Dunwoody Crier - November 3, 2022

City weighs communications policy

follow complaints of mishandling public documents, exchanges

By LUKE GARDNER  newsroom@appenmedia.com

DUNWOODY, Ga. — Dunwoody city offi cials are weighing adopting a technology policy designed to increase transparency in government communications

The policy would require city employ ees to only use city email addresses and phones to conduct city business, which is standard practice in many govern ment organizations.

Mayor Lynn Deutsch noted that she used her personal cellphone to dis cuss city business for nearly a decade until an open records request had her spending hours trying to find mes sages.

The discussion came at the Oct. 24 City Council meeting and coincidentally followed public comment from resident Joe Hirsch, who lodged a series of com plaints about trying to gain access to public records.

Hirsch, a former City Council candi date, referenced an incident months ago in which he says he requested the text messages of City Manager Eric Litton and was told that the messages were no longer retrievable after Litton recently switched phones.

He said he also failed in his at tempts to track down communications and an official police report concerning a dispute between a Dunwoody police officer and a local business. He said his requests for text messages went unful filled, even though a phone bill invoice showed texts made on the phone the day of the alleged incident.

Hirsch accused city staff and those responsible for carrying out the Georgia Open Records law of failing to perform their duties.

Park site approved

Also at the meeting, the City Council approved the master plan for a future park at 5435 Roberts Drive, the site of the former Austin Elementary School. The park will include a nature trail, tennis and pickleball courts, public art, a children’s sensory ADA-compliant playground and multi-use sports fields. Councilmembers discussed potential ways to paint the turf for different sports on the multi-use fields, ultimately decid

MARTA selects interim director to come aboard as full-time CEO

By DAVE WILLIAMS Capitol Beat

ATLANTA — The MARTA executive who has been serv ing as interim general manager and CEO since January has been named to the post perma nently.

The transit agency’s board of directors chose Collie Greenwood Oct. 27 to head MARTA following a nationwide search.

GREENWOOD

“I am honored and humbled by this opportunity,” Greenwood said. “I love transit and have known since my days of driving a bus how vital it is to people and their communities.

“I am eager to get to work enhanc

FILE PHOTO

Dunwoody officials may adopt a policy requiring city employees to only use city email addresses and phones to conduct city business.

ing to reconvene on the subject.  After hearing from multiple con cerned residents, City Council decided to table a vote on approving the plans

on Vermack Road. While no attendees had problems with the construction of the park itself, several took issue with a proposed trail that would run through a section of the park, connecting the Village Mill and Heritage at Dunwoody neighborhoods. Residents expressed concerns about increased traffic, lack of privacy, littering and potential crime. One resident asked the city to release data from an electron ic survey that the city posted online in 2021 regarding the park’s construction.

In other business at the meeting, councilmembers approved the proposed 2023 budget. The budget includes a 4 percent market adjustment for city staff and a 20 hike in healthcare costs from the 2022 budget. The budget allocates almost $6 million for various paths and road resurfacing.

The council also approved an appli cation for the “Improving Neighborhood Outcomes in Disproportionally Impacted Communities” grant, which uses leftover COVID-19 state fiscal recovery funds to benefit low-income communities. If

the grant is awarded, the city will use the funds to construct a multi-use trail connecting Eidson Road and Cherry Hill Lane.

Upcoming items

Several items were introduced for discussion without formal action.

One such item dealt with the possi bility of easing alcohol licensing require ments. Planning & Zoning Manager Paul Leonhardt discussed the possibility of lowering the requirements businesses must meet to sell liquor in Dunwoody, taking special care to ensure no night clubs pop up as an unintended conse quence.

Currently, businesses that sell liquor in Dunwoody must garner at least 60 per cent of their income from food sales. One of the main proposed changes would lower that ratio to 50 percent and allow for other non-restaurant businesses to follow a similar model.

The Dunwoody Village Street Grid Project was also discussed. The project aims to turn existing parking lot space into street connections through the Dunwoody Village Shopping Center. The property owner, Regency Centers, plans to match the city’s $600,000 investment, and Mayor Deutsch suggested that Regency pave their lot and include more parking and greenspace as a part of the project.

MARTA:

ing and expanding service in the metro Atlanta region.”

Council: Is Your Company Hiring?

Greenwood rose through the ranks over 30 years to serve as chief service officer with the Toronto Transit Commission, the third largest transit system in North America.

He joined MARTA in July 2019 as chief of bus operations and urban plan ning. He was named deputy general manager of operations early last year, overseeing all bus and rail operations and helping to develop and deliver major capital projects.

Greenwood was named interim general manager and CEO in January of this year following the suicide death of MARTA chief Jeffrey Parker.

A search conducted by a consultant identified 11 candidates with varying back grounds in transportation and other busi ness sectors to replace Parker. The search committee interviewed five candidates and concluded Greenwood was the best fit for MARTA.

This story is available through a news partnership with Capitol Beat News Service, a project of the Georgia Press Educational Foundation.

Georgia State House, District 80

Republican: Brian Anderson

Democrat: Long Tran

How does your background equip you for the job you are seeking?

ANDERSON: As an engineer and attorney with considerable experience in both the private and public sectors, I bring an understanding of both worlds and how they can better work together. My diverse background provides an in-depth knowledge on many complex is sues, which will be of great value to the state legislature in crafting legislation. As an advocate of local control of govern ment, I drafted the city charters for both Dunwoody and Tucker, and fought for their cityhood. In my role as the first

city attorney for both Tucker and Dunwoody, I set up the courts and prosecuted cases.

Being a father of four children who attended public schools in DeKalb County, I strongly support teach ers and all efforts to improve local schools. I also support youth pro grams and green spaces. As a nuclear engineer, I understand the value of safe clean energy. I’ve studied economics and

have hands-on experience with, and understand ing of, the harm caused by over regulation by the government.

TRAN: My background includes being a small business owner, a father with kids in pub lic school, a dad who needs senior care, and a neighbor who sees parts of his community strug gling day by day. I believe my perspective and experiences provides insight into how government can uplift communities out of poverty, create jobs that provide dignity, and invest in our next genera tion to enter into careers that keep us safe. This will also help us be united as a state as we reduce poverty.

What role should government have in the lives of Georgians? How would you apply that philosophy to the job

Election coverage

In a project titled Georgia Decides, Atlanta Civic Circle and The Atlanta Journal-Constitution teamed up to provide voters with a side-by-side look at the candidates for office, their views on issues voters care about most, their party affiliation, and their history in elective politics. It is a non-partisan compilation of information, including responses to a candidate questionnaire, to ensure voters are informed before they cast their ballots.

Through a partnership with Atlanta Civic Circle, Appen Media is repub lishing the questionnaire portion of Georgia Decides after editing for grammar.

To view the full Georgia Decides election guide, please visit atlant aciviccircle.org or ajc.com.

ELLIJAY, GA

District:

you are seeking?

ANDERSON: Government should provide good schools and safe commu nities without encroaching upon civil liberties. Schools can be made better by allowing school choice (such as char ter schools or school choice vouchers). Also, parents should be informed on the curriculum and allowed to see all the educational materials provided in their public schools. Governments need to be tough on crime and ensure the court system actually prosecutes criminal activity. In addition, I am an avid sup porter of the outdoors and green spaces. However, governments have become too expansive and invasive. I will work to reduce unnecessary government regula tions and excess taxation.

TRAN: As a state representative I believe our role should be one that helps communities and industries flourish, and to be ranked best in the nation in areas such as education and health care outcomes.

If you are elected (or re-elected), what problems will you spend the most time solving and why?

ANDERSON: I will strive to support

local control by the citizenry, achieve great schools, build safer communities and promote smaller government. These are the areas that will make Georgia a better place to live, work and play.

TRAN: I will focus on modernizing how we fund our schools. I also will look into helping small businesses be cre ated to help meet the needs Georgia has with Hollywood and an emerging electric vehicle manufacturing industry.

Georgia is a politically diverse state. How will you work to represent Georgians whose political views differ from your own?

ANDERSON: Most people share common goals and desires such as good schools and safe communities. As a state representative, it will be my job to repre sent all Georgians in my district. Parents on both sides of the aisle want to know what is being taught to their children. Parents deserve to be heard without fear of repercussions or being criminally prosecuted for demanding that school boards listen to their concerns. Charter schools and school vouchers are not single-party issues. All people want safe communities where children can learn and play outdoors. Thus, governments need to be tough on crime and ensure the court system actually protects their citizens and prosecutes criminal activ ity. Solutions are only viable if they have

broad public support. It will be my job to find and advocate for effective solutions that solve these problems.

TRAN: I would listen and do re search to gain other perspectives that would help me represent differing politi cal views. Town halls are a great way to achieve this.

Who has been the biggest influence on how you view state government and politics? What have you learned from this person?

ANDERSON: Although there are many people I respect and admire, State Sen. Dan Weber from District 40 is at the top of my list. He held office in Geor gia from 2005 to 2011. Weber had the ability to work effectively with both sides of the aisle to draft legislation on topics that were important to Georgians. His passion to improve public schools and create more localized government that is accountable and more responsive to local communities was amazing. He was respected by legislators from both sides of the aisle and was well-known for his honesty. This trait allowed him to work effectively, draft and enact important legislation, including the charter for the city of Dunwoody. I hope to continue his legacy of working effectively with both sides of the aisle on all important issues that improve Georgia for all Georgians, including lower taxes, better schools and a more responsive govern ment.

TRAN: Former President Ronald Reagan was influential in understand ing how government works, knowing the importance of immigration and allowing states to be resourceful in creating jobs.

Georgia has a lot to offer current and potential residents, but many parts of the state are becoming increasingly unaffordable. Please

explain your proposed approach to address housing affordability through legislation and executive actions?

ANDERSON: Helping residents cope with high housing prices can best be accomplished by allowing residents to keep more of their hard-earned money and ensuring a vibrant growing economy that provides good jobs with high wages. I support reducing job-killing regulations and lowering taxes so that people can af ford housing and other necessities.

TRAN: We would need to incentivize builders to build more housing. We also need to fix transportation so that we can expand affordable housing into areas that would keep people close to where they work.

Politics is often about compromise. How do you decide when to compromise and take small, incremental wins, and when to refuse compromise?

ANDERSON: Broad public and po litical support on an issue is always the goal. Effective long-term solutions are always the best course of action. Poli cies that are rammed through tend to be destructive and highly divisive. The only time to refuse to compromise is when the legislation will hurt the average working person, damage the economy or violate the constitution.

TRAN: Compromise shouldn’t be a bad word. I would refuse to compromise if it hurts families that are already hurt ing. But I would compromise if it uplifts communities.

There were politicians who ques tioned the outcomes of Georgia elections in 2018 and 2020. Do you think Georgia’s elections are secure

Real Estate Brokerage

and will you stand by the results?

ANDERSON: Election integrity is vitally important to everyone who par ticipates in the democratic process. It is our responsibility to devise a system that ensures broad access and creates confidence in the result. However, it is imperative that both sides abide by the results of an election, otherwise anar chy ensues. Nevertheless, if election anomalies are alleged, they should be fully investigated and, if necessary, cor rected.

TRAN: Georgia’s elections were secure and, after watching recounts, I stand by the results.

In light of the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision on abortion, state law and local enforcement authority will determine access to abortion. If elected, how will you use your authority in the State House to influence abortion access or enforcement of abortion restrictions?

ANDERSON: This is a very difficult issue which people of good conscious can disagree on. However, there is wide spread agreement that the life of a baby should not be terminated late in the pregnancy. My position is that I support Georgia’s heartbeat bill.

TRAN: I would work to minimize the criminalization of women and medical professionals who are trying to save lives through abortion procedures.

Are there any programs/legislation you’ve sponsored or created to help people with disabilities?

ANDERSON: I feel strongly about this issue since I have family members and friends that have disabilities. Cur rently, the Americans with Disabilities Act is the law throughout the United States. The law is comprehensive and has well served a generation of disabled Americans. In addition, I support fund ing programs which provide assistance

to disabled vets who have served our country, and others who have been dis abled acting in service of the community, such as police and firefighters.

TRAN: No, unfortunately I am not an incumbent, but I have helped to raise funds for families with disabilities.

Georgia closed out its budget year with a “likely record surplus, billions of dollars in federal aid and a growing economy.” Georgia spends more than half of this money on education and health care. What would you want to see in the budget in terms of spending or taxes?

ANDERSON: Education and health are important to the people of Georgia. Any surplus should be spent on improv ing infrastructure, a portion placed in reserve for emergencies and disasters and, most importantly, a portion returned to the taxpayers who paid the taxes in the first place. Also, ground-up budgeting should be required of each department of the state in order to eliminate unneces sary or ineffective programs. After that, evaluate the feasibility of lowering or even eliminating state income taxes.

TRAN: I would like to see Georgia continue to invest in areas that will con tinue to grow revenue, but also focus on reducing disability waivers and increas ing access to technical colleges.

The Legislature often votes along party lines. When would you seek bipartisan action and what issues merit such consensus?

ANDERSON: I look forward to work ing with members of both parties toward controlling spending and promoting commerce in Georgia. Any action that increases the budget, hinders the private sector, infringes in any way on individ ual rights, or expands the government should require bipartisan support.

TRAN: I would seek bipartisan ac tion on every issue. The Georgia Leg islature votes together far more often than the public realizes. I would look for bipartisan support on reducing gun violence and reproductive rights.

Pet of the Week: Chive

Georgia State House, District 53

Temple aids Johns Creek students with fight against antiseminitism

SANDY SPRINGS, Ga. — Students at Johns Creek High School and mem bers of the Temple Emanu-El in Sandy Springs completed a fall planting project Oct. 18, planting daffodil bulbs together to fight antisemitism.

Temple members provided funds to buy bulbs and supplies that enabled nearly 30 JCHS students to plant bulbs during the Daffodil Project, a worldwide initiative to honor and remember the children murdered during the Holocaust during World War II.

“Temple Emanu-El’s support of the Daffodil Project is a constructive way of combating antisemitism and creates awareness of those currently suffering human rights crises throughout the world,” Temple officials said. “Working with a variety of local schools, the aim is to engage students – the next genera tion – to fight hate, especially Jewish hate, and to have this effort grow locally and nationally.”

Over 758,000 bulbs have been planted worldwide to date for the project, officials said. The goal is to plant 1.5

PROVIDED

Volunteers around the world have planted more than 758,000 daffodil bulbs to honor children murdered during the Holocaust.

million bulbs to represent the number of children murdered during the Holocaust.

Temple officials hope to involve other local schools in the program for future years.

Chive (ID# 51086047) is a 2-yearsold cutie, weighing in about 38 lbs. Smaller in stature, Chive is the perfect apartment pup. He’s wiggly and friendly, loves to go for walks and play outdoors.  When playtime is over, he doesn’t mind a good cuddle or two. He may be house trained and can’t wait to share his life with you.

Our shelters are full of incred ible pets waiting for homes, and to them, your love is priceless!  Let’s “Clear The

Shelter!” $20 Adoptions. We must find 500 homes; will yours be one of them? Expand your family by 4 furry little feet; meet Chive and have a loving friend forever.  All adoptions include spay/neuter, vaccinations and micro chip.  If you would like more infor mation about Chive please call (404) 294-2165 or email adoption@dekalbani malservices.com all potential adopters will be screened to ensure Chive goes to a good home.

Your Dunwoody Neighbor & Trusted Real Estate Advisor

“My goal is to get my sellers the most equity out of their home and secure the best deal for my buyers via my expertise, network and the Ansley Advantage!”

Republican: Deborah Silcox Democrat: Kelly Coffman Kelly Coffman and Deborah Silcox did not respond to the questionnaire.

Janet Gray, 21 aliases and a home on Happy Hollow Road

The history of Cassidy-Lamb House on W. Fontainebleau Court has been recorded in this column on more than one occasion and included the original owner, Clara Cassidy, followed by Baxter and Midge Maddox, Harold and Char lotte Ebersole and more recently, Ken and Brenda Lamb.

ing her years as a criminal across the United States and in Europe. When she arrived in Decatur, she applied for a job as office manager for a group of doctors.

VALERIE BIGGERSTAFF

Thanks to the DeKalb History Center, I recently learned the surprising story of another owner in the 1950s, Margaret Burton aka Janet Gray, often referred to as Mrs. Gray.

Marissa Howard, Programs and Membership coordinator at DeKalb His tory Center, made the connection that the house Gray lived in on Happy Hollow Road and the Happy Hollow summer home I have written about were the same. The story of Gray and her crimes in Decatur, Georgia, are included in a 2019 blog post at dekalbhistory.org titled, “True Crime-Margaret Burton aka Mrs. Gray.”

Gray had at least 22 aliases dur

Her appearance, manner and stories led people to believe she was a wealthy so cialite. She was 51 years old, described with long silver hair and youthful skin. She claimed her father was president of Panama, that she owned mining inter ests in Colorado, and that her hus band was a colonel who had died. Her husband was a hotel night manager in Athens, Georgia.

Gray impressed the doctors and was given the job. Her salary was $400 per month. A University of Georgia student working in the office reported that Gray usually came in to work in the morning, left about 10 a.m. to 11 a.m., and re turned much later in the afternoon. She may have been out shopping because information surfaced later about charge account balances owed at several retail stores. Gray owed $1,600 at the Leon Frohsin store in Atlanta, where she had bought over 50 hats. She owed $300 and $400 at two other stores and $30 to a photographer.

See PAST, Page 16

Tucker

GUY HAYES COLLECTION, DEKALB HISTORY CENTER ARCHIVES

Margaret Burton, aka Janet Gray, is surrounded by reporters upon her return to Atlanta on Aug. 29,1957.

Can the pace of home remodeling continue?

issues are prospering.

Throughout 2021 home remodel ing seemed virtually unaffected by the Covid pandemic. Home sales continue to be robust, but the pace of home remodeling is even greater. New home buyers tend to remodel as soon as they move into their new home, but the remodeling craze seems to apply to everyone. “Our Kitchen and Bathroom remodeling business has experienced a 75% year over year increase” says John Hogan, president of Remodeling Expo Center, “and we don’t see any slowdown in sight.”

There’s been a rapid change to supply chains in our entire economy and while some businesses are suf fering, others are prospering. Demand for products and services are at record levels and businesses are required to re-think their supply chain from end to end; those businesses that creative ly maneuver around the supply chain

“Last year we re-focused all of our purchasing to those suppliers with local inventory, so we get instant ac cess to products, then we diverted custom built products to smaller, more nimble suppliers, and finally we began to inventory some items so our remodeling jobs could get started faster and eliminate job progress interruptions. These changes weren’t easy but without them we couldn’t be in the hyper-growth mode that we’re presently experiencing, says Bobbie Kohm, Vice President of Remodeling Expo Center, “Turnkey Design-Build companies, like us, keep the process very simple.”

Low interest rates are going to be around for a long time and investment in our homes is likely to continue. For more information on Remodeling Expo Center (RemodelingExpo.com), contact them at their showroom at 48 King Street in Roswell or at 404-910-3969.

Brought to you by – Remodeling Expo Center

Why using an agent is still the best way to sell your home GRIFFIN

Brought to you by - Dan Griffin, Broker/ Realtor Compass, Inc.

The real estate industry has changed over the last few years as iBuyers have become more and more common. IBuyers are large companies that buy and resell homes without using a real estate agent. In fact, you may have seen their advertising, which insists that sellers don’t need to use an agent to sell their home. However, there are many advantages to listing your home with an agent.

A local real estate agent is an expert on your neighborhood. Un like an iBuyer, a local agent has realworld experience in your area. They’ll have their finger on the pulse of the current real estate trends. They’ve also spent their whole career building up a network of potential buyers.

Real estate agents offer consulta tion on the entire process. Selling a home can be a complicated process

with many parties involved. A real estate agent can help you navigate each step and answer all your questions along the way. From home inspections, property appraisals, contract conditions, financing, and closing, your agent will be your guide. For most people, selling their home is the largest financial translation they’ll go through, so it pays to have a trusted advisor.

An agent can make sure you maximize your sell ing price. A local real estate agent will have a clear idea of the sale prices of comparable properties in your area. With this knowledge, they’ll be able to help you get the best price for your home. When listing with an agent, they may be able to obtain offers from multiple interested buyers as well. This gives you an even better chance of selling for the highest price possible.

Dan Griffin Broker/Realtor Compass, Inc.

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INVESTMENT COACH

Good intentions, unintended consequences and your money

As a consumer, investor and a saver for “rainy day” and future-focused goals and objectives, you must ask key questions. What are you to make of pessimistic cli mate change and global warming scenarios? How do you balance global concerns against personal needs to feed your family, gas up your car, while perhaps saving for long-term goals such as own ing a home, funding for educations, and enjoying a comfortable retirement?

The approach taken by the Biden administration relative to climate change issues has a direct impact on the buy ing power of your money, driven to some extent by the “law of unintended consequences.” Margaret J. Wheatley, author and organizational change ex pert, asserts, “Probably the most visible example of unintended consequences is what happens every time humans try to change the natural ecology of a place.”

Every time we mess with the planet, even with the best of intentions, often there are unintended consequences.

Governments, especially in Europe and America largely have embraced “green new deal” initiatives. But the sun doesn’t shine 24/7. Wind doesn’t always blow. Draught in some areas has impaired hydroelectric power produc tion. Electric power in some locales cannot meet growing needs. As we see current limitations on clean energy and a continued demand for fossil fuels, political and economic conflicts must be reckoned with, regardless of where one stands politically relative to climate change debates.

OPEC’s decision to decrease oil production increases global inflationary pressures. The prospect of rising prices and potential shortages here at home, a very cold winter in Europe due to depen dence on Russian natural gas for heating, and more supply chain issues related to energy shortages and costs, have pre cipitated a growing round of government interventions in the marketplace.

Ludwig von Mises (1881-1973), the esteemed Austrian School economist, historian, and sociologist, warned, “Every government intervention [in the marketplace] creates unintended conse quences, which lead to calls for further government interventions.” This reality will continue to vex market prognosti cators and consumers worried about “bread and butter” issues.

As an offshoot to climate change concerns, environmental, social and governance (ESG) issues complicate the energy conundrum. ESG emerged as an idea focused on corporate interests re lated to sustainable and ethical impacts, often attached to global warming issues. In tandem with the Biden administra tion’s actions regarding pipelines and production of oil and natural gas on

federal lands, incentives for banks and large investment firms, as well as oil and natural gas producers, to invest in fossil fuel production as well as a needed expansion of refinery capacity, were reduced. Even if you’re a “hands off” index fund investor, you have a dog in the fight over fossil fuels. ExxonMobil Corp., Chevron, and ConocoPhillips rank among the top 50 stocks in the S&P 500 Index based on market capitalization, and their dividends are important to many retirees. Mutual funds and retire ment plans invest in indexes as well as blue chip stocks.

Even if you own an electric vehicle, there’s no escaping the Law of Unin tended Consequences. Electric bills are rising, as are costs to build and maintain home and highway charging stations. The Jobs Act of 2021 allocated billions to repair roads and bridges. But as Jacob Borden, associate professor of chemical and bio-process engineering at Trine University (formally Tri-State University) in Angola, Indiana, pointed out, you can’t build roads without oil. (Wall Street Journal, 10/6/22). As phalt is a byproduct of fuel production. Thirty percent of fuel production goes into byproducts like asphalt, sheath on electrical wires and cell phones, IV bags, pill casings, synthetics for clothing, etc. Eliminate fuel production, and what happens to essential byproducts and the costs to produce those? Unintended consequences.

With America no longer energy in dependent, relative to the production of gasoline, diesel, bunker fuel for ships (warships included), and aviation fuel, we become increasingly reliant on current and future hostile governments. Many of the everyday products we consume de pend on China, an authoritarian regime that controls much of the exotic minerals,

solar panels, windmill parts, etc., that power green dreams and an unintended consequence driven by globalism.

The fact that energy costs are linked to virtually everything else is a harsh reality. Persistent inflationary pressures are likely to push the Fed eral Reserve Bank to hike interest rates more aggressively. Global warming may be a concern, but so will freezing Europeans due to a shortage of lique fied natural gas (LNG). It takes natural gas to make fertilizers essential to crop yields, raising specters of starvation among poorer citizens in less devel oped countries. Schemes surrounding carbon taxes will hurt the poor every where.

