Sandy Springs Conservancy rallies community support for path, trail partnerships
By HAYDEN SUMLIN hayden@appenmedia.com
SANDY SPRINGS, Ga. — Ann Hanlon, executive director of the Perimeter CIDs, said paths and trails drive up property values.
In her keynote address during the Sept. 17 Thought Leaders Dinner at Morgan Falls Overlook Park, Hanlon said trail access is increasingly shaping the future of cities, communities and commercial real estate investments.
“These paths connect neighborhoods, parks, business district and transit hubs,” Hanlon said. “If you don’t think that’s true, who wishes that they would have bought property along the Atlanta Beltline about 20 years ago?”
See SUPPORT, Page 11
HAYDEN SUMLIN/APPEN MEDIA
Ann Hanlon, executive director of the Perimeter CIDs, speaks on the positive impact of paths and trails on property values at the Sandy Springs Conservancy’s annual Thought Leaders Dinner: “A Springway to the Future.”
Mayoral candidates set priorities during combative meet-and-greet
By HAYDEN SUMLIN hayden@appenmedia.com
SANDY SPRINGS, Ga. — Both Sandy Springs City Council members running for mayor took the opportunity Sept. 15 to attack incumbent Rusty Paul’s 12-year tenure in office.
The fourth candidate, 2021 mayoral runnerup Dontaye Carter criticized all three sitting elected officials at a meet-and-greet political forum sponsored by the Huntcliff and Grogan’s Bluff neighborhoods at Elevate City Church.
Despite the sometimes combative nature of the discussion, the four mayoral candidates
remained respectful of one another and agreed on many of the issues that define this year’s election on the city’s 20th anniversary of incorporation.
While all candidates agreed on the importance of public safety and support of the Sandy Springs Police, there were not any direct questions about Open Records laws or the department’s chase policy – two issues that have drawn local media attention.
Election Day is Nov. 4. With four candidates on the ballot for mayor this year, a runoff election Dec. 2 is expected.
See FORUM, Page 12
HAYDEN SUMLIN/APPEN MEDIA
Huntcliff resident Craig Gilchirst, at right, consults notes to pose a question to the four Sandy Springs mayoral candidates at the Sept. 15 meet-and-greet at Elevate City Church.
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Capping 23-year saga, Sandy Springs parcel to remain residential
By HAYDEN SUMLIN hayden@appenmedia.com
SANDY SPRINGS, Ga. — Don Huffner, a Roberts Drive resident living near a recently rezoned riverside property, was gratified when city leaders protected “what we value most, our homes and our neighborhood.”
“I wasn’t planning on speaking tonight, until about two hours ago, when my daughter reminded me that it’s important to express gratitude, sometimes publicly,” Huffner told the Sandy Springs City Council Sept. 16. “For over two decades, we’ve worked to protect the character of our beautiful, tree-lined riverfront neighborhood. On behalf of my family, my neighbors and myself, I simply want to say thank you.”
Council members voted unanimously to allow a rezoning for a single-family property on Roberts Drive while preserving its residential classification. The parcel, at 9755 Roberts Drive near Roswell Road and the Chattahoochee River, has a vacant home built in the 1960s.
The rezoning from RE-1 to RD-7.5 in a protected neighborhood allows for construction of three separate singlefamily residences on the 1.72-acre property, considered one way to provide missing middle housing for young working families.
Sandy Springs Council of Neighborhoods President Rhonda Smith said the property has had a 23-year history of rezoning requests, and her predecessor — Trisha Thompson — encouraged her not to settle but select.
“The Roberts Drive community as a united neighborhood, understanding and insisting that commercial [land] uses at the gateway to their neighborhood were
This aerial view shows a 1.7-acre, single-family property at 9755 Roberts Drive, abutting Roswell Road (Ga. 9) and the Chattahoochee River. Surrounding homeowners reacted positively Sept. 16 when the Sandy Springs City Council voted to keep the property’s zoning residential.
not appropriate, met those requests with opposition,” Smith said. “This is what the community insisted would be in harmony with the neighborhood and would have the least impact on the balance of the neighborhood and on the river.”
City staff supports use
City Planning and Zoning Manager
Michele McIntosh-Ross said staff and the Planning Commission recommended approval with conditions, requiring three lots with one access point, adherence to the Metropolitan River Protections Act and coordination with planned city
projects.
Ross said the proposal fits the city’s Next Ten Comprehensive Plan, emphasizing preservation of singlefamily neighborhoods and an increased supply of housing types.
District 1 City Councilman John Paulson added a condition with council support to require a dilapidated dock and boat to be removed from the property prior to issuance of permits.
Because of the existing development, the Atlanta Regional Commission allows encroachment into the river’s 150-foot setback considering the site’s lack of buildable area.
Brad Riffel, a principal with Roswellbased design firm AEC Inc. representing property owner William Odrey II, said he thinks the site plan fits well as a transition to Roswell Road (Ga. 9).
“We’re trying to create some marketability and value on a property … we’ve only chosen that zoning because of the very limited space that we have to have the three lots,” Riffel said. “The sizes of the houses that we were showing on the plan, which is really conceptual, they’re all 1,600, 1,800 [and] 2,300 [square feet].”
MarketNsight’s June 2025 housing data for Metro Atlanta shows home prices have increased 42 percent in the past five years, requiring an affordable $350,000 starter home to be just under 1,600 square feet.
City manages bond sale
In other matters before the council, the Public Facilities Authority ratified
FULTON BOARD OF ASSESSORS/PROVIDED
Atlanta International School celebrates 40th anniversary
ATLANTA — Atlanta International School marks its 40th anniversary this year, representing a journey from 51 students in a converted army barracks on Powers Ferry Road to 1,350 students across two campuses.
The school says the anniversary will be marked by year-long activities, including student-driven retrospectives, future-facing talks and celebrations with flair.
The AIS community represents over 90 nationalities across two campuses in Buckhead and Sandy Springs.
Founded by parents and local supporters determined to bring an international school model to Atlanta, it is now the only school in the Southeast to offer all four International Baccalaureate programs.
AIS has recently launched innovative learning pathways on top of its acclaimed language immersion programs in Chinese, French, German and Spanish. AISx, allows students to build flexible schedules tailored to their needs, alongside groundbreaking partnerships for student-athletes with Atlanta United Football Club and the Mouratoglou Tennis Academy.
Head of School Kevin Glass said the spirit of inclusivity, innovation and intentionality that defined our founders remains central to AIS today. It’s a private school with an emphasis on a global perspective, critical thinking and supporting students’ passions.
“On behalf of the entire AIS
AIS milestones over the past four decades:
• 1985: AIS first opens its doors on Sept. 3
• 1988: AIS purchases Long Island campus
• 1991: First graduates earn the IB Diploma
• 1995-6: North Fulton Drive Campus opens
• 2008: AIS becomes an IB Continuum School
• 2014: UN Global Goals integrated into the curriculum
• 2023: Launch of AISx with ATLUTD students
• 2025: Opening of the Mouratoglou Tennis Academy at the new Sandy Springs campus
community, I thank those who, 40 years ago, dedicated themselves to realizing the dream of an international school for our city,” Glass said. “They were courageous leaders who shaped their world for the better — just as we ask our students, and our more than 2,000 alumni, to do today.”
To watch the 40th anniversary celebration, visit vimeo. com/1117187990.
— Hayden Sumlin
Preventative maintenance begins on City Springs parking garage
SANDY SPRINGS, Ga. — Work is underway to conduct routine preventive maintenance on the City Springs parking garage, Sandy Springs Communications Director Carter Long announced Sept. 16.
Scheduled to be complete in early December, crews will work Mondays through Thursdays between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. During this time, the city says availability of underground parking spaces will vary.
