From left, Facilities Coordinator Brandon Alvarado, Recreation Program Coordinator Andrea Perez, Recreation Coordinator Dylan Gesford, Operations Project Manager Gabe Neps, Parks and Recreation Director Rachel Waldron, Recreation Leader Antwain Adams, Recreation Programs Manager Kate Borden, Facilities Associate Michelle Calderon and Parks Grounds Coordinator David Alexander celebrate Dunwoody Parks and Recreation Department’s fifth consecutive state award as District 6 Agency of the Year.
State recognizes Dunwoody for its Parks and Recreation
By HAYDEN SUMLIN hayden@appenmedia.com
DUNWOODY, Ga. — The Dunwoody Parks and Recreation Department has again been recognized as among the best in Georgia.
The state Recreation and Parks Association named Dunwoody Parks and Recreation as the District 6 Agency of the Year Oct. 1 during its annual awards banquet.
The award marks the fifth consecutive
year that Dunwoody has earned the honor, which celebrates excellence and leadership in delivering high-quality parks, facilities and programs that enrich community life.
Parks staff are members of the Georgia Recreation and Parks Association and complete 80 hours of training each year. Together, they manage more than 200 acres of greenspace across seven parks, providing safe, welcoming and innovative spaces for residents and visitors.
See AWARD, Page 25
City sets up reserve fund for major capital projects
By HAYDEN SUMLIN hayden@appenmedia.com
DUNWOODY, Ga. — It looks likely that the Dunwoody High School girls volleyball team will get the sand court its been asking for since last fall as a part of the city’s $5 million planned buildout of Homecoming Park.
The Dunwoody City Council workshopped the 2026 budget during an Oct. 6 meeting, setting up an amendment later this year to use excess reserves to fund a number of capital projects.
During the discussion, elected officials came to a consensus, focusing on allocating funds effectively and ensuring projects underway are completed in a timely manner.
Mayor Lynn Deutsch unveiled her recommendation to spend $7 million of the city’s nearly $30 million of reserves Sept. 29 on constructing the new park, sidewalks and pedestrian safety enhancements while funding additional police equipment.
CITY OF DUNWOODY/PROVIDED Dunwoody’s Homecoming Park, 4819 Vermack Road, will receive $5 million in capital improvements as part of the city’s proposed 2026 budget. Elected officials want to construct the park based off its 2023 master plan with a beach volleyball court instead of pickleball.
NEWS TIPS
770-442-3278
AppenMedia.com
319 N. Main Street Alpharetta, GA 30009
HANS APPEN Publisher DICK WILLIAMS Publisher Emeritus CONTACT
Contact reporters directly or send story ideas to newsroom@appenmedia.com.
LETTERS, EVENTS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
Send your letters, events and community news to newsroom@appenmedia.com. See appenmedia.com/submit for more guidance.
ADVERTISING
For information about advertising in the Dunwoody Crier or other Appen Media properties, email advertising@appenmedia.com or call 770-442-3278.
CIRCULATION
To start, pause or stop delivery of this newspaper, email circulation@appenmedia.com or call 770-442-3278.
Uber driver charged with shooting teenager
DUNWOODY, Ga. — Dunwoody Police arrested a 38-year-old Fairburn man Oct. 5 after the Uber driver allegedly shot a 16-year-old female during an argument at the Waffle House off Chamblee Dunwoody Road.
The Dunwoody Police Department said its officers responded to a person shot call at 4532 Chamblee Road around 2:30 a.m.
The investigation revealed that the dispute began when five teenage girls ordered an Uber to take them home from the restaurant.
When the Fairburn man arrived to pick them up, the report says he told the teenagers that he could only fit four into his vehicle.
After that, the report says the girls argued with the Uber driver about which party should cancel the trip and incur the charge.
As the argument escalated, one of the females allegedly threatened to kill the driver and struck him in the face while he was inside the car.
The report says the driver then fired a gun and struck the female who assaulted him.
The other girls at the scene told responding officers that their friend’s assault and threat occurred after the gunshot.
Officers said the 16-year-old girl was transported to Children’s Healthcare of
Atlanta and received treatment for her injuries.
As of Oct. 7, the Dunwoody Police Department says she is in critical but stable condition.
Officers transported the Fairburn man to DeKalb County Jail with warrants for aggravated assault and possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony. Records show he remains in jail as of Oct. 7.
The Dunwoody Police Department says the investigation is active and encourages anyone with information to contact darryl.moses@dunwoodyga.gov.
— Hayden Sumlin
Authorities seek suspects in apartment shooting
DUNWOODY, Ga. — Dunwoody Police are searching for two men after one of them fired five shots at a Columns at Lake Ridge resident who caught them attempting to steal his vehicle.
The department says officers responded to a person shot call at 1302 Lake Ridge Lane just after midnight Oct. 7 where they spoke with the victim.
Dunwoody’s statement says officers later discovered the victim was not struck by any bullet but did get hit in the chest by debris from a glass door.
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.
Polices find man asleep behind the wheel of car
DUNWOODY, Ga. — Police arrested a 35-year-old Dunwoody man for driving under the influence of a prescribed medication Oct. 5 while also discovering an active warrant out of Forsyth County.
AAPPEN PRESSCLU B
Officers said they were dispatched to East Kings Point Circle and Kingsfield Court just before 9 p.m. for a welfare check, finding a man asleep behind the wheel with the car running.
After he was roused, the driver said he had taken his prescribed dosage of clonazepam, a benzodiazepine that depresses an individual’s central nervous system.
Benzodiazepines and opiates are the most common prescription drugs found in impaired drivers involved in fatal and serious injury crashes, according to the American Automobile Association.
Officers said the driver appeared
The victim received treatment from paramedics for non-life-threatening injuries at the scene and was not transported to the hospital.
Responding officers said they learned the victim was awakened by the flashing lights of his vehicle, which was parked in front of his bedroom window.
When he went to see what was happening outside, he said he saw one man inside his car and another standing outside.
Dunwoody officers said the man
drowsy and fatigued, later discovering an active warrant for a probation violation out of the Forsyth County Sheriff’s Office. The report did not specify the original charge.
The driver said he knew he should not be operating heavy machinery after taking the medication and was on the way home from his girlfriend’s residence.
After confirming the warrant, officers arrested the man and transported him to the DeKalb County Jail.
According to jail records, the man was released later that evening with an agreement to appear in court.
— Hayden Sumlin
Woman loses $36,000 in phony warrant scam
ALPHARETTA, Ga. — A 40-year-old Alpharetta woman said she lost more than $36,000 through a phone scam Sept. 19.
Alpharetta police said the woman reported receiving a phone call from someone purporting to be a Fulton County Police Department captain. The caller told her she missed a court date and had an outstanding warrant.
The caller told her that in order to
outside of the vehicle fired five shots at him moments after he opened the door, but the bullets struck the apartment building and other vehicles in the area.
The Dunwoody Police Department encourages anyone who may have information regarding the incident to contact Detective Tim Waldron.
Appen Media has requested a full police report and officer’s narrative of the incident, which will provide more details.
Hayden Sumlin
remove the warrant, she must send money in the form of Bitcoin, police said.
The woman sent the money in four transactions.
Police recorded the Bitcoin transaction IDs and other online wallet information and said it was unlikely the perpetrator would be identified.
The incident was classified as a theft by deception.
— Jon Wilcox
Police called to scene of
attempted break-in
ALPHARETTA, Ga. — Officers investigated a report of juveniles attempting to break into a Waterview Trail home Sept. 22.
A man who lives near the home reported seeing seven juveniles at the home after he heard banging around 7 p.m.
The man provided a photo of the juveniles to the officers.
The home’s owner, who was out of town, provided a recording showing two boys kicking her door, then walking away. One of the juveniles covered his head with his shirt, police said.
— Jon Wilcox
Join us for our 13th Annual
Christmas Gift Show
Blessed Trinity High School Main & Aux Gym
11320 Woodstock Road
Roswell, GA 30075
Saturday, Nov. 8th – 9am – 5pm
Sunday, Nov. 9th – 10am – 3pm
Over 110 vendors with a large variety of unique and beautiful gift items –Jewelry, Wreaths, Pottery, Fine Art, Holiday and Home Décor, Accessories, Knits, Children’s Items, Huge Bake Sale and much more!
• Tons of parking
• All booths are indoors
• Enter our Titan Tidings Raffle to win prizes
• Concessions will be available
• No Strollers Please
• $5 Admission
Meet the Dunwoody City Council candidates
DUNWOODY, Ga. — After a threeday qualifying period for the Nov. 4 general election and three seats on the Dunwoody City Council, only one incumbent is running unopposed.
Each of the districts, dividing the city into thirds from east to west, have a local and an at-large seat. Dunwoody elections are staggered on a four-year cycle, with half the City Council seats coming up for a vote this year.
The three seats up Nov. 4 are for posts 1-3, which are voted upon by residents of the district the candidate will be representing.
All three incumbents qualified for reelection.
No one qualified to run for the Post 1 seat other than City Councilwoman Catherine Lautenbacher.
Lautenbacher, first elected to the City Council in November 2021, holds the local seat in District 1.
The competition for the Post 2 seat is between incumbent City Councilman Rob Price and challenger David “DZ” Ziskind. The district runs up the middle of Dunwoody, roughly from Tilly Mill Road to Valley View Road and Kings Down Road.
City Councilman Tom Lambert, first elected to east Dunwoody’s Post 3 local seat in 2017, is facing off against Wendi Taylor, a resident of the Four Oaks neighborhood off Peeler Road.
After soliciting input from residents, Appen Media and the Crier sent questionnaires to the candidates in contested races. They were asked the same questions and given equal amount of space to provide answers.
Readers can see their responses to some of those questions, along with a short self-provided biography, below.
POST 2 (DISTRICT 2)
Price was first elected as the City Council’s local District 2 representative in 2021. Before that, he served for four years on the city’s Planning Commission. He currently serves as the director of development for a locally headquartered international nonprofit, Alliance for International Reforestation.
Price said he plans to continue his service to residents with a focus on three core areas — constituent outreach, quality of life and economic development — to make Dunwoody better, safer and more livable.
Ziskind has a master’s in engineering management from the University of Louisville. He started his own project advisory firm, helping owners plan and execute industrial manufacturing projects. He promotes
his support of the Dunwoody Police Foundation and sound fiscal management.
In June, Ziskind said he is focused on sustainable priorities for parks, public safety and public works. He said his run for local government is inspired by a push for trust, responsibility and transparency.
Please provide a brief profile.
PRICE: I’m a 25-year resident of Dunwoody and currently serving in my first term on city council. I have a wife of 31 years and two daughters, a DHS graduate and a student at Chamblee High School. You can learn more about my background, accomplishments on council, and priorities at https:// www.electrob4dunwoody.com/.
