Sandy Springs Crier - April 18, 2024

Area civic association inspires engagement

square-mile neighborhood also stretches west from the border with DeKalb County to Roswell Road.

SANDY SPRINGS, Ga. — Good schools, informed citizens and civic pride can trace their origins to community gatherings like the April 10 High Point Civic Association Annual Meeting.

Held in the cafeteria of High Point Elementary School on Greenland Road, state legislators, city officials, school principals and around 70 members of the High Point Civic Association met to hear about local developments affecting their day-to-day lives.

The footprint of the High Point neighborhood extends north from the city limits with Atlanta to I-285. The roughly four-

Mary Ford, the president of the High Point Civic Association, said the 4,000home organization supports its residents by advocating to city officials, protecting home values and creating community.

The nonprofit association engages with other organizations,

The Daffodil Project and Fulton County Schools.

Andrea Videlefsky, founder of The Daffodil Project, attended the meeting and received an award from the civic association, commemorating her nonprofit’s plantings around the neighborhood.

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PHOTOS BY HAYDEN SUMLIN/APPEN MEDIA

From left, City Manager Eden Freeman; Communications Director Dan Coffer; Mayor Rusty Paul; Sallie Duncan, neighborhood liaison for the High Point Civic Association; Councilman Tibby DeJulio, representing District 5 and the High Point neighborhood; and Mary Ford, president of the High Point Civic Association, present a map of The Daffodil Project’s work in the community.

Mary Ford, president of the High Point Civic Association, talks about the organization’s scholarships for local Fulton County Schools students and its fall social. Ford said she hopes High Point residents learned more about their city and received inspiration for community engagement during the annual meeting.

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JAMESTOWN/PROVIDED

Kroger sits in the Fountain Oaks shopping center at 4920 Roswell Road in Sandy Springs. Jamestown, a global real estate investment and management firm, announced the acquisition of the shopping center April 9.

Global firm acquires shopping center off Roswell Road in Sandy Springs

SANDY SPRINGS, Ga. — Jamestown, a global and design-focused real estate firm, announced the addition of Fountain Oaks on Roswell Road to its portfolio April 9.

Located in Sandy Springs, Fountain Oaks is a roughly 160,000-square-foot center anchored by Kroger. Originally built in 1988 and renovated in 2003, Fountain Oaks is 92 percent leased to 38 tenants, according to Jamestown representatives.

Since 1990, the firm has owned and operated more than 4.6 million square feet of grocery-anchored shopping centers in more than 15 markets.

The new acquisitions, including Tamarac Town Square in Florida, expand the firm’s portfolio to nine shopping centers across Georgia and Florida totaling some 1.4 million square feet.

Jamestown President Michael Phillips said the company has focused on grocery-anchored shopping centers for decades.

“Our vertically integrated capabilities and consumer-centric approach to real estate are differentiators within the space,” Phillips said. “Our aim is to create third places where people come together and feel connected, and grocery-anchored shopping centers

hold the potential to be fixtures of the communities they serve.”

While known for its large, mixeduse developments and adaptive reuse projects, Jamestown has invested in community-focused, grocery-anchored shopping centers for more than 30 years. The firm has owned and operated more than 20 in its history, and the sector continues to be a focus area.

Jamestown’s in-house leasing team works with local retailers to curate a community-focused tenant mix that caters to daily needs and an increasing suburban daytime population.

The firm also implements placemaking initiatives focused on improving the customer experience, tenant performance, sustainability and revenue generation. Current initiatives include the introduction of propertywide Wi-Fi, electric vehicle charging stations, murals and outdoor open space.

Other nearby centers in Jamestown’s portfolio include the Whole Foods-anchored Hammond Exchange and Parkside Shops at 5930-5992 Roswell Road and Kroger-anchored Parkaire Landing in Marietta.

Chicago-based Jones Lang LaSalle Incorporated represented EDENS in the sale of Fountain Oaks.

County tracks drop in homeless count

By SHELBY ISRAEL shelby@appenmedia.com

METRO ATLANTA — Fulton County’s annual survey of homelessness counted 312 people this January, a 7 percent decrease from its 2023 total.

Each year, the county solicits volunteers to survey its unsheltered population for the Fulton County Continuum of Care Point in Time Count. The canvassing does not include sites within the city limits of Atlanta.

Point in Time counts provide lawmakers and funding organizations with information on the number, demographics and characteristics of people experiencing homelessness.

In Fulton County, the Continuum of Care promotes funding and programs to combat homelessness in Fulton cities. Atlanta has its own Continuum of Care.

