JULY 6 - 19, 2018 • VOL. 9 — NO. 14
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Mall neighbors seek to muffIe loud engines at popular car show
BY DYANA BAGBY dyanabagby@reporternewspapers.net At about 7 a.m. on a recent Sunday, exotic, classic and many souped-up cars started filing into the Perimeter Mall parking lot. A low roar of rumbling engines could be heard throughout the parking lot, interspersed with several enthusiasts loudly gunning their engines. See MALL on page 13 DYANA BAGBY
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Dunwoody Village design comes to a crossroads BY DYANA BAGBY dyanabagby@reporternewspapers.net
A crossroads in Dunwoody’s history may very well be at the intersection of Mount Vernon and Chamblee-Dunwoody roads. City officials plan to ask the Planning Commission on July 10 to revise Dunwoody Village Overlay rules and essentially erase the architectural standards, requiring what is commonly known as “Williamsburg style” designs and that have been in place for the area since the early 1970s. The proposed draft, however, calls for eliminating what See DUNWOODY on page 23
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6th District Democrat candidates mix criticism and compromise at forum BY JOHN RUCH johnruch@reporternewspapers.net
The two Democrats vying to challenge Republican Karen Handel for the 6th Congressional District seat competed in a political balancing act at a June 27 Sandy Springs forum: bashing the GOP while calling for civility and compromise, and taking shots at each other while pledging party unity. Kevin Abel, a South African immigrant and businessman, and Lucy McBath, a national gun control advocate, squared off at the Weber School, with Atlanta JournalConstitution political reporter Greg Bluestein as moderator, in advance of their July 24 primary runoff election. Organized by the Jewish Democratic Women’s Salon, the forum drew at least 250 people to hear their pitches on how to win a Republicanmajority district where Democrat Jon Ossoff ran a close-but-no-cigar campaign just a year ago. “I’m the candidate who can win the votes that can flip this district,” said Abel, a Sandy Springs resident who touted his local ties and a center-left approach that he claims will attract independents and disaffected Republicans. The district includes parts of Brookhaven, Dunwoody and Sandy Springs as well as parts of Cobb and north Fulton counties. “I have credibility and life experience beyond the policy positions…,” said McBath, a Delta flight attendant turned gun control advocate who cited her personal struggles as making her relatable to voters. She said she’s a two-time cancer survivor and, most notably, lost her son Jordan Davis in an infamous 2012 murder by a gunman outraged by loud music from a car stereo. The forum came on a day Democrats were reeling from U.S. Supreme Court Jus-
tice Anthony Kennedy’s retirement announcement, leaving President Trump poised to set a presumptively solid conservative court majority. The candidates only mentioned it in passing, but it was the mood in the room, as described in an introduction by Valerie Habif, co-founder of the Jewish Democratic Women’s Salon. After describing the term “woke,” meaning a radical type of political awareness, she said, “Today was a tough day. Today was a day to be woke.” It was also a day for Democrats to be together, she added, and two other Democratic candidates who have already won their nominations – lieutenant governor candidate Sarah Riggs Amico and attorney general candidate Charlie Bailey – delivered audience-rousing speeches as a forum warm-up.
GOP relations
In the forum, Abel and McBath both criticized Trump and the Republican Party, while also saying compromise is important. Focusing on his key issue of immigration, Abel blasted the GOP as “dredging up hate.” Likewise, McBath said she “knew in the pit of my soul” that Trump and Republican legislators would do nothing new on gun control in the wake of the Parkland, Fla., high school shooting earlier this year despite the president’s claims of action. Yet Abel also said he is good at compromise. “Republicans aren’t bad people. They just see policy from a different angle,” he said. And McBath claimed that some unnamed Republican legislators “work with us behind closed doors” on gun control policy. Both candidates also opposed public shaming of Republican leaders – a “civility” issue recently raised by a Virginia restau-
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Kevin Abel speaks during the forum. Lucy McBath addresses the forum audience.
rant refusing to serve White House Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders due to the administrations LGBT rights and immigration policies. McBath said that shaming opponents won’t change minds. “When they go low, we go high,” she said, quoting former First Lady Michelle Obama. Abel said he understood a restaurant not serving the president’s “mouthpiece” — “I would have, too” — but “civil discourse must not be lost in this country… We lose if we start playing the game on their own terms.”
On Handel and each other
Then again, the candidates had harsh criticisms of Handel when asked about policy differences and what they “admire” about her. Abel blasted Handel as “condoning” Trump’s recently rescinded policy of separating and confining children from parents accused of illegally entering the country at the Mexican border and “nailing every nail into her political coffin” by silencing U.S. Rep. Ted Lieu’s (D-Calif.) broadcasting of a recording of screaming immigrant children from Congressional floor discussion. Abel gave Handel “credit” – he held his fingers up in mock quotes – for criticizing Trump’s tariffs, but claimed she did so out of fear of his business-minded candidacy. McBath – who referred to Abel as “Mr. Handel” in an apparently accidental slip of the tongue – said she agreed with him. While Handel aligns with Trump, McBath said, “I’m sorry, I can’t give her much credit for anything.” The candidates also targeted each other, with McBath questioning Abel’s Democratic loyalty and Abel questioning McBath’s commitment as a latecomer to the race. McBath repeated her claims that Abel in unspecified writings once called for raising the eligibility age for Social Security benefits and for creating a third political party. Abel flatly denied the Social Security position, but did not directly address the third-party claim, saying only
that he has thought for a long time about politics, while making his current Democratic allegiance clear. Abel asked McBath why she had not attended the pre-primary round of local candidate forums. That included a previous one also hosted by the Jewish Democratic Women’s Salon, where organizers at the time said she had reported a death in her family. McBath acknowledged that she skipped those forums because she was not ready after switching from a run for a state legislature seat. “I had to figure out where I was going and how I was going to get there,” she said. Questioned by Dunwoody activist Jill Vogin, the candidates pledged to support each other in the general election, whoever prevails in the runoff.
Healthcare and other issues
On several major issues, the candidates largely agreed, though Abel generally provided more detailed policy ideas and McBath spoke more generally of acting as a deal-broker. Both said they are cancer survivors who agreed healthcare is a right. Both said they would not call for impeaching Trump unless there was a bad report from Special Counsel Robert Mueller’s investigation of possible Russian influence on the 2016 presidential campaigns. Both criticized the administration’s immigration policies and planned wall along the Mexican border, and both spoke in visceral terms based on their own experiences. Abel called the wall “a symbol of the nativism and hate of the Trump administration.” McBath likened the recently highlighted separation of children from families in immigration detention to her son’s murder. “I know what it’s like to have your family torn apart. I know what it’s like to have your child torn from you,” she said. One policy difference related to Israel. Abel supports Trump’s controversial decision to move the U.S. embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, while McBath opposes it until a peace deal based on a two-state, Israel-Palestine concept is brokered.
