Sandy Springs endures downed trees, flooding
City’s preparations helped soften blow
By HAYDEN SUMLIN hayden@appenmedia.com
SANDY SPRINGS, Ga. — Sandy Springs took the brunt of storm damages in North Fulton County Sept. 26-27 with dozens of downed trees and flooded sections of the Chattahoochee River and Nancy Creek.
One of the most significant remaining impacts is the road closure and culvert failure on Atlanta’s portion of Lake Forest Drive, creating traffic congestion along Roswell Road (Ga. 9) at the Atlanta-Sandy Springs border.
Georgia Department of Transportation data shows some 8,000 motorists travel the major collector road daily.
The sinkhole is in Atlanta, which has not shared a timeline for repairs with Sandy Springs or Appen Media.
See STORM, Page 13
A look south on Lake Forest Drive in Sandy Springs shows the road
Atlanta’s portion of the roadway. As of press time, the City of Atlanta has not provided
or Appen Media with a timeline for repairs or reopening of the street many commuters use
City teams with East Point in alliance to save elementary schools
By HAYDEN SUMLIN hayden@appenmedia.com
SANDY SPRINGS, Ga. — Sandy Springs Mayor Rusty Paul announced the city is allying with East Point to keep local elementary schools from closing.
The Sandy Springs region of Fulton County Schools is beginning the redistricting process for all elementary schools after it recommended closure of Spalding Drive Elementary School.
“Round One” of community meetings
began Oct. 7 at Riverwood International Charter School, one of the city’s two public high schools.
In North Fulton County fashion, the community and its leaders have rallied around saving the historic and high-performing PreK-5 school, forming a committee, hiring consultants and making their voices heard.
Speaking at the Oct. 1 Sandy Springs City Council meeting, Paul said he has been in contact with East Point Mayor Deanna Holiday Ingram, who also faces the
closure of Parklane Elementary in the city.
The two mayors have worked on a few projects together, he said.
The Sandy Springs and South Fulton regions both face a redistricting of all elementary schools, triggered by the recommendation to close the two buildings.
Declining enrollment and outdated facilities have prompted Fulton County Schools staff to suggest closing the schools.
See CITY, Page 15
a proclamation recognizing Oct. 7, 2024, as a day of remembrance for the victims of the Hamas terrorist attacks on Israel. A one-year commemoration was scheduled for Sandy Springs Oct. 7.
HAYDEN SUMLIN/APPEN MEDIA
Sandy Springs Mayor Rusty Paul reads
HAYDEN SUMLIN/APPEN MEDIA
closure for a sinkhole on
Sandy Springs
daily.
HURRICANE HELENE
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.
ASK APPEN
Police hunting motorist who shot driver on Ga. 400
SANDY SPRINGS, Ga. — Sandy Springs Police are looking for an armed suspect after a motorist was shot during road rage incident along Ga. 400 around 7:14 a.m. Sept. 30.
A statement from the Sandy Springs Police Department says its officers were dispatched to Ga. 400 northbound be-
tween Lenox Road and Windsor Parkway.
As of 4:30 p.m. Sept. 30, no suspect has been identified or apprehended.
The statement says officers learned that aggressive driving led to a road rage incident between the two motorists, with one driver shooting the other.
SANDY SPRINGS EDUCATION FORCE/PROVIDED Runners in the Sandy Springs Education Force’s Lightning 5K/10K take off from an office park along Lake Forest Drive at last year’s annual road race. The 11th annual “Run for a Cause” Oct. 26 will raise money for underprivileged students in Sandy Springs public schools.
Education Force invites runners to support public school students
SANDY SPRINGS, Ga. — The Sandy Springs Education Force’s 11th annual road race — Lightning 5K/10K — steps off before 8 a.m. Oct. 26 at the Century Springs office park off Lake Forest Drive.
The “Run for a Cause” fundraiser is an official Peachtree Road Race Qualifying Event.
The race starts and finishes at 6100 Lake Forest Drive just south of Mount Vernon Highway and Arlington Memorial Park.
The Sandy Springs Education Force says registration fees help it provide targeted learning support and outreach programs for students attending the 11 public schools in the city.
For over a decade, the nonprofit has supported the educational success of financially vulnerable students with tutoring, reading and mentoring programs.
The 5K begins at 7:55 a.m. and costs $35 plus sign-up fees.
The 10K steps off 10 minutes earlier and costs $45 plus sign-up fees.
Organizers said the price of both road races will increase $5 after Oct. 25.
The victim, not identified in the statement, was transported to a local hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.
The statement says Criminal Investigation Division took over the investigation on scene.
Sandy Springs Police asked the pub-
lic for information surrounding the road rage incident.
The unidentified suspect’s vehicle is described as a dark-colored Tesla with tinted windows and dark rims.
The statement asks anyone with information to call Sandy Springs detectives at 770-551-6937.
ProPublica editor shares reporting on deaths amid state abortion law
By AMBER PERRY amber@appenmedia.com
Editor’s note: Appen Media Group owns and operates The Georgia Politics Podcast, and when ProPublica turns its attention to Georgia, it catches our eye.
NORTH METRO ATLANTA — Citing medical experts, ProPublica recently reported that the death of two Georgia women who had sought abortion treatment, were preventable.
Amber Nicole Thurman and Candi Miller, both Black, are the subject of recent reporting from ProPublica in a series entitled “Life of the Mother: How Abortion Bans Lead to Preventable Deaths.”
ProPublica is a nonprofit national newsroom that focuses on public interest and investigative reporting, exposing harm and bringing accountability as well as solutions.
That July, Georgia’s six-week abortion ban had gone into effect. Thurman’s pregnancy had advanced to the ninth week.
Thurman developed complications from the abortion pills, a rarity, and sought urgent treatment at Piedmont Henry Hospital in Stockbridge in mid-August. Through a time-stamped account of Thurman’s visit, ProPublica revealed a delay in a procedure that could have saved Thurman’s life, called a D&C, or dilation and curettage.
Branstetter, working closely with Surana and contributing reporters, said the team’s entry into Thurman’s story began with a review of public death certificate data.
For road race runners, packets will be distributed at Academy Sports + Outdoors at 130 Perimeter Center West in Dunwoody from 11 a.m.-7 p.m. Oct. 25.
