The following is a list of properties located at the Sandy Springs Police Dept. If you believe that you are the owner of this property, please email sspdproperty@sandyspringsga.gov.
■ Three silver colored rings with stones
■ Gold Colored band with stones
■ Ulysse Nardin Watch
■ Necklace with stones and
■ Silver colored band #3 Pendant
■ Gold colored necklace with
■ Bulova watch with clear stones heart pendant
■ Gold colored earrings
■ Gold colored necklace with stones with cross pendant
■ Gold colored necklace
■ Gold colored ring with clear stones with pendant
Proof of ownership and a valid ID will be required to claim any property. Items will be sold separately in a public internet auction beginning December 2024.
SANDY SPRINGS
Spalding Drive Elementary considered for closure
By Bob Pepalis
Some parents and community members believe the decision to close Spalding Drive Elementary School in Sandy Springs has already been made, despite a series of upcoming community input meetings.
Fulton County Schools Chief Operating Officer Noel Maloof told parents during a September meeting that the school board won’t make a decision until February 2025. Other FCS staff repeated that point during a Redistricting 101 virtual presentation held on Sept. 23. Some parents aren’t convinced after learning community meetings scheduled in the next three months are dedicated to creating new attendance zones following Spalding’s closure.
The community meetings will be held at Riverwood High School from 6 to 8 p.m. on Oct. 7, Nov. 4, and Dec. 9.
“They’ve essentially told us, it comes down to money,” Spalding parent Kim Parkman said. “There’s a deficit. We’ve been told that by closing schools, we make up that deficit. But are we the right choice?”
Tarika Peeks, FCS executive director of Operational Planning, said during the Redistricting 101 presentation that as staff works on redistricting, they will consider geographic proximity, traffic patterns, and enrollment balance to create new attendance zones if Spalding closes.
“Please keep in mind that students are not always assigned to their closest school, and all three criteria must be considered,” she said.
achievement.
Kim Parkman said her family specifically moved to a neighborhood so their kids could attend Spalding Drive Elementary. They don’t know what they will do if the school closes.
“By closing this school, we will have to separate our child from all of his friends and then make that decision again three years later when it comes to middle school,” she said.
Parkman said her children are still recovering from the COVID-19 learning loss and were fast-tracked to catch up at Spalding. She said the closure adds to the mental load on her children, who aren’t developmentally able to process the situation.
“FCS is moving at an accelerated pace with processes that suggest the decision has already been made to close Spalding Drive in spite of the consistent academic achievements of its diverse student body,” parent Stephen Bell told Rough Draft.
He said the transition from telling parents academics don’t matter to drawing new attendance zones gives the impression that FCS views their children as “interchangeable widgets” and not students receiving an education.
Bell said he and his wife have spent the past two weeks learning about policy and budgets, new state laws, and getting a more complete picture of the school cluster.
“We all hope that the board chooses to invest in a high-performing school rather than shut it down,” Bell said.
Property and Evidence
sspdproperty@sandyspringsga.gov
7840 Roswell Rd #400, Sandy Springs, GA 30350, USA
The auction’s website is www.propertyroom.com
Attendance zone options will be presented at the second community meeting, according to the FCS redistricting timeline. A final draft plan will be revealed during the December meeting, with a revised version presented to the school board in January. A vote is expected in February 2025 on Spalding’s closure and new attendance zones. Redistricting hearings would follow.
Parents were upset to hear that in the closure consideration for Spalding staff will only consider criteria set in FCS policy, which does not include academic
Parkman said FCS staff has provided contradictory information about open enrollment.
The confusion increased with a change in FCS policy. Before this year, a school needed two classrooms available to qualify for open enrollment, which meant Spalding did not qualify. Deputy Chief Operations Officer Yngrid Huff said this year the policy changed to no more than 95 percent of state enrollment capacity numbers.
Huff said open enrollment would not affect closure recommendations if the students selecting Spalding came from
More than 200 community members from the Spalding Drive Elementary School zone attended a meeting to find out why their school got a closure recommendation. (Photo by Bob Pepalis)
other Sandy Springs elementary schools. But that wouldn’t eliminate the problem of too many classrooms for too few students in the Sandy Springs area.
Dwindling enrollment in Sandy Springs
This school year, the Sandy Springs region has 1,668 fewer students than the Georgia Department of Education established as its enrollment capacity. The region had 46 more classrooms than were needed, according to FCS calculations.
Closing Spalding and declining enrollment will lower its over-enrollment to 1,215 students. However, with six elementary schools, the region will have only 12 more classrooms than needed.
Spalding Drive Elementary’s enrollment has been below 450 students since at least the 2015-2016 school year, according to figures provided by FCS. Parents didn’t know that was a problem until their school was recommended for closure.
Ison Springs Elementary, which had 745 students in 2015, dropped below 450 students for the first time this school year.
An FCS spokesperson said that school closure recommendations are made if an elementary school in the Sandy Springs region has an enrollment below 450, neighboring schools have space, and the building needs major repairs.
Mayor Rusty Paul to seek fourth term in 2025
By Bob Pepalis
Sandy Springs Mayor Rusty Paul announced during his State of the City address on Sept. 17 that he will seek reelection for a fourth term.
Paul is the city’s second mayor following inaugural mayor Eva Galambos’ term from December 2005 until January 2014.
The next municipal election will be in November 2025 when the mayor and all six city council seats will be up for election.
Paul told Rough Draft that he spoke with his wife and family to explore all his options before coming to a decision.
“In the end, after talking to family and everything else, I’ve decided that I want to go one more term, and this would be the last term,” he said.
Paul said the city has projects to finish that he wants to see through. One example is City Springs Phase II. The city chose a developer in June 2023. Construction hasn’t begun because of the cost and the absence of capital. He said banks are not making many retail or residential project loans, particularly for multifamily.
Another project he wants to see
completed is the widening of Hammond Drive. City leaders thought they’d have to wait to start the project and might have to ask voters in May to approve more funding. But the mayor said sales taxes have come in better than expected.
Other projects he intends to see completed are the Johnson Ferry-Mount Vernon Highway-Roswell Road project, and the side path along Mount Vernon to the Sandy Springs MARTA station.
Paul also wants to meet the goals he shared in the State of the City address at the Perimeter Sandy Springs Chamber of Commerce Signature Luncheon. Those
include getting Sandy Springs at the forefront of artificial intelligence to make the city more customer-friendly, efficient, and effective; simplifying the city’s permitting process, and turning the city’s growing trails system into a series of destinations along the paths.
Paul said the city will conduct a Perimeter district study as it did for the city’s North End.
“We’re going to take two or three parcels over there that are either vacant or underperforming and show developers what could be done there,” he said.
The city won a huge victory by keeping Newell Rubbermaid. He expects that a Fortune 200 will announce its move to Sandy Springs and the Perimeter market in the next three or four weeks.
He said the Perimeter market is still healthy and popular, but it’s 50 years old and needs a refresh to meet today’s expectations.
“It’s still an area where, if you come down out of one of the high-rise buildings, you’ve still got to get your car to go to lunch or if you want to hang out with your friends after work,” Paul said.
Paul said all his plans depend on the voters deciding to keep him in office for another four years.
ARMORED AND FABULOUS
OCT. 5, 2024 - JAN. 5, 2025
Get ready to discover how spikes, shells, scales, plates and exoskeletons defend against animals’ hard-knock environments.
Mayor Rusty Paul
By Dyana Bagby
The Buckhead Community Improvement District (BCID) has been awarded a $10 million federal grant for an elevated pedestrian and bicycle bridge across Lenox Road where it intersects GA 400.
The work is part of the Lenox Road Complete Safe Street project which will create a 1.25-mile pedestrian-friendly corridor between the Lenox MARTA station and Piedmont Road.
The grant is from the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Safe Streets and Roads for All (SS4A) grant program.
“We are very grateful to the U.S.
Department of Transportation and the Georgia congressional delegation for their support,” said Jim Durrett, executive director of BCID and president of the Buckhead Coalition. “The Safe Streets and Roads for All funding is essential to help us transform this section of Lenox Road and provide safe, easy access for pedestrians and cyclists to reach the Buckhead and Lenox MARTA stations and many other locations in the Buckhead core.”
Lenox Road Complete Safe Street Section III, an approximately $40 million project, will improve connectivity and pedestrian safety by adding a shared-use bridge for bicycles and pedestrians along the south side of Lenox Road.
Happy Clients
“Jan, thank you so much
The bridge will connect to PATH400 and also serve as a gateway to the planned highway-capping park, HUB404, giving people on foot and bike easy access to points of interest throughout the community.
“The Lenox Road Complete Safe Street project is an exciting step forward in the CID’s ongoing work to create a more connected Buckhead,” said Thad Ellis, chairman of BCID. “Making a major highway intersection safe and accessible for pedestrians and cyclists is no small task, and we are thankful to the partners who are helping us meet the challenge.”
BCID is partnering with the City of Atlanta and Georgia Department of Transportation to construct the 0.62-mile shared-use path and elevated pedestrian and bicycle bridge for Lenox Road
Complete Safe Street Section III.
