SANDY SPRINGS, Ga. — Sandy Springs announced it will host two community meetings for its Safety Action Plan Aug. 29 to get input on its effort to curb car crashes.
The first meeting is from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the North Fulton Government Services Center on Roswell Road, followed by another at City Hall off Galambos Way from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Both meetings will cover identical content in an openhouse format with presentations offered once an hour.
The planning team will give an overview of the process, highlight crash trends and gather community input on potential solutions for road safety.
The Sandy Springs Safety Action Plan, like ones developed in cities across Metro Atlanta, looks to reduce or prevent fatal and serious-injury crashes on all roadways.
At a January City Council meeting, elected officials approved a contract with Gresham Smith to analyze crash data, identify high-injury networks and identify underserved communities that may be disproportionately affected by fatal and serious injury crashes.
The crowd at the June 18 Sandy Springs City Council work session looks at a regionwide crash analysis, part of the development of the city’s Safety Action Plan. The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Safe Streets and Roads for All program provides implementation grants to cities who complete an action plan. See PLAN, Page 12
Sandy Springs attorney now chairs Fulton elections board City asks for input on road safety plan
By HAYDEN SUMLIN hayden@appenmedia.com
ATLANTA — A Sandy Springs attorney, Sherri Allen, is the new chair of the Fulton County Board of Registration and Elections after county commissioners approved her nomination at a July 29 special-called meeting.
The confirmation vote was 6-0, with District 5 Commissioner Marvin Arrington Jr. abstaining.
Allen is a Sandy Springs resident and practicing attorney. She operates her own firm in the city, specializing in wrongful death, medical negligence, nursing home abuse, social security and veterans’ claims.
Allen is not new to serving her community. She is chair of the Sandy Springs Board of Appeals, legal assistance manager for The Warrior Alliance and on the board of Solidarity Sandy Springs.
Nominated by Fulton County Board of Commissioners Vice Chair Khadijah Abdur-Rahman, Allen is the third per -
son to chair the Board of Registration and Elections this year.
In April, former Chair Patrice Perkins-Hooper left for an interim role as Atlanta’s city attorney after less than a year chairing the elections board.
ALLEN, Page 12
HAYDEN SUMLIN/APPEN MEDIA
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Attorney general joins Appen’s bid for Sandy Springs payroll records
By CARL APPEN carl@appenmedia.com
SANDY SPRINGS, Ga. — The Georgia Attorney General’s Office has joined a fight to pry loose payroll records from the grip of Sandy Springs officials, according to a July 18 letter sent to the city attorney.
In 2023, Sandy Springs spent more than $41 million on salaries and benefits for city employees. That’s about $370 per resident.
Through the Open Records Act, Appen Media requested data from the city in order to analyze that spending. The inquiry is one the newsroom regularly makes with all the municipalities it covers.
The city has repeatedly declined to release that information, instead redacting the names of all those who received a paycheck. It is the only city Appen Media covers which has withheld the data.
Other cities will tell you who they pay.
As a result the newsroom has been unable to confirm who Sandy Springs is paying, how many people it employs or whether staff salaries are in line with other metro Atlanta governments.
Payroll information for public employees is subject to release under Georgia’s Open Records Act.
Appen Media previously used public records to report that a former assistant city manager resigned from Sandy Springs in July 2023 after three months on the job. That employee received $47,196 in severance, according to documents the newspaper obtained. The City of Sandy Springs declined to comment on the matter, citing a “long-standing practice” not to address personnel matters.
In response to a March request for additional payroll data, the City of Sandy Springs redacted the name of every person who had received
a check, including the mayor and city manager. When the newspaper asked for clarification on why that information was not released, city officials cited safety concerns.
Sandy Springs staff have also used the explanation that a city “security plan” mandates they withhold payroll information. The city then denied requests to inspect that document, again citing safety concerns.
Appen Media eventually filed a complaint with the state Attorney General’s Office over the city’s refusal to provide payroll information.
Assistant Attorney General Kristen Settlemire wrote to the city about the topic April 4.
“It is unclear how either of the exemptions being relied upon by the city apply to the redacted portions of the record,” the letter states.
Settlemire wrote further that because she is not aware of all the circumstances of the situation, she is not assuming any wrongdoing by the city. The note ends by requesting the city respond within two weeks and explain their justification for the redactions.
Sandy Springs City Attorney Dan Lee replied April 15, offering an explanation similar to the ones Appen received. His letter to Settlemire cited the city’s obligation to “protect its employees,” and pointed to the Sandy Springs security plan.
In an electronic letter dated July 18, Settlemire responded that the Attorney General’s Office was not satisfied that the city’s decision “comports with the legal requirements of the Open Records Act.”
Citing case law, legal rulings and the Georgia General Assembly, Settlemire countered Lee’s explanations.
“As to the employee names redacted, Georgia courts have expressly held that such names are,
More Information
Residents wishing to help gain access to public information should reach out to their elected Sandy Springs officials, imploring them to comply with Georgia’s Open Records Act.
They can also contribute to the Sandy Springs Open Records Fund, which goes to cover the cost of document production and legal action. Find the form at appenmedia.com/openrecords
in fact, subject to disclosure,” the assistant attorney general wrote.
The three-page letter also speaks to the intent behind Georgia’s Sunshine Laws.
“Access to public records allows the public to know what actions their public servants are undertaking and fosters the public’s confidence in officials and the decisions that those officials make,” Settlemire wrote. “The failure to serve those purposes can lead to mistrust and controversy.”