Data is then sent to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, which uses the results to determine federal funding to address homelessness.

But, the Point in Time Count is not comprehensive. It is meant to provide a “snapshot” of homelessness in the county on two nights of the year. The weather is often cold during the canvassing, and those living in hotels or motels, transitional housing, emergency shelters, hospitals and jails are not tallied in the street count.

The organized count covered the cities of Johns Creek, Sandy Springs, Milton, Alpharetta and Roswell Jan. 23. South Fulton County was canvassed Jan. 24, and Mountain Park was surveyed through Jan. 30.

In North Fulton, the first shift of volunteers ran from 8 to 11 p.m., followed by a second, smaller shift from 11 p.m. to 2 a.m.

Fulton County Department of Community Development Health and Human Services Division Manager

Dawn Butler said 16 volunteers performed the South Fulton count, and 63 volunteers set out in North Fulton.

Butler said the 2024 canvassing found 154 unsheltered individuals experiencing homelessness, as well as 158 who were sheltered.

In the 2023 count, the Continuum of Care recorded 337 homeless individuals. Of that total, 209 were sheltered and 128 unsheltered. In 2022, 273 people were tallied in the homeless count, with 172 sheltered and 101 unsheltered.

Accessibility to affordable housing in Fulton County continues to be a strain. The average cost of a home in

the county in 2023 was $508,384, while the median household income was a little more than $87,000.

North Fulton cities like Alpharetta and Roswell have restrictions on the amount of apartments they allow as a percentage of overall housing.

In 2022, the Roswell City Council passed a Unified Development Code amendment that banned the construction of new standalone apartments, and in its 2040 comprehensive plan, Alpharetta aims

for apartments to make up 35 percent of its housing stock, though that is not a rigid number.

Founded in 2014, the North Fulton Improvement Network is a community think tank that seeks public and private solutions to address issues such as workforce housing, transportation, employment and food insecurity.

Its chairman, Jack Murphy, said rising costs and a lack of supply have contributed to a housing shortage in North Fulton. Over the past five to

seven years, he said the network has seen a migration of people in starter salary jobs.

In Fulton County Schools, the homeless population has remained constant, and he said students transferring out of the school system and into different counties could reflect housing costs.

If essential workers move to counties that offer more affordable housing, Murphy said they may choose to work in those counties, leaving the original county with a workforce shortage.

“If the workforce, the essential workforce, can’t afford to live in the communities you’re commuting from, then the reason that you bought the house there, the schools or the other amenities, start to diminish because all of a sudden, they can’t find workers,” Murphy said.

Murphy said possible solutions for more workforce housing are employerbuilt housing, land trusts and less restrictive zoning.

“Let’s be intentional about making places for early career workforce people — teachers, public safety, nurses — for them to have a place to establish roots in North Fulton,” Murphy said.

VISUALIZATIONS BY DIONNA WILLIAMS/APPEN MEDIA

This chart shows the totals from the Fulton County Point in Time Count between 2022 and 2024. The annual survey is meant to provide a snapshot of homelessness in the area, but it is not comprehensive.

The results from the 2024 Fulton County Point in Time Count are out, and numbers show a 7 percent decrease in the county’s homeless population since last year.

KATE LUEVANO/PROVIDED

Pictured center, Kate and Dewayne Luevano hold up a picture of their daughter, Josephine Anne , alongside friends and family November 19 at their first blood drive. Last June, the Luevanos’ daughter was stillborn after a missed diagnosis of a rare pregnancy condition.

Mother transforms loss into beneficial mission

By HAYDEN SUMLIN hayden@appenmedia.com

MILTON, Ga. — When a tragedy befalls you, hope that your response is as life-affirming as Kate Luevano’s effort to spread awareness about a rare, yet preventable, disease.

A couple weeks after World Alloimmunization and Hemolytic Disease of the Fetus and Newborn Day March 12, Luevano held her second blood drive with LifeSouth.

Last summer, Luevano gave birth to her daughter, Josephine Anne. Because of an undiagnosed case of alloimmunization and HDFN, Luevano’s pregnancy resulted in a stillbirth and the loss of her daughter.

In rare cases, a woman will develop maternal alloimmunization or a red cell antibody when exposed to a different blood type. The exposure to an unknown blood type, during pregnancy, childbirth or a blood transfusion, can cause a mother’s antibodies to attack the unborn child’s red blood cells. If left untreated, hemolytic disease of the fetus and newborn — the baby’s condition — can have devastating consequences ranging from anemia to death.

“Just in my own research trying to figure out what happened, I stumbled across the Allo Hope Foundation,” Luevano said. “They’re an amazing foundation.”