Competitors will receive a T-shirt, food and a goodie bag from organizers. Everyone who finishes the road race gets a medal, with the top three people in each division receiving awards.
The race course runs north on Lake Forest Drive before taking a right on Mount Vernon Highway and continuing just past Whitner Drive.
Runners will then turn around and head east on Mount Vernon Highway before taking a left at Lake Forest Drive and crossing the finish line.
Participants in the 10K do two laps.
Parking is available at 6100 Lake Forest Drive, Sandy Springs United Methodist Church and City Springs.
Organizers also promoted the postrace party, including a DJ, vendors with giveaways and drawings for prizes from local businesses.
To register for the Lightning 5K/10K or donate to the Sandy Springs Education Force, visit https://runsignup.com/ssef.
ProPublica Senior Editor Ziva Branstetter joined Appen Media Group Senior Reporter Amber Perry on an episode of the Georgia Politics Podcast Sept. 27, sharing with listeners the details of reporter Kavitha Surana’s yearlong effort to bring Thurman’s case to light.
Not long after the episode aired, local media and national outlets reported that Fulton County Superior Court Judge Robert McBurney struck down the law. In its coverage of the Sept. 30 decision, The Guardian cited ProPublica’s reporting.
The order comes after the state Supreme Court reversed a 2022 ruling from McBurney, according to local media. McBurney had said the law had been passed illegally, since Roe v. Wade was in effect at the time.
Gov. Brian Kemp signed the LIFE Act in 2019, though it did not go into effect until July 2022.
After deciding to end her pregnancy in summer 2022, Thurman traveled to a North Carolina clinic to receive a surgical abortion but was instead offered a two-pill abortion regimen.
Branstetter said around 30 cases were identified that had the hallmarks of potentially preventable deaths, with insights from forensic pathologists, maternal fetal medicine specialists and gynecologists who advised the team what they should be looking for.
Key words were sepsis alongside “retained products of conception,” relevant to both Thurman’s and Miller’s cases, as well as miscarriage and a general lack of options.
“We’re not trying to attack doctors or hospitals,” Branstetter said. “We’re just trying to examine ways that these bans are resulting in deaths, and perhaps some solutions can come out of this, some more clear directives.”
Doctors and nurses involved in Thurman’s cases did not respond to questions from ProPublica.
“Doctors have said these bans are going to cause confusion and fear, and these exceptions are not going to be enough to prevent people from being harmed and possibly dying,” Branstetter said.
To listen to the episode, visit appenmedia.com/podcasts/ thegeorgiapoliticspodcast.
Top update: Local and national outlets reported Sept. 30 that a Fulton County Superior Court judge struck down Georgia’s six-week abortion ban, allowing the procedure at up to around 22 weeks of pregnancy. The Guardian cited ProPublica’s reporting in its coverage of the new decision.
BRANSTETTER
Second
Gold Sponsors
Maria and Tony Barnhart ~ Café Intermezzo
Chick-Fil-A Jett Ferry Road ~ Club Pilates Dunwoody
Dunwoody Automotive ~ Dunwoody Nature Center
E. 48th Street Market ~ Fitness Together
Donna and Tom Fullilove ~ The Hanna Family
Josephine’s Antiques & Fine Linens
Terry and Alan Kemp ~ Donna and Greg Knowlton
LookinGood Hair Salon ~ Maximos Gyro & Kabobs
Monterey Wealth
Schulman Esthetic and General Dentistry
Spruill Center for the Arts
Stage Door Theatre ~ Thornton Law Firm
Silver Sponsors
Judy and Paul Bertrand ~ Martha Blondheim
Budget Upholstery ~ The Capital Grille
Carbonara Trattoria ~ Dunwoody Village Ace Hardware
Su and Richard Ellis ~ The Enchanted Forest
McKendrick’s Steakhouse ~ Barbara and Jay Pryor
Hazel Schingen ~ Under the Pecan Tree
Vintage Pizzeria
GFWC Dunwoody Woman’s Club
Thanks to the Sponsors of the 51st Annual Dunwoody Home Tour
Wednesday, October 9, 2024
Diamond Sponsors
Dentistry with a Difference
Dunwoody Crier
The Kloster Group/Rachel Provow
Piedmont Bank
Linda Mote
Platinum Sponsors
Ken and Karen Ashley in memory of Toine Ashley
Faye and Steve Cashwell
Susan and Dohrm Crawford
Sandra and Denis DuBois
Dunwoody Animal Medical Center
Dunwoody Gallery
Dunwoody Preservation Trust
Face Haven
Lee and John Giesecke
Mr. and Mrs. Corb Hankey
Lauderhills Fine Jewelry
The McCarty Group
Joy T. Melton, Esq.
Diane Norris
Northside Hospital Atlanta Auxiliary
OnPoint Wealth
Publix Super Markets Charities
Zurn Plumbing
Friends of the Tour: Suzanne Bentz ~ Sharon and Tom Clark ~ Marie Drake ~ Sandra and Billy King ~ Debra and Richard Love ~ Bernice and Mickey McGuire
North Italia ~ Novo Cucina ~ Thompson’s Frame & Gallery ~ Vicki and Bruce Strahan ~ Pat Troxel
In gratitude to our in-kind and other contributors: Mount Vernon Printing, Pat Fiorello In Loving Memory of Nancy D’Ardenne
Planners sign off on hotel for City Center’s Medley
By AMBER PERRY amber@appenmedia.com
JOHNS CREEK, Ga. — A boutique hotel may be the centerpiece of Medley, the anticipated 42-acre mixed-use development that is one facet of the Johns Creek Town Center project.
The new proposal discards original plans for a two-story entertainment space and adds a hotel featuring up to 175 rooms, 8,000 square feet of meeting space and a restaurant.
The rest of the Toro Development project is filling out. Restaurants like 26 Thai Kitchen, Ford Fry’s Little Rey and Fadó Irish Pub are part of a slate leasing agreements for Medley.
“We've signed probably almost 25 retail leases, one of which is with a boutique grocer who shall remain unnamed, but I'll allow anybody to speculate,” Developer Mark Toro told the Johns Creek Planning Commission Oct. 1. “It's interesting, the NDAs (non-disclosure agreements) that we sign with retailers…”
The Planning Commission unanimously approved Toro Development’s hotel pitch, which will now go before the City Council for a vote at a future meeting.
