Brookhaven Reporter - June 2021 by Rough Draft Atlanta: Atlanta Intown, Reporter Newspapers

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JUNE 2021 • VOL. 12 — NO. 6

Brookhaven Reporter WORTH KNOWING

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1 TOP STUDENTS OF THE CLASS OF 2021 P13

HEAD FOR THE HILLS 20- 28

City Council approves new council district map with hesitation

Bolting to Victory

P18

FOOD & DRINK

BY SAMMIE PURCELL

A seafood market comes to Brookhaven P8

PHIL MOSIER

COMMENTARY

A local school advocates for affordable housing P16

AUTHOR INTERVIEW

A reporter recalls KKK’s downfall P7

Gram Russell, center, takes the lead as he heads toward winning the 14th edition of the Brookhaven Bolt 5K run through neighborhood streets May 22. Freshly graduated from St. Piux X Catholic High School, where he ran on the cross-country team, Russell is heading to Mississippi State University this fall. He was among around 1,300 runners, walkers and wheelchair racers who joined the first edition of the Bolt since last year’s pandemic cancellation, where spectators were required to wear masks and remain socially distanced.

12 Brookhaven-area schools get preliminary suitability and facility scores BY SAMMIE PURCELL As part of its master plan to improve school facilities and alleviate overcrowding, the DeKalb County School District has released preliminary reports showing the “educational suitability” and facility conditions of schools throughout the district, including 12 that serve the Brookhaven community.

The educational suitability reports indicated that many schools, such as Cross Keys High School, are overcrowded and have classrooms that aren’t suitably sized. Dresden Elementary School received one of the lowest educational suitability scores. See 12 BROOKHAVEN on page 14

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Despite strong objections to changing boundaries, the City Council approved a new council district map during its May 4 meeting. Throughout its redistricting process, the city published eight draft maps on its website and ultimately moved forward with Scenario 7. Scenario 7 pushes District 2 west into District 3 and north into District 1. The map also moves parts of District 3 south into District 4. Parts of the Brookhaven Fields area will move from District 3 to District 2. District 3 Councilmember Madeleine Simmons expressed disappointment at that change, and said some constituents in Brookhaven Fields had reached out to her to share their frustration at no longer being in District 3. “I am not happy about this,” she said. “I don’t like how this has shook out.” The council reluctantly approved the new council district map ahead of its November elections. The city decided to redistrict before receiving 2020 U.S. Census data, which was delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, because of its elections and multiple recent annexations to the city. The annexed areas in question were all added to District 4, causing the city to believe that district would be out of balance with the others. “The Census is the place that we’re supposed to begin, but because of things related to the pandemic, we don’t have that information,” said City Attorney Chris Balch. “That black hole creates a problem for the See CITY on page 29

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2 | Public Safety

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Brookhaven social justice commission calls for independent review of police complaints BY SAMMIE PURCELL Members of the Social Justice, Race and Equity Commission suggested an independent review process and called for more detail in reports for complaints filed against police officers during a May 5 meeting. Brookhaven created the SJREC in September of 2020, following months of protests against police brutality. The commission is meant to address issues of race and diversity in the city and review the city’s mission statement, policing practices, hiring practices and contracting practices. During its May 5 meeting, the commission’s Policing and Continuum Use of Force Subcommittee reviewed the complaint process along with records of complaints filed against police officers from recent years. Subcommittee Co-Chair Shahrukh Arif suggested the possibility of creating a citizen’s review board or another process that would allow community stakeholders to independently review complaint data and see if there are any patterns represented in that data. “There’s no independent review that ever happens. It’s all within the Brookhaven Police Department,” Arif said. “Is there an opportunity to have an independent review of these sorts of things?” A spokesperson for the BPD said that review of complaints against police officers is handled internally, but all of the department’s review processes, including the review process for how complaints are processed, are independently reviewed every three years by auditors from the Georgia Law Enforcement Certification Program. According to a document provided by the BPD, a complaint can be issued in person, by mail, by email or by phone. The complaint is documented and reviewed by the “lowest appropriate organizational level and as quickly as possible.” Then, a decision is made as to whether there is sufficient evidence of the complaint and if disciplinary action is necessary. According to data provided by the BPD, from 2016 to 2020 there were 230 complaints filed against officers. Of those 230 complaints, 93 or 40.4% were found to be “unfound-

ed,” meaning the BPD said they had sufficient evidence to prove the incident did not occur. Forty-eight, or 20.9%, of the incidents were sustained, meaning the BPD found enough evidence to prove the incident occurred. Fifty-one complaints were “not sustained,” meaning the BPD could find no evidence to prove the allegation either way. Twenty-six complaints were “exonerated,” meaning the incident occurred, but BPD found “actions of the employee were consistent with the law and Department policies, rules, regulations, and practice,” according to BPD’s website. Eight incidents were marked as a policy or training deficiency, which means the incident occurred, but BPD decided additional training or a policy revision would be sufficient to keep it from happening again. Four complaints were listed under “no action taken.” A spokesperson for BPD said the department uses this classification when they are unable to identify the accused officer and cannot investigate further. Commissioners also expressed concern over the disparity in the amount of detail for different complaints. “Some of the quality of the write-ups seemed a little insufficient,” said Commissioner Conni Todd. “I’m wondering, did they just kind of cut and paste and pull a little bit of the information, or what?” According to Todd, who said she looked over complaints from 2018, some of the reports would say that a supervisor had reviewed body camera footage, but not include detail about what that footage showed. She also said she did not see race listed in any of her reports. “There was no race component on the part of the complainant, the officer, or the suspect,” Todd said. “I would say for our committee, that might be important information to know in order to establish whether there are patterns.” Arif said he noticed that some of the complaints he reviewed had race listed if it seemed pertinent to the complaint in question. For example, if the complaint alleged an officer had racially profiled someone, race would be listed in the write-up.

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4 | Community

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City approves conceptual plans for Murphey Candler Park ‘lake house’ BY SAMMIE PURCELL A parking lot expansion and the final concept for a new public “lake house” have been approved for Murphey Candler Park.

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The City Council approved the conceptual plans at its April 27 meeting. The updates are part of the city’s $40 million park bond, which passed with 60% voter approval in 2018. Of that $40 million, $8.9 million was set aside for improvements to Murphey Candler Park, a 135-acre park at 1551 West Nancy Creek Drive. The council had four parking lot designs to choose from. They approved the third option, which will increase the amount of spots from 52 to 100. The plan will re-

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A site plan for the lake house at Murphey Candler Park as seen in a Feb. 22 virtual presentation.

SPECIAL

move 42 trees, and add 55 new trees. The city first unveiled early drawings of the lake house concept at a Feb. 22 public input meeting. Parks Bond Program Manager Lee Croy said the building was well received during that meeting, and public concern shifted towards the parking lot configuration. Because of the public’s interest, the city asked for input on four different parking lot options. In a video presentation released by the city on April 13, Mack Cain, the lead landscape architect for design firm Clark Patterson & Lee, discussed each design. City spokesperson Burke Brennan said during the public input process for the parking lot, the city received 183 email responses. He said both options two and three were the most popular, but neither one received a majority. Option two would have increased parking from spots from 52 to 81 and would have removed 22 trees while adding 41, but option three is the choice the City Council ultimately approved. Cain and Croy both suggested moving forward with option three. “I feel best about number three because I think it uses the land the best and it saves the really important part, so the vegetation that we’re all concerned about,” Cain said. “It keeps a wooded feel, a shaded parking lot and it provides more cars.” Brennan said in an email that now that the concepts have been approved, design

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and engineering work can begin for the lake house and parking lot. “[Clark Patterson & Lee] will begin that immediately, but this phase is expected to take several months,” he said. “Upon completion, the project will be put out to bid for construction.”

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6 | Community

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City to hold summer block party at the end of July BY SAMMIE PURCELL In place of the city’s annual music and arts festival, Brookhaven will hold a Cherry Blossom Summer Block Party as a post-pandemic celebration at the end of July. During its May 4 meeting, the City Council approved an ordinance to increase the available budget in the City Marquee Events Department by $130,000 for the block party, which will be a one-time event, according to the ordinance. The event will be held July 30, 3-11 p.m. and July 31, noon-11 p.m. A location has not been announced. City spokesperson Burke Brennan said this festival is the same one as the postpandemic “recovery festival” the council reviewed at its April 14 meeting. The festival is meant to celebrate the city’s resilience during the COVID-19 pandemic, specifically those in the food and music industries that were hit by the subsequent economic downturn. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s website still recommends avoiding large gatherings if possible. For people who are fully vaccinated, the CDC recommends wearing a mask to large outdoor gatherings where there may be large crowds.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the city canceled its 2020 and 2021 Cherry Blossom Festivals, which is Brookhaven’s annual music and arts festival. Those cancelations were listed as a deciding factor for the block party in the ordinance. According to the ordinance, the $130,000 increase is in anticipation of estimated sponsorship and food and beverage revenue from the festival. Assistant City Manager Steve Chapman said if those revenues do not come in during the festival, the city will have to do another appropriation from the fund balance at the end of the year to make up any differences. Councilmember Linley Jones expressed excitement for the upcoming festival. “I want to find a way to work our cherry blossoms into it as much as possible, since we’re not going to have our actual flowers blooming,” she said. Mayor John Ernst said festival planning is in its early stages, but he would like to have a “heroes parade” at the beginning of the block party of honor essential workers and first responders. The mayor also encouraged residents to get vaccines. “Get vaccinated, everyone,” he said.

