Chatt Hills News ~ April, 2021

Official Publication of the City of Chattahoochee Hills, GA

CHATT HILLS NEWS

Issue 4 Volume 2 www.chatthillsga.us

APRIL 2021

Features

Events

Arts in Chatt Hills

City Government

Our Community Page 3

What’s going on Locally?

Page 11

Local Artists Page 16

Stay Informed Page 20

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MAYOR TOM REED

Newnan Tornado The unfortunate circumstances of Thursday night’s tornado in Newnan have brought several things into focus.

First, to all of our friends in Newnan and Coweta County that have been gravely affected by this storm, know that we are with you, that we are here to support you, and that we will help you get through this. Our public safety teams have been working alongside those of our partners in Palmetto and Fairburn, assisting our friends in Newnan and Coweta County public safety in removing trees, conducting search and rescue operations and safety checks, providing medical support, and more.

One thought: We never know when tragedy might strike—and this fact makes it all the more important to remember that we are neighbors, and as neighbors we are our brothers’ keepers. At any given moment, our neighbors may need us, or we may need them. Petty differences that keep us divided drop away in times of need. We would do well to focus on what we have in common and how we can be of service to each other.

The other thought was inspired by a report I got from Fire Chief Greg Brett, which follows: General comment on damage in Newnan: "The damage is absolutely dumbfounding—old homes on Lagrange and Greenville streets, hundreds of old, very large trees across houses and roadways. We would cut one massive tree—trees three and four feet in diameter—only to drive fifteen yards and need to do it all over again. Newnan residents were seen walking down the streets with suitcases in the rain trying to get to an emergency shelter. Local Fire, Police, EMS, DNR, GFC, GSP and many other agency personnel swamped the Coweta operations center during Friday.

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"Heartbroken, tired, proud to serve."

If you’ve come to council meetings, you’ve heard me speak often of my awe of the men and women of our public safety departments: the folks who choose to run toward what everyone else is running from. No one is perfect, but they are the best among us, and I want them to know how much I recognize and appreciate the service mentality that drives their efforts.

And I want to recognize Chief Greg Brett personally, as exemplifying the very best of that service mentality. He wouldn’t want me to single him out; like any good leader, he would want to credit his team (and rightly so—they are awesome). But good teams come from good leaders, and Greg is one of the best, a conscientious, brave, giving, and good man, and a true servant-leader. I’m proud to have been in the position to hire him as Chief, and proud to be the Mayor of a city that has leaders like Greg (and Darold, Robbie, Jim, Dana, Mike and so many more) running the show.

We are so lucky to live where we live, amongst the people we do. Let’s reflect on this as we provide help and comfort to our neighbors in need.

Please be safe, and well. Mayor Tom Reed Drone Footage

https://www.nytimes.com/2021/03/25/us/tornadoes-southeast.html

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OUR COMMUNITY Bridging the Gap

By Jaceey Sebastian

The Grocery Box Giveaway was truly a pleasure—and an awesome example of a community working together. After working in the Fulton County Commissioner's Office, I became aware of the food insecurity in South Fulton County.

Since Thanksgiving I have organized 3 food Giveaways of 300-400 turkeys/boxes. All of the people who received the food lived within a one-mile radius--and most recipients were from single parent or job-loss circumstances. The boxes for this Giveaway had cases of milk, onions, 32 oz smoothies, potatoes, oranges, and sausages.

Thank you so much my fellow bridge-builders: Sister Victoria Platzer and brothers Joey Mitchell, David Daniels, George Denusis, Marc Schwartz, Tom Blum, Lionel Brown, Rusty Zarse, and Peter Clemens. Your effort to collect and distribute 300 boxes of groceries to our neighbors helped make it a success. A very special thanks to my pastor Dr. Kevin W. Earley for his willingness to share the blessings with not only our community but with others around Atlanta. Great work and ministry, building bridges and communities!

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OUR COMMUNITY

The Terminus performance of "Long Ago and Only Once" was streamed during the pandemic.

