Traveling Quartet transforms folk songs at Roswell concert
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Riverwood Baseball sells trees Fulton County drops resolution to remove for 29th Christmas fundraiser Cheeley from CID SANDY SPRINGS, Ga. – Riverwood International Charter School’s baseball team is once again selling premium Fraser fir Christmas trees during its annual fundraiser. Customers are invited to order trees online at https://bit.ly/ RiverwoodTrees. After ordering online, they can opt to select their tree at the Riverwood High School tree lot Nov. 25-26 from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m., the following Monday from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. or the team will choose one for them. Delivery within the Riverwood school district is available for an additional fee. The group does not anticipate being able to offer walk-up sales, so please pre-order securely online. The deadline to order is Nov. 17. “This is the 29th year that Riverwood Baseball has been selling Christmas trees in Sandy Springs,” said Phillip Byrd, Riverwood’s baseball coach. “The service we provide to busy families is what keeps us going, and we are so grateful to our long-time customers. There aren’t many traditions that can boast a 30-year lifespan, but thanks to a lot of work from our coaches, players and families, we’re proud to be going strong.” Riverwood baseball players and parents volunteer at the tree lot, helping customers select the trees they ordered, fresh-cutting the trunks, and loading them onto cars and trucks. For more information email RaiderBaseballLegacy@gmail.com.
By SHELBY ISRAEL shelby@appenmedia.com
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From left, Robert Childs with Raider Baseball players Brandon Leonard, Zach Stair, Asa Murray and Padgett Wilson drop a donated tree at Fire Station 53 after last year’s tree sale.
METRO ATLANTA — The Fulton County Board of Commissioners dropped its plans to remove Bob Cheeley as its appointee on the True North 400 board after legal staff determined the resolution had no grounds. At a Board of Commissioners meeting Nov. 1, County Attorney Y. Soo Jo said the resolution was removed because of a legal misunderstanding. “This was a resolution brought forward by Commissioner Barrett based on my initial legal CHEELEY advice that only one Fulton County seat was warranted on the CID under current conditions,” Jo said. “Upon realizing there was a mistake in the analysis, I reached out to Commissioner Barrett to obtain her permission to remove the item, and that is why it is being removed.” At the meeting, Commissioner Bridget Thorne read a letter written by True North 400 Executive Director and state Sen. Brandon Beach criticizing the resolution. In the letter, Beach said the effort to target Cheeley was “misguided,” and the CID board should have the chance to address its composition before the Board of Commissioners attempts to alter it.
See CHEELEY, Page 13
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Innovators strive to make government more accessible By AMBER PERRY amber@appenmedia.com ROSWELL, Ga. — When James Dillard created Recap Roswell, a website that breaks Roswell City Council meetings into digestible chunks, he drew from his time living in Switzerland as inspiration. “Switzerland is a very high trust society with a very high degree of civic participation,” he said. “When you’re living abroad, you see your home differently, and that caused me to place a greater value on participating, in making the system work.” Dillard also said Robert Putnam’s nonfiction book “Bowling Alone” was an influence. Putnam writes about the decline of social capital, how society is becoming less participatory, even in smaller institutions like social clubs. Dillard is not alone. Other innovators are developing tools to help keep citizens engaged in government. “I feel like Roswell, Georgia, the United States would be healthier if we have more of those institutions, or micro institutions, where people are connecting and going through the process of deciding what they think they should do together and then, trying to make that
happen in the real world,” Dillard said. In May, Dillard built Recap Roswell from scratch using ChatGPT, an AI-powered language model developed by the nonprofit organization OpenAI. For each post, he creates a transcript from the video recording of the latest council meeting. Then, he runs the transcript through the OpenAI API, based on a chain of different requests which synthesizes it down to a quick summary. “You now are taking hundreds of hours of time and condensing it to something that someone, like yourself, can get through in 15 or 20 minutes,” Dillard said. But, using AI is not without its pitfalls. He has to check the summary for “hallucinations,” or errors presented as fact. “I do want to minimize the chance that I invent a decision by the City Council,” Dillard said. He said Recap Roswell also spawned from wanting to understand where the political fault lines are in Roswell government. “All of the candidates sort of say the same things,” Dillard said, referring to his latest post on candidates in Roswell’s upcoming municipal election. “It’s very difficult to parse what
the choice actually is between them, right?” Roswell’s local election is one of the most contested in north Metro Atlanta, where at least two candidates are vying for each seat. In other cities, some candidates – many of them incumbents – will automatically get a council seat because they have no opponents. Because there were no contested races in Alpharetta this year, the city canceled its municipal election. It did the same in 2015 for the same reason. In the past couple of decades, other area cities have canceled their municipal elections, including Roswell in 2003, Johns Creek in 2009, Milton in 2013 and Cumming across three years. There have been cancellations in Sandy Springs, too. Incumbents who get their re-election bid without challenge might mean there’s less accountability, said Saba Long, executive director of Atlanta Civic Circle (ACC). With the slogan “Complexity shuts you out, ACC opens the door for you,” the nonprofit is a civic engagement and media outlet that covers local democracy and hous-
ing affordability challenges in Metro Atlanta. “When an elected official is not adhering to the public trust, when they are not making decisions that are in the best interest of their constituents and the public at large, then they should be contested,” Long said. She said the number of candidates running for office runs parallel to the level of civic engagement. “When more people are engaged in their local government, the more likely it is that people will vote; the more likely it is that people will run for office; and the more likely it is that they have a stake in what’s happening,” Long said. To increase public engagement, and thus accountability, she said local government meetings need to be “de-mystified.” She said a solution could be that municipalities add a webpage explaining how citizens can sign up for public comment or interact with elected officials. “Public meetings can be intimidating for those who aren’t familiar with it and don’t know about it,” Long said.
