Dunwoody Crier - October 20, 2022

Physical therapist on a mission

By AMBER PERRY amber@appenmedia.com

DUNWOODY, Ga. — Lauren Sok was a preteen when she knew she wanted to go into physical therapy. At age 12, she broke her elbow. To this day, she can’t fully bend her arm due to a botched physical therapy experience.

Sok, who owns Functionize Health & Physical Therapy in Decatur and Dunwoody, might just fit the stereotype of someone who would own a physical therapy clinic. With a pixie cut, athletic attire and a powerful stance and voice that fill up a room, despite short stat ure, Sok said her childhood injury and resulting physical therapy experience launched her on a path to becoming a physical therapist.

She decided she never wanted someone to go to physical therapy and not meet their goals. Nor did she want someone to go through the same pain of rehabbing something, like she did with her elbow.

After high school, Sok went straight into a physical therapy fast-track mas ter’s program, earning her degree in 2000. Since then, she’s earned certifica tions in Selective Functional Movement Assessment, Trigger Point Dry Needling, Women’s Health and Stott Pilates.

Functionize first opened in Decatur in 2015. And in March, Sok opened a second location in Dunwoody on Nan dina Lane. Sok’s business idea was sparked by frustrations in her 16 years

AMBER PERRY/APPEN MEDIA

Lauren Sok, owner of Functionize Health & Physical Therapy, stands next to her business sign at the Dunwoody location Oct. 11. Sok started her physical therapy business in Decatur in 2015, then expanded to Dunwoody this year.

of partnering with traditional physical therapy companies, where one-on-one with clients wasn’t the norm.

Before opening Functionize, she began doing concierge physical therapy. She recalled going door-to-door around Atlanta, carrying her table and a bag of supplies that she would use to treat peo ple. When Sok built a sizable client base,

she branched out with an established clinic to treat the “everyday athlete.”

Sok said a big misconception about physical therapy is that it’s just for injuries.

“We believe if you have a body, you’re an athlete,” Sok said. “Just like every

School systems record increase in high school graduation rate

By ALEXANDER POPP alex@appenmedia.com

ATLANTA — Graduation rates for counties in north Metro Atlanta are on the rise, according to data released by the Georgia Department of Educa tion Oct. 6.

Data for Georgia’s high-school graduation rate in 2022 shows that many north metro school districts, including Fulton, DeKalb, Cobb and Gwinnett counties, experienced signif

FILE PHOTO

DeKalb County Schools, which includes Dunwoody High, saw an overall increase in graduation rates.

Botched rehab as child set path for life’s work

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Couple celebrates 75th wedding anniversary

By CHAMIAN CRUZ chamian@appenmedia.com

SANDY SPRINGS, Ga. — It’s been more than 75 years since Harold Banister sent his future wife a note asking her out on a date, but he says they are more in love than ever.

Harold, 94, and Louise Young Banis ter, 91, live in Sandy Springs. However, their story began on July 6, 1947, in Williamston, South Carolina. World War II had ended two years prior.

At the time, Harold said sugar was the last commodity to be removed from ration ing, gasoline was 13 cents a gallon and the average annual income was $2,854. He added that an average new car cost about $1,290, while an average new house cost $6,550.

The South was covered by family farms, and gospel songs were all the hype. On the Sunday afternoon the cou ple met, Harold said he talked a friend into hitch-hiking 8 miles north from his hometown in Belton to Williamston,

South Carolina, to attend a gospel sing ing at the local high school.

Louise and her friend arrived late, and as they looked around the school’s gymnasium for a seat, Harold said he convinced his friend to give his up and entertain the other girl. Harold wasted no time asking Louise for a date. But, to get rid of him, she told him that she never considered dating a boy unless he asked her in writing. Not expecting to hear from him, Louise gave Harold her address.

She found a letter in her mailbox two days later.

Harold said he believes what hap pened next was like God arranging them on a blind date. While Louise looked over the letter with her mother and younger sister on their front porch one day trying to decide what to do next, one of Harold’s relatives happened to stop by for a visit.

After a few minutes of conversation, Louise’s mother asked the relative if she

BANISTER FAMILY/PROVIDED Harold and Louise Banister are celebrating their 75th wedding anniversary on Nov. 28. They are 94 and 91 years old and met in Williamston, South Carolina.

Banisters:

knew Harold. She replied with an em phatic “yes” and a positive recommenda tion. Harold received the girl’s reply the following Thursday. It was a “yes,” with directions to her house and a time – Sat urday, July 12, 1947, at 6 p.m.

Harold said he would have walked, if necessary, but he and another high school classmate who owned a car and his girlfriend ended up going on a double date. The date went so well, Harold said, that Louise told him he could come back the next Saturday.

Harold bought a used car that same week and proceeded to visit Louise ev ery Saturday for four months, which is when they married. They sold the car to purchase furniture. Shortly before their fourth wedding anniversary, however, Harold was drafted into the Korean War.

Louise supported him during that time, moving to Mississippi and other states just to be with him. As Harold rose through the ranks, so did Louise in her various jobs. After many years, Har old left the Air Force to spend the next 52 years working at IBM.

Today, the couple’s son, Mark, lives 11 miles from their home in Sandy Springs, and they are looking forward to celebrating their 75th wedding anniversary on Nov. 28.

Harold says Louise is the prettiest 91-year-old he’s ever seen.

“We believe God had something to do with our meeting and the life He has given us,” Harold said. “I had been to Louise’s hometown on business but never socially. Why that Sunday? Why did the relative show up while the letter was being discussed? Only God knows.”

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Allen Jackson, senior pastor at Dunwoody Baptist Church, said he’s known the couple for almost 35 years. He described them as “incredibly sweet” and “just magical.” The church plans to honor Harold and Louise at the 8:30 a.m. ser vice the Sunday before their anniversary.

“If any of us make 75 years old, it’s sort of a mile marker, but to be married 75 years and still be in love,” Jackson said. “It’s apparent that they’re still in love. They defer to each other. They finish each other’s sentences. It’s just adorable.”

Jackson said Harold visits the church every Monday morning to deliver a spread sheet of its attendance, patterns and trends for the week. He joked that it’s hard for any one to get any work done when he’s in the office, because they all love talking to him.

He thinks what’s helped Harold and Louise’s marriage last for so long is their faithful spirit. Jackson also said that Har old is a good listener and a great friend.

“I would definitely say that his faith is a big part of his steadiness in marriage and work, life, all of it,” Jackson said.

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GIRL SCOUT TROUP 17312/PROVIDED Girl Scout Troop 17312 completed their 2022 Bronze Award project and chose to construct a “buddy bench.” Inspired by anti-bullying efforts, the bench allows kids to sit on the bench to show other kids that they are feeling lonely and need a friend to play with. From left, is Eleanor Hanlon, Megan Hubbard, Elise Evans, Annabel Lassiter, Camille Blevens, Adelina Szczepanski, Meena Servies, Carly Greear, Isabel Lemoine. Peachtree Middle School Principal Michelle Perez, who helped the troop, sits on the bench. Not pictured are troop members Lilian Dixon, Kaitlyn Cohen and Ksenia Reshetnik.

