Atlanta Intown - April 2022

Maija Ehlinger, Greg Levine, Kelly McCoy, Camille Russell Love, Andy Miller, Isadora Pennington, Bob Pepalis, Sarah Pierre, Katie Rice, Clare Richie, Charles Seabrook, Tim Sullivan

Published By Springs Publishing Keith Pepper Publisher keith@springspublishing.com

Neal Maziar Chief Revenue Officer neal@springspublishing.com

Rico Figliolini

Creative Director

Deborah Davis Account Manager | Sales Operations deborah@springspublishing.com

Steve Levene Publisher Emeritus

Submissions

Article queries should be emailed to collin@atlantaintownpaper.com.

Advertising

For information call (404) 917-2200 ext 1002 sales@springspublishing.com

Sr. Account Manager Jeff Kremer jeff@springspublishing.com

Circulation

Each month, 27,000 copies of Atlanta Intown are mailed to homes and distributed to businesses in and around ZIP codes 30306, 30307, 30308, 30309, 30324 and 30329. For delivery information, delivery@ springspublishing.com

Arrivals & Departures

Spring has sprung and there are lots of exciting changes and growth to tell you about at Intown and our parent company, Springs Publishing.

First, I am thrilled – no, elated! – that veteran journalist Dyana Bagby has joined us as a staff writer. Many of you will remember Dyana as editor of Georgia Voice, a writer with our sister publication Reporter Newspapers, and, more recently, with the Atlanta Business Chronicle.

Dyana will be writing features and covering Buckhead for both Intown and the Reporter, and you can read her first piece on the Georgia Film Academy on page 48.

Editor’s Letter

Collin Kelley has been editor of Atlanta Intown for almost two decades. He’s also an award-winning poet and novelist.

Also joining us is another industry veteran, Neal Maziar, who will be leading Springs’ advertising sales efforts. Neal is an Atlanta native who has deep roots in the community and local media, including WSB-AM/FM and Big League Broadcasting.

There’s also the arrival of Tim “TimmyDaddy” Sullivan’s newly rebranded monthly column, “May I Be Excused?” After more than a decade, it was time for a refresh, but Tim’s irreverent look at parenting and community continues on page 15.

collin@AtlantaIntownPaper.com

And if that’s not enough, your favorite newsletter, Rough Draft, is now five days a week! Along with your morning fix on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, we’re now producing Rough Draft PM on Tuesday and Thursday afternoons. Expect a mix of headlines, entertainment, food, and nonprofit news you can use. Be sure to sign-up at RoughDraftAtlanta.com.

And while I’m excited about our new arrivals, I want to acknowledge a few departures to report as well.

Amy Arno, who was a co-founder of Reporter Newspapers, has left us to work in the senior care industry. Her knowledge and enthusiasm for the publications will be missed.

Also leaving us is Chad Radford, who has been the editor of Rough Draft for more than a year. You’re likely to see Chad on the BeltLine or in a local park as he’s taken on a new role with Trees Atlanta. Luckily, that will leave him enough time to write occasional pieces for Intown.

The other big departure – and this one is more personal – is my car. Yes, folks, I sold my car. Now that I’m living in Midtown, it was parked more than driven, and cutting out my loan payment, insurance, gas(!), and maintenance is saving me hundreds of dollars a month.

Thesustainabilityissue eussiytilibaniatsusehT

I’m walking most everywhere I need to go, and if there’s something more far afield, I jump in a Lyft or on MARTA. I’ve fully embraced city living, which is something I’ve wanted to do forever. I’ve always been jealous of New Yorkers and Londoners who didn’t need a car, and now I’ve joined them.

And since I’m saving all that money, maybe I can add another streaming service. I kid, I kid. Or not.

You might have noticed on the cover that this is our 16th annual Sustainability Issue and we’ve got some great features on the Wylde Center, Food Well Alliance, and much more. We’re also a sponsor of the Olmsted 200 celebration and Druid Hills Tour of Homes, so be sure to see the special section starting on page 29.

This is our biggest issue of Intown since 2015, and I’m excited to share it with you!

Remembering Sam Massell

The 53rd mayor of Atlanta was a tireless advocate for the city and his beloved Buckhead

confrontation.”

The Atlanta City Council said in a statement that Massell will be deeply missed. “His passion for civic service and making a difference in our city will be forever remembered.”

Anna Roach, executive director of the Atlanta Regional Commission, called Massell a visionary leader who shaped the region.

By Amy Wenk and Collin Kelley

Former Atlanta mayor and one of Buckhead’s greatest champions, Sam Massell, died March 13. He was 94.

Massell helmed the city from 1970 to 1974 and is credited with establishing MARTA. Not only did he get the state legislature to okay a sales tax referendum to fund the agency, but he worked to convince voters to pass the onecent sales tax to pay for the transit system.

“MARTA would not exist but for the dedication and persistence of Massell, who convinced the Georgia Legislature, and later voters, to approve the local option sales tax that continues to fund MARTA to this day,” the MARTA board said in a statement. “His political antics in the early days of the MARTA referendum are legendary, as are his grassroots efforts riding the bus to communities and explaining the sales tax on a chalkboard. MARTA was fortunate to have such an ardent support and we remain forever in his debt. Our deepest sympathies go to his wife Sandra, his children, extended family, and his countless friends.”

A native of Atlanta, Massell also had a successful career in real estate and as a travel agent, after receiving a bachelor’s degree in commercial science from the University of Georgia and a law degree from Atlanta Law School.

But his love for the city – and especially the Buckhead community – led him to a life of advocacy and promotion. In 1988,

he became the founding president of the Buckhead Coalition, a position he retired from in 2020.

“Sam was a tireless advocate for both the Buckhead community and the city of Atlanta,” said Jim Durrett, president of the Buckhead Coalition and executive director of the Buckhead Community Improvement District. “As mayor of Atlanta in the early 1970s, he did truly meaningful work to diversify city government, appointing people of color and women to positions of significant responsibility.”

Durrett added that after Andrew Young lost his first bid to U.S. Congress in 1970, Massell appointed him to a position in the Atlanta government “that gave Andy the reputation and name recognition that led to his ultimate election to Congress.”

Massell was widely regarded as the “Mayor of Buckhead” for his involvement in the community. He supported the extension of the Ga. 400 highway through Buckhead, as well as the creation of the Buckhead Community Improvement District, which funds transportation and public safety projects and programs.

“Sam’s impact on our city was immeasurable,” Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens said in a statement. “His time as mayor made history in so many ways. He was Atlanta’s first and only Jewish mayor, he laid the groundwork for MARTA— which connected neighborhoods and residents across our city—and he paved the way for better representation of women and minority participation in

city government. Sam was one of the wittiest people I knew. He understood the importance of collaboration and inclusion. I call it drawing circles, but Sam always said that we can get more done through a conference call than through

“He understood the importance of looking beyond the borders of his own jurisdiction to tackle big issues from a wider, regional lens, such as his critical support of regional mass transit that helped bring MARTA to life,” Roach said. “We are indebted to his life of service and sustained passion for the Atlanta region.”

Biographer Pays Tribute

We asked award-winning writer and novelist Charles McNair to share his memories of working with Sam Massell on his biography, Play It Again, Sam: The Notable Life of Sam Massell – Atlanta’s First Minority Mayor, published by Mercer University Press in 2017.

McNair – author of The Epicureans, Pickett’s Charge, and Pulitzer Prize nominee Land O’Goshen – spent two afternoons each week for 20 weeks interviewing Massell for the biography.

“In 2015-2016, two afternoons a week for 20 weeks, (fastidiously beginning only after Buckhead Coalition business hours ended), Sam and I talked in his Buckhead Place office about his life and times. I honestly wish we’d talked for 20 more weeks, then 20 after that, and on until the day he passed away, early on Sunday morning, peacefully and at home.

“Sam was brilliant and funny and accomplished – he seemed to have met everyone in the world at one point or other, and he had a story about every single person. The scrolls that might have been written by historians capturing his adventures as a realtor, politician, travel agent, and association management would be prized Atlanta treasures. I did my best in Play It Again, Sam, the history we wrote, to preserve some of the important stories, but there were so many more to be told.

“I’m not sure there’s ever been anyone alive who loved Atlanta, Georgia, more than Sam. The experience of hearing that love expressed during those long, searching afternoon talks will be among my most special memories as a writer.”

Sam Massell (Courtesy Ben Rollins Photography)

Developer Tom Cousins and Massell break ground on the Omni Arena. (Courtesy GSU Digital Collection/AJC)

Atlanta Police arrested two suspects in the Feb. 26 murder of Poncey-Highland resident and community volunteer Thomas Arnold, 60. Arnold was shot at the entrance to the Atlanta BeltLine in Inman Park. A third suspect was still being sought at press time.

The city ended the eight-month Peachtree Shared Space project, which narrowed the thoroughfare to two lanes between Baker and Ellis streets to explore more room for bike lanes and pedestrians. A group of influential business owners pushed back against extending the project, but activists are encouraging the city to continue.

Gov. Brian Kemp signed legislation to suspend the state sales tax on gasoline following a spike in prices after the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Suspension of the tax, which will continue at least through May 31, will save Georgians 29.1 cents per gallon of gas.

MARTA and Georgia Tech have launched MARTA Reach, a six-month pilot research project to test an app-based rideshare service designed to connect riders to bus and rail and help minimize waiting and walking. The service is running in West Atlanta, Belvedere, and Gillem Logistics Center and costs $2.50.

Little 5 Points taking collaborative approach to public safety

By Collin Kelley

As public safety continues to be a top concern in Atlanta, the Little 5 Points Alliance is taking a collaborative approach to creating a safe and welcoming space for business owners, residents, and visitors.

Long known for its counterculture roots, independent small businesses, and freespiritedness, the district has also struggled with safety issues like drug use, homelessness, car break-ins, and vagrancy.

As a result, the Little 5 Points Alliance created a Public Safety Plan that focuses on a variety of approaches and partners to

bring to the table. The Alliance was created in 2018 to serve as the collaborative voice for multiple groups (including the local business association, improvement district, and Candler Park and Inman Park neighborhood associations) dedicated to preserving the history and character of the district while also making improvements to safety, mobility, programming, and more.

“Little 5 Points wants to continue to be a welcoming space to all, and we certainly don’t believe we can arrest our way out of issues like homelessness or drug use,” said executive director Lauren Welsh. “We are working with several partners in these efforts including

the Atlanta Police Foundation, Policing Alternatives & Diversion Initiative, Step-Up on Second, Intown Collaborative Ministries, Atlanta Harm Reduction Coalition, Georgia Works, and others to use a more comprehensive approach toward community safety and support.”

Several public safety initiatives are already underway in Little 5 Points including a “Clean Car” campaign in cooperation with Atlanta Police Department’s Zone 6, regular cleanups with Georgia Works, a lighting study on Seminole Avenue, and research around setting up a temporary public restroom. In addition, thanks to support from the Atlanta Police Foundation and Councilmember Amir Farokhi, the Alliance will be installing a new security camera along Davis Plaza and Seminole Avenue.

“We want people to feel welcome here, but we also want to be mindful about getting the police involved when it’s not necessary,” Welsh said. “We’re focusing on how to help people in need and not overtax or rely on the police. Part of the spirit of Little 5 is not blaming someone for a problem but figuring out to help them fix it.”

Last spring when restaurant and bar owners were reeling from the death of a colleague who passed away from a drug overdose, the Star Community Bar hosted a Narcan training to teach people how to administer the overdose reversal drug and provided a Narcan kit for free.

APD Officer Angelina Singh, who patrols Little 5 on foot, also saved an overdosing

man last summer by using Narcan. She said getting to know the business owners, homeless people, and residents is part of an “officer friendly” relationship she’s built in the district.

“High visibility important to reducing crime,” Singh said. “I do daily drop-ins at the local businesses and make sure I’m seen patrolling. My presence in Little 5 Points allows other APD officers to respond to 911 calls and stay on patrol.”

Welsh said Little 5’s history of counterculture and free expression helped attract and keep small businesses – like Wax ‘n Facts, Crystal Blue, Criminal Records, and Junkman’s Daughter, to name a few – that are mainstays of the district.

“We have a really diverse set of a businesses – a true mix – and we don’t want that to change,” Welsh said. “Part of our mission is to understand how those businesses and this district grew in the first place, so we can keep it for the future.”

Officer Angelina Singh

Little 5 Points

Candidates qualify for statewide and congressional offices

By Collin Kelley

Another bruising campaign season is officially under way as candidates for statewide and congressional offices qualified for office last week.

The most high-profile race is for governor as incumbent Republican Brian Kemp must first face challengers from his own party, including former U.S. Senator and Trump favorite David Perdue. Whoever wins the primary will square off against Democrat Stacey Abrams in the November general election.

Party primaries are set for May 24 with runoffs set for June 21. The general election is Nov. 8.

Along with the statewide races, we’ve listed the candidates for each district in our metro coverage area. Candidate with (I) by their names are incumbents.

United States Senate

Democrats: Raphael Warnock (I), Tamara Johnson-Shealey

Republicans: Gary Black, Josh Clark, Kelvin King, Jonathan “Jon” McColumn, Latham Saddler, Herschel Walker

Libertarian: Chase Oliver

Governor

Democrat: Stacey Abrams

Republicans: Brian Kemp (I), Catherine Davis, David Perdue, Kandiss Taylor, Tom Williams

Libertarian: Shane Hazel

Independent: Al Bartell

Lt. Governor

Democrats: Erick Allen, Charlie Bailey, Tyrone Brooks Jr., Tony Brown, Kwanza Hall, Jason Hayes, Derrick Jackson, R. Malik, Renitta Shannon

Republicans: Burt Jones, Mack McGregor, Butch Miller, Jeanne Seaver

Libertarian: Ryan Graham

Secretary of State

Democrats: Dee Dawkins-Haigler, John Eaves, Floyd Griffin, Bee Nguyen, Michael Owens

Republicans: Brad Raffensperger (I), David Belle Isle, Jody Hice, T.J. Hudson

Libertarian: Ted Metz

Attorney General

Democrats: Jennifer “Jen” Jordan, Christian Wise Smith

Republicans: Chris Carr (I), John Gordon

Libertarian: Martin Cowen

Commissioner of Agriculture

Democrats: Winfred Dukes, Nakita Hemingway, Fred Swann

Republican: Tyler Harper

Libertarian: David Raudabaugh

Independent: Mollie “Mali” Beavers

Commissioner of Insurance

Democrats: Raphael Baker, Janice Laws Robinson, Matthew Wilson

Republicans: John King (I), Patrick Witt, Ben Cowart

State School Superintendent

Democrats: Currey Hitchens, Jaha V. Howard, James Morrow Jr., Alisha Thomas Searcy

Republicans: Richard Woods (I), John D. Barge

Commissioner of Labor

Democrats: William “Will” Boddie Jr., Thomas Dean, Nicole Horn, Lester G. Jackson III., Nadia Surrency

Republicans: Kartik Bhatt, Mike Coan, Bruce Thompson

Libertarian: Emily Anderson

Public Service Commission, District 3

Democrats: Shelia Edwards, Chandra Farley, Missy Moore

Republican: Fitz Johnson (I)

U.S. House District 4

U.S. House District 4

Democrat: Henry C. “Hank” Johnson Jr. (I)

Republicans: Jonathan Chavez, Surrea Ivy

U.S. House District 5

Democrats: Nikema Williams (incumbent), Charlotte Macbagito, Valencia Stovall

Republican: Christian Zimm

U.S. House District 6

Democrats: Bob Christian, Wayne C. White

Republicans: Jake Evans, Byron Gatewood, Meagan Hanson, Blake Harbin, Rich McCormick, Paulette Smith, Mallory Staples, Suzi Voyles, Eugene Yu

U.S. House District 11

Democrat: Antonio Daza

Republican: Barry Loudermilk (I)

U.S. House District 13

Democrats: David Scott (I), Mark Baker, Shastity Driscoll, Vincent Fort

Republicans: Caesar Gonzales, Calina Plotky

City moves forward with diversion center at jail complex

By Collin Kelley

Plans to transform the Atlanta jail complex into the Center for Diversion and Services is moving forward after the city council approved legislation introduced by Mayor Andre Dickens.

