Dunwoody Crier - February 1, 2024 by Appen Media Group

Crier hosts tour stop in Dunwoody ► PAGE 8

Fe b r u a r y 1 , 2 0 2 4 | A p p e n M e d i a . c o m | A n A p p e n M e d i a G r o u p P u b l i c a t i o n | S e r v i n g t h e c o m m u n i t y s i n c e 1 9 7 6

Councilman challenges shift in fund allocations Dunwoody High School hosts meeting By HAYDEN SUMLIN hayden@appenmedia.com

are so fortunate to live in the great community of Dunwoody.”

DUNWOODY, Ga. — More than 100 students, parents and community members attended the first City Council meeting held at Dunwoody High School Jan. 22 to see local government up close. What they got was a tutorial in tracking money and a lesson in the cost of maintaining a city. “This is a historic event, our first council meeting on the road,” Mayor L yn Deutsch said. Representatives of the Youth City Council involved in executing the event, spoke during public comment to open the meeting. Valentina Cloitre, Youth City Council co-president, thanked Michael Berry who teaches social studies at Dunwoody High School and sponsors the club. “Thank you, all students and councilmembers, for taking time out of your day to participate with us,” Cloitre said. Principal Tom Bass noted the historical precedent. “It is such an honor to have the first City Council meeting here,” Bass said. “Dunwoody High School is all about relationships…community, we

Tracking budget money Before the City Council voted to approve the consent agenda, Councilman John Heneghan motioned to remove an item concerning capital project closeouts and funding reallocation. Councilmembers Heneghan and Joe Seconder said they wanted clarification from Finance Director Richard Platto about where the money has been reallocated. “We’ve identified projects that have been completed… some had funds available, some overran the budget,” Platto said. “The net effect for all funds impacted by these projects is zero, so it’s all reallocating within each given fund.” Funds were reallocated from the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act; Dunwoody’s hotel and motel tax; the DeKalb County Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax; and capital improvement projects. Heneghan’s questions about funding spanned from road paving to radios for the Police Department. “We are moving almost $2 million

See COUNCIL, Page 9

HAYDEN SUMLIN/APPEN MEDIA

Audience members follow proceedings at the Jan. 22 City Council meeting held for the first time at Dunwoody High School. The Youth City Council, several student organizations and DeKalb County Schools collaborated with staff to arrange the meeting in the high school auditorium.

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2 | February 1, 2024 | Dunwoody Crier | AppenMedia.com/Dunwoody

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DUNWOODY, Ga. — Dunwoody Police arrested a Providence, Rhode Island, man Jan. 15 after a traffic stop turned up controlled substances in his possession. An officer said he conducted a traffic stop on a 2013 Nissan Rogue for a tint violation near Ashford Dunwoody Road and Perimeter Center West. Because an officer smelled marijuana emanating from the vehicle, he conducted a search of the vehicle, its driver and passenger. The officer said he located a small bag containing a white powdery substance, scale and THC vaping pen in a bag on the passenger’s side of the vehicle. A field test of the substance was positive for cocaine, officers said. The passenger, identified as 28-yearold Deshanon Roddy-Byrd, said the narcotics were his and the driver was not involved. Roddy-Byrd also said someone provided him with the narcotics to sell.

Officers secured warrants for possession of a Schedule II substance with intent to distribute, possession of a Schedule I substance and possession of drug related objects. Roddy-Byrd was transported DeKalb County Jail, officers said.

Police cite Norcross man for improper tag, no license DUNWOODY, Ga. — Dunwoody Police arrested a 35-year-old Norcross man Jan. 16 after officers discovered his vehicle had a fake temporary tag. An officer said he conducted a traffic stop on a red Toyota Highlander displaying a temporary tag from Texas and traveling north on Ashford Dunwoody Road. The driver did not have a driver’s license, and a license plate check through the National Crime Information Center provided no results, the officer said. Because the suspect said he borrowed the car from a friend, officers called and spoke with the owner of the vehicle. The vehicle’s owner, a 51-year-old Alabama woman, provided proof of insurance and said the fake tag was provided by the seller. A search of the vehicle identification number through the National Crime Information Center confirmed the

information the owner provided, officers said. The man was arrested and charged with concealing the identity of a vehicle, operating an unregistered vehicle and driving without a valid license. Officers said the man was transported to DeKalb County Jail.

Police arrest Atlanta man for violating trespass order DUNWOODY, Ga. — Dunwoody Police arrested a 34-year-old Atlanta man Jan. 17 after Chick-fil-A employees reported him for violating his criminal trespass warning. An officer said he located the suspect, who was screaming inside the Chick-fil-A on Ashford Dunwoody Road. The suspect, identified as Morgan White, said he stopped at the restaurant on the way home from a sporting event. The officer said a check through the National Crime Information Center showed White had been issued a criminal trespass warning from the same Chick-fil-A location Jan. 3. The manager told police that Chickfil-A wanted to press charges. White was arrested for violating his criminal trespass warning and transported to DeKalb County Jail. The officer said he obtained an arrest warrant for White after the transport.

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COMMUNITY

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All Saints Preschool continues community exploration project DUNWOODY, Ga. — The Fives Class from The Preschool at All Saints has begun its annual walking field trips as part of the students’ community exploration project. In 2010, The Fives Class began taking walking field trips with their teachers and parent chaperones. The trips offer children the opportunity for hands-on experiences as they begin to learn the importance of being part of a community, co-director Hope Long said. “The experiences meet many of the Georgia Early Learning and Development standards and provide the children and parent chaperones with fun connections with one another and the Dunwoody community,” Long said. The program introduces preschoolers to community geography, economics, responsibilities and the role of technology, satisfying four tenets that promote early learning and development outcomes for children. In fall 2023, the Fives Class visited the Kroger off Jett Ferry Road Oct. 25 and All Creatures Animal Hospital on Mount Vernon Road Nov. 30. The next stops during the community exploration project include Chick-fil-A and Bernadette’s Hair

Salon. At the animal hospital, members of the Fives Class viewed X-rays of animals, used a stethoscope and interacted with a bearded dragon. When the class visited the operation room, they suited up for surgery on a stuffed animal, which had puppies for the preschoolers to take home. “For most of the kids, this was their first time walking to a local business,” parent chaperone Erin Sellers said. “The veterinary staff couldn’t have been nicer, and our visit was filled with bearded iguanas, ferrets, cats, bird X-rays - and even a pretend canine birth.” At Kroger, the class toured various departments, identifying produce and tasting samples. With guidance from team members, preschoolers were also introduced to a grocery store’s stock room and freezer section. “Most importantly, [the tours] show the children the helpful and generous people in our wonderful Dunwoody neighborhood,” Long said. “Following the trips, the learning is extended with discussions, group-story writing, drawings, and thank you letters to our dear neighbors for our incredible experience!”