After laying out the response, the Attorney General’s Office told Sandy Springs to turn over the data. “Accordingly, please ensure [Appen Media] is provided access to the requested record, inclusive of employee names and ‘position ids,’ within ten business days and confirm to our office when this has been accomplished,” Settlemire writes.
The letter ends with some advice.
“We strongly encourage you, as city attorney, to be mindful of the legal requirements and obligations set forth in the Open Records Act and to counsel the city accordingly,” the note recommends.
The city had until Aug. 1 to comply with the assistant attorney general’s directive.
As of press time Aug. 2 Appen Media had not received the information.
SANDY SPRINGS, Ga. — A 2-month-old Sandy Springs resident was returned safely to Police Department Headquarters Aug. 1 after her biological father allegedly abducted her the prior morning. Sandy Springs Public Information Officer Sgt. Leon Millholland said the suspect, a 22-year-old, turned himself in at headquarters around 10:30 a.m.
Aug. 1 with the 2-month-old child unharmed.
The initial missing child advisory went out to broadcast media, stating the girl was last seen around 3:30 p.m. at the Home 2 Suites by Hilton off Peachtree Dunwoody near the border of Fulton and DeKalb counties.
The Levi’s Call from the Georgia
Bureau of Investigation Aug. 31 said the Sandy Springs Police Department needed the public’s help in locating a missing 2-month-old who was in “extreme danger.”
The state of Georgia’s Ambert Alert is coined Levi’s Law for abductions of children under age 17, in memory of Forsyth County’s Levi Frady.
CITY SPRINGS THEATRE COMPANY/ PROVIDED
There is an updated schedule for the City Springs Theatre Company’s production of “Jersey Boys,” running through Aug. 11 at the Sandy Springs Performing Arts Center’s Byers Theatre.
City Springs updates schedule for ‘Jersey Boys’ performances
SANDY SPRINGS, Ga. — The City Springs Theatre Company announced an updated schedule for its production of “Jersey Boys” through Aug. 11 in the Sandy Springs Performing Arts Center’s Byers Theatre.
The musical stars four local Metro Atlantan actors as Frankie Vallie and The Four Seasons. “Jersey Boys” follows the journey of four blue-collar kids from the streets to the top of music charts and their 1990 induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
It premiered at San Francisco’s La Jolla Playhouse in 2004 and ran on Broadway from 2005 to 2017.
Atlanta’s-own Shane DeLancey directs the City Springs production with help from choreographer Meg
Gillentine, conductor Miles Plant and designer Mike Wood.
Individual tickets with prices ranging from $42-$108, are on sale with discounts for seniors, students, groups and military personnel.
The City Springs Theatre Company is a local nonprofit providing Broadwayquality productions to north Metro Atlanta’s diverse and growing population.
The nonprofit theater, led by Executive Director Natalie DeLancey with Tony Award-winner Shuler Hensley serving as artistic director, has served more than 175,000 patrons and 135,000 students through its mainstage musicals and education programs.
For information about showtimes and tickets, call 404-477-4365 or visit cityspringstheatre.com/.
The City Springs Theatre Company’s updated schedule of “Jersey Boys” performances in the Byers Theatre:
• Thursday, August 8 at 8:00pm
• Friday, August 9 at 8:00pm
• Saturday, August 10 at 2:00pm and 8:00pm
• Sunday, August 11 at 2:00pm
High-tech wastewater facility serves Fulton County
By JON WILCOX jon@appenmedia.com
ROSWELL, Ga. — A Fulton County state-of-the-art wastewater treatment facility hides in plain sight, tucked next to million-dollar homes and pristine parklands.
Built in 2009 as the first of its kind, the $158-million Johns Creek Environmental Campus sits on Holcomb Bridge Road in Roswell. The Veolia-run facility cleans North Fulton County wastewater, serving about 150,000 people in Alpharetta, Johns Creek, Roswell and Sandy Springs.
“It is one of the most unique wastewater facilities in the nation,” Veolia Program Manager David Horton said.
The technology featured at the campus works by filtering wastewater through hollow spaghetti-like strands covered in tiny pores. The method allows the wastewater facility to sell non-potable water for pennies on the dollar to customers like golf courses and return treated water to the Chattahoochee River.
The technology also gives the facility a smaller physical and environmental footprint.
The Johns Creek Environmental Campus replaced the less-efficient Johns Creek Water Reclamation Facility, which contributed 80% more waste to the river.
“We’re not just in the business of cleaning water,” Horton said. “We’re in the business of the environment.”
Cleaning water from toilets, baths, sinks and other sources can be dirty work, but Fulton County has made a point to make the Johns Creek campus as inoffensive as possible. Unlike many other wastewater treatment plants, this one produces minimal odor.
The lack of smell is in large part a result of its 60-70-feet-deep, covered waste pits and charcoal filters. The facility has spent about $50 million to control odor.
On a July 24 tour, visitors admitted they had no idea the unassuming red-brick building that houses the cleaning process was in fact treated wastewater. They also said they hadn’t smelled anything coming into the building.
“We look like the fire station across the street,” Horton said.
Building down into the ground, instead of outward, has allowed the facility to occupy 6 acres, leaving the remaining 42 acres as a buffer to nearby neighborhoods.
A sprawling parkland containing 1,000 new trees and shrubs, trails as well as wetlands serves as a natural space and recreational resource to
nearby residents, Horton said.
Facility representatives said their first purpose is to help the environment, but the campus also produces water that can be used for certain applications.
The non-potable water it yields is fed into the North Fulton County water reuse distribution system. The water is used for irrigation and fire protection. Special lavender-colored fire hydrants signify they contain water from the reuse system.
On July 24, a facility employee cleaned a campus walkway with a pressure washer fed by the reused water.
