03-22-2013 Buckhead Reporter

Inside Church issue Methodist church plans new activities building COMMUNITY 3

Bills pushed Lawmakers push bills though last days of session COMMUNITY 6

Buckhead Reporter

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MARCH 22 — APRIL 4, 2013 • VOL. 7 — NO. 6

pages 9-

INESS

Hitting the ﬁeld — of screen

‘Spiteful’ cuts Fulton chairman warns that tax cuts have high price COMMENTARY 8

Joyful voices Clergy plan simple sermons for Easter celebration FAITH 21

Standouts Proﬁles of students who excel in academics and more EDUCATION 24, 25

Before hitting the ﬁeld for Buckhead Baseball’s Opening Day festivities to mark the start the season at Frankie Allen Park, Brooks Bowling (from left), Hugh Carter, Billy Gingrey, Bryce Bowling and Luke Gingrey enjoyed another beloved pastime of the modern generation — video games. The Athletics are coached by Brian Bowling in the T-ball 5-year-old league. More photos on page 23.

Charter proposal uses old school model BY DAN WHISENHUNT

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Shoplifting at Lenox lifts crime numbers BY DAN WHISENHUNT

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A group of Buckhead residents seeking to start a public charter school are working to address concerns that they want to create private religious school funded with taxpayer money. The school would not be part of the International Baccalaureate program used in the other eight North Atlanta schools. It will in-

Wayward youths come to Lenox Square in Buckhead looking for True Religion. Once they find an unguarded pair of the pricey brand-name jeans, they break one of the Ten Commandments: Thou shall not steal. The pants cost upward of $300 a pair. Atlanta Police Oﬃcer

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Sandy Springs project might worsen Buckhead trafﬁc BY DAN WHISENHUNT

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Sandy Springs City Councilwoman Karen Meinzen McEnerny on March 14 brought some bad news to her neighbors down the road in Buckhead. She said the city of Sandy Springs supports a massive mixed-use apartment complex planned near the intersection of Roswell and Wieuca Roads. The city’s potential green light of the project could mean traﬃc headaches for Atlanta residents living in Buckhead. McEnerny on March 14 spoke to the Buckhead Council of Neighborhoods at their monthly meeting. “This is a development that has been sanctioned and promoted by the economic development committee,” Meinzen McEnerny said. She said it would also require demolishing older apartment buildings on the property. “The mayor [Eva Galambos] has been quoted as saying we need to get rid of some of the older apartment complexes.” When a reporter at the meeting wrote a Tweet ] about the residents’ displeasure with the project, City Councilman Gabriel Sterling replied with his own Tweet. “There are already apartments there,” Sterling wrote. “This is a redevelopment with retail as well.”

It’s unlikely the prospect of newer apartments and stores will make the neighbors happy, judging by reaction at the BCN meeting. Neighborhood groups in both cities have mobilized against the project. Residentsd grilled Meinzen-McEnerny about Sandy Springs’ support for the plan. JLB Partners and Core Property Capital are behind the project. The companies initially proposed 700 apartment units and a seven-story parking deck. If left at its current size, it would force millions of dollars worth of road improvements to accommodate the expected increase in traﬃc. The project, known as the Chastain Mixed Use Development, was large enough to be considered for review by as a Development of Regional Impact. On Jan. 30, the Georgia Regional Transportation Authority approved the project, subject to certain conditions. Among the things Sandy Springs may have to consider under the GRTA’s list of conditions is realigning the intersection of Windsor Parkway with Roswell Road. “The intersection of Windsor Parkway is problematic for the density of the development that’s being proposed,”

Meinzen-McEnerny said. “The plans for this development have not been submitted in final form to our Department of Community Development.” Realigning that intersection could cost millions but there is no oﬃcial estimate. McEnerny brought documents showing that the city recently determined it could make $4.4 million available for the project. Atlanta City Councilwoman Yolanda Adrean also attended the meeting. She said the city of Atlanta may not have any ability to influence the development for the benefit of the city’s residents. “One of my concerns is Roswell [Road] is a state SPECIAL road,” Adrean said. “It’s An early concept drawing for the not a city road. It’s not a Chastain Mixed Use Development. Sandy Springs road. I’m Residents in Buckhead and Sandy Springs not sure how we can imhave concerns about the project. pact the conversation. I’m open to your creative sugprove the plans. She said they could be gestions.” ready for the council’s consideration as McEnerny didn’t have a definite early as May. timetable for when the city could ap-

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Peachtree Road United Methodist Church is developing plans to build a new, three-story youth building, but the nearby Buckhead Forest Neighborhood has questions.

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Church, neighborhood at odds over proposed youth center BY DAN WHISENHUNT

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A Buckhead church and a Buckhead neighborhood are at odds over the church’s plans to build a youth center. In this corner: Peachtree Road United Methodist Church, established in 1925 and currently located at 3180 Peachtree Road N.W. The 7,100-member congregation wants to construct a 50,000-square-foot, three-story youth center behind the church. And in this corner: the Buckhead Forest Neighborhood, 126 single-family homes and multiple apartments and townhomes bordered by Peachtree, Piedmont and Roswell roads. The neighborhood and the church have a complex relationship. Residents of the neighborhood use church facilities, like the preschool, and participate in other church activities. But they have in the past taken issue with the church’s expansion. Peachtree Road UMC Rev. Bill Britt said the youth center will be a $9.2 million improvement that will be open to the entire neighborhood. He said the church has discussed its plans with neighbors since November 2011. Britt said he thought both sides had worked out an agreement, but neighborhood leaders changed their mind. “We’re hoping that the city can mediate with us and help us go something that’s mutually beneficial,” Britt said. Kim Kahwach, president of the Buckhead Forest Civic Association, said the neighborhood’s main concern is that the church intends to buy more singlefamily homes for further expansion. “Currently, Peachtree Road United Methodist Church has more than enough property to build an amazing youth center in their [zoning] district BH

without eroding the fabric of our neighborhood,” Kahwach said in an email. “Buckhead Forest Civic Association has approached Peachtree Road United Methodist Church with a spirit of cooperation, but we are waiting for the same approach to be returned.” Britt said the neighborhood has a misperception about the church’s plans. “There’s this perception that maybe we’re trying to buy a number of houses in the neighborhood and encroach,” Britt said. “We’re trying to set the back boundary of our campus and we can come forward with any future improvements. We’ve tried to show them that plan. … We have no interest at all in buying or tearing down houses after that.” Britt said the church is in the process of applying for a special-use permit to allow the church to build the youth center. Britt said the church has already requested two deferrals to find a compromise with residents. He said the application could be heard by the Neighborhood Planning Unit- B in April or May. “We want to be good neighbors and we want to make it open and available as a community center,” Britt said. “We don’t see our church as a country club just for members.” Kahwach said she expects the church will be able to come up with a plan to satisfy its neighbors. “We anticipate an amended full campus special use permit plan, not yet public, that respects our single family district so that an acquisition and demolition precedent won’t be set for other neighborhoods adjacent to [zoning] districts,” she said.

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stead use the Classical Education model, which promotes literacy in Western traditions. Atlanta Classical Academy will be a K-10 school with an enrollment of 700 students. If the state and Atlanta Board of Education approves the school’s charter, it could open in 2014. Matthew Kirby, chairman of the group, sent an email news update on March 20 in response to questions he had received from people in the community. “Yesterday, someone asked me, ‘Are you are saying that ACA would be like a private school?’ My answer was, ‘No, we are creating a charter school, and charter schools are absolutely public schools,’” Kirby said. Kirby has received questions about whether the proposed charter school will have a religious basis. In the newsletter, Kirby said the school will be “a non-sectarian school, and we have absolutely no aﬃliation with any political party.” The ACA launch team includes former Sarah Smith Elementary and Westminster Elementary principal Lee Friedman; former Atlanta Board of Education Member Mark Riley; and Mark Carlson, a partner with the Baker Donelson law firm. Kirby graduated from the Westminster Schools, the U.S. Naval Academy and Emory’s Goizueta Business School. Two years ago, Kirby served as a community football coach at North Atlanta High. Planning documents from 2011 shows the school’s organizers studied Classical Education models used at private Christian schools and public charter schools around the country. The documents also show that school organizers intended to omit sex education from the courses oﬀered at the proposed school, but Kirby said that’s no longer the group’s position. “That was an early stage draft when we were considering a K-2 start,” Kirby said. The 2011 document said the school would start as K-2, but would add grades

until it became a full K-12 school. The 2011 document also said the school would not teach “matters of faith.” Kirby describes the Classical Education learning model as a “liberal arts approach that is content driven.” Classical Education is a popular method used by the Christian home school movement. Public charter schools use many of the same concepts in a secular learning environment. Kirby said the construction of the school, at a location that hasn’t been announced, will be paid for with private donations. Operations would be paid for with taxpayer money. Atlanta Classical Academy’s website said the school’s founders would operate with “complete fiscal transparency.” Kirby declined to release financial information about the school, including tax forms and a list of donors. He said the donors wish to be anonymous. The school will accept all students within the Atlanta Public Schools attendance zone. Kirby said the school’s location would be in North Atlanta. “We are specifically gearing our outreach to achieve the diverse student body that currently exists in our public school community,” Kirby wrote. “Our public school students are 25 percent Latino, 25 percent African American, 6 percent Asian, and 44 percent Caucasian… and that is exactly what we are planning for at ACA.” The racial makeup of APS is 78 percent black, 13 percent white, 6 percent Hispanic and 1 percent consisting of Asian and American Indian students. Kirby said he was referring to the racial makeup of North Atlanta schools. He said the racial makeup at ACA will “likely skew more in the direction of the general APS population.” Kirby said a public lottery would be the used if the school is overenrolled. Kirby said ACA will give enrollment preference to children of the school’s board members, teachers and siblings of current students. The ACA group will present its petition to the BOE in April.

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Ivy Knoll OK’d by NPU-B for addition of 5 luxury homes BY CHUCK STANLEY The upscale north Buckhead neighborhood of Ivy Knoll may begin a fivelot expansion as soon as June of this year. The board of NPU-B gave the new subdivision its blessing with a unanimous vote in favor of the project at its March 5 meeting. Development and construction of the subdivision will be handled by PEC Development Group and Edward Andrews homes. According to Paul Corley, who is CEO of both companies, the five new homes will be priced at $1.5 million to $2 million. He says low inventory of new homes in desirable neighborhoods is behind the decision to add more homes to Ivy

Knoll, which last saw new home construction seven years ago. Corley says he’s seen similar growth in demand on both sides of the Perimeter, especially in neighborhoods in highdemand school districts. “The market is definitely turning around,” he said, “especially in good locations like this.” Barring unforeseen delays, Coley says he expects construction to begin on the subdivision by June of this year. That would make the homes ready for sale by early fall, with construction wrapping up by winter. “We’re excited about it,” he said. “We think it’s going to be a great addition to the neighborhood.”

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The 2013 General Assembly has been a busy one for DeKalb and Fulton County legislators. Each year, hundreds of bills are introduced, but only a few become law at the end of the 40-day legislative session. Some have a good chance of making it to the governor’s desk, while others won’t make it out of committee. Many of these bills died on the 30th day of the session. Dubbed “crossover day” because it’s the date by which bills must have been passed by one chamber in order to be considered by the other, March 7 saw a slew of bills die and a herd of others cross over to the other chamber for consideration in the final 10 days of the session. Metro Atlanta legislators have tackled big issues this year, from the creation of new school systems to changes to the Fulton County Board of Commissioners and a revamp of Atlanta’s mass transit system. As this year’s session draws to a close, we take a look at how some of the bills introduced by lawmakers from the Reporter Newspapers’ communities fared.

HB 41

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This bill would prohibit water and sewer providers from arbitrarily charging higher rates to customers outside their geographic boundaries. Status: The House Governmental Aﬀairs Committee favorably reported by substitute March 1. Sponsors: The bill was introduced by Rep. Wendell Willard, R-Sandy Springs. Other local sponsors include Joe Wilkinson, R-Sandy Springs, and Mike Jacobs, R- Brookhaven.

HB 264

The purpose of this bill is to extensively revise the Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority Act of 1965. Status: Senate read and referred on Feb. 22. Sponsors: This bill was introduced by Rep. Mike Jacobs, R-Brookhaven, chairman of the MARTA Oversight Committee. Other local sponsors include Rep. Edward Lindsey, R-Buckhead, Rep. Tom Taylor, R-Dunwoody, and Rep. Wendell Willard, R-Sandy Springs.

HB 265

This bill repeals provisions relating to the suspension of restrictions on the use of annual proceeds from sales and use taxes by public transit authorities. Status: Senate read and referred on Feb. 22. Sponsors: This bill was introduced by Rep. Mike Jacobs, R-Brookhaven, chairman of the MARTA Oversight Committee. Other local sponsors in-

Rep. Edward Lindsey, left, and Rep. Joe Wilkinson

FILE

clude Rep. Edward Lindsey, R-Buckhead, Rep. Tom Taylor, R-Dunwoody, and Rep. Wendell Willard, R-Sandy Springs.

HB 123

This bill, known as the “Parent and Teacher Empowerment Act,” would give parents the right to petition to convert existing schools into charter schools or to impose turnaround models. Status: Senate read and referred March 7. Sponsors: This bill was introduced by Rep. Edward Lindsey, R-Buckhead.

HB 541

This bill increases the homestead exemption in Fulton County to $60,000. Status: Adopted in the House March 13. Sponsors: Local sponsors of this bill include Rep. Edward Lindsey, R- Buckhead, Joe Wilkinson, R-Sandy Springs, and Mike Jacobs, R-Brookhaven.

HB 171

This bill changes the districts of the Fulton County Board of Commissioners. Status: Senate read and referred March 4. Sponsors: Local sponsors of this bill include Joe Wilkinson, R-Sandy Springs, and Wendall Willard, R-Sandy Springs.

HB 346

This bill would make the Fulton County tax commissioner an appointed position rather than an elected oﬃce. It also would limit compensation for the tax commissioner. Status: Senate read and referred March 4. Sponsors: Local sponsors include Rep. Edward Lindsey, R-Buckhead, Rep. Wendell Willard, R-Sandy Springs and Rep. Joe Wilkinson, R-Sandy Springs.

HB 310

One of several ethics bills considered BH

COMMUNITY this year, HB 310 would revise the rules for filing certain campaign disclosure reports, the permissible methods of notifying candidates of late fees and would eliminate the grace period on certain reports, among other things. Sponsor: Rep. Joe Wilkinson, RSandy Springs. Status: Senate read and referred March 5.

SB 189

This bill would permit proprietary institutions of higher education to participate in establishing college and career academies in high schools. Status: House second read, March 12. Sponsors: This bill was sponsored by Sen. Fran Millar, R-Dunwoody.

SR 273

A resolution proposing a constitutional amendment to allow the re-creation of a previously existing county which was merged into another county, subject to the approval of voters. This resolution is an attempt to recreate Milton County out of what is now north Fulton County. Status: Senate read and referred Feb. 21. Sponsors: This bill was introduced by Sen. John Albers, R-Roswell. Other local sponsors include Sen. Judson Hill, R-Marietta. Source: www.legis.ga.gov

Buckhead CID breaks down 2012 The Buckhead Community Improvement District doesn’t want to just tell you how many projects it tackled in 2012. It wants to show you. Buckhead CID Executive Director Jim Durrett on March 19 told his newsletter subscribers that they should check out a graphical presentation of the CID’s work. To see it, visit: www.buckheadcid. com/2012infographic Here are some of the highlights from 2012: - Off-duty Atlanta police officers spent more than 5,200 hours in the CID directing traffic. - Landscaped five miles of roadway and an acre of park space every week. - Applied 99,200 pounds of mulch to local roadway medians. - Planted more than 129,000 flowers and plants along Peachtree Road.

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Buckhead Coalition sent out a press release March 20 seeking nominations for its “Diplomatic Leadership Corps.” The press release says people can also nominate themselves. According to the press release: “The ‘Diplomatic Leadership Corps’ will consist of up to 25 participants, aged 25 to 30, who live within Buckhead’s 28-squareSPECIAL mile boundary. Those inRyan King, Chase Millward, Drew Mauldin, vited to participate in the Will Aronson and Cole Feroleto, program will receive a onethird-graders at Atlanta Speech School, day introduction to civic/ qualiﬁed for the Georgia Scholastic political and volunteerism Team State Chess Championship. service at the Buckhead Coalition oﬃce (Tower Place 100, Suite 560, at “Although the program has a budget 3340 Peachtree) and DoubleTree Hoapproaching $80,000, the books, lectel (3342 Peachtree); four days of intures, meals, materials, and membertroduction to Adaptive Business Leadship identification are all being providership by Georgia State University’s J. ed pro bono, mostly through the civic Mack Robinson College of Business in contributions of Robinson College. Tower Place 200, at 3348 Peachtree, The program is scheduled to run June and an afternoon reception (at a ven10 through June 14.” ue to be announced), all at no charge For more information contact ofto participants. fice@thebuckheadcoalition.org

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‘Divisive and spiteful’ legislation to appease north would devastate all of Fulton A spate of bills under consideration in the 2013 Georgia Legislature that appear to appease voter frustration in north Fulton County would, in reality, devastate all of Fulton County and its residents. I would like to address two House bills in particular. HB 541 proposes to double the homestead exemption in Fulton County from $30,000 to $60,000 over three years. HB 604 would suspend the board’s ability to increase the tax millage beyond the roll-back rate until Jan. 1, 2015, after which any increase in the millage would require the affirmative votes of five of the members of the Board of Commissioners. Sounds good, doesn’t it? Who doesn’t appreciate what amounts to a tax cut? But this legislation comes with a hefty price. Passage of these bills would mean a loss in county revenue of almost $50 million and that would mean drastic cuts in county services, including those provided by Grady Memorial Hospital. Here are the facts regarding HB 541: • Fulton County already has the highest homestead exemption rate in Georgia. • Approximately 80 percent of Fulton County’s revenue comes from property taxes. • Doubling the homestead exemption would shift the burden of property taxes to commercial property owners and homeowners with more valuable homes. If the county is forced to do a revenue-neutral millage rate adjustment, most businesses and many homeowners in north Fulton will pay more in taxes. Here are the facts regarding HB 604: • Fulton County has not increased its millage since 1991 despite the Great Recession and revenue policy changes from the General Assembly. • Fulton County is the only large county in metro Atlanta that has not increased its millage rate since the beginning of the 2008 economic downturn. Cobb, Gwinnett and DeKalb counties have all increased their millage rates.

Moreover, Fulton County has managed within its budget by reducing spending by $61.1 million from 2007 to 2012. The Board of Commissioners reduced spending by $8.7 million from 2012 to 2013. What would the loss of millions of dollars in county revenue mean to you? First and foremost, it would JOHN mean a reduction in funding to EAVES Grady hospital, which provides trauma and health-care services to GUEST COLUMN Georgians throughout the state. The county provides $50 million to Grady every year, and there’s no question funding would have to be cut. These cuts are likely to hurt business by forcing delays in processing real estate records and civil litigation. Tax assessments and appeals also may take longer to settle. It also would likely mean cuts in hours or closing of libraries. The justice system would suﬀer, which could hurt our ability to get out from under the federal consent decree. The prosecution of criminal cases will slow, and long overdue juvenile justice reform may be delayed. This could mean we are forced to build a new jail, a very costly endeavor (think hundreds of millions of dollars). There is more at stake here than money. Georgia is a “home rule” state. As I see it, that means the state constitution grants cities, municipalities and counties the ability to pass laws to govern themselves. In my opinion, this legislation violates that rule and I don’t think we really want to set that precedent. I acknowledge we have problems to solve within Fulton County. We are at a crossroads. I am ready and willing to negotiate county parity and equal representation as long as we tackle these issues in the spirit of togetherness. Divisive and spiteful legislation is not the way to solve our diﬀerences and will only hurt the very residents we are here to serve. John Eaves is chairman of the Fulton County Board of Commissioners.

CON TR I BU TOR S Phi l Mosi e r, M a r th a N o d a r, To m O der EDI TOR I A L I N TE R NS S t a c y B u b e s , L a u r e n Duncan, S he l b y E g g e r s , M ika y la Farr, C ha r l ot t e M c C a u l e y, F e l ipa S chmidt

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On the record Read these articles from our other editions online at ReporterNewspapers.net. “Yesterday, someone asked me, ‘Are you are saying that ACA would be like a private school?’ My answer was, ‘No, we are creating a charter school, and charter schools are absolutely public schools.” –Matthew Kirby, chairman of the Atlanta Classical Academy founding board of directors. The charter school would be located in Buckhead. “I guess I’m in Brookhaven now, which I shudder to even say. I moved to an unincorporated area.” – Brookhaven resident Denise Bailey discussing the incorporation of the new city.

March 22 – april 4, 2013 | www.ReporterNewspapers.net

“The next year is critical for accreditation. Then, I think we need to address long-term issues.” –John Coleman a 31-year-old Brookhaven resident with a Master of Business Administration degree from Harvard University. Coleman is one of six people appointed by Gov. Nathan Deal on March 13 to hold seats on the DeKalb County School Board. “There are so many things wrong with this. ... This really concerns me. I am so angry right now.” –Dunwoody Councilwoman Adrian Bonser discussing a rewrite of the city’s ethics ordinance. BH

Perimeter Business A monthly section focusing on business in the Reporter Newspapers communities

Hotel upgrades reflects area’s growing power Joe Earle Peter Dunn has returned to Atlanta to work in the same hotel building as he did in the 1990s — except now the neighborhood has totally changed. He oversees the new 275-room Le Meridien hotel, the brand’s first foray into the Atlanta market. The owners have invested more than $20 million in renovations.

By Joe Earle For several years during the early 1990s, Peter Dunn worked at a highrise hotel right across the street from Perimeter Mall. He left to manage hotels in other cities and returned recently as general manager of a new hotel that also happens to be across the street from Perimeter Mall. In fact, his new 275-room hotel, metro Atlanta’s first example of the Le Meridien hotel chain, is in the same building as his earlier hotel, The Marque.

Q&A: Perimeter Mall

Le Meridien’s owners are spending $20 million to dress up and modernize the place, Dunn said. They’ve re-skinned the building, added space to rooms, installed big beds and big TVs, he said. They also redecorated using brushed steel and dark colors and with stylized images of metro Atlanta and Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport as artwork. And, Dunn discovered recently, more than the name and look of the building have changed. The first time he went looking for his hotel, he drove

–Page 10

Atlanta’a abundant supply of shopping centers makes the market ‘very competitive’ for retailers. That’s good news for shoppers.

right past the entrance. Perimeter Center had changed, too. “I hadn’t been back to Dunwoody since I left in 1996, just before the Olympics,” Dunn said. “I drove here and when I got off on Perimeter Center Drive, I couldn’t recognize anything.” As the Perimeter area adds restaurants, shops and office workers, its hotel business is changing, too. The recent recession pinched business travel, the mainstay of Perimeter hotels, but local hoteliers and tourism promoters see signs indicating the ar-

New Chamber opens

ea’s hotel business is returning. “It’s starting to start back,” said Brad Sturgeon, general manager of the Embassy Suites Atlanta-Perimeter Center and former head of the board of directors of the Convention and Visitors Bureau of Dunwoody. Scott Smith, a senior vice president of PFK Hospital Research LLC, which studies the Atlanta hotel market, seems ready to agree. “We think the [metro Atlanta] markets are going to do well for the next Continued on page 14

–Page 11

Profile: Nuts N’ Berries –Page 13

Community leaders gathered to celebrate the Brookhaven Chamber of Commerce’s official debut reception and awards ceremony.

Thirty years after Mark and Soodi Kick pioneered health food groceries in their neighborhood, their store, Nuts N’ Berries is thriving.

Perimeter Business

Q & A on Perimeter Mall: ‘Oversaturation of shopping centers in Atlanta makes the market very competitive’ Q A

just in Atlanta alone is astounding. There are different shopping options for the Atlanta consumer, from shopping malls, shopping strips, and outlet malls. Each center is different in their tenant mix, entertainment and services offered. The oversaturation of shopping centers in Atlanta makes the market very competitive with each center trying to appeal to the consumer. That is why you have many centers that undergo a remodel or expansion every few years to continue to maintain the interest of the shoppers.

What do you think the new anchor store, Von Maur, has brought to Perimeter Mall?

Von Maur brings to Perimeter Mall a long tradition of luxury and class to the center. The department store offers shoppers at Perimeter Mall another luxury shopping option that is not available at any other center in Atlanta, other than North Point Mall.

Q A

Yes, new tenants that have opened or will be opening in the next few months include: Cloud 9 cupcakes (featured in Cupcake Wars on Food Network — opened in March 2013), Call It Spring men’s and women’s footwear and accessories (spring 2013), H&M (summer 2013), Vans skateboard-inspired apparel and gear (spring 2013).

Q A

John Liu, marketing manager for Perimeter Mall, discusses changes at the mall.

Are there new tenants inside the mall as well?

What are the advantages of periodically changing the mall’s tenants? Changing the retailer mix allows Perimeter

Mall to continue to offer a wide selection of retail offerings to our shoppers. In addition, it allows the center to continue to meet the ever-changing demands of the shoppers and their purchasing preferences.

Q A

What are some of the challenges that shopping malls face?

For the Atlanta retail market, I believe it would be the amount of shopping malls that exist within the market. The number of retailers

ket?

How do you view Perimeter Mall’s position in the overall Perimeter business mar-

Perimeter Mall is a staple in the community of Dunwoody and the Perimeter area. The center is a landmark for many shoppers and visitors to the area. Perimeter Mall is a versatile center in that it not only appeals to the local shoppers, but also the businesses and daytime office workers in the area. Many office workers and visitors visit the center for wide dining options that vary from casual, i.e. food court, to formal such as Seasons 52 and The Capital Grille.

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Perimeter Business

Brookhaven Chamber celebrates inaugural event

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By Melissa Weinman At the entrance to the ballroom of Villa Christina, Arthur Freeman beamed as he looked across the room at the nearly 200 people chatting, sipping wine and eating hors d’oeuvres as a bright, early spring sun set behind the windows. Melissa Weinman “You hear that?” he The crowd gathered at the Brookhaven Chamasked. “That’s buzz.” ber of Commerce listened as presentations Freeman, the execwere to honor local officials and volunteers. utive director of the Brookhaven Chamber of ed to join, as well. Commerce, was pleased by the turnWhile Freeman realizes that busiout at the Brookhaven Chamber of nesses may have inherently different Commerce’s inaugural reception on interests than homeowners groups at March 14. times, he sees the chamber as an orgaCommunity leaders, business nization that can help solve conflicts. people and elected officials from “That’s one of the reasons I want Brookhaven, Dunwoody, DeKalb them at the table — so you can have County and a few state legislators a neutral place to work these issues gathered to celebrate the organizaout,” Freeman said. tion’s official debut. The Brookhaven Chamber of Com“I think of it as a debutante ball, merce will be joining what is already our coming-out party,” Freeman said. a thriving business community in the Freeman hopes to keep that buzz Perimeter area. The Sandy Springs/ going as the organization looks for Perimeter Chamber of Commerce, members and starts new programs the Dunwoody Chamber of Comand initiatives in the community. merce, the North Fulton Chamber of The chamber, which has signed Commerce and the Perimeter Busiup nearly 40 members so far, already ness Association are all within just a has a host of programs and events few miles of each other. planned for its first year. Tom Mahaffey, executive direcFreeman said the chamber has tor of the Sandy Springs/Perimeter plans for a “listen and learn educaChamber of Commerce, said he sees tional series,” monthly networking the addition of the Brookhaven chamevents, speakers every two months, ber as beneficial for the region. a “chairman’s circle luncheon” “I don’t think it’s a bad thing at all. for business leaders and city offiWe’re a close community and region, cials to talk about issues, two yearly and we work together as a region,” galas and six general membership Mahaffey said. “Sandy Springs and meetings. “Not bad for nine weeks,” Dunwoody have been very connectFreeman said of the young organizaed since the inception of both chamtion’s progress. bers. I don’t see why Brookhaven About three months ago, the chamwould not join with us.” ber evolved from the Brookhaven He doesn’t believe a new chamCommunity Connection, a networkber will be a threat to any of the exing group for Brookhaven business isting organizations. “I don’t think it’s people. Freeman said the chamber going to affect our investors or memhad the advantage of building on its bership base. Each of us will have our groundwork. own base of companies we will part“My board of directors that I came ner with,” Mahaffey said. out of the gate with in December Joe DeVita, the founder of the was the board of directors from the Dunwoody Chamber of Commerce, Brookhaven Community Connechas also been helping the Brookhaven tion,” Freeman said. “That’s one of chamber get started. DeVita said the the reasons we’ve been able to do it. Brookhaven chamber will be able to It looks like it’s only been nine weeks, work jointly on regional efforts with but the reality is, it’s been four years.” other chambers in the area. Like the BCC, the chamber of com“Economic development is somemerce will not be limited to for-profit thing you don’t do in a bubble. It’s a businesses. Freeman said civic associregional effort and it takes regional ations and religious groups are invitpartners,” DeVita said.

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Technology businesses have greater economic impact on the state of Georgia than does Atlanta’s airport, the head of the Technology Joe Earle Association of GeorAt the Perimeter Business Alliance’s March gia told a group of meeting, held at Cox Enterprises headquarters, Perimeter business (from left) Gerard White of Clearwave Corp., and government David A Spotts of AutoTrader.com, Tino leaders on March 15. Mantella of Technology Association of Georgia “We’re no lonand David Dabbiere of AirWatch discuss the ger just peaches, explosive growth in high-tech industries. pecans, pine trees, said. poultry and peanuts,” TAG President High-tech companies bring to and Chief Executive Tino Mantella Georgia employees who are young told the 100-plus people attending a and well paid, the panelists said. luncheon sponsored by the Perimeter According to Mantella, the averBusiness Alliance. age salary is about $81,000, twice Mantella said technology busithe average for other jobs. nesses account for about 17 percent Some local high-tech companies of Georgia’s gross domestic prodreport explosive growth. uct, with an economic impact on the AirWatch recently announced it state of about $113.1 billion a year. was adding hundreds of jobs at its Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson InternaSandy Springs headquarters. Dabtional Airport, considered a major biere said AirWatch has been adddriver of the metro area’s economy, ing about 80 employees a month. produces about $68 billion in ecoWhite said his company wants to nomic impact, he said. attract “the best and brightest” emMantella took part in a panel that ployees from across the country. included representatives of sever“We are recognized for being a al high-tech companies with opergreat city to live in,” White said. ations in the Perimeter area. Oth“And the other thing is, when they er panelists were: David Dabbiere, get here, they rarely leave.” chief operating officer of AirWatch, One problem high-tech firms face a mobile device security and manin Georgia, Mantella said, is a lack of agement software company; David venture capital companies with roots A. Spotts, director of facilities and in the state. corporate services for AutoTrader. “There’s a real need for venture com; and Gerard White, chief execfunding in this area,” he said. “There utive officer of Clearwave Corp., a are only a handful of venture fundhealth care technology company. ing [companies].” Panelists said they found metro Georgia companies, he said, colAtlanta and the Perimeter area to be lect only about 1 percent of the attractive places for high-tech comventure capital invested in a typipanies and their employees. cal year, compared with California, “We think there’s no better place which collects about 52 percent. than Atlanta right now to build a “We’re not getting our fair share of technology company,” Dabbiere the dollars,” he said.

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Perimeter Business

Nuts N’ Berries remains in good health more than 30 years later By Dan Whisenhunt

On the second floor is a spa, Alef Skin Care and a company called Mark and Soodi Kick opened their Brainscapes which claims its brainBrookhaven health food store in 1980 wave therapy can alleviate the sympat the corner of Ashford Dunwoody toms of a variety of mental and physand Peachtree roads. ical afflictions. The vegetarian couple had moved Mark said he played to his comto Atlanta from Los Angeles and found pany’s strengths to stay competitive the local health food market lacking. with big-box grocery stores. Soodi said she had to drive 10 to 12 He dropped dairy products and miles just “to buy food for my family.” oriented the business around em“Introducing what health food ployee knowledge, product variety can do for you was a major and customer service. part of our job back then,” He said the company ofMark said. fers customers a personPerimet er More than 30 years later, al touch they might not be Pro fil e their Nuts N’ Berries store able to find elsewhere. thrives in a city where near“If a customer comes in, ly every supermarket ofthey will get a much highfers up food with labels promising er ratio of employee attention to their “raw,” “natural” or “organic” foods. concerns,” Mark said. In order to keep Nuts N’ Berries’ Mark and Soodi intended to rebottom line healthy, the company tire from the business a decade ago. had to become something more than In 2002, they sold it to a businessman a health food store. from Japan. The couple met in architecture Eventually, the new owner moved school at Ohio University. They back to Japan and attempted to opermoved to Atlanta because it was ate the company from afar. Sales be“a more family-oriented place than gan to decline. L.A.,” Mark said. They’ve been marThe couple bought the business ried 42 years. back a year ago. In 1992, the Kicks moved the Nuts N’ Berries store down Peachtree to its intersection with Kendrick Road. The main section of the store sells a selection of produce and a bounty of nutritional supplements. It smells of crushed roasted peanuts, a byproduct of a machine that makes fresh peanut butter. Store manager Betsy Mylander said customers come from Oglethorpe University, DeKalb Peachtree Airport, an Audi dealership and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. As the health food market evolved, the Kicks tweaked their business model. Today Nuts N’ Berries functions as a personal wellness center. Soodi is a certified nutritionist. The company leases space to the Brookhaven Bistro, a restaurant connected to the main store that offers healthy cuisine. Brookhaven Bistro chef Chip Desormeaux said that, since he took over the restaurant in 2007, he’s worked to establish a menu for vegetarians and their non-vegetarian friends. “The thing that seems to help here is to hit a middle line with healthy food,” Desormeaux said. It’s also a matter of economics, Mark said. Catering only to one crowd would make the food more expensive.

Dan Whisenhunt Mark and Soodi Kick opened their health food store in 1980 and have expanded their lines of business, playing to their strengths with ‘a higher ratio of employee attention’ to their customers’ concerns. Mark said he’s worked to rebuild the store’s brand and reestablish relationships with customers. He said he’s making progress. “We’re seeing our customer count go up,” Mark said. The personal side of being healthy

is what keeps the Kicks motivated. Mark said he enjoys the feedback from customers who have shopped at the store for years. “We’re really looking out for the prosperity of Brookhaven,” Mark said.

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Brad Sturgeon, general manager of the Embassy Suites AtlantaPerimeter Center, believes the Perimeter market will continue to improve. He also manages a Buckhead hotel and says the markets ‘have become increasingly blended.’

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New interest in hotels reflects area’s growing business Roswell Road and I-285 to Abernacouple of years, including Central Pethy Road, ranks fifth among the metrimeter,” he said. ro area’s 17 submarkets in the change The Central Perimeter over the last four quarters in submarket is home to 25 “revpar,” the industry term of metro Atlanta’s 782 hofor revenue per available Co v er tels and provides 4,406 of its room, a standard measure St o r y 93,092 hotel rooms, accordof hotel success. ing to PFK Hospitality ReSubmarkets that PFK search. ranked higher were MidThirteen of Perimeter’s hotels rank town; the Town Center area of north as “upper-priced” properties and 12 Cobb, Cherokee and Bartow counties; as “lower-priced” ones, PFK reports. Downtown Atlanta; and Buckhead. The Perimeter area, which stretchSince 2009, the occupancy of Cenes from Ashford Dunwoody Road to tral Perimeter hotels has risen from 62 Continued from page 9

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March 22 – April 4, 2013 | www.ReporterNewspapers.net

Sources: city officials and developers

Perimeter Business percent to 67 percent, PFK reported. Hotel Performance in the Sturgeon says he won’t Central Perimeter be surprised if PerimeTotal rooms: 4,406 ter Center someday tops Total hotels: 25 Buckhead and other met Upper-priced: 13 ro areas on the revpar lists. Lower-priced: 12 As manager of the Em Occupancy Average daily rate bassy Suites in Buckhead 2008 62% $108.95 and in Perimeter, he gets 2009 57% $ 90.96 a first-hand view of both 2010 64% $ 86.06 markets. 2011 65% $ 87.09 “These markets have 2012 67% $ 92.38 become increasingly Source: PKF Hospitality Research LLC blended,” Sturgeon said. “It’s like of lot of things going on in the north metty and Tourism, arrived in the city in ro area. It’s becoming the 2007, Sandy Springs boasted 21 hocenter of affluence and the center of tels. Since then, two have closed and influence.” one was converted to student housAs customers return, hotel develing, she said. opers are showing a renewed interest “Our occupancy has been solin the Perimeter area, too. id for a long time. Our hotels do a After about a decade with no new fabulous job of being competitive,” full-service hotel built in the area, Hughes said. “Right now, we’re seedevelopers are talking to local citing a change. We lost two properties ies about at least four new hotels — and we’ve gained [the prospect] of two in Sandy Springs and one each in two properties.” Dunwoody and Brookhaven. Hughes argues the hotel develop“We are big believers in Dunment market reflects a new availabilwoody and the Perimeter market. … ity of investment money as the recesWe have proximity to Perimeter Mall, sion ends. which gets 18½ million visitors, and “It’s really a matter of getting fiwe’re in the middle of the biggest [ofnancing,” Hughes said. “Hotels canfice] submarket in the South,” said not build without financing. That’s Steve Smith of IRE Capital of Bucksimple math. We’re just coming out of head, part of a development company a period when there was not a lot of proposing to build a new Hampton financing. There’s a better opportuniInn Suites as part of a development in ty for financing now than there was in Dunwoody. the last couple of years. I would say Katie Bishop, executive director that’s why you see the change.” of Dunwoody’s convention and visAt Le Meridien, Dunn sees other itor’s bureau, sees the development changes, as well. Back 18 years ago, of new hotels as an extension of the he said, growth of visiting the Perimcorporate eter retail “Hotels cannot executives and office build without would markets. financing. stay in “PeThat’s simple Buckhead rimeter math. We’re hotels and and Dunjust coming travel to woody out of a period offices in and Sandy when there was the PerimSprings not a lot of financing. There’s a better eter for overopportunity for financing now than there work. all have was in the last couple of years. I would “In seen tresay that’s why you see the change.” those mendous – Kym Hughes, executive director, days,” growth in Sandy Springs Hospitality & Tourism he said, business“there was es locatBuckhead ing here. and there was the rest of the world.” … There’s a lot going on in the marNow his job is to persuade those ket, a lot of positive change,” Bishop executives to stay in his high-end hosaid. “New hotels are a natural part of tel across the street from Perimeter that growth.” Mall. How? From Sandy Springs, which has “We just make sure we continue to more than three times as many hotels take care of them,” Dunn said. “It’s as Dunwoody, the view is different. Hotel 101. It’s not rocket science. It’s When Kym Hughes, executive diall about service.” rector of Sandy Springs Hospitali-

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March 22 – April 4, 2013 | 15

The World-Famous

Laughing Skull Comedy Festival 3/28 - 3/30

Now in its fourth year, this event draws comedians from all over the US and Canada!

Steve Lemme & Kevin Heffernan

4/12 - 4/13

The creators and stars of Super Troopers and Beerfest

Open Mic - Every Sunday night at 7pm! Kids Comedy - Last Sunday of each month at 3pm! Tickets available at www.TheImprovAtlanta.com Receive 25% off with promo code “reporter”

56 E Andrews Dr NW, Atlanta, GA 30305 • 678.244.3612

NOW OPEN

‘The Most Stunning Daffodil Garden Ever!’

ibbs Gardens’ Daffodil Festival bursts on the scene as more than 50 acres of blooming daffodils create an unforgettable feast for the senses from March 1 through April 14. Millions of daffodils — an estimated 16 to 20 million blossoms in 60 varieties — flower across sprawling hills and fields to paint a “gold and silver” panorama. Experience nature’s own spring bouquet: daffodils, forsythia, quince and spirea canopied by hundreds of blossoming white dogwood and flowering cherry trees. And, that’s just the beginning. Gibbs Gardens Seasons of Color are a feast for the senses all year long. Don’t miss “the most stunning daffodil gardens ever!”

Gibbs Gardens now booking weddings Venues+catering starting under $5,000 Picture your wedding in the most spectacular garden imaginable ... then imagine more: a 300-acre country estate with 220 acres of artistically landscaped gardens, mature woodlands, streams, waterfalls, ponds and bridge crossings. An unforgettable setting for your oncein-a lifetime day. Save the date now ... for the day of your dreams. 1987 Gibbs Drive Ball Ground, GA 30107 770-893-1880 www.gibbsgardens.com

out& about

Brookhaven • Buckhead • Dunwoody • Sandy Springs

Learn Something!

Container Gardening Wednesday, March 27, 3-4 p.m. –

Sarah Brodd, with the UGA Cooperative Extension, kicks off spring with some gardening ideas! Do you love to garden, but don’t have a large space? All you need are some containers to grow your favorite vegetables, fruits and plants. You can turn your porch, deck, or small yard into the perfect gardening space. Free and open to the community. For adults, 18 years and older. Brookhaven Branch Library, 1242 N. Druid Hills Rd., NE, Brookhaven, 30319. Call 404848-7140 to learn more.

Civil Rights Lecture Wednesday, March 27, 7 p.m. – Morghan

Brandon, an Oglethorpe University student, marks the 50th anniversary of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s “I Have a Dream” speech by exploring the hopes and dreams of the Civil Rights movement and the realities of where African Americans are today. Talk accompanies her independent film/performance project. Free admission for OUMA members or with a Petrel Pass; general admission, $5. For more information, call 404-364-8555 or visit: http://museum.oglethorpe.edu. Oglethorpe University, 4484 Peachtree Rd., NE, Third Floor, Weltner Library, Brookhaven, 30319.

Starting a Nonprofit Saturday, April 6, 3-4 p.m. – Participants

learn about the seven essentials all nonprofit business owners must know to ensure the success of their organization. This is a basic class for anyone interested in starting a nonprofit business as well as those who can use additional insight into growing their organization. Free. For those 18 years and older. Dunwoody Public Library, 5339 Chamblee Dunwoody Rd., Dunwoody, 30338. Call 770512-4640 for details.

Saturday, April 6, 9 a.m. – The Charity Be-

nevolent Fund Fitness, Health, and Wellness 5K run & 1-mile run/walk promotes awareness against diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure, obesity and stroke. $15 early registration; $20 race day; $5 youth/students; children under 6, free. Awards and prizes. Online registration ends April 5. 5K run check-in 8 a.m.; 1-mile run/walk check-in at 9 a.m. Register at http://fundab.org. Email: cbf@fundab. org or call 478-986-4908 or 855-630-2097 to learn more. Race held at Georgia Perimeter College, 2101 Womack Rd., Dunwoody, 30338.

March 22 – April 4, 2013 | www.ReporterNewspapers.net

Car Show Friday, April 5, 5:30-8 p.m. – The Dunwoody

Driving Club hosts its first “Friday Nite Lights” car event for 2013. The event is open to all unique forms of transportation, and the club encourages all vintage and sports car enthusiasts to come on out and show off! No charge to attend. All ages welcome. For more information, visit: www.dunwoodydrivingclub.com or email: chuck@dunwoodydrivingclub. com. Camelot Jewelers/O’Brian’s Tavern/Ace Hardware parking lot, 2484 Mount Vernon Rd., Dunwoody, 30338.

Park Revitalization Saturday, April 6, 9 a.m.-3 p.m. – Join others in revitalizing Brookhaven’s most improved park! DeKalb County will provide equipment and personnel to aid The Friends of Briarwood Park. Plans include building out the perimeter trail, beautifying the old growth forest, and creating natural entry ways to the new playground. Free. Everyone is welcome. Meet at Briarwood Park and Rec Center, 2235 Briarwood Way, NE, Brookhaven, 30319. Email: chad.boles@comcast.net with questions or visit: http://briarwoodparkga.org.

Holocaust Observance Sunday, April 7, 4-6 p.m. – The entire community is invited to a Yom HaShoah Commemoration sponsored by the Atlanta Rabbinical Association and the Marcus Jewish Community Center of Atlanta. Dr. Jerome Legge, a Holocaust scholar and Associate Dean of UGA’s School of Public and International Affairs, will speak. Ceremony includes lighting of torches and special music. Free. Rain or shine. MJCCA at Zaban Park, Besser Holocaust Memorial Garden, 5342 Tilly Mill Rd., Dunwoody, 30338. For more information email Rabbi Brian Glusman: brian.glusman@atlantajcc.org or visit: www.atlantajcc.org.

Fundraisers

Charity Benevolent Fund Run

Community

SEE-ME Expo Sunday, April 7, 11 a.m.- 5 p.m. – It’s time

for the Southeast’s largest endurance and multisport event, the “SEE-ME” Expo! Learn, explore and discover what you need to compete in endurance and multisport events. Raffles, demonstrations, fitness screenings, sports fashion show, vendor exhibits. $5 general admission, proceeds benefiting The Getting2Tri Foundation. Food trucks on-site, meal wristbands for purchase at a minimal fee. Call 678-575-6895, email: mlenhat@ getting2tri.org or visit: Web: www.seemeexpo.com for more information. Southeastern Endurance and MultiSport Expo, Heritage Green, 6110 Blue Stone Rd., Sandy Springs, 30328.

Easter Egg Hunts Tuesday, March 26, 10:30 a.m. – Join others at the Sandy Springs Library for an egg hunt in the reading garden behind the back parking lot. Children should bring a basket or bag to hold their goodies (candy included). Free and open to the public. For ages 2-6. For more information call 404-303-6130. 395 Mount Vernon Highway, Sandy Springs, 30328. Saturday, March 30, 10 a.m. – Wieuca Road Baptist Church invites the community to its 17th annual Easter Egg Hunt, on the playfield. Free. Lots of hidden eggs, pony rides, face painting, petting zoo, giant slide, moonwalk and obstacle course. Music, giveaways. Babies-2 years old can hunt for eggs at 10:30 a.m.; three and four year olds, 11 a.m.; five through seven years old, 11:30 a.m.; eight to twelve year olds, 12 p.m. For more information email Joel Mills: jmills@wieuca.org or call 404-814-4467. 3626 Peachtree Rd., Atlanta, 30326. www.wieuca. org/activities.

Saturday, March 30, 2 p.m. – Skyland Church

hosts an Easter Egg Hunt for children through 6th grade on the church grounds. Each child should bring a basket to collect goodies. Free and open to the community. Refreshments, face painting, and fun for the adults, too! Call 404-634-6209 or email: margie¬morgan@¬bellsouth.¬net to learn more. Skyland United Methodist Church, 1850 Skyland Terrace, NE, Brookhaven, 30319. http://skylandumc.org.

Saturday, March 30, 10 a.m.-12 p.m. –

All are invited to attend Apostles Church of Sandy Springs annual community Easter Egg Hunt! Games, face painting, food, and of course, an Easter Egg Hunt for children ages toddler through 12 years. Free. Rain or shine. For more details, contact Bob Morton: bobmorton07@gmail.com or call the church: 404-2558668. 6025 Glenridge Dr., NE, Sandy Springs, 30328. www.apostlessandysprings.org.

For Kids

Dr. Seuss Stories Tuesday, March 26, 10:15 a.m. – Chil-

dren celebrate Dr. Suess’ birthday (and meet Catin-the-Hat) in three storytime sessions: toddlers age 1 at 10:15 a.m.; toddlers age 2 at 11 a.m.; preschoolers ages 3-5 at 11:45 a.m. Free and open to all. Buckhead Branch Library, 269 Buckhead Ave., NE, Atlanta, 30305. Email: comments@co.fulton.ga.us or call 404-814-3500 for additional details.

Book Cover Workshop & Contest Saturday, March 30, 4-6 p.m. – Judge a

book by its cover in this workshop done in partnership with the Abernathy Arts Center. Teens explore the work involved in designing book covers that attract the eye and inspire the imagination. For middle and high school youth. Registration required. Free and open to the public. Email: marlan.brinkley@fultoncountyga.gov or call 404-303-6130 to sign up or with questions. Sandy Springs Branch Library, in the Meeting Room, 395 Mount Vernon Highway, Sandy Springs, 30328.

Monday, April 1, 10 a.m. – In partner-

Butterfly Puppets Tuesday, April 2, 10:30 a.m. – Picca-

dilly Puppets presents a show about the metamorphosis from caterpillar to butterfly in a special spring break program. Appropriate for ages 2-6. Free and open to the public. Sandy Springs Branch Library, 395 Mount Vernon Highway, Sandy Springs, 30328. To learn more, call 404303-6130.

Lego Robotics Wednesday, April 3, 10:30 a.m. – Mary

Roberts teaches kids about robots using Lego Mindstorm robotics. Mary is a coordinator for the First Lego League, a robotics program designed to get children excited about science and technology. Hands-on workshop at 10:30 a.m. for ages 7-9; second workshop, at 12:30 p.m., for ages 10-14. Free and open to all. Space is limited. Sign-up required and started March 1st. Call 404-303-6130, email: shannon.duffy@fultoncountyga.gov or swing by the library to register or to ask questions. Sandy Springs Branch Library, 395 Mount Vernon Highway, Sandy Springs, 30328.

5 off a decorated cake

Expires 4/5/13. Limit one coupon per customer. Cannot be combined with any other offer. Redeemable only at the bakery listed. Must be claimed in-store during normal business hours. No cash value.

GET LISTED!

(404) 236-2114 5975 Roswell Road, Suite A-103 Sandy Springs

Submit listings to Calendar@ReporterNewspapers.net

shows you how to celebrate spring with beaded butterflies. Appropriate for ages 7-11. Free and open to the public. Sign-up is required and started March 1st. Space is limited. Come by, call 404-303-6130 or email: shannon.duffy@fultoncountyga.gov to register or to seek additional details. Sandy Springs Branch Library, 395 Mount Vernon Highway, Sandy Springs, 30328.

Cat Clans

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April, children ages 5-12 will enjoy special artifacts and puppets in the Buckhead Public Library display case, plus discover special book displays representing Hispanic culture and literature. These exhibits celebrate “El día de los niños/El día de los libros (Children’s Day/Book Day). Free and open to all. 269 Buckhead Ave., NE, Atlanta, 30305. Email: comments@co.fulton.ga.us or call 404814-3500 for information.

Make Easter Complete.

Monday, April 1, 10 a.m. – Throughout

vice at Covenant Presbyterian Church begins at 9:30 a.m. with breakfast, followed by an egg hunt at 10:15 a.m. for children age 4 through elementary school. Worship service at 11 a.m. Breakfast includes hot sausages, biscuits, fresh fruit, pastries, beverages. Adults, $5; $3 for children under 12. The Easter Egg Hunt is free, and the event is open to the community. Call 404-237-0363 or go to: www. covenantpresbyterian.us to find out more. Covenant Presbyterian Church, 2461 Peachtree Rd., NE, Atlanta, 30305.

Beaded Butterflies Thursday, April 4, 10:30 a.m. – Ms. Duffy

ship with Sandy Springs Reads, youth in middle and high school are invited to redesign the cover of To Kill a Mockingbird. Cash prizes awarded to the winners. Free to enter, and open to all. Submission deadline is Monday, April 22, 6 p.m. Call 404-303-6130, email: marlan.brinkley@fultoncountyga.gov or stop by the library branch for more details. Sandy Springs Branch Library, 395 Mount Vernon Highway, Sandy Springs, 30328.

Children’s Day Display

Sunday, March 31, 9:30 a.m. – Easter ser-

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TO ORDER, VISIT GOODMEASUREMEALS.COM OR CALL 404-815-7695 TODAY! 100% of proceeds are donated to support Open Hand’s community nutrition programs provided free of charge to underserved individuals battling or at risk for chronic disease.

GMM_Reporter_qtr_pg_vert_Feb13.indd 1 www.ReporterNewspapers.net |

1/16/2013 3:22:17 PM | 17 March 22 – April 4, 2013

out & about

‘Formations: Patterns in Nature’ connects art with elements By Martha Nodar

martha nodar

Brad Little, left, chats with Barb Rehg and Linda King during the opening of the ‘Formations’ show at the Spruill Gallery in Dunwoody. The show includes works by six Georgia artists.

Linda King, a Brookhaven resident and frequent visitor to the Spruill Gallery in Dunwoody, felt an immediate connection with the artwork upon examining the gallery’s new exhibit. “I absolutely feel the nature and the earth these artists bring out in their pieces,” said Linda King of Brookhaven. “It is soothing and grounding, but it also leaves you with a longing to find that place in your soul where you could be really connected.” Curated by Buckhead resident Tania Becker, “Formations: Patterns in Nature” includes works by six Georgia artists — Kate Colpitts, Jeannine Cook, Helen DeRamus, Barbara Rehg, Gerry Sattele and Mona Waterhouse — who belong to Women Caucus for Art, a nonprofit organization devoted to women’s artistic development. The exhibit is on display through April 13.

Restaurant Guide

View these listings online with a map of each location at www.ReporterNewspapers.net. Advertise in the Restaurant Guide and reach 130,000+ discriminating diners. Call 404-917-2200 ext 130. Another Broken Egg Café

Now Open in Vinings! 4300 Paces Ferry Rd Vinings GA 30339 770-384-0012 Open 7 days a week 7 AM – 2 PM Come by to see our beautiful renovated facility. Great for hosting business or private functions or just stop by and try one of the delicious menu items. Receive 20% off the month of January.

Chin Chin Chinese Restaurant

3887 Peachtree Rd, Buckhead/Brookhaven & other locations 404-816-2229 | www.ChinChinAtlanta.com Mon-Thurs 11:30-10:30, Fri/Sat 11:30-11, Sun 12-10:30 Fine Asian Cuisine - Its atmosphere, service and quality of food are above reproach. You can sit in the dining area and watch the preparation of food through a large plate glass. The menu is extensive, offering items in every category including chicken, seafood, pork, beef and duck. There are also vegetarian dishes for those who prefer.

McCormick & Schmick’s Seafood & Steaks

600 Ashwood Parkway, Atlanta, GA 30338 770.399.9900 | www.mccormickandschmicks.com M-Th: 11-9, Fri: 11-10, Sat: 4-10, Sun: 4-9 From fresh seafood and shell fish to aged steaks and garden fresh salads, our goal is to exceed your dining expectations. Our menus reflect seafood from the Pacific Rim, Atlantic Ocean and Gulf of Mexico. We also source products from local ranches, farms and wineries to showcase regionally inspired dishes.

MoSaiC Restaurant

3097 Maple Drive, Buckhead 404-846-5722 | www.mosaicatl.com Mon–Thur 11:30–10, Fri/Sat 11:30–11, Sun Brunch, 10:30–3, Dinner 3–9 MoSaiC is a popular neighborhood, Buckhead eatery, located between Peachtree & Paces Ferry. Visit this hidden gem for a charming escape from city living. Our eclectic wine list and seasonal menu is sure to please the palate.

Pig-N-Chik

4920 Roswell Rd, Sandy Springs/Buckhead, 404-255-6368 5071 Peachtree Industrial Blvd, Chamblee/Brookhaven, 770-451-1112 1815 Briarcliff Rd, Emory area 404-474-9444 Mon-Thurs. 10:30–10; Fri/Sat, 10:30–11; Sun, 11–10 | pignchik.netTreat your friends and family to the best food in town at Pig-N-Chik. From barbecue ribs and pork to turkey and chicken wings, our irresistible dishes will have your taste buds begging for more. And don’t forget our delicious desserts!

Tantra Restaurant

2285 Peachtree Rd. N.E., Atlanta, GA, 30309 404-228-7963 | tantrabuckhead.com Tantra restaurant in South Buckhead features a contemporary American menu highlighted with the exotic flavors of Persian & Indian cuisine. The menu is crafted by Executive Chef Terry Dwyer and his staff. Popular items include: mussels in roasted pepper broth with chipotle and star anise, large plump scallops caramelized in a basil rub with a dried lime beurre blanc to compliment, grilled Australian lamb served with crisp eggplant frites and horseradish-ghost chile aioli.

Old Blind Dog Irish Pub

5610 Glenridge Dr. Atlanta, Ga. 30342 678-705-8878 Meaty, cheesy, steaming hot & cold subs and sandwiches for lunch and dinner. Founded by firemen. Catering available.

705 Town Boulevard, Suite Q380, Atlanta, GA, 30319 404-816-5739 | www.OldeBlindDog.com Hours: Sun-Wed 11-midnight, Thurs-Sat 11 am -2 am This authentic Irish pub is a celebration of the seven Celtic nations. Whether it’s Guinness poured at the perfect temperature or the life-sized William Wallace Braveheart statue, Olde Blind Dog is the best Irish pub on this side of the pond. We have won numerous awards for excellence in food and drink. Our friendly, experienced waitstaff will cater to your every need.

Flavor Restaurant & Bar

Featured Restaurant

Firehouse Subs.

236 Johnson Ferry Rd. NE, Sandy Springs GA 30328 404-255-7402 | www.flavorcafebakery.com Mon: 10.30am to 3.00pm Lunch only Tue: to Fri 10.30am to 10.00pm Lunch and Dinner Sat and sun 8.00am to 10.00pm Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner Flavor with a twist. Taking traditional dishes and giving them a new twist. Babaganoush * Tabuli * Hummus * Lambchop Kabob * Jumbo Shrimp

2042 Johnson Ferry Rd NE, Atlanta 30319 770-452-9896 | www.losbravosatlanta.com Mon - Fri 11 - 10:30, Sat 12 – 10:30, Sun 12 – 10 Mouth-watering agave margaritas, carne asade, taco salads, fajitas, poblanos, quesadillas, taco salads, Mexican soup, guacamole…. It’s all at your fingertips regardless of what part of Atlanta you live in.

City Walk at Sandy Springs 227 Sandy Springs Place NE 404-497-9997 | www.tincanfishhouse.com Sun – Fri: 5 pm – 10 pm Sat: 11:30 am – 11 pm Features an eclectic menu of seaside dishes.

5610 Glenridge Dr. Atlanta, Ga. 30342 Open 7 days per week from 7:00 a.m.-9:00 p.m. 404-303-8800. Enjoy authentic Mexican food. These restaurants are paid advertisers.

March 22 – April 4, 2013

Teela Taqueria

City Walk at Sandy Springs 227 Sandy Springs Place NE 404-459-0477 | www.teelataqueria.com Sun – Thurs: 11am – 10 pm Fri – Sat: 11 am – 11:30 pm Full service boutique Mexican restaurant.

Tin Can Fish House & Oyster Bar

The Improv

The World-Famous Improv Comedy Club & Dinner Theatre is now open in Buckhead! Call or go online to get your tickets now and receive 20% off with promo code “reporter” 678-244-3612 56 E. Andrews Dr. NW Atlanta, Ga. 30305

Los Bravos Mexican Restaurant

Tazikis Mediteranian Cafe

5610 Glenridge Dr. Atlanta, Ga. 30342 tazikiscafe.com Serving lunch and dinner-fresh, healthy, and deliciously different. 11:00 a.m.-9:30 p.m. Ask about our healthy catering menu. 678-365-4403

| www.ReporterNewspapers.net

Uncle Julio’s Fine Mexican Food

1860 Peachtree Rd, Atlanta 30309 | 404-350-6767 1140 Hammond Dr NE, Sandy Springs | 678-736-8260 Sun-Thurs, 11–10; Fri & Sat, 11–11 | Uncle Julio’s created a unique restaurant concept around original recipes that demand only the freshest ingredients tailored after Uncle Julio’s family tastes. Beyond tacos, enchiladas and tamales, Uncle Julio’s specializes in marinated and mesquite grilled beef and chicken fajitas, ribs, quail, frog legs, and jumbo shrimp.

out& about Brookhaven • Buckhead • Dunwoody • Sandy Springs

‘Formations: Patterns in Nature’ Where: Spruill Gallery 4681 Ashford Dunwoody Rd. N.E., Atlanta, GA. 30338 Phone: 770-394-4019 When: Now through April 13. Hours: Tuesday-Saturday: 11:00 a.m.-6:30 p.m. Closed on Sunday. Admission/Parking: Free

One of Waterhouse’s mixed-media pieces, “Unfolding: Women’s Work,” intrigued Temme Barkin-Leeds of Buckhead. “It looks like crochet, very traditionally female,” she said. “Unfolding” includes parts of doilies Waterhouse said she inherited and some she collected from around the world. She said working on the piece has helped her reconnect at a deeper level with her roots and pay a tribute to past generations of women in her family who were martha nodar known for making elaborate doilies. Mona Waterhouse, left, and Waterhouse, who was born and raised in Sweden, is quick to point Linda King, right, discuss one of Waterhouse’s works out that, unlike her ancestors, she was never interested in sewing. “My friends and I didn’t want to learn handmade crafts because at the Spruill Gallery in Dunwoody. we considered it ‘women’s work’ and, thus, not important,” she said. “As I matured, got married and moved away from my homeland, I began to realize that the women in my family and those in the community where I grew up were talented and their creative work in crochet, embroidery and sewing was significant.” Did you know you should clean and re-seal Granite and all Stone every 1-3 years? She emphasized that “everything is Water goes right through untreated granite, grout, any natural stone connected through a network, whether in nature or in life.” - even ceramic tile is like a sponge! Waterhouse’s appreciation for her We Clea roots resonated with King, who said n she fondly recalls her grandmother sewT i l e & Stone ing quilts, making her own jelly and developing friendships with other neighbors in the Appalachian Mountains. “The joy derived from the community of women getting together to do some of the work in fellowship was invaluable,” she said. Consistent with the underpinning theme of the exhibition — connecting with the past through nature — Cook’s work shows her expertise in silverpoint, a painstaking medieval drawing techWe clean and seal tile and grout, granite, limestone, travertine, brick, slate and all natural stone. We use only the best cleaners nique dating back to the 8th century. and heavy duty sealers. Prevent water-damage and staining. Leave all your surfaces clean, shiny and protected. DeRamus specializes in encaustic, a painting process dating to the 4th cenCounters, Backsplash, Floors, Grout, Shower enclosure, Entryway, Foyer, etc. tury B.C., in which pigments are fused with wax. DeRamus likes to immerse herself in her paintings and said she experiences encaustic as a “form of meditation about the passage of time.” In a hurried world saturated with technology, the artists in this exhibit Carpet & Upholstery Cleaners, LLC are seeking to touch upon a more introFamily Owned & Operated Since 1960 spective way of life. Our business was built on referrals for over 50 years! “I have learned acceptance and the art of staying in the moment, as the result of working with this medium,” DeRamus said.

15%F oF

Are you STone STupid?

404-784-1514

www.ReporterNewspapers.net |

March 22 – April 4, 2013 | 19

Communities of Faith

3180 Peachtree Road, NW . Atlanta, Georgia 30305 404.266.2373 . www.prumc.org

Peachtree Road

united methodist Church

Easter Day Worship

6:30 am . Sunrise Service

Holy Week

8:15, 9:45 and 11:15 am . Festival Worship

Maundy Thursday, March 28 7:00 p.m.

Palm Sunday

Good Friday, March 29 7:30 a.m., 12:00 p.m., 7:00 p.m.

Maundy Thursday

Easter Eve, Saturday, March 30 7:00 p.m. The Great Vigil

9:40am Sunday School 11:00am Worship 7:00pm Communion Service

Easter Sunday, March 31 8:00 a.m., 9:30 a.m., 11:30 a.m., 5:30 p.m.

Good Friday

Northwest Presbyterian Church 4300 Northside Drive, NW Atlanta, GA 30327 404-237-5539  nwpcatlanta.org

7:00pm Tenebrae Service

Easter Sunday

9:40am Sunday School 11:00am Easter Celebration 12:15pm Easter Egg Hunt

www.stmartins.org

www.peachtreepres.org

Thursday March 28, 7:00 PM Maundy Thursday Tenebrae service Sunday March 31, 11:00 AM Easter Sunday Service Both services will be held in the sanctuary

Special Holy Week Services at Sandy Springs UMC Palm Sunday, March 24, 11am - Easter Egg Hunt following, 12:15pm Monday, March 25, 12pm - Lunch following, $5 Tuesday, March 26, 12pm - Lunch following, $5 Wednesday, March 27, 12pm - Lunch following, $5 Maundy Thursday, March 28, 6:45pm Dinner prior, 6pm, $7 Good Friday, March 29, 12pm Lunch following, $5

HE IS RISEN

Easter Sunday, March 31, Service at 11am

Please join our church family for these meaningful worship services this Easter Season 20

March 22 – April 4, 2013 | www.ReporterNewspapers.net

HOLY WEEK SCHEDULE

2461 Peachtree Road NE, Atlanta, GA 30305 404-237-0363 | www.covenantpresbyterian.us Palm Sunday, March 24

Sanctuary Services: 8:45, 11:15 a.m. | Marnie Crumpler Sanctuary Services: 10:00 a.m | Bryan Dunagan Summit Services: 8:45, 11:15 a.m. | The Lodge | Bryan Dunagan

Sunday parking on site and at two satellite lots with continuous bus service:

Community Good Friday, March 29

Powers Ferry Square: ½ mile north of the church on the west side of Roswell Road. Between SunTrust Bank and Dunkin’ Donuts. Buses run from 7:30 a.m.–1:00 p.m.

Easter Egg Hunt, March 30

Cates Center: 110 East Andrews Drive. Buses run from 7:30–1:00 p.m.

Maundy Thursday, March 28

Communion Service: 7:00 p.m. | Mark Crumpler 12:00 Noon | Sanctuary Services | Vic Pentz Chastain Park Playground: 10:00 a.m.–1:00 p.m.

Easter Sunday, March 31

Sanctuary Services: 8:45, 10:00, 11:15 a.m. | Vic Pentz Summit Services: 8:45, 11:15 a.m. | The Lodge | Bryan Dunagan Children’s programs available at all services

Peachtree Presbyterian Church 3434 Roswell Road, NW Atlanta, GA 30305

FAITH

Local clergy to deliver straightforward sermons this Easter By Dan Whisenhunt

same title every year, and I’m preachCatholic Church has selected an Aring from Mark, chapter 16, verses 1-8, gentinian, the former Jorge Mario danwhisenhunt@reporternewspapers.net simply a verse-by-verse description of Bergoglio, who has taken the name that text focusing on the resurrection.” Pope Francis, to succeed Pope BeneThe New Testament says Jesus Christ “Easter, you know, for us, that’s like Menikoff said it’s important to redict XVI, who resigned in February. died for the sins of mankind and rose the Super Bowl of the church,” Campmember that the message might be “From our perspective, with the three days later. Some local clergy say bell said. “Our whole basis of and the going out to people who aren’t reguelection of our new pope, I maintain their Easter sermons won’t need to say foundation and core value of what we lar churchgoers. Easter has come early, bringing hope much more than that. believe is rooted in the resurrection, “I’m and new expectations and Christians celebrate so the focus aware there joy to our church,” Duffy resurrection of Jesus of the mesmay be insaid. Christ on Easter Sunsage and the dividuals He said his sermon day, which falls this year focus of the who may will focus on “hope.” on March 31. The resday is just not be ad“The Paschal candle, urrection is the foundaa huge celeherents, truthe big candle we light tion of Christian belief, bration.” ly,” he said. on Saturday night, which and its celebration ofCamp“They may enters the church, the ten draws congregations bell said his be coming candle shatters the darkfilled with more than the message will out of obness and brings light and usual number of guests, be “streamligation. I hope,” Duffy said. “We nonmembers and infrelined” and don’t feel are the Paschal candle. quent churchgoers. For his preachany presWe are baptized in Jesus families gathering from ing style The Rev. Jim Duffy The Rev. Aaron The Rev. Brian sure, but I and we are the hope of out of town, a highlight “practical.” Menikoff Campbell do want to our world. When we enis the collective trek to an Parishiobe clear about the essentials of the ter the room, we are to illuminate and Easter service. ners at Mount Vernon Baptist Church Christian faith.” dispel despair and darkness and bring At Calvary Assembly of God, the in Sandy Springs can expect a similarThe Rev. Jim Duffy of Our Lady light and hope.” Rev. Brian Campbell said he wants to ly straightforward theme. of the Assumption Catholic Church The Rev. David Michael at Faith make sure his sermon doesn’t upstage “I have creatively entitled my serin Brookhaven said Catholics are celCornerstone Church in Brookhavhis Dunwoody church’s musical celemon ‘The Easter Sermon,’” the Rev. ebrating a little early this year. The bration. Aaron Menikoff said. “I keep the Continued on page 22

Communities of Faith Celebrate with us!

ST. JAMES UNITED METHODIST CHURCH ON THE CORNER OF LORIDANS AND PEACHTREE-DUNWOODY

Good Friday Service March 29th at noon

Please stay for a soup and sandwhich luncheon. No RSVP required.

Easter Sunday - March 31st Sunrise service at 7am

Community serve at Oglethorpe Presbyterian Church on the grounds

Worship services at 8:45am and 10:45am Come early and enjoy a musical prelude

For more information, call the church office at 404-261-3121

Saint Barnabas Anglican Church Biblical † Apostolic † Traditional 1928 Book of Common Prayer The Right Reverend Chandler Jones, SSC Rector and Bishop Suffragan Reverend Matthew E. Harlow, Curate Please join us this Easter: Saturday, March 30 - Easter Evening Service 8:00 pm (with incense) Holy Communion of the Easter Vigil Sunday, March 31 - Easter Day Services 9:00 am & 11:00 am Holy Communion

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Join Us As We Follow Christ Through The Week That Changed The World. Monday, March 25 11:30 a.m. Devotion: Dr. Mark Wilbanks $5 lunch Tuesday, March 26 11:30 a.m. Devotion: Rev. Matt Sapp $5 lunch Wednesday, March 27 11:30 a.m. Devotion: Rev. Bill Givens $5 lunch Thursday, March 28 11:30 a.m. Devotion: Joel Mills $5 lunch

Thursday, March 28 Maundy Thursday Service 7:00 p.m. Chapel Friday, March 29 Good Friday Service 12:00 p.m. Peachtree Presbyterian Church Saturday, March 30 North Atlanta Easter Egg Hunt 10:00 a.m.-12:00p.m. Easter Sunday, March 31 Bible Study - 9:30 Worship - 11:00

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March 22 – April 4, 2013 | 21

FAITH

Clergy to deliver straightforward sermons this Easter Continued from page 21 ebrate, that all that the things that en intends to take a more direct apwere promised came to pass. There’s proach. not a need for anything to grab peo“We’re going to talk about Jesus ple’s attention. You just tell them the and ‘He is risen’ and you’ve been story.” forgiven and Dr. Miyour sins are no chael Youssef more,” Michael at Church of said. “That’s bathe Apostles “The only reason I know sically it.” in Buckhead the moment I close my eyes The Rev. said the story Brad Miller is well known, in death that I will be in at Brookhavbut ChristianiHeaven with Jesus is been Christian ty wouldn’t hold cause of that resurrection.” Church said the up without it. challenge of the “The only Easter sermon reason I know – Dr. Michael Youssef is to make it the moment I Church of the Apostles sound fresh. As close my eyes in Buckhead a practical matin death that I ter, it’s a story will be in HeavChristians hear en with Jesus is often. because of that “My thought has been to make resurrection,” he said. “That assurit as straightforward as possible,” ance would not be at all possible Miller said. “This is the day we celwithout the resurrection.”

Seder tradition Following Passover Seder tradition, Epstein School seventh-grader Adam Sturisky, right, places a piece of unleavened bread in a bag to hide for the end of the meal. The matzo is known as the afikomen, which is symbolic of future redemption. From left, Neri Cohen, Juliana Zitron and Lior Granath watch. The Epstein School welcomed Faith Lutheran School of Marietta to an interfaith Seder, created to engage students in sharing their faiths and an appreciation of one another. Passover begins at sundown March 25.

Communities of Faith Alleluia! Christ is Risen! Good Friday, March 29

Good Friday Liturgy: Noon Stations of the Cross: 6 pm for families with young children Stations of the Cross: 7 pm

EastEr EvE, March 30 The Great Vigil of Easter: 8:30 pm

EastEr sunday, March 31

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Baseball is back In parks across Reporter Newspapers communities, spring arrives with the ping of a ball on a metal bat. In March, baseball and softball teams head to their carefully manicured ballfields in Sandy Springs, Buckhead, Brookhaven and Dunwoody. Players celebrated the return of their summer game with parades, renditions of the national anthem and, of course, ceremonial first pitches. Photographer Phil Mosier gave us this look at Opening Day in our communities.

Kinsey Farmer, left, sings the national anthem on March 9, opening day for Sandy Springs Youth Sports at Morgan Falls Park in Sandy Springs. At right, mascots from area schools join players as the national anthem is sung on the Northside Youth Organization’s Opening Day ceremony at Chastain Park in Buckhead on March 16.

At left, Jackson Fobas waits his turn at bat during a Dunwoody Senior Baseball game at Dunwoody Park on March 9. At right, volunteers Kathleen Jackson, left, and Brenda Kidwell, survey the action at Murphey Candler Park in Brookhaven during the start of Murphey Candler Baseball’s season. At left, Rachel Axelson stands with her balloon during the opening ceremonies of Murphey Candler Girls Softball on March 9. At right, Brooks Bowling runs the bases during an opening day game March 16 for the Athletics of the Buckhead Baseball league at Frankie Allen Park in Buckhead. Photos by Phil Mosier Special

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EDUCATION

Standout Students

Student Profile:

Sean King Senior, Mount Vernon Presbyterian School Sean King is a school counselor’s dream. An outstanding student in both sports and the arts, he keeps busy throughout the year. As captain of his school’s swim team for the past three years, Sean won the 100 breaststroke and came in second in the 100 freestyle at the Georgia Independent School Assocition state championship last year. He was the only state qualifying member of his team, placing third in the 100 breaststroke at the Georgia High School Association state championship with a time of 58:46. “I love the sport of swimming because it is a lifelong sport that is arguably one of the most challenging to train for and compete,” Sean said in an email. “The leadership, character and life values I have gained from swimming are ones I will cherish for the rest of my life.” Sean also is involved in the arts as a member of the chorus at his school and the choir at his church. He plays the roles of Snail, Man Bird, Lizard, and Father Frog in his school’s spring musical, “A Year with Frog and Toad.” Sean likes writing poetry and cooking. He enjoys inventing recipes and says his favorite meal to cook is baked chicken with spinach and Parmigiano. He also volunteers to help build houses for Habitat for Humanity.

“Sean King is a Renaissance man!” said Mount Vernon Upper School Dean of Students Krista Parker. “He is athletic, musically gifted and a hard worker in class. “His peers respect and admire him. I have seen him help out his classmates, and he is always sharing with me information he has heard or seen regarding biology. Sean always has a smile on his face and is a good-natured, caring young man.”

What’s Next: Sean is undecided about his plans for college, but he’s interested in majoring in biology or psychology. He plans on swimming in college.

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 Tori Weprinsky  Senior, North Springs Charter High School Tori Weprinsky ranks third in her class and, coincidentally, is also a threesport varsity athlete. Tori has lettered in volleyball, basketball and soccer. Meanwhile, she has served as president of the National Honor Society, president of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, a student ambassador and a dual magnet student in science and music. “Honestly, I don’t get much sleep,” Tori joked when asked how she has time for all her activities. “But I think that staying busy forces me to stay on top of everything and helps me with my time management.” Tori’s accomplishments on and oﬀ the field of play include being named an Advanced Placement Scholar, a University of Georgia Merit Scholar and volleyball defensive player of the year. On March 5, Tori was honored at the Atlanta Sports Awards as the Female High School Scholar Athlete of the Year. The award recognizes Atlanta-area high school athletes who have demonstrated excellence in both sports and academics. As a recipient, Tori receives a $1,000 scholarship at a university of her choice. “I was so honored to be in the same room as the other amazing athletes and to be receiving an award,” she said. “I was pretty starstruck when I was talking to [former Atlanta Braves baseball player] Chipper Jones and [Atlanta Falcons quarterback] Matt Ryan.” Tori has played volleyball since her freshman year and has played on the varsity team since her sophomore year. “[The highlight of my athletic career] was getting to the [state tournament] Sweet 16 in volleyball two years in a row,” Tori says. Tori has played basketball and soccer since she was 6. She played varsity basketball from her freshman through junior year and varsity soccer all four years of high school. “I don’t have much time in the oﬀseason because I’m always playing a different sport,” Tori said. “I do play some pickup games of soccer, basketball and volleyball, and practice in my backyard or driveway with my dad and friends.” Tori was nominated for the scholarathlete award by North Springs Principal Lisa Stueve and Athletic Director Tommy Amoroso. “Tori has excelled on the playing field as well as the classroom. Her faith drives

Do you know a standout high school student? Send nominees to editor@ reporternewspapers.net.

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Tori has been accepted to Southern Methodist University, University of Georgia, University of Virginia, University of North Carolina and Tulane Universiy and is waiting to hear from several other colleges. She is undecided but hopes to use her college education to work toward her goal of becoming a doctor.

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Lenox Square mall in Buckhead is one of the largest shopping centers in the Southeast. Shoplifting at the mall was lower in 2012 compared with 2011.

CBS ATLANTA

Shoplifting at Lenox lifts crime numbers CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

C. Smith works the mall during his afternoon shift and said the jeans are popular among the shoplifters he arrests. “I’m perfectly fine with Wranglers for like $20 or $30,” Smith said. “I don’t understand why anybody needs to pay $300 for jeans.” Theft from Lenox was one of Buckhead’s biggest crimes in 2012, according to statistics released by the Atlanta Police Department. Lenox, owned by Simon Property Group, is one of the South’s largest shopping malls, containing more than 250 stores. It attracts shoppers from all over. The crowded mall with a constant stream of traﬃc and exhilaratingly expensive merchandise also lures greedy fingers. Shoplifters don’t think twice about grabbing merchandise and making a run for it. The thieves have a harder time getting their loot out of Lenox, Smith says. While Buckhead’s police boundary, Zone 2, is Atlanta’s top reporter of property crime, the Lenox beat had more thefts classified as “other larceny” than any other beat in the zone. Other larceny usually means thefts that don’t involve unlawfully entering property. Crimes such as shoplifting fall into this category. Atlanta Police annually release data about all Part 1 crimes, oﬀenses police are more likely to know about and are reported more frequently. In 2012, Part 1 crimes in Zone 2 rose by 8 percent over 2011. It was the only zone in the city with an overall increase. Zone 2 is divided into 13 beats. Beat 210, which includes Lenox, had the most Part 1 crimes of any beat in the zone, a statistic driven by its large number of “other larceny” crimes. Lenox Square spokeswoman Carly Dennis said the mall has a “close working relationship with APD” but would not discuss the crime statistics in depth. “We do not comment on the specific security measures the mall implements daily to keep shoppers safe,” she said. Zone 2 commander, Maj. Van Hobbs,

compiles Part 1 crime data in a thick binder. He studies it, looking for trends that can help him develop strategies to keep Buckhead’s crime rate low. Hobbs said out of more than 443 “other larcenies” in Beat 210 reported in 2012, 345 were at Lenox. The commander said the beat’s numbers improved from 2011, when there were 503 other larcenies reported, 401 of which were at Lenox. It should be noted that Beat 210 does not include Phipps Plaza, which is near Lenox Square. Phipps is in Beat 208 and that beat generated 269 other larceny reports. Broken down further, Hobbs said shoplifting at Lenox in 2012 accounted for 177 of the other larcenies reported, down from 255 in 2011. Hobbs attributes the drop in numbers to changing police tactics. He said Deputy Chief and Field Operations Division Commander Ernest Finley Jr. looked at all areas in the city that were hot spots for shoplifters. “What he did is, we have recruits that get hired and prior to going to the academy, we put them where we need them,” Hobbs said. “We put them in those areas as extra eyes and ears.” The recruits can’t make arrests, but their presence and reports to sworn police officers keep shoplifters in check, Hobbs said. Police catch many of the suspects at the mall. The larger anchor stores, like Macy’s and Bloomingdale’s, have their own security known as “loss prevention officers.” The mall hires off-duty Atlanta police officers to patrol the rest of the property. “Obviously we’re not going to catch everybody,” Hobbs said. Hobbs said some of the Lenox Mall thieves are professional criminals who see the potential for arrest as the cost of doing business. Smith doesn’t arrest many professionals on his shift, which starts in the afternoon and stretches late into the night. The people he arrests are mostly juveniles. BH

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“They’re just coming in, taking MARTA, and then they don’t have a ride back,” Smith said. “Parents usually don’t know why their kids are even in Buckhead.” Smith said he’s often tasked with taking juvenile offenders home after they’ve been arrested. The rides in his squad car can be quiet, aside from the constant crackling of radio chatter. “I myself try not to preach too much,” Smith said. “I try to let them know that it’s not accepted and they need to get off this certain area that they’re in, but I’m not the kind of person that likes to keep beating somebody down and telling them how they’re the worst person and they need to change everything that they’ve ever done because of this. I just let them know it’s a bad decision and they need to not do it again.” These offenders seldom do commit the same crime twice, or at least they don’t do it at Lenox, Smith said. He said juveniles convicted of shoplifting receive a criminal trespass warning, banishing them from the mall for two to three years. So who are these kids? Smith said their grades are usually below average and they don’t participate in after-school activities. Their relationships with their fathers are often strained or nonexistent, he said. “I talk to them about it,” Smith said. “They seem to be lost, most of the time.” The kids’ motives aren’t complicated, he said. “There’s not really a set mold for shoplifters,” Smith said. “I feel like the shoplifter will just take something be-

cause they think they can get away with it at the time. I’ve had somebody have a pocketful of $500 in bills and they took $200 worth of stuﬀ.” Smith said while True Religion jeans are popular on the five-finger discount list, there are the weirder heists, like the kid who stole a $2,000 espresso machine. Hobbs said food, electronics, cosmetics and batteries are targets. Smart phones and other gadgets like iPads are also favorites, Hobbs said. Often the shoplifters work in teams, using a distraction method. One will chat up a sales associate while the other nabs merchandise or the employee’s phone. “People are pretty careless with their cellphones,” Hobbs said. “They’ll leave them on the register.” Sometimes the thieves walk into open break rooms and steal wallets and purses. It’s always about opportunity and opportunities abound at Lenox. Smith said he often feels he’s fighting a losing battle as he drives his car in circles round and round the mall looking for trouble. He can’t tell if he’s made any real difference. Smith said there have been fewer calls recently compared with the ferocious shoplifting in the weeks leading up to Christmas. “There’s definitely been less lately than I’ve had to deal with in the past,” Smith said. But is it a long-term trend? “You’ll get your answer pretty quickly come summertime when the kids aren’t in school,” Smith said.

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The following information was provided to the Buckhead Reporter by the Zone 2 precinct of the Atlanta Police Department from its records and is presumed to be accurate.

AS S AULT  3000 block of Piedmont Road, NE – An aggravated assault was reported on March 2. A woman’s sister struck her with a vehicle. She refused to give any information as it related to her sister. The victim said they had an argument. She refused medical treatment. The victim was arrested on a warrant for a probation violation.

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Police Blotter From police reports dated through March 9.

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 2300 block of Parkland Drive, NE – An aggravated assault was reported on March 4. A woman’s roommate punched her in the face because the victim did not pick her up from work.  900 block of Canterbury Road, NE – An aggravated as-

sault was reported on March 9. A man chased his live-in girlfriend with a large kitchen knife. He did this two times within 30 minutes.

R O BBERY  2400 block of Camellia Lane, NE – A residential robbery was reported on Feb. 24. A woman said she was in bed when she heard scratching at the door. She got up out of bed, looked out the peephole and saw two men outside the door. The men said they were Atlanta police. She knew they were not, so while she pretended to call the police, the men forced their way into her apartment and pushed her into the corner, one placing his foot on her face. The men were looking for her boyfriend’s jewelry. They took a Rolex watch and a rose gold chain. The crow bar that the suspects had was left behind. The victim’s keys to her Range Rover also were taken.  1200 block of Chattahoochee Avenue, NE – A pedestrian robbery was reported on Feb. 27. Two men robbed a man while he was at a bank ATM. The suspects pointed a black handgun at him. The suspects left the scene in a burgundy Dodge Charger. $700 in cash, a wallet with two debit cards and one credit card were stolen. The man’s white iPhone 4S was also stolen.  2000 block of Peachtree Road, NE – A pedestrian robbery was reported on March 1. A woman said she was walking through a parking lot when she heard footsteps running toward her, and when she turned around, all she saw was a gun pointing at her head. She said the suspect told her to give him everything, so she gave him her purse, and he took off running.  500 block of Main Street, NE – A pedestrian robbery was reported on March 4. Three men, one wearing a red bandana, one wearing a blue bandana, and the third wearing a black beanie cap, approached two women who were getting out of their vehicle and demanded they give up their purses. The suspects were all armed with handguns. Two

clutch bags were taken with keys in both, along with an iPhone.  2900 block of Peachtree Road, NW – A pedestrian robbery in a parking lot was reported on March 7. A woman said a man with a gun approached her and took her purse as she was getting her kids out the car. She said the suspect showed her what looked like a plastic gun, but she wasn’t sure. She said the suspect reached onto the front passenger seat and took her purse, and the gun fell to the ground. The suspect grabbed her purse and her wallet fell out. Nothing of value was in the purse.  3200 block of Peachtree Road, NE – A commercial robbery at a drug store was reported on March 7. A store employee said she was approached by a man who asked for assistance locating shoe polish. Upon assisting the customer, she saw another man behind the counter placing cigarettes inside a bag. When the employee attempted to approach, the man yelled “Get back” and reached inside his waistband as to suggest he was reaching for a weapon. The suspects ﬂed the scene in what witnesses described as a sedan with a sunroof.

3300 block of Peachtree Road, NE – A pedestrian robbery



was reported on March 8. The victim was unsure if the suspect had a gun or not, but the suspect did place something in the victim’s back. The victim did not get a good look at the suspect, but he wore a black hooded sweat shirt. A wallet, credit card and $500 in cash were stolen. No witnesses.

B U R G L A RY  300 block of Pine Tree Drive, NE – A commercial burglary was reported on Feb. 27. An unknown suspect entered and discharged a ﬁre extinguisher all over the inside of the location.  2100 block of Cheshire Bridge Road, NE – A residential burglary was reported on March 3. A woman said she was awakened by the sound of her bedroom fan. When she rolled over she saw a dark ﬁgure in her driveway. Upon further investigation, she found her roommate’s laptop was taken from the closet.

 2300 block of Cheshire Bridge Road, NE – A commercial burglary was reported on March 8. The store’s bottom window of a rear bay door was kicked in. The safe was damaged by a sledge hammer and $731 in cash was taken from the safe. Prints were recovered from the safe’s combination dial.

LARCENY  1800 block of Howell Mill Road, NW –A larceny from a discount store was reported on Feb. 24. A man was attempting to return a TV to the store. He left the TV at the Customer Service desk and went to the back of the store for about 45 minutes. Suspects came up BH

PUBLIC SAFETY to the Customer Service desk, picked up the TV, placed it in a cart and walked out of the store with it. The man said he had placed his wallet in the box with the TV.  200 block of Peachtree Road, NW –A larceny at a restaurant was reported on Feb. 25. A woman said she went to buy food and sat down to eat. She placed her purse on the back of her chair. She saw a man sit next to her, and then bumped her when he left. She later noticed her wallet was gone.  2000 block of Peachtree Road, NW – A larceny at a medical facility was reported on Feb. 26. A woman said that the suspect took $100 from her bra while she was sleeping. The victim is a patient at the medical facility.  1200 block of W. Paces Ferry Road, NW – A larceny from a grocery store was reported on Feb. 26. Two suspects ran out of the Publix carrying two grocery baskets of meat worth approximately $150. The suspects got into a car and drove off.  3200 block of Peachtree Road, NE –A larceny from a department store was reported on March 2. The suspect entered Marshalls and passed all points of sale with three baby shirts and five Polo shirts, and also put on a pair of shoes in the store before leaving with the items. The suspect ran on foot, away from a loss prevention representative and a security officer saw the suspect run into a grocery store. The suspect was confronted by another APD officer who attempted to detain the suspect. The suspect continued to resist arrest but was subsequently arrested in the parking lot. The suspect caused damage to a vehicle in the parking lot.  3300 block of Peachtree Road, NE – A larceny from a hotel was reported on March 2. A woman said that items were missing from her purse. She laid the purse down in a corner of a ballroom of the hotel and returned to find her money and two licenses missing from the purse. The hotel manager said there is no available video footage inside the ballroom.  3300 block of Peachtree Road, NE – A larceny from a hotel was reported on March 2. A woman left her purse, iPad and wallet unattended in the ladies’ fitting room at a hotel while she went upstairs. Her daughter said that a bald man, wearing a brown jacket and brown shoes, was sitting in the fitting room. After hearing this information, the woman went to retrieve her belongings and found her iPad, wedding ring and $60 stolen from her purse.  900 block of Sidney Marcus Boulevard, NE – A larceny from a residence was report-

ed on March 3. A woman left her ex-boyfriend alone in the apartment after he became belligerent. When she returned, her iPad2, juicer and desktop computer were missing.  2300 block of Marietta Boulevard, NW – A larceny from a convenience store was reported on March 3. An unknown subject stole two cans of beer, totaling $2, and then fled. The tag provided by the manager came back to a vehicle different than she described.  3300 block of Peachtree Road, NE – A larceny from a department store was reported on March 5. A woman was seen selecting items valued at $512, then attempting to leave without paying. While being transported, she escaped from the officer and tried to get away; she was later charged with fleeing from the officer. It was later found the she was lying about her age and had an outstandBH

ing warrant from DeKalb County.  3100 block of Peachtree Road, NE – A larceny from a specialty store was reported on March 6. 100 pairs of shoes totaling $5,000 were taken, as well as $157 in cash.  100 block of Bennett Street, NW – A larceny was reported on March 7. An unidentiﬁed man entered the location, asked a woman, “What type of building was this?” He then grabbed her iPhone and laptop, and attempted to run away. She was able to take back the laptop but the suspect ran away with her phone.  2100 block of Bolton Drive, NW – A larceny was reported on March 9. An unknown suspect stole ice cream from an ice cream truck. The victim found the right door slightly open. When the victim went to investigate he found a box of ice that had fallen out of the vehicle.

LARCE N Y FR O M AUTO  3300 block of Peachtree Road, NE – A larceny from an auto was reported on Feb. 24. The victim came back to the vehicle and noticed that the door lock was slightly bent. A cellphone and a shiny, plastic leopard print purse were missing.

1200 block of Marietta Boulevard, NW – A larceny from



an auto was reported on Feb. 28. A man used a valet to park his vehicle at a nightclub. When he picked up his vehicle, he noticed that $1,000 in cash had been taken from a drawer beneath the passenger seat. T he manager did not know which valet parked the vehicle.

 4200 block of Roswell Road, NE – A larceny from an auto was reported on March 1. An unknown suspect smashed the window on the victim’s vehicle and stole his tax papers.

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 500 block of Deering Road, NW – A larceny from an auto was reported on March 4. The victim’s 1996 GMC Jimmy was entered and the in-dash radio was taken along with a gym bag containing his driver’s license and clothes, while parked in the driveway. The vehicle was unlocked to due to the locks being non-functional.

A UTO TH EFT  2500 block of Chantilly Drive, NE – An auto theft from a hotel was reported on Feb. 26. A man said he parked the car and when he returned he noticed the car was gone. There were no signs of forced entry. He said he left his wife’s keys at the hotel and searched for them, and they were missing along with the vehicle. A credit card was used online for $182.35.  1900 block of Defoor Avenue, NW – An auto theft was reported on March 4. A man was warming up his 2006 grey Ford F-150 when suspects jumped inside the vehicle.  700 block of Holmes Street, NW – An auto theft was reported on the evening of March 6. An unknown suspect abandoned the victim’s vehicle on the street with it still running and unsecured. The vehicle was never reported stolen because the owner was not aware of the vehicle being missing until she was contacted by an ofﬁcer.

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March 22 – april 4, 2013 | 29

COMMUNITY

Rep. Wendell Willard quietly secures his legacy BY DAN WHISENHUNT

danwhisenhunt@reporternewspapers.net

Rep. Wendell Willard, R-Sandy Springs, may be among the most influential state legislators in recent memory, but it’s sometimes easy to forget. He’s passionate about what he does but he’s not a firebrand. Throughout most of his political career he’s been a quiet source of sage counsel, both as an attorney to local governments and a state legislator. Willard’s party took control of the state House in 2004, but he distinctly remembers when Democrats ran the show in Georgia. “We just sat there and shook our fist at them,” Willard said. “That’s all we could do.” Willard, 72, has seen more accomplishment than frustration throughout his political career. He’s the epitome of a Southern gentleman, respected by representatives in both parties. His fellow legislators think highly of him both for his keen mind and the way he carries himself when he’s at the state Capitol. Willard said being a successful legislator requires “professional courtesy.” He said he has worked to earn the trust of others and acted with integrity. He advises new members of the House to do the same. “You’re going to be known for how you conduct yourself,” he said. He married his wife, Vicki, in 1984, and has two children from a previous marriage. His son, Ken, lives in St. Louis and is a consultant for churches. His daughter, Kelly, resides near Roswell with her husband, Jake, and Willard’s 3-year-old grandson, Kaleb. Willard describes himself as a “Theodore Roosevelt Republican,” saying he’s fiscally conservative and socially progres-

sive. In the current session, Willard cosigned House Bill 427, which seeks to protect lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered state employees from workplace discrimination. Willard hasn’t decided how much longer he’ll continue serving. He was first elected in 2000 and has another year before he’s up for reelection. His first foray into Republican politics began when he was 18. He worked on the 1960 presidential campaign of Richard Nixon, who lost that year but ran again and was elected president in 1968. Willard was born in Decatur and grew up in DeKalb County. He said public service is in his blood. His father worked in security doing background checks for the U.S. State Department and his job took the younger Willard to live overseas, for a time. He had ancestors in north Alabama who were scouts for the Union army during the Civil War. His grandfather also served in the Alabama Legislature, Willard said. Willard served as a reservist in the U.S. Marines from 1959 to 1966. Willard obtained his law degree from Atlanta Law School, graduating in 1965. He worked as the DeKalb County attorney in the 1970s. Willard ran for the state Legislature in 1970, but lost. He moved his family to north Fulton in 1986 and stayed put. He ran again in 2000 at the urging of friends within the party. He won, and shortly thereafter met a woman named Eva Galambos who was working to start a new city, Sandy Springs. The city incorporated in 2005. Galambos became the city’s first mayor. Willard wrote the city’s charter, a document describing the

“You’re going to be known for how you conduct yourself.” – HOUSE JUDICIARY chairMaN WENDELL WILLARD R-SANDY SPRINGS

powers, duties and functions of the city’s government. Willard currently works as the city’s attorney. That charter has become the blueprint that Georgia’s new cities – including Dunwoody and Brookhaven – have followed. If a charter sounds bureaucratic and technical, it is. Willard has spent most of his career mired in the fine print of legislation and law. He’s a toiler, someone who has rejected leadership within the state House because he likes what he’s doing. Willard has served as chairman of the House Judiciary Committee since 2005. This year, Willard and his committee are reforming the juvenile justice system, an effort to treat kids skipping school differently than the more dangerous youthful offenders. At the moment,

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March 22 – april 4, 2013 | www.ReporterNewspapers.net

the juvenile justice system doesn’t make that distinction, Willard said, and punishments can sometimes do more harm than good. The juvenile justice system has a 65 percent recidivism rate, a statistic Willard calls “unacceptable.” “We’re really, as a state, damaging the greatest asset that we’ve got,” Willard said. Willard’s reforms of state code will be his lasting legacy, his friend Rep. Mike Jacobs, R-Brookhaven, says. “Wendell is as good a legislator as they come,” Jacobs said. “He has a tremendous depth of experience as a lawyer and as chairman of the House Judiciary Committee he does a great job bringing that experience to bear in ways that really benefit all of Georgia.” Rep. LaDawn Jones, D-Atlanta, said while serving on the committee she’s clashed with Willard over legislation but said “overall I think he’s a very intelligent attorney.” “He wasn’t very happy with me earlier this session when I disagreed with him on one of the first bills,” Jones said. “But he understands. He understood that.” Rep. Mary Margaret Oliver, D- Decatur, has known Willard for 20 years. “He is a very classy gentleman,” Oliver said. “I know the volume of work that he’s carrying and I know the way in which he treats people respectfully. He provides a great model of public service, in my view.” Jacobs said he hopes Willard continues to serve. Willard said he likes the job, particularly finishing the complicated but necessary task of reforming dysfunctional state laws. He said he intends to work “as long as I could keep doing it.” “I’ve always considered myself an active person,” Willard said.

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Driveways & Walkways – Replaced or repaired. Masonry, grading, foundations repaired, waterproofing and retaining walls. Call Joe Sullivan 770-616-0576. Furniture Care – Redesign, custom painting, on-site refinishing, repairs, touch-ups, cleaning and polishing. We will Buy, Sell or Trade Antique Furniture. Danny Linton 770-882-5132. Matthew’s Handy Services – Small jobs and chores is my specialty, flexible scheduling, carpentry, drywall, painting, plumbing and cleaning. Call 404-547-2079

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March 22 – april 4, 2013 | 31

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March 22 – April 4, 2013 | www.ReporterNewspapers.net