07-20-2018 Brookhaven Reporter

JULY 20 - AUG. 2, 2018 • VOL. 10 — NO. 15

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► For local police, free overdose antidotes came with a price: looming expiration dates PAGE 4 ► Sandy Springs resident helps organize Atlanta anti-Trump vigil PAGE 5

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City to unleash debate on dogs in Brookhaven Park

Hooping it up at Briarwood Park

BY DYANA BAGBY dyanabagby@reporternewspapers.net

PHOTOS BY PHIL MOSIER

A hula-hoop competition at the July 13 “Dive-In Movie Night” at the Briarwood Park pool got the attention of, from left, Lilly Boestfleisch, 4; Kaleigh Cline, 5; and Jack Sussman, 5. They were among many families who came out to see the Disney film “Coco” on a big screen while swimming in the city-sponsored event. More photos page 22►

ART & ENTERTAINMENT Oglethorpe’s art museum showcases rarely seen works to mark 25th year

Page 18

People read books and go to movies for instant escapism, but all I have to do is look through a catalog. See ROBIN’S NEST, page 11

Brookhaven Park at the corner of Peachtree Road and Osborne Road with its acres of grassy fields has, over the years, become a de facto off-leash dog park for residents and dog owners living throughout metro Atlanta. But that could be about to change as city officials continue to hear complaints from residents upset about dogs running loose in a park they want to visit for a peaceful stroll or to have a picnic lunch. The City Council is expected at its July 24 work session to take up the issue that has been burning almost since day one of incorporation nearly six years ago and after the city took over ownership of the park from DeKalb County. “This has been going on since the inception of the city,” Councilmember Bates Mattison, whose district includes Brookhaven Park, said in an interview. “I knew about it 20 years ago and then it was See CITY on page 15

OUT & ABOUT Proposed parks Group shows bond referendum Mister Rogers movie totals $40M to spark neighborly conversation BY DYANA BAGBY dyanabagby@reporternewspapers.net

The City Council is poised to vote July 24 to put a nearly $40 million parks bond referendum on the November ballot, the first such referendum in the city’s nearly 6-year history. The $40 million is broken down into spending on specific parks on specific projects, a list compiled by city staff and representatives from the volunteer Parks and Recreation Coalition, a group made up of local park conservancy members. PARC chair Sue Binkert said in an inPage 9

See PROPOSED on page 22

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Large-scale ‘Master Planned’ districts proposed in new zoning code BY DYANA BAGBY dyanabagby@reporternewspapers.net

A new “Master Planned Development District” system for the city’s zoning code rewrite would allow developers to submit ideas that don’t fit into conventional zoning ordinances in exchange for public benefits. The idea is to allow developers to be innovative and creative when coming up with a project and to “accommodate development that may be difficult if not impossible to carry out under otherwise applicable zoning district regulations,” according to the draft code. Such developments would likely target redevelopment along Buford Highway where aging apartment complexes are being eyed by developers and where unusual lot sizes exist. The Brookhaven/Oglethorpe MARTA station, which currently has acres of empty parking lots surrounding it, is another site city leaders say could benefit from an MPD. An MPD must also provide at least one of the four public benefit thresholds: at least 20 percent workforce housing, a public open space such as a plaza or pocket park, at least 15 percent of the development protects at least 15 percent of natural resources not count-

ing other required green space mandates or achieving LEED certification. “‘Master Planned Development District’ is just a fashionable term used for Planned Unit Developments ... which have been around since the 1970s all over the country,” said Gary Cornell, who teaches urban planning at Georgia Tech and was not involved in the city’s zoning rewrite. Planned Unit Developments originally started to provide flexibility for single-family residential projects, also known as “cluster housing,” and in metro Atlanta they tend to exist in suburban areas. This definition has evolved over years as well as the types of uses included. A well-known Planned Unit Development in metro Atlanta is Peachtree City, Cornell said, where developers essentially created a city well-known for allowing residents to get nearly anywhere on a golf cart. But that development was created due to vast amounts of vacant land. In Brookhaven, there is not much undeveloped property and an MPD would most likely mean the redevelopment of infill property. Cornell said it can be difficult to redevelop infill properties where devel-

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the current traditional avenues of a community meeting with people living in the area, and then the developer going before the Planning Commission and City Council. In Brookhaven’s proposed zoning code rewrite, examples of the types of development that may benefit from a Master Planned Development District zoning tool include: 1. Enhanced protection of natural resources. Developments that offer enhanced protection of natural resources and sensitive environmental features, including streams, floodplains, wetlands, steep slopes, woodlands and native plant species. 2. Traditional urban development. Developments characterized by lot configurations, street patterns, streetscapes and neighborhood amenities commonly found in urban neighborhoods created before the 1950s. 3. Mixed-use development. Developments that contain a complementary mix of residential and nonresidential users. 4. Mixed housing development. Residential developments containing a mix of housing types geared toward different age groups, income levels and lifestyle preferences.

‘Master Planned Development District’ is just a fashionable term used for Planned Unit Developments ... which have been around since the 1970s all over the country. GARY CORNELL, URBAN PLANNER opers often make serious financial investments and noted it’s often costlier for developers to acquire assemblages for sizable projects. An MPD option can “reward” the developer for coming up with a project that makes a positive impact on the city, he said. The MPD in Brookhaven would be like a “floating overlay” which won’t appear on the city’s zoning map until such a designation is requested and approved. Such a district includes a different regulatory and approval process than other conventional zoning ordinances. The approval process begins with an application submitted to the Community Development Department that includes a written explanation describing the community benefits of the proposed development and how the proposed development provides greater benefits to the city than a development that meets applicable zoning requirements. Currently, the zoning draft states an MPD would get public input through

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The specific objectives of the MPD as outlined in the zoning rewrite draft include: flexibility and creativity in responding to changing social, economic and market conditions and that results in greater public benefits than could be achieved using conventional zoning and development regulations; the incorporation of open spaces and natural resources; attractive and high-quality landscaping, lighting and architecture and signage to reflect the “unique character of the development”; and sustainable, long-term communities that provide economic opportunity and environmental and social equity for residents.

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Community Briefs B O Y S & GI R L S CL U B B UIL D IN G TO R N D O WN

The former Boys & Girls Club building on North Druid Hills Road has been torn down with the prospect for future redevelopment of the site unclear. An excavator was on site July 5 at 1330 North Druid Hills Road with the building structure torn down and large piles of rubble DYANA BAGBY The former Boys & Girls Club building at 1330 and debris stacked up. The North Druid Hills Road was recently torn down by sand volleyball courts are developer Ashton Woods. The developer has plans also being demolished. to build a multi-unit housing project on the site. The Boys & Girls Club finalized its controversial sale of the property last month to Ashton Woods. Ashton Woods has plans to build 54 townhomes, eight detached single-family lots and 10 “manor home” units but is involved in a legal dispute with the city over the development. The building and site were demolished due to vandalism and trespassing, according to Carl Westmoreland, attorney for Ashton Woods. The City Council approved in December rezoning the 6 acres of the site from R-75 (single-family residential) to RM-100 (multifamily residential). But the Zoning Board of Appeals in April denied several requested variances on setbacks because members said Ashton did not prove significant hardship. Ashton has appealed the ZBA’s decision in DeKalb County Superior Court. Westmoreland has said the developer cannot build the project the council approved without also having the setback variances approved. He said Ashton is still looking to redevelop the site. The city is currently undertaking a zoning rewrite that includes allowing for concurrent variances. Concurrent variances would allow the City Council to decide on a rezoning and its variances at the same time rather than having a developer go to the ZBA to seek variances. The demolitions permits were applied for in March and approved in May, according to city spokesperson Ann Marie Quill. A land disturbance permit revision is currently under review. The revision meets the requirements of the approved rezoning and the one variance approved, to eliminate the buffer zone. Stormwater remediation is also part of the approved project. The layout of the project — the number and mix of units approved in December — remains the same, Quill said. The Boys & Girls Club closed its Brookhaven location in December to open a new, bigger facility at 2880 Dresden Drive in Chamblee. The club was in Brookhaven for some 40 years. Before that it was an elementary school.

P O L I C E M A K E A RREST I N C A P ITA L C I TY CLU B SHO O TING

Atlanta Police announced July 13 the arrest of a suspect in the July 8 shooting of a man at the Capital City Club. Police arrested 17-year-old Jayden Myrick, charging him with three counts of aggravated assault, one count of aggravated battery and one count of possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony, APD said in a press release. Four guests were robbed at gunpoint July 8 while waiting for a car after a wedding at the club, which is located on the Brookhaven and Buckhead border at 53 West Brookhaven Drive. One victim followed the suspect and was shot, according to police. The car used by the suspect was previously used in a July 6 carjacking in Forest Park, police said. Police are still looking for the driver of the car that was used by the suspect to flee the scene, police said. Police responded to a report of a pedestrian robbery near 53 West Brookhaven Drive at about 12:15 a.m. on Sunday, July 8. There they found a male victim in his 30s with a gunshot wound to the abdomen. He was transported to Piedmont Hospital. Three other victims were also found who told police they had left a wedding reception at the Capital City Club and were waiting for an Uber ride at the corner of West Brookhaven Drive and Capital City Lane. While they were waiting, a vehicle approached them and stopped a short distance away. A young black male wearing blue jeans and a gray hooded sweatshirt got out of the vehicle, walked up to the four people waiting for their ride, took out a handgun and demanded their belongings. BK

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For local police, free overdose antidotes came with a price: looming expiration dates BY MAX BLAU The Brookhaven and Dunwoody police departments are among the dozens of public agencies to have received free doses of naloxone, a lifesaving opioid-overdose antidote, from a Virginia-based pharmaceutical company. But a recent investigation into the company’s charity program found the goodwill was limited by the fact that some of those doses were within months of expiring. Four years ago, when Kaleo started giving away more than 330,000 naloxone auto-injectors, the Dunwoody and Brookhaven police departments were among the first law enforcement agencies to apply for the free antidote. They each received hundreds of doses of the lifesaving drug. They each armed their officers with medicine that revives overdose victims. They each saved lives. But both departments were among at least nine police departments that, according to an investigation from

FILE/PHIL MOSIER

A training version of an Evzio brand naloxone injector as used earlier this year in a training at Georgia State University’s Perimeter College Dunwoody Campus.