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THE PRESCHOOL AT ALL SAINTS/PROVIDED

A produce employee at the Kroger off Jett Ferry Road shows children a variety of peppers Oct. 25 as part of a community tour for the Fives Class from The Preschool at All Saints.

4 | February 1, 2024 | Dunwoody Crier | AppenMedia.com/Dunwoody

NEWS

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SANDY SPRINGS, Ga. — Georgia Department of Transportation contractors closed the I-285 westbound shoulder Jan. 21 from Long Island Drive past the Mt. Vernon Highway bridge. The closure is expected to last three months for work on the I-285 Auxiliary Lane Project, which will add an additional track between Roswell Road and Riverside Drive. The $42 million project also includes the reconstruction of the Mount Vernon Highway Bridge over I-285. GDOT says the closure may be extended beyond the three-month estimate. The project contractors, Archer Western Construction and Heath & Lineback Engineering, began construction in August 2023. Kyle Collins, a communications program manager with GDOT, said completion is anticipated in summer 2025. GDOT classifies the project under the umbrella of the I-285 Advanced Improvement Project.

The I-285 projects are a part of the Major Mobility and Investment Program, which seeks to improve freight mobility, decrease travel times and enhance safety across the state. After a tractor -trailer crash closed the Mount Vernon Highway bridge over I-285 in late September 2023, GDOT looked to accelerate the completion of the bridge. The initial completion date for the new bridge was set for June. While there may be delays due to utility relocation and weather, completion of the bridge is anticipated for March, according to GDOT. “We still anticipate a traffic shift to the new Mount Vernon Road bridge this spring,” Collins said. “[We] are working with the project team to expedite that as much as possible.” GDOT advises drivers to expect delays, exercise caution and reduce speed while traveling through the construction zone. For real-time information on work status and traffic conditions, visit http://511ga.org/

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NEWS

Sandy Springs to consider fire, emergency services funding By HAYDEN SUMLIN hayden@appenmedia.com SANDY SPRINGS, Ga. — The Sandy Springs City Council will consider two measures Feb. 6 that will have major effects on its Fire Department. At a work session before the Jan. 16 City Council meeting, Fire Chief Keith Sanders presented two recommendations to increase efficiency and save costs. Sanders said his department needs to implement a fee schedule to deter assisted living facilities from calling for special fire services during nonemergency situations. For lift-assist services, which require firefighter medics to physically move a person who has fallen and does not require emergency care or transport, fire personnel are sometimes required to go out of service. City Councilman John Paulson questioned why assisted living facility staff cannot assist patients who have fallen. “It seems strange to me that someone doesn’t do this,” Paulson said. Because of staffing shortages and deficient licensing, many employees at some assisted living facilities are not qualified to touch patients or residents. “Insurance won’t allow them to do it, they’ve got to call our experts and our

CITY OF SANDY SPRINGS/PROVIDED

An image of a Cobb County medical response unit provides an example of the vehicle discussed for purchase before the Jan. 16 City Council meeting. Staff recommended the purchase of an ambulance for the Fire Department. licensed people,” City Attorney Dan Lee said. Sanders proposed charging a rate of $225 per half hour for each fire employee dispatched, which increases with three or more calls within 30 days. He also

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proposed similar hourly charges for other special services performed by fire personnel. Sanders said the Fire Department has met with the management of the five assisted living facilities that generate the largest number of invalid lift-assist calls. None of the facilities objected to the proposed fee schedule, and all agreed to further educate their staff on the importance of not using the Fire Department for nonemergency calls, Sanders said. The ordinance amendment does not affect ambulance or police responses. Mayor Rusty Paul said the amendment to the Code of Ordinances will come up for a vote at the Feb. 6 City Council meeting. In a related matter, Sanders discussed the service-level agreement with American Medical Response for the city’s ambulance services, set to expire Jun. 30. The agreement provides eight ambulances at peak times, four ambulances 24 hours a day and the ability to monitor daily ambulance operations. While the city pays $260,000 a year to American Medical Response for 8-minute response times, the company has requested an 850 percent increase to $3.6 million. Sanders said AMR cited workforce shortages, rising costs and decreased reimbursement rates from insurance as the reason for the jump in charges. In 2016, the Fire Department added advanced life support equipment to all fire apparatus and staffed all vehicles with one certified paramedic. Sanders said a response time of 8 minutes or less is not necessary, because fire personnel stabilize patients before

HAYDEN SUMLIN/APPEN MEDIA

City Attorney Dan Lee, at right, discusses a proposed ordinance Jan. 16 that would charge assisted living facilities for special services provided by the Sandy Springs Fire Department. Lee said insurance and personnel issues with private facilities requires the Fire Department to assist a person who does not require emergency care or medical transportation. ambulances arrive. Sanders said his staff and City Manager Eden Freeman have discussed the contract price hike with other surrounding cities and with AMR management. Sanders recommended the Fire Department purchase of a custombuilt ambulance from Frazer Ltd., that comes with firefighting and advanced life support equipment. Public safety impact fees would cover the $390,046 cost of the ambulance, which would take 10-12 months to deliver. Mayor Rusty Paul said that the City Council will vote on the purchase Feb. 6. “I appreciate the fact that your… tailoring the responses that we need to the particulars of the event,” Councilman Paulson said.

