Dunwoody Crier - March 7, 2024

State municipal organization honors three councilmembers

DUNWOODY, Ga. — Dunwoody City Council members Catherine Lautenbacher and Rob Price received the Harold F. Holtz Municipal Training Institute Certificate of Recognition during the Georgia Municipal Association’s Annual Cities United Summit Jan. 26-29.

Lautenbacher and Price completed 42 hours of training, including at least 18 hours from the required list of courses. The training program consists of more than 70 courses.

Dunwoody officials declare city finances remain sound

By HAYDEN SUMLIN hayden@appenmedia.com

DUNWOODY, Ga. — With residents and former officials questioning the financial health of the city, Dunwoody officials cited no deficit spending and pushed back against concerns surrounding any structural deficit.

Finance Director Richard Platto presented the City Council Feb. 26 with a budget amendment “closing out and cleaning up” the fiscal year 2023 budget.

He said revenues in the general fund for city operations are up $1.1 million, or 3 percent, and expenses increased by $606,200, or 2 percent.

While the numbers are unaudited and subject to change, the windfall

means the budgeted use of fund balance, totaling $508,838, will not be needed, Platto said.

What’s more, the unreserved fund balance is anticipated to add $1.6 million, bringing the city to 10 months of fund balance.

According to internal estimates from city staff, 10 months of reserves is equivalent to some $25 million.

Communications Director Jennifer Boettcher said the final amount won’t be known until the year-end audit has been completed and the financial statements have been published.

While the city traditionally maintains a fund balance of from four

See FINANCES, Page 6

Lautenbacher credits her training with the decision to hold last month’s Dunwoody City Council meeting at Dunwoody High School.

“The idea to take the Council meeting on the road came from the City of Dublin,” she said. “As a result of this training, I’m better informed about my role, and therefore better able to serve our citizens.”

The Harold F. Holtz Municipal Training Institute, a cooperative effort

of Georgia Municipal Association and the University of Georgia’s Carl Vinson Institute of Government, provides a nationally recognized series of training opportunities for city officials.

“GMA training courses offer a great way to improve our knowledge of municipal issues and network with our peers,” Price said. “I’ve come away from these courses with new skills, new

HAYDEN SUMLIN/APPEN MEDIA

Dunwoody Finance Director Richard Platto, left, discusses the city budget Feb. 26 with Councilman Tom Lambert, right, during the Feb. 26 City Council meeting. Lambert said he was disheartened with any public perception that city finances are anything but “strong.”

CITY OF DUNWOODY/PROVIDED

From left, Councilwoman Catherine Lautenbacher, Councilman Rob Price, and Councilman Tom Lambert

NEWS TIPS

770-442-3278

AppenMedia.com

319 N. Main Street

Alpharetta, GA 30009

HANS APPEN Publisher

DICK WILLIAMS Publisher Emeritus

CONTACT

Contact reporters directly or send story ideas to newsroom@appenmedia.com.

LETTERS, EVENTS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS

Send your letters, events and community news to newsroom@appenmedia.com.

See appenmedia.com/submit for more guidance.

ADVERTISING

For information about advertising in the Dunwoody Crier or other Appen Media properties, email advertising@appenmedia.com or call 770-442-3278.

CIRCULATION

To start, pause or stop delivery of this newspaper, email circulation@appenmedia.com or call 770-442-3278.

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.

Police capture suspect in car break-in spree

DUNWOODY, Ga. — Dunwoody Police arrested a 31-year-old Atlanta man around 4 a.m. Feb. 24 after a reported vehicle break-in on Manhasset Court.

The victim, a nearby resident, told police the suspect came onto his property and opened the door to his Cadillac SRX.

Security footage from the residence shows the suspect searching through items and then leaving without taking anything.

Officers said they spotted a man matching the description in the wood line on Manhasset Cove, chased him to a backyard across the street and tackled him.

During a search of the suspect, officers said they found items they suspected belonged to other break-in victims.

An officer listed 16 additional vehicles and more than $2,000 in stolen merchandise in his report of the arrest.

The suspect was transported to Northside Hospital after complaining of leg and wrist pain.

After threatening to harm himself, the suspect was placed under 72-hour surveillance at the hospital.

Officers said warrants are pending for entering auto and obstruction.

Officers cite Atlanta man found obstructing traffic

DUNWOODY, Ga. — Dunwoody Police arrested a 36-year-old Atlanta man around 8 p.m. Feb. 25 for blocking traffic at Ashford Dunwoody Road and Ashford Parkway.

Officers said they think the suspect, later identified as James Spann, was the same person cited in multiple calls from the area about a male acting erratically.

When officers arrived, they found Spann standing in the intersection and yelling at various vehicles.

Spann said he was intoxicated and cooperated with officers at the scene.

Officers found three active warrants for Spann out of Fulton County, Sandy Springs and Marietta.

They said the charges against Spann include family violence battery, obstruction and drug possession.

During a search, officers found Xanax pills and a marijuana pipe in the suspect’s possession.

Officers said Spann admitted to buying the pills on the street without a prescription.

Spann denied taking Xanax before the altercation after he admitted to using it earlier, officers said.

Police charged Spann with possession of a drug-related object and a schedule IV-controlled substance.

A DeKalb County Magistrate Court judge reviewed and signed off on the warrants.

Officers transported Spann to the DeKalb County Jail.

Police called to fracas during bank transaction

DUNWOODY, Ga. — Officers were called to Regions Bank on Mount Vernon Road Feb. 20 for an altercation between an employee and a customer.

The bank teller, a 42-year-old Atlanta man, and a business owner, a 41-year-old Douglasville woman, got into an argument during a transaction, officers said.

The teller said he asked the woman to remove her sunglasses to verify her identify.

The customer said the employee spoke to her with a rude tone and raised his voice. She also said she’s unable to remove the sunglasses due to recent LASIK surgery.

The teller said police were called after the customer started yelling and screaming at employees.

An officer said there was a sign in the teller window stating the policy on hats and sunglasses during transactions.

The customer requested documentation of the event to file a complaint with Regions Bank.

The teller requested the customer to be trespassed and removed from the property.

Police cite Roswell woman for possessing stolen guitar

ALPHARETTA, Ga. — Alpharetta police arrested a 24-year-old Roswell woman Feb. 23 who allegedly tried to sell a stolen guitar at Guitar Center on North Point Drive.

Store employees reported the incident after the guitar returned as stolen from a Guitar Center in Kennesaw. The instrument had allegedly been stolen by a former employee at the Kennesaw store.

Officers reported speaking with the woman, who said she received the guitar in her late father’s property in Ohio.

When questioned why she was trying to sell the instrument in Alpharetta and not in Ohio, she reportedly said she was visiting family in Decatur and knew Alpharetta was a wealthier city.

Officers asked the woman if she knew the man who allegedly stole the guitar, and she said no.

The woman’s address reportedly matched the suspect’s address in the original theft, and the woman allegedly admitted the suspect was her ex-boyfriend.

She was charged with misdemeanor theft by receiving stolen property.

Theatre offers belonging, kinship to actors with special needs

By AMBER PERRY amber@appenmedia.com

DUNWOODY, Ga. — When Kim Goodfriend founded Jerry’s Habima Theatre more than 30 years ago, it was an uphill battle getting others to believe in the project.

The theater, housed in the Marcus Jewish Community Center, stands as the only professional company in Georgia that features actors with special needs.

“This really was like an idea and the kind of thing that you say ‘yes’ to when you’re young and foolish and 20-something,” Goodfriend said, who partners with the Blonder Family Department for Special Needs. “You just say ‘yes.’”