Dunwoody displays Green Light Art DUNWOODY, Ga. — The third phase of the Green Light Project is complete with new designs installed on five traffic signals, which capped off Dunwoody Arts & Culture Month Oct. 31. Unveiled in Nov. 2022, the public art display now features 15 original works of art. The third phase of the project features the work of Dunwoody High School students — Shrividya Guru, Pressley Rogers, Yonji Yang, Ameilia Mutert and Laura Pollock. The student artists created their designs for Dunwoody’s Storefront Art project and displayed their art in Dunwoody Village businesses over the summer. “Our growing Green Light Art project shows our ongoing commitment to public art in Dunwoody,” Mayor Lynn Deutsch said. “These pieces of art spread color and creativity throughout the city, and I’m particularly proud of the way we’re able to showcase the work of young artists.” Due to the impact of weather on public art, the City of Dunwoody expects the designs to last three to five years and has plans for additional wraps in the future. In other business, new public art was installed at Brook Run Park Oct. 19. The Dunwoody Art Commission, in partnership with the City Council and Parks and Recreation Department, unveiled the 15-foot flower with functional leaves that serve as benches. The functional sculpture, “Grounded Gathering,” is designed and fabricated by artist Huelani Mei Fogleman. Fogelman’s “Grounded Gathering” serves as the sister sculpture to “Grounded Growth,” which serves as a bike rack for residents and visitors. Both sculptures are located near the Great Lawn and Amphitheater at Brook Run Park.
A Place for ALL Jews Ashkenazi Orthodox Rabbi Yitzchok Werbin 5075 Roswell Rd 1 mile inside I-285 Sandy Springs CITY OF DUNWOODY/PROVIDED
Huelani Mei Fogleman sits on her Brook Run Park sculpture, “Grounded Gathering,” featuring a 15-foot flower and wide leaves that serve as branches.
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Quartet transforms folk songs at Roswell concert By LUKE GARDNER newsroom@appenmedia.com ROSWELL, Ga. — The American Patchwork Quartet showcased its unique take on American folk music at its performance at the Roswell Cultural Arts Center Oct. 27. The quartet is a diverse group of Grammy-winning artists who interpret classic folk songs through a multicultural lens. At the performance, the group breathed new life into classic songs like “Beneath the Willow,” “Lazy John” and “Gone for Soldier.” “We are about a concept and a repertoire of excellence,” said band leader Clay Ross. “We attract excellent artists to participate in this ongoing conversation we are having about American identity in American roots music. We offer audiences an opportunity to experience a different cultural flavor within a context they’re going to understand. It’s a comfortable space with a little spice.” For its rendition of “The Devil’s Nine,” the quartet added Hindi lyrics to transform the traditional Scottish ballad into something entirely new. “I’ve never seen anything like it,” said attendee Janice Whitfield. Folk relatability American Patchwork Quartet said it believes classic American folk songs are still relatable today because they contain accessible themes like love, death and good vs. evil. Ross said this universal relatability is one of the great hallmarks of American folk music. “American folk music is unique because of all the diverse influences that have gone into making it what it is,” Ross said. “At its core, it transcends ideological things we hang our identity on, like race and borders. These songs are precious heirlooms, so sturdy that they have the capacity to absorb all these worldly influences, and they can continue to do that.” The group aims to celebrate the diverse and storied history of folk songs, which are often passed down from generation to generation via oral tradition. This makes it hard to pinpoint exactly where songs originate, but several likely have roots in British ballads and poetry from centuries ago. “This music incorporates influences from all over the world that come together to make the styles of music we know and love — like jazz, country, and rock and roll,” Ross said. “All these popular styles are built on contributions of immigrants and the immigrant experience because that’s at the core of American identity.” The quartet emphasizes the diversity of the American identity by suggesting that it doesn't matter if you grew up in South Carolina like Ross or India like vocalist Harini Raghavan — anyone can be American, and anyone can contribute to folk music. Ross noted that the project’s goal is not to be political or polarizing, but rather to be inviting and showcase positive immigrant contributions. “People who are newly American also have something amazing to contribute to these old American folk songs as well,” Ross said. “The continuing evolution of immigrant contributions make our country even better, and they always have, and they will continue to.” Band history Ross formed the American Patchwork Quartet in 2019 and described the group as a way to reconcile his Southern upbringing with the diverse musical talents of New York City. Ross moved from South Carolina to the big city to pursue a career in jazz, but something unex-
PHOTOS BY LUKE GARDNER/APPEN MEDIA
From left, bassist Nori Naraoka, drummer Clarence Penn, band leader Clay Ross, and violinist and vocalist Harini Raghavan perform as the American Patchwork Quartet at the Roswell Cultural Arts Center Oct. 27.
