Dunwoody Crier - December 14, 2023

Mayor Deutsch marks Dunwoody’s birthday ► PAGE 3

December 14, 2023 | AppenMedia.com | An Appen Media Group Publication | Ser ving the community since 1976

Dunwoody journalist files suit against city for alleged violation of Open Records Act

By HAYDEN SUMLIN hayden@appenmedia.com

CITY OF DUNWOODY/PROVIDED

The westbound view from Womack Road at the improved intersection shows a dedicated lane for vehicles turning left onto Chamblee Dunwoody Road and the elimination of the right-turn-on-red restriction. The City Council will host a ribbon-cutting celebration Dec. 11.

City officials welcome intersection improvements DUNWOODY, Ga. — The Dunwoody City Council was scheduled to hold a ribbon-cutting ceremony this week to celebrate intersection improvements at Womack Road, Chamblee Dunwoody Road and Ashford Center Parkway.

Construction of the intersection improvement project and utility relocation began in 2022.

The DeKalb County Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax primarily funded the project’s total cost of $2.5 million.

The project’s objective is to improve efficiency and safety for westbound vehicles as they approach the intersection, according to the city.

The improvements to Womack Road include a dedicated lane for

vehicles turning left onto Chamblee Dunwoody Road and the elimination of the right-turn-on-red restriction. The design improved sight distance by regrading the slope and reconfiguring the retaining wall at the AT&T building on the southeast corner of the intersection.

The project also included improvements to Chamblee Dunwoody Road.

The left-turn lane onto Ashford Center Parkway was extended, and a drainage network down the west side of Chamblee Dunwoody Road was connected to the existing drainage network.

As a result, the sidewalk along the west side of Chamblee Dunwoody Road was upgraded to meet the standards

of the Americans Disabilities Act and match the sidewalk project on the east side.

“This project arose out of community feedback about the traffic backups on Womack Road because of the lack of turn lanes,” Public Works Director Michael Smith said. “We’re hearing positive feedback about the changes.”

A new mural will be installed at the intersection in early 2024. Artists Jennifer Freeman and Julie Mazzoni were commissioned to create “The Landscape of Dunwoody” along a section of the retaining wall.

The 36-foot mural will vary in height and include stained glass, fused glass and porcelain tile.

DUNWOODY, Ga. — A Dunwoody resident filed suit in DeKalb County Superior Court Oct. 31 alleging the City of Dunwoody and three city employees violated the Georgia Open Records Act. During public comment at the Oct. 30 City Council meeting, Joseph Hirsch, a longtime critic of the Dunwoody Police Department, said responsibility for the attrition rate among Dunwoody police officers can be laid at the feet of Chief Billy Grogan.

Hirsch lobbed criticism at Grogan, City Manger Eric Linton and the Dunwoody City Council for failing to address concerns he has brought to the attention of the City Council over the years.

Hirsch, a journalist, ran unsuccessfully for the City Council District 1 seat in 2017.

Appen Media reached out to Dunwoody Communications Director Jennifer Boettcher for comment on Hirsch’s lawsuit.

“We cannot comment on pending litigation, but we want to make

See HIRSCH, Page 22

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PUBLIC SAFETY

Sandy Springs police say man shot, killed during home invasion SANDY SPRINGS, Ga. — A man was shot and killed after entering a residence on Spalding Drive Dec. 3 at 2:21 a.m.

The unidentified man unlawfully entered the residence and threatened to harm the homeowner, according to the Sandy Springs Police Department.

Sgt. Leon Millholland said officers

were dispatched to the scene after another resident called 911.

Before officers could arrive, the homeowner shot the suspect in a defense of himself and his family from bodily harm, police said.

By the time officers arrived at the residence, the suspect had died from his wounds.

The Sandy Springs Police Department said detectives responded to the scene for an investigation.

At the time of the department’s statement, the incident is believed to be isolated.

Sgt. Millholland could not be reached for comment on the investigation.

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Police arrest Atlanta woman for violating trespass warning

POLICE BLOTTER

CONTACT

DUNWOODY, Ga. — A Dunwoody officer arrested a 35-year -old Atlanta woman Dec. 1 for violating a criminal trespass warning at the QuikTrip on Ashford Parkway.

The suspect had been cited Nov. 24 for criminal trespass at the gas station after smoking in the women’s bathroom.

The complainant, a clerk at the gas station, provided the responding officer with the criminal trespass paperwork.

The clerk said the suspect was smoking in the bathroom again and had not come out yet.

The suspect remained in the bathroom until finally complying with the officer’s instructions.

The officer placed her under arrest.

The suspect was also cited for disorderly conduct, prohibited public smoking, and loitering and prowling.

The officer transported the suspect to DeKalb County Jail without incident.

The manager said he fired the employee Oct. 10 for stealing money from the restaurant.

After the dismissal, the manager said the suspect began to harass him and the restaurant’s employees via text message.

In text messages shared with police, the suspect told the manager he knew where he lives, and he would see him in the city.

The manager also said the suspect contacted his cousin via Instagram and stated he would “put a bullet in [the manager’s] brain.”

All the communications were turned over to police.

The manager said he wanted to press charges and would get a restraining order against the suspect.

The officer said the warrants for the suspect’s arrest were denied by a judge because the suspect was not in DeKalb County’s jurisdiction at the time the texts were sent.

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Manager reports threats from former employee DUNWOODY, Ga. —The manager of the Taco Mac on Ashford Crossing reported Nov. 27 that he and his staff had received harassing text messages from a former employee.

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Woman’s stolen credit card used in fraudulent purchases DUNWOODY, Ga. — A 40-year -old Dunwoody woman notified police that someone charged more than $4,000 in purchases on her credit card at Perimeter Mall shops.

The victim said she had been dining at Panera Bread on Mount Vernon Road around 4:15 p.m. when she noticed her Michael Kors wallet was missing from her handbag.

All crime reports published by Appen Media Group are compiled from public records. Neither the law enforcement agencies nor Appen Media Group implies any guilt by publishing these names. None of the persons listed has been convicted of the alleged crimes.

The wallet contained her diver’s license, five credit cards and $20 in cash.

Shortly after meeting with the officer, the victim received two notifications of possible fraudulent transactions at Perimeter Mall around 4:45 p.m. One transaction was for $1,500 at Nordstrom, and the other was for about $3,000 at Macy’s.

The officer was able to review security footage from Macy’s, which showed a man using the cards to purchase a pair of earrings worth about $850 and two watches worth about $2,150.

The officer said security footage from the mall showed the suspect attempting to sell the watches and exiting the mall around 5:15 p.m.

The photo of the suspect was uploaded to the department’s share drive.

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OPINION

AppenMedia.com/Dunwoody | Dunwoody Crier | December 14, 2023 | 3

TALK BACK TO THE CRIER

HAPPY 15TH BIRTHDAY DUNWOODY!

LYNN DEUTSCH Dunwoody Mayor

Fifteen years ago this month, Dunwoody became a Georgia city. A valiant community effort months and years in the making was approved by Dunwoody voters in the summer of 2008, and doors opened on December 1 of that

year.

It has been my honor and privilege to be a part of this city since its inception and to begin my second term as mayor next month. In recognition of this occasion, I offer 15 highlights of our city since the beginning:

1. Dunwoody’s population has grown by 25 percent from approximately 40,000 to more than 50,000. It is now the 19th largest city in Georgia. This is a place people want to call home.

2. With public safety as our top priority, we have expanded our police department to meet the community’s needs while offering the region’s highest salaries and benefit packages to retain and attract top talent.

3. The first City Council planned to pave every eligible road in Dunwoody within 20 years, and we will fulfill this promise. Currently, 245 lane miles have been paved, accounting for more than 80 percent of Dunwoody lane miles.

4. Nearly 15 miles of sidewalks have been installed with a focus on safe school routes.

5. Dunwoody Public Works Department responds to citizen reports through See Click Fix. In the last 15 years, more than 17,000 work orders have been completed including 2,700 pothole and pavement repairs.

6. Our award-winning Parks Department sponsors lots of events, including a summer concert series, Trunk or Treat, Holiday Lights and

the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service. We have classes and programs galore, both from the Parks Department and our community partners.

7. We have built new playgrounds at Windwood Hollow, Dunwoody Nature Center and Two Bridges Park.

Dunwoody has constructed baseball and multi-purpose fields, a splash pad and more. We have miles of multi-purpose trails allowing for both exercise and an alternative commute for those who choose to walk or bike.

8. Dunwoody residents show up for those in need providing food for our neighbors, preparing holiday cards for residents of local assisted living, raising tens of thousands of dollars for families impacted by a fire, and countless hours of volunteering for local organizations and schools.

9. Multiple national or regional corporate headquarters now call Dunwoody home, including State Farm, Hapag Lloyd, Insight Global, Krystal, Acoustic and more.

10. More than a billion dollars of private investment has been made in the Perimeter Center area with construction projects like Park Center, High Street, Campus 244, Twelve24 and more. The renovation at Ashford Lane has created the first Privately Operated Public Space (POPS) in Perimeter Center.