The west entrance to the underground parking deck at 6300 Blue Stone Road is scheduled to close for two to three weeks beginning Sept. 22 during construction hours.
Visitors will be able to access the
underground parking decking via the east entrance at 230 Mount Vernon Highway near Roswell Road and Galambos Way.
The Sandy Springs City Council awarded a $600,000 contract to Structural Restoration July 15 to complete the repairs after a 2024 condition assessment revealed structural concerns. Greystar’s Aston City Springs, a luxury apartment complex sharing the garage and its repair costs, is set to contribute around $260,000 to the repairs.
For updates, check the City Springs website and follow the city’s social media channels.
— Hayden Sumlin
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Fulton County restores arts funding
By HAYDEN SUMLIN hayden@appenmedia.com
ATLANTA — The Fulton County Board of Commissioners voted unanimously to restore funding for a program within the Arts & Culture Department to $3 million a year Sept. 17.
While the unanimous vote reflects unity and bipartisanship, some commissioners criticized colleagues for the delay.
The item, sponsored by Democratic commissioners Khadijah Abdur-Rahman and Marvin Arrington Jr. and Republican commissioners Bob Ellis and Bridget Throne, includes an increase of $1.7 million for a previously requested program and its full $3 million in funding set aside in the 2026 budget.
As commissioners enter the last quarter of the year, they begin preparations to draft the 2026 budget, required to be passed by the end of January.
Language in the resolution says, “the Board of Commissioners will consider no further funding enhancements to any department for fiscal year 2025.”
After amending the funding request, Abdur-Rahman said she wanted to clarify that expenditures related to the Fulton County Jail’s federal consent decree and budget reviews are not considered
From left, Fulton County Commission Chairman Robb Pitts strikes down a motion from Commissioner Mo Ivory after she tried to amend a resolution that restores funding within the Arts & Culture Department.
“enhancements.” The consent decree requires the county take measures to effect major improvements at its jail facility on Rice Street in Atlanta.
One reason for the language may be because Commissioner Mo Ivory had requested recently to use 2025 budget underruns to increase funding across several county departments.
County Commissioner Dana Barrett, representing Buckhead and south Sandy Springs, thanked Abdur-Rhaman for the amendment.
“That was my biggest concern in terms of the difference between your version of this legislation and, as Commissioner Ivory has already pointed out, her version of this legislation,” Barrett said. “The items, other than a word or two, are materially the same.”
Delay in approval
Barrett said she will vote to support the arts but criticized fellow commissioners for their handling of the budget amendment. She said she requested the funding in the original 2025 budget and joined with Arrington Jr. to request it again in February.
“What we are taking part in over the last three meetings is political theater, and we are and have held the arts community hostage really since the beginning of the year,” Barrett said.
The $1.7 million will go toward the Arts & Culture Department’s Contract for Services program, restoring its funding to $3 million after the Board approved $1.3 million at its June 18 meeting.
Barrett said the community is suffering from the lack of funding for programs and called the Board’s actions embarrassing.
“The three of us [including commissioners Arrington and Ivory] were the only ones supporting it. Now all of the sudden, we have people who were ‘no, no, no’ saying ‘yes, yes, yes’ because it’s under a different person’s name,” she said. “Because we did not fund them at the beginning of the year, there may have been organizations that closed … people who lost jobs [and] programs not able to be held.”
Ivory said Barrett pointed out the obvious and she will always vote to support the arts no matter who gets the credit.
“The arts community has been flooding me with calls asking why we behave in this childish manner,” Ivory said. “But imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, and I’m flattered that Commissioner Abdur-Rahman submitted an identical
resolution to mine.”
Ivory said inconsistent support from other commissioners delayed funding for the arts’ community.
Despite the amendment to allow potential jail funding and budget soundings, Ivory said it ties the commission’s hands if urgent needs arise in other departments. Her motion to amend the resolution and strike the language failed 4-3.
When she tried to make the same amendment again later in the discussion, Chairman Robb Pitts ruled the motion out of order because it had already failed.
Commissioner Arrington Jr. said he and Barrett were the only commissioners supporting the arts funding at the start of the year. He said he has mixed feelings about the process and wants to get the CFS program back to the $5 million in annual funding it received before the Great Recession.
“What is being done here is signaling that four people do not want the budget to be changed any further at all,” Arrington said. “Apparently, some type of agreement has been made that they will support this item, but that is it. At the end of the day, it looks like our arts community will be benefitting despite the theater [and posturing].”
Court funding request
In a related matter, Arrington, Barrett and Ivory sponsored a measure to increase the Magistrate Court’s budget by $178,000, or 3.4 percent.
Ivory said she reduced the funding request for the Magistrate Court by around $100,000 after speaking with County Manager Dick Williams and CFO Sharon Whitmore. She said her goal is to increase closure rates, reduce backlogs and ensure there is adequate staffing.
“This funding is targeted solely at staffing to stabilize operations and reduce backlogs,” Ivory said. “The Magistrate Court currently has 55,028 open cases spanning from 2019 to today. Without additional staff, delays will continue.”
Barrett then amended the funding request with Ivory’s support to include $611,939 as a recurring expense in the Magistrate Court’s 2026 budget to continue the funding in full next year.
While Arrington and Barrett voted with Ivory to approve the funding request, Pitts, Thorne and Ellis voted nay, and the item failed. Adbur-Rahman abstained.
The vote follows a new trend revealing a bipartisan voting bloc, composed of Abdur-Rahman, Ellis, Pitts and Thorne, often determining which items pass.
Another item, which would have increased funding for the Atlanta Judicial Circuit’s public defender by some $1.43 million, also failed with commissioners voting the same way.
SCREENSHOT
PROVIDED
Pumpkins, gourds and heirloom varieties will be available at the pumpkin patch on Mount Vernon Road starting Sept. 28.
All Saints Pumpkin Patch to return with more variety
DUNWOODY, Ga., — The Knights of Columbus, Council 11402 announced the 14th annual All Saints Catholic Church Pumpkin Patch is back at 2443 Mount Vernon Road starting Sept. 28 at 9 a.m.
The Knights promise an even greater selection of pumpkins, gourds and heirloom varieties to brighten front porches this fall season.
The annual pumpkin patch sale runs until Oct. 31 with weekday hours between noon and 7 p.m. and weekends from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.
All proceeds benefit local causes — supporting neighbors in Dunwoody, Sandy Springs Peachtree Corners and the metro area.
The All Saints Catholic Church Pumpkin Patch is a family tradition for many in the community, including a Sandy Springs mother Deborah and her daughters who come each year to enjoy the fall festivities.
The Knights of Columbus says it’s more than just pumpkins: it’s an opportunity for families and friends to come together, enjoy fall’s beauty and give back to the community.
For more details, including varieties available and tips for creating displays, visit www.kofcpumpkins. com.
Hayden Sumlin
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1101 Alpharetta St • Historic Roswell • 770-518-8518
AVONDALE ESTATES, Ga. — Waffle House celebrated its 70th anniversary on Sept. 6 with free waffles and a look back at how a neighborhood diner became an American institution during an open house at the Waffle House Museum.
"Today's event is all about supporting the community and celebrating our 70th anniversary," said Bud Whitmire, vice president of corporate affairs for Waffle House.
The Waffle House story began on Labor Day weekend in 1955, when neighbors Joe Rogers Sr. and Tom Forkner opened the first Waffle House at 2719 E. College Ave. in Avondale Estates. Their vision was straightforward: create "a good, neighborhood-friendly restaurant that folks could enjoy 24 hours a day," Whitmire said.
That original location, now preserved as the Waffle House Museum and designated as Unit No. 1, has grown into a chain of over 2,000 restaurants in 25 states.
Waffle House's expansion paralleled the development of America's interstate system.
"The highway system kind of grew us," Whitmire noted. "People wanted a good, safe, friendly place to stop on the road, and so we really grew along with the interstate system."
