SANDY SPRINGS, Ga. — Sandy Springs’s tree canopy has rebounded slightly over the past two years, says a recent city study.
The Geographic Information System department said the city had a 56.3 percent tree canopy coverage across 13,980 acres in 2025. That’s a bump up from 2023 when the canopy coverage was 54.5 percent over 13,564 acres.
GIS Manager Bridget Lawlor told the City Council at an April 21 work session the city uses high-resolution aerial photography and artificial intelligence to measure the canopy.
“With the AI data, we generally have a greater than 95 percent accuracy,” she said.
Council members said they were pleased with the news, but they expressed some skepticism. Construction of mixed-use developments such as Hillcrest, adjacent to City Springs, and
Solis Sandy Springs near the MARTA station took their toll on trees.
The city’s tree canopy lost nearly 100 acres during the major reconfiguration of the I-285 and Ga. 400 interchange, according to the study. In 2017, trees covered 106 acres from Mount Vernon Highway to the eastern city limits and along the Glenridge Connecter to Pitts Road. In 2021, the coverage fell to 22 acres and in 2023, the number dipped further to 20 acres. In 2025, the canopy grew to 27 acres.
“I am surprised [by the 2 percent increase] because I feel like lots of trees are coming down,” Councilwoman Mary Ford said.
Willie Park, the city’s Urban Forester coordinator, said during many major developments, the trees being removed are skinny “edge” trees that don’t add a lot to the canopy. Behind the skinny trees are other trees waiting to branch out, he said.
See CANOPY, Page 11
Seasonal state burn ban runs through September
FULTON COUNTY, Ga. — The state’s annual burn ban for 54 North Georgia counties starts May 1, adding to the 91 counties in South and Central Georgia under a 30-day ban to prevent wildfires. State law prohibits the open burning of yard and land-clearing debris in Metro
Atlanta between May 1 and September 30. This is in addition to the year-round state ban on the burning of household garbage.
The ban is enacted to lessen the likelihood of wildfires and to enhance air quality in the dryer months.
Whether it’s before or after May 1,
open burns for the disposal of yard debris are not allowed year-round in parts of Milton that aren’t zoned agricultural.
The burn ban coincides with the majority of Fulton County experiencing an extreme drought, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor, despite recent rainfall.
Wildfires continue to break out in counties across South Georgia after the burn ban was implemented April 22. The two largest wildfires, the Pineland Road Fire and Ga. 82 Fire, have burned nearly 55,000 acres combined.
— Hannah Yahne
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Police nab 3 suspects in child predator sting
SANDY SPRINGS, Ga. — Sandy Springs
Police say a child predator sting operation resulted in three arrests.
In an April 24 social media post, the department said it had been conducting “a proactive child predator operation aimed at protecting our community’s most vulnerable.”
“During the operation, three adult males traveled to Sandy Springs believing
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.
Police recover cards after shoplifting report
ROSWELL, Ga. — An employee at the Target on Woodstock Road called police April 28 after observing a young male hide packs of trading cards in his sweatshirt pocket.
The suspect left the store and drove away in a grey Ford Fusion before the responding officer arrived.
Using security cameras to view the car’s license plate, the officer discovered it was registered to an address off Laurel Lake Drive where officers found and arrested the suspect.
The 15 packs of Magic: The Gathering trading cards he allegedly stole earlier that evening were recovered.
This was the third time the store reported seeing the suspect stealing cards. Each time, the suspect has taken Magic: The Gathering trading cards and hiding them in his sweatshirt pockets.
The previous thefts totaled more than $250, and those items were not recovered.
The suspect was taken to the Smyrna Jail and given a misdemeanor citation for shoplifting.
— Hannah Yahne
they were meeting a 15-year-old child to engage in sexual acts in exchange for money. They were met by our officers and taken into custody,” authorities said.
Derrell Green, 41, of McClellanville, S.C., was arrested and booked at the Fulton County Jail on April 21. Antonio Thackston, 43, of Tuscumbia, Ala., and Jacob Holloway, 38, of Lawrenceville, Ga., were arrested and booked at the
Concert booking firm scammed by fake text
ROSWELL, Ga. — An employee of a concert booking company bought $1,000 in gift cards April 28 before realizing the request came from a scammer posing as the company’s CEO.
