Dunwoody Crier - March 21, 2024

the community.

Dunwoody officials talk city finances at retreat

By HAYDEN SUMLIN hayden@appenmedia.com

CLARKSVILLE, Ga. — A couple miles off U.S. Route 23 in the foothills of the Appalachians, the Dunwoody City Council met with departments heads March 12-13 for the city’s annual retreat.

The Glen-Ella Springs Inn & Restaurant in Clarksville at the end of gravel road served as the setting for a review of Dunwoody’s commercial properties, parks, budget trends and

property taxes.

The City Council also discussed the failure of the bond referendum in November, a possible removal of the city’s millage cap and some priorities for capital improvement projects.

Jock Connell, a former city administrator in Gwinnett and Hall counties, opened the meeting with an exercise for each councilmember, asking them to state one goal for Dunwoody in the next ten years.

The answers varied with objectives

like clarifying the City Council’s vision for staff, moving forward and continuously improving, developing a long-term strategy and honing the city’s operational model.

“What do you want this place to look like, and how do we get there?” Connell said.

Before the retreat moved into its first presentation, Connell asked councilmembers to provide a barrier to

The city requested $3 million in funds for a segment of the Top End I-285 Trail, connecting the Georgetown Shopping Center to Perimeter Center.

The proposed Dunwoody portion of the Top End Trail runs along the southern city limits from PATH 400 in Sandy Springs to North Shallowford Road, with a crossing into Chamblee.

The westside trails in the Dunwoody Trail Master Plan, including the Georgetown area, are focused on Perimeter Center. The proposed network calls for more north-south connections via the North Nancy Creek Greenway and eastwest routes via the Top End Trail.

A proposed I-285 underpass in the Dunwoody Trail Master Plan would connect the city’s path network to Brookhaven’s Murphy Candler Park.

The $850,000 will be used for constructing a paved bicycle and walking path along the proposed I-285 Top End Express Lanes project, which adds two new, barrier-separated express lanes in both directions of a portion of I-285 and Ga. 400.

See TRAIL, Page 3

HAYDEN SUMLIN/APPEN MEDIA

Dunwoody officials listen to Mayor Lynn Deutsch, right center, discuss property taxes at the city’s annual retreat March 12 in Clarksville. Deutsch said the consensus is to table plans for another bond referendum, “soften” paths through neighborhoods and prioritize promises to

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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.

Sandy Springs woman reports dog attack

DUNWOODY, Ga. — A police officer issued a Dunwoody man a citation for unrestrained animals March 6 after a report of dog attack at Tolleson Court and Trowbridge Drive.

A 57-year-old Sandy Springs woman, said she saw two dogs, one black and the other tan, off their leashes without an owner.

She said the tan dog became aggressive and bit her dog on the face and leg during the alleged attack.

An officer said the injured dog was bleeding.

The owner of the injured dog said she was not harmed during the incident.

She also said the owner of the unleashed dogs came out to the intersection and took control of his pets.

The officer then went to speak with the owner of the two dogs described in the incident.

The owner of the unleashed dogs said his pets slipped out of the house through an open garage door.

The officer said he explained the importance of watching his dogs and issued him a citation for unrestrained animals.

Suspects break window, take nothing

DUNWOODY, Ga. — Dunwoody Police responded to the parking deck at 900 Ashford Parkway March 4 after a security guard reported a shattered window on a BMW 440i.

The security guard said another employee notified her about two people wearing ski masks and walking around the garage.

When the security guard met with the two subjects, they told her they were looking for their mother.

The security guard told them to leave the

property.

Afterwards the security guard discovered a shattered window on a BMW 440i.

The security guard contacted the owner of the vehicle, who said nothing of value was inside the vehicle.

When the owner met with the officer and security guard, he said nothing was taken from the vehicle.

The security guard told police it would take time to review security footage with an older system.

She also said she would contact Dunwoody Police if she had any footage.

Police arrest Tampa man after Walmart fight

DUNWOODY, Ga. — Dunwoody Police arrested a Tampa man for disorderly conduct March 5 after a fight between coworkers at the Walmart on Ashford Dunwoody Road.

An officer said he observed two men fighting at the front entrance of the store when he arrived.

While the officer searched one suspect, another officer detained the other after he tried to walk away from the scene.

The first suspect, a 55-year-old Chamblee man, said both men are coworkers at the barbershop located inside the Walmart.

The Chamblee man said the other suspect accused him of using his tools and hit him in the left eye.

After being struck, the Chamblee man said he tried to distance himself from his coworker.

The second suspect, a 45-year-old Tampa man, said the first man threatened to shoot him after he accused him of using his belongings.

The Tampa man said the Chamblee man tried to take him to the ground and denied throwing any prior strikes.

After reviewing security footage, officers said it was clear that the Tampa man initiated the altercation, hit the Chamblee man first and continued to engage when his coworker tried to create distance between the two men.

Officers arrested the Tampa man for disorderly conduct and transported him to

Dekalb County Jail.

Suspect takes air out of patrolman’s car

ROSWELL, Ga. — Roswell Police are looking for a person suspected of puncturing the back tires of an officer’s patrol car March 5.

The incident involved $700 in damage to a 2020 Ford Explorer on Belcourt Parkway.

The victim, a detective with the Police Department, said he noticed the rear of his patrol car lower to the ground than normal. He said both rear tires were completely flat and contacted a lieutenant immediately.

