JAMIE
GODIN/APPEN MEDIA
Members of the Swinging Bavarians step off the stage to dance hand in hand with children and attendees, forming a circle on the City Green Oct. 19 during Sandy Springs’ second annual OktoberFEAST.
City hosts OctoberFEAST for second annual time
By JAMIE GODIN newsroom@appenmedia.com
SANDY SPRINGS, Ga — The City of Sandy Springs hosted its second annual OktoberFEAST celebration on the City Green, a two-day fall weekend with live music, Bavarian cuisine and family activities.
The free community gathering ran from 3 to 7 p.m. both Saturday, Oct. 18, and
Sunday, Oct. 19, drawing an estimated 1,000 people each day to the green to enjoy German food, beer and live music from the Swinging Bavarians.
Organizers said the festival aims to provide residents with a fun, accessible way to experience local and international culture.
Bill Haggett, executive director of the Sandy Springs Performing Arts Center, said
his team decided to turn the Oktoberfest-inspired weekend into an annual celebration.
“This is the second year,” Haggett said. “Last year we tried it out, and it was really quite a fun event that people enjoyed.”
The festival included yard games, face painting, an ice cream parade and polka dancing lessons.
See FEAST, Page 9
Sandy Springs leases Williams-Payne home to Summit Coffee shop
By HAYDEN SUMLIN hayden@appenmedia.com
SANDY SPRINGS, Ga. — Sandy Springs officials cemented plans for the Williams-Payne House Oct. 21, selecting Summit Coffee to operate the nearly 160-yearold farmhouse on the site of the city’s namesake.
In the mid-1980s, the Sandy Springs Garden Club raised funds to relocate the historic home to its current spot near a natural spring significant to Native American tribes and early settlers of the area.
Last summer, Sandy Springs staff began looking for a commercial operator for the historic home, which is a part of several city-owned properties south of City Springs and Mount Vernon Highway. That area is slated for expansion of the city’s downtown district, City Springs.
In the wake of two unsuccessful attempts, the city tapped a commercial real estate brokerage firm to market the Williams-Payne House for lease.
See LEASE, Page 9
HAYDEN SUMLIN/APPEN MEDIA
Sandy Springs is leasing the Williams-Payne House, a nearly 160-year-old farm house off Sandy Springs Circle south of Mount Vernon Highway, to Summit Coffee.
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Ice skating to return to City Springs in November
SANDY SPRINGS, Ga. — Skate City Springs is returning for its third season this winter, bringing a real ice-skating rink to the City Green off Galambos Way in the heart of Sandy Springs.
The ice rink will transform the greenspace into a festive winter wonderland from Nov. 14, 2025, through Jan. 19, 2026.
New this year, guests can enjoy “glow skating,” with the rink lit with neon and blacklights, every Thursday and Friday night at dark.
Skate City Springs is looking to build on the success of past seasons and generate even more excitement in the community.
Organizers are also introducing special-themed parties, including “Ugly Sweater Holiday on Ice,” “Team Jersey,” “K-Vibe” and “Saturday Ice Fever,” on Saturdays from 9-11 p.m.
A DJ will play a live set, mixing festive tunes for skaters and onlookers alike to dress up and get down on the ice.
Follow @CitySpringsDistrict on
social media for updated scheduling.
Tickets go on sale Nov. 3 at noon and are $18 for adults and $15 for children (ages 2-9).
Whether you’re stepping onto the ice for the first time or refining your skills, the city says Skate City Springs offers fun for all levels.
Patrons can expect an openair ice rink with holiday decor and music and their choice of a onehour skate session or the two-hour themed party.
There are group rates available for parties of 10 or more, and free Skate Helpers to provide balance and support for learners.
Even if people don’t want to skate, there are snacks and premium hot cocoa for purchase at the concession stand, as well as souvenirs in the merchandise tent.
All tickets include skate rentals.
To ensure availability, advanced reservations are strongly recommended and can be made at citysprings.com/skate.
— Hayden Sumlin
County board dismisses election-related complaint
By HAYDEN SUMLIN hayden@appenmedia.com
ATLANTA — The Fulton County Ethics Board dismissed a complaint Oct. 16 filed by Commissioner Dana Barrett that accused Commissioner Bridget Thorne of improperly influencing two stalled Election Board appointees.
The basis of the ethics complaint was Thorne’s comments about the Republican appointees to the County Elections Board, sitting member Julie Adams and twice-nominated Jason Frazier, during the Sept. 3 County Commission meeting.
“If Jason and Julie did anything that was illegal or harmful or falsely removed anybody, I’d be the first person to correct them,” Thorne said. “And they would take that correction.”
Later in the meeting, commissioners voted along party lines to “table” a vote on the Republican Party’s nominees to the Registration and Elections Board until a state Appellate Court ruling.
The county’s $10,000 a day fine is on hold until the appellate ruling.
Thorne, a Republican representing the east side of North Fulton, and Barrett, a Democrat representing Buckhead and southern Sandy Springs, rarely see eye to eye on the Fulton County Commission.
Appen Media included the quote in
a Sept. 5 article, writing “Thorne said she would hold Frazier and Adams accountable …” and including more of her comments.
“We’re all up here,” Thorne said during the Sept. 3 meeting. “We all want fair, independent, accountable and transparent elections. That’s what was stated that you guys want. [The] Republican Party wants the exact same thing.”
Commissioner Barrett’s complaint alleged four violations of Fulton County’s Code of Ethics, including conflict of interest, improper influence, appearance of impropriety and disclosure of interest. After hearing Thorne’s comments, Barrett said she immediately texted her attorney who was in the crowd about potential ethics violations.