The man called police that afternoon, telling an officer that he was asked by someone acting as the company’s CEO to buy gift cards as rewards for other coworkers.
He didn’t recognize the phone number with a 917 area code but assumed the message came from his CEO’s second phone.
The employee followed the sender’s instructions to take the company card and buy four gift cards of $250 each at Target. He spent $1,000 on gift cards from the location on North Point Parkway and sent photos of them over text to the scammer before realizing it was a scam.
The employee contacted his CEO to ask about the text message, and the CEO said he hadn’t sent it. The company’s Information Technology Department was alerted, and the employee tried to recover the money to the company card, but it had already been spent.
— Hannah Yahne
Woman cited for battery of Amazon delivery driver
ROSWELL, Ga. — A witness called Roswell Police to report a fight at the scene of what looked to be an accident involving a car and an Amazon delivery
Fulton County Jail on April 22.
They are all charged with trafficking a person for sexual servitude and criminal attempt to commit a felony, according to Fulton County Jail online records.
Anyone with information or who suspects human trafficking is asked to call the Sandy Springs Police Department at 770-551-6900.
— Dyana Bagby
vehicle on Willeo Road.
When police arrived, the delivery driver had blood on her face, arms and hands. There was also blood on the vehicle.
The delivery driver told police that she was making stops on Willeo Road and driving slowly while looking at directions. She heard the car behind her honk and attempted to pull off the road so it could pass.
When she pulled over, the car struck the rear driver’s side of the delivery vehicle resulting in minor damage.
The delivery driver said the car’s driver yelled, then exited her vehicle, struck her in the face with her phone and fists. The delivery driver said she began to fight back after being struck while sitting in her vehicle.
During the altercation, the car driver allegedly bit the delivery driver’s left forearm and right pinky which drew blood.
The car driver stated that she had been attacked by the delivery driver while she was sitting in her car.
Two witnesses corroborated the delivery driver’s story.
One witness said the delivery driver was punched in the face at least five times while sitting in the delivery vehicle. The other witness reported seeing the car’s driver trying to pull the other woman from her delivery vehicle.
Police arrested the car driver for battery and took her to the Fulton County Jail.
— Hannah Yahne
Fulton Schools’ Human Resources earns Oglethorpe Award
FULTON COUNTY, Ga. — In a first for education organizations across the state, Fulton County Schools’ Human Resources Division was recognized with the Georgia Oglethorpe Award in April for its high-level performance.
The award from The Sterling Council honors the divisions’ commitment to strategic human capital leadership, operational excellence and customer-focused service delivery.
Chief Human Resources Officer Gonzalo La Cava, Ph.D. has now led two school district human resources organizations to this recognition during his career.
“This honor reflects the commitment of our HR team and the strong partnerships we have built across Fulton County Schools,” he said. “I am proud of our district for receiving this recognition for the first time. It represents focused work to align talent strategy with district priorities.”
The Oglethorpe Award is based on the nationally recognized Baldrige Criteria for Performance Excellence, a proven leadership framework that has guided organizations for more than 30 years in achieving high performance and continuous improvement.
The Sterling Council, the organization behind the award, has similarly demonstrated more than 33 years of success using the Baldrige framework to help organizations reach state and national benchmark levels, advancing a shared mission of performance excellence.
“On behalf of the Fulton County Board of Education, we commend our Human Resources Division for this outstanding achievement,” said Board President Kristin McCabe. “This recognition reflects a strong commitment to excellence and to building a workforce that supports
DRIVEWAYS & CONCRETE
student success across our district.”
The Fulton County Schools Human Resources Division provides comprehensive services in recruitment and retention, employee relations, leadership development, compensation, workforce planning and organizational effectiveness. The division supports thousands of employees across one of Georgia’s largest school systems and plays a critical role in ensuring schools are staffed with quality educators and professionals.
Through a strong focus on continuous improvement and collaboration, the division has implemented innovative practices that streamline hiring, strengthen leadership pipelines and enhance service delivery to schools and departments. Central to this work is a culture of teamwork and shared accountability, positioning the division as a strategic partner to schools and district leaders.