The victim said he did not notice any other damaged vehicles in the parking lot. He also said there was a hand impression on the rear right side of his vehicle.

American Towing transported the vehicle to the Public Works Department on Hembree Road.

City mechanics inspected the tires and told the detective it appeared as though his tires were punctured.

The detective said he updated the Police Department and turned the case over to the Criminal Investigations Division to examine possible fingerprints.

Suspect evades police on Haynes Bridge Road

ROSWELL, Ga. — Roswell Police are investigating a March 5 report of several stolen air conditioning units from the Roswell Housing Authority apartments on Grove Way.

The Housing Authority owns and operates 95 units of project-based housing on Oak and Myrtle streets, as well as Grove Way.

Officers said the report came from a property manager at the apartments.

The property manager said she received a complaint Feb. 29 of missing air conditioning units from apartments belonging to the Housing Authority.

When she walked around the properties March 5, she said she noticed several missing units, valued at $2,850 each.

The property manager said she would review security footage to determine the number of stolen units.

Officers said the investigation is ongoing.

Sandy Springs seeks to level home linked to drug trade

By CARL APPEN carl@appenmedia.com and HAYDEN SUMLIN hayden@appenmedia.com

SANDY SPRINGS, Ga. — The Sandy Springs City Council authorized its legal counsel March 5 to prosecute the condemnation and seizure of a home at 4808 Kitty Hawk Drive.

City Attorney Dan Lee said the action comes because the house is a tool in a drug manufacturing operation and because the property is unfit for habitation.

Police Chief Kenneth DeSimone and Building Inspector Jonathan Livingston filed the petition, Lee said.

In June 2023, local and federal law enforcement raided the property and discovered a marijuana growing operation.

City officials said the home had been modified to be a large-scale grow house, filled with hydroponic equipment, air scrubbers and processing stations.

The transformations contributed to the unsafe conditions of the house, according to the filing.

Because of the presence of black mold, exposed electrical wiring and compromised structural integrity, Lee said the condition of the home has rendered it unfit for habitation.

During a conversation with City

Trail:

Continued from Page 1

The proposed project spans three counties, Cobb, Fulton and DeKalb, and crosses several cities including Smyrna, Sandy Springs, Dunwoody, Brookhaven, Chamblee, Doraville, and Tucker.

The Georgia Department of Transportation bills the I-285 Top End Express Lanes as an effort to improve regional mobility, provide more reliable trip times and offer a choice to motorists traveling through the metro Atlanta region.

The express lanes project will be part of the larger Georgia Express Lanes network, present on I-75 and I-85.

The proposed project is also part of the Atlanta Regional Commission’s Regional Transportation Plan and is classified as a regional freight corridor and a priority corridor to enhance transit operations.

Federal environmental documents and studies are being updated after GDOT revised its public-private partnership delivery model in June 2021 for the project. The procurement and construction schedule remains under review, with three phases expected for the project.

President Joe Biden signed a $460 billion package of spending bills March 9, preventing a shutdown of federal agencies.

U.S. Rep. Hank Johnson announced

Councilman Andy Bauman, who lives on the same street, Lee said prosecution of the two people arrested during the raid is pending.

While the two suspects directly tied to the house have not gone to trial, Lee drew a connection from them to others associated with the property who, he said, have pleaded guilty to similar charges.

“It is evident and uncontested that the house was purchased with Mexican cartel drug money for the purpose that was discovered by our police department,” Lee said. “That is to grow and manufacture, not just marijuana, but THC products to be sold.”

Lee also claimed the two arrested last

March 11 the funding of 15 projects, totaling $15.8 million, for Georgia’s Fourth District.

Johnson represents parts of DeKalb County, Newton County, and all of Rockdale County.

The projects in DeKalb County include parks, trails, domestic violence resources, recreation and transportation involving DeKalb-Peachtree Airport and MARTA.

“From Dunwoody in the north to Ellenwood in the south and all points in between, every part of DeKalb is touched by this important federal funding,” DeKalb CEO Michael Thurmond said. “We thank our man in Washington – Congressman Hank Johnson – for providing us with the support we need to renovate and improve our trails, schools, parks and critical funding for the state’s second-busiest airport, PDK.”

Dunwoody Mayor Lynn Deutsch said the city appreciates Johnson’s partnership and support for improving connectivity in the community.

“We are thrilled to receive an appropriation from Congressman Hank Johnson for the Georgetown segment of the Top End I-285 Trail,” Deutsch said. “This trail segment will provide regional connectivity, recreation, and additional commute options for major employment centers and dense residential areas. “

— Hayden Sumlin

year during a traffic stop and cash seizure were “undocumented aliens.”

In records obtained by Appen Media last year, Sandy Springs officers classified one subject as a U.S. citizen and did not provide resident status for the other. Those same records also say the incident was not gang-related.

Part of the city’s argument is that the drug operation reaches far beyond the scope of the two who were arrested. Lee alleges that the lender, the purchaser and the seller were all “involved in it.”

“If I’ve ever seen a property that was used in the commencement of a crime, this is it,” he said.

To remedy the situation the city seeks

not just to seize the property but condemn and destroy it.

The actions are rare in the city, according to Lee. In his 11 years with Sandy Springs, “we may have done this once,” he said.

City Councilman John Paulson asked about the requirements for issuing a condemnation and seizure.

“I don’t know if we’ve ever done both of those at the same time,” Paulson said. “The condemnation, I get, the place should be torn down, raised and regraded.”

