Check your status, update your address or find your polling location on the Secretary of State’s “My Voter Page” at https://mvp.sos. ga.gov/s. The webpage also provides the option to register.
For the Nov. 5 general election, the deadline to register is Oct. 7
October 3, 2024 | AppenMedia.com
A rendering shows the new Vietnam War Memorial at Brook Run Park. The Vietnamese American Community of Georgia and the Atlanta Vietnam Veterans Business Association are holding its dedication ceremony Oct. 5 at 11 a.m.
Community groups to unveil unique Vietnam War Memorial
DUNWOODY, Ga. — Dunwoody officials will join Metro Atlanta’s Vietnamese and veteran communities to dedicate the new Vietnam War Memorial within Brook Run Park at 11 a.m. Oct. 5.
The Vietnamese American Community of Georgia and the Atlanta Vietnam Veterans Business Association came together with a shared vision to create the only memorial of its kind in the United States.
The monument is funded entirely through private
donations, featuring life-sized bronze statues of two soldiers, one from the United States and one from Vietnam, in the center of an oval plaza surrounded by black granite benches.
John Butler, project director for the Atlanta Vietnam Veterans Business Association, brought two residents representing both organizations to the Sept. 23 Dunwoody City Council meeting.
See MEMORIAL, Page 8
Metro cities recover from Helene fallout after Friday storms
By HAYDEN SUMLIN hayden@appenmedia.com
NORTH METRO ATLANTA — While the full costs and damage from Hurricane Helene has yet to be determined statewide, north metro residents began returning to their normal lives over the weekend.
Dunwoody Public Works Director Michael Smith said Monday, Sept. 30, that his team sent out crews to clear all drains on city roadways before the storm hit Friday morning. Despite damaging floods to the south along Peachtree Creek and parts of Nancy Creek, Smith said it was not as significant north of I-285.
From Thursday afternoon through Friday, the Public Works and Police departments staffed the city’s new Real Time Crime Center, which allows staff to map out fallen trees and downed power lines.
Smith said his department waited for Georgia Power to clear power lines off trees before moving in to reopen roadways. By Saturday afternoon, Smith said Georgia Power’s work in the city was complete and power was restored for all residents shortly after.
He expressed special appreciation to Construction Manager Todd Meadows and Parks Operations Manager Gabe
See HELENE, Page 8
PAGE 4
CITY OF DUNWOODY/PROVIDED
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POLICE BLOTTER
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Officers arrest woman involved in mall fight
DUNWOODY, Ga. — Dunwoody Police arrested an 18-year-old Doraville woman Sept. 20 after a fight broke out between two teenagers at Perimeter Mall.
Officers said they spoke with a security guard who told them two females were fighting in the food court.
One of the women, a 19-year-old from Chamblee, said the Doraville woman approached her near American Deli, asked her what her problem was and then flipped her food tray.
The victim also said the suspect began to punch her.
Officers did not say who broke up the fight or how it ended.
The Doraville woman told police the other woman had been talking about her family and deceased friends.
Officers said the suspect admitted to confronting the victim and throwing the first punch.
Officers arrested the suspect for disorderly conduct and transported her to DeKalb County Jail.
The suspect was bonded out Sept. 21.
Flock cameras aid police in arrest of wanted person
DUNWOODY, Ga. — Dunwoody Police arrested a 49-year-old woman from Orlando, Florida, Sept. 17 after Flock Safety cameras revealed her outstanding warrant from Norcross.
An officer said he received an alert on a white Buick Envision traveling north on Ashford Dunwoody Road. He said the registered owner had an active arrest warrant for failure
to appear out of the Norcross Police Department.
After locating the vehicle exiting the McDonald’s parking lot, the officer said a search of the vehicle’s registration also confirmed the vehicle’s expired registration and lack of insurance.
The officer said he conducted a traffic stop and confirmed the driver was the registered owner.
After speaking with the driver, officers said she did have active insurance but not valid registration.
Dunwoody officers said Norcross Police confirmed the warrant and they arrested the suspect.
Officers transported the suspect to DeKalb County Jail for operating an unregistered vehicle and her outstanding warrant.
Officers arrest resident while reporting larceny
DUNWOODY, Ga. — Dunwoody Police arrested a 52-year-old Dunwoody man Sept. 21 after discovering an active arrest warrant while he was filing a larceny report with the department.
Officers said they were helping a resident fill out a larceny report at 4746 Chamblee Dunwoody Road.
When the resident making the report gave officers his identification, a criminal history search turned up an active arrest warrant out of the Dunwoody Police Department.
DeKalb County court records show that the probation violation was “for a finger printable charge,” which means the offense was a misdemeanor.
After confirming the warrant was valid, officers arrested the suspect and transported him to DeKalb County Jail.
Jail records show the suspect was released to probation Sept. 26.
Man scammed for $3,000 in online extortion plot
MILTON, Ga. — An Alpharetta man reported to police Sept. 17 that an “estranged friend” reached out to
him about a Facebook post with false information.
An elaborate scam ensued, costing him $3,000. The man was at his job in Milton when he received some of the scam messages.
He said he was told that the posts said he was a criminal, a terrorist and a rapist, that they alerted U.S. authorities to be aware of him and that he needed to contact an officer in the Dominican Republic to assist him in removing the posts, according to the incident report.
While speaking with the purported Dominican “officer,” the man said he began receiving threats on Facebook Messenger from three people, two men and a woman, asking for money to remove the posts, according to the report. He said the Dominican officer told him to follow the suspect’s instructions so they could be tracked.
After sending $1,000 to a woman, the phony officer told the man the money was going to the Dominican Republic and that he would investigate, the report says. The fake officer then informed him the suspects were arrested and sent him two pictures, showing two male suspects in the hospital, the female suspect, and a firearm.
The fake officer advised the man to contact an attorney to prosecute the suspects and an IT personnel, who required a $1,000 fee, to remove the posts, the report says.
The fake officer also told the man he would get a restitution of $80,000 but needed to pay a $3,000 processing fee. The man then sent a $1,000 installment.
After being pressured to pay the remaining “due,” the man spoke with his coworkers who told him he was being scammed.
He told local police he was willing to press charges if the suspects were identified, and he would contact Facebook to remove the posts falsely attributed to him. He also told police he searched for the false posts but could find none.
Customers paying their taxes at the Memorial Dr. tax office will use the UGA Extension entrance located at the front of the building from Nov. 4–15, (weekdays). EXTENDED HOURS: Nov. 12–15 from 8 AM until 6 PM. Clairmont Rd. and South DeKalb Mall until 4:30 PM. Closed Nov. 11 for Veterans Day.
Know before you go:
Second installment is due Nov. 15. The first installment was due Sept. 30. Bills for City of Atlanta properties DeKalb are due Nov. 15. Bring your bill stub and valid Georgia ID or Georgia driver’s license. Acceptable payment methods include credit/debit card, check or money order. Processing fees apply for credit/debit card payments. Parking is available near the UGA Extension Service lot facing Memorial Drive. Disabled customers may use the Property Tax entrance off Northern Ave. Security screening is required for service.
Payment methods:
ONLINE: Visit publicaccess.dekalbtax.org. Credit/debit card payments are accepted; processing fees apply. There is no service fee for paying by e-Check.
PAY-BY-PHONE: Call 770-336-7500, Monday–Friday, 8 AM–5 PM. Credit/debit card payments are accepted; processing fees apply. There is no fee for paying by e-Check.
DROP BOX: 24-hour drop box available at all three office locations. Payment must be placed in the box by the due date; cash not accepted.
IN PERSON: Central Office, 4380 Memorial Dr., Decatur, GA 30032; North Office, 3653 Clairmont Rd., Chamblee, GA 30341; South DeKalb Mall, 2801 Candler Rd., Suite 66, Decatur, GA 30034.
MAIL: Must be postmarked by the USPS by the due date to avoid late fees; metered or kiosk postage dates are not accepted as proof of timely payment Please consider alternative payment methods due to ongoing mail delivery issues.
