Urban forest coordinator earns state recognition
PAGE 8
Elected leaders unite to keep classes open at local elementary
SANDY SPRINGS, Ga. — In a display of political unity, local Republican and Democratic officials in Sandy Springs have joined to save Spalding Drive Elementary School.
The Save Spalding Drive Elementary School Committee says the announcement Nov. 12 proves that quality education transcends political partisanship.
Democrat state Sen. Josh McLaurin has joined with Republican Fulton County Commissioner Bob Ellis and state Rep. Debora Silcox to support keeping the school open because they recognize its role as a cornerstone of the community, the statement says.
The committee says elected officials believe keeping the school open is essential for the well-being of local families, property values and community stability.
Fulton County Schools staff have not allowed community members and parents to discuss impacts on home values during redistricting meetings at Riverwood High School in October and November.
Parents said they are also frustrated with a policy change that would prevent every elementary school in Sandy Springs from participating in the open enrollment process.
See SPALDING, Page 12
FULTON COUNTY SCHOOLS/PROVIDED
The effort to save Spalding Drive Elementary School in Sandy Springs is garnering support from Georgia General Assembly members and a Fulton County commissioner.
Perimeter crowds commemorate generations of American veterans
By HAYDEN SUMLIN hayden@appenmedia.com
NORTH METRO ATLANTA — On both sides of the Fulton-DeKalb County line north of I-285, communities gathered to recognize the selflessness of Americans who served in the U.S. military.
Veterans Day ceremonies in the cities of Dunwoody and Sandy Springs Nov. 11 saw community members come together as citizens of the United States to honor Americans who served in the armed forces.
Just before Sandy Springs officials unveiled two
new monuments at Veterans Park, the Dunwoody community gathered at Brook Run Park for one of its most important and unifying traditions.
The Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 10822 serves both Perimeter cities, Dunwoody and Sandy Springs, which held separate ceremonies at their local veterans’ memorials.
Dunwoody resident and retired Lt. Col. Thomas Ariail, who serves as commander of the local Veterans of Foreign Wars chapter, spoke in front of the DeKalb Veterans Memorial to a crowd of 100.
See VETERANS, Page 12
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Artist Curtis Pittman, left, cheers as local philanthropist and business leader Sunny Park, right, and his family cut the ribbon Nov. 11 on Veterans Park’s new sculpture — “Be the Light.” The Veterans Day ceremonies in Sandy Springs also saw the unveiling of Kevin Chambers’ “Three Generations” at the park.
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DOJ blasts Fulton County Jail for violations
ATLANTA — The U.S. Department of Justice announced Nov. 14 it has determined that conditions of confinement at the Fulton County Jail violate the 8th and 14th Amendments to the U.S. Constitution, the Americans with Disabilities Act and Individuals with Disabilities Education Act.
The department’s report details findings from a comprehensive investigation of the jail, which is funded and operated by Fulton County and the Fulton County Sheriff’s Office. The investigation included the main jail on Rice Street in Atlanta and three annex facilities: the Marietta Annex in Atlanta, the North Annex in Alpharetta and the South Annex in Union City.
The Rice Street jail currently houses around 2,000 people and in recent years has surpassed 3,000 people.
In its long list of findings of abuse or neglect, the DOJ report does not specify which of the four jails the incidents occurred. But, based on descriptions in the document and from news accounts of the incidents, most appear to have been referring to the main jail in Atlanta.
Inquiries to the DOJ for clarification had not been answered by press time.
“In Fulton County, people in custody awaiting formal charges or trials frequently must protect themselves from brutal physical attacks, endure frequent
excessive force, manage their wellbeing with inadequate food and unsanitary living conditions, and hope they can find access to a strained medical and mental health care program. This is unacceptable,” said U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Buchanan for the Northern District of Georgia.
Over the past two years, the report says six incarcerated people have died in violent attacks at the jail.
According to Sheriff’s Office reports, in 2023 there were 1,054 assaults on incarcerated people and 314 stabbings in the jail.
In September 2022, Lashawn Thompson died alone in a filthy cell in the mental health unit of the Fulton County Jail. Thompson, who had a history of mental illness and was unhoused, was accused of spitting at a Georgia Tech police officer and arrested on a simple battery charge, then held on an old warrant. Three months after his arrest, Thompson was found in his cell, slumped over with his head on his toilet. A medical examiner reported that his malnourished body was infested with an “enormous presence of body lice,” and concluded that he was “neglected to death.”