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FOLLOW UP TO OUR EXCLUSIVE SERIES ABOUT THE OPIOID CRISIS STAT News, had received Evzio naloxone auto-injectors that were on the verge of expiring. Pharmacists typically dispense naloxone with over a year left on its shelf life. But the investigation found that some departments received free naloxone anywhere from four to 11 months away from expiring. Drug charity programs are a tactic used by pharmaceutical companies to justify price hikes and get rid of product that pharmacies will no longer stock. Kaleo — the subject of a congressional probe for raising the price of its Evzio product to $4,500 for a twopack — has earned a plug from President Trump for donating naloxone. Kaleo spokesperson Brian Ellis told STAT that the company attempts “to make donations with the understanding that it will be used quickly, not stockpiled.” “Kaleo would much rather help save a life than throw an effective product away,” Ellis said. While federal and Georgia laws do not prohibit the practice of donating soon-to-be expired drugs, some experts, like Leo Beletsky, an associate professor of law and health sciences at Northeastern University, believe the pharmaceutical practice is unethical — the equivalent of a restaurant donating wilting lettuce to a food bank. The effectiveness of naloxone may decrease as the antidote nears its expiration date, potentially requiring multiple doses to reverse an overdose, according to pharmacists. “We were grateful, but these were drugs that likely couldn’t be sold,” said Sgt. Robert Parsons, the Dunwoody Police Department’s naloxone coordinator. “If departments receive the donations, and it runs out, you’ve created the expectation in the community that officers are carrying the product and that, if someone is overdosing, you can call 911.” Prior to receiving free Evzio in March 2015, Brookhaven officers hadn’t used naloxone in the field to reverse opioid overdoses. Officer Carlos Nino, a spokesperson for the Brookhaven Police Department, said the department has received five Evzio donations including a total of more than 700 auto-injectors. One of those batches, he said, was received six months away from expiration. Since then, Kaleo has provided auto-injectors that last more than a year, Nino said. The department still uses the auto-injectors to save over-

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dose victims. “Officers are just amazed at how it goes from shallow breaths … to, boom, next thing you know, they’re up on their feet,” Nino said. Over the past four years, Brookhaven has deployed naloxone nearly twodozen times to overdose victims. In early 2016, Brookhaven Police Chief Gary Yandura only talked about the positives of the donated naloxone when he was quoted in a Kaleo press release: “Anytime there is a chance for a police officer to save a life they should have the tools to help make them successful. Evzio has been that tool. We use it to help save lives and give second chances.” Kaleo, for its part, has encouraged some agencies to plug the free product, providing police chiefs with a stock press release for its potential use. In other cases, some departments have had to sign a confidential agreement that restricts officers from referring to Evzio by the brand name of its top competitor, Narcan, a nasal spray manufactured by Adapt Pharma. In October 2015, the Dunwoody Police Department received its first batch of Evzio auto-injectors, which expired the following April. When a second set arrived, Parsons looked at the box, shocked to find that the product would only last for four months. Yet that hasn’t stopped Dunwoody from getting overdose calls. Instead of purchasing Kaleo’s pricey product, Parsons said the DPD instead invested in the purchase of Narcan nasal spray, a cheaper naloxone product that costs around $150 for a two-pack. The department now spends about $5,250 every two years stocking up on naloxone, he said. Overall, Dunwoody officers have administered naloxone in nearly half of its 39 overdose calls since 2015. “To say you don’t have naloxone anymore is tough,” Parsons said. “You need to be ready to take on that expense in one way, shape, or form.”

Editor’s Note: Max Blau is a freelance reporter based in Atlanta. Last month, he investigated the issue of soon-to-expire naloxone donations for the healthcare website STAT News; this article focuses on local police departments affected by the issue. Earlier this year, he wrote our exclusive four-part series “Coping with a Crisis: Opioid Addiction in the Suburbs.” To read the series, see ReporterNewspapers.net.

National voting rights group campaigns for Democrats from Sandy Springs office BY JOHN RUCH johnruch@reporternewspapers.net

A national voting rights group has opened its Georgia field office in Sandy Springs to campaign for local Democratic candidates in the races for governor and state legislative seats. Let America Vote, based in Washington, D.C., counts Georgia gubernatorial candidate Stacey Abrams among its advisory board members. This year, it opened field offices in five states, with Georgia’s in the Parkside Shopping Center at 5920 Roswell Road. The same office was long occupied by the Fulton County Republican Party, which moved in recent months. “The goal is to create political consequences for voter suppression,” said Austin Laufersweiler, Let America Vote’s national spokesperson. The group chose Georgia for a field office partly due to Abrams’ race to “help elect her,” said Laufersweiler. Sandy Springs — a majority-Republican suburban city — was chosen as a headquarters site for “geography” of door-knocking to influence various local campaigns, he said. The group previously campaigned for Democrat Jon Ossoff in last year’s historically expensive and nationally spotlighted race for the local 6th Congressional District seat, which was won by Republican Karen Handel. Porsha White, the Georgia field office’s director, declined to be interviewed. Laufersweiler said the group is backing state legislative candidates “who support voting rights” and to “replace people we see as opposing voting rights.” The Georgia office’s social media account indicates that it is campaigning for Democrats in several local races, including: Sally Harrell, challenging incumbent Fran Millar in Senate District 40; Jen Jordan, who faces Republican challenger Leah Aldridge in Senate District 6; Shea Roberts, who is challenging incumbent Deborah Silcox in House District 52; and Matthew Wilson, who is challenging incumbent Meagan Hanson in House District 80. Abrams’ resume includes running a voting registration organization. She serves on the Let America Vote advisory board along with many prominent figures and elected officials, most of them Democrats or liberals, such as Josh Earnest, former press secretary to President Barack Obama; Martin Luther King III; and the presidents of the Planned Parenthood Action Fund and

EMILY’s List. Besides the Sandy Springs headquarters, Let America Vote is running some Georgia satellite offices in such cities as Athens. Laufersweiler is a Marietta native.

As a high-school student, he was in the news in 2010 for efforts to tighten anti-bully policies, especially relating to LGBTQ students, in Cobb County schools.

Sandy Springs resident helps organize Atlanta anti-Trump vigil BY JOHN RUCH johnruch@reporternewspapers.net

A Sandy Springs resident helped to organize an Atlanta version of a nationwide “vigil” opposing President Trump’s administration scheduled for July 18 as the Reporter went to press. Jill Myers said she has not been involved in political organizing before and disagrees with many of the left-wing groups behind the vigil movement. But she indicated Trump’s recent enormously controversial comments about Russia and election tampering drove her to volunteer for a “Confront Corruption ATL” vigil in downtown Atlanta, for which more than 180 people had RSVP’ed. Myers, a CEO and founder of a software startup, said she was inspired to join the national “Confront Corruption and Demand Democracy” vigil effort after hearing about it Continued on page 6

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Continued from page 5 from a group she respects, the good-government organization Common Cause. “Common Cause is my guidepost,” said Myers. “It’s an organization whose mission is definitively pro-democracy and nonpartisan.” Sara Henderson, the executive director of Common Cause’s Georgia chapter, confirmed her group’s involvement in the local vigil. The group is promoting the vigil, with Myers as lead organizer and contact. A vigil announcement letter sent by Myers cites concerns about possible Russian tampering with U.S. elections and Trump’s reaction to it. The letter cites the recent indictment on election and campaign charges of 12 Russian officials by Robert Mueller III, who is leading a special investigation into possible Russian influence on the 2016 SPECIAL presidential election won by Trump. Jill Myers. The letter also alludes to Trump’s enormously controversial remarks, delivered July 16 while standing alongside Russian President Vladimir Putin, to the effect that he saw no reason why the Russian government would influence U.S. elections, despite the opinion of various U.S. intelligence agencies that it did. Trump later said he partly misspoke and believes the Russians have such reason, but that others could have been involved as well. “Never in America’s history has our president enthusiastically refuted his own government on the world stage,” says the vigil announcement letter. “Never has our president bowed to a former KGB officer who murders his rivals.” As a result, the letter sent by Myers says, “… I will lead a vigil that confronts the rampant corruption we have witnessed since January 20, 2017,” the day Trump was inaugurated. The national vigil movement is being promoted by a large number of largely liberal political groups, such as People for the American Way, MoveOn, Daily Kos and Greenpeace. The vigil movement’s mission statement reads in part, “From attacks on the rule of law to conflicts of interest, ethics violations and flagrant abuse of government offices for personal gain, the corruption of the American government by the president, his associates and many in his party has reached a new, profound low.” The supporting groups are calling for a variety of reforms related to government transparency and voting rights. Most of dozens of vigils being organized are on July 18, though some are running throughout the week. They range from a “Vigil Against the Beast, Donald Trump” in Indianapolis to “Dallas Confronts Corruption” in Texas. The Atlanta vigil is, so far, the only one listed in Georgia. Myers says she has “never led or participated in any events organized by these groups. I do not agree with policy positions of the majority of these groups.” She said she’s not even a Common Cause donor. She calls herself “a concerned citizen who is trying to apply my knowledge of history, given these unprecedented times.”

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12 MORE AWARDS FOR EDITORIAL EXCELLENCE W

General Excellence

e’re honored (again!) that Reporter Newspapers won 12 awards in its division in the Georgia Press Association’s 2018 Better Newspaper Competition.

Business Writing (John Ruch) News Photography /3 awards (Phil Mosier)

Added to last year’s recognitions, the four Reporter editions have now won a total of 24 awards for editorial excellence in GPA competitions, which are

Lifestyle Column /2 awards (Robin Conte) Layout & Design /2 awards (Rico Figliolini) Enterprise Story (Dyana Bagby)

judged by newspaper professionals from around the country. Thank you to our readers, advertisers and peers who

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► Eyed for trails, pipeline routes are serious business

Current City Hall site City proposes targeted for redevelopment $106 million

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The city is proposing a $106 million operating budget for fiscal year 2018, an increase of about a half-percent over the current year, officials said at a May 23

OUT & ABOUT Lantern Parade will light up the Hooch

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► ‘The good, the bad the ugly’ of 2017 legislative session

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City’s new medical center wants to grow

Mary Hall Freedom House, a nonprofit that helps women with homelessness and addiction issues, has bought 33 units of a Sandy Springs condominium complex for use as transitional housing and possible redevelopment into a larger facility or headquarters. One of the two dozen tenants currently renting those condo units is complaining about the “irony” of losing her home to an organization that helps the homeless. See HOMELESSNESS on page 22

I want to see a competition that celebrates our everyday Home Kitchen challenges. ... The Chairman would be the Original Iron Chef’s Mother-in-Law. Prizes are a month’s supply of lasagna and a spa weekend. A chef wins if her kids eat her food. Robin’s Nest, page 15

See CURRENT on page 22

DeKalb CEO: EMS response time improves BY DYANA BAGBY

dyanabagby@reporternewspapers.net

Ambulance response times in the city are improving after changes were made by the private company contracted by DeKalb County to provide the emergency service, including hiring more staff, according to county officials. The City Council in December raised serious concerns with the DeKalb Fire & Rescue chief and the regional director of American Medical Response over ambulance response times in the city, noting there were numerous instances of ambuSee DEKALB on page 13

PHOTOS BY PHIL MOSIER

on April 8 as part Corporate Boulevard page 19. of Peachtree Creek around For more photos, see a bank of the north fork “Sweep the Hooch” event. Volunteers clean up Riverkeeper’s annual of the Chattahoochee

EXCEPTIONAL EDUCATOR Passing on her culinary passion Page 27

I believe [President Trump] is strong enough to force Congress to break through this nonsense and get something done. DAVID PERDUE U. S. Senator

See PERDUE, page 21.

OUT & ABOUT Get grounded with Earth Day events Page 6

11 — NO. 5

FACEBOOK.COM

Glowing for a cause

BY DYANA BAGBY spapers.net dyanabagby@reporternew

A developer plans to build two residential towers and an office tower at Perimeter Center East, where Dunwoody City Hall now is located. Representatives from North Carolina-based Grubb Properties described their proposal, which is still in the concept stage, to the board of the Dunwoody Homeowners Association on May 7. The company owns about 19.5 acres in Perimeter Center East, with three mid-rise office buildings, one of which serves as City Hall. The property is behind the Ravinia complex off Ashford-Dunwoody Road. The city is relocating to a new City Hall

16, 2017 • VOL.

