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MAYOR TOM REED Highlights Reel for Chattahoochee Hills

Here in Chatt Hills, the summer season is getting off to a great start. There are so many positive things going on this month that I thought I’d do a quick “highlights reel.” One of the most important items is the passage of our 2021/22 fiscal year budget—lots of good news there. When I became mayor, the City was on the verge of running out of cash; a huge level of debt burdened our limited resources. Since then, we’ve made huge improvements to the budget, and we may proudly say we now run a surplus every year! While municipal governmental accounting really doesn’t occasion surpluses in Chattahoochee Hills (we budget to a “zero balance” every year), Robbie and I budget very conservatively—we are pessimistic about both revenues and expenses—so revenues come in higher than expected. And because of our diligent staff, expenses come in lower, creating a surplus every year (which, now that we’ve paid off our debts, we plow back into road maintenance).

We’ve managed to keep our millage rates flat, and lower than most towns around us, but we have been able to increase revenues in part by applying for everything we can as a City. In addition to LOST (Local Option Sales Tax), we now also get TSPLOST (a transportation focused LOST that goes straight to road maintenance), and we’ve also successfully applied for and are receiving our local Hotel Motel taxes, State Conservation Funds, and a variety of other grants and funds. In addition, this year we’ll receive over $500,000 from the Federal Government’s Relief Funds, which will offset other spending, allowing us to move those funds to more road maintenance. With so many miles of road to maintain, which is one of our biggest budget concerns, expect to see a lot of roadwork this year as a result!

Another highlight: we are in the process of adopting a Unified Development Code—a single document that incorporates the Subdivision, Zoning, and other related ordinances into a much easier to use single document; no need top flip back and forth between several separate documents to figure out how to apply our zoning. This will make it easier to enforce the 70% permanent protection baked into our zoning—the reason we became a city— ensuring that future generations will be able to enjoy the access to nature, beautiful countryside, and country lifestyles we now take for granted, and which we’ve sworn to protect! Huge thanks to our consultants at TSW, Woody and Caleb; to City Planner Mike Morton, who lives and breathes our Zoning; and to the Planning Commission and City Council for all the work that’s gone into getting this done. Our currently ongoing Comprehensive Plan Update both supports and informs this process; thanks to Kerri from the Atlanta Regional Commission for her help in facilitating that important process, the Comp Plan stakeholder group for their important work, and to all the citizens who have participated.

Fulton County has been working hard for us recently. I have been working with them for a couple of years to get Senior programming at City Hall (the process was delayed by COVID unfortunately but is actively moving forward again!). A big thank you to Councilperson Searle, who has joined the meetings and is applying her considerable energy to advancing the project. Expect to see new programming soon!

And to close, let’s give a quick shout-out to our City Council. Ruby Foster is on fire! Her community engagement is really starting to take root; the recent picnic at City Hall was a blast, and I can’t wait for future events that she and her helpers are planning! Councilperson Searle’s Barn Quilt Trail continues to impress; with all the varied and gorgeous barn quilts displayed around the City, it’s cool that people are now coming here specifically to see them!

With so many great things happening here in beautiful Chatt Hills, we have lots to celebrate. Here’s to a Happy 4th of July and a fantastic summer!

Be well and be safe. Mayor Tom Reed

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WELCOME BACK CEDAR GROVE MUSICIANS

A Hometown Favorite “Strikes Up the Band” Again at 6:00 p.m. on June 15 at Chatt Hills City Hall

By Ruth West

Cedar Grove Tuesday Night Music will re-open Tuesday, June 15 at 6:00 pm. It is necessary at this time to make a change in the location, due to the fact that we cannot yet use the Cedar Grove Community Center. We have been given permission to use the Chattahoochee Hills public building (Old Rico Elementary School building that is the Chatt Hills Government Center [City Hall]) located at 6505 Rico Road.

Beginning June 15th and continuing until further notice, we will use this building on the 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 5th (when there is one) Tuesday nights. We will not have Cedar Grove Music on the 1st Tuesday night of each month.

We will be socially distancing as much as possible, and we will prefer and encourage the wearing of masks. No food or drink will be provided. If you feel you will need food or drink, you can bring your own snacks, but please do not share with others.

Successful operation of Cedar Grove Tuesday Night Music depends upon your compliance of these guidelines. We do feel that you know the seriousness of this COVID pandemic and will be willing to follow this. We are truly looking forward to once again enjoying our Cedar Grove Music.

About the Cedar Grove Musicians

This is community music making at its best! Musicians come from Chattahoochee Hills and beyond to play music for and with each other. The group welcomes acoustic instrumentalists and singers, and friends and families who form an appreciative audience. Musicians sign up on a white board and play a few tunes when their turn comes up. Typically, other musicians may accompany those featured players. There is not charge, other than a friendly smile and a “How’d you do.”

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Mary Collins-Shepard, Anne Dries, Lynn Noda, Lee Foster, Tamara Schwartz, Honey Hurwitz, Cindy Lederman, and Gail King.