Goodfriend recalled one of the first shows, where someone with a group home accused her of exploiting the actors, then walked out, taking about half of the cast on the stage with them.

At that time, staff would coach actors backstage, reminding them of where to go, and with upgrades in technology, the theater began to use prompters as well as pulling in actors to anchor scenes and act as a guide. In the last two years, though, actors have mostly performed on their own.

“Our actors are carrying all the scenes and are doing just fine, and when they go up a little bit, they rescue each other,” Goodfriend said.

The ability to adapt is key to the success of Habima.

“...It’s about what you can do, not what you can’t, and as cliché as that sounds, every voice, every soul has something to say,” she said. “When they come here as volunteers and they want to be in a show and be showcased,

we’re going to figure out a way for that showcase to happen.”

Two actors in the cast for the upcoming “Into the Woods, Jr.” musical sat alongside Goodfriend, soon to get mic’d up and go through one of their last rehearsals, closing out three months of practice.

The production, led by a 35-member cast with special needs and one paid neurotypical actor, is a mix and match of classic fairytales, like “Jack and the Beanstalk,” “Little Red Riding Hood” and “Cinderella.”

Jonathan Roytenberg, in his first

founding, will act as Jack’s mother, a character angry over her son’s nearobsession with his pet cow.

Usually wearing a smile, Kahn said anger does not come naturally to her.

“When you're in it, it changes you and you learn to be someone else,” Kahn said. “We have a great director. That really helped.”

Mary Nye Bennett, director for “Into the Woods, Jr.,” is assisted by stage managers Amy Schwartz and Bekah Medford, who led a warm-up of vocal and movement exercises. A total of 17 have helped produce the musical.

Kahn, who has an intellectual disability, described how working with Habima has built her self-esteem.

“You’re accepted, and no one looks at you,” Kahn said. “I have a disability, and no one treats me any different. It is hard work — when I get really frustrated, it is sometimes hard for me, but I have worked through some things.”

“Yes, you have,” Goodfriend chimed in.

season with Habima, is playing a mysterious old man, and Amy Kahn, who has been involved since the theater’s

Agreeing with Kahn, Roytenberg, who has Asperger’s Syndrome, raised the importance of the camaraderie found at Habima.

“It’s inevitable that you’re going to be able to bond with people,” he said.

AMBER PERRY/APPEN MEDIA

The cast of the Jerry’s Habima Theatre production of “Into the Woods, Jr.” rehearses in their last week before the March 7 opening show. The cast consists of 35 members with special needs and one paid neurotypical actor.

PET OF THE WEEK

Begonia (ID# 53788752) - Meet Begonia, the canine sensation who is a potential social media influencer. Her expressive eyes are not just for show; they reflect the warmth of her heart. If you’ve ever dreamed of having a furry companion who could steal the show in every Instagram post, Begonia is the perfect candidate.

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 404-294-2996. No appointment necessary.

Sandy Springs Society gears up for spring sale

SANDY SPRINGS, Ga. — The “Tossed Out Treasures” fundraiser kicks off a St. Patrick’s Day weekend of sales with the “Spring Fling Launch Party” March 14.

The annual shopping for a cause, hosted by The Sandy Springs Society, benefits nonprofits throughout the community.

The sale runs from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Friday and Saturday, March 15-16, and from noon-3 p.m. Sunday, March 17.

First held in 1992, the event showcases the reuse of antiques, fine china, silver, glassware, designer clothing, high-end accessories, jewelry, books, upscale home decor, electronics, children’s items and more.

The event has become a must-attend for many antique and consignment retailers for items for their own retail outlets, based on the quality of goods.

The remaining merchandise is donated to area charities.

In partnership with Jamestown, an international and Atlanta-based real estate investment firm, the sale will be at 5920 Roswell Road, Suite C203 in Sandy Springs, the former Tuesday Morning location in the Parkside Shopping Center, above the Sandy Springs Cinema & Taphouse.

New or gently used items can be donated at the venue from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Feb. 29-March 9.

Last year, record-breaking sales raised more than $100,000.

Since it began in 1992, the event has raised funds annually, helping more than 30 nonprofits in the community through the Society's grants program, which supports various nonprofits that promote arts, education, heritage, environment and social services in the city.

In 2023, the Society awarded

$300,000 in grants to 32 nonprofits. To date, it has awarded more than $4.8 million in grants to support the community in the past 35 years.

Admission to “Tossed Out Treasures” is free on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. For those wanting to be first to discover this year’s finds, a “Spring Fling Preview Party,” including a festive dinner buffet and silent auction, will be held from 6-9 p.m. on Thursday, March 14. Tickets are available for $40 through March 10 and can be purchased at the door for $50.

"Inflation is continuing to have an impact on pricing on all nature of products, [and] this is a fantastic opportunity to purchase high quality ‘new-to-you’ items at exceptional prices, while knowing those proceeds are going to benefit the community versus a large retailer," Tossed Out Treasures Chair Kim McAfee said. "Our ‘Spring Fling Preview Party’ is the perfect way to launch this wonderful weekend of shopping and St. Patrick’s Day festivities.”

Jennifer Member since 2004

SANDY SPRINGS SOCIETY/PROVIDED The Sandy Springs Society is accepting donations for its “Tossed Out Treasures” fundraiser and sales event March 14-17 at 5920 Roswell Road, Suite C203.

to six months as a safety net, the reserve is estimated to exceed nine months for the first time, she said.

City officials attributed the increase in revenue to insurance tax premiums, building fees and interest.

City Councilman Tom Lambert said debates over spending priorities are welcome, but the figures and facts concerning Dunwoody finances are objective.

Citing another year of a surplus within the general fund, Lambert confirmed with Platto that the city has not used any reserves or unassigned fund balance to operate the city since 2020.

“I think it’s fair to state that conservative budgeting, sound fiscal policy, and effective financial controls and management are the reason why we are in the position we are in today,” Lambert said. “I just want to reassure the public that Dunwoody is financially strong.”

Based on how the city has navigated tough economic conditions during the COVID-19 pandemic, Lambert said residents should be confident in city leadership.

The council took no action on Finance Director Platto’s proposal to close out the 2023 budget.

Police add personnel

The City Council voted to approve the Police Department’s request for five additional personnel, including three officers and one sergeant for a Crime Response Unit and a non-sworn fleet manager.

Police Chief Billy Grogan and Deputy Chief Mike Carlson cited the need for a unit designated to conduct narcotics and street crime operations.

The unit currently called the Crime

Response Unit will be renamed the Traffic Unit to reflect their duties more accurately, Grogan said.

While violent crime decreased slightly this year, from 2019-22 violent crime rose drastically in Dunwoody.

From 2019-2020, violent crime rose 14.9 percent. From 2021-2022, violent crime jumped 23.8 percent.

“Between 2021-22, we were at a critical staffing shortage along with the pandemic… the officers on the road were feeling the burden,” Carlson said.

He emphasized the unit’s role in improving retention within the Police Department and the urgent need for specialized operations.

City Councilman Joe Seconder, who expressed concerns about the short-term funding of additional police personnel, cast the lone dissenting vote.

“What are we forecasting now, what are the unmet needs we could potentially budget?” Seconder said. “I want to make the tough decisions to secure long-term cash income, so this is not just a two-year thing.”

The addition of five police personnel, using $1.3 million in American Rescue Plan Act II funds, required an amendment to the 2024 budget.

