04-27-18 Sandy Springs by Reporter Newspapers

APRIL 27 - MAY 10, 2018 • VOL. 12 — NO. 9

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► Staying on track with a new regional transit plan PAGE 8 ► After Atlanta cyber attack, other cities prepare defenses PAGE 20

Historic cemetery faces a common preservation challenge

JOHN RUCH

Taylor Morgan poses with the 1885 headstone of his ancestor William Power in the historic family cemetery off Roswell Road.

EXCEPTIONAL EDUCATOR Unscrambling math for diverse learners

VOTERS GUIDE | P11-13 BY JOHN RUCH johnruch@reporternewspapers.net A local developer is pulling back from a plan that descendants feared was a threat to the historic Power family cemetery near Roswell and Pitts roads. But the long-term future of the heavily vandalized cemetery and its surrounded property remain unclear, in what preservationists say is a common challenge. “Yet another cemetery in trouble,” said Wright Mitchell, an attorney whose cemetery preservation work led him to co-found the Buckhead Heritage Society. “It’s a sad tale, but not a new one.” Mitchell and other preservations say the Powers cemetery is one of many dotting the north metro suburbs that could be endangered by development. But there are also examples of cemetery-saving success to emulate, they say, and the first step is getting the sort of public interest that Taylor Morgan, a Power family descendant, is drumming up. Morgan attended a recent city meeting about a parks master plan to advocate for the private Power cemetery, dating to the 1880s, where those buried are part of the same family whose Civil Warera business was immortalized in the name of Powers Ferry Road. Morgan drew attention to a massive redevelopment project proposed on the webSee HISTORIC on page 22

OUT & ABOUT Dunwoody Art Festival is back for 8th year Page 18

You knock yourself out for 20 years, staging multiple birthday parties at recurring intervals ... and all they will remember is that Barney didn’t come to their fourth birthday party. See page 6

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See ROBIN’S NEST, page 9

New City Hall preps for May 7 grand opening BY JOHN RUCH johnruch@reporternewspapers.net

The new City Hall will make its longawaited opening at City Springs on May 7 with a 9 a.m. ribbon-cutting ceremony and tours expected to draw 200 official guests and more members of the public. The way Mayor Rusty Paul sees it, it will be more than a new place for permit-issuing and City Council meetings — it’s the opening of “everybody’s neighborhood.” “We wanted this to be not only the most publicly accessible, but the most publicly usable, City Hall … in the area,” said Paul durSee NEW on page 2

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New City Hall preps for May 7 grand opening The new City Hall as seen from the City Green park.

Mayor Rusty Paul enjoys the “city’s front porch,” a terrace area that will be open to the public.

Continued from page 1 ing a recent preview tour, where finishing touches were still underway. “This is not just

a warehouse of governmental operations.” That means everything from cozy meeting booths in the lobby to a thirdstory terrace, open to the public and

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sporting soft-cushioned couches, that the mayor calls “the city’s front porch.” And free Wi-Fi everywhere, too. Towering five stories tall in the middle

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of the City Springs complex, the new City Hall is intended to be easier to navigate than the labyrinth of faceless offices the city has occupied in a northern Roswell Road office park. A new permit office — one of the most frequently used city spaces — is easily accessible from the main entrance off the new City Green park and from elevators running directly from a new underground parking garage. The building also feels much larger and grander, from a large theater doubling as the City Council chamber to hotel-style conference rooms that have already attracted Kennesaw State University business classes slated to begin later this year. Paul said it’s one way to connect the corporate community closer to the city. The spaces are available for community meetings, too. “I feel like the Jetsons,” Paul said of some of the modernist furniture. His fifth-floor office is among the building’s most modest, though it sports a nice view of the north Georgia mountains. About 200 employees will work in City Hall, with some room for staff growth if necessary; they have their own private terraces on the fifth floor. The police department and the city courts will remain at the Roswell Road office park. The new City Hall has floor-to-ceiling glass walls and an open feeling. Paul said it has security measures he declined to specify that are unobtrusive, but can quickly lock down the facility. “We’re in a world where security’s very important, but you don’t want it too much in your face,” he said. The official address is 1 Galambos Way, a new street named after the city’s late founding mayor, Eva Galambos. Her husband John is expected to be among the ribbon-cutting guests. City Hall is just one part — and perhaps the least attention-getting, despite its size and significance — of City Springs, a $229 million mixed-use civic center opening in stages this year on a site bounded by Roswell Road, Johnson Ferry Road, Sandy Springs Circle and Johnson Ferry Road. The Aston City Springs apartments opened earlier this year and are 20 percent reserved, Paul said; a slate of restaurants was just announced; and a massive Performing Arts Center will have its own grand opening in August. Looking out on City Green from the terrace, Paul pointed to City Springs’ reshaping of the downtown landscape. Along with such nearby redevelopments as Mill Creek’s Modera, he said, City Springs will “transform this from a sterile, car-choked corridor to more of a walkable environment.” SS

APRIL 27 - MAY 10, 2018

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The Alabama man recently charged in Sandy Springs sexual assault cases is now a serial rape suspect tied by DNA evidence to three other cases spanning the past decade and three states, police said April 17. Police say they also suspect him in a sixth case and are investigating the possibility of more crimes. Matthew Moore, 48, of St. Clair County, Ala., is already in custody and faces charges in two local sexual assaults, one in 2010 and one in 2015. Sandy Springs Police say they collected Moore’s DNA following his March 30 arrest, which was then analyzed by the Georgia Bureau of Investigation. Moore’s DNA profile matched evidence from the Sandy Springs sexual assault cases, as well as cases in Homewood, Ala., in 2008; Birmingham, Ala., in 2010; and Cobb County in 2010. In addition, Moore is suspected in a sexual assault case this year in Jupiter, Fla., but DNA evidence has not been tested yet, police say. The FBI is investigating that Florida case, police say. Moore was originally charged by Sandy Springs Police with a 2015 sexual assault that occurred at 6096 Barfield Road. The local 2010 case in which he is now being charged as well occurred at 1050 Hammond Drive, police said. Charges include rape; impersonating an officer; aggravated sodomy; aggravated assault with intent to rape; false imprisonment; and possession of a firearm during commission of a felony. Both of the Sandy Springs crime locations are hotels, as are the Alabama crime sites, according to Sandy Springs Police. According to police, Moore is a former corrections officer at the St. Clair Correctional Facility in St. Clair in Springville, Ala. Sandy Springs Police said Moore’s arrest and additional charges came after collaboration among local, state and federal authorities, including the FBI. Police said in a press release that they “believe that there may be many other victims that have yet to come forward.” Anyone with information about the suspect or the cases can contact Sandy Springs Police Detective William Johnson at 770-551-3314. While investigations continue, Sandy Springs Police Capt. Forrest Bohannon said authorities are ruling out Moore as a suspect in two other recent sexual assault cases nearby. Bohannon said that Moore is not a suspect in those cases in Atlanta and east Cobb earlier this year, which involved a criminal impersonating a police officer.

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A Baptist church in Sandy Springs will be replaced with two houses priced at $1.5 million to $2 million each after gaining City Council approval on April 17. The Metropolitan Baptist Church at 4795 Peachtree-Dunwoody Road is shutting down after more than 40 years as its attendance has dwindled to only seven members. The 2-acre property near the Buckhead and Brookhaven borders went on the market for $1.485 million last fall. The redevelopment will be carried out by Eddie Levin of Sandy Springs-based Design Construction by Craftmaster. The houses will front on Peachtree-Dunwoody Road.

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The Sandy Springs Police Department will outfit all uniformed officers and supervisors with body cameras in a purchase deal that also includes new car dashboard cameras and TASER shock weapons. The deal with Axon Enterprise (formerly known as TASER International), approved by the City Council April 17, updates an existing contract to provide more gear at a discounted price. The updated five-year contract will cost the city $1,397,694. That’s a total increase of $607,913, but will save the city with a discount, including a 4 percent annual cost increase that will be eliminated, according to the police department. The police began wearing body cameras last year, with 72 in service. The new contract provides 20 additional body cameras, meaning every patrol officer and uniformed supervisor will wear them. Police Chief Ken DeSimone previously said the body cameras helped to provide evidence in the shooting of a suspect by an FBI agent in Sandy Springs earlier this year. The deal also will replace all “aging” dashboard cameras with new Axon models. Of the existing fleet, 11 cars already have Axon cameras, according to Deputy Chief Keith Zgnoc, and another 110 have L3 brand cameras that will be replaced. The force’s TASER weapons will be replaced and upgraded as well, for a total of 176 units. The deal includes camera upgrades after two-and-a-half years and free equipment replacements, according to a city staff memo.

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CORRECTION

The article titled “Local control, taxes among Sandy Springs’ state legislative wins” that appeared in the April 13 issue incorrectly stated the amount of the current exemption and effect SB 485 would have on Atlanta Public Schools. The correct current exemption is $30,000 and it is estimated to cost APS up to $25 million per year. SS

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Cross Keys High to move to former Briarcliff High site BY EVELYN ANDREWS evelyn@reporternewspapers.net

The new Cross Keys High School is slated to be built at the former Briarcliff High, despite objections from the three board members closest to the area who said traffic will make access a challenge. The district appraised and considered purchasing several apartment complexes and houses for the new school site. The school board voted April 16 to build the new Cross Keys High at the former Briarcliff High site, located at 2415 North Druid Hills Road in DeKalb County. The site is about two miles south of the current Cross Keys High, which is located at 1626 North Druid Hills Road and is set to become a middle school. Several Buford Highway apartment complexes and the single-family houses along Brookhaven’s Bramblewood Drive were among the sites considered by the DeKalb County School District for the new Cross Keys High School, according to an appraisal document obtained through an open records request. The district said buying a new property would have been too expensive and would displace hundreds of students from their homes. The vote was 4-3. Board members Marshall Orson, Stan Jester and James McMahan, who represent the area, voted no.