Most municipal police agencies in North Fulton use the Alpharetta Annex to process and hold prisoners, especially those involved in non-violent crimes. The facility has 50 beds and as of midAugust 2024, held 27 people, the DOJ
week Appen Media requests police incident reports to inform residents about the safety of their community. Sandy Springs continues to withhold what it calls the “narrative reports.” It is the only city Appen Media covers that follows this practice, which goes against guidance from the Attorney General, Georgia
stated. The North Annex has an intake and reception center, and separate housing areas for men and women. Fulton County and the Fulton County Sheriff’s Office house detainees there, particularly people who need separation from the jail population because of the nature of their charges or conflicts in the main jail.
Calls to Fulton County for a response to the report were not returned by press deadline.
According to Atlanta News First, Fulton County officials are taking the matter seriously.
“We share the concerns that were outlined and we’re going to be working jointly, cooperatively to address them,” Fulton County Chairman Robb Pitts said, according to ANF
Sandy Springs Police contracts, in most cases, with private providers and local governments. The City Council approved an agreement with Lumpkin County last June to house some adult inmates at its detention center. Those arrested for city ordinance violations, traffic offenses are booked at the Smyrna Jail.
Felony offenders out of Sandy Springs are booked at the Atlanta Rice Street Jail.
Sandy Springs Police Sgt. Leon Millholland said if the city court sentences an individual to one year or less, they are housed at the Lumpkin County Jail in Dahlonega.
of Investigation, Georgia Sheriff’s Association, Prosecuting Attorneys’ Council of Georgia and Georgia Press Association. Appen Media will continue pursuing the release of more detailed documents that belong to the public in order to inform residents how safe – or unsafe – their city is.
Business district conference keys on housing gap
By HAYDEN SUMLIN hayden@appenmedia.com
DUNWOODY, Ga. — Elected officials, business leaders, urban planners and developers held their second meeting Nov. 7 to discuss evolving suburban housing options in Central Perimeter.
The cities of Dunwoody and Sandy Springs split most of the business district, one of the nation’s largest edge cities with around 29 million square feet of commercial office space.
Commercial districts across the country are facing an oversupply of older, and often vacant, office buildings and an undersupply of housing options.
The second stop in the seminar series, “Edge City 2.0: Reshaping Tomorrow’s Perimeter,” was held at Del Frisco’s Double Eagle Steakhouse off Perimeter Center Parkway.
With the 2024 presidential election over, investors and developers are anticipated to increase activity assuming lower market volatility.
Sam Shenbaga, managing director of the Atlanta Regional Commission’s Community Development Department, moderated the panel alongside a regional real estate analyst, a master planner from the New Urbanism school and one of the region’s top residential housing developers.
All four panelists addressed the question: How can the public and private sectors work together to provide needed housing options that are congruent with a city’s economic development plans?
Geoff Koski, president and owner of KB Advisory Group, went over current conditions in Metro Atlanta’s housing market.
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From left, Sam Shenbaga, managing director of the Atlanta Regional Commission’s Community Development Department, leads a panel Nov. 7 discussing housing options in Central Perimeter with Geoff Koski, president and owner of KB Advisory Group; Lew Oliver, Atlanta-based urbanist and master planner; and Paul Corley, regional president of residential developer Empire Communities.
Missing middle housing, which includes a range of options like duplexes, bungalows and townhomes, are often more affordable for working class families and young professionals. Missing middle housing is typically more affordable and denser than single family homes. Mid-rise apartments don’t qualify as missing middle.
“Our financial system is set up to build large apartment buildings and single-family homes … and that’s what our zoning codes have also been focused on,” Koski said. “That’s fine … it’s just that it’s a mismatch, and if we’re trying to house more people, then we’ve taken away a quarter of our ammunition.”
Before World War II, missing middle housing was common in American cities. With racially and class-
motivated zoning in the early 20th century and Civil Rights Movement, the housing types are still illegal in some districts within Metro Atlanta cities.
Central Perimeter is unique to north Metro Atlanta cities because of its abundance of commercial real estate and office buildings and proximity to traditional neighborhoods with single-family homes.
Panelists argued that missing middle housing in Central Perimeter would serve as a buffer between the business district and neighborhoods. They also pointed out that it’s hard to find rents below $1,000 in Dunwoody and Sandy Springs.
