Dunwoody Crier - October 13, 2022

Balance Salon owner reflects on her 25 years in community

By ALEXANDER POPP alex@appenmedia.com

DUNWOODY, Ga. — Not many can say they have both good and bad luck, nor mally it’s just one or the other.

But for longtime salon owner CJ Nicotera, every cloud has a silver lining, and with a little hard work, even the worst luck can be overcome.

For the past 25 years, Nicotera, who runs Balance Salon in Dunwoody, has battled every kind of bad luck, from the 2008 financial crisis and COVID-19 pandemic to roof collapses, but still she hasn’t lost her love of providing top ser vice to loyal clients.

“There’s something about her energy and her spirit,” said Lisa Rayner, a long time customer and friend. “She’s just such a vibrant, uplifting person I went, ‘This is what I need in my life.’ Then she turned out to be a great hairdresser as well.”

Nicotera got her start in the business in 1997, working with partners out of a house on Buford Highway in Atlanta. She said they were so broke and so new to the business, they cut hair with clients sitting in lawn chairs and saved every penny they could to get real equip ment and outfit the salon.

“So, I did that for 10 years,” Nicotera said. “It was Buford highway, but it’s the cheapest rent we could find. So, before studios were cool, we were cool.”

Nicotera and her partners would literally walk neighborhoods throughout the Metro Atlanta, putting flyers and postcards in mailboxes for the salon,

Balance Salon owner CJ Nicotera launched her career in 1997, cutting hair in a house on Buford Highway in At lanta, using lawn chairs for customers.

Eastbound commuters on I-285 are in for some serious delays as the Georgia DOT closes the two innermost lanes between Roswell Road and Ashford Dunwoody Road for bridge reconstruction. Westbound drivers will lose one travel lane in the coming week.

Ga. 400 interchange project will close lanes for months

By ALEXANDER POPP alex@appenmedia.com

ATLANTA — Drivers should expect major disruptions to daily commutes on I-285 due to long-term lane closures between Ashford Dunwoody Road and Roswell Road, the Georgia Department of Trans portation announced.

officials said drivers who frequent I-285 should prepare for the major delays the project will ultimately cause.

“The traveling public should expect major disruptions to their daily com mutes and driving routines during this time and should be prepared for

Top

earning the business of locals with hard work and sweat.

“That’s how we grew the company the first 10 years,” she said. “We would pound pavement and pound doors, and

Starting Saturday, Oct. 8, and lasting about 8 months, lanes of the interstate will be incrementally closed so that the I-285/Ga. 400 interchange reconstruc tion project can be completed, GDOT announced on Oct. 3.

With the scope of the project, state

Atlanta

Atlanta

BALANCE SALON/PROVIDED

CARL APPEN/APPEN

SUPPORT

City kicks off Arts & Culture Month

DUNWOODY, Ga. — Dunwoody Arts & Culture Month celebrates the rich art, culture and nature of the community with events for residents and visitors alike through October.

Discover Dunwoody, the city’s des tination marketing organization, will feature community partners and events on its website.

Here are some highlights:

• The Brook Run Skate Park murals return on Oct. 1. Original works from Dunwoody’s Black History Month and Women’s History Month displays will be on view along the perimeter fence until Oct. 31. Find artist bios at www.dun woodyga.gov/BRPmurals.

• Stage Door Theatre will open its 49th season of live theatre with the first musical since pre-pandemic times. “Or dinary Days” will run through Oct. 16.

• Spruill Center for the Arts will unveil AMPLIFY, the third annual public art installation project at Spruill Gallery, during the Spirits for Spruill fundraiser on Oct. 15.

Other community partners partici pating in Arts & Culture Month include Create Dunwoody, Dunwoody Nature Center, Dunwoody Woman’s Club and Dunwoody Homeowners Association.

METRO ATLANTA — If you’re looking for a spooky Halloween event to get in the mood for a night of trick or treating, look no further than these events with costumes, candy and music in Dunwoody and Sandy Springs.

Starting on Saturday, Oct. 22, the City of Sandy Springs will host Spooky Springs, a free trick-or-treat event at the

LOCAL

Abernathy Greenway Playable Art Park.

Spooky Springs will start at 5 p.m. and will feature candy stations, face painting, fog machines, a DJ, and food trucks.