“Thousands live on the north and west side of I-85. We’d be pushing them through what has historically been ranked one of the 10 worst transportation corridors in metro Atlanta,” Orson said. Brookhaven Mayor John Ernst said he was disappointed that the school will now be outside of the community it serves. “All indications were that [the new school] would be along Buford Highway and then all of a sudden it wasn’t,” Ernst said. The city has had a good relationship with the school system, but the school board “pulled the rug out” from under the city, Ernst said. The Brookhaven City Council urged the school district in an April 24 resolution to build the school in the city. “The city of Brookhaven has made improving the life of Buford Highway residents a top priority,” the resolution said. “The mayor and city council believe there are strategies and tools to collaborate with the [Board of Education] to construct a new Brookhaven High School along the Buford Highway corridor.” Rebekah Morris, a former Cross Keys High teacher who founded the Los Vecinos de Buford Highway, an organization seeking to empower apartment residents living along the corridor, supported the decision to move to Briarcliff. In a recent blog, Morris wrote, “It can-

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DEKALB COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT

A site plans shows a possible configuration of the former Briarcliff High site.

not be a best practice to tear down student homes in order to build schools.” The apartment complexes appraised by the district were Esquire, Brookstone Crossing, Regency Woods, Epic Gardens, Northeast Plaza Apartments and Terraces at Brookhaven. The former Briarcliff High site, which would be sold by the district if it had decided to buy a different property, was appraised at $21 million. The Adams Stadium and parking are not included in that appraisal. Purchasing a new site would have been more expensive, costing $19 million to $38 million more than using the Briarcliff site, according to the DeKalb Schools document. Purchase costs for the candidate sites ranged from $36 million to $53.5 million. The school district has allocated nearly $85 million in ESPLOST funding for the new 2,500-seat school. It is needed to alleviate overcrowding at the current Cross Keys High. The sites were grouped into several different plans that included combinations of apartment complexes and the 32 single-family residences on Bramblewood Drive, a street that is adjacent to the current Cross Keys school and intersects with Buford Highway. Variations of the “Marquis Crossing” plan included different combinations of Brookstone Crossing, Esquire, Regency Woods and the Bramblewood Drive houses. The Marquis Crossing name is an apparent reference to a former name of Brookstone Crossing. The plan that grouped Esquire, Brookstone Crossing and Regency Woods apartments, which included about 400 units and would have displaced 523 students, was appraised for $45 million, including relocation costs. The two plans that included Bramblewood Drive properties would have displaced 265 or 400 students. They were appraised for $45 or $53.5 million, including relocation costs. The Bramblewood houses are already proposed for a townhome redevelopment and considered by the city of Brookhaven for a new police headquarters.

All three “Marquis Crossing” plans noted that, due to an unwilling seller, the district could have needed to take the property by eminent domain. Another plan, called “Epic Gardens,” included Epic Gardens, Northeast Plaza Apartments and Terraces at Brookhaven, which includes 456 units and would have displaced 391 students. The properties were appraised at $50 million. A variation of the plan that excluded Epic Gardens would have included 321 units and displaced 344 students. That plan was appraised at $36 million. Orson, who represents Cross Keys High, said he is concerned the school district is only thinking of the budget and not what would be best for the students that attend the school. The location is too far for many students and is outside of Cross Keys’ current attendance zone, Orson said. The community has concerns that there were not enough opportunities for public input, and those concerns are valid, Orson said in an interview. The decision can still change, Orson said. The board could vote again to instead purchase a new property if that is what the community says that it wants, he said. The school is in area with a historically high Hispanic and immigrant population, which often has more difficulties with transportation, sometimes due to not having the legal status necessary to acquire a driver’s license, he said at the meeting. The board members expressed concern about the increased traffic that upcoming developments, including the Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta hospital at the I-85 and North Druid Hills Road interchange, could bring. In addition to the traffic and access issues, Orson said he is concerned that the school district would be again underserving a historically underserved community. “We know that we’ve had a historic inequity in this community,” Orson said. “I’m concerned that as we work to address some of that inequity, that we’re not going to do a job that is complete and fair.” – Dyana Bagby contributed

Education | 5

APRIL 27 - MAY 10, 2018 ■ www.ReporterNewspapers.net

North Springs Charter High School recommendations come in over budget BY EVELYN ANDREWS

port, and Klein said, in an interview, they wish the district would have been more transparent throughout the process. She would like for the community and teachers at the school to also be able to see the report. “For them to be the final judge and jury on it makes no sense. If we could see, at least we would be able to put our comments in,” she said. Although CFANNS will push for improvements it feels are vital, getting a completely new school is still the main goal, said Sandy Springs City Council member Jody Reichel, who is also a member of CFANNS, in an interview. “Any investment that isn’t a new school is a deal breaker,” Reichel said. The district has said that an expansion and renovation is what was approved by voters in the E-SPLOST referendum and that is what the district is legally bound to do. CFANNS argues that not building a new school is a waste of taxpayer money because all the improvements cannot be made with the current budget, leading to building a new school or making more renovations in the near future. “We’re not asking them to build a Taj Mahal,” Klein said. “We have been a team player. We’re not asking for anything glorious.”

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FULTON COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT

The entrance of North Springs Charter High School, located at 7447 Roswell Road.

After they got past the initial confusion, Klein said CFANNS supported the engagement process and thought it was useful. “Once we understood the process, we were all on board,” Klein said. CFANNS now doesn’t understand why the district would not keep all the consultants’ recommendations that they determined are needed through the engagement process, Klein said. CFANNS has also not seen the re-

S OS

D BL UE SHI ELD

ATLANTA’S GREATEST DAY FOR KIDS A

meetings and interviews with students and school faculty. The engagement process got off to a rocky start due to miscommunication about what the first meeting would discuss. Residents attending the meeting believed the meeting would discuss the possibility of building a new school, but instead it was meant to be a “visioning” meeting about what type of school the community wants to have.

After recommendations for North Springs Charter High School renovations came in millions over budget, the district said it will cut them back to reduce costs. The announcement prompted advocates to ask why the district is not heeding all the consultants’ recommendations. Consultants with architecture firm CDH Partners recommended in a draft report that North Springs High receive $32 million in renovations, exceeding the district’s budget of $19 million, according to a statement made by Superintendent Jeff Rose at the April 12 school board meeting, as seen in a video of the meeting. The district will make changes to reduce the cost, Rose said at the meeting. “This design is a work in progress. As always, to be fiscally responsible to all taxpayers in Fulton County, we are exploring ways to manage costs through additional design solutions. Once the concepts are final, and cost estimates are complete, our staff will be able to evaluate options and present a recommendation to the Board of Education in June,” Rose said in a later statement. The district’s Capital Plan 2022, funded by the E-SPLOST, includes a major renovation and addition at North Springs. The project addresses deficiencies at the school in areas like fine arts, labs, performing arts, music, physical education and parking, according to the statement. The draft report was not presented at the meeting and has not been released. An open records request for the document was estimated to take two weeks to fulfill. The original plan was to present preliminary designs in June, but at the request of the school board, the architects accelerated their work and completed a draft report and initial concept in April, according to a press release about the draft report. Betty Klein, a member of Citizens for a New North Springs, said in a public statement at the meeting that she doesn’t understand why the district wouldn’t try to use all the recommendations, according to the video. CFANNS has been advocating for a new school because they don’t believe renovations will solve all of the schools’ problems. “I cannot tell you how disappointed I am to hear that statement from you,” Klein said. “Why would you reduce what they tell you we need?” Julia Abes, the co-president of Spartan Nation, the school’s PTO, said she is disappointed the recommendations will be cut back. “Nineteen million dollars barely cuts the surface of what needs to be done,” Abes said. Julia Bernath, the school board member for the area, directed questions to the board president and press office. The community engagement process for the school improvements was completed in March after months of public

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Liz Walsh The Howard School

Exceptional

Educator

Liz Walsh is a creative teacher of math at The Howard School, which serves children with language-based learning differences and disabilities. “Liz’s approach to teaching math concepts is amazing, compassionate and instills in our students an interest in numbers. She’s a real treasure,” said Nancy Davis, the school’s director of advancement. Liz Walsh has been a teacher at The Howard School for 19 years, and an educator for over 25, formerly serving in the Peace Corps stationed in Tunisia. The school is located in Atlanta’s Blandtown neighborhood, but over half of its students come from Buckhead, Sandy Springs, Dunwoody and Brookhaven.

erything I teach. They push me to understand even the simplest mathematics in new ways as I consider what manipulatives might represent a concept, what images might best recall it, and what words most clearly describe it. I am enriched by the collaborative, team-based approach to teaching students with learning differences. I work with speech-language pathologists, literacy specialists and psychologists, as well as gifted teachers, and I benefit constantly from their expertise as we share observations and discuss priorities.

cause we had relatively intact language, memory, and attentional systems. What we didn’t understand, we memorized; we followed steps in order and plugged numbers into formulas. For students with learning disabilities, that might not be an option. As I teach math, I try to ensure the math is meaningful, the language is clear, and that students have tools for retrieving what they know.

What drew you to teach at a school geared toward children with languagebased learning differences and disabilities?

A: I have the privilege of working in a

school where I never stop learning. I work with bright students who face challenges in language processing, memory, or executive functioning and they require me to be thoughtful about ev-

Q: How does that change your approach to how you teach math?

A: Many of us got by in math classes be-

Students who have difficulty sequencing the steps of a procedure must develop internal “self-talk” that they use to guide themselves through complex problems. I help students create consistent scripts they can use to remind themselves of how to start and what to do next.

