Springs. The other shuttering branches are in Dalton and Macon. Appen Media reached out to the Truist Newsroom and its media relations team for comment. A spokeswoman for Truist, Stephanie Leney, said clients were sent a letter in mid-December
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announcing the financial corporations’ decision to shutter eight branches in the state. Truist Bank will keep over 200 retail locations throughout Georgia. The letter also notified clients where they can bank at the next nearest location. On average, clients across the United States will have access to a branch about 2.5 miles away from ones that are closing. In Georgia, clients will have access to a branch less than 2 miles away, Leney said. In case a client missed the letter, shuttering branches have posted notices and teammates have
ATLANTA — A Fulton County Superior Court judge has ruled that the Sandy Springs Police Department is not violating the Georgia Open Records Act by providing – for the most part – one-sentence narratives on its initial crime incident reports it makes available to the public. Judge Kimberly Adams ruled Dec. 22 that Appen Media had failed to prove that it is unlawful for the department to withhold supplemental information about a crime that police file in a subsequent report, often on the same day and gleaned from the same initial visit to the scene. Appen Publisher Hans Appen said he plans to appeal the ruling. “Judge Adams correctly cites state Supreme Court precedent that initial incident reports should be disclosed to the public, but fails to address the loophole that Sandy Springs creates for itself by writing multiple reports,” Appen said. “Common sense is that any information gathered by a responding officer to a scene is the initial incident report, regardless of when that officer actually writes his report or the number of reports he writes. We are confident the appeals court will recognize this tactic for what it is and reverse.” The Georgia Open Records Act maintains that all public records are open for public inspection, but it does make exceptions. Medical information, Social Security numbers, the names of confidential police informants and a host of other privileged material is protected from disclosure. The law also provides some latitude for materials surrounding ongoing police investigations. However, initial police crime and incident reports are
2 | January 4, 2024 | Dunwoody Crier | AppenMedia.com/Dunwoody
POLICE BLOTTER All crime reports published by Appen Media Group are compiled from public records. Neither the law enforcement agencies nor Appen Media Group implies any guilt by publishing these names. None of the persons listed has been convicted of the alleged crimes.
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Police arrest theft suspect riding bike along roadway
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DUNWOODY, Ga. —Police arrested a 53-year -old Atlanta man riding a bike on Winters Chapel Road Dec. 21 after an officer attempted to speak with him. The officer said he noted that the white male matched the description of a wanted suspect who may have been involved in an earlier theft on Winter Chapel Road. When the officer approached the man and told him to stop, the suspect tried to flee. The suspect was identified as a convicted felon named George Krowska. Gwinnett County authorities verified Krowska’s warrant for a probation violation and aggravated stalking, the officer said. While searching Krowska, the officer reported finding a handgun, a glass pipe and two clear baggies containing marijuana and meth. The suspect was arrested for possession of meth, possession of less than 1 ounce of marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia, obstruction and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. The firearm and narcotics were secured as evidence and placed in property, according to the report. Krowska was transported to the Dekalb County Jail.
Police seek male suspect in theft, assault at store DUNWOODY, Ga. — Police are investigating a shoplifting incident Dec. 20 that ended in the assault of
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PUBLIC SAFETY an employee at Dillard’s Perimeter Mall location. When police arrived on scene, an officer met with the camera operator for loss prevention at Dillard’s. The operator said a man dressed in all black walked into the store and stole a green Polo sweater and two pairs of Prada sunglasses. The security footage shows the suspect trying to walk out of the store with the items, totaling $741, before a sales manager stops him. While the sales manager retrieved the sweater from the suspect, the man spit in her face and left with the sunglasses, exiting through the north entrance in an unknown direction.
Officers obtain warrants for hit and run driver DUNWOODY, Ga. — Police are obtaining a warrant for a hit and run Dec. 17 after the suspect fled the scene. The responding officer said he met with the victim, a 26-year -old Jonesboro man, at the McDonald’s on Ashford Dunwoody Road. The victim said a Nissan Altima rear ended his BMW 330i while both cars were in the drive-through lane. Because the victim was able to capture a video of the suspect and his license plate, the officer was able to search for the license plate on Flock safety cameras. After confirming the vehicle was nearby, the officer found the address of the suspect’s residence in a regional crime database. The officer said he was able to confirm the identity of the suspect by comparing the victim’s footage to the suspect’s driver’s license. Police were unable to gain entry to the suspect’s residence. Warrants will be obtained for hit and run, the officer said.