Approval includes a special use permit that would allow the hotel to stand six stories, or 75 feet, on the sides and in the rear. The facade, facing Medley’s central plaza, would meet the zoning district’s four-story, or 60-foot, height requirement.
Toro offered the success of the Hotel at Avalon with the Planning Commission as a rationale for the move.
“The hotel, specifically, has been a resounding success, and has injected new heads in beds every night and brought new energy to the property,” said Toro, who led the development of the Alpharetta crown jewel less than 10 miles away under North Atlanta Properties. He cofounded and led the Atlanta office.
New hotels cropped up in Alpharetta after Avalon’s opened.
In July, though, investment firm Peachtree Group bought the 119-unit Hamilton Hotel in downtown Alpharetta after foreclosure for a price of $41.9 million. The hotel opened in 2021.
Toro also spoke of the private-public partnership between the City of Alpharetta and Avalon owner North American Properties. He said the city wanted the Alpharetta Conference Center because of a lack of options in the area.
“In fact, at the time, the Greater North Fulton Chamber of Commerce had to go to Buckhead for their gala because there was no other place to be,” Toro said.
In 2016, the City of Alpharetta ap-
TORO DEVELOPMENT/PROVIDED
A rendering of the proposed Hotel at Medley shows a four-story facade facing a central plaza. A special use permit, approved alongside a rezoning, would allow the sides and rear of the building to stand at six stories.
AMBER PERRY/APPEN MEDIA
Mark Toro, the developer who spearheaded Avalon, pitches an update in plans for the 42-acre mixed-use development Medley at the Oct. 1 Johns Creek Planning Commission meeting.
proved an agreement with the Alpharetta Development Authority to issue $26 million in revenue bonds to fund construction of the 44,000-square-foot conference center, connected to the Hotel at Avalon.
Alpharetta Assistant City Administrator James Drinkard said the city gets two free uses of the conference center annually, excluding catering or A/V costs.
Drinkard also said the city’s bond debt for the project is cushioned by the 1 percent increase in hotel/motel tax, approved at the time. A portion of that tax also goes
U of Wisconsin grad joins Appen newsroom team
ALPHARETTA, Ga – Appen Media Group announced Sept. 30 that Annabelle Reiter will join its staff as a reporter. Annabelle will cover sports, local government and business in the North Fulton area. She will report to Carl Appen, director of content and development, and she will be based in Alpharetta.
Reiter grew up in Waunakee, Wisconsin, a suburb of Madison, and graduated in May with a degree in communications from the University of Wisconsin. During her time at UW, she took courses in political rhetoric, mass communications, and sports media, and worked as a policy intern in Gov. Tony Evers’ office.
to the Alpharetta Convention and Visitors Bureau, which funds a $500,000 annual marketing expense related to the conference center.
Toro said the company is in the process of interviewing nine operators, adept at managing hotels of the proposed size.
But, he told Appen Media the hotel’s brand is unknown at this point. He is encouraging people to help with the selection process. Pending approval by the City Council, Toro said the company will create an Instagram post and ask people to chime in.
Some members of the Planning Commission questioned how the update might impact the Fire Department. Commissioner Vicki Horton emphasized the major shift from an entertainment space to an asset where people stay overnight.
“I’m not just talking the equipment, I'm talking the ability to effectively protect and serve that asset and the people in it,” Horton said, riding a question about whether the Fire Department had the appropriate apparatus to handle the proposed building size.
Planning and Zoning Manager Ruchi Agarwal said every rezoning and special use permit goes to the Fire Department. She added that the fire marshal reviewed the plan, and that the accessibility of the property hasn’t changed, a typical focus.
Many Planning Commission members voiced their excitement about the hotel, including Chris Jackson.
“...Avalon was one of these things where it became, ‘If we build it, they will come,’” Jackson said. “I think the same thing is going to happen here.”
“I’m extremely excited to be joining the team at Appen Media,” Reiter said. “I’m passionate about the human experience, I love culture and connecting people through storytelling, I’m very fortunate to be able to have a place to do so in the newsroom at Appen Media.”
To contact Reiter with news tips or story ideas, email annabelle@appenmedia. com
Coverage leads to record month for Decaturish
DECATUR, Ga. — Decaturish reached a new milestone in September, recording 419,000 page views, the most of any month in 2024.
Breaking news about Hurricane Helene and a chemical plant fire in Rockdale County drove the increase in page views. Decaturish also saw the most unique visitors of the year, bringing in 245,000 readers.
Editor and founder Dan Whisenhunt attributed the increase to the recent purchase of Decaturish by Appen Media Group. The acquisition included turning over many time-consuming operational tasks to Appen, allowing Decaturish to focus its efforts on telling the untold stories of our community.
“Having more time on my hands means more time I can spend editing and writing stories for Decaturish, creating more value for our audience,” he said.
“We are thrilled to see this amount of growth so soon after bringing on the Decaturish team,” said Publisher Hans Appen. “It is a testament to how much the Decatur area relies on Dan and his team to keep them informed on issues most important to them, like their safety.”
REITER
A view from southeast of High Street at Perimeter Center Parkway and Hammond Drive shows the first phase buildout of the mixed-use development in Dunwoody at its border with Sandy Springs.
Dunwoody’s High Street development announces new retailers in Perimeter
DUNWOODY, Ga. — High Street, a mixed-use development on the border of Fulton and DeKalb counties, announced Sept. 30 that more of its retail space is leased, and additional shops are opening.
Dunwoody’s High Street is a multiphased, $2 billion mixed-use destination at Perimeter Center Parkway and Hammond Drive. GID Development leads the project, with leasing efforts from JLL’s boutique leasing team, 10twelve.
Opening in 2024, the first phase encompasses 150,000 square feet of elevated retail, entertainment and dining experiences, 598 upscale apartments and 310,000 square feet of office, including 90,000 square feet of new Class A lofts office.
The leasing team announced more than 86,000 square feet of retail space is now committed with the planned addition of NOW Massage and Rosetta Bakery by spring 2025.
Other retailers, like SkinSpirit, Ben & Jerry’s and Nando’s PERi-PERi have recently opened, which the team says complements the summer openings of Velvet Taco and Allen Edmonds shoe store.