Serenbe Institute Implements New Policies And Programs To Rebuild Its Environment Lois Reitzes interviews Jennifer Bauer-Lyons

www.wabe.org/serenbeinstitute-implements-newpolicies-and-programs/

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By Summer Evans • March 11, 2021

Serenbe is a neighborhood on the edge of metro Atlanta in Fulton County. The residential community offers a connection between arts and the environment. Jennifer Bauer-Lyons is the executive director of the Serenbe Institute for Art, Culture, and the Environment, and she joined “City Lights” host Lois Reitzes to discuss their newly created programs and partnerships.

The Serenbe Institute is comprised of two divisions: Terminus Modern Ballet Theatre and AIR Serenbe, which is their artist-in-residence program. They also manage a new program called A.C.E. “This is our outreach program, specifically for the residents of South Fulton County, and that program brings free arts, culture, and environmental programming to schools and nonprofits. We partner with the City of

South Fulton, with Union City, with Fairburn, and it just kind of runs a gamut with all the different partners we have,” said Bauer-Lyons.

INTERVIEW HIGHLIGHTS How Serenbe pivoted during the pandemic: “We were fortunate that we received a large grant from the NEA (National Endowment for the Arts) to continue some of the programs virtually. We launched a concert series last August that was housed out of the Southwest Arts Center, in partnership with the city of South Fulton. We brought those concerts to everyone live-streamed. We’ve also had a variety of other programs that we

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OUR COMMUNITY

John Goode AIR Artist working with kids.

Terminus rehearsal

were able to do virtually, everything from story-tellers to environmental lectures.'”

Last June, The Serenbe Institute for Art, Culture & the Environment decided to lay off the entire staff of the Serenbe Playhouse, amid charges of racism.

Bauer-Lyons explains what occurred: “Last summer, it came to light that there were several issues of unfair work practices, unsafe work practices, gender discrimination, and racial discrimination under the leadership of the previous artistic director Brian Clowdus.

The Serenbe Institute Board made the really tough decision of really needing to reset with the Serenbe Playhouse. So, due to that and everything that was happening in the world with the pandemic, it was necessary to lay off that entire team,” said Bauer-Lyons.

She continued, “Since then, the entire staff and board have been working towards creating a more equitable and inclusive organization. That really stemmed from taking a look at our theatre division, The Playhouse. But it really has spread across all of our divisions. We’ve taken a hard look at everything.”

Bauer-Lyons said there will be news in April of the launch of a new theatre company.

New practices and policies implemented to improve Serenbe’s environment:

Serenbe Playhouse (diversity, equity, inclusion) professional and consultant.

We started a conversation with her about taking a look at how we were doing and doing a landscape of what our current practices were. We had already started those conversations a year ago when all of this came to light about what was happening with The Playhouse. She has been on this journey with us over the last year to really help us create a more diverse and equitable organization,” said Bauer-Lyons.

She continued, “One of the things we did was pull together an artistic values task force made up of a lot of different members of the Atlanta theater community. We met with them over the course of five different sessions, and what came out of it was a new artistic values statement, which talks a lot about how we should be treating people and how we should be creating an environment that is accessible to everyone. One of the things that is really important to me is really decentering this notion of having an artistic and managing leader that makes all the decisions. I’m very focused on making this a community-inspired and community-designed, lead organization.

And what I mean by that is making sure we have an artistic committee that is going to decide what that programming is and help evaluate that programming.”

You can find the list of Serenbe’s upcoming events here: https://www.serenbeinstitute.org/events?fbclid=IwAR0O8kO7EgGYDzwuuJxrTYpI50Cv3RFMM_3tjDg3GVl-pMt2ZnL_qh6dVQs

“We’ve been working with Dr. Tiffany Russell, who is a DEI CHATT HILLS NEWS - APRIL 2021 - SUBSCRIBE TO CHATT HILLS NEWS

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OUR COMMUNITY colored in a patriotic pallet of red, white, and blue.

George & Bettina Brown's "Martha Washington's Star" barn quilt is on their first barn at 8095 Vernon Grove Rd.