The Johns Creek Environmental Campus has been successful on many fronts since opening about 15 years ago, according to Horton. It’s a testament to the facility’s cutting-edge vision that its technology is starting to be used in other, nearby wastewater treatment centers in Gwinnett, Forsyth, Clayton and other counties.
“We were the first,” Horton said.
PHOTOS BY JON WILCOX/APPEN MEDIA
Fiberglass ductwork conveys odor-carrying air from covered wastewater basins at the Johns Creek Environmental Campus on July 24. The facility spent about $50 million on odor control in an effort to minimize its footprint amid the surrounding community.
Program Manager David Horton tells visitors how waste is treated, stored and removed from the Johns Creek Environmental Campus on July 24. The $158-million facility was the first of its kind when it was built in 2009.
State voter cancellation portal needs more data security fixes
By MAGGIE LEE The Current
ATLANTA — To build confidence in voting rolls, Georgia digitized a cancellation process.
Instead, they exposed voter data to exploitation.
The website launched July 29 by Georgia’s secretary of state intended to help individuals to cancel their voter status and to increase confidence in the state’s electoral rolls has instead exposed private personal data of voters, according to an investigation by The Current.
Oversights by IT workers during a test phase meant that for at least two days vital data such as driver’s license information or partial Social Security numbers would have been visible to malicious actors. Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger unveiled the site on Monday, July 29.
The Current discovered one security flaw on Wednesday — and immediately alerted the Secretary of State’s office. The story was held for publication until the agency worked with the IT vendor, MTX Group, to correct the issues.
Gabriel Sterling, chief operating officer for the Georgia Secretary of State’s office and former member of the Sandy Springs City Council, told The Current on Wednesday afternoon that approximately a couple hundred people had visited the site before the software fix.
“We launched something, we found some issues, no one was impacted in any real way that we can discover, we’ve taken steps to mitigate it and make sure it doesn’t happen,” Sterling said.
The issue is the second security flaw discovered since the site came online. The first, reported by The Associated Press, has also been fixed, according to Sterling.
The partial Social Security numbers and drivers’ license numbers exposed inadvertently on Georgia’s voter cancellation site are part of data necessary to initiate a voter registration cancellation, along with a person’s date of birth and county of residence. This personal information is valued by hackers to perpetuate identity or credit fraud.
The Current, while using the new site, discovered that sensitive personal information displayed in the computer code sent from the cancellation portal to some users’ browsers. That flaw was related to an even more obvious security problem first reported by the AP: One page inside the portal very briefly displayed personal information in plain text.
Sterling said his office has been testing the portal internally for weeks. One
of the problems had been fixed during testing, but a last-minute change elsewhere invalidated the fix, he said. The problem identified by The Current was on a list of things that needed to be checked, but it wasn’t checked, he said.
The cancellation portal is part of a larger $5.1 million overhaul of the state’s voter registration system. Those changes include storing information in cloud-based servers run by the company Salesforce, which uses security standards laid out for agencies like the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the U.S. Department of Defense. Not even the MTX Group programmers can see voters’ information, he said.
Georgia’s new election laws allow unlimited numbers of challenges to voter registration, part of a series of changes that the Republican-led state government has made to voting law amid pressure from the pernicious but wrong opinion that voting fraud is rampant in the Peach State. The brunt of those registration challenges falls on county election officials.
Though this portal was designed for individuals to remove only themselves or deceased relatives, it comes at a time when voter-list vigilantes are appearing at county election boards with thousands of names they want removed from voter rolls. Voting rights advocates are on high alert, and didn’t care for the language that first appeared on the new Secretary of State page: “Please enter the information for the voter you are wanting to cancel.”
Despite the initial flaws in the cancellation portal — which Sterling emphasized were fixed within hours — the new digitized system is more secure than depending on paper and the mail, he said.
Sterling said fewer than 20 people visited the site before Monday’s flaw was fixed; and a couple hundred people had initiated cancellation requests as of Wednesday afternoon.
“At the end of the day … all these county [election office] folks, a human being still has to look at this to see if it seems right to them,” Sterling said. Anyone whose registration is canceled should receive a postcard in the mail double-checking the deletion.
Raffensperger’s office called the site “secure” when they announced its debut via press release Monday. The office touted it as a simple way for anyone moving out of state to remove themselves from the Georgia voter list, or to do so for a deceased family member.
Lynne Byrd was guardian of Dunwoody history
By VALERIE BIGGERSTAFF Past Tense columnist
Lynne Byrd passed away July 5, 2024, but the difference she made in Dunwoody will continue to be visible every day. The Cheek Spruill House and DonaldsonBannister Farm remain as landmarks of Dunwoody and both properties are on the National Register of Historic Places thanks to her tireless efforts. The Isaac Roberts home in Sandy Springs was also placed on the register by Lynne. Her friends and neighbors will recall her gentle and kind nature.
Lynne researched and identified the historic properties of Dunwoody and along Spalding Drive, then had markers built and placed on those properties. Her work to preserve the stories of early Dunwoody through oral histories is held in the archives of Dunwoody Preservation Trust. She was a reliable source of local history, always happy to share her knowledge.
In the Spring of 1994, Lynne and friend Joyce Amacher were shocked when two railroad section houses of three that were located on Chamblee Dunwoody Road were suddenly demolished. This event spurred the two women to action.
A historic preservation committee was established as part of the Dunwoody Homeowner’s Association. Lynne was chair of the committee, which later became a separate entity, Dunwoody Preservation Trust. Lynne was the first president of DPT, followed by Joyce Amacher.
