Dunwoody Reporter - July 2023

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BUCKHEAD

Activists hope to get ‘Stop Cop City’ on November ballot

By Dyana Bagby

Activists have launched a campaign that would let Atlanta voters decide in a referendum if the city’s planned $90 million public safety training center should be built, the latest effort to stop what opponents call “Cop City.”

The announcement came just after the Atlanta City Council voted 11-4 on June 6 to approve $67 million in public money for the facility, despite hundreds of people pleading with members over 15 hours to vote against funding the project.

Organizers need to gather more than 70,000 voter signatures over 60 days now that the Atlanta city clerk has approved the petition. And even that was steeped in drama.

The clerk’s office informed the group that the petition was missing a line requiring city of Atlanta residents to validate each signature. The group added the line and resubmitted the petition on June 15, but the clerk’s office said there were still issues with the petition. Vote to Stop Cop City organizers filed a lawsuit to compel the clerk’s office to approve the petition, but withdrew it once approval was given.

The referendum would ask voters to decide if they want to repeal the ordinance approved by the council in 2021 authorizing a lease agreement with the Atlanta Police Foundation to build the public safety training center.

“People need to have a voice on whether or not there is a Cop City,” said Kamau Franklin, founder of Community

Movement Builders, at a press conference for the “Vote to Stop Cop City” campaign. “The City Council has failed over and over again to listen to the masses of people in Atlanta,” he said. “We will do all that is possible to make sure that the people of Atlanta come out and vote to shut down Cop City.”

Opponents said a referendum requires the signatures of 15% of the city’s registered voters in the last election. Atlanta had close to 470,000 registered voters in the 2022 general election. About 97,000 people voted in the first round of the city’s 2021 mayoral race, according to the Associated Press.

Gary Spencer, senior counsel for the NAACP Legal Defense and Education Fund, said the coalition’s goal was to get 75,000 signatures to ensure there were more than enough to meet the requirements.

“We want the will of the people to be heard,” Spencer said. “We are not going to be intimidated by intransigent public officials … we are going to take our fight to the ballot box and we believe we will win.”

Kamau Franklin says a broad coalition of people and organizations are working to get a referendum on the November ballot to allow Atlanta voters to decide if the city should build “Cop City.” (Dyana Bagby)

SANDY SPRINGS Development team chosen for City Springs phase two

By Bob Pepalis

Sandy Springs City Council chose the project team of Regent Partners and Morris & Fellows as its preferred development partner for the second phase of City Springs.

“The proposed development would further the vision to make City Springs a vibrant, walkable district for Sandy Springs residents and visitors by offering an array of food and beverage options, unique shopping, fine art and entertainment, outdoor spaces, and housing,” City Manager Eden Freeman said.

A mixed-use development is sought with residential, retail, office, and hotel space, with sufficient parking for those uses.

The project will include parcels south of City Hall and the City Green, and across Mount Vernon Highway bounded by Sandy Springs Circle, Hildebrand Road and Heritage Green Park. The springs of Sandy Springs and the Heritage Green event lawn would not be affected.

Construction is expected to begin in late 2024, with an estimated completion date in the fall of 2026, Freeman said.

The three proposals submitted to the city and other information are available for viewing online under the June 6 City Council meeting agenda.

The submitted proposals envision the city spending more on infrastructure costs on items such as parking spaces, green space, and public streets, Freeman said, though that is subject to negotiation.

She said the city and the Regent project team will collaborate over the next 90 to 120 days to work on a mutually acceptable development plan with financial terms.

City Councilmember John Paulson, who made the motion to choose Regents, said this is the beginning of the project, and nothing is fixed in stone.

“There’s a lot that needs to be talked about here. But the idea was to try and pick somebody that everybody felt, or the staff at least, had a sense of consistency with the direction we believe this whole development south of City Hall should take,” he said.

The concepts are a great starting point, but they are still up for consideration, Councilmember Andy Bauman said.

“Maybe something comes in, maybe something comes out,” he said. “I cannot emphasize enough that when people look at those drawings or renderings or concepts, that’s all they have presented: some really cool ideas.”

Mayor Rusty Paul, who said he observed the process, said none of the proposals were exactly what the city wanted, but believed the city and Regents could eventually arrive at a shared vision.

The city has other partners to bring to the table now, such as the Georgia Commission on the Holocaust, which has been waiting for the city to make some decisions.

Councilmember Tibby DeJulio asked how the city will gather public input on the City Springs II project.

“I anticipate a series of online surveys where folks can share their opinions, as well as a series of public information open houses,” Freeman said.

The financial elements of the proposals including potential land purchases by the developer will not be disclosed as real estate negotiations must be kept confidential under Georgia law, City Attorney Dan Lee said.

A rendering of phase two of City Springs.

BROOKHAVEN Councilmember John Park announces run for mayor

By Logan C. Ritchie

Brookhaven City Council member

John Park is officially announcing his run for mayor. Representing District 2 since 2014, Park has been reelected twice. His current term ends in 2025

In 2014, Park’s platform was to build Brookhaven “as a safe haven of green spaces and a community of character.” Since then, Park claims the city council has achieved better parks, more green spaces, and improved public safety while lowering homeowners’ property taxes.

Brookhaven is at a critical point in its history, Park said. Mayor John Ernst is reaching his term limit, and a municipal election is coming in November. To keep the city moving forward, Park wants continuity in the city.

“I had this fear that if we don’t continue together, all the great things we’ve accomplished could fall apart,” Park said. “We need to go to the next phase in a thoughtful and unified way, and work on it together. That’s why I want to run.”

Park expects an endorsement from fellow council members. It’s no secret that Ernst and Park are college friends.

“I’m proud of the fact that together, with the rest of the council, [Ernst and I] get along really well and accomplish a lot,” he said. “Our city council members are the most qualified and thoughtful, educated and competent people out there. What makes us really successful is we sit down, we talk about it, we hash things out.”

While in office, Park has pushed for green space and infrastructure. On the campaign trail, he heard stories from residents who felt abandoned by DeKalb County over flooding issues.

“I took that to heart. I made stormwater my focus on the city council, and we’ve mitigated most of the flooding. We’re going in the right direction. We’re dealing with 50 years of neglect by DeKalb County as well as some development that’s caused it,” Park said.

Osborne Road doesn’t flood anymore and Park credits efforts by city staff and the council. Park is a technical consultant for surveillance of nationally notifiable diseases with the Centers for Disease Control and state health agencies and laboratories.

Born in South Korea, Park immigrated to the United States with his family as a young child. He attended Decatur High School and earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration from the Goizueta Business School at Emory University. He and his wife, Morgan Harris, have lived in Brookhaven since 2007.

The Brookhaven municipal election is Nov. 7. First-time candidate Lauren Kiefer announced her run in May. Candidates must qualify with the city clerk between Aug. 23-25.

Toco Hills neighborhoods petition for annexation into city

By Logan C. Ritchie

Two DeKalb County neighborhoods are petitioning to be annexed into Brookhaven, a city of 58,000 in North DeKalb that has steadily grown since its 2012 inception.

A concerted effort began in 2022 with grassroots canvassing at shops and intersections in Toco Hills, then a door-todoor campaign for signatures.

A petition for the annexation of Merry Hills and Biltmore Acres was filed on May 30, showing 64% of the area’s 1,390 active voters and 62% of landowners are in favor of the move.

