Dunwoody Crier - December 28, 2023

December 28, 2023 | AppenMedia.com | An Appen Media Group Publication | Ser ving the community since 1976

INSIDE THIS ISSUE OPINION

Deutsch: Accoldes, goals for 2024 ► PAGE 3

ALEX POPP/APPEN MEDIA

2023 CITY OF DUNWOODY/PROVIDED

A YEAR IN REVIEW

► PAGE 4

Dunwoody made a big splash in 2023 with the addition of Two Bridges Park and pushing through a Master Trail Plan. The city also took time to celebrate.

Clockwise from top left: Fairy Mills flashes thumbs up while passing out candy with the Dunwoody United Methodist Church float at the city’s annual Fourth of July parade, the largest in Georgia; Mayor Lynn Deutsch joins the family and friends of Leone Purcell to celebrate her 100th birthday Aug. 11 at her home in Dunwoody; and city leaders turned out for dedication of a new public mural, “Good Vibes,” at Dunwoody Village Aug. 15.

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A look back at past year

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CITY OF DUNWOODY/PROVIDED

NEWS

2 | December 28, 2023 | Dunwoody Crier | AppenMedia.com/Dunwoody

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.

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Man robbed of computer during arranged transaction

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DUNWOODY, Ga. — Police are investigating a Dec. 12 robbery in the parking lot of 1161 Hammond Drive, across from the Dunwoody MAR TA station.

The victim, an 18-year -old Atlanta man, told police he went to the location to sell his Apple MacBook Pro for $500.

The responding officer said the victim found a potential buyer, named “Tony Sharks,” on Facebook Marketplace.

When the victim went to retrieve his laptop from his vehicle, a second suspect wrapped his arm around his neck and threw him to the ground.

Two male suspects then ran toward the MAR TA station and were not seen again.

The serial number of the victim’s laptop has been entered into the Georgia and National Crime Information centers as stolen, the responding officer said.

A witness at the scene, a 38-year old Smyrna woman, said she saw the suspects running across the parking lot with a computer but did not capture the crime on video.

Because surrounding stores were closed at the time of the robbery, follow-up is required, police said.

Driver points handgun at Dunwoody woman DUNWOODY, Ga. — A 46-year -old Dunwoody woman reported being threatened with a handgun while leaving her apartment complex Dec. 10.

ASK APPEN

PUBLIC SAFETY The victim, a resident of the MAA Dunwoody, said she was cut off by the driver of a white truck turning left onto Ashford Parkway.

When the victim honked at the truck, the driver pulled up next to her car and pointed a handgun at her.

The victim also said the driver mouthed, “I will kill you.”

The suspect was described as a Black male in his mid-30s wearing a puffy jacket, possibly with dreadlocks.

The victim said she followed the suspect until he turned into Jefferson at the Perimeter Apartments.

Police said the victim was unable to provide the vehicle’s make and model, and a search turned up no leads.

Restaurant employee reports assault incident DUNWOODY, Ga. — Police are investigating the battery of an employee at Sage Wood Fire Tavern on Ashford Dunwoody Road Dec. 10.

Police met with the victim at the Dunwoody Police Department Dec. 12.

The victim said she did not report the incident immediately because she wanted to be able to provide the suspect’s full name.

The alleged battery stems from an argument between the victim and the suspect concerning a mess in the restaurant’s kitchen.

The victim said the suspect pulled her hair and dragged her across the floor before the restaurant’s manager separated them.

The responding officer said the suspect and the manager remain unidentified.

Photos of the victim’s injuries, including a hand laceration, were uploaded to the department’s disk drive.

The responding officer said a further investigation, including reviewing security footage and interviewing witnesses, will be conducted later.

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A LOOK AHEAD

OPINION

Happy New Year Dunwoody!

As I reflect on the past year, I am incredibly proud of our accomplishments.

• We continued to support our Police Department with raises, equipment purchases, and LYNN DEUTSCH laser-focused Dunwoody Mayor prioritization to retain our outstanding officers and to recruit top talent to join the Dunwoody Police Department.

• Our Police Department added a co-responder position to address the increase in calls that involve those struggling with mental health challenges.

• Public Works completed several projects including the intersection improvements at Womack and Chamblee Dunwoody and Chamblee Dunwoody at Spalding Drive.

• We paved roads, corrected stormwater issues, and built sidewalks and paths.

• Dunwoody hired a safe streets program manager to address the critical issues of pedestrian, cyclist and vehicular safety.

• Dunwoody’s Parks Department opened Two Bridges Park, which is the first park in Perimeter Center and houses the city’s only splash pad.

• We expanded our public art program with pieces throughout Dunwoody.

• Our Economic Development Department welcomed many new businesses to Dunwoody.

• Information Technology, Parks and Finance all won awards, and Dunwoody Police Chief Billy Grogan was named Georgia Police Chief of the Year.

We begin 2024 with an effort to address a persistent problem in Dunwoody, slow ambulance response times. City Council approved a contract with DeKalb County and AMR for an additional ambulance. This ambulance is based in Dunwoody and will only leave when transporting a patient. This pilot program is now underway with the goal of improved service. Unfortunately, state regulations sharply limit what options are available to address challenges. I am working with a group of Georgia mayors seeking legislative changes and other initiatives so that we can improve this key public safety area.

What else can you expect this year?

The implementation of key recommendations from a recent study of our Police Department. Adding resources,

OPINION

Year-end letter from publisher ► PAGE 15

OPINION

AppenMedia.com/Dunwoody | Dunwoody Crier | December 28, 2023 | 3

Helping You Save for What’s Next—that’s Banking on Purpose.

Spruill Center for the Arts expands area engagement ► PAGE 15

both in the form of personnel and technologies, is key to addressing increased needs in our community.

• Enacting measures laid out in our new Dunwoody Road Safety Action Plan to make roads safer for pedestrians, cyclists, and drivers. Quick projects like the recently completed Vanderlyn sidewalk extension have an immediate impact on making Dunwoody safer.

• A focus on Perimeter Center as High Street and Campus 244 will open this year. Additionally, there will be redevelopment opportunities resulting from the changing office market. The recently started Ashford Dunwoody Path is key to making Perimeter Center attractive to businesses looking for the right amenity mix for their employees, as well as offering a safer way to traverse Perimeter Center for the thousands of Dunwoody residents who live in the area.

• The completion of the Georgetown Gateway Project. We so appreciate everyone’s patience as we make significant improvements in stormwater management, traffic flow, walkability and safety.

• Continued improvements in Dunwoody Village and community gathering opportunities across our commercial areas, parks and cultural facilities.

• As a result of the failure of the parks and trails bond, we will need a community discussion of priorities and where we go from here.

There is so much happening in Dunwoody, and I am grateful for our City Council’s leadership, our staff’s hard work and our residents’ support. Please be civically involved, attend (or watch) council meetings, join us at town hall meetings throughout the year, take a class or attend an event hosted by the Parks Department, or simply get to know your neighbors. I am optimistic about our city’s future and believe that together we will continue to thrive.

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4 | December 28, 2023 | Dunwoody Crier | AppenMedia.com/Dunwoody

NEWS

CITY OF DUNWOODY/PROVIDED

Mayor Lynn Deutsch, center, stands in front of Dunwoody’s new ambulance Dec. 20 to celebrate the city’s enhancement of its emergency medical services. Members of the City Council, American Medical Response, Police Department and DeKalb County Fire Rescue joined the mayor for the ribbon-cutting ceremony at Fire Station 21 on Crown Pointe Parkway.

YEAR IN REVIEW

Dunwoody residents balk at parks and trails bond

By HAYDEN SUMLIN hayden@appenmedia.com DUNWOODY, Ga. — A rainy forecast did not stop the City of Dunwoody from celebrating its 15-year anniversary, nor did summer showers stop residents from enjoying the Fourth of July parade.

Discover Dunwoody, the city’s official marketing organization, said the largest Independence Day Parade in Georgia was especially memorable because of residents’ willingness to brave the elements and continue the local tradition.

Dunwoody High School also celebrated its 50-year anniversary with a return to the state playoffs after a 14-year drought.

Two Bridges Park, a 5-acre recreational area at Perimeter Center, opened in May with the city’s first splash pad. Shortly after, the City Council approved the controversial Dunwoody Trail Master Plan.

While Parks and Recreation Director Brent Walker departed for the City of Sandy Springs, the Georgia Recreation and Parks Association recognized the department as the District 6 Agency of the Year for the third consecutive time.

Following the Dunwoody City Council’s March 2023 retreat, city staff and elected officials returned with long-term strategies to address needs in the community.

The Dunwoody City Council spent two days working on priorities. The discussions focused on diversity and inclusion initiatives, ambulance service upgrades, community engagement and capital bond projects.

While some of the council’s priorities were popular among residents, financial assistance by way of a $60 million parks and trails bond failed to garner enough community support in the Nov. 7 election.

Voters reject bond The approval of the Dunwoody Trail Master Plan came after months of talks between Dunwoody officials and residents, including a meeting in April when the plan was tabled so city staff and representatives of the PATH Foundation could collaborate on final touches.

In partnership with the Perimeter Community Improvement Districts, the plan includes about 68 miles of trails connecting Dunwoody residents to local schools, parks, shops and MARTA stations. While some residents advocated for increasing connectivity, others pushed back against the framework of the ballot question.

The No Bonds Committee, composed of Dunwoody residents, argued that the city should avoid debt and prioritize police over parks and paths. The committee also cited a 2023 community survey which revealed that traffic congestion and crime were among the top concerns among residents.

While the bond went down to defeat Nov. 7, the incumbent City Council candidates on the ballot remained in office.

Two incumbents, Mayor Lynn Deutsch and Councilman John Heneghan ran unopposed, while Joe Seconder and Stacey Harris successfully defended their seats on

council.

Former Dunwoody Mayor Denny Shortal advocated for residents to support the DeKalb Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax and the DeKalb Equalized Homestead Option Sales Tax. Shortal also said he would not support the $60 million bond.

Voters chose to renew SPLOST and EHOST with tax revenues going toward capital improvement projects and property tax relief.

Several residents have drawn attention to the budget’s structural deficit, or the persistence of a budget deficit for consecutive years.

While the 2024 budget has a deficit of $14 million, the city plans to use prior year reserves from the General Fund, American Rescue Plan Act and Capital Projects Fund to compensate for the shortfall.

Public safety for residents The Georgia Association of Chiefs of Police named Dunwoody Police Chief Billy Grogan the 2023 Outstanding Chief of the Year at a summer training conference in Savannah July 25.

Grogan has headed the force since the city incorporated in 2008.

The Dunwoody Police Department, including Grogan, received mixed reviews in 2023.

The City Council voted in July to approve a mid-year pay increase averaging 10 percent for police officers, detectives, sergeants and lieutenants.

The raise, which went into effect Aug. 1, is in addition to a 4 percent increase at the start of the year.

Recruiting and retention are

challenges for police departments across the country. This year, the City Council approved two pay raises.

That’s in addition to four other adjustments since 2021.

Consultants conducting an independent assessment of the department recently described Dunwoody Police as one of the most well-run organizations they’ve studied and gave credit to Grogan as the “primary architect.”

Some residents have cast doubt on the department, its practices and leadership.

Legal invoices and documents obtained by Appen Media showed Dunwoody paid more than $400,000 for legal services to address employment matters within the Police Department.

A Dunwoody resident filed suit in DeKalb County Superior Court Oct. 31 alleging the city and three of its employees violated the Georgia Open Records Act. During public comment at the Oct. 30 City Council meeting, Joseph Hirsch, a longtime critic of the Dunwoody Police Department, said responsibility for the attrition rate among Dunwoody police officers can be laid at Grogan’s feet.

In the 2024 budgeting process, the Department Review Team Committee elected to fulfill enhancement requests for Parks and Recreation but not the Police Department.

Because of the park and trails bond’s failure and the budget’s structural deficit, the City of Dunwoody will look to revamp its finances during a mid-year budget review in 2024.

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6 | December 28, 2023 | Dunwoody Crier | AppenMedia.com/Dunwoody

Life Time buys Concourse Athletic Club Read Local, Shop Local

Read at appenmedia.com/business

SANDY SPRINGS, Ga. — Concourse Athletic Club will reopen as Life Time Perimeter Jan. 3 after its owners sold the 80,000-square-foot fitness facility between the “King and Queen” towers off Hammond Drive.

Members were notified of the club’s acquisition via email in early December.

Life Time plans to renovate the fitness facility but has not announced the extent of the investment or if amenities will be limited.

Watermark Capital Partners, which acquired the property in June 2022 for $8.9 million, sold the property to Life Time Group Holdings for $13.6 million, according to public records.

While Watermark will operate the fitness center until Dec. 31, current members have been instructed to switch their membership to Life Time

by Jan. 2.

Concourse Athletic Club rests on 2.2 acres, east of Ga. 400 and north of I-285 in Sandy Springs.

The club, which opened in 1989, offers courts for basketball, pickleball, squash and tennis, as well as fitness areas, pools and spas.

The property will reopen as Life Time Perimeter Jan. 3.

GOOGLE MAPS

The entrance to Concourse Athletic Club shows the fitness facility’s proximity to the “King and Queen” towers at Perimeter Center in Sandy Springs. The club will reopen as Life Time Perimeter Jan. 3.

After acquiring and rebranding Peachtree Corners’ Racquet Club of the South in 2013, Life Time has continued to expand its footprint in Metro Atlanta.

Life Time also acquired Athletic Club Northeast in January. The location on Sheridan Road will open in 2024 as Life

Time North Druid Hills, according to the company’s website.

Perimeter and North Druid Hills will join Life Time’s Metro Atlanta locations in Alpharetta, Woodstock, Johns Creek, Sandy Springs, Sugarloaf and Buckhead.

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Dunwoody Crier 12/28/23 Crossword

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Birmingham seems housetrained, loves toys and treats, making him a dream to train. He loves to play and is on the active side. He would make the perfect outdoor companion for long walks and weekend hikes. Easy to handle (and to love), you’ll be glad to add Birmingham to your life. Meet Birmingham and all of his furry friends at DeKalb County Animal Services.

Expand your family by four furry little feet; meet Birmingham and have a loving friend forever. All adoptions include spay/neuter, vaccinations and microchip! If you would like more information about Birmingham or if you have questions about adopting, fostering or volunteering please email adoption@ dekalbanimalservices.com or call (404) 294-2165; all potential adopters will be screened to ensure Birmingham goes to a good home.

The shelter is full; foster or adopt to save a life and meet your new furry

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friend, stop by DeKalb County Animal Services. We are located at 3280 Chamblee Dunwoody Road, Chamblee GA 30341 or give us a call at 404-2942996. No appointment necessary.

City of Dunwoody schedules annual MLK Day of Service DUNWOODY, Ga. — The City of Dunwoody is looking for volunteers in the lead up to its eighth annual Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service Jan. 15.

The federal holiday, which began as a commemoration of King’s birthday, was transformed into a day dedicated to volunteer service in honor of his legacy when Congress passed the King Holiday and Service Act in 1994.

Former Parks and Recreation Director Brent Walker ushered in the Dunwoody tradition in 2016. This year, the Dunwoody Parks and Recreation Department will honor King’s legacy with volunteer service projects, a community food drive in partnership with Jack and Jill of America and blood donations.

The “Souper Bowl of Caring” food drive, which began in early December, will continue until the city’s eighth annual Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service Jan. 15.

Nonperishable food collected during the food drive will be donated to Malachi’s Storehouse, the Community Assistance Center and Solidarity Sandy Springs. Collection bins are available at those locations, as well as the Spruill Center for the Arts on Chamblee Dunwoody Road and SOHO Office in the Orchard Park Shopping Center.

Natasha Morris, community service

AppenMedia.com/Dunwoody | Dunwoody Crier | December 28, 2023 | 7

chair for the Dunwoody-Atlanta chapters of Jack and Jill of America, said her organization looks forward to working with the city each year.

“Dr. King’s legacy empowers each and every volunteer just as strongly as it strengthens each beneficiary, and we’re proud to make these connections in his honor,” Morris said.

There are a few opportunities for service at Brook Run Park and across the city.