The Allo Hope Foundation, with its mission to prevent harm, stillbirth and infant death caused by alloimmunization and HDFN, helped Luevano with individual support, connection to a community, life-saving education, up-to-date research and expert medical professionals.

“That became my connection to wanting to do a blood drive in the first place,” Luevano said. “I needed something to do at a time when I felt so powerless.”

She said she formed a special connection with the founder of the nonprofit, who also lost a daughter to the disease.

The first drive Nov. 19 saw dozens of people turn out and donate 60 pints of blood.

City of Milton Communications Director Greg Botelho helped Luevano spread the word and generate some awareness in the community.

The March 30 blood drive over Easter weekend drew a smaller crowd, which donated 29 pints.

At the second drive, the Luevanos also collected a few hundred dollars in donations for the Allo Hope Foundation.

Luevano said the Allo Hope Foundation was a stepping stone to a connection at Northside Hospital.

See LUEVANO, Page 8

Sally White

Throughout her time at Milton High School, Sally has been an active member of various clubs and sports teams, including the Debate Club, Science Olympiad, and Drama Society. Her leadership skills shone brightly as the captain of the soccer team, leading them to victory on numerous occasions. Sally’s commitment to excellence extended beyond athletics; she also excelled academically, earning recognition for her outstanding achievements in advanced mathematics and literature.

As she prepares to embark on the next chapter of her life, we are filled with pride and excitement for Sally’s future endeavors. Congratulations, Sally, on this remarkable achievement! We can’t wait to see the incredible things you’ll accomplish next.

Class of 2024

Interior designer spreads wellness throughout Metro Atlanta homes

By AMBER PERRY amber@appenmedia.com

ROSWELL, Ga. — Lanada Duncan had come to know the importance of creating a personal sanctuary, feeling the burnout of a 20-year career in healthcare management.

The work took a toll, both mentally and physically. So, the Roswell resident began changing her home to create a more holistic environment.

“I feel your living space does have a lot to do with how you feel, emotionally, physically, how healthy you really are, how well you really are,” she said.

But, Duncan realized that she wasn’t fully in the space she wanted to be, which was to help others do the same, and founded her business b.e. decors Interiors in 2015.

She got her feet wet by hunting for unique pieces that she would refurbish and sell at street markets, also picking up small jobs from her friends, and when her son went to college, Duncan transformed his bedroom into her “she-cave,” which has since become one of her specialties.

“That’s a good way of making sure they

Saturday, April 20 • 9am–3pm The Grove @ Wills Park • 175 Roswell Street Free parking and shuttle from the Amana Academy parking lot

The popular North Fulton Master Gardeners Pass-along Plant Sale will feature more than 2000 beautiful plantings suitable for sun and shade.

The Alpharetta Community Agriculture Program will have around 5000 unique varieties of organic, heirloom, and non-GMO plants, grown from seed at Old Rucker Farm. Educational speakers, Fleatique, Children’s activities, Plant Vendors, Food Vendors, and Master Gardeners to answer your gardening questions. For more information: www.nfmg.net/garden-faire

The North Metro Atlanta Chapter of the Georgia Native Plant Society will have a selection of around 2000 native perennials, shrubs, vines, and trees.

For more information about b.e. decors Interiors or to schedule a consultation, visit www.bedecors.com.

don’t come back,” Duncan said, laughing.

The she-cave is the oft-overlooked space for women and for mothers that allows them to relieve stress amid a packed schedule, to let their hair down, to make themselves a priority.

Meanwhile, “man caves” are a longstanding concept, widely cited and portrayed in the media. Duncan said her husband’s is the garage in her Roswell home, where all his childhood toys are stored.

“I thought, well, you know, I need a space like that,” Duncan said.

Duncan said her she-cave, denoted with a sign on the door, features a big, comfy cream-colored chair and ottoman, an electric fireplace with an assortment of teas, honeys and mugs on its mantle, a drink cart holding a refrigerator, wines, glasses and a teapot, and a Bose speaker she uses to sound off her favorite artists like

See DUNCAN, Page 7

LANADA DUNCAN/PROVIDED

Lanada Duncan, a Roswell-based interior designer, sits in her original “she-cave” at her home. The concept, a relaxing space for women, has become her specialty since she founded b.e. decors Interiors in 2015.

LANADA DUNCAN/PROVIDED

Designed by b.e. decors Interiors, this terrace porch space was featured in the 10th Annual Serenbe Designer Showhouse last year at House No. 1.

Duncan:

Continued from Page 6

Márcio Faraco or a playlist of Zen music.

