August 7, 2025 | AppenMedia.com
Dunwoody Police mourn loss of Detective Laverty
By HAYDEN SUMLIN hayden@appenmedia.com
DUNWOODY, Ga. —
The Dunwoody Police Department announced with heavy hearts and deep sadness the unexpected loss of Detective Jordan Laverty July 29. Laverty served the citizens of Dunwoody for eight years after his three years with the DeKalb County Police Department. He graduated from Georgia State University in 2014 and served as a cargo supply specialist with the United States Army Reserve for eight years, according to his LinkedIn profile.
The Dunwoody Police said he served honorably, and encouraged the community to keep his family, friends and colleagues at the department in their thoughts and prayers during this difficult time.
“He dedicated his time and service, and his absence has left a void that will not easily be filled,” the department said in a July 30 Facebook post.
“We are heartbroken and wrapping our arms around his family in love and support. Rest in peace, Jordan.”
The Dunwoody Police Foundation has started an official GoFundMe for the Laverty’s family with a goal to raise $75,000. Elsewhere on social media, there is an outpouring of support from law enforcement and the broader Metro Atlanta community.
As of 2:00 p.m. July 30, it is still unclear how the detective died.
City, business group plan new linear park
► PAGE 3
Residents and city staff pack Dunwoody City Hall July 28 for a public hearing to submit the city’s 2025-45 Comprehensive Plan to regional and state agencies for review. After passing some amendments, elected officials submitted the plan, which is set for final approval before Oct. 31.
Density dominates planning hearing
By HAYDEN SUMLIN hayden@appenmedia.com
DUNWOODY, Ga. — The Dunwoody City Council amended the city’s 2025-45 Comprehensive Plan during a three-hour discussion July 28. Officials moved to submit the new document, which will come back to the council for official adoption after regional and state review.
Monday night's deliberation served as a flashpoint for Dunwoody residents opposed to higher density.
More than 50 people packed City Hall to share their thoughts
on the Planning Commission’s recommendation to rezone the current LifeSouth Community Blood Center at Ashford Dunwoody Road and Ashford Center Parkway.
If approved by the council in August, the project would allow for the construction of a six-story affordable housing development for seniors.
While the focal point of the meeting was the Comprehensive Plan, the proposed rezoning stirred up most of the feedback from community members.
See AMEND, Page 10
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PHOTOS BY: HAYDEN SUMLIN/APPEN MEDIA
Dunwoody resident and former state Sen. Dan Weber shows the City Council a map of the Ashford character area around City Hall while arguing against a proposed rezoning.
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Landscaper off Womack reports equipment theft
DUNWOODY, Ga. — Dunwoody Police are investigating the theft of $7,800 in painting and woodworking equipment July 24 from a contractor working off Lakeland Wood Court.
An officer spoke with the victim, a 32-year-old Marietta man, who said he was working for the homeowner until 6:30 p.m. the day before and had locked all his equipment inside.
The victim said the homeowner had multiple contractors working on the house, and he could not say who would have taken his equipment.
The stolen belongings include two paint sprayers, totaling $4,200, and miscellaneous tools and storage containers, totaling $3,600.
At the time of the report, the officer said no suspect had been identified.
— Hayden Sumlin
Police arrest suspect in theft of golf cart
DUNWOODY, Ga. — Police arrested a 19-year-old Dunwoody man for felony theft July 22 after he allegedly stole a golf cart from the Jefferson Apartments off Ashford Dunwoody Road.
Dispatch told officers that the apartment complex reported a stolen maintenance vehicle around 4:40 p.m.
An officer said he saw someone matching the suspect’s description driving the golf cart on the sidewalk while en route to the apartments and conducted a traffic stop.
The man told the officer that he had been using the golf cart for a couple days after a coworker gave him permission.
Officers said they confirmed the golf cart they had stopped was the one reportedly stolen from the apartment complex.
A maintenance supervisor told officers that the cart belonged to his company, and one of his employees had reported it stolen 40 minutes earlier.
Because the suspect initially gave officers a false last name, they charged him with misdemeanor false representation, as well as felony theft for allegedly taking the $3,000 golf cart.
Officers said they confirmed his identity with a driver’s license and transported him to DeKalb County Jail without incident.
According to jail records, he was released without bond July 24.
— Hayden Sumlin
Store employee tricked into making payment
DUNWOODY, Ga. — Dunwoody Police met with Fresh Market employees July 22 after an employee was allegedly scammed into depositing bitcoin cryptocurrency into a nearby ATM.
A supervisor said someone claiming to be with the corporate IT office called one of her employees July 21 and asked him several questions about the grocery store within the Dunwoody Village.
Around that same time, the employee allegedly received a text message from someone claiming to be the store manager, asking him to pull money from the office safe to pay for a pending delivery to the store.
The officer said the employee pulled $17,303 from the safe and deposited it at a bitcoin machine in three different trips.
The officer said he confirmed the request had been a scam when he interviewed the store manager.
The supervisor said there is still $1,083 missing and unaccounted for from the grocery store.
The officer said the case remains active.
— Hayden Sumlin
Illegal dumping reported at vacant business site
ALPHARETTA, Ga. — Police are investigating an alleged illegal trash dumping at a North Point Parkway property.
Alpharetta police said officers were dispatched to the vacant business about 8:45 a.m. July 19.
A 56-year-old building manager said cameras recorded two men arrive in a green or black Ford F-150 and dump numerous large objects in the nearby woods.
The items include two patio chairs, a trampoline, various pieces of metal and other objects.
Officers attempted to observe the vehicle with Flock Security cameras but failed to read the tag.
The incident was classified as a misdemeanor unlawful dumping.
The property also was the site of a reported theft of copper wiring June 26.
— Jon Wilcox
Couple loses thousands in hotel room burglary
ALPHARETTA, Ga. — Sunglasses and money were reported stolen from a Webb Bridge Road hotel room July 17.
