INSIDE THIS ISSUE Paul: Prosperity ahead for Sandy Springs PAGE 3 Bank drive-thru set for Roswell Road PAGE 7
D e c e m b e r 2 8 , 2 0 2 3 | A p p e n M e d i a . c o m | A n A p p e n M e d i a G r o u p P u b l i c a t i o n | 5 0 ¢ | Vo l u m e 2 , N o . 5 2
CITY OF SANDY SPRINGS/PROVIDED
HAYDEN SUMLIN/APPEN MEDIA
CITY OF SANDY SPRINGS/PROVIDED
2023 HAYDEN SUMLIN/APPEN MEDIA
A YEAR IN REVIEW
Sandy Springs was abuzz in 2023, with events throughout the year. Clockwise from top left: Members of the City Council and Police Department stand with a police helicopter on Mount Vernon Highway Aug. 1 as part of National Night Out, a three-hour event where first responders met with residents; Rennie Curran and his daughter Eleana read for young Dawgs fans in the story corner at Cookies & Cocoa with Hairy Dawg in the Sandy Springs Performing Arts Center’s Studio Theatre Nov. 19; Sandy Springs Mayor Rusty Paul cuts the ribbon Sept. 28 at the Abernathy Arts Center Sept. 28,
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with the help of, from left, Sandy Springs Council of Neighborhoods President Ronda Smith, Shruti Hazra, Councilwoman Melissa Mular, and Cheryl Barlow. The project placed pedestrian lighting on both sides of Johnson Ferry Road, a major thoroughfare for residents in the eastern portion of the city; A Sandy Springs firefighter rappels down the side of Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta Scottish Rite Hospital Feb. 14, stopping to wave at patients every so often. The Fire Department held a training event at the hospital to practice real-world rescue skills and brighten the day of young patients.
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PUBLIC SAFETY
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Each week Appen Media requests police incident reports to inform residents about the safety of their community. Sandy Springs continues to withhold what it calls the “narrative reports.” It is the only city Appen Media covers that follows this practice, which goes against guidance from the Attorney General, Georgia Bureau of Investigation, Georgia Sheriff’s Association, Prosecuting Attorneys’ Council of Georgia and Georgia Press Association.
At left is a report which includes one sentence, “On 12/09/2023, I responded to a person shot at 8601 Roberts Dr.” The event in question ended with the death of a 19-year-old man. Above is a report from the Milton Police Department, describing the porch theft of a Door Dash food delivery. Appen Media contends these full length reports exist for most Sandy Springs incidents and that the city is withholding them in violation of Georgia’s Open
Records Act. The City of Sandy Springs offers an online dashboard which is meant to inform residents about area public safety events. As pictured in the screenshot directly above, the 8601 Roberts Dr. alleged homicide is absent from that dashboard. 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.
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OPINION
A LOOK AHEAD
AppenMedia.com/Sandy_Springs | Sandy Springs Crier | December 28, 2023 | 3
Mobility, careful planning have smoothed path to prosperity As 2023 concludes, let us reflect on the significant accomplishments over the past 12 months. We endured the final phase of the I-285/400 interchange project RUSTY PAUL that wrapped up Sandy Springs Mayor (except for a few punch list items) in December. Travel is much easier, though we continue learning about the new entrances and exits along our traditional paths. However, the near destruction of the Mt. Vernon Highway bridge over 285 by an errant trucker complicates traffic returning to normal before March. In addition, GDOT plans to begin construction on the managed (toll) lanes along Ga. 400 in 2024, so we are not finished with construction yet. In November, we opened the latest jewel in City Springs – Veterans Park – which is the gateway to the city complex from the east. Its fountains create a welcoming parallel to those
across Roswell Road and honors our local veterans and family members who served us in the military. We are also moving closer to launching City Springs 2.0, the next phase of City Springs. We hope to have some concepts to show residents early in 2024. We are working with the chosen development team to finalize some ideas that will make our city center even more vibrant and family friendly, Another initiative we launched in 2023 is the Sandy Springs Leadership Academy. Modeled on the Citizens Police and Fire academies, the goal is helping participants understand the operations and functions of the city, develop leadership skills among our residents and connect participants to various organizations around Sandy Springs so they can match their skills to community needs. Our first class of approximately thirty members is about halfway through this year’s curriculum and the response has been overwhelmingly positive. We will have another class starting in 2024. A key task in 2023 was updating
NEWS
Top stories of 2023 ► PAGE 4
OPINION
Spruill Center for the Arts expands area engagement ► PAGE 8
our development code. One of the driving factors in creating a City of Sandy Springs was controlling our destiny when it comes to development and creating a sense of community. A wholesale rewrite was not necessary, but some tweaks were important, and it is always good to periodically reevaluate what and how you are doing things to make sure they still make sense. After a series of community meetings and public engagements, the City Council approved the new development code in early December.
Another planning exercise was looking at the area around The Prado and Northwoods. These small area plans provide a roadmap for future development in neighborhood-sized areas. This area will be the site of a future transit station when the eastwest Bus Rapid Transit system comes to fruition. While the plans is good in most respects, I had reservations about the City Council’s decision allowing a 10-story apartment building in The Prado. It is taller than any other building allowed along Roswell Road and the infrastructure there is already overburdened. But the 5-1 vote in favor rendered a veto meaningless, so I reluctantly signed the proviso. I worry about the Buckhead-ization of that area, the impact on nearby singlefamily neighborhoods and a drastic change in the character of Roswell Road. Fortunately, residents will have several other opportunities to weigh in on this project before it ever comes to fruition. I hope everyone has a happy and prosperous 2024.
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4 | December 28, 2023 | Sandy Springs Crier | AppenMedia.com/Sandy_Springs
NEWS
Thousands of community members from across Atlanta and Fulton County gather at City Springs Oct. 10 for the “Stand in Solidarity with Israel” vigil.
