Sandy Springs Crier - May 16, 2024

Federal agency invites local initiatives

Dollars made available for clean energy plans

By HAYDEN SUMLIN hayden@appenmedia.com

ATLANTA — The Atlanta Regional Commission Board heard a presentation May 8 from a representative of the U.S. Treasury Department on its direct pay program for clean energy initiatives.

The program, part of the Biden administration’s Inflation Reduction Act, offers tax-exempt organizations, specifically local governments and public schools, federal money to offset project costs associated with clean energy, like electric vehicles.

Nonprofit organizations, like charities, could also be eligible for the assistance.

David Eichenthal, a senior policy adviser with the U.S. Treasury Department’s Inflation Reduction Act Implementation Office, said the legislation created more than 20 tax incentives for clean energy and manufacturing.

The projected impact of the bill on inflation is disputed.

One role of the U.S. Treasury Department, responsible for major elements of the law, is to implement tax incentives for investments in clean energy and manufacturing.

Individuals are eligible for federal tax credits for the purchase of a qualifying clean vehicle purchase and energy improvements to their home.

Most of the tax incentives apply exclusively to businesses, revolving around energy generation and carbon capture, vehicles, manufacturing, fuels, energy efficiency and healthcare.

David Eichenthal, senior policy adviser with the U.S. Treasury Department, speaks on the Inflation Reduction Act’s direct pay program May 8 to the Atlanta Regional Commission Board. Eichenthal promoted the act’s direct pay program for tax-exempt organizations, like local governments.

For many of the incentives, bonuses are available to increase private sector investment in energy security and climate.

Eichenthal almost exclusively discussed the direct pay program and its 12 available tax credits.

The Treasury’s Office of Tax Policy and the Internal Revenue Service developed tax regulations and guidance to

implement the act’s energy credits and other tax law changes.

Eichenthal said the direct pay program allows for the “blending and grading of different resources,” which allows tax credits to be combined with some loans.

See ARC, Page 21

Officials approve funds for Powers Ferry plans ► PAGE 3

Asian American leaders advocate for unity at gala ► PAGE 4

North Springs High School sends 4 to honors program ► PAGE 5

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Police log busy night ferrying woman

ROSWELL, Ga. — In the span of eight hours, an Alpharetta woman, reportedly pregnant, took three trips to jail, had a physical altercation with an officer and went to the hospital twice under police custody, before ending up in the downtown Rice Street detention center. The incident all stemmed from a ticket for speeding and unlicensed driving, according to reports and interviews obtained by Appen Media.

Roswell police stopped a couple April 17 after a remote-controlled camera flagged a car whose owner had an active warrant out of Dunwoody. The officer reported that the registrant, a 27-year-old Alpharetta woman, was sitting in the passenger seat while her boyfriend was driving the vehicle.

Roswell contacted the Dunwoody Police Department and confirmed the warrant for failure to appear in court, and said they wished to take custody of the subject. As a result, the Roswell officer placed her in custody.

Roswell police gave the male driver, also 27, a ticket for driving without a license. They also allowed him to have someone come pick up the car so it wouldn’t be towed.

Meanwhile, the City of Dunwoody gave an update. They would not be able to send an officer to pick up the woman.

The Roswell officer tried to take the subject to the North Fulton Jail Annex in Alpharetta. Staff there turned her away due to complaints of pregnancy cramps and nausea, according to police documents. Roswell petitioned Dunwoody again, but the agency remained unable to pick up the subject.

Appen Media is only able to make this report due to the documents provided by Alpharetta, Roswell and Dunwoody police departments. Sandy Springs continues to deny access to these sorts of incidents, which are crucial for reporting what crime does or does not take place in the community.

The Roswell officer took her to North Fulton Hospital, stopping for gas along the way. Hospital staff evaluated the woman. When Dunwoody again declined to get the subject, Roswell released her.

A few hours later and 2 miles away, another camera flagged the vehicle again. This time Alpharetta police responded. Seeing the car with a female driver enter an apartment complex parking lot, the officer followed. He reported seeing a woman walking quickly toward the building, while he exited his patrol car and ran after her.

According to police documents, the officer and subject went back and forth about her identity, which she initially denied. When asked about her warrant, the woman “stated she had already dealt with it today, through Roswell Police Department.” The officer clarified he was with Alpharetta Police and had her walk back to the parking lot.

There, a scuffle allegedly broke out. The officer reported grabbing her wrist, after which “she quickly pulled it to the front of her body,” and began trying to make phone calls. The struggle continued, according to the officer’s narrative. “Because she was consistently pulling away I pushed [the subject] to the ground, on the pine straw in the planter.” The report went on to describe a continuing struggle, with the woman trying to use Siri to call her boyfriend. Eventually, the of -

ficer secured the subject in handcuffs and led her to his patrol car. Roswell and other Alpharetta officers thenarrived at the scene. Roswell police explained what had happened a few hours earlier. Alpharetta police then contacted Dunwoody. Again, that agency confirmed the warrant and said they wanted to extradite her.

Alpharetta kept the subject in custody, this time adding charges for obstruction and driving with a suspended license. They took her back to North Fulton hospital “for medical clearance from being pushed [to] the ground and her pregnancy.” After receiving medical clearance, police transported her to the Alpharetta jail. Due to the exchange that had taken place there a few hours prior, jail staff denied her entrance. Alpharetta police took her “to the Fulton County Jail at Rice St. in Atlanta where she was admitted.

According to court documents, the woman spent two nights in the Atlanta jail before being released on a $3,000 bond.

Appen Media confirmed the above reports with Dunwoody Police officials. They attributed the actions in part to low manpower, that “call volume was very high during that time” and that they could not commit the personnel to stay at the hospital with the subject.

The subject’s original charges, according to Dunwoody police, were speeding and driving on a suspended license.

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

CITY OF SANDY SPRINGS/PROVIDED

A map shows the entire Powers Ferry Study Area, representing Sandy Springs’ southwest gateway to Cobb County. The Sandy Springs City Council heard a presentation of the study May 7 and awarded a contract for its first recommended project.

Powers Ferry Road upgrades receive City Council approval

By HAYDEN SUMLIN hayden@appenmedia.com

SANDY SPRINGS, Ga. — The Sandy Springs City Council approved a contract May 7 for construction of pedestrian safety improvements along Powers Ferry Road.

The contract, totaling $187,917, was awarded to Cumming-based Vertical Earth.

It’s the first on a list of improvements cited in the city’s Powers Ferry Transportation Study which encompasses the western gateway to Sandy Springs, residential neighborhoods, two local schools, the Chattahoochee River National Recreation Center and small-scale retail.

The year-long study, which included two rounds of public engagement, wrapped up with a presentation at the May 7 meeting from Caitlin Shankle, senior transportation planner in the Public Works Department, including recommended projects.

The contract with Vertical Earth calls for construction of a sidewalk project along Powers Ferry Road, including a midblock crossing beacon and 326 linear feet of sidewalk with a small section in front of 6190 Powers Ferry Road.

Public Works Director Marty Martin said the project will provide sidewalk connectivity at the northeast corner of Powers Ferry Raid and New Northside Drive.

The city received nine bids, and staff determined that the low bidder, N.S.E.W, is not qualified through the GDOT, which the city requires. Saff also determined that the second-lowest bidder, Ryde Grading, is not a responsible bidder based upon review of similar projects in other municipalities.