Many workers in Central Perimeter, like Jeffery Middleton who served attendees during the seminar, do not live near where they work.
Middleton listened intently during the presentation, especially as panelists were discussing conditions in the housing market and the need to fill the gap.
“[They’re] right, missing middle housing has been gone,” he said. “There’s nothing if you’re making inbetween $40,000 and $125,000, but I’m optimistic.”
Paul Corley, regional president of residential developer Empire Communities, pointed to a examples of denser, missing middle housing developments that he’s recently built, like Chastain Park’s Buckley townhomes.
Corley said many Metro Atlanta homeowners do not understand the concept of missing middle housing, that they aren’t traditional mid-rise apartments. Many homeowners also do not recognize the increasing need for attainable housing, he said.
The terms attainable and affordable refer to the same type of housing: something the average American worker can pay for.
HAYDEN SUMLIN/APPEN MEDIA
City Springs Conservancy students perform Christmas classics during the 2023 Sparkle Sandy Springs parade through the city’s downtown district. This year’s festivities kick off at 4 p.m. Dec. 8.
Sparkle Sandy Springs to unfurl holiday cheer
SANDY SPRINGS, Ga. — The city is inviting everyone to attend the annual Sparkle Sandy Springs celebration and awardwinning parade Dec. 8 throughout the City Springs district.
Blue Stone Road, Galambos Way and Mount Vernon Highway will be transformed into a winter wonderland, presenting residents with festive traditions, a nighttime parade and the lighting of the Christmas tree and Hanukkah menorah.
Road closures begin at 3 p.m.
Festivities at City Springs kick off at 4 p.m. with food trucks, holiday music from Ansley Stewart, snow machines and the Sparkle gift market where visitors can find the perfect gift.
For those looking to secure the best view of the parade, Sparkle Wonderland across from Sandy Springs United Methodist Church won’t disappoint with its largerthan-life inflatables of Santa Claus, The Grinch and Rudolph.
The Sparkle Village around the City Green will showcase unique miniature homes decorated with twinkling lights and festive designs.
As a new feature this year, guests can vote for their favorite miniature home. The competition for bragging rights is expected to heat up between local schools, nonprofits and businesses.
The award-winning Sparkle parade begins at 6 p.m. at Mount Vernon Highway and Lake Forrest Drive near the water tower. Last year, city officials said 5,000 people turned out for the parade and its collection of marchers, performers and floats.
The parade route continues down Mount Vernon, turns left onto Galambos Way, passes the city’s three-story Christmas tree and concludes in front of Sandy Springs City Hall.
Celebrations continue after the parade until 7 p.m. with Mayor Rusty Paul’s countdown for the lighting of the Christmas tree and Hanukkah menorah.
For more information visit, www. sandyspringsga.gov/sparkle.
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Hayden Sumlin
Young entrepreneurs serve up Indian cuisine
By AMBER PERRY amber@appenmedia.com
DUNWOODY, Ga. — At 32, Prudhvi Allam is the eldest of some six family members who own and operate two Indian restaurants and a food truck in Metro Atlanta.
Over a small table in Andhrawala Café in Dunwoody’s North Shallowford Plaza, he and his 25-year-old brother Amsh Ashrith described the authenticity found in not just the food, but the hospitality. Together, those ingredients produce regulars at the cafe which opened just six months ago.
Allam, Andhrawala Cafe’s manager, said a common problem among many Indian restaurants is the service.
“Most of our guests … they would come back to us and say, ‘Yeah, food, we can get it anywhere. The service with the food, this is the only place,” Allam said.
The word “Namaste,” a tradition rooted in “humble love and attention, has proliferated throughout the community, Allam said.
Andhrawala Cafe boasts an eclectic menu of traditional Indian breakfast favorites, like vada, or doughnut-like fritters made from a lentil batter; dosa, or a buttery crisp South Indian crepe; and idly, or soft, steamed rice cake made from a batter of rice and lentils.
It’s advised that these items are dipped, maybe even drenched, in the accompanying tomato- and peanut-based sauces, or with vada, the chutney.
Allam said the cafe quickly became popular because it features cuisines found all over India.
“I think everybody says that for the restaurant business, you need at least six months to one year for the break even,” Allam said. “We never faced these kinds of issues
Manager Prudhvi Allam and Head Chef Harish Kumar, center, are primarily responsible for operations at Andhrawala Cafe, an Indian restaurant in North Shallowford Plaza owned by Allam’s family. Allam’s brother Amsh Ashrith, left, manages a food truck called StopEatRepeat, and Pavan Sai helps the family by serving food to customers at the cafe.
from the last two, three years.”