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Scout leader honors late son in fighting human trafficking By AMBER PERRY amber@appenmedia.com JOHNS CREEK, Ga. — Tom Reitz said his late son Matthew was someone committed to advocacy, but not just talking about it. Matthew Reitz, who died in 2018 at 27 years old, was spunky and unfiltered. Reitz said he would say and do the things others wouldn’t, and he was loyal, defending and protecting those he cared about. “Everything about Matt was about fighting oppression,” Reitz in an interview. Reitz hosted a panel at Johns Creek Presybeterian Church with experts on human trafficking Jan. 24 in memory of his son, moderated by senior Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts who had been trained in the subject. Matt joined Boy Scouts as a Cub, and Reitz is still involved. In his last semester at Georgia State University, studying political science, Matt took a senior seminar on human trafficking. Reitz would pick him up from the North Springs MARTA station, and on the way back home, Matt shared all about what he was learning. The family now lives in Roswell but lived in Johns Creek for more than two decades. But, Reitz said he wouldn’t talk about his senior seminar, and so, he questioned him on it. “He got really stiff and really angry, and he said, ‘Papa … there are some things that you can talk about, but human trafficking — I’m doing something about it,’” Reitz recalled. “And, that was that.” Matt had been a leading member of Georgia State Unversity’s Model Arab League, a program where students learn the politics and history of the Arab world, and the art of diplomacy and speech. He had also jumped at the opportunity to study in India, to celebrate his “quarter-century mark,” and witnessed a number of issues there, particularly poverty. Matt had plans to further his studies in graduate school in international affairs. After Matt passed, Reitz went into his room and picked a book off his shelf, and it was about sex trafficking. He said he sat on the floor, reading it for more than four hours, engrossed in a story about the trafficking problem in Nepal, where some fathers had sold their daughters, as young as 4 years old, to brothels. “After I read the book, I said, ‘You know, I’ve got to do something about this because Matt is not here to do it,’” Reitz said. Four experts on human trafficking

AMBER PERRY/APPEN MEDIA

Boy Scout leader Tom Reitz welcomes an audience of about 50 people to a panel on human trafficking Jan. 24 at Johns Creek Presbyterian Church, moderated by senior Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts. Reitz organized the event in honor of his late son Matthew Reitz, who had avidly fought against oppression and participated in a senior seminar on human trafficking in his last semester at Georgia State University. participated in the panel. About 50 people, many Scouts and their parents, were listening and looking at one another as information about the realities of human trafficking were exposed. On the panel was Maja Hasic with Tapestri, a Tucker-based nonprofit dedicated to ending violence and oppression in immigrant and refugee communities; and Faythe Kadona, a sex trafficking survivor and subject matter expert with Street Grace, a Norcrossbased nonprofit committed to ending the sexual exploitation of minors. Alia El-Sawi, a victims assistance specialist for Homeland Security Investigations, also provided expertise on the subject as well as Dave McCleary, who founded the Rotary Action Group Against Slavery. Topics spanned from how parents can keep their children safe online and in real life, to false promises given to immigrants, lured into domestic servitude, to federal programs in place that prevent human trafficking. Kardona said she had experienced childhood sexual abuse by a family member from 5 to 10 years old, and eventually was sold for sex at age 18 by her best friend’s mother, to be placed in an Atlanta massage parlor. She said her exploitation didn’t end until she was 37.

Asked how parents can know if their child is being exploited, Kardona said it’s a matter of staying involved in their life. “I used to tell my son and my daughter, ‘I’m going to get in your Kool Aid, and I know every flavor, so it doesn’t matter what you try to say that it is…’” Kardona said. “Your own lived experience is a powerful tool with your children. Talk about the stories of the

things that you went through.” For resources on human trafficking, call Georgia’s hotline at 1-866-3634842 or visit endhtga.org. The Georgia Coalition to Combat Human Trafficking provides leadership, direction and best practices for all forms of human trafficking in Georgia, promoting a coordinated, victim-centered and trauma-informed response throughout the state.

8 | February 1, 2024 | Dunwoody Crier | AppenMedia.com/Dunwoody

Two dozen attend session of news staff in Dunwoody DUNWOODY, Ga. — Two dozen people attended Appen Press Club’s first stop on its 2024 “Listening Tour” January 18th at Dunwoody Tavern. Members of Appen Media’s newsroom made themselves available to the public to listen to feedback from readers and talk about what they would like to see more of in their local newspaper. The Dunwoody Crier has been serving the Dunwoody community since 1977 and is currently delivered to 18,000 homes weekly. It also serves as the legal organ for the City of Dunwoody, which means that it publishes all of the City’s legal notices about public meeting dates, tax dollar allocation and rezoning of property. Newsroom staff also fielded

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questions about what and how news makes the print editions of the newspaper, how it resolves conflicts of interest, and the parameters for its public safety coverage. Said Appen Media Publisher Hans Appen, “We greatly appreciate the opportunity the citizens of Dunwoody provided us to give us constructive feedback on how we’re doing. We thought it was a productive and worthwhile experience and we promise to be back soon.” The next stop on the listening tour is in Roswell at From the Earth Brewery Company on February 15th. The event is free to attend and open to the public. Attendees are encouraged to RSVP at www.appenmedia.com/ join.

