Sandy Springs Crier - January 18, 2024

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Plans brewing for taproom by the river

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Visit Sandy Springs touts dining initiative SANDY SPRINGS, Ga. — Visit Sandy Springs, the destination marketing organization for the city, announced the launch of its free Dine Like a Local program Dec. 29.

A destination marketing organization is tasked with promoting a city to increase visitor numbers and the enhance economic impact of tourism.

The Dine Like a Local campaign is presented in partnership with the Sandy Springs Economic Development Department.

Jennifer Cruce, executive director of Visit Sandy Springs, said the organization wants to invite Metro Atlanta to experience the dining scene in Sandy Springs.

“This three-month long

celebration is sure to tantalize the tastebuds and intrigue even the pickiest palates,” Cruce said.

“Our goal was to create a fun way for residents and visitors alike to explore the delicious and diverse culinary offerings of Sandy Springs while also supporting our vibrant restaurant community, and this was the perfect opportunity to do that.”

After signing up for the program online, participants will lock in their free digital passport, which serves as an insider’s guide to the Sandy Springs dining scene.

The passport features 21 local restaurants and a bucket list of two to three signature dishes from each

See INITIATIVE, Page 4

Atlanta Regional Commission recognizes green communities

By HAYDEN SUMLIN hayden@appenmedia.com ATLANTA — During his first meeting as chairman of the Atlanta Regional Commission Jan. 10, Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens previewed the year ahead and recognized several local governments as green communities.

The ARC is the official planning agency for the 11-county region, including Cherokee, Clayton, Cobb, DeKalb, Douglas, Fayette, Forsyth, Fulton, Gwinnett, Henry and Rockdale counties.

The Georgia General Assembly created the Atlanta Regional Commission in 1971, the state’s first Metropolitan Area Planning and Development Commission.

The agency is designed to assist

local governments in improving the quality of life of residents by focusing attention and resources on issues affecting the region.

The Atlanta Regional Commission Board consists of the commission chair from each county surrounding Metro Atlanta, mayors throughout the region, 15 citizen members and a representative from the Georgia Department of Community Affairs.

In the commission’s 53-year history, Dickens is the first Atlanta mayor to serve as chairman. The 41-member board unanimously elected him Nov. 8.

“I look forward to collaborating with each and every one of you as we work together to fulfill ARC’s

See ARC, Page 7

HAYDEN SUMLIN/APPEN MEDIA

Sandy Springs Urban Forest Manager William Park accepts the city’s gold-level certification through the Green Communities program Jan. 10 from Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens and Crystal Jackson, a planning manager for climate and sustainability with the Atlanta Regional Commission.

PUBLIC SAFETY

2 | January 18, 2024 | Sandy Springs Crier | AppenMedia.com/Sandy_Springs

COMPARING POLICE TRANSPARENCY 770-442-3278 AppenMedia.com

Sandy Springs vs. Johns Creek

319 N. Main Street Alpharetta, GA 30009

Sandy Springs

Johns Creek

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Each week Appen Media requests police incident reports to inform residents about the safety of their community. Sandy Springs continues to withhold what it calls the “narrative reports.” It is the only city Appen Media covers that follows this practice, which goes against guidance from the Georgia Association of Chiefs of Police, the Attorney General’s Office, Georgia Bureau of Investigation, Georgia Sheriff’s Association, Prosecuting Attorneys’ Council of Georgia and Georgia Press Association.

Above at left is a report which includes one sentence, asserting that a Sandy Springs Police officer responded to someone

sleeping in a hallway.

The event in question resulted in the arrest of a 24-year-old man on charges of false representation to officials, as well as loitering and prowling.

That arrestee is not listed in the Fulton County Jail system. Sandy Springs Police sometimes transport subjects to out-ofarea jails, such as Smyrna City Jail and the Pickens County detention center, according to previous Appen Media reporting. Neither of those agencies list the subject as a current inmate.

It is unclear where that arrestee was taken, whether they are still in jail or the status of

their case. The arrest report offers just one note for information, “SEE SANDY SPRINGS POLICE INCIDENT REPORT.” Above is a report from the Johns Creek Police Department, describing a traffic stop.

Appen Media contends these full-length reports exist for most Sandy Springs incidents and that the city is withholding them in violation of Georgia’s Open Records Act. Appen Media will continue pursuing the release of more detailed documents that belong to the public in order to inform residents how safe – or unsafe – their city is.

What do you think? Send thoughts, questions and tips to newsroom@appenmedia.com

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BUSINESS

AppenMedia.com/Sandy_Springs | Sandy Springs Crier | January 18, 2024 | 3

Chattahoochee River brewpub seeks buy-in from residents

By HAYDEN SUMLIN hayden@appenmedia.com

FEMA FLOODPLAIN MAP

SITE LAYOUT PLAN

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50 Warm Springs Circle Roswell Georgia 30075

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WATER QUALITY NOTE: WATER QUALITY/RUN OFF REDUCTION ACHIEVED VIA UNDERGROUND CHAMBERS UNDER PAVED PARKING LOT. DETENTION NOTE: DETENTION REQUESTED TO BE WAIVED GIVEN LOCATION TO FLOODPLAIN AND PERCENTAGE OF WATERSHED BASIN

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SANITARY SEWER NOTE: SANITARY SEWER PROVIDED BY ON SITE GRAVITY LINE.