Payments made in the office, by phone or online are posted same day; checks, including e-checks, are posted in 5 business days Before cancelling a payment, please contact the office with payment concerns to avoid NSF and/or late fees.
To view and pay your bill online, or for more information, visit the Tax Commissioner's Office website: Follow us! @DeKalbTaxGA
404-298-4000 | proptax@dekalbcountyga.gov
Alan Mothner, CEO of the Spruill Center for the Arts, updates the Dunwoody City Council Sept. 23 on the nonprofits work in the community last year. With the completed expansion of facilities at the arts center, Mothner said program participation has increased.
Arts nonprofits present update on operations since pandemic
By HAYDEN SUMLIN hayden@appenmedia.com
DUNWOODY, Ga. — The Dunwoody City Council heard presentations Sept. 23 from two of its nonprofit community partners — the Spruill Center for the Arts and Stage Door Theatre.
Both nonprofits share a home at the Dunwoody Cultural Arts Center off Chamblee Dunwoody Road and partner with the city’s Parks and Recreation Department.
Dunwoody adopted a guide for its nonprofit partners, which asks them to submit or present an annual report to city officials.
For the Spruill Center and Stage Door Theatre, pandemic lockdowns meant a loss of revenue.
Justin Ball, producing artistic director at Stage Door Theatre, said
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his nonprofit was struggling to engage with the community two years ago.
Through grants and corporate partners, the nonprofit theater found new revenue streams, which helped stabilize operations.
“This year, Stage Door has served nearly 10,000 residents,” Ball said. “You will see lots of huge institutions that are closing because of this new reality since the pandemic.”
Some examples of impacts include the closure of Atlanta’s Lyric Theatre and relocation of the Georgia Ensemble Theatre from Roswell to Marietta.
Stage Door’s summer camps, elementary school programs and partnerships with the Spruill Center have put it in a stronger position than before the COVID-19 pandemic.
See UPDATE, Page 19
HAYDEN SUMLIN/APPEN MEDIA
FALL INTO SAVINGS THRU OCT 15!
Voter registration deadline for general election is Oct. 7
By ZOE SEILER, AMBER PERRY and JON WILCOX newsroom@appenmedia.com
NORTH METRO ATLANTA — The deadline to register to vote for the upcoming general election is Oct. 7.
Election Day is Nov. 5.
To register to vote, an individual must be at least 17.5 years old to register and 18 years old to vote. They must be a United States citizen, a legal resident of the county in which they wish to vote, not be serving a sentence for conviction of a felony, and not be found mentally incompetent by a judge, according to the Georgia Secretary of State website.
Voters can check their registration status and Election Day voting precinct on the state’s My Voter Page by visiting mvp.sos.ga.gov.
Early voting runs from Oct. 15 to Nov. 1. The early voting locations and times vary by county.
Statewide, the president and vice presidential races will be on the ballot. All U.S. House and state legislators are up for election as well, and the My Voter Page will show voters who their representatives are.
How to register
There are a few ways to register to vote.
• If you have a Georgia Driver’s License or State ID Card, you can register online by visiting https://mvp.sos. ga.gov/s/olvr-home.
• You can choose to register when you renew or apply for your driver’s license at the Department of Driver Services.
• If you are registered, but need to change your address within the county, you can fill out the back of your precinct card or update your information on the
My Voter Page.
• You can download a voter registration form from the Secretary of State’s website and mail it to the Secretary of State's Office at PO Box 105325, Atlanta, GA 30348.
• Applications can be also emailed or mailed to your county’s registrar’s office.
Voting absentee
Absentee ballots are available for the Nov. 5 general election as well.
The last day to submit an application for an absentee ballot is Oct. 25.
Absentee ballots must be returned to a ballot box by 7 p.m. on Nov. 5 at the latest to a drop box or a county
registrar’s office. Absentee ballots can be returned at any time before Nov. 5.
Voters are now required to provide either a Georgia driver’s license or Georgia ID card number or a copy of another form of ID when applying for an absentee ballot.
Other forms of acceptable identification are a current utility bill, bank statement, government check, paycheck or other government document that shows a voter’s name and address.
DeKalb County
Local DeKalb County races on the ballot are the DeKalb County Chief Executive Officer, DeKalb Board of Commissioners Districts 1 and 3-7, as well as several other uncontested county officials.
In DeKalb County, early voting will be held Monday to Friday, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Sundays from noon to 5 p.m.
Absentee ballot applications can be emailed to absenteeballot@ dekalbcountyga.gov or mailed to DeKalb Voter Registration and Elections, 4380 Memorial Drive, suite 300, Decatur, GA 30032, in addition to being requested online.
Visit dekalbvotes.com for more information about the early voting and absentee drop box locations, and to see the sample ballot.
People were able to apply for absentee ballots and register to vote during a voter registration rally and vaccination clinic hosted by DeKalb County District 5 Commissioner Mereda Davis Johnson at the DeKalb County Voter Registration & Elections Office in greater Decatur on Friday, April 1, 2022.
uncontested county officials.
In Fulton County, advance voting will be held Monday to Friday, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Sundays from noon to 5 p.m.
Absentee ballot applications, attached as a .pdf or .jpg, can be emailed to elections.absentee@fultoncountyga.gov or mailed to Fulton County Registrations and Elections, 5600 Campbellton Fairburn Road, Union City, GA 30213, in addition to being request online.
Visit fultoncountyga.gov/vote for more information about the early voting and absentee drop box locations, and to see the sample ballot.
Forsyth County
Local Forsyth County races on the ballot are Forsyth Board of Commissioners Districts 2, 4 and 5 as well as Forsyth County Board of Education Districts 2, 3 and 4. Other uncontested county officials are also on the ballot.
In Forsyth County, early voting will be held Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., Saturdays 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Sunday, Oct. 20 from 8 to 5 p.m.
Absentee ballot applications can be emailed to absentee@forsythco.com. To submit absentee ballot applications by mail or by personal delivery, send them to Forsyth County Voter Registrations & Elections, 1201 Sawnee Drive, Cumming, GA 30040.
Applications may also be faxed to 770-886-2825, or requested online.
Fulton County
Local Fulton County races on the ballot are the District Attorney, Fulton County Board of Commissioners District 2, 4 and 6 as well as several other
Forsyth County has one drop box location at the Voter Registrations & Elections Office, 1201 Sawnee Drive, Cumming, from 8 a.m.-6 p.m. Oct. 1518, 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Oct. 19-20, and 8 a.m.6 p.m. Oct. 28-Nov. 1.
Visit forsythco.com/vote for more information about the early voting locations and to see the sample ballot.
PHOTOS BY: DEAN HESSE/APPEN MEDIA
Emilee Terry voted in the Georgia primary election at the Decatur Recreation Center on Tuesday, May 24, 2022.
Award-winning writer Ron Rash to headline Roswell Reads events
By KATHY DES JARDINS CIOFFI newsroom@appenmedia.com
October is the month for treats, and Roswell Reads is doubling up on delights. Ron Rash, the acclaimed 2024 Roswell Reads Author Selection, will headline two events Oct. 18 and 19.
Called “one of the best living American writers” by Janet Maslin of The New York Times, Rash has penned 20 books of poetry and fiction, including his most recent novel, “The Caretaker.”
On Oct. 18, the two-time PEN/Faulkner finalist, three-time O. Henry Short Story Prize winner, and Frank O'Connor International Short Story Award winner will lead a Writer to Writer talk with Atlanta Writers Club Executive Director George Weinstein.
Then, on Oct. 19, Rash will discuss “The Caretaker” in conversation with award-winning author Robert Gwaltney.
Details about the Roswell Reads events and other October book happenings are below.