The 24-hour facility at 254 Peachtree St. SW will increase the range of options available to police when responding to calls related to mental health issues, substance abuse, and extreme poverty.

The council recently passed legislation that waives any conflicting provisions in the city’s code of ordinances that would prevent the city, its chief procurement officer, and partners from creating, establishing and operating the Center.

The council also approved an ordinance to amend the 2022 budget in the amount of $2.95 million to fund the one-time capital costs necessary to build the Center.

“In the spirit of moving Atlanta forward, we must continue to be

innovative in our approach to help people with behavioral and mental health concerns,” Dickens said. “By developing the Center for Diversion and Services, we are providing one central location for coping and recovery resources for our most vulnerable residents.”

Annual operating costs for the center will be shared equally by the city and Fulton County once the facility opens to the public. The Policing Alternatives and Diversion Initiative (PAD) and Grady Hospital will also be partners in the center.

In the past, persons dealing with a mental health crisis or a drug problem would normally be taken to jail, detention center or a hospital emergency room. PAD and Grady will provide care and services at the diversion center, including peer reception, behavioral health screenings, non-emergency medical care, sobering rooms, case management, warrant resolution and food, laundry and showers.

Atlanta City Jail

Volunteers from PAD help a person in need in Downtown.

EDUCATION BRIEFS

Atlanta Public Schools has invested in portable air purifiers for its schools as part of its safety initiatives to maintain in-person instruction and mitigate pandemic-related risks. APS has acquired 5,000 EnviroKlenz Air System Plus purifiers from Timilon Corporation. The systems will be stationed throughout the district to operate quietly in the background of classrooms, providing additional air exchanges to filter out airborne pathogens.

Sixty Atlanta area teachers were awarded a total of $30,000, thanks to the Witherite Law Group and 1-800-TruckWreck. The money was provided to help cover classroom expenses that teachers often pay for themselves. Throughout February, Witherite Law Group ran the Keep Your Classrooms Running campaign for teachers to submit their stories and classroom needs for the chance to win $500. Parents, principals, and other community members also were able to nominate deserving teachers.

The Atlanta-based, but internationally focused, organization Children’s Literature for Children (CLC) has been nominated for the Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award for the second year in a row. CLC collects, buys, and distributes books to children who might not otherwise have access to them. The organization was founded by Kemie Nix, a former teacher at The Westminster Schools, who also wrote children’s book reviews for the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Learn more about CLC at childrensliterature.org.

▲Big Brothers Big Sisters of Metro Atlanta recently announced the 2022 Bigs and Littles of the Year at their annual Big Appreciation Event. Big and Little Sister of the Year Carla Leary and Little Sister Leah have been matched since December 2014 while Big and Little Brother of the Year Christian Doetsch and Little Brother Brayan were matched in March 2014. Chosen from over 1,100 matches across 12 metro counties, they are recognized for their extraordinary commitment to one another and the mission of BBBS. Both pairs have since been selected as the Georgia Bigs and Littles of the Year and are eligible to be chosen at the national level as Big Brothers Big Sisters of America’s Big and Little Brother or Big and Little Sister of the Year.

▲Westside’s John Lewis Invictus Academy (JLIA) celebrated Black History Month by honoring the school’s namesake with the launch of a new, school-based Student and Community Service Center. Atlanta Public Schools Superintendent Lisa Herring, Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens and U.S. Congresswoman Nikema Williams took part in the center’s ribbon-cutting ceremony. The center provides a variety of services for students and families at JLIA, including mental health counseling, mediation and mentorship programs, a free clothing closet and free school supply store for students, and monthly food distributions, as well as connection to healthcare, emergency funds for utilities, and resources such as housing, employment, and gas cards.

Veteran educator Julius Cave has been announced as program manager of The Literacy Lab’s Leading Men Fellowship in metro Atlanta. He will help spearhead combating educational inequity among Atlanta’s youngest students by training and placing more young men of color as paid literacy tutors in local pre-K classrooms. Cave will lead recruitment efforts for the inaugural class of 20 Leading Men Fellows who will begin tutoring in Atlanta Public Schools and Sheltering Arms pre-K classrooms in the Fall of 2022. Get more info at theliteracylab.org.

Two Georgia researchers are among the 2022 award recipients named by the Society For Biomaterials. Georgia Institute of Technology and Emory University’s Julia Babensee won the Clemson Award for Basic Research, while Ankur Singh of the Georgia Institute of Technology secured a Mid-Career Award, awarded to a recognized SFB member who has demonstrated outstanding achievements in and/or contributions to the field of biomaterials research. More info and award winners at biomaterials.org.

By Collin Kelley

The demolition and redevelopment of the Forest Cove apartment complex in southeast Atlanta will also force the temporary closure of Thomasville Heights Elementary School (THES) due to a lack of students.

Atlanta Public Schools and Purpose Built Schools Atlanta (a non-profit school management organization that partners with APS to operate Carver cluster schools) announced that the court ruling fast-tracking the relocation of Forest Cove residents will result in far fewer students projected to be zoned for the school.

All students living in Forest Cove will be able to complete this school year at THES. Next school year, beginning in the fall of 2022, students who currently attend THES but do not live in Forest Cove will be temporarily rezoned to Slater Elementary School.

“The Forest Cove redevelopment will dramatically improve living conditions for residents and ultimately result in positive outcomes, and we are sensitive to the sudden nature of this situation,” said APS Superintendent Dr. Lisa Herring. “Therefore, APS and Purpose Built Schools Atlanta will continue to partner to help minimize disruption for families, students, and staff. PBSA is a valued partner. They are doing good work and we look forward to their return at THES when the Forest Cove redevelopment is complete.”

Last December, the Atlanta Municipal Court condemned the deteriorating apartment complex and ordered the relocation of all Forest Cove families by March 1 and the demolition of the property by Sept. 22.

“THES has served this neighborhood since 1971 and is the bedrock of an invaluably strong school-community connection,” said Greg Giornelli, President of Purpose Built Schools. “We are confident that the parties to the Forest Cove redevelopment plan will rebuild the apartments over the next three years, and we expect to re-open THES within that timeframe.”

The decision to close THES and to rezone students in the Thomasville Heights neighborhood to Slater Elementary School requires the approval of the Atlanta Board of Education. The matter will be presented to the Board at its April board meeting, with a decision expected in May.

Lack of students to temporarily shutter school near Forest Cove redevelopment

Lead-tainted Westside neighborhood becomes Superfund site

By Andy Miller | Georgia Health News

A westside Atlanta neighborhood contaminated with lead has been added to the EPA’s Superfund priority list, freeing up more federal funding for long-term cleanup.

The English Avenue area is one of 12 sites across the nation that the Environmental Protection Agency added to its Superfund National Priorities List (NPL), the agency announced Thursday.

More than 2,000 properties in the EPA target zone are being investigated for lead in the soil.

Out of 951 properties already sampled there, about 40 percent, or 377, had levels of lead above 400 parts per million, the EPA threshold that calls for cleanup. The EPA has said 116 have been remediated, meaning the situation has been corrected.

The EPA and local officials held a news conference Friday at a neighborhood church, and made a pitch for more tenants and landowners in the area to agree to testing of their soil for lead.

The overall cost of the cleanup is now estimated at $50 million, and the work is projected to be finished in 2028.

Rosario Hernandez, who was among the first residents of the area whose soil was analyzed, emphasized the dangers of lead poisoning at the press conference, held at New Life Covenant Church.

“We’ve got to get those kids tested,’’ said Hernandez, who has become a leader in educating community residents about the contamination.

Using Georgia Department of Public Health data, The Atlanta JournalConstitution previously found historical evidence of lead poisoning in children in ZIP codes in the area.

The federal Superfund program has the responsibility of identifying dangerously polluted sites around the nation, cleaning them up and, when possible, holding polluters financially accountable. There are thousands of Superfund sites, but a relatively small percentage are on the NPL, meaning they are especially dangerous.

Lead, a naturally occurring element that has been mined and used by humans for thousands of years, is a powerful neurotoxin that’s especially dangerous for children. In recent decades, as lead’s full dangers have become clear, governments and industries have sought to drastically reduce its presence in the environment.

The NPL designation of the English Avenue area “means that it is one of the most contaminated sites in the U.S.,’’ said Eri Saikawa, an Emory University scientist who led a student team that uncovered the lead problem in 2018.

The Emory findings kicked off an EPA investigation that ultimately unearthed large amounts of slag in the area.

Slag, which can contain lead, is a byproduct of smelting. The west Atlanta area contained foundries, and many years ago,

people used slag to fill in low-lying areas in the neighborhood.

Saikawa told GHN that she believes some properties outside the investigation zone also have substantial amounts of lead in their soil.

An EPA official said the agency isn’t ruling out a further expansion of the investigation zone. “The data will drive the decision to expand,’’ said Leigh Lattimore.

The NPL sites represent significant human health and environmental risks, the EPA says.

“No community deserves to have contaminated sites near where they live, work, play, and go to school. Nearly 2 out of 3 of the sites being proposed or added to

the priorities list are in overburdened or underserved communities,” said EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan in a statement this week. The investigation zone, a lowincome, mostly minority community near Mercedes-Benz Stadium, is bordered by Wheeler Street, Joseph E. Lowery Boulevard, south Martin Luther King Jr. Drive and Northside Drive.

An infrastructure bill recently passed by Congress provided $3.5 billion for such cleanups.

Carlton Waterhouse, deputy assistant administrator for the EPA’s Office of Land and Emergency Management, said at the press conference that about 73 million Americans live within three miles of a Superfund site. Many are people of color and low income, he said.

“Environmental justice is a top priority,’’

he added.

Jim Woolford, a former director of the EPA Office of Superfund Remediation and Technology Innovation, said in a statement that “updates to the NPL frequently go unnoticed, but this is a critical step in the Superfund cleanup process as it sets the stage for further EPA actions to protect the health and well-being of communities, states, and tribes adversely affected by releases from these sites.”

Woolford is a member of the Environmental Protection Network, a group of more than 550 former EPA career staff and confirmation-level appointees from Democratic and Republican administrations. There are problems elsewhere in Atlanta, Saikawa said. Her research team, in conjunction with government agencies, has found slag in some yards in these areas. And in south Atlanta, they also found high levels of lead in the soil near the TAV

Holdings metal processing plant, a situation that the EPA is investigating.

Even at low levels, lead can damage children’s brains, lowering intelligence and weakening their powers of self-control and concentration, researchers have found. At higher levels, lead can affect growth, and it can replace iron in the blood, leading to anemia and fatigue.

There is no safe level of lead exposure, the Atlanta-based Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says.

The hazards of lead were highlighted in 2014, after drinking water for the city of Flint, Mich., was contaminated with lead, exposing thousands of children to the hazard.

A bill in the Georgia Legislature, sponsored by Rep. Katie Dempsey (R-Rome), would lower the level of lead in children’s blood that would trigger state regulatory action, which includes testing, warning letters and required remediation. That poisoning level would be put at the CDC guideline of 3.5 micrograms per deciliter, much lower than Georgia’s current threshold, which experts say leaves many children at risk.

Rosario Hernandez (from left) and her granddaughters Ava Booker, Aniyah Royal, and Aryanna Maymi Booker, look for pieces of slag on the vacant lot next to her home in 2019.

The artist formerly known as TimmyDaddy asks, ‘what’s

May I Be Excused?

With younger kids, sometimes the silly can stick. You should hope it sticks. What can seem trivial to the outside world is the stuff older folks are talking about when they tell you to cherish every moment. A couple months shy of Elliott’s 2nd birthday he noted that while he knew me as Daddy, the cousins we were visiting at the time all seemed to think my name was Timmy. So, on what was probably his 300th question of the day, Elliott began by furrowing up his little brow and said, “Daddy? I mean Timmy? I mean Timmydaddy?”

Everyone had a good laugh and that blog I was thinking about undertaking to memorialize these moments found a name. Somehow that blog turned into a column and

thanks to all the good folks here at Atlanta Intown, that column with a silly name ran for a decade. True story. I can’t believe I got away with that!

I was able to share nuggets like when Margo protested getting out of bed for Pre-K on the Monday after daylight savings: “Daddy, it’s bitch black outside!” Or when Elliott crossed out the word “Best” on his Kindergarten Father’s Day artwork and changed it to “The wurest dad” after a particularly spirited bath time meltdown. For the most part, the funny stuff wrote itself and I hope those little stories were ones that people could relate to. I can’t begin to tell you how grateful I am to all of you who read along.

My kids are getting a little older now though and I guess I should be pleased that they both speak quite clearly these days. We are in a different phase of life so (however cute), so the Timmydaddy name seemed a bit outdated. My editor, Collin, suggested I think of a more professional sounding name, and I agreed.

The idea was it should be something along the lines of Melody Harclerode’s excellent Perspectives in Architecture column or Sally Bethea’s important writing about environmental concerns in Above the Waterline. My brain kept going to Perspectives

in Waterlines because as nonsensical as it is, it almost sounds like something about something. And honestly, I just can’t help myself. Like many middle-aged dads, relatively unfunny word play is an affliction I suffer from.

Often the themes I cover in the column are shaped in some way through our dinner table conversations, so I decided to bounce it around the family brain trust. But when Elliott and Margo are no longer interested in the meal or the conversation it’s a short trip to, “May I be excused?” And wait a second –is that it or what?

When spoken it sounds a lot more like ‘maybescused’. It’s not so much a question

as it is speedy, rote recitation. It is simultaneously an impolite stab at table manners and the proverbial teen/tween eject button. So, thank you, children, for remaining a fount of unintentional input. You’ve captured this stage in our lives succinctly and you’ve renamed my column.

There is plenty that I’d enjoy being excused from myself. Like when a client recently launched into a frantic sermon on what we NEED to be doing RIGHT NOW to ensure my 9th grader gets into a top-notch university. May I be excused from the requisite college application freakout? For a couple years at least?

With my 50th birthday on the horizon. do I accept the financial anxiety of splurging on an expensive trip to celebrate? Or do I host a party where everyone can size me up and down and debate whether I look 50? May I be excused from that, too? My guess is no, I won’t be excused from any of it. But even as we all get older, there’s still a bit of funny and a bit of meaning in life’s little anecdotes. So, notes will be taken.

Jason Cook

The Sullivan Family chew over dad’s new column name

Grub Hub

Grubbly Farms turns food waste into sustainable pet food

Thesustainabilityissue eussiytilibaniatsusehT

chicken feed,” Warner said. More than 10 million U.S. households have chickens in their backyards as pets. To meet customer demand, Grubbly Farms has partnered with sustainable farms in the United States, Canada, and around the world.

Warner noted that Grubbly pet food has recycled over 11 million pounds of food waste to date, and they have picked up some great partnerships along the way, like Coop Dreams TV and Fresh Eggs Daily.

Grubbly Farms also receives a lot of social content from customers of their pets running as soon as they shake the bag. “We started calling it #GrubblyHappyHour as we saw how quickly Grubbly pet food unites the whole family – fluffy ones and their humans, too!” Warner said.

Continuing to grow

sustainably grown in close quarters with very few resources. Just one pound of grubs can recycle 10 pounds of food waste that would otherwise end up in a landfill.

Grubs also are packed with nutrients. One pound of oven-dried grubs has more protein than one pound of prime rib –while using 90% fewer resources to harvest the meat.

“By sourcing our protein from sustainable grub farms, we can help combat our nation’s massive food waste issue – all while replacing common protein for pets with clean, nutrient-rich meat,” Warner said. “No hormones. No funky byproducts. No additives.”

Start of a start-up

In March, Grubbly Farms entered the dog food market with sustainable snacks for dogs. “Made with grub protein and other sustainable superfoods, our soft and chewy snacks are as healthy for dogs as they are for the planet,” Warner said. “Unlike your typical dog treat, our snacks are made a novel protein to which dogs have not developed allergies – perfect for dogs with food sensitivities.”

He added that one benefit of grub protein is it can be used in a wide range of pet foods for fish, cats, dogs, exotic pets and farm animals. “Like us, all types of pets naturally enjoy a variety of meats – including insects,” Warner explained. “This offers a large opportunity to expand horizontally across multiple markets while offering highly nutritious food that promote a greener, brighter future for our pets and planet.”