The division also launched its signature professional development program, Level Up Fulton, designed to build HR capability, strengthen leadership skills and develop a pipeline of future-ready professionals. The initiative reflects the division’s commitment to investing in its people while elevating service and performance across the organization.
“Fulton County Schools is proud of the outstanding work of our Human Resources Division,” said Superintendent Mike Looney. “This recognition reflects their dedication to building systems that attract, develop and retain exceptional talent. Their teamwork, innovation and focus on supporting our employees directly benefit our schools and, ultimately, our students.”
— Hannah Yahne
DRIVEWAYS
FULTON COUNTY SCHOOLS/PROVIDED Fulton County Schools’ Chief Human Resources Officer Gonzalo La Cava, Ph.D., led the department to be the first education organization recognized with the Georgia Oglethorpe Award in April.
Fulton Schools, Kennesaw State forge path for teaching careers
NORTH FULTON, Ga. —Fulton County Schools and Kennesaw State University have partnered to create new opportunities for high school students looking to accelerate their college education and pursue careers in teaching.
Leaders from the academic institutions signed the agreement during a ceremony April 14 at Kennesaw State University (KSU).
Through the dual enrollment initiative, Fulton County students can earn college credit while in high school, gain early classroom experience and have a streamlined admissions process into Kennesaw State’s Clarice C. and Leland H. Bagwell College of Education.
“By partnering with Fulton County Schools, Kennesaw State University is creating a direct, supportive pathway from high school to a bachelor’s degree and into the teaching profession,” said Jacqueline Quiroga, KSU’s assistant vice president for Enrollment Services. “This collaboration reflects our commitment to prepare future educators while making college more accessible and affordable for students.”
The structured academic pathway allows Fulton County high school students to take approved Kennesaw State courses through Georgia’s
MATT YUNG/PROVIDED
Fulton County Schools team members stand with “Scrappy,” the Kennesaw State University mascot, April 14 to mark a new partnership that will allow high school students aspiring to be teachers to earn college credit.
Career, Technical and Agricultural (CTAE) program. Students can earn 30 or more college credits before high school graduation, saving time and significantly reducing the cost of earning a degree.
Kennesaw State will provide dual enrollment courses aligned with its teacher preparation programs, along
with academic advising and degree planning, to students pursuing the CTAE’s Teaching as a Profession career pathway. The partnership also enables participating Fulton County students to apply to KSU at no cost and receive priority orientation and registration.
Together, Fulton County Schools and Kennesaw State will provide coordinated
advising, shared resources and ongoing support to help students succeed at every stage – from high school through college and into the workforce.
“Through our partnership with Kennesaw State University, we are not only expanding dual enrollment opportunities but intentionally building a strong pipeline of future educators empowering Fulton students to pursue teaching, return to their community, and shape the next generation right here at home,” said Gonzalo La Cava, Fulton County Schools chief Human Resources officer.
The school district will play a key role in preparing and supporting students, promoting the program across its high schools and connecting students with hands-on experiences in the classroom. Students will have access to job shadowing, field experiences, mentoring, student teaching opportunities within Fulton County Schools and professional development support.
The school district also plans to offer priority hiring consideration to program graduates who meet employment requirements, helping create a direct pipeline from high school to college to career.
— Hannah Yahne
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!
WEATHER WATCH
1. Apothecary’s weight. Sultry. Gardener’s stock.
2. Breezy. Knight fight. Baker’s supply.
3. Winter forecast. Thin cracker.
South American mountain range.
4. Bread unit. Bird of prey. Nice weather prediction.
5. Coffee order. Kind of prize. Umbrella weather.
6. Music genre. Wintry. Belt-shaped region in the heavens.
7. Part of AWOL. Opera star. Dry as a bone.
Watch
1 Apothecary’s weight. Sultry. Gardener’s stock.
2. Breezy. Knight fight, Baker’s supply.
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. Winter forecast. Thin cracker. South American mountain range
4. Bread unit. Bird of prey. Nice weather prediction
5. Coffee order. Kind of prize. Umbrella weather
6. Music genre. Wintry. Belt-shaped region in the heavens.
7. Part of
How to Solve: To solve the Sudoku puzzle, each row, column and box must contain the numbers 1 to 9.
