City installs new art at Two Bridges Park
PAGE 4
Patrons flock to Lemonade Days
By HAYDEN SUMLIN hayden@appenmedia.com
DUNWOODY, Ga. — Thousands poured into Brook Run Park for the 25th annual Lemonade Days Festival April 2327, showcasing Dunwoody Preservation Trust’s lasting impact on the community.
It was hard to tell the five-day festival was ending Sunday, April 27, with dozens of kids waiting in line for rides like Alien Abduction, the Zero Gravity wheel and the intimidating Nemesis 360.
Festivalgoers got lucky with
forecasted rain this year, the carnival rides and games made it into the tree-covered park without a hitch.
Festival Director Hope Follmer said at the April 14 City Council meeting that local amusement supplier Peachtree Rides took a chance on the festival 18 years ago.
more photos ► PAGE 16 See LEMONADE, Page 16
By HAYDEN SUMLIN hayden@appenmedia.com
DUNWOODY, Ga. — Two dozen Dunwoody residents gathered at the North Shallowford Annex April 22 for a public workshop on the city’s 2045 Comprehensive Plan.
The document update seeks to accommodate what has become one of Metro Atlanta’s busiest commercial areas with a community rooted in choice neighborhoods.
Former Dunwoody Mayor Dennis Shortal told the city’s consultants at TSW Design that they must focus on priorities important to residents.
“We became a city in 2008, do you know what is the number one reason why we became a city? It was zoning, number one reason,” Shortal said. “Number two, taxes; number three, police; number four, parks.”
Shortal asked the consultants to be mindful of the city’s history while drafting the state-mandated plan overhaul.
Anna Baggett, community planning associate with TSW, said the draft is set for City Council approval in May or early summer, and the zoning code rewrite process will begin shortly after.
Page 17
PHOTOS BY: DEAN HESSE/APPEN MEDIA
People line up at the big Lemonade stand during Lemonade Days at Brook Run Park in Dunwoody on April 27.
Cherish Alicea, 4, gets acquainted with a tiny goat at the Little Red Barn petting farm during Lemonade Days at Brook Run Park in Dunwoody on April 27.
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Police arrest minor with firearm charge
By CARL APPEN carl@appenmedia.com
DUNWOODY, Ga. — Dunwoody Police charged April 23 a 13-year-old and criminally trespassed three other juveniles after an event that unfolded at Brook Run Park.
The exchange was unrelated to the Lemonade Days Festival, which continued at the park through the weekend, officials told Appen Media.
Dunwoody officers said their presence at the event would help ensure
POLICE BLOTTER
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.
Restaurant patron allegedly runs over man after fight
DUNWOODY, Ga. — Dunwoody Police are investigating an aggravated assault at The Bird restaurant off Ashford Dunwoody Road around 2 a.m. April 25 after a hit-and-run in the parking lot.
Officials say the incident was a hit-and-run in the restaurant parking lot following a fight between two male patrons.
Officers said the incident began when an unidentified man approached a couple at the bar and touched the female to get her attention, which led to a physical fight between two males.
Once the fight broke up, management ordered all parties involved to leave the establishment, the department’s statement says.
Officers said when the couple left the bar and entered the parking lot, a vehicle struck the man.
Witnesses said the vehicle intentionally drove toward the male,
it stays safe and enjoyable.
"Everyone and their families should come out and enjoy festivities," Sgt. Michael Cheek said Thursday.
According to police, a juvenile male told officers other boys were attempting to fight him after an earlier incident at Dunwoody High School.
The officers located and interviewed the subjects. During that investigation, police reportedly found that one of the boys was armed with a firearm.
Authorities seized the weapon and charged the suspect, a 13-year-old male,
struck him and left the scene, according to the police statement.
Some initial reports indicated someone was shot, but officers said no evidence has been found to support the claim.
The victim is a man in his mid-40s, but the statement did not include other identifying information.
Officers said he was transported to Grady Hospital with serious injuries. The next morning, officers said he was in critical but stable condition.
The investigation remains active as of noon April 25.
— Hayden Sumlin
Lithonia man arrested on outstanding warrants
ROSWELL, Ga. — Roswell Police arrested a 24-year-old Lithonia man April 19 after the Economy Hotel off Old Dogwood Road reported him for trespassing and refusing to leave the property.
Officers said they returned the man’s belongings to him but discovered he had active warrants out of Cobb and DeKalb counties.
with minor in possession of a handgun. Officers also trespassed him and three other juveniles from Brook Run Park until the Lemonade Days Festival is over.
Police released the cited 13-year-old into the custody of his parents.
Officers also took to Facebook to reassure festival-goers.
"Dunwoody Police were out at Lemonade Days last night, and will continue to present throughout the rest of the festival to ensure the safety of our community," they said in a Thursday post.
The warrant out of Cobb County was for hijacking a motor vehicle and reckless driving, and the one out of DeKalb County was for probation violation.
After trespassing the man from the hotel, officers said they transported him to DeKalb County Jail for his outstanding warrants.
— Hayden Sumlin
Alive in Roswell vendor reports card theft, fraud
ROSWELL, Ga. — A 27-year-old Tennessee woman reported the theft of her credit card and fraudulent transactions April 18 after working as a vendor at Alive in Roswell the day before.
An officer said he spoke on the phone with the victim, who told him she last remembered having her pink wallet while unloading for the Canton Street festival April 17 around 3 p.m.
The woman said she discovered her American Express card had been used to make a $100 purchase at Rock ‘N’ Taco later in the evening.
Later that day, after speaking with the officer, the woman called back and reported her card was added to Apple Pay and used to make a purchase at IHOP.
The officer said the pending charges are theft of mislaid property and felony financial transaction card theft and fraud.
The report did not identify a suspect.
— Hayden Sumlin
Community Outreach Officer Theresa Hernandez, center, is all smiles after the Law Enforcement Torch Run April 22 featuring officers from the Brookhaven, Dunwoody and Sandy Springs Police departments. The torch run is the largest annual fundraising event benefitting Special Olympics Georgia.