Alpharetta police said officers were dispatched to the hotel after the theft was reported.
A 34-year-old Taylorsville, Miss., woman said she and her mother returned to their room about 11 p.m. July 16 to find their door open. They had left about 2 p.m.
Two pairs of Cartier sunglasses valued at $3,900 and three pairs of gold hoop earrings valued at $3,600 were reported stolen. About $1,800 also was missing.
The woman’s mother said she noted their beds had been made, and clean towels were left by housekeeping.
Two cameras in the hallway may have recorded suspects, but hotel staff said they lacked access to them.
The incident was classified as a felony theft by taking, greater than $1,500.
— Jon Wilcox
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Dunwoody, CIDs pitch new linear park along Perimeter Center East
By HAYDEN SUMLIN hayden@appenmedia.com
DUNWOODY, Ga. — Dunwoody and the Perimeter Community Improvement Districts are pitching a new, creative expansion of the city’s trail network along Perimeter Center East.
The project is in its earliest stages with concept plans going public during a feedback and review process before Dunwoody and Perimeter CIDs officials get a look at the project in late summer or early fall.
The Perimeter CIDs are self-taxing commercial districts split between Fulton and DeKalb counties in the Central Perimeter business district in Metro Atlanta. Throughout the business district, it regularly splits project costs with local governments, including Brookhaven and Sandy Springs, to further transportation infrastructure, path and trail connectivity, law enforcement and beautification.
Officials from both groups gathered in an empty retail unit within the Park Place shopping center and green space July 29 to show the public the concepts for a linear park, shared-use path and reconfiguration of a stretch of median-divided roadway.
The plan is to convert the existing southern (outer) one-way road to two-way traffic while including a wide protected bicycle and pedestrian facility utilizing the northern (inner) half of the existing road.
Designers said it ensures vehicles and pedestrians/byciclists are separated and out of each other’s way for a majority of the project length. There are a few driveways that require road -
RENDERING AND MAP BY: CITY OF DUNWOODY & PERIMETER CID/PROVIDED
A look south along Perimeter Center East shows concept plans for a conversion of one half of the median-divided roadway into a linear park and shared-use path from Ashford Dunwoody Road to Two Bridges Park.
way and path crossings with plans for striping and stop signs.
The existing roadway has four lanes of pavement, primarily separated by a tree-covered median, which is set to be a passive park area. The project also addresses the half-mile gap in the sidewalk on the north side of the roadway completing the pedestrian connection along the corridor
The City of Dunwoody and the Perimeter CIDs are partnering on the “relatively low-cost project” to expand the trail system throughout Central Perimeter, and eventually to PATH400 and the Atlanta Beltline.
The project spans about half of Perimeter Center East, a less than one-mile loop road connecting to various office buildings, multi-family complexes and a shopping center. Because most residential complexes are on the south side of Perimeter Center East and the planned park and path are on the north side, there are some
points where people and bikes would need to cross over.
The city’s Trail Master Plan a supports the project and its connection of Ashford Dunwoody Road and its path to Two Bridges Park and Georgetown.
Perimeter CIDs Executive Director Ann Hanlon said the project, just one small segment, works toward the goal of building an overall network.
“It’s coming together ... I think it was about eight years ago that the
PCID partnered with the city on that Two Bridges connection ... which was like revolutionary at the time,” Hanlon said. “People can actually like safely walk to the mall, and it’s going to be beautiful [and] there’ll be trees.”
Among city officials and residents, multi- or shared-use paths are preferred in the Perimeter district and other commercial nodes rather than on residential streets.
Chris Hutcheson, a resident of the Georgetown area off Chamblee Dunwoody Road and Old Spring House Lane, said he’s enjoying the paths and connectivity between his neighborhood and commercial areas.
Hucheson said he sees more families walking around the city and tons of children at Two Bridges Park, which surprised him. As far as the concept plans go, he said he’s a fan.
The city is encouraging residents to submit comments via a short survey, closing Aug. 12. Citizens can visit City Hall at 4800 Ashford Dunwoody Road to view hardcopies of the project displays once the comment period closes.
Dunwoody says comments will become a part of the project’s official record and will be responded to by Sept. 8.
A map shows designs for a linear park and shared-use path along Perimeter Center east.
DeKalb Schools focuses on enrollment shifts, facilities
By JIM BASS jim@appenmedia.com
DEKALB COUNTY, Ga. — Over the past decade, the DeKalb County School District has seen numerous changes, but one that matches a national trend in public schools is a decrease in enrollment — a statistic it is trying to reverse.
According to Georgia’s Department of Education FullTime Enrollment across K-12, DeKalb County School District had 97,889 students in March 2016, and in March 2025 they reported 88,436, a net decline of 9,543 students.
The numbers reported by the district can often vary depending on the data being used. Some data points include pre-K and pre-K-3 totals, which are not included in state reports as they are not funded through Georgia’s Quality Basic Education (QBE) funding formula.
Sometimes, human error can also affect these numbers.
During the June 9 board meeting presentation, slides showed that FTE enrollment across the district dropped by over 1,000 students between October 2024 and March 2025. However, a DCSD spokesperson stated that this was an error resulting from the accidental mixing of attendance and enrollment.
Enrollment totals represent the number of students officially registered in the school district. Attendance is a number used to calculate the number of students who are present in class.
There was, however, a 250-student drop according to GaDOE’s data, despite the total of elementary school students increasing by 358. The biggest dip came from a loss of 771 high school students from October to March of the 2024-25 school year.
Building back the student body
This summer, DCSD has also implemented a new program called the “Summer Registration Hub” to assist families with enrollment. The hub helps prepare families to register their students for the 2025-26 school year, and get students ready by the first day of school on Aug. 4.
The in-person program supplements online registration by providing in-person support for families who need assistance during the enrollment process. The District’s
A graph showing the number of students enrolled in DeKalb County School District from 2016 to 2025.