The family’s food truck StopEatRepeat was launched in 2022, a test of the waters before focusing on scalability.
Allam also said they intentionally moved away from Americanizing the food at Andhrawala Cafe.
“Every item, after coming here, they'll fusionize because that way they can at-
tract more customers, like more people,” Allam said.
Allam, who has been in the states for about a decade, said some customers who had been unfamiliar with the more traditional, smaller Dosa have continued to return because they say it’s the best they’ve ever had. In some restaurants, the crepe can almost cover the entire table.
“If you bring the authentic food, everybody likes it,” he said.
The cafe’s walls are splashed with an inviting yellow as well as hand-illustrated murals, painted by one of Allam and Ashrith’s sisters. On one side, you can see a host of the cafe’s team members, each with a name tag, and on the other side, a painting of farmers using bulls to do their work, layered over a mandala.
An awning made of dried grass hangs over the front counter, which Ashrith said hearkens to the clay homes found in South Indian villages.
Tradition is threaded throughout the establishment, including the technique of cooking rice in clay pots. Harish Kumar is the head chef at Andhrawala Cafe.
“There is a history behind the clay pot,” Allam said. “You know, back in the ancient days, most of the culture says that if you cook anything in a pot, that
gives a lot of benefits.”
A wall by the door features an outline of a heart filled overflowing with handwritten compliments, from “GOOD FOOD GOOD SERVICE” to “Food is really damn tasty :).”
The family’s second restaurant, a fine dining spot in Suwanee, will soon be rebranded to Dosti Tap and Grill, “dosti” meaning friendship.
The food truck StopEatRepeat was their first entry into the restaurant industry, though, at least in the United States. They had also owned a series of restaurants in Goa, a coastal state in India.
“We are Atlanta's first Indian food truck, and we can proudly flaunt that every time,” said Ashrith, StopEatRepeat’s manager. “That’s our baby.”
All the food operations exist under the home brand TOT, or “Trails of Taste.”
With a full-time career in IT, the restaurant business is Allam’s side gig. He and Ashrith, a college student who has helped Allam create food-related phone apps, volunteer their time.
Ashrith said money is less important.
“Every day we do something, we try to make sure that it makes a difference, not more money,” Ashrith said. “To make money, you can do anything, but to make a difference, there are only certain things that you can do.”
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Urban forest coordinator earns state recognition
By HAYDEN SUMLIN hayden@appenmedia.com
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SANDY SPRINGS, Ga. — Rather than simply addressing symptoms of tree canopy decline in Sandy Springs, Urban Forest Coordinator William “Willie” Park has taken a different approach.
His service and innovative leadership won him the 2024 Outstanding Urban Arboriculture Grand Award Nov. 6 at the Georgia Tree Council’s annual Excellence in Urban Forestry Awards Luncheon.
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Park also ensures Sandy Springs maintains the Arbor Day Foundation’s Tree City USA status, which recognizes the community’s commitment to sound urban forestry management.
After graduating from Emory University, Park worked for Trees Atlanta, the Georgia Department of Natural Resources’ States Parks Division and an Andreessen Horowitz-backed sustainability startup called The Rounds. He joined Sandy Springs in November 2022.
In 2017, the University of Georgia’s Natural Resources Spatial Analysis Laboratory determined that Sandy Springs had an estimated tree canopy of 62 percent.
As urban forest coordinator, Park oversees the city’s environmental stewardship initiatives like a partnership with Eco-Addendum for hands-on educational experiences in the city’s urban forest.
“Our community organizations are crucial partners in the city’s mission,” he said. “We have found that sharing responsibility via public-private partnerships foster a sense of ‘ownership’ and ‘stakeholder responsibility’ that drives passion and investment into our parks and green spaces.”
Participants in the program complete twelve sessions per year at various greenspaces and parks around the city. Program topics include native tree and plant identification, wildlife observation and biodiversity restoration.
With the program’s certificate, graduates work with the city and its partners to keep the city beautiful and highlight the positive impacts of urban forests on human well-being.
Another program, Plant Health Care, works to revitalize the health of street trees, reducing the frequency of dead, dying and hazardous replacements.