Chatt Hills Barn Quilt Trail—Mt. Vernon Farm Hosts Two Barn Quilts

By Laurie Searle

Mt. Vernon Farm joined the Chatt Hills Barn Quilt Trail this month, hosting two barn quilts on their spacious barns at 8095 Vernon Grove Rd. Announcing the “Martha Washington’s Star” Barn Quilt hosted by George & Bettina Brown on their First Barn.

George and Bettina Brown named their 160-acre farm Mt. Vernon as a patriotic head-nod to the road they live on (Vernon Grove Rd) and to the five generations of men in their family named "George Washington Brown."

The couple purchased their property more than 20 years ago from a generational family who has farmed in this community since the 1800s. The Browns are continuing the heritage of family farming by raising Thoroughbred Race Horses and Angus Beef Cattle.

For the first of two barn quilts on their property, they selected the "Martha Washington's Star" pattern 6

Their journey to Chattahoochee Hills George and Bettina are "gentlefolk farmers"—that rare breed of landowner who farms mainly for pleasure rather than for profit or sustenance.

This doctor/lawyer team developed an affinity for farming when they married in 1992 and lived on a 20-acre parcel in Newnan, Georgia. They began purchasing livestock, but outgrew their property in a matter of years.

The couple and their real estate agent, Bob Barfield, looked for a larger tract of land (50 acres) in Fayette County Georgia, but weren't able to find anything that had good pastures and decent fencing.

Meanwhile in nearby Chattahoochee Hills, some locals were gathered at Smith's Grocery Store one day when Harvey Hearn mentioned he wanted to sell his cattle farm, but did not want to sell it to a developer.

That news traveled fast, and Barfield introduced Harvey and his wife Bettye to George. George went to their home and the contract was signed over pound cake and coffee.

George and Bettina purchased their property in 1995 and built their home atop a hill overlooking the farm they aptly named Mt. Vernon. They built two spacious barns on their property and recently adorned each with a barn quilt. The "Martha Washington's Star” barn quilt is on the barn that can be seen from their house.

Read their heritage story on the Chatt Hills Barn Quilt Trail Website: http://www.chatthillsbarnquilttrail. com/mt-vernon-barn-1.html

George & Bettina Brown's "Thoroughbred" barn quilt is on their second barn (just south of the first barn) at 8095 Vernon Grove Rd. Announcing the “Thoroughbred” Barn Quilt hosted by George & Bettina Brown on their Second Barn.

George and Bettina Brown found greener pastures in 1995 when they purchased a 160-acre farm in Chattahoochee Hills, Georgia, ideal for raising Thoroughbred Race Horses and Angus Beef Cattle.

They named their farm Mt. Vernon as a patriotic head-nod to the road they live on (Vernon Grove Rd) and to the five generations of men in their family named "George Washington Brown."

For the second of two barn quilts on their property, they asked for a custom design that featured a race horse and jockey. The pattern is called "Thoroughbred" and is painted in the red & green colors of their racing silks.

On your mark, get set, go!

There is an art and a science to raising Thoroughbred Race Horses, that also requires a bit of sport. The art and science seemed to come naturally to George Brown, who is a family doctor by profession. The sport took a bit more effort.

It started out as a kind of hobby for George, figuring out which

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Cover Photo: Sixteen Volunteers on the Campbellton Park team picked up trash in and around Campbellton Park.

Photo Above: Seven volunteers on the Campbellton Park team joined others to pick up trash near the Hwy 154 Boat Ramp.

Sweep the Hooch Volunteers Clean Up at Cambellton Park & Hwy 154 Boat Ramp

By Laurie Searle

Twenty-three volunteers participated in Sweep the Hooch at Campbellton Park in Chattahoochee Hills on March 28.

The event is hosted by the Chattahoochee Riverkeeper at 50 clean-up locations throughout the 100 miles of the Chattahoochee River and tributaries. Last year, more than 1,000 volunteers from throughout the Chattahoochee watershed gathered at 43 parks, trails, and creeks to fight litter pollution. As a result, approximately 73,646 pounds (36.8 tons) of garbage were removed from the waterways we all share.