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Judge throws out video in prostitution ring trial BY DYANA BAGBY dyanabagby@reporternewspapers.net
Undercover video surveillance footage used by Dunwoody police to charge and arrest more than 50 people in an alleged prostitution ring bust has been thrown out of court by a DeKalb judge. DeKalb Superior Court Judge Gail Flake ruled June 26 the police illegally obtained the video footage of men and women having sex after secretly installing several cameras in a private apartment in 2016. Dunwoody Police Chief Billy Grogan said his department worked closely with the DeKalb County District Attorney’s Office to obtain the warrant. Many defendants in the case have already pleaded out their cases, he said, and now he will work with the DA to determine how to move forward on the remaining cases. “The decision to apply for a search warrant was a mutual one designed to help investigators dismantle a large commercial sex organization,” Grogan said. “We certainly respect Judge Flake’s ruling in this case. We will be working closely with the District Attorney’s Office to evaluate the remaining cases.” DeKalb DA Sherry Boston issued a statement saying her office is now evaluating its options. “We respect the court’s decision and are currently evaluating our options regarding the appropriate course of action. The case remains open and pending,” Boston said. Last year, Dunwoody police announced they busted up an alleged sex trafficking clubs resulting in the arrest of more than 50 people. Police said they received an anonymous tip about a commercial sex organization that led to a months-long investigation. That investigation identified two organizations, Atlanta Gold Club Escorts and Lipstick and Shoe Escorts. One of the alleged escort services was operating out of an apartment complex across the street from the former Dunwoody City Hall and the Police Department location at Perimeter Center East. The other alleged escort service was operating out of another Dunwoody apartment complex. The defendants were charged with keeping a place of prostitution, pimping and violation of the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) Act. Gwinnett County Assistant District Attorney Christopher Quinn, 46, was among the more than 50 people arrested in the prostitution ring bust and is charged with pandering and violation of the RICO Act. He resigned his post. In her ruling, Judge Flake said the warrant Dunwoody Police received was a wiretap warrant and not a “sneak and
DUN
peek” warrant. Sneak and peek warrants are not currently allowed under Georgia law, Flake noted. Sneak and peek warrants, or delayed notice warrants, allow law enforcement to enter a location without the owner’s or occupant’s knowledge to search the premises. Such warrants became more popular following the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks as part of the fight against terrorism. Traditional search warrants are handed to the occupant as officers conduct a search. A wiretap warrant allows law enforcement officers to intercept wire or oral transmissions from a location and follows strict guidelines, including requiring a judge’s signature and description of how long such surveillance will occur. There was no mention of a “sneak and peek” warrant in the application or affidavit or order authorizing video surveillance, Flake stated. The only way to get such a warrant in Georgia is if the DA makes a written application and it is approved by a judge. Flake ruled none of these rules were followed. Flake also rejected the DA’s argument that a “private place” could be one where someone is an overnight guest and the people being recorded did not have a reasonable expectation of privacy.
State law “clearly states that it is illegal, through the use of any device, without the consent of all persons observed, to observe or record the activities of another which occur in a private place and out of public view,” according to Flake’s ruling. Under the state’s definition of a private place, it would not be illegal to secretly record people in dressing rooms, locker rooms, bathrooms and other places where there might be a reasonable ex-
pectation of privacy, Flake added. Multiple cameras were installed in the apartment at 5101 Abercorn Ave. by Dunwoody Det. Caleb Gilbert on Nov. 28, 2016. The ruling notes that while the warrant to install the cameras makes claims about the investigation of a sex trafficking organization, Gilbert admitted on cross examination that he did not have evidence that a sex trafficking organization existed when he applied for the warrant.
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A nonprofit brings students like Alejandro Rico from Grant Park and other parts of the city to The Westminster Schools for a free program aimed at helping low-income students perform better in school and ultimately attend college. “It helps me meet new people and understand new concepts in school and in life,” said Rico, who is in seventh grade at Atlanta Neighborhood Charter School. “It’s nice to be in the presence of people who want to help students.” The program, called Odyssey, is its 17th year operating out of The Westminster Schools, an expensive private school with one of the largest endowments in the nation. Odyssey isn’t for remedial or gifted students, but rather the students in the middle that may slip through the cracks, said Jeff Cohen, the executive director, on a recent tour. “We’re looking for that average student who has potential,” he said. “They just need the same chance as the kid who gets to go to Westminster.” The program accepts low-income students, measured through qualifying for free lunch at their public schools. About 80 percent come from Atlanta Public Schools, with the others coming from surrounding districts. And Odyssey has proven results, Cohen said. All the students who attend graduate high school, and 100 percent of students who apply to college are accepted to at least one, he said. “If there’s not equity, then the future is bleak,” Cohen said. Odyssey recently started an alumni program to ensure students who attend college are supported and have mentoring available, he said. The program gives each grade special
projects to engage them over the summer, such as sixth grade’s task of determining how to make Atlanta more livable. The students walked the BeltLine to study gentrification and pedestrian access, he said. Through these projects, the instructors can teach math, writing and reading concepts “sneakily,” he said. Some grade levels tackle tough topics, such as school shootings, bullying, suicide
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Alejandro Rico, a student at Atlanta Neighborhood Charter School in Grant Park, poses for a photo at the Odyssey program on June 12.
and how those problems affect minorities, in “town halls." The program was started by Westminster, located in Buckhead on West Paces Ferry Road, in 2001, Cohen said. “Westminster wanted to give back and to be part of the community,” he said. The program runs during normal school hours, meaning many students are leaving their homes before 7 a.m. to take MARTA or ride Odyssey-provided shut-
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tles, he said. But the program has enough popularity that hundreds of students apply for the spots to be essentially in school for four to six weeks over the summer, depending on their grade level. Over 900 students applied for the 370 spots Odyssey had this year, Cohen said. The students have strict attendance requirements and are only allowed to miss three days, he said. Michael Hambrick, who was a guest teaching at Odyssey, said the commitment from the students to show up each day is “amazing.” Odyssey absorbs most of the $2,500 cost to teach and feed each student for the entire summer of programs, lessons and field trips. It only requires families pay a $35 fee to show their committed to the staying in the program, Cohen said.
Odyssey also pays for its students to take the SAT, the standard test for college applications, he said. Odyssey is a nonprofit funded through year-round fundraising efforts. Contributions come from foundations, individuals and corporations, with in-kind donations from Westminster through the free office and classroom space it provides. It also relies on volunteers who assist instructors and help students. Many, like Micah Daly, are from nearby schools and return to volunteer for several years, Cohen said. Daly, who attends Woodward Academy in Johns Creek, has volunteered at Odyssey for three years, he said. “The kids are incredible,” he said. “They remember me every year. You realize you have such an impact on them and their future.”
Education Briefs
The assisted living services at The Piedmont at Buckhead Senior Living Community are about the whole family and the whole YOU. Of course, we can help you with your daily needs. But did you know you will also have options for fitness, socializing, healthy fine dining, and more? And services are tailored to you, so you’ll get just the right amount of help you need, when you request it. But the best part? No matter if you need a little help or a lot, the difference you’ll feel will be amazing. Please call The Piedmont at Buckhead to schedule your complimentary lunch and tour.
LO CAL S C H O OL DI STRI C TS AP PR OV E N EXT YEA R’ S BUD G ET S
The DeKalb, Fulton and Atlanta public school districts each approved their budgets for the 2018-2019 school year in June, which all include pay increases for employees. The DeKalb Board of Education approved the district’s $1.8 billion budget at its June 26 meeting. The budget includes a 2.5 percent pay increase for employees, according to a press release. Following protests by bus drivers over low salaries and benefits, the budget includes a $772,418 increase in the transportation budget, the release said. Funding for 10 new school resource officers and one new sergeant was also approved at a cost of $860,000, according to the release. DeKalb lowered its millage rate to 23.18 mills from last year’s 23.28 to offset property tax revenue increases, the release said. The Fulton board approved its $1.7 billion budget at its June 28 meeting. With the new budget, most employees will see a 2 percent pay increase beginning in January 2019, according to the release. The budget also includes funding for school safety advisory committee, the release said. Atlanta Public Schools adopted its $1.1 billion budget at its June 4 meeting, according to the system’s website. The budget included a 1 percent pay increase for employees, according to the website.
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Christy Morrell has been selected as the new associate head of school at Brookhaven Innovation Academy.
school following the school’s approval of a new head of school in April. BIA announced June 25 that it has selected Christy Morrell, who was previously at Oconee County Schools where she taught third and fourth grades along with health and physical education. The new head of school, Julie Tolbert, also previously held a position at Oconee County Schools. BIA has received failing grades in a state review and has experienced frequent leadership turnover, but school officials say they are dedicated to turning the school around. BIA was originally envisioned by Brookhaven city officials, but the city is no longer involved. It is temporarily located in Norcross and plans to permanently move to Chamblee.
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6 | Art & Entertainment
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Selected dates, Friday, July 13 through Sunday, Aug. 5. Popular hits of the 50s and 60s come alive in this Tony Award-nominated Broadway musical presented by the Stage Door Players. Music and lyrics by Jerry Lieber and Mike Stoller. Spruill Center for the Arts. 5339 ChambleeDunwoody Road, Dunwoody. Schedule and ticket info: stagedoorplayers.net.
DUNWOODY NATURE CENTER SUMMER CONCERT SERIES
Saturday, July 21, 7-9 p.m. Honeyboy and Boots, a husband-wife guitar and cello duo, bring their blend of Americana, traditional folk, alt-country and blues to the Dunwoody Nature Center. Seating available on a first-come, first-served basis in the meadow or on the back porch. Outside food and drink welcome. Craft beers, sodas and water available. $5 adults; $3 students; free for members and for children 3 and under. 5343 Roberts Drive, Dunwoody. Info: dunwoodynature. org/2018-summer-concert-series.