Law enforcement run to support charity
By HAYDEN SUMLIN hayden@appenmedia.com
DUNWOODY, Ga. — Several officers from police departments serving Central Perimeter raised funds for Special Olympics Georgia April 22 with a 2-mile Law Enforcement Torch Run.
Sworn officers and civilians gathered at Dick’s Sporting Goods off Mount Vernon Road at 8:30 a.m. for a jog to the Dunwoody Village’s Publix at 5500 Chamblee Dunwoody Road.
Personnel from the Brookhaven, Dunwoody and Sandy Springs police departments participated in the nonprofit fundraiser.
The Law Enforcement Torch is the largest annual fundraising event benefiting Special Olympics Georgia, involving more than 1,000 officers from more than 100 agencies who take part in a two-week torch relay to pass the Special Olympics Georgia “Flame of Hope” across the state.
All 11 relays converge at Emory
University in Atlanta during the Summer Games Opening Ceremony May 16 at McDonough Field.
Dunwoody Community Outreach Officer Theresa Hernandez is a member of the 2025 Law Enforcement Torch Run Executive Committee, which manages and coordinates the fundraiser across the state.
Hernandez said the only qualification to participate in the run was to purchase a $25 T-shirt, which goes directly to Special Olympics Georgia. If people are still interested in supporting the cause, she said there are some hats and shirts left for purchase.
Johns Creek Police Maj. John Clifton and Lt. Tyler Seymour represent North Fulton on the executive council.
The next fundraiser for the Special Olympics Georgia is National Donut Day June 6 from 6-10 a.m. at Dunwoody’s two Dunkin’ locations at 1594 Mount Vernon Road and 4368 North Peachtree Road.
Are Your Fruit Trees NOT Producing Fruit?
and fruit
HAYDEN SUMLIN/APPEN MEDIA
City celebrates sculpture at Two Bridges Park
By HAYDEN SUMLIN hayden@appenmedia.com
DUNWOODY, Ga. — Dunwoody officials gathered at Two Bridges Park April 22 to unveil a finishing touch on one of the city’s newer parks at 50 Perimeter Center East.
While Dunwoody is known for its 110-acre behemoth — Brook Run Park — smaller public greens tucked into neighborhoods around the city give residents easy access to outdoor activities.
At the park’s opening in May 2023, dozens of children and their parents turned out, letting city officials know the investment was worth it.
Dunwoody Parks and Recreation Director Rachel Waldron said the city left a space along the path for a public art installation at the Perimeter Center East entrance.
Reflections is a sheet metal sculpture, the first one built by sculptor and fabricator Huelani Mei. Metal fabrication involves cutting, bending, welding and assembling structures in an industrial process that can turn out some exceptional works of art. Recreation Program Coordinator Andrea Perez came up with the concept for the sculpture, which ties in with others that Mei has crafted for Brook Run Park. Mei said Waldron and Perez approached
her with the vision for the sculpture.
A couple of conversations with an engineer and three different pours later, Mei created the centerpiece of the sculpture, a 5-foot-tall, reflective “D,” which took about
four months to complete.
She said the metallic leaves sprouting out of the concrete were hand-forged and bent before everything was powder coated to provide a mirrored look.
The city hopes residents and visitors will stop by the park, see the sculpture and know they are in Dunwoody. The spot is very “Instagram-able,” something younger generations can appreciate, staff said.
To check out more of Mei’s sculptures, visit @huedesignsatl on Instagram.
Unlike most of the city’s parks, Two Bridges is right one the edge of Central Perimeter business district with the North Fork of Nancy Creek and some apartment communities bordering the site.
The city’s trail network runs through park, connecting it to the Georgetown and Chamblee Dunwoody Road area via a pedestrian bridge over the Nancy Creek tributary.
Two Bridges Park features Dunwoody’s first splash pad, a playground with plenty of swings, a couple of pavilions and restroom facilities.
The park’s hours are 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., and the splashpad’s 2025 season runs from
May 30 through Sept. 28.
Two Bridges Park, initially set to be built in 2020 with the city’s 8 percent hotel and motel tax, was delayed when funding dried up amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
Dunwoody used some of its American Rescue Plan Act dollars to complete the roughly $3 million project.
Former Dunwoody Parks and Recreation Director Brent Walker attended the unveiling. Two Bridges Park is one of the city’s new public recreational areas that Walker completed before leaving to take a similar post with Sandy Springs in 2023.
Walker said it’s always great to see his old colleagues and friends again, especially to catch-up and celebrate one of their pandemic-era projects.
In Sandy Springs, the Recreation and Parks Department is gearing up for the opening of the first segment of the city’s Springway Loop at Morgan Falls Overlook Park May 2.
Throughout Metro Atlanta, local governments are building out multi-use paths to offer transportation alternatives, recreational opportunities and connectivity to surrounding areas.
GARAGE SALES
HAYDEN SUMLIN/APPEN MEDIA
Dunwoody elected officials and department heads gather around a new sculpture at Two Bridges Park April 22. Artist Huelani Mei, at center sitting inside her interactive art installation, created Reflections as a part of the plans for the 5-acre park at 50 Perimeter Center East.
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!
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1 Witch trials locale. Swiss river through Bern. Deadly African snake
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!
2. Kick out. Fencing sword. European river carrying more traffic than any other river in the world
3. Crazy. Famous English river. Garbage hauler
4. France’s longest river. Ranch young. Coffee order
5. Greek cheese. Spotted wildcat. Italy’s river
6. Russian river, longest in Europe. Halo. Squirrel food
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Dunwoody honors resident for work at Waterford Park
DUNWOODY, Ga. — The City of Dunwoody marked Earth Month by recognizing one resident’s tireless dedication maintaining a local park.
“Dunwoody, Ga., has a quiet yet steadfast champion in its midst — Ron Clyne,” said Michael Pray, a member of the Dunwoody Sustainability Committee, in a profile featured in the city’s weekly newsletter.
Clyne has given his time to keep Waterford Park clean. He also installed a specially designed bluebird birdhouse there.
