Blue Stone Festival builds on heritage
By JAMIE GODIN newsroom@appenmedia.com
SANDY SPRINGS, Ga. — The Blue Stone Sandy Springs Arts and Music Festival returned Sept. 26-27, drawing crowds to City Green for a weekend of live music, art, food and family activities. Now in its third year, the festival continues a tradition rooted in the
former Heritage Sandy Springs Festival, which began in 1985 and ended in 2019 after the Heritage Sandy Springs foundation dissolved.
Anna Nikolas, the city’s director of signature events, said the Blue Stone Festival was designed to build on the history of the old Heritage gala while reshaping it into a more music-forward event.
“When COVID hit and Heritage Sandy Springs went away, the city took over the festival,” Nikolas said.
“We wanted to bring in something new and fresh but also maintain the history of the festival and what the community wanted. So, I said let’s add in a musical component.”
See FESTIVAL, Page 10
Fulton County OKs rate hike on water, sewer
By HAYDEN SUMLIN hayden@appenmedia.com
ATLANTA — Fulton County water and sewer customers will see a 5 percent rate hike in January, with a subsequent increase one year later.
The Fulton County Commission approved the higher rate schedule at its Oct. 1 meeting. The increases – each 5 percent – have been in place since 2020 and are assigned to pay for future upgrades.
The Fulton County Public Works Department provides drinking water and wastewater services in all North Fulton cities except Sandy Springs. It also provides sewer service to areas south of Atlanta.
According to rate analysis in May, the county delivers water service to 81,085 customers and sewer service to 106,717 customers.
County leaders had the option to keep rates flat. One proposal called for a 6.5 increase, but they ultimately decided to maintain the same rate increase as in prior years.
For average customers using 5,000 gallons a month, bills will increase from $86.72 to $89.99 next year. In 2027, that same customer can expect to pay just under $94 a month.
Fulton County does not provide water and sewer services to all its residents.
See RATE, Page 10
JAMIE GODIN/APPEN MEDIA
Sidewalk chalk artist Zach Herndon draws the Blue Stone Festival logo while explaining his process to children.
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Fulton graduation rate climbs
FULTON COUNTY, Ga. — Setting itself apart as a national outlier, Fulton County Schools is celebrating a 91.9 percent graduation rate, a record bucking the post-pandemic trend of declining student performance.
The school district announced its fifth year of breaking graduation records Sept. 29.
Fulton County Schools says the past five years have shown a steady rise in graduation rates after spring 2020 when percentages dipped for the first time since 2012.
This year’s all-time high represents a 6.4 percent increase since the pandemicera low.
HOLIDAY TRADITIONSArtisan Market
Saturday, November 1st 10AM-4PM Marist School 3790 Ashford Dunwoody RD NE
Thank you to this year’s Gold Level sponsors
While many districts nationwide are struggling with academic recovery, attendance problems and expired federal funding, the district says it is leading the way.
Georgia's high school graduation rate for the class of 2025 is 87.2 percent, also marking a record high for the state since 2011.
With enrollment declining in schools north of Atlanta, it’s not certain whether more students are receiving diplomas each year.
The announcement says this year’s milestone demonstrates the positive results of the district’s efforts to ensure continued progress while maintaining fiscal responsibility.
School Board President Kristin McCabe said she and her colleagues are happy to have achieved the landmark success.
“The board celebrates this progress and remains ever more committed to investing our financial resources in our students, teachers and programs,” McCabe said. “We hold the collective belief that every student can succeed in their chosen path.”
The investment in multiple strategies throughout the pandemic, such as targeted academic supports, expanded access to advanced coursework, investment in Career, Technical and
Agricultural Education (CTAE) pathways and new data monitoring tools, have contributed to the graduation rate upturn. For instance, students who completed two or more CTAE courses posted a 99 percent graduate rate.
Out of 21 district high schools, 13 showed improvement in their graduation rates, two more than last year, demonstrating increased academic progress across the district.
Also, a total of 17 schools surpassed the 90 percent graduation rate threshold, which is also two more than in 2024.
Superintendent Mike Looney, Ph.D., said the school district has come a long way since the pandemic.