PROJECT/PROPERTY INFORMATION NAME: 9755 ROBERTS DR. ADDRESS: 9755 ROBERTS DRIVE AREA: 1.871 AC. LAND LOTS: 367 & 372 DISTRICT: PARCEL ID: 06 036700010011 OWNER: WILLIAM ODREY APPLICANT: WILLIAM ODREY 678-558-0002 CONTRACTOR: STEVE MOLLICA WEATHERSTONE CONSTRUCTION 770-714-4645

9755 ROBERTS DRIVE RESTAURANT BREW PUB

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SANDY SPRINGS, FULTON CO., GEORGIA

SITE DATA: ADDRESS = 9755 ROBERTS DRIVE AREA = 1.871 ACRES or 81,500.76 SF AREA OUTSIDE OF IMPERVIOUS SETBACK = 18,519 SF or 0.425 AC. AREA OUTSIDE OF 100' CITY AND 50' CITY BUFFER = 32,549 SF or 0.75 AC. AREA OUTSIDE OF 50' STATE AND 25' STATE BUFFER = 50,244 SF or 1.15 AC. TOTAL C AREA = 44,630 SF or 1.025 AC. or 55% TOTAL E AREA = 9,049 SF or 0.2077 ac. or 11% TOTAL F-FP AREA = 27,822 SF or 0.6387 AC. or 34% COEFFICIENT OF RUNOFF: EXISTING = 0.39 PROPOSED = 0.55

ARC/MRPA NOTES FROM CHECKLIST Sd1-S

NORTH 20

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Scale 1" = 20'

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Utilities Protection Center, Inc. Know what's

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Dial 811 or Call 1-800-282-7411

GOOGLE EARTH

A Street View image from Google Earth shows the property at 9755 Roberts Drive in March 2022. For the proposed Chattahoochee Rover brewpub to be constructed at the site, the property must be rezoned.

William Odrey owns the 1.72acre property at 9755 Roberts Drive.

According to the Fulton County Board of Assessors, Odrey bought the property for $650,000 in August 2006.

Mollica said he has an agreement with Odrey to buy into the property, pending a rezoning. Before Mollica tried to buy the site, Odrey had been trying to get it rezoned.

Mollica said he posted a notice about the public meeting on the “ATLbeer” subreddit page Jan. 3 to bring the brewpub to the attention of Sandy Springs residents who support the rezoning that would

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brewpub along the Chattahoochee River.

Mollica said a character area change and zoning change will each take about six months to complete. If the property is rezoned for commercial use, construction of the brewpub would take another year.

While the brewpub remains up in the air, Mollica said he has a few local brewers on board. Potential operating partners are still farther down the road.

“The building has to be mostly up, for those conversations to even happen,” Mollica said.

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allow commercial.

“We need people, especially those who live in Sandy Springs, and especially those who live on the north side of town to come out and support our cause,” the post said.

As of Jan. 11, the post has received seven upvotes and one comment.

While Mollica did not survey the homeowners on Roberts Drive, he said residents in the area were overwhelmingly supportive.

“We just got to find the people on our side, and they’re out there,” Mollica said.

There are a few hurdles for a

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SANDY SPRINGS, Ga. — Steve Mollica and the group behind a proposed Chattahoochee River brewpub at Roswell Road and Roberts Drive will participate in a community meeting Jan. 22.

A brewpub is a hybrid between a restaurant and a brewery, where beer is primarily brewed for sale inside the establishment.

Typically, breweries will produce more beer annually and will not include food services.

“We’re basically going for a brewpub, super simple,” Mollica said.

“We are not going to distribute or anything, so it will all be onsite.”

When Mollica brought the brewpub rezoning proposal to a community meeting last summer, he said some 20 residents strongly opposed the effort.

Residents along Roberts Drive said at two public meetings July 28 and Sept. 20 that they did not want a brewpub in their neighborhood at two community meetings.

The Sandy Springs Council of Neighborhoods also advocated against rezoning the property in a protected neighborhood.

“We applied last year, and then they kind of pushed our application to this year because of some administrative stuff,” Mollica said. “So basically now, we are starting the process over.”

The property is on the east side of Roswell Road before the bridge crossing the Chattahoochee River into Roswell.

“The only thing that is on the waterfront in Sandy Springs is Ray’s on the River,” Mollica said. “We’re trying to do something for regular people.”

Ray’s on the River, an awardwinning restaurant on the Cobb County border, requires a dress code for diners. Mollica joked that his proposed brewpub would allow hats and flip flops.

Following the success of Pontoon Brewing in Sandy Springs, Mollica said the location along the river would provide the perfect location.

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4 | January 18, 2024 | Sandy Springs Crier | AppenMedia.com/Sandy_Springs

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Initiative: Continued from Page 1 venue.

Some participating locations include The Select Restaurant + Bar, il Giallo Osteria & Bar, Battle and Brew, and The General Muir.

The program, running from Jan. 2 to March 31, gives foodies the opportunity to curate and track their dining experiences, along with a chance to win a variety of prizes.

When participants check into restaurants, they will earn points that can be spent on entries for giveaways from Visit Sandy Springs.

The giveaways include: • Bi-Weekly Giveaways: Three participants will be awarded a $25 gift card every other week. There are 21 gift cards, one for each participating restaurant. Entries cost 100 points for the pass user.

• Monthly Giveaways: One participant will be randomly awarded a prize, valued at roughly $150, each month. An entry costs 200 points for the pass user.

• Grand Prize Giveaway: One grand prize, valued at roughly $400, will be randomly awarded at the end

of the campaign to one participant.

Entries cost 300 points for the pass user.

Residents and visitors are asked to provide their name, email and phone number when signing up for the program.

