City staff offer updates on Mount Vernon Road
By HAYDEN SUMLIN hayden@appenmedia.com
DUNWOODY, Ga. — Dunwoody officials discussed the progress of intersection improvements at Mount Vernon and Tilly Mill roads Sept. 23 after staff presented an amendment raising the cost of its design contract.
Elected officials did not vote on the item, which is slated for approval at the Oct. 15 meeting.
Public Works Deputy Director Michelle Hirose provided members of the City Council with a 10-year overview of planned projects along Mount Vernon Road.
“[The] segment at Mount Vernon and Tilly Mill is scheduled for 2026 construction,” she said. “The project was originally intended to address intersection improvements … but as we went through concepts and public input, we added shared-use paths and sidewalks to the project.”
Brook Run hosts Saturday market, Vietnam veterans
By HAYDEN SUMLIN hayden@appenmedia.com
DUNWOODY, Ga. — Dunwoody residents and the surrounding Metro Atlanta community put Brook Run Park to good use the first Saturday of October.
While the Dunwoody Homeowners Association hosted its weekly farmers market, the South Vietnamese and American veteran communities unveiled a unique Vietnam War Memorial Oct. 5.
Brook Run Park, the 110acre crown jewel of the north DeKalb County city, sports just about every recreational amenity imaginable, from a skate park and TreeTop Quest adventure course to a 250-seat amphitheater.
For the farmers and vendors, it was nice to be back to normal after the fallout of Hurricane Helene. The market was held the Saturday after the storm came through, but the following weekend sported some better conditions at Crescent Circle and Georgia Way South.
A couple farmers had to duck out of the Oct. 5 market with winds and rain from the storm washing away some crops in Roanoke, Alabama and
the chemical fire in Rockdale County requiring soil tests.
Daniel Perry, part-time market manager and farmer, spoke about his experiences with the storm in Roanoke.
“We lost everything, it basically flooded, and all our crops got molded,” he said. “We’re trying to get some quick crops back growing … it’s a setback, but we also raise chickens.”
Perry was selling fresh eggs and bread during the market and said he’d have crops ready
in 30-40 days.
Despite the headwinds for farmers and vendors after the fallout of the storm, community members turned up to market Saturday morning.
Danielle Durgin from Refarm Atlanta was one of the market’s most popular vendors, selling flower arrangements from her 1-acre regenerative farm in Atlanta. Durgin sports an infectious personality, dried arrangements for autumn and
CITY OF DUNWOODY/PROVIDED Pictured right center, Dunwoody Mayor Lynn Deutsch gathers with city officials, American and South Vietnamese veterans Oct. 5 at the new Vietnam War Memorial at Brook Run Park. The memorial is the first of its kind in the United States and is funded entirely through private donations.
PROVIDED
A rendering shows what planned intersection improvements at Mount Vernon and Tilly Mill roads will look like in a couple of years. Dunwoody staff said other planned projects along Mount Vernon Road will be designed similarly.
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Officers arrest I-285 driver for suspected impairment
DUNWOODY, Ga. — Dunwoody Police arrested a 28-year-old Loganville man Sept. 29 after he failed to maintain his lane on I-285 while allegedly intoxicated.
An officer said he spotted a gray Tesla Model S changing lanes on the interstate at a high rate of speed and heading eastbound at Chamblee Dunwoody Road.
The officer said the vehicle erratically swerved from the far-left lane to the Chamblee Dunwoody Road exit, allegedly exceeding the speed limit by 23 mph.
After allegedly noting signs of impairment, the officer conducted a field sobriety test on the I-285 entrance ramp. They then detained the driver following the exam.
After observing signs of impairment, the officer detained the suspect for driving under the influence.
Officers wrote that breath samples from the driver tested four times the legal limit for alcohol concentration.
Officers transported him to DeKalb County Jail for driving while under the influence, reckless driving and improper lane usage.
Manager says store employee pilfered merchandise, clothes
DUNWOODY, Ga. — Dunwoody Police arrested a Stone Mountain man Sept. 29 after he allegedly stole from a Perimeter Mall store for the fourth time.
Officers said the regional manager of Abercrombie & Finch accused one employee of the Perimeter Mall store of shoplifting.
The manager told officers that he has footage of the employee concealing a black hoodie, removing its security sensor and placing the merchandise in his bookbag.
Security footage allegedly shows the suspect put on the hoodie at the end of his shift, walk past all points of sale without paying and exit the store.
The hoodie is valued at $70.
The manager also said the same employee has stolen four times, but he only wants to prosecute for the Sept. 29 incident.
Officers said they spoke with the suspect, who allegedly admitted the shoplifting incident was a “stupid mistake.”
The suspect was transported to DeKalb County Jail for misdemeanor shoplifting.
Pregnant woman presses charges alleging assault
DUNWOODY, Ga. — Dunwoody Police responded to an alleged assault of a pregnant woman at apartments off Dunwoody Crossing Sept. 29 after the victim alleged a neighbor threw eggs at her.
The victim, a resident of the complex, said she and her husband were sitting on their back porch when a neighbor approached them citing a noise complaint.
The neighbor approached in an aggressive manner and yelled at the couple, the victim said.
Officers said two witnesses, neighbors not involved in the incident, observed the altercation.
The victim said the neighbor suddenly threw several eggs at she and her husband.
Officer said they observed smashed eggs on the balcony and the victim’s belly.
The victim told officers that she was concerned because she was 8 months pregnant and was struck in the stomach.
Officers said they attempted to contact the suspect at his apartment.
After allegedly trying to conceal himself, the suspect gave up and exited.
The suspect told officers that he called 911 multiple times with noise complaints because his family was trying to sleep.
Officers said the suspect repeatedly denied doing anything to his neighbors.
Because of witness testimony and the victim’s wish to prosecute, officers arrested the suspect for simple battery and transported him to DeKalb County Sheriff’s Office.
While with the county sheriff, Dunwoody officers said the suspect continued to deny interacting with his neighbors.
Former employee accused of stealing merchandise
ROSWELL, Ga. — Roswell Police responded to Ferguson Enterprise off Wills Road Oct. 2 after its manager lodged allegations that a former employee stole $12,000 in merchandise.
The branch manager said there had been an extensive investigation of the former employee based on security footage. She also said the employee worked at the company from May 2017 through September 2024.
According to the branch manager, the male suspect did not admit to the theft.
Officers said the branch manager provided model numbers, dates and times for each of the allegedly stolen items.
According to the company’s investigation, the employee stole five water heaters, valued around $5,500, around 10 p.m. Aug. 8.
On three separate occasions throughout August and September, officers said the company’s investigation showed around $7,300 in stolen copper wire and additional water heaters.
Officers said a corporate security associate with Ferguson Enterprise provided officers with documentation and said they wish to press charges.
The suspect remains at large.
Dunwoody’s High Street development announces new retailers
DUNWOODY, Ga. — High Street, a mixed-use development on the border of Fulton and DeKalb counties, announced Sept. 30 that more of its retail space is leased, and additional shops are opening.
Dunwoody’s High Street is a multi-phased, $2 billion mixed-use destination at Perimeter Center Parkway and Hammond Drive. GID Development leads the project, with leasing efforts from JLL’s boutique leasing team, 10twelve.
Opening in 2024, the first phase encompasses 150,000 square feet of elevated retail, entertainment and dining experiences, 598 upscale apartments and 310,000 square feet of office, including 90,000 square feet of new Class A lofts office.
The leasing team announced more than 86,000 square feet of retail space is now committed with the planned addition of NOW Massage and Rosetta Bakery by spring 2025.
Other retailers, like SkinSpirit, Ben & Jerry’s and Nando’s PERiPERi have recently opened, which the team says complements the summer openings of Velvet Taco and Allen Edmonds shoe store.
With over 300 residents already living at the mixed-use destination, developers and the leasing team are excited to keep attracting retailers and consumers.
GID Senior Vice President Ian Ward noted the momentum the project is generating in 2024.
“"By carefully curating a diverse
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range of restaurants, service providers and entertainment options, we are bringing a distinctive experience to the Perimeter area,” Ward said. “With a vibrant resident population and a continuous stream of visitors, High Street is transforming into a dynamic 24/7 destination that offers something for everyone."
