Sandy Springs Crier - March 23, 2023

Johns Creek lays groundwork for elections task force

Sandy Springs announces 2023 concert performers

By ALEXANDER POPP alex@appenmedia.com

SANDY SPRINGS, Ga. — Throughout the coming spring and summer, visitors and residents of Sandy Springs will be treated to a lineup of musical acts in the great outdoors at City Springs and Heritage Park.

Starting April 28, Sandy Springs will relaunch the Friday City Green Live concert series with a performance by the alternative rock group, Better Than Ezra on the City Springs main green downtown. City Green Live performances will continue on Friday nights each month through October.

The City Green Live concert series will include the following performances:

• April 28 — Better Than Ezra

• May 26 — Black Jacket Symphony

Presents Fleetwood Mac Rumours

• June 16 — Anderson East

• July 28 — A1A (Tribute to Jimmy Buffett)

• August 18 — Grand Funk Railroad

• October 13 — Samantha Fish featuring Jesse Dayton

On May 7, the city will also kick off the “beloved,” annual Sunday evening event at Heritage Park, Concerts by the Springs, hosted in partnership with the Sandy Springs Arts Foundation. This

See CONCERT, Page 6

Sandy Springs breaks ground for ‘unique’ new fire station

By ALEXANDER POPP alex@appenmedia.com

SANDY SPRINGS, Ga. — If you’re driving through the intersection of Mount Vernon Road and Spalding Drive a little over a year from now,

you might notice a nice home that looks slightly different than those around it.

Firetrucks might regularly come and go from the home, and there might be sirens at odd hours, but don’t let the exterior fool you, be -

cause what you’re actually looking at is the newest fire station in Sandy Springs.

Local leaders and residents gathered at 7800 Mount Vernon Road

See STATION, Page 7

ALEX POPP/APPEN MEDIA

Sandy Springs officials break ground March 16 on Fire Station 5, which will serve the city's northeastern edge from a location on Mount Vernon Road. From left, Sandy Springs Fire Chief Keith Sanders, Sandy Springs City Manager Eden Freeman, Councilwoman Melody Kelley, Councilman John Paulson, Mayor Rusty Paul, Councilwoman Melissa Mular and Councilman Andy Bauman

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Sandy Springs Police Reports

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 Attorney General, Georgia Bureau of Investigation, Georgia Sheriff's Association, Prosecuting Attorneys'

Council of Georgia and Georgia Press Association. Appen Media will continue pursuing the release of documents that belong to the public in order to inform residents how safe - or unsafe - the city is keeping it.

Police arrest woman for harassing behavior

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ROSWELL, Ga. — A woman called Roswell Police after she said a former coworker chased her in her vehicle March 8, followed her to Garrard Landing Park and stopped behind her vehicle so she could not leave.

When police arrived on the scene, the former coworker had already left. Police said the woman was shaking and visibly scared. She told police the other woman was fired in October but kept returning to her former workplace.

The woman told police she started to leave the office earlier that day when

her former coworker arrived. She said the coworker chased after her car, tailgated her and pulled up behind her at Garrard Landing Park. Once the police were called, the coworker revved her engine and left the parking lot.

A witness said he saw a lady in distress calling out for help, and watched another car pull in behind her. As the witness approach, he heard the woman say she called the police and watched the other car speed off.

The woman told police she does not know why her former coworker is fixated on her. Officers told her how to get a

temporary protection order against her coworker and left the scene to search for the other woman.

Once officers found the former coworker, they took her into custody. As she was led to the patrol car, the woman began trying to fall to the ground, kicking and wrapping her legs around stair railings. Police took her to North Fulton Hospital because she was hyperventilating, and she was released. The woman asked to be returned to the hospital later to receive medication. She was returned and released again, then taken to Fulton County Jail.

Decatur man arrested for Dunwoody restaurant shooting

By ALEXANDER POPP alex@appenmedia.com

DUNWOODY, Ga. — Police have arrested a 25-year-old Decatur man who allegedly shot and seriously injured a security guard at the Sage Woodfire Tavern in Dunwoody last month.

Anthony Bernard Jones was arrested March 5 after a month-long hunt by DeKalb County authorities for a pair of suspects who allegedly left the restaurant near Perimeter Mall without paying for their meal and then shot a security guard when he attempted to prevent them from leaving.

A police report from the incident said the 29-year-old guard suffered three wounds from the attack, one in the hand, forearm and shoulder, by a man and woman who fled in a black sedan.

The security guard was transported to Grady Memorial Hospital in stable condition. There has since been no update on his condition.

Jones was later identified as the shooter by witnesses at the scene and was arrested by the DeKalb County Police Department when his license plate triggered an alert on a FLOCK license plate camera.

DeKalb County Jail records show that he was charged with aggravated assault with a weapon, aggravated battery disfigurement, reckless conduct, possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony, discharging a firearm near a public highway and theft of services.

He was released from DeKalb County Sheriff’s Office custody on bond March 8, records said.

Another individual, Jailyn Reese, 22, of Atlanta was also charged with theft of services in connection with the incident and has also been released from DeKalb County Sheriff’s Office custody.

Officials hold groundbreaking for Ashford Dunwoody Path

By ALEXANDER POPP alex@appenmedia.com

DUNWOODY, Ga. — Dunwoody’s dream of connecting the city with a network of multi-use trails took a step forward March 14 when officials broke ground on a new section of Ashford Dunwoody Path at Perimeter Mall.

Braving the wind and unseasonably cold temperatures, city officials and other Perimeter area groups gathered to kick off construction for a section of multi-use path, that will connect several existing sections of trail around the mall.

“Connectivity is very important to me, to my counsel … to our residents, to our business community and we cannot connect all parts of our community without partners.” Dunwoody Mayor Lynn Deutsch said at the ceremony.

The trail connection, which will stretch less than a mile from Hammond Drive north to Perimeter Center West on Ashford Dunwoody Road, will include a two-way raised bike path, a wider sidewalk, new pedestrian lighting and upgraded landscaping around Perimeter Mall.

Deutsch said that in the short term, the project will provide vital connections in the Perimeter Mall area, but in the future, it will connect people to Path 400 and Atlanta’s Beltline trail.

“But long term, it's all part of a regional plan to have connectivity across the region,” she said. “If you can get to the Silver Comet Trail (which begins in Syrna), you can get to Alabama. So, the options are really endless.”

The project was developed as part of Dunwoody’s transportation plan and the proposed Dunwoody Trail Master Plan.

Sandy Springs #1 Kitchen

Construction for Phase 1 of the project will cost $1.5 million, which Dunwoody will split evenly with the Perimeter Community Improvement Districts, a group representing commercial property owners in the Perimeter Mall area.

Ann Hanlon, executive director of the Perimeter CIDs, said many people living in the Perimeter area want to live in a connected, walkable community, thanks to the success of the Atlanta Beltline.