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OPINION
PAST TENSE
AppenMedia.com/Dunwoody | Dunwoody Crier | January 4, 2024 | 3
Franklin Garrett, Atlanta’s official historian – Part 1
Franklin Garrett, Society. His career was interrupted by Trust archives) Garrett speak and met him at a book whose life spanned World War II, when he was called to He told his audience how he rode his signing in Atlanta. Hayes recalls hearing 1907 to 2000, has serve at Fort McPherson inducting new bicycle to the Sandy Springs Methodist Garrett on WSB radio with his “Stump often been referred to recruits. Cemetery on April 17, 1931, and recorded Garrett” program, where Atlantans called as “Atlanta’s official Garrett wrote two volumes of Atlanta the names and details of the burials. He in with questions about local history with historian. He was history, titled “Atlanta and Environs, said Arlington Cemetery was just one hopes that Garrett might not know the born in Milwaukee, a chronicle of its people and events,” lot adjoining Sandy Springs Methodist answer. He usually knew not only the Wisconsin, and came published in 1954. He wrote the text for Cemetery at that time. answer but plenty of additional details. to Atlanta with his these two books, which total 2,034 pages, DeKalb County historian and More on “Stump Garrett” and parents and sister in on yellow legal pads with a pencil. Volume author of “History of DeKalb County, Garrett’s love of railroads in the next Past VALERIE BIGGERSTAFF 1914. From the time I begins with a brief section of Native 1822-1900” Vivian Price knew Franklin Tense. Columnist he arrived in Atlanta, American history, moving into the 1820s Garrett and saw him speak. She recalls, the events of his life through 1870s. Volume II covers the “He personified the phrase ‘walking Award-winning author Valerie helped him become an expert on the 1880s through the 1930s. Volume III was encyclopedia’ He was a tall, imposing man Biggerstaff is a longtime columnist for places and people of the city. (“Atlanta published by Harold H. Martin in 1987 and had a quiet, courtly bearing, but he Appen Media and the Dunwoody Crier. History: A Journal of Georgia and the and includes the years 1940 through was always approachable. I can still hear She lives in Atlanta. You can email Valerie South,” Spring 2000, “Franklin Garrett, 1970. his rumbling bass voice.” at pasttensega@gmail.com or visit her Sept. 25, 1907-March5, 2000, A Tribute”) Beginning in 1930, Garrett began Marc Hayes of Brookhaven also saw website at pasttensega.com. The Garrett family settled on 13th riding his bicycle all over DeKalb and Street near Piedmont Park, and Franklin Fulton County recording the names and attended elementary school at Tenth details of those buried in cemeteries. Street School. He maneuvered around Sometimes he was able to identify Atlanta on his bicycle and by trolley. He unmarked graves by talking with local recalled taking the trolley to Oglethorpe citizens. University, which he described as This cemetery research is a significant “considered on the far urban fringe.” He collection of data useful to historians walked from the trolley stop to Silver and genealogists, however it is limited by Lake. Garrett’s concentration on White males Garrett attended high school at Tech who were buried in the Atlanta area up High, graduating in 1924. While in school, until Dec. 31, 1931. dunwoodyga.gov | 4800 Ashford Dunwoody Rd., Dunwoody GA 30338 | 678.382.6700 he worked at Marshall’s Drug Store. After Garrett spoke to the Sandy Springs graduating, he worked at Western Union. Historic Research Committee and He began collecting city directories, Dunwoody Oral History Committee and one day in 1927 entered the law in 1994. Attendees included Ethel office of Eugene Mitchell, asking to see Spruill, Glenn Austin and Bill Wynne, Martin Luther King, Jr. the firm’s directories. Mitchell founded co-chairman of the Sandy Springs Day of Service 12-28-2016_HindsonMelton_01-19-11_HindsonMelton.qxp 12/15/16 locations throughout the City the Atlanta Historical Society in 1926 committee. -2016_HindsonMelton_01-19-11_HindsonMelton.qxp 12/15/16 11:22 AM11:22 PageAM 1 Page 1 and was the father of Margaret Mitchell Garrett told the group, “One thing led Green Speak: Stormwater January 15 who wrote “Gone with the Wind.” Eugene to another and my interest in Atlanta has Dunwoody Sustainability Committee Mitchell invited Garrett to join the Atlanta never failed or slowed down.” He also gave Dunwoody Nature Center Historical Society. the group advice on the collection of oral Zoning Board of Appeals City Hall | 6 p.m. In 1939, he began a 28-year career history. (Video recording. Franklin Garrett Development Authority with Coca-Cola Company, and in 1942 he presents to Sandy Springs and Dunwoody Meeting 12-28-2016_HindsonMelton_01-19-11_HindsonMelton.qxp 12/15/16 11:22 AM Page 1 Puppet Palooza Saturday: became president of the Atlanta Historical group, 1994, Dunwoody Preservation City Hall | 5 p.m. Wish Tales
January Highlights 15
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Planning Commission Meeting City Hall | 6 p.m.
11 Meeting
City Hall | 8 a.m.
Farmers 13 Dunwoody Market -
SEASON OPENING Brook Run Park | 9 a.m. - noon
Master Gardener Talk: Companion Planting
Dunwoody Community Greenhouse Brook Run Park | 11 a.m.
Joy Melton
770-512-8383
20 Game Night
Dunwoody Preservation Trust N. Shallowford Annex 5 - 10 p.m.
History Alive
Dunwoody Preservation Trust Donaldson-Bannister Farm | 9:30 a.m.
City 22 Dunwoody Council Meeting
Dunwoody High School | 6 p.m.
26 The Mad Hatterpillar World Premiere Stage Door Theatre
Register here
Green
SPEAK
DUNWOODY SUSTAINABILITY COMMITTEE
January 17
COMMUNITY
4 | January 4, 2024 | Dunwoody Crier | AppenMedia.com/Dunwoody
FARMERS MARKET NEXT SAT. AT BROOK RUN PARK www.dhafarmersmarket.com YOUR DHA Farmers Market Every Sat from Jan. 13th through Dec. 14th, 2024 Hours 9-12 The Dunwoody Farmers Market is located in the heart of Dunwoody, at the front of Brook Run Park, 4770 N. Peachtree Rd., Dunwoody GA 30360. North Atlanta’s most convenient farmers market. We are thrilled to welcome new and returning vendors from across GA, including Will’s Eden Farm, Eat Right, Pearson’s Peaches, Lawton’s Chicken Sausage, Got Shrimp, TRUC Farms and Deb-bee’s Honey. Our vendors offer a variety of locally grown, pesticide free produce, meats, eggs, cheeses and baked goods. We are your weekly stop for honey, jams, frozen treats and locally made meals. Enjoy readings from local kids authors, lawn games, arts activities, live music and more - all while shopping for the best FRESH seasonal produce and supporting your local community.
RYDER LEARY/PROVIDED
Girl Scouts participate in a flag-raising ceremony Dec. 17 at Keep North Fulton Beautiful in Sandy Springs, later earning a badge.
Girl Scouts earn badge in flag-raising ceremony SANDY SPRINGS, Ga. — Members of two Girl Scout troops earned a badge after participating in a flag-raising ceremony Dec. 17 at Keep North Fulton Beautiful, a recycling center in Sandy Springs. One group was Troop 22339, consisting of Brownies and juniors, which included Sophie Kassas, Isabella Greenia, Abbott Zaher and Isla Gibbler. Troop 20020, composed of cadettes,
included Ava Greenia, Ara Zaher and Christine Kassas. “It’s a good experience for the young ladies to not only understand what the flag means, but also a good connection back to the community…showcasing what they can do for other nonprofits in our area,” said Ryder Leary, executive director of Keep North Fulton Beautiful. — Amber Perry
PET OF THE WEEK
Lil Red
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PLUS adding more vendors all the time. To be a vendor contact us at manager@dhafarmersmarket.com We believe that farmers markets help support local businesses, contribute to a healthier ecosystem, and create a more connected community.