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Arts & Entertainment | 7

Author Q&A: How an FBI informant brought down a murderous KKK group BY KEVIN C. MADIGAN The murder by the Ku Klux Klan of an advocate for voting rights in Mississippi during the mid-’60s and the work of an undercover FBI informant who exposed it is the subject of a new book titled “When Evil Lived in Laurel: The ‘White Knights’ and the Murder of Vernon Dahmer.” It’s written by local reporter Curtis Wilkie, who covered Civil Rights in the area for a quarter of a century. Wilkie will appear at the Atlanta History Center on Thursday, June 17 at 7 p.m. in a free, virtual conversation with veteran journalist and former colleague Hank Klibanoff. For details, see atlantahistorycenter.com.

always successful in obtaining convictions. I was surprised at the sheer stupidity of people involved in the Klan. I was a young reporter in those days, and I certainly remember they were a fearsome group. They terrorized the state and did a pretty good job of that, but I got to see what knuckleheads they were and how, thankfully, they were not always able to pull off many of their missions because they screwed things up. A place called John’s Restaurant in the town of Laurel hosted Klan members, many of whom would get inebriated and spill secrets, right? Yes. It concerned some of the more sober members of the Klan who felt this was not helpful at all. John’s Restaurant was run by one of the major figures in the White Knights. Beer was sold and sometimes they added to it with moonshine liquor or regular whisky or gin. They would get drunk and loud and brag about missions where they felt they had accomplished something -- burning down a house or intimidating Black families.

The “White Knights” you describe were notoriously disorganized, with dissent in the ranks and a lack of mutual trust. You call them “clumsy practitioners of stealth.” Can you talk about that? The accounts of their meetings clearly spelled out a group of peoKlan leaders liked to portray their activities as Christain miliple not particularly well-educated tancy, while engaged in campaigns of terror and murder. Why whose burning desire was to keep was that? down the Blacks in the state of MisIn order to justify that method of ethnic cleansing 60 years ago, sissippi, and they just weren’t very they cloaked it in pseudo-Christianity. Several prominent memeffective. Even the tactics in which bers of the White Knights were ministers themselves. This philosthey succeeded -- burning down ophy of Christian militancy stated it was proper to kill someone houses or killing people -- were counif it was necessary, in a good Christian manner, whatever the hell terproductive because the conservathat’s supposed to mean. It was clearly a very perverted sense of tive white people in Mississippi who religion that flies in the face of Christianity. supported segregation were horrified SPECIAL by this kind of conduct. You met the FBI informant, Tom Landrum, towards the end of Curtis Wilkie. At the height of their incompetence his life. Did he have any regrets? (a raid in which the activist Vernon I never heard him express any regrets. He did talk about his Dahmer was fatally wounded), they left fears of being discovered when he was reporting regularly to the behind precious evidence -- a pistol and one of the getaway cars -FBI, but at the end he was actually quite proud that he did what he could do, as one perso the whole crew was quickly rounded up. Between the FBI and some of the cooperatson in the community, to put an end to the White Knights. ing local authorities it took roughly two months to arrest everybody, but they weren’t

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8 | Food & Drink

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Food for Thought: Catching up with seafood dealer Kathleen Hulsey BY KEVIN C. MADIGAN Fishmonger Kathleen Hulsey recently opened a third location of her seafood market Kathleen’s Catch, this time in Brookhaven at 3436 Clairmont Road, in partnership with her daughter Sara Waterman. “We’ve had a huge welcome here,” Hulsey says. She first opened in Johns Creek in 2011 and added a second location in Milton in 2015. Oysters, shrimp, scallops, lobster rolls, chowders, crab cakes and octopus are just some of the items on offer for pickup or delivery. Hulsey is an advocate for sustainability and the proper cultivation of seafood. For more, see kathleenscatch.com. Your original impetus to launch the business was the lack of fresh fish available to you in local grocery stores, right? Yes. My husband works at [wholesale distributor] Inland Seafood. I could find fresh fish there, but I couldn’t find it in a retail setting. How difficult is it for you to get fresh seafood all the time in a landlocked place like Atlanta? It’s actually perfect for me for two reasons: our airport has non-stop flights from everywhere in the world to here, so fish flies in all day long. As far as domestic fish goes, we are situated on the highway from Miami with all kinds of fish from the Gulf -- stone crabs and everything else -- then all the way up to Maine for the lobster, so it’s very easy to get fish everyday. You obviously try to sell all the fish you have on a daily basis, but what happens with what’s left over at the end of the day? We carry it over a second day but if it doesn’t sell it becomes a member of our “No Fish Left Behind” program: we vacuum-seal it, freeze it and sell it at a discount. But it’s still fresher than anything you could get in a grocery store. You also help customers with advice on how to prepare fish, taking a lot of the guesswork out of it. Yes, absolutely. We have some things to make it a little easier: seasonings, cocktail sauce, mustards and such, and we have ideas on ways to cook that help people. Another good thing we do is we offer fish by the pound but we also sell it by the portion,

and those pieces are generally 6 ounces. There’s no skin and no bone so If you want to make a dinner for four people you can buy four perfect pieces of fish rather than having to guess how many pounds you need to buy. You do ready-made meals as well? We do one a week. It changes every Monday and it’s called Catch to Go. It is an oven-ready meal with a side, and you just add a sauce or seasoning and put it in the oven which is a good way to teach people how to cook fish. It’s a way to get started.

SPECIAL

Kathleen Hulsey, left, and daughter Sara Waterman are partners in the new Kathleen’s Catch location in Brookhaven.

You also have wine, Champagne and produce, correct? Even caviar? Yes, and cheese and charcuterie. We don’t keep caviar in stock here but we can get it overnight from our supplier. Over the holidays we get a lot of caviar [orders] but this time of year it’s not so big.

Talk a bit about sustainability and farmed fish versus wild fish. Those two subjects are intricately involved because I believe in supporting aquaculture if it’s done correctly. Aquaculture has been around since ancient times but it’s had a pretty bad reputation in recent years. Now there are companies out there who are doing it right and that means no growth hormones and no antibiotics in their feed. They’re not in crowded pens, they are in open ocean pens with fast-moving cold water. Those are the companies where I look for farmed fish. And the reason I promote aquaculture to such an extreme is there aren’t enough fish in the ocean to satisfy appetites for our future generations, so if people can do it in a clean, healthy manner I’m happy to support that.

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Food & Drink | 9

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Quick Bites | Restaurant openings and news BY KEVIN C. MADIGAN Fox Bros. Bar-B-Q has announced that a third location of its popular smoked meats joint will open at Brookhaven Station in the summer of 2021. “When my brother and I started cooking barbecue, we did so in our backyard in Brookhaven, and we’re excited about the opportunity to return to the neighborhood,” said co-owner and pitmaster Jonathan Fox in a press release. “We want to highlight elements of classic Texas barbecue culture and the flavors that we grew up with.” Plans for the space include “an open-air feel that stretches from the kitchen to an outdoor space and an easy to-go pickup window.” foxbrosbbq.com

◄The Blue Plate is planning a June opening in Dunwoody at 5000 Winters Chapel Road “where the old Empire Pizza was,” according to owner Sade Williams, who told the Reporter, “I would describe our menu as soul-Southern comfort food with a modern twist.” instagram.com/theblueplateatl Knuckies Hoagies’ owner Todd Broaderick says another branch of his sub shop will open in July at 6135 Roswell Road in Sandy Springs. This will be his sixth location in the Atlanta area, with a seventh planned for Marietta in the fall. Most of them serve pizza as well, but these two new ones will not. “We’ve done well, despite the pandemic,” he said. knuckieshoagies.com

Kefi, a “modern family club” affiliated with Chick-fil-A that includes Superica is setting up another metro Atlanta location, this time SPECIAL Xander Coffee, was scheduled to close its doors in May after two A shrimp dish at Blue Plate. in the Ashford Lane complex at 4500 Olde Perimeter Way in Dunyears in business at 3637 Peachtree Road in Buckhead. A Facebook woody’s Perimeter Place shopping center. The opening for Chef post earlier in the month thanked customers for “the outpouring of Ford Fry’s Tex-Mex emporium is scheduled to happen about a year from now. superlove and support” and added, “We are committed to making it the most joyful place for ica.com our members to be for the next few weeks.” xander-coffee.square.site

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10 | Doing Business

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Electric-vehicle charging company to power up new HQ in Buckhead BY JOHN RUCH Netherlands-based Heliox, a company that makes fast-charging devices for electric vehicles, expects to open its new campus this month at 165 Ottley Drive in Buckhead’s Armour neighborhood. The headquarters will include offices and a research and development division, expected to create 70 jobs total in the next year, according to a Georgia Department of Economic Development press release. In Europe, Heliox builds, operates and maintains charging systems for public transit, trucks, construction vehicles and port equipment. Among its U.S. customers is MARTA. The company is partnering with Georgia Tech on internships and possible research and development partnerships, according to an announcement press release. Katie Kirkpatrick, the Metro Atlanta Chamber’s president and CEO, said in the press release that the company’s arrival is another example of how “metro Atlanta is rapidly becoming a global hub for the EV [electric vehicle] industry with a wealth of innovative engineering talent.” David Aspinwall, president of Heliox North America, answered some of the Reporter’s questions about the new HQ. What does the name “Heliox” mean? The name Heliox was inspired by the ancient Greek word “Helios,” the god of the Sun, the most powerful energy source on the planet.

announce in the coming months. Overall, we see tremendous opportunity in this market to provide the charging infrastructure for e-mobility, which is experiencing high growth and will no doubt accelerate as the federal government commits to e-mobility. What is the future of the charging industry looking like? Is one sector more dominant than others, such as public transit vs. private vehicles? There is tremendous opportunity in both sectors, but definitely private electric vehicles have helped to pique both private and public sector interest in e-mobility and larger electric transportation infrastructure projects. The federal government’s proposed spending to electrify at least 20% of school buses and $25 billion to electrify transit vehicles is moving the industry ahead much more quickly.