“[We] believe our continued progress is the result of our persistence in utilizing dedicated funds for recovery, effective data analysis, recruiting top talent and investing in innovation that has transformed what was a period of crisis into one of restoration and thriving,” Looney said. “I am so proud of our staff and students and am heartened to see them taking their next steps into the world beyond high school.”
Hayden Sumlin
North Fulton high school graduation rates 2020 vs. 2025:
• Alpharetta: 96.5 percent to 98.4 percent
• Cambridge: 98.2 percent to 97.4 percent
• Centennial: 88.6 percent to 95.3 percent
• Chattahoochee: 96.2 percent to 97 percent
• Johns Creek: 97.3 percent to 97.1 percent
• Milton: 96.9 percent to 96.1 percent
• North Springs: 91.9 percent to 94.9 percent
• Northview: 96.1 percent to 98 percent
• Riverwood: 89.9 percent to 97.1 percent
• Roswell: 88.3 percent to 93.5 percent
• Fulton County Schools (districtwide): 85.5 percent to 91.9 percent
FULTON COUNTY SCHOOLS TV/PROVIDED Fulton County Schools is celebrating its fifth year of breaking graduation records that are well above state and national averages.
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!
SAY CHEESE!
1. Urban blight. Mild cheese in a ball. Cattle breed.
2. Let up. Stand-offish. Greek salad cheese.
3. Mold-rippened cheese. Enrico Caruso, e.g. Kick out.
4. Family man. Roquefort cheese
aka. Young pigeon.
5. Decant. Wander. Wax-coated cheese.
6. Goat cheese. Therefore. Sir ____ Guinness.
7. Domestic. Play a guitar. Cheese with holes in it.
1 Urban blight. Mild cheese in a ball. Cattle breed
2. Let up. Stand-offish. Greek salad cheese
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. Mold-rippened cheese. Enrico Caruso, e.g. Kick out
4. Family man. Roquefort cheese aka. Young pigeon
5. Decant. Wander. Wax-coated cheese
6.
Sandy Springs police arrest 2 in wreck that injured officer
By HAYDEN SUMLIN hayden@appenmedia.com
SANDY SPRINGS, Ga. — Sandy Springs police arrested two suspects allegedly involved in a high-speed, chain-reaction crash Sept. 20 on Ga. 400 that seriously injured an officer.
The incident occurred just before 10:30 p.m., while the Sandy Springs officer was investigating a crash along Ga. 400 just north of the Abernathy Road overpass.
It initially appeared the officer was struck by a motorcycle that lost control. Officers later determined the bike was racing another vehicle northbound on Ga. 400 before the second collision.
According to a crash diagram and accompanying police narrative, the incident occurred after the driver of a Suzuki GSX-R600 sideswiped a Lexus LS in the far-left lane, which had slowed because of the earlier collision.
The driver of the motorcycle, identified on the report as 33-year-old Riad Ahmed of Milton. He is charged with driving under the influence, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, reckless driving, serious injury by vehicle (felony), driving with a suspended license, racing and five other traffic offenses.
After he allegedly struck the Lexus, Ahmed was ejected from the motorcycle, which continued northbound in the emergency lane until it struck the Sandy Springs officer and a Mazda 6 Touring sedan.
A dashboard camera video from the Sandy Springs Police Department shows the motorcycle, traveling at a high rate of speed and striking the Mazda.
The collision left the motorcyclist and officer with serious injuries, and an ambulance with American Medical
Response transported them both to Wellstar North Fulton Medical Center for treatment.
According to Fulton County Jail records, Ahmed was booked Sept. 29 after recovering from his injuries at the hospital.
A June 2022 arrest warrant for Ahmed states he fled from officers in excess of 127 mph on I-85 before crashing along Chamblee Tucker Road.
During the investigation of the Sept. 20 incident, officers identified the vehicle that was allegedly racing the motorcycle.
An arrest warrant says officers used dashboard cameras, license plate readers and witness testimony to confirm a white Volkswagen Jetta was unlawfully participating in street racing with the motorcycle.
Less than three days after the collision, Sandy Springs officers arrested a 37-yearold man at his residence within the Waters Edge Apartments off Roberts Drive.
The signed arrest warrants for the Sandy Springs man, David Hightower, say officers arrested him after confirming he was the only driver in the vehicle.
His charges include racing on highway, reckless driving and serious injury by vehicle, which is a felony.
Sandy Springs Police spokesman Sgt. Leon Millholland said the officer has been with the department for just over a year after serving with the Utah Highway Patrol. Millholland confirmed that the officer is now recovering at home with his wife and child.
“The injuries were significant, but we are incredibly grateful to report that he is alive and currently recovering,” a statement says. “Our thoughts are with him and his family as he continues to heal.”
Nov. 22 Picnic in the Park
to honor city’s 20th
SANDY SPRINGS, Ga. — After the final Sandy Springs Farmers Market of the season Nov. 22, the city is transforming Blue Stone Road into a giant picnic table to honor its 20th anniversary.
Sandy Springs is inviting all residents to celebrate Saturday, Nov. 22 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. along the City Green, marking two decades of community, connection and civic pride.
“Picnic in the Park,” is one celebration in a series of community gatherings in honor of the city of Sandy Springs incorporating Dec. 1, 2005, with
year
94 percent support from voters.
The milestone anniversary will be celebrated with a unique highlight: a special showing of an oral history project, showcasing significant milestones and memories from some of Sandy Springs’ most influential residents.
After hearing from those involved in incorporation efforts, the city’s youngest residents, children aged 6 to 10, will ask questions, and everyone is invited to take a seat and learn.
See PICNIC, Page 7
Johns Creek chef has eye for detail, care, creativity
By JON WILCOX jon@appenmedia.com
JOHNS CREEK, Ga. — Every dish Andrew Traub creates is crafted with care.
“We see all the quality that goes into it,” said Traub, owner of A&S Culinary Concepts. “It’s not done by machines. It’s done by people. There’s care and love in it.”
For the past 10 years, A&S Culinary Concepts has made a point of preparing every dish from scratch, calling on an impressive reservoir of culinary expertise to create inspired menus. The Johns Creek culinary studio caters events, hosts cooking classes and holds team-building exercises that allow groups to prepare a gourmet meal together.
Traub’s journey into the world of cooking started at age 15 when he began working for a neighborhood Italian steakhouse in Long Island.
“My mother said go out and get a job,” Traub said.
As a salad cook and busboy, he fell in love with the fast-paced kitchen environment and decided to continue his education at a culinary school in the Catskill Mountains. Immediately after graduation, Marriott recruited him to help open the flagship New York Marriott Marquis in Times Square.
“I ended up learning from the best of the best,” he said.
As a manager trainee, he worked alongside 200 hotel cooks in six different kitchens, preparing food for banquets that routinely attracted several thousand guests. The role was so demanding that he sometimes worked 20-hour days, which often required him to sleep at the hotel.
“They would put a bunch of us all in one room to sleep because we were working so much,” he said.
After leaving Marriott, Traub opened Love at First Bite Catering in Manhattan with a college friend. Their clients included Radio City Music Hall, the Luxembourg Consulate, Pace Collection and Fordham University.
Traub made his way to Atlanta when he was again recruited by Marriott to serve as the executive sous chef at the Marriott Marquis. He continued working with Marriott as an executive chef at various other hotels, including the Memphis Marriott Downtown Hotel & Conference Center and Atlanta Evergreen Marriott Conference Resort in Stone Mountain.
Traub now works for himself, cooking for his own business. He said he loves applying his 40 years of cooking experience to meet the unique demands of every client.
With the help of 20 staff members, A&S Culinary Concepts starts by brainstorming creative menus that feature all sorts of
Sous chef Julianne Pace teaches a corporate teambuilding
techniques from smoking to grilling and cuisines from Tex-Mex to Mediterranean.
Everything is made from scratch and tastetested multiple times before being served.
Some notable creations include a pumpkin pie bar with muffin crust and cheesecake, goat cheese and grape hors d'oeuvre with caramelized pecans and pimento cheese wonton.
Clients often express their delight at the creative dishes, but Traub said he also receives immense satisfaction from the work.
Each dish is an exercise in the art of making food and a joy to partake in.
“It's not boring to come to work,” he said.
A look up from the downtown district’s central greenspace shows the City Springs stage at Mount Vernon Road and Galambos Way.
Picnic:
Continued from Page 6
The picnic will feature entertainment, a specially designed anniversary cake and a continuous shared table stretching along Blue Stone Road between Galambos Way and Mount Vernon Road. The city says the table serves as a powerful symbol of unity and inclusion, inviting everyone to take a seat, share a story and enjoy a meal together.
Guests may bring their own food or purchase from a selection prepared by the Sandy Springs Performing Arts
Center’s Executive Chef, including breakfast and lunch favorites such as French toast, bacon, scrambled eggs, fresh fruit, chicken fingers and beverages.
Mayor Rusty Paul, who has been involved in city leadership since its founding, said the event is tribute to the spirit of Sandy Springs.
“[It’s a place] where neighbors aren’t just residents, but friends and collaborators in shaping our city’s future,” Paul said. “Come hungry, come happy and most importantly, come together as we celebrate 20 years of Sandy Springs!”
Hayden Sumlin
PHOTOS BY: ANDREW TRAUB/PROVIDED
Sue Traub and husband Andrew Traub A&S Culinary Concepts was named after the couple’s first names.
participant how to grill lettuce.
FILE PHOTO
Cultivating Lifestyles and Curating Homes.
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North Atlanta-based interior designer Kat Nelson believes every space should reflect the spirit of it’s inhabitants. Nelson brings visions of beauty, comfort, and functionality into homes across the city and beyond, earning her a reputation as an industry visionary.
What sets Kat apart is her diverse design style and ability to bring any vision to life. She stands by the importance of meeting every clients’ individual needs and continues to create stunning, yet functional homes.
“The best part of my work is when clients tell me they don’t want to leave their home”, says Kat Nelson For the last two decades, Kat has been rising as one of Atlanta’s top designers. Her collaborative approach, combined with philosophy on design, allows her to step into nearly any space and create a look and style that completely reflects her clients’ lifestyles. And while it might sound counterintuitive, Kat says she works extra hard to make sure her spaces never look like a designer decorated them. “Beautiful design is collected, not fixed”, she says.
From performance fabrics that invite a “put your feet up” aesthetic, to one-ofa-kind touches that add a head-turning wow factor to every space, Kat has brought a new depth and dimension to the idea of functional beauty. “I know that functional is a huge buzzword in the design community right now, but if a space isn’t beautiful and comfortable, then you can’t enjoy living in it”, she says. “Anyone can create a pretty room. But we want you to experience a level of design that empowers you to live better lives. We want you to walk in and feel HOME”
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Festival:
Continued from Page 1
The recreation would also include an art component and a kids component, she said.
Caitlin Norrell, a project manager with Premiere Events, said this year’s programming leaned heavily into local involvement.
“The biggest thing here is community and showcasing all the local talent,” she said. “We got a lot more local art in the artist market this year.”
There were 70 artist vendors, and the Emerging Artists exhibit, which began last year, featured works from kindergarten through 12th grade.
Rate:
Continued from Page 1
The Atlanta Watershed Management Department oversees the service to customers, including those in Sandy Springs, which gets its water from the City of Atlanta.
Atlanta Watershed Management has announced it will maintain the current rate structure through June 2028, in part because of revenues through the City of Atlanta’s one-cent municipal sales tax.
Like the Fulton County Jail’s federally mandated improvements, the City of Atlanta is required to invest $4 billion into sewer upgrades, stemming from two consent decrees in the late 1990s. The city uses its municipal sales tax revenue to pay for the improvements.
The Fulton County Public Works
Local food vendors were also on scene.
For vendors, the festival was a chance to connect with residents. Fania Parandi, owner of Safari Joy, showcased her handmade plush toys and custom fedoras.
“I make whimsical plushes with my fingers only. I don’t use any needles— it’s big yarn, the same way you’d make a big blanket with no needles,” she said. “Everything is handmade… I love this place here. I love Sandy Springs.”
Resident Diane said she rarely misses city events.
“I love it. I’m always out here,” she said. “I don’t live far. I’m always out here with friends.”
Music anchored the two-day event, with Lit, the California pop-punk band
Department recommended continuing the 5 percent rate hike, saying it falls within range of neighboring water and sewer systems.
In 2025, Atlanta Watershed customers pay an average of $95 on their monthly bills. Fulton County customers pay around $85. However, Fulton County projections show its customers will pay a higher monthly bill than Atlanta Watershed customers by 2028.
