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Coming to Sandy Springs: ‘Price is Right Live!’ SANDY SPRINGS, Ga. — The Sandy Springs Performing Arts Center recently announced seven performances as part of its 2026-27 presented season, expanding this year’s lineup with comedy, live music, family entertainment and holiday programming. Newly announced performers include comedian Jay Leno and The Righteous Brothers during their “Lovin’ Feelin’ Farewell Tour.” The performing arts center will also host “The Price Is Right Live,” where audience members can try their luck at television’s longestrunning game. The shows add to a lineup that features a theatrical tribute to “The Golden Girls,” comedic performances and the returning Funny Fridays series hosted by Joel Byars. A complete calendar of events can be found at sandyspringspac. com/events. Tickets for the newly announced performances are on sale now. Visit sandyspringspac.com for more information. The performing arts center, 1 Galambos Way, is a hub for creativity, culture and entertainment. Its centerpiece, the Byers Theatre, spans 50,000 square feet and seats 1,096 guests across three levels, including box seats. — Hannah Yahne

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A contestant competes during “The Price Is Right Live,” where audience members can try their luck at television’s longest-running game.

National Make-A-Will Month is your cue to get it done By JOSHUA WILSON joshua@appenmedia.com ATLANTA — It takes about 20 minutes. It’s often free. And more than half of American adults still haven’t done it. August is National Make-A-Will Month, an annual reminder to close one of the most persistent gaps in personal

finance: the last will and testament you keep meaning to write. According to the Trust & Will 2026 Estate Planning Report, 56% of U.S. adults have no estate planning documents at all, and only 26% have a will — down from 31% in 2025. The decline comes even though 73% of adults say estate planning is personally

important to them, according to the report. The gap carries particular weight in Georgia, where state law — not personal wishes — decides who inherits when someone dies without a will. “I would strongly encourage everyone regardless of wealth or age to be intentional about estate planning and

end-of-life planning, and sooner rather than later,” said Brennan Breeland, a New York City-based attorney. “Even for someone without a great deal of assets, a will can be an important instrument, as it can do other things aside from disposing of property.”

See WILL, Page 11

Your Trusted Real Estate Expert

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2 | August 20, 2026 | Sandy Springs Crier | AppenMedia.com/Sandy_Springs

PUBLIC SAFETY

What to know about West Nile virus after park closure By JOSHUA WILSON joshua@appenmedia.com

770-442-3278 AppenMedia.com 319 N. Main Street Alpharetta, GA 30009 HANS APPEN Publisher CONTACT NEWS TIPS 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 Sandy Springs 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.

SOUTH FULTON, Ga. — South Fulton closed Old National Park to the public last week after mosquitoes collected during routine surveillance tested positive for West Nile virus. City officials told CBS News Atlanta the South Fulton Parks and Recreation Department learned of the result Aug. 11 and shut the park down as a precaution while Fulton County coordinates treatment of the property. Any programming planned for the park will be canceled or rescheduled, with the county’s health department expected to spray targeted insecticides and apply larvicides to any standing water sources. Officials will then decide when the park can reopen. The park’s temporary closing is the latest development in a summer that has brought West Nile back into local headlines. Here is a primer on the virus itself and what is actually driving this year’s attention. A familiar mosquito-borne threat West Nile virus isn’t new to the U.S., with infections first showing up in New York City in 1999. It spread across the country within a few years and peaked with nearly 10,000 reported cases in 2003. The virus is carried by mosquitoes. The small flies pick it up from infected birds and then pass it along to humans — and many animals, including dogs, cats and horses — through bites. There is still no vaccine, which is why prevention is key. A record pace — and likely an undercount Officials at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report the country is seeing its earliest start to West Nile season on record. By July 28, 2026, 113 human cases had been reported nationally — more than double the 44

A mosquito feeds on human skin.

NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF ALLERGY AND INFECTIOUS DISEASES/UNSPLASH

cases reported by the same point in 2003, the worst West Nile season since the virus arrived in the U.S. As of Aug. 11, there were 181 reported cases across 30 states. Fulton County’s own mosquito surveillance program picked up the trend locally, with positive traps turning up in the Grant Park area of Atlanta earlier this summer. DeKalb County followed with its own detections — positive samples out of two ZIP codes, 30088 covering unincorporated DeKalb and Redan and 30360 in Doraville — though officials from both counties say there have been no reported human cases so far this year. Human cases in Georgia have stayed relatively rare so far this season, with the CDC counting just one reported case in the state as of Aug. 11. But the numbers can undercount reality. Health officials believe actual infections each year run higher since approximately 80% of people who are infected will not show any symptoms. Also, people with mild cases never seek medical care or get lab tests. Georgia logged 18 reported cases of West Nile virus in 2025 and 54 confirmed cases — and five deaths — in 2024. Dry conditions, more mosquitoes CDC officials say the rise in West Nile