By Kathy Dean

Grubbly Farms is a growing business that started with chicken feed — literally.

Cousins Patrick Pittaluga and Sean Warner, the cofounders of Grubbly Farms, became fascinated with the insect industry and

the positive impact it could have on the environment. They began growing grubs in their college laundry room at Georgia Tech, and “the more we learned about these insects, the more we realized how much of a powerhouse protein grubs are –for our pets and planet,” Warner said.

He explained that, unlike conventional meat, black soldier fly grubs can be

Pittaluga and Warner began Grubbly Farms in 2015 as a direct-to-consumer e-commerce brand that provides healthy and sustainable pet food, delivered directly, and shipped free.

“We started serving backyard flocks first, bringing our feathered friends back to their original diet with sustainably harvested insect protein and vegetables –healthier foods for them with a fraction of the environmental footprint as traditional

Over the past two years, the Grubbly Farms team has tripled, and this year, they plan to expand the team further. Anyone with a passion for pets and a belief in the power of grubs, is encouraged to contact them.

Shop and learn more at GrubblyFarms. com and visit Grubbly Farms on Facebook.

Cousins Sean Warner and Patrick Pittaluga founded Grubbly Farms as students at Georgia Tech.

Can co-learning change the education system?

By Maija Ehlinger

It started with a problem close to home for entrepreneur and founder Chris Turner. Or perhaps it would be better to say, a problem close to school.

Turner was looking for early learning options for his young children, but the schools he toured, which included some of the best local private and charter schools, felt outdated. Ultimately, schools lacked the “creativity and independence” he hoped to teach his own kids, and the flexible schedule he wanted for his family.

That’s when the founder started researching the education sector. He found that while EdTech funding has skyrocketed (with VC funding rising from $4 billion to almost $21 billion over the last five years), most startups were overlooking the importance of physical learning spaces. This, Turner reasoned, could be the answer to why the education system hasn’t changed much in two decades, despite the rise of EdTech.

His solution was to create a new type of learning environment. And at its first location in Decatur, Georgia, we saw a glimpse of how Moonrise is setting up an entirely new category within education.

Forget the lines of desks, whiteboards, and class bells. Those “traditional” items are replaced with oversized couches, workshops, and a flexible schedule designed to maximize that creativity and independence missing from other places of learning.

The space is designed intentionally for kids to explore their own interests at their own pace. Kids from ages 5-12 have access to a maker space, a curated library, and even a podcast studio.

Design is central to the entire space, as Turner said the focus is on comfort, beauty, and wellness.

Since opening its doors in late 2021, Moonrise has attracted both homeschooling parents and what Turner describes as “flexible tech parents” looking for supplemental learning options for their kids.

Unlike a childcare center or afterschool

center, parents can drop off and pick up kids at a space that is designed intentionally for them.

Moonrise is open every day from 9am9pm, including weekends and summers. Most kids come for a few hours in the afternoon to work on projects with their friends.

Perhaps the best model is to think of Moonrise as a new take on co-working. As a “co-learning” space, kids have a range of activities that are not segmented off by age or grade level. And Turner said the cost, currently at $250/month per kid, is lower

and more accessible to a range of economic backgrounds.

The Team Behind Moonrise

Throughout the space are Guides, which Turner likes to think of as “personal trainers for the mind.”

“They are different than a teacher because they aren’t delivering a curriculum. But they are there to find a kid’s intrinsic interests and motivate them to push past limits” added Turner. Current guides bring different backgrounds in acting, camp counseling, and ESL tutoring.

Moonrise is a different type of entrepreneurial venture for Turner, who previously founded Atlanta-based Tenrocket, a startup that built web and mobile applications for other startups in a 10-day timeframe.

Now he sees Moonrise as a new way to spark the entrepreneurial spirit in the next generation.

Moonrise is currently one location in Downtown Decatur but plans for expansion are on the horizon. While most people see Moonrise as a “supplemental” option to traditional learning environments at the moment, he believes a focus on flexibility and creativity could be the model for transforming how we think about education overall.

“We’re preparing kids for a future of work that values creativity and independence over standardization and conformity.”

Production companies partner to open west Atlanta hub

By Collin Kelley

Atlanta-based In Concert Productions (ICP) has partnered with All Access, ATOMIC, and SoCal Rentals to open The ICP Production Centre, a 30,000 squarefoot, one-stop-shop for the entertainment industry.

Located at 6040 Boat Rock Blvd. SW, the facility will offer set design, staging, broadcast facilities, and audio/visual rentals under one roof.

“Knowing that LA, New York, and worldwide based producers and tech managers needed familiar names and the type of guaranteed service they were accustomed to, ICP brought together friends in the industry under one roof,” said ICP CEO Jay Rabbit. “Nine times out of ten, we were all working together on the same productions anyway – so, now we can share sales, support personnel, transportation resources, shared rental equipment, warehouse staff and other vital

resources to guarantee a product that is expected.”

The idea for The ICP Production Centre came from Georgia’s rapidly expanding TV and film industry. Yet, there was a lack of direction to help outside producers find capable support companies who could stay compliant with the Georgia Film and TV tax credit laws.

“It is an exciting time for us at All Access! Atlanta is a unique situation for us, all other All Access operations have been stand-alone. This is the first time we are sharing a warehouse and resources,” said All Access Vice President Robert Achlimbari. “The Production Centre offers us more space to expand our local inventory of core rental products and services and alongside the other wellknown brands offers great opportunities as we look to future growth within the local market.”

ATOMIC’s director of marketing, James Kelly, said the company is

“absolutely stoked to team up with some stellar companies in the live entertainment industry.”

“The new campus and distribution center will serve as a creative hub for live events, as well as a great logistics point to serve Atlanta, Nashville, and the entire Southeast,” Kelly said.

SoCal Rentals director of business and marketing, Brad Williams, called the move a “no-brainer.”

“The industry has seen immense growth in Atlanta over the last couple of

years, and for SoCal specifically many of their existing films and broadcast clients are in both L.A. and Atlanta,” Williams said. “These are all companies we’ve done business within the past so it’s nice to come together and share resources under one roof.”

Atlanta Intown has partnered with Hypepotamus, the go-to source of startup and technology news in the Southeast. hypepotamus.com

JUST LISTED!

BUSINESS BRIEFS

In response to the conflict in Ukraine and resulting humanitarian crisis, The Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation will grant $250,000 to UNICEF to assist with immediate relief. The foundation is also supporting aid for the Ukrainian people via CARE USA. In 2019, the foundation made a multi-million-dollar grant to CARE, including support of its Humanitarian Surge Fund, which allows CARE to move rapidly with response in these very situations.

◄The NOW Massage has opened its first Georgia location in Buckhead at 3655 Roswell Road in the Tuxedo Festival Shopping Center. Owned and operated by Brian Herman and Adam Glickman, the duo brings over two decades of wellness, marketing, business development and hospitality experience to their new endeavor. “The NOW provides a relaxing retreat for locals and visitors alike looking to reset and recharge in Atlanta,” said Glickman. Find more at thenowmassage.com.

Two Atlanta-based leaders in the gaming industry, Skillshot Media and Ghost Gaming, are joining forces to create the new platform, Resurgens Gaming. As part of the new partnership, Resurgens Gaming will establish its headquarters at Uptown Atlanta, the one million-square-foot mixed-use development that is undergoing redevelopment by Rubenstein Partners to emerge as a regional esports gaming hub. While the companies have merged, they will continue to operate under their existing and separate brands.

Piedmont was named to Forbes magazine’s list of “America’s Best Large Employers” for 2022, coming in at #166 among all employers of 5,000 employees or more across the U.S. Piedmont was one of just 48 healthcare organizations nationally to land on the list.

►Atlanta construction company Superior Rigging & Erecting celebrated 70 years of business at their recent anniversary conference and company meeting. Nick Saban, head coach of the University of Alabama football team, spoke at the event. The conference took place in Mercedes-Benz Stadium, a construction project in which Superior played an important role.

Nourish Botanica is building a Black-owned greenhouse and eatery in Atlanta to provide healing through food, flowers and plants grown on-site. Phase One, the flower and plant shop, opened in March. While the business continues to raise funds to build out the commercial kitchen, it plans to begin a mobile restaurant residency program for culturally appropriate, healthy food vendors to apply to on a rotating basis. Nourish Botanica is an initiative founded by Atlanta-based Caribbean and Southern food justice advocate, artist, and creative entrepreneur Quianah Upton. Find out more at nourishbotanica.cafe.

District, a new fitness studio owned and operated by India Case, Alan Herrick, and their families, has opened at 3655 Roswell Road in Buckhead. The wellness-centered space offers strength, endurance, and functional interval training classes. It is one of only three studios in the world to utilize a special edition Technogym SkillRun 5000 Treadmill. Visit districtfit.com for more.

Forward Health has opened its first Georgia outpost at 300 Buckhead Ave. in Buckhead Village. Founded in 2015 by former Google executive Adrian Aoun, Forward uses a subscription-based model and smartphone app to offer members round-the-clock access to data and preventive and reactive services like unlimited in-person or virtual doctor visits, biometrics monitoring, blood testing, mental health support, men’s and women’s health checks, prescription delivery, vaccines and COVID-19 testing. Visit goforward.com for more.

For the Love of Nature

Wylde Center celebrates 25 years of environmental stewardship

Thesustainabilityissue eussiytilibaniatsusehT

Wylde and her husband, Britt Dean, acquired it and thus the Oakhurst Community Garden Project was born. This would pave the way for what later became an extensive network of greenspaces spread throughout the eastern communities of Atlanta and Decatur.

Today, Wylde Center Gardens include the Oakhurst Garden, Sugar Creek Garden also in Oakhurst, Hawk Hollow in Kirkwood, Edgewood Community Learning Garden, and the Mulberry Fields Garden in Candler Park.

I recently spoke with Wylde’s executive director Stephanie Van Parys and development and events coordinator Ferrin Tinter to learn about their current projects and programs.

Parys has been at the helm of Wylde Center for the past 17 years after a stint at the Atlanta Botanical Gardens. With a degree in horticulture, experience serving on the board of two nonprofits, and living in the neighborhood near the Oakhurst Garden, it was a natural fit for Parys to get involved with the Wylde Center. She first was recruited to the board by Sally Wylde herself, and after a year, Parys was asked to take over when Wylde retired.

In her youth, Parys was surrounded by a love for nature. Both of her grandparents – one set here in the states and another

By Isadora Pennington

Composed of seven acres of land split between five different gardens, the Wylde Center is an invaluable resource for the communities which they serve.

Oakhurst Garden, the first Wylde Center garden, was created by Sally Wylde in 1997. This first foray into community gardens was a result of Louise Jackson’s response to neighborhood children trampling her yard back in 1996. Instead of finding ways to prevent the children from walking through her garden, Wylde and Jackson partnered with neighbors and invited the children to become caretakers of the greenspace.

In time, Jackson’s yard was transformed into a lush garden full of vibrant, happy plants and lined with a colorful rainbow fence. The children were able to see their efforts pay off as plants grew and flourished.

The group then decided to create a garden in the median strip in front of Jackson’s home. When an undeveloped half-acre lot which had been used as a commercial basil farm came up for sale,

in Germany – were gardeners, as was her mother.

“We lived in Germany for several years and I spent a lot of my childhood in a rural setting,” said Parys. “It wasn’t just about gardening, it was about being in the landscape, being in nature, and using that to live.”

She recalls eating a lot of salads that they sourced directly from her family’s garden and fond memories of playing around and under her grandfather’s cherry

Wylde Center executive director Stephanie Van Parys. (Photos by Isadora Pennington)

Left, Mark Ethun and daughter Ellison learn about planting at the Wylde Center.

tree. “It was my favorite thing in the world,” she said, wistfully.

So, what exactly is it that makes the Wylde gardens so unique? Yes, we have parks and nature preserves, but what the Wylde Center offers is an immersive gateway to nature. These greenspaces are essential to the health of our local ecosystem. By planting and maintaining native, pollinator-friendly plants, the Wylde Center team can provide support to these often overlooked insects and animals that in turn keep flowers and plants growing in our communities.

“The Wylde Center is unique in that we do community programs, education programs, and actual physical gardens,” explained Parys. “The mission of the organization is to connect people to nature, and we really do use all of those facets to connect people to nature.”

These community gardens are open to the public, maintained by a combination of staff members and community volunteers, and offer resources such as composting, raised bed plots, event rentals, classes, and even opportunities for little ones to meet and interact with farm animals such as the resident chickens and goats at Mulberry Fields Garden.

“It is such a waterfall effect, pun intended, for nature,” said Tinter. “Because our education program does help kids learn how to eat healthier, and we have a lot of young kids come to our garden. They want to touch things and eat things. The Wylde Center does a really beautiful job of showing you how to use the resources of nature without destroying it.”

During the pandemic, the Wylde Center gardens offered a much needed resource for people to connect with nature to relieve anxiety and provide a safe outlet away from the isolation of their homes. “It was very obvious that people needed to get out of their houses,” said Parys. “We had so many visitors to our gardens. People turned to gardens because it relieved their stress and anxiety.”

Beyond the healing properties of getting your hands dirty, breathing fresh air, and being surrounded by nature, the gardens also encourage community members to learn about environmental stewardship through their education program.

By attending workshops, both virtually and in person, visitors can learn how to start a garden, when to plant their summer plants – not only flowers, but also tips for growing fruits and vegetables. The Wylde Center offers one of the largest youth environmental and science education programs in metroAtlanta. Their programming includes the Decatur Farm to School program, Atlanta Farm to School, Healthy Living by Healthy Growing at the Decatur Housing Authority, and science programs and field trips linked to Common Core standards.

It’s also not only the wildlife that benefits from these greenspaces scattered throughout residential neighborhoods in Atlanta; their very existence has become a sort of “absorbant” to the city. The effects of climate change paired with the increased density of development in residential communities has made Wylde gardens much wetter. When it rains these

open spaces tend to flood. Three of the five gardens are technically located in flood plains, but all of them have seen an increase in rainwater accumulation following storms. This eases the strain on sewer systems and prevents flooding in nearby homes and businesses.

The Wylde Center organization itself is a nonprofit, and the structure is composed of about 16 full time staff members, as well as education, greenspace, development, public programs, and event rentals departments. Guided by a board of 18 engaged and talented community members, the team handles maintenance and programs at all five gardens yearround.

This year, in celebration of its 25th anniversary, the Wylde Center team is hosting some celebratory parties and initiatives to garner involvement within their community. They recently launched an all-ages scavenger hunt with 25 things to find at their greenspaces, complete with prizes such as t-shirts, bags, and gift cards. In June, an official Beer Garden party will commemorate the anniversary with live music, food, drinks, and plenty of good vibes.

Also, over the next 18-24 months, the Wylde Center is set to embark on a capital campaign that will see site improvement

to all of their gardens which will include additional structures at the gardens, bathrooms, and a renovated main office at the Oakhurst Garden.

“Basically, what we are doing is making site improvements that will enhance our ability to educate children on site, adjusting to accommodate changes in climate, and make the gardens more accessible to the communities in which they exist,” Tinter said.

In Kirkwood, visitors will see the Hawk Hollow garden double in size with the acquisition of two additional adjacent lots.

When asked how people can get more involved with the Wylde Center and its initiatives, Parys suggested that interested parties consider becoming a donor, take beginnger gardening classes, become a plot holder at one of their gardens, or participate in the plant sale which is taking place from now through June at the Oakhurst Garden and online.

Family programs offer another great way to breed a love and understanding for the importance of nature with our youngest community members. Whether it be through organizing field trips with local schools, family programs, or merely by bringing them to these garden spaces to experience nature firsthand, there are some wonderful ways to instill environmental stewardship in our children’s lives.

“Just come visit us!” said Parys, with a trademark enthusiasm that she brings to all of her efforts at the Wylde Center. “One of the best ways to get involved with us is to come visit us.”

Learn at WyldeCenter.org.

From left, Mark and Ellison Ethun, Kenya Mann Faulkner, Shannon Earley, and Jessica Murphy at a Wylde Center workshop.