Parking for the event will be at Sandy Springs Christian Church, 301 Johnson Ferry Road in Sandy Springs. There will be handicapped parking at the event and limited parking at Sandy Springs Chris

Halloween events coming to Dunwoody, Sandy Springs

tian Church. Residents of surrounding neighborhoods are strongly encouraged to walk to the event.

The Abernathy Greenway parking lot will close at 9 a.m. on Oct. 22 for event setup. Abernathy Greenway Park is at 70 Abernathy Road NW in Sandy Springs.

A second event will be hosted in Dunwoody’s Brook Run Park on Thurs day, Oct. 27 by the Dunwoody Parks and Recreation Department, Dunwoody Police Department and Dunwoody Homeowners Association.

“Truck or Treat” will run from 5 to 9 p.m. and will feature music from The Adrian Duke Project and police depart ment “treat trucks” for local kids.

“Every year, we look forward to col laborating on this family tradition with great food, music, costumes and treats,” Dunwoody Parks and Recreation Direc tor Brent Walker said. “It’s a fun way to gather as a community and kick off the weekend leading up to Halloween.”

Kids and families will also be issued clip-on, safety flashers by the Dunwoody Police Department.

JOURNALISM

CITY OF DUNWOODY/PROVIDED

A young skater stands next to a mural at Brook Run Skate Park in Dunwoody.

LOCAL

DUNWOODY, Ga. — Atlanta Area Council announced Oct. 4 that Blake Boettcher, of Dunwoody, earned the highest advancement award the Boy Scouts of America offers to Scouts, the Eagle Scout Award.

A member of BSA Troop 266 of the Hightower District, Boettcher is one of approximately 4 percent of all Scouts who achieve the Eagle Scout rank.

For his Eagle Scout project, Boettch er held a used baseball equipment drive to help Valley High School’s baseball team in Louisville, Kentucky. Turn Two for Youth is a nonprofit that connected Boettcher with the team. Their new coach was trying to revive the program, but the players live in a low-income

area and needed help with gear. Fellow Scouts helped with the drive on two Saturdays last November. Boettcher col lected 12 boxes full of uniforms, gloves, bats, cleats and more. As a thank you, the coach sent him a signed baseball and note from Kentucky native and Atlanta Braves player Adam Duvall, who wrote, “People like you change the world. Never give up on your dreams!”

Boettcher is a member of Dunwoody United Methodist Church and is active in the cross country team, Beta Club Honor Society, Mu Alpha Theta, the Science National Honor Society, and FCA at Dunwoody High School, where he is a Junior. He is the son of Jennifer and Matt Boettcher of Dunwoody.

Dunwoody High junior earns Eagle Scout rank Optimists slate ‘Kids’ Day in the Park’

SANDY SPRINGS, Ga. — The North Perimeter Optimist Club is partnering with the City of Sandy Springs Recre ation and Parks Department for the second annual “Optimist Kids’ Day in the Park.”

The event will feature carnival games, a magician, face painting, bicycle raffle, pumpkin decoration contest, pumpkin bowling, horseshoes and prizes. It will take place Saturday, Oct. 22, at the Morgan Falls Park ath letic fields at 450 Morgan Falls Place NE in Sandy Springs.

The family-friendly event is de signed for ages 5 and up. Children must be accompanied by an adult. The North Perimeter Optimist Club has

been working to support the mission of Optimist International by bringing out the best in the Sandy Springs and north perimeter communities for over 35 years.

Other programs and services the club is involved in are the annual Easter egg hunt, Dinosaur Egg Hunt for children with disabilities, World Oratorical Championships, Youth Appreciation events, Respect for Law appreciation program, laptop com puter repurposing program and family Christmas program.

Founded in 1919, Optimist In ternational is a service organiza tion serving youth and communities around the globe. It has nearly 70,000

adult and youth members in more than 2,500 clubs in the United States, Canada, the Caribbean and Mexico.

To learn more about what the North Perimeter is doing, call 404406-7330 or email Nick Prillaman at hnickp@bellsouth.net. For more infor mation about Optimist International, call 314-371-6000 or visit optimist. org.

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Blake Boettcher earned the Eagle Scout Award.