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.
Early voting opens in Fulton County for May primary
FULTON COUNTY, Ga. — Monday, April 27, was the first day of early voting for the May 19 primary election. Registered Fulton County voters can cast their ballot at any early voting location.
The Georgia Secretary of State’s My Voter Page will show individual sample ballots and polling locations. Fulton County voters can view early voting locations by visiting fultoncountyga.gov, then clicking on “Elections.”
Early voting ends on May 15. Polls are open Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Polls will be open May 2 and May 9 from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. and May 3 from noon to 5 p.m.
— Hannah Yahne
FULTON COUNTY/PROVIDED Campaign signs lead to the Roswell Library as advance voting opens in Fulton County for the May 19 primary election.
‘Big Hug’ muralist returns to Spruill Gallery
By DYANA BAGBY dyana@appenmedia.com
DUNWOODY, Ga. — Charity Hamidullah, the artist whose “Big Hug” mural decorated the Spruill Smoke House two years ago, is returning to Dunwoody with a new exhibit.
“Returns” comes to the Spruill Gallery on May 7 and will feature work by Hamidullah along with fellow artists Sayma Hossain and Masela Nkolo. Hamidullah’s “Big Hug” mural was part of Spruill’s AMPLIFY public art display from October 2023 to October 2024. “Returns” invites muralists who contributed to Spruill’s public art project to show their art inside the gallery, Spruill Gallery Director Shannon Morris said in a statement.
All three exhibiting artists –Hamidullah, Hossain, and Nkolo – work with reclaimed items inspired by their cultural heritage, “which provide them with the means to communicate on societal issues that cross boundaries and cultures,” Morris said.
Since her presentation of “Big Hug,” Charity continues to contribute to public art in Atlanta in meaningful and impactful ways, Morris stated.
“I am also over the moon to be working with Sayma Hossain and Masela Nkolo, both of whom are among Atlanta’s top emerging contemporary artists,” Morris said.
Hamidullah is a multidisciplinary artist and muralist with a specialty in large-scale public art. On April 21, Hamidullah’s mural, “Wild Seed, Wild
Flower,” featuring vivid butterflies, flowers and soccer balls was unveiled in South Downtown Atlanta to greet visitors to the FIFA World Cup. The 10,000-square-foot piece is the City of Atlanta’s largest mural.
Hossain, who was born in Dhaka, Bangladesh, is a textile artist who repurposes found objects using traditional textile techniques.
Nkolo, born in Kinshasa, Congo, is a multidisciplinary artist whose artwork includes sculpture, textiles and performance.
“Returns” will be on view at the Spruill Gallery from May 7 through June 19 with an opening reception May 8 from 6-9 p.m. as well as an opportunity to engage with the artists on June 6 from 2-3 p.m.
City to celebrate National Kids to Parks Day
SANDY SPRINGS, Ga. — The City of Sandy Springs is inviting the community to Hammond Park May 16 to celebrate National Kids to Parks Day.
The day marks a nationwide celebration that encourages kids and families to discover, explore and appreciate local parks and public lands. The annual celebration takes
place on the third Saturday of May and promotes outdoor play, healthy living and nature connection for all ages.
There will be plenty of free activities at Hammond Park from 11 a.m.-3 p.m. designed to get kids outside to play, including games, inflatables, a DJ, temporary tattoos and water slides. Food trucks will
be on hand to offer a variety of meals.
For more information about the event, visit the National Kids to Parks Day page on the city’s event calendar, or contact the Sandy Springs Recreation and Parks Department on the city’s website or at 770-730 5600.
— Dyana Bagby
County seeks public input for Hazard Mitigation Plan
FULTON COUNTY, Ga. — Cities are participating in a countywide effort led by the Atlanta-Fulton County Emergency Management Agency to update the multijurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan for Fulton County now through May 15.
The Hazard Mitigation Plan identifies potential hazards and outlines strategies to reduce the
impact of natural disasters and other emergencies on the community. The plan must be updated and approved every five years by the Georgia Emergency Management Agency/ Homeland Security and the Federal Emergency Management Agency to remain eligible for disaster mitigation grants and post-disaster assistance.
