Couple donates mini library after losing two pregnancies
By JON WILCOX jon@appenmedia.com
FORSYTH COUNTY, Ga. — After experiencing the loss of two pregnancies, Gainesville couple Kate and Dewayne Luevano decided to turn their grief into action.
The Luevanos’ daughter Emerson was lost in the second trimester. A second daughter, Josie, died full term of hemolytic disease of the fetus.
“I like anything that’s tangible,” Kate Luevano said. “I kept seeing Little Free Libraries at parks, and one day I just said, ‘We should just do that. Let’s do it.’”
The couple officially donated a mini library of their own March 29 near a musical play area at Cumming City Center, 423 Canton Road. During an unveiling ceremony, they posed for pictures amid playing children and the soft tones of xylophones and
other playground instruments.
As one of many Little Free Libraries, the cabinet-sized case will offer visitors and families free books to read. Little Free Library, a nonprofit based in Minnesota, aims to improve access to books through a global network of volunteer-led, book-exchange boxes.
The Luevanos raised about $400 to cover costs, collected books and
See LIBRARY, Page 15
Sheriff, county weigh partnering on animal services, park safety
By JON WILCOX jon@appenmedia.com
FORSYTH COUNTY, Ga. — A proposed agreement could allow inmates and probationers to complete community service at the county’s animal shelter.
Commissioners discussed an agreement March 25 to give the sheriff’s office control of operations of the Animal Services department, Pet Resource Center and county park rangers.
Chief Deputy Joe Perkins said the change would allow both people under court supervision and jail inmates to work at the shelter. The work done by probationers and inmates could fulfill community service requirements.
“We are very excited to take on this project,” Perkins said.
Inmates would first receive training to complete cleaning and other basic tasks.
See AGREEMENT, Page 15
Two dogs rest inside a kennel at Forsyth County’s Pet Resource Center.
CUMMING CITY CENTER/PROVIDED
Kate and Dewayne Luevano place books inside a book exchange they donated March 29 at Cumming City Center.
FORSYTH COUNTY/PROVIDED
Regional group wants input for transportation projects
METRO ATLANTA — The Atlanta Regional Commission is seeking public comment through April 16 for a proposed amendment to the 2050 Metropolitan Transportation Plan / FY 2024-2027 Transportation Improvement Program.
The Transportation Improvement Program serves as a short-term regional mechanism where federal, state and local funds can gain approval for all significant surface transportation projects and programs. The program is updated several times throughout the year, as changes are made to projects or new funding becomes available.
The 2050 Metro Transportation Plan is a long-term program that details the investments that will be made in the next 25 years to ensure the future success and improvement of quality of life in the region.
Both programs are run by the Atlanta Regional Commission to help improve mobility and quality of life in the 19 Metro Atlanta counties, as federally recognized by the Metropolitan Planning Organization.
As a requirement the amendment will reflect cost increases, changes to project timelines and new projects that are exempt from air quality requirements.
Included in the amendment is a cost increase of $207 million for 25 projects across the Atlanta region which include cost adjustments to the following projects: I-75 commercial vehicle lanes in Henry County,
SR 20 (Cumming Highway/Knox Bridge Highway) widening in Cherokee County, Upper Riverdale Road bridge upgrade in Clayton County and the SR 13 (Peters Street) Bridge replacement in the City of Atlanta.
Also included in the amendment are the following projects that will be exempt from air quality requirements in the 2024 Transportation Improvement Program Solicitation; the City of Atlanta and Midtown Alliance Peachtree Safe Street project and the City of Atlanta Marietta Boulevard Safe Street project. The following Federal Recreational Trail Programs will also be exempt: Clayton County Rivers Edge Trail extension, City of Smyrna Chattahoochee RiverLands Recreational Trail and Riverview Trailhead and the City of Chattahoochee Hills Wheel Beautiful – Riverlands Scenic Universal Access Trail. The Amendment is scheduled to be considered by the Board and Transportation & Air Quality Committee on May 14.
For more information on how to leave a public comment visit http:// www.atlantaregional.org/amendment.
— Sarah Coyne
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Sandy Springs adopts forms of speech laws
By HAYDEN SUMLIN hayden@appenmedia.com
SANDY SPRINGS, Ga. — The Sandy Springs City Council voted to approve three First Amendment-related ordinances April 1 restricting ways residents and visitors can interact.
The city ordinances took effect after each was approved at the meeting.
It is now a misdemeanor to solicit at residences between 9 p.m. and 7 a.m. It is also a crime to block the entrance to a property or to remain within 8 feet of someone who objects.
