Spalding Drive Elementary makes case to stay open ► PAGE 9
Planning Commission says no more Mount Vernon field lights
By HAYDEN SUMLIN hayden@appenmedia.com
SANDY SPRINGS, Ga. — The Sandy Springs Planning Commission voted unanimously Dec. 18 to recommend denial of a permitting change to allow field lighting at The Mount Vernon School.
After Chair Reed Haggard tallied the 6-0 vote, cheers erupted from the audience at Sandy Springs City Hall.
Hundreds of residents living around
the school’s 40-acre Upper Campus in central Sandy Springs came to the Planning Commission meeting to oppose the effort.
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.
It lies next to the Mount Vernon Woods and Aria West neighborhoods and across the road from the Glenn
View and Registry Glenn neighborhoods.
Homeowners say they don’t want light and noise pollution in their neighborhoods five days a week.
Head of School and CEO Kristy Lundstrom said the push to have field lighting is about enhancing the student-athletes experience and expanding programming.
See LIGHTING, Page 6
Officials approve design contract, defer another
By HAYDEN SUMLIN hayden@appenmedia.com
SANDY SPRINGS, Ga. — The Sandy Springs City Council has made it a
before approving
for various capital projects around the city.
In early December, elected officials asked for more information about a design contract for the replacement of the Riverside Drive bridge over a Chattahoochee River tributary.
The roadway is within the Sandy Springs Panhandle.
There is a weight restriction on the current bridge between 6540 and 6545 Riverside Drive, and there are no facilities for bicycles or pedestrians.
At the Dec. 17 City Council meeting, elected officials awarded the contract unanimously after voting to defer it Dec. 3 because of the staff memo’s lack of detail.
The city received three responses from contractors with staff selecting a $565,000 proposal from Heath & Lineback Engineers. Of the project’s $2.4 million budget, around $1.7 million remains for required right-of-way acquisition and construction.
At the Dec. 3 meeting, Public Works Director Marty Martin said Heath & Lineback, acquired by BCC Engineering in 2021, scored the highest on the criteria used by the city’s Evaluation Committee.
See DESIGN, Page 6
SUSAN KICAK/PROVIDED
An image from Neighbors United Against Lights at Mount Vernon School shows the proximity of Ron Hill Field to homes in the Mount Vernon Woods neighborhood.
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Police stop Roswell suspect with controversial maneuver
By HAYDEN SUMLIN hayden@appenmedia.com
SANDY SPRINGS, Ga. — Sandy Springs Police arrested a 40-year-old Atlanta man Dec. 16 after a high-speed chase on Ga. 400 and I-285, ending with a road intervention known as a PIT maneuver.
A PIT, or precision immobilization technique, is a method used by law enforcement to stop a vehicle by forcing it to abruptly turn 180 degrees and stall.
It’s a police procedure with a controversial reputation. Sandy Springs Police allows officers with the right training to use it under certain circumstances. The department has not said how they came to the decision to pursue the suspect coming out of Roswell or execute the PIT maneuver to immobilize the suspect’s vehicle.
Appen Media first found out about the Dec. 16 incident through a Sandy Springs Police Department Facebook post.
Early Monday morning on Dec. 16, Roswell police attempted to pull over a vehicle for failing to use a turn signal, according to the agency. When the driver instead accelerated and began weaving through traffic on Holcomb Bridge Road, the officer turned off their blue lights.
A second Roswell Police officer saw the vehicle shortly after and tried to pull it over. The driver allegedly chose to speed up and flee from law enforcement once more.
At this point police dispatch gave the vehicle’s description to neighboring agencies.
The suspect then headed southbound on Ga. 400 towards Sandy Springs.
Hearing the exchange from dispatch, Sandy Springs Police officers responded to Ga. 400, according to the agency’s social media post and spokesperson. After spotting and attempting to pull the vehicle over, officers pursued it onto I-285.
It was on that highway that officers “were able to perform a PIT maneuver” on the car and take the driver into custody.
As of Dec. 19, the Sandy Springs Police post has more than 850 likes and 120 comments.
Most commenters expressed apprecia-
SANDY SPRINGS POLICE DEPARTMENT/FACEBOOK
A look at the aftermath of an interjurisdictional police pursuit along Ga. 400 and I-285 Dec. 16 shows a Sandy Springs Police Department patrol car pinning a suspect’s Volkswagen against the median barrier. The suspect, a 40-year-old Atlanta man, was booked at Fulton County Jail after a high-speed pursuit along Ga. 400 and I-285.
tion to local law enforcement, with one person writing they witnessed the vehicle “flying” in the emergency lane said were thankful after the “wild and pretty scary” incident.
Another person said the department should leave PIT maneuvering to the Georgia State Patrol.