“Beyond his hands-on approach to park maintenance, Clyne fosters a connection with nature through
woodworking,” Pray said. “His carefully crafted cedar birdhouses — designed specifically for bluebirds — can withstand the elements, with one proudly displayed in the park.”
Clyne is a long-time resident, retired Dunwoody High School administrator, former Army aviation mechanic and paraplegic.
“In celebrating Earth Month, we celebrate people like Ron Clyne — those who ensure that the places we call home remain beautiful and welcoming for generations to come,” Pray said. “Let’s follow Ron’s lead and keep Dunwoody beautiful together.”
— Jon Wilcox
Tell the Crier: Send your photos, announcements and letters to newsroom@appenmedia.com.
MICHAEL PRAY/PROVIDED
Ron Clyne takes a hands-on approach to maintaining the beauty of Waterford Park.
‘Dunwoody 101: All Aboard’ offers look inside government
DUNWOODY, Ga. — The city is rolling out a fresh take on civic engagement with the launch of “Dunwoody 101: All Aboard,” a one-day immersive experience May 30 billed as a behind-the-scenes look at city operations.
The program brings back the spirit of the Dunwoody’s early Citizens Academy with a modern twist and a trolley ride through Dunwoody.
“Our mayor and the City Council were eager to revive the Citizens Academy in a way that’s fun, informative and accessible,” City Manager Eric Linton said. “We’ve streamlined the format and added interactive stops to give participants a dynamic experience of how their city works.”
Open to Dunwoody residents 18 and older, the experience is limited to 25 participants based on available trolley seating. Applications are being accepted through Friday, May 9. If applications exceed capacity, the city says participants will be selected at random and notified on May 12.
“This is the perfect announcement to share during Georgia Cities Week, an initiative of the Georgia Municipal Association,” Communications Director Jennifer Boettcher said. “It’s a time to celebrate the value cities bring to our lives, and “Dunwoody 101” does just that — covering everything from public safety and parks to zoning, development and city budgets.”
Participants who complete the program will be recognized at the June 16 Dunwoody City Council meeting.
To apply, visit www.dunwoodyga.gov/dunwoody101
— Hayden Sumlin
CITY OF DUNWOODY/PROVIDED
Dunwoody is launching a one-day trolley tour and crash study on local government May 30 with 25 spaces available to residents. The free program offers citizens a peek inside their local government from the perspective of several different city departments.
Program schedule:
•8:30 a.m. Welcome
•9 a.m. How Dunwoody Works (City Manager & Finance)
•10 a.m. Trolley ride to Two Bridges Park for splash pad opening (Communications)
•11 a.m. Site visits to Campus 244 & High Street (Community & Economic Development)
•12 p.m. Lunch
•1 p.m. Trolley ride to Georgetown Park & Gateway (Public Works & Parks)
•2 p.m. Real-Time Crime Center tour (Police Department)
•3 p.m. Dunwoody Municipal Court visit (Court & City Clerk)
•4 p.m. Wrap-up and Q&A
FIFA President Gianni Infantino celebrates World Cup in Atlanta
By SARAH COYNE sarah@appenmedia.com
ATLANTA — FIFA President Gianni Infantino joined Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens to celebrate the FIFA Club World Cup 2025 at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium on April 14, ahead of its summer kickoff.
The first of its kind, the tournament will feature 32 clubs from across the globe, taking place between June 14 and July 14.
“We can say Atlanta unites the world this year and unites the world as well next year,” Infantino said.
Atlanta will be one of 12 venues across the United States, with the final match at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey. Six matches will be played in the Mercedes-Benz Stadium between June16 and July 5.
Dickens said Atlanta is one of the few cities to have this opportunity.
“We've been growing and growing as a soccer town as you've seen throughout the history of Atlanta,” Dickens said.
During the tournament, eight groups of four teams will compete in a single-game roundrobin format. The top two teams from each group will advance to the round of 16. A direct single knockout stage will take place for the remaining games.
“We will finally know, after almost 100 years, which club team is the best in the world,” Infantino said.
Atlanta will also be one of 16 cities across three countries to host the FIFA World Cup 26. Eight matches, including one semifinal, will be played in the MercedesBenz Stadium from June 15 to July 15, 2026.
“You're going to have the best countries from around the world who are passionate about the game of soccer, come to this great state, come to this great city, to enjoy their game unlike any other opportunity they've ever had, and in 2025 the best clubs will get the opportunity to do so,” AMB Sports and Entertainment President Tim Zulawski said.
To buy tickets, visit fifa.com/ en/tickets
Gateway to Fishing program lures newcomers to popular pastime
By ADAM DARBY newsroom@appenmedia.com
FULTON COUNTY, Ga. — Prime fishing season has begun in Georgia.
Since March, outdoor enthusiasts, fishing poles in hand, have enjoyed visiting their favorite fishing holes to see what the day brings. With prime fishing season expected to run until June, the Gateway to Fishing program has promoted the activity by providing the resources necessary for the ideal experience with family and friends.
“We’re trying to introduce folks to fishing,” said Keith Weaver, the fisheries biologist for the Georgia Department of Natural Resources and one of the program’s coordinators. “The [increased] interest is what’s been really rewarding.”
The Gateway to Fishing program continues to aid visitors with on-site events that include trailers of fishing equipment and guidance for those who may not be as experienced. With the goal of attracting families and friends to enjoy the outdoors, the program works to ensure people can
KEITH WEAVER/SPECIAL
The Gateway to Fishing program encourages people of all skill levels to enjoy a day outdoors with family and friends.
return home with memories, if not fish.
“You don’t need sophisticated tools or equipment or to spend a lot
of money,” Weaver said. “We enhance the fisheries by stocking additional catchable fish in Piedmont and Adams Park…it’s just a good time to
get away from your worries and just relax and enjoy.”
While the program has plans to expand soon, both Piedmont Park in the heart of Atlanta and Adams Park on the city’s south side serve as the ideal fishing spots in Fulton County. While the program provides those additional tools and fish, people are encouraged to create their own lasting experiences with loved ones while enjoying the outdoors. Although fishing is an all-year activity, the period from March through June serves as the best time of the year for county residents.