What keeps you going year after

year?

A: What other field is brand new ev-

ery day? Every child, every brain is different. I teach elementary mathematics, and each student I encounter pushes me to recognize that even a simple a problem like “12-4” demands a cascade of cognitive responses. For most of us, this processing happens automatically. For students with learning differences and disabilities, one or more of these understandings requires targeted instruction. Ascertaining the right approach for each child is both challenging and — when you find it — incredibly rewarding. Sharing that “ah-ha!” moment with a student brings me great joy.

Liz Walsh, a math teacher at The Howard School.

SPECIAL

What do you hope students learn from you?

A: I want my young, neuro-diverse math-

ematicians to know that being “good” at math is not the same as being “fast” at math. I want them to learn that the correct answer, while important, is rarely the most interesting part of a math problem. More generally, I want all my students to know that their own thinking is interesting, and that there is great satisfaction to be found in learning about how others think as well. I hope I can help students develop awareness of the ways they learn best and skills to create environments — including, when appropriate, enlisting the support of friends or adults — in which they are most successful.

Do you have any special programs you use?

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At The Howard School, we draw from many sources as we attempt to support diverse learners. Research in effective interventions for students with learning differences in mathematics lags far behind that for reading interventions, and we are constantly looking for better ways to reach students.

Q: What is your favorite memory at The Howard School?

Every day there are new favorite memories. Today’s came after a 9-year-old struggled through a two-step word problem, and finally, looking at his paper covered with erased numbers and sketches, smiled and said, “I am so good at math.”

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Editor’s note: Through our “Exceptional Educator” articles, Reporter Newspapers showcases the work of some of the outstanding teachers and administrators at our local schools. If you would like to recommend a teacher or administrator to be the subject of an Exceptional Educator article, please email editor@ReporterNewspapers.net.

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Education Briefs DEKALB SCHOOL BUS DRIVERS PROTEST FOR RAISES, BENEFITS

Hundreds of DeKalb County school bus drivers staged a three-day sick-out that began April 19 in an effort to get raises and better benefits. The district is working to make an agreement with the drivers. The district was able to pull together enough bus drivers from other systems to fill some of the absences from bus drivers calling in sick, but students still experienced delays getting to and from school, the district said. Seven bus drivers were fired for encouraging the protest, the district said in a release. “We have been clear from the beginning. We will keep an open dialogue with employees provided they work collaboratively and keep our children safe by reporting to work. Unfortunately, some employees chose another route, and that carries serious consequences,” said Superintendent R. Stephen Green. Sheila Bennett, one of the bus drivers leading the effort, said at the March 16 school board meeting, which is archived in video online, that the drivers deserve better raises and to be included in school district appreciation events that celebrate teachers and other staff. “Why is it that drivers are eligible for food stamps when we carry the most precious cargo of all?” Bennett said at the meeting. Green said that the district is working with the drivers to make an agreement, including by bringing in experts to review the drivers’ retirement plan. He also proposed bringing back awards for “bus driver of the year” and perfect attendance, he said. He said the drivers’ pay is comparable or better than most other neighborhood school districts, except for Cobb County. “The numbers don’t lie. The retirement plan may be another scenario, however,” he said.

LO C A L S C H O OLS PA RTI C IPATE I N L ATEST WALKO U T

The Galloway School, Atlanta Girls’ School, The Westminster Schools and North Atlanta High School were among the schools that participated in the latest walkout to call for gun control measures. The National School Walkout was held at schools across the country at 10 a.m. on April 20, the 19th anniversary of the mass shooting at Columbine High School. It is the latest in a series of protests held in the wake of a school shooting in Parkland, Fla. that killed 17 people, including a nationwide school walkout and march. Several local schools participated in the previous walkout, which were student-led. About 200 Westminster students participated in the walkout, said Justin Abraham, a spokesperson for the West Paces Ferry private school. A 17-minute moment of silence was held, followed by four student speakers, Abraham said. About 300 students at North Atlanta High participated, said Seth Coleman, an Atlanta Public Schools spokesperson. The students held a 30-minute protest on the football field, Coleman said.

S TUD EN T S C H A RGED I N RI VERWO O D FIG HT

Two Riverwood International Charter School students were charged with simple battery after a fight on March 7. Two students attacked one victim in an unauthorized area during lunch, said Principal Charles Gardner in a letter to parents. Steps have been taken to ensure students can no longer access that area, Gardner said.

announced April 19. The church’s volunteer service arm, the Red Dot ministry, chose Lake Forest as their focus school for tutoring in reading and math, teacher assistance, event volunteering and mentoring. The Red Dot initiative aims to link the congregants to communities across metro Atlanta. Volunteers are matched with a teacher and class for the entire school year. “We have a great partnership with Lake Forest and our goal for our PPC Red Dots is to support the school — staff, students and community. Our Room Friend program does more than just your typical room parent duties; we build relationships with the students and teachers.” said Raechel Moorhead, an elder at the church, in the release.

NO R TH SPR ING S W INS PR O M SAFETY CO MP ETI TI O N

North Springs Charter High School students won a prom safety campaign competition sponsored by Fulton County. The competition was open to all senior classes in Atlanta and Fulton County schools. For the school’s winning campaign encouraging students to not drive impaired or while texting, it was presented with a $1,500 check on April 20 from Mothers Against Drunk Driving and the American Auto Club, a press release said. The competition was sponsored by the Fulton County Youth Commission. In addition to the check, “The Voice” actor and singer Nick Hagelin performed at the school’s SPECIAL prom, which was held April 20. One of North Springs Charter “It’s exciting to have won and we thank the FulHigh School’s prom safety posters. ton County Youth Commission and all the sponsors involved,” said Principal Scott Hanson in the release.

LOCAL STUDENTS HONORED IN CONGRESSIONAL ART COMPETITION Several local students’ art was celebrated by U.S. Rep. Karen Handel’s (R-Ga.) office in the Congressional Art Competition. Each spring, high school students from around the country are asked to submit entries to their representative’s office, and panels of district artists select the winning entries. Winning works are displayed for one year at the U.S. Capitol, according to a press release. Logan Maiolo, a senior at St. Pius X Catholic High School, a school outside Brookhaven, won third place. Shannon Kang and Sophia De Lurgio, also of St. Pius, won an honorable mention, as well as Albert Zhang, a senior at The West“Rags” by Logan Maiolo minster Schools, the release said. The art was judged by Steve Penley, a local artist. The winners were recognized at an April 20 ceremony, the release said. First, second, and third place winners are awarded scholarships of $12,000, $7,500 and $3,500, respectively, according to the release.

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C O NTA C T US Founder & Publisher Steve Levene stevelevene@reporternewspapers.net Editorial Managing Editor John Ruch johnruch@reporternewspapers.net INtown Editor: Collin Kelley Editor-at-Large Joe Earle Staff Writers Dyana Bagby, Evelyn Andrews Copy Editor: Donna Williams Lewis Creative and Production Creative Director Rico Figliolini rico@reporternewspapers.net Graphic Designer: Soojin Yang Advertising Director of Sales Development Amy Arno amyarno@reporternewspapers.net Sales Executives Melissa Kidd, Jeff Kremer, Janet Porter, Jim Speakman Office Manager Deborah Davis deborahdavis@reporternewspapers.net Contributors Robin Conte, Phil Mosier

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Commentary / Staying on track with a new regional transit plan Historically, the Atlanta area has played one indisputable role in the Southeast U.S. region: Because of its location, it has always been the regional transportation crossroads. Atlanta started as an 1840s rail hub and for the next 150 years, it was the regional leader in transportation innovation. In the 1920s, its airport emerged and it eventually grew into the world’s busiest. In the 1940s, it started planning an urban interstate well before President Dwight Eisenhower, after seeing the role Germany’s Autobahn played in moving its World War II troops from point to point, launched the national interstate highway system. In the 1950s and ’60s, leaders here started planning the region’s first heavy rail transit system. Atlanta’s success vis-à-vis neighbors like Birmingham, Charlotte, Nashville and others came because it capitalized on its ability to connect people, places and goods. Then, in the 1990s, we quit. We quit planning, building and innovating in surface transportation. So, for almost 30 years, the metro area continued its burgeoning population growth, but never built the infrastructure needed to support it. Until the pain of congestion got so intense, the Georgia Legislature, whether controlled by either party, was unwilling to approve the financial resources this area needed. Now, the pain has reached intolerability. So, the General Assembly has stepped up. First, it gave us House Bill 170, which generated more than $1 billion in new state transportation road funding and allowed local governments to seek voter support for resources to fix bottlenecks and other challenges at the neighborhood level. Rapid transit has been hampered by the management and reputational deficiencies of MARTA; political leaders and voters had no faith it could management what it had, much less a larger system. That problem was largely solved by the previous MARTA general manager, Keith Parker. New General Manager Jeff Parker pledges to continue the path set by his predecessor. Secondly, MARTA’s rail network was designed when people lived in the suburbs and worked downtown. Now, people live many places and are more likely to commute to the suburbs than the urban core. The system simply cannot move people efficiently to where they need to go.

This year, the Legislature gave us House Bill 930, which marks a path forward toward a true regional 13-county transit system. Under these state guidelines, the Fulton Commission and the county’s mayors have worked for three years to address the backlog of transportation needs. Together, we placed a 0.75 cent sales tax to fund community-level road improvements before voters, who approved it. Through HB 930, we’re now working on the transit piece of the transportation puzzle. We have agreement that north Fulton will extend MARTA’s current rapid rail beyond the North Springs terminus with Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) to offer highspeed transit using the managed Ga. 400 lanes planned by GDOT. At some point, voters will be asked for a fifth of a penny for the $300 million capital costs of building transit stations up

ing the flexibility to incorporate, over time, evolving transportation innovations such as autonomous vehicles, which make possible synchronized vehicular movement; ridesharing; smart Rusty Paul roads; satellite is the mayor traffic control of Sandy Springs. systems; maglev propulsion; and whatever other technologies emerge. Timing, however, is crucial. We must put transit in the existing Ga. 400/I-285 corridors and use the managed lanes GDOT is planning because we have no

An illustration from a 2017 presentation about the Fulton County Transit Master Plan, a partial blueprint for the type of regional transit recently authorized by the General Assembly.

Ga. 400. MARTA will pay for the operational and maintenance costs out of current revenues. Meanwhile, planners will answer questions such as how this North Fulton plan fits within the larger 13-county network. Where will the BRT stations go? What about — a crucial question for Sandy Springs — east-west connectivity between Gwinnett/Doraville and Cobb, important sources of traffic here? Fortunately, the 30-year drought in surface transportation planning and discussion has ended. We can’t recapture lost time. However, we can move now with the needed infrastructure, while retain-

other acceptable locations. GDOT is designing those projects right now, planning to place them under construction in the next five years; to integrate transit into those plans, we need fast decisions, or we may lose the opportunity — possibly forever. This process is on a fast track, but not so fast that we won’t take the time necessary to make wise decisions about the best, most cost-efficient process for moving a growing metro population more effectively. The future success of our region and our community depends on getting this process done and done right.

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On Mother’s Day, remembering what your kids will forget Robin’s Nest

To all you mothers of youngsters out there — you they will quash me with what I forgot. brave women in the trenches — a word from a veteran: I will remember singing them a lullaby every Robin Conte is a writer night; I will have forgotten that it was “Tears of You won’t remember a darn thing. You might recall a few snippets from your child- and mother of four who a Clown.” rearing years, but what you remember and what your lives in Dunwoody. She And thus evolves in our house a distinct, “What I can be contacted at remember/What I forgot” pattern. children remember will be entirely different. Because memory is a fickle thing … so fickle, in fact, that Barba- robinjm@earthlink.net. What I remember: We played inside games. ra Streisand sang a song essentially glorifying its fickWhat I forgot: Our favorite one was “Name that leness way back in the ’70s. A tattered old cat had a Smell.” long run on Broadway singing about it, too. What I remember: I always fed them healthy Alas, the curious tenet of memory is that you food. will remember a thing one way, and others will reWhat I forgot: Except when I wanted a few member it another. This paradigm applies most aptminutes to myself — that’s when I’d hand them a ly to child-rearing. carton of ice cream and a spoon. Years from now you will be scrolling through phoWhat I remember: I watched my language. tos, quietly reminiscing with yourself and rememberWhat I forgot: They caught me using an expletive ing what a great mom you were, pausing every now while driving them to preschool, and I told them that and then to form a congratulatory grin at how wonderI only cuss when I’m turning left. fully attentive, creative and energetic your younger self What I remember: We played “Hide and Seek.” was, that she was constantly doling out pearls of wisWhat I forgot: My regular hiding place was under a dom whilst kissing boo-boos and whipping up healthy dinners. blanket on the couch. When it was my turn to “seek,” I stayed there Your kids, however, will remember you at your worst. Like a … and took a very, very long time to find them. nosey hiker peering under wayside rocks to discover the nesting What I remember: Spending quality time with each of my maggots there, your kids will pry beneath the glossy memories children. and reveal the unflattering bits nestled beneath. What I forgot: It was typically in the waiting room of the ER. For instance, you knock yourself out for 20 years, staging mulThe moral here is that you can’t win. You will flip through tiple birthday parties at recurring intervals, careful to evenly bal- the photo albums, happily recalling your fall family outing to ance the themes and expenses among your offspring and to choose the pumpkin patch when your little darlings were all dressed parties which are relevant to the interests of each child and yet up in gingham and overalls and played gleefully amongst pertinent to the time of year and the social milieu of the day, and chrysanthemums and orange gourds, and they will remember all they will remember is that Barney didn’t come to their fourth that you didn’t let them have a funnel cake. birthday party. You, naturally, will have forgotten that. Cheer up, moms, and happy Mother’s Day. You’re doing a great Lately, when my kids catch me reveling in what I remember, job … no matter how your kids will remember it.

Check out Robin’s debut book, ‘The Best of the Nest’ Robin Conte’s “Robin’s Nest” column is one of the best features in the Reporter, readers often tell us. Now we’re pleased to offer you the best of the best — a book gathering Robin’s selected columns. “The Best of the Nest” offers 49 of Robin’s witty essays on suburban family life, organized by seasons. They include some of the pieces that won Robin the first-place Lifestyle/Features Column award in the 2017 Georgia Press Association contest. Robin, a Dunwoody resident, is a mother of four children who may or may not be aware of how frequently their adventures show up in her columns. If you’re looking for a great Mother’s Day gift, or just a good bedside or beach book with a warm and humorous take on family life, this is the collection for you. To order the book and to follow updates on Robin’s bookrelated appearances, see her website at bestofthenest.net – John Ruch, Managing Editor

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Treat your Mom this Mother’s Day!

Letters to the Editor O N FALSE ALAR M S, B U C K S HO UL D S TO P WI TH C US TO M ER S

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I loved your recap of the alarm ordinance. (“False alarm battle brings public anger, confusion,” April 13.) It pretty much summed up the feelings we have about it and the main perspectives dominating discussions I have seen on neighborhood forums. I hope we find an answer that doesn’t feel like retaliation against businesses or a lack of consideration for citizens’ sense of safety. I am glad you included the feedback from the industry that highlights how unique this is to the city in comparison to other municipalities around the U.S. A mom-andpop alarm company owner that I respect shared how this affected his ability to provide services in our city, and it was very obvious in my conversation with him that this will hurt many of the wrong players in the industry while larger companies will come out ahead no matter what. I appreciate your dedication to getting each side of the story. I respect the intention of the police chief and city, but feel homeowners who create the issues should be where the buck stops as long as they are treated fairly with a transparent appeals process.

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AM ER ICA NEED S A N EC O NO M I C R EVO L UTI O N These are desperate times for Americans, who are overwhelmingly miserable. Meanwhile, the happiest people in the world are found, according to worldwide polling, in Scandinavia. Compared to America, Scandinavia is an absolute paradise with free, universal health care, paid family leave, free education and five weeks vacation. It is time for a second American Revolution. The grim reality is that the top 10 percent of Americans own 90 percent of America’s wealth. That is an absolute scandal. In America, so few own so much and so many Americans have very little. That is why Americans are miserable. One of the most obscene things about America is this repulsive deference that many Americans show the rich. The rich have turned America into an oligarchy of, by and for the rich. It is time for Americans to rise up and overthrow the tyranny of the rich. Wouldn’t it be great to see Donald Trump and his family forced to apply for food stamps? The money seized from the evil rich should be used to provide universal health care coverage for all Americans. Paid family leave should, also, be covered with the proceeds from the takings of the 1-percenters. Depending on how much money is raised from the takings, free, higher education for all should be offered. As a result of the first American Revolution, America achieved political democracy. The goal of the second American Revolution should be to achieve economic democracy. College students should organize, hold rallies and demonstrate. College students are the vanguard of American society. As such, they should be in the lead in addressing the widespread misery that is rampant in America. Redistributing the ill-gotten gains from the 1 percent and making America more economically equal is the moral issue of our time. The American people are miserable in today’s inequality. It is time to make the American people happy by restructuring the America financial structure. No longer should so few own so much while the vast majority live in misery. Rise up, America! Keith Watkins Brookhaven

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VOTERS GUIDE 6TH CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT Four Democrats are competing on the May 22 primary ballot for the right to challenge Republican incumbent U.S. Rep. Karen Handel in the 6th Congressional District this fall. Candidates Bobby Kaple and Lucy McBath did not respond.

KEVIN ABEL

to key races on May 22 primary ballot For full answers from the candidates, see ReporterNewspapers.net.

STEVEN KNIGHT GRIFFIN GriffinforCongress.com Occupation: Former Policy Coordinator/Mgmt & Program Analyst, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Why should the voters choose you for this position?

KevinAbelforCongress.com Occupation: Founder, Abel Solutions

Why should the voters choose you for this position? I’m an immigrant to this country and I have been so fortunate to live the American dream, but I’m afraid that dream is unavailable to so many, and will be even less accessible for future generations. I’ve been deeply involved in the civic and community life of the district for 26 years, built and sold a business, and raised a family.

What is the biggest issue facing the district and how will you address it? Access to affordable healthcare is the single biggest issue facing not just our district, but our country. President Trump has purposefully undermined healthcare markets and caused numerous providers to pull out of the marketplace right here in Georgia. The ACA was a great starting place, but as with any legislation, it has room for improvement. We need to reinstate the individual mandate, continue to promote Medicaid expansion, allow Medicare to negotiate prescription drug prices, and expand the use of Accountable Care Organizations, which incentivize providers to measure outcomes based on quality of results and not quantity of care delivered.

The opioid drug addiction epidemic has been a major issue in the district and nationwide. What strategy do you believe the federal government should pursue to reduce or end the opioid epidemic? The single biggest obstacle to addressing this issue is lack of access to affordable and comprehensive care. We also need to address the overprescription of highly addictive painkillers and punish pharmaceutical companies and doctors who irresponsibly push and prescribe these drugs beyond their necessity in order to increase profits.

Firstly, I am the only person in my primary with government and public policy experience, which means I’ll be an effective legislator. Secondly, I know the community very well, having lived here for over 25 years. Thirdly, voters seem to agree it is time for new blood and fresh perspectives – and I believe millennials like myself and the youth more generally are poised to provide it. The best cure to the current kakistocracy is everyday people running for elected office.

What is the biggest issue facing the district and how will you address it? Two issues concern a majority of residents: healthcare and education. There are over 75,000 uninsured individuals in the district. Many politicians like to talk about access to healthcare; that doesn’t mean much in the absence of coverage. We need to expand coverage by restoring the public option and negotiating Medicare drug prices, applying the savings to reduce premiums, increase subsidies and close Georgia’s non-Medicaid-expansion coverage gap. On education, we’re one of the most well-educated districts in the nation; consequently, we also have many students burdened with loan debt. We must make college more affordable via grants and interest rate reductions.

The opioid drug addiction epidemic has been a major issue in the district and nationwide. What strategy do you believe the federal government should pursue to reduce or end the opioid epidemic? Our first step should be to equip first-responders and the public generally to save lives, providing naloxone kits in exchange for training in proper administration and overdose identification. Secondly, we should focus on and fully fund harm reduction initiatives, addiction recovery services and pharmaceutically-assisted withdrawal treatment. Lastly, we should investigate underlying causes and address them, as well as research and deploy effective alternatives to opioids, such as medical cannabis. A recent UGA study confirmed that legal medical cannabis reduced prescription opioid use and abuse.

FULTON COUNTY COMMISSION CHAIR Incumbent Fulton County Commission Chair Robb Pitts is being challenged in the May 22 primary by fellow Democrat Keisha Waites. Pitts defeated Waites last year in a special election for the office. The winner faces no challenger on the November ballot. Waites did not respond to questions.

ROBERT L. PITTS RobbPitts.com Occupation: RLP Corporation, Financial Representative and international business consultant

Both you and the other candidate were in a runoff race for this office less than five months ago. What is something you have accomplished that should convince voters to keep you in the office? I have tackled several priorities — transportation improvements, criminal justice reform, a new animal shelter, funding for seniors and youth, and property tax reform. I have also established task forces on homestead exemptions, the hospitality industry and sex trafficking. SS

What is the biggest issue facing the district and how will you address it? One of the biggest issues facing Fulton County is fixing the broken property tax appraisal system. Since being elected as chair, the county has allocated $3.4 million in the budget to hire more appraisers, provide better training, improve technology and enhance our communication strategy to keep our residents informed. The residents of Fulton County will see an up-to-date website and community outreach, and each property that received a 50 percent increase will be reviewed.

What should Fulton County do next on mass transit policy now that the General Assembly has passed legislation authorizing a new regional system? HB 930 creates the ATL Authority, which is the entity that coordinates and plans the disbursement of federal and state funding for transit within 13 counties. Fulton County should continue to work with the 15 cities in Fulton County to ensure that they have a full understanding of the ATL’s regional governance structure, its regional transit plan, and its powers so that they can keep their residents educated.

12 | Community

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Welcome Dr. Alonzo Sexton The Orthopedic Sports Medicine Center of Atlanta is a full-service practice that specializes in the diagnosis, treatment and management of sports injuries, arthritis and musculoskeletal disorders. Our board-certified physician brings over a decade of experience treating athletes of all levels, and utilizes the latest in conservative care and minimally-invasive surgery to return you to activity as soon as possible. Dr. Sexton is welcoming new patients, accepts most insurance plans and off ers a convenient new location near the Northside Hospital Atlanta campus. We offer a full r ange of services:

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SENATE DISTRICT 6 In state Senate District 6, Republicans Leah Aldridge and John Gordon are vying for the right to challenge Democratic incumbent Jen Jordan in the fall. Another Republican, Jamie Parrish, filed to run but said he is out of the race. Gordon did not respond to questions.

LEAH ALDRIDGE

Alonzo Sexton, M.D.

LeahforGeorgia.com Occupation: I am the owner of Atlanta Breastfeeding Consultants, LLC, a clinic serving new mothers and babies. I am also a corporate attorney formerly with the firm of Morris, Manning and Martin, LLP. Previous experience holding elected offices: None Other community service experience: I have served as a Board Member of the nonprofit Healthy Mothers, Healthy Babies Coalition of Georgia, Inc. for over a decade including serving as its Board President from 2014-2016. I have served as a La Leche League Leader for more than 10 years, and I am a sustaining member of the Junior League of Atlanta. I have been a speaker at various professional conferences including at Em-

ory University’s School of Medicine in 2016. I have received numerous national and state community service awards, including from the United States Lactation Consultants Association and the Junior League of Atlanta, Inc.

Why should voters choose you for this position? Because experience matters. I am a small business woman (I run a small healthcare business in Fulton County), and I am a corporate attorney who has closed multimillion-dollar public company deals. I am a consensus builder, a principled conservative, and I know when government gets out of the way, families and businesses thrive. I have the endorsement of many of my future Senate colleagues and can hit the ground running come January 2019 to lead for this district on the issues we most care about — lowering taxes, neighborhood safety, education, traffic and lowering healthcare costs.

What is the biggest issue facing the district and how will you address it? The overreach of government is my biggest concern. As senator, my first priority is tax relief — property taxes and state income taxes. Surprise property tax bills hurt our families and put seniors at risk. To keep Georgia competitive and money in our checkbooks, I will work to lower the state income tax. We must not wait on Washington, but implement state-based solutions to our rising healthcare costs and loss of access to the doctors and hospitals of our choice. I pledge to partner with law enforcement to keep our neighborhoods safe from the growing crime epidemic.

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Making a Difference

club

Backpack Buddies put care in packages

Methodist Dunwoody United Gil Yates, about to begin at for his classmate Coast Indians was making a beeline A class on Pacific page 10 strode into the room, Church when a man OK.” approached. “Shuffling’sbuddy, who would not front row, center. said, as the man his “No running!” Yates is a year older than all in good fun. Yates The teasing was age: 91. with Perimeter Adults but did share his classes this spring reveal his name, 175 students taking The men are among most of whom (PALS). for senior adults, Learning & Services continuing education the start. year of providing been members from PALS is in its 25th need for of Dunwoody, have takes care of the and his wife, Dot, and this kind of are 60-plus. Yates to help other people, “People our age want made lifelong friends.” 4 Yates said. “We have Continued on page fellowship,” Dot

on the run Story on page 4

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HOUSE DISTRICT 52 In House District 52, incumbent Deborah Silcox is being challenged in the May 22 primary by fellow Republican Gavi Shapiro. The winner will face Democrat Shea Roberts in the fall.

GAVI SHAPIRO

N SUN *OPE 12–5

Soft or firm seats

GaviShapiro.com Occupation: IT entrepreneur, Expediation Technologies

Why should voters choose you for this position?

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I believe that the highest priority of a representative should be honestly to represent the fiscal and political interests of their constituents, while maintaining transparency and accountability. Unfortunately, our current representative has succumbed to the pressure to prioritize special interests over the well-being of Georgians. In fact, she has consistently voted to increase the per capita sales tax burden while offering tax breaks to yacht owners, among other favored groups. I pledge only to vote in favor of conservative and fiscally responsible legislation that represents the interests of my district.

What is the biggest issue facing the district and how will you address it? For years now, Georgians have been petitioning for school choice. A well-designed school choice bill will allow families more resources to educate their children effectively. This will improve the prospects of children from lower-income families who are not thriving in their local public schools. It will also promote efficiency, since many public schools (especially those whose students cannot afford private education) do not provide sufficient individualized attention and even misuse much of their allocated funding. I will cosponsor a school choice bill because the people want it and because it will help our kids.

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DEBORAH SILCOX SilcoxforGeorgia.com Occupation: Attorney, employed by the State of Georgia as State Representative for House District 52

Why should voters choose you for this position? I have a proven track record now in the General Assembly and work at this position full time. I helped to cut personal income taxes, moderate the growth of Fulton County property taxes, and voted to fully fund QBE for our public schools for the first time since 2002. With the help of the Sandy Springs City Council, I passed a bill to give local officials control of the use of fireworks through our noise ordinance, successfully passed the sex trafficking bill for the Attorney General Chris Carr, and also passed a bill to improve prenatal and maternal health.

What is the biggest issue facing the district and how will you address it? I believe the biggest issue facing our area is transportation. I helped to pass the transit bill in the General Assembly to create a single “ATL” system of transit for the 13 metro counties. I am hopeful that the voter referendum mandated by this legislation will pass in all the counties this November, so the General Assembly can continue to pursue more options for citizens to ride but not drive. I also fought and drafted some of the language for the distracted driving bill that, if signed by the governor, will save approximately 300 lives a year on Georgia roads.

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We are pround to welcome

Dr. Abubakr Chaudhry to our team.

Retiring Rep. Willard reflects on 17 years of big issues BY JOHN RUCH johnruch@reporternewspapers.net

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When Wendell Willard entered the state Legislature in 2001, his home city of Sandy Springs didn’t exist yet. Now that he heads into retirement, having marked his last Sine Die last month, the longtime representative of House District 51 is looking back on a legacy where cityhood was just the start. “Look up the road here at all the things that have happened in Sandy Springs … My gosh, the changes that have come about [are] amazing,” said Willard in a recent visit to the Reporter Newspapers office. The 2005 incorporation — a product of legislation that he and others pushed through — created a “strong community spirit” that didn’t exist before, he said. Already an accomplished attorney, both in private practice and for DeKalb County, Willard won the seat — then House District 44 before redistrictings changed the number a couple of times — in 2000 after longtime state Rep. Sharon Trense stepped down. Nearly 18 years later, he was never opposed for re-election, he says with pride. In 2004, Willard’s Republican Party suddenly took over state government after years as the minority party. A long-frustrated plan for Sandy Springs cityhood be-

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came politically possible. Willard supported former state Rep. Joe Wilkinson and other colleagues in the passage of a landmark bill allowing Georgia’s first new city in a half-century. Willard worked on related legal changes, such as making the chartering of a city an act of the entire General Assembly, not local legislation, which local officials could have blocked in Sandy Springs’ case. Asked whether having the entire state weighing in on new cities was merely a smart tactical move, Willard says, “I really did believe that. It wasn’t just the battle cry.” Any new city affects the entire state, he said. At the request of Eva Galambos, the late founding mayor of Sandy Springs, Willard did double duty as city attorney until he retired from that position last summer. Having formed a new city in an act of independence from Fulton County, the two were also early supporters of breaking off the northern suburbs as a separate “Milton County.” Today, Willard just received a resolution of praise for his career from the Fulton County Commission, an era of goodwill that he says the cityhood movement ushered in. “When I started out, the big cry was, ‘Let’s create Milton County.’ There was big division north and south, with Atlanta in the middle, and nothing but bickering between [areas],” he said. Now every part of the county has followed Sandy Springs in incorporating, most recently with the City of South Fulton. Willard suggested that county government has its proper role and a satisfied citizenry has little political appetite for the Milton County concept. The new era of Fulton cities and county government cooperating has been a lever on such issues as mass transit expansion, said Willard, who in the 1970s was spokesperson for a group advocating MARTA in DeKalb County. With ever-worsening traffic, Fulton officials have been major advocates of regional transit planning and expansion, a concept reflected in legislation passed last month to establish a new 13-county system. “We’re slowly evolving around,” Willard said of transit, adding he believes that longtime MARTA-resistant Cobb and Gwinnett counties will join the new system. “Government works best under crisis.” Another big change of the 2004 GOP takeover was that Willard became chair, rather than just a member, of the powerful House Judiciary Committee. In that position, he led several legal reforms that he sees as among his best and longest-lasting legacies. They include creating the state’s firstever rules of evidence for criminal and civil courts, rather than the accumulation of 150 years of legal decisions. The reform was heavily opposed: “Old lawyers didn’t want to learn new law, simple as that,” Willard said. He also led reforms of laws protecting the “most vulnerable groups” — seniors and children, such as revamps of laws on physical and financial abuse of seniors. Juvenile

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justice was another area of reform, with Asked whether his own thinking had kids facing criminal charges allowed to stay changed on LGBT rights, Willard did not anat home and in school rather than going to swer directly or use the term. Instead, he jails, which Willard said he saw as “nothsaid his stance was rooted in Christianity ing more than taking that child and turnand Republicanism, though his opponents ing them into a criminal person. … “We have on the issue were mostly Christian Republichanged the landscape on how we handle cans as well. children in trouble in amazing ways in the “My thoughts were, I don’t want a law past 10 years.” based on religious reasons being used to disIn recent years, Willard’s committee becriminate,” said Willard. He added that the came a prominent foil of inGOP “has always been [about] tensely controversial “religious recognizing the value and freedom” legislation, which worth of the individual,” back supporters said would further to President Abraham Lincoln protect people from laws vioand the 1960s Civil Rights legislating their beliefs, and which lation. “I think that true Repubopponents said could empowlicanism is not discriminatory,” er discrimination, particularhe said. ly against lesbian, gay, bisexual The next legislator in his and transgender people. While District 51 seat will be either the most vocal opposition on Republican Alex Kaufman or SPECIAL the committee came from other Democrat Josh McLaurin. It’s Wendell Willard. members, Willard spoke strongbecome a messy race, with the ly of his personal stance against Fulton County Republican Parthe legislation and sounded annoyed by its ty challenging McLaurin’s residency. Wilconcept. lard says he has met with both candidates, “If people would stop and read the provibut otherwise “kept out of it” and will evension we have in our state constitution —we tually support Kaufman. have a very strong article in the constitution As for Willard, he’s taken up some advithat already recognizes religious freedom,” sory work at Freeman Mathis & Gary, the Willard said. “The other side of it was a law law firm of new Sandy Springs City Attorbeing pushed by people who may want to ney Dan Lee. And Willard and wife Vicki use it in a way that is discriminatory” — aim to spend time at a vacation home in including rejections of amendments that North Carolina and traveling elsewhere. would have protected LGBT people in pubAfter a long career, he says the plan is lic accommodations. simple: “Enjoy life.”

Heritage Sandy Springs Farmers Market comes home to City Springs on May 12th Grab your friends, family, and pets and join us Saturday mornings at the market. Shop for local, naturally grown produce, pasture-raised meat, farm fresh eggs, and a variety of specialty food items. Or, just hang out at the City Green. To welcome the market home, City Springs Executive Chef Rodney Martin will do a cooking demo featuring items from the market. Meet Chef Rodney and learn a new recipe.

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16 | Art & Entertainment

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“MY FAIR LADY” BROOKHAVEN

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Thursday, May 3 through Saturday, May 5, 7 p.m; Sunday, May 6, 3 p.m.

Dunwoody United Methodist Church Performing Arts delivers a staged concert version of the award-winning musical “My Fair Lady,” which tells the tale of a cockney flower girl transformed into an elegant lady. $15 online or at the door. 1548 Mount Vernon Road, Dunwoody. Info: dunwoodyumc.org/parts.

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“BIG FISH”

Thursday, May 3, 7:30 p.m. to 10 p.m.

Through May 6

Orbit Arts Academy and Orbit Theatrical students present the musical “Big Fish,” the tale of a man who leads an extraordinary life — according to the stories he tells his son. $25. Providence Place, 590 Mount Vernon Highway N.E., Sandy Springs. Schedule info: orbitartsacademy.com.

Comedian Benji Lovitt presents a hilarious picture of Israel at the Marcus Jewish Community Center of Atlanta by deconstructing cultural differences and the immigrant experience in his home country. $18 members; $24 nonmembers. 5342 Tilly Mill Road, Dunwoody. Info: atlantajcc.org.

FRANKLIN POND CHAMBER MUSIC CONCERT Sunday, May 6, 3 p.m.

The finale concert of this program for talented string students features 22 middle-school and high-school musicians coached by a faculty from the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra and the Atlanta Opera. Free. Kellett Chapel of Peachtree Presbyterian Church, 3434 Roswell Road, Buckhead. Info: franklinpond.org.

SUMMER CONCERT SERIES - SUNSET RIDE Saturday, May 12, 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.

The Dunwoody Nature Center launches its summer concert series with the band Sunset Ride and its mix of retro and current hits. Seating available on a first-come, first-served basis in the meadow or on the back porch. Outside food and drink welcome. $5 adults; $3 students; free for members and for children 3 and under. Craft beers, sodas and water available. 5343 Roberts Drive, Dunwoody. Info: dunwoodynature.org.

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SUNDAYS ON THE RIVER

TOUR OF HOMES AND MARKETPLACE

Sunday, May 13, 6 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.

The 1920s style Dixieland jazz band Blair Crimmins and the Hookers performs at the Chattahoochee Nature Center. Take a blanket or chairs and have a picnic. Cash bar available. Sundays on the River concerts take place on second Sundays monthly from May to September. $12-$16. 9135 Willeo Road, Roswell. Info: chattnaturecenter.org.

Continued on page 18

“Enjoy the little things in life, for one day, you will look back and realize they were the big things.” —Kurt Vonnegut

Tour five unique homes within the Big Canoe Community including the 2018 Designer Showcase Home May 18 & 19, 2018 9am – 5 pm, Friday, 9 am – 4 pm, Saturday Tickets and information: www.bigcanoelegacy.org Hosted by the Big Canoe Chapel Women’s Guild to benefit local charities.

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18 | Art & Entertainment

Facebook.com/TheReporterNewspapers ■ twitter.com/Reporter_News Continued from page 17

CONCERTS BY THE SPRINGS

Sunday, May 13, 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Gates open at 5 p.m.

Heritage Sandy Springs launches its 22nd series of free summer concerts on Mother’s Day with the band Banks & Shane. The concerts are held one Sunday evening each month in May through September on the Sandy Springs Society Entertainment Lawn at Heritage Green. Arrive early to picnic. Blankets, lawn chairs and coolers welcome. No outside tables permitted. Additional food, beer, wine and sodas available for purchase. No pets, except for special assist animals. 6110 Blue Stone Road, Sandy Springs. Info: heritagesandysprings.org.

GET ACTIVE FAMILY CANOE DAYS

Saturdays, May 5 and May 19, 10:30 a.m. to noon.

Get an introduction to canoeing with tips on paddling techniques and equipment and a canoe trip at the Chattahoochee Nature Center’s Beaver Pond. All equipment provided. Races and games included. Ages 5+. $15 general public; $10 nature center members. Register by the Thursday before each class. (Limited spaces.) 9135 Willeo Road, Roswell. Info: chattnaturecenter.org.

With so many things to do, we suggest getting an early start on your want-to-do list. There’s a lot to do at The Piedmont Retirement Community — clubs, events, socializing, and more. So, go ahead and make your want-to-do list. But please don’t include a bunch of chores. We’ll take care of most of those for you. We invite you to see all that The Piedmont has to offer (including assisted living services if needed) at a complimentary lunch and tour. Please call 404.381.1743 to schedule.

LYNWOOD PARK DAY

Saturday, May 5, noon to 6 p.m.

The Lynwood Park community hosts its 40th annual community heritage celebration in partnership with the city of Brookhaven with a parade featuring the Miller Grove High School marching band and with live music, horses, a Corvette Club and a variety of activities and vendors at the Lynwood Park Community Center. Free food, free drinks, free admission. The parade starts at noon at the Lynwood United Church of God in Christ, 1424 Windsor Parkway, and ends at the community center, 3360 Osborne Road, Brookhaven. Info: brookhavenga.gov.

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DUNWOODY ART FESTIVAL

Saturday, May 12, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sunday, May 13, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

This Mother’s Day tradition in Dunwoody is back for its eighth show, rain or shine, in Dunwoody Village. Artist market, live music, food court and “Kidz Zone” with activities and rides. Dunwoody Village Parkway, Dunwoody. Info: splashfestivals.com.

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Saturday, May 12 and Sunday, May 13, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Celebrate Mother’s Day with this annual self-guided tour featuring private home gardens, from tranquil woodland settings to intimate urban oases, throughout metro Atlanta, including Buckhead and Sandy Springs. Rain or shine. Benefits the Atlanta Botanical Garden. Tickets and info: atlantabg.org.

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LEARN SOMETHING “BARBECUE NATION”

Saturday, May 5 through Saturday, June 16.

In celebration of National Barbecue Month, the Atlanta History Center opens an exhibition that reveals the complexities of one of America’s favorite foods with artifacts, images, and oral histories from across the country. Related special programs include an opening celebration on May 5 and a screening of the Southern Foodways Alliance film “Valentina’s Tex Mex BBQ” with a barbecue panel discussion on May 23. 130 West Paces Ferry Road N.W., Buckhead. Schedule and ticket info: atlantahistorycenter.com.

FREE FIRST SATURDAY: FARM TO TABLE

Saturday, May 5, 11 a.m. to noon.

Get gardening tips ranging from growing herbs to squash and explore the benefits of composting kitchen scraps in a free session at the Dunwoody Nature Center. Make miniature pots from newspaper and take some seeds home to get your garden started. 5343 Roberts Drive, Dunwoody. Info: dunwoodynature.org.

“BLOOD MOON: AN AMERICAN EPIC OF WAR AND SPLENDOR” Monday, May 7, 8 p.m. to 9 p.m.

Author John Sedgwick discusses his book, “Blood Moon,” the story of the century-long blood feud between two rival Cherokee chiefs from the early years of the U.S. through the infamous Trail of Tears and into the Civil War. $10 public; $5 members. 30 West Paces Ferry Road N.W., Buckhead. Info: atlantahistorycenter.com.

VOLUNTEER HOST A FRENCH STUDENT Friday, July 6 to Thursday, July 26

Paris-based LEC (Loisirs Culturels A l’Etranger), a French organization offering international cultural experiences, seeks host families in the Atlanta area for 20 French teens who speak English. Hosts are compensated for providing room and board, hospitality and friendship. Retired French teacher Linda Farmer and a French chaperone will oversee the program. Info: Linda Farmer at lgfarmer@aol.com or 770-973-2452. Also see lec-usa.com.

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20 | Community

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After Atlanta cyber attack, other cities prepare defenses Dunwoody

BY JOHN RUCH johnruch@reporternewspapers.net

In the wake of a March 22 cyber attack that caused chaos on city of Atlanta computer systems, other local cities say they are prepared for similar threats, which occur almost constantly. Dunwoody says it has seen a “marked increase” in one type of suspicious computer activity since the Atlanta incident. In the Atlanta attack, unknown criminals penetrated city computer systems, encrypted various files, and demanded a ransom in exchange for the key to unlock them, in what is known as “ransomware.” It remains unclear whether the criminals directly hacked into the system or used “phishing” — a deceptive email containing a link that, when clicked, installed the ransomware on the computer. The ransomware shut down systems for paying water bills and handling city court cases, and rendered useless the computer files of some City Council members, among other impacts. Most of the systems are back in operation, but some files may never be recovered, and water bills still can’t be paid online. The city has declined to say whether it paid the ransom.

Dunwoody previously experienced its own, less damaging hack on Thanksgiving Day in 2016, when hackers believed to be from the county of Turkey altered the city’s website to display a photo of the Turkish president and flag. The website is hosted on a third-party server and was restored after about two days. City spokesperson Bob Mullen said that is one attack of dozens per day that are unsuccessful. Mullen said the city’s IT team “estimates hacker attempts on the website occur about 10 times per day and hacker attempts on the city’s firewall or systems occur about 40-50 times per day. The majority of these attempts are passive attempts usually from [automated software] ‘bots’ versus individual human hackers attempting to break into the systems.” “There has been a marked increase in spam received and stopped by the city’s filter safeguards since the Atlanta attack,” Mullen added. In response, the IT team has boosted its digital security, including “added protections for emails and spam, as well as reinforced antivirus and firewall protections.”

Brookhaven

The city of Brookhaven said it also sees hacking attempts regularly, but has not noted any increase since the Atlanta attack. “The cyber attacks and ransomware attempts are fairly commonplace, and the city of Brookhaven sees them regularly, especially the phishing variety such as the email that entices the recipient to click on a link, which releases the virus [or] ransomware, etc.,” said city spokesperson Burke Brennan. “Because we have multiple preventative measures in place, it is almost impossible to ascertain the exact number of unsuccessful attempts made,” Brennan added. “Anecdotally, it does not appear that there has been any increase or decrease since March on the obvious email attempts.” As general digital defense, Brennan said, Brookhaven SPECIAL

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The city of Dunwoody website as it appeared in 2016 after a hacker replaced its content with a photo of the Turkish president.

has “enlisted the resources of several IT security and services companies to perform security assessments and/or monitoring, and ensure that we maintain current anti-virus software on all of our desktop, mobile and server computers. These security firms would also assist in the restoration of programs and data, if a breach was successful.”

Sandy Springs

Sandy Springs has not seen an increase in hacking attempts since the Atlanta attack, said spokesperson Sharon Kraun. Citing security concerns, she declined to describe the defensive measures used by the city. But she said the city is well aware of such threats. “Maintaining a secure infrastructure is a top priority, and the city uses a variety of security measures, both cloudbased and local, to ensure the safety of our data,” Kraun said. “There is an ongoing threat of being hacked, not only for Sandy Springs, but for any business or municipality which utilizes online services. Knowing this, we mitigate the risks by implementing multiple layers of protection.” The Atlanta attack had an effect on some Sandy Springs citizens, as the city’s water service is provided by Atlanta.

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Personal & Professional Services Directory

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22 | Community

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Historic cemetery faces a common preservation challenge Continued from page 1 site of Sandy Springs-based Heritage Capitol Partners for a woodland surrounding the cemetery as well as an adjacent apartment complex and offices. The conceptual plan covered roughly 40 acres with 600 apartments, 150 townhomes, and Kroger as a suggested anchor store. The plan did not include the roughly 1-acre cemetery. But Marie Power Frazier, another descendant who serves as the family contact for arranging burials, said a Heritage representative offered her “thousands” of dollars to agree to move the bodies about two months ago in expectation of putting forward a development plan later this year. Joseph Ashkouti, principal at Heritage Capitol Partners, later said the conceptual plan would be yanked from the website after Kroger expressed displeasure at being named publicly during talks before any deal had been signed. Ashkouti also denied that his company sought to move the bodies in the cemetery. “We’ve never even considered that… We certainly would never buy that cemetery and try to move it,” he said. “We don’t need that piece of land to make our deal work.” The cemetery and surrounding woodlands are a single, 19-acre property owned by a limited liability company controlled by Heritage Capitol Partners owners, ac-

cording to Fulton County property records. Ashkouti said the company is now focused on redeveloping the “18 acres” of woods and not the cemetery. But Morgan remains concerned with whether plans could change and how redevelopment might affect the cemetery even if it remains. Then there’s the concern of the cemetery’s vandalized condition — someone even dug up a coffin there in 2016 — as no family member directly supervises it. He proposes a new city park, partly on the theory that would reduce vandalism. “If you see a rusty can in the road, you kick it. If you see a glass vase with flowers, you’re not as likely to kick it,” Morgan said while leading the Reporter on a recent tour of the cemetery. “I want to make this into a glass vase.” Morgan suggests the park could be named for even earlier residents, the Cherokee Indians. He points to an open area surrounded by large trees as a potential lawn and dog park. He’s running a fundraiser and online petition at gofundme.org/wspower. Ashkouti says his company is open to the land being bought for park space — for the right price. Frazier said the cemetery dates to 1883 and is the only remaining parcel from a 200-acre estate owned by her grandfather, who lived at Pitts Road and Spalding Drive. Morgan calls it the William

and Sarah Power Historic Site after the earliest graves he could find, with William’s headstone dating to 1885. Traci Rylands, a Dunwoody resident who writes a blog about historic graveyards called “Adventures in Cemetery Hopping,” said that Morgan’s efforts are on the right track. Rylands said that struggling cemeteries often get maintenance help from Boy Scouts and long-term preservation assistance from historical societies. She noted the Dunwoody Preservation Trust’s successes in helping to save the Stephen Martin Cemetery, which sits behind a Hammond Drive shopping center in the shadow of Dunwoody skyscrapers, and the New Hope Cemetery in Dunwoody Village. Sometimes the efforts wind up in court. That’s what happened with the cemetery of another historic Sandy Springs family, the Heards, on Heards Drive. A property owner seeking to build a house on part of the site took the city to court in 2012. Rachel Rosner, a neighbor and secretary of the historic and cultural organization Heritage Sandy Springs, was involved in the Heard cemetery battle. She said the legal case was quietly settled a few years ago, with a court order not to discuss certain details. But the bottom line, she said, is that the cemetery was preserved under the ownership of a nonprofit run by Heard

descendants. She said that city zoning requirements for large setbacks around cemeteries might help in a situation like development around the Power cemetery. Mitchell was involved in the Heard cemetery battle as well as part of his unusual expertise in cemetery preservation. He helped to form the Buckhead Heritage Society 12 years ago after noticing an obscure cemetery called Harmony Grove during a jog on West Paces Ferry Road and working to preserve it. That soon led to a successful court battle with a developer over another Buckhead cemetery, Mt. Olive, located next to Atlanta’s Frankie Allen Park. Public cemeteries, meaning those originally open for anyone to be buried, have strong legal protections, while private cemeteries have weaker ones, Mitchell said. Another important factor is not allowing the cemetery to fall into bad condition, as has happened with the Power cemetery. A Georgia law regarding abandoned cemeteries can kick in, which allows property owners in certain situations to move the graves and redevelop the land. Mitchell said Morgan is taking an important first step by raising awareness. “Taylor’s doing the right thing getting this to the public,” said Mitchell, saying it can be a way to to ensure “developers will do their development, put a fence around the cemetery and leave it as is.”

Dear Neighbor, I am Cassandra Kirk and I was appointed Chief Magistrate Judge by the Honorable Nathan Deal in December 2014. I am the first Chief Magistrate Judge to preside over Fulton County Magistrate Court since the General Assembly made the position an elected office. Now, I stand for election and humbly seek your support and vote on May 22, 2018. With your blessing, I hope to continue to build upon my 25 years of service to the citizens of Fulton County. Since 2015, it has been my mission as Chief Magistrate Judge of Fulton County to empower litigants through innovation, efficiency and accessibility. I have over 25 years of experience serving in a variety of roles: full-time judge, prosecutor, defense attorney, civil litigator and administrative director. Drawing on this experience, I guided Fulton County Magistrate Court through the transition period and achieved the goals envisioned by the General Assembly when they reformed the Court. While serving as a full-time judge on the Fulton County Juvenile Court, I spearheaded the establishment of Choices, Fulton County’s first juvenile accountability court for youth battling substance abuse, and I was the first judge in Georgia to become a certified Child Welfare Law Specialist. It is the combination of these positions and experience that uniquely qualifies me to continue to serve as Chief Magistrate Judge. Highlights of the last three years include: eliminating the Court’s 30,000 small claims case backlog, providing mediation services at the North and South Annexes, supporting the Housing Assistance Center to provide navigation services to tenants in Landlord-Tenant cases, and creating Fulton’s first Magistrate Court website. Also, during my tenure Fulton Magistrate Court was 1 of 4 courts selected for a Grant from the National Center for State Courts for a pilot project to simply our high volume calendars. I firmly believe that in order to consider the weight of rendering judgement on others, you must first serve others. I support the community through service to Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc., North Avenue Presbyterian Church (Elder), alumni activities with both the Regional Leadership Institute and Leadership Atlanta, and the Boards of Directors of The League of Women Voters of Atlanta-Fulton County, Star C, and Street Grace, a non-profit aimed at ending domestic minor sex trafficking. I received my B.A. from Williams College and my J.D. from Washington and Lee University School of Law. Included below are a few of the people who support me. I hope you will join them. I will continue to put families first and keep the Court accessible to all. On May 22, 2018, I urge you to vote to Keep Kirk Fulton County Chief Magistrate Judge. Please visit my website at www.judgecassandrakirk.com.

Sincerely,

EARLY VOTING BEGINS APRIL 30, 2018 Chief Magistrate Judge

Former Gov. Roy Barnes

Mayor Bill Edwards

Mayor Vince R. Williams

City Councilman Amir R. Farokhi

City Councilman Matt Westmoreland

Past Council President Cathy Woolard

GA House Rep. Wendell Willard

GA House Rep. Roger Bruce

GA House Rep Meagan Hanson

GA House Rep. David Dreyer

City Councilwoman Helen Z. Willis

City Councilwoman Carmalitha Gumbs

City Councilwoman Carla Smith

City Councilwoman Jennifer N. Ide SS

APRIL 27 - MAY 10, 2018

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In false-alarm war, city may reduce fines, change call system BY JOHN RUCH johnruch@reporternewspapers.net

In its fast-moving war with security companies over false alarms, Sandy Springs is proposing more tactical changes, including reducing fines and shifting automated alarm calls from the 911 center to the city’s non-emergency Call Center. An alarm industry official welcomed the fine reduction, but said the use of the Call Center would be unprecedented and could delay police response to burglaries. In what has become a regular feature of City Council meetings, Police Chief Ken DeSimone on April 17 gave new false-alarm stats and suggested more changes to a new city ordinance that puts alarm companies, rather than customers, on the hook for false alarms. In part, the chief’s reports are a way for the city to fire back on public relations statements in a controversy that is now in federal court — an industry coalition and two Georgia companies are suing the city — as well as signaling some apparently strategic legal changes in response to that battle. The possible lowering of fines is one move with possible legal implications, as the hundreds of thousands of dollars the city has already levied from security companies is a major issue in the lawsuit, which claims the city’s real motive is filling its bank account. DeSimone said the city is considering the fine reduction “because we’re really not all about the money,” but rather public safety. However, the underlying goal remains the same: Slashing a reported 11,000 false alarms a year — a nearly 100 percent false rate — by forcing companies to adopt modern alarm-system technologies of audio or video verification that a burglar is inside a property, or at least hire a private security force to check it out first. DeSimone repeated that call at the April 17 council meeting, suggesting giving companies a year to upgrade the systems. “A lot of these companies are basically eight-track tape-players,” DeSimone said, referring to an outdated music album medium. Industry officials are ringing their own alarms over the Sandy Springs ordinance, which they clearly see as a national bellwether of sorts, resulting in the lawsuit, which claims the city’s moves are unconstitutional violations of due process. Stan Martin, executive director of the Security Industry Alarm Coalition, which is organizing fundraising for the lawsuit, said the city should have simply followed and enforced a model ordinance the industry created in collaboration with national police agencies. That model involves strictly fining the small number of customers who trigger false alarms. “There’s a great model out there that works for virtually everybody,” said Martin. “The only time the model doesn’t work is when the [city] agency doesn’t enforce it … To me, the whole exercise is such an incredible exercise in trying to reinvent the wheel.” The city clearly intends to make its ordinance tougher and essentially force companies to adopt those audio, video or security-guard verification systems. Martin said the industry can use technology, but it will cost alarm customers significantly more and could create other problems, such as the danger of homeowners encountering burglars while attempting to self-verify an alarm. City Councilmember Tibby DeJulio raised the cost issue with DeSimone, asking how smaller alarm companies can be expected to pay for a private security guard force, then speculating they could band together to mutually hire one. “They banded together to sue the city of Sandy Springs,” replied DeSimone, “so I guess they can band together to do [hiring of a private security force].” Another major change in the works is shifting automated burglar-alarm calls from 911 to the city Call Center, a general information and complaint line. Call Center employees would vet the alarm company calls for required registration and verification standards, then pass the call along to 911 if it sounded like a verified alarm. Panic buttons and fire alarms would still contact 911 directly. To give an incentive for alarm companies to direct burglar alarm calls to the Call Center, the city would immunize those doing so from fines for lack of registration or not following a staterequired verification system. City Manager John McDonough said the city is already studying Call Center staffing and software issues and expected to bring a proposal for the new system to the council in one to two months. City Councilmember John Paulson asked whether using the Call Center as an additional step in the verification process could significantly delay police response times. “No, not at all, none,” said DeSimone. Martin said he had never heard of another city using a non-emergency line to vet alarm calls. He said it could be a problem. “It further delays … a call for service if a person’s got an emergency,” he said.

YOU’RE INVITED! The City of Sandy Springs cordially invites you to attend the Dedication and Ribbon Cutting Ceremony of our new City Hall. Guided tours of the meeting spaces will be available

May 7, 2018 • 9:00am 1 Galambos Way, Sandy Springs, GA 30328 spr.gs/cityhall City Sandy Springs 2018-22 Consolidated Plan and 2018 Action Plan Public Hearing Tuesday, May 15, 2018 The City of Sandy Springs has prepared the 2018-2022 Consolidated Plan and 2018 Annual Action Plan required for participation in the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD) Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Program. The Consolidated Plan describes broad goals, objectives, strategies and community needs for a 5-year period, as well as how the City anticipates using its allocation of CDBG funds in 2018. The City of Sandy Springs anticipates receiving approximately $500,000 in 2018 CDBG funds to be available and proposes to use these funds for activities under the Public Improvements and Infrastructure category of eligibility. 2018 CDBG funds will be used to design and construct sidewalks in designated low- and moderate-income target areas along the Roswell Road corridor between Long Island Drive and The Prado and between Lake Placid Drive and Northwood Drive. Adoption of the 2018-22 Consolidated Plan and 2018 Annual Action Plan is scheduled for the May 15, 2018, Mayor and City Council regular meeting. All meetings start at 6:00 p.m., are open to the public and held at the Sandy Springs City Hall, 1 Galambos Way, Sandy Springs, GA, 30328. Citizens in need of translation services or materials in alternative formats should call 770-730-5600 seven calendar days prior to the regularly scheduled meeting. Those interested in reviewing the plan will find it located on the CDBG webpage, which is accessed through the Community Development Department webpage: http://spr.gs/cdbg1

SANDY SPRINGS NOTICE OF TEXT AMENDMENT Petition Number: TA18-0001 Petitioner:

City of Sandy Springs

Purpose:

An Ordinance to Amend Division 7.2 & Division 7.8 of the Sandy Springs Development Code to amend regulations for home occupations

Public Hearing:

Planning Commission May 22, 2017 at 6:00 p.m.

Location:

Sandy Springs City Hall Studio Theatre, Room B:105 1 Galambos Way Sandy Springs, Georgia 30328 770-730-5600

Mayor and City Council June 19, 2018 at 6:00 p.m.

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