Metro Atlanta sustained widespread power outages, isolated flooding and closed roadways as Hurricane Helene moved through Georgia Sept. 27. Check appenmedia.com for the latest updates.
Spalding Drive Elementary School sits in the middle of a neighborhood in north-central Sandy Springs. The effort to save the elementary school, which Fulton County may shutter next year, has grown with the potential redistricting of the city’s public schools.
By HAYDEN SUMLIN hayden@appenmedia.com
SANDY SPRINGS, Ga. — The potential closure of Spalding Drive Elementary is expected to draw parents from all Sandy Springs public schools to Riverwood High Oct. 7 for an informational meeting.
Community involvement is likely to keep growing with the news of a potential redistricting of all seven Sandy Springs elementary schools.
There will be two more informational meetings at Riverwood Nov. 4 and Dec. 9, where Fulton County Schools staff will unveil proposals for new attendance zones and collect community feedback.
News about the potential closure of Spalding Drive Elementary sent shockwaves through the community when it broke during a Sept. 10 Fulton County
See SPALDING, Page 13
HAYDEN SUMLIN/APPEN MEDIA
Fulton County School Board member Michelle Morancie speaks to parents and students in her district at Woodland Elementary School Sept. 18 before Fulton County Schools officials discussed the possible closure of Spalding Drive Elementary.
SANDY SPRINGS, Ga. — The city invites residents Oct. 17 to learn about upcoming intersection improvements at Mount Vernon Highway and Long Island Drive in southern Sandy Springs.
The public open house is from 5-7 p.m. in the Barfield Conference Room on the second floor of City Springs off Galambos Way. The information meeting will be held at City Springs just a couple blocks from the project’s location.
The work is designed to enhance motorist and pedestrian safety through realignment of the intersection and installation of a new traffic signal.
The city says the alignment of the intersection limits motorists’ line of sight turning onto Mount Vernon Highway from Long Island
See DISCUSS, Page 13
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By ZOE SEILER, AMBER PERRY and JON WILCOX newsroom@appenmedia.com
NORTH METRO ATLANTA — The deadline to register to vote for the upcoming general election is Oct. 7.
Election Day is Nov. 5.
To register to vote, an individual must be at least 17.5 years old to register and 18 years old to vote. They must be a United States citizen, a legal resident of the county in which they wish to vote, not be serving a sentence for conviction of a felony, and not be found mentally incompetent by a judge, according to the Georgia Secretary of State website.
Voters can check their registration status and Election Day voting precinct on the state’s My Voter Page by visiting mvp. sos.ga.gov.
Early voting runs from Oct. 15 to Nov. 1. The early voting locations and times vary by county.
Statewide, the president and vice presidential races will be on the ballot. All U.S. House and state legislators are up for election as well, and the My Voter Page will show voters who their representatives are.
How to register
There are a few ways to register to vote.
• If you have a Georgia Driver’s License or State ID Card, you can register online by visiting https://mvp.sos.ga.gov/s/olvrhome.
• You can choose to register when you renew or apply for your driver’s license at the Department of Driver Services.
• If you are registered, but need to change your address within the county, you can fill out the back of your precinct card or update your information on the My Voter Page.
• You can download a voter registration
DEAN HESSE/APPEN MEDIA
Emilee Terry voted in the Georgia primary election at the Decatur Recreation Center on Tuesday, May 24, 2022.
form from the Secretary of State’s website and mail it to the Secretary of State's Office at PO Box 105325, Atlanta, GA 30348.
• Applications can be also emailed or mailed to your county’s registrar’s office.
Voting absentee
Absentee ballots are available for the Nov. 5 general election as well.
The last day to submit an application for an absentee ballot is Oct. 25. Absentee ballots must be returned to a ballot box by 7 p.m. on Nov. 5 at the latest to a drop box or a county registrar’s office. Absentee ballots can be returned at any time before Nov. 5.
Voters are now required to provide either a Georgia driver’s license or Georgia ID card number or a copy of another form of ID when applying for an absentee ballot.
Other forms of acceptable iden -
tification are a current utility bill, bank statement, government check, paycheck or other government document that shows a voter’s name and address.
Fulton County
Local Fulton County races on the ballot are the District Attorney, Fulton County Board of Commissioners District 2, 4 and 6 as well as several other uncontested county officials.
In Fulton County, advance voting will be held Monday to Friday, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Sundays from noon to 5 p.m.
Absentee ballot applications, attached as a .pdf or .jpg, can be emailed to elections.absentee@fultoncountyga.gov or mailed to Fulton County Registrations and Elections, 5600 Campbellton Fairburn Road, Union City, GA 30213, in addition to being request online.
Visit fultoncountyga.gov/vote for more information about the early voting and absentee drop box locations, and to see the sample ballot.
Conglomerated Host, Ltd is looking for an Accountant to join its team.
