First responders display services for community
By HAYDEN SUMLIN hayden@appenmedia.com
SANDY SPRINGS, Ga. — National Night Out is a campaign to foster stronger relationships between the community and law enforcement, and Sandy Springs turns it into a party.
The “Back to School Bash” Aug. 6 welcomed hundreds of children and their families to City Springs for three hours of fun exploring local public safety.
Some activities, like Fire Medic Otis Johnson’s CPR classes, are more educational. Others like the inflatable obstacle course and Prehistoric Nation’s lifelike dinosaurs, are more geared toward getting
the back-to-school jitters out. Johnson said he loves teaching people how they can save lives, especially with his stop-the-bleed lesson. It surprised him that some parents were more enthusiastic about learning than their kids. Throughout the evening, disk jockeys Coach D and LeoRASoul kept kids active with competitions on the City Green like hula hoop.
The Sandy Springs Police and Fire departments spread out their vehicles along Mount Vernon Highway and Galambos Way, giving attendees an opportunity to hop in and look around.
See RESPONDERS, Page 6
Sandy Springs weighs higher costs on planned transportation projects
By HAYDEN SUMLIN hayden@appenmedia.com
SANDY SPRINGS, Ga. — Sandy Springs elected officials got the latest reading Aug. 6 on how rising construction costs are affecting city plans to spend its share of Fulton County transportation sales tax revenue.
Residents approved a five-year extension of an existing .75-cent sales tax in 2021 to fund transportation projects. The tax runs through March 2027.
Updates on the city’s projects funded through the prior Transportation Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax program (2016 and 2021) come from Chris Burnett, the city’s member of the Fulton
County TSPLOST Citizen Oversight Committee.
One resident from each Fulton County city, excluding Atlanta, sits on the oversight board.
Burnett, a former member of the Dunwoody City Council, begins as Sandy Springs Economic Development director this month.
“My role in representing the city on the oversight committee is to attempt to determine the validity and accuracy of the process,” Burnett said. “We’re not an audit body … so we do rely heavily on the county and our intermediary firm for the accuracy of tax collections and data.”
Page 15
DEAN HESSE/APPEN MEDIA
Madison and Mackenzie Saldana check out Sandy Springs Fire Department Tower 52 with Fire Apparatus Engineer Storck at the National Night Out on the City Green at City Springs Aug. 6. The event, billed as a “Back to School Bash,” drew hundreds.
NEWS TIPS
770-442-3278
AppenMedia.com
319 N. Main Street Alpharetta, GA 30009
HANS APPEN Publisher CONTACT
Contact reporters directly or send story ideas to newsroom@appenmedia.com.
LETTERS, EVENTS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
Send your letters, events and community news to newsroom@appenmedia.com. See appenmedia.com/submit for more guidance.
ADVERTISING
For information about advertising in the Sandy Springs Crier or other Appen Media properties, email advertising@appenmedia.com or call 770-442-3278.
CIRCULATION
To start, pause or stop delivery of this newspaper, email circulation@appenmedia.com or call 770-442-3278.
COMPARING POLICE TRANSPARENCY
Sandy Springs vs. Johns Creek
Sandy Springs
Johns Creek
Each week Appen Media requests police incident reports to inform residents about the safety of their community. Sandy Springs continues to withhold what it calls the “narrative reports.” It is the only city Appen Media covers that follows this practice, which goes against guidance from the Attorney General, Georgia Bureau of Investigation, Georgia Sheriff’s Association, Prosecuting Attorneys’ Council of Georgia and Georgia Press Association. Appen Media will continue pursuing the release of more detailed documents that belong to the public in order to inform residents how safe – or unsafe – their city is.
City invites public comment on MARTA Corridor Study
SANDY SPRINGS, Ga. — Sandy Springs is inviting the community to offer input on the North Springs MARTA Corridor Study Aug. 22 at City Hall off Galambos Way.
The community workshop from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. is the first opportunity for people to drop in and speak with the project team.
The study area includes 1.75 miles of Peachtree Dunwoody Road, from Abernathy Road to Spalding Drive, north of I-285 and east of Ga. 400.
Another public input meeting from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. features a presentation of the project’s overview, a recap of public input and alternative concepts. Afterward, the project team will meet with attendees in groups to share additional ideas for the corridor and station site.
Sandy Springs spearheads the project with funding from the Atlanta Regional Commission’s Livable Center Initiative program and key partners like MARTA and the Perimeter Community Improvement Districts.
The study’s objective is to make North Springs station more walkable and accessible by creating a transit-oriented development on MARTA property.
Other objectives include identifying a preferred route to extend the PATH400 multi-use trail to the station, enhancing cyclist and pedestrian access, finding placemaking opportunities and creating a clear community vision for the area.
Following the Aug. 22 meetings, an online survey will open to the public until Friday, Sept. 6.
Pop-up events at the North Springs MARTA Station are scheduled for Thursday, Aug. 29 from 7:30-10 a.m. and Saturday, Aug. 31 from 7:30-10 a.m.
Staff said feedback received from the meetings will help refine draft concepts for the Peachtree Dunwoody Road corridor and North Springs MARTA station.