Lil Red (ID# 54465047) is a pretty girl with a megawatt smile. She’s tall and slim, light beige and white and medium sized at around 46 lbs. She is a very happy, friendly dog and super affectionate. She enjoys playing with toys but also wants lots of pets and love. She is great with youngsters and enjoys being around her favorite people. Come meet the delightful Lil Red to see if she might be the perfect pup for you. Expand your family by 4 furry little feet; meet Lil Red and have a loving friend forever. All adoptions include spay/neuter, vaccinations and microchip. If you would like more information about Lil Red or if you have questions about adopting, fostering or volunteering please email adoption@ dekalbanimalservices.com or call (404) 294-2165; all potential adopters will be screened to ensure Lil Red goes to a good home. The shelter is full; save a life and meet your new furry friend, stop
by DeKalb County Animal Services. We are located at 3280 Chamblee Dunwoody Road, Chamblee GA 30341 or give us a call at 404-2942996. No appointment necessary.
COMMUNITY
AppenMedia.com/Dunwoody | Dunwoody Crier | January 4, 2024 | 5
ILLUSTRATION BY DIONNA WILLIAMS/APPEN MEDIA
DeKalb, Forsyth and Fulton County libraries are hosting a series of events for all ages this winter. Patrons can read to dogs, relax with yoga, start a book club and learn coding languages.
Public libraries kick off 2024 with lineups of winter events By SHELBY ISRAEL shelby@appenmedia.com METRO ATLANTA — From crocheting to yoga to teen book clubs, Metro Atlanta libraries are offering a slew of programs and resources for patrons of all ages this winter. Here is a brief look at some offerings. DeKalb County The DeKalb County Public Library system is offering four book group takeout kits to help patrons improve or start their own book club. Each kit includes 10 to 12 copies of a book from the kit’s catalog and a guide on how to run a book discussion, a biography of the author, a synopsis of the reading material and discussion questions. The library system offers four takeout kits based on reading level: “Eager Readers” for beginners, “Book Buddies Takeout” for children who are new to chapter books, “BeTWEEN the Lines” for tweens and “Book Group Takeout” for adults. Book group takeout kits can be checked out for eight weeks, and renewals are not allowed. Patrons may check out two kits at once. The DeKalb County Public Library also offers FLIP kits, which develop new readers’ comprehension and skills through family activities at home. FLIP kits include a book, an activity guide, materials and supplies. Beyond its book offerings, the DeKalb library system also provides exclusive resources for teenagers. The Hairston Crossing Library offers teen and tween self-care kits every Friday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at 4911 Redan Road in Stone Mountain. The kits include journaling and mindfulness supplies for patrons between 12 and 18 years old. Teen artists and writers can also submit their work to be featured in the
Visit each county library system’s website for more information. DeKalb: dekalblibrary.org Fulton: fulcolibrary.org
Here are some of the things we’re hearing from our customers in 2024... “We just moved and want to replace our old & dated furniture— but everything seems so cookie-cutter.”
DeKalb County Public Library’s quarterly zine, “Between the Stacks.” Fulton County The Milton Library, 855 Mayfield Road, offers a community crochet circle on Thursdays from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. The hobby group is open to adults of all crochet skill levels and other fiber arts. Some North Fulton branches are also reserving time slots where children can read to registered therapy dogs. The Roswell Library will host “Read to Archie” at 4 p.m. Jan. 8 and 29 at 115 Norcross St. The Milton Library invites children to read to Cinnamon at 3 p.m. Jan. 9, Feb. 13, March 12, April 9 and May 14 as part of its “Books with Pups” series. The Milton branch also offers a monthly program for children 8 years and older to play Pokémon and Magic the Gathering. All skill levels are welcome. The gaming event is held from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. on the first and last Friday of each month. Beginning Jan. 5, Northeast Spruill Oaks Library will host yoga every Friday from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at 9560 Spruill Road in Johns Creek. The Ocee Library in Johns Creek is also hosting “Energy Yoga” on Wednesdays starting Jan. 17 from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at 5090 Abbotts Bridge Road. The Sandy Springs Library is scheduling “Yoga with Marianne” on Saturdays from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. at 395 Mount Vernon Highway. Classes run from Jan. 6 through Jan. 27.
“We’re looking for a good quality sectional or even a pair of sofas that we can customize at no extra charge.”
“My husband is almost a foot taller than I am and we’d like to find chairs that match, but in two sizes.”
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“Is there such a thing as a recliner that’s not big or bulky that won’t hurt my neck AND has back support??”
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1101 Alpharetta St (Hwy 9 @ Woodstock Rd) • Historic Roswell 770-518-8518 • OPEN: Tuesday–Saturday, 10-5:30 Now celebrating our 31st year—thank you for shopping local!
6 | January 4, 2024 | Dunwoody Crier | AppenMedia.com/Dunwoody
BUSINESS
Minuteman Press rolls through digital age By HAYDEN SUMLIN hayden@appenmedia.com
I-KAHN IMAGERY PHOTOGRAPHY STUDIO/PROVIDED
From left, former Sandy Springs Perimeter Chamber of Commerce Chairman Chris Burnett; Jon Wittenberg, owner of the Minuteman Press Sandy Springs franchise; and former Chamber President and CEO Tom Mahaffey celebrate local business in 2015. Wittenberg won Chamber’s 2015 Small Business of the Year trophy, the “Sandy.”
PALS PERIMETER ADULT LEARNING & SERVICES
WINTER 2024 January 8th – March 4th (8 Weeks)
(No Class January 15th) Dunwoody Baptist Church 1445 Mt. Vernon Rd., Dunwoody, GA 30338. Registration will be available on the PALS website: www.palsonline.info The class line up is as follows: MONDAYS: From 10:00 am - 11:00 am Sociology of Religion II with Kemal Budak -- The sociology of religion examines the role religion plays in society. In this course, which will be the follow up of the Sociology of Religion I course, we will examine the following topics: Religious Beliefs and Practices, Secularization, Religious Institutions, Religious Identity, Religion and Social Change, Religion and Social Inequality, Globalization and Religion, Religious Fundamentalism, Religion and Morality and Religious Conversion. From 10:00 am - 11:00 am The History of Rock & Roll with Tom Dell – This class will continue our trip back to the 60’s and look and listen to the Girl Groups that made so many hits, look at Phil Spector’s contributions and travails, and take a listen to Booker T and The MGs, Otis Redding and other STAX artists. Atlantic Label had artists Aretha Franklin and Wilson Pickett while Berry Gordy began Motown Records with a lot of help from Jackie Wilson and William (Smokey) Robinson. We will also delve into the bands that backed up so many of the hits of the era and take a look at Folk-Rock groups.