Job Description: Corporate office located in Milton, GA has an opening in the Accounting Department. Entry level position with opportunity to advance. Starting pay is $20.00 per hour/approximately 30 hours per week. Knowledge of Microsoft Office Suite, especially Excel is a plus. How To Apply: Email response to conglomeratedhost@gmail.com or fax to 770-521-0809.
Local DeKalb County races on the ballot are the DeKalb County Chief Executive Officer, DeKalb Board of Commissioners Districts 1 and 3-7, as well as several other uncontested county officials.
In DeKalb County, early voting will be held Monday to Friday, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Sundays from noon to 5 p.m.
Absentee ballot applications can be emailed to absenteeballot@dekalbcountyga.gov or mailed to DeKalb Voter Registration and Elections, 4380 Memorial Drive, suite 300, Decatur, GA 30032, in addition to being requested online.
Visit dekalbvotes.com for more information about the early voting and absentee drop box locations, and to see the sample ballot.
Local Forsyth County races on the ballot are Forsyth Board of Commissioners Districts 2, 4 and 5 as well as Forsyth County Board of Education Districts 2, 3 and 4. Other uncontested county officials are also on the ballot.
In Forsyth County, early voting will be held Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., Saturdays 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Sunday, Oct. 20 from 8 to 5 p.m.
Absentee ballot applications can be emailed to absentee@forsythco.com. To submit absentee ballot applications by mail or by personal delivery, send them to Forsyth County Voter Registrations & Elections, 1201 Sawnee Drive, Cumming, GA 30040.
Applications may also be faxed to 770886-2825, or requested online.
Forsyth County has one drop box location at the Voter Registrations & Elections Office, 1201 Sawnee Drive, Cumming, from 8 a.m.-6 p.m. Oct. 15-18, 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Oct. 19-20, and 8 a.m.-6 p.m. Oct. 28-Nov. 1.
Visit forsythco.com/vote for more information about the early voting locations and to see the sample ballot.
By HAYDEN SUMLIN hayden@appenmedia.com
SANDY SPRINGS, Ga. —The sinkhole that formed at 4504 Lake Forest Drive Thursday, Sept. 26, may shut down one of southern Sandy Springs busiest thoroughfares for a few days.
The sinkhole is on the west side of Lake Forest Drive near a residential driveway. It caused the sidewalk to collapse into a drainage area, where the sinkhole formed.
A section of roadway was closed from West Wieuca Road and Chastain Park Avenue to Barbara Lane.
The affected property owner, Edwin Ades, told Appen Media that work crews from Sandy Springs have visited the site a couple times to check on the roadway. He said he’s been happy with the response from Sandy Springs’ emergency responders, especially closing the roadway.
Because the property sits on the AtlantaSandy Springs border north of Chastain Park, the sinkhole affects the roadway in both cities.
Ades said Atlanta work crews also looked at the site, and Sandy Springs Police Chief Kenneth DeSimone came out to inspect it for himself.
So far, there is no time estimate for when work on the roadway and sinkhole will be completed.
One neighbor living a few houses north on Lake Forest Drive gave a grim assessment, saying she thinks it will take days for the roadway to be stabilized and reopened to traffic.
By HAYDEN SUMLIN hayden@appenmedia.com
ROSWELL, Ga. — There is a community gathering at Oak Street Bottle Shop once a week — Five Dollar Fridays — that harkens back to the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Top Job Beverage & Events owns the warehouse at 75A Oak Street, where co-owners Scott Harb and Michael Fabian set up shop in downtown Historic Roswell
Oak Street Bottle Shop is an unsuspecting place where friends and families gather to reconnect with people who they spent time with while the world was sheltering in place.
Harb said hosting the public outside of the bottle shop every day during summer 2020 kept his businesses afloat and surprised him in some ways.
In 2018, the company acquired the roughly 2,000-square-foot industrial facility to support the company’s main source of income, catering for festivals and concerts.
Top Job began catering small events in 2012 as partners of a local Roswell restaurant.
Co-owner Scott Harb said with the growth of the catering business, him and
his business partner decided to purchase the building and get their own alcohol license through the city of Roswell.
The specific license is for craft beer and wine market, which allows the warehouse on Oak Street to double as a tap room and caterer.
Regulations surrounding alcohol licenses in Roswell mandate that employees work at the facility for at least 20 hours a week. Before the pandemic, the co-owners said they spent some time at the facility just to maintain the alcohol license.
Harb and Fabian also own a staffing agency, Top Job Hospitality, which is in downtown Historic Roswell off Park Square Court.
“I have a whole other day job, so I’d just come up here and do work, most of that was catering and a bit of staffing,” Harb said. “Then COVID comes … all of our events were canceled.”
More than 300 concerts, festivals and private events across Metro Atlanta were canceled, and with it, the company’s main source of revenue.