“This music incorporates influences from all over the world that come together to make the styles of music we know and love — like jazz, country, and rock and roll.” CLAY ROSS The American Patchwork Quartet band leader pected happened. “When I left the South, I became even more Southern,” Ross said. “This is because I was in the context of New York.” Grounded in his long-held love of Southern roots music, Ross decided to create the quartet, comprised of himself on guitar and vocals, Hindustani classical vocalist Falguni Shah, Issei jazz bassist Yasushi Nakamura and Clarence Penn, a drumming protégée of the renowned Ellis Marsalis. After releasing videos of its music to YouTube in the fall of 2019, the quartet’s follow-up plans were halted by the pandemic. More than a year later, the quartet finally got the chance to perform their first show in April 2021. “Our first public concert was in Spearfish, North Dakota, in the Black Hills — the same area as Mount Rushmore,” Ross said. “I thought it was kind of serendipitous that our first concert was at Mount Rushmore.” Over the past two years, the group has toured the country, completing about 30 tour stops last year and adding more voices to its ranks. “We've become a bit more of a collective,” Ross said. “The membership of the group always reflects our mission
The American Patchwork Quartet close out the show. of diversity and representation on stage. For this performance, Harini Raghavan will be playing for Falguni Shah. Harini is a great singer, violinist and incredible performer. Nori Naraoka will be subbing for Yasushi Nakamura. Nori is a first-class bassist. We’ve done many shows with both Nori and Harini.” Other members of the American Patchwork Quartet include bassists Kanoa Mendenhall and Yoshiki Yamava, vocalist Priya Darshini and drummer Rudy Royston. “All of these people are prominent successful musicians living in New York City who release their own albums and tour with other groups very successfully,” Ross said. The band’s debut album drops Feb. 9 and features songs from the tour. To learn more visit americanpatchworkquartet.com.
COMMUNITY
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seeks Dunwoody aims to shorten Commission public input on ambulance response times transportation plan
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DeKalb County Fire Chief Darnell Fullum speaks to the Dunwoody City Council Oct. 30 about the city’s contract with American Medical Response for one additional ambulance. Councilmembers unanimously voted to approve the contact at the meeting.
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Dunwoody’s new Advanced Life Support ambulance waits outside American Medical Response DeKalb in Stone Mountain. Dunwoody Mayor Lynn Deutsch shared the photo on her Facebook page Nov. 1. residents seeking emergency medical services. Earlier this year, Deutsch asked the DeKalb County legislative delegation to support standards for emergency service providers and to give some control of EMS to local municipalities. While two pieces of legislation giving cities in Georgia flexibility to contract their own ambulance services failed to pass in the 2022 legislative session, the bills will be on the agenda in January 2024. Speaking to the City Council in August 2022, DeKalb County Fire Chief Darnell Fullum reported the struggle to find ambulance staff and respond to emergencies is happening throughout the state. At the City Council meeting Oct. 30, Fullum assured councilmembers the city’s agreement will not affect the agreement with DeKalb and Dunwoody or the number of ambulances currently assigned to the city. With the new contract, Dunwoody has secured an additional ambulance to serve residents, without sacrificing ambulances contracted by the county. “I appreciate your willingness to work with us and to look outside the box for solutions for everyone dealing with this,” Deutsch said. “This is a really big challenge that’s going to get tougher. Thank you.”
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DUNWOODY, Ga. — As local governments across Georgia struggle with slow ambulance response times, Dunwoody Mayor Lynn Deutsch seeks to focus on addressing the spillover effect from the COVID-19 pandemic. The City Council unanimously approved a contract Oct. 30 with DeKalb County and American Medical Response for one dedicated Advanced Life Support ambulance for Dunwoody. The cost is $129.38 an hour, or $566,684 a year. The City Council had previously budgeted funds from the American Rescue Plan Act for this purpose. The five-year contract signed in November 2019 allowed for local jurisdictions to contract with AMR directly for additional services. City staff said they believe one ambulance staffed with a paramedic, an emergency medical technician and operated from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. will make a significant impact on response times and quality of service. However, an increase in ambulance response times plagued Dunwoody residents before the COVID-19 pandemic. DeKalb County’s contracted provider, American Medical Response, has been a subject of concern for Deutsch since her first year on the City Council in 2012. DeKalb County and Dunwoody entered an agreement related to emergency medical services in June 2013, which outlined service response times and other requirements of the county. American Medical Response is a private company from Colorado, which collects fees from clients, insurance providers, Medicare and Medicaid. AMR provides services to more than 2,100 communities, from Miami to Seattle. State regulations give DeKalb County the regional license for ambulance services and prevent Dunwoody from operating their own EMS. In May 2018, the City Council voted unanimously to declare an “EMS emergency” after years of complaining to county officials about AMR’s response times. The Region 3 EMS Council, a division of the Georgia Department of Health, created a subcommittee to review DeKalb’s EMS system countywide and consider Dunwoody’s request for its own ambulance zone in August 2018. Ultimately, the subcommittee said the county had made significant improvements to ambulance response times in Dunwoody and dismissed the request for Dunwoody’s own EMS zone. DeKalb County’s first contract with AMR ended on Dec. 1, 2018. Dunwoody officials then argued DeKalb County violated the agreement in July 2019 because of slow response times. Deutsch said the agreement with DeKalb County did not result in shortened response times, despite AMR conducting their shift changes at the DeKalb Fire Stations within city limits. While AMR was fined more than $2 million by DeKalb County for consistently failing to meet contractual standards, the county signed a new contract with the company in 2019. Following the DeKalb County Commission’s unanimous approval of the contract, AMR Regional Director Terence Ramotar said the new agreement was “completely different than it was for the past five to six years.” The five-year contract signed in November 2019 allowed for local jurisdictions to contract with AMR directly for additional services and created required performance standards. While Deutsch said response times had improved throughout 2019, the pandemic made a bad situation worse for Dunwoody