ARI EDLIN/PROVIDED
YEAR IN REVIEW
Sandy Springs adds more cultural attractions By HAYDEN SUMLIN hayden@appenmedia.com SANDY SPRINGS, Ga. — The City of Sandy Springs received international attention after the “Stand in Solidarity with Israel” vigil drew some 5,000 people to City Springs Oct. 10. In less than 72 hours, City Councilman Andy Bauman and Mayor Rusty Paul led the effort to host the largest rally in support of Israel and Jewish people in Metro Atlanta. The event symbolized the unity of a diverse community and included participants in Israel and across the United States. Other memorable community events in 2023 included the fourteenth annual Veterans Tribute and Veterans Park Dedication, Sparkle Sandy Springs and the monthly concert series — City Green Live. What’s more, Skate City Springs, a 5,000-square-foot ice rink outside of City Hall, opened in November. City officials voted to launch the second phase of the City Springs downtown campus in January. The City Council selected Regent Partners and Morris & Fellows as the preferred development partners for the expansion in July. Construction is slated to begin in late 2024, with an estimated completion in the fall of 2026. The City Springs Theatre Company wrapped up its 2022-2023 season in the Byers Theatre at the Sandy Springs Performing Arts Center with a production of “Cats” in May. The 2023-2024 season is underway
and has featured “Fiddler on the Roof” and “Irving Berlin’s White Christmas.” Executive Director Natalie DeLancey and Artistic Director Shuler Hensley continue to serve residents with Broadway-level productions and training programs for interested youth. “Irving Berlin’s White Christmas” has been City Springs Theatre Company’s highest-selling show to date, DeLancey said. Transportation struggles ease Residents breathed a sigh of relief as the I-285 and Ga. 400 interchange project neared completion in December. While the wrap up of the interchange project should alleviate congestion around Perimeter Center, the Georgia Department of Transportation said its proposed Ga. 400 Express Lanes project is in active procurement. To improve mobility, GDOT plans to add optional express lanes from the North Springs MARTA Station north to McFarland Parkway in Forsyth County. The project will include two buffer-separated express lanes in each direction between the North Springs MARTA Station and McGinnis Ferry Road and one buffer-separated express lane in each direction from McGinnis Ferry Road to McFarland Parkway. While the project schedule has been delayed, a developer is anticipated to be announced in the second quarter of 2024. Construction is expected to start in late 2025. Meanwhile, a complication arose in late September when a tractor-trailer
struck a support column on the Mount Vernon Highway Bridge over I-285. GDOT released a statement saying the bridge was too heavily damaged to reopen and work on building a new bridge will continue as part of the I-285 Westbound Auxiliary Lane project. That means there will be no crossing I-285 on Mount Vernon Highway until summer 2024. While years-long construction projects have plagued the local market, the Perimeter Community Improvement Districts have pitched a rebranding effort to recapture interest in one of the busiest commercial areas of Metro Atlanta. The CIDs are two adjoining, selftaxing commercial districts covering areas along the northern perimeter in Fulton and DeKalb County. Because of the fallout from the COVID-19 pandemic and remote work policies, the Perimeter market has lost some commercial real estate tenants, according to the PCIDs Executive Director Ann Hanlon. Midtown Atlanta and the Battery in Cumberland took some of Perimeter’s corporate tenants, including Enterprise Rent-A-Car. Hanlon said many people surveyed during the PCIDs rebranding described the Perimeter market with words like “traffic, congested, clean and nice.” Overall, the community perception of the Perimeter market is mixed, Hanlon said. City updates development code After a 13-month comprehensive review of the city’s unified development
code, the Sandy Springs City Council approved a series of updates Dec. 5. The comprehensive review process, which began in late 2022, included a Sept. 26 open house and a submittal period, which allowed community input on development code updates. The most contentious updates to the code centered around the use provisions in Article 7 of the relating to gas stations and neighborhood eateries. The concern from residents, homeowners associations and the Sandy Springs Council of Neighborhoods centered on the impact to nearby single-family neighborhoods and a drastic change in the character of Roswell Road. While the results of the updates were received well among active community members, ordinances to allow conditional use permits along Roswell Road threaten to sidetrack the city’s emphasis on reducing the autocentric nature of the area. While Fifth Third Bank’s new location on Roswell Road will include a drive-through facility, city staff and the Planning Commission recommended the ordinance because of the site plans adherence to the goals of the 2017 Comprehensive Plan. The 2023 update to the Crossroads Small Area Plan was approved by the council with Councilman Tibby DeJulio voting against the motion. The plan seeks to preserve the surrounding multi-family residential apartments, while also setting development requirements at The Prado on Roswell Road.
AppenMedia.com/Sandy_Springs | Sandy Springs Crier | December 28, 2023 | 5
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6 | December 28, 2023 | Sandy Springs Crier | AppenMedia.com/Sandy_Springs
COMMUNITY
Life Time buys Concourse Athletic Club SANDY SPRINGS, Ga. — Concourse Athletic Club will reopen as Life Time Perimeter Jan. 3 after its owners sold the 80,000-square-foot fitness facility between the “King and Queen” towers off Hammond Drive. Members were notified of the club’s acquisition via email in early December. Life Time plans to renovate the fitness facility but has not announced the extent of the investment or if amenities will be limited. Watermark Capital Partners, which acquired the property in June 2022 for $8.9 million, sold the property to Life Time Group Holdings for $13.6 million, according to public records. While Watermark will operate the fitness center until Dec. 31, current members have been instructed to switch their membership to Life Time by Jan. 2. Concourse Athletic Club rests on 2.2 acres, east of Ga. 400 and north of I-285 in Sandy Springs. The club, which opened in 1989, offers courts for basketball, pickleball, squash and tennis, as well as fitness areas, pools and spas. The property will reopen as Life Time Perimeter Jan. 3. After acquiring and rebranding
GOOGLE MAPS
The entrance to Concourse Athletic Club shows the fitness facility’s proximity to the “King and Queen” towers at Perimeter Center in Sandy Springs. The club will reopen as Life Time Perimeter Jan. 3.