Queenie and Danny Ross became the next co-presidents of DPT. “What an amazing lady she was,” recalls Queenie. “She was firm and very knowledgeable in the field of historic preservation. She was a visionary and never ran out of ideas for preservation in Dunwoody.”
Following the 1998 tornado that destroyed homes and countless trees in Dunwoody, Lynne and Joyce were part of the Replant the Dunwoody Forest initiative. That is when Kathy Florence, Communications Manager for the city of Dunwoody, first met Lynne.
"So much of what makes Dunwoody special is because of Lynne Byrd,” observes Florence. “She was the quintessential Southern lady, and her tireless pursuits toward maintaining the history, heritage and early charm of Dunwoody is a perfect complement to its growth and popularity. Her gifts to this city will be appreciated for generations to come." Kathy and Tom Florence served as co-presidents of DPT in 2009 and 2010.
In an interview recorded in 2017 at Donaldson-Bannister Farm, Lynne shared the story of how the Cheek-Spruill House was saved. The home was for sale beginning in 1994 and was in danger of demolition. Fundraisers were held, so the
A 1990s cover of the Dunwoody Crier features Lynne Byrd holding her Save Me sign as part of the campaign to save the Cheek-Spruill house from demolition.
community could buy the property. Lynne and Joyce stood in front the farmhouse wearing signs that read “Save Me.” That image and a painting of the Cheek-Spruill House with a sign that read, “Coming soon: Big Discount Gas Station for your convenience” were both featured on the cover of the Dunwoody Crier newspaper. This was a brilliant move by Lynne.
Lynne enthusiastically shared the excitement of July 4, 1998, in her interview.
An agreement was worked out with the new property owner Guardian Savings. The bank deeded ½ acre including the house to Dunwoody Preservation Trust. The barn would have to be demolished, but the home was saved.
Lynne and Joyce spent that July 4th shouting throughout the parade crowd, “the farmhouse is saved.” Lynne recalled how everyone was clapping and waving flags. The community came together
under the leadership of Lynne and Joyce and money raised to save the house from demolition was used for restoration. Lynne referred to the Cheek-Spruill Home as the “crown jewel of Dunwoody.”
Lynne and Joyce also took on the task of updating “The Story of Dunwoody,” originally written by Elizabeth L. Davis and Ethel W. Spruill. The original book covered years 1821 through 1975. Lynne and Joyce picked up the history from 1975 and took it through 2001.
Lynne wrote three additional books on her own, including her memoir “The Sweetness and the Pits.” Lynne tells of her life as a nurse, wife and mother and her later years which included working at Byrd Realty with husband Noah and as a volunteer with DPT. She continued her education throughout adulthood, earning a Masters in Historic Preservation in her 50s.
Former DPT Board co-president Melanie Williams remembers her friend. “Lynne was an amazing woman with a deep love for the Dunwoody community. Her boundless energy and determination were critical to the preservation of our community’s history. Lynne kept her beautiful smile and positive spirit to the end of her days— to be remembered as a bright star among us.”
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.
PHOTOS SPECIAL TO APPEN MEDIA
Lynne Byrd and Joyce Amacher in the barn that once stood next to the Cheek-Spruill house.
CITY OF SANDY SPRINGS/PROVIDED
Young children and their parents meet with Sandy Springs police officers at City Green off Galambos Way during last year’s annual National Night Out celebration. The 2024 “Back to School Bash” is Aug. 6 from 6:00-9:00 p.m.
Sandy Springs kicks off school year with National Night Out
SANDY SPRINGS, Ga. — Sandy Springs was slated to kick off the school year and honor local law enforcement with its annual National Night Out celebration Aug. 6 from 6-9 p.m. at City Springs.
The celebration was free for all to attend.
This year’s National Night Out theme is “Back to School Bash,” commemorating the first day of Fulton County Schools Aug. 5.
The nationwide community-building campaign, held annually the second Tuesday of August, promotes police-community partnerships and neighborhood camaraderie.
Attendees were set for an opportunity to meet and greet Sandy Springs police officers, firefighters and K-9s, witness two helicopters land on Mount Vernon Highway and explore first responders’ vehicles.
More Online
The Crier had a print deadline that preceded National Night Out. To see photos and a story from this week’s event, head to appenmedia.com.
The Sandy Springs Police, Fire and Recreation and Parks departments support this year’s festivities.
Participating agencies include Federal Bureau of Investigation; Secret Service; Atlanta-Carolina High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas; Drug Enforcement Administration; Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco and Firearms; Georgia Bureau of Investigation; Georgia State Patrol; Fulton County School Police; Fulton County Sheriff’s Office; Fulton County Marshal; MARTA police; and Chatcomm.
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Roswell native finds adventure, strength on Appalachian Trail
By JON WILCOX jon@appenmedia.com
ROSWELL, Ga. — Hudson Brock felt relief and joy finishing up the last few feet of his almost 2,200-mile hike.
“I got a little emotional,” Brock said. His parents were waiting on July 20 at a base camp at the foot of Mount Katahdin, Maine, which marks the end of the Appalachian Trail. They welcomed him home with a fried chicken sandwich, an extravagant meal after five months of mostly bland trail food.
Since setting out in early March in Georgia, the 24-year-old Roswell native had hiked through 14 states, enduring wet and cold weather, aching feet, countless blisters, sometimes 20-plus-mile days and, sometimes, doubts about his endurance.
About one in four hikers who set out on the trail actually finish, The Appalachian Trail Conservancy estimates.
“I remember on Day 3 thinking, ‘How am I ever going to do this?”’ Brock said. But by the end, he knew he could.