Buckhead Reporter

and

BY DYANA BAGBY dyanabagby@reporternewspapers.n et

percent decline. The police department would get a budget boost of more than 9 percent to about $22.8 million. Part of that is a salAbove, a a bird’s eye view of the proposed redevelopment in ary increase to remain competitive as Perimeter Center East includes, residential towers and a new office to the left, two new tower. In the State Patrol pay boost is attracting offiremain and have retail on the ground center are two current mid-rise office buildings that would floor. To the right are two new apartment Inset, an illustration of what the buildings. cers away from the department, city offistreetscape might look like in the development. cials said. The boost also includes hiring

EXCEPTIO 11 See CITY on pageNAL EDUCATOR ss literature Teaching Homelessne through life nonprofit

FACEBOOK.COM/THEREPOR

Picking up at Peachtree Creek

BY JOHN RUCH

PHIL MOSIER

VOL. 9 — NO. 8

Brookhaven Reporter

PAGE 6

FY2018 budget

home of St. Joseph Maronite to the first Mass, held Sunday, May 14, at the new Rev. Dominique Hanna welcomes his congregation the former building of Apostles St. Joseph moved from an Atlanta location into Catholic Church at Glenridge and Hammond drives. attended St. Joseph’s debut. financial turmoil. More than 400 parishioners Church, a Lutheran congregation that closed amid

Pages 18-19

APRIL 14 - 27, 2017 •

► Buckhead company keeps ‘quirky’ old-school sodas fizzing

City Council meeting. The budget will take effect July 1. The council will hold public hearings on the budget on June 6 and June 20. The budget projects revenues of about $92 million, with money from a reserve fund balancing the expenditures. The revenue projection is about 1 percent higher than fiscal 2017. While most revenue sources are projected to increase, property taxes are expected to show a 2.2

EDUCATION Top of the Class

reporternewspapers.net

PAGE 4

/THEREPORTERN

EWSPAPERS

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► Historic locomotive makes tracks to Buckhead PAGE 4 SPECIAL SECTIO N | P22-27

Buckhead ma ster plan to allow more input on big ideas

Wearing glow necklaces and Garden Hills shirts with in the Garden Hills/Pe second annual Family reflective shoeprints, adults, Flashlight Fun achtree Park kids of all ages, Run, held Sunday Friends Group strollers and PHOTO BY volunteers, PHIL MOSIER dogs take benefits Childre evening, Feb. 26. The nearly 1-mile to the streets of n’s Healthcare race, organiz of Atlanta. More pictures, page ed by 18.►

BY DYANA BAGBY

apers.net

dyanabagby@reporternewsp

Classroom gam from math to es, Shakespeare

to the April 18 As the days tick down the open 6th Conspecial election to fill each of the 18 cangressional District seat, furiousPage are trying 28 didates in the large field from the pack. ly to separate themselves was at opportunity public The latest forum hosted by the April 9 candidate rs Association the Dunwoody Homeowne at Dunwoody High and Dunwoody Crier early voting in School. Voters are already seat that had been the election to fill the Tom Price, who reheld by Republican

See 6TH on page 18

reporternewspa pers.net

PAGE 5

of Atlanta is seekChildren’s Healthcare along the Northing to have 11.4 acres into the city of east Expressway annexed 8-story office Brookhaven for a proposed massive expansion of building as part of a at North Druid Hills its new 45-acre campus includes buyRoad and I-85. The expansion ing out a church. city officials say is It’s just part of what redevelopment commajor medical-related to the Execuing after years of anticipation tive Park area. request with annexation the filed CHOA is asking for a spethe city on April 5. It also for some of the propcial land-use permit the 8-story, 340,000erty in order to build on land currently square-foot building CHOA also wants zoned only for five stories. to build a parking deck. SLUP requests are The annexation and up by the Planning expected to be taken Council in June. Commission and City SLUP is approved “If the annexation and See CITY on page 20

6th District hopefuls squareEXCEPTIONAL EDUCATOR off in debate

EPORTER_NEWS

► New prog ressive attracts activ group ists

OUT & ABOUT

[Students need] A very special more ‘reallife’ education scenarios: finan es, investing, c- performance of budgeting. A lot of ‘The kids graduate Wizard of Oz’ and don’t know how to balan ce a checkbook, Page but know how 6 to do some math problem with only symbols.”

BY JOHN RUCH johnruch@rep orternewspape rs.net The Buckh ead master plan will keep on planning for a while. A Feb. 27 community meeting for the “BUCKHEAD REdeFINED” scheduled to plan was be the last, but now input will continue into April to hash out some controversial ideas, said Eric Bosma lead consul n of tant Kimley -Horn. Those clude ideas inlarge and small for Buckhead’s commercial core, from a new terchange to Ga. 400 ina neighborhood trail loop. A crowd of about 100 at the Atlant Internationa a l School receive ing, 90-min d a sprawlute presen tation that rowed some narearlier ideas, others, and elaborated introduced still more concepts, all new while mingli ng short- and long-term plans. Several of its recommende steps” are alread d “first y underway, ing the PATH4 like finish00 trail along Ga. 400; some See BUCKHEAD on page 16

Massell: Buckhead getting bigger busier, wealth , ier

BY JOHN RUCH

johnruch@repo

rternewspapers.

Residents grad on preparing e schools students for careers and civic life See COMMUNITY SURVEY Page 14

*Source: independent reader survey

www.ReporterNewspapers.net ■ Published by Springs Publishing LLC

net

Buckhead is big, busy and wealthy. And by 2020, it’ll be even bigger, wealthier. busier and So said Buckhe ad Coalition Sam Massel president l in his annual “State of the Community” address Feb. 23 at the City Club of Buckhe ad, hosted by the Buckhead Business Associa tion. Massell listed branding points” several “bragging and projecting the the neighborhood booms in ’s population, real estate See MASSELL on page 17

8 | Art & Entertainment

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Fridays, Aug. 3, 17 and 24, 6 p.m. Chattahoochee Nature Center canoe guides will lead this 2.5-hour adult-only evening paddle. Learn all about the Chattahoochee River and look for wildlife with naturalists. When the trip is done, roast marshmallows over a campfire. Ages 21+. $35; $30 CNC members. 135 Willeo Road, Roswell. Info: chattnaturecenter.org.

Sunday, Aug. 5, 2-4 p.m. Atlanta writer Neeley Gossett is up next in this series of readings of new plays by nationally known local writers at the Dunwoody Nature Center. Neeley’s play, “The Year Without Summer,” features Nadine, a lepidopterist who is in India to clone an endangered butterfly and who must make a decision while there about whether to use a pregnancy surrogate. Professional actors bring characters to life in this series, presented in partnership with Found Stages on first Sundays monthly at 2 p.m. through November. Includes a meet-and-greet with the month’s featured playwright, actors and directors. Complimentary wine and appetizers. $20. 5343 Roberts Drive, Dunwoody. Info: dunwoodynature.org.

CAJUN CONCERT AND DANCE

BACK TO THE CHATT

Saturday, Aug. 4, 9 a.m. to 4:20 p.m. Hundreds of paddlers and floaters will take to the river in the annual Back to the Chatt at the Chattahoochee River. Race begins at two Nantahala Outdoor Center locations and ends at Paces Mill. Benefits Chattahoochee Riverkeeper’s mission to preserve the Chattahoochee River. A free family-friendly festival featuring live music from Danger Muffin and Fireside Collective follows the race at about noon. $35 for floaters; $50 for solo boats; $90 for tandem boats. Register: chattahoochee.org/btc.

Saturday, Aug. 4, 8-11 p.m. The Atlanta Cajun Zydeco Association hosts the Lafayette, La.-based Terry & The Zydeco Bad Boys at the Dorothy Benson Center. Cajun/Creole food for sale. All ages. No partner necessary. $18; $14 active military; $5 students. Cash or check only. Free beginners’ dance lesson at 7 p.m. 6500 Vernon Woods Drive, Sandy Springs. Info: aczadance.org or 877-338-2420.

VISUAL ARTS YOUTH SUMMER ART WEEKS EXHIBIT

Friday, July 27 to Friday, Aug. 10. Closing reception, Aug. 10, 4:30-6:30 p.m. A collection of work by young artists will be presented. Free. Abernathy Arts Center, 254 Johnson Ferry Road N.W., Sandy Springs. Info: fultonarts.org.

FREE FIRST SATURDAY: BUTTERFLIES

Saturday, Aug. 4, 11 a.m. to noon. The Dunwoody Nature Center will hold a butterfly festival featuring education on the life cycle, host plants, and benefits of butterflies. Free. 5343 Roberts Drive, Dunwoody. Info: dunwoodynature.org.

SUNDAY COMMUNITY CYCLE

Sunday, Aug. 5, 2:45-4 p.m. Join Bike-Walk Dunwoody on the first Sunday of each month for a Community Bicycle Ride kicking off and ending at Village Burger. After a pre-ride safety talk, the group departs at 3 p.m. for a 4.5-mile loop around Dunwoody. Hang out after the ride for $1 custards, $1 discounts on beers, and post-ride socializing. All ages and abilities welcome. Helmets required. Free. 1426 Dunwoody Village Pkwy., Dunwoody. Info: bikewalkdunwoody.org.

KIDS AND FAMILIES TEEN LOCK-IN

Friday, July 27, 6-9 p.m. It’s teen night at the Sandy Springs Branch Library, featuring games, crafts, photo booth, music and movies. Registration and parental permission slip required. Free. 395 Mount Vernon Highway N.E., Sandy Springs. Info: 404-3036130 or email sandysprings.branch@fultoncountyga.gov to register.

SUMMER ADVENTURES FAMILY FUN DAY

Sunday, Aug. 5, noon to 4 p.m. Celebrate the end of summer vacation from school at the Chattahoochee Nature Center’s Family Fun Day. Activities include canoeing, fly fishing, geocaching, water games and guided hikes. Included with general admission and free to CNC Members. $10 adults; $7 seniors

JULY 20 - AUG. 2, 2018

■

Art & Entertainment | 9

www.ReporterNewspapers.net

(ages 65+) and students (ages 13 -18); $6 children (ages 3-12); children 2 & under free. 9135 Willeo Road, Roswell. Info: chattnaturecenter.org.

WE HAVE EXCITING NEWS!

GET INTO THE COMMUNITY SANDY SPRINGS YOUNG PROFESSIONALS PANEL DISCUSSION

Wednesday, July 25, 6-7:30 p.m. The Sandy Springs Young Professionals Under 40 Council hosts a panel discussion: Starting & Growing Your Business. Panelists include: Christian Zimmerman, founder of Qoins, an app that rounds up purchases to the next dollar to help pay off debt; Dr. Anne-Marie Campbell, owner of Compass Family Chiropractic; and Marcus Ruzek, Green Beret and founder of Mindset 1st, a provider of anti-terrorism and risk mitigation consulting services. Free, registration required. Sandy Springs Innovation Center, 1000 Abernathy Road, Suite L-10, Sandy Springs. Info: business.sandyspringsperimeterchamber.com.

NORTH ATLANTA VOICES INFO SESSION

Thursday, Aug. 2, 7-8 p.m. North Atlanta Voices, a community chorus that joins people who love to sing, will hold a new member info session. No experience is required, including the ability to read music, and there is no obligation to attend the information session. Music selected will be of a wide variety. Open to adults 18 years and older. Highpoint Episcopal Community Church, 4945 High Point Road, Sandy Springs. Info: northatlantavoices.org.

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FILM SCREENING AND CONVERSATION: “WON’T YOU BE MY NEIGHBOR?” Monday, July 23, 4-6 p.m. Join GEEARS (Georgia Early Education Alliance for Ready Students) for a screening of the film “Won’t You Be My Neighbor?” and a conversation following the film on how people can work together to build neighborhoods where all children thrive. “Won’t You Be My Neighbor?” takes an intimate look at America’s legendary neighbor, Mister Rogers. $12.75. The Springs Cinema & Taphouse, 5920 Roswell Road, Sandy Springs. Info: geears.org.

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10 | Commentary

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Commentary / In mayors’ meeting, new ideas and shared solutions Editor’s note: Brookhaven Mayor John Ernst in June attended the 86th Annual United States Conference of Mayors in Boston, along with Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms and mayors from 250 cities from around the nation. The Reporter Newspapers asked Ernst to share what he learned. Ideas! Problem solving! Sois mayor of the city lutions! These of Brookhaven. were my takeaways from the recent U.S. Conference of Mayors in Boston, a city with a legacy for revolutionary concepts and progressive thinking. After sharing issues and suggestions with leaders from America’s top cities, I returned to Brookhaven energized and prepared to put these new notions and solutions into action. With other local leaders, such as Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms, we focused on listening and sharing our problems and successes. Through this gratifying exchange, we concluded that, in the end, our shared issues had much in common and the answers were indeed “out there” waiting for us to find and resolve. The overall theme of the conference was built around infrastructure, innovation and inclusion. But it was so much more … other sessions were focused on immigration, community development and housing, criminal and social justice, energy environment, jobs education, tourism and parks. While there were a number of impor-

John Ernst

tant topics discussed with leaders from New York and Los Angeles to Santa Fe and Little Rock, there were two particular topics of importance to me in relation to Brookhaven’s future: transportation and small cell technology; i.e., “mini” cell towers, which have recently come into favor with providers. Recent local discussions on small cell technology left lingering questions as to whether we were coming up with adequate plans that protect the city on issues such as proper compensation and use of our right of ways and adequate placement of cell towers that were aesthetically pleasing to residents, yet fair to both the city and the small cell industry. As we discussed shared experiences, I confirmed that we were moving in the right direction, doing many things properly, and noted areas where we could improve our planning. Best of all, we received positive feedback on our local efforts and useful suggestions from mayors of other cities with similar issues. With an eye to the future, I attended a transportation session featuring officials from Waymo, a company that began in 2009 as the Google self-driving car project. Today, they’re an independent self-driving technology company with a mission to make it safe and easy for everyone to get around. This is a potential technology that we have discussed locally and realize we need to keep in mind when planning our future parking restrictions, charging station placement, traffic improvements, land development, etc. We know these technologies are coming, and we want to be proactive, making improvements today that will not be obsolete a decade from now. We have to meet current needs, yet plan for those in the future. Well-paved roads, thoughtful traffic grids and other traffic improvements are

examples of forward thinking that new businesses and residents look for that can determine whether or not they choose to locate in Brookhaven. Throughout the conference, I had great discussions with mayors from cities of all sizes. Of particular interest was talking with leaders from satellite communities like ours on the edge of larger cities, such as Culver City’s proximity to Los Angeles. They experience many of the same types of problems we do. Sometimes larger cities utilize pilot programs or measures that just aren’t feasible for cities like Brookhaven. We discussed ways to take this knowledge, however, and right-size it to utilize here. We also looked at how problems can be solved or improvements made at the local level, without enacting or seeking state or federal legislation to solve a problem. Other conference highlights included speakers such as Sheryl Sandberg, chief operating officer of Facebook, who discussed ways to get the best communication and use of social media to get information to and input from residents. Frank Luntz, the well-known American political consultant, pollster and public opinion guru, spoke about his findings on what typical American residents are expecting from their local governments. I found his findings interesting (and rewarding!) that city government leaders were the ones people trusted most these days, over state and federal leaders. Reinforcing our local efforts to acquire green space and develop projects like the Peachtree Creek Greenway, one speaker from Reno, Nevada, disputed the old claim that the standard for park size and use was not particularly so many acres per person, but the more positive notion that the best park was a park within 10 minutes’ walk from home.

Letters to the Editor UBER CO LU M N STR U CK A CHO R D

Your column “Around Town: An Uber-seat view on Atlanta life” (July 6) struck a chord. First, in realizing that — while I have been an active Uber user since the beginning — there are still plenty of people out there still just discovering and finding excitement in the service. Second, it’s refreshing that there are still those who take such opportunities to connect with other people in their community. As a very introverted person, I don’t often take advantage, usually burying my head in a book or my phone while on MARTA or in line at the grocery store. But as I was in L.A. recently for work, I had to take an Uber daily for three months. Being prone to motion sickness, I would do the unusual and sit in the front seat next to the driver. This, fortunately, forced me into many fulfilling conversations similar to your own: stories of immigration, family history and the like. I don’t really have a point to make here, I guess just to say thanks for your shared experience, and happy Uber-ing. Rich Thompson Sandy Springs

THANKS FR O M A FEL LO W UB ER C HATT ER

Thanks for your column “Around Town: An Uber-seat view on Atlanta life” (July 6). I’m also an Uber chatter passenger. Just recently, albeit in Baltimore, I spoke with a newly arrived Nigerian who referred to Baltimore traffic as “child’s play.” We extensively discussed the World Cup. However, he now realizes also that American football is more than big men in Spandex. As for Atlanta, I’ve had a similar mix to you, but luckily can drive, so it’s only every so often. For your newspaper’s benefit, let me mention my mother’s favorite service, GoGoGrandparent. This is Uber with an old-personfriendly interface, including a text to my brother when she is on the move. Pre-scheduled rides and saved pick-up and drop locations are also a benefit. Thanks for writing. Our country is a phenomenal place and riding Uber makes one truly appreciate that fact. Henry M. Quillian III Atlanta BK

JULY 20 - AUG. 2, 2018

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Commentary | 11

www.ReporterNewspapers.net

Who needs movies when you can escape into catalog world? People read books and go to movies for instant escapism, but all I have to do is look through a catalog. I can flip through the pages of a Pottery Barn spring promotional and momentarily convince myself that for my next dinner party, I’ll wrap damask napkins in raffia and insert a daffodil in the middle. To complete my mental picture, I add gold pineappleshaped place-card holders and a tablescape. I can hover over a recipe in Williams-Sonoma and consider it plausible that I would open my toaster oven and retrieve a tray of my own perfectly baked caramelized-onionand-gruyere apple tarts … that are garnished with sprigs of thyme I grew myself. I’ll open an Anthropologie Lookbook and fantasize about attending cocktail parties wearing earrings that cost more than my light fixtures. It’s so much fun! I flip through the pages and enter the realm of catalog Robin Conte lives with clothing, where the women eat pizza on the steps of Roman her husband in an ruins while wearing head-to-toe silk. They lounge chicly on empty nest in Dungrassy lawns, playing backgammon and not worrying about woody. To contact her ants or grass stains. They balance themselves along rock walls or to buy her new colwhile decked-out in wide-leg jumpsuits. They pair prints with umn collection, “The plaids and pull it off. All their accessories are whimsical. Best of the Nest,” see Try it sometime. robinconte.com. You, too, can luxuriate in a world in which you are invited to a garden party where all the food is made of chocolate, all the guests are wearing white, and all tables are bedecked with peonies, grapevine baskets and lanterns. You can daydream about spending $16 on a jar of matches with “painstakingly hand-notated labels,” $22 on a copper-plated can opener, or $40 on a glazed mixing bowl. Without doling out $13 for a movie ticket, you can open a free catalog and venture to Zanzibar, where you’ll lounge fashionably in a tassel-fringed hammock that’s suspended over a glimmering pool in a whitewashed courtyard. You can live in home that’s decorated with a sofa upholstered in aubergine suede, chairs covered in pink velvet, and a massive vase filled with sunflowers in the foyer. You’ll be riding a bike without a helmet, wearing instead a jaunty Panama hat and yellow cat-eye sunglasses. You’ll scamper with your friends in flowy maxi dresses and play with sparklers in the surf when the sun sets. Please, if you’re out there, if you really do these things — raise your hands! Contact me! I want to meet you! I want to join you in your next soiree along a woodsy riverbank while we wear breezy organic cotton and you teach me how to pair patterns. I want to cheer you on while you do yoga on clifftops and back walkovers on car hoods. I want to go with you to Peru wearing recycled polyester and help you feed llamas. Until I get that call, I’ll slip on the navy fleece pullover that my son wore to campouts when he was 10, boil some noodles, and open a jar of sauce and a bag of salad. Then I’ll clear off our kitchen table and use a placemat to cover the words that were engraved into the wood when one of my kids did his homework without a protective pad. I’ll call everyone to dinner, and before we eat, we’ll pause to say a prayer of thanks for a very good life.

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12 | Community

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Latino outreach specialist resigns from city BY DYANA BAGBY dyanabagby@reporternewspapers.net

The city’s bilingual public engagement specialist, whose outreach specifically included the city’s Hispanic and Latino communities, recently resigned amid an outside review of the communications department. Claudia Colichon, who was hired last June, gave her notice May 18 and her last day at Brookhaven City Hall was June 1. Her duties included attending and promoting city events and activities. Because she also spoke Spanish, she conducted outreach to Latino communities, specifically residents living along Buford Highway, and translated city guides and news releases. For example, last year she represented the city at community meetings for Park Villa apartment residents who were forced to find a new place to live after their complex was purchased to be torn down and replaced with luxury townhomes. Colichon’s resignation came amidst a review by Bill Crane, owner of CSI Crane, who was hired in April for $10,000 to assess the Communications department. “Part of that assessment involved interviews and an assessment of our existing staffing within our Department of Communications and Public Engagement, and whether an outside consulting or agency partner model might be of benefit to the city,” Communications Director Burke Brennan said in a written statement. “As this was happening, Claudia tendered a resignation letter, but it appears to be unrelated to the CSI Crane report,” Brennan said. Crane was a controversial spokesperson for Tex McIver, recently sentenced to life in prison for killing his wife, Buckhead attorney Diane McIver. Tex McIver was convicted of murder for shooting his wife in the back while seated behind her in a vehicle. In the hours following the shooting in 2016, Crane told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution that McIver was in the back seat of

Community Briefs

the SUV and pulled his handgun out from the console while riding through Midtown because he was “alarmed about recent unrest surrounding several Black Lives Matter protests in the area and fearing a carjacking.” Crane’s comments about Black Lives Matter went viral and McIver suffered backlash from the comments. Brennan said after Colichon’s resignation, the decision was made based on some of Crane’s budgetary advice to not immediately refill the position. District 1 Councilmember Linley Jones asked at a recent City Council meeting after learning of Colichon’s resignation how the city expected to continue to reach out to the city’s large Latino population. Out of some 54,000 residents in Brookhaven, approximately 25 percent are Hispanic, according to U.S. Census figures. City Manager Christian Sigman told her that the police department continues to have a strong outreach presence with Hispanic and Latino residents. He said the city is working to form a relationship with the Latin American Association, located in Brookhaven, to also help with outreach to Hispanic residents. Jones indicated that she was satisfied with those efforts. Brennan said the city is working with contractors on translation services. When Colichon was hired, Brennan praised her for helping the city “break down barriers” with the city’s Spanishspeaking population, noting that many cities are facing language barriers. Crane’s major recommendation to the city was to consider hiring an outside consultant or agency specifically to monitor complaints against the city made on social media, such as Nextdoor, Facebook and Twitter during events and weekends with a regular twice-weekly summary and with draft responses. Crane’s report also recommends spending $7,500 to $10,000.00 per month, or a project/quarterly budget in the range of $25,000 to $30,000 for an outside agency.

CHO A’S CENTER FO R A DVA NC ED P EDI ATR I C S B U I L DI NG NO W O P EN

Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta opened its Center for Advanced Pediatrics on July 24. The center is the first new structure completed as part of CHOA’s massive 70-acre medical campus development at the I-85 and North Druid Hills Road interchange that includes the future construction of an approximate $1.5 billion hospital. The 8-story Center for Advanced Pediatrics, or CAP, is located at 1400 Tullie Circle and is a 260,000-square-foot outpatient, non-emergency facility that brings together multiple pediatric clinics, programs and specialists under one roof. CHOA officials stress the facility only offers outpatient care and is not a hospital and does not provide emergency care or walk-in services. The Brookhaven City Council approved construction of the new facility in 2015. The new facility is expected to receive more than 100,000 clinic visits in its first year. Working at the facility will be 450 physicians and employees. In March, demolition of the Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta office buildings at 1577 Northeast Expressway began. These buildings are located where CHOA’s future 8-story “Support Building” and 7-story parking deck will be built. The entire medical complex, including the new $1.5 billion, 446-bed hospital in two patient towers on the campus, is expected to be completed by 2026. The campus will be anchored by the new hospital, an attached medical office building and a consolidated AFLAC Cancer and Blood Disorders Center. The height of the hospital will be between 16-19 stories. A 19-story hotel was at the site and demolished in 2014 after CHOA bought it. The new hospital will replace its Egleston Hospital on Clifton Road near Emory University, which hospital officials say is filled to capacity. In December, CHOA and Brookhaven entered into an intergovernmental agreement that promises CHOA will invest some $45 million in infrastructure improvements and other investments to the city.

B R O O KHAV EN B R AV ES 7- Y EA R - O L DS WIN S TATE C HA M P IO NS HI P

SPECIAL

The Brookhaven Braves championship team in front row from left to right: Liam Bruening, Harrison Durke, Adriano Espelosin, Logan Weston, Austin Blackburn and Roman Serrano. In the middle row from left to right: Sam Rosa, Drew Rolfes, James Murtha, Drew Robinson, Henry Gregozeski, Landon Gervin. In the back row from left to right: Coach Patrick Rosa, Coach Ronnie Robinson, Jr., Coach Chris Weston, Coach Taylor Durke. Brian Liu is also on the team.

