Three Dollar Café to relocate iconic Chastain sports bar
By HAYDEN SUMLIN hayden@appenmedia.com
SANDY SPRINGS, Ga. — Three Dollar Cafe is preparing to relocate its iconic Chastain location less than a quarter mile north, and owner Kelly Woo wants the community to know customer service and longevity remain its top priority.
“We love that Three Dollar is a part of multi-generational memories … that is the real magic of the place, and we will continue to be the neighborhood, local sports
bar,” Woo said. “I think our loyal longtime customers will be happy to see the familiar atmosphere that we will be incorporating, as well as upgrades to the new location to provide a more comfortable and enjoyable dining experience.”
After nearly two decades, the relocation gives Three Dollar Cafe an opportunity to refresh its space with an expanded kitchen, provide a more enjoyable dining and sports-watching experience and maintain its service to the Chastain community.
Woo expects to close the beloved sports bar and familyfriendly restaurant during the first quarter of 2026 and move to a larger space within the Chastain Market mixed-use development at Windsor Parkway and Roswell Road.
Patrons will need to find parking within Chastain Market, a 21-acre mixed-use development with retail, office, a Trader Joe’s, CVS Pharmacy and luxury apartments at 4600 Roswell Road in Sandy Springs.
See CAFE, Page 7
Three Dollar Cafe’s Chastain location near Wieuca and Roswell roads in North Buckhead is relocating in early 2026 to the Chastain Market mixed-use development just a couple of blocks north in southern Sandy Springs. Owner Kelly Woo said the relocation allows Three Dollar Cafe to continue serving the Chastain community, which is split between the cities of Atlanta and Sandy Springs.
By HAYDEN SUMLIN hayden@appenmedia.com
SANDY SPRINGS, Ga. — The largest food pantry in Metro Atlanta’s Central Perimeter is sharing how a temporary SNAP benefits suspension may be affecting local families and where to go for immediate assistance. The Community Assistance Center is a nonprofit split between the cities of Sandy Springs and Dunwoody, as well as Fulton and DeKalb counties. In 2024, the CAC assisted nearly 10,000 people, distributed approximately one million pounds of food and helped prevent more than 1,000 evictions.
Before the federal government shutdown jeopardized the Supplemental Food Assistance Program, CAC leaders were already talking about growing needs in the community among the working poor. Entering its fourth week, the federal government has announced no new food stamps will be issued to the program’s 42 million recipients starting Nov. 1 unless both parties in Congress pass an appropriations bill.
CEO Francis K. Horton III said the temporary suspension of SNAP benefits is getting closer to reality, and the Community Assistance Center is preparing now to ensure no family it serves goes hungry.
See CAC, Page 7
HAYDEN SUMLIN/ APPEN MEDIA
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Sheriff’s Office settles open records lawsuit for $75,000
By HAYDEN SUMLIN hayden@appenmedia.com
NORTH FULTON COUNTY, Ga. — The Fulton County Sheriff’s Office has paid $75,000 to settle an open records lawsuit after unlawfully withholding video of a woman being choked by a jailer, according to law firm Spears & Filipovits.
In 2023, Casey Bennett was reportedly choked unconscious while handcuffed at the North Fulton County Jail in Alpharetta by jailer Monique Clark, who is now serving four years in federal prison for the assault.
Spears & Filipovits, which filed the lawsuit on the choking survivor’s behalf, says the settlement is a step toward more transparency and accountability in the Fulton County Jail system.
The main Rice Street jail is notorious for inmate deaths and poor conditions, as detailed in a recent U.S. Department of Justice report.
The choking incident happened, however, at the Alpharetta jail location.
The settlement followed a court’s rejection of the Sheriff’s Office claim that “security” prevented Bennett from obtaining video of her own assault. Attorneys say the Sheriff’s Office settled after threatening a retaliatory lawsuit against her.
Attorney Wingo Smith said it is an important win in the fight for transparency in jails and prisons.
“Terrible things can happen to people behind those walls,” Smith said. “Refusing to release the videos under the pretext of security harms us all.”
Spears & Filipovits filed a civil rights lawsuit on Bennett’s behalf and requested all video of the assault.
After the Sheriff’s Office refused
only to revoke the release under the same “security” exemption it cited later in Bennett’s case.