At Brook Run Park, volunteers plan to plant 127 saplings and 5,000 flowers in partnership with Trees Atlanta and The Daffodil Project.

Other volunteer opportunities include the maintenance of the Dunwoody Community Garden and Orchard, donations via bloodmobile, cleanup of Woodall Cemetery and artwork at the Spruill Center for the Arts.

“We’re grateful for the volunteers who turn out every year in the spirit of giving back,” Mayor Lynn Deutsch said.

“From helping the hungry to supporting our environment, the projects tied to Dr. King’s annual Day of Service really make a difference.”

For more information, visit the “Volunteer-MLK Jr. Day” page under the “Community” tab on the city’s website.

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DON’T MISS OUR FIRST ANNUAL

THURSDAY, JANUARY 11TH, FROM 2:00 PM - 4:00 PM Feel the heat as The Mansions’ Chefs battle it out at the First Annual Chili Cook-off! Enjoy friendly competition with delicious samples!

While you’re here, tour our beautiful community and bring home a free gift!

Questions? Contact Tabriel or Katherine at (678) 336-5043.

THE MANSIONS AT SANDY SPRINGS

3175 RIVER EXCHANGE DR, PEACHTREE CORNERS, GA 30092 (678) 336-5043 w w w. M a n s i o n s S e n i o r L i v i n g . c o m

10 | December 28, 2023 | Dunwoody Crier | AppenMedia.com/Dunwoody

BUSINESS

Ginger Room invites guests to traditional British teatime

By SHELBY ISRAEL shelby@appenmedia.com ALPHARETTA, Ga. — The Ginger Room invites guests to experience a traditional British teatime in the oldest home in downtown Alpharetta.

Roswell couple Karl Walbrook and Angela Avery opened The Ginger Room in February 2021 after two years of searching for a location to expand their hit farmers market business Ginger Yums.

After COVID-19 temporarily closed the Alpharetta Farmers Market, Walbrook said their customers sought a physical location to buy Ginger Yums juice. During this process, Avery said they found the perfect spot at 61 Roswell St. The Skelton-Teasley House was built in 1856 for Dr. Oliver Skelton, a local physician and the city’s first postmaster, and his wife.

“I think it all worked out divinely because space-wise, being the oldest home, it has that character and charm that we wanted,” Avery said.

At The Ginger Room, guests can enjoy a traditional afternoon or high tea, with a choice from more than 50 blends, finger foods, pastries and fresh scones baked daily, with clotted cream and jam.

On weekdays, The Ginger Room

SHELBY ISRAEL/APPEN MEDIA

Angela Avery and Karl Walbrook smile outside The Ginger Room at 61 Roswell St. in Alpharetta Dec. 19. The couple co-own the authentic British tea house, which opened in the historic Skelton-Teasley House in February 2021. offers its a la carte menu, where guests can sample individual items without a reservation for afternoon or high tea.

But, above all, Avery said the tea house invites its patrons to experience an intimate, unique experience.

“When you're in London and go for a tea with, whether it be your friends or

family, we want it to kind of have that feel right here,” she said.

A love of ginger Around 2018, Avery and Walbrook founded Ginger Yums, which promotes the natural benefits of ginger through a variety of fresh juices.

The couple began selling Ginger Yums at the Alpharetta Farmers Market in 2019 to immediate success. The brand has since expanded to five markets across Metro Atlanta and a new sip room at 8465 Holcomb Bridge Road in Johns Creek.

The pandemic may have paused business at the farmers market, but the demand for Ginger Yums never ceased.

“Our customers, they wanted a place to come and get their juice, but we were like, ‘Well, we don't want to just do a juice bar,’” Avery said. “We were like, ‘We want to do a juice and tea house, something really, really cool.’ We love tea houses, and we love experiences.”

Avery and Walbrook, a London native, said they enjoyed hosting holiday high tea for their friends and family before they conceived the business.

Their mutual love for hosting teatime, as well as the demand from their farmers market clientele, inspired The Ginger Room.

“Well, I said, what I want to do as well is have an authentic tea house, so we could do our afternoon teas here,” Walbrook said.

Now in its second year of business, The Ginger Room has been named among the state’s nine best tea rooms by Explore Georgia and sees visitors from across the United States.

An authentic experience There are formal three teatime options at The Ginger Room: afternoon, high and children’s tea.

Each variation is served on a traditional three-tiered tower, with the bottom level including a selection of finger sandwiches such as English egg salad and smoked pimento cheese.

The second level features handmade scones from Walbrook’s recipe from his days in grammar school.

“We make those scones fresh each and every day for our towers and for our guests who pop in,” Avery said. “And then you have fresh clotted cream made in house, and then you have your jams as well. We usually do strawberry, lemon curd and ginger, of course, because we're in The Ginger Room.”

Avery said the top level, which highlights a rotating selection of specialty treats, is mostly sourced from local vendors at farmers markets.

The towers feature The Ginger Room’s exclusive ginger mini donuts from Orchard Bakery; English shortbread crown cookies from Angel Lane in Cumming; and teacup and teapot cookies from a bakery in Vinings.

Some desserts, such as Bakewell tarts and truffles, are baked in-house by Walbrook.

Although the expansion of their ginger-based businesses has kept them busy, the couple still stop by The Ginger Room frequently, especially on weekends.

Since many of the recipes originated from Walbrook’s expertise, he is often found in the kitchen or greeting guests.

“He still makes every shepherd's pie,” Avery said. “He's trained them really good on the scones, so you can't tell if he made them or one of the kitchen staff made them because they're perfect now.”

Guests can also order high tea, which is an elevated version of afternoon tea with hot savory items such as shepherd’s pie, tomato pie, quiche Lorraine or croissant sandwiches. Based on request and availability, Walbrook also cooks his chef’s special, salmon en croute.

Children’s tea is a simplified version of afternoon tea for visitors 10 years old and younger.

Although afternoon and high tea can be served at any sitting time, The Ginger Room seats guests for tea between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. on weekdays and at 12:30 and 3 p.m. on weekends.

Individual items can be served a la carte throughout the week, but Avery recommends making a reservation for any experience at The Ginger Room.

“Everyone is truly welcome,” Avery said.

“And we really want everyone to come and experience The Ginger Room.”

More information on reservations and menus can be found at thegingerroom.com.

NEWS

AppenMedia.com/Dunwoody | Dunwoody Crier | December 28, 2023 | 11

Sandy Springs clears Fifth Third Bank to operate drive-thru on Roswell Road

By HAYDEN SUMLIN hayden@appenmedia.com SANDY SPRINGS, Ga. — After some pushback from residents and members of Sandy Springs City Council, Fifth Third Bank was granted a conditional use permit for a drive-thru facility at 6420 Roswell Road Dec. 19.

While banks are permitted in commercial mixed-use districts, a drivethru facility requires an ordinance to allow a conditional use permit for development of Fifth Third Bank’s new Sandy Springs location.

City Planning and Zoning Manager Michele McIntosh-Ross presented staff recommendations regarding the request for a conditional use permit.

The city staff analysis determined that the addition of a bank with a drive-thru would help achieve the goals of the city’s 2017 Comprehensive Plan.

Fifth Third Bank’s site improvements manage the transition to neighborhood districts and develop Roswell Road aesthetics, McIntosh-Ross said.

The new bank will be located at the former site of the adult-entertainment venue, Flashers.

The former strip club, which closed in 2018, was demolished after a January 2020 fire.

All that remains of the former business is charrred concrete and asphalt.

The 0.78-acre lot sits at the southwest corner of Roswell Road and Chaseland Road.

The request includes construction of a one-story, 1,900-square foot office building with two drive-thru canopies. While the drive-thru will be in the rear, the building will be closer to Roswell Road.

The proposal calls for 14 parking spots, two outfitted with two electric vehicle charging stations.

The purchase agreement between Evans Roswell Properties and Fifth Third Bank was signed Feb. 10.

Jeffrey Wagner, vice president and regional real estate director of Fifth Third Bank, came from Detroit for the public hearing.

“We have spent the last three years trying to find a site in the Roswell corridor in proximity to downtown Sandy Springs,” Wagner said. “That has been our target area as a part of our expansion plans into Metro Atlanta.”