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Doraville’s Carver Hills community weathered development
When plans for a General Motors assembly plant were underway in the early 1940s, a community of Black families, their school and a church were displaced.
Homeowners were bought out and offered land for new homes in a nearby Doraville location. General Motors bought 150 acres for the new development. Each undeveloped lot cost $2,000.
The new neighborhood was called Carver Hills, named for George Washington Carver, famous Black scientist and inventor. It was located where Peachtree Industrial Boulevard and I-285 meet.
A Nov. 27, 1949, Atlanta Journal writeup describes a neighborhood of 50 homes. Water, lights, and paved streets were included, but property owners had to find their own builder. Both a Baptist and Methodist Church were part of the new neighborhood.
In the 1960s, the homeowners were encroached upon again, this time by the construction of I-285. The highway divided the neighborhood into two sections.
In the mid-1980s a developer wanted to buy Carver Hills property to build a hotel. Homeowner Fannie Mae Jett fought the effort to build the 145room hotel, which would have blocked the view from the east side of the neighborhood.
DeKalb Superior Court Judge Clarence Seeliger rejected a developer’s claim that Carver Hills was a dying neighborhood and was best suited for commercial development. Fannie Mae Jett said of the ruling, “I don’t think anything in the world could thrill my heart like knowing that the old people will be able to live out their lives here.” (Atlanta Constitution, DeKalb Extra, Oct. 17, 1985, “Old Neighborhood in Doraville Refuses to Die”)
Then, in 1987 a new I-285 entrance ramp cut off another section of the neighborhood. (Photographic
Forest:
Continued from Page 8
A suitable trophy
Recreation and Parks Director Brent Walker said his department is proud of Willie and celebrate the accomplishment alongside him.
“Sandy Springs is home to more than 20 parks and 22 miles of trails along the Chattahoochee River,” Walker said. “Our urban forest has become a defining feature of the community, and this award is a testament to Willie’s dedication to both preserving nature and serving the public.”
Park’s award is a framed, limited-edition print of the 375-year-old Jekyll Island Plantation Oak.
As evidence of its remarkable age, the oak tree’s diameter is a foot wider than LeBron James is tall.
The only trees in Fulton County that
Permanent Archival Record, Carver Hills Historic District, copy held by the DeKalb History Center)
The Mt. Carmel African Methodist Episcopal Church still stands on Carver Drive where a few remaining Carver Hills homes still stand. First established in 1879, Mt. Carmel AME is the oldest African American congregation in Georgia.
New homes and townhomes have been built on the former Carver Hills location north of I-285.
In 2023, a historical marker was placed to recognize Carver Hills and the Mt. Carmel AME Church. The marker text begins, “Carver Hills, established in 1947. In the 1940s, when General Motors purchased land to build a new plant, it displaced a school, church and a number of homes belonging to members of Doraville’s African American community.”
Additional land purchased for Black families displaced by General Motors includes the Parsons Village Subdivision, platted in 1953, and the Happy Valley subdivision, platted in 1954. The name Parsons comes from the previous owners of the land. Carver Hills was the only subdivision where only
get close to the grandeur of the Jekyll Island Plantation Oak are within the John Ripley Forbes Big Trees Forest Preserve off Roswell Road (Ga. 9) across from the Morgan Falls athletic fields.
“Not only is it the only registered and listed ‘Old Growth Forest Site’ in Fulton County, but it is also home to the largest and most unique trees in Sandy Springs,” Park said. “Due to this site’s particular sensitivity to disturbances, all management is done by hand – with no chemical treatment or heavy machinery.”
He attributed its success to a partnership between the city, ReForest ATL and Friends of the Big Trees Forest Preserve.
“The city funds and coordinates maintenance operations while the Friends group drives community engagement and helps overlook the site,” Park said. “ReForest ATL was brought on to conduct comprehensive forest management and have made notable progress in restoring the forest floor.”
Black individuals could purchase land.
Former Carver Hills residents Patricia Jett Hood and Sarah Rainey Wallace were among the former and current residents who gathered for the 2023 marker dedication to honor historic Carver Hills of Doraville. Hood attended Doraville School and Lynwood Park High School. Sarah Rainey Wallace attended Lynwood Park Elementary and High School. These were segregated DeKalb County schools for Black students. Schools in DeKalb County were integrated in 1968. (DeKalb History Center Archives, oral history recordings of Patricia Jett Hood and Sarah Rainey Wallace)
Sarah Rainey Wallace’s parents and grandparents talked about their move when the General Motors Plant was built. People in the community planned to work at the plant. Wallace recalled that the former location of Mt. Carmel AME Church was in the middle of the once large community. That location today would be in the middle of I-285.
