Sandy Springs bash showcases security
By DEAN HESSE dean@appenmedia.com
SANDY SPRINGS, Ga. — Residents and law enforcement personnel turned out Aug. 5 for the annual Back to School Bash and National
Night Out at City Springs. Appen Media was on hand to capture the community event through the camera lens. See the full gallery of photos on appenmedia.com.
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See more photos PAGE 8
Ewerechukwa and his mother Shadia, at center, compete in a firehose game with guidance from Fire Department members
City approves bond for major upgrades to three fire stations
By HAYDEN SUMLIN hayden@ appenmedia.com
SANDY SPRINGS, Ga. — State-of-theart fire stations, all within the city limits, are on the horizon in Sandy Springs.
The Sandy Springs City Council and Public Facilities Authority approved issuing $50.5 million in revenue bonds Aug. 5 for reconstruction or renovation of three of its fire stations.
During its adoption of the 2026 budget, elected officials added a relocation of Fire Station 4 to a planned bond issuance this fiscal year, replacing Fire Station 1 off Spalding Drive and enlarging Fire Station 3 off Raider Drive. The city’s fiscal year runs July 1-June 30.
Fire Station 1 at 1425 Spalding Drive was constructed in 1968, and the city says the building is now obsolete and in need of replacement.
The city completed a new fire station at Spalding Drive and Mount Vernon Road last July, providing the city’s panhandle region with its own four-person engine company and driving down response times. Fire Station 2 opened in 2022, replacing the original building constructed in 1969.
Fire Station 3 across from Riverwood High School was constructed in 2002.
Photos by Dean Hesse
Georgia State Patrol troopers McDonald, top, and Guerra help 4-year-old Asher Sheppard explore a patrol car during Sandy Springs’ Back to School Bash and National Night Out at City Springs Aug. 5.
Kian Pittman, left, and Livingston Do
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UPS to sell Sandy Springs office,
ALPHARETTA, Ga. — United Parcel Service is shifting employees to Alpharetta and closing a Sandy Springs office amid company-wide changes and building closures.
Jim Mayer, a UPS spokesman, said the shipping giant is executing the largest “network reconfiguration” in its history.
A Sandy Springs corporate campus, 35 Glenlake Parkway, will be sold, and 500 employees will be reassigned to the Sandy Springs headquarters, 55 Glenlake Parkway, or an Alpharetta facility at 12380 Morris Road.
Most of the employees will be moving to Alpharetta, Mayer said.
He praised the move as a boon for Alpharetta.
“The fact that they’ve chosen to expand that presence as part of this consolidation is very positive for our city,” Jewell said.
The shift could infuse new money into the Alpharetta economy, supporting surrounding businesses.
“While consolidations can sometimes result in downsizing elsewhere, in this case, Alpharetta is gaining jobs,” Jewell said. “It signals UPS’ continued commitment to Alpharetta as a strategic location for their operations.”
Alpharetta Economic Development Director Charlie Jewell said UPS is one of the city’s top 10 employers with more than 1,000 workers.
Jon Wilcox
Fulton County keeps tax rate at current level
By HAYDEN SUMLIN hayden@appenmedia.com
ATLANTA — The Fulton County Board of Commissioners voted 6-1 to keep the property tax rate flat at 8.87 mills Aug. 6 after hours of strong debate.
Residents — both homeowners and renters — sent thousands of emails to commissioners and spent hours explaining their opposition during public comment this summer at Fulton County Assembly Hall.
County officials estimate the adopted rate will yield general fund revenue totaling $930 million in 2025. That’s up from an estimate of $915 million at the end of January.
The actual revenue taken in during 2024 is around $879 million. There was no discussion of adopting a rate lower than last year.
The funding conversation bled into a discussion about Fulton County Sheriff Pat Labat, the federal government’s consent decree and how county staff handles the budget process.
During public comments Aug. 6, no one spoke in favor of a proposed tax hike. During hundreds of public comments in July, one former county official advocated for a small increase of around half a mill.
Before the final public hearing and vote, county staff presented a mid-year budget review projecting $15 million more in revenue and $54 million less in expenses than anticipated in the fiscal year 2025 budget.
Commission Chairman Robb Pitts, who remained silent throughout most of the discussion, said he’s pleased the county can provide first-class services without having to raise taxes.
“Along with our AAA bond rating, today’s vote is a testament to the
of North Fulton, told Appen Media in late July that he was “vehemently opposed” to a tax increase because additional revenue is not needed this year.
“This county is not in a state of crisis. We’ve gone through situations where just like any other government, business … you’re going to have pressures, they’re different each year,” Ellis said. “The attempt to sort of gaslight it into a tax increase is disingenuous and irresponsible … we didn’t need to have this discussion.”
Ellis said commissioners did not need to see the mid-year budget review to know that the county’s general fund is projected to fall well within its budget.
dying in the jail and not getting the medical care they need,” Ivory said. “That’s what I know I got elected for, to make hard decisions so that we all could bear the cost of making our county better. So, the south side is as good as the north side.”