Ultimately, Barrett’s ethics complaint against Thorne backfired after the Ethics Board voted 4-3 to not send the complaint to a full hearing.
“Three of the members of the Ethics Board agreed that there was enough there to move forward, and one of the four who voted against moving forward openly stated that he had not watched the video,” Barrett told Appen Media after the ruling.
Since the complaint was dismissed, Barrett said there is not much else for her to do besides potentially penning a
letter to the Ethics Board.
“I have concerns about the ethics hearing process in that it was not clear that I was going to be making an opening statement,” Barrett said. “I spoke, then Bridget spoke, I was not given the opportunity to respond to the new information that she added in her remarks.”
Thorne’s attorney wrote that her statement reflected “a general
expectation of lawful behavior” and “an intent to correct unlawful conduct.”
Thorne said the dismissal confirms she acted within her ethical and legal responsibilities.
“This decision reaffirms what I’ve said from the start — the complaint was baseless,” Thorne said. “I’m grateful the Ethics Board applied the law and dismissed this politically motivated claim.”
CITY OF SANDY SPRINGS/PROVIDED
A bird’s eye view shows the inaugural Skate City Springs off Galambos Way next to Sandy Springs City Hall. The premium ice-skating rink returns this year from Nov. 14, 2025, through Jan. 19, 2026.
Residents discuss education tax breaks at town hall
By JON WILCOX jon@appenmedia.com
JOHNS CREEK, Ga. — An education tax break for seniors on this election’s ballots became a focal point for constituents during a Fulton County commissioner’s town hall meeting Oct. 21.
About 50 North Metro Atlanta residents attended the meeting at Ocee Library to visit with District 1 Commissioner Bridget Thorne, state Rep. Scott Hilton and other officials. The meeting covered a variety of topics from youth endeavors to the county’s downtown jail, but much of the discussion centered around public school taxes.
Voters will consider two questions about ad valorem tax breaks on the November ballot. The items ask whether voters support a new 50 percent and 25 percent homestead exemption from Fulton County school system for residents ages 70 and 65 and older.
Thorne said numerous residents at the meeting asked why Fulton County lacks a full tax break for education taxes.
“A lot of people wanted to know why we didn't have a full tax break,” Thorne said. “Surrounding counties have a full
tax break, and why can't Fulton have a full tax break?”
Several other North Atlanta counties provide seniors a complete exemption from school taxes.
Cobb and Forsyth counties provide a 100 percent exemption for older homeowners. Cherokee and Gwinnett also provide a full exemption with minimum income requirements.
Fulton County residents 62 and older
are exempted up to $10,000 if their net income is below $10,000. At age 65, an additional $10,000 exemption is provided regardless of income.
Thorne said she supports a tax break for seniors but added the policy has some opponents who worry it could harm school budgets. A senior exemption also could require younger homeowners to shoulder a heavier tax burden.
“I think they deserve it,” Thorne said.
“They're on fixed incomes.”
Alpharetta resident Betty Lou Anderson, who was present at the meeting, said she is in full support of the increased exemptions.
“Seniors should receive a tax discount because they’ve spent decades contributing to the community both economically and socially,” she said. “Offering a discount is a way of honoring their lifelong investment and ensuring they can continue to live in the community they helped build and sustain.”
Anderson, 61, said she has considered moving out of Fulton County because of the taxes. Her neighbors, who are in their 70s, relocated to Cherokee County from the Windward area because the county offers more generous tax reductions for older homeowners.
Anderson said she initially moved to Fulton County because of the quality of education it could offer her sons. But she said as a conservative she believes in responsible fiscal stewardship.
“We are taxed on everything,” Anderson said. “I don’t think I should be carrying the burden of the school system because they don’t know how to manage their budgets.”
Metro Atlanta survey shows housing affordability, traffic as top concerns
By HAYDEN SUMLIN hayden@appenmedia.com
ATLANTA — Housing affordability and traffic are top regional concerns, according to the 2025 Metro Atlanta Speaks survey of more than 4,000 adults living in the 11 counties surrounding the Georgia State Capitol.
The Atlanta Regional Commission conducts the annual survey to gather key insights into quality-of-life issues like transportation, the economy, crime and education.
When asked about the biggest problem facing Metro Atlanta residents, 28 percent of respondents said housing affordability and another 24 percent picked traffic.
This year, the Metro Atlanta Speaks survey offered housing affordability as a choice to the “biggest problem” question for the first time. Last year, crime and economy were the region’s top concerns.
The survey also found support for public transit. Nearly four in 10 respondents said expanding public transit is the best long-term solution to the region’s traffic problems, ahead of improving roads and highways at 34 percent.
More than half of respondents said future growth in Metro Atlanta should be focused along existing transportation corridors and in areas where businesses are already concentrated.
ARC Chief Research & Innovation Officer Ann Carpenter said the survey has been running for just over a decade, and it’s a key “pulse check” to provide data that can inform planning decisions.
“One thing that was very clearly articulated by the respondents is that housing affordability is a huge issue for the region,” Carpenter said. “Traffic was, for places like Forsyth, Cherokee and Gwinnett, their number one issue of concern with affordable housing being number two. Traffic was one or two in every county.”
For housing, the survey asked respondents to identify the main reason for affordability problems in Metro Atlanta. Options included investors buying up properties to rent, residents opposing new housing types, developers building expensive homes and local zoning laws reducing available supply.