Martin said the two lowest bids did not meet city standards after research, and the bid from Vertical Earth corresponded with estimates from engineers.

Councilman Andy Bauman said approving sidewalk projects is one of the things he enjoys the most as an elected official.

Bauman and other councilmembers questioned Martin about the bidding process and why the two lowest bidders were not chosen.

Although Ryde Grading is a prequalified contractor through GDOT, its performance based on reference checks did not measure up, Martin said.

During the discussion, the city’s long-standing policy of only accepting GDOT prequalified contractors came to light.

Mayor Rusty Paul said in the years following incorporation, the city got burned a couple times and implemented the requirement to avoid future problems.

Asian American leaders advocate for unity at gala

By HAYDEN SUMLIN hayden@appenmedia.com

SANDY SPRINGS, Ga. — The Georgia chapter of OCA-Asian Pacific American Advocates held its annual awards gala May 4 in the Studio Theatre at City Springs.

Originally formed in 1973 as the Organization of Chinese Americans, the OCA’s National Board of Directors passed a resolution in 2013 to change the name of the nonprofit civil rights advocacy group to reflect the pan-ethnic interests of the Asian American community.

The idea, from co-founder Kung-Lee Wang, was to form an organization like the NAACP and Japanese American Citizens League.

Today, the OCA has more than 50 chapters across the United States, including a national headquarters in Washington, D.C.

OCA-Asian Pacific American Advocates aims to benefit the general welfare of the community by advocating for social justice, equal opportunity and fair treatment; promoting civic participation, education and leadership; advancing coalitions and community building; and fostering cultural heritage.

The May 4 awards gala did all that and more.

Performances during the gala included “Nanta,” or traditional drumming, from the Korean Cultural Association of Atlanta; “Bajidor Kahot,” an Indonesian dance, from Atlanta-based Sanggar Lestari; and Decatur’s A Sharp Affair Band.

Sandy Springs Mayor Rusty Paul described the keynote speaker and his friend, Sunny Park, as the most generous person he has ever known.

“The people in this room have done amazing things for our city, for our state and for our country,” Paul said. “I want to thank you for that entrepreneurial spirit.”

After teasing Park about the short walk from his home to downtown Sandy Springs, Paul recognized his friend’s amazing story.

Sunny Park, a Sandy Springs resident and business leader from South Korea, briefly discussed his journey to Indiana in the 1970s and his love for the United States.

He told the story of becoming an American citizen at the Georgia State Capitol in downtown Atlanta and his goal of paying at least $1 million in annual taxes, which he achieved.

“I have come to this country and taken advantage of what this country offers, and then paid back,” Park said.

He now serves on the boards of six nonprofits.

Unafraid to discuss sensitive sub-

“If you think you’re an Asian American, then you’re stuck with that. You’re an American.”

Seconding a decades-old comment from President Harry Truman, Park said he wants the “hyphen” gone. Aware of the potential controversy, Park qualified his statements by stating they are just his opinions.

The crowd at the Studio Theatre applauded the sentiment.

Before introducing the individual Community Service Award, Chief Judge Bryan C. Ramos of the Brookhaven Municipal Court thanked Park for his passion for civic engagement.

Amy B. Cheng, president of the Atlanta Bar Association, received the individual Community Service Award.

Two recipients, Ava Chen from Milton High School and Joshua Do from Northview High School, received the 10th annual 2024 OCA-Georgia Scholarship for $1,000.

Ting Chiu received the Lifetime Achievement Award for her work helping families through Transamerica Financial Advisors.

jects, Park spoke about the uniqueness of the Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander experience in the United States.

“Like most Asian Americans, I don’t look like an American,” Park said.

While Asian Americans are taxpaying citizens, Park said a visitor from

Europe is often treated more like an American citizen because of their appearance.

Park, speaking to a crowd of more than 200 people, asked how that can be changed.

“Change the perception, it’s all about the perception in my opinion,” he said.

Other winners include Eric Xue, CEO of Dezhu US Group and Deluxeton Homes, who received the Business Entrepreneur Award-Master Builder; Kevin Zhao, founder and CEO of Zhao Business, who received the Business Entrepreneur AwardInnovation & Technology; and the National Association of Asian American Professionals, Community Service Award-Organization.

PHOTOS BY HAYDEN SUMLIN/APPEN MEDIA

Ly Bui, executive vice president of OCA Georgia, introduces guests at the OCA Georgia Awards Gala May 4 at City Springs. The awards gala coincided with Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander Heritage Month.

Sunny Park, founder of Global Sun Investments and tireless philanthropist, speaks about his journey from South Korea to Indiana and achieving his business goals. During the patriotic speech, Park advocated for people to give back to their communities.

North Springs High School sends 4 to honors program

SANDY SPRINGS, Ga. — Four North Springs High School students are finalists for the Georgia Governor’s Honors Program, a residential summer program for talented high school sophomores and juniors.

It’s the first year since 2017 that the school has sent finalists to the program.

North Springs High School of Arts and Sciences is a Fulton County public high school in the heart of Sandy Springs. As the state's only dual magnet school, students may participate in the Visual & Arts magnet, the Mathematics & Science magnet, or both, depending on their qualifications and abilities.

The honorees from North Springs are Evelyn Brown, communication arts; Alexis Davis, dance; Niyah Sanchez, visual arts; and Aurora Seesink, social studies.

The students will spend four expense-paid weeks at Georgia Southern University this summer, furthering their subject matter expertise alongside fellow Governor’s Honors Program finalists from across the state.

The program, from mid-June to mid-July, offers instruction that is significantly different from the typical high school classroom.

It is designed to provide students with academic, cultural and social enrichment necessary to become the next generation of global critical thinkers, innovators and leaders.

Students attend classes in the mornings and afternoons in specific areas of study, and they participate in a wide variety of social and instructional opportunities every evening.

The only required and expected costs to the students are: travel expenses, a few basic supplies and spending money as desired during the program.

JAMES A. LANDREAU (NSHS)/PROVIDED

Clockwise from front left, Alexis Davis, Niyah Sanchez, Aurora Seesink and Evelyn Brown represent North Springs High School as finalists for the Georgia Governor’s Honor Program. The four-week summer program is held at Georgia Southern University.

Dunwoody unveils 2024 Storefront Art exhibit

DUNWOODY, Ga. — The annual Storefront Art exhibits returned May 1 with final presentations from 15 Dunwoody High School students during an on-campus kickoff event.

The Dunwoody Economic Development Department manages the Storefront Art program, which features student artwork in the windows of businesses in the Dunwoody Village for up to three months.

More than 70 students from Dunwoody High submitted 85 designs in March. Then, business owners and managers ranked their preferred pieces. The 15 works of art with the highest points were chosen for the exhibit, following the approval of the Dunwoody Art Commission in April. The city will award the students $200 each for materials and work.

“The Storefront Art Exhibit ties together three priorities: supporting small businesses, partnering with our schools and embracing public art,” Mayor Lynn Deutsch said. “I am so pleased that we are continuing this project, and I can’t wait to share these students’ works with the community.”

Tom Bass, principal of Dunwoody High School, said he appreciates the school’s partnership with the city.