METRO ATLANTA — The Atlanta Regional Commission is seeking public input on an update to its Metropolitan Transportation Plan through Dec. 8. The plan will allocate $168 billion in local, state and federal funding to improve transportation and safety through 2050. The funds will finance highway and road improvements; enhance transit options; expand multi-use trails; promote alternative transportation, such as carpooling and teleworking; and will go towards maintenance and operations. Projects include the new northbound I-85 and McGinnis Ferry Road interchange in Gwinnett County; MARTA light rail service on the BeltLine; funding for Livable Centers Initiatives; the widening of Ga. 140; and the Ga. 400 express lanes project. The Atlanta Regional Commission, or ARC, is a collaborative planning effort representing most Metro Atlanta governments. “As our region continues to grow, it’s critically important that we make the investments needed to ensure that we have a competitive economy and great quality of life in the years to come,” ARC Executive Director and CEO Anna Roach said. ARC staff projects the population in the greater 21-county Atlanta region will grow to 7.9 million by 2050. The ARC board is scheduled to adopt the plan Jan. 10. Those interested can read the plan and provide comment at atlantaregional. org/the-atlanta-regions-plan/mtp-update. The ARC will also host a virtual public hearing from 5 to 7 p.m. Nov. 15. Visit publicinput.com/arcmtp to register to speak at the hearing.
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Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens sole nominee for ARC board chair Long-time leader Kerry Armstrong plans to step down By MARIA SAPORTA SaportaReport ATLANTA — It is all but certain the Atlanta Regional Commission’s next board chair will be Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens — a first for an Atlanta mayor in the history of the regional planning agency. At ARC’s Oct. 11 regular board meeting, Chair Kerry Armstrong made it clear he would not be running for another term. That paves the way for Mayor Dickens to be elected at the next ARC board meeting on Nov. 8. “I’ve been chairman for 10 years,” Armstrong said in a brief interview after the meeting when asked why he did not stand for re-election. “Ultimately, it’s time. We have an exciting candidate who is willing to do the job, and I think that’s terrific. This was never about me versus anybody or anybody versus me.” Because Dickens was the only nominee for the position, it is unlikely there will be a contested election at the next ARC board meeting scheduled for Nov. 8. The floor will be open for other nominations on that day, but beating the Atlanta mayor would be extremely difficult. The fact that Armstrong is not running averts what could have been a divisive election. Interestingly enough, when Armstrong was elected to the position in 2013, it took 14 ballots before he was declared the winner.
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Atlanta Regional Commission Chair Kerry Armstrong with Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens after Oct. 11 board meeting. The transition in chairmanship will occur on Jan. 1, 2024. “I always thought Atlanta operates as a region and that it’s a good thing for the Mayor of Atlanta to be attentive and participatory in ARC, which is why I went on the LINK trips and have come to the meetings,” Dickens said after the meeting. With the one exception of former Atlanta Mayor Shirley Franklin, recent Atlanta mayors have not been that engaged with the Atlanta Regional Commission. In fact, Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms never attended a single ARC meeting, so she was never sworn in as a board member. Bottoms also never attended the annual LINK trips when more than 100 regional leaders visit another region to learn about best practices.
“I wanted to make sure I put my name in the hat. It’s one of those things I know is significant,” Dickens said. “I think having Atlanta being part of the leadership of the region will allow for more connectivity.” For decades, ARC’s board chairs have come from either Gwinnett or Cobb counties. All but one of ARC’s board chairs since it was formed in 1971 have been white males, mostly from suburban counties. Mayor Dickens certainly would represent a shift in regional power and leadership. Dickens said it shouldn’t be rare for the capital city in the region to have a leadership role within ARC. Because Atlanta is centrally located in the 11-county region, he said he would look to bring the region closer together by working on issues
that stretch beyond the city limits. “We won’t draw a line at any border. With us in the middle, we can connect them,” Dickens said, referring to the suburban and urban counties all around Atlanta. Vince Williams, mayor of Union City, welcomed the idea of Dickens becoming ARC board chair. “I think this is an awesome opportunity, not only for the mayor of Atlanta but for the Atlanta Regional Commission,” Williams said. “To have the Atlanta mayor sitting in the chairman’s seat, who knows better about regional issues than he does?” During the meeting, Armstrong asked for nominations for board chair. Michael Caldwell, mayor of the City of Woodstock in Cherokee County, nominated Dickens. Armstrong asked Dickens if he accepted. “I do accept the nomination,” Dickens said. “Any other nominations?” Armstrong asked. “Seeing none, we will close nominations for the moment.” Armstrong, a citizen member from Gwinnett County, has served as ARC’s board chair since Jan. 1, 2014. In recent months, several ARC participants and observers mentioned that Dickens was interested in running for ARC board chair. Dickens’ nomination was championed by Robb Pitts, chair of the Fulton County Commission, the most populous county in the state. Pitts was out of town, so he was unable to attend Wednesday’s board meeting. Pitts plans to attend the November meeting. This story originally appeared on SaportaReport.com.