Student Assignment Registration Team, Parent Center Facilitators, and Satellite I.M.P.A.C.T. Hubs are stationed at the hubs to provide families with access to staff members.
In a long-term process, the district is currently undergoing a student assignment plan (SAP), which intends to rework the district’s school boundaries, building uses and school programs. Despite a dramatic shift of nearly 10,000 fewer students, some schools remain over capacity due to enrollment shifts.
In a March interview with the Executive Director of Student Assignment Sarita Smith, she said that some schools are over 100% capacity while others are below 50%. This enrollment “imbalance” is partly due to some school boundaries not being updated since 2011.
According to a DCSD enrollment forecast summary released in March, schools in the district’s north and
central regions have been steadily increasing, while schools in the southeast and southwest regions continue to decline.
The district included in this forecast that it expects to increase its enrollment this year by around 200 students in its next report, which would mark the first consecutive two-year increase since 2014-2016.
The student assignment plan will take input received from four community committees and will build formal recommendations to present to the DeKalb School Board in March 2026.
This fall, the four committees will merge into one to discuss these sensitive topics and help determine the recommendations that will be made. The district’s goal is for the student assignment planning process to occur every five years going forward.
JIM BASS/APPEN MEDIA
Perimeter CIDs to launch free community event series
DUNWOODY, Ga. — The Perimeter CIDs will launch Playfully Perimeter, a new pop-up series with its first event, Play it Cool!, from 3-7 p.m. Aug. 27.
The inaugural community field day is just south of I-285 within the city of Brookhaven at the Perimeter Summit Green off Ashford Dunwoody Road.
The event is free to the public, but registration is required.
In collaboration with Explore Brookhaven, Discover Dunwoody and Visit Sandy Springs, the Playfully Perimeter series looks to expand awareness of the business district and highlight its continuous growth and new developments.
The community improvement districts – one organization that covers Fulton and DeKalb counties – consists of commercial property owners who agree to pay an extra tax to fund local improvements and services. It is governed by two boards, separated by county.
The Playfully Perimeter series includes three “immersive experiences” between August and December that look to promote the area’s mixed-use developments, cultural centers and pedestrian activity zones.
The Perimeter CIDs describe Play It Cool! as tapping into the nostalgia of childhood field days with games like sack races and pickleball;
oversized yard games like Jenga and Connect 4; and music-based experiences such as a Hula Hoop contest and Limbo.
To register visit, eventbrite. com/e/playfully-perimeter-tickets1458751608329?aff=oddtdtcreator.
Ann Hanlon, executive director of the Perimeter CIDs, said her team is excited to showcase the growth of their district, feature unique businesses and build partnerships.
“This past year has proven that big moves in Perimeter aren’t just possible. They’re happening,” Hanlon said. “We want Perimeter to be the place to be and spend time in Metro Atlanta.”
— Hayden Sumlin
PERIMETER CID/PROVIDED
The Perimeter CIDs is launching Playfully Perimeter, a new pop-up series with its first event, Play it Cool!
and so on. The connecting letter is outlined, giving you the correct number of letters for each answer (the answers in line 1 are 5, 5 and 4 letters). The clues are numbered 1 through 7, with each number containing 3 clues for the 3 answers on the line. But here’s the catch! The clues are not in order - so the first clue in Line 1 may (or may not) actually be for the second or third answer in that line. Got it? Good luck!
WORLD CITIES
1. Montana city. Hurry up. Like a beaver.
2. Edible mushroom. Sheik’s bevy. City of Peru.
3. Swiss city. Bird of prey. Music genre.
4. Gambling game. City of Belarus. Like a sheep.
5. Utah city. Disney dog. Miserly.
6. Baby’s bed. City of Mali. Spill the beans.
7. Beach sight. Fertile track in a desert. North Dakota city.
1 Montana city. Hurry up. Like a beaver
2. Edible mushroom. Sheik’s bevy. City of Peru
How to Solve: Each line in the puzzle above has three clues and three answers. The last letter in the first answer on each line is the first letter of the second answer, and so on. The connecting letter is outlined, giving you the correct number of letters for each answer (the answers in line 1 are 4, 5 and 5 letters). The clues are numbered 1 through 7, which each number containing 3 clues for the 3 answers on the line. But here’s the catch! The clues are not in order - so the first clue in Line 1 may (or may not) actually be for the second or third answer in that line. Got it? Good luck!
3. Swiss city. Bird of prey. Music genre
4. Gambling game. City of Belarus. Like a sheep
5. Utah city. Disney dog. Miserly
6. Baby’s bed. City of Mali. Spill the beans.
7.
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Milton home baker turns passion into business
By SARAH COYNE sarah@appenmedia.com
MILTON, Ga. — While juggling the busy stay-at-home mom life with her three children, Karen Bates still finds time for her passion, baking.
In her kitchen, Bates bakes up a storm, creating delicious art for friends, family and customers. Bates’s micro bakery, Karen B Cakes, sells custommade cakes, cupcakes and loaves of sourdough. Soon, she will add muffins and macarons to the menu.
Although Bates has been baking her whole life, the idea to share her gift with others started when her daughter had her second birthday while they lived abroad in China for her husband’s job.
“I was really craving American cake,” she said.
She found some ingredients to make the cake, and the rest is history.
“That’s kind of where it started, where I started really being like ‘Oh I like this,’” Bates said.
When her family moved to Singapore, Bates was able to sell her first cake to someone she didn’t know. A Milton resident for the past decade, Bates transformed her passion into an LLC in January.
have an interest that they can take it into the community,” she said.
Bates said that being able to gift her passion for baking to the community is a blessing.
She operates on a cottage food license, which allows her to run her bakery out of her home, so long as she adheres to certain requirements such as cleanliness and food labels.
She brainstorms her recipes with her family and now offers 13 cake flavors, such as Cookie Monster, which consists
of a chocolate chip vanilla cake covered in cookie dough buttercream or Razzmatazz, which includes vanilla cake filled with raspberry preserves and raspberry buttercream iced in vanilla.