With over 300 residents already living at the mixed-use destination, developers and the leasing team are excited to keep attracting retailers and consumers.
GID Senior Vice President Ian Ward noted the momentum the project is generating in 2024.
‘Under the Big Top’ gala to raise money for needy
Event promises circus-like experience
SANDY SPRINGS, Ga. — The Community Assistance Center announced the theme of its annual gala, “Under the Big Top,” set for Oct. 26 at the Sandy Springs Performing Arts Center’s Studio Theatre.
The Community Assistance Center is the primary human services organization for neighbors in Sandy Springs and Dunwoody who are facing financial hardships or unexpected emergencies.
For over 37 years, CAC has been a trusted resource in the community, helping neighbors facing hardship with vital support and hope.
Organizers said this year’s theme presents an upscale circus experience, offering guests an elegant and captivating evening while supporting the nonprofit’s crucial work to prevent hunger and homelessness in the Perimeter area.
committees and all who join us in this important cause.”
The event is made possible with the dedication of the gala’s Host Committee and Gala Planning Committee, co-chaired by Arjé McCarty and Dana Wexler.
The CAC also acknowledges the gala’s sponsors, including presenting sponsor Mercedes-Benz USA and every ticket holder who helps support neighbors in need.
All funds raised from the gala go to the CAC’s programs.
In 2023, CAC assisted 8,600 neighbors and prevented 962 evictions.
Information, a limited number of host and sponsor tables and general admission tickets with a discount for couples are available for purchase at www.cacgala.com.
“"By carefully curating a diverse range of restaurants, service providers and entertainment options, we are bringing a distinctive experience to the Perimeter area,” Ward said. “With a vibrant resident population and a continuous stream of visitors, High Street is transforming into a dynamic 24/7 destination that offers something for everyone."
At full build-out, the 36-acre project will feature 10 city blocks thoughtfully developed around a pedestrian-friendly street grid steps away from the Dunwoody MARTA Station.
Metro Atlanta’s Perimeter market is split between two cities, Sandy Springs in Fulton County and Dunwoody in DeKalb County.
After the COVID-19 pandemic accelerated concerns in commercial real estate trends, both cities focused on revitalizing and redeveloping older areas of the shared market.
So far, Dunwoody is leading the charge with High Street, Ashford Lane and Campus 244, all in its portion of Perimeter.
Sandy Springs got a jump on redevelopment, creating its own downtown at Roswell Road (Ga. 9) and Mount Vernon Highway a couple of miles west of Ga. 400. Plans are to continue expanding the downtown district — City Springs.
To hear new announcements or peruse openings, visit www.highstreetatlanta.com/.
Attendees will enjoy a seated threecourse dinner and drinks, followed by an in-person auction and one online, featuring an array of unique items and exclusive experiences.
The evening will feature personal stories and performances that align with the circus-inspired theme, creating a one-of-a-kind experience.
Francis K. Horton, CEO of the Community Assistance Center, said the annual gala is more than just a celebration.
“It’s an opportunity for the community to unite and create meaningful change,” Horton said. “We deeply appreciate the support of our sponsors,
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.
GID DEVELOPMENT/PROVIDED
Alpharetta wine shop pushes natural vinting
By JON WILCOX jon@appenmedia.com
ALPHARETTA, Ga. — Adam Danielson, owner of Fermented, thinks the wine industry may have lost its way, but he wants to help customers get back to its roots.
At Fermented, Danielson has stocked his shelves with wines sourced from vineyards that embrace the natural growing process, rather than fighting against it.
“They follow the cycles of the moon for their pruning, for their planting,” Danielson said. “It’s a holistic vineyard approach, where they don’t bring in anything from the outside world.”
Danielson created Fermented with the idea that Alpharetta and north Metro Atlanta residents care how their wines are made. His philosophy is about purchasing a sustainably made product that simply tastes better.
Fermented prides itself in offering customers an opportunity to purchase superior wine without having to make a lengthy drive into central Atlanta.
“We’ve realized how incredible the community is,” he said.
On top of selling holistically made wines, the shop offers tastings and classes to teach their unique stories.
Danielson, 45, began his love affair with wine waiting tables as an 18-yearold and then managing a restaurant when he was 20. Eventually, he began working as a cellar manager and living in Santa Barbara, California, a region known as the “American Riviera.”
There, he realized all of his favorite wines had something in common. They were made naturally.
“What I began to discover was the wines that I was drawn to were less alcohol, less oak, and less manipulations,” he said.
After meeting with vintners, he learned some dirty little secrets about the trade, he said. Mass production vineyards were growing with an eye on profit margins and little regard for flavor. They were mixing in additives, artificially inflating flavor profiles and somehow getting overrated scores from critics, he said.
“A lot of these just tasted like spiked grape juice,” he said. “It was so much fruit, so much alcohol. It wasn’t what I initially learned wine was in my early career.”
All wines at Fermented are either biodynamic or organic. Farms that are biodynamic grow grapes in an
environment that replicates the natural environment as closely as possible. They are sustainable and “heal the land” as they farm.
Grapes, like people, do best when they experience adversity, Danielson said.
“There’s a lot of similarities that I’ve found between people and wine,” he said.
Vines planted in poor soil and struggle for water produce more complex flavors. The plants, which are capable of incredible things, can dig as deep as 80 feet in search of moisture.
When wine is made naturally, it also produces less of a hangover, said Danielson, who bragged he hasn’t had one in years.
Fermented also includes a room Danielson dubs the “Flight Club.” There, he and his staff teach patrons about the winemaking process and individual stories each bottle has to tell.
“You’re going to learn a lot,” Danielson said.
Every wine has a story to tell, he said.
The Avino Cava reserve brew was made by a family who has been making wine since 1597. The champagnelike drink is fermented from grapes indigenous to northern Italy. It combines delicate bubbles and a beautiful froth with notes of bright citrus and apple.
Danielson said he is especially proud to sell Foradori wines, which are made by a groundbreaking woman. After taking over her family’s estate, she converted their operation into a biodynamic farming model and became a leader in the industry.
“Her wines are uber limited, uber delicious,” he said.
Danielson said he is blessed to be based in Alpharetta for several reasons.
“They love to support good people and good products,” he said.
Fermented’s customers said they keep coming back to partake in Danielson’s selection and knowledge.