The Atlanta City Council voted at its Sept. 3 meeting to approve a $415,000 donation to HUB404 Conservancy, the nonprofit fundraising organization working with BCID. The funding is for the development of bike and pedestrian bridges as part of the Lenox Road Safe Street project.
Funding for HUB404 is expected to come from private and public funds, including state, local and federal sources. Last year, the project received $750,000 in federal funding.
Engineering design is projected to be completed by August 2025 with construction estimated to begin following public bidding in October 2025. BCID and GDOT anticipate project completion by January 2028.
By Collin Kelley
Credit rating agency Fitch has upgraded the City of Atlanta’s rating to an all-time high.
According to a press release, Fitch upgraded the city’s Issuer Default Rating (IDR) from AA+ to AAA. This is the highest Fitch credit rating in the city’s history.
Combined with a Moody’s bond rating of Aa1, Atlanta has become “even more attractive to businesses, potential homebuyers, students, and event organizers due to its sound fiscal management, diversified local economy and forwardthinking government,” the release said.
“Under the leadership of Chief Financial Officer Mohamed Balla, the Department of Finance has taken this mission to the next level and accomplished something we should all be proud of,” Mayor Andre Dickens said in a statement. “These ratings reflect responsible, sound fiscal management and confidence in how we do business in this city. Thanks to the hard work of the DOF and so many others, the City is in the strongest fiscal position in its history, and we will continue to make sure we plan our finances with resilience in mind and an eye on the future.”
Strong credit ratings confirm that the
city’s financial obligations are of high quality and are subject to low risk, allowing Atlanta to issue bonds at relatively lower interest rates, the release said.
“We are thrilled that Fitch Ratings has upgraded the City of Atlanta to AAA, recognizing our strong fiscal foundation and long-term resilience. This achievement reflects our commitment to prudent financial management and the hard work of our finance team and city leadership, positioning Atlanta to invest in infrastructure, enhance services, and support growth for all residents,” City of Atlanta Chief Financial Officer Mohamed M. Balla said in a statement.
In related news, Fitch also upgraded MARTA’s bond rating from AA to AA+.
“This second rating increase in as many review cycles reflects MARTA’s financial stability and strong long-term revenue growth outlook,” said MARTA General Manager and CEO Collie Greenwood said in a statement. “Bottom line, MARTA remains a good steward of taxpayer money and is well-positioned to increase our competitiveness for federal funding and meet the expansion commitments made to our jurisdictional partners.”
Rendering courtesy Livable Buckhead
Marist School
3790 Ashford Dunwoody RD NE
$5 Entrance Fee
No Strollers Please
Come shop over 240 vendors, new and returning, who will delight with their: Art, Candles, Handbags & Accessories, Honey, Jewelry, Knitted Items, Ornaments, Pottery, Silk Scarves, Wooden Goods, and more Unique Finds
Thank you to this year’s Gold Level sponsors Saturday, October 26 9AM-4PM
BROOKHAVEN
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Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta opens new hospital
By Logan C. Ritchie
Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta closed Egleston Hospital on Sept. 29, using 65 ambulances to move 202 patients into the brand-new Arthur M. Blank Hospital on North Druid Hills Road.
The move began at 7:30 a.m. and lasted for 12 hours, as anticipated.
Brithany Morales, 8, was the first patient to leave Egleston Hospital and be transported to Arthur M. Blank Hospital.
The 19-story, 2-million-square-foot facility with 446 beds expands Children’s Healthcare’s ability to provide advanced pediatric care to children across Georgia and the Southeast.
The transport of patients relied on coordination with more than 15 state and local agencies, including Georgia State Patrol and the following four police departments that helped along the move route: Brookhaven Police, DeKalb County Police, Emory Police and Sandy Springs Police. Religious organizations along the move route held virtual services throughout the weekend to help ensure the safe transport of all patients.
Approximately 1,000 support staff volunteers were on-site at the hospitals to assist with patient family needs.
Here’s the information we need:
■ Nominator (name, relationship to nominee and contact information)
■ Characteristics and service: Please provide a paragraph describing why this nominee deserves recognition. Include service projects, goals, and areas of interest.
■ A high resolution photograph (1MB in size or more) of the student in any setting.
Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta CEO Donna Highland welcomes new patients. (Courtesy of Children’s Healthcare)
Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta Chief Nurse Linda Cole welcomes patients to Arthur M. Blank Hospital. (Courtesy of Children’s Healthcare)
Eight-year-old Brithany Morales is the first patient to arrive at Arthur M. Blank Hospital on Sunday, Sept. 29. (Courtesy of Children’s Healthcare)
DUNWOODY
Student exceeds fundraising goal for Narcan in classrooms
By Cathy Cobbs
Dunwoody High School Junior Mady Cohen’s efforts to raise $5,000 so that opioid-reversing Narcan could be available in every classroom at the school, has not only met her goal but more than doubled it.
Cohen reported that more than $11,000 has been raised so far, not only fulfilling the original goal, but also allowing for the expansion of drug education for students, teachers and parents.
“It felt so great going to classrooms and handing it [supplies of Narcan] out
directly to teachers,” she said. “We have begun discussions for an educational piece for students, teachers, and parents on the dangers of opioid addiction and overdose prevention.”
And Cohen’s goals will expand beyond the doors of DHS.
“My goal is once we have set this up at Dunwoody High School, I can use it to give to other high schools as a template for their school,” she said.
Cohen was recognized for her efforts in September when she received the 2024 Georgia Recovery Champion Award from the Georgia Council for Recovery at the organization’s luncheon.
“I met so many wonderful people who have had successful recoveries from opioid addiction,” she said. “I have learned that recovery resource is a piece I want to add to my project somehow.”
Cohen said she was motivated to start the drive after a reported drug overdose at the school.
On May 6, 15-year-old Mia Dieguez died after allegedly ingesting a Fentanyl-laced Percocet that was given to her by another student, despite concerted efforts to revive her. A minor, reportedly a classmate of Dieguez, was arrested and charged with involuntary manslaughter and reckless conduct.
the medical teams arrived, according to a statement by Dunwoody Police.
On Aug. 28, police and medical teams were called to the school again after a reported drug overdose. Staff members administered Narcan to a 16-year-old student and she was reported to be “alert, conscious and breathing” when
Cohen said she started the initiative over the summer after “seeing not only my friends, but an entire community suffer” after Dieguez’ death.
“This isn’t just a Dunwoody High School problem, it’s a world-wide epidemic,” she said. “I am hoping people from other schools will see this and do it for their communities.”
By Cathy Cobbs
The Dunwoody City Council heard an update at its Sept. 24 meeting about efforts to gather citizens’ input regarding the city’s comprehensive plan.
The two-year process, according Dunwoody Community Development Director Richard McLeod, kicked off on June 10, and will include seven public meetings, plus public hearings at planning commission and city council meetings.
“There has also been in-person outreach, including public pop-up meetings at several celebrations and events around the city,” he said. More than 1,000 people responded to a recently closed online survey, and another one is planned for the first quarter of 2025.
Dunwoody Mayor Lynn Deutsch said she was pleased with the outreach efforts made thus far, and encouraged outreach to the Hispanic community to gauge its thoughts about the future of the city.
In other action, the council accepted a $439,000 grant that will be used to fund intersection improvement projects throughout the city. The grant was awarded by the Georgia Department of Transportation through its FY 2024 LMIG Safety Action Plan.
The funded improvements include:
■ North Peachtree Road Pedestrian Hybrid Beacon at Chesnut Elementary
■ Perimeter Center West Pedestrian Hybrid Beacon at Perimeter Mall
■ Chamblee Dunwoody Road Crosswalk Improvements at Kings Down Road
■ Peeler Road at Cherring Lane Crosswalk with Rectangular Rapid Flashing Beacons
■ Roberts Drive at Wildcat Park with Rectangular Rapid Flashing Beacons
■ Hammond Drive R-Cut Median Opening
Mady Cohen, who raised funds to supply every classroom at Dunwoody High with Narcan, was honored by the Georgia Council for Recovery. (Provided).
Can’t miss author talks & signings
Dr. Anthony Fauci On Call
Sunday, Nov. 3, 7:30 p.m.
Dr. Anthony Fauci became a world figure during the COVID-19 in his role as director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases. But he also played a crucial role in researching HIV and bringing AIDS into sympathetic public view and his leadership in navigating the Ebola, SARS, West Nile, and anthrax crises.
His memoir reaches back to his boyhood in Brooklyn, New York, and carries through decades of caring for critically ill patients, navigating the whirlpools of Washington politics, and behind-the-scenes advising and negotiating with seven presidents on key issues from global AIDS relief to infectious disease preparedness at home.
Fauci also served as the Chief Medical Advisor to President Joe Biden in 2021 and 2022 when he received the Presidential Medal of Freedom.
Richards will be in conversation with Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Entertainment Editor Rodney Ho and will take questions from the audience as he discusses his memoir “Entrances and Exits.”