“I think the Beltline has made trails very cool and hip, so our market wants that same thing,” Hanlon said. “Anytime a new trail segment is built, you can see commercial property values go up and it becomes a more desirable place for people to be.”

Hanlon said they’ve already seen the effects of this firsthand with three new restaurants near Ashford Dunwoody Road, which were built facing the new path and with multi-purpose uses in mind.

Deutsch said the project will also have an impact on the area’s traffic congestion problems.

Each person who bikes or walks through the Perimeter Mall area is one less car on the road.

“Any opportunity we have to get people out of their cars and provide an opportunity to just walk or ride their bike safely on a street with about 40,000 car trips a day, is a good day,” Deutsch said.

City funding for the project will be provided from local hotel/motel taxes. In addition to 50 percent of construction costs, the Perimeter CIDs will also fund decorative pavers, posts, benches and trashcans.

PAUL WARD/PROVIDED

Members of the Dunwoody City Council and the Perimeter Community Improvement Districts break ground on a new section of the Ashford Dunwoody Path at Perimeter Mall March 14.

Dunwoody officials give nod to police co-responder post

By ALEXANDER POPP alex@appenmedia.com

DUNWOODY, Ga. — Dunwoody police may soon have regular access to a mental health specialist during crisis calls.

The City Council gave preliminary approval March 13 for a contract with the DeKalb Community Service Board to hire a licensed behavioral health clinician as a “co-responder” assisting Dunwoody and Doraville police in situations involving mental health issues and drug abuse.

For several months in 2022, the City of Dunwoody had great success with a similar position, after contracting with View Point Health for a co-responder employee, Dunwoody Deputy Police Chief Michael Carlson told city councilmembers.

“The officers that were out there thought this was just an extremely valuable service, due to the mental health situation that we have,” Carlson said

Unfortunately, he said, the contract was canceled in November after a new state law was passed, making local community service boards in Georgia responsible for providing co-responder services.

Under the new contract, Doraville and Dunwoody would share one fulltime clinician, stationed at the Dunwoody Police Department, and funded by the DeKalb Community Service Board and the two cities.

The DeKalb Community Service Board would contribute $33,400 to-

ward the position for the first year and $16,600 the second year, while the cities would share a percentage of the cost based on their populations.

During the first year, Dunwoody would be responsible for 83 percent of the position’s costs, or $81,020. Doraville will pay $16,653, or 17 percent. Dunwoody’s portion of the cost would be paid for through American Rescue Plan Act funding.

“It's really important,” Dunwoody Mayor Lynn Deutsch said. “It's a great use of our resources.”

With the co-responder position, police officers in Dunwoody are more likely to respond effectively in the various and complicated situations they regularly face, Carlson said.

“I've been in law enforcement 25 years, and the way we handle mental health crises then and the way we handle them now is completely different,” he said. “We didn't know what to do with them a long time ago and a lot of times it was just, ‘lock them up, put them in jail.’ That's not the answer.”

Once the new position is filled and active, the co-responder will be both proactive and reactive, responding to mental health calls with police officers and conducting check-ins with individuals known to be in need.

Because there’s no telling when mental health-related situations arise, Carlson said the department will set up methods for online communications from the specialist’s location.

“She could actually FaceTime when

Sandy Springs Christian Church plans community recycling event

SANDY SPRINGS, Ga. — Sandy Springs Christian Church on Johnson Ferry Road will host a free document shredding and electronics recycling event for the community Saturday, April 22.

From 9 a.m. to 11 a.m., residents can bring up to four boxes of documents to the church for secure shredding and recycling. During the event, electronics like computers, printers and other household electronics will also be accepted for recycling. Monitors and TVs will be accepted for an additional fee.

This event will be hosted by Sandy Springs Church, in partnership with the National Association of Professional Organizers, EcoShredding and Data Delete Recycle in honor of Earth Day 2023.

Those interested in participating are asked to ensure that all documents intended for shredding are free of paper clips, staples and binding materials.

Sandy Springs Christian Church is at 301 Johnson Ferry Road in Sandy Springs. For more information, visit sandyspringscc.org.

we arrive at the scene and provide a 1013, which is a medical hold,” he said, speaking about their experience with View Point Health in 2022. “She would sign that for somebody remotely and make sure they get to the appropriate facility.”

Today, Dunwoody police officers are much better equipped to deal with mental health issues, thanks to an emphasis on de-escalation training and a new focus on getting people the help they need. But Carlson said they never know what they’re going to need help with, so having a professional on call is always wise.

“Our officers are very well trained in handling these situations but … there's no such thing as a routine mental health call,” he said.

Deutsch said no money will be needed for the program until the DeKalb Community Service Board hires a candidate to fill the role. Because officials aren’t sure yet whether one person will be able to meet the needs of both cities, the program will likely be reexamined regularly.

“This is DeKalb’s choice for us to share,” she said. “So, in a reasonable amount of time, which will be six months or more, if we find that it's just not working, let's revisit it with the community Service Board.”

No vote was taken on the item by the city council at this meeting, however, it will return as a consent agenda item at the council’s next meeting Monday, March 27.

Financial adviser earns Award of Excellence

ROSWELL, Ga. — David Wash, CPA, was recently recognized with the 2022 Award of Excellence by Strategic Planning Group. This award signifies a consistently high level of production in the financial services industry.

"David has been a consistent contributor to our organization for many years,” Strategic Planning Group's Tomas Parks said. “I am also proud of the significant impact David has had advising his clients about their financial future.”

A Place for ALL Jews

Ashkenazi Orthodox Rabbi Yitzchok Werbin

5075 Roswell Rd 1 mile inside I-285 Sandy Springs

www.KesherTorahAtlanta.org

Sandy Springs to conduct Celebration Garden Tour

By SHELBY ISRAEL shelby@appenmedia.com

SANDY SPRINGS, Ga. — Sandy Springs will host the North Fulton Master Gardeners’ Celebration Garden Tour from 10 a.m.4 p.m. June 3.

The tour, “Every Step, A New Delight,” will feature five members’ homes and include terraced landscape architecture, a garden with museum-quality sculptures, a traditional Old South-style garden, container gardening and unique plants and garden designs.

Proceeds from the tour will support community gardening education classes in North Fulton, gardening education for young children, scholarships for horticulture students and the organization’s local demonstration gardens, including the Autrey Mill Nature Preserve and the Archibald Smith Plantation Home.

The North Fulton Master Gardeners is a nonprofit organization that seeks to educate its members and the public in horticulture and ecology to promote community enrichment. The group is also hosting its Spring 2023 Gardening

Concert:

Continued from Page 1

concert series will begin with a performance by the party band, The Geek Squad, and will continue with other Sunday night acts until September. Concerts by the Springs acts will include the following performances:

• May 7 — The Geek Squad

• June 4 — Carpool (Tribute to The Cars)

• July 16 — Chuck Martin and the Lineup

Lecture Series with two live Zoom sessions remaining on March 26 and April 2 at 2 p.m.

Details on the tour and locations will be sent to ticket holders May 1.

The event will take place rain or shine, and the group suggests attendees wear sturdy footwear. The gardens are not wheelchair or stroller accessible.

Adult tickets cost $22 and are on sale now at https://bit.ly/GardenTour2023. Admission is free for children under 18. Tickets can also be purchased for $25 June 3 on-site if availability allows.

• August 6 — Guardians of the Jukebox

• September 10 — Still Swinging

Like past years, lawn seating for all of these events is totally free, but reserved table seating will be available for purchase for both event series. Food and drinks for the event will be available for pre-order from the CityBar restaurant at Sandy Springs City Hall. For more information about purchasing tickets and refreshments, call the City Springs box office at 770206-2022. For more information about the Concerts by the Springs and City Green Live concert series, visit https:// citysprings.com.

Station:

Continued from Page 1

March 16 to officially break ground on Sandy Springs Fire Station 5, a state-of-the-art, 11,000-square-foot firehouse, designed to blend in with the residential communities on the city’s northeastern edge, while filling in longtime gaps in city emergency services.

“I'm proud that we're able to build this facility out here and provide the response times that this community not only expects but deserves,” Sandy Springs Mayor Rusty Paul said at the groundbreaking.

Located in the “panhandle” area of northeast Sandy Springs, the new fire station will take over coverage for a community that has been served for years by Sandy Springs firefighters housed at Roswell Fire Station 27 on Holcomb Bridge Road and Sandy Springs Fire Station 51 at Roberts Road and Spalding Drive.

Officials said the distance these fire stations are from the community has impacted response times for situations where seconds can have a huge impact on survival in a medical emergency or whether a home can be saved from fire.

“The response time average for structure fires here … is up to 14 minutes,” Sandy Springs Fire Chief Keith Sanders said. “Fire grows seven times its size every minute it burns in

the free phase … putting it here, we're reducing that average response time to about eight minutes.”

Calling the new station, a “game changer,” Sanders said that after multiple community meetings, they developed a design that would make the station look as much like neighboring homes as possible.

“We were very sensitive to the community and realize that we have no commercial areas out here where we could locate a fire station,” he said. “But our goal was to really ensure that the station was geographically located to service the greatest number of residents in the City of Sandy Springs, and this was the perfect location.”

Fire Station 5 will house teams of four firefighters on 24-hour shifts, with one in-service fire engine and a reserve engine on standby.

Sandy Springs City Councilman John Paulson, who represents District 1 where the new station will be located, said city leaders fought long and hard, for nearly 10 years to get the station built.

“This has been a long time coming,” Paulson said. “The first truly new location for a fire station in Sandy Springs history.”

Construction of Fire Station 5 is estimated to cost $8.4 million and a contract for the project with Reeves and Young was approved by the City Council in September 2022.

Officials said construction is expected to last about 14 months.

ALEX POPP/APPEN MEDIA

Sandy Springs Mayor Rusty Paul speaks to a crowd gathered at a groundbreaking ceremony held March 16 for the city’s new Fire Station 5.

Johns Creek lays groundwork for elections task force

Roswell scraps effort to conduct ’23 polling

By AMBER PERRY amber@appenmedia.com

JOHNS CREEK, Ga. — Roswell officials have decided to stick with Fulton County to run its municipal elections this November, adding to the list of area cities abandoning efforts to operate their own polling.

Johns Creek, the first out of a North Fulton group to make the same move, has begun scoping logistics for setting up self-run municipal elections in 2025.

So far, Milton is the only North Fulton city that has formally adopted plans to operate its own municipal elections this November. In the first year, Milton has estimated $72,254 in costs for two polling locations on election day.

Sandy Springs has no council posts or referendums scheduled for this year.

Sparked by Milton’s decision in December to wrest control of its own city elections from the county, other cities across north Metro Atlanta have been exploring the idea over the past two months.

Discussion has centered around either self-administration or entering into an agreement with Milton, Roswell, Alpharetta, Johns Creek and Mountain Park. The multi-city contract would have enabled one elections superintendent to oversee all the member cities’ municipal elections.

City staff in Johns Creek estimated that entering into the agreement would have cost the city more than $1 million, and operating its own election independently would have cost only slightly less.

In a spreadsheet, the city nailed down $721,884 of the $1 million for the first year of self-operated municipal elections and left some items unbudgeted. In its estimate, Johns Creek has accounted for 18 polling locations, the same number used by Fulton County in December 2022.

Fulton County set a deadline of March 31 for cities to decide whether they will go it alone.

Milton had a head start, spending more than a year to study the process through a six-member Municipal Election Feasibility Committee. The panel drew fire from some residents. One of its members, Mark Amick, was subpoenaed last June as part of a Fulton County investigation into Republican attempts to overturn the 2020 election.

Cities rethink strategy

Municipal officials were also informed recently that the county had lowered cost estimates it will charge cities to operate their municipal elections.

Milton launched its effort last spring under the presumption that Fulton County would charge more than $6 per registered voter to run polling for their municipal election. That figure jumped to $11.48 in December, then fell to $9 and some change.

On Feb. 1, county officials adopted a percentage-based cost formula setting the charge to cities at $7 per registered voter – lower than originally estimated, but still more than twice the $2.96 it charged cities in 2021 when municipal elections were last held.

Even so, the county’s cost reduction spurred some cities to rethink their efforts to go it alone with their own election apparatus.

At its Feb. 28 meeting, the Johns Creek City Council agreed to sign with Fulton County and abandon further efforts to operate its own elections for 2023.

The formal agreement was approved on the City Council’s consent agenda March 14.

That same night, at their work session, councilmembers explored opportunities in the future for city-run elections.

Also on March 14, Roswell announced in a committee meeting it

Estimated election costs for cities

In an effort to save on costs they pay Fulton County to run their municipal elections, North Fulton cities have compiled estimates for what it would cost to run their own polling. Right now, there is no final figure from the county, but latest estimates indicate the cities will pay twice the amount they paid the county to run the 2021 municipal elections.

Here is a rundown of the latest figures from cities:

City Cost Polling sites

Milton $72,254 2

Johns Creek $991,857 18

Alpharetta $298,532 3

Roswell* $362,822 21

estimates for an Alpharetta municipal election this year have been drafted, and it is based on a varying number of polling locations. At most, the city is looking to spend around $300,000 for three locations.

Roswell backs out

During a March 14 Administration and Finance and Recreation and Parks Committee meeting, Roswell City Councilman Mike Palermo said the city does not have enough time to weigh all the cost variables to reach an informed decision by the county’s March 31 deadline.

Roswell requires two readings for the agreement with Fulton County, so the city plans to have a special-called meeting for the measure sometime in late March.

“The fact that we’re in mid-March and there is so much work that needs to be done — there’s so many unknowns,” Palermo said. “I just feel that it’s more realistic to really explore this in 2025.”

Roswell Mayor Kurt Wilson added another motion for the council to “formally commit” to run municipal elections in 2025. The council forwarded the measure to the next scheduled City Council meeting.

Wilson attempted to add a third motion, which would have committed the City Council to appoint an election committee by September, but it drew little support from the council.

Councilwoman Lee Hills, who has been a strong advocate for local control, said she was disappointed to see the city abandon its efforts this year.

"It's unfortunate that this conversation is going in a direction that is not doing this in 2023, but I could not be more elated that it sounds like we've got great support for running our own municipal elections,” she said.

Earlier estimates show that Roswell planned to spend $362,822 for 21 polling locations. There was also a proposal based on 12 locations estimated for $320,648.

Johns Creek takes a lesson

While Johns Creek is out of the self-run election drive this year, City Councilman Chris Coughlin is ready for 2025.

would also sign with Fulton County to conduct its 2023 municipal elections. Councilmembers had been split over the idea days earlier at a workshop.

Alpharetta was scheduled to hold a March 20 City Council workshop to discuss cost estimates for running its own polling this November. Cost

Coughlin presented a five-page memo at the Johns Creek City Council March 14 work session detailing variables a city elections task force should consider upon its formation. The idea of a task force was introduced Feb. 28 by Mayor

AMBER PERRY/APPEN MEDIA Johns Creek City Councilman Chris Coughlin illustrates the process for instant runoff voting to councilmembers at a March 14 work session. The process is not yet allowed in the state, but Coughlin said it’s a possible avenue to cut election costs if the measure were to clear the Legislature.

*Roswell Also Had Another Proposal That Estimated $320,648 For 12 Polling Locations

Note: Sandy Springs does not have municipal elections this year

Organizations host teen safety training at Roswell Area Park

By DELANEY TARR delaney@appenmedia.com

ROSWELL, Ga. — Metro Atlanta nonprofit Revved Up Kids partnered with the Roswell Police Department to host a day of personal safety and self-defense workshops for children and teenage girls on March 11 at Roswell Area Park.

The two-hour sessions were split by age, with the first for children 6 to 11 years old and the second sessions for teenage girls ages 11-18. About 15 teenage girls and their parents gathered in the auditorium for a conversation on personal safety and a lesson on basic self-defense moves.

The seminars were hosted by Alli Neal, founder of Revved Up Kids. She began the organization in 2009 to protect children from sexual abuse exploitation.

“We want to proactively equip them, but also want to prepare them if things go wrong,” Neal said.

The workshop is split into a few main sections. First, Neal presents various scenarios and asks the girls what they would do. She provides tips on how to safely navigate dark parking lots, parties and various social situations while pointing out common red flags for exploitation.

Then the girls practice self-defense moves on prop figures. After the activity, they reaffirm the lessons from the day. Parents can participate at certain points, but Neal said its important that the information comes from her.

“Even though a lot of the stuff we say may be similar to what their parents say to them, they hear it differently from us,” Neal said.

The workshop pushes parents to have “family conversations” about difficult topics. Neal said she sees that parents don’t know how to have conversations with their kids about sexual predators.

Paige Laine brought her daughter Shelby to the seminar after the teenager was pulled over by police on a quiet road at night. Laine said she’s glad it was a real police officer that pulled her over, but it helped her realize all she had not told her daughter about personal safety.

The founder said the solution to sexual predators is not to bar children and teens from common activities, like

Elections:

Continued from Page 8

John Bradberry at a City Council meeting in which a few residents voiced a desire to take on the project.

Coughlin outlined three variables, including runoff voting, timing of

using Snapchat and TikTok.

“You can’t just do that if you want to keep your child safe,” Neal said. “If you forbid it, they’re going to sneak behind your back, and if they get in trouble they won’t come to you.”

Instead, Neal tries to meet parents and children where they are. She knows social media is how children interact with each other, so she runs multiple workshops devoted to navigating the internet, both for parents and children.

“Most of the time it’s the adults fear that gets in the way of children’s knowledge and safety,” Neal said.

Neal said parents are grateful to be taught the “dialogue” they can have with their children on safety and exploitation.

She listed several key tips she wants parents to teach their children.

elections and number of precincts.

For example, Coughlin mentioned the prospect of instant runoff voting, which remains stalled in the Legislature.

Instant runoff voting provides for ballots to include “top choices” for voters, eliminating the need for a runoff election in cases where one candidate fails to garner more than 50 percent

The first, bodily autonomy, emphasizes that children get to decide who touches them. She also said parents should teach their kids to trust their instincts and understand that respect is a two-way street.

Roswell Police Department hosted the sessions as part of an ongoing partnership that Neal said started before the onset of COVID-19. The organization has hosted a few selfdefense sessions each year with the police department.

“It’s a priority for the Roswell Police Department to equip our young people with the knowledge, skills, and abilities to keep themselves safe,” Roswell Public Information Officer Tim Lupo said. “Our partnership with RevvedUp Kids who provide an excellent,

of the tally. Johns Creek has already passed a measure to allow the practice if and when it clears the Legislature.

Instant runoff voting, Coughlin said, could save the city from 25 to 40 percent in election costs, and it would encourage more turnout and statistical power for voters.

Not everyone on the council was on board with the instant runoff proposal,

well-received curriculum, is one of the ways we accomplish that goal for our community.”

Neal hopes to eventually replicate those police partnerships in nearby communities like Johns Creek, Milton and Alpharetta. She also is seeking enough funds to make the program free for all.

For every group that pays tuition, the nonprofit trains another group free of charge. The Roswell workshop offered scholarships for teenagers in need after some attendees paid the “tuition.” She also runs seminars in disadvantaged parts of the community at no cost.

The nonprofit plans to hold another self-defense and personal safety training with Roswell Police Department sometime in summer 2023.

however, but they agreed it warranted further study.

“I'm not necessarily sold on any of it,” Mayor Bradberry said. “I do think that there is optimism to think that maybe we could save money … but again, the devil’s in the details.”

DELANEY TARR / APPEN MEDIA

Shelby Laine practices a self-defense move on a set of prop legs at the March 11 personal safety and self-defense workshop run by nonprofit Revved Up Kids at Roswell Area Park.

— Staff reporter Delaney Tarr contributed to this story.

Roswell considers adding conditions to city’s open records request policy

By DELANEY TARR delaney@appenmedia.com

ROSWELL, Ga. — The Roswell City Council advanced a resolution March 14 that would require people to provide a “verifiable” name and address when submitting open records requests.

At the city’s Administration, Finance, Recreation and Parks Committee meeting, all but one of the councilmembers voted in favor of the resolution. Councilwoman Sarah Beeson cast a dissenting vote.

The resolution states that anyone requesting a public record must provide a “verifiable name and address.”

Roswell public records, like police reports and city emails are available via open records requests. Anyone can file a request for the information. Once filed, city staff must gather the records. If the records search requires time to gather, the city then charges the applicant a fee when the request is filled.

Mayor Kurt Wilson said the resolution is focused on protecting the public’ tax dollars, because the city is “inundated” with time-consuming open records requests.

Under the resolution, the city would not fill requests for “unverifiable” requestors. The council did not specify what the verification process would entail. Anyone who wants to remain anonymous would be able to go to City Hall to inspect, copy and pay for public documents.

Wilson said the policy change would not impact the city’s position that “all information inside of the city is open and accessible to all residents.”

Wilson said there have been incidents with fake requests, spurring the push for verification.

He cited a specific request in which the city clerk, Marlee Press, noticed the name of the person requesting documents did not align with the provided email address. When the clerk reached out to the resident, they denied every filing an open records request.

LOCAL

City Attorney David Davidson said he spoke to the Georgia Attorney General’s Office, and the city cannot make people pay in advance for the retrieval, redaction and copy of records. The resolution, Davidson said is “simply following state law.”

Councilman Mike Palermo said he supports the resolution, because it’s a “clear focus on creating more efficiencies for Roswell residents, the media and any people requesting.”

Councilwoman Sarah Beeson was adamantly against the proposed change.

Fact Check

“I cannot be emphatic enough about how much I oppose this resolution,” Beeson said.

The councilwoman cited state law that dictates any person, corporation or entity may request access to public records.

“I’m of the frame of mind that Mickey Mouse himself can be requesting this information, and it should not change the context nor the amount of information that’s provided,” Beeson said.

Wilson argued that if he can legitimately prove he is Mickey Mouse, that’s fine, but he should not be able to pose as another person.

“Why can’t I just say I’m Kurt Wilson, and I’m asking for this information,” Wilson said. “What’s wrong with that?”

Beeson responded that the “burden of transparency does not lie on the private residents, but rather on the public entity.”

Beeson also questioned the basis of allowing anonymity if a physical presence is required in City Hall, saying it “defeats

the purpose” of not giving a name.

Mayor Wilson argued that most people who come to City Hall are anonymous, because they do not have to present identification.

“Nobody has to give their name, ever,” City Attorney Davidson said. “They can simply make a request and all the documents will be prepared, they’ll be copied and they’ll be sitting waiting when they come in to get them.”

Concerns around unverifiable names and addresses centered on the amount of work it takes to fill open records requests, especially requests that can total hundreds of documents. Councilmembers said verification will guarantee that a person cannot avoid being charged for requests.

The city clerk did not say whether there has been an instance of anybody failing to pay the costs for an open records request, but she stated that many people often say they do not want certain documents once the cost estimate is provided.

“I don’t think there’s anything wrong with Roswell having rules in place to curb the abuses that are going on currently,” Councilman Peter Vanstrom said.

The resolution was moved forward to the next regularly scheduled Roswell City Council meeting.

DELANEY TARR / APPEN MEDIA

The Roswell City Council pushed forward with a plan to require “verifiable names and addresses” or in-person visits to retrieve open records requests at a March 14 committee meeting.

Roswell gets fewer record requests than most nearby North Fulton cities

By DELANEY TARR and CARL APPEN delaney@appenmedia.com carl@appenmedia.com

ROSWELL, Ga. — The City of Roswell is considering changes to its open record policies that would require people to either provide “verifiable” names and addresses or go to Roswell City Hall in person to retrieve requested records.

Officials say the move is an effort to address a large volume of requests, claiming Roswell receives considerably more inquiries than other North Fulton municipalities.

Appen Media decided to find out if that’s true. It’s not.

In fact, Roswell has received fewer record requests than almost all of its sister cities this year, according to documents reviewed by the news organization.

Roswell has received 406 requests since Jan. 1, according to the City Clerk’s office. The city has approximately 92,530 residents.

Sandy Springs, its neighbor to the south, received 947 requests over the

STUDIO SERIES: MICHELLE MALONE

What: Closing the Studio Series, songwriter and modern-day guitar hero

Michelle Malone brings her unique mix of roadhouse rock ’n roll, blues, gospel, country-soul and folk to the stage.

When: Thursday, March 23, 8 p.m.

Where: Studio Theatre, 1 Galambos Way, Sandy Springs

Cost: $20-30

More info: sandyspringsga.gov

HEALTHY FOREST LECTURE WITH INTERPRETATIVE HIKE

What: If we understand the soil of today, then we can better understand the forest of tomorrow.

This program will cover seed bank, soil science, soil horizon, soil testing, limiting factors, mycorrhizae, richness, biodiversity, urban forestry, fungal network (mycelium), nutrient uptake, nutrient fixing and root grafts. Participants can submit soil samples to UGA and begin a soil composition index.

When: Friday, March 24, 12:30 p.m.

Where: Lost Corner Preserve, 7300 Brandon Mill Road, Sandy Springs

More info: sandyspringsga.gov

ARTISTIC AFFAIR

What: Building off the success of last year’s groundbreaking fundraising event, Spruill Center for the Arts presents “Artistic Affair: An Arts Experi -

At a March 14 Administration, Finance, Recreation and Parks Committee meeting, Roswell Councilwoman Sarah Beeson cited state law that dictates any person, corporation or entity may request access to public records.

“I cannot be emphatic enough about how much I oppose this resolution,” Beeson said.

CHART BY CARL APPEN/APPEN MEDIA

The City of Roswell is discussing changes to its open record policies, claiming it receives far more requests than any other city. Appen Media decided to find out if that’s true. It’s not.

same time period. Sandy Springs has approximately 14,000 more residents than Roswell.

Milton, a city less than half the size of Roswell with 41,259 residents, received 507 requests.

Only Johns Creek, a city slightly smaller than Roswell, received fewer requests. Officials there provided documents showing it had received 323 inquiries during that time.

Alpharetta, a municipality consistently compared with Roswell despite

ence” to be held at Factory Atlanta. The fundraiser and auction will include a DJ, magician and fortune tellers, live art painting, open bar, hors d’oeuvres and more.

When: Friday, March 24, 7-10 p.m.

Where: Factory Atlanta, 5616 Peachtree Road, Chamblee

Cost: $75

More info: spruillarts.org/artisticaffair

DUNWOODY

FARMERS MARKET

What: The Dunwoody Farmers Market brings together a variety of vendors selling local and organic fruits, veggies and produce, coffee, breakfast, baked goods, prepared meals, frozen treats, eggs, grass-fed meat and fresh seafood.

When: Saturday, March 25, 10 a.m.-12 p.m.

Where: Brook Run Park, 4770 North Peachtree Road, Dunwoody

More info: dunwoodyga.gov

SNAP!DRAGON’S GARDEN OPENING RECEPTION

What: Spring has sprung at the Dunwoody Community Garden. Visit the event for an afternoon of Instagramworthy selfies, free popcorn and garden-themed goodies for kids. Moondog Growlers will be on site with beverages available for purchase. Exhibit runs until April 1.

Where: Brook Run Park, 4770 North Peachtree Road, Dunwoody

When: Saturday, March 25, 11 a.m.-2

its smaller population, takes the cake. That city received 1,336 requests, more than three times as many, during the same time window.

It’s worth noting that Roswell was one of only two cities that charged Appen Media for documents related to this analysis, despite the query being the same across jurisdictions.

Residents, including one sitting City Council member, have raised concerns about the legality of the proposed policy changes.

p.m.

More info: dunwoodyga.gov

SANDY SPRING THEATRE COMPANY’S ‘SPAMALOT’

What: Join King Arthur, the Knights of the Round Table and the glamorous Lady of the Lake as they turn the Arthurian legend on its ear in their quest for the Holy Grail. Along the way they encounter dancing showgirls, flying cows, killer rabbits and assorted French people. The production is the winner of the 2005 Tony Award for Best Musical.

When: Up to March 26, times vary

Where: Byers Theatre, 1 Galambos Way, Sandy Springs

Cost: $37-100

More info: sandyspringsga.gov

THE ECOLOGY OF SANDY SPRINGS

What: Join this exploration into the ecology of Sandy Springs led by Alan Toney, a master naturalist. Explore the loss of the original pristine forest and the regrowth of the mature second-growth forest. Discover what’s living in your own backyard and how proper landscaping can encourage as well as discourage wildlife from taking up residence. Learn about the relationship between raptors and crows, the importance of native bees and insects, how to get rid of those pesky invasives and more.

When: Tuesday, March 28, 7 p.m.

Where: Lost Corner Preserve, 7300

Roswell Mayor Kurt Wilson assured residents that longtime City Attorney David Davidson has approved the measure after speaking with the state Attorney General’s Office. The resolution, Davidson said, is “simply following state law.”

Appen Media requested documents to vet that statement through an open records request, but the city has not yet provided them.

Among the six members of the City Council and mayor, Beeson was the only elected official to speak against the policy change.

The measure is scheduled for an official vote before the City Council at its next regularly scheduled meeting March. 27.

Brandon Mill Road, Sandy Springs

More info: sandyspringsga.gov

ROSWELL DANCE THEATRE PRESENTS ‘MARY POPPINS’

What: Follow Mary Poppins as she adds sunshine, adventure and magic to the previously solemn and serious Banks home. Join Jane and Michael as practically perfect Mary introduces them to the charming Bert. They explore the rooftops of London, enjoy a spoonful of sugar, fly a kite and do it all in the most delightful way.

When: March 30-April 1, times vary

Where: Byers Theatre, 1 Galambos Way, Sandy Springs

Cost: $30

More info: citysprings.com

FAIRY HOUSE OR GNOME HOME WORKSHOP

What: After a long, cold winter, the fairy houses and gnome homes are ready for a refresh. Bring your imagination to the first Spring Fairy House and Gnome Home event. Kids and adults will be provided with natural materials like seed pods, pinecones, bark and nuts to build a structure to take home or to leave at Lost Corner for all to enjoy. Registration is encouraged but walk-ins are welcome.

When: Saturday, April 1, 10 a.m.

Where: Lost Corner Preserve, 7300 Brandon Mill Road, Sandy Springs

Cost: $15 per person, $30 per family

More info: sandyspringsga.gov

Alpharetta Bee Company provides sweet deals

By SHELBY ISRAEL shelby@appenmedia.com

ALPHARETTA, Ga. — Deborah Eves and Michael Buchanan bonded over a shared love of nature, but their passion for beekeeping and business started when they founded the Alpharetta Bee Company in 2021.

Buchanan and Eves started their backyard venture after a year of learning the ropes of beekeeping, and it first launched as The Sunny Honey Company.

“We started Sunny Honey Company, and we got into the Alpharetta Farmers Market, and we’re like wow, it was amazing how much people love honey,” Eves said. “Then the next year, which was last year before the farmers market started, we said, ‘Well, gosh, nobody realizes that we’re actually local Alpharetta beekeepers,’ so we changed our name to Alpharetta Bee Company.”

Eves and Buchanan feed, house and care for their Italian and Carniolan bees in their backyards on Pebble Trail. They also have hives at Buchanan’s cabin in Cleveland, where they produce their sourwood and mountain wildflower honey.

Buchanan said they learned best practices from a friend in Milton and from a neighbor in Cleveland with 35 years of beekeeping experience. The pair studied YouTube videos and purchased equipment in 2020, and the following year, they were ready to launch.

“It’s not something you can kind of stick your toe in the water about,” Buchanan said. “You’re either in it or you’re not.”

The process

Buchanan said much of the process is common sense, but it is also hard work. He said it is important to feed the bees and keep them healthy for the period that they have no nectar, which is 60-70 percent of the year.

The two expect to have 12 or 13 hives in 2023, and Buchanan said one good hive can produce up to 70 pounds of honey.

“They’ve been around since the time of the dinosaurs, so they know what to do,” Buchanan said.

LOCAL NEWS

When the honey is ready to be harvested, Eves and Buchanan filter it from their extractor into containers. The honey is raw and never heated or pasteurized, they said, and nothing is added.

Eves also uses the beeswax from their hives in candles and lotion, which is made with coconut oil and shea butter.

Working as a duo, Eves said, allows them to bounce ideas off one another to find the best ways to run their business, and the bees are like their coworkers, rather than their employees.

A business with a mission

Alpharetta Bee Company served the couple as more than a business venture. Buchanan is a retired teacher, and Eves works as a substitute teacher at the Fulton County Schools Innovation Academy in Alpharetta.

Eves said two of her students want to learn about beekeeping and entrepreneurship, and this summer, they will help the couple at their Alpharetta Farmers Market booth.

“We’re going to train them to work at the market with us so that when one of us is gone, the other one that’s there will have somebody to help,” Eves said. “We’re super

excited about it. They’re so cute.”

The company is also passionate about “bees, trees and seas,” and they said they hope to educate others and create awareness about saving the environment.

“We have information at the booth, and we have tasters so they can taste it,” Buchanan said. “They’re not just buying it blindly, and we let them try some of the sourwood, wildflower, whatever. We try to teach people about beekeeping and how mosquito spraying in the yard is not really good for the bees.”

Besides beekeeping, Buchanan is an artist, writer and filmmaker, and he searches the West and Southeast for fossils and shark teeth. He said he enjoys sharing his findings with children at the farmers market.

“We just like to talk to people,” Eves said. “We have pictures of us in our beekeeping suits at the market, and we found that a lot of people love to talk about bees. And if people want to bring their kids over and visit the beehives, we encourage that as well.”

Looking back and ahead

Before the success of Alpharetta Bee Company, Eves and Buchanan had to face the challenges of obtaining a license, paying sales taxes and covering expenses as new business owners.

“To me, the bumpiest thing is the fact

PHOTOS BY SHELBY ISRAEL/APPEN MEDIA

Michael Buchanan and Deborah Eves farm, package and sell honey out of their homes on Pebble Trail in Alpharetta March 15. The couple started Alpharetta Bee Company in 2021 as The Sunny Honey Company.