ZISKIND: I’m a Dunwoody small business owner, husband, and father of three boys in our local schools. I’ve built my life around family, community, and service. I’m running for City Council because Dunwoody deserves leadership that listens, plans strategically, and puts residents first.
A big topic in Metro Atlanta right now is the rising cost of living and a shortage of affordable housing. What role, if any, should Dunwoody’s city government have in promoting or restricting more affordable housing types, which may include multi-unit developments?
PRICE: The city plays a significant role in shaping housing through zoning. Our focus should be on creating housing that meets our community’s needs. My preferred approach includes three strategies:
1. Preserve the city’s existing affordable housing, using tools such as annual code enforcement sweeps to ensure properties are wellmaintained.
2. Encourage “missing middle” housing types, such as duplexes and townhomes, in commercial areas, to offer options for young professionals and empty nesters beyond the city’s current mix of apartments and singlefamily homes.
3. Evaluate development proposals carefully based on their merits, alignment with the city’s planning documents, and community input.
ZISKIND: Dunwoody must balance growth while preserving neighborhood character. Retirees may want to downsize locally, and we all benefit when essential workers can afford living near work.
Any development must account for infrastructure capacity. Our strained roads require adequate infrastructure or developer-funded improvements before approval.
I support responsible zoning allowing appropriate ‘missing-middle’ housing — townhomes, duplexes, and small multi-unit developments emphasizing owner-occupied units — near MARTA and Perimeter Center while protecting single-family neighborhoods. We shouldn’t mandate affordable housing quotas, but can remove regulatory barriers that increase construction costs.
We must ensure development benefits residents today and tomorrow. What community do we want for future generations?
How should the city prioritize its capital projects for paths, parks and greenspace?
PRICE: In the 2023 Dunwoody Community Survey, 96% of residents rated the city’s quality of life positively, with recreation infrastructure playing a key role in that satisfaction. Priorities should begin with Wildcat and Homecoming Parks by installing permanent restrooms and implementing their master plans. The city should also explore preserving the Georgetown swim club greenspace as a community asset, preventing potential nuisance issues. In the Perimeter area, restricted hotel/motel tax revenues should support enhancements to parks and paths. Future path construction should target high-use pedestrian and bike use areas and be coordinated with other infrastructure projects when feasible to reduce costs.
ZISKIND: My family enjoys our parks and greenspace — they enhance quality of life and property values. First, maintain what we have: fixing playground equipment, repairing sidewalks, and addressing safety concerns. Second, focus on connectivity linking neighborhoods to schools, parks, and commercial areas. Several areas still need sidewalk sections thoughtfully completed. For new projects, prioritize based on community input, usage data, and cost-effectiveness. Dunwoody has
great parkland but lacks funding to develop it simultaneously. Focus on incremental improvements throughout the City, reaching planned build-out as funding becomes available. Every dollar spent should improve quality of life while boosting property values, benefiting all residents.
In your mind what is a city government’s role in promoting local businesses?
PRICE: The city plays an important role, first by creating a city where people want to live, work, and visit. A high quality of life and good infrastructure attracts businesses and helps them thrive. Second, the city fosters a supportive business environment through clear regulations and timely efficient permitting.
ZISKIND: As a small business owner, I know government’s best role is removing barriers, not picking winners. Streamline permitting, maintain safe infrastructure that attracts customers, and keep regulations reasonable. Support business networks and events that build community connections. Smart fiscal management keeps taxes affordable, helping local businesses and residents thrive together.
Dunwoody’s 2024 general operating budget tops $37 million with more than 50,000 residents. What experience do you have with financial management and communications?
PRICE: For the past four years, I’ve provided direction and oversight on city policy and budgets. I hold a Master’s in Public Affairs and training through the Georgia Municipal Association. My background includes 20 years of consulting experience managing seven-figure labor budgets and 25 years of conducting public meetings and hearings.
ZISKIND: I’ve personally managed budgets ranging from $100k to $100MM. It requires aligning diverse stakeholder interests through thoughtful listening and tough resource allocation decisions. As a business owner, I’m required to prioritize essential needs, maximize resources, find efficiencies, and deliver results within budget constraints while maintaining clear communication with all parties.
What is one thing you would do to help improve Dunwoody’s schools?
PRICE: While the City has no direct control over local schools, we do have control over roads outside of them.
PRICE
ZISKIND
ELECTION GUIDE
Council:
We should continue to make pedestrian, bicycle and car safety improvements and conduct targeted traffic safety enforcement. This includes a good sidewalk system with protected crosswalks with flashing beacons.
ZISKIND: As a father with three boys in Dunwoody schools, we must strengthen our partnership with DeKalb Schools to influence the quality of education items we don’t directly control. However, ensuring safe routes to school through better sidewalks, crosswalks, and traffic management is something we can do immediately.
Will you commit to requiring a citizen referendum on any proposed increase to the city’s tax rate? Why or why not?
POST 3 (DISTRICT 3)
City Councilman Tom Lambert, first elected to east Dunwoody’s Post 3 local seat in 2017, is facing off against Wendi Taylor, a resident of the Four Oaks neighborhood off Peeler Road.
In 2024, council members unanimously selected Lambert as mayor pro tempore, and he was elected president of District Three East on the Georgia Municipal Association’s Board of Directors.
Wendi Taylor is the wife of former Dunwoody City Councilman and state Rep. Tom Taylor, one of the driving forces leading up to the city’s incorporation in 2008.
Please provide a brief profile.
we can create opportunities while preserving the quality of life that makes Dunwoody so desirable.
TAYLOR:
How should the city prioritize its capital projects for paths, parks and greenspace?
TAYLOR: I favor looking at the rankings and recommendations provided by the 2022 Dunwoody Citizens Advisory Capital Improvements Committee. This Committee looked at a wide variety of parks, facilities, transportation, and other projects Are those projects a priority, reasonable, affordable, and feasible? Continued from Page 4
PRICE: The good news is that a tax increase is not needed. The city has operated with a surplus for seven years. I will always follow the city charter, which caps the millage rate at 3.04 mils, the current rate. Any increase above that already requires approval through a citizen referendum.
ZISKIND: YES. City Council’s job is prioritizing spending within budget. I want to rebuild citizens’ trust in how we spend existing funds. I would only ask citizens to vote on a tax rate increase after rebuilding that trust and identifying clear needs outside the current budget that a majority supports.
If someone committed to donate $50 million to Dunwoody with no strings attached, what would you want to spend the money on?
PRICE: With a one-time windfall, I would focus on four areas: 1). Stormwater upgrades and road safety improvements; 2). Implementing the Wildcat and Homecoming Park master plans; 3). Supporting efforts to establish a Dunwoody school system; and 4). Acquiring Village property for public greenspace and a parking deck to boost development.
ZISKIND: Invest in long-term infrastructure that benefits everyone but is often piecemeal due to costs: improving roads, intersections, and traffic flow, enhancing parks, and upgrading aging stormwater systems. Smart infrastructure investments protect property values, improve quality of life, and reduce future maintenance costs. All capital decisions must consider ongoing operational costs.
LAMBERT: I’ve proudly served Dunwoody for 26 years — as a dedicated volunteer, leader, and twoterm council member. My proactive leadership and proven record reflect my commitment to public safety, fiscal responsibility, parks, protecting neighborhoods, and community engagement. I’d be honored to continue serving our community and continue Dunwoody’s positive momentum.
TAYLOR:
• 27-year Dunwoody resident
• MSIE, GA Tech
• Career: Engineer and business consultant
• Married; Raised family, including international host students in Dunwoody
• Founded two nonprofits, one supporting hunger alleviation NGOs worldwide and one which worked with GA Legislature.
• Dedicated volunteer serving people locally and worldwide (Afghanistan, Burundi, Kazakhstan, Philippines, and many more)
A big topic in Metro Atlanta right now is the rising cost of living and a shortage of affordable housing. What role, if any, should Dunwoody’s city government have in promoting or restricting more affordable housing types, which may include multi-unit developments?
LAMBERT: The rising cost of housing is a regional challenge, but local solutions must fit Dunwoody’s character. As we are already one of the most densely populated cities in Georgia, large-scale increases in density are not the answer. Thoughtful “missing middle” options—like townhomes or cottage courts — can expand housing choice appropriately placed near commercial centers and transit. I’m also proud of the housing stipend that helps Dunwoody police officers live in the city they serve — 20 officers already benefit. By taking a balanced, practical approach,
The high cost of living — especially housing — is affecting the entire nation Most of these market conditions are outside the control of small cities such as Dunwoody.
Dunwoody must recognize that affordable housing comes at a cost to the entire community, as concentrated ‘affordable’ housing means the community must provide for handling additional traffic, additional school children, additional infrastructure, etc. Federal housing subsidies payable to the landlord (and paid for by all of us) are becoming scarcer, so Dunwoody should instead emphasize supporting the growth of businesses that will employ more people, making housing more affordable to them.
LAMBERT: Dunwoody has already completed a thorough public process to prioritize capital projects, including more than a dozen meetings and the work of a citizen-led committee that reviewed 104 projects before recommending priorities to Council. Since that process was done three years ago, I believe it’s appropriate to revisit the list through new workshops and open houses.
This would honor the work and solid foundation already established while giving residents the opportunity to update priorities and ensure any investments in paths, parks, and greenspace reflect today’s needs and focus on projects that deliver the greatest impact on residents’ quality of life.
See COUNCIL, Page 6
LAMBERT
TAYLOR
Council:
Let’s apply a common-sense approach to facilities we are currently obligated to maintain vs. new undertakings on those lists. We should avoid unnecessarily or unreasonably raising taxes or incurring new debt (bonds) to pay for them. Raising taxes or issuing bonds should be presented to and voted on by the citizens who will have to pay for them.
In your mind what is a city government’s role in promoting local businesses?
LAMBERT: Local businesses are the lifeblood of our community. I’ve advanced initiatives like streamlined license renewals, entertainment districts, and smart infrastructure investment. I’ll continue to collaborate with business owners and organizations like Perimeter Chamber and Discover Dunwoody to ensure our businesses thrive and remain a vital part of our city’s success.
TAYLOR: Locally owned businesses are important, but so are larger retail and corporate locations, mostly located in Dekalb PCID and contributing significantly
to Dunwoody’s general tax revenue. Dunwoody should develop relationships, like its relationship with PCID, with local business owners to foster an environment conducive to their success anywhere in Dunwoody.
Dunwoody’s 2024 general operating budget tops $37 million with more than 50,000 residents. What experience do you have with financial management and communications?
LAMBERT: During my eight years on the City Council, I’ve helped lead Dunwoody through its strongest financial performance in the history of our city, delivering improved services while maintaining DeKalb’s lowest tax rate. I also completed advanced municipal finance and capital project management education at UGA’s Carl Vinson Institute of Government.
TAYLOR: I have provided strategic planning, supply chain, facility and logistics engineering, procurement, and project management services for 150+ clients. Projects involved developing cost-effective solutions, evaluating competitive bids, calculating capital and operations costs, and communicating financial recommendations to C-level executives. Wendi’s degrees: Masters - Systems Analysis, Industrial Engineering; BS – Physics, Business.