Matt Keeter, of Woodstock, stopped by to find a California red his wife could enjoy without getting a headache.
“His memory is unbelievable,” Keeter said. “I guarantee he will remember what I like personally.”
Jay and Courtney Waggoner, of Roswell, said they also appreciate Danielson’s knowledge. But they keep coming back because the natural wines don’t give them much of a hangover.
“It’s good, clean wine,” Jay Waggoner said.
PHOTOS BY: JON WILCOX/APPEN MEDIA
Adam Danielson, owner of Fermented, explains the grape-growing process while holding a naturally made wine at his shop Sept. 19.
Some of Fermented’s naturally made wines sit on a table inside the Alpharetta shop. The business only carries wines that are produced naturally.
More Information: To learn more about Feremented’s philopshy, visit fermentedatl.com or call 470-361-2091. The shop is located in downtown Alpharetta at 50 Canton St., #106.
Support Local News Join Appen Press Club
CHARTER MEMBER
DC Aiken
Big Sky Franchise Team
David & Michelle Bertany
Amour & Duane Carthy
Adam Corder
Barbara Anderson
Kerry Arias
Scott Baynton
Joseph Bell
James Bennett
Rita Brown
Carl Abernathy
Bruce Ackley
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
Bangkok Boxing LLC
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
Carol Bright
Linda Brill
Dorothy Brouhard
Erendira Brumley
Bernhard Burgener
Alvin Burrell
Mike & Theresa Buscher
Mary Busman
Clea Calloway
Kirk Canaday
James Carr
Bridgette Carter
William Cartwright
Frank Catroppa
Pat Check
Virginia Christman
Christopher Cleary
Ann Coaloa
Kim Coggins
Robert Flint
Robin Fricton
Allison January
Michael Kenig
Roderick Liptrot
Bob Meyers
Claude Nardy
Cliff Oxford
Ross & Lori Ramsey
Mark Rundle
MEMBER+
Mark Casas
David Conti
Theodore Davis III
Maureen Drumm
Charlcie Forehand
Deborah Jackson
Ali Mahbod
Evan McElroy
Vickie McElroy
Patricia Miller
Anne Peer Robert Popp
MEMBER
Evelyn Collazo Michael Mackenzie
Compton
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
Randall Kent
Carol Kerr
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
Joyce Provissiero
Chuck Pugh
Robert Radloff
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.
Whittall Helen Scherrer Kate Seng
Williams Marilyn Colarossi-Woods Raj Rajagopalan Ashwin Ramaswami
Cheryl Rand
Gloria Stathos
Wesley Stewart
Cathryn Stovall
Celeste Strohl
Andy Sumlin Mike Tasos
Teichert
Tilt
Townes
Tyser
Washburn
Umpika
YOU CAN USE LOCAL NEWS
PAST TENSE
Georgetown Shopping Center made waves
Scott Hudgens, president of Scott Hudgens Realty & Mortgage, first advertised lots available in the Georgetown subdivision in the Aug. 27, 1961, Atlanta Journal. “Come on out! Georgetown is ready,” was announced. In these early days of Georgetown, buyers could select their lot and floor plan.
Support the work appenmedia.com/join
Details described in the July 4, 1962, Atlanta Journal include quality construction, large, wooded lots, three-to-five bedrooms, two or more bathrooms, surface units, oven, hood, dishwasher and a choice of carpets or oak flooring. Styles offered were early American, Dutch Colonial, French Provincial and Colonial.
The 1962 advertisement for Georgetown informs buyers a shopping center is conveniently located 1 mile away. That shopping center was Chamblee Plaza. A proposed shopping center is planned and would be built next to the subdivision. This was the future Georgetown Shopping Center.
Georgetown Shopping Center first opened July 1964. It included a Big Apple grocery store, King’s Drug Store, furniture store and a laundry. The price of the original shopping center construction was $1 million. (June 1, 1964, Atlanta Journal, “Georgetown Shopping Center”)
Scott Hudgens also developed the shopping center, which was described as 10 acres at the northwest corner of Chamblee Dunwoody Road and the Circumferential Highway. The highway was completed five years later and is known today as I-285.
Robert Schaumann purchased the shopping center in the early 1970s and announced a plan to quadruple the space in 1973. Part of the plan was to add a 30,000-square-foot Kroger grocery store, the largest Kroger in Metro Atlanta in 1973. Existing tenant spaces would be renovated. The center’s square footage went from 33,000 square feet to 125,000.
Possibilities for Georgetown Shopping Center additions included a theater, more restaurants, specialty shops, and a community room for clubs and civic groups. I have never heard or read about a theater at Georgetown, but please email me if you remember one. (Neighbor
A map accompanied the advertisement for the new Georgetown subdivision in the 1961 Atlanta Journal, indicating the future Georgetown Shopping Center.
newspaper, “Georgetown to expand,” Feb. 7, 1973, DeKalb History Center Archives)
In 1976, the first Dunwoody Fourth of July parade began at Georgetown Shopping Center and continued to Dunwoody Village. Gerry Spruill was chairperson of the parade. Her committee included several members of the Dunwoody Woman’s Club. Cecil Day and Mike Tilleman were grand marshals of the parade.
According to cororealty.com, Georgetown Shopping Center today includes 142,397 square feet on 11.3 acres. Stores and businesses include Kroger, Goldberg’s Deli, Farm Burger, Vino Venue, and Sherwin Williams. The AT&T store was the former location of Starbucks before it moved to adjacent Shoppes of Georgetown.
Award-winning author Valerie Biggerstaff is a longtime columnist for Appen Media and the Dunwoody Crier. She lives in Atlanta. You can email Valerie at pasttensega@gmail.com or visit her website at pasttensega.com.
VALERIE BIGGERSTAFF Columnist
PROVIDED
VALERIE BIGGERSTAFF/APPEN MEDIA Georgetown Shopping Center first began in 1964. This is the center's entrance sign today.
OPINION
Theodore Roosevelt’s ‘proud kinship’ with the South
The visit of President Theodore Roosevelt to Roswell in 1905 was part of a tour through the South aimed at helping to heal the lingering wounds of the Civil War. The presidential party visited several states, but the visit to Roswell had a special meaning because it was to the house where his mother was raised.