Annual book festival includes noted authors

DUNWOODY, Ga. — The 31st edition of the Book Festival of the Marcus Jewish Community Center of Atlanta (MJCCA) will take place Nov. 3-19.

This year’s festival boasts an im pressive schedule of events featuring some of the world’s most recognizable personalities and local authors repre senting a broad spectrum of speakers, ensuring something fascinating for everyone.

The festival is returning to in-person programming and expects to welcome thousands of attendees from across the Southeast.

Keynote festival authors include:

• Nikki R. Haley, former United States ambassador to the United Nations & Governor of South Carolina

• Melissa Rivers, award-winning television personality & producer as well as the daughter of Hol lywood icon Joan Rivers

• Andrew Young/Ernie Suggs, Am bassador to the United Nations/ award-winning Atlanta JournalConstitution reporter

• Julia Haart, former CEO & co-owner of global modeling agency Elite World Group as well as star of the hit Netflix reality series My Unorthodox Life

• Nyle DiMarco, winner of Dancing with the Stars & America’s Next Top Model, Deaf and LGBTQ activist

• Clea Newman Soderlund, daugh ter of Paul Newman and Joanne

Jewish Community Center event raises funds for local programs

ALPHARETTA, Ga. —The Marcus Jewish Community Center of Atlanta (MJCCA) re cently held its annual golf tournament, the Harry Maziar Classic presented by Truist, at the Golf Club of Georgia in Alpharetta.

Chaired by David Kusiel and cochaired by Allen Soden, the tournament shattered previous event records includ ing the most participants in tournament history with over 200 golfers. The event raised more than $535,000 through con tributions and a silent auction to support MJCCA programs and scholarship funds.

“This event is extremely important to the entire Jewish community, as the MJCCA impacts thousands of lives across the metro Atlanta area,” Kusiel said.

This year’s tournament brings the to tal raised to $4.6 million over the past 14 years, MJCCA CEO Jared Powers said.

“Every dollar we secure helps us raise scholarship funds so families can attend our award-winning camps, accredited preschools, enriching after-school pro grams and all the activities that make the MJCCA home to so many,” Powers said.

Each year, the tournament honors an outstanding MJCCA member, whose leadership and dedication helped shape Atlanta’s Jewish community. This year, the MJCCA honored native Atlantan and real estate powerhouse Eliot Arnovitz.

Arnovitz’s connection to the MJCCA can be traced all the way back to his childhood, when he spent his formative years in the Atlanta Jewish Community Center’s nursery school. He now volun teers with numerous Jewish organiza tions across Metro Atlanta, including as a Life Trustee with the Jewish Federa tion of Greater Atlanta.

Eliot Arnovitz accepts his award at the golf tournament hosted by the Marcus Jewish Community Center of Atlanta.

Each year, the tournament honors an outstanding MJCCA member, whose leadership and dedication helped shape Atlanta’s Jewish community.

“Eliot’s commitment to the At lanta Jewish community is exem plary,” Soden said. “The turnout at this year’s event is a testament to the longstanding impact he’s had on the Jewish community and the number of people he’s positively affected with his work, advocacy and volunteer efforts throughout the years.”

Jodi Picoult and Jennifer Finney

Woodward

• Jon Meacham, Pulitzer Prizewinning biographer

• Bernie Marcus, The Home Depot

co-founder and global philan thropist

Also, Benjamin Netanyahu (former Israeli prime minister, virtual event), Jodi Picoult and Jennifer Finney Boylan (bestselling authors), Michael Oren (former Israeli ambassador to the United States) and Melissa Clark (New York Times writer and James Beard Award winner), will all be speaking during the Prologue to the Book Festival of the MJCCA.

All Book Festival of the MJCCA events will be held at the MJCCA at 5342 Tilly Mill Road in Dunwoody. Tickets are now available to pur chase.

For more information and details, please visit the official MJCCA Book Festival event page.

PROVIDED

Boylan are set to speak at the Book Festival of the Marcus Jewish Commu nity Center of Atlanta in November.

MARCUS JEWISH COMMUNITY CENTER OF ATLANTA/ PROVIDED

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Balance:

the first 10 years,” she said. “We would pound pavement and pound doors, and just did whatever it took to, you know, pay the bills the following month.”

Eventually, people began to notice them, especially after they made friends with and a client of a local Atlanta radio personality.