“We’re proud of the leadership

CITY OF DUNWOODY/PROVIDED

City officials and Dunwoody High School educators gather to embrace 15 high school students May 1 selected for the 2024 Storefront Art exhibit. The temporary pieces will be displayed in Dunwoody Village business for up to three months.

provided by our outstanding teachers in visual arts,” Bass said. “Storefront Art opens doors for our students and showcases their talents to the entire community.”

wrapped onto traffic light boxes across the city.

In addition, 13 paintings from last year’s exhibit are currently featured along a new art wall inside Perimeter Mall at the entrance between Maggiano’s and Macy’s.

Business and Cultural Development Manager Rosemary Watts said the public art programs aim to draw more visitors to the Village.

“This year’s designs will be eligible for future installations of the Green Light project,” Watts said. “We’ll also be able to add them to the new Perimeter Mall exhibit.”

Several designs from the 2022 and 2023 Storefront Art exhibits are on display as part of Dunwoody’s Green Light Art project, which features original canvases that are digitized, printed and

Student artists include Bobbi Allen, Brinkley Parrish, Clara Green, Elder Coria, Stella Cronin, Elizabeth Buckareff, Hannah Hazen, Harrison Flynt, Jenna McJunkin, Jeston Huang, Lilah Paradice, Lydia Bizzell, Magadhi Sathyanarayanan, Mira Walter and Nia Elekwachi. Their art is on display at Big Frog Custom T-Shirts, Enchanted Forest, Royal Spice, CrossFit Dunwoody, The Whole Tooth, Chupito’s, The Music Class, Budi’s Sushi, Dunwoody Prep, Functionize, Christine Scott Dentistry, Village Orthodontics, Karate Atlanta, Dunwoody Ace Hardware and Alloy Personal Training.

WHERE IN THE WORLD IS THE CRIER?

Patagonia

Longtime Dunwoody residents Howard Wertheimer, Carla Wertheimer, Janet Seligson, and Mike Seligson took the Dunwoody Crier with them to Argentina and Patagonia. The Crier was camera shy at Iguazu Falls.

Where in the world is the

Crier?

If you’re headed on a trip, the Crier wants to sightsee, too. Take a copy with you and share the moment with folks back home. Send your travel photos with the Crier to newsroom@appenmedia.com

JAMES CARR/PROVIDED

Jason Waters and James Carr, founder of Atlanta-based Farmers Jam, celebrate the business’ 2024 Good Food Award in the Elixir category at a ceremony in Portland, Oregon with its Strawberry Lemon Cocktail Syrup. Waters is the owner of Georgia Routes, a mobile bar that uses Farmers Jam cocktail syrups.

Atlanta business wins ’24 Good Food Award

PORTLAND, Ore. — Farmers Jam, an Atlanta-based business that creates natural jams sourced from local and organic farms, earned a 2024 Good Food Award at a ceremony in Portland, Oregon.

The business, founded by James Carr — a Milton High School graduate and former account executive with Appen Media Group, earned the award in the Elixir category with its Strawberry Lemon Cocktail Syrup.

Chosen through a rigorous blind tasting and sustainability vetting process from nearly 2,000 entries, the winners rose to the top on the basis of taste while also demonstrating an outstanding commitment to sustainable environmental and social practices.

“It is an absolute thrill to win a Good Food Award,” Carr said. “We’re honored to be alongside some amazing makers and creators who prioritize local sourcing, quality ingredients, and supporting farmers.”

Georgia Ensemble Theatre co-founder leaves the stage

ROSWELL, Ga. — Anita Allen Farley, cofounder and producing artistic director of the Georgia Ensemble Theatre announced her retirement, effective May 1, ending her 32 years of leadership.

She and her late husband Robert J. “Bob” Farley founded the Georgia Ensemble Theatre in 1992.

The Georgia Ensemble Theatre Board of Trustees named Laurel Crowe, previously the education director, as interim artistic director.

Farley said she looks forward to spending time with family, looking after her health, pursuing hobbies and getting some much-needed relaxation.

The board announced a search is underway for a new director but has not specified a timeline.

Board President Katherine Parvis said Farley's career with the theater is exemplified by the positive impact she has had on its staff, students, audience and community.

“GET became a cornerstone of the Atlanta arts community thanks to Anita and Bob making the theater their lives’ opus,” Parvis said. “For me personally, Anita’s tireless advocacy for the organization amid challenging circumstances has been an inspiration.”

Farley began her theatrical career in 1968 after studying at The Pasadena Playhouse College of Theatrical Arts where she met her husband.

“While Anita is stepping back from the Producing Artistic Director role, we are excited that she will continue to guide the organization’s next chapter through service as a Board member,” Parvis said. “Anita’s retirement is not the end of an era. It's a celebration of a legacy that we are striving every day to live up to.”

the resident professional theatre company at the Roswell Cultural Arts Center.

It has since produced 31 seasons of plays and musicals — 30 years at the Roswell Cultural Arts Center and one year at the Jennie T. Anderson Theatre — plus dozens of shows on tour at schools and community centers throughout Georgia.

Bob and Anita Farley were honored with a Lifetime Achievement Award at Atlanta’s Suzi Bass Awards in 2017, with special attention paid to their long-time support of early-career and emerging artists.

For 25 of her 32 years, Farley served as managing director alongside her husband as artistic director. After Bob Farley passed away unexpectedly in 2017, Anita was appointed producing artistic director.

From its inception in 1992, in a part of Metro Atlanta without a professional theatre, the Georgia Ensemble Threatre grew under the Farleys’ leadership to a high mark of 3,000 season subscribers just before the 2020 pandemic.

Interim Artistic Director Crowe is charting a focused, financially conservative path to the future, according to the organization’s statement.

In early 2024, the GET Board of Directors voted to postpone the remainder of the Mainstage 2023-24 season due to financial challenges. Instead, the company has focused on educational programming, smaller studio productions and fundraising efforts.

Every sale for Farmers Jam contributes to the organization’s annual fruit tree fund. According to its website, Farmers Jam has helped plant more than 1,800 fruit trees and bushes on family farms since 2018.

The Good Food Awards, in its 14th year, is organized by the Good Food Foundation in collaboration with a broad community of food crafters, grocers, chefs, food writers, activists and passionate food lovers.

Farmers Jam is hosting a local celebration at Parker’s on Ponce in Decatur on May 30 from 5 to 7 p.m. There will be a specialty menu with drinks featuring Farmers Jam Cocktail Syrups in partnership with Cathead Distillery.

Proceeds from drinks purchased will generate donations to Giving Kitchen, a nonprofit that provides emergency assistance for food service workers through financial support and a network of community resources.

Georgia Ensemble Theatre started as

The Georgia Ensemble Theatre will honor Anita Farley’s career with an open house retirement party this fall.

FARLEY

EDUCATION NEWS

School social worker connects students to resources

Forsyth County Schools posts fewer specialists than in neighboring DeKalb, Fulton counties

By AMBER PERRY amber@appenmedia.com

FORSYTH COUNTY, Ga. — Amy Gamez, one of 14 school social workers in the Forsyth County School District, plants her feet on the ground throughout a scheduled day of meetings, ready to be on the move.

Her role is holistic, community-based and requires the skill of anticipating needs as well as adapting to change, pivoting when a school calls her in the middle of the workday requiring that she be present for additional student support.

“That’s what I love about my job — I like to kind of be here and there and everywhere,” Gamez said.