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Saturday, July 21, 7:15 a.m. The Brookhaven Parks & Recreation Department hosts its fourth annual It Starts in the Park 5K/1K, which will begin and end in Blackburn Park. All ages and skill levels wel-
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come. Volunteers needed. $30 through July 19; $35 on race day. 3493 Ashford-Dunwoody Road, Brookhaven. Register: itstartsinthepark5k.itsyourrace.com/event.aspx?id=7259. Info: Philip Mitchell at Philip.Mitchell@BrookhavenGA.gov, or call 404-637-0512.
GET INTO THE COMMUNITY GEORGIA MASTER GARDENER MARKETPLACE
Saturday, July 14, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Purchase garden products and plants ranging from old-time favorites to specialty and native varieties at this marketplace held in conjunction with the 2018 Georgia Master Gardeners Association Conference. Free. The Galloway School, 215 West Wieuca Road N.W., Buckhead. Info: facebook.com/GeorgiaMasterGardenerAssociation.
SUMMER BLOCK PARTY AND WAITERS’ RACE
Sunday, July 15, 3-7 p.m. The Shops Buckhead Atlanta will host a Summer Block Party at Center Plaza featuring live entertainment, outdoor cocktail bars, food tasting pop-ups from all restaurants on the property, children’s games and a bocce ball court. The second annual Waiters’ Race takes place at 5 p.m., when metro Atlanta food preparers and servers will navigate obstacles with a loaded server’s tray in one hand. All proceeds benefit the Giving Kitchen, a nonprofit organization that provides emergency assistance Continued on page 8
Kicking and swinging. FootGolf • Atlanta’s only FootGolf course • 18 holes • Team building events • Birthday parties 460 Morgan Falls Rd. Sandy Springs, GA 30350 770-390-0424 steelcanyongolfclub.com
Golf • 18 hole executive course • Covered driving range • 3 hour rounds • Lessons • League Play
8 | Art & Entertainment
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Continued from page 7 to restaurant workers in crisis. The Shops Buckhead Atlanta, 3035 Peachtree Road N.E., Buckhead. Info: theshopsbuckheadatlanta.com/summer and waitersraceatl.org.
DIVE IN MOVIE NIGHTS ►
Thursday, July 19, 6-10 p.m. Watch the movie “Grease” under the stars with Marcus Jewish Community Center of Atlanta Young Adults. The movie starts at dusk. Ages 21 and up. Free; complimentary snacks. Town Brookhaven, 4330 Peachtree Road N.E., Brookhaven. Info: atlantajcc.org/grease.
Friday, July 13, 9 p.m. Dive into Briarwood Pool and watch the movie “Coco” in a splashy event sponsored by the city of Brookhaven. Free. Concessions available. 2235 Briarwood Way N.E., Brookhaven. Info: 404-637-0542.
KIDS AND FAMILIES
BEAT THE HEAT FITNESS CHALLENGE
MOVIES UNDER THE STARS
MEGA BOOK SALE
Through Wednesday, July 11, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. All books are $1 at the five-day Sandy Springs Friends of the Library Book Sale, which starts Saturday, July 7. The library will begin a six- to nine-month closure on Aug. 8 for interior renovations. 395 Mount Vernon Highway, Sandy Springs. Info: 404-303-6130.
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Saturday, July 21, 10 a.m. Kids can plant grass or chia seeds inside a caterpillar constructed out of cloth and sand/compost and then decorate it, take it home and wait for “hair” to grow. Little Diggers is a free family gardening series presented monthly through October by Heritage Sandy Springs. Best suited for ages 6-10 with accompanying adult. Heritage Sandy Springs Farmers Market, Mount Vernon Highway at City Springs, Sandy Springs. Info: heritagesandysprings.org.
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Tuesday, July 17, 5:30-8 p.m. The Friends of the Brookhaven Library group is sponsoring pizza-and-a-movie nights on Tuesday evenings at the library. Adults must be accompanied by a child. Register by 4:30 p.m. on the day of the movie to be included for dinner. Call or visit branch to register. Open to first 15 participants. Free. 1242 North Druid Hills Road N.E., Brookhaven. Info: 404-848-7140.
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Monday, July 16 to Monday, July 22 The Marcus Jewish Community Center of Atlanta offers a week of wellness-related activities and fun fitness challenges. Free. Advance registration required: atlantajcc. org/beattheheat. 5342 Tilly Mill Road, Dunwoody. Info: DeAnne Jacobson at 678-812-4025.
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LEARN SOMETHING
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ORGANIC INSECT ► CONTROL
Saturday, July 14, 11 a.m. to noon. Learn about organic insect control in this month’s Dunwoody Community Garden & Orchard Master Gardener Session. Free. Refreshments served. DCGO greenhouse complex in Brook Run Park, opposite the skate park. 4770 Georgia Way South, Dunwoody. Info: dcgo.org.
Enjoy free admission and special programs on the second Sunday of each month.
AUTHOR LECTURE: SANDRA GUTIERREZ
Tuesday, July 17, 7 p.m. Food personality Sandra Gutierrez will discuss her book “The New Southern Latino Table” at the Atlanta History Center. Gutierrez creatively marries the diverse cuisines of more than 20 Latin American countries with the food of the American South. Her talk is presented in conjunction with the Atlanta History Center exhibition “¡NUEVOlution! Latinos and the New South,” which continues through Dec. 31. $10, $5 for members. Reservations suggested. Info: 404-814-4150 or reserve tickets online at AtlantaHistoryCenter.com/Lectures.
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JULY 8 & AUG. 12 Designed for little kids, big kids, and the whole family, Second Sundays are for everyone. Visit us each month and experience new interactive, innovative family activities inspired by our collections and ever-changing exhibitions. Second Sundays are sponsored by the Lettie Pate Evans Foundation.
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Community Survey / Will The importance new distracted of women drivingonlawthework? ballot Hands off that cellphone when you’re behind the wheel. Now it’s the law. And a large majority of the respondents to our most recent community survey think it will help cut down on wrecks. More than twice as many respondents believe the new state law prohibiting drivers from holding cellphones or similar electronic devices while driving. will help reduce the number of car crashes, compared to the number who thought it wouldn't. The new law took effect July 1. “There are far too many distractions and temptations to use your phone if you are holding it,” a 51-year-old Buckhead man commented. And a 59-year-old Sandy Springs man noted that “it’s obvious that some accidents happen because people are texting or paying attention to their phone. I think it will reduce [accidents], so I’m in favor of it.” But others thought the new rules just won’t work. They argue the new law will be too hard to enforce. “People will still do it. Just like people speed even though there are posted speed limits,” a 43-year-old Sandy Springs man noted. “While I think it will help in some cases, I think it could also lead to some crazier driving with people trying to hide that they’re using their phones,” a 37-year-old Brookhaven woman said. The survey was conducted by 1Q.com via cellphones to 200 residents in Reporter Newspapers communities. The results are not scientific.
When asked which of five possible answers they thought would be the most effective way of reducing traffic accidents, nearly a quarter of the 200 respondents chose requiring more training for a driver’s license. Almost as many chose setting tougher penalties on DUIs or installing more traffic calming devices. Fewer supported hiring more police to enforce traffic laws or restricting built-in video screens or similar devices in new vehicles. Car crashes are drawing new attention in Perimeter communities. Sandy Springs Police Chief Ken DeSimone has said publicly that traffic fatalities are “the thing that concerns me, as far as policing here in Sandy Springs.” The city recorded 7,529 car crashes last year, or more than 20 a day. Although Sandy Springs recorded no non-vehicular homicides in 2017, traffic related deaths run about 10 a year, DeSimone said. And the main causes of fatal accidents, the chief said, are speeding, drunk driving and driving while distracted by activities such as texting. “I think distracted driving is almost a bigger threat than drunk driving was years ago,” DeSimone told Sandy Springs City Council in January. In response to similar concerns, state lawmakers this year imposed new restrictions on the use of cellphones. According to the Governor’s Office of Highway Safety, the new rules say a driver cannot have a phone in his or hand or use any part of his or her body to support a phone. In-
WHAT PRACTICE DO YOU THINK WOULD OFFER THE MOST EFFECTIVE WAY TO REDUCE THE NUMBER OF TRAFFIC ACCIDENTS IN YOUR COMMUNITY?
Hiring more police officers to enforce traffic laws 33 (16.5%) Restricting video screens and similar devices built into new vehicles 31 (15.5%) Requiring more training for a driver's license 48 (24.0%) Setting tougher penalties for driving under the influence 45 (22.5%) Installing traffic calming devices such as speed humps 43 (21.5%)
stead, drivers must use “handfree” devices to make or receive calls. The new law also prohibits drivers from watching videos, except for navigation or sending or reading texts unless using voice-based technology that converts spoken words to text, according to the highway safety office. Violators face fines and points against their drivers' licenses. Some respondents to the survey pointed out that the effectiveness of the new “handsfree” law may depend on how well it is enforced. Others argued it will take time to determine whether the new law actually cuts down accidents. But many thought the restrictions
are worth the effort to change drivers’ behavior. A 59-year-old Sandy Springs woman, for instance, pointed to the damage traffic accidents can do. “My daughter was hit by a woman who did not stop at a stop sign,” she wrote. “My daughter’s vehicle flipped three to four times and slid about 150 feet down the road on its roof. While we are grateful she is alive, her quality of life is greatly diminished as a result. Was the woman texting? Was she talking on the phone? Was she glancing down to read a text? These answers, we don’t know, but we do know the devastating outcome.”
The ‘Hands-Free Georgia Act’ The new statewide “Hands-Free Georgia Act” prohibits drivers from holding cellphones in an effort to reduce distracted driving. Under the new law, drivers cannot have a phone in their hand or use any part of their body to support their phone. Texts, emails, social media and internet data content may not be written or read unless using voice-to-text technology. Drivers are allowed to talk on the phone or watch GPS navigation as long as they are using hands-free technology. There are exceptions for reporting an emergency and for vehi-
cles that are fully parked. Penalties include a $50 fine for the first offense, $100 for the second and $150 for the third and after, according to the law. Some other points of the law: Headsets and earpieces can only be worn for communication purposes and not for listening to music or other entertainment. A driver may not record a video or watch a video unless it is for navigation. For more information, see headsupgeorgia.com.
2018 © 2018 with all rights reserved Publisher reserves the right to refuse editorial or advertising for any reason. Publisher assumes no responsibility for information contained in advertising. Any opinions expressed in print or online do not necessarily represent the views of Reporter Newspapers or Springs Publishing, LLC.
1Q is an Atlanta-based startup that has developed a technology which sends questions and surveys to a cellphone via app or text message from businesses and organizations across the country. Respondents are paid 50 cents per answer, through PayPal, for sharing their opinions. Payments may also be donated directly to charity. Sign up to be included in our local community polls at 1Q.com/reporter or by texting REPORTER to 86312. DUN
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Around Town
Joe Earle is editor-at-large at Reporter Newspapers and has lived in metro Atlanta for over 30 years. He can be reached at joeearle@reporternewspapers.net
An Uber-seat view on Atlanta life About two years ago, I broke my leg and ankle in a fall. Recovering required repeated surgeries, which knocked me off my feet for months. When I finally could leave the house, I couldn’t drive. I still can’t. And metro Atlanta, it turns out, is not a good place not to be able to drive. Then I discovered Uber. Uber, for anyone who hasn’t been paying attention to social media (or unsocial media, for that matter) is a product of the smartphone era. You press a black-and-white button on the little computer in your pocket and a stranger soon appears wherever you are and gives you a ride in his or her car to wherever you want to go. A few hours later, money magically disappears from your bank account to pay for the ride. There is a competing service called Lyft, which I’m told operates pretty much the same way. Deprived of the use of my car, I have become a repeat Uber customer, what you might call a regular ride sharer. I take Uber just about every place I need to go. I’ve Uber-ed to the office, to various doctor’s offices, to story interviews spread from Duluth to West Cobb and Sandy Sprints to Peachtree City. I’ve taken about 20 Uber rides in the last three months alone, according to the email receipts I’ve saved. I enjoy sharing rides. Not because the cars are fancy – most certainly aren’t, although I have had ridden occasionally in limos, Mercedes-Benzes and at least one Cadillac – but because I find the drivers to be fascinating. Meeting Uber drivers has given me a new, and totally unexpected, view of metro Atlanta and the people who live here. I’m a ride-share talker, a chatty passenger. Some people tell me they keep to themselves during shared rides, but I don’t see how that’s possible. I like to hear the drivers and other passengers tell their stories. And what stories they tell during our 30 minutes to an hour together. One, for instance, said he’d started a career in community work and moved to Atlanta in the late 1970s to work with families involved in the Atlanta Child Murders cases. The work was so distressing, he said, that he quit and became a long-haul truck driver for the rest of his career. Some drivers say they work for Uber (and many drive both Uber and
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Lyft) to pick up a little extra cash while they try to launch new businesses. Others have lost jobs and are looking to pay bills while they look for new ones. Still others see Uber as a full-time job. Some use their time in the car as a sales opportunity. One driver was a real estate agent looking for new clients who gave me a 20-minute sales pitch. Another was a proud papa who played his 20-something daughter’s newly recorded CD in the car to show how talented she was. Many of my drivers have been immigrants who are steering their way through a new country and culture. I’ve met new Atlantans from Africa, Asia, Eastern Europe and the Caribbean and who somehow ended up maneuvering a Toyota Camry or a Honda Civic through bumper-to-bumper traffic. Sometimes they tell me stories of the old country. Many left their homes because they wanted to try living in a new, freer and richer place where they and their families could prosper. They talk of how their parents or brothers and sisters emigrated, often one at a time, and gradually reunited in Atlanta or some other American city. Once, I was in a car driven by an immigrant who said she had come here from the Democratic Republic of the Congo. We stopped in Brookhaven to pick up a second passenger, who said he, too, came from the Congo. That set off an argument about which of them really called Congo home because neither could believe there could be another Congolese immigrant in Atlanta he or she didn’t already know. Not every Uber ride is a treat, of course. Mostly, it’s just a way to get around town. And during one ride, I found myself a witness to a family’s private horror story when the driver’s grown son kept calling her to say another of her sons, who had been drinking, was angry and was trashing her apartment, which was a good hour’s drive from our location. She finally said someone would have to call the cops. I hope I’ll be able to drive again someday, so I don’t know how long I’ll be a regular Uber user. But I know now, after months of pressing the little black-and-white button on my phone, that when that next driver comes, I’ll be in for ride.
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12 | Community
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VOTERS GUIDE
Key races in the July 24 runoff election
6TH CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT
Democrats Kevin Abel and Lucy McBath are competing on the July 24 runoff ballot for the right to challenge Republican incumbent U.S. Rep. Karen Handel in the 6th Congressional District, which includes parts of Brookhaven, Dunwoody, Sandy Springs, Cobb County and other north Fulton communities. McBath did not submit a response.
KEVIN ABEL kevinabelforcongress.com
Occupation: Founder, Abel Solutions. Other community service experience: Vice-Chair, New American Pathways; Chairman, Small Business Council, Metro Atlanta Chamber of Commerce; Board of Directors, Davis Academy; Board of Councilors, Carter Center; Leadership Atlanta Class of 2006
What makes you the better candidate to challenge incumbent Karen Handel in the general election? I’ve lived in the 6th District for 26 years, raising a family, building a business and helping to resettle refugee families through my work with New American Pathways. To beat Karen Handel, we don’t just need a Democrat, we need the right Democrat. We need someone with deep ties to the community, someone who’s created jobs and can speak to independent-minded voters who might not always vote for the Democrat but are disgusted with the Trump administration and Karen Handel’s support for its hateful agenda. I am that Democrat who can win those votes and beat Karen Handel in November.
Who is a significant person who helped to shape your worldview and philosophy, and how did they do so? It wasn’t until I read the book “Long Walk to Freedom” that I truly understood Nelson Mandela’s story. In South Africa, the apartheid regime had purposefully spread misinformation to hide the injustices that he had suffered. In Nelson Mandela, I saw a leader who recognized the dignity of all human beings and strove to represent everyone in his country, despite the unconscionable indignities that he had suffered under the government that had imprisoned him. His perseverance and dedication to freedom for all people should always serve as a reminder to never stop fighting for what is just.