11. City Council approved a Dunwoody Village Master Plan (after tremendous public input) that lays out our vision to create a connected, vibrant, commercial, and residential area. Over the last few years, new restaurants, a reinvigorated courtyard, exciting retail options and other improvements have created a place where we are lingering longer.

12. With support and training for entrepreneurs, Dunwoody has become a destination for startup businesses in a variety of areas --restaurants,

See BIRTHDAY, Page 4

You talk, we listen.

The Crier is parking the Talk Back section right here on page 3 for the foreseeable future.

Send your letters to newsroom@appenmedia.com by Sunday night and they’ll end up here that week. Park locations, tree-lined medians and backyard chickens welcome.

Rules of engagement: • Typically we restrict letters to 300 words. To limit fury from the copy desk, try and stay below that line.

• We normally do not publish letters written in response to other letters. We are going to waive that policy for the time being.

• We won’t publish your letter or name without explicitly getting your approval.

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NEWS

Alpharetta postmaster: ‘I almost feel like Santa Claus’ Post offices collect letters in 110-year-old program

Dunwoody letters

By AMBER PERRY amber@appenmedia.com

The City of Dunwoody has its own festive letter programs.

ALPHARETTA, Ga. — It’s the busiest time of the year for Alpharetta Postmaster Teara Smith and for the carriers she oversees across three locations.

While the numbers haven’t been finalized, Smith said postal workers are “really feeling it” this year with a significant increase in parcels to push for zip codes that cover Alpharetta, Johns Creek and Milton.

Among Smith’s personal duties are collecting letters to Santa, written by hopeful kids looking forward to filled requests. She recently had a stand-up talk with her employees to ensure all the letters have the names, addresses and stamps.

For those letters that don’t have a stamp, Smith pulls from her personal stamp collection.

“Technically, we’re supposed to give it back,” she said. “But, it’s a child, and I’m a softy.”

So far, Smith has sent more than

Letters to Seniors: Notes collected at the North Shallowford Annex and Spruill Arts Center will be delivered to Dunwoody assisted living communities for the residents to enjoy.

AMBER PERRY/APPEN MEDIA

Alpharetta Postmaster Teara Smith sits at her desk at the Webb Bridge Post Office. Smith, so far, has collected around 30 letters to Santa as part of a program that started more than 100 years ago. As of 2019, people from all over the country have been adopting these letters online and responding.

30 to Santa’s workshop. The program, Operation Santa, has been around for 110 years, but it wasn’t until 2019 that anyone in the country could adopt a letter online and respond to

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the writer.

“It’s sweet, it’s thoughtful,” Smith said. “Christmas should be like that.”

She said many of the carriers will dress up for the holiday, like one of her employees who drives a 2-ton delivery truck. He becomes Santa.

Smith, who drives more than an hour from her Jefferson home to her Webb Bridge office, began her career with the U.S. Postal Service as a carrier almost 26 years ago.

“My husband probably says, ‘You love that job too much’” Smith said.

“But I do. I get joy out of it, and this time of year, I really do — the customers, their kids. We connect them to their parcels, to their items.

It’s a joy you get out of it … I almost feel like Santa Claus.”

Deliveries have increased since Smith joined the Postal Service, a time

Birthday: Continued from Page 3

To take advantage of our specials contact April Abbott at 404.892.5600 or april@outsidethecircletravel.com

hospitality, technology, healthcare and more. We are grateful for all the small businesses investing in our community.

13. Dunwoody received a Visionary City Award for the 2020 Picnic Table Project, which involved supporting small businesses and partnerships with community organizations, neighborhoods and religious organizations.

14. Dunwoody is home to nine hotels, four of which were built since

Letters to Santa: Kids can write digital notes to Santa by emailing Santa.Claus@ dunwoodyga.gov and he will respond with a personalized, mailed letter from the North Pole. Make sure to include the child’s name and return mailing address.

when Amazon wasn’t around.

“Now, it’s a lot, but we enjoy delivering it,” she said. “This is our season. We look forward to it.”

Around 70 million packages are expected to be processed each day across the country this holiday season, according to a U.S. Postal Service Nov. 21 press release, up from 60 million the year before.

To accomplish the feat, the Postal Service also announced a goal to hire 10,000 seasonal employees in addition to the 150,000 employees who have converted to full-time positions in the past two years.

In Alpharetta, Smith said schedules begin earlier to tackle holiday output.

“Even though it may be a lot, we’re pushing,” she said. “We’re getting it to them the same day.” becoming a city. A new one, Element Hotel, is under construction at Campus 244. Discover Dunwoody does a great job attracting visitors, business travelers and corporate events to the city.

15. Results of the 2023 Dunwoody Community Survey show that 96 percent of you are satisfied with your quality of life. A small-town feeling, nice people, friendly neighbors and a good community were common reasons cited by respondents. This warms my heart, and I couldn’t agree more.

The first 15 years have been fantastic, and even better days are in our future. Wishing the best to you and yours, Dunwoody.

COMMUNITY

AppenMedia.com/Dunwoody | Dunwoody Crier | December 14, 2023 | 5

WHERE IN THE WORLD IS THE CRIER?

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Switzerland Beth and Matt Allen travelled to Geneva, Switzerland, this fall, then attended the Rugby World Cup in Nice, France, and stayed in Turin, Italy, for a few days. The Crier was honored to tag along with the globetrotters.

Where in the world is the Crier?

If you’re headed on a trip, the Crier wants to sightsee, too. Take a copy with you and share the moment with folks back home. Send your travel photos with the Crier to newsroom@appenmedia.com

PETS OF THE WEEK

Harlem and Pimms

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Meet Harlem (ID# 55267096), a cool and charismatic pup ready to jazz up your life. At just 1 year old, Harlem may initially be a little shy, but once he warms up, his friendly nature shines. This sweet guy is affectionate and gentle. Weighing in at a perfect 35 lbs., he’s the ideal size for cuddling up on the couch together. Get ready for a pal who hits all the right notes of fun and friendship. Meet Harlem today.

Pimms (ID# 53806726) is so precious. With ears for days and a dark brown coat, this cutie is sure to attract attention everywhere he goes. Pimms seems housetrained, is friendly and is an all-around fun dog! He takes treats nicely, making him simple to train, he’s easy to leash and he loves attention, making him the perfect sidekick for any and all

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Expand your family by four furry little feet; meet Harlem and Pimms and have a loving friend forever. All adoptions include spay/neuter, vaccinations and microchip.

If you would like more information about either dog or if you have questions about adopting, fostering or volunteering please email adoption@dekalbanimalservices. com or call (404) 294-2165; all potential adopters will be screened to ensure they go to a good home.

The shelter is full; foster or adopt to save a life and meet your new furry friend, stop by DeKalb County Animal Services. We are located at 3280 Chamblee Dunwoody Road, Chamblee GA 30341 or give us a call at 404-294-2996. No appointment necessary.

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8 | December 14, 2023 | Dunwoody Crier | AppenMedia.com/Dunwoody

COMMUNITY

Vet offers preventative plans to Metro Atlanta pet owners

By SHELBY ISRAEL shelby@appenmedia.com ROSWELL, Ga. — As more people look for cost-effective alternatives to traditional veterinary visits, Peach Vet Pet Wellness and PetCentric Health aim to make care accessible to Metro Atlanta pet owners.

Dr. Juliette Van Galder opened Peach Vet Pet Wellness, a boutique clinic in Suite 900 at 601 Houze Way in Roswell, in March 2022.

Peach Vet offers the standard array of veterinary care, including microchipping; spaying and neutering; wellness exams; surgeries; and diagnostics, as well as dental care.

But, Van Galder said the clinic is dedicated to making visits as fearless as possible for patients.

After opening, she said she offered her own primary care plans to help customers until partnering with PetCentric in June.

“I saw the value in what they could offer as a support system,” she said. “I feel like since we’re a small team, I just didn’t want to have too many caveats with managing the ‘what ifs’ with the care plan.”

Peach Vet’s partnership with PetCentric enables owners to come in sooner, so needed visits are not postponed

SHELBY ISRAEL/APPEN MEDIA

Dr. Juliette Van Galder owns Peach Vet Pet Wellness in Roswell. The boutique clinic opened at 601 Houze Way in March 2022 and offers primary care plans to help pet owners avoid large bills through preventative care. because of cost barriers. The primary care plans allow owners to budget and save up to 45 percent on annual wellness exams, preventative tests and vaccines.

“That’s always important to me to give someone an option, if they don’t have the budget to pay,” Van Galder said.

Peach Vet is the first Georgia and flagship Atlanta partner of PetCentric Health, a primary care and digital database manager for pet owners and

veterinary clinics.

CEO Heather Moore founded PetCentric in mid-2022 to provide pet owners with plans that offer financial predictability, ensuring they can follow their vet’s recommendations without the concern of cost.

“PetCentric Health was founded to be an innovative solution as to traditional wellness,” Moore said. “So, we consider ourselves a subscription-based primary care company. So, we work with clinics to custom design an in-house health plan, primary health plan, for their patients that they can offer through a subscriptionbased method.”