CITY OF SANDY SPRINGS/PROVIDED
The North Springs MARTA Corridor Study area includes 1.75 miles of Peachtree Dunwoody Road from Abernathy Road to Spalding Drive. Sandy Springs has scheduled two opportunities for public input Aug. 22 at City Hall.
Join today for $16/month
Support Local News Join Appen Press Club
CHARTER MEMBER
DC Aiken
Big Sky Franchise Team
David & Michelle Bertany
Amour & Duane Carthy
Barbara Anderson
Kerry Arias
Scott Baynton
Joseph Bell
James Bennett
Carl Abernathy
Salpi Adrouny
Alpharetta Lions Club
Omar Altalib
Dave Altman
Ron Altman
Joel Alvis
American Legion Post 201
Alice & Dr. Richard Appen
Gaye Armstrong
Mary Asbury
Shannon Banna
Beth Barnes
Janet Bass
Barbara Bauschka
Kathy Beck
Leslie Berry
Tom Billings
Tochie Blan
Ron Boddicker
Jodi Bogen
Sherri Bolles-Rogers
Helen Borland
Debra Bowen
Joe Bowen
Ryan Brainard
Mark Brandus
Mel Brannen
Dorothy Brouhard
Erendira Brumley
Bernhard Burgener
Alvin Burrell
Mike & Theresa Buscher
Mary Busman
Gary Butterfield
Clea Calloway
Kirk Canaday
James Carr
Bridgette Carter
William Cartwright
Pat Check
Virginia Christman
Christopher Cleary
Ann Coaloa
Kim Coggins
Evelyn Collazo
Michael Mackenzie
Communications
Adam Corder
Robert Flint
Robin Fricton
Allison January
Roderick Liptrot
Bob Meyers
Claude Nardy
Ross & Lori Ramsey
MEMBER+
Rita Brown
Mark Casas
David Conti
Theodore Davis III
Maureen Drumm
Charlcie Forehand
Deborah Jackson
Ali Mahbod
Vickie McElroy
Anne Peer
MEMBER
Joan Compton Terri Coons
Rhonda Cude
Christopher Cupit
David Davis
Duane DeBruler
Marilyn DeCusati
Rebecca Donlan
Tom Driscoll
Michael Dudgeon
Jeanette Dummer
DutchCrafters Amish Furniture
Mim Eisenberg
Danny Elkins
Su Ellis
Martha Fasse
Nell & Doug Fernandez
Lee Fleck
Cathy Flynn
Mary Ford
Nanci Foster
Amy Frederick
Kelly Frommer
Carol Fry
Tracey Ganesh
Daniel Gay
John Gibbs
John Gilberto
Leslie Gilliam
Bailey & Ryan Gladysz
Michelle Glotzbach
Harvey Goldberg
Christopher Goodrich
Phyllis Goodrich
Ralph Griffin
Marilee Hamilton
Susan Hanna
Roxanne Hazen
Joe Hirsch
Penn Hodge
Dianne & Steffan Holmquist
Joan Hostetter
Austin Hughes
Lynn Johnson
Tyler Jones
Arthur Kebanli
Laura Keck
Mark Kelly
Sandy Springs launches telehealth for non-life-threatening service calls
SANDY SPRINGS, Ga. — Sandy Springs has launched telehealth services through its partnership with RightSite Health Physicians, providing on-site consultations to patients who call 911 with non-acute medical issues.
Mark Rundle
Kim Truett
Roger Wise Jr.
Colt Whittall
Robert Popp
Kate Seng
Carol Williams
Marilyn Colarossi-Woods
Allison Kloster
Dyna Kohler
Larry Krueger
Jess & Chris Kysar
Malinda Lackey
Ken Leffingwell
Carol Lehan
Bonnie Lind
Francia Lindon
Harlan Little
Ross Long
Brenda Lundy
Rita Loventhal
Karen Magill
Kyile Marshall
Julie Martin
Valerie Matthews
William Maxwell
Rachel McCord
Austin McCully
Diane McDonald
Lynn McIntyre
Mike McLoughlin
Jennifer Mendoza
Al Merrill
Chris Miller
Christine Miller
Fred Moeller
Sarah Moen
Carol Morgan
Kathy Morgan
Stu Moring
Leslie Mullis
Donna Murphy
Jack Murphy
Tricia Novarro
Bob O’Brien
Anne Pappas
Lynn Pennington
Jonathan Peters
Kurt & Leslie Phillips
Debra Powell
Righteous PR
Chuck Pugh
Robert Radloff
Raj Rajagopalan
Ashwin Ramaswami
Cheryl Rand
Jean Rearick
Neil Robertson
Kimberly Robinson
Matt Rohs
Stephanie Schniederjan
Robert Scholz
Stephanie Schuette
Susan Searles
Tina Shelton
Lisa Shippel
Joanne Simmons
Tom Simon
Cindy Simpson
Robert Singleton
Faye Sklar
Judith Slaughter
Andy Smith
Gena Spears
Gloria Stathos
Wesley Stewart
Cathryn Stovall
Celeste Strohl
Andy Sumlin
Mike Tasos
Candice Teichert
The Small Business Advisor
Lisa Tilt
Michael Townes
Matthew Tyser
Ollie Wagner
Lewis Walker
Jonathan Washburn
Michael Watson
Sally White
Thom White
Michael Weiss
Umpika White
Susan Wilson
Jamie Wimberly
Nancy & Dave Wistrand
Carla York
Jonathan Young
The City Council approved the costfree partnership at its June 18 meeting.