Attorney Baxter Russell, representing Fifth Third Bank, said the site conforms to the city’s plans for the corridor.

“It’s at a really interesting point as a vacant parcel backing up to a residential neighborhood,” Russell said. “What we’re trying to accomplish with our development… is our desire to achieve balance at this vacant, empty site.”

Russell spoke about positive aspects of

CITY OF SANDY SPRINGS/PROVIDED

The site plan for Fifth Third Bank’s new Sandy Springs branch shows the positioning of the drive-thru facility in relation to Roswell and Chaseland roads. The conditional use permit for the facility was approved by the City Council with an ordinance Dec. 19. the site plan.

The proposal includes more outsideamenity space than is required, as well as a 6-foot wall and 30-foot landscape buffer.

The application for the exception to the local zoning ordinance was submitted July 28. The process required two community meetings, which were conducted July 18 and Aug. 23, and a Planning Commission hearing before deliberation from the City Council.

The conditional use permit is only valid while a bank is operating the drive-thru facility, so a fast-food chain or pharmacy is not permitted through the ordinance.

What’s more, there is a 50-foot setback between the residential property lines and the drive-thru components, which complies with the Sandy Springs Development Code.

“We feel this is an opportunity to bring a new high-quality but low-impact bank use with a drive-through to this property,” Russell said.

The residential properties abutting the site serve as the gateway to the neighborhood represented by the Whispering Pines Homeowner Association.

Alan Andrew, the HOA president, spoke in favor of the conditional use permit at the public hearing.

The 162-home neighborhood to the

GOOGLE EARTH

A view from Roswell Road shows the site where Fifth Third Bank’s new drive-thru facility will be built. The ordinance to allow a conditional use permit was approved by the City Council Dec. 19. west of the parcel has had to defend its borders from development on Roswell Road, Andrew said, but the homeowner association asked the site plan to be approved.

But, Rhonda Smith, president of the Sandy Springs Council of Neighborhoods, spoke against allowing the drive-thru.

“This property has a very unique opportunity to be a welcoming commercial entity that does not perpetuate the

autocentric nature of Roswell Road with the installation of a drive-thru,” Smith said.

The Council of Neighborhoods position on the site plan comes from its desire to remain consistent with its opposition to drive-thru facilities and emphasis on increasing walkability, Smith said.

The council ultimately voted to approve the conditional use permit, with Councilwoman Jody Reichel voting in opposition.

12 | December 28, 2023 | Dunwoody Crier | AppenMedia.com/Dunwoody

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In 2022, Appen Media Group created the Appen Press Club, its mission driven news division dedicated to creating a sustainable infrastructure for local journalism in the north metro Atlanta area. Residents of that community, like you, join the Press Club by committing to small monthly or annual dues, 100% of which is dedicated to producing reliable, professional journalism on local issues that affect your lives.

Join your neighbors in support of local journalism CHARTER MEMBER Big Sky Franchise Team David & Michelle Bertany Amour & Duane Carthy

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14 | December 28, 2023 | Dunwoody Crier | AppenMedia.com/Dunwoody

COMMUNITY

January book events start year with a bang

By KATHY DES JARDINS CIOFFI newsroom@appenmedia.com After the book-buying bustle of the holidays, the number of author events in January may seem small, but some are certainly mighty.

Karen White, Milton’s own New York Times bestseller, will be in conversation with suspense author Deborah Goodrich Royce Jan. 12 at Poe & Company Bookstore.

Then, Brad Taylor, author of the blockbuster Pike Logan series, will appear at the Milton Library Jan. 27. Hosted by A Novel Idea, Taylor will be discussing and signing his latest military thriller, “Dead Man’s Hand,” available that day from Bookmiser.

A 21-year veteran of the U.S. Army Infantry and Special Forces, including eight years with Delta Force, Taylor serves as a security consultant on asymmetric threats for various agencies when he isn’t writing.

When he is, he’s penning intricate storylines packed with authenticity for readers dunwoodyga.gov | 4800 Ashford Dunwoody Rd., Dunwoody GA 30338 | 678.382.6700

January Highlights

Luther King, Jr. 15 Martin Day of Service locations throughout the City

January 15

4 Zoning Board of Appeals Palooza Saturday: 6 Puppet Wish Tales City Hall | 6 p.m.

Stage Door Theatre | 10:30 a.m.

8

Dunwoody City Council Meeting City Hall | 6 p.m.

Art 9 Dunwoody Commission Meeting City Hall | 7:30 a.m.

Planning Commission Meeting City Hall | 6 p.m.

11

Sustainability Committee Meeting City Hall | 8 a.m.

Farmers 13 Dunwoody Market -

SEASON OPENING Brook Run Park | 9 a.m. - noon

Master Gardener Talk: Companion Planting

Dunwoody Community Greenhouse Brook Run Park | 11 a.m.

17 Green Speak: Stormwater

Dunwoody Sustainability Committee Dunwoody Nature Center

Authority 18 Development Meeting City Hall | 5 p.m.

20 Game Night

Dunwoody Preservation Trust N. Shallowford Annex 5 - 10 p.m.

History Alive

Dunwoody Preservation Trust Donaldson-Bannister Farm | 9:30 a.m.

City 22 Dunwoody Council Meeting

Dunwoody High School | 6 p.m.

26 The Mad Hatterpillar World Premiere Stage Door Theatre

Register here

Green

SPEAK

DUNWOODY SUSTAINABILITY COMMITTEE

January 17

Book happenings.

Thursdays, Jan. 4-25, Organizing Your Novel Workshop. Writer and teacher Brandi Bradley will lead a four-week course for writers. 6 p.m. each Thursday in January. $95. Bookmiser, 3822 Roswell Road, Marietta. 770-5095611. bookmiser.net Friday, Jan. 12, Karen White, Debra Goodrich Royce. The authors will discuss Royce’s latest release, “Reef Road.” 5 p.m. Free. Poe & Company Bookstore, 1890 Heritage Walk, Suite P101, Milton. 770-797-5566. Poeandcompanybookstore.com Saturday, Jan. 13, Paige Watts. The seasoned travel writer will sign her new book, “What’s With Atlanta: The Quirks, Personality, and Charm of the ATL.” Noon. Free. Read It Again Bookstore, 3630 Peachtree Parkway, Suite 314, Suwanee. 770-232-9331. read-it-again.com Tuesday, Jan. 16, Robert Gwaltney, Andrew Diaz Winkelmann and DL Mitchell. A Novel Idea will host Gwaltney, the 2023 Georgia Author of the Year for First Novel, along with other new authors Winkelmann and Mitchell. Mitchell, a practicing small animal veterinarian, will be launching her debut title that evening. 7 p.m.

Free. Brimstone Restaurant & Tavern, 10595 Old Alabama Road, Alpharetta.

770-509-5611. bookmiser.net/bookevents.html Saturday, Jan. 20, Lauren Walier.

“The Dancing Swan,” based on the

PROVIDED

New York Times bestselling author Brad Taylor will speak at the Milton Library Jan. 27. who “love the ticking-clock action,” according to Kirkus Reviews. And, with over 3 million books in print, Taylor’s fast-paced, informed approach is a proven winner.

To submit an author event for the upcoming month, email Kathy Des Jardins Cioffi at kathydesjardins3@gmail.com by the 15th.

author’s real-life story as a ballroom champion with cerebral palsy, will be the focus of a reading and CP fundraiser. 2 p.m. Free. Poe & Company Bookstore, 1890 Heritage Walk, Suite P101, Milton. 770-797-5566. Poeandcompanybookstore.com Saturday, Jan. 20, Dr. Nicole B. Hight. The local author and pediatrician will be signing her new release, “You Are Made for This!” During a discussion with parents, she’ll explore whether a chapter a day can keep the doctor away and how a love of reading in early childhood may reduce adolescent stress and boost brain and mental health in teens. 3 p.m. Free. Johns Creek Books, 6000 Medlock Bridge Road, 770-696-9999. johnscreekbooks.com Saturday, Jan. 27, Dorothy Padgett.

Atlanta Authors presents Padgett discussing her nonfiction work, “Jimmy Carter: Elected President with Pocket Change & Peanuts,” with a foreword by Carter. Free, in person or online. 2 p.m.