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Continued from Page 1 worth of expenditures here on this memo,” Heneghan said. “You really didn’t have a budget meeting, and you probably should have based on the amounts we’re talking about.” During the conversation, Heneghan confirmed the city allocated $480,000 in SPLOST funds and almost $300,000 in capital project funds into the second phase of the Winters Chapel Multi-Use Trail. The City Council celebrated completion of the first phase of the Winters Chapel Path project Aug. 28. The $1.6 million, 12-foot-wide path runs along the west side of Winters Chapel Road between Dunwoody Club Drive and Charmant Place. It was funded mostly through the city’s portion of DeKalb County sales tax revenues. The second phase will extend from Charmant Place south to Peeler Road with a section of the path passing through Peachtree Corners. “We’re putting money towards paths, which I’m not sure the community is aware of,” Heneghan said. While funding for the second phase of the Winters Chapel path was approved in the 2023 capital improvement plan, the $480,000 in sales tax funds will serve as the city’s match to federal funds received for the project. Heneghan referenced the failure of the Nov. 7 bond referendum and pushback on paths from residents in his discussion with city staff. “Later tonight, we have paths up that are for discussion on Mount Vernon [Road]…to expand 12foot paths in front of single-family homes,” Heneghan said. “I just want to make sure that this $2 million budget, moving of money, is well vetted.” The City Council approved capital project closeout and funding reallocation with Heneghan casting the lone dissenting vote. When the contract amendment to extend the 12-foot path on the north side of Mount Vernon Road came up, Councilwoman Catherine Lautenbacher asked if the families had been contacted about the extension. Public Works Director Michael Smith said they were not contacted about the design change. The contract adjustment calls for extending the project westward by 700 feet from Corners Drive to Vermack Road in front of four singlefamily residences, Smith said.

CITY OF DUNWOODY/PROVIDED

A map shows the five-year paving plan for 2024-2028. Following the results of the 2023 Pavement Condition Update, the plan identified the roadway segments in jeopardy of rapid deterioration. City Manager Eric Linton and Mayor L ynn Deutsch agreed to send the contract amendment back to city staff for further study. “When we put it out to the public, we weren’t going that far,” Deutsch said. Local street repaving In other business, Public Works Director Smith unveiled the results of the 2023 Pavement Condition Update, which uses an index to rate every city-maintained roadway. The city contracted with KCI Technologies to develop its index, rating surfaces from 0-100 based on factors that affect roadway performance. The rating increased from 69 in 2018 to 75 in 2023. “I think it tells a real success story for the city,” Smith said. “And, how the City Council has continued to take care of maintaining one of our biggest infrastructure assets.” While the annual funding for road resurfacing is $2.91 million, KCI Technologies recommended $3.6 million per year to maintain the 2023 pavement condition index. As a result of the study, a fiveyear paving plan for 2024-2028 has been developed based on the updated pavement ratings. Smith said Public Works plans to

CITY OF DUNWOODY/PROVIDED

A graph shows a comparison between the pavement condition index in 2018 and 2023. The pavement condition index, which weighs and combines factors affecting each roadway segment, increased from 69 in 2018 to 75 in 2023. pave 62 roadway segments in 2024, followed by similar paving schedules through 2028. “The program we use does not necessarily pick the worst rated streets first,” Smith said. “It really is looking at where those break points are and trying to pick the most costeffective ones.” Paving is done in the summer months because increased

temperatures help smooth asphalt and there is less traffic, Smith said. The study revealed 15 percent of the pavement in Dunwoody is in poor, very poor or serious condition. That’s the lowest level of bad roads in the city’s history. Smith said the plan is for the City Council to vote on a 1-year extension with the city’s pavement contractor at the next meeting Feb. 12.

10 | February 1, 2024 | Dunwoody Crier | AppenMedia.com/Dunwoody

BUSINESS

Gathering at South Forsyth builds up government steam By SHELBY ISRAEL shelby@appenmedia.com FORSYTH COUNTY, Ga. — The Forsyth County Commission is set to formalize the terms of The Gathering at South Forsyth in the coming weeks. Plans for the proposed development on some 100 acres near Union Hill Road, Ronald Reagan Boulevard and Ga. 400 include 1.6 million square feet of commercial and retail space, a 750,000-square-foot arena, a community center and 450 hotel rooms. At a Jan. 18 Development Authority meeting, County Manager David McKee said the county was in the process of finalizing the deal points for The Gathering. “And then there's some contingencies that have to be met,” McKee said. “But I think the most important part is, is if this deal goes forward, that everything is contingent on the National Hockey League landing a franchise at that facility.” But, McKee emphasized nothing is finalized until approved by the County Commission, and the agreement is still in a draft form.

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THE GATHERING AT SOUTH FORSYTH/PROVIDED

This rendering shows a proposed arena at the planned Gathering at South Forsyth. The Forsyth County Commission is set to formalize the terms of the development with an agreement in the coming weeks. In a phone call with Appen Media, County Communications Director Russell Brown said there is no promise of a hockey team as yet, and details are subject to change pending formal agreement. The agreement and further details were scheduled to be presented at a special-called Board of Commissioners work session Jan. 31. At the Jan. 18 meeting, McKee said the NHL will open a franchise application in March or April, and the process could take as long as a year. Project staff first presented conceptual plans for The Gathering at a Forsyth County Board of Commissioners work session April 25. At that meeting, project staff estimated The Gathering could produce more than 12,000 long-term employment opportunities, as well as more than 20,000 construction jobs during its 10-year development. The 100-acre project is the dream of Vernon Krause, CEO of Krause Auto Group, which operates a collection of family-owned dealerships across four states in the Southeast. “As a global entertainment hub, The Gathering at South Forsyth will provide residents, employers and visitors with the ability to see their favorite musician, experience a family-friendly ice show or eat at a James Beard-awarded restaurant without having to sit in their car for hours,” Krause said in an April statement. In September, the development team hired Senior Project Executive

SHELBY ISRAEL/APPEN MEDIA

Forsyth County Manager David McKee shares an update on The Gathering at South Forsyth at a Development Authority meeting Jan. 18. McKee said a forthcoming agreement will outline the project’s contingencies, including a possible NHL franchise at the development. Frank Ferrara, who helped secure an NHL tenant when he administered the Arizona State University ice hockey program. The Atlanta Regional Commission, the planning agency representing most Metro Atlanta governments including Forsyth County, issued its approval of The Gathering in a development of regional impact study in September. The agreement marks the county’s first formal vote on the project. In June, the county commissioned an economic impact and financial feasibility study from Ernst and Young’s QUEST division. Results were set to be presented alongside the agreement Jan. 31.