Roswell man suffers gunshot wound outside family’s apartment By HAYDEN SUMLIN hayden@appenmedia.com ROSWELL, Ga. — A 28-year-old Roswell man was shot at Aspen Pointe Apartment Homes Oct. 30 around 10 p.m. after confronting two unidentified males who were allegedly attempting to break into his father’s 2023 Chevrolet Suburban. The victim, Sahr Gbonia, told police he looked out the upstairs window of the residence and noticed two males wearing black and navy-blue hoodies. Gbonia said when he went outside to say something to them, the two suspects began shooting at him. The victim later told police one bullet hit the vehicle’s tire. When a Roswell officer arrived on scene, he located Gbonia in the family’s living room with a gunshot wound to his left pectoral muscle.
Officers said the though-and-through gunshot wound was sealed on the front and back by a sergeant who arrived on scene. After Gbonia was checked several times for additional injuries, officers determined he only suffered a single gunshot wound. The victim was then transported to North Fulton Hospital by American Medical Response. While at the hospital, Gbonia told police he did not see the faces of the unidentified males or the make and model of the firearm. Gbonia said all he remembered was seeing the muzzle flash and hearing three gunshots. Police also spoke to the victim’s parents, Bakary Fofana and Mariana Sesay. Both Fofana and Sesay said they did not hear or see any suspects. While Sesay was able to provide police
with Ring footage showing the aftermath of the shooting, the footage did not capture the moment Gbonia was shot. Roswell Police taped off the crime scene and conducted a sweep of the apartment. After determining the residence was clear, officers from Roswell, Alpharetta and Johns Creek began to search the area for the two suspects. Roswell E911 notified officers on scene that a woman had heard people running behind her apartment in Building 1349. The Johns Creek K-9 unit arrived on scene and began to track behind one of the adjacent apartment buildings to the victim’s residence. Roswell officers said the Johns Creek K-9 unit’s search was terminated at Building 1345. A Roswell K-9 officer then deployed his dog to begin a new track at Building 1347. Roswell’s K-9 Ivar led officers along a
tree line behind the apartment buildings. Police said the behavior of the K-9 indicated the suspects may have gone onto Holcomb Ferry Way. As the track continued, K-9 Ivar picked up an odor in a rear parking lot on High Creek Trace and followed it to a field, surrounded by a wooded area and a creek. The Roswell K-9 officer terminated the track after a forward-looking infrared camera showed nobody hiding in the tree line. Tim Lupo, public information officer for the Roswell Police Department, provided Appen Media with an update on the shooting Oct. 31. “Our officers were working an investigation into a shooting where a 28-year-old male suffered a non-life-threatening gunshot wound to the shoulder,” Officer Lupo said. “Our detectives are still working to learn details of the circumstances leading up to the shooting.”
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8 | November 9, 2023 | Sandy Springs Crier | AppenMedia.com/Sandy_Springs
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15 16 14 1 Science rooms 5 Ancient Greek 18 19 17 sophist 21 22 20 9 Fall flower 14 Cockeyed 23 24 25 15 Small price to 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 pay 16 Outpouring 37 38 35 36 17 Legal prefix 18 Rousing cheers 40 41 42 39 19 Threesome 44 45 46 43 20 Four gills 21 Furrow 48 49 50 47 22 Warbles 51 52 53 23 Chinese dynasty 25 Dust remover 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 61 26 Also-ran 63 64 62 29 Monastery 32 Spending limit 66 67 65 35 Oomph 37 Criminal charge 68 69 70 38 Tree trunk Copyright ©2023 PuzzleJunction.com 39 Mah-jongg piece 62 Oxlike antelope 5 Squirrel’s stash 34 Tortellini topping 40 Waikiki 63 Pigeon’s home 6 Caviar source 36 Bronx Bomber welcome 64 Full gainer 7 Turn ___ profit 38 Overly conceited 42 Rainbow 65 Wonderland girl 8 Ave. crossers 41 Moldovan cash goddess 66 Ionian gulf 9 Off the mark 46 Samovar 43 Olympian’s 67 Chimp in space 10 Bit of parsley 48 Without warning quest 68 Weighed down 11 Kite part 49 Pine type 44 Just out 51 Social 45 Prospector’s find 69 Ottoman Empire 12 Footnote abbr. figures 13 Cold war group 53 Think tank output 47 Switch positions 70 Fender blemish 22 Boring tool 54 Toll 48 Smelly mammal 24 Dot follower 55 Cantina cooker 50 Zoo heavyweight Down 26 “Unhand me!” 56 Domestic 51 Rightful 27 Gibson garnish 57 Achy 52 Supreme Court 59 Dandy’s pal 1 Reindeer herder 28 Hawks count 30 Burnt sienna 60 Bath’s county 2 Part of a court 54 Hair dressing game name 31 Scrooge’s cry 61 Musical interval 57 Landscaper’s 3 Hatched 32 Short-legged dog 63 Subway need 4 Splashed 33 Little green man alternative 58 In the distance
