07-10-2015 Dunwoody Reporter by Rough Draft Atlanta: Atlanta Intown, Reporter Newspapers

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Dunwoody Reporter

Head for the Hills

Fast, then feast Muslims celebrate Ramadan FAITH 6

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JULY 10 — JULY 23, 2015 • VOL. 6 — NO. 14

Some to see property tax refunds COMMUNITY 25

Strike up the band

PAGES 10-17

City appeals DeKalb judge’s ruling allowing Manget Way facility BY ELLEN ELDRIDGE

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Mandy Gillis, leader of the ﬂute section for the Dunwoody High School Marching Band, warms up before the start of the city’s Fourth of July parade. Despite inclement weather, the event stepped off at 9 a.m. on July 4. See more photos on page 5.

PHIL MOSIER

The Manget Way debate is moving through the courts. When neighbors discovered last year that a company called the Center for Discovery had purchased a house on Manget Way and planned to use it as a place to treat teenage girls with eating disorders, their reaction was “apoplectic at best,” said lawyer Josh Belinfante, an attorney for the California-based company. They turned to city officials, who said the facility couldn’t operate on the residential street. Now a DeKalb judge has ruled the city was wrong to deny the company permission to open its facility. City officials are appealing the decision. Belinfante on July 6 asked the court to reject the appeal, writing the court “should not expend its valuable resources assisting the city in its discriminatory, political game-playing.” “We should know soon if the Court of Appeals wants to take it,” Belinfante said. “If they do, it would be another year or so [until the case is decided]. If they don’t take it, SEE DEBATE, PAGE 27

How tall is too tall when it comes to weeds? BY ELLEN ELDRIDGE

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Though some people may be more likely to track their children’s growth than the height of their grass, penalties exist for unkempt lawns. Melanie Williams said she’s heard people recommend all sort of strategies for maintaining property—including renting goats. “I thought they were kidding,” Williams said, describing a recommendation made to the Dunwoody Preservation Trust volunteers who work to maintain historic cemetaries. Property maintenance in many suburban subdivisions is policed by residents and the groups homeowners join when they buy their homes and that often also provide upkeep for common amenities such as pools or tennis courts. But local governments get in on the act, too. Let your grass grow too tall and you face a visit from the local lawn police. A first offense in Brookhaven costs $100, a second offense by the same property owner costs $200—even if the violation occurs at a second property in the city—and a

third offense is $500. Dunwoody and Sandy Springs can impose fines once weeds or grass exceed 10 inches. In Brookhaven and Atlanta, the allowable height is a foot. In an informal survey recently, several Dunwoody residents had no notion of the height at which they must trim grass and weeds under city law. Their guesses ranged from 4 inches to 18 inches. “You can’t make somebody cut it at 4 inches,” 20-year Dunwoody resident Marty Johnson said. “That’s too short; those people are crazy.” Johnson lives in Mill Glen, where he said everybody cuts their grass and keeps their weeds down. Johnson prefers his homeowner-association-free neighborhood because he’s happier not living under the rule of “little old ladies with nothing better to do” looking for violations. “I don’t want to live anywhere where somebody can tell SEE HOW TALL, PAGE 28

ELLEN ELDRIDGE

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From left, Cheryl Summers, Dolores Lauderdale, Jim Williams and Melanie Williams discuss the city’s long-range Master Plan at a workshop on June 30. See page 2.

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People attending the last of six citysponsored workshops on Dunwoody’s future expressed concerns about preserving the city’s historic charm, dealing with traffic and adding bicycle lanes to city streets. Carla and Ralph Masecar, who have lived in Dunwoody 50 years, shared their concerns about the city’s plans for multi-use trails. The Masecars said they “definitely” don’t ride bicycles and wouldn’t use the trail planned to connect Brook Run Park to new parks in the Georgetown area of the city. They worry that the planned pathway could make the area more accessible to criminals. “There’s a lot of crime developing in Dunwoody,” Carla Masecar said, recalling recent reports of a man breaking into a grocery store and stealing wine. The trail would make it easier for people like him to get away, she said. But Marty Johnson, another of the 15 or so people attending the June 30 meeting, said he has recently started biking more and wants to make better use of the trail system at Brook Run Park, where he said he now only visits during Lemonade Days, a city festival. Though he doesn’t play golf, Johnson said he would buy a golf cart if Dunwoody al-

lowed him to drive it around town. “I’m jealous of Peachtree City, where they can drive golf carts to Publix,” Johnson said. “They have special cart paths for them.” The six meetings were designed to gather opinions from residents on city issues as officials develop a new longrange Master Plan for the community. Jacobs Engineering Project Manager Jim Summerbell said nothing is final yet in the city’s planned update. Anyone who wants to comment will be able to do so on the city website and at additional public meetings before the mayor and City Council adopt the plan in October, Summerbell said. The final plan will have three main sections including a vision and goals section, a future land use map and character area map that will discuss the “feel” of residential neighborhoods, Summerbell said. Johnson said the final workshop was the first he attended. “I got tired of hearing about it in the newspapers and thought I’d come out to see what was going on,” he said. Though he said he didn’t have any pet peeves, he said he prefers almost anything to the four-way stops at busy intersections in Dunwoody. “Put a cop

Dunwoody Government Calendar The Dunwoody City Council usually meets the second and fourth Monday of each month at 6 p.m. at Dunwoody City Hall located at 41 Perimeter Center East Suite No. 103. For a complete and up to date schedule of Dunwoody City meetings, visit http://www.dunwoodyga.gov/Residents/Calendar.aspx

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COMMUNITY

PHOTOS BY ELLEN ELDRIDGE

Left, Jim Summerbell, project manager with Jacobs Engineering, said the public can still comment on issues regarding the long-range Master Plan before a City Council vote in October. Right, Dolores Lauderdale, left, Jim Williams and wife Melanie review city accomplishments.

there to direct traffic at rush hour or a red light or a roundabout—something, because you pull up and nobody knows what to do,” Johnson said. “You stop, start, stop, start. I hate it.” Transportation issues generated the most discussion at the June 30 workshop. Jason Novsam, a transportation planner with Jacobs Engineering, said a project being added to the plan featured a new exit at I-285 and Ashford Dun-

woody that was intended to help alleviate traffic and provide better access to shopping areas. The Masecars questioned whether changes planned around the intersection of I-285 and Ga. 400 would turn Cotillion Drive into a one-way street. “That’s what we always understood they were going to do,” Ralph Masecar said. Most of the residents at the final

workshop had attended three or more of the previous sessions. Melanie Williams, who said during an April workshop she and her husband, Jim, wanted to preserve Dunwoody’s historic charm, said she was eager to see the final written draft report due out July 17. “We’re anxious to see what their results show,” she said. Cheryl Summers, who lives on Tilly Mill Road and has objected to bike

lanes along her street, said she attended all six workshops. The first thing that caught her eye was a transportation plan with a “proposed bike lane” along Tilly Mill Road. “I’ve been coming to all the Shape Dunwoody meetings and this is the first time this was proposed,” Summers said. “I think it’s a back door attempt by city staffers to get this into the Comprehensive Master Plan.”

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Voters in Brookhaven and portions of Sandy Springs, Chamblee and Dunwoody head to the polls July 14 to choose a new representative for District 80 in the state House of Representatives. Four candidates seek the position. All four live in Brookhaven. They all are lawyers. The special election was called to choose a successor for former Rep. Mike Jacobs (RBrookhaven), who was appointed to a state judgeship in DeKalb. The candidates are: Taylor Bennett, the sole Democrat in the race; Catherine Bernard, who ran against Jacobs in the 2014 Republican Primary and who chaired a committee

that successfully campaigned against allowing the Brookhaven city government to take on powers under the state Redevelopment Powers Law; Loren Collins, who describes himself a “Bull Moose” Republican; and former Brookhaven Mayor J. Max Davis. For more information on the candidates, go to ReporterNewspapers.net and see the Voters Guide. To determine whether you are in the district, properly registered to vote or where you vote, go the My Voters page on the Georgia Secretary of State’s website at www.mvp.sos. ga.gov. –Joe Earle

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The chairman of Dunwoody’s Chamber of Commerce says some businesses in the Perimeter area don’t realize they are within the city limits. Brent Morris said that’s why the Dunwoody chamber has changed its name to Dunwoody Perimeter Chamber. “A lot of the Perimeter Mall area business owners weren’t aware they are in Dunwoody,” Morris said. “This helps them understand the fact that they’re in Dunwoody and we’re here to help them.” Morris said he knows Sandy Springs Mayor Rusty Paul wants area chambers to join forces, but Morris doesn’t agree. “I know Rusty has been talking about a one point of contact for business retention and attraction in the Perimeter,” Morris said. “I’m very aware of that and Rusty is entitled to his opinion, but chambers are not owned by cities. They are nonprofits and act independently.” Morris said he is currently focused on collaboration between the two chambers. “I don’t see an advantage to combining them,” Morris said. The idea to change names came be-

fore the board in the first quarter of the year, Morris said, and they launched the website and new logo July 1. Morris said the Dunwoody Perimeter Chamber plans to move in August into new office space in the building that also houses Dunwoody City Hall. The Dunwoody Perimeter Chamber is comprised of approximately 325 members of all sizes, industries and locations -- primarily located in Dunwoody, but some scattered throughout the region, the chamber said. The benefit of a Dunwoody chamber is partly that the chamber’s relationship with city officials in Dunwoody helps Morris advocate on behalf of local businesses on issues such as permitting, Morris said. “But if I’m going in front of Sandy Springs City Council, they would act like ‘Why are you here?’” he said. DUN

COMMUNITY

PHOTOS BY PHIL MOSIER

No stopping us now Dunwoody held its annual Fourth of July parade, despite inclement weather, to the delight of many. Top, Marshall Sweeney and daughter Willa, 4, wait for instructions before the start of the parade. Above, center, Lee Roy Storm, a World War II veteran, marches down Mount Vernon. Above, right, Sarah Ross hands out candy. Middle right, members of the Seed and Feed Marching Abominable Band take the day’s weather in stride. Right, the Daniel family, from left, Don Jr., Don III, Jackie and Lauren, have their umbrellas handy.

