on redistricting held Nov. 4 at Riverwood International Charter School. Lott said the process feels “very rushed.”
Fulton Schools unveils maps for possible redistricting plan
Sandy Springs continues campaign to save Spalding Drive Elementary
By HAYDEN SUMLIN hayden@appenmedia.com
SANDY SPRINGS, Ga. — Tensions remain high in Sandy Springs over Fulton County Schools’ recommendation to close Spalding Drive Elementary and redistrict the city’s remaining K-5 schools.
City backs incentives to lure Fortune 500’s Asbury Automotive
Company to take over spot at old Newell Brand locale
By HAYDEN SUMLIN hayden@appenmedia.com
SANDY SPRINGS, Ga. — The City of Sandy Springs announced Nov. 5 that Asbury Automotive Group, one of the largest automotive retail and service companies in the country, plans to relocate its headquarters to the city.
At its Nov. 5 meeting, the City Council approved a request from the Fortune 500 company for economic incentives that include waiving the building permit fees and business occupational taxes for three years.
The city’s Economic Development Department estimated the value of the waived fees that Asbury qualified for totals $254,500.
Sandy Springs Mayor Rusty Paul said he and East Point Mayor Deanna Holiday Ingram met with Superintendent Mike Looney in late October to make the case for saving both schools.
“Dr. Looney made clear the staff recommendations were based on school board policies, but the ultimate decisions rest with the board,” Paul said. “We both
In September, Fulton County Schools staff recommended closing Spalding Drive along with Parklane Elementary in East Point amid declining enrollment and aging facilities.
have urged our local school board members to reconsider the policy that would lead to the closing of these neighborhood schools.”
School board member Katie Gregory has publicly said she will vote to save the school. Michelle Morancie, another school board member representing the city, has not publicly stated how she will vote.
See SPALDING, Page 12
Asbury is a publicly traded company with over 150 new vehicle dealerships across 15 states doing nearly $15 billion in annual revenues ($1.6 billion statewide). The company ranks 18th in Forbes’ 2023 list of America’s best midsized companies.
Metro Atlantans will recognize Asbury from its chain of Nalley Automotive dealerships.
A city statement says Asbury has signed the purchase agreement and is scheduled to close within 30 days on the former Newell Brands Headquarters at 6655 Peachtree Dunwoody Road.
See CITY, Page 12
HAYDEN SUMLIN/APPEN MEDIA
Sandy Springs resident Jenn Lott, a parent of Spalding Drive Elementary graduates, seeks to address Fulton County Schools staff at a public form
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Planning board to take up sports field lighting battle
By HAYDEN SUMLIN hayden@appenmedia.com
SANDY SPRINGS, Ga. — Potential field lighting at Mount Vernon School’s Upper Campus is heading to the Sandy Springs Planning Commission for consideration Dec. 18.
At three city-mandated community meeting this fall, neighbors donned red T-shirts to symbolize their opposition to lighting at the school’s main athletic facility — Ron Hill Field.
More than 200 people attended the Oct. 30 community meeting inside Sandy Springs City Hall, about threequarters of them wearing red.
The school’s 40-acre Upper Campus sits at Mount Vernon Highway and Glenridge Drive in central Sandy Springs. It lies next to the Mount Vernon Woods and Aria West neighborhoods and across the road from the Glenn View and Registry Glenn neighborhoods.
In January 2024, school leadership began meeting with neighborhood leaders to discuss their push to allow field lighting through an amendment to its use permit.
Head of School Kristy Lundstrom said the discussion between the groups stalled in July after a neighborhood president told them further discussion would not be productive and demanded the school withdraw its application.
Neighborhood leaders say they acquired legal counsel to fight the school’s zoning application because school leadership told them the four light poles were non-negotiable.
Lundstrom, speaking to a crowd of more than 200 Oct. 30 at City Hall, said the goal of field lighting is to increase practice time on school facilities and
One new resident along Bridges Creek Trail within Mount Vernon Woods said the school’s plan to build two more athletic fields with sound systems on its property negates its reasoning for lighting Ron Hill Field.
The resident called school leadership’s reasoning “disingenuous,” and pointed to their desire for Friday Night Lights and rental revenue.
Kimberly Oliver, president of the Mount Vernon Woods Community Association, said there was great turnout at the Oct. 30 meeting with most opposed to the school’s application for a conditional use permit and eventual field lighting.
“Both Mount Vernon Woods and Gates of Glenridge were built before the school and are both protected neighborhoods,” Oliver said. “People feel that the school has betrayed them and broken their promises.”