Fostering peace and energy security on a hotter planet

official. In the U.S., the Build Back Better program, proposed by the Biden Administration, has faltered – thanks largely to a coal millionaire named Joe Manchin. The climate portion of this bold initiative includes $555 billion to move the American economy away from its reliance on fossil fuels and toward distributed, community-led energy solutions.

A decision point

Above the Water Line

Sally Bethea

Sally Bethea is the retired executive director of Chattahoochee Riverkeeper and an environmental and sustainability advocate.

There is such joy in the greenness of spring and the revival of the natural world – as ephemeral wildflowers and ferns emerge from piles of last autumn’s fallen leaves; as buds open and leaves unfurl on tree branches; and as birdsong, sweet smells, and warmer air bring feelings of hope after the dark, cold winter.

I rejoice in this season of rebirth, grateful for my growing garden and for my family’s safety and freedom in our democratic nation. Biologist and nature writer Rachel Carson observed: “There is something infinitely healing in the repeated refrains of nature—the assurance that dawn comes after night, and spring after winter.”

This spring, there is also great sadness – the tragedy of Ukraine. Families and children are fleeing their homes to escape death and destruction: refugees from the most recent example of the utter madness of war. The courage of the people in Ukraine, and others who are risking their lives to help them, takes my breath away.

Their brave actions are inspiring millions of people around the world, as they defend their country from an existential threat.

War, climate, and fossil fuels

Like other wars in the past century, this Russo-Ukrainian conflict reveals a root cause that enables Vladimir Putin’s aggression and largely dictates the political and military responses of other countries: the control of fossil fuels. For more than 150 years, the oil, gas, and coal formed in the geological past from the remains of living organisms (fossil fuels) have powered labor-saving and life-enhancing technologies. The burning of these hydrocarbons has brought prosperity to many, but not all, and extreme wealth and power to a few.

Petroleum – its value and distribution – has become a dangerous weapon in the hands of those who crave absolute power and obscene wealth, exemplified by authoritarian petrostates like Russia, which supplies forty percent of Europe’s gas and eight percent of America’s imports. Along with international banks, Big Oil (the largest oil and gas companies) has inspired and enabled political strategies that have fueled armed conflict and now rising seas, as the planet heats. We have known these things for a long time, but – mired in disinformation and lacking political will – we have taken little more than incremental steps to achieve a safer, more peaceful, and carbon-free future.

Climate activist Bill McKibben describes the conflict in eastern Europe as “a war underwritten by oil and gas,” noting “the heart of Russia’s power… is almost entirely based on its production of gas and oil.” The late Sen. John McCain noted: “Russia is a gas station masquerading as a country.” Europe’s heavy reliance on Russian gas has placed its countries in a precarious position regarding the decisions they make to defend democratic Ukraine and themselves.

Understanding that the transition to renewables and energy security cannot be instantaneous, European countries are building liquified natural gas terminals to receive gas from other countries for near-term needs. President Biden has been urged to use the Defense Protection Act to get American manufacturers to produce cost-effective electric heat pumps in quantity for shipment to Europe, dubbed “Heat Pumps for Peace.” Experts say that a massive surge in the deployment of renewable energy (solar, wind, hydropower) could combat Russia’s grip on the world’s energy economy and fight the climate crisis. Oil and gas markets have always been volatile, while clean energy is affordable and reliable.

The European Union is moving to upscale production of renewable energy and bolster energy efficiency measures, expressed in a new ten-point plan. “What is at stake is both the need to accelerate our fight against climate change and the energy security and independence of the European continent,” said a French

Can we finally muster the collective courage – like the Ukrainian people – to defend ourselves, future generations, and our planet from the horrors of war and the devastation of a hotter world? Can we acknowledge our addiction to petroleum and support a rapid transition to renewable energy sources? Our parents and grandparents faced hardships, political upheaval, and dramatic change during the Great Depression, then World War II, to make the world a better place. Can we match their fortitude and courage to deal with the existential crises we face today, knowing that there will be personal sacrifices like those they made?

Not surprisingly, the invasion of Ukraine has triggered a push by Big Oil and its allies to ramp up fuel production, secure more subsidies, and loosen regulations to allow new domestic drilling – although thousands of approved drilling permits remain unused. Climate advocates hope that the Russo-Ukrainian war will provoke greater support for clean energy sources, including an aggressive program to develop a network of zero-emission, electric vehicles. Clean energy is not only now affordable and reliable, but also essential to the future of human habitation of our planet.

A recent report from the U.N. Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change concludes that about half of the world’s population is now “acutely vulnerable to disasters stemming from the burning of fossil fuels.” Caring about the people of Ukraine, ourselves, and the rest of the world means working to bring an eventual end to our enslavement to oil and gas. We are at a critical decision point.

As each of us commits to do what we can to help foster peace and an energysecure world, we should inspire our efforts by taking time to go outside and experience the infinite healing powers and possibilities of spring.

By Collin Kelley

Twenty-four

thanks to grant awards from Park Pride. This is Park Pride’s largest grant cycle in history, exceeding the prior year’s awards by nearly $1 million. The City of Atlanta is the program’s most recent funder, with the Atlanta City Council approving $700,000

for park improvement projects in lowincome communities.

“Every neighborhood in our city deserves access to quality greenspace, regardless of income or zip code. With this historic slate of grant awards from Park Pride, we will make progress on that goal,”

Mayor Andre Dickens said. “I believe our parks have the ability to establish community connection and the power to shape and define the character of our neighborhoods. I am honored to continue building our strong partnership with Park Pride.”

Parks receiving grants include: Adair Park, Atlanta Memorial Park, Beaverbrook Park, Candler Park, Center Hill Park, Central Park, Chastain Memorial Park, Cleopas Johnson Park, DeKalb Memorial Park, Grant Park, Herbert Taylor and Daniel Johnson Parks, Historic Fourth Ward Park, Oakland Cemetery, Lang-

Carson Park, Lenox-Wildwood Park, Lindsay Street Park, Lillian Cooper Shepherd Park, Melvin Drive Park, Peace Park, Sara J. Gonzalez Park, Lucius D. Simon Memorial Park, Springdale Park, West End Park, and Zonolite Park.

Dickens also recently announced the creation of a new advisory council he’s dubbed the “green cabinet.” The council has representatives from 13 local environmental groups who will advise the mayor on the city’s long-range parks and recreation plan adopted last year.

The cabinet will also advise the city on a parks and recreation infrastructure bond that will be put to voters in May and on how to use the South River Forest greenspace adjacent to the controversial Public Safety Training Center approved by the city last year.

City acquires land for public park to access Chattahoochee River

By Collin Kelley

The City of Atlanta has acquired nine acres of land for a new public park that will eventually have direct access to the Chattahoochee River.

Mayor Andre Dickens said in a statement that the Atlanta Department of Parks and Recreation will develop what is being called Lower Paul Park due to its location along Lower Paul Avenue in the Riverside neighborhood in northwest Atlanta.

Purchase of the land was made possible thanks to a partnerships with The Conservation Fund and Park Pride, two of the organizations who are members of the mayor’s newly announced Greenspace Advisory Council.

“Acquiring this land allows the city to provide our residents with public access to the Chattahoochee River and offer needed parkland to the Riverside community –all while preserving beautiful greenspace for future generations,” Dickens said in a statement.

The assemblage for Lower Paul Park consists of 17 greenspace properties. Through a partnership with The Conservation Fund, three parcels were donated for the assemblage by Georgia Power. The city’s purchase contributes to the Trust for Public Land’s Chattahoochee Riverlands vision – a linear, 53-mile river

corridor network of Greenways, Blueways and parks to reunite the Chattahoochee River with metro Atlanta.

Regional Counsel and Georgia and Alabama Associate State Director, Stacy Funderburke said, “The Conservation Fund is proud to once again partner with the City of Atlanta Parks Department to make the community vision for a new greenspace along the Chattahoochee River in Northwest Atlanta a reality. This fiveyear long property assemblage will now result in a vibrant new greenspace for the Riverside neighborhood and greatly increase access and recreational connectivity to the Chattahoochee River.”

The Atlanta City Council authorized the purchase of 15 of the parcels in 2021 and additional funding was made possible in part due to grants received by Park Pride and an EPA/Brownfield grant received by The Conservation Fund. Georgia Power and Riverwalk Atlanta donated properties toward the park assemblage as well.

While park specific features are being determined through a park visioning plan led by Park Pride, through continued collaboration with other property owners and stakeholders, the park is anticipated to include a Chattahoochee River Trail with direct access to the Chattahoochee River and a connection to the Whetstone Creek PATH multi-use Trail.

The Adams Park boardwalk.

ECO BRIEFS

Novelis, a global company headquartered in Atlanta, is the #1 recycler of aluminum in the world, responsible for recycling more than 74 billion cans annually. According to Beatriz Landa, VP of Metal Procurement & Recycling, Novelis is making an impact with local partnerships, such as State Farm Arena and Mercedes-Benz Stadium, where it is diverting more than 90% of its waste each game day. Another program benefits the community by using proceeds from aluminum collection to build homes for Habitat for Humanity. More at novelis.com/ sustainability.

The seventh annual Georgia Bird Fest returns April 23-May 15 with more than 40 events. Nature and bird enthusiasts will gather for field trips, workshops and events to celebrate Georgia’s spring migration period. For details and to register, visit georgiaaudubon.org/birdfest.

Live

will host a CHaRM Corporate Challenge on April 1-16. Businesses of any size and their employees are asked to bring their recycling to CHaRM, where materials will be weighed and logged. CHaRM expects to meet its Million Pound Pledge to the Earth by April 22. The pledge kicked off in January with the goal of collecting one million pounds of materials to be reused, recycled or re-engineered in time for Earth Day. Find out more at livethrive.org/charm.

▼Chattahoochee Nature Center (CNC) celebrated the grand opening and ribbon cutting of the new River Boardwalk Trail and Connection Bridge last month. The 2,000-foot river boardwalk has been restored using state-of-the-art, environmentally sustainable materials, and the pedestrian bridge over Willeo Road includes ADA-accessible ramps. The CNC main campus now connects directly to the River Boardwalk Trail, allowing visitors a safe, uninterrupted experience exploring the riverside campus. Learn more at chattnaturecenter.org.

Thrive’s Center for Hard to Recycle Materials (CHaRM)

Sowing Seeds of Hope

Food

Well Alliance brings fresh food, sustainability to neighborhoods

Markets, plus clients who use the warehouse or need cold storage – like Gangstas to Growers and Atlanta Mission,” Conner said. When access to flexible funds is needed, FWA steps in. The nonprofit just awarded 65 community gardens with a $1,500 grant and 30 urban farms with a $5,000 grant.

For Atlanta Harvest that flexibility was critical when their Jonesboro farm lease dissolved in 2020. EliYahu Ysrael asked FWA to shift their grant funds to a down payment on land in Ellenwood.

“We said ‘absolutely’” Conner shared. “This is a family farm that they own and can invest in for generations.”

The Ellenwood farm is thriving with fruit trees, added infrastructure and expanded farm stand hours.

“Opportunities for urban farms to purchase and own land within Atlanta are few and far between,” Ysrael said. “To find an organization that truly believes in us and what we want to do for our community has been a dream come true. We are so grateful to FWA for their trust in our family’s vision.”

As density and development increases,

By Clare S. Richie

Food Well Alliance (FWA), Truly Living Well Center for Natural Urban Agriculture (TLW) and WABE are hosting the 7th annual Soil Festival on Saturday, May 7, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at TLW’s urban farm in West Atlanta. Attendees will be able connect with the cycle of locally grown food through workshops, cooking demos, kids’ activities and more. Tickets are available at foodwellalliance. org.

“What excites me most is teaching people who haven’t planted before or showing them how easy it is to compost at home,” said Carol Hunter, TLW Executive Director. “We are here to teach people to grow their own food for self-sufficiency, health and helping the environment.”

Atlantans are eager to gather again and engage with local growers as evidenced by the February fruit tree sale hosted by FWA, Concrete Jungle, Community Farmers Markets and the Community Orchard Coalition.

“We had over 400 people come out to buy trees and sample food and teas made with local fruit,” said Kate Conner, FWA Executive

Director. “For us, it’s really about bringing community together and local food is the tool for that.”

With the fruit tree sales proceeds, support from The Giving Grove and a Direct Relief grant, the coalition just planted 18 new orchards that donate a percentage of fruit to those in need, including at: Campbellton Community Garden, Gardens at Camp Creek and Whitehall Terrace Community Garden.

“It was so popular we will probably open a fall application for more orchards,” Conner said. “It’s all about getting the right partners in place, figuring out the model and going from there.”

FWA is a collaborative network striving to build equitable local food systems by providing resources to local growers and engaging in policy. What started in 2015 as an idea by Jim Kennedy, chair of Cox Enterprises, and Bill Bolling, founder of the Atlanta Community Food Bank, today supports more than 120 community gardens and 35 urban farms in Fulton, DeKalb, Cobb, Gwinnett, and Clayton counties.

Working with partners, FWA offers a range of resources - tools, mechanical support, labor support, volunteers, compost,

and funding. Take labor, for example. Using sustainable farming practices is labor intensive. So FWA offers metro Atlanta farmers different options of support: a 1-to-4-person crew from Eco-PARADIGM, labor stipends to cover their own laborers or volunteer support.

“Collaboration and partnership to support this movement is huge to us,” Conner said. “Our role is bringing the resources together under one umbrella.”

FWA and Westside Future Fund have partnered to create that literal umbrella at the 970 Jefferson Street building. This former Atlanta Community Food Bank location is now a collaborative hub of offices, warehouse space and cold storage.

“What was once a giant food warehouse, accommodates many mission-aligned nonprofits, like Second Helpings Atlanta, The Giving Kitchen, Urban Recipe and Community Farmers Markets’ Fresh MARTA

other metro Atlanta’s farms and community gardens are vulnerable. That’s why, FWA works with the Atlanta Regional Commission (ARC), local growers and municipalities to ensure that urban agriculture has a voice in city planning.

“Partnering with the Food Well Alliance has been a gamechanger for urban agriculture and building a local food ecosystem here in East Point,” said East Point Mayor Deana Holiday Ingraham. “Through the guidance and support of the Food Well Alliance and Atlanta Regional Commission, we’ve established a City Agriculture Plan that provides a framework for equitable access to healthy food in East Point which can be a model for cities of similar size.” Now in the implementation phase, East Point has leveraged its $75,000 FWA grant with a $250,000 USDA grant.

The City of Alpharetta is up next and has

City of East Point Mayor Deana Holiday Ingraham (top center) gathers with Food Well Alliance staff and the East Point City Agriculture Plan Steering Committee. (Photos by Caleb Jones)

EliYahu Ysrael at Atlanta Harvest.

Kids enjoying the Soil Festival at Truly Living Well.

begun the community engagement phase, seeking to balance development with land preservation and environmental protection.

“No city is coming at it for the same reason but it’s incredibly important to get government to support the reason why they want the local food movement strong in their community,” Conner said.

With all the stories of empty shelves at grocery stores, food shortages, and delivery issues, Conner encouraged Atlantans to “meet a farmer in your neighborhood, go to a community garden, grow something in your own yard, become connected to local food because that is a hopeful movement.”

Truly Living Well Center for Natural Urban Agriculture

324 Lawton St SW foodwellalliance.org

Admission $25 for adults, $5 for youth (16 and under), and FREE for seniors and neighbors in the TLW service area: Ashview Heights, Atlanta University Center, Bankhead, Capitol View, Capitol View Manor, English Avenue/Vine City, Hunter Hills, Just Us, Mozley Park, Washington Park, West End, and Westview.

Waterworks park The Hill reopens after 26 years

By Collin Kelley

Atlanta Mayor

Andre Dickens recently helped plant an oak tree on The Hill, marking the opening of one of the highest points in the city to the public for the first time in 26 years.

Upper Westside Community Improvement District Executive Director Elizabeth Hollister, Commissioner of Atlanta Watershed Mikita Browning and City Council members Dustin Hillis, Byron Amos and Matt Westmoreland joined in ceremonially opening the two-acre greenspace at the Atlanta Hemphill Waterworks on Howell Mill Road at 17th Street.