For residents looking to skirt a $2,000 emergency room visit, telehealth services are billed through their private insurance.
Fire Chief Keith Sanders discussed the significant impact the initiative can make for his department’s first responders.
“Up to 30 percent of our weekly 911 calls are for non-life-threatening situations and do not require a trip to the emergency room,” Sanders said. “While every 911 call is treated with the utmost priority, this new service offers an alternative to the
emergency room for certain cases.”
RightSite Health offers a range of services, including scheduling doctor’s appointments, refilling medications and arranging alternative transportation to urgent care clinics.
“By providing a telehealth option, we aim to alleviate the burden on emergency medical services and reduce unnecessary ER visits for our residents,” Sanders said.
City staff said prior to the launch, Fire Department staff underwent extensive training.
Phase one of the rollout is now in effect, with phase two scheduled for September.
The upcoming phase enables city staff to assess and direct 911 calls to RightSite or an ambulance as needed.
The final phase includes hiring a community paramedic to work directly with residents.
Crabapple’s Community Burger closes
By HAYDEN SUMLIN hayden@appenmedia.com
MILTON, Ga. —Milton Community Burger off Heritage Walk closed its doors Aug. 5.
A letter from ownership posted on the front door announced the decision.
Community Burger continues to offer its handcrafted burgers, sides and cocktails at its flagship location on Reformation Parkway in Canton.
Chef Todd Hogan’s Single Barrel Hospitality owns Milton Community Burger and the Canton location.
Shane Clements, director of operations at Single Barrel Hospitality, penned a letter explaining the decision to close.
“Unfortunately, we have chosen a strategic realignment within the brand due to economic challenges,” Clements wrote.
“Despite our best efforts and the dedication of our team, continuing operations at this location has become unsustainable.”
Milton Community Burger opened last summer, leasing space on the first floor at 3100 Heritage Walk. While many tenants remain at the mixed-use development, Milton Community Burger is not the first to shut its doors.
The letter goes on to say other locations at The Mill at Etowah in Canton, Branch & Barrel Avalon and Branchwater Vickey Village will remain open and offer the same dining experience synonymous with Community Burger.
Milton Community Burger closed its doors after just over one year of operations at Market District Crabapple. A letter from the owner, Single Barrel Hospitality, says other locations in Alpharetta, Canton and Forsyth County remain open.
proud to serve the community with our fast casual dining experience,” he wrote.
“We are immensely grateful to out loyal customers, dedicated staff and supportive community for their unwavering patronage and enthusiasm during this time.”
To join go to appenmedia.com/join and follow the prompts to select your membership level and select your t-shirt size! Questions? Email Hans Appen at hans@appenmedia.com or call 770-442-3278.
Scan QR code to join the Appen Press Club
For any guests with unexpired gift cards, Clements encourages them to go to the Canton location.
“Since opening the Milton location, Community Burger Milton has been
Greg Swayne, co-owner of Market District Crabapple, told Appen Media that his team was surprised by the announcement. Moving forward, Swayne said he expects ebbs and flows at Market District Crabapple with a dynamic market affecting restaurants across Metro Atlanta. Single Barrel Hospitality’s Hogan said they’re simply consolidating brands in a challenging economy.
HAYDEN SUMLIN/PROVIDED
Perimeter chambers hold social ahead of planned January merger
By JON WILCOX jon@appenmedia.com
DUNWOODY, Ga. — The Sandy Springs Perimeter and the Perimeter chambers of commerce held their first joint networking session Aug. 8 ahead of their planned merger next year.
Open to chamber members and nonmembers, August’s Vibe After Five sold out, attracting 60 leaders in the Perimeter area business community to the Dunwoody Nature Center. This month’s session featured Dunwoody Parks & Recreation Director Rachel Waldron.
“Vibe After Five is all about gathering members and nonmembers alike socially to build networks, find common ground in business and community,” said Adam Forrand, president and CEO of the Sandy Springs Chamber.
The Sandy Springs Perimeter and the Perimeter chambers announced in July a merger that will be completed by Jan. 1. The partnership will allow the groups to expand their representation and services in the Dunwoody and Sandy Springs business communities, Forrand said.
The merger, Forrand said, will provide better business networking opportunities, more events, increased capacity to deliver resources to members.
The networking session has been a keystone event for the Perimeter Chamber since the end of the COVID-19 pandemic, said Paula Shiver, Perimeter Chamber vice president of engagement.
“It’s business networking and a nice opportunity to unwind with the chamber community.”
Shiver said this month’s Vibe After Five was a great opportunity for the “families” of both chambers to come together.
Community members from a variety of business backgrounds mingled with drinks and snacks in hand at the venue, which sits on 22 acres of forest at Dunwoody Park. Evening sunlight filtered through treetops and floor-to-ceiling windows at the Nature Center.
Vibe After Five is an opportunity for attendees to unwind, chamber leaders said, but it’s also about networking.
Denise Brodsky, executive director of nonprofit Clubhouse Atlanta, said she made several important connections at the event. Her organization serves adults who suffer with mental health conditions, providing them opportunities to regain their confidence and reintegrate into the community.