The three-time Emmy winner, beloved for starring as Cosmo Kramer on the groundbreaking television series “Seinfeld,” serves up a candid, insightful, humorous, and complex memoir about his life and storied career with Jerry Seinfeld, Larry David, Jason Alexander, Julia LouisDreyfus, and other celebrated figures in show business.
Richards opens the door to the evolution of the iconic character who brought the kavorka to “Seinfeld” and shares the real-life insecurities and successes he experienced creating one of television’s most memorable characters, and the ways the two are forever intertwined on and offscreen.
Albom, The Little Liar Monday, Nov. 11, 7:30 p.m.
Mitch Albom returns with a powerful novel of hope and forgiveness that moves from a coastal Greek city during WWII to America in the golden age of Hollywood, as the intertwined lives of three young survivors are forever changed by the perils of deception and the grace of redemption.
Eleven-year-old Nico Krispis has never told a lie. His schoolmate, Fannie, loves him because of it. Nico’s older brother Sebastian resents him for both these facts. When their young lives are torn apart during the war, it will take them decades to find each other again.
The evening will begin with Kristallnacht Commemoration with prayers by Rabbi Brian Glusman.
Adam Nimoy, The Most Human: Reconciling with My Father, Leonard Nimoy Sunday, Nov. 10, 1 p.m.
Michael Richards, Entrances and Exits
Saturday, Nov. 9, 8 p.m.
Actor and comedian Michael
Adam Nimoy will be in conversation with author and media personality Nadia Bilchik to discuss his memoir, “ The Most Human: Reconciling with My Father, Leonard Nimoy.” There will also be an opportunity for audience questions. While the tabloids and fan publications portrayed the Nimoys as a “close family,” to his son, Leonard Nimoy was a total stranger. The actor was as inscrutable as the iconic half-Vulcan science officer he portrayed on Star Trek, even to those close to him.
Now, his son’s memoir explores their complicated relationship and how it informed his views on marriage, parenting, and later, sobriety.
Regional Director of the American Jewish Committee, discussing his memoir “The Gates of Gaza.”
The gripping true story of how Tibon, along with his wife and their two young children, were rescued from Kibbutz Nahal Oz on Oct. 7, 2023, by Tibon’s own father—a tale of survival that also reveals the deep tensions and systemic failures that led to Hamas’s attacks that day.
Tobiin describes his family’s ordeal alongside the histories of the place they call home and the systems of power that have kept them and their neighbors in Gaza in harm’s way for decades.
Amir Tibon, The Gates of Gaza: A Story of Betrayal, Survival, and Hope in Israel’s Borderlands
Tuesday, Nov. 12, 7:30 p.m.
Israeli journalist Amir Tibon will be in conversation with Dov Wilker,
Stuart Eizenstat, The Art of Diplomacy: How American Negotiators Reached Historic Agreements that Changed the World
Thursday, Nov. 14, 7:30 p.m.
In one readable volume, diplomat and negotiator Stuart E. Eizenstat takes readers inside the the diplomatic negotiations of the past 50 years, from the treaty to end the Vietnam War to the Kyoto Protocols and the Iranian Nuclear Accord.
Written from the perspective that only a participant in top level negotiations can bring, Eizenstat recounts the events that led up to the negotiation, the drama that took place around the table and draws lessons from successful and unsuccessful strategies and tactics.
Eizenstat served as U.S. Ambassador to the European Union and Deputy Secretary of both Treasury and State.
Mitch
Emily Giffin opens festival with discussion of ‘The Summer Pact’
By Eloisa Bloom
Atlanta-based bestselling author Emily Giffin released her latest novel, “The Summer Pact,” in August. Giffin will be the opening night guest at the Book Festival of the MJCCA on Nov. 2.
The novel follows a group of college friends who make a promise to always be there for each other in the wake of tragedy. Ten years later, the friends find
the University of Virginia and form an intense bond that deepens after the tragic death of their friend, Summer. Can you tell us a bit about each of them?
A: Thank you so much for saying that. With this novel, I wanted to write about the power of coming-of-age friendships. My characters lost their innocence the moment they lost their friend Summer. They were never the same, and we see how this continues to shape them when they come together to help each other through a different kind of crisis.
themselves reuniting for an adventure that will change their lives.
I sat down with Giffin at her Ansley Park home to discuss friendship, love, loss, the importance of talking about mental health, her favorite Atlanta book spots, and her recent brush with royalty.
Q: I read “The Summer Pact” in two sittings. It’s such a moving portrait of friendship, and how our friendships sustain us through the darkest of times. The book is narrated by three characters who meet at the beginning of their freshman year of college at
with a protagonist, and I wanted to show how important friends are in dealing with weighty issues.
Lastly, we have Tyson. He is the rock of the group (and my favorite!). Tyson is also dealing with parental expectations as his mother and father are both highprofile federal judges, part of the DC elite, and he’s very bright and intellectual. Although he enjoys the academic pursuits that are expected of him, he’s not entirely happy as a lawyer in a big firm.
As for the three narrators, I’ll start with Hannah. I knew I wanted to have a traditional southern girl trying to find her own path. Hannah is under a lot of pressure from her narcissistic mother, who wants her to live her idea of a picture-perfect life without taking into account what Hannah truly wants.
The novel’s second narrator, Lainey, is very much a free spirit. She
likes to have a great time. She has a ton of charisma and a big personality. But she is haunted by a family secret and drinks to numb herself and to cope with her feelings. This is the first time I’ve written about substance abuse
On the surface, it’s Hannah’s crisis — the collapse of the picture-perfect life – that brings the friends together. But the others realize they are all at turning points in their lives and have issues they must confront. I think that’s very true to life — that when we can take a pause in our life even if it’s just as simple as a benchmark birthday, we can rediscover ourselves. For example, as I approached my 30th birthday, I decided to quit my job at my large Manhattan law firm and move to London where I wrote my first novel, “Something Borrowed” (published 20 years ago)!
Q: It’s not a spoiler to tell readers your characters end up escaping their lives by taking a trip to Capri. How did you choose Capri? And did you have the chance to go there for research?
A: I have always loved Italy. I’ve been to the Amalfi Coast, but I’ve never been to Capri. It captured my imagination because it’s both a historical and a mythical place (Homer’s Odysseus arrived at Capri’s famed cliffs with his companions). And yes, I did have the opportunity to do book research there. I wanted all the details to feel authentic and vivid. The trip was magical. I went with a very dear friend (who happens to be an Atlanta-based travel advisor), and we had the most wonderful time eating and drinking and exploring and dreaming. Because the island is small, I was able to cover a lot of territory in a short period of time and see and get a lot of material for “The Summer Pact.”
Q: Reading your book, I started thinking a lot about how so many novels and television shows feature friendships among four women. This made me appreciate that one of your characters in this group is a man, Tyson, who is willing to quit his job and break up with his girlfriend to be there for Hannah.
A: You know, the age-old question from “When Harry Met Sally” of whether men and women can be friends or if it always
morphs into a romantic entanglement. I’m a firm believer in the purity of malefemale friendships and that there are plenty where the friendship is platonic from start to finish. I’ve always had close guy friends at every stage of my life. I remember at my eighth birthday party, five of the eight people at the party were boys. In college, I was a basketball manager at Wake Forest, and I had a lot of close friends on the team. Then in law school, my best friend was a guy. I think it adds another layer to include a male perspective. I love that Tyson brings a different viewpoint and that he is a man who so clearly values his friendships.
Q: Tyson also offers a unique perspective as the only Black character in the trio.
A: Frankly, I thought it more interesting to mix it up and have that layer and perspective. The fact that Tyson is not only the only man in the group but is also Black adds a different element, which I was nervous about because I wanted to write his story authentically. There’s always the question of do I, as a white female writer, have the right to tell a story from a point of view that is not my own. At the same time, I always want to write books that reflect the diverse world in which we live.
Ultimately, I decided that because it was an ensemble cast with multiple viewpoints, I felt comfortable having a portion of the book being told from Tyson’s point of view. I simply had to approach that POV with care and diligence. I hope readers appreciate that risk and feel that I did a good job with it.
Q: “The Summer Pact” deals with some serious topics: mental illnesses, depression, substance abuse, and suicide. In all your work, how did you balance those heavy topics with the lighter, more romantic ones?
A: This might be a copout — or an overly simplistic answer – but those issues are part of life. Life is beautiful, but we go through these difficult experiences. We go through trauma and tragedy and pain and heartbreak. But the only thing we can do is to continue to go on with our lives, and try to find joy, connection, and purpose. That balance between romance and tragedy feels true to life.
Aside from that, I’m drawn to stories with multiple layers. I don’t want to spend several days reading a completely dark or a completely light book. My favorite movies and books have both.
I think the best friendships reflect this
Emily Giffin (Photo by Chris Martin)
balance too; the friends you can tackle heavy experiences with, that you can be vulnerable with, but can also share moments where you can’t stop laughing are the most precious friendships to me. I wanted to include this type of friendship in “The Summer Pact.” The characters can take on serious issues, but they’re also a lot of fun.
Q: The loss of Summer is the heart of the book, and of course, her name inspired the title. Her presence is felt even when she’s not there. What inspired the character of Summer in particular?