In March of this year, Fulton County Superior Court Judge Scott McAfee granted Bennett’s motion for partial summary judgment, finding that the Sheriff’s Office violated the Open Records Act by improperly applying the security exemption and lacked “substantial justification” for doing so.
The Sheriff’s Office appealed the order before agreeing to settle by paying $75,000 in attorney’s fees and court costs.
to release any video of the incident, Bennett and her attorneys sued in March 2024 to obtain it under the Georgia Open Records Act.
The first response from the Sheriff’s Office, via County attorneys, was to threaten to sue Bennett for “abusive litigation.”
The Sheriff’s Office argued the footage could be withheld using an Open Records Act exemption for documents whose disclosure would “compromise security against sabotage or criminal or terrorist acts.”
Yet, the law firm says the Sheriff’s Office gave some video to another jailer who was one of the defendants in Bennett’s civil rights lawsuit. That lawsuit was settled in June with the Chadha Jimenez Law Firm serving as co-counsel.
Spears & Filipovits says its ability
to obtain jail footage from the Sheriff’s Office under Open Records Act requests appeared to change in late 2023, when the jail came under public scrutiny for a string of deaths in unconstitutional conditions.
Atlanta journalist George Chidi reported that the Sheriff’s Office provided him with video of a jail raid,
“This case started with the Fulton County Sheriff’s Office threatening to sue our client for abusive litigation, and now it has ended with the Sheriff’s Office paying her attorney’s fees,” Jeff Filipovits said. “Pursuing this case and her civil rights lawsuit in the wake of a traumatizing and embarrassing moment of her life was not easy, and we commend her for her bravery.”
SPEARS & FILIPOVITS/ISADORA PENNINGTON
From left, attorneys Wingo Smith, Brian Spears and Jeff Filipovits routinely handle litigation concerning police misconduct and jail conditions at Decatur-based law firm Spears & Filipovits.
North Springs partners with Gwinnett Tech on career-focused training
SANDY SPRINGS, Ga. — North Springs High School is rolling out a new opportunity for rising ninth and tenth graders, the Accelerated Career Diploma (ACD) program, unique in North Fulton County.
The innovative program allows students to earn a high school diploma, free college credits and two professional certifications in highdemand fields such as cybersecurity, healthcare, welding and HVAC.
Students from all Fulton County School attendance zones are eligible to apply.
All interested students, parents and families should plan to attend an Accelerated Career Diploma Information Night on Tuesday, Nov. 11 from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. in the school’s Media Center at 7447 Roswell Road in Sandy Springs.
In partnership with Gwinnett Technical College, students can select from three ACD pathways, graduate in three or four years and go directly to the workforce or college.
Transportation is provided for Accelerated Career Diploma students from their home schools to North Springs and from the high school to Gwinnett Technical College, ensuring access and convenience.
Outside of career training, North Springs offers students a well-rounded high school experience, including opportunities to pursue a STEAM
A rendering shows the main building at the new North Springs High School, set to reopen before the 2027-28 school year, off Roswell Road in Sandy Springs. North Springs is partnering with Gwinnett Technical College to offer Fulton County students professional certifications before they graduate.
Magnet certification, choose from 26 Advanced Placement (AP) classes and participate in more than 60 extracurricular activities and clubs.
North Springs is on the path to earning official STEAM Certification from the Georgia Department of Education. The designation recognizes schools that integrate science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics across all content areas through hands-on learning.
North Springs Assistant Principal Kevin Rogers, who serves as program coordinator, said the program gives students an accelerated path to success.
“They’ll graduate with confidence, real-world skills and credentials that set them apart,” Rogers said. “They will be able to plan to go straight to the workforce in high demand, high wage roles or pursue a college degree.”
“I am thrilled we have these
exciting opportunities in addition to our STEAM offerings at North Springs,” Principal Scott Hanson said. “These new career pathways will make a big difference and open many doors for students after high school.”
To learn more about this exciting new opportunity and how to apply, visit northsprings.fultonschools.org/ questions-about/acdc/magnet-clone.
— Hayden Sumlin
City continues effort to set commercial design standards
SANDY SPRINGS, Ga. — The Sandy Springs community is invited to give input on the development of design guidelines for the city’s main commercial areas Nov. 20 from 6-8 p.m. at City Hall.
Citizens have a chance to shape what Sandy Springs looks like in the future, a sore spot in the “crossroads community” that borders the City of Atlanta and North Fulton County.