Lee said state law allows for the seizure of a property that is acquired with ill-gotten gains or used in an illegal manner.

As explained at the meeting, the city will notify the county, the lender and the property owner of the condemnation process.

From there, “they have to come and make a claim for it,” Lee said.

Lee said the lender is in Denver, Colorado, and the property owner is currently incarcerated in Los Angeles, California.

“The property will be seized, taken off the criminal market and placed back on commerce,” Lee said. “It will become a viable part of the neighborhood again.”

The City Council voted unanimously to move forward with the condemnation and seizure.

CITY OF SANDY SPRINGS/PROVIDED

An image shows a street-facing view of 4804 Kitty Hawk Drive. City officials said local and federal law enforcement discovered a large-scale drug operation at the residence last June.

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Dunwoody Garden Club schedules 46th annual Swing Into Spring gala

DUNWOODY, Ga. — The Dunwoody Garden Club’s 46th annual Swing Into Spring gala and fundraiser is set for April 5 at Dunwoody United Methodist Church on Mount Vernon Road.

The festivities, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in Fellowship Hall, include a luncheon, fashion show, card party and silent auction.

Proceeds from the fundraiser allow the Dunwoody Garden Club to continue its projects, which beautify and improve the city’s environment.

Chico’s, a womens clothing store at Alpharetta’s North Point Village, sponsors the fashion show, which will unveil its spring line of clothing.

Local merchants and friends of the club donate silent auction items, like live plants and flowers, gift certificates to restaurants and passes to local attractions.

The club, with members from Chamblee, Brookhaven, Sandy Springs and Peachtree Corners, formed in unincorporated DeKalb County more than 50 years ago.

Since 1967, the club has been

involved in projects throughout the city, including the cleanup after the 1998 tornado, the pollinator garden at Brook Run Park and the maple trees on Ashford Dunwoody Road.

Allison Metheny, president of the Dunwoody Garden Club, said she “immediately felt so welcome” when she joined the civic group in 2010.

“The Dunwoody Garden Club’s mission is ‘to sponsor civic, welfare and community gardening projects as agreed upon by a majority of the members,’” Metheny said. “We do this through our monthly meetings, field trips, garden projects and donations to many groups.”

The club encourages people interested in attending the gala to purchase their $35 tickets soon.

The ticket order form provides options for additional donations and reservations for a four-person card table.

The ticket purchase deadline is March 25.

For more information, visit dunwoodygardenclub.com/home-1.

Retreat:

Continued from Page 1

their 2034 goal.

Some obstacles to the city’s growth, councilmembers said, include transportation surrounding commercial corridors, housing availability for young people, community resistance at the polls, work-from-home policies, fiscal policy and managing the city’s identity.

“Everything boils down to quality of life for our existing residents,” Councilman Tom Lambert said. “If we are looking to attract new business and people to the community, it’s quality of life.”

City officials will need to find balance between maintaining Dunwoody’s smalltown feel in a city with Perimeter Center, one of Metro Atlanta’s largest business districts, Mayor Lynn Deutsch said.

City’s commercial corridors

Economic Development Director Michael Starling reviewed the city’s commercial real estate market.

With artificial intelligence, CoStar data and conversations with brokers, Starling compiled market trends for the city’s commercial corridors and competitive review of the region.

“The real question that, I think, we’re trying to answer is, how do we position Dunwoody to thrive in the future?”

Starling said. “And that means a lot of different things to a lot of different people.”

Apartments make up 40 percent of the city’s commercial valuation. Even with 11,176 units, a 14 percent vacancy rate, Starling said a continuation of strong demand is anticipated over the next 20 years.

While apartment, retail and hotel developments have performed well in Dunwoody since the pandemic, just under 31 percent of the 10.2 million square feet of office space is vacant or is occupied by a tenant whose lease is about to expire.

Starling said Dunwoody’s office vacancy rate is about 10 percent above the Metro Atlanta average.

“It’s happening because people are working from home and interest rates are up,” Starling said. “We have gone through many recessions where vacancy and availability has gone really high.”

Other commercial areas in the city, like Dunwoody Village and the Georgetown district, have a lower vacancy rate than Perimeter Center.

Starling said about 50 percent of commercial offices in Dunwoody were built in the 1990s, putting redevelopment and repurposing on the table.

Drawing from the Edge City 2.0 study, which analyzed a 70-acre area around the Dunwoody MARTA Station and Perimeter Mall, Starling said the focus should be on transitioning away from an enclosed shopping center to a more walkable place with amenities.

Priorities from the study include increasing office occupancy rates and job creation, making public areas unique, moving away from a car-oriented community and introducing various types of housing.

Starling said Perimeter Mall is better positioned today than it was before the COVID-19 pandemic, with tenants performing well. He also said some $600 million of commercial development is under construction at Ashford Lane, High Street, Campus 244 and Perimeter Marketplace.

“We are not just in the Sandy Springs and Dunwoody market,” Starling said. “We are in the north Metro Atlanta market.”

Bond referendum and trails

After Dunwoody voters rejected a $60 million bond proposal to finance parks and trails, the City Council floated the idea of a parks-only bond.

While city officials agreed to table plans for another November referendum, a future bond to pay for the expansion of recreational and pedestrian facilities remains on the horizon.

A discussion of the Dunwoody Trail Master Plan separated paths through commercial areas from sidewalks through neighborhoods. City officials said 12-foot-wide paths in residential areas are unpopular. They prioritized paths on Mount Vernon Road and throughout Perimeter Center.