On the bright side, difficulties and challenges often yield creative solutions. Political power may shift, as disgruntled consumers call for change as we saw in Italy. Out of common-sense neces sity related to security, America may yet return to being a dominant producer of oil and natural gas, the latter a relatively clean “bridge fuel” as we solve problems related to renewable energy.

Entrepreneurs, inventors, designers, and risk-takers will come to the fore with new ideas, processes, products, and inventions. Progress often is a child born of necessity in times of difficulty. Hang in there, pilgrim, and bet on yourself!

Lewis Walker, CFP®, is a life centered financial planning strategist with Capi tal Insight Group; 770-441-3553; lewis@ lewwalker.com. Securities & advisory services offered through The Strategic Financial Alliance, Inc. (SFA). Lewis is a registered representative and investment adviser representative of SFA, otherwise unaffiliated with Capital Insight Group.

He’s a Gallup Certified Clifton Strengths Coach and Certified Exit Planning Advisor.

Past:

She bought a $6,000 pink Lincoln and four other cars. The Lincoln later was used for the getaway of Gray and her daughter Shelia Joy. Shelia Joy was known by neighbors on Happy Hollow Road as Candy Laine or Candace Victo ria Lane, Gray’s niece.

Gray kept 40 show dogs at the Happy Hollow property. One dog was a cocker spaniel that won awards at the Westmin ster Dog Show in 1956. Another went by the name Capital Gains. Gray entered her dogs in the Columbus, Georgia, Kennel Club’s annual dog show for two

years. Those who met her in Columbus were shocked when they learned she was a thief.

In the 1950s, many people paid cash for their doctor visits. Gray was pocketing all the cash paid by patients at the Decatur office. This went unno ticed for a long time, until an accoun tant was called in for an audit and discovered her thievery. When Gray heard an audit was planned on July 19, 1957, she fled Decatur and Geor gia. She arranged for the dogs to travel by moving van and sadly they did not all survive the trip.

She made the mistake of securing a bookkeeper job in a doctor’s office in Tulsa, Oklahoma, thinking she could get away with it again. An office employee

saw the Decatur story in the Tulsa news papers and informed the doctors. Mother and daughter were captured by the FBI in Tulsa, and charged with transporting stolen property across state lines.

In February of 1958 Janet Gray ap peared at DeKalb Superior Court for em bezzling $186,757 from the clinic where she worked. This was the second trial, as the first ended in a mistrial. “Mrs. Burton admitted she bought three hous es, expensive automobiles, show dogs, furniture and a swimming pool, she said she used the rest of the money for lavish living for herself and her daughter.”

Gray was indicted on Feb. 8, 1958, with two counts of larceny. When she heard that she could serve two to five years at Reidsville State Prison, she fainted.

Sheila Joy Gray left Atlanta in Sep tember of 1957 and went to live with an uncle. Janet Gray served 18 months before being extradited to California to face additional charges. She spent 240 days in jail in California. Then she was deported for “failure to keep the Gov ernment informed of her address and conviction of two crimes involving moral turpitude and criminal misconduct.” She eventually returned to California to live the remainder of her life.

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.

LEWIS J. WALKER, CFP

Progress often is a child born of necessity in times of difficulty. Hang in there, pilgrim, and bet on yourself!”

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Where shopping is (still) a pleasure

I read this week that Kroger, the second largest grocer in the country, plans to buy Albertson’s, the fourth largest grocer, pending regulatory ap proval. The combined company would close the market-share gap with the largest grocer in the country, Walmart.

In the business world, “scale” is the key, or so the general held belief holds. The combined company – if the merger goes through – would have around 5,000 stores and almost 750,000 employees. But, at what cost?

I shop at Publix, not Kroger, even though I think that Kroger is probably often cheaper. Why? Well for a number of reasons. I grew up in Florida where Publix is based, in Lakeland. I love their Key Lime pie. I feel at home in their wide aisles and in the smaller stores. When I shop, I know exactly where in the store I need to go that is, unless I am shopping for Christina. Often, she sends me to buy obscure things that even Publix employees struggle to locate. But that is another column for another time.