Thursday, Oct. 3, Boozy Book Fair at Pontoon Brewing. Shop a selection of books curated by Read It Again Bookstore while enjoying a locally brewed beverage. Free. 6 p.m. Pontoon Brewing, 8601 Dunwoody Place, Sandy Springs. 770-674-1075 pontoonbrewing.com/
Saturday, Oct. 5, Kelly Elizabeth Huston signing her romance, "See Sadie Jane Run.” Free. Noon. Read It Again Bookstore, 3630 Peachtree Parkway, Suite 314, Suwanee. 770-232-9331. read-it-again.com
Monday, Oct. 7, Tracey Enerson Wood launching “Katherine, the Wright Sister,” alongside author Karen Spears Zacharias and hosted by Poe & Company Bookstore. 5 p.m. Free. Alpharetta Library, 10 Park Plaza. Poeandcompanybookstore.com
Tuesday, Oct. 15, Pamela Terry, Pat Terry, Matt Jolley and McPatti Langston. A Novel Idea and Bookmiser present Langston’s book launch and a mashup of the husband-wife, author-musician Terrys, in conversation with Georgia Radio’s Jolley. 7 p.m. Free. Brimstone Restaurant & Tavern, 10595 Old Alabama Road Connector. 770-509-5611. https:// www.bookmiser.net/events.html
Wednesday, Oct. 16, Kimberly Brock examines “The Fabled Earth” with author Emily Carpenter. Presented by Poe & Company Bookstore, with drinks and appetizers. 5 p.m. Brookfield Country Club, 100 Willow Run Road, Roswell. 770-797-5566. Poeandcompanybookstore.com
Friday, Oct. 18, Ron Rash Writer to
Writer event presented by Roswell Reads, in partnership with the city of Roswell and Bookmiser. Refreshments will be served. $15. 6.p.m. Roswell Adult Recreation Center, 830 Grimes Bridge Road. RoswellReads. com
Friday, Oct. 18, Poetry Open Mic Night. To sign up, call 770-232-9331. Free. 7 p.m. Read It Again Bookstore, 3630 Peachtree Parkway, Suite 314, Suwanee. read-it-again.com
Saturday, Oct. 19, Ron Rash, 2024 Roswell Reads Author Selection. A special book club offer and VIP seating are available. Presented by Roswell Reads, in partnership with the city of Roswell and Bookmiser, with refreshments. Ticket prices vary. 10:30 a.m. Roswell Adult Recreation Center, 830 Grimes Bridge Road. RoswellReads.com
Saturday, Oct. 26, Deann Benedict, signing her new children’s book, “Escape from the Mutt Motel.” A local animal rescue will be on-site with adoptable pets, collecting donations of pet food and supplies. 11
Wednesday, Oct. 30, Mary McMyne signing “A Rose by Any Other Name.” Free. 5 p.m. Poe & Company Bookstore, 1890 Heritage Walk, Suite P101, Milton. 770-797-5566. Poeandcompanybookstore.com
To submit an author event for the upcoming month, email Kathy Des Jardins Cioffi at kathydesjardins3@ gmail.com by the 15th.
Ready for those weekend getaways?
MARYAN HARRINGTON/PROVIDED Ron Rash
Helene:
Continued from Page 1
Neps for their overnight help.
Smith said some cleanup is still needed, and he is thankful Dunwoody and Metro Atlanta was on the west side of the storm.
After Mayor Lynn Deutsch sent out a call-to-action to residents Sept. 29, many neighbors have shared images of them buying bottled water and tarps for disaster relief in Augusta, Georgia and the Carolinas.
With the bulk of its resources still focused on the southern part of the state, Georgia Power restored service to the remaining areas without power in west Roswell Saturday afternoon. The utility completed service to some 200 customers in Sandy Springs and a few pockets of Dunwoody later in the evening.
Overall, Georgia Power reported more than 420,000 Fulton County customers initially lost power due to the storm.
Sawnee EMC reported it had restored power to nearly all of its customers in Alpharetta, Johns Creek and Forsyth County by early Saturday evening. Close to 500 customers were without power midday Sunday near State Bridge and Medlock Bridge roads. That issue was resolved by early afternoon. Power had been restored to another 40 customers on Browns Bridge
Road in Forsyth County Sunday morning.
At its peak, the utility reported almost 700 customer outages in Forsyth County following the storm.
There were still several small pockets of outages in DeKalb County Monday morning, each affecting fewer than five residences.
Diminished rainfall over the weekend eased flooding concerns along the Chattahoochee Roswell, which had reached flood stage of 9 feet in Roswell Friday. Some flooding was reported along Riverside Drive, but most of the impact occurred farther west in Cobb County and south into Atlanta.
Sandy Springs
In Sandy Springs, a sinkhole that formed at 4504 Lake Forest Drive Thursday remained closed to traffic Monday, shutting down one of the city’s busiest thoroughfares. The sinkhole lies just north of Chastain Park within the city limits of Atlanta, which will be in charge of repairs.
Communication officials in Atlanta did not respond to inquiries about a timeline for repairs, telling Appen Media to submit an open records request.
The city has three days to respond to the request.
The Windsor Parkway Bridge over Nancy Creek was also closed between Northland and Peachtree Dunwoody Road Thursday night due to flooding. Some residents were told to evacuate to higher
The Georgia Emergency Management and Homeland Security Agency has set up a Crisis Cleanup Hotline at 844-965-1386.
If you need assistance cleaning up damage from the hurricane, the hotline will connect you with volunteers from local relief organizations, community groups and faith communities who may be able to help with trees, tarp and clearing debris. All services are free but are limited due to the high volume of damage. The hotline will remain open through Friday, Oct. 11.
ground.
The flood warning for Nancy Creek ended at 10:30 a.m. Friday, Sept. 27.
The city reported road closures, with downed trees and power lines, at Riverside Drive and River North. Road closures were also at 6750 Castleton Drive as well as Johnson Ferry and Climbers Way.
Milton
Around 11 a.m. Friday, Sept. 27, the City of Milton announced that a large, uprooted tree caused the closure of Mountain and Wilke roads.
“The fallen tree impacted utility lines, so some in that area may be without power,” the statement says. “Thankfully, Sawnee EMC quickly joined city crews on-site; to-
Memorial:
Continued from Page 1
District 80 state Rep. Long Tran made it to the meeting just after representatives of the 12-member memorial project team updated the community.
“There is a deep desire among the Vietnamese American people and the American soldiers who fought in Vietnam to honor both the South Vietnamese soldiers and the American soldiers who sacrificed their lives fighting for freedom from communism in Vietnam,” Butler said. “We can’t wait to unveil and share this important and meaningful memorial.”
Behind the statues are two large memorial walls honoring soldiers killed in Vietnam.
gether they’re working to safely address the issue and remove the tree.”
The road was reopened as of 3 p.m. Friday.
Just before daybreak Friday, the city reported part of Thompson Road between Francis and Hopewell roads is closed due to downed trees.
City crews also cleared two downed trees on Providence Road and reopened it at 8:15 a.m.
Forsyth County
County officials opened their offices about noon Sept. 27 after the worst of the storm had passed.
Recycling convenience centers, senior service facilities, indoor Parks & Recreation facilities except for the Central Park Recreation Center were to reopen.
Power was out at the Central Park Recreation Center.
The Pet Resource Center resumed pet adoptions and regular business operations on Saturday, Sept. 28.
Sawnee EMC reported outages for more than 200 customers, primarily in Cumming.
A tree was dragging down power lines on Samples Road at Canon Court, according to county officials. On Shadow Creek Drive near Samples Lane, a tree took down power lines, leaving them lying across the roadway. On Bonanza Trail near Crooked O Trail, a downed tree blocked the southwest side of Bonanza.
58,000 Americans lost their lives in the Vietnam War. The organizations hope that the monument will serve as a lasting reminder of those men and women from two very different lifestyles and cultures who made the ultimate sacrifice in the name of freedom.
The dedication ceremony will include two featured speakers, retired Maj. Gen. Lapthe Chau Flora, who escaped communist Vietnam in 1980 as a child with his family on a boat.
The other is retired Lt. Gen. Ron Helmly, who served two tours in Vietnam and as commander of the U.S. Army Reserve.