While Councilman Tom Price advocated for holding off on presenting a bond referendum this year, Councilman Tom Lambert said he thinks city officials need to move forward with plans.

“We need to listen to what the voters told us on that day,” Lambert said. “I think that they told us is the amount may have been too much and that they really just wanted parks.”

The master plans for Wildcat and Homecoming parks could be built out with a parks-only bond or undesignated funds, he said.

Mayor Lynn Deutsch opposed a parks-only bond for the November election because of the length of the ballot and

a lack of community support for the projects.

“I think what we lack is a passionate group of citizens asking us for these improvements,” Deutsch said. “We didn’t have a base of support that could rile up their friends.”

Parks and Recreation Director Rachel Waldron unveiled a revamped organizational chart for the department and opened the floor to a discussion on project priorities.

After a discussion, priorities are completing the buildout of Waterford Park and leaving other areas as passive park space.

HAYDEN SUMLIN/APPEN MEDIA

From top left, Finance Director Richard Platto watches Assistant City Manager Jay Vinicki break down the tax bill for a Dunwoody homeowner at the City Council retreat March 12 at the Glen-Ella Springs Inn & Restaurant in Clarksville. Dunwoody officials discussed paths forward after the failure of the parks and trails bond referendum.

Where to snag vegan food

By ADAM DARBY newsroom@appenmedia.com

METRO ATLANTA — Whether it’s a personal lifestyle choice or a New Year’s health kick, a vegan diet does the body good. For those nights you aren’t up for cooking at home or safely ordering a salad at your friend’s favorite barbeque place, it’s important to have tasty options that align with your culinary preferences. While there are several health benefits to eating allnatural and organic foods, it can be exhausting to find a delicious vegan restaurant that fits your needs for a night out. Here are nine vegan food and dining options to keep on your radar throughout metro-Atlanta.

Alpharetta

1. Mayuri Indian Grill

• Authentic Indian eatery serving vegan, vegetarian, and non-vegetarian dishes

• Open Tuesday/Wednesday/Thursday/Sunday 4 p.m. – 11 p.m.; Friday/ Saturday 4 p.m. – 12 a.m.; closed

Mondays

• Located on McGinnis Ferry Road

2. Madras Chettinaad

• Authentic South Indian food

• Serves vegetarian and vegan dishes and alternatives

• Open every day 11:30 a.m. – 3 p.m.; 5 p.m. – 9:30 p.m.

• Located on State Bridge Road

Roswell

3. Veganize It

• Vegan

• Open Tuesday-Sunday 12 p.m. – 6 p.m.; Closed Mondays

• Serves plant-based sides and desserts with entrees available on Saturdays

• Located on Old Roswell Road

Johns Creek

4. Ethiopiques Cafe And Restaurant

• Ethiopian restaurant with vegan dishes

• Open Tuesday/Wednesday/Thursday/ Sunday 11:30 a.m. – 9 p.m. and FridaySaturday 11:30 a.m. to 10 p.m.; closed Mondays

• Serves vegan offerings and platters of varying sizes

• Located on State Bridge Road

5. Rakkan Ramen

• Offers vegetarian and vegan dishes

• Japanese ramen bar and restaurant

• Open Monday-Thursday 11 a.m. – 9 p.m.; Friday-Saturday 11 a.m. – 10 p.m.

• Located on Medlock Bridge Road

You

Peachtree Corners

6. Loving Hut Vegan Cuisine

• 100% vegan

• Offers variety of American, Hispanic, Asian, and Italian entrées, sides, and desserts

• Open Monday-Friday 11 a.m. – 3 p.m.; 5 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.; Saturday 11:30 a.m. – 8:30 p.m.; Sunday 1 p.m. – 8 p.m.

• Located on Spalding Drive

Atlanta

7. Asian Vegan Kitchen

• Traditional Asian dishes with a vegan twist

• Strictly offer deliver and pick-up

• Open Monday-Tuesday/Thursday-Sunday 5:30 p.m. – 12:45 a.m.; closed

Wednesdays

• Located on Forrest Street Northwest

8. Bakaris Plant Based Pizza

• 100% vegan

• Serve plant-based pizza, burger, and wraps

• Open Monday-Thursday 2 p.m. – 12 a.m.; Friday-Saturday 2 p.m. – 2 a.m.; Sundays 4 p.m. – 12 a.m.

• Located on Lee Street Southwest

9. Calaveritas Taqueria Vegana

• 100% vegan

• Serve plant-based tacos, nachos, and burritos

• Open Tuesday-Thursday 5 p.m. – 9 p.m.; Friday-Saturday 6 p.m. – 10 p.m.; closed Mondays

• Located on Presidential Parkway

MAP BY JACOB TOMBERLIN/APPEN MEDIA

can find an assortment of vegan food options around Metro Atlanta.

When you have a special needs child, your financial plan will require special consideration. The goal is to ensure that in the event you pass away or become incapacitated, your child will still be able to maintain a high quality of life. You don’t have to disinherit your special needs child to maintain eligibility for government benefits. The best thing you can do, as a loving parent, is to consult tax and estate planning professionals who can help build a plan that covers your child’s special needs and your financial situation. Here are also some other things to consider:

Letter of Intent/Personal Care:

While this isn’t a legally binding document, it helps outline your child’s schedule, their likes and dislikes, medication and medical history, allergies, and the social relationships you would like for your child. If something happens to you, this letter can inform the Guardian or Agent taking over of who to keep your child away from as well as the best ways to maintain a high quality of life for your child.