At full build-out, the 36-acre project will feature 10 city blocks thoughtfully developed around a pedestrian-friendly street grid steps away from the Dunwoody MARTA Station.
Metro Atlanta’s Perimeter market is split between two cities, Sandy Springs in Fulton County and Dunwoody in DeKalb County.
After the COVID-19 pandemic accelerated concerns in commercial real estate trends, both cities focused on revitalizing and redeveloping older areas of the shared market.
So far, Dunwoody is leading the charge with High Street, Ashford Lane and Campus 244, all in its portion of Perimeter.
Sandy Springs got a jump on redevelopment, creating its own downtown at Roswell Road (Ga. 9) and Mount Vernon Highway a couple of miles west of Ga. 400. Plans are to continue expanding the downtown district — City Springs.
To hear new announcements or peruse openings, visit www. highstreetatlanta.com/.
Dunwoody shows the first phase of the planned $2 billion mixed-use destination at the Fulton County border. Today, the development includes 150,000 square feet of retail, 598 luxury apartments and 310,000 square feet of office space.
Second
Gold Sponsors
Maria and Tony Barnhart ~ Café Intermezzo
Chick-Fil-A Jett Ferry Road ~ Club Pilates Dunwoody
Dunwoody Automotive ~ Dunwoody Nature Center
E. 48th Street Market ~ Fitness Together
Donna and Tom Fullilove ~ The Hanna Family
Josephine’s Antiques & Fine Linens
Terry and Alan Kemp ~ Donna and Greg Knowlton
LookinGood Hair Salon ~ Maximos Gyro & Kabobs
Monterey Wealth
Schulman Esthetic and General Dentistry
Spruill Center for the Arts
Stage Door Theatre ~ Thornton Law Firm
Silver Sponsors
Judy and Paul Bertrand ~ Martha Blondheim
Budget Upholstery ~ The Capital Grille
Carbonara Trattoria ~ Dunwoody Village Ace Hardware
Su and Richard Ellis ~ The Enchanted Forest
McKendrick’s Steakhouse ~ Barbara and Jay Pryor
Hazel Schingen ~ Under the Pecan Tree
GFWC Dunwoody Woman’s Club
Thanks to the Sponsors of the 51st Annual Dunwoody Home Tour
Wednesday, October 9, 2024
Diamond Sponsors
Dentistry with a Difference
Dunwoody Crier
The Kloster Group/Rachel Provow
Piedmont Bank
Linda Mote
Platinum Sponsors
Ken and Karen Ashley in memory of Toine Ashley
Faye and Steve Cashwell
Susan and Dohrm Crawford
Sandra and Denis DuBois
Dunwoody Animal Medical Center
Dunwoody Gallery
Dunwoody Preservation Trust
Face Haven
Lee and John Giesecke
Mr. and Mrs. Corb Hankey
Lauderhills Fine Jewelry
The McCarty Group
Joy T. Melton, Esq.
Diane Norris
Northside Hospital Atlanta Auxiliary
OnPoint Wealth
Publix Super Markets Charities
Zurn Plumbing
Friends of the Tour: Suzanne Bentz ~ Sharon and Tom Clark ~ Marie Drake ~ Sandra and Billy King ~ Debra and Richard Love ~ Bernice and Mickey McGuire
North Italia ~ Novo Cucina ~ Thompson’s Frame & Gallery ~ Vicki and Bruce Strahan ~ Pat Troxel
Vintage Pizzeria In gratitude to our in-kind and other contributors: Mount Vernon Printing, Pat Fiorello In Loving Memory of Nancy D’Ardenne
WHERE IN THE WORLD IS THE CRIER?
Savannah
TALK BACK TO THE CRIER
Longtime Dunwoody resident Bob O’Brien took the Crier with him to historic Franklin Square in Savannah, Ga., the day after Hurricane Helene ravaged the Southeast.
Where in the world is the Crier?
If you’re headed on a trip, the Crier wants to sightsee, too. Take a copy with you and share the moment with folks back home. Send your travel photos with the Crier to newsroom@ appenmedia.com.
City leaders have ignored message sent by citizens
TO THE CRIER,
Just like the Federal Government, Dunwoody has a structural deficit. Unlike the $36 trillion the Fed’s have borrowed, Dunwoody’s projected annual expenses exceed revenues by $1.2 million annually. This is the result of the Council knowingly using pandemic grant funds to fund ongoing and increasing operational funds. While assuming the bond referendum would pass, then failing to adjust spending when it failed. Failure of the bond referendum should have clearly sent the message that fiscal responsibility is the citizens top priority. For Council to lament the failure of the bond referendum, yet continue to spend monies on alternative projects, only digs
a deeper fiscal hole. There are multiple areas to reduce spending and operate within a balanced budget. For example, continuing building 12’ wide sidewalk trails while cutting down hundreds of mature trees represents $3 million in savings, the Dunwoody Nature Center expansion another $1 million.
Failure of the Bond Referendum should have clearly sent the message that fiscal responsibility, a balanced budget, and constrained spending for essentials, is the key to Dunwoody’s future success and growth. We need fiscally responsible leadership with vision, and fewer photo opps.
Victor Wintermantel Dunwoody
Send your letters to newsroom@appenmedia.com by Sunday night and they’ll end up here that week. Park locations, tree-lined medians and backyard chickens welcome.
Rules of engagement:
• Typically we restrict letters to 300 words. To limit fury from the copy desk, try and stay below that line.
• We normally do not publish letters written in response to other letters. We are going to waive that policy for the time being.
• We won’t publish your letter or name without explicitly getting your approval.
TRUCK or TREAT TRUCK or TREAT
dunwoody food truck thursday finale
Help us close out the Dunwoody Food Truck Thursday season with food trucks, live music, and candy galore!
Food trucks will be in their usual spot between the skate park and playground.
Parks & Rec candy tables, sponsor tables, and decorated Dunwoody Police personnel and vehicles will be in the front field.
Happy Halloween!
CITY OF DUNWOODY/PROVIDED
Dunwoody Parks and Recreation Director Rachel Waldron holds the department’s fourth straight District 6 Agency of Year award from Georgia’s statewide association. From left, Recreation Coordinator Dylan Gesford, Park Operations coordinators Brandon Alvarado and David Alexander, Waldron, Recreation Program Coordinator Andrea Perez, Recreation Manager Kate Borden, and Recreation Leader Antwain Adams.
Parks and Recreation receives fourth straight statewide honor
DUNWOODY, Ga. — The Georgia Recreation and Parks Association recognized Dunwoody’s department as District 6 Agency of the Year during its annual banquet Oct. 1.
The award salutes excellence and leadership in providing quality recreation programs, parks and facilities that enhance the quality of life in communities. It’s Dunwoody’s fourth year in a row receiving the recognition.
Rachel Waldron, Parks and Recreation director for the past nine months, said she’s proud of her staff for going the extra mile and honored that other park professionals recognized the department.
Dunwoody Parks and Recreation staff are members of the state association, completing 80 hours of training each year. Together, they manage more than 200 acres of green space across seven parks.
“Our community deserves the best, and we work hard as a team to deliver quality programs and recreational opportunities,” Waldron said.
In 2024, Dunwoody Parks and Recreation added several new programs at park facilities, including girls softball, adult
soccer, Kilometer Kids, goat Pilates and meditation.
The department also hosted Special Olympics activities at Brook Run Park and Georgetown Park; expanded the Groovin’ on the Green Concert series; and grew the StoryWalk program, in partnership with Friends of the Dunwoody Library.
Capital improvements include shade structures at the Brook Run Baseball Fields and new floors and a mirrored wall in the dance studio at Stage Door Theatre.
The Georgia Recreation and Parks Association formed in 1945 as a private, nonprofit institution to support and promote industries in Georgia.
District 6 covers DeKalb County and 21 other counties in middle and north Georgia. Dunwoody Parks and Recreation was recognized in the District 6 population category of 50,001 to 80,000 residents.
“Rachel stepped into the role of Dunwoody Parks and Recreation director earlier this year and never skipped a beat,” City Manager Eric Linton said. “She provides excellent leadership, and her team has built great relationships with our partners and community.”