Nearly 80 percent of respondents said they believe investors and developers are a main reason for the
region’s housing affordability problems.
While most respondents in DeKalb, Forsyth and Fulton view developers as the main cause, local zoning laws and resident opposition often drive what types of new housing are built.
In another question related to the economy and cost of living, more than 35 percent of respondents did not think they could afford to move to another house in the neighborhood where they currently live.
“There were a couple other major findings … one was around concern over the economy,” Carpenter said. “This came out in people’s outlook for the next three to four years … a bit of concern there or pessimism.”
The Metro Atlanta Speaks survey did not reflect optimism about the future of the region. Only 15 percent of respondents said living conditions will be better in the next three to four years.
However, a slight majority of residents said they would stay where are now even if they could move.
Kennesaw State University’s A.L. Burruss Institute of Public Service and Research conducted the survey in August, which also asked respondents to consider the impact of artificial
intelligence on the availability of jobs, business productivity, quality of life and energy consumption.
More than 70 percent said they think artificial intelligence will decrease the number of jobs, but there are mixed views on its impact on energy consumption, productivity and quality of life.
The Atlanta Regional Commission is the official metropolitan planning organization for the 11-county region, including Cherokee, Clayton, Cobb, DeKalb, Douglas, Fayette, Forsyth, Fulton, Gwinnett, Henry, and Rockdale counties.
A significant part of the ARC’s role is to allocate and manage federal funds for high-priority regional projects.
Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens, who chairs the Atlanta Regional Commission, said the concerns over housing affordability came through loud and clear in this year’s survey.
“Each year, the Metro Atlanta Speaks survey provides valuable insights about where we are as a region, and where we are headed,” Dickens said. “Our region is making meaningful progress on [the housing affordability] challenge, but there’s no doubt we have more work to do.”
FULTON COUNTY EXTERNAL AFFAIRS/PROVIDED
Fulton County Commissioner Bridget Thorne speaks to about 50 residents during a town hall meeting at the Ocee Library Oct. 21.
Community stage takes up shop in old Foot Locker
By JON WILCOX jon@appenmedia.com
ALPHARETTA, Ga. — The City of Alpharetta has created a new community stage in an unlikely space — a former Foot Locker on the second level of the North Point Mall.
Located next to the food court and iconic merry-go-round, the Spotlight Community Stage has a slick facade just like the nearby Hot Topic and Champs Sports. But instead of welcoming customers, the Spotlight regularly hosts shows, events, theater, music and classes.
With room for an audience of 150, the stage offers dressing rooms, a lobby, professional level lighting and sound, giving residents and performers a true theater-style experience.
City officials established the Spotlight after studies showed residents wanted a theater for performances and events, said Kim Zane, cultural services manager. The stage launched in the summer and has quickly picked up steam.
A partnership with North Point Mall allows the City of Alpharetta to use the space free of rent. Refurbishing the former Foot Locker cost $174,000. Rental rates run from $35 per hour to $200 per day, depending on the equipment to be used.
From the start, officials focused on flexibility, making sure the seating, stage and could adapt to a variety of events and crowd sizes. Its stage, microphones, curtain, sound system, lights and other features also are able to relocate if the Spotlight finds a new home outside the mall.
It already has hosted musical acts, talent shows, dance recitals and summer camps.
Members of Arcadia Theater, a nonprofit performing arts group, took the
stage Oct. 12 with a performance that included some of Broadway’s most iconic numbers. The professionally trained performers showcased a variety of show tunes from numerous hits from “The Sound of Music” to “My Fair Lady.”
Stacia Ray said the opportunity to perform has enriched her life in a dramatic way. The full-time writer and editor rediscovered the stage decades after doing theater in high school.
“This is a true community theater essence,” Ray said. “People here are not out to try to get discovered on Broadway.
They’re here to get to know each other, to have fun in life.”
For Ray, the best part of performing are the interactions with fellow performers during rehearsals and performances, something she has found enormously rewarding.
“It was the idea of an instant family,” she said. “I get really emotional thinking about it.”
Arcadia is an offshoot of Act One Theater, a 30-year community theater group based out of Alpharetta Presbyterian Church.
Randy Bampfield, Arcadia managing director, said the Spotlight gives the group a space more suitable for productions. Spaces at churches are in high demand. Performances also faced limitations on content because churches are inherently faith-based.
Bampfield said the group’s productions are certainly enjoyable for audiences, but they also serve an important purpose for the performers.
The chance to get on stage allows them to practice their skills and build their resumes to pursue other gigs.
“It’s something that we all do for fun and enjoyment, but … it gives them an outlet to utilize those skills and talents that they’ve developed over the years,” Bampfield said.
JON WILCOX/APPEN MEDIA
The facade to the Spotlight Community Stage is located next to North Point Mall’s food court.
Connect-It
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!
LIVING QUARTERS
1. Moonfish. Kind of shark. Earth covered Navajo lodge.
2. Beach sight. Rustic digs. Wanderer.
3. Hyphenated snow house. Facts and figures. Collar type.
4. Rot. Domed residence. Worn out mentality.
5. Martini addiction. Sound rebound. Parson’s home.
6. “Beowulf”, e.g. Swiss mountain dwelling. Beer buy.