Colorfully painted hives house a portion of the Alpharetta Bee Company’s bees in Michael Buchanan’s backyard March 15. Buchanan and co-owner Deborah Eves raise and farm honey from Italian and Carniolan bees.

SHELBY ISRAEL/APPEN MEDIA

Alpharetta Bee Company sells wildflower, sourwood and clover honey, as well as creamed and infused varieties March 15. Owner Deborah Eves also makes lotion and candles with beeswax, and co-owner Michael Buchanan painted bees that the couple sell on handcrafted note cards.

Bees:

Continued from Page 12

that you’re totally dependent upon the bees to help you do this,” Buchanan said. “If we lose a couple of hives, whatever, then it cuts back on product and things like that. We do the best we can, but still the bees have the final vote on how everything’s going to work, and we cannot control that.”

While the pair are still expanding their online presence and navigating the farmers market off-season, Eves said the business allows her to do the things she loves, and she is satisfied with the size and the

Pet of the Week: Tedo

Tedo (ID# 51757364): Tedo says she's ready to ditch shelter life ASAP. This pretty brindle girl with a zest for life is perfect for your apartment or your big backyard. She's friendly, playful and smart. She knows her "sit' and "down" commands. She enjoys running around, rolling around and having fun.

market of the company.

“We don’t want it to get to where it’s just a job,” Buchanan said. “We still want it to be a business that makes us happy, not one that takes over our lives.”

Buchanan and Eves hope to expand their honey varieties in the future, and they plan to sell children’s books related to beekeeping and nature soon.

Alpharetta Bee Company is at the Alpharetta Farmers Market Saturdays 8:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. April 1-Oct. 31 and Saturdays 9:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. in November. The company will also set up at the Alpharetta Christmas Market in December,

The company’s online shop is at alpharettabeeco.com/.

To adopt or foster Tedo stop by Dekalb County Animal Services at 3280 Chamblee Dunwoody Rd, Chamblee, GA 30341. Expand your family by 4 furry little feet; meet Tedo and have a loving friend forever. All adoptions include spay/neuter, vaccinations and microchip. If you would like more information about Tedo please email adoption@dekalbanimalservices.com or call (404) 294-2165; all potential adopters will be screened to ensure Tedo goes to a good home.

Our shelter is full of incredible pets waiting for homes. We must find 500 homes; will yours be one of them? To foster, adopt or meet your new furry friend, stop by DeKalb County Animal Services.

11.

King’s Ridge wins first state title in boys basketball

ALPHARETTA, Ga. — The King’s Ridge Christian School made history March 11 in the Macon Centreplex when the boys basketball team defeated Mount Pisgah 6858, earning the title of Georgia High School Association’s Class A Division 1 State Champions.

Led by head coach Bob Martin in his fifth year, the team returned to the championship game for the second consecutive year after finishing runner-up in 2022. The team finished the season 23-10 and faced tough competition weekly as a member of Region 6, which housed three of the final

four teams in the tournament.

King’s Ridge hit the road as a No. 4 seed to face Social Circle in round one with a 69-60 final, Rabun County in round two with a 65-30 final, Woodville-Tompkins in the quarterfinals with a 62-54 final and Mount Vernon in the semifinals at 53-48 before returning to Macon. Micah Hoover with 25 points and Zak Thomas with 24 points were the leading scorers March 11.

The Tigers were led all season by its four seniors Micah Hoover, Isaac Martin, Jack Thomas and Zak Thomas.

“We are grateful for the many blessings

this great game has given us. We use basketball as a tool to help develop intangibles such as discipline, teamwork, friendships, commitment, attitude, and dealing with adversity,” Martin said. “While we may fail at times, the lessons learned along the way will make the biggest difference. The players bought into the team by being selfless and accomplishing a goal bigger than themselves. That is the biggest win of all. We were blessed with the opportunity to play in a state championship game and win. We thank God every day for His many blessings.”

Cumming to host law enforcement basketball tournament

By SHELBY ISRAEL shelby@appenmedia.com

FORSYTH COUNTY, Ga. — The Dobbs Creek Recreation Center in Cumming will host the 17th annual Great Atlanta Shootout Basketball Tournament March 24-26.

More than 45 teams of law enforcement officers, detention officers, corrections officers, firefighters, probation officers, active U.S. Armed Forces members and law enforcement officers’ spouses will compete in four divisions at the tournament.

The Alpharetta Convention and Visitors Bureau welcomed players to stay in any of Alpharetta’s 30 hotels to enjoy the city’s

attractions during the competition.

“We are thrilled to welcome back the Great Atlanta Shootout to Alpharetta,” Visitors Bureau CEO and President Janet Rodgers said. “A basketball tournament of this nature in our destination creates a wonderful energy. Alpharetta will be host to many players, their families and visitors who will shop, dine, play and stay in our awesome community.”

DeKalb County Police Lt. C. Rorey, who helped organize the event, said he is happy for the tournament to return to Alpharetta.

“We have enjoyed the atmosphere and hospitality of the city for the past two years and are looking forward to another great

year,” Rorey said.

Participating teams include the New York Police Department, the Orlando Police Department, the New Jersey State Corrections Department, EMCMP Marines and The DeKalb Knights, which is composed of officers from Metro Atlanta agencies.

The tournament opens March 24 at 4 p.m. and at 9 a.m. March 25-26. Adult tickets cost $15, and tickets for children aged 6-17 are priced at $10. The tournament will also offer weekend passes March 24 at $40 for adults and $25 for children. Tickets can be purchased with cash at the door or via Cash App, Zelle and Venmo.

KING’S RIDGE CHRISTIAN SCHOOL/PROVIDED King’s Ridge Christian School boys basketball team earn the title of Georgia High School Association’s Class A Division 1 State Champions March

Weekend trips to Flowerland and Fischer Mansion

“Dr. L. C. Fischer, according to his annual custom, invites the public to visit his country home, Flowerland, near Chamblee, to see his rose gardens which are among the most beautiful in the state and are now nearing full bloom. Dr. Fischer announces that the rhododendron and climbing roses are in full bloom, and that the bush roses, which are rapidly opening, will reach full bloom within the next ten or fifteen days.”

This invitation appeared in the May 14, 1939, Atlanta Constitution.

Dr. L. C. (Luther) Fischer and Dr. Edward Campbell Davis started the Davis-Fischer Sanitorium on Crew Street in 1908. Then they built Crawford Long Hospital on Linden Avenue in 1911, which is now Emory University Hospital Midtown. (“Caring for Atlanta, A History of Emory Crawford Long Hospital,” by Ren Davis)

Prior to Dr. Davis death in 1931, the two doctors changed the hospital from privately owned to a nonprofit operation to provide healthcare to all Atlantans. In 1940, Dr. Fischer gave the hospital to the Emory University School of Medicine, “to serve as an arm of its teaching and healing mission.”