My Publix stores are incredibly clean – like cleaner than a hospital – always. That is a big deal to me. Publix employ ees are friendly, too, and they want to help – like always. Plus, they are there, the Publix worker-bees, unlike at the other grocers. Again, it’s a big deal to me that when I need help, there is almost always someone nearby to ask for that help.

Many things about Publix remind me of that TV show “Cheers,” a place where “everybody knows your name” and where you can go and feel like someone actually cares.

Today, “scale” seems so critical to large businesses. In theory it drives prices down and profits up because

More is not always better. Cheaper is not always really cheaper. Substituting machines for humans in the long run sometimes actually costs more. Sometimes ‘enough’ is better, healthier than ‘more.’”

businesses are able to purchase goods in larger quantities. But again, what is the cost; what is lost when “scale” is the core business mantra? Perhaps a lot is lost.

When you get in line to pay at Publix, you pay a cashier, a real live flesh-andblood human; same deal with my other favorite retailer, Costco. When you pay at many of the other big retail chains, instead of paying a human, you often pay a machine. Think Lowes. Think Kroger. Think more and more of the big boxes. Sure, these chains are able to hire fewer people and be more profitable. Nothing wrong with that, right? Maybe. Maybe not.

When I go into a store or a service of any kind, the attitude of the employees is a big deal to me. Are they positive? Do they seem happy, or are they walking around like semi zombies being forced to sell their time because they have bills to pay? How does management quantify that? Should they?

When I shop at Publix or Costco, I feel like I am in a place where everybody knows my name, even if they don’t. When I shop there, it is obvious to me

that the employees are not just putting in their time; they seem positive and glad to be there. They appear to have pride in being a part of what they do for a living. And if that is how they feel, I know that most likely reflects how they are treated by management and that how they feel must be at least as big a priority – if not more so – than “scale” to management.

These non-quantifiable things make me want to shop there, to be there. There is much value-added to me, enough to justify paying more. Nothing about that “feeling” though seems directly quantifiable or directly related to a better bottom line or to scale. Despite that, it is a priority; it is part of that corporate culture and value set at Publix and Costco. Why? How is that working for those two companies?

One of my favorite things about shopping at Costco is their “lunch area” where you can buy a jumbo hotdog and a cold drink for like $1.50, or a slice of pizza or ice cream for an equally small amount of money, and sit down right there in the store and have lunch. I read recently that a new CEO was named for Costco and one of the first things he did was to try to raise the rates of those hotdogs and pizzas to make the lunch area more profitable. “Over my dead body,” was the response that arrived to the CEO from the founder/chairman of the board.

My point is that today when scale and profitability increasingly are the single driving force in our lives, we must be very careful to not miss the costs that come with that business model and mindset – the human costs.

More is not always better. Cheaper is not always really cheaper. Substituting machines for humans in the long run sometimes actually costs more. Some times “enough” is better, healthier than “more.”

So that is why I shop at Publix –where shopping is (still) a pleasure.

Thank you George Jenkins.

NOTICES

Katherine Coleman, 73, of Alpharetta, passed away October 23, 2022. Arrangements by Northside Chapel Funeral Directors & Crematory.

Helen Harris, 72, of Clarksville, passed away October 24, 2022. Arrangements by Ingram Funeral Home & Crematory.

Melvin Knowles, 98, of Alpharetta, passed away October 25, 2022. Arrangements by Northside Chapel Funeral Directors & Crematory.

Elizabeth Morley, 69, of Roswell, passed away October 21, 2022. Arrangements by Northside Chapel Funeral Directors & Crematory.

Robert O’Hagen, 84, of Alpharetta, passed away October 22, 2022. Arrangements by Northside Chapel Funeral Directors & Crematory.

Rose Webb, 95, of Alpharetta, passed away October 21, 2022. Arrangements by Northside Chapel Funeral Directors & Crematory.

Benjamin Winkler, 28, of Roswell, passed away October 24, 2022. Arrangements by Northside Chapel Funeral Directors & Crematory.

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