Create a Financial Plan: Special needs children are generally subject to receiving government benefits, which is why it’s important to plan carefully so you don’t accidentally disqualify your child for government assistance. The best way to ensure this is to create a special needs trust for your child. Once created, the trust can serve as the beneficiary of any life insurances and accounts, which in turn ensures your assets will never accidentally disqualify your child for government benefits.

Guardianship/Power of Attorney:

When your special needs child turns 18, they gain the right to make their own health and financial decisions. Unfortunately, not all special needs children are able to assume these responsibilities, making it imperative for you to consider alternatives such as legal guardianship or power of attorney, which are both legal structures that give you or a trusted individual the right to make decisions for your child.

In the event something happens to you, make sure your child is protected and that your assets do not end up in jeopardy. Consult attorneys and financial advisors to start strategizing a plan that will protect your child’s future and happiness.

Who you gonna believe? ‘The marketplace of ideas’

PAT FOX Managing Editor pat@appenmedia.com

The Pew Research Center asked me recently to participate in a survey on current affairs. I consented to offer my opinions on religion, politics, immigration and other assorted issues because it is important to help paint an accurate picture of American sentiment.

I’ve always found Pew, a division of the Pew Charitable Trust, to be a reliable source of valuable information.

Thanks to the galaxy of internet and broadcast outlets, we now have an exhaustive supply of “expert” policy statements on social and political stances. I find few of them trustworthy, and yet the shelves overflow in the marketplace of ideas.

That term, “marketplace of ideas,” is attributed to Supreme Court giant Oliver Wendell Holmes in his dissent on a 1919 case relating to the Espionage Act. Two defendants were convicted of distributing leaflets, signed “revolutionists,” calling for an end to U.S. efforts to intervene in Russia’s civil war.

Holmes argued, unsuccessfully, that the leaflets presented no “clear and present danger” to the country and that, “The best test of truth is the power of the thought to get itself accepted in the competition of the market.”

Holmes’ marketplace of ideas is now an industry, fueled by special interests with deep pockets or pecked on the keyboards of provocateurs in their parents’ basement.

On a grander scale, there are “think tanks,” teams of data jugglers paid to manufacture viewpoints to suit any social or political persuasion. Most of these policy statements begin with some basis in fact, but their route to a conclusion is often skewed with partisan detours before landing on any “truth.” The John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard reports more than 1,200 think tanks operate in the United States.

Not all think tanks are evil. Some provide valuable research devoid of bias.

Whether they admit it or not, the seminal purpose of most think tanks is to spread information, often to sway public opinion in a pre-determined direction. Many identify themselves as “non-partisan,” but most really aren’t.

All receive funding from someone – people, organizations, and in some cases, grants. No one has ever given money to anyone without a reason.

Many think tanks are alchemists of thought, often turning raw propaganda into gold. It’s their job to tell you what to think, not how to think.

Cable news – and I use that term loosely – supports a cast of characters spewing arguments culled from think tanks.

Cable news is today’s ESPN, politics as sport – moderators as coaches; guests, either Stepford cheerleaders or hapless quarterbacks in a collapsing pocket.

Is it any wonder that people today cite facts that are, in fact, not facts at all?

Only recently, the Miami Chronicle reported online that the U.S. is softening its stance against Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Opinions

Appen Media aims to present a variety of views in its opinion pages. Send your thoughts, questions and letters to pat@appenmedia.com.

The information was attributed to an unnamed State Department official via a leaked recording. The Chronicle also carried other news out of South Florida, information that had already been aired or published by local outlets.

For the record, there is no Miami Chronicle. It is a fiction.

It presents a stream of legitimate

local news, then adds baseless propaganda disguised as articles.

A team from the Media Forensics Hub at Clemson University traced the invention of the Miami Chronical to a pro-Kremlin website, according to the New York Times (if you trust the Old Gray Lady).

If it’s not evident already, the greatest threat to this democracy is that we’ve forgotten how to establish facts first, then disagree. And it’s gone on so long that an entire generation now knows of no time when truth existed.

With apologies to the brilliant Justice Holmes, the best test of truth comes not from the marketplace of ideas. It emerges from facts stripped down to the marrow.

Book Drive

Collection Dates:

11 - April 15

Collection Locations:

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.”

Transforming Ordinary Into Extraordinary

TENSE

1950 Dunwoody Methodist Chapel and congregation

The last Past Tense included history and memories of Stephen Spruill, who once owned land up and down what is now Ashford Dunwoody Road on both sides of the road. A photograph of Stephen and Ethel Spruill standing among other 1950 Dunwoody Methodist Church members accompanied the article. At the end of the article, I said more information about the photograph would be included in the next Past Tense.

The Dunwoody Methodist Chapel pictured was not the first church building. The first building was across the street from the Dunwoody United Methodist Church of today, measured 30 by 54 feet and cost $500 to build.

The 1906 wedding of Glenn Greer Austin Sr. and Nettie Southern Austin was the first wedding in the church. Their son, John Austin, began sweeping the church each Saturday in 1918. On Sundays, he set out water for the pastor, distributed hymnals and rang the church bell for 25 cents a week.

By the 1930s the community had grown and there was a need for more space. Arva C. Floyd, Charlie Marchman, Glenn Austin Sr., B. C. Spruill, and Calvin Eidson were on the building committee formed in 1933 to proceed with plans for a new church across the road.