Typically, owners visit the vet when their pet is sick, and vets charge owners on a traditional fee-based model. If owners cannot afford treatment their vet recommends, it is often deferred, which can escalate into more expensive and lifethreatening conditions.

“That model no longer meets pet parents or vets where they need to be,” Moore said. “Anything around health, human through pet, you see that the movement of our society, you know, we’re not a strong cash-based society. We’re a subscription-based society.”

Owners can pay monthly or annually for primary care plans, which are geared toward preventative care to stop costs from becoming overwhelming if illnesses progress.

At Peach Vet, customers can choose between puppy, adult and senior dog plans based on their pet’s age and needs.

The clinic also offers one feline primary care plan.

PetCentric’s plans differ from pet insurance, which often covers large, unexpected bills or compensates clients retroactively through reimbursement.

Although primary care plans do not cover emergency visits like insurance, PetCentric’s plans provide a pet flexible spend allowance that reserves money to

be used on exams and expenses outside of routine wellness.

“It’s kind of a catch-all for minor issues for which pet insurance is still not really appropriate,” Moore said. “In fact, it might be below their deductible, or they don’t really need pet insurance, but it’s kind of that bucket that pet parents can use for whatever the individual needs are for their pet.”

Van Galder said she still recommends enrolling in pet insurance as early as possible. As primary care plans focus on preventative and routine check-ups, insurance can help owners navigate large emergency bills.

“I’ve had some situations where even young dogs are diagnosed with this rare disease, and they’re already on insurance, and it has covered and helped them get the treatment they need,” she said.

Moore also said inflation and rising medical costs put downward pressure on local vets, as raising the cost of services would make them inaccessible to many customers.

The primary care plans offered by PetCentric help owners afford the services their pets need, while helping local vets retain their customers and remain competitive against big industry players like Chewy, which can undercut local operations with lower costs.

As primary care alternatives bring customers back to their local clinics, Moore said pets win by receiving important care, and veterinarians win by seeing the support of their local community.

PetCentric also offers local vet clinics digital services that would otherwise be managed in-house and place a heavy burden on clinic staff.

“We manage the pet parent subscriptions,” Moore said. “We manage all of the administrative items for the vet, and then we also create the digital experience for the pet parent.”

The digital experience is like the patient portal or virtual chart that a human would have. Owners can track their pet’s last vaccination dates, view realtime health data and see what is included in their health plan.

Van Galder said her main drive for offering the plans is to enable her customers to not wait until their pets are sick.

Above all, PetCentric’s plans ensure owners can get their pets the care they need.

“Health care for our pets is moving much more, more and more [to the] human health care arena,” Moore said.

“We need to have better solutions for how people pay for their care than what’s out there or what has traditionally been available.”

To learn more about Peach Vet and its services, visit peachvet.com.

AppenMedia.com/Dunwoody | Dunwoody Crier | December 14, 2023 | 9

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10 | December 14, 2023 | Dunwoody Crier | AppenMedia.com/Dunwoody

NEWS

Residents cheer development code updates

By HAYDEN SUMLIN hayden@appenmedia.com SANDY SPRINGS, Ga. — After a 13-month comprehensive review of the city’s unified development code, the Sandy Springs City Council approved a series of updates Dec. 5.

About 40 people attended the public hearing, including leaders of community organizations, lawyers and small business owners.

The comprehensive review process, which began in November 2022, included a Sept. 26 open house and a submittal period, which allowed community input on development code updates.

The most contentious updates to the development code centered around the use provisions in Article 7 of the code relating to gas stations and neighborhood eateries.

Most speakers Dec. 5 said they wanted to preserve language that requires gas stations be located at least one-half mile apart. An earlier proposal had called for removing that requirement.

Rhonda Smith, president of the Sandy Springs Council of Neighborhoods, also served on the advisory committee for the city’s 2017 Next Ten Comprehensive Plan.

Smith said there was overwhelming public opposition to removing the distance requirement for gas stations.

About 75 percent of the public comments received between Sept.

26 and Oct. 18 advocated against removing the distance requirement, the other 25 percent did not mention the proposed change, Smith said.

Representatives from the RaceTrac on Roswell Road spoke in favor of removing the half-mile distance requirement for gas stations.

“We are fully in support of the City of Sandy Springs, its past development initiatives and future development endeavors,” RaceTrac Real Estate Director John Priede said.

“RaceTrac would like to be a part of it.”

Priede argued that denying Article 7 and removing the half-mile restriction would spur competition.

While representatives said they’d like to see more flexibility, the council voted to keep the distance requirement.

Residents also raised concerns about another portion of Article 7 of the code that addressed eateries, particularly those that might increase density along Roswell Road.

The High Point Civic Association, a nonprofit organization of Sandy

HAYDEN SUMLIN/APPEN MEDIA

Sandy Springs Community Development Director Ginger Sottile presents development code recommendations from staff and the Planning Commission to the City Council Dec. 5. The updates are a part of the 5-Year Development Code Update to the city’s 2017 Next Ten Comprehensive Plan.

CITY OF SANDY SPRINGS/PROVIDED

A map of the Crossroads Small Area Plan 2023 Update provides a guide for development along Roswell Road south of I-285. The Crossroads was identified as an area to study during the 5-year update of the city’s 2017 Next Ten Comprehensive Plan.

HAYDEN SUMLIN/APPEN MEDIA

Mayor Rusty Paul speaks during the presentation of amendments to the Sandy Springs Development Code at the Dec. 5 City Council meeting. Paul said he hopes modifications to the development code reflect the wishes of residents.

Springs residents south of I-285 and east of Roswell Road, has been engaged in the code review process throughout each phase.

Mary Ford, the organization’s president, spoke at multiple public hearing in the lead up to the Dec. 5 City Council meeting. She opposed changes to the office neighborhood

district, which uniquely affects High Point south of I-285 and would allow for neighborhood retail and eateries along Roswell Road.

Ford said the civic association was created over 30 years ago to protect the neighborhood’s interests as the surrounding community continued to grow. Specifically, the High Point

Civic Association fought against allowing the commercial development of Windsor Parkway and Roswell Road.

While the Community Development Department recommended approval of all development code amendments, the Planning Commission recommended some conditions for the updates.

One of the conditions, related to neighborhood eateries in office neighborhood, called for an amendment to require a community meeting and specific operating hours as a requirement.

Another amendment requires Community Development Director Ginger Sottile or another department member to conduct a physical inspection of construction zones that may impact existing trees.

In other business at the Dec. 5 meeting, the 5-year update of the city’s 2017 Next Ten Comprehensive Plan also recommended a study of the Crossroads area within the Roswell Road Small Area Plan.

The 2023 update to the Crossroads Small Area Plan was approved by the council with Councilman Tibby DeJulio voting against the motion.

The plan seeks to preserve the surrounding multi-family residential apartments, while also setting development requirements at The Prado on Roswell Road.

DeJulio raised concerns about incentivizing property owners to sell to developers because of new zoning.

He recommended holding off until the council could discuss the matter further.

AppenMedia.com/Dunwoody | Dunwoody Crier | December 14, 2023 | 11

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Wellstar’s Chatman elected board chair for hospital group

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NEWS

WELLSTAR HEALTH SYSTEM/PROVIDED

Mary Chatman, executive vice president of acute care operations for Wellstar Health System, will lead the Georgia Hospital Associations Board of Trustees.

Chatman was named chair-elect of the Board of Trustees Nov. 10.

ATLANTA — Mary Chatman, the executive vice president of acute care operations for Wellstar Health System, was elected chair of the Board of Trustees of the Georgia Hospital Association Nov. 10.

Chatman has served on the Georgia Hospital Associations Board since February 2020. She will lead the Board in developing strategies for association members, advocating for the highest quality of care for patients and supporting adequate reimbursement of hospitals.

Chatman succeeds Dan Owens, who most recently served as CEO of Emory University Hospital Midtown in Atlanta and Emory University Hospital Smyrna.

Gov. Brian Kemp appointed Chatman to the state’s Healthcare Workforce Commission in 2021.

In her position as executive vice president, Chatman oversees operations for 11 Wellstar hospitals, rehabilitation and palliative services and emergency departments. In 2020, she led the opening of Wellstar Kennestone Regional Medical Center’s new emergency department, the largest in the Southeast.

Prior to serving in her current role, Chatman was the chief operating officer and chief nursing officer at Memorial

Health University Medical Center in Savannah, where she was responsible for managing the 654-bed hospital and its nursing operations “Mary Chatman’s extensive leadership experience and skills make her well-equipped to lead our Board,” GHA President and CEO Caylee Noggle said. “She is a strong patient advocate, and her experience will serve our members well.”

Atlanta Magazine named Chatman among the 2021 Women Making a Mark honorees, and Becker named her as one of the 75 Black Healthcare Leaders to Know 2022. She was also named the 2020 West Cobb Citizen of the Year for serving on the frontlines in Cobb County during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Founded in 1929, the Hospital Association serves nearly 150 medical centers in Georgia and promotes its mission to advance the health of individuals and communities by serving as the leading advocate for all state health care systems.