Business pages Each week Appen Media asks a staff reporter to profile a business, nonprofit or commerce group they find interesting. The selection can be from anywhere in the Metro Atlanta area. The decision is up to the reporter and is made entirely independent of the Sales department. Do you have an idea for a future profile? Send tips and story leads to newsroom@appenmedia.com.

11 | Dunwoody Crier | February 1, 2024

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Calendar

FEB. 1 — FEB. 11

ARTIST RECEPTION: DAKORO EDWARDS’ EXHIBIT AT CITY HALL

What: Meet Dakoro Edwards, an abstract expressionism painter, at a reception for his exhibit at Sandy Springs City Hall. His work will be on display through the beginning of March. When: Thursday, Feb. 1, 6-8 p.m. Where: Sandy Springs City Hall lobby, 1 Galambos Way, Sandy Springs More info: sandyspringsga.gov

LYRICS & LYRE: AN EVENING OF POETRY AND MUSIC

What: With the theme “Art of the Afrofuture,” the evening will feature performances by poets Ashlee Haze and Jon Goode with musical accompaniment and performances by cellist Okorie “OK Cello” Johnson, bassist Téja Veal and violinist Carey Durham. When: Friday, Feb. 2, 7:30-9 p.m. Where: Roswell Cultural Arts Center, 950 Forrest Street, Roswell Cost: $20 to $22.50 More info: roswell365.com

MASTER GARDENER TALK

What: Join for an engaging talk about companion planting with master gardener Richard Osterholtz. This free class includes coffee and light snacks. Master gardeners will be on hand to answer questions. When: Saturday, Feb. 10, 11 a.m.-12 p.m. Where: Brook Run Park, 4770 North Peachtree Road, Dunwoody More info: dcgo.org

ORCHESTRA PRESENTS ‘CENTER STAGE RHAPSODIES’

What: Max Amini returns to Georgia, outfitted with an array of new comedy delights, from side-splitting stories to spot-on impressions. When: Friday, Feb. 2, 8 p.m. Where: Byers Theatre, 1 Galambos Way, Sandy Springs Cost: Tickets starting at $35 More info: citysprings.com

What: Award-winning piano powerhouse Awadagin Pratt will bring his signature sound to Johns Creek in a concert with the Johns Creek Symphony Orchestra, featuring Dvorak’s “New World Symphony.” When: Saturday, Feb. 3, 7:30 p.m. Where: Johns Creek United Methodist Church, 11180 Medlock Bridge Road, Johns Creek Cost: $20 to $50 More info: johnscreeksymphony.org

ALPHARETTA POLAR BEAR PLUNGE

MASTER GARDENER TALK

MAX AMINI LIVE

What: The Alpharetta Rotary Club is hosting the sixth annual Alpharetta Polar Bear Plunge, encouraging nonprofits, school clubs/teams and other community organizations to put a team together and raise money for the benefit of their choosing. Become a Divemaster or join a team that is already registered and help them reach their goal, or register for $50 to jump yourself. When: Saturday, Feb. 3, 10 a.m. Where: Wills Park, 11925 Wills Road, Alpharetta More info: facebook.com/ AlphaPolarBearPlunge

JOHNS CREEK SYMPHONY

in the community with food and performances. Commonly known as the Spring Festival in East Asia, Lunar New Year commemorates the beginning of a new year on the traditional lunisolar Chinese calendar. When: Saturday, Feb. 10, 12-4 p.m. Where: Heisman Field, 1930 Bobby Jones Drive, Johns Creek More info: johnscreekga.gov

METROPOLITAN ATLANTA COMMUNITY BAND

What: The Metropolitan Atlanta Community Band and Groveway Community Group celebrates Black History Month with classical and popular music composed or performed by African American musicians. When: Saturday, Feb. 10, 3-5:30 p.m. Where: Roswell Cultural Arts Center, 950 Forrest Street, Roswell Cost: $17 to $20 More info: roswell365.com

LUNAR NEW YEAR

THE MAD HATTERPILLAR

What: Presented by Dezhu US, the City of Johns Creek’s Lunar New Year celebration is a family-friendly event that embraces cultural diversity

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butterfly and escape her mundane garden walls. Like her real life counterpart, she sheds her heads at each new stage of life, stacking the molted heads upon her new one. Each of these heads symbolizes a stage of Maddie’s growth into self-acceptance. When: Until Feb. 11, times vary Where: Stage Door Theatre, 5339 Chamblee Dunwoody Road, Dunwoody Cost: $15-28 More info: stagedoortheatrega.org

GALLERY EXHIBIT: EARTHBOUND

What: This reception is for an art exhibit that ponders questions about Earth, which has inspired and intrigued artists, poets, philosophers, scientists and everyone who has somehow been touched by its invisible warmth. What physical and emotional impact does the environment have on humanity? And, how might humanity care for this Earth for future generations? When: Until March 9, business hours Where: Alpharetta Arts Center, 238 Canton Street, Alpharetta More info: artsalpharetta.org

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AIKENOMICS

OPINION

Economic outlook for 2024, from housing to inflation Let’s fast-forward into the year with some quick forecasts: Oil Prices: Brace yourselves for a continued dip in oil prices. With the growing shift toward electric vehicles and solar power, demand D.C. AIKEN for oil is set to Guest Columnist dcaiken.com plummet. Expect gas prices to drop below $2.25 per gallon by fall, contributing to the steady march toward the Federal Reserve's coveted 2% inflation mark. Unemployment: The Federal Reserve's optimism puts unemployment at a modest 4.1%, but I'm leaning toward a reality check. Our recession runs deeper than they admit, and I foresee unemployment nudging closer to 4.5%

by year-end. The silver lining? Higher unemployment tends to pull mortgage rates down. Home Prices: Last year's housing price prediction hit the bullseye, and I'm not expecting a different story in 2024. Inventory constraints persist, and new home construction struggles to keep pace with demand. While apartment rents are dropping due to increased construction, housing prices in Metro ATL are likely to climb by around 5% again this year. Inflation: Calculating our current inflation rate might bring us close to the Federal Reserve's 2% target. Assuming they stick to their calculation methods, I foresee us hitting that 2% mark by midsummer. Rising unemployment, lower producer prices, and an overall economic slowdown are the driving forces behind this trend, influencing mortgage rates downward.