7. Barber’s supply. One of many residential units. Sheep-like.
1 Moonfish. Kind of shark. Earth covered Navajo lodge
2. Beach sight. Rustic digs. Wanderer
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. Hyphenated snow house. Facts and figures. Collar type
4. Rot. Domed residence. Worn out mentally
5. Martini addition. Sound rebound. Parson’s home
6. “Beowulf,” e.g. Swiss mountain dwelling. Beer buy
7. Barber’s supply. One of many residential units. Sheep-like.
Dunwoody residents honor Charlie Kirk on his birthday
By HAYDEN SUMLIN hayden@appenmedia.com
DUNWOODY, Ga. — A grassroots effort, spurred by a trio of Dunwoody residents, saw around 100 people turn out at Brook Run Park Oct. 14 for an evening “Honoring Charlie Kirk and Celebrating Civil Discourse.”
The date of the memorial fell on what would have been Kirk’s 32nd birthday. During his “American Comeback Tour” at Utah Valley University Sept. 10, Kirk was assassinated by a lone gunman on camera in front of the entire world.
Kirk co-founded the conservative student organization Turning Point USA in 2012 and served as its executive director, forming a close relationship with President Donald Trump and Republican Party leaders.
Kirk is considered one of the most prominent conservative activists of his generation. His wife Erica accepted his posthumous Presidential Medal of Freedom at the White House earlier in the day.
The Oct. 14 memorial service featured a Charlie Kirk-style friendly debate, a reflection, prayers and comments from people who knew him.
While Turning Point USA members attended and spoke during the memorial, it was put together unofficially by residents. Naturally, highlights of Kirk’s conversations with American college students played on the big screen between speakers.
Georgia Attorney General Chris Carr, a product of Dunwoody’s Village Mill neighborhood, said he was proud to be back home for the memorial, which garnered some national attention.
“Charlie’s assassination has struck a nerve in the United States, and whether you agree with him or you didn’t, it just has,” Carr said. “I can’t tell you how many friends of mine reached out to me because their kids reached out to them when Charlie was murdered.”
Carr said he remains impressed with Kirk’s unique ability to get young people interested in politics, showing that being a conservative was not just acceptable but “cool.”
Reactions to his assassination reflect the nation’s political polarization, which some say created the conditions for 22-year-old Tyler James Robinson to get his father’s hunting rifle and kill the father of two young children.
Robinson’s text messages showed he “had enough of [Kirk’s] hatred,” revealing a premeditated murder, which the Federal Bureau of Investigation calls nihilistic violent
Dunwoody resident and former state Rep. Tom Taylor signs a poster Oct. 14 during the “Honoring Charlie Kirk and Celebrating Civil Discourse” memorial service at Brook Run Park while a toddler cheers him on.
extremism, or NVT.
Most Americans mourned the killing, but some were divided about his contributions to free speech and open debate. After facts surrounding his assassination became public, Americans briefly united in opposition to political violence before returning to the divisive rhetoric.
Jay B. Hickey, the host of the memorial and one of its chief organizers, said he woke up angry on the anniversary of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks and wanted to do something in Kirk’s honor.
“Thank you for giving us people like Charlie,” Hickey said during a prayer.
“Whether people here completely agree with him or not ... thank you for giving us people who speak their minds and want to do it peacefully. God, use us and this memorial for your good.”
Hickey said he wanted to be sure to thank the Dunwoody Police Department for providing security at the event. Because of the increase in politically motivated violence across the United States, the Brook Run Park Amphitheater was surrounded by officers.
No threats were reported.
State Rep. Long Tran, a Democrat from Dunwoody representing northeast DeKalb and parts of Gwinnett County, kicked off the evening by participating in a Kirk-style debate with attendees.
“Jay is a friend of mine,” Tran said. “I don’t want to say that I’m just here because these are my constituents, I have friends and people I’ve known for over 10 years here.”
Tran, elected to serve District 80 in the Georgia House in 2023, said he got to know many community members during his time as a local Boy Scout
Gomez said she was really broken up about Kirk’s death and made it her priority to honor him in some way. As for disruptions during the memorial, she said one woman called everyone “white supremacists” and a person with neon-colored hair gave her the “stink eye.”
Every generation was represented at memorial.
Two students from Riverwood High School played trumpets throughout the evening. A group of Dunwoody High School students standing at the back of the amphitheater said they were in the area and thought it was important enough to stop by.
From baby boomers to toddlers waving American flags at the memorial, Kirk’s life and legacy touched every generation.
leader and soccer coach.
“I know the pain even though we are on different political sides,” Tran said. “I just felt like it’s important to be here to share and agree.”
Stephanie Gomez and Jessica Zolotarezsky, rounding out the trio of event organizers, were behind the scenes ensuring the run of show went smoothly.
Former U.S. Rep. and Libertarian Party presidential candidate Bob Barr, a conservative Republican, said it was a great pleasure to be at the memorial despite the sad occasion.
“I followed Charlie tremendously over the years, the far-too-few number of years that he was with us,” Barr said. “He had a great sense of humor, and I always enjoyed that in him. I miss him terribly … we need people like Charlie.”
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HAYDEN SUMLIN/APPEN MEDIA
SOLUTIONS
Lieutenant Governor campaign draws another GOP contender
By TY TAGAMI Capitol Beat
ATLANTA — A half dozen state lawmakers are now running for Georgia lieutenant governor, as another Republican senator joins the race, hoping to outflank his opposition on the right.
Sen. Greg Dolezal, R-Cumming, a conservative from the northern Atlanta suburbs, joins a cast of fellow conservative senators, all from outside the biggest metro area — plus an Atlanta Senate Democrat and a GOP state representative from Buford.
Dolezal will campaign to succeed Lt. Gov. Burt Jones, the Trumpbacked Republican running for governor.
Dolezal’s campaign announcement on YouTube Tuesday focused on his right wing credentials as the chief sponsor of the Riley Gaines Act, a new law that bans students born male from participating on female athletic teams in schools and colleges.
Dolezal also said he would crack down on extremists who riot and burn cities, as well as illegal immigration, diversity equity and inclusion programs, and “soft on crime” prosecutors.
“I’m running for lieutenant governor because we’re at a turning point as the radical left continues to threaten our public safety,” Dolezal’s advertisement says, as a siren wails in the background.
The chairman of the Senate Transportation Committee and vice chair of the powerful Appropriations Committee is up against political powerhouses.
Sen. John F. Kennedy, R-Macon, stepped aside as president pro tempore of the Senate — the highest office in that chamber below lieutenant governor — to run for lieutenant governor. Sen. Steve Gooch, R-Dahlonega, stepped down as majority leader — the next highest office — to run for lieutenant governor. And Sen. Blake Tillery, R-Vidalia, who outranks Dolezal on Appropriations as chairman of that budget-writing committee, is also running for lieutenant governor.
Add Rep. David Clark, R-Buford, who served in Afghanistan with the Green Berets, and next year’s Republican primary is shaping up to be a rowdy contest as the candidates attempt to differentiate themselves.
Clark said in his campaign
announcement that “a world on fire” needs warriors not politicians. His entry came one day after Tillery announced his candidacy, both hitting similar notes about tax cuts, illegal immigration and transgender issues. Kennedy and Gooch are also running on platforms aimed to appeal to President Donald Trump’s MAGA base.
They would all likely appreciate an endorsement from Trump, but Dolezal was the only member of the bunch who got to speak at Jones’ gubernatorial campaign opener for governor at Indian Springs State Park in Flovilla.
That was in late August, a couple weeks after Trump had already endorsed Jones for governor.
Dolezal railed against Republicans who were silent on Trump when he was down politically.
“This is what I call political opportunism,” Dolezal said. “These politicians want a ticket on the Trump train, but they never paid the price.”
At least one candidate for lieutenant governor wants nothing to do with Trump.
Sen. Josh McLaurin, D-Sandy Springs, regular ridiculed the president on the Senate floor during this past legislative session. He is the only state lawmaker campaigning for the Democratic nomination for lieutenant governor, the office that sets the agenda for the state Senate and influences the fate of legislation in that chamber.
This story is available through a news partnership with Capitol Beat News Service, a project of the Georgia Press Educational Foundation.
Lease:
Continued from Page 1
After narrowing down more than 50 interested tenants, Alan Shaw of the Shopping Center Group and the city’s Economic Development Specialist Madison Melton selected Summit Coffee.
The City Council approved a transfer of the Sandy Springs Historical Site and Park during its Oct. 21 meeting, including the Williams-Payne House and a portion of Heritage Sandy Springs, to the city’s Public Facilities Authority so it could lease the property beyond one year.
The Sandy Springs Public Facilities Authority, created in 2006, is composed of council members and serves as a financing and ownership partner for major city developments like City Springs.
City Attorney Dan Lee said the land around the Williams-Payne House, including 6075 Sandy Springs Circle and 109 Hilderbrand Drive, has never been formally surveyed.
“The leased property will be identified in the survey that is being conducted right now,” Lee said. “Tonight is a way to get it over into the Public Facilities Authority, so we don’t slow down the lease arrangement with the tenant.”
Finding the right fit
Economic Development Director Chris Burnett said Summit Coffee plans some renovations of the two-story historic home and is targeting a grand opening June 1, 2026.
“I think it’s been important for all of us to select a user that really preserves the beauty and the history
Feast:
Continued from Page 1
Food vendors offered authentic Bavarian fare, while adults with wristbands could purchase a curated selection of German beers.
The Swinging Bavarians, a family band founded in 1982 by Nuremberg native Bill Schoenfeldt, performed a mix of Bavarian folk songs and popular German-American festival tunes. The group opened with the Bavarian anthem and led the crowd in schunkeln — a group swaying dance typical of Oktoberfest-style celebrations — before inviting audience members to join in singalongs and dance.
Haggett said his past experiences producing Oktoberfest events helped inspire the Sandy Springs version.
“When I was in my 20s, I was hired to produce an Octoberfest,” he said. “It
The Williams-Payne House sits on a ridge along Sandy Springs Circle with a greenspace separating the historical home from the Heritage Sandy Springs Museum & Park. The City of Sandy Springs approved a leasing agreement with Summit Coffee Oct. 21 to operate at the site, slated for a June 2026 grand opening.
of the Williams-Payne House and the surrounding grounds,” Burnett said. “We’re looking at this to some degree as initial activation of City Springs 2.0 [and] perhaps could set the stage and be a prelude for what could come down the road in the future.”
“[The selection process is not just about] the importance of selling food and coffee and beverages, but also of creating a special place, a destination for our community,” Burnett said.
Summit Coffee plans to operate the location from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. seven days a week with an outdoor alcohol bar, branded ice cream sales and a patio area extending into the Heritage Sandy Springs greenspace. The adjoining greenspace will remain open to public use.
“I think it’s a great location there but
stuck with me. I did it for about eight years in New Jersey. I hadn’t done one for a while, but when I came here and saw this facility and the community that we were in, I thought, what a great thing to try.”
Haggett said the city tries to bring a little bit of everything to the community and keep everything free to the community.
“If you want to eat, you can have any possible Bavarian food that you want,” Haggett said. “We’re not out here trying to make a lot of money on it. We want people to come out and have fun.”
While OktoberFEAST returned for its second year, not everyone in Sandy Springs had experienced it before.
“No, I didn’t come last year, but if they keep doing it I’ll definitely keep coming,” Sandy Springs resident Ron said. “The band is so much fun.”
“My family’s not from Germany — more from Scotland,” he added. “But it’s fun to pretend, isn’t it?”
as we know, it is charting new waters,” Burnett said, citing a lack of retail development in the area. “Also, you’re going to have extensive construction ongoing across the street with Trammell Crow’s Hillcrest development that, from time to time, could create traffic challenges … parking challenges, and obviously lots of dust.”
The initial lease term is 10 years with two five-year renewal options, including a one-year abatement, meaning no rent will be paid until summer 2027.
The city is set to take in $528,000 in rental revenue in the first 10 years on top of an estimated $280,000 invested into the property by Summit Coffee.
“There will not be a need for them to pay property taxes, but they will be covering their insurance costs,” Burnett said.
History of the home
Decades ago, a grassroots community effort, “Save Our Springs,” picked up steam in opposition to the redevelopment of the area where the 1869 farmhouse now sits along Sandy Springs Circle just south of Mount Vernon Highway.
In 1984, Fulton County had recently acquired the land around the historic springs from which the community draws its name.
A year later, the Sandy Springs Garden Club raised funds to save the Williams-Payne House and move it from a site near Ga. 400 and Mount Vernon Highway to Sandy Springs Circle.
Shortly after relocating the historic home, residents founded the nonprofit Heritage Sandy Springs, which managed the site for 35 years before it dissolved in 2021 amid low rental revenue during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Heritage Sandy Springs historic site, its venues and the former nonprofit organization’s events, like the Farmers Market, are now under the direction of the city.
The Sandy Springs Garden Club, which is in its ninth decade serving the community, is still involved in decorating the Williams-Payne House over the holidays. The North Fulton Master Gardeners is a larger group that also works on the landscaping and gardens around the historic home. Dozens of Metro Atlanta gardens clubs have kept up the site for decades.
City Councilwoman Melissa Mular said she thinks the lease of the WilliamsPayne House is fantastic news.
“I ended up more excited when I learned that we have owners from Sandy Springs … that’s a great bonus,” Mular said. “We’re also going to also work with the North Fulton Master Gardeners.”
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The Swinging Bavarians’ lead singer shares a table with festivalgoers while leading a chorus and encouraging the crowd to schunkeln — the traditional back-andforth sway often done with drinks in hand — during Sandy Springs’ second annual OktoberFEAST on the City Green Oct. 19.
HAYDEN SUMLIN/APPEN MEDIA
GARDEN BUZZ
Forest forensics – clues from the past in Milton
What can be discovered on a walk through the woods? The most obvious answer is trees, but there is so much more to be discovered: wildflowers in bloom, mushrooms, ferns, moss, leaves, acorns, deer, squirrels, chipmunks, invertebrates, soil microbes and even evidence of past human habitation.
Since I moved to Milton in 2008, I have been intrigued by a large rock found on a wooded section of Milton. At some point in time, the rock, now located on private property, was altered to produce the image of human face. What secrets of the past can this unique rock reveal?
The massive, 30-by-15 foot, flattop rock was chiseled and artistically transformed by indigenous humans, possibly ancestors of the Cherokee or Muscogee (Creek) Indians who lived in the area as many as 3,000 years ago. Not only is the size of the rock impressive, but the carvings on the rock demand your attention. Ancestral Indians carved a crude image of a human face on one surface of the rock as well as a silhouette of a buffalo on another surface of the rock. The rock was pitted with a sharp object to create the mane and beard of a buffalo and the rock further chiseled to form the buffalo’s nose and mouth and bearded chin.
These features of the rock prompted local historians to call this rock the “Buffalo Rock.” Recognizing the rock’s significance, in the early 1970s, the rock was named as part of the Georgia Trust for Historic Preservation.
Geological and historical study
Geologists would date the rock back millions of years, but to a historian this rock reveals evidence of a past human civilization. If the rock was modified by pre-historic humans 3,000 years ago, it could be among the oldest evidence of human habitation in north Georgia! After the end of the ice age about 10,000 years ago, as the climate warmed, nomadic, indigenous people might have travelled and settled in northern Georgia. During the Late Woodland Period from 1,000 B.C. to 1,000 A.D., maize horticulture was thought to have been fully developed. This agricultural advancement led to a transition from a nomadic, huntergatherer society to a hunter-farm society
A front view of Buffalo Rock in Milton shows a large circular mouth.
that established seasonal settlements with permanent buildings and garden plots.
Buffalo Rock is an attention-getter because of its size and its crudely carved human face. The early Indians chiseled out a very large circular area to create a mouth. Above the mouth is a right eye. A linear indentation parallel to the bottom of the stone provides space where a rock was added to insert the
artist’s vision of human eyes. A rock eyeball remains intact on the right side, but over time, the left eyeball has vanished. The large, hollowed-out mouth might have served as an artist’s interpretation of the human mouth. My guess is that it was used to grind grain since pre-historic, indigenous peoples raised corn.
As agricultural practices improved, the indigenous population added to
About the author
This week’s “Garden Buzz” guest columnist is Carole MacMullan, a master gardener and a Milton resident. She taught biology for 35 years in the Pittsburgh area. In 2012 after moving to Milton, Carole completed the Master Gardener training program and joined the North Fulton Master Gardeners (NFMG) and the Milton Garden Club. Carole uses her teaching skills to create a variety of presentations on gardening topics for the NFMG Lecture Series and Speakers Bureau.
their cultivated crops and grew beans, squash, blueberries, muscadine grapes, tobacco and sweet potatoes. We also know that buffalo were hunted and served as another important source of food. Buffalo were not limited to the Great Plains west of the Mississippi. They also lived east of the Mississippi prior to the arrival of European settlers. Based on the time period that buffalo lived in Georgia, the silhouette image of the buffalo can be helpful in dating the rock.