With views of the Downtown, Midtown and Buckhead skylines, the park had been fenced off from the public due to terrorism concerns since Atlanta hosted the Centennial Olympic Games in 1996.

Last year, Park Pride awarded a $100,000 legacy grant to create a water-themed learning landscape and amphitheater on the site.

City plans call for making the site accessible through sidewalk improvements, and the Upper Westside Improvement District is requesting a crosswalk at the traffic light at Howell Mill and 17th.

Mayor Andre Dickens, Upper Westside CID members, and city officials at the opening of The Hill.

Choosing Chosewood

Massive mixed-use development planned for southern BeltLine

By Collin Kelley

Kaplan Residential and Origin Investments have acquired a 40-acre parcel near the southern portion of the Atlanta BeltLine in Chosewood Park with plans to build more than 2,000 multifamily units along with 150,000 square feet of commercial space.

Located at 500 Sawtell Avenue, the developers said in a press release that the project would be a “transformative, master-planned project presented in multiple phases” to create a “neighborhood village.”

The first phase will have 700 townhomes and apartments, according to the press release. The site plan and renderings show multiple pocket parks

and a “village center” with a water feature.

Kaplan Residential and Origin investments said they have tapped experiential retail consultants at Revel, which consulted on Krog Street Market and The Interlock, to create concepts that include a variety of local restaurants with outdoor seating, coffee shops, a wellness center, dedicated areas for revolving food trucks, pet amenities, collaborative co-working centers, and an entertainment space.

Residents will also have access to “Club Sawtell,” which will be equipped with state-of-the-art fitness, wellness, coworking, and lifestyle amenities.

Groundbreaking on the initial stage is slated for the fourth quarter of this year.

Design ADAC returns April 26-28

Atlanta Decorative Arts Center in Peachtree Hills will hold its annual three-day market, Design ADAC, April 26 –28 with a host of regional and national design professionals and enthusiasts.

Presented in association with Veranda magazine, the festival will feature presentations, parties, book signings, and product launches.

The free-to-attend celebration will feature interior designers, experts, tastemakers, and authors including Mally Skok, Lia Shin, Bunny Williams, Corey Damen Jenkins, Aldous Bertram, Erika Ward, James Farmer, and Maggie Griffin, and many more.

“Giving life to traditional statement pieces and styling

them with modern classics while still being thoughtful about sourcing and sustainability is not a trend, it’s a design philosophy,” said ADAC General Manager Katie Miner. “We’re excited to dive deeper into the stories that shape the design, the origin of these treasures, the materials used, and the craftsmanship behind the work. This year is also special as we will be recognizing major anniversaries for PINDLER, Century Furniture and VERANDA, and what better way to do that than in person, together at market.”

For registration and to see the full schedule of events, visit adacatlanta.com.

Renderings of the Chosewood Park development. (Courtesy Kaplan Residential)

Celebrating Parks for All People

Frederick Law Olmsted, considered the father of landscape architecture, designed some of America’s most preeminent greenspaces: Central Park in New York City, Prospect Park in Brooklyn, the Emerald Necklace in Boston, the grounds of the Biltmore Estate in Asheville, and the grounds of the United States Capitol in Washington D.C.

In 1892, while finishing the Biltmore Estate, Olmsted was invited to Atlanta by developer Joel Hurt to design his latest planned community, Druid Hills. The centerpiece of the neighborhood would be a series of linear parks along Ponce de Leon Avenue. It would be Olmsted’s last commission before his death in 1903.

As with all his designs, Olmsted’s main goal, no matter what and where he was working, was to attempt to change American society for the better. He used his landscape designs to promote harmony, health and social democracy and believed that parks and greenspace were a place for all people to come together, build community and connect on common ground.

A group of neighborhood organizations has come together to represent Druid Hills as part of the National Birthday Celebration for Olmsted’s 200th Birthday. The group is comprised of representatives and volunteers from Olmsted Linear Park Alliance, Druid Hills Civic Association, Emory Village Alliance, Olmsted Plein Air Invitational, Druid Hills Golf Club, South Fork Conservancy, The Frazier Center, Callanwolde Fine Arts Center, The Lullwater Garden Club, Fernbank, Emory University, and the schools and churches within Druid Hills.

Olmsted’s 200th birthday will be celebrated at the spaces he designed across America this year. Turn the page to find out more about the celebratory events in Druid Hills.

Collin Kelley

A series of events are planned in April to commemorate the 200th birthday of Druid Hills designer Frederick Law Olmsted. Mark your calendar for these and be sure to visit atlantaolmsteadpark.org/olmsted200 to find even more by partner organizations.

Olmsted 200 Tennis Tournament

Olmsted Linear Park Association is partnering with the Druid Hills Golf Club to host the Olmsted 200 Tennis Tournament to benefit the park and commemorate Frederick Law Olmsted’s 200th birthday on April 25. The tournament will have two sessions: 5 to 6:30 p.m. and 6:30 to 8 p.m. This is a mixed doubles event limited to 44 players each session, so register early to reserve your slot. Players will be partnered up by their USTA level unless specified otherwise. This is a fun, charitable event and each registrant will receive a swag bag. Food and drinks will also be available. Register at atlantaolmstedpark.org.

Historic Druid Hills Home & Garden Tour

Twelve historic homes and gardens in the Olmsted-designed Druid Hills neighborhood will be showcased at the 52nd annual event, which returns after a two-year pandemic hiatus. Find out more about the tour and homes on page 38 and purchase tickets at Eventbrite.com.

Olmsted Plein Air Invitational

Painters will be setting up their easels around Intown from April 16 - 24 for the 8th annual Olmsted Plein Air Invitational. The painting extravaganza will offer a series of experiential and educational events for artists, collectors, and admirers. Painting sessions will be held in the invitational’s namesake, Olmsted Linear Park in Druid Hills. For more details, visit olmstedpleinair.com.

Olmsted Linear Park Artists Market

Head over to Dellwood Park from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on April 30 for great shopping from local artisans, kids’ activities and more.

Continued on page 32

Continued from page 30

Olmsted 200th Birthday Gala at Callanwolde

Celebrate Olmsted’s birthday in style on April 26 from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. at this black-tie optional soiree at the Callanwolde Fine Arts Center, 980 Briarcliff Road. The evening will featuring live jazz music from Joe Gransden and culinary treats by Zest, along with beer and wine options. The event will be both indoors and outdoors, with COVID-19 protocols in place. Tickets range from $125 to $500 and are available at Eventbrite. com.

MILLION-DOLLAR MARKETING IN ALL PRICE

Jared Sapp is truly excellent at what he does. After taking his recommendations to best prepare our home, we had multiple escalating offers within days of going on the market. The whole process was seamless and fast. I would highly recommend Jared to anyone looking to sell in Morningside. - JULIE

560 BISMARK ROAD OFFERED FOR $1,249,000

878 PEACHTREE STREET, NO. 419 OFFERED FOR $325,000

905 JUNIPER STREET, NO. 213 OFFERED FOR $649,000

1174 ST. CHARLES PLACE OFFERED FOR $1,250,000

2881 PEACHTREE ROAD, NO. 2405 OFFERED FOR $1,499,000

1779 NOBLE DRIVE, LOT OFFERED FOR $649,000

516 WIMBLEDON ROAD 2022 NEW CONSTRUCTION 419 WIMBLEDON ROAD 2022 NEW CONSTRUCTION

400 OLD IVY ROAD

8957 OLD SOUTHWICK PASS OFFERED FOR $3,500,000

During these uncertain times, HammerSmith is here for you and your family. We provide safe, essential services, architectural designs and home renovations. Start planning today for how to live better in a changed world.

Frederick Law Olmsted (FLO) was a 19th-century innovator, author, city planner and founder of landscape architecture whose remarkable landscape designs have literally changed the face of America.

Olmsted and the Olmsted Firm developed beautiful and functional landscapes throughout the nation, including parks and parkway systems, diverse recreation areas, college and institutional campuses, urban and suburban areas, planned communities, estates, cemeteries and specialized landscapes for arboreta and expositions. Olmsted envisioned the preservation of America’s great scenic features for the enjoyment of all Americans and his son (FLO, Jr.) played a critical role in the creation of the National Park System.

Olmsted and the Olmsted Firm undertook nearly 6,000 projects over a period of 100 years. These designs can still be enjoyed coast to coast – from New York’s Central Park to Palos Verdes in California. These landscapes are part of America’s cultural heritage.

“Communitiveness,” a word coined by Olmsted, was the bringing together of groups and individuals for the betterment of all. Nothing exemplifies that more than Olmstead Linear Park, the centerpiece of the Druid Hills neighborhood.

The park is divided into six segments –Springdale, Virgilee, Oak Grove, Shadyside, Dellwood, and Deepdene – along Ponce de Leon Avenue. Children ride their bikes, exercise enthusiasts run along the paved pathways, and dogs and their owners enjoy a leisurely stroll through the old-growth forest. Some of the trees in the park are more than 275 years old.

Sandra Stewart Kruger, executive director of the Olmsted Linear Park Alliance (OLPA), said the 45-acres of greenspace had proven, once again, their vitalness to not only Druid Hills but the entire city.

“The park has been a wonderful oasis for visitors who needed to be outside, spend time with their families, and shake off the COVID-19 mess,” Kruger said. “We even had home school and pop-up classrooms.”

It’s hard to believe that the lush park was ever considered disposable, but after decades of neglect, the park was almost lost to a highway project.

“The state thought the park wasn’t important because it had become a place to avoid,” Kruger said. “There had been erosion, people parked their cars in there, modifications that weren’t part of Olmsted’s design had been made, and it was just dilapidated.”

In 1997, the OLPA was formed as a public-private partnership to return the park to Olmsted’s original vision. Through a series of capital campaigns, OLPA raised more than $10 million to ensure the restoration and preservation of the park.

Kruger calls Olmsted a visionary.

“There are all these spaces across the nation we have today because of his vision,” she said. “Olmsted was an abolitionist, fought for social justice, and believed parks and greenspaces should be accessible for everyone. That is definitely something to celebrate in the environment we are in today.”

For more about the OLPA, visit atlantaolmsteadpark.org.

‘Communitiveness’

Olmsted’s last park was almost lost, but the community rallied to save it 8

Hammersmith Proudly presents the 2022 Druid Hills Home & Garden Tour

HammerSmith is here for you and your family. We provide exceptional architectural designs and home renovations. Start planning today for how to live better in an ever-changing world.

The 52nd annual Historic Druid Hills Home & Garden Tour coincides perfectly with the Olmsted 200 celebration with a showcase of 12 of the neighborhood’s most notable dwellings.

According to tour organizer Kit Eisterhold, a real estate advisor with Engel & Volkers Atlanta, this year’s tour has some of Druid Hills’ most beautiful homes, including the “Driving Miss Daisy” house at 822 Lullwater Road.

Now owned by Jim and Cyndy Roberts, the Tudorstyle home has been virtually unchanged since it was built in 1920 and when it was used as the home of the title character in the Academy Award-winning film starring Jessica Tandy and Morgan Freeman.

maples. Golf legend Bobby Jones was married in that garden.”

Famed architect Neel Reid designed the French Manor home at 1348 Fairview, which Eisterhold calls “one of the finest in the neighborhood.” It was originally owned by an heir to Rich’s Department Store.

For Tour & Ticket information

Another noted architect, Arthur Neil Robinson, designed the Tudor at 1296 Fairview, which comes with a scandalous history. Eisterhold said C.S. Carnes, an accountant for the Southern Baptist Convention, bought the home with embezzled funds that in today’s dollars would amount to more than $12 million.

Eisterhold described the Tudor-style “estate home” at 1741 S. Ponce, which faces Olmsted Linear Park, as a “showstopper.”

Eisterhold said another tour-stop not to miss is the garden at 797 Springdale. “It’s famous in the neighborhood for having tensof-thousands of bulbs planted and Japanese

Tour hours are 1 to 5 p.m. on April 29; 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on April 30; and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on May 1. Tickets are $35 and available via Eventabrite.

797 Springdale

956 Springdale

2026 North Ponce

2016 North Ponce

1200 Ponce

822 Lullwater

1741 South Ponce

995 Springdale

1783 South Ponce

Your Next Home Could Be In… Duluth

By Collin Kelley

Where is it? 25 miles northeast of Downtown in Gwinnett County. It’s about a 40-minute drive up I-85.

What’s the history? Like many small Georgia towns, Duluth owes its existence to the railroad. Originally known as Howell Crossing after an early settler it was renamed Duluth after Congress passed legislation allowing a railroad line to be built that would connect the town to Duluth, Minnesota.

What are some local attractions? The Southern Railway Museum is a treat for kids and adults. There are 90 locomotives, Pullman cars, cabooses, and other rolling stock spread over 30-acres. Duluth also borders the Chattahoochee River and has an abundance of parks, including 45-acre Bunten Road Park with its sports facilities, and Rogers Bridge Park, which has the historic remains of a steel bridge spanning the river. Duluth Town Green is a popular gathering spot for concerts, festivals, and

events. If you’re a fan of “Stranger Things,” be sure to check out nearby Gwinnett Place Mall, which doubled as Starcourt Mall in the Netflix series.

What about the dining scene?

The city has cultivated quite the dining scene, thanks to the multitude of Asian restaurants (pho, hot pot, Korean barbecue, bubble tea) along nearby Pleasant Hill Road. In downtown Duluth you’ll also find Dreamland BBQ, Good Word Brewing & Public House, Nacho Daddy, The Chocolaterie, and Maple Street Biscuit Company, outposts of O4W Pizza and Pure Taqueria, Truck & Tap, Sweet Octopus, Simply Done Donuts and more.

What about homes? At press time, there was a wide variety of single-family homes that can be had from the mid-$200,000s up to $1 million plus. You can also snag a townhome or condo in the mid $200,000s.

Southern Railway Museum

Downtown Duluth

Good Wood Brewing

A home for sale in Duluth

REAL ESTATE BRIEFS

▲A 292-unit apartment building called Vibe is under construction at the mixed-use Echo Street West development on the Westside. According to a press release on the project, 20% of the units will be listed as affordable at 80% area median income (AMI). Amenities at Vibe will include a “maker’s room,” pet spa, podcast studio, and nearly 4,000 square feet of rooftop space. Pre-leasing will begin later this summer with first resident move-ins slated for the end of the year.

Compass of Greater Atlanta has launched its regional Luxury Division in the metro market. The regional division was developed to market elite properties with resources such as custom campaigns, property branding, specialized advertising/media outreach, sophisticated marketing materials, and networking events. Find out more at luxuryatcompass.com/atlanta.

Dorsey Alston, Realtors is celebrating its 75th anniversary this year. Roy Dorsey and Robert Alston founded the company in 1947. For years, transactions by Dorsey and a handful of agents drove the company. When businessman Paul Rogers acquired it in 1986 there were less than 20 agents who represented clients in Buckhead and Ansley Park exclusively from an office on Howell Mill Road. Michael Rogers became just the third owner in the company’s long history following the passing of his father. “For 75 years, Dorsey Alston has been a part of the fabric of Atlanta’s neighborhoods,” Michael Rogers said. “The keys to our longevity and our success are our agents and our staff, which we put first in everything we do. Our culture is our number one priority.”

Engel & Völkers Atlanta came in first place as the Highest Fundraising Team by collecting $28,343 at the 2022 Polar Plunge for Special Olympics Georgia at Lake Allatoona. Broker Scott Askew was the Highest Fundraising Individual, and Morningside resident and Realtor Ken Covers raised over $9,000. The brave plungers from Engel & Völkers Atlanta who also braved the frigid water were Tammy Bult, Sacha Rady, Ricky Russert, James Robbins, Robbie Roberts, Josh Moss, Anna Felton, and Samantha Parsons-Jones.

▲Toll Brothers has announced the opening of Park 108, a boutique community of 33 condominium residences in Decatur. Home buyers are invited to visit the sales center located at 2600 Talley Street. The development has studio, one- and two-bedroom home designs ranging from 504 to 1,364 square feet and are priced from the mid-$200,000s. Park108 features a blend of modern design while preserving the authentic characteristics of the 1930s building, which was originally home to the Southern Bell telephone switchboard. Find out more by visiting tollbrothers.com/GA.