In a 1999 oral history of Fannie Mae Jett, she recalled that her grandfather, Bartow Langford, owned property that later became part of General Motors. The Greater Mount Carmel Church was built on her ancestor George Washington Gholston’s property. (DeKalb History Center Archives, Fannie Mae Jett)
The historical marker text continues with the history and a description of Carver Hills today, “… all that remains of the original Carver Hills neighborhood are 10 houses on Carver Drive along with Mt. Carmel AME Church and Zion Full Gospel Ministries. This plaque is a reminder of the strength and resilience of Doraville’s African American community in the face of multiple challenges over the decades. Presented by Doraville Celebration Committee 2022.”
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.
Last November, the City Council approved a new policy for tree fund usage, expanding its purpose beyond large canopy plantings.
Caring for inventory
Park said effective tree maintenance is crucial for enabling trees to reach full maturity, which supports natural forest succession.
“This new policy is essential to the success of Sandy Springs’ Urban Forestry Program, recognizing that urban canopy preservation and growth require more than just planting new trees,” he said. “Through education and volunteer programs, we have promoted enhanced tree care and environmental stewardship, extending these practices beyond public lands to influence private homeowners as well.”
The Urban Forestry Program invites residents and homeowners to participate in the expansion of the city’s tree canopy
through plating native trees, managing invasive species and educating interested parties about volunteer opportunities, best practices and education.
Park said the desire for volunteerism and requests from corporate groups has increased greatly in the past two years. For more information, he encourages people to email him at william.park@sandyspringsga.gov or contact city partners like Sandy Springs Conservancy, Environment Sandy Springs, Eco-Addendum and Keep North Fulton Beautiful.
Park said seeing the historic southern live oaks (Quercus virginiana) and the ways Jekyll Island has preserved its natural heritage inspired him to think even more deeply about the future of Sandy Springs' urban forest.
“As the city approaches its 20th anniversary, we have a unique opportunity to shape our legacy,” he said. “I believe we are planting the history of tomorrow, today.”
VALERIE BIGGERSTAFF Columnist
BOB KELLEY/PROVIDED
A 1940s photo of a new home in Carver Hills. Photo from "Images of America: Doraville"
OPINION
100 most influential people
People and things that have impacted our world, #21-30
RAY
APPEN Publisher Emeritus ray@appenmedia.com
No. 21. CRISPR. In 2020, Jenifer Doudna and Emmanuelle Charpentier were awarded the Nobel Prize in chemistry for their work on CRISPR technology — essentially technology that facilitates gene editing — something with countless applications in science, medicine, and agriculture, to name just a few. Examples include the creation of disease-resistant and drought-resistant grains; correcting mutations at the DNA level for people with genetic disorders that cause diseases like sickle cell anemia; and potentially the eradication of diseases such as malaria by modifying the genes of malaria-causing mosquitos to make them sterile. Of note, use of CRISPR significantly contributed to the development of the successful vaccines for COVID-19.
No. 22. Moore’s Law (1965 - ?). In 1965 Gordon Moore, co-founder of Intel and Fairchild Semiconductor, observed/predicted that the number of transistors that can fit on a computer chip will double roughly every two years, with a minimal increase in cost. That is, computers will get smaller and process faster without costing significantly more. The smallest transistors currently being manufactured (by IBM) for commercial use are 2 nanometers, about the width of several atoms, a size that facilitates placement of roughly 50 billion transistors on a chip the size of a fingernail. The iPhone you own has more computing power and more storage capacity than main frame computers of the past. Technology drives so much of every aspect of our lives today, and Moore’s Law is why.
No. 23. Archie Bunker. Archie and “All in the Family” creator Norman Lear could make this Top 100 list for multiple reasons. Lear was responsible for wildly popular TV shows that introduced political and social themes to millions. His shows also included “The Jeffersons,” “Maude,” “Sanford and Son,” “One Day at a Time,” Mary
Hartman, Mary Hartman” and “Good Times.” Many themes of the shows have morphed into political footballs in today’s world, sharp-edged political weapons used by politicians to attack, divide and disrupt. Lear made fun of today’s weapons. He served them out to everyone. He made us laugh without getting angry or vindictive. He tried to show us that we could be different and still be civil. How far away that seems now. How short our memories seem to be.