For this year’s event, the Campbellton Park volunteers split into two teams led by Chattahoochee Hills Parks Commission members Diana Wilson and Roland Alston.

Diana’s team was to start at the Hwy 154 Boat Ramp and paddle down to the new boat ramp at Campbellton

(Continued from page 6) stallions to breed to, and which characteristics make a horse run well.

He learned more about these subtleties through participating in the sport of horse racing. He also learned that it helps to sell a horse that has been raced, since no one wants to guess that a horse is fast just by looking at its bloodlines and looks.

Overtime, George got quite good a breeding. He now breeds mares

Park, picking up trash in the river along the way. However, due to recent storms and the river’s high-water level, the paddling was canceled so the seven volunteers joined others in cleaning up the Hwy 154 boat ramp area. Roland’s team split into two groups, picking up trash in the Campbellton Park area along the river and in and around the historic Campbellton Crossroads.

The twenty-three volunteers on the Campbellton Park team included: Diana Wilson, Emily Day, Yanni Loukissas, Tamara Schwartz, Marc Schwartz, Cope Walker, Kate Derick; and Roland Alston, Tom Blum, Neil Franklin, Dan Lasky, Camille Lowe, Georgia Patera, Robbie Rokovitz, Joe Schoofs, Laurie Searle, Dan Strickland, Scott Taylor, Lise Walker, Hailly Butler, Matthew Franklin, Darold Wendlandt, and Michelle Wendlandt.

to stallions usually in Kentucky and Florida and then sells their offspring after they have been broken and learn to race, typically when they are about two years old. Bettina sports the racing silk that inspired the barn quilt.

Read their heritage story on the Chatt Hills Barn Quilt Trail Website: http://www.chatthillsbarnquilttrail. com/mt-vernon-barn-2.html

Tour the Trail We invite you to tour the Chatt Hills Barn Quilt Trail and learn more about the rich rural heritage of our beautiful Chattahoochee Hills. Visitors are welcome to take photos from the public road, and are invited to shop in the local businesses.

Visit our website for more information, a printable trail map, and information on how you may host a barn quilt on the trail. http://www. chatthillsbarnquilttrail.com

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OUR COMMUNITY

Back Home, In Chattahoochee Hills

By Chip Denton

We asked Chip Denton to share his experiences growing up in the Cedar Grove Community of Chattahoochee Hills, his life after moving away, and what brought him back home.

Growing up in Chatt Hills An airplane brought my family to the Cedar Grove Community in 1968. The vibration from this particular airplane knocked a mirror off the wall in our East Point home, near the main runway of Atlanta’s airport. That convinced my mom that it was time to move.

I was 10 years old when I joined the 6th grade students at Cedar Grove Elementary School. Some of the students came from families that had attended the school for three generations. The school would continue for another generation when Mrs. Diane Johnson, who taught me in 7th grade in 1969, would teach my oldest son 23 years later in the same classroom.

My time in Mrs. Johnson’s class involved a few instances of walking the playground steps due to excessive socialization in class. I had a bad habit of hiding an adventure book under my desk and reading it while I was supposed to be paying attention to whatever Mrs. Johnson thought was important. Like father like son, my son was even less likely to stray from his formal education under Mrs. Johnson as she was well aware of what to look for.

In the 1960s, the business center of Cedar Grove con8

sisted of the intersection of Cascade Palmetto Hwy, Ridge Road, and Cedar Grove Road, commonly known as Five Points. A classmate’s family, Mike Hand, ran the one store there—a typical country store on a dirt lot with a gas pump and a bench out front where many of my classmates would hang out. I was an outsider, or so I felt, as most of the kids had known each other since the beginning of grade school. I was a city kid, not knowing much about the new surroundings or the family names such as Brown, Brock, Woodall, Dutton, Aldredge, Byrd, and many others that are still known in the Chatt Hills community. Living in such a wide area, it was difficult for me to make close friendships, until I reached high school two years later.