“Next thing you know, she’s putting us on the radio as one of the best finds in Atlanta because we were just so hard working,” she said. “It was the help we needed.”

It wasn’t like they were instantly flooded with business and money, but it did give them a bit of breathing room.

Hard work counters bad luck

After 10 years, Nicotera left the part nership, wanting to move and open a more corporate type of salon, with more resources and help on the business and marketing side of things. So, she borrowed $10,000, signed a lease, and started putting in the elbow grease to make her idea a success.

Unfortunately, it was the exact worst time to start a new business, and just a year after she opened, the 2008 financial crisis hit the like a thunderbolt.

“I got shingles, I was so stressed out during that one,” she said.

But about 6 months into the crisis, Nicotera said she got some unexpected help that kept her business going, when a nearby salon in Dunwoody unexpect edly went out of business.

“So immediately, I got four people with a clientele,” she said. “And I still have two of them with me.”

Through the years since the 2008 fi nancial crisis, there have still been spots of bad luck, like when her salon’s roof caved in after Atlanta experienced sev eral weeks of torrential rains. But each time, her business was able to move on and survive.

“My first year I actually hit a mil lion dollars in business was 2019, and then in March of 2020, we were shut down for being unessential,” she said.

In total, they were closed for four months, she said. But they never had to let any employees go and were quickly able to get back to business, thanks to the small business loan op portunities offered by the state and federal government at the beginning of the pandemic.

“I had no idea what I was filling out. I just had to figure out how to find money to keep my company open,” she said.

“I was on my kitchen floor … bawling my eyes out. Two days later, the money showed up in the in the business ac count.”

Finding Balance

But even when they were given the go-ahead to reopen, it wasn’t like before. Nicotera said that even with the precau tions they were taking, nearly 20 percent of her business was lost by the pandemic.

But the clients that did stay, are more loyal than ever.

Rayner said she admires her friend for persevering through the pandemic, especially because the salon business is based so much on touch and letting a stranger into your personal space.

“As a client, I just feel like it’s such a warm and welcoming environment, everyone who works there,” Rayner said. “They honor your time as much as they do theirs.”

After all these years, Nicotera says she still leads her employees by ex ample, putting in the hard work that her clients expect and deserve, because that’s what’s led her to this point, and anything else would be a betrayal of her years in business.

“As the owner, I could say, ‘Hey, I’ve been doing this 30 years. I don’t have to work and work hard like I do,’” she said. “But I still feel the way I did when I opened up that first one. Anyone can cut

some bangs, anyone can do some foils, there’s tons of us out there. But what we’ve worked so hard at is to not forget where we come from and how hard we’ve worked to get it.”

To say thank you to all of the clients that supported them over the years, Bal ance Salon will open its doors for a week of events Oct. 18, to celebrate how far they’ve come and everything they’ve gone through.

Throughout the week, Balance Salon

will have special promotions, special guests and special events, culminat ing with an “open-air” cocktail party on Friday, Oct. 21.

“I want to give back to them,” Nico tera said. “I want to give back to my team for standing by me this whole time and all the people that have helped me.”

For more information about Balance Salon and their week-long celebration of “inner and outer beauty” visit balancesalon.com/dunwoody-event

BALANCE SALON/PROVIDED

For 25 years CJ Nicotera of Balance Salon in Dunwoody has been putting in the hard work, providing top service to clients in the Atlanta area. Nicotera and her staff will celebrate their clients and supporters with a week of events starting Oct. 18.

Traffic:

profound delays on I-285, potentially adding an hour or more to daily com mutes,” Georgia DOT Alternative De livery Program Manager Marlo Clowers said. “We urge motorists to leave earlier, utilize navigation apps to select alternate routes to stay away from the construc tion area, and consider alternative com mute options.”

Work on the project will be completed in two phases, first closing the inside lanes of I-285 so bridges over Glenridge Drive, Ga. 400 and Peachtree Dunwoody Road can be reconstructed, then shifting traffic to I-285’s inside lanes so exterior portions of the bridges can be recon structed.

Officials have announced the first phase of I-285 closures but say ad ditional future lane closures will be announced as the project reaches key milestones.