A link is then sent to their mobile phone, which opens the passport and directs the user to add the passport icon to their home screen.

To sign up, visit www.

VisitSandySprings.org/ DineLikeALocal

Support Local News appenmedia.com/join

NEWS

AppenMedia.com/Sandy_Springs | Sandy Springs Crier | January 18, 2024 | 5

State rep seeks more aid to assist students pursuing degrees

By SHELBY ISRAEL shelby@appenmedia.com METRO ATLANTA — Rep. Chuck Martin is seeking to revisit the Georgia College Completion Grant this legislative session, a measure that could MARTIN make it easier for students to finish their degrees.

In the 2023 fiscal year, the program awarded $7.3 million to more than 6,000 undergraduate students at eligible colleges and universities across the state.

The grant program, which launched July 1, 2022, can cover up to $2,500 in financial aid gaps for students who are at least 80 percent finished with a fouryear degree program.

The need-based effort is meant to help students who are low-income or who have outstanding balances that may serve as a barrier to attending classes.

Last spring, Martin, the chairman of the House Higher Education Committee, sponsored House Bill 249, which sought to raise the maximum award under the program to $3,500, as well as lower the four-year degree completion requirement to 70 percent, or 45 percent for a two-year degree.

The bill saw overwhelming support in the House and the Senate, but Gov. Brian Kemp vetoed the measure in May. “I support veterans initiatives and making education more affordable,”

ILLUSTRATION BY JACOB TOMBERLIN/APPEN MEDIA

The Georgia College Completion Grant is set to be revisited this legislative session. Rep. Chuck Martin said he plans to work with the Governor’s Office and reintroduce the proposal with a focus on helping students wrap up their degrees.

Kemp said in the veto message.

“However, the proposals in this bill are subject to appropriations and the General Assembly failed to fully fund these educational incentives.”

In addition to the expansion of the Georgia College Completion Grant, HB 249 would have enabled veterans to receive free training to operate commercial vehicles.

In an interview with Appen Media, Martin said the bill will run this year with a focus on helping students finish their programs of study.

“We feel real good about the

information we have thus far,” he said.

“We're going to keep working with the Governor's Office and the folks here, too, in the House and the Senate, to try to move that forward this year.”

The Georgia College Completion Grant is the product of House Bill 1435, which was also sponsored by Martin in the 2022 legislative session. The grant program will conclude June 30, 2025.

In the Georgia House, Martin represents District 49, which covers much of North Fulton County, including Roswell, Alpharetta and Johns Creek.

Martin said the Georgia College

Dunwoody names new Parks and Recreation director

CITY OF DUNWOODY/PROVIDED

The new Dunwoody Parks and Recreation director is Rachel Waldron.

After joining the department in 2014, Waldron stepped into the interim role in December.

DUNWOODY, Ga. — After stepping into an interim role in December, Rachel Waldron was named Dunwoody’s new Parks and Recreation director Jan. 10.

Waldron began working with the city in December 2014 and took over for former Director Brent Walker when he announced plans to take a similar position in Sandy Springs.

Dunwoody City Manager Eric Linton said the hiring team cast a wide net for the position and interviewed several outside candidates. He said the city is happy to have an internal candidate with “great ideas, strong leadership skills and an established commitment to the Dunwoody community.”

“I have every confidence in Rachel and look forward to a seamless transition,” Linton said.

Since joining the department, Waldron has contributed to the creation of new programs and volunteer opportunities,

like the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service. She has also started events, including the Groovin’ on the Green concert series and Kids to Parks Day. Waldron has been credited as the leading force behind the department’s marketing efforts, public art opportunities and increasing social media presence.

In 2020, the National Recreation and Parks Association named Waldron “Parks and Recreation Month Hero.”

“It’s been a pleasure to help grow Parks and Recreation in Dunwoody over the years, and I’m excited to take the lead moving forward,” Waldron said. “We have a dedicated team, and together we haven’t skipped a beat.”

Waldron is an active member of the Georgia Recreation and Parks Association. She was awarded the District 6 Distinguished Professional in 2023.

Completion Grant was aimed at ensuring students can complete their degrees without being dropped from courses or potentially having to take a break from school because of financial barriers.

“Then, they're in a position to earn more because they have their certificate, or they have their degree, and can earn more and be a big part of our economy,” he said. “And if they have other student loans, they're in a position to earn. They have a degree.

They have their certification and can earn and pay those back.”

While HB 249 would make it possible for students to receive additional aid, Martin said a student is not guaranteed an increase. The dollars would still be awarded on an individual basis.

“It is dollars that are important and hard to come by, so we want to make sure they're being deployed in the best possible way,” Martin said.

According to the Georgia Student Finance Commission, 58 percent of College Completion Grant recipients earned a degree, diploma or certificate in the 2023 academic year.

The Georgia General Assembly convened Jan. 8.

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6 | January 18, 2024 | Sandy Springs Crier | AppenMedia.com/Sandy_Springs

NEWS

Georgia lawmakers begin session under heightened security

By JILL NOLIN and STANELY DUNLAP Georgia Recorder ATLANTA — State lawmakers returned to the Gold Dome Jan. 8 for what is expected to be a lively election-year legislative session.

But for now, lawmakers are mostly tending to the usual housekeeping tasks that greet each session, like setting a calendar that will dictate the length of the session and meeting dates.

The session started just a month after lawmakers met for a tense special session to redraw Georgia’s political maps after a judge ruled the first attempts passed in 2021 illegally diluted the voting strength of Black Georgians. That same judge has since approved the new maps.