The association represents its members before the General Assembly and Congress, as well as state and federal regulatory agencies, and is an allied member of the American Hospital Association.

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AppenMedia.com/Dunwoody | Dunwoody Crier | December 14, 2023 | 13

THIS HOLIDAY SEASON TIP YOUR NEWSPAPER DELIVERY PERSON This holiday season, consider giving your newspaper delivery person a tip for their weekly delivery of the free community newspaper to your driveway. These folks work hard to make sure you are informed of all the local happenings, rain or shine, week in and week out.

Importantly, at Appen Media, we have always been intentional about our desire to keep delivery of our newspapers free. That said, it would mean the world to us if you would consider tipping your newspaper delivery person so that they will have a little extra money for the holiday season.

If you can help us help these amazing people, we promise to keep delivering high quality news to your driveway, for free, every week. Free home delivery of 105,000 homes is hard work – and we couldn’t do it without our amazing delivery folks.

How you can give your delivery person a tip: 1 We have created an online portal at www.appenmedia.com/deliverytip.

100% of every dollar you contribute will be spread out evenly between the 24 newspaper delivery people that Appen Media employs. Whether you give $5 or $50, they will greatly appreciate it.

2 If you prefer, you can also mail a check made out to “Appen Media Group C/O Newspaper Delivery Tip” to 319 North Main Street, Alpharetta, GA 30009.

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HEALTH & WELLNESS • Sponsored Section AppenMedia.com/Dunwoody | Dunwoody Crier | December 14, 2023 | 17

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18 | December 14, 2023 | Dunwoody Crier | AppenMedia.com/Dunwoody

HEALTH & WELLNESS • Sponsored Section

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AppenMedia.com/Dunwoody | Dunwoody Crier | December 14, 2023 | 19

Calendar

DEC. 14 — DEC. 24

RAVINIA HOLIDAY IN LIGHTS

What: The fourth annual Ravinia Holiday in Lights, benefiting Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta’s Holiday Wishlist program, will have attractions including a holiday light display, holiday llamas as well as Santa and Mrs. Claus for those who bring a donation. While the event is free, tickets must be reserved.

When: Thursday, Dec. 14, 6-8:30 p.m.

Where: Five Ravinia Drive, Ravinia Office & Retail Complex, Duwnoody More info: facebook.com/ RaviniaPerimeter

ROSWELL WINTER PUPPETS: THE NORTH POLE FA LA LA LA FOLLIES

What: Get ready for holiday high jinks as some residents of the North Pole perform in their annual talent show, a production that combines music, live vocal performances and a variety of hand and rod puppets.

When: Thursday-Saturday, Dec. 1416, times vary Where: Roswell Cultural Arts Center, 950 Forrest Street, Roswell Cost: $10, free for ages 2 and under More info: roswell365.com

ATLANTA VOCAL PROJECT: RINGIN’ IN THE HOLIDAYS

What: The Atlanta Vocal Project brings Atlanta’s acclaimed a cappella community together for their annual holiday concert.

When: Saturday, Dec. 16, 3 p.m.

Where: Roswell Cultural Arts Center, 950 Forrest Street, Roswell Cost: $20 to $30 More info: roswell365.com

A KIDS’ CHRISTMAS

What: Join the Johns Creek Symphony Orchestra for a sensory-friendly holiday concert where dancing, singalongs, Santa Claus and reindeer magic bring people of all abilities together to celebrate the holiday season.

When: Saturday, Dec. 16, 2:30-3:30 p.m.

Where: Johns Creek United Methodist Church, 11180 Medlock Bridge Road, Johns Creek Cost: $17 to $30

IRVING BERLIN’S ‘WHITE CHRISTMAS’

What: Based on the 1954 film, the musical “White Christmas” features veterans Bob Wallace and Phil Davis who have a successful song-and-dance act after World War II. With romance in mind, the two follow two beautiful singing sisters en route to their Christmas show at a Vermont lodge, which just happens to be owned by Bob and Phil’s former army commander.

When: Until Dec. 24, times vary Where: Byers Theatre, 1 Galambos Way, Sandy Springs Cost: $42 to $110 More info: cityspringstheatre.com

More info: johnscreeksymphony.org

‘SHE LOVES ME’

What: “She Loves Me” is a romanticcomedy musical based on Mike Lazlos’ play “Parfuemerie,” a production that has inspired many movie adaptations including “You’ve Got Mail’’ starring Meg Ryan and Tom Hanks.

When: Until Dec. 17, times vary Where: Act1 Theatre, 180 Academy Street, Alpharetta Cost: $20 to $25 More info: act1theater.org

‘IT’S A WONDERFUL LIFE’

What: This beloved American holiday classic comes to life as a live 1940s radio broadcast. With the help of an ensemble that brings a few dozen characters to the stage, the story of idealistic George Bailey unfolds as he considers ending his life one fateful Christmas Eve. When: Until Dec. 17, times vary Where: Stage Door Theatre, 5339 Chamblee Dunwoody Road, Dunwoody Cost: $28 for adults; $20 for students; $15 for children More info: stagedoortheatrega.org

FEATURE YOUR EVENT ONLINE AND IN PRINT! It’s even easier now than ever to promote your event to hundreds of thousands of people, whether online, through our newsletters or in the Crier and Herald newspapers.

‘NATIONAL LAMPOON’S CHRISTMAS VACATION’ MOVIE PARTY What: In this immersive experience, the Sandy Springs Cinema & Taphouse will show a screening of ‘National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation’ alongside special props like pine tree air fresheners, yellow glow sticks and ugly neckties to help you feel like you’re an honorary Griswold.

When: Wednesday, Dec. 20, 7 p.m.

Where: The Springs Cinema & Taphouse, 5920 Roswell Road, Sandy Springs Cost: $18 More info: springscinema.com

CANDLELIGHT CHRISTMAS ON THE GREEN

What: Join the Local Church Milton at the Christmas Eve “Eve” Candlelight Service. Sing carols, hear an inspirational message and light a candle with your friends and neighbors at this free, public event.

When: Saturday, Dec. 23, 5:30 p.m.

Where: The Green at Crabapple Market, 12650 Crabapple Rd, Milton More info: crabapplemarketga.com

To promote your event, follow these easy steps:

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TONY THOMAS: ‘SCENES FROM MY TRAVELS’

What: See original drawings and paintings by local artist Tony Thomas, including of the Grand Canyon, Niagara Falls, Multnomah Falls and Devils Tower National Monument.

When: Until Jan. 12, business hours Where: Community Gallery at City Hall, 2 Park Plaza, Alpharetta More info: alpharetta.ga.us

Happy Holidays

Visit AppenMedia.com/Calendar Provide the details for your event including title, description, location and date Click the red button that reads “Create event” That’s it! Submissions are free, though there are paid opportunities to promote your event in print and online.

20 | December 14, 2023 | Dunwoody Crier | AppenMedia.com/Dunwoody

Local News Is Growing This year, even more than ever before, the news is in crisis.

More than 17,000 news media jobs were cut just by June, at national and local outlets including at some of the biggest names like NPR, The Texas Tribune and Gannett. In fact, newsroom layoffs are up 20% from last year. Some of these outlets laid off more than 10% of their staff in the last few months — even as we head into a critical election year.

These are devastating numbers. But all is not lost.

Many local and independent newsrooms continue to launch across the country. Small newsrooms like ours continue to grow, adding new journalists and expanding reporting and investigations.

How is that possible? It’s all thanks to readers like you. Local news is different from other outlets: we’re strengthened by supporters who believe in the power of journalism that cares about its community.

Today, during our end-of-year campaign, consider supporting us. Our newsroom — and our community — will be stronger because of you.

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A Community of Advocates For Local Journalism Join today for $16/month

In 2022, Appen Media Group created the Appen Press Club, its mission driven news division dedicated to creating a sustainable infrastructure for local journalism in the north metro Atlanta area. Residents of that community, like you, join the Press Club by committing to small monthly or annual dues, 100% of which is dedicated to producing reliable, professional journalism on local issues that affect your lives.

Join your neighbors in support of local journalism CHARTER MEMBER Big Sky Franchise Team David & Michelle Bertany Amour & Duane Carthy

Adam Corder Robert Flint

Robin Fricton Roderick Liptrot

Tom McMurrain Bob Meyers

Ross & Lori Ramsey Kim Truett

Roger Wise Jr.

Marie Gualtiere Vickie McElroy Anne Peer

Robert Popp Mark Rundle Carol Williams

Marilyn Colarossi-Woods

Fred Moeller Carol Morgan Kathy Morgan Stu Moring Jack Murphy Tricia Novarro Bob O’Brien Kurt & Leslie Phillips Joy Pooler Debra Powell Righteous PR Chuck Pugh Ashwin Ramaswami Cheryl Rand Jean Rearick Matt Rohs Jan Satterfield Stephanie Schuette Susan Searles Tina Shelton Lisa Shippel Joanne Simmons Cindy Simpson

Faye Sklar Judith Slaughter Andy Smith Wesley Stewart Cathryn Stovall Celeste Strohl Andy Sumlin Mike Tasos Candice Teichert Lisa Tilt Michael Townes Matthew Tyser Ollie Wagner Lewis Walker Jonathan Washburn Sally White Susan Wilson Jamie Wimberly Nancy & Dave Wistrand Carla York

Colt Whittall

MEMBER+ Kerry Arias Scott Baynton James Bennett

Amy Bergin Rita Brown Mark Casas

David Conti Theodore Davis III Charlcie Forehand

MEMBER Alpharetta Lions Club Omar Altalib Dave Altman Ron Altman American Legion Post 201 Barbara Anderson Mary Asbury Barbara Bauschka Kathy Beck Bill Bentley Leslie Berry Tom Billings Ron Boddicker Jodi Bogen Debra Bowen Joe Bowen Ryan Brainard Erendira Brumley Bernhard Burgener Mike & Theresa Buscher Mary Busman Gary Butterfield Clea Calloway

Carla Campbell Kirk Canaday James Carr Bridgette Carter William Cartwright Pat Check Christopher Cleary Ann Coaloa Evelyn Collazo Michael Mackenzie Communications Joan Compton Terri Coons David Davis Rebecca Donlan Tom Driscoll Michael Dudgeon Jeanette Dummer DutchCrafters Amish Furniture Mim Eisenberg Danny Elkins Martha Fasse Lee Fleck

Cathy Flynn Nanci Foster Amy Frederick Kelly Frommer Carol Fry Tracey Ganesh John Gilberto Leslie Gilliam Michelle Glotzbach Harvey Goldberg Christopher Goodrich Marilee Hamilton Susan Hanna Joe Hirsch Penn Hodge Dianne & Steffan Holmquist Joan Hostetter Lynn Johnson Tyler Jones Arthur Kebanli Mark Kelly Allison Kloster Dyna Kohler

Larry Krueger Jess & Chris Kysar Malinda Lackey Ken Leffingwell Carol Lehan Bonnie Lind Francia Lindon Harlan Little Ross Long Rita Loventhal Momma Nature Madan Karen Magill Kyile Marshall Valerie Matthews William Maxwell Rachel McCord Austin McCully Lynn McIntyre Mike McLoughlin Jennifer Mendoza Al Merrill Chris Miller Christine Miller

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22 | December 14, 2023 | Dunwoody Crier | AppenMedia.com/Dunwoody

Hirsch:

NEWS

Continued from Page 1 it clear that the City of Dunwoody complies with all applicable provisions of the Georgia Open Records Act,” Boettcher said.

The legal action stems from an incident Oct. 13, 2021, involving Police Officer Minh Pham and the manager of an automotive store, Mr. Tire.

A dispatch communication from Oct. 13 acknowledges the officer’s presence at the scene but no incident report was submitted about any altercation.

Hirsch’s lawsuit alleges “Dunwoody Police Officer Minh Pham essentially held hostage a Mr. Tire store manager against his will by causing the store manager to believe he was being detained for failing to fix the officer’s wife’s personal car.”

Hirsch said he began making open records requests for details regarding the incident Oct. 19, 2021.

When Hirsch filed a request Oct. 28 for Pham’s text messages from 3 p.m.

Oct. 13 to 5 p.m. Oct. 14, the city’s record clerk said there were no such records available.

The open records request was then closed.

Hirsch individually named three city employees as defendants in his lawsuit:

PHOTOS BY CITY OF DUNWOODY/PROVIDED

Officer Minh Pham leaves Mr. Tire alongside his wife Oct. 13, 2021. Dunwoody resident Joseph Hirsch filed a lawsuit stemming from an open records request about an alleged incident at the business.

Technology Director Ginger LePage, Records Clerk Eric Shealy and City Clerk Sharon Lowry.

Dustin Guwin, a former contractor with the city, contacted Hirsch July 22, 2022, with information regarding his Oct. 28, 2021, open records request.

Hirsch’s lawsuit refers to Guwin as a whistleblower.

In fall 2021, Lowry instructed Guwin to fill Hirsch’s open records request.

According to the suit, Chief Grogan told Guwin that there were no messages on Pham’s phone from the requested period.

Later, LePage showed Guwin four

text messages from the period on Pham’s phone. “[LePage]… decided we’d rather not go down the path that accuses Grogan or one of his officers of being… less than forthcoming,” Guwin said. “So, [LePage] told me to just forget [Lowry] had ever asked about it and that they report back to you that there were no texts during that time period, which I believe they did.”

According to Hirsch’s lawsuit, the city and its employees “wrongfully failed to produce the records by claiming they did not exist, when, in fact, they did exist and do exist.”

Joseph Hirsch’s lawsuit against the City of Dunwoody and three city employees stems from an incident Oct. 13, 2021.

Hirsch has blamed Chief Billy Grogan, pictured above, for problems he sees with the Dunwoody Police Department.

LePage, Lowry and Shealy are responsible for filling open records request in Dunwoody. Hirsch is asking that each defendant pay a $1,000 fine, the text messages be released and his attorney fees and litigation costs be covered.

“Our Mayor and Council choose to look the other way as they don’t want to tarnish the image of Dunwoody,” Hirsch said. “However, it’s going to get uglier because of their failures… I have literally begged for their assistance, to no avail.”

There’s a Podcast for Everyone!

In his long-awaited return to the airwaves, Caddy partners with his new co-host – and wife! - Donna, to bring his loyal listeners everything they’ve come to expect and love from Cadillac Jack.

Available for free wherever you listen to podcasts.

The Georgia Politics Podcast focuses on all things under the gold dome. Show host Preston Thompson covers the most noteworthy updates to the legislative session of Georgia’s House of Representatives and State Senate.

AppenMedia.com/Dunwoody | Dunwoody Crier | December 14, 2023 | 23

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OPINION

Publix is doing fine just the way it is I heard about a new CEO at Publix this week – on the news somewhere.

Normally, something like that would not catch my attention; there are lots of corporate CEO changes all the RAY APPEN time. This was not, Publisher Emeritus however, just any company; it was Publix, and that is one company that I care about – a lot.

Often a new CEO means something is not working at a company, and the board of directors brings in a fix-it person who usually slashes expenses, lays off staff, and in general, changes a ton of stuff. The same thing often happens when a company acquires another company. Kroger buying Albertsons comes to mind. That “merger” will make the combined company a stronger no. 2 grocer (behind WalMart), but it will also probably mean that many stores will be closed if they overlap markets, and a ton of administrative personal will get the axe.

Elon Musk buying Twitter and then basically destroying it also came to mind, but that particular one is an

extreme case.

This is what I was worried about when I heard about a new CEO at Publix. I googled it and found out that essentially what appears to have happened is that there were a number of internal promotions including the current CEO moving to “executive chairman” and the existing president was moving to the CEO slot. Several other changes/promotions also occurred – all internal promotions for long-time employees. No one from the outside was involved. Most importantly – to me –it appears that what happened may not have been in response to something within Publix being broken. I hope I am right.

I love Publix. I don’t see anything broken about it. In fact, what I see when I contemplate Publix is a company that is still grounded in the core values of the founder – George Jenkins – and that those values are serving Publix well. When I go into a Publix, it feels like I am going home.

I see employees who genuinely care about my shopping experience and about me. I see happy employees who have pride in their store and in their contribution to their store. When I go into a Publix – and they are all the same in these aspects – I feel

Note: Publix is an advertiser with Appen Media.

comfortable; I feel welcomed; and I actually feel like part of the experience, instead of like a customer being sold a commodity that is driven only by pricepoints and nothing else.

When I shop in the other grocery stores – which I seldom do – I never feel like I have any sort of relationship with anything or anyone at the store.

They feel sterile and without any trace of humanity – all business, nameless, faceless, commodity-driven business.

That is the way of today in most businesses, especially service businesses. They are dehumanized, and the customer is no longer considered a priority, at least the way they used to be considered. Calls are answered by recordings instead of a person. Cashiers have given way to self-checkout with scanner machines. Customer service is routed to India instead of to someone who actually cares and will actually listen and try to fix what was broken for a customer. Cutting expenses at any cost is what tends to drive business today, even when it means alienating

customers and employees. This results in companies painting themselves into a corner where their only competitive advantage is reduced to only one variable – price. This approach also destroys brand, something that often has taken decades to create and sustain.

The Publix motto is: “Where shopping is a pleasure,” and guess what! This is actually what Publix still believes and what drives everything.

It is what sets Publix apart from every other competitor and what, in this commodity-driven culture, this “only price” mantra business environment that we know today, drives its success.

A few other businesses continue to operate like Publix, but not many.

Chick-fil-A comes to mind, as does Costco. Both are uber-successful.

Both companies treat employees and customers differently, and you can see it and feel it the instant you enter their store. I sometimes shop at the competitor’s stores, but that is because I am in a hurry and must, not because I want to. Shopping with them is never a pleasure. They are destinations that offer the least they possibly can and expect you to like that and be a loyal customer – not.

Thank you, Publix. Stay the course.