Over the next year, the Atlanta-
Fulton County Emergency Management Agency will conduct planning meetings and outreach with jurisdictions throughout Fulton County. The process will create an updated, countywide HMP that includes specific mitigation strategies for cities and will remain in effect for five years.
Residents are encouraged to complete a survey to share feedback
on local hazards and community priorities. The survey is available on the fultoncountyga.gov website. Search for “Hazard Mitigation.”
Local participation will help inform planning decisions and strengthen each city’s ability to secure future federal grant funding for mitigation projects.
Hannah Yahne
SPRUILL GALLERY/PROVIDED
Charity Hamidullah uses reclaimed items to create art in the “Returns” exhibit coming to Spruill Gallery May 7-June 19. Hamidullah’s ‘Big Mural’ was on display at the Gallery in 2024.
OPINION
An old deck reveals the resilience of pine
RAY APPEN Publisher Emeritus ray@appenmedia.com
Many years ago, Florida State University was my home for nearly a decade.
Every time I drive through Tallahassee or south toward the coast, the sense of time passing hits me like a cold shower.
From Tallahassee to the Gulf, the landscape remains largely old Florida. Century-old oaks draped in Spanish moss line slow, winding roads with Native American names. Families still farm land-grant acreage originally deeded by Spanish colonial authorities or the U.S. government in the early 1800s. North of town, between Tallahassee and Thomasville, Georgia, sprawling hunting plantations occupy thousands of acres originally owned — and some still owned — by Northeastern industrialists, among them the Phipps and Carnegie
families. Many continue to operate today, hosting well-heeled guests during hunting season.
To the west, however, much of that old Florida is gone. Some new residential communities feature coastal mansions listed at $5 million to $10 million. The area now resembles an overdeveloped, gated resort community more than a stretch of natural coastline. Development is coming to the rest of the Panhandle, but for now, a few years may remain.
Some of the old haunts I frequented in Tallahassee are gone. I spent countless hours at Pastime Billiards on Tennessee Street — far more time than I spent studying. The floor was covered in peanut shells; patrons simply threw them down. Cheap beer, boiled peanuts, thick cigarette smoke and some of the South’s best pool hustlers filled the place, most playing 9-ball for thousands of dollars.
Pastime drew players from across the region because of its central location along the circuit connecting New
Orleans, Miami, Atlanta, Charlotte and Jacksonville. The best of them, Mike Carella, held a permanent table in the corner. Watching him play was like watching Tiger Woods or Wayne Gretzky at the height of their craft — except it was pool. He could run rack after rack without missing, always for money, and was known as much for his gambling as for his skill at the table.
He was later confirmed to have been running drug shipments into the United States for a cartel. He was found dead in a Miami hotel room, shot multiple times. He was, in some ways, a force of nature.
Mike’s Beer Barn, another institution, was nearby. So was Bullwinkle’s, a bar on Tennessee Street across from the FSU campus, founded in 1956 by former FSU football player Mike Norman. By 1961, the establishment was open 24 hours a day, seven days a week, moving thousands of kegs of beer. In the 1970s, it was ranked the No. 1 beer retailer in the nation. It is still in business today, though the old Tallahassee atmosphere
has faded — as it has everywhere. Fred’s Dry Dock operated two locations: one on Tennessee Street on the west side of town, another off Tharp Street to the north. Both were highvolume, no-frills bars serving stiff, cheap drinks to packed crowds. Any number of FSU students barely survived the 50-cent bottom-shelf shots. One of the manager-bartenders, a woman named Brenda, eventually went to prison for what she was selling under the bar — and it was not liquor. Both locations have since closed, which is probably for the best.
Very little stays the same over time. Perhaps that is what makes the things that do endure — or nearly endure — so compelling. It is a race against time, and no one wins. But if we are smart and fortunate, we embrace the passage of time and savor each moment, each image, each memory, each relationship, whether it involves people, places or the natural world. Old Florida is worth savoring. There is still some of it left.