CITY OF DUNWOODY FY 2025 PROPOSED BUDGET
Notice is hereby given that the proposed FY 2025 Budget for the City of Dunwoody is available for inspection online (www. dunwoodyga.gov) and with the City Clerk at Dunwoody City Hall, 4800 Ashford Dunwoody Road, Dunwoody, GA 30338, weekdays between the hours of 8:00 A.M. and 5:00 P.M. The City of Dunwoody will hold a Public Hearing at 6pm on October 15, 2024, at which time any persons wishing to be heard on the budget may appear. A second Public Hearing, as well as a vote to adopt the 2025 Budget, will be held at 6pm on October 28, 2024.
Georgetown Shopping Center opened in 1964 amid fanfare
Scott Hudgens, president of Scott Hudgens Realty & Mortgage, first advertised lots available in the Georgetown subdivision in the Aug. 27, 1961, Atlanta Journal. “Come on out! Georgetown is ready,” was announced. In these early days of Georgetown, buyers could select their lot and floor plan.
Details described in the July 4, 1962, Atlanta Journal include quality construction, large, wooded lots, three-to-five bedrooms, two or more bathrooms, surface units, oven, hood, dishwasher and a choice of carpets or oak flooring. Styles offered were early American, Dutch Colonial, French Provincial and Colonial.
The 1962 advertisement for Georgetown informs buyers a shopping center is conveniently located 1 mile away. That shopping center was Chamblee Plaza. A proposed shopping center is planned and would be built next to the subdivision. This was the future Georgetown Shopping Center.
Georgetown Shopping Center first opened July 1964. It included a Big Apple grocery store, King’s Drug Store, furniture store and a laundry. The price of the original shopping center construction was $1 million. (June 1, 1964, Atlanta Journal, “Georgetown Shopping Center”)
Scott Hudgens also developed the shopping center, which was described as 10 acres at the northwest corner of Chamblee Dunwoody Road and the Circumferential Highway. The highway was completed five years later and is known today as I-285.
Robert Schaumann purchased the shopping center in the early 1970s and announced a plan to quadruple the space in 1973. Part of the plan was to add a 30,000-square-foot Kroger grocery store, the largest Kroger in Metro Atlanta in 1973. Existing tenant spaces would be renovated. The center’s square footage went from 33,000 square feet to 125,000.
Possibilities for Georgetown Shopping Center additions included a theater, more restaurants, specialty shops, and a community room for clubs and civic groups. I have never heard or read about a theater at Georgetown, but please email me if you remember one. (Neighbor newspaper, “Georgetown to expand,” Feb. 7, 1973, DeKalb History Center Archives)
In 1976, the first Dunwoody Fourth of July parade began at Georgetown Shopping Center and continued to Dunwoody Village. Gerry Spruill was chairperson of the
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PROVIDED
A map accompanied the advertisement for the new Georgetown subdivision in the 1961 Atlanta Journal, indicating the future Georgetown Shopping Center.
parade. Her committee included several members of the Dunwoody Woman’s Club. Cecil Day and Mike Tilleman were grand marshals of the parade.
According to cororealty.com, Georgetown Shopping Center today includes 142,397 square feet on 11.3 acres. Stores and businesses include Kroger, Goldberg’s Deli, Farm Burger, Vino Venue, and Sherwin Williams. The
Is
AT&T store was the former location of Starbucks before it moved to adjacent Shoppes of Georgetown.
Award-winning author Valerie Biggerstaff is a longtime columnist for Appen Media and the Dunwoody Crier. She lives in Atlanta. You can email Valerie at pasttensega@ gmail.com or visit her website at pasttensega.com.
VALERIE BIGGERSTAFF Columnist PAST
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Hirose said the intersection improvement project is currently in the right-of-way acquisition phase.
Residents along the corridor can expect the project to be completed by the end of 2027, according to the city’s latest estimates.
Other segments west of Tilly Mill Road are in the preliminary design phase or scheduled for concept design next year. Hirose said she estimates those segments won’t be completed for another five years.
The amendment increases the design contract nearly 50 percent from $170,000 to $252,000 for intersection improvements at Mount Vernon and Tilly Mill roads.
Hirose said the reason for the increase is due to right-of-way acquisition and utility relocation, mainly with Georgia Power and Colonial Pipeline, and for increasing the sidewalk’s width from 5 to 6 feet.
Staff recommended approval with enough funds remaining in the project’s budget.
The design and right-of-way needed for the project is funded through the DeKalb County Special Purpose Local
Veterans:
Continued from Page 1
fresh ones for a living room table. Her dried flower and pumpkin arrangements went as fast as anything at the market with Halloween and cooler weather right around the corner.
Farther down the line of tents, Eat Right Atlanta from Ellenwood set up shop with an extensive collection of carrots, potatoes, greens, oranges and apples. The locally-sourced fruit and vegetable cooperative is an example of how grassroots efforts can deliver for consumers, especially when their helping people eat better for less.
Georgia Fruit Trees, another local Metro Atlanta farm, is a pandemic-era passion project from James Kostopoulos who brought his experiences on a fruit farm in Miami back home and turned it into a business.
After a rough weekend for Southeastern farmers and vendors, the ones at the Dunwoody Farmers Market seemed grateful to be back doing what they love, sharing their passion with local communities.
Toward the end of the market, attention at Brook Run Park shifted a few hundred yards away to the Vietnamese American Community
PROVIDED
A map shows Dunwoody residents when construction is slated to begin on corridor and intersection improvements along Mount Vernon Road. Public Works Deputy Director Michelle Hirose discussed the project at Tilly Mill and Mount Vernon roads with elected officials Sept. 23.
Option Sales Tax.
The city’s spending plan through 2028 has $4 million to fund construction along the Mount Vernon Road corridor from SPLOST II, a renewal of the one-cent sales tax in 2023.
The city says the project aims to improve safety and traffic flow for drivers, pedestrians and cyclists. Specific improvements include left turn lanes with medians at Oxford Chase Way, Tilly Mill Road and Northchester Court; a 6-footwide sidewalk and 4-foot-wide bike lane on the south side of Mount Vernon Road;
and a 12-foot-wide sidepath on the north side of the roadway.
A sidepath, multi-use trail or shareduse path are terms used for wider sidewalks.
Progress has slowed during rightof-way acquisition, which began in December 2022.
Hirose said acquisition has taken longer than expected because of revisions and delays during negotiations with property owners. She said it’s becoming a longer process, especially with corporations.
Danielle
with prospective buyers of some of her dried and fresh flower arrangements. Durgin’s Refarm Atlanta brings locally grown flowers to Metro Atlanta markets nearly every week.
of Georgia and the Atlanta Vietnam Veterans Business Association’s dedication ceremony for their joint memorial to fallen heroes.
Dunwoody is home to the only memorial in the United States created as a partnership between the American and South Vietnamese soldiers who fought alongside one another, as well as Vietnamese refuges living in the United States.
“It is still ongoing,” she said. “We anticipate closing the remaining parcels shortly and then completing the acquisition this year.”
Forecasting the timeline of intersection improvements, Hirose said utility relocations should wrap up in summer 2026 and construction crews may be given a notice to proceed at the end of 2025.
Georgia Power has nearly a two-year timeline for utility relocation, beginning late 2024.
City Councilman Joe Seconder asked Hirose for more timelines of city projects to get clarity on how long design, right-ofway, utility relocation and construction will take.
“I’m going to try to nudge, as possible, other projects,” Seconder said. “If it’s merely just a funding issue, I’d say come to Council because we have SPLOST funding in different buckets.”
Seconder said he really wants to see the project come to fruition and expressed his disappointment with delays.
Hirose responded, saying the process is just taking longer than it used too.
“It’s not just here locally, it’s across the board everywhere,” she said. “That’s due to demand, it’s labor resources, materials and the acquisition process … utilities are a little bit outside of our control.”
South Vietnamese communities, the monument is entirely funded through private donations.
The themes of the two-hour dedication were remembrance, patriotism, unity and respect. Some of the most powerful moments, characterized by silence, were when the veterans saluted the life-sized bronze statues of two soldiers, one from the United States and the other from Vietnam.
The South Vietnamese and American soldiers, standing shoulder to shoulder with weapons drawn, honor those who could not make it to the Oct. 5 ceremony, nearly 50 years after the last U.S. Marine helicopter left Saigon.
Dunwoody Mayor Lynn Deutch and other city officials made it out the ceremony, soaking in the beautiful scenes of unity and respect between the brave men and women who made they day possible.