Fed Cuts and Mortgage Rates: Predictions abound about the Federal Reserve making three rate cuts this year, totaling around 0.75% lower in the FED Funds rate. I find this conservative. With housing slowdowns and a debt-burdened population, I'm leaning toward more cuts—potentially six moves (1.5% lower in Fed Funds) by late spring. If I'm on the money, mortgage rates could dip below 6% by summer, possibly settling around 5.5% or lower by year-end. Housing Sales: The magic number for sparking home purchases in Metro ATL is a mortgage rate below 6%. Expect a surge in housing sales, potentially up by 10% compared to 2023, once we breach that threshold. Despite the anticipation of lower rates, a return to a 4% "handle" on mortgages in 2024 seems unlikely. In a nutshell, 2024 holds promise for home sales, with lower rates on the

horizon. However, a return to the 4% mortgage realm might be wishful thinking. Remember, the best rate is a locked rate... with a float-down option! Ensure you're ready to make an offer by getting pre-approved. Thank you for reading my column. D.C. Aiken is Vice President, Producing Production Manager for BankSouth Mortgage, NMLS # 658790. For more insights, you can subscribe to his newsletter at dcaiken.com. The opinions expressed within this article are the author’s and do not necessarily reflect the opinions or views of BankSouth Mortgage or its affiliates. BankSouth Mortgage Company, LLC, NMLS #690971, is not a bank or other depository institution and is not FDICinsured. Equal Housing Lender.

THE INVESTMENT COACH

Market forecast: Strap in for possible turbulence Readers are urged to regard “early in the year” stock market and economic forecasts as a form of entertainment. No one really knows what markets will do. Forecasts are LEWIS J. WALKER, CFP educated opinions Columnist at best. The Investment Coach Last year, the inflation rate was accelerating and the Federal Reserve Bank aggressively raised interest rates. Many economists predicted a significant slowdown, a bear market, even a potential recession in the second half of the year. Many investors fled Wall Street in favor of rising yields in FDIC guaranteed savings vehicles, as the bond market struggled with rising interest rates. When interest rates rise, bond values decline. But the bear went into hibernation. A bull appeared and the market surprised to the upside. On Dec. 30, 2023, the Dow Jones Industrial Average closed just shy of its all-time record high of 37710.10 set two days prior on Dec. 28. The S&P 500 Index closed a shade below its all-time high set on Jan. 3, 2022. The Nasdaq Composite Index closed about 1000 points below its record high. Major indexes have waffled during the initial trading days of 2024 as some headlines warn investors to “buckle up for a potential bumpy 2024.” “Buckle up” is good advice whether driving, riding as a passenger in a vehicle

or when flying. As a frequent flyer I often see little ones on an airplane bouncing around unbuckled because they can’t sit still. After this writer left the U.S. Air Force, I worked for a major airline for a number of years, initially in a two-year management training program. On two occasions I experienced a pilot training exercise in dealing with a simulated “explosive decompression” in the passenger cabin, such as occurred on Jan. 5, 2024, on an Alaska Airlines plane at 16,000 feet when a faulty door plug blew out. Airplanes often fly at altitudes above 35,000 feet in very thin air. While securely buckled up, a planned deep dive decline from over 36,000 feet to below 10,000 feet in mere minutes in a Boeing 727 jet was an amazing experience! Thankfully, decompressions are extremely rare, but pilots are trained to deal with such emergencies and others. On the Alaska flight, the row where the door plug blew out was not occupied, fortunately. If an unbuckled child had been sitting looking out of the window when a massive hole emerged with explosive force, most likely the infant would have been sucked out into the night sky blackness over 3 miles in the air. The mere thought of that is horrifying. Yet flying is one of the safer forms of travel. There were no fatal aircraft accidents in 2023 involving international flights or passenger jets. Over 19,000 people died in U.S. traffic accidents in 2023, yet we think nothing of driving virtually every day. Traffic fatalities are down compared to prior years because more people are buckling up. Nevertheless, per the National Highway Safety Traffic

Administration, about 37 people a day in the U.S. die in drunk-driving crashes, about one person every 39 minutes. That’s why seat belts and car seats for kiddies are recommended. You may not be drinking, but other drivers may. Because stock market averages are subject to unexpected market turbulence, to the downside as well as the upside, “financial seatbelts” are recommended. There are certain things that should be in place as one embarks on a long-term investment program. A written comprehensive life-centered financial plan should guide all financial strategies. A person or couple ideally should have at least six months to a year’s worth of living expenses in a guaranteed or otherwise conservative liquid money market account before embarking on a long-range market centered asset accumulation program. However, from day one, enroll in the matching program of an employer’s retirement plan if available so as not to forfeit “free money.” A comprehensive legally documented living and testamentary estate planning program should deal with the ever present risk of injury, illness, disability, and death. Investing in the stock market is a longterm strategy. The best time to invest is when you have the money! “Market timing” really doesn’t work. You will never catch markets at the bottom. But if you buy when stocks appear to be on sale, over the long run you’re likely to look like a genius. With stocks it’s about “time,” not timing. Alternative investments, often subject to net worth restrictions, can provide diversification to a portfolio in addition to

stocks, bonds, and money market instruments. Do not “bet the house” on any one investment. Diversification counts. One goal of investors as they pass age 50 or so on the way to whatever retirement will be is to build an income and dividend generating portfolio, along with the potential for growth over time. Even during market dips, when you don’t want to sell stocks if you can avoid it, it’s a good idea to have cash reserves to see you through along with good dividend flows. If you live long enough, you want to have financial peace of mind and a sense of purpose to sustain you, along with faith in God and His eternal promises of salvation as the ultimate reward no matter how crazy the world around you seems or becomes. Scary headlines, sadly, are not rare. Inflation is still running at 3.5% annualized, and between inflation and taxation your net buying power is under attack. There’s a major leak in your financial bathtub. A solid tax planning strategy is very important, working with your financial advisor and your tax advisor. Here’s wishing you and yours a happy and blessed 2024! Lewis Walker, CFP®, is a life centered financial planning strategist with Capital Insight Group (CIG); 770-441-3553; lewis@ capitalinsightgrp.com. Securities & advisory services offered through The Strategic Financial Alliance, Inc. (SFA), which is otherwise unaffiliated with CIG. Lewis a Gallup Certified Clifton Strengths Coach and Certified Exit Planning Advisor (CEPA).