When the school was preparing to move to its current location at 510 Mount Vernon Highway more than 20 years ago, it agreed with a neighborhood to not install lighting on its main athletic field.
enhance the student-athlete experience.
Neighbors say they don’t want light and noise pollution in their neighborhoods five days a week.
Josiah Smith with Musco Lighting discussed specific plans for Ron Hill Field, including how The Mount Vernon School’s lighting installations stack up with similar facilities.
Smith said the proposed lighting will be well within city code and less intru-
sive than similar alternatives at The Weber School in Sandy Springs and St. Pius Catholic High School in Chamblee. With Dark Sky certification, Smith and The Mount Vernon School argue that impacts on surrounding neighbors will be mitigated.
The school is offering conditions on its use permit for field lighting, including no lighting on weekends, between May 15-Aug. 15, between Dec. 15-Jan. 15 or after 9:30 p.m.; installation of an evergreen buffer with replacements within a two-year window; sound system use limited to school athletics only; and no rentals to adult leagues or on Sundays.
Even with the conditions, neighbors are still concerned about noise, traffic and lighting during Friday night high school football games.
They are also not convinced The Mount Vernon School needs field lighting, given how other private schools in the area have worked with other schools.
Neighbors say the school could develop its 10 acres north of Ron Hill Field to make room for growing athletic programs and field space demand. Another neighborhood argument is for The Mount Vernon School to play its night games at an existing facility, which is not a Hail Mary pass away from their back patios.
Before the school purchased the original 30-acre property in 2005, it signed an agreement with the Mount Vernon Woods Community Association to adhere to certain development and use conditions.
The tradeoff was The Mount Vernon School agreed not to install field lighting on its property, with other conditions concerning noise levels and restrictions on field use. In return, neighbors supported necessary permitting for the school.
“The school would not have been built if it wasn’t for the neighborhood giving them multiple variances, shorter setbacks and an easement through one neighbor’s property to connect to sewer,” Oliver said.
City staff from the Community Development Department also attended the meetings but did not participate in discussions.
Barring any unforeseen developments, the Sandy Springs Planning Commission will consider the conditional use permit application at its Dec. 18 meeting.
Carl Streck, chairman of the Mount Vernon School’s Board of Trustees, and Head of School Lundstrom said they are still trying to dispel misinformation about field lighting and schedule additional meetings with neighbors to reach a compromise.
Neighbors, like John and Mary Ellen who originally granted the sewer easement more than 20 years ago, say they just want school leadership to keep their word.
HAYDEN SUMLIN/APPEN MEDIA
Residents living near Mount Vernon School turned out in red droves Oct. 30 to blast school officials over plans to install lighting at its main athletic field. The Sandy Springs Planning Commission will consider the school’s conditional use permit to allow the lighting Dec. 18.
Agency director for area planning pushes initiatives to connect people
By JON WILCOX jon@appenmedia.com
ATLANTA — Great things are on the horizon for the Atlanta Metro area, Anna Roach, executive director & CEO of the Atlanta Regional Commission, said at the State of the Region address Nov. 1.
Roach is optimistic about progress in a number of areas, from the green manufacturing industry to regional transportation projects.
This year’s State of the Region, held at the Georgia World Congress Center in Atlanta, welcomed hundreds of officials from counties across north central Georgia. They enjoyed breakfast at the gala-style function while listening to presentations from representatives from the ARC and other organizations.
The ARC is about connecting communities, Roach said.
“When I travel across this region, I hear neighbors from all corners say that they are eager to break this cycle of the prosperity divide, and it’s because that they know, like all of us in this room, knows, that when we finally accomplish that, the entire region is going to be better,” Roach said. “Our economy will grow, and we will be stronger as a region.”
The Atlanta Regional Commission is a planning agency serving 11 counties in Metro Atlanta, including Fulton, DeKalb and Forsyth.
Interstate highways, rail networks and other transportation infrastructure play a vital role in cities’ growth, but they also divide, Roach said. With local government partners, the ARC has received more than $500 million in grant funding to bridge communities, Roach said, citing the Flint River Gateway Trails as one example.
Through a $64.9 million federal grant, the project will connect College Park, East Point, and Hapeville with almost 15 miles of multi-use trails, according to ARC.
“It will connect these communities in an entirely new way, making it easier to access jobs and services, and most exciting, it will feed into and connect to the Beltline and complement existing and planned transit in this area,” Roach said. “The Flint River Gateway Trails is a game changer for our region.”
Roach also lauded progress made in other projects.
The Atlanta Gulch Redevelopment Project is breathing new life into Atlanta’s historic downtown. The 50-acre revitalization project aims to bring 8 million square feet of commercial and residential space, including multiple hotels, Class-A office space and homes to the Centennial Yards District.