During the war, more than 300,000 Vietnamese and 58,000 Americans lost their lives.
Members of both communities emphasized the same sentiment throughout the ceremony: The monument exists to honor men and women from two very different cultures who made the ultimate sacrifice for freedom.
As a sign of how much the sacrifices mean to the American and
Tramy Nguyen, project director at the Vietnamese American Community of Georgia, put the ceremony in perspective.
“Most of our members were born in South Vietnam and came to America after the fall of Saigon, risking their lives to escape to America,” Nguyen said. “This memorial will serve as a reminder of the sacrifices of the past and the price of freedom.”
HAYDEN SUMLIN/APPEN MEDIA
Pictured left,
Durgin chats
Importance of skin checks for mature skin
Brought to you by - Dr. Kehinde Olumesi of Epiphany
Dermatology - Brookhaven
As skin matures, it undergoes various changes that necessitate regular skin checks to ensure overall skin health. Differentiating between age spots, healthy moles and potential skin cancers is crucial. Age spots, often appearing as flat, brown, or black spots on sun-exposed areas, are generally harmless but can be mistaken for more serious conditions. Early detection of skin cancer, including melanoma, basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma, significantly increases the chances of successful treatment. Therefore, routine skin examinations are essential for mature skin to maintain health and catch any issues early.
Addressing skin conditions and rejuvenation procedures
Dermatologists can assist with a
variety of skin conditions and rejuvenation procedures for mature skin. Common issues such as dryness, age-related pigmentation and conditions like rosacea, psoriasis and eczema, which can persist or develop with age, are also addressed with specialized care plans.
In addition to treating conditions, dermatologists offer rejuvenating procedures to enhance the appearance and health of mature skin. Treatments such as chemical peels, laser rejuvenation and injectable treatments like BOTOX® Cosmetic and dermal fillers can reduce the appearance of wrinkles, improve skin texture and promote collagen production. These procedures not only rejuvenate the skin but also boost confidence and overall well-being. Establishing a relationship with a dermatologist ensures that your skin receives comprehensive care tailored to its evolving needs, promoting long-term skin health and vitality.
Personalized breast care close to home at Wellstar North Fulton
Brought to you by - Dr. Laura Pearson, breast surgeon at Wellstar
I have never met a woman who enjoyed getting mammograms, including myself. They can be uncomfortable, awkward and anxietyprovoking—especially if you have had scares in the past or are at high risk for getting breast cancer.
There are so many additional resources for risk reduction and surveillance available that go hand-inhand with mammograms. At Wellstar, reducing your risk and screening for cancer starts with a physical from your primary care doctor.
If you are at average risk of developing breast cancer, you should begin annual screening mammograms at age 40. If you have a family history or other risk factors, your doctor may recommend earlier or more frequent screening. If
something is detected on a mammogram, the Wellstar Comprehensive Breast Health Program has nurse navigators who will help arrange diagnostic imaging, biopsy procedures and referrals to breast specialists. If you are diagnosed with cancer, the compassionate and oncologytrained nurse navigators with Wellstar Cancer Care walk patients through diagnosis, evaluation, treatment and beyond.
If you’re diagnosed with breast cancer, your treatment and care will transition from our Comprehensive Breast Health Program to the Wellstar Cancer Care team. In Wellstar STAT Clinics, which stands for Specialty Teams and Treatment, we put you at the center of your care plan. In our STAT Clinic for Breast Cancer, the care team, including breast oncology nurse navigators, surgeons, medical and radiation oncologists, nutritionists and genetic counselors, will meet with you and your support system on the same day to formulate a treatment plan personalized to your specific cancer, as well as your
personal and cultural needs. Patients can ask questions, make decisions and start treatment sooner, improving outcomes.
Many times, surgical intervention can be done as an outpatient procedure. We can also offer some people intraoperative radiation therapy, or IORT—the option of doing their radiation treatment in the operating room at the same time as their lumpectomy, meaning they are able to avoid four to six weeks of radiation treatments. Any other interventions, such as chemotherapy or radiation, including our CyberKnife for treatments like targeted partial breast radiation therapy, are found in the cancer center on Wellstar North Fulton’s medical campus. We have physical therapists, social workers and palliative care specialists who are there for you if the need arises.
Your Wellstar care team can also help you reduce your risk of developing breast cancer. Being overweight or obese or being a smoker can increase your risk. Patients at Wellstar have access to our Center for Best Health to assist in weight management. We also have smoking
cessation programs and dietitians waiting to help you make healthier choices that can positively impact your health.
Wellstar provides more than healthcare, PeopleCare—working relentlessly to exceed national standards and our patients’ expectations while remembering the humanity of every patient. We are here for all the situations and stages of our patients’ lives by offering the tools and resources to be healthy and thrive. Wellstar clinicians live in the communities we serve. We must get physicals, mammograms and biopsies. We need help being our healthiest selves. We get sick and have family members who need compassionate care. PeopleCare means offering our patients world-class healthcare in the communities where they live and work.
Your care team can put your mammogram order in Wellstar MyChart to book online, or you can schedule by calling (678) 581-5900. Visit wellstar.org/ northfultoncancercare to learn more about cancer care at Wellstar North Fulton.
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Developer looks to anchor Medley with boutique hotel
By AMBER PERRY amber@appenmedia.com
JOHNS CREEK, Ga. — A boutique hotel may be the centerpiece of Medley, the anticipated 42-acre mixed-use development that is one facet of the Johns Creek Town Center project.
The new proposal discards original plans for a two-story entertainment space and adds a hotel featuring up to 175 rooms, 8,000 square feet of meeting space and a restaurant.
The rest of the Toro Development project is filling out. Restaurants like 26 Thai Kitchen, Ford Fry’s Little Rey and Fadó Irish Pub are part of a slate leasing agreements for Medley.
“We’ve signed probably almost 25 retail leases, one of which is with a boutique grocer who shall remain unnamed, but I’ll allow anybody to speculate,” Developer Mark Toro told the Johns Creek Planning Commission Oct. 1. “It’s interesting, the NDAs (nondisclosure agreements) that we sign with retailers…”
The Planning Commission unanimously approved Toro Development’s hotel pitch, which will now go before the City Council for a vote at a future meeting.
Approval includes a special use permit that would allow the hotel to stand six stories, or 75 feet, on the sides and in the rear. The facade, facing Medley’s central plaza, would meet the zoning district’s four-story, or 60-foot, height requirement.
Toro offered the success of the Hotel at Avalon with the Planning Commission as a rationale for the move.
“The hotel, specifically, has been a resounding success, and has injected new heads in beds every night and brought new energy to the property,” said Toro, who led the development of the Alpharetta crown jewel less than 10 miles away under North Atlanta Properties. He co-founded and led the Atlanta office.
New hotels cropped up in Alpharetta after Avalon’s opened.
In July, though, investment firm Peachtree Group bought the 119-unit Hamilton Hotel in downtown Alpharetta after foreclosure for a price of $41.9 million. The hotel opened in 2021.
Toro also spoke of the privatepublic partnership between the City of Alpharetta and Avalon owner North American Properties. He said the city wanted the Alpharetta Conference Center because of a lack of options in the area.
“In fact, at the time, the Greater North Fulton Chamber of Commerce had to go to Buckhead for their gala because there was no other place to be,” Toro
A rendering of the proposed Hotel at Medley shows a four-story facade facing a central plaza. A special use permit, approved alongside a rezoning, would allow the sides and rear of the building to stand at six stories.
AMBER PERRY/APPEN MEDIA
Mark Toro, the developer who spearheaded Avalon, pitches an update in plans for the 42-acre mixed-use development Medley at the Oct. 1 Johns Creek Planning Commission meeting. His proposal, unanimously approved that night, replaces an originally planned two-story entertainment space with a boutique hotel featuring up to 175 rooms, 8,000 square feet of meeting space and a restaurant.
said.
In 2016, the City of Alpharetta approved an agreement with the Alpharetta Development Authority to issue $26 million in revenue bonds to fund construction of the 44,000-squarefoot conference center, connected to the Hotel at Avalon.
Alpharetta Assistant City Administrator James Drinkard said the city gets two free uses of the conference
center annually, excluding catering or A/V costs.