PAST TENSE

OPINION

AppenMedia.com/Dunwoody | Dunwoody Crier | February 1, 2024 | 19

Recounting Chesnut (not Chestnut) family history Linda and David Chesnut, along with their daughter Caroline, lived at Donaldson-Bannister Farm from 1975 until 2006. They were the last family to live there, and VALERIE BIGGERSTAFF many people still recall the horses Columnist and donkeys the family kept in the fields at the corner of Chamblee Dunwoody Road and Vermack Road. David Chesnut’s family has a long history in DeKalb County. “Our family-owned land on both sides of Chamblee Tucker Road all the way from about 300 yards west of I-85 to over where Embry Hills is located,” according to Chesnut. “I used to ride mules and plow corn and sweet potatoes on my granddaddy’s farm right in the middle of what is now I-85.” The Chesnut farmhouse was demolished and replaced with a Denny’s Restaurant after the construction of the interstate. A road named for the family and farm remains in the area, but with the incorrect spelling of Chestnut. Chestnut Drive extends from Buford Highway to just west of I-85. (Atlanta Constitution, Feb. 15, 1987, “From slow to rapid transit, MARTA Chairman David Chesnut maintains his family’s pioneer spirit”) Chesnut Elementary School in

DEKALB HISTORY CENTER ARCHIVES/PROVIDED

From left, David Chesnut, Glenn Austin, Manget Davis, and Ethel Spruill gather with others for the “I Remember Hour, Dunwoody” in 1993. Dunwoody is named for members of the family. David Chesnut’s grandfather was on the DeKalb County School Board, and another family member, James Chesnut, also served on the School Board. David Chesnut’s mother, Mary Smith Chesnut, formed the DeKalb PTA Council after she began teaching home economics at Chamblee High School. She helped get the school lunch program started. School lunch programs became crucial during the Great Depression. Many in the community wanted to name the school after teacher M.E. Smith of Chamblee High School, but David Chesnut recalls that schools were never named for a living person at the time. David was born in Chamblee in 1938 to Mary Smith and John Harvey

Chesnut. The family lived at the corner of Chamblee Dunwoody Road and Hart’s Mill Road when Hart’s Mill was known as Sexton Road. Their 1940s neighbors included Quinn and Lib Long who ran Long’s Supermarket; plumber, electrician and hardware store owner Gene Smith; Dr. W.A. and Ruth Mendenhall; and a baseball coach at Oglethorpe University known as Coach Frank. Chesnut attended Chamblee Elementary School and Chamblee High School. He remembers taking 11th grade English in the same classroom where he was a second grader. The fire that destroyed Chamblee High School on Dec. 8, 1941, is one of his early memories. David’s dad was the Amoco distributor for DeKalb County, so

there were four garages and gasoline trucks in the family’s backyard. “When I was going through high school,” says Chesnut, “I had a yard full of chickens and I peddled eggs for an FFA (Future Farmers of America) project.” (“The Story of Dunwoody, 1821-2001” by Elizabeth L. Davis, Ethel W. Spruill, Joyce Amacher and Lynne Byrd) In the 1950s, David Chesnut recalls there was “nothing between Harts Mill Road and Mount Vernon Road.” One day, Chesnut and his friend Earl Donaldson went hunting with their beagles and ended up where Murphey Candler Park is today. They were following a rabbit. When it got dark, the boys worried about falling in a well or their dogs falling in a well. They decided to spend the night out in the woods. Chesnut and Donaldson made themselves beds by piling straw and then laid down and covered themselves with their coats. Chesnut continues the story, “About 2:30 that morning, I heard a siren going off, and my daddy had driven through Red Spruill’s cornfield, trying to find us.” A gun shot from David Chesnut helped the two men locate the boys. (“I Remember Dunwoody,” 1993 video, DeKalb History Center) 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.

Goodbye flip-flops: sporting 5-toe footwear. As I gaze out from my fifth-floor window at Northside Forsyth Hospital, trying to void myself of selfpity, I have come to the stark reality that even though I came into this world with 10 toes, in three days, I MIKE TASOS will only have five. Columnist As many of you were kicking off the weekend, I was knocked out colder than a carp, dreaming of inglorious events that were happening while I floated in an anesthesiologist’s drug-induced haze. An infection-ravaged right foot refused to heal. The damage was too devastating. In simplest terms, my toes got sick and refused to get better. Poor circulation was improved somewhat, but not enough to save the intact middle toe. Brother Matt

had taken to calling that digit “Roast Beef.” That’s classic Tasos Brothers sense of humor. As you scratch your head and wonder what’s so funny about a procedure called “Trans Metatarsal Amputation?” just start out by grabbing a toe and saying: “This little piggy went to market…” and you’ll hopefully appreciate the situation. Having gone through a pair of angioplasty procedures and several boatloads of “Woe is me,” I have been working with therapists preparing me for a life of only having to deal with half as much toe jam as most folks. Look, there’s not much good about what’s in front of me, except praying and hoping that this procedure will be the end of the line. Wound healing and shoe inserts will become a reality. It’s a lock that I won’t be wearing flip-flops on the beach. I’ll not be answering any ads for