The city is experiencing a boom in green manufacturing as the electric vehicle
JON WILCOX/APPEN MEDIA
Anna Roach, executive director & CEO
Atlanta Regional Commission, delivers this year’s State of the Region address to hundreds of local officials at the Georgia World Congress Center in Atlanta Nov. 1.
and battery industry continues to develop, Roach said.
“I heard one consultant call us the battery belt,” she said. “Imagine that. These jobs offer good wages and benefits while addressing climate change, which is a critical issue.”
Roach also highlighted transportation projects, including an “innovative design” Ga. 400 interchange at North Druid Hills and bus rapid transit projects in Clayton County and elsewhere in the city.
Roach also discussed ongoing challenges, noting rising home prices and rents.
According to the results of the Metro Atlanta Speaks survey, nearly two thirds of respondents said they could not afford to move to another home in their current neighborhood. The hybrid phone and online 2024 survey, administered by Kennesaw State University’s A.L. Burruss Institute of Public Service and Research, polled 4,081 adult residents across 11 counties in Metro Atlanta.
It also found transportation, once consistently a top issue, has taken a backseat as the region’s fourth top challenge.
A plurality of about 42% of respondents also said they felt artificial intelligence would mostly have a negative effect on society.
Local officials from Dunwoody and Forsyth County who attended the event said the commission’s partnership with their governments has provided numerous benefits.
“The biggest reason for the importance of staying involved in the ARC is the transportation piece of it,” Forsyth County Manager David McKee said. “ARC is responsible for the regional transportation dollars and helping distribute (them).”
Dunwoody Mayor Lynn Deutsch said the ARC’s work is special because of its regional focus, which benefits many communities.
“I love the theme of connection,” she said. “I think in a big city, whether it’s Dunwoody or Metro Atlanta, it’s critical for people to feel connected to each other.”
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City schedules final open house for North Springs MARTA study
SANDY SPRINGS, Ga. — Sandy Springs invites the community to give input on revised concepts for the North Springs MARTA corridor study at an open house from 5:30-7:30 p.m. Nov. 18.
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The project includes a transit-oriented development concept for North Springs MARTA Station and a conceptual street design for just under 2 miles along Peachtree Dunwoody Road from Spalding Drive to Abernathy Road.
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Following the open house, an online survey will remain open through Dec. 1.
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For more information, visit www. sandyspringsga.gov/NorthSpringsStudy.
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SCREENSHOTS
Fulton County Commissioner Bridget Thorne, left, admonishes Elections Director Nadine Williams Nov. 6 over a decision to open election offices over the weekend before Election Day to accept hand-returned absentee ballots.
County Commissioner Thorne lays into Fulton elections chief
By AMBER PERRY amber@appenmedia.com
FULTON COUNTY, Ga. — The Friday before Election Day, Fulton County issued a press release saying four election offices would be open over the weekend to accommodate voters seeking to handreturn their absentee ballots.
Local media reported that the accommodation, also made by other Georgia counties, sparked multiple GOP lawsuits seeking to prevent the lawful practice.
Media also reported that Republicans kept up the pressure with attacks on social media after a Fulton County Superior Court judge rejected the first lawsuit that Saturday.
One was District 1 Fulton County Commissioner Bridget Thorne, who represents Johns Creek and portions of Roswell, Alpharetta and Sandy Springs.
During the Nov. 6 County Commission meeting, Thorne told Elections Director Nadine Williams the decision created “unnecessary chaos” and “poor optics.”
The four offices opened that weekend included the new county Election Hub and Operations Center in Union City, the Fulton County Government Center in Atlanta, the North Fulton Service Center in Sandy Springs and the South Fulton Service Center.
Thorne emphasized that three of the four offices were in southern Fulton County, implying the decision better accommodated Democrats.
“I’m a Republican, and I feel like our election process is totally blocked to Republicans,” she said.
Williams said she made the decision to open the sites after hearing from voters who never received their absentee ballots in the mail. She said that the “chaos” occurred after Thorne posted the email addresses of all the county’s election staff on her Facebook page.
“All of our departments received a group of people that decided, out of
transparency, they would, to me, do voter intimidation and harass our staff,” Williams said.
Thorne’s social media post signaled that members of the Registration and Elections Board were not copied.
She created several other posts around that time, though, throwing election integrity into question as well as the taxpayer cost to open the locations. Thorne said she had been told by poll workers that they would be paid overtime for their weekend shifts.
During the commission meeting, county leaders confirmed it cost taxpayers nothing.