From 11:30 am - 1:45 pm Great Legal Decisions with Mah Jongg – Bring your own Mah Jongg card and come play. There is no instructor for the session - just fun and self-evaluation. From 11:30 am - 12:30 pm A History of The Broadway Musical with Betsy Jones – The Broadway Musical is a quintessentially American art form. This class will explore a number of our favorite musicals focusing on a different topic each week including Great Musical Composing Teams, “Those Dancing Feet,” iconic Broadways stars, the Great Broadway Theaters ( The Architecture, Design and Most Famous performances), the British Invasion (From West End to Broadway), Musical Theatre as a Vehicle for Social change, The Mega Musical (where the staging and effects are as important as the plot, characters or score) and Juke Box Musicals (shows where the songs were already famous so hey...let’s write a script!). Lectures will be interspersed with video clips of performances that illustrate the weekly topic leaving ample time for everyone to share favorite memories. From 11:30 am - 12:30 pm What’s With All the Noise? with Shai Robkin – In their bestselling books “Predictably Irrational, “Thinking Fast and Slow,” and “Nudge,” Dan Ariely, Daniel Kahneman, and Cass Sunstein (with co-author Richard Thaler), respectively, explore how cognitive biases lead individuals to make decisions that defy what we might call “rational thinking.” In their 2021 book “Noise,” Kahneman and Sunstein partner with Olivier Sibony to focus on the wide variabilities in judgments, by both individuals and organizations, when addressing the exact same problem. Seemingly random and unfair decisions resulting from “noise” have dramatic implications for society, including the erosion of trust we have in one another.
SANDY SPRINGS, Ga.— Jon Wittenburg, brings the backing of an international company to his Minuteman Press Sandy Springs franchise. Wittenburg, a self-described introvert, purchased the franchise in 2012 and joined the Sandy Springs Perimeter Chamber of Commerce shortly after opening his press shop. “Design, print and promote is in essence what we do,” Wittenburg said. “We understand that good printing starts with good design.” Wittenburg said his secret to maintaining a local business through the COVID-19 pandemic circles back to the relationships he forged with fellow small business owners at networking events with the Perimeter Chamber. Minuteman Press International has almost 1,000 franchises across the world, including South Africa, Australia and the United Kingdom. There are 10 franchises operating in Metro Atlanta with another 10 throughout Georgia. After expanding the footprint of his previous shop at 6780 Roswell Road in 2017, Minuteman Press Sandy Springs has settled into a larger location at the Morgan Falls Office Park just up the road on Ga. 9. The motivation for the move to Morgan Falls in April was to increase the square footage of the shop and to streamline production. “One of the big benefits of the move this year was being able to place our equipment where it needed to be,” Wittenberg said. “It also gives me expansion capabilities.” When Wittenburg and his team signed a long-term lease at the office park, they had to gamble on the state of the printing industry in the United States. According to an industry report from IBISWorld, the print market in the United States was estimated at about $80 billion in 2023. The right touch While digital marketing has expanded in the internet age, people often prefer things they can touch and feel, Wittenburg said. “We got involved with promotional products a few years ago because we felt it was a good complement to the conventional printing we do,” Wittenburg said. “So, it gives us the ability to be like a one-stop print shop.” If a local business owner decides they want a brochure instead of flyers, the team at Minuteman Press Sandy Springs already has the equipment and know-how to create the product.
The company employs a full-time designer and a full-time production manager. Wittenberg said he hopes to hire another designer soon to keep the production process operating more efficiently. The need to hire another team member at the print shop is a problem Wittenberg said he’s happy to have. What’s more, the team works with customers to ensure they have the chance to look over the design and make changes before going to print. “If you design it right and print it right, people are going to look at it,” Wittenberg said. In-house graphics are a benefit because it allows the team at Minuteman Press to offer advice and expert opinions on the designs customers bring into the shop. While the U.S. Postal Service offers tools for individuals to design their own print products, there is not someone on staff to ensure the product achieves its intended effect. Entrepreneur Magazine has rated Minuteman Press International as the top printing franchise in the industry for 20 straight years. In the company’s 50-year history, it has been named the No. 1 franchise in the printing industry 32 times. Minuteman Press Sandy Springs has also received positive reviews from customers across North Fulton, East Cobb and Dunwoody. Whether customers came in for wedding invitations or a school project, a vast majority spoke to Wittenberg and his team’s honesty, efficiency and quality printing. “Minuteman Press Sandy Springs is a wonderful shop to do business with,” Russell Wise said in a Google review. “Very responsive, professional quality, well versed in all aspects of their craft and creative.” Adjusting to global pandemic When the COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent lockdowns hit the U.S. in 2020, business-to-business industries bore the brunt of economic pain. “Most of what we do is for other small to medium-sized businesses,” Wittenberg said. “Whenever there’s uncertainty, then businesses are going to be hesitant to spend a lot of money on marketing.” Initially, there was a temporary increase in business for signage related to social distancing and the pandemic. However, demand for other products and services significantly declined. Print marketing and advertising
See PRESS, Page 8
BUSINESS
AppenMedia.com/Dunwoody | Dunwoody Crier | January 4, 2024 | 7
Brothers-in-law turn bagel shop into deli empire By DELANEY TARR SaportaReport ATLANTA — Across 30 years in the Atlanta food industry, Wayne Saxe and Howard Aaron have built a small culinary empire as co-owners of Goldbergs Fine Foods, “Atlanta’s original New York-style deli.” But their sizable corporate portfolio all started with a small bagel shop. The brothers-in-law migrated to Georgia from South Africa in 1992 with hopes of working in the food industry. Howard Aaron said he had experience back in Johannesburg, and he wanted to revisit the field. After searching, the pair found Goldberg & Son, a small father-andson Atlanta deli run by Maury and Jack Goldberg. The deli, which had opened off Roswell Road in Buckhead in 1972, was only about 1,200 square feet with a few tables. It ran primarily off takeout for its simple menu, which consisted of a few bagels, cream cheese and sandwiches. But the food was good, and it reminded them of the meals their Jewish grandmothers cooked at home. “We had a vision, we liked the product and we thought we could expand it,” Saxe said. The pair bought out the deli from the father and son in Dec. 1992 and quickly got