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The Brookhaven Braves baseball team made up of 7-year-old players recently won the 7U State Championship in Dacula. The team plays in the Murphey Candler Baseball League. “This summer is the group’s first exposure to tournament baseball. A summer season filled with four tournaments which included a runner-up finish, a championship finish, and then ultimately a state championship finish,” head coach Ronnie Robinson Jr. said. The 7U Brookhaven Braves finished 12-5-1 overall. In the Georgia State Championship 7U Division, the Brookhaven Braves tied the Hopewell Broncos 11-11, defeated the Parkview Panthers 15-6, defeated the East Side Tornadoes, defeated the Hopewell Broncos 24-7 and, finally, defeated the Grayson Rams 17-15 to become Georgia State Champions. BK

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Community | 13

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Local cities cope with ‘dockless’ bikes, scooters BY EVELYN ANDREWS AND DYANA BAGBY

BK

Located on Peachtree Road adjacent to Oglethorpe University

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ping districts. “We need dedicated safe spaces to ride,” Honderd A new trend of “dockless” rental bikes and scooters said. that can be parked anywhere — including on streets Denise Starling, the executive director of Livable and sidewalks — has local cities considering new polBuckhead, which works to improve transportation icies to cope with the technology. Atlanta is consideroptions in Buckhead, said she is a fan of the vehicles ing new regulations and Brookhaven has postponed providing “last-mile connectivity,” which is getting its review of a pitch from one of the rental companies. a transit rider to their destination from the station. The scooters and bikes are rented for a fee from However, businesses in Buckhead have expressed companies — the most prominent ones are called concerns about riders leaving the scooters or bikes Bird and Lime — that allow them to be parked at any on private property, Starling said. location rather than at a fixed rack like those used by “That’s one of the pieces that we need more guidAtlanta’s Relay Bike Share program. ance on,” she said. James Curtis, a patient at Buckhead’s Shepherd Livable Buckhead has encouraged property ownCenter who uses a wheelchair, said one scooter left ers to establish the best places to leave the vehicles in the middle of the sidewalk outside the hospital and educate tenants, Starling said. blocked his way. The organization is also concerned about the “The scooters block the sidewalks and are dangersafety of riders and pedestrians. Scooter users are ous for all pedestrians,” he said. “They are hardly crufrequently riding them on sidewalks, and aren’t recial.” quired to wear a helmet, Starling said. Curtis, one of a group of residents suing Atlanta “We fully support having this other transportaover the condition of its sidewalks, said one scoottion option, but it’s really about having more tools er blocked a Peachtree Road sidewalk, and when he to manage them,” she said. tried to move it while seated, it fell over. While trying Some Atlanta councilmembers have drafted an to stand it upright again, he accidentally rolled over ordinance that would encourage wearing a helmet, it, which could damage the wheelchair, he said. require the vehicles to be parked upright and allow “It seems to me there should only be certain placthe city to cordon off areas for no parking. es they can leave them,” he said. “If they don’t like it, Janice Sidifall, Atlanta’s mobility planning directhey should think twice about using them.” tor, said at the work session the scooters are an enThe Atlanta City Council held a work session July forcement challenge, but that the office is looking at 13 to discuss a draft a legislation that would regulate ways other cities have chosen to regulate the dockwhere the vehicles could be parked and used. less vehicles. Lime arrived in Atlanta in May and approached The ordinance would also restrict the amount of Brookhaven that same month. Brookhaven initially vehicles that could be parked in one area of the city, anticipated hearing a presentation from the compain part to make sure they aren’t all concentrated in ny at a May meeting, but pushed it back after hearaffluent areas. For example, maps on the Bird moing Atlanta may be working on new regulations, city bile app show all the scooters are located above I-20, officials said. with many in Buckhead along Peachtree and RoSince Brookhaven neighbors Atlanta, transportaswell roads. tion policy should be as similar as possible, said city Cameron Kilberg, the senior manager of governspokesperson Burke Brennan in a written statement. ment affairs at Bird, said at the work session that the “Brookhaven is communicating with the city of company’s app encourages appropriate parking and Atlanta Office of Mobility Planning about their polrequires a photo showing how the scooter is parked. icy, and once it is adopted by Atlanta we will review, Bird believes dockless scooters are “ideal,” espeSPECIAL James Curtis, a Shepherd Center patient who uses a amend as needed, and present to the Brookhaven cially in urban and congested areas, she said. wheelchair, took this photo of a “dockless” scooter City Council for consideration,” Brennan said. “There are ways to go about good parking,” she blocking a Peachtree Road sidewalk in early July. Jack Honderd, founder of the Brookhaven Bike Alsaid. liance, said at a June Brookhaven City Council meetThe council said after its work session that it ing that there are few spaces for people to ride the scooters and noted there are no bike would continue refining the ordinance after its recess, which ends July 27. The next lanes around the Brookhaven/Oglethorpe MARTA station, or the city’s schools or shopcouncil meeting is Aug. 6.

14 | Public Safety

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new buildings and increase the number of available units. The rezoning request goes before the Planning Commission on Aug. 1. The apartment complex, at 3028 Clairmont Road, is just north of the intersection of Clairmont Road and I-85. The property is currently zoned RM-100 but includes the condition the property be limited to 8 units per acre. There are currently 17 buildings on site with 122 apartments. The complex was built in the 1970s. Planners and Engineers Collaborative based in Peachtree Corners is asking the 8-unit per acre limitation be removed for a normal RM-100 zoning that allows 12 units per acre. The company is proposing to tear down 6 of the 17 existing apartment buildings and replace them with two new split-level apartment buildings that would increase the density to 11.99 units per acre. The 6 buildings to be torn down include 30 apartments. The developer states in application documents with the city it intends to build two buildings closer to Clairmont Road. These buildings are planned at 4-stories each containing 44 apartments each. If approved, the redevelopment would bring the total development to 180 apartments, up from the current 122 apartments.

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City to unleash debate on dogs in Brookhaven Park Continued from page 1 already the place for a huge offleash dog community.” Mattison is proposing certain hours in the morning and evening be set aside for off-leash dog use to allow for times for parents to take small children to the park when there are no dogs running loose. He is trying to get consensus from council to support this idea. “There has to be a compromise,” Mattison said. “Off-leash hours is where I’d like to see us end up.” Over the years the city has not enforced the city’s leash law, though signs in the park note that dogs “must be under the control of their owners at all times, either on a leash or at heel at their owner’s side.” Concerns about the city banning offleash dog use or fencing off an area for dogs at the park has mobilized a sizable dog community who have garnered more than 2,200 signatures seeking to keep the park the same as it is after Councilmember John Park said they needed to demonstrate there was a strong interest. They are also speaking out at City Council meetings and organized a Facebook group called “Keep Brookhaven Park Dog Friendly!” with some 450 members where people share information as well as numerous photos of their dogs enjoying the park. Laurie Nickless of Brookhaven, one of the organizers of the Facebook group, said she understands there is history on both sides of the on-leash, off-leash debate. But she and others want to be included in the conversation before the City Council makes a final decision. “Our objective is we want a seat at the table,” she said.

DYANA BAGBY

A group of dogs run loose at Brookhaven Park on a recent Saturday morning. The park has become a de facto dog park for metro Atlanta because dogs are allowed to run off-leash.

She said she and others do support off-leash hours rather than a fenced-off area. On a recent Saturday morning at Brookhaven Park, several dog owners spoke out against fencing in dogs because doing so can create anxiety in dogs. “I come every day to the park and I don’t like the idea of an enclosed area. It’s not good for the dogs,” said Monica Ho, who lives on Osborne Road. Ross Hammer of Buckhead was working a table set up near the park’s entrance, asking people to sign a petition asking the city to keep the park the same. One person doing so was Korinna Hirsch of Doraville, with her dog Boggs. “This is his kind of space and freedom,” she said of Brookhaven Park. “People are very responsible, I’ve never seen fights, and when people come here to the park they also do their shopping in Brookhaven. I’m going to Nuts n Berries after this.” Bringing a sense of urgency to the longstanding issue is Skyland Park, the city’s new park, which is set to open in the next few weeks. The park includes

A sign explains the city’s leash law.

two fenced off areas for dogs to run loose. City officials have stated that once those dog parks open, it plans to allow for a 120day education period informing the public this is the city’s new dog park and then begin issuing citations for those with offleash dogs at Brookhaven Park. Further delaying a solution on leash enforcement is no master plan for the park has been completed caused by, in part, confusion in the past over what part of the park Brookhaven actually owned. A master plan is nearing completion, Mattison said. Mike Elliott, who headed the Friends of Brookhaven Park from 2008-2014, said the delay in the city settling the on-leash, off-leash debate rests at the City Council’s feet. “There has been a lack of city will to enforce the leash law for a variety of reasons — the city doesn’t own the park, no funds for a fenced dog park, desire to satisfy dog owners, no adopted master plan,” he said. “Failure to enforce any law implies that no compliance is needed.” He said the use of all of Brookhaven Park for off-leash dogs has “grown dra-

matically” since the city incorporated and a decision was made to not enforce the leash law. Police do respond to complaints. And Mattison said there has not been any safety concerns about off-leash dogs at the park. “Since Brookhaven’s existence I don’t know of any adverse event,” he said. “In practice, there is no real safety concern or disputes.” But Elliott said it is time for the city to step up and make the park a true community park for Brookhaven residents and not those from outside the city limits. “Primarily due to word of mouth and social media, Brookhaven Park is recognized throughout the Atlanta metro area as the largest public area to let dogs off leash,” he said. “The city of Brookhaven’s unwillingness to enforce the leash law has created this problem.” But Nickless said she believes a compromise can be reached. “We want a seat at the table and help shape this park,” she said. “The majority of us are willing to accept off-leash hours.”

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• Serving Buckhead community for over 30 years • Minutes from OK Café • Quiet residential neighborhood • Apartments tailored to personal needs Ross Hammer, an advocate for Brookhaven Park remaining an offleash dog park, talks with Korinna Hirsch as she signs a petition asking the city to keep the park an off-leash dog park. BK

CALL US TO SCHEDULE YOUR VISIT 3100 Northside Parkway, NW Atlanta 30327 www.saintannesterrace.org • 404-238-9200

16 | Education

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St. James preschool students tend to plants, birds BY EVELYN ANDREWS evelyn@reporternewspapers.net

The preschool at St. James United Methodist Church has brought in some assistance to help teach kids enrolled in their preschool about patience and responsibility, and they include chickens, quail and flowers. The church preschool, which is located at 4400 Peachtree-Dunwoody Road in Buckhead, started a garden in 2017 and has since expanded with more chicks and quail from eggs that were hatched in the school offices. “The kids love it because they saw them when they were tiny and now they’re hatched,” Susan Viers, the preschool director, said of the quail eggs. The children are shown how to make simple food out of the vegetables and plants that are harvested, Viers said, and raising the chickens teaches them more about where food comes from and about responsibility. Although school is not in session, the church has several camps throughout the summer with children who regularly visit the garden, Viers said. Right now, the garden is full of tomatoes and peppers, Viers said. Pumpkin seeds were recently planted with plans for the children to harvest them in the fall, she said. Viers said the students have learned about growing vegetables, germination of seeds and parts of a plant. The students water their plants every day, and through the lessons, students are inspired to ask questions and seek answers through their own research and observations, she said. They also keep a journal in which they will illustrate what they have seen and done while in the garden area. “When the kids come by, they are just amazed,” Viers said. SPECIAL

Top left, A St. James preschool student waters plants in the school garden. Left, St. James preschool students learn about growing plants in the school garden. EVELYN ANDREWS

Above, St. James preschool students greet chickens in the school garden.