The two innermost eastbound lanes of I-285 will be closed starting on Oct. 8, between Roswell Road and Ashford Dunwoody Road, for bridge demolition and reconstruction at Glenridge Drive, Ga. 400 and Peachtree Industrial Road, state officials said.

The closure of one westbound lane will follow about two weeks later.

As major portions of the project are completed, they will be opened to traffic with updates and signage.

“These anticipated openings will provide some additional capacity for vehicles and maximize all new con

necting lane availability outside of the existing interstate lanes,” state officials said.

Phase 1 and 2 of the projects will take about four months each, but dates may change due to weather of other fac

CUSTOM

tors.

For more information about the project, frequently asked questions and project updates, visit the project website at transform285400-gdot.hub. arcgis.com/pages/lanereductions

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Help with Navigating the Road to Recovery

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In time we all are faced with the need for a planned procedure or an emergency that may require surgery. The next critical step is understanding how to navigate the road to a success ful recovery. It’s important to take stock of the care you or a loved one will need when you get home, whether it’s directly from the hospital or from a rehabilitation center.

The transition home can be very chal lenging as your mobility, health and emo tional needs have changed. As we age, we may also heal more slowly and have more complications.

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Taking charge of your health can make all the difference

Brought to you by – By Dr. Laura Pearson, breast surgeon at Wellstar Health System

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. That’s probably not news to any one. It’s a month of pink ribbons, walks and awareness campaigns. I would rather use it to not only bring aware ness to breast health but to discuss how breast health awareness can be good for your whole body.

There are factors, such as fam ily history and breast density, that are unchangeable in terms of breast cancer risk, but there are certainly many modi fiable risk factors and behaviors we can affect to protect ourselves from breast cancer, heart disease, diabetes and other diseases. The list below includes my go-tos when I counsel women regarding real ways they can protect and maintain their breasts, heart, brain and body.

1. Maintaining a healthy weight: A nor mal range for BMI lowers risk for cancer, diabetes, cardiovascular disease and

orthopedic issues

2. Quitting or not start ing smoking

3. Exercise: The Ameri can Cancer Society rec ommends that adults get at least 150 to 300 minutes of moderate intensity or 75 to 150 minutes of vigorous intensity activity each week

4. Avoid or limit alcohol intake: Even small amounts can increase your risk for breast cancer, and there is a limit to the benefit of red wine for your heart health

5. Eating a balanced diet of carbohy drates, protein and fats (yes, our body does need some fat to maintain healthy cell and brain function), with a focus on brightly colored fruits and vegetables to give you vitamins, minerals and other phytonutrients that can help protect cells and organs from environmental stressors that can lead to cancer, cardio vascular disease and dementia

6. Staying current on all recommended preventives and screenings: Colon can cer screenings (the age to start has been lowered to 45 from 50), regular skin cancer checks, yearly mammograms, heart screenings like heart calcium scans, ultrasounds to check for carotid artery narrowing (stroke risk), bloodwork to check for diabetes, thyroid issues, etc. and gynecological exams as indicated by age and other factors

At Wellstar North Fulton Medical Center, we take women’s health seri ously. By offering comprehensive screen ings, diagnostics and treatment for all your health issues, there is no reason to go outside your own community to find world-class healthcare. Our providers take an individualized approach to care, tailoring treatment to each patient to help them achieve their health goals.

Our Breast Cancer STAT clinic offers consultations that include your entire breast cancer team (surgeon, medical oncologist, radiation oncologist, genet ics and nurse navigation) in a single

visit. We offer state-of-the-art treat ments, including oncoplasty and hidden scar surgery, one-dose intraoperative radiation and access to clinical trials. Our Center for Best Health provides multidisciplinary care for weight man agement, which can lower the risk of or even help treat conditions such as cancer, diabetes, high blood pressure and high cholesterol. We have highlytrained specialists for cardiovascular diseases, neurology including movement disorders, rheumatology, endocrinology, gastroenterology and pain management.

By being proactive with our breast health, we can also protect the rest of our health.

Dr. Laura Pearson is a Wellstar breast surgeon who serves as the direc tor of the Wellstar North Fulton Breast Program and the Wellstar Breast Cancer STAT Clinic. To make an appointment with Dr. Pearson at her office on the campus of Wellstar North Fulton Medical Center, call (470) 956-4270.