Drinkard also said the city’s bond debt for the project is cushioned by the 1 percent increase in hotel/motel tax, approved at the time. A portion of that tax also goes to the Alpharetta Convention and Visitors Bureau, which funds a $500,000 annual marketing expense related to the conference center.
Toro said the company is in the
process of interviewing nine operators, adept at managing hotels of the proposed size.
But, he told Appen Media the hotel’s brand is unknown at this point. He is encouraging people to help with the selection process. Pending approval by the City Council, Toro said the company will create an Instagram post and ask people to chime in.
Some members of the Planning Commission questioned how the update might impact the Fire Department.
Commissioner Vicki Horton emphasized the major shift from an entertainment space to an asset where people stay overnight.
“I’m not just talking the equipment, I’m talking the ability to effectively protect and serve that asset and the people in it,” Horton said, riding a question about whether the Fire Department had the appropriate apparatus to handle the proposed building size.
Planning and Zoning Manager Ruchi Agarwal said every rezoning and special use permit goes to the Fire Department. She added that the fire marshal reviewed the plan, and that the accessibility of the property hasn’t changed, a typical focus.
Many Planning Commission members voiced their excitement about the hotel, including Chris Jackson.
“...Avalon was one of these things where it became, ‘If we build it, they will come,’” Jackson said. “I think the same thing is going to happen here.”
TORO DEVELOPMENT/PROVIDED
& ENTERTAINMENT
Dunwoody arts, culture month kicks off with programming
DUNWOODY, Ga. — Dunwoody is holding its annual month-long celebration of creative installations, events and organizations that enrich the community.
The city recognizes Dunwoody Arts & Culture Month in October in conjunction with the national observance.
The city says it’s looking to highlight cultural partners and raise Dunwoody’s profile in the region.
Mayor Lynn Deutsch said there’s enough gathering and activities to celebrate local culture every day of the month.
“From public art to theater to music and more, our calendar of events is filled with fun and fulfilling opportunities for those who live, work and play in Dunwoody,” Deutsch said.
The city and its destination marketing organization, Discover Dunwoody, partnered with local nonprofits to put on the month-long celebration. Partners include Create Dunwoody, the Spruill Center for the Arts, Stage Door Theatre, Dunwoody Preservation Trust, Dunwoody Fine Arts Association and the Dunwoody Woman’s Club.
Art events are also featured at Perimeter Mall, Ashford Lane, Park Place, the Village and High Street.
Murals at Brook Run Park
All month, Dunwoody Parks and Recreation will showcase Black History Month and Women's History Month murals at Brook Run Skate Park. The original designs feature works from local artists, including Dunwoody High School students. The city says October is a great time to explore other public art installations. To see a map, visit dunwoodyga.gov/ government/arts-and-culture/findpublic-art.
The Mousetrap at Stage Door Theatre
Stage Door Theatre presents Agatha Christie’s “The Mousetrap,” running Thursday through Sunday , Oct. 12 to 27. The classic Agatha Christie whodunit mixes thrilling intrigue, a dash of English silliness and plenty of surprising twists into a not-to-miss show. Tickets range from $15 to $28 and can be purchased at stagedoortheatrega.org/themousetrap/.
Diwali in Dunwoody
Create Dunwoody, the Dunwoody Nature Center and Stage Door
CITY OF DUNWOODY/PROVIDED Dunwoody officials celebrate the unveiling of the “Good Vibes” mural at Dunwoody Village last August. October is Dunwoody Arts & Culture Month, and the city has a host of activities on the books through Halloween.
Theatre will present “The Story of Diwali — A Forest Walk” with four shows on Oct. 17 and 18. Guests are invited to an immersive story that embraces good over evil and light over darkness, while walking through a hidden oasis in Dunwoody. Tickets are $20. In addition, Create Dunwoody and the Spruill Center for the Arts will host the Rangoli & Diya Workshop on Oct. 18. Participants will learn how to make rangoli — an art form used to welcome prosperity — and create and decorate a clay lamp. Tickets are $20. To register for either event, visit eventbrite.com/o/ create-dunwoody-70112394133.
Spirits for Spruill
The Spruill Center for the Arts will unveil its fifth annual AMPLIFY mural installation Oct. 26 at the Spruill Gallery. Selected from applicants nationwide, this year's winning artist will reveal the design to attendees at the Spirits for Spruill event.
AMPLIFY murals have become beloved Dunwoody landmarks due to their high caliber of artistry and visibility on the Spruill Smoke House wall at the intersection of Ashford Dunwoody Road and Meadow Lane.
This year’s theme is “Taqueria & Tequila,” featuring a high-end tequila tasting, catering from Chupito’s Azteca Grille and live blues rock from the BFG band from 4-7 p.m.
Tickets to Spirits for Spruill and the AMPLIFY unveiling are $45 and can be purchased at spruillarts.org/ spirits/.
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& ENTERTAINMENT
Alpharetta photo exhibit reveals miniature worlds
By JON WILCOX jon@appenmedia.com
ALPHARETTA, Ga. — There’s another world hiding in plain sight on the miniature scale, photographer Elena Sullivan says.
“It’s very interesting to show tiny things to the big world,” said Sullivan, who lives in Alpharetta. “Sometimes people don’t notice when we are running around, rushing to work or rushing home. It’s easy to miss all that beauty. That’s what mesmerizes me.”
Sullivan’s exhibit, “Refreshing Whispers of Bloom,” is on display at the Alpharetta Branch Library, 10 Park Plaza, through Oct. 20. Her collection of 15 fine art photos captures the smallest details of flowers through a macro lens, revealing miniscule details like dew drops and petals.
Sullivan began her foray into macro photography in 2019 while living in Cancun, Mexico. While sitting in the garden of her home drinking coffee, she noticed a speck of rain sitting on a blooming rose.
Eager to see the detail on a larger scale, she leapt into action, capturing the image on her Nikon.
“I guess coffee is inspirational,” she said, laughing.
That photo led Sullivan on a creative journey in macro photography.
One photo in her exhibit shows brown veins forming geometric patterns on the underside of a leaf. Another, titled “The Daisy Echo,” features a drop of water resting on one daisy reflecting another.
A photo she took outside her Alpharetta home, again while drinking coffee, focuses on a droplet that almost seems to include another universe inside.
“(The photos) explore the tiny details of the world,” she said. “You have to learn to notice things you wouldn’t notice in your daily life.”
Sullivan began her professional career in photography taking commercial photos of weddings, marriage proposals and other family events. But with a master’s degree in art and culture from St. Petersburg University, she always knew she wanted to be creative with her camera.
Born in Sevastopol when the city was a part of the USSR, she said she was lucky to be raised by parents who fostered creativity in her early years.
Although neither parent was an artist, they cherished imagination in everyday tasks, like sewing the family’s clothes or photographing
their moments together. Her father developed those photos in the bathroom of her family’s small apartment.
In her family, creativity was a mindset.
During the early years of her career, Sullivan found herself enriched by her work in exotic places.
In Cancun, she fell in love with the area’s colorful homes and friendly, open-minded locals. There, she did underwater photography, working on a project for television producer Christina Cindrich that let her swim with whale sharks.
“When you find yourself underwater and looking at this enormous, enormous creature, it is really peaceful,” she said.
It was a little daunting at first, being so close to a creature the size of a small house, she said.
When Sullivan moved to Alpharetta to live with her husband, she decided it was time to pursue art seriously.
For her next artistic project, Sullivan is exploring the abstract shapes found in water. As with her macro photography, she is finding entire worlds hidden inside moisture.
For example, a recent photograph she took of an LED reflection reveals what looks like a galaxy.
“That’s what I hope to ignite in people, a lost sense of curiosity,” she said. “Even in the ordinary, you can see something extraordinary if you stop, slow down and pay attention.”
Elena Sullivan is an Alpharetta photographer whose works are exhibited at the Alpharetta Branch Library. Sullivan used a macro lens to capture tiny details on flowers and plants.
PHOTOS BY: ELENA SULLIVAN/PROVIDED
“The Daisy Echo,” by Elena Sullivan, captures a reflection of another flower in a dew drop resting on a daisy’s petals. The photo is one of 15 macro photographs in her exhibit.
Elena Sullivan took underwater photos of whale sharks off the coast of Cancun, Mexico, for a project for television producer Christina Cindrich. Sullivan said swimming near the gentle giant animals was a mind-opening experience.