SPECIAL

David Aspinwall, president of Heliox North America.

What is bringing Heliox to North America at the scale of a headquarters? Are there particular clients here? We work with a number of partners and customers here in North America, which we’ll

What drew you to Atlanta in general and Buckhead in particular? Atlanta is a growing e-mobility hub, and we’ll also have access to some of the brightest technology talent coming out of Georgia Tech. We’re also committed to meeting all UL and Buy America standards, meaning all of our research, development and assembly will be done here in North America.

What sort of research might you partner on with Georgia Tech? DC Rapid Charging R&D, Vehicle-to-Grid research and development, [and] energy management innovation.

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12 | Education

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BY JOHN RUCH Student news publications at three local schools won many honors in the Georgia Scholastic Press Association’s spring awards, whose winners were announced April 21. Among the winners, Pace Academy’s Knightly News took the first-place “AllGeorgia” award for best newspaper. The Oracle at North Springs High School took several honors in columns and critical reviews. And The C&G at Holy Innocents’ Episcopal School won the allstate honor for informational graphics. The GSPA, based at the Grady College of Journalism and Mass Communications at the University of Georgia, holds the contest annually. All of the local schools competed in the category for newspapers, newsmagazines and news websites. “Superior” is an award category for finalists.

The full list of local winners included:

Holy Innocents’ Episcopal School, The C&G Commentary, superior: “What about fairness?” by Zak Kerr Feature Profile, superior: “Thomas Barbershop’s tremendous tale” by Alex Newberg General Excellence, superior, newsmagazine Information Graphic, All-Georgia: “Immunize Wise” by Maddie Poch

North Springs High School, The Oracle Column Writing, All-Georgia: “Musicology Corner” by Veronica Kogan Column Writing, superior: “Cummiskey’s Corner” by Nelson Cummiskey Column Writing, superior: “It’s OK to not be OK” by Saaniah Hardy

Mazel Tov to the Class of 2017!

We wish you the best of luck in college and beyond.

Critical Review, superior: “Justice League: An injustice to comics” by Isaac Linnen News Website, excellent

Pace Academy, The Knightly News Critical Review, All-Georgia: “Winter showcase captivates audience” by Darren Rosing

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University of Massachusetts, Amherst University of Memphis University of Michigan University of North Carolina University of Pennsylvania University of Rhode Island University of South Carolina University of South Florida University of Tennessee University of Texas Austin University of Virginia University of Wisconsin Wake Forest University Washington University, St. Louis Worcester Polytechnic Institute

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Education | 13

JUNE 2021 ■ www.ReporterNewspapers.net

The valedictorians and salutatorians of 2021 The Class of 2021 graduated in May amid another pandemic-altered year. The following are the valedictorians and salutatorians as announced by several local schools. Atlanta Girls’ School Lindsey Geer (V) *This group photo was digitally created.

Atlanta Classical Academy Caleb Albert Dye (V), Ashlynn Bree Gannon (S) Chamblee High School Matthew Lombardo (V, Magnet), Richard Von Biberstein (V, Resident), Victor Lim (S, Magnet), Anika Karim (S, Magnet), Molly Silverman (S, Magnet) Cross Keys High School Uriel Castaneda (V), Jonathan Marquez (S) Dunwoody High School Megan Vander Wiele (V), Seung Joo Lee (S)

Congratulations Davis Academy Class of 2021! Ryan Altmann Jake Barras Jack Baylin Aaron Berman Avery Berman Cooper Bernath Charlie Berss Sydney Bressler Isaac Brody Sylvie Bella Brown Sophie Carmel Drew Chase Benjamin Collins Noah Diamond Nathan Dollinger Ashley Dryburgh Scarlett Fedors Noah Flome

Summer Folbaum Julia Freedman Nate Friedman Stella Galanti Emerson Goldberg Kaitlyn Goldberg Levi Gordon Adam Greenstein Gabriella Haviv Hannah Herman Sadie Hoff Leeya Ilan Samantha Iroff Maya Israel Noa Kadoori Micah Kopelman Rachel Kurgan Noa Lazarian

Amelia Levine Alex Levingston Jolie Levy Ariella Lewis Jadyn Lichstrahl Molly Marcus Micah Margolis Leah Medeiros Sarah Meiselman Lindsey Mirsky William Morrison Julia Moss Avinash Nebel Zachary Notte Zoe Nowak Eleonora Perez-Rubio Benjamin Perry Caileigh Pinsker

Adam Ress Molly Richin Abigail Richman Zachary Rindsberg Wendell Rogers Alexa Rubin Benjamin Rudolph Kyra Russotto Abigail Schermer Rachel Slutzky Ian Stukalsky Alexis Tauber Ari Weber Joshua Weiss Isaac Wolf Joshua Wolkin Maddie Yudin

8105 Roberts Drive Atlanta, GA 30350 770-671-0085 davisacademy.org

Holy Innocents’ Episcopal School Madeline Poch (V), Ella Vail (S) Holy Spirit Preparatory School Ainsley Hillman (V), Sofia Oliver (S) The Lovett School Nikita Sharmila Gupta (V), William Peter Novak (S) Marist School Clare Seymour (V), Courtney Maley (S) North Atlanta High School Emilie Jacobus (V), Brendan Weinbaum (S) North Springs High School Ariel Frenchman (V), Tyler McMahon (S) Riverwood International Charter School Elle Mezzio (V), Lauren Cohn (S)

CONGRATULATIONS to the

69 GRADUATES of the

CLASS OF 2021! 300 acceptances to 150 different colleges worldwide!

St. Pius X Catholic High School Sarah Halbig (V), Sophia Ripoll (S) The Weber School Sam Feldstein (V), Micah Reich (S) The Westminster Schools Sarah Lao (V), Anand Srinivasan (V), Kiran Gadde (S), Soumia Vellanki (S) BK

PRE-K3 – GRADE 12 GALLOWAYSCHOOL.ORG

14 | Community

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12 Brookhaven-area schools get preliminary suitability and facility scores Continued from page 1 The facility conditions reports indicated that most of the school’s are in “poor” or “below average” condition, and many need heating improvements and fire alarm replacement. A spokesperson for the school district said these reports are still a work in progress, and will not be finalized until late summer or early fall. The school district began working on the “Comprehensive Master Plan” last August and expects to complete it in November. The master plan is expected to provide the school district with a district-wide facilities plan through 2031. November is when the next special purpose local option sales tax (SPLOST) referendum will be on the ballot for a public vote. SPLOST, which finances capital projects in Georgia, is a main source of funding for the school district, and voted on by the public every five years. At a March 29 virtual public town hall, representatives from the architectural and consulting firms helping to formulate the master plan — Perkins&Will, Jacobs Engineering Group and Cropper GIS — presented the structure for the two main assessments used to grade schools. The Educational Suitability Assessment (ESA) and the Facility Condition Assessment (FCA) will be used to evaluate each school, and

will be continuously revised based on feedback from the schools and principals, according to a spokesperson for the master plan. The school district has posted preliminary ESAs for each school in the district to its website. According to information from the March 29 meeting, the ESA evaluates program spaces in each school. Program spaces can refer to classrooms, office spaces, athletic spaces, media centers, cafeterias, and more. The ESA reports also evaluate aspects such as lighting, outdoor spaces, security and technology. Each school has received an ESA score, where a higher score on a scale up to 100 means the school performs better in terms of educational suitability. The ESA score is calculated in part by rating a number of different standards on a scale of one to five. The FCA report evaluates the physical state of all facilities within the district, both to find deficiencies that need immediate attention and issues that might arise down the road. Each school has received an FCA score, where a higher score on a scale of up to 100 indicates better facilities. Deficiencies are ranked from 1 to 5, where a Priority 1 level would denote a “critical concern” and a Priority 5 would denote an enhancement that is largely aesthetic in nature.

Chamblee Charter High School

Located at 3688 Chamblee-Dunwoody Road, Chamblee Charter High School received an early ESA score of 65.9. The high school was built in 2014 and serves 1,755 students. According to the data section of the master plan’s website, its ideal capacity would be 1,705 students. The high school has 87 classrooms in the main building, and four additional classrooms in four trailers on the property. Chamblee High received an early FCA score of 91.4.

Cross Keys High School

Cross Keys High School at 1626 North Druid Hills Road received an early ESA score of 54.1. The high school was built in 1958 and serves 1,699 students. According to the data section of the master plan’s website, its ideal capacity would be 1,271 students. The high school has 65 classrooms in the main building, and 27 additional classrooms in 12 trailers located across the property. The school scored fairly well on outdoor spaces and security standards, but low on technology readiness. On the question of if there are adequate charging stations available, the score received a 1 out of 5. According to the report, there is only one projector or smart board per classroom. The school did not yet have an FCA score.

Kittredge Magnet School

Kittredge Magnet School at 2383 North Druid Hills Road received an early ESA score of 60.1. The high school was built in 1958 and serves 478 students. According to the data section of the master plan’s website, its ideal capacity would be 408 students. The magnet school has 26 classrooms in the main building, and eight additional classrooms in two trailers on the property. The magnet school received scores of 2 and 3 on all security standards. According to the report, the cafeteria and media center are located centrally in the school, and could not be secured for functions at night without opening the rest of the school. Kittredge Magnet received an early FCA score of 61.4.

Chamblee Middle School

Located at 3601 Sexton Woods Drive, Chamblee Middle School received an early ESA score of 62.1. The middle school was built in 2006 and serves 1,000 students. The school has 62 classrooms in the main building and no trailers on the property. The school scored low on standards involving technology, particularly on the question of whether there is adequate AV equipment for large, presentation spaces. According to the report, there is no AV system in the gym. Many classrooms and science spaces are undersized, and accord-

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Bill Kring, MaryJane LeCroy, and Phillip Hamman consider potential financial challenges faced by new widows and divorcees. (Left to right: Phillip Hamman, CFA, CFP®; MaryJane LeCroy, CFP®; and Bill Kring, CFP®)

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JUNE 2021 ■ www.ReporterNewspapers.net ing to one comment, some teachers have been bringing in their own shelves to create more storage space. Many of the special education classrooms are smaller than required, and the school received a 1 out of 5 on the question of whether accessible bathrooms are readily available to special education students. Chamblee Middle received an early FCA score of 73.4.

adequate storage space for student records. According to the report, some records were found in rooms that were unlocked. The school also scored low on the question of whether the thermostat can be controlled in individual classrooms. The report stated that the temperature is controlled by the county system. Briar Vista Elementary received an early FCA score of 46.4.

Ashford Park Elementary

Cary Reynolds Elementary School

Located at 2968 Cravenridge Drive, Ashford Park Elementary received an early ESA score of 56.6. The elementary school was built in 1955 and serves 718 students. According to the data section of the master plan’s website, its ideal capacity would be 480 students. The school has 30 classrooms in the main building, and 14 additional classrooms in 15 trailers located on the property. The school scored low on the standard of storage space for student records. According to the report, records are located in various storage areas throughout the school. The report also states there are no AV systems in the cafeteria, the gym, or any other large presentation space. Ashford Park received an early FCA score of 55.2.

Montgomery Elementary School

Montgomery Elementary School at 3995 Ashford-Dunwoody Road received an early ESA score of 54.5. The school was built in 1963 and serves 707 students. According to the data section of the master plan’s website, its ideal capacity would be 600 students. The elementary school has 38 classrooms in its main building, and nine additional classrooms in nine trailers located on the property. The school scored well on most technology standards, but according to the report does not have AV systems for large presentation spaces. Montgomery Elementary received an early FCA score of 75.8.

Dresden Elementary School

Dresden Elementary School at 2449 Dresden Drive received an early ESA score of 41.5. The school was built in 1963 and serves 583 students. The elementary school’s main building has 44 classrooms, and there are three additional classrooms in three trailers on the property. On the question of storage, the report states that Dresden Elementary has “an obvious storage issue.” According to the report, the school is currently using one of the science classrooms for storage. The school scored 1 out of 5 on every outdoor space standard. The report stated that the head custodian mentioned many campus cameras don’t work. On whether the school evokes a sense of “pride,” Dresden received a 1 out of 5. The report stated the school does not showcase trophies or have the school name on the wall, but does showcase “mildew odor and stains everywhere.” According to the report, roaches were seen dead and alive all over the school. On the question of whether classrooms were appropriately sized and configured, the school received a 2 out of 5. According to the report, most classrooms are missing one or two ceiling tiles. There is no science room in the school, and the school is using regular rooms for special education classrooms. Dresden received an early FCA score of 56.8.

Located at 3498 Pine Street, Cary Reynolds Elementary School received an early ESA score of 53.3. The elementary school was built in 1961 and serves 470 students. There are 39 classrooms in the main building and no trailers located on the property. According to the report, only the cafeteria has an AV system for large presentations, and the school has a major roach infestation problem in its kitchen. The report also stated that 80% of the blinds in learning spaces were “missing or broken.” On the question of whether special education classrooms were configured correctly, the school received a 3 out of 5. However, according to the report, the special education classrooms do not have toilets, changing areas, or speech therapy areas. The school received a 2 out of 5 on the standard of whether or not the food spaces were appropriately configured. According to the report, the kitchen is “way undersized” and there is no serving area. Cary Reynolds received an early FCA score of 72.4.

Montclair Elementary School

Montclair Elementary School, located at 1680 Clairmont Place, received an early ESA score of 62.6. The school was built in 1967 and serves 641 students. There are 41 classrooms in the school’s main building and no trailers located on the property. Montclair scored low on outdoor space standards. According to the report, there are several playground areas, but the field behind the school is in “rough condition.” The report also stated that there is “no sign of presentation equipment” in the cafeteria, gym, or other large presentation spaces. The school received a 4 out of 5 on the question of whether classrooms were appropriately configured or not. According to the report, there are no designated areas for special education classrooms, which are instead distributed throughout the building. Montclair received an early FCA score of 69.9.

Woodward Elementary School

Located at 3034 Curtis Drive, Woodward Elementary School received an early ESA score of 55.2. The school was built in 1961 and serves 589 students. The school’s main building has 43 classrooms, and there are three additional classrooms in three trailers on the property. Woodward received an early FCA score of 52.3.

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John Lewis Elementary School

John Lewis Elementary School at 2630 Skyland Drive received an early ESA score of 76.4. The school was built in 2017 and serves 893 students. There are 61 classrooms in the main building and no trailers located on the property. The school received mostly scores of 4 and 5 on all standards related to security, outdoor spaces, and non-instructional spaces. The school also scored well on the question of whether classrooms were appropriately sized, but kindergarten and prek classrooms were found to be too small. The school received scores of 4 and 5 on all standards relating to special education. John Lewis Elementary received an early FCA score of 99.7.

Briar Vista Elementary School

Located at 1131 Briar Vista Terrace, Briar Vista Elementary School received an early ESA score of 60.5. The school was built in 1955 and serves 394 students. There are 33 classrooms in the main building and no trailers located on the property. The school scored low on the question of

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Commentary / Why housing affordability matters to a local school Editor’s Note: Atlanta International School, a private school on Buckhead’s North Fulton Drive, has become a prominent advocate for housing affordability in recent months, including by intervening directly in the luxury redevelopment of a neighboring townhome complex on Delmont Drive by purchasing one of the units. The Reporter asked Head of School Kevin Glass to explain why affordability is a concern for AIS.

tends to preserve, as affordable housing, two units in the neighborhood -- one in the Delmont Homes development and a house near to the campus. This is part of a long-term strategy which benefits both the school, the neighborhood and the wider community. It is an example of the sort of intentionally inclusive approach to housing we would like to see become more widespread across our rapidly growing city. I’ve lived in Atlanta for almost 12 years now. Despite my BritAs an active member of many community groups whose foish accent and love of Newcastle United Football Club, this city cus is to improve the quality of life for those who live, work and is truly home to me and my family. It’s where our two older chilplay in Buckhead, I would love to dren have grown up, where our see a future where more of our emyoungest was born and where my ployees and other essential workwife and I live and work. ers can live closer to their place of One of the many things that I work. To reduce the pressure on love about Atlanta International their busy lives, the stress of comSchool (AIS) is its location. I look muting long distances, the enviout of the upper windows of our ronmental impact and to make the historic buildings and I can see the opportunities that this city has to city spreading out in all its vibranoffer more accessible. cy, rising out of the trees. As a school, we bring families This school is deliberately not together from across Atlanta, the tucked away from urban life or loU.S. and around the globe. The valcated in a more spacious suburb ues of acceptance and helping peoof Atlanta. AIS, by virtue of our ple be the best version of themunique geography, is actively part selves sits at the core of what we do. of a living, breathing local comSPECIAL This focus on local affordabilimunity. And with that comes huge Kevin Glass is head of school at Atlanta ty might feel counterintuitive for privilege, but also challenges for International School in Buckhead. an independent school that chargthose who work at and attend the es a significant annual tuition fee. school. But we work as much as is within our reach to offer need-based Since I became head of this school in August 2009, my famifinancial aid to all who require it. And we have ambitious plans ly and I have been lucky enough to live in the beautiful Garden to grow our support and community participation rates to inHills neighborhood that surrounds our campus. From here we crease this further. can walk to school and enjoy the benefits of proximity to local I believe that through giving more students the opportunifriends and the neighborhood’s amenities. ty to experience the academic excellence of our International But I am very aware that this is no longer an option for many Baccalaureate (IB) program, everyone benefits. The IB requires of our AIS community. The change in our neighborhood has voice, choice and agency from its students. We see this translatbeen dramatic. ed into real-world action as we look at keeping our part of town The facts speak for themselves: As of 2016, 98% of Buckhead accessible. area employees commuted to and from the district from outside As part of a coalition of the willing working to keep our neighof Buckhead. The jobs-to-housing imbalance is a primary conborhood open and viable, I believe that this is possible -- through tributor to Buckhead’s traffic congestion. partnership with those in our city who share this aspiration. So as a school we clearly support strategies to preserve and So with the Atlanta International School mission statement develop affordable housing for the service professionals such at the forefront of my mind, let’s be “courageous leaders” in this as teachers and first responders. To that end, AIS owns and inarea of civic responsibility -- starting here at home, in Buckhead.