The Golden Eagles Band from the Corps of Cadets at the University of North Georgia will perform during the ceremony. Also, a Huey helicopter that served in combat will be on display.
The monument will be located near the existing DeKalb Veterans Memorial.
Tra My Nguyen, project director for the Vietnamese American Community of Georgia, said many of the organization’s members risked their lives coming to America.
“Most of our members were born in South Vietnam and came to America after the fall of Saigon,” Nguyen said. “This memorial will serve as a reminder of the sacrifices of the past and the price of freedom.”
More than 300,000 Vietnamese and
Parks and Recreation Director Rachel Waldron said the city is honored that the organizations chose Dunwoody’s Brook Run Park.
“[The memorial] will make a lasting impression on all who visit,” Waldron said. “The Dunwoody City Council voted unanimously to host the memorial, and we’ve enjoyed supporting this moving project.”
For more information or to donate, go to www.vnwarmemorial.org/.
OPINION
Remembering Burdett Grocery and Frank Burdett
Burdett Grocery store was first built and operated by Stephen Burdett around 1920. It was located at the crossroads of Mount Vernon Highway and Roswell Road. The community was known as Oak Grove at the time. The wood frame store was located on property that is now part of City Springs.
In 1924, Stephen Burdett’s nephew, John Franklin Burdett took over running the store. The following year, the name of the post office changed from Oak Grove to Burdal, a combination of two prominent family names, Burdett and Dalrymple. (Images of America: Sandy Springs, Kimberly M. Brigance and Morris V. Moore)
John Franklin Burdett was known as Frank Burdett. A write-up in the 1961 Sandy Springs Gazette tells his story and more history of the store. Burdett was honored at Sandy Springs Methodist Church that year in a “This is your life” presentation. (Sandy Springs Past Tense, Lois Coogle) He was born in 1898 to Luther Lamar and Edna Carpenter Burdett and lived on a
farm along Carpenter Drive. He attended Hammond School and North Fulton High School. In 1918, he was a student and a World War I soldier training at Oglethorpe University.
In 1919, after serving five months in the military, he married Nannie Lou Nance, who he met at a Sandy Springs church gathering, also known as a “singing.” Frank and Nannie Lou celebrated their 50th anniversary in 1969 at their home in Sandy Springs. Three hundred guests were invited.
The wood frame Burdett’s Grocery had a porch across the front that was built at the same height as a wagon bed. This allowed feed bags to be pushed onto a customer’s wagon.
The few people who owned an automobile could use the manually operated gas tank in front of the store. In a time when homes were still lit with kerosene lamps and candles, there was also a kerosene tank.
During the years 1925 to 1929, the post
office was in Burdett’s Grocery and Frank Burdett was the postmaster of Burdal. The grocery was the business center of the community.
He built a new brick store in 1939 and continued to run the store until the early 1960s when he retired. The Sandy Springs Gazette described Burdett as a “a quiet, unassuming, friendly man with an understanding and generous heart. To his grandchildren he is affectionately known as “Pappy.” Since his retirement in 1964, he
has had more time for watching baseball and going fishing, his favorite sports.”
The name Sandy Springs became official when the U.S. Post Office approved the name change from Burdal in 1941. (Atlanta Constitution, May 4, 1969)
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
PHOTOS FROM: “IMAGES OF AMERICA: SANDY SPRINGS” BY KIMBERLY M. BRIGANCE AND MORRIS V. MOORE/PROVIED Frank Burdett built a more modern brick Burdett Grocery in 1939.
Frank Burdett in his World War I uniform.
DUNWOODY HOME TOUR
Atlanta artist’s stately cluster home
Provided by the Dunwoody Woman’s Club
Henri Rousseau, Richard Avedon and Interior Design’s Andrew Martin would feel right at home in this Atlanta artist’s stately, cluster community residence. And so will you as you wander among rooms that elevate function, art, photography and exceptional interior design.
This home is one of the beautiful homes featured in the 51st Annual Home Tour set for Wednesday, Oct. 9, from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. and is hosted by the Dunwoody Woman’s Club. All profits from the home tour are used to fulfill the club’s charitable initiatives. Home tour tickets can be purchased several ways, as outlined in the boxed information.
More information
Home Tour tickets are available now and can be purchased:
• Online at www.dunwoodywomansclub. com/event-tickets/
• WILL CALL for tickets purchased online – Pick up on October 9 tour day beginning at 9:30 am – at Spruill Center for the Arts, 5339 Chamblee Dunwoody Rd., Dunwoody
• Guest can go in person go to The Enchanted Forest in Dunwoody Hall Shopping Center
• From any member of the Dunwoody Woman’s Club
• Scan the QR Code
Aesthetic white walls and matte-finish oak flooring draw you from an airy entry to the living room at left where a cream sectional, leather tufted ottoman and upholstered chairs with a fern design front a white fireplace with TV above. Mounted Texas longhorns on twin mirrors enhance external daylight and inset ceiling lighting. A 72-inch-square custom lakescape painted by the homeowner and professional artist compliments the artichoke green paint on all the room’s surfaces. Beautiful floral print drapery panels in a combination of blush, gold, cream, blue and green by Thiebout adorn the windows.
The family room across the back of the house features white walls and furniture underpinned by a bold zebra print rug and lit from above by skylights and a unique gold chandelier. A giant sea scallop shell on the coffee table corrals magazines and collectibles. Don’t miss the antique French doors that open to a hidden bar with shimmering Schumacher wallpaper, an antique chandelier and a stash of fine labels.
Feast your eyes on the kitchen where an antique, unfinished French armoire offers storage and a honed, white marble table that seats six. A unique architectural find spans above windows that brings light to the windows. Glacier white Corian countertops and state-of-the-art appliances make meal prep a breeze in this kitchen.
Before heading upstairs, you will pass through the dramatic dining room painted in a rich, charcoal “iron ore” color on all surfaces that contrasts with the home’s overall light palette. A silvery faux wood table, creamy tufted seating and oversized glass hurricane candle holders on the tabletop add interest to the room along with old gilded lamps and an unfinished buffet sourced from abroad. On the front wall a carved Italian corbel mounted on Venetian plaster board ensures a fine dining experience. Silk, color-blocked drapery panels at the windows offer big design elements.
A large painting of a woman in white
Be sure to check out the exciting raffle on the day of the tour for a chance to win one of three prizes
- All prizes valued at $500 or more: a shopping spree at Lauderhill’s Fine Jewelry, a Woodhouse Spa basket and gift card, or a 2-hour design consultation with Linda Rickles Interiors. Both cash and credit cards are accepted to enter the raffle.
with a dramatic headdress beckons you upstairs to the Primary suite where creamy, ethereal whites with touches of soft tans, a spark or two of blue greens, decorative needlepoint pillows and cheerful Schumacher and Thibout fabrics and trims offer serenity throughout.
Across the hall is a parent suite and grandchildren room, guest room with a distinctive antique feather headdress accent over the bed and a dramatic painting of a Spanish goose on a black canvas. Down the hall is a creative and stunning laundry room with all the bells and whistles including Schumacher wallpaper framing a front octagon window, white cabinets, brass fixtures and a crisp white countertop and sinks. Laundry can indeed be a pleasure!
You won’t want to miss the homeowners Artist/Design Studio in the Terrace level where the mother and daughter "design duo" creates and delivers exceptional design elements. This floor is a working studio and is where all the creativity begins! Get a preview of fabric and wallpaper samples, paint and canvasses in all sizes ready to spark your imagination.
Tickets are $35 in advance and $40 on tour day. We look forward to seeing you at the home tour and appreciate your support. Remember, profits of the tour help fund our charitable projects. Buy your tickets today! For more information about the Dunwoody Woman’s Club go to www. dunwoodywomansclub.com.
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Last chance to embrace luxury living at Hillandale in Roswell
Brought to you by – Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Georgia Properties New Homes Division
Now is your last chance to secure a new luxury home in Hillandale, a charming Charleston-inspired neighborhood just minutes from Historic Roswell. With only three homes remaining, these are the final opportunities to live in this popular community.