The new Palmetto High School building was still under construction when I entered the 8th grade. The Cedar Grove students who were slated to go to the new school were bussed to Fairburn or took double sessions with Campbell High, now Landmark Christian School. High school opened up new friendships all across south Fulton County, including kids who went to Rico Elementary, most of whom I had never met. Rico and Cedar Grove were separate communities with generational history attached to both areas. I remember meeting a really pretty blonde girl at Smith’s Grocery Store in Rico while visiting high school classmates. I soon left for college, and my range became more of Old National Highway and Forest Park, and less of the South Fulton area, so I never saw her again. Kenny, who runs Smith’s store, told me about a year ago that girl was his sister. Oh, what might have been if I had visited Rico more often.

Leaving Chattahoochee Hills Behind After high school, I attended Clayton Junior College while working at the K-Mart warehouse in Newnan, Georgia. One of my co-workers, Steve Trivet, took me on many adventures in his small airplane and taught me how to fly. This

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OUR COMMUNITY a wife and some home roots. I returned to the embassy in Baghdad and the first person I met was an old friend talking to a very pretty lady from Thailand that I thought to be in her early twenties, much too young for me. After some encouragement, more realistic aging estimation, and matchmaking from my Chinese State Department boss, this beautiful lady named Pichay became my wife ten months later in 2010. I have had prayers answered before, but never quite that fast.

opened a whole new world for me, and I was itching to see the places I had read about in the World Book Encyclopedia as a kid.

After marrying and starting our family, we moved to Boise, Idaho, where I had accepted a new position in information technology. But a downturn in the economy brought hard times, with a layoff, divorce, and homelessness. My mother back in Georgia took me in, and I finished my undergraduate degree at Georgia State University in 2004—29 years after graduating from high school.

College graduation and better times brought an opportunity to work for the Army Reserve data center in Peachtree City. Gaining a security clearance opened doors for me to travel. Christmas Day 2005, I walked off a C-130 military transport onto the Baghdad airport tarmac, fully expecting to be killed within the first five minutes. Having never been in the military, I did receive military training at Ft. Benning prior to deployment, causing me to hyper focus on death as a predetermined conclusion, which, needless to say, never happened in my four Iraq and two Afghanistan deployments over the next ten years.

My military contractor experiences fed my wanderlust and enriched my life in many ways. In 2009, during one of my deployments at the Embassy in Baghdad, I took a R & R (Rest and Recuperation) side trip to Jerusalem. I found myself at the Western Wall watching people pray, while sticking small pieces of prayer in the crevices. Being in my 50s, I had been single for ten years, so I prayed for

Back to Chattahoochee Hills Roots Pichaya and I spent the next 11 years overseas, finishing our employment obligations and satisfying our wanderlust.

In 2016, we returned to Georgia, looking for roots and a place to call home.

We had been living in Newnan, when two years ago, Pichaya had a very unexpected sudden stroke. Over the course of her recovery, I lost my job in the process of caring for her, and she lost her job due to the stroke. Our financial situation was getting serious, when Microsoft called, offering the job of a lifetime for a techie like me.

Through this experience, we learned even more about the importance of roots and family by the outpouring of love and support from the Newnan Church of Christ where we attend. We believe in a God that cares for us, and this time He did it in a big way.

A few months ago, we sold our house in Newnan and purchased a fixer-upper in Chatt Halls. We underestimated the amount of work it needed, but Pichaya helped move things along by becoming an expert “Do-It-Yourselfer.”

She learned carpentry skills, tiling, concrete finishing, and how to use a chainsaw, drive a tractor, and split wood. Not bad for a city girl from Bangkok with an MBA, all while still recovering from a stroke.

Pichaya still has recovery challenges, but we are both enjoying our almost daily trips to Smith’s Grocery Store for a moon pie. We enjoy seeing Kenny Smith and invariably meeting folks that I grew up with and haven’t seen for 46 years.