Dunwoody Girl Scout troop builds student ‘Buddy Bench’

DUNWOODY, Ga. — This spring, Girl Scout Troop 17312 began the process to complete the requirements for their Girl Scout Bronze Award.

The Bronze Award is the third high est award in Girl Scouts and can only be earned by scouts at the junior level. To earn the award, the troop must plan and implement a project that must benefit the local community. Each girl must contribute 20 hours to the project.

Troop 17312, made up of 12 Dun woody sixth graders representing seven area schools, discussed excitement and concerns they had about middle school.

Addie Szczepanski, who attends Saint Jude the Apostle Catholic School, said the troop talked a lot about anti-bullying and chose to build a Buddy Bench.

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Investigative journalism is one part of local news. Appen Media and the Dunwoody Crier will continue to spend money on FOIA requests, comb through police reports and keep an eye on city spending.

“Kids sit on the bench to show other kids that they are feeling lonely and need a friend to play with,” Szczepanski said.

This summer Troop 17312 built and painted the 6-foot-long bench. They chose themes of nature and encourag ing words such as brave, strong, kind, courageous and loyal.

The bench includes a plaque with the following words: “Donated By Junior Girl Scout Troop 17312. Bronze Award Project 2022. Kind Heart – Fierce Mind –Brave Spirit.”

The troop has several Peachtree Middle Schoolers who have pledged to keep an eye out for the Buddy Bench for new friends and for maintenance during their middle school tenure.

It’ll also remain dedicated to fea turing Girl Scouts, board appoint ments and everything else that makes up community news.

Send tips, story ideas and an nouncements to newsroom@appen media.com. We want to hear it all.

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Schools:

icant graduation rate increases com pared to 2021, mirroring the rise seen at the state level.

Georgia’s statewide graduation rate rose from 83. 7 percent in 2021 to 84.2 percent in 2022 — an alltime high since Georgia began using the graduation rate calculation re quired by federal law, state officials said.

Of the major Metro Atlanta coun ties, Fulton reported the largest in crease to its graduation rate, with an increase from 87.7 percent in 2021 to 89.3 percent in 2022.

“We are so proud of our incredible students, teachers and administra tors who have pulled through two extremely challenging years showing tenacity in the face of uncertainty,” Fulton County Superintendent Mike Looney said. “Fulton County Schools continues to concentrate our ef forts on recovery and progress with the goal of graduation always in our sights.”

Forsyth County’s graduation rate held steady in 2022. However, system officials said the district has held a 96 percent graduation rate, one of the

highest in the state, for three consecu tive years.

Here’s how major metro-Atlanta counties did in 2022:

• Statewide – 0.5 percent in crease – 84.2 graduation rate

• Cobb County – 0.2 percent in crease – 87.4 graduation rate

• DeKalb County – 0.8 percent increase – 76.2 graduation rate

• Forsyth County – 0 percent in crease – 96.4 graduation rate

• Fulton County – 1.6 percent increase – 87.7 graduation rate

• Gwinnett County – 0.7 percent increase – 83.2 graduation rate

“Teachers and students who per severed through the challenges of the last several years deserve credit for Georgia’s graduation rate increasing and other recent positive indicators, like Georgia students beating the SAT national average once again,” State School Superintendent Richard Woods said. “I commend Georgia’s educators and the class of 2022 and am confi dent we will continue to see improve ments as we expand opportunities for students and invest in the academic recovery of our state.”

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City awards grant to Dunwoody Nature Center for programs

By R.J. TURNER newsroom@appenmedia.com

DUNWOODY, Ga. – Dunwoody Nature Center was one of a number of nonprofit organizations awarded grants by the Dun woody City Council through the federal American Rescue Plan funding program.

A fixture in Dunwoody Park, the Dunwoody Nature Center was estab lished in 1990. It provides environmen tal education, awareness and outreach programs, outdoor summer camps and ongoing nature events, activities and classes. The center features wetland, woodland, trails, various gardens, picnic and playground areas.

The nature center will receive a $50,000 grant for the facility’s programs. Funding will cover the cost of field trips for disadvantaged youth and offer schol arships for summer camps and other educational opportunities.

“We are thrilled to be able to offer scholarships, but we can offer so much more through this grant,” said Dunwoody Nature Center Executive Director Nancy Longacre. “This is a fabulous opportunity to provide scholarships to everyone to be inclusive, and we love that.”

The City Council set aside $2 million in ARP funding for direct assistance to non profits earlier in the year. In the first round, Corners Outreach was awarded $200,000. For this second round $810,000 was al located to be disbursed in installments.

Other nonprofits awarded included: Malachi’s Storehouse will receive $100,000 to address food insecurities by paying for food, fuel, supplies and longterm operations infrastructure improve ments.

St. Vincent de Paul Society was awarded $100,000 to offer rental as

sistance, utilities, healthcare and other household costs for the disadvantaged.

I Care Atlanta was awarded $100,000 for long-term capital assets, including a new van and refrigeration equipment in order to provide service to those in the community experiencing food insecurity.

Jewish Family & Career Services of Atlanta will receive $115,000 for rental assistance and other household costs, and $15,000 as a pass-through grant for Backpack Buddies of Metro Atlanta.

Summit Counseling Center will receive $100,000 for mental health ser vices to reduce or eliminate counseling session costs.

Family Promise of North Fulton/ DeKalb was awarded $100,000 for direct assistance to local residents facing a housing crisis, covering the cost of a one-week motel stay, one-month rent assistance, utility payments, car repairs and other vital necessities.

Spruill Center for the Arts was awarded $100,000 for expanding the new Arts for Alzheimer’s program to support patients with cognitive disorders and their caregivers, program scholar ships, establish a free community closet for art materials and an at-risk teens program to learn digital art and design.

Stage Door Theatre will receive $20,000 to provide free tickets and vouchers for access to the arts for the underserved and vulnerable community, and free education matinees for disad vantaged students.

Dunwoody Senior Baseball was awarded $25,000 to expand access to recreational baseball for both disadvan taged individuals and teams, scholar ships and to encourage minority base ball participation.

DUNWOODY NATURE CENTER/PROVIDED

Dunwoody Nature Center offers environmental education programs for children.

Physical:

athlete should perform at a high level, so should you — whether you like doing cross stitching or cross fitting or cross country. You can do the whole thing. We just have to help you get there.”

Well-rounded care

While Functionize focuses on physi cal therapy, Sok approaches her work by accounting for all four pillars of healthy living and thriving: exercise, nutrition, sleep and relaxation.

There’s five physical therapists on-staff, including Sok, in addition to a nutrition ist who clients can see virtually. Staff also regularly work with functional medicine doctors to provide additional insight into client care. If the Functionize team con cludes that a client needs more attention in a certain area, they refer out to specialists, like orthopedists or psychologists.