“Good morning, seems like just yesterday that we were here,” Speaker Jon Burns said after gaveling the House into session.

The chilly first day attracted proPalestine protesters who chanted on the Capitol steps while far-right activists rallied across the street at Liberty Plaza for paper ballots and continued to repeat claims that the 2020 election was stolen.

Inside, the state Capitol was abuzz, with lobbyists, advocates and others filling the hallways. Some of them were adjusting to a crackdown on unattended bags and other items, with new signage sprouting up warning of confiscations. Lobbyists commonly leave their belongings on tables at the

ROSS WILLIAMS/GEORGIA RECORDER

State troopers make their presence known Jan. 8 on the first day of the 2024 legislative session.

Capitol while working the halls.

The first day also brought a noticeable showing of Capitol Police officers and bomb-sniffing dogs. And over in the Senate, security was also on the mind of lawmakers.

Several senators spoke on the chamber floor about the need for tougher criminal and civil penalties for falsifying reports of serious crimes following a recent rash of swatting threats made against GOP leaders, including Lt. Gov. Burt Jones and Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger.

Republican Sen. John Albers shared his own harrowing experience. Roswell police showed up at his home the day after Christmas following a hoax

domestic dispute call with someone threatening to shoot another family member.

Albers, who chairs the Senate Public Safety Committee, called the swattings foolish pranks that put police and victims at risk.

“You may also know that just a few days ago, someone emailed a bomb threat to our Capitol building as well as buildings throughout the entire United States,” he said. “Again, these types of actions are foolish and dangerous.

“You see much increased police presence here at the Capitol today,” Albers said. “We’ll continue to see that both visibly and non-visibly to make sure that each one of you and our

families are protected.”

Sen. Josh McLaurin, a Sandy Springs Democrat, said that a real challenge for lawmakers is finding a balance between protecting law enforcement and the public from threats that continue to rise as a result of the ongoing culture wars. He urged lawmakers not to respond in a manner that further widens political and ideological divisions.

“When it comes to the very basics of government, will you do what’s necessary, not just to protect our members from a law enforcement public safety perspective, and protect the public at large, but are we going to protect our shared commitment to govern for everybody and not assume the worst in each other at some of the most difficult vulnerable moments that we face?” McLaurin said.

Atlanta Democratic Sen. Nan Orrock said the threats against public officials are another example of how more governing bodies and people are treating dangerous rhetoric as normal public discourse.

“We should absolutely come together and use the bully pulpit to model behavior that is not divisible, not rancorous, not tearing down but sound of the message of coming together to address the needs of our constituents in our state,” Orrock said.

This story comes to Appen Media through a reporting partnership with Georgia Recorder, a nonprofit newsroom that covers statewide issues.

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ARC: Continued from Page 1 vision of creating one great region,” Dickens said. “We are all residents here, and we all want the region to thrive.”

The first discussion item at the board meeting was a presentation on the Green Communities Program, which encourages local governments to reduce their environmental footprint.

The program aligns with one of the commission’s goals of healthy, safe and livable communities in Metro Atlanta, Dickens said.

Green Communities is a voluntary certification program developed in 2009 that provides cities and counties with a framework for environmentally sustainable practices.

Some examples include reducing energy and water use in operations, providing curbside recycling and educating the community about emerging clean energy opportunities.

Crystal Jackson, a planning manager for climate and sustainability, presented seven Metro Atlanta cities and counties with certification awards.

“When we created the program many years ago…we wanted to create a culture of sustainability within our local governments and communities,” Jackson said. “We wanted Metro Atlanta to be known as a green region, and we’ve done that over the past several years.”

The program has 10 categories and 80 measures for judging applicants, including land use, transportation and energy efficiency, with points assigned to each area.

The Green Communities Program has four certification levels: bronze, silver, gold and platinum.

In 2021, the cities of Norcross, Roswell, Woodstock, Douglasville and Milton joined Cobb, DeKalb and Douglas counties to recertify as Green Communities.

Jackson said the application process typically takes six months for local governments to complete. Every four years, local governments must recertify.

At the Jan. 10 board meeting, five communities were recertified, and two local governments were certified for the first time.

“It’s not a static program,” Jackson said. “The measures we put in place in 2009 are not the same measures that we are using today.”

DeKalb County and the cities of Dunwoody, Peachtree Corners, Sandy Springs were recertified as a gold-level Green Community.

Brookhaven and Johns Creek were recognized with a sustainability certification for the first time in 2024.

NEWS

AppenMedia.com/Sandy_Springs | Sandy Springs Crier | January 18, 2024 | 7

While Brookhaven received gold-level certification, Johns Creek met the bronze standard.

After the board meeting, Dickens said he believes Atlanta performs as a region and collaboration across communities can deliver more for residents.

When asked about the importance of the Ga. 400 corridor, Dickens said reducing commuting time and increasing public transportation are important to him.

“It’s one thing to have everybody in car being able to get back and forth between Alpharetta, Atlanta and the airport,” Dickens said. “It’s also important to have public transit.”

ARC Board looks ahead Dickens thanked former Board Chairman Kerry Armstrong, who served in the role for a decade, for working with him during the transition of the board’s leadership.

As chair, Dickens was tasked with appointing three officers to positions.

He appointed Woodstock Mayor Michael Caldwell as vice chair, Forsyth County Commissioner Chairman Alfred John as secretary and Gwinnett County Commission Chairwoman Nicole Hendrickson as treasurer.

In addition to his role as board secretary, John was also appointed as chair of the Ethics Committee.