Law enforcement agencies around the county have different policies for when vehicle pursuits and intervention maneuvers can be performed.
Typically, those directives weigh the potential danger of the action compared to the possible harm of not interfering.
In a 2023 report, the U.S. Department of Justice recommended pursuits, “should take place only when two very specific standards are met: (1) A violent crime has been committed and (2) the suspect poses an imminent threat to commit another violent crime.” It says that the potential danger caused by fleeing from police is not reason enough to pursue. The example offered in the report is, “if a suspect begins driving more recklessly after police intervention, it is important to discontinue the pursuit.”
Sandy Springs Police Department's chase policy says officers must "continually balance the need to pursue against all known or apparent risk" to public safety.
The directive states that officers should not assume a driver is involved in something more serious, “just because he or she is fleeing,” and must instead rely on the other factors such as the nature of the offense committed, the immediate danger to the public if they are not apprehended and traffic conditions.
It adds that termination actions, such as the PIT maneuver, “are authorized only when the initial pursuit is justified.”
Records provided by the agency do not identify the suspect or any charges other than fleeing from police. The incident report, meant to be a record of everything the responding officer observes while responding to a scene, is one sentence, that the officer “was involved in a vehicle pursuit on Ga. 400.”
Later, the first Roswell Police officer would find out the driver’s identity. Through that agency’s incident report and documents obtained from the Fulton County Sheriff’s Office, Appen Media learned that the suspect is a 40-year-old Atlanta man. He is charged with misdemeanor counts of traffic violations and fleeing from police, along with felony counts of possession of a controlled substance and fleeing from police.
Sandy Springs charged fleeing from police with the higher felony degree, while Roswell cited it as a misdemeanor.
The subject is a convicted felon. He is currently booked at Fulton County Jail with bonds totaling $38,750.
Sandy Springs’ policy mandates certain reporting obligations after pursuit and intervention incidents. It lays out a number of reports and reviews the department must make, including recording all involved subjects’ actions and observations during the events, ending with a final justification determination from the police chief.
Appen Media has requested those documents from the city.
Return to the Sandy Springs Crier for updates on the story.
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Spalding Drive Elementary makes case against closure
By HAYDEN SUMLIN hayden@appenmedia.com
SANDY SPRINGS, Ga. — Less than a month before Fulton County Schools make its final recommendation, the Save Spalding Drive Elementary Committee is making its comprehensive argument to the School Board.
Since school district staff made their recommendation Sept. 10 to close the Sandy Springs elementary school, the committee has worked to create a more than 100-page document — the “Case to Save Spalding.”
The committee released the report the morning of Dec. 19, saying it reveals significant flaws in the Fulton County Schools consolidation rationale, in terms of enrollment capacity models and facility condition assessments.
Fulton County Schools staff will make their final recommendation with a redistricting map for Sandy Springs elementary schools Jan. 14. At that meeting, board members will give direction on whether to proceed with the redistricting process.
If staff gets the go-ahead, there will be public hearings for the school closure before the final vote Feb. 20.
Speaking at the Dec. 17 Sandy Springs City Council meeting, City Councilwoman Melody Kelley said she was “blown away” by “a masterful argument against the closing of their school.”
Mayor Rusty Paul said he also met with the community who came up with a data-driven argument, rather than relying on emotions.
“It’s an amazing document and docu-
ments everything about why that school should not be closed,” Paul said. “I’ve drafted a letter to go to all the School Board members outlining my arguments.”
The committee says the findings in its “Case to Save Spalding” underscore the importance of thoughtful, datadriven decision-making that prioritizes community stability, academic quality and transparent communication.
The document includes letters of support from local elected officials on both sides of the aisle, parents from other elementary schools in the city, school-based therapists and counselors, as well as local organizations like Sandy Springs Youth Sports.
The report is divided into sections, drawing attention to inconsistent and contradictory enrollment, capacity and facility condition data from school district staff with data, research, surveys and solutions.
“Key data points, including classroom need estimates and facility scores, have fluctuated significantly during meetings, with officials admitting errors only after repeated community inquiries,” a committee statement says. “Operations staff have inconsistently adjusted Spalding’s condition to ‘fair’ by using selective data and speculative future repairs, contradicting documented evidence.”
One of the inconsistencies within community presentations occurred between the October and December meetings at Riverwood High School.
See SPALDING, Page 15
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Housing market report confounds economists
By HAYDEN SUMLIN hayden@appenmedia.com
ATLANTA — This may be the time for prospective homebuyers to call an agent.
John Hunt, chief analyst and principal of MarketNsight, says current mortgage rates at around 6.5 percent are keeping home sales below prepandemic levels, despite a chance that rates will climb next year.