Gamez handled 400 to 500 of the 5,100 student cases in Forsyth County public schools this year, though some of those were quick one-and-dones versus students who required continuous oversight. Last year, she said, social workers conducted a total of 800 home visits.

Over the course of her 18-year career with Forsyth County Schools, Gamez said the needs have increased, serving more families in a district that has seen 16,000 more students enroll in the last decade. But, she said community resources have grown to meet those needs.

Around a decade ago, Gamez began organizing what is now Family Promise of Forsyth County — a nonprofit that serves families experiencing homelessness. At the time, she knew of five families living out of a hotel, and she began reaching out to churches to schedule a planning meeting.

“I was really frustrated because I saw that they were paying at the time [what] was probably $1,000 a month, which is nothing now, you know, and they were just in a hole,” Gamez said. “Most of these families were in the hotel for six months to a year, and I was very frustrated that they were just stuck in this cycle.”

Gamez is continuing to meet basic

AMY GAMEZ/PROVIDED

Amy Gamez, one of 14 Forsyth County Schools social workers, stands by a food donation provided by a local community partner. Gamez serves New Hope Elementary School, Otwell Middle School and Academies of Creative Education, which includes Forsyth Academy, Gateway Academy and Forsyth Virtual Academy.

needs for students and their families, sometimes doing it through a phone app called Purposity which allows her to request items that individuals around Forsyth County can donate. She said Forsyth County was one of the pilot counties for Purposity, Gamez becoming one of the first slate of school social workers to use the tool.

She said there has also been a shift in focus over the years, from meeting basic needs to mental health challenges. Nowadays, mental health is a large component to her job, though social workers and counselors function differently.

“We really are a connector to families to get them plugged into the resources in our community,” said Gomez, who works with a number of nonprofits and organizations like the Division of Family and Children Services. The week before, she met with representatives of the Boys and Girls Club on how to connect students to its services.

The ratio of students per school social worker in the Forsyth County School

JACOB TOMBERLIN/PROVIDED

A comparison of the number of students per school social worker across Dekalb, Forsyth and Fulton county school districts shows that the ratio in the Forsyth County School District is more than double its neighbors in fiscal year 2023. There were 14 school social workers that served nearly 54,500 students in Forsyth County.

District was more than double than in DeKalb and Fulton counties last year. But, the ratio of students per school counselor across all grade levels was mid-range.

There were 378 students per counselor across Forsyth County elementary, middle and high schools, whereas there were 478 students per counselor in Fulton County and 283 in DeKalb County.

In addition to its team of counselors, Forsyth County Schools has a mental health facilitator, nine student advocacy specialists, eight support staff for behavior support – each with different roles, and 17 emotional behavioral intervention classes.

The Forsyth County Board of Commissioners in March formed a mental

health advisory committee, set to have two school board members. But, Forsyth County Schools opted out.

Jennifer Caracciolo, chief communications officer for Forsyth County, told Appen Media that Forsyth County Schools is “assessing the effectiveness” of its system efforts with regard to its strategic plan.

“It’s not that we don’t want to partner,” Caracciolo said. “We obviously have made a significant investment in mental health, not only for that of our students, but our staff as well. And, we have a district plan, and we have employed a number of experts in various fields, and so we’re working on that plan.”

North Springs High prepares for construction on new school

By HAYDEN SUMLIN hayden@appenmedia.com

SANDY SPRINGS, Ga. — With the April 26 approval of a $14.1 million contract for site work at North Springs High School, dirt at 7447 Roswell Road will be moving soon.

The Fulton County School Board of Education approved the contract with Cumming-based Vertical Earth, with an additional $1.4 million contingency, for phase one site work at the new school.

North Springs is a Fulton County public high school in the heart of Sandy Springs.

It is the state's only dual magnet school, allowing students to participate in the Visual & Arts magnet, Mathematics & Science magnet, or both, depending on their qualifications and abilities. Built in 1963, the school is one of the oldest in the Fulton County system.

Fulton County Schools’ “Bricks and Clicks” 2027 Capital Plan, funded through the education special purpose local option sales tax, calls for replacing North Springs High.

Since Fulton County voters first approved ESPLOST in 1997, it has become

FULTON COUNTY SCHOOLS/PROVIDED

A rendering shows the campus layout of the new North Springs High School, anticipated to open in August 2027.

the primary funding source for capital improvements, with $3.2 billion generated to date.

The replacement of the school and construction of a new campus will cost around $108 million, according to a February estimate from Noel Maloof, chief operations officer for the district.

Replacing the school requires significant coordination. Construction will take place on-campus while school is in session.

The $15.6 site work project calls for the demolition of the softball field, competition field, stadium, practice field, tennis courts

and surrounding parking lots, driveways and hardscape.

Site work also includes installing a new curb cut at Trowbridge Road and new access driveways as a part of the new layout of the school’s replacement.

Other phase one tasks include construction of new soil-nail and concrete retaining walls, relocation of existing utilities and installation of new utilities, storm drainage pipe systems and three detention ponds.

Anne Boatwright, media relations manager at Fulton County Schools, said all other site work and building construction will happen in a later phase.

She also said the estimated time for completion of the first phase is this December. Because of potential dangers, Boatwright said the campus will be subdivided to keep all construction activities separate from school activities.

“There will be safety fencing and other controls in place to make this possible to manage,” she said. “Safety is always the priority when a contractor is working on the campus while school is in session.”

Boatwright also said the school district coordinates on a regular basis with Princi-

pal Sott Hanson and his staff.

Because phase one involves the demolition of athletic facilities, high school sports will move to other schools, including Sandy Springs Middle.

Appen Media also asked Fulton County Schools representatives about the potential for noise disruptions during the 2024-25 school year and beyond.

Because site work is anticipated to conclude at the end of the year, construction of additional phases is expected to continue until the new school’s projected opening date in August 2027.

“Due to the location of the construction, being elevated and on the back side of the building that faces the gymnasium and other large activity spaces, the noise factor is expected to be minimal,” Boatwright said.

She listed student safety and preserving a disruption-free learning environment as the top priorities of Fulton County Schools.

“Communication has already begun about some adjustments and more will be conducted in the fall to ensure all students and teachers understand the safety and access parameters while the project is ongoing," she said.

Valor Christian Academy Celebrates the successes of its seniors through Life Prep | College Ready Model

Brought to you by – Valor Christian Academy

Valor Christian Academy, founded in August 2020, grew out of the desire to educate, strengthen and equip the whole child in a unique environment where learning fits the way God designed each child. At Valor, we’ve reimagined educational offerings, and parents may choose from a variety of educational modes, from virtual, hybrid, full-time, or homeschool,

we seek to meet the education needs of every child and family. Our high school model is one that prepares students to be Life Prep | College Ready, which includes four days of on campus learning and one day of at home independent study. We are proud to announce that several students in the Class of 2024 will graduate with a diploma of distinction, which serves as an opportunity for students to receive credit for further study, research, and experience in Fine Arts, Communications,

or STEM. No matter what mode fits an individual child, we aim to launch each student as a servant leader who knows how to shape culture through a biblical worldview. Our team looks forward to prayerfully walking you through the admissions experience where your family can be a part of Education Reimagined.

Contact Valor Christian Academy at 770-751-1972 or visit us at www.valorlions.org.