detections and infections stems from the virus circulating earlier in the season, which infectious disease specialists attribute in part to warmer weather nationwide. Heat speeds up the mosquito life cycle and shortens the time it takes the virus to become transmissible once a mosquito picks it up from an infected bird. Georgia and several other states are also seeing increased West Nile activity due to the worst drought in decades. According to the National Integrated Drought Information System, approximately 49% of the lower 48 U.S. states are in drought as of Aug. 4. About 19% of the total area of Georgia is currently in drought. Elmer Gray, a public health extension specialist and research professional at the University of Georgia, says this spring’s drought conditions across the Peach State impacted more than just the land. The dry conditions spawned prime breeding grounds for the southern house mosquito and one other bird-feeding mosquito. Elmer said the lack of rain means storm drain systems have not

See VIRUS, Page 10

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4 | August 20, 2026 | Sandy Springs Crier | AppenMedia.com/Sandy_Springs

Fulton students post gains across subjects on Milestones By HANNAH YAHNE hannah@appenmedia.com FULTON COUNTY, Ga. — Students in Fulton County Schools made measurable academic gains across every subject area on the 2025-26 Georgia Milestones assessments, with districtwide performance improvements in math, science and social studies compared to the previous year. The Georgia Department of Education released scores Aug. 6. Last year’s Milestones featured a new assessment for English language arts, and results from that won’t be released until later this fall. Students improved math test scores by 2.5% from the previous year. Eighth grade students improved in both social studies and U.S. history. Science proficiency increased to 55.8%, led by student gains in biology. While celebrating the district’s progress, Superintendent Mike Looney emphasized the importance of

building on this momentum. “These gains reflect the hard work of our teachers, school leaders, support staff, students and families,” Looney said. “While we are proud of the progress our students have made, we also know there is more work to do to ensure every student reaches their full potential.” The annual Georgia Milestones assessments provide insights into student learning and help district and school leaders make informed decisions to strengthen instruction and improve student outcomes. Fulton County Board of Education President Kristin McCabe said this progress demonstrates a continued investment from teachers, staff and families. The complete executive summary — which includes grade-level and coursespecific performance, student growth trends and subject-level highlights — is available at fultonschools.org/ milestones2526.

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Puzzles

rier 8/6/26 Connect-It

PuzzleJunction.com

Connect-It

Each line in the puzzle below 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, with each number containing 3 clues for the 3 answers on the line. But here’s the catch! The clues are not in order - so the first clue in Line 1 may (or may not) actually be for the second or third answer in that line. Got it? Good luck!

Sandy Springs Crier.............................August 20, 2026 | 5

THE PLANETS 1. Muse of poetry. Fine fur. The Red Planet. 2. Our home planet. Doctor’s order. Mold-ripened cheese. 3. Colorful salamander. Jovian planet. Musical work. 4. Giant outer planet. Mexican money. Mischief maker. 5. Lock name. Ostrich relative. Planet nearest to the sun. 6. Test. Planet with a ring of ice. Computer command. 7. Chubby. Links feature. Small planet farthest from the sun. PuzzleJunction.com

Dunwoody Crier 8/6/26 Crossword

Across

1 Limit 4 Trade punches 8 Dejected 11 One of the 3 Osmonds 13 Western director Sergio 4 14 Top gun 15 Patagonia native 17 Map abbr. 5 18 Not me 19 Apr. addressee 20 Rarely 6 22 Ghent native 25 Small dam 26 Current unit /6/26 Sudoku 7 27 Decree The Planets 8/6/26and Kakuro PuzzleJunction.com How to Solve: Each line in the puzzle Dunwoody above has Crier three clues three answers. The last letter in the first answer on each line is 30 Asp 1. first Muse ofofpoetry. Fine fur. The Planet. the letter the second answer, and soRed on. The connecting letter is outlined, giving you the correct number of letters for each 33 Courtroom event 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 34 Wrath 2. Our home planet. Doctor’s order, at times. Mold-ripened Kakuro, also known as Cross Sums, is a challenging number puzzle, solved in a crossword style grid. The rules are easy: A number for 3 answers on thepuzzle, line. Buteach here’srow, the catch! Theand clues are not in order - so the first clue in Line 1 may (or may not) actually To the solve the Sudoku column above the diagonal line in a black square is the sum of the white squares to the right of it. A number below the diagonal line is37 the Arduous sum cheese be the second or the thirdnumbers answer in1that line. Good inluck! boxformust contain to of 9. the Got whiteit? squares the sequence below it. You may only use the digits 1 to 9, and a digit can only be used once in any sequence. 38 A Smothers 3. Colorful salamander. Jovian planet. Musical work. brother 39 Tense 4. Giant outer planet. Mexican money. Mischief maker. 40 Alias 5. Lock name. Ostrich relative. Planet nearest to the sun. 41 French impressionist 6. Test. Planet with a ring of ice. Computer command. painter 42 Gamut 7. Chubby. Links feature. Small planet farthest from the sun. 43 Gem mineral 45 Via 46 Urban center 47 Bratislava natives 51 Donnybrooks 53 Bullﬁght cheer 54 Grassland 56 Samuel’s teacher 57 Belgrade native, once 61 Carte start 62 Chip away at How to Solve:Copyright Kakuro,©2026 also PuzzleJunction.com known as Cross Sums, is a 63 Like a dryer trap