I hope others might be inspired to come home to their roots and enjoy the people—and the hometown—they love. For us, moving back to Chattahoochee Hills has been the answer to a prayer, and a blessing.

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The group considers if this may be the site of a long forgotten cemetery.

Off the Beaten Path at Cochran Mill Park

By Amber Lightsey

Distinctive placement suggests this may be a grave marker.

On a recent Saturday morning, the Chattahoochee Hills Historic Commission, along with city officials and members of the community, assembled in Cochran Mill Park for a guided tour of some of the lesser-known parts of the park.

The group was led by local resident and historian Kenyon Langley, whose work to clear the old Rico Cemetery led to his article on the resting place of singer Johnny Cash’s forebears, which appeared last fall in this newsletter. The results of the off-the-beaten-path tour will contribute to the Interpretative Master Plan for Cochran Mill Park, in an ongoing effort to document and assess the historical artifacts located within the park and to make recommendations for the current signage program used by the many visitors there each year.

Ken’s tour began in the less-traveled western end of the park at Zack’s Glade, a lovely expanse of green and open fields. He referenced the known history of the area from surviving documents, an 1864 map, and family accounts. Ken noted that while Cheadle Cochran and his sons were active in the milling business there, the actual mill was labeled “Philips Mill” on the 1864 map, suggesting a more complex story of family ownership and management. He also offered new conjecture about the nature of some of the artifacts and land formations around the park, often unnoticed or unappreciated.

Along the walk, observers were directed to where a park trail cuts across the remnants of a long-abandoned roadway (the old Atlanta Newnan Road), and without Ken’s 10

indication, it would have been easy to miss the pieces of granite resting on a leaf-covered rise nearby. Were these rocks used for cemetery headstones or as building foundations? That many of the stones had a west/east orientation, the traditional head-first placement for tombstones, made many in attendance think the site was once a cemetery.

But were these stones part of a family or slave cemetery?

Questions begot more questions, and closer observation along the trail sharpened the eye to granite pieces situated in other locations. Could these stones have been remnants of a home site and its associated outbuildings?

Could a large hole be the nearby well? Perhaps the daffodils in bloom indicated a family home once stood there.

Further along, piles of rocks in Bear Creek could indicate an old wagon crossing, footings for a long-rotted wooden bridge, or an attempt to build a dam. Could an old barrel indicate the site of a moonshine still?

Ken’s tour off the beaten path offered the Historic Commission possible sites in relation to known cartographic and other records, showing how remaining formations of stone correlate with the historical record, and sometimes suggesting alternate hypotheses to the history as currently understood. Participants came away with a deeper sense of the complexities involved in efforts to interpret historical artifacts and sites, and much to think about as they move forward with the Interpretative Master Plan for Cochran Mill Park.

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EVENTS

10 Eliot Bronson April 10, 8pm

Over the course of five albums, indie folksinger Eliot Bronson has created his own brand of acclaimed Americana. He's an award winner. A road warrior. An internationally-renowned musician with a voice that swoons and sweeps, making fans out of everyone, from his hometown newspaper, The Baltimore Sun—that championed Bronson from the very start, hailing him as "a folk singing wunderkind" back when he was still playing local coffeeshops— to Grammy-winning producer Dave Cobb, whose work on 2014's Eliot Bronson and 2017's James placed Bronson on the same client roster as Jason Isbell, Chris Stapleton, and other heartfelt songwriters. http://www.chatthillsmusic.com/eliot-bronson-band-2021

25 Guided Bird Walk with Georgia Audubon Georgia Bird Fest April 25, 7:30-11:30am

Bird the private trails of Serenbe with guides from Georgia Audubon.

The trails we’ll follow meander through a mix of habitats, including pine and hardwood forests, open meadows, and shrub/ scrub. We can expect a big species count for this walk, including good numbers of birds like Kentucky Warbler, Prairie Warbler, and Blue Grosbeak, which can be hard to find within Atlanta itself.

Limited to 16 participants (masks may be required depending on COVID-19 conditions) Tickets: https://www. georgiaaudubon.org/birdfest.html

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EVENTