As dusk settles at Brook Run Park Dec. 1, members of the Dunwoody City Council flip the switch on the Mega Tree at the fifth annual Holiday Lights celebration.
Brook Run Park glows at Holiday Lights gala
Youngsters wave from inside illuminated faux igloo geo-domes, a popular reprieve from 40-degree temperatures Dec. 1 during Holiday Lights at Brook Run Park.
By HAYDEN SUMLIN hayden@appenmedia.com
DUNWOODY, Ga. — Scores of Dunwoody residents gathered at Brook Run Park Dec. 1 for the opening night festivities of Holiday Lights.
The fifth annual celebration has become a popular holiday tradition, which began in 2020 as an effort to bring the community together.
The crowd of a few hundred at Brook Run Park was on the youthful side, with kids running around the illuminated playground and checking out various displays.
See LIGHTS, Page 4
Dunwoody, Perimeter CIDs partner to build path network
By HAYDEN SUMLIN hayden@appenmedia.com
DUNWOODY, Ga. — The Dunwoody City Council approved a cost-sharing agreement with the Perimeter Center Community Improvement Districts Nov. 25 to extend cycle tracks along Ashford Dunwoody Road.
The joint project addresses the shared goal of increasing mobility and transportation options in Central Perimeter, crucial to the city’s economic development and the district’s needed
infrastructure projects.
Public Works Director Michael Smith reviewed completed work on the Ashford Dunwoody Road cycle track and introduced future build-out of the Central Perimeter trail network.
“Phase two is a part of a larger effort to provide highquality bicycle and pedestrian connections within Perimeter and to other surrounding areas,” Smith said. “Phase two includes extending that two-way cycle
See PATH, Page 12
PERIMETER CIDS/PROVIDED A map shows the geographical reach of the Perimeter Community Improvement Districts, a self-taxing commercial area split between Fulton and DeKalb counties. The Dunwoody City Council discussed a cost-sharing agreement with the Perimeter CIDs Nov. 25 for construction of a multi-use trail along Ashford Dunwoody Road.
PHOTOS BY: HAYDEN SUMLIN/APPEN MEDIA
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Sandy Springs Police look to form own SWAT team
By AMBER PERRY amber@appenmedia.com
SANDY SPRINGS, Ga. — The Sandy Springs Police Department is looking to leave the North Metro Special Weapons and Tactics team to form its own squad.
Founded in 2009, North Metro SWAT is a multi-jurisdictional tactical team that consists of the Sandy Springs,
POLICE BLOTTER
All crime reports published by Appen Media Group are compiled from public records. Neither the law enforcement agencies nor Appen Media Group implies any guilt by publishing these names. None of the persons listed has been convicted of the alleged crimes.
Police arrest customer for threatening behavior
DUNWOODY, Ga. — Police arrested a 52-year-old Atlanta man Nov. 20 after he allegedly threatened the lives of law enforcement officers, patrons and employees at the Buffalo Wild Wings off Hammond Drive.
Officers said they responded to complaints about a disorderly person who was refusing to pay for his meal and refusing to leave the restaurant.
The manager said the man was disturbing customers by yelling, cursing, repeating racial slurs and stating several times that he would murder people around him.
Officers said the suspect initially disregarded their presence before he started threatening to shoot them in the face.
When officers gave verbal commands for the suspect to put his hands behind his back, the man resisted and continued threatening them until they deployed a taser.
Officers said no weapons were found on the suspect.
First, officers transported the suspect to Northside Hospital for medical clearance. They then transported him to DeKalb
Johns Creek, Dunwoody, Chamblee and Brookhaven police departments.
Member officers who have gone through specialized training cross jurisdictional lines to respond to hostage situations, barricaded suspects, heavily armed criminal engagement, counterterrorism, active assailants and dignitary protection.
Sandy Springs Police Public
County Jail for terroristic threats, obstruction of law enforcement and theft of services.
Hayden Sumlin
11 people arrested in prostitution sting
DUNWOODY, Ga. — Dunwoody Police conducted a human trafficking operation Nov. 21 at Le Méridien hotel off Perimeter Center West, arresting nine suspects for prostitution and two for pimping.
The police report did not provide the name or location of the Dunwoody hotel. A separate arrest report revealed the location of the trafficking operation.
An undercover Dunwoody officer said he visited various websites used to advertise for sex work, or prostitution.
The arrests occurred the evening of Nov. 21 and into early Nov. 22.
On each occasion, the undercover officer called prostitutes and asked them to meet him at the hotel. He said the sex workers met him in the hotel lobby before heading up to the designated room to conclude the exchange of money for sex.
The suspects were taken into custody and asked if they were being sex trafficked by another person and needed resources to escape their situation.
All of those arrested stated they were not being trafficked and declined offers for assistance.
The arrests for violating the city’s ordinance on prostitution included: a
Information Officer Sgt. Leon Millholland said the department will stay on North Metro SWAT until Dec. 31, and then stand up on its own team Jan. 1.
“The decision was made to have our own SWAT team dedicated to the citizens and businesses of Sandy Springs,” Millholland said.
See SWAT, Page 15
57-year-old Smyrna woman, a 24-yearold Ellenwood man, a 25-year-old Chamblee woman, a 25-year-old Atlanta woman, a 22-year-old Riverdale woman, a 30-year-old Miami woman and a 30-year-old Duluth woman.
County records show all were bonded out of DeKalb County Jail Nov. 22
After speaking with the last two women, officers said they were able to identify two suspects who dropped them off, a 30-year-old Miami man and a 23-year-old Illinois man.
While the report from Dunwoody officers did not mention their arrest, DeKalb County Jail records show both were booked Nov. 22 for violating the city’s ordinance on pimping.
Both men were bonded out the following day.
Officers said they noticed a suspect dropping off the Riverdale woman in a Chevrolet Malibu. They arrested the driver, a 26-year-old Riverdale man, whom they’d seen returning to a parking lot near the hotel three times.
During the traffic stop, officers said they found 15 grams of marijuana and a .38 special Charter Arms revolver reported stolen out of Milledgeville.
Officers transported him to DeKalb County Jail for possession of marijuana, theft by receiving stolen property and driving while unlicensed.
Dunwoody Police told Appen Media Nov. 27 that the cases are still active and no further information can be released.
Haim Haviv Owner
Hayden Sumlin
OPINION
A goat farm on Chamblee Dunwoody Road
Herbert and Bonnie Tye West owned a goat farm along Chamblee Dunwoody Road in the 1930s. The address was Route 2, Chamblee, south of where Chamblee Dunwoody Road and Peeler Road meet. They were neighbors to the Dempsey, Marchman and James Donaldson families.
Herbert West owned West Lumber Company, with locations at Piedmont Avenue in Atlanta and in Scottdale. However, his Westwyndes Goat Dairy in the country seems to be a mission for better health through goat milk. The goat farm covered 165 acres. Westwynde grade-A goat milk was advertised as easier to digest and helpful to those suffering from stomach issues. West described it as “…one of the finest and most nourishing foods in existence.”
According to West, goat milk would also benefit those with asthma, eczema and kidney troubles. He proclaimed it would help middle aged people stay young and vigorous. Atlanta drug stores, including Pitts and Bennett and Jacobs Pharmacy, began stocking Westwynde goat milk. (Atlanta Constitution, April 2, 1934, “Westwyndes Goat Milk Sold to Two Atlanta Drugstores”) Katherine Rudaseal, home demonstration agent for DeKalb County, remembered the West family goat farm as the only one of its kind in the county. Bonnie West hosted the local Home Demonstration Club at her
SPREAD HOLIDAY CHEER
This advertisement for Westwyndes Goat Dairy in Chamblee appeared in the Dec.19,1932,
converted barn home. The home “…had a large sunroom with window seats on three sides of it which made a wonderful meeting room.” (“The Story of Dunwoody,” by Elizabeth L. Davis and Ethel W. Spruill)
The milking barn was 24 feet wide and 80 feet long, with two stories. Feed was dropped through a trap door. West described his Nubian breed goats as so particular they would not touch food that is not clean and fresh.
Much of the farm was covered with underbrush, delicious eating for goats. In addition, 65 acres was used to grow feed.
According to census records, the goat farm was not the location of their primary residence in 1930, but it became Bonnie’s home in 1940 after Herbert West died in 1939. In 1940, records show she lived with her 25-year-old son who had taken over management of West Lumber.
Westwynde was managed by H.G. Tye and his wife. Bonnie West’s name before she married was Tye, so a family connection seems likely.
Just as school groups made trips to Mathis Dairy to see how a dairy with cows operated, and to milk Rosebud, students were invited to take field trips to Westwyndes Goat Dairy. While there, they were told the benefits of drinking goat milk.
This article includes all the results of my research into the West family and Westwyndes Goat Dairy. As to the health benefits of goat milk, well, this is a history column not a health and wellness column.
Award-winning author Valerie Biggerstaff is a longtime columnist for Appen Media and the Dunwoody Crier. She lives in Atlanta. You can email Valerie at pasttensega@ gmail.com or visit her website at pasttensega.com.
Please tip your delivery person during holiday season of giving
The holiday season is a time for giving, gratitude and spreading cheer. As we gather with loved ones and reflect on the year gone by, it’s also a wonderful opportunity to recognize the hard work of those who make our everyday lives a little brighter. Among them are the dedicated individuals who deliver your free community newspaper each week.
Our newspaper delivery people work tirelessly to ensure you receive your paper promptly, no matter the weather. Whether
it’s a crisp autumn morning, a snowy winter dawn or a rainy day, they are up early, making sure you have the latest news and stories delivered right to your driveway. Their efforts keep our community connected, informed and engaged.
Given their dedication and the extra challenges they often face — especially during the colder months — now is the perfect time to show your appreciation with a holiday tip. A small gesture of thanks can go a long way in making their season a little brighter.
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For many delivery people, this work is more than just a job, it’s a commitment to serving their community. Many of them work long hours and face challenging weather conditions, especially during the winter months. Your tip is not only a way to say "thank you" but also an acknowledgment of their consistent effort to keep you informed and connected to your community.
This holiday season, let's come together as a community to show our appreciation for those who make our lives a little easier. A small gesture can have a big impact, reminding us all of the joy and kindness that the holidays are all about.
VALERIE BIGGERSTAFF Columnist
Lights:
Continued from Page 1
A majority of the 100,000 lights are in between Peeler Road and Georgia Way South to the east of the skate park. With the sun setting before 5:30 pm. this time of year, the lights keep the playground open to children longer.
Popular attractions included the penguin near Peeler Road, sleds off the Dunwoody Trailway and the Dunwoody Preservation Trusts’ cookie decorating station.
The themes at the opening night festivities for Holiday Lights were cheerfulness and community.
There were long lines of eager youngsters waiting for their chance to pen a letter to Santa Claus. Another queue formed a few feet away to send a little holiday cheer to seniors living at assisted living communities across the city.
By the time City Councilman Tom Lambert began the countdown to illuminate the Mega Tree, it really felt like the holidays at Dunwoody’s Brook Run Park.
Two Dunwoody elementary schoolers enjoy the seesaw in front of the illuminated penguin at the Brook Run Park playground Dec. 1 during Holiday Lights. A few hundred people turned up for opening night festivities of the fifth annual community celebration, running through Dec. 31.
valid at the Dunwoody location from 10am-1pm, 12/5 through 12/21. Cannot be
PHOTOS BY: HAYDEN SUMLIN/APPEN MEDIA
A child rests on his father’s shoulders for a perfect view of the Mega Tree at Dunwoody’s Holiday Lights Dec. 1. The display, which includes more than 100,000 lights, will shine throughout December at the Brook Run Park playground.
Gwinnett Tech administrator to head governmental affairs
GWINNETT
COUNTY, Ga. — Gwinnett
Technical College has appointed Melvin Everson vice president of Community and Government Affairs.
Everson had previously served as vice president of Economic Development. The college will conduct a nationwide search to replace him.
“We are excited about Melvin’s transition to this critical role,” President Glen Cannon said. “His expertise and dedication will be invaluable as we continue to build strong, mutually beneficial relationships with our community and government partners.”
In a statement, the college said Everson is uniquely qualified and brings a wealth of experience and proven track record in economic development.
“His leadership will be instrumental in advancing our goals and positively impacting the communities we serve,” the statement said.
Everson will be responsible for a number of duties, including community engagement, government relations and public affairs.
He will lead outreach programs, community development projects and partnerships with local organizations to foster relationships with communities.
He will manage interactions with government officials and organizations to advocate for policies that support the college’s mission.
Before joining the college, Everson
GWINNETT TECHNICAL COLLEGE/PROVIDED Before his appointment, Melvin Everson served as vice president of Economic Development at Gwinnett Tech. He will be responsible for community engagement, government relations and public affairs.
served as executive director of the Governor’s Office of Workforce Development and the Georgia Commission of Equal Opportunity. He also served as a state representative for Georgia’s House District 106, on the Snellville City Council, and in the U.S. Army. He holds a Bachelor of Science in criminology from Albany State University.
— Jon Wilcox
FlameTree Glass teaches craft with care
Key element of class is to overcome fear
By AMBER PERRY amber@appenmedia.com
ROSWELL, Ga. — Maureen Buckley
McRorie and her husband Lance McRorie take great care in their craft and dedicate much of their business to sharing it with others.
They specialize in glass blowing at the torch, rather than the older technique of the furnace, and have built their lives around it for more than two decades.
The McRories’ shop FlameTree Glass, Inc. off Warsaw Road in Roswell is part gallery and part workshop space. They also sell glass supplies, but on a small scale, for mostly locals. Competition became nearly impossible when glass supply warehouses, equipped with forklifts, entered the scene.
Maureen said glass blowing is a meditative and therapeutic process. Working with a hot flame requires a certain level of attention.
“It puts you in the moment, and you just start melting, and then two hours have gone by like that,” she said, snapping her fingers. “So that's why
AMBER PERRY/APPEN MEDIA
FlameTree Glass owners Maureen Buckley McRorie and husband Lance McRorie, specialize in glass blowing at the torch. They sell finished pieces, do commissions within any budget, and offer a variety of classes at all levels.
people get real addicted to it.”
Lance called the process a “Zen space,” so long as everything is going to plan.
“Glass is moving, right, and it keeps you present because you have to move with it,” he said. “And, when you're in that state, time is not linear anymore. All the problems of the world are gone. You're relaxed, and you're immersed in this.”
They took up the craft in 1999.
Maureen was into beading, buying her supplies from Beads by Design in
Marietta, and found out she could make her own. So, she and Lance signed up for a bead-class, and from there, their beads started selling, and people began asking to take classes.
“We were like, ‘No way,’” Maureen said. They made a couple of moves since then, from Orlando, Florida, to a shopping center off South Atlanta Street. Maureen and Lance found the current location in 2017, opening two years later but closed soon afterward when the COVID-19 pandemic struck.
Impact of pandemic
The business hasn’t totally recovered from the pandemic, with only a couple of people stopping by that day. Maureen and Lance also used to hold master classes, but student interest has waned.
“The whole industry after COVID has just really gone down,” Maureen said.
The signatures of all the expert glass craftspeople who led master classes at FlameTree are spread out along the metal hood over the studio table.
Lance said he has always participated in the master classes held at the shop, working to build his skill.
“They're just at such a high level,” he said. “Every time they come back in front of me, I feel like an infant.”
Meanwhile, he said Maureen has only taken two to three official classes but manages to pick up the skill nearinstantly.
She loves sculpting and works mostly in soft glass, as it’s less fussy and stubborn than hard glass, which has a slower heating process and quicker cooling process, forcing you to work, or blow, fast.
Intricate lamps are one of her specialties, building a metal armature frame then attaching glass, made on the wire.
“A lot of this is recycled out of the trash bucket,” she said.
Some can be seen on the walls in the gift shop, along with her watercolor
paintings and fabric work, also an abundance of glass jewelry pieces. There’s finished pieces, but they offer commissioned work for any budget.
Hard glass is a medium Lance uses often because of his knack for goblets, forging whimsical stems of different animals and other shapes. Dozens are on display in the shop.
He takes influence from Asian culture, at one point flipping through a book showcasing Chinese folk art. Loren Stump, a master, captivated Lance with his own interest and experiences teaching in Japan.
Joy in teaching
While business isn’t what it used to be, they do have a busy schedule this time of year, teaching students how to blow their own holiday decorations.
In the studio downstairs, Lance was preparing icicles at his workstation, an organized mess of tools in all shapes and sizes and with different uses at the end of a long table where students approach a series of small torches. Kilns of all sizes are tucked in different places.
Icicle-making was the main event the next day.
Lance demonstrated how traditional ball ornaments are made, another class, focusing the flame on a hard glass stem that he prepared in advance. After a few minutes of even rotations in the flame, the bulbous end softened and was malleable enough to blow out into the spherical shape often seen on Christmas trees.
The stem is then cut, leaving an opening to be topped with a metal ornament cap.
Lance said students have to start with the basics and foundation — there’s a lot to it. He and Maureen mapped out the different styles of glass making on the studio chalkboard, accompanied by a history lesson in the craft.
Lance said it’s a difficult medium to teach.
“Well, most people don’t get it,” Maureen added. “...They're terrified … but then they realize, if you just listen and follow safety instructions, it's fine … As seasoned veterans, we still have to pay attention because we can still get hurt.”
Maureen and Lance, collectively, have a lot of cuts and burns.
“Sometimes you get a cut, and then you cauterize it with the burn on top,” she said, laughing.
Maureen said she enjoys getting students over the fear but also frustration, giving them a feeling of accomplishment.
“They get into that space, and it's healing,” Lance added. “Because in this frenetic world that we live in, right — fast, frenetic, flashing pictures on an iPad, cars driving — they learn how to be calm…”
7 | Dunwoody Crier | December 5, 2024
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OPINION
Sgt. Maj. Paul Hershey – a U.S. Marine, Part 1
BOB MEYERS
Sgt. Maj. Paul Hershey served in the Marine Corps for 29 years in a variety of hot spots throughout the world before retiring in 1994. His father served in the Army in World War II, and his brother flew the A-10 Thunderbolt (commonly known as the Warthog) and the F-15 fighter during wars in Vietnam and The Middle East. So, in a sense Paul Hershey was destined to serve his country.
He was a student at East Carolina University where he played football and baseball when his student deferment was due to expire in 1965. Rather than be drafted, he chose to enlist in the Marine Corps in Hampton, Virginia, where he grew up. Paul now lives in Milton and is a sought-after public speaker. In May 2023 he was the keynote speaker at Milton’s Memorial Day ceremony.
Before describing Hershey’s amazing military career, a few words are in order about the important rank of sergeant major in the Marine Corps where it is the ninth and highest rank for enlisted personnel. Some other military services also have sergeant majors, with slightly different names and different responsibilities.
In the Marine Corps, the rank is part of the command structure, meaning the sergeant major reports to the commanding officer (CO) of a unit such as a battalion, division or military base. The SgtMajMC advises the CO on matters concerning enlisted personnel from training to discipline to morale. He accompanies the CO when he goes to the battle front. Sergeant majors are senior non-commissioned officers (NCOs) who are highly respected and who help guide and mentor younger members of the military whether male or female.
Upon enlistment, Hershey underwent
NATIONAL ARCHIVES
Marines riding on top of an M-48 tank cover their ears as the tank’s 90mm gun fires near Phu Bai, Vietnam.
States.
“They were very grateful and patriotic about their adopted country,” says Hershey.
When it was time to leave Vietnam, Hershey boarded a Navy ship to return to Okinawa when the ships received word to turn around and go to Cambodia.
In May 1975, Hershey participated in the U.S. response to the so-called Mayaguez incident when the American freighter Mayaguez and its 39-man crew were captured by gunboats of the Cambodian navy. Cambodia had fallen to the Khmer Rouge communist insurgents in the previous month. The American crew was imprisoned. President Ford sent Marines to attack the island of Koh Tang, where the prisoners were being held and ordered the bombing of the Cambodian port where the gunboats had come from. The crew was released.
rigorous basic training at Parris Island in South Carolina, where Marine recruits have been trained since 1915. Today, some 17,000 recruits are trained there every year.