Stein Mart to close, says shopping center redevelopment is coming BY JOHN RUCH johnruchatlanta@reporternewspapers.net
A Stein Mart store in Sandy Springs’ Perimeter Pointe shopping center is closing after more than 20 years, and its parent company says the landlord sought to end the lease early in advance of a long-discussed redevelopment. The landlord, DDR Corp., said that redevelopment is on the table but has not been “formalized.” A mixed-use type of redevelopment at Perimeter Pointe has been discussed by DDR and others since at least 2005. Perimeter Pointe is a roughly 30.5acre shopping center at Mount Vernon Highway and Perimeter Center West on the Sandy Springs/Dunwoody border. It currently has more than 20 commercial tenants, including a Regal movie theater, and several large vacant spac-
es. It recently lost a location of the shuttered Babies R Us chain, though last year also added Dick’s Sporting Goods, which took over a location of the bankrupt Sports Authority chain. Linda L. Tasseff, the director of investor relations at Florida-based Stein Mart, Inc., said the discount department store’s 35,000-square-foot Perimeter Pointe location will close in early September. Stein Mart has been at the shopping center since October 1995, Tasseff said. “Our landlord, DDR, asked us to terminate [the lease] early,” said Tasseff. “It is our understanding that DDR has plans to redevelop the center… It is our understanding that we were asked to terminate the lease due to the pending redevelopment.” An executive in DDR’s Atlanta office, who declined to identify himself, said
that Perimeter Pointe redevelopment is on the table. “We certainly have plans to do something there, but nothing’s been formalized,” he said when asked about redevelopment, noting it’s a “great market” and a center with “a lot of area.” Asked about the status of other leases, he referred questions to Ohio-based DDR’s marketing department, which did not return a phone call. A manager at another Perimeter Pointe tenant, the coworking space Roam, said he had not heard of any lease or redevelopment changes. Some other tenants’ owners and managers could not immediately be reached for comment. Perimeter Pointe’s biggest immediate neighbor is MARTA’s Sandy Springs Station. MARTA’s transit-oriented development officials “have not had any
recent discussions with [DDR] about their planned redevelopment,” according to spokesperson Stephany Fisher. Built in 1995, according to Fulton County property records, Perimeter Pointe was recommended for mixeduse redevelopment in the 2005 Perimeter Livable Centers Initiative study. A similar plan was suggested in a 2010 master’s student project displayed at the Museum of Design Atlanta. At a 2016 meeting about another redevelopment proposal nearby, a DDR official said the company had a “very conceptual” idea of turning Perimeter Pointe into a mixed retail and housing project as an “intensification” of its uses. As for Stein Mart, Tasseff that several other metro Atlanta locations will remain open, including one in Brookhaven.
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Mall neighbors seek to muffIe loud engines at popular car show
Car enthusiasts file into Perimeter Mall during the July 1 Caffeine & Octane car show at Perimeter Mall. Hundreds of cars and some loud engines can be heard by residents living in the Manhattan high-rise condos seen in the distance. Some Manhattan residents have complained to city officials about the loud noise and car show organizers say they are continuing to find ways to abate the noise.
Continued from page 1 This was the start of the gathering of the popular Caffeine & Octane car show, held the first Sunday of each month, from 8-11 a.m., at Perimeter Mall for nearly four years. The show regularly attracts 2,000 vehicles. Some 10,000 car lovers from around the state and Southeast gather to show off or admire the vehicles that bring them pride and joy.. A short distance from the mall parking lot, the Manhattan high-rise condos can be seen standing tall. And it is there where some residents say the noise from the car show is becoming too much. “On Sunday mornings, people like to sleep in, drink their coffee on their balcony ... and now I can’t do that,” Rob Cullinane, a four-year resident of the Manhattan who lives on the 20th floor, said in an interview. “You’d think living on the 20th floor I wouldn’t hear anything, but noise travels up,” he said. “This is a mall. No one signed up for this. It’s like we’re living at the Atlanta Motor Speedway,” he said. Cullinane and another Manhattan resident recently spoke out against the loud engines at a June meeting of Dunwoody City Council. Perimeter Mall General Manager Bill Baker told the council the mall receives noise complaints from time to time and regular meetings are held between mall staff and Caffeine & Octane organizers to find ways to “reduce some of the irritations.” The car show is a boon to the local hotel industry from out-of-towners visiting Dunwoody, he noted, and the event is a popular, family-friendly event. “However, it can get rather loud,” Baker acknowledged. The Caffeine & Octane show now has
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its own TV show on the NBC Sports Network, attracting large crowds including hundreds of car enthusiasts from all over the USA and the world who come to Dunwoody to spend the entire weekend each month, according to show organizers. The show is free to attend and is considered the largest car show in the country. The show is a part of High Octane Events, the producer and owner of several automotive related events as well as the producer and owner of Caffeine & Octane-The TV Series. “NBC Universal is now distributing the TV show worldwide, so in addition to the 9 million viewers we had last season, we will be reaching millions of enthusiasts all around the globe,” Bruce Piefke, CEO of High Octane Events, said. Dunwoody Police and event organizers say they try to limit the noise at Perimeter Mall. Several large banners hang throughout the parking lot that read, “Respect our neighbors. No loud revving” and “Be smart. No burnouts….” The city’s noise ordinance also prohibits loud noises deemed a nuisance but does not directly address loud car engines. Colby Sells, 16, of Snellville brought his red Camaro Iroc-Z parked in an area where dozens of other Camaros were on display. The hood was up as he revved the engine loudly. Very loudly. When asked about the noise level at the car show, Sells responded simply, “Honestly, I think it can be louder.” Dunwoody Police Sgt. Robert Parsons said the department receives the “occasional complaint” about loud noise from Caffeine & Octane. “The event organizers have been very responsive and have asked attendees to keep their noise down several times,” Par-
PHOTOS BY DYANA BAGBY
Large signs ask those participating in the monthly Caffeine & Octane car show at Perimeter Mall to not rev their engines or burn out as a way to respect the neighbors. Some residents living in the nearby Manhattan high-rise condos say more needs to be done to lessen the noise.
sons said. “We have numerous Dunwoody Police officers at the event and have issued numerous warning, citations and even arrests from a range of charges to include laying drag [and] reckless driving.” He said he did not know the total number of such citations. Jeffrey Lorber, a photographer who was snapping photos of a neon green Dodge Viper, comes every month to the car show from Johns Creek. He acknowledged the show can be loud at times but complimented the staff and police for being “real strict” in making sure noise doesn’t rise too loud. People come to Caffeine & Octane because they love cars, and part of the car is its engine, he said. As he talked a loud, beatup truck drove down Ashford-Dunwoody Road. He said there are always loud car noises in the area. Cullinane and some of his neighbors say they know they live in the busy Perimeter Center, but question holding a busy monthly car show in what is also a residential area. Besides the Manhattan, there are other apartments and condos in the area. There are also several hotels. Car enthusiasts with loud cars also tend to stray from the parking lot as it fills up and cruise neighboring streets and gather in parking lots, including the Target parking lot next to the Manhattan, he said. Caffeine & Octane is touted by the city’s Convention and Visitors Bureau as a tourist destination that brings in hundreds of people to stay in hotels, eat at local restaurants and, after the car show ends at noon, perhaps shop at Perimeter Mall. City leaders consider the event an economic boon for the city. Piefke, producer of Caffeine & Octane, said he and the organizers and participants “work very hard to be good neighbors and
hate that anyone is upset.” Ten to 12 off-duty Dunwoody Police officers are hired each month to maintain safety and the rules of the show which includes no revving of engines, he said. Anyone who violates the rules is banned from the show. Piefke said Caffeine & Octane organizers encourage police to write tickets for any noise violations or traffic laws and remind their 150,000 fans on social media the importance of being respectful to their residential neighbors. “We are doubling those efforts based on the recent concerns voiced by a few at this past council meeting,” he said. “We can’t always control behavior outside our boundaries, but we work closely with the city and police department to make sure no laws or ordinances are being violated,” he said. He said the recent complaints led him to meet with mall management to discuss additional noise abatement measures, including more signs. Piefke also said show organizers are speaking to manager of the Target next to the Manhattan to see what can be done to ensure car show enthusiasts don’t gather in the parking lot with their loud engines. “I grew up chasing cows on the Spruill farm, which is now the site of Perimeter Mall. Progress unfortunately brings change sometimes and not all of it is going to be positive,” Piefke said. “We work hard to bring value to Dunwoody and all the fans of Caffeine & Octane each and every month but we do not take our responsibility to be good partners and neighbors lightly,” he said. “We will continue to look at ways to keep the noise levels down.”
14 | Special Section
Facebook.com/TheReporterNewspapers ■ twitter.com/Reporter_News Continued from page 36
A SPECIAL SECTION
Manchester
Calloway Gardens
Dowdell’s Knob
Little White House
Pine Mountain Panorama Callaway Gardens, Little White House, Warm Springs perfect for historic weekend getaway in the southern hills BY KATHY DEAN AND COLLIN KELLEY A mountain getaway usually means heading to North Georgia, but why not head south instead? Pine Mountain and nearby attractions like Callaway Gardens, President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s Little White House, the historic towns of Warm Springs and Manchester are perfect for a weekend away from the city. Located about 80 miles south of Atlanta, Pine Mountain is both scenic and activity-filled whether you’re an outdoor or history enthusiast. There’s also plenty in the way of accommodations, from resorts to campgrounds.
Warm Springs
The town of Warm Springs takes its name from the nearby springs – 88 degrees Fahrenheit and full of minerals – that edge Pine Mountain. Creek and Iroquois Indians used the springs to heal their sick and wounded, and in 1832, David Rose built the area’s first resort around them. The town’s original name was Bullochville, and today, tight alleys lead visitors to Old Bullochville, a reconstructed homage to Warm Spring’s past, found behind Bulloch House and the many shops on Broad Street. Warm Springs gained national recognition in 1924 when President Roosevelt vis-
ited the area to treat his polio-related paralysis. The springs are no longer open for public use, but they are used therapeutically by the Roosevelt Warm Springs Institute for Rehabilitation, founded by FDR. Since the invention of the polio vaccine, the institute provides Vocational Rehabilitation programs for people with disabilities. The pools were recently refurbished by Georgia State Parks and a touch pool allows visitors to feel the warm spring waters and learn about its history. Also be sure to check out the Warm Spring National Fish Hatchery, which was established in 1899 to restore and manages fish such as striped bass, alligator gar and lake sturgeon. It’s also used to recover species that are listed under the Endangered Species Act and restore freshwater fish habitats. The hatchery includes a public aquarium and visitors’ area with walkways amid a beautiful, natural environment.
Little White House
Built in 1932 by then-Governor of New York Franklin Delano Roosevelt, the Little White House became FDR’s home while he visited the area to take advantage of the springs. The people he met and experiences he had in Warm Springs prompted some of his programs once he became president, such as the Rural Electrification Administration.
In 1945, while posing for a portrait, FDR suffered a stroke and died shortly afterwards. The “Unfinished Portrait” is one of the many exhibits in the museum, as is his 1938 Ford convertible with hand controls. The Little White House has been carefully preserved much as FDR left it. Visitors are welcome to visit the home, museum and pools.
F.D. Roosevelt State Park and Manchester
Georgia’s largest state park is set among the Pine Mountain Range. The 9,000-plus acre park offers more than 40 miles of trails, winding through pines and hardwood trees, over creeks and past small waterfalls. Dowdell’s Knob offers a breath-taking view. It’s a spot that FDR was known to sometimes picnic and ponder national and international issues. He was so fond of the spot, he had a brick oven installed for barbecues. The overlook now features a lifesize sculpture of the president gazing out over the mountains. Dowdell’s Knob is located just off Ga. 190, a winding and scenic roadway that begins just south of Manchester and takes you all the way to Callaway Gardens. There are plenty of places to stop and stretch your legs as well as snap more of those fantastic views from atop Pine Mountain. Speaking of Manchester, it’s a fine ex-
ample of a mountain town with a delightful main street full of shops and the historic President Theatre, originally built in 1935 as movie house. It was recently restored with the help of a grant from the Fox Theatre Institute and is now home to regular community events, theater productions, films and more. A fun fact for the literary-minded: Manchester is the hometown of bestselling author Stuart Woods, who fictionalized the city as Delano for his novel “Chiefs.” CALLAWAY RESORT & GARDENS Founded in 1952 and set on nearly 7,000 acres, Callaway Gardens has become a favored weekend getaway spot, especially for golf lovers and nature enthusiasts. One of the main attractions is the giant Cecil B. Day Butterfly Center, which has the distinction of being the largest enclosed tropical conservatory in North America. Thousand of butterflies from 50 different species flutter over a vast array of flowers and plants. There are also 10 miles of walking and biking paths, the white sand Robin Lake Beach and two 18-hole golf courses. Regular events are held, such as the annual Sky High Hot Air Balloon Festival and Fantasy Lights, which see the gardens decked out in millions of twinkling bulbs for the holiday Continued on page 16 DUN
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Intown and in the Mountains
Pine Mountain Panorama
Bill Gilmore SOLD
Continued from page 14 season. An array of accommodations are onsite, including The Lodge, villas, cottages and more affordable Mountain Creek Inn. You won’t go hungry either, with 10 restaurants and bars to choose from, includ-
ing the down-home southern delights of Country Kitchen located inside the rustic Callaway Gardens Country Store. For more about all that Pine Mountain has to offer, visit pinemountain.org, gastateparks.org/
The Bulloch House rises from its ashes in Warm Springs
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Whiteside Mountain Cabin - 140 Cowee Ridge Road, Highlands NC MLS 88139 Listed and Sold for $635,000 Rental: VRBO 1333228
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The Bulloch House has a well-earned reputation of delicious, down-home cooking that draws people to Warm Springs. The current owners, since 2009, are Peter and Sandy Lampert, and they’ve not only kept the business going strong, they’ve built upon it — or rather, the ashes of it. The original Bulloch House was built in 1893 by Benjamin F. Bulloch, co-founder of the town of Bullochville. After the town changed its name to Warm Springs, the building held onto its original name and in 1990, it was renovated and turned into a restaurant. Unfortunately, in June 2015, lightning stuck the original building, smoldered in the wiring and burnt the structure to the ground during the night. “When it erupted, thankfully, no one was in the building,” Sandy said. “It was so old, that it was like fat lighter [kindling]. The fire department tried to enter but had to rush out because the fire was taking hold so quickly and completely. It took less than 10 minutes for the old part of the building to burn down completely. The sky was glowing, and the flames were higher than the trees.” The Lamperts had planned to rebuild on the same spot but found that the cost was prohibitive. They thought about moving the restaurant to another town. “After the fire, we considered a move to Hampton or Columbus,” Peter said. “But in the end, we felt that Bulloch House belongs to Warm Springs.” They located a building on Broad Street that could be renovated, and after some negotiation, the owner agreed to lease it to the Lamperts while the insurance claim was being processed. Renovations got underway and the Bulloch House reopened on Dec. 1, 2015.
The spacious two-story restaurant has an elegant feel with high windows and white chandeliers. The walls are decorated with black-and-white photos of local history, and the menu, which changes weekly, features favorites like fried chicken, baked ham and catfish. There are also fried green tomatoes, collards, homemade biscuits and cornbread. Dessert includes six-layer chocolate cake, old fashioned pecan pie and banana pudding. “A lot of people like this location better,” Peter said. “The parking can be a bit of a challenge, but it’s easier to find and it’s surrounded by shops.” One of those shops is the Lampert’s own Fireflies Gift Boutique, just a few doors down. Shoppers delight in a wide selection of women’s jewelry and baby gifts as well as collegiate gear and must-have housewares. The name of the shop has special meaning for Sandy and goes back to the fateful night of the fire. “We got the phone call in the middle of the night, and my husband rushed right over. He called me crying, ‘It’s gone…it’s all gone!’” When she got there, Sandy watched the embers burning and floating up into the trees. “To me, they looked fireflies, what we call lightning bugs,” she said. The original restaurant had a gift shop attached to it, and the shop also suffered from the fire. “When we reopened our gift shop in this new location, it just made sense to name it Fireflies,” Sandy said. Recently, the Lamperts have added a bakery/cafe behind the gift boutique, offering coffee, fudge and cookies as well as specialty cakes and pies, all baked on premises. And they’ve named it Lightnin’ Bugs. For more about the Bulloch House, 70 Broad Street in Warm Springs, visit bullochhouse.com.