Fulton Schools abruptly ends, restarts out-of-district enrollment at North Springs High BY JOHN RUCH johnruch@reporternewspapers.net

In a whirlwind of policy changes that sparked confusion and legal threats, Fulton County Schools abruptly ended, then restored, out-of-district student enrollment at North Springs Charter High School. FCS abruptly ended a longstanding program allowing out-of-district students to attend the Sandy Springs high school — which is a dual-magnet art and math/science program — for a fee. The largely unexplained move, announced the week of the Fourth of July holiday and just over a month before the school year starts, left 14 families scrambling. Three seniors were allowed to remain at the school as a “one-time hardship,” FCS said, but the others faced a short-notice return to their home district, which ap-

peared to be DeKalb County in most cases. FCS previously said that out-of-district enrollment is illegal under the district’s charter system, adopted in 2012, but went unnoticed. The district has not explained who did notice, when, or why the district chose the timing and response it has. But some parents said all along that North Springs had a special dispensation from FCS to continue out-of-district enrollment. A Sandy Springs law firm representing seven of the affected students said the move put them in “limbo.” Citizens for a New North Springs, the group that last month successfully pushed FCS to pledge to build a new high school building, said it was concerned that the move relates to Superintendent Jeff Rose’s still mysterious statement that the new facility will be smaller due to

lower enrollment projections. Shortly after the lawyers got involved, FCS acknowledged that the special permission for out-of-district enrollment was partly true. The district now will allow students who enrolled during or before the 2016-17 school year to continue attending, if they pay the tuition fee — said to be $3,000 to $5,000 — and get clearance from their home districts. FCS announced the change in a press release issued after 9 p.m. on July 16. It was the district’s first press release about the issue — parents previously were notified privately — and appears to have been circulated only to select journalists rather the usual full list. The press release summarized the initial end to out-of-district enrollment, and added: “Last Thursday, however, a letter from a previous superintendent that made provisions for out-of-district students to

remain at North Springs High (if they had been enrolled on or before the 201617 school year) was brought to our attention.” Kelly Himes Brolly, the attorney representing the seven students, says FCS’s latest policy shift appeared to help all but one of her clients, who was still awaiting word from the district. “We are very pleased with the Fulton County School System’s recent decision and that they are looking out for these students,” Brolly said. North Springs High has been the subject of controversy for nearly a year as the CFANNS group pushed FCS to rebuild, rather than just renovate, the 55-year-old school. The cause was taken up by Sandy Springs Mayor Rusty Paul and the City Council as well.

Education | 17

JULY 20 - AUG. 2, 2018 ■ www.ReporterNewspapers.net

Education Briefs NON PR OF I T CEL EBRATES EN D OF SUM M ER CAM PS A nonprofit that hosts annual summer camps at local schools for low-income students celebrated the end of its 2018 camp with a festival July 12. Horizons Atlanta hosts a six-week summer learning and year-round program that supports K-12 students from underserved communities. In 2018, Horizons Atlanta is expected to serve more than 800 students across nine program sites, including Buckhead’s Atlanta International School and Sandy Springs’ Holy Innocents’ Episcopal School, according to a release. About 270 of those 800 students are from the Buckhead, Dunwoody and Sandy Springs areas. These students attend High Point Elementary, Lake Forest Elementary and Garden Hills Elementary, spokesperson Sonia Fuller said in an email. The nonprofit is headed by Alex Wan, who formerly represented south Buckhead on Atlanta City Council. The students celebrated the close of the summer program with a festival that included such activities as bounce houses, slides, flip-flop decorating, picture frame making and a dance party, according to a press release.

Join the Epilepsy Foundation of Georgia for the 35th Anniversary of Magnolia Run & Walk for Epilepsy!

S T. M A RTI N ’ S STUDEN TS VISI T PANAM A Nine St. Martin’s Episcopal School middle school students have returned from a twoweek program in Panama City, Panama. The program is part of the school inaugural exchange program. In the fall, Panamanian students will stay with St. Martin’s host families, according to the press release. Participants stayed with families from partner school Colegio Episcopal de Panama (CEP) for two weeks in June. Students volunteered at an orphanage and visited the PanamaCanal and the city’s historic area, the release said. The students were accompanied by four St. Martin’s faculty and staff members, including Head of School Dr. Luis Ottley, an alumni of CEP. Also in attendance were fluent Spanish speakers Middle School Principal Tony Shaffer and St. Martin’s graduate Olivia Haas, the release said.

The 2018 Magnolia Run and Walk is a morning filled with fun, exercise, and philanthropy for the entire family to enjoy!

WHEN: Saturday, August 18, 2018 TIME: Registration/Packet Pick-Up 7:00am, 5K and 1 mile 8:00am WHERE: Perimeter Mall, Atlanta COST: 5K Timed: $30 / 5K Untimed & 1 mile: $25 before August 15th WHY: Help raise funds and awareness for the 110,000+ Georgians living with epilepsy.

The Magnolia Run provides funding for the crucial programming and services provided by EFGA, including medication assistance, information and referrals, camp scholarships, support groups, and EFWorks our job placement program. Without this event and the support of the community this would not be possible.

For more information or to register, please visit www.epilepsyga.org or call 404-527-7155.

CITY OF AT L A NTA H I RES F IRST EDUCATIO N O FFICER Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms announced July 9 she has hired the city’s first chief education officer, a cabinet-level position that will work in partnership with Atlanta Public Schools and community leaders to improve access to quality education. Aliya Bhatia, a native of metro Atlanta and a Harvard University graduate, will work with community stakeholders to improve collaboration and identify and advocate for policies and resources that will improve access to high quality education for all residents, according to a press release. This will include convening industry and education leaders to develop vocational training programs to meet the growing demand for workers in the city’s film and entertainment, smart technology and construction industries, the release said. Bhatia will also be tasked with creating a citywide Children’s Savings Account Program for every child entering kindergarten and with working across city government to ensure that public schools are a priority for infrastructure investment and public safety, the release said.

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LO C A L S C HOOLS P REPA RE TO BEG IN CLASSES Summer break is drawing to a close, and local public schools will begin classes the first week of August. Atlanta Public Schools plans to begin classes Aug.1. DeKalb and Fulton public schools will start Aug. 6. Most local private schools begin mid-August.

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Ga. 400 ► Chair of park over Ashford in ed announc from enjoying playtime 2,nonprofit Damon. Gabriel and son Theodore,

stop Damon in the rain,” said A Sunday shower didn’t “Theo and I love this park and playingPAGE 15 Park on Jan. 28.

Lining up for kosher barbecue

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BY DYANA BAGBY - 15, 2018 • VOL. 12— NO. 5 dyanabagby@reporterne the controversial FACEBOOK.COM wspapers.net The rewrite of /THEREPORTER NEWSPAPERS Overlay District TWITTER.COM/ Brookhaven-Peachtree REPORTER_NEW The city of S reporternDunwoody’s Urban up confusion for dewas intended to clear newal Agency ewspaper s.net Reexpects to finalize for homeowners velopers and calm fears with a developer plans ► Democratic candidate the Brookhaven/ next month for living in the area near sign and constructi the des Station. But the City on of several for governor stake Oglethorpe MARTA rants as part restauthe in out those of the long-plann Council member representing ed Dunpositions PAGE 4 woody Green project. new law will allow area is concerned the Economic Developm and removes resent Director for much higher density chael Starling Misaid the URA redevelopments. ► City to require is in the fiidents’ power to change nal stages of short-term refirming up a however, say the s.net contract with officials, City developer Crim rental ewspaper the registrati for reportern clarifies density issues and, and Associates on, to build write about five or six restaurant licensing PAGE 2 a way to enforce s on about 2.5 acres in what’s first time, gives them designated as the city’s Project ADVERTISING density restrictions. SPECIAL Renaissance 3-1 at its Jan. 23 SECTION urban| P15-21 redevelopThe City Council voted ment plan. The restaurant the Overlay rewrite, s would be built around meeting to approve a small park in June and includspace. a process that began The acreage, at the intersectio until a few days beNorth Shallowfo ed public meetings up n of apwas rd overlay Road Dale and Michael and Dunwoody Park, is part fore the vote. The original Yoss of the BBQ’n of the Dunwoody in 2007. to hungry attendees Hebrew Hillbillies commercial Green proved by DeKalb County were at the Atlanta site within the Kosher BBQ Festivalamong many cooks serving JOHN AWTREY larger ProjPHIL MOSIER ect Renaissan samples on Oct. 22 at Brook ce developme See DENSITY on page 22 Run Park. nt. “This is to be our Canton Street | P16-20 [in RoADVERTISING SECTION

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Walking life toMan k es bac‘Dead author to speak at ‘Battle of Atlanta’ com A sneak penalty death at panel peek NCR, corporate relocations of Amazon made clear what leaders: have tipped off to state State Farm and others of high wage corporate The recruitment and retention countracks of transit. Those employers will follow the apply. without transit need not ties and municipalities

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’

OUT & ABOUT Gear up for the I finally figure d out holidays that a very effect ive and craftsat arts way to get back markets Page 18 at the offspring ... is to bombard them with Bitmojis.

holding the In a gigantic room of Atlanta” 359-foot-long “Battle perched along cyclorama, workers painting on lifts the 50-foot-high and iPads. Uswith paintbrushes and state-ofing old photographs are bringthey BAGBY BY DYANA the-art technology, painting back dyanabagby@reporternewspapers.net ing the 130-year-old appealing to life. 23 are local establishments Four See BATTLE on page renewing their althe city’s decision to deny ordinance approved cohol licenses after an license fees from late last year raised liquor to $100,000. approximately $5,000 Restaurant & Rush Lounge, Medusa and Josephine Lounge, XS Ultra Lounge on Buford Highway, Lounge, all located their liquor licenses January in told were Seefor 2018. would not be renewed STORY on page 8 revised alcohol See Robin’s Nest page 11 The reason? Under the See VENUES on page 13

on page 6 MAX BLAU Larry and Peggy Lord display a childhood photo of their sons Ashby and Hunter. Ashby, at right, died of a heroin overdose last year.

BY MAX BLAU

O

n a Sunday afternoon last April, the moment PHIL MOSIER Larry Lord had dreaded for roughly two on Jan. 25. The museum decades finally happened. His Atlanta History Center painting. wife, Peggy, found of the painting at Buckhead’s their 35-year-old of Atlanta” cyclorama must first complete a major restoration son Ashby no longer works on the “Battle breathing in the this winter, but A painting conservator cyclorama exhibit basement of their plans to open the ranch home on Sandy Springs’ Mount Paran Road. She tried performing CPR and called 911. But nothing s of NCR, the paramedics did could revive Ashby what corporate relocation clear after a made heroin overdose. Amazon tipped off to state leaders: Larry was devastate te arm and others have

OUT & ABOUT g’ ‘Dead Man Walkin

Mayor Bottoms pledges to nta in

First of a 4-Part Series

The combination of prescription painkillers, heroin and synthetic opioids is killing people around the nation, Reporter Newspapers including within communities. In this exclusive four-part series, we will look at how local prosecutors, recovering families, nurses, addicts and others are responding to a that already kills moregrowing epidemic people than cars, guns or breast cancer each year. To share your thoughts and stories, email editor@reporternewspapers.ne

most recently for his first by’s mother, Shannon, wife and Ashafter she died from complication s of cancer. But the circumstances of Ashby’s life posed difficult questions in how to talk about his death. Euphemisms are a tradition of sorts for overdose victims. Their obituaries say that they left this world or entered eternal rest while glossing over how it happened. The reasons vary from not speaking ill of the dead to a fear that it

New highway toll lanes could have major neighborhood impacts Excitement, wariness over Amazon HQ2 possibility See CHEF-DRIVE

N on page 12

BY JOHN RUCH johnruch@reporternewspape rs.net

New toll lanes on I-285 and Ga. 400 could tower 30 feet or higher over neighborhood s on elevated ramps, eat into back yards, and plug major interchanges into such local streets as Mount Vernon Highway and Raider Drive BY in BAGBY a state conceptual DYANA design that could start construction dyanabagby @reporternewspapers.net within five years. The “managed lanes” could have massive impacts With the on High neighborhood Street property character, local on Georgia’s traffic official and mass site list transit for options, its Amazon but the conquarters headcepts remain bid, residents largely unknown and officials to the aregeneral ing voicpublic. bothThe excitement city of Sandy and Springs wariness is protesting over the potential parts of city-sized the concepts complex and suggesting coming tosome town.alMichael but ternatives, andmostly Reneebehind Fraser the scenes. have The inGeorgia lived Dunwoody Department for 22 years. of Transportation They don’t’srefirst member public meetings ever seeing for the Ga. 400 lanes anything are exbut grass onpected the High to beStreet held late property this year inafter the conPerimeter Center ceptual near designs the Sandy are more solid. border. Springs A rare public display of the behind-theSee EXCITEMENT on page 22 See NEW on page 14

City fears new state laws would end local controls

BY JOHN RUCH

johnruch@reporternewspapers.ne t

The city fears that several new state legislative proposals would undo recent local laws, from apartment construction to pet sales. One example is a proposed law that

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18 | Art & Entertainment

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Oglethorpe’s art museum showcases rarely seen works to mark 25th year Left, “The Factory 8am” (1967) by folk artist Mattie Lou O’Kelley is among the rarely seen works included in the Oglethorpe University Museum of Art’s 25th anniversary exhibit. Right, A 14th century Japanese sculpture of the Amitabha Buddha is among the works on display. SPECIAL

BY JUDITH SCHONBAK

tions and outreach by OUMA director Elizabeth H. Peterson, who came to the Oglethorpe University Museum of Art museum in 2012 and curator John Daniel is celebrating a quarter-century of culTilford, who joined OUMA in 2013. ture with an exhibit of works from its “It’s rare for a school our size … to have permanent collection, some of which such a large collection of art,” Tilford said have not been displayed in years — or of the 1,250-student university. ever before. In addition to a cadre of dedicated “OUMA in Retrospect: Celebrating collector-donors, the upswing in dona25 Years,” which opened July 7 and runs tions can be attributed to demographics. through Sept. 16 at the Brookhaven uniA generation of baby boomers are downversity, showcases nearly 100 pieces, insizing their homes and holdings, and, in cluding paintings, works on paper and a many cases, their children don’t want or sampling of the Japanese porcelain colhave space for furniture and artwork, lection. said Tilford. Among the rarely displayed pieces is The greatest challenge in assembling the colorful mixed-media painting “The the exhibit, which was a year-and-a-half Factory 8am” by the celebrated Decatur in the planning, was choosing from among so many works of art, he said. His goal was to showcase various strengths of the collection: 19th-century French art, works from the Far East, pieces from the museum’s unique Japanese porcelain collection — more than 160 pieces from the 17th to early 20th century, and a sizable holding of 19th- and 20th-century American art. More recently, OUMA has broadSPECIAL ened its focus to build the The museum’s 25th anniversary exhibit was collection with works by organized by curator John Daniel Tilford, left, African-American artists and museum director Elizabeth H. Peterson. and women artists, who are also represented in the show. folk artist Mattie Lou O’Kelley, whose Two pieces bookend the exhibit. One work is also in the collections of the High is a 14th-century wood and lacquer sculpMuseum and New York City’s American ture of the Amitabha Buddha, a religious Folk Art Museum. figure, acquired by OUMA founder Lloyd Located in the third floor of the uniNick. The other is a small bronze datversity’s Lowry Hall at 4484 Peachtree ing to around 1900, “La Pensee” by HenRoad, OUMA houses approximately 700 ri Capeau, that is a study for a full-size works spanning seven centuries, from sculpture for a tomb in France. The two the 1300s to the 1900s. It has more than pieces represent the growth of the collectripled in size over the last five years, tion from its beginning in 1984 — when thanks to a significant increase in donaOglethorpe had an art gallery but not a

museum. With such a large collection, the museum has set an ongoing goal to bring more works out of storage into the light of day for accessibility and visibility by students, campus visitors and the greater community as well as for loan to other museums and universities and as exhibits on tour. “OUMA’s main reason for being is to offer academic support,” said Peterson, the museum’s director. Like most of OUMA’s exhibits, “OUMA in Retrospect” ties into school curricula. In the case of the anniversary show, 14 different courses are involved, including multimedia journalism, introduction to art studies and history. Past exhibits have included curriculum ties to biology, science, literature and more. Peterson was instrumental in developing museum studies courses, independent study and gallery assistant internships for students. In the past five years, OUMA has introduced student-led lectures, docent tours, performances and volunteer opportunities, according to OUMA’s website. Oglethorpe also offers non-credit community courses for students and the public. What began as a modest art gallery in 1984 was renovated in 1992 and opened in 1993 as Oglethorpe University Museum of Art with 7,000 feet of gallery space occupying the entire third floor of Lowry Hall, which also houses the university’s library. OUMA mounts two major shows annually, in the spring and fall, and several smaller shows during the year. The gallery space is divided into three areas. In January 2018, the largest Skylight Gallery was dedicated to exhibits from OUMA’s permanent collection, which, in keeping with the goal to expand the collection’s visibility, now rotate each semester. The Center Gallery, and the Shelley and Donald Rubin Gallery are used for smaller shows, both organized by OUMA,

and national and international touring exhibits. The museum works frequently with the High Museum, and has worked with other museums and universities, including Yale, the University of British Columbia and the Telfair Museum of Art in Savannah. OUMA accepts shows of outside groups such as Georgia Watercolor Society and Southeastern Pastel Society. OUMA does not solicit work from any group, but requests come in frequently, and the galleries are booked for three years. The OUMA Research Center opened in the fall of 2017. Once a storage room cluttered with paint and old catalogs, the research center is now a pristine room furnished with chairs and a work table. A sizable stack of flat files holds the majority of the OUMA collection’s hundreds of works on paper, allowing for hands-on — in this case, white-glove — study and research by students, faculty and even the public. There is an assistant available to any student or visitor using the center. A comprehensive online database of the collection — illustrative and searchable — is under development.

OUMA IN RETROSPECT: CELEBRATING 25 YEARS Through Sept. 16

Oglethorpe University Museum of Art Third floor of Lowry Hall, 4484 Peachtree Road, Brookhaven Tuesdays and Thursdays through Sundays, noon-5 p.m.; Wednesdays noon-8 p.m. Admission $5; children under 12 and members free. Info: museum.oglethorpe.edu

JULY 20 - AUG. 2, 2018

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Art & Entertainment | 19

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All Aboard!

RoadTrips

Southeastern Railway Museum honors vintage trains from Atlanta’s past BY JOE EARLE Randy Pirkle came across the Southeastern Railway Museum when he was looking for a place to do some volunteer work that would incorporate his love of history. “History and old iron go together for me,” he said. Seventeen years later, Pirkle runs the museum as its administrator, and there’s plenty of old iron for him to visit in the displays at the 48-year-old museum of trains and transportation. It’s everywhere: vintage Pullman sleepers and steam engines tower near metalwheeled tractors, historic yellow taxis, fire trucks and MARTA buses at the museum, which is located on 35 acres in Duluth. The museum, designated the state’s official transportation museum, is operated by a nonprofit owned by the Atlanta Chapter of the National Railway Historical Society. Its collection of railroad items alone features 90 pieces of rolling stock, including passenger cars, locomotives, box cars, cabooses, a mail car, a tank car and other railroad equipment, Pirkle said. It’s even home to a private passenger car called the “Superb” that was used by President Warren Harding and that served as his funeral train, carrying his body across the country after his death. Why keep all this stuff? “Educating the community about

S OUTH EA S TERN R A I LWAY M USEUM 3595 Buford Hwy. Duluth 30096

Hours: 10 a.m.-5 p.m. June and July: Open Tuesdays through Saturdays. March through May; August through December: Open Wednesdays through Saturdays. January and February: Open Thursdays through Saturdays. Tickets: $8 for seniors (65+), $10 for adults, $7 for children aged 2-12. Train rides: $3 for big train, $3 for miniature train, $5 for both. Info: 770-476-2013, train-museum.org

history ensures that history is not forgotten,” Pirkle said, “and [the museum] gives people a different perspective on transportation than just their time on interstate [highways]. It’s fun to see kids today, who see trains in the sense of ‘Thomas [the Tank Engine],’ as a cartoon entity. So many of their grandparents experienced trains as transportation — and you can still do that.” The museum sprawls across four buildings, including a display building that once housed a factory where train cars were made and repaired. At its entrance, the museum displays the former Duluth passenger depot, which dates to 1871 and was moved to the site a few years ago. The facility even offers visitors the chance to take a short ride in a train caboose or in a miniature train that once operated at a zoo. The museum also hosts special events, ranging from summer camps for kids to showings of the movie “Polar Express” around Christmas. It hosts antique tractors and trucks for a day and has even hosted antique typewriter shows, Pirkle said, because typewriters were important to running the railroads. The roots of the museum go back to the late 1950s and early 1960s, Pirkle said, when train metro area train buffs joined together to save an Atlantic and West Point Railway locomotive known as 290. “It was a great big steam engine used to pull the Southern Crescent from Atlanta to Montgomery,” Pirkle said. The engine, saved from the scrap heap, remains part of the museum’s collection. It even appeared in the movie “Fried Green Tomatoes.” The museum operates primarily through efforts of volunteers, many of them retirees. They come from all sorts of backgrounds, Pirkle said. There are about 145 regular volunteers and, on any given weekend, there could be as many as 45 or so at work spread across the museum’s campus. One recent Friday, volunteers Ken Birmingham and Cliff Smith were decked out

PHOTOS BY JOE EARLE

Southeastern Railway Museum administrator Randy Pirkle with one of the large tractors on display at the museum.

Rick Muszynski sells tickets at the Southeastern Railway Museum in Duluth.

in trainmen’s work clothes for their stints as volunteer conductors on the museum’s train ride. Smith, who’s 69 and said he’d liked trains “since I was a little kid,” wore jeans, a work shirt and a striped hat. Birmingham, who’s 75 and said he grew up across from the Long Island Railroad’s main line, wore a stiff-sided conductor’s hat. What convinced them to spend their time at the museum on a hot June afternoon? “It’s just fun,” Birmingham said. “It’s just fun working with the kids,” Smith added. Leo Schiltgen, who’s 70, volunteers as a conductor, too, and said he helps train other volunteers to do the job. But he also spends time restoring old train cars for the museum. He’s working now to replace wooden and tile flooring on a vintage Southern Railway dining car. He learned how to fix metal machines while he was working, Schiltgen said, and he likes working on train cars. “It’s just something I’m interested in,” he said. “I’ve learned the skills. I might as well use them for somebody’s benefit.” As the museum and its volunteers keep the big stock rolling, they also help preserve important links to Atlanta’s past as a train town. The museum helped put together a photo history book, called “When Atlanta Took The Train,” that shows how the city grew up around railroads. “Atlanta is a child of the railroads,” Pirkle said. “It’s important to get people to see that. It’s very difficult to do that because Atlanta has been very successful in wiping out its own past. There’re virtually no downtown railway stations left because progress got in the way.”