Top Job Beverage & Events partners with city governments, local organizations and individuals to cater alcohol at community gatherings. The partnerships share revenue generated at events
with organizers and the business, which works well when there’s not a pandemic.
“Everything was shut down and we didn’t have anything to do,” Harb said. “My wife said, ‘Scott, you’ve got an alcohol license and beer, why don’t you just open up the garage door?’”
Shortly after, the front of the warehouse turned into a package store, with the business partners opening a tap room in the back after things got going.
“That was the start of Oak Street Bottle Shop as you see it today,” Harb said.
The shop operates differently now, given the end of pandemic-era restrictions. For one, it’s usually only open on Fridays, not every day of the week.
While the hospitality and catering businesses have rebounded since 2020, Top Job is busy elsewhere, too. It still rents out the facility for private events and always has a party for Five Dollar Fridays.
Harb said the facility is usually rented for high school and college graduations, corporate team-building events and the occasional birthday.
Scott Harb, co-owner of Oak Street Bottle Shop, promotes a community gathering with live music, friends and drinks — Five Dollar Fridays. Harb said his business made it through the pandemic by hosting Roswell residents outside of its warehouse in the historic district of downtown Roswell. OAK STREET BOTTLE SHOP/PROVIDED
shop during the pandemic.
“We did a cookout in May 2020 and about 30 people showed up,” Harb said. “There’s been as many as 300 people here, and we’re getting bigger bands.”
Scheduled fall bands include Corporate Therapy Oct. 4, M80 Rocks Oct. 11, Zachery Mannino Band Oct. 18, Justin Oct. 25, Nostalgia ’80s Experience Oct. 26, 40HZ Nov. 1, and Bear Bones Band Nov. 8.
It’s a community now, and people keep showing up to hang out with the friends they met four years ago.
Oak Street prides itself on its selection of local craft beers, including Six Bridges Light Lager from Johns Creek, Social Fox’s Wrecker from Norcross, TKR Pilsener from Tucker and Variant Canton Street IPA from down the road.
The bottle shop has craft beers from every nook and cranny of America, with a shelf set aside for Georgia-brewed beer and all the name brand favorites.
It also sports an extensive selection of red, white and sparkling wines.
Because the alcohol industry has good margins, Top Job’s Five Dollar Fridays allows the co-owners to get the “pandemic community” together once a week.
“That’s my baby, we’re only here one day a week,” Harb said. “During the pandemic, it was every day.”
Five Dollar Fridays are still rocking at 75A Oak Street. Most of the crowd, which continues to show up, met one another and became friends at the bottle
In summer 2023, Roswell Mayor Kurt Wilson served as a celebrity bartender during the bottle shop’s support of North Fulton Community Charities fundraising at Alive in Roswell.
Seemingly out of circumstance, Oak Street Bottle Shop has cemented itself in the downtown Historic Roswell community and beyond.
“There’s all these moments where things change,” Harb said. “The people you’re around during that time, those people are who you build new relationships with.”
Okeechobee’s
By KATHY DES JARDINS CIOFFI newsroom@appenmedia.com
October is the month for treats, and Roswell Reads is doubling up on delights. Ron Rash, the acclaimed 2024 Roswell Reads Author Selection, will headline two events Oct. 18 and 19.
Called “one of the best living American writers” by Janet Maslin of The New York Times, Rash has penned 20 books of poetry and fiction, including his most recent novel, “The Caretaker.”
On Oct. 18, the two-time PEN/Faulkner finalist, three-time O. Henry Short Story Prize winner, and Frank O'Connor International Short Story Award winner will lead a Writer to Writer talk with Atlanta Writers Club Executive Director George Weinstein.
Then, on Oct. 19, Rash will discuss “The Caretaker” in conversation with award-winning author Robert Gwaltney.
Details about the Roswell Reads events and other October book happenings are below.