This growth strategy helped establish Waffle House as more than just a restaurant—it became a reliable roadside beacon for travelers.
The chain's commitment to staying open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, led to an unexpected claim to fame: the Waffle House Index, an informal measure used to assess storm damage.
"We're always open, unless there's a really bad storm. But safety is first," Whitmire said. "If we've got people, and we've got power and we've got food, we can serve the community. If we're closed or can't get back open, then it got hit really hard, but we try to be there for the community as quickly as we can. That's one of our signatures."
Behind the Scenes
Visitors to the 70th anniversary celebration learned some insider secrets, including how Waffle House cooks manage orders as they’re called out. The chain uses a unique coding system involving condiment packets and their
Madden Perry, who worked three years at Waffle House and
anniversary celebration at the Waffle House Museum on Sept. 6.
placement on plates to communicate order specifications.
"We've got a kind of coding system on the plates," Whitmire revealed. "You mark the plates with a jelly packet or condiments. Different positions on the plate represent different ways to cook your eggs, how you like your sandwiches and meats cooked, all that sort of stuff."
As for the most popular menu items? Hash browns and waffles remain the crowd favorites, according to Whitmire.
The celebration featured free waffles, including a limited-availability birthday cake waffle, self-guided museum tours and Waffle House merchandise. The Waffle House Museum welcomes visitors through quarterly open houses, with dates posted at wafflehouse.com/museum/ and guided tours on request.
"Thank you to our customers and our community for being loyal to us," Whitmire said. "We appreciate the loyalty, and we're just honored to continue serving for another 70 years, at least."
PHOTOS BY: DEAN HESSE/APPEN MEDIA
has the tattoo to prove it, attends the open house and 70th
From left, Anthony McFarlane, mom Leslie McFarlane and Lauryn McFarlane enjoy free waffles at the Waffle House Museum open house on Sept. 6. Anthony's favorite is the chocolate chip waffle, Leslie's is the pecan waffle and Lauryn likes her waffles plain.
Acclaimed writer to double up on Forsyth library appearances
By KATHY DES JARDINS CIOFFI newsroom@appenmedia.com
Internationally acclaimed writer William Kent Krueger, author of New York Times bestsellers “Ordinary Grace,” “This Tender Land” and “The River We Remember” as well as an award-winning mystery series, will lead a pair of Forsyth Reads Together events Oct. 9 and 10.
With more than 1.5 million books sold, Krueger will be discussing “Apostle’s Cove,” the latest in his Cork O'Connor series, which is being adapted for television by the production company behind the “Outlander” series, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
On Oct. 9, the Minnesota-based
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Friday, Oct. 3-Sunday, Oct. 5, Roswell Reads Rewind. Play literary catch-up with online recordings of eight Roswell Reads authors: Fredrik Backman, Ron Rash, William Kent Krueger, Geraldine Brooks, Laura Morelli, Ann Patchett, Delia Owens and Rick Bragg. Free. Registration required. eventbrite. com/e/roswell-reads-rewind-2025-tickets1633189837769?aff=oddtdtcreator
Friday, Oct. 3, Saturday, Oct. 25, and Monday, Oct. 27, Emily Carpenter discussing “Gothictown.” On Oct. 3, she will be at Read It Again Bookstore at 7 p.m. Wine will be served and “Gothictown” purchase is required. 3630 Peachtree Parkway, Suite 314, Suwanee. 770-232-9331. read-it-again.com. Oct. 25, Atlanta Authors will host Carpenter at a free 2 p.m. event at Roswell Library, 115 Norcross St. Registration requested. AtlantaAuthorsga. com. Carpenter’s free Oct. 27 presentation will be hosted by the Friends of the Northside Library and Bookmiser at Northside Library, 3295 Northside Parkway NW, Atlanta. 6 p.m. 770-509-5611. bookmiser.net/events.html. Saturday, Oct. 4, Melanie Sue Bowles and Kimberly Brock delving into “Little Pearl.” 1 p.m. Free. Poe & Company Bookstore, 1890 Heritage Walk, Suite P101, Milton. 770-7975566. Poeandcompanybookstore.com. Tuesday, Oct. 7, Marc Cameron, New York Times bestseller, detailing his new thriller, “Dead Line,” an Arliss Cutter novel. Free. 6 p.m. Presented by Bookmiser, in collaboration with Milton Branch Library. 855 Mayfield Road, Milton. 770-509-5611. bookmiser.net/events. html.
Thursday, Oct. 9, and Friday, Oct. 10, William Kent Krueger, New York Times bestselling author, unveiling “Apostle’s Cove,” the 21st installment of his Cork O'Connor series. Free or $30.75 with book, provided by Bookmiser. 6 p.m. Oct. 9 standby line only. Noon Oct. 10. Both presentations are at Sharon Forks Library, 2820 Old Atlanta Road, Cumming. eventbrite.com/e/an-afternoon-with-williamkent-krueger-tickets-1447026879349?aff=od dtdtcreator
author will be in conversation with Patti Callahan Henry, author of 18 novels, including her most recent NYT bestseller, “The Story She Left Behind.” A standby line will be available for the sold-out 6 p.m. event at Sharon Forks Library, 2820 Old Atlanta Road, Cumming.
Krueger’s Oct. 10 appearance will be from noon-2 p.m., also at Sharon Forks Library. Tickets are free or $30.75 with book, which includes priority seating and photos with the author for the first 50 pre-orders. Details about Krueger’s appearances and other October author events are below.
Friday, Oct. 10, George Weinstein, Atlanta Writers Club executive director, signing and conferring on books. 3 p.m. Free. Kroger, 12460 Crabapple Road, Alpharetta. georgeweinstein.com.
Saturday, Oct. 11, bilingual story time with Mayra Cuevas and her picture book, “My Abuela is a Bruja.” 11 a.m. Free. Read It Again Bookstore3630 Peachtree Parkway, Suite 314, Suwanee. 770-232-9331. read-it-again.com.
Saturday, Oct. 11, horror author Andrew K. Clark examining “Where Dark Things Rise.” Free. Johns Creek Books, 6000 Medlock Bridge Road. 770-696-9999. johnscreekbooks.com.
Tuesday, Oct. 14, Chuck Storla launching “Murder Two Doors Down: An HOA Homicide Mystery.” 5:30 p.m. Free or $21.50 with book. Poe & Company Bookstore, 1890 Heritage Walk, Suite P101, Milton. 770-797-5566. Poeandcompanybookstore.com.
Tuesday, Oct. 21, G.A. Sallee, Shannon C. Singleton and Carrigan Richards. A Novel Idea presents the trio discussing their novels, “True Crime Fact or Fiction,” “Peace Amid the Chaos,” and “Phantom Delusions,” respectively. 7 p.m. Free. Roswell Junction, 340 South Atlanta St., Roswell, GA 30075. anovelidea.us. Wednesday, Oct. 22, Ashley Baker on “The Ashes of Us.” 7 p.m. Free. Sharon Forks Library, 2820 Old Atlanta Road, Cumming. forsythpl.org/event/14311310
Tuesday, Oct. 28. Marie Bostwick explores “The Book Club for Troublesome Women.” 1 p.m. Free. Author joining via Zoom. Johns Creek Books, 6000 Medlock Bridge Road. 770-696-9999. johnscreekbooks.com.
Thursday, Oct. 30, E.J. Wade and Karen Spears Zacharias recount “The Devil’s Pulpit & Other Mostly True Scottish Misadventures.” 5:30 p.m. Free. Poe & Company Bookstore, 1890 Heritage Walk, Suite P101, Milton. 770797-5566. Poeandcompanybookstore.com.
To submit an author event for the upcoming month, email Kathy Des Jardins Cioffi at kathydesjardins3@gmail.com by the 15th.
KRUEGER
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The Sandy Springs Conservancy, a nonprofit founded in 2001 to preserve greenspace and recreational areas, held its annual community dinner, titled “A Springway to the Future” this year. In May, nonprofit and city leaders celebrated the first completed segment of the Morgan Falls Loop, a nearly 2-mile path connecting Roswell Road to the Chattahoochee River with a boardwalk over Orkin Lake.
The Morgan Falls Loop is one part of the Sandy Springs trail network, coined as the Springway in 2023, including more than 30 miles of trails, like PATH 400 and the Abernathy Greenway.
Hanlon said having a trail within walking distance of a site could be the difference between a company choosing Sandy Springs or going elsewhere, citing conversations with people such as the city’s Economic Development Director Chris Burnett
The Perimeter CIDs are one of Metro Atlanta’s more than 30 community improvement districts, where commercial property owners within a geographical area agree to pay additional taxes to fund local infrastructure improvements.
“When you look at the history of the CID ...those early days included big, sort of hardcore infrastructure projects, road projects, landscaping, even like paying traffic officers to stand out in the intersections,” Hanlon said. “What we’ve seen, since COVID especially, is an evolution into an interest in trail projects.”
Diverse leadership
Because the self-taxing district is split between two counties and three cities (Brookhaven, Dunwoody and Sandy Springs), there are separate boards required by state law in Fulton and DeKalb.
Board members representing the Fulton County side include Sandy Springs City Councilman John Paulson along with other corporate and commercial real estate leaders.
In May, Hanlon told the Sandy Springs City Council there are more than $50 million in infrastructure improvements coming to the district in the next five years, including more than $18 million for paths and trails.
“Data shows that proximity to trails, for both residential and commercial real estate, increases property values,” she said. “Retail centers, office buildings and mixeduse developments near high-quality, safe and clean trail systems experience increased foot traffic, higher occupancy rates and stronger tenant demand.”
There are three path projects underway in Sandy Springs, toward which the Perimeter CID has contributed about $7.5 million, including Mount Vernon Highway from City Springs to the Sandy Springs MARTA station and Peachtree Dunwoody Road from Hammond Drive to Abernathy Road and around the Medical Center MARTA station.
“Our boards of directors have made a conscious decision to invest in trails,” Hanlon said. “Just wanted to share with you the scale of the dollars that we’re talking about, how expensive [paths and trails] are and how important it is that we, as these civic organizations in the community, find ways to partner with the city on them.”
An expensive undertaking
Hanlon said building in Sandy Springs is not easy, or at least much more expensive than it is in her hometown in south Georgia.
“Trail infrastructure has gotten so expensive and so complicated that it isn’t just the city’s job anymore … public-private partnerships are what can set our community apart from others,” she said. “We all need to work together to champion trails, not just as community assets, but as commercial assets.”
When asked why there is less progress on path projects in terms of community support in Dunwoody, Hanlon said she wasn’t sure. In November 2023, a $60 million bond referendum for parks and trails failed by a 57-43 percent margin.
Hanlon said Sandy Springs and its Public Works Department simply has a much larger budget, which could explain why there is more progress on projects on the Fulton County side of Central Perimeter.
Jack Misiura, chairman of the Conservancy’s Board of Directors and a principal at Red Clay Development Partners, said there is a lot of funding needed to complete the 5.4-mile loop around the riverside park.
“While the Morgan Falls Loop is the current focus, the Springway Trail Plan is a citywide network of paved paths and multi-use sidewalks that are intended to connect residents with parks, schools, businesses and other places where people gather,” Misiura said. “[It] also provides connection points to our metro neighbors, Roswell, Dunwoody, Cobb County and Atlanta.”
To learn more about the city’s trail network, visit sandyspringsconservancy.org/.
Recliner?
Maybe. Could be. But it doesn’t look like one.
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Candidates differed on their approaches to housing.
9 1 3 6 9 3 4 5 6 8 9 7 3 3 6
While City Councilwoman Jody Reichel advocated for decreasing the city’s concentration of apartments, City Councilman Andy Bauman stressed more owner-occupied dwellings. For his part, Carter advocated for including existing residents in conversations about housing, while Mayor Paul said the city can let redevelopment play out with a special tax district.
SOLUTIONS
All candidates agreed on the importance of neighborhood-based public schools, some form of environmental preservation and investing in the North End.
In his 2021 bid for mayor, Carter garnered around a third of the vote against incumbent Paul.
Carter stresses safe spaces
Carter is the CEO of his own local media group, born in Frankfurt, West Germany, in the 1980s to a Sandy Springs native and American veteran. He has served on the Dunwoody Springs PTO, as chair of the North Fulton Democrats, first vice president of the Atlanta NAACP and worked in the Fulton County District Attorney’s Office.
“It’s important to me that our children have safe places to go to, such as rec centers. These are things that we can do,” Carter said. “It’s important that as we’re having these conversations, we’re also looking at affordability and what that means for all of us.”
Carter said he wants to ensure all Sandy Springs citizens are included in conversations about the direction of the city. He criticized sitting council members for their inaction during their time in office more than he addressed the incumbent.
Bauman: Restore trust
City Councilman Bauman, serving his third term in the District 6 seat representing southwest Sandy Springs, said he wants to restore trust between citizens and the mayor’s office and represent all citizens.
“This year, the city turns 20 years old, and we’re at an inflection point,” Bauman said. “What I’ve heard from all of you is the status quo is just not good enough. I’ve talked to neighbors and local business people … who don’t feel seen and don’t feel supported.”
Bauman said his top priority is public safety, explaining his support of first responders and keeping neighborhoods safe. He criticized the rate of development during Paul’s tenure as mayor, stressing that more resources need to go toward parks, recreation and the North End.
Paul wants to finish job
Mayor Paul said he recognizes there is frustration in the community surrounding stalled redevelopments, particularly in the North End, and asked residents to let him finish the job.
“One of the things that is very important to me, and you will all hear us talk about this, is public safety. Unless you’re safe, nothing else matters,” Paul said.
The mayor then addressed resources for the North End.
“One of the things I want to do is create a tax allocation district,” Paul said. “When the appreciation of property goes up in this area, we take that extra
money and we put it back into parks and infrastructure to make this more attractive for people who want to come in and invest.”
Paul’s pitch to voters was that Sandy Springs is a great place to live. He responded to criticism of his leadership from each of his opponents, saying council members bear responsibility for things that have or have not happened during the last few years as well.
Reichel pushes school district
City Councilwoman Reichel, serving her third term in the District 3 seat, said she will be a full-time mayor, focusing her run on public schools and the city’s share of older apartments.
Reichel said the city needs to balance its mix of apartments and owneroccupied homes, including pursuing the redevelopment of aging complexes into more walkable mixed-use developments.
“I led the nine-year effort to secure North Springs High School, the largest investment in Sandy Springs since we built City Hall in 2017, and I am the only candidate pledging to lead the effort to create a Sandy Springs school district,” Reichel said. “While others say it’s too difficult, I believe it is both possible and necessary.”
Reichel said she is still working on specific details, pursuing multiple legal avenues to create a city-based school system under local control. She also said an amendment to the Georgia Constitution may not be necessary if the city pursues its own charter cluster.
Paul responded to Reichel’s pitch for city-based public schools by discussing another response to the Spalding Drive Elementary closing.
“It’s easy to sit up here and get
platitudes and generalizations about a school system that we can create when the Constitution of Georgia caps the number of school systems,” Paul said. “Why use a pipe dream when you can do a parent-directed charter school today. That’s what the folks at Spalding Elementary are doing right now.”