Following basic training, Hershey was deployed to Vietnam. He says “Vietnam was just as bad as everyone says it was.”
During his tour he participated in numerous enemy encounters, including Operation Dewey Canyon, Operation Hastings and Helicopter Valley, Battles of Que Son Valley, Battle of A Shau Valley, Battle of Hue during the Tet Offensive, and other fierce battles.
It is probably safe to say that Marines were shot at almost every day of their Vietnam tours of duty. Unlike other wars, only teachers were given occupational deferments during the Vietnam War. Sadly, returning troops were often ostracized when they came home.
Hershey was wounded four times and spent a total of 11 months in the Dallas,
Mary Clark, 84, of Roswell, passed away on November 16, 2024. Arrangements by Northside Chapel Funeral Directors & Crematory.
Sharon Danville, 69, of Milton, passed away on November 23, 2024. Arrangements by Northside Chapel Funeral Directors & Crematory.
Texas, VA Medical Center and the Balboa Medical Complex in San Diego, which during the Vietnam War, was the largest military hospital in the world. Following his last hospital stay, he became a drill instructor on Paris Island. He arrived on Paris Island as a staff sergeant and while there was meritoriously promoted to gunnery sergeant, which advanced his career by six or seven years.
In late 1974 as Saigon was falling, Hershey went to Okinawa to link up with the 3rd Marine Division and 1st Marine Aircraft Wing for the Saigon “pullout” of American embassy employees, some South Vietnamese soldiers who had fought with the Americans and some civilians.
“We got everybody out in and did the closure of the embassy in April 1975,” Hershey says, “but it was mayhem. We even brought back a C-130 full of babies.”
Refugees were taken to Camp Pendleton for six months where they attended classes on American life and were then released into the United
Dwayne Hall, 62, of Roswell, passed away on November 19, 2024. Arrangements by Northside Chapel Funeral Directors & Crematory.
Stephen Ketterer, 94, of Alpharetta, passed away on November 18, 2024. Arrangements by Northside Chapel Funeral Directors & Crematory.
Before leaving the Far East, Hershey spent 18 months training Marines in Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines and the Japanese Defense Force at Marine Base Camp Fuji in Japan. Training consisted of low intensity combat (guerilla warfare, small unit tactics, suppressive fire, coordination between air and combat troops, etc).
During the Vietnam War, a division consisted of between 25,000 and 40,000 men. a regiment consisted of 11,000 to 18,000 men, and a battalion about 1,900 to 2,500 men.
Hershey left Vietnam in 1976. He was promoted to sergeant major in 1979. In a future column I will outline some of Paul Hershey’s post-Vietnam assignments.
Bob is director emeritus of the Milton Historical Society and a Member of the City of Alpharetta Historic Preservation Commission. You can email him at bobmey@bellsouth.net. Bob welcomes suggestions for future columns about local history.
Aubrey Lee, 76, of Roswell, passed away on November 16, 2024. Arrangements by Northside Chapel Funeral Directors & Crematory.
Stefan Weis, 77, of Milton, passed away on November 22, 2024. Arrangements by Northside Chapel Funeral Directors & Crematory.
Columnist
SGTMAJ HERSHEY
This portrait of Sergeant Major Paul Hershey was taken in 1992 following his tour in Vietnam when he was serving in Hawaii.
CITY OF DUNWOODY/PROVIDED
A map shows phase two of the Ashford Dunwoody Road trail, which would connect Hammond Drive to Ashford Parkway via a multi-use path. The Dunwoody City Council is partnering with the Perimeter CIDs to improve pedestrian and bicycle mobility throughout the business district.
In Memoriam
Dr. John D. Good
May 22, 1943 – October 25, 2024
Dr. John D. Good, a cherished husband, father, grandfather, brother, and friend, passed away peacefully on October 25, 2024. Born on May 22, 1943, in Springfield, Missouri, John grew up with a deep commitment to family, learning, and service to others.
In 1966, John married his high school sweetheart, Lynn Anne Liebeck, sharing a wonderful marriage that spanned 53 years until Lynn’s passing in 2019. Together, they raised two children: Christy Good Brice of Brookhaven, GA, who is married to Clay Brice, and Tim J. Good of St. Simons Island, GA, who is engaged to Jenn Agnew. John was the proud grandfather of Alexandria and Grayson Good, as well as Sydney and Landon Brice. He is also survived by his sister, Katie Hill of Smyrna, GA, and a circle of extended family and friends.
John’s educational journey began with an undergraduate degree from Southwest Missouri State, followed by a Master’s degree from the University of Missouri, and finally, his PhD from the University of Miami. He served in the US Army National Guard
Path:
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track up to Perimeter Center North (the Terraces intersection), [and] from there it would become a one-way cycle track on both sides of the road.”
The one-way cycle tracks, on both sides of the roadway, include an 8-foot-wide sidewalk and 6-foot-wide cycling surface with a buffer. The two-way cycle tracks, just on the west side of Ashford Dunwoody Road, are identical, except the cycling surface is 10 feet wide.
There are a couple finishing touches remaining for phase one of the project, but the cycle track in front of Perimeter Mall from Hammond Drive to Perimeter Center West is now open.
While elected officials took no action, they discussed an agreement to split the $5.2 million cost of extending the cycle track to Ashford Center Parkway.
The agreement says the Perimeter CIDs will initiate right-of-way acquisition with 15 property owners along the corridor, with the potential from some to be donated by members.
The project cost is dependent on the number of donations that can be secured. The agreement only sets aside funding for right-of-way acquisition on the west side of Ashford Dunwoody Road up to Meadow Lane.
connecting to the Georgetown area. The city says it incorporated the goal into its transportation plan with funding split into phases.
Over the past 25 years, the PCIDs have invested just under $50 million into transportation projects and secured more than $60 million in state and federal funding.
Because Central Perimeter includes the cities of Brookhaven, Dunwoody and Sandy Springs within two counties, it has separate boards.
Sandy Springs also partners with the Perimeter CIDs for multi-use trails throughout its portion of Central Perimeter, including ones along Peachtree Dunwoody Road, Ga, 400 and Mount Vernon Highway.
Like Dunwoody, Sandy Springs split project costs with the Perimeter CIDs for portions of each project within the self-taxing commercial district.
Dunwoody City Councilman Joe Seconder, who attended a meeting of the DeKalb Perimeter CID Board with council members Tom Lambert and Rob Price, said he appreciates the continued conversations around mobility improvements.
Mayor Lynn Deutsch said the project is critically important to the marketing of Perimeter in a very competitive office market.
Because the DeKalb Perimeter CID Board is set to approve the agreement in January, it won’t come back for a vote until then.
Reserves, an early chapter that echoed his lifelong commitment to supporting others, later reflected in his distinguished Human Resources career. For nearly 20 years, he was a compassionate and respected HR executive at Piedmont Hospital in Atlanta, GA, later continuing his career at Visiting Nurse Health System & Hospice Atlanta, where his commitment to others left a lasting legacy.
Outside of work, John pursued a life full of interests. He was an avid runner, a spirited tennis player, and an enthusiast of classic and modern Chevrolet Corvettes. With a natural curiosity, he was always eager to learn and explore, whether researching a new topic or enjoying vacations and fishing trips on St. Simons Island, GA. His friends and family remember his contagious wit, his generous support, and his boundless humor that brightened every room.
John’s family will gather during the holiday season to celebrate his life, honor his memory, and cherish the legacy he leaves behind.
According to the proposed agreement, Dunwoody and the community improvement districts each pay around $2 million for construction and just under $1.1 million for rightof-way.
The second phase of the multi-use path connects an existing cycle track north of Meadow Lane with the first phase, creating a continuous trail on the west side of Ashford Dunwoody Road from Hammond Drive to Ashwood Parkway.
City Councilman John Heneghan said it’s important to note that funding comes from the city’s hotelmotel tax. After this year’s spring City Council retreat, Heneghan has supported multi-use paths throughout Central Perimeter but opposed those in neighborhoods and in front of single-family homes.
During the discussion, Public Works staff told Heneghan that the project requires removing some trees along the roadway. They said all will be replanted.
The goal, according to the Perimeter CIDs’ Commuter Trail Master Plan, is to eventually have a continuous multi-use path from the heart of Perimeter to the Dunwoody Village north of Mount Vernon Road. Plans also show the trail network
To kick off the Nov. 25 meeting, City Councilman Lambert tapped Deputy Community Development Director Paul Leonhardt, who recently received his American citizenship, to lead the room in the Pledge of Allegiance.
The process to receive citizenship is a grueling one, and Leonhardt brimmed with pride afterward.
In other business, elected officials approved two charter amendments, allowing donations from the Dunwoody Police Foundation to employees and permitting elected officials to be employed by any government other than the city and DeKalb County.
The Dunwoody City Council also discussed an ordinance amendment to restrict the unlicensed sale of dogs, cats or domestic rabbits.
Mayor Deutsch said the City of Roswell and DeKalb County have recently passed similar prohibitions. Deutsch said she wants to prevent spillover into Dunwoody after hearing about someone selling puppies in front of a gas station on North Peachtree Road.
A few elected officials asked staff to make sure the ordinance change encompasses all unlicensed pet sales, not limited to just the three specific species.
Experienced Dunwoody CPA. Bookkeeping-tax returns. (personal/business) Reasonable rates. Call/text Susan, 404-372-7577
SWAT:
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Moving forward, he said Sandy Springs SWAT will be there to support its neighboring agencies if needed.
Sandy Springs Communications and Public Relations Director Carter Long said the item was to go before the City Council Dec. 3, but later confirmed that it was not on the agenda.
It’s unclear whether the change must be done through a formal City Council vote. Millholland said the city sent out a 90-day notice to the other North Metro SWAT agencies and that he thinks it’s the only requirement needed.
“I don't think it's coming up for a vote because it's already a done deal,” he said.
The City of Sandy Springs’ dedicated webpage has already been updated to reflect the department’s decision to go it alone.
Millholland said there would be no additional cost to the measure.
“The personnel, the equipment is already in place,” he said.
Sandy Springs Police has a SWAT team of around 30 officers, Millholland
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said, which covers the entry team, perimeter team, sniper team and crisis negotiation team.
Sandy Springs SWAT would have the same capabilities as the North Metro SWAT, he said, to serve the city of more than 105,000 residents.
Millholland said there’s about five to six incidents a year in Sandy Springs that require a SWAT presence and that they are mostly search warrants that need to be executed or domestic incidents that have gone “really bad.”
“Now that could change,” he said. “It's one of the things that's unpredictable. It may happen, it may not. So, we just want to make sure that we've got a team to be able to respond in Sandy Springs if those situations do come up.”
Because of the change in membership, the Johns Creek Police Department is now looking to join the North Fulton SWAT team, which consists of the Roswell, Alpharetta and Milton police departments.
The contract, detailing a new cost sharing ratio, went before the Roswell City Council at its Nov. 26 committee meeting.
Johns Creek Police Chief Mark Mitchell said the move made “business
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sense” as the department would be the only North Fulton city left on the SWAT team. He said the end of Johns Creek’s participation is Jan. 8.
“Now, granted, like I said, we had a very wonderful relationship with them,” Mitchell said.
He added that there’s the benefit of proximity as an incoming member of North Fulton SWAT.
“We face a lot of the same crimes and call outs and things like that,” Mitchell said. “We’re already partnered with them on other ventures and things that we do.”
The departure of Johns Creek Police leaves North Metro SWAT with the Dunwoody, Brookhaven and Chamblee police departments.
Dunwoody Police Public Information Officer Sgt. Michael Cheek said the group is in the preliminary stages of discussion with the City of Doraville regarding a potential partnership with its agency.
“While there may be some personnel and equipment costs associated with this transition, the impact on the North Metro S.W.A.T. Team will be minimal,” Cheek said. “The team will maintain its full operational capabilities and remain consistent in its performance.”