Peachtree Corners’ Racquet Club of the South in 2013, Life Time has continued to expand its footprint in Metro Atlanta. Life Time also acquired Athletic Club Northeast in January. The location on Sheridan Road will open in 2024 as Life Time North Druid Hills, according to the company’s website. Perimeter and North Druid Hills will join Life Time’s Metro Atlanta locations in Alpharetta, Woodstock, Johns Creek, Sandy Springs, Sugarloaf and Buckhead.
CITY OF DUNWOODY/PROVIDED
Three volunteers at Brook Run Park stand ready to dig in during the 2022 Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service. Volunteer projects are scheduled throughout the city Jan. 15.
City of Dunwoody schedules annual MLK Day of Service DUNWOODY, Ga. — The City of Dunwoody is looking for volunteers in the lead up to its eighth annual Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service Jan. 15. The federal holiday, which began as a commemoration of King’s birthday, was transformed into a day dedicated to volunteer service in honor of his legacy when Congress passed the King Holiday and Service Act in 1994. Former Parks and Recreation Director Brent Walker ushered in the Dunwoody tradition in 2016. This year, the Dunwoody Parks and Recreation Department will honor King’s legacy with volunteer service projects, a community food drive in partnership with Jack and Jill of America and blood donations. The “Souper Bowl of Caring” food drive, which began in early December, will continue until the city’s eighth annual Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service Jan. 15. Nonperishable food collected during the food drive will be donated to Malachi’s Storehouse, the Community Assistance Center and Solidarity Sandy Springs. Collection bins are available at those locations, as well as the Spruill Center for the Arts on Chamblee Dunwoody Road and SOHO Office in the Orchard Park Shopping Center. Natasha Morris, community service
chair for the Dunwoody-Atlanta chapters of Jack and Jill of America, said her organization looks forward to working with the city each year. “Dr. King’s legacy empowers each and every volunteer just as strongly as it strengthens each beneficiary, and we’re proud to make these connections in his honor,” Morris said. There are a few opportunities for service at Brook Run Park and across the city. At Brook Run Park, volunteers plan to plant 127 saplings and 5,000 flowers in partnership with Trees Atlanta and The Daffodil Project. Other volunteer opportunities include the maintenance of the Dunwoody Community Garden and Orchard, donations via bloodmobile, cleanup of Woodall Cemetery and artwork at the Spruill Center for the Arts. “We’re grateful for the volunteers who turn out every year in the spirit of giving back,” Mayor L ynn Deutsch said. “From helping the hungry to supporting our environment, the projects tied to Dr. King’s annual Day of Service really make a difference.” For more information, visit the “Volunteer-MLK Jr. Day” page under the “Community” tab on the city’s website.
NEWS
AppenMedia.com/Sandy_Springs | Sandy Springs Crier | December 28, 2023 | 7
Sandy Springs clears Fifth Third Bank to operate drive-thru on Roswell Road By HAYDEN SUMLIN hayden@appenmedia.com SANDY SPRINGS, Ga. — After some pushback from residents and members of Sandy Springs City Council, Fifth Third Bank was granted a conditional use permit for a drive-thru facility at 6420 Roswell Road Dec. 19. While banks are permitted in commercial mixed-use districts, a drivethru facility requires an ordinance to allow a conditional use permit for development of Fifth Third Bank’s new Sandy Springs location. City Planning and Zoning Manager Michele McIntosh-Ross presented staff recommendations regarding the request for a conditional use permit. The city staff analysis determined that the addition of a bank with a drive-thru would help achieve the goals of the city’s 2017 Comprehensive Plan. Fifth Third Bank’s site improvements manage the transition to neighborhood districts and develop Roswell Road aesthetics, McIntosh-Ross said. The new bank will be located at the former site of the adult-entertainment venue, Flashers. The former strip club, which closed in 2018, was demolished after a January 2020 fire. All that remains of the former business is charrred concrete and asphalt. The 0.78-acre lot sits at the southwest corner of Roswell Road and Chaseland Road. The request includes construction of a one-story, 1,900-square foot office building with two drive-thru canopies. While the drive-thru will be in the rear, the building will be closer to Roswell Road. The proposal calls for 14 parking spots, two outfitted with two electric vehicle charging stations. The purchase agreement between Evans Roswell Properties and Fifth Third Bank was signed Feb. 10. Jeffrey Wagner, vice president and regional real estate director of Fifth Third Bank, came from Detroit for the public hearing. “We have spent the last three years trying to find a site in the Roswell corridor in proximity to downtown Sandy Springs,” Wagner said. “That has been our target area as a part of our expansion plans into Metro Atlanta.” Attorney Baxter Russell, representing Fifth Third Bank, said the site conforms to the city’s plans for the corridor. “It’s at a really interesting point as a vacant parcel backing up to a residential neighborhood,” Russell said. “What we’re trying to accomplish with our development… is our desire to achieve balance at this vacant, empty site.” Russell spoke about positive aspects of
CITY OF SANDY SPRINGS/PROVIDED
The site plan for Fifth Third Bank’s new Sandy Springs branch shows the positioning of the drive-thru facility in relation to Roswell and Chaseland roads. The conditional use permit for the facility was approved by the City Council with an ordinance Dec. 19. the site plan. The proposal includes more outsideamenity space than is required, as well as a 6-foot wall and 30-foot landscape buffer. The application for the exception to the local zoning ordinance was submitted July 28. The process required two community meetings, which were conducted July 18 and Aug. 23, and a Planning Commission hearing before deliberation from the City Council. The conditional use permit is only valid while a bank is operating the drive-thru facility, so a fast-food chain or pharmacy is not permitted through the ordinance. What’s more, there is a 50-foot setback between the residential property lines and the drive-thru components, which complies with the Sandy Springs Development Code. “We feel this is an opportunity to bring a new high-quality but low-impact bank use with a drive-through to this property,” Russell said. The residential properties abutting the site serve as the gateway to the neighborhood represented by the Whispering Pines Homeowner Association. Alan Andrew, the HOA president, spoke in favor of the conditional use permit at the public hearing. The 162-home neighborhood to the
GOOGLE EARTH
A view from Roswell Road shows the site where Fifth Third Bank’s new drive-thru facility will be built. The ordinance to allow a conditional use permit was approved by the City Council Dec. 19. west of the parcel has had to defend its borders from development on Roswell Road, Andrew said, but the homeowner association asked the site plan to be approved. But, Rhonda Smith, president of the Sandy Springs Council of Neighborhoods, spoke against allowing the drive-thru. “This property has a very unique opportunity to be a welcoming commercial entity that does not perpetuate the
autocentric nature of Roswell Road with the installation of a drive-thru,” Smith said. The Council of Neighborhoods position on the site plan comes from its desire to remain consistent with its opposition to drive-thru facilities and emphasis on increasing walkability, Smith said. The council ultimately voted to approve the conditional use permit, with Councilwoman Jody Reichel voting in opposition.