Theodore (Teddy) Roosevelt (18581919) became the 26th President of the United States in September 1901 upon the assassination of William McKinley. One of Roosevelt’s many noteworthy achievements was setting aside some 230 million acres throughout the U.S. for national forests, parks and wildlife refuges.
His parents, Theodore Roosevelt, Sr. (1831-1878) and Martha “Mittie” Bulloch Roosevelt (1835-1884) were a wealthy family in New York City.
After graduating from Harvard College, the future president married Alice Hathaway Lee (1861– 1884) In 1880. He was deeply in love. Alice was a charming, talented young woman, tall and athletic, skilled in tennis and archery, and she played piano. Both Alice and his mother Mittie died on Valentines Day in 1884. Mittie died at age 48 from typhoid fever, and Alice died at age 22 of kidney failure.
Theodore and Alice’s daughter Alice Lee Roosevelt was born on February 12, 1884, two days before her mother’s death. Theodore was so distraught at his lovely young wife’s demise that he hardly ever spoke of her again, not even with his daughter. Two years later, in 1886, Teddy married his teen years sweetheart Edith Kermit Carow (1861-1948) who served as First Lady from 1901 to 1909. Theodore was appointed Assistant Secretary of the Navy in 1897. He resigned from that position to help establish and lead the Rough Riders, a military unit that fought the Spanish army in Cuba. The unit was widely covered by the press, and Roosevelt returned to the U.S. a war hero. He was elected governor of New York in 1898. Two years later, he ran as William McKinley’s vice president.
Martha “Mittie” Bulloch Roosevelt Mittie was Theodore’s mother. Her parents, Georgia resident Maj. James Stephens Bulloch (1793–1849) and Martha “Patsy” Steward Bulloch (1799–1864), lived in Savannah. When Mittie
The president on the steps of his mother’s home, Bulloch Hall in Roswell, during his visit in 1905. In the front row are three long-time servants of the Bulloch family: Mammy Grace who was a nurse to Mittie as she grew up, Daddy Williams and Aunt Charlotte. The remainder includes the owner of the home at the time, Mr. J.B. Wing, his family, Miss Ward the postmistress, Senator Clay, the Rev. William Baker and others. The photo caption does not provide specific order of the people.
Bulloch Hall, built in 1839 in Roswell in the Greek Revival style, is the home where President Theodore Roosevelt’s mother was raised. The president visited the home for the first time in 1905. The home is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
was 3, Major Bulloch moved his family to the village that was to become Roswell to be a partner in a new cotton mill with Roswell’s founder Roswell King. Bulloch built a beautiful mansion, completed in 1839, and called it Bulloch Hall. The house is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and is today a favorite place for history lovers to visit. Mittie was raised in the house. She married Theodore Roosevelt Sr. on Dec. 22,1853 in the formal dining room of the home. It was a gala affair.
The City of Roswell owns Bulloch Hall, thanks to a successful bond referendum and a grant from the
Georgia Department of Natural Resources. The city established a citizens committee, The Roswell Historic Preservation Commission, in 1978 to oversee the local historic district and to approve projects proposed in the district.
The non-profit Friends of Bulloch Hall was established 40 years ago for the preservation and restoration of Bulloch Hall. Its president, Bob Hagan, says that the annual Magnolia Ball, raises funds to pay for projects. Last year’s projects included restoration of the original front and back doors, bringing Mittie’s garden back to life and trimming historic trees
Roswell
Bulloch Hall which has been well preserved thanks to the local city government and many volunteers. It is well worth a visit.
on the grounds, including some rare osage trees which early settlers planted as a dense hedge.
A highlight of the house is Mittie’s bedroom. According to Elaine DeNiro, archivist for the Roswell Historical Society and the City of Roswell, the Historical Society furnished Mittie’s bedroom with period pieces and is its caregiver.
President visits Roswell home
President Roosevelt visited Bulloch Hall on Oct. 20, 1905, while on a postCivil War good will tour of the South. In his remarks, the president emphasized his Southern links. He said “…my blood is half Southern and half Northern… the brothers and sisters of my mother who were born and brought up in that house on the hill there, my two uncles afterward entered the Confederate service and served with the Confederate Navy….I have the ancestral right to claim a proud kinship with those who showed their devotion to duty as they saw the duty, whether they wore the grey or whether they wore the blue.”
After visiting Roswell, the president went to Atlanta where he was told, according to the Christian Herald, a weekly New York publication, “We consider you a Georgian by birth, Mr. President. You are one of us and we love you because of your honesty and your courage to do what you think is right.”
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
BOB MEYERS/APPEN MEDIA
PUBLIC DOMAIN
Martha “Mittie” Bulloch Roosevelt, shown here at age 20, was President Teddy Roosevelt’s mother. She was raised in
in
Fall vegetable gardening is fun and rewarding
A lot of people think that the end of the summer means the end of their vegetable gardening for the year. But there are many vegetables that grow best in the fall weather and can be enjoyed all winter long. Try growing a second crop of cool season vegetables in your garden and pots. I like fall gardening because the temperatures are mild, diseases can be low if it’s dry, and insects can be less troublesome once the temperature drops.
Every year I get asked the same questions about fall gardening:
• What is the date of the first and last frost?
• What is our hardiness zone?
• How do I prepare my garden for fall planting?
• How do I maintain my garden in the fall?
• How do I control pests and diseases?
• How do I extend my growing season?
• What are the end-of-season tasks?
• What are some specific cool season vegetables?
In order to calculate the planting date, the average first frost date in North Fulton officially is Nov. 15, but that is the average. It may be earlier or later. All of Georgia is within hardiness zones 7-8.
To prepare your garden for planting, clear debris from summer planting. For existing beds add 1 inch of organic matter. For new beds add 2-4 inches. Remove rocks and sticks for growing root crops. Get a soil test for analysis of your soil and fertilize according to the recommendations. Some plants need more fertilizer than others, so refer to the info labels on the plants. Applying mulch at planting time helps conserve moisture, prevent weeds and moderate soil temperature.
In order to maintain your garden, apply mulch 2-4 inches deep and keep the mulch away from the crown of plants to avoid rot and mildew. Pests are less prevalent in the fall, but physical, cultural and biological controls will minimize them. Remember, follow the instructions of pesticide labels. More is not better and may be very harmful.