Brock was introduced to backpacking in his youth when his father would take him on treks in North Georgia. As he grew older, the trips got longer, sometimes stretching several days, and on those walks, father and son would sometimes run into Appalachian Trail hikers, who related tales of adventure.
While attending Kennesaw State for a computer engineering degree, Brock began to see the Appalachian Trail as a pinnacle, one-in-a-lifetime achievement and something he might want to do himself.
“I realized that this is seriously something I want to do,” he said.
After graduating, Brock eased himself into the routine of walking with a heavy pack, building up to longer and longer walks. Although those practice runs were invaluable, he said, the reality of taking on the trail was something else entirely.
Slightly overweight, it was difficult getting used to a 45-pound pack that contained mostly food but also cold weather gear, a spare set of “town clothes,” satellite messenger to text his parents, sleeping bag, water filter, phone, charger and much more.
Burning about 4,000 calories a day, Brock got leaner and stronger. He learned invaluable lessons, like what he needed to carry and what he could do without. And he found an inner strength.
“I was able to push my mental boundaries,” he said, adding, “The thing you got to tell yourself is, ‘As I’m hiking, it gets easier.’ You get used to it.”
He also experienced those adventures he had once dreamed about. The journey has given him a new perspective on not only what he is capable of but also people and the importance of kindness.
PROVIDED
Hudson Brock, 24, reaches the top of Mount Katahdin, Maine, on July 20 near the end the Appalachian Trail. Brock set out on the journey in early March after graduating from Kennesaw State.
“I have a new outlook on how kind people are,” he said. “You meet so many great people.”
Brock said he cherishes many fond memories, like the companionship he experienced huddling around a tiny fire on a below-freezing night in North Carolina, watching a distant storm roll in from a mountain meadow vista point, a 28-mile walk for a milkshake in New York, or the time some “trail angels” appeared with burgers, Bratwurst and a TV for a movie night of the 1991 thriller “Point Break.”
“I would say I definitely got my fill of adventures,” he said.
Despite those magical experiences, Brock said he is relieved to be at home, out of the cold and damp and able to enjoy meals other than the prepackaged variety he’d grown weary of.
He admitted he misses some things, like talking shop with fellow hikers and being able to eat anything without worrying about gaining weight.
In January, he plans to pursue a master’s in computer engineering before kicking off his professional career.
Although the Appalachian Trail may be behind him, Brock said he is just getting started. The voyage, he said, has ignited a passion for hiking, and he suspects taking on the Pacific Crest and Continental Divide trails are in his future.
“I think I’m going to have a love for the trail for the rest of my life,” he said.
Investment firm purchases Alpharetta downtown hotel following foreclosure
By JON WILCOX jon@appenmedia.com
ALPHARETTA, Ga. — The Hamilton Hotel, a luxury inn located in the heart of downtown, has new owners following a foreclosure sale that came years after it lost almost 25 percent of its appraised value.
The Hamilton was foreclosed on July 2 and sold at auction by Mayfair Street Partners for $41,981,183 to Peachtree Group, an investment firm with a portfolio that includes ownership and management of numerous hospitality assets.
The building’s appraisal value jumped from $10,292,500 in 2021 to $21,088,300 in 2022 before suffering a devaluation to $15,964,300 in 2023.
Greg Friedman, CEO and managing principal for Peachtree Group, said his firm intends to focus on stabilizing the hotel’s performance.
Opened in 2021, the 119-unit, 123,470-square-foot Hamilton is one of Hilton’s Curio Collection operation, a handpicked set of unique, high-end hotels that includes 160 properties across the world.
The Hilton brand and its downtown location, which includes 25-million square feet of office space and over 14-million square feet of retail space, made the Hamilton a sound investment, Charles Talbert, Peachtree
Group vice president, said.
“The Hamilton Hotel boasts a prime location in downtown Alpharetta,” Talbert said. “The high costs and governmental barriers to constructing another hotel in a similar location enhance its competitive advantage.”
Mayor Jim Gilvin said the Hamilton has served as an important asset to the city and its downtown. He was pleased the hotel would continue as a destination for visitors.
The hotel’s location makes it ideal for visitors to experience all the heart of the city has to offer.
“As Alpharetta has become a hospitality destination with all the restaurants and entertainment venues and all the activities and events we hold downtown,” Gilvin said, “it was only fitting that we have a place for visitors who don’t live here.”
Jane Rodgers, CEO and president of Awesome Alpharetta, the city’s convention and visitors bureau, said the Hamilton has played an important role in the downtown, serving as an attractive lodging for visitors who appreciate walkability to shopping, dining, events and attractions.
“The Hamilton Alpharetta has become an integral part of the fabric that creates a vibrant downtown with its exceptional charm and sophisticated design,” Rodgers said.
JON WILCOX/APPEN MEDIA Hospitality investment firm Peachtree Group is the new owner of the Hamilton Hotel, a 119-unit boutique hotel in downtown Alpharetta. The firm purchased the hotel at auction after it was foreclosed on in early July. A Peachtree Group representative said the firm intends to stabilize the hotel’s performance.
Ways the power of in-home care can boost your quality of life
As we all age there comes a point when the need for in-home caregiving becomes obvious, especially when the physical activities of daily living become too difficult to manage without help. There are a wide variety of situations, however, when the power of in-home caregiving can be used to provide a major boost to the quality of life of you or your older loved one.
When home is in an assisted living community, in-home care can provide a bridge that gives you the freedom and flexibility to remain in the setting and with the friends you’ve come to love. Perhaps maintaining your independence will require extra help as you recuperate from an accident or surgery. Should fall risks emerge, your caregiver can add security and peace of mind. A skilled Home Helpers caregiver can make life and nights easier if your loved one is starting to wander. For couples, this also makes sure a good night’s rest happens for their partner. Adding in-home care to the services provided by your facility can get you through unexpected times and weave a strong layer of support that lets you continue to maintain the lifestyle you want.