• Early voting for the upcoming municipal elections is Oct. 14Oct. 31. The polls will be open Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., Saturday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Sunday from noon to 5 p.m.
• Election Day is Nov. 4.
• The last day to request an absentee ballot is Oct. 24.
Check your voter registration status at mvp.sos.ga.gov/s/
What is one thing you would do to help improve Dunwoody’s schools?
LAMBERT: With two decades of dedicated leadership and volunteer service to Dunwoody’s schools, I know that active involvement drives improvement. I’ll continue supporting our schools through student groups, PTSOs, and events, while encouraging local organizations and businesses to provide resources and programs that enrich our students’ educational experience and community connections.
TAYLOR: Foster better relationship with Dekalb County Board Education to improve school facilities our children attend. Most homeowner property taxes (70+%) go to DCBE, but yet we have overcrowded schools and Dunwoody must shoulder cost to build and maintain sports fields and facilities used by schools and community.
Will you commit to requiring a citizen referendum on any proposed
increase to the city’s tax rate? Why or why not?
LAMBERT: Yes. Our charter requires voter approval for any millage rate above 3.04, and I will always uphold the charter. More importantly, Dunwoody’s finances are strong and well-managed. I continue to see no justification for raising the rate in the foreseeable future — we can meet community needs responsibly within our means.
TAYLOR: Any effort to raise the property tax rate for homeowners must be voted on by citizens, as provided in Dunwoody’s Charter. Dunwoody must provide complete and accurate information, soundly based on the budget, operating costs, and revenues available to fund capital projects, so voters can decide on the tax increase.
If someone committed to donate $50 million to Dunwoody with no strings attached, what would you want to spend the money on?
LAMBERT: I’d immediately invest the $50 million in a Local Government Investment Pool that prioritizes safety and liquidity and earns reliable returns. I’d then launch a transparent public process to identify and prioritize capital projects that residents most support, ensuring long-term investments that meaningfully enhance Dunwoody’s quality of life.
TAYLOR: It shouldn’t be spent on projects that aren’t priorities. Dunwoody should first look at budgetbased needs and the feasibility and desirability of capital projects. It could be applied toward ongoing operational needs, if tax revenues were not available to meet the budgeted amounts, or it could be allocated to reserves.
Congress must stop governing by shutdown
Every September, Americans brace themselves for the same crisis: the threat of a government shutdown. It has become a political ritual, a recurring drama where both parties hold the budget hostage to secure policy concessions that would never pass on their own. The result is disruption, uncertainty, and eroding trust in our institutions.
If a business behaved this way,
Talk Back to the Crier
The Crier is committed to its role as Dunwoody’s community thread. As readers have reminded the paper, part of that role means budgeting premium space for letters from residents. Talk Back to the Crier by Sunday night and your note will be on page 3 that week. Email letters to newsroom@appenmedia.com. The Crier won’t publish it without explicitly getting your approval.
hostage-taking disguised as budget negotiations.
Critics will say comparing government to business oversimplifies the challenge. But at its core, government is a business, a very large one. It has revenues, expenses, employees and obligations. If a CEO repeatedly failed to deliver a budget and shut down the company’s operations, that CEO wouldn’t last
Accountant shares views on Dunwoody finances
Our City is holding public hearings on the proposed 2026 Budget during the next 2 regular Council meetings—October 14 and 27. These meetings will be the first opportunity for regular Dunwoody Citizens to voice their opinion on the City spending priorities and policies for 2026 and beyond. But undoubtedly, if history is a guide, the time will be very limited as our City Leaders don’t want our input.
Over the past two years, we have seen slick power point presentations and heard of the impending financial doomsday for our City resulting from the “Structural Deficit” issues. The “Structural Deficit” issue was used by Council to unanimously vote to increase the property tax millage rate to the 3.04 rate specified in the City Charter as the maximum rate without a Citizen vote. The same “Structural Deficit” argument was unsuccessfully used by City staff and Leaders to seek $60 million Bonds which was soundly rejected by a 57% to 43% vote. Our Citizens and businesses have also paid millions of unnecessary property taxes during the last several years because City Council did not downward adjust millage rates that produced additional property tax revenues from HIGHER assessed values. State law requires Cities to hold public hearings and City councils to affirmatively vote on the millage rates in this situation.
Now comes a miracle! The Mayor has found “Millions” –reportedly $10 million— that the Mayor is willing to spend on “Pet Pork” projects just before election day on Tuesday November 4. The proposed spending includes $5 million to build out Homecoming Park. But surprise! Dunwoody will now have a “Beach Volley Ball” court in this Park. Who are the intended users? Our nearby High schoolers during lunch? I could be for this project if bleachers were added for my old Buddies and I to watch the games. How about a “Hot Tub” to get us thru cold days? This proposed ridiculous idea was not on the list of “Wants” discussed in any of the numerous Capital Spending meetings leading up to the $60 million Bond vote in 2023. Why now?
I have expressed questions and concerns in recent years about
the timeliness and accuracy of City financial statements. To my knowledge, nothing has been done to address any of my concerns. The last reliable audited financial statement was December 31 2024— yep, 10 months ago! So, I doubt the accuracy of the $10 million in found money.
If there is any significant FOUND money, the City should hold meetings for Citizens to express their opinion. The 2 proposed meetings with the normal 10 minutes for each side to express their views is woefully inadequate. Spending on high priority NEEDS or on items that result in future savings should be a priority and should be debated outside of election year politics. Real, important items include paying off the $10.6 million in City debt (which would result in an annual saving of over $1 million per year for the next several years) is such an item. Who can be against a Debt-Free City? Another high priority is to provide our Police department with the manpower that BerryDunn recommended— 6 more patrol officers, enough sworn officers for visibility on patrols in our neighborhoods and enough sworn officers for effective speeding control on neighborhood streets. The additional Police officers could be on a planned phase over 2-3 years. I’ve consistently heard from my fellow Citizens that speeding on neighborhood streets, like Peeler Road, is as dangerous as speeding on I-285. Crime stats be damned. We don’t feel safe.
I urge my fellow Citizens to act now if they want any input into the spending and policy discussions. Email your thoughts to the Mayor and Council. Their address can be found on the City web site. You should attend the Council meetings on October 14 and 28 and speak out as time permits. Your final action is to vote for the Council person who will listen to you. Early voting starts on October 14 and election day is November 4.
You voice and vote will make a difference.
Just My Opinion.
BOB HICKEY Dunwoody
with
NOT IN MY HOUSE!
1. You can click on it. 3rd sign of the Zodiac. Indian Bread.
2. Angler’s basket. Trojan War hero. 7th sign of the Zodiac.
3. 12th sign of the Zodiac. Reindeer herder. Farm building.
4. Racetrack shape. 6th sign of the Zodiac. Hermit.
5. Ump’s decision. Barber shop call. 2nd sign of the Zodiac.
6. 4th sign of the Zodiac. Brass component. ___ Lightyear.
7. Coffee order. 1st sign on the Zodiac. Greek cheese.
1 You can click on it. 3rd sign of the Zodiac. Indian Bread
2. Angler’s basket. Trojan War hero. 7th sign of the Zodiac
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. 12th sign of the Zodiac. Reindeer herder. Farm building
4. Racetrack shape. 6th sign of the Zodiac. Hermit
5. Ump’s decision. Barber shop call. 2nd sign of the Zodiac.
6. 4th sign of the Zodiac. Brass component. ___ Lightyear
7. Coffee order. 1st sign of the Zodiac. Greek cheese
Experience Matters
TALK BACK TO THE CRIER
Here we go again!
Dunwoody announces that Georgia DOT is providing $1.6 million to complete the “Village Crossing Enhancement” road design. Extending from Womack Road through the Village to Roberts Drive, “the project’s current design calls for a more walkable and bike friendly corridor, with added traffic calming measures.”
That nifty illustration in last week’s Crier, showing the existing two lanes for auto traffic, then being replaced by a single auto lane, with an adjoining bicycle path and wide pedestrian walkway, seems somewhat of a joke.
Newspaper Delivery Route Openings with Appen Media Group
We are looking for one person or couple interested in delivering weekly newspapers in South Forsyth, Alpharetta and the Johns Creek areas.
Requirements: Must have a perfect driving record and background check, reliable transportation, honest, hard-working and positive attitude.
For more information or to apply, email heidi@appenmedia.com and include a paragraph or two about who you are and any relevant background/experience. In the subject line of the email please put “Delivery Route Application.”
Comparatively, the recently completed Georgetown corridor project comes to mind; eye appealing, extra-wide pedestrian walkway, now with traffic calming via single-lane traffic, turn lanes, median planters, crosswalks, and now a headache to navigate by car. And now with no room to bypass bikes. Dunwoody Village traffic flow is many times worse than Georgetown.
Chamblee Dunwoody road through the Village runs north/ south. What about the east/west Mount Vernon crossroads, where traffic is an even greater issue? These two roads are integral to each other and to traffic flow through Dunwoody. Where is that reflected in the traffic calming plan?
TALK BACK TO THE CRIER
In this instance, emphasizing pedestrian and bike travel over traffic flow is both regressive and short sighted. And ignoring the Mount Vernon traffic issue only compounds the matter. Dunwoody needs to begin to think outside the box. Shopping centers, restaurants, businesses, banks, service providers, etc., comprise the core of Dunwoody Village, most providing extensive interior parking, maybe even room for pedestrian walkways. Priority one- accessible by car!
Dunwoody’s $324,000, together with GDOT’s $1.6 million planning stage budget, should be sufficient to creatively address this matter.
Let’s hear from our elected Dunwoody Council members NOW, before it is too late.
MARTIN WINTERMANTEL
City monitoring erosion issue
The City of Dunwoody is working with representatives of the Kingsley Raquet & Swim Club and Kingsley Lake Association on code violations related to erosion around the Kingsley Lake spillway. The city is giving the club time to come up with a plan to
Talk Back to the Crier
remedy the issue. Kingsley Lake is a man-made, private lake. The land in question is also private and not publicly owned.
JENNIFER BOETTCHER City of Dunwoody Communications Director
The Crier is committed to its role as Dunwoody’s community thread. As readers have reminded the paper, part of that role means budgeting premium space for letters from residents. Talk Back to the Crier by Sunday night and your note will be on page 3 that week. Email letters to newsroom@appenmedia.com. The Crier won’t publish it without explicitly getting your approval.