8 | December 28, 2023 | Sandy Springs Crier | AppenMedia.com/Sandy_Springs
A LOOK AHEAD
OPINION
New year brings more outreach, access to the arts In just a few short weeks, the Spruill Center for the Arts will begin our 49th year of providing arts programming for our community. We’ll be unveiling a new 8,300 square foot addition that ALAN MOTHNER will house seven CE0, Spruill Center for the Arts new studio spaces and a community room that will greatly enhance our current space at our Chamblee Dunwoody Road Education Center. These new studios will allow us to grow our ceramics program (one that typically fills on the first day of registration), glass studio, and painting and drawing facilities. We’ll also be
adding a blacksmithing shop and a wood studio to bring some attention to the industrial arts. At the Spruill Gallery on Ashford Dunwoody Road, we’ll be closed for the month of January as we give the old Spruill home a much-needed interior and exterior refresh. We’ll then open with the first of four shows this season and feature “Through Lines” by Amanda Banks, Gavin Bernard & Amberly Hui Hood, opening Feb. 12. In 2023, 7,394 students have thrived in our 816 class offerings at our education center; hundreds of whom received scholarships to support their artistic endeavors. Another 2,669 budding artists have utilized our studios to further their skills though our open studio programs in ceramics, jewelry,
glass, painting and drawing. And 2,061 visitors immersed themselves in five varied shows at the Spruill Gallery. But it goes beyond just numbers. Last year culminated in the completion of our strategic plan that will increase our reach and impact for years to come. Our service to community is inherent in our mission and includes support for artists, outreach at major events, advocacy and implementation of public art, and scholarships and access to the arts for underserved populations. In addition to new class offerings designed to meet the needs of our community, we’ll also work to serve not only as a place to take classes or see a show, but as a true community center based on the arts. Our recently opened Free Community Art Closet will
provide access for anyone that needs a little creative pick-me-up. Our Creative Connections will serve those in the community suffering from cognitive impairments. And our scholarship program will support children and adults so that there are no financial barriers to access to our incredible programming. Creativity takes community. And centers like ours should be a love letter to the community that we serve. We are charged with creativity and using art as a form of expression; of collectively helping to define culturally what it means to be human. As our community grows, we realize that more and more families are looking for inclusive, creative spaces to spend quality time together. We hope you’ll join us.
Christmas 2023 − Letter from Ray Appen Well. Well, what? Been a very hard year in too many ways with too many people we loved. But there was some good as well. I never cease to be surprised when ideas, experiences, or things RAY APPEN you read years ago Publisher Emeritus return from the back side of memory after having been lost for so long. Like the dark side of the moon – always unseen, until there is light – and then boom, back front and center, so close you can touch it: “It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of light, it was the season of darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair.” Charles Dickens, “A Tale of Two Cities” – 1859. (10th grade literature class) One problem of growing old is memory. I may have used Dickens in a prior Christmas letter; I suspect this. Hmmmm. Apologies if I did. Things don’t seem to have changed much since 1859 though, have they? That one sentence covers a lot of ground – like miles and miles perhaps. It will suffice as a multi-faceted description of 2023. I will however, side with just one part of the description – “seasons” – “season of light” as well as “spring of hope.” The rest of the description does
fit but we must pick our battles, which mountains we want to climb or the destinations to pursue. I choose “light.” Our children brought light to us this year as they almost always do. If we can’t find light with them, where can we find it? All three of our kids and our three grandchildren live close to us now and shared a ton of time with us this year – here in Alpharetta and on Dog Island. We get to participate in their story often – priceless. Time and light. Time and light. Time – the only true constant. What we do with it; how we use it; who we help with it; what picture we paint with it; what images we create and then see in the mirror, we can only see with light. Our reflection in the mirror is only darkness without light. If we are not using our time wisely – to nurture our soul, to feed it and sustain it – what are we thinking? Early this morning before the day starts, I sit next to our Christmas tree, full of light and ornaments as I ponder 2023. Many of the ornaments are minipicture frames with photos of us and our kids from a long time ago – memories – memories hanging from wire hooks in a field of green and wrapped in scent. If I close my eyes, I can time-travel back; it doesn’t take much. If I open my eyes, I see the light – symbols of hope for the future. We have a Douglas fir this year. I think next year we will buy a live tree so we can plant it after the season. Why haven’t we done that before? My writing chair next to our Douglas fir is in front of several large windows. Outside, a stand of old growth trees – which is our backyard – has almost