At Functionize, physical therapy encompasses a wide range of specialties, like postpartum and pelvic therapy, dry needling, temporomandibular joint dis orders (TMJ) and vestibular rehabilita tion. Staff also uses the Redcord Neurac system, which helps restore proper alignment and muscular control.

Functionize therapists also help cli ents within different performance areas, providing general performance assess ments, clinical Pilates and assessments for swimming and golf.

A mainstay at Functionize is its running assessments. With the clinic’s Fit Run Shop, Functionize combines the expertise of Pose-certified physi cal therapists and the newest footwear technology from Atlanta-based Big Peach Running Co.

An avid runner, Drew Whitcomb wanted to address hamstring and ankle pain he’d been experiencing. Friends

AMBER PERRY/APPEN MEDIA

A colorful painting that asks, “Are you living your dream or are you still dreaming of living?” hangs on the wall in an empty backroom behind the group exercise studio. Functionize Owner Lauren Sok, who wants to lease the space out as a coffee shop to build community, said the painting was an important piece of inspiration for starting Functionize.

suggested he see a running-specialized physical therapist.

So, Whitcomb sought care from Functionize after hearing Sok and Jake Reynolds, another physical therapist on

staff, on a podcast with Big Peach. Whit comb is also the COO and co-founder of a WearTesters, a running shoe review website, and has worked in the running industry for years.

He said his running form has improved after each Functionize visit, documenting the difference in pictures from past races.

“It’s been a process, but every time I’m just feeling better and better,” Whit comb said.

A cash-based system

For Sok, one important feature of Functionize is its cash-based system, which avoids the pitfalls associated with insurance companies.

The Functionize website explains the cash-based model and its benefits.

“In our 25+ years of combined experi ence, third-party payers pressuring for fast diagnosis, insisting on canned treatments, and obstructing the therapy we want to provide often hurts the patient’s progress.”

Sok said insurance companies typically require patients to visit prac titioners two to three times a week, which calls for co-pays or full costs if deductibles aren’t met. Plus, in-network companies often entail a cookie-cutter approach filled with standard protocols that overlook individualized needs and goals, she said.

And when Sok worked with traditional companies, she typically tended to mul tiple people at the same time, people of different ages and with different needs.

“I always said it was like daycare,” Sok said. “You were keeping people occupied basically, and not thinking through it.”

Whitcomb, who has seen many physi cal therapists over the years, said Func tionize is different from all the others.

“[With] every other physical thera pist, you go in there for an hour, and you usually are sharing the time with at least one other patient, where they’re bouncing back and forth between you and that other patient,” Whitcomb said.

“That’s been my experience with every

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Therapy:

single physical therapy place I’ve been to, but then with Functionize, you’re not.”

He also said treatment at Functionize is not much more expensive than other companies, where you have multiple co-pays.

Sok said the average cost per visit, and there’s usually around 10 per client, runs from $200 to $249.

But clients have the option to submit the itemized bill to insurance for reim bursement.

Building a health community

Sok is focused on building commu nity in Dunwoody. During a tour of the facility Oct. 11, Sok talked about the room behind the group exercise studio. She plans to lease it as a coffee shop, to bring community through coffee.

The room is empty, save for a colorful art piece hanging on the wall that asks, “Are you living your dream or still dream ing of living?” Sok saw the painting before she started her business and said it’s a big part of her inspiration. She wrote about the painting for one of her newslet ters, which she writes regularly.

“It was like the light bulb moment,” she said. “Like, okay, ‘This bright, color ful painting is telling you something. I’m

ready to start living my dream.’”

Some of Sok’s clients are members of Run the Wood, a local running group that meets on the second and fourth Saturday of the month. Sok, who lives in Dunwoody, formed the group last year after observing many solo runners in the Dunwoody community.

“People always say, ‘The hardest part is an adult is making friends.’”

Allison Thornton, another Function ize client, said she’s been a part of the group since it started.

“I know some friendships have formed out of that group,” Thornton said.

Thornton sought treatment from the Functionize team this year for hip and shoulder pain. Because she’s had improve ment over the course of her visits, Thorn ton goes sporadically, as needed. Her hus band and daughter also go to Functionize.

Thornton has also used the small group exercise classes offered at Func tionalize.

She attended the Strength Founda tions group exercise class, led by Jesse Brown, a physical therapist on staff. She has also attended Sok’s Mat Pilates class.

“Between those two classes, I just feel like I’m overall stronger, maybe more than I have been in my whole life,” Thornton said.

For more information about Func tionize, visit functionizehealth.com or call (404) 907-4196.

FUNCTIONIZE/PROVIDED

Jesse Brown, a physical therapist at Functionize, leads the Strength Foundations class. Participants learn the principles of resistance training using a variety of barbell/dumbbell exercises.

Continued

ALHARETTA-ROSWELL HERALD | FORSYTH HERALD | JOHNS CREEK HERALD MILTON HERALD | DUNWOODY CRIER

Success of home tour will benefit charities

On behalf of the members of the GFWC Dunwoody Woman’s Club, we would like to thank the homeown ers for opening their beautiful homes for our 49th annual Dunwoody Home Tour held Wednesday, October 12, 2022. We appreciate their gracious hospitality and generosity with our major fundraiser. Each homeowner was presented with a painting of their home created by local artist Pat Fio rello.

Sincere appreciation to Southern Comforts Consignments. The design event by Marc Jones was a wonderful addition to the tour.

To the sponsors of our annual Home Tour, we say a big “thank you” for your support of this fundraising

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event. The proceeds of the tour are used to fulfill the club’s commitment of service through our charitable pro grams.

We extend special thanks to the community for their participation each year and to the Dunwoody Crier for its outstanding and invaluable assistance with publicizing our event.

We appreciate the community’s continued support for our charitable work.

Faye Cashwell

Susan Crawford

Diane Norris

2022 Home Tour Chairmen

GFWC Dunwoody Woman’s Club

Have something to tell us? Talk Back to the Crier by emailing talkback@appenmed ia.com or going to appenmedia. com/letter.

“Enjoy Living”

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“Enhancing Life & Wellness with Each Touchpoint”

On not being in a hurry and creating road rage

through the drive-thru, saves time and while you are waiting for your Frap, you can keep watching TicTok or what ever your favorite go-to website or app is. Losing time on your phone is the big no-no, right?

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She didn’t lay on the horn but might as well have done that. In my rear-view mirror, I watched her mouth ing words and throwing her hands up in exasperation. It was so ridiculous to me that it actu ally made me smile. I mean, where else would someone spark a mini road rage thing by coming to a full stop at a three way stop? Really? I annoyed someone because I wasn’t in so much of a hurry that I didn’t roll through a stop sign and through the intersec tion?

What was she so late for? Where was she going in such a hurry? Don’t think I really would want to know and, truth be told, my guess is that the answer is probably “none of the above.” That is just how she goes through life – in a hurry for nothing or not much – and aggravated that everyone else isn’t just like she is.