Dunwoody
The Floyd family’s 1932 move to the country
VALERIE BIGGERSTAFF Columnist
Ida Mallory Cobb and Arva Colbert Floyd, Sr. married in 1924. She was a graduate of Wesleyan College and worked in the office of the Epworth League, a Methodist youth organization. Arva was a graduate student at Emory University and a professor of comparative religions. (Atlanta Journal, April 13, 1924, “Engagements of Social Interest Announced”)
The couple traveled to Japan as missionaries after their wedding. They intended to continue missionary work, but Arva began experiencing severe headaches and dizziness four years later, so they returned to the U.S. The couple decided to move to the country and try chicken farming, even though neither had expertise in farming. They started by renting a cabin in Clayton, Georgia. (“The Story of Dunwoody,” by Elizabeth L. Davis and Ethel W. Spruill)
In 1931, Arva Floyd, Sr. began searching for a farm closer to Atlanta for the family which now included three children. He purchased 20 acres from Calhoun Spruill on Chamblee Dunwoody Road. Calhoun Spruill owned 100 acres on either side of the road, near Dunwoody Grammar School.
There was a small green house on the property, and a stream crossed the land. The Floyds planned to build a new home in the future. Ida Floyd was
unsure about this new plan, especially during the Great Depression.
Arva Floyd Jr. was nervous about his new school. Nettie Austin, teacher at Dunwoody School, helped him feel at home. When he arrived for his first day of school she dropped down to his level and hugged him, saying, “We heard you were coming, and we’ve been wondering when you were going to get here.”
Ida Floyd served many years as PTA president. In 1946 and 1947, she taught third and fourth grade. Arva Floyd, Sr. was on the DeKalb County School Board multiple years. He was instrumental in the campaign for a new auditorium at Dunwoody School as part of the Works Progress Administration during the Great Depression.
When the Floyds arrived in their new community, Dunwoody Methodist Church was a one-room wood building across the road from the present church. Sunday School was held outside or in the four corners of the room when it was raining or cold.
Members of the church decided they needed a larger building. Arva Floyd, Sr. was chairperson of the building committee which formed in 1933 and included Charlie Marchman, Glenn Austin Sr., B.C. Spruill and Calvin Eidson. Floyd brought members of the community together to share their construction skills and complete the job. The church that was built is the chapel at Dunwoody United Methodist Church today.
Ida Floyd’s mother, Mrs. J.J. Cobb, lived with the
family, and the two women worked with the youths of the church. Ida also helped organize the Woman’s Missionary Society.
Emory University asked Arva Floyd, Sr. to return on a part-time basis as a professor after two years. He was unsure about his headaches and health but returned to teaching. Then Emory put a policy in place that all graduate school professors must have a Ph.D. The entire family packed up and went along as he obtained his Ph.D. in one year at Yale University.
When they returned to Dunwoody, it was time to replace the small green house. They built a white, two-story Cape Cod-style home with four bedrooms. Dr. Floyd discontinued his side business of chicken farming, but the family continued to have a vegetable garden. Ida was especially proud of the year she put up 472 jars of vegetables, fruits, preserves and jellies.
The family lived in Dunwoody 17 years, moving closer to Emory as the children got older. Two Floyd sons had served in the Army during World War II, and daughter Annie Laurie married a young man from across Chamblee Dunwoody Road, Victor Manget Davis, Jr.
Award-winning author Valerie Biggerstaff is a longtime columnist for Appen Media and the Dunwoody Crier. She lives in Atlanta. You can email Valerie at pasttensega@gmail.com or visit her website at pasttensega.com.
Four Dunwoody Wildcats earn Scouts’ Gold Award
Local news is vital for staying informed and connected, and through this collaboration, we’re making it easier than ever. Now, you can access timely updates and our stories about the things happening in your area, all while engaging in meaningful conversations with real neighbors.
Don’t miss out on the stories that matter most to you –join us on your favorite social media platform to stay connected with everything that’s happening. Together, let’s build stronger, more informed communities!
DUNWOODY, Ga. — Four Wildcats from Dunwoody High School earned the Gold Award, the highest honor in Girl Scouting, by completing sustainable projects that address community needs.
The Gold Award recognizes young women who show leadership and a measurable positive impact through initiatives that require at least 80 hours of planning and execution. Only 5 percent of Girl Scouts earn the Gold Award after completing their Take Action Project.
Dunwoody senior Mackenzie Brown incorporated public art into her project, including a large mural and eight smaller canvas paintings, displaying them at Brook Run Park and several local businesses. The artworks included a QR code to a website about improving social connection.
“I’d never painted something as big as a mural before; it was intimidating,” Mackenzie said. “But so cool to see my art in the park and to know that over 500 people scanned my QR code to a website about improving social connections!”
Fellow senior Hasini Edupuganti centered her project that focuses on pedestrian safety enhancements. She stitched and placed red-crossing flags at the corners of a busy Dunwoody intersection, along with a barcode to scan for video instructions on how to use the flags to increase pedestrian visibility when crossing the street.
Seniors Mackenzie and Hasini, who have been in the same Girl Scout troop since first grade, said completing their projects was challenging but rewarding.
Dunwoody junior Caroline Bailey gave her time at Vanderlyn Elementary School, providing her character development curriculum for the
counselors to use with the students, including art in the outdoor classroom at the school.
Caroline said she wanted her project to really impact the younger generation because they have the most potential.
“I think that character development is very important and translates to every aspect of life,” Caroline said. “This project has been extremely fulfilling and made me want to continue trying to step outside of my comfort zone and improve the world and community around me.”
Rounding out the group, senior Amy Sahar collected donations for a local nonprofit addressing homelessness in the community and started a club at the high school to spread awareness and deliver donations.
Amy said she knew she wanted to help the homeless in her community but wasn’t sure how to begin. That changed when she connected with Family Promise, a national nonprofit with local branches that support families facing housing insecurity through shelter, case management and community-based resources.
Amy founded SHIELD (Support for Homeless Initiative: Education, Leadership and Development), a student-led club that runs drives and fundraisers to support homeless families and raise awareness among high school peers.
Mackenzie and Hasini attended the Girl Scouts of Greater Atlanta’s Gold Award ceremony in March, where they received their pin, a plaque and letters of congratulations from both Georgia senators.
Amy and Caroline will attend the ceremony next year.
— Hayden Sumlin
LAURA BROWN/PROVIDED
From left, Dunwoody High School seniors Hasini Edupuganti, Mackenzie Brown, junior Caroline Bailey and senior Amy Sahar have just completed all requirements to earn the highest honor in Girl Scouting, the Gold Award. The four Wildcats completed a strenuous Take Action Project, surrounding sustainability and addressing community needs.
Tune-Up Projects
Kitchen Tune-Up
Paint Cabinets
New Countertops, Sink & Faucet
New Backsplash
Cut Down 2-level
Island
Bathroom Tune-Up
New Countertops, Sink & Faucet
Enlarge Shower
Shower Glass
Shower Safety Full Remodel
Kitchen Remodel
Total Cabinet Replacement
Large Island
Optimize Cabinet / Appliance Locations
Open Concept –Move Walls
9-5 Mon-Fri • 10-4 Sat
Showroom – Design Center 10591 Old Alabama Rd. Connector Alpharetta, GA
Projects
Bathroom Remodel
New Larger Shower
Vanity Replacement –Cabs, Counter, Sink
Free Standing Tub
Floor Tile, Wall Tile
Plumbing Fixtures
Protect Your Assets, Your Home, And Your Family In 3 Steps
Reserve Your Seat For A FREE Estate Planning Workshop
• Does my Will protect my “stuff”? (It does not.)
• Should I upgrade my Will to a Trust?
• What do I need to know about Revocable Living Trusts?
October/November Workshops:
Wed., October 22, 6 pm
Tues., October 28, 4 pm
Thurs., October 30, 12 pm
Wed., November 5, 6 pm
Tues., November 11, 4 pm
Thurs., November 13, 12 pm
Wed., November 19, 6 pm
Tues., November 25, 4 pm
• How do Irrevocable Trusts work?
• Medicaid. What’s true and what’s not?
• How do I protect my assets for my family and legacy?
• How do I remain in control?
• How do I avoid losing everything to nursing home costs?
• How can my family avoid probate?
Attend our FREE Educational Workshops. Reserve your Spot and Get a FREE Consultation for attending the Workshop (a $500 Value) CODE: herald2023
1100 Cambridge Square | Suite B | Alpharetta, GA 30009 | 770.209.2346 | lisa@gklawgroup.com
Costs rise without proper trust planning
Brought to you by - Estates Law Center USA
When families neglect to establish a proper trust, the financial and emotional toll can be staggering. Many assume a simple will is enough, but without comprehensive trust planning, their estates often end up entangled in probate court — a lengthy, costly, and public process that drains both assets and family peace.
1. The Hidden Costs of Probate
Probate fees can consume 5% to 15% of an estate’s total value according to AARP., lost to court costs, attorney fees, appraisals, and executor commissions. this is money that could have gone directly to loved ones rather than to unnecessary probate expenses that could be avoided with a Trust. In addition, probate can take 12 to 24 months or longer, delaying access to funds when families need them most. All filings become part of the public record, eliminating privacy at a time of deep personal loss.
2. Tax Exposure Without Trust Protection
Without a properly designed trust, estates can also face unnecessary taxation. Federal estate taxes can reach up to 40% on assets exceeding exemption limits, and some states impose additional inheritance or estate taxes. Trusts, when structured strategically, can minimize, or even eliminate these burdens — preserving
generational wealth and providing a smooth, tax-efficient transition.
3. Protection from Lawsuits and Divorces
Without a properly designed trust, everything you worked for to pass to your surviving spouse can be wiped out by your beneficiary's divorces, lawsuits, creditors, taxes, disability, etc. preventing your ability to build generational wealth for your bloodline.
4. The Value of Expert Planning
Working with an experienced estate planning attorney ensures your assets are protected, your loved ones are cared for, and your wishes are carried out privately and efficiently. A well-crafted trust avoids probate, reduces taxes, and provides peace of mind that your legacy is secure. The biggest segment in Probate is those trying to do their own Wills and Trust without the right Expert guidance!
In short: failing to plan doesn’t just create paperwork — it creates financial hardship and family strain. With professional trust planning, you can keep control, protect your legacy, and spare your loved one’s unnecessary expense and delay.
HOLLY GEERDES
Saint Francis School celebrates 50 years of excellence leading the way in education
Brought to you by –
Saint Francis School
Saint Francis School is celebrating 50 years of dedication to creating an atmosphere where students with diverse academic ability can be challenged and supported. At Saint Francis, education isn’t one-size-fits-all. Personalized scheduling ensures each student receives the structure they need to thrive, from structured literacy support to advanced honors classes. Every schedule is designed to help students reach their full potential. Small class sizes mean students are truly known by their teachers, fostering deeper learning, stronger relationships, and lasting confidence. Beyond the classroom, students are
encouraged to belong and grow through clubs, leadership roles, friendships, and creative pursuits.
The Roswell Campus’s K-8 program focuses on maximizing each student’s learning potential with an emphasis on executive functioning, and a commitment to building confident learners who are ready for success in high school, college, and beyond.