At the end of the season, add organic matter and be sure to clear debris from the beds that can shelter pests. It is also a good time to clean and store garden tools.
Winter vegetables such as beets, broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, collards, kale and spinach and an assortment of greens like arugula, lettuce and Swiss chard can be grown in the fall and winter. They can be grown in raised beds, containers or in the ground.
• Beets are a southern favorite. They are quick growing and need full sun. They also need good root drainage and soil high in potassium. They can tolerate cold and some frost. Don’t forget the tops of the beets. Beet greens are edible and nutritious too. Harvest when the bulb shows on top the size you want.
• Broccoli needs a sunny area with room to grow. Keep them evenly watered but avoid watering the heads, just the soil around them. Broccoli is also a heavy feeder and needs adequate, regular fertilization. Harvest when the heads of the buds are firm and tight.
• Cabbage is a cool-season crop that can be grown in both the fall and spring. It can be harvested when the cabbage head is nice and firm. They are heavy feeders and will need to be fertilized regularly.
• Cauliflower has similar care requirements as broccoli, so plant them in a sunny spot and water evenly. They grow well in cool weather but don’t like temperatures below 60 degrees, so use frost cloth to extend the growing season.
• Collards will withstand a wide range of temperatures. They are a very popular green in Georgia and exceed cabbage, turnip greens and spinach in fat and, protein and carbs. Some other cool-season greens include mustards and Swiss chard.
• Kale is a member of the cabbage family. It’s not only a superfood, but also a super plant tolerating cold and frost and grows well in gardens and in pots. Harvest when the leaves are about the size of your hand. Choose the smaller tender leaves for salads and the large for cooking.
• Lettuce is one of the most giving veggies you can plant since you can harvest the greens several times. Plant a blend of different types of lettuce for variety like romaine, butterhead and arugula. Because of its shallow root system, it is great to grow in shallow containers.
• Spinach is simple to grow. It prefers sun but is one of the few vegetables that can tolerate partial sun. It’s also tough in cold weather, even handling some frost. If you wait to harvest, the more bitter the leaves become. Pick the outer leaves giving the center ones time to grow.
Growing vegetables can be a year-round activity in the South. In addition to needing 6-8 hours of sun, be sure
About the author
This week's "Garden Buzz" features Sandy Springs resident Robin Pollack, an accomplished artist and Master Gardener. Active in the Atlanta art community since 1970, Robin has taught for over 30 years at Chastain Arts Center and has been a Master Gardener since 2005. As a member of North Fulton Master Gardeners, she has taught vegetable gardening at Farm Chastain and her own garden. Influenced by her artistic eye, her garden has been featured on tours including Atlanta Botanical Garden and Georgia Perennial Plant Association.
and add a layer of pine straw in winter to protect them. In case of a freeze, water veggies well and use a frost cloth for overnight protection. Growing your own vegetables is one of the most rewarding things to grow in the garden. 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. Learn more at nfmg.net. Previous Garden Buzz columns are featured at: https://appenmedia. com/opinion/columists/garden buzz/.
ROBIN POLLACK Guest Columnist
ROBIN POLLACK/PROVIDED
Robin’s fall garden
From New York to points all over the world
KATHY MANOS
This week’s reads were, of course, mysteries, as I rarely read any other genre. In both, the protagonist embarks on a search, though one is seeking a missing author while the other is searching for a lost painting. Both start in New York City before the clues lead them to another locale.
“My Favorite Terrible Things”
by Madeleine Henry
This is a new-to-me author, and I’m delighted to have discovered her. That this novel came out in May 2024 and has garnered 7,000+ reviews speaks volumes about what an intriguing tale the author weaves. Her first two books eked out just over 100 reviews each. She’s made her
Storm:
Continued from Page 1
Sandy Springs staff said they are in contact with Atlanta personnel and are encouraging them to get the repairs completed and the road reopened as quickly as possible.
Just days after the path of Hurricane Helene spared most of Metro Atlanta, Sandy Springs Mayor Rusty Paul took some time to thank emergency personnel who worked overnight to keep the city’s residents safe.
“As bad as it was around here, we dodged a bullet,” Paul said. “The storm moved to the east kind of at the last minute.”
Speaking at the Oct. 1 City Council meeting, Paul said his heart goes out to communities grappling with the worst damages, like western North Carolina and Augusta, Georgia.
As of press time, more than 200 people have died across six states.
“The amount of rain and water we got was almost Biblical,” he said. “I just want to say thank you to the staff who did a phenomenal job.”
The mayor praised Fire Chief Keith Sanders, Police Chief Kenneth DeSimone, Public Works Director Marty Martin and Communications Director Carter Page for their work during the emergency operation.
Each department played a role in the city’s storm preparations, which included clearing storm drains, fueling emergency vehicles, checking generators, purchasing pallets of water, securing active work sites, launching a hurricane webpage and creat-
mark with this one.
Publishers Weekly had this to say: “[A] cunning debut thriller…Just as Henry seems to be leading readers down one path, she veers in a wholly unexpected direction, delivering a welcome jolt to an already effective mystery. Sharp observations on toxic fan culture and a basketful of literary easter eggs are icing on the cake. This delivers.”
Private investigator Nina Travers is hired to find Claire Ross, a bestselling author who disappeared on her wedding day months ago. The police have no clue what happened to her or whether she’s even alive. It’s Claire’s mother who hires Nina, and Nina hopes to make a name for herself with this case.
I was kept guessing all the way to the very end, with every revelation coming as a shock, not as something I anticipated. If you’re seeking a novel to
keep you turning the pages, this is the book for you. And, if, like me, you like books about authors and their creativity, you won’t want to miss this one.
“The Lost Van Gogh” by Jonthan Santlofer I had never heard of this author until I read a review of this book that came out in January 2024. When I figured out this was the second art mystery with Luke Perrone as the main character, I chose to start with the 2021 book,“The Last Mona Lisa,” which I wrote about earlier this year.
Both books move back and forth in time. Both involve stolen art. Set primarily in modern times with Luke as an artist and university art professor, this one shifts to Paris during WW II, when the Nazis are leaving with as much artwork as they can, artwork, of course, taken from the Jewish population.
Not only did I find the mystery of the
ing a GIS dashboard to track road closures and fallen trees.