Sandy Springs Mayor Rusty Paul will serve as vice chair of the Strategic Relations Subcommittee.

Dickens outlined upcoming events and regional priorities for his twoyear term as chairman, including reconnecting the region, emergency preparedness funding and health care access.

In 2024, the ARC is set to approve the Metropolitan Transportation Plan, which allocates $168 billion in federal, state and local funding through 2050. The four-year update to the plan concluded last year, and its final review and adoption is anticipated in February.

The plan includes improving major roads and interchanges, expanding transit service, building a network of express lanes and developing a bikeped network.

Dickens discussed additional planning efforts in 2024, including the development of a climate action plan, an update to the region’s freight plan and a clean electricity plan.

Agency updates from staff include adopting a new 4-year plan on aging for Metro Atlanta, selecting projects for funding through the 2024 Livable Centers Initiative and several initiatives related to affordable housing.

“Now serving as the chairman of the board, the center of the region can carry out the quarterbacking for some of these conversations,” Dickens said.

PHOTOS BY HAYDEN SUMLIN/APPEN MEDIA

From left, Atlanta Regional Commission Chairman Andre Dickens and Executive Director Anna Roach field questions from board members Jan. 10. Dickens is the first Atlanta mayor to be elected as chair of the board

Pictured center, Dunwoody Community Development Director Richard McLeod and his staff accept a gold-level certification through the Green Communities Program Jan. 10. Dunwoody was required to resubmit their application because every four years, local governments must recertify.

The 41-member Atlanta Regional Commission Board holds a meeting Jan. 10 at 229 Peachtree Street. During the meeting, Chairman Andre Dickens outlined his regional priorities for his two-year term.

8 | January 18, 2024 | Sandy Springs Crier | AppenMedia.com/Sandy_Springs

OPINION

Trump, southern border, abortion, Biden, guns, QAnon There, I said it.

Full stop.

A percentage of the people already stopped reading.

A percentage just experienced a rise in blood pressure.

Another percentage are angry or are RAY APPEN preparing to get Publisher Emeritus angry. ray@appenmedia.com Why? I recently had lunch with one of my oldest and best friends who lives in Sandy Springs. We have known each other all our lives. We grew up together in Rockledge, Florida, and have been best friends now going on 63 years. Our almost three-hour lunch was fun, and we caught up on everything ranging from our mutual friends to our own health issues to who has died and who got divorced. We also talked about Trump, Biden, Hillary, Israel, Hamas, abortion, guns and a few other similar subjects. We agreed on none of the political topics. In fact, we have polaropposite opinions on most of them.

So, something odd happened at our lunch. Or, I guess I should say that what did not happen was odd.

We didn’t get angry with each other. We didn’t label each other with meaningless generalizations and stereotypes such as “liberal” or “conservative.” Did we offend each other?

No. Did one or both of us storm off in a fit anger? No. Did either of us get mad? No. We talked and had lunch.

We left our lunch happy that we each found and made the time to catch up and visit. And we both look forward to catching up some more – perhaps on the golf course. Maybe I’ll caddy for him.

He is a great golfer – probably close to scratch – and I only play once every two years. I’d be good with that.

How did this happen? I honestly don’t know. That is why I am asking.

Most of the time I can talk with anyone about anything –- regardless of political affiliation – and have a rational, unemotional conversation – without anger or angst involved. Why is that so hard?

The past few years have seen families split apart along political lines. I know

I lost friends. I don’t know anyone that didn’t happen to.

In the past I did get mad at people.

People got mad at me. We stopped talking to each other. We stopped associating with each other. We stopped sending Christmas cards to each other. We wrote each other off and stopped believing in our shared, collective worlds.

Even today, I have truly dear friends who – because we each value each other’s friendship and companionship so much, we avoid discussing like the plague anything even remotely political. To me, that is absurd, yet I go with the flow that maintains the peace.

I think I have been able to learn from the past though and can discuss politics or political issues without allowing my side of the conversation to turn into anything personal or snarky.

Why my old friend and I can talk about politics without raising our voices, I don’t know, but I am thrilled that we could. We talked, we argued, we referenced sources of our thoughts and beliefs, and we each listened to the other – listened without a whole lot of effort.

That back and forth – without any snarky

emotions – was a good thing. I learned some things from him and he pointed out stuff that I had not thought about – and vice versa. I questioned his sources of information, and I suggested that if all the stuff that he communicated to me was true that surely there would be – or would have been action taken within our legal system.

Yes, I told him, our system is not perfect, but when both sides have basically unlimited money to “support/ push” investigations and when laws are broken, most of the time “rule of law” holds someone accountable, regardless of party and no matter what the talking heads want you to believe. Usually, when someone breaks the law, they are held accountable – period, fact.

Talking to each other and listening to each other are the only ways to really start to begin to understand and deal with the polarization that is killing the country. It isn’t impossible. It isn’t unrealistic or pie in the sky. It can be done, but we must be willing to listen to opinions that we don’t necessarily agree with and not throw a fit about it.

Can’t we just get along?

THE INVESTMENT COACH

2024: A year of transitions, timelines and resolve The month of January is named for Janus, the ancient Roman god of beginnings, transitions, gates, time, duality, doorways, passages, frames endings.

LEWIS J. WALKER, CFP and He was depicted Columnist as having two The Investment Coach faces, one looking backward at the past, and one looking forward into the future. And so it goes. We look back at 2023 and taking stock as to where we are, ponder what took place in our lives and that of loved ones and others, contemplations prelude to resolutions and goal setting for 2024 and beyond.