to work running the place. Aaron managed back-of-house while Saxe “crunched the numbers” with his accounting experience. In 1993, they embarked as the sole owners of Goldbergs Bagel Company & Deli, working with about four employees to serve up bagels and sandwiches to Atlanta. The deli owners wanted to expand, but they were committed to quality food first. “Doesn’t matter about the price and whatever it takes, we will always have a quality product and quality service,” Saxe said. “In the food business, those are the only two things that we sell: service and quality of food.” Aaron said the deli was a hit from the moment they opened it. Customers would hang out, “schmooze,” and talk to each other. “It was a very homey, welcoming environment,” Aaron said. But the pair had their sights set further. They opened up more stores across Metro Atlanta with locations in Dunwoody, East Cobb and West Paces. As their brick-andmortar locations increased, they ventured into the wholesale business and stocked Costco shelves, too. By 2015, Goldberg had expanded as a restaurant and retail operation. They had opened a secondary company, Goldberg Concessions, to feed the city’s “traveling
public.” In 2015, Saxe and Howard caught wind of a request for business proposals at the Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport. The busiest airport in the world was looking to sign a deal for the 10 Delta SkyClubs paying members to visit before flights. “Everyone who owns a retail business wants to be in the airport because of how lucrative it is,” Saxe said. They submitted a proposal and won the contract to supply bagels and cream cheese to Delta SkyClubs in Atlanta. With that expansion, they opened Goldbergs Commissary to manage the SkyClub food. Their investment in the Atlanta airport took off from there, as Goldberg slowly took over all the food for the airports. They also expanded elsewhere – in 2015, Saxe and Aaron opened the Atlanta Braves All-Star Grill in downtown Atlanta. Now owners of a catalog of companies, Saxe and Aaron had no intentions of slowing down. “We got a call from Delta again, and they said, ‘Listen, you know we put food on our planes. Would there be any interest in you guys doing that?’” Saxe said. They were the only self-identified “little bagel place” to try for the contract with Delta out of dozens of other companies. Still, they got the deal, which Saxe attributes to
their product quality. “We had the best service in town, the best quality and all of the Delta leaders come to our business anyways,” Saxe said. With that, Goldbergs Fine Foods started supplying all of the international flights out of Atlanta with food. They also served American Airlines and United Airlines with in-cabin options. Since they were in airports so much, Saxe and Aaron decided to take on an entirely different avenue: construction. They started up yet another company, Goldway Construction, which built out restaurants in Hartsfield-Jackson airport. Now they have over 2,000 employees, a major jump from the few Saxe and Aaron started with. Even though they’re the co-owners of a major portfolio of companies, Saxe and Aaron still see themselves as the “little bagel shop,” adding a personal touch to every operation. “We don’t take any shortcuts, and, you know, we do things correctly,” Aaron said. The shops are far from little nowadays, though. Their staff produces more than 500 dozen bagels every weekday and more than 1,000 dozen bagels every weekend. The menu is also bigger, with 32 varieties at
See GOLDBERGS, Page 8
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Continued from Page 6 spending decreased during 2020-21, Wittenburg said. Because print products are primarily used during in-person events, the effect on local print shops is intuitive. The supply chain also had a huge effect on the local business and the U.S. printing industry. “We even had trouble getting paper,” Wittenberg said. “I’d never thought I’d see the day when there would be trouble getting 20-pound copy paper.” When the supply chain threw a wrench into print production, other areas picked up. For example, the use of direct mail for advertising and marketing increased with so many Americans in their homes. The return of in-person events in 2022 brought with it opportunities for Minuteman Press Sandy Springs to provide a much wider selection of products and services. “It’s about as close to normal as it’s going to get,” Wittenburg said. “There are still at times delays in getting a particular line of paper.” If customers prefer to stick to a certain brand or weight of paper, they may have to wait a little longer, but the uncertainty has declined since the peak
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The team at Minuteman Press Sandy Springs stands with Greater North Fulton Chamber President Kali Boatright, right, and Sandy Springs Perimeter Chamber President Adam Forrand, left, Aug. 24 in the new shop at 7840 Roswell Road. Many of the customers at Minuteman Press Sandy Springs are local business owners. of the pandemic. When asked about the difference between print and digital media in the internet age, Wittenberg gave the business card as an example. A person can tap your phone and your contact information will be instantly in their smart phone. Business cards could be obsolete in just a few years. Without a physical reminder of the
person’s contact, digital business cards often fail to achieve the same effect as a printed one, Wittenberg said. A complete marketing strategy includes print and digital, which can complement one another if used properly. “An emotion that you can touch and feel, hold on to or even keep if you want
Goldbergs: Continued from Page 7 each location. No matter the size, Howard and Saxe want to keep the small business feel. They focus on community engagement by donating leftover goods from restaurants and airports to Atlanta’s homeless population. They also keep the business in the family. Both of Saxe’s sons run companies under the umbrella. His oldest son runs Mainland Foods, which consists of the food production facilities. His younger son runs Goldway Construction.
to,” Wittenberg said. “It is often a lasting emotion, an emotion you can revisit if you want to.” Wittenberg said he believes the COVID-19 pandemic brought the printing industry back. “As long as we are emotional creatures, I think there will also be a place for printing.” “They’re excelling in those parts of the business, and it’s worked out very well for us,” Saxe said. After decades in the business, Saxe and Howard are still heavily involved in each part of the business. The scope has changed, but the co-owners are clear on their focus. “We just want to stick to our basics and remember our roots, how we started and where we are,” Aaron said. “If you asked either one of us 30 years ago if we’d be where we are today, I don’t believe any of us would have realized.” This story originally appeared on SaportaReport.com and is available here through a reporting partnership.