Thursday, Oct. 3, Boozy Book Fair at Pontoon Brewing. Shop a selection of books curated by Read It Again Bookstore while enjoying a locally brewed beverage. Free. 6 p.m. Pontoon Brewing, 8601 Dunwoody Place, Sandy Springs. 770-674-1075 pontoonbrewing.com/
Saturday, Oct. 5, Kelly Elizabeth Huston signing her romance, "See Sadie Jane Run.” Free. Noon. Read It Again Bookstore, 3630 Peachtree Parkway, Suite 314, Suwanee. 770-232-9331. read-it-again.com
Monday, Oct. 7, Tracey Enerson Wood launching “Katherine, the Wright Sister,” alongside author Karen Spears Zacharias and hosted by Poe & Company Bookstore. 5 p.m. Free. Alpharetta Library, 10 Park Plaza. Poeandcompanybookstore.com
Tuesday, Oct. 15, Pamela Terry, Pat Terry, Matt Jolley and McPatti Langston. A Novel Idea and Bookmiser present Langston’s book launch and a mashup of the husband-wife, author-musician Terrys, in conversation with Georgia Radio’s Jolley. 7 p.m. Free. Brimstone Restaurant & Tavern, 10595 Old Alabama Road Connector. 770-509-5611. https:// www.bookmiser.net/events.html
Wednesday, Oct. 16, Kimberly Brock examines “The Fabled Earth” with author Emily Carpenter. Presented by Poe & Company Bookstore, with drinks and appetizers. 5 p.m. Brookfield Country Club, 100 Willow Run Road, Roswell. 770-797-5566. Poeandcompanybookstore.com
Friday, Oct. 18, Ron Rash Writer to
Writer event presented by Roswell Reads, in partnership with the city of Roswell and Bookmiser. Refreshments will be served. $15. 6.p.m. Roswell Adult Recreation Center, 830 Grimes Bridge Road. RoswellReads. com
Friday, Oct. 18, Poetry Open Mic Night. To sign up, call 770-232-9331. Free. 7 p.m. Read It Again Bookstore, 3630 Peachtree Parkway, Suite 314, Suwanee. read-it-again.com
Saturday, Oct. 19, Ron Rash, 2024 Roswell Reads Author Selection. A special book club offer and VIP seating are available. Presented by Roswell Reads, in partnership with the city of Roswell and Bookmiser, with refreshments. Ticket prices vary. 10:30 a.m. Roswell Adult Recreation Center, 830 Grimes Bridge Road. RoswellReads.com
Saturday, Oct. 26, Deann Benedict, signing her new children’s book, “Escape from the Mutt Motel.” A local animal rescue will be on-site with adoptable pets, collecting donations of pet food and supplies. 11 a.m. Free. Johns Creek Books, 6000 Medlock Bridge Road. 770-696-9999. johnscreekbooks.com
Wednesday, Oct. 30, Mary McMyne signing “A Rose by Any Other Name.” Free. 5 p.m. Poe & Company Bookstore, 1890 Heritage Walk, Suite P101, Milton. 770-797-5566. Poeandcompanybookstore.com
To submit an author event for the upcoming month, email Kathy Des Jardins Cioffi at kathydesjardins3@ gmail.com by the 15th.
Mother fundraises for therapy that shows hope for autistic son
By AMBER PERRY amber@appenmedia.com
ROSWELL, Ga. — Aside from cooing noises, Jessica Rodriguez has not been able to hear the sound of her 5-year-old son’s voice.
A new, cutting-edge treatment called Magnetic e-Resonance Therapy might fix that.
Grayson, who is nonverbal, was diagnosed with level 3 autism, the most severe form, when he was 18 months old.
Rodriguez began to notice the signs more than a year before, dialed in because of her experience as an emergency services nurse. She became a stay-athome mom when Grayson and his twin sister Mia were born.
“He was definitely missing some milestones,” she said, noting he was smiley and made eye contact, but that those interactions fell off at around 4 months old.
For years, she’s been describing Grayson’s condition as a “broken pathway.”
An internet search, while sitting beside her husband on the couch, resulted in a new treatment option that could bridge the gap.
Magnetic e-Resonance Therapy uses a combination of technologies found in other forms of therapy, according to the website for the Brain Treatment Center.
The center’s Smyrna location is where Rodriguez intends to go, once she meets her $12,000 fundraising goal.
The treatment relies on transcranial magnetic stimulation which uses pulsed magnetic fields to change neural activity in addition to an EEG, recording the electrical activity of the brain to act as a map.
Rodriguez said it would address eye contact, stimming, verbal skills and socialization.
“As a parent, it breaks your heart to know that he might not make friends,”
she said. “...If those kinds of things could come of this, I am willing to sell a kidney to get to that point.”
Right now, Grayson uses an augmentative communication device. He’s in an adult program.
“He’s extremely smart,” Rodriguez said. “He reads on a third grade level … There’s a lot of light in his eyes, but sometimes it seems like his brain doesn’t communicate with [the] motor part of his body.”
Rodriguez said Magnetic e-Resonance Therapy has been used on other disorders, like post-traumatic stress disorder, with a “fantastic” prognosis for patients and was introduced to those with autism just a few years ago.
The treatment will run six weeks, she said, requiring that Grayson go every day for an hour.
“It’s going to be a struggle, obviously,” Rodriguez said. “He’s in school, so I have to figure all of that out.”
But, a story about a 6-year-old nonverbal child named Frankie gives Rodriguez hope.
“After three weeks of this treatment, he spoke a seven-word sentence just out of nowhere,” she said.
Like Grayson, Frankie was diagnosed with autism at 18 months old, according to a recent story published in the Autism Parenting Magazine. He underwent therapy at the Brain Treatment Center in Newport Beach, California.