In 1935, Mr. Euil Spruill donated the use of his mules and excavation of the building site began. As mentioned last week, the timber came from the Spruill and Wallace sawmills. Will Donaldson used his masonry skills to construct the walls, and he laid stone walkways. Donaldson’s sons, Fred and Fletcher, brought granite to the site from Stone Mountain. They also laid granite curbing. Young people gathered stones and older members brought in sand from the creek bottoms to help construct the foundation.

When the brick exterior was added in 1941, the church was complete. The portico over the entrance, steeple and Sunday School classrooms were added in the mid-1950s. A cross was placed above the portico. Members of the church donated the furnishings

and décor of the chapel.

Dunwoody Methodist Chapel was renovated in 1978 and 1992 by the family of Stephen T. Spruill, in his memory.

The individuals pictured and identified include Will Donaldson, Stephen Spruill, Ethel Spruill, John Austin Sr., Edith Bullard, Nettie Southern Austin, Glenn Austin Sr., John Austin Jr., Mrs. Wilson, Hugh Spruill, Gerry Jameson Spruill, Calvin Eidson, Gene Donaldson, Macie Womack, Harvey Womack, Elmer Womack, Fred Miles, Henry Miles, Peggy Miles, Kathleen Spruill Miers, Claud Spruill, Mary Jordan, Ethel Manning Keys, Mildred Crews, and Herbert Martin.

These names have been provided with the help of Freda Donaldson, Chris Austin and Beth Saxe. Eight of these individuals can be specifically identified in the photograph with their assistance. If you can identify and describe the location of others in the photograph, please contact me.

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

AUSTIN FAMILY/PROVIDED Standing in front of the 1950 church are, from left, Will Donaldson, Stephen Spruill, Ethel Spruill, and Nettie Austin standing just behind Ethel Spruill.

Thrillers for a change of pace

KATHY MANOS PENN Columnist

These books are a shift from my typical reading fare, as I more often choose British mysteries— cozies and police procedurals. From time to time, I branch out to titles I find reviewed in the local paper or the “Wall Street Journal,” or who knows where. These two thrillers were a pleasant change of pace.

“Everybody Knows” by Jordan Harper

Harper’s latest novel is billed as a murder thriller and praised by the likes of authors Michael Connelly, Megan Abbott, and S. A. Cosby.

Set in Los Angeles, its protagonist is a black bag publicist. I had no idea what that was until I read this book, but it makes sense that people like her exist. I have no doubt that crisis PR firms are in the business of making the messes of the rich and powerful disappear. With enough money and enough power, the rich and famous can have their debauchery and depravity managed and whitewashed.

As I read of Mae Pruett’s work for the firm, I could easily put celebrity names to some of the scenarios she handles. Sometimes, real life situations are referenced, like the discovery of John Belushi dead of an overdose. It only takes a small leap to imagine what would have happened if he’d been found in time to save his life. With someone like Mae working her magic, we might never have known he overdosed.

If you’re looking for a book to keep you up late at night, a book to keep

you guessing until the end, this one’s a keeper.

“The Last Mona Lisa” by Jonathan Santlofer

After reading a review of the author’s latest book, “The Lost Van Gogh”, I went in search of his first thriller. The storyline is based on the real-life theft that occurred in 1911. The Mona Lisa was stolen from the Louvre and recovered two years later when the thief tried to sell it. Since then, some have believed that what hangs today in the Louvre is a copy.

This account of the heist shifts between what led to Vincent Peruggia’s 1911 theft of the famous painting and his fictional great-grandson’s 2019 search for his story. Why did Vincent steal the painting? Was it greed? Was it need? We discover his circumstances and motivation when his great-grandson Luke Perrone visits the Laurentian Library in Florence to view what may be Vincent’s journal.

As a university art professor and artist, Luke has been trying for years to learn more about his greatgrandfather. Day after day, Luke reads a journal allegedly written when Vincent was in prison. Mix in a rogue employee of INTERPOL’s Art Theft Division and a beautiful blonde from New York City, and you have an intriguing thriller.

Who is tracking Luke’s every move? Is it INTERPOL? Is it the blonde? Is it someone else? Let’s just say that he is a person of interest to many. Once again, a book kept me up late too many nights in a row. I had to know how the loose ends tied together and whether a happy ending was in the cards. You’ll have to read the book to find out. Me? I’m off to put “The Lost Van Gogh” on hold at the library and join Luke in yet another art mystery.

Swing into Spring with the Dunwoody Garden Club Gala

KATHY MANOS PENN Columnist

It’s a sure sign that Spring is here when the Dunwoody Garden Club holds their annual Gala. The popular event includes a morning of games with a light breakfast, followed by a silent auction, a luncheon and a Chico’s fashion

show. Arrive at 10:00 a.m. to play card games, mah-jongg, or a board game of your choice.

If you don’t come for games and breakfast, be sure to arrive at least by 11:00 a.m. so that you have time to peruse the silent auction items and place your bids.