DeKalb County customers are paying the highest monthly bills, which adopted a 10 percent rate increase for each year over the next decade.
Water and sewer customers in Cobb County are projected to enjoy the lowest bills through the end of the decade.
Public Works Director David Clarke has said the series of 5 percent rate increases is needed to complete the 2025-27 Capital Improvement Program and upgrades to the Camp Creek Water
known for its late-’90s hit “My Own Worst Enemy,” headlining Friday night.
The crowd was modest but energetic, with fans singing along, even as a light rain began to fall during the set. Organizers said the choice of Lit was deliberate, aiming for a younger, highenergy start to the festival.
Saturday night’s headliner, Rumours ATL, leaned in a different direction with a full Fleetwood Mac tribute. The Atlanta-based band dressed as the members of the original group and played some of its most beloved songs, appealing to a cross-generational audience.
“We wanted to be mindful of appealing to different music genres and different age groups,” Nikolas said. “Who doesn’t like Fleetwood Mac?”
Reclamation Facility in South Fulton.
“From that master plan, a number of projects were identified that will be entered into our CIP to have increased water pressure and volume to many areas of North Fulton that sometimes have issues,” he said. “This rate study also included those costs, in addition to some of the South Fulton wastewater needs.”
The Public Works Department operates the water and sewer division primarily through customer fees. Water and sewer services receive no dollars from the county general fund or property taxes.
To finance 46 projects across North Fulton by 2050, county staff projects an estimated cost of $278 million across five phases beginning in 2025. By 2050, the county is projecting peak demand could grow 34 percent to around 63 million gallons a day. Right now, peak usage is around 47 million.
JAMIE GODIN/APPEN MEDIA
Visitors browse the artist market across from Blue Stone Road at the Blue Stone Sandy Springs Arts and Music Festival held Sept. 26-27.
Appreciating all the benefits of seeing clearly
Sometimes a thing has to fall to pieces to set the stage for…well, for what comes next.
It was the fall of a year a long, long time ago. School had started. A young me, ever the good student, had taken a test a couple of days before. The teacher had given the test back to everyone, but she had not given mine back to me.
Instead, I was sitting there, after school, with my mom and the teacher, and they were talking. About me.
“The thing is,” my teacher was saying, “is that even though they’re all wrong, they’re all right too.”
She had written the problems on the board, and I had copied them onto my paper, and I had solved them. I had solved them correctly. But I had copied them wrong. I didn’t know that – I thought I’d faithfully ciphered everything from the communal blackboard to my personal paper.
But I hadn’t. I’d copied everything wrong.
A cold stone of fear began to coalesce in my gut.
Was I somehow seeing wrong? Oh no. I wasn’t hearing wrong, though. I was hearing just fine. And I remember what I heard next:
“I think he wrote them down wrong,” the teacher was saying, “because he can’t see the board. I think he needs…” Oh no…here it comes... “…glasses.”
I remember it like it was an hour ago. Some things you just remember that way. Why am I thinking about that now? I don’t know.
Anyway, I’ve just spent 20 minutes on top of the Temple Mound at Etowah Indian Mounds, a state historic site (and designated National Historic Landmark) located near Carterville, Ga. This elaborate cultural site is home to several earthen mounds built by Native Americans over a period of 500 years or more, starting around 1000 AD.
Who built the mounds? Prevailing wisdom seems to be that this complex was constructed in several phases over several centuries by people “ancestral” to the Muscogee (Creek) tribe. The Creek tribe considers Etowah (Italwa) to be an important part of their heritage. That’s the short version; you’ll learn much more about the site’s history when you visit. I’ve been exploring slowly at the top of the temple mound, letting my feet go where they will. But it’s hot in the sun.
I’m sweating, and sweat had messed up my glasses. I pull ’em off my face and wipe them dry on my shirt and put them back upon my nose, reveling (as I always do when it happens) in how much clearer things look when not seen through a haze of obfuscation.
Done with the top of the mound, I begin the descent down the long, straight flight of steps which had taken me to the top. It’s near closing time, and I know I have to keep it moving. Still, at the bottom, I don’t turn left toward the visitor center but instead turn right toward the Etowah River.
That’s right. I want to see the fish weir that the original residents had built in the river. You know how I am. If it’s “fishing,” I’ve got to check it out.
Ranger Lucy
I walk on, vaguely thankful that I can see clearly through my now-relativelyclean spectacles, and that’s when I spot Ranger Lucy, a naturalist at the site. She is standing near her truck and looking out toward the river. Maybe toward the fish weir? I hope so, because I don’t really know where it is, and time really is running short.
“If you move slowly,” she says as I approach, “you can see them!”
See what? Fish? No –
“Hummers!” she says.
Ahhh. Hummingbirds!
I walk closer and look. There’s an opening in the undergrowth, a green window of sorts bespeckled in white and yellow-orange flowers. The orange ones, Ranger Lucy adds, are jewelweed – and hummingbirds love jewelweed.
“Are there many?” I ask. “Many hummers?”
There are. Some buzz among the flowers. Others divebomb one another or fight with their beaks in mid-air. Sometimes, when they get tired I guess, they take a break and have a rest on a twig in the nearby tree.
“And if you’re quiet,” Lucy says, “you can hear them twitter.”
I am, and I do, hearing and seeing all with crystalline clarity.
And then, for the briefest of instants, I flash back to those blurry days decades before…blurry days when I wouldn’t have been able to see the birds save as blobs of out-of-focus fuzz…blurry like before the Day of the Glasses, before that day when the lady at the optical shop placed tortoiseshell spectacles onto my elementary school ears and told me how handsome I looked. She was just trying to make me feel better about it all, but I knew that the horrible reality was that I’d be one they called Four Eyes the next day at school. Childhood can occasionally be horrible when you’re a
The residual benefits
As quick as it came, the flashback starts to fade. I shake myself back to the present and just stand there, again as then, watching (sharply and crisply) as dozens upon dozens of little flying jewels go about their business of the day.
“They are neat,” I say to Ranger Lucy. “They are cool.”
But that, she adds, is just the beginning of the show.
“The monarch butterflies will be here soon too,” Lucy says.
Those butterflies will bring even more color to the airspace.
child.
And yet even as I’d sat there waiting for my fate to fall on me, I had glanced through my new glasses and gazed through the nearest window and (HOLY COW!) discovered that trees had individual leaves.
Who would have thought it? Certain not me. Think about that – individual leaves!
And so I’d sat there, mesmerized, seeing trees like I’d never seen them before, reveling in the exquisiteness of it all, seeing clearly at last after all those years.
Maybe I’ll have to come back and see that, for those butterflies will bring even more color to this little part of the world.
Yeah! That sounds like fun, and I know who would enjoy seeing them with me. She called a minute ago. She’s fixing supper for us as we speak. I’ll bet she would fix us a picnic to bring, a masterpiece of a meal to share among the hummers and the butterflies.
It will be grand.
And I think: It sure is nice when you can see things clearly. That really can turn life around.
STEVE HUDSON Columnist
STEVE HUDSON/APPEN MEDIA
The Temple Mound at Etowah Indian Mounds near Cartersville is designated a National Historic Landmark.
How Chattahoochee Nature Center became what it is
In the 1970s, a movement began to conserve land and create green space along the Chattahoochee River in Roswell.
John Ripley Forbes was one of the people involved in this vision. He started the SE Land Preservation Trust to fund the purchase of green space.
In addition to Chattahoochee Nature Center, Forbes was part of the movement to create the Dunwoody Nature Center and the force behind Big Trees Forest Preserve on Roswell Road, next to the North Fulton Service Center. Forbes did this kind of work across the U.S. He is credited with setting up nature centers in over 30 states.