Residents speak on issues

Public comments at the Feb. 21 meeting ranged from concerns about city finances and public safety to questions about city leadership.

Bob Hickey, an almost 50-year resident of the area and critic of the city’s 2023 bond referendum, spoke against funding of the additional personnel for the Police Department.

“I support the increase in the Police

Department’s manpower when the total plan, including how to fix the structural deficit and the plan to fund the department, is presented to the citizens of Dunwoody,” Hickey said. “The current items… for funding tonight are totally misleading, inadequate and inaccurate when it only provides funding through 2025.”

He asked councilmembers to table the funding of the new personnel, which he called a “piecemeal plan,” and provide an improved blueprint for soon-to-be Police Chief Carlson.

Joseph Hirsch questioned city officials alleging that dozens of businesses are conducting sales and operations illegally without an alcohol license. City staff said only seven remained unpaid.

He said the situation is dangerous for residents and damages the financial health of the city.

Hirsch, who filed suit in DeKalb County Superior Court last fall alleging the city and three of its employees violated the Georgia Open Records Act, also used part of his allotted time to speak about the lawsuit, but he was cut off 1 minute and 55 seconds into his allotted time.

Before each public comment period, the mayor states each speaker is allowed 3 minutes, for a total of 30 minutes of public comment before the consent agenda.

“It does appear that there was an issue with the timer last night,” a city spokesperson said. “Going forward, we are going to get a different kind of timer that is visible to the speaker and others.”

Hirsch later gave a public comment after the sole discussion item on the agenda at the end of the meeting, focusing on his lawsuit against the city. He said the legal fees for the city are adding up.

“The city is going to lose, I mean the facts are there, and you’re fighting it to save face,” Hirsch said. “But you are going to lose, and you are going to hurt the taxpayers and residents of our city.”

PHOTOS BY HAYDEN SUMLIN/APPEN MEDIA

Joe Hirsch questions the Dunwoody City Council Feb. 26 about missing alcohol license fees, and his ongoing litigation with the city. Hirsch said the city will lose the lawsuit and spend taxpayer money in the process.

Councilman Joe Seconder discusses his reasons for casting the lone dissenting vote Feb. 26 for five additional personnel in the Dunwoody Police Department. Seconder said he wants to secure long-term funding and discuss a third-party report with recommendations for Police Department initiatives with staff.

Hey y’all, I’m Hayden Sumlin and I report on all things in Dunwoody, Milton and Sandy Springs. If you have any story tips or ideas please contact me at hayden@appenmedia.com

Sandy Springs sponsors forum on key corridor upgrades

By HAYDEN SUMLIN hayden@appenmedia.com

SANDY SPRINGS, Ga. — Sandy Springs city staff and Lowe Engineers personnel hosted an open house Feb. 27 to highlight improvements planned for Peachtree Dunwoody Road and Lake Hearn Drive.

The forum, held at the Palisades Office Park, drew a handful of people, including two commercial real estate brokers.

Because of the concentration of office and medical within the Peachtree Dunwoody corridor, the project will affect few residents directly, City Communications Director Dan Coffer said.

The Peachtree Dunwoody Road corridor, which includes a portion running under I-285, is a major thoroughfare connecting Sandy Springs and Perimeter Center to Buckhead. It accommodates some 23,000 vehicles daily.

The project, with preliminary engineering underway, will construct bicycle and pedestrian improvements along Lake Hearn Drive from Alterra Avenue to Peachtree Dunwoody Road for about a quarter of a mile.

The work includes widening and

repaving Lake Hearn Drive to include a left-turn lane, through-left lane and right-turn lane at the intersection.

A 10-foot-wide multi-use path with buffers is slated for the north side of Lake Hearn Drive. On the south side, a 6-foot-wide sidewalk is planned.

The project also covers a little more than a quarter-mile on Peachtree

Dunwoody Road between I-285 and Hammond Drive.

A 12-foot-wide multi-use path is proposed along the west side of Peachtree Dunwoody Road, that will tie into the path constructed for the Transform I-285 and Ga. 400 project.

See FORUM, Page 20

HAYDEN SUMLIN/APPEN MEDIA

At left, Richard Meehan, chief engineer at Lowe Engineers, speaks with Furman Wood, senior vice president at SK Commercial Realty Feb. 28 at the Palisades Office Park during a public forum on upgrades to Peachtree Dunwoody Road and Lake Hearn Drive.

Summer Camps

Where the magic

Brought to you by – MJCCA Summer Day Camps

At MJCCA Day Camps, campers make lifelong friendships, try new activities, and have the best summer ever! The possibilities for an amazing summer are endless with our theme, sports, performing arts, teen, and traditional camps for kids in rising Pre-K through 9th grade. Exciting outdoor adventures happen every day at Camp Isidore Alterman, the MJCCA’s traditional camp. In addition to a daily swim in our brand-new aquatic center, campers take aim at our archery range, climb to the top of our rock wall, fly on our exhilarating high-ropes course, and canoe on our lake or zip line across it.

Sports camp options include everything from Flag Football, Gymnastics,

nis, Baseball, Pickleball, and our new Xtreme Xpedition Sports Travel camp. Sports camps span our 52-acre campus, complete with basketball courts; soccer, football, and baseball fields; a gymnastics pavilion; tennis courts; brand-new pickleball courts; and a new covered sports pavilion! Plus, we’ve got theme camps for all interests, including magic, cooking, science, art, technology, and even American Ninja Warrior, with our new Ninja Warrior camp. Aspiring stars can shine in our performing arts camps, including dance camps like Disney Dance Party and the Taylor Swift-inspired Shake it Off Dance Camp and drama camp, where campers perform a full-scale musical production. We also offer a multi-week discount, before-camp and after-camp care, and bus transportation. See all our incredible camp options and register at mjccadayc

Reserve your child’s place at Marist School Summer Camps

Brought to you by – Marist School

Your child is invited to spend the summer at Marist School learning new skills, developing passions, and playing with friends in a wide range of summer camp offerings for children ages 5 to 17. With two dozen fun options, there is something for everyone!

Marist’s sports-themed camps help children improve athletic skills and stay active in a fun environment. Sports camps include baseball, basketball, cheerleading, diving, football, lacrosse, running, soccer, softball, speed training, sports, swim, tennis, volleyball, and wrestling. At fun camp, children enjoy a broad scope of active play on campus and in the pool.

personal essay start-up camps offer invaluable opportunities for students aiming to excel academically and stand out in the application process.

For those seeking educational enrichment, delve into hands-on learning experiences with introduction to critical thinking for middle school students, entertainment tonight broadcasting, music and technology production, sports center broadcasting, sports medicine, science, and theater camp. Our SAT/ACT boot camp and

Choose from full- and half-day weekly sessions from June 3 – August 2. Need extra care? After-camp options are available until 5 p.m. Monday through Thursday.

Spaces fill up fast, so secure your child's spot at Marist School summer camps today! Visit marist.com/summercamps for detailed information and registration.

Campus 244 highlights growth and Phase Two rollout

DUNWOODY, Ga. — The developers of Campus 244 announced updates Feb. 26 on welcoming tenants and expanding into the second phase of the mixed-use development.

With leasing success during the first phase, developers The Georgetown Company and RocaPoint Partners are announcing Phase Two – The Stacks building – designed by Skidmore, Owings & Merrill, which will feature 300,000-square-feet of Class-AA office space, with an outdoor space on each of its six floors.

The 1.3 million-square-foot campus at Perimeter Center is adjacent to the Dunwoody MARTA station, State Farm’s Perimeter campus, I-285 and Ga. 400.