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Ruling: Continued from Page 1 required to be made available to the public. Appen Media, which publishes six weekly newspapers including the Sandy Springs Crier, filed suit in May arguing that the Sandy Springs Police Department is in violation of state law by not providing full initial incident reports to the public and the press when requested. For over a year, the paper has pushed the department for more details about calls its police officers have been dispatched to investigate. In most cases, the agency has returned the requests with onesentence narratives stating when and where police were dispatched to and, usually, for what reason. Unlike incident reports provided by police agencies in surrounding jurisdictions, the Sandy Springs reports lack details on the nature of the crime, an accounting of property damage, injuries associated with a crime, whether any arrests were made, and whether any suspects have been identified. Appen Media’s suit alleges Sandy Springs prepares this information in a
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separate document which the city then withholds from release. As part of its court case, Appen Media cited guidance from the current “A Law Enforcement Officer’s Guide to Open Records in Georgia,” prepared and endorsed by the Georgia Attorney General in conjunction with the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, Georgia Sheriff’s Association, Georgia Association of Chiefs of Police, Prosecuting Attorneys’ Council of Georgia and Georgia Press Association. The guidance document states that “initial incident and police arrest reports are subject to the Act’s disclosure requirements, regardless of whether they are part of an active investigation. Additionally, any report, whether entitled a ‘supplemental report,’ ‘narrative report,’ or similar document name that is produced as part of an initial incident report or can be characterized as such, is likewise to be disclosed.” Carl Appen, director of Content and Development for the publishing company, argued that the incident reports provided by Sandy Springs Police Department “usually include a one-line sentence stating that the responding officer is responding to a call . . . the responding officer will then prepare a ‘supplemental report’ that includes the
Truist: Continued from Page 1 been trained to assist with questions. “Except for clients who have a safe deposit box, clients won’t experience any changes with their accounts through this transition,” Leney said. The 15 million Truist clients across 17 states and the District of Columbia will still have access to more than 1,900 branches and 2,900 ATMs after March 2024. Headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina, Truist Financial Corporation was formed after the merger of SunTrust and BB&T in December 2019. Truist is the largest bank in Georgia by total deposits. “As more clients choose to bank with us digitally,” Leney said. “We’re closing 4 percent of our branches across our retail footprint in March 2024 based on several factors including client behavior, branch traffic, and transaction volume.” While some clients prefer in-person service, Truist has chalked up the decision to close branches nationwide as a response to client’s evolving preferences. After a vast majority of banking services became available digitally during the COVID-19 pandemic, many
Editor’s Note Patrick Fox is managing editor for Appen Media. He has played no role, offered no testimony, in the litigation of Appen Media’s case against the City of Sandy Springs up to the time of the Dec. 22 ruling.
additional information the responding officer learns while on scene responding to the initial call.” He said those supplemental reports, often completed the same day as the initial report, are not being made available. Appen’s suit centered on whether this second document, typically prepared by the officers using information obtained at the scene, is considered part of the initial incident report. In December 2022, Georgia Assistant Attorney General Jennifer Colangelo said it is. Replying to a request from the media company, Colangelo stated: “A commonsense interpretation of ‘initial incident report’ is that anything written at the same time as the first part of the report is part of the initial incident report.” Appen Media used the message as
supporting evidence in its suit. But Judge Adams ruled that the guidance document and Attorney General’s assessment Appen cites is not the law, “although [Appen] may be correct in its assertion that [the Sandy Springs Police Department’s] practice violates the spirit of the Open Records Act.” Even so, Adams wrote that testimony in a deposition by Sandy Springs Police Capt. Norm Vik, explained that, while the short-form report and more-detailed supplemental report may be completed at the same time, the two reports are handled separately. Sandy Springs has maintained that the detailed, supplemental police reports contain information used for investigative purposes and would, therefore, be exempt from disclosure so as not to compromise investigation and prosecution of a crime. In a statement issued Dec. 27, Sandy Springs Mayor Rusty Paul praised the court ruling. “The court determined the City of Sandy Springs fully complies with the law,” Paul stated. “We believe our policy balances the right of citizens to access essential public information with the need to preserve the integrity of criminal investigations. We are gratified the court agreed with us.”
Truist Bank branches closing in Georgia • • • • • • • •
Gresham Road Branch: 2434 Gresham Road, Suite B Atlanta, GA Dalton Eastside Branch: 2500 East Walnut Avenue Dalton, GA Dunwoody Place Publix Branch: 8725 Roswell Rd, Suite G Sandy Springs, GA Atlanta Financial Center Branch: 3353 Peachtree Rd NE Atlanta, GA Centennial Place Branch: 523 Luckie St NW Atlanta, GA Camp Creek Branch: 3790 Princeton Lakes Parkway SW Atlanta, GA Riverdale Crossing Branch: 7575 Highway 85 Riverdale, GA Pio Nono Branch: 3625 Pio Nono Ave Macon, GA
clients have preferred to bank online. “These decisions create additional opportunities for investment in our digital capabilities,” Leney said. One priority after the merger of SunTrust and BB&T was to address large-scale branch overlap and achieve $1.6 billion in annual net savings by early 2022, bank executives said in 2019. The bank said it eventually hit its goal in January 2023. During the Barclays Global Financial Services Conference in early September, Truist CEO Bill Rodgers said the bank’s cost-savings program will reduce its workforce and aims to cut $750 million over the next 12 to 18 months.
Truist has not announced the extent to which it will cut jobs at the shuttering locations throughout Georgia. Rodgers also said the cost-savings program is a response to Truist’s lackluster financial performance postpandemic. At the same time Truist is closing locations in Metro Atlanta, Fifth Third Bank was granted a conditional use permit for a drive-thru facility at 6420 Roswell Road Dec. 19. Jeffrey Wagner, vice president and regional real estate director of Fifth Third Bank, said the company has selected downtown Sandy Springs as a target area for their expansion into Metro Atlanta.