The sanctum has plenty of candles, Duncan said, made by her sister which she sells through b.e. decors Interiors. Duncan’s website also features handcrafted body butter and decorative pillows, marked with phrases like “She-Cave” and “Girl Boss.”

The room has evolved over time, and soon, she said it will get a redesign to incorporate fresh color and her love of birds.

“I tell people that you have to invest in yourself first, so that you can be there for your children, so that you can be there for your employer,” Duncan said. “This is just one of the important ways to do it.”

Duncan devoted herself full-time to interior design around three years ago after being laid off from her role in patient relations, driven by the need to understand what makes for a peaceful living space.

“It’s great to make a space look beautiful, and that’s good,” Duncan said. “But, it’s really, to me, more important to make it feel like home for you … There are so many things in the world that can affect us in the day-to-day, but when you come home, that should be your safe space.”

Regardless of scope, Duncan said each consultation is individualized and involves asking clients what constitutes “home” — she said maybe it’s the color yellow that reminds a client of a favorite house they lived in, splashed over the kitchen, a reminder of the smell of cookies.

While other interior designers might look in client’s closet to get an understanding of their style, Duncan said it’s important to really get to know the subject first.

But, she noted a few guidelines she likes to talk through, which may not be at the forefront of a client’s mind, like light sources, pops of color and biophilic features — plants, natural stones, photographs of landscapes. Some of the work for Duncan is education.

“While they may not be thinking of this particular item, we need to talk about it because I want to blow your mind by not just meeting your expectations but exceeding them,” she said.

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North Fulton area charity plans pickleball tourney

ALPHARETTA, Ga. — North Fulton Community Charities is hosting its first pickleball tournament at the North Park Tennis and Pickleball Center at 9 a.m. April 27-28.

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The tournament is a partnership between the Roswell-based nonprofit and the City of Alpharetta. Proceeds will support financial stability and easing hardship for North Fulton families in need.

The first day of the tournament will feature mens and womens doubles, and April 28 will be reserved for mixed doubles.

Entry is priced at $45, and participants can pay an additional $15 for the second day. Registration is available at nfcchelp.org/pickleball.

“Pickleball is a rapidly growing sport, and we are excited to offer our

Luevono:

Continued from Page 5

“The foundation has a handful of specialists that provide excellent care and the latest evidence-based treatments,” Luevano said. “One of the best people in the whole country that they recommended is in Atlanta.”

Dr. Thomas Trevett, a maternalfetal medicine specialist and a managing partner at Georgia Perinatal Consultants, manages high-risk pregnancies at hospitals around Metro Atlanta.

“I met with the doctor, and he helped walk us through everything that happened with Josie and moving forward for us,” Luevano said. “Fast forward and I am pregnant again, it’s an extremely high-risk pregnancy and there’s a lot going on in the hospital… minimum 20 hours a week.”

At the Luevanos blood drive over Easter weekend, Trevett showed up for his patient’s event to chip in some blood.

“He’s really great,” Luevano said. “Dr. Trevett is on the medical advisory board of the foundation.”

Because blood incompatibility is so rare, specialists like Trevett are an invaluable resource for pregnant women with maternal alloimmunization.

state-of-the-art pickleball courts at North Park for this tournament,” Alpharetta Parks and Recreation Director Morgan Rodgers said. “We hope this event not only promotes healthy and active lifestyles but also raises funds for local families in need.”

NFCC Community Events Manager Janet Dahlstrom said the group is excited to partner with Alpharetta for the tournament, which will support vulnerable families with education, clothing, food, emergency financial aid and seasonal assistance.

Sponsorship opportunities between $1,000 and $5,000 are also available. Those interested can email Dahlstrom at jdahlstrom@nfcchelp.org.

— Shelby Israel

used to delay the onset of fetal anemia.

After becoming pregnant in December, Luevano has had 54 appointments with doctors and more than 25 procedures involving plasma.

“All of these thousands of donors are contributing to keeping one baby alive right now,” Luevano said.

In January, the American Red Cross announced a nationwide blood shortage with the number of donors at a 20-year low.

Through the partnership with LifeSouth, all donated blood goes to local Metro Atlanta hospitals.

Luevano encouraged all first-time mothers to get their first trimester blood work done, so doctors can implement life-saving treatments before and after pregnancy in the rare case of maternal alloimmunization.

With close monitoring and timely treatment, babies with HDFN have a very high survival rate, according to the Allo Hope Foundation.

For her third blood drive in June, Luevano said she has about 90 percent of the details worked out. She said the plan is to host the event at the Cumming City Center off Ga. 20 with a tentative date of June 21.