Not that there’s anything wrong with that. I mean, so much of our economy now is tied to things that help save time. Saving time creates jobs these days, right? Think Amazon driv ers, home-delivered groceries, prescrip tions, and pizza and so much more. And of course, business, well anything that boosts business can’t be all bad, no?

Look at Starbucks the last two years. What has changed? Everything, I would suggest. Their business model seems to have morphed into serving coffee and food – fast – and of course that includes the added bonus of people not having to be inconvenienced by having to exit their cars. Just go

And the cost? Well, yes, there is a cost for everything. In Starbucks’ case, the cost just might be that what brought them to the table, what made them unique and gave them their competitive advantage, the creation of a place that served great coffee but also provided a comfortable place to meet and social ize, to chat with a friend or discuss a business deal or next months’ vacation plans with another, or how Johnnie is doing in school or that great book you just read. Now instead, more time with a screen without having to interact with another human. Hmmmm. Sort of reminds me of all those companies who have also “updated” their business model via Zoom or Teams and now con duct business in front of screens instead of in person.

And they wonder why turnover has jumped, morale has plummeted, and folks just don’t seem to care like they used to – or have the same work ethic or the social sensibilities. But, as I mentioned earlier, every situation has a silver lining; we have entered the golden age for therapists, delivery drivers, warehouse builders and social media influencers.

And what about all those young people who have never known a life that did not revolve around their screens? Where does this path lead?

I think if I owned Starbucks stock for long, I would be thinking hard about getting rid of it. With their morphed business model what they have done to me is effectively com

TENSE

50 acres at Womack Road and Tilly Mill Road

VALERIE BIGGERSTAFF

William Wom ack was born in the Cross Keys district in 1867. His wife Victo ria was born in Cobb County in 1869. They married in 1893 and settled on 50 acres in Dunwoody around 1915. The land was at the corner of what we now know as Womack Road and Tilly Mill Road.

William Womack worked as a photog rapher. He used a tin type camera and mixed his own developing solutions. He traveled by horse and buggy to towns such as Norcross, Alpharetta, Cham blee and Doraville to take photographs. He kept records of his travels and his expenses in journals, with details such as the expense of six dollars a month for board.

He also taught singing at churches. One of his singing schools was held at Winters Chapel Methodist Church, charging each student 50 cents for the 10-day session. William and Victoria Womack are buried at Winters Chapel Methodist Church.

The couple had six children, Ola, Lester, Elmer, Georgia, Corrie, and Har vey. The three daughters married men from nearby families. Ola married Bency Spruill, Georgia married Euil Spruill, and Corrie married Calvin Eidson. Har vey Womack married Macie Donaldson.

Ola Womack Spruill is remembered by students at Dunwoody Elementary School in the 1930s and 1940s for her graham biscuits. She prepared lunch and brought it over to the school from her house nearby on Chamblee Dunwoody Road.

Hurry:

moditized their product, reduced it down to the lowest common de nominator – time, convenience – and the WalMart approach to business –price. How long will it be before some enterprising entrepreneur realizes that one could start building those little kiosks in parking lots that only serve drive-thru coffee and do it faster and cheaper, and slip in under the radar of the 800-pound coffee gorilla, and eat their lunch?

The same thing probably also holds true for all sorts of things, like even that old-school media – print. Digital saves time, money, bottom line, and is super convenient, no? Well, yes and no. You

Elmer Womack and Lester Womack were mule drivers in the 69th unit of the Medical Corps during World War I. After the war, they both returned to work as farmers in Dunwoody.

Georgia and Euil Spruill lived along Ashford Dunwoody Road. Their daughter Kathleen Spruill Miers confirmed that the old chimney on Ashford Dunwoody Road was once part of a Spruill tenant house. Today the chimney is part of the Starbucks across from Perimeter Mall.

In 1970, 75-year-old Elmer Wom ack was still living in a four-room wood

see, anytime there is change, something usually gets lost in the transition. Every thing has a cost. And the relative value of what is lost is sometimes very subtle and sometimes not so much, and often not realized until too late in the rearview mirror.

What is the value of a conversation – the old-fashioned kind – in person? Or the low impact ease of reading the local news on print – at your leisure? Versus diving into a social media platform every day for a couple hours on your screen and then wondering where all your time has gone?

Where has all our time gone? I’ll have a Venti dark please, two raw sugars, a splash of cream… and room.

And can you give me a Pupachino for my dog too? I’m in a hurry and he loves those Pupcups.

house on the family land. He shared history and his thoughts with a writer for the Tucker Eagle, a newsletter of the Tucker Federal Savings and Loan As sociation. Womack used a wood burning stove, kerosene lamp and carried water from a nearby spring. He listened to the news and Atlanta Braves baseball on a transistor radio because he didn’t own a television.

He had recently sold the 50 acres at the intersection of Womack and Tilly Mill Roads to the DeKalb County Board of Education. He had already purchased

This photograph of Elmer Womack appeared in an October 1970 Tucker Eagle, a newsletter of the Tucker Fed eral Savings and Loan.

of brick home nearby on Tilly Mill Road with 1 acre of land, knowing that he would soon have to move.

Womack had no plans to change after the property sale saying, “I’m not going to let money go to my head. I like living the way I’m used to, and I am content.”

The Womack property would become the Dunwoody location of DeKalb Junior College, which later became Georgia Perimeter College, and today’s Georgia State University: Perimeter College, Dun woody Campus.

Award-winning author Valerie Big gerstaff is a longtime 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.

Newspaper Delivery Route Openings with Appen Media Group

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

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

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

Students at Dunwoody School in the 1940s were provided lunch prepared by Ola Womack Spruill. Spruill is pictured on the far right and principal Elizabeth Davis stands in the back.

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Change lives, change the world

Brought to you by - Wesleyan School

Wesleyan School believes faith and intel lect are great partners with each other. At Wesleyan, it’s not a matter of choos ing faith or intellect, but rather using both to create the best possible educa tion for your child. Our leadership and faculty work to provide students with an atmosphere that is challenging, rein forces the value of hard work, and em phasizes character and integrity above accomplishment. Wesleyan prepares students for each stage of life and pro vides them the opportunity to see all the possibilities that lie before them. Wesley an’s school motto is JOY-Jesus, Others, Yourself, and every aspect of school life is oriented to reinforce this philosophy of putting Jesus first and others ahead of ourselves.

A college preparatory environ ment, students have access to a wide

range of academic opportunities along with athletics, arts, service and other extracurricular activities. Wesleyan’s 85-acre campus provides state-ofthe-art academic facilities along with on-campus practice space for athletics and arts.

Located just outside of I-285 in Peachtree Corners, Wesleyan enrolled 1,171 students in grades K-12 for the 2021-2022 school year. Wesleyan offers bus routes throughout the metro Atlanta area. Supervised care before school is included in the cost of tuition and after care is available (K-8) until 6:00 p.m. at an affordable rate.