The 2024 Gold, Silver, and Bronze sponsors are The CBD Store, The See GALA, Page 13

1 Monocle part

5 Family girl

10 Airy 14 Elliptical

15 African antelope

16 Detective Wolfe

17 Let down

20 Cheer up

21 Hare race foe

23 Pasture

26 Corn serving

27 Chatters

31 Emulate Demosthenes

36 Actor McClure

37 Ariz. neighbor

38 Beg off 39 Abbey area

40 Oak fruit

43 Shredded

44 Flip over

46 Colorful carp

47 Hightails it

48 Butter up?

49 Atomic devices

51 Glimpse

53 French sea

54 Mexican entree

59 Host

64 Food thickener

65 Tremors

68 Gr. letter

69 British ___

70 Moxie

71 Ooze

72 Farm animals

73 Marquis de ___

Down

1 Mother ___

2 Demonic

3 Discovery group inits.

4 Bed board

5 Forty winks

6 Altar vow

7 Blue-pencil

8 Dugouts

9 Bonus

10 Savvy about

11 Persian spirit

12 Time periods

13 Alaska city 18 Hide

22 Stepped

See

24 Bunsen burner

25 Actor Guinness

27 Father

28 Tricks

29 Broker

30 Call forth

32 Rocket type

33 French romance

34 Reverses

35 Sea eagles

36 Slap on

41 Gad about

42 Riviera city

45 He loved Lucy

49 Hot dog condiment

50 Waste allowance

52 “The King”

54 Checks

55 Curved molding

56 Appraise

57 Golf hazard

58 Competent

60 Russian fliers

61 Mrs. Dithers in Blondie

62 Idylls of the King lady

63 Punta del ___, Uruguay

66 Sandpiper

67 Viper

Solution on next page

Don’t miss the Dunwoody Library Sale March 21-25

KATHY MANOS PENN Columnist

The popular Friends of the Dunwoody Library Adult Book Sale is coming up this weekend at the Dunwoody Library, 5339 ChambleeDunwoody Rd.

If you’re an avid reader, this is the event for you.

You’ll find adult fiction and nonfiction selections, with most hardbacks priced at $2 and paperbacks at $1. Some books and materials are specially priced by value. You’ll be able to shop to your heart’s content knowing that cash, check, and Credit/Debit payments are accepted.

Do you like mysteries, thrillers, romance or other popular fiction genres? Mysteries are my thing, but I do occasionally branch out. Given the low prices, I always see this event as an opportunity to try something different.

Are you a nonfiction enthusiast? You may not be able to tear yourself

away from the offerings on a variety of topics: Art, Religion, History, Drama, Poetry, Shakespeare, Science and Math, Music and Show Business, Travel, Health, Sports, Gardening, and more.

Because I so often read of the demise of paper books, I went in search of data. Imagine my surprise when I read that the demand for physical books is still going strong—and, in fact, growing. This excerpt from the “Guardian” about Gen Z reading habits was enlightening.

“They have killed skinny jeans and continue to shame millennials for having side partings in their hair. They think using the crying tears emoji to express laughter is embarrassing. But now comes a surprising gen Z plot twist. One habit that those born between 1997 and 2012 are keen to endorse is reading – and it’s physical books rather than digital that they are thumbing …

“Last year in the UK, 669m physical books were sold, the highest overall level ever recorded.

If you go

What: Dunwoody Library Sale

When: Thursday, March 21: Open to all, 4:00-8:00 p.m.

Friday & Saturday, March 22 & 23: 10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.

Monday, March 25: 10 a.m. - 6:00 p.m., BAG DAY. Fill a large grocery bag for $7.00!

Where: 5339 Chamblee-Dunwoody Rd.

Research from Nielsen BookData highlights that it is print books that gen Z favours, accounting for 80% of purchases from November 2021 to 2022. Libraries are also reporting an uptick in gen Z users who favour their quiet over noisy coffee shops. In the UK, in-person visits are up 71%.”

That data tells me that the work the FODL does is increasingly important. The money they raise through the sales is used to support the library by enabling it to serve

the community in a variety of ways.

• Children’s programs offered during the summer and fall totaled over 140 with crafts, Take & Make, sticker posters, and LEGO club among them.

• Adult offerings include jewelry and weaving (full with a wait list), programs on Alzheimer’s education, Georgia native trees, and working as a movie extra.

• Beyond the four walls of the library. FODL members also assist with library outreach by helping with presentations, books, and school supplies at National Night Out and Truck or Treat events.

My weekly visits to the local library with my mother made me a library lover at an early age, and the work of FODL is helping to grow a new generation of library lovers. Friends of the Dunwoody Library Vice President Jackie Willey says it well:

“I believe libraries are the center of a community. As an FODL volunteer, I work to make our library a place where everyone feels welcome.”

Gala:

Continued from Page 11

Mansions-Sandy Springs, and Atlanta Hearing Associates and Dunwoody Ace Hardware.

Tempting restaurant gift certificates are always plentiful. Café Intermezzo, Lazy Dog, and Budi Sushi are just a few of those who have contributed. You’ll also find live plants and flowers, passes to area attractions, fine art and jewelry, gift baskets, beauty packages, and more. The lakehouse getaway at Lanier is sure to be a popular item.

This annual fundraiser allows the Dunwoody Garden Club to continue its many projects to beautify and improve Dunwoody and its environs. The main entrance gardens at Brook Run, the Dunwoody Library atrium planter and main entrance gardens, and the accent landscaping at Windwood Hollow Park are all provided and maintained by this industrious group.

To purchase tickets, please contact Bonnie Barton, 770-639-3510. Tickets for the event are $35 and must be purchased by March 25th.