Collaboration with the Allo Hope Foundation and Northside Hospital is still in the works, Luevano said.

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Luevano gave a shoutout to plasma donors, whose contribution enabled her to replace harmful antibodies and lessen her body’s antibody response during her current pregnancy.

Plasma from over 1,000 donors, called intravenous immunoglobulin, is

“For our upcoming drive, we have Josie’s Pledge-Per-Pint,” Luevano said. “People or business can donate a certain amount of money for every pint given.”

For more information about her next blood drive, contact kateluevano21@gmail.com.

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Protect your assets

Brought to you by – Geerdes & Associates

It’s a tale as old as time. A widow remarries and her new husband and stepchildren steal her house and money away from her children. While it’s our hope that these tales are fantasy, such was reality for Mr. Q. After his mother remarried, Mr. Q, his brothers, and their stepsiblings lived together in his mother’s house. Mr. Q’s mother and his stepfather signed a prenup and the mother also assigned the stepfather as power of attorney and healthcare proxy. Unfortunately, the stepfather used these powers to place her in a dementia-care facility –despite her still being competent. As she had given the stepfather the power to make choices for her, Mr. Q and his brothers could do nothing.

When the stepfather passed, Mr. Q made a horrifying discovery. Prior to his death, the stepfather had used

his position as the mother’s power of attorney to sign her house to himself and pass it to his children. Even worse, although the prenup stated that his estate worth over 10 million would be split among the children and the mother - the stepsiblings refused to honor the agreement.

While it’s common for spouses to give each other power over each other’s financial and medical decisions, the documents could have been written so that Mr. Q and his brother shared the power of attorney with their stepfather, giving them some way to stop him. In addition, Mr. Q’s mother should have been more careful about the documents she signed - many power of attorney documents can be written so they only take effect after incapacitation.

Finally, while the prenup is valid, the uncertainty of whether the stepfather had a will puts things in jeopardy. The prenup and the will’s ability to

supersede each other is dependent on how each document is written and the state it is executed in, and whether the will and prenup contradict each other. Improper estate planning opened a way for the stepfather to make his move. You always want to fully understand the implications of the documents

you sign and cover for many probable scenarios. To make sure you don’t let predatory spouses, heirs, or children take your assets from those you love, consult an estate planning attorney in your local area – and always be informed on the consequences of the decisions you make.

Lemonade Days 2023 drew thousands to Brook Run Park to celebrate Dunwoody’s continued effort to preserve its history and natural beauty.

Lemonade Days celebrates 25 years of revitalization

Lemonade Days has been a Dunwoody tradition since 1999. The first event was held as a fundraiser for a campaign to replant trees following the devastating tornado that cut through Dunwoody on April 9, 1998. The Dunwoody Homeowner’s Association, Dunwoody Preservation Trust and Dunwoody Nature Center joined forces to replace trees with the “Replant the Dunwoody Forest” effort.

The 1999 event included a children’s carnival and tours of rebuilt and rehabilitated homes. DPT chose to name the festival Lemonade Days in 2000, evolving from the phrase “when life gives you lemons, make lemonade.” The 2000 event included a petting zoo, pony rides, face painting, and games on the lawn of the Cheek-Spruill House.

During the years 2001 through 2003, Lemonade included arts and crafts at the Shops of Dunwoody in addition to home tours and carnival games at the CheekSpruill House. In 2004, Lemonade Days moved to Brook Run Park.

Tornados touched down from Alabama to Cobb County, Georgia over three days in April 1998. In Dunwoody, the tornado came across Chamblee Dunwoody Road, moved east along Peeler Road, down Tilly Mill Road, through parts of Kingsley, across Happy Hollow Road and through Fontainebleau Forest, then across Winters Chapel Road into Lockridge Forest. The tornado then struck Peachtree Corners and northern Gwinnett County. (Dunwoody Crier, June 1998, “April 9, 1998: The Storm”)

At DeKalb College, today’s Georgia State University, Dunwoody campus, 80 percent

of the trees snapped or were uprooted. The “Replant the Dunwoody Forest” program replaced more than 25,000 trees.

This year’s Lemonade Days Festival will be held April 17-21. What began as a one-day small event has grown into a 5-day festival and Dunwoody signature event, with approximately 20,000 attendees.

The festival includes carnival rides and a variety of food and beverage every day. The tradition of pony rides and a petting zoo continues Saturday, April 20 from 10 a.m. until 6 p.m., and Sunday April 21 from noon until 6 p.m.