THE INK PENN

Don’t underestimate a senior sleuth this fall My latest mystery reads are set in England and have amateur sleuths as their main characters. If you’re a Miss Marple fan, you’re sure to enjoy these modernKATHY MANOS PENN day senior sleuths.

And in the case of Columnist the second book, if you were a fan of Queen Elizabeth, you’ll be intrigued by the glimpses into the family life of the royals.

“The Last Devil to Die” by Richard Osman The fourth installment in The Thursday Murder Club series is spectacular. As always, the murder mystery is cleverly plotted. What makes this series for me, though, is the cast of characters—the retirees living at Coopers Chase Retirement Village. Ron, Ibrahim, Joyce, and Elizabeth enjoy the amenities at the posh village near the coast of England,

but more than that, they love solving murders.

This group of 70- and 80-year-olds meets every Thursday afternoon in the game room at the village, just like other retirees. But this quartet doesn’t play games. They work on murder cases. Way back in book one, it was unsolved cold cases. More recently, they’ve been drawn into an up-to-theminute case or two.

This time, the victim is an old friend of Elizabeth’s husband, Stephen. As the series has progressed, so has Stephen’s dementia. Elizabeth has always been the leader of the crime solving retirees, but as Stephen’s health deteriorates, her priorities shift. She’s on the case, but to a lesser extent, and this forces the others to step up. The result is a poignant portrayal of love, loyalty, and sacrifice wrapped around a murder mystery.

“Murder Most Royal” by SJ Bennett Queen Elizabeth II is the sleuth in this mystery, the third in the “Her

Majesty the Queen Investigates” series. “The Windsor Knot,” the first in the series, is set in the spring of 2016 at Windsor Castle, and this one transports the reader to Sandringham Hall for Christmas the same year.

I credit this series and Kate Quinn’s “The Rose Code” for piquing my curiosity about Prince Phillip.

While he’s not the main character in either, I enjoyed the glimpses of his personality in both. Yes, Queen Elizabeth is the star, but her staff and the prince are also key players in the mystery.

It’s the affection and humor in the relationship between Queen Elizabeth and Prince Phillip that will surely warm your heart as it does mine. Does it tell you anything to learn that I ordered a biography of Prince Phillip after reading “The Windsor Knot”?

Have I read it yet? No. But perhaps one day.

In “Murder Most Royal,” I felt like a fly on the wall as I read about the holiday traditions of the royal family. What a treat to learn that Kate

Middleton is known for her humorous gifts, and that she once gave Harry a “grow your own girlfriend” kit. This was pre-Megan Markle—of course.

All three books kept me guessing, but more than that, they made me realize how very human the royal family is. As one review says, “Pitchperfect … If “The Crown” were crossed with Miss Marple … the result would probably be something like this charming whodunnit.” I’m eagerly awaiting Queen Elizabeth’s next sleuthing adventure.

I highly recommend you spend a winter evening or several visiting with the senior sleuths in these series.

Their intelligence and wit are a treat.

Award-winning author Kathy Manos Penn is a Sandy Springs resident. Find her cozy mysteries on Amazon or locally at The Enchanted Forest, Bookmiser, Tall Tales, and Johns Creek Books. Contact her at inkpenn119@gmail.com, and follow her on Facebook, www.facebook.com/ KathyManosPennAuthor/.

AppenMedia.com/Dunwoody | Dunwoody Crier | December 14, 2023 | 25

Appen Press Club presents

2023 YEAR IN REVIEW

AT

Wednesday December 20, 4–6pm Olde Blind Dog, 12650 Crabapple Rd #100, Milton, GA 30004

Join the Appen Media newsroom on December 20th from 4 – 6 pm at Olde Blind Dog in Milton for a chance to meet local journalists, ask them questions and pitch them story ideas, and to hear directly from them about some of the biggest stories they covered in 2023.

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To join go to appenmedia.com/join and follow the prompts to select your membership level.

Questions? Email Hans Appen at hans@appenmedia.com or call 770-442-3278.

26 | December 14, 2023 | Dunwoody Crier | AppenMedia.com/Dunwoody

PAST TENSE

OPINION

Sgt. York and the “Other Sixteen,” Part 2 The 82nd Division of the U.S. Army was first organized at Camp Gordon in Chamblee, August 1917. The first men assigned to the 82nd were from VALERIE BIGGERSTAFF Georgia, Alabama and Tennessee.

Columnist Most of these men were transferred to other divisions in October 1917. Their replacements came primarily from northeastern states. Alvin York was from Tennessee.

The other men were from New York, Connecticut, Pennsylvania and other states.

In James P. Gregory’s “Unraveling the Myth of Sgt. Alvin York – The Other Sixteen,” the “Other Sixteen” are the men who were there on Oct. 8, 1918, with York. Sgt. York was credited with single-handedly killing 20 Germans, capturing 132 prisoners and eliminating 35 machine guns, then leading the men of the 328th Infantry Company G back to Allied lines. Evidence gathered from family

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members of the other men and researchers, such as James P Gregory, indicates that York did not act alone.

Gregory describes the events.

Sgt. Harry Parsons ordered acting Sgt. Bernard Early to take two squads, get behind the enemy line, and take out the machine guns that were firing on Company G. Early and the other men came up on a group of German soldiers and began firing until they realized they were unarmed.

As Company G took 80 Germans prisoner, York was ordered to check them for arms. He later ended up the farthest ahead of the prisoners and in a good position to shoot. Then, an unseen group of Bavarian soldiers opened fire on the Americans. Six Americans were killed and four injured, including Bernard Early.

York was shooting at the enemy, but Pvt. Percy Beardsley was also firing at the Germans until he ran out of ammunition. Then, he continued to fire with his service pistol. Finally, the Bavarians surrendered.

York was ordered to take the prisoners to regimental headquarters.

Five additional men were told to accompany him, but he was the only non-commissioned officer and received credit for the capture.

Robert D’Angelo became interested in the story of his Great Uncle Bernard Early in 1964, after reading an article in the local New Haven, Conn., newspaper suggesting Bernard Early should share Sgt. Alvin York’s honors. D’Angelo began researching the records, and even went to France to walk the battlefield where his uncle fought. Early received the Distinguished Service Cross in 1929.

David Kornacki researched his grandfather Joseph Kornacki, another of the “Other Sixteen.” David Kornacki and James P. Gregory were invited to an archaeological dig at the battlefield in 2009 (ctinsider.com, May 17, 2023, “Two CT soldiers fought with WWI legend Sgt. York, now descendants are fighting for recognition for the forgotten heroes”) Gregory met with and reviewed the research collected by Ralph D’Angelo and Dave Kornacki. D’Angelo wrote the epilogue to Gregory’s book.

Pvt. Percy Beardsley was with Sgt. York when they came up on the German machine-gun battalion. In 1964, he recalled that when Sgt. Bernard Early was wounded, York was the next ranking man. Beardsley became a Connecticut farmer following the war and did not contest York’s hero status. Beardsley said by October

PHOTOS BY JAMES KNETTEL/ATLANTA’S CAMP GORDON/PROVIDED

Officers of the 328th Infantry photographed at Camp Gordon.

To prepare for going overseas during WW I, Camp Gordon soldiers were taught French.

1918, the Germans were anxious to surrender. (Vidette-Messenger of Porter County, Dec. 18, 1964, “A Veteran Recalls World War I and Epic Day with Sgt. York”).

After York received the Medal of Honor, a Saturday Evening Post article was published. It did not give credit to any of the other men. The article said the other men were injured, hiding in bushes and not engaging.

Pvt. George W. Wills lived in South Philadelphia in 1929 and said of that day in 1918, “It was like this, all us fellows made the capture and should be credited alike, but Sergeant York seems to have got all the glory.” (Columbus Ledger, Nov. 17, 1929, “The men who went through hell with Sergeant York”).

James P. Gregory points out factors that influenced the way the story of York was built up and excluded the other men. At the time the war ended, most of the men just wanted to go home. They didn’t want to spend time trying to prove that they played a crucial role in the events of Oct.

8,1918. It wasn’t until several years later that some men spoke up and the story was questioned.

Also, not many officers were needed after the war ended. That made it crucial for generals to show their rank was deserved, making the glorified story of Sgt. York as a hero beneficial to some.

“For this act of bravery, York not only received the Medal of Honor and was promoted to sergeant, but he also rose to fame and glory,” summarizes Gregory. “The 1941 movie ‘Sergeant York,’ starring Gary Cooper, solidified York as a legend and one of the most well-known military figures in American history.” (Presentation by James P. Gregory Jr. to the Kentucky Historical Society, August 7, 2023).

Award-winning author Valerie Biggerstaff is a longtime columnist for Appen Media and the Dunwoody Crier.

She lives in Atlanta. You can email Valerie at pasttensega@gmail.com or visit her website at pasttensega.com.

AppenMedia.com/Dunwoody | Dunwoody Crier | December 14, 2023 | 27

PRESERVING THE PAST

Artist Clayton Pond shows the power of vibrant color Clayton Pond was a well-known artist in New York City’s Soho artist neighborhood when he and his family moved to what would become the City of Milton in 1955.