“Peaceful Bloom,” by Elena Sullivan, shows miniscule water droplets resting on a flower. Sullivan said she wants her photos to reveal hidden beauties to her audience.
ProPublica editor shares reporting on deaths amid state abortion law
By AMBER PERRY amber@appenmedia.com
Editor’s note: Appen Media Group owns and operates The Georgia Politics Podcast, and when ProPublica turns its attention to Georgia, it catches our eye.
NORTH METRO ATLANTA — Citing medical experts, ProPublica recently reported that the death of two Georgia women who had sought abortion treatment, were preventable.
Amber Nicole Thurman and Candi Miller, both Black, are the subject of recent reporting from ProPublica in a series entitled “Life of the Mother: How Abortion Bans Lead to Preventable Deaths.”
ProPublica is a nonprofit national newsroom that focuses on public interest and investigative reporting, exposing harm and bringing accountability as well as solutions.
ProPublica Senior Editor Ziva Branstetter joined Appen Media Group Senior Reporter Amber Perry on an episode of the Georgia Politics Podcast Sept. 27, sharing with listeners the details of reporter Kavitha Surana’s yearlong effort to bring Thurman’s case to light. Not long after the episode aired, local media and national outlets reported that Fulton County Superior Court Judge Robert McBurney struck down the law. In its coverage of the Sept. 30 decision, The Guardian cited ProPublica’s reporting.
ZIVA BRANSTETTER/PROVIDED
Ziva Branstetter
The order comes after the state Supreme Court reversed a 2022 ruling from McBurney, according to local media. McBurney had said the law had been passed illegally, since Roe v. Wade was in effect at the time.
Gov. Brian Kemp signed the LIFE Act in 2019, though it did not go into effect until July 2022.
After deciding to end her pregnancy in summer 2022, Thurman traveled to a North Carolina clinic to receive a surgical abortion but was instead
Top update: Local and national outlets reported Sept. 30 that a Fulton County Superior Court judge struck down Georgia’s six-week abortion ban, allowing the procedure at up to around 22 weeks of pregnancy. The Guardian cited ProPublica’s reporting in its coverage of the new decision.
offered a two-pill abortion regimen. That July, Georgia’s six-week abortion ban had gone into effect. Thurman’s pregnancy had advanced to the ninth week.
Thurman developed complications from the abortion pills, a rarity, and sought urgent treatment at Piedmont Henry Hospital in Stockbridge in mid-August. Through a time-stamped account of Thurman’s visit, ProPublica revealed a delay in a procedure that could have saved Thurman’s life, called a D&C, or dilation and curettage.
Branstetter, working closely with Surana and contributing reporters, said the team’s entry into Thurman’s story began with a review of public
death certificate data.
Branstetter said around 30 cases were identified that had the hallmarks of potentially preventable deaths, with insights from forensic pathologists, maternal fetal medicine specialists and gynecologists who advised the team what they should be looking for.
Key words were sepsis alongside “retained products of conception,” relevant to both Thurman’s and Miller’s cases, as well as miscarriage and a general lack of options.
“We’re not trying to attack doctors or hospitals,” Branstetter said. “We’re just trying to examine ways that these bans are resulting in deaths, and perhaps some solutions can come out of this, some more clear directives.”
Doctors and nurses involved in Thurman’s cases did not respond to questions from ProPublica.
“Doctors have said these bans are going to cause confusion and fear, and these exceptions are not going to be enough to prevent people from being harmed and possibly dying,” Branstetter said.
To listen to the episode, visit appenmedia.com/podcasts/ thegeorgiapoliticspodcast.
U of Wisconsin graduate joins Appen newsroom
ALPHARETTA, Ga – Appen Media Group announced Sept. 30 that Annabelle Reiter will join its staff as a reporter. Annabelle will cover sports, local government and business in the North Fulton area. She will report to Carl Appen, director of content and development, and she
will be based in Alpharetta. Reiter grew up in Waunakee, Wisconsin, a suburb of Madison, and graduated in May with a degree in communications from the University of Wisconsin. During her time at UW, she took courses in political rhetoric, mass communications, and sports media, and worked as a policy intern in Gov. Tony Evers’ office.
“I’m extremely excited to be joining the team at Appen Media,” Reiter said. “I’m passionate about the human experience, I love culture and connecting people through storytelling, I’m very fortunate to be able to have a place to do so in the newsroom at Appen Media.”
To contact Reiter with news tips or story ideas, email annabelle@appenmedia.com
Breaking news coverage leads to record month for Decaturish
DECATUR, Ga. — Decaturish reached a new milestone in September, recording 419,000 page views, the most of any month in 2024.
Breaking news about Hurricane Helene and a chemical plant fire in Rockdale County drove the increase in page views. Decaturish also saw the most unique visitors of the year, bringing in 245,000 readers.
Editor and founder Dan Whisenhunt attributed the increase to the recent purchase of Decaturish by Appen Media Group. The acquisition included turning over many time-consuming
operational tasks to Appen, allowing Decaturish to focus its efforts on telling the untold stories of our community.
“Having more time on my hands means more time I can spend editing and writing stories for Decaturish, creating more value for our audience,” he said.
“We are thrilled to see this amount of growth so soon after bringing on the Decaturish team,” said Publisher Hans Appen. “It is a testament to how much the Decatur area relies on Dan and his team to keep them informed on issues most important to them, like their safety.”
Most viewed stories Sept. 1–Sept. 30
• Current path of Hurricane Helene runs through Georgia - 64,000 views
• Smoke from chemical plant fire clears in DeKalb, faint chlorine smell remains - 21,500 views
• Power outages, damage reported in DeKalb County as Hurricane Helene rolls in - 15,533 views
• DeKalb Schools: superintendent ‘swiftly’ addressed purchases charged to former employer - 14,032 views
• Atlanta, DeKalb public schools will be closed Thursday, Friday due to severe weather - 13,644 views
• Speed cameras in Decatur to begin operating in October - 10,963 views
• Report: Trader Joe’s has its eye on Baby Kroger space - 10,431 views
Sandy Springs teams with East Point to save elementary schools
By HAYDEN SUMLIN hayden@appenmedia.com
SANDY SPRINGS, Ga. — Sandy Springs Mayor Rusty Paul announced the city is allying with East Point to keep local elementary schools from closing.
The Sandy Springs region of Fulton County Schools is beginning the redistricting process for all elementary schools after it recommended closure of Spalding Drive Elementary School.
“Round One” of community meetings began Oct. 7 at Riverwood International Charter School, one of the city’s two public high schools.
In North Fulton County fashion, the community and its leaders have rallied around saving the historic and high-performing PreK-5 school, forming a committee, hiring consultants and making their voices heard.
Speaking at the Oct. 1 Sandy Springs City Council meeting, Paul said he has been in contact with East Point Mayor Deanna Holiday Ingram, who also faces the closure of Parklane Elementary in the city.
The two mayors have worked on a few projects together, he said.
The Sandy Springs and South Fulton regions both face a redistricting of all elementary schools, triggered by the recommendation to close the two buildings.
Declining enrollment and outdated facilities have prompted Fulton County Schools staff to suggest closing the schools.
Spalding Drive Elementary parents say there must be a way to keep the school community together, like expanding open enrollment, clearing the waitlist and investing in schools with high academic achievement.
“We have agreed that we will work together to try and save both schools,” Paul said. “They’re very important to both of our communities, and we both agree that having us working together … as one voice in dealing with the ramifications of this would be much stronger than just each of us operating alone.”
The mayor said he’s excited about the opportunity to unite North and South Fulton to make the case for both elementary schools to stick around.
Trail network
In other matters Oct. 1, Paul gave a shoutout to the Sandy Springs Conservancy for its gathering at Morgan
Falls Overlook Park, showing off the city’s Springway trail network and the boardwalk over Orkin Lake.
At his Sept. 17 State of the City address, the mayor cited Sandy Springs’ multi-use trail network as one of the priorities during his run for a fourth term.
During public comment at the meeting, elected officials heard from an upset resident of the Ashton City Springs apartment complex across Blue Stone Road from City Hall.
She spoke about her experience Sept. 27-28 during the second annual Blue Stone Arts & Music Festival.
The two-day festival, which city officials said had great turnout, had bands playing from 10 a.m.-10 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 28.