“A lot of it is what my family likes,” she said.
Buttercream rules
Her business is an all-buttercream micro bakery that does not use any fondant. For custom-made cakes, Bates tries to decorate her pieces with all edible materials, using a range of sprinkles, frosting, rice paper and spring roll wrappers.
“Sometimes they take on a life of their own,” Bates said. “I love that it is edible art. You can do really fun things with it, and then it goes away.”
Her favorite part about the job is seeing people’s reactions to the edible art.
“It makes them so happy,” she said.
To Bates, her micro bakery is more than just a side hustle, it’s a way to make traditions, just like her ancestors who immigrated from Armenia to the United States.
“When they came over from Armenia, they stopped speaking Armenian and only spoke English,” Bates said. “The only thing that they did keep, though, was the food. I feel like that’s a really strong thing.”
The “B” in Karen B Cakes is a symbol for her loved ones, reminding people that family comes first. The “B” represents her grandfather who was an entrepreneur and beekeeper.
“It just really makes me think about him and how hard he worked,” Bates said.
The spirit of entrepreneurship is something she hopes will live on in her family.
“I hope that it inspires them to know that they can do something, that if they
Sharing her craft
In October, she will begin to offer sourdough and cupcake decorating classes through the City of Milton’s Parks and Recreation Department.
“I hope that through the classes that I can bless other people, and they can find something that they’re excited about,” she said.
Bates said she hopes the cupcake decorating course will allow parents and their children to create new traditions. In the course, attendees will learn how to fill a piping bag, create designs, decorate with sprinkles and create colored buttercream. Supplies will be provided for guests. The course will be held once a month, on a Saturday, from 10-11 a.m.
“I really feel like it can be something that can help build your confidence,” she said.
The sourdough course will simplify the process of making loaves. Bates will teach how to feed the starter, how to bake sourdough bread on a schedule and how to mix, fold and score dough and what equipment is needed. Classes will be held one Saturday each month at 7 p.m.
Bates said her small business has been a slow growth process, since her three children are her main priority. She hopes the business will grow steadily and become a city staple by the time her 9-year-old reaches high school, but for now she finds her number of customers perfect.
“I’m still a busy mom,” she said. “I love being able to do things here and there on the side, which is what makes it so perfect, because I can kind of have it be whatever I want.”
Those interested in ordering baked goods from Bates can visit her website, karenbcakes.com
PHOTOS BY: SARAH COYNE/APPEN MEDIA
Karen Bates, owner of Karen B. Cakes, stands in her kitchen next to a custommade cake she made for her 9-year-old daughter’s birthday.
Homemade chocolate chip cookies sit in Karen Bates’ kitchen.
UPS is selling its building at 35 Glenlake Parkway in Sandy Springs and moving about 500 employees to another location in the city and Alpharetta.
UPS to sell Sandy Springs office, shift some workers to Alpharetta
ALPHARETTA, Ga. — United Parcel Service is shifting employees to Alpharetta and closing a Sandy Springs office amid company-wide changes and building closures.
Jim Mayer, a UPS spokesman, said the shipping giant is executing the largest “network reconfiguration” in its history.
A Sandy Springs corporate campus, 35 Glenlake Parkway, will be sold, and 500 employees will be reassigned to the Sandy Springs headquarters, 55 Glenlake Parkway, or an Alpharetta facility at 12380 Morris Road.
Most of the employees will be moving to Alpharetta, Mayer said.
Alpharetta Economic Development Director Charlie Jewell said UPS is
one of the city’s top 10 employers with more than 1,000 workers.
He praised the move as a boon for Alpharetta.
“The fact that they’ve chosen to expand that presence as part of this consolidation is very positive for our city,” Jewell said.
The shift could infuse new money into the Alpharetta economy, supporting surrounding businesses.
“While consolidations can sometimes result in downsizing elsewhere, in this case, Alpharetta is gaining jobs,” Jewell said. “It signals UPS’ continued commitment to Alpharetta as a strategic location for their operations.”
Jon Wilcox
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Amend: AAPPEN PRESSCLU
Continued from Page 1
One younger resident, Sustainability Committee Chair Colin Mey, spoke in favor of increased density and growth to support local businesses.
By the time amendments to the Comprehensive Plan wrapped up, most of the crowd was already home with some assurances that city officials would protect their neighborhoods, soften density and still require a special land-use permit for high-intensity uses.
A comprehensive plan does not directly regulate private property through zoning and is not legally enforceable. Rather, it shows the public — neighbors and developers — the city’s long-term vision.
Monday's meeting was an exemplar of the conflict between people opposed to increased density and those in favor of increased density and expanded housing options.
The interests of both groups converge at their desire for “missing middle” housing, including
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townhomes and duplexes with less square footage on smaller lots. Around a third of older homeowners are looking to downsize. At the same time, housing affordability is a national crisis.
While the city reached compromises, there is not yet a clear consensus on where the missing middle housing should go or how dense it should be.
A group of community members, including former state Sen. Dan Weber, former City Councilman Robert Wittenstein, Su Ellis and Susan Mitchell, gathered more than 400 signatures from residents in opposition to the Dominium rezoning and aspects of the Comprehensive Plan.
“[The Ashford character area] has two pictures that feature townhomes, parks and open space … we feel pretty good about that idea,” Weber said. “But then there was a wakeup call, when concurrent with this [Comprehensive Plan], the Dominium application for rezoning came under consideration.”
The citizen-led group requested three actions from elected officials: denying the rezoning request, making neighborhood preservation the plan’s
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top priority and banning mixed-use and multi-unit developments in the Ashford character area.
“The Dominium project … is the equivalent of eight stories in elevation because of the parking garage,” Weber said. “It has a density of 64 units per acre, that’s more than twice what would be allowed in the highest density associated with RMHD … at 30 units per acre.”