A: “The Summer Pact” is the first book I’ve written with a trigger warning. Summer, as we learn in the prologue, dies by suicide. I know there are so many layers to depression, and I’m not in any way trying to oversimplify the illness. It is an incredibly complex topic. But we
have seen that young people, particularly college athletes like Summer, experience this heavy pressure and toxic culture perfectionism which can lead them to make these very impulsive decisions.
Suicide affects some of the best and the brightest, which I really started to delve into in 2017 when Kate Spade took her life and then when Anthony Bourdain died by suicide in 2018. In the lead-up to writing “The Summer Pact,” I started to see suicide impact star athletes, like the soccer goalkeeper Katie Meyer from Stanford. There was a time when we thought that suicide only affected those who were visibly depressed, but it touches people who seem to have it all. With Summer, I thought it was important to create a character who seemed to have it all and whose struggles were hidden even from those who knew her best.
Summer is an all-American distance
runner, a sport that is so mentally challenging. It’s typically distance runners, too, who can be hard-working perfectionists. I mean, who else would go out and run that kind of mileage? Having three distance runners for children who compete at high levels – my sons George and Edward compete in Division 1 at Columbia, and my daughter Harriet is a top runner in Georgia high school running– and witnessing the pressure they experience influenced my focus on mental health in distance running.
In the prologue, Tyson uses a David Foster Wallace quote in which he likens suicide to jumping off a burning building. He says, “It’s not that the person doesn’t fear falling – because he does – it’s just that falling feels less terrible than burning.” I think this so beautifully attempts to explain the profound pain that some people experience.
Q: Summer’s death is such a tragic loss. It is a powerful reminder that you never really know what people are carrying on the inside, even if everything looks perfect on the outside. What other messages do you hope your readers will take away from this book?
A: I never write a book with a message in mind — it comes together as I write it. The major takeaway didn’t come to me until I wrote the trigger warning, which I articulated in my final words to my readers, especially those who are struggling, in my acknowledgments:
“Life is tough. Life is messy. Life can be heartbreakingly cruel. You have helped me through some tough times, and I hope my stories have brought you a measure of comfort. I care about each and every one of you and wish you endless silver linings.”
FROM AFRICA TO THE WORLD
SEPT. 18, 2024–FEB. 23, 2025
Don’t miss one of the most highly regarded cultural events in the Southeast. Hear from, meet, and interact with the year’s most renowned authors, entertainers, thought leaders, and pop culture icons. With countless award-winning and bestselling authors, our Book Festival is truly unlike any other!
Join the Conversation!
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 2
8:00 PM
Emily Giffin
The Summer Pact: A Novel
SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 3 1:00 PM
Mimi Zieman, MD
Tap Dancing on Everest: A Young Doctor’s Unlikely Adventure
SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 3 7:30 PM
Anthony Fauci, MD
On Call: A Doctor’s Journey in Public Service
(No photo or signing lines)
MONDAY, NOVEMBER 4 12:00 PM
Julie Satow
When Women Ran Fifth Avenue: Glamour and Power at the Dawn of American Fashion
MONDAY, NOVEMBER 4
7:30 PM
Neil R. Gordon and Mike Petchenik Trial Watchers
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 6 12:00 PM
Rochelle B. Weinstein What You Do to Me: A Novel
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 6 7:30 PM
Yaniv Rivlin
Live Like a Startup: Take the Initiative and Transform Your Life
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 7 12:00 PM
Susan and David Schwartz
The Joy of Costco: A Treasure Hunt from A to Z
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 7 7:30 PM
TALK & DESSERT RECEPTION
Chef Moshe Basson
The Eucalyptus Cookbook Opening Night
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 9
8:00 PM
Michael Richards
Entrances and Exits
(No photo or signing lines)
SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 10
1:00 PM
Adam Nimoy
The Most Human: Reconciling with My Father, Leonard Nimoy
SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 10
7:30 PM
John Quiñones and María Elena Salinas
One Year in Uvalde: A Story of Hope and Resilience
MONDAY, NOVEMBER 11
12:00 PM
TWO AUTHORS, ONE PROGRAM
Lisa Barr
The Goddess of Warsaw: A Novel Talia Carner
The Boy with the Star Tattoo: A Novel
MONDAY, NOVEMBER 11
7:30 PM
THE SHARON V. FAGIN JOY OF READING PROGRAM
KRISTALLNACHT COMMEMORATION
Mitch Albom
The Little Liar: A Novel
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 12 12:00 PM
Jonathan Santlofer
The Lost Van Gogh: A Novel
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 12
7:30 PM
Amir Tibon
The Gates of Gaza: A Story of Betrayal, Survival, and Hope in Israel’s Borderlands
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 13
12:00 PM
Mary Glickman
Ain’t No Grave: A Novel
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 13
8:00 PM
Teaming with Israel: A Conversation with Noa Tishby
Presented by Israel ParaSport Center Team in Partnership with the MJCCA (No photo or signing lines)
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 14
12:00 PM
Andrew Mellen
Unstuff Your Life! Kick the Clutter Habit and Completely Organize Your Life for Good
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 14
7:30 PM
THE ESTHER G. LEVINE READ
Stuart E. Eizenstat
The Art of Diplomacy: How American Negotiators Reached Historic Agreements that Changed the World
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 15
12:00 PM
THE EVA & GEORGE STERN LECTURE SHABBAT LUNCHEON & TALK
Joan Nathan
My Life in Recipes: Food, Family, and Memories
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 16 8:00 PM
An Evening with Fauda’s Lior Raz, Israeli Television and Film Star (No photo or signing lines)
SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 17 1:00 PM
TWO AUTHORS, ONE PROGRAM
Arthur Smith
Reach: Hard Lessons and Learned Truths from a Lifetime in Television
Robert Steinfeld
3…2…1… We’re on the Air: An Inside Look at Sports Television, Journalism, and Gender Equity
SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 17
7:30 PM
Stay tuned for a special announcement!
‘Trial Watchers’ profiles a group of true crime enthusiasts
and those of several other trial watchers. He coupled those stories with co-author Petchenik’s look at other aspects of trial watching, including the psychology of it.
Gordon first asked Petchenik to help him develop a documentary series on true crime enthusiasts after his PR firm helped him out of a jam over a book he had written on the Murdaugh trial.
By Bob Pepalis
“Trial Watchers,” a new book by Augusta’s Neil Gordon with Sandy Springs’ Mike Petchenik, has its roots in a group of true crime enthusiasts including Gordon’s wife, Melissa.
The authors will discuss the origins of the nonfiction book at the festival on Nov. 4 at 7:30 p.m.
“My wife is the first trial watcher that I’ve ever known,” Gordon said.
Gordon had co-written “Behind the Doors of Justice” with Becky Hill, the former Clerk of Court for Colleton County where the Murdaugh trial was held. Allegations of her possibly tampering with jurors after the verdict resulted in Gordon discovering she had lifted an entire section of the book from another writer’s work. Publication of the book was subsequently withdrawn. Petchenik, now CEO of Petchenik Media Group, helped Gordon navigate the PR nightmare.
Local residents best know Petchenik from his news work with WSB-TV, but his relationship with Gordon goes much farther back, as Gordon hired him for his first broadcasting job in Augusta, GA.
Melissa told him she wanted to take on a personal project as a buddy trip with a fellow photographer to attend the Alex Murdaugh murder trial in the Low Country of South Carolina. She made that trip and met journalists and “regular people” who came to watch the trial.
Melissa gained empathy for members of the Murdaugh family at the trial. Twenty-five years earlier, she was attending the trial of her uncle, who, like Alex Murdaugh, was an attorney accused of murder. Melissa attended his trial for weeks in Augusta, at first believing he was innocent until the presentation of evidence and his ultimate conviction. Then she felt a sort of shame for being associated with her uncle.
“Trial Watchers” tells his wife’s story
Petchenik said the market for true crime is incredibly robust. The fans they encountered during the research for this book follow cases closely on Court TV, listening to podcasts or attending in person.
What they learned was that the people who became trial watchers weren’t doing it as a hobby. They found some common threads, starting with having had past trauma in their own lives. An example was two daughters whose father had been murdered in Atlanta about 30 years ago.
“The killer was never brought to justice, Petchenik said.
For years his daughters carried around a piece of paper with the accused killer’s name on it in their pocket because they wanted to exact revenge on that person, Petchenik said.
Authors Neil Gordon and Mike Petchenik. (Photo by Bob Pepalis)
Then the daughters started following trials. In the process, Petchenik said the daughters realized they were trying to achieve justice for their father by going to these trials to listen to the testimony.
A media psychologist he interviewed said the disproportionate number of women trial watchers want the good guy to prevail and the bad guy to go to prison.
“The other thing that we learned from talking to this psychologist was that it’s like a blueprint for them to learn how to not become the victims of a crime. So they watch these trials and they listen to the evidence and they can sort of learn how to
avoid becoming victims,” Petchenik said.
The authors have created a TrialWatchers.com website and will be sharing information in podcasts. Gordon said they’d have some sizzle reels of video episodes they plan for a docu-series.