The location at 244 Perimeter Center Parkway is a 3-minute walk to the MARTA rail network and a 5-minute walk to Perimeter Mall.

This spring, the first phase of the office campus – the Palladium building – will welcome Insight Global, Beon and their employees. So far, the first four floors are fully leased, with 64,085 square feet of rentable office space available on the fifth floor.

Cushman & Wakefield’s Aileen Almassy, Will Porter, and Rob

THE WILBERT GROUP/PROVIDED

A rendering of Campus 244 shows the planned buildout of Phase One and Two of the mixed-use development at 244 Perimeter Center Parkway in Dunwoody. Developers Georgetown Company and RocaPoint Partners announced Phase Two Feb. 26 which includes a six-story building, The Stacks, to complement the completed, five-story Palladium building.

Kuppersmith spearhead office leasing efforts. Steve Yenser manages retail leasing, all on behalf of The Georgetown Company.

The first phase features the reimagining of the former Gold Kist office building into five stories of Class A space with 15-foot ceilings and a timber overbuild.

A 145-key hotel, Element by Westin, topped out in February 2024 and is

THE GEORGETOWN COMPANY/PROVIDED

expected to open this fall along with The Spruce Social House, a new food-andbeverage concept, and Stäge Kitchen & Bar, a new-to-market restaurant.

The buildout of CT Cantina & Taqueria is underway, with an opening planned for this summer.

“We’re not even talking about the office of the future; we’re talking about the office that employees want today, and that’s a walkable environment with plenty of options to work, dine, stay, and have fun around the campus,” Georgetown Managing Principal Jonathan Schmerin said. “With the creative office space, hotel and accompanying dining options onsite, we’re bringing a new community gathering spot for the area to reenergize a previously overlooked pocket of the submarket.”

The Spruce Social House, located at the base of the Element Hotel, codeveloped by Vision Hospitality Group and Georgetown, will offer a selection of

Honor:

Continued from Page 1

connections, and the observation that Dunwoody is a well-run city.”

Based in Atlanta, the Georgia Municipal Association is a nonprofit, providing legislative advocacy, as well as educational, employee benefit, and consulting services to all 537 cities in the state.

With 120 hours of training, including at least 54 hours of required courses, Councilman Tom Lambert earned the Certificate of Excellence for enhanced training.

Recipients of the certificate must also complete the intensive Robert E. Knox Jr. Municipal Leadership Institute.

A blueprint of Campus 244’s 12-acre campus shows the soon-to-be-completed Phase One of the mixed-use development, with a hotel, parking area, greenspace, retail and restaurants, and five-story office building. Campus 244 developers announced Phase Two Feb. 26, which includes a six-story building with 300,000 square feet of office space.

craft beers and non-alcoholic options, alongside a shareable menu of small plates, flatbreads, charcuterie and cheeseboards.

The beverage-focused venue will feature a four-sided indoor and outdoor bar.

RocaPoint Principal Phil Mays said the addition of another office building brings energy to the next phase of the mixed-use development.

“Campus 244 is a testament to the demand still out there for highquality, well-located office space that energizes employees,” Mays said. “We’ve taken the existing building with an interesting history and beautiful, natural-light-filled floorplates that allow for collaboration and created a home for innovative companies to continue to do what they do best.”

– Hayden Sumlin

“The training I have received through GMA and the Carl Vinson Institute of Government has been instrumental in my professional development as an elected official,” Lambert said. “Each class that I completed provided relevant information that I have taken back to Dunwoody and put to practical use in building a better community.”

Larry Hanson, CEO and executive director of the Georgia Municipal Association, said the training gives leaders a chance to connect and learn from one another.

“This is a remarkable achievement,” Hanson said. “We commend Catherine Lautenbacher, Rob Price, and Tom Lambert for this accomplishment and for the dedication shown in using this valuable resource to become a more effective city official.”

Patrick Malloy Communities’ Upper East River

Recognized with a Phillip Trammell Shutze Award

Brought to you by – Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Georgia Properties’ New Homes Division

Patrick Malloy Communities proudly announces that their new home community, Upper East River in Savannah, has been honored with the prestigious Phillip Trammell Shutze Award in the Multifamily Architecture category. The Institute of Classical Architecture & Art Southeast Chapter revealed the winners during the 17th annual Shutze Awards ceremony and dinner on Saturday, September 9, 2023, at the Piedmont Driving Club in Atlanta, Georgia.

Named after Atlanta’s renowned classical architect, Phillip Trammell Shutze, the awards celebrate excellence in residential and institutional architecture, interior design, landscape architecture restoration, and artisanship. Patrick Malloy Communities is thrilled to be acknowledged for their commitment to exceptional design and innovation in

the creation of Upper East River.

Upper East River, situated along the river in Historic Savannah, Georgia, offers a distinctive living experience with four unique environments seamlessly integrated into an elegant and modern neighborhood. The community reflects Patrick Malloy Communities’ dedication to creating spaces that not only enhance the natural surroundings but also provide residents with a harmonious blend of modern amenities and timeless architectural design.

The Shutze Awards play a pivotal role in recognizing and promoting excellence in classical design and craftsmanship. The judging panel, comprised of professionals from across the country, evaluated this year’s award submissions and recognized Upper East River in the Multifamily Architecture category. The community stood out for its architectural prowess, innovative design, and commitment to preserving the historical charm of the region.

Patrick Malloy, President and

CEO of Patrick Malloy Communities, expressed his gratitude for the recognition, stating, “Receiving the Phillip Trammell Shutze Award is a tremendous honor. It reflects an unwavering commitment to creating exceptional living spaces that not only exceed the expectations of our residents but also contributes to the rich architectural tapestry of Historic Savannah. Upper East River is a testament to our dedication to excellence, and we are pleased to be acknowledged by the Institute of Classical Architecture & Art.”

In the ever-expanding landscape of Georgia’s real estate market, Patrick Malloy Communities (PMC) stands out as a beacon of excellence and stability. With a legacy of crafting exceptional homes, the PMC name has become synonymous with quality and innovation. From the streets of North Atlanta to West Cobb and Gwinnett, and the historic allure of Savannah, PMC’s footprint in the state of Georgia is a testament to their dedication to

providing exceptional living experiences.

Patrick Malloy Communities, founded in 1994 by Patrick Malloy, boasts a remarkable track record.

Over the past 27 years, the company has developed over 11,000 homesites and built more than 7,000 homes in Metro Atlanta, generating a total of $4 billion in sales. PMC has consistently earned a place on the Atlanta Business Chronicle’s Top 20 Homebuilder list and has won numerous professionalism awards, including several Community of the Year honors.

For more information on these exciting new home communities by Patrick Malloy Communities, visit www.bhhsganewhomes.com. These communities are represented by Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Georgia Properties’ New Homes Division. An Equal Housing Opportunity. For more information about Upper East River and other Patrick Malloy Communities, please visit www. patrickmalloycommunities.com.

VALERIE LEVIN

• Does my Will protect my “stuff”? (It does not.)

• Should I upgrade my Will to a Trust?

• What do I need to know about Revocable Living Trusts?

• How do Irrevocable Trusts work?

March/April Upcoming Workshops:

Tues., Mar. 5th – 4PM

Thurs., Mar. 7th – 11AM

Wed., Mar. 13th – 6PM

Tues., Mar. 19th – 4PM

• Medicaid. What’s true and what’s not?

• How do I protect my assets for my family and legacy?

• How do I remain in control?

• How do I avoid losing everything to nursing home costs?

• How can my family avoid probate?

Thurs., Mar. 21st – 11AM

Wed., Mar. 27th – 6PM

Tues., Apr. 2nd – 4PM

Thurs., Apr. 4th – 11AM

CODE: herald2023

1100 Cambridge Square | Suite B | Alpharetta, GA 30009 | 770.209.2346 | esther@gklawgroup.com

Remarrying and Wills

Brought to you by – Geerdes & Associates

If you remarry, you’ll often want to adopt your partner’s children, or you may have children from previous relationships. When that’s the case, you want to make sure you review your estate plan, so your new family isn’t shut out of an inheritance and that your assets are ultimately distributed according to your wishes.

Some people neglect these updatesthey keep the will from their first marriage that still has their ex-spouse as the beneficiary or Executor, or they may leave all their assets to their new spouse, which could result in them unintentionally shutting the children from a prior marriage out of an inheritance. Here are some costly mistakes that some people make after they remarry:

They do not change beneficiaries. Some people forget to remove their previous spouse as the beneficiary of their retirement accounts, life insurance, and bank accounts. Make sure you avoid this mistake by updating all the beneficiaries to your accounts in the event of a remarriage.

They do not update their Will. Update your will to reflect your current family situation so your ex-spouse does

not end up inheriting your home and assets.

They do not consider the change in heirs. Who your heirs are will change upon a remarriage. If you want your children, rather than your new spouse or their children, to receive your assets, you’ll want to make sure you specify this in your estate planning documents and accounts. Alternatively, if you want your assets to be distributed among your children and your spouse’s children equally, you’ll also want to clarify this so your assets do not end up going to just one party or all to your new spouse, who may not distribute the assets according to your wishes.

With a new family comes a new responsibility to make sure everyone inherits exactly what you want them to inherit. Avoid conflict by appointing the right family member to make decisions in the case you become incapacitated and do careful advance planning to make sure no one is accidentally disinherited creating conflict and possible litigation. Update your estate plan to match your new family situation. Remember - advance planning and clear communication set forth in your estate planning documents is always key to minimizing the risk of conflict and accidental disinheritance after you pass away.

PEXELS

Super-sized tile has come to Atlanta

Brought to you by - Bath and Kitchen Galleria

For more than 50 years we’ve been scrubbing grout in our showers, and wondering why they don’t make large tiles equal to the size of entire shower walls? It will look better, be cleaner and certainly more hygienic. In the past, the only full wall solutions were either incredibly expensive, or included putting some sort of acrylic or plastic on the shower walls; a sure pathway to decrease the value of your home!

“We’ve been working on deploying a full wall shower solution for 8 years and its finally here”, says John Hogan president of Bath and Kitchen Galleria in Alpharetta. Working hand-in-hand with Cosentino, a 1$ billion global solid surfaces manufacturer (the maker of Silestone), we can now offer gorgeous patterns of porcelain or quartz-like stone material that covers all of the shower walls, with little or no grout. We can even use the same material for the floors and countertops, says Bobbie Kohm, Vice President of

Design at Bath and Kitchen Galleria.

Manufacturing innovation and cuttingedge technology have come together to create a solution that’s gorgeous, durable, hygienic and easy to clean. This product’s trade name is Dekton, is manufactured in Spain and has been tested globally. It has finally arrived in Atlanta and is being made available to homeowners through Bath and Kitchen Galleria in Alpharetta, a turnkey designremodel company.

North Atlanta was significantly builtout in the 80’s, 90’s and 2000’s and there are many homeowners seeking innovative solutions to update their homes. Now homeowners have one more reason to remodel bathrooms. “We remodel over 240 homes each year and for the past few months the grout-free bathrooms have been selling incredibly well”, says Bobbie Kohm.

To learn more about full-wall tile solutions and Dekton you can visit Bath and Kitchen Galleria’s showroom at 10591 Old Alabama Rd Connector in Alpharetta or call them at 678-459-2292.

Sandy Springs Library hosts Southern fiction writers

By HAYDEN SUMLIN hayden@appenmedia.com

SANDY SPRINGS, Ga. — During a stop on “The Magic & Karma Tour” at the Sandy Springs Library Feb. 27, Southern fiction writers Love HudsonMaggio and Jennifer Moorman shared their stories, processes and inspirations.

Both say the genre has exploded in popularity since the pandemic.

Several themes tie together both books, including magic and karma, community, cultural cuisine and destiny.

“If you’ve read a lot of other Southern authors, everyone writes about the South differently,” Moorman said, “because every perspective about the South is different.”

Moorman’s “The Magic All Around,” published in January by Harper Muse, details a series of tasks that Mattie Russell must complete after the death of her mother.

In the genre of magical realism, which allows fantastical elements to slip into contemporary life, readers follow Russell as she discovers the secrets her mother left behind.

The 11th stop on their tour of the Atlantic Coast brought Tifton-native Moorman and Sandy Springs-native Hudson-Maggio to the Fulton County Library branch on Mount Vernon Highway.

“Talking to one of us is like talking to both of us,” Hudson-Maggio said. “It has worked out beautifully, because we have used our networks and our contacts, and we keep each other uplifted and love each other’s work.”

Her first book, “Karma Under Fire,” follows two star-crossed lovers from different corners of the globe.

The chapters alternate narration between Harlow Kennedy, an aspiring jewelry maker from Atlanta, and Tej Mayur, the son of a wealthy East Indian family and prominent chef at an Indian restaurant in Atlanta.

The journey from Atlanta to India and back again compares contemporary Indian and American culture, HudsonMaggio said.

“I discovered parallels between

caste systems and color systems, which can happen in the United States and globally,” Hudson-Maggio said. “At the end of the day, it’s a rom-com, fun and fiction, but there are elements of history in there.”

She said the embrace of her book by Indian and American readers is largely due to research into the similar, yet distinct cultures.

“I like these difficult situations, where they’re almost extremes…how can I find people that are so different but similar at the same time,” HudsonMaggio said. “How can I bring them into a situation where they have to be together and see how it plays out?”

Nonprofit hosts authors

The Friends of the Sandy Springs Library collaborates with Marietta-based Bookmiser, an independent bookstore, to bring in authors to speak.

New York Times bestselling author Katherine Reay will discuss her latest book at the library March 20, “The Berlin Letter,” which follows women in the Central Intelligence Agency’s Venona Project during the 1980s.

The Sandy Springs branch of the Fulton County Library is at 395 Mount

Vernon Highway.

Rebecca Lever, member of the Friends of the Sandy Springs Library Board, introduced the authors and their books to about 20 book lovers at the author talk. Lever was awarded the 2023 Mitzi O’Connell Care & Compassion Award by the Community Assistance Center, operating in Dunwoody and Sandy Springs.

“I’m very happy to say that I have had the opportunity to read both,” Lever said.

After the authors discussed their writing, relationship and thought process, they took questions from readers.

Many wanted to know when they could get their hands on new books.

While “Karma Under Fire” was planned as the first installment in a three-part series, Hudson-Maggio said the lone sequel in the “Karma” series, “Bombay Baby,” comes out this fall.

Moorman plans to unveil the latest in the “Mystic Water” series April 2.

Other questions surrounded recipes from characters, their favorite books and their individual writing processes.

The tour, returning for the Atlanta Writers Conference at the Westin Atlanta

Airport Hotel May 4, wraps up in Bowling Green, Kentucky, June 16.

How the authors met

The two Southern fiction writers traced their journeys from growing up in Georgia to traveling up and down the Atlantic Coast for their authors talk.

Moorman is a senior editor at HarperCollins Publishers in Nashville and the bestselling author of the “Mystic Water” series — “The Baker’s Man,” “The Necessity of Lavender Tea” and “A Slice of Courage Quiche.”

“We have similar threads of destiny, faith and karma,” Moorman said. “I think we have that commonality in our stories, where our characters reach that fork in the road or crossroads, and they need to take control of the next steps.”

Hudson-Maggio is the founder and CEO of a marketing technology firm and former screenwriting fellow at Columbia University in New York.

Moorman and Hudson-Maggio met in the Hamptons, an affluent community on eastern Long Island’s South Fork in New York.

“Basically, we met at a party in the Hamptons back in July, which is so [bourgeois],” Hudson-Maggio said.

The library meeting room erupted in laughter at the joke.

“We connected with other authors who were going to be at this event,” Hudson-Maggio said. “We decided to share a house because the Hamptons are ridiculous, right?”

The two authors, who had never met, decided to stay in a cottage away from the main house at the property.

After one phone call, the women decided to hop on the same flight and carpool to Long Island, New York.

After the four-day event in the Hamptons, the duo became best friends, they said.

A six-month process, including work with a publicist, concluded with “The Magic & Karma Tour,” drawing from the titles of their Southern fiction books.

“When we came back, we literally talked every day,” Hudson-Maggio said. “And in one of those conversations, [Moorman] said ‘why don’t we do a book tour?’”

REBECCA LEVER/PROVIDED

Love Hudson-Maggio, left, author of “Karma Under Fire,” discusses her motivations and writing process with her friend, Jennifer Moorman, author of “The Magic All Around” and the three-part “Mystic Water” series, Feb. 27 at the Sandy Springs Library on Mount Vernon Highway.

ALPHARETTA-ROSWELL HERALD | FORSYTH HERALD | JOHNS CREEK HERALD

MILTON HERALD | DUNWOODY CRIER | SANDY SPRINGS CRIER

Serving Metro Atlanta Since 1977 | Hello@AppenMedia.com | 770.442.3278

Delivering Readers Award-Winning Newspapers

2023 Georgia Press Association

1st Place – News Photograph

1st Place – Feature Writing

1st Place – Business Writing

1st Place – Serious Column

1st Place – Food Ad

1st Place – Newspaper Promotion Ad

1st Place – Classifieds Section/page

2nd Place – Page One

2nd Place – Lifestyle Coverage

2nd Place – News Photograph

2nd Place – Local News Coverage

2nd Place – Business Writing

2nd Place – Lifestyle/Feature Column

2nd Place – Food Ad

2nd Place – Newspaper Promotion

2nd Place – Signature Page

2nd Place – General Excellence

3rd Place – Page One

3rd Place – Lifestyle Coverage

3rd Place – Feature Writing

3rd Place – Breaking News Writing

3rd Place – Local News Coverage

3rd Place – Serious Column

3rd Place – Humorous Column

2023 Association of Community Publishers

1st Place – Feature Article Layout

1st Place – Self Promotion Classifieds

2nd Place – Educational Column

2nd Place – Entertaining Column

2nd Place – Self Promotion Own Publication

A walk in the woods en route to lifelong memories

RAY APPEN

Publisher Emeritus ray@appenmedia.com

My daughter Amelia is usually very creative in coming up with birthday and Christmas presents. Instead of going out and just spending money, often she creates her presents. Those, almost without fail, are treasured. For Christmas last year, she knocked one out of the ballpark; I got a hike. This was not just any hike. It was a hike with her for two days and a night up to the hike-in/hike-out Len Foote Hike Inn at Amicalola Falls State Park.

For those of you who are not familiar with Len Foote – and I was not – it is literally a shining diamond in the rough less than an hour north of Alpharetta. From where we parked at the welcome center, we hiked along a path, a moderate 4.9 miles through mountain laurel thickets and stands of oak, pine, sweet gum, and ash. We crossed small creeks; bathed in the silence of the forest; and talked and talked – about everything and nothing.

Amelia stopped frequently to admire native flora – bright green patches of moss, mushrooms, lichen, St. John’s wort, and medicinal understory plants like yellow root and witch hazel. She is studying soil ecology as well as native flora these days, so the walk was like

traveling through a living classroom/ museum for both of us. We stayed in a continual state of excitement and wonder as we hiked slowly toward the Len Foote.

It seemed like we couldn’t go more than 50 paces without stopping to admire something – usually green, growing along our path – or something else – usually some shade of brown, in a state of decomposition – that is, in the process of becoming soil again. Fallen trees in differing states of decay covered the forest floor – rich loam-filled musty cavities now that once had been vital hardwood trees – giant vertical aqueducts transporting gallons of water by the hour up through branches and out to leaves which, in-turn, converted light into sugars, carbon and oxygen while at the same time – below – filled the soil with literally miles of earth-nourishing, carbon-sequestering mycorrhizal fungal networks (basically root systems) which form the “circulatory system of the entire planet.”

With each step Amelia and I took, we were both literally and figuratively at “ground zero” for the entire planet. We were certainly, as we hiked on, “not in Kansas” – or Alpharetta – anymore – and we knew it and savored every minute.

We did not hurry. It took us almost four hours to arrive at Len Foote. Had we not stopped so often – and we both were glad that we did – I am sure that the hike would have been closer to a little over two hours.

Len Foote, named after a politically savvy Georgia ecologist, was a breathtaking surprise – very reasonably priced, small, super clean, organized, impeccably maintained, and run by welcoming knowledgeable staff who obviously appreciated us, as well as those rotting trees, the mycorrhizal fungal networks, and the “story” of the forest and its role in our lives.

Physically the inn is four or five connected wooden buildings – the lobby, the bedrooms (very small/sleeps 2 –bunks), the kitchen / dining hall, the bath and shower area, and the game and reading areas. All told, I think there may have been close to 40 folks staying at the Inn when we were there, probably close to capacity. Our stay included dinner and breakfast. The food, served family style in the dining room, far exceeded expectations. Staff offered bag lunches for those who wanted to hike out with food!

The guests at Len Foote were one of the highlights; they were a big part of what made our visit special. Perhaps half – maybe more – of our fellow hikers was a dad or a mom accompanied by a son or daughter. Everyone enjoyed the meals together. We conversed. We laughed. We compared notes. I didn’t see a single cell phone used in the dining room, and in general, cell phones were rarely seen.

We sat at one of the smaller tables for dinner – large enough for six. There was Amelia and me, a dad with his (my

guess) 9-year-old son from Marietta, and a dad with his (my guess) 12-year-old daughter from Duluth. There were a lot of dads there. I suppose it was another part of why we enjoyed our stay as much as we did – being around groups of people – especially a parent and a kid – whose obvious intention was to spend meaningful quality time with each other, something I would have to call both nurturing and, in a way, healing.

After dinner, most folks retreated to the game room for reading, board games, puzzles, or a pass with one of the acoustic guitars provided. Some sat out on the porch in rocking chairs. Others wandered down to the lookout over the valley while others attended a lecture by a park ranger about the national parks –slide show included!

The next morning, Amelia and I hiked back to my truck – all smiles. That feeling lasted a long time; the memories will last longer.

Thank you, Amelia, for such a wonderful present. Thank you, Len Foote staff, for who you are and what you do. Readers, thank you for reading and supporting our newspapers; your support truly makes a critical difference to us and helps us stay in the game for you. Please consider joining The Appen Press Club if you have not already joined.