The city is developing design guidelines for six primary commercial and mixed-use areas to ensure future development aligns with adopted planning documents and promotes
a unique sense of place in Sandy Springs.
The public meeting will be held within the Studio Theatre Lobby at the Sandy Springs Performing Arts Center off Galambos Way.
The guidelines build on standards included in the Development Code and Technical Manual by providing additional design direction for building features, building sites, landscaping and streetscapes.
They include City Springs, the downtown district; Crossroads, where Roswell Road and I-285 intersect; Neighborhood Village, commercial areas
south of I-285 and along Roswell Road; North End, all commercial areas north of Abernathy Road; Central Perimeter, which includes the business district around Ga. 400; and Powers Ferry along I-285 at the Cobb County border.
At the fourth meeting of the design guidelines process, interested residents will see a brief presentation on project goals and then provide input during an open house.
The city has already received areaspecific guidance for the stage one focus areas, including City Springs, North End and Perimeter.
Attendees will be asked for potential
design approaches for stage two focus areas, including Powers Ferry and two focus areas at the southern end of Roswell Road, Crossroads and Neighborhood Village.
For those who are unable to attend, there will be online opportunities to review and provide input on materials presented at the meeting.
Exhibit materials and feedback opportunities will be posted on sandyspringsga.gov/ designguidelines on Nov. 20 and will remain open until Dec. 14.
— Hayden Sumlin
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!
LAST IS FIRST
1. Like a busybody. Hank ___ Copland. Tropical fruit.
2. Sandy ___Quaid.
Sad. Ticket part.
3. Failure. River to the Rio Grande. Sir Walter ___Glenn.
4. Anne ___Lovejoy. Bout ender. Stand-offish.
5. Gusto. Clumsy person. Christopher ___Bridges
6. Elton ____Lithgow. Kind of passage. Clunker.
7. Little wriggler. Dean ____ Scorsese. Wax-coated cheese.
1. Like a busybody. Hank ___ Copland. Tropical fruit
2. Sandy ___ Quaid. Sad. Ticket part
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. Failure. River to the Rio Grande. Sir Walter ___ Glenn
4. Anne ___ Lovejoy Bout ender. Stand-offish.
5. Gusto. Clumsy person. Christopher ___ Bridges
6. Elton ___ Lithgow. Kind of passage. Clunker
7. Little wriggler. Dean ___ Scorsese. Wax-coated cheese.
PPE manufacturer opens $2 million Alpharetta facility
ALPHARETTA, Ga. — International personal protection manufacturer
Ansell celebrated the opening of an Alpharetta demonstration center Oct. 22.
The $2 million Ansell Xperience & Innovation Studio will serve as a hub for more than 40 local employees. Located at 11580 Great Oaks Way, it includes labs and workshops to showcase products for customers and people who might use the equipment.
The company manufactures personal protection equipment, such as gloves, protective suits and other equipment, for health care and industrial workers.
Mayor Jim Gilvin, Councilman Doug DeRito and other city officials attended the event.
CEO Neil Salmon said the opening marks an important step in advancing the company’s mission of making the world safer.
“By creating spaces where our partners can collaborate with us, we’re not only addressing immediate safety challenges but also driving the insights and innovations that will define protection for years to come,” he said.
School scores show county has room to improve
By HANNAH YAHNE hannah@appenmedia.com
FULTON COUNTY, Ga — Students in Fulton County showcased various levels of proficiency in English Language Arts (ELA) and Math after the district reviewed scores on the 2025 Georgia Milestones during its Oct. 23 meeting.
Woodland Middle School was the only school that did not surpass the state’s growth benchmark of 65 percent proficiency on either Milestones test. Other schools –Briar Hills (formerly Conley Hills) Elementary School, McNair Middle School, along with Tri-Cities High and Banneker high schools – scored below the state’s growth benchmark on the English Language Arts (ELA) Milestone.
Results from the Math Milestones showed three elementary schools and three middle schools that scored beneath the state’s growth benchmark of 65 percent of students proficient in the subject.
Fulton County used the last
three years of Georgia Milestones scores to identify trends for each school in the district. Since 2022, all but two schools – Camp Creek Middle School and Asa G. Hilliard Elementary School – improved students’ proficiency in ELA. Briar Hills Elementary School showed the largest improvement at 10.5 percent.
