Sandy Springs Crier - April 6, 2023

Athletics director redefined winning in Fulton County

Keepin’ it simple

Samad Grill elevates food with love and a little garlic

By AMBER PERRY amber@appenmedia.com

SANDY

“The

Jamal

See SAMAD, Page 10

City allocates grant funding to strengthen arts, recreation

SANDY SPRINGS, Ga. — Sandy Springs officials have approved grants worth $160,000 for several nonprofit arts and recreation programs targeting underserved and low-income residents.

At its March 7 meeting, the Sandy Springs City Council approved grant funding requests from six organizations that provide summer education, athletics and camp programs in the community.

Grants approved included $25,000 allotments each for new programs at Horizons Atlanta, Catalyst Sports, Sandy Springs Youth Sports, Los Niños Primero and The Healthy Youth USA Foundation.

Awards also included three $15,000 allotments for Horizons Atlanta, Northside Youth Organization and The Healthy Youth USA Foundation to partially fund programs that began in 2022.

Sandy Springs initially budgeted $75,000 for the Nonprofit Arts and Recreation Grant program in 2023 but later increased that amount to $160,000 after receiving multiple eligible grant requests.

PHOTOS BY AMBER PERRY/AMBER PERRY Jamal and Lesley Samad, owners of Samad Mediterranean Grill and Market, sit at a booth inside their restaurant March 29. Opened in 2012, Samad Grill is located in a shopping center on Roswell Road.

Lesley

Samad provides

a plate filled with a variety of salads, falafel, lentil soup and fried cauliflower. Lebanese

food is known

for its use of fresh herbs and garlic, she said.

SPRINGS, Ga. — Jamal Samad prides himself on the simplicity of the food at his restaurant, Samad Mediterranean Grill and Market. But simple isn’t easy, he said, like most people think.

harder thing is to keep things simple and tasty, and make it healthy,” said Jamal, with a thick Lebanese accent.

said the kitchen staff, including himself, doesn’t compromise or cut corners. Everything at Samad Grill is made with fresh ingredients. And, everything – except the gyro meat, which is Halal, and pita bread – is made from scratch.

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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 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.

Craft leaves legacy in Fulton County Schools athletics

By MCCLAIN BAXLEY newsroom@appenmedia.com

FULTON COUNTY, Ga — After more than 100 state championships, one national championship, countless college signees and 11 years of building a foundation, Fulton County Schools Athletic Director Steven Craft is stepping away.

“I think it’s time for someone else to have an opportunity,” he said. “It excites me to have a new challenge. I feel like we have accomplished so much in Fulton County in the last 11 years.”

Craft has held the post since 2012 and is set to begin April 10 as assistant superintendent for Dalton County Public Schools. He’ll go from overseeing 16 athletic departments to a school system that has two high schools. But it’ll be an exciting change for someone whose life has been ingrained in high school athletics for more than 20 years.

During his time heading Fulton County athletics, there have been new schools founded, championships won and hiring changes — and Craft has been on hand for it all.

“I think Fulton County has become the standard,” Craft said. “When you look at what we’ve done top to bottom, north to south, there isn’t a sport that we’ve not been at the top of the mountain. It shows that we have a true commitment to being great — academically and athletically.”

In a last tune-up before the 2013 season, the Creekside High School football team played at Banneker for a preseason scrimmage two weeks before the Seminoles’ season opener. It was August 16.

During the scrimmage between the two South Fulton schools, star cornerback De’Antre Turman, a 16-year-old junior for Creekside made a play on the ball, forced a fumble and fell to the

ground. Paramedics were called and he was taken to Grady Memorial Hospital where he was pronounced dead following a fractured third vertebrae, the Fulton County Coroner’s Office later confirmed.

Tragedy and heartbreak to the highest degree. A child’s life was suddenly taken away while doing what he loved. The impact of Turman’s loss swept throughout the Fulton County community.

“Our hearts and prayers go out to the family of this student,” then Fulton County Schools spokeswoman Samantha Evans said to the Atlanta JournalConstitution. “This is a truly horrific way to begin a school year.”

Two weeks after that scrimmage, Creekside played its season opener against Langston Hughes with the memory of Turman still heavy on their minds. Craft was on the sideline as the 2013 high school football season began.

“That could have torn apart that

community, but it banded them together,” Craft said. “On the opening kickoff, one of Creekside’s players took it all the way to the 1-yard line, and they punched it in on the next play. It was the perfect tribute to Deuce, and I think it was just incredible to see that team come together and win a state championship.”

The Seminoles posted a 15-0 season, ending with the program’s first state championship — capped with a dominant 52-28 outing against Tucker.

That was the first football state championship Craft saw during his time in Fulton.

Most recently, Langston Hughes went 15-0 and finished the 2022 season as 6A state champions and the No. 15 high school football team in the country, per MaxPreps.

Asked about moments he’s most proud of and Craft was able to list off a champion-by-champion — the 202122 Tri-Cities’ boys basketball team taking over Macon Coliseum, Westlake girls basketball winning four-straight state championships before winning a national title, Milton girls lacrosse’s 18-year-long dynasty.

And as he was gleaming with pride

seeing another program reach the pinnacle of high school football as the Langston Hughes Panthers won state, he was also proud of the support within the county.

“There’s seven other head coaches from around our county cheering on Langston Hughes,” Craft said. “If it wasn’t them, they wanted it to be someone from the county.”

Craft said its part of the culture now, unique to Fulton County.

“I think that’s what separates us from anywhere else is we have some great rivalries, but we’re going to support each other,” he said. “Our kids support each other, our coaches, ADs. It’s the secret sauce, whatever you want to call it.”

Support and working to help peers is something that became a staple in Craft’s repertoire. Jasper Jewell witnessed it first-hand.

Jewell, Director of Athletics for Atlanta Public Schools, has been friends with Craft since he took the job in Fulton County.

“A lot of our schools mirror each

See CRAFT, Page 12

CRAFT

New Georgia law limits health care for transgender youth

By DELANEY TARR delaney@appenmedia.com

ATLANTA — Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp has signed a bill co-sponsored by state senators in Alpharetta and Roswell that will limit medical care for transgender minors.

Senate Bill 140, signed into law March 23, was co-sponsored by 23 Republican state senators. The law bans medical procedures for transgender minors including genital reassignment surgeries and hormone replacement therapies. Transgender youth will still have access to puberty blockers prior to turning 18.

The law will take effect July 1. Minors already receiving hormone therapy will be allowed to continue treatment.

The bill passed the Senate 31-21. State Sens. John Albers (R-Roswell) and Brandon Beach (R-Alpharetta) cosponsored and voted for the bill. Sen. Greg Dolezal (R-Cumming) voted for the bill.

Sen. Josh McLaurin (D-Sandy Springs) voted against the legislation. Beach said he co-sponsored and voted for the bill because people should be 18 or older to make certain medical decisions.

“Before the age of 18, I don’t think a child is ready to make decisions that are permanent, and that’s what would happen if we hadn’t passed this bill,” Beach said.

A press representative for Senator Albers said he was unavailable for comment.

The law is based on a “significant rise in diagnoses of gender dysphoria in children” in the past decade, which the bill said often does not last into adulthood. According to the American Psychiatric Association, gender dysphoria refers to psychological distress that comes when someone’s gender identity and assigned sex at birth do not align.

Opponents of the law said the ban will have negative impacts on transgender youth.

Anna Baxter, an owner, supervisor and licensed counselor at Roswellbased Love Positive Counseling, has worked with transgender people of all ages for the past eight years. The counselor said many of their clients “wouldn’t be alive today” without hormones.

“Gender dysphoria is such a complex situation, but the treatment for most folks is very simple,” Baxter said, adding that teenagers often struggle to under -

stand that options will be available past the age of 18.

The Trevor Project, a suicide prevention organization for LGBTQ+ youth said in a 2022 report that 55 percent of transgender and nonbinary youth in Georgia seriously considered suicide in the past year and 16 percent attempted suicide.

“It’s really easy for someone struggling with such crippling emotional pain to decide it’s not worth it,” Baxter said.

Beyond worries about mental health, Baxter said the state should not get involved in medical care.

“Parents and doctors need to be the ones in charge of these decisions,” Baxter said.

Senator Beach said he is “all for” parents and doctors having say in medical procedures, “but when you make those dramatic changes at a young age you may end up regretting it.”

An amendment to the law said that doctors who do provide surgeries or hormone replacement therapies will be held “administratively accountable.” Hospitals that break the law could also lose their permits.

Baxter worries the law sets a precedent in deciding who is involved in people’s health decisions.

Other opponents to the law said it

goes against accepted medical standards.

Johns Creek resident Ann Miller is the mother of a transgender man and the regional director for PFLAG, a national organization focused on education and advocacy for the LGBTQ+ community. She said hormone therapy is “standard and accepted care” for transgender teenagers.

Major medical organizations including the American Academy of Pediatrics state their standard of care is to provide “developmentally appropriate” genderaffirming care.

“We need to understand that care is very individualized and it’s not experimental,” Miller said. “We know exactly the best way to help these folks.”

The law allows exceptions for youth with “a medically verifiable disorder of sex development” or medically necessary reason for treatment not related to gender dysphoria.

Miller said the law creates a “collective worry” about how far things could go, and that it feels like the transgender community is being legislated against.

“I am greatly saddened that the general American public doesn’t really understand what these bills are saying and how they will hurt transgender youth and teens,” Miller said.

Have you thought about where you’ll retire?

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If you’re approaching retirement age, it’s important to start planning for where you’d like to live as you get older. Especially if you’ve lived in the same place for many years, you may not want to leave the familiarity of your community. However, you may need to renovate your home to make it safe by adding ramps, a stair lift, or walk in shower. It's also important to think about how you’ll manage home maintenance as you age. Consider whether you’ll be able to access public transport nearby if you’re unable to drive as you get older.

Downsizing can be a great way to cut down on home maintenance costs. Just remember to factor any cost-of-living differences and moving expenses into your decision making.

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Moving into a continuing care retirement community is another option you may be considering. Although these usually have a significant upfront cost, they can give you peace of mind about the future. You don’t have to worry about access to healthcare and amenities because everything is at your doorstep. These communities also offer plenty of opportunities for social connection. Just make sure you’re aware of the ongoing fees and contract terms before you decide.

Choosing where to retire is a big decision that has many implications for your future. That’s why it’s important to take control by beginning to plan for your retirement sooner rather than later.

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7 Timeless kitchen trends that will never look outdated

Brought to you by - Remodeling Expo Center

Between expensive appliances, custom cabinets, and costly countertops, we spend a lot of money on our kitchens. In fact, according to John Hogan, Owner of Remodeling Expo Center in Roswell GA, the median spend on a kitchen remodel was $32,000. To make sure that all of this money isn't creating a kitchen we'll want to update again in five years, the trick is to incorporate timeless design elements that won't soon go out of style. By choosing kitchen features that can stand the test of time, you'll save yourself money (and the work of remodeling) down the line.

So, what are the kitchen trends that won't make you cringe a few years from now? Skip the trendy color of the year and follow these timeless kitchen ideas that have been loved for decades.

Neutral Paint Colors

The classic white kitchen is sometimes critiqued for being a little boring—but there's one solid reason to opt for this color in the kitchen: It will never go out of style. According to Remodeling Expo Center, a whopping 43 percent of renovating homeowners opted for white cabinets. Not sure which shade of white to go for? Don’t worry, soft greys are also just as popular and combining the two work well also.

Shaker-Style Cabinets

Known for their simple design and recessed-panel doors, Shaker cabinets have been in-style for more than 100 years. Shaker cabinets are popular in farmhouse kitchens, transitional kitchens and are the perfect element to update an otherwise traditional house.

Drawer and Cabinet Organizers

I'm calling it: Organization will never go out of style. And while features like built-in baking sheet dividers and pull-out cabinet drawers haven't been around for that long, when hidden behind unfussy, timeless

Sandy Springs #1 Kitchen

cabinet fronts, these functional features will never be outdated.

Built in Appliances

Nothing finishes off the look of a kitchen like the smooth finished look of a built-in appliance. Especially the refrigerator and the microwave. And conversely, nothing looks more outdated than a refrigerator or microwave sticking out or on the countertop. A thoughtful kitchen design should include clever and seamless appliance installation.

Natural Materials

Adding in natural materials like wood and stone will ground the space and keep it classic. If you want a timeless look, resist the urge to create an ultra-modern kitchen full of shiny stainless steel and engineered materials. Resist the feeling that “natural” equals “old”

White Marble “Look” or Butcher Block Countertops

The white marble look will always be an elegant choice for kitchen countertops, but if the maintenance and potential for staining has you worrying about its longevity, consider using quartz. For a more classic look consider butcher block. The go-to choice for farmhouse kitchens, butcher block will wear beautifully over the years and you can prepare food directly on it.

Subway Tile

Subway tile is not only versatile enough to work with many different decor styles, but you probably won't get sick of it in five years (after all, the look's been around for over 100 years). While it may be tempting to go with a trendy backsplash, like metallic tiles, sea glass, or bright geometric tiles, opt for something a little simpler if you want a backsplash with staying power.

To learn more, contact The Remodeling Expo Center at 404 910-3969 or stop in at 48 King Street, Roswell, GA 30075. www. RemodelingExpo.com

Veterans Hospital was on Peachtree Road in Brookhaven

placed in charge of the hospital.

BIGGERSTAFF

Before the current Atlanta Veterans Administration Hospital was built in 1966 on Clairmont Road, Atlanta’s veteran hospital stood at the corner of Peachtree Road and Osborne Road in Brookhaven. This is now the location of DeKalb Services Center and Brookhaven Park.

Known as Veterans Hospital #48, the hospital was established in 1919 to take care of veterans of World War I and the Spanish American War. The buildings of Cheston King Sanitarium were purchased for $90,000. An additional $100,000 was spent to remodel the hospital and increase the bed capacity to 85. Nurses’ quarters were built on hospital property. (Atlanta Constitution, Dec. 24, 1919, “King Sanitarium, beyond Buckhead, purchased by U.S.”)

Charles Lindbergh stopped by on October 11, 1927, “Lindbergh Day” in Atlanta. He was escorted by the American Legion, Legion Auxiliary and commander of the Georgia Department of the Legion, Asa Warren Candler. Lindbergh took a tour and visited patients, along with Candler and Col. George L. Johnson, commander of the hospital. (Atlanta Constitution, Oct. 11, 1927, “Official Lindbergh program for today”)

The hospital closed from July 1929

THE INK PENN

until July 1930 to construct a new facility. A recreation building, nurses’ quarters, officer’s quarters, and administration building were also built. The campus was dedicated as a Veterans Administration Hospital in September of 1930 with John M. Slaton, Jr. as the first manager.

As World War II came to an end, the conditions of the hospital came into question, along with other veterans facilities across the nation. Albert Maisel, investigator and author, received a letter from a patient claiming neglect. The hospital quickly denied the charges. (Atlanta Constitution, April 1, 1945, “What are

PROVIDED

the true conditions of Atlanta’s Veterans Hospital?”)

Maisel pointed out that although the hospital reported an increase of beds from 317 to 415, these were emergency beds added to existing rooms. There was no expansion during this time. The Veterans Hospital had a lengthy waiting list.

He adds that while Grady, St. Josephs and Emory University Hospital had residents and interns, Atlanta’s Veterans Hospital had none. The number of nurses, doctors and ward attendants did not compare with these hospitals when the patient load was considered. Maisel also speculated on why a doctor was not

By 1953, Dr. W.H. Thiele was manager and recognized 200 volunteers with certificates for their service during the previous year. Volunteers were recognized for between 100 and 1,000 hours. Operating at capacity with more patient applications than they could accommodate was still an issue for the hospital. (Atlanta Constitution, April 29, 1953, “Volunteer Workers Receive VA Hospital Service Awards”)

From 1947 until 1951 the hospital changed its purpose two times, once to a tuberculosis hospital and the second time returning to a general medical and surgical hospital. In 1955, the hospital’s history was written by Dr. Thiele to celebrate its 25th anniversary. The Silver anniversary recognized 25 years since the 1930 hospital was built. (DeKalb History Center Archives)

Veteran’s Hospital #48 was demolished in 1969, according to Franklin Garrett’s “Atlanta and Environs Volume II.” Between 1966 and 1969 the hospital sat empty. A Dunwoody Crier reader remembers the building was opened as a haunted house during this time. If you remember this bit of history, please share those memories with me.

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.

Hitting the book jackpot at the local library

Receiving emails that say, “Materials you have on hold are now available at your pick-up library” brings a huge smile to my face. The message informs me I have seven days to pick up my book(s), and if I already have a few on my nightstand, I often delay pick up until the last possible moment.

The other time I delay is when I see the little truck icon on my “Hold” list on the library website. That means my selection is in transit, and I can anticipate it arriving in a few days. It’s a rare occasion when I have plenty of books on my nightstand, several waiting for me at the library, and suddenly, several more in

transit.

Imagine me humming Carly Simon’s “Anticipation” as I finally made my trip to the library to pick up—wait for it—five books! I told the librarian I felt as though I’d hit the jackpot, and she wished me happy reading. I often pick up several at a time, but I think five may be a record.

Three were part of some of the series that I return to time and time again—the latest and, hopefully, not last book in the Clare Ferguson / Russ Van Alstyne series, another from The Chronicles of St. Mary’s, and one Ruth Galloway mystery. I suspect I’ve written about all of these before, but chances are you’ll get an update soon.

Which book did I immediately dive into? It was “Killers of a Certain Age” because it was a two-week checkout. The others were good for a month. Who knows where I read about this book?

Maybe I stumbled across it on Amazon where it’s labeled an Editor’s Pick and one of the Best Books of 2022. Maybe there was a review in the AJC or the WSJ. Buzzfeed’s one-liner says it all: “This Golden Girls meets James Bond thriller is a journey you want to be part of.” As I write this, I’m halfway through after one night and loving it.

The final book in the stack was recommended to me by one of my newsletter subscribers when I asked what everyone’s favorite Christmas read was. She wrote me that she rereads Rosamunde Pilcher’s “A Winter Solstice” every December. That seemed to be quite a testament to the book, so I added it to my library hold list. I read Pilcher’s “The Shell Seekers” years ago and I recall enjoying it, but somehow never picked up any of her other books. The blurb inside the cover has me eagerly anticipating this one. “Once again, Rosa-

mund Pilcher reminds us all that friendship, compassion, loyalty, and love can come together and renew us all—even when the days seem darkest.”

If you’re an avid reader like I am, you won’t have any difficulty with the idea of me finishing five books in a month. If you’re not, you may think I’ve bitten off more than I can chew. Either way, I’ll be smiling as I work my way through the stack night after night. Oh! Did I mention I have many more books on hold at the library? I hope to hit the jackpot again soon!

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

VALERIE

Columnist

A postcard image of U.S. Veteran’s Hospital # 48 at the corner of Peachtree Road and Osborne Road in Brookhaven.

KATHY MANOS PENN

Columnist

H R NG ADVERTISING ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE

Samad:

Continued from Page 1

His wife of 28 years, Lesley Samad, sitting beside him in a small, cozy booth by the door, interjected to say the food is still rather complex and layered.

“I will tell you, I’ve never met a stranger,” Lesley said at one point, laughing. “He’s much more quiet than I am.”

Lesley offered an American perspective on the Lebanon way of Mediterranean cuisine. She said it tends to be more “elevated,” and it has more attitude, anchored in pride. She also said Lebanese food is more herb- and garlic-heavy.

“There's a lot of love in the food,” Jamal added. “Love is an important ingredient.”

The touch

Jamal opened the restaurant in 2012. After receiving his master's degree in France, he came to the states to get his Ph.D. in physics in 1992, but marriage and family happened.

“I use a formula here and there,” he said jokingly.

He spent years working in kitchens before turning to the hard sciences. But he also grew up with his mother’s and grandmother’s cooking in Lebanon. While he has tried to duplicate it, he said it’s not possible.

Lesley said the same goes for Jamal’s cooking.

“I will make things, and it will still taste really, really good — still not his,” she said. “It’s a touch.”

People ask Jamal all the time for his recipes and the ingredients he uses. He freely gives them away, knowing the real secret is balance.

Those queries are partly the reason for the market. In the back corner of the restaurant, Jamal sells items he uses in his own cooking. There’s a couple of aisles stocked with mostly exported goods with labels in other languages — herbs and spices, jams, desserts, coffee, other items.

Many countries are represented in the market, Lesley said. In addition to foods from Lebanon, the shelves boast products from Croatia, Turkey, Greece and Egypt.

“A lot of people comment — they'll say, ‘I haven't seen this since I was a little kid,’” she said.

An ethos

Food is the star of the show at Samad Grill. Jamal once spent thousands on renovations, but the space remains unpretentious like the Styrofoam foodware.

Diner-style tables are spread throughout on unpolished floors, eaten away with time. Ketchup bottles along with salt and pepper shakers are at the ends.

Regular customers have advised Jamal not to change anything, lending to a down-to-earth personality and a certain ambience that restaurant hidden gems

Samad Mediterranean Grill and Market

Address: 8897 Roswell Road, Sandy Springs

Phone: 770-807-3700

Website: samadgrill.com/ Hours: Monday-Saturday, from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.

tend to have.

“When it’s busy, it has a life of its own,” Lesley said. “The energy is great in here. Some of our customers have become friends with each other.”

Underneath chalk board menus, several potted pothos plants sit on the ordering counter, their tendrils hanging off the side. Lesley said Lebanon is rich with gorgeous fruit trees, making the greenery an appropriate touch.

Other decorations are minimal, save around 10 quirky clocks on the back wall with the customer-created chalk designs on the bottom half. The black paint was a contentious design element, Lesley said, but it grew on her husband.

“It’s the small victories in marriage,” she said, on her way to wipe down tables.

Lesley handles the front of the house, and Jamal stays in the kitchen with other staff. Their daughters help at the business, too. Once the doors opened and customers began trickling in March 29, their daughter Maya arrived.

Community-based eats

Spread out on several Styrofoam plates, Lesley provided a bit of everything. On one, there was an array of salads — chickpea, spinach, cabbage, beet and pasta salads with various bas-

es seasoned with fresh herbs and garlic. There was also a thick lentil soup. The falafel, each ball with a crisp coating and soft center, came with pita bread and an assortment of dips, including tahini and garlic sauce. While Jamal said the whole menu is his favorite, he highlighted the falafel as a top tier pick along with the kafta kabob.

Lesley brought over one of her favorites, too — the flash-fried cauliflower, seasoned with salt and coated in tahini dressing.

“People will say, ‘We got off the plane and came straight here,’” Lesley said. “And that is a huge compliment because there are only two places in the world I do that to.”

The Samads know most customers by name and still see some that have been coming since day 1. While the customer base in the first few years was primarily repeat patrons, the dynamic shifted with strong community support and word of mouth.

The restaurant also saw more light during the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. Like many restaurants, the pandemic impacted Samad Grill. Most of the money rolling in came in the form of take-out orders. But the space changed in a more exceptional way — it became a pop-up food pantry for Sandy Springs schools.

In March 2020, Lesley received a message from a PTO president who said all the subsidized school breakfasts and lunches would be closed, even for those facing food insecurity. Samad Grill saw up to 400 families a day over the course of 18 months, a line wrapping around the corner of the building.

“This area is the haves and the have-nots,” Lesley said.

AMBER PERRY/APPEN MEDIA

Samad Grill employee prepares shawarma by cutting meat on a vertical rotisserie.

Continued from Page 3

other in socioeconomic status, diversity and background, so it makes it an easy sell for us to mesh and work together,” Jewell said. “At the end of the day, we just want to be the best athletic directors we can for our student athletes.”

While they’ve known each other for a decade, their relationship — personally and professionally — got a boost in March 2019.

The two were at the annual Georgia Athletic Directors Association conference, sitting in seminars and going through training sessions to improve as athletic directors. One night, Jewell, Craft and several other ADs from around Metro Atlanta got together and formed the “Metro Mafia.” The group included ADs from Fulton County, City of Atlanta, Clayton County, Forsyth County, Paulding County and Gwinnett County.

“We all just formalized this group because we bounce so many ideas off of

Craft: AAPPEN PRESSCLU B

one another, whether it’s school closings, weather, issues, how we handle different issues in our district to see if it can be implemented in a neighboring district,” Jewell said. “We’re all so close to one another so we tend to lean on one another a lot. We talk a lot and develop things that we can take back to our superintendents that can make our districts better for the betterment of our kids and the betterment of teachers and coaches.”

One of the other group developments Craft was crucial in founding was the Aspiring AD Cohort in Fulton County.

With open athletic director positions at several high schools, Craft sifted through resumes and realized how many qualified candidates came from within the district. So, Craft and other ADs and administrators founded the cohort to help train coaches, teachers and prospective athletic directors in Fulton County.

“It used to be: sit behind a desk and figure it out,” he said. “Now we have a training program that can be replicated and shared with other districts,” Craft said.

The initiative has essentially created a labor pool to fill positions with a sense of continuity and consistency, he said.

Today, six of the 16 ADs have come from the cohort.

“I think Fulton County has become a state perennial power when you look at school systems in athletics,” said former Johns Creek AD Jason Holcombe, who is set to become the Gwinnett County Public Schools Athletic Director in April. “That all starts with what Steven started 11 years ago. He made me a better athletic director, a better coach and a better mentor.”

It was late on a Wednesday night, maybe early Thursday morning, in late May 2017, but Craft picked up the phone.

Holcombe was down in Lee County where his Johns Creek baseball team had just suffered a heartbreaking 5-3 loss in Game 2 of the GHSA state semifinal series, ending their season. The loss was extra painful because they thought they had won the game. The Gladiators won on a walk-off run, but after further review the umpire reversed the call, the game went to extra innings, and the Trojans won.

“(I) called Dr. Craft and told him that it wasn’t right, and we needed to do something,” Holcombe said. “We explained everything, he saw everything, and he was right there. We took it to GHSA, they agreed with us and the original decision was upheld so we got the opportunity to play a Game 3.”

The Game 3 was played the following week, and Johns Creek lost, but Holcombe said that the players were grateful for Craft’s involvement, allowing them a fair opportunity to extend their season.

Doing what’s right for students has always been at the center of Craft’s mission and his work. No one expects that to change.

“To say that Fulton County is losing a giant is an understatement,” Jewell said. “He’s a man of high character, a great leader and I can’t say enough about him.”

Workforce Development Coordinator

Develop programs and services for clients and students who are seeking employment, post-secondary education, or other career options. The coordinator collaborates with employers in the community who are hiring. The role also includes working one-on-one on job applications, resumes, interview preparations and offers tips for successfully securing and improving employment. Bachelor’s Degree in Human Services or related field required.

For full job description see: https://nfcchelp.org/wpcontent/uploads/2023/02/Workforce-DevelopmentCoordinator-2023.pdf. To apply, send resume to cswan@nfcchelp.org.

Accounting Specialist – PART TIME

Responsible for the day-to-day transactions within the accounting department. The specialist is accountable for preparing financial transactions, processing invoices, and entering general ledger data which will assist in balancing the income statement, managing budgets, and preparing financial reports. Role works closely with the Finance Manager and Director of Finance and Administration. Bachelor’s Degree in Finance or related field required.

Part-time

Administrative Assistant for Youth and Children

Protestant church in downtown Alpharetta seeks a parttime (15-18 hours per week) Administrative Assistant for Youth & Children’s Ministries. In addition to normal administrative duties the candidate will assist with scheduling, social media, securing supplies, maintaining attendance records, planning events and mission trips. Qualified candidates are a person of outstanding character who is friendly, organized, able to prioritize, exhibits an understanding of the importance of confidentiality, and is willing and able to work in an environment that is welcoming and inclusive of all people.

Home Improvement

A degree from an accredited college or university is preferred. Computer competence within Office 365, editing, and writing skills are required. Experience with REALM is a plus.

Successful completion of a criminal records and child abuse background check is required. Send resumes to alpharettajobopening@gmail.com.

For full job description see: https://nfcchelp. org/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/AccountingSpecialist-02.21.23-1.pdf. To apply, send resume to jrice@nfcchelp.org.

Now Hiring: Office Coordinator

Local commercial real estate company is hiring an Office Coordinator. The role includes coordinating administrative tasks between our property management, leasing and accounting departments. The position requires exceptional communication and organizational skills, knowledge of MS Office, a strong work ethic, internal drive, and a positive attitude. This is an office only (not remote work) position. Please contact us Employment@ mpshoppingcenters.com for more information.

Electricians

Belco Electric

“Family

Office Space

Wonderful Office Suite Available

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• Utilities included

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• Conference Room

Neumann’s

Miscellaneous

Budget Fabrics

Used Cars

JAGUAR XK-8 CONVERTIBLE 2002, triple black, with superb lines, garners attention wherever you go! Wife’s garaged beauty, excellent condition! 103,000 miles. Second owner. Clean title. $6250. iaofga@gmail.com, 678-667-0391

Garage Sales

SCAVENGER HUNT still lives! We’re now in Chamblee; 5352 Peachtree Rd 30341. 404-634-4948

Handyman

MATTHEW THE HANDYMAN

Carpentry, Painting, Drywall, Plumbing, Electrical and Small Jobs.

404-547-2079

HANDYMAN: LET ME FIX what your contractor didn’t! Or add a new kitchen or bathroom. Insured. 20 years experience. 770-292-0576

Haulers

Bush Hogging, Clearing, Grading, Hauling, Etc.

Many local referencesCall Ralph Rucker 678-898-7237