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SPECIAL

Muslims gather at masjid to celebrate Ramadan, Eid al-Fitr BY ELLEN ELDRIDGE

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A 2-year-old girl pranced across the carDuring Ramadan, Muslims fast from pet in her bare feet, jingling as she ran with dawn until dusk, avoiding food, drink decorated bell bracelets on each ankle. and engaging in sexual relations, Ehsan A little boy playing hide-and-seek said. Sleeping all day and waking at wandered through the crowded room night to feast would defeat the spirit of asking, “Now, where’d that boy go?” the holiday, she said. A second boy, hiding under the taEid al-Fitr means “feast of fast-breakble of food laid out for the coming feast, ing” and celebrates the end of Ramadan. giggled when the first boy found him. This year it falls on July 17. They ran back across the partition into “Only during Ramadan do you see the mens’ area of Masjid Uthman, a new women and children here,” Ehsan said. mosque operating from a small office They gather together on the weekend park in Dunwoody. days and celebrate A half-dozen most heavily during women who had the last 10 days of the gathered in the room month because that’s talked and laughed. “The community wanted when the Prophet They hadn’t eatreceived to get together and have Muhammad en since sunrise, but the Qur’an, she said. a place here, especially seemed more inEhsan and her volved in exchanghusband, Kahlid for the Friday prayers.” ing colorful broaches Bashir, are foundas gifts of friendship ing members of the than in breaking their Masjid Uthman on – RAMISA EHSAN fast with the waiting Mount Vernon Road. bowls of fruit. Masjid is the AraThe women, most bic word for mosque, of them mothers of whereas mosque is an little children, paid little attention to the English word “meaning place of prayer,” hide-and-seek game. They try to let the she said. kids have fun so they will start to think They chose to name the masjid afof the masjid as a “second home,” Ramiter Uthman, who was a companion and sa Ehsan said. son-in-law to the Prophet Muhammad. About three dozen women and men Uthman was elected by the people to gathered July 3 at Masjid Uthman to represent them after Muhammad died, break their daily fast and pray as part of Ehsan said. Uthman was one of four their celebration of Ramadan, the Musdemocratically elected people, she said. lim holy month of fasting. Masjid mem“It wasn’t because of his family status ber Rafidah Naseem calls Ramadan a that he was chosen, but because of his “month of happiness” because she said piety and righteousness, and the kind of Allah, the Arabic word for God, forgives person he was,” Ehsan said. sin during that time. Ehsan and her husband moved from DUN

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India to Buffalo, N.Y., 20 years ago, when he started his residency in nephrology. Both she and her husband are medical doctors, who work in Atlanta. They came to Georgia seeking the best jobs, and they chose Dunwoody for its schools, she said. They have one son in eighth grade and a son who is a senior in high school. The family has been part of the local Muslim community for 10 years, Ehsan said. Before the Masjid Uthman opened in May 2014, local Muslims gathered in a home on Tilly Mill Road, she said. “The community wanted to get together and have a place here, especially for the Friday prayers,” Ehsan said. “It’s hard for people who are at work to go to another, bigger masjid because of the traffic and the time it takes.” Their congregation has grown to about 60 members, many of them families with young children. The imam, the prayer leader, is a young man who attends a local college, Ehsan said.

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For the Friday evening dinner on July 3, places were marked by a bowl of fresh fruit. Congregation members would follow fruit with spicy rice dishes and condensed milk soup. “We Indians like to eat with our hands,” Ehsan said. She said it makes her think about life before utensils. Two boys ran together back across the partition. The women finished their food and stood side by side for the first group prayer, led by the imam on a television screen from the other side of the room. Naseem, who moved from Minneapolis to Dunwoody a year ago, said her husband’s computer job brought them to Georgia. Many of the friends she’s made at the masjid also have husbands who work with computers, she said. Naseem said she met everyone she knows in her community through her faith. “When I came to this masjid,” she said, “I made all of my friends here.”

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With CEO convicted, how does county fix itself? Educate yourself, become more active in public service

Support and vote for a new Ethics Board

The recent conviction of CEO Burrell Ellis caps yet another chapter of DeKalb’s long narrative of abuse of the public trust by elected officials, appointed officials and public employees. Why is DeKalb under such a cloud and what can be done to right our ship? First and foremost, DeKalb must evolve from its roots as a suburban county run by a series of omnipotent leaders with little oversight. Some progress has been made in the last JEFF year with the passage of three reform amendRADER ments to DeKalb’s Organizational Act, its “constitution.” These reforms require legally GUEST COLUMN binding local purchasing laws, the establishment of an independent “internal auditor” watchdog, and an ethics board that does not depend on elected officials to appoint its members. If they had been in place previously, these alone would have likely discouraged the behavior that has ruined the lives of the recently disgraced. More work is to be done, including a requirement that administrative practices be standardized and uniformly enforced, and the refinement of budgeting and financial practices for transparency and accountability. But even a government of laws still relies on elected representatives to understand problems, identify solutions and evaluate performance. DeKalb’s voters have not been successful in electing leaders that well represent their interests, and don’t seem very interested in the opportunity to do so. The last incumbent commissioner to lose her seat in an election was Jean Williams, in 1994. She was defeated by Elaine Boyer, who resigned in disgrace last year. Since then, gerrymandering, patronage, and voter apathy has locked challengers out of the electoral process and given incumbents free rein for any personal or political activity they want, including bankruptcy, domestic violence, check fraud, conversion of public funds to private use, and extravagance at public expense, to name a only a few of the failings. The public’s response is disheartening. The most recent election to fill the vacant District 5 Commission seat attracted less than 6 percent turnout. It can be reasonably argued that DeKalb voters are getting the representation they deserve. What does that mean? Often we are represented by figures that seem superficially attractive, but have no substance. With no track record of success in their private lives, they depend too much on their offices for income, or see their offices as private property, not a public trust. They make bad decisions, and they discourage others from service. What can be done? First, the voters must understand and vote their interests. Educate and motivate yourself, your family and friends. There is a growing network of local news sources and bloggers who work to inform and influence opinion. Second, we must all become more active in public service. Join a neighborhood or civic organization, and participate in efforts to build and strengthen the community. And run for election, if you are successful enough to afford to donate the time required, and have the skills and temperament to serve the greater good. Don’t worry so much that it’s a swamp. Drain it! You would be surprised how quickly things can improve with a good government majority serving you. DeKalb is not so different from other metro governments. But we have lost our momentum, and seem dominated by politicians who think first of their own welfare, and not yours. It’s the voter’s job to sit up and take charge. And the politicians will respond – or lose the election.

With the conviction July 1 of Burrell Ellis on perjury and extortion charges, our county began to fix its sullied image on ethics. It was a difficult day for many in DeKalb, but an important one noneJOHN theless. ERNST So where do we go from here? GUEST COLUMN We must continue to move forward. At our next Ethics Board meeting later this month, we will hold a final hearing on a complaint against one county commissioner and a preliminary hearing on a complaint against another. Our board will also determine whether we have jurisdiction on a complaint against the former chairman of the DeKalb Development Authority. Many do not know yet that the current Ethics Board will likely be dissolved at the end of the year and replaced by a new board. Legislation enacted earlier this year by the Georgia General Assembly creates a more independent board appointed by organizations in the county such as Leadership DeKalb, rather than the CEO and the Board of Commissioners. This legislation will be placed on the ballot in November as a referendum for approval by voters. I strongly support and will continue to advocate for this new board. I hope you will vote for it this November at the ballot box as it is most certainly is a step in the right direction. Also, I’d like to point out an issue that continues to hamstring our Ethics Board right now. We currently lack a quorum to take action on many important decisions. After two resignations within the past few months, our board is down to five members, rather than a full board of seven. I call on Interim CEO Lee May to quickly fill these positions so that we can do the work of improving ethics and transparency in DeKalb for the remainder of the year. Nothing could more clearly signal a new day in DeKalb County and a new no-tolerance attitude toward official corruption than immediately starting with an Ethics Board that has the membership to get down to work, rooting out corruption. Will we solve the crisis of confidence in DeKalb? I remain hopeful that many recent sad chapters in our story will be followed by more positive ones. We are putting the right tools in place to solve many of our problems. I hope that we will continue in the right direction.

Jeﬀ Rader is a member of the DeKalb County Commission.

JULY 10 – JULY 23, 2015 | www.ReporterNewspapers.net

John Ernst chairs the DeKalb Board of Ethics. DUN

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When you have four kids, odds are that in any given month, one of them will get sick. In fact, the folks at my local pharmacy know me by the sound of my voice, which is nice in a small-townfriendly sort of way, but at the same time a bit unsettling. When you are about to embark on a family vacation, however, the odds of illness increase because you must factor in Murphy’s Law (ML), which states that whenever something can go wrong, it will, and which results in the following equation:

right eye we ROBIN JEAN looked at MARIE CONTE each other, knowing ROBIN’S NEST that there was nothing in my arsenal to ward off whatever she had. She woke up the next morning with her eye swollen shut. I called our eye doctor, who called in a prescription for antibiotic drops, which we filled and then loaded ourselves into the car. When my daughter pried her eye open enough for me to apply the drops, however, I saw a disturbing yellowish goo, 4 (urgent care) x 52ML2 Rx (length of illness) and I called the doctor again. He grew concerned and said that we = 3y (length of vacation) extremely $ (HSA) needed to go to an ophthalmologist immediately and get her eye cultured. Thus you see that the result is roughThis is where I give a shout-out to Dr. ly an 89 percent probability that at least Rondowsky of Dunwoody and his enone child will become sick or have a medtire staff, who located an ophthalmoloical emergency within three days of the gist on our route, called his office, and vacation, with the duration and severiinformed him of the situation. ty of the condition in direct inverse proWe were south of the Sweet Tea Line, portion to the amount in your healthwhich lies just beyond the Mason-Dixcare account. The longer your trip, the on, driving through Kentucky in search higher the risk factor, so that if you are of the ophthalmologist. We made it to gone for more than one weekend, illness the office before closing time and ran or injury is inevithe culture to the table. hospital across The upshot is the street. that we’ve been Every hour on sick in all the best the hour, through places. Ohio, New York, I prepare for and into Canada, the inevitable I leaned across by always packthe minivan seats ing a first aid kit, to instill more including evdrops into my erything from daughter’s eyes. I Echinacea and got the call from Benadryl to mole the Kentucky skin and crutchophthalmologist es. I also ema few days later, ploy the popular while I was standROBIN JEAN MARIE CONTE ing in a poncho new-age method Robin prepares for the of positive thinkon the Maid of inevitable illness when her ing: “You’re fine… the Mist at Niagfamily goes on vacation. Now run!” ara Falls; my girl A few years ago, had indeed conwe took an epic two-week family minitracted a dreaded bacteria. We continvan adventure-trip up to Niagara Falls ued our journey back down the Eastern and back down the East Coast. (Two seaboard stopping for hamburgers and weeks in the minivan! You can imagophthalmologist checkups. ine how excited I was when my husband The bacteria ate a tiny hole into my suggested this particular vacation, since daughter’s cornea, just a tiny one, and driving around in a minivan full of kids I thank God, modern medicine and is something I really don’t do enough.) every ophthalmologist from here to We were traveling from Atlanta to New York that my daughter’s vision is Nashville to upstate New York for the intact today. first few legs of the journey. I had a So to all of you families out there, first-aid bag the size of my body that was traveling on family vacations, have a safe filled with lozenges, pills, drops, slings and healthy trip! and a snake-bite kit, and naturally, on I’ll see you at the doctor’s office. evening three of our trip -- a Sunday, of course -- my daughter complained that Robin Conte is a writer and mother of her eye hurt. four who lives in Dunwoody. She can be As I dropped some Visine into her contacted at robinjm@earthlink.net.

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JULY 10 – JULY 23, 2015 | 9

Head for the Hills

Fresh Air and Easy Living Homeowners talk trading in the city life for the mountains BY KATHY DEAN It might seem that the reasons for moving to the North Georgia mountains would be as varied as the people moving there, but that’s not really the case. It can all be distilled down to a few basic things that everyone wants – natural beauty, a relaxed lifestyle and friendly communities. When it comes to the details, though, everybody has their specific needs. For Kathy and Dave Brown, their 20-year dream of a log home finally came true in March. It took perseverance and patience to find the perfect cabin for vacations, and eventually retirement – a place with plenty of land for their grandchildren to play. “My husband and I are both retired law enforcement and we look forward to this quieter way of life,” Kathy said. “We come from the Tampa, Florida area where it’s a rat race. In the mountains, no one is a stranger and everyone is more than willing to help you.” The Browns are ready to get back to basics and enjoy the tranquility and slower-paced lifestyle. They’d originally bought acreage in Sylva, North Carolina, but never built on it; they realized they wanted something a little closer to home. “We’re just eight hours from our Florida house and within a few hours of Atlanta, Chattanooga and Cherokee,” Kathy added. “It’s the perfect vacation area, and I love the clean mountain air and beautiful landscapes of the mountains.” The area also affords them a great place to enjoy outdoor leisure activities and antiquing. Throughout the years, the Browns had been collecting antiques for their dream cabin. Some remodeling

is already underway to make it true to the early 1900s theme they’ve chosen. “Their cabin is lovely, and so is their land,” noted Donna M. O’Neal, associate broker, Coldwell Banker High Country Realty, the realtor who helped them locate their mountain cabin in Morganton, Georgia. For mountain living, it’s hard to beat Big Canoe, a beauty spot surrounded by even more natural beauty. Big Canoe’s North gate is 10 miles from Amicalola Falls State Park and Lodge, home of the tallest cascading waterfall east of the Mississippi River. And just five minutes from the gates of Big Canoe is Gibbs Gardens, recognized as one of the premier gardens in all of North America. A bit farther, but still just minutes away, are the 750,000 protected acres of the Chattahoochee National Forest, which features more than 430 miles of trails and 2,200 miles of rivers and streams – 1,370 are trout streams. Just over the Tennessee border, there’s the 640,000-acre Cherokee National Forest, and the 530,000-acre Nantahala National Forest is down the road in North Carolina. But it’s what’s in Big Canoe that brings people. Not only is it the perfect setting for events, especially weddings and retreats, there’s a range of new and resale homes, priced from $200,000 to $3 million+, that attract people looking for retirement homes, vacation homes and second homes. Hundreds of Atlanta families find their weekend getaway homes there. For one of those families, Bob and Carolyn Littell, it’s become their permanent spot of paradise. In the 1980s, Bob was living and working in Dallas, Texas. He relocated

to Atlanta in 1981 as chief marketing officer of an Atlanta-based insurance company. Soon after arriving, he attended a corporate retreat at Big Canoe that had already been planned before he arrived. He can remember saying: “I thought I’d found heaven!” After returning home from the retreat, he told his wife, Carolyn, about it and on regular intervals over the years that followed, they returned for visits, renting homes for the weekend to catch up on some reading and hike the trails. What drew them back was an area dubbed “the Enchanted Land” by the Indians, a mountaintop retreat of more than 8,000 pristine acres of woodlands and lakes. Cousins Properties in Atlanta began developing the area in the early 1970s. Bill Byrne of the Byrne Corporation of

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Georgia acquired the development in 1987. In 1997, Greenwood Development Corporation joined forces with Byrne to form the Big Canoe Co., LLC, which still manages Big Canoe today. While the area is carefully developed, about 30 percent of the land is set aside as usable green space. Initially, the Littells had planned to downsize their Buckhead home and just have a weekend mountain get-away in Big Canoe. But one day Carolyn called Bob and told him, “The dogs and I are moving up to Big Canoe permanently and you’re welcome to join us.” Today, Bob works only a few days out of their condo in Buckhead and then heads north to their mountain sanctuary. “It is really an amazing place,” Bob said. “And it attracts amazing people, including several retired universi-

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JULY 10 – JULY 23, 2015 | www.ReporterNewspapers.net

Carolyn Littell

706-268-2354 office 404-630-4185 cell carolyn.littell@bigcanoe.com

Head for the Hills

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Above and left, Big Canoe, Georgia, offers water and mountain views.

ty presidents, senior executives and other successful professionals, working and retired.” There’s no shortage of activities in Big Canoe. The mountains cradle three lakes that invite swimmers, boaters and fishermen/women to get out in the water and enjoy the natural bounty. More than 300 members play on the indoor and outdoor courts of Big Canoe Tennis Club, one of the area’s tennis complexes. For golfers there’s the challenging Mountain Course, a 27-hole championship golf course designed by Joe Lee that winds through picturesque valleys and along rushing streams; it’s been rated as a Top 20 course in Georgia. “The gorgeous, new clubhouse is a great place to socialize, and one of the things I like best about Big Canoe is that you can own a $250,000 weekend get-away cabin and be sitting in the Black Bear Pub talking with someone

who owns a $2 million home. Nobody cares,” Bob added. “The common bond is nature and the setting. Most Big Canoe residents check their egos at the door…and their lawnmowers.” Another couple, Kathleen and Paul Greenlaw, moved in May 2014 from the Stone Mountain area to Talking Rock in Pickens County. They found their retirement home while searching through online listings, though they were originally looking for a plot of land to park their camper. Tina Pritchett, owner/broker of Mountain Tracks Realty in Blue Ridge, Georgia, helped get everything settled. “Tina was really great,” Paul said, “and she did not pay me to say that!” The Greenlaws agreed that the best part of living in the mountains is the small communities with little to no traffic, and the abundant wildlife and nature. They enjoy the privacy, peace, relaxation and silence, broken only by singing birds. Being in just the right

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place up on a mountain affords incredible views, they said, and lets them see amazingly colorful sunsets at night, and the fog-shrouded valley in the early morning (if they decide to get up early enough to watch the beautiful sunrise). There’s a lot they love about their new homestead, and plenty to do, like fishing, hiking, and nature and wildlife photography. Local courses, like the nearby Arrowhead Pointe Golf Course in Elberton, offers great deals for golfers. When they get in the mood to shop, it’s just a 15- or 20-minute drive to get anything they need. Kathleen and Paul added that one of their favorite activities is sitting on their deck or in the sunroom and watching the wildlife – deer, foxes, turkeys and the occasional bear. “People are usually ‘wowed’ when they come to visit us. It’s not so much about our house, as it is about our location,” Kathleen said. “We live at 1,700 feet, completely surrounded by woods, nature and wildlife, all on more than five acres.” Paul shared his advice for people considering a move to the north Georgia mountains. First, make a list of what you really want, what’s really important to you, and prioritize each point. Questions to consider are: where do

you want to be located, and in what kind of setting do you want your mountain home? Do you want to be in the woods, near a lake or on the top of a mountain? Would you like a pond, stream or river on your property? How much acreage would you like to buy? Do you want to live in or near a town, or in the country? Do you want to be able to see your neighbors or not? Then do some extensive research to find the spot that’s right for you. “We narrowed a list of approximately 100 Internet listings down to a dozen or so and spent two weekends with Mountain Tracks Realty finding the perfect home,” Kathleen said. “Here in the mountains, there are so many possibilities to choose from. The deals are still incredible, but prices are going up. If you are seriously looking for a mountain home, don’t wait. Our home realized a 10 percent increase in value in less than a year.” The Greenlaws look forward to each day in the mountains and the new things they see, hear and enjoy there, from sunrise to the sunsets – and the incredible amount of stars that the city lights didn’t let them see. “All this and, should we miss the traffic, we’re less than an hour-and-a-half from downtown Atlanta,” Paul added with a smile.

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JULY 10 – JULY 23, 2015 | 11

Head for the Hills

Novice or beginning paddlers are able to navigate the shoals in the Etowah River’s Class I water.