More views of the past
If you are interested in learning more about prehistoric civilizations in Georgia, I would suggest you visit the National Historic Landmark, Etowah Indian Mounds, near Cartersville. This prehistoric Indian site is considered the “most well- preserved Mississippi culture site in the southeastern United States.” One thousand years ago, two thousand years after the time of the Buffalo rock, the Etowah Indians built a complex, urban settlement on the Etowah River. At this point in time, agricultural techniques had advanced to the point where these early Georgians built log homes, extensive garden plots, stone tools, pottery, and used the river for fishing and navigation.
Happy Gardening!
North Fulton Master Gardeners, Inc. is a Georgia nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization whose purpose is to educate its members and the public in the areas of horticulture and ecology in order to promote and foster community enrichment. Master Gardener Volunteers are trained and certified by The University of Georgia Cooperative Extension. Learn more at nfmg.net. Previous Garden Buzz columns are featured at: https://www. appenmedia.com/opinion/columnists/ garden_buzz/.
CAROLE MACMULLAN Guest Columnist
CAROLE MACMULLAN/PROVIDED
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A message to college students, part one
Millions of you, including my two boys, just started a new school year swamped by toxic politics, a tough job market, and tectonic AI shifts on campus and off.
• It’s easy to understand why stress, uncertainty and sadness are soaring.
Why it matters: I want to offer you a very different way to see the world awaiting you — one with a lot less impending doom. It’s based on a belief I grow more certain of with each passing month:
• You’re being duped!
It’s not your fault. We all are:
• You’re being duped into thinking most people are nuttier, meaner, more polarized than they actually are.
• You’re being duped into thinking America is more broken, more unfixable and more hostile than it actually is.
• You’re being duped into thinking you can’t shape your life on your terms in your own way. You actually control a lot more of you than you realize.
What if I told you that politicians, the media and your social media feeds are all chasing the exact same thing … your attention?
• And all three get your attention, to varying degrees, by amplifying conflict and juicing your emotions — mainly your negative ones. Our brains are hardwired with what is called “negativity bias.” So we’re all susceptible to eating this up.
The result: Everything — and everyone — appears nastier, more outrageous, more hopeless than they really are.
Think about it: Your reality is shaped by what you see, hear and read. So if your eyes, ears and mind are lit up with doom and gloom, you assume darkness and conflict are everywhere.
• But what if I told you most people in the real world aren’t obsessed with politics, aren’t glued to MSNBC or Fox News, or
don’t download X?
• Most people are the opposite of that: They’re normal — living their lives with friends and family just like you. It’s the people lighting up your social feeds who aren’t.
• Most people don’t care about Sydney Sweeney’s jeans/genes or Cracker Barrel’s logo.
Reality check: I’m not diminishing the real-world, real-time consequences of politics in an era when we see that our communities, country and world are changing with historic and at times alarming speed. And, yes, there are big, urgent challenges, from rising pessimism to AI’s effect on entry-level work.
But let me lay out a different way to think about tackling all of this. First, some context:
• Yes, I’m in the media, so you can argue I’m part of the problem. But Axios doesn’t have an opinion page — our reporters cover their beats clinically, like doctors, and we aim to be sources of truth amid the noise.
• I come at this view as a father of two sons in college, and a daughter who graduated recently. I helped co-found two companies, Politico and Axios. I’m CEO of 450 employees — and I’m an unapologetic beneficiary of democracy, capitalism and America’s entrepreneurial spirit.
My perch allows me to talk to CEOs, political leaders, tech and business executives, and lots of young people who work at Axios or move through my daily life. Here’s what I see, and what I hope my kids and the rest of you will consider:
1. America rocks. Yes, there are countless things we could do better. And lots of areas of legit concerns. But I beg young people to understand the enormous, indisputable advantages of this country, especially compared to other nations. We’re the best-performing economic and newidea-generating machine on the globe.
We’re blessed with two oceans on our shoulders and friendly neighbors north and south. We’re sitting on more energy than was ever dreamed possible, and we
From Jim, part one Axios CEO Jim VandeHei wrote three letters to college students. He gave Appen Media permission to share them with readers. This essay is part one.
have the freedom to move, live and work anywhere. We’re leading AI and health advances — and we’re the envy of all for our startup culture and can-do spirit.
2. It’s your country. I don’t get the
hopelessness and defeatism about changing things.
The last three presidential elections all came down to a few hundred thousand votes in a few states. The tiniest of shifts would have tipped the White House — and the House of Representatives — the other way. Hell, every president going back to Bill Clinton (25 years ago!) enjoyed all-party rule (the White House, Senate and House) for at least two years.
See MESSAGE, Page 12
NORWAY RECLINER
HANS APPEN Publisher
JIM VANDEHEI Guest Columnist
Message:
No stat better captures what a 50-50 nation we are. So your individual ability to change things, regardless of party or age (provided you’re 18+), has never been stronger.