During discussion between city officials, proponents of the ordinances referenced “time, place and manner” restrictions on speech. While the First Amendment protects freedom of speech, governments can impose reasonable “time, place and manner” restrictions that are content-neutral.
The ordinances were sparked, in part, by incidents over the past few years in which antisemitic flyers were distributed onto residential driveways under the cover of night.
In advance of the meeting, the American Civil Liberties Union of Georgia wrote a letter to the Sandy Springs City Council
Opinion: Mind what you say while in Sandy Springs
► PAGE 12
urging officials to vote against the ordinances.
“We share your dismay at the distribution of antisemitic propaganda across the City of Sandy Springs and Metro Atlanta more broadly,” the letter says. “We write to express our deep concerns that, despite their good intentions, the Ordinances would violate speakers’ right to free speech.”
The ACLU’s letter references three U.S. Supreme Court cases, including Hill v. Colorado (2000), McCullen v. Coakley (2014) and Snyder v. Phelps (2011), to argue that the city’s buffer zone ordinance’s expansive prohibitions burden speech more than is necessary to quell antisemitism.
First Amendment implications
While no one from the public spoke in support of the new laws, a couple of residents voiced concerns against them, citing their effect on the exercise of First
Amendment rights.
Sandy Springs resident Mike Petchenik, CEO of a media consulting company and former WSB-TV reporter, spoke against the first ordinance banning overnight door-to-door solicitation and canvassing between 9 p.m. and 7 a.m.
“Back in 2023, a neo-Nazi group littered my neighborhood’s lawns, including my own, with hate-filled leaflets seeking to sow fear in the Jewish community, of which I am a part,” he said. “As a proponent of free speech, I urge you to proceed with caution and not throw the baby out with the bath water.”
Petchenik emphasized that hate has no place in the community and asked elected officials to make an exception for free deliveries of the Sandy Springs Crier newspaper to residences.
City Attorney Dan Lee said the ordinance would limit solicitations and the delivery of “uncontracted for literature,” including the Crier.
“We believe that it meets the freedom of the press/freedom of speech issues that have been discussed,” Lee said.
Lee told council members that it is already a crime to drop off something or enter onto the property if there is a visible sign barring solicitation and canvassing at the entrance of the home or neighborhood.
City Councilwoman Melody Kelley then asked why the new ordinance was necessary.
“To bring clarity and make it well known that it is contrary to the laws of Sandy Springs,” Lee answered.
The ordinance passed 5-1, with Councilwoman Jody Reichel dissenting.
“I have some concerns about this ordinance, that it violates First Amendment protections,” Reichel said. “I don’t want to get into another lawsuit.”
Reichel also asked Lee what would happen if a newspaper was delivered at 6:50 a.m., during the restricted time window.
“The police will come and handle whatever needs to be handled just like every other ordinance,” Lee said.
Elected officials approved the second ordinance unanimously 6-0 following a
short discussion. It prohibits individuals from blocking the entrance to private and public property. City officials, including Lee, Paul and Police Chief Kenneth DeSimone, said the Police Department has experienced the problem at hospitals and consulates.
City Councilman Andy Bauman voted in favor of the second ordinance, he said, because of assurances that it’s constitutional and in the state law.
“I think we can all be really candid about what’s going on here; we’re sending a message, it’s prophylactic,” Bauman said. “Let’s keep our eye on the ball, we’ve got bigger fish to fry in Sandy Springs.”
Protest discussion draws pushback
The third ordinance establishes an 8-foot buffer between an individual who is “passing a leaflet or handbill to, displaying a sign to or engaging in oral protest, education, counseling or harassment with such other person.”
Under the new law, people must obtain consent from others before engaging with them. If they object, and you encroach withing 8 feet from them, you face a disorderly conduct charge.
The restriction is not limited to specific areas and applies across the city.
Police Chief DeSimone said the personal encroachment ordinance would assist public safety in Sandy Springs. He cited a case recently where two individuals silently walked across the City Green during the Oct. 10, 2023 “Stand in Solidarity with Israel” vigil wearing “Arab headdresses with two Palestinian flags that walked into the crowd.”
“My guys had to grab them pretty quick and get them out of there; this ordinance will help us do that because they walked through there for only one reason, to intimidate,” DeSimone said.
Councilwoman Reichel asked DeSimone if that meant his department, “would arrest someone just for walking through a group of people?”
“Yes,” the police chief answered. “If they were walking with a Nazi flag, under
See LAWS, Page 12
Georgia native Bass joins newsroom
DECATUR, Ga. — Decaturish founder Dan Whisenhunt has announced that Jim Bass will join the Decatur-based news publication as a full-time reporter.