Get Happy! Ukeladies Play Serenbe 4th of July Parade

By Lee Foster

“Here’s a little song I wrote, You might want to sing it note for note. Don’t worry, be happy. In every life we have some trouble, When you worry you make it double. Don’t worry, be happy.” A little bit of Hawaii wafts through Grange in Serenbe on Saturday mornings. Many folks taking walks or riding their bikes on Serenbe Lane have enjoyed the increasingly proficient serenade since December 2020. The Ukeladies, formed to learn the ukulele and to gather to ensure socialization and happiness during the pandemic, will perform at Serenbe’s Fourth of July Parade 2021!

Local resident Cindy Lederman was on a labyrinth walk and asked the question,” What do you think about learning to play the ukulele?” As a result, Lee Foster was approached in November 2020 by residents Cindy Lederman, Mary Collins-Shepard, and Tamara Schwartz about teaching ukulele. “I had been playing guitar since I was a kid. I also played the ukulele, but I had never taught it. I was slightly terrified, but I also thought about how much I had yearned and needed laughter and friends during COVID. So, I said, ‘Great idea!’” said Lee.

Taking inspiration from the local band Neuroplasticity (who brought their band together partly as a commitment to the neuronal connections that protect memory and help one stay mentally alert), Ukeladies member Honey Hurwitz mentioned that in addition to having fun, she wanted to build those synapses! It is a fact that in later life you can keep your brain young by learning a new skill; the Ukeladies decided music would be their skill of choice.

The famous words of super-creative Bobby McFerrin, Be Happy, will be featured at the July 4 parade (as a symbol of the joyfulness the group created with Ukeladies) in addition to “This Land is Your Land,” “Lion Sleeps Tonight,” and the medley “Grand Old Flag/Yankee Doodle.”

The Ukeladies have a couple of values to which they ascribe; one is “zero sigma” which is their code for ”just have fun,” and it was introduced as an encouragement to play without judgement. “Sometimes the pressure to perform and to achieve perfection is debilitating for new players,” says Foster. “The other two rules are that ‘slow is fast,’ first master the music slowly and build speed. The other is that we never say we can’t do something. If we feel compelled to say we can’t do something, all of us insist on adding the word ‘yet.’”

A side benefit they got to revel in was one of the members was taking a French baking class during the process, so in addition to the playing, the group all got to sample desserts and baking galore!

The Ukeladies have met every Saturday (since December) in the cold and heat, distanced and with masks—even sometimes on Zoom! They admit that learning the ukulele was the prescription they needed to get through the pandemic; the story here is how the brain-work, the music, and the camaraderie permeated their lives and made them joyful. Please join them at 10 am at the 4th of July Parade in Serenbe, and celebrate the journey out of COVID and our joyfulness with them!

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Picnic In The Park

Many thanks to Councilmember Ruby Foster and her team of volunteers: Councilmembers Camille Lowe & Laurie Searle, and Amber Lightsey, Elaine Bryant, and Ken Langley for coordinating the Picnic in the Park event on May 29, 2021 in Chatt Hills. Thanks also to the mayor, council members, city staff, and many friends and neighbors who attended. It was a fun day!

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Chatt Hills Barn Quilt Displays UGA Colors at Triple A Farm

The newest addition to the Chatt Hills Barn Quilt Trail: “Flying X” hosted by Triple A Farm, 7795 Rico Rd.

Homespun Charm

Fuller and Paula Anderson made Palmetto (now Chattahoochee Hills) their home when they moved to their family's Triple A Farm in 1990. Over the years, the couple has added to the homespun charm of their farmstead with thoughtful renovations, family heirlooms displayed inside and out, and a University of Georgia garden flag honoring their alma mater.

When considering a barn quilt for their property, Paula wanted a traditional quilt pattern with simple geometric shapes. Fuller wanted it painted in their school colors. They selected the "Flying X" quilt pattern painted in the UGA colors of red, black, and grey.

The art of Handiwork

Paula is an avid quilter. Even with decades of experience, she still attends quilting retreats where she hones her skills and catches up on the latest techniques. Recently, a retreat friend showed her a photo of a barn quilt she had painted. Paula showed the photo to a Chatt Hills Barn Quilt Trail volunteer, who offered to guide Paula through the process so she could have a hand in creating her own barn quilt.

Fuller is a traditional Southern gentleman, well versed in the skills necessary to maintain a farmstead. When it came time to install their barn quilt, his barn created some challenges. Due to its corrugated surface, furring strips needed to be installed. Luckily, he had an abundance of materials on hand, and the skills to lend the installer a helping hand.

This couple illustrates how the art of handiwork is still treasured in rural communities and passed down through the generations. To read their heritage story visit: www. chatthillsbarnquilttrail.com/triple-a-farm.html

About the Chatt Hills Barn Quilt Trail

The Chatt Hills Barn Quilt Trail is a community art project designed to celebrate the rural heritage of Chattahoochee Hills, Georgia. It features a collection of hand-painted quilt patterns placed on barns, outbuildings, homes, or businesses.

A map shows the location of these barn quilts along the trail and points visitors to the website where heritage information is provided for locations and quilts. For more information and a map of the quilt trail, visit: www.chatthillsbarnquilttrail.com.

Paula and Fuller Anderson pose with their new barn quilt in UGA colors.

Paula hand painting their barn quilt.