“We’ll be writing articles and then we’re going to get the individual authors who wrote chapters to lend their voice to an audiobook and one,” he said.
Every week, they plan to produce these podcasts, articles, and bits of the docuseries. Memberships will be offered for $10 a month for exclusive content.
State Representative House District 80
NEIGHBOR, PARENT LEADER, BUSINESS OWNER
Thank you for electing me as your Georgia State Representative. I am asking for your support in returning me to the Gold Dome.
I will continue working:
■ To grow jobs keeping Georgia the #1 place to do business.
■ To prioritize an educational environment for our kids to excel.
■ To support our first responders to keep our communities safe.
Early Voting
OCT 15 - NOV 1
General Election NOVEMBER 5
The Trial Watchers team met Nancy Grace at CrimeCon, an annual convention that attracts many true crime enthusiasts. (Provided by TrialWatchers.com)
More to Explore: Kids, food, and conversations
All Aboard the Ark!: Family Storytelling Workshop
Sunday, Oct. 27, 10:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m.
This special event for children ages 3 to 6 and their grownups features awardwinning Jewish educator Jonathan S. Chapman, author of “Let There Be Play.”
Explore the story of Noah’s Ark through interactive storytelling and theatrical play. Make an animal character, set sail on the ark, and discover a rainbow after the storm. Connect and collaborate as a family while crafting and creating your way through the story.
A Conversation With Lior Raz
Saturday, Nov. 16, 8 p.m.
Born and raised in Jerusalem, Raz is an actor, screenwriter, and co-CEO of Faraway Road Productions. Raz is known
worldwide for portraying Doron Kabilio in the hit series, Fauda (Netflix), which he created with Avi Issacharoff. In addition to Fauda, the pair created Ghosts of Beirut for Showtime and the Netflix series, Hit and Run, starring Raz.
As an actor, Raz starred in films and series such as 6 Underground (Netflix), Operation Finale (Netflix), A Body That Works (Netflix) and Crowded Room (Apple). Raz will be seen next in projects such as Ridley Scott’s Gladiator 2.
As for roles outside the screen, Raz served as President of the Jury for the 2023 Cannseries Festival and is currently serving as an official ambassador for the International Judo Federation.
Teaming With Israel: A Conversation with Noa Tishby Wednesday, Nov. 13, 8 p.m.
New York Times bestselling author and Israel’s former Special Envoy for Combatting Antisemitism and Delegitimization will discuss her latest book “Uncomfortable Conversations With A Jew,” which she co-wrote with Emmanuel Acho.
The authors ask—and answer— questions that may make one squirm, but together they explain the tropes and catalysts of antisemitism in America today so that the nation can better understand what it is—and isn’t—and eradicate not
just hate towards Jews, but also learn how to have the conversations that will end hate toward all groups.
An Evening with Chef Moshe Basson
Thursday, Nov. 7, 7:30 p.m.
Chef Moshe Basson will be in conversation with Roey Shoshan, Senior Director of Philanthropic Engagement, discussing his book, “The Eucalyptus Cookbook.”
In this cookbook, Basson asks can you tell a life story through food? Can you convey religion, history, personal experiences of a specific place and time through culinary art? Can food have an impact that motivates people to come together and find common ground?
Basson unpacks all these questions and delves into the fascinating world of modern Jerusalem cuisine. Through the eyes of this renowned Jerusalem chef and owner of the Eucalyptus, an innovative restaurant that has been thriving for 36 years, personal stories come to life along with modern and ancient history and folklore.
A dessert reception will follow featuring recipes from the book.
A Conversation with Joan Nathan
Friday, Nov. 15, 12 p.m.
Food writer and educator Joan Nathan will discuss her new cookbook “My Life in Recipes: Food, Family & Memories” with Jeremy Salamon, chef/owner of Agi’s Counter.
The beloved authority on global Jewish cuisine uses 100 recipes to look back at her own family’s history— their arrival in America from Germany; her childhood in postwar New York and Rhode Island; her years in Paris, New York, Israel, and Washington, DC. Nathan shares her story—of marriage, motherhood, and a career as a food writer; of a life well-lived and centered around meals—and she punctuates it with all the foods she has come to love.
A Shabbat buffet lunch featuring recipes from the book will follow.
Explore.
BOOK FESTIVAL OF THE MJCCA 2024–2025 SPONSORS
Presenting Sponsors
Barbara and Ed Mendel
Platinum Sponsors
Lisa and Ron Brill Charitable Trust
The Hyman Foundation
The Eva and George Stern Family The Zaban Foundation The Fagin/Danz Family
Silver Sponsors
Sheryl S. Blechner
Marcy Louza and Mike Kenig
Bronze Sponsors
TUCKER
City council discusses capital improvement software, Town
Green
engineering
By Cathy Cobbs
Tucker City Council discussed a new software that will provide more public transparency regarding the city’s five-year capital program spending at its Sept. 24 meeting.
Tucker Finance Director Beverly Hilton and her staff outlined the features of ClearGOV software, including Capital Budgeting that will provide vital information on each project that can be accessed through the city’s website.
Currently, staff is entering data into the system, with completion in time for the presentation of the five-year capital improvement plan at the council’s Oct. 15 meeting.
“Since becoming a city in 2016, multiple studies have been conducted through a process that involves residents, business owners, and elected officials to provide guidance on the future growth and development of the city,” a staff memo presented at the meeting said. “The first Comprehensive Plan was established in 2018 and has been used to develop capital budgets beginning in FY2019. The time has come for the city to implement a plan for expenditures over a five-year period to prioritize projects with projected funding and cash flow.”
The council also approved $310,000 to relocate 21 utility poles on Old Norcross Road. City Engineer Ken Hildebrandt said many of the poles are one-to-two feet away from the travel lanes and they have been hit multiple times by vehicles.
The relocation of the poles will make way for the installation of sidewalks on the west side of Old Norcross Road from the Reid H. Cofer Library to Spring Glen Drive.
In other action, the council:
■ Approved $423,000 for a
construction, engineering and inspection contract with Lowe Engineers to manage the administration, construction engineering, inspection, and management of materials sampling and testing at the city’s newest park, Tucker Town Green.
■ Approved the sale of a public rightof-way between Fern Drive, Lawrenceville Highway, Montreal Road, and Montreal Circle for $50,000 to RMS South, Inc. which also owns the adjacent property at 1501 Montreal Circle. The buyer intends to build a medical building on the two properties.
■ Announced that the next session of University of Government Affairs will be held on Oct. 17. Officials will discuss capital improvement projects.
At its upcoming Oct. 15 meeting, Tucker City Council is expected to discuss a request for a Special Land Use Permit (SLUP) to allow for a 36-unit multi-family development at 4419 Cowen Road.
The applicant, listed as Kevin Maher of Placemaker Design, wants to convert an existing 29,000-square-foot vacant office building into 15 one-bedroom and 21 two-bedroom apartments. According to planning documents, the office building was constructed in 1974 and updated in 1992.
The property is near Enzo’s Pizza and abuts four residential parcels on Dillard Street. Because of its location next to the residential units, a SLUP is required. The Tucker Planning Commission approved the SLUP at its Sept. 19 meeting.
Residential development in the downtown area has been the topic of conversation with the Tucker City Council. It recently held a public hearing regarding long-debated changes to multifamily density, townhome widths, and building heights in several downtown districts.
OCTOBER HAPPENINGS
A rendering of Tucker Town Green.
ART & ENTERTAINMENT
Atlanta Opera to transform Bobby Jones Clubhouse into new performing arts center
By Collin Kelley
The Atlanta Opera will transform the historic Bobby Jones Clubhouse into a performing arts center with a recital hall, theatre venue, education spaces, and administrative and rehearsal areas for the Opera.
Located in Peachtree Battle on Woodward Way along the Atlanta Beltline, the facility is expected to cost $45 million with core funding already secured, according to a press release from the Opera. Announcements of the donors and a capital campaign will be announced soon, and the project is estimated to be completed by the summer of 2027.
The long-vacant clubhouse, which served the Bobby Jones Golf Course in Atlanta Memorial Park, was built in the Grecian revival in the early 1900s.
Allen Post, managing partner of the Atlanta-based architecture firm, Post
Loyal, is leading the team designing the Opera’s new home. Preliminary plans call for restoration of the exterior of the historic clubhouse, while a state-of-theart facility will face the Atlanta BeltLine. The total site area encompasses 4.7 acres of green space, the center, and parking.
The 17,000 square foot clubhouse will transform into a 56,000+ square foot complex housing a 200-seat recital hall, administrative offices, a costume shop, a film studio, a rehearsal hall, and garden spaces. Theater Projects and A’kustiks, LLC, are developing the recital hall as a premiere venue to present classical singers and musicians, jazz ensembles, lectures and spoken word artists, and other performing arts.