Brodsky is pleased to see the chambers merge.
“It will offer even more opportunities for members to not only build their businesses but network and help them get connected to other people who are likeminded,” she said.
Lauren Sok, owner of Functionize Health and Physical Therapy, said she made several important connections at the event.
“You might meet someone who does business loans or somebody who does marketing who helps you in a marketing strategy,” Sok said. “I just met a physician here who we can complement services.”
She was excited to attend more networking sessions and thinks the merger could result in more opportunities to do so.
“The chambers of commerce are growing and changing,” she said. “And these opportunities are really invaluable. They have grown more ways to connect and learn.”
JON WILCOX/APPEN MEDIA
Adam Forrand, president and CEO of the Sandy Springs Chamber, center, speaks with attendees of Aug. 8’s Vibe After Five at the Dunwoody Nature Center.
Responders:
Whether a Georgia State Patrol vehicle or Sandy Springs Fire’s aerial platform truck caught a kid’s eye, first responders were standing by to show them the ropes.
Other popular attractions included North Fulton SWAT’s armored truck, special weapons and tactics personnel and a host of state and federal law enforcement partners like the Federal Bureau of Investigation and Fulton County Marshal’s Office.
Police Chief Kenneth DeSimone said it’s the biggest annual event for Sandy Springs law enforcement to meet with citizens, and it’s grown over time.
“Let me give you a frame of reference, last year went through a thousand hot dogs, and this year we ordered two thousand” DeSmone said. “At least we have a thousand people eating.”
The Sandy Springs Swiftwater Rescue boat, purchased in 2010 for use along the city’s 22 miles of the Chattahoochee River, drew dozens of elementary schoolers away from the City Green stage.
The crowd in front of the Swiftwater Rescue pales in comparison to one for the Georgia Department of Natural Resources helicopter landing on Mount Vernon Highway.
DeSimone said helicopter landings at National Night Out started a few years ago, a testament to his department’s partnerships with county and state agencies.
“In police work, and fire service as well, you have to have relationships with everybody,” DeSimone said.
Lt. Ryan Fuller, piloting the helicopter, said he had to be careful landing on Mount Vernon Highway, not typical for DNR’s wilderness-based missions.
In a recent rescue, he said his team pulled someone out of Tallulah Gorge State Park.
Fuller, who previously flew Black Hawks, said he’s managed more difficult landings in much smaller areas.
Fire Chief Keith Sanders said he’ll be able to report on how the first 60 days of operations at Fire Station 5 went at the end of August.
“We’re estimating that the improvement of response time will be up to 5 minutes,” Sanders said. “The truck that is now housed there was stationed for the last 10 years in the Roswell station on Holcomb Bridge Road.”
With the apparatus now in the heart of the Sandy Springs panhandle, Sanders said his department has already responded to a cardiac arrest and a few other calls.
Before the “Back to School Bash” kicked off, Sanders spoke to the Sandy Springs City Council about purchasing a $1.1 million Pierce Custom Enforcer Pumper, or firetruck, to be delivered in June 2025.
The Fire Department ensures the delivery of new trucks is scheduled for when one is ready to be moved to reserve status.
“It did change when COVID happened,” Sanders said. “Now, all manufacturers when you’re ordering a custom firetruck, it’s 34 to 48 months.”
Supply chain issues have created longer delivery times for specific parts, like axles and chassis.
“It’s something that is very difficult for all fire departments,” Sanders said. “If you don’t have a good replacement schedule, forecasting and staying with the trends and the manufacturer’s changes, you get behind the eight ball and it’s bad.”
People watch as the Georgia Department
to
BEHIND THE PHOTOS: Dean Hesse is an award-winning photojournalist. Following Appen Media’s acquisition of Decaturish, Hesse is now part of the Crier’s newsroom. See more of his photos from the Aug. 6 National Night Out event at appenmedia.com. Support the work of protecting and strengthening local news in Sandy Springs by becoming a member of the Appen Press Club at appenmedia.com/join.
People take a look at the Georgia Department of Natural Resources helicopter during the Sandy Springs “Back to School Bash” themed National Night Out.
Graduates of the Sandy Springs Citizens Police Academy passed out department merchandise and chatted with neighbors about their experiences with officers.
Anita Beyer, volunteering as a 2021 graduate of the Citizens Police Academy, said it’s an amazing nine-week program.
Sanders said he implemented a replacement schedule in 2016, and Sandy Springs Fire is where it needs to be.
“It brought me to tears during my ride-along with one of the police officers,” Beyer said. “All they want to do is make sure we’re all safe.” Continued from Page 1
PHOTOS BY DEAN HESSE/APPEN MEDIA
of Natural Resources helicopter takes off during the Sandy Springs “Back
School Bash” themed National Night Out on the City Green at City Springs on Tuesday, Aug. 6.
MARTA Police Officer Rambert and his K-9 partner Joey pose for a photo during the Sandy Springs “Back to School Bash” themed National Night Out on the City Green at City Springs on Tuesday, Aug. 6.
Alisa Erridge and her son Aiden both won first place in their respective categories in the hula hoop competition during the Sandy Springs “Back to School Bash” themed National Night Out on the City Green at City Springs.
Brody Levin, 5, checks out the North Metro SWAT truck with SWAT Medic Miguel Merritt during the Sandy Springs “Back to School Bash” themed National Night Out on the City Green at City Springs.
Leo Fink, 5, gets a look out from the top hatch of the Sandy Springs Police SWAT vehicle with Officer Blenke during the Sandy Springs “Back to School Bash” themed National Night Out on the City Green at City Springs on Tuesday, Aug. 6.
From left, Police Officer I Kim, Police Officer II Guin and Detective Nanoff with the Sandy Springs Police Quick Response Force show some tools of their trade during the Sandy Springs “Back to School Bash” themed National Night Out on the City Green at City Springs on Tuesday, Aug. 6.
Children pet a dinosaur in Prehistoric Nation’s Live action dinosaur show during the Sandy Springs “Back to School Bash” themed National Night Out on the City Green at City Springs on Tuesday, Aug. 6.
Alpharetta startup’s technology could revolutionize cardiac surgeries
By JON WILCOX jon@appenmedia.com
ALPHARETTA, Ga. — A local startup CEO left the corporate world to pursue a solution for one of the world’s most pervasive health problems.
“We can save lives,” Dr. Ajay Houde, CEO and cofounder of Annoviant, said.
In 2018, Houde left Halyard Health, formerly a part of Kimberly-Clark, a Fortune 100 company with operations in Alpharetta, to pursue a breakthrough technology to help patients with damaged or defective hearts. He and co-founder Dr. Naren Vyavahare, whom Houde described as the “brain behind the technology,” created the Alpharetta-based startup Annoviant and an innovative process, dubbed TxGuard.
TxGuard technology removes animal cells from an animal’s blood vessel through a proprietary process and implants it into a person’s heart, allowing it to serve as a kind of scaffold for human cells to grow around. The technology’s ability to regenerate and grow with patients’ bodies may make it especially helpful to children born with heart defects.
Children born with heart defects have few options for replacing heart valves, Vyavahare said.
Annoviant has so far secured four grants from the National Institute of Health and about $7.5 million in funding.
“We can give a better option, minimize the number of repeat procedures and save the time in the hospital for people,” he said.
TxGuard, Houde said, has the potential to make an impact on a huge health problem.
Almost 400,000 people undergo heart bypass surgery in the U.S. each year, according to WebMD. Traditionally, the surgery involves taking a blood vessel from another part of the body to go around a blocked cardiac artery or defective parts of the heart.
Since the 1970s, the methods have largely remained the same. Although the surgery saves lives and has a high survival rate, the procedure often requires patients to take anticoagulant drugs and undergo repeat surgeries as the replaced tissues harden.
Developing the technology behind TxGuard has been difficult at times, Houde said, but his business has received support from nonprofit startup incubator Tech Alpharetta, as well as other organizations. That support, Houde said, has proved invaluable.
“This has been, for me, a lifesaver,” he said.
With dozens of startups partnered with Tech Alpharetta, the nonprofit has served as a place where Houde can seek mentorship, discuss new ideas and find help in solving complex problems.
The support from Tech Alpharetta has been a blessing, says Houde, but also has offered him motivation in personal tragedy.
A few months ago, one of Houde’s close relatives was diagnosed with coronary heart disease.
“So many people are struggling,” Houde said, adding, “There are 20 million people today who are struggling with coronary heart disease.”
Other people close to Houde also have experienced serious health issues. In 2017, his mother died because of a lack of proper diagnosis. In 2002, his wife was rushed to the hospital to receive a stent to treat a renal artery defect. And his sister has struggled with breast cancer.
The health difficulties experienced by Houde’s loved ones were one major reason he decided to leave his position in the corporate world.
“Health care is actually very near and dear to me because I have lost many of my relatives, some
DR. NAREN VYAVAHARE
Co-founder, Annoviant
close friends,” he said. “Some of my family members also were impacted by a lack of having the proper diagnostic or proper treatment.”
Annoviant’s TxGuard aims to provide heart disease patients better options.
During coronary heart surgery, physicians normally remove a vein from a patient’s leg to bypass one in their heart. But for some people, like the elderly or those who have diabetes, that may not be a viable option.
Although the TxGuard technology has not yet been tested in humans, Houde said that could be coming relatively soon. Annoviant has been working with the FDA throughout its development process. He said getting FDA approval could nevertheless take a number of years.
The first TxGuard devices would likely be implanted on pediatric patients who have few options, he said.
“Saving lives and making people healthy is a noble cause,” Vyavahare said. “And it gives immense inner joy if you even help one patient.”
PHOTOS BY: ANNOVIANT/PROVIDED
Annoviant co-founders Dr. Naren Vyavahare, left, and Dr. Ajay Houde are developing a technology that could help heart disease patients.
This TxGuard device is implanted into human patients, serving as a kind of scaffold for human cells to grow around.
Settling an estate
Brought to you by - Estates Law Center USA
What if you didn’t have a Trust and now the executors are settling an estate — but the decedent owes money. What can the creditors take and what is reserved for the inheritors? There is no easy answer, and a variety of federal and state laws apply.
To start with, retirement accounts that qualify under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act are generally protected from creditors, bankruptcy and civil lawsuits. But they’re vulnerable to ex-spouses and the IRS — in the form of child support, federal income tax debts, criminal fines and penalties, or civil or criminal judgments. Some states shield IRAs in nearly all instances, while others offer only limited protection.