Slow down. Take a hike – maybe with your spouse, maybe with your son or daughter. Len Foote is a great goal.

Don’t be in a hurry.

Home Demonstration Clubs were vital to past farm life

Home Demonstration Clubs for Georgia women began in 1918 and continued through the 1950s. They were important to the farming family, especially during the Great Depression and World War II.

Many counties in Georgia, including DeKalb and Fulton counties, had a Home Demonstration agent, as part of the County Extension Service. The agents traveled around demonstrating methods of preserving food, such as canning or freezing. They sometimes shared other skills including sewing.

In early years, Home Demonstration agents often traveled by horse and buggy. If the visit involved a lesson in canning and the group had no canning equipment, the agent brought a canner. (Atlanta Journal, May 10, 1959, “Canning was main topic in

buggy days, she recalls”)

After Ethel Warren came to Dunwoody and married Stephen Spruill in 1933, she became involved with the Dunwoody Home Demonstration Club. She recalled Katherine Strong Rudeseal was the agent for DeKalb County. (“Story of Dunwoody,” by Elizabeth L. Davis and Ethel W. Spruill)

Spruill participated in contests at the annual Harvest Festival, a DeKalb County fair held in Panthersville. Ethel Spruill won contests for cooking with chicken, eggs and for her canning skills. She won the Sears Roebuck’s canning contest and a baking contest sponsored by Fleishman Yeast in 1949.

Young people participating in 4-H were able to learn the same skills. At the time, the focus was farming for boys and food preservation and other home skills for girls. Opal Ward was the Fulton County Home Demonstration agent and Rubye Nance was assistant agent in 1936. The two women gave a demonstration to the Roswell 4-H Club girls. (Atlanta Constitution, June 4,

1936, “Roswell 4-H Club”)

Lois Coogle recalls the Sandy Springs Home Demonstration Club in her book, “Sandy Springs Past Tense.” Coogle says Nell Glass shared her knowledge of cooking and canning, much of which she learned from the Home Demonstration Club. Glass managed her vegetable garden and fruit trees on her own after her husband died. She also kept a cow and chickens, sharing the eggs with her neighbors.

Octie Nance was president of the Sandy Springs Home Demonstration Club in 1935. The March meeting included a program called, “Personality as applied to clothing,” and a committee was formed to beautify the corner of Dunwoody Road and Roswell Road. County agent Opal Ward also attended the meeting. (Atlanta Constitution, April 1, 1935, “Sandy Springs Club”)

The Brookhaven September 1953 Home Demonstration Club meeting featured the topic of storage space. The meeting was held at the home of Mary Robinson on Os-

borne Road and featured a demonstration on storage space solutions. (Atlanta Constitution, Sep. 23, 1953, “Storage is topic”) Elsie Barrow’s story demonstrates how the Home Demonstration Club was a place not only to learn but for women to visit with neighbors and become part of a community. When H.B. and Elsie Barrow moved to a home on Tilly Mill Road in Dunwoody in 1947, Elsie felt like “it was the end of the world.” However, soon the Methodist minister rode over on his bike. Then, Ethel Spruill and Arva Floyd came to visit and soon Elsie “… began to love the people and loved the Home Demonstration Club.” (City of Dunwoody Remembers, 1994 oral history, DeKalb History Center archives, available on YouTube)

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.

VALERIE BIGGERSTAFF Columnist

PAST TENSE

Forum:

Continued from Page 7

The path ends at Hammond Drive.

The Transform project is nearly wrapped up, with the three I-285 bridges complete and final paving in progress.

Relatedly, the Sandy Springs City Council voted Feb. 20 to apply for $14.2 million in federal funds for its PATH 400, a pedestrian mobility project that will run along Ga. 400.

The PATH 400 project will extend the multi-use trail north from the southern city limits to Johnson Ferry

Road, where the Transform I-285 and Ga. 400 multi-use path picks up.

City officials estimate the intersection improvements project will cost $4.76 million, including design, right-of-way acquisition, utility relocation and construction.

In May 2022, the Perimeter Community Improvement Districts announced $960,000 in funds for intersection improvements at Peachtree Dunwoody Road at Lake Hearn Drive.

The City Council followed by awarding a $912,000 contract to Lowe Engineers in March 2023 for design services for the project.

The Federal Transportation Administration funds the remaining

Rose Mary Thornton Dennis In Memoriam

Rose Mary Thornton Dennis passed away peacefully at home on February 22, 2024. Rose Mary, born in Atlanta on September 18, 1936, was the only child of Rose Lee Chambers of Atlanta and Nathaniel Albert Thornton of Columbus Georgia.

In 1961, Rose Mary married Norman Bradley Dennis of Atlanta. Bradley was the love of her life for over 57 years until he died in 2018.

Rose Mary attended Mrs. Bloodworth’s kindergarten in the Little White House on Peachtree Battle Avenue, E Rivers Elementary School, Washington Seminary and The Westminster Schools. After graduating from The Westminster Schools in 1954, Rose Mary attended Gulf Park College for Women, in Gulfport, Mississippi (now University of Southern Mississippi).

sister-in-law Jean Dennis Nunnally and brother-in-law Charles Talbot Nunnally II. She is survived by nephews Charles Talbot Nunnally III, (Jill) and Norman Bowie Nunnally, niece Lisle Nunnally Waits, (Edward), great nephews, Charlie Nunnally and Bailey Nunnally and great nieces, Lilly Nunnally, Mary Catherine Waits, Leila Waits and Dennis Nunnally. A timely nod and honor for Rose Mary - her father, better known as “Nat” Thornton, was honored this past Saturday, February 24 in Macon, Georgia, by his induction into The Georgia Sports Hall of Fame for his extraordinary competitive tennis career that was originally honed on the courts of the Atlanta Athletic Club and continued nationally for almost three decades from 1900 to 1929.

Upon graduation from Gulf Park College, Rose Mary returned to Atlanta and went to work for the Atlanta CocaCola Bottling Co, eventually becoming the executive assistant to its then president, Arthur Montgomery. She remained with the Atlanta Coca-Cola Bottling Company, later Coca-Cola Enterprises, until she first retired in June of 1993, only to be rehired the next day, finally retiring a second time in 2013. Rose Mary’s beautiful smile always made visitors or employees alike feel honored and welcome. Greeting all with her charming southern drawl, she was affectionately known as the “voice of CCE.” During her over 50 years of service to the Atlanta Coca-Cola Bottling Company and CCE, she formed and nurtured many deep and lasting lifelong friendships at all levels of the company.

Rose Mary is preceded in death by her

balance, $3.6 million.

Richard Meehan, chief engineer at Lowe Engineers, said right-of-way acquisition is slated to begin sometime this fall, with bids out for construction anticipated for September 2025.

Officials estimated construction will take one year.

Meehan said his firm has been intermittently working on the project since 2016, and he anticipates it to be completed in winter 2026.

Meehan said there is a possibility the multi-use path and sidewalk along Lake Hearn Drive will be extended across the Fulton and DeKalb counties border to Perimeter Center Parkway. So far, the segment does not have funding or approval, he said.

The only attendees of the open house Feb. 28 were two representatives from SK Commercial Realty, the leasing and management team for The Commons at Lake Hearn, adjacent to the Palisades Office Park.

Furman Wood, senior vice president and broker at SKCR, said construction of the Transform I-285 and Ga. 400

project affected the property on Lake Hearn Drive significantly. He said he does not expect the intersection improvements project to do the same.