The resident said the noise from the festival was overbearing for Ashton residents, and it took her 30 minutes to travel a couple city blocks to Roswell Road (Ga. 9).
She asked for more consideration of nearby residents for upcoming events, like
OktoberFEAST Oct. 19-20, also on the City Green off Galambos Way.
Mayor Paul asked the resident to put her suggestions in writing for city staff to look at mitigating the effects of music festivals at City Springs.
Solemn anniversary
In other business, the mayor took a serious tone with a proclamation recognizing the first anniversary of the Oct. 7 Hamas attacks on Israeli civilians.
The state’s Economic Development Department says Georgia and Israel have two sister-city agreements. One is between Atlanta and Ra’anana, and the other is between Sandy Springs and Western Galilee.
This past summer, Paul traveled with other American mayors to Israel for a 10-day visit. The mayor recounted his experiences July 8 to a group of residents.
“I think everybody will recall that a year ago we had slightly over 10,000 people on this campus right after the Oct. 7 event in Israel that touched off what is
now a year-long war in the Mid East,” Paul said. “And it got worse today.”
Earlier in the day, international media outlets reported an escalation in the regional war between the State of Israel and the Islamic Republic of Iran.
Iran launched its largest attack on Israel in its history early Oct. 1 with some 180 ballistic missiles intercepted by defense systems. As of Oct. 2, one casualty from the strikes has been reported.
“Sandy Springs recognizes the urgent need to act against antisemitism in [the city] and across the country, as well as the importance of promoting peace, understanding and resilience in the face of such brutality,” Paul said. “I … do hereby proclaim Oct. 7, 2024, as a day of remembrance and encourage all citizens to honor the memories of those lives who were taken too soon.”
To sign-up for the Oct. 7 commemoration in Sandy Springs, visit jewishatlanta.org/event/one-yearcommemoration-of-the-october-7massacre-in-israel/.
HAYDEN SUMLIN/APPEN MEDIA
Sandy Springs Mayor Rusty Paul reads a proclamation recognizing Oct. 7, 2024, as a day of remembrance for the victims of the Hamas terrorist attacks on Israel. A one-year commemoration was scheduled for Sandy Springs Oct. 7.
OPINION
PRESERVING THE PAST
Fouts Road where some important history began
It is common to find roads in North Fulton named for the families who first settled on the land where the roads were built.
Fouts Road in Roswell is a prime example. At least five generations of Fouts have lived on the road over the past 100 years. At one point, everyone who lived on the road were Fouts.
When Hans Michael Pfautz came to America with his family of five in 1727, immigration officials Americanized their name. This was common practice when immigrants had names officials found difficult to pronounce or spell. The newcomers settled in Pennsylvania near the Susquehanna River. At some point, date unknown, Hans’ son Jacob or grandson Michael moved to North Carolina.
Research suggests that the first of the Fouts to settle in Georgia, no doubt drawn by stories of rich, cheap land, was Jacob’s great, great grandson John Fouts, born in 1813. He settled in Dawson County and married in 1844. Like most early settlers, the first Fouts in Georgia were farmers.
At some point in the family’s history, one of the Fouts settled on what became Fouts Road in today’s city of Roswell off Holcomb Bridge Road. At the time the road was in the unincorporated Newtown settlement. Today, East Roswell Park sits on the family’s old home place.
Gene Fouts, a descendant of John, was born in 1933 and raised on Fouts Road. His wife Carolyn Lawson was born in Atlanta in 1936 and as a young girl moved to within sight of the Newtown school which both attended. The couple recently celebrated their 70th wedding anniversary.
The Newtown School was built in 1929 in today’s Johns Creek on Old Alabama Road. The school was a four-room H-shaped building with a central assembly room, potbellied stoves and outdoor privies. It replaced four separate one-room schoolhouses in what was then Milton County, thanks to the Barrett-Rogers Act of 1919 which sought to rid Georgia of its multitude of inefficient one-room schools. The government provided $100,000 to help rural school districts fund consolidation of
ROSWELL HISTORICAL SOCIETY/PROVIDED
The original Newtown School as it appeared when built in 1929. The school closed in 1980 and was allowed to deteriorate. It was restored and preserved thanks to a community effort. Today the building is an adult center.
BOB MEYERS/APPEN MEDIA
The historic Newtown School building as it is today. The original school was built in 1929. It has been restored and preserved and is today the Park Place at Newtown School Adult Center. It is on the National Register of Historic Places.
the state’s many small rural schools into more efficient larger buildings. It was the last school built in Milton County before its 1931 merger into Fulton County.
The school closed in 1980 and fell into disrepair. Thanks to community efforts the old schoolhouse was restored and preserved. Today it is the Park Place at Newtown School Adult Center. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2006.
Gene recalls looking out the window of a school bus one afternoon in 1948 when he noticed a beautiful girl riding her bicycle to school. He turned to a friend and said, “I am going to marry that girl one day.” Gene was 15 and Carolyn was 12.
FAMILY/PROVIDED
Gene and Carolyn Fouts at their wedding in 1954.
Five years later they were married. Gene was one of nine children, eight boys and one girl, all born on Fouts Road. He and his younger brother Mark are the only ones still living.
Gene says “I was born in a threebedroom house. Fortunately, we did not all live there at the same time, so space was not a problem. We kids did have to share bedrooms. In 1940 my sister and oldest brother graduated from Milton High School and moved out.”
Gene played on the first football team at Milton High School in the 1950s. He had to leave the team due to a heart murmur. This was devastating for Gene who desperately wanted to play. Sometimes he and
FAMILY/PROVIDED
Gene Fouts, age 10, is standing on the back of the family mule which was used for pulling plows and wagons, photo taken in 1943. Children using work animals for fun was common practice on farms.
Mark would stay after practice so long that they missed the school bus and had to walk 7 miles to their home.
Carolyn’s family attended the Pleasant Hill Baptist Church in Newtown. Gene became an active member as well. He has served as a deacon for 68 years, including several terms as chairman. Carolyn has played the piano or organ for the church for 75 years. She is very artistic and has made hundreds of crocheted blankets and afghans for family and friends. She starts making Christmas decorations in May, according to their son Gary. Carolyn retired from Fulton Concrete. Gene worked for Chevron for 33 years.
The couple has been active in the Alpharetta and Old Milton County Historical Society. Gene was president at one point.
Thanks to Gene, Carolyn and Gary Fouts for their help with this column.
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.
BOB MEYERS
Columnist
Deadly Helene gives Georgians the opportunity to shine
Helene was horrible. She was devastating. She was a deadly killer hurricane that didn’t fight fair.
Here in north Georgia, we’re not accustomed to such ferociousness in a storm. It rained and rained and rained in our area. Twelve inches in a Wednesday through Friday stretch.
We never lost power, and there was minimal wind damage. While we were spared much of the storm’s wrath, there were others who lost their homes, their businesses and their lives.
It was an example of others being hopeless, having been dealt a hand so tragic. We’ve all seen the video footage of towns, whole towns, completely washed away.
The natural reaction to this is to feel
sorry for those who have been affected. When we see a natural disaster halfway across the world, it is easy to empathize but much tougher to take action to help. Maybe a mention about it on Sunday from the pulpit, a plea for help, a second collection perhaps and the whole matter is shelved from our minds.
Maybe it’s a Southern thing, or perhaps it’s a North Georgia thing, but when the chips are down and there’s a call for help, by golly, a sense of community emerges that is so gratifying that, well, you just have to write about it.
Neighbors Josh and Alethea Jacobs posted a Facebook message that they were heading to Baxley, Georgia, to help. The Jacobs couple were probably envisioning a pickup truck load of what was needed. The community was looking at two to three weeks without power.
What happened was such an outpouring of generosity that the subsequent message was: “We have
had such an amazing response from our Forsyth community! We have had several people donate much needed items, and we have been able to purchase so many items thru $ donations that now we are in need of a trailer for the day!”
The lines to get any type of assistance and sustenance were massive. Think of trying to get in for a concert and prepared to be treated to music. Then think about standing in such a line to get food for your family, drinking water and any other essentials.
These were folks who never would have thought about asking for a handout until the deluge.
Then think about how proud the Jacobs made you feel as they pulled that trailer to Baxley.