Frank McCamey, another supporter of nature centers, was brought in to help with the search. Roy Wood, father of Roswell Mayor Jere Wood, suggested a large privately owned property along the Chattahoochee River. The 6.7-acre tract was home to American Adventures Club. With the acquisition of this land, Chattahoochee Nature Center opened in 1976. (chattnaturecenter.org)
American Adventures Club was a family recreation center owned by Horace Holden. It offered tennis, swimming and ball fields. In 1985 and 1992, additional acreage was purchased from Horace Holden. This land was part of Camp Chattahoochee. Holden, a teacher and graduate of Emory University, and his wife Jodie started Camp Chattahoochee and school on the property with hopes to build two new school buildings in the future. (Atlanta Constitution, June 29, 1971, “This morning campers, we hit the slopes”)
Advertised as having three lakes, the camp offered fishing, canoeing and swimming. Other activities were horseback riding, tennis, archery, campouts, arts and crafts, and gymnastics. The camp offered transportation. (Atlanta Journal, May 4, 1969, Camp Chattahoochee ad)
In 1971, they tried something new at Camp Chattahoochee, summertime snow skiing. A ski slope was constructed the previous fall with an Astro-turf
DEATH NOTICES
Priya Ashok, 53, of Alpharetta, passed away on September 15, 2025. Arrangements by Northside Chapel Funeral Directors & Crematory.
Kathleen Eggert, 96, of Alpharetta, passed away on September 22, 2025. Arrangements by Northside Chapel Funeral Directors & Crematory.
John Fahy, 85, of Alpharetta, passed away on September 16, 2025. Arrangements by Northside Chapel Funeral Directors & Crematory.
surface. Then plastic snow was spread on the turf. Former Austrian ski champion, Raimund Winkler, helped create the ski slope along the Chattahoochee. (Atlanta Constitution, June 29, 1971, “This morning, campers, we hit the slopes”)
One summer in the late 1960s, I went to Camp Chattahoochee day camp for two weeks. It was only in the last few years that I realized the camp was today home to the Chattahoochee Nature Center. I remember riding a bus with a neighbor friend and other children on a long route across town to Roswell. Horseback riding, tennis, swimming and canoeing were all fun activities, although I don’t recall wearing a life jacket in the canoe. That is not surprising,
Mary Huffinton, 94, of Roswell, passed away on September 15, 2025. Arrangements by Northside Chapel Funeral Directors & Crematory.
Charlie Lail, Sr., 86, of Roswell, passed away on September 20, 2025. Arrangements by Northside Chapel Funeral Directors & Crematory.
Richard Lindstadt, 95, of Alpharetta, passed away on September 26, 2025. Arrangements by Northside Chapel Funeral Directors & Crematory.
considering there were also no seat belts in cars. Chattahoochee Nature Center was the first nonprofit nature center in Georgia. Today, it is a beautiful nature preserve on 127 acres. There are trails, programs, events, exhibits and summer camps. There are special event spaces that embrace the outdoors. In the coming months, check their website for more information of their 50th anniversary in 2026.
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.
Valerie McIntyre, 71, of Alpharetta, passed away on September 22, 2025. Arrangements by Northside Chapel Funeral Directors & Crematory.
Linda Morris, 79, of Roswell, passed away on September 23, 2025. Arrangements by Northside Chapel Funeral Directors & Crematory.
Tom Ness, 77, of Roswell, passed away on September 26, 2025. Arrangements by Northside Chapel Funeral Directors & Crematory.
Terrell Parker, 87, of Roswell, passed away on September 28, 2025. Arrangements by Northside Chapel Funeral Directors & Crematory.
Catherine Popp, 64, of Roswell, passed away on September 26, 2025. Arrangements by Northside Chapel Funeral Directors & Crematory.
VALERIE BIGGERSTAFF Columnist
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The Chattahoochee Nature Center sits on 127 acres in Roswell.
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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.
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
Graphic Designer. FT (Morrow, GA) Create dsgns, concepts, layouts, based on knowl of esthetic dsgn concepts. Prep rough sketches of mat’l. Draw & print charts, graphs, illustrations. Dvlp graphics. Generate new images. Bachelor’s Deg in Graphic Dsgn or Other Rltd Field. Send resume to Joon Company, Inc. (dba Beauty Master) Attn. HR, 1400 Mount Zion Rd. Morrow, GA 30260
To place a classified ad, email classifieds@appenmedia.com. Deadline is Thursdays by 3pm.
Truck Driver
Bilingual (English / Spanish) Donor Operations Supervisor
NFCC is seeking a Truck Driver (Donor Operations Services Associate II) to join our Facilities team.
ESL Contractor Instructor (Evening)
Bilingual (English / Spanish) Donor Operations Supervisor
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 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.
The Truck Driver works Monday through Friday 9am – 2pm and periodically on Saturdays or Sundays for special events.
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 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
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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Tune-Up Projects
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