Commissioner Bridget Thorne echoed Ellis’ comments about the estimated 100 unfilled positions at the Sheriff’s Office. She said the scrapped $2 billion jail replacement would have sent the tax rate up more than 30 percent.
strong financial leadership of our county manager and finance team,” Pitts said after the meeting. “After four commissioners voted in June to advertise an increase … I worked to convince them to reconsider their support for the tax hike.”
Fulton County announced its HIV Elimination Department received more than $37 million in federal grants July 31, representing a year-over-year increase and alleviating concerns about potential cuts.
Earlier this year, Pitts confirmed with staff that it would take a 1-mill increase to cover all federal money flowing to the county, of which a majority is related to HIV elimination and the Ryan White program.
Commissioners responded differently to the nearly $70 million windfall.
Couty Commissioner Bob Ellis, a Republican representing the western half
“We will probably have this come back up later on … people have talked about this crisis at our jail and the need for more money and so forth,” Ellis said. “We have something like 100 open positions [in the Sheriff’s Office], and we have a sheriff making an ask for overtime expenditures … over two months later, we can’t even get that basic [payroll] information.”
The Board of Commissioners approved the $6.4 million for employee retention and overtime pay in May, in addition to $151.5 million coming from the county’s general fund.
Sheriff Pat Labat sued the Board of Commissioners in June, alleging an overstep into his control of the office’s budget as a duly elected official and constitutional officer.
District 4 County Commissioner Mo Ivory, representing Midtown and downtown Atlanta, cast the lone vote for raising the rate by 12.5 percent. She said she received emails in support of a tax increase.
“It will definitely come up later on, and you will pay for it later on,” Ivory said. “This is not a normal or a sound budget process. To say in January that we have zero surplus, and then to say in August we have $69 million is not sound or normal.”
Ivory criticized county staff’s projections and the results of the midyear budget review.
“What we do need to examine is how we do our budget. We need a long-term look at our expenses and our revenues,” Ivory said, mentioning the Rice Street jail’s prior consent decree 2006-15 due to similarly inhumane conditions.
Ivory said the county’s finance team, not the Sheriff’s Office, estimates it will cost around $35 million to address the unconstitutional conditions at Rice Street. She also said county residents should vote the sheriff out of office before redirecting the conversation to budgetary pressures.
“We didn’t even get it right in 2016, which is why we are here again, people
The county’s property tax rate has remained flat since 2022, declining steadily from 10.5 mills in 2015. That represents a net decrease of 16 percent in a decade.
Property taxes are the primary source of revenue for Fulton County’s general fund and pay for constituent services, including senior and behavioral health services, the Grady Health System, the Sheriff’s Office and all jail facilities, election management, libraries and animal services.
In an Aug. 6 press release, the county said it will continue closely monitoring federal budgets for possible direct and indirect impacts on programs and partners.
Commissioner Dana Barrett, who switched her vote and rejected the 1-mill increase, encouraged homeowners to review the property tax relief measures for residents, including two floating homestead exemptions and some for seniors.
Commissioners Marvin Arrington Jr. and Khadijah Abdur-Rahman also voted to keep the property tax rate flat.
County Manager Dick Anderson said the budget process and finances are in good shape.
“First of all, just a reality check on the notion that we’re starving departments,” Anderson said. “We spent $867 million last year and budgeted $990 million this year, that’s a $123 million increase [or 14 percent].”
He said the county’s budget process during his decade as county manager has produced Fulton’s existing triple A bond rating, a nearly 70 percent increase in resident services and a doubling of fund balance or reserves.
Anderson also said he’s monitoring four upcoming expenses on the horizon: the renovation of Rice Street, consent decree items related to jail operations and staffing, a new Grady Memorial Healthcare hospital in South Fulton and whether to exit expiring tax allocation districts.
“Underrunning by 5 percent would generally be considered healthy,” Anderson said. “The thing I’m very much in agreement on is the necessity for longterm planning.”
HAYDEN SUMLIN/APPEN MEDIA
Fulton County Commissioner Mo Ivory speaks on behalf of a 12.5 percent increase to property taxes during the Aug. 6 meeting and final adoption of the 2025 millage rate.
with each number containing 3 clues for the 3 answers on the line. But here’s the catch! The clues are not in order - so the first clue in Line 1 may (or may not) actually be for the second or third answer in that line. Got it? Good
WATER, WATER EVERYWHERE
1. Pigeon’s hangout. Watersking venue. Kick out.
2. Beginner. Water deliverer. Smell.
3. Food. Love god. Store bought water.
4. Indian bread. Salt water. Point of lowest despair.
5. Playground item. Hold tight. Ducks found here.
6. Water holder. One-pot meal. Fireman’s need.
7. Chess piece. Where to find rapids. Hate.
1 Pigeon’s hangout. Watersking venue. Kick out
2. Beginner. Water deliverer. Smell
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. Food. Love god. Store bought water
4. Indian bread. Salt water. Point of lowest despair
5. Playground item. Hold tight. Ducks found here
6.