Amy Wenk named editor of Reporter Newspapers Amy Wenk, a longCBRE, the world’s largtime journalist and corest commercial real esporate communicatate tions manager, has been services firm, as cornamed editor of the Reporate communicaporter Newspapers. tions manager, overWenk, who previousseeing the Southeast ly served as a staff writdivision for the Fortune er at the Reporter, suc500 company. Prior to ceeds John Ruch, who that, she spent nearly has led the newspaeight years as a lead repers as managing editor porter for Atlanta Busisince 2016. ness Chronicle. She also SPECIAL “It’s an honor to rehad a regular televiAmy Wenk. turn to Reporter Newssion segment on 11Alive papers, where I can folabout Atlanta’s devellow my passion for good journalism and opment trends. She previously worked show how it makes our neighborhoods as an editor for AOL, where she launched stronger,” said Wenk. the news site Patch in Midtown Atlanta. Wenk mostly recently worked at Ruch is stepping down to cover met-

ro Atlanta politics, government and other issues for SaportaReport. Ruch will continue to contribute coverage of local government to the Reporter. “It has been a privilege to serve our smart, passionate, vibrant communities, and an honor to lead a staff that has repeatedly earned some of the highest awards from the Atlanta Press Club and the Georgia Press Association,” Ruch said. Keith Pepper, publisher and owner of Springs Publishing, the Reporter’s parent company, said, “It’s an exciting time for hyperlocal journalism and having somebody with Amy’s experience and energy makes me even more bullish about what’s next for our publications and the communities we serve.”

represent the views of Reporter Newspapers or Springs Publishing.

Commentary | 17

JUNE 2021 ■ www.ReporterNewspapers.net

Around Town

Joe Earle is editorat-large at Reporter Newspapers and has lived in metro Atlanta for over 30 years. He can be reached at joeearle@ reporternewspapers.net

Atlanta History Center ‘collects the now’ by building an archive of pandemic images Some of the photographs show signs warning people to stay properly distanced from one another in public places. Others depict experiments in everyday life ranging from a Zoom Bible study class to takeout cocktails. And there are, of course, pictures of masks. Lots of masks. Taken together, the photos capture a sort of composite image of the COVID-19 pandemic in Atlanta. What did the pandemic look like? The Atlanta History Center compiled hundreds of images Elaine Bullard/Atlanta History Center showing everything from medical personnel in The U.S. Navy Blue Angels and the U.S. full personal protective gear to car-less streets and Air Force Thunderbirds demonstration squadrons above Atlanta’s Grady parking lots outside usually busy gathering placMemorial Hospital on May 2, 2020 es scattered across metro Atlanta. In those photos in a fly-over in Atlanta, Baltimore from the days of shutdown, it looks all quiet from and Washington, D.C. intended as a pandemic tribute and moralea shopping mall in Kennesaw to downtown Lawbooster. The photo was taken by renceville to Little Five Points to The Varsity. Elaine Bullard at Oakland Cemetery. The History Center compiled its COVID collection by gathering images submitted by members of the public and mixing in photos shot by professional photographers. Now, more than a year after the pandemic began, there are more than 1,000 items in the history center’s COVID pandemic collection, said Paul Crater, the history center’s vice president for collections and research services. The collection includes photos, written personal reactions to the pandemic, and some objects, Crater said. “People have shared with us some of their most important moments,” Crater said. “What stands out to me is the type of moments people were willing to share.” One couple sent in photos of their masked wedding. Families contributed pictures of personally distanced gatherings: a Sweet 16 party; a birthday celebration held in the family garage with partygoers dropping off presents outside; masked families gathered for Easter and Thanksgiving. One family, Crater said, even submitted a model of a castle they’d built from pizza boxes that had been used to deliver dinner when the family couldn’t leave the house. The archive marks something new for the history center. The center usually collects items that illustrate particular periods of Atlanta’s past. But this time, when the pandemic started, the center’s curators put out a public call for contributions that illustrated how people were dealing with the pandemic as it happened. One reason they did that, Crater said, was because after COVID-19 first appeared, people started asking the center for information on the 1918 flu pandemic to shed light on how COVID could disrupt lives. “We had nothing,” he said. “The Atlanta History Center has been around almost 100 years, and in 100 years, we didn’t have anything, or at least not anything we knew of [related to the 1918 pandemic]. That was a motivation for us to begin to collect from the public.” Crater and other historians at the center had heard about institutions scattered around the country that recently had put out calls for public help in gathering materials about historic events as they happened. They figured they’d give it a try. “This was a way to let the public say how the pandemic affected them,” Crater said. “This is another way to collect, to document events as they happen.” The historians were so pleased with the results that they employed the same technique to collect information and images on another major theme of the past year – the Black Lives Matter protests and subsequent events in Atlanta, including the election and runoff. “This is something I think is going to occur more and more in the industry, the archival industry,” Crater said. “It’s called ‘collecting the now.’ I think there’s a greater appreciation among my colleagues and myself about documenting contemporary events.” When they first asked for public contributions on the COVID pandemic, Crater didn’t know whether the call would be answered or not. “I didn’t know what to expect in terms of interest,” he said. “It turns out there was a great deal of interest in people sharing their stories.” So, a century from now or whenever the next pandemic roars through and upends everyday lives, people will be able look back at the way we handled things in 2021 as they socially distance and sip a take-out cocktail. And, of course, put on a mask. BK

18 | Commentary

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Carol Niemi is a marketing consultant who lives on the Dunwoody-Sandy Springs line and writes about people whose lives inspire others. Contact her at worthknowingnow@gmail.com.

Sandy Springs couple loves to adopt seniors

According to the American Society for the Prevention of Rather than just take her word, I visited Weeble, renamed Cruelty to Animals, approximately 6.5 million companion anOscar, three weeks after he joined their household. imals enter U.S. shelters every year. Approximately 1.5 million Oscar bore no resemblance to the pitiful creature that had are euthanized. Younger animals are more adoptable than seentered the animal shelter just a few weeks earlier. His black niors, who have higher medical expenses and fewer years to coat glistened. He was immediately affectionate to me, and live. Therefore, an old dog or cat in a shelter is an emergency his manners were impeccable. for people involved with animal rescue. In fact, he came to the Smiths totally housebroken and That’s why recently a post on Nextdoor Dunwoody was a responsive to all the basic commands. I spent an hour with Carol Niemi is a marketing consultant who lives on the Dunwoodyplea for help for an abandoned older black lab at the Douglas them on their outdoor patio. Though unleashed, Oscar made Sandy Springs line and writes about people whose lives inspire County Animal Shelter. When picked up, he was covered with no attempt to do anything but socialize. Based on his good beothers. Contact her at worthknowingnow@gmail.com. fleas that caused hair loss and scabs all over his body, with an havior and trusting nature, the Smiths wonder if he might open wound on one elbow. He was collarless and slightly arhave been not an abandoned hunting dog but rather a famithritic, leading the shelter people to surmise he was an abanly pet who’d wandered away from a loving home. We’ll nevdoned hunting dog. Because of his wobbly gait, they called him er know. Weeble. What a happy ending! But the plight of unwanted senior Almost immediately, Sandy Springs residents Kathy and Anpets remains. How many of us can imagine abandoning our drew Smith posted that they were interested. elderly family pet at a shelter? “He spoke to me through his picture,” said Andrew. “I said, Yet, according to Sandy Springs resident Lisa Zambacca, ‘I’ve got to go get that dog.’” board member of Angels Among Us Pet Rescue, “Someone He phoned the shelter while Kathy filled out the online apemails us every day wanting to surrender their old dog.” plication. Unfortunately, Angels rejects many of these requests for “We wanted to make sure he was still available,” said Anlack of space because it houses rescued pets in private homes drew, who added that the Douglas County Animal Shelter is rather than a shelter. “probably the finest shelter I’ve ever been in.” “We would take more if we had more volunteers,” said AnSPECIAL Kathy and Andrew Smith with Oscar, the dog Three days later, Andrew, who is retired, drove to Douggels Development and Events Director Jackie Spett. they adopted from a Douglas County shelter. lasville to meet Weeble. He brought along their two other resShelter life is hard, especially for trusting old family pets cue dogs -- a Jack Russell terrier mix, age 12, and a three-legged abandoned by the families they love, and rare are the people pit bull mix, age 6 -- to make sure everyone would get along. willing to adopt them. Upon arrival, he was sent alone to a room to wait for Weeble. Luckily, there are people like the Smiths, who prefer to adopt older pets and have ad“They said he might not warm up to me,” said Andrew. “But he came right up and opted nine of them. They also trained seven puppies for Canine Companions for Indeleaned on my feet. It was an almost instantaneous bond.” pendence (CCI) and adopted one of them, Marsh, when he aged out of service. So far, the The shelter would accept no payment. So Andrew made a donation and drove home oldest dog they have adopted was a 14-year-old yellow lab from the Gwinnett County Anwith his three dogs. imal Shelter. “It’s been great ever since,” he said. “We ‘saw’ her a few weeks after Marsh passed,” said Kathy. “We just couldn’t let her die A trip to the vet the next day led to a regimen of skin treatments, which began to heal there. She kept us laughing for two more years until her old legs just gave out.” Weeble’s skin problems and wounded elbow. “We know nobody else wants them,” said Andrew. “but they turn out to be the best “They called him Weeble because he couldn’t walk right,” said Kathy. “They thought dogs you could ever want. They’re so grateful they return your love five times over.” maybe he had hip dysplasia, but if you see him jumping now, he doesn’t have any of that Interested in fostering a senior pet? Contact Angels Among Us at angelsrescue.org. anymore!”

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Those Glands in the Rear: Everything You Don’t Want to Know (But Should) It happens out of nowhere… you look over and see your dog doing the dreaded scoot. Why are they doing this? And, how do you stop it? Read on for details about the part of routine dog care that no one wants to talk about. WHAT ARE GLANDS AND WHAT DO THEY DO? Your dog's hind end includes two anal glands, or anal sacs, located on the inside of their rectum, one on each side. These sacs gradually fill with secretions from sebaceous glands (the same glands found at the end of hair follicles that cause greasy hair) located inside each sac. The only real function of these anal glands is for dog communication: that’s what dogs sniff when they say “hello” to each other. When working properly, they are naturally expressed each time your dog empties their bowels. HOW DO I KNOW IF MY DOG NEEDS HELP WITH THEIR GLANDS? Unfortunately, things don't always function properly. Soft or small stools don't provide enough pressure to empty the sacs. If the glands fill until they become uncomfortable, your pup may scoot across the floor to get relief.

They can also usually be seen licking their rear end. There are many underlying causes of anal gland problems, and in many cases, it is a combination of reasons. The most common cause of anal gland problems is poor gastrointestinal health. Gland issues may also be caused by allergies that create red, inflamed skin around the anal glands. Another major cause is due to your pup’s anatomy – if your dog’s anal glands are positioned abnormally, it can become difficult for the glands to empty on their own. Not only are impacted anal sacs uncomfortable, if ignored they may become infected and abscessed, which could eventually rupture and may even require surgery. Impacted anal glands need to be manually expressed. Understandably, many dog parents don’t want to deal with glands themselves. Fortunately, Scenthound has you covered! Scenthound provides an easy, affordable way to make gland expression part of your dog’s routine care. This is one thing I KNOW you’ll want to leave to the pros! Visit scenthound.com to find the location nearest you and let our team do the (very) dirty work for you.

Dr. Jim MacLean

Chief Veterinarian, Scenthound Dr. MacLean’s first job was working as a grooming assistant when he was 15 years old. Since then, he has worked in every aspect of small animal veterinary hospitals, has practiced in small animal medicine and surgery for 26 years, and has owned and started multi-doctor veterinary hospitals. With a mind for both medicine and business, Jim received his Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine from VMRCVM at Virginia Tech in 1994 and his MBA from Georgetown University in 2011. Coming full circle, he joined the Scenthound pack to bring his expertise and experience to the grooming world. As chief veterinarian, Dr. MacLean guides Scenthound from a health and medicine perspective and helps achieve our mission to improve overall pet health on a broader scale.

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Dining With A View

10 restaurants on the water in North Georgia BY COLLIN KELLEY Having lunch or dinner by the water always adds extra ambience, so we rounded up 10 restaurants in the North Georgia mountains located on lakes and rivers to make your meal more memorable.

Milton Park 25 Shoreline Trail, Clarkesville miltonparkrestaurant.com Also located at the marina on Lake Burton, Milton Park serves up pizza and salads and has its own popular wine club.

Riverside Tavern 10 Turner’s Corner Road, Cleveland riversidetavernturnerscorner.com Barbecue, steaks, burgers, chicken, fish, and tacos are on the eclectic menu at this restaurant located on the Chestatee River in a historic building dating back to 1928.

The Troll Tavern

▲Burra Burra on the River 100 Blue Ridge Dr., McCaysville burraburraontheriver.com The Toccoa River and a lovely old trestle bridge provide a great backdrop with burgers, wings, pasta, street tacos, and more on the menu.

8590 N. Main St., Helen trolltavern.com You don’t have to pay a toll to the troll to enjoy this riverfront pub in downtown Helen. Tucked under a bridge next to the Chattahoochee, the menu includes German fare, pub grub, and craft and imported beers.

Ping’s Grill 201 Black Mountain Road, Toccoa pingsgrill.com Located at Links at Lake Toccoa, a 9-hole municipal golf course, enjoy burgers, wings, salads and sandwiches after a day hitting that hole in one or sailing.

▲Marina Station at Lake Chatuge 3399 E. Highway 76, Hiawassee theridgesrestort.com Also located at The Ridges Resort, Marina Station has barbecue, Brunswick stew, burgers, sandwiches and a view of Lake Chatuge to wash it down.

▲Café International

8546 S. Main St., Helen cafeinternationalhelen.com With its Alpine stylings and huge deck perched over the Chattahoochee River, the restaurant lives up to its name offering a menu of American, French, Italian, and German cuisine.

The Chophouse of La Prade’s 25 Shoreline Trail, Clarkesville murphyschophouse.com/laprades A fixture at the Lake Burton marina since 1925, the original restaurant burned in 2005, but the replacement is just as elegant and offers fresh seafood, steaks, wine, and cocktails.

▲The Oaks Lakeside Kitchen

3499 E. Highway 76, Hiawassee theridgesresort.com Located on the grounds of the The Ridges Resort on Lake Chatuge, the restaurant is currently serving breakfast only, but supper is coming soon.

▲Toccoa Riverside Restaurant 8055 Aska Road, Blue Ridge toccoariverrestaurant.com Located inside a rustic cabin overlooking the river, the menu features seafood, steaks, and other American fare.

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A N SL E Y MOU N TA I N & L A K E

Your Trusted Advisor In Blue Ridge

662 Eaton Road offered for $3,200,000

3794 Zion Hill Road offered for $2,800,000

750 Chief Whitetails offered for $1,750,000

436 Geronimo Road offered for $1,575,000

101 Falling Rock Road offered for $1,200,000

475 Toccoa River Lane offered for $1,000,000

Kim Knutzen REALTOR®

c: 770.402.1908 o: 706.613.HOME KIM@ANSLEYRE.COM GUIDETOBLUERIDGE.COM 706.613.HOME | ANSLEYMOUNTAINS.COM | 116 WEST MAIN ST. UNIT 1C, BLUE RIDGE, GA 30513 All data believed to be accurate but not warranted. If you have any existing brokerage relationship, this is not intended as a solicitation. Equal housing opportunity. *Represented buyer

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Mountain Fun Arts, music, cars, and moonshine all on tap in N. Georgia, Tennessee & NC BY COLLIN KELLEY If you’re planning a trip to the mountains this summer, you’ll find plenty to keep you entertained as events sidelined last year by the pandemic return to North Georgia, Tennessee, and North Carolina. The events calendar is packed with outdoor fun, and while you’ll still need to follow social distancing rules, things are definitely looking more “normal” with something to do for all ages and interests. We rounded up these recommendations to add to your itinerary this summer.

R-Ranch Mountain Top Rodeo June 11, Dahlonega R-Ranch’s 32nd Annual Mountain Top Rodeo on June 11 in Dahlonega, GA will have food trucks, live entertainment, kids’ activities, and full rodeo including the popular bull riding event. Tickets and details at facebook.com/MountainTopRodeo.

Asheville Art in the Park There’s always something to do in Asheville, NC, but if you’re heading up for a weekend getaway in June, be sure to check out Art in the Park at Pack Square Park in downtown on June 12, 19 and 26. Artists from across the region will have their work for display and sale. Find out more at exploreasheville.com.

▼Highlands Motoring Festival June 10-13 Highlands, NC More than 75 classic cars will be on and display at the 14th annual event in Highlands, NC June 10-13. Most of the action will take place at Kelsey-Hutchinson Park. Find out more at highlandsmotoringfestival.com.

▲Wanderlingerfest – Music, Art & Beer Festival Chattanooga, TN’s Wanderlinger Brewing Company will be rocking June 1820 with three days of local music, beer, art, and food. The event is for ages 21 and up. Some of the bands playing include Strung Like a Horse, Cold Planet, Opposite Box, Milele Roots, Behold The Brave and Lenox Hills. For tickets and information, visit wanderlingerfest.com.

Freedom in the Forest Retreat Celebrate the Summer Solstice in Blue Ridge, GA June 18-22 with this special event featuring daily hiking, yoga, meditation, swimming, organic meals and more. Reservations and and information at wildwoodmagic.com.

▲Georgia Mountain Arts & Crafts Festival Head to the Georgia Mountain Fairground in Hiawassee, GA June 4-6 for a weekend of arts and crafts by skilled local artisans. You’ll find pottery, painting, jewelry, signs, crochet, knitting, candles, soap, and more. Details at georgiamountainfairgrounds.com.

Blue Ridge Mountains Wine and Jazz Festival The June 26 event in Blue Ridge, GA will feature a selection of diverse wines from around the world and those made locally in North Georgia and North Carolina. There will also be food prepared by local chefs and top jazz performers from the region. Bring your blankets and lawn chairs. Find out more at blueridgecountry.com.

Georgia Mountain Moonshine Cruiz-In Enjoy three fun-filled days of “hillbilly fun” at Meeks Park in Blairsville, GA July 29-31 with a swap meet, live music, real moonshine, mountain crafts, and plenty of classic cars, trucks, bikes, rat rods and more. Find out more at gammoonshinecruizin. com.

▲North Georgia Highlands Seafood Festival Mayors Park in Young Harris, GA will play host to this festival June 4-6 featuring more than 75 fine arts and crafts exhibits, live music, and the opportunity to chow down on some serious seafood. Find more information at northgeorgiahighlandsseafoodfestival.com.

▲Live at Paradise Hills Winery Paradise Hills Winery in Blairsville, GA will host an evening of vino and music on June 19 from 5 to 9 p.m. featuring music by Trailer Hippies. Expect mountain, folk, homespun music and a groovy down to earth vibe. Find out more at paradisehillsga.com.

Georgia Mountain Fair The 70th annual Georgia Mountain Fair will be held in Hiwassee, GA Aug. 13-21. There will be musical performances, arts & crafts, carnival rides, unique attractions and more. Visit georgiamountainfairgrounds.com for tickets and details. Continued on page 24 BK

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Continued from page 22

Christmas in July If you can’t wait until December, then you’ll be delighted that Christmas comes early in the Bavarian-style village of Helen, GA. The annual holiday extravaganza is set for July 16-17 at the Helen Arts & Heritage Center and includes artists and fine craftsmen from across Northeast Georgia along with music, face painting, baked goods and more. Find out more at helenarts.org.

Soaky Mountain Waterpark One of Sevierville, TN’s newest attractions is this massive state-ofthe-art 50-acre waterpark, which includes rides like the Avalaunch watercoaster, Black Bear Rapids, tall slides, surfing simulator, 35,000 square foot wave pool, and more. Visitors are strongly encouraged to purchase their daily admission tickets in advance at soakymountainwaterpark.com.

YOUR MODERN MOUNTAIN ESCAPE AWAITS HIGHLANDS-CASHIERS PLATEAU TEMPERATE RAINFOREST TURNKEY LOT & COTTAGE PACKAGES - LUXURY AMENITIES - 90 MINUTES FROM ATLANTA HIGHLANDS-CASHIERS PLATEAU TEMPERATE RAINFOREST

TURNKEY LOT & COTTAGE PACKAGES - LUXURY AMENITIES - 90 MINUTES FROM ATLANTA

704.202.4161 JONATHAN.HOUGH@ENGELVOELKERS.COM THEPRESERVEATWHITESIDECLIFFS.COM

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Hole #6 | Par 4

Nowhere else can you enjoy a true mountain lifestyle a stone’s throw from the charm and vibe of Georgia’s favorite mountain town, Blue Ridge. Only at Old Toccoa Farm, behind the beautifully appointed Gate House, can you enjoy custom homes and residences of unparalleled quality and design alongside a magnificent mountain “links-style” golf experience. Here, People, Lifestyle & Design live together and nature stands center-stage. Home of the 2021 Georgia State Golf Association Public Links Championship.

oldtoccoafarm.com 706.946.4653

Obtain the Property Report required by Federal Law and read it before signing anything. No Federal agency has judged the merits or value, if any, of this property. This is not intended to be an offer to sell nor as a solicitation of offers to buy property in Old Toccoa Farm by residents of any state where prior registration is required.

Photographic credit: Square Frame Media

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On the Fly

Rolling on the River

BY COLLIN KELLEY If you are looking to go fly fishing this year, how does the thought of 700,000 trout hitting the water entice you? Thanks to the long-standing partnership between the Georgia Department of Natural Resources’ Wildlife Resource Division and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, anglers can look forward to an exceptional year of trout fishing, according to state officials “The Georgia trout stocking program is typically supported by four trout hatcheries. With the Lake Burton Hatchery renovation wrapping up, we will be stocking primarily from the other three hatcheries,” explained WRD Trout Stocking Coordinator John Lee Thomson. “Good rainfall and a mild winter have allowed for great growth at these locations. Our regular distribution effort began the last full week of March, and all waterbodies scheduled to be stocked have received trout.” Popular creeks and rivers that receive regular trout stockings include Cooper Creek in Union County, Little Amicalola Creek at Amicalola State Park, Holly Creek in Murray County, and Johns Creek in Floyd County and the Tallulah River in Rabun County. There’s also good trout fishing to be found in Catoosa, Chattooga, Fannin, and Stephens Counties. A complete list can be found at georgiawildlife.com/Fishing/Trout, where you can also sign up for weekly trout stocking reports. The daily limit is eight trout on general regulation trout waters. Anglers are reminded to respect private property rights along streams flowing through private lands, and to obtain permission before fishing on private property. Georgia anglers can support fisheries conservation and trout management by buying a fishing license at gooutdoorsgeorgia.com and buying the special trout license plate at georgiawildlife.com/licenseplates.

BY COLLIN KELLEY

Anglers looking for trout can expect a good catch

Grab your paddles and bikes for these upcoming river adventures At the height of the pandemic, visiting Georgia’s parks and rivers became more popular than ever. Paddlesports – like canoeing, kayaking, and paddle boarding – received a surge of interest while team sports were on hiatus, gyms and fitness centers closed, and vacation options were limited by social distancing. Georgia River Network (GRN), a statewide river advocacy organization that runs multiple group paddle trips each year, was forced to cancel its annual week-long river journey known as Paddle Georgia. This year’s event along the Flint River from June 2026 is sold out (you can get on the wait list at garivers.org/paddle-georgia), but GRN has more trips planned later in the year. But sign up now because they sell out fast. On July 24, the Chattahoochee Peddle-Paddle will be a 12-mile paddle and 11-mile bike ride along a stretch of the river in west Georgia. Coming up Aug. 21 is the Oostanaula River Peddle-Paddle, 11.5-mile bike ride and 13.3-mile paddle explores this river that’s known for its robust population of freshwater mussels. In the fall, the Oconee River Peddle-Paddle on Sept. 11 will explore historic ruins and old mills on a 15-mile bike ride and 11-mile paddle, while the Fall Float on the Flint Oct. 9-10 will cover 36 miles and include two nights of camping. “Our Georgia Water Trails Network opens up greater access for paddlers and anglers and people who just want to recreate by our rivers,” said Rena Ann Peck, executive director of Georgia River Network. “Especially during times of crisis, like these, connection to nature from simply being on a river, lake, coast, or swamp makes us feel better emotionally and contributes to our physical well-being.” For more about the paddle trips and GRN, visit garivers.org.

Let's find your home in the

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Char Stacy c: 706.633.9240 | o: 706.613.HOME CHAR@ANSLEYRE.COM | CHARSTACY.COM All data believed to be accurate but not warranted. If you have any existing brokerage relationship, this is not intended as a solicitation. Equal housing opportunity.