Several local elected officials and community leaders attended the meetand-greet, including candidates running for each of the city’s six council seats, state Rep. Deborah Silcox (R-Sandy Springs), Georgia Secretary of State candidate Gabriel Sterling, Sandy Springs Council of Neighborhoods President Rhonda Smith and councilmembers Melody Kelley, Melissa Mular and John Paulson.
More than 100 residents, most from North End neighborhoods, attended the two-hour forum. While most of the attendees were retirement age, a few people under age 40 showed up.
After the formal Q&A portion of the evening, audience members said the mayoral meet-and-greet resembled recent presidential debates on national television with candidates hurling rhetoric and dodging direct answers to questions.
Mayoral candidates were each given an opportunity to answer a series of questions from the moderator, Grogan’s Bluff resident Gary Alexander. Some used their time to respond to comments from an opponent. Toward the end of the session, candidates took questions from the audience before delivering final statements about their run for mayor.
Alexander said he brought the idea of a mayoral candidate forum to Grogan’s Bluff HOA President Steve Feldman, who organized the funding of the community event.
HAYDEN SUMLIN/APPEN MEDIA
Sandy Springs Mayor Rusty Paul, running for his fourth term this November, addresses more than 100 residents from the Grogan’s Bluff and Huntcliff neighborhoods at the Sept. 15 candidate meet-and-greet forum at Elevate City Church at Morgan Falls and Roswell roads. From left, Sandy Springs mayoral candidates Dontaye Carter; CEO of Carter Media Group and Democratic Party organizer; City Councilman Andy Bauman, serving his third term in District 6; City Councilwoman Jody Reichel, serving her second term in District 4 and moderator Gary Alexander, a Grogan’s Bluff resident.
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2025
In its 18th year, the Best of North Atlanta contest has become one of the year’s most exciting corporate events. Top businesses in North Atlanta participate and covet the honor with enthusiasm. This year’s votes were once again record breaking with over 111,000 people voting! Now here is your 2025 list of the Best businesses in North Atlanta, drum roll please...
Presented by
Proud to be North Atlanta’s best credit union
Brought to you by – Georgia’s Own Credit Union
We’re honored to be recognized as the Best of North Atlanta for 2025. As a full-service credit union, our mission goes beyond financial products. We’re dedicated to strengthening our communities and supporting our members, no matter where life takes them.
Since 1934, we’ve made Georgia’s Own a place where Banking on Purpose comes first. Because we’re owned by our members, we offer lower loan rates and fewer and lower fees, which equals huge savings—and more money back in your pocket.
We serve Georgians with financial solutions designed to help them thrive. From flexible auto loans and competitive mortgages to everyday checking and savings options and robust business products, we take pride in being more than just a credit union. Our goal has always been simple: to put people first and provide the tools needed to reach your goals.
Our success is built on relationships— not transactions. That’s why we work to improve what matters for our communities and the people who live in them through our charitable arm, the Georgia’s Own Foundation. We serve by volunteering with organizations that work to empower local youth, fundraising to help address food insecurity, and providing scholarships to support the next generation. We believe that when our community thrives, we all thrive.
This award reflects the passion our team brings daily, plus the support we receive from our members and neighbors. We’re proud to be part of what makes North Atlanta so great. From all of us at Georgia’s Own, thank you for voting us the Best of North Atlanta. We look forward to continuing to serve you with the same dedication, care, and excellence that earned us this recognition.
Experience what makes us the best— visit georgiasown.org to learn more about our lending and savings options or find a branch near you.
Insist on the BEST
Dr. Brent Taylor is a Board-Certified Dermatologist, a Fellowship-Trained Mohs Surgeon, and is certified by the Board of Venous and Lymphatic Medicine in the field of Vein Care.
He is an expert in skin cancer and melanoma treatment, endovenous laser ablation, minimally invasive vein procedures and cosmetics procedures such as Botox and injectables.
Kathryn is a certified physician assistant with over 23 years experience as a Dermatology PA and cosmetic dermatology.
Her specialties include general dermatology such as acne, eczema, rashes, hair loss, full body skin exams, abnormal growths etc. Kathryn also specializes in cosmetic dermatology including lasers, injectables, micro-needling, PRP, facial peels, sclerotherapy for spider veins and at home skin care.
Accepting new patients. We accept Medicare.
Schedule your appointment with Premier Dermatology today.
Dr. Brent Taylor
Kathryn Fillpek, PA-C
Premier Dermatology – Providing Excellence. Every Patient. Every Time.
Brought to you by – Premier Dermatology
Congratulations to Premier Dermatology and Mohs surgery of Atlanta for its eighth year in a row of being voted Best Dermatologist and Best Vein Specialist of North Atlanta! Since opening in 2017, Premier Dermatology has quickly become the go-to dermatology practice for Mohs surgery and comprehensive dermatologic care. As in years past, I decided to sit down with Dr. Brent Taylor to get his take on his success and to learn a bit more about him.
Alyssa: Hey you two! Thanks for meeting with me again. Winning the Best Dermatologist and Best Vein specialist for seven years in a row means you must be doing something right! To what do you contribute your continued success?
Dr. Taylor: Thank you! Well, I believe that my patients understand our sincerity and our dedication to their healthcare. Kathryn and I and our amazing team all honestly care about our patients and their wellbeing. I hope that that sincerity comes through during our interactions. We always strive to give our patients our complete attention and to learn more about an individual as a person as well as a patient. There are plenty of times when a patient brings something to our attention or when a case compels us to do additional research. Kathryn and I are constantly collaborating and advocating on our patients’ behalf. I believe that comes through.
Kathryn: I agree with everything that Dr. Taylor said, our team really is wonderful. And we have received a lot of compliments that the practice has a personal and “boutique” feel, even as we deliver care that is scientific and academic.
Alyssa: Do you have a patient care moment or a diagnosis of which you are exceptionally proud?
Dr. Taylor: Well it is always our goal to deliver outstanding dermatologic care. Regarding diagnoses that I’m proud of, the first instances that come to mind involve catching a disease that is technically outside my specialty. For example, a patient looked a bit yellow, and I ordered a liver function test and caught acute liver failure. I helped another patient discover that one of his ureters had been accidentally cut during a surgery at the hospital.
Within my own specialty I’m often most proud of how simply being thorough can be critical to a patient’s care. By being thorough, I have caught
melanomas on the scalp and bottom of the feet of patients who were sometimes surprised I asked them to take out a hair tie or take their socks off. Likewise, photography helps us monitor moles for change, and just last month we caught a melanoma early because a slight change from a previous photo prompted an early biopsy.
Alyssa: Is there a funny medical fact that you have learned?
Dr. Taylor: Actually I have a good one! An ENT professor in medical school told us that as men age they lose the ability to hear higher pitch sounds, and, as women age, their voices increase in pitch. Thus, men naturally lose the ability to hear women with time. So the next time your wife accuses you of ignoring her: blame biology, not the football game!
Alyssa: If you could tell your 16 year old self something, what would it be?
Dr. Taylor: To not put too much stock in timelines. I was raised very traditionally, and I thought that I was going to meet my wife in college, get married right after we graduated then start a family a few years later, and it made me worried when I hadn’t met the right person by the time that I expected. My advice to the teenage me would
be to just pour yourself into positive and worthwhile activities and that the result would be becoming who you are supposed to and meeting who you are supposed to all in its own time.
Kathryn: Stop stressing. You’ll make it happen. I was so focused on my future, worrying about not achieving my goals, and how I was going to put myself through school that I didn’t stop to enjoy being 16. In hindsight, I realize that having a bit more faith would have gotten me to the same endpoint without all of the pressure I put on myself.
Alyssa: Do you have a pet peeve of which patients or staff are guilty?