Math Milestones results throughout the district showed an average increase of 8.9 percent since 2022. Scores from both Seaborn Lee Elementary School and Banneker High School improved by more than 18 percent on average. However, average results from Asa G. Hilliard Elementary School once again decreased since 2022, along with scores at Heritage Elementary School.
Fulton County Schools also compared Milestones scores of students with learning disabilities versus the rest of their peers at schools that qualify for the Georgia Promise Scholarship voucher program. Schools are identified annually as needing Targeted
Support and Improvement (TSI) or Comprehensive Support and Improvement (CSI). Nine schools in Fulton County are currently on the list but are eligible to be removed in the next two years.
The district wants the Milestone scores of students with disabilities to match or exceed the rate of those receiving general education.
ELA and Math Milestones scores from 2025 showed that students with learning disabilities had lower growth percentages when compared to the general student populations at TSI schools. While the district hopes to no longer have schools on the state’s list of additional TSI schools in 2026, Chief Academic Officer Brannon Gaskins said the district will continue to work with schools and provide students with support.
“We really want to make sure that we have a well-articulated sustainability plan to support our schools,” Gaskins said.
This includes continuing to conduct weekly site visits and
monthly progress meetings, providing increased support from Math and ELA specialists during school and tutoring, and working with specially designed instruction coaches based at each TSI and Additional TSI school.
“I’m always so proud of the growth we see in our schools and our students,” board member Katherine Gregory said, “and I know it is a lot of additional support, and I am very grateful.”
Gaskins also said the school district was praised by the state superintendent at the Georgia School Superintendents Association’s fall conference for achieving a 100 percent graduation rate for the second year in a row, staying at an all-time high.
Fulton County was also recognized for its student’s participation in the ACT with 17 percent of test-takers in the state coming from the district, and whose results exceeded the average ACT score both state-wide and nationally, Superintendent Mike Looney said.
— Jon Wilcox
Alpharetta city officials attend the opening of a Ansell demonstration center Oct. 22.
Café:
Continued from Page 1
The move means Three Dollar Cafe will no longer have a location inside the city of Atlanta. Instead, it will have two inside Sandy Springs with its other eight locations spread across Metro Atlanta.
“After we announced our move, we have had many people reach out with excitement, as well as a bittersweet sentiment,” Woo said. “We too, realize it is an end of an era, and the rustic, dive barlike conditions of the current store that are part of the atmosphere will be missed.”
When asked what initiated the relocation inside Sandy Springs, Woo said the current landlord wanted to maintain flexibility for a potential redevelopment. She said only short-term leases have been provided in the past.
“That is a risky way to operate a business not only from a financial stability standpoint, but also to exist at all within the area because if the time came, we knew we would have to leave,” Woo said. “We knew we would want to stay within a one-mile radius to serve our customer base, and the opportunities are limited.”
While the building itself is more than 50 years old, the Chastain location attracts all generations from southern Sandy Springs and north Atlanta.
Young families grab a bite to eat after a practice at Chastain Park’s Northside Youth Organization. Old-timers hang out at the bar and hold court. Young adults meet their friends on the patio when they’re back visiting family.
The whole community piles into the quasi-dive bar any night there is a game on because the combination of atmosphere and food can’t be beat anywhere else.
The Chastain location is just north of Wieuca Road on the border of Atlanta’s
CAC:
Continued from Page 1
“We are increasing our food stock in our two mini-market food pantries in anticipation of an increased demand by as much as 30 percent,” Horton said in an Oct. 28 statement. “We are working with the Atlanta Community Food Bank and other partners to secure additional food supplies and resources to help those affected by loss of their SNAP benefits.”
Horton said it’s not a time for supporters or clients of the Community Assistance Center to panic. The nonprofit has been evolving to meet the community’s needs for nearly four decades.
“We’re always hopeful that reason will prevail and something will happen
HAYDEN SUMLIN/APPEN MEDIA
The former Snooze Eatery at 4600 Roswell Road in Sandy Springs is slated to be the new home of Three Dollar Cafe’s Chastain location, currently less than a quarter mile south inside the City of Atlanta. The popular sports bar and family-friendly restaurant plans to relocate to Chastain Market in early 2026.
North Buckhead neighborhood and the city of Sandy Springs at 4475 Roswell Road.
Three Dollar Cafe plans to move into a free-standing building at Chastain Market vacated by Snooze Eatery, a Denver-based chain specializing in brunch, in April.
Unlike Three Dollar Cafe, Snooze never won over the community and fizzled out.
The 4,000-square-foot standalone building at Chastain Market first opened in 2016 as an Urban Cookhouse restaurant.
“It presented an opportunity to refresh our space with a bigger kitchen for our staff,” Woo said. “Equally as important, we love that it is a larger free-standing space like our existing location, which will allow us to expand our offerings and provide a more enjoyable dining and sports viewing experience, without vacating the immediate area, as customer service and longevity within this community is our top
between now and Saturday,” Horton said, referencing the Nov. 1 SNAP benefits deadline. “It’s critical to a lot of the families that we work with in our community and struggling to make ends meet already.”
Through a partnership with the Atlanta Community Food Bank and other metro nonprofits, the Community Assistance Center is prepared for an expected increase in food pantry shoppers.
Horton said increases in food needs naturally translates to a rise in demand for rental assistance, and every dollar donated helps keep families in their homes.
The biggest thing Sandy Springs residents can do to help is to spread the word to prospective donors and shoppers, who may not be aware of the CAC’s charitable work.
Horton said nonprofit volunteers are
have created a family-like atmosphere for our customers and are on a first name basis with many of the people that come in to dine. It is amazing the relationships they have built over the past 20 years.”
Three Dollar Café moved its Buckhead location from its original home at the former Animal Crackers nightclub at Peachtree and Phar roads to the current Chastain location in 2006.
The story of Three Dollar Cafe maps onto the promise of the American Dream. Kelly Woo immigrated from South Korea to the United States in 1979, first settling in Knoxville to attend the University of Tennessee.
After graduating, Kelly moved to Metro Atlanta where she met her ex-husband Won Woo. Together they opened the first Three Dollar Cafe in 1983 at 8595 Roswell Road in Sandy Springs’ North End.
priority.”
When asked what will change after the move, she laid out some pros and cons.
“We will be making upgrades to the patio space to enclose it so that customers will be able to enjoy the space rain or shine,” Woo said. “While the patio is slightly smaller, it is still one of the largest patios in the area and will have nearly the same amount of seats.”
The bar and main dining area is larger than the existing space with high ceilings that help improve viewing experiences for the customers. On the other hand, the Chastain’s location appeal and divey vibe centers around its existing building.
Woo said she isn’t concerned with Kristy and Peter Han running both Sandy Springs locations. The trio is working on ways to honor the old Chastain location at the new one up the road.
“Our managers are the backbone of our Chastain restaurant,” Woo said. “They
already visiting apartments in southern Sandy Springs to let residents know about the food pantry.
The Central Perimeter nonprofit released more information about how neighbors in need can receive assistance.
Any resident of Sandy Springs, Dunwoody or the area of Doraville served by the Dunwoody school system, including those affected by the government shutdown, furloughed workers and those temporarily losing SNAP benefits, can request help from the CAC.
“The generous nature of our community has always helped us work through crisis times, and we are confident they will help us do it again,” Horton said. “We’ll get through it.”
The nonprofit helps with the basic needs of food and clothing, as well as financial assistance for rent or utilities.
“We have always had a great relationship with the City of Sandy Springs,” Kelly said. It is great to see the city growing so much over the past almost 40 years. Since 1983, I have remained a Sandy Springs resident and I am proud of our city.”
After the Woo’s divorce, Kelly maintained ownership of the Sandy Springs locations, which are called Chastain and Dunwoody.
The Dunwoody location is actually in the City of Sandy Springs along Roswell Road between Hightower Trail and Hope Road. It’s the original restaurant that Kelly and Won Woo opened.
As for the Chastain location, Kelly said she thinks it’s the beginning of a new chapter but in the same book.
“Our customers and staff are like family to us, which made it a priority for us to stay within the community,” Kelly said. “This opportunity came at the right time as we are moving only across the street to ensure that we remain a longterm local dining and gathering spot to serve this community.”
Neighbors in need can contact CAC at 770-552-4889 or info@ourcac.org or visit www.ourcac.org.
The CAC has two mini-market food pantries, one in north Sandy Springs at 8607 Roswell Road and another just inside I-285 at 120 Northwood Drive.
Interested community members can help their neighbors in need by donating food directly to any of the pantries. However, the nonprofit says every dollar donated doubles its impact since it buys in bulk from the Atlanta Community Food Bank.
Also, CAC leaders say volunteers are needed to store, track and distribute the food at both mini-market food pantries. See the most needed items at www. ourcac.org/give-food.
Purchase items online at www. givenow.ourcac.org.
Donate money at www.ourcac.org/ donate.
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OPINION
A message to college students, part two
Your intense response to my message to college students last week featured a common refrain:
Loved the different, more optimistic mindset. But what can I personally do to make a bigger, better difference?
Why it matters:
The things college kids can do are the same things that all of us of any age can do to think, see and act more optimistically and optimally. I took a crack at 8 things you can do, starting today:
• These aren't political solutions; they're personal ones — qualities I and others I admire have seen shine in the most productive, successful and satisfied people we know.
1. Invest in friends. There's a reason most people who study how to both live long and live happily agree that real, close, deep relationships matter most. Social media is often artificial, airbrushed and empty. Dedicate substantial time to people who really know and like you. You'll be able to better understand and even persuade others if you do. Attend church, go to synagogue, pray at your mosque. Host a dinner. Call, don't text, a friend. Better yet, visit them.
2. Look out. You'll notice a pattern here: The most vital things you can do transcend you. Look beyond yourself. Think life sucks? Volunteer. Think people are dumb? Read to a kid. Think America is hopeless? Go visit a nursing home and listen to people with decades of life experience. Feel down? Serve food at a homeless shelter. You never hear: "Geez, I regret the time I spent helping others" or "Doing something for someone else makes me feel like crap."
3. Look out at school and work, too. This is a professional magic trick Mike Allen taught me long ago: People way underestimate how much others will cheer for you or help you because you helped them first, or put them first. You don't need to be cutthroat or self-focused to be super-successful. You get further — and more — by being more selfless. Try it.
4. Be patriotic-curious. You don't need to wear red, white and blue, but explore what makes America great. Read biographies, watch Ken Burns' documentaries, or listen to history podcasts to understand America's origin story and evolution. Don't hide from history — the good or the bad. Learn from it, and you'll discover that despite its flaws, America's story is an inspiring one of perseverance, correction and triumph.
5. Be smart. Life's too short to be
clueless. Starting today, you can replace 15 to 30 minutes of doom-scrolling with eye-opening. Pick one reputable general news source to get a more panoramic view of your world. Read Axios AM, PM and Finish Line daily for free. This takes 10 to 12 minutes total. If after a month you're not exponentially better informed, I'll give you your money back �� Explore one new podcast per week on Spotify or Apple to get a sampling of smart people talking about important topics. And sign up for some free newsletters: Bruce Mehlman, whose "SixChart Sunday" would be my one Substack on a desert island ... Emily Sundberg, for a knowing, youthful eye on business & culture.
6. Get out, and look up. You can attribute a decent percentage of America's funk to a pair of interrelated, substantial social changes: People staring at phones ... and staying home alone. The staring and the staying are isolating — and distorting. We're wired for interaction with both others and nature. Force yourself to unplug the phone, open the door, get out and look up. This takes effort, but eventually forms new habits and changes your life.
7. Nail the basics. There are no hacks, pills, supplements or magical ways to optimize your mind or joy. The formula is clear, indisputable and free: Exercise, eat healthy, sleep well and make friends. The earlier you start, the easier it is, the bigger the impact. You don't need Whole Foods or fancy gyms or ergonomic beds. If you eat healthy, work out, try to sleep eight hours, and make and keep friends, you vastly increase your chances of living better and making a bigger difference in society.
8. Get in the game. This point resonated with readers who wrote in about the column, so I'm re-upping it with a little edge: Whining without any action stops today. It's weak, wasted energy, sapping your ability to cope or change things. Commit yourself to doing your small part to making things better, whether it's at school, work or home. You will find this mindset is contagious for you — and others around you. Beats the heck out of wallowing.
The big picture: Big change starts small. It begins with you.
Jim VandeHei is the CEO of Axios. Let him know what you think by emailing jim@ axios.com.
From Jim, part two: Axios CEO Jim VandeHei wrote three letters to college students. He gave Appen Media permission to share them with readers. This essay is part two.