706.613.HOME 116 WEST MAIN STREET, UNIT 1C BLUE RIDGE, GA 30513 ANSLEYRE.COM

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City Council approves new council district map with hesitation Continued from page 1 city, particularly when we suspected … that the districts were out of alignment and likely illegal.” During the redistricting process, the possibility of adding a majority-minority district – or a district that has a mostly minority population – was brought up by residents and city leaders alike. In the new map, three of the districts would be majority white and one would be majority-minority. District 1’s population would be 72.1% white, 12.2% Black or African American, 8.9% Asian, and 4.7% Hispanic or Latino. District 2’s population would be 58.6% white, 7.6% Black or African American, 8.5% Asian, and 22.9% Hispanic or Latino. District 3’s population would be 52.3% white, 10.7% Black or African American, 8.7% Asian, and 26.3% Hispanic or Latino. District 4 would be 27.8% white, 18.1% Black or African American, 7.9% Asian, and 44% Hispanic or Latino. Santiago Marquez, CEO of the Brookhaven-based Latin American Association, said in an interview with the Reporter that he had spoken with city officials about the new districts, and was told the new lines were based on population not registered voters, which he thought would mean better representation for Hispanic and Latino residents. “I don’t have the data in front of me in terms of how many Hispanic registered voters there are,” he said. “But I would think that would be a better representation. Instead of drawing them based on registered voters, you’re actually drawing them based on actual populations. My initial reaction is that’s probably a positive.” In order to change the districts, the council had to approve an amendment to the city’s charter. The city charter delineates council districts, so any change to

those districts necessitates a change to the charter. Most council members were not happy with the new map, but said they would move forward to protect the city from any legal action if the recent annexations created an imbalance in the old council districts. “It’s one of these things where I wish we didn’t have to do this, but as stewards of the city, I think it’s our responsibility to do so,” said Councilmember John Park. “I would like to say that I would fully support – when we have a little more leeway with what the margins can be and still be in compliance – I would be completely in favor of reevaluating and possibly going back as close as possible to previous lines.” Councilmember Joe Gebbia also expressed disappointment, saying that some communities of interest he would have rather stayed together were split up in the new map. “It’s a compromise,” he said. “Unfortunately, that’s what we’re here to do – pick the best of the compromises.” Park asked how soon the city could redistrict again if the new districts did end up being out of balance when the census data is released. Once the census numbers are released, the Georgia General Assembly will meet for a special legislative session for the purposes of redistricting in statewide and federal races. “In the course of that redistricting, I expect that there will also be an opportunity to submit local legislation to revisit these questions if the data from the census is substantially different,” Balch said. “The census provides a rebuttable presumption of what the population and the population distribution is. If we have numbers that we feel more confident in and that our experts believe are more accurate to what the city’s distribution is and what the demographics are, then we are entitled and can continue to rely on those numbers.”

I represent buyers and sellers in our area and would love to help with any of your upcoming real estate needs. Please reach out anytime!

ANNE COOPER

ABR® | Atlanta Realtor awarded “Top Producer” Top 10 % Producing Agent Company Wide Top 5% Producing Agent of Atlanta Realtors

M 404.550.4818 | annesellsatl@gmail.com 100 W Paces Ferry Rd | Atlanta, GA 30305 | 404.352.2010 | dorseyalston.com Information believed accurate but not warranted. Equal Housing Opportunity. If your home is currently listed, this is not a solicitation. BK

we the power of

TOGETHER WE THRIVE. Connection is key to a longer and more vibrant life, and powers everything WE do. It’s like being part of a super supportive family of waiters, chefs, housekeepers, ZEST® activity coaches, care & wellness teams, and even a bunch of really friendly and fun neighbors, all helping you thrive. Experience the Power of WE at The Piedmont at Buckhead.

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Thursday, July 8th • 11:30am Join us for an informative presentation on senior living and the exceptional services & safeguards. Afterwards, take a tour and enjoy a delicious lunch especially prepared by our executive chef and culinary team. Seating is limited. To RSVP for this socially-distanced event, please call 404.381.1743.

C A R F - AC C R E D I T E D INDEPENDENT & ASSISTED LIVING RESIDENCES

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State Rep. Wilson to run for insurance commissioner BY SAMMIE PURCELL

Lee “Mac” Whitesides, DMD, MMSc Board Certified Oral & Maxillofacial Surgeon If missing teeth are affecting your quality of life, we are here to help. When tooth loss occurs due to disease or trauma, dental implants can be a long-term, natural-looking solution. Schedule an appointment today to see how dental implants from Northside Oral Surgery can restore your smile.

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*New patients only. Must mention offer to receive discount. May not be combined with any other offer, discount, insurance, or reduced-fee program. Treatment needs may vary by patient. Abutment and crown not included. Consult fee ($105) and X-rays ($100) due at consultation. ADA 6000, 6199. ADDITIONAL CHARGES MAY BE INCURRED FOR RELATED SERVICES WHICH MAY BE REQUIRED IN INDIVIDUAL CASES. Dr. Gene Witkin & Associates. Expires 60 days after receipt. Issued 9/20

Perfectly Pairs with DAD JOKES

purchase of $25 or more Sandy Springs 5975 Roswell Rd Suite A-103 Sandy Springs, GA 30328 (404) 236-2114 NothingBundtCakes.com Expires 6/30/2021. Limit one (1) coupon per guest. Coupon must be presented at time of purchase. $5 off $25 before tax. Valid only at the bakery(ies) listed. Valid only on baked goods; not valid on retail items. No cash value. Coupon may not be reproduced, transferred or sold. Internet distribution strictly prohibited. Must be claimed in bakery during normal business hours. Not valid for online orders. Not valid with any other offer.

State Rep. Matthew Wilson (D-Brookhaven) has announced he will run for Georgia Insurance and Safety Fire Commissioner in 2022. The office of the commissioner licenses and regulates insurance companies, investigates reports of insurance fraud, and inspects buildings to prevent fires. Wilson represents District 80, which includes parts of Brookhaven and Sandy Springs. His bid for Insurance Commissioner would open up his seat for when the Georgia House of Representatives holds elections again in 2022. Wilson will run against Republican acting Commissioner John King. Gov. Brian Kemp appointed King to the position in May of 2019 after the elected commissioner, Jim Beck, was indicted on federal SPECIAL State Rep. Matthew Wilson. fraud and money laundering charges. King officially announced his bid for Insurance Commissioner on April 12. In a press release announcing his candidacy, Wilson brought up Georgia’s recently passed election bill as part of his impetus for running. The law imposes harsher restrictions on voters and critics have called out the legislation for enabling voter suppression. Wilson called out Georgia Republicans for using the presidential election and President Joe Biden’s win as “a cover to rewrite our election laws.” “It’s a disgrace, and I will not sit idly by while our democracy is at stake. The 2022 ballot is our chance to organize against those who seek to silence us and to turn that energy into meaningful change for Georgians too long denied the opportunity to thrive,” he said in a press release. “Healthcare costs and inflated insurance premiums are a big part of what’s been holding us back. Georgia needs an insurance commissioner who will prioritize working families ahead of the big insurance companies and multinational corporations that have bought and paid for Republican insurance commissioners for over 25 years.” The Georgia Attorney General’s office is currently reviewing allegations of election law violations against Wilson, who bought pizzas and passed out slices to voters waiting in line at a polling station in 2018. Wilson has previously said he received the polling manager’s permission to do so. A spokesperson from the AG’s office said the review is still pending.

Dine-in Or Take-out

We call it home. MARGY MANCHESTER

Resident since 2006 “I’ve been involved with the community since 1960 and I was on the very first board here at Saint Anne’s Terrace. It’s a beautiful part of town and the best part about living here is the wonderful family atmosphere in which everyone gets along.”

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Join us for an In-Person Tour Monday – Friday, 9:00am - 7:00pm Or call us to schedule a Tour at your convenience

• Serving Buckhead community for over 30 years • Minutes from OK Café • Quiet residential neighborhood • Apartments tailored to personal needs

CALL US TO SCHEDULE YOUR VISIT 3100 Northside Parkway, NW Atlanta 30327 www.saintannesterrace.org • 404-238-9200 BK

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Services Available

Help Wanted Americold Logistics, LLC., Atlanta,

Architect 4, Architecture Comcast Cable Communications, LLC, Atlanta, GA. Prov tech lead w/i team resp for prov report, scorecard, & analytcs for all biz functn & biz units. Reqs Bach in CS, Engin or rltd; & 5 yrs of exp prfrm stratgic analytcs use SQL & Teradata SQL; execute query prfrmnce tune in SQL & Teradata; & use Jira for project tracking; of which 1 yr must incl use Informatica/BTEQ to dvlp solutns. Apply to: Denise_Mapes@cable.comcast.com Ref Job ID #8936

GA has an opening for a Design Engineer (Job Code PB 1218) to provide eng, project mgt & analytical support to design eng. dept. Support the design & impl. of new processes, facilities & retrofits. Reqs: B.S. Ind. and/or systems, mech., civil eng. or related field & working knowledge of autocad, advanced knowledge &

Matthew’s Handy Services - 7AM appointments available. Small jobs & chores are my specialties! Organizers, Carpentry, Drywall & Painting. Call 404-547-2079 or email mwarren8328@ gmail.com. Paramount Roofing & Consulting - Your roof needs us - We’re a company you can trust! Free estimates. Call 404-565-3765, Email goffcurtis007@gmail.com or Visit ParamountRoofingandConsulting.com

capabilities W/Microsoft excel, word, access, powerpoint, visio, VBA & SQL technical skills incl. a strong command of word, access, powerpoint & visio & preferred knowledge of commercial simulation packages. Mail resume to S. Tower Ste. 600, Atlanta, GA 30328. E.O.E.

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O W O N D U Y D MONDAY, JULY 5, 2021 THEME: CELEBRATING OUR HEROES GRAND MARSHAL: FRONTLINE WORKERS PRESENTED BY:

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DUNWOODY HOMEOWNERS ASSOCIATION AND THE DUNWOODY REPORTER NEWSPAPER WILL HOST THE ANNUAL FOURTH OF JULY PARADE FEATURING MARCHING BANDS, FLOATS, CLOWNS, ANIMAL UNITS AND LOCAL CELEBRITIES. IN 2019 THE PARADE ATTRACTED OVER 2,500 PARTICIPANTS AND 35,000 SPECTATORS! MORE INFORMATION VISIT HTTPS://DUNWOODYGA.ORG/DUNWOODY-4TH-OF-JULY-PARADE/

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