Currently under-construction, the final homes, priced from $1.1 million, are slated for completion in December/ January just in time for you to start the new year in a new home. Hillandale’s elegant designs features and sophisticated layouts are thoughtfully curated to provide ample indoor and outdoor
entertaining spaces. Among the luxury features, you’ll find spacious primary suites, soaring 10-foot ceilings, and rich hardwood floors throughout the main level. Each home is also equipped with high-end stainless-steel appliances, ensuring both style and functionality.
Beyond the remarkable interiors, Hillandale boasts an array of additional features that enhance the living experience. Homes come with irrigation systems, tankless water heaters, and freestanding tubs, along with charming gas lanterns adorning front patios. The community's pebbled driveways and sidewalks add to its overall appeal, while the HOA provides front and rear lawn maintenance, allowing residents to enjoy a low-maintenance lifestyle.
Hillandale’s location is key and offers unparalleled convenience. Homeowners can easily access a variety of local dining and shopping options. Outdoor enthusiasts will appreciate the nearby Chattahoochee River and its pristine parks, which offer an abundance of recreational activities, from kayaking to biking and walking trails. The Chattahoochee River Nature Preserve, just a short drive away, hosts summer music series and various outdoor events. Roswell is in the top 100 livable cities in the U.S. and ranks among the top 4 safest places to live in the metro Atlanta area. Families will also benefit from being part of Roswell's highly acclaimed school system, making Hillandale an ideal choice for any lifestyle.
Founded in 1994 by Patrick Malloy, Patrick Malloy Communities brings a wealth of experience and excellence to Metro Atlanta, having developed over 11,000 homesites and sold more than 7,000 homes. The company has received numerous accolades, consistently ranking on the Atlanta Business Chronicle’s Top 20 Homebuilder list and winning several Community of the Year awards. If you’re interested in learning more about the final homes available at Hillandale, visit www.PMCommunities. com or call 770-254-5372 to schedule a personal appointment. Patrick Malloy Communities is proudly represented by Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Georgia Properties’ New Homes Division. An Equal Housing Opportunity.
Why a turnkey, one-stop shop is essential for your bath or kitchen remodel
When it comes to remodeling your kitchen or bathroom, the process can quickly become overwhelming. From creating ideas and solutions, and selecting materials to finding contractors for plumbing, electrical work, and installation, managing multiple vendors and services can be stressful.
Remodeling projects start with a vision but bringing that vision to life requires expertise. An in-house design team needs to work closely with you to create a customized plan that reflects your personal style, and preferences, and stays within your budget—offering services like 3D renderings, so you can visualize your space before any work begins. With expert guidance every step of the way, you can be confident your project is set up for success.
Coordinating multiple contractors— plumbers, electricians, tile installers, and more—can be time-consuming and frustrating. With a turnkey remodeler, you get full-service project management, to handle every aspect of the renovation. Having a team to ensure that the design, material selection, scheduling, and installation are all aligned to create a smooth, stress-free experience is key. You don’t have to worry about chasing contractors or keeping up with timelines—it will be done all for you.
One of the biggest advantages of working with a one-stop shop is the convenience of having everything you need in one place. A great showroom should be filled with an extensive selection of cabinetry in a variety of styles and finishes, plumbing fixtures from top brands, countertops including granite, quartz, marble, and more, tile for floors and backsplashes, and hardware to complete your design.
Rather than running around town searching for materials, you can explore all your options under one roof, with our team guiding you through each choice.
Choosing a turnkey, one-stop-shop remodeler like Bath & Kitchen Galleria means more than just convenience—it means a smoother, more enjoyable remodeling experience with expert guidance, seamless coordination, and a wide selection of top-quality products to choose from while staying in your budget.
Whether you're transforming your bathroom or remodeling your kitchen, Bath & Kitchen Galleria is here to handle every detail, so you can sit back and enjoy the results! For more information visit Bath & Kitchen Galleria’s showroom at 10591 Old Alabama Rd Connector in Alpharetta (no appointment needed) M-F, 9-5 and Saturday, 10-4, or call them at 678-4592292 or visit BathandKitchenGalleria.com to schedule an appointment online.
Brought to you by – Bath and Kitchen Galleria
Experience Matters.
Because Every Client Matters.
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.”
No will or trust!
Brought to you by – Estates Law Center USA
The Risks of Not Planning: Potential issues that can arise when someone dies intestate (without a will or trust) and how an estate plan can mitigate these risks.
Dying intestate without a will or trust can lead to a host of complications and risks for both the estate and the surviving family members. When someone passes away without leaving behind a will or trust , state intestacy laws take over, dictating how assets are distributed. This may not align with the deceased's wishes, potentially leaving family members and loved ones with outcomes they didn’t anticipate or desire. For instance, assets might be divided in a way that doesn’t reflect the deceased’s personal preferences, or they might end up with relatives the deceased had wished to exclude. This can also spark family disputes and legal battles, as there are no clear instructions to guide the process, resulting in prolonged probate proceedings and increased costs. Additionally, intestacy can complicate the appointment of guardians for
minor children, potentially leaving their care in the hands of individuals not preferred by the deceased. The lack of a will can also led to missed opportunities for minimizing estate taxes and managing financial affairs efficiently. Emotional stress on family members is another significant risk, as they navigate the uncertainties and disputes arising from the intestate process. An estate plan mitigates these risks by clearly outlining the distribution of assets, appointing trusted executors and guardians, and incorporating strategies for tax efficiency. By planning with expert advice, individuals ensure that their wishes are honored, reduce the potential for conflict, and ease the administrative burden and cost on their loved ones during the most dif
ficult time.
HOLLY
Beverage and events caterer navigates pandemic changes
By HAYDEN SUMLIN hayden@appenmedia.com
ROSWELL, Ga. — There is a community gathering at Oak Street Bottle Shop once a week — Five Dollar Fridays — that harkens back to the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Top Job Beverage & Events owns the warehouse at 75A Oak Street, where co-owners Scott Harb and Michael Fabian set up shop in downtown Historic Roswell
Oak Street Bottle Shop is an unsuspecting place where friends and families gather to reconnect with people who they spent time with while the world was sheltering in place.
Harb said hosting the public outside of the bottle shop every day during summer 2020 kept his businesses afloat and surprised him in some ways.
In 2018, the company acquired the roughly 2,000-square-foot industrial facility to support the company’s main source of income, catering for festivals and concerts.
Top Job began catering small events in 2012 as partners of a local Roswell restaurant.
Co-owner Scott Harb said with the growth of the catering business, him and his business partner decided to purchase the building and get their own alcohol license through the city of Roswell.
The specific license is for craft beer and wine market, which allows the warehouse on Oak Street to double as a tap room and caterer.
Regulations surrounding alcohol licenses in Roswell mandate that employees work at the facility for at least 20 hours a week. Before the pandemic, the co-owners said they spent some time at the facility just to maintain the alcohol license.
Harb and Fabian also own a staffing agency, Top Job Hospitality, which is in downtown Historic Roswell off Park Square Court.
“I have a whole other day job, so I’d just come up here and do work, most of that was catering and a bit of staffing,” Harb said. “Then COVID comes … all of our events were canceled.”
More than 300 concerts, festivals and private events across Metro Atlanta were canceled, and with it, the company’s main source of revenue.
Top Job Beverage & Events partners with city governments, local organizations and individuals to cater alcohol at community gatherings. The
Scott Harb, co-owner of Oak Street Bottle Shop, promotes a community gathering with live music, friends and drinks — Five Dollar Fridays. Harb said his business made it through the pandemic by hosting Roswell residents outside of its warehouse in the historic district of downtown Roswell.
partnerships share revenue generated at events with organizers and the business, which works well when there’s not a pandemic.
“Everything was shut down and we didn’t have anything to do,” Harb said. “My wife said, ‘Scott, you’ve got an alcohol license and beer, why don’t you just open up the garage door?’”
Shortly after, the front of the warehouse turned into a package store, with the business partners opening a tap room in the back after things got going.
“That was the start of Oak Street Bottle Shop as you see it today,” Harb said.
Fridays are big
The shop operates differently now, given the end of pandemic-era restrictions. For one, it’s usually only open on Fridays, not every day of the week.
While the hospitality and catering businesses have rebounded since 2020, Top Job is busy elsewhere, too. It still rents out the facility for private events and always has a party for Five Dollar Fridays.
Harb said the facility is usually
Patrons at Oak Street Bottle Shop enjoy the sunset during Five Dollar Friday. Co-owner Scott Harb says the venue is usually only open to the public on Friday evenings, but the company’s event catering runs year-round.
rented for high school and college graduations, corporate team-building events and the occasional birthday.
Because the alcohol industry has good margins, Top Job’s Five Dollar Fridays allows the co-owners to get the “pandemic community” together once a week.
“That’s my baby, we’re only here one day a week,” Harb said. “During the pandemic, it was every day.”
Five Dollar Fridays are still rocking at 75A Oak Street. Most of the crowd, which continues to show up, met one another and became friends at the bottle shop during the pandemic.
“We did a cookout in May 2020 and about 30 people showed up,” Harb said. “There’s been as many as 300 people here, and we’re getting bigger bands.”
Scheduled fall bands include Corporate Therapy Oct. 4, M80 Rocks Oct. 11, Zachery Mannino Band Oct. 18, Justin Oct. 25, Nostalgia ’80s Experience Oct. 26, 40HZ Nov. 1, and Bear Bones Band Nov. 8.
It’s a community now, and people keep showing up to hang out with the friends they met four years ago.
Local craft beers
Oak Street prides itself on its selection of local craft beers, including Six Bridges Light Lager from Johns Creek, Social Fox’s Wrecker from Norcross, TKR Pilsener from Tucker and Variant Canton Street IPA from down the road.
The bottle shop has craft beers from every nook and cranny of America, with a shelf set aside for Georgia-brewed beer and all the name brand favorites.
It also sports an extensive selection of red, white and sparkling wines.
In summer 2023, Roswell Mayor Kurt Wilson served as a celebrity bartender during the bottle shop’s support of North Fulton Community Charities fundraising at Alive in Roswell.
Seemingly out of circumstance, Oak Street Bottle Shop has cemented itself in the downtown Historic Roswell community and beyond.
“There’s all these moments where things change,” Harb said. “The people you’re around during that time, those people are who you build new relationships with.”
PHOTOS BY: OAK STREET BOTTLE SHOP/PROVIDED
SCHOOLS
Possible elementary school closure sparks parents’ redistricting outcry
By HAYDEN SUMLIN hayden@appenmedia.com
SANDY SPRINGS, Ga. — The potential closure of Spalding Drive Elementary is expected to draw parents from all Sandy Springs public schools to Riverwood High Oct. 7 for an informational meeting.
Community involvement is likely to keep growing with the news of a potential redistricting of all seven Sandy Springs elementary schools.
There will be two more informational meetings at Riverwood Nov. 4 and Dec. 9, where Fulton County Schools staff will unveil proposals for new attendance zones and collect community feedback.
News about the potential closure of Spalding Drive Elementary sent shockwaves through the community when it broke during a Sept. 10 Fulton County Board of Education work session.
Just days after the school district’s announcement, more than 100 parents, teachers, students and alumni turned out to Woodland Elementary School in east Sandy Springs to hear why their beloved neighborhood institution has been recommended for closure.
Fulton County Schools Chief Operating Officer Noel Maloof said no decision has been made on the matter.
The Spalding Drive Elementary community has spent the past two weeks organizing a committee to save the school, hiring a public relations firm and gathering as much information as possible.
Support from Sandy Springs Mayor Rusty Paul and state Rep. Deborah Silcox doesn’t hurt either.
“Open enrollment for Fulton County will begin in the 2025-2026 school year, and the construction of the new North Springs High School will further encourage more families to send their children to Spalding Drive Elementary,” Silcox wrote. “School leaders believe that the declining enrollment is only a temporary challenge.”
Parents are saying the same, and they point to county taxpayers’ $175 million investment in one of Sandy Springs’ two public high schools, North Springs.
More than 80 percent of Spalding Drive Elementary students go to Sandy Springs Middle before North Springs High.
Several parents said they moved to Sandy Springs specifically to enroll their children at Spalding Drive Elementary School.
The waitlist for the school’s Pre-K program has 34 in-district kids and more than 100 from surrounding areas.
The committee says there was not a waitlist three years ago, and it calls the school district’s plan “a permanent solution to a short-term issue.”
With that in mind, the committee is
questioning why the school district is closing the door on prospective families and saying there are not enough students.
“The expedited timeline has a significant impact on the community as well as the mental health of our children,” Spalding Drive Elementary parent Nora Robb said. “The timeline forces uncertainty as to where our children will attend school next year.”
Redistricting process begins
During “Redistricting 101” meetings Sept. 23, the school district’s presentation explained that the process takes place when schools close, open or there is imbalance in enrollment.
This year, Spalding Drive Elementary School has 349 students and is predicted to have seven fewer next year. The district says the school building needs extensive repairs based on a condition assessment.
Because its enrollment is projected to continually decline past the 450-student threshold the school district identifies as “operationally inefficient,” it is considering consolidating Sandy Springs elementary students.
Spalding Drive is one of seven Fulton County elementary schools in Sandy Springs. Others include Dunwoody Springs, Heard’s Ferry, High Point, Ison Springs, Lake Forest and Woodland.
Spalding Drive is second to only Heard’s Ferry in academic performance as measured through the end-of-grade Georgia Milestones Assessments.
The school district does not include academic criteria in its analysis of whether the elementary school should close.
The citizens committee questions why a school district does not consider academic performance, which is its primary purpose.
If redistricting occurs, Fulton County Schools officials said approved attendance zone changes would go into effect for the 2025-26 school year.
Students who are rising fifth graders, eighth graders or high school juniors and seniors can opt to stay at their home school, but no transportation will be provided, the district reported.
Families are scrambling
The Save Spalding Drive Elementary Committee says closing the school would cause families to leave the area, damage its diverse student body and lower the Sandy Springs region’s academic performance.
Their mission is simple. Families, like Robb and her 6-year-old son Jacob, do not want the school that brought them to central Sandy Springs to close.
Robb, an attorney, said the expedited timeline has had a significant impact on elementary schoolers’ mental health.
Jacob still greets his kindergarten teacher every Friday morning, but only because the school issued a policy limiting when former students can visit their old teachers.
If an elementary school creates such strong bonds between teachers and students, parents want to know why the school district is considering putting it to an end, she said.
“My son cried hysterically when he heard the school might close,” Robb said. “For them to find out in February that they have a couple months left in their school is a disservice to the mental health of our children, particularly after COVID.”
With so many American children struggling to read on grade-level, Jacob Robb looks forward to reading articles about the potential closure because his teachers at Spalding Drive Elementary have him reading on a middle school level.
School district receives questions
After two online informational meetings on redistricting criteria and scope Sept. 23, Spalding Drive Elementary parents said the school district is moving the goal posts and
cherry-picking data.
Nora Robb said she thinks Fulton County Schools has made its decision to close Spalding Drive Elementary and redistrict the region before collecting valuable community feedback.
While the school district says the redistricting process is all about community input, the committee is unconvinced. It says the school district is not considering all residential development in Sandy Springs or the desirability of the city’s schools.
“They are only considering new singlefamily homes, and that’s not tear downs, new construction, condos or apartments,” Robb said. “We don’t believe that’s an accurate reflection of the growth in the community.”
She cited the multi-family housing development, slated to be completed in 2025 with more than 200 units, at the corner of Roswell (Ga. 9) and Dalrymple roads.
“We are in the process of coming up with our own data,” Robb said. “There’s a lot out there that would suggest that this community is growing faster than they want us to believe.”
When the committee sent a Freedom of Information Act request to the school district, they were told they’d have copies in six weeks.
Because a recommended plan is slated to be presented to the Fulton County School Board Jan. 15 and redistricting meetings are underway, Robb said the committee doesn’t have time to wait.
The committee has reached out to Fulton County School Board of Education members Michelle Morancie and Katie Gregory for help with district staff.
“Round One” for redistricting Sandy Springs elementary schools is Oct. 7 at Riverwood High School. There will be no draft plans or maps presented, but Fulton County Schools staff will facilitate smallgroup input sessions and share additional information.
FULTON COUNTY SCHOOLS/PROVIDED
Spalding Drive Elementary School sits in the middle of a neighborhood in north-central Sandy Springs. The effort to save the elementary school, which Fulton County may shutter next year, has grown with the potential redistricting of the city’s public schools.
India Festival draws crowds to celebrate culture
ROSWELL, Ga. — Crowds gathered at St. Mary’s Orthodox Church in Roswell Sept. 21 for the sixth annual Atlanta India
The festival celebrates Indian culture and local Atlanta communities, according to event spokesman Cherian Chacko.
Organizers called this year’s festival a rousing success, with vendors, traditional and fusion Indian cuisine, music and merchandise.
Last year’s festival drew almost 1,500 visitors.
— Photos by Dean Hesse
annual
Shalini Gupta from Gayatri Collections boutique in Cumming shows some women’s wear available at their booth during the annual Atlanta India Festival.
BEHIND THE PHOTOS: Dean Hesse is an award-winning photojournalist. Following Appen Media’s acquisition of Decaturish, Hesse is now part of the Crier’s newsroom. See more of his photos from the Atlanta India Festival at appenmedia.com. Support the work of protecting and strengthening local news in Sandy Springs by becoming a member of the Appen Press Club at appenmedia.com/join.
Kasi from Kakatiya Indian Kitchen in Alpharetta makes Indian crepes during the
Atlanta India Festival presented by St. Mary’s Orthodox Church in Roswell on Sept. 21.
Jaya Balan with her mural and Tanjore paintings during the annual Atlanta India Festival presented by St. Mary’s Orthodox Church in Roswell on Sept. 21.
Angela Sanju Alex performs during the annual Atlanta India Festival presented by St. Mary’s Orthodox Church in Roswell on Saturday, Sept. 21
Mehfil dancers perform during the annual Atlanta India Festival presented by St. Mary’s Orthodox Church in Roswell on Sept. 21.
Festival.
Update:
Stage Door Theatre’s Season 51, which begins with Agatha Christie’s “The Mousetrap” Oct. 12-27, has double the advanced sales as last year.
Since the pandemic, the future is looking brighter for arts and culture nonprofits, which rely on ticket sales and patrons to fund programming.
The Spruill Center, which completed an 8,300-square-foot expansion earlier this year, shares the Dunwoody Cultural Arts Center with Stage Door Theatre, Chattahoochee Hand Weavers Guild and the Dunwoody Library.
The two community organizations were able to report growth during their annual presentation to elected officials, largely because of the city’s assistance during the height of the pandemic.
Signed into law three-and-a-half years ago, the American Rescue Plan Act gave Dunwoody $18.4 million for small business and economic recovery, revenue replacement and infrastructure investments.
Dunwoody set aside $10 million of its allotment as revenue replacement in a separate American Rescue Plan fund, which removes federal requirements and time frames from the spending. Within that fund, $2 million is for direct assistance to nonprofits.
The City Council approved two rounds of grant donations at the end of 2022, sending $1.3 million to 18 local nonprofits still struggling with pandemic impacts, including Spruill and Stage Door Theatre.
Dunwoody reports it has spent just under $1.8 million of its budgeted funds for direct assistance.
The city also pitched in $1 million, separate from grant funding, for the expansion project’s $3.4 million cost with the remaining funds generated through fundraising and Spruill’s activities and workshops.
A big picture timeline of the Spruill Center for the Arts’ 2024-26 Strategic Plan lays out its priorities, including the nonprofit’s community outreach, new studios and branding for its 50th anniversary. CEO Alan Mothner gave the Dunwoody City Council an update on the arts center’s activities Sept. 23.
CEO Alan Mothner said the Spruill Center for the Arts offered 983 classes in 29 different artistic mediums at its workshops in 2023.
“We’re one of the region’s biggest arts centers, and we’re proud to have a home here in Dunwoody,” Mothner said. “Last year, we had an aberration in terms of where our source of funding came from.”
The Spruill Gallery off Ashford Dunwoody Road also funds the nonprofit arts center through its exhibitions.
“We still generate most of our income from classes, fees and workshops,” Mothner said. “As far as using those funds, most of it is put back into the organization in support of artists and our mission.”
Mothner said he’s already seeing the positive effects of the expansion of
the Spruill Center’s facilities.
“To date, we’re able to serve 659 more students than we were last year,” he said. “We’re projecting an incredible 2,200 students to join us this fall for programs.”
Mothner said some classes began Sept. 22 but there are more openings in October and during the holidays.
Other impacts of the expanded facility are a declining waitlist, increasing revenue and a growing staff.
The goals for the Spruill Centers team over the next three years are laid out in its Strategic Plan with 36 prioritized tasks that promote the community’s use of the facility.
“This is a big change for us, we are not just an arts center based in this community,” Mothner said. “We truly want to be a community center for
everyone that is based on the arts.” Spruill is expanding its free community workshops and scholarships, while also searching for a part-time events coordinator.
The inaugural Spruill Social Oct. 5 from 1-4 p.m. is a family-friendly mixer in the arts center’s new community room and courtyard. The day before, the Spruill Center is giving out free chili with any purchase for its 22nd annual Bowl Sale from 5-9 p.m.
“We turn to you to know what you guys want us to do with this space,” Mothner said. “How can we best program that to serve our community?”
Mayor Lynn Deutsch said she commends Stage Door Theatre and the Spruill Center for the Arts for their efforts to bring people in the community together.
Fall vegetable gardening is fun and rewarding
A lot of people think that the end of the summer means the end of their vegetable gardening for the year. But there are many vegetables that grow best in the fall weather and can be enjoyed all winter long. Try growing a second crop of cool season vegetables in your garden and pots. I like fall gardening because the temperatures are mild, diseases can be low if it’s dry, and insects can be less troublesome once the temperature drops.
Every year I get asked the same questions about fall gardening:
• What is the date of the first and last frost?
• What is our hardiness zone?
• How do I prepare my garden for fall planting?
• How do I maintain my garden in the fall?
• How do I control pests and diseases?
• How do I extend my growing season?
• What are the end-of-season tasks?
• What are some specific cool season vegetables?
In order to calculate the planting date, the average first frost date in North Fulton officially is Nov. 15, but that is the average. It may be earlier or later. All of Georgia is within hardiness zones 7-8.
To prepare your garden for planting, clear debris from summer planting. For existing beds add 1 inch of organic matter. For new beds add 2-4 inches. Remove rocks and sticks for growing root crops. Get a soil test for analysis of your soil and fertilize according to the recommendations. Some plants need more fertilizer than others, so refer to the info labels on the plants. Applying mulch at planting time helps conserve moisture, prevent weeds and moderate soil temperature.
In order to maintain your garden, apply mulch 2-4 inches deep and keep the mulch away from the crown of plants to avoid rot and mildew. Pests are less prevalent in the fall, but physical, cultural and biological controls will minimize them. Remember, follow the instructions of pesticide labels. More is not better and may be very harmful.
At the end of the season, add organic matter and be sure to clear debris from the beds that can shelter pests. It is also a good time to clean and store garden tools.
Winter vegetables such as beets, broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, collards, kale and spinach and an assortment of greens like arugula, lettuce and Swiss chard can be grown in the fall and winter. They can be grown in raised beds, containers or in the ground.
• Beets are a southern favorite. They are quick growing and need full sun. They also need good root drainage and soil high in potassium. They can tolerate cold and some frost. Don’t forget the tops of the beets. Beet greens are edible and nutritious too. Harvest when the bulb shows on top the size you want.