a foot model unless Tommy Bahama is limiting a campaign to left feet. There’s nothing Shakespearean about this, my 12th night as an inpatient. Matter of fact, when I’m discharged, I’d like to have a run at the need to hire personnel not suffering from some type of short-term memory loss. Everyone wants to know my name and date of birth every time we interact. Even the beleaguered soul delivering meals wants to get personal. I guess my being blessed to eat gruel-like oatmeal and mystery meat comes with a price. Luckily, Vicki, Chris and Greg have provided a sense of family that has made the stay bearable. Their regular visits have provided laughs and levity. Greg keeps me updated on the post-Saban state of Alabama football. I have adopted an “inmate” personality, imploring Vicki to smuggle in some contraband. She would have none of it, even getting clearance

from a nurse, to supply me with Ricola cough drops. I find myself longing for things that I took for granted. I miss my chair, my bigscreen Sony, Vicki’s breakfasts and just being able to do all the things that will be a welcome return to normalcy in the next few weeks. Before I head for home, I’m praying for a successful surgery and a short stint at a rehab facility that will help teach me to be functional while I am unable to put any weight on what used to be my right foot. I pray that my caregivers will be patient and that I will continue to work hard. I know the experience won’t be a kick in the pants. Mike Tasos has lived in Forsyth County for more than 30 years. He’s an American by birth and considers himself a Southerner by the grace of God. He can be reached at miketasos55@gmail.com.

20 | February 1, 2024 | Dunwoody Crier | AppenMedia.com/Dunwoody

PRESERVING THE PAST

OPINION

The amazing Rucker family of North Fulton Celestine Sibley, the famous author and syndicated columnist, once said “Give your family a gift of stories told and written.” Crabapple resident Sheila Rucker Chapman, BOB MEYERS who knows many Columnist Rucker family stories, says “Our family stories are part of the glue that holds our families together.” This week’s column will go beyond the celebrated Nap and Johnny Rucker baseball legends to highlight some lesser-known facts about this amazing family. The Rucker family is numerous and widespread. According to House of Names, there are some 30,000 people with the last name Rucker in the United States. There are two towns named Ruckersville in the U.S. Ruckersville, Virginia near Charlottesville was founded in 1732 with a population today of about 1,200. Ruckersville, Georgia, in Elbert County was founded in 1773. The town’s historic Rucker House is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The local family’s story begins with Peter Rucker who arrived in Virginia in the late 1600s. His grandson George Rucker and his wife Catherine Ehart were the first Ruckers to settle in Georgia, but they did not settle in this part of the state. Their son Simeon Blueford Rucker and his wife Jane Barnwell were the first settlers locally. Their house, built circa 1833 still stands on the corner of Old Rucker Road and Broadwell Road in Alpharetta. The house is listed on the National Register of Historic Places as “an excellent intact example of early 19th-century log house construction in north Georgia.” Such homes were once quite common but now are very rare. Simeon and Jane had nine children. One of them, John, inherited the house after the Civil War. John and his wife Sarah Hembree Jameson also had nine children including George Napoleon, who became the famous professional baseball player Nap Rucker. Nap’s nephew John also played professional baseball, with the NY Giants and was featured on the April 1, 1940 Life magazine cover with the caption “Spring Training: Rookie Rucker.” Another of John and Sarah’s children was Joel Jackson Rucker who married Lenora Rusk and founded the Rucker Cotton Seed Company

PHOTOS BY BOB MEYERS/APPEN MEDIA

The historic Simeon Blueford Rucker log house was built circa 1833. Among its features are heart of pine floors, walls and ceilings and two small rooms on the front for traveling pastors.

“Before then we had to ford it. Rocks were placed in the water for wagons and cars,” he says. B.Y.’s son Mark Coleman recalls swimming in Foe Killer Creek which crosses Rucker Road near the Troy Rucker house and catching crawfish and tadpoles as a boy. He recalls when Rucker Road was first paved in the early 1950s. The Old Rucker Farm community garden occupies 10.7 acres purchased by the City of Alpharetta in 2017 to serve as a garden center where adults and students can grow vegetables, flowers, fruits and herbs and can take classes. Any profit generated goes to the North Fulton Community Charities Food Pantry. For more information about the farm go to https:// alpharetta-community-agricultureprogram.square.site/ Finally, I want to note the Rucker private family cemetery in Wallace Woods off Rucker Road. It dates back to 1835 and, according to Find a Grave, has 62 memorials. It also has a number of unmarked graves. Some of our earliest pioneer family members are buried there. Of note are the graves of James Dorris (18011877) and his Cherokee wife Nancy Cooke Dorris (1799-1877). The couple were among the Crabapple area’s first settlers. James owned a general store in today’s Crabapple. Because Nancy was married to a wealthy white man, she was not forced to take part in the infamous Trail of Tears in 1838 and 1839. 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.

Representatives of North Fulton early pioneer families are buried in the Rucker family cemetery. Of special note are James Dorris and his Cherokee wife Nancy Cooke Dorris who were well known in the area. Nancy avoided going on the infamous Trail of Tears because she was married to a wealthy white man. and built the Crabapple Cotton Gin. B.Y. Coleman, descendant of one of the pioneer families in Crabapple, remembers that “around October you could hear the gin crank up. Noise was not a problem because not many people lived nearby.” Joel Jackson lived in the original Simeon Blueford house until he and Lenora built a house of their own across the street from the original house. That house also still exists. Rucker Road which extends for

3 miles from the intersection of Crabapple Road and Arnold Mill Road to the intersection of Old Milton Parkway and Wills Road was home to numerous Rucker families. The Queen Ann style Troy and Edith Rucker house with an Alpharetta historical marker beside it is one example. Troy was a cotton farmer and cotton inspector for the state of Georgia. B.Y. Coleman remembers when a bridge was built on Rucker Road over Foe Killer Creek.

AppenMedia.com/Dunwoody | Dunwoody Crier | February 1, 2024 | 21

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