If approved, the annexation would be the largest annexation by the 60% method in Georgia’s history.

The state of Georgia requires a written

petition signed by at least 60% of the owners of the land area (by acreage) and at least 60% of the resident electors in the area proposed for annexation.

Bounded by North Druid Hills Road, Houston Mill Road and Lavista Road, the 462-acred area is mainly residential with some mixed-use, office, and commercial properties, including the busy Toco Hill Shopping Center.

The neighborhoods are part of the area known as North Druid Hills, but most residents colloquially call the neighborhoods around the shopping center Toco Hills.

The application for annexation is being reviewed by DeKalb County commissioners, and Brookhaven is planning to vote on the matter on July 25.

John Park

On THE TOWN Movies Free movies

City calls for action against slow EMS response

By Logan C. Ritchie

Brookhaven City Manager Christian Sigman is calling for the takeover of emergency medical services (EMS) from DeKalb County.

At the June 13 City Council meeting, Sigman suggested that DeKalb allow Brookhaven to either establish its own EMS or enforce performance standards.

DeKalb County is in a five-year contract with American Medical Response (AMR) to provide emergency services to residents across the county. The contract expires in 2024.

“We cannot wait any longer for the county to act,” said Sigman, who has seen no change in response times since a meeting in August 2022 with county leadership.

This is not the first attempt the city has made to remove AMR, a multi-billiondollar for-profit company with operations in 39 states.

In 2019, Brookhaven built out an ambulance station after years of debate between North DeKalb County cities and the county. The year prior, DeKalb County hit AMR with a $1.9 million fine due to poor service.

Brookhaven Police Chief Brandon Gurley relayed examples of ambulances arriving on the scene up to 50 minutes after police officers.

However, the state of Georgia regulates emergency medical services, so Brookhaven is precluded from starting its own department.

In a written response, AMR Georgia Southeast Regional Director Chris Valentin said the company is actively engaged with DeKalb County leadership and the communities it serves to strengthen the EMS system.

“AMR values our longstanding relationship with DeKalb County and the communities we serve, including Brookhaven. DeKalb is one of the nation’s fastest-growing communities, and emergency services remain under immense pressure from growing demand coupled with a lack of resources due to recent hospital closures and significant staffing shortages caused by the unprecedented COVID-19 pandemic. These impacts are being felt in a profound way throughout the entire healthcare and public safety industries,” said Valentin.

City News

Financial excellence

Brookhaven is recognized for outstanding government finance practices

For yet another year the City of Brookhaven’s Finance Department has won the Excellence in Financial Reporting Award from the Government Finance Officers Association. This is the seventh consecutive year Brookhaven has earned this award.

The award, which is the highest form of recognition for government financial reporting and accounting, according to the Government Finance Officers Association (GFOA), was given to the City’s Finance Department for its Comprehensive Annual Financial Report (CAFR) for 2021.

“We work hard to ensure that Brookhaven’s finances maintain a high level of accuracy, integrity and transparency,” said Finance Director Oscar Medina. “It is gratifying to earn this recognition from the Government Finance Officers Association.”

The award-winning CAFR can be found on Brookhaven’s website at www.BrookhavenGA.gov/Finance/Page/AnnualComprehensive-Financial-Reports

According to GFOA, the report is judged by an impartial panel to meet the high standards of the program, which includes demonstrating a constructive spirit of full disclosure to clearly communicate its financial story and motivate potential users to read the report.

Brookhaven is also one of the few municipalities with a Triple A bond rating from Standard & Poor’s (S&P) and Moody’s Investor Services (Moody’s). These ratings, recently reaffirmed this year, were originally received in July 2018 for the bond for the construction of the Peachtree Creek Greenway.

PRODUCED BY THE CITY OF BROOKHAVEN

PRODUCED BY THE CITY OF BROOKHAVEN

Finance Director Oscar Medina (third from left) is pictured with, from left, District 2 Councilman John Park, District

1 Councilwoman and Mayor Pro Tem Linley Jones, Mayor John Ernst, District 3 Councilwoman Madeleine Simmons, and District 4 Councilman John Funny.

City council approves bond referendum for parks, trails

By Cathy Cobbs

The Dunwoody City Council approved a call for a November referendum on a $60 million, 20-year parks improvement bond at its June 13 meeting.

The bond fund would finance improvements for parks and trails, including:

■ Buildout of Homecoming Park, formerly referred to as Vermack Park, and other park improvements, including a 10-acre tract of land that used to house Austin Elementary School;

■ The acquisition of land and

construction of softball fields at a site that has yet to be determined;

■ The construction of four multiuse trails (in the Dunwoody Village area, Winter’s Chapel Road, North Peachtree Road and Mt. Vernon Road).

The average annual tax increase for a resident with a house valued at $500,000 would be around $160, according to city officials.

The bond referendum will be an item the Nov. 7 ballot.

The council also held public hearings on several zoning changes, including a request from developer JSJ Perimeter LLC to drop timing limitations on

a 225-unit, age-restricted apartment project at 84 Perimeter Center East. A staff memo recommended the lifting of a restriction that stipulated that the developer apply for a land disturbance permit within two years of the zoning approval, considering economic conditions that have made financing for such projects difficult.

“Impacts from Covid-19 have complicated financing and construction timelines,” a staff memo said.

Staff also recommended not placing another date in the restrictions “as enforcement would be difficult.”

Josh DiGiovanni, representing the developer, said the company is still “fully invested” in the project and continuing to seek financing.

“It is our hope that things will open up by the end of the year,” DiGiovanni said.

“I’m very disappointed that this project hasn’t started, but I understand the economic environment has forced this change,” Dunwoody Mayor Lynn Deutsch said.

The council also held a public hearing about a zoning change that would allow for the construction of a storage facility at 4470 Chamblee Dunwoody Road. No attendees spoke either in opposition or support of the change, but council questioned the appearance of the building, saying that it prefers it to look more like an office building than a storage facility.

In other action, the council:

■ Approved on second reading a Special Land Use Permit that

would allow for the construction of 12-pickleball courts at the Marcus Jewish Community Center. Attorney Kathy Zickert, representing the applicant, said several improvements have been made to alleviate court noise that could affect neighbors, as well as a limit on its hours of operation;

■ After extended discussion, voted 6-1 to name a future park on Roberts Drive Wildcat Park. The choices also included Village Crossing, Discover, Juniper, Dogwood Overlook, Loblolly, Humblebee and Piedmont Breeze;

■ Approved $800,000 to alleviate stormwater and erosion issues at the Dunwoody Nature Center;

■ Discussed a conceptual design for a 12-foot pedestrian path on Peeler Road from Winters Chapel Road to Lakeside Drive, an initiative that several speakers at the public comment section of the meeting say they oppose its location on the north side of Peeler Road.

■ Accepted a $433,000 donation to build a Vietnam veteran’s memorial at Brook Run Park.

Courtesy Discover Dunwoody

SUSTAINABLITY

What’s on your summer reading list?

I have always loved to read, even as a young child. Every summer, I looked forward to the Fulton County Library System’s reading program—diligently completing, often doubling, the ten-book requirement. In those days, the library system rewarded everyone who read at least ten books with free movie tickets to shows at the Fox Theatre. My dad always took me; I still remember how excited I was to have this adventure with him.