Thorne also questioned why poll watchers were not allowed to observe the processing of absentees.
Commission Chairman Robb Pitts, who used his gavel to maintain decorum during Thorne’s rebuke of Williams, said the decision was a collective one that involved himself, Williams, County Manager Dick Anderson, the Elections Board chair and the Fulton County Police chief.
Pitts said people could stay in the lobby and observe but could not follow the employees back to their desk and “hover over them while they were doing their work.”
Before Thorne laid into Williams, Anderson lauded Williams’ leadership on Election Day, adding a prescient comment.
“Sometimes I do feel like when Nadine is taking some of the incoming fire that we should step to the fore as well, to say, ‘Hey, this is a holistic government here. It's not just Nadine, nor her department only,’” he said.
Fulton County commissioners took turns defending Williams, including Commissioner Khadijah Abdur-Rahman, a Democrat board member
“Commissioner Thorne, Trump won yesterday. Several other Republicans won yesterday,” Abdur-Rahman said. “With all due respect, please do not disparage this woman who runs a department.”
Taking a moment when confronted with change
The holiday season is almost upon us and, as we gather with older loved ones, warm memories of the past can be tempered by the realities of the present. When we get to spend more time together, changes in our lives as we age are more apparent.
Whether it’s the unexpected condition of their home, personal grooming or signs of slowing down physically and mentally, it can be a shock to the system to realize that help is needed. It’s natural to try and attribute changes to “holiday stress” or move quickly and “fix” things. This is when it’s also important to take a moment and try to understand the full scope of the issues your loved one is facing.
ADLs, or activities of daily living, are those activities that you don't think much about until you or your older loved one has trouble with them. These are activities like walking safely around the house, being able to perform basic grooming, bathing, dressing, toileting and move safely from one space to another.
Perhaps you’re seeing signs that may indicate concerns about more serious emerging health issues. It’s important to work with your loved one and consult their health care professionals to determine what the issues are and what the prognosis is for the short and long term.
Home Helpers knows that in-home care can give you the time to take a breath, giv-
ing you a moment to stop and assess the true degree of assistance needed. Reacting to a potential medical prognosis or the aging process too quickly can add to the stress level of you and your older loved one. We know staying in the safety and comfort of home is the preference of most seniors. A skilled caregiver can help balance their needs with respect for their dignity and honor their desire to maintain as much independence as possible.
There are times when extra help is needed recuperating from an accident or surgery. Should fall risks emerge, your caregiver can add security and peace of mind. A dedicated Home Helpers caregiver can make life and nights easier if your loved one is starting to wander. For couples, this also makes sure a good night’s rest happens for their partner.
A Home Helpers caregiver can assist with all personal care, help around the house, accompany you on doctor’s visits and provide specialized care for Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, etc. With a heart centered approach and positive spirit, they can also help pursue a hobby, enjoy outings and community activities, and build relationships that make for a longer and better life in the comfort of home.
We have a team with depth and skill that can provide the care you need from six hours a day, several days a week to 24/7 care. For a free consultation, please call Home Helpers of Alpharetta and North Atlanta Suburbs at (770) 681-0323.
Importance of skin checks for mature skin
Brought to you by - Dr. Kehinde Olumesi of Epiphany DermatologyBrookhaven
As skin matures, it undergoes various changes that necessitate regular skin checks to ensure overall skin health. Differentiating between age spots, healthy moles and potential skin cancers is crucial. Age spots, often appearing as flat, brown, or black spots on sun-exposed areas, are generally harmless but can be mistaken for more serious conditions. Early detection of skin cancer, including melanoma, basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma, significantly increases the chances of successful treatment. Therefore, routine skin examinations are essential for mature skin to maintain health and catch any issues early.
Addressing skin conditions and rejuvenation procedures
Dermatologists can assist with a variety of skin conditions and rejuvenation procedures for mature skin. Common issues such as dryness, age-related pigmentation and conditions like rosacea, psoriasis and eczema, which can persist or develop with age, are also addressed with specialized care plans.
In addition to treating conditions, dermatologists offer rejuvenating procedures to enhance the appearance and health of mature skin. Treatments such as chemical peels, laser rejuvenation and injectable treatments like BOTOX® Cosmetic and dermal fillers can reduce the appearance of wrinkles, improve skin texture and promote collagen production. These procedures not only rejuvenate the skin but also boost confidence and overall well-being. Establishing a relationship with a dermatologist ensures that your skin receives comprehensive care tailored to its evolving needs, promoting longterm skin health and vitality.