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For years, Nan Harman-Dempsey has loved practicing law in the community where she was born and raised: Alpharetta. But when her mammogram revealed breast cancer, even she was surprised to find such high-tech care less than five miles away. At Wellstar North Fulton , Nan was a candidate for intraoperative radiation therapy, or IORT.

During her lumpectomy, Nan’s medical and radiation oncology surgeons worked side-by-side as one removed the tumor and the other gave Nan radiation therapy, seamlessly in one fell swoop. Instead of weeks, her radiation took moments. After her fasttracked treatment, Nan’s newest love is her care team at Wellstar. No two people named Nan are exactly alike, and at Wellstar, we would never treat them that way. wellstar.org/peoplecare

Healing from disordered eating

How many people will struggle with an eating disorder during their lifetime?

It’s a more complicated question than you might think. Since the vast major ity of people with eating disorders either never seek formal treatment for their disorder or are never formally diagnosed (Hart et al., 2011), researchers can’t just search medical records.

The term “eating disorder” covers a wide range of unique mental illnesses. The common characteristic they share is causing some type of harmful food-cen tered behavior that includes either food restriction or excessive eating. Eating disorders can lead to harmful physical ef fects and even death. According to ANAD (National Association of Anorexia Ner vosa and Associated Disorders), eating disorders are among the deadliest mental health disorders, second only to opioid overdose. 10,200 people die each year from complications of an eating disorder,

One of the most constructive ways to navigate your recovery journey is the ba sic understanding that you are not alone. It can be hard to ask for help for many reasons. However, healthcare profession als, loved ones, and the support of those who have gone through similar struggles can make a difference in your journey.

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Baseball an Atlanta pastime during World War II

VALERIE

During World War II, the Atlanta Ama teur Baseball League included not only businesses, but teams representing military bases and military op erations of Atlanta, as well as military hos pital Lawson General. Atlanta was divided into the City League and the Scott League.

City League included baseball teams from Lawson General Hospital, Georgia Power, Whittier Mills (cotton mill along the Chattahoochee River on west side of Atlanta), Bell Bombers (Bell Aircraft Corporation), Camp Conley Ordnance Depot and Naval Air Station Atlanta.

The Scott League included Army Air Base, Lawson MDTS (Medical Department Technicians School), Optimists, 17th Machine Records (Fort McPherson), Genuine Parts, and Hapeville. The Optimists team repre sented the Atlanta Optimists Club.

Naval Air Station Atlanta first began in 1941 as U.S. Naval Aviation Reserve Base and was located where Chamblee’s DeKalb Peachtree Airport is today. Lawson General Hospital was constructed and opened April 1941 next door to the naval base where the IRS and CDC Chamblee are located. Dur

ing World War II, both places had teams participating in amateur sports. In addition to barracks, hospital wards, mess hall, headquarters and the MDTS building, Law son General Hospital had a baseball field.

On Sunday, May 24, 1942, Naval Avia tion Reserve Base played Army Air Base of Candler Field. The game took place at Ponce de Leon Ballpark, home of the At lanta Crackers. The Navy planned to bring their mascot billy goat to the game, while the Army would bring their mule. On May 25, the newspapers reported that Navy beat Army 8 to 5 in front of 3,000 fans.

The fifth annual tournament of At lanta Amateur Baseball Federation was held at Ponce de Leon Park on August 24, 1943. Whittier Mills beat Georgia Power

8 to 4, and Naval Air Station Atlanta beat Southern Railway 16 to 6.

In July of 1944, Naval Air Station Atlanta and Lawson General Hospital were scheduled to play each other at Ponce de Leon Ballpark. The price of admission was proof of a war bond pur chase. Following the game, an exhibition of warfare was planned. The winner of the game would go on to play the Camp Siebert team of Gadsden, Alabama.

Both teams had former professional baseball players who had been called to duty. John Pesky, who was the American League rookie of the year in 1942 and played for the Boston Red Sox, was on the Naval Air Station team. Bobby Ken nedy of the Chicago White Sox played

third base for Naval Air Station. He had recently won his wings as a Marine flier at Pensacola base, before being trans ferred to Atlanta. Former Atlanta Crack ers Larry Miller and Buddy Bates were also on the Naval Air Station team.