Rodriguez said it’s hard for her to envision what the future would look like if Grayson were to see the same level of success. Meanwhile, the idea of Mia going off to college is less of a challenge.
“In my head for so long, it’s been, ‘When we get older, he’s going to be with us,’” Rodriguez said. “...I would hope it would look like a typical other kid.”
Provided by the Dunwoody Woman’s Club
Henri Rousseau, Richard Avedon and Interior Design’s Andrew Martin would feel right at home in this Atlanta artist’s stately, cluster community residence. And so will you as you wander among rooms that elevate function, art, photography and exceptional interior design.
This home is one of the beautiful homes featured in the 51st Annual Home Tour set for Wednesday, Oct. 9, from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. and is hosted by the Dunwoody Woman’s Club. All profits from the home tour are used to fulfill the club’s charitable initiatives. Home tour tickets can be purchased several ways, as outlined in the boxed information.
Aesthetic white walls and matte-finish oak flooring draw you from an airy entry to the living room at left where a cream sectional, leather tufted ottoman and upholstered chairs with a fern design front a white fireplace with TV above. Mounted Texas longhorns on twin mirrors enhance external daylight and inset ceiling lighting. A 72-inch-square custom lakescape painted by the homeowner and professional artist compliments the artichoke green paint on all the room’s surfaces. Beautiful floral print drapery panels in a combination of blush, gold, cream, blue and green by Thiebout adorn the windows.
The family room across the back of the house features white walls and furniture underpinned by a bold zebra print rug and lit from above by skylights and a unique gold chandelier. A giant sea scallop shell on the coffee table corrals magazines and collectibles. Don’t miss the antique French doors that open to a hidden bar with shimmering Schumacher wallpaper, an antique chandelier and a stash of fine labels.
Feast your eyes on the kitchen where an antique, unfinished French armoire offers storage and a honed, white marble table that seats six. A unique architectural find spans above windows that brings light to the windows. Glacier white Corian countertops and state-of-the-art appliances make meal prep a breeze in this kitchen.
Before heading upstairs, you will pass through the dramatic dining room painted in a rich, charcoal “iron ore” color on all surfaces that contrasts with the home’s overall light palette. A silvery faux wood table, creamy tufted seating and oversized glass hurricane candle holders on the tabletop add interest to the room along with old gilded lamps and an unfinished buffet sourced from abroad. On the front wall a carved Italian corbel mounted on Venetian plaster board ensures a fine dining experience. Silk, color-blocked drapery panels at the windows offer big design elements. A large painting of a woman in white
Home Tour tickets are available now and can be purchased:
• Online at www.dunwoodywomansclub. com/event-tickets/
• WILL CALL for tickets purchased online – Pick up on October 9 tour day beginning at 9:30 am – at Spruill Center for the Arts, 5339 Chamblee Dunwoody Rd., Dunwoody
• Guest can go in person go to The Enchanted Forest in Dunwoody Hall Shopping Center
• From any member of the Dunwoody Woman’s Club
• Scan the QR Code
Be sure to check out the exciting raffle on the day of the tour for a chance to win one of three prizes
- All prizes valued at $500 or more: a shopping spree at Lauderhill’s Fine Jewelry, a Woodhouse Spa basket and gift card, or a 2-hour design consultation with Linda Rickles Interiors. Both cash and credit cards are accepted to enter the raffle.
with a dramatic headdress beckons you upstairs to the Primary suite where creamy, ethereal whites with touches of soft tans, a spark or two of blue greens, decorative needlepoint pillows and cheerful Schumacher and Thibout fabrics and trims offer serenity throughout.
Across the hall is a parent suite and grandchildren room, guest room with a distinctive antique feather headdress accent over the bed and a dramatic painting of a Spanish goose on a black canvas. Down the hall is a creative and stunning laundry room with all the bells and whistles including Schumacher wallpaper framing a front octagon window, white cabinets, brass fixtures and a crisp white countertop and sinks. Laundry can indeed be a pleasure!
You won’t want to miss the homeowners Artist/Design Studio in the Terrace level where the mother and daughter "design duo" creates and delivers exceptional design elements. This floor is a working studio and is where all the creativity begins! Get a preview of fabric and wallpaper samples, paint and canvasses in all sizes ready to spark your imagination.
Tickets are $35 in advance and $40 on tour day. We look forward to seeing you at the home tour and appreciate your support. Remember, profits of the tour help fund our charitable projects. Buy your tickets today! For more information about the Dunwoody Woman’s Club go to www. dunwoodywomansclub.com.
Why a turnkey, one-stop shop is essential for your bath or kitchen remodel
When it comes to remodeling your kitchen or bathroom, the process can quickly become overwhelming. From creating ideas and solutions, and selecting materials to finding contractors for plumbing, electrical work, and installation, managing multiple vendors and services can be stressful.
Remodeling projects start with a vision but bringing that vision to life requires expertise. An in-house design team needs to work closely with you to create a customized plan that reflects your personal style, and preferences, and stays within your budget—offering services like 3D renderings, so you can visualize your space before any work begins. With expert guidance every step of the way, you can be confident your project is set up for success.
Coordinating multiple contractors— plumbers, electricians, tile installers, and more—can be time-consuming and frustrating. With a turnkey remodeler, you get full-service project management, to handle every aspect of the renovation. Having a team to ensure that the design, material selection, scheduling, and installation are all aligned to create a smooth, stress-free experience is key. You don’t have to worry about chasing contractors or keeping up with timelines—it will be done all for you.
One of the biggest advantages of working with a one-stop shop is the convenience of having everything you need in one place. A great showroom should be filled with an extensive selection of cabinetry in a variety of styles and finishes, plumbing fixtures from top brands, countertops including granite, quartz, marble, and more, tile for floors and backsplashes, and hardware to complete your design.
Rather than running around town searching for materials, you can explore all your options under one roof, with our team guiding you through each choice.
Choosing a turnkey, one-stop-shop remodeler like Bath & Kitchen Galleria means more than just convenience—it means a smoother, more enjoyable remodeling experience with expert guidance, seamless coordination, and a wide selection of top-quality products to choose from while staying in your budget.
Whether you're transforming your bathroom or remodeling your kitchen, Bath & Kitchen Galleria is here to handle every detail, so you can sit back and enjoy the results! For more information visit Bath & Kitchen Galleria’s showroom at 10591 Old Alabama Rd Connector in Alpharetta (no appointment needed) M-F, 9-5 and Saturday, 10-4, or call them at 678-4592292 or visit
to schedule an appointment online.
Brought to you by – Estates Law Center USA
The Risks of Not Planning: Potential issues that can arise when someone dies intestate (without a will or trust) and how an estate plan can mitigate these risks.
Dying intestate without a will or trust can lead to a host of complications and risks for both the estate and the surviving family members. When someone passes away without leaving behind a will or trust , state intestacy laws take over, dictating how assets are distributed. This may not align with the deceased's wishes, potentially leaving family members and loved ones with outcomes they didn’t anticipate or desire. For instance, assets might be divided in a way that doesn’t reflect the deceased’s personal preferences, or they might end up with relatives the deceased had wished to exclude. This can also spark family disputes and legal battles, as there are no clear instructions to guide the process, resulting in prolonged probate proceedings and increased costs. Additionally, intestacy can complicate the appointment of guardians for
minor children, potentially leaving their care in the hands of individuals not preferred by the deceased. The lack of a will can also led to missed opportunities for minimizing estate taxes and managing financial affairs efficiently.
Emotional stress on family members is another significant risk, as they navigate the uncertainties and disputes arising from the intestate process. An estate plan mitigates these risks by clearly outlining the distribution of assets, appointing trusted executors and guardians, and incorporating strategies for tax efficiency. By planning with expert advice, individuals ensure that their wishes are honored, reduce the potential for conflict, and ease the administrative burden and cost on their loved ones during the most difficult time.
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Burdett Grocery store was first built and operated by Stephen Burdett around 1920. It was located at the crossroads of Mount Vernon Highway and Roswell Road. The community was known as Oak Grove at the time.
The wood frame store was located on property that is now part of City Springs.
In 1924, Stephen Burdett’s nephew, John Franklin Burdett took over running the store. The following year, the name of the post office changed from Oak Grove to Burdal, a combination of two prominent family names, Burdett and Dalrymple. (Images of America: Sandy Springs, Kimberly M. Brigance and Morris V. Moore)
John Franklin Burdett was known as Frank Burdett. A write-up in the 1961 Sandy Springs Gazette tells his story and more history of the store. Burdett was honored at Sandy Springs Methodist Church that year in a “This is your life” presentation. (Sandy Springs Past Tense, Lois Coogle)
He was born in 1898 to Luther Lamar and Edna Carpenter Burdett and lived on a farm along Carpenter Drive. He attended Hammond School and
North Fulton High School. In 1918, he was a student and a World War I soldier training at Oglethorpe University.
In 1919, after serving five months in the military, he married Nannie Lou Nance, who he met at a Sandy Springs church gathering, also known as a “singing.” Frank and Nannie Lou celebrated their 50th anniversary in 1969 at their home in Sandy Springs. Three hundred guests were invited.
PHOTOS FROM: “IMAGES OF AMERICA: SANDY SPRINGS” BY KIMBERLY M. BRIGANCE AND MORRIS V.
Frank Burdett built a more modern brick Burdett Grocery in 1939.
The wood frame Burdett’s Grocery had a porch across the front that was built at the same height as a wagon bed. This allowed feed bags to be pushed onto a customer’s wagon.