Most importantly, Saint Francis continues its rich tradition of providing a safe, supportive environment where students feel excited to learn. With bus service in Buckhead, Sandy Springs, Dunwoody, Alpharetta, Milton, and Cumming, we can impact the lives of students all over the metro-Atlanta area.
Saint Francis is one of the only
private schools in Atlanta that provides a “school within a school” dyslexia remediation program with 25 years of experience. Our Wilson reading program provides outstanding, evidence-based structured literacy instruction for students with dyslexia and other language-based learning differences.
“After 25 years at Saint Francis, it’s especially rewarding to meet former students who are now seeking the same Saint Francis experience for their own children,” said Marc Weiss, Roswell Campus Director of Admissions. “It’s validation that we are a school with a lasting impact on people’s lives.”
Saint Francis School invites families to learn more about the Roswell Campus at https://www. saintfrancisschools.com/academics/.
Be Amazed.
Brought to you by – The Davis Academy
From Kindergarten PrepEighth Grade, The Davis Academy teaches to the whole child, creating compassionate leaders and equipping them with skills they will use for the entirety of their academic careers and beyond. We teach life skills, instill Jewish values, and provide diverse experiences to make our students well-rounded and self-confident individuals. Students learn in a warm and supportive community that shares common values and visions. We celebrate both the ways our diversity makes our school vibrant and the individual differences that make our school community so
unique. With a retention rate of 97%, The Davis Academy community is comprised of families from across the globe, nation, and 31 metro Atlanta zip codes. Davis graduates attend the most prestigious public and private high schools in Atlanta. They know who they are and continuously make a difference in their communities and the world.
The school offers many options for prospective families to learn about the school and community. Parents can schedule a personal tour. In addition, families can engage in wonderful Nurture events that are free and open to the community.
To learn more or schedule a tour, go to www.davisacademy.org/ admissions or call 678-527-3300.
Quality education in a loving environment
Brought to you by – St. Martin’s Episcopal School (preschool through 8th grade)
St. Martin’s Episcopal School (SMES) is Atlanta’s preschool through 8th-grade experience dedicated to graduating well-rounded individuals who wholeheartedly embrace life. St. Martin’s serves more than 600 students and offers students the personalized attention, instruction and support they need as they learn about the world and themselves through intellectual adventures, extracurricular opportunities and spiritual formation.
As an Episcopal School, students’ spiritual growth is integral to the school’s mission. Students are inspired to be good citizens, serve the community and love and respect themselves and others. Episcopal school students are led by educators who provide a competitive education and inspire students to contribute to the world’s healing.
In the classroom, the youngest students in Early Childhood enjoy a state-of-the-art Learning Center with classrooms designed explicitly for twoyear-olds through Pre-K. The curriculum emphasizes hands-on experiences, allowing students to explore, discover and play. In addition to classroom
JOIN US FOR DISCOVER DAYS
8:30-10:30 A.M.
October 30 - Kindergarten
November 6 - Middle School (5th-8th)
November 13 - Lower School (1st-4th)
November 14 - Early Childhood (2s - Pre-K)
work, students experience an active learning space, including a science lab, tinker space, art room and outdoor learning space to foster engagement and collaboration. Lower School offers a vibrant community focusing on a loving structure balanced with high academic expectations grounded in an inquirybased education. Kindergarten through 4th-grade students learn life skills such as time management, teamwork, core academics, and co-curricular classes to stretch their knowledge of the world.
By actively meeting the developmental needs of early adolescents in Middle School, the program allows students to grow into themselves - academically, physically, artistically and spiritually. The Middle School has a traditional structure designed to prepare students for various challenging high school options. The stimulating curriculum engages young minds by developing sound study skills and creating inquisitive habits of mind.
The Kairos Learning Center within St. Martin’s offers a unique learning environment for students with dyslexia. This ‘school within a school’ approach allows identified students to receive additional support balanced with immersion in the overall St. Martin’s Episcopal School experience.
PROVIDED
Change lives, change the world
Brought
to
you by – Wesleyan School
Wesleyan School believes faith and intellect are great partners with each other. At Wesleyan, it’s not a matter of choosing faith or intellect, but rather using both to create the best possible education for your child. Our leadership and faculty work to provide students with an atmosphere that is challenging, reinforces the value of hard work, and emphasizes character and integrity above accomplishment. Wesleyan prepares students for each stage of life and provides them with the opportunity to see all the possibilities that lie before them. Wesleyan’s school motto is JOY-Jesus, Others, Yourself, and every aspect of school life is oriented to reinforce this philosophy of putting Jesus first and others ahead of ourselves.
A college preparatory environment, students have access to a wide range of academic opportunities along with athletics, arts, service and other extracurricular activities. Wesleyan’s 85-acre campus provides state-of-the-art academic facilities along with on-campus practice space for athletics and arts.
Located just outside of I-285 in Peachtree Corners, Wesleyan enrolled 1,206 students in grades K-12 for the 2023-2024 school year. Wesleyan offers bus routes throughout the metro Atlanta area. Supervised care before school is included in the cost of tuition and after care is available (K-8) until 6 p.m. at an affordable rate.
The Wesleyan School 5405 Spalding Drive, Peachtree Corners, GA 30092 770-448-7640
https://www.wesleyanschool.org/
Preparing for love
How singles can build relationship readiness
Brought to you by -
Will Goodwin, M.A
Many believe relationship skills only develop within relationships, but the truth is, single life offers a powerful opportunity to prepare for long-term commitment. Healthy, lasting partnerships require emotional awareness, communication tools, and resilience— skills that can be nurtured in a wide variety of relational contexts prior to love’s arrival.
1. Build self-awareness
Understanding your emotional patterns is key. Reflect on past relationships (romantic or otherwise) to notice recurring challenges. Are you conflict-avoidant? Do you struggle with trust? The Gottman Institute emphasizes that knowing your emotional triggers and needs helps build stronger connections later.
2. Strengthen emotional regulation
Managing emotions is essential in navigating relationship stress. Practicing mindfulness, seeking therapy, or developing healthy coping
tools can increase your ability to stay grounded during tough conversations or disagreements.
3. Clarify your relationship values
Long-term success often depends on alignment in values. Take time to define what matters most to you: emotional safety, shared life goals, or communication styles. SYMBIS (Saving Your Marriage Before It Starts) research highlights that couples with clear, shared expectations experience greater satisfaction.
4. Practice effective communication
Even outside romantic partnerships, practicing assertive yet respectful communication enhances relationship readiness. This includes setting boundaries, expressing needs, and active listening.
5. Cultivate a supportive life
Build friendships, hobbies, and self-care routines that nurture your well-being. A fulfilling life outside of partnership reduces the pressure on relationships and fosters interdependence, not co-dependence.
Being single isn’t a waiting room— it’s preparation. Through intentional self-growth, you can enter future relationships equipped to navigate the challenges and joys of lasting love.
Mill Springs Academy is a K-12 private school dedicated to helping neurodiverse students (including students with ADHD, learning differences, and those on the autism spectrum) discover their strengths and thrive. Mill Springs takes a unique approach to education by combining academic learning with practical skills development through project-based learning. Our hands-on curriculum engages students in real-world challenges, fostering critical thinking, executive functioning skills, and social and emotional intelligence.
From our thematic, unit-based Lower School program to our Middle and Upper Schools' robust selection of electives that connect students to important academic skills through subjects and topics that interest them, we empower students to explore, create, and grow at their own pace. Our specialized Communication Arts program ensures that students on the spectrum and those with pragmatic language challenges receive the tailored support they need while remaining fully
engaged with the broader school community.
Mill Springs’ fine arts program encourages students to explore their creativity through painting, sculpture, set design, music, performance, and more. Our robust athletic programs allow students to play at a competitive level while building teamwork, confidence, and communication skills.
At Mill Springs, our mission is to prepare students to be Real World Ready, equipped with the confidence, life skills, and resilience to succeed in whatever path they choose. RSVP for an individual tour at www.millsprings.org/visit.
GOODWIN
ISTOCK
Education solutions for every mind, every age
Brought to you by - Eaton Academy
Eaton Academy offers multiple programs, both in person and online, since a “one size fits all” approach to education is not effective in today’s world.
Academic programs
The full-day K-12 school with its 5:1 studentto-teacher ratio allows instructors to address the individual learning styles of both neuro-typical and neuro-diverse students. Using STEAM-related activities and multisensory instruction, students of all abilities achieve academic and personal success. The collegeprep curriculum is delivered in a safe, nurturing environment.
For students with more significant needs, the Pace Program customizes the curriculum to, not only meet their specific academic needs but also develop life skills and independent living strategies. This approach is perfect for students on the spectrum, those with developmental delays, and individuals with other scholastic challenges. Pace students follow the traditional school day and work to develop greater self-sufficiency and independence, on their way to earning a high school diploma.
The Independent Study Program (ISP), tailored to students’ schedules and academic needs, permits individuals to work at their own pace. The tutorial setting enables students who need a more flexible approach, such as aspiring athletes and performers, to work toward graduation while following their dreams. Some students enroll in ISP to accelerate their scholastic
EATON ACADEMY NOW ENROLLING
A Challenging Approach to Education that Features:
• Programs for Traditional & Neurodivergent Learners
• Attention to Individual Needs
• Customized College-Prep Programs for K-12
• 5:1 Student: Teacher Ratio
• Independent Study Classes
• Supportive, Nurturing Environment
• Post-Graduate Options Available
work; others seek academic remediation. ISP arranges the one-to-one sessions on a schedule that accommodates the students’ needs for flexibility in time or delivery. Sessions can be in person or online.
Post-graduate programs
LEAP is designed to help individuals strengthen their life skills to achieve greater independence. Participants benefit from job readiness training at local businesses and life skill development in our model apartment.
The LIFE program works with young adults living in their own apartments. Participants meet with a LIFE coach several times each week for support in areas such as meal-prep, budgeting, hygiene, roommate relations, and housekeeping.
Supported employment prepares young adults for the workplace. Assistance is given with resume writing, applying for positions, and keeping a job. A job coach serves as a liaison between the participant and job sites.
The College Foundations Program (CFP) is designed for individuals who completed high school but are not ready for college or to live on their own. CFP enhances students’ abilities in academics, social settings, independent living, and employment. Students receive onthe-job experience and academic enrichment to enable them to enter college and live independently.
Eaton Academy is the ideal place for families to discover education options and independent living solutions. Whatever students need, Eaton works to create the perfect education solution for them.
Dunwoody Village merchants to throw community festival
By HAYDEN SUMLIN hayden@appenmedia.com
DUNWOODY, Ga. — High school and professional bands will perform amid other attractions Oct. 18 at the inaugural Sounds of Dunwoody festival in the Village.
The festival, a grassroots effort among merchants within the shopping center off Chamblee Dunwoody Road, will kick off on the shared greenspace at 3 p.m. Saturday and wind down at 10 p.m.
Organizers have taken care of the logistics of the free community festival, which they say looks to build camaraderie among retailers, restaurateurs and the people they serve.
The Dunwoody Village is the heart of the community, situated at Mount Vernon and Chamblee Dunwoody roads.
While most of the Village’s community gatherings occur on the east side of Chamblee Dunwoody Road, the city’s downtown district extends across the corridor to include the Shops of Dunwoody and other abutting commercial areas.
Nida Mudd, who opened her own boutique — Judy & Grace — within the Shops of Dunwoody late last year, said the idea for the festival came from trips north on Ga. 400 to historic Canton
Street for Alive in Roswell.
“I’ve been going there for several years, and now that my children are old enough, they’re all going to that event,” she said. “Once I opened my store, I realized, gosh, maybe if we got the merchants in the Shops of Dunwoody to come together, we could put an event together like that.”
Alive in Roswell is a free monthly festival held every Thursday evening from April-October.
Mudd said she saw community events popping up at other developments across the city like High Street and Ashford Lane and wanted one in her shop’s own backyard.
“On occasion, some of the restaurants will have a band, but this is really an allinclusive event where we went around to all the merchants and tried to really rally everyone together so that we can have an event in our shopping center,” she said.
Mudd said there will be excellent food and drink.
“It’s going to be a family friendly atmosphere,” she said. “We want to have a kind of a kid area with snow cones, face painting, cookies and art. And then we’re gonna have great music.”
The Sounds of Dunwoody festival is being put on by the Shops of Dunwoody
merchants, the Dunwoody Homeowners Association and Create Dunwoody, which is a city-based arts and culture nonprofit.
All kids’ activities at Sounds of Dunwoody are being run by Create Dunwoody.
Two Atlanta musical groups are scheduled to perform, including the
Francisco Vidal Band, an acoustic, rock/ pop trio, and PDL, a rock ‘n’ roll/alternative cover band with its own saxophonist.
Before they take the stage, two local high school rock bands, from Mount Vernon and Dunwoody, will play a set.
The merchant group hired a production manager, a member of a local cover band, to handle the band schedule and the technical aspect of the music festival, which takes some pressure off the retailers.
“Some of the merchants have asked about making it [the festival] biannual … let’s just try to see if the community is ready for something like this before we decide,” Mudd said.
In March, the Atlanta Business Chronicle reported Charlotte-based Asana partners purchased the Shops of Dunwoody for $27.5 million and several surrounding properties for another $7.5 million.
Mudd said the shopping center stepped in to provide three off-duty officers for security at the festival, which helped lower the cost.
“Our headliner is called the Francisco Vidal Band. He is amazing, phenomenal,” she said. “Because it’s a free event, we’re just expecting that we’re going to have a good crowd.”
JOIN US
Together, we’ll create opportunities, drive innovation, and build a brighter tomorrow YOUR VOICE. YOUR BUSINESS.
Memberships is now opendon’t miss out on this exciting new chapter! today and become part of a dynamic network that’s shaping the business landscape
KATY ASIP/PROVIDED
Preservation Trust holds reimagined Farm to Table
DUNWOODY, Ga. — The Dunwoody Preservation Trust, a nonprofit dedicated to building a future with a strong sense of historical place, held its annual Farm to Table fundraiser Oct. 4.
Event organizers said the evening has been reimagined, centering around a culinary and wine experience for interested learners.
Also new this year, the Dunwoody Preservation Trust organized a threecourse plated dinner at DonaldsonBannister Farm with a long 72-seat table.
The nearly sold-out event included prosecco and cheeses, port wine, candied pecans, braised beef and chicken with a caramel apple cheesecake.
Proceeds from the dinner and silent auction went toward installation of a tool exhibit in the newly rehabilitated blacksmith’s shop, which the city chipped in money to renovate earlier this year.
The old 1870s farmhouse at 4831 Chamblee Dunwoody Road is now owned by the City of Dunwoody and a part of the Parks and Recreation Department.
Many Dunwoody residents remember the days when the Chesnut family lived at the farm, keeping horses and mules in the meadow.
The city acquired the site from DeKalb County when it incorporated.
In May 2018, after many years of fundraising and hard work, the community gathered to celebrate the farm’s grand opening.
The Dunwoody Preservation Trust hosts Camp Flashback and other youth programs at the site.
The nonprofit got some help with the three-course dinner from chef Eric Centenaro of Exquisite Delights and Matt Lippard from Winestore.
Jennifer McLaurin from DeKalb County Recreation, Parks and Cultural Affairs spoke about youth programs and community gardening.
One of the highlights of the evening was hearing from 10-year-old Kendall Rae Johnson, the youngest certified farmer on record in the United States, who brought fresh arugula from her own garden and discussed urban farming.
More than 25 students from Dunwoody High School’s National Honor Society set up the 72-seat table, served guests and cleaned up afterward as a part of their community service initiatives.
Some elected officials attended the dining and learning experience at Donaldson-Bannister Farm, including Dunwoody City Council members Tom Lambert, Catherine Lautenbacher and Joe Seconder, as well as DeKalb County School Board member Andrew Ziffer.
— Hayden Sumlin
T:\ADS_2025\Appen Media Group\Filler Ads\ Shop, Eat, Read Local
SHOP LOCAL EAT LOCAL READ LOCAL
PHOTOS BY: DUNWOODY PRESERVATION TRUST/PROVIDED Guests at the Dunwoody Preservation Trust’s annual Farm to Table fundraiser enjoy a three-course meal Oct. 4 and the newly reimagined dining and learning experience at Donaldson-Bannister Farm. The annual event raised money for the historical site’s 100-year-old blacksmith shop.
From left, Dunwoody Preservation Trust Secretary Cowen Harter, Board member Allegra Johnson and Executive Director Kristin Simmons are all smiles during the annual Farm to Table fundraiser Oct. 4 at Donaldson-Bannister Farm.
NEW BUSINESS SPOTLIGHTS
Business Name: Artemis Smiles Orthodontics
Name Of Owner: Behnaz Yavari
Business Description: Located in the heart of Sandy Springs, GA, Artemis Smiles Orthodontics is your premier destination for top-notch orthodontic care. Led by our awesome orthodontist, Dr. Bennie, we are dedicated to creating beautiful, healthy smiles for every member of our community.
Business Description: Face & Wellness offers organic facials, massages, infrared sauna, head & scalp treatments, chiropractic services, and mild hyperbaric oxygen treatments.
Month Opened: January
Phone: (678) 822-0228
Address: 875 Mansell Road Suite F Roswell GA 30076
Website: https://www. faceandwellness.com
Business Name: Teddy’s Jiu Jitsu Academy
Name Of Owners: Jerad “Teddy” Wheeler and Kelly Wheeler
Month Opened: April
Just opened?
Phone: (678) 216-4078
Address: 8560 Holcomb Bridge Rd. Suite 102, Alpharetta, Georgia 30022
Website: https://teddysjiujitsuacademy. com/
Appen Media publishes New Business Spotlights to highlight local businesses as they get started. Submit yours for free at appenmedia.com/newbusiness
SOLUTIONS
Lieutenant Governor campaign draws another GOP contender
By TY TAGAMI Capitol Beat
ATLANTA — A half dozen state lawmakers are now running for Georgia lieutenant governor, as another Republican senator joins the race, hoping to outflank his opposition on the right.
Sen. Greg Dolezal, R-Cumming, a conservative from the northern Atlanta suburbs, joins a cast of fellow conservative senators, all from outside the biggest metro area — plus an Atlanta Senate Democrat and a GOP state representative from Buford.
Dolezal will campaign to succeed Lt. Gov. Burt Jones, the Trumpbacked Republican running for governor.
Dolezal’s campaign announcement on YouTube Tuesday focused on his right wing credentials as the chief sponsor of the Riley Gaines Act, a new law that bans students born male from participating on female athletic teams in schools and colleges.
Dolezal also said he would crack down on extremists who riot and burn cities, as well as illegal immigration, diversity equity and inclusion programs, and “soft on crime” prosecutors.
“I’m running for lieutenant governor because we’re at a turning point as the radical left continues to threaten our public safety,” Dolezal’s advertisement says, as a siren wails in the background.
The chairman of the Senate Transportation Committee and vice chair of the powerful Appropriations Committee is up against political powerhouses.
Sen. John F. Kennedy, R-Macon, stepped aside as president pro tempore of the Senate — the highest office in that chamber below lieutenant governor — to run for lieutenant governor. Sen. Steve Gooch, R-Dahlonega, stepped down as majority leader — the next highest office — to run for lieutenant governor. And Sen. Blake Tillery, R-Vidalia, who outranks Dolezal on Appropriations as chairman of that budget-writing committee, is also running for lieutenant governor.
Add Rep. David Clark, R-Buford, who served in Afghanistan with the Green Berets, and next year’s Republican primary is shaping up to be a rowdy contest as the candidates attempt to differentiate themselves.
Clark said in his campaign
announcement that “a world on fire” needs warriors not politicians. His entry came one day after Tillery announced his candidacy, both hitting similar notes about tax cuts, illegal immigration and transgender issues.
Kennedy and Gooch are also running on platforms aimed to appeal to President Donald Trump’s MAGA base.
They would all likely appreciate an endorsement from Trump, but Dolezal was the only member of the bunch who got to speak at Jones’ gubernatorial campaign opener for governor at Indian Springs State Park in Flovilla.
That was in late August, a couple weeks after Trump had already endorsed Jones for governor.
Dolezal railed against Republicans who were silent on Trump when he was down politically.
“This is what I call political opportunism,” Dolezal said. “These politicians want a ticket on the Trump train, but they never paid the price.”
At least one candidate for lieutenant governor wants nothing to do with Trump.
Sen. Josh McLaurin, D-Sandy Springs, regular ridiculed the president on the Senate floor during this past legislative session. He is the only state lawmaker campaigning for the Democratic nomination for lieutenant governor, the office that sets the agenda for the state Senate and influences the fate of legislation in that chamber.
This story is available through a news partnership with Capitol Beat News Service, a project of the Georgia Press Educational Foundation.
Projects:
Continued from Page 1
City Councilman John Heneghan said he thinks the mayor’s recommendations have “universal approval” from all elected officials, in an Oct. 5 blog post.
Heneghan also wrote that he wants to set aside additional reserves to cover two potential needs, a $1 million ambulance subsidy set to expire at the end of the year and $3 million in case the Dunwoody Post Office hits the open market.
While neither expenditure is in next year’s budget, Heneghan said the need to fund them could arise quickly.
Based off the mayor’s recommendations and council members’ discussion, the city can spend the $7 million in reserves while keeping enough to cover Heneghan’s suggestions.
If approved, the spending would reduce city reserves from more than nine months of operational expenses to just over seven months, well above the City Charter’s minimum of four months.
Dunwoody measures its reserves in months by estimating the average monthly cost of municipal operations in 2026.