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We are stronger, better together
I have circles of friends and family that run deeply down both sides of the aisle, who work in the media world and far from it. I shared a message of optimism with all of them early on Election Day.
I told them I was in a Slack channel – basically, a digital workspace similar to a group text – with about 100 election experts and 425 journalists around the country. Participants were sharing resources, lining up sources for interviews, answering questions and generally lending a hand.
Experts ranged from professors and researchers, to attorneys, policy advisers, cybersecurity engineers and former elections officials. Reporters represented organizations big and small, from Hearst and the Associated Press to Pennsylvania’s Bucks County Beacon.
The group also offered media-specific safety resources for physical, legal or psychosocial concerns.
A brainchild of the folks at Votebeat and Knight Election Hub, the project was a collaborative approach to combat disinformation. As I excitedly told those around me, its goal was to make sure solid information was being spread as reliably, quickly and loudly as it could.
One national reporter found resources to fact-check an untrue claim about voter fraud that was spreading rapidly across social media. There were offers from research universities to help parse and analyze data. A weekly newspaper in the mountains asked if someone could call them a few hours later with turnout numbers from their precinct. Not only was that request fulfilled, but another person took it upon themselves to turn the information into a data visualization the paper could publish with the story.
Large and small, helping hands went around.
Down in the Atlanta suburbs, we had a different kind of optimistic teamwork.
In August, the small-but-mighty Appen Media bought the smaller-but-mighty Decaturish, joining together two newsrooms of reporters and editors. We’ve been melding systems, beats and styles since then, but the election was the first chance to really operate as a unified force. Decaturish founder and editor Dan Whisenhunt led that charge.
Managing Editor Pat Fox, Senior Staff Reporter Amber Perry and I stepped back, focusing on our weekly print products as Dan orchestrated the election coverage. Dan, Jon, Hayden, Annabelle, Zoe and Dean, along with help from Jacob and Dionna, dove into the work, swarming across metro Atlanta to make sure our readers got the reliable information they needed.
It was also a helpful respite for us all. It can be isolating when you’re on a small team, even more so when tasked with a large job. Elections coverage is simply easier, more fun and stronger when you get to do it with others.
Late Tuesday night, I dialed into a media briefing from CISA, Homeland Security’s Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency. Non-credible bomb threats had been made at several polling places throughout the country, leading to some evacuations and voting hour extensions. DeKalb and Fulton counties were both targeted, which we had covered earlier in the day.
Throughout the call, CISA officials referred questions to the FBI and local law enforcement from reporters about the threats. CISA was trying to be helpful, but they were also limited in what they could offer. Part of the conflict is that while the FBI has pointed to foreign actors for the scare attempts, the only support they or CISA could give was that the emailed threats came from a .ru domain.
At one point a national reporter said something about how “none of us have actually seen these messages.”
Well, a few of us have, I thought.
Much earlier in the day, Dan sent an alert to the newsroom. He had just gotten an email, sent to him, a generic Fox News mailbox, a county official and several polling places, warning that certain locations were under attack and should be evacu-
ated immediately. The sender had a .ru domain address.
At the time, we contacted law enforcement, covered the story when some polls were evacuated and then later when they received the “all-clear.” Articles about the threats, and similar others around the country, made headlines for hours.
It was not until the CISA call that I realized, “we might be the only newsroom with this document in-hand.”
What did we do? Well, alert the Slack channel of course.
I thought it would be a useful primary document. The scares were a story, but more important in my eyes would be following the thread of whether these messages were coordinated. Now, reporters across the country will have one more clue to unravel that knot.
I take two main lessons away from Election Day.
Everyone has faced challenges these past few years. The key in my mind is how you respond to them. I felt like the media world learned from the past and had at least one new system in place to help facilitate the spread of good information. Seeing it makes me proud and optimistic for the future.
Collaboration is important. By that I mean helping each other and spending time together. Whether it’s a cross-national Slack channel or reporters having pizza. Two minds are better than one, and everything is harder when you’re doing it alone.
From Sandy Springs to Buckhead in a buggy, 1916
In the April 5, 1984, issue of the Dunwoody Crier, Dode Templeton tells the story of Fred Hamrick riding to Buckhead from Sandy Springs in a horse-drawn buggy with his dad, Bud Hamrick. Templeton wrote history articles for the Crier in the 1970s and 1980s, sometimes under the subtitle The Southern Wanderer.
Fred Hamrick was born in 1908. His mother was Ida Bell Lewis Hamrick and his father Bud, whose full name was George Everett Hamrick Sr., operated Wilson’s Mill on Marsh Creek. Hamrick remembered the road to the mill as Old Mill Road, but years later when the mill became Brandon Mill the road’s name became Brandon Mill Road.
The old mill burned in the 1940s, and the mill stones broke in the fire. The land was purchased by Ed Dodd, creator of Mark Trail comics. Lost Forest Subdivision was built on a portion of that land beginning in 1978.
A trip to Buckhead or downtown Atlanta meant Fred Hamrick and his father rode along Roswell Road in a horse-drawn buggy. Fred remembered the trip as an 8-year-old in 1916.
“The buggy had one long seat, rubber tires, and a cover in case of rain,” he recalled. The road was “tar poured over a gravel bed, rounded so that water would run off into a ditch.”
His father complained that it was hard to keep the buggy on the road, and drivers often ended up in the ditch.
There was no traffic along the road. They might pass one other buggy on their journey.
There was a wagon yard where Roswell Road meets Peachtree Road, at the location today of Buckhead Theatre. Hamrick and his dad parked their wagon and put their horse in a stall to feed and rest for the return trip.
In a V-shaped area across from the theater where is now a park, Hamrick recalled Jacobs Pharmacy, where they served delicious ice cream sodas. Residents of Sandy Springs got their medicine from Jacobs Pharmacy or they went to Dunwoody where medicine was brought in on the Roswell Railroad by a local doctor.
Fred and his father took the streetcar from Buckhead to downtown Atlanta and stopped at the post office near Walton and Lucky streets. Fred Hamrick had fun visiting the dime stores and other stores in the city. He also remembered, “…how exciting it was to look over the open bridges at the huge trains passing under the bridge.”
He and his father had lunch at the National Lunch
Counter near Five Points for 20 to 30 cents for a plate and five cents for a fountain Coke.
At Christmas, the stores were decorated with bright, colorful lights, and the Salvation Army singers performed on street corners. Then, they would take the trolley back to Buckhead, hitch up the horse to the buggy and make their way back to Sandy Springs.
By1917, the trolley was extended to Oglethorpe University, near World War I encampment Camp Gordon.
When Fred’s father received jury duty notice, he would make this same trip every day for a week, “taking great pride in fulfilling his civic duty.”
Hamrick also shared his memories of the heart of Sandy Springs during his youth. In the area where Johnson Ferry Road and Mt. Vernon Road meet, there was Mr. A. C. Acree’s Store, a blacksmith shop and Hammond School. From 1892 until 1903 the post office was in Acree’s Store. Fred Hamrick died in 1993, but thanks to Dode Templeton his story is preserved in the archives of the Dunwoody Crier newspaper.
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 PAST TENSE
CARL APPEN Director of Content and Development carl@appenmedia.com
OPINION
Georgia oak trees are magnificent and essential
AL BURRELL Guest Columnist
Oak trees, Fagaceae: Quercus (Family: Genus), grow around the world with prominence in Asia, Europe and the Americas. Oaks grow in a multitude of landscapes and ecosystems with different species thriving in the different settings. The trees are most frequently identified by their lobed leaves (though there are numerous exceptions) and the acorns that are the seeds of all oak species. Oaks, especially since the loss of the American Chestnut, are the dominant species in forests east of the Mississippi River and even farther west. The wood of the oak is prized for its strength, beauty and water resistance. Its uses include housing, furniture, ornamentation, ship building, and wine and whiskey barrels. Cork oak bark is commonly employed in the milling of stoppers for wine and other bottles.
The fruit of oak trees are acorns that vary in bitterness and edibility. The nuts are a staple in the diet of deer and squirrels. The less bitter acorns of the white oak are occasionally eaten by humans. Indigenous Americans would grind the washed nuts into a meal that was cooked into cakes. The flowers, bark, limbs and leaves are used by a wide variety of insects, amphibians, birds and mammals for shelter and food.
For popular classification, some in the U.S. divide the dozens of oak species into two main groups: white and red. White oaks are the tallest and most noble of the oaks with spreading crowns. They are also the most common oak species found in North Georgia.
The leaves of red oaks are stunning with leaves turning deep red and golden brown in the fall. Northern and southern red oaks are somewhat smaller and are a favored tree for ornamental uses. The trunks are distinguished by the perpendicular white ridges that are sometimes called ski slopes.
In Georgia, there are more than 30 native species from the oak family which support more forms of wildlife than any other tree in the state, or east of the Mississippi for that matter. The oaks in Georgia are home to hundreds of moth and butterfly species, whose caterpillars are a staple in the diet of hatchling birds each spring. Acorns provide food for many of Georgia’s mammalian residents: bears, deer, racoons, and squirrels. Without these acorns, many species would face starvation. While beneficial to Georgia’s wildlife, be aware that the tannins in acorns can be toxic to horses and cattle if eaten in quantity.
When incorporating oak trees in their yards, homeowners should be aware of certain facts. White oaks grow to be large trees capable of reaching heights in excess of 100 feet. Red oaks and scarlet oaks tend to be significantly shorter at 60 to 80 feet at maturity. All
About the author
A recent transplant from the City of Decatur, Al Burrell now lives in Milton. Al is a third generation Atlanta area resident who has witnessed amazing changes in the region. His gardening passion centers around incorporating trees into urban and suburban landscapes and encouraging the propagation of native plants and flowers to support the embattled populations of birds and insect pollinators that add so much enjoyment and beauty to our lives. Al completed the Master Gardener course in April 2024, and he looks forward to supporting the UGA Extension Service in spreading the word on the best practices for gardens, yards, farms and forest throughout Fulton County.
species are considered shade trees, and as they grow, the canopies will make the maintenance of healthy grass lawns difficult for the areas beneath. The ground underneath the canopies covers the roots required for healthy trees, so consider tree placement carefully if sidewalks, driveways or street widening are future possibilities. Your oak will provide the amenity of shading your home from sun and protecting it from wind. Keep in mind the ultimate height and width of the tree and its canopy and root requirements, and plant it an adequate distance from the house and its foundation. Placement of the trees outside the east and west walls provides more cooling in summer and wind protection in winter.
Oak trees can be considered Georgia’s most environmentally essential and important plant species. Oaks should be preserved in yards when both feasible
and possible and planted when conditions permit and owners desire. Careful planning and proper maintenance will be required for the homeowner to enjoy the beauty and benefits of this keystone species.
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/.
Partner with Appen Local Media:
WHITE OAK RED OAK
Spalding:
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Speaking again about the effort to keep community pillars open at the Nov. 5 City Council meeting, Paul said he understands more about where Looney and Fulton County Schools are coming from.
“He made very clear that this was mostly an economic consideration, [and] that the cost of providing services in smaller schools was higher than larger schools,” Paul said. “We urged him to use this as an opportunity to do some pilot programs to focus on some innovations … there were no commitments made.”
The mayor said the conversation would be described as “frank” in diplomatic circles.
“The thing that concerns me most is these are elementary school kids,” Paul said. “This is very disruptive to young children … I understand the dollars-and-cents issues, but certain things transcend [that].”
Fulton County Schools held the second of three community meetings at Riverwood International Charter School Nov. 4 to unveil three proposals for new attendance zones across Sandy Springs elementary schools.
With Spalding Drive’s closure, a redistricting of all elementary schools in the city is required to rebalance student populations next school year.
Effects on the other six elementary schools in the city drew parents from across Sandy Springs to understand how a potential redistricting and school closure might impact their families.
Brain Dempsey, a resident of the Marchman Estates subdivision, said his two elementary school-aged children attend Heards Ferry, but the district’s Alternative C would move them to Lake Forrest Elementary. Because of the differences in academic achievement and his desire to keep his kids at Heards Ferry, Demsey joined some 400 other parents at the Nov. 4 meeting to learn more about the process.
The first meeting asked the community to give feedback on redistricting criteria during small-group sessions, which the school district used to develop new maps.
School district staff told the crowd that they could only provide feedback related to the board- established
City:
Asbury plans to renovate the 98,000-square-foot facility in preparation for its move, anticipated in late summer 2025.
“We are very excited to welcome the Asbury Automotive Group to Sandy Springs,” Mayor Rusty Paul said. “Asbury will bring 350 new jobs to our city, adding high-quality employment opportunities and significant economic impact to our community.”
During the public hearing, Economic Development Director Chris Burnette said the company is expected to invest $14-$16 million on the purchase and renovations.
“Fortunately, I think this is a win for us,” Burnette said. “Asbury has executed a purchase contract for the building …they will be moving their headquarters from Gwinnett County to Sandy Springs.”
Situated in Atlanta’s Central Perimeter, Sandy Springs is home to six Fortune 500 companies, including UPS, WestRock and Veritiv.
FULTON COUNTY SCHOOLS/PROVIDED
Three new attendance zone maps for Sandy Springs elementary schools look to adjust classroom sizes across the region with the potential closure of Spalding Drive. Fulton County Schools will take in community feedback and present draft plan(s) at the final community meeting Dec. 9. See full-size maps at appenmedia.com
redistricting criteria. Primary considerations include geographic proximity, instructional capacity and projected enrollment, while secondary influences are neighborhood groupings, traffic patterns, frequency of rezonings, and school feeder alignment.
Jenn Lott, whose adult children attended Spalding Drive Elementary, said she spoke to Yngrid Jones-Huff, deputy chief operations officer at Fulton County Schools.
Lott said she proposed to Jones-Huff about a potential solution to move around 100 students from Woodland Elementary on the east aide of Ga. 400 to Spalding Drive.
“She indicated they were only addressing the current redistricting questions that involve closing Spalding,” Lott said. “It all feels very rushed.”
School district staff say patrons and residents must stick to the established criteria for redistricting, and discussions were limited to three new maps for the city’s elementary school districts.
“The average payroll wage per worker is $175,000, so these are excellent jobs,” Burnette said. “I think it’s a real win for us … not only were we able to save Newell and keep them here in the community, we’ve now been able to backfill that building with another Fortune 500 company.”
The city’s economic development director said he thinks Asbury will be a great corporate ambassador for Sandy Springs.
In March 2024, the Sandy Springs City Council approved the request from Newell Brands to waive building permit fees and business occupational taxes for three years. The estimated value of the fees waived totals $281,883.
Newell Brands signed a 180,000-square-foot lease June 24 at the iconic Queen tower at Concourse Office Park for its new global headquarters.
The less than six-month period to find a tenant to fill the empty Class A building indicates demand for highquality office in Central Perimeter.
Parents say the school district is constricting dialogue to reach its pre-drawn conclusion to shutter the two schools amid financial constraints. With redistricting affecting all seven elementary schools in the city, some parents are angry, saying they do not feel heard by Fulton County Schools.
Four Sandy Springs council members attended the second community meeting, putting some local political weight in the room Nov. 4.
Councilwoman Melody Kelley said she thinks a thoughtful dialogue is missing from the process.
“I’m disappointed that the posture of Fulton County Schools seems to be … asking our community to consider maps that will potentially disrupt every elementary school in Sandy Springs while simultaneously ignoring data-driven, solution-oriented questions and ideas from stakeholders,” Kelley said. “Another issue I have is with the confusion around the open enrollment process.”
Spalding Drive Elementary parents say they have yet to receive clear guidance from the school district on how to apply for open enrollment.
Lauren Rosenbaum, member of the Save Spalding Committee, said the community is upset that the recommendation to the school board is one day before the district’s open enrollment application closes. She said it essentially bars any parents from applying to any of the city’s elementary schools because redistricting removes open enrollment eligibility.
City Councilwoman Jody Reichel, a founding member of a committee formed in 2015 to build a new North Springs High School in the city, said she’s working on ways to attract more young families to the city and strengthen the public school community.
“At the meeting, many residents expressed interest in creating an independent school district in Sandy Springs, an option I previously explored in depth,” she said.
City Councilman Andy Bauman gave comment after the presentation, telling Fulton County Schools staff that the priority is to not close Spalding Drive Elementary.
“They’re pitting area against area, and they’re directing us in a discussion that feels premature,” he said. “It’s rushed, it’s not right and it’s a very good school.”
The third and final community meeting for Sandy Springs elementary school redistricting is Dec. 9 at Riverwood International Charter School off Raiders Drive.
Ga. 400 within a half-mile. The building is also walking distance from the Sandy Springs MARTA station in the heart of Central Perimeter.
David Hult, Asbury President & CEO, said the company is looking forward to moving to the Perimeter area from Duluth.
“This is an exciting change for the team and will afford our current and future employees many benefits, both in the building itself and conveniences in the surrounding community,” Hult said. “Sandy Springs provides direct access to the heart of Atlanta, world-class restaurants and entertainment and the world’s busiest airport, HartsfieldJackson.”
The company said the move would bring 346 Asbury employees, including the C-suite, attorneys, treasury, financial reporting, accountants and overall dealership support and management. With potential investments in other Metro Atlanta dealerships on the horizon Asbury also has plans to add more jobs at the headquarters.
With concerning office vacancy rates nationwide, the commercial real estate market is trending better in Central Perimeter than it was during the pandemic.
Older office buildings without a transportation network or amenities nearby are still sitting empty. Economic Development departments in Sandy Springs and Dunwoody are discussing how to redevelop the sites or turn them into missing middle housing.
The Class A office building at 6655 Peachtree Dunwoody Road sits on 2.3 acres with access to I-285 and
City Councilwoman Jody Reichel said she wants staff to ensure the city’s economic incentives are up to par with neighboring areas and market sensitive.
City Manager Eden Freeman said the Economic Development Department is undertaking the review soon.
The Sandy Springs City Council approved the incentive package unanimously. Continued from Page 1