JULY 6 - 19, 2018
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LOOKING FOR A SIMPLE LIFESTYLE, SECOND HOME, OR RENTAL INVESTMENT?
Escape to the Blue Ridge Mountains...
Find new mountains to climb
You don’t have to head north to get a view of the hills BY COLLIN KELLEY If you want to go visit the mountains, you don’t have to go far from metro Atlanta. You don’t even have to go north. Check out these state parks and heritage areas that lie to the south, east and west. For more, be sure to visit gastateparks.org.
SWEETWATER CREEK
TOWN & COUNTRY
NathanFitts.com “CINNAMON BEAR” 4 BR • 4 BA 2.6 Acres MLS#279337
Only minutes west of Atlanta in Douglas County, the hills, outcrops and rolling rapids of Sweetwater Creek make for a great afternoon hike. The centerpiece of the park is the ruin of the New Manchester Textile Mill, which was burned during the Civil War. Park rangers lead informative hikes through the park and to the old mill. There’s also plenty of fishing opportunities in the 215-acre George Sparks Reservoir. The park is located at 1750 Mount Vernon Road in Lithia Springs.
PANOLA MOUNTAIN
Just 15 minutes south of Atlanta, Panola Mountain is a100-acre granite outcrop similar to Stone Mountain, but smaller and much more pristine. Park visitors will see the outcrop and its rare ecosystem just as Native Americans did centuries ago. Reservations are required for ranger-led hikes that teach about the rare plants and animals found at the park. There’s plenty of activities in the park, too, including a playground, archery, birding and tree-climbing programs. A paved trail is open for biking, roller blading, jogging and dog-walking, while forested fitness trails are open for hiking and running. 2620 Ga. 155 SW in Stockbridge.
“GRAND MOUNTAIN ESTATE”
4 BR • 4 BA 2.6 Acres MLS#278803 “ROCK HAVEN” 4 BR • 4 BA • 2 (1/2) BA 2.72 Acres MLS#278540 • • • • • •
Mountain View Properties Waterfront Properties Cabins & Rustic Retreats Traditional & Craftsman Style Homes Land & Acreage Commercial
ARABIA MOUNTAIN
Located near Lithonia in southern DeKalb County, this national heritage area is also a granite outcrop similar to nearby Stone Mountain and Panola Mountain. The best way to see the park is on foot or by bike, and you can even get there using the PATH system of trails. The area is also dotted with historic homes and cultural buildings that have been preserved. For more information, visit arabiaalliance.org.
PROVIDENCE CANYON
Georgia’s “Little Grand Canyon” was created by combination of erosion and poor farming practices during the 1800s. There are now gullies 150 feet deep and the soil’s pink, orange, red and purples hues make for stunning photographs. Visitors can enjoy views of the canyons from the rim trail and also admire the beauty of the rare Plumleaf Azalea, which only grows in this region, and blooms in July and August. 8930 Canyon Road in Lumpkin.
JULY 6 - 19, 2018
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In the Heart of Downtown Blue Ridge
A Boutique Inn with Southern Hospitality All rooms have Private Bath, Cable TV and WIFI
Delicious award-winning southern cuisine A variety of stables, petting zoo, stacked pond for fishing, offsite private fly fishing & a natural backdrop that is one of kind!
Open Year-Round Full Country Breakfast Use promo code:
REPORTER10 when booking for a special rate
706-661-7575 www.BlueRidgeInnBandB.com
info@blueridgeinnbandb.com
477 West First Street Blue Ridge, GA 30513
Try our country ham that was featured on “The Best Thing I Ever Ate,” chosen by Chef Alton Brown! Open for Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner.
768 Franklin St Dillard GA, 30537 (800)541-0671 Dillardhouse.com
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Things To Do
Balloons, beaches, trains and much more on tap If you’re heading down to the Pine Mountain region for a weekend – or longer – getaway, you might want to time your trip around some of these fun festivals and events. SKY HIGH HOT AIR BALLOON FESTIVAL Set for Aug. 31 to Sept. 2, dozens of hot hair balloons take part in the event – including the spectacular Friday Night Balloon Glow – along with music, food and more at Callaway Gardens. Info: callawaygardens.com. OLD CHIPLEY TOWN FAIR Head to Pine Mountain on Sept. 29 for local crafts, pottery, metalwork, woodwork, food and entertainment. Spend the day strolling down Pine Mountain’s picturesque streets or shopping in downtown Pine Mountain’s and Chipley Village’s shopping centers, each filled with unique shops and boutiques. Information: pinemountain.org. WARM SPRINGS HARVEST HOE DOWN Enjoy the changing of the fall colors with the Annual Harvest Hoe Down Festival on Oct. 13 in downtown Warm Springs. Arts, crafts, food vendors, kids’ activities, entertainment throughout the day, kiddie train rides, fruit and vegetable stand, hands-on crafts for children, and more are planned. The parade will be held at 11 a.m. Information: exploregeorgia.org. MANCHESTER RAILROAD DAYS Calling all railroad fans! Come out and see the personal collection displays, model layouts, outdoor display, and view trains from Railfan Observation Deck. The event will take place Oct. 19-20. Information: exploregeorgia.org.
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DISCOVER
BLUE RIDGE’S ONLY GOLF & RIVER COMMUINITY IN GEORGIA’S FAVORITE MOUNTAIN TOWN Photo by SquareFrame Media
A Golf Experience Like No Other A very natural, links-look golf course offering manicured zoysia fairways & tees, and undulating bentgrass greens.
Private Residences & Cottages Under Construction Canadian Log Home for sale at $649,900
9-holes currently open for play
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OLD TOCCOA FARM REALTY, LLC
4,000+ Feet native brown & rainbow trout. paddle and more! Easy-to-walk trails and several Planned amenities: River Pavilion, Event Barn, Pool, Tennis, Fitness and more. FOLLOW US
596 Curtis Switch Road, Mineral Bluff, GA 30559 | Real Estate – 706.946-4663 & Golf – 706.946.4653 | www.oldtoccoafarm.com
Obtain the Property Report required by Federal law and read it before signing anything. No Federal agency has judged the merits or value, if any, of this property. This is not intended to be an offer to sell nor a solicitation of offers to buy real estate in Old Toccoa Farm by residents of Connecticut, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, Pennsylvania or South Carolina, or any other jurisdiction where prohibited by law. No offering can be made to residents of New York OLD TOCCOA FARM, LLC AND ITS PRINCIPALS TAKING PART IN THE PUBLIC OFFERING OR SALE ARE NOT INCORPORATED IN, LOCATED IN, OR RESIDENT IN THE STATE OF NEW YORK. THE OFFERING IS NEITHER MADE IN THE STATE OF NEW YORK NOR MADE TO THE RESIDENTS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK. THE OFFERING IS NOT DIRECTED TO ANY PERSON OR ENTITY IN THE STATE OF NEW YORK BY, OR ON BEHALF OF, OLD TOCCOA FARM, LLC OR ANYONE ACTING WITH OLD TOCCOA FARM, LLC’S KNOWLEDGE. NO OFFERING OR PURCHASE OR SALE OF ANY PROPERTY SHALL TAKE PLACE AS A RESULT OF THIS OFFERING, UNTIL ALL REGISTRATION AND FILING REQUIREMENTS UNDER THE NEW YORK MARTIN ACT AND THE NEW YORK ATTORNEY GENERAL’S REGULATIONS ARE COMPLIED WITH; A WRITTEN EXEMPTION IS OBTAINED PURSUANT TO AN APPLICATION IS GRANTED PURSUANT TO AND IN ACCORDANCE WITH COOPERATIVE POLICY STATEMENTS #1 OR #7; OR A “NO-ACTION” REQUEST IS GRANTED.
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APARTMENT FOR RENT
HELP WANTED
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Midtown Prime Ansley Golf Course Area – 2 BR/ 1 BA 1300 SQ FT APT. Incl Off-Street Pkg in Multi-Family House with W/D in Unit, Gas Starter FPLC, Huge Built-In Bookshelf, Kitchen Island with Wine Rack, Private Porch. Few Steps to Ansley Mall. Walk to Shops/ Attractions/ Beltline. Close to I-85/ I-75. Available Early July. PH 404-874-4642 for Details/ No Texts Pls.