No. 24. Peter, Paul and Mary. “Where have all the Flowers Gone?” Peter, Paul and Mary, right? Nope. Try Pete Seeger; he wrote it. But they first made it a huge hit. Nope, try Marlene Dietrich — in German — in 1962. OK, PP&M did cover the song. Joan Baez, too. Geez. I had no idea. The song was an anti-Viet Nam war protest song of the ’60s, a song about lost innocence, soldiers dying, flowers on graves. It wasn’t the only one. So, Seeger wrote it in 1962, and we’ve been at war ever since. The same thing keeps happening; that’s why PP&M are on the list — to remind us about that. How many young people today have a clue?
which began in 1927 with Charles Lindberg on the cover, surely is a good list for any Top 100 most important people and events. That being said, here are some fun facts about Time’s list: Person of the Century: Albert Einstein. The only person to be named three times: FDR. Individuals named twice: Barack Obama, Bill Clinton, George W. Bush, Richard Nixon, Ronald Reagan, Mikhail Gorbachev, Dwight Eisenhower, Joseph Stalin, Winston Churchill. Number of times a woman has been named: 9 (out of 97). Last two women named: Greta Thunberg (2019), Taylor Swift (2023).
No. 27. Charles Schulz. Wrote “Peanuts” from 1950 to 2000 and is generally seen as the most influential cartoonist in history.
Total “Peanuts” strips published: 17,897.
Who didn’t hold their breath when Lucy would convince Charlie Brown into trying to kick the football one more time? Who didn’t hope, for once, that she wouldn’t pull it away at the last second? We all did.
No. 25. Dr. Seuss. Theodor Seuss Geisel (19041991) was a beloved author of children’s books, an illustrator, and (surprise) an advertising professional (prior to his Dr. Seuss career). He is on the list because he represents a time, an attitude, and a sense of possibility that was “ours” before cynicism, snark and animosity took over. His best-selling book: “Green Eggs and Ham.” Total sales of Dr. Seuss: over 600 million worldwide (in more than 50 languages). He taught us much about ourselves: “Today you are you! That is truer than true. There is no one alive who is you-er than you.” Amen.
No. 26. Time’s Person of the Year. This list,
No. 28. Conspiracy theories. I hate to add this one to my list because their impact on society is worse than cancer; worse than pandemics; brings out the worst in humanity. Yes, vaccines do work. No, he didn’t win the 2020 election. Yes, there is global warming that is destroying our ecosystem. No, the hurricanes this year were not generated or controlled by the government. Ad nauseum.
No. 29. “The Sound of Music”. I added this to the list because I wanted to end this segment on a positive note. This movie and the soundtrack is generally universally loved and presents to us something that is uniquely “us” — something precious, pure and redeeming.
No. 30. Mary Poppins. See No. 29.
Veterans:
Continued from Page 1
When no World War II veterans stood to be recognized at the start of the speech, faces grew long in the absence a member of the Greatest Generation.
As veterans began standing in recognition of service in Vietnam, pride returned to faces in the crowd.
“My initial point is on memory; it’s always fascinated me how the brain can store and hold incredible amounts of information,” Ariail said. “Sometimes it’s not so easy to share these thoughts with others … our VFW Post started having lunches after our meetings as a way for them to open up and build common links.”
Ariail smiled as he talked about his fellow veterans giving interviews at the Atlanta History Center, speaking at local high schools and celebrating Brook Run Park’s new Vietnam War Memorial with the Atlanta business community and Vietnamese Americans.
“Veterans have a lot of memories and experiences to share,” he said. “For those in the audience, seek them out and learn with an open mind.”
After reminding fellow service members not to embellish the stories too much, the audience let out a collective laugh.
After serving for more than 23 years across various combat zones, Ariail encouraged high schoolers who are uncertainof their direction to consider military service. He said they would learn leadership, discipline and leave with a lifetime of great stories.
Through the keynote address, the crowd of veterans and community members enjoyed the quiet, reflective morning at Brook Run Park.
Just 5 miles west at City Springs,
Spalding:
from Page 1
The closure of Spalding Drive Elementary prevents open enrollment at Sandy Springs elementary schools because of the active redistricting process.
Fulton County Schools staff recommended the school’s closure due to an aging building and declining enrollment, which they said renders the school “operationally inefficient.”