Roswell Library, 115 Norcross St. 404612-9700. forl.net/atlanta-authors Saturday, Jan. 27, Brad Taylor. The New York Times bestselling author of 17 titles will celebrate the release of “Dead Man’s Hand,” the 18th installment in his Pike Logan Series.

A Novel Idea will host Taylor, who will sign books sold by Bookmiser. 4 p.m.

Free. Milton Library, 855 Mayfield Road. 770-509-5611. bookmiser.net/ book-events.html

LOOKING FORWARD

OPINION

AppenMedia.com/Dunwoody | Dunwoody Crier | December 28, 2023 | 15

2024 marks renewed effort for great community journalism What motivates a person to identify a problem and resolve to be a part of the solution?

What makes someone read a troublesome news article or see something that HANS APPEN bothers them in Publisher their community and say, “You know what? I can fix that.”

These are questions I’ve thought about and discussed in conversations with many of you in 2023.

The constant is that we have no problem identifying the problems: Food is too expensive. Government doesn’t seem to work. Housing, what inventory there is to be had, is unaffordable and unattainable. Our kids are inheriting a world full of boogey men of our own creation.

But what are the solutions? What,

if anything, can we do to move the needle?

The Appen Press Club hosted an event last week at Olde Blind Dog in Milton. We lined up our reporting staff, stood them in front of microphones, and discussed the work of our newsroom in 2023 and some of the projects on the horizon for next year.

Afterward, all of them stuck around to have individual conversations with attendees, answer questions, and listen to story ideas.

I was approached by one young woman, a college student, would told me she would be graduating in May with a degree in journalism. She’d come to the event to network and given the opportunity, she wanted to ask me for my thoughts on the future of the industry I love and work in every day.

She is still a true believer and loves what she is studying, but the reality of graduating and growing up was sinking in.

“I want to make a difference in people’s lives. Can you still do that in journalism? I am worried that despite journalists’ best efforts to inform, people don’t take it seriously anymore, or just don’t care.”

She told me about important stories she had written for her college newspaper that seemed to disappear into the void. That many of her peers confessed they hadn’t even known their school has a student run newspaper.

What makes someone read a troublesome news article or see something that bothers them in their community and say, “You know what?

I can fix that.”

“Just keep showing up,” I told her.

“How we report the news and where we report the news may change, but people do care. Look around you.”

Dozens of people were lined up to talk to our reporters, from all over metro Atlanta. Young and old, black and white, rich and poor. They were

given an opportunity to be heard, in their community, and they showed up.

We heard from people discussing veterans’ issues, protecting local arts, government transparency, civic engagement and much more. For an hour after the event had officially ended people wanted to contribute to their local newspaper because they cared about the stories that were being told – and the stories that needed to be told.

I continue to believe that showing up is half the battle. Meet people where they are and listen. They will tell you what is important to them, what inspires them to action and to service, but you have to put in the work.

My commitment to you in 2024 is to continue to put in the work. We are proudly your local newspaper and are ready and willing to be a part of the solution.

Merry Christmas to all, and Happy New Year.

A LOOK AHEAD

New year brings more outreach, access to the arts In just a few short weeks, the Spruill Center for the Arts will begin our 49th year of providing arts programming for our community. We’ll be unveiling a new 8,300 square foot ALAN MOTHNER addition that will CE0, Spruill Center for the Arts house seven new studio spaces and a community room that will greatly enhance our current space at our Chamblee Dunwoody Road Education Center. These new studios will allow us to grow our ceramics program (one that typically fills on the first day of registration), glass studio, and painting and drawing facilities. We’ll also be adding a blacksmithing shop and a wood studio to bring some attention to the industrial arts.

At the Spruill Gallery on Ashford Dunwoody Road, we’ll be closed for the month of January as we give the old Spruill home a much-needed interior and exterior refresh. We’ll then open with the first of four shows this season and feature “Through Lines”

by Amanda Banks, Gavin Bernard & Amberly Hui Hood, opening Feb. 12.

In 2023, 7,394 students have thrived in our 816 class offerings at our education center; hundreds of whom received scholarships to support their artistic endeavors. Another 2,669 budding artists have utilized our studios to further their skills though our open studio programs in ceramics, jewelry, glass, painting and drawing. And 2,061 visitors immersed themselves in five varied shows at the Spruill Gallery. But it goes beyond just numbers.

Last year culminated in the completion of our strategic plan that will increase our reach and impact for years to come. Our service to community is inherent in our mission and includes support for artists, outreach at major events, advocacy and implementation of public art, and scholarships and access to the arts for underserved populations. In addition to new class offerings designed to meet the needs of our community, we’ll also work to serve not only as a place to take classes or see a show, but as a true community center based on the arts. Our recently opened Free Community Art Closet will provide access for anyone that needs a little creative pick-me-up. Our Creative Connections will serve those in the

community suffering from cognitive impairments. And our scholarship program will support children and adults so that there are no financial barriers to access to our incredible programming.

Creativity takes community. And centers like ours should be a love letter to the community that we serve.

We are charged with creativity and using art as a form of expression; of collectively helping to define culturally what it means to be human. As our community grows, we realize that more and more families are looking for inclusive, creative spaces to spend quality time together. We hope you’ll join us.

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 background/experience. In the subject line of the email please put “Delivery Route Application.”

›

16 | December 28, 2023 | Dunwoody Crier | AppenMedia.com/Dunwoody

Calendar

DEC. 28 — JAN. 7

ELLA BETH AT THE VELVET NOTE What: Ella Beth, an Australian jazz-soul singer/songwriter and previous finalist on The Voice Vietnam, will perform.

When: Friday, Dec. 29, 7:30 p.m. & 9:30 p.m.

Where: The Velvet Note, 4075 Old Milton Parkway, Alpharetta Cost: $39 More info: thevelvetnote.com

NEW YEAR’S EVE WITH THE ATLANTA SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA

What: Make unforgettable memories with a concert of favorites by the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra. The program includes the “Waltz” from Tchaikovsky’s “Swan Lake,” Mendelssohn’s “Nocturne” from “A Midsummer Night’s Dream,” Rossini’s “Overture” from “La gazza ladra,” Offenbach’s “Can-Can” and Strauss waltzes.

When: Sunday, Dec. 31, 8 p.m.

Where: Byers Theatre, 1 Galambos Way, Sandy Springs Cost: Starting at $53.50 More info: sandyspringsga.gov

NEW YEAR’S EVE WITH THE ATLANTA SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA

What: Make unforgettable memories with a concert of favorites by the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra. The program includes the “Waltz” from Tchaikovsky’s “Swan Lake,” Mendelssohn’s “Nocturne” from “A Midsummer Night’s Dream,” Rossini’s “Overture” from “La gazza ladra,” Offenbach’s “Can-Can” and Strauss waltzes.

When: Sunday, Dec. 31, 8 p.m.

Where: Byers Theatre, 1 Galambos Way, Sandy Springs Cost: Starting at $53.50 More info: sandyspringsga.gov

RING IN THE NEW

What: Ring in the new year with a party in Studio Theatre, including DJ Newk playing dancing favorites, a buffet of light bites, coffee and desserts, and a glass of sparkling beverage to toast the new year at midnight.

When: Sunday, Dec. 31, 10 p.m.

Where: Studio Theatre, 1 Galambos Way, Sandy Springs Cost: $65 More info: sandyspringsga.gov

HOLIDAY LIGHTS AT BROOK RUN PARK

Square to indulge in the holiday spirit by checking out a display of 45 community-decorated Christmas Trees.

When: Until Jan. 2 Where: Town Square, 610 Atlanta Street, Roswell More info: roswell365.com

TOMMY STINSON AT FROM THE EARTH

What: Holiday Lights returns for a 4th year with a self-guided walkable display.

When: Until Dec. 31, 5-10 p.m.

Where: Brook Run Park, 4770 North Peachtree Road, Dunwoody More info: dunwoodyga.gov

What: Tommy Stinson, renowned for his role in The Replacements, will perform solo.

When: Wednesday, Jan. 3, 7 p.m.