If you go

What: Dunwoody Garden Club Gala

When: April 5, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Where: Dunwoody United Methodist Church Fellowship Hall, 1548 Mount Vernon Rd

Cost: $35, For tickets call Bonnie Barton, 770-639-3510, by March 25

Award-winning author Kathy Manos Penn is a Sandy Springs resident. Find her cozy mysteries on Amazon or locally at The Enchanted Forest, Bookmiser, Tall Tales, and Johns Creek Books. Contact her at inkpenn119@gmail.com, and follow her on Facebook, www.facebook.com/ KathyManosPennAuthor/.

Charles William Robinson In Memoriam

In Memoriam

Elaine “Lainy” Lesser Goldstein

It is with a heavy heart that we announce the passing of Elaine “Lainy” Lesser Goldstein of Atlanta, Georgia on March 10th, 2024.

Lainy and her husband, Bobby Sr., shared 64 years of a magical marriage filled with love and fun. They travelled with friends around the world and enjoyed hosting their friends and family at their home. She was everyone’s loving mom, and everyone felt comfortable in her presence. Lainy, an Atlanta native, grew up in Buckhead and moved to Sandy Springs to start her family. Everyone she touched felt her compassion. At 72 years old, she discovered that she had 3 brothers, with whom she cherished her relationship.

Lainy is survived by her husband, Robert “Bobby” Goldstein Sr.; children, Robert “Bobby” Goldstein, Jr. (Amanda) and Nancy Goldstein Parker (Jimmy); grandchildren, Josh (Brittany), Madeline, Micah, Stephen, Matthew, Brett, and Aaron. She is also survived by her brothers

Joe (Gail), Ira (Marie), and Larry (Peggy) Wellisch. She is predeceased by her parents, Frank and Lala Lesser, and her son, Marc Lesser Goldstein, of blessed memory. We want to give special appreciation to her loyal caregiver, Hannah Atakorah, who stood by her side for the last 4 years. Funeral services were held at 2:00pm on Tuesday, March 12th at Arlington Memorial Park in Sandy Springs, GA. To watch the service online, please click https://vimeo. com/922161989. Visitation was held on Wednesday, March 13th from 12:00pm to 4pm, with Shiva at 7pm, at the home of Bobby and Amanda Goldstein.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that those who wish to make a donation kindly consider The Temple, Temple Emanuel, or The Atlanta Humane Society.

We extend our condolences to Lainy’s entire family. May her memory be for an everlasting blessing.

Charles William Robinson, Colonel (Retired), United States Army, stood his final muster on 8 March, 2024. Charles W. Robinson, known by all as Bill, was born on 25 April, 1935, in Harriman, Tennessee. His parents, John W. And Vida L. Robinson, moved the family to Evergreen, Alabama, when he was only a child. He attended elementary through high school in Evergreen. Bill is a proud alumna of Auburn University, class of 1957. On graduation he was commissioned a second lieutenant of artillery in the United States Army and married the love of his life, Barbara Bond Robinson. The two of them settled in Dunwoody, Georgia, towards the end of Bill’s career and came to consider it home. He had a notable career serving in Germany, Vietnam, Korea, Puerto Rico, and many locations throughout the United States. Some notable achievements were being the fire direction officer for the first nuclear capable rocket battalion in the US Army, Europe. He was noted for his ability to tackle difficult projects, especially critical projects. He was the lead for developing the Time Phased Force Deployment System, the analysis paper and briefing used to convince President Carter not to pull US forces out of Korea, the validation process for the 1st Ranger Battalion, and the establishment of Third Army HQ, which proved critical in Desert Storm. He was handpicked to serve as the Federal Task Force lead for the first Martin Luther King Day parade and ceremony. Bill Robinson was, and is, recognized as a leader in Dunwoody for his volunteer work following retirement from the Army. He placed a high value on civic virtue and lived up to his own high standard. Among his contributions were serving as a key member of the Dunwoody Homeowners’ Association, the Dunwoody Nature Center, Brooke Run Park, numerous boards, and the

successful effort to have Dunwoody made a city. He may be best known for restarting and leading the Dunwoody Fourth of July Parade which became, “The Biggest Small Town Parade in Georgia.” Bill Robinson was a man of faith and service to his church. He will be remembered as a servant leader in Dunwoody United Methodist Church. He was active in the choir and music program, the fried chicken dinner, the building program, supporting youth programs, and myriad other aspects of the church life and ministry. His three biggest joys were singing in the choir, attending the Crusaders Sunday School class, and helping the church acquire a classical pipe organ. Most of all Bill Robinson loved his family. He and Barbara spent the last three years of his life with his sons in Virginia. In addition to his wife Barbara, he is survived by his sons Charles William Jr and Richard Allen, his four grandchildren, and a great granddaughter. Bill was able to spend time with all of them in his last year. He was preceded in death by his brother, John Law Robinson. On his last day he was with his sons. There will be a small memorial service at Benn’s United Methodist Church, on 16 March, 2024, at 1100. The address is 14571 Benns Church Blvd, Smithfield, VA 23430. The main service will be on the 6th of April, 2024 at Dunwoody United Methodist Church at 1100. The address is 1548 Mt. Vernon Road, Dunwoody, GA 30338. In lieu of flowers the family ask that you consider donating in his memory to one of Bill Robinson’s two favorite causes. These are the Dunwoody United Methodist Church Music Program or the Dunwoody Nature Center. Here are the links: https://dunwoodynature. org/donate/ https://www.dunwoodyumc. org/ways-to-give/ Online condolences may be registered at www.littlesfuneralhome.com.

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