AUGUST 5 - 18, 2016 • VOL. 8 — NO. 16
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Brookhaven Reporter
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SPECIAL SECTION | P21-27
A force to be reckoned with
Brookhaven Innovation Academy begins first year BY DYANA BAGBY dyanabagby@reporternewspapers.net
More than 400 students started their first day of school at the opening day of Brookhaven Innovation Academy, a debut more than three years in the making. The new state public charter school opened Aug. 2 at its temporary location in Norcross with 420 students signed up for grades K-6, said Head of School Dr. Laurie Kimbrel. There are three classes for each grade See BROOKHAVEN on page 20
PHIL MOSIER
At left, Ben Robinson, 3, and Carson Herring, 4, take part in Nerf wars during the “May The Force Be With You” event at Blackburn Park on July 30. Kids battled it out on the field, followed by a showing of “Star Wars: The Force Awakens” on the big screen.
PARALYMPIC GAMES Prepping for Rio Page 5
The Democrats have taken over Reagan’s optimism.
OUT & ABOUT Butterfly Festival
Trump was humanized and shown to be on-point on every issue. Respondents’ comments to our community survey on the presidential conventions. See COMMENTARY Page 13
Page 8
‘Futuristic’ parks restrooms style debated BY DYANA BAGBY dyanabagby@reporternewspapers.net The Brookhaven City Council stalled on approving “futuristic” designs for park restrooms after Mayor John Ernst said he was unsure the public would readily accept their contemporary look. But Councilmember Joe Gebbia praised the angular, wood-walled restrooms as “monuments” that will say, “You’re in Brookhaven.” And Councilmember Bates Mattison likened them to the Sydney Opera House, an Australian landmark of modern architecture. Ernst acknowledged he was not ready See ‘FUTURISTIC’ on page 18