2 4 6 9 5 1 7

8 9 2 6 5

9 2 5 4 8

4 1

How to Solve: To solve the Sudoku puzzle, each row, column and box must contain the numbers 1 to 9.

challenging number puzzle, solved in a crossword style grid. The rules are easy: A number above the diagonal line in a black square is the sum of the white squares to the right of it. A number below the diagonal line is the sum of the white squares in the sequence below it. You may only use the digits 1 to 9, and a digit can only be used once in any sequence.

Solution

Solution 9 3 2 5 4 8 7 1 6

8 7 4 1 9 6 2 3 5

5 1 6 7 3 2 4 9 8

1 5 9 4 8 7 6 2 3

7 4 3 6 2 1 8 5 9

6 2 8 3 5 9 1 4 7

4 6 5 8 1 3 9 7 2

2 8 1 9 7 5 3 6 4

3 9 7 2 6 4 5 8 1

PuzzleJunction.com

14 17

16 19

18 22

26 30

21 25

33 38

40 43

60 63 66

64 Heavy weight 65 Lifeless 66 Latin foot Down 1 Locust pod 2 Bicker 3 Pastry 4 Japanese coin 5 Luau dish 6 Literary collections 7 Restoration 8 Mediterranean island native 9 Role player 10 View as 11 Might

12 Mystery 13 Actress Kudrow 16 Excursion 21 Waikiki wear 23 Fat 24 Cherbourg natives, once 28 Lens holders 29 Calendar square 30 Chinese tea 31 Furniture wood 32 São Paulo native 33 African nation 35 Carpet 36 Summer on the Seine 38 Gumshoe, to some 39 Mitchell mansion

41 Free from tears 42 Divulge 44 Mineral suffix 45 After straw or exit 46 Bowed stringed instrument 48 Misplace 49 French Kiss star Kevin 50 Airline assignments 51 Butcher’s stock 52 Certain 55 Unspecified number 58 Indian state 59 Eccentric 60 Big shot, briefly

See puzzle solutions on Page 13

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6 | August 20, 2026 | Sandy Springs Crier | AppenMedia.com/Sandy_Springs

NEWS

Fulton schools eye first millage hike in 7 years By HANNAH YAHNE hannah@appenmedia.com

APPEN MEDIA FILE PHOTO

Fulton County School System Superintendent Mike Looney says he will propose a one-mill tax increase at the Aug. 20 Fulton County Board of Education meeting.

FULTON COUNTY, Ga. — At the Fulton County Board of Education’s Aug. 11 work session, Superintendent Mike Looney announced he will propose a one-mill tax increase at the board’s next meeting. Looney said the increase — which, if approved, would bring the millage rate to 18.08 mills — is “unwelcome” but is in the best interest of the school district and its students. For residents, the increase means $18.08 will be collected per $1,000 of assessed property value. Based on that rate, a homeowner with a house valued at $450,000 on the market — or $180,000 in assessed value, per Georgia’s 40% assessment ratio — will owe $3,254 in school taxes before applicable homestead exemptions. It is the first time in seven years that the Fulton County School System has proposed a millage rate increase. The DeKalb County School District recently approved a millage rate of 22.78 mills, and the Cobb County School District has tentatively adopted a rate of 18.70 mills. In June, the Fulton school system adopted its 2027 budget with a deficit

If something changes in the interim … then I will gladly work with staff to reduce that increase to something less.” MIKE LOONEY Fulton County School System Superintendent of roughly $57 million and a plan to use 20% of the system’s reserve fund balance to cover this year’s shortfall. The proposed millage increase would help reduce the school system’s reliance on its reserves. Looney said the system has been living off its fund balance for years and still has “a ways to go” toward a balanced budget. More than 60% of the school system’s budget depends on local tax revenue. Last year, Fulton County voters approved two homestead exemptions for older residents that are projected to decrease the system’s revenue by approximately $50 million.