JIM VANDEHEI Guest Columnist
PAST TENSE
1960s lottery raids in local neighborhoods
VALERIE BIGGERSTAFF Columnist
Running numbers, lottery games and gambling on sports events took place in Atlanta and the surrounding communities in the 1960s. These activities involved the advanced technology and devices of the time; telephones, adding machines and walkie talkies.
On October 14, 1965, government agents raided three homes in Dunwoody and Sandy Springs. They were prepared with crowbars and sledgehammers, expecting to break their way in a home at 750 Hammond Drive. Instead, they walked in unlocked doors and found two women operating adding machines and three men managing lottery tickets. 750 Hammond Drive is now part of the Perimeter Ridge office park at Hammond and Glenridge Drive. (Atlanta Constitution, Oct. 15, 1965, “Lottery raiders hit 3 homes, arrest 5”)
The agents also expected to find telephones at 750 Hammond Drive, but two other nearby homes were the location of the telephone part of the operation. Phones were used to take bets. Those homes were at 1275 Meadow Lane in Dunwoody and 4600 Ridgeview Road. One of the homeowners was receiving a fee for each day the home was used as part of the betting operation.
Officers confiscated two cars, two adding machines and $230 in cash from the raid.
The Chamblee lodge of the Loyal Order of Moose was raided in 1962. The lodge was located at 5632 Peachtree
DEATH NOTICES
Michael Ewing, 75, of Roswell, passed away on October 22, 2025. Arrangements by Northside Chapel Funeral Directors & Crematory.
Gary Fay, 74, of Roswell, passed away on October 22, 2025. Arrangements by Northside Chapel Funeral Directors & Crematory.
Bobby Hood, 83, of Alpharetta, passed away on October 21, 2025. Arrangements by Northside Chapel Funeral Directors & Crematory.
Industrial Boulevard. They were charged with possession of gaming equipment and possession of more than the legal amount of tax-paid whiskey. Conducting the raid were Capt. T. W. Smith and officers John Crunkleton, B. S. Ivey and R. T. Burgess (Atlanta Constitution, “Police Raid Chamblee Club, Hold Manager, Seize Gaming Devices” April 26, 1962)
There were mixed opinions during the 1960s about these raids. One opinion was there were more important ways the police force could protect the community. These raids at individual homes were usually part of much larger operation running out of Atlanta.
An arrest on Winters Chapel Road took place in June 1963. The home was a $2,000 a day lottery headquarters.
Detectives reported adding machines, tapes, and lottery paraphernalia were seized along with company records. (Atlanta Constitution, June 25, 1963, “Father of 2 arrested in lottery raid”) “Officers with walkie-talkie radios had the house under surveillance for some time.” A barking dog and a young child with a whistle warned those in the home that detectives were approaching. One of the accused was stuffing lottery paraphernalia under a bed as officers entered the home.
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.
Charles McNichols, 84, of Alpharetta, passed away on October 21, 2025. Arrangements by Northside Chapel Funeral Directors & Crematory.
Seton McRae, 58, of Alpharetta, passed away on October 19, 2025. Arrangements by Northside Chapel Funeral Directors & Crematory.
Carlos Moreno, 51, of Alpharetta, passed away on October 19, 2025. Arrangements by Northside Chapel Funeral Directors & Crematory.
Vinay Patel, 50, of Roswell, passed away on October 17, 2025. Arrangements by Northside Chapel Funeral Directors & Crematory.
Marvin Whitmire, 82, of Alpharetta, passed away on October 27, 2025. Arrangements by Northside Chapel Funeral Directors & Crematory.
Michael Wright, 89, of Alpharetta, passed away on October 23, 2025. Arrangements by Northside Chapel Funeral Directors & Crematory.
Putting your garden to bed for the winter
A season’s end and a dream’s beginning
As the air grows crisp and the daylight fades, it’s time to turn our attention to a peaceful and essential gardening ritual: putting the garden to bed for the winter. It’s a moment to reflect on the past growing season, celebrate the successes, learn from the challenges and prepare for a strong start next spring. Tucking your garden in for winter isn’t just about cleanup, it’s about care, protection and planning. Before you grab your tools, take a moment to walk through your garden with a notebook. What thrived? What underperformed? Maybe your tomatoes were heavy with fruit, but your peppers sulked. Perhaps your dahlias dazzled while your lettuce bolted early. Ask yourself why. Was it soil health, weather, watering habits, pests? This reflection is invaluable for improving your strategy next year. Make a list of plants that were stars in your garden, and those you might want to replace or move. Save this list with your seed catalogs and notes for winter dreaming.