IRAs and 401(k) plans may be protected from creditors in bankruptcy proceedings. If you declare bankruptcy, your IRA assets are usually safeguarded and cannot be seized. Depending on state law, your IRA assets may be protected from other creditors, but rules vary.
Beneficiaries of IRAs aren’t always afforded the
same creditor protection as the original account owner.
The U.S. Supreme Court has ruled that an inherited IRA for a non-spouse beneficiary is no longer protected from creditors’ claims when the beneficiary files for bankruptcy. Spouses can roll over inherited IRA assets into their own accounts, but non-spouse beneficiaries cannot commingle inherited IRA assets with their own retirement assets.
The Supreme Court’s decision highlights the importance of beneficiary designations for each of your retirement accounts. For situations where creditor protection is a primary concern and ERISA protection isn’t available, using trusts as beneficiaries is a popular option. If your children are listed as beneficiaries and have financial issues, divorce, disability or face debt collectors, you can go the route of a trust, which may offer more protection. Talk to a professional about trusts that
can protect loved ones.
There are many complex rules and regulations, and only a professional can help you decide what is right for you. The point is that whether you are planning your Trust, Will, planning to inherit or serving as an executor or Trustee, you can’t assume anything — work with an Expert attorney!
The Great Southeast Pollinator Census needs your help
Pollinators play important roles in biodiversity, crop production, and even the economy.
A 2014 economic impact study by University of Georgia experts determined that the annual value of pollination to Georgia is over $360 million. What’s even better is that the services pollinators provide are free.
Pollination is key to seed production, and without pollinators like hummingbirds, bees, ants, butterflies, wasps, and many others, our favorite fruits and vegetables would never make it to our tables.
Pollinators are also key to the survival of wild plant species, help to control pests that destroy agricultural crops, and help in decomposition, which is extremely important in crop production.
Although wasps, ants, and bees don’t yield warm and fuzzy feelings for most people, that doesn’t mean they should be ignored. Pollinator populations are decreasing. Not only in population, but also in diversity. Research from UGA is helping to identify not only the reasons behind the decline, but also what homeowners can do to help them.
Back in 2019 Becky Griffin, Community & School Garden Coordinator for Center for Urban Agriculture created the Great Georgia Pollinator Census a citizens Science initiative. According to Becky there were three goals for the project.
1. To create sustainable pollinator habitat by educating gardeners about using plants that provide nutrition for our pollinators while handling our summer droughts and do not have disease or pest insect pressure.
2. To increase the entomological literacy of our citizens. As I mentioned to one teacher, we want students to go from “oooo, it’s a bug” to “look at the tarsal claw on that bee!”
3. To generate useful data about our pollinator populations, so we can begin to spot trends and see how pollinator populations are affected by weather and how honeybees influence native bee populations.
The first pollinator census held in 2019 had over 4,000 participants in
Gulf fritillary butterflies hover on bee balm.
134 of Georgia’s 159 counties. From that impressive beginning it has grown to become The Great Southeast Pollinator Census covering the states of Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, and Florida.
The 2024 Great Southeast Pollinator Census will be held this year on August 23rd and 24th. The actual census only takes 15 minutes. This is a wonderful way to help the pollinators and to help ourselves, who depend on pollinators to help produce our food. If you would like to participate, please go to the website at https://gsepc.org/.
There you will find everything
you need to know about counting, insect identification and all the forms for the count. Invite your friends, children, grandchildren and make it a party!
Happy gardening!
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.
About the author
This week’s “Garden Buzz” guest columnist is Judy Peacock, a master gardener for fourteen years. Judy is a member of the North Fulton County Master Gardeners. Judy graduated from the University of Georgia with a degree in Art Education. She is an avid gardener and is developing a pollinator garden, a stumpery, a perennial garden, and a vegetable garden on her seven and a half acres in Ellijay.
JUDY PEACOCK Guest Columnist
JUDY PEACOCK/APPEN MEDIA
OPINION
Gen. Jack Singlaub, a military legend with ties to Georgia (Pt. 2)
In a previous column I described the career of legendary Maj. General John (Jack) Singlaub, a highly decorated veteran of World War II, Korea and Viet Nam who died January, 2022 at the age of 100.
In 1943 Jack received a commission to join the U.S. Army as a Second Lieutenant even though he was a semester shy of graduation from UCLA. He was quickly recruited by the Office of Strategic Services (OSS), the precursor of the Central Intelligence Agency and U.S. Army Special Forces, known as the Green Berets.
Singlaub’s first assignment was as a member of a three-man team that parachuted behind German lines in France soon after the D-Day invasion of June 1944 to help French resistance fighters. Jack became an expert and leader in unconventional and covert operations in Europe, Korea and Vietnam. His military career came to an end in Georgia when his views opposing President Carter’s defense policies were widely publicized. Here is his story.
In 1977 General Singlaub was serving as Chief of Staff of U.S. Forces in South Korea. In an interview with the Washington Post he was asked on “background,” that is without attribution, about the position of the South Korean military regarding President Carter’s publicly stated objective of removing U.S. ground forces from the Korean peninsula over a period of four to five years. The Korean Armistice was signed in 1953 and U.S. troops remained in South Korea as a deterrent. The president thought South Korea was able to protect itself.