20 | Art & Entertainment

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The future of a historic marker of Atlanta’s center could be moved to Buckhead as debates continue about the its fate. The Zero Mile Post marks Atlanta’s beginnings. It originally stood at the place where the Western & Atlantic Railroad’s terminus became Terminus, a settlement that eventually grew into the city we know as Atlanta. For decades, the Zero Mile Post was literally the center of town, as Atlanta’s city limits were measured at a fixed distance from the post. “It’s a really important part of our history,” said Jeff Morrison, an architect who occasionally leads tours of the places where Atlanta began as a railroad town. His tours used to include the post. But Atlanta being Atlanta, the Zero Mile Post has now all but disappeared from public view. The 42-inch-tall granite post is locked away inside a building that is owned by the state of Georgia and no longer in use.Now the mile post faces a new threat: reconstruction work on the Central Avenue Bridge is scheduled to begin soon and may mean the post must be moved. The Georgia Building Authority, which maintains the property that houses the mile post, says it will announce in August whether the post can stay where it is or must be relocated to another site. “We haven’t made a decision yet,” GBA communications director Morgan Smith-Williams said in early June. “There are arguments on both sides,” Smith-Williams said. “There are arguments that the significance of the post is where it is, because of what it marks and not the post itself. But on the other side, it’s not where people can visit it, so there’s an argument to move it to a place where it would be more visible.” The Atlanta History Center in Buckhead offered to include the granite marker in the center’s collection of Atlanta’s historic artifacts, which now includes a replica of the post. But others with an interest in Atlanta history argue the post should stay where it is, near Underground Atlanta and close to the site it originally was erected. “What we need to do is leave it where it is, but make it more accessible,” Morrison said. “It really hasn’t moved much at all since the 1850s. I think it would be a shame for us to move it now.”

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22 | Community

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Proposed parks bond referendum totals $40M Continued from page 1 terview the volunteer organization is not taking a position on the parks bond but will rather serve as a resource to residents wanting more information. “That was our original intent all along,” she said of PARC’s neutral stance. “These [projects] are considerations for the council. It is up to the elected officials to make the final decision if we do have a referendum and what is in it.” City Manager Christian Sigman said city residents would not see a net tax increase with the passage of a $40 million parks bond. A millage rate to support a parks bond would be offset by the reduction in the city’s property tax rate due to DeKalb County Park Bonds maturing in 2020, as well as the increased EHOST property tax credit resulting from the voter approval of the SPLOST in November 2017, according to Sigman. Binkert said it is important all taxpayers look at their own property records as they decide if they want to support the parks bond. “The taxpayer will need to be informed,” she added. The project list includes spending more than $10 million at Lynwood Park, which city officials say has “been neglected for decades,” and another nearly $7 million at Murphey Candler Park because it is the city’s largest and most used

park, including the location for many recreational children’s sports leagues. Members of PARC were asked to submit on July 9 project lists at the $30 million, $40 million and $50 million levels. PARC members and staff then agreed on parks projects totaling $26.5 million to complete Ashford, Briarwood and Brookhaven parks and another $2.1 million for Murphey Candler Park. City administrators then added another $13.5 million, including the $10 million for Lynwood Park and additional money for Blackburn and Murphey Candler parks. “Lynwood Park is a historically underserved community and has received very little capital funding investment in decades,” Sigman said in a prepared statement. “Murphey Candler Park is the city’s largest and most utilized recreational asset and needs significant capital improvements. The administration also included high priority investments in Blackburn Park,” he added. Binkert declined to comment on the city’s decision to add parks and projects to the list PARC submitted. City officials say that general obligation bonds are needed to pay for the nearly $80 million in parks projects residents have decided on during past master planning processes. If the parks bond is approved by the City Council and then by

voters in November, the city would then be able to raise funds through the sale of bonds to cover parks capital projects. A general obligation bond is a longterm borrowing option that pledges the city’s full faith and credit, or taxing power, to repay the debt. The parks bond debt, if approved, would be paid off over a 25 to 30-year period. If the council approves the ballot question on July 24, and if the voters approve the referendum in November, projects could get underway by next summer. If the referendum is not approved, there is no other funding source identified that could pay for these capital projects, so these would not be constructed in the foreseeable future, said city spokesperson Burke Brennan. This is Brookhaven’s first attempt at a bond referendum in its nearly sixyear history. In June, the City Council approved issuing up to $15 million in revenue bonds for construction of the Peachtree Creek Greenway. The revenue bonds are expected to be paid for with hotel-motel taxes. To review all the documentation, including the proposed parks budgets, visit brookhavenga.gov. To provide feedback, email ParksFeedback@BrookhavenGA.gov.

The following shows the breakdown of the $39,955,711 spending on each park, along with some proposed projects. The bond amount also includes $974,530 in “issuance costs” that will not go to parks. Ashford Park: $2,207,421. Open air seating with granite seat walls, a group picnic area and splash pad. Blackburn Park: $812,500. New marquee fencing and parking renovation. Briarwood Park: $7,013,100. Pool upgrade and renovation of the community center, addition of an outdoor classroom, parking renovations, addition of a multiuse trail and pedestrian wood bridge. Brookhaven Park: $7,807,393. Replace the pavilion; include vendor parking, add a restroom; sod the multi-purpose and open space fields; add a playground zone, including a basketball half-court; add a solar canopy; more trails. Lynwood Park: $10,757,643. Parking lot renovations, a new lap pool and splash pad, new pavilion. Murphey Candler Park: $6,913,125. Add a loop trail and steel bridge. System-wide: $3,470,000. This money would go to all parks for maintenance, security and control of invasive plants, as well as $1 million to dredge Murphey Candler Park’s lake.

Dog-paddling at the Dive-In Movie Kaleigh Cline, 5, below, gets a last swim in the Briarwood Park pool before the Disney film “Coco” is shown on a big screen in a July 13 city-sponsored event. Right, The movie is reflected in the pool’s waters as the show begins. PHOTOS BY PHIL MOSIER

BK

JULY 20 - AUG. 2, 2018

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Public Safety | 23

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Police Blotter / Brookhaven From Brookhaven Police reports dated July 8 through July 15. The following information was pulled from Brookhaven’s Police-2-Citizen website.

T H E F T A N D B U R G L A RY 1900 block of Cobblestone Circle —

On July 8, in the morning, an entering auto incident was reported. 1500 block of Nancy Creek Drive — On

July 8, at noon, items were stolen from a car. 3300 block of Buford Highway — On

July 8, in the afternoon, a bicycle was stolen. 3300 block of Buford Highway — On

July 8, in the afternoon, a shoplifting incident was reported. 2000 block of North Druid Hills Road

— On July 8, at night, items were stolen from a car. 2000 block of North Druid Hills Road

— On July 9, in the early morning, a forced-entry burglary to a non-residence was reported.

A S S AU LT 3300 block of Clairmont Road — On

July 8, in the afternoon, a simple assault was reported. 1700 block of Briarwood Road — On

July 9, at midnight, a man was arrested and accused of battery.

— On July 9, in the early morning, a man was arrested and accused of driving unlicensed. 2000 block of North Druid Hills Road

— On July 9, in the morning, a man was arrested and accused of driving unlicensed. 1800 block of Briarwood Road — On

July 9, in the morning, a man was arrested and accused of driving unlicensed. 3000 block of Buford Highway — On

July 9, in the evening, a woman was arrested and accused of driving unlicensed. 3000 block of Buford Highway — On

July 9, in the evening, a woman was arrested and accused of driving unlicensed. 3300 block of Buford Highway — On

July 9, at night, a man was arrested and accused of public intoxication and consumption.

block of Ashford-Dunwoody Road — On July 8, in the early morning, a woman was arrested and accused of failing to maintain lane. 2700 block of Drew Valley Road — On

July 8, at night, a woman was arrested and accused of criminal trespass. 3600 block of Buford Highway — On

July 9, after midnight, a woman was arrested and accused of driving unlicensed. 1000 block of Town Boulevard — On

July 9, after midnight, three people were arrested and accused of contributing to the delinquency of a minor. 1800 block of North Druid Hills Road

— On July 9, in the early morning, a wanted man was located.

1800 block of Northeast Expressway

— On July 11, at night, a man was arrested and accused of driving unlicensed. 2600 block of Buford Highway — On

July 12, in the early morning, a man was arrested and accused of failing to appear. 4000 block of Peachtree Road — On

July 12, in the early morning, two people were arrested and accused of marijuana possession. 1900 block of North Druid Hills Road

— On July 12, in the evening, a woman was arrested and accused of obstruction and interference. 3300 block of Buford Highway — On

3100 block of Buford Highway — On

3500 block of Buford Highway — On

July 9, at night, a man was arrested and accused of driving unlicensed. 1500 block of Lake Hearn Drive —

1900 block of North Druid Hills Road

4100

July 11, at night, a woman was arrested and accused of driving unlicensed.

July 9, at night, a woman was arrested and accused of driving unlicensed.

July 11, in the early morning, a man was arrested and accused of simple battery.

8, in the early morning, a wanted person was located.

3000 block of Buford Highway — On

3100 block of Buford Highway — On

3400 block of Buford Highway — On

1200 block of Reserve Drive — On July

ed and accused of public intoxication and consumption.

July 12, in the evening, a man was arrested and accused of public intoxication and consumption.

On July 10, in the morning, a man was arrested and accused of driving unlicensed.

ARRESTS

BK

1800 block of Northeast Expressway

— On July 10, in the morning, a woman was arrested and accused of driving unlicensed. 4000 block of Peachtree Road — On

July 10, in the afternoon, a man was arrested and accused of driving with a suspended license. 4400 block of Peachtree Road — On

July 10, at night, a man was arrested and accused of driving unlicensed. 2000 block of North Druid Hills Road

— On July 10, at night, a man was arrested and accused of driving unlicensed. 3700 block of Buford Highway — On

July 11, in the afternoon, a man was arrested and accused of marijuana possession. 3300 block of Buford Highway — On

July 11, in the evening, a man was arrested and accused of public intoxication and consumption. 3400 block of Buford Highway — On

July 11, in the evening, a man was arrest-

July 12, at night, a man was arrested and accused of public intoxication and consumption. 300 block of Buford Highway — On

July 12, at night, a man was arrested and accused of driving unlicensed. 1900 block of North Druid Hills Road

— On July 13, after midnight, a man was arrested and accused of burglary.

July 13, in the morning, a man was arrested and accused of driving without a license. 2600 block of Buford Highway — On

July 13, in the afternoon, a woman was arrested and accused of failing to appear. 3500

block of Ashford-Dunwoody Road — On July 13, in the afternoon, a man was arrested and accused of driving with a suspended license. 3900 block of Peachtree Road — On

July 13, in the afternoon, a woman was arrested and accused of shoplifting. 3800 block of Peachtree Road — On

July 14, at night, a man was arrested and accused of excessive speeding. 3300 block of Buford Highway — On

July 15, in the early morning, a man was arrested and accused of driving under the influence of alcohol. 3200 block of Buford Highway — On

July 15, in the morning, a man was arrested and accused of driving unlicensed. 3300 block of Buford Highway — On

July 15, in the afternoon, a woman was arrested and accused of driving with a suspended registration.

OT H E R I N C I D E N T S 2200 block of Lake Boulevard — On

July 12, in the afternoon, an officer responded to an animal complaint.

3000 block of Clairmont Road — On

PUBLIC NOTICE The City of is considering the construction of a greenway pedestrian bridge as part of the Peachtree Creek Greenway Project. The planned greenway will generally follow the North Fork of Peachtree Creek from the Atlanta city line to the Chamblee city line. The greenway pedestrian bridge will sit on a parcel located at 3131 Buford Hwy that once held residential properties at 3145 Buford Hwy Units, 3,4,5,6 ,7 and 8. Pursuant to FEMA Pre-Disaster Mitigation deed restrictions, Section 1.b.i. allows for “public facility that is open on all sides and functionally related to the open space use.” The public is invited to participate in identifying and analyzing any impact this proposed project may have. Interested persons may obtain information about these actions or a specific project by contacting Moe Trebuchon Project Manager at Moe.Trebuchon@BrookhavenGa.gov. Comments should be received within 30 days of the date of notice and no later than August 24, 2018.

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18/19 THE INAUGURAL SEASON

S ANDY SPRINGS PERFORMING ARTS CENTER

AUGUST OPENING EVENTS City Springs Day August 11, 2018

Steinway Dedication and Concert August 17, 2018

Branford Marsalis Quartet August 11, 2018

Sutton Foster August 18, 2018

National Geographic Live with Wildlife Photographer, Steve Winter August 14, 2018

Atlanta Jewish Film Festival August 19, 2018

Joe Gransden Big Band, feat. Landau Eugene Murphy August 16, 2018

EVENT DETAILS AND TICKETS AT CITYSPRINGS.COM