New Year’s resolutions are a tradition, but researchers indicate that only 9% of Americans actually follow through and complete them. According to the Fisher College of Business at Ohio State University, 23% of people quit their resolutions by the end of the first week and 43% quit by the end of January. If the gym is overly crowded, wait until February. It’ll be back to normal.

A financial plan is a resolution of a sort but it takes a commitment to move forward and a guided process for plan formulation and actualization. Effective planning requires a monitoring process to track progress, along with periodic course corrections and changes to deal with the vagaries of life. Janus dealt with transitions and life transitions are a fact of being from the moment we came into the world at birth.

Put a dot on a piece of paper, and under the dot write your name and date of birth. Extend the dot slightly upward on the paper to another point, a dot with 2034 written underneath. Mark your age in 2034, 10 short years from now.

Extend the line further up to another dot, with 2044 underneath it, marking your age in 20 short years. You have created your personal “life transitions timeline.” In 10 short years, a 24-yearold will be 34, and 10 short years after that, 44. A 51-year-old will be 61 in 10 years, 71 in 20 years. The 75-year-old will be 85 and then 95, God willing.

Create life transitions timelines for everyone in your family, all of those who depend on you or may do so in the future, everyone you care about.

Closely held business owners should draw timelines for partners, key people

in your business, potential successors.

“Life transitions timelines” are a wakeup call. The older you are, the more you realize how fast time gets past us.

Just like yesterday, it was 2014, and “partying like its 1999” even further back. Prince died in April, 2016, at age 57.

Once you have your timelines, for yourself and those you love and care about, think about the next 10 years and potentially 10 years beyond that.

What challenges do you see, both positive or negative? What challenges do you face currently, or those potentially emerging in the short- or long-run?

What must you do to attain a certain goal or to solve a problem? How do life events for those who depend on you play into challenge scenarios? Getting married, buying a first home, paying for educations for children, career development, skill enhancement, dealing with aging issues for you or loved ones such as parents or grandparents? Janus dealt with endings as well as beginnings.

Divorce, separations, death of a loved one, disability or caregiving needs may be a challenge.

The initial phases of a guided financial planning scenario involve getting your story, understanding how

you got to where you are, your current situation and where you wish to go in the future. For every challenge, the next step is to determine what alternatives exist to meet a given challenge. Next, what resources are needed to power the best alternative, perhaps financial capital, or human capital, or some other specialized resource? Lastly, given the challenges, alternatives, and resources brought to the fore, what are your expectations? What would like to experience? What outcome is desired?

The CARE Model comes from the 2006 book written by a friend of mine, The Parent Care Conversation: “6 Strategies for Dealing With the Emotional and Financial Challenges of Aging Parents,” by Daniel Taylor. The first inkling Dan had relative to his elderly dad needing care is when the police found his father out of gas, dazed and confused, wandering around off of a highway in West Virginia. Dan lived in Charlotte, N.C., as did his dad. Dan quickly found out that you don’t drive up and check a loved one into a care home as one might a Holiday Inn. Dan died too young of brain cancer, but his book is still available from Amazon and

See WALKER, Page 21

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EDUCATION • Sponsored Section

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EDUCATION • Sponsored Section

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EDUCATION • Sponsored Section

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EDUCATION • Sponsored Section

Change lives, change the world Brought to you by - Wesleyan School Wesleyan School believes faith and intellect are great partners with each other. At Wesleyan, it’s not a matter of choosing faith or intellect, but rather using both to create the best possible education for your child.

Our leadership and faculty work to provide students with an atmosphere that is challenging, reinforces the value of hard work, and emphasizes character and integrity above accomplishment. Wesleyan prepares students for each stage of life and provides them with the opportunity to see all the possibilities that lie before them. Wesleyan’s school motto is JOY-Jesus, Others, Yourself, and every aspect of school life is oriented to reinforce this philosophy of putting Jesus first and others ahead of ourselves.

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EDUCATION • Sponsored Section

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EDUCATION • Sponsored Section

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High Meadows School its renowned Primary Years Program Inspiring future for students in preschool through fifth global citizens and grade.

High Meadows School’s accomplished experienced faculty lead each innovative leaders and student on this journey. Through Brought to you by – High Meadows School

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EDUCATION • Sponsored Section

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EDUCATION • Sponsored Section

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PAST TENSE

OPINION

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Sandy Springs road names: Mt. Paran, Heard’s Ferry and Dalrymple Neighbors living in the area around Powers Ferry Road and Mt. Paran Road decided to form a Baptist church in 1860. They called it Mt. Paran, taking the name Paran VALERIE BIGGERSTAFF from the Bible.

The road name Columnist originated from this church, but was sometimes spelled incorrectly, such as the Mt. Perrin spelling on a 1923 map.

The first church building was “… built of split logs and had a dirt floor and a chimney made of sticks and clay,” according to Belle Ezzard. Her grandfather, Thomas Henry Burdett, was the first man to be baptized from the church. Ezzard told of Burdett losing his footing and causing himself and the preacher to slide under water in Nancy’s Creek.

Another church was built around 1880 after a sawmill was operating nearby. The church was built in a common style for the day, with two front doors, one for women and one for men. (“Sandy Springs Past Tense,” Lois Coogle) John Heard was born in 1835 and died in 1930, a long life for the time.

Heard’s Ferry Road is named for John Heard. The ferry was previously known as Isom’s Ferry and operated by James Isom.