Because of a drop-off in economic activity amid an uncertain election cycle, pending home sales are increasing with mortgage rates. Hunt calls this “opposite world,” because home sales should decrease as mortgage rates increase, which was the case in 2022-23.
Economists generally consider a balanced housing market as having six months of supply. Hunt said Atlanta has about three and a-half months today, up from less than 30 days in December 2021.
Speaking at the virtual Dec. 12 MarketWatch with industry professionals and economic forecasters Hunt said that while mortgage rates have dipped slightly, a shortage of housing supply is keeping costs high for buying a home.
“Less inventory is going to equal higher prices; it’s just like 2020 all over again, the pandemic housing boom,” he said. “It’s the definition of insanity; we did not address the right problem, which is the supply side.”
Hunt said he can sound like a broken record while harping on the lack of housing affordability across the country.
“It is an indisputable fact that we have a housing shortage of epic proportions in this country,” he said. “Attainable housing is the defining issue of our time.”
He offers prospective buyers valuable insight into market trends and industry professionals advice on how to get sales done.
When 30-year fixed mortgage rates breached 5.25 percent in June 2022, the short-lived pandemic housing boom turned into a 20-month wait for inventory to recover.
While higher mortgage rates kept homeowners on their lots, prospective buyers left the market because of inflationary pressure on home prices, less inventory and the declining value of their dollars.
Since 2019, Atlanta home prices in November are up 62 percent, hitting a record-high of $540,000 in June.
Americans who own a home saw their investment create wealth, while prospective buyers saw their chances of doing the same diminish.
Unlike the Great Recession’s hous -
MARKETNSIGHT/PROVIDED
A graph from MarketNSight shows the relationship between the 30-year fixed mortgage rate and pending home sales from 2022-now, which analysts say will not close any time soon. MarketNSight Principal John Hunt said pending sales went negative as soon as rates breached the 5.25 percent threshold, showing a negative correlation between the two when there is not a presidential election.
ing bubble, analysists say there is no lack of demand or oversupply in the market.
It’s good news for the health of the U.S. economy and homeowners, but prospective buyers are largely unable to afford the homes available in the market, Hunt said. He encourages people to drive until they qualify.
The problem is lower rates lead to higher demand for homes, which keeps their already historically low supply at a high price point.
“Zoning and land use regulations are the crux of the problem,” Hunt said. “We’ve been underbuilding for decades in this country.”
In April 2020, Hunt and his team were the first in the nation to call the bottoming out of housing demand in the U.S. economy.
Design:
Continued from Page 1
Three city employees, two of the city’s TSPLOST project managers and a capital program manager, evaluated the proposal. The project’s funding comes from Sandy Springs’ share of the 1 percent countywide sales tax for transportation.
After receiving questions about possible environmental credits, proposed detours and additional funding sources, Martin said the design work would answer most of them.
The Evaluation Committee scores proposals out of 100 points based on qualifications, experience, resources and technical approach with 10 points concerning fee schedule or cost.
While Heath & Lineback received a consensus score of 85.3, Kimley-Horn and Associates received an 84.5. Only the final score was provided without a breakdown or cost analysis.
After Martin was unable to provide the quote for Kimley-Horn’s proposal to City Councilwoman Jody Reichel during the Dec. 3 meeting, City Manager Eden Freeman eventually stepped in and said the information should’ve been included by staff in their memo to elected officials.
City Councilman Andy Bauman said he was disappointed with the presentation and questioned why price only accounts for 10 percent of the scoring criteria.
“I think you need to come back with the costs, and at least be prepared to answer substantive questions about this,” Bauman said. “Particularly if the difference is substantial.”
While Bauman was absent from the Dec. 17 meeting, the rest of the City Council got the answers from Martin and the Public Works Department.
It turns out, Heath & Lineback scored the highest on its technical approach and fee proposal with the city saving nearly $50,000 compared with the next closest bid.
Lighting:
Continued from Page 1
Despite the school’s intention to use best-in-class, modern lighting, neighbors say the school is not doing enough to address noise and light.
The city’s Planning and Zoning Division recommended approval of the change in allowed uses for field lighting with the conditions agreed to by the school.
Planning Commissioner Dave Nickles, who made the motion to recommend denial of the permit, recalled when the school accepted the condition of no lights in 2017.
“Here we are seven years later, they have changed their minds and want lights,” Nickles said. “That’s going back on every-
CITY OF SANDY SPRINGS/PROVIDED
An aerial rendering of the Morgan Falls Athletic Complex shows planned multiphased upgrades to playing fields used by Sandy Springs Youth Sports. Because of an error in city staff’s memo, elected officials deferred a design contract for artificial turf and additional parking to their first meeting of 2025.
“Between [Heath & Lineback] and Kimley-Horn, very close evaluation throughout most of the technical criteria,” Martin said. “When it came price … a key factor not included in the last presentation … this, coincidentally, is the lowest.”
Martin said the work is clearly defined and he feels confident in the contractor’s understanding of the project’s scope.
After discussing the template that staff uses to create memos for contract awards, Martin said his staff is taking feedback
thing that they promised us to pass that conditional use permit.”
In 2016, The Mount Vernon School consolidated an additional 10 acres north of Ron Hill Field, which is earmarked for additional practice fields and other school facilities.
Meanwhile, neighbors say the school’s undeveloped property and intention to build more athletic fields cancels the need for lighting to extend usage hours and expand programming.
The school plans to break ground on two new practice fields this summer, pending its fundraising goal.
Nickles also mentioned his appointment by former Sandy Springs Mayor Eva Galambos, who told him that his “job is to protect our neighbors and neighborhoods.”
With the Planning Commission’s rec-
Davis went on to cite other contracts throughout the year that did not include the information presented Dec. 17 for the Riverside Drive bridge contract.
“There’s been inconsistencies in the information contained in these presentations and memos from time to time,” he said. “I propose an early New Year’s resolution, and one that can be easily kept.”
Davis said all contracts that come before the City Council should contain the same information in the updated Heath & Lineback memo.
Elected officials seemingly agreed with Davis, later rejecting a $400,000 contract with AtkinsRéalis for design of phase two upgrades at Morgan Falls Park.
The project calls for artificial turf on playing fields with complementing stormwater improvements and the addition of 112 parking spaces.
The construction of upgrades at Morgan Falls Athletic Complex are estimated at $5.4 million with funding available in the city’s five-year capital plan.
City Councilwoman Melody Kelley noticed an error in staff’s memo, citing work at Old Riverside Park.
Kelley and Mayor Rusty Paul agreed the item should be deferred to the first meeting of 2025 because of the inaccuracy.
“When there’s a mistake or an error in those documents, in my opinion that obviates our ability to take action on an item,” Paul said. “It’s a part of the official record.”
The City Council deferred the design contract unanimously.
from elected officials.
Resident Theodore Davis, a frequent attendee of city meetings, spoke during public comment about the bridge design contract.
“Last meeting, y’all requested additional information as a part of the proposal, including a full breakdown of the cost proposals and how the vendors scored on the criteria,” he said. “I’m glad that the changes were made, and hopefully the additional details will prove to be satisfactory.”
ommended denial, the request will go before the Sandy Springs City Council Jan. 21.
The process to allow lighting on the athletic field requires The Mount Vernon School to amend the conditions of its special use permit through the City of Sandy Springs.
Since January, the school has been in talks with the Mount Vernon Woods Community Association and representatives from other surrounding neighborhoods. Those conversations fizzled out over the summer when it became clear that The Mount Vernon School was not compromising on the lighting.
When the school was preparing to move to its current location at 510 Mount Vernon Highway more than 20 years ago, it agreed with neighbors to not install field lighting in exchange for a sewer ease-
Right after, elected officials approved a grant application to the Environmental Protection Agency for $1.2 million for upgrades at the Morgan Falls Recycling Center in partnership with Keep North Fulton Beautiful.
Plans are to use federal funding for a mobile recycling unit, resurfacing and facility upgrades at the exiting site and new equipment.
The next city council meeting is scheduled for Jan. 7 at 6 p.m. at Sandy Springs City Hall, 1 Galambos Way. It is open to the public.
ment necessary for the school building.
Neighbors John and Mary Ellen Snodgrass, who originally granted the easement more than 20 years ago, have a property line just 100 feet away from the endzone at Ron Hill Field.
The couple spoke at two Sandy Springs City Council meetings in December, explaining their frustration with The Mount Vernon School for going back on its promise.
After the Dec. 18 Planning Commission, John Snodgrass said he is “cautiously optimistic” about the continued relationship between the school and surrounding neighbors.
“We’re thrilled,” he said. “We just hope the mayor and council listen to the recommendation of the Planning Commission.”
Dementia day care offers peace of mind to patients, families
By HAYDEN SUMLIN hayden@appenmedia.com
MILTON, Ga. — Twice a week at the Bethwell Community Center, Laila Stamer and her team at The Tulip Place offer personalized care for those with dementia.
For members of The Tulip Place and their families who often care for them around the clock, Mondays and Wednesdays are special. The group meets from 10 a.m.-4 p.m.
Dementia is an umbrella term that describes a wide range of symptoms affecting people’s ability to perform everyday activities on their own. Common symptoms include behavior changes and a decline in memory.
Alzheimer’s disease is the most common type of dementia, marked by symptoms that accelerate over time, according to the Mayo Clinic.