A newer Ashford Chase resident and California transplant from the Bay Area, Bridget Pivonka, said she had to move her family from a place that gave no considerations to existing populations. Pivonka, who was speaking against the rezoning request, petitioned Dunwoody's elected officials to take closer heed of residents' wishes.
The City Council is set to vote on the Dominium rezoning at its Aug. 11 meeting.
Mayor Lynn Deutsch said the coincidental timing of the rezoning for affordable senior housing and the Comprehensive Plan submission generated most of the community opposition.
“If we approve this entire plan asis, no land is rezoned [and] we still have to go through a process when someone files,” Deutsch said, saying she wants to be clear as some things have been muddled. “No matter what color something is listed in, the developer can come in and ask permission, our staff can say no, and they are still allowed to proceed.”
The comprehensive plan uses a “stoplight” land use table to designate what the city would like to see, what may be appropriate and what they don’t want to see. Regardless of the designation or city staff’s opinion, developers can still pursue a rezoning or special land use permit.
Deutsch said both kinds of requests are happening now.
When the City Council took a break from discussion, Weber, Ellis and Wittenstein told Appen Media the talks were encouraging, though they remain opposed to the Dominium rezoning and “too much density.”
City Councilman John Heneghan, who has written about his opposition to aspects of the plan on his blog, made motions to remove all “neighborhood transition opportunities,” which failed except for a section of North Peachtree Road.
If a site is within a quartermile of commercial node and has
road frontage on a minor arterial or collector road, then missing middle housing could be built there with special zoning permission.
Examples include duplexes, townhouses and neighborhood commercial like coffee shops in between single-family homes and commercial nodes like Jett Ferry, the Dunwoody Village and Winters Chapel.
Council members also removed the Brook Run Park character area, returning it to its former suburban neighborhood classification, but kept Water Works and Civic Campus.
Heneghan told council members that he’d like to return all three character areas to suburban neighborhood to avoid favoring specific properties and institutions over others.
While Heneghan attempted to get more density removed from the plan, most of the amendments were drafted and supported by Deutsch and City Councilman Tom Lambert, who represented the City Council on the Comprehensive Plan’s Steering Committee.
The changes to the land-use stoplight included moving most multi-unit, mixed-use and seniorliving uses from green to yellow in each character area, meaning they would need to meet additional standards.
Council members Stacey Harris, Catherine Lautenbacher, Rob Price and Joe Seconder voted more in favor of keeping the Comprehensive Plan the same as its earlier drafts.
There were more than 20 motions made to amend the plan during the nearly four-hour discussion about Dunwoody’s plan for growth and development.
Community Development Director Richard McLeod said the plan is aspirational and contains no legal mechanisms to enforce any land use, zoning classification or density level.
With the city’s state-required update wrapping up, city staff and TSW Design are embarking on a unified development ordinance, or code rewrite. That will include new regulations governing zoning and overlay districts, permitted uses and regulations, development standards and the review process.
Because Dunwoody is still using DeKalb County’s old codes, McLeod said it’s time the city updates and creates its own, some 17 years after incorporation.
McLeod also said he is very encouraged that city officials and residents are talking more about missing middle housing and forming more a community consensus.
“Five years ago, we didn’t even talk about it,” he said.
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Georgia Attorney General Chris Carr speaks to the Rotary Club of
about his work to combat human trafficking, organized crime and opioid addiction at the Bill Johnson Community Activity Building July 24.
Georgia Attorney General visits community group
By SARAH COYNE sarah@appenmedia.com
ROSWELL, Ga. — Georgia Attorney
General Chris Carr paid the Rotary Club of Roswell a visit July 24.
More than 150 Rotary members and guests attended the meeting at Roswell Area Park to hear about Carr’s work. The club chose to bring Carr out to talk about his campaigns to address human trafficking, organized crime and opioid addiction.
Roswell Rotary President Trummie Lee Patrick III said that the main reason they chose to bring Carr out to speak was because of Carr’s work to end human trafficking. Dave McCleary, Roswell Rotarian and past president, founded End Human Trafficking Now, which became an international movement.
“It was a great pairing of both what Dave's trying to accomplish and obviously what Attorney General Carr has tried to accomplish here in Georgia,” Patrick said.
Carr said that his favorite part about meeting local communities such as Roswell is being able to hear the good stories.
“It is so uplifting when you hear people helping other people,” he said.
Carr has served as Georgia’s Attorney General for nearly a decade and is setting his sights on the
governor’s office. Although Carr did not speak about his campaign at the club meeting, he did speak about his future goals for the state.
During his talk, Carr highlighted his initiatives, which include the Human Trafficking Prosecution Unit, which has led to more than 60 convictions and rescued more than 200 children. He also highlighted his work through the Gang Prosecution Unit, which has collected more than 100 convictions.
“Georgia is a leader in the fight against human trafficking, and that is in part because of the people in this room,” Carr said.
Carr also mentioned the state’s fight to combat the opioid crisis.
“This is the thing that keeps me up at night with a 20-year-old daughter,” he said.
On July 11, Carr announced that the State of Georgia is expected to receive up to $20 million from several recently proposed national settlements with eight drug makers accused of contributing to the opioid crisis. Funds from the settlements will be put toward addiction treatment, prevention and recovery services.
“I think this is going to make a big difference,” Carr said at the Rotary meeting.
To learn more about the club, visit roswellrotary.club.
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Roswell
What you learn when you ask ChatGPT a good question
RAY APPEN Publisher Emeritus ray@appenmedia.com
OK, many of us already use or have used the most popular/best known AI app out there – ChatGPT, right? So here is the first question on your AI IQ test.
What does the “GPT” stand for?
So, full disclosure, my knowledge of artificial intelligence is, at best, modest. I have read news stories about it in the New York Times, Wall Street Journal and The Economist these past couple years, as well as several of my online news sources including Bloomberg. Until this week, my knowledge essentially was that AI was sort of like a new Google search, except that instead of just spitting out a topicspecific definition of sorts, AI could go the next step and, after crawling the web for relevant information to your query, it could reply in narrative form that processed many relevant pieces of data from the internet and synthesized a summary based on that.