Most of the reserves are earmarked toward Homecoming Park, a 9.3-acre site at 4809 and 4819 Vermack Road. Park improvements include a wildflower meadow, open play field, 0.5-mile nature trail, a restroom pavilion with solar panels next to a state-of-the-art playground, a sensory garden and a renovated community building with solar panels.
City Councilwoman Stacey Harris said she strongly supports building out Homecoming Park according to the council-approved 2023 masterplan.
“Two and a half years later, we’re finally looking to get it done,” Harris said. “So fine, $5 million now, but if it goes over, we need to build it out.”
Parks and Recreation Director Rachel Waldron said maintenance of the beach volleyball courts will be performed
Award:
Continued from Page 1
Parks and Recreation Director Rachel Waldron said the team strives to raise the bar for Dunwoody each year.
“To be recognized by our peers five years in a row is both humbling and motivating,” Waldron said. “I’m especially proud of the individual honors our staff earned this year, and I’m grateful to be recognized for my own contributions.”
Waldron received the Greg White
CITY OF DUNWOODY/PROVIDED
The most recent master plan for Homecoming Park shows a community center, an open playing field, nature trail and sand volleyball court at the 9.3-site off Vermack Road in central Dunwoody. Elected officials are preparing a budget amendment later this year to fund a $5 million buildout of the park.
by city staff in the mornings, stating players often perform routine cleanups themselves.
City Councilman Rob Price said he is concerned about the septic system’s leach field, or drainage, which may impact the playing field and buildable areas of the park.
The Parks and Recreation Department will test the soil around the leach field this month to understand potential impacts on the park’s construction.
Poring over the details
During the budget workshop, elected officials went line-by-line through the Capital Improvement Plan, a five-year spending schedule for various infrastructure and parks projects around the city. The exercise removed completed projects and opened a discussion about whether to shift funding between projects to move some ahead in the funding schedule.
Council members expressed no interest in delaying the path on the
Distinguished Professional of the Year Award, a new recognition in 2025 that recognizes individuals who have made outstanding and lasting contributions to leisure services. It’s the highest award GRPA can bestow on one of its members.
The association was formed in 1945 as a private, nonprofit to support and promote Georgia’s recreation and park industries. District 6 covers DeKalb County and 21 other counties in middle and north Georgia. Dunwoody Parks and Recreation was recognized for exemplary performance in the District 6 population category of 50,001 to 80,000 residents.
Other Dunwoody team members also
owns the two electric vehicles but will need $117,000 to cover federal grant assistance which is still in limbo.
Another $183,000 will go toward regular patrol cars, he said.
Carlson said his department has other capital requests queued if more funding becomes available, such as equipping patrol cars with ballistic windshields to stop bullets like the ones that killed DeKalb County Police Officer David Rose in August.
Pedestrian safety upgrades
Public Works Director Michael Smith presented five projects totaling $500,000.
Pedestrian safety enhancements include a new crosswalk with traffic calming features at Vanderlyn and Hensley drives on the north side of Dunwoody High School; intersection improvements along Dunwoody Village Parkway; traffic calming at Womack and Vermack roads; a crosswalk realignment at Tilly Mill Road and Dunwoody Glenn; and audible crosswalk buttons at 10 intersections.
north side of Peeler Road in front of the Four Oaks subdivision. Councilman Heneghan had suggested diverting $200,000 of the path funding because the Winter’s Chapel path connecting to it is not yet completed.
Residents in the area are split on their support for the Peeler Road path. Construction is at least a year away.
In the realm of public safety, Police Chief Mike Carlson said the department plans to spend part of its $500,000 in capital allocations on a costsharing agreement with the Perimeter Community Improvement Districts for a second drone. The rest would be spent on the department’s existing electric vehicles and to shore up its fleet of patrol cars.
“We have initiated our drone first responder program,” Carlson said. “[The PCIDs] has agreed to a two-year contract to add an additional drone on the east side of the city … we’re going to triple the amount of time that this drone is going to be able to respond.”
Carlson said the department already
received prestigious awards.
David Alexander, parks grounds coordinator, won the Maintenance & Operations Network Award for outstanding contributions in recreation.
Kate Borden, recreation programs manager, took home the Administrative & Leadership Network Award for excellence in management and development.
In 2025, Dunwoody Parks and Recreation focused on making programs and events more inclusive by adding special pops tennis, adaptive soccer and several therapeutic programs.
The department also invested in new
The budget for sidewalks is $1 million, including work on Chamblee Dunwoody Road from Spalding Drive to Oakpointe Place, Peeler Road from Huntington Hall to Equestrian Way and Vermack Road from Womack Road to Parliament way.
The reserve spending would be on top of the city’s regularly scheduled capital projects, including $500,000 in pandemic-era federal funding to replace a key sidewalk used by elementary school students along North Peachtree Road.
City Councilman Joe Seconder said there is more than $5 million budgeted for sidewalk projects next year, which represents a good buildup of pedestrian safety projects, one of his priorities.
“What we’re doing today is adding another 20 percent more to what we’ve already funded for sidewalks,” Seconder said. “There are other existing roadway projects that, by default, incorporate sidewalks as well. For instance, the Tilly Mill at Mount Vernon project, that’s going to be another half-mile segment.”
public art installations, like “Reflections” at Two Bridges Park.
Other park improvements include a new playground at Waterford Park, four SaveStations equipped with life-saving automated external defibrillators and a new memorial at Brook Run that’s scheduled to be completed in time for Veterans Day.
“Rachel and her team deserve this special recognition by other park professionals,” City Manager Eric Linton said. “The work they do is nonstop, and I’m proud of their ingenuity and commitment to offering something for everyone.”
GARDEN BUZZ
Setting boundaries with small-leaf privet
Plants in the genus, Ligustrum, commonly called privet, are wellknown ornamental plants in the southern garden.
The “Sunshine” cultivar has been bred for its goldenyellow foliage and tolerance to a variety of soil conditions and sunlight. “Swift Creek” is known for its variegated, green-and-cream leaves. However, the original privet species that was used to breed these cultivars did not evolve alongside our native plant and animal communities. Native to Europe and Asia, Ligustrum sinense, also known as small-leaf privet or Chinese privet, was brought to the United States in the 1850s as an ornamental plant.
Since then, small-leaf privet has spread rapidly through yards and gardens and into natural areas across the southeastern and mid-Atlantic U.S. Now listed as a Category I invasive species, smallleaf privet has become a major threat to our locally evolved plants and animals.
Small-leaf privet is a shrub that grows rapidly into dense thickets. For the last century and a half, this feature has been attractive to ornamental gardeners who were looking for privacy shrubs and hedgerows that would fill in quickly. But small-leaf privet has boundary issues and a way of escaping. Their small, abundant fruits entice birds and other wildlife, who eat the berries and disperse the seeds in their droppings. The roots of smallleaf privet also sprout new plants and grow outwards, creating thick monocultures of this intrusive shrub.
Small-leaf privet is an adaptable species and can tolerate a wide range of soil types, climates and amounts of sunlight. It’s even resistant to a notorious plant adversary: deer. As small-leaf privet spreads throughout our natural areas, it shades out native plants, uses up resources and prevents new trees from establishing. Because of its pioneering nature, small-leaf privet is a common sight in open and disturbed areas, such as roadsides, fence rows and forest edges. With a tolerance for shade, it thrives in forest interiors, too.
Small-leaf privet can grow up to 20 feet tall, with multiple trunks
About the author
from UGA Extension or the Georgia Native Plant Society for more native plant options for your landscape. Removal by mowing, cutting or pulling by hand is possible when plants are small and tender. An attentive gardener may be able to spot new stems and control the spread this way. Remove as much of the root system as possible when hand pulling, as new plants can sprout from even small pieces of roots that remain in the soil.
and long branches. Leaves grow in an opposite (parallel) pattern along stems, with smooth margins and a little fuzz on the underside. Being a semi-evergreen plant, it keeps its leaves throughout the winter but will drop some before spring. Clusters of small, white flowers emerge in late spring and summer, which develop into waxy, deep purple berries that hang around through the winter. Because Ligustrum have been bred as ornamental plants for centuries, multiple species and cultivars exist and are still planted widely. Identifying small-leaf privet may be difficult and should be done with
This week’s “Garden Buzz” guest columnist is Gabrielle LaTora, Agriculture and Natural Resources agent for UGA Extension Fulton County. An entomologist by training, Gabrielle is interested in insects on farms and in gardens and is passionate about closing the gap between people and their food. In addition to helping coordinate Fulton’s Master Gardener Extension Volunteer program, Gabrielle oversees the North Fulton Community Garden, answers clients’ questions about gardening and natural resources, works with urban farmers, and delivers educational programs for Fulton County residents. Gabrielle presented “Insect Allies: Predators and Parasitoids in the Garden” in the spring 2023 Gardening Lecture Series presented by the North Fulton Master Gardeners, https:// youtu.be/NZ3um6QXXKc.
diligence.
So, what can be done? Prevention is the first step: avoid planting Ligustrum sinense cultivars in your landscape! There are plenty of locally adapted alternatives, such as inkberry (Ilex glabra), blackhaw (Viburnum prunifolium), and Carolina cherry laurel (Prunus carolinana). Check out resources
The most effective option for larger plants and thickets is to use herbicides. The “Georgia Pest Management Handbook: Home and Garden Edition” has the most upto-date herbicide recommendations for Georgia growers. When applying herbicides to woody plants, cut stump and basal bark treatments pose the lowest risks to non-target plants and animals. A cut stump treatment means that herbicide is painted onto the cut surface of a stump immediately after the plant is cut down. When applied correctly, the herbicide kills the stump and prevents new growth from resprouting. In a basal bark treatment, herbicide is applied only to the base of the tree or shrub. When using any pesticide, always apply according to label directions and rates, and be sure to wear personal protective equipment as listed on the label.
As plant-inclined people, we can garden thoughtfully to protect and preserve our forests and green spaces. Being aware of introduced species and the impacts they have on our local ecosystems is the first step. From there, we can make informed and impactful gardening choices.
If you have questions about small-leaf privet or other introduced species, contact your local county Extension office.
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. Previous Garden Buzz columns are featured at: https:// www.appenmedia.com/opinion/ columnists/garden_buzz/.
GABRIELLE LATORA Guest Columnist
BARRY RICE/SARRACENIA.COM, BUGWOOD.ORG
Small-leaf privet is a rapidly growing shrub that will form dense thickets if unmanaged.
KARAN A. RAWLINS/UNIVERSITY OF GEORGIA, BUGWOOD.ORG
Birds readily eat the berries of smallleaf privet and disperse them throughout the landscape.
Mary Barbaree, 86, of Alpharetta, passed away on October 5, 2025. Arrangements by Northside Chapel Funeral Directors & Crematory.
Eugene Dubnik, 79, of Roswell, passed away on October 4, 2025. Arrangements by Northside Chapel Funeral Directors & Crematory.
Janelle Koff, 75, of Roswell, passed away on September 29, 2025. Arrangements by Northside Chapel Funeral Directors & Crematory.