His wife Marjorie, BOB MEYERS a vice president Columnist for Neenah Paper a former division of Kimberly Clark, was relocated to this area. Clayton was a pioneering resident of the Soho art district for some 30 years.

Once in Milton, he installed his studio on the lower level of his home and continued to produce his distinctively personal paintings in oil and acrylic on canvas and other surfaces. He is known for his very large colorful canvases and his limitededition silkscreen prints. He was an early adopter of silkscreen printing, or serigraphy. His limited-edition prints often highlight his larger works. Pond has developed a unique and easily recognizable style focusing on everyday items.

Clayton Pond is best known for his use of color to create emotional responses. His paintings feature unique color harmonies that generate excitement. He focuses on manmade subjects, not landscapes.

“I think of color as a fourth dimension,” he says. “No single color by itself means very much. Putting the right colors together can create visual stimulation and energy. I like to see how colors vibrate when next to each other.”

Clayton was born in Bayside, New York, and raised in Port Washington on Long Island. He attended Hiram College near Cleveland, Ohio, where he took some art courses and then transferred to Carnegie Institute of Technology (now Carnegie Mellon University) in Pittsburgh, where he earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in 1964. He entered graduate school at Pratt Institute in New York City where he began to develop his unique interest in the use of bright, intense (he calls them happy) color relationships. While earning his graduate degree he also taught himself the serigraph (silkscreen) process and began to exhibit in national exhibitions.

In 1966, his silkscreen prints were shown in the Brooklyn Museum’s National Print Exhibition and in the Boston Printmakers Annual Show.

The following year, he participated in a group exhibition at the Whitney Museum of American Art. After his graduation from Pratt, he joined the

Martha Jackson Gallery, one of the most prominent New York galleries at the time where he remained throughout his New York career.

Immediately after grad school, Clayton traveled to Africa under State Department auspices to lecture about American art and to host silkscreen workshops for local artists in Tanzania, Kenya and Uganda.

He was an early pioneer in the Soho area of lower Manhattan. He occupied his first studio on Broome Street for three years before moving to a studio on Greene Street, where he stayed for 26 years. The interior and exterior of the artist lofts were often his subject material during that period of his life. His Columns series, for example, focused on buildings in Soho that had cast iron facades and columns, inspired by ancient Greece. He says his works are a kind of historic documentation of NYC at that time. Other series include his Shuttle Craft series and a commission for NASA which hangs in the visitor center at Kennedy Space Center.

Over the years, Pond’s work has been exhibited in many important venues. He has had more than 50 solo exhibitions, and his art is in the collections of more than 60 museums and public collections. At least two dozen leading corporations include his work in their collections. He has participated in countless group exhibitions and has lectured widely.

Pond continues his work in his Milton studio making paintings, collages and more recently small painted relief sculptures made of Styrofoam packing blocks. He devotes many hours, days and sometimes months to a single large painting because of its multiple layers of color and intricate designs.

Some of his paintings are 7 x 9 feet. A commissioned painting for the NASA Air and Space Museum illustrating Halley’s Comet was 9 x 11 feet.

His most recent project was a show earlier this year of 50 paintings in his Quarry Series on display in the Marathon Performing Arts Center in Findlay, Ohio, sponsored by the National Lime and Stone Company in honor of its 120th anniversary.

For further information on Clayton Pond, visit his website at claytonpond. com.

Bob is director emeritus of the Milton Historical Society and a Member of the City of Alpharetta Historic Preservation Commission. You can email him at bobmey@bellsouth.net. Bob welcomes suggestions for future columns about local history.

FAMILY/PROVIDED

Clayton Pond hangs his painting, “Cables with Catwalk and Cables,” at the Marathon Performing Arts Center in Findlay, Ohio, in May 2023. This 2020 acrylic on canvas painting from his Quarry Series measures 48 x 60”.

FAMILY/PROVIDED

Clayton Pond, “The Crusher,” 2021, 48 x 72, acrylic on canvas, Quarry Series.

BOB MEYERS/APPEN MEDIA

Clayton Pond, “Halley’s Comet” 1985, 109 x 132 x 5”, Acrylic on birch wood and Formica. Painted in 1985 for a National Air and Space Museum special exhibition on the return of Halley’s Comet. Halley will next visit our solar system in 2061.

28 | December 14, 2023 | Dunwoody Crier | AppenMedia.com/Dunwoody

GARDEN BUZZ

OPINION

Fabulous fairy gardens offer a world of possibilities The mythical world of fairies is found throughout folklore, and related stories have been passed down through generations. A fairy garden is itself a story-telling scene that can include small plants, tiny MARTY THOMAS structures, miniature Guest Columnist furniture, tiny animals, rocks, fairies and gnomes. It can be in a container or a small, cultivated space in your yard, such as a flower bed, near a tree or retaining wall or in a raised bed.

Fairy gardens can have different themes, such as tea parties, a farmyard, the beach, a camping site, the forest, all holidays and seasonal gardens. Use your imagination and be creative!

Containers can be large or small. Some examples of large containers would be birdbaths, wheelbarrows, old wagons, old tires, half barrels and large pots. Smaller containers could be baskets, clay pots, clay saucers, pots and pans, and even teacups. A suggested miniature scale of 1:12 is recommended; a foot-tall plant in the real world would be an inch in the world of fairies. Supplies you might use could be buttons, beads, pebbles and stones, seeds and seed pods, silk flowers, miniature jewelry pieces, wooden craft birdhouses, wooden clothespins and pegs, twigs and leaves, pieces of pinecones and acorns, gourds, and plants, both live and artificial.

Miniature fairies, gnomes and furniture can be found at the local dollar store and craft stores. Amazon even has fairy garden

MARTY THOMAS/PROVIDED

One of many fairy gardens along a trail at Autrey Mill Nature Preserve’s Butterfly Garden. sets you can purchase online. Use your imagination by adding things to your fairy garden. A mini clothesline can be made from twine and twigs. You can embellish a fairy house by gluing on twigs, moss, pebbles and dried or silk flowers. You can turn a clay flowerpot into a gnome house by painting it or gluing on a purchased fairy door surrounded by pebbles. Then plant some pretty flowers in the pot. I always use E600 glue, found at craft stores, for these projects.

Creating a fairy garden is a great project to do with children. Let them create some of their own fairies using wooden clothespins or pegs they’ve painted, then attach silk flower petals for the wings. A mason jar can be painted a solid color, then paint on a door and windows. Or a clear jar can be filled with moss, artificial plants, fairies and twinkly lights. You can also coat a jar with Mod Podge, sprinkle on Epsom Salt to create a snowy look, and then put fairies and lights inside the jar for a wintery fairy nightlight.

Another creative design could be using

a hollowed-out pumpkin filled with potting soil, then adding a plant and some fairy items for a fall fairy garden. You could even paint the outside of your pumpkin to look like a fairy house and glue moss and flowers on the top. A cute, beach-themed fairy garden can be made by filling a large clay saucer with sand, adding blue gemstones (found at the Dollar Store) for water, then adding beach-themed fairy items. A tea party fairy garden can be made by lining a basket with dried moss, then adding a teacup and saucer with a plant in it and purchased fairy houses and fairies. Even a miniature teapot would be cute to add.

Mini fairy gardens can be put inside teacups. Gourds can be painted to look like a fairy house and then added to a container.

The possibilities are endless, especially if you let your children use their imagination to create their own design!

A fun activity for children would be to visit the Autrey Mill Nature Preserve and walk through their butterfly garden filled with fairy houses. Some of their fairy houses were created from old tree stumps, adding a homemade roof to the top and adding a door and windows. The fairies and gnomes have been busy building fairy houses and whimsical gnome houses along the Chattahoochee Nature Center forested trails.

CNC’s Enchanted Woodland Trail opens Dec. 10 through Feb. 29.

For more ideas about fairy gardening, you can check out the links I shared in Resources or you can watch my presentation "Fabulous Fall Fairy Gardens" on the North Fulton Master Gardener YouTube channel at https://youtu.be/xD1NEIdktuM?si=y_ fJ1Xl-yVmbBZVn.

About the author This week’s “Garden Buzz” guest columnist is Marty Thomas, a Master Gardener since 2018 and a resident of Johns Creek. A former teacher, she continues working with children through substitute teaching and children’s art camps. Marty is on the board of directors for the Johns Creek Beautification Committee and a member of the American Hydrangea Society.

She leads a Bible study discussion group at her church and loves spending time with her grandchildren.

Learn more • https://www.thepioneerwoman.com/homelifestyle/gardening/g32599106/fairy-gardenideas/ • https://www.prudentpennypincher.com/100best-fairy-garden-ideas/ • https://www.pinterest.com/ melissapeterson/fabulous-fairy-gardens/

Happy Fairy Gardening!

North Fulton Master Gardeners, Inc. is a Georgia nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization whose purpose is to educate its members and the public in the areas of horticulture and ecology in order to promote and foster community enrichment. Master Gardener Volunteers are trained and certified by The University of Georgia Cooperative Extension. Learn more at nfmg.net. Previous Garden Buzz columns are featured at https://appenmedia.com/ opinion/columnists/garden_buzz/.

