03-22-2013 Brookhaven Reporter

Inside Temporary deal DeKalb agrees to provide some services to city COMMUNITY 2

Concerns linger As the city develops its first budget, worries resurface COMMUNITY 3

Brookhaven Reporter www.ReporterNewspapers.net

MARCH 22 — APRIL 4, 2013 • VOL. 5 — NO. 6

I see him!

PERIMETER BU S pages 9-

INESS

15

‘Critical’ year ahead for DeKalb schools’ board appointees

Jester writes Former DeKalb school official shares thoughts COMMENTARY 8

BY JOE EARLE

Joyful voices

joeearle@reporternewspapers.net

John Coleman sees the next year as “critical” for DeKalb County’s schools.

Coleman is one of six people appointed by Gov. Nathan Deal on March 13 to hold seats on the DeKalb school board, replacing board members Deal suspended after the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS) accrediting agency put the district’s accreditation on probation and criticized its board for meddling in school affairs and mismanaging finances.

“The next year is critical for accreditation,” said Coleman, 31, a Brookhaven resident with a Master of Business Administration degree from Harvard University. “Then, I think we need to address long-term issues.”

Clergy plan simple sermons of Easter celebration FAITH 21

Standouts Students excel in sports, athletics and drama EDUCATION 24, 25

SEE DEKALB, PAGE 26

Leaders introduced to concerns at Cross Keys forum

BY MELISSA WEINMAN

melissaweinman@reporternewspapers.net

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B.J. Kelly gives his daughter Lyla, 2, a bird’s eye view as they watch Lands Kelly, 4, being introduced during opening day ceremonies of spring baseball at Murphey Candler Park on March 8 in Brookhaven. More photos on page 23.

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At a civic forum at Cross Keys High School, officials from the city of Brookhaven assured residents they are working to improve living conditions and infrastructure around Buford Highway.

During the March 19 forum, hosted by the Cross Keys Foundation, Brookhaven Mayor J. Max Davis, City Councilman Joe Gebbia, City Manager Marie Garrett and DeKalb Board of Education Representative Marshall Orson took questions from residents about the school system and the new city.

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DeKalb agrees on temporary deal for fire, park services

BY MELISSA WEINMAN

melissaweinman@reporternewspapers.net

Brookhaven is close to signing agreements with DeKalb County for temporary police and parks services.

During a Brookhaven City Council work session March 12, City Manager Marie Garrett told council members that DeKalb County has agreed to continue parks and recreation services for the city over a period of 11 months at a cost of $400,000.

Interim City Attorney Bill Riley said he negotiated a $525,000 monthly charge for DeKalb police services.

Riley said the intergovernmental agreement calls for the county’s police coverage to end June 30. In July, Brookhaven’s own police department will take over.

After council members expressed disappointment at the figures, Riley and Garrett said the county initially asked for more money for the services.

Mayor J. Max Davis said he doesn’t like that the county will continue to provide things like library and fire services at no additional cost.

“The fact that we’re being charged to use parks we’ve already paid taxes for

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and that everybody in the county can use is just irritating,” Davis said.

Riley said Brookhaven’s parks services were paid for through a special tax district that is no longer charged to residents, now that the city has incorporated.

Gebbia said the $525,000 monthly charge for police is “$500,000 more than I would like.”

Riley said initial estimates were around $800,000 a month.

“It’s not worth fighting over the $500,000,” Riley said. “It’s a number we can afford and they can deal with.”

Chris Pike, a financial consultant for the city who also works as Dunwoody’s finance director, told the council he felt that was a fair number.

Dunwoody paid $450,000 a month in 2008 for temporary police services from DeKalb.

Pike said accounting for inflation, as well as Brookhaven’s larger population and higher crime rate, a monthly charge of $525,000 is appropriate.

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“The fact that we’re being charged to use parks we’ve already paid taxes for and that everybody in the county can use is just irritating”

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

Before

After Serving your community for 15 years

Brookhaven Government Calendar Brookhaven City Council usually meets on the second and fourth Tuesdays of each month at 7 p.m. at locations to be determined.

For complete and up-todate schedule of Brookhaven city meetings, go to http:// brookhavenga.gov .

BK

COMMUNITY SPECIAL

Art Freeman, executive director of the Brookhaven Chamber of Commerce, presents Brookhaven City Manager Marie Garrett with an award at the chamber’s inaugural reception March 14.

Watching is Todd Lantier, chamber chairman.

Garrett was honored for her work getting the city started. Freeman said he envisions that the business organization will help restore a sense of community following the divisive cityhood referendum in July.

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Some say sentiments still linger from incorporation fight

BY MELISSA WEINMAN

melissaweinman@reporternewspapers.net

More than half a year has passed since the people of Brookhaven voted to incorporate a city. Though the referendum is in the rearview mirror, some say the divisiveness of the close vote still lingers in the community.

The city of Brookhaven was approved by 55 percent of voters on July 31 – the thinnest margin of any of the new cities created since Sandy Springs incorporated in 2005.

One of the main concerns from opponents of creating a new city was higher taxes. Those concerns resurfaced as Brookhaven prepared its first budget.

The city is scheduled to approve the budget March 26.

At the city council’s first public budget hearing Feb. 26, several people urged officials not to raise their taxes and some pointed out that they were against creating a city.

“I voted against Brookhaven. A gut feeling told me this would be nothing but increasing taxes,” said Bill Simpson.

“I guess I’m in Brookhaven now, which I shudder to even say,” Denise Bailey said. “I moved to an unincorporated area.”

An anonymous prerecorded call to Brookhaven homes earlier this month claimed Mayor J. Max Davis planned to increase property taxes.

Davis, who rejected the claim with a follow-up call of his own, said he feels most people have put the election behind them.

But he said that a small group of opponents still exists and that he believes the call likely came from someone who is still bitter about the outcome of the city election.

“It was a tactic to confuse people,” he said. “Using that same argument BK

from six, seven months ago shows me it’s still there.”

He said he believes the contentiousness of the cityhood referendum has diminished as time goes on.

“We’re all one city now,” Davis said.

“A lot of people have told me the city’s a reality now and they want it to be the best it can be.”

But he said he’s glad that people are closely watching the new city council.

“I appreciate people who want to hold the city’s feet to the fire. I think that’s good for all of us to be vigilant,” Davis said.

Arthur Freeman, executive director of the Brookhaven Chamber of Commerce, said he envisions the chamber as a neutral organization that can help heal some of the division caused by the campaigns for and against the city.

“There’s still a very sharp divide between ‘Yes Brookhaven’ and ‘No City’ folks. There’s still a lot of festering going on,” Freeman said. “I felt that the chamber was uniquely positioned to add a voice of cohesiveness since our membership is from both sides of the fence.

From our organization, we are mending fences and working side by side because, whether we like it or not, we are living in same city. It exists.”

Councilman Jim Eyre, who was initially against creating a city, said he doesn’t believe the community is caught up in the rhetoric of the campaigns.

“For the most part, Aug. 1 the voters had spoken and we were moving on to create the best city we could,” Eyre said.

He said the people he talks to are no longer looking at Brookhaven through a “yes” or “no” lens.

“We’re off and running,” Eyre said.

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The Hispanic Health Coalition of Georgia is hosting its first communitywide health walk on April 7. The Buford Highway 5K walk, which starts at the Northeast Plaza Shopping Center and ends at Plaza Fiesta, aims to promote health and fight obesity in the Latino community.

The coalition’s Program Coordinator Irma Walker said that, according to the Georgia Latino Health Report, obesity and cardiovascular disease are among the highest health risks for Latinos.

And, according to the coalition, twothirds of Latinos in Georgia do not have access to health care. The 5K walk aims to get people walking and make fitness a part of their lives.

“To me education is key,” Walker said. “To bring awareness and education to the Latino community.”

The city of Brookhaven plans to participate in the event as a way to introduce itself to its many Latino residents on the southern end of the city.

District 4 Councilman Joe Gebbia said City Council members will have a display booth with city literature in Spanish.

“I will be participating in the walk and will join Mayor [J. Max] Davis and several other council members at the city’s booth to not only meet fellow residents and answer questions but also distribute health-related information [in both English and Spanish] and give away health-related products that were generously donated by several corporate sponsors,” Gebbia wrote in an email.

“The city of Brookhaven is committed to celebrating and uplifting the various diverse cultures we have in our city, and we are excited about participating in this event.”

Walker said the Hispanic Health Coalition is also working to bring attention to the other issues identified as top health concerns in the Latino community, including mental health and prena-

“To me, education is key. To bring awareness and education to the Latino community.”

– IRMA WALKER PROGRAM COORDINATOR, hiSpaNic HEALTH COALITION

tal care.

“We have work groups meeting every six weeks to talk about what we can do to make an impact,” Walker said.

In addition to drawing attention to exercise and health, one of the goals of the walk is to raise awareness about pedestrian safety along Buford Highway.

Many of the Latino residents of Buford Highway regularly walk along the seven-lane highway, which lacks sufficient sidewalks and crosswalks.

“It’s the fourth most dangerous highway in the U.S. in number of people who have died crossing,” Walker said.

Walker said the Hispanic Health Coalition is working with the managers of apartment complexes to get the word out about the walk.

“There’s so many kids and families.

We really want them to walk,” Walker said.

But, she emphasized that the event is open to everyone.

“It’s the entire community at large.

Everybody, not just Buford Highway … We want to include everybody in the community,” Walker said.

For more information or to register, go to www.hhcga.org.

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COMMUNITY Brookhaven hires finance director, community development director The city of Brookhaven has hired two new employees.

Bonnie Kline will serve as the city’s finance director. Susan Canon comes on board as the city’s community development director.

City Manager Marie Garrett said the city has chosen to hire some employees, such as Canon and Kline, who will serve as department heads to manage the city’s contracts.

Brookhaven has contracts with several private companies to provide the city’s services. Currently, the departments are managed by the contractors. Garrett said hiring these new employees will be more cost effective for the city.

“We were trying to build a new hybrid for the city,” Garrett said. “It was important to have a management team in place who were employees.”

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Thurmond to speak at Brookhaven council meeting Brookhaven City Council will hold its March 26 meeting at PATH Academy, located behind Oglethorpe University at 3007 Hermance Drive. The council will hold its regular meeting at 6 p.m. followed by a presentation from Interim DeKalb County Schools Superintendent Michael Thurmond at 7 p.m.

Thurmond will take questions after he speaks. Rep. Mike Jacobs, R-Brookhaven, will also attend the meeting to talk about legislative efforts to allow new cities to create their own school districts.

Davis appoints Alcohol Review Board At the Brookhaven City Council’s March 12 meeting, Mayor J. Max Davis swore in the five members of the city’s Alcohol Review Board: Joseph Patin, Adam Caskey, Glianny Fagundo, Richard Grice and Michel Arnette. This

FILE PHOTO

New pillars on the way for Historic Brookhaven The Historic Brookhaven Neighborhood Association is working with Rockhaven Homes to build two new entrance monuments at the Mabry Road entrance to the neighborhood. The monuments will be the first on the side of Historic Brookhaven. Historic Brookhaven has so far raised $2,000 towards the $15,000 goal.

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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 met their end on Crossover Day March 7. For a bill to have a chance of becoming law, it must be approved in the chamber where it was introduced by the 30th day of the session, known as Crossover Day, in order for it to cross into the other chamber in enough time to be considered before the end of the session.

Metro Atlanta legislators tackled big issues this year, like the creation of new school systems, 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 264

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

HR 486

This resolution proposes an amendment to the Georgia Constitution that would authorize municipalities created on or after Jan. 1, 2005 to establish independent school systems. This resolution came in response to Dunwoody residents who want to break away from the DeKalb County School District in light of the system’s accreditation probation and other issues.

Rep. Mike Jacobs, left, and Sen. Fran Millar

27

CREDIT

Status: House Second Readers Feb.

Sponsors: This bill was introduced by Rep. Tom Taylor, R-Dunwoody. Other local sponsors include Rep. Mike Jacobs, R-Brookhaven and Rep. Joe Wilkinson, 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.

SB 95 For counties with a chief executive officer/county commission form of government, The CEO would be elected in a non-partisan race. Currently, DeKalb is the only county in the state with this form of government.

Status: Senate read second time Feb. 28 Sponsors: This bill was introduced

by Sen. Fran Millar, R-Dunwoody

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

R

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COMMUNITY

Local leaders introduced to community concerns at forum CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

ings can report issues like potholes in roads or poor conditions in apartments to the city.

“You have the absolute right to report any problem.” Davis said. “Don’t let anybody tell you you do not have the right.

You live in the city of Brookhaven.”

He said one of the main reasons people voted to incorporate a city was to create a smaller, more responsive local government.

“What we’re dealing with is life and safety. That’s our charge as a government,” Gebbia said.

Mayra Garcia, who served as an interpreter for a few other residents, said major maintenance issues reported to the landlords of Buford Highway apartments often go ignored.

City Manager Marie Garrett said the city recently condemned an apartment that was unsafe. She said a resident asked city officials to look at a large hole in the floor that had been neglected by the apartment management.

The conversation at the civic forum followed a March 12 City Council discussion about the city’s code compliance sweeps and inspection policy that will allow the city to begin bringing many aging apartment buildings within the city’s boundaries up to code.

The city plans to inspect one apartment building per month, though in order to reach all 72 complexes in the city this year, officials say they hope to find funding to bump that number to four buildings per week.

The inspection program is set to begin after apartment complexes pay occupation taxes April 15.

The city of Brookhaven will inspect the outside and common areas of buildings to ensure they meet the city code for things such as grills on patios, which are a fire hazard, broken windows or loose wires.

Officials initially discussed providing apartment management with five days’ notice before a city inspection.

“We don’t want to approach it as if

we’re trying to catch them,” said Councilman Bates Mattison. “I don’t want us to give up our ability to look out for the life safety of those residents. But it’s a partnership.”

Davis said he thought five days was too long. A shorter notice, he said, would provide a more accurate picture of typical conditions.

“You want to see what their regular practices are. You don’t want to cover them temporarily,” Davis said.

The city settled on providing 48 hours’ notice before an inspection to apartment management. Management will be required to alert residents of inspections 24 hours in advance.

Typically, the interiors of apartment buildings are inspected in five-year cycles, with owners paying to have 20 percent of the units inspected by an independent contractor each year.

Council members agreed they’d like to move more quickly with inspections, “especially in light of the aging inventory of this stock we have,” Gebbia said.

Councilman Jim Eyre said a standard five-year cycle would be fine in cities such as Roswell or Johns Creek, which generally have newer apartment buildings than Brookhaven, which has many older apartment complexes that need more aggressive interior inspections.

The council opted for a three-year cycle in which about 33 percent of units will be inspected each year.

Kim Gokce, president of the Cross Keys Foundation, said he organized the March 19 forum after several elected officials asked him how they could get introduced to the community around Cross Keys High School.

“We think it’s very important, the conversation they’ve asked for,” Gokce said.

Cross Keys, which is on North Druid Hills Road, is a diverse school that draws heavily from immigrant populations near Buford Highway. According to the school’s website, Cross Keys is the most culturally diverse high school in Georgia, enrolling students from 65 countries who speak 75 different languages.

Officials told residents they are committed to helping Cross Keys High School and the surrounding community, which they said has often been neglected by local government.

Davis said he’d like for the city and the DeKalb County School System to allocate funds to beautify the school’s exterior.

“We need a little more help for Cross Keys,” Davis said. “I hope the city of Brookhaven can be a partner to make sure Cross Keys improves. We want to be an advocate for people when it comes to schools.”

Orson, who represents District 2 on the DeKalb MELISSA WEINMAN County Board of EducaMayra Garcia talks to officials from the tion, echoed the statements city of Brookhaven and DeKalb County about Cross Keys.

Board of Education during a forum at “You have a great Cross Keys High School March 19. school here, but it’s one that hasn’t been given the attention it needs or dedent, thanked the officials for taking the serves in the DeKalb County School time to visit Cross Keys.

System,” he said.

“We have been forgotten. We have Monique Wharton, a teacher at the been ignored and felt like the lost chilschool and longtime Brookhaven residren of an entire county,” she said.

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From left: Brookhaven Councilman Joe Gebbia, Mayor J. Max Davis, and DeKalb County Board of Education Representative Marshall Orson take questions at Cross Keys High School March 19.

BK

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Jester: ‘I was one vote on a board that did not … want to change things’ Pursuant to a recommendation from the State Board of Education, the Governor suspended the DeKalb Board of Education and appointed new board members.

These events were triggered by the district’s accreditation being downgraded to the status of “probation” by AdvancED, the parent company of the regional accreditor, the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS), and Senate Bill 84 that was passed in 2010.

As I told the State Board, I believe DeKalb has three deficits: credibility, academic and financial.

Shortly after coming onto the board in January 2011, I determined that budgeting practices were flawed.

I publicly discussed my concerns at every stated board meeting during the financial report. I gave spreadsheets to fellow board members and officials to show them the growing financial problem. Until the most recent SACS report, in December 2012, the accreditor (SACS) never mentioned the financial problems. I am the first to discover and state these problems publicly.

In my email newsletter of May 20, 2012, I stated: “For the past year, I have publicly inquired about, and expressed my frustration with, many line items that were significantly over budget. Their consistent variances from the budget suggested that these items were not properly budgeted for years. Still other discretionary items were also over budget because of a lack of fiscal restraint.

“These factors, along with a $15 million increase in benefit costs from the state and falling property tax revenue, have resulted in [the DeKalb school district] starting the budgeting process assuming a $73.8 million budget deficit.” I also stated that the budget was “a document based on deception.”

The SACS report contains my research regarding the budget. Anyone can access my blog and see the research I’ve posted. There are a number of other financial concerns that I have noted but were not touched upon in the SACS report.

What we have seen with the budget is a symptom of the larger problem: DeKalb has not invested in the classroom.

In November 2012, I published a blog that showed from FY2008-2013, every salary category declined except “General Administration.” These salaries increased over 14 percent. The budgeting practices have led to the academic and credibility deficits. Parents and teachers see increased class size, more furlough days and fewer resources. These developments seem incongruent with having the highest millage rate in the metro

area, at 23.98 mils.

This, along with the opacity of the district and burdensome, often punitive, centralized bureaucratic decision-making, have created the credibility deficit that the district faces.

Our academic deficit is the result of the financial and credibility deficits. The district lost its focus on the classroom. You can see the NANCY evidence of this in the drivers of the JESTER financial and credibility deficits.

Now that AdvancED and the GUEST COLUMN state have recognized what many of us have seen for years, will the system be able to heal itself? Only time will tell. I certainly hope so.

I was one vote on a board that did not, as a whole, want to change things. Will the new board, state and AdvancED be able to move the district in the right direction?

Replacing the board was one step, but it is the administration that has operational control. This insular group has shown little appetite for adjusting their methods.

The administration is the driver, while the board is the map. Are the drivers going to stay on the road map? What type of vehicle will they put the district in? Will it be the same vehicle for every school regardless of their needs or accomplishments? Will the administration continue to get the largest luxury vehicle?

I will be writing a series on changes that Georgia must embrace if we are to make it out of the bottom third nationally on achievement measures. Stay tuned for those.

It was an honor to serve you on the board. I am happy knowing that my research illuminated the financial problems in our system. I look forward to continuing to serve you in different ways. As always, I remain an advocate for kids and taxpayers.

Nancy Jester was elected to represent District 1 on the DeKalb County School Board in 2010. She was one of six board members suspended on Feb. 25 by Gov. Nathan Deal. She subsequently resigned from the board, saying she did not want to participate with other members in a legal fight against the suspensions.

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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’m perfectly fine with Wranglers for like $20 or $30. I don’t understand why anybody needs to pay $300 for jeans.”

–Atlanta Police Officer C. Smith commenting on items popular with shoplifters at Lenox Square at Buckhead.

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

“Shiny new trucks.”

–Sandy Springs City Councilwoman Dianne Fries, summing up her feelings about the city’s decision to spend $3.5 million on new fire trucks for the Fire Department.

“He is a very classy gentleman. 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.”

–Rep. Mary Margaret Oliver, D-Decatur, discussing the service of Sandy Springs Rep. Wendell Willard.

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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

Q

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-

A

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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Perimeter Business

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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.

Prized car Mercedes-Benz of Buckhead owner Gregory Baranco, center left, received a 1959 Chevy Impala from his wife, Juanita, coowner of the dealership, for his 65th birthday.

The model was nearly identical to his first car.

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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March 22 – April 4, 2013 | 13

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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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Brookhaven: GE Asset Management, Seven Oaks Company and Legacy Property Group want to build a 173-room Hyatt next to the Villa Christina Restaurant and Conference Center near Ashford Dunwoody Road.

Sandy Springs: Hines Interests Limited Partners on March 6 filed plans for a development called 100 Northpark that would include 1.5 million square feet of office space, 150,000 square feet of retail, 500 multi-family units and a 250-room hotel. In 2008, Orlando, Fla.-based Kessler Collection Hotels proposed a 275-room Bohemian Hotel near Abernathy Road and Ga. 400. Sandy Springs City Council on March 19 approved an extension of the developer’s land disturbance permit.

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New hotels proposed in the Perimeter Center area

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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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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

16

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.

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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.

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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.

IN

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

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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

R

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.

18

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

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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

Wieuca Road Baptist Church

3626 Peachtree Road, N.E. Atlanta, Georgia 30326 404.814.4460 wieuca.org

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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

Holy Eucharist: 7:30 am, 9:15am, 11:15 am, 6 pm • H o ly I n n o c e n t s ’ e p I s c o p a l c H u r c H • 8 0 5 M o u n t Ve r n o n H i g h w a y N W • w w w. h o l y i n n o c e n t s . o r g

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Community

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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EDUCATION JEWISH NATIONAL FUND

Student Profile:

10TH ANNUAL JACK HIRSCH MEMORIAL BREAKFAST

 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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EDUCATION

DeKalb appointees vow to preserve accreditation CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

There are plenty of issues to address in DeKalb’s school system, the thirdlargest in the state, according to enrollment figures from Georgia Dept. of Education. While officials work to address SACS’ complaints and retain the system’s accreditation, groups of north DeKalb parents are discussing how to wrest control of their schools from the county. Meanwhile, some ousted board members are contesting their removal in court, saying Deal’s actions thwarted the desires of voters.

Former board Chairman Eugene Walker said in a statement released March 18 that SACS created the perception of many

of the problems the system faces.

“SACS and its agents distorted the actions of the school board and intentionally diminished the level of trust and confidence held by the constituents of the board members,” Walker said. “This was done through accusations, allegations and innuendos without providing proof or supporting documents. The SACS report was rife with unsubstantiated allegations and general statements with the intent of creating a false negative perception of the school board and facilitating a reason for probation.”

Coleman said he believes he and the new board will be able to avoid losing the system’s accreditation, which parents

Here, listed by district, are the people Gov. Nathan Deal appointed to the DeKalb County school board:

District 1, John Coleman Coleman, who replaces Nancy Jester, is a strategic planning manager at Invesco. Previously, he held a variety of leadership roles at McKinsey & Company. He also serves on various nonprofit boards. Coleman has a Master of Business Administration from Harvard and a Master of Public Administration from the Harvard Kennedy School. He resides in Atlanta.

Multi-lingual Translator

District 3, Michael Erwin

Craftsman • Volunteer

A U.S. Navy veteran who has been a research assistant at Duke University Medical Center and the University of South Carolina, Erwin has worked for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Fisheries Services and is past chair of the NOAA fisheries committees on fish species and fish diseases in Maine and South Carolina. In 2008, he earned a doctorate in biological science from the University of South Carolina. He has been a member of the faculty at Georgia Gwinnett College since 2009. He graduated from North Carolina Central University with a bachelor’s degree in biology and a master’s degree in biological science. Erwin resides in Decatur.

Sailors • Occasional Birders Editor and Artistic Director of Resident Newsletter

District 5, David Campbell

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Campbell is a senior manager with Georgia Power Co., where he supports the company’s energy conservation efforts. He is a certified public accountant. Campbell received a degree in business administration from Albany State University. He is a former chair of Leadership DeKalb, a member of the DeKalb 100 Black Men and an active member of St. Philip AME church. He formerly served on the Stephenson High School Council and resides in Lithonia.

District 7, Joyce Morley Morley is the CEO of Morley and Associates and is a public speaker and trainer. She is a certified counselor and trained mediator who serves on several local and national governance boards. Morley has a doctorate in counseling, family and work life from the University of Rochester in New York. She received her specialist and master’s degrees in counseling education from the State University of New York at Brockport, and a bachelor’s degree in elementary education from the SUNY at Genesco. A Stone Mountain resident, Morley has lived in DeKalb County for more than 22 years.

District 8, Karen Carter

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Carter serves on the faculty of Georgia Perimeter College. She received a bachelor’s degree in speech communications from Denison University in Ohio and a law degree from Ohio State University.

Carter has served as a classroom teacher and has held several senior administrative roles in the field of education. She is a graduate of Leadership DeKalb and an active community volunteer and a PTSA member. Carter is a resident of the Lakeside community.

District 9, Thaddeus Mayfield Mayfield is a senior partner with FOCOM Inc., a Georgia-based business development firm. He holds an MBA from Mercer University and received a bachelor’s degree in political science from Tougaloo College in Mississippi. He co-chaired the successful Friends of DeKalb Education SPLOST IV Campaign and is an active member of several business and civic organizations in the metropolitan area. Mayfield is a resident of Lithonia.

Source: Georgia Governor’s Office BK

EDUCATION fear could hamper high school graduates’ efforts to win scholarships and admission to some out-of-state colleges.

“I have a high degree of confidence we will be able to address this [accreditation],” Coleman said. “For me, the focus is to make sure we address many of the issues raised by SACS. I do think we can make a big difference.”

He’s confident, in part, because of the accomplishments of the people the governor appointed to the board. “I can’t tell you how impressed I was when I saw the list of board members,” Coleman said.

“It seems like an awesome group. … I do think it’s going to be a good group to try to address the issues.”

The list of new board members, chosen from more than 400 applicants, includes a second person with an MBA, a Certified Public Accountant, a lawyer, a PhD and a member with a master’s degree in counseling education.

Coleman is not the only school official promising publicly that the district will not lose accreditation.

“Failure is not an option,” Interim schools Superintendent Michael Thurmond told about 100 parents and local officials gathered at the Kingsley Swim and Racquet Club clubhouse on March 10 for a question-and-answer session sponsored by the Dunwoody Homeowners Association.

“The children did nothing wrong,” Thurmond said. “This is an adult mess, and adults have to change it. … We will not return to the mistakes of the past.”

Distrcit 2 school board representative Marshall Orson said at a March 19 forum at Cross Keys High School in Brookhaven that he believes Thurmond, the state’s former labor commissioner and a former state legislator, is the right man to help turn the ailing school system around.

“He’s well-respected regardless of your politics,” Orson said. “He’s a man of his word and he gets things done.”

Like Coleman, Orson says he is confident in the system’s new leadership. He told parents and teachers at Cross Keys High School that he thinks the system is “turning a corner.”

“We know in DeKalb there’s a lot we have to do. We have to restore confidence. We have to build morale. We

“This is an adult mess, and adults have to change it. …

We will not return to the mistakes of the past.”

– MICHAEL THURMOND

The council is expected to vote on the expenditure during its April 1 meeting.

Taylor told council members that his bill has been assigned to the Education Committee in the state House of Representatives and that a feasibility study is not a requirement, though he said one similar to those done as part of starting new cities would help him persuade other lawmakers to approve the bill.

“I need to go down there with ammunition,” he said. “I need to go down there with a concise study.”

Taylor said the time required to win approval of the necessary legisla-

tion meant a vote on the constitutional amendment would not be held until next year. The earliest a new school system could be created, he said, would be in 2016.

Asked whether the challenges facing the board gave him pause, Coleman said he found his feelings about the job hard to describe.

“I think the feeling is more of a sense of responsibility,” he said. “You want to make sure you do a good job. My goal is, over the next year and a half, that I can comport myself with the right amount of dignity that the focus becomes on the kids and staff and not on me.”

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have one responsibility: educating children,” Orson said. “I’m truly optimistic that we have a strong superintendent and strong board that will come together quickly to focus on the children.”

Thurmond said he intended to decentralize some powers within the system and get finances under control.

“We are going to put our fiscal house in order,” he said. “We’re moving in that direction, where we will be back in the black and not in the red.”

He asked the Dunwoody parents to support efforts to change the system from within, though in response to a question about efforts to create a new school district in the area, he said, “as a parent, you need to do what you believe is in the best interest of your child. If you believe creating a separate district in Dunwoody is in the best interest of your children, I’d be the last [to oppose it].”

Rep. Tom Taylor, R-Dunwoody, introduced legislation calling for a constitutional amendment to allow cities created since 2005, including Dunwoody, to start their own school districts or join other nearby cities to start school systems.

Dunwoody City Council members informally agreed March 11 to spend up to $50,000 to help finance a feasibility study into operating a city school system.

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July 8-12 Super Sleuths July 15-19 Everywhere Fun Fair July 22-26 Water World July 29-Aug. 2 Up in the Air

Join us to explore new adventures all summer long!

Drop off 8-9am - Pick up 4-5:30 pm chirsch@ssumc.org • ssumc.org/summer-camps.html

What do you want your retirement years to “look like”?

Malt Shop, Movie Theater, Upgraded Apartments, and a Fitness Trainer in a New Gym Come by to see what the excitement is about and receive a complimentary dinner for 2 at our “Café 335” and a $5.00 gift card for your trip. *Gifts limited to the first 50 people (over 65 years of age) who tour our beautiful community*

2013 is going to be a Big Year for Hammond Glen Senior Community Independent and Assisted Living Nestled in the Heart of Sandy Springs A Senior Community

404-256-6300 • www.hammondglen.com

335 Hammond Drive NE • Sandy Springs, GA 30328

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

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

BY DAN WHISENHUNT

danwhisenhunt@reporternewspapers.net

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 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 BK

PUBLIC SAFETY

You should never stop

playing.

Like John Snellings at Lenbrook.

Lenbrook resident John Snellings is one jazzy guy: he proficiently plays the tenor saxophone with a popular local trio. What’s more, he regularly takes lessons! “I want to keep improving,” says John.

CBS ATLANTA

Shoppers ride the escalator at Lenox Square in Buckhead.

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.

“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 BK

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 because 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.

Lenbrook is home to so many interesting people, like John. It’s a unique community that gives its residents opportunities to enrich themselves and grow. Lenbrook offers a wellness-focused lifestyle with on-site classes, dances, engaging speakers and entertainment…like smooth, weekly performances by John Snellings!

Ask us about Lenbrook’s upcoming Beautifully Buckhead event series!

Call 404-692-6733

t Inspiremen 3747 Peachtree Road NE Atlanta, GA 30319

Not-For-Profit

www.lenbrook-atlanta.org

How can Reporter Newspapers help your business?

I have advertised with Reporter Newspapers since 2007, and I can say it is the single best thing I have ever done for my business.

– Angie Ponsell Keller Williams Real Estate Agent

Reaching 130,000 readers in metro Atlanta’s best communities.

For more information visit www.reporternewspapers.net or call Publisher Steve Levene at 404-917-2200 ext. 111. www.ReporterNewspapers.net |

March 22 – april 4, 2013 | 29

PUBLIC SAFETY

Police find hare-raising scene

Police Blotter From police reports dated through March 13.

The following information was pulled from DeKalb County Police Department’s Crimetrac system (www.crimemapping. com/map/ga/dekalbcounty) for the zip code 30319 and the lower Buford Highway corridor. The information on the website is presumed accurate.

ROBBERY  4200 block of Peachtree Road – A robbery of a business, using a gun, was reported on March 2.

AS S AULT  1600 block of Danbury Parc Place – Simple assault/simple battery was reported on March 6.  1200 block of Ragley Hall Road – Family violence/battery was reported on March 11.

BURGLA RY

AU TO THEF T  2500 block of Thompson Road – Theft of an auto was reported on March 10.  1900 block of Dresden Drive – Theft of a vehicle was reported on March 10.

THEF T  3800 block of Peachtree Road – Attempted shoplifting was reported on March 4.  3700 block of Ellsworth Way – Theft by taking was reported on March 11.  1900 block of Dresden Drive – Theft of lost or mislaid property was reported on March 13.

 4000 block of Peachtree Road –A larceny of articles from a

vehicle was reported on March 1.

 1400 block of Sylvan Circle – Entering an auto was reported on March 2. 

2700 block of Mabry Road –A larceny of parts from a vehicle was reported on March 7.

3800 block of Peachtree Road –A larceny of articles



from a vehicle was reported on March 11.

O T H ER  2600 block of Skyland Drive – Public drunkenness was reported on March 6.  2700 block of Brookhaven View – Criminal trespass was reported on March 6.  3500 block of Ashford Dunwoody Road – Vandalism was reported on March 11.

Want more information about where crime occurs in your community? Check our website. We now offer crime mapping to our online readers. Go to www.reporternewspapers. net and click on one of the buttons under “Crime Maps.”

Then, enter your address and find the location of burglaries, thefts and other crimes in your neighborhood.

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30

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Inside, they found more rabbits.

Altogether, officers found 77 rabbits at the house.

“The previous occupants informed that they were keeping said rabbits for ‘rescue’ purposes,” Nelson wrote.

DeKalb animal control officers took a dog found in the house, but didn’t have room for all the rabbits, so 64 of them were turned over to a Bremen, Ga., animal park. “Additional rabbits still possibly [are] ‘hiding’ throughout the residence and/or woodline (unable to be captured),” Nelson wrote.

One resident of the house was arrested for animal neglect. Another was charged with a drug offense and animal neglect. A third was arrested on a probation violation charge.

VEH I CLE BR EAK - I N / LAR CEN Y

 3800 block of Peachtree Road – A residential burglary, using forced entry, was reported on March 8.  300 block of Brookhaven Avenue – A residential burglary, using forced entry, was reported on March 12.

Dunwoody police officers who went to a Cobb Drive home got a surprise: rabbits.

Lots of rabbits.

“The residence of 2401 Cobb Drive was observed to be a ‘hoarding’ site for rabbits,’ Officer H.E. Nelson wrote in his Feb. 23 police report describing the discovery. “Copious numbers of rabbits were observed throughout the interior of the residence.”

There were rabbits in cages on the outside of the house and rabbits wandering freely throughout the interior, which smelled strongly of urine, Nelson reported.

Police summoned DeKalb County firefighters to make sure the place was safe and to open two locked bedrooms.

EMPLOYMENT Executive Assistant – MATURE person needed for part-time position in Sandy Springs. Dictation/computer skills necessary. Pro-active organizational skills a must.

Paralegal/accounting/travel arrangements experience a plus. Hours are flexible & may vary. Send resume with salary requirements to: execasstresume@highcapus. com.

Part-time, Administrative Assistant needed –. Approx 20 hr per week in West Midtown. Highly organized, computer skills, experience in purchasing a plus.

Forward resume to hr@aodmailboxes.com

RENTALS Sandy Springs – Professional female wanted to share furnished condo. All utilities included plus internet and cable. $650/month. Call Linda 404-512-5025.

ORGANICS Place your order for Winter Organic Vegetable plants now! – We will germinate the seeds (kale, cabbage, rutabagas, etc.) and bring them to you. Free delivery and gardening assistance is available. Contact Tom 678755-3804 or email tockbul@aol.com.

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

To place a Classified or Service Directory ad call Deborah at 404-917-2200 x 110.

SERVICES AVAILABLE

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

Math Coach

%

+

High School and College Students • Scholarship Recipients • Adult Learners • Individual or group Coaching • Basic Math through Calculus II • MAtH ER

(617) 233-7031 dr.pitts73@gmail.com

LAWN CARE

SAT Tutor for High School students – Stanford and Westminster Educated. Call 404-261-3311 or email feagin.1@comcast.net

North Georgia Lawn Care – Honest, affordable and dependable. Free Estimates. Tony 404-402-5435.

Around the Clock Cleaning Services – Residential or Commercial. Free estimates – Early bird specials available Monday – Wednesday. Call Shanta 404247-2816.

Total Lawn Care & Landscaping Services – Mature Adult, Accepting New Customers. Spring cleanup, new sod/grass install and Planting Special for new accounts

by April. Call Jeff – 770-331-9846.

Brookhaven resident – Local small business owner available to assist with special projects in or outside of your home. No job to small – References Available.

Cell 803-608-0792 or 678-927-9336 Cornell Davis.

Georgia Lawn Care – Putting green, Artificial turf installation, Aeration, Fescue reseeding and Full maintenance. Walls, Stone and Concrete work. Call 770-435-8928 BK

Home Services Directory

To place a Classified or Service Directory ad call Deborah at 404-917-2200 x 110.

Services Include

Roofing Re-roofing Roof repairs

Automatic Standby Generators

Gutter covers Gutter installation and siding

Free estimates • 770-251-0707

Most Air-Cooled models are in stock and ready to install CAll todAy for A free quote

www. generatorstore.com

HADDAD LANDSCAPING

TOM LARSEN LANDSCAPING • Organic gardening • Landscape restoration • Fish pond maintenance • Complete Landscape Installation • Firewood • Pruning 1 year guarantee on ALL new plants

678-755-3804 tockbul@aol.com

Design & Install 33 years in business

Repair, Re new or update existing lig your hting!

Free estimates Call us for our specials

770-410-9356

www.georgialighting.net • www.nestorslighting.com

W.S.B. Custom Contracting, Inc. Renovations & Additions Serving Atlanta for 30 years

404.626.8976

wsbcontracting@comcast.net

Fred Martin Welding With two professional in-house polishers, we can make your silver flatware, tea sets, bowls and trays more beautiful than ever before.

Bring it by or call us for an estimate today!

Mobile and Shop Service.

Wrought iron repair and fabrication

404-525-3106 536 Edgewood Ave., Atlanta, GA fredmartinwelding@gmail.com fredmartinwelding.webs.com • Family Owned Since 1938! •

it’s

your

business

advertise here (404) 917-2200 x110

Handyman Services moving & delivery too!

No job too small References Available

A Complete Plumbing Service Center

404-461-9724

$25 Off with this ad!

Trash, Junk Hauled For Less

$35 - $150 per load

Cornell Davis, Owner

404-622-2211 Bob Haddad, owner

Spring Into • Gutter Cleaning • Pressure Washing • Family Owned • 3rd Generation • Licensed and Insured • FREE EstImatEs

404.355.1901

Cell (404) 784 5142 Home (770) 455-6237

www.WindowCleanatl.com

GREAT PRICES on REmodElInG • Quality Work - Free Estimates • Interior & Exterior Painting • Sheetrock • Light Electrical & Plumbing • Tile Work • Stone Work • Concrete Work • Vinyl • Wood Floors • Carpet • Backyard Fence

Craig 678-522-6397 Leticia 678-860-7499

Belco Electric Check out our new website www.BelcoInc.com

and follow us on

• Auto/Home/Office lockouts • Ignition Repair • Intercoms & Security Gates • Plus more

678-666-2000

LocksmithService911.com The Handyman Can

• Family Owned since 1972 • Fast, Dependable Service by Professional, Uniformed Electricians

770-455-4556

678-927-9336 Cell/803-608-0792

Since 1974

Window Cleaning

We will pick up appliances, furniture, tree limbs, construction debris, basement and foreclosure clean outs.

Call James

Residential Landscape Design and Installation.

Professional Lawn and Landscape Maintenance.

Bermuda / Zoysia Specialist

• Plumbing • Electrical • Sheetrock • Floors • Tile • Framing • Kitchens • Painting • Roofwork • Concrete • Stained Glass • Antique Door Restoration • Gutters

John Salvesen • 404-453-3438 thehandymancanatlanta@yahoo.com

Your home. Our help.

Get help around the house by calling one of our Home Services and Services Available advertisers.

Tell them you saw their ad in Reporter Newspapers!

BK

www.ReporterNewspapers.net |

March 22 – april 4, 2013 | 31

Put Reporter Newspapers to work for your business!

The exposure we get from our ad in the Reporter brings in our neighbors from the surrounding area.

When we ask how they heard about the practice, they usually say my Reporter Newspaper!

– Dr. Durrett, McDaniel & Durrett

The positive response we have received from our ads in the Reporter has been invaluable and has helped increase awareness and traffic to our dealership. Our service department continues to benefit from this exposure.

– Geoff Meeker, Mercedes-Benz of Buckhead

65,000 copies delivered every other week to homes and businesses in Atlanta’s best communities.

For information, call Publisher Steve Levene at 404-917-2200 ext. 111 or visit www.reporternewspapers.net

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

BK