finished shedding its leaves. A few burnt orange, yellow and brown leaves remain and tremble in the getting-colder-bythe-hour wind, then fall randomly and unhurriedly float to the ground to start to become soil again. Like watching time pass, minute by minute in the form of falling leaves. Wasn’t it just yesterday we were so excited to see those same trees starting to bud? Memory of the past and what is “memory of the future?” We cling to what we know, to what has made us happy, to what made us feel safe, secure and loved. We watch it, nurture it, seek it, covet it, guard it, embrace it, until, until it begins to slip away just outside of our grasp, like the shadow of a train passing farther and farther away from us down a track until it disappears completely, out of sight, from light into darkness. But if we slow down enough, we can find an even richer, more secure place in-between the past and the future – here, now, in this very moment – a place which can produce all the light and hope we need for tomorrow. Christina and I, along with Amelia and a friend went to see a play, “Annie,” last night at the Fox Theater. The Fox is magical. It is a restored historic theater in downtown Atlanta on Peachtree Street, a theater that Margaret Mitchell might have attended while she was writing “Gone with the Wind” in the ’30s. The Fox opened on Dec. 25, 1929 – Christmas Day – just two months after the stock market crash and the start of the Great Depression. Just sitting in the Fox and experiencing it is worth the trip. It is a living, breathing, tribute to humanity – something we almost lost years ago – something we magically
created and something we collectively saved from the wrecker’s ball. “Save the Fox” was a sign I’ll always remember that hung on a wall in my friend Bill Greenwood’s restaurant, a really old sign. We need to do more stuff like that – work together to build – to save and preserve things that give our lives meaning and light – things that nurture our souls. And how ironic that we saw “Annie” at the Fox – in December no less. “Annie” was set during the depth of the Great Depression and portrays the misery and hopelessness that so many people experienced in those dark days. But it was not a play about giving up; it was about hope – and light – something we desperately need today. In “Annie,” orphan children were rescued. The good guys won. The bad guys lost. Love prevailed and darkness and despair turned to light and hope. I suspect that no one felt the chill in the air as they left the Fox last night. Instead, they felt warm, happy, safe and secure if only for a few precious magic moments. Paraphrased below are a few of the lyrics from “Annie” which should give us all hope and comfort this Christmas season and into 2024. Tomorrow, tomorrow The sun’ll come out tomorrow Tomorrow, You’re always A day away! Merry Christmas to all of you with hope, light, and best wishes. — The Appens
AppenMedia.com/Sandy_Springs | Sandy Springs Crier | December 28, 2023 | 9
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10 | December 28, 2023 | Sandy Springs Crier | AppenMedia.com/Sandy_Springs
PAST TENSE
OPINION
Society pages of the past give glimpse into daily life
VALERIE BIGGERSTAFF Columnist
In the late part of the 19th century and the first half of the 20th century, newspaper society pages printed news of engagements and marriages, but they also printed news of birthday parties, family visits, illness and trips to the
hospital. “Miss Willie Gentry is visiting Chamblee,” is reported in the Sunday, Aug. 5, 1899, Atlanta Journal. There are no additional details, but as a reader of the 1899 Atlanta Journal, you might have been interested in this information. The front page of this issue of the Journal reports that Taft may run for president in the next election. In 1905, various Christmas events in the areas surrounding Atlanta are reported in the “Society News and Gossip of Atlanta’s Sister Cities” column of Jan. 1,1905. Under the heading of Dunwoody, a Christmas tree placed at the Methodist church is announced. Presents were put on the tree by Mr.
Ambrey Carpenter, who played the role of Santa Claus. These announcements always included the individuals’ prefix or title, so I have included those in this article. At Sandy Springs Methodist Church, a Christmas tree was put up the previous Thursday and the members of Providence Church near Dunwoody placed a tree the previous Tuesday. Doraville’s social news includes the fact that Miss Susie Chesnut of Due West, South Carolina, is home for the holidays. Belle Grant is spending the holidays with her family before returning to Industrial College in Milledgeville. Mrs. Cora Elliott is spending time with her father, Mr. J. W. F. Tilly before she returns to Commerce, Georgia. In the Society section of the Dec. 8, 1932, Atlanta Constitution, there are engagement, wedding, luncheon, club meeting and party announcements. Under a heading titled “Brookhaven News of Interest,” the reader discovers that the Rev. and Mrs. T. W. Jones and their children of Chamblee were guests of Mr. and Mrs. H. W. Smith on Oglethorpe Avenue. Also, the ladies
FAMILY/PROVIDED
From left, Carolyn Anderson holding Spot, with sister Jane Anderson around 1937. The society pages announced Carolyn’s visit to Chamblee in 1936. of the Methodist church met at the home of Mr. and Mrs. W. T. Belter on Thornwell Drive “in complement of their new pastor,” the Rev. L. Van Landingham. After Christmas, on Jan. 3, 1932, “Brookhaven News of Interest” announced that Mr. and Mrs. Oscar L. Cowan of Doraville spent Christmas
Day with Mr. and Mrs. Nesbit Cowan on University Drive. Nesbit Cowan was the son of Oscar Cowan, who ran a gristmill near the Doraville train depot. The column also announced the meeting of the Baptist Church Sunday School class at the home of Mrs. W. J. Wehunt on Fernwood Drive. The Wehunts owned a store in Brookhaven. On Feb. 13, 1936, the Atlanta Constitution stated that Miss Ruth Dilbeck of Roswell spent the weekend with her Aunt Beatrice Dobbins. Miss Carolyn Anderson of Dunwoody spent the week in Chamblee visiting Mr. and Mrs. M. J. Anderson and Mr. and Mrs. W.A. Anderson. Misses Louise and Lula Adams of Doraville were weekend guests of Mr. and Mrs. W. D. Adams and family. These announcements, which may seem trivial, give a view of the daily life of people who once lived in our communities. 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.
GARDEN BUZZ
The what, why and how of composting Would you like a garden that requires less labor, produces stronger and healthier plants with less chemicals and other pest management treatments, and uses less water and fertilizer? If so, you GEORGE SCESNEY need to change the Guest Columnist fertility and physical condition of your soil from the natural hard pack Georgia red clay (commonly known as “dirt”) to a wonderfully loose crumbly lightweight bio-system known as “soil”—full of the microorganisms that assist all our plants to thrive. To do this, we must add compost, a soil conditioner and wonder food for these microorganisms that create the soil bio-system. What is compost? It is nothing more than organic matter – leaves, grass trimmings, kitchen peelings, shredded paper and chopped up plants that assist microorganisms to “eat.” Compost is made by mixing organic matter together in an optimum ratio of four parts carbon sources (leaves, grass clippings paper,
cardboard) to one part nitrogen sources (kitchen peelings,) chopping it all up into small particles, wetting it down to provide water for the microorganisms that come from the small amount of soil we add, and putting it into a pile big enough to retain the heat generated by the growth of the microorganisms (heat helps speed the process along). Flipping the pile every couple of weeks helps speed the decomposition of the organic matter into a loose, crumbly, earthy-smelling material we call compost. How does compost do all these great things for our garden? First, as a soil conditioner, its small particles break up hard pack clay when mixed in, either by the action of earthworms or by the actions of humans with tools. Clay particles are like little plates that can pack tightly together. Compost particles, once they get between these “plates,” keep open spaces between them, allowing air and water (up to 50% by volume) to freely enter and leave. The increased air space allows more water to penetrate deeper into the soil, reducing the evaporation that would happen if it
See COMPOST, Page 13
About the author This week’s “Garden Buzz” guest columnist is Roswell resident George Scesney. George has been a Master Gardener since 2008 and has been gardening for over 50 years. George enjoys doing his own composting, landscaping and vegetable gardening, including growing food for the local food bank. Originally from New York, he has been in Georgia since 1976 and has mastered the art of gardening in the south.
Learn more •Composting and Mulching https://extension.uga.edu/publications/detail.html?number=C816&title=com posting-and-mulching •Composting: Recycling Landscape Trimmings https://extension.uga.edu/publications/detail.html?number=C981&title=com posting-recycling-landscape-trimmings •Composting for Kids https://extension.uga.edu/content/dam/extension-county-offices/jeff-daviscounty/4h/Composting%20with%20Kids.pdf
COMMUNITY
PET OF THE WEEK
AppenMedia.com/Sandy_Springs | Sandy Springs Crier | December 28, 2023 | 11
Dunwoody Crier 12/28/23 Crossword
Birmingham Meet Birmingham (ID# 52910902), an adorable brown and white cutie pie and the sweetest pointy ears. Birmingham seems housetrained, loves toys and treats, making him a dream to train. He loves to play and is on the active side. He would make the perfect outdoor companion for long walks and weekend hikes. Easy to handle (and to love), you’ll be glad to add Birmingham to your life. Meet Birmingham and all of his furry friends at DeKalb County Animal Services. Expand your family by four furry little feet; meet Birmingham and have a loving friend forever. All adoptions include spay/neuter, vaccinations and microchip! If you would like more information about Birmingham or if you have questions about adopting, fostering or volunteering please email adoption@ dekalbanimalservices.com or call (404) 294-2165; all potential adopters will be screened to ensure Birmingham goes to a good home. The shelter is full; foster or adopt to save a life and meet your new furry friend, stop by DeKalb County Animal
Across
Services. We are located at 3280 Chamblee Dunwoody Road, Chamblee GA 30341 or give us a call at 404-2942996. No appointment necessary.
CRIER NOTES
Fantasy winners, losers For 20 years, the losers of the Redfield Fantasy Football league stand for an hour at the intersection of Roberts Drive and Chamblee Dunwoody Road with this sign. Over time the event has included different fundraisers. Pictured is Dwight Plyler of Dunwoody, who collected items for the Toys for Tots program. The Redfield group also maintains the area during the year through the Adopta-Spot program.
Tell the Crier The Crier is first and foremost a community newspaper. Send your notes, awards and photos to newsroom@ appenmedia.com. SPECIAL TO APPEN MEDIA
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12 | December 28, 2023 | Sandy Springs Crier | AppenMedia.com/Sandy_Springs
OPINION
PRESERVING THE PAST
Frank Dailey − Alpharetta resident and war hero Since starting my weekly column on local history for Appen Media nearly two years ago, I have met many noteworthy and fascinating individuals who have contributed much to the North Fulton story. BOB MEYERS One overly modest Columnist Alpharetta resident stands out in my mind as being worthy of special attention. At 102 years of age, Franklyn Dailey is one of the few remaining members of the Greatest Generation of World War ll combat veterans. He is living proof of the adage that age is just a number. His mind is sharp, he lives alone and gets around with or without a walker. He has a wonderful story to tell. Born of Irish descent Feb. 5, 1921 in Brockport, a village near Rochester, New York, Daily was a teenager when the worst of the Great Depression panicked the nation. A gifted student, he had the good fortune of attending Catholic schools, graduating from high school with a near 4-point average at the age of 14. He then worked briefly at Eastman Kodak Company until he enrolled in Niagara University where he remained until Caroline O’Day, Congresswoman at Large for New York State, nominated him in 1939 for appointment to the U.S. Naval Academy at Annapolis. Daily graduated from the academy as an honor student in 1942 in the first accelerated three-year class of World War ll. Dailey served as the gunnery officer aboard the USS Edison, a Gleaves-class destroyer, one of 66 destroyers of that class built between 1938--42. They were still being constructed when the U.S. entered the war and were among the earliest destroyers to see action. Dailey was one of 16 officers and 260 enlisted men on the ship. Later in the war the upgraded Fletcher Class destroyer was introduced. Most Annapolis graduates were assigned as gunnery officers because of their extensive training. Civilian sailors were assigned to navigation and seamanship tasks, according to Dailey. Gleaves class destroyers had four 5-inch 38 caliber guns. The gun could shoot a 55-pound projectile 18,000 yards and was a workhorse weapon throughout the war. The Edison patrolled the Atlantic Ocean protecting commercial shipping from German air, sea and submarine attacks and took part in five major landing operations, Casablanca, Sicily, Anzio, Salerno and southern France, all part of a plan leading to the invasion of Normandy in June
FAMILY PROVIDED
Frank and Peggy Dailey were married in 1944 in St. Patrick’s Cathedral in New York City. Here they are at a party given for Frank in the 1940s in New York.
U.S. NAVY
The USS Edison was the first warship in WW Il named after inventor Thomas Alva Edison, who received the Navy’s Distinguished Service Medal for his contributions to the Navy during WW l. The ship escorted merchant and other ships transiting the Atlantic and provided support to troops during WW ll invasions in Europe. The ship was launched in November 1940 and commissioned in January 1941. Frank Dailey was gunnery officer aboard the ship following his graduation with honors from the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis.
BOB MEYERS/APPEN MEDIA
Frank Dailey at home in Alpharetta. Frank is a graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy at Annapolis and served aboard the destroyer USS Edison in World War ll. He is the author of three books. 1944. The objective of Dailey’s ship was to support infantry landings by destroying German defensive guns. The Battle of Anzio was the most difficult of the five landings, says Dailey. It took place between January and June 1944 when some 50,000 Allied troops staged an amphibious landing about 30 miles south of Rome near the town of Anzio. The Joint U.S.--Royal Navy Task Force 81 included some 400 ships of all kinds, including 28 destroyers to support the landings. Following the initial invasion, the Germans counterattacked and forced larger ships to move farther offshore, increasing the pressure on the
smaller, more nimble destroyers. The Edison provided fire support to troops on the beachhead and escorted cargo ships and transports bringing supplies to the beachhead. The Allies prevailed at a high cost. American casualties in the Anzio battle amounted to 24,000 killed and wounded plus thousands of cases of malaria and other mosquito-borne diseases common in the marshes close to the beachhead. While in the Navy Frank undertook flight training in Pensacola on multiengine aircraft and obtained his wings in 1945. After training, he was assigned to a squadron based in Kodiak Alaska where he was a co-pilot. Later he flew missions as a pilot in the Aleutian Islands in a Lockheed P2V Neptune aircraft monitoring enemy radio transmissions and submarines. He spent more than 20 years in the Navy, and was active in the Naval Air Reserve for 20 years after the war where he commanded a squadron and advanced to Captain. On April 1 1944, Frank married Marguerite Virginia Parker (1920-2017) at St Patrick’s Cathedral in New York City. Known as Peggy, she and Frank had eight
children, 18 grandchildren, 23 greatgrandchildren and two great great-grandchildren. Several years ago, they moved to Alpharetta to be near some of their children who live in town and surrounding communities. Frank is the author of three books, all of which are available on Amazon. “My Times with the Sisters and Other Events,” published in 2000, is a personal story of growing up as a student in Catholic schools. “The Triumph of Instrument Flight: A Retrospective in the Century of U.S. Aviation” was published in 2004 and “A Destroyer’s Role in World War II Naval Convoys and Invasion Landings” was published in 2009. He still maintains a website with additional stories, www. daileyint.com. Frank Dailey is a warrior hero who deserves a prominent place in our local history. Bob is director emeritus of the Milton Historical Society and a Member of the City of Alpharetta Historic Preservation Commission. You can email him at bobmey@ bellsouth.net. Bob welcomes suggestions for future columns about local history.
COMMUNITY
AppenMedia.com/Sandy_Springs | Sandy Springs Crier | December 28, 2023 | 13
Entertainment options abound to ring in 2024 BY ADAM DARBY newsroom@appenmedia.com As 2023 comes to a close, Metro Atlanta cities are ringing in the new year with local festivities. Parents can expect to end their children’s holiday break with a final New Year’s celebration before they return to the classroom. And for the parents and adults looking for a night of their own, there are plenty of adult-oriented celebrations for the big night. Alpharetta, Milton, Roswell, Johns Creek, Cumming, Dunwoody and Sandy Springs are holding celebratory events to kick off 2024. Here are some New Year’s celebrations scheduled throughout the area to mark the final days of 2023. Sandy Springs Enjoy classical music favorites with the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra on Dec. 31 at 8 p.m. at Byers Theatre on Galambos Way. The concert program includes the Waltz from Tchaikovsky’s Swan Lake, Mendelssohn’s Nocturne from A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Rossini’s Overture from La Gazza Ladra, Offenbach’s Can-Can, Strauss waltzes, and more. For those hoping to dance afterwards, check out the Ring in the New Afterparty nearby at the Studio Theatre. Be ready to enjoy DJ Newk playing all your dancing favorites, a buffet of light bites, coffee and desserts, and a glass of
Compost: Continued from Page 10 were on the surface. These air spaces also get more water to the root zone of the plant for its use. And since water heats/cools more slowly than soil, the added water reduces the temperature swings in the soil that are harmful to plant growth. But more importantly, compost, as the remnants of the food microorganisms have eaten to grow and reproduce, contains many of the minerals that plants need. As they feed on and break down the organic matter, the microorganisms release carbon and nitrogen – two major minerals required by plants. In addition, the weak acids produced by the microorganisms by feeding on the organic matter help break down sand, rock and clay, releasing many other required minerals. Further, all of these minerals are changed from their solid forms into simpler forms of ions in a water-based solution, which is the only way plants can take them in through their root systems. So, compost is a good way to have a healthy, productive, low-labor garden. It is up to you to decide how much compost you want and the scale, effort and science
sparkling beverage to toast the new year at midnight. Ticket prices for both events vary and can be purchased at www. SandySpringsGA.gov. Dunwoody Night owls can kick off 2024 like it’s 1924 with the Party Like It’s 1920 party on New Year’s Eve at the Brass Tap on Ashford Dunwoody Road from 8 p.m. to 1 a.m. Come wearing your best 1920s attire and enjoy a free champagne toast when the clock strikes midnight. A live DJ will supply the music while those dressed their best can win a cash prize. Don’t forget to take some fun photos at the photo booth. For parents wanting to take one last look at the holiday lights with their kids before ringing in the new year, Brook Run Park on North Peachtree Road is keeping up their holiday lights display through New Year’s Eve before the ball drops. Families can enjoy the free, self-guided walk through 85,000 beautiful lights. Learn more about these free events at www.DiscoverDunwoody.com. Alpharetta Residents have several local options to fill their day on Dec. 31. From 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., Hotel Avalon is hosting Noon Year’s Eve where all ages can enjoy live music, children’s activities, and a countdown to noon with a giant balloon drop welcoming the new year. Tickets are you want to invest to reach healthy soil. There are many ways to scale your composting needs: a two-gallon compost container that sits on your kitchen counter, a five-gallon container that fits under your sink or lives in the garage, tumblers that reside outside from 5 to 20 gallons, and bins made of wood or wire that can be any size you need depending on how much raw material you have. Or you can go low tech and simply put the organic matter on your garden surface and cover it with soil. You can mix the organic matter in small to large batches; you can turn it regularly or tumble it daily to speed the process, or go low tech and put it on the ground, cover it with soil and let nature do the job. The more work you do, the faster the result.