Dr. Taylor: I really don’t get frustrated easily. I understand that everyone has a life and everyone’s lives have struggles about which we often know little. If someone is being rude, I usually chalk it up to unseen struggles. That being said, I do wish that certain patients would realize what a marvel Mohs surgery really is. My primary pet peeve is patients mistreating my coworkers. Sometimes, patients get frustrated waiting on their tissue to process during a day of Mohs surgery. And they sometimes take it out on my medical assistants, who are wonderful and caring and are in healthcare for the
right reasons.
There is a comedian who has a bit on youtube called “everything’s amazing and nobody’s happy.” He talks about how upset people get on airplanes when just a few hundred years ago a trip across the country was like the videogame Oregon Trail – the journey took months, and half of the wagon party died of cholera on the way. Like air travel, skin cancer treatment nowadays is miraculous. Prior to Mohs surgery, far more skin cancers routinely caused disfigurement and even death. Now, Mohs surgery offers a cure rate of 99% for most skin cancers, and the aesthetic results are often outstanding. Modern skin cancer care truly is fantastic. Unfortunately, the same day shipping world in which we live has made people expect immediate results, and they sometimes take out their frustrations on my coworkers. The world can always use a little more kindness, patience and grace.
Thank you to Dr. Brent Taylor and Kathryn Filipek PA-C for sharing a little more about themselves and congratulations again for winning both Best Dermatologist and Best Vein Specialist in North Atlanta for 2025!
A firm commitment to personalized service
Brought to you by - Spaulding Injury Law
At Spaulding Injury Law, we are driven by our commitment to you, your family, and your future. We want to help you make the best decisions regarding your personal injury or car accident case. And when you leave our office, we want you to feel relieved that your case
is in the right hands. In every case, we base our advice on what we would tell our own family members if they were in your shoes. Our attorneys understand the stress you are under just dealing with a serious injury. That’s why we handle every aspect of your legal claim from start to finish. Once you trust your case to us, the only thing you should be focused on is your recovery.
Deeply honored
Brought to you by - Atlantic Institute
The Atlantic Institute is deeply honored to have been named the 2025 Best Nonprofit in Appen Media’s Best of North Atlanta Awards, after also receiving this recognition twice in previous years. With branches in Georgia, Florida, Alabama, Tennessee, and South Carolina, we are humbled by this continued support and grateful to our community, partners, and friends who inspire and uplift our purpose in serving the Southeast by building bridges of kindness and understanding. The Institute has also received a commendation resolution from the Georgia House of Representatives, recognizing its dedication to fostering conversation, mutual understanding, and peaceful coexistence through multifaith, multicultural, and educational programs designed to build connections across communities.
At the Atlantic Institute, we believe in the power of dialogue, compassion, and service to create bridges that unite. Last year, the Institute organized over 60 programs in partnership with more than
200 organizations. Our initiatives included international exchange and cultural trips, lecture series with distinguished speakers, friendship gatherings, multi-cultural programs, annual dinners, community service projects, and multi-faith educational programs. Each gathering nurtured shared values and meaningful understanding. This recognition is an honor and celebration of the values that guide us to a future together inspired by understanding and kindness.
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”
As a child, part of a military family we lived around and traveled the world. I have seen firsthand many of the beautiful places this world has to offer
and naturally drawn to beautiful things. I was always putting things together uniquely. It took me a while to realize this was actually my gift. I bring this passion and love of beauty into every one of my design projects, blending beautiful layered textures, a variety of finishes with eclectic and unexpected twists.
“The best part of my work is when clients tell me they don’t want to leave their home”, says Kat Nelson
Kat Nelson Designs has over 19 years of experience as a full-service design firm, based in Atlanta Georgia. Our projects exist from West to East coast with many repeat clients.
www.katnelsondesigns.com
“Our projects include new construction, major renovations and interior design. Establishing a professional team of resources and relationships with contractors and vendors always ensures the best results. Kat’s strength is her ability to interpret her client’s vision and discern their
Home Helpers of North Atlanta Voted Best Home Care for Seniors for the Ninth Time!
Brought to you by – Home Helpers of Alpharetta and North Atlanta Suburbs
Home Helpers of Alpharetta and North Atlanta Suburbs says thank you to our clients, their families and our community for recognizing our commitment to providing exceptional in-home care for the ninth consecutive year.
“It’s been so rewarding to see how skilled, heart centered caregiving can move your best quality of life forward” say Hilary and Greg Eldridge. “ Since we started over fourteen years ago, we’ve been committed to raise the bar for in-home care. Listening to the input of our clients continuously inspires us to find new ways to adapt to their unique needs as we share their journey through ongoing care changes.”
The most recent surveys show that an increasing number of adults over age 65, between 88% and 92%, want to age in place in the comfort of home. Having control over their daily routines, activities and lifestyle choices in a familiar environment provides a wonderful sense of confidence and emotional well being. The ease of family involvement, tailored personalized support, and companionship from a well matched caregiver provide a boost to morale and maintains connections with friends and their community.
In-home care has the unique ability to provide what you need, when you need it – without having to wait. You start at a level that’s right for you that can change when life poses unexpected challenges. You never have to fit into a set plan of services. When the basic
activities of daily living get more difficult to navigate for your older loved one, or specialized care is needed for Alzheimer’s or Parkinson’s support, a skilled, heartcentered caregiver can manage daily personal care, help around the house and help make each day the best it can be. After surgery, round the clock care for those first few days home is critical and can be revised as you improve. After an extended hospital stay or recuperation after a stroke, in-home care can be the key to a speedier recovery. When home is in an assisted living community, in-home care can provide a bridge that provides immediate response to your care needs and the flexibility to remain in the setting and with the friends and lifestyle you want. Whether it’s due to an increased fall risk, changing health condition
or recuperation from a procedure, a dedicated caregiver can get you through unexpected times.
We can also assist if your loved one is a Veteran who may be eligible for Aid and Attendance or Community Care programs. When your loved one has a Long Term Care Policy we can handle the reporting you need to realize the benefits of a policy you’ve carefully paid for over the years.
“I saw the difference personalized service made for my Dad and always strive to provide the kind of care he’d be proud to have inspired” says Hilary. We’re here to help, from six hours a day, several days a week to 24/7 care. For a free consultation, please call Home Helpers of Alpharetta and North Atlanta Suburbs at (770) 6810323.
Dunwoody • Sandy Springs Brookhaven Presented
Why a turnkey, one-stop shop is essential for your bath or kitchen remodel
When it comes to remodeling your kitchen or bathroom, the process can quickly become overwhelming. From creating ideas and solutions, and selecting materials to finding contractors for plumbing, electrical work, and installation, managing multiple vendors and services can be stressful.
Remodeling projects start with a vision but bringing that vision to life requires expertise. An in-house design team needs to work closely with you to create a customized plan that reflects your personal style, and preferences, and stays within your budget—offering
services like 3D renderings, so you can visualize your space before any work begins. With expert guidance every step of the way, you can be confident your project is set up for success. Coordinating multiple contractors— plumbers, electricians, tile installers, and more—can be time-consuming and frustrating. With a turnkey remodeler, you get full-service project management, to handle every aspect of the renovation. Having a team to ensure that the design, material selection, scheduling, and installation are all aligned to create a smooth, stress-free experience is key. You don’t have to worry about chasing contractors or keeping up with timelines—it will be done all for you.
One of the biggest advantages of working with a one-stop shop is the convenience of having everything you need in one place. A great showroom should be filled with an extensive selection of cabinetry in a variety of styles and finishes, plumbing fixtures from top brands, countertops including granite, quartz, marble, and more, tile for floors and backsplashes, and hardware to complete your design.
Rather than running around town searching for materials, you can explore all your options under one roof, with our team guiding you through each choice.
Choosing a turnkey, one-stop-shop remodeler like Bath & Kitchen Galleria means more than just convenience—it
means a smoother, more enjoyable remodeling experience with expert guidance, seamless coordination, and a wide selection of top-quality products to choose from while staying in your budget.
Whether you’re transforming your bathroom or remodeling your kitchen, Bath & Kitchen Galleria is here to handle every detail, so you can sit back and enjoy the results! For more information visit Bath & Kitchen Galleria’s showroom at 10591 Old Alabama Rd Connector in Alpharetta (no appointment needed) M-F, 9-5 and Saturday, 10-4, or call them at 678-4592292 or visit BathandKitchenGalleria. com to schedule an appointment online.
Brought to you by – Bath and Kitchen Galleria
Tune-Up Projects
Kitchen Tune-Up
Paint Cabinets
New Countertops, Sink & Faucet
New Backsplash
Cut Down 2-level
Island
Bathroom Tune-Up
New Countertops, Sink & Faucet
Enlarge Shower
Shower Glass
Shower Safety
Full Remodel Projects
Kitchen Remodel
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Large Island
Optimize Cabinet / Appliance Locations
Open Concept –Move Walls
9-5 Mon-Fri • 10-4 Sat
Showroom –
Bathroom Remodel
New Larger Shower
Vanity Replacement –Cabs, Counter, Sink
Free Standing Tub
Floor Tile, Wall Tile
Plumbing Fixtures
Brought to you by – Mobility Plus Alpharetta
Mobility Plus Alpharetta is humbled by earning a top spot in the Best of North Atlanta rankings during its’ third year in operation!
This family-owned small business, owned by Scott and Mary Block of Alpharetta offers a customer-focused experience for those needing powered or manual wheelchairs, mobility scooters, stairlifts, lift recliners, walkers, portable and modular ramp systems or home health items.
Mary, a former Fulton County teacher, was led to working with seniors after caring for her father. She quickly realized how difficult it was to find informational resources, products and support services. When seeking a professional change, she wanted to address some of the deficits that she had previously encountered by offering as many products as possible under one roof, and by serving as a community educational resource.
The Blocks partner with local experts like move managers, senior living placement specialists, and occupational therapists to be as informed as possible about the variety of needs that their customers have. They host lunch and learns in their 3500 sq. ft. Space on a variety of topics once a quarter. “No one that comes in for a wheelchair, stairlift, or ramp, needs just that one item. Our customers are seniors, children supporting aging parents, or those living with chronic degenerative diseases. There are always other needs besides a product purchase” says Mary.
They look forward to serving the North Atlanta community for many years to come and are so grateful for your votes, and support!
Mobility Plus Alpharetta 4020 Nine McFarland Drive Alpharetta, GA 30004
I remember in elementary school PE class being out on the playground and feeling sorry for those kids who were overweight, uncoordinated, weak, or otherwise ill-adapted for playground sports in any way, shape or form. Same thing goes in middle school – watching those kids try to climb the ropes and not even being able to progress more than one or two pulls “up.” Or, when we did wrestling, and their names were called, watching the pure abject fear, or maybe just resignation, at being objects of laughter as they walked out to the center of the mat knowing the humiliation that awaited.
I was the guy who did almost everything athletic without much effort. I set the school record for pullups; I won the county high jump. Won Punt, Pass and Kick several years. I was “most athletic” one year. I could do kip ups without using my arms. I thought I would be king of the mountain forever!
That was, of course, until my growth spurt didn’t spurt, and everyone else’s did – around 9th grade. Without changing anything, almost overnight, I seemed to tumble down from my lofty perch to
PAST TENSE
average – to the mean.
Later, in high school, I tried to redeem myself as a tennis player. I figured if I practiced 3-5 hours a day, seven days a week – which I did – I would eventually become fairly good. I almost got there after three years of that regimen. I can still hit a tennis ball fairly well today – courtesy of those three years or dedicated work done roughly 50 years ago.
Later in life, as an adult, as a father, husband and guy trying to start a career at the Miami Herald and then a business (Appen Newspapers) here in Alpharetta, I ran. And ran. And ran.
In Miami, almost every single day, I ran across bridges, along beaches and causeways. My runs were usually through turf that was drop-dead stunning, regenerative and peaceful. The more stressed out I was, the farther I ran. I don’t think I’ve ever been happier than running along the beach on Key Biscayne almost every day for an hour or two. Just call me Forrest Gump.
In Alpharetta, I lost my runs through stunning scenery – although had I dared to run along Freemanville Road or Birmingham Highway, I would have retained it – that is, if I wasn’t hit by someone driving a $150,000 vehicle – in a hurry to no place in particular and on their phone. Instead, I usually ran along Haynes Bridge Road, across Ga. 400, and farther. It wasn’t as pretty but, with
my headphones blasting and usually in deep thought, I almost didn’t notice and certainly didn’t care. Later, I added swimming and lifting weights at the Y starting at 5 a.m. every weekday to my anti-stress – anti-aging regimen. And honestly, it worked – kind of. Swim in the mornings. Run after work in the late afternoons or at night. The routine forced me to retro-manage my life – toward health – eat better, sleep better and abstain from stuff like alcohol. If I wanted my run and swim, I had to take care of myself; it was a simple choice. Which did I want more?
Fast forward to 71. No way. I am still Forrest pounding out the miles.
Not.
Time has been such a snark to me these past few years. I made a new friend that goes by the name of sciatic. Had never met him nor – honestly – had I even ever heard of this “guy.” Wow, do I ever know “sciatic” now. It has taken me just at a year to make that new friend disappear.
Then of course, my lower back. My X-rays came back “sever compressed disc” and “very severely compressed disc.” So, okay, no more running. That one truly hurt – my heart. But if I have to stop running to avoid my friend sciatic or my friends L2 and L3, I guess I haven’t much choice.
Which brings me to those aerobics’ classes – that Zumba, Body Pump, Flow Yoga, pilates and the like – all done in large
rooms, filled with people, music blasting, and frequently a masochistic instructor with a microphone and little empathy. So, I went to one of those things with my wife Christina the other night. I suspected that it was not going to feel quite the same as running along the beach at dusk or smacking a tennis ball against a backboard. It wasn’t. It was just me, one other guy, and maybe 50 women of all ages – all in better shape than me – or at least in better gym-condition doing those things. I expected humbling. I got it. I expected hard, really hard. It was that. I didn’t expect it to be fun. It wasn’t. I expected to make a fool of myself, but I didn’t dare to look around to see how many of those women were laughing and shaking their heads feeling sorry for that old guy over there. So, I just assumed I made a fool of myself without confirmation. I felt like an anemic, toneless, muscleless, bumbling Richard Simmons mime trying to lead a class and tripping over his shoelaces and falling flat on his face while still chanting “and 1 and 2 and 3.” It was ugly.
So, I decided to stick with my swimming at the Y so early in the morning that I almost always have my own lane and rarely have any witnesses. Seventy-one and counting. Go to heck sciatic. And if I close my eyes during those laps (I’m up to a mile now) it feels kind of like running along the ocean's edge. I’ll go with that.
The stories behind those listed as 1860 landholders
VALERIE BIGGERSTAFF
Columnist
The 1860 map that appeared in last week’s Dunwoody Crier allows for more research into the history of the landholders. Census records and other records are available from the National Archives and from genealogy sites, such as ancestry.com.
Charles Gardner was the owner of land lots 360 and 310 of the 18th District in 1860, in the area near Tilly Mill and Peeler Roads today. A portion of lot 360 was owned by Charles’ father, James Gardner. The Gardner family came to Georgia from South Carolina. Charles and Lauriette Gardner married in 1856. The “1860 U.S. Federal Census Non-Population Schedule” shows Gardner held 50 acres of unimproved land and 25 acres of improved land. In addition to land inventory, the schedules
show livestock and crops inventory at the time of the census.
He participated in the Civil War as part of Georgia’s 38th Infantry. Gardner was wounded and died at Cold Harbor, Virginia, in 1864. Charles and Lauriette’s daughter Arminda, who was 2 years old when he died, married into another local family in 1880, the Woodalls.
Samuel Powers is the owner of land lot 362 and a portion of lot 351 in 1860. A.H. Powers owned the remainder of lot 351, plus all of 352, 353, and 361. Records indicate 203 acres of Samuel’s land was improved and 500 acres of A.H. Powers’ land was improved.
A.H. or Asbury H. Power (sometimes spelled Powers) was also in the 38th Regiment Georgia Infantry. He became a prisoner of war at the Battle at Fisher’s Hill in Virginia, September 1864, and was released in a prisoner exchange on November 6, 1864.
Land lot 352, formerly owned by A.H. Power, is now the location of Donaldson-Bannister Farm, a
City of Dunwoody Park managed by Dunwoody Preservation Trust. William J. Donaldson’s second wife was Sarah Power, sister of Asbury Power.
Stephen Martin was the owner of land lot 366, which includes the crossroads of Dunwoody at Chamblee Dunwoody Road and Mount Vernon Roads. The “1860 U.S. Federal Census Non-Population Schedule” shows Stephen Martin owned 275 improved acres and 250 unimproved acres. Joberry Cheek later purchased the crossroads property, and this is the location today of the Cheek Spruill House.
Martin is also identified as the owner of lot 348, close to today’s I-285 and where the historic Stephen Martin Cemetery is located and where he is buried. Martin was on the DeKalb grand jury in March of 1839, when 23 local men were asked to “…quash a rumor of a drinking problem in the county.”
The group proclaimed, “Therefore we congratulate our fellow citizens on the
flattering prospects of an improvement in our moral condition generally.” (“The History of DeKalb County, 1822-1900,” by Vivian Price)
Stephen Martin’s daughter Naomi joined the Spruill family when she married Thomas Franklin Spruill. Thomas’ father James Spruill moved from Sandy Springs in 1842 to what later became Dunwoody. They started out with a log cabin. Later, a wood frame home was added, which is the location of the Spruill Gallery today.
Major Charles Alexander Archibald Dunwody was born in Liberty County, Ga., in 1829. In 1850, he lived in the Marietta district of Cobb County with his parents, John and Jane Dunwody. By 1860, he is listed in the census as head of household in District 1 of Cobb County, along with his wife Ellen Rice Dunwody and three children. His occupation is listed as manufacturer of leather and shoes.
RAY APPEN
Publisher Emeritus ray@appenmedia.com
GARDEN BUZZ
Why fig trees have a place in your home landscape
Every homeowner can benefit by having a fig tree as part of their landscape garden. There are several reasons to consider growing at least one tree in your garden area. The fig tree, steeped in history, is easy to start and maintain, provides a shady canopy from the hot summer sun and provides good tasting, nutritious fruit for your family and friends.
An attractive addition to your home landscape: Fig trees beautify your landscape from spring to late fall. These naturally fast-growing trees, located optimally in your landscape, will provide an eye-catching focal point in your yard. A typical tree can grow from 10 to 30+ feet and provide welcome relief as a natural shade to deck areas or near your home with its large, majestic leaves.
Easy to grow and maintain: Regardless of your expertise as a gardener, fig trees are relatively easy to grow. The Atlanta area’s warm, humid summers and mild winters are perfect for fig trees. They adapt well to our soil types and are able to withstand periods of drought, which makes them low maintenance throughout the year. In optimal conditions, the trees will grow significantly, and you may elect to prune yearly to allow easy access to all the fruit produced. It’s best to prune them when they are dormant in the late winter or early spring.
Figs are also easy to propagate. If you already have a tree in your yard or a friend/neighbor has one that you admire, you can easily start another by cutting a branch during growth and placing in a container or layering a branch on the ground until it creates its own roots.
Healthy and tasty fruit: An added benefit that enhances the natural beauty of this tree is that it can provide phenomenal and bountiful fruit during the summer and fall months with very little effort on your part. In the proper growing location, you can harvest multiple pounds of this sweet signature fruit. The
DEATH NOTICES
fruit can be eaten fresh or used to make dried fruit and jam (my favorite). In a typical year, I was able to process over 100 jars of fig jam, even after allowing friends, neighbors, birds, squirrels, bees, wasps and other yard visitors to partake in the fruit from a single tree.
Getting started: For optimal outcomes and bountiful fruit production, it
is recommended you plant the tree in an area with full sun and well-drained soil. It is recommended that you have the soil tested for nutrients through your local Extension office. While you have a plethora of types of fig trees to choose from, there are specific varieties that thrive in our area: Celeste, Concordia, Hardy Chicago and more. Check out the UGA Extension publication, “Home Garden Figs,” for a list of varieties recommended for Georgia. My favorite is Italian White, which produces large, light-skinned, sweet fruit. It is recommended that you select a plant from your local garden retailer that is self-pollinating, so you are not dependent on the microscopic wasp in the family Agaonide to ensure proper fruit production.
Find an optimal location for your tree that is near your house (or wall) with southern exposure that will have plenty of morning and afternoon full light exposure. Fig trees thrive when they have a wall for structural support, as they are not a hardwood fruit tree.
Alternatively, you can start your tree in a container while you determine the best location for your yard. Moreover, figs can be a container plant if you do not have the ability to plant in-ground or want to contain their growth. Here’s hoping you can FIGure it out.
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/.
About the author
This week's "Garden Buzz" features Sandy Springs resident Jerry Veltri, an active gardener in the Atlanta area for over 30 years. Jerry is a recent member of the UGA Extension Master Gardener Volunteer Program. He spends most of his time supporting Master Gardener Extension Volunteer efforts at Lost Corner Preserve.
David Greene, 67, of Roswell, passed away on September 6, 2025. Arrangements by Northside Chapel Funeral Directors & Crematory.
Alan McDonald, 80, of Alpharetta, passed away on September 14, 2025. Arrangements by Northside Chapel Funeral Directors & Crematory.
Bruce Taylor, 88, of Roswell, passed away on September 9, 2025. Arrangements by Northside Chapel Funeral Directors & Crematory.
JERRY VELTRI Guest Columnist
PHOTOS BY JERRY VELTRI/PROVIDED
Mature fig tree
Harvested figs—the ‘fruits’ of your labor
Stories:
Continued from Page 27
Another document available from this time is the “1860 U.S. Federal Census-Slave Schedules.” Charles Dunwody or C.A. Dunwody is included in the 1860 schedule for Cobb District 1. Eight enslaved people are listed only by their age.
Although Dunwody lived in District 1 of Cobb County, or Roswell, on land that would become part of Fulton County, he also owned land in the Shallow Ford district in what is now Dunwoody. In 1860, he owned land lot 364 which runs on either side of Mount Vernon Road to the west of Chamblee Dunwoody Road.
When the Civil War began, Thomas King and Dunwody organized the Roswell Guards, Company H, 7th Regiment Georgia volunteer infantry.
They fought at the Battle of Manassas in July of 1861. Dunwody had to resign his position after a hip injury. He received his rank of major after serving at an instruction camp in Calhoun, Georgia.
Following the war, he purchased land and built a home along Chamblee Dunwoody Road north of the fork at Roberts Drive. He pushed forward completion of the Roswell Railroad and built a new bridge across the Chattahoochee River. Confederate soldiers burned the previous bridge to slow down federal forces on their way to Atlanta and Decatur. Their efforts were not successful.
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 BIGGERSTAFF/APPEN MEDIA
Stephen Martin died in 1866 and is laid to rest between his first and second wife, Elizabeth Garrett and Sarah Crowley, in the Stephen Martin Cemetery.
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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!
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The Truck Driver works Monday through Friday 9am – 2pm and periodically on Saturdays or Sundays for special events.
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