• Broccoli needs a sunny area with room to grow. Keep them evenly watered but avoid watering the heads, just the soil around them. Broccoli is also a heavy feeder and needs adequate, regular fertilization. Harvest when the heads of the buds are firm and tight.
• Cabbage is a cool-season crop that can be grown in both the fall and spring. It can be harvested when the cabbage head is nice and firm. They are heavy feeders and will need to be fertilized regularly.
• Cauliflower has similar care requirements as broccoli, so plant them in a sunny spot and water evenly. They grow well in cool weather but don’t like temperatures below 60 degrees, so use frost cloth to extend the growing season.
• Collards will withstand a wide range of temperatures. They are a very popular green in Georgia and exceed cabbage, turnip greens and spinach in fat and, protein and carbs. Some other cool-season greens include mustards and Swiss chard.
• Kale is a member of the cabbage family. It’s not only a superfood, but also a super plant tolerating cold and frost and grows well in gardens and in pots. Harvest when the leaves are about the size of your hand. Choose the smaller tender leaves for salads and the large for cooking.
• Lettuce is one of the most giving veggies you can plant since you can harvest the greens several times. Plant a blend of different types of lettuce for variety like romaine, butterhead and arugula. Because of its shallow root system, it is great to grow in shallow containers.
• Spinach is simple to grow. It prefers sun but is one of the few vegetables that can tolerate partial sun. It’s also tough in cold weather, even handling some frost. If you wait to harvest, the more bitter the leaves become. Pick the outer leaves giving the center ones time to grow.
Growing vegetables can be a year-round activity in the South. In addition to needing 6-8 hours of sun, be sure
About the author
This week's "Garden Buzz" features Sandy Springs resident Robin Pollack, an accomplished artist and Master Gardener. Active in the Atlanta art community since 1970, Robin has taught for over 30 years at Chastain Arts Center and has been a Master Gardener since 2005. As a member of North Fulton Master Gardeners, she has taught vegetable gardening at Farm Chastain and her own garden. Influenced by her artistic eye, her garden has been featured on tours including Atlanta Botanical Garden and Georgia Perennial Plant Association.
and add a layer of pine straw in winter to protect them. In case of a freeze, water veggies well and use a frost cloth for overnight protection. Growing your own vegetables is one of the most rewarding things to grow in the garden.
Happy gardening!
North Fulton Master Gardeners, Inc. is a Georgia nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization whose purpose is to educate its members and the public in the areas of horticulture and ecology in order to promote and foster community enrichment. Master Gardener Volunteers are trained and certified by The University of Georgia Cooperative Extension. Learn more at nfmg.net. Previous Garden Buzz columns are featured at: https://appenmedia. com/opinion/columists/garden buzz/.
ROBIN POLLACK Guest Columnist
ROBIN POLLACK/PROVIDED
Robin’s fall garden
OPINION
Theodore Roosevelt’s ‘proud kinship’ with the South
The visit of President Theodore Roosevelt to Roswell in 1905 was part of a tour through the South aimed at helping to heal the lingering wounds of the Civil War. The presidential party visited several states, but the visit to Roswell had a special meaning because it was to the house where his mother was raised.
Theodore (Teddy) Roosevelt (18581919) became the 26th President of the United States in September 1901 upon the assassination of William McKinley. One of Roosevelt’s many noteworthy achievements was setting aside some 230 million acres throughout the U.S. for national forests, parks and wildlife refuges.
His parents, Theodore Roosevelt, Sr. (1831-1878) and Martha “Mittie” Bulloch Roosevelt (1835-1884) were a wealthy family in New York City.
After graduating from Harvard College, the future president married Alice Hathaway Lee (1861– 1884) In 1880. He was deeply in love. Alice was a charming, talented young woman, tall and athletic, skilled in tennis and archery, and she played piano. Both Alice and his mother Mittie died on Valentines Day in 1884. Mittie died at age 48 from typhoid fever, and Alice died at age 22 of kidney failure.
Theodore and Alice’s daughter Alice Lee Roosevelt was born on February 12, 1884, two days before her mother’s death. Theodore was so distraught at his lovely young wife’s demise that he hardly ever spoke of her again, not even with his daughter. Two years later, in 1886, Teddy married his teen years sweetheart Edith Kermit Carow (1861-1948) who served as First Lady from 1901 to 1909. Theodore was appointed Assistant Secretary of the Navy in 1897. He resigned from that position to help establish and lead the Rough Riders, a military unit that fought the Spanish army in Cuba. The unit was widely covered by the press, and Roosevelt returned to the U.S. a war hero. He was elected governor of New York in 1898. Two years later, he ran as William McKinley’s vice president.
Martha “Mittie” Bulloch Roosevelt Mittie was Theodore’s mother. Her parents, Georgia resident Maj. James Stephens Bulloch (1793–1849) and Martha “Patsy” Steward Bulloch (1799–1864), lived in Savannah. When Mittie
The president on the steps of his mother’s home, Bulloch Hall in Roswell, during his visit in 1905. In the front row are three long-time servants of the Bulloch family: Mammy Grace who was a nurse to Mittie as she grew up, Daddy Williams and Aunt Charlotte. The remainder includes the owner of the home at the time, Mr. J.B. Wing, his family, Miss Ward the postmistress, Senator Clay, the Rev. William Baker and others. The photo caption does not provide specific order of the people.
Bulloch Hall, built in 1839 in Roswell in the Greek Revival style, is the home where President Theodore Roosevelt’s mother was raised. The president visited the home for the first time in 1905. The home is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
was 3, Major Bulloch moved his family to the village that was to become Roswell to be a partner in a new cotton mill with Roswell’s founder Roswell King. Bulloch built a beautiful mansion, completed in 1839, and called it Bulloch Hall. The house is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and is today a favorite place for history lovers to visit. Mittie was raised in the house. She married Theodore Roosevelt Sr. on Dec. 22,1853 in the formal dining room of the home. It was a gala affair.
The City of Roswell owns Bulloch Hall, thanks to a successful bond referendum and a grant from the
Georgia Department of Natural Resources. The city established a citizens committee, The Roswell Historic Preservation Commission, in 1978 to oversee the local historic district and to approve projects proposed in the district.
The non-profit Friends of Bulloch Hall was established 40 years ago for the preservation and restoration of Bulloch Hall. Its president, Bob Hagan, says that the annual Magnolia Ball, raises funds to pay for projects. Last year’s projects included restoration of the original front and back doors, bringing Mittie’s garden back to life and trimming historic trees
Martha “Mittie” Bulloch Roosevelt, shown here at age 20, was President Teddy Roosevelt’s mother. She was raised in Roswell in Bulloch Hall which has been well preserved thanks to the local city government and many volunteers. It is well worth a visit.
on the grounds, including some rare osage trees which early settlers planted as a dense hedge.
A highlight of the house is Mittie’s bedroom. According to Elaine DeNiro, archivist for the Roswell Historical Society and the City of Roswell, the Historical Society furnished Mittie’s bedroom with period pieces and is its caregiver.
President visits Roswell home
President Roosevelt visited Bulloch Hall on Oct. 20, 1905, while on a postCivil War good will tour of the South. In his remarks, the president emphasized his Southern links. He said “…my blood is half Southern and half Northern… the brothers and sisters of my mother who were born and brought up in that house on the hill there, my two uncles afterward entered the Confederate service and served with the Confederate Navy….I have the ancestral right to claim a proud kinship with those who showed their devotion to duty as they saw the duty, whether they wore the grey or whether they wore the blue.”
After visiting Roswell, the president went to Atlanta where he was told, according to the Christian Herald, a weekly New York publication, “We consider you a Georgian by birth, Mr. President. You are one of us and we love you because of your honesty and your courage to do what you think is right.”
Bob is director emeritus of the Milton Historical Society and a Member of the City of Alpharetta Historic Preservation Commission. You can email him at bobmey@bellsouth.net. Bob welcomes suggestions for future columns about local history.