Home Helpers can also provide companionship if your loved one is in a Rehabilitation Center. Recovery can often be challenging, and having a sitter who stays with them can provide both
emotional comfort and stability in unfamiliar surroundings. The warmth of a well-matched companion can also help speed up recovery and battle the loneliness that can delay their recovery. It’s a way to have peace of mind knowing someone is by their side and looking out for your loved one.
Over the years, the transition from the loss of a partner, career or shrinking circle of social contacts can make it feel like the world is smaller every day. Depression and loneliness can be as debilitating as any other health challenge. Almost a quarter of adults over age 65 are considered to be socially isolated. Forty three percent of adults in the United States over age 60 report feeling lonely. For your older loved one, promoting social interaction can truly be transformative. A caregiver with a heart centered approach and positive spirit can help reinvent ways to pursue a hobby, enjoy outings and community activities, and build relationships that make for a longer and better life.
We have a team with depth and skill that can provide the care you need from six hours a day, several days a week to 24/7 care. A Home Helpers caregiver can assist with all personal care, help around the house, accompany you on doctor’s visits and provide specialized care for Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, etc. For a free consultation, please call Home Helpers of Alpharetta and North Atlanta Suburbs at (770) 681-0323.
Gen. Jack Singlaub, a military legend with ties to Georgia (Pt. 1)
Maj. Gen. John K. (Jack) Singlaub is a name associated with daring covert assignments and lasting contributions to our country.
Singlaub, who died in 2022 at age 100, was a fighting man’s soldier. He took part in highrisk clandestine operations from World War ll in Europe and the Far East to Korea to Vietnam and spent a vital portion of his career in Georgia. He was part of a small group of gallant men who served in the precursor to the CIA, the Office of Strategic Services (OSS). He was also a family man who famously clashed with President Jimmy Carter. He retired in 1978 after 35 years of service but continued to be an active champion for democracy. Here is Part 1 of his amazing story. Part 2 will focus on his Georgia experience.
John Kirk (Jack) Singlaub was born in 1921 in the small town of Independence in eastern California. The town was 2 miles from what began as the U.S. Army Camp Independence, founded in 1862 and abandoned in 1877, and is currently part of an Indian reservation. Situated near the Sierra Nevada mountains, the area is favored by hikers which included Jack Singlaub when he was a youth. He and some friends tested themselves by seeing how many days they could hike with what they carried in their backpacks.
His family settled in Los Angeles where in 1939 Jack enrolled in the ROTC program at UCLA. In 1943 at the height of World War ll, he left the university early to receive a commission as an infantry Second Lieutenant in the Army. After the attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941, President Roosevelt had established the Office of Strategic Services (OSS) to operate behind enemy lines. Jack was recruited to become an officer in the OSS, the precursor of the modern CIA and Army Special Forces (nicknamed Green Berets). As part of Operation Jedburgh, Jack’s first covert mission was to parachute behind German lines to help the French Resistance prepare for the Allied invasion of the Mediterranean coast following the D-Day invasion of Normandy. Jack was wounded in one operation by a sniper’s bullet to his face. In response Jack emptied two machine gun magazines into the German hiding place, ending the
“Major” Jack Singlaub, right, turns his back to Japanese junior soldiers while awaiting a senior Japanese officer to discuss the release of nearly 400 American, Australian and Dutch prisoners of war on Hainan Island in 1945. Capt. Singlaub posed as a major to radiate more authority over a touchy situation.
threat.
Operation Jedburgh consisted of three-man teams of specially trained American, British, French, Belgian and Dutch commandos. They parachuted at night into occupied France, Belgium and the Netherlands to coordinate airdrops of arms and supplies and to support local partisans.
In early 1945 when on home leave, Jack married Mary Osborne, a U.S. Navy Lieutenant JG. They had three children before divorcing in 1990, including Mary Ann Singlaub, whom I interviewed extensively for this column. In 1992 Jack married Joan Lafferty from Tennessee, with whom he lived until his death.
Jack also served in the Pacific conflict. In September 1945, soon after atomic bombs were dropped on Japan, he volunteered to help rescue American, Australian and Dutch prisoners of war held in a Japanese prison camp on Hainan Island in the South China Sea. It was feared that the POWs would be executed in retribution for the atomic bombs. As part of an elite eight-man team, Singlaub parachuted onto the island and convinced a high-ranking Japanese officer that Japan had just surrendered, thus saving the lives of nearly 400 tortured and emaciated POWs.
In a 2012 interview with the Defense Media Network, when asked for his most satisfying experience in World War ll, Singlaub replied “picking
up those prisoners, bringing hope to them and getting out was a great way to finish a war…here was a real humanitarian achievement for our side.”
Singlaub served as Chief of the Military Liaison Mission to Mukden (now Shenyang), Manchuria, from 1946 to 1948 where he conducted intelligence operations for the CIA. In 1948, when Mao Zedong’s People’s Liberation Army overtook the area during the prolonged Civil War against Chiang Kai-shek’s Nationalists, the American team was evacuated by U.S. Marines by plane while under artillery attack. Jack’s pregnant wife Mary had been evacuated by a troop ship a few weeks earlier.
Singlaub served two combat tours during the Korean War where he took part in various secret operations. He served as deputy chief of the CIA mission in Korea and later as an Army battalion commander where he received a Silver Star for valor in battle.