Luke Appling, a former Atlanta Crack er and Chicago White Sox player, led the Lawson General Hospital team. He was the American League batting champion of 1943 and later inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame. Another former Cracker playing for Lawson was Johnny Hill.

The Atlanta Crackers minor league baseball team and the Atlanta Black Crackers also played during the years of World War II. Baseball was segregated, with Black players and teams not recog nized by professional baseball in the U.S. That changed after 1947, when Jackie Robinson joined the Brooklyn Dodgers. The Atlanta Black Crackers played games at Ponce de Leon Ballpark only when the Atlanta Crackers were on the road. Other times they played at Morris Brown College, Morehouse College and Luther Williams Field in Macon.

Award-winning author Valerie Big gerstaff is a columnist for Appen Media and the Dunwoody Crier. She lives in Sandy Springs. You can email Valerie at pasttensega@gmail.com or visit her website at pasttensega.com.

Owning a home – Still the American Dream

Brought to you by: Dan Griffin, Compass, Inc.

A house is a valuable financial asset and a solid investment. Prices and interest rates go up and down over the years.

move out at any time, and you might end up moving around frequently. It can be hard to feel settled anywhere because you don’t know how long you’ll live there before moving again. When you own a home, you’re in control of when you decide to move, if ever!

Max A. Kallos, President

We Focus On Quality Customer Service

Small,

year to

year

well as

time buyer programs with as little as 3%

Programs with 3%, 5% and 10% down with

monthly mortgage insurance (PMI).

Same day pre-approvals

cost or

However, for most people, that’s only a small part of the reason they decide to buy. Owning a home is about having a place to put down roots and call your own. When you own a home, you can begin to invest in the local community. You start to develop a sense of pride in where you live. You begin feeling like you belong somewhere, and that you want to make your neighborhood a better place.

Owning your own home also pro vides stability. If you’re renting, you don’t have any control over whether your landlord decides to raise your rent or sell the house. You may be forced to

Most importantly, owning a home means having a place to create memo ries with your loved ones. Think about your own childhood home and all the things you remember that happened there. You may remember eating breakfast at the kitchen table, celebrat ing holidays with extended family, or planting flowers in the front yard. When you own a home, it becomes the setting for all of those special moments to take place. Your home also becomes part of your legacy when you pass it down to the next generation.

Dan Griffin Broker/Realtor Compass, Inc.

BIGGERSTAFF

NATIONAL LIBRARY OF MEDICINE

The baseball field of World War II Lawson General Hospital can be seen on the right side of this aerial view.

STUDIO SERIES: RANDALL BRAMBLETT

What: Known for his “swampy, sweaty Southern-fried funk,”

Randall Bramblett continues the Studio Series with an exploration of his discography and a few stories along the way about his work with legends like Bonnie Raitt and Levon Helm.

When: Thursday, Oct. 20, 8 p.m.

Where: Studio Theatre, 1 Galambos Way, Sandy Springs1 Galambos Way, Sandy Springs

Cost: Tickets start at $10 More info: citysprings.com

FEATURED:

SANDY SPRINGS FARMERS MARKET

What: Shop for fresh produce and arti san foods from more than 30 vendors every Saturday morning through Nov. 12 at the Sandy Springs Farmers Market. When: Saturday, Oct. 8, 8:30 a.m. -noon Where: City Green, 1 Galambos Way, Sandy Springs More info: citysprings.com

OUT AND ABOUT:

DUNWOODY FOOD TRUCK THURSDAYS

What: Sweet and savory food trucks with live music every Thursday through the end of October.

When: Thursdays, Oct. 13, 20, & 27, 5-8 p.m.

Where: Brook Run Park, 4770 North Peachtree Road, Dunwoody More info: www.facebook.com/dunwood yfoodtruckthursdays/

OVERLOOK PARK BIRD WALK

What: Join naturalist Roseanne Guerra for a walk-through of Morgan Falls Overlook Park, which boasts several habitats with a variety of birds. The walk will involve (possibly wet) grass, stairs, gently sloped pavement and unpaved trails. A scope and loaner binoculars will be available.

When: Saturday, Oct. 15, 8-11 a.m.

Where: Meet at the overlook, past the playground, Morgan Falls Overlook Park, 200 Morgan Falls Road, Sandy Springs Cost: Free

More info: Register online, sandyspring sga.gov. For morning of walk, call 678358-4916.

PAWS AND PASTRIES

What: Bring all your puppers to this “pawsome” socialization event. Spend ing time at the park helps keep a dog’s socialization skills in tip-top form and can wear out a busy pup. There will be dog treats, tennis balls, water and pastries. Bring a dog bowl and water.

When: Saturday, Oct. 15, 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Where: Morgan Falls River Park Dog Park, 100 Morgan Falls Road, Sandy Springs Cost: Free More info: Register online, sandyspring sga.gov

FESTIVE:

SPOOKY SPRINGS

What: Come to this safe, family-friendly event for young trick-or-treaters. There will be trick-or-treat candy stations, face painting stations, fog machines, a DJ and food trucks.

When: Saturday, Oct. 22, 5 p.m. Where: Abernathy Greenway Play able Art Park, limited parking at Sandy Springs Christian Church, 301 Johnson Ferry Rd, Sandy Springs Cost: Free More info: sandyspringsga.gov

BOO-TACULAR FUN RUN

What: Superheroes, pirates, prin cesses and ghosts, etc. are invited to walk, skip or run. This is not a timed run. After the run, enjoy a hayride and roast marshmallows. Runner will receive a race medal, apple cider and supplies to make s’mores. Please, no scary costumes.

When: Friday, Oct. 14, 7 p.m. Where: Roswell Area Park, 10496 Wood stock Road, Roswell Cost: $22

More info: Register online, roswellgov.

com. Call 770-817-6670

ROSWELL GHOST TOUR

What: Join this 2 1/2 ghost tour with paranormal investigators who describe current paranormal phenomena rou tinely experienced by Roswell residents, businesses and other tour-goers.

When: Every night, as long as there are 6 willing participants, 8 or 8:30 p.m. Private tours unavailable Oct. 21, 22, 28 & 29.

Where: Tours depart from the band stand in the Roswell town square, across from the Roswell Visitor’s Center, 617 Atlanta Street, Roswell Cost: $20, $10 for children 12 and under

More info: Book reservation online, roswellghosttour.com. Sign liability waiver and pay cash for tickets upon arrival.

HALLOWEEN HIKES

What: Experience the mystery of a guid ed night hike. The 37th annual Hallow een Hike takes you through the forest to meet woodland creatures and hear about how they live. Take part in world music, crafts, campfire, face painting, Monster Mash dance party and other festival fun. Arrive 30 minutes before the hike.

When: Friday & Saturday, Oct. 21, 22, 28 & 29, 6 p.m.

Where: Chattahoochee Nature Center, 9135 Willeo Road, Roswell Cost: $25 for general public/$20 for CNC members (children 2 and under are free)

More info: CNC members can by tickets online; for non-CNC members, ticket sales open Oct. 10, www.chattnature center.org

FEATURE YOUR EVENT ONLINE AND IN PRINT!

It’s even easier now than ever to promote your event to hundreds of thousands of people, whether online, through our newsletters or in the Crier and Herald newspapers.

To promote your event, follow these easy steps:

1. Visit AppenMedia.com/Calendar;

2. Provide the details for your event including title, description, location and date;

3. Click the red button that reads “Create event”

4. That’s it! Submissions are free, though there are paid opportunities to promote your event in print and online.

Full-time

Carmichael, Brasher, Tuvell & Company is hiring an Income Tax Preparer, Corporate and Individual. Great pay and flexible, relaxed work environment. Seeking full and/or part-time individual for individual and corporate tax prepara tion and accounting. Prior tax preparation required and have working knowledge of QuickBooks. Our office is located in the heart of Dunwoody and work from home is an option. To apply email your resume to gbrasher@cbtcpa.com

POOL TECHNICIANS

WANTED

Part-time & Full-time positions available. Pay is $12-$14 per hour. Hours starting at 6:30AM, Monday-Friday. Pick-up truck not required but must have your own reliable transportation. Gas allowance provided. Looking for people who enjoy working outside and are enthusiastic, dependable & punctual. Able to contribute independently or on a crew with consistently friendly attitude.

commercial pool maintenance company providing service in the North Atlanta Metro area.

Belco Electric

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