Sandy Springs Crier - October 27, 2022

Council acquires land for project

City’s busiest fire station gets facelift

Local chamber names new president

Mayors ‘gravely concerned’ over sales tax stalemate

By ALEXANDER POPP alex@appenmedia.com

ATLANTA — Mayors from 12 Fulton County cities gathered in Atlanta Oct. 17 to share growing concerns over negotiations with the county to reach

an agreement on the distribution of countywide sales tax revenue.

Speaking before a backdrop of firetrucks from Atlanta, South Fulton and Sandy Springs, the mayors said hopes of a resolution continue to fade following the latest round of talks with

Fulton County officials.

For months, city officials have been at odds with Fulton County over how the estimated $3 billion in revenue from the local option sales tax will be appor tioned over the next 10 years.

The latest negotiations, held Oct. 7

at the Georgia Municipal Association of fices in Atlanta ended without a resolu tion or clear way forward.

Speaking to a crowd of officials and media, Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens said he was gravely concerned over the

ALEX POPP/APPEN MEDIA

Sandy Springs Mayor Rusty Paul joins other Fulton County mayors Oct. 17 at a press conference in Atlanta to air frustrations over sales tax negotiations with the county.

SAFETY

Pedestrian fatally struck on Holcomb Bridge

770-442-3278 | NorthFulton.com 319 N. Main Street, Alpharetta, GA 30009

770-442-3278 | AppenMedia.com

PUBLISHER EMERITUS: Ray Appen

319 N. Main Street, Alpharetta, GA 30009

770-442-3278 | NorthFulton.com 319 N. Main Street, Alpharetta, GA 30009

PUBLISHER: Hans Appen

By CHAMIAN CRUZ chamian@appenmedia.com

appeared to be low visibility. There was about $58 in cash scattered around Stover.

smell that had been emanating from the vehicle earlier that night. The man was allowed to leave.

PUBLISHER EMERITUS: Ray Appen

MANAGING EDITOR: Patrick Fox

PUBLISHER: Hans Appen

MANAGING EDITOR: Patrick Fox

EDITORIAL QUESTIONS:

PUBLISHER: Hans Appen

MANAGING EDITOR: Patrick Fox

EDITORIAL QUESTIONS:

Alpharetta-Roswell Herald: Alpharetta: ext. 118, Roswell ext. 122 Dunwoody Crier: ext. 143 Forsyth Herald: ext. 118 Johns Creek Herald: ext. 123 Milton Herald: ext. 139 Calendar: ext. 122

EDITORIAL QUESTIONS: Alpharetta: ext. 118, Roswell: ext.122 Dunwoody Crier: ext. 143 Forsyth Herald: ext. 118 Johns Creek Herald: ext.123 Milton Herald: ext. 139 Sandy Springs: ext.102

Alpharetta-Roswell Herald: Alpharetta: ext. 118, Roswell ext. 122 Dunwoody Crier: ext. 143 Forsyth Herald: ext. 118 Johns Creek Herald: ext. 123 Milton Herald: ext. 139 Calendar: ext. 122

ROSWELL, Ga. — Roswell police are investigating an accident on Holcomb Bridge Road that killed a pedestrian after he was reportedly struck by two separate vehicles.

Police were called to the area near Market Place just before 9 p.m. Sept. 29.

While the driver told police he did not see Stover until he struck him and rolled on top and then off, officers wrote in the incident report that the seat in which he claimed to be riding in was covered in glass and there did not appear to have been a front seat passenger.

Police said the man’s driver’s license had already been suspended for failure to appear in court.

A 54-year-old woman also provided a written statement after she was identi fied as the second driver who struck Stover. The woman stated in the incident report that she did not see the other car strike the pedestrian, and that she thought she had struck a box or some type of bag in the roadway.

TO SUBMIT EDITORIAL: News/Press Releases: NorthFulton.com/Sponsored Calendar/Events: NorthFulton.com/Calendar

On Oct. 12, Roswell police told Appen Media they have identified the victim as Ralph Stover, a homeless male, who was found walking within the roadway in a dimly lit area. Neither of the drivers are being charged.

TO SUBMIT EDITORIAL:

News / Press Releases: newsroom@appenmedia.com Calendar / Events: appenmedia.com/calendar

TO SUBMIT EDITORIAL:

News/Press Releases: NorthFulton.com/Sponsored Calendar/Events: NorthFulton.com/Calendar

ADVERTISING QUESTIONS:

ADVERTISING QUESTIONS: General Advertising: ext. 100 advertising@appenmediagroup.com Classified Advertising: ext. 119 classifieds@appenmediagroup.com Circulation/Subscriptions/Delivery: ext. 100 circulation@appenmediagroup.com

General Advertising: ext.100 advertising@appenmedia.com Classified Advertising: ext. 119 classifieds@appenmedia.com Circulation / Subscriptions / Delivery: ext. 100 circulation@appenmedia.com

OUR PUBLICATIONS:

ADVERTISING QUESTIONS: General Advertising: ext. 100 advertising@appenmediagroup.com Classified Advertising: ext. 119 classifieds@appenmediagroup.com Circulation/Subscriptions/Delivery: ext. 100 circulation@appenmediagroup.com

According to the incident report, the driver of the 2010 Hyundai which first struck Stover is a 19-year-old man from Social Circle. The man initially claimed he had not been driving at the time of the accident but changed his story when police allegedly told him it “appeared to be the pedestrian’s fault to begin with.”

In the incident report, officers note that the roadway was dark and there

After he admitted to driving the vehicle, the man maintained that his friends who were riding in the backseat ran away shortly after the accident. He added that he had met one of them at a Shell gas station on the corner of Holcomb Bridge Road and Grimes Bridge Road only moments before the accident.

The incident report states his vehicle was impounded pending a search war rant. Police said there was a possibility it contained illegal drugs because of the items they could see inside and the

According to the report, the woman pulled over, which is when she saw spots of blood spatter on her Toyota. She then returned to the scene. The victim was transported to the Fulton County Medi cal Examiner’s office. No other informa tion is available.

Anyone with information about the case is encouraged to contact the Roswell Police Department at 770-6404100. Anonymous information can be provided through Crime Stoppers At lanta at 404-577-TIPS (8477), or online at StopCrimeATL.org.

POLICE BLOTTER

OUR PUBLICATIONS:

OUR PUBLICATIONS:

scam.

Sandy Springs Crier: 28,000 circulation Johns Creek Herald: 20,000 circulation Dunwoody Crier: 18,000 circulation Forsyth Herald: 17,000 circulation Milton Herald: 10,000 circulation Sandy Springs Crier: 12,000 circulation

Alpharetta-Roswell Herald: 28,000 circulation Johns Creek Herald: 20,000 circulation Dunwoody Crier: 18,000 circulation Forsyth Herald: 17,000 circulation Milton Herald: 10,000 circulation Answer Book: 40,000 circulation

Alpharetta, GA 30009

Alpharetta-Roswell Herald: 28,000 circulation Johns Creek Herald: 20,000 circulation Dunwoody Crier: 18,000 circulation Forsyth Herald: 17,000 circulation Milton Herald: 10,000 circulation Answer Book: 40,000 circulation 319 N. Main

All crime reports published by Appen Media Group are compiled from public records. Neither the law en forcement agencies nor Appen Media Group implies any guilt by publishing these names. None of the per sons listed has been convicted of the alleged crimes.

Hospitalized drug user reports vehicle stolen

ALPHARETTA, Ga. — Alpharetta Police say a man’s car was stolen from a local hotel while he was being treated for a drug overdose at North Fulton Hospital Oct. 4.

the man’s keys and cell phone vanished along with his vehicle, a black Toyota 4Runner, and the room’s registered oc cupant, a Lithonia man.

Police were able to track the victim’s vehicle traveling on Haynes Bridge Parkway at 4 a.m. on Oct. 4 using traffic cameras but were unable to identify the driver or the vehicle’s destination.

Woman taken for $8,000 in computer Bitcoin scam

The woman reported that she opened her laptop two days prior and was greeted with multiple pop-up win dows saying she had a computer virus. The pop-ups gave a phone number and told her to contact “Microsoft help desk.”

After calling the number, the woman was told her computer and bank ac count had been hacked and she would need to download software on her com puter and give the “helpdesk” access to her computer.

Delivery of the Sandy Springs Crier

The Sandy Springs Crier is home deliv ered to a select 12,000 homes.

If you do not wish to receive the newspaper at your home, email your address and the name of your subdivi sion to circulation@appenmedia.com with “Stop Delivery” in the subject line.

If you would like to start delivery to your home, email your address and the name of your subdivision to circula tion@appenmedia.com and put “Start Delivery” in the subject line.

Police reports said the 28-yearold Milton man was treated at the hospital after using heroin at the Comfort Inn on Windward Parkway in Alpharetta, in the room of a known drug dealer.

After being taken to the hospital,

ALPHARETTA, Ga. — Scammers imper sonating Microsoft and banking online security scammed an Alpharetta woman out of $8,000, Alpharetta Police reports said.

Police officers responded to a home on Gardener Drive in Alpharetta Oct. 8, after receiving reports that a local woman had fallen victim to an online

They later advised that she needed to withdraw $8,000 from her bank ac count before the hackers could access it, and she agreed.

The victim withdrew cash from her Georgia’s Own Credit Union account and deposited it into a Bitcoin ATM ac count provided by the suspect.

No suspect was identified in the report.

Read Now at AppenMedia.com

City appropriates land to advance projects

By CHAMIAN CRUZ chamian@appenmedia.com

SANDY SPRINGS, Ga. — Facing push back from property owners, the Sandy Springs City Council approved the ac quisition of five parcels of land through eminent domain Oct. 18.

The parcels are part of the Mount Vernon Highway corridor improvements project and Spalding Drive widening project.

Eminent domain, or condemnation, is the taking of a property for fair market value for redevelopment purposes, such as roads, sidewalks and parks. It can prevent projects from running behind schedule or the city from overpaying for property.

Late last year, the City of Roswell, which neighbors Sandy Springs, ap proved a resolution for the use of eminent domain for transportation and other city projects. The move was in response to an independent investiga tion into the circumstances that led to delays and multi-million-dollar cash settlements in the Oxbo Road realign ment project.

Before leaving office, former Mayor Lori Henry said Roswell was “wellknown” for avoiding the use of eminent

domain. Roswell City Attorney David Davidson said the last time he could remember the city authorizing or consid ering the use of eminent domain was in 2008.

At the Oct. 18 meeting, the Sandy

Springs City Council voted five separate times to approve the use of eminent do main for property owned by the Autumn Chase Homeowners Association, 348 Mount Vernon Highway, 6272 Mount Vernon Oaks Drive, 1235 Spalding Drive

and 1265 Spalding Drive.

Mount Vernon Highway project

The Mount Vernon Highway corridor improvements project was started last year to increase pedestrian and motorist safety and traffic efficiency along Mount Vernon Highway from Vernon Trace to the Sandy Springs MARTA station.

The project is part of the Transpor tation Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax, or TSPLOST, program voters approved in 2016. It is in alignment with Sandy Springs’ adopted Bike/Pedestrian Plan, Comprehensive Plan and Last Mile initiatives. The project will also provide connectivity to the proposed multi-use paths on Peachtree Dunwoody Road and Path 400.

City Attorney Dan Lee said that since starting negotiations with the Autumn Chase neighborhood in May 2021, the city has been unable to reach an agree ment for approximately 7,047 square feet for fee simple right-of-way. While the city places the appraised value of the property at $235,800, the homeowners association has sought $560,000.

Lee said the deadline has now passed to renegotiate, and eminent domain is needed so the city can gain the title of

CHAMIAN CRUZ/APPEN MEDIA

The Sandy Springs City Council approves the acquisition of five parcels of land for the Mount Vernon Highway corridor improvements project and Spalding Drive widening project through eminent domain on Oct. 18.

OBITUARY

Fred Donaldson, last child born at historic Dunwoody farm, dies

By VALERIE BIGGERSTAFF Appen Media

Fred Hayden Donaldson, 97, passed away on Oct. 17, 2022, at his home at Manor Lake Assisted Living, Athens, Georgia. He was born Sept. 22, 1925, to William Abner Donaldson and Nellie Naomi Collett of Dunwoody.

The youngest of seven children, Fred was the last child born in the front room of the historic home at Donaldson-Ban nister Farm at the corner of Chamblee Dunwoody Road and Vermack Road. The circa 1870 home was built by his grand father, William James Donaldson, after he returned from the Civil War.

Fred Donaldson attended Dunwoody School and Chamblee High School. He left school at the age of 16 to join the Army Air Corps during WWII. He was a heavy equipment driver and defused bombs in the Pacific Theatre. He earned the rank of corporal.

After his tour of duty, he received his high school diploma from Chamblee High School. He learned to fly at DeKalbPeachtree Airport and was a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars.

He and brother Fletcher drove to Stone Mountain in the 1940s to pick up granite and bring it to the construction site of Dunwoody Methodist Church. The granite was used for the basement, walkway and steps of the chapel that still stands.

Fred Donaldson worked as an auto mechanic. Later he started Donaldson Auto Electric, manufacturing starters and alternators. His last job was with Rayloc, a division of Genuine Parts, where he supervised over 100 people remaking starters and generators.

Fred Donaldson’s bride of 75 years, Phyllis Irene Adams, passed away just

SUPPORT LOCAL

two months and 13 days before him.

After Fred and Phyllis moved to Douglasville, they were members of Mid way United Methodist Church in Doug lasville, where he led fundraising for the church. He was an active volunteer for the church, paving the parking lot, cooking BBQ & chitterlings for suppers and being head chef of Wednesday night suppers.

Survivors include two daughters: Teresa (Jim) Mackey of Ocala, Florida and Freda (Michael) Williams of Lexing ton, Ga.; 4 grandchildren, Jeff (Melissa) Mackey and their children Patrick and

Bradley of Dunlap, Tennessee; Mela nie (Julian) Weber and their children Alayna, Hayden and Andrew of Rome, Ga.; Philip (Teresa) Mackey and their children Abigail and Sydney of Winder mere, Florida; and Karen (Jamie) Harper and their children Kate, Jackson, and Benjamin of Charleston, South Carolina.

Mr. Donaldson was a great story teller and was always happy to share his memories of growing up in Dunwoody with family, friends, and Dunwoody Preservation Trust.

Graveside services were scheduled for Saturday, October 22, 2022, at 11 a.m. at Prospect Cemetery, Chamblee. The Rev. Sam Newman of Douglasville and the Rev. John Donaldson of Augus ta, Ga. officiated.

Apple Cider Days set for Donaldson-Bannister Farm

DUNWOODY, Ga. — For some old-fash ioned fun, sign up for Dunwoody Preser vation Trust Apple Cider Days at Don aldson-Bannister Farm, 4831 Chamblee Dunwoody Road. A limited number of tickets are available at dunwoodypreser vationtrust.org/apple-cider-days/. Three time slots are available to choose from.

The event will feature a petting zoo, pioneers crafts for children, a self-guided apple scavenger hunt, and a display of vintage tools and home goods. Corinne’s

Quilting Corner will be there with new and antique quilts on display, along with a demonstration of how a quilt is cre ated. Chattahoochee Handweavers Guild will be on hand to educate and demon strate weaving and other fiber-related arts.

The pioneer crafts this year are the Silver Award project of Girl Scout Troop 17314. The girls raised money for their project through cookie sales, purchas ing all materials for the crafts. The Girls

Scouts also put together laminated directions and samples of each craft for Dunwoody Preservation Trust to use for future events.

Apple Cider Days will also have spon sor booths and Porter Brew and Que available for purchase.

Parking will be available at Indepen dence Square at the corner of Chamblee Dunwoody Road, Peeler Road, and N. Shallowford Road.

JOURNALISM

Valerie Biggerstaff

Fred Donaldson pictured in uniform dur ing World War II.

Fred Hayden and Phyllis Irene Donald son

Sandy Springs celebrates newly rebuilt fire station

By CHAMIAN CRUZ chamian@appenmedia.com

SANDY SPRINGS, Ga. — Sandy Springs held a ribbon cutting for its busiest and newly rebuilt fire station Oct. 20, which features state-of-the-art equipment for firefighters to remove toxins after return ing from fighting a fire.

Occupational cancer is the leading cause of death among firefighters, ac cording to the International Association of Fire Fighters. The two-story Fire Sta tion 2 is approximately 21,144 square feet and replaces the prior station built in 1969.

Fire Station 2 also has a three-bay apparatus storage room with adjacent support areas, decontamination shower, equipment storage, gear wash, kitchen, conference room, offices, sleeping quar ters, restrooms, fitness room and training areas. The community was invited to tour the station at 135 Johnson Ferry Road during an open house Saturday, Oct. 22, and Sunday, Oct. 23, from noon to 4 p.m.

While the city faced supply chain is sues related, Mayor Rusty Paul said the station shows the commitment Sandy Springs has to public safety, calling it a “long-time dream.” His office at City Hall is about 300 yards away from Fire Station 2, so Paul said he gets to see all the activity coming from station all day long.

“People have been fighting fires and doing rescue here on this site for over 60 years, and we want to continue to provide not only the kind of service we’ve been giving here, but even better service,” Paul said. “This is a not only a symbolic, but a concrete, literally, example of our commitment to public safety.”

When the city began planning for the station, it gathered input from firefighters and other personnel, other fire departments around the state, and community members and stakehold ers to find out their expectations. Now, Paul said, Fire Station 2 is prepared to make a difference, starting with the fact that it is equipped to get the fire trucks on the road faster than ever before – within one minute after a call comes in.

“So, there are clocks on the wall, there are verbal prompts to let fire fighters know here’s where you are in the process of getting this truck out on time,” Paul said. “Secondly, there’s a system that is giving the firefighters and healthcare personnel information about the call they’re going to … as they’re putting on their gear so that when they arrive, they don’t have to

ask as many questions. They’re ready to go to work.”

Fire Chief Keith Sanders said there will be nine firefighters on each shift, including a battalion unit, four fight ers on ladder and four more on the fire engine. He said Fire Station 2 responds to thousands of calls every year, many of them “challenging extrication calls” along I-285 and Ga. 400.

“Many features that we’ve put in here have really been a great shot of moral in the arms of personnel,” Sand ers said.

To commemorate the moment, there were several bricks from the original building outside for visitors to take home. City Manager Eden Freeman said the ribbon cutting marks an “auspicious occasion in the history of fire service” in Sandy Springs.

“This station … is modern, innova tive, and the best that we can provide for our fire service personnel,” Freeman said. “Sandy Springs is very proud of our history and our heritage, especially as it relates to public safety. We take that as our number one responsibility.”

Fire chiefs from Johns Creek, Union City, Roswell, Forsyth County and Geor gia Fire Academy attended the ribbon cutting.

The Roswell Fire Department is currently transitioning from a parttime to full-time fire department. Roswell voters are also being asked whether to approve $52 million bond for a new police and fire headquarters and new fire stations in the Nov. 8 special election.

Sandy Springs officials host a ribbon cutting for the city’s busiest fire station Oct. 20, which now features state-of-the-art equipment for firefighters, three-bay appara tus storage room with adjacent support areas, decontamination shower, equipment storage, gear wash, kitchen, conference room, offices, sleeping quarters, rest rooms, fitness room and training areas.

PHOTOS BY CHAMIAN CRUZ/APPEN MEDIA

Sandy Springs Fire Chief Keith Sanders talks about the benefits of rebuilding Fire Station 2 at a ribbon cutting cer emony Oct. 20.

LOCAL

Wellstar welcomes new surgeon

ALPHARETTA, Ga. — Wellstar Health System recently welcomed a new doc tor and surgeon at its Orthopedics and Sports Medicine practice on Upper Hem bree Road in Alpharetta.

Officials with the hospital system said Dr. Eric Kiskaddon, a fellowship-trained orthopedic surgeon, recently joined the Alpharetta practice after years of practice and research in the orthopedic field.

“I was drawn to Wellstar by the op portunity to build a truly unique joint replacement program, while working with a dedicated and compassionate team,” Kiskaddon said. “I look forward to working with the community of Wellstar physicians and providers to

Girl Scout troop builds ‘Buddy Bench’

DUNWOODY, Ga. — This spring, Girl Scout Troop 17312 began the process to complete the requirements for their Girl Scout Bronze Award.

The Bronze Award is the third high est award in Girl Scouts and can only be earned by scouts at the junior level. To earn the award, the troop must plan and implement a project that must benefit the local community. Each girl must contribute 20 hours to the project.

Troop 17312, made up of 12 Dun woody sixth graders representing seven area schools, discussed excitement and concerns they had about middle school.

Addie Szczepanski, who attends Saint Jude the Apostle Catholic School, said the troop talked a lot about antibullying and chose to build a Buddy Bench.

“Kids sit on the bench to show other kids that they are feeling lonely and need a friend to play with,” Szczepanski said.

This summer Troop 17312 built and painted the 6-foot-long bench. They chose themes of nature and encourag ing words such as brave, strong, kind, courageous and loyal.

The bench includes a plaque with the following words: “Donated By Junior Girl Scout Troop 17312. Bronze Award Project 2022. Kind Heart – Fierce Mind –Brave Spirit.”

The troop has several Peachtree Middle Schoolers who have pledged to keep an eye out for the Buddy Bench for new friends and for maintenance during their middle school tenure.

KISKADDON

provide a world-class joint replacement experience for our patients.”

Kiskaddon re ceived his doctorate of medicine at the Uni versity of Louisville, where he was named to the Gold Human

ism Honor Society, officials said. He completed his ortho pedic surgery residency at Wright State University in Dayton, Ohio, serving as administrative chief resident and was named an emerging leader by the American Orthopedic Association.

Following residency, he completed a fellowship in adult reconstruction at The Ohio State University.

“He performs direct anterior ap proach and posterior approach total hip replacement, total knee replace ment, partial knee replacement, and revision hip and knee replacement,” officials said. “In addition, he manages fractures around prior joint replace ments as well as infected hip and knee replacements.”

For more information about Kis kaddon, Wellstar Orthopedic Surgery and Sports Medicine or to schedule an appointment, please visit wellstar.org or call 470-267-0410.

Our mission

Investigative journalism is one part of local news. Appen Media and the Sandy Springs Crier will continue to spend money on FOIA requests, comb through police reports and keep an eye on city spending.

It’ll also remain dedicated to fea turing Girl Scouts, board appoint ments and everything else that makes up community news.

Send tips, story ideas and an nouncements to newsroom@ap penmedia.com. Then check these pages next week to see what’s new.

GIRL SCOUT TROUP 17312/PROVIDED

Girl Scout Troop 17312 completed their 2022 Bronze Award project and chose to construct a “buddy bench.” Inspired by anti-bullying efforts, the bench allows kids to sit on the bench to show other kids that they are feeling lonely and need a friend to play with. From left, is Eleanor Hanlon, Megan Hubbard, Elise Evans, Annabel Lassiter, Camille Blevens, Adelina Szczepanski, Meena Servies, Carly Greear, Isabel Lemoine. Peachtree Middle School Principal Michelle Perez, who helped the troop, sits on the bench. Not pictured are troop members Lilian Dixon, Kaitlyn Cohen and Ksenia Reshetnik.

Chamber names new president, CEO

SANDY SPRINGS, Ga. — The Sandy Springs Perimeter Chamber of Com merce announced Oct. 19 that Adam Forrand will be the group’s new presi dent and CEO.

“We could not be more pleased to have Adam at the helm,” SSPC Board Chairwoman Tisha Rosamond said. “We are looking forward to collaborating with him and to his leadership in taking the Sandy Springs Perimeter Chamber to the next level.”

Forrand is currently a vice president for the Gwinnet Chamber and Partner ship Gwinnett.

“I am honored to be the Board’s selec tion as the next leader of the Sandy Springs Perimeter Chamber,” Forrand said. “I am thankful for their confidence in me, and I look forward to work ing with them to build a remarkable future for the SSPC.”

based education technology start-up and multi-national companies such as Pearson Learning and McGraw-Hill. In addition to his time with the Gwinnett Chamber, he has also served on the Atlanta Regional Workforce Development Board.

FORRAND

In the past, Forrand has led his own marketing communications agency and contributed to the success of a Seattle-

Born in Tampa, Forrand earned a BBA in marketing from Stetson Univer sity where he met his wife Lori, a special education teacher. They are the par ents of three children and live in Metro Atlanta.

He will start the new role Nov. 1.

— Carl Appen

The Cottage School to host scavenger hunt

ROSWELL, Ga. — The Cottage School (TCS) will host We Light Up the Night, a one-of-kind virtual scavenger hunt and light show, on Nov. 5.

The community unity event will run from 5:30-7:30 p.m. at The Cottage School.

By using a GPS tracking app, guests will participate in the virtual scavenger hunt across campus by battery operated lantern light. The treasures are in the form of audio messages from community leaders about the school, its history and

the greater community. Activities will culminate in a light show.

The Cottage School will share the proceeds from the event with two local nonprofits, Solidarity Sandy Springs and Atlanta Ronald McDon ald House.

Battery operated lanterns and We Light Up the Night T-shirts will be avail able for purchase. Guests can enjoy free food, music and an opportunity to participate in a collaborative art project that will travel between TCS, Solidarity

If you go

What: We Light Up the Night

When: Saturday, Nov. 5 from 5:307:30 p.m.

Where: The Cottage School

Cost: Free admission, fundraising on site

Sandy Springs and the Atlanta Ronald McDonald House.

discourse that has come from Fulton County negotiators.

“More importantly, they are not en gaging in this process in a way that will reach an appropriate outcome by the deadline,” Dickens said. “In fact, Fulton County continues to hold up the threat of letting LOST expire altogether, a reckless move that would be disastrous for the residents that we all serve.”

Dickens, who has largely steered clear from the public displays sur rounding the 2022 LOST, said that like the other 14 cities in Fulton County, At lanta would suffer greatly if LOST were eliminated. LOST revenues make up nearly 20 percent of Atlanta’s general fund revenue, which funds “vital public safety and quality of life” projects, he said.

County officials have argued that they too have obligations, and county government provides many statemandated services like libraries, public health and a court system. Those ser vices, they argue, have only increased by the wave of new cities incorporating over the past 15 years.

The county is seeking to increase its split of the sales tax revenue from the 4.97 percent it has received over the past 10 years to as much as 15 percent or higher.

“We believe that the work of the cit ies is clearly important,” Fulton County Commission Chairman Robb Pitts said at a recent mediation session. “But we know, without a doubt that the services Fulton County provides are important. In fact, in most cases they are a matter of life and death for many people.”

A public safety issue

The mayors argue that cutting their share of LOST funding would ultimately impact services like fire, EMS and police the most, because their most expensive pieces of equipment are largely funded by tax revenues.

Sandy Springs Mayor Rusty Paul said that if the county’s LOST revenues are increased, his city, along with Mil ton and East Point, cannot raise their millage rate to make up the difference with property taxes.

That means their only option is to cut services.

“We have the ability in our city to pay to make sure that people have an eight-minute response time with our am bulance services … that goes away, then response time on ambulance service goes up 50 percent in Sandy Springs, that means people will die,” Paul said.

Paul said that after the last negotia tion session held Oct. 7, there’s been no sign that county officials want to come back to the negotiating table.

“We’re at a total stalemate,” he said.

Negotiations halted

During that meeting, county nego tiators proposed raising the county’s share of LOST distributions from the current 4.97 percent to 7 percent and then up to 15 percent over 10 years.

City negotiators noted this proposal was nearly identical to several previous offers that had already been rejected, due to their expected impact on the cities.

“Mayor Dickens laid out a plan based on conversations with the county commissioners themselves that we thought would move the ball,” Paul

said. “And what happened was they took two steps back and went back to a previous position, back to the 160 per cent Increase, which just totally blew everything out of the water. So, we’re at an impasse right now.”

Dickens said the cities were gener ous when they offered up a 40 percent increase in county LOST proceed, and he called the 160 percent increase pro posal a “slap in the face.”

Closing out his comments on Monday, Dickens challenged county officials to re turn to the negotiating table and for resi dents to contact their district representa tive on the County Commission to press them for a resolution before the current LOST agreement expires on Dec. 31.

“To the County Commission, it’s simply time to step up, come to the table and work with these mayors to get this done,” Dickens said. “We all have a job to do and I’m calling on you right now to work with us to get this done.”

City and county officials have not scheduled any additional mediation ses sions and initially planned to advance the issue to a formal arbitration process if mediation fails.

Tax: Read Now at AppenMedia.com

ALEX POPP/APPEN MEDIA

Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens speaks to a group of gathered officials and media at a press conference Monday, Oct. 17, at the Fulton County Civic Center.

Council:

the property. If the homeowners associa tion insists on a higher price, it can take the issue up in court, but by that point, the project would have moved forward. Members of the homeowners association are expected to vote on the matter at a later date.

“As we’ve mentioned to you many times, the timetable for you to use emi nent domain is driven by the construc tion deadlines,” Lee said. “As you know, this property is closely tied to utility relocations that are quickly moving upon us.”

Earlier in the meeting, a resident of the Autumn Chase neighborhood took issue with the fact that they were unable to meet with city officials before Oct. 18. But, Lee said, that’s because their at

DAN LEE SANDY SPRINGS CITY ATTORNEY

torney had picked that date, not because that was when the City Council planned to vote on the issue.

In their proposal, the Autumn Chase Homeowners Association is ask ing the city to spend additional funds to hire a project manager and plant new trees on the property. Lee said some of that is not compensable, but that the city could try to recalculate some of its numbers and come back with a better offer.

“The property owners made a

couple of great points in that buffers are a big deal in Sandy Springs and should be, and we’re diminishing the depth of this buffer and it is probably compensable for us to add to that buf fer,” Lee said.

City Councilman Andy Bauman said he hopes the homeowners understand that eminent domain is “one of the most difficult things” elected officials are asked to do. However, Mayor Rusty Paul said he thinks they can achieve both ends.

“The timing is unfortunate,” Paul said. “For whatever reason it’s gotten to this point, but [I] encourage [staff] fully to work to bring us back something that we don’t have to decide on, because it’s been agreed to.”

Councilman John Paulson moved to approve the use of eminent domain for the property owned by the Autumn Chase Homeowners Association, which was seconded by Councilman Tibby DeJulio. It passed unanimously, with Councilwoman Melissa Mular abstaining from the vote, because she owns a home in the subdivision.

Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax program. At the Oct. 18 City Council meeting, Lee said the City of Sandy Springs was unable to negotiate a deal with the McCubbins family, which owns the property at 1235 Spalding Drive. Both parties have been working together along that stretch of road for several years now.

MEMBER

The City Council then unanimously approved the use of eminent domain at 348 Mount Vernon Highway, owned by the Link Counseling Center, and at 6272 Mount Vernon Oaks Drive, which is owned by two private individuals.

Lee said city staff had already changed the project design three times to accommodate the Link Counsel ing Center and offered $142,900 for the appraised value of the property and resulting damages, but that the property owner was still demanding $429,000. He said that with the new design, the project no longer touches the property.

As for the land at Mount Vernon Oaks Drive, Lee said the appraised value is $29,000, but the city offered to give the property owners an additional $10,000 to avoid litigation costs. Still, the property owners counteroffered $66,000, which Lee said the city could not justify.

Spalding Drive widening

In 2018, the Sandy Springs City Council approved an intergovernmen tal agreement with Gwinnett County to widen Spalding Drive from two lanes to four from Winters Chapel Road to Hol comb Bridge Road.

The Spalding Drive widening proj ect is part of Gwinnett County’s 2017

Lee said the issue is that the fam ily’s driveway will make the project very steep where it intersects with the road. The city has appraised the property is $49,000, but the family is asking for $100,000. Additionally, the family wants the city to redesign the project so that it goes around the driveway.

“The city’s proposal is after several design changes and offers to correct the driveway,” Lee said. “This offer in cludes a design of the intersection with the driveway and the right-of-way that includes about a $30,000 construction cost to keep the elevations of the drive way where they are in connection to the elevation of the roadway.”

Lastly, the City Council approved the use of eminent domain at 1265 Spalding Drive, the last piece of property for the project. What’s different from the others, Lee said, is that it is owned by six enti ties, including the IRS and the Georgia Department of Revenue, which can not agree on how to divide the money.

The appraised value of the property is $52,100.

“So, believe it or not, if there was ever a property that needed eminent domain, it is this property,” Lee said. “With your authorization, we’ll file the condemna tion, and the money will be paid into court and then there’ll be a fight over ... it.”

CHAMIAN CRUZ/APPEN MEDIA

The Sandy Springs City Council ap proves the acquisition of five parcels of land for the Mount Vernon Highway corridor improvements project and Spalding Drive widening project through eminent domain on Oct. 18.

As we’ve mentioned to you many times, the timetable for you to use eminent domain is driven by the construction deadlines,”

ADVERTISE IN OUR banking & finance Report

Reach North Atlanta

circulation

Get

To advertise your business in

call 770-442-3278 or email: mike@appenmedia.com

If you’ve been out in the great wide world lately, you’ve probably noticed those shimmery gossamer webby things up there in the power lines. It seems like wherever there are two lines with a few feet of each other, there are also a whole bunch of webby things.

Joro spider webs?

Yeah, those. They’re back!

Prime Joro season in this neck of the woods is usually August through Octo ber, and they’ve been turning up in lots of other places, too – some of them close to home. For instance, one delegation seems to favor the little nook between the corner of my house and the railing on the deck.

There was a big ol’ Joro spider out there a few days ago, but notice I said “was.” Durable though those Joros are, they’re no match for my ancient Sears and Roebuck shovel.

As yard tools go, that shovel is one of those enduring institutions ever. Sure, the business end is a little rusted, with some dings and dimples here and there, but that’s just how much-loved shovels usually are. Those blemishes could pour out the stories, too, if I only could remember what those stories are. For it’s an old shovel with a much-used wood handle polished by use so it’s smooth as the lid of a fine piano. Old things always have tales to tell.

Anyway, that shovel’s a great antiJoro weapons system, at least if the Joros are not too far off the ground. A single swashbuckling stroke through

for the return of

the air made short work of the web at the end of the deck, and then a second stroke (vertical, descending) reconfigured the once-intimidating Joro spider who used to live there from three dimensions down to two. One down, 88 million to go.

I should have felt good about that, but I just kind of shrugged. I was, I knew, resigned to having to do it all again in a day or two. And that’s exactly what happened.

Somewhat more troublesome are the Joro webs that are higher off the ground and out of reach even of me and my shovel. For those, I’ve adopted the strategy of scouring the ground under the big oak tree for suitable throwing sticks which I pick up and heft in my hand and then launch with aboriginal accuracy (sometimes) into the sky in the general direction of whatever web I have targeted. This is not nearly as effective as it sounds, however, and it also puts nearby windows or small chil dren at risk. Occasionally I get lucky, though, and anyway Ellie the Resident Mini Schnauzer thinks its all part of some grand game of fetch-the-stick, which she does with relish and glee –whether there happens to be a spider attached to the stick or not.

So what’s the deal with these Joro spiders anyway? You’ll recall from our previous chat on the subject that they seem to have first appeared in Georgia along the I-85 corridor in the area of Braselton and Hoschton. That’s home to many large distribution centers, and the feeling among those who know is that these spiders (or maybe their eggs) hitched a ride into our fair land aboard a crate, in some packing material, or maybe even on a live plant.

But however they got here, it appears

Joros

that they are here to stay. Fortunately, they are not a particular threat to people unless provoked in an up-close and per sonal way, though their long-term impact on ecosystems is not known for certain. Clearly, what is needed is more info! And so, possibly out of a vague sense of guilt over murdering that helpless spider whose only sin was to have taken up residence on the corner of my deck, I decided to attempt to redeem myself by participating in something called Joro Watch. Joro Watch is a new website developed by a whole bunch of interested folks, among them the spiderists (is that a word? If not, it should be) at the Uni versity of Georgia as well as something called the Southern Integrated Pest Man agement Center. This I picture as a forti fied bunker, possibly located deep inside Stone Mountain where even the most determined joro spider probably can’t get in. In my mind’s eye its walls are covered with high-tech maps and glowing com puter screens and lots and lots of flicker ing numbers. One of those numbers just decreased by one, from 88,325,286 to 88,325,285. That was me and my shovel. It’s nice to be appreciated.

But I digress. We were talking about Joro Watch, which lives at jorowatch.org. Joro Watch is, according to the In terweb, “a monitoring program to collect data and better understand the current spread and distribution of joro spiders. You’ll like it for all sorts of reasons, not the least of which is a map show ing where the joro spiders have been showing up. The answer to that one, by the way, is mostly in Georgia, some in South Carolina, and a little bit in North Carolina and Tennessee. There’s even one little tiny spot of green in Washing ton County, Okla. But if you live some where else and feel left out, don’t worry. It’s probably just a matter of time, and the map will help you know when it’s time to go dig out the old shovel.

Joro Watch really is kind of fun – and useful too. For example, it’ll help you figure out whether what you’re seeing is an honest-to-goodness Joro spider or one of its similar-looking cousins (such as our very own native yellow garden spiders). Adding your own observational data is easy, and there were even perks in the form of a chance to win custom Joro Watch stickers too in the recent Joro Spider Spotting Contest, which ended Oct 15. Citizen science like this is usually its own reward, but free stuff doesn’t hurt.

Anyway, I just completed my latest Joro spider sighting report. I got an of ficial verification and a “Record ID” and everything. That’s pretty cool.

But wait. Is that another one on the other end of the deck?

Where did I put that shovel?

JACK MY SECOND ACT

ADVERTISE IN

PERSERVING THE PAST

Nix family left mark across Metro

Some early Nix family settlers, like some other pioneers, came to Georgia from Europe via the Carolinas beginning in the 18th century. By 1840 there were 48 Nix families living in Georgia, about 35 percent of all Nixs in the USA according to Ancestry.com. In this column, I will highlight a few noteworthy north Georgia pioneers.

Charles William “Charlie” Nix (1836-1927) was a colorful character. He joined the Confederate army when he was 25 and served with General Jeb Stuart’s calvary. He fought in Antie tam, Gettysburg and Chancellorsville, which was the bloodiest battle of the Civil War up until then and famous as the battle where General Stonewall Jackson was mortally wounded by his own troops.

Charlie was born in Cherokee County, married Susan Caroline Bates (1840–1907) and had eight children and 27 grandchildren. At the time of his 90th birthday in 1926, celebrated with a cake with 90 candles, the Atlanta Constitution said he was one of the oldest people in Georgia and one of the earliest subscribers to the newspaper.

“In the early days he rode four miles ev ery day on horseback to get his paper,” the newspaper reported. He is buried in Provi dence Baptist Church in Alpharetta along with two dozen other Nix family members.

Many local Nix families are descended from Matthias Bates (1802-1883), whose daughter married Charlie Nix. Matthias and his son Russell started a trading post in Cherokee County at the intersection of Batesville Road and Sugar Pike Road. Charlie’s sons Walter Scott Nix Sr. (18731956) and John Russell Nix (1871-1939) bought 140 acres from their uncle Rus sell. They opened a general store which contained the Batesville Post Office.

Walter became storekeeper and postmas ter. Walter and his brother turned the property into a trade and service center with a blacksmith shop, grist mill, cot ton gin, sawmill, guano distributorship and potato curing house. Nearby, the Big Springs School and the Big Springs Methodist Church were built.

Dr Harold Lyle Nix (1920-2003), son of Walter Scott Nix, was raised in Batesville and became a distinguished professor of sociology at the University of Georgia. He focused on developing alternatives to the rapidly disintegrat ing rural economy. Among his many accomplishments was a book he wrote for his family in 2000 titled “Moments to

Remember” in which he recalls grow ing up in Batesville. In poignant terms he explains that the rural South at the time “was made up of a gridwork of small trade and service centers about four miles, or a ‘team-haul’ apart” so a farmer could walk a mule to a cotton gin, store, school or church in a half a day. Batesville was such a center in the late 1800s.

The area underwent dramatic changes in the early and mid-20th century. The automobile, tractor, paved roads, the boll weevil and two world wars changed the South forever. Some of the rural service centers continued to prosper, others declined or disappeared. Batesville officially disappeared on Dec. 12, 1992, when the last remaining structure in town, the old Walter Scott Nix, Sr. home, was put to the torch as a county fire training exercise. Today Batesville is just the crossroads where Batesville Road and Sugar Pike Road intersect. One structure, the abandoned potato curing house, still stands.

Brothers Jody and Jason Nix, great grandsons of Walter Scott Nix, operate Big Spring Farms Pumpkin Patch on Sugar Pike Road next to the intersection. The attraction is open on weekends in October and provides opportunities for families to experience rural life as it once was, including demonstrations by an old

Model 0 Frick sawmill.

An early Nix residence in Milton is a City of Milton Historic Site. Built circa 1896 on Birmingham Road, the house was owned by William Henry Nix (18861953) and Clara Maddox Nix, daughter of Dr. Cicero Cincinnatus, a prominent doctor in Alpharetta. Today the home is owned by Jim Bell who in order to preserve the land has created a certified natural burial ground, Milton Fields, adjacent to the house.

Nix Road, one of Milton’s prized dirt roads, connects Birmingham Highway with Freemanville Road. Several genera tions of Nix families lived there accord ing to Sonja Holcombe whose parents, Obed Farrell Holcombe (1911-1994) and Mary Sue Nix Holcombe Rigby (born 1933), lived on the corner of Nix Road and Birmingham Highway in a house that still stands. Sonja’s grandparents John Leonard Nix (1884-1963) and Oscar Adena Nix (1907-1992) also lived in the house but moved away in 1930. Sonja’s great grandparents John Leon ard Nix (1884-1963) and Oscar Adena Nix (1907-1992) lived in a house on a hill overlooking Nix Road, so it is under standable how the road got its name.

Bob is director emeritus of the Milton Historical Society. You can email him at bobmey@bellsouth.net.

BOB MEYERS Columnist bobmey@bellsouth.net

NIX FAMILY/PROVIDED

Charles Nix marks his 90th birthday in front of a cake with four of his eight chil dren. From left, Laura Puckett, Dr. Will Nix, Fannie Benson and Walter Scott Nix.

TENSE

OPINION

50 acres at Womack Road and Tilly Mill Road

VALERIE BIGGERSTAFF

William Wom ack was born in the Cross Keys district in 1867. His wife Victo ria was born in Cobb County in 1869. They married in 1893 and settled on 50 acres in Dunwoody around 1915. The land was at the corner of what we now know as Womack Road and Tilly Mill Road.

William Womack worked as a photog rapher. He used a tin type camera and mixed his own developing solutions. He traveled by horse and buggy to towns such as Norcross, Alpharetta, Cham blee and Doraville to take photographs. He kept records of his travels and his expenses in journals, with details such as the expense of six dollars a month for board.

He also taught singing at churches. One of his singing schools was held at Winters Chapel Methodist Church, charging each student 50 cents for the 10-day session. William and Victoria Womack are buried at Winters Chapel Methodist Church.

The couple had six children, Ola, Lester, Elmer, Georgia, Corrie, and Harvey. The three daughters married men from nearby families. Ola mar ried Bency Spruill, Georgia married Euil Spruill, and Corrie married Calvin Eidson. Harvey Womack married Macie Donaldson.

Ola Womack Spruill is remembered by students at Dunwoody Elementary School in the 1930s and 1940s for her graham biscuits. She prepared lunch and brought it over to the school from her house nearby on Chamblee Dunwoody Road. Elmer Womack and Lester Womack were mule drivers in the 69th unit of the Medical Corps during World War I. After the war, they both returned to work as farmers in Dunwoody.

Georgia and Euil Spruill lived along Ashford Dunwoody Road. Their daugh ter Kathleen Spruill Miers confirmed that the old chimney on Ashford Dun woody Road was once part of a Spruill tenant house. Today the chimney is part of the Starbucks across from Pe rimeter Mall.

In 1970, 75-year-old Elmer Wom ack was still living in a four-room wood house on the family land. He shared history and his thoughts with a writer for the Tucker Eagle, a newsletter of the Tucker Federal Savings and Loan As

sociation. Womack used a wood burning stove, kerosene lamp and carried water from a nearby spring. He listened to the news and Atlanta Braves baseball on a transistor radio because he didn’t own a television.

He had recently sold the 50 acres at the intersection of Womack and Tilly Mill Roads to the DeKalb County Board of Education. He had already purchased of brick home nearby on Tilly Mill Road with 1 acre of land, knowing that he would soon have to move.

Womack had no plans to change after

the property sale saying, “I’m not going to let money go to my head. I like living the way I’m used to, and I am content.”

The Womack property would become the Dunwoody location of DeKalb Junior College, which later became Georgia Perimeter College, and today’s Georgia State University: Perimeter College, Dun woody Campus.

Award-winning author Valerie Big gerstaff is a longtime columnist for Appen Media, the Dunwoody Crier and now, the Sandy Springs Crier. She lives in Sandy Springs. You can email Valerie at past tensega@gmail.com or visit her website at pasttensega.com

Students at Dunwoody School in the 1940s were provided lunch prepared by Ola Womack Spruill. Spruill is pictured on the far right and principal Elizabeth Davis stands in the back.

This photograph of Elmer Womack appeared in an October 1970 Tucker Eagle, a newsletter of the Tucker Fed eral Savings and Loan.

THE INK PENN

Nancy Mitford, anyone?

ADVERTISE IN

KATHY MANOS PENN

I’d heard of the Mitford sisters but didn’t know much about them until I visited the Cotswolds several years ago. On a bicycle ride during that trip, we got an introduction to their story from our tour guide not only because their family home was in the Cotswolds village of Swinbrook, but also because we ate lunch that day at the Swan Inn, owned at the time by the Dowager Duchess of Devonshire, the last surviving Mitford sister. That’s why I adore the two books I describe here.

“The Bookseller’s Secret” by Michelle Gable

If, as I do, you like books about books, this one’s for you. The story shifts back and forth between WWII London and the modern-day, and includes the real-life author Nancy Mitford, making it an unputdownable read for me. Though I’d heard of the Mitford sisters, I’d never read any of Nancy Mitford’s books. This story details her struggles to write an

other successful novel as she is support ing herself working at the Heywood Hill bookshop during the war. Her wit is one of the main attractions of these chap ters. That and glimpses of characters like author Evelyn Waugh. Remember “Brideshead Revisited?”

Like Mitford, the modern fictional author Katie Cabot is enduring a similar dry spell, three years after penning a best seller. As her story unfolds, we see the parallels in their lives and struggles, but that’s not the best part. For me, the best part is the mystery about a possible missing Nancy Mitford manuscript, an autobiography. Did she really write one? The mystery unfolds against the back drop of Nancy’s fascinating life during and after the war. Hence, my decision to pick up “Pursuit of Love” which is supposedly her fictional version of those years.

“The Pursuit of Love” by Nancy Mitford

Nancy Mitford really did work in a bookshop in London during WWII, and in 1945, she wrote “The Pursuit of Love.” The sisters in the book are based on Mitford and her sisters, though it is not a one-for-one match. The foreword in the edition I read was written by her sister Jessica in 1982. All in all, it was a

fascinating and often LOL read.

How much of the story, especially the details about the main character’s French lover, are true to life? It is a fact that Nancy Mitford did have a long-time affair with Gaston Pawleski, an associate of Charles de Gaulle. Did she meet him in a French train station as depicted in this novel? Did he visit her in London during the war? I could likely find the answers by spending a few hours on the internet, but I think I’ll just remember the tales told in Nancy’s book and the more recent “The Bookseller’s Secret.”

You know a novel has stood the test of time when it has been turned into an Amazon Prime series, and that’s what has happened with “The Pursuit of Love.” For me, thoughts about both books continued to surface in my brain for several weeks. In my mind, that’s the mark of a good story.

If you find these descriptions in teresting, I recommend you start with Michelle Gable’s fictionalized account.

Award-winning author Kathy Manos Penn is a Sandy Springs resident. Find her cozy mysteries locally at The En chanted Forest and on Amazon. Contact her at inkpenn119@gmail.com, and follow her on Facebook, www.facebook.com/

OPINION

On road rage and not being in too big of a hurry

these days, right? Think Amazon driv ers, home-delivered groceries, prescrip tions, and pizza and so much more. And of course, business, well anything that boosts business can’t be all bad, no?

RAY APPEN Publisher Emeritus ray@appenmedia.com

She didn’t lay on the horn but might as well have done that. In my rear-view mirror, I watched her mouth ing words and throwing her hands up in exasperation. It was so ridiculous to me that it actu ally made me smile. I mean, where else would someone spark a mini road rage thing by coming to a full stop at a three way stop? Really? I annoyed someone because I wasn’t in so much of a hurry that I didn’t roll through a stop sign and through the intersection? What was she so late for? Where was she going in such a hurry? Don’t think I really would want to know and, truth be told, my guess is that the answer is probably “none of the above.” That is just how she goes through life – in a hurry for nothing or not much –and aggravated that everyone else isn’t just like she is.

Not that there’s anything wrong with that. I mean, so much of our economy now is tied to things that help save time. Saving time creates jobs

Look at Starbucks the last two years. What has changed? Everything, I would suggest. Their business model seems to have morphed into serving coffee and food – fast – and of course that includes the added bonus of people not having to be inconvenienced by having to exit their cars. Just go through the drive-thru, saves time and while you are waiting for your Frap, you can keep watching TicTok or what ever your favorite go-to website or app is. Losing time on your phone is the big no-no, right?

And the cost? Well, yes, there is a cost for everything. In Starbucks’ case, the cost just might be that what brought them to the table, what made them unique and gave them their com petitive advantage, the creation of a place that served great coffee but also provided a comfortable place to meet and socialize, to chat with a friend or discuss a business deal or next months’ vacation plans with another, or how Johnnie is doing in school or

that great book you just read. Now in stead, more time with a screen without having to interact with another human. Hmmmm. Sort of reminds me of all those companies who have also “up dated” their business model via Zoom or Teams and now conduct business in front of screens instead of in person.

And they wonder why turnover has jumped, morale has plummeted, and folks just don’t seem to care like they used to – or have the same work ethic or the social sensibilities. But, as I mentioned earlier, every situation has a silver lining; we have entered the golden age for therapists, delivery drivers, warehouse builders and social media influencers.

And what about all those young people who have never known a life that did not revolve around their screens? Where does this path lead?

I think if I owned Starbucks stock for long, I would be thinking hard about getting rid of it. With their morphed business model what they have done to me is effectively commod itized their product, reduced it down to the lowest common denominator –time, convenience – and the WalMart approach to business – price. How long will it be before some enterprising en

trepreneur realizes that one could start building those little kiosks in parking lots that only serve drive-thru coffee and do it faster and cheaper, and slip in under the radar of the 800-pound coffee gorilla, and eat their lunch?

The same thing probably also holds true for all sorts of things, like even that old-school media – print. Digital saves time, money, bottom line, and is super convenient, no? Well, yes and no. You see, anytime there is change, something usually gets lost in the tran sition. Everything has a cost. And the relative value of what is lost is some times very subtle and sometimes not so much, and often not realized until too late in the rear-view mirror.

What is the value of a conversation – the old-fashioned kind – in per son? Or the low impact ease of reading the local news on print – at your lei sure? Versus diving into a social media platform every day for a couple hours on your screen and then wondering where all your time has gone?

Where has all our time gone? I’ll have a Venti dark please, two raw sug ars, a splash of cream… and room.

And can you give me a Pupachino for my dog too? I’m in a hurry and he loves those Pupcups.

Your primary care physician (PCP) copay is $0. And you pay $0 copays for Tier 1 and Tier 2 prescription drugs.* This plan delivers savings—and beneits designed to support your whole health and help you reach your goals, such as:

• No referral required to see in-network specialists

• Dental, hearing and vision coverage

• $0 copay for SilverSneakers® itness program

Call a licensed independent sales agent

Jay Looft 770-913-6464 (TTY: 711) 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. Jay@SeniorSourceMedicare.com

A more human way to healthcare™

* For 90-day mail delivery. The $0 copay applies to Tier 1 and Tier 2 medications using a mail-delivery pharmacy with preferred cost sharing after any applicable deductible is met.

Humana is a Medicare Advantage PPO organization with a Medicare contract. Enrollment in any Humana plan depends on contract renewal. Applicable to HumanaChoice H5216-203 (PPO). We do not offer every plan available in your area. Any information we provide is limited to those plans we do offer in your area. Please contact Medicare.gov or 1-800-MEDICARE (TTY users should call 1-877-486-2048), 24 hours a day/7 days a week to get information on all of your options. At Humana, it is important you are treated fairly. Humana Inc. and its subsidiaries comply with applicable federal civil rights laws and do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, ancestry, ethnicity, marital status, religion or language.English: ATTENTION: If you do not speak English, language assistance services, free of charge, are available to you. Call 1-877-320-1235 (TTY: 711). Español (Spanish): ATENCIÓN: Si habla español, tiene a su disposición servicios gratuitos de asistencia lingüística. Llame al 1-877-320-1235 (TTY: 711). 繁體中文 (Chinese): 注意：如果您使用繁體中文

1‑877‑320‑1235

SANDY SPRINGS FARMERS MARKET

What: Shop for fresh produce and artisan foods from more than 30 vendors every Saturday morning through Nov. 12 at the Sandy Springs Farmers Market.

When: Saturday, Oct. 29, 9 a.m.-noon Where: City Green, 1 Galambos Way, Sandy Springs More info: citysprings.com

FESTIVE: “ZOMBIE PROM”

What: A girl-loves-ghoul rock ‘n’ roll musical set in the atomic 1950s at Enrico Fermi High, where pretty senior Toffee has fallen for the class bad boy. When family pressure forces Toffee to end the romance, he charges off on his motorcycle to the nuclear waste dump. He returns glowing and determined to reclaim Toffee’s heart. He still wants to graduate, but most of all he wants to take Toffee to the prom.

When: Friday-Sunday, Oct. 28-30, times vary

Where: Stage Door Theatre, 5339 Chamblee Dunwoody Road, Dunwoody

Cost: $15 for adults; $10 for kids

More info: stagedoortheatrega.org/zombie-prom/

DUNWOODY FOOD TRUCK THURSDAYS

What: Sweet and savory food trucks with live music every Thursday through the end of October.

When: Thursday, Oct. 27, 5-8 p.m.

Where: Brook Run Park, 4770 North Peachtree Road, Dun woody

More info: facebook.com/dunwoodyfoodtruckthursdays/

ROSWELL GHOST TOUR

What: Join this 2 1/2 ghost tour with paranormal investigators who describe current paranormal phenomena routinely experi enced by Roswell residents, businesses and other tour-goers.

When: Every night, as long as there are 6 willing participants, 8 or 8:30 p.m. Private tours unavailable Oct. 21, 22, 28 & 29.

Where: Tours depart from the bandstand in the Roswell town square, across from the Roswell Visitor’s Center, 617 Atlanta Street, Roswell

Cost: $20, $10 for children 12 and under

More info: Book reservation online, roswellghosttour.com. Sign liability waiver and pay cash for tickets upon arrival.

HALLOWEEN HIKES

What: Experience the mystery of a guided night hike. The 37th annual Halloween Hike takes you through the forest to meet woodland creatures and hear about how they live. Take part in world music, crafts, campfire, face painting, Monster Mash dance party and other festival fun. Arrive 30 minutes before the hike.

When: Friday & Saturday, Oct. 21, 22, 28 & 29, 6 p.m.

Where: Chattahoochee Nature Center, 9135 Willeo Road, Ro swell

Cost: $25 for general public/$20 for CNC members (children 2 and under are free)

More info: CNC members can by tickets online; for non-CNC members, ticket sales open Oct. 10, www.chattnaturecenter.org

HOLIDAY CRAFT MARKET

What: A fall craft market with goods from Northbrook Crafters. Proceeds from the sale benefit church missions and are distrib uted to charities in the North Fulton area.

When: Friday, Nov. 4, noon to 6 p.m., Saturday, Nov. 5, 10 a.m.-3 p.m., Sunday, Nov. 6, before and after 11 a.m. church service

Where: Northbrook United Methodist Church, 11225 Crabapple Road, Roswell

DEATH NOTICES

Sandra Christian, 83, of Alpharetta, passed away October 3, 2022. Arrangements by Northside Chapel Funeral Directors & Crematory.

Katherine Clark, 81, of Alpharetta, passed away October 4, 2022. Arrangements by Northside Chapel Funeral Directors & Crematory.

Joanne Hall-Hellen, 77, of Alpharetta, passed away October 9, 2022. Arrangements by Northside Chapel Funeral Directors & Crematory.

Geoffrey Lariosa, 61, of Alpharetta, passed away October 15, 2022. Arrangements by Northside Chapel Funeral Directors & Crematory.

John McHugh, 96, of Roswell, passed away October 11, 2022. Arrangements by Northside Chapel Funeral Directors & Crematory.

Raymond Pohlman, 78, of Roswell, passed away October 3, 2022. Arrangements by Northside Chapel Funeral Directors & Crematory.

James Pounders, 72, of Roswell, passed away October 8, 2022. Arrangements by Northside Chapel Funeral Directors & Crematory.

Ai Qiu, age 68, Alpharetta, passed away October 9, 2022. Arrangements by Northside Chapel Funeral Directors & Crematory.

Iris Seltzer, 88, of Roswell, passed away October 8, 2022. Arrangements by Northside Chapel Funeral Directors & Crematory.

Charles Stefl, 87, of Milton, passed away September 28, 2022. Arrangements by Northside Chapel Funeral Directors & Crematory.

Joseph Tillman, 93, of Roswell, passed away October 7, 2022. Arrangements by Northside Chapel Funeral Directors & Crematory.

Jay Tokarz, 63, of Milton, passed away October 11, 2022. Arrangements by Northside Chapel Funeral Directors & Crematory.

Read Now at AppenMedia.com

Lifelong