The Dunwoody Idol competition is at 6 p.m. on Saturday night. The first annual High School Battles of the Bands will take place at 7 p.m. Saturday. Participants include bands from Mount Vernon Presbyterian School, Peachtree Charter Middle School, Dunwoody High School and Atlanta Academy.

Dunwoody Authors & Friends Booth, 20 plus authors with their books available for purchase will be at the festival on Saturday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. and on Sunday from noon to 5 p.m.

The Lemonade Days Festival is the only fundraiser of the Dunwoody Preservation Trust, with the profits going to the continued rehabilitation and maintenance of the historic 1870 Donaldson-Bannister Farm (a partnership of the DPT and city of Dunwoody) as well as numerous community events, educational programs for children and adults and Camp Flashback.

Visit dunwoodylemonadedays.org for daily schedules and details.

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

VALERIE BIGGERSTAFF

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RAY APPEN Publisher Emeritus ray@appenmedia.com

I attended a recent Appen Press Club community meeting, March 21, at a local Italian restaurant SUGO (highly recommend) on Medlock Bridge in Johns Creek. The Appen Press Club is something that Publisher Hans Appen and Director of Content and Development Carl Appen started about a year ago. Ideally, once a month, Carl, Hans and the newsroom staff hold a Press Club meeting - free and open to anyone and everyone - at a local venue - usually local restaurant - and talk about the news stories they are working on and field questions from the audience about anything and everything the audience wants to bring up. The events usually include food and beverages – free to members. People seem to enjoy them.

Attendance at these get-togethers typically ranges from 20 to 40 folks and lasts about an hour. I have found them to be fun, engaging, and entertaining enough to want to keep attending.

THE INK PENN

The next Appen Press Club event is April 18 at 4 PM at Cherry Street Brewing in Cumming. RSVP for free at appenmedia.com/join.

The purpose of the Appen Press Club is two-fold: The first is to try to stay as connected as possible with our customers - you - and to have the best idea possible about what we are doing right and what we can do better. The second purpose is to raise money to help keep our community news business going. That is, to help keep your local newspaper covering your events, your government, your law enforcement, your city council, and how your taxes are being spent. In general, and this is something that most people know intuitively, but do not necessarily lose sleep over, if we - your local press - don’t do those things, no one else will. Period. It is a very real thing. That is not just hyperbole; it is cold fact.

This does not mean that your elected or appointed city officers are not trustworthy. By and large, they all are. However, as anyone one who has ever managed a group of people knows, without oversight, without someone there actually hands-on

enforcing the rules or seeing that they are being enforced, people can be tempted to cut corners - bend the rules - tell white lies - and sometimes break the rules. It’s like having traffic laws with no law traffic cops enforcing them. That dog, as we say in the south, just don’t hunt.

Another very relevant fact that we are dealing with here is that the more money that is involved in the process, the greater the temptation for rules and laws to be bent, broken, or manipulated. It’s only human nature. The collective annual budget of the 7 cities and 3 counties we serve is in the hundreds of millions of dollars. We watch that money, as best our resources allow us to watch it.

For example, right now the Alpharetta City Council, in conjunction with the Alpharetta City Manager and the City Parks & Recreation Director have more than $22,000,000 to spend from the bond that you taxpayers approved in 2021 for parks and recreation funding - your tax dollars. And you taxpayers were told how the money would be spent if you approved it. Among the things you were told was that improvements ($5,000,000) to the Will Park Equestrian Center were contingent upon a private foun -

dation putting up matching funding. How many of you - dear readers - are keeping track of that fine print in the bond - the amount of money the foundation has put up? Well, we are. For you. In a sense we are your active institutional memory.

In 2021 Appen news staff initiated an ongoing story about road construction in Roswell. At the end of the day, Appen discovered that the roads that were supposed to cost $7 million had ballooned to over $18,000,000 and one of the property purchases that the City had made had to be purchased a second time because the city had failed to fulfill some of the contract commitments from the original land purchase. Maleficence? Probably not. Incompetence? Probably, but who would have known? It’s your tax dollars we guard.

In 2021 Appen sued the city of Roswell for failing to comply with the Georgia Open Records Act - information you have a right to access. We won, but it cost us $15,000 until we were partially reimbursed in settlement. In 2023, Appen sued the city of Sandy Springs - specifically their law enforcement - for the same thing - but

See APPEN, Page 15

Spotlight on Local Authors at Lemonade Days

Once again, the Dunwoody Authors and Friends Bookstore will feature local authors during the 2024 Lemonade Days weekend at Brook Run, April 20-21. The booth is open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday and 12 noon to 6 p.m. on Sunday.