Navigating senior living
A dedicated Home Helpers caregiver provides the immediate response only oneon-one care can offer.
The need for senior care often presents families with a daunting decision: should their older loved one stay at home with supportive care, or would an assisted living community better serve their needs? The basic activities of daily living such as bathing, dressing, grooming, toileting, fall prevention, nurturing social ties and ensuring good nutrition are critical considerations. It’s also important to look ahead to when these needs become more intensive and difficult, called high acuity.
Home Helpers offers one-on-one dedicated care for your loved ones needs, allowing them to age in place in the comfort and safety of home even as acuity needs progress.
Assisted Living Communities (ALCs) offer a balance of independence and assistance, with social opportunities and scheduled activities, positioned between independent living and nursing homes. They do not provide one-on-one care, with an average assisted living tenure of 22 months. Here are questions to help plan for high acuity needs and what comes next.
How quickly will a call for assistance be answered and how often each day? When your loved one pushes an ALC button and now needs help with incontinence or transferring from a bed to a chair, an hour wait versus a prompt response makes a major difference in their sense of dignity, personal cleanliness and well-being. Georgia requires a minimum of one awake direct-care daytime staff member for every 15 residents and one per 20 residents overnight. Quality communities keep response times under 10 minutes. Ask how much total time a caregiver will spend daily with a resident and the ratio of direct care staff to residents.
If your fall risk increases, what happens? Falls are the leading cause of injury among older adults. At an ALC you may have to advance to a different level of care there, leave for another facility, or have the added cost of hiring your own private caregiver to supplement care. A daytime fall risk could mean 12 hours of added private care, or 24 hours if night time fall care is also needed.
There is no set level of care you have to fit in with Home Helpers, only the care plan that’s right for your safety. We can adjust your care level if you’re recuperating from surgery, need more support at night, or include other providers such as in-home nursing support if necessary.
How do you recruit and what kind of training does the care staff receive? Some ALCs no longer do their own recruiting and now use an outside staffing agency, depending on an outside resource to vet their caregivers.
We know the importance of carefully recruiting heart centered caregivers with strong skills, who are key to our earning the Best Home Care for Seniors in North Atlanta Award 8 years running.
How stable is the ownership and management? A change of ALC ownership could mean changes in levels of continued high acuity care. Take a close look at the history and financial health of the facility.
A proud member of our community for 13 years, we know how important it is for the promise of care to be one that is delivered. We’re here to help, from six hours a day, several days a week to 24/7 care. For a free consultation call Home Helpers of Alpharetta and North Atlanta at (770) 681-0323.
Brought to You by – Home Helpers of Alpharetta and North Atlanta Suburbs
Sandy Springs schedules third open house on commercial design
SANDY SPRINGS, Ga. — Sandy Springs is inviting the public to share their thoughts on design guidelines for six commercial districts throughout the city Aug. 21 from 6-8 p.m. at the Performing Arts Center.
The city began an 18-month review in March to ensure six distinct commercial and mixed-use areas within the city reflect the community’s priorities and aesthetics.
The goal is to ensure future development aligns with adopted planning documents and the Development Code, while promoting a unique sense of place in Sandy Springs.
The six areas include Greater City Springs, Crossroads, Neighborhood Village, North End, Central Perimeter and Powers Ferry.
Since March, city staff and consultants have held a series of pop-up meetings for phase one of the project, which covers City Springs, North End and Perimeter.
Attendees of the Aug. 21 open house will be given opportunity to provide input on the overall framework of the design guidelines, review preliminary designs for phase one districts and provide initial input on the desired character of Powers Ferry and the two remaining districts on the southern end of Roswell Road, Crossroads and Neighborhood Village. City planners say the guidelines will
build on standards in the Development Code and Technical Manual by providing additional direction for building features and sites, landscaping, streetscapes, and other elements that will shape the appearance and experience of the character areas.
A draft of the design guidelines is expected to be publicly available in early 2026. The public will continue to have input opportunities before the Planning Commission and City Council adopt the final version.
City Councilwoman Melissa Mular, who has attended at least one of the open houses for design guidelines, said she’s pushing for a program to help small businesses owners improve building facades. She scrapped the proposal during the 2026 budget process this May, citing the city’s ongoing work on commercial design guidelines and next year’s update to the Comprehensive Plan.
There will be opportunities to review and provide input on materials presented at the meeting via an online survey and comment form. Exhibit materials and feedback opportunities will be posted on spr.gs/design starting on Aug. 21 and will remain open until Sept. 8.
— Hayden Sumlin
A map shows the six main commercial and mixed-use districts in Sandy Springs. The city is inviting residents to share their thoughts on design guidelines Aug. 21 from 6-8 p.m. at the Sandy Springs Performing Arts Center within City Springs.