“Typically, this is the time of year,” Weaver said. “So, I would consider this to be the best season. This is the best time of the year for folks in the metro-Atlanta area to be fishing within their community…it’s just a good time to catch fish and this is the time of year where anglers enjoy most of their success.”
To learn more about the Gateway to Fishing program and prime fishing spots throughout Atlanta, visit www.storymaps.arcgis.com or email Keith Weaver at keith.weaver@ dnr.ga.gov.
SARAH COYNE/APPEN MEDIA
From left, FIFA President Gianni Infantino and Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens discuss the design of the official FIFA Club World Cup 2025 match ball at an April 14 press conference at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
Bestseller’s 10-year anniversary to be marked in Roswell May 31
By KATHY DES JARDINS CIOFFI newsroom@appenmedia.com
Becky Albertalli, author of “Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda” and 10 other works, is one of Roswell’s busiest literary stars, as evidenced by a short list of accomplishments in just the past 13 years.
In 2012, Albertalli was a psychologist specializing in working with LGBTQ teens and gender-nonconforming children. Then her first son was born, and she decided to try writing a novel. A year later, she connected with her first agent at the fall 2013 Atlanta Writers Conference. Two years later, “Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda” debuted. Three years after that, “Love, Simon,” the film based on the book, was released. Then “Love, Victor,” the spinoff TV series inspired by the novel and movie, aired in 2020.
The accolades she accumulated in the process have been equally impressive. "Simon," which was longlisted for the National Book Award and the Lambda Literary Award, won a host of other honors, including the William C. Morris Award. The movie scored a variety of commendations, as did the Hulu series. And all the while Albertalli continued publishing acclaimed work, including the New
Thursday, May 8, Kristy Woodson Harvey and Mary Kay Andrews Mother’s Day Tea. The presale launch of Harvey’s new novel, “Beach House Rules,” sponsored by Poe & Company Bookstore, includes a signed copy. $50. 11 a.m. The RoofTop at Crabapple Market, 12630 Crabapple Road, Suite 340, Milton. 770-797-5566. Poeandcompanybookstore.com.
Monday, May 12, Kinley Bryan reflecting on “The Lost Women of Mill Street,” for the Friends of the Roswell Library’s 40th anniversary. Free. 2 p.m. Roswell Library, 115 Norcross St., Roswell. 404-6129700.
Thursday, May 15, Friday, May 16 and Thursday, May 22, Jenn Hildreth, Emmy Award-winning ESPN broadcaster, will discuss her debut book, "Tough as a Mother: Women in Sports, Working Moms, and the Shared Traits that Empower Us All,” at three free events. On May 15 at 6:30 p.m. she will be at Read It Again Bookstore, 3630 Peachtree Parkway, Suite 314, Suwanee. 770-232-9331. https://www. read-it-again.com/event/tough-motherrelease-party. On May 16, at 6 p.m. she will be at Johns Creek Books, 6000 Medlock Bridge Road. 770-696-9999.
York Times bestseller “Imogen, Obviously,” as well as “What if It’s Us” and “Here’s to Us,” co-authored with Adam Silvera, and “Yes No Maybe So,” co-authored with Aisha Saeed.
Now, for the 10th anniversary of her first book, a deluxe limited paperback edition is being released and celebrated at a free event at Albertalli’s longtime library. Hosted by Bookmiser and the Roswell Library, she will be in conversation with author Matthew Hubbard Saturday, May 31, at 2 p.m.
“It’s been a very surreal 10 years,” Albertalli said. “I can’t believe how quickly time has flown. More than anything, I’m grateful for the incredible readers, authors and industry professionals I’ve met along the way.
“The Bookmiser event on May 31st feels like the perfect way to celebrate my favorite things about this entire journey,” she continued. “It’s a true hometown event – held at my community’s public library, hosted by a bookstore I’ve loved for years, and in conversation with a brilliant author I’m lucky to call a friend.”
Details are below, along with other May events.
johnscreekbooks.com. And on May 22 at 5:30 p.m., Hildreth will be at Poe & Company Bookstore, 1890 Heritage Walk, Suite P101, Milton. 770-7975566. Poeandcompanybookstore.com.
Saturday, May 17, J.M. Failde will spotlight her adult vampire romantasy duology, “The Sun Child” and “The Crow Lord.” Free. 5 p.m. Johns Creek Books, 6000 Medlock Bridge Road. 770-6969999. johnscreekbooks.com.
Saturday, May 24, Tenille Bell will lead story time with her children’s books, “Ryder's Ride to the Grocery Store” and “At the Chicken Nugget Farm.” Free. 11 a.m. Johns Creek Books, 6000 Medlock Bridge Road. 770-696-9999. johnscreekbooks.com.
Saturday, May 31, Becky Albertalli celebrating the 10th anniversary of “Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda,” in conversation with Matthew Hubbard. Bookmiser and the Roswell Library are hosting the event. Free. 2 p.m. Roswell Library, 115 Norcross St., Roswell. 770509-5611.
To submit an author event for the upcoming month, email Kathy Des Jardins Cioffi at kathydesjardins3@ gmail.com by the 15th.
City Springs Theatre Company welcomes Carole King musical
SANDY SPRINGS, Ga. — The City Springs Theatre Company is wrapping up its seventh season at the Byers Theatre with “Beautiful: The Carole King Musical” May 2-18 at the Sandy Springs Performing Arts Center.
The City Springs Theatre Company is a local nonprofit and one of the nation’s newest and fastest growing professional theater companies. It relies heavily on ticket sales and the support of the Metro Atlanta community.
Carole King is a celebrated singersongwriter of the 1960s and ’70s whose music helped shape a generation. The Broadway hit musical is the untold story of King's journey from schoolgirl
to songwriter to superstar from her relationship with husband and songwriting partner Gerry Goffin to her remarkable rise to stardom, becoming one of the most successful solo acts in pop music history.
The musical features hit songs like “You’ve Lost That Lovin’ Feeling,” “I Feel the Earth Move Under My Feet,” “Will You Love Me Tomorrow” and “One Fine Day.”
Playing the title role will be Atlanta’s own Megan K. Hill, who was most recently seen in City Springs productions of Disney’s “Frozen” and “Ragtime: The Musical.”
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Whittall
Musical:
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“We have an enormous talent pool here in Atlanta, and Megan is a considerable talent whom we have had our eyes on for some time,” Executive Director Natalie DeLancey said. “We’re fortunate and so thrilled to have her as our Carole. Megan is an electric performer, and I cannot wait for Atlanta audiences to fall in love with her.”
“Beautiful: The Carole King Musical” also features Broadway veterans Lily Kaufmann, as Cynthia Weil, and Courtenay Collins, as Carole’s mother Genie Klein.
Making their return to the Byers Theatre stage are Nick Walker as Gerry Goffin; Haden Rider as Barry Mann and Jordan Sam Rich as famed manager Don Kirschner.
Shane DeLancey, who previously helmed hit productions of “Spamalot” and “Jersey Boys,” is set to direct the production with musical conductor Chase Anderson and choreographer Jordan Pretorius.
Evening performances run May 2-18 Wednesday through Sunday at the Sandy Springs Performing Arts Center at Roswell Road and Mount Vernon Highway. There are also some matinees available on Saturdays and Sundays.
Individual tickets to see the City Springs Theatre Company’s production of “Beautiful: The
Carole King Musical” range from $64 to $115, including all fees, with discounts for seniors, students, groups and active and retired military personnel. Call 404-477-4365
The production contains adult themes and language and is recommended for ages 13 and older.
For more information or to purchase tickets, visit www.cityspringstheatre. com.
— Hayden Sumlin
A lifestyle with a view
Discover Horizon at Laurel Canyon
Brought to you by - Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Georgia Properties New Homes Division
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A
gateway to the Best of North Georgia
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Since 1994, Patrick Malloy Communities has been shaping the Metro Atlanta area with exceptional neighborhoods and over 7,000 homes sold. Frequently honored as one of Atlanta Business Chronicle’s Top 20 Homebuilders, the company has a reputation for quality, innovation, and award-winning design.
To learn more about Horizon at Laurel Canyon, visit PMCommunities. com or call 770-254-5357. Horizon is proudly represented by Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Georgia Properties’ New Homes Division. Explore more at BHHSgaNewHomes. com. An Equal Housing Opportunity.
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The consequences of not having Property Estate Planning done by a proper attorney
Brought to you by - Estates Law Center USA
Take the example of a well-known celebrity, let’s call him “Chris.” Chris was a beloved actor with a career spanning decades. Despite his success and substantial fortune, he never took the time to create a comprehensive estate plan. When Chris unexpectedly passed away, his family was left to navigate the complex and often confusing legal process of distributing his assets.
1. Legal Battles and Family Disputes: Without a clear and comprehensive estate plan, Chris’s family found themselves embroiled in legal battles. Different relatives claimed entitlement to various parts of his estate, leading to prolonged court cases and strained family relationships. A welldrafted estate plan could have provided clear instructions and prevented much of the discord.
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The absence of a comprehensive estate plan meant that the distribution of Chris’s assets was delayed significantly. Probate, the legal process of distributing a deceased person’s estate, can be time-consuming and complicated. An estate plan can streamline this process, ensuring that beneficiaries receive their inheritance more quickly.
4. Business and Real Estate: Without a proper trust, Chris's real estate and business had to be liquidated to pay off the creditors at a substantially reduced price due to the probate process and disputes between the beneficiaries as to keeping or selling the business and real estate.
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Lemonade:
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“The founding members of the Dunwoody Preservation Trust created this venture in the spirit of helping our neighbors,” she said. “It takes a village to produce this event every year; I want to echo what the mayor said, we have an amazing, fantastic village, and I think the best in the state of Georgia.”
The city honored Follmer and the 2025 Honorary Miss Lemonade Days Dolores Lauderdale with a proclamation recognizing the festival’s 25th anniversary.
Lemonade Days has grown substantially since its inaugural year at the Dunwoody Village. After a pandemic hiatus, Junction 311 Endurance Sports facilitated the return of the Lemonade Days 5K this year.
Because the Dunwoody Preservation Trust is a historically focused nonprofit, organizers love to promote the multigenerational festivalgoers who make their way through the park.
Parents who were children during the early years of the festival are now bringing their toddlers to Lemonade Days
Follmer said participation in the 5K has nearly doubled and she spoke to a crowd of about 400 runners before the April 26 race around Brook Run Park.
“Next year, I’ll have the bandshell, it’s plug and play,” Follmer said, previewing next year’s push for more live music from local musicians. “That’s something new this year that we want to keep going.”
The Lemonade Days Festival is five days of fun at Dunwoody’s largest park, which is decked out with carnival rides, treats and the welcoming spirit of the community.
Mayor Lynn Deutsch said the event sets Dunwoody apart from other Metro Atlanta communities.
“It is a truly special few days, and we know our community’s children look forward to it with tremendous anticipation,” Deustch said. “We have created a space where they can have a lot of fun, and we’re eternally grateful to the Dunwoody Preservation Trust.”
People check out the food vendors during Lemonade Days at Brook Run Park in Dunwoody on April 27.
From left, Amy Forbes and her daughter Avery and Maddie Kaplan and her mom Deborah cool off with a King of Pops during Lemonade Days at Brook Run Park in Dunwoody on April 27.
People ride the Expedition during Lemonade Days at Brook Run Park in Dunwoody on April 27.
PHOTOS BY: DEAN HESSE/APPEN MEDIA
2025 Honorary Ms. Lemonade Days Dolores Lauderdale.
Jasper Meach, 10, takes aim at the Water Gun Fun game during Lemonade Days at Brook Run Park in Dunwoody on April 27.
Approval:
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Baggett told Shortal that a lot has changed since 2020, and Dunwoody’s zoning is outdated with leftovers from its time as part of unincorporated DeKalb County.
The creation of the Unified Development Ordinance, or code rewrite, is likely to be more of controversial process with new ordinances set to be approved by the City Council.
Some current council members, Planning Commission members and frequent attendees of city meeting gathered to peruse plans for different areas of the city.
The workshop’s activities had residents consider what they want to see within different character areas around the city with specific questions about their preferred density and thoughts about allowed land uses.
The plan organizes land-use policies for 12 character areas, which are geographically defined with a similar look and feel. Each character area sets a vision, policy for future development and action items to implement its vision. Some of Dunwoody’s character areas include Perimeter, Dunwoody Village, Georgetown East and West, Jett Ferry, Winters Chapel, Brook Run Park and Peachtree Boulevard.
While many residents have stressed preserving neighborhoods they’ve invested in to maintain their character, some council members have criticized those opposed to density and pedestrian infrastructure, which is a sizable majority of Dunwoody homeowners who typically show up to public meetings.
Slightly more than half of Dunwoody residents live in apartments or rent homes, and they sometimes champion different priorities for the city’s future.
One woman who has owned a home off Valley View Road for 30 years, said she opposes increased building heights and multi-family apartments expanding north along Ashford Dunwoody Road. She pointed to the impact of Atlantic Station on neighborhoods in west Atlanta, saying the last thing she wants over her neighborhood is an office building.
Each character area has a core
and periphery transition area, which serves to “down-shift intensity, adequately buffering surrounding residential neighborhoods.” For the Perimeter transition north of Meadow Lane Road along Ashford Dunwoody, buildings more than three stories would be banned, and any multi-family apartments would require special zoning permission.
Sue Ellis, who frequently attends city meetings, said she came to learn more about what the consultants are recommending versus what she hears from city staff and elected officials.
Ellis said she doesn’t want to see multi-family housing along Mount Vernon Road, labeling herself a “Not in My Backyard” person on the issue.
Written comments from NIMBY residents include “high density equals more traffic and overloaded schools,” “concern about future variances within buffer zones” and “scale down building heights.”
Whether a resident is a NIMBY or a “yes vote,” there’s a lot of tension between the opposing groups. Affordable housing has become a touchstone issue across north Metro Atlanta.
Janet Bass, who owns a ranch off Tilly Mill Road, said she doesn’t think her daughter, or anyone in their 20s, will be able to buy a single-family home anytime soon.
Bass said she wanted to ask city officials how she can go about constructing an accessory dwelling unit
on her property for her daughter. She also said the city lacks middle housing, and she personally likes cottage courts.
The balance between protecting established neighborhoods and encouraging the development of new, affordable housing types is a test many Metro Atlanta cities now face.
PHOTOS BY: HAYDEN SUMLIN/APPEN MEDIA
Around 25 Dunwoody residents listen to a presentation from TSW Design consultants on the 2045 Comprehensive Plan April 22 at the North Shallowford Annex. Residents said they want to see density encouraged within the Perimeter business district but not near their neighborhoods.
Dunwoody Planning & Zoning Manager Paul Leonhardt chats with a Dunwoody couple about the largest character area in the city, Suburban Neighborhood, and what land uses may be allowed where neighborhoods meet small-scale commercial areas and arterial roadways.
What would Kurt Vonnegut write today?
My son Hans recently gave me a book that I am reading – again –“Cat’s Cradle” by Kurt Vonnegut. I hadn’t read Kurt now for decades and, as I expected, it didn’t take many pages to remember why I liked what he wrote. Actually, I probably should say “how he wrote.”
Vonnegut was an angry guy. He was a smart guy. He was a frustrated guy. He was cursed with the ability to see and understand the obvious that most of us don’t see – cannot see or won’t see – and care about it. That is, he connected dots – big picture kind of dots – and I think that drove him crazy. I suspect that he only found relief when he died in 2007.
On the first page of “Cat’s Cradle,” he talks about a book that he started to write when he was a younger man – “two
wives ago, 250,000 cigarettes ago, 3,000 quarts of booze ago…” The book was to be a tome called “The Day the World Ended.” His description of how he spent his time when he was a “young man” reminded me of my dear father, but that’s another long story that also didn’t end well.
He worried a lot about mankind killing itself with technology. He wrote a lot about civilian and political cults, war, war machines and the impact of AI. Yes, he clearly saw AI coming down the track almost 60 years ago, and it terrified him. He wrote about mindless people, soulless tyrants, toxic governments and religion, and especially about hypocrisy – almost always as if sitting on the judge’s dais at Nurenburg; no small claims court for him.
He must have worried constantly when he tried to sleep; in the morning lying in bed; sitting at the breakfast table; or speaking at events where they paid him the big bucks to talk about his dark visions and Dresden.* No wonder
he smoked so much and drank like a fish.
In one of his books, “The Sirens of Titan” which he wrote in 1959, he told the tale of the richest man in the world and his escapades through outer space. The critics called it an intergalactic comedy. I doubt Kurt laughed much as he wrote it.
Sound somehow a bit familiar?
As I read “Cat’s Cradle,” I wondered how Kurt would be feeling today and what he would be writing about now. He would probably be giddy with so much material. Reminds me of the party Lorne Michaels and the writers from “Saturday Night Live” must have thrown when John McCain announced Sarah Palin as his running mate.
On second thought though, “today” might have been too much for even Vonnegut – too broken, too twisted, too distorted and too toxic – that it might have passed the cutoff point for being candidate for satire, intergalactic comedy or even righteous rage.
Even after having survived the hell of the firebombing of Dresden, “today “may have been too much for him – and possibly us as well? But there is always a silver lining, I suppose. He could have re-used the word with which he ended his most important and celebrated novel – “Slaughterhouse-Five” – “Poo-teeweet.“
Or, to use another phrase Vonnegut liked, “So it goes.”
*Dresden: “On about February 14th the Americans came over, followed by the R.A.F. Their combined labors (the firebombing of the German city of Dresden where Vonnegut and 150 other fellow POWs were being housed in a slaughterhouse) killed 250,000 people (primarily civilians) in 24 hours and destroyed all of Dresden, possibly the world’s most beautiful city. But not me.” -- Kurt Vonnegut in a letter to his father after being liberated from Slaughterhouse 5 and surviving the firebombing.