Can you write my term paper for me?
Of course, I had also read about all sorts of things that AI (ChatGPT) could do in response to a command such as “write a high school level research paper that would be appropriate for my AP high school American literature assignment which is …” Or what I heard my wife ask ChatGPT yesterday, “I have these ingredients available. What can I make with these for dinner, and how do I make it?”
Advice to CEOs
One of my friends who is a CEO of a company that runs many medical practices told me that he asks ChatGPT for advice on how to conduct annual staff evaluations. He describes the personality of each staff person to ChatGPT – their Enneagram number or their Myers-Briggs status if he has them. Then,
ChatGPT coaches him on how to communicate with each particular employee. He told me that it has greatly improved the evaluations and saved him massive amounts of time.
The possibilities, of course, are endless.
I asked Chat the following question: “What can you tell me about Ray Appen?” Within a couple seconds I got a lengthy overview about me. It surprised me – in a good way!
“Ray Appen is a media entrepreneur….. His media outlets focus on local news, government, education, and community issues – a rarity in today’s shrinking local news landscape… Appen Media has been recognized for sustaining independent local journalism despite national trends of consolidation…. Ray Appen is known for advocating civic engagement and free speech.”
I then asked ChatGPT, “What can I say to my readers about how critical – how absolutely critical – their contributions and support are to helping Appen Media survive into the future and continue producing honest, reliable, accountability local journalism? I asked it to limit the response to 200 words. Here is what I got:
Why Your Support Matters
At Appen Media, we believe that strong communities start with informed citizens. That’s why we’re committed to producing honest, independent journalism that holds power to account and keeps you connected to what matters most — your schools, your local government, your neighbors.
But producing quality, reliable reporting isn’t free. It takes time, resources, and a team of dedicated journalists who live and work in the same communities we cover. Unlike national outlets or social media, we’re not backed by billionaires or driven by clicks — we’re driven by a mission to serve you.
Your support — whether through a one-time donation or a monthly contribution — is not just helpful. It’s
essential. It keeps reporters in the field, holds elected officials accountable and ensures local voices are heard. Without it, our ability to cover your city council, your school board, your community — truthfully and without bias — is at substantial risk.
If you value trustworthy local journalism, please consider supporting us today. Because when local news disappears, so does local accountability.
Thank you for standing with us.
— The Appen Media Team”
I couldn’t have said it better myself. Succent, truthful, and honest. Chat summarized very accurately what’s at stake at Appen – and all local media – and how you can help your local journalism – your local newspaper survive and continue to serve you. That’s not just words; it is reality. We need the community to support us so we can do our jobs – for you.
Please act now!
Please use this link to go to our website and join your neighbors in supporting us with an annual, monthly, or one time contribution. Our goal is to be able to sustain one full-time reporter per city via your donations and support. For the cost of a few cups of Starbucks a week or one dinner out a month, you can make a long-lasting impact on supporting your local news.
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So, what does the GPT in ChatGPT stand for? “Generative Pre-Trained Transformer”! More on that later.
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Proud All-Star celebration; where’s the apology?
MIKE TASOS Columnist
Message to all you Major League Baseball bigwigs:
“We’re waiting for y’all to say ‘We’re sorry.’”
Albeit four years after it should have happened, we Georgia folks showed those ninnies in suits how to hold an All-Star celebration that went off without a hitch. During the entire fiveday event, I couldn’t stop beaming with pride.
Atlanta, nee north Georgia nee Atlanta showed the baseball world what we all know: Southern hospitality isn’t a myth, but instead a reality that was on display from Friday until that wacky conclusion to the actual All-Star ballgame that ended as Tuesday night gave way to Wednesday morning.
For those working souls who were fortunate enough to be a part of the event, I’ll bet a steady dose of mid-day power naps ruled the day. Make no mistake: It was a “good” tired, one that will come around once in a generation. The last mid-summer classic held here was 25 years ago, back when Chipper Jones wasn’t even shaving.
Before sharing all the great things that happened, there are a few things that are stuck in my craw and I would be shirking my duties as a columnist by not addressing them, even if the MLB power brokers didn’t want to.
First and foremost, MLB owes us (as in Atlanta and Georgia) a heartfelt apology for snatching this event right out from under us in 2021. Commissioner Rob Manfred has few friends in general and could very well have a statewide bounty on his head for his wormy behavior that resulted in this four-year delay.
Without a doubt, Manfred’s refusal to address the cancellation and to discuss the tepid rationale for doing so (unfair Georgia voting laws! Really? Give me a break!). Manfred sequestered himself in an air-conditioned suite and missed a huge opportunity to offer a “mea culpa.” Instead, we got nothing but crickets.
And the principal instigator of the cancellation, gubernatorial candidate Stacey Abrams, was part of the cricket brigade, uttering not a word about how devastating the loss of revenue was for business in and around the Battery.
Abrams is being touted as a gubernatorial candidate. I’m hoping voters have a good memory.
There were some Forsyth County folks who made an impact. Former Mashburn Elementary and South Forsyth High School attendee, Zac Brown, led his group in a spot-on rendition of the national anthem,
hitting every note perfectly, crooning the anthem a Capella no less. The performance set the tone for the most memorable All-Star Game in recent memory.
And Forsyth Central High School baseball coach Kevin McCollum was the pitcher for the high school home run derby, as well as throwing batting practice for the Historically Black College and University players before their game. The coach got the full MLB experience: “Filet mignon at 10:30 at night, so tender you could cut it with one of those plastic forks.”
While the crowd might have been a bit subdued, the attendees got downright raucous for its welcoming of a returning Freddie Freeman. And there was plenty left to roar for Ronald Acuna Jr., who scored a run to give the National League a 2-0 early lead.