During my decades of mothering my two sons and riverkeeping –from my 30s to my 50s I rarely allowed myself time to read, as I struggled to stay on task at home and work. Sadly, there were many years in which I could count on one hand the number of books I read for pleasure. In retirement, this has changed dramatically. These days, I am rarely without a book nearby and keep a list of those I hope to read: an ambitious tally of more than fifty.

Although I enjoy novels Wallace Stegner, Barbara Kingsolver, and Carl Hiaasen come to mind I much prefer non-fiction: nature (of course), environmental science, biographies, autobiographies, and American history. There is so much to learn about our vibrant, complex (and also threatened) world and the diversity of its life.

Favorites

Linda Lear’s magnificent biography of Rachel Carson (Witness for Nature) led me to half a dozen other books about the brilliant environmental scientist and to a transformative trip to her beloved cottage on the coast in Maine. Reading David Brinkley’s books about Teddy Roosevelt (Wilderness Warrior) and Franklin Roosevelt (Rightful Heritage) deepened my understanding of their tremendous conservation achievements, notably their courageous insistence that hundreds of millions of acres of natural and historic significance be protected to benefit everyone.

John Lewis’ powerful memoir about growing up in Alabama in the 1940s and his role in the civil rights movement (Walking with the Wind) taught me so much that I never learned in my southern schools, despite being a teenager during the movement’s most consequential years.

James McBride’s beautifully written tribute to his mother (The Color of Water), both heartbreaking and inspiring, illustrates how family love and a parent’s indomitable

spirit can overcome racial injustices and antisemitism. I love getting to know people from historical figures and scientists to artists and community leaders-through their personal stories.

Nature science books about seashells, hawks, fungi, otters, trees, eels, and moss have magnified my sense of wonder and awe in all life on this planet. I highly recommend The Sound of the Sea by Barnett, H is for Hawk by MacDonald, Entangled Life by Sheldrake, The Hidden Lives of Trees by Wohlleben, The Book of Eels by Svensson, and Gathering Moss by Wall Kimmerer. Currently, I’m reading Ed Yong’s An Immense World, a book written to help its readers break out of our “sensory bubbles” and consider the planet as perceived by other animals.

Not surprisingly, climate change is a priority topic for me, both non-fiction (Under a White Sky by Kolbert) and dystopian (The Ministry for the Future

by Robinson). Although these books can be tough to read, given the projected trajectory of our heating planet, I find some comfort in them – the data and science that is helping us better understand the consequences of burning fossil fuels and the heroic efforts being made to find solutions.

Inspired to Write

About four years ago, a friend gave me a copy of The Forest Unseen—A Year’s Watch in Nature by David George Haskell, a biologist and writer who observed a one-squaremeter patch of old-growth national forest in Tennessee through the seasons. At the outset, I wondered how there could possibly be enough material to fill nearly 300 pages from what I (quite naively) thought was a limited subject. As I quickly learned, the book is a wonderful and accessible example of science writing that traces nature’s seasonal path with fascinating stories.

Mirroring Haskell, I decided to seek a

place in nature where I could also observe its beauty and complexity over the course of a year, paying close attention to the small things we often miss in our busy, self-absorbed lives. In early May of 2019, I discovered a trail to the Chattahoochee River that I had not previously walked; it winds along a creek and through an old forest in the Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area to a spectacular section of the river.

As I began to regularly walk this trail, I remembered stories from my two decades of working to revive the Chattahoochee, as the founding director of the nonprofit Chattahoochee Riverkeeper organization. These were tales I wanted to tell—about people, adventures, challenges, and celebrations. Less than a year into my walks, the Covid-19 pandemic provided endless days of sheltering at home with lots of time on my hands. So, I wrote a book.

In July, the University of Georgia Press will publish Keeping the Chattahoochee: Reviving and Defending a Great Southern River. I hope it will encourage readers to find a special place in nature where they can magnify their own sense of wonder and open their eyes and heart to the wondrous variety of plants, animals, and microbes that inhabit our planet. I also hope the stories about my experiences as an environmental advocate will inspire readers to take action to help safeguard the environment, whether in their neighborhoods or across the country.

To purchase my book, go to ugapress.org and join me on Sept.12 at The Carter Center for the official book launch with former mayor Shirley Franklin, or at other book signing events in Atlanta and around Georgia.

Sally Bethea

JULY MEETINGS & EVENTS

Unless otherwise noted, all meetings are held at Tucker City Hall, 1975 Lakeside Pkwy, Ste 350B, Tucker, GA 30084

Sandy Springs names city trail system

By Bob Pepalis

Sandy Springs residents offered 91 possible names for the city’s growing trail system, and a staff committee joined by PATH Foundation design team members picked Springway as a branding concept.

Recreation Director Mike Perry told the Sandy Springs City Council at its June 6 work session that the committee reviewed the submissions from 41 people and used the council’s goal to come up with a short, easy-to-remember, recognizable name that represents the city.

He shared some branding suggestions including a logo and a trailhead monument sign prepared by the city communications team. The design concept highlights the natural elements that Sandy Springs is known for: water from the Chattahoochee River and the city’s tree canopy.

Individual trails would get their own names as part of the Springway Trail system.

Mass timber tower gets ok in Buckhead

By Dyana Bagby

A developer’s plan to build a 20-story multi-family tower using mostly mass timber in Buckhead Village has received approval from the area’s development review committee.

Chicago-based Harbor Bay Ventures wants to build the more than 516,000-square-foot tower at 359 East Paces Ferry Road. It would include 314 units and 2,400 square feet of retail space. More than 300 residential parking spaces and 36 bicycle parking spaces are also planned.

In a memo to the city’s Office of Planning, the SPI-9 committee praised Harbor Bay Ventures for wanting to construct the tower using mass timber because it fits into Buckhead’s sustainability plan.

The SPI-9 committee reviews proposed projects primarily in Buckhead’s commercial district and provides its feedback to city planners to consider as part of their approval process.

Mass timber construction includes the nailing or gluing of numerous wood panels together to create large pieces. The large mass timber pieces are deemed strong, low-carbon alternatives to concrete and steel.

The Buckhead development review committee also said it was pleased with Harbor Bay Ventures’ additional sustainability plans that include recycling collection areas, proposed composting areas, and the use of low-flow toilets.

A rendering of Springway signage on the trail.

Presenting sponsors: Dunwoody Homeowners Association and Rough Draft

Dunwoody 4th of July

Parade: 50 Years of Wildcat Pride

Tuesday, July 4

Celebrating Dunwoody High School’s Past, Present & Future

The parade route is 2.7 miles, stepping off from the intersection of Mt. Vernon Rd. and Jett Ferry Rd. at 9 a.m. It ends at Dunwoody Village.

Parade route: dunwoodyga.org/parade-route

PARADE SCHEDULE & VIEWING

Parade Route

The parade route is approximately 2.7 miles and steps off from the intersection of Mount Vernon Road and Jett Ferry Road at 9:00 a.m., proceeds west on Mt. Vernon to Dunwoody Village, turns right onto Dunwoody Village Parkway, circles around the Parkway, and left into Dunwoody Village.