In June, local revenue projections stood at $891 million. Those numbers cannot be finalized until the school system receives the tax digest from Fulton County. The list of all taxable properties within the county and their assessed values is typically shared with local municipalities by early August. The tax digest has been delayed this year. The Fulton County Superior Court granted a temporary collection order Aug. 4, letting the tax commissioner send estimated bills using 2025 millage rates while the county board of assessors finishes processing what they call an unprecedented backlog of land packages. Once the digest is certified, the school system and other jurisdictions will set final rates. Looney said if the finalized tax digest warrants a different recommendation, he will work with staff members to adjust the increase. “If something changes in the interim … then I will gladly work with staff to reduce that increase to something less,” Looney said. The Fulton County Board of Education will vote on the tentative millage rate at its Aug. 20 meeting and then will set dates for state-required public hearings on the millage rate.

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COMMUNITY

AppenMedia.com/Sandy_Springs | Sandy Springs Crier | August 20, 2026 | 7

Ukrainian music, culture celebrated at Alpharetta concert By JON WILCOX jon@appenmedia.com

SPUR HOSPITALITY/PROVIDED

From left, Georgia Restaurant Association President Stephanie Fischer, Spur Hospitality CEO William Pitts and Dunwoody Mayor Lynn Deutsch hold shovels at the July 30 groundbreaking of the Saints + Council location at Perimeter Mall in Dunwoody.

ALPHARETTA, Ga. — A country’s soul can be heard in the melodies of its folk songs, Ukrainian composer Tar Sahno said. “When people hear those melodies, and when they join in the singing, they’re helping keep the culture alive,” Sahno said after a July 31 concert he organized. Hosted at the Ukrainian National Federal Credit Union on Windward Parkway in Alpharetta, the event featured a half dozen Ukrainian songs and attracted about 50 residents, many of whom are Ukrainian. Some musicians wore traditional Ukrainian vyshyvankas — white linen clothing with colorful handstitched embroidery. Between songs, audience members conversed in Ukrainian. During the hourlong performance, Sahno led an ensemble that included vocalists, percussionists, violin players and a woman who played a traditional Ukrainian stringed instrument known as a bandura. They played songs like the Ukrainian national anthem and “Carol of the Bells,” which is based on the Ukrainian New Year’s song “Shchedryk.” During the folk song

“Chervona Ruta,” audience members sang along. Celebrating Ukrainian culture, whether through clothing, music or language, has become ever more important with the Russian invasion now in its fifth year, Sahno said. Russian authorities have sought to impose Russian curriculum and propaganda in Ukrainian schools within occupied areas, Human Rights Watch has reported. The International Criminal Court has issued an arrest warrant for Russian President Vladimir Putin, accusing him of being responsible for the deportation of Ukrainian children to Russia. Putin has long denounced the Ukrainian national identity and the country’s sovereignty. Throughout history, Ukrainians have faced repeated pressure to suppress their language, art and identity, Sahno said. “The history is the willingness to keep the Ukrainian identity from just being destroyed,” he said. For example, in 1863, the Russian Empire issued a decree forbidding the teaching of the Ukrainian language in textbooks. In the 1930s, Soviet Union officials arrested, censored and executed many Ukrainian authors.

See CONCERT, Page 10

Saints + Council breaks ground at Perimeter Mall By HANNAH YAHNE hannah@appenmedia.com DUNWOODY, Ga. — Saints + Council, an upscale, modern American restaurant, is bringing its crafted cocktails and seasonal menu to Dunwoody with its first freestanding location. The restaurant will open at Perimeter Mall, 4514 Ashford Dunwoody Parkway, next spring. Around 50 people gathered for the groundbreaking July 30, including representatives from Discover Dunwoody, the Perimeter Community Improvement District, the mayor and city council members. Guests enjoyed a selection of drinks, including the restaurant’s signature gin-based cocktail, the “Garden of Eden.” Spanning approximately 7,800 square feet, Saints + Council at Perimeter Mall will feature a midcentury exterior design highlighted by a

slate roof and modern timber elements. Inside, vaulted ceilings, multiple fireplaces and large booths are situated around a central, expansive island bar. A chef expo station at the end will serve as the main interior focal point. An innovative outdoor courtyard with telescoping roof panels, garden landscaping and a unique fire feature will anchor the restaurant. Construction is estimated to take nine months. William Pitts, founder and CEO of the restaurant’s parent company Spur Hospitality, said it was an easy decision to invest in Dunwoody. “When we decided to do our firstever freestanding restaurant, there was nowhere else that I looked other than the city of Dunwoody, because I believe in its current leadership, and I believe in its future,” Pitts said. “It was a very easy decision to invest our time, energy and resources into this community, and we are honored to be here.”

JON WILCOX/APPEN MEDIA

Two Ukrainian vocalists perform during a July 31 concert at the Ukrainian National Federal Credit Union in Alpharetta.

8 | August 20, 2026 | Sandy Springs Crier | AppenMedia.com/Sandy_Springs

COMMUNITY

Alpharetta Pokémon prodigy earns spot at world championships By ERLANDRYA RUTLEDGE erlandrya@appenmedia.com ALPHARETTA, Ga. — Soren Pitchford’s fourth grade teacher handed him his first pack of Pokémon cards. Now, less than a year later, the 11-year-old Alpharetta native is headed to the world championships. Soren is the top junior Pokémon Trading Card Game player in the Atlanta area, often beating players in the senior and master divisions. The Pokémon World Championships are from Aug. 2830 at the Moscone Center in San Francisco, California. The annual tournament brings together the world’s top Pokémon card players, who qualify through regional and international competitions. His father Tyler said Soren’s qualification was highly unlikely. He scored zero points at his final tournament in New Orleans, but the top 85 players advance — and he placed 85th. Had he lost his final match, he would not have qualified at all. That match, against a player named Cage, earned Soren a Top 8 finish

and remains his favorite and most memorable. “I got there by the skin of my teeth and was so extremely excited,” Soren said. “That was a good day for me.” After learning the rules of the game, his parents bought him more cards, leading to Soren placing in the Top 100 out of 6,000 junior players in North America in his first year of competing. “When I started playing, it was a bit overwhelming, but I’m just regularly beating [other contestants] now,” Soren said. The youngster has traveled to tournaments in Puerto Rico — where he placed in the Top 8 — as well as in Pittsburgh, Toronto, London, Seattle, Orlando and New Orleans. Getting to Puerto Rico was a challenge in itself. Soren’s first flight from Atlanta was delayed by lightning, and the second one was halted by hail. The third flight was delayed, but he finally made it. He slept for two hours at a hotel before competing at 7 a.m. “At the start, I was like this might be a fun hobby, and then I realized I like playing casually but was kind of

envious of the players that were up there,” he said. Soren said preparing for the world championships means practicing, choosing a deck and analyzing competitive strategies. He plays two to three times a week locally and competes once a month regionally or internationally, practicing on his own and taking private lessons from other players. “He’s a good strategic thinker; he plays well, and I think part of it is pattern recognition,” Tyler said. “He plays at a high level, but he’s played enough of the same people in this area that he’s developed a strategy.” Soren also started a Pokémon club at the Alpharetta library, teaching around 15 kids how to play. He said he hopes to keep competing and coaching and eventually become a professional player. Outside of Pokémon, Soren plays piano and fencing — although he has put his sword away for a year to focus on competing with cards. He is also a member of the Lego Robotics team at Fulton Science Academy Middle School and has been a member of the Cambridge Youth Track team for the past four years.

TYLER PITCHFORD/PROVIDED

Tyler Pitchford posing with son, Soren, in Puerto Rico after placing Top 8.

GARDEN BUZZ

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

AppenMedia.com/Sandy_Springs | Sandy Springs Crier | August 20, 2026 | 9

What’s up Doc? Why are carrots great to grow? We love carrots in our house, but that wasn’t always the case. When my kids were little, I would sneak finely grated carrots into pasta sauce, soup and pancakes. No one knew — until I was caught orange-handed. Thankfully, I no longer need to sneak around with my grater. Carrots are a great, easy snack when you need a good crunch packed ANNE FALLON with fiber, potassium, calcium and Guest Columnist vitamins A, C and B-6. Carrots are also low in sodium and contain no cholesterol. Other health benefits can include improved bone health and lower blood sugar levels. Of course, carrots can be enjoyed raw, cooked and in sweet and savory recipes. With few pests, carrots are easy to grow in Georgia, particularly when planted in raised garden beds. They come in varied sizes and many colors, including orange, yellow, red, purple, white and black, making them a nice cool-season crop. University of Georgia Cooperative Extension offers a complete list of varieties that thrive in our climate. Once you have chosen your seeds, prepare the soil and test it weeks before you plant to address nutrient needs, including fertilizer and the addition of recommended minerals. Test the soil if it has not been tested in more than three years, or if you haven’t planted carrots in that spot before. Visit extension.uga.edu for soil testing instructions. Carrot seeds are tiny and best sown directly when soil temperatures are 55 to 75 degrees Fahrenheit in late winter or early fall. Use the UGA Weather Network to find out when average temperatures fall into that range. Because the seeds are so small, you may want to plant the carrot seeds with radishes to help keep your row of carrots defined. As a bonus, you’ll have radishes to eat in 25 to 30 days. Allowing a few carrot plants to bolt, or go to seed, is a nice treat for pollinators that visit the lovely flat-topped flower heads called umbels. An umbel is actually a cluster of flowers, with smaller clusters of flowers and even smaller clusters of flowers. The umbel has a beautiful, unusual shape, and a single umbel can produce hundreds of seeds. Carrots are biennials, which means they produce viable seed in their second year. However, seed-saving gardeners may be disappointed to learn that UGA Extension does not recommend saving carrot seeds in Georgia and instead suggests sowing new carrot seeds each year. One reason is that carrots easily cross-pollinate with other crops and will not produce reliable seed like the parent carrot. What a great excuse to plant a purple carrot crop after your orange carrot crop. When you plant your new carrot seeds, remember to rotate your crops. Do not plant them in the same spot every year or in a spot where plants of the same family were planted. Carrots are in the Apiaceae family, which also includes cilantro, dill, parsley, celery and parsnips. Because plants in the same family use the same nutrients from the soil, planting in the same spot will deplete your soil of these necessary nutrients, resulting in inferior produce. They are also susceptible to the same pests and diseases, which can build up in the soil and attack your new plants if you do not rotate your crops. Included is an easy carrot salad recipe that offers endless opportunities for substitutions and additions. 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.

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Classic Carrot and Raisin Salad Yield: 8 to 10 servings Ingredients: •4 cups shredded carrots (12 to 16 medium carrots, about 1 pound) •1 cup raisins •1/4 cup plus 1 tablespoon mayonnaise •1 tablespoon honey •1 teaspoon maple syrup (or use more honey) •2 teaspoons apple cider vinegar •Pinch of salt

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Instructions: 1. Combine carrots and raisins in a medium bowl. Set aside. 2. In a large bowl, whisk together the mayonnaise, honey, maple syrup, apple cider vinegar and salt. 3. Add the shredded carrots and raisins to the large bowl and mix until evenly coated. Substitutions: Use Greek yogurt instead of the mayonnaise, or use half mayonnaise and half yogurt. You can also use freshly squeezed lemon juice instead of the apple

cider vinegar, or use all honey or all maple syrup. Additions: Try adding 1/2 cup of chopped walnuts, diced apples or diced pineapple. You can also try 1/3 cup of pomegranate seeds or 2 tablespoons of chopped cilantro. If substituting yogurt for mayonnaise, consider adding 1 or 2 tablespoons of chopped mint. Don’t be afraid to try growing this nutrient-dense, reliable, cool-season crop at your home.

Roswell Resident Anne Fallon caught the gardening bug while working for a garden magazine in New York City. At the time, she only had a single potted plant in an apartment in Hoboken, NJ. Twenty-nine years and countless potted plants and gardens later, Anne has been a UGA-trained Master Gardener since 2024. Anne is also an AVID tutor and the longtime manager of the Crabapple Middle School Learn and Serve Garden, where she loves teaching students how to grow vegetables that nourish their minds and bodies and serve the community.

10 | August 20, 2026 | Sandy Springs Crier | AppenMedia.com/Sandy_Springs

Tar Sahno leads an ensemble in a Ukrainian song during a July 31 concert at the Ukrainian National Federal Credit Union in Alpharetta.

Concert:

JON WILCOX/APPEN MEDIA

The country’s music also holds a personal importance for Sahno, who was born in 1993, a few years after Ukraine declared its independence from

the Soviet state. During the 1990s, Ukrainian folk music experienced a popular revival, he said. Because his grandfather was a conductor and his grandmother a music teacher, Sahno was exposed to folk music from an early age. “That built my personal identity,” he said.

Liudmyla Zapukhliak, a vocalist who sang several songs, proudly wore a vyshyvanka that was made about 100 years ago. Stitched with orange and red designs, the clothing has been passed down for generations. Zapukhliak said although she now lives in Lawrenceville, her home nation still is very much on her mind.

Her mother currently resides in the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv, where Zapukhliak was born. Her brother serves in the Ukrainian Armed Forces and has spent time on the front line. “My whole family is there,” she said. “My mom is in Kyiv, and she went to a bomb shelter last night.”