Where: From the Earth Brewing Company, 1570 Holcomb Bridge Road, Roswell Cost: $25 More info: ftebrewing.com

DECK THE SQUARE

PUPPET PALOOZA SATURDAYS

What: Visit the historic Town

What: Stage Door Theatre is

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.

teaming up with Piccadilly Puppets for a Saturday morning puppet show, one of five for the season.

When: Saturday, Jan. 6, 10:3011:15 a.m.

Where: Stage Door Theatre, 5339 Chamblee Dunwoody Road, Dunwoody Cost: $10 More: stagedoortheatrega.org

EXPLORING THE FREEDOM OF WHOLENESS

What: Fredrika Mele Stillwater Scruggs, a healing arts practitioner, will lead a free event about self-healing.

When: Sunday, Jan. 7, 11:15 a.m.

Where: Fredrika Healing Art Practitioner, 11420 Crabapple Road, Roswell More info: fredrikahealing.com To promote your event, follow these easy steps:

1.

2.

3.

4.

TONY THOMAS: ‘SCENES FROM MY TRAVELS’

What: See original drawings and paintings by local artist Tony Thomas, including of the Grand Canyon, Niagara Falls, Multnomah Falls and Devils Tower National Monument.

When: Until Jan. 12, business hours Where: Community Gallery at City Hall, 2 Park Plaza, Alpharetta More info: alpharetta.ga.us

PORTRAIT SOCIETY OF ATLANTA EXHIBITION

What: The Portrait Society of Atlanta presents its annual member exhibition.

When: Until Jan. 20, business hours Where: Alpharetta Arts Center, 238 Canton Street, Alpharetta More info: alpharetta.ga.us

Visit AppenMedia.com/Calendar Provide the details for your event including title, description, location and date Click the red button that reads “Create event” That’s it! Submissions are free, though there are paid opportunities to promote your event in print and online.

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18 | December 28, 2023 | Dunwoody Crier | AppenMedia.com/Dunwoody

OPINION

Christmas 2023 − Letter from Ray Appen Well. Well, what?

Been a very hard year in too many ways with too many people we loved. But there was some good as well.

I never cease to be surprised when ideas, experiences, or things RAY APPEN you read years ago Publisher Emeritus return from the back side of memory after having been lost for so long. Like the dark side of the moon – always unseen, until there is light – and then boom, back front and center, so close you can touch it: “It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of light, it was the season of darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair.”

Charles Dickens, “A Tale of Two Cities” – 1859. (10th grade literature class) One problem of growing old is memory. I may have used Dickens in a prior Christmas letter; I suspect this.

Hmmmm. Apologies if I did. Things don’t seem to have changed much since 1859 though, have they?

That one sentence covers a lot of ground – like miles and miles perhaps. It will suffice as a multi-faceted description of 2023. I will however, side with just one part of the description – “seasons” – “season of light” as well as “spring of hope.” The rest of the description does fit but we must pick our battles, which

mountains we want to climb or the destinations to pursue.

I choose “light.”

Our children brought light to us this year as they almost always do. If we can’t find light with them, where can we find it?

All three of our kids and our three grandchildren live close to us now and shared a ton of time with us this year – here in Alpharetta and on Dog Island.

We get to participate in their story often – priceless.

Time and light. Time and light. Time – the only true constant. What we do with it; how we use it; who we help with it; what picture we paint with it; what images we create and then see in the mirror, we can only see with light. Our reflection in the mirror is only darkness without light.

If we are not using our time wisely – to nurture our soul, to feed it and sustain it – what are we thinking?

Early this morning before the day starts, I sit next to our Christmas tree, full of light and ornaments as I ponder 2023. Many of the ornaments are minipicture frames with photos of us and our kids from a long time ago – memories – memories hanging from wire hooks in a field of green and wrapped in scent. If I close my eyes, I can time-travel back; it doesn’t take much. If I open my eyes, I see the light – symbols of hope for the future.

We have a Douglas fir this year. I think next year we will buy a live tree so we can plant it after the season. Why haven’t we done that before?

My writing chair next to our Douglas fir is in front of several large windows.

Outside, a stand of old growth trees – which is our backyard – has almost finished shedding its leaves. A few burnt

orange, yellow and brown leaves remain and tremble in the getting-colder-bythe-hour wind, then fall randomly and unhurriedly float to the ground to start to become soil again. Like watching time pass, minute by minute in the form of falling leaves. Wasn’t it just yesterday we were so excited to see those same trees starting to bud?

Memory of the past and what is “memory of the future?” We cling to what we know, to what has made us happy, to what made us feel safe, secure and loved.

We watch it, nurture it, seek it, covet it, guard it, embrace it, until, until it begins to slip away just outside of our grasp, like the shadow of a train passing farther and farther away from us down a track until it disappears completely, out of sight, from light into darkness.

But if we slow down enough, we can find an even richer, more secure place in-between the past and the future – here, now, in this very moment – a place which can produce all the light and hope we need for tomorrow.

Christina and I, along with Amelia and a friend went to see a play, “Annie,” last night at the Fox Theater. The Fox is magical. It is a restored historic theater in downtown Atlanta on Peachtree Street, a theater that Margaret Mitchell might have attended while she was writing “Gone with the Wind” in the ’30s. The Fox opened on Dec. 25, 1929 – Christmas Day – just two months after the stock market crash and the start of the Great Depression.

Just sitting in the Fox and experiencing it is worth the trip. It is a living, breathing, tribute to humanity – something we almost lost years ago – something we magically created and

something we collectively saved from the wrecker’s ball. “Save the Fox” was a sign I’ll always remember that hung on a wall in my friend Bill Greenwood’s restaurant, a really old sign.

We need to do more stuff like that – work together to build – to save and preserve things that give our lives meaning and light – things that nurture our souls.

And how ironic that we saw “Annie” at the Fox – in December no less. “Annie” was set during the depth of the Great Depression and portrays the misery and hopelessness that so many people experienced in those dark days. But it was not a play about giving up; it was about hope – and light – something we desperately need today.

In “Annie,” orphan children were rescued. The good guys won. The bad guys lost. Love prevailed and darkness and despair turned to light and hope.

I suspect that no one felt the chill in the air as they left the Fox last night.

Instead, they felt warm, happy, safe and secure if only for a few precious magic moments.

Paraphrased below are a few of the lyrics from “Annie” which should give us all hope and comfort this Christmas season and into 2024.

Tomorrow, tomorrow The sun’ll come out tomorrow Tomorrow, You’re always A day away!

Merry Christmas to all of you with hope, light, and best wishes.

— The Appens

PAST TENSE

Searching for the path of the Roswell Railroad In the mid1990s, Jim Perkins was riding around Chamblee looking for where the Roswell Railroad might have crossed Nancy Creek.

In “The Story of by VALERIE BIGGERSTAFF Dunwoody,” Elizabeth L. Davis Columnist and Ethel W. Spruill, he read that a trestle bridge still stood at Nancy Creek on the property of Dr. and Mrs. Schreeder on Chamblee Dunwoody Road near Chamblee United Methodist Church. The trestle

is described as covered in kudzu and 20 feet high.

In search of the path for Buck and Dinkey on Roswell Railroad Jim Perkins wrote the Past Tense column for the Dunwoody Crier for several years before passing the baton to me in 2006 due to health issues. We met several times to talk history and he shared his stories, history books and other resources.

While looking for railroad or trestle remains, Perkins saw Gordon Wallace riding a tractor and cutting the grass of Chamblee Methodist near Nancy Creek. Perkins walked over and approached Wallace to ask if he knew anyone who had lived

in the area for a long time. Wallace answered “Well, I’m 88 years old and I was born here. I guess I could talk to you.”

Wallace was a descendant of the family that owned the land where Fischer Mansion, D’Youville Condominiums and Chamblee Methodist are located. The early Wallace family owned a sawmill on Nancy Creek. They made and sold furniture.

Gordon Wallace told Perkins he remembered the railroad coming downhill from Chamblee. The tracks came through where Chamblee Plaza is today, through Huntley Hills, and across the property of Chamblee

United Methodist Church.

Perkins recalled seeing a railroad structure from the bridge across the creek which connected to the patio of Dr. Schreeder’s home. Schreeder’s home was later demolished for new development. Perkins also saw railroad supports at Little Nancy Creek in Huntley Hills.