The owners of The Commons at Lake Hearn lost a parking garage to the Georgia Department of Transportation’s project, he said.

A new parking structure, streetscape improvements and a revamp of the building’s interior has made the property more attractive, he said. The streetscape improvements from the developers also lessens the project cost for the city.

“About 50 percent of [the project] looked like it was going to impact us, but it looks like it’s not,” Wood said.

The commercial real estate brokers were skeptical about the walkability the project provides in the Perimeter Center, citing hilly terrain and distance from MARTA stations at Medical Center and Dunwoody.

“We would love to have people walk down from the hospitals and stuff like that, you just don’t see a lot of it,” Wood said.

Newspaper Delivery Route Openings with Appen Media Group

We are looking for one person or couple interested in delivering weekly newspapers in South Forsyth, Alpharetta and the Johns Creek areas.

Requirements: Must have a perfect driving record and background check, reliable transportation, honest, hard-working and positive attitude.

For more information or to apply, email heidi@appenmedia.com and include a paragraph or two about who you are and any relevant background/experience. In the subject line of the email please put “Delivery Route Application.”

A Memorial Service to celebrate the life of Rose Mary will be held at St. Luke’s Presbyterian Church in Dunwoody at 2:00 p.m. on Thursday February 29, 2024.

The family of Rose Mary would like to thank Live Oak Caregivers for its gracious care and service provided to Rose Mary during her final illness. The family also gives heartfelt thanks to the individual caregivers who provided love, comfort and care to Rose Mary, especially Lateesha, Patria, Mary Ann, Valerie and Rosemary. The family would also like to thank Heartland Hospice for its compassionate and professional manner in providing comfort and care to Rose Mary and the family in her final days.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in Rose Mary’s memory to St Luke’s Presbyterian Church in Dunwoody, Daughters Against Alzheimer’s or Respite Care Atlanta.

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING

The City of Dunwoody City Council will meet on Monday, April 8th , 2024 at 6:00 p.m. in the Council of Chambers of Dunwoody City Hall, located at 4800 Ashford Dunwoody Road, Dunwoody, Georgia 30338, for the purpose of due process of the following:

RZ 23-03, 245 Perimeter Center Parkway: James F. George, on behalf of the owners of 245 Perimeter Center Parkway, requests a rezoning from PDc to PDc to amend the zoning conditions of case RZ 15-072 to allow the development of a mixed use project including office, hotel, and multifamily residential with associated retail, restaurant, amenity space, and structured parking. Should you have any questions or comments, or would like to view the application and supporting materials, please contact the City of Dunwoody Community Development Department at 678-382-6800. Members of the public are encouraged to call or schedule a meeting with the staff in advance of the Public Hearing if they have questions or are unfamiliar with the process. The staff is available to answer questions, discuss the decision-making process, and receive comments and concerns.

A Community of Advocates For Local Journalism

Big Sky Franchise Team

David & Michelle Bertany

Amour & Duane Carthy

Barbara Anderson

Kerry Arias

Scott Baynton

Alpharetta Lions Club

Omar Altalib

Dave Altman

Ron Altman

American Legion Post 201

Gaye Armstrong

Mary Asbury

Beth Barnes

Barbara Bauschka

Kathy Beck

Bill Bentley

Leslie Berry

Tom Billings

Tochie Blan

Ron Boddicker

Jodi Bogen

Debra Bowen

Joe Bowen

Ryan Brainard

Dorothy Brouhard

Erendira Brumley

Bernhard Burgener

Alvin Burrell

Mike & Theresa Buscher

Mary Busman

Gary Butterfield

In 2022, Appen Media Group created the Appen Press Club, its mission driven news division dedicated to creating a sustainable infrastructure for local journalism in the north metro Atlanta area. Residents of that community, like you, join the Press Club by committing to small monthly or annual dues, 100% of which is dedicated to producing reliable, professional journalism on local issues that affect your lives.

Adam Corder

Robert Flint

Robin Fricton

Joseph Bell

James Bennett

Rita Brown

Roderick Liptrot

Tom McMurrain

MEMBER+

Mark Casas

David Conti

Theodore Davis III

MEMBER

Clea Calloway

Kirk Canaday

James Carr

Bridgette Carter

William Cartwright

Pat Check

Virginia Christman

Christopher Cleary

Ann Coaloa

Kim Coggins

Evelyn Collazo

Michael Mackenzie

Communications

Joan Compton

Terri Coons

David Davis

Duane DeBruler

Rebecca Donlan

Tom Driscoll

Michael Dudgeon

Jeanette Dummer

DutchCrafters Amish Furniture

Mim Eisenberg

Danny Elkins

Su Ellis

Martha Fasse

Lee Fleck

Cathy Flynn

Nanci Foster

Amy Frederick

Kelly Frommer

Carol Fry

Tracey Ganesh

John Gibbs

John Gilberto

Leslie Gilliam

Bailey & Ryan Gladysz

Michelle Glotzbach

Harvey Goldberg

Christopher Goodrich

Phyllis Goodrich

Marilee Hamilton

Susan Hanna

Joe Hirsch

Penn Hodge

Dianne & Steffan Holmquist

Joan Hostetter

Austin Hughes

Lynn Johnson

Tyler Jones

Arthur Kebanli

Mark Kelly

Bob Meyers

Ross & Lori Ramsey

Mark Rundle

Kim Truett

Roger Wise Jr.

Colt Whittall

Charlcie Forehand

Ali Mahbod

Vickie McElroy

Allison Kloster

Dyna Kohler

Larry Krueger

Jess & Chris Kysar

Malinda Lackey

Ken Leffingwell

Carol Lehan

Bonnie Lind

Francia Lindon

Harlan Little

Ross Long

Brenda Lundy

Rita Loventhal

Karen Magill

Kyile Marshall

Julie Martin

Valerie Matthews

William Maxwell

Rachel McCord

Austin McCully

Lynn McIntyre

Mike McLoughlin

Jennifer Mendoza

Al Merrill

Chris Miller

Christine Miller

Anne Peer

Robert Popp

Kate Seng

Fred Moeller

Carol Morgan

Kathy Morgan

Stu Moring

Leslie Mullis

Donna Murphy

Jack Murphy

Tricia Novarro

Bob O’Brien

Lynn Pennington

Kurt & Leslie Phillips

Joy Pooler

Debra Powell

Righteous PR

Chuck Pugh

Raj Rajagopalan

Ashwin Ramaswami

Cheryl Rand

Jean Rearick

Neil Robertson

Matt Rohs

Stephanie Schuette

Susan Searles

Tina Shelton

Lisa Shippel

Joanne Simmons

Carol Williams

Marilyn Colarossi-Woods

Tom Simon

Cindy Simpson

Robert Singleton

Faye Sklar

Judith Slaughter

Andy Smith

Wesley Stewart

Cathryn Stovall

Celeste Strohl

Andy Sumlin

Mike Tasos

Candice Teichert

Lisa Tilt

Michael Townes

Matthew Tyser

Ollie Wagner

Lewis Walker

Jonathan Washburn

Sally White

Thom White

Michael Weiss

Susan Wilson

Jamie Wimberly

Nancy & Dave Wistrand

Carla York

2 adjacent plots $7,500/both. $5500/value each. Peaceful, desirable area. 404-402-5602.

Small

available in Appen Media Office close to Downtown Alpharetta (319 North Main Street, Alpharetta). All utilities included, Internet included (within reason), 24/7 access. Space is upstairs in area of Appen