General Singlaub’s experiences in Georgia were no less significant and noteworthy than his early years. More about that in an upcoming column.
Bob is director emeritus of the Milton Historical Society and a Member of the City of Alpharetta Historic Preservation Commission. You can email him at bobmey@bellsouth.net. Bob welcomes suggestions for future columns about local history.
Jack Singlaub in his Operation Jedburgh gear. Operation Jedburgh was a covert operation where three-man teams of specially trained soldiers parachuted at night into occupied France, Belgium and the Netherlands to thwart German military operations. The operation was one of Singlaub’s first after enlisting in the Army.
BOB MEYERS Columnist
WASHINGTON POST OBITUARY
Maj. Gen. Jack Singlaub died at age 100 in January 2022.
GENERAL SINGLAUB PRIVATE COLLECTION
GENERAL SINGLAUB PRIVATE COLLECTION
OPINION
The perks of being an avid reader
I’ve been an avid reader my whole life. In grammar school, I lived for the book fairs, and I was the girl in high school who always had a novel tucked inside her textbook. I learned all I needed to know about the Kings and Queens of England from historical novels by Phillipa Gregory, Anya Seton, Jean Plaidy, and goodness knows who else. Of course, I majored in English in college. What else was a girl to do?
The number one perk is the pure joy I get from reading a good book, which is why I read every night, often two-three books a week. Next is what I learn. It was the Maisie Dobbs series that introduced me to the impact of the first World War on England— beyond the actual bombs and devastation to a generation of young men. A dry history book is not for me. It’s novels I crave.
What I never imagined is that later in life, I would become a world-famous columnist writing about books. Do you see my tongue firmly planted in my cheek? I’m certainly not famous, but a bit of attention has come my way because of my book columns in the Dunwoody Crier.
I’ve had the pleasure of meeting with book clubs to discuss my books, my path to writing, and books I recommend. When a member of Sisters in Crime Atlanta read my columns, she invited me to attend a monthly Reader Rendezvous meeting. What fun to chat with a group of mystery readers about the latest books we’ve enjoyed.
That invitation led to my joining SINC Atlanta and participating in lots of book festivals. And yes, on occasion, someone reads the byline for my columns and picks up one of my books.
The latest perk came my way when the communications manager for a major publisher noticed my columns. She wrote to ask if I’d care to read any of the mysteries and thrillers the firm planned to release this year and sent me a list to consider. The first thing that caught my eye was an October release by Colleen Cambridge, so that went on the list. But I also found several new to me authors. This week’s review is about a debut novel described as “Maisie Dobbs meets James Bond.” How could I resist?
“A Jewel in the Crown” by David Lewis Set in England during WWII, it features Caitrin Colline, a strong, talented female protagonist. Charged by Winston Churchill with removing the Crown Jewels from the Tower of London and driving them north to Scotland, an unlikely pair of secret agents sets out under the cover of darkness. They are to safeguard the jewels at all costs so that they don’t fall into the hands of the Nazis. It’s not long, of course, before the plan goes awry.
Is there any doubt that Caitrin Colline, a Welsh coalminer’s daughter, will save the day? Author David Lewis has given us a well-researched, actionpacked caper filled with witty dialogue. I wasn’t surprised to read that he was an award-winning screenwriter and filmmaker. That background shines through in this tale that kept me turning pages well past my bedtime several nights in a row.
Trust me when I tell you that there is not a boring moment in this novel. Lewis tells us he has more Caitrin Colline stories to share, so I’m eagerly awaiting Book II. The series may be dubbed “The Secret Churchill Files”, but like the Maisie Dobbs series I so love, I’ll read it to learn more about Caitrin Colline.
This book ticks all my boxes—set in England, strong female lead, well plotted mystery, and more. I highly recommend you grab it now. Happy reading!
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/.
Big Apple park, once
German titles of respect
Tibetan denizen, maybe
Elmer’s nemesis
49 Heroic poem
50 Dog holder
51 Burrowing rodent
53 “Give ___ break!”
54 Little dog, for short 55 Wind down 56 Kosovo locale
58 Small amount
Reservations 63 Bullfight cheer 64 Dabbling duck 65 “Shucks!” 66 Psyches 67 Kachina doll maker Down 1 Prefix with system
2 How the weasel goes?
3 Infamous Amin
4 Some horizontal beams 5 Native Australian 6 Subcompact
7 “___ De-Lovely”
8 One of the “Katzenjammer Kids”
9 Repeated, singer who sang with Cult Jam
10 Plugs
11 Brunnhilde, e.g.
15 Saint-Germain’s river
17 Accelerator bit
19 Transmitted
21 It may be smoked
23 Quite a party
24 Requiem Mass word
25 Polynesian intoxicant
26 After horse or house
27 Plant with tiny white flowers
30 Hosp. injections
31 Slicker
34 Wipes out
36 Print measures See solution Page 15
KATHY MANOS PENN Columnist
Plan:
from Page 1
The U.S. Department of Transportation awarded a $360,000 grant to the city last year to complete the study. The city’s contribution is $90,000.
Eventually, it will establish safety goals, a framework and an implementation program to achieve safety targets.
City staff said the Safety Action Plan aligns with goals in the 2021 Transportation Master Plan and 2024 priorities like enhancing multimodal transportation accessibility.
The plan is to have a draft Safety Action Plan by Oct. 31 and adoption in January 2025.
At the June 18 work session, Gresham Smith’s transportation engineer Nithin Gomez presented his analysis of Sandy Springs’ crash data.
“We are committed to sending this to the Federal Highway Administration toward the beginning of next June,” Gomez said. “Right now, we are substantially completed with analysis, and we’ll be shortly getting into development of projects and strategies.”