Virus:

and position boats, wheelbarrows and other items so they will not hold water.

immune systems face the highest risk of these severe complications. No treatment is available for West Nile virus. Providers recommend rest, hydration and over-the-counter medications to minimize symptoms of mild cases. Patients with severe symptoms might require pain control drugs and vomiting suppressants, rehydration therapies and closer monitoring.

• Use an insect repellent that is registered with the EPA. The federal agency has an online search tool that identifies repellants by protection time and active ingredient. View it at epa. gov/insect-repellants. DeKalb County officials recommend repellants containing the ingredients DEET, oil of lemon eucalyptus, picaridin and R3535. • Wear long, loose-fitting shirts and pants when outdoors. • Avoid being outside between dusk and dawn, which is when mosquitoes are the most active. • Use screens on windows and doors to keep mosquitoes outside.

Continued from Page 7

Continued from Page 2 been flushed out by currents of water after typical rain events, leading to stagnant water and an attractive home for larval development. He recommends treating those habitats with U.S. Environmental Protection Agency-approved larvicides, several of which are available from local hardware and feed and seed stores. He also advises the public to empty planter trays, recycle used tires, clean up debris,

What infection actually looks like Most people who get bitten by an infected mosquito never know it. Only about 1 in 150 infected people develop a serious illness. Most infections bring about mild symptoms, including fever, headache, body aches, joint pain, vomiting, diarrhea or rash, and pass within days. Serious cases, however, can attack the central nervous system, potentially causing encephalitis or meningitis. Older people and those with weakened

How to keep from getting bitten The CDC and local health officials point to a handful of basic habits that cut your risk of infection substantially:

AppenMedia.com/Sandy_Springs | Sandy Springs Crier | August 20, 2026 | 11

Will: Continued from Page 1 Breeland told Appen Media wills “commonly provide that the expenses of the deceased’s final illness or hospitalization, funeral, burial and related costs be paid out of specific funds.” Wills can also, the attorney noted, “direct the means by which debts are repaid, indicate the deceased’s desires for the disposition for their remains, provide for the appointment of guardians of minor children in the event that both parents die simultaneously and much more.” Estate planners say the most common reason people skip a will isn’t cost or complexity — it’s the belief they don’t have enough to justify one. Trust & Will’s research found 27% of adults without a will cite insufficient assets as the reason. But even that calculus depends on understanding what an estate actually includes — and what it doesn’t. “Estate planning in this context is largely focused on what happens to the property of the deceased,” Breeland said. “The deceased’s estate consists of the property held by the deceased and does not, for example, include property jointly held with a surviving spouse.” The attorney said estate planning “also concerns not only what happens to the estate, but what is properly considered part of the estate.” As a result, Breeland said, estate planning “may ultimately involve strategic decisions about whether and how to make a will or otherwise providing for the disposition of assets and liabilities, including through trusts, [transferable on death or payable on death] designations, joint titling or other means.” What happens in Georgia without a will The stakes are higher for residents who die without a last will and testament. In Georgia, dying without a valid will triggers intestate succession, and the state — not the deceased — decides who inherits. Georgia’s succession order starts with a surviving spouse and children. If both survive, they split the estate, but the spouse is guaranteed at least one-third regardless of how many children are involved. If there’s a spouse but no children, the spouse typically inherits the full estate. Without a spouse or children, the estate passes to more distant relatives — parents, then siblings, then further down the family tree. If no heir can be found, the property is ultimately distributed to the county board of education in which the estate was probated. Georgia law also requires a probate court to appoint an administrator to

MELINDA GIMPEL/UNSPLASH

A “Last Will and Testament” template sits on a desk. August is National Make-AWill Month, an annual reminder for adults to put their estate plans in writing. manage an intestate estate, since there’s no executor named to do the job. That process applies only to probate assets — property that doesn’t already have a beneficiary designation, isn’t jointly owned with survivorship rights and isn’t in a trust or transfer-on-death arrangement. Breeland said intestate succession generally produces outcomes similar to what most people would put in a will anyway — distributing the estate to heirs under the laws of the state where the deceased lived. The attorney said the laws of each state vary, and “in any event, proper disposition will usually require [a] ... judicial proceeding for enforcing and effectuating a will. When they are properly planned for, these proceedings are not usually difficult, protracted or expensive.” When someone has not done the work on the front end to plan for this eventuality, the process “can become procedurally and administratively complicated, take a long time and cost a great deal more, whether it goes through administration or probate,” Breeland noted. “In rare instances, the estate could become property of the state by virtue of a process known as escheatment, whereby unclaimed property without a readily identifiable heir is declared abandoned,” he said.