Falling in love with houses you can’t afford
There’s a peculiar modern ritual in homebuying: you scroll listings, tour a few homes, imagine where the couch goes, maybe even name the future dog — then discover you can’t actually buy the place. It’s like testdriving a Ferrari with a bicycle budget. Enter mortgage pre-approval, the unglamorous but essential step that separates the serious buyers from the enthusiastic tourists.
Here’s the reality, minus the fairy tale.
1: It tells what you can afford
Without pre-approval, you’re operating on vibes and Zillow optimism. A lender, however, deals in numbers — your income, debt, credit, and assets — and translates that into a price range grounded in reality.
It may not be as fun as guessing, but it does prevent the emotional spiral of falling in love with a home that belongs to someone with a significantly larger paycheck.
2: Sellers take you seriously
In competitive markets, submitting an offer without pre-approval is a bit like proposing on a first date — with no job. Sellers want certainty. A pre-approval letter tells them you’ve been vetted and are capable of closing. Without it, your offer can quietly slide into the “nice try” pile.
3: It lets you move at market speed
Good homes don’t linger. They appear, they charm, they vanish. If you’re not preapproved, you’re pausing to call a lender while someone else is already signing paperwork. Pre-approval means you can act immediately — no scrambling, no missed opportunities.
4: It reduces unpleasant surprises
There are few experiences more
frustrating than getting under contract, paying for inspections, and then discovering your financing falls apart. Pre-approval pushes most of that financial scrutiny to the front of the process, where it belongs — before you’re emotionally or financially invested.
5: It strengthens your negotiating position
Sellers don’t always choose the highest offer — they choose the one most likely to close. Certainty has value. A pre-approved buyer brings that certainty, and that can make your offer more attractive, even in a crowded field.
6: It helps you fix problems early
If there’s an issue — credit, debt, savings — you’ll find out before you’re picturing yourself hosting holidays in the dining room. That early awareness gives you time to address the problem and re-enter the market in a stronger position.
Sometimes we’ll make the call
When needed, we’ll even reach out to the listing agent and advocate on your behalf — because in real estate, a little reassurance can go a long way.
The bottom line
House hunting without pre-approval is like shopping without checking your bank account. It’s fun right up until reality arrives. Pre-approval, on the other hand, turns curiosity into capability.
It’s the difference between browsing… and actually buying.
DC Aiken is Senior Vice President of Lending for CrossCountry Mortgage, NMLS # 658790. For more insights, you can subscribe to his newsletter at dcaiken.com. The opinions expressed within this article may not reflect the opinions or views of CrossCountry Mortgage, LLC or its affiliates.
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History, hiking and hamming at Eagle’s Beak Park
One thing that is a constant and delightful surprise to me is the number of “public spaces” (another way of saying “parks”) to be found hereabouts.
I’ve lived in this neck of the woods pretty much nonstop since I made my grand debut back in – well, let’s just say back in the previous millennium. In the years since then, I’ve spent an inordinate amount of time in the great outdoors, much of it exploring various parklands.
You’d think that by now I’ve seen ‘em all. But I haven’t – not even close. It seems like I’m always stumbling across one that’s new (or at least new-to-me).
That’s what happened a couple of months ago when I “discovered” Eagle’s Beak Park in Forsyth County.
To say that I discovered this park on my own is not quite true. The fact is that I’d driven by it countless times while rambling around in Forsyth County, but for a long time it only registered in some vague “look-at-the-neat-greenspace!” kind
of way.
Then, one day, I was talking to my buddy Rin about the ham radio thing. To be more precise, we were talking about the “Parks on the Air” program, or POTA for short. I think I’ve mentioned it before in this space; it’s the thing where hams like me tote small portable radio stations out into the wild, set up a minimalist antenna of some sort, and then talk to other like-minded hams all over the world. Communication is a good thing, especially these days, and it gives folks like me yet another excuse to get out-ofdoors and play.
Anyway, I asked my friend about his favorite places to visit. His answer included many of the usual suspects – the Chattahoochee River National Recreation area, various state parks, and a couple of state Wildlife Management Areas too.
But then he mentioned one called Eagle’s Beak Park.
Eagle’s Beak Park? I don’t think I’d run across that one on any list of POTA parks I’d seen. Yes, my friend said, that’s true.