▲The Southeastern Designer Showhouse & Gardens returns April 14 to May 8 at the stunning home at 3628 Castlegate Drive NW in Buckhead. The custom-built, 9,300-square-foot home was inspired by vacation properties in Cape Cod and Jackson Hole. The work of top interior and landscape designers will be on view during the tour, which will take place Thursdays-Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Sundays from 1-4 p.m. Visit southeasternshowhouse.com for tickets and details.

◄Developer Kolter Urban has selected Atlanta Fine Homes Sotheby’s International Realty to lead sales at The Dillon, a new luxury condo project in Buckhead. A temporary sales gallery is open at 2451 Peachtree Road. The Dillion features 144 homes over 18 floors. For more information about The Dillon, visit thedillonbuckhead. com.

The Intown Office of Harry Norman, REALTORS® is pleased to announce the newest addition to our team, The King + Hamilton Group. Courtney Benjamin and Angie Hamilton have been top performing REALTORS® in the Atlanta market for many years and in February of 2022 they decided to join the established brand of Harry Norman REALTORS®. Their dedication to their clients, community, and professional growth is exactly what we look for when adding to our REALTOR® family and we could not be more honored that they have joined us.

Please help us in welcoming them!

Fresh Eats

Metro farmers markets offer produce, homemade foods and more

By Sammie Purcell

It’s finally spring, and a host of local farmers markets have reopened. If you are looking for fresh produce, artisan foods and handmade goods, check out our handy guide for where to go in your neighborhood.

Freedom Farmers Market

Located next to the Freedom Park Trail at the Carter Center, this farmers market is open year-round on Saturdays from 8:30 a.m. to noon. Freedom Farmers’ Market offers a plethora of products, from fresh produce to grass-fed meats and delicious coffee. Information: freedomfarmersmkt. org.

Green Market at Piedmont Park

The 2022 Green Market at Piedmont Park returned March 26 and will run every Saturday, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. until Dec. 10. Guests can peruse through local farmers’ products, jams, preserves, and other artisan goods. Information: piedmontpark.org/green-market.

East Atlanta Village Farmers Market

The East Atlanta Village Farmers Market returned March 31 and continues each Thursday, from 4-8 p.m. until Nov. 17. Open since 2006, this farmers market features multiple local vendors, artisans, and farmers. Whether you’re looking for fresh bread or homemade soap, you’re sure to find it here. The market is located at 572 Stokeswood Ave. Information: cfmatl.org/ eav.

Morningside Farmers Market

Located at Morningside Presbyterian Church, this local market is open year round every Saturday, from 8-11:30 a.m. The market prioritizes local farmers, chefs, and artisans, and offers organic, high-quality food. On April 23, “Greens, Eggs, & Jam” will feature spring veggies, fresh food, kid’s activities, and live music. Information: morningsidemarket.com.

Grant Park Farmers Market

Grant Park Farmers Market is open year-

round every Sunday, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. The current location of the market is The Beacon Atlanta at 1040 Grant Street. Visitors will find locally grown vegetables, artisan foods, and plenty of picnic space to enjoy their purchases. Information: cfmatl. org/grantpark.

Peachtree Road Farmers Market

Peachtree Road Farmers Market opened on March 5 and will be open on Saturdays, from 8:30 a.m. to noon until Dec. 17. Located at the Cathedral of St. Philip, the Peachtree Road market features organic farm produce and sustainable, ethically sourced goods. Information: peachtreeroadfarmersmarket.com.

Decatur Farmers Market

The Decatur Farmers Market opened March 31 and will run every Wednesday,

from 4-7 p.m. until Nov. 16. The market is located at 308 Clairmont Ave., and this year will feature twice as many vendors, according to a spokesperson. Those vendors will include fresh fruits, vegetables, and artisan goods. Information: cfmatl.org/ decatur.

Oakhurst Farmers Market

The Oakhurst Farmers Market is open year-round through Dec. 19 every Saturday, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. The market is located at Sceptre Brewing Arts at 630 East Lake Drive in Decatur and offers fresh produce, meats and delicious baked goods. Information: cfmatl.org/oakhurst.

Ponce City Farmers Market

Ponce City Farmers Market opened March 30 and runs every Wednesday, from 4-8 p.m. until Oct. 26. The market is located at “The Trestle,” which is situated outside

of Ponce City Market at 675 Ponce de Leon Ave. The market is easily accessible to pedestrians and cyclists on the Beltline and has offerings from artisan foodmakers, urban farmers, and the occasional pop-up chef. Information: cfmatl.org/poncecity.

Avondale Estates Farmers Market

Located at 22 N. Avondale Road, the market is open year-round on Sundays from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. offering produce, freshly prepared food, baked goods, flowers, plants, and more. Information: avondaleestatesfarmersmarket.org.

Brookhaven Farmers Market

Located at 1375 Fernwood Circle NE, the Brookhaven Farmers Market opened on March 19 and will run every Saturday, from 9 a.m. to noon through November. The market offers healthy, locally produced choices to visitors. Information: brookhavenfarmersmarket.com.

Emory Farmers Market

The Emory Farmers Market opened on Feb. 1 and will run every Tuesday, from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. on McDonough Plaza until May 3. The market features fresh produce, artisan breads, organic coffee, and plenty of options for lunch. Information: dining. emory.edu.

Sandy Springs Farmers Market

The Sandy Springs Farmers Market is expected to open on April 9 and run every Saturday, from 8:30 a.m. to noon until Nov. 12. The market is located at 1 Galambos Way and features a unique selection of vendors with fresh produce and artisan foods. Information: citysprings.com/ farmersmarket.

Dunwoody Farmers Market

The Dunwoody Farmers Market opened on March 5 and will remain open through the end of the year every Saturday, from 9 a.m. to noon at Brook Run Park. The market is sponsored by the Dunwoody Homeowners Association and features organic coffee, fresh-baked bread, local vendors and more. Information: dunwoodga.org/dunwoodyfarmers-market.

Buckhead residents Sevil Paksoy and Yesim Ozbarlas buy produce from Jeff Anthony, owner of Pinewood Springs Farm, at the Peachtree Road Farmers Market.

(Photo by Isadora Pennington)

RESTAURANT RADAR

We’ve got a super-sized edition of our regular food feature to bring you up to speed on what’s open and what’s on the way.

Open Now

▲Bastone

Chef-owner Pat Pascarella (Grana, The White Bull) has opened his latest concept in West Midtown at 887 Howell Mill Road NW offering hand-stretched mozzarella, pastas, Italian wines & craft cocktails. Info: bastoneatlanta.com.

The Queso Shop

Takeout tacos and queso at 2907 N. Druid Hills Road featuring a self-service ordering Taco ATM. Info: thequesotruck.com.

Sweetgreen

Salad and grain bowl chain has opened at the emerging Star Metals development at 1050 Howell Mill Road. Find out more @ sweetgreen on IG.

Coming Soon

▲El Valle

Upscale, contemporary Mexican cuisine is on the menu at the newly-opened restaurant and wine bar at 800 Peachtree St. in the former Escorpion space at Cornerstone Village. Info: @elvalleatl on IG.

▲Slabtown Public House

Chef Kevin Gillespie will open his new concept in the former Cold Beer Space along the Atlanta BeltLine Eastside Trail in Old Fourth Ward. The menu will feature casual pub food and ‘greatest hits” from Gillespie’s other eateries. variety of draft, canned, and bottled beers as well as craft cocktails. The new restaurant was slated to open in April.

▲The Americano

Following the success of the 2020 opening of its first location in Scottsdale, AZ, twotime James Beard Award-winning Chef Scott Conant will open second location of the contemporary Italian restaurant at the InterContinental Buckhead Atlanta this spring. Info: theamericanorestaurant.com.

▲Rooftop L.O.A.

Inspired by the lavish resort locations of Mykonos, Monaco and the Amalfi coast, Slater Hospitality’s 21+ rooftop experience is slated to open early this spring in on top of The Interlock in West Midtown. The restaurant will serve a coastal European menu alongside a resort-style swimming pool (both indoor and outdoor), and a bar/ lounge called The Grove. Info: rooftoploa. com.

Later

El Gordo

A second location of the Marietta-based restaurant will open on Main Street in the Uptown Atlanta development (formerly known as Lindbergh City Center) this summer featuring a variety of traditional street tacos.

Atlanta Breakfast Club

Osiris Ballard and Executive Chef Anthony Sanders will open a third location of the breakfast/brunch (French toast, breakfast tacos, pancakes, etc) destination this summer in a two-story space at Atlantic Station. Upstairs will be a new concept called The Club offering “world street food.” Info: @_atlantabreakfastclub on IG.

Larakin

This Midtown wine and coffee bar is set to open in the summer on 12th Street near Piedmont Park this summer. Coffee, espresso, wines by the bottle and glass, as well as a breakfast and lunch menu. Info: @ larakinatl on IG.

Breaker Breaker

Casual seafood and drinks are coming to the new Stein Steel development in Reynoldstown along the Atlanta BeltLine Eastside Trail this fall. Info: @ breakerbreaker_atl on IG.

▲AMICI

Hand-tossed gourmet pizzas, calzones, pastas, hot wings and appetizers, salads, soups, and hot sandwiches are on the menu at this new joint at The Mark, a new a student housing building near Georgia Tech at 955 Spring St. Info: amici-cafe.com/ midtown.

►Adele’s

This “farm-to-fork” restaurant opens this spring in a repurposed 1930’s car garage at 525 Edgewood Ave. in Old Fourth Ward. Executive Chef Hannah Young will run the open kitchen, sourcing her seasonal menu from local vendors and area farms. Info: @ adelesrestaurant on IG.

El Malo

Set to open in late 2022 at Atlanta Dairies on Memorial Drive, this rum bar and music concept is the brainchild of restaurateur Omar Ferrer and beverage director Gabe Bowen.

Spring in the vineyards

Women + Wine

Katie Rice & Sarah Pierre

and minimal oak. While tasting with Pam, it was apparent the care she puts into her bottles, but also her love of the vineyards she sources from. Her belief is “the best wine comes from the best growers.” This connection to the agricultural side sparked a conversation about the importance of this time of year.

Where the action is

The action in the vineyard in early spring revolves around the proliferation of the vines. Grapevines inherently want to grow up and out. A good vineyard manager maintains balance.

Older vines are easy, they know where to go,” Walden said. “It is important to access them for an optimum return. Overgrowth can lead to vegetative characteristics, but if you push them too much, they begin to struggle and not produce.”

Again, it is all in the balance.

Buds, frost & flowering

Bud break is another important component that occurs from March to April in the Northern Hemisphere. Pam points out that wineries love this phase because “it makes for great pics on social media!”

as well as using a sprinkler system to keep the plants damp enough to not freeze.

Between 40 and 80 days later, the next process is the flowering which leads to fruit set. Temperatures need to be consistent and between 59 and 68F for these fickle plants to produce. This is the time when the vintners pray on the weather… but that is for another article.

To round out our interview, we discussed with Pam the future of Willamette Valley.

“Oregon Chardonnay has come a long way. New clones are being planted that are producing some awesome wines,” Pam mused.

She also highlighted some unexpected wines that are coming out including Pinot Blanc, Cabernet Franc, Gamay, and Tempranillo. There are some future challenges including the amount of fruit being sent to California to make up for their lower yields. More demand is leading to newer areas being planted in Oregon, leading to a cultivation of both new grapes and new opportunities for us to have more wines to drink.

Cheers to the spring and all that 2022 has to offer!

Katie’s Wine Pick

2020 Willful Wine Co. Jezebel Pinot Noir from Oregon

Spring has arrived! In wine making regions, spring means new wine is on the horizon. It may be the most important season of the year when it comes to the vineyard’s life cycles – it is the birth of a new vintage.

One of the best parts of our job is meeting the people who make the wines we get to sell. Every week, we taste unique offerings with our partners and choose new bottles for the shelves and for tastings. Sometimes, we are lucky enough to have the actual people who make the wine pour for us.

Recently, Katie met Pam Walden, owner and winemaker of Willful Wines from Willamette, Oregon. Pam started in the wine business in 2000 and became the sole winemaker in 2009, producing around 5,000 cases annually. She creates wines with the intention of focusing on fruit and terroir using low intervention

“Balance and structure are the building blocks of a well-done vineyard,” Pam said. “How the vines look is important.”

This time of the year is great to assess overall plant health. Extreme weather from the last vintage can affect the growth patterns of the next season. Too much heat, sun or stress can overtax the plants, slowing new growth. The vineyard workers look for well formed, healthy shoots and remove poor, spindly ones to allow the overall vine to use its energy for only producing strong grapes. These are the plant’s seeds and their whole reason for being.

In a trellised vineyard, the support of the vines comes from the stakes and wires. A first step is tucking the new canes that first begin to grow. Young vines especially need training to keep them contained.

“It is about balancing the growth. The young vines need to be kept contained.

This is when small nodes begin to form along the canes, which eventually become leaves. The vines are emerging from their dormant winter slumber. This is also the most susceptible time for the vines. Hail and frost are the two biggest concerns.

“Hail can knock off buds and flowers and damage the new shoots leading to a minimal yield. In 2003 we had hail in May that significantly hurt the vintage,” Pam recalled.

Frost can also be a factor but is not common in Willamette. However, in lower lying valley floors and cooler regions like Napa Valley, California and Bordeaux, France it is an issue. As we have seen with the peach industry in Georgia, frost can drastically damage output and damage the delicate new buds. There are different techniques to alleviate frost damage including contained fires burned in the rows

Pam Walden’s entry Pinot Noir is made in the challenging 2020 vintage. This wine is classic and with fresh acidity and pressed, dark cherry notes. The wine is medium bodied with a smooth, lingering finish. It out drinks it’s $20 price point.

Rice owns VinoTeca in Inman Park and Pierre owns 3 Parks Wine Shop in Glenwood Park..

Willful Wines in Willamette, Oregon

Willful Wines owner Pam Walden

QUICK BITES

Annual fundraising event Dining Out for Life returns April 27 to support Open Hand Atlanta. Atlantans are encouraged to dine-in at one of the more than 50 participating restaurants or enjoy take-out, curbside pick-up, or delivery. Since 1993, Atlanta-area restaurants have joined together in raising over $3 million in support of Open Hand’s mission to provide community members with healthy meals and nutrition education. This year’s restaurants include Atlanta favorites such as Guac y Margy’s, The General Muir, Local Three, Max Lager’s, Agave and more. A full list of participating restaurant partners can be found at diningoutforoh.org.

Food-focused hotel, Epicurean Atlanta, has announced the Alex Amato as the new General Manager. The seasoned hotelier most recently worked as food and beverage director at Loews Atlanta.

◄Paul Martin is the new executive chef at The Southern Gentleman in Buckhead. Martin, previously with Ray’s at Killer Creek, is adding bold flavors, seasonal fruits and vegetables, and Southerninspired plates for dinner, brunch, and dessert.

Recess has reopened at Krog Street Market in Inman Park for lunch and early dinner (noon to 7 p.m.) with a refreshed menu of bowls and salads. A second location is planned for Buckhead this summer. More details at eatrecess.com.

►Delbar, the Middle Eastern restaurant in Inman Park, has launched weekend brunch service every Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The menu includes Middle Eastern brunch fare and Turkish-style breakfast platters to share, plus house-baked sweets and savory treats, brunch cocktails and coffee service. Delbar will open a second location in Buckhead soon. See the menu at delbaratl.com.

James Beard Nominees

The James Beard Foundation has named its 2022 award finalists, which include some familiar Atlanta names and restaurants. Winners will be announced in June.

Outstanding Pastry Chef

Chef Claudia Martinez from Miller Union

Outstanding Restaurateur

Chef Kevin Gillespie and Red Beard

Restaurants for Gunshow and Revival

Outstanding Hospitality

Ticonderoga Club at Krog Street Market

Also of note: The Asheville, NC location of Chai Pani, which has an outpost in Decatur, is up for Outstanding Restaurant.

Lights! Action! Camera!

Georgia Film Academy aims to shift state beyond ‘Hollywood of South’ label

are making sure we have a permanent, sustainable workforce.”