From there, the train went up toward I-285. It crossed through what became the Gainsborough neighborhood, which was where Gordon Wallace was living at the time. Perkins found a ravine in the woods behind a former Arby’s

See RAILROAD, Page 19

OPINION

AppenMedia.com/Dunwoody | Dunwoody Crier | December 28, 2023 | 19

PRESERVING THE PAST

Frank Dailey − Alpharetta resident and war hero Since starting my weekly column on local history for Appen Media nearly two years ago, I have met many noteworthy and fascinating individuals who have contributed much to the North Fulton BOB MEYERS story.

Columnist One overly modest Alpharetta resident stands out in my mind as being worthy of special attention.

At 102 years of age, Franklyn Dailey is one of the few remaining members of the Greatest Generation of World War ll combat veterans. He is living proof of the adage that age is just a number. His mind is sharp, he lives alone and gets around with or without a walker. He has a wonderful story to tell.

Born of Irish descent Feb. 5, 1921 in Brockport, a village near Rochester, New York, Daily was a teenager when the worst of the Great Depression panicked the nation. A gifted student, he had the good fortune of attending Catholic schools, graduating from high school with a near 4-point average at the age of 14. He then worked briefly at Eastman Kodak Company until he enrolled in Niagara University where he remained until Caroline O’Day, Congresswoman at Large for New York State, nominated him in 1939 for appointment to the U.S. Naval Academy at Annapolis. Daily graduated from the academy as an honor student in 1942 in the first accelerated three-year class of World War ll.

Dailey served as the gunnery officer aboard the USS Edison, a Gleaves-class destroyer, one of 66 destroyers of that class built between 1938--42. They were still being constructed when the U.S. entered the war and were among the earliest destroyers to see action. Dailey was one of 16 officers and 260 enlisted men on the ship. Later in the war the upgraded Fletcher Class destroyer was introduced. Most Annapolis graduates were assigned as gunnery officers because of their extensive training. Civilian

Railroad: Continued from Page 18 restaurant on Savoy Drive, identifying the continued path of the railroad.

The railroad went to the right of the apartments on the southwest corner where Peeler Road, N. Shallowford Road, and Chamblee Dunwoody Road meet, according

BOB MEYERS/APPEN MEDIA

Frank Dailey at home in Alpharetta. Frank is a graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy at Annapolis and served aboard the destroyer USS Edison in World War ll. He is the author of three books.

FAMILY PROVIDED

Frank and Peggy Dailey were married in 1944 in St. Patrick’s Cathedral in New York City. Here they are at a party given for Frank in the 1940s in New York. sailors were assigned to navigation and seamanship tasks, according to Dailey.

Gleaves class destroyers had four 5-inch 38 caliber guns. The gun could shoot a 55-pound projectile 18,000 yards and was a workhorse weapon throughout the war. The Edison patrolled the Atlantic Ocean protecting commercial shipping from German air, sea and submarine attacks and took part in five major landing operations, Casablanca, Sicily, Anzio, Salerno and southern France, all part of a plan leading to the invasion of Normandy in June 1944. The objective of Dailey’s ship was to support infantry landings by destroying German defensive guns.

The Battle of Anzio was the most difficult of the five landings, says Dailey.

It took place between January and June 1944 when some 50,000 Allied troops staged an amphibious landing about 30 miles south of Rome near the town of Anzio. The Joint U.S.--Royal Navy Task Force 81 included some 400 ships of all kinds, including 28 destroyers to to Perkins. It passed DonaldsonBannister Farm, crossing from the left side of Chamblee Dunwoody Road to the right side at the intersection with Buckline Crossing. The engines of the Roswell Railroad were Buck and Dinkey.

The train tracks continued to the left of Chamblee Dunwoody Road, through the Roy Head property, past the home of Calhoun Spruill and toward the Dunwoody Depot, which

FAMILY PROVIDED

Portrait of Franklyn Dailey in his naval officer white service uniform probably taken in the 1950s.

support the landings. Following the initial invasion, the Germans counterattacked and forced larger ships to move farther offshore, increasing the pressure on the smaller, more nimble destroyers. The Edison provided fire support to troops on the beachhead and escorted cargo ships and transports bringing supplies to the beachhead. The Allies prevailed at a high cost. American casualties in the sat between where CVS and Chevron are today on Chamblee Dunwoody Road.

For the train to cross Mt. Vernon, a deep cut was made in the road, which blocked off Mt. Vernon during the years the Roswell Railroad ran, 1881 to 1921. Buggy drivers and later automobiles had to take Nandina Lane to go around the intersection.

This history comes from an interview with Jim Perkins,

Anzio battle amounted to 24,000 killed and wounded plus thousands of cases of malaria and other mosquito-borne diseases common in the marshes close to the beachhead.

While in the Navy Frank undertook flight training in Pensacola on multiengine aircraft and obtained his wings in 1945. After training, he was assigned to a squadron based in Kodiak Alaska where he was a co-pilot.

Later he flew missions as a pilot in the Aleutian Islands in a Lockheed P2V Neptune aircraft monitoring enemy radio transmissions and submarines. He spent more than 20 years in the Navy, and was active in the Naval Air Reserve for 20 years after the war where he commanded a squadron and advanced to Captain.

On April 1 1944, Frank married Marguerite Virginia Parker (1920-2017) at St Patrick’s Cathedral in New York City. Known as Peggy, she and Frank had eight children, 18 grandchildren, 23 great-grandchildren and two great great-grandchildren. Several years ago, they moved to Alpharetta to be near some of their children who live in town and surrounding communities.

Frank is the author of three books, all of which are available on Amazon. “My Times with the Sisters and Other Events,” published in 2000, is a personal story of growing up as a student in Catholic schools. “The Triumph of Instrument Flight: A Retrospective in the Century of U.S. Aviation” was published in 2004 and “A Destroyer’s Role in World War II Naval Convoys and Invasion Landings” was published in 2009. He still maintains a website with additional stories, www. daileyint.com.

Frank Dailey is a warrior hero who deserves a prominent place in our local history.

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. conducted by L ynne Byrd. It can be found in the second edition of “The Story of Dunwoody, 1921-2001,” by Elizabeth L. Davis, Ethel W. Spruill, Joyce Amacher and L ynne Byrd.

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.

20 | December 28, 2023 | Dunwoody Crier | AppenMedia.com/Dunwoody

THE INK PENN

OPINION

Take your choice — scenic Wales or coastal Maine

KATHY MANOS PENN Columnist

“When I read a good book, it’s like traveling the world without ever leaving my chair.” That quote from Richard Peck perfectly fits this week’s books, one set in Wales and the other on the coast of Maine.

“Murder in the Valleys” by Pippa McCathie This is my first Pippa McCathie mystery, and I am so glad I found it. I downloaded her boxset, and I'm looking forward to books 2 & 3 in the series. Fabia Havard and Matt Lambert are the leads, and I particularly like how McCathie allows their back stories to unfold slowly. You know that Fabia took a lengthy sick leave from the police department and has now retired, but something isn't quite right about the situation.

The whys and wherefores come in bits as the book progresses, as do the details about her relationship with Matt Lambert,

a close colleague who is now a DCI. Meanwhile, Matt is investigating the murder of a young girl.

Not only did the story have plenty of twists and turns, the descriptions of the countryside in Wales transported me across the pond. I could easily imagine the river, the mountains in the distance, the village, and the church. If you want to be engrossed in a mystery with well-developed characters and descriptions that bring the setting to life, this book's for you.

“The Spy Coast” by Tess Gerritsen You may recall Tess Gerritsen as the author of the Rizzoli & Isles mysteries, which were turned into a TNT series. I thoroughly enjoyed the show, but I never read the books. It’s her medical thriller, “Harvest,” that sticks out in my mind. Now, the author has turned her attention to a spy thriller.

The seaside village of Purity, Maine is home to a group of government retirees, but don’t expect needlepoint and knitting from this gang of former CIA operatives.

Unlike the characters in the Thursday

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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 background/experience. In the subject line of the email please put “Delivery Route Application.”