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Experience, touch Georgia history paddling Etowah River BY ELLEN ELDRIDGE

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History buffs can get a different perspective on past events while paddling north Georgia rivers during guided trips hosted by a Rome, Ga.-based nonprofit. Joe Cook, advocacy and communica-

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tion coordinator for the Coosa River Basin Initiative, an environmental organization, said canoeing the Etowah River is a great way to cool off during the summer heat and to get in touch with Georgia’s past. “Everybody in north Atlanta is familiar with the Chattahoochee [River], but the Etowah is almost as close to those communities,” Cook said, “and the Etowah is a place where you can really experience and touch history.” He said there aren’t any shoals that novice or beginning paddlers can’t navigate along the Etowah River’s Class I water. The nonprofit CRBI, named for the area’s watershed, hosts paddle trips from March through November. All along the Etowah River, in particular, Native American fish weirs from 500 years ago are visible to people paddling by, Cook said. “You can literally touch history in the rocks placed by Native Americans 500 years ago,” Cook said. “That’s a rare opportunity to experience something like that outside the confines of a state historic site.” Ellen and Brian Cardin found their love of kayaking after meeting Cook on a 110-mile trip last summer. For them, the idea to buy kayaks and head out on the seven-day tour came from a popular public television show called “Georgia Traveler,” Cardin said. “I guess you can call kayaking a midlife crisis for us!” Cardin said. She and Brian are 51. She said they want to stay as active as possible while they are healthy. They’ve met people aged 6 to 85 on the rivers, she said. The CRBI’s third annual “Paddle Through History” fundraiser is set to launch Oct. 11 in Bartow County, Cook said. The tour includes a stop at the ValCONTINUED ON PAGE 14

JULY 10 – JULY 23, 2015 | www.ReporterNewspapers.net

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JULY 10 – JULY 23, 2015 | 13

Head for the Hills

Whitewater Fun

Nantahala Outdoor Center hosting special summer events Just an hour northwest of Highlands, North Carolina, the Nantahala Outdoor Center (NOC) has a summer of events on tap for families, vacationers and whitewater paddlers. There’s something for guests of all ages and skill levels to enjoy during the months of July, August and September along the banks of the river. Multi-day adventures are available for visitors interested in rafting or zip lining by day and then relaxing overnight in one of NOC’s newly renovated cabins, bunkhouses or a SPECIAL resort lodge with Whitewater rafting along the Nantahala River. convenient access to campus activities. individuals and teams racing from one point on the river to The company also offers tubing, kayak and rafting rentals another point. The races take place Aug. 2-7. and trips on the Chattahoochee River.

Whitewater Junior Olympics Nantahala Racing Club, the nonprofit partner of NOC, hosts paddlers ages 18 and under for the 2015 Whitewater Junior Olympics July 24-26. This national-level youth event features slalom, downriver and freestyle competitions. Familyfriendly and fun for beginner through advanced paddlers, it’s a great opportunity for kids to meet young paddlers and families from around the country and get inspired about whitewater.

ICF Junior & U23 Whitewater Canoeing World Championships The International Canoe Federation’s Wildwater Canoeing World Championships provides juniors and young adults under 23 with the opportunity to compete internationally in the wildwater discipline. Wildwater racing consists of

Paddle Grapple

Participants in the Sept. 6 event choose from stand-up paddleboard, surfski, marathon, kayak or canoe classes in this race on Fontana Lake in the Great Smoky Mountains. With 3- and 6-mile race options available, the Paddle Grapple has something for every boater, whether recreational or elite.

Guest Appreciation Festival (GAF) & Bike Trials The weekend of Sept. 25-27 includes craft vendors and family-friendly activities including corn hole, giant Jenga, face painting, a bounce house and more. After rafting and zip lining, guests can dance to live music on the banks of the Nantahala River. For the complete event schedule and more information, visit noc.com/events.

Chill. 14

Add a bit of education to your recreation by paddling along north Georgia rivers CONTINUED FROM PAGE 12

ley View plantation, a home that predates the Civil War. “That one tours an antebellum plantation home overlooking the Etowah, and it’s a really significant historical site that isn’t always open to the public,” he said. A suggested donation of $75 per person or $130 per couple includes a canoe/kayak to paddle, unless tourists prefer to bring their own. The donation also covers a year’s membership in CRBI, catered dinner, beer, wine, beverages and a chance to win a new kayak. Visit coosa.org/events/paddling-throughhistory to register. Only 75 tickets will be sold, and the event has sold out each of the last two years it was offered, Cook said. An Aug. 2 trip starts in Canton and features educational programs on the history of the area, a six-mile paddle on the Etowah River and a dinner at The Wheeler House, an event venue in Ball Ground, Ga., first built in 1906. Suggested donation is $80 per person or $140 per couple, and includes canoe or kayak rental, dinner and membership in CRBI. Tickets may be reserved at Etowahwatertrail.org. All trips offered by CRBI through November are suitable for beginners, Cook said, and he encourages people who have never paddled before to come on a group trip where there is “safety in numbers.” “There’s always somebody to help you out on a group paddle trip,” Cook said. “It gives the opportunity to paddle on a river in a safe environment.”

Get a new view on life. It’s within easy reach – only 90 minutes from Atlanta. A place to relax. A place for fun. A place to call your own in the welcoming mountains of North Georgia.

JULY 10 – JULY 23, 2015 | www.ReporterNewspapers.net

Blue Ridge, Cherry Log, Morganton, Ellijay, Mineral Bluff

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Blairsville, GA 5BR/4.5BA $1,100,000 Horse Ranch on 83+ unrestricted acres! Elegant country home, barn, workshop. Moments to Lake Nottely. MLS 247725 Call Dana Nelson 706-835-7906

Ellijay, GA 3BR/2.5BA $619,500 Craftsman style home on 3+ acres 1000 ft on Boardtown Creek. 3 ﬁreplaces 3 covered porches, 2 car garage. MLS 247581 Call Donna O’Neal 770-356-9034

Blue Ridge, GA 5BR3.5BA $475,000 Gorgeous creekfront cabin - 1.9 acres on Fightingtown Creek. Perfect family retreat or full time home. MLS 238605 Call Mike Holloway 706-851-7513

Cherry Log, GA 4BR/3.5BA $454,900 Mountain & river view lodge on 2.7 acres. Gated community with deeded river access, paved roads, underground utilities. MLS 246455 Call Mark Reeves 706-455-2418

Blue Ridge, GA 3BR/3BA $448,000 Luxurious LOG home – Million $$ View! Great rental property or year round home. Too many features to list. MLS 248069 Call Mark Engledow 706-633-3988

Mineral Bluff, GA 3BR/3BA $439,900 Panoramic view cabin on 2.9 acres. Double level decks, exterior ﬁreplace. Excellent rental history. MLS 233289 Call Jackie Lumpkin 706-455-1830

Blue Ridge, GA 3BR/3BA $424,999 Renovated 1908 cottage. 2 serene acres, 1BR guest house. Custom furnishings & antiques included. MLS 248430 Call Mark Reeves 706-455-2418

Marble, NC 3BR/3BA $399,900 Two houses on 6+ acres, mountain views. Main house is REAL log home. Multiple outdoor spaces. MLS 248087 Call Jack Shingler 321-279-1049

Blue Ridge, GA 3BR/3.5BA $384,900 Custom built Craftsman style home 3.7 acres on noisy Fightingtown Creek. Mountain views too! MLS 246708 Call Teresa Bidez 706-455-2911

Morganton, GA 3BR/3BA $329,900 Incredible long range views of the Cohuttas! Open concept, outdoor ﬁreplace porch. Paved roads. MLS 247942 Call Mark Reeves 706-455-2418

Blue Ridge, GA 5BR/4BA $318,800 Country home on 6+ acres – borders USFS and trout stream. Outbldgs, guest quarters, fenced horse pasture. MLS 242861 Call Jack Cusick 706-994-1203

Blue Ridge, GA 2BR/2BA $259,900 Spacious log-sided cabin – prime rental location. 1.35 acre lot, mtn views, garage and basement. MLS 242431 Call Donna O’Neal 770-356-9034

Mineral Bluff, GA 4BR/2BA $229,000 Stately 1900 Victorian in downtown. Professional kitchen, 5 FPS, 1+ acres, 3 car garage, and MORE. MLS 247124 Call Mark Reeves 706-455-2418

Hiawassee, GA 3BR/3BA $189,900 Great year round mtn view from wrap porch. Minutes from Boundary Waters Marina on Lake Chatuge. MLS 248166 Call Aric Drott 404-219-2000

Cherry Log, GA 3BR/1BA $165,000 Furnished cabin in the woods. Open plan living with 2 bedrooms on the main. Gas ﬁreplace, covered porch. MLS 248471 Call Kimberly Bruner 706-455-5703

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COLDWELLBANKERPREVIEWS.COM www.ReporterNewspapers.net |

JULY 10 – JULY 23, 2015 | 15

Head for the Hills

Atlanta Botanical Garden-Gainesville opens to visitors BY COLLIN KELLEY The Atlanta Botanical Garden has expanded, but not in Midtown. Just an hour and half north of the city, the first phase of the Gainesville outpost of ABG is now open to visitors. Located on land donated by Charles and Lessie Smithgall, phase one is a little more than five acres, but will eventually grow to 168. The new garden is destined to be one of the largest and most diverse woodland gardens in the country, including the largest conservation nursery in the Southeast on the property. The Gainesville garden makes for a perfect day trip, or perhaps a stop on leisurely longer one to Lake Lanier or the mountains. The garden is divided into sections, all easily accessible up gently rolling paved pathways. Just behind the sleek visitors center is the Forest Pond, where flowering water lilies and other aquatic plants float and surround the surface. Also just beyond the visitors center is the Ivester Amphitheater, which will play host to concerts and events on a regular basis. Three of this year’s SunTrust in the Garden concerts are being held in Gainesville, including last month’s Emmylou Harris and Rodney Crowell show. The Temptations are July 11 and Scott McCreery is July 17. The curving, grassy terraces can seat 2,200 people with ample room to spread out a picnic. Head up the pathway into the Overlook Garden, which features perennials, shrubs and ornamental trees. Butterflies seemed to particularly enjoy this part of the garden. There’s also comfortable seating along the paths to rest and observe the flora and fauna. Perhaps the most beautiful section is the Stream Garden, a woodland hillside with a dramatic, cascading waterfall surrounded by wildflowers and hydrangeas. The curving path and series of wooden bridges offer amply places to stop and snap photos. Kids of all ages will love the Model Train Garden where two large – and impressive sounding trains – chug through tunnels and twist along their own garden. In the adjacent Glade Garden, a box of toy trains is available for kids to build their own adventures. For those who want a longer walk, the half-mile Sourwood Trail and Holly Ridge Trail take visitors into the woods surrounding the garden. Native hollies, rhododendrons, witch hazel and shade trees make for good scenery along the hilly terrain. The Gainesville garden is also offering regular events such as wine tastings and activities for children. Visit atlantabg.org and click on Gainesville for more details and directions.