Wesleyan School

5405 Spalding Drive, Peachtree Corners, GA 30092 770-448-7640

https://www.wesleyanschool.org/

Where authentic Christian mission and academic excellence aren’t mutually exclusive

Dunwoody Crier | October 20, 2022

PROVIDED

This is The 805!

Holy Innocents’ Episcopal School, located at 805 Mt. Vernon Highway, NW, in Sandy Springs, enrolls 1,380 students in Grades PK3-12. HIES is a unique, vibrant learning community filled with encouragement and every imaginable opportunity for students to explore their tal ents, pursue their passions and achieve their full poten tial.

HIES offers an educational program encompass ing academics, arts, athletics and spiritual formation. Through opportunities to grow intellectually, spiritually, physically and emotionally, students develop their indi vidual worth and dignity.

The challenging academic program prepares stu dents for higher education and emphasizes learning as a pathway toward ethical leadership and a commitment to the common good. Students learn in small classes and actively participate in all classroom discussions. HIES is a community where close connections between students and teachers flourish within the curriculum. The Upper School offers nearly 30 Honors and Advanced Placement

classes. With a team of highly regarded college coun selors, HIES is committed to working closely with each student and family to help navigate the college search and application process.

As a Global Member of Round Square, an internation al network of 200 schools in 50 countries, HIES provides a multicultural education for students.

The school is a welcoming and supportive environ ment that embraces the differences inherent in a diverse

community and embodies the inclusive Episcopal tradi tion of respect for the beliefs of others. HIES is an active Christian community of faith engaged in local, national and international service to others.

The school is easily accessible from all parts of Dun woody and Metro Atlanta.

Holy Innocents’ Episcopal School: This is The 805! Where students pursue their passions and are challenged to reach their full potential.

Brought to you by - Holy Innocents’ Episcopal School

PROVIDED

Brought to you by - Mill Springs Acad emy

Those are the words of Mill Springs Academy’s founder, Tweetie L. Moore, and the words that Mill Springs adminis tration, faculty, and staff continue to live by today. Founded in 1981, Mill Springs provides a values-based college prepara tory program for students with ADHD and learning differences. Mill Springs’ school-wide Community Structure en courages students to participate in their own education by teaching self-advocacy, social problem-solving skills, and how to forge their own path. Our small class sizes allow teachers to provide each student with individualized instruction. Our highly skilled faculty and counselors provide academic rigor on all levels, from kindergarten through 12, in a supportive, nurturing environment.

Mill Springs Academy also offers students a wide variety of opportunities outside the core curriculum. Mill Springs’ fine arts program encourages students to explore their creativity through painting, sculpture, set design, music, performance, and more. Our robust athletic programs allow students to play at a competitive level while building teamwork and confidence.

Mill Springs’ 85-acre Alpharetta campus includes indoor and outdoor classroom space, athletic facilities, and visual and performing arts facilities. We serve students from over 50 different zip codes in the Metro Atlanta area and provide four bus routes with ten stops in the morning and afternoon. To learn more about Mill Springs Academy, visit us at www.millsprings.org/visit.

DCS adds middle school, new leaders, scholarships

Brought to you by – Dunwoody Chris tian School

Dunwoody Christian School is an accredited, non-denominational K-8th grade independent school, located on a beautiful 18+ acre campus in the heart of Dunwoody. DCS opened in Fall 2018 to 11 students across three grade levels. After steadily growing one grade per year, DCS launched a full middle school program through 8th grade in Fall 2022 after hiring Middle School Principal and Associate Head of School, Mrs. Mei Fan.

DCS now serves nearly 100 stu dents from Dunwoody, Sandy Springs, Brookhaven, and surrounding areas. DCS is known for its covenant Christian environment with Christ-centered values, small class sizes with excellent teach ers, and affordable tuition. In 2022, DCS partnered with Pay It Forward, a statefunded scholarship program for students attending private school, providing nearly $60,000 in scholarships to DCS families.

DCS recently made headlines when it named Dr. Kevin Jenkins, who cur rently serves as Middle School Principal

for Cornerstone Christian Academy, as the next Head of School. With his wealth of knowledge, experience, and heart for Christ, Dr. Jenkins is well-equipped to position DCS for long-term success.

Join DCS at an open house Nov. 5, 2022 at 10:00 AM. RSVP and learn more at www.dunwoodycs.org.

“If a student can’t learn the way we teach… we should teach the way a student can learn.”

High Meadows School –Inspiring future global citizens and innovative leaders

Brought to you by - High Meadows School

There is no place like High Meadows School. Since 1973, High Meadows stu dents in Pre-K through 8th grade have learned through experiential, immer sive educational opportunities offered both in the school’s spacious, lightfilled classrooms and across 42 acres of grassy fields and scenic woodlands. High Meadows School’s progressive cur riculum is focused on developing future global citizens and innovative leaders who embrace challenge and think for themselves.

High Meadows lower years class rooms offer low student-teacher ratios in which instruction emphasizes academic excellence, love of learning, critical thinking, and environmental and social responsibility. As a nationally recog nized and award-winning leader in pro gressive education, High Meadows is an

accredited International Baccalaureate (IB) World School offering its renowned Primary Years Program for students in preschool through fifth grade.

High Meadows School’s accomplished and experienced faculty lead each stu dent on this journey. Through interac tive, inquiry-based instruction, support ed by of-the-moment technology and our nature-based campus, High Meadows teachers are unequaled in their intellect, passion, and compassion for these kids. Every day they inspire authentic learn ing opportunities that are engaging and sticky (literally and figuratively!).

When children graduate from High Meadows, they are empowered with a deep respect for international perspec tives, an intuitive understanding of life’s interconnectedness, and an exceedingly strong sense of self. Education is an expedition that starts from the moment we are born. When we teach children to be curious and inquiring at an early age,

we create within them a love of learn ing that lasts an entire lifetime. What is more important than that?

Come see how all this comes to life.

Please visit our website at highmeadows.org or call 770-993-2940 to learn more about High Meadows School.

PROVIDED

Quality education in a loving environment

St. Martin’s Episcopal School (SMES) is Atlanta’s preschool through 8thgrade experience dedicated to graduat ing well-rounded individuals ready to wholeheartedly embrace life. St. Martin’s serves more than 650 students and of fers a challenging curriculum, outstand ing facilities and many opportunities to learn about the world and themselves through intellectual adventures, extra curricular opportunities and spiritual formation.

As an Episcopal School, students’ spiritual growth is an integral part of the school’s mission. Students are inspired to be good citizens, serve the community and love and respect themselves and others. Episcopal school students are led by educators who provide a competi tive education and inspire students to contribute to the world’s healing.

In the classroom, the youngest students in Early Childhood enjoy a state-of-the-art Learning Center with classrooms specifically designed for twoyear-olds through first grade. A STEAM village intentionally connects a science lab, tinker space, art room and outdoor learning space to foster engagement and collaborative learning.

Elementary School offers a vibrant community focusing on a loving struc ture balanced with high academic ex pectations grounded in a STEAM-based education. Students learn life skills such as time management and teamwork along with core academics and co-cur ricular classes to stretch their knowl edge of the world.

By actively meeting the developmen tal needs of early adolescents in Middle School, the program allows students to grow into themselves - academically, physically, artistically and spiritually.

The Middle School has a traditional structure designed to prepare students for various challenging high school options. The stimulating curriculum en gages young minds by developing sound study skills and creating inquisitive habits of mind.

The Kairos Learning Center within St. Martin’s offers a unique learning environment for students with languagebased differences such as dyslexia, dysgraphia and dyscalculia. This ‘school within a school’ approach allows iden tified students to receive additional support balanced with immersion in the overall St. Martin’s Episcopal School experience.

PROVIDED

Brought to you by - St. Martin’s Episco pal School (Infants through 8th grade)

Mount Vernon is where inquiry and innovation create impact

Brought to you by - The Mount Vernon School

Grounded in Christian values, Mount Vernon prepares all students to be college ready, globally competitive, and engaged citizen leaders. Ranked in the top 10 of Atlanta Business Chronicle’s Largest Private-Independent Schools, the School, founded in 1972, is a destination for stu dents who want to design a better world.

Mount Vernon’s approach to learning is centered around cultivating student curiosities. From a Kindergarten stu dent’s question to learn the names of all the trees on the Lower Campus to Upper School students designing virtual travel destinations in the VR lab for the residents of a local senior center, and everything in between – at Mount Vernon, curiosity drives learning to create impact.

From Preschool to Grade 12, Mount Vernon students grow, ex plore, create, and design. Graduates include National Merit Commended Scholars, Morehead-Cain Finalists,

QuestBridge Finalists, STAMPS Schol ars, and signed collegiate athletes. Alumni go on to attend some of the most prestigious colleges and uni versities in the United States includ ing: Cornell,Columbia, UPenn, US Naval Academy, Brown, Yale, USC, Dartmouth, Virginia Tech, Tulane, UNC,Morehouse, Davidson, SCAD, Colorado, Auburn, Michigan, Pepper dine, and many more.

We welcome all to come visit and learn more about the Mount Vernon School and our dedicated community.

Location: Sandy Springs

Phone: (404) 252-3448 Website: mountvernonschool.org

Accreditations/Memberships: NAIS, NAEYC, AdvancED/SACS, Ashoka Changemaker Schools Network, GHSA, IDEO Teachers Guild, SAIS, FolioCollabora tive, EdLeader21, MISBO, MODA, MTC (Mastery Tran script Consortium), GISA

Tuition: Please visit website

EDUCATION Innovating

from Preschool to Grade 12

At Mount Vernon, learning is amplified through real-world problem solving. Your student will be empowered to explore, discover, learn, design, create, and effect change.

SCHEDULE

VISIT

admissions

PROVIDED

Marist School – Forming faith-filled, global-ready servant leaders

Brought to you by – Marist School

Founded in 1901, Marist School is an independent, Catholic, college-prepara tory day school enrolling 1,100 boys and girls in grades 7-12.

Marist School’s mission is to form the whole person in the image of Christ through instruction grounded in reli gious values, the teachings of the Catho lic Church, and the spirit of the Society of Mary. We realize our mission through the communal pursuit of excellence in academic, religious, extracurricular, leadership, and service programs.

Marist offers a dynamic and expe riential curriculum, balancing leadingedge innovation with a comprehensive course of study that engages students with the spirituality and heritage of a Catholic education. Students have op portunities to explore interests and hone leadership skills through athletics, fine arts, campus ministry, and other extra curricular activities.

Our remarkable campus includes 78 in-town acres replete with top-notch facilities, a hilltop chapel, and an overall atmosphere that encourages learn

ing and collaboration. Marist recently opened the Goizueta Center for Immer sive Experience and Design, which helps students build empathy through explor ing the intersection between global and humane studies and STEAM areas.

The Marist educational experience culminates with graduates who have the strength of character and skills they need to make a difference in the world. https://www.marist.com/

Serving grades 7 12, Marist School provides an unparalleled Catholic education where achievement exists within a spirit of humility and generosity. Students are challenged by an extensive college-preparatory curriculum and an array of extracurricular activities to prepare them to be faith-filled, global-ready servant leaders.

OPEN HOUSE Sunday, December 4, 1 –4 p.m.

Learn. Lead. Ser ve. marist.com/admissions

Be amazed, learn more

Brought to you by - The Davis Academy

From Kindergarten Prep - Eighth Grade, The Davis Academy teaches to the whole child, creating compassion ate leaders and equipping them with skills they will use for the entirety of their academic careers and beyond. Davis graduates attend the most pres tigious public and private high schools in Atlanta, they know who they are and continuously make a difference in their communities and the world.

Students learn amongst a warm and supportive community that shares common values and visions. We teach life skills, instill Jewish values, and provide diverse experiences so that our students become well-rounded and self-confident individuals. We celebrate both the ways our diversity makes our school vibrant and the individual dif ferences that make our school commu nity so unique. With a retention rate of 97%, The Davis Academy community is comprised of families from across the globe, nation, and 31 metro Atlanta zip codes.

The school offers many options for prospective families to learn about the school and community. Parents can schedule a personal tour (on campus or virtual). In addition, families can engage in wonderful Cub Club events that are free and open to the community.

To learn more or schedule a tour go to www.davisacademy.org/admissions/ visit or call 678-527-3300.

The Alfred & Adele Davis Academy 8105 Roberts Drive, Atlanta, GA 30350 770-671-0085 www.davisacademy.org

PHOTOS PROVIDED

ATLANTA KOSHER BBQ FESTIVAL

What: Get a taste of barbecue at this strictly Kosher festival, where more than 23 teams will compete for best brisket, beef ribs, chicken and chili.

When: Sunday, Oct. 23, 11 a.m.-3 p.m.

Where: Brook Run Park, 4770 North Peachtree Road, Dunwoody

Cost: Taste tickets for 1 oz. containers are $1.25; 20 tickets are $25; 40 tickets are $50

More info: theatlantakosherbbq.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. 22, 9 a.m.-noon Where: City Green, 1 Galambos Way, Sandy Springs More info: citysprings.com

OUT AND ABOUT:

ALIVE IN ROSWELL

What: A family-friendly festival featuring music, food trucks, hundreds of interac tive vendors, kids’ games, entertainment and more.

When: Thursday, Oct. 20, 5-9 p.m. Where: Historic Canton Street, Roswell Antique and Interiors Lot and Historic Roswell Town Square, Roswell More info: roswellgov.com

STUDIO SERIES: RANDALL BRAMBLETT

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

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

“ZOMBIE PROM”

What: A girl-loves-ghoul rock ‘n’ roll mu sical set in the atomic 1950s at Enrico Fermi High, where pretty senior Toffee has fallen for the class bad boy. When family pressure forces Toffee to end the romance, he charges off on his motor cycle to the nuclear waste dump. He re turns glowing and determined to reclaim Toffee’s heart. He still wants to graduate, but most of all he wants to take Toffee to the prom.

When: Friday-Sunday, Oct. 28-30, times vary

Where: Stage Door Theatre, 5339 Cham blee Dunwoody Road, Dunwoody Cost: $15 for adults; $10 for kids More info: stagedoortheatrega.org/zom bie-prom/

DUNWOODY FOOD TRUCK THURSDAYS

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

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

Where: Brook Run Park, 4770 North Peachtree Road, Dunwoody More info: facebook.com/dunwoodyfood truckthursdays/

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 bandstand in the Roswell town square, across from the Roswell Visitor’s Center, 617 Atlanta Street, Roswell Cost: $20, $10 for children 12 and un der

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 guided night hike. The 37th annual Halloween 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

HOLIDAY CRAFT MARKET

What: A fall craft market with goods from Northbrook Crafters. Proceeds from the sale benefit church missions and are distributed to charities in the North Fulton area.

When: Friday, Nov. 4, noon to 6 p.m., Saturday, Nov. 5, 10 a.m.-3 p.m., Sun day, Nov. 6, before and after 11 a.m. church service

Where: Northbrook United Methodist Church, 11225 Crabapple Road, Roswell

More info: Parking and signage to direct shoppers to Simmons Hall, facebook. com/northbrookcrafters

BOOK FESTIVAL OF THE MJCCA

What: The Marcus Jewish Community Center of Atlanta will host its 31st an nual book festival with over 40 renowned authors.

When: Nov. 3-19

Where: Marcus Jewish Community

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.

THE INK PENN

Book recommendations for a trip to Greece

KATHY MANOS PENN

Beyond planning my wardrobe for a trip, I can’t think of anything more important than en suring I have plenty of reading material. Because I don’t take paperbacks on over seas trips, I carefully preload my Kindle, and several factors come into play as I make my selection.

First I check for available ebooks at the library. There are times I’ve been waiting for a hardback by a particular author, as that’s my preferred way to consume books, and I find the ebook is readily available. That’s a no-brainer, and I download it.

I also follow several authors whose books aren’t available in any format at my local library. Many of these are British authors or their series are set in the U.K. So, after downloading what I can from the library, I look on my Amazon wishlist. I suspect most folks use the wishlist feature for things other than reading material, but mine contains only books.

OUTSIDE, GEORGIA!

I take great pleasure in perusing my wishlist and selecting vacation reading. The last time I visited Greece, I read sev eral mysteries by Jeffrey Siger because his novels are set there. On this return trip, I decided to branch out, so without further ado, here’s what I’ll be reading on my October vacation.

Emma Jameson’s “Blue Christmas: Lord & Lady Hetheridge Mystery Se ries #6” was my first selection. If you’re a regular reader of my columns, you know I’m an Anglophile, so it’s fitting I’d choose a series set in England.

While surfing Amazon, I discovered the author has another series, so I also grabbed “Bones in the Blackout,” a cozy mystery set in WW II England.

I recently wrote about the Electra Mc Donnel series by Ashley Weaver and how delighted I was to find she had another series. Click! “Murder at the Brightwell,” the first book in her Amory Ames series landed on my Kindle. Happily, her books are available from the library.

Next was “Escaping Dreamland” by Charlie Lovett. I’ve read several books by this author, and I chose “The Bookman’s Tale” as the book club selection in my first

cozy mystery — there’s always a book club meeting or literary festival in my books. That book was a mystery about book col lecting and with a rare book central to the murder plot in my cozy, it was a perfect fit. Books are also central to the plot in“Escaping Dreamland.”

Who knows how I stumbled across “The English Bookshop” but I was intrigued by the title. As soon as I read that the main character inherits a book shop in England, I had to grab it.

Five books will probably suffice for a 10-day cruise, but there’s also a ninehour flight on both ends of the trip, so you never know. On my last Viking River Cruise, I finished one book on the flight over. The good news is that I can always use the ship’s wi-fi to download addi tional books if need be.

Here’s to happy reading whether it be stateside or overseas.

Award-winning author Kathy Manos Penn is a Sandy Springs resident. Find her Dickens & Christie cozy mysteries locally at The Enchanted Forest, and on Amazon. Contact her at inkpenn119@ gmail.com.

Get your shovel for the return of the Joros

If you’ve been out in the great wide world lately, you’ve probably noticed those shimmery gossamer webby things up there in the power lines. It seems like wherever there are two lines with a few feet of each other, there are also a whole bunch of webby things.

Joro spider webs?

Yeah, those. They’re back!

Prime Joro season in this neck of the woods is usually August through Octo ber, and they’ve been turning up in lots of other places, too – some of them close to home. For instance, one delegation seems to favor the little nook between the corner of my house and the railing on the deck.

There was a big ol’ Joro spider out there a few days ago, but notice I said “was.” Durable though those Joros are, they’re no match for my ancient Sears and Roebuck shovel.

As yard tools go, that shovel is one of those enduring institutions ever. Sure,

the business end is a little rusted, with some dings and dimples here and there, but that’s just how much-loved shov els usually are. Those blemishes could pour out the stories, too, if I only could remember what those stories are. For it’s an old shovel with a much-used wood handle polished by use so it’s smooth as the lid of a fine piano. Old things always have tales to tell.

Anyway, that shovel’s a great antiJoro weapons system, at least if the Joros are not too far off the ground. A single swashbuckling stroke through the air made short work of the web at the end of the deck, and then a second stroke (vertical, descending) reconfigured the once-intimidating Joro spider who used to live there from three dimensions down to two. One down, 88 million to go.

I should have felt good about that, but I just kind of shrugged. I was, I knew, resigned to having to do it all again in a day or two. And that’s exactly what happened.

Somewhat more troublesome are the Joro webs that are higher off the ground and out of reach even of me and my shovel. For those, I’ve adopted the strat egy of scouring the ground under the big oak tree for suitable throwing sticks

which I pick up and heft in my hand and then launch with aboriginal accuracy (sometimes) into the sky in the general direction of whatever web I have tar geted. This is not nearly as effective as it sounds, however, and it also puts nearby windows or small children at risk. Occa sionally I get lucky, though, and anyway Ellie the Resident Mini Schnauzer thinks its all part of some grand game of fetchthe-stick, which she does with relish and glee – whether there happens to be a spi der attached to the stick or not.

So what’s the deal with these Joro spiders anyway? You’ll recall from our previous chat on the subject that they seem to have first appeared in Georgia along the I-85 corridor in the area of Braselton and Hoschton. That’s home to many large distribution centers, and the feeling among those who know is that these spiders (or maybe their eggs) hitched a ride into our fair land aboard a crate, in some packing material, or maybe even on a live plant.

But however they got here, it appears that they are here to stay. Fortunately, they are not a particular threat to people unless provoked in an up-close and

STEVE HUDSON

Susan Stearns Scott In Memoriam

Susan Stearns Scott, age 83, of Dunwoody, Georgia passed away peacefully on October 3, 2022. Susan was born on August 24, 1939, in Albany, NY but lived her early years in Schenectady, NY with her parents, Stewart Persons Stearns and Louise (Salisbury) Dutcher Stearns, and older brother Stewart, Jr. Early years were very happy and carefree, despite WWII and its aftermath, and with a strong emphasis on hard work and personal responsibility in family and community. Susan enjoyed a variety of sports growing up, especially ice skating, and with tennis as a family favorite, she became an avid player. Her family moved to Cambridge, Mass in 1955 when her father left General Electric and took a position as Business Manager at Radcliffe College. In Boston, Susan attended the Buckingham Browne & Nichols school and in 1961 she graduated from Wheaton College, in Norton Mass, where she and her daughter were able to attend her 40th reunion in 2011.

Susan married and became a young mother of two soon after college and volunteered in multiple northeast communities with the Junior League and in Atlanta, after a move to Dunwoody, GA in 1975. Her children’s lives and activities became the foremost part of life for many years. She enjoyed playing ALTA tennis for a time but became burdened with a variety of orthopedic issues requiring surgery at a young age. This took her out of rigorous activities and a few years after relocating to Atlanta she became divorced from her first husband of 17 years, William McClung, Sr.

Susan was known widely for her caring and heartfelt nature and in the following years, she became very involved with Dunwoody United Methodist Church, volunteering, singing in the choir and eventually became a Stephen Minister. In 1982, she met John Robert Scott, whom she was happily married to for 24 years, and although they faced many health challenges together, they were

known by friends and family as a beacon of hope, strength, and perseverance. Susan spent much of her late adult years helping others, fundraising, and taking a keen interest in her family’s activities in Atlanta and on the West Coast. She and John loved to travel and she was also very proud of her New England heritage, which involved some very strong connections to key revolutionary war figures. This history became a fun topic during family gatherings, especially after she had moved her mother Louise to the Atlanta area in the late 1980’s. In her later years, she was challenged with mobility issues due to osteoarthritis and polymyositis but met these challenges with great stoicism and a positive attitude of gratitude and faithfulness.

Susan is predeceased by her parents and late brother Stewart P Stearns, Jr. (2007) of South Glens Falls, NY, and her late husband John R. Scott (2007), and stepson John R. Scott, Jr. (2022). She is survived by her son William S. McClung, Jr. of Dunwoody, GA; daughter Holly Reusing of Riverside, CA, and Thomas Reusing and granddaughters, Kendall and Emma Reusing; sister-in-law Christina Stearns and nieces Chrissie Drescher and Sara Stearns and family, of Vermont; stepdaughter Kathy Scott and Melanie Sherk of Petaluma, CA; daughter in law Mary Scott, and grandson Jack Scott, of Woodstock, GA, as well as many friends and extended family.

A celebration of life will be held at Dunwoody United Methodist Church at 2:00pm on Wednesday, October 19thin the chapel. The family will greet friends prior to the service in the church parlor at 1:00pm. It is requested that flowers be omitted and memorial contributions, if desired, may be made to Dunwoody United Methodist Church. Following the service, a dinner gathering will take place at Marlow’s Tavern from 4-6pm in Dunwoody Village for all who are able to attend.

Joros:

personal way, though their long-term impact on ecosystems is not known for certain.

Clearly, what is needed is more info! And so, possibly out of a vague sense of guilt over murdering that helpless spider whose only sin was to have taken up residence on the corner of my deck, I decided to attempt to redeem myself by participating in something called Joro Watch. Joro Watch is a new website developed by a whole bunch of interested folks, among them the spiderists (is that a word? If not, it should be) at the Uni versity of Georgia as well as something called the Southern Integrated Pest Man agement Center. This I picture as a forti fied bunker, possibly located deep inside Stone Mountain where even the most determined joro spider probably can’t get in. In my mind’s eye its walls are covered with high-tech maps and glowing com puter screens and lots and lots of flicker ing numbers. One of those numbers just decreased by one, from 88,325,286 to 88,325,285. That was me and my shovel. It’s nice to be appreciated.

But I digress. We were talking about Joro Watch, which lives at jorowatch.org.

Joro Watch is, according to the In terweb, “a monitoring program to collect data and better understand the current spread and distribution of joro spiders. You’ll like it for all sorts of reasons, not the least of which is a map showing

little tiny spot of green in Washington County, Okla. But if you live somewhere else and feel left out, don’t worry. It’s probably just a matter of time, and the map will help you know when it’s time to go dig out the old shovel.

Joro Watch really is kind of fun – and useful too. For example, it’ll help you figure out whether what you’re seeing is an honest-to-goodness Joro spider or one of its similar-looking cousins (such as our very own native yellow garden spiders). Adding your own observational data is easy, and there were even perks in the form of a chance to win custom

Joro Watch stickers too in the recent Joro Spider Spotting Contest, which ended Oct 15. Citizen science like this is usually its own reward, but free stuff doesn’t hurt.

Anyway, I just completed my latest Joro spider sighting report. I got an of ficial verification and a “Record ID” and everything. That’s pretty cool.

But wait. Is that another one on the other end of the deck?

Where did I put that shovel?

Solution

GATE AGAMA ATOM ASEA BENES MALI PANG EMITS IRIS ALIT MAE COVE ACER SALTWATER B RIS KET SOB

EDO SLEET ELAND T OUR SPARS ERIE ARSON STEAD ANA BAD SLOB BER

Call today to

Full-time

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.

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

Part Time

Building/Facilities Assistant Manager

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Requires successful completion of a criminal record and child abuse background check, a valid driver’s license and the ability to perform physical tasks. Full job description can be seen at https://alpharettapres. com/about-us/jobs/.

Qualified candidates please send resume to office@alpharettapres.com

Cemetery

ARLINGTON Side by side lawn crypts, Serenity Section, $16,000/both. 678-596-7455

ARLINGTON 2 plots, Garden G. Valued at $9800. Asking $6500. 404-285-0977

Musical Instruments

SPINET PIANO –lovely, plus bench. Maple finish. Free to good home! 770-451-9464

Deadline to place a Classified ad is Thursday at 5 pm

MARTINEZ MASONRY

Electricians

Electric

Garage Sale

HUNT still lives!

in Chamblee;

Peachtree Rd 30341.

DUNWOODY

Multi family. Hidden Branches Subdivision; 1250 Winding Branch Circle 30338. Fri day10/21 and Saturday 10/22, 9AM-4PM. Furniture, clothes, kids’ toys & bikes, home ac cessories, Christmas decor with ornaments & collegiate items; and much more, don’t miss it!

Retaining Walls

Brick or Wood

Diamonds

Watches

Brian Iroff GIA Graduate Gemologist