“But it’s on the Trail of Tears,” he added. “And the Trail of Tears counts as a POTA park, right?”
Right. Ahhh! Radio adventure, here I
come!
The Trail of Tears, as you probably know, is the route which the Cherokee people followed as they were forcefully evicted from their native land in 1832. That was a tragic time for the Cherokee, and the whole sad story remains a dark blot on the timeline of those who drove them from their ancestral home.
To preserve this history, interpretive signs have been placed in the park where trails follow portions of the original Trail of Tears route.
“In order to progress, we have to take our history with us and learn from it,“ said Cindy Jones Mills, then Forsyth County District Four commissioner, speaking in 2022 at the ribbon cutting for expansions at Eagle’s Beak Park. If we forget that history, she added, “then we’ve forgotten where we’re going.”
Well said.
And so, with echoes of that history ringing fresh in my mind, I set out one afternoon with my hiking stick in one hand and my ham radio in the other to see what Eagle’s Beak Park might hold in store.
What I found was a delightful piece of public green space tucked in close by the Etowah River in northwestern Forsyth
County. Radio-wise, it turned out to be a blast, and I talked to folks from Alabama to Argentina in a little more than one hour of radio time.
But being a good place to “ham” is just a tiny bit of what has, without a doubt, put Eagle’s Beak Park near the top of my go-to list when I’m looking for a place for some outdoor fun.
The park, which opened in 2017, is situated on land purchased by the county back in 2009. It offers about 225 acres of recreational potential with lots of open green space as well as picnic pavilions, a playground, and restrooms.
One favorite activity at Eagle’s Beak is walking or hiking. Particularly popular is the 1.25-mile paved walking trail, easily accessible from the main parking area off Old Federal Road. This trail runs around the large grassy area in the corner formed by Old Federal Road and the Etowah River and includes a central cut-across shortcut leading back to the parking area. It’s a sort of stretched-out loop which parallels the river on its northern side. This loop, by the way, is considered by many to be a very good wildlife viewing area – especially for birders.
See HUDSON, Page 11
STEVE HUDSON
Columnist
PAST TENSE
Perimeter banking began in cow pasture
Ethel Spruill wrote about the first financial institution to come to the Perimeter Center area in “The Story of Dunwoody,” the book she co-authored with Elizabeth Davis.
Tucker Federal Savings and Loan was located at the corner of Ashford Dunwoody Road and 2 Perimeter Center East. Spruill said the building was “sparkling white” and “stood like an oasis in a cow pasture when it opened for business June 4, 1970.”
It was on a tiny piece of the property along Ashford Dunwoody Road once owned by her husband, Stephen Spruill.
Tucker Federal’s decision to build was based on the growing population in the area and the planned Perimeter Mall, which opened Aug. 11, 1971. Trust Company Bank, Citizens and Southern Bank, First National Bank and National Bank of Georgia soon followed Tucker Federal’s lead, building branches at Perimeter Center.
Tucker Federal Savings and Loan began operations in downtown Tucker in 1957. In 1961 they moved into a new brick building on Main Street in Tucker.
Hudson:
The west end of the main loop passes close by the park’s playground, restroom and picnic pavilion. It’s also accessible from a smaller parking area at the end of a short access road which turns north off Old Federal Road.
Their first branch office was at 4855 Briarcliff Road, opening in 1966, across the road from the future Northlake Mall. (Atlanta Journal ads, 1961 and 1966)
The savings and loan also made an impact on Doraville when they opened their location at the intersection of Buford Highway and Park Avenue on Jan. 2, 1969. The unusual round architecture was described as “…a unique 2,200 square foot structure with a street level lobby cantilevering over a lower terrace level. The exterior is pre-
features a pulley system to help you get your boat into and out of the water.
The Eagle’s Beak canoe/kayak launch is popular as an ending point for the 7-mile float from the Kelly Bridge Canoe and Kayak Ramp in Dawsonville. Of course, if you’re canoeing, be sure you know what you’re doing (and that you’re able to handle occasional fallen, river-blocking trees). Also be sure you have (and use) your life jacket.
cast panels of concrete with a sparkling white stone finish.” (Atlanta Journal ad, Dec. 30, 1968)
Atlanta architects Cunningham and Forehand designed the Buford Highway and Briarcliff Road offices of Tucker Federal Savings and Loan.