Ditto for the Knights of Columbus from Christ the Redeemer parish in Dawsonville. Grand Knight Larry Suarez fielded a call from a Knights group in Vidalia. No water. No means of
getting water. Suarez was the organizer and commissioned two Knights, Ike Pankhurst and Tony Roberti, to drive a truck ladened with nearly 6,000 bottles of water to Vidalia.
There’s enough going on that would warrant a tumultuous case of the blues. War in the Middle East, a dock workers strike (talk about a Titanic-sized case of bad timing), chemical clouds befouling our air are crises we can do nothing about.
Thank heavens for all the folks doing more than merely wishing they could help.
It makes worrying about whether the Braves would survive the trip to San Diego rather inconsequential and unimportant.
Mike Tasos has lived in Forsyth County for more than 30 years. He’s an American by birth and considers himself a Southerner by the grace of God. He can be reached at miketasos55@gmail.com.
From New York to points all over the world
This week’s reads were, of course, mysteries, as I rarely read any other genre. In both, the protagonist embarks on a search, though one is seeking a missing author while the other is searching for a lost painting. Both start in New York City before the clues lead them to another locale.
“My Favorite Terrible Things”
by Madeleine Henry
This is a new-to-me author, and I’m delighted to have discovered her. That this novel came out in May 2024 and has garnered 7,000+ reviews speaks volumes about what an intriguing tale the author weaves. Her first two books eked out just over 100 reviews each. She’s made her mark with this one.
Publishers Weekly had this to say: “[A] cunning debut thriller…Just as Henry seems to be leading readers down one path, she veers in a wholly unexpected direction, delivering a welcome jolt to an already effective mystery. Sharp observations on toxic fan culture and a basketful of literary easter eggs are icing on the cake. This delivers.”
Private investigator Nina Travers is hired to find Claire Ross, a bestselling author who disappeared on her wedding day months ago. The police have no clue what happened to her or whether she’s even alive. It’s Claire’s mother who hires Nina, and Nina hopes to make a name for herself with this case.
I was kept guessing all the way to the very end, with every revelation coming as a shock, not as something I anticipated. If you’re seeking a novel to keep you turning the pages, this is the book for you. And, if, like me, you
like books about authors and their creativity, you won’t want to miss this one.
“The Lost Van Gogh” by Jonthan Santlofe r
I had never heard of this author until I read a review of this book that came out in January 2024. When I figured out this was the second art mystery with Luke Perrone as the main character, I chose to start with the 2021 book,“The Last Mona Lisa,” which I wrote about earlier this year.
Both books move back and forth in time. Both involve stolen art. Set primarily in modern times with Luke as an artist and university art professor, this one shifts to Paris during WW II, when the Nazis are leaving with as much artwork as they can, artwork, of course, taken from the Jewish population.
Not only did I find the mystery of the missing Van Gogh portrait
intriguing, I was also fascinated by the details about the artist’s life. The action moves from New York City to Amsterdam and France, offering an international adventure. As did the first book, this one has a romantic subplot. All in all, it was a thoroughly enjoyable read, and I always consider it a bonus when I learn something along the way. If you are intrigued by mysteries involving art, you may want to check out Santlofer’s back list. Most of his previous novels concern art, be they series or standalones.
Happy reading.
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/.
MIKE TASOS Columnist
THE INK PENN
KATHY MANOS PENN Columnist
Jo Anne Green Marino In Memoriam
Jo Anne Green Marino (71), a longtime Dunwoody, GA resident, died peacefully October 1 from lung disease with family by her bedside.
A native of High Point, NC, Jo Anne was the first of three sisters born to Grace and Charles Green. Graduating in 1971 from Ledford High School in Thomasville, NC, Jo Anne excelled in her academic pursuit towards a career in athletics, earning a BA in Physical Education from Wake Forest University in 1975, and a master’s in education from Georgia State University in 1979.
Jo Anne was a teacher and basketball coach at Dunwoody High School in 1976, and Stone Mountain High School from 1976-1984. She coached 7th Grade Basketball at the Marist School in Atlanta, also serving as the Assistant to the Athletic Director. From 2002-2018, Jo Anne was the Assistant General Manager of the Suwanee Sports Academy in Suwanee, GA.
Understanding her passion for athleticism, Jo Anne enjoyed all-things sports, including snow skiing, hiking, exercising, and cheering on her home teams at every level, especially basketball and football. An excellent cook, she was happiest when gathered with friends or
family around good food and drink. Jo Anne’s travels took her from the tops of mountains to the sandy beaches she loved. She picked up gardening later in life and was very active in her neighborhood Bible Study.
Jo Anne was an FCA organizer, Treasurer of the Marist Booster Club, and a member of both “Wild Women,” and “Bad Girls” of Wake Forest,” as well as Kappa Kappa Gamma Sorority.
Preceded in death by her father, Charles William Green; Mother in Law, Shirley Mosher Marino; Father in Law, Alfred S. Marino; and Brother in Law, Albert Sink, Jr., Jo Anne is survived by her husband of 46 years, Richard V. Marino; sons Scott and Jeff (Kate) Marino; Mother Grace Beeson Green; sisters Becky Sink and Kathy Cline (Dickie); and Brother In Law Robert Marino (Rhonda).
A Celebration of Life Service will take place at 11AM Thursday, October 10th, at All Saints Catholic Church, 2443 Mt. Vernon Road, Dunwoody, GA. A reception will immediately follow in the church social hall.
The family welcomes contributions in Jo Anne’s name to The Next Stop Foundation, 4617 Midlands Green, Flowery Branch, GA 30542 (www.thenextstop.org).
In Memoriam
Bethann Larson
June 13, 1949 - June 25, 2024
Bethann Larson, age 75, of Roswell, Georgia, passed away peacefully at her home on June 25, 2024, from cancer. She is survived by her devoted husband, Jon, and her two loving daughters, Christina and Jennifer.
Additionally, she is survived by her son-in-laws, James Palmer and Isaac Wolf; her grandchildren, Avery and Colin Wolf; and her siblings, Marilyn Fox and John Gillette.
Born on June 13, 1949, in Detroit, Michigan, to Andrew and Beth Anderson Gillette, Bethann also spent part of her childhood living in Canada and in Switzerland, where she attended Ecolint, the International School of Geneva.
After graduating with an art degree from the University of Michigan, Bethann became one of the first women to work in architectural interior space planning at multiple design firms.
She and Jon, a lawyer, wed in England in 1975 and were married for 49 years.
Bethann shared her love of travel and art with her family - delighting in collecting antiques with Jon and in visiting Paris and art museums with her daughters. She enjoyed reading to her grandchildren. She lived in Georgia for more than 40 years, first in Dunwoody and then in Roswell.
Bethann took a keen interest in family history and genealogy and became a life member of the Daughters of the American Revolution’s Martha Stewart Bulloch Chapter in Roswell.
Bethann will be remembered for her boundless generosity, her passion for art and education, her devotion to family, and her enduring spirit of creativity and optimism.
A memorial service will be held on Saturday October 12 at 10am at St David’s Episcopal Church on 1015 Old Roswell Road.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Daughters of the American Revolution’s Martha Stewart Bulloch Chapter in Roswell.
In Memoriam
Patricia Redd
May 1, 1940 – September 27, 2024
Ms. Patricia Rhodes Redd, affectionately known as “Patsy,” passed away at the age of 84 in Dunwoody, GA. Born on May 1, 1940, in Athens, GA, attended Athens High School and graduated from the University of Georgia. For the past 47 years, Dunwoody was not just where she lived; it was where she built her life, surrounded by the warmth of her community and the many lives she touched. As a devoted member of Dunwoody Baptist Church, Patsy left an indelible mark on the hearts of those who knew her.
Patsy is survived by her loving
sons, Matthew Redd (Brandie) and Adam Redd (Kristen), her cherished grandchildren William (Miranda), Nicholas, Rhodes, Stella, Mallory, Sidney, Maia, and Naomi and her extended family Kathy (Mother of William and Nicholas) and Phyllis (Grandmother of William and Nicholas). She was preceded in death by her parents, William (“Bill”) and Ruth Rhodes, her stepfather Milton Applefield (“Apple”), and her son William Bradford Redd (“Will”).
Arrangements at www. crowellbrothers.com
SERVICE DIRECTORY