Viewing Information

Parade spectators are encouraged to set up chairs along Mt. Vernon and circle around the Dunwoody Village Parkway into Dunwoody Village. Spectators will be blocked from viewing on the east side of Jett Ferry on Mt. Vernon due to the staging and setup for parade participants. Viewing will start on the west side of Jett Ferry on Mt. Vernon. Mt. Vernon Road, between Jett Ferry Road and Dunwoody Village, will be closed from approximately 8:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.

Parade Festival

After the parade ends at Dunwoody Village, stick around for the festival! The Dunwoody High School Band and Dunwoody Idol Beatrix Boehner will perform, plus there will be a bounce house. King of Pops, Kona Ice, and an opportunity to meet local businesses and politicians. Scout Troop 266 will be selling Slope’s barbecue as a fundraiser (pre-order at troop266.us) and the Rotary Club will be selling hot dogs to raise money for the organization. There will be large tents with tables, chairs, and fans.

PARADE & FESTIVAL PARTICIPANTS

Dino Family

The Torres Family, who have become local celebrities thanks to the dinosaur inflatables that dot their front yard on Dunwoody Club Drive, will be participating in the parade with a “Jurassic Park”-themed jeep and inflatable dinosaurs. Find out more about the family on Page S5.

Characters

Watch for costumed characters including Captain America, Spiderman, and your favorite princesses.

Dunwoody High School Band

▲The DHS Band will march in the parade, under the direction of Walter Hickman, Peachtree Middle School Band Director.

Spirit of Atlanta Drum & Bugle Corp.

A proud member of Drum Corps International, this dynamic ensemble exudes Southern charm and showmanship that embodies the spirit of Atlanta.

Discover Dunwoody

Discover Dunwoody will enter a trolley car and be handing out Dunwoody stickers and branded pool balls.

Spruill Center

Spruill Center will be carrying two large canvases and passing out red, white, and star stickers to create a participatory piece of art that will end up looking like the American Flag. They will have two teams of volunteers – advance walkers that will hand out the stickers and canvas carriers that will walk with the pieces and allow the participants to place their stickers in the assigned area. The walkers will be on the sides of the route, so watch out for them.

Charlie’s Army

Charlie’s Army fights to protect infants and young children who do not yet have voices of their own, ensuring that parents’ and children’s best interests are being met by providing the best chance at a healthy, loving environment.

Santa in a ’52 Chevy

Christmas in July will be in full effect as Santa closes out the parade.

Xfinity

Xfinity, a Platinum Sponsor this year, will be in the parade with a Bucket Truck, Xfinity Ford Flex, and Walkers !

Atlanta Falcons

Freddie Falcon and the Atlanta Falcons Cheerleaders will accompany the Atlanta Falcons Sprinter Van down the parade route to the festival at Dunwoody Village.

Frankmobile

Oscar Mayer’s famous Frankmobile, formerly known as the Weinermobile, will be part of the parade again.

Dunwoody Idol Winner Beatrix Boehner

▲Boehner will perform songs along the route from a vehicle in the parade lineup.

“Enjoy Living”

ben franklin academy

2023 GRAND MARSHALS

DHS Principal Tom Bass & teacher Steve Fortenberry

This year’s Fourth of July Parade honors Dunwoody High School’s 50th anniversary, so it only seems natural to have Principal Tom Bass and longtime school of finance teacher Steve Fortenberry as this year’s grand marshals. Both Bass and Fortenberry were instrumental players in planning the school’s 50th-anniversary celebration held in April. Dunwoody High opened on Vermack Road in 1972 with 900 students and has grown to serve nearly 2,000 students today.

Donations Lions Club

Community Assistance Center

Congratulations to the Class of 2021! Congratulations to the Class of 2023

For more information about our school, please visit www.benfranklinacademy.org.

For more information about our school, please visit www.benfranklinacademy.org

Bring your used eyeglasses to the parade for recycling at the Georgia Lions Lighthouse Foundation. The Lions International Youth Ambassadors and their host families will march with the Atlanta Lions Club and the Lighthouse Mobile Eye Clinic van. Look for the colorful flags of the world as the students will be parading with their national flags and carrying eyeglass collection boxes.

The Community Assistance Center has been working to prevent hunger and homelessness in Dunwoody and Sandy Springs for over 35 years. This year, demand for CAC’s food program has increased by 57%. Bring your donation of unopened, shelf-stable food to the parade, where local Boy Scout Troop 764 will be helping collect food donations for CAC’s three pantries. Canned meats, pasta, rice, dried beans, and canned fruit are always in demand, and an updated list of mostneeded items can be found at ourcac.org/ give-food.

Dunwoody Dino House offers inspiration, entertainment

By Cathy Cobbs

A young boy’s love for dinosaurs has become an inspiration and a beacon of hope for Dunwoody residents.

The Torres family – Cesar, Lisa and their children Coby, 6, and Rex, 3 – have become known for their holiday-inspired dinosaur inflatables in front of their Dunwoody Club Drive home, a project that evolved during the pandemic.

“In 2020, during these troubled times, we took my son’s curiosity and fascination with dinosaurs and turned it into a family project,” Lisa said. “At the time, I was going through some post-partum issues [after the birth of Rex] and the confidence and safety that Coby felt when he talked about dinosaurs was something I couldn’t give him.”

Seeing the smiles that the world of dinosaurs brought to her children inspired Lisa and Cesar to try to extend that feeling to people in the neighborhood, many of whom were going through the same isolation that the Torres family was experiencing.

The first dinosaur installation was put up around Halloween of 2020, with a lot of positive feedback, Lisa said, so the family ordered some Christmas-themed dinosaurs,

then then moved on to Valentine’s Day, Easter, and on and on.

Lisa said she then started adding encouraging messages to the display with large cutout letters. For Valentine’s Day, she added “Smile” to the mix, and people started commenting that they looked forward to the new displays at the newly minted “Dunwoody Dino House.”

“Whatever I was feeling at the time was what the signs said,” she said. “During April, which was Mental Health Awareness Month, we had a sign that said, ‘Your life matters,’ and we got a lot of great feedback from people.” Lisa said her husband, who was working at home at the time, would see school buses stop in front of the house to check out the latest installation.

“It was so great to see the kids go nuts on the bus,” she said. “And my husband would take pictures of parents and grandparents walking their kids by the house and stopping to see what we had up.”

Lisa called the experience “spiritually fulfilling” for the entire family, and said the love for dinosaurs has extended to the entire family.

“I was afraid that as Coby got older that his love for dinosaurs would fade, but

The Torres family just completed decorating the yard for the Fourth of July.

that hasn’t been the case, and now it’s all of our identities,” she said. “Part of it is the realization that what we are doing has the power to make someone’s day better.”

That point was illustrated last November when the Torres family was out of town and the dinosaur exhibit was temporarily taken down. An anonymous note appeared in their mailbox inquiring about whether everyone was okay and putting in a request to have a birthday dinosaur appear on May 23, the writer’s birthday.

“We had no idea who that person was, but we remembered and on May 23, we had a Happy Birthday dinosaur for the person’s birthday,” Lisa said. “We didn’t even know if he or she would see it, but we had to keep the promise.”

The author, who turned out to be a woman named Rebecca, wrote another note

after seeing the birthday installation.

“I drove past your house and my heart skipped a beat when I saw the birthday dinos in the yard,” she said. “If these were meant for me, you made my birthday so special. Thank you for spreading so much joy and happiness with your dinos.”

Rebecca’s note is not the only positive affirmation the family has received. The pictures they have posted on the Nextdoor website and the Dunwoody Area Community Forum’s Facebook page have garnered hundreds of likes and admiring messages.

“My son and I frequently drive past and always look to see what fun new displays you’ve put up,” one neighbor wrote. “My son is 22 and is on the autism spectrum, and dinosaurs are a huge interest of his and he tries to fully celebrate every holiday, so your displays are a great attention grabber for him! It’s fun to have neighbors who love

Laura K. Schilling, J.D., CPA, CFP®

celebrating and do it in such a way that is so… well… neighborly!”

The Torres family has been so inspired by the encouraging messages they have received that they have decided to take it to

a new level by participating in Dunwoody’s Fourth of July parade with as many dinosaurs as they can include.

“We feel incredibly blessed to be alive –together and in this space,” Lisa said.

Lisa, Coby, Rex and Cesar Torres stand in front of one of their favorite dinosaurs in front of their Dunwoody Club Drive home.

DUNWO ODY

Tuesday,

Theme:

Pets & Their People

We put out the call for photos of you with your beloved furry friends and you answered us! Our annual “Pets & Their People” issue is one of our favorite issues to assemble since it gives us another opportunity to showcase our readers. The submissions always tend to run more in favor of the pups, so we were happy to see a few more kitties this year. Be sure to visit roughdraftatlanta.com to see even more photos.

— Collin Kelley

Sponsored by

Barker and Chanell Davis

Johnny Cash and Jason Cook

Goonie and Jen Hidinger-Kendrick

Jelly Bean and Sarah Miller

Ernie and Malcolm Miller Bean and Kelly Hamm

Jupiter and Peter Volpone

Piper and Sidni Wooten

Bucky and Samara Minkin

Flossy ane Carol Wolff

Sammy and Jason Rosenblatt

Cat and Dr. Martha Burdette

Coco, Cosmo and Kitsy Rose

Ellie Mae B. Trouble and George Gary

Nia with Joel and Nia Sadler

Heidi and Alan Taetle

Emily and Jennifer Kumwong

Emma and Chip Ivie

Ginger and Mary Beth

Ruthless and Chad David Shearer

Molly and Kate Bivins

Jett and Delia Champion

Ricky and Tom Cobb

Ms. Snow and Deborah Curry

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Henry and Odalys Escobar Romagos

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Left, clockwise from top left, Ramona and Shannon O’Daniel AXL and Elizabeth Holmes Pepper & Auggie with Debbie Hollonbeck Macie and Suzanne Thompson

Luna and Pruitt Miller

Georgia Author of the Year Awards honors local writers

By Collin Kelley

The Georgia Writers Association (GWA) announced the winners of the 2023 Georgia Author of the Year Awards (GAYA) during a virtual ceremony on June 17.

This year’s awards honored authors in 15 categories, ranging from fiction and poetry to memoir/biography and children’s literature, with a record-breaking 148 nominees.

The 59th annual GAYA also awarded its Posthumous Lifetime Achievement Award to Valerie Boyd, biographer of Zora Neale Hurston, who also won for Specialty Book Award as editor of “Bigger Than Bravery: Black Resilience and Reclamation in a Time of Pandemic.”

Of particular note were two selfpublished winners: Monica Lee Weatherly, Professor of English at Georgia State University, for her poetry chapbook It “Felt Mississippi,” and Susan Carlisle for her romance novel “Racing to You.”

“We’re thrilled to bring together such a strong group of established and upcoming Georgia authors in our lineup of winners and finalists,” says Garrard Conley, Executive Director of GWA. “Personally, I’m also very pleased to see two well-deserving self-published authors among the winners. We believe that this important award should be open to any and all Georgia writers who produce great work, regardless of publication status. We can’t wait to see what next year will bring.

2023 Winners & Finalists

POSTHUMOUS LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD

Valerie Boyd

MEMOIR/BIOGRAPHY

Winner: “Odyssey: Young Charles Darwin, The Beagle, and the Voyage that Changed the World” by Tom Chaffin

Finalist: “Bodies Out of Place: Theorizing Anti-Blackness in U.S. Society” by Barbara Harris Combs

CHILDREN’S BOOK

Winner: “Penny, The Engineering Tail of the Fourth Little Pig,” Kimberly Derting and Shelli R. Johannes, Illustrated by Hannah Marks

Finalist: “Nigel and the Moon” by Antwan Eady, Illustrated by Gracey Zhang

COOKBOOK

Winner: “Eat Plants, B*tch” by Pinky Cole

Finalist: “Our Fermented Lives: A History of How Fermented Foods Have Shaped Cultures & Communities” by Julia Skinner

DETECTIVE/MYSTERY

Winner: “Anywhere You Run: A Novel” by Wanda M. Morris

Finalist: “Such a Pretty Smile: A Novel” by Kristi DeMeester

ESSAY

Winner: “Sifting Artifacts: Essays” by Kathy A. Bradley

Finalist: “A Month of Sundays: The New Mexico Columns” by Harry Musselwhite

FIRST NOVEL

Winner: “The Cicada Tree” by Robert Gwaltney

Finalist: “Mama Tried” by Kathy Des Jardins

HISTORY

Winner: “Against All Odds: A True Story of Ultimate Courage and Survival in World War II” by Alex Kershaw

Finalist: “A Road Running Southward: Following John Muir’s Journey through an Endangered Land” by Dan Chapman

INSPIRATIONAL

Winner: “The Self Delusion: The New Neuroscience of How We Invent—and Reinvent—Our Identities” by Gregory Berns

Finalist: “You’re Only Human: How Your Limits Reflect God’s Design and Why That’s Good News” by Kelly M. Kapic

LITERARY FICTION

Winner: “Sister Mother Warrior” by Vanessa Riley

Finalist: “The Hollow Kind” by Andy Davidson

POETRY CHAPBOOK

Winner: “It Felt Like Mississippi” by Monica Lee Weatherly

Finalist: “Poem at the Edge of the World” by Julia Caroline Knowlton

POETRY FULL-LENGTH BOOK

Winner: “Call it in the Air” by Ed Pavlić

Finalist: “Palabras que respiran / Words that Breathe” by Cecilia Lee

ROMANCE

Winner: “Stealing Ares” by Kim Conrey

Finalist: “Racing to You” by Susan May Carlisle

YOUNG ADULT

Winner: “Does My Body Offend You?” by Mayra Cuevas and Marie Marquardt

Finalist: “Omar Rising” by Aisha Saeed

SHORT STORY COLLECTION

Winner: “Tower: Stories” by Andy Plattner

Finalist: “Haints on Black Mountain: A Haunted Short Story Collection” by Ann Hite

SPECIALTY BOOK

Winner: “Bigger Than Bravery: Black Resilience and Reclamation in a Time of Pandemic” by Valerie Boyd (editor)

Finalist: “Frankie Welch’s Americana: Fashion, Scarves, and Politics” by Ashley Callahan

Sandy Springs hires new performing arts center boss

By Bob Pepalis

The has appointed a new executive director for the Sandy Springs Performing Arts Center.

William “Bill” Haggett started in June and is working with interim executive director Michael Pauken through his departure in July.

“Michael has done a tremendous job for the City of Sandy Springs Performing Arts Center and we are sad to see him leave us. We wish him every success in the future,” said City Manager Eden Freeman.