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Calendar
NOV. 9 — NOV. 19
HONORING OUR VETERANS
What: Celebrate, honor and thank those who have served in the United States’ military services. When: Saturday, Nov. 11, 9-11 a.m. Where: Johns Creek Veterans Memorial Walk, 3150 Old Alabama Road, Johns Creek More info: johnscreekga.gov
STOMP
What: Sandy Springs Performing Arts Center presents STOMP, the stage show that’s dance, music and theatrical performance blended together in one rhythm when matchboxes, brooms, trash cans fill the stage with energizing beats. When: Friday & Saturday, Nov. 10-11, times vary Where: Byers Theatre, 1 Galambos Way, Sandy Springs Cost: $46.35 to $94.80 More info: citysprings.com
THE WARMTH OF AUTUMN
What: The Chattahoochee Evening Stars Quilt Guild is exhibiting a collection of seasonally inspired quilts capturing the warmth of the fall season. When: Until Nov. 14, business hours Where: Community Gallery at Alpharetta City Hall, 2 Park Plaza, Alpharetta More info: alpharetta.ga.us
LANDSLIDE
What: Landslide, a Fleetwood Mac tribute band, will take listeners on a journey through Fleetwood Mac’s catalog of music, including the hits from their solo-careers. For this free concert, attendees can bring blankets or chairs. No coolers, outside food, outside alcohol beverages, glass bottles or containers, vaping or smoking are allowed. Friendly dogs on leash are welcome. When: Saturday, Nov. 11, 7-9 p.m. Where: Lou Sobh Amphitheater at Cumming City Center, 423 Canton Road, Cumming More info: cummingcitycenter.com
HUNTER HAYES
What: Platinum-selling artist Hunter Hayes will perform in a tour promoting his latest album “Red Sky.” Abby Anderson is set to open. When: Sunday, Nov. 12, 7 p.m. Where: Byers Theatre, 1 Galambos Way, Sandy Springs Cost: $35.55 or more More info: sandyspringsga.gov
THE WARMTH OF AUTUMN
What: The Chattahoochee Evening Stars Quilt Guild is exhibiting a collection of seasonally inspired quilts
capturing the warmth of the fall season. When: Until Nov. 14, business hours Where: Community Gallery at Alpharetta City Hall, 2 Park Plaza, Alpharetta More info: alpharetta.ga.us
ELF THE MUSICAL JR.
What: Based on the beloved holiday film, Roswell Youth Theatre presents this fish-out-of-water comedy that follows Buddy the Elf in his quest to find his true identity. When: Friday & Saturday, Nov. 17-18, times vary Where: Roswell Cultural Arts Center, 950 Forrest Street, Roswell Cost: $15 More info: roswell365.com
MAD MONSTER PARTY
What: This horror, sci-fi and fantasy themed convention will bring the world’s top genre celebrities and vendors together with their fans to
FEATURE YOUR EVENT ONLINE AND IN PRINT! It’s even easier now than ever to promote your event to hundreds of thousands of people, whether online, through our newsletters or in the Crier and Herald newspapers.
trade stories, attend informative panels, buy autographs and fun merchandise, and visit with old friends. When: Friday-Sunday, Nov. 17-19, times vary Where: Crowne Plaza Atlanta Perimeter at Ravinia, 4355 Ashford Dunwoody Road, Dunwoody Cost: $35 or more More info: tickets.madmonster. com/e/mad-monster-atl-2023/tickets
CUMMING CITY CENTER WINTER MARKET
What: Presented every fall, winter and spring, the City Center Market will allow up to 100 local businesses and artisans the chance to bring in unique and high-quality items in a range of categories, such as homewares and decor, fashion and accessories, and gift and food items. There will also be live music and other entertainment. When: Saturday, Nov. 18, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.
To promote your event, follow these easy steps:
1. 2. 3. 4.