Dentist - Center for Pan-Asian Community Services seeks Dentist to est. Dental program policies & procedures; provide patient services; review/recommend fees for scope of practice; train/oversee Dept Staff; ensure compliance w/ Fed/State safety policies; maintain current knowledge on Dental practices & procedures. Required: DDS degree & license to practice in GA. 40hrs/wk. Mail resumes to Klyde Kim, Director of HR, 3510 Shallowford Road NE Atlanta, GA 30341.
Driveways & Walkways – Replaced or repaired. Masonry, grading, foundations repaired, waterproofing and retaining walls. Call Joe Sullivan 770-616-0576.
Certified Nursing Assistant – Caregiver for your love ones. Flexible & Dependable. References Available. Call 404-397-9429.
Friends of the Sandy Springs Library
Tech Care for Seniors
Private Training In Your Home
365 Mt. Vernon Highway Stock up for summer reading! The library will be closing for extensive renovations. All used book inventory priced at $1ea. 10 am – 6 pm daily
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Home Services Directory
→ Computers → Devices → Wi-Fi Networks
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Health Instructors
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Place your SERVICES ad here!
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Big Library Book Sale July 7 - 14
Arlington Memorial Cemetery - 3 lots for sale in the Calvary Section located in lot 276D, spaces 2, 3 & 4. Asking $5,900 each or $17,000 for all. This section is almost sold out and prices through the cemetery would be $,6,900 each. Beautiful views and the most desirable section. Cemetery will assist in showing. Email: mrmccabe@hotmail.com
Accountants
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Property Home Tending by Charles – “On the market or just Away.” Regular inspections of unoccupied property. Call 404-229-0490.
CEMETERY PLOTS
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PETS
Matthew’s Handy Services – Small jobs & chores are my specialties! Shelves, organizers, carpentry, drywall, painting, etc. BBB rated. Call 404-547-2079 or email: mwarren8328@gmail.com
Hair Stylists
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404-917-2200, ext 110 Affordable. Display. Frequency.
To Advertise, call 404-917-2200 ext 110
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With two professional in-house polishers, we can make your silver flatware, tea sets, bowls, and trays more beautiful than ever before. Bring it by or call us for an estimate today and get polished for the holidays! Missing A Piece of Your Pattern? ® 1,200 patterns in stock.
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The Handyman Can • Plumbing • Electrical • Sheetrock • Floors • Tile • Framing • Kitchens • Painting • Roofwork • Concrete • Stained Glass • Antique Door Restoration as well as many other issues...
John Salvesen • 404-453-3438 thehandymancanatlanta@gmail.com
DUN
JULY 6 - 19, 2018
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Dunwoody Village design comes to a crossroads Continued from page 1 removes a requirement for what is officially known as “mid-Atlantic”-style architecture. The change is coming at the same time developers Crim and Associates is seeking a special land use permit to construct a contemporary, industrial-style building at 5419 Chamblee-Dunwoody Road, the visible corner in the overlay where an old car wash was located in recent years. They take their SLUP request to the Planning Commission July 10 as well. Because many of the DHA members and city’s founders were involved in creating the Dunwoody Village Overlay as a way to give a distinct look to the city, a struggle between the past and the future is taking place at the center of what many consider the city’s identity and character that sets it apart from other cities. “We’re at a crossroads between those who have been here 30 years and those who have been here 30 minutes,” Dunwoody Homeowners Association President Adrienne Duncan said at its July 1 meeting. Community Development Director Richard McLeod presented the proposed changes to the overlay at the July 1 DHA meeting, leading to some lively debate among members. The proposed changes follow a June 4 meeting with the mayor and City Council who asked for changes to the ordinance. The proposed changes include allowing flat roofs and permitting floor-to-ceiling windows. Crim and Associates is seeking these same kinds of designs after last year getting approval for a traditional overlay district building. They say they cannot attract a restaurant to the overlay under the current overlay guidelines. State Sen. Fran Millar (R-Dunwoody), a DHA board member, said the proposed changes discount current tenants of Dunwoody Village who moved to the area for its specific architecture. He criticized the city for proposing drastic changes for “one restaurant that wants to move across the street from Dunkin’ Donuts.” “We’re putting the cart before the horse,” Millar said. “You should have discussion going on in the community … this process is not very transparent.” Bill Robinson, who also helped write the village overlay, noted the style is “not Williamsburg.” He asked the city to stick to its principles and not pay attention to a “small group of developers.” Others asked why there was no sounding board or more public discussion about the proposed changes. McLeod said there will be public comment at the July 10 Planning Commission meeting and then at two City Council meetings in August. Economic Development Director Michael Starling was also at the DHA meeting DUN
and said he and other staff members are constantly receiving emails from residents wanting to know why Dunwoody cannot get the kinds of retail and restaurant development going in to cities like Brookhaven, Chamblee and Alpharetta. The answer, he said, is developers do not want to deal with the zoning restrictions in the overlay that not only deal with architectural style and window treatments but also parking and development thresholds. Removing these restrictions would mean development would be guided by the underlying zoning. Archie Wanamaker of Crim and Associates said Crim plans to have a restaurant at the Mount Vernon and ChambleeDunwoody road corner plot if they can get the SLUP approved. If the SLUP is not approved, he said, Crim would construct the building approved last year and the tenants would be “not what you want.” He declined to say what kind of tenants. Crim and Associates planned to have a Rize Pizza in the original building, but the company fell on financial hard times and backed out of its lease last year. The broken lease left Crim and Associates seeking another tenant. One they found, a “Chipotle-style” fast casual restaurant from Flor-
Crim and Associates is seeking a special land use permit to construct this style of building at the corner of Mount Vernon and Chamblee-Dunwoody roads in the Dunwoody Village Overlay district. The SLUP is coming at the same time the city is proposing eliminating many of the current architectural standards that make the Village unique and have been in place since the early 1970s. (City of Dunwoody)
ida, will locate in Dunwoody, but in the more contemporary building with large windows and a flat roof, he said. Some DHA members argued the city is attempting to change the zoning ordinance through a SLUP when it probably should be done as part of a larger zoning rewrite. Councilmember Terry Nall said the city is following the proper process because SLUPs address architecture and design, signs, parking and landscaping. Sheila Levy, a Dunwoody resident for 10 years, said younger residents want trendier places like ones in neighboring cities. She said she and her friends often dine in
Brookhaven or Chamblee because they offer smaller, contemporary restaurants. But longtime Dunwoody resident Geri Penn, who worked on the overlay when it was created, said the proposed changes are “eliminating the character of our city.” The village would become a “hodge-podge” of businesses and become like shopping area sin any other city, she said. Erika Harris said she believes there is a way to keep the character of the Dunwoody Village Overlay while also becoming contemporary. “I see the value in preserving what we have … and I think we can look at ways to seamlessly blend,” she said.
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IMAGINE...
RIVER LIFE
LAKE LIFE
MOUNTAIN LIFE
668 WHITE PINE TRAIL | SUCHES, GEORGIA 30572
185 SOURWOOD COVE LANE | MORGANTON, GEORGIA 30560
4 BEDROOMS • 3 BATHROOMS • OFFERED FOR $465,000
6 BEDROOMS • 6 BATHROOMS • OFFERED FOR $2,495,000
Plan Your Escape … to the picturesque town of Blue Ridge, Georgia, just a short distance from the hustle and bustle of Atlanta. Whether you are dreaming of a lake, river or mountain home for weekend enjoyment or a solid investment property for vacation rentals, I can help find the perfect setting just for you! Plan a weekend escape and allow me to introduce you to our North Georgia Mountains!
ANNIE BOLAND Your Connection to the North Georgia Mountains c. 404.449.1179 | o. 404.874.0300 ANNIEBOLAND@ATLANTAFINEHOMES.COM
ATLANTAFINEHOMES.COM | SIR.COM ©MMXVIII Sotheby’s International Realty and the Sotheby’s International Realty logo are registered (or unregistered) service marks used with permission. Each Office Is Independently Owned And Operated. Equal Housing Opportunity.