APOLOGY, Page 19
OPINION
The history and legacy of philanthropy in America
According to the annual Giving USA report on philanthropy by the Giving USA Foundation and Indiana University, the total in 2023 was $557 billion. DealAid, a fundraiser for non-profits, reports that 56 percent of Americans donated to charity in 2024 and that the average age of a U.S. donor was 65. Twenty-four percent of the total went to religious organizations. Education and human services were tied at 14 percent each, with health-related causes at 9 percent.
In the early days of our nation’s history, religion or moral obligation played a dominant role in giving. As more people gained wealth and status, giving back to society became a key motivating factor. Famous philanthropists such as John D. Rockefeller (1839-1937), Andrew Carnegie (1835-1919), Edsel Ford who established the Ford Foundation in 1936, and more recently Bill Gates and Warren Buffett have had an enormous impact on society.
Many people donate to organizations where they have personal ties, or work for corporations with ties to particular charitable organizations. A person with a relative with cancer, for example, might give to the American Cancer Society. An employee might feel satisfaction by taking part in a company fundraiser for its chosen charity. Some give to the United , which like the charity described below distributes money to a range of charities. Someone blessed with wealth may be motivated to leave a lasting legacy through charitable giving to fill a need that is not being met in their community.
ProPublica, a non-profit news service, reports that there are more than 55,000 charities designated as 501(c) (3)s in Georgia. Donations to those entities are tax deductible. They range from small local organizations to large multi-million-dollar hospitals, churches and other large charities. A quick note:
Apology:
Continued from Page 18
I became a believer in Seattle Mariners catcher Cal Raleigh, who proved his season’s first-half numbers were no fluke as he won the madefor-TV HR Derby. And what a fun nickname he has: “The Big Dumper.” The All-Star Village at the Cobb
PUBLIC DOMAIN
Portrait of John D Rockefeller taken in 1922. After founding Standard Oil Company in 1870, he spent In retirement much of his retirement directed toward modernizing the South through the General Education Board which he established in 1902 with an initial gift of $1 million. The GEB eventually grew to more than $180 million. The GEB funded thousands of schools in rural areas of the South, teacher training, agricultural modernization, public health and medicine.
there is a big difference between a non-profit organization and a 501(c) (3). This can cause confusion. Not all non-profits qualify for 501(c)(3) status which is granted by the Internal Revenue Service following a lengthy application process. A non-profit corporation is formed under state law. It operates like a regular corporation, but its profits must serve the public good not its owners or shareholders. A 501(c)(3) is exempt from federal income tax and often state taxes as well. Importantly, donations to 501(c) (3)s are tax deductible for the donor.
Early history
Philanthropy in the United States dates back to a generous gift by a Puritan
Galleria only consisted of 500,000 square feet of everything baseball. Neighbor Jeremy Poisson treated his son Max to two-days of baseball overload, just as so may dads probably did.
Youngest son Greg used the HR Derby tickets to treat the former Forsyth Central baseball manager, Conner Miller, to a bucket-list night. Conner is a testament to a fighting spirit as he battles cerebral palsy.
This portrait of Andrew Carnegie, ScottishAmerican financier, was taken in 1865 and is part of the Brady-Handy Civil War photo collection in the Library of Congress. Carnegie built 1,800 libraries in the United States between 1898 and 1929, including more than 30 in Georgia. Worldwide, he built some 2,500 libraries.
clergyman, John Harvard. When he died in 1638, he donated half his estate and his collection of 400 books to a young school, which named itself Harvard College after the donor the following year. The Puritans in Massachusetts and the Quakers of Pennsylvania were the first to establish philanthropic institutions in their areas in the 1600s, such as the Scots Charitable Society of Boston. Benjamin Franklin (1706-1790) was a pioneer of philanthropy. He advocated the notion that everyone should donate for the common good consistent with his or her means. In 1729, he founded a weekly newspaper, the Philadelphia Gazette, which for the next 30 years promoted various civic projects. His efforts led to a volunteer fire department, the paving of public streets and a scientific academy that eventually became the University of Pennsylvania.
I was proud of Greg for taking good care of Conner. Greg also stayed til the end of the actual game.
I’m glad that the tribute to Hank Aaron is on my DVR and will be watched whenever I am seeking a feelgood moment.
All-in-all, it was a great showcase for our town. Baseball does its AllStar game the right way. It was a celebration and once again, we shined.
In 1835, Alexis de Tocqueville, the famous French historian who profiled the United States in his book Democracy in America wrote about the strange practice by the Americans of supporting private initiatives for the public good. He said that voluntary giving was a special characteristic of the Americans.
North Georgia example
It would be impossible to highlight multiple charities in a single column, but one that merits special mention is Southern Magnolia Charities, established in 2018 under President Marty Spear, who was succeed by Donna Savas, and is now led by Cynthia Knudson. Other board members since the inception include Lara Dolan and Judy Burds. All have played active roles with the Milton Tour of Homes committee which is the major fundraiser for the organization. Southern Magnolia Charities donates money to other local charities each year and is known as “A Charity for Charities!” Other fundraisers have included a Comedy on the Green and a cookbook offered during a three-year disruption during COVID when homeowners did not want people touring their homes. The charity has raised $361,000 and has benefited 15 local charities.
The tour has become popular, and once tickets go on sale, they are sold out at lightning speed. This year’s tour is Sept. 20. Tickets go on sale Aug. 1. The website for the tour is https:// southernmagnoliacharities.org/2025milton-tour-of-homes.
You don’t have to be a Rockefeller or Carnegie to take part in giving. It is open to everyone.
Thanks to Judy Burds for her help with the column and to Marty Spear for suggesting the topic.
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.
And in what might be a cruel form of justice for Manfred, there are whiffs that there might be an MLB work stoppage and lockout in 2026. Have fun, Commissioner.
Mike Tasos has lived in Forsyth County for more than 30 years. He’s an American by birth and considers himself a Southerner by the grace of God. He can be reached at miketasos55@gmail.com.