Qualifying for municipal elections to run Aug. 18-22
By CARL APPEN carl@appenmedia.com
NORTH METRO ATLANTA — The window for residents wishing to seek public office to file paperwork and pay a fee to officially enter the race opens Aug. 18.
While the state prescribes a general date window for qualification, cities determine days times, costs and eligibility standards.
The requirements differ slightly from city to city. Generally, candidates must be at least 18 years of age, have lived in the commission or council district for at least one year before qualifying, and be a qualified elector. For seats that represent specific districts, candidates must live in the district they seek to represent.
Here are the seats up for election in Fulton County cities we cover and their qualifying details:
• Sandy Springs mayor and all six City Council seats.
- Qualifying for these races will be Aug. 18 to 21, from 8:30 a.m. to Noon and 1 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.; as well as Aug. 22 from 8:30 a.m. to Noon.
- The qualifying fee is $1,260 for mayor, and is $780 for council seats.
- Those seeking office must have lived in the city for a year prior to Election Day and six months in the district they are seeking to represent.
- For more information, visit www. sandyspringsga.gov/2025-municipal-election-qualifying-information
• Milton mayor and three Post 1 seats on the City Council.
- Qualifying for these races will be Aug. 18 to 22, from 8:30 a.m. to Noon and 1 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.
- The qualifying fee is $894 for mayor, and is $594 for council seats.
- For more information, visit www. miltonga.gov/government/elections/ qualifying-period/
• Alpharetta City Council Posts 1, 2 and 3
- Qualifying for these races will be Aug. 18 to 20, from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.
- The qualifying fee is $450.
- For more information, visit www. alpharetta.ga.us/361/Running-forOffice
ELECTIONS
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• Cumming mayor, City Council Posts 1 and 2, which are both at-large
- Qualifying for these races will be Aug. 18 to 20, from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
- The qualifying fee is $360 for mayor, and is $180 for council members.
- For more information, visit www. cityofcumming.net/election-information
• Dunwoody City Council Post 1 (District 1), Post 2 (District 2) and Post 3 (District 3).
- Qualifying for these races will be Aug. 18 to 20, from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
- The qualifying fee is $360.
- For more information, visit www. dunwoodyga.gov/government/ voter-information/general-electioninformation
• Johns Creek mayor, City Council Posts 1, 2 and 3
- Qualifying for these races will be Aug. 18 to 20, from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
- The qualifying fee is $750 for mayor, and is $450 for council seats.
- For more information, visit johnscreekga.gov/departments/ city-clerk/municipal-elections/
• Roswell mayor, City Council Posts 4, 5 and 6
- Qualifying for these races will be Aug. 18 to 22, from 8:30 a.m. to Noon and 1 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.
- The qualifying fee is $1,200 for mayor and $540 for council seats.
- The residency requirement is for a year prior to Election Day.
- Candidates must be 21 years old prior to Election Day.
- For more information, visit https://www.roswellgov.com/ government/elections/qualifications
CITY OF SANDY SPRINGS/PROVIDED
2025 CITY SPRINGS BACK TO SCHOOL BASH/NATIONAL NIGHT OUT
PHOTOS BY DEAN HESSE/APPEN MEDIA
Stephen Schaumann and his 18-monthold son Jack take in the sights and sounds during Sandy Springs’ Back to School Bash and National Night Out at City Springs Aug. 5.
A Sandy Springs firefighter rappels from Tower 52 during the Back to School Bash and National Night Out Aug. 5 at City Springs.
and
From left in foreground, Maddie Briley, Quinn Gittinger, at rear, and Norah Gittinger greet Sandy Springs Police K-9 Yaeger and his handler, Officer Meyerhoff during the city’s Back to School Bash and National Night Out at City Springs Aug. 5.
Seven-year-old Louise Mathai and 3-yearold William Mathai practice lifesaving techniques with AMR Paramedic Training Officer David Manabi as part of the Sandy Springs’ Back to School Bash and National Night Out at City Springs Aug. 5.
Aug. 5.
Visitors line up to meet Alpha, a velociraptor from Prehistoric Nation, during Sandy Springs’ Back to School Bash and National Night Out held at City Springs Aug. 5.
BEHIND THE PHOTOS: Photographer Dean Hesse grew up in Decatur and lives in Stone Mountain. He began his career as a stringer covering events for the DeKalb News/Sun in the 1990s and attended the Southeastern Center for the Arts Professional Photography Program. He worked in a photo lab as a custom black & white printer for wedding and portrait photographers. His work has appeared in local and national consumer and trade publications. Dean can be reached at dean@ appenmedia.com. See more of his photos on appenmedia.com.
Three-year-old Alecia Yeung takes a snack break with her mother Qi Li during Sandy Springs’ Back to School Bash
National Night Out at City Springs on
Families enjoy the Sandy Springs Back to School Bash and National Night Out at City Springs on Aug. 5.