Change lives, change the world

Brought to you by – Wesleyan School

Wesleyan School believes faith and intellect are great partners with each other. At Wesleyan, it’s not a matter of choosing faith or intellect, but rather using both to create the best possible education for your child. Our leadership and faculty work to provide students with an atmosphere that is challenging, reinforces the value of hard work, and emphasizes character and integrity above accomplishment. Wesleyan prepares students for each stage of life and provides them with the opportunity to see all the possibilities that lie before them. Wesleyan’s school motto is JOY-Jesus, Others, Yourself, and every aspect of school life is oriented to reinforce this philosophy of putting Jesus first and others ahead of ourselves.

A college preparatory environment, students have access to a wide range of academic opportunities along with athletics, arts, service and other extracurricular activities. Wesleyan’s 85-acre campus provides state-ofthe-art academic facilities along with on-campus practice space for athletics and arts.

Located just outside of I-285 in Peachtree Corners, Wesleyan enrolled 1,206 students in grades K-12 for the 2023-2024 school year. Wesleyan offers bus routes throughout the metro Atlanta area. Supervised care before school is included in the cost of tuition and after care is available (K-8) until 6 p.m. at an affordable rate.

The Wesleyan School

5405 Spalding Drive, Peachtree Corners, GA 30092 770-448-7640 https://www.wesleyanschool.org/

The magic of middle school

Brought to you by – High Meadows

With one foot rooted in childhood and the other stepping eagerly into adolescence, middle schoolers can pose a perplexing combination of needs and contradictions. High Meadows Middle Years teachers would tell you, however, that this distinct age and stage is also marked by heightened information processing abilities that allow students to delve more meaningfully into complex thinking, problem solving, self-reflection and growth.

What do middle schoolers need to grow and thrive?

Collaborative Learning: One key element of adolescence is a strong social drive. Instead of trying to con-

trol and minimize socialization in the classroom, High Meadows teachers utilize this social motivation through collaborative work, dialogue-driven lessons, and exploring different perspectives and lenses on topics.

Exploration and Self-Expression: High Meadows robust mini-course offerings provide Middle Years students the opportunity to choose from and try many different specialized courses including Animal Care, Yoga, Band, Debate, a variety of Fine Arts courses, Theatre, World Peace Games, Culinary Arts and more.

Fostering Independence & Self-Confidence: High Meadows middle years program empowers students to grow in independence, study and research skills, time management, and accountability. Students reflect regu-

larly on their own growth and set goals for themselves. Mentorship & Leadership: HMS Middle Years students enjoy the role of being campus-wide mentors, and leaders who serve as role models to the younger students in the community. Sixth through Eighth grade students serve as “buddies” to even our youngest Pre-K students on campus.

Intellectual and Academic Challenge: High Meadows graduates enter their high school years with a strong academic foundation, a passion for learning, and a keen understanding of what they need to be successful. The majority of HMS alum start their high school careers in AP and Honors courses.

To learn more about High Meadows’ Middle Years program, visit highmeadows.org.

PROVIDED

Beyond high school readiness, our rich and rigorous program inspires students to be positive change makers and lifelong learners.

Age 3 through Eighth Grade | Roswell, GA

770.993.2940 | www.highmeadows.org

An International Baccalaureate® School

Group tours offered weekly. Visit our website to register. Since 1973, the school has inspired children to think critically, learn creatively, act globally, and live compassionately. &

Holy Spirit Preparatory School –

Helping students grow in virtue

Holy Spirit Preparatory School is an independent, Catholic college preparatory school serving Preschool-12th grade students with a profound educational vision. Our curriculum combines the best of classical pedagogical traditions in a joyful, engaging, and thoroughly Catholic environment.

This curriculum includes STEMbased coursework, fine and performing arts, and a very active athletic program. Through these means, we seek to enkindle in students the desire to pursue excellence in every endeavor they undertake and provide them with all the tools necessary to lead successful, rewarding lives in a manner consistent with the sublime end for which they have been created: eternal life with God.

This vision deeply informs our curriculum and animates our efforts to help students grow in virtue and to know and love truth, goodness, and beauty, the three divine attributes upon which all authentically classical, Catholic education is grounded. “A

saint,” our beloved late Pope Benedict XVI observed, “is one who is so captivated by God’s perfect truth and beauty as to be progressively transformed by it.” We strive to provide a learning environment that advances this noble aspiration, so our students are fully prepared to go into the world firm in faith, joyful in hope, and active in charity.

https://holyspiritprep.org/ admissions@holyspiritprep.org 678.761.7992

PHOTOS PROVIDED

Brought to you by – Holy Spirit Preparatory School

Springmont…Atlanta’s first Montessori school

Springmont, the oldest Montessori school in the Southeast, offers students 18 months through middle school an authentic, Montessori experience that is extraordinary by design. Individualized learning inspires our diverse population of students to become creative, independent and globally minded. Classrooms are large, light-filled and thoughtfully prepared, while the campus’ many natural areas, class gardens and farm animals afford rich outdoor life science lessons.

Specially designed Montessori materials support children’s developmental needs and offer students a wide variety of hands-on activities that concretely reinforce skills, lessons and concepts. Highly-experienced and caring teachers guide students through an individualized curriculum that develops the whole child—socially, emotionally and academically. Multi-aged classes allow younger children to learn from older ones and older students to mentor younger classmates.

Art, Music, Physical Education, Outdoor Science Education and Span-

ish are essential parts of the student experience. At Springmont, students are challenged to reach their fullest potential and empowered to help steer their own educations. Children’s innate curiosity grows into a lifelong love of learning and a quest for meaningful discoveries and deeper knowledge.

Middle School students run microeconomies and compete in regional academic competitions. Opportunities to hone time-management skills, experience active leadership roles, articulate complex ideas and work both independently and in diverse groups make our Middle School Program a true capstone experience.

Springmont graduates are confident, collaborative, engaged learners, prepared for success in Atlanta’s premier high schools as well as life beyond academics. Springmont School—Extraordinary by Design.

Limited seats remain for the 2024-25 school year! For more information or to schedule a personal tour, call 404-252-3910 or visit springmont.com

Sponsored Section May 16, 2024 | Sandy Springs Crier | 16

Best graduation gift for college bound children or young adults

Brought to you by – Estates Law Center USA

One of the best things you can that you can do for your children who are bound for college is helping them set up their estate planning. Each State varies as to the age when one can create a Will, which can range from 14-18 years old. In Georgia, the legal age required to create a Will is 14 years old. OCGA 53-4-10. Parents who help their children create an estate plan as young adults are laying the foundation to prepare a more comprehensive plan, especially trusts, when the young adult acquires assets or parents gift them significant assets, i.e. property and vehicles. Another huge benefit for Parents helping their children start their estate planning is that their children can immediately start designating the Parents as agents to make financial and medical decisions should

they pass away, become incapacitated or incompetent. By helping young adults create their estate planning when college bound, this grants the Parents full control over their children’s assets, bank accounts, vehicle, medical information, and academic information in the event of death, incompetency or disability. Otherwise, parents cannot make any financial or healthcare decisions on behalf of their own children and cannot obtain their own children’s educational and medical records.