“We did get the roads open about 1:30 or so Saturday morning,” Paul said. “The city manager is the admiral on the bridge that keeps the ship moving in the storm.”
Like other Metro Atlanta cities, Sandy Springs led its response to Hurricane Helene from its Emergency Operations Center, where the team first met Wednesday, Sept. 25.
The EOC officially activated around 9 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 26 when the hurricane hit Florida’s Big Bend and closed around 12:30 p.m. Friday, Sept. 27.
City Manager Eden Freeman gave an
missing Van Gogh portrait intriguing, I was also fascinated by the details about the artist’s life. The action moves from New York City to Amsterdam and France, offering an international adventure. As did the first book, this one has a romantic subplot. All in all, it was a thoroughly enjoyable read, and I always consider it a bonus when I learn something along the way.
If you are intrigued by mysteries involving art, you may want to check out Santlofer’s back list. Most of his previous novels concern art, be they series or standalones. 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/.
A map shows the Nancy Creek watershed in Metro Atlanta with Sandy Springs outlined. The city’s purchase of residential floodplain properties 12 years ago sparred the city’s worst flooding from affecting residents around Windsor Meadow Park.
overview of the city’s emergency preparation and response efforts.
“It truly was all-hands-on deck last week for the city across all of our departments,” she said. “We began last week monitoring the progress of storm … we were watching it about three days before it started bringing some of the impacts here.”
Freeman said the city received significant rainfall from a separate front before the hurricane made landfall, which resulted in soggy ground conditions.
The wet ground and 30 mph winds took down at least 56 trees across city properties. Speaking at the Oct. 1 City Council meeting, the city manager said
most trees came down early in the morning Friday, Sept. 27, taking out power and communication lines.
“We have cleared, fully, 34 of those,” Freeman said. “We are working as hard as we can to clear those last eight remaining spots where sidewalks are still impeded.”
Freeman said she estimates 8-11 inches of rain fell in the city overnight.
“[There was] flooding in many of our low-lying areas, especially the Nancy Creek area down at our southern border at Windsor Meadow Park,” Freeman said. “We were truly seeing the benefits of making those [stormwater management] investments over the years.”
In 2018, the city unveiled Windsor Meadows Park after purchasing residential properties in the Nancy Creek flood plain.
The 4.25-acre park at Windsor Parkway and Northland Drive came together after devasting floods in 2008-09.
According to the Sandy Springs Conservancy, the city acquired three homes and other residential properties in 2012 with a grant from the Federal Emergency Management Agency. With the grant, the properties are required to remain passive for conservation of the natural floodplain.
“It functioned as it was supposed to,” Freeman said. “I was out there Thursday night [Sept. 26] with the chief of police and fire chief as we saw the flood waters rising.” Nancy Creek floods around a stage of 12 feet. While its level is typically knee deep, around 20 feet of water went through the creek at Windsor Meadow Park.
Fortunately, the water receded the following afternoon.
City Manager Freeman said she will present a comprehensive report at an upcoming meeting.
PENN Columnist
CITY OF SANDY SPRINGS/PROVIDED
SANDY SPRINGS DUNWOODY
Continued from Page 1
To submit your announcement visit appenmedia.com/submit
Spalding Drive Elementary parents say there must be a way to keep the school community together, like expanding open enrollment, clearing the waitlist and investing in schools with high academic achievement.
“We have agreed that we will work together to try and save both schools,” Paul said. “They’re very important to both of our communities, and we both agree that having us working together … as one voice in dealing with the ramifications of this would be much stronger than just each of us operating alone.”
The mayor said he’s excited about the opportunity to unite North and South Fulton to make the case for both elementary schools to stick around.
Trail network
In other matters Oct. 1, Paul gave a shoutout to the Sandy Springs Conservancy for its gathering at Morgan Falls Overlook Park, showing off the city’s Springway trail network and the boardwalk over Orkin Lake.
At his Sept. 17 State of the City address, the mayor cited Sandy Springs’ multi-use trail network as one of the priorities during his run for a fourth term.
During public comment at the meeting, elected officials heard from an upset resident of the Ashton City Springs apartment complex across Blue Stone Road from City Hall.
She spoke about her experience
City: AAPPEN PRESSCLU B
Sept. 27-28 during the second annual Blue Stone Arts & Music Festival.
The two-day festival, which city officials said had great turnout, had bands playing from 10 a.m.-10 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 28.
The resident said the noise from the festival was overbearing for Ashton residents, and it took her 30 minutes to travel a couple city blocks to Roswell Road (Ga. 9).
She asked for more consideration of nearby residents for upcoming events, like OktoberFEAST Oct. 19-20, also on the City Green off Galambos Way.
Mayor Paul asked the resident to put her suggestions in writing for city staff to look at mitigating the effects of music festivals at City Springs.
Solemn anniversary
In other business, the mayor took a serious tone with a proclamation recognizing the first anniversary of the Oct. 7 Hamas attacks on Israeli civilians.
The state’s Economic Development Department says Georgia and Israel have two sister-city agreements. One is between Atlanta and Ra’anana, and the other is between Sandy Springs and Western Galilee.
This past summer, Paul traveled with other American mayors to Israel for a 10-day visit. The mayor recount -
ed his experiences July 8 to a group of residents.
“I think everybody will recall that a year ago we had slightly over 10,000 people on this campus right after the Oct. 7 event in Israel that touched off what is now a year-long war in the Mid East,” Paul said. “And it got worse today.”
Earlier in the day, international media outlets reported an escalation in the regional war between the State of Israel and the Islamic Republic of Iran.
Iran launched its largest attack on Israel in its history early Oct. 1 with some 180 ballistic missiles intercepted by defense systems. As of Oct. 2, one casualty from the strikes has been reported.
“Sandy Springs recognizes the urgent need to act against antisemitism in [the city] and across the country, as well as the importance of promoting peace, understanding and resilience in the face of such brutality,” Paul said. “I … do hereby proclaim Oct. 7, 2024, as a day of remembrance and encourage all citizens to honor the memories of those lives who were taken too soon.”
To sign-up for the Oct. 7 commemoration in Sandy Springs, visit jewishatlanta.org/event/one-yearcommemoration-of-the-october-7massacre-in-israel/.
This story is brought to you by members of the Appen Press Club