When the academy opened in 2016, there were fewer than 100 students enrolled in colleges in Gwinnett and Clayton counties and Columbus. Today, there are roughly 11,000 people enrolled in 29 state colleges and universities. The academy’s flagship campus is at Trilith Studios in Fayetteville, where students gain hands-on training.

Sonja Chappell, 22, enrolled in the academy in 2020 while attending the University of West Georgia. She’s now a production assistant on a Marvel film and works on set designs, costumes, and even fetching lunch for staff.

“The classes I took through the academy really helped me narrow down the department I wanted to work in,” she said. “I am horrible at post-production, but I am very skilled when it comes to painting and detail work.

“I wouldn’t trade my experience with the Georgia Film Academy program for anything. That program shaped me into the person I am and helped me get an amazing job doing what I love,” she said.

A new graduate program focuses on content creation, such as script and screen

By Dyana Bagby

Georgia’s booming film and television industry brought in a whopping $4 billion to its economy last year. But state officials want more than to rake in record amounts of money. They want the Peach State to be a national star of the lucrative entertainment industry.

That’s where the Georgia Film Academy comes in. The Georgia Film Academy is not one building like many traditional film schools. Rather it is a collaboration of the University System of Georgia and the Technical College System of Georgia. Students can take classes from more than 20 institutions, such as UGA or Dalton College, on everything from how to rig lights on a film set to costume making and set design to post-production editing.

“The unprecedented growth of the film and television industry is due to the unprecedented growth of our workforce,” says Georgia Film Academy Executive Director Jeffrey Stepakoff. “We

Jeffrey Stepakoff was appointed executive director of the Georgia Film Academy in 2015.

Georgia Film Academy students must take an Introduction to On-Set Film Production course that includes learning about video cameras.

writing. The idea is to build a complete entertainment industry “ecosystem” in the state, Stepakoff says.

Georgia’s film industry took off more than a decade ago when lawmakers approved generous tax incentives to lure major production companies from California and New York. Then studios began building more than 100 sound stages in and around metro Atlanta, including two of the largest in the country.

These vast warehouses provide the infrastructure and space needed to make feature film blockbusters such as Marvel’s “Ant Man” and “Black Panther.” Georgia’s film and TV industry soared from $25 million a year to last year’s $4 billion. The exponential growth and success earned Georgia the title as the “Hollywood of the South.”

But Stepakoff says Georgians are now running the industry, rather

than outsiders from California, due in large part to rapid growth of the film academy and the graduates taking over jobs once held by out-of-state film and television experts.

“We are no longer interested in being known as the ‘Hollywood of the South,’” he said. “One day, perhaps Hollywood will be known as the Georgia of the West.”

More information: www. georgiafilmacademy. edu

Post-production editing tools and techniques are taught to Georgia Film Academy students interested in pursuing careers as assistant editors.

Woodcut Wonders: The whimsical artwork of Noosh

By Isadora Pennington

Hunched over an angled surface in his home studio, local artist Chris “Noosh” Neuenschwander is hard at work. The rhythmic sound of metal scraping against wood is enough to lull me into a trance as I watch Neuenschwander’s hands transform a block of wood into a work of art. Slowly, an image emerges. On the day that I visited he was working on a series of cats. Next to him, a completed woodcut of a tabby cat smiles while looking up at a balloon, the letter M emblazoned on its forehead.

It is here, in the tranquility of a basement transformed into a multifaceted workspace, that Neuenschwander produces his works. His woodcut art almost exclusively depicts animals, although a pirate or Viking might occasionally appear. They are often humorous, sometimes interactive, and infused with a sense of playfulness. The creatures have exaggerated features, and some include references to pop culture. Hanging on the walls, select works are painted in bright, vibrant colors.

Neuenschwander is a woodcut artist. He transfers designs from his mind to a sketch and then later onto a piece of wood which he meticulously carves until a finished design emerges. In a corner is a shelf stacked high with rolled up t-shirts that climb all the way to the ceiling. A sewing machine, embroidery machine, and three presses are within arm’s reach. A towering shelf is laden with finished woodcut designs, an impressive tribute to his long career as a working artist.

His pursuit of woodcut art began when he was a student at Kennesaw State University. “I took a printmaking class and the technique really just worked with the way my brain works,” explained Neuenschwander. “My brain sees a lot of

lines, it doesn’t really see changes in value, it sees lines and weird shapes and texture. The way the technique works is it becomes instantly graphic once you print it.”

You see, woodcut artwork is a subtractive technique. Or, rather, it’s additive, then subtractive, and then additive again. First Neuenschwander begins with an idea. For a long while he started by drawing on paper in a sketchbook, but eventually that gave way to creating digital sketches on his tablet.

Neuenschwander digitally refines the design, figures out how big he wants it to be, and uses a projector to aid in transferring the design into a hand-drawn rendering on wood. From there, he cuts the wood to fit the image dimensions using a jigsaw or a scroll saw and paints the edges before moving onto the tedious part: the hand carving.

While some of his pieces are tiny and others are huge, he says the average piece is around 14 inches tall and pieces that size typically take between three to five hours to carve by hand. After this process the designs are ready to be either painted as a finished wood art piece or used in a press to create prints on paper, shirts, and other materials.

“I use birch, that is my most popular question,” says Neuenschwander with a laugh. When he first began working in this medium, he primarily used fibreboard. While this was an easy medium for carving, he eventually decided he wanted to upgrade the materials for a better final product. And while there are plenty of nice woods that he enjoys, like maple, but they tend to be expensive and difficult to source. Birch is affordable and accessible, something that is important for a working artist like Neuenschwander.

“It’s very relaxing,” he says, referring to the hand cutting portion of his work. “I almost don’t even think when I’m carving

anymore.” The repetitive motions, working within a predetermined design, and his deep understanding of technique forged by nearly 14 years of commitment to the craft all allow him to reach a sort of flow state. He often watches TV, either Disney movies or TV shows, while he works. Neuenschwander’s wife is a librarian who works at an elementary school, so during the workday he keeps to himself in his studio, his daily companions are his cat and dog who periodically check in on him.

In the before times, Neuenschwander was a regular fixture at art festivals like the Indie Craft Market, Kibbee Gallery in Poncey-Highland before they closed in 2019, and a regular participant at ABV’s Drink and Doodle event for the past seven years.

When Neuenschwander was in high school he started working as a caricature artist at Sea World, later taking those skills to Six Flags and the Georgia Aquarium. In total, he worked in this role for more than a decade while he pursued his schooling and established himself as an independent artist.

“Because I drew only people at my job, I got kind of tired of drawing people, and at that point I transitioned to things like animals.”

Today, Noosh Studios predominantly produces works for sale online through BigCartel, an independent online store designed to help artists and makers sell their works. He also takes commissions and has been branching out into additional mediums. He recently acquired an embroidery machine and has been experimenting with adding his imagery to hats, backpacks, fanny packs, and tote bags.

“My first job was making art, and from there it was clear this was the only thing I was ever going to do.”

Chris “Noosh” Neuenschwander in his studio. (Photos by Isadora Pennington)

Spring Events Guide

Put a little zing in your spring by checking out these festivals and special events happening in April.

Spring Festival on Ponce

The spring version of the festival will be held April 2-3 in Olmsted Linear Park along Ponce de Leon Avenue. More than 125 artisans, kids’ zone, food and more. Details: festivalonponce.com.

music, food, rides, Mimosa 5K and more. See the full lineup at dogwood.org.

Illumine 2022

Oakland Cemetery comes alive again April 21 – May 1 with Illumine, its annual afterdark arts spring event. Wander through all-new displays set against the inspiring backdrop of Atlanta’s skyline. Get tickets at oaklandcemetery.com.

Inman Park Festival

The 48th annual festival will be held April 23-24 with the parade on Edgewood Avenue kicking off at 2 p.m. on Saturday. Arts and crafts, music and food, and tour of homes (begins April 22). More information at inmanparkfestival.org.

Shaky Knees Festival

Sweetwater 420 Festival

The annual music and beer festival returns to Downtown’s Centennial Olympic Park on April 29-May 1. Lineup includes The String Cheese Incident, Gary Clark Jr., Trey Anastasio Band, Umphrey’s McGee, and many more. Tickets: sweetwater420fest.com

▼Imagine Picasso

The immersive art exhibition continues through June 19 at Pullman Yards, featuring more than 200 works from the iconic painter using 90 projectors that puts visitors inside and up close to the art. Get tickets at imaginepicassoexhibit.com/ atlanta.

Atlanta Dogwood Festival

Piedmont Park will be buzzing once again on April 8-10 with arts and crafts, live

The music festival returns to Central Park April 29 - May 1 with Nine Inch Nails, Green Day, and My Morning Jackets, Billy Idol CHVRCHES, Death Cab for Cutie and many more. Tickets at shakykneesfestival.com.

COMMUNITIES OF FAITH

Maundy Thursday, April 14, 2

7:00 p m Service of Holy Eucha

Good Friday, April 15, 202

12:00 p.m. Service of Holy Euch

Holy Saturday, April 16, 20

9:00 a m Holy Saturday Litur

Easter Vigil, April 16, 2022

8:00 p m Service of Holy Eucharist Rite II

Easter

April

* indicates live-streamed service + indicates service with choir

GA 30319

Spring cleaning is in the air

Inside the Arts

Camille Russell Love

Camille Russell Love Love has been executive director of the City of Atlanta Mayor’s Office of Cultural Affairs (@atlantaoca) for more than two decades.

The history of spring cleaning is contested. Some scholars believe its origins lie in the Iranian New Year or Nowruz—a Persian-language term for the spring equinox and a holy day for Zoroastrians, Bahá’ís, and some Muslims. Just before the holiday, Iranians practice khaneh tekani (shaking the house). Others maintain the practice dates to the springtime festival of Passover. Traditionally, observant Jews conduct a thorough spring cleaning of the home in anticipation of the holiday. In Greek Orthodox traditions, a thorough house cleaning is done before or during Great Lent (also known as Clean Week), and corresponds with April 1, the Julian New Year. Regardless of the culture, it seems as if humans around the globe recognize the importance of

celebrating the emergence from winter and welcoming spring’s promise of renewal.

Public Art is the Mayor’s Office of Cultural Affairs’ department with which Atlanta residents and visitors most frequently interface. Whether strolling along one of Atlanta’s main thoroughfares or neighborhood streets, spending time with family and/or friends in a city park, or visiting a municipal building, art is everywhere in Atlanta—and it must be cared for.

Within the Public Art department, the Collections and Conservation team oversees and manages the care and conversation of all

public art in the city’s collection. Comprised of two conservators and two conservation techs, spring cleaning, such as it is, falls under their purview. Typically, conservation and maintenance work slows with the onset of winter, as cold weather is not conducive to these activities. Now, just weeks into spring, temperatures are on the rise and more cyclical cleaning and restorative treatments can begin.

Spring serves as the perfect time for Collection and Conservation staff to proactively assess the condition of art around the city and to schedule cleaning and restorative work. The staff field numerous calls from Atlanta residents regarding art that has been vandalized and/or “tagged” (defaced with graffiti). In addition, water damage, particularly rust, and the impact from other environmental elements (sun, animal waste, pollen, etc.) have a deleterious effect on artwork and must be removed.

In Spring 2020, while faced with the relentless challenges of a global pandemic, the Collection and Conversation team

undertook a restoration project at Folk Art Park, located above the Downtown Connector at the intersection of Ralph McGill Boulevard and Courtland Avenue. Opened prior to the 1996 Summer Olympics, Folk Art Park is a popular destination for residents and visiting art lovers. However, two-plus decades of exposure to human interaction and weathering had taken a toll on the art. Artist James Harold Jennings’ “Guitar Girls and Archway” were de-installed on February 26, 2020 (just before COVID lockdown), restored during the height of the pandemic and re-installed on June 16, 2020. The staff’s commitment to the care and maintenance of the City’s collection, even under the most difficult circumstances, speaks volumes not only to the love they have for their work, but also demonstrates the value they place on the importance of art for Atlanta residents and the city’s built environment.

Occasionally, the Collection and Conversation team get to combine the more tedious and, sometimes, less savory, elements of their work with ones that foster civic pride and celebration. Such was the case last month when Atlanta prepared to celebrate former Atlanta Mayor and U.S. Ambassador Andrew Young’s ninetieth birthday. The team scheduled time to clean up Andrew Young Tribute Plaza and make sure the artifacts were in pristine condition. Located at Andrew Young International Blvd NW and Carnegie Way NW, the site represents the legacy of Ambassador Young—and is, as expressed by Central Atlanta Progress President A. J. Robinson, “a compelling destination that honors the contributions of one of our most important leaders…a point of reflection and inspiration along the path to Downtown’s major destinations.”

Without the Collection and Conversation team’s hard work and dedication, much of the artwork we enjoy around the city would fall into disrepair. It is they who maintain and conserve the art that makes Atlanta’s cityscape visually appealing and unique.

As we begin to shake off winter’s dust and anticipate the spring and continue the centuries-old traditions of renewal and rebirth, take some time to enjoy the public art that makes us proud to call Atlanta home.

Images from the downtown Fold Art Park (Courtesy City of Atlanta)

register for a variety of camps for ages 4 - 12th grade

Open to the public Whitefield Academy, A Christ-Centered College Preparatory School 1 Whitefield Drive, Smyrna GA

whitefieldacademy.com/summer

Color your summer with fun!

Register your young artist for week-long art camps at the High! Camp sessions for rising first through eighth graders. Campers will explore the museum collections, experiment with a multitude of artistic media, create art projects in our themed workshops, and make new friends!

Registration is now open! Visit high.org/camp for details.

SOCCER CAMPS Summer

Join us this spring and all summer long at soccer camp! There are camps for all ages and levels of play starting in April. Both half day (9-1pm) and full day (9-5pm) summer camp options!

YOUR CHILD'S COLLEGE JOURNEY

College? Careers? They’ll be here for your kids before you know it. Summer Academy at UGA offers specialty camps to support your teen or pre-teen’s passions and boost their skills.

Recognized nationally as a strong career and college builder Camps offered in over 30 fun interest areas

Established in 2001, Summer Academy has been providing summer fun for over two decades

This summer is the time to start making your student’s career and college dreams a reality

ugasummer.com

Choose

MODA summer camps offer kids creative exploration

From

2022 Summer Camp

By Bob Pepalis

The Museum of Design Atlanta will offer its first in-person summer camps in two years, helping young designers explore their creative sides.

The multi-day design camps will be held in June, July and August for campers ages 7-18. They will learn how to use design tools and STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) skills. Camps will be held at locations including Georgia Tech and The Galloway School, as well as online.

“It’s summer, right? And so kids want to be together and have fun,” MODA Executive Director Laura Flusche said. “Let’s provide them with a way to do that in real life.”

But, camp organizers are still prepared if COVID-19 cases rise again.

“We have worked to plan those in such a way that, God forbid, there’s another variant or something, they can go virtual so that caregivers aren’t left without something for their children to do that week,” Flusche said.

Continued on Page 58

What appeals to caregivers and kids is that MODA camps teach designer mindsets, such as building empathy for other people as they try to solve a problem. The camp is full of opportunities for kids to explore STEM tools, but Flusche said they also need creative problem-solving skills to productively use those tools.

“It’s all good to know how to code something, but if you can’t think of how to use that in a great way, that doesn’t do a lot,” Flusche said.

Virtual camps include Minecraft, Lego or coding camps like Scratch where kids play and build together online.

“Because we attracted a global audience for our camps over the past two years when they were virtual, we wanted to be able to keep offering things to people who might not be in Midtown Atlanta,” she said.

MODA Education Coordinator Meg Williams said several camps are new, including a slow fashion camp. In this camp, kids will think about how the fashion industry contributes to climate

change. The camp focuses on reusing or reviving old clothing, to make it something new, exciting and fun again.

A design and entrepreneurship camp will attract kids who are looking to change the world with ideas that they have.

“We’re going to hopefully get the kids to meet with real life entrepreneurs in Atlanta who are working and building their businesses to get feedback on their ideas, their pitches, their prototypes for their designs or concepts or whatnot,” Williams said.