President Carter was not pleased when he saw the report of the general’s interview, even though the idea of troop withdrawal was unpopular with the U.S. military, the U.S. intelligence community and the South Korean government. Unlike the case of General Douglas MacArthur, who violated a direct order from President Truman to clear policy statements before issuing them, General Singlaub pledged to implement the President’s order even though he thought the move would lead to a future war.
The general’s remarks to the reporter, which Singlaub thought were off the record, received wide news coverage. President Carter relieved Singlaub of his post, and Singlaub was reassigned to Fort McPherson in Atlanta as Chief of Staff of the U.S. Army Forces Command (FORSCOM), one of the Army’s largest command centers. The president said the general “was not being chastised or punished” but transferred because his Korean post would have directly involved him in implementing the policy he was criticizing. Ironically, the President later abandoned the idea of withdrawing US troops from Korea and they are still there today.
Fort McPherson occupied almost 500 acres in southwest Atlanta and is one of the largest U.S. military bases. It operated from 1885 until its closure in 2011. It was named after Union Major General James McPherson who was killed during the Battle of Atlanta in the Civil War. Forty buildings constructed beginning in the late 1800s
US ARMY/PROVIDED
On the left shoulder of General John (Jack) Singlaub is a U.S. Army Ranger insignia patch and a U.S. Army Forces Command (FORSCOM) patch. Both played important roles in General Singlaub’s career.
now constitute a historic district listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
In 2015 filmmaker Tyler Perry purchased a majority of the base’s land for use as his film studio. He preserved the historic district and uses some of the buildings as movie sets according to a staffer at the studio.
Relations between President Carter and the general suffered another blow during his assignment in Atlanta. General Singlaub criticized several of the president’s national security policies in response to questions during a lecture to ROTC cadets at Georgia Tech University in April 1978, once again supposedly off the record. However, the resulting news stories led to the general’s forced retirement, but not his presence in the public arena.
In retirement he headed two anti-Communist organizations, the World Anti-Communist League and the U.S. Council for World Freedom. At one point in his career, he headed the U.S. Parachute Association and led the U.S. Army parachute team in competitions around the world, earning the nickname “Jumping Jack.” He received many awards and published his memoirs, including a lot of military history, titled Hazardous Duty, in 1991.
Another little-known aspect of the General’s amazing career is his key role in establishing the program for training Army Rangers at Fort Benning,
Part 1
Read the first part of this column on General Jack Singlaub at appenmedia.com.
SINGLAUB FAMILY/PROVIDED
General Singlaub and his family resided in a historic house at Fort McPherson built in 1888, a house where former President Franklin Delano Roosevelt once stayed and where General Colin Powell lived at one time.
Georgia in the early 1950s where he was an instructor and battalion executive officer. In 2023 the base name was changed to Fort Moore. The training program still exists, partly at Fort Moore and partly at Camp Frank D. Merrill near Dahlonega where students learn military mountaineering techniques.
Jack’s career had an impact on his daughter Mary Ann Singlaub, the youngest of the general’s three children. She worked in the South Korean Consulate General in Atlanta in 1977-1978 and worked in the language lab at Georgia State during her father’s assignment. The consulate experience was her first exposure to diplomacy and after graduating from the University of Colorado and earning her Master of Science in Foreign Service at Georgetown University, Mary Ann joined the U.S. the Foreign Service.
General Jack Singlaub, a name synonymous with valor and unconventional clandestine warfare, affected the lives of thousands of American soldiers and civilians in far-away places. His life was a tale of determination, commitment to his soldiers and to his country.
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.
BOB MEYERS Columnist
RAY APPEN Publisher Emeritus ray@appenmedia.com
The parking in Blowingrock was insane; there was none.
Blowingrock is a small Western North Carolina town near Boone - the home of Appalachian State University, and within a mile or two of the Blue Ridge Parkway. It’s about five hours from Atlanta, a couple hours from Charlotte, and about an hour from Ashville. That is, Blowingrock is a destination for city folks - not unlike 30-A (in the Florida panhandle) is for many, but with the Parkway and a number of relatively unspoiled national forests instead of an ocean.
It is a hiking mecca with temperate weather, mountain views, to die-for golf courses, and - in theory - a slower, healthier pace of life.
Fulltime population of the town hovers somewhere around 1,500 people. The seasonal population swells to, depending on where you source the data, somewhere between 5,000 and 12,000. The number of hotel rooms and seasonal “housing units” - which would include condos and Air B&B-type of accommodations is estimated at around 500-600. If you do the math, that ratio of visitors to accommodations is, well, “tight.” The town has a number of restaurants, as well as outfitters, and boutique stores. It is quaint, very quaint - as beautiful and idyllic as any that I have encountered - ever. We were there for the first time recently for a wedding.
But the waiting lines had waiting lines and parking, well, don’t get me started. Ok, get me started.
Finding a parking space - or a table at a restaurant - in Blowingrock reminds me of those places where you pan for gold or dig for rubies. It’s not that there isn’t actually some gold or some rubies to be found, it is that the odds of finding any are no-bueno - as in extremely unlikely.