DEATH NOTICES Joseph Bowen, 89, of Roswell, passed away on November 28, 2023. Arrangements by Northside Chapel Funeral Directors & Crematory.

Dianne Hauser, 74, of Roswell, passed away on November 26, 2023. Arrangements by Northside Chapel Funeral Directors & Crematory.

Janet Nichols, 88, of Roswell, passed away on November 26, 2023. Arrangements by Northside Chapel Funeral Directors & Crematory.

Donnie Renfro, 89, of Roswell, passed away on December 1, 2023. Arrangements by Northside Chapel Funeral Directors & Crematory.

Dorothy Croom, 101, of Roswell, passed away on December 3, 2023. Arrangements by Northside Chapel Funeral Directors & Crematory.

Johannes Kiemes, 32, of Alpharetta, passed away on November 30, 2023. Arrangements

by Northside Chapel Funeral Directors & Crematory.

Michael Peters, 72, of Roswell, passed away on December 3, 2023. Arrangements by Northside Chapel Funeral Directors & Crematory.

Roger Rodden, 73, of Roswell, passed away on November 29, 2023. Arrangements by Northside Chapel Funeral Directors & Crematory.

Susan Daw, 54, of Alpharetta, passed away on November 26, 2023. Arrangements by Northside Chapel Funeral Directors & Crematory.

Stephen Mitchell, 74, of Alpharetta, passed away on November 30, 2023. Arrangements

by Northside Chapel Funeral Directors & Crematory.

Jane Divosevic, 71, of Alpharetta, passed away on December 2, 2023. Arrangements

by Northside Chapel Funeral Directors & Crematory.

Spencer Morrison, 82, Roswell, passed away on November 27, 2023. Arrangements by Northside Chapel Funeral Directors & Crematory.

Ouraiwan Phejlada, 91, of Alpharetta, passed away on November 28, 2023.

Arrangements by Northside Chapel Funeral Directors & Crematory.

Raymond Young, 101, of Roswell, passed away on November 23, 2023.

Arrangements by Northside Chapel Funeral Directors & Crematory.

AppenMedia.com/Dunwoody | Dunwoody Crier | December 14, 2023 | 29

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Electricians

Belco Electric

“Family Owned Since 1972” Fast Dependable Service by Professional Uniformed Electricians

770-455-4556

Check out our new website: BelcoInc.com and follow us on:

Bargains/Misc Instruments GUITARS: Gibson Les Paul $1650. Fender Stevie Ray Vaughn $1600. Japanese Strat $750.

Kramer 5150, $1250. Too many to list!

Call Matt, 470-833-0872

Roofing ROOF LEAKING? Call us for roof repair or roof replacement. FREE quotes. $200 OFF Leak Repairs or 10% off New Roof. Affordable, quality roofing. Based in Roswell.

Serving North Atlanta since 1983. Call to schedule FREE Quote: 770-284-3123.

Christian Brothers Roofing

KETNER CONTRACTING • Re-roofs •Repairs & Painting • Licensed/Insured • Excellent Referrals • Free Estimate • 25+ Years of Experience Neil Ketner 770-318-7762

Tree Services

If you can’t lift your door, let Dunwoody Door Lift it!

Office Space for Lease Close to Downtown Alpharetta Small private office space (unfurnished) available in Appen Media Office close to Downtown Alpharetta (319 North Main Street, Alpharetta).

All utilities included, Internet included (within reason), 24/7 access. Space is upstairs in area of Appen Newsroom. Private, quiet, and open.

Approximately 200 sq. ft. (14’ x 14’). $/600 per month, first/last/security deposit required as well as solid reliable references.

Space would be perfect for a bookkeeper or a self-employed person.

Contact via text or email: Ray Appen at 770-527-4042 or RayAppen@Gmail.com

DANGEROUS REMOVALS & TRIMMING FREE ESTIMATES INSURED & REFERENCES CREDIT CARDS ACCEPTED FAMILY OWNED AND OPERATED NO JOB TOO BIG OR SMALL 20% OFF WITH THIS AD! griffintreeservices.com

404-234-4810 Neumann’s Landscape & Tree Service Joe Neumann – 770-452-1173 or 404-644-7179

Handyman FREE CHRISTMAS GIFTS! Delia Smith, CHS, Class of 1968.

770-457-9603

770-393-1652

MATTHEW THE HANDYMAN Carpentry, Painting, Drywall, Plumbing, Electrical and Small Jobs.

404-547-2079

Solution

Your North Atlanta News and Podcast Source AppenMedia.com T A L C E N O L A N N O G U S I D A N T I O U D O D O S T E I L S R S C O M P A G I O N E L L T R E

T R U S T D U B K E N Y A M A N E A I D A D O M I N I Y O P O S S U M E W I N D E R Y E S R E D O I C E S I L T A W A S H R E A L M E T T A T I E S O A R N I P E L S A N Y E C O N S T A B L E S E T E L O M P A R A M E T E R S I R A T E U N I S E S T E R S T O W

AppenMedia.com/Dunwoody | Dunwoody Crier | December 14, 2023 | 31

ONLINE INCLUDED C a l l t o d a y t o p l a c e y o u r a d 4 7 0 . 2 2 2 . 8 4 6 9 o r e m a i l c l a s s i f i e d s @ a p p e n m e d i a g r o u p . c o m • FA X : 7 7 0 - 4 7 5 - 1 2 1 6

Landscaping

AwArd winning LAndscApes

20 years of Keeping Dunwoody Green

Installation Maintenance Seasonal Color

Ogletree Enterprises

a MALTA Award Winning Firm

Concrete/Asphalt

ALEX FRASER MASONRY INC. • BRICK • CONCRETE Alex Fraser, President www.alexfrasermasonry.com E-Mail: afrasermasonry@aol.com

770.840.8884

FULLY INSURED

Cell: (404) 281-0539 Concrete

Driveways $250 OFF NEW DRIVEWAY!

Ken Ogletree

• BLOCK • STONEWORK

Mention this ad. Concrete driveway specialists. Driveways, Pool Decks, Patios, Walkways, Slabs. A+ BBB rating. FREE ESTIMATE. Call Rachael at 678-250-4546 to schedule a FREE Estimate. 30 years of experience. ARBOR HILLS CONSTRUCTION INC. Please note we do have a minimum charge on accepted jobs of $5,000.

MARTINEZ MASONRY

Retaining Walls • Patios• Repairs

Walkways • Masonry Work

martinezmasonry281@yahoo.com

Licensed • Insured • References Pressure Washing

404-408-4170

Ask for Tony Martinez

Driveways

A1 DRIVEWAY REPLACEMENT CO. Specializing in

CELEBRATING MY 41ST YEAR! THANK YOU TO ALL OF YOU!

CONCRETE DRIVEWAY REPLACEMENT SIDEWALKS, PATIOS, AND SLABS Since 1974 Insured – Free Estimates www.a1drivewayreplacement.com MY EXPERIENCE ACHIEVES OPTIMAL RESULTS!!!

770-493-6222

32 | December 14, 2023 | Dunwoody Crier | AppenMedia.com/Dunwoody

WE BUY ALL JEWELRY!

It ive! e ak r Dr M u Weth Yo r Your estate jewelry & diamond specialists for 60 years. o W

Schedule a private appointment.

Paying Premiums for Vintage Rolex and Omega Watches

770-751-7222 Call or Text www.iroff.com

3960 Old Milton Pkwy #300 (1.5 miles East of 400)

Restyle or Custom Make Something New! We Take Trade-Ins.

Gold is at a 8 year high!

You get the best price in town, and immediate payment!

Over 75% of Our Business Comes from Satisfied Customer Referrals!

Jewelry

Gold

Silver

Diamonds

Gemstones

Coins

Watches

Estate jewelry Fine Jewelry Platinum Jewelry Diamond Jewelry Gemstone Jewelry Designer Jewelry David Yurman Tiffany & Co. Cartier

Gold Jewelry Broken Jewelry Gold Watches Dental Gold Gold Coins Gold Bars Gold Nuggets

Sterling Silver Silverware Flatware Bowls Silver Jewelry Silver Bars

All Sizes All Shapes All Cuts All Qualities Loose or Set Chipped/Broken

Sapphires Rubies Emeralds All Precious Semi-Precious Loose or Set Jade

All Gold Coins All Silver Coins All Platinum Coins Silver Dollars Collectable Coins Paper Money

Rolex Cartier Omega Patek Audemars Piguet Tagheuer and other brands Paying up to $150,000

2008-2023 GA 4 00

FREE CASH EVALUATION

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Must Present Coupon.

Webb Br id g e

DC

Tuesday – Friday: 10AM – 5PM Saturday: 10AM – 2PM • Sunday & Monday: Closed *Appointments may be available outside of traditional store hours.

GA

400

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Kim

Old M

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WINNER

Best Of North Atlanta Presented By

y Brian Iroff GIA Graduate Gemologist