No ‘Gesundheit’ necessary for a ‘God Bless You’
MIKE TASOS Columnist
With those major religious holidays and holy days mere dots in our rear-view mirrors, it’s time to get ready for the upcoming sweltering summer.
It seems to me that most folks aren’t focusing much on those hot months. Many are taking time to celebrate the rest of Spring pleasantness. A recent run through the Home Dept parking lot was a confirmation that there are plenty of yardwork enthusiasts just chomping at the bit to get out in the yard and play in the dirt. Industrious shoppers were buying bags of mulch by the pallet. Not me. My major outdoor activity will be grilling on the Traeger and pulling the trigger on those nasty bastid mosquitoes. Having the yard sprayed is a mere phone call away.
A childhood where my mom doled out weeding a flower bed sentences as if she were a warden at a botanical prison has exacerbated my aversion to any kind of yardwork.
We brothers hated being in that miniscule patch of weed-infested flowers. Our weed-pulling lasted mere minutes before a dirt clod would be tossed. We were all pretty fair shots too. Inevitably, one of us would wind up with a good amount of mud, dirt and weeds in our hair. Or worse yet, in our ears.
When that happened, all sorts of ordinance filled the air, our scalp and our nostrils. Getting all that dirt out of an ear was a two-shower undertaking. And what would normally take less than hour morphed into a sunup-to-sundown ordeal.
And make no mistake: Very few weeds met their demise. I guess Mom was looking out for our health when she confiscated the container of Round-Up I wanted to administer to any living plant
or weed. A fatal spritz seemed like it would us get into the pool much quicker.
Of all of us, Matt was the only one who had allergies that would prompt thunderous sneezes and an itchy throat that the rest of us found hilarious. These were not polite sneezes. Instead, these would make the bees stop buzzing and the birds take flight.
Of course, being kindly brothers, there wasn’t a “Gesundheit” or “God Bless You” to be found as Matt dealt with his misery. In retrospect, Matt was always the smart one. His allergic woes always brought Mom outside to take him in the house and get him some Dimetapp. Marty, Allan and I remained behind. Forget the weeds. When Mom left, projectiles once again filled the air.
I can remember being bored with the war games. Being the oldest, I felt compelled to demonstrate my “big brother” prowess and put an end to the afternoon session.
I got in a good bit of trouble when
Mom appeared just as I was showing Allan the fine art of giving a wedgie. Mom came after me when she spied Marty levitating off the ground, suspended from a branch with a hole poked in his undies.
These days, it seems more common in my circle for us to end a conversation with a “God Bless.” I must credit good friend Jerry Nix with making it seem so right and much more meaningful that a “Talk to you later,” or “All right then.” Fellow Knights of Columbus Tony Roberti always signs off the same way.
The need for a sneeze response has become obsolete. Imploring for some help from the Man Upstairs just seems so right. And so Southern.
I think I’ll do a lot more of that.
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.
RAY APPEN Publisher Emeritus ray@appenmedia.com
OPINION
Growing herbs in containers 101
Herbs are a great way to start food gardening. They tend to be a bit less picky than vegetables, and there are a wide range of choices for various moisture and sun conditions. Many of them also do well in containers, making them a good choice for patios and porches, too. All herbs should do well in a garden bed except the mint family! Anything in the mint family should only be planted in containers. Mint can spread invasively and take over your bed, your yard and maybe even your house! So, it is best in a pot on its own. It will spread throughout whatever container you choose and choke out whatever else you plant with it. But it is worth the bit of management so you can have it handy to add quickly to water, tea, salads or recipes.
Because mint spreads so quickly, it is very easy to propagate by division or by rooting a cutting in water. It is perfect to receive as a pass-along from a friend or neighbor. Mint will tolerate more conditions than most herbs, including some shade.
In contrast, rosemary can start in a container but will eventually want to be planted in-ground as most forms will result in a large bush if planted in a sunny place.
Mint and rosemary are both perennials. Other herbal perennials that will do well either in containers or in the ground include chives, sage and thyme. Sage and thyme both like drier conditions and work well together as the filler and spiller in a container. Chives are easy to propagate by division, so it is another opportunity to get or receive a starter plant from a friend. Chives like more water and would best be planted with some of the annuals mentioned below.
In most locations in Fulton County, you can harvest these perennial herbs all year long. Harvest times for annual herbs will either be warm season/summer, e.g., basil, or cool season, e.g., parsley.
Many annual herbs can be grown in a container, but check the label as some of them, like santolina, tarragon and dill, will like a big container best. Parsley is easy to grow and can tolerate some shade, so it is a great filler for a planter with other herbs or flowers. While basil loves to get big in the ground, it behaves well in containers, too, and makes a great thriller for your container arrangement.
When planting your containers:
• Select an appropriately sized planter for the number of herbs you are including. Clay pots are a good place to start, but you can be creative. Ensure they have drainage holes, and you have placed them in areas that receive the right amount of sun. It is easier to move them to their final location before you add the soil. In some cases, you may want them on wheels so they can be moved.
• It is always handy to have some herbs right near the kitchen door so you can easily just “snip and go” when you need them for recipes.
• The containers should be filled with a good potting mix. (Not from your yard or “garden soil” from the store.)
• It is easier to start with small plants from the garden
About the author
This week’s “Garden Buzz” guest columnist is Sue Boehlke, a Master Gardener intern. Sue is a member of the North Fulton Master Gardeners. She graduated from Northwestern University with a degree in economics and an MBA. She is a lifelong, avid gardener and is now working on the chal-lenge of downsizing her gardening to a small city lot in Alpharetta, where fungus, pests and weeds still find her.
center or a friend than with seeds if you are a new gardener.
• If you plant basil and chives that have big crops and lots of harvest, you will occasionally need to add fertilizer throughout the growing season.
• Water appropriately for the herbs in that container. You should save the tags they come with when you purchase them as a reminder of the sun and water requirements as well as to predict their eventual size.
• Harvest throughout the growing season. You do not want your herbs to bloom with flowers or you will lose flavor, as they put their energy into flowers and seed instead of flavor in the leaves.