Anyone that opened an account with $200 or more at the grand opening of the Doraville Tucker Federal Savings and Loan received an electric serving tray as a gift. The Dunwoody branch offered new account holders a choice of
an intermediate connector. The eastern portion of the dirt trail passes near the pavilion/playground/canoe launch area, and you can also access the dirt trail from there.
an electric serving tray, red and white checked picnic tablecloth or barbecue tools. Both offices also held drawings for door prizes. Prizes offered ranged from a minibike to a 12-inch RCA television.
The grand opening advertisement for the Dunwoody office described the building:
“The beautiful semi-contemporary building has 2,500 square feet with indoor and outdoor exposure to open courts. The lobby is enhanced with subdued lighting from a raised ceiling.”
The 1960s and 1970s were a time for interesting bank architecture. Trust Company Bank built their circular branch office, designed by Henry Jova, along Monroe Drive and adjacent to I-85 in the 1960s.
The former Tucker Federal buildings at Perimeter Center and Doraville have had different owners and names over the years. Today, the office at Perimeter Center is Georgia’s Own Credit Union. The Doraville branch on Buford Highway is PNC Bank. The Briarcliff Road office stands empty.
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.
hiking shoes. Note too that during the summertime parts of this trail may be a bit overgrown. You can bring along your four-footed hiking companions, too, but remember to keep ‘em on the leash.
Now…I wonder what the next newto-me park will be? I’m sure there are plenty of them out there. If you have a favorite, let me know. I’ll check it out and let you know what I find. Continued from Page 10
For canoe enthusiasts, one highlight of Eagle’s Beak Park is its canoe and kayak launch. Located in the same area as the playground and picnic pavilion, this launch provides a good put-in or take-out point for kayakers exploring the Etowah River Water Trail. The ramp
Canopy:
Continued from Page 1
“You remove those trees … and you start to see some of the hardwoods behind those trees start to stretch out a little bit. Even with some removal, there is still canopy reclamation,” he said.
Continuing west in the park, you’ll find one more parking area – a much smaller circular parking that’s the place to leave your car if you want to hike Eagle’s Beak’s 1.25-mile dirt trail. That trail, which is a favorite of mine, consists of two loops joined by
When larger trees fall during a storm, younger, smaller trees can grow in the sunlight in that space for more natural reclamation of the canopy, he said.
The city is also working hard, he said, to reduce the amount of overgrown pine forests to create a biodiverse, ecologically resilient forest.
“And what this does, it continues to replenish the canopy year after year after
Once on the dirt trail, you’ll find yourself enjoying a fairly leisurely walk in the woods. Part of the eastern loop traverses the Etowah River floodplain, though most of the route traverses upland forest. Not surprisingly, it’s another good birding hike, particularly during spring and fall migration seasons.
If you decide to explore the dirt trail, be ready for about 160 feet of elevation change. You’ll do some climbing and descending, so wear good
year,” Park said.
Councilmember Andrew Chinsky said it was enlightening to see the data.
“We hear from constituents whenever there’s a clear cut, especially in a residential area, in part because it’s so visible,” he said. “To see the data is very helpful to actually understand what’s going on, rather than relying on our eyes, and maybe our lying eyes.”
Though I’ve hiked there several times over the last few months, Eagle’s Beak Park continues to captivate me. I think you’ll be captivated by it too. It offers that mix of accessibility, remoteness and history that are increasingly elusive these days, all combined in a place that’s easy to get to and fun to explore.
DEATH NOTICES
Kenneth Sandiford, age 92, of Alpharetta, GA passed away on April 21, 2026. Arrangements by Northside Chapel Funeral Directors & Crematory.
VALERIE BIGGERSTAFF Columnist
PHOTO FROM “THE STORY OF DUNWOODY,” BY ETHEL W. SPRUILL AND ELIZABETH L. DAVIS
The 1970 Tucker Federal Savings and Loan at the corner of Ashford Dunwoody Road and 2 Perimeter Center East.
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