Haggett began his career in Jackson, NJ, where he managed a 3,000-seat live music arena. Since then, he has held roles in programming, venue management, production, and consulting.

“We are pleased to welcome William Haggett to serve as the executive director of the Sandy Springs Performing Arts Center, which is a significant milestone for our city,” Freeman said. “His unparalleled experience and innovative vision will elevate the center’s artistic offerings and strengthen our community’s cultural landscape.”

Prior to his appointment to the Sandy Springs Performing Arts Center, Haggett served as the head of the Coral Springs Center for the Arts in Coral Springs, FL for seven years. Under his leadership, the Center hosted a diverse range of national name talent artists, comedians, and touring shows in its 1,500-seat theater. His tenure also saw the development of a theatrical training center for young performers.

Haggett’s accomplishments include producing BB King’s 80th Birthday Celebration to a sold-out audience of 10,000 at the Biloxi Coliseum. He has also overseen the construction of two Wayne Newton Theaters in Tunica, Mississippi, and served as brand manager for Boyd Coddington of the popular TV show, “American Hot Rod.”

Haggett will be joined in Sandy Springs by his wife, Destiny, and two of his five children, Hudson and Carson.

Valerie Boyd

William Haggett

In conversation with Buttermilk Kitchen owner Suzanne Vizethann

By Sammie Purcell

Suzanne Vizethann grew up with an appreciation of food, but it wasn’t until her time at the University of South Carolina that she really fell in love.

Throughout her college years, a deep love of the Food Network led to culinary school, a career as a personal chef, and work at Atlanta restaurants like One Midtown Kitchen. Eventually, she opened Buckhead’s Buttermilk Kitchen in 2012, and with one cookbook down and another on the way, she hasn’t slowed down yet.

Rough Draft Atlanta had the opportunity to speak with Vizethann about her career and work. This interview has been edited for length and clarity.

To start, I would love to hear a bit about your upbringing and what got you interested in cooking in the first place.

Suzanne Vizethann: Born and raised in Atlanta and just grew up in a family that was really appreciative of food. It was always around me and instilled in me, but it wasn’t until I went off to college [that I] just kind of fell in love with watching the Food Network. I would go into the store and I would try to recreate recipes. It just sort of

dawned on me – I’m really, really passionate about this.

After college, that led me to do culinary school, and then one thing led to another. I worked in a lot of kitchens and then started a career as a personal chef at a little company called The Hungry Peach. I did regular personal chef services, but I also specialized in private dinner parties. We opened a brick and mortar in [the Atlanta Decorative Arts Center] … over in Peachtree Hills. I think we opened in 2009 and then ended up selling it like, five years ago maybe. I opened Buttermilk Kitchen in 2012. We’re 10 and a half now, which is crazy. That’s kind of me in a nutshell. You mentioned the Food Network, and I know that you were also on “Chopped,” sort of early on. Can you talk a little bit about that experience?

Vizethann: It was wild! And I was really young in my career at that time. They reached out and asked me to apply, so I did and got on the show. It was a crazy experience. I think I was like, 26 – I mean, I was a baby. I ended up winning, which was amazing and kind of a boost of confidence and morale that I needed. It was incredible, personally and professionally, because it gave me a lot of confidence. Also

personally, I think it was more of just like – you’ve got to put yourself in an uncomfortable situation sometimes. It would have been so easy for me to just say no, I don’t want to do it. But it worked out. To this day – it was over 11 years ago –and people ask me about it like, once a week.

After college, did you always want to come back to Atlanta and work as a chef?

Vizethann: At first, I didn’t really know. But being from Atlanta, and it being a much bigger city than anywhere in South Carolina – actually, they used to have a culinary program I believe in Charleston, but then they moved it to Charlotte. And I was like, well you know – if I had to choose between Charlotte and Atlanta, I’m going to pick Atlanta. My family was there, friends were there, so it made the most sense for me. For Buttermilk Kitchen, why did you settle on the breakfast/brunch concept? What were the steps leading up to opening the restaurant?

Vizethann: Well at Hungry Peach, that’s what we were doing. It was breakfast/ lunch, those daytime hours. I came from a background of fine dining, or night service. I burned out on that quickly. I’ve always been a daytime/morning person. I love getting up early, and I knew that nighttime life was not for me. Not only did the hours appeal to me, but I love breakfast food, and I felt like there was a big niche to be filled in the Atlanta area of chef-driven breakfast places. There are just not a lot of places that take that care and really pay attention to the quality of food. Breakfast a lot of times, unfortunately, is just kind of more of an afterthought. And I could see why, as I got into it. It’s fast-paced. It’s totally different from the artistic plating style of more of a dinner-service restaurant, which I think a lot of chefs are used to and are comfortable with. So, I just saw a need in the market. Was it just the hours part of it that burned you out on fine dining?

Vizethann: Yeah. You know, you’re getting off at sometimes one in the morning. And it takes you about two hours to fall asleep. You wake up the next day late, sometimes you wake up at 10, 11 o’clock, and you do it all over again. I just did not like that as a

schedule. It was fun for a little while, but it just wasn’t for me.

I know you had a cookbook come out a couple of years ago, right and a new one is on the way. Can you take us through the process?

Vizethann: It was really, really incredible to put everything down, and the first time you actually get to hold the book in your hands. The first book was a restaurant cookbook, and the second book is going to be … a little bit more about me and my personal style. So, I’m really excited for that opportunity to show people a slightly different angle. It’s super rewarding. It’s a lot of work, but I really enjoy the process of it. Whenever I ask chefs this question they always say it’s hard to choose. But do you have a favorite thing on the menu?

Vizethann: Ooh, yeah that is hard! Right now, it’s weird. I’m normally a pretty healthy eater, but we have this – you know everyone, they think about us, they think about our chicken biscuit, and our pancakes – but we have this smoked meatloaf sandwich on the menu. It comes on this crispy potato bun, with caramelized onions, and it is so good. It’s just like this umami bomb went off in your mouth. I think right now, that’s probably my favorite. It changes sometimes. The BELT is something that has been on the menu since day one. It’s just a play on a BLT, but what makes it special is it has these pickled green tomatoes in combination with regular red tomatoes. So, it just gives you that nice, acidic punch, and really rounds out all the flavors. It’s really good.

Suzanne Vizethann

‘Sauce Maven’ Natalie Keng releases debut cookbook

By Sammie Purcell

Natalie Keng is celebrating the release of her new cookbook.

Keng, a Smyrna resident and formerly of the food company Chinese Southern Belle, now goes by the name “Sauce Maven” and owns the company Global Hearth. She released her new cookbook, “Egg Rolls & Sweet Tea,” in June. The book combines Asian-American and Southern fusion dishes, sauces, and drinks, and also features stories from Keng’s childhood growing up in the deep south.

“When we learn to love the food, we are more open to the people,” Keng said in an emailed statement. “The dishes in this collection are my version of authentic, even if they don’t fit perfectly into any

textbook genre. I present these cherished recipes in the hope that they will become part of your family’s supper-table favorites and evolve into the reader’s own version of authentic.”

Recipes in the book include fried chicken spring rolls with honey, rainbow black rice salad, okra and tomato stir-fry, black-eyed pea hummus, Georgia bourbon Coca-Cola meatloaf, and so much more.

“Egg Rolls & Sweet Tea” is available at Global Hearth, Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Target, and through independent booksellers.

Proceeds from purchases made through Global Hearth (globalhearth. com) will support local food and health initiatives along with women authors and entrepreneurs.

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*Annual Percentage Yield. Interest rate for balances $100,000 and above of 4.88% with APY of 5.00% effective as of June 13, 2023. $100 minimum deposit to open. A monthly service charge fee of $25 will be imposed every month the balance in the account falls below $2,500 any day of the cycle. Interest begins to accrue on the business day you deposit noncash items and is compounded daily and credited to your account monthly. The daily balance method is used to calculate the interest on your account. This method applies a daily periodic rate to the principal in the account each day. This is a rate-tiered checking account based on the balance: $2,500 - $24,999.99 - .39% interest rate and .39% APY. Balances: $25,000 - $99,999.99 - .41% interest rate and .40% APY. You must maintain a minimum balance of $100,000 in the account each day to obtain the disclosed annual percentage yield of 5.00%. Rate subject to change at any time at the discretion of management.

Signature Bank of Georgia is not affiliated with the former Signature Bank of New York.

** Must be new money to the bank in order to earn the disclosed rate.

Natalie Keng

Add some vino to your summer cookout

wine pairing can be as exotic as your wiener toppings, but white wine seems to be the safest bet. A perfect choice would be something that breaks up the salt with some acid. La Marea ‘Kristy’s Vineyard’ Albarino from Monterey, CA is a favorite, or try some pink bubbles – Poe ‘Ultraviolet’ Sparkling Rosé would be very fitting!

Maybe the most truly American classic food is slow smoked barbeque. Although its origins are hotly debated, BBQ-ing is a summertime ritual involving many types of meats and incredible, bold flavors. Here in the melting pot of Atlanta, our residents embrace BBQ from all over the country. We’ve seen vinegary East Carolina BBQ, mustard based South Carolina style, spicy Texan, and even the sweetness of Kansas City BBQ all served at the same party. Each regional style is unique, with different sauces and proteins to consider for wine pairings, so let’s keep it simple.

WOMEN + WINE

Katie Rice & Sarah Pierre

Summertime is here and it’s the perfect time for grilling. In the month of July, a backyard event wouldn’t be complete without a group of friends, good drinks, and plenty of food cooking over open flames. The usual pairing for this type of casual cuisine is a tall, cold one, but let us help elevate your next gathering by putting a stem on that glass!

While rosé and white wine are the most obvious backyard sippers, we’d like red wine to find a seat at the picnic table, too. Instead of sitting outside with a less than refreshing warm glass of Cabernet Sauvignon, try a chilled red that can still hold its own with outdoor fare.

Chilling doesn’t necessarily mean that your reds should come straight from the fridge. Somewhere between 55 and 60 degrees is ideal. Reds that taste great served at these temps are unoaked with lower tannin and higher acid like Cabernet Franc, or Sangiovese. Younger wines work well. We recommend our customers look for wine packaged in clear bottles. Wines

in these see-through containers are meant to be consumed young and are great for chilling.

You’ll probably see plenty of hamburgers or steaks at summer parties and thankfully, red meat and red wine are natural partners. Wines that are full-bodied and tannic are classically paired with beef, and they have the ability to stand up to fattier cuts. It is important to consider a red that will hold up to full flavor and fat while served at a lower temp.

As previously mentioned, Cabernet Franc is a great summertime red to pair with grilled meat. This classic varietal has ideal structure, balanced tannins, and hails from France, with especially great choices from the Loire Valley.

Also, you’ll find this grape in a US version that comes from a cooler growing region – like the Finger Lakes of New York. We love Cabernet Francs from Osmote’s Seneca Lake and Ravines Wine Cellars. Another great varietal to try this summer with red meat is American

Gamay which has recently become more mainstream and accessible. Hailing from Beaujolais, France, this grape as it’s grown in the U.S. retains its minerality and fruitiness, in turn, making it a perfect cheeseburger partner. Try Stolpman GTG Blend from Central Coast, CA or Anne Amie Gamay from Willamette Valley, OR..

While we are on the grill, how can we forget another bun-friendly food, the hotdog! No Fourth of July is complete without this American favorite. Your

It has been noted by wine professionals near and far that Rosé is the perfect barbeque pairing. Refreshing, quaffable, with acidity that will tame even the spiciest of sauces, look for a Rosé that has a deeper color. Division Wine Cellars ‘L’Avoiron’ Village Rosé of Gamay or House of Brown Rosé are two of our very favorites. If you want to stick with a red wine, Italian varietals would be magic. Look for the chillable Idlewild ‘Flora and Fauna’ from Mendocino, CA or Stolpman ‘Love You Bunches’ Carbonic Sangiovese from Central Coast CA. If white wine is your thing, then again, the more acidic, the better. Try Illahe Viognier from Willamette Valley, OR or DeSante ‘The Old Vine’ Field Blend from Napa Valley, CA.

Still have room on your grill? Let’s talk poultry and fish. Grilled chicken just hits different with the right amount of char, smoky flavor and seasoning, and deserves a wine like Day Wines ‘Dazzles of Light’ Blend from Willamette Valley or Elizabeth Spencer Sauvignon Blanc from Mendocino. Grilled seafood and fish are incredible at the beach or backyard cookout and are perfectly wine friendly. When grilling salmon, try a balanced Chardonnay like Presqu’ile Chardonnay from Santa Maria, CA. For our red fans try a Pinot Noir like Land of Saints from Central Coast, CA. For shrimp or white fish, a Pinot Gris from Oregone – Coeur du Terre makes a great one. Yet again, Rosé would match any of these proteins flawlessly!

This summer, as you head to that backyard soiree, arrive with some fireworks in the form of wines matched for what’s on the grill, ready to beat the Georgia heat.

Quick Bites

another new outpost in Alpharetta. “Our team is thrilled to finally bring Delbar to Buckhead,” said owner Fares Kargar in the release. “This beautiful new space will enable us to offer more outdoor dining, live entertainment, new menu items and unique private events.”

to know the surrounding communities, neighbors, and making new friends as we welcome loyal patrons to our newest offering.”

▲Delbar, a Middle Eastern restaurant anchored in Inman Park, is opening a new location in Buckhead. The restaurant will take over the King + Duke space at the corner of Peachtree Road and West Paces Ferry Road, according to a press release. Opening this winter, the new location joins the original Inman Park location and

Matt Coggin has opened a second DBA Barbecue location in Buckhead near Chastain Park at 4441 Roswell Road NE. Coggin, who opened the first DBA Barbecue in Virginia-Highland in 2009, announced the new location earlier this year. “We’re thrilled our second location is officially opened on the heels of the 14th anniversary of our original location,” Coggin said. “We look forward to getting

Wild Heaven Beer expects to open a third brewery and taproom location in early 2024 with a barbecue twist. The new Wild Heaven Beer location will be in the Toco Hills Shopping Center at 2943 N. Druid Hills Road, and will feature an onsite brewery, distillery, and be a part of Wild Heaven’s new farm winery program. Award-winning Fox Bros. Bar-B-Q will operate in the kitchen. Jonathan Fox of Fox Bros said that the menu at the new location will feature old favorites and a few new additions.