On the first night there we spent about three hours searching for a parking space and a restaurant that was not full. We heard “you can wait at the bar for someone to leave” almost everywhere we went. The one time that we actually did wait at the bar, we finally gave up after over an hour waiting for someone to leave, and in the face of not so polite competition for the couple potential future open spaces at the bar.
We finally decided to just try to go to the market - like a downtown mini grocery store - instead of a restaurant and make sandwiches back at our hotel. I thought that I spotted an open parking space and pulled in. Nope. What I had seen for an open parking space was instead, a highly polished, black, probably 2023 or ’24 Suburban that was parked exactly in the middle of two parking spaces. Seriously. It was breathtakingly bad and disrespectful beyond imagination. I turned to Christina and said that I would bet dollars to donuts that the Suburban has a Fulton County tag. Sure enough, as we double parked waiting for a space to open up, two men came out of the market, got into the Suburban and drove off - with their Georgia Fulton county license tag and all.
Yep, it is really really hard for me to be curious, not judgmental all the time, but I am trying. That Suburban about did me in. I don’t know why I had this expectation that in this tiny town in western North Carolina that people would be, what, less selfish, less in a hurry, more plain old decent. I suppose that there could have been some good reason they parked in the middle of two parking spaces other than just not wanting any other cars close to theirs or that they were simply one of those folks who think that they are in some way better than everyone else for some twisted delusional myopic reason.
Anyway, if you are at a redlight in Alpharetta next week and you get honked at for not immediately preceding at the green light, look in the rear-view mirror and see if it’s not a shiny black suburban behind you. Kidding! No I’m not.
Continued
However, Burnett said he feels good about the accounting.
He said if the county collects 100 percent of the projected sales tax revenue of around $546 million, then Sandy Springs will receive $99.7 million, based on its population.
In each round of county-wide transportation sales tax collections, TSPLOST I and II, municipalities first created three tiers of transportation projects by priority. Each would be funded based on collections at 85, 100 or 115 percent of projections.
Burnett said the good news is the program’s collections on TSPLOST II after its first 26 months are around 117 percent of projected revenues. The program runs 60 months.
Since TSPLOST II collections began in April 2022 through May 2024, Sandy Springs received $48.8 million. That’s $7 million more than projected.
“We’re tracking right now to be able to fully fund tiers one and two,” Burnette said. “But, probably not going to be able to fund tier three unless there’s a pickup in additional revenue collections.”
Sandy Springs received 129 percent of projected revenues out of the gate, from
April-December 2022. Revenues have tapered off a bit this year with revenues coming in at 107 percent of projections since January.
“We know that if we go into a weakening economy, we could see a decline in tax collections,” Burnett said. “Thus far, we’ve got an excellent head start, and we’re about halfway through.”
After questions from City Councilman Andy Bauman, Burnett clarified that collections and project costs are trending higher than forecasts, which most likely means tier three projects are cut.
The city’s TSPLOST Program Manager Allen Johnson joined Burnett to update elected officials on completed projects, construction underway and what may be cut moving forward.
“With the inflation, we should get through tier one, we’d like to get some of tier two,” Johnson said. “Some of the projects are up 30 percent [in costs].”
Johnson went over projects in the TSPLOST II program. He said 55 percent of projects are currently in design, like the Roswell Road North End Boulevard.
Enhancements to the Mount Vernon Highway bridge over I-285 are an example of a project that is nearly finished. Johnson said the city has already completed 26 percent of projects with 19 percent under construction.
The Hammond Drive Widening project,
HAYDEN SUMLIN/APPEN MEDIA Public Works Director Marty Martin, at right, discusses a construction agreement with the state to proceed with the PATH400 multi-use trail which runs alongside Ga. 400. Staff said construction is slated to begin this fall.
with more than $46 million in funding split between both TSPLOST programs, looks to add roundabouts and multi-use trails from Boylston to Glenridge drives.
Johnson said it’s the largest project in the TSPLOST II roster, with right-of-way acquisition underway and construction scheduled for next fall.
The presentation also covered the status of projects from TSPLOST I, which ran from 2017-2021. The tax funded $39 million in completed projects, $47 million under construction and just the Peachtree Dunwoody Road multi-use path left in design.
Johnson said the city is anticipating higher costs moving forward with projects
underway coming in above forecasts.
“I have a feeling we’re going to mostly be tier one with TSPLOST II, but if we can get into tier two that’d be fantastic,” he said.
Some of the lower tier projects that could be cut include the Powers Ferry Road muti-use path, general roadway maintenance and paving.
In other business, the Sandy Springs City Council moved forward with one of the most popular tier one projects in the TSPLOST II program: PATH400, a multiuse trail extending along Ga. 400 from Buckhead north to the top end Perimeter area.
The city approved a construction agreement with the Georgia Department of Transportation Aug. 7 to build two-thirds of the segments for the multi-use trail extension.
GDOT is funding 80 percent, or $16 million, of the total project cost. The city’s TSPLOST II budget contributes $4 million.
“We hope to start construction fall of this year,” Johnson said.
Public Works Director Marty Martin said it’s the next step after a lot of hard work from staff.
“The last step we need from GDOT in order to execute the award of this project will be a notice to proceed,” Martin said. “Which, hopefully, they will provide fairly shortly.”