A robust starting point for an estate plan for a young adult is a simple Will, a Healthcare Directive (HCD), a Financial Power of Attorney (FPOA) and a Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) release. FERPA release gives Parents the right to their children’s educational records from colleges. In May young adults are graduating and eventually going off to college. Many parents each year

come to our office so they can provide their college bound children a simple Will package that include the above documents. This gives the Parents peace of mind that if something happens to their child while in college, they can immediately take control of their child’s financial, healthcare, and educational decisions, as well as having the rights to obtain their child’s asset, medical and educational records.

It’s never too early to start estate planning so make sure when your children go off to college, they have their Wills, Financial Power of Attorney, Healthcare Directive, and FERPA in place. It is always difficult and scary to see your children go off to college but for many Parents, having a basic estate planning in place for their college bound child gives them peace of mind that they will be able to help their child in all legal and medical matters in an emergency.

• Does my Will protect my “stuff”? (It does not.)

• Should I upgrade my Will to a Trust?

• What do I need to know about Revocable Living Trusts?

• How do Irrevocable Trusts work?

• Medicaid. What’s true and what’s not?

• How do I protect my assets for my family and legacy?

• How do I remain in control?

• How do I avoid losing everything to nursing home costs?

• How can my family avoid probate? Weekly Workshops: Tuesday – 4PM Wednesday – 6PM Thursday – 11AM Call to Register, Seats are Limited!

HOLLY GEERDES ESTATE LAW CENTER USA TOP 5% SUPER LAWYER IN GEORGIA

OPINION

Choosing your next read from a list of possibilities

KATHY MANOS PENN Columnist

How do you choose which books to read at what time?

For me, the choice is often dictated by what arrives at the library, where I regularly put books on hold. Sometimes, they come in within a few days. Other times, it can be months. Sometimes, I come home with five or six books. Other times with only one. When I don’t have a stack of library books to choose from, I turn to my Kindle and catch up on books I’ve downloaded and not gotten around to. Heaven forbid I run out of books.

This week’s selections were chosen from the TBR stack on my desk because my ship came in at the library. I knew I wasn’t in the mood for the Jane Harper book set in the Australian outback. Her books are extremely well-written but very serious. So, I turned first to a gothic romance, something I’ve rarely read as an adult. Who knows why?

“A Dreadful Splendor” by B. R. Myers

I'm not sure what made me place this book on hold. Perhaps it was reading that it won a Mary Higgins Clark award. Or maybe it was the blurb from "The Globe and Mail" describing it as a “... gem of a book [that] sparkles with wit and originality . . . There is no shortage of tricks and feints in this excellent novel and Genevieve is a delightful character.”

Whatever attracted me to it, the author Victoria Holt came to mind as I became immersed in the story. I read her gothic romances as a teenager, and I have vivid memories of purchasing her books at school book fairs, along with those of Phyllis Whitney and Mary Higgins Clark.

The setting is a grand estate in Victorian England, complete with a murder victim, a damsel in distress, and possibly even a ghost. It wasn't jolly, but it was a jolly good read. The twists kept me

guessing until the end. If gothic romances appeal to you, I recommend you grab this one.

“The Lost Man” by Jane Harper

I'm a Jane Harper fan and picked this book up thinking it was part of her Aaron Falk series. Instead, I discovered it's a standalone, and what a tour de force it is. The pacing seemed slow at first, and the uncluttered sentences seemed to mirror the isolation of the life and the land in this bleak Australian setting. This is the remote outback, sparsely populated with cattle ranches and men of few words.

When the middle brother of a ranching family is found dead in the brutal heat and sun, nowhere near his car, the question is not only how but why? Everyone knows not to set out without water and supplies in the desert. Why did he leave his car without water and walk an unbelievable distance? There's nothing wrong with the car, and no evidence he was forced to leave it. What happened?

The suspense builds as family secrets come to light. Was the victim troubled? Did he commit suicide? Because walking in the desert is a sure way to do it. Did someone want him dead?

It's not the police who piece together the clues. It's the family history and dark events of the present and the past that finally reveal the truth of what happened. Let's just say, "I never saw it coming."

This week, I’ve turned to a cozy mystery set in 1920s England and book 10 in The Chronicles of St. Mary’s series. From there, who knows?

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

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You can’t always get what you want

On July 4, 1969, The Rolling Stones Introduced their song “You Can’t Always Get What You Want”. The song goes on to say, “But if you try sometime, well, you just might find, you get what you need.”

This can be said about many borrowers trying to negotiate closing cost fees with their lender. Closing cost fees are made up of numerous charges such as lender fees, credit reports, appraisals, attorney fees, lenders title, owners title, recording fees, Georgia intangible taxes, HOA initiation fees as well as HOA prorations and others.

I had a call the other day from a client who wanted me to lower the attorney fees and totally take out the lender’s title insurance fee (required by all lenders if

the buyer/borrower is getting a mortgage, and this fee is charged by the closing attorney).

Granted, most folks believe that the lender controls all these fees which is simply not the case. I explained to the borrower that the credit report as well as the attorney fees, title charges the state transfer/tax fees, are third-party charges that are simply “pass through” charges that we estimate for them on the initial loan estimate, and the actual charges will appear on their final closing statement.

Ironically, the borrower/buyer chooses most of these fees when they agree to a specific closing attorney in their contract, because the attorney determines those fees. The lender only can control their bank/broker charges such as origination fees, discount points, underwriting, document preparation and other fees shown in the origination section of the loan estimate.

My point is, when buyers/borrowers are shopping fees from lender to lender

they should focus on the “origination” charges shown on the loan estimate only…the other fees will be the same at closing, as the lender does not actually charge them. Despite the varying estimates from lender to lender for title, attorney and recording charges shown by different lenders, they will be the same at closing since the closing attorney chosen in the contract will produce those numbers.

So, who do you trust for the most accurate estimate?

Great question! Most buyers/ borrowers are recommended to a lender(s) from their Realtor and or a friend(s). Trust them, especially a Realtor who has done business with this lender and has seen a track record of delivering what they estimated and excellent customer service.

Getting estimates from out-of-state lenders can be dangerous if they do not close many loans in Georgia and are simply going by what some chart in their office tells them to estimate for those

charges. Your Georgia lenders do this every day and know what the estimate should show, not to mention they do not want to let down the real estate agent who referred you to them. These lenders also depend on repeat business from the agents, and they won’t get it if they don’t deliver excellent customer service, including getting the funds to close right.

Trust your referral. Purchasing a home, in most cases, is the largest individual purchase they will make in their life. This is not like purchasing a car or an ATV. However, getting a recommendation from a friend might not be so bad when buying these either.

D.C. Aiken is vice president, producing production manager for BankSouth Mortgage, NMLS # 658790. For more insights, you can subscribe to his newsletter at dcaiken.com.

The opinions expressed within this article may not reflect the opinions or views of BankSouth Mortgage or its affiliates.

What does Moonlight Graham have to do with anything?