Union soldiers used Isom’s Ferry to cross the Chattahoochee on July 8, 1864. According to the Isom’s Ferry Georgia Historic Marker, “Cox’s

Walker: Continued from Page 8 other book sellers. I told Dan that the CARE Model is excellent in framing a conversation about the rigors of aging, but the conversational construct − Challenges, Alternatives, Resources, Expectations − is appropriate to any life transitions conversation, indeed, the overall planning model! Dan was a good friend, a creative thinker, and I miss him.

Another factor that can derail a resolution is a “fuzzy goal.” If you say things like, “Maybe I’d like to lose weight, or go to Paris, or buy a second home,” you really haven’t decided to do it. Only when you say “I will do suchin-such” and follow it up with a plan for execution, such as saving the money

division Schofield’s 23rd A.C. crossed Isom’s July 8 (1864). Hascall’s division joined July 11, and by the 14th the adjusted corps line connected with the left of Howard’s 4th A.C. along the ridge of Mt. Vernon Road near Crossroads Church.”

The ferry was located where Sope Creek meets the Chattahoochee River.

“Sandy Springs Past Tense” includes rates for the usual customers of Isom’s Ferry. Two horses and one wagon cost 50 cents, while one person on horseback was 12 cents. When cattle were loaded on the ferry, the cost was 4 cents each.

Heard was part of the 9th Battalion Georgia Artillery during the Civil War. Before the war began, he married James Isom’s daughter Abbie Isom.

He took over the ferry in 1868 and continued to operate it until 1890.

John Dalrymple was born in Laurens County, South Carolina, in 1809. He married Elsy Ball in Fulton County in 1858, as recorded in the Georgia Fulton County record of marriages. Elsy Ball was one of nine children of Peter and Margaret Ball.

Peter Ball operated a mill along a creek that became known as Ball Mill Creek and near the road called Ball Mill Road. In 1859, John Dalrymple is recorded on the Georgia Tax Digest as owning 202.5 acres and his father-inlaw Peter Ball owns 1,188 acres.

Elsy and John Dalrymple had three children. Their daughters married men from the area. Margaret Dalrymple married James Mayfield, and Catherine Elizabeth Dalrymple married John Hardegree. Elsy and John’s son Lewis required to meet the goal, a financial plan, or a health plan, or other plan of action, do you have a solid goal.

It’s January, 2024. Did you make the same resolutions in 2023, but failed to follow through? The year 2034 isn’t that

This 1923 Fulton County map appears in Lois Coogle’s “Sandy Springs Past Tense.” Note that Mt. Paran Road is spelled Mt Perrin.

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Dalrymple married into another local family when he married Sarah Eison.

Margaret and James Mayfield are shown on the 1920 census living on Bull Sluice Road, and 87-year-old Elsy Jane Dalrymple is listed as living with them. Bull Sluice Road was named for the railroad that was built as a spur of the Roswell Railroad. The purpose of

the spur was to transport supplies for the construction of Morgan Falls Dam.

far away. What is your “Next Ten” plan?

& advisory services offered through The Strategic Financial Alliance, Inc. (SFA), which is otherwise unaffiliated with CIG. Lewis a Gallup Certified Clifton Strengths Coach and Certified Exit Planning Advisor (CEPA).

Lewis Walker, CFP®, is a life centered financial planning strategist with Capital Insight Group (CIG); 770-441-3553; lewis@capitalinsightgrp.com. Securities

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.

DEATH NOTICES Irma Carr, 98, of Milton, passed away on January 5, 2024.

Arrangements by Northside Chapel Funeral Directors & Crematory.

Wade Hansard, 62, of Roswell, passed away on January 5, 2024.

Arrangements by Northside Chapel Funeral Directors & Crematory.

Betty Peyton, 80, of Alpharetta, passed away on January 8, 2024.

Arrangements by Northside Chapel Funeral Directors & Crematory.

Lynn Farnsworth, 81, of Roswell, passed away on January 4, 2024. Arrangements

by Northside Chapel Funeral Directors & Crematory.

Dorothy Hayes, 73, of Alpharetta, passed away on January 5, 2024.

Arrangements by Northside Chapel Funeral Directors & Crematory.

Mark Ryan, 55, of Alpharetta, passed away on January 3, 2024.

Arrangements by Northside Chapel Funeral Directors & Crematory.

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Quality Without Compromise

ROBERT CROAWELL REMODELING Full Service Contractor

Additions • Kitchens • Basements • Bathrooms Interior/Exterior Paint • Minor Repairs • Licensed Insured

Office: 770-814-0064 Cell: 678-642-8314

Call us for roof repair or roof replacement. FREE quotes. $200 OFF Leak Repairs or 10% off New Roof. Affordable, quality roofing. Based in Roswell.

Serving North Atlanta since 1983. Call to schedule FREE Quote: 770-284-3123.

Christian Brothers Roofing

KETNER CONTRACTING • Re-roofs •Repairs & Painting • Licensed/Insured • Excellent Referrals • Free Estimate • 25+ Years of Experience Neil Ketner 770-318-7762

Tree Services Home Improvement

ROT-DOC

Rot Repair Technician

Don’t waste good paint on rotten wood.

Minor repairs make a major difference!

Interior/Exterior Painting Pressure Washing Rotten Wood Deck Repair Free Estimates

Thurman | 770.899.1354 | www.rot-doc.com

REMODELING Mark Edwards

• Kitchens • Baths

• Basements • Cabinetry

770-403-8098

Advertise your ITEMS TO SELL in the newspaper and you too can say...

DANGEROUS REMOVALS & TRIMMING FREE ESTIMATES INSURED & REFERENCES CREDIT CARDS ACCEPTED FAMILY OWNED AND OPERATED NO JOB TOO BIG OR SMALL 20% OFF WITH THIS AD! griffintreeservices.com

404-234-4810

Dunwoody Door Lift Co. The ONLY garage door company in Dunwoody!

We sell, install and repair garage doors and openers.

Authorized Genie Dealer serving Dunwoody since 1973.

770-393-1652

If you can’t lift your door, let Dunwoody Door Lift it!

Office Space Solution for Lease

P A D S

B O A T

A R M S

L O V E L E T T E R

T U N A

D A N C E

R O A D

R A N C H Alpharetta S O A P A T O to P Downtown Close M E Doffice I A space O (unfurnished) D O M E T available E R Small private L U close to T Downtown A R in Appen MediaFOffice S O L E M N T I N G E R Alpharetta (319 North MainSStreet, Alpharetta).

S H A L L I D O D I V E R All utilities included, Internet included (within P U R G E E V E S O N E S reason), access. area T E RSpace S E is upstairs C R EinM E R A 24/7 N of Appen quiet, S A H Aand R open.

A M I SNewsroom.

F I R EPrivate, E 200 N S sq. ft. (14’ T x E 14’).

A $/600 per Approximately A Pfirst/last/security P L A U S Edeposit R required I T E S month, P OasLsolid O reliable A T references.

T A I N A B L E as well E L A N

Electricians

Belco Electric

“Family Owned Since 1972” Fast Dependable Service by Professional Uniformed Electricians

770-455-4556

Check out our new website: BelcoInc.com and follow us on:

Handyman

il .8469 or ema Call 470.22a2ppenmedia.com classifieds@

Garage Doors

MATTHEW THE HANDYMAN Carpentry, Painting, Drywall, Plumbing, Electrical and Small Jobs.

404-547-2079

Your North Atlanta News and Podcast Source AppenMedia.com

Space would E R AforTa bookkeeper A N T orE D E N Ybe perfect a self-employed person.

Contact via text or email: Ray Appen at 770-527-4042 or RayAppen@Gmail.com

Miscellaneous

Budget Fabrics And Upholstery *DISCOUNT PRICES*

-FREE Design Consultation• Thousands of designer 770-396-6891 fabrics IN STOCK 770-396-6824 Mon-Fri 8-6 • Sat 8-3

Is Your Company Hiring?

Submit your opening at appenmedia.com/hire

AppenMedia.com/Sandy_Springs | Sandy Springs Crier | January 18, 2024 | 23

ONLINE INCLUDED C a l l t o d a y t o p l a c e y o u r a d 4 7 0 . 2 2 2 . 8 4 6 9 o r e m a i l c l a s s i f i e d s @ a p p e n m e d i a g r o u p . c o m • FA X : 7 7 0 - 4 7 5 - 1 2 1 6

Landscaping

AwArd winning LAndscApes

20 years of Keeping Dunwoody Green

Installation Maintenance Seasonal Color

Ogletree Enterprises

a MALTA Award Winning Firm

Concrete/Asphalt

ALEX FRASER MASONRY INC. • BRICK • CONCRETE Alex Fraser, President www.alexfrasermasonry.com E-Mail: afrasermasonry@aol.com

770.840.8884

FULLY INSURED

Cell: (404) 281-0539 Concrete

Driveways $250 OFF NEW DRIVEWAY!

Ken Ogletree

• BLOCK • STONEWORK

Mention this ad. Concrete driveway specialists. Driveways, Pool Decks, Patios, Walkways, Slabs. A+ BBB rating. FREE ESTIMATE. Call Rachael at 678-250-4546 to schedule a FREE Estimate. 30 years of experience. ARBOR HILLS CONSTRUCTION INC. Please note we do have a minimum charge on accepted jobs of $5,000.

MARTINEZ MASONRY

Retaining Walls • Patios• Repairs

Walkways • Masonry Work

martinezmasonry281@yahoo.com

Licensed • Insured • References Pressure Washing

404-408-4170

Ask for Tony Martinez

Driveways

A1 DRIVEWAY REPLACEMENT CO. Specializing in

CELEBRATING MY 42ND YEAR! THANK YOU TO ALL OF YOU!

CONCRETE DRIVEWAY REPLACEMENT SIDEWALKS, PATIOS, AND SLABS Since 1974 Insured – Free Estimates www.a1drivewayreplacement.com MY EXPERIENCE ACHIEVES OPTIMAL RESULTS!!!

770-493-6222

Appen Press Club presents

Listening Tour 2024

Reporter-Led Event Series Seeking Story Feedback and Ideas

Dunwoody – Thurs. Jan. 18, 4–5pm Open to the public and FREE to attend!

YE OLDE DUNWOODY TAVERN OTHER UPCOMING LISTENING TOUR 2024 DATES & LOCATIONS: February 14th

From the Earth Brewing Company (Roswell)

5488 Chamblee Dunwoody Rd. Dunwoody, GA 30338 DunwoodyTavern.com | (770) 394-4164

TO RSVP

RSVP is not required but appreciated.

Visit appenmedia.com/join to let us know you are coming.

March 21st

Sugo (Johns Creek)

April 18th TBD

May 16th

Six Bridges Brewing (Milton)

June 20st TBD

July 18th TBD

TO JOIN

To join go to appenmedia.com/join and follow the prompts to select your membership level.

Questions? Email Hans Appen at hans@appenmedia.com or call 770-442-3278.