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING The City of Dunwoody Zoning Board of Appeals will meet on Thursday, February 1, 2024 at 6:00 p.m. in the Council of Chambers of Dunwoody City Hall, located at 4800 Ashford Dunwoody Road, Dunwoody, Georgia 30338, for the purpose of due process of the following: ZBA 23-22, 5303 Winters Chapel Road: Variance from Sec. 27-267 to allow a 6-foot-tall security fence in a street yard.

ZBA 23-23, 2425 Littlebrooke Drive: Variance from Sec. 27-272 (2)(d) to allow relief from fencing material requirements.

Should you have any questions or comments, or would like to view the application and supporting materials, please contact the City of Dunwoody Community Development Department at 678-382-6800. Members of the public are encouraged to call or schedule a meeting with the staff in advance of the Public Hearing if they have questions or are unfamiliar with the process. The staff is available to answer questions, discuss the decision-making process, and receive comments and concerns.

Murder Club mysteries, these retirees have no interest in chasing killers and solving crimes—until their past comes calling.

Maggie Bird, the main character, is happy raising her chickens and chasing off the occasional fox. Haunted by memories of her last mission and what it cost her, revisiting the career that took her around the globe is something she wants to avoid.

When a dead body shows up in her driveway, though, she is forced into action.

The local police are called in to investigate and soon the state police join in too. And, of course, the authorities are always one step behind the former spies.

The last thing they are going to do is share information with the police. Do they know who’s responsible? No, but they have a few candidates in mind. Will Maggie go on the run? Not if she can help it. She and her friends, who’ve dubbed themselves “The Martini Club,” employ their wellhoned skills and call in favors from their old network. Identifying the puppet master will require all their combined skills. Not only must Maggie fend off questions from Jo Thibodeau, the local police chief, she’s

now involved in an international search.

The shift between the past and the present will keep you guessing, and you’ll be glad to know it’s labeled “The Martini Club Book I.” A second book is already listed on Amazon, though it won’t be published until 2025. Meanwhile, Book I has been optioned by Amazon Studios for a television series.

I visited Bangkok, Istanbul, and London in this book, and I can’t wait to see where the next one will take me. Until then, I may return to the lush green scenery of Wales in the Pippa McCathie series.

But first, I need to tear myself away from the Australian outback in the latest book I’m reading. Stay tuned. I’m sure I’ll write about that one soon.

Award-winning author Kathy Manos Penn is a Sandy Springs resident. Find her cozy mysteries on Amazon or locally at The Enchanted Forest, Bookmiser, Tall Tales, and Johns Creek Books. Contact her at inkpenn119@gmail.com, and follow her on Facebook, www.facebook.com/KathyManosPennAuthor/.

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OPINION

GARDEN BUZZ

AppenMedia.com/Dunwoody | Dunwoody Crier | December 28, 2023 | 21

The what, why and how of composting Would you like a garden that requires less labor, produces stronger and healthier plants with less chemicals and other pest management treatments, and uses less water and fertilizer? If so, you GEORGE SCESNEY need to change the Guest Columnist fertility and physical condition of your soil from the natural hard pack Georgia red clay (commonly known as “dirt”) to a wonderfully loose crumbly lightweight bio-system known as “soil”—full of the microorganisms that assist all our plants to thrive. To do this, we must add compost, a soil conditioner and wonder food for these microorganisms that create the soil bio-system.

What is compost? It is nothing more than organic matter – leaves, grass trimmings, kitchen peelings, shredded paper and chopped up plants that assist microorganisms to “eat.” Compost is made by mixing organic matter together in an optimum ratio of four parts carbon sources (leaves, grass clippings paper, cardboard) to one part nitrogen sources (kitchen peelings,) chopping it all up into small particles, wetting it down to provide water for the microorganisms that come from the small amount of soil we add, and putting it into a pile big enough to retain the heat generated by the growth of the microorganisms (heat helps speed the process along). Flipping the pile every couple of weeks helps speed the decomposition of the organic matter into a loose, crumbly, earthy-smelling material we call compost.

How does compost do all these great things for our garden? First, as a soil conditioner, its small particles break up hard pack clay when mixed in, either by the action of earthworms or by the actions of humans with tools. Clay particles are like little plates that can pack tightly together.

Compost particles, once they get between these “plates,” keep open spaces between them, allowing air and water (up to 50% by volume) to freely enter and leave. The increased air space allows more water to penetrate deeper into the soil, reducing the evaporation that would happen if it were on the surface. These air spaces also get more water to the root zone of the plant for its use. And since water heats/cools more slowly than soil, the added water reduces the temperature swings in the soil that are harmful to plant growth.

But more importantly, compost, as the remnants of the food microorganisms have eaten to grow and reproduce, contains many of the minerals that plants need. As they feed on and break down the organic

Homemade compost bins. matter, the microorganisms release carbon and nitrogen – two major minerals required by plants. In addition, the weak acids produced by the microorganisms by feeding on the organic matter help break down sand, rock and clay, releasing many other required minerals. Further, all of these minerals are changed from their solid forms into simpler forms of ions in a water-based

AARON HABER/FLICKR.COM

solution, which is the only way plants can take them in through their root systems.

So, compost is a good way to have a healthy, productive, low-labor garden. It is up to you to decide how much compost you want and the scale, effort and science you want to invest to reach healthy soil.

There are many ways to scale your composting needs: a two-gallon compost

About the author This week’s “Garden Buzz” guest columnist is Roswell resident George Scesney. George has been a Master Gardener since 2008 and has been gardening for over 50 years. George enjoys doing his own composting, landscaping and vegetable gardening, including growing food for the local food bank. Originally from New York, he has been in Georgia since 1976 and has mastered the art of gardening in the south.

Learn more •Composting and Mulching https://extension.uga.edu/publications/detail.html?number=C816&title=com posting-and-mulching •Composting: Recycling Landscape Trimmings https://extension.uga.edu/publications/detail.html?number=C981&title=com posting-recycling-landscape-trimmings •Composting for Kids https://extension.uga.edu/content/dam/extension-county-offices/jeff-daviscounty/4h/Composting%20with%20Kids.pdf

container that sits on your kitchen counter, a five-gallon container that fits under your sink or lives in the garage, tumblers that reside outside from 5 to 20 gallons, and bins made of wood or wire that can be any size you need depending on how much raw material you have. Or you can go low tech and simply put the organic matter on your garden surface and cover it with soil.

You can mix the organic matter in small to large batches; you can turn it regularly or tumble it daily to speed the process, or go low tech and put it on the ground, cover it with soil and let nature do the job. The more work you do, the faster the result.

You can mix organic matter in precise carbon/nitrogen ratios, monitor its breakdown by tracking temperatures, adjust the results by varying raw materials, or just go low tech and pile it up and let it rot at a slower pace.

There can be as little or as much scale, effort and science in your compost production as you want. All of the details about composting are readily available in the UGA Publications cited in the resources, but here is the important thing - organic matter feeds the microorganisms that create the compost and the soil bio-system that depends on the compost. If you stop feeding these microorganisms, the soil bio-system and its benefits slowly deteriorate along with the garden that depends on it. To learn more about the value of compost for your garden, the steps involved in making compost at home, and how to best use it in your garden, check out “Composting at Home”, my presentation on the NFMG YouTube channel at https://youtu.be/ WumXZnvo9aM. Happy composting!

North Fulton Master Gardeners, Inc. is a Georgia nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization whose purpose is to educate its members and the public in the areas of horticulture and ecology in order to promote and foster community enrichment. Master Gardener Volunteers are trained and certified by The University of Georgia Cooperative Extension.

Learn more at nfmg.net. Previous Garden Buzz columns are featured at https:// appenmedia.com/opinion/columnists/ garden_buzz/.

DEATH NOTICES Harry Robinson, 79, of Alpharetta, passed away on December 18, 2023.

Arrangements by Northside Chapel Funeral Directors & Crematory.

Wayne Shaffer, 95, of Roswell, passed away on December 18, 2023. Arrangements by Northside Chapel Funeral Directors & Crematory.

George Wilson, Jr., 82, of Milton, passed away on December 14, 2023. Arrangements by Northside Chapel Funeral Directors & Crematory.

22 | December 28, 2023 | Dunwoody Crier | AppenMedia.com/Dunwoody

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