BOB MEYERS Columnist
In Memoriam
Robert “Kent” Brooks
October 3, 1945 – July 21, 2025
Robert “Kent” Brooks, 79, of Dunwoody, Georgia, passed away peacefully on July 21, 2025 at home. Born on October 3, 1945 in Baltimore, MD, Kent grew up in Titusville, Florida, where he attended Titusville High School. He later earned his degree from Florida State University, laying the foundation for a successful and varied career. Kent proudly served in the United States Coast Guard before embarking on a long and accomplished journey in the fields of building construction and commercial real estate. He worked with the Rouse Company in Baltimore and Technology Park in Atlanta before founding K Brooks & Associates and Kellogg Brooks and Associates. For over 40 years, he made Dunwoody, Georgia his home, where he built not just a business, but a legacy of integrity and dedication. A man of deep faith, Kent was a longtime member of All Saints Catholic Church. He had a lifelong passion for cars, loved motorcycle riding, and cherished the company of his beloved
pet cats. His quiet wisdom, kind heart, and adventurous spirit will be remembered by all who knew him. Kent was preceded in death by his parents, Russell George and Florence Brooks of Titusville, FL. He is survived by his loving wife of 40 years, Mary Lynn Brooks (née Mancini); his brother-in-law Robert M. Mancini; sister-in-law Jenny A. Mancini; nieces Marjorie Rath (Stephen), Laura Mancini, and Natalie Mancini; and great-nephews Nick, Anthony, and Charlie Rath. He also leaves behind many dear cousins, close friends, and extended family members whose lives were brighter because of him. The family received friends on Tuesday, July 29 at H.M. Patterson & Son - Arlington Chapel, 173 Allen Road NE, Sandy Springs, Georgia 30328. A funeral mass was held on Thursday, July 31 in the sanctuary of All Saints Catholic Church, 2443 Mt Vernon Rd, Dunwoody, GA 30338. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations be made to a local animal rescue or charity of your choice in Kent’s honor.
NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING
The City of Dunwoody Planning Commission will meet on Tuesday, September 9, 2025 at 6:00 p.m. in the Council of Chambers of Dunwoody City Hall, located at 4800 Ashford Dunwoody Road, Dunwoody, Georgia 30338, for the purpose of due process of the following:
MMSP 25-01: The applicant, Matthew Phillips, seeks a Major Master Sign Plan for 50 Campus Way, 100 Campus Way, 200 Campus Way, 244 Campus Way, and 300 Campus Way, Dunwoody, GA, 30346 (Campus 244).
Should you have any questions or comments, or would like to view the application and supporting materials, please contact the City of Dunwoody Community Development Department at 678-382-6800. Members of the public are encouraged to call or schedule a meeting with the staff in advance of the Public Hearing if they have questions or are unfamiliar with the process. The staff is available to answer questions, discuss the decision-making process, and receive comments and concerns.
Effective July 18, 2025, Elite Radiology of Georgia - Dunwoody at 4800 Ashford Dunwoody Rd, Suite 140, Atlanta, GA 30338 will discontinue patient care operations. We have other nearby locations to serve you, please visit eliteradiologyofgeorgia.com/locations to find your nearest clinic. To access medical records, please visit eliteradiologyofgeorgia.com/clearpath. For other questions, please contact us at eliteradiologyofgeorgia.com/contact-us.
In Memoriam
John Cenna
November 2, 1936 – July 16, 2025
John Franklin (Jack) Cenna, 88 of Dunwoody, GA passed away on July 16, 2025. He is survived by his loving wife of 64 years, Beverly Cenna and children, Mike Cenna and Kristy CennaMathieson (Gray) and his loving grandchildren Alexandra and Jack Mathieson. He was preceded in death by his Father Francis X. Cenna, Mother Mary (Sivak) Cenna, and brother’s Francis Joseph (Frank) and Xavier Kenneth (Kenny) Cenna.
Jack was born in Braddock, PA and graduated from Rankin High School. Jack was an avid Trumpet player and even formed his own orchestra, “Blue Notes” which would go on to perform at weddings and events for over two decades in the Pittsburgh area. Another one of his beloved hobbies included his immense passion for running. Jack participated in the July 4th, Peachtree Road Race for 40 years, as well as completing several marathons in NYC,
Boston and Washington DC. While Jack loved his extracurriculars, his pride and joy was his family. Jack’s number one priority was the comfort and happiness of his wife, Beverly. Even while battling dementia, Jack consistently put others before himself,always ensuring the needs of everyone else were met before his. He was an all-around colorful, emotive, creative, funny, and charismatic person. While he is no longer physically with us, his character lives on through his wife, children, and grandchildren. His love for life was contagious and his presence lit up any room.
A funeral mass will be held at All Saints Catholic Church located at 2443 Mt. Vernon Rd, Dunwoody, GA on August 29, 2025, at 2:00pm. Following the service, family and friends are invited to a reception celebrating Jack’s life at the Mathieson residence.
THE CITY OF DUNWOODY, GEORGIA
NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING
The City of Dunwoody City Council will meet on Monday, September 8 th , 2025 at 6:00 p.m. in the Council Chambers of Dunwoody City Hall, which is located at 4800 Ashford Dunwoody Road, Dunwoody, GA 30338, for the purpose of due process of the following:
SLUP 25-02, 125 Perimeter Center W: Zaxby's Properties, LLC requests a Special Land Use Permit for a drive-through to allow the construction of a new drive-through restaurant.
Should you have any questions, comments, or would like to view the application and supporting materials, please contact the City of Dunwoody Community Development Department at 678-382-6800. Staff is available to answer questions, discuss the decision-making process, and receive comments and concerns.
PUBLIC NOTICE
On Friday, September 26th, Southern Live Oak Wellness will be having a Harvest Festival at Brook Run Park. The festival will be from 5pm-10pm and will feature live music, food trucks, bounce house, and carnival games. This will be a private event for our facility. Thank you so much!
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