RAY APPEN Publisher Emeritus ray@appenmedia.com

For those of you who don’t know, Moonlight Graham was, according to Wikipedia, “an American professional baseball player and medical doctor who appeared as a right fielder in a single major league game for the New York Giants on June 29, 1905. Moonlight Graham was also one of the main characters in the movie “Field of Dreams” which starred Kevin Costner, James Earl Jones and Burt Lancaster – who played Moonlight Graham. Many believe that Burt hit it out of the ballpark – no pun intended – in this role. I know I do. In “Field of Dreams,” Moonlight Graham is given the opportunity to go back in time and play professional baseball again – his dream – on Keven Costner’s

(movie name - Ray Consella) baseball diamond in the middle of a cornfield - today - in Iowa. In one scene, Ray’s young daughter falls off the bleachers and is choking to death. Moonlight Graham –the baseball player – moves across the ball field toward her. As he leaves the field, he stops. At that point, he must choose between crossing back into the present – as the old physician – to save the girl, or remain on the field as the young baseball player and live out his dream. If he steps off the field, he forever gives up the dream. If he doesn’t, Ray’s daughter dies. He walks off the field and saves Ray’s daughter.

As he returns to the diamond toward the cornfield – now, forever the physician – through all the ghosts of legendary ball players who have “come back to play again,” one of the legends shouts out to him, a shout of respect, admiration and validation: “Hey rookie, you were good.”

Burt – Moonlight – stops in his tracks. Time freezes. He turns and gazes back at the team, deep in thought and appreciation of the moment. Then he walks into the corn field and reality again.

I thought that it was the best line –and best scene – in the movie; it moved me to tears. It still does.

Moonlight Graham is relevant today on a number of levels. First, to me, is simply the magic of the movie. To have loved this movie, one had to buy into the story of going back into time and living out a dream – “ a willing suspension of disbelief “(Fitzgerald’s definition of what “fiction” must enable). If you weren’t able to do that, the movie didn‘t work.

Life today, often feels like it is powered by disbelief – by skepticism – about anything and everything. It’s so unhealthy and debilitating. We need to be able to believe – even in ghosts playing baseball.

Choices.

“Field of Dreams” told a story about choices. It reminds us that even today when there is so much distraction and white noise, when we see so many things that go the wrong way, that we can still swim against that current and be good, do good, and find good. It is a simple and really obvious message, but it is one that we need to hear, and keep hearing. Young people today, I think, have less opportunity than we did to know this. They need to know this.

Choices we make now and, in the future – choices about helping people, or just ourselves – will define who we are; how we have lived; and what we have collectively accomplished.

Hopefully, some day as we are approaching that cornfield that we will all face sooner or later, we too will hear a voice like Moonlight Graham heard – “Hey rookie, you were good.”

D.C. AIKEN Guest Columnist dcaiken.com

OPINION

What’s the buzz about periodical cicadas?

Have you heard about the impending cicada-pocalypse? In May, periodical cicadas, which emerge once every 13 years, will be crawling out of the ground across the Southeast.

So what?

Perhaps you’re thinking, “I see cicadas every year. What’s the big deal?” Those cicadas you see every summer and fall are annual, or dog-day, cicadas, which emerge every year.

Periodical cicadas are more special. They are unique to eastern North America and found nowhere else in the world. They only emerge from the ground every 13 or 17 years, depending on their brood. Broods are separate populations of cicadas that emerge on the same cycle.

Brood XIX (“nineteen”), also called the “Great Southern Brood,” are 13-year cicadas set to emerge across the Southeast this year. Small areas throughout central Illinois will see a dual emergence of Brood XIX and Brood XIII (“thirteen”). The last time these two broods’ emergence matched up was in 1803, when Thomas Jefferson was president! In Georgia, we will see a solo emergence from Brood XIX, but it’s still pretty cool. Just because periodical cicadas only appear aboveground every 13 or 17 years doesn’t mean they don’t exist in the interim. In fact, they’re alive that whole time, tunneling underground in their nymph (juvenile) stage and feeding on roots of hardwood trees.

Cicada life cycle

On May nights, the cicada nymphs use their claw-like front legs to tunnel up to the soil surface. The nymphs immediately find the closest tree or shrub (or another vertical surface) and start climbing up, up, up. Most stop within the first 10 feet, latch onto the bark and begin to molt. First, they split their exoskeleton down the back, then lean backwards and squeeze their new, adult body through the fissure. They hang belly up for a while and use gravity to help their wings unfurl. Over several hours, they pump hemolymph (insect “blood”) into their expanding wings until they are full size. Meanwhile, the exoskeleton cures, hardens and develops its bright colors.

Millions of individual cicadas will emerge like this over several weeks, and scientists still don’t know how they accomplish this amazing synchronicity. After the wings harden, the cicada

can fly up into the tree canopy and begin its ultimate objective: mating! The buzzing you hear is a mating call males make to lure in females. These deafening calls can reach up to 90 decibels, or as loud as a lawnmower. Once a pair deem each other suitable, they mate.

The female uses a serrated structure called an ovipositor to saw small slits along the tips of branches, where she lays her eggs. The adults die soon after and will all be gone by June. The eggs remain inside the protected crevices for six to ten weeks until the new nymphs hatch. They drop down to the ground and tunnel into the soil to begin their years-long development. Thus, the cycle continues.

Because of this huge chunk of time they spend underground as nymphs, periodical cicadas actually have the longest development time of any insect species in North America. Talk about late bloomers!

Are cicadas good?

Cicadas are great for our ecosystems. Their tunneling aerates our native soils, and the decaying bodies of the deceased adults act as a natural fertilizer.

Not to mention the food source they provide. All these insects emerging at once is a bumper crop for predators. Nymphs and adults are tasty morsels for birds, fish, deer and other wildlife. Even dogs will eat them and may vomit if they binge too many (“too much roughage at one time,” says University of Georgia entomologist Nancy Hinkle). Still, there are more cicadas than our predators can consume, so some survive to sustain the population.

It’s worth noting that cicadas are not a threat to us or our pets. They are not poisonous, don’t bite, don’t transmit diseases and won’t feed on crops. Egg laying by the females may cause aesthetic damage to branch

periodical cicada broods in the United States

tips, but this is not likely to harm your trees.

Where to find them

Finding periodical cicadas can be a guessing game. In the Atlanta area, the U.S. Forest Service says we may see Brood XIX in Fulton and Cherokee Counties. Surveys done by UGA entomologists during the 2011 emergence reported them in Fayette and Coweta counties.

Regardless, you will only find them in hardwood forests that have not been disturbed in at least 13 years. Look for mature forests with minimal soil disturbance that are relatively close to a stream or creek. The app iNaturalist is a great way to check if others in your area have reported seeing any.

If you do see a cicada, how do you know if it’s the periodical type? Periodical cicadas are mostly black with red eyes and orange-tinted wings, while annual cicadas are green with black eyes. Dr. Hinkle makes it even simpler: “Any cicada you see before June is a periodical cicada; any cicada you see after June is an annual cicada.”

If you happen to see one, note the date and location, and take a photo! Report your observations on iNaturalist, and send your photos to your local Extension agent for good measure. If

U.S. FOREST SERVICE

you live in Fulton County, I am anxiously awaiting your email.

North Fulton Master Gardeners, Inc. is a Georgia nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization whose purpose is to educate its members and the public in the areas of horticulture and ecology in order to promote and foster community enrichment. Master Gardener Volunteers are trained and certified by The University of Georgia Cooperative Extension. Learn more at nfmg.net. Previous Garden Buzz columns are featured at https://appenmedia.com/opinion/columnists/garden_buzz/.