Where: Cumming City Center, 423 Canton Road, Cumming More info: cummingcitycenter.com
ARTS ALPHARETTA’S ARTISTS HOLIDAY MARKET
What: Artists will display and sell small works in a market or festival set up, creating a seasonal retail experience. When: Saturday, Nov. 18, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Where: Alpharetta Arts Center, 238 Canton Street, Alpharetta More info: alpharetta.ga.us
A NIGHT WITH DADS 2: THE DADDENING
What: Comedians from Dad’s Garage, a comedy improv theater, will perform. When: Saturday, Nov. 18, 7:30-9 p.m. Where: Stage Door Theatre, 5339 Chamblee Dunwoody Road, Dunwoody Cost: $15-28 More info: stagedoortheatrega.org
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10 | November 9, 2023 | Sandy Springs Crier | AppenMedia.com/Sandy_Springs
PAST TENSE
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Anonymous 319 N. Main Street George Nathan Alpharetta, GA 30009 Janet Stephens Marsal Gavalda HANS APPEN Publisher
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OPINION
Remembering Sandy Springs Methodist camp meeting Sandy Springs Methodist Church camp meeting was held on church property, conveniently near the spring for which the community is named. The first Sandy Springs Methodist VALERIE BIGGERSTAFF Church building was a log cabin constructed Columnist on five acres donated by Wilson Spruill sometime between 1849 and 1851. The camp meeting tradition appears to have begun before the Civil War, as maps drawn by Union soldiers in Sandy Springs in 1864 indicated the location of the Methodist campground. Each year at laying by time, the days that followed the last work on the crops before harvest time, families would gather at the campground for five to ten days of religious meetings, singing, food, and socializing. They stayed in small structures called tents, which were log cabins with sawdust floors. To prepare for camp meeting, the family gathered food, bedding and cooking utensils. Women sewed new clothes for the family so they could look their best for the event, which was the summer vacation of a farming family. People also brought their musical instruments to entertain friends between sermons. Sandy Springs camp meeting in 1912 ended on August 11th after almost a week of daily sermons. “The tents were filled with hundreds of worshipers from the surrounding territory, and the final service was marked by short sermons by four prominent divines,” announced the
newspapers. According to Lois Coogle’s “Sandy Springs Past Tense,” the preachers who came to camp meeting were provided room and board for their sermons. A large tent that could hold ten men was located on the camp property where a water tower was later built. The 1927 camp meeting was advertised in the Atlanta Journal newspaper. The location was Sandy Springs, 12 miles north of Atlanta on Roswell Road. The advertisement included the names of guest preachers and the directors that year for camp meeting. Directors include President Lon Burdette, Secretary Aldine Chambers, J. A. Mabry, John Copeland, M. P. Powers, J. E. Butler, and J. N. Reed. Fire destroyed the camp tents and arbor in 1931. A larger more modern arbor was built and used until 1959 when it was removed. The tents were not rebuilt. Young people often looked forward to camp meeting as a time for courting. One Sandy Springs camp meeting romance was that of Buck Casey and Lizzie Burdette, who married at camp meeting on August 21, 1898, at 3 p.m. The parents of the young woman objected, but the couple planned to meet and marry at camp meeting and “Rev. Whitfield was on hand and quickly tied the matrimonial knot.” This news bulletin was reported in an August 22, 1898 Atlanta Journal article titled “A Runaway Marriage.” 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.
AppenMedia.com/Sandy_Springs | Sandy Springs Crier | November 9, 2023 | 11
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12 | November 9, 2023 | Sandy Springs Crier | AppenMedia.com/Sandy_Springs
OPINION
New words added to dictionary for September 2023 I was searching for something to write. When I can’t find anything, I usually go to my “column ideas” file where I randomly jot down ideas or thoughts. I just perused that file and landed on RAY APPEN a couple maybes – Publisher Emeritus “New words” and “Games people play.” “Games people play” was my first impulse. It has so much potential. My wife plays Wordle religiously as do many of her friends. They report their daily “get” to each other in friendly competition. It is a new game and, of course, it is digital. So, that opens digital vs. analog games, such as Scrabble, Monopoly, or maybe even Risk. One could write a book or more about digital vs. analog games, I think. Growing up, we had mighty wars playing Risk – wars as in someone getting mad and flipping the board over and storming out of the room. In high school, we played Risk every afternoon obsessively. That too was never pretty. My wife Christina usually warns everyone tempted to participate in a Risk game to avoid playing with any Appen.
Before I started writing “Games people play” I glanced at “New words,” and, well, it was just too tempting to pass up. I love the “New words” because it is sort of counter-intuitive and fun. It is counter-intuitive because one generally, I think, considers our English language as static. Yes, it changes over time, and yes, new words get added occasionally. But, I think our default thinking leans more toward “static.” Not. Merriam-Webster added 690 new words to the dictionary, just for September 2023. That is what I saw when I went to their website, followed by this caveat – “Ngl, this update is a big one.” Seriously? Bueller? What the heck does “Ngl” mean, and tell me again, who gets to pick what new words are okay to add to “English” and why does Merriam or Webster think that they are the chosen peeps to do that? I was going to make this a game where I write the new words and the definitions – all jumbled up – and you try to correctly match them. But, that was nixed as too confusing. So, instead, I am just giving you a taste of the new words that were added last month and their definitions – not jumbled up. But, if you want to, you could email me and tell me if you would
have wanted to do this as a game to win Appen bling sometime in the future – the word game! My email is RayAppen@ Gmail.com. In the subject line just put “word game.” Anyway, here you go: A. meatspace (noun) the physical world and environment especially as contrasted with the virtual world of cyberspace B. sponcon (noun) content ... posted usually by an influencer on social media that looks like a typical post but for which the poster has been paid to advertise a product or service C. lewk (noun) a fashion look ... that is distinctive to the wearer and that is noticeable and memorable to others D. MacGyver (verb) to make, form, or repair (something) with what is conveniently on hand.” E. bussin’ (adjective) African American English slang: extremely good: excellent; especially: delicious, tasty F. cromulent (adjective) informal + humorous: acceptable, satisfactory G. thirst trap (noun) a photograph, such as a selfie, or
video shared for the purpose of attracting attention or desire H. emping (noun) a slightly bitter cracker or chip popular in Indonesia that is made from the dried flattened seed of a melinjo tree (Gnetum gnemon) I. kayfabe (noun) the tacit agreement between professional wrestlers and their fans to pretend that overtly staged wrestling events, stories, characters, etc. J. padawan (noun) a young person especially when regarded as naïve, inexperienced, etc. Extra credit: Get two points for each correct each word, or abbreviation, you can correctly define. NGL (abbreviation, informal) not gonna lie; not going to lie TFW (abbreviation, informal) that feeling when — used especially on social media or in text messages to introduce a relatable scenario or an image that evokes a specific feeling I probably would have gotten maybe three of 10. How about you? Should we do the word game for Appen bling in the future? Let me know.