The few people who owned an automobile could use the manually operated gas tank in front of the store. In a time when homes were still lit with kerosene lamps and candles, there was also a kerosene tank.
During the years 1925 to 1929, the post office was in Burdett’s Grocery and Frank Burdett was the postmaster of Burdal. The grocery was the business center of the community.
He built a new brick store in 1939 and continued to run the store until the early 1960s when he retired. The Sandy Springs Gazette described Burdett as a “a quiet, unassuming, friendly man with an understanding and generous heart. To his grandchildren he is affectionately known as “Pappy.” Since his retirement in 1964,
he has had more time for watching baseball and going fishing, his favorite sports.”
The name Sandy Springs became official when the U.S. Post Office approved the name change from Burdal in 1941. (Atlanta Constitution, May 4, 1969)
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.
As I write this column, I’m heartbroken because I’ve just finished reading the final installment in the eighteen-book Maisie Dobbs series. The first book came out in 2003, and I’ve read every one. Some I’ve owned. Others I’ve picked up at the library. I’ve recommended them to friends who’ve become hooked on them, too. At the moment, I have a bag of Maisie Dobbs books ready to share with a friend who’s in the middle of the series.
“The Comfort of Ghosts” by Jacqueline
Winspear
The Wall Street Journal excerpt below comes from Maureen Corrigan’s article titled “When a Book Series Turns the Final Page.” The article was prompted by Elin Hilderbrand declaration that she’s written her last Nantucket novel, and
by the end of the Maisie Dobbs series. It perfectly captures how I feel about this series that’s been part of my life for twenty years. It’s like losing a friend.
"One truth I’ve gleaned … is that the very elements that cause series fiction to be undervalued as literature make it exceptional as a storytelling form.
"Which is why the end of a beloved series packs a different emotional punch than the end of a beloved standalone book, or even a series on Netflix. Since individual titles in a series are usually published over a long expanse of time, series fiction accompanies its readers through the changes and milestones of their own lives. Simply put: In most series, the characters get older, and we readers get older, too. Perhaps we don’t age in tandem, but we head in the same direction together.”
The books span 1910 to 1945, taking Maisie from a 13-year-old in pre-World War I England to a middle-aged woman at the end of World War II. Maisie moves from being a maid in an aristocratic
household to a battlefield nurse in the first World War and then a private investigator.
Winspear says she always knew the series would end with World War II, and she has done a masterful job of capturing what the two wars did to England and her beloved characters. She brings alive not only the physical devastation, but also the loss of two generations of young men and the lasting emotional trauma it leaves on those who survived.
In this final book, she brings us a more vulnerable Maisie, one who is still helping and protecting others, but who is also reflecting on her life. It may well be the best in the series. If you haven’t given it a try yet, I recommend you begin with Book I. If you like historical fiction, particularly of the WWI and II eras, I predict you’ll be hooked.
During the 20 years she spent writing the Maisie Dobbs series, she also wrote two standalone novels, and I realized that I haven’t read the very first one, “The Care and management of Lies,” set during WW I. That’s an oversight I intend to rectify soon.
I grabbed the other one, “The White Lady,” as soon as I heard about it. It spans WW I to WW II and beyond, but in one book, not 18. She’s also produced two nonfiction books, “This Time Next Year We’ll Be Laughing,” a memoir, and “What Would Maisie Do? Inspiration from the Maisie Dobbs series.”
Perhaps reading the standalone novel I somehow missed will help heal my broken heart until Winspear, hopefully, tries her hand at fiction again. Meanwhile, I’ll be in search of another series whose main character can become my friend. Recommendations are welcome.
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/.
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Board of Education work session.
Just days after the school district’s announcement, more than 100 parents, teachers, students and alumni turned out to Woodland Elementary School in east Sandy Springs to hear why their beloved neighborhood institution has been recommended for closure.
Fulton County Schools Chief Operating Officer Noel Maloof said no decision has been made on the matter.
The Spalding Drive Elementary community has spent the past two weeks organizing a committee to save the school, hiring a public relations firm and gathering as much information as possible.
Support from Sandy Springs Mayor Rusty Paul and state Rep. Deborah Silcox doesn’t hurt either.
“Open enrollment for Fulton County will begin in the 2025-2026 school year, and the construction of the new North Springs High School will further encourage more families to send their children to Spalding Drive Elementary,” Silcox wrote. “School leaders believe that the declining enrollment is only a temporary challenge.”
Parents are saying the same, and they point to county taxpayers’ $175 million investment in one of Sandy Springs’ two public high schools, North Springs.
More than 80 percent of Spalding Drive Elementary students go to Sandy Springs Middle before North Springs High.
Several parents said they moved to Sandy Springs specifically to enroll their children at Spalding Drive Elementary School.