OPINION
GARDEN BUZZ
AppenMedia.com/Dunwoody | Dunwoody Crier | January 4, 2024 | 19
Forest bathing allows you to embrace nature’s healing powers The ‘forest bath’ or the Japanese concept of shrinin-yoku forest therapy is an exercise in mindfulness that promotes wellbeing and a sense of calmness when practiced. The refers to a KATHERINE COPPEDGE “bathing” therapeutic immersion Guest Columnist in the natural environment with all the senses engaged. It’s an intentional and mindful practice that involves a leisurely walk through the woods allowing the sights, sounds, scents and textures of the natural world to “wash” over the individual. But it’s not just a walk, it’s a rejuvenating experience that goes beyond the physical and taps into the therapeutic essence of nature itself. This is not exercise, or hiking, or jogging through the woods. It is simply being in nature with no other activity involved. No picture taking, texting or otherwise engaging with anything other than strolling through the forest. By opening our senses, it bridges the gap between us and the natural world. Never have we been so far from connecting with the natural world and so divorced from nature. The United Nations reports that 55% of the world’s population lives in urban areas today, a proportion that is expected to increase to 68% by 2050. According to a study sponsored by the Environmental Protection Agency, the average American spends 93% of his or her time indoors. In our fast-paced, technology-driven lives, finding moments of stillness and mindfulness is a challenge but forest bathing provides an antidote. It is a way to foster an awareness of the interconnectedness of all living things, of being fully in the present moment, and leaving behind the distractions and noise of daily life. It is a holistic experience that encompasses the mind, body and soul. Trees, the silent giants of the natural world, play a vital role in forest bathing. They play a vital role in creating a balanced ecosystem. Forest bathing takes this understanding to a personal level, allowing one to appreciate the calming influence of trees. Phytoncides, natural compounds released by trees, lowered stress hormone levels and increased immune system activity in scientific studies. Understanding the healing power of trees can deepen our commitment to preserving and protecting these essential guardians of our environment. In forest bathing, the senses are our guides. Walking through a forest becomes a sensory feast, with the rustling of leaves, the dappled light through the canopy, the fragrance of the earth, and the touch of breeze on the skin all contributing to a heightened awareness. This sensory
make an immediate return to everyday life. Savor the forest and the experience. In conclusion, forest bathing is not just about personal well-being; it fosters a deeper understanding of the need to conserve and protect our natural spaces. It can instill a sense of responsibility to preserve the sanctity of the environment. Forest bathing prompts us to be mindful of our impact on the ecosystems we inhabit and work toward preserving and protecting these spaces for future generations. Let us take time to immerse ourselves in the restorative embrace of the forest, understanding that the well-being of the natural world is intricately woven into our own.
John Ripley Forbes Big Trees Preserve in Sandy Springs exploration is not only a source of pleasure but a way to strengthen our connection with the natural world. It is a celebration of the untamed beauty of the wilderness. To do a forest bath: 1. Find a suitable location in nature – a wooded area, preferably close to home so it can become a healthy habit. 2. Enter the forest, stand still, and recognize your body in space (15-20 minutes), breathe slowly and evenly:
SANDRA SHAVE/PROVIDED
a. See five things. b. Hear four things. c. Touch three things. d. Smell two things. e. Taste one thing. 3. Proceed by walking mindfully, slowly and quietly. 4. Reflect out loud; “I am noticing __________.” 5. Establish a spot to sit and ponder for a minimum of 20 minutes. 6. Return to mindfully walking and continue the bathing session. 7. Conclude your session but do not
About the author This week’s “Garden Buzz” guest columnist is Roswell resident Katherine Coppedge. Katherine has been a Master Gardener since 2009 and has been gardening in the Atlanta area since the 1070s. Katherine is an avid hiker and lover of walking in the woods. Katherine is a member of the Spalding Garden Club and has been a board member of the John Ripley Forbes Big Trees Preserve in Sandy Springs since 2006. Katherine shared her love of trees and forest bathing in her spring 2021 “Big Trees of Sandy Springs” garden lecture which is viewable at https://youtu.be/oeOlLc21ue0.
Learn more • • • • • • • • •
Forest Bathing - Connecting to Nature to Improve Health. Rappold and Dixon. University of Arizona Extension. https://extension.arizona.edu/pubs/forest-bathing-%E2%80%93-connecting-nature-improve-health Forest Bathing https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ElyUFMgwPAw Embracing the Wisdom of Shinrin-yoku: Exploring the Japanese Tradition of Forest Bathing https://treeplantation.com/forest-bathing.html The Art and Science of Forest Bathing https://kripalu.org/resources/art-andscience-forest-bathing The Art of Forest Bathing https://aplacebetweenthetrees.com/2020/09/30/theart-of-forest-bathing/ Shinrin-Yoku - The Japanese Art of Forest Bathing https://www.youtube.com/ watch?v=5L8mEU40Gjs Forest Bathing: How Trees Can Help You Find Health and Happiness by Dr. Qing Nature’s Keeper: John Ripley Forbes and the Children’s Nature Movement, by Gary Ferguson The Hidden Life of Trees: What they feel, how they communicate - Discoveries from a Secret World by Peter Wohlleben
Now, go take a walk. Slowly! 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:// appenmedia.com/opinion/columnists/ garden_buzz/.
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GET OUTSIDE GEORGIA
OPINION
A good stick can come in handy along the trail This time of year, I love to get outside and just walk. Sure, it’s cold – really cold sometimes – but with the leaves off the trees it seems like I can see forever. That makes the world a little better somehow, STEVE HUDSON and my soul Columnist responds. Do you know what I mean? It’s like the outdoors is saying, “Come on. Soak it up. It’s waiting for you right now, and sure it’s cold, but there’ll be hot chocolate waiting when you get home.” Last time I heard that call was a week ago Friday. “Come on,” it said again. I didn’t have to be asked twice. So I grabbed my favorite flyrod (“That one’s a good stick!” a friend of mine told me once) and my high-tech telescoping hiking stick (the one with the tungsten carbide tip) and set out for…where? How about Olde Rope Mill Park? Olde Rope Mill Park commemorates the site of the Cherokee Cotton Mill, known for years simply as “Rope Mill.” It dates back to the 1840s, when a cotton mill and a grist mill operated there alongside the flowing waters of Little River. Over the decades the site grew to be a major manufacturer of cotton rope. Among the products it produced was cotton tent rope for use during World War II. After the war, construction of Lake Allatoona moved ahead. The mill, which was located within the floodplain of the new lake, closed at the end of September 1949. The land was