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Sandy Springs Wine Festival offering early bird discounts
SANDY SPRINGS, Ga. — North Metro Atlanta residents are invited to grab discounted “early bird” tickets before the end of August to the 3rd annual Sandy Springs Wine Festival.
The fundraising festival is returning to the Heritage Entertainment Lawn from 2-5 p.m. Oct. 5 at 6110 Blue Stone Road, featuring an expanded selection of premium wines, new tasting experiences and an afternoon of food, music and community celebration.
The Greater Perimeter Chamber is handling all sponsorships and strongly encourages using ride-sharing services to and from the event.
The festival is also extending its early bird pricing and 10 percent discount until Aug. 31 to include patrons of the Roswell Wine Festival, which will not be held in 2025.
The Sandy Springs Wine Festival and Greater Perimeter Chamber are welcoming neighbors to enjoy award-winning wines Oct. 5 at the Heritage Lawn on Blue Stone Road. There are discounted early bird tickets available through Aug. 31.
“We want to extend this early bird offer to our friends in Roswell,” said Chamber President and CEO Adam Forrand said. “Their festival has been a beloved community tradition, and we’re excited to continue that spirit here in Sandy Springs Light bites will be provided by local favorites, including Il Giallo, Baraonda, Nowak’s, Bocado, Fogo de Chao, Bishoku, Mojave, Bistro at River Ridge, Southern Bistro, Chef Rob’s, Nothing Bundt Cakes and Darden’s Delights. Guests can enjoy a new tasting this year with Elijah Craig, a premium high-end bourbon.
The Ansley Stewart Band is handling live music, providing a soulful, genre-blending sound that mixes 1960s soul with the energy of Athens’ 1980s college radio scene. Starting Sept. 1, general tasting tickets will increase from $80-$90.
The two-hour experience includes 175 sommelier-curated wines, including: Gundlach Bundschu Winery, a Sonoma Valley Regenerative Organic Certified family-owned vineyard; Domaine Drouhin’s portfolio of elegant pinot noir and fine chardonnay wines from Willamette Valley.
Organizers say many wines will be available for purchase, and all attendees will receive a complimentary wine glass.
The Reserve Tasting runs from 2-3 p.m. and features more than 50 highend, cellar-worthy wines from Orin Swift, Pride, Sinegal Estate, Catena Zapata, and exclusive bourgogne and bordeaux producers. Organizers say guests will receive a gift bag, access to the General Tasting and the opportunity to purchase wines at a festival discount. Also, a portion of Reserve proceeds benefits Solidarity Sandy Springs, supporting local families experiencing food insecurity. Reserve Tasting tickets are $155. For more information, visit sandyspringswinefest.com.
— Hayden Sumlin
Sandy Springs, Northside Hospital team to dispense life-saving devices
SANDY SPRINGS, Ga. — Sandy Springs announced the launch of Avive Solutions’ 4 Minute Community Program Aug. 5 introducing innovative technology to address cases of sudden cardiac arrest in the community.
The program is possible through a donation of over 100 Avive Connect automated external defibrillators by the Northside Hospital Foundation and Northside Hospital Heart Institute. Ultimately, Sandy Springs’ 4 Minute Community Program will strategically place 200 AEDs in the hands of trained individuals in the community, increasing bystander intervention and providing rapid response when time matters most.
Avive Solutions, based in Brisbane, California, develops stateof-the-art AEDs designed to be accessible, intuitive and effective in saving lives during emergencies.
The city says the program looks to close the gap between the onset of cardiac arrest and the arrival of professional emergency responders.
Using historical data on sudden cardiac arrests in specific areas, the initiative will equip CPR-trained citizen volunteers in Sandy Springs with Avive Connect AEDs.
City Councilman Tibby DeJulio has praised the Fire Department’s work to drive down response times, sharing personal anecdotes about their exceptional emergency preparedness.
Fire Chief Keith Sanders said he’s proud to launch the program.
“The goal is to strengthen the links between the chain of survival with Avive’s new technology and deliver lifesaving therapy with an AED to someone in cardiac arrest within four minutes of dispatch from 911,” Sanders said. “The addition of these devices will have a direct impact on increasing the survival rates of cardiac arrest.”
As a 4 Minute Community, the Avive Connect AEDs are integrated with Sandy Springs’ 911 Emergency Communications Center and the Chattahoochee River 911 Authority (ChatComm).
When a 911 cardiac arrest call comes in, telecommunicators will be able to activate all the Avive devices that are within one mile of the suspected emergency. The devices will alert their owners when they need to be used nearby and will immediately map them to the emergency.
Once triggered, the nearby AEDs
flash a red screen and sound an alarm, giving bystanders directions to the scene and guiding them through the emergency with step-by-step CPR and defibrillation instructions.