Clear out the annuals
Annuals have lived their full life cycle. Once they’re spent and frost has taken its toll, pull them up and compost them unless they’re diseased. In that case, dispose of them in the trash to avoid spreading pathogens. Removing annuals not only tidies up your garden but also reduces hiding spots for overwintering pests and prevents the spread of fungal diseases.
Plant springs bulbs
Autumn is prime time for planting spring bulbs such as tulips, daffodils, crocus and hyacinths. These sleepy jewels lie beneath the soil, quietly preparing to burst into color as winter loosens its grip. Plant bulbs in well-drained soil at the proper depth (typically 2 to 3 times the bulb’s height). Cluster them in groups for a natural look, and add a little bulb fertilizer or bone meal to get them started.
Critter control
Winter doesn’t stop garden pests, many just go undercover. Rodents may chew bark, deer may browse hungrily through your shrubs and rabbits often
take a winter nibble. Use hardware cloth around the base of young trees to protect against gnawing. Spray deer repellents if needed. For vulnerable perennials, consider adding netting or wire cages until spring.
What to cut back and not cut back
Perennials often benefit from a fall trim, but not all. Here’s a quick guide:
Cut Back:
• Peonies
• Daylilies
• Iris (especially if foliage has yellowed or browned)
• Bee balm and phlox (to reduce powdery mildew risk)
Leave Standing:
• Ornamental grasses (for winter interest and bird habitat)
• Echinacea and Rudbeckia (their seed heads feed finches)
• Hellebores and ferns (cut back in
early spring instead)
Always avoid cutting back woody shrubs in fall, as it can stimulate new growth that will be damaged by frost.
Watering
While it may seem counterintuitive, your garden still needs water until the ground freezes. Evergreens in particular rely on moisture to get through winter. If it’s been a dry autumn, give your trees and shrubs a deep soak before the first hard freeze.
Leaves
Fallen leaves can be both a blessing and a burden. Instead of bagging them up for trash, shred them and use them as mulch around perennials and garden beds. They insulate roots, improve soil and offer shelter to beneficial insects. Avoid letting thick layers of whole leaves smother your lawn or crown rot-prone
plants. Mulch mindfully. Freeze protection
For tender perennials or borderlinehardy plants, a little protection goes a long way. Mulch the base with straw or shredded leaves. Wrap shrubs with burlap if exposed to harsh wind. For container plants, cluster them together in a sheltered spot or move them to a garage or shed if possible.
Dream of next year
Once the work is done, it’s time for the best part: dreaming. Thumb through seed catalogs, sketch out new bed designs, think about rotating crops or starting a pollinator patch. Winter is a time of rest, but also of vision. Maybe next year you’ll try new heirloom tomatoes, a vertical trellis garden or add a wildlife-friendly corner. Let your imagination grow even as the garden sleeps.
Final thoughts
Putting your garden to bed for the winter is more than maintenance, it’s an act of care that pays dividends come spring. By reflecting on the season, cleaning with intention, protecting what matters and nurturing your soil and spirit, you’re not just ending a season you’re planting the first seeds of the next.
So zip up your coat, sharpen your pruners, and give your garden the rest it deserves. It will thank you in crocus blooms and tomato vines before you know it.
Happy Gardening!
North Fulton Master Gardeners, Inc. is a Georgia nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization whose purpose is to educate its members and the public in the areas of horticulture and ecology in order to promote and foster community enrichment. Master Gardener Volunteers are trained and certified by The University of Georgia Cooperative Extension. Previous Garden Buzz columns are featured at: https:// appenmedia.com/opinion/columists/ garden buzz/.
About the Author
Lynn is new to Georgia. She had to follow her grandchildren. Coming from California she had problems determining Georgia plants from weeds. That led her to become a master gardener so she could tell the difference. She is a retired pharmacist, a certified medical qigong instructor, a wife, mother and grandmother. She is a craft dabbler and a baking fool.
LYNN NATIONS Guest Columnist
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Lynn Nations’ grandchild enjoys a leaf pile.
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