required for admission. For something a little later in the day, Fogón and Lions is presenting their second annual New Year’s Eve Celebration from 8 p.m. to 2 a.m. with live music from Arena Sound, a spirited Latin band, an open bar, a late-night DJ, and a Latin-American holidaythemed buffet curated by Chef Julio and his culinary team. Located on Roswell Street, don’t forget to bring your dancing shoes to dance the year away. For more information on these events and other local New Year’s happenings, visit www. AwesomeAlpharetta.com.
on Holcomb Bridge Road is hosting a live concert on Dec. 31 at 9:30 p.m. featuring the popular local band, the 31’s. Throughout the night, guests will enjoy specially curated NYE-themed food and drinks. Meanwhile, Rock ‘N’ Taco is hosting a New Year’s party of their own at the same time on Canton Street. Once midnight strikes, everyone can raise their glass and keep the party going with live music and a variety of specialty drinks and cocktails. For more information on these events and other nearby New Year’s celebrations, visit www.Roswell365.com.
Milton While the city has no formal events on the calendar, Milton’s Cuisine & Cocktails on Mayfield Road is hosting their New Year’s Eve celebration from 5 to 9 p.m. on Dec. 31. Guests can expect to pop the champagne while enjoying executive chef Dean Wenzel’s specially curated threecourse prix fixe menu for $85 per person. Don’t miss out on their exclusive New Year’s menu. To make a reservation or view the menu in its entirety, visit www. MiltonsCuisine.com.
Johns Creek For parents wanting a date night out, Kidcreate Studio on Old Alabama Road is hosting a Date Night New Year’s Eve party on Dec. 30 at 5:30 p.m. For $28 per child, the studio will watch over your young artist and help them create noisemakers, party poppers, and New Year’s Eve hats while you and your special someone go out to a special celebration of your own. Visit www.KidCreate.com for more information. On New Year’s Eve, Oly’s Tavern on Jones Bridge Road is hosting a New Year’s performance of their own with local band, Reckless. Live music, food, and drinks are always a fun way to ring in the new year. Visit www.OlysTavern.com for more information.
Roswell Several of Roswell’s best bars and restaurants are hosting fun New Year’s events. For those craving some live music, From the Earth Brewing Company You can mix organic matter in precise carbon/nitrogen ratios, monitor its breakdown by tracking temperatures, adjust the results by varying raw materials, or just go low tech and pile it up and let it rot at a slower pace. There can be as little or as much scale, effort and science in your compost production as you want. All of the details about composting are readily available in the UGA Publications cited in the resources, but here is the important thing - organic matter feeds the microorganisms that create the compost and the soil bio-system that depends on the compost. If you stop feeding these microorganisms, the soil bio-system and its benefits slowly deteriorate along with the garden that depends on it. To learn more about the value of compost for your
garden, the steps involved in making compost at home, and how to best use it in your garden, check out “Composting at Home”, my presentation on the NFMG YouTube channel at https://youtu.be/ WumXZnvo9aM. Happy composting!
Wayne Shaffer, 95, of Roswell, passed away on December 18, 2023. Arrangements by Northside Chapel Funeral Directors & Crematory.
George Wilson, Jr., 82, of Milton, passed away on December 14, 2023. Arrangements by Northside Chapel Funeral Directors & Crematory.
North Fulton Master Gardeners, Inc. is a Georgia nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization whose purpose is to educate its members and the public in the areas of horticulture and ecology in order to promote and foster community enrichment. Master Gardener Volunteers are trained and certified by The University of Georgia Cooperative Extension. Learn more at nfmg.net. Previous Garden Buzz columns are featured at https:// appenmedia.com/opinion/columnists/ garden_buzz/.
DEATH NOTICES Harry Robinson, 79, of Alpharetta, passed away on December 18, 2023. Arrangements by Northside Chapel Funeral Directors & Crematory.
14 | December 28, 2023 | Sandy Springs Crier | AppenMedia.com/Sandy_Springs
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Office Space for Lease Close to Downtown Alpharetta Small private office space (unfurnished) available in Appen Media Office close to Downtown Alpharetta (319 North Main Street, Alpharetta). All utilities included, Internet included (within reason), 24/7 access. Space is upstairs in area of Appen Newsroom. Private, quiet, and open. Approximately 200 sq. ft. (14’ x 14’). $/600 per month, first/last/security deposit required as well as solid reliable references. Space would be perfect for a bookkeeper or a self-employed person. Contact via text or email: Ray Appen at 770-527-4042 or RayAppen@Gmail.com
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