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OPINION
GARDEN BUZZ
AppenMedia.com/Sandy_Springs | Sandy Springs Crier | November 9, 2023 | 13
Decorating your home for the holidays BY JUDY PEACOCK Guest Columnist
As Thanksgiving and Christmas are approaching, I begin to plan my holiday decorations. And that means going out and collecting greenery and other natural materials for my table and mantle arrange-
ments. I love using the differently colored fall leaves and seed pods for my Thanksgiving table. The beautiful reds, yellows and oranges of the fall leaves combined with brown seed pods make the perfect arrangement. I like to start by layering branches of color until I have a pleasing shape that will compliment my chosen container. Then, I will begin to add seed pods, grasses, rose hips and some inexpensive grocery store mums to complete the task. The photo example was a demonstration of that process at Farm Chastain that I was later able to use on my own Thanksgiving table. At the beginning of December, I go out in my yard and the nearby woods to collect as many different evergreens as I can find along with interesting branches and berries to use for my holiday decorations. I love decorating my mailbox and have a special plastic frame that holds wet foam that I wire to the top of the box to hold my holiday greenery. Again, the process is to gradually build up layers of the various evergreens. I usually begin with Hemlock because of the way it will drape over the sides of the mailbox. I will also use various shiny leaves, such as holly and aucuba. After the green base covers the mailbox, I will begin to add various berries and finish with a bow. Because of the wet foam, the arrangement usually will last the whole month of December. If the weather is dry, I will simply pour water over it to keep it moist. My mantle decoration has been consistent through the years. Many
Cheeley: Continued from Page 1 “’Innocent until proven guilty’ is a bedrock, a principle of justice, and this applies no less to our board members,” Beach wrote in the letter. The resolution, which was shared in
years ago, I purchased two baskets shaped like ginger jars at the Lenox Square World Bazaar. I raise these basket containers on carved wooden stands to give them more presence and then begin. I create the two arrangements simultaneously directly on the mantle. Because only the front and sides of these arrangements are seen, I can use the wall that backs them to help hold the large branches of evergreen in place. And so, I begin by adding tall hemlock branches to the rear of the containers. I then add the larger, shiny leaf selections such as aucuba and magnolia. I like to add juniper, pine, cedar and arborvitae to fill in spaces and then add berries. I love nandina berries, ivy berries, holly berries and ligustrum berries. If you have rose hips, they add a lovely touch. Although I have been making the same basic arrangement for over fifty years, sometimes they just don’t seem right, and I must take everything apart and start over. Don’t be afraid to do that. Remember, these are your creations and they should be pleasing to your eyes. I have seen a lot of artificial greenery that is lovely but there is none that can compare to the real thing. Real plant material has a distinctive odor, and those smells evoke memories of times past. Plus, the process of going out into nature and selecting your greenery is a lovely way to spend an afternoon. I hope this will inspire you to use your imagination and to create your own holiday decorations. It can be very rewarding. Happy decorating! North Fulton Master Gardeners, Inc. is a Georgia nonprofit 501(c) (3) organization whose purpose is to educate its members and the public in the areas of horticulture and ecology in order to promote and foster community enrichment. Master Gardener Volunteers are trained and certified by The University of Georgia Cooperative Extension. Learn more at nfmg.net. Previous Garden Buzz columns are featured at https://appenmedia.com/ opinion/columnists/garden_buzz/.
Top: Decorated holiday mantle. Bottom: Thanksgiving centerpiece.
the agenda packet for the meeting Oct. 27, sought to remove Cheeley as one of the County Commission’s two appointees. True North 400, formerly the North Fulton Community Improvement District, is a self-taxing business district dedicated to community, transit and road improvements between Mansell and McGinnis Ferry roads. Its coverage area encompasses parts of Roswell, Milton and Alpharetta.
The resolution held that because the percentage of unincorporated Fulton County land has fallen below 50, one of the county’s two appointees to the CID board, Cheeley and Al Nash, were no longer needed. “… the Board of Commissioners finds that it is in the best interest of the CID Board, Fulton County, and the general public that Mr. Al Nash continue to serve
PHOTOS BY JUDY PEACOCK
as its appointee,” the resolution read. The resolution also stated the proposed removal came after Cheeley attempted to undermine Fulton County’s elections. Cheeley was one of 19 defendants, including former President Donald Trump, who were indicted by a Fulton County grand jury in August for alleged attempts to overturn 2020 election results.
14 | November 9, 2023 | Sandy Springs Crier | AppenMedia.com/Sandy_Springs
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16 | November 9, 2023 | Sandy Springs Crier | AppenMedia.com/Sandy_Springs
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