3. No, things actually have been a lot worse. We all suffer recency bias. And assume “it’s never been this bad.” It sure as hell has. Crime is near a 50-year low. Murders? Low, and dropping by double digits three years in row. War? Military deaths are at a historic low. Yes, but this economy sucks! Cost of living has gone up — but inflation is nowhere near as bad as three years ago, and unemployment is holding near historic lows. But poverty. Yes, it’s 11%, which sucks — but that’s half the rate in 1959.
most important three words of advice I will ever offer. We’re often caught up in a blame-others or blame-life culture. It’s a stupid waste of time. And wrong. You control how early you wake up, what you eat, whether you exercise, how you treat others, whether you pray or meditate or take time to think, what you read, watch and listen to, and what you do at night.
5. You control your reality. You choose the read, watch, listen inputs that feed your mind and shape your reality. Too many feeds are awash with dumb, trivial, fake news. You choose whether to stare at stupidity or fixate on phony, airbrushed versions of people and events. There’s more high-quality, life-enhancing, mindenriching content available for free on YouTube, podcasts and elsewhere online than at any point in history. And it’s not close. You simply need to choose it.
travel, learn, practice politics, wage wars and explore space are all rapidly changing before our eyes. So open them. Be curious. AI alone might be bigger than the internet or electricity. You know it’s going to change the world. So use it before you have to. Learn about it. Question it. Life is too short to be a silent, clueless bystander.
8. Be grateful. It sounds cheesy and trite even to write it. But we live in extraordinary times, in an extraordinary nation, full of extraordinary people. It’s easy to doom-scroll life away, both on your screen and in your mind. Don’t. Want proof there’s more to be grateful for than you think? Starting today, keep a running list (I use the Notes function on my iPhone) of people who do things, big or small, that brighten or better you. You’ll be astonished how long this list grows — and how seemingly little things leave a big mark decades later.
Jim VandeHei is the CEO of Axios. Let him know what you think by emailing jim@ axios.com. Continued from Page 11
4. You control you. Those are the
6. You’re living history. Pay more attention to the world unfolding before you. The way we work, communicate,
7. Get in the damn game. These might be the five most important words of advice after “You control you.” You have roughly 80 years on Earth, one-third spent asleep. So don’t piss them away wishing, wondering, whining. Jump in. Trust me, life will hit you hard with unexpected punches that truly hurt and leave a mark. So use every punch-free day to get in the fight on your terms. Try new things. Read new things. Meet new people. Find new passions. Change things you want changed. Do good things for others. Yes, America has big problems. Always has. Always will. So help fix ‘em.
The bottom line: There’s a lot to lament. Just look at social media and the email you’re about to send me telling me I’m a privileged, delusional knucklehead. But there’s a lot more to love — once you realize you’ve been duped.
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Bilingual (English / Spanish) Donor Operations Supervisor
The Bilingual (English / Spanish) Donor Operations Supervisor (Full-time) manages the donation door process and delegates tasks to staff, volunteers, and community service workers. As the face of NFCC, they provide excellent customer service while greeting donors and ensuring donations are properly removed from vehicles and sorted in designated areas. They are responsible for maintaining the security of merchandise and keeping all areas clean and organized.
NFCC is seeking a Truck Driver (Donor Operations Services Associate II) to join our Facilities team. Our Truck Driver collects scheduled donations from businesses, residential locations, and special events while serving as a key point of contact for donors to coordinate pickup appointments. As the face of NFCC during donor interactions, this role requires maintaining a professional and a welcoming presence that reflects the organization’s values. Additionally, this position contributes to facility maintenance operations as needed.
The Truck Driver works Monday through Friday 9am – 2pm and periodically on Saturdays or Sundays for special events.
If you have 1-2 years of Box Truck delivery experience, maintain a valid Ga Driver’s License free of any traffic violations for the past 3 years and enjoy providing excellent customer service, we’d love to hear from you! Please submit your resume to jobs@nfcchelp.org
The Supervisor must be able to lift up to 75lb frequently and be on their feet most of their shift. They must enjoy staying busy, training and influencing others to work as a team in a professional manner. Must have the ability to work Tuesday through Saturday 9am – 5pm. An extraordinary Total Rewards Package is included with this opportunity! If this sounds like the role for you, we’d love to hear from you! Please submit your resume to jobs@nfcchelp.org
NFCC is seeking an Evening ESL Contractor Instructor to teach English classes through our Adult Education program, serving students throughout North Fulton and surrounding counties. Our ESL Program runs three sessions annually, with comprehensive lessons covering speaking, listening, reading, and writing skills, along with regular assessments to track student progress.
The Bilingual (English / Spanish) Donor Operations Supervisor (Full-time) manages the donation door process and delegates tasks to staff, volunteers, and community service workers. As the face of NFCC, they provide excellent customer service while greeting donors and ensuring donations are properly removed from vehicles and sorted in designated areas. They are responsible for maintaining the security of merchandise and keeping all areas clean and organized.
We’re looking for an instructor who is available to teach evening classes. The ideal candidate will be committed to maintaining strong enrollment of at least ten students per class and who can create an engaging learning environment that supports adult learners in achieving their English language goals.
The Supervisor must be able to lift up to 75lb frequently and be on their feet most of their shift. They must enjoy staying busy, training and influencing others to work as a team in a professional manner. Must have the ability to work Tuesday through Saturday 9am – 5pm. An extraordinary Total Rewards Package is included with this opportunity!
If you have a bachelor’s or master’s degree in TESL, TESOL, English with a TESL certificate, linguistics or applied linguistics with a TESL certificate, we’d love to hear from you! Please submit your resume to jobs@nfcchelp.org
If this sounds like the role for you, we’d love to hear from you! Please submit your resume to jobs@nfcchelp.org
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