If Spalding Drive Elementary School needs more students in the classroom to make it financially viable for Fulton County Schools, parents are confused why open enrollment is not an available solution.
Ellis said he is fully against the proposed closure and stands in soli -
A look at Veterans Park in Sandy Springs Nov. 11 shows the new sculpture, Be the Light, unveiled during the city’s 2024 Veterans Day ceremony. Curtis Pittman’s 33foot internally lit structure symbolizes eternal light with its seven spires representing each branch of the military.
people gathered inside the Byers Theatre to watch the Sandy Springs Middle School Choir perform “God Bless America” along with other patriotic classics.
Former Sandy Springs City Manager and retired Marine Col. John McDonough served as keynote speaker, discussing the sacrifices and difficulties that face veterans’ families.
“Some of my fondest memories are from my time in uniform where I had the privilege to serve alongside some of the finest men and women this country has to offer,” he said.
McDonough took the Byers Theatre crowd through his four deployments,
darity with the school community.
“This is a misguided move by Fulton County Schools,” Ellis said. “I'll continue vocalizing my opposition to it.”
Ellis represents most residents in North Fulton County west of Ga. 400 and north of I-285.
McLaurin, elected without an opponent to the District 14 seat in the State Senate this year, said he supports the effort to save the school as well. District 14 encompasses most of Sandy Springs and parts of south Roswell and Alpharetta.
“I’ll be monitoring closely and engaging however is helpful over the next few months,” McLaurin said.
Sandy Springs Mayor Rusty Paul and City Council members Andy Bauman, Melody Kelley, Jody Reichel and Melissa Mular have also voiced staunch support for Spalding Drive
manager from 2006-2019, recalled the first Sandy Springs Veterans Day Ceremony at Morgan Falls Overlook Park.
Sandy Springs Mayor Rusty Paul told his friend McDonough that he loved him before crediting him for his heavy lifting and attention to detail building the city’s downtown district — City Springs.
“He said something I will never forget, ‘Where I come from, if you’re not paying attention to detail, people die,’” Paul said. “That training served us all well, thank you John.”
The mayor also discussed the city’s partnership with Art Sandy Springs for two new monuments before the ceremony headed across Ga. 9 Veterans Park.
Kevin Chambers’ Three Generations is a bronze statue depicting a veteran and his young daughter who are facing and looking up at the weaving 30-foot tall Be the Light by Curtis Pittman.
The model for the Three Generations service member is Chambers’ father who attended the sculpture dedication at Veterans Park.
including 54 operations around the Mediterranean Sea and summers training as a tank commander with Police Chief Kenneth DeSimone in the Mojave Desert.
“As we reflect on the service of our veterans, it’s important to remember that their commitment to this country does not end with the conclusion of their military career,” McDonough said.
“Their sense of duty, honor and sacrifice continues to shape our nation, whether they served in combat zones or supported critical operations, each veteran contributed to the preservation of the freedoms we hold dear.”
McDonough, who served as city
Elementary.
Committee leaders point to the school’s strong academic record, diverse student body and potential impacts of its closure on the surrounding neighborhood.
Parents said they think the district is using inconsistent data to push the decision.
Lauren Rosenbaum, president of the Spalding Drive Elementary Parent Teacher Organization, said the school only enrolls around 350 students this semester but 550 can fit based on state standards.
Rosenbaum says the school district’s classroom allocation model shows Spalding Drive Elementary would not have an empty classroom if elementary schoolers were redistributed evenly across the city’s seven schools.
“By 2027, it shows we’d actually
Pittman’s Be the Light is a lit modern sculpture designed to emulate a flame and symbolize eternal light with seven spires for each branch of the military.
Sandy Springs philanthropist Sunny Park, who funded Pittman’s sculpture, discussed his experiences growing up during the Korean War and watching American soldiers die.
“This country is still the best in the world, and it will continue to be,” Park said. “How did it happen? Veterans.”
The ceremony and sculpture unveiling at Veterans Park concluded after Park, his daughter and grandchildren cut the ribbon on “Be the Light.”
“Freedom is so important,” Park said. “I’d rather die than not have freedom because I experienced it.”
be short one classroom.” Rosenbaum said. “The district claims it’s being transparent, but we feel otherwise.”
— Hayden Sumlin
HAYDEN SUMLIN/APPEN MEDIA
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