Educators helping out MODA’s fulltime staff with the camps include Thomas Hayes. He has a degree in sustainable urban design, which he brings to the Minecraft camps where campers might collaborate on the design of a green city for the future.

Brenna Valentine, a space enthusiast with experience at Colorado science museums who now works at Emory, runs the Scratch coding camps.

Lakeem Winborne, who has taught in the arts and STEM for years in Atlanta, will lead robotic camps.

And Christy Bardis Petterson, coowner of the Indie Craft Experience, a craft and vintage market in Atlanta, will lead the slow fashion camp.

Some of the camps include:

■ Outta This World with LEGO (in-person; June 6-10, 9 a.m.-1 p.m.)

■ Scratch Escape Rooms (virtual; June 20-24, 2-4 p.m.)

■ Digital Art Studio (in-person; June 20-24, 1-5 p.m.)

■ Mic Drop! Podcasting 101 (inperson; July 11-15, 9 a.m.-noon)

■ Minecraft - Archaeological Adventures in Pompeii (virtual; July 2529, 1-5 p.m.)

■ Minecraft Olympics! (virtual; Aug. 1-5, 1-5 p.m.)

For more information on these and other camps and to register, visit www. museumofdesign.org/camps.

“It’s all good to know how to code something, but if you can’t think of how to use that in a great way, that doesn’t do a lot.”

LAURA FLUSCHE MODA EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Summer camps for kids who want to change the world

Helping today's young designers become the changemakers of the future Balancing live instruction with detailed self-guided activities

CREATE & INNOVATE IN PERSON & ONLINE SUMMER CAMPS FOR AGES 7 - 18 museumofdesign.org/camps

Be There Now

Celebrate the 40th anniversary of The World’s Fair with a weekend in Knoxville

By Collin Kelley

“You’ve Got To Be There!”

If you lived in the southeast in 1982, that catch-phrase and jingle were inescapable on radio, television, and newspapers. Knoxville, Tennessee had –improbably – been chosen to host The World’s Fair. The Wall Street Journal deemed Knoxville a “scruffy little city” and questioned whether it was up to the task of hosting an event expected to attract millions of visitors from around the world.

1982

A former railroad yard along the Tennessee River on the edge of downtown was transformed into a 70-acre fairground full of futuristic exhibition halls, water features, an amphitheater, gondola ride, and its unmissable centerpiece – a 266-foot-tall golden lollipop called the Sunsphere.

With a focus on technology and energy – the fair’s theme was “Energy Turns the World” – more than 11 million people poured into Knoxville for the seven-month run of the event. To see exhibits from China, Hungary, Brazil, Germany, and Japan meant standing in long lines for hours. The first computer touch screen and pay-at-the-pump technology was unveiled at the fair, along with Cherry Coke.

Much like the Olympics did for Atlanta, the World’s Fair put an international spotlight on Knoxville and forever changed the city.

If you were one of the millions who visited in 1982, you won’t recognize the World’s Fair site now. Only the Sunsphere, amphitheater, and man-made lake remain with the rest transformed into a city park popular for festivals, concerts, and weekend picnics.

Knoxville will mark the 40th anniversary of the World’s Fair starting in May. The 1982 World’s Fair Anniversary Celebration kicks off Saturday, May 21, with international food offerings, technology exhibits, entertainment, history walks, and more.

In conjunction, the 16th Annual Children’s Festival of Reading will also be happening that day in the park from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. with authors, illustrators, storytellers, arts & crafts, toddler town, and more. Authors scheduled to appear include Newbery Award winner Erin Entrada Kelly, Tad Hills, Jeffrey Brown, and Atlanta’s own Laurel Snyder.

Continued on page 60

‘You Should Have Been There: The World’s Fair Exhibition” continues through Oct. 9 with artifacts, ephemera, and a timeline of the city-changing event at the East Tennessee History Center, 601 South Gay St. The exhibit is open daily ($8-$10 tickets), but if you’re there on a weekend, admission is free on Sundays. Find out more at visitknoxville.com.

Of course, Knoxville has much more to offer than memories of the World’s Fair. Just a three-hour-and-change drive from Atlanta, it’s an excellent weekend getaway anytime. You can stay in the city or drive less than an hour and be in the Great Smoky Mountains Park, Dollywood, and Gatlinburg.

Eating & Drinking in Old City

Stroll over to the Old City district at the intersection of Central and Jackson avenues and you’ll find plenty of fun restaurants and breweries.

You’ll definitely want to check out Pretentious Glass & Beer (pretentiousglassco. com) at 133 South Central, which is possibly the only brewery in the world that makes its own glassware.

If you’re looking for breakfast or lunch, stop at Olibea (olibeaoldcity.com) at 211 South Central for a menu of Southern staples and Mexican specialties.

Where to Stay

If you want to be downtown near all the action – and pamper yourself a little – The Oliver Hotel (theoliverhotel.com) at 407 Union Ave. is the perfect spot. Located inside a beautifully renovated 1876 building originally used as a bakery, the hotel has queen-sized beds in each room and there are also suites overlooking Market Square (which has a plethora of great shops and restaurants) with separate living rooms and other high-end amenities and features. The Oliver is part of the same boutique hotel group that operates Hotel Clermont in Atlanta.

The hotel also has a great restaurant, Oliver Royale, serving up dinner and weekend brunch with a menu of American fare, while the ground floor Tupelo Honey Café serves up modern Southern for breakfast, lunch, and supper.

And if you stay at The Oliver, you can park your car and leave it for the weekend. There are three trolley routes that serve the downtown and University of Tennessee area and can drop you at or near all the points of interest. Even better: the trolley is free.

Music & Shows

Live music is on the streets, the square and stages of famous historic sites like the Tennessee Theatre and the Bijou Theatre. You’ll find performances taking place at these venues and a variety of locations all over town.

Celebrating its10th Anniversary season of Broadway shows, the Tennessee Theatre (tennesseetheatre.com) in Knoxville showcases six shows and a total of 32 performances from December to July. Upcoming shows include “Summer: The Donna Summer Musical” (April 8-10), “Hairspray” (June 3-5), and “Anastasia” (July 15-17).

The Bijou (knoxbijou.com) has upcoming concerts from Henry Rollins (April 11), Shelby Lynne & Allison Moorer (April 26), Rodney Crowell (May 17), drag star Alyssa Edwards (May 26) Ricky Scaggs (May 27), and Billy Bob Thornton & The Boxmasters (June 7).

Over on Jackson Avenue, the distillers at PostModern Spirits (postmodernspirits. com) offer torus and have a tasting room for their straight malt whiskey, gin, and liqueurs at 205 West Jackson.

Knox Whiskey Works (knoxwhiskeworks.com) at 516 West Jackson also offers tours and a tasting room for its varieties of vodka, gin, and whiskey.

Urban Hikes

Knoxville’s Urban Wilderness (outdoorknoxville.com) is a spectacular series of connected outdoor areas where you can hike, bike, climb, paddle, or just wander in the woods – all within the heart of the city.

Over 50 miles of trails and greenways connect you to a beautiful nature center, pristine lakes, historic sites, dramatic quarries, adventure playgrounds, five city parks, and a 500acre wildlife area. The view of downtown and the Tennessee River is particularly gorgeous at the River Bluff Wildlife Area.

Mountain retreat centers offer spiritual, mental healing

By Amy Wenk

In 2009, Eve Cook was battling an aggressive cancer.

“It wasn’t going away, and doctors were telling me, ‘Get your affairs in order,’” Cook said. “We really had to decide what made us excited and motivated in the world.”

The next year, her family would purchase more than 200 acres of land in the North Georgia mountains, not far from Helen, Ga. There, Cook took time to recover and heal, all the while dreaming of starting a retreat center.

“I didn’t know if I was going to be alive … but, we just went for it,” said Cook, whose cancer has since gone into remission.

That was the beginning of Elohee Retreat Center, which sits on roughly two dozen acres and hosts 80 to 90 retreats a year. A variety of facilitators and instructors rent the center, offering retreats from yoga to mediation and women’s selfempowerment getaways. The property features a 100-foot waterfall, walking trails and a reflection pond overlooking Yonah Mountain.

“Being here on this land, surrounded by this beautiful energy and having something to live for by creating Elohee, is a huge

blessing,” Cook said. “I can’t not share it with people.”

Perhaps more than ever, people are in need of healing. The World Health Organization (WHO) in March released a study that said the global prevalence of anxiety and depression jumped 25% in the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“This is a wake-up call to all countries to pay more attention to mental health and do a better job of supporting their populations’ mental health,” said Dr.

Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO director-general.

While it’s well known that leisure travel can promote well-being, vacations that incorporate meditation or mindfulness techniques can have long-lasting results.

“There are thousands of studies now showing how meditation benefits the mind, the nervous system,” said Ryan Strong, senior minister at the Center for Spiritual Awareness (CSA). “It slows aging, decreases anxiety, decreases depression.”

The CSA is in Lakemont, Ga., just past Tallulah Gorge, tucked away quietly on a roughly 10-acre wooded site along Lake Rabun.

“You are up in the mountains, near a beautiful lake,” Strong said. “It’s very serene … There is something special about the land itself.”

Founded in 1972 by Roy Eugene Davis, the CSA this April celebrates its 50th anniversary. The Lake Rabun location is the center’s international headquarters, although it has teachers and other centers across the globe.

The CSA is nondenominational and teaches the principles of healthy living and

meditation.

“Then beyond that, our main focus is to teach Kriya Yoga … the path of realizing, or becoming aware, becoming awake of our true nature, becoming more conscious of the truth of our reality,” Strong said. “Kriya Yoga is a path. It’s a path of awakening to our ultimate consciousness.”

Davis taught Kriya Yoga for 68 years before his death in 2019. He had directly studied under Paramahansa Yogananda, an Indian monk, yogi and guru who brought meditation to the U.S. and introduced millions to the teachings of Kriya Yoga.

Starting April 18, the CSA will offer retreats every two weeks through early December. People are invited to come, rest and learn to meditate. Typically, a retreat day would include a morning and an afternoon mediation, along with optional classes.

“Everything of course is optional, but we have afternoon classes on Ayurveda or Vedic astrology, or we will play a video of Roy’s seminars and talks,” Strong said. “But most people that come have a lot of time to just be in silence, to rest, relax, walk the grounds.”

The property includes a library, learning center and two meditation temples. Cabins feature single beds with small kitchens for vegetarian cooking. It’s $60 a night to stay at the center.

Another respite to consider is in Boone, N.C.

The Art of Living Retreat Center is nestled in the mountains on 380 acres. It consists of dozens of buildings, including a meditation hall that can hold up to 3,700 guests. There’s also a spa on the property, offering Ayurveda courses and treatments.

Eve Cook, executive director of Elohee Retreat Center. (Courtesy of Elohee Retreat Center)

The reflection pond at Elohee Retreat Center. (Thu Tran/2TPHOTO)

The Center for Spiritual Awareness sits on about 10 acres near lake Rabun. (Courtesy of the Center for Spiritual Awareness)

“People are coming here, not for a quick fix,” said Kimberly Rossi, director of Ayurveda, wellness and business development at The Art of Living Retreat Center. “They are learning how to heal themselves to be happier, to be healthier, to be more whole.”

Spiritual guide and humanitarian Sri Sri Ravi Shankar founded The Art of Living Foundation in 1981 and today it has centers in more than 156 countries.

“In his words, he envisioned this retreat center to be a place where people of various faiths, race, religion, philosophies

and tendencies can all come together and find that common goal in every one of us to find the ultimate truth, to find the depths of humanism that we are all gifted with, and let this place be a chance for miracles in the lives of millions of people,” Rossi said.

Each week, the Art of Living Retreat Center in Boone hosts signature programs, based in breathing, mediation, yoga, Ayurveda, and wellness, she said. One of its most popular programs is the happiness retreat, which teaches techniques to reduce anxiety and depression.

Rossi said the pandemic has made the retreat center increasingly busy.

“What I think COVID did for some people is put some pressure on them, where they were having subtle signs of being uncomfortable and COVID magnified those sensations,” Rossi said. “And then it became more of a matter of urgency … People, who were being too busy and sweeping it under the rug, had to face it.”

Contact Information

Elohee Retreat Center Sautee Nacoochee, Ga. elohee.org

Center for Spiritual Awareness Lakemont, Ga. csa-davis.org

The Art of Living Retreat Center Boone, N.C. artoflivingretreatcenter.org

Shakti Hall at The Art of Living Retreat Center. (Courtesy of The Art of Living Retreat Center)

The Art of Living Retreat Center is nestled in the mountains on 380 acres.

Exploration closer to home yields a Toccoa travelogue

Travels with Charlie

Charles Seabrook

Veteran Georgia journalist Charles Seabrook has covered native wildlife and environmental issues for decades. For “Travels with Charlie,” he visits and photographs communities throughout the state.

Skyrocketing gas prices have put a crimp in my travel budget. Even so, I can’t stand staying cooped up at home. I’ll still be taking daytrips to explore Georgia’s towns and countryside.

But for right now, until fuel costs go back down (if they ever do) my trips will be to destinations closer to home — shorter jaunts that won’t break my wallet for gas.

One such outing recently took me to the city of Toccoa in Stephens County, nestled in northeast Georgia’s Blue Ridge Mountain foothills. In my 2018 Toyota Tacoma pickup, I burned less than a half tank of gas driving from my Decatur home to Toccoa, where I spent an enjoyable day visiting a spectacular waterfall, a wonderful museum, a state historic site — and the delightful town itself.

Just north of town I visited the stunning Toccoa Falls on the campus of scenic Toccoa Falls College. At 186 feet high, Toccoa Falls is one of the tallest (taller than Niagara Falls) freefalling

Continued on page 66

1 Statue of Toccoa native son Paul Anderson, once known as “World’s Strongest Man

2— 186-foot tall Toccoa Falls, one of the highest waterfalls east of the Mississippi

3 and 4 Travelers Rest State Historic Site inn and tavern built between 1816 and 1825

5 Stephens County Courthouse, c. 1908, in Toccoa is on the National Register of Historic Places

6 Toccoa’s old railroad depot now houses the Currahee Military Museum

by Charles Seabrook

Photos

waterfalls east of the Mississippi.

After paying a small entrance fee, I walked to the falls along a short, paved trail besides a mountain stream. Then, around a curve, the waterfall suddenly appeared; it took my breath away. I lingered on a bench at the base of the falls to marvel at the great natural beauty.

Six miles north of Toccoa, I went to a place straight out of Georgia’s history: Traveler’s Rest State Historic Site. Its centerpiece is an early tavern and inn built between 1816 and 1825 on what was then Cherokee land. Enslaved people probably did much of the construction. Because of its architectural significance and role in the early history of the area, Traveler’s

Rest was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1964. The state of Georgia beautifully maintains it, and visitors can see many of its original artifacts and furnishings.

In the heart of Toccoa, I explored one of Georgia’s best small museums, the Currahee Military Museum, housed in the town’s old railroad depot.

The museum’s main focus is the Paratrooper Infantry Regiment that underwent exhaustive training just outside town in the early 1940s at Camp Toccoa and Currahee Mountain.

Some 6,000 of the men became qualified paratroopers in World War II. Scores of books and articles have been written about them. One of the books, “Band of Brothers” by Stephen Ambrose,

became an award-winning HBO miniseries, some of which was filmed around Toccoa. One of the museum’s exhibits is a 1922 horse stable that was used as housing for soldiers during WWII in Aldbourne, England. The stable was dismantled and flown to the United States in 2004.

In Toccoa, I stopped at the Paul Anderson Memorial Park to see the statue of Anderson, a Toccoa native and Olympian who held the title of “World’s Strongest Man.”

Then I strolled through town. With its restored downtown, renovated Stephens County Court house, spiffed-up Ritz Theater and other historic buildings, it was obvious that Toccoans take great pride in their town.

7 James B. Simmons House, c. 1903, in Toccoa is on the National Register of Historic Places

8 Restored historic Ritz Theater, c. 1939, in Toccoa

9 Downtown Toccoa, much of which has been refurbished and restored

10 Horse stable on display at the Currahee Military Museum (Courtesy of Stephens County Historical Society)

Photos by Charles Seabrook

Beyond your expectations.