Live music by the Swinging Bavarians and Auf Geht’s German Beers • Authentic Tastes • Polka Lessons
OCTOBER 19 & 20
“This new, permanent home for The Atlanta Opera ensures the right fit for our current and future growth,” Tomer Zvulun, the Carl W. Knobloch, Jr. General & Artistic Director of The Atlanta Opera, said in a statement. “A state-of-the art facility in this park setting will be a source of creativity for our local and visiting musicians. It is perfectly positioned to help us serve audiences and collaborators in our beautiful city and beyond.”
The Opera said it will continue to host its main-stage productions at the Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre.
The clubhouse has been in limbo since 2018 after a nonprofit called the Haynes Manor Recital Hall Foundation of Atlanta was created with plans to turn the building into a recital hall.
According to the press release, the Opera’s search for a new facility converged with those of the Haynes Manor Foundation. The Atlanta Opera has subsequently worked closely with the Haynes Manor Foundation, the Peachtree Battle Alliance, and the Atlanta Memorial Park Conservancy to plan the new space.
Renderings courtesy The Atlanta Opera
Mahjong Revival: A game for all ages and skill levels
By Logan C. Ritchie
Mahjong harkens an image of the 1950s, when Jewish and Asian women built community while playing the tile game, dishing gossip, and eating snacks.
A resurgence of mahjong has breathed new life into Atlanta social circles, from kids playing the fastpaced Hong Kong version to neighbors drinking mocktails on the back porch while fine-tuning their skills.
The ancient Chinese game is played with a little luck and a little strategy. Each player at a table of four is dealt a hand of 13 tiles marked with symbols. There are three suits called craks, bams, and dots, plus dragons, winds, and flowers. The goal is to trade and collect tiles, complete one of the patterns listed on the official score card, and be the first to declare, “Mahjong!”
Players of strategy card games like Rummy, Bridge, and Spades will see the similarities to mahjong. It’s complicated – and there are a lot of rules to track –but mahjong is not difficult to learn.
Mahjong classes have taken off in metro Atlanta. Shawn Martin is the owner of Two Sparrows Mahjong with her daughter, Faye. Not only does the pair teach classes, they have also launched their own line of artistic playing cards, mats, and yakitori markers. See, mahjong is a game with adorable accessories.
Lucy’s Market in Buckhead is widely known for its mahjong tiles, which can cost $400 depending on the material and the number of tile layers. Vintage tiles are being sold online for $500 and up. Lucy’s offers carrying cases, table cloths, mats, as well as themed cards and napkins.
Together, they’re hosting [they hosted] Brookhaven Bam Bird Day on Sunday, Sept. 29 at Blackburn Park for an open play day. Mahjong guru Michele Frizzell will be [was] there to share tips. Mahjong games are popping up all over the city. Woodward Academy, a private school in College Park, hosted two casual play events for parents during the summer. Experienced players paired with the newbies, and everyone got to know other parents from the school that ranges from pre-K to 12th grade. Guided play events are being held in
Chamblee and Dunwoody restaurants, Fulton County libraries, senior living facilities, meetup groups, online, and everywhere in between.
In August, a local Jewish organization hosted a game of mahjong billed as “selfcare Sunday” for parents of young kids. More than 50 people showed up. The format was based on neighborhoods, so parents could continue playing with new friends.
Making new connections is one reason Celesta Kemerer was drawn to the game. She said playing mahjong satisfies her passion for games, connection, and hosting. Kemerer hired Martin from Two Sparrows Mahjong to teach 16 women
pop-ups. Mahjong came to her at the right time of life, she said.
“As a mom, I’ve abandoned a lot of things that were important to me. Now I have time to reignite some passions,” she said.
After obsessively reading about mahjong, teaching her husband and two kids how to play, and playing regularly with her neighbors, Kemerer turned mahjong into a side job. She started House of Mahjong ATL, offering lessons to beginners and intermediate players as well as advanced strategy classes.
from Candler Park and Lake Claire how to play on her back porch. With so many neighbors learning together, Kemerer knew she’d always be able to get a game going.
“I was hooked from the beginning,” said Kemerer, an only child who grew up on a farm.
Kemerer played a lot of Euchre at the University of Michigan. She went on to live in New York City for seven years, traveling to competitive game night
Kemerer has big plans to bring mahjong to the wider community with game night through Candler Park Neighborhood Organization and at Vin wine bar in Edgewood.
“A big dream I have is for us to connect with each other and to drive play within our communities. Rarely do we find opportunities in our lives to put down screens and connect in person over a shared interest,” said Kemerer.
A group of parents from Woodward Academy learned to play mahjong over the summer. (Photo by Logan C. Ritchie)
The National Mahjong League issues a new card each year showing the rules of the game. (Photo by Logan C. Ritchie)
Customers paying their taxes at the Memorial Dr. tax office will use the UGA Extension entrance located at the front of the building from Nov 4 – 15, (weekdays)
EXTENDED HOURS: Nov. 12 – 15 from 8 AM until 6 PM.
Clarimont Rd. and South DeKalb Mall until 4:30 PM. Closed Nov 11 for Veterans Day
Know before you go:
Second installment is due Nov. 15. The first installment was due Sept. 30. Bills for City of Atlanta properties DeKalb are due Nov. 15.
Bring your tax bill stub and a valid Georgia ID or Georgia driver’s license
Acceptable payment methods include credit/de card, check or money order Processing fees app credit/debit card payments.
Parking is available near the UGA Extension Serv facing Memorial Drive. Disabled customers may the Property Tax entrance off Northern Ave. Security screening is required for service.
Payment methods:
ONLINE: Visit publicaccess.dekalbtax.org. Credit card payments are accepted; processing fees ap There is no service fee for paying by e-Check.
PAY-BY-PHONE: Call 770-336-7500, Monday–Fri
8 AM–5 PM Payment does not apply to prior yea delinquent payments Credit/debit card paymen are accepted; processing fees apply
DROP BOX: 24-hour drop box available at all thr office locations. Payment must be placed in the by the due date; cash not accepted.
IN PERSON: Central Office at 4380 Memorial Dri Decatur, GA 30032; North Office at 3653 Clairmo Road, Chamblee, GA 30341; South DeKalb Mall a Candler Road, Suite 66, Decatur, GA 30034
MAIL: Must be postmarked by the USPS by the d date to avoid late fees; metered or kiosk postage dates are not accepted as proof of timely payment Please consider alternative payment methods due to ongoing mail delivery issues.
Immersive ‘Impressionists’ exhibit opens in Atlanta
By Cathy Cobbs
“Tonight with the Impressionists” –an immersive, virtual reality exhibition at the Eclipso Centre in Atlanta – combines education, history, vivid graphics, and a wild ride into the minds of artists like Claude Monet, Pierre August-Renoir, Berthe Morisot, and Edgar Degas.
Based on the events surrounding the night of April 15, 1874, the first-ever Impressionist exhibit in Paris at the Musée d’Orsay, the 45-minute experience allows you to “meet” the artists, see their works, and be taken on a tour of the museum, led by your virtual reality guide.
It begins on a busy street in Paris, clogged with horse carriages. A helpful guide walks attendees to and through
the museum. Along the journey (yes, you actually walk around the virtual museum with plenty of useful arrows and prompts to move to the next illuminated blue box), visitors are introduced to the artists, provided background information into their processes, and then allowed to eavesdrop on their conversations.
But the tour doesn’t just stick to the Musée d’Orsay. There’s also side trips to Frédéric Bazille’s studio, Monet and Renoir’s Grenouillère, and Monet’s Le Havre, where “Impression, Sunrise” was created.
“Tonight with the Impressionists” is ongoing at Eclipso Centre, 550 Somerset Terrace NE in Atlanta, near the Beltline. Tickets are available at theimpressionistsexperience.com/atlanta.
Payments made in the office, by phone or online are posted same day; checks, including e-checks, are posted in 5 business days Before cancelling a payment, please contact the office with payment concerns to avoid NSF and/or late fees.
To check your bill online or for more information, visit the Tax Commissioner's Office website: Follow us! @DeKalbTaxGA
404-298-4000 | proptax@dekalbcountyga.gov
ROAM THE
The Lovett Admission Office invites you and your family to experience our beautiful 100-acre campus campus and discover our classrooms and facilities at
Roam the Riverbank on Sunday, November 10!
Visit lovett.org/admission or scan the QR Code to learn more.
Silver Streak
By
Senior apartments Veranda at Assembly now leasing in Doraville
By Collin Kelley
Construction is completed at Veranda at Assembly, a 100-unit affordable senior living community in Doraville, for adults 55 and older.
Apartments are now available for lease, with a two-bedroom, two-bath unit listed for $1,860 per month.
McShane Construction Company built the residence on behalf of The Integral Group.
Located on the northeast side of Atlanta, the development includes a four-story wood frame building with a masonry and siding exterior designed by architecture firm Dynamik Design.
Community amenities include a bistro/café, fitness room, yoga room, fourth-floor outdoor terrace, and dog park. Units are offered in one- and twobedroom floorplans and feature granite countertops, kitchen islands, Energy-Star
ceilings, and luxury vinyl tile
“Veranda at Assembly offers modern apartments for seniors in a convenient location off Interstate 285 and Peachtree Boulevard,” Brian Wood, Vice President SE Operations at McShane, said in the release. “We’re grateful for the opportunity to work with The Integral Group again and are confident that this building will serve the Doraville community well.”
Veranda at Assembly (Courtesy The Integral Group)
Longtime regulars purchase The Colonnade, vowing to preserve its legacy
By Beth McKibben
The sale of The Colonnade is complete and the new owners chosen.
Jodi and David Stallings handed the keys over to longtime regulars Lewis Jeffries and Paul Donahue, who will become only the third owners of the Cheshire Bridge Road dining institution in its 97-year history.
Earlier this summer, the Stallings announced the sale of the nearly centuryold restaurant, which first opened in 1927 at the corner of Lindbergh Drive and Piedmont Avenue, stating that they aimed to find new owners willing to preserve The Colonnade’s legacy in Atlanta.
Jeffries and Donahue said regulars should not expect to find any major changes at The Colonnade, other than some rearrangement in seating, the future return of menu favorites and dining options like Saturday lunch, and eventually a minor refresh of the interiors.
Understanding the legacy
Jeffries and Donahue, who own Lingering Shade Social Club on Irwin Street, have been dining at The Colonnade for decades.
Jeffries, a third-generation Atlantan, has been eating at The Colonnade with his family since before the restaurant relocated to Cheshire Bridge in 1962. It was his late mother’s favorite Atlanta restaurant and one he took her to often, especially in the year before her death. Jeffries recalls dining at The Colonnade with his grandparents when he was a
child and noted that the restaurant opened the same year his mother was born.
Donahue, a Waterloo, Iowa, native, moved to Atlanta in 1985 to work as an interior designer and has been dining at The Colonnade for more than three decades.
“Like many people, it’s been a part of our lives
for a long, long time. There are family histories here. We’ve heard so many stories from friends and people we’ve met over the last couple of weeks about their connections to The Colonnade,” said Donahue of taking over its ownership.
The duo also recognize the importance of the restaurant’s staff to the business and to its regulars. Many employees have been with The Colonnade for decades. This includes Rhea Merritt, who joined the restaurant in the early 1970s and is often behind the bar whipping up martinis. The first person people typically see when they walk into The Colonnade is Randell Stenson. He’s been greeting diners at the host stand for 32 years.
Retta Black bartended and manned the cash register at The Colonnade for 25 years before the restaurant began
accepting credit cards in 2014. Now she works for Jeffries and Donahue as head bartender at Lingering Shade.
“We’ve known some of the staff for years and years and years and they’ve all become very important to us. Everything at The Colonnade is so interrelated,” Donahue said. “That’s why it has to keep going in Atlanta.”
Understanding how cherished The Colonnade is to multiple generations of Atlantans (both new and native) is part of what prompted Stallings to approach Jeffries and Donahue almost a year ago.
Despite their familiarity with the staff and being friends with many regulars, Jeffries and Donahue admit they have a lot to learn about owning and operating The Colonnade. The staff seem supportive of the ownership transition, and even a little bit excited about what the future holds for the restaurant.
Jeffries and Donahue plan to spend the fall evaluating staff and operational needs and looking at the books, starting with analyzing the point of sales system (POS).
It’s not sexy work, but necessary to ensure The Colonnade continues operating efficiently, Jeffries and Donahue said. But people can expect to see them in the dining room greeting people and introducing themselves as the new owners.
What’s old is what’s new again
Save a few tweaks here and there, the menu will remain intact. Part of evaluating the POS system includes understanding what’s selling well and what could be improved upon in terms of the menu. However, regulars can rest assured that dishes like the yeast rolls, fried okra, fried shrimp (Donahue’s favorite), and chicken fried chicken (Jeffries favorite) won’t be going anywhere. Drinks like the Vesper and those ice-cold martinis will stay put, too.
“We want to bring back a few things that went away prior to COVID and see where business might be increasing to expand hours in the future,” Jeffries said. “We’d love to see The Colonnade open seven days a week again for breakfast, Saturday lunch, and dinner, but certainly getting back to seven nights a week at some point.”
Halloween night at The Colonnade, when everyone from staff to patrons dressed in costume, might also return
this year.
As for the refreshed design, Donahue will tap into his interior decorating expertise, much of which involved sprucing up drab country clubs around the South. While they don’t want to change the cozy, comforting vibe of The Colonnade, Jeffries and Donahue do want to bring more vibrancy into the restaurant.
Jodi Stallings always referred to The Colonnade as a “country club without a membership” and Donahue said that statement resonated with him. He’ll take cues from the building’s mid-century leanings, as well as design elements from 1960s vacation destinations like Palm Beach and Palm Springs. The goal is to bring “fun things” into the space without losing the restaurant’s soul. Nothing too wild, Donahue insisted.
“She’s an old girl and it’s about time for her to have a new dress,” Donahue said. “We’re going to try to make the overflow seating in the back dining room look less like a banquet room and incorporate booths to match the ones in the main dining room.”
Even The Colonnade’s brown paper placemats will receive a little boost. The duo is playing around with different color schemes to refresh the design of the restaurant’s iconic placemats.
On approaching 100 years of The Colonnade
When asked why they think generations of Atlantans continue to dine at The Colonnade, Jeffries simply stated that the restaurant offers people consistency and comfort. It’s a constant in many people’s lives, often tied to their family histories which provides the touchstone or connection to loved ones and times gone by.
“The Colonnade also serves good food. It’s not fine dining by any means, but it’s food people like and it’s approachable,” Donahue added. “We’re really excited to get in there and get this restaurant ready for its hundredth birthday by reenergizing the staff and getting The Colonnade back to 100 percent after COVID and two bridge fires.”
One thing’s for sure, Jeffries and Donahue promised, The Colonnade’s 100th birthday party in 2027 will be one hell of a bash.
Paul Donahue (left) and Lewis Jeffries (right) are the new owners of The Colonnade. (Photo by Jaime Pryor)
Photo by Beth McKibben
The Move: Shoyu tamago, S’Pizza pop-up, nopales tacos
“The Move” is your monthly guide to the top food finds from Senior Editor Beth McKibben, who oversees restaurant and dining coverage at Rough Draft.
Ruby Chow’s
620 Glen Iris Drive, Old Fourth Ward rubychows.com
Located across from Dancing Goats Coffee and Ponce City Market at the corner of Glen Iris and North Avenue, Ruby Chow’s features some of Chef Guy Wong’s greatest hits from his past restaurants, including the shoyu tamago from Miso Izakaya. The shoyu tamago became an instant icon when Wong introduced it at Miso Izakaya. It also brought people out in droves who came to get one last taste of his take on the Japanese soy sauce egg before the restaurant closed on Edgewood in 2018.
When Wong announced he was opening Ruby Chow’s just two years later, everyone wanted to know if the shoyu tamago would make the menu. The answer was a resounding, “Yes!”
Wong keeps his approach to the Japanese-style soft-boiled egg pretty classic. A peeled egg slowly boils for around five minutes in soy sauce, tinting the egg’s white
exterior a light shade of beige. The egg soaks up the sweet saltiness of the soy sauce as it steeps, while a quick boil keeps the yolk runny. The shoyu tamago is then placed atop a crispy cake of sticky rice and split open to allow the yolk to run down.
S’Pizza at Fellows Cafe 1088 Green Street, Roswell fellowscafe.com
Regulars of Fellows Cafe in downtown Roswell already know what takes place every Friday night inside the yellow house on Green Street. But for those who aren’t up to speed, the quaint breakfast and brunch cafe transforms into a bustling pizzeria slinging pizzas and cheesy, deep-dish pinwheel lasagnas for dinner paired with beer, natural wine, and Aperol spritzes.
The dining room was packed during my recent visit to the cafe’s Friday night pop-up, S’Pizza. Tables included couples on date nights, parents enjoying a pizza night with the kids, and friends meeting up for dinner and drinks after work.
I made a reservation for four via Resy and pre-ordered two pizzas, including a pepperoni pizza topped with local cup-andchar pepperoni and a vegetarian pie topped with mushrooms, green peppers, onions, and cherry tomatoes. There’s also a seasonal pizza, which was peach and prosciutto (pictured) the night I visited. This week it’s meatball parm. What separates a good pizza from a great pizza is the crust. Fellows has its pizza crust on lock, using the same flavorful sourdough recipe for baking its breads and toasts.
Mascogo Tacos
910 W College Avenue, Decatur instagram.com/mascogotacos
El Tesoro owners Alan Raines and Samantha Eaves recently handed over the Tortuga y Chango space on West College Avenue in Decatur to Chef Craig Headspeth. The chef and his pop-up, Mascogo Tacos, took up residence in the kitchen of the former mezcal bar last year and grew a regular following.
Now Headspeth and Mascogo Tacos occupy the entire space, once home to Lawrence’s Cafe, where the chef serves everything from mole negro de pollo to his fantastic tacos. That includes Headspeth’s signature taco: marinated grilled nopales or cactus pads.
Tender, grilled strips of cactus pads come marinated and piled onto a corn tortilla garnished with white onions, cilantro, and salsa verde. Expect the texture of cooked green beans but with a zesty tang.