About the Author

This week’s “Garden Buzz” guest columnist is Gabrielle LaTora, agriculture agent for UGA Extension in Fulton County. An entomologist by training, Gabrielle is interested in insects on farms and in gardens and is passionate about closing the gap between people and their food. In addition to helping coordinate Fulton County’s Master Gardener Extension Volunteer program, Gabrielle oversees the North Fulton Community Garden, answers clients’ questions about gardening and natural resources, works with urban farmers, and delivers educational programs for Fulton County residents.

GABRIELLE LATORA Guest Columnist

WARD UPHAM, KANSAS STATE UNIVERSITY/BUGWOOD.ORG Periodical cicada

JACOB TOMBERLIN/PROVIDED

A comparison of the number of students per school counselor across Dekalb, Forsyth and Fulton county school districts shows that Forsyth County Schools is mid-range with 378 students per counselor across its elementary, middle and high schools.

Education:

Continued from Page 8

She also said the district is trying to focus on getting students graduated.

While investments have been made toward mental health resources, investments in school social workers are lacking. Caracciolo argued that this is because the district plans according to the needs of its specific student population, opting for other methods.

Caracciolo highlighted the school district’s local investment dollars, spending more than $11 million on school counselors than what is received from the state. She also said neighboring school districts receive significantly more federal funding, in part because of their free/reduced lunch numbers.

The Forsyth County School District has about half the student population than Fulton and DeKalb counties, and it also works with a much smaller budget. Yet, Forsyth County Schools collects 80 percent of what its neighbors collect in terms of total revenue

per student and has 25 percent of the school social worker staffing.

Despite Forsyth County being the richest county in Georgia by per capita income, and its school district maintaining high academic rankings across the state overall, lack of adequate housing for students is growing.

McKinney Vento, a federal, state and local program created during the Reagan administration to address attendance issues related to homelessness, identifies homelessness as the lack of fixed, adequate or regular nighttime housing.

There were 1,044 students in the district’s McKinney Vento program, up from the 1,020 students recorded at the end of the 2022-23 school year. There were 610 students in the program in 2019-20.

“Fulton or DeKalb may have a larger number of students that are facing homelessness, and also facing social and economic challenges,” said Caracciolo, who confirmed the district is adding another school social worker next year to serve a growing student population of currently more than 55,300 students.

ARC:

Continued from Page 1

Since some cities and counties started qualifying projects last year, a few have started filing for the tax credits.

“At some point this year, I’m not going to be talking to groups like this about hypothetically what people are doing,” he said. “I’ll be able to say, the city of ‘X’ made this investment, and they got a check from the federal government covering 30-50 percent of the cost.”

Unfortunately, the credit payment comes after the project goes into service.

“There’s an upfront financing issue that folks need to consider,” Eichenthal said.

A payment from the Internal Revenue Service can be expected within 45 days after a project goes into service, he said.

“Finance directors can now model out what that will look like,” Eichenthal added.

He gave some examples of projects, like fleet electrification and central geothermal heating, that require a hefty initial capital investment but project a reduction in a local government’s operating cost.

Public school districts could receive federal aid installing solar panels on the roofs of buildings.

The idea is tax credits will help build

Upgrades:

from Page 3

“We came upon the GDOT prequalification requirement as a reliable standard for the professionalism and capabilities of the contractor,” Paul said.

The study discussion also touched on elements of repurposing Northside Drive and New Northside Drive, which are oneway roads. Staff received mixed feedback on the project.

Some residents voiced concerns about the potential for traffic congestion and loss of tree canopy if the roadways were altered.

Staff identified existing deficiencies on the one-way streets, including 12-foot-wide travel lanes, sidewalk gaps, wrong-way driving activity and crashes, signalized intersection needs and limited street lighting.

Instead of two-way roads, residents support sidewalk projects, street lighting and wrong-way driving treatments.

“We analyzed both of these corridors, and we thought about actually making this a two-way pair,” Shankle said. “After looking through all of the impacts … we ended up with the second alternative.”

The chosen alternative focuses on the addition of bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure in the study area, she said.

Because of wide roadways and excess

Members of the Atlanta Regional Commission Board gather at the metropolitan planning organization May 8 to hear a special presentation from the U.S. Treasury Department.

projects more quickly and affordably, mitigating climate risks, creating jobs and lowering energy costs.

Members of the presidential Cabinet have said the program is a game-changing opportunity to expand clean energy across the county.

Sandy Springs Mayor Rusty Paul, serv-

lanes, there’s room for a side path.

Shankle also said the New Northside Drive bridge over I-285 was included in the study area to provide guidelines if the Georgia Department of Transportation decides to rebuild it.

With connections to Cobb County and Interstate North Parkway, work on New Northside Drive is a long-range recommendation.

Mid-term recommendations, prioritized for future funding, revolve around Northside Drive.

“Since we are not doing the twoway conversion, we do want to address wrong-way safety improvements, either with signage or striping,” Shankle said. “That’s one of the main-ticket items for the short-term for this area.”

Councilman Bauman said the open houses, in August 2023 and February 2024, were among the most well-attended since he joined the City Council 10 years ago.

“I’m glad to hear the focus is on the low-hanging fruit,” he said. “I think there’s already a project teed up … on Powers Ferry near the townhomes and condos across from the Board of Education.”

Bauman also said residents have asked him for a more pedestrian-friendly bridge to Cobb County via New Northside Drive, connectivity to the Northside Drive roundabout and safety improvements at Ray’s on the River.

ing as the North Fulton County mayoral representative on the ARC Board, said city staff will review the information and determine whether it can meet the needs of the city.

The city is installing electric vehicle charging stations at its new Police Department and Municipal Court on

Morgan Falls Road and its new Fleet Center on Roswell Road.

“There are some vehicles in our fleet where the direct pay program may offer us some opportunities,” he said. “We need to dig into it a bit deeper than the cursory overview we got today.”

A map shows the approved work for the Powers Ferry Road sidewalk project, including a midblock crossing beacon. The Sandy Springs City Council awarded a contract to Vertical Earth May 7 for construction of the pedestrian safety improvements.

DEATH NOTICES

Aubrey Jones, 89, of Alpharetta, passed away on May 6, 2024. Arrangements by Northside Chapel Funeral Directors & Crematory.

Carol Mack, 91, of Roswell, passed away on May 5, 2024. Arrangements by Northside Chapel Funeral Directors & Crematory.

John Parsons, 90, of Roswell, passed away on May 2, 2024. Arrangements by Northside Chapel Funeral Directors & Crematory.

Kenneth Walsh, 80, of Roswell, passed away on May 5, 2024. Arrangements by Northside Chapel Funeral Directors & Crematory.

CITY OF SANDY SPRINGS/PROVIDED

HAYDEN SUMLIN/APPEN MEDIA

North Fulton Community Charities, Roswell Ga is seeking a Bilingual Food Pantry Manager. This position reports to the Director of Client Services –Food Pantry. The role will support the Director with inventory control, pantry operations in receiving products, troubleshooting pantry concerns, assisting with client orders, supervising and managing volunteers and entering data and creating reports in the NFCC systems. We are seeking a person who can work and lead a team, has great interpersonal skills, has MS Office experience (Sales Force is a plus), and ability to work evenings and weekends. To be qualified, candidates must be Bilingual (English / Spanish) and able lift up to 50 lbs. This position comes with a Full Benefit package. NFCC is an EEO and drug free employer. We will be accepting resumes until Monday, May 20th. Please send your resume to John Doolen at JDoolen@nfcchelp.org.