Members of The Tulip Place range in age from 63 to 98. It is rare for someone to develop dementia symptoms before age 65.
There were 10 members at the Wednesday, Dec. 11 session. Each group kicks off the same way. Members spend the first 30 minutes enjoying a cup of decaf coffee, laughing and trading stories and experiences.
Everyone in the group takes turns going around the table, introducing themselves and talking about why they love coming to the Bethwell Community Center.
Greg, a retired Air Force pilot who specialized in aerial refueling, spoke Dec. 11 about his time in the service and recounted the intensity of some of his experiences.
Dave, sitting to Greg’s left, also served in the armed forces. Ohio State Buckeyes football immediately became a conversation topic. The Tulip Place stays in the moment with its members.
“I think it’s a wonderful place for people who have the same thing,” Dave said. “These ladies are part of my family now.”
All aspects of care
What makes The Tulip Place so unique is Stamer and her staff. Tara Samples, activities and engagement director, works along with Genevieve Harrowing to support social, cognitive, physical, creative and musical activities throughout the day.
Staff ensures the group is fed lunch, often based on the Mediterranean diet, which is associated with bolstering cognitive function.
More importantly at The Tulip Place, staff makes sure members have a sense of belonging in the group, which sometimes does more for a
The staff and members of The Tulip Place, a dementia day care program meeting at the Bethwell Community Center,
from coffee and conversations Dec. 11 to smile for a quick group picture. The program, founded and directed by Laila Stamer, meets every Monday and Wednesday for six hours, helping individuals with dementia and their families enjoy
person with dementia than anything else.
Stigma is hurdle for people living with dementia, but The Tulip Place fights it by holistically supporting families through monthly educational programming. Respect and dignity come first before all the laughing, chatting and fun can manifest.
Stamer said many spouses think they can handle full-time care before symptoms become too much to handle.
The education helps them learn what to look for, who can help and that they’re not alone.
The Tulip Place’s dementia day care costs $150 per session, or $25 per hour. Medicare and Medicaid do not cover respite hours for individuals living with dementia, making affordability difficult for some.
Stamer said there’s a pilot program underway to explore future coverage. With a staff-to-member ratio of 4-to1, it’s a great deal for those who can afford it.
When the group was asked what keeps them coming back every week and why they enjoy being together, everyone smiled. That answers the question.
Over the past six months, group members have gotten to know one another. They smile, shake hands and talk about whatever is in front of them, whether it be a football or a canvass.
The severity of dementia in the group is not entirely consistent. Spouses care for members, which
means dropping them off twice a week with the team at The Tulip Place.
Stamer, founder and program director of The Tulip Place, said patients ask their spouses if they’re going to group almost every day. She said their spouses have a similar question, why can’t the program run five days a week?
After securing its license and permitting from the Georgia Community Health Department, The Tulip Place opened in May to serve interested families and patients.
Stamer and her staff are certified dementia practitioners with extensive experience providing care and a deep understanding of the disease.
Continuing family practice
Born and raised in the Netherlands, Stamer has a quarter century of experience helping families deal with dementia. Since her professor opened the first-ever “dementia day center” at the University of Amsterdam in the late 1990s, Stamer’s passion for helping families struggling with dementia care has not wavered.
“This is a project that comes from the Netherlands, and I didn’t know if it was going to work here,” Stamer said, her accent and a warm smile sneaking through. “We started a little bit, but then COVID came … we just picked it back up again recently.”
Because she wasn’t sure if the
See CARE, Page 9
HAYDEN SUMLIN/APPEN MEDIA
take a break
better lives.
THE TULIP PLACE/PROVIDED From left, staff at The Tulip Place, Tara Samples, activities and engagement director; Genevieve Harrowing, activities coordinator and social media manager; and Laila Stamer, founder and program director, get ready to welcome members to its biweekly dementia day care program at Bethwell Community Center.
Sandy Springs opens its newest roadway, Spruill Lane
By HAYDEN SUMLIN Hayden@appenmedia.com
SANDY SPRINGS, Ga. — Sandy Springs officials held a ribbon-cutting Dec. 19 for the city’s newest roadway, Spruill Lane, while also celebrating some progress with Mount Vernon Highway projects.
The roadway is named in honor of the prominent Spruill family, with deep roots in the Sandy Springs community dating back to the early 19th century. The family’s contributions to the region are extensive, holding land that now encompasses Dunwoody’s Perimeter Mall and serving as the namesake for the Spruill Center for the Arts.
“Spruill Lane honors the legacy of the Spruill family, while providing much-needed relief for our residents, pedestrians and commuters,” Mayor Rusty Paul said. “This project would not be possible without the continued support and patience of the community throughout the construction process.”
The surrounding neighborhoods are just hoping construction wraps as quickly as possible.
The city says the opening of Spruill Lane marks a significant milestone in the ongoing Mount Vernon Highway and Johnson Ferry Road improvements.
The $18 million project, funded through the city’s share of a 1 percent countywide sales tax, aims to improve vehicular and pedestrian mobility and reduce congestion. The idea is to alleviate the bottleneck conditions for east-west traffic on Johnson Ferry Road, Mount Vernon Highway and
Care:
Continued from Page 8
program would take off in America, Stamer decided to start renting the community center off Hopewell Road from the City of Milton.
The building’s open layout and homey feel makes the perfect spot for a dementia day care.
Todd, one of The Tulip Place members, spent his Air Force career building hospitals across the globe for the military.
“What takes away from your life is when you don’t have this,” Todd said, gesturing to the men and women sitting around him. “Now, I can’t remember much over the past two months, but I think it really makes a difference.”
Several members are veterans. One is a former attorney for the Atlanta Braves. Lee, who just became a grandmother, is traveling to Denver soon.
If any member forgets one of their accomplishments, Stamer and her staff are there to remind them. It’s what makes The Tulip Place special.
The National Institute on Aging says scientists have made tremendous progress in better understanding
north-south traffic on Roswell Road.
In tandem with Spruill Lane’s opening, the traffic light at the Johnson Ferry Road and Mount Vernon Highway intersection will be deactivated, permanently separating the roads.
When the project is estimated to be completed in 2026, Mount Vernon Highway and Johnson Ferry Road will be two-way operations.
Because of the significant work to redesign the busy corridor, many utilities are being relocated and dozens of mature trees are being uprooted. The landscape plan calls for the replanting of 132 trees to replace the 123 that are being removed.
Meanwhile, the city is working on corridor improvements along Mount Vernon Highway from Mount Vernon Presbyterian Church to the Sandy Springs MARTA station on the east side of Ga. 400. That project, with funding from TSPLOST and the Perimeter CID, includes a multi-use path on the south shoulder and a 6-foot-wide sidewalk on the north side.
The city plans to wrap up all improvements to the Johnson Ferry Road and Mount Vernon Highway corridors, totaling around $28 million, in early 2026. There’s a two-year construction estimate, and Sandy Springers are about halfway there.
When the projects are completed, cyclists will be able to take Mount Vernon Highway from City Springs to PATH 400, assuming planned multiuse paths along Peachtree Dunwoody Road are in place.
Alzheimer’s disease, but they still do not know what causes it in most people.
The best guess is that the causes include a combination of age-related changes in the brain along with genetic and lifestyle factors.
After heading out, Todd said a lot more can be done to educate people about dementia.
He encourages young people with family members who have dementia to understand their risks.
With early education and maintenance of a healthy lifestyle, scientists and researchers have some ways to protect against dementia. While they can’t say for certain the changes work for everyone, researchers say managing weight and blood sugar while getting seven to eight hours of sleep goes a long way.
Stamer said she’d love to be open for more days. She said there needs to be more female members interested in joining the group. Right now, there are just three.
“What we do is great for the group, but it is mostly to have families be able to keep it going at home,” she said. “We take the pressure off for a little bit.”
For more information about the dementia day care program, visit thetulipplace.com.
CITY OF SANDY SPRINGS/PROVIDED A map shows the new traffic pattern resulting from the opening of Spruill Lane Dec 19.
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100 most influential people
Here’s another batch of names in my continuing series exploring the most influential people and topics in history.
No. 51: “Alternative Facts” & George Orwell
Thank you, Kelly Ann Conway, for “alternative facts.” (her trivia-question claimto-fame). We all know that a fact is a fact, like 1 + 1 = 2, so there cannot be “alternative facts.” 1 + 1 can only equal 2 - nothing else. That is, until it does.
“Alternative facts” have increasingly displaced actual facts in our world. One could write thousands and thousands of words on this, but I won’t. I will let George Orwell do it for me in 24 words: “Who controls the past controls the future.” And: “If you want a vision of the future (where the past is re-written and is controlled by things like alternative facts and bad actors) imagine a boot stepping on a human face – forever.” Both quotes are from Orwell’s “1984,” a book that everyone should reread or read for the first time.
Of note, “1984,” written in 1949, was banned in the Soviet Union and in Cuba and is still subject to censorship initiatives in the United States periodically for various reasons. The truth matters. Some would say, nothing matters more, although many appear to believe it matters not at all. Orwell believed that there can only be freedom if there is truth. Buckle up.
No. 52: Bob’s Barricades
So, you know those orange cones that line the highways and roads whenever there is construction? Well, if you look closely, most of them are owned by Bob, of Bob’s Barricades, one of the largest providers in the world. Can anyone guess exactly how many of those cones and barricades Bob owns across the United States? That is a question I have wondered about for years and one I have yet been able to answer, even with AI and Google. And my calls into Bob have gone unanswered.
The department’s 2024 budget of $145.3 billion dollars is used for “improving infrastructure, safety, and equity, while also protecting the climate and addressing other transportation priorities,” according to Google’s AI.
Of note, the official DOT website states that the DOT actually has $293.21 billion in “budgetary resources” available for 2024. Can we say “confusing?” For context, the U.S. Defense Department budget for 2024 was $824.3 billion, so DOT’s budget is somewhere between 17 percent and 35 percent as much as we spend on defense – big numbers, big impact.
No. 53: Conspiracy theory in context
The dissemination of information – at scale – that is not true or half true, or without appropriate context or is opinion dressed in the clothes of fact or legitimate (fact-based) news, is probably the greatest threat that our country has ever known. Of note, this is not a new problem; we have had rampant disinformation circulating, especially within the political sphere, since the beginning of our country. I recently read Jon Meacham’s great biography on Abraham Lincoln, “And there was Light,” which addressed our history prior to and following the elections of 1860 and 1864 –elections that Lincoln won. The intensity and scope of the disinformation surrounding both elections – over slavery, federal, and states’ rights – surely surpassed the disinformation surrounding the 2024 election, with one giant exception. The disinformation today is at such a massive scale, a scale that makes all pre-internet disinformation seem like a single drop within an entire ocean.
Information is power. Control of the means of dissemination of information is even more power. The tech billionairess now control it all. And we are OK with that?
No. 54: Johnny Carson & Ed Sullivan
These two ruled much of television for years, Carson from 1962 to 1992 and Sullivan from 1948 to 1971.
Ranking The 5 Best Johnny Carson Tonight Show Guests Of All Time – 5.) Frank Sinatra; 4.) Robin Williams; 3.) Burt Reynolds; 2.) Jackie Gleason; 1.) Don Rickles.
First “Ed Sullivan Show” guest: In the show’s June 20, 1948, debut, Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis performed along with singer Monica Lewis and Broadway composers Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II previewing the score to their then-new show “South Pacific,” which opened on Broadway in 1949. Last show: Gladys Knight and the Pips were the musical guests on the final show, which was cancelled shortly after its rerun broadcast on this day in 1971.
Why Carson and Sullivan on the list? Maybe for the same reason we still rewatch “The Wizard of Oz” or “The Miracle on 34th Street,” or that we still bathe in memory whenever we hear a song from “The Sound of Music” or the theme song for “Dr. Zhivago” (“Laura’s Theme”). Maybe that’s why.
No. 55: The Beatles
“Imagine,” “Yesterday,” “Helter Skelter,” “Hey Jude,” and on and on. Of note, one can argue that Ed Sullivan “made” the Beatles. They first appeared on his show on Feb. 9, 1964, and were seen by an estimated 73 million viewers. Their playlist on that first appearance: “All My Loving,” “Till There Was You,” “She Loves You,” “I Saw Her Standing There,” and their No. 1 hit, “I Want to Hold Your Hand.” RAY APPEN Publisher Emeritus ray@appenmedia.com
Bob’s Barricades is included on the list because he symbolically represents the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT), which has had as much if not more impact on our lives as anything else I can think of.
First “Tonight Show” guest: His first guests were Rudy Vallée, Tony Bennett, Mel Brooks and Joan Crawford. Bette Midler was Johnny Carson’s final guest on “The Tonight Show.” Wearing a dress with XOXO, Miss M sang “Miss Otis Regrets,” “Here’s That Rainy Day,” “You Made Me Watch You,” and the extremely memorable, “One for my Baby (and One More for the Road).”
CARSON
Housing:
Continued from Page 5
By May 2021, MarketNSight’s weekly analysis was reporting builders intentionally slowing sales of new homes as the housing supply hit a nationwide low.
The purpose of the Federal Reserve’s rate hikes between March 2022 and July 2023 was to squash demand in the U.S. economy, but Hunt said price points for homes did not come down as a result.
When the Fed cut its primary interest rate from a 20-year high in September, mortgage rates started climbing, which means more Americans cannot qualify for a mortgage and down payment.
Hunt pointed to comments from Fed Chairman Jerome Powell in September, echoing his analysis and saying the Fed cannot fix high prices in the U.S. housing market, which are due to a lack of supply.
“There’s a correlation between 2020 and 2024 that I want to make note of … we saw a downward track all the way to first week of November,” Hunt said. “Before every election, activity and investment of all types tends to fall off because uncertainty kills it.”
Following both elections, MarketNSight data shows spikes in home resales, seemingly confirming an election season has its impacts on the national housing market.
From 2022-23, Hunt said rate dips saw jumps in pending sales, but the trend reversed itself in 2024 amid the presidential election.
“We live in opposite world in 2024 because when we peaked the fourth week in April at 7.22 percent, rates fell very nicely, and over that same period, pending sales collapsed,” Hunt said. “That’s not what should have happened.”
When mortgage rates began to climb in September, pending sales went up along with them.
“It makes no sense, it defies logic,” Hunt said. “But it’s happened.”
There are two factors prospective homebuyers can monitor that influence mortgage rates, the Fed’s prime rate and 10-year Treasury bond yield.
Professor Rajeev Dhawan, holder of the Zwerner Chair of Economic Forecasting and director at the J. Mack Robinson College of Business at GSU, also spoke about the impact of Fed policy on the housing market.
Dhawan, an award-winning economic forecaster, said he anticipates a 25 basis point cut in December, but also sees no economic signals that would lead the Fed to rush lower rates.
He said tariffs proposed by President-elect Donald Trump will damage the 10-year Treasury bond yield, which may spike mortgage rates. Dhawan said the strength of the U.S. dollar and its role as the world’s reserve currency makes him doubt tariffs will cause meaningful inflation.
His regional concerns include workforce participation, job quality and his forecast of rising mortgage rates taking prospective buyers out of the market.
Dhawan was largely optimistic throughout the December MarketWatch, which he has been a part of for more than eight years.
In terms of consumption and consumer behavior, he said year-overyear inflation data is showing higher confidence and a declining rate of price increases.
Lori Lane, president and managing broker of Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices’ New Homes Division, said 2024 started out stronger than years past, but things have only recently picked up after the election.
“A common trend was that [the election] kept people on the fence waiting to see what would happen,” she said. “We’ve seen an increase in traffic and more serious buyers getting back into the market, and I think people are realizing they will never see rates that low again.”
Spalding:
Fulton County Schools staff changed the school building’s facility assessment score from “fair” to “poor.”
The change is relevant because school district rationale for closing the elementary school is because of its declining enrollment and aging building. The school district has spent nearly $2 million on upgrades and repairs at the school in the past five years.
During the final round of community meetings Dec. 9 at Riverwood High School, some parents raised questions about various aspects of the school’s data for enrollment projections.
Fulton County Schools Deputy Chief Communications Director Yngrid Jones-Huff said the data has not changed. She said annual updates occur in October, which explains the discrepancy with figures presented in August.
As far as declining enrollment goes, the committee says it’s expected to grow, with rising pre-K and kindergarten numbers as clear indicators. They
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say open enrollment policies and the availability of private school options in Sandy Springs complicate student forecasts, which means closing Spalding could lead to further declines in district enrollment, eroding stability and public confidence.
“Spalding's higher per-student costs reflect a strategic investment in economically disadvantaged, talented and gifted (TAG) and special needs students,” the committee says. “Spalding outperforms 93 percent of comparable schools, delivering exceptional academic outcomes.”
While the elementary school excels academically with a diverse student population, the school district limits community input to its predetermined primary and secondary criteria that excludes academics from consideration. The committee says they are puzzled why a school district is not focusing on academic performance.
The location of the redistricting meetings is also noteworthy.
While 96 percent of Spalding Drive Elementary students would end up at North Springs High School, the school district decided to hold them at Riverwood High School abutting I-285.
The high schools are roughly 4
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miles apart. Spalding Drive Elementary School is less than a mile from North Springs High School.
The committee says a closure would result in minimal cost savings while increasing transportation expenses, risking enrollment declines and undermining public trust.
Instead, the committee proposes three actions that they say would ensure informed, fair and communitysupported decision-making.
They want the School Board to postpone the decision to allow time to assess the impacts of open enrollment. They cite the attempted redistricting of North Fulton in 2022 and the multi-year period given to that region of Fulton County Schools.
Other recommendations from the committee are for Fulton County Schools to adopt a long-term plan that incorporates academics and does not penalize smaller schools.
Instead of figuring out how to close the school and shuffle students, the committee wants the school district to collaborate with parents and community members to promote its strengths, retain families and attract new students.
Lauren Rosenbaum, co-president
of the school’s Parent Teacher Organization, said the proposed closure of Spalding Drive Elementary is neither justified by objective data nor beneficial to the community.
“By pausing consolidation efforts, improving data consistency and embracing a collaborative approach, the FCS Board can protect educational quality, rebuild trust and secure fiscal responsibility for Sandy Springs and beyond,” Rosenbaum said.
To contact the Save Spalding Committee or learn more about their efforts, go to www.saveSDE.com.
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