Dr. Fischer bought 60 acres in Sandy Springs in the 1920s and started a dairy called Oak Terrace. In 1932, he sold the dairy farm and bought 138 acres in Chamblee. He and wife Lucy Hurt Fischer built a home with elaborate gardens, calling it Flowerland. The home was designed by Phillip Trammel Shutze.

The gardens included rock walls and ponds to make the best use of the terrain and Nancy Creek. People from all around Atlanta and farther away would drive to Flowerland, especially in the spring. Visitors often caused traffic to back up for

more than a mile on Chamblee-Dunwoody Road.

Flowers from Flowerland were sold in a retail shop by the same name on Peachtree Road. They were also cut and placed around the hospital.

When Lucy Fischer became ill, Dr. Fischer continued having the gardens maintained for her to enjoy. After she died in 1937, Fischer sold the property to the John William Lee family, and Mrs. Lee later sold 48 acres to the Atlanta Diocese of the Catholic Church. The home became D’Youville Academy, a convent and school for girls. The name D’Youville came from the founder of the Sisters of Charity or Gray Nuns of Montreal, Marie Marguerite d’Youville.

In the 1970s, the school closed, and Fischer Mansion was sold to Atlanta Unity Church. The church used the mansion for church services, Sunday School, offices and a bookstore.

Fischer Mansion was in danger of being demolished in 2005, but it still stands as part of The Preserve at Fischer Mansion neighborhood on Chamblee Dunwoody Road. The home was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2011. Next door is D’Youville Condominiums, developed in the 1970s by Cousins Properties, built on land which was part of the gardens of Flowerland.

Of course, the history of the land does not begin with Dr. Fischer. This was land of the Creek Nation before the 1820s land lotteries. John Barrette of Hall County was granted the property after the land lottery but sold it soon after. William Wallace owned the land beginning in the 1880s, where he operated a sawmill and furniture shop.

Award-winning author Valerie Biggerstaff is a longtime columnist for Appen Media and the Dunwoody Crier. She lives in Sandy Springs. You can email Valerie at pasttensega@gmail.com or visit her website at pasttensega.com.

VALERIE BIGGERSTAFF Columnist

PAT SABIN/PROVIDED PHOTOS Fischer Mansion in 1999, during ownership of Atlanta Unity Church.

Fischer Mansion, as seen from the back in 1999.

APPEN MEDIA’S FIRST EVER

Shopping Spree Giveaway

Start the year off right with a chance to win a $1,000 Shopping Spree courtesy of Appen Media and the Crier Newspapers.

Each week, our newsroom will hide this shopping cart image in the newspaper. Once you find it, visit appenmedia.com/shoppingspree and enter

1) Your name

2) Your email

3) The page number you found the image That’s it!

The contest will run for 13 consecutive weeks, so submit an entry each week to maximize your chances of winning.

The winner will be randomly drawn, notified on Monday, April 3rd and announced in the April 13th Crier publications. HAPPY SHOPPING …and HAPPY NEW YEAR!

FAMILY/PROVIDED

Sun Valley Beach Park is an oasis between two cities

When teenagers in Roswell and Alpharetta needed a place to hang out in the 1950s and 1960s, they would often congregate at the Sun Valley Beach Park on Highway 9 halfway between Roswell and Alpharetta. Today the remaining land is overgrown with weeds and beaver dams where traces of its existence are barely visible on Sun Valley Road, but in its day, it was an amazing family recreational and entertainment park popular throughout north Fulton County. Here is the story.

The park was founded in 1950 by Joe C. Mansell (1906-1997) as a fishing lake only. Joe was the principal investor and manager of the operation. The park grew and a Board of Directors was established consisting of friends and relatives of Joe including architect Jim Barker who designed the park’s bathhouse; his brother-in-law Chuck Cunningham, also an architect; Jasper Dolvin, Principal of the Roswell Elementary School; Joe’s cousin, Clarence Westbrook; Bob Patten, a builder and Terry Martin among others.

Sun Valley Park offered a wide assortment of attractions including a 14-acre swimming lake with an imported white sand beach, two boating

and fishing lakes one of which had a skating rink around it. The park had

A postcard of Sun Valley Park shows some of its features: lake, beach, walking trails and miniature pumpkin church. CIRCA MID -1950s

BOB MEYERS Columnist

Joe Mansell, searching for Civil War relics with a mine detector at the site of the New Hope Church battle during the Atlanta campaign. He collected a bucket full of minie balls, a Civil War bullet.

H R NG ADVERTISING ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE

Meyers:

Continued from Page 18

a stable operated by Joe’s cousin, Harry Kaye Mansell and cousin Howard Rucker. The stable offered horseback riding and pony rides for children. Nephew Willie Mansell ran the bait shop. There were row boats for rent, train rides around the property, a pony-pulled covered wagon, picnic grounds with tables, area for Boy Scout overnighters and a snack bar. A bowling alley was added in the early 1960s. Admission for adults was 50 cents and 25 cents for children when it

first opened.

Joe’s daughter, Linda Mansell Martin, has many memories of the park. She worked every summer as a teenager “behind the basket counter (for holding swimmers’ clothes) or flipping burgers at the snack bar or eventually becoming a lifeguard at the swim lake when I was a little older.” She recalls “sock hops, picnics, swimming, diving and sunning, train rides, fishing and horseback riding through the woods, egg hunts, and even a few folks who were caught ‘skinny dipping’ when they broke in at night.”

In the 1950s the rivalry between Roswell and Alpharetta teenagers was strong. The park was neutral ground where teens from all over the area

would gather to enjoy the fun and sun. “I don’t know what teenagers in Alpharetta and Roswell would have done without the park. It healed some of the rivalry between the two cities,” says Linda. Up to 500 to a 1,000 people would visit the park on weekends.

Linda says her father” along with his 4 siblings, inherited land along Highway 9 from their father, Robert Henry Mansell II, a farmer, who provided his children with a house and 60 acres of land each.” Joe, Robert’s oldest son, started his career as a farmer also, but found that he preferred other ways of making a living. In 1930 he opened a filling station in Roswell, and then an ice and coal business. Subsequently he was an investigator in the Fulton County Solicitor General’s office in Atlanta where he worked for 20 years. Joe served as Mayor of Roswell in 1941 and 1942.

He sold part of his 60 acres to Carroll Beyers for Beyers Furniture Store and land for Greenlawn Cemetery in 1961. The rest was Sun Valley Property, all along Hwy 9. When his wife, Lessie Coleman Mansell (1908-1959) became ill with cancer in 1950, he quit his Atlanta job to be home with his wife and two daughters. It was then that Joe decided to convert the property into the recreation park. After his wife died, the family moved to Florida for 8 months where Joe managed the Sharlo Manor Motel on Clearwater Beach. In October 1965 Joe sold the park to John Talbott, Jr, an Atlanta physician, who operated the park for three years before closing it.

Today there are businesses and apartments along Sun Valley Drive, and the City of Roswell owns 11 acres of the original property. A few remnants of the park’s glory days can be detected by discerning eyes, but most of the remaining park land is overgrown with vegetation.

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.