When planning your containers, remember that herbs do not need to be exclusive. You can mix them with other vegetables, small shrubs (depending on container size) or even flowers (foodscaping is the practice where food is incorporated in your decorative landscape). It is important to have consistent water and sun requirements for all plants in a particular container so they can thrive. Keep in mind the eventual size and shape of the plants you select so you do not under- or over-plant.
Happy 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.
Food scaping
Herbs + Flowers = Beautiful planters
Learn more
Herbs in Southern Gardens, UGA Extension Publications, Bulletin 1170
SUE BOEHIKE Guest Columnist
PHOTOS BY SUE BOEHLKE/PROVIDED Healthy mix of starters from the garden center
OPINION
Church bells ring, and the people listen
Church bells ring, and people listen
One might say that I have a thing about bells. I have written a column about farm bells and another about cow bells. The subject this week is church bells. So, maybe I do have a thing about them.
This week I will explore the history of church bells and illustrate the challenges of installing a bell weighing several hundred pounds in the top of a church tower using as an example the Birmingham United Methodist Church in Milton. In a recent column I described the history of that church.
History
Nearly everyone in North Fulton lives near a church, and most have heard a church bell ring to announce church service, a wedding or other important event.
Historically, the first bell used in church is often credited to Bishop Paulinus of Nola, Italy, around 400 AD. It was used primarily to call monks to prayer and was probably a handbell.
In 604 AD, Pope Sabinian sanctioned the used of bells by churches.
Benedictine monks, a monastic order dating back to the fifth century, used larger bells mounted in towers in the 7th and 8th centuries. Bells helped them manage their daily routines, marking prayer time, meals, study time and sleep time.
According to National Bell Festival, a non-profit organization dedicated to the celebration and restoration of bells, bell-making originated in China some 5,000 years ago. Sheets of metal were hammered into bell shapes with a bead, rock or metal bit suspended inside the bell to make a clapper.
Ancient Greek sentries used bells as warning devices. The book of Exodus 28:33-35 describes golden bells as part of the high priest’s robe. Early Romans hung bells around livestock to locate strays. Gradually, bells were adopted by Western religions.
The first church bells in the United States were in the San Miguel Mission, Santa Fe, New Mexico, built circa 1610. It is still in use.
Bells have been featured in numerous films. To name a few: “For Whom the Bell Tolls” (1943), starring Gary Cooper and Ingrid Bergman, based on Ernest Hemingway’s novel; “A
Christmas Carol” (1938), starring Gene Lockhart and Reginal Owen, based on Charles Dickens’ story; and “The Bells of St. Mary’s” (1945,) starring Bing Crosby and Ingrid Bergman, a musicalcomedy-drama.
Birmingham UMC
Birmingham United Methodist Church is fortunate to own a bell
made by the C.S. Bell Company of Hillsborough Ohio, possibly the largest manufacturer of church bells in the United States for more than 100 years. The company ceased to make bells in 1974. The BUMC bell was cast circa 1892, has a diameter of 28 inches and weighs in at 294 pounds. Including the accessories required to suspend and operate the bell, total weight is 450
pounds.
It is not known exactly when or how the church acquired the bell or who may have owned it previously. The best guess is that it was acquired in the 1940s or earlier.
In May 2009, eight church volunteers, who became known as the “The Bell Bunch,” opened a panel in the side of the rooftop steeple to inspect the bell to see how it was mounted and to plan its descent for eventual installation in a recently installed new bell tower. It is difficult to imagine the challenges involved in taking a nearly 450-pound bell from a steeple rooftop to the ground.
The volunteers asked the Milton Fire Department to assist. The firefighters extended their long ladder to the chapel roof and placed lumber skids on the ladder. Four firefighters slowly slid the bell to the ground where it was placed in a truck and moved to the barn owned by parishioner Byron Foster. Volunteers disassembled, repaired and restored the bell over the summer.
Next, a mounting structure for the bell had to be designed, built and tested. Fortunately, parishioner Jeff Johnson and his father George Johnson, a retired Lockheed engineer who had worked in elevator design, were able to spearhead the task.
Finally, on Nov. 14, 2009, a large crowd watched as the bell was raised by a rope to its new home. The bell was installed and tolled for the first time in many years.
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.
BOB MEYERS Columnist
PHOTOS BY: JEFF JOHNSON/PROVIDED
Milton firefighters climb their ladder to remove the 294-pound bell from its home on the chapel roof. Including its auxiliary equipment, the bell weighs 450 pounds. Fire crews had to slowly slide the bell down the ladder.
The church bell tower where the bell is now housed.
The bell after it was repaired, restored and repainted. It is ready to be lifted by ropes to its new home in the church bell tower.
City of Dunwoody To Hold
A Location and Design Public Information Open House For P.I. No. 0019209 North Shallowford Path DeKalb County
On Tuesday, May 13, 2025 (date) at the North Shallowford Annex located at 4470 North Shallowford Road, Atlanta, GA, 30338 (location) , the City of Dunwoody, Georgia will hold a Public Information Open House concerning the project listed above.
This project proposes to construct a shared use path along North Shallowford Road from Chamblee-Dunwoody Road to Cotillion Drive, a distance of approximately 0.8 mile. Context-sensitive streetscaping elements will be considered such as wayfinding signs, decorative pedestrian lighting, and landscaping.
The purpose of this Location and Public Information Open House is to provide the public with an opportunity to view the project, ask questions, and comment on the project.
The Open House will be held from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. It will be informal, and the public is invited to attend anytime during these hours. There will be no formal presentation. A court reporter will be available to allow the public an opportunity to make verbal comments about the project.
Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Information:
The meeting site is accessible to persons with disabilities. Accommodations for people with disabilities can be arranged with advance notice by contacting Ms. Michelle Hirose at 678-356-1149 (Michelle.Hirose@dunwoodyga.gov).
Written statements will be accepted concerning this project until Tuesday, May 27, 2025. Written statements may be submitted to:
Ms. Michelle Hirose Public Works Deputy Director City of Dunwoody 4800 Ashford Dunwoody Road Dunwoody, Georgia 30338
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