Appen Media publishes Decaturish, along with seven weekly newspapers, from a central Metro Atlanta newsroom.
Bass will cover DeKalb County and Decatur schools and the city of Avondale Estates.
Bass was born and raised in Newnan, Georgia, and has lived in the Peach State his entire life. While attending college at the University of Georgia, Bass worked at The Red & Black in several positions, including editor-in-chief and Digital Managing Editor. Bass also took multiple photojournalism courses and completed his capstone as an education reporter for The Oglethorpe Echo. He graduated with a B.A. in Journalism on May 10, 2024.
After leaving Athens, Bass moved to Decatur to continue pursuing his journalism career. He was ecstatic about joining the Decaturish team.
Appen Media launched March 20 a print edition of Decaturish, Decaturish Ink, prompting Whisenhunt to seek out another full-time reporter. The editor said he was impressed by Bass’s intelligence, work ethic and attention to detail.
“We had so many applicants for this position, and it was a very competitive process, with many talented candidates,” Whisenhunt said.
“What stood out for me was Jim’s experience as a journalist and a leader in his college newsroom. His clips were good, but they don’t tell you everything. During the interview process, Jim demonstrated his ability to solve problems, ask insightful questions and keep up with the busy pace we’ve set as a company.”
Bass was visiting New York City when Whisenhunt called and offered him the job. Bass was seeing the Statue of Liberty for the first time when he got the call, making the moment even more memorable.
“It is an honor to write for such a beloved local publication like Decaturish,” Bass said. “Being able to work alongside this talented team and continue to grow under their wing while informing the community is something I’m grateful for.”
To contact Bass for potential tips or story ideas, email jim@appenmedia.com.
Master Gardeners to host Garden Faire
ALPHARETTA, Ga. — The North Fulton Masters’ Garden Faire promises to be a singular experience for those who love growing things.
“Plants, plants and more plants is what I tell people,” said Master Gardener Christine Williams. “You should be able to find any plant you want.”
Scheduled for April 12 in The Grove at Wills Park, 175 Roswell St. in Alpharetta, the fair will host 30 vendors selling everything from food and drink to gardening tools, and, of course, plenty of plants.
The fair is hosted by the North Fulton Master Gardeners, Georgia Native Plant Society and Alpharetta Community Agriculture Program.
Everything from cottage-style to zen to groundcovers to understory shrubs and trees, the event is perfect for residents to spruce up any outdoor or indoor space. Bluegrass band Cedar Hill also will perform.
A Children’s Gardening Corner will offer engaging activities for young gardeners.
Williams said the event is education-
IF YOU GO
WHAT: North Fulton Masters’ Gardener Faire
WHEN: 9 a.m.-3 p.m. April 12
WHERE: The Grove at Wills Park, 175 Roswell St. in Alpharetta
al but also lots of fun.
About 20 Master Gardener ambassadors will be on hand to offer gardening advice and answer questions.
The fair is also a great opportunity for like-minded people to gather and talk shop.
Williams said the fair usually generates plenty of excitement and often a line of visitors at opening time. Last year, about 2,200 people attended.
Carts, trays, and bags will be available but limited. Please bring your own for personal ease.
— Jon Wilcox
everyone he meets. He is a lover. He would make a loving companion for a family with children or just an active couple looking to add a furry member to the mix! Come meet him, bring a tennis ball and treats. He’s a WINNER!
BASS
Just opened?
6 | Forsyth Herald | April 10, 2025
Gardener creates custom spaces for natural reflection, recharging
By JON WILCOX jon@appenmedia.com
JOHNS CREEK, Ga. — Shelly Hoddeson paints with flowers, trees and stones. Your yard is her easel.
“It’s art,” Hoddeson said. “It really is a living art.”
Hoddeson, owner of Johns-Creekbased Southern Estate Classic Gardens, makes custom gardens and outdoor spaces for North Metro Atlanta residents, drawing on years of landscaping experience.
“It should bring them joy, peace and tranquility,” Hoddeson said.
Hoddeson, a Johns Creek resident, has gardening in her blood.
She inherited a love for flowers from her grandmother, who filled her home with irises, day lilies, hydrangeas, hostas and other blooms. African violets, cultivated in indoor pots, were her grandmother’s favorite.
“She loved them,” she said. Hoddeson learned an appreciation for gardening from her mother, spending hours pulling weeds and planting pots
along with her sister. The work was hardly a chore but rather a time for bonding for the three.
“We would chat and feel the earth — get grounded,” Hoddeson said. “I loved getting my hands dirty. I always did.”
As an adult, Hoddeson still gets her hands dirty.
Her business can handle almost any outdoor task, including flower beds, patios, paths, erosion control, water features, soil conditioning and more, but she prides herself in bringing them together in an inspired design.
The process starts with a face-to-face meeting, which can run from two minutes to three hours depending on how involved a client is. Hoddeson walks the property, taking photos, learning about personal tastes and discussing goals.
She then brainstorms, occasionally bouncing ideas, sketches and designs off her client. She returns with ideas in hand, often literally in the form of a vision board, to discuss her concepts for the space.
See GARDENS, Page 7
SHELLY HODDESON/PROVIDED
A bed of flowers add vivid colors at a client’s property. Southern Estate Classic Gardens owner Shelly Hoddeson said flowers are her favorite element of a garden.
Gardens:
Continued from Page 6
Lastly, she finalizes an agreed design, comes up with a cost estimate and gets started.
It’s a lot of work, but it’s also her passion, she said.
Flowers and their bounty of colors are Hoddeson’s favorite part of a garden.
During her 15 years spent in the gardening industry, she has become an expert, learning each’s growth habits from how much water and sun they need to big or small they will grow.
“They are like an instant pop of color,” she said.
Rock, often natural flagstones from Tennessee or Oklahoma, are shaped by a contracted mason’s hammer and chisel. They can serve as stepping stones, guide the flow of water and fill other ornamental needs.
“I really try to incorporate something into the living space that both looks good and solves a problem,” she said.
Hoddeson loves to surround her stones with aggregate gravels or groundcover plants like blue star creeper, ajuga or mazus, which can boast tiny, vivid blossoms.
Trees, especially flowering ones like dogwoods, redbuds and cherry trees, can create shade, offer elegant forms and attract pollinators.
“You got to make sure you are putting the right tree in the right place because some trees can be really massive,” she said. “Removing them is sad for the tree, and it’s sad for your wallet.”
Holy Week
Hoddeson is capable with almost any style, whether that be the trimmed hedges and meticulous symmetry of a formal garden or the raked gravel and serenity of a Japanese-inspired space.
But her specialty is the cottage style, which embraces the inherent beauty of the natural environment with crooked lines, unrestrained growths and wildlife.
“It’s calming,” she said. “It’s a lot of color, and it gives me energy.”
Hoddeson’s first big project was a validation that she was in the right business.
Filled with dying grass, the backyard had few plants and a water feature that was waiting to be properly used.
Hoddeson added nutrient-rich soil, leveled ground to create a tan-and-gray flagstone path and intermingled mazus to create a luxurious ground cover. The result was a serene path perfect for recharging and reflection.
At another property where erosion was taking a serious toll, she placed stepping stones into a dry creek bed. When she was finished, the client was able to take strolls through a yard that resembled a fruit orchard filled with figs and blueberries.
Hoddeson brings a wealth of creative experience to any job, but her primary goal is to make a client’s dream come true.
Receiving feedback and insights on personal tastes is never necessary, but it does make work more rewarding.
At the end of the day, it is all about creating a space that someone will find personal satisfaction in.
“I’m making a space for them that’s their oasis,” she said.
@ Midway United Methodist Church
Easter Eggstravaganza - April 12 1:00 pm - 3:00 pm
Activities and egg hunts for all ages birth - 5th grade. Community event
Palm Sunday - April 13
8:30 am- Traditional Service - Chapel 11:00 am - Modern Worship - Sanctuary
Children’s Ministry programming from 8:30 am-12:00 pm Student Ministry and Adult Small Groups 9:45 am
Maundy Thursday - April 17 8:30 am - 4:30 pm Sanctuary open for prayer and communion.
Good Friday Service - April 18
“The Life and Passion of Christ” 6:00 pm - Sanctuary
Easter - April 20
6:45 am - Sunrise Service - Chapel 8:30 am - Traditional Service - Chapel 11:00 am - Modern Worship - Sanctuary
Children’s Ministry programming 8:30 am - 9:30 am & 11:00 am - 12:00 pm
SHELLY HODDESON/PROVIDED
A weeping blue atlas cedar serves as the centerpiece amid a bed of flowers. Shelly Hoddeson said she brings a wealth of knowledge for all things growing to every job.
Honored to be Voted: Best Dermatologist and Best Vein Specialist
Insist on the
BEST
Dr. Brent Taylor is a Board-Certified Dermatologist, a Fellowship-Trained Mohs Surgeon, and is certified by the Board of Venous and Lymphatic Medicine in the field of Vein Care.
He is an expert in skin cancer and melanoma treatment, endovenous laser ablation, minimally invasive vein procedures and cosmetics procedures such as Botox and injectables.
Kathryn is a certified physician assistant with over 22 years experience as a Dermatology PA and cosmetic dermatology.
Her specialties include general dermatology such as acne, eczema, rashes, hair loss, full body skin exams, abnormal growths etc. Kathryn also specializes in cosmetic dermatology including lasers, injectables, micro-needling, PRP, facial peels, sclerotherapy for spider veins and at home skin care.
Is Lidocaine a secret weapon against cancer?
We always worry about the negative side-effects that a medicine might have. At the end of a pharmaceutical company’s commercials, an auctioneer very quickly states the twenty terrible things that might happen if you take the advertised medicine. Side effects range from your ear falling off when you sneeze to the belief that you are Elvis. Side-effects make almost any medicine sound scary. But occasionally, a positive side effect emerges. Sometimes, we discover something wonderful about a medicine that is wholly unexpected. Examples of positive side-effects are not hard to find. The medicine finasteride was first being used to help decrease the size of the prostate in men who were having difficulty urinating. An unexpected positive side-effect was discovered when it was noticed that many of the men were re-growing their scalp hair. With finasteride, male pattern baldness was often partially reversed or stopped in its tracks.
One of the most recent medications discovered to have a possible positive side effect is lidocaine, which has been around since 1943. Lidocaine is an injectable anesthetic. We use lidocaine for skin biopsies, excisions, Mohs surgeries and countless other procedures every day in the dermatology office. Amazingly, lidocaine may be more than an anesthetic. It may also have anti-cancer effects.
A team of surgeons in India operating on breast cancer divided patients into two groups. One group had standard breast cancer surgery. The other group received a lidocaine injection around the tumor 7-10 minutes prior to surgery. During the 5 years after surgery, the group that received the lidocaine injection had an 8.5% rate of the cancer recurring (popping up again) at a distant site versus an 11.6% rate of distant recurrence in the surgeryonly (no lidocaine) group. The study has some limitations including not being a double-blind trial and being a single-
center study, but it is intriguing enough to warrant further investigation. The authors reported that injecting lidocaine around breast cancer before removing it increased survival in their study.
What made the surgeons perform this study in the first place? Why lidocaine? Over the last few years, researchers have discovered that electrical gradients maintained across the membranes of cancer cells are important to their ability to metastasize or spread. Our cells have pumps in them called “ion channels.” They allow certain ions to pass across the cell membrane. The resulting ion concentration gradient creates an electrical charge across a cell. This gradient affects the way other proteins in the cell function. Importantly, some of the proteins affected by the charge across a cell membrane are important for healthy cells’ growth and development as well as for cancers’ ability to grow and spread.
Lidocaine works by blocking sodium channels in cell membranes. Disrupting the electric charge across a cancer cell membrane was suspected to have the potential to weaken the cancer itself. Preclinical studies supported this hypothesis, and the breast cancer surgeons took the next step of performing a trial with breast cancer patients and peritumoral lidocaine injections.
I don’t know if breast cancer surgeons in the United States consider these results valid, are awaiting confirmatory studies or are already injecting lidocaine. However, in dermatology, these results are exciting because, for now, we do not need to change anything that we are already doing. Every day that I perform Mohs surgery, we inject the area around a tumor with lidocaine prior to surgically removing the cancer. If lidocaine is more than an anesthetic, then our patients are likely already benefiting from any anti-cancer properties that lidocaine has.
Mohs surgery is the gold standard for treating most skin cancers and has a cure rate that is usually at or above 99%. Perhaps lidocaine is one of the secrets to this success.
Dr. Brent Taylor
Kathryn Filipek, PA-C
Brought to you by – Dr. Brent Taylor, Premier Dermatology and Mohs Surgery of Atlanta
I want to wake up in a city that never speaks
PAT FOX Managing Editor pat@appenmedia.com
Once a beacon of freedom from county oppression, Sandy Springs has now cloistered itself from … well, itself.
Back in 2005, Sandy Springs forged the blueprint for self-governance and became a model for a dozen other Metro Atlanta communities to form cities of their own. Through it all, Sandy Springs remained the gold standard, rolling out a precision plan to build an economic and cultural dynamo for other young cities to follow.