New for 2024 is an extended range of children’s titles, as well as a wide range of other fiction and non-fiction works: Music, YA, romance, parenting, WWII and global history, personal memoirs, cozy mysteries, crime & thrillers, humor, baseball, science fiction, and fantasy novels. Many of the featured authors are awardwinning, and all will be available in-person for book signing sessions.

Festival goers will be able to chat with and purchase signed books from all authors showcasing their books. All books are available both days, but if you’re hoping to see particular neighborhood authors, be sure to check the schedule so you don’t miss them. Don’t miss this opportunity to find books by local authors and stock up on books for your summer reading pleasure. With the variety of books available, this is also the perfect opportunity to find books to give as gifts for Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, and graduation.

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

Authors’ Appearance Schedule

Saturday April 20

• 11 a.m. Kay Paschal “Insert Giggle, Giggle”

• 11 a.m. Kathy Manos Penn The Dickens & Christie Mystery Series

• 11 a.m. Desiree Robinson “The Ice Cream Gang”

• Noon Susan N. Swann “Walls of Silence”

• Noon Bryan Archer “Eighth Note!”

• Noon Barbara Gomes Serafino “The Book I Always Promised”

• 1 p.m. Bradsher Hayes “150 Years of the Braves”

• 1 p.m. Donald Reichardt “The Corporate Lies”

• 1 p.m. Jenifer Goldin “Anonymous Mom Posts”

• 2 p.m. Chris Riker “Goody Celeste”

• 2 p.m. Fatima R. Henson “Love in the Age of Dragons”

• 2 p.m. Andrea Lane “Abby the Crabby Tabby Discovers Gratitude”

• 3 p.m. Anita Foster Lovely “Deceptions”

• 3 p.m. Alice Takawira “Turning Tables”

• 3 p.m. Don Pattillo “A Romance of Flight”

• 4 p.m. Jan Slimming “Codebreaker Girls: A Secret Life at Bletchley Park”

• 4 p.m. Yasemin Eginlioglu “Grandma Squirrel in the Land of Squirrels”

• 4 p.m. Daniel Burke “Red Screen”

• 5 p.m. Steven Andrews “That’s Me in the Closet”

Sunday April 21

• Noon Jon Costales “Visions of Redemption”

• Noon Parul Kapur “Inside the Mirror”

• Noon Sunsheray T. Carter “Oops, Where is my Teddy Bear?”

• 1 p.m. Beverly Armento “Seeing Eye Girl”

• 1 p.m. Julane Fisher “Sour Lemon and Sweet Tea”

• 1 p.m. G. A. Anderson “South of Happily”

• 2 p.m. Katherine Nichols “False Claims”

• 2 p.m. Sherry Ellis “Bubba and Squirt’s Mayan Adventure”

• 3 p.m. Pamela Norsworthy “War Bonds”

• 4 p.m. Jenny Guberman “Chattahoochee Cats”

KATHY MANOS PENN Columnist

Meeting:

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After recapping leadership changes within the civic association, Ford turned the floor over to a full slate of speakers at the annual meeting.

The principals of High Point Elementary School, Ridgeview Charter Middle School and Riverwood International Charter School kicked off the slate.

Danielle Miller, principal at High Point Elementary, said she is thrilled to report that only two teachers are leaving the school after the end of the academic year. With workforce retention concerns throughout regional public schools, Miller said her teachers are committed to their community.

The Riverwood cluster, encompassing the three schools, offers International Baccalaureate programs. The North Springs cluster, encompassing other Fulton County Schools in Sandy Springs, offers the only dual magnet programs with arts and sciences in the entire school system.

Kindra Smith, principal at Riverwood International Charter School, lauded the civic association for its seven-year program, which awards two $3,000 scholarships to Title 1 students who attended High Point or Ridgeview.

Residents can donate to next year’s scholarship through the High Point Civic Association’s website.

Smith also touted the 82 Riverwood seniors who were admitted into the University of Georgia, which she attributed to work of local elementary and middle schools.

The Students Achieving in Life program pairs adults in the community with high school seniors looking at postsecondary options following graduation.

Smith encouraged High Point residents to consider volunteering to help students fill out federal student aid forms and brainstorm career paths after high school graduation.

Hearing from elected officials, city staff

Several local and state politicians sat in the audience at the High Point Elementary cafeteria.

State Rep. Betsy Holland, a Democrat representing parts of Sandy Springs and Atlanta in District 54, and state Sen. Josh McLaurin, a Democrat representing parts of Alpharetta, Johns Creek, Roswell and Sandy Springs in District 14, gave an update following the conclusion of 2024 session in the Georgia General Assembly.

McLaurin contrasted the “meatand-potatoes” work of the House of

OPINION

Representatives with the focus on “culture war issues” in the Senate.

He said the culture war issues, involving transgender athletes, election laws and gun regulation, distract from issues important to voters, like raises for public school teachers, antisquatting legislation and infrastructure investments.

Holland said she agreed with McLaurin’s characterization of the legislative session and encouraged High Point residents to vote in the state primary in May and in the November elections.

“We really, earnestly want to keep focusing on the stuff that matters to you on a day-to-day basis,” McLaurin said. “Protecting these amazing schools, which I was honored to hear more about tonight.”

McLaurin is running unopposed

for reelection and Holland is slated to defend the District 54 seat against Samantha Brown-Parks in November.

While not elected officials, City Manager Eden Freeman and Communications Director Dan Coffer updated attendees on various projects throughout the city, in the High Point neighborhood and elsewhere.

Coffer discussed the city’s push to secure federal funding for the PATH 400 multi-use trail and to advance sidewalk projects along Windsor Parkway, which hits close to home for High Point residents.

Freeman, who knows the civic association’s leadership team from their work on development code updates, discussed the city’s infrastructure investments since its incorporation and shined a light on city operations and community engagement initiatives.

Ever wonder why the Starbucks near City Springs on Roswell Road is two stories? Freeman said the city removed unnecessary requirements for height minimums in the downtown

district to avoid future eyesores.

“I hope you will continue to let us know when there’s a pothole, a road issue or a sidewalk issue,” Freeman said. “We will come out and respond to that.”

Mayor Rusty Paul, who said meeting with residents beat another rerun of Ted Lasso, joined Councilwoman Jody Reichel and Councilman Tibby DeJulio at High Point Elementary.

Police Chief Kenneth DeSimone also attended.

DeJulio, who joined the High Point Civic Association in the 1980s, said he’s proud to have known so many people in the room for more than 30 years.

He went on to discuss the Sandy Springs Performing Arts Center, a tour of PATH 400 and the more than $500 million investment in city infrastructure since incorporation.

“There are ways, and you really need to get involved,” DeJulio said. “It’s your money, and we try to spend it judiciously.”

HAYDEN SUMLIN/APPEN MEDIA

Councilman Tibby DeJulio, representing District 5 and the High Point neighborhood, discusses his journey from serving on the civic association leadership team in the late 1980s to sitting on the Sandy Springs City Council. DeJulio, a longtime member of the High Point Civic Association, said the city continues to look for ways to invest in infrastructure for residents.

Hey y’all, I’m Hayden Sumlin and I report on all things in and around North Atlanta. If you have any story tips or ideas please contact me at hayden@appenmedia.com

Continued from Page 12

much worse. We lost that decision but are appealing the ruling with higher courts. It has cost us over $40,000 so far.

In the past three years we have probably filed over 500 freedom of information requests - each costing from thirty to sometimes many hundreds of dollars each. Why? To get source material for reporting that sometimes contradicts how officials describe what’s going on. That is what we do. We represent you. If we’re not doing it, who will?

You elect your city councils and your mayors. They hire the city administration. So, to a degree, you only get to “approve” or “disapprove” the folks who administer your tax dollars about once every 4 years. And then, you only know how they are doing, in general, by the local press that gives you the information. Of course, you can attend Council meetings but that often does not tell the entire story. What happens in-between those four years? A lot. We are there every week, every month, every year acting on your behalf.

It never ceases to amaze me when I hear someone casting disparaging

generalizations about “the press.“ As if all the press were the same. “Fake news” they say. My response to those - including at least one local Mayor and several city council folks in the towns we cover, is “what do you have to hide?” What would you prefer for us not to monitor?

I have told this little story more than once but it is worth repeating. The meeting had just ended. Two commissioners were talking. One said “why don’t we go ahead and give that bid to so and so? Who is going to know?” The commissioner he said that to, pointed over his shoulder at our reporter who was still there within earshot and said, “well, he will.” True story.

Your rights are our mission. The threats to your rights are real. It is not just something that you can ignore, and it will “just go away.” Please consider joining the Appen Press Club. You can go to appenmedia.com/join and click on the Press Club link for more information. We also accept one-time, monthly, and annual contributions via the Post Office. Make the check out to Appen Media Group and in the memo line put Appen Press Club. Our mailing address is 319 North Main St., Alpharetta, GA 30009.

Your contribution is an investment. A really good one. For you, your children and your grandchildren.