Rose Mitchell, 77, of Roswell, passed away on September 30, 2025. Arrangements by Northside Chapel Funeral Directors & Crematory.
DC Aiken
Big Sky Franchise Team
David & Michelle Bertany
Amour & Duane Carthy
Barbara Anderson
Kerry Arias
Scott Baynton
Joseph Bell
Rita Brown
Carl Abernathy
Bruce Ackley
Salpi Adrouny
Alpharetta Lions Club
Omar Altalib
Dave Altman
Ron Altman
Joel Alvis
American Legion Post 201
Alice & Dr. Richard Appen
Gaye Armstrong
Mary Asbury
Bangkok Boxing LLC
Shannon Banna
Beth Barnes
Janet Bass
Caitlin Bates
Jannet Bauer
Barbara Bauschka
Miriam Beattie
Kathy Beck
Laura Bentley
William Bentley
Leslie Berry
Tom Billings
Caroline Blackmon
Tochie Blan
Ron Boddicker
Jodi Bogen
Sherri Bolles-Rogers
Helen Borland
Debra Bowen
Joe Bowen
Kenneth Bowman
Ryan Brainard
Mark Brandus
Mel Brannen
Carol Bright
Linda Brill
Dorothy Brouhard
Erendira Brumley
Bernhard Burgener
Alvin Burrell
Mike & Theresa Buscher
Mary Busman
Clea Calloway
Join today for $16/month
Adam Corder
Patrick Cressaty
Robert Flint
Robin Fricton
Mark Casas
David Conti
Theodore Davis III
Maureen Drumm
Charlcie Forehand
Kirk Canaday
James Carr
Bridgette Carter
William Carter
William Cartwright
Linda & Frank Catroppa
Pat Check
Virginia Christman
Ann Coaloa
Kim Coggins
Evelyn Collazo
Michael Mackenzie
Communications
Joan Compton
Carol Cookerly
Terri Coons
Sarah Cox
Rhonda Cude
Connie Cunningham
Christopher Cupit
Bart Dean
Duane DeBruler
Marilyn DeCusati
Rebecca Donlan
Tom Driscoll
Michael Dudgeon
Jeanette Dummer
DutchCrafters Amish Furniture
Thomas Edmonds
William Edmundson
Denise Eicher
Mim Eisenberg
Danny Elkins
Su Ellis
Grady Evans
Carol Fain
Martha Fasse
Nell & Doug Fernandez
Daniel Fleck
Lee Fleck
Laura Floyd
Cathy Flynn
Paul Folger
Adrienne Fontaine
Mary Ford
Nanci Foster
Support Local News
Join Appen Press Club
CHARTER MEMBER
Zachary Hahn
Allison January
Michael Kenig
Roderick Liptrot
Aileen Horton
Bob Meyers
Claude Nardy
Cliff Oxford
Ross & Lori Ramsey
MEMBER+
Deborah Jackson
Ali Mahbod
Richard Matherly
Evan McElroy
MEMBER
Vickie McElroy
Patricia Miller
Anne Peer
Jennifer Phillippi
Robert Popp
Amy Frederick
Kelly Frommer
Carol Fry
Tracey Ganesh
Daniel Gay
John Gibbs
John Gilberto
Leslie Gilliam
Bailey & Ryan Gladysz
Michelle Glotzbach
Harvey Goldberg
Christopher Goodrich
Jim Gray
Ralph Griffin
Carolyn Hall
Marilee Hamilton
Susan Hanna
Marion Hannah
Roxanne Hazen
Joe Hirsch
Penn Hodge
Dianne & Steffan Holmquist
Joan Hostetter
Julie Hostetter
Krista Howland
Austin Hughes
Jacqueline Hursh
Paul Huth
Sue Jacques
Lynn Johnson
Tyler Jones
Zach Jones
Arthur Kebanli
Laura Keck
Mark Kelly
Nancy Kennell
Randall Kent
Carol Kerr
Allison Kloster
Dyna Kohler
Brett Koutnik
Larry Krueger
Jess & Chris Kysar
Malinda Lackey
Brandon Leach
Dennis Lee
Ken Leffingwell
Carol Lehan
Melissa Libby
Bonnie Lind
Francia Lindon
Karen Lippert
Harlan Little
Ross Long
Kyser Lough
Rita Loventhal
Brenda Lundy
Rita Loventhal
Karen Magill
Kyile Marshall
Julie Martin
Carla Masecar
Valerie Matthews
William Maxwell
Rachel McCord
Austin McCully
Diane McDonald
Karen McEnerny
Lynn McIntyre
Mike McLoughlin
Margaret McManus
Jennifer Mendoza
Al Merrill
Chris Miller
Christine Miller
Patricia Miller
Joe Modica
Fred Moeller
Sarah Moen
Catherine Moore
Carol Morgan
Kathy Morgan
Stu Moring
Leslie Mullis
Donna Murphy
Jack Murphy
Aileen Nakamura
Caroline Naughton
Cindy Nolan North
Fulton Master Gardners, Inc.
Tricia Novarro
Bob O’Brien
To join go to appenmedia.com/join and follow the prompts to select your membership level and select your t-shirt size! Questions? Email Hans Appen at hans@appenmedia.com or call 770-442-3278.
Sarah Reiter
Mark Rundle
Matthew Sayle
Lynn Thomas Kim Truett
Roger Wise Jr. Colt Whittall
Dave Rhinehart
Sergey Savin
Kate Seng
Bob Stevens
Kimberly Verska
Diana O’Sullivan
Anne Pappas
Lynn Pennington
Jonathan Peters
Kurt & Leslie Phillips
Mary & Jan Phillips
James Potts
Debra Powell
Seth Price
Joyce Provissiero
Chuck Pugh
Robert Radloff
Raj Rajagopalan
Ashwin Ramaswami
Cheryl Rand Manu Rao
Jean Rearick
Joseph Reed
Righteous PR
Angie Rigney
Neil Robertson
Kimberly Robinson
Matt Rohs
Kim Romaner
Courtney Rozear
Kelly Sarmiento
Derek Scheidt
Stephanie Schniederjan
The Schoenblum Family
Robert Scholz
Stephanie Schuette
Susan Searles
Frances Segars
Tracy Shealy
Tina Shelton
Lisa Shippel
Steve Short
Tom Simon
Cindy Simpson
Robert Singleton Faye Sklar
Mitchel Skyer
Judith Slaughter Andy Smith
Tia Solh
Morris Soriano
Carol Williams
Gena Spears
Donald Spencer
Melissa Spencer
Gloria Stathos
Jan Stephens
Wesley Stewart
Cathryn Stovall
Celeste Strohl
Diana Sullivan
Andy Sumlin
Carol Tall
Mike Tasos
Candice Teichert
The Small Business Advisor
Suzanne & Bob Thomas
William Tietjen
Lisa Tilt
Michael Townes
Trunnion LLC
Matthew Tyser
Ollie Wagner
Lewis Walker
Valerie Walters-Gold
Jonathan Washburn
Michael Watson
Michael Weiss
Herbert Wells
Beverly Whisenant
Sally White
Thom White
Umpika White
Jennifer Wieland
Christine Williams
Jamie Wimberly
Jonathan Winkie
Nancy & Dave Wistrand
Theresa Woolridge
Jonathan Young
Bilingual (English / Spanish) Donor Operations
Supervisor
The Bilingual (English / Spanish) Donor Operations Supervisor (Full-time) manages the donation door process and delegates tasks to staff, volunteers, and community service workers. As the face of NFCC, they provide excellent customer service while greeting donors and ensuring donations are properly removed from vehicles and sorted in designated areas. They are responsible for maintaining the security of merchandise and keeping all areas clean and organized.
The Supervisor must be able to lift up to 75lb frequently and be on their feet most of their shift. They must enjoy staying busy, training and influencing others to work as a team in a professional manner. Must have the ability to work Tuesday through Saturday 9am – 5pm. An extraordinary Total Rewards Package is included with this opportunity!
If this sounds like the role for you, we’d love to hear from you! Please submit your resume to jobs@nfcchelp.org
Our Truck Driver collects scheduled donations from businesses, residential locations, and special events while serving as a key point of contact for donors to coordinate pickup appointments. As the face of NFCC during donor interactions, this role requires maintaining a professional and a welcoming presence that reflects the organization’s values. Additionally, this position contributes to facility maintenance operations as needed.
The Bilingual (English / Spanish) Donor Operations Supervisor (Full-time) manages the donation door process and delegates tasks to staff, volunteers, and community service workers. As the face of NFCC, they provide excellent customer service while greeting donors and ensuring donations are properly removed from vehicles and sorted in designated areas. They are responsible for maintaining the security of merchandise and keeping all areas clean and organized.
The Truck Driver works Monday through Friday 9am – 2pm and periodically on Saturdays or Sundays for special events.
The Supervisor must be able to lift up to 75lb frequently and be on their feet most of their shift. They must enjoy staying busy, training and influencing others to work as a team in a professional manner. Must have the ability to work Tuesday through Saturday 9am – 5pm. An extraordinary Total Rewards Package is included with this opportunity!
If you have 1-2 years of Box Truck delivery experience, maintain a valid Ga Driver’s License free of any traffic violations for the past 3 years and enjoy providing excellent customer service, we’d love to hear from you! Please submit your resume to jobs@nfcchelp.org
If this sounds like the role for you, we’d love to hear from you! Please submit your resume to jobs@nfcchelp.org
NFCC is seeking an Evening ESL Contractor Instructor to teach English classes through our Adult Education program, serving students throughout North Fulton and surrounding counties. Our ESL Program runs three sessions annually, with comprehensive lessons covering speaking, listening, reading, and writing skills, along with regular assessments to track student progress.
The Bilingual (English / Spanish) Donor Operations Supervisor (Full-time) manages the donation door process and delegates tasks to staff, volunteers, and community service workers. As the face of NFCC, they provide excellent customer service while greeting donors and ensuring donations are properly removed from vehicles and sorted in designated areas. They are responsible for maintaining the security of merchandise and keeping all areas clean and organized.
We’re looking for an instructor who is available to teach evening classes. The ideal candidate will be committed to maintaining strong enrollment of at least ten students per class and who can create an engaging learning environment that supports adult learners in achieving their English language goals.
The Supervisor must be able to lift up to 75lb frequently and be on their feet most of their shift. They must enjoy staying busy, training and influencing others to work as a team in a professional manner. Must have the ability to work Tuesday through Saturday 9am – 5pm. An extraordinary Total Rewards Package is included with this opportunity!
If you have a bachelor’s or master’s degree in TESL, TESOL, English with a TESL certificate, linguistics or applied linguistics with a TESL certificate, we’d love to hear from you! Please submit your resume to jobs@nfcchelp.org
If this sounds like the role for you, we’d love to hear from you! Please submit your resume to jobs@nfcchelp.org