Tickets are on sale for the 12th annual Atlanta Food & Wine Festival set for Sept. 20-24 at Historic Fourth Ward Park. This year’s food and wine festival will feature everything from curated dining experiences to seminars with appearances from chefs, mixologists, farmers, and more. The theme of this year’s festival is:

“All roads lead to Atlanta,” celebrating Southern-style cuisine from across the region. A percentage of proceeds will go toward the nonprofit Children of Conservation, which works to protect endangered species. at a school in Zambia. Get tickets at atlfoodandwinefestival.com.

Silver Streak

By

StoryCorps celebrates 20 years of recording American tales

By Joe Earle

Outsiders may regularly describe StoryCorps as a giant oral history project capturing snapshots of American life in the 21st Century, but Daniel Horowitz Garcia doesn’t. He says what StoryCorps does is right there in its name. It collects stories.

“At its best,” said Horowitz, who heads the nonprofit’s Atlanta office, “StoryCorps is two people who know each other having a conversation about something that’s important to them.”

Horowitz believes that studying history requires something more than just recording memories. It’s something a historian does; it’s active, not passive. StoryCorps’ storytellers describe events as they recall them, not as a historian records them or interprets them. Doing history requires comparing memories to recorded facts. Sometimes what people forget can be as interesting as what they remember about an event, he said. At StoryCorps, “we talk to people with direct knowledge of the past,” he said. “We don’t critically engage with the past.

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Horowitz has thought this through. The amiable 53-year-old is a historian himself. He trained at Georgia State University in how to collect and analyze the facts of history, including the personal interviews used in oral history. For the past nine years, he’s worked at StoryCorps’ Atlanta branch, where he’s now regional manager.

StoryCorps is probably best known for brief conversations broadcast regularly on National Public Radio. The organization started 20 years ago in New York. It has spent the past couple of decades gathering, recording, and archiving people’s life stories. The nonprofit’s recordings are filed in the Library of Congress and the snippets played on NPR as just a small part of the organization’s library of recorded stories, which usually last 40 minutes apiece.

StoryCorps does talk to lots of people, or at least listens as they talk to one another. The organization says it has recorded conversations among more than 630,000 people. Participants, usually chatting in pairs, talk about their lives, memories, thoughts, philosophies, relationships. The nonprofit has programs to actively pursue life stories from members of groups that sometimes have been overlooked by past historians. StoryCorps claims its online archive is “the largest single collection of human voices ever gathered.”

In 2009, StoryCorps came to Atlanta in a partnership with WABE radio that created one of three regional StoryBooths in the country. Then, 10 years ago, StoryCorps opened a permanent recording booth at the Atlanta History Center to capture stories from Southern states. It opened similar booths in cities from New York to Chicago to San Francisco and other cities, although most now have closed. StoryCorps reports

its Atlanta-based operation has recorded more than 5,500 conversations.

“The StoryCorps partnership greatly benefits from this high-profile and easily accessible public site for the recording booth,” a spokesperson wrote in an email, “and being situated within a site that serves as a historic resource reflects StoryCorps’ own mission, too, and reflects the historical importance of the stories we record. The unique offerings and location of the complex have helped expand StoryCorps’ reach to visitors, many of whom may have never heard of StoryCorps.”

Horowitz says the organization’s recordings provide snapshots of personal history that historians can study, but also offer a way for families to pass their stories from generation to generation. “I see what we do as a historical service, but also as a family service,” he said.

Some of those moments might otherwise be lost, he said. In StoryCorps sessions, he’s heard World War II veterans talk about their time at war, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention employees recount their front-line response to deadly disease, and an Atlanta academic who studied prostitutes describe the spread of AIDS in the 1970s.

People’s stories are the stuff of history, and StoryCorps wants to help keep stories around for the future. “It’s a big deal for people that your story is part of the Library of Congress,” Horowitz said. “It becomes part of the official story of the United States of America.”

For more, visit storycorps.org

Daniel Horowitz Garcia, regional manager for StoryCorps, outside the nonprofit’s office at the Atlanta History Center.

103-year-old Navy nurse honored in Dunwoody

By Cathy Cobbs

A Memorial Day celebration at Dunwoody’s Brook Run Park featured a poignant moment as officials honored special guest Doris Guzman, a 103-yearold former U.S. Navy nurse and Sandy Springs resident.

Guzman, and her daughter, Chuck White, were given seats of honor at the the May 29 ceremony, which featured Maj. General William B. Dyer III, a Dunwoody resident who serves as the commanding general of the U.S. Army Reserve 108th Training Command, as the event’s keynote speaker.

Guzman “arrived in splendor” to the event, said White, with a banner and flags adorning White’s car. “It was a glorious moment and one I will treasure for my whole life.”

During the ceremony, Dyer mentioned Guzman and her service, and afterward, had a private conversation with the centenarian. Dyer presented

her with a challenge coin, a military tradition used to recognize outstanding achievements.

“He knelt down next to her and talked to her in such a comforting tone for three or four minutes,” White said. “He pressed that coin into her hand, and she held onto it until we got home. It was a profoundly moving moment.”

According to White, Guzman was the fifth of eight children born to a Louisiana cotton farmer who didn’t believe that children should be educated beyond sixth grade. Despite the opposition, Guzman’s mother persuaded Doris’ sister, Katie, to complete high school and go to college, which the rest of her sisters did as well.

Guzman graduated from college with a Bachelor of Science degree in nursing in 1941 and joined the Navy as a lieutenant.

“She was stationed at the Marine hospital in Quantico when President

Continued on page 34

Maj. General William B. Dyer III presents Doris Guzman with a challenge coin after a Memorial Day celebration at Brook Run Park Monday.

Franklin Roosevelt died and she and the other medical staff wore their dress uniforms to walk in his funeral procession,” White said. “We believe that she is most likely the last living person who marched in FDR’s funeral procession.”

“Marching in a presidential funeral procession during a World War would be an extraordinary event in anyone’s life but for this little country girl, it was even more remarkable,” White continued. “Only five short years earlier, she was picking cotton on a farm with no electricity, running water, or indoor bathrooms, and thought that was how everyone lived.”

Guzman, who was a single mother to three young daughters, obtained a master’s degree from Case Western Reserve and then went to work for the next 40 years as the Associate Chief of Nursing Service for Education for the Veteran’s Administration.

In retirement, Guzman remained active into her tenth decade, White said. “When she was 100, she told me that she had, on one hot day in July, changed her linens, walked to Publix, fixed her lunch, walked to CVS for a flu shot, then to the library for a book on Golda Meir and had already read several pages,” White said. “She lived independently doing her own laundry, housekeeping, and cooking.”

Even after suffering broken vertebrae at 101, Guzman was determined to return to health and worked her way from being completely bedridden to

Further health challenges have followed taken their toll on her mental and physical condition, but White said she is constantly amazed at how her

“She always said that happiness is in the quality of one’s life and not in the quantity of it,” White said. “She richly deserves both and thankfully she has

During the ceremony, Joe Seconder, retired U.S. Army Major, led the Pledge of Allegiance. Dunwoody Police Deputy Chief Michael Carlson, retired Georgia National Guard Captain, introduced a moment of silence. The invocation and benediction was presented by Rabbi Brian Glusman of the Marcus Jewish Community Center of Atlanta.