Breeland added he would “not go so far as to say that everyone’s best interests are served by having a will, but I strongly suggest that everyone speak with an estate planning attorney and a CPA or financial advisor specializing in estate and tax planning for such purposes.” Georgia also has its own rules for making a will legally valid. The document must be in writing, signed by the person making it, and attested and subscribed by two or more competent witnesses in that person’s presence. Where AI tools fit — and where they don’t A growing number of people are turning to AI chatbots to draft a first pass at a will or make sense of estateplanning jargon before ever calling an attorney. Estate planners say that can be a reasonable starting point, but it comes with real limits. “AI tools, specifically [large language model] engines such as ChatGPT and Claude, are exactly that — tools,” Breeland said. “They are not substitutes for legal and financial expertise, nor should their outputs be taken or trusted at face value. These tools are learning, of course, but they are far from perfect.” He said some lawyers have filed litigation documents generated by AI chatbots, and those papers have included “inaccurate statements of law

and cited statutes and case law that does not exist.” As a result, Breeland advised, “it is therefore even more important that non-attorneys be extremely careful when using these tools to assist in estate planning because it is not necessarily the case that the engine’s legal analysis is correct.” “To be fair, they can be very helpful in ensuring that people build lists of everything they will need to consider in the estate planning process — and can offer valuable insights into some aspects of strategic thinking — but people should treat whatever information these tools provide with a healthy skepticism,” he said. The attorney added it’s “good advice in general” to “always, always, always make sure to seek independent counsel” from a licensed attorney. How to actually get it done • List your assets — bank accounts, property, retirement accounts, vehicles, valuables — and who you want to receive each. • Name an executor and at least one backup. • If you have minor children, name a guardian and a backup guardian. • Decide whether you need a simple will or a more complex estate plan, including trusts, powers of attorney or health care directives. • Use an online service or AI tool, if you like, to organize this information and build a checklist — but don’t stop there. • Have an estate planning attorney licensed in Georgia draft or review the final document. • Sign it in the presence of two witnesses, as Georgia law requires. • Store the original somewhere safe and tell your executor where to find it. • Revisit it every few years, or after a marriage, divorce, new child or move across state lines. Resources for Georgia residents • Georgians seeking legal aid to create a will can find a lawyer on the State Bar of Georgia’s website at gabar.org. • Free legal help is available through the state for Georgians age 60 and older. Learn more about the Elderly Legal Assistance Program at aging.georgia.gov.

DEATH NOTICES Judith Bredahl, age 78, of Roswell, GA passed away on August 4, 2026. Arrangements by Northside Chapel Funeral Directors & Crematory.

Newton Brumbeloe, age 86, of Milton, GA passed away on August 5, 2026. Arrangements by Northside Chapel Funeral Directors & Crematory.

Jesse Perry, age 80, of Alpharetta, GA passed away on August 5, 2026. Arrangements by Northside Chapel Funeral Directors & Crematory.

Donald Brown, age 91, of Roswell, GA passed away on August 6, 2026. Arrangements by Northside Chapel Funeral Directors & Crematory.

Sheri Datri, age 62, of Roswell, GA passed away on August 4, 2026. Arrangements by Northside Chapel Funeral Directors & Crematory.

Richard Ptacin, age 88, of Roswell, GA passed away on August 10, 2026. Arrangements by Northside Chapel Funeral Directors & Crematory.

12 | August 20, 2026 | Sandy Springs Crier | AppenMedia.com/Sandy_Springs

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S A D S P A R C A P A C E L E O N E M A R I E R T E A R G E N T I N I A N S E L D O M I R S Y O U W E I R B E L G I A N P O R D A I N A M P Dunwoody Crier 8/6/26 Kakuro I R E T R I A L C O B R A T A U T T O M M Y H A R D Mike Tasos R A N G E D E G A S A K A known as Cross Sums, is a challenging number puzzle, solved in a crossword style grid. The rules a Candice Teichert Kakuro, also R of it. A number below the dia N C Osquares R white I the Z of toPtheEright line in a black square is the sum the diagonal above The Small Business Advisor S can only be used onc L O1 toV9, A S digits T Y I may andKa digit only use the of the&white Suzanne Bobsquares Thomasin the sequence below it.C You L E A E L O S E E L E M William Tietjen Y U G O S L A V I A N E L I Lisa Tilt L I N T Y E R O D E A L A Michael Townes P E S D E A D T O N Trunnion LLC

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Solution

7 T R A P L U M P L U T O

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3 9 7 2 6 4 5 8 1

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