Sameer Jafri, CEO and cofounder of Avive Solutions, said the partnership with the city and Northside Hospital is a significant step forward in expanding a connected system of care across Georgia, reshaping how sudden cardiac arrest is addressed
“We’re proud to welcome Sandy Springs into our growing network of 4 Minute Communities,” Jafri said. “The city is demonstrating bold and inspiring leadership by taking this step to advance cardiac emergency response for its citizens in the pre-hospital setting. Through this impactful multi-stakeholder collaboration, including the continued support of Northside Hospital Foundation, we’re building a model that communities across the nation can look to and replicate.”
The Northside Hospital health care system has five acute-care hospitals in Atlanta, Canton, Cumming, Duluth and Lawrenceville and nearly 500 outpatient locations across the state.
City officials say the coordination
between community responders, next-generation AED technology and emergency services establishes a new standard for cardiac arrest response.
Kim Anker, director of the Northside Hospital Foundation, said the partnership brings together innovative technology, passionate local leadership and generous community support — all working toward one lifesaving goal.
Dr. Jeffrey Marshall, a cardiologist with Northside Hospital Heart Institute, said the program saves lives and gives medical teams a clearer picture of what occurred in those crucial first minutes of cardiac arrest.
“With access to real-time data and insights captured before EMS even arrives, we can make more informed clinical decisions the moment a patient enters our care,” Marshall said. “That’s an extraordinary advancement, and we believe it will translate to better outcomes and more lives saved.”
For more information and updates on Sandy Springs’ participation in the 4 Minute Community Program, visit avive.life/4-minute-community/ sandy-springs.
— Hayden Sumlin
SANDY SPRINGS WINE FESTIVAL/PROVIDED
Bond:
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New modifications to the facility include an addition to the existing apparatus bay, a three-story training stairway, gear locker rooms and a decontamination room, an exercise room with lockers and showers and a natural gas generator to provide backup power to the facility.
Needs vs. wants
During discussion, two of the city’s longest serving council members talked about the city’s need for the new facilities.
City Councilman John Paulson, who is seeking his fifth term this November, said the Public Facilities Authority’s bond issuance represents a 50-year investment in Sandy Springs.
“Where were we in 1968? Many of us weren’t even born,” Paulson said. “It’s overdue to have that done.”
City Councilman Tibby DeJulio, who has served District 5 since incorporation, said he doesn’t believe in going into debt but understands the need for expedited emergency response.
“I think this is something that we really need to do We can’t put it off any longer,” DeJulio said. “It will still take us several years, even with us approving it now. I am cheap, but behind this.”
Fire Station 4, constructed in 1975, currently sits a few hundred feet within the city of Atlanta at 4697 Wieuca Road. Sandy Springs says it presents jurisdictional, operational and financial challenges.
The Sandy Springs Public Facilities Authority purchased around 6.6 acres at 5275 Roswell Road July 15 for $10 million, paving the way for the relocation of Fire Station 4 within city limits.
The Fire Department says a relocation of the station to the south end of the city would significantly enhance response capacity in that area, ultimately improving safety for both residents and visitors.
City Councilman Andy Bauman said he thinks the bond issuance is a wise financial investment.
“We’re making an investment that will pay off, both financially and in wellbeing of this community,” Bauman said. “We have categories of wants and needs … I would say this is squarely a need.”
City’s debt capacity
Sandy Springs contracts with First Tyron Advisors for feedback on the city’s financial health and debt issuing capacity.
Managing Director David Cheatwood, who spoke with elected officials about debt capacity earlier this year, said he estimates Sandy Springs
CITY OF SANDY SPRINGS/PROVIDED
The proposed replacement of Sandy Springs Fire Station 1 off Spalding Drive just east of Ga. 400 is estimated to cost around $17 million. Sandy Springs officials approved the issuance of $50.5 million in revenue bonds Aug. 5 for rebuilds or improvements to three of the city’s oldest fire stations.
HAYDEN SUMLIN/APPEN MEDIA
Sandy Springs Fire Station 5, completed last July at Spalding Drive and Mount Vernon Road in the city’s panhandle region, is an example of what new facilities may look like around the city. City officials said neighbors have responded positively to the fire station.
can issue bonds totaling around $75 million after the end of fiscal year 2025.
In other words, he said Sandy Springs could issue another $20-$30 million in debt while maintaining its triple A credit ratings from Moody’s and S&P.
The Public Facilities Authority voted unanimously to approve issuing the $50 million in revenue bonds.
Sandy Springs homeowner Janet Wells, who lives off Beachland Drive behind the site for Fire Station 4’s relocation, said she and her neighbors are concerned about impacts to her
neighborhood and wants to know more about the proposed buffer.
“This is the first time I’ve ever been up against City Hall, I’ve always been up against developers,” Wells said, sharing some history of the parcel’s former strip club and failed redevelopments. “Compromises: build only the fire station up by Roswell Road where the strip club actually was [and] move the fueling station and the training towers.”
The Sandy Springs Public Facilities Authority, created in 2006, is composed of council members and serves as
a financing and ownership partner for major city developments like City Springs and the new Sandy Springs Police Headquarters and Municipal Court.
City Manager Eden Freeman presented the City Council’s action item related to the debt issuance, requiring elected officials to approve the actions they took as members of the Public Facilities Authority. Elected officials approved it without another discussion.
“The city utilizes the PFA as our holding company, so to speak, for longer term leases,” Freeman said.
“This is a companion piece that will allow the city itself to lease the properties owned by the Public Facilities Authority and to pay back the debt service for construction of these new facilities.”
City staff said the estimated debt payment next year will be $3 million, but that amount will subsequently be cut nearly in half due to anticipated savings from restructuring previous debt issuances from 2015 and 2020.
The City Council is expected to initiate the process to save on the annual debt payment in September, according to the city memo.
In other business, the City Council also approved: an emergency stormwater repair project, totaling $1.11 million at 395 West Spalding Drive; $213,500 for a year-long study of Riverside Drive; $298,00 for a new traffic signal at Roswell and Trowbridge roads; and $222,300 for an update to the city’s Transportation Master Plan.
It’s almost time for the Great Southeast Pollinator Census!
The 2025 Great Southeast Pollinator Census (GSEPC) is scheduled for August 22-23, 2025, and we need your help. The GSEPC was developed by Becky Griffin, the UGA community and school garden coordinator, after she noted the need for increased knowledge among Georgia gardeners about insect ecosystems and pollinators. Her goals were to create sustainable pollinator habitats, increase entomological literacy and generate useful data about Georgia’s pollinators. She started with a pilot project of 50 gardens in 2017 and expanded to all of Georgia in 2019. Now open to residents of North Carolina, South Carolina, Florida and Alabama, as well as Georgia, it is also an important STEM activity in public schools and supported by numerous businesses.
Three quarters of the world’s flowering plants and about 35 percent of the world’s food crops depend on animal pollinators to reproduce. More than 3,500 species of native bees in North America help increase crop yields. Some scientists estimate that one out of every three bites of food we eat exists because of animal pollinators like bees, butterflies, moths, birds, bats, beetles and other insects. Habitat loss, disease, parasites and environmental contaminants have contributed to the loss of pollinators. It is in everyone’s interest to provide sustainable habitats so pollinators can find the right quantity and quality of food they need to survive.
The data generated by the GSEPC helps determine the economic value of pollination. This is very important as agriculture is the top economic sector in Georgia. Growers also use the data to determine which pollinators are in their counties to make educated decisions on pest and pollinator management. City and county planners use the information to create thriving landscapes, and conservationists use the data to determine the impact of their pollinator plantings.
It is easy for anyone to participate in the Census, and all materials are available at gsepc.org. Participants simply pick a pollinator plant and count the number of insect visits to that plant in a 15-minute window. The insects are divided into 8 categories: bumble bees, carpenter bees, honeybees, small bees, wasps, flies, butterflies/moths and others (beetles, lady bugs, dragonflies, lacewings, etc.). Participants load their tallies onto the GSEPC website.
A pollinator plant is any native or non-native plant blooming during the census that shows insect activity. Common pollinator plants include Black-eyed Susan, Butterfly milkweed, Blue Giant Hyssop, Raydon’s favorite Aster, purple coneflower, dwarf tickseed and Catmint.
This year, UGA Extension Fulton County is hosting GSEPC events at five locations on Saturday, August 23, 2025.
These locations will have everything you need to participate in the Census, including counting sheets, insect ID guides as well as additional information about pollinators and pollinator gardens. Master Gardeners will be available at each site to guide you through everything you need to know. They will even collect your count sheets and upload your data to the GSEPC website. Keep in mind you can also do this task in your own backyard. So, let’s all embrace our inner “BEE-ing” and join the Great Southeast Pollinator Census.
Happy Gardening!
Leafcutter bee on mountain mint.
LOST CORNER PRESERVE 7300 Brandon Mill Rd, NW Sandy Springs, GA 30328
AUTREY MILL NATURE PRESERVE, SUMMEROUR HOUSE GARDEN 9770 Autry Mill Rd, Johns Creek, GA 30322
LITTLE DIGGERS BOOTH AT SANDY SPRINGS FARMERS MARKET 1 Galambos Way, Sandy Springs, GA 30328 8:30 a.m.-noon
CHASTAIN PARK, NATIVE PLANT GARDEN 4001 Powers Ferry Rd, NW, Atlanta, GA 30342 9 a.m.-noon
GROWL GARDEN at CAMP TRUITT 4H EDUCATION CENTER 4300 Herschel Road, College Park, GA 30337
North Fulton Master Gardeners, Inc. is a Georgia nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization whose purpose is to educate its members and the public in the areas of horticulture and ecology in order to promote and foster community enrichment. Master Gardener Volunteers are trained and certified by The University of Georgia Cooperative Extension. Learn more at nfmg.net. Previous Garden Buzz columns are featured at https://appenmedia.com/opinion/columnists/ garden_buzz/.
About the author
This week’s “Garden Buzz” guest columnist is Anne Wiskind, a Master Gardener who completed her Fulton County Master Gardener curriculum in April 2024. She is a life-long gardener with an active interest in ecological gardening and encouraging biological diversity.
ANNE WISKIND Guest Columnist
OPINION
Montana report: tan-and-yellow hoppers…and no redbugs!
Last time, you’ll recall, the topic was redbugs. Also known as chiggers, they are those nefarious little creatures that live in the grass and like to eat things like you and me. The sneaky little devils creep up on you and then enjoy dinner, leaving you with red bite spots and an itch of Biblical proportions.
When I get to Heaven, I would like to ask why redbugs were part of the plan. Might we have been just as well off without them? Inquiring minds want to know.
But I digress. The burning (itching) question that I left you with was this: Would I find redbugs in Montana, too?
I asked our host and guide, Craig DeMark of On DeMark Lodge (an incredible place, if I may say so) if redbugs were a thing in Montana. He said no. That was good to hear, because I wanted to spend the last hour of daylight fishing from the bank. I’d be walking through the tall grass along the river’s edge. At home, it would be Redbug City.
And so, once we finished another extraordinary dinner prepared by Craig’s wife Becky, I set off down the gravel road to the water to look for trout.
“Take your time,” my wife said, and so off I went.
My plan was to cast a grasshopper imitation into the current close to the bank in hopes that a big brown or rainbow trout might be lurking there waiting for a nice, juicy hopper to come floating by. I’d be casting the same hopper imitation I’d used earlier in the day, and it had brought me several nice fish already. That fly had the power, it seemed! The thick grass along the river was perfect hopper habitat (now there’s a phrase that rolls smoothly off the tongue), and I hoped that the evening breeze might blow enough of the real bugs into the river to make the fish interested in my optimistic imitation.
But tall grass, I thought to myself…
Craig had said redbugs were not an issue. And so, relieved and reassured, I set off down the hill.
We had floated through this section of the river earlier in the day, and I tried to remember what I’d seen from the perspective of the boat. There was deep water there, and a good edge where fish might hold there, and we
had seen fish working there. There was plenty of water to explore, and I could reach a lot of it from the bank without even getting my feet wet.
I worked my way down to within a few feet of the water’s edge. At that moment, there was a gust of wind. But it eased up quickly, allowing me to cast in the relative calm.
I did, and the cast was not a bad one. The fly line rolled out and settled to the river’s surface. I lifted the rod
tall, tall grass that I had been worried about.
Of course, the grass was in a place where I could not retrieve the fly. I fiddled with it from a distance, for a bit, but finally gave up and broke it off.
If you happen to find a tan and yellow grasshopper fly stuck in the grass on the Missouri River near Cascade, Montana, it’s mine. But you can keep it. It’s a lucky one.
Anyway, grasshopper gone, I switched to a minnow imitation called a “Sparkle Minnow.” It’s a spectacularly flashy fly, sure to grab the attention of any nearby fish. That’s my kind of fly!
I cast the streamer out-and-across, let it sink a few seconds, and then began to retrieve it in regular foot-long strips. Strip…strip…strip…
The strike was strong, hard, and definite. I lifted the rod and felt the pull as the rod bent into the fish. Wow! Upriver it ran, then it turned and headed out toward the middle and then dashed downstream. I lifted the rod to keep the line away from snags. Through the line, I felt the unseen fish shake its head and then felt another surging run as it once more took off across the flow.
But the fish was tiring. I could tell. Time to think about landing it. Redbugs forgotten, I moved up the bank into a better position to bring it to the net. “Please hold, knot!” I said half out loud. Admonition? Prayer? Both?
Maybe my knot was good, or maybe the same God that made redbugs heard my plea and smiled on my line. For everything stayed together, and four minutes later a beautiful Montana brown trout of about 19 inches was resting in my net.
I admired the fish, measuring it against my rod so I’d know for sure, and then eased it gently back into the water.
What a wonderful way to end a Montana day. And there was not a single redbug bite. God really does work in mysterious ways.
and pulled in line to keep things tight, and then – as I reached to retrieve a little more line – there came what I’ve come to call a “Missouri River strike” and a monster of a fish nailed the fly, and I tried to set the hook. Adrenaline surged! But adrenaline does bad things to one’s cast, especially if one is not used to such things, and I yanked the fly right out of the fish’s mouth and sent it zooming at supersonic speed into some of that same
Later, I told her about the fish. I told her about the cast, and the lost hopper, and the switch to the streamer, and the other cast and the strike and the battle.
“And,” I told her, “there were no redbugs!”
She looked at me in that way that she does.
Later, I dreamt of big rivers and big trout and the goodness of it all. Everything comes together, doesn’t it?
But I still don’t know why we have redbugs.
PHOTOS BY STEVE HUDSON/APPEN MEDIA
The Missouri River near Cascade, Montana, features fine fishing, but no redbugs.
STEVE HUDSON Columnist
The On DeMark Lodge sits within a short walk to exciting fishing.
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