It set the benchmark for a vibrant population of more than 100,000 souls eager to have a voice in their own
Laws:
Continued from Page 4
this ordinance we would arrest them. Palestinian flag, we would arrest them. Because they are doing it for only one
quality of life.
Sadly, Sandy Springs is now leading from a fetal position, embracing fear, restricting freedoms and rolling up the welcome mat.
Through a series of ordinances passed April 1, Sandy Springs residents are now encouraged to safely hide in their own “private spaces” and fear interacting with anyone.
It is now a crime in Sandy Springs for a person to remain within 8 feet of anyone who verbally expresses a desire not to be in their company. The legislation was passed along with another gem of an idea that outlaws canvassing or distributing unsolicited materials – including newspapers — overnight.
Much of this legislation has been promoted under the cover of recommendations from the Anti-Defamation
reason and that is to intimidate the Jewish community.”
Councilwomen Reichel and Kelley pushed back on his comments (from 1:27:25-1:33:25) about the ordinance and Palestinian people. To view the clip or the whole meeting, visit youtube.com/ watch?v=YcYvr3zIBLg&t=5405s.
At one point DeSimone asked Reichel, who is Jewish, if she would consider it harassment for someone to walk by her with a Palestinian flag at a pro-Jewish event.
“I don’t think that would be harassing me. I mean, if they came up to me and started getting in my face or started pushing me, or started to physically touch me, that is harassing, yes,” she said. “But I do believe in the First Amendment and I believe in freedom of speech.”
The police chief addressed the council and public speakers who had raised concerns about the First Amendment implications, saying the ordinance is necessary to keep Sandy Springs safe.
“You can’t be like the reporter who says ‘I’m for free speech, but this is intimidating so I’m going to call the police,”’ he said.
For the second time in the meeting, DeSimone was referencing Petchenik’s earlier comments at the podium.
Petchenik had called 9-11 when antisemitic flyers showed up on his lawn.
“It’s on us [the Sandy Springs Police Department] to prevent chaos, and if you don’t help us out, chaos will ensue,” DeSimone said. “You’ve got to help us out.”
League following recent antisemitic incidents. Such things are abominable, yes.
It is noteworthy that only two members of the public spoke on the legislation at the hearing April 1. Both opposed the “personal space” ordinance. One speaker was Jewish, and he advised city leaders not to throw out the baby with the bathwater by passing such a sweeping ordinance.
Police Chief Kenneth DeSimone says the personal space ordinance will provide officers clarity when circumstances arise where defusing a situation is called for. That clarity is now legally defined as 8 feet – and it covers the whole city, including private yards, public parks, sidewalks.
Police can now pit maneuver a person who remains within 8 feet of someone who objects to an interaction. But, the city already has ordinances on the books that address disorderly conduct and public
ity of the 8-foot buffer to those within 50 feet of a school, place of worship or any public right-of-way.
After Kelley raised concerns about the public right-of-ways application, the city removed the entire clause and extended the restriction to everywhere in the city. That was the version under consideration at the meeting.
“I respect the spirit in which these are brought; I’m not going to be able to support this language today,” Kelley said. “I’m all for considering the protection of schools, places of worship and first responders, so when we have language that’s specific to that stuff … I’m open to that conversation.”
The ordinances were crafted by the Anti-Defamation League to address what it says is a surge in extremism and antisemitic incidents across the country and to protect public safety.
During the meeting, officials asked the ADL to speak on some of their concerns about the laws’ balance of First Amendment protections and limiting harassment.
“… I do fear that we are entering territory here that maybe is not the best place for a city council to be breaking ground,” City Councilman Andy Bauman said.
“It is your job as a legislative body to determine what is appropriate for Sandy Springs,” ADL Southeast Regional Director Eytan Davidson said. “This is a difficult decision; these are tough calls, but that’s why you guys are elected officials.”
disturbances.
People ought to be treated civilly wherever they are. Must we codify it in inches and allow police – through some sort of arbitrary mental psychology – adjudicate “objectionable” interactions between people?
This legislation is gratuitous.
And while it’s not directly related, it weighs in the balance that after pouring tens of millions of dollars into a City Springs district designed to draw crowds, the city adopts the most anthropophobic piece of legislation since segregation.
Residents of Sandy Springs deserve better than this.
The best advice for now is to avoid everyone, say nothing. Don’t wear your WWJD bling or other religious baubles in public. Carry a tape measure.
Start spreading the news: Express no opinion in Sandy Springs.
step.”
City Attorney Lee said the buffer ordinance only prohibits interactions with other individuals if they do not consent.
“If it’s deemed harassment and somebody doesn’t want it, that person has a right not to be accosted, not be solicited,” Lee said. “This ordinance says you can’t do it within 8 feet of someone who doesn’t want it.”
Sandy Springs resident Bill Grifith, who spoke against the first and third ordinance, said the 8-foot buffer would prevent him from approaching Lee with a question about his interpretation of the law.
The city attorney responded.
“If he came and I told him I didn’t want to talk to him and he stayed, he would be in violation of it,” Lee said. “There’s a difference, that’s the purpose of this ordinance … if one doesn’t want to talk to the other, the other does not have a right to be closer than 8 feet to them.”
The ordinance passed 4-2 with Bauman, Tibby DeJulio, Melissa Mular and John Paulson voting in favor.
City council members Jody Reichel and Melody Kelley dissented.
After the meeting, ACLU representatives said they were disappointed in the city’s decisions. They issued the following statement to Appen Media;
It was also noted that earlier the day of the meeting, the city uploaded a new agenda packet that expanded the application of the third ordinance. Earlier versions of the law limited the applicabil-
Davidson said Sandy Springs is forging new ground.
“I do think that this will stand up to constitutional scrutiny,” he said. “I think you will be on the right side not only of the law, but of history, by taking this
“Repressing speech across the entire city of Sandy Springs is a broad and dangerous overreach that does nothing to make residents safer. Instead, it violates core constitutional protections and sets a troubling precedent for government overreach. We are actively exploring all legal options and urge the City Council to reconsider and reverse their decision.”
for each answer (the answers in line 1 are 4, 5 and 5 letters). The clues are numbered 1 through 7, with each number containing 3 clues for the 3 answers on the line. But here’s the catch! The clues are not in order - so the first clue in Line 1 may (or may not) actually be for the second or third answer in that line. Got it? Good luck!
GROUPS
1. Rock bottom. Fashionable. Group of witches.
2. Toss. Group of criminals. Cold weather warmer.
3. Syrup type. Fixed costs. Group of bees.
4. Theater group. Door sign. Mountain pool.
5. Juicy fruit. Group of cattle. Burger condiment.
6. Sporting group. Office note. Heavy drinking vessel for Beowulf.
7. Musical group. Pub game. Cookbook suggestion.
1 Rock bottom. Fashionable. Group of witches
2. Toss. Group of criminals. Cold weather warmer
How to Solve: Each line in the puzzle above has three clues and three answers. The last letter in the first answer on each line is the first letter of the second answer, and so on. The connecting letter is outlined, giving you the correct number of letters for each answer (the answers in line 1 are 4, 5 and 5 letters). The clues are numbered 1 through 7, which each number containing 3 clues for the 3 answers on the line. But here’s the catch! The clues are not in order - so the first clue in Line 1 may (or may not) actually be for the second or third answer in that line. Got it? Good luck!
3. Syrup type. Fixed costs. Group of bees
4. Theater group. Door sign. Mountain pool
5. Juicy fruit. Group of cattle. Burger condiment
6. Sporting group. Office note. Heavy drinking vessel for Beowulf.
7. Musical group. Pub game. Cookbook suggestion
Ecommerce Specialist: E & E Co., Ltd. dba JLA
Home. Headquarters in Fremont, CA. Jobsite in Roswell, GA. Responsible for market research & analysis and marketing campaigns. Master degree req’d. Salary: $73,000/year. Fax resume to 510-490-2882 or e-mail: hrdept@jlahome.com
Management Development Specialist (Roswell, GA) Assesses dvlpmt & training needs; dsgns, dvlps, & conducts orientations & training prgms & materials; dvlps & maintains organizational communications & builds positive working relationships w/ all stakeholders; determines resources reqd to achieve training goals & objectives; monitors training costs & prep budget reports to justify expenditures. Bach’s deg in training & dvlpmt, mgmt, or economics & 24 months F/T exp in the job or as export specialist reqd. M-F, 40 hrs./wk. Mail resumes to Mehmet GUL, Richard Rose LLC, 5106 Waters Edge Trail, Roswell, GA 30075.
Marketing Manager will be employed in Alpharetta, GA to Plan, direct, or coord mktg policies & prgms, such as determining the demand for svcs offd by a firm & its competitors, & identify potential customers; Dvlp pricing strategies; Monitor trends that indicate the need for new products & svcs; Identify, dvlp, or evaluate mktg strategy; Work w/ advtg or promotion mgrs; Analyze mktg data; Coord special events or prgms. Bachelor’s Deg in Bus Admin, Economics, or Mktg & 24 mos F/T exp in the job; $106,122.00/yr, M-F, 40 hrs/wk; Send resume (by mail only) to Paul Salih Ece, Digital Ignition LLC, 190 Bluegrass Valley Parkway, Alpharetta, GA 30005.