The U.S. DOT’s website says $3 billion is still available for future funding rounds through 2026.
Sandy Springs, at roughly 5,000 crashes per 100,000 people, leads neighboring Roswell and Dunwoody in the category due to the preponderance of interstates and state highways inside its city limits.
Between 2018 and 2022, there were about 27,500 crashes on Sandy Springs roadways, including I-285, Ga. 400, Roswell Road (Ga. 9) and city-owned streets. More than 50 crashes resulted in at least one fatality, and over 200 crashes involved at least one serious injury.
High-injury networks include the Ga. 400 and I-285 interchanges and signalized intersections along Roswell and Peachtree Dunwoody roads.
“Annually, this all adds up to a total comprehensive crash cost of $650 million,” Gomez said. “That includes the economic cost and also the monetized pain-and-suffering cost for the individuals.”
As an example of potential projects, he pointed to crashes involving pedestrians and cyclists along Roswell Road. Low-cost ideas to prevent them from residents include a mid-block crossing and signage.
Interestingly, fatal and serious-injury crashes jumped 50 percent from the 2013-17 to 2018-22 reporting periods. Gomez said the most overrepresented crash types involve distracted driving or texting, large trucks and impaired drivers.
“We are looking at each individual crash to understand where it happened and why,” he said. “So that we can come up with plans and projects to address those.”
Gomez said equity is an important aspect of the U.S. DOT’s Safe Streets and Roads for All Grant program, established in the 2021 Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. While equality means treating everyone the same, eq-
CITY OF SANDY SPRINGS/PROVIDED A map shows the results of Gresham Smith’s Safety Action Plan analysis for Sandy Springs roadways. Gresham Smith’s transportation engineer said most fatal and serious-injury crashes occur around I-285, Roswell Road (Ga. 9) and Ga. 400.
uity means allocating everyone the exact resources needed for everyone to reach the same outcome.
Gomez identified five census tracts with more than 32 percent of fatal crashes that qualify as areas of persistent poverty or historically disadvantaged communities.
The tracts are just south of I-285 and around the northern city limits between the Roswell Road and Ga. 400 corridors.
“The prioritization of those projects will definitely take into account the equity lens,” Gomez said. “It will also make sure that equity plays a role in how those projects are programmed and rolled out.”
The Safe Streets and Roads for All Grant program requires significant community input, like the upcoming public meetings.
The city’s Safety Task Force is comprised of department heads and functions as an advisory board through the process wrapping next June.
The team got started this summer with an online survey ending June 15 and conversations with 150 patrons at the May 18 Sandy Springs Farmers Market.
The city’s Senior Transportation Engineer David Low is the point of contact for residents with feedback on the Safety Action Plan, the city’s website says. His email is dlow@sandyspringsga.gov.
While some neighboring cities like Dunwoody and Atlanta have adopted the goal of zero deaths or serious injuries on its roadways, Sandy Springs officials look to hear from residents Aug. 29 before locking in any goals or metrics.
Fulton County Commission Chair Robb Pitts then tapped Perkins-Hooper’s predecessor, Cathy Woolard, to take over for the May primaries and June runoffs. Woolard announced her resignation as board chair in early July, giving Chair Pitts and commissioners just weeks to fill the position.
Already an important task, managing
the elections process will carry a particularly heavy weight this year in light of the November presidential ballot. National attention will be following closely the polls of Georgia’s most populous county.
District 2 Commissioner Bob Ellis, who represents the western half of North Fulton County, told Appen Media he’s excited to have Allen chairing the board. Ellis said Allen’s extensive work in the Sandy Springs community, her experience as a poll worker and nonpartisan disposition makes her a good fit. The
fact that she hasn’t run for public office helps too, he said.
Sandy Springs Mayor Rusty Paul also chimed in on the selection.
“Sheri Allen has been an exemplary member of the Sandy Springs Board of Appeals,” Paul said. “I am sure she will be effective as chair of the Board of Registration and Elections.”
On July 30, Allen issued a statement through Fulton County officials:
“Elections and voting access should not be politicized or partisan, an imperative which is made clear by the biparti-
san composition of our Board. No matter the case or situation, I intend to follow the laws, best practices and successful procedures to provide transparency and access to the public. My predecessors’ priorities of access, fairness and transparency are priorities that I intend to continue. By providing consistency and reliable information, Fulton County will continue to build public trust and lead the state for voting equity. Fulton voters deserve measured and transparent leadership, and that is what I intend to do as the chair of the Fulton County BRE.”
Continued from Page 5
“It will also help keep Georgia’s voter registration database up-to-date without having to rely on postcards being sent and returned by an increasingly inefficient postal system,” Raffensperger was quoted as saying in the Monday release.
Georgia Democrats this week have panned Raffenberger’s voter cancellation initiative, and the security snafus have enhanced the mistrust among many members of the state’s minority party. As Georgia moves from longterm Republican dominance to a place where more Democrats register to vote, margins as small as 12,000 votes matter in statewide elections. Democrats fear the portal will be abused by conspiracy theorists and bad actors to wrongly disenfranchise voters.
One Democratic state senator said she saw her own personal information in plain text on the site. Her caucus called for the cancellation portal to be taken down altogether.
The state cancellation site still starts by asking for a person’s name, date of birth and county of residence to start the voter cancellation process.
Next, the site asks for the voter’s drivers license number or the last four digits of their Social Security number. For a short period Monday morning, if a user clicked an option saying they don’t have a driver’s license, the site generated a form for the user to print and return by mail or email. Pressing that button to create the form exposed the personal information.