purchased by the government and the buildings were dismantled, though some ruins (including the ruins of the old mill dam) can still be seen today. This park, just a stone’s throw from I-575 at Ridgewalk Parkway (exit 9), is at the far end of Olde Rope Mill Park Road. There’s a gas station at the corner where you turn, and I stop there to get a frozen Coke. Then I follow the road on a long downhill run that ends at the parking area. I’m lucky and get a spot right away. Then I rig up my fly rod and put on my waders, hoping I won’t be too cold. From near the parking area, a pedestrian bridge spans the river. I walk out onto it, stopping halfway across to look upstream. I spot a fisherman casting into the flow, but he seems to be having no luck. I walk back toward the parking lot, passing the big platform by the water’s edge. There’s a fisherman on it, casting with a big spinning rod out into the river. “Any luck?” I call. “Not yet,” he answers. I think about what he said…not “no,” but “not yet.” Maybe I should give up on fishing this day and just hike instead. After all, there’s plenty of hiking at Olde Rope Mill Park. There’s world-class mountain biking, too, thanks to the Taylor Randahl Memorial Mountain Bike Trails network. According to the Southern Off-Road Bicycle Association, those bike trails offer something for everyone, whether beginner or advanced. I’m going to give it a try one of these days. Not today, though. Cold or not, today I think I’ll fish. So I follow the paved trail leading
upstream along the river. There is a certain access spot I have in mind, a place where it’s easy to get in the water. Maybe I can fool a fish into taking a fly even on this cold December afternoon. And that’s when I see him. “Hi, mister!” he says. “See my stick?” He holds up a piece of wood about three feet long. “Son, he sees your stick,” says the accompanying adult, speaking softly. “It’s a good stick,” the boy says. “Good!” Then he stops, stone still, all of a sudden. His eyes go to the ground, and the stick comes up, and then he jabs it downward, hard, sharp, a harpoon striking some demon in the grass. “Ha!” he says triumphantly. “Ha!” He lifts the stick, and I see there impaled on the end of it a piece of litter – someone’s discarded fast-food cup. “Trash!” the boy says. “Trash!” And then he walks purposefully to the trash can about 20 yards farther down the trail, where he pulls the cup from the end of the stick and deliberately throws it away. As the boy walks back toward us, the adult turns in my direction and says, “He likes to pick up trash. He likes to keep things clean.” “Clean!” the boy says. “Clean up the trash! Gotta have a good stick!” The two of them continue on down the trail, back toward the parking lot. Me, I keep walking upstream. Along the way I pass a pair of hikers with binoculars around their necks (“Looking for hawks!” one of them says… then a lone walker who appears to be eating a cheeseburger…and finally a guy doing his best to set a land speed record
on his bike. Then there it is – the access point I was looking for. I ease into the river, where I cast hopefully for an hour or so. I get exactly one hit, and I land exactly one fish, a tiny sunfish about five inches long. But that’s okay. That’s plenty. Besides, I’m getting cold. So I reel in the line and turn around and start wading back toward the access point and the trail. A moment later I climb out of the river, using my walking stick to steady me. Then I start the hike back to the car. That’s when I see it: a glaringly discordant cheeseburger wrapper lying trailside in the leaves, tossed there carelessly by someone who didn’t want to carry it any more. I note it in passing, maintaining my cadence as I move on down the trail. Ten yards…fifteen… Then I stop, turn, and backtrack. I walk until I’m standing over it, me on the trail, the discarded burger wrapper crumpled jarringly on the ground at my feet. “Clean up the trash!” I hear the boy saying. But you need a stick to clean up trash, I think to myself. I don’t have a stick, I say out loud. But I do have a stick…my hiking stick… It takes me a couple of tries, but I finally capture the burger wrapper with the stick’s high-tech tip. Then I walk on down the trail to the trash can, where I pull the wrapper free and drop it in. Yeah, you need to have a good stick. I had two that day. Both did their jobs, and I (like the river) ended up better for it.
OPINION
AppenMedia.com/Dunwoody | Dunwoody Crier | January 4, 2024 | 21
Where have all the Christmas cards gone? I have written a family Christmas letter now for about 50 consecutive years. It usually is long – like around 3,000 words-ish, which is crazy and usually includes a large collage of RAY APPEN photos from the Publisher Emeritus year. So, no one is going to read a 3,000-word Christmas letter. Most people are not going to read a 3,000-word anything. I did manage to cut it down – way down this year – by not writing much about family and more about thoughts in general. However, with context, that long a letter may make a little more sense. Most of the time, I have been writing to update all my hometown (Rockledge, Florida) friends – primarily my parents’ friends – about us. They knew us. They watched us grow up. Many actively participated in our childhood. So, many, if not most of them, actually had an interest in what we had been doing
– at least enough to wade through more people are thinking that they my too-long missive. Most of them, are time-starved and believe they however, have died. So, it has been don’t have time to write something or a challenge to continue to write the send a letter. (My guess is also that letter since my audience has changed this quadrant of people also doesn’t so much – and diminished in number. have to time to read newspaper Plus, many or most new additions to columns either). My guess is that my mailing list already know what the collectively we are all feeling the fam is up to because we see them – at anxiety of information overload – church or in and about town. and the omniscience of (generally This year, we did not get many toxic) social media – combined with Christmas cards compared to the past. a broad disconnect with each other, I am guessing the cards are down like an ungrounding to reality as we have more than 75%! What the heck? I know known it – as a community of people, that we – at least I – can be obnoxious of neighbors, of friends who are more but I didn’t think we had lost, or important than all the bright, shiny could lose, so many friends so quickly! objects we think we see. Geezzzz! So tired of talking to machines I asked Christina about it – what already, over the phone or online. It could possibly be an explanation. surely will just get worse. She thought about it for about 3 What do you think? Seriously. seconds and replied, “social media.” Did you see a decrease in Christmas She thought that maybe most people cards this year? If so, to what do feel like they are in touch all year long you attribute it? Let me hear from with their friends, so the necessity of you? I can be emailed at RayAppen@ sending printed snail-mailed Christmas Gmail.com. In the subject line put letters just didn’t feel as appropriate as “Christmas Cards.” T:\ADS_2024\Appen Press it did in years past. I guess… In closing, I Media\Appen had an interesting Club\Listening tour My guess was that more and disaster in ordering most of my
Christmas gifts online this year; they all were delivered to the wrong address – and I never got them. I think this happened because “my laptop” overwrote my address – where to mail my purchases to. Why? Well, my takeaway is that when you are ordering something online, never, ever click “yes” when you are prompted with “Is it ok to use your current location?” Always click NO. What happened to me, I think, was that I typed in my correct address, but because my street number is the same as the street number on a different street – a street located about ¼ mile from me –the geo-location-enabled AI just decided/ auto-filled in the rest of my address – or overwrote it – for me. Just saying. Can’t make this stuff up. I am so not liking AI. And yes, I went to the other address to try to find my packages, but it was a shopping center and about a dozen stores used that one address – but with different suite numbers. It actually gets worse, but I will save that for another column. Use my current location? Absolutely, NOT.
Appen Press Club presents
OTHER UPCOMING LISTENING TOUR 2024 DATES & LOCATIONS: February 14th
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