The waitlist for the school’s Pre-K program has 34 in-district kids and more than 100 from surrounding areas.
The committee says there was not a waitlist three years ago, and it calls the school district’s plan “a permanent solution
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to a short-term issue.”
With that in mind, the committee is questioning why the school district is closing the door on prospective families and saying there are not enough students.
“The expedited timeline has a significant impact on the community as well as the mental health of our children,” Spalding Drive Elementary parent Nora Robb said. “The timeline forces uncertainty as to where our children will attend school next year.”
During “Redistricting 101” meetings Sept. 23, the school district’s presentation explained that the process takes place when schools close, open or there is imbalance in enrollment.
This year, Spalding Drive Elementary School has 349 students and is predicted to have seven fewer next year. The district says the school building needs extensive repairs based on a condition assessment.
Because its enrollment is projected to continually decline past the 450-student threshold the school district identifies as “operationally inefficient,” it is considering consolidating Sandy Springs elementary students.
Spalding Drive is one of seven Fulton County elementary schools in Sandy Springs. Others include Dunwoody Springs, Heard’s Ferry, High Point, Ison Springs, Lake Forest and Woodland.
Spalding Drive is second to only Heard’s Ferry in academic performance as measured through the end-of-grade Georgia Milestones Assessments.
The school district does not include academic criteria in its analysis of whether the elementary school should close.
The citizens committee questions why a school district does not consider academic performance, which is its primary purpose.
If redistricting occurs, Fulton County Schools officials said approved attendance zone changes would go into effect for the 2025-26 school year.
Drive. The Georgia Department of Transportation report more than 12,000 motorists pass through the intersection every day.
As motorists head north on Long Island Drive and approach the Mount Vernon Highway intersection, any left turns run the risk of a collision along one of southern Sandy Springs’ busiest thoroughfares.
The solution is realignment of Arlington Cemetery Drive and the main roadways with new sidewalks and traffic signals.
The city budgeted $800,000 for the intersection improvements. Most of the programmed funding is set to be spent in the next year.
Additional improvements include upgraded striping and signage, right-of-way acquisition and utility coordination. The project will also connect with completed and under construction Mount Vernon Highway sidewalk improvements.
Students who are rising fifth graders, eighth graders or high school juniors and seniors can opt to stay at their home school, but no transportation will be provided, the district reported.
Families are scrambling
The Save Spalding Drive Elementary Committee says closing the school would cause families to leave the area, damage its diverse student body and lower the Sandy Springs region’s academic performance.
Their mission is simple. Families, like Robb and her 6-year-old son Jacob, do not want the school that brought them to central Sandy Springs to close.
Robb, an attorney, said the expedited timeline has had a significant impact on elementary schoolers’ mental health.
Jacob still greets his kindergarten teacher every Friday morning, but only because the school issued a policy limiting when former students can visit their old teachers.
If an elementary school creates such strong bonds between teachers and students, parents want to know why the school district is considering putting it to an end, she said.
“My son cried hysterically when he heard the school might close,” Robb said. “For them to find out in February that they have a couple months left in their school is a disservice to the mental health of our children, particularly after COVID.”
With so many American children struggling to read on grade-level, Jacob Robb looks forward to reading articles about the potential closure because his teachers at Spalding Drive Elementary have him reading on a middle school level.
School district receives questions
After two online informational meetings on redistricting criteria and scope Sept. 23, Spalding Drive Elementary parents said the school district is moving the goal posts and cherry-picking
data.
Nora Robb said she thinks Fulton County Schools has made its decision to close Spalding Drive Elementary and redistrict the region before collecting valuable community feedback.
While the school district says the redistricting process is all about community input, the committee is unconvinced. It says the school district is not considering all residential development in Sandy Springs or the desirability of the city’s schools.
“They are only considering new single-family homes, and that’s not tear downs, new construction, condos or apartments,” Robb said. “We don’t believe that’s an accurate reflection of the growth in the community.”
She cited the multi-family housing development, slated to be completed in 2025 with more than 200 units, at the corner of Roswell (Ga. 9) and Dalrymple roads.
“We are in the process of coming up with our own data,” Robb said. “There’s a lot out there that would suggest that this community is growing faster than they want us to believe.”
When the committee sent a Freedom of Information Act request to the school district, they were told they’d have copies in six weeks.
Because a recommended plan is slated to be presented to the Fulton County School Board Jan. 15 and redistricting meetings are underway, Robb said the committee doesn’t have time to wait.
The committee has reached out to Fulton County School Board of Education members Michelle Morancie and Katie Gregory for help with district staff.
“Round One” for redistricting Sandy Springs elementary schools is Oct. 7 at Riverwood High School. There will be no draft plans or maps presented, but Fulton County Schools staff will facilitate small-group input sessions and share additional information.