The Atlanta Botanical GardenGainesville is only about five acres now, but it will eventually expand to 168 acres. The pathways reveal a colorful expanse of native plants, trees, water features and even a model train garden sure to delight kids of all ages. PHOTOS BY COLLIN KELLEY

JULY 10 – JULY 23, 2015 | www.ReporterNewspapers.net

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FRESH AIR FUN

Stand up for the Hooch Sunday, July 12, Registration, 9-9:30 a.m.; Recreation Race, 10 a.m; Elite Race, 10:30 a.m. – Sandy Springs Recreation

and Parks has partnered with High Country Outfitters and Yolo Surf Company to present this annual paddleboard race & festival. The event welcomes both amateurs and professionals to partake in a day of events on the Chattahoochee River. The race includes various divisions from a 6-mile course for elite paddlers, to a 2-mile race for beginners, age classes for men, women, and children and demo periods for non-racers throughout the day. Registration, including lunch and a registration packet, is $75. Morgan Falls Park, 200 Morgan Falls Rd., Sandy Springs, 30350. For more information and to register, go online to sandyspringsga.gov or call 404-814-0999.

Dive-In Movies Friday, July 17, 8 p.m. – Looking for a unique way to watch movies with your family this summer? The Murphey Candler Pool hosts a screening of the movie “Big Hero 6.” Kids and kids-at-heart are invited to bring their swimsuits and enjoy a warm summer evening watching the movie from the community pool. Pre-show entertainment begins at 8 p.m.; film begins at 9 p.m. Film screening is free with pool admission. General admission for adults, $5; general admission for children, $3; seniors, $1, groups of 20 children, $40. Murphey Candler Park, 551 W. Nancy Creek Dr., NE, Brookhaven, 30319. For more information, go online to brookhavenga.gov.

It Starts in the Parks Saturday, July 18, 7:30 a.m. – The

Brookhaven Parks and Recreation Department has oﬃcially announced the first annual 5K race taking place in Blackburn Park. Present-

ed in aﬃliation with Play in Brookhaven and Run & See Georgia, this event takes place during Parks and Recreation Month, which was established in 1985. The race includes awards for overall male, female and masters groups, and highlights the top three males and females in 14 age groups. Registration is $35 until July 16 or $40 on the day of the race. 3493 Ashford Dunwoody Rd., Brookhaven, 30319. For more information and to register, go online to brookhavenga.gov, email pacesetr@bellsouth.net, or call 404-637-0512.

Doggie Daze Saturday, July 18, 9:3011:30 a.m. – The Blue Her-

on Nature Preserve opens its doors to four-legged friends for this guided tour of the preserve. Dogs receive blue bandanas and treats while their humans can enjoy bagels and OJ starting at 10 a.m. Donations support habitat restoration for native wildlife at the preserve. Free and open to the public. Visitors are encouraged to bring leashes and supplies for picking up after your dogs during the hike. 4055 Roswell Rd., NE, Atlanta, 30342. For more information, go online to bhnp.org or call 404-345-1008.

Summer Splash Saturday, July 25, 9 a.m. – Sandy Springs

Hospitality and Tourism presents the annual Chattahoochee River Summer Splash. The 6-mile, three-hour float begins at Morgan Falls Dam and ends at Powers Island where guests can enjoy live music, food and family activities throughout the day. First shuttle leaves at 9 a.m. from the parking lot at MEAG Power, and the last shuttle back to the parking lot leaves Powers Island at 4 p.m. Guests can rent or bring their own kayak, canoe or raft for the float. MEAG Power, 1470 Riveredge Pkwy., NW, Sandy Springs, 30328. For more information, go to visitsandysprings.org or call 770-206-1447.

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JULY 10 – JULY 23, 2015 | www.ReporterNewspapers.net

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PERFORMANCES

Concerts in the Park Saturday, July 11, 7-9 p.m. – The Dunwoody Nature Center continues their Concerts in the Park series with the Atlanta band Allatoona. Visitors are invited to bring their picnic baskets and blankets down to the meadow to enjoy a live performance featuring music that mixes rock and country. The event also features a rotating selection of craft beers hand picked for the night by Moondog Growlers. General admission tickets for adults, $5; students, $3; free to DNC members, and children 3 and under. 5343 Roberts Dr., Dunwoody, 30338. For more information, go online to dunwoodynature.org/concerts or call 770394-3322.

Tan Shoes & Pink Shoelaces Thursday, July 16 through Saturday, July 18, 7:30 p.m. – Fishworks, Inc. presents a live performance fea-

turing energetic dance moves, comedy and harmonious music. The play, written by Atlanta’s own Tom Edwards, is a theatrical tribute through the music, movies and television shows of the 1950s and 1960s. Suitable for all ages. General admission tickets, $17 in advance; $20 at the door. Kingswood United Methodist Church, 5015 Tilly Mill Rd., Dunwoody, 30338. For more information and to purchase advance tickets, go to kingswoodumc.org or call 770-457-1317.

Rhythm & Blues Thursday, July 23, 6:30-8 p.m. – Her-

itage Sandy Springs continues its Rhythm & Brews series with a performance by Ashevillebased female trio Underhill Rose. Their harmonies pull inspiration from rhythm and blues, folk music and old country styles. Blankets, picnics, and coolers are welcome, but pets and smoking are not allowed. Food available for purchase from Breadwinner Cafe. Admission for adults 21 and up, $5; admission for ages 13 to 20, $2; and free for children 12 and under. Sandy Springs Society Entertainment Lawn at Heritage Green, 6110 Bluestone Rd., Sandy Springs, 30328. For more information, visit heritagesandysprings.org or call 404-851-9111.

Spend Your Summer With Us!

SATURDAY AUGUST 8

FRIDAY JULY 24

SATURDAY JULY 25

FUNDRAISERS

Pub Crawl for Autism Saturday, July 18, 1 p.m. – This fundraising event benefits Autism Speaks, one of the country’s lead-

ing autism science and advocacy organizations that is dedicated to funding research into the causes, prevention, treatments and a cure for autism. The crawl brings participants to restaurants in the Dunwoody Restaurant Group via Fur Bus. Registration includes a commemorative beer koozie, dinner, one free bar’s choice drink at each location, and the chance to win prizes. 21 and up. Registration available between 12:30 and 1 p.m. on the day of the event, $50. O’Brian’s Tavern, Mount Vernon Shopping Center, 2486 Mount Vernon Rd., Dunwoody, 30338. For more information, go online to autismpubcrawl2015.eventbrite.com.

FRIDAY AUGUST 14

FRIDAY AUGUST 21

Support Local Athletes Saturday, July 18, 7 p.m. – The At-

SATURDAY AUGUST 15

lanta Hurling and Camogie teams are set to attend nationals in Chicago during Labor Day weekend. The teams have to fly themselves out to the competition and they are raising money through pint sales to offset their travel expenses. Patrons must be 21 and over to participate. Free to attend; beverage costs vary. Meehan’s Public House Buckhead, 322 E. Paces Ferry Rd., NE, Buckhead, 30305. For more information, go to facebook.com/meehansbuckhead or call 470-355-5116.

FRIDAY AUGUST 28

SATURDAY AUGUST 22

AUGUST 26

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JULY 10 – JULY 23, 2015 | 19

out & about

Tracking the art of trains

You can’t spell MARTA without ART, and there is plenty of public artwork on display at MARTA train stations in Reporter Newspapers communities. Each station houses its own style of artwork. For one of our periodic “where are you” photo challenges, can you identify each station by its art? Answers on page 24.

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BY MEGAN VOLPERT Editor’s Note: After nearly two years of reviews, Art Huckabee has put down his fork. Decatur writer, resident and foodie Megan Volpert will pick up where Art left off, visiting a mix of established and newly-opened eateries around the metro. Megan is serious about her victuals and has planned vacations around restaurants. For her first assignment, she revisits an Atlanta institution. Forks up! As everyone knows, Miss Ann Price, owner and proprietor of the beloved Ann’s Snack Bar, passed away in April. When word got around that she had gone, citizens of Atlanta were saddened for many reasons, at least one of which – selfishly – was concern over whether the Snack Bar would fold. Would the legendary Ghetto Burger fade away? Would it hang on as a mere shadow of its former glory? And how good could the visit be without Miss Ann to police your manners when you finally got to sit down? It was a muggy Thursday and I’d just spent half the morning waiting through the seven circles of the DMV. Having accustomed myself to long lines for the day already, it seemed like a trip down to 1615 Memorial Drive to the Snack Bar was a good reward. It was my first time there since Miss Ann’s passing and I was delighted to arrive in an empty parking lot. Just 30 minutes before opening and I was first in line! So I sat on the curb watching other cars pull in and eyeball my number one slot with envy. We filed in at eleven o’clock on the dot, hurrying past the patio tables on the

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screened-in porch to claim one of the eight seats at the counter. If you like quiet, sit at one of the three seats on the left. Nothing going on over there but a stack of burger buns a mile high. If you really want to see what’s what, sit on the right side of the counter – right in front MADELINE FREIDMAN of the giant sign with Miss Ann’s rules and Megan Volpert could only eat half of her giant with a good view of the grill. The best thing double-cheeseburger, so she took the rest home for about the five seats on the right, however, dinner. Ann Price’s rules for the Snack Bar remain in is that you get front row for the antics of force, so beware while you enjoy your burgers. Miss Henrietta. What a pistol! It’s a wonder she survived behind the counter, given Miss Yes, the burger is still huge and still cooked to perfecAnn’s rule against cursing. I asked Miss Henrietta how tion and still topped with the usual suspects and still she and the family are getting along at the Snack Bar totally delicious. Yes, the fries are still average because since April and she reports that they’re “maintaining.” the fact that you even bothered to order and eat any Indeed, nothing about the rules or the food has fries alongside a burger so spectacularly gluttonous is changed. A tardy newcomer stepped to the counter to kind of crazy. Yes, the sweet tea still gets stored on the place her order, and was instantly waved off with a curt, counter in giant old plastic barrels and it still tastes “who was first?” It was all I could do not to shout, “bin- precisely like the South poured into a styrofoam cup. go!” As much as I love the Ghetto Burger, let’s bear in Ann’s Snack Bar has been holding steady since Nixmind it’s really an emergency food – not a dreary Thurs- on’s first term. After more than four decades as the tightday afternoon food unless you had one wicked Wednes- est burger ship in town, what on earth made you think day night. I ordered the double-cheeseburger combo the ship would falter? Miss Ann must be resting in peace, with homemade sweet tea, ready for me in about ten for the Snack Bar is still what it always was. minutes. I managed to eat two-thirds of my enormous burgMegan Volpert lives in Decatur, teaches in Roswell and er and made a small dent in the fries. The remainder writes books about popular culture. Send feedback to Tastwas wrapped up in tinfoil to take home for dinner. ingIntown@AtlantaINtownPaper.com.

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Quick Bites: News You Can Eat The second annual Atlanta Meatball Festival returns to Belle Isle Square in Sandy Springs on Sunday, Aug. 30, from 1–5 p.m., serving up a selection of meatball dishes, music, limoncello tastings and much more. More than 20 restaurants will be taking part in this year’s event including Double Zero, Seven Lamps, Food 101 and St. Cecilia. Advance tickets are now available online at AtlantaMeatballFestival.com. The team from the recently-shuttered Veni Vidi Vici in Midtown will open il Giallo Italian restaurant in Sandy Springs at 5920 Roswell Road in August. The new restaurant will offer authentic Italian with pasta made in front of the diners. Riccardo Ullio has opened his third Italian concept restaurant, Novo Cucina, at 5592 Chamblee Dunwoody Road in the Dunwoody Village Shopping Center. The new restaurant is serving up pizza, pasta, wine and gelato. Ullio also owns Fritti and Sotto Sotto in Inman Park. For more, visit novocucina.com. Buckhead Italian-American restaurant Portofino, 3199 Paces Ferry Road, has ended lunch service to concentrate on dinner and a new Sunday brunch menu launching in the fall. The Fresh Market has opened a new store at 2840 Brighton Park shopping center (formerly known as Loehmann’s Plaza). The gourmet supermarket offers fresh foods and local, organic produce. The Georgia Restaurant Association and the Georgia Department of Economic Development have partnered together to create the first-ever Georgia Restaurant Week. This inaugural seven-day culinary event will take place July 13-19 and feature restaurants from around the state. Visit garestaurants.org to see the full list of participating restaurants. Local husband and wife team Kenny and Kelly Keith are opening a pair of new artisan doughnut shops in Buckhead and Brookhaven. According to Tomorrow’s News Today, Bon Glaze will open a 600-square-foot space in Powers Ferry Square in Buckhead and 1,700-square-feet at Brookleigh Marketplace on Johnson Ferry Road. Grand China is moving to a new location just across from The Peach shopping center at 2905 Peachtree Road in Buckhead. The property was the most recent home of Peachtree Bikes (which is now on Roswell Road next door to Buckhead Theatre).

Ultimately, it’s your experience that matters. To be sure, we’re proud of our 27 years of experience in senior living. But, to us, what really matters is your experience at our communities. We do everything with that idea clearly in mind. So, go ahead, enjoy yourself with great social opportunities and amenities. Savor fine dining every day. And feel assured that assisted living services are always available if needed. We invite you to experience The Piedmont for yourself at a complimentary lunch and tour. Please call 404.381.1743 to schedule.

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EDUCATION

Standout Student

Student Proﬁle:

 Avi Botwinick  The Weber School, rising senior From martial arts to school work to holding several different leadership positions in and outside of school, Avi Botwinick says he “wants to help people because that’s something I’ve always been passionate about.” Avi is an active member and leader in BBYO, a Jewish youth movement. Avi says what is great about the group is the fraternity of it. The boy’s chapter, Kol Ram Aza, was founded his freshman year in high school, and since then he says it has provided a place for local Jewish teens to feel attached to their Judaism. He was recently elected president of the chapter for next year and says his main goal is “to help Jewish teens who would otherwise not be Jewish to feel connected to their Judaism in some way.” Avi also finds himself encouraging others in the world of martial arts. Avi began studying Shaolin Kung Fu when he was 8 years old. He began in the youth program, and has since then come full circle as he taught the youth program in recent years. The studio where Avi began his studies has recently closed, but that has not stopped him from continuing to expand his knowledge. He started studying Muay Thai and Brazilian Jiu Jitsu at a new center. He says he is still practicing the forms he already knew and trying to blend them with what he is learning now. “My study of martial arts has taught me discipline, how to control my body, and how to defend myself and when it’s appropriate to do so,” Avi said. Avi doesn’t currently teach classes at the center where he studies, but he has found other ways to help younger kids. He is actively involved in the Peer Leader program at The Weber School. The program helps new students make a smooth transition into the school.

JULY 10 – JULY 23, 2015 | www.ReporterNewspapers.net

What’s Next: Avi returns to The Weber School this fall for his senior year. He is applying to several colleges, including the University of Georgia, Washington University in St. Louis, and Emory University. –This article was reported and written by Mary Helen Kelly, intern with Reporter Newspapers.

Do you know a standout high school student? Send nominees to editor@reporternewspapers.net.

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Avi is also a member of National Honor Society. He loves math and science, and is also a part of a robotics team at Weber that is building a robot to battle at Dragon Con this September. His two favorite classes are chemistry and physics, both of which he has taken at the AP level. “Avi is the type of student that teachers love to have in their classroom. He comes into class every day, smiling and excited to share something cool he has seen online. Avi pursues his interests wholeheartedly and his natural curiosity drives him to take challenging courses,” Avi’s Chemistry teacher, Nicole Brite, said. Avi recently attended a physics camp at Georgia Teach and will attend a college prep camp at Emory this summer, focusing on neuroscience. He thinks it would be cool to be an anesthesiologist or an FBI agent, but Avi says he wants to follow his passion for helping other people. “In order to have a good world you have to have people helping others,” Avi said.

Answers to Where Are You? quiz” 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7.

Lenox Station. Dunwoody Station. Brookhaven/Oglethorpe Station. North Springs Station. Sandy Springs Station. Medical Center Station. Buckhead Station.

COMMUNITY

Tax refunds owed in Dunwoody BY ELLEN ELDRIDGE

elleneldridge@reporternewspapers.net

Thousands of Dunwoody residents Chris Pike, city fianance director, whose homes gained value over the last said the majority of homeowners won’t three years will get money back because get a refund because average home valthey were overcharged on their properues still remain below the 2009 assessed ty tax bills. levels. Moving forward, Pike said the Homeowners may qualify for a recity foresees minimal budgetary impact, fund if they filed and qualand refunds will not diminified for a homestead exish funding for government emption and received an services or initiatives such property assessment duras public safety or paving. ing 2012, 2013 and/or Refund payment 2014 that was higher than amounts owed for 2013 their assessed home value in and 2014 will vary ac2009, city officials said. cording to individual Approximately 2,748 property assessment inresidential parcels were afcreases incurred over the fected, based on initial analthree-year period, Bob Chris Pike ysis of the Dunwoody resi- Finance Director for Mullen, a spokesman for dential tax records for the the city of Dunwoody Dunwoody, said July 8 in three-year period, the city a statement. said July 8. Residents who qualiThe city said it plans to issue a total fy will receive refunds according to inof approximately $150,000 plus interdividual annual tax payments. Refunds est in property assessment freeze refunds will be distributed either directly to a to owners of the affected residential parhomeowner or to a homeowner’s mortcels. gage company escrow account, Mullen The problem was created when Dunsaid. woody officials did not notify county tax All affected homeowners will receive officials that voters in November 2010 a letter from the city of Dunwoody indihad approved a city tax exemption. cating refund amounts and distribution “My attitude is we made a mistake method. and are working to fix it,” Mayor Mike Mullen said the city is coordinatDavis said. “Dunwoody’s tax digest ing refund distribution for homeowners didn’t get hit as hard as other parts of with DeKalb County and the city plans the metro area, so the recovery in values to issue individual refunds over the next hasn’t been extreme either.” 30 to 45 days.

Raising The Standard of Care

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Butterfly Festival set to return to Dunwoody Park Aug. 15 The Dunwoody Nature Center plans to fill tents with hundreds of live butterflies for the 22nd year in a row. The center’s annual Butterfly Festival is set for Aug. 15 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. in Dunwoody Park. Games, crafts, animal encounters and discovery stations will be located throughout the 22-acre campus. Executive Director Alan Mothner said nearly 3,000 people attended last year and because of the festival’s popularity, he recommends visitors buy tickets early, which also saves visitors money. “Guests can participate in a nature scavenger hunt and find hidden treasures within Dunwoody Park, get their faces painted like a butterfly, enjoy live music, a birds of prey show and other entertainment all day long,” Mothner said. Tickets can be purchased at the Nature Center’s website at www.dunwoodynature.org/Butterfly-Festival.

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Hazardous waste recycling Dunwoody residents with proof of residency may bring up to 20 gallons of paint and other hard-to-recycle trash to Georgia Perimeter College’s Dunwoody campus on July 26. From 1 to 4 p.m. items such as aerosols, adhesives, resins and epoxies, mercury debris/articles/devices, lawn-care, automotive products and fluorescent bulbs may be recycled for free. The city will not accept ammunition or bio-hazardous material. For the complete list of items accepted and not accepted, visit dunwoodyga.gov. DUN

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COMMUNITY

On Sundays, Blackburn Park transforms into a battleground complete with foam swords and metal armor.

PHOTOS BY JOHN RUCH

The fantasy warriors of Blackburn Park BY JOHN RUCH On Sunday afternoons, Brookhaven’s Blackburn Park magically transforms into a fantasy battlefield straight out of “The Lord of the Rings” or “Game of Thrones.” Amid the Frisbee-tossers and dog-walkers in the park, armored knights cross swords, swashbucklers fence with foes, and Japanese anime heroes battle gladiators for ownership of magic shields. These fantasy warriors come from two separate groups: the Society for Creative Anachronism (SCA), which meets at noon, and Dagorhir Battle Games, which gathers at 3 p.m. Members of the society lean toward historical re-enactment, its members clad in metal armor and able to sing medieval church choral music on cue. Participants in Dagorhir engage in a more freewheeling sport, something like paintball with foam swords. But both groups share a love of full-contact fantasy combat and real camaraderie. And both have used Blackburn for years due to its easy access for metro Atlanta members and its large population of locals who are welcome to watch and even join in. On a recent Sunday, the heroes and heroines of this alternative universe gathered at places where the park becomes the SCA’s Barony of South Downs and Dagorhir’s Realm of High Spires.

Armor and shields Ben Coffee is standing in a Blackburn parking lot, strapping on a 40-pound suit of armor made of overlapping metal plates. He’s going to need it, because his friends are about to whack him with wooden swords. But, he’s quick to note, combat is only one part of SCA medieval activities. “The music is fantastic,” he says, breaking into a tuneful and dramatic “war song.” Founded in California in 1966, the Society for Creative Anachronism is a worldwide organization whose

members play out an idealized version of medieval life with some historical research and educational programs. That includes not only martial arts, but also music, dance, calligraphy, clothing-making and more. Still, swordplay is a key ingredient, especially since members of the society determine their “king” and “queen” by combat in tournaments. There are several “kingdoms,” or regional chapters, around the country; Atlanta falls under the Kingdom of Meridies, and the local chapter is known as the Barony of South Downs. Members sometime hold combat demonstrations, but they say spectacle is not the point. “We’re not Medieval Times,” member Dave Lopez said. “We’re not putting on the big show…We’re an education group.” Regardless, it’s remarkable to see guys in armor and shields going at it in the park. They use swords painted like steel but made of rattan, a wood that turns to soft pulp rather than sharp splinters after impact. Other members, including Lopez, skip the heavy armor and engage in light-footed fencing with a thin sword called a rapier. In this case, the swords are real, their tips blunted with padding. Lopez also carries a dagger and a miniature shield, explaining that fencers use them in their off-hand to deflect blows. The amount of expertise and fancy equipment on display might look daunting to someone interested in joining the group. And in fact, it does take extensive training and certification before members can fight. But no one is expected to show up on Day One in a suit of armor. Coffee says the membership requirements are few, including only a basic attempt to dress in medieval fashion. “For years, I went to [SCA] events in pajama pants,” he confesses. In addition to the Sunday events, the society holds fencing practices in Blackburn on Tuesday evenings, and will stage a 20-person regional war game event there on July 14.

JULY 10 – JULY 23, 2015 | www.ReporterNewspapers.net

Dagorhir “It’s like playing a video game in real life,” says Sean Huff as he explains the Dagorhir games about to unfold. Soon, about 20 players attacked one another with foam swords. The action was nonstop. When players “died” from sword strikes—which they did constantly—they simply walked to a “respawn” spot and returned to battle. While it had the format of medieval combat, Dagorhir had the speed and good-natured laughter of a pick-up soccer game. Dagorhir was invented in 1977 in Washington, D.C. Its name means “battle lords” as translated into the Elven language of J.R.R. Tolkien’s “Lord of the Rings,” but there’s no requirement that players pretend to be living in a hobbit-filled Middle Earth. They’re welcome to imagine themselves as vampires, ninjas—“whatever floats your boat,” as Huff puts it. At last Sunday’s game, some players wore T-shirts and shorts while others were clad in medieval-style jerkins or light leather armor. One couple, inspired by Japanese fantasy fiction, had fox-style tails clipped on their pants. The players were diverse in more than fashion, too. There was a mix of genders, race and ages—from teens to mid-thirties—rare for most games or sports. “The diversity of people is out of this world,” said Jesse Hardin, a 24-year-old who said he’s been playing Dagorhir since he was 9. The group’s post-game dinner together is part of the fun, he said. Passers-by are welcome to borrow a sword and join in after a quick tutorial. Dagorhir is easy to learn and play: Get smacked on a limb, it’s crippled; get smacked in the body, you’re dead. The tag-like format means that players “die” constantly and there’s no final championship victory. Huff said that’s another big attraction. “There’s no way to win. You win by having fun,” he says. “It really reduces ego. There’s no LeBron James out here carrying the team.” For more information, see atlantasca.org or facebook. com/highspires. DUN

COMMUNITY

Debate over Manget Way moving through courts CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

then it’s over.” He said his client looks forward to moving forward in obtaining necessary permits and opening the treatment facility because high-achieving kids need treatment. “My client has an interest in serving people in Dunwoody,” he said. Belinfante said the debate surrounding the Manget Way home grew from a misunderstanding. Before the company opens a new facility, it usually holds a public meeting with nearby residents to discuss the business and address any concerns. But, in this case, there wasn’t time. “A neighbor walked over and talked to the sprinkler guy about what is going on,” Belinfante said, and questions about and opposition to the project spread “like wildfire.” Manget Way residents protested to city officials. They argued the facility had wrongly been considered a personal care home instead of a medical treatment facility, which would be prohibited in a single-family neighborhood. Last June, the city’s Zoning Board of Appeals ruled in the neighbors’ favor. But on May 27, DeKalb Superior Court Judge Clarence Seeliger reversed the ZBA decision. Ruling on an appeal filed by Belinfante, the judge said in his order that while the neighbors speculated the business would increase traffic, diminish their property values and disturb their peace and enjoyment, “these statements do not appear to be based on any evidence,” Seeliger wrote. At the time, the California company had no legal obligation to notify its neighbors about its intentions with the property, Belinfante said. Dunwoody City Council later voted to change the city code to require a special purpose land-use permit in similar situations. The application for the special permit would require public notice on the proposal and notifying the neighbors. “Had we been notified, there may have been a different outcome,” Mark Collins, one of the neighbors involved in the lawsuit, said at a Jan. 26 City Council meeting. Jennifer Gorman, operations director for the company, said it wants to have a small footprint in the aﬄuent areas where facilities are opened. The

Tell them you saw it in Reporter Newspapers DUN

company has opened 11 locations for treating eating disorders in five states. “We try to be unobtrusive and private,” Gorman said. “These kids are from great families and need quiet care in a nice neighborhood. The truth is that the clients and families that we serve are very similar in every way to the children and families that live in the neighborhoods we enter.” But Page Love, a nutritionist for the Atlanta Center for Eating Disorders in Dunwoody, said she thinks the common assumption that affluent people are more often afflicted with eating disorders is wrong. She said she treats people of all socioeconomic statuses. “I don’t think we can stereotype it as an affluent disorder anymore,” Love said. Love said she thinks metro Atlanta needs more places that can treat teens with eating disorders. But she isn’t sure Dunwoody needs any more treatment options. “There’s a need for this and, overall, Atlanta is lacking in this kind of care, but Dunwoody is saturated [with providers],” she said. In addition to the center in Dunwoody, a non-residential eating disorder treatment facility opened in Sandy Springs in 2013. The only metro area residential treatment option for women with eating disorders, she said, is the Ridgeview Institute in Smyrna. According to its website, the women’s center provides 24-hour nursing care, psychiatric stabilization, medical stabilization and detoxification in an inpatient setting. The decision that a teenager needs around-the-clock care would be made by a medical doctor or in an emergency room, Love said. Once they are medically stable and able to follow outpatient treatment directions, teens with eating disorders could improve at home, she said. If a teenager is incapable or unwilling to follow Love’s directions in outpatient therapy and he or she continues to lose weight, Love said she recommends residential treatment at Ridgeview. “There are a lot more people seeking treatment than ever before,” Love said.

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Court “My favoriteCanterbury part about living here is the flexibility to be as active and sociable as I want!” Meet Christie Kinsaul, who moved to Canterbury Court to downsize and simplify her life. Little did she know how much she would love her new lifestyle. “Maintaining a two-story townhouse and everything in it was taking considerable time and effort. I was ready for some changes, and I wanted to make the move on my own terms.” Christie didn’t expect to find such luxurious living in a one-bedroom apartment, which she says “is plenty big” and comes with full services and amenities. She was also delighted to discover an abundance of activities designed for resident interests, including outings to local events. As a retired music teacher, she’s especially fond of going to the Atlanta Symphony and the opera. Along with more flexibility to spend her time as she chooses, Christie’s move to Canterbury Court has given her peace of mind knowing that on-site health services are available, should she ever need them. Call (404) 365-3163 to see our warm, inviting community and furnished model apartments, including our diamond collection one-bedroom residences. 3750 Peachtree Road, N.E. Atlanta, Georgia 30319 canterburycourt.org Canterbury Court is Atlanta’s first and foremost continuing care retirement community, non-profit, and committed to welcoming all people.

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PUBLIC SAFETY

How tall is too tall when it comes to unkempt lawns? CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

me what color I can paint my house or what kind of mailbox I can put up,” Johnson said. “I would rather deal with the crazy-looking stuff than have some board tell me what I can and can’t do.” Johnson said he’d never called city officials to complain about unmaintained property, but he admitted that his neighbor, Georgia Power Co., sometimes lets its grass get out of control. Johnson lives by power lines and said the power company lets the grass grow really tall. “They let that grow up and only cut it about once a year but nobody’s ever complained about it that I’ve heard about.” Amanda Wyatt said she never personally called the authorities on a neighbor, but remembers when one of her neighbors did. “We did have a property down the street that was vacant and one of the neighbors called code enforcement,” Wyatt said. “It was maybe 18 inches high.” The house wasn’t abandoned, Wyatt said, but the residents had moved out. By calling in a complaint, her neighbor did what Dunwoody Code Compliance Officer Tom LaPenna wants residents to do in those situations. Code compliance in Dunwoody is complaintdriven, he said, and officers aren’t out measuring grass height looking for vio-

lations. They rely on residents to turn in their neighbors. LaPenna said that in two cases he’s worked, neighbors mowed residents’ front yards for three years because they wanted ot help their neighbors, who had moved out of state. When the neighbors finally tired of cutting extra lawns, they called LaPenna, who said he found a “jungle” with 6-foot-tall weeds in the backyard. “I realized the back door was broken into so I reported that to the police,” he said. Dunwoody Councilman John Heneghan said he believes less than 1 percent of the city’s residents don’t keep their grass cut. “It’s usually those odd situations where somebody passed away and their kids live in another state and they just haven’t gotten around to getting somebody to take care of the lawn,” Heneghan said. Heneghan said he uses a system to keep his grass short. “I try to cut my grass once a week,” Heneghan said. “During the heat of summer, I plan on cutting my grass only on days just before it’s going to rain otherwise the heat of the sun will burn out my lawn and I’ll have no grass whatsoever.”

13 Buckhead and Brookhaven: 12 inches

12 11

Dunwoody and Sandy Springs: 10 inches

10 9 8 7 6 5

Local jurisdictions have various restrictions on the height of weeds or grass. The cities of Dunwoody and Sandy Springs allow 10 inches before issuing a fine. Brookhaven and Atlanta allow 12 inches.

4 3 CHRISTOPHER NORTH

2 1 0

LaPenna laughed about a time code compliance officers from Sandy Springs called him to complain about the overgrowth near a corner where Spalding and Dunwoody Club Drive meet.

“They thought Dunwoody included this corner; it doesn’t,” LaPenna said. Turns out, they were complaining about a property located in their own town.

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PUBLIC SAFETY

Police Blotter

Dunwoody police break up prostitution ring

From police reports dated June 19-July 2.

BY ELLEN ELDRIDGE

The following information was pulled from Dunwoody’s Police-toCitizen Portal Event Search website and is presumed to be accurate.

elleneldridge@reporternewspapers.net

BURGLA RY  6600

block of Peachtree-Industrial Boulevard—On June 23, burglary was reported at a residence.

 1300

block of Winding Branch Circle—On June 25, an arrest was made for burglary.

 8000

block of Madison Drive—On June 26, burglary was reported at a residence.

A U TO THE FT  1100

block of Hammond Drive—On June 24, theft of a motor vehicle was reported.

T HEF T/ L A RC EN Y  4300

block of Ashford-Dunwoody Road—On June 23, shoplifting was reported and/or arrests were made.

 4400

block of Ashford-Dunwoody Road—On June 22, 25, 26 and July 1, larceny and shoplifting were reported and/or arrests were made.

 4500

block of Ashford-Dunwoody Road—On June 20, larceny was reported.

 4700

block of Ashford-Dunwoody Road—On June 19, 20, 22, 23, 26, 28, 29, 30 and July 1, shoplifting was reported and/or arrests were made.

 1800

block of Cotillion Drive—On June 19 and 26, larceny was reported.

 5400

block of Seaton Way—On June 20, larceny from a building was reported.

 6800

block of Peachtree-Industrial Boulevard—On June 21, theft of articles from a vehicle was reported.

 4900

block of Winters Chapel Road— On June 22, theft from mail was reported.

 4400

block of Chamblee-Dunwoody Road—On June 22 and 27, shoplifting was reported and an arrest was made.

 100

block of Perimeter Center Place— On June 23, shoplifting was reported.

 12,000

block of Madison Drive—On June 23, theft of articles from a vehicle was reported; On June 24, theft of articles from a vehicle was reported.

 First

block of Perimeter Center Parkway—On June 24, an arrest was made for shoplifting. block of North Peachtree Road— On June 26, theft of articles from a vehicle was reported.

A 26-year-old woman and a 16-year-old girl were rescued from “sexual servitude” and prostitution on June 25, after Dunwoody police worked with the Federal Bureau of Investigation to uncover a prostitution ring, police say. Dunwoody Police Officer Tim Fecht, a spokesman for the department, said the 26-year-old had been placed into sexual servitude. He said police also located and recovered a missing 16-year-old girl, who was participating in acts of prostitution. Three people were charged with pimping and nine were charged with prostitution, Fecht said. “This operation would not have been possible without the close working relationship the Dunwoody Police Department has with the business and hotel community,” Fecht said. Dunwoody Police worked in conjunction with the FBI Metro Atlanta Child Exploitation (MATCH) Task Force and the Gwinnett Police Department to conduct an undercover prostitution sting at a cooperating hotel within the city limits of Dunwoody. This was done in response to numerous complaints submitted to the Dunwoody Police Department through Crime Stoppers and the Dunwoody Tip Line. “Our goal of the operation was to rescue any victims of human trafficking and reduce crime as it relates to prostitution,” Fecht said.  6700

block of Peachtree-Industrial Boulevard—On June 27, theft of articles from a vehicle was reported.

 4600

block of Magnolia Commons— On June 29, larceny was reported.

 4700

 5300

block of Fairfield—On June 26, theft of articles from a vehicle was reported.

 1500

block of Mount Vernon Road— On June 26, an arrest was made for theft by receiving stolen property.

 4700

block of Vermack Road—On June 27, theft of articles from a vehicle was reported.

 2400

block of Mount Vernon Road— On June 27, shoplifting was reported.

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AS S AULT  5400

block of Seaton Way—On June 19, battery of a family member was reported.

 4000

block of Dunwoody Park—On June 22, a simple assault was reported.

 2100

block of Peachford Road—On June 22, simple assault and battery was reported.

 6700

block of Peachtree-Industrial Boulevard—On June 24, simple assault and battery was reported.

 4500

block of Olde Perimeter Way— On June 25, aggravated stalking was re-

ported.  1700

block of Tolleson Court—On June 28, assault by intimidation was reported.

 10,000

block of Madison Drive—On June 28, battery of a family member was reported.

 4600

block of Peachtree Place Parkway—On June 29, simple assault and battery were reported.

 4700

block of North Peachtree Road— On July 1, simple assault was reported.

FRAUD  4600

block of Devonshire Road—On June 19, fraud by impersonation was reported.

 5100

block of Sheridan Lane—On June 19, fraud by impersonation was reCONTINUED ON PAGE 30

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PUBLIC SAFETY

Dunwoody Police Blotter CONTINUED FROM PAGE 29

ported.  4400

block of Chamblee-Dunwoody Road—On June 22, fraud was reported.

 5500

block of Chamblee-Dunwoody Road—On June 23, fraud by worthless check was reported.

 4500

block of Chamblee-Dunwoody Road—On June 24, forgery of check was reported and an arrest was made.

 100

block of Perimeter Center West— On June 25, fraud by impersonation was reported and an arrest was made.

 2300

block of Drexel Way—On June 25, fraud by impersonation was reported.

 4000

block of Dunwoody Park—On June 25, fraud by impersonation was reported.

 1100

block of Santa Fe Street—On June 25, credit fraud was reported.

 300 block of Perimeter Center North—

On June 26, fraud by swindle was report-

ed.

June 21, an arrest was made for DUI.

 2200

 4300

block of Tamassee Court—On July 1, fraud was reported.

 4100

block of Chestnut Ridge Drive— On July 1, fraud by impersonation was reported.

 2900

block of Ridgelock Court—On July 2, fraud was reported.

Read more of the Police Blotter online at www.reporternewspapers.net

AR R ES TS  First

block of Perimeter Center East— On June 19, an arrest was made for DUI, an arrest was made for probation violation, an arrest was made for possession of marijuana and an arrest was made for failure to appear in court; On June 24, an arrest was made for duty upon striking an unattended vehicle; On June 25, an arrest was made for credit fraud; On June 26, four arrests were made for prostitution.

 I-285

block of Ashford-Dunwoody Road—On June 22, a wanted person was located and arrested; On June 25, an arrest was made for possession of marijuana.

at North Peachtree Road—On

4500 block of Ashford-Dunwoody Road—On June 23, an arrest was made for DUI.



 4400

block of North Shallowford Road—On June 24, an arrest was made for giving false statements to police.

 4300

block of North Peachtree Road— On June 24, a wanted person was located and arrested.

 Tilly

Mill Road at Peachtree-Industrial Boulevard—On June 26, an arrest was made for obstruction.

 4900

block of Winters Chapel Road— On June 28, a wanted person was located and arrested.

 Peachtree

Boulevard at Homeland Drive—On June 28, an arrest was made for disorderly conduct.

 4800

block of Adams Road—On June 29, an arrest was made for disorderly conduct and an arrest was made for obstruction.

 4700

block of North Peachtree Road— On June 29, an arrest was made for theft by receiving stolen property.

 I-285

at Ashford-Dunwoody Road— On July 1, an arrest was made for driving while license was suspended or revoked.

 4500

block of Tilly Mill Road—On July 1, an arrest was made for speeding.

OTHER  100

block of Perimeter Center West— On June 21, criminal trespass was reported.

 4700

block of Ashford-Dunwoody Road—On June 21, animal abuse or neglect was reported.

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