PROJECT MANAGER
Continually monitor and assess projects, updating workflows, tools, and methodologies, capture and document relevant project information, ensure tasks are assigned, documented, and monitored to maintain project momentum, develop and implement training and development programs, oversee risk management, stakeholder engagement, keep abreast of industry trends and implement best practices. Bachelor’s Degree in any or the equivalent. 40 hours/week, Wage: $72,413.08. Send ad copy and resume to employer/ work location: Mediamacros, Inc. dba Binary Evolution 11555 Medlock Bridge Road, Suite 100, Johns Creek, GA 30097
NAR Process & Test Engineer sought by Ingenico Inc. in Alpharetta, GA to coordinate engineering activities concerned with development, procurement, installation, and calibration of Test Equipment used to test the software and hardware of our terminals and Android devices. Use computer software test applications, including TMA, STATE and AXTOOL Kit test software, to conduct software tests on hardware devices, ensuring software revisions are up to date, identifying test flaws, and implementing maintenance routines for Test Equipment. Domestic and international travel up to 15% to visit customers and company offices. Interested candidates should submit resumes to Laura McCartney, 3025 Windward Plaza, Suite 600, Alpharetta, GA 30005. Reference code NPTE64 in response.
Full-Time Vice President of Community Engagement
NFCC is seeking a qualified candidate to fill the fulltime Vice President of Community Engagement position. The Vice President of Community Engagement (VPCE) is a senior leadership role responsible for developing and implementing strategies to build meaningful relationships with the community, donors, and stakeholders.
The VPCE will lead initiatives to increase awareness, partnerships, and financial support for the organization’s mission. This position oversees community engagement, marketing, public relations, and volunteer programs to ensure alignment with organizational goals.
If this sounds like the role for you, we’d love to hear from you! Please submit your resume to jobs@nfcchelp.org
Part-Time Thrift Shop Associate – Bilingual Preferred
NFCC is seeking a qualified candidate to fill the part-time Thrift Shop Associate position. One of the primary responsibilities of this role is to provide a high level of customer service in the Thrift Shop. The associate is responsible for all cash register and client clothing program transactions and keeping the merchandise in the store neat, clean, and organized. The role requires a friendly and customer-focused demeanor where all shoppers are treated with dignity and compassion.
If this sounds like the role for you, we’d love to hear from you! Please submit your resume to jobs@nfcchelp.org
Library:
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found a home for their project. They also painted the library pale pink and adorned it with hand-painted butterflies, each with a special meaning.
“Each of the butterflies represent somebody's baby,” Kate Luevano said. “They told me what colors make them think of their baby, and so I painted a butterfly.”
Miscarriages and stillbirths are far more common than many realize, she said.
About 10 to 20 percent of pregnancies result in miscarriages in the U.S., according to the Mayo Clinic. They are defined as the sudden loss of a pregnancy before the
20th week. Stillbirths, the loss of a baby after 20 weeks of pregnancy, occur in about 1 in 175 births, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Despite their frequency, many treat the topic as taboo, leading to shame and isolation for those affected.
“It’s surprisingly common,” Kate Luevano said.
Although the Luevanos said they will never forget Josie and Emerson, they are now looking toward the future with a newborn son. They also hope the library will enrich the lives of children and families for years to come.
“We want people to enjoy it and come get a book,” Kate Luevano said. “I'm excited to bring our son when he's older to visit his sisters’ library.”
Agreement:
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About 30 staff members work at the Pet Resources Center, 4065 County Way. The facility serves as an open admission shelter and provides housing, care and medical treatment to domestic stray, lost, abandoned, sick, injured and surrendered animals.
“When we brought it up to felony probation, they were thrilled,” Perkins said. “They said, ‘They're gonna love coming to this.’”
The agreement also would provide deputies to patrol the county’s about 30 parks to add a law enforcement presence.
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County park rangers have no power to arrest and primarily function as ambassadors to the parks.
The county employs about 10 park rangers.
Perkins said the sheriff’s office is looking at about 50 resource officers who serve in the county’s schools to patrol the parks. The officers have significant down time during the summer when school is out.
Although the changes would allow the sheriff’s office to save costs within the Animal Services department and parks, Perkins said no existing staff would be laid off.
“We may not fill some open positions that are currently open, but we're not gonna fire anybody,” he said.
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