I ordered three tacos on my most recent visit, including the cactus, pollo volcano, and
al pastor. The al pastor was a standout — so juicy and packed with savoriness. Al pastor can easily dry out if it’s over-roasted or if it’s quick-grilled on a hot griddle. Headspeth’s version was an A+ in every way for me.
Three tacos cost $12. Pair it with a mezcal cocktail or the daily agua fresca, which can be made boozy by request.
When you arrive, head to the counter, tell them the name on the order, grab drinks, and take a seat. Our pizzas hit the table within five minutes.
S’Pizza’s pies serve between three and four people and range from $16 to $26 each. Order two pizzas to make sure everyone gets at least two slices.
Oct. 26 | 4 – 7 pm Join us in Dunwoody for a lively celebration of community, creativity and our 5th annual Amplify mural unveiling. We’ll have it all—art, tequila, taqueria bar, and live music!
The shoyu tamago at Ruby Chow’s is one of Chef Guy Wong’s signature dishes from his Miso Izakaya days. (Photo by Beth McKibben)
Every Friday night pizzeria pop-up S’Pizza pops up at Fellows Cafe in Roswell. (Provided by Fellows Cafe)
One of Mascogo Taco’s signature tacos is the nopales (grilled cactus pads) tacos. (Provided by Mascogo Tacos)
Bocado reopens in Sandy Springs, adds pasta and pizzas to menu
By Beth McKibben
Bocado reopened in its new Sandy Springs location on Sept. 20, and the restaurant features a refreshed menu that now includes pasta and woodfired pizzas.
Located at 6300 Powers Ferry Road in Powers Ferry Village, owner Brian Lewis said this latest chapter of Bocado will focus on highlighting “simple, good ingredients” in its dishes. Pizzas come
served on 72-hour, naturally leavened sourdough crusts made with flour imported from a small farm in Italy. Toppings like mozzarella and tangy, sweet tomatoes come from Italy’s Campania region.
In addition to pizza and entrees of lasagna and carbonara, the menu also includes wood-fired filet mignon, red snapper, and other new dishes like a lobster roll, grilled artichokes, and beef carpaccio.
One notable absence from the menu is the Bocado double-stack cheeseburger, first created by Chef Todd Ginsberg
when the restaurant opened on Howell Mill Road in 2009. It became a runaway sensation and one of Atlanta’s most sought-after burgers. Lewis told Rough Draft, however, that the burger will pop up from time to time as a dinner special. Bocado closed after 12 years on Howell Mill Road in 2021. In 2022, Lewis dropped “Burger” from the name of the Alpharetta location, hoping to return the restaurant’s menu to its origins in Atlanta. A year later, Lewis closed Bocado in Alpharetta. At the time of the closure, he announced plans to reopen Bocado in Sandy Springs.
Steak and Grace restaurant coming to Dunwoody Village YOUR PLACE FOR:
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Learn more about all the amazing things Johns Creek has to offer.
By Cathy Cobbs
Steak and Grace, opening in Dunwoody Vill later this year in the former First Watch space, aims to be a more affordable neighborhood steakhouse, owner Barry Mills said.
Mills, who also owns Big B’s Fish Joint at Chastain Market Shopping Center on Roswell Road, said he wants to differentiate this “upscale-casual” restaurant from other traditional steakhouses around town that often serve as special occasion destinations.
“We wanted to make it more affordable [and] the kind of place that’s a weekly dining spot, not one you only visit on your birthday and anniversary,” Mills said.
To that end, the menu will consist of “composed” dishes that include a side and a starch, rather than the a la carte options typically found on most steakhouse menus.
“As I’ve gotten older, I am moving away from being ‘the next hottest restaurant,’” he added. “I want to run a restaurant that has some longevity; a place where I get to see the same people every week.”
With construction already underway,
Mills said he’s hopeful the restaurant will open by the end of 2024.
Executive chef Conor O’Reilly, formerly of Fifth Group Restaurants, will lead the kitchen at Steak and Grace, which will serve lunch and dinner and offer a weekend brunch. Look for a pared down menu of salads, burgers, and sandwiches at lunch.
While the menu heavily features steak, people can expect seafood and chicken dishes at Steak and Grace. According to Mills, fresh steaks will be delivered daily to the restaurant, and all sides, sauces, and desserts will be made in-house. Look for wine, beer, and cocktails from the bar and weekly happy hour specials.
Big B’s has a similar vibe to what Mills wants to achieve at Steak and Grace in Dunwoody Village. As with the upcoming steakhouse, Big B’s is located in a neighborhood-like setting. He’s also pleased Steak and Grace is located across the parking lot from David Abes’s collection of restaurants at the Dunwoody Village shopping center.
“I like what David is doing and I feel that we will fit into the neighborhood vibe nicely.”
Margherita pizza topped with sausage. (Provided by Bocado)
Steak and Grace will offer another dining option to the growing restaurant cluster in Dunwoody Village. (Photo by Brandon Amato)
Atlanta real estate icon Jenny Pruitt dead at 85
By Collin Kelley
Atlanta real estate giant Jenny Pruitt died Sept. 27 after a battle with cancer. She was 85.
A third-generation Atlantan, Pruitt was considered an integral player in the growth and development of metro Atlanta over the last four decades. She began her real estate career in 1968 before establishing Jenny Pruitt & Associates in 1988.
In 2007, she and her business partner, David Boehmig, opened Atlanta Fine Homes – Sotheby’s International Realty. The company’s 575 agents are among the most accomplished real estate professionals in metro Atlanta, with more than $3.7 billion in sales in 2023.
She is the recipient of numerous accolades, including the Atlanta REALTORS Association’s E.A. Isakson Award; the Sally Washburn Lifetime Achievement Award; and REALTOR® of the Year – 1980; the Georgia Small Business Person of the Year; and is an inductee of the Business Hall of Fame at Georgia State University, the YWCA Academy of Women Achievers and the Junior Achievement Hall of Fame.
Pruitt was the 2016 recipient of the Four Pillar Award from The Council for Quality Growth, celebrating her philanthropic
endeavors and significant contributions to metro Atlanta’s economic development.
She served on the Board of Councilors for The Carter Center and the Board of Directors of the Metro Atlanta Chamber of Commerce. She was also a Director of the Buckhead Coalition.
In 2015, Pruitt released a book, “Beneath His Wings,” which follows her walk of faith in the marketplace, while offering guidance and inspiration.
Pruitt and her husband, Bob, were married for 58 years with two daughters, seven grandchildren, and one greatgranddaughter.
“Jenny Pruitt was a trailblazer in real estate, had a heart and compassion for all, and was committed to the best for those she led. Her family, friends, and Atlanta will miss her greatly,” Council for Quality Growth President and CEO Michael Paris said in a statement.
In a Facebook post, Atlanta journalist Jeff Hullinger said, “Ms. Pruitt was civically everywhere, newspaper, magazines, she was entrenched in all the charities, an engine for raising money in the community through her vast connections.”
Heritage Golf Course denied rezoning for new homes
By Cathy Cobbs
The Gwinnett Board of Commissioners voted unanimously Sept. 24 to deny a zoning change and 10 variances that would pave the way for a subdivision containing 229 for-sale homes on a Tucker-area tract of land that currently serves as a nine-hole golf course.
The zoning change had previously been passed by the Gwinnett County Planning Commision, but then deferred without explanation at the full commission board meeting in August.
The rezoning proposal from R-200 (Residential) to TND (Traditional Neighborhood Development) for 46 acres of land would allow for the construction of 88 single-family homes, 40 duplexes and 109 townhomes.
Heritage Golf Links currently has an 18-hole course and an adjoining nine-hole course. The entire course straddles both DeKalb County and Gwinnett County. Golf course representatives have said they need to sell the land to make extensive repairs to the course, including a dam repair that could top $2 million.
The project, called Fairway Park, has been proposed by Parkland Communities, an Alpharetta-based company that has built communities in Lawrenceville, Fayette County, and Roswell.
Surrounding neighbors, who have formed a group called “Say No to Parkland” claim that they aren’t opposed to developing
the land, but want to reduce the project’s density and rezone the property to R-75 instead of TND. During each step in the zoning process, dozens of residents opposed to the development have shown up to meetings dressed in red.
In 2021, the group successfully fought a much denser development proposed by Lanner Homes, which would have contained more than 400 units and a retail component.
At the Sept. 24 meeting, Parkland President Jim Jacobi and attorney Michelle Battle argued that they have tried to work with the neighbors to find a viable compromise, but felt that the R-75 stipulation contradicts Gwinnett’s land use plan for future development.
Jacobi also said that residential development is sparse, while the need for housing in the area continues to rapidly outgrow supply.
“We are offering different housing types that will appeal to everyone from millennials to boomers,” he said. “We’re building a sense of community here, which is what people want.”
Jeff Cleveland, representing the opposition, said the group believes that the density of the project and the number of variances are “too much of an ask.”
“I’ve been told not to say the word ‘greed, profit,’ or ‘money,’ so I will just stick to the word ‘density,’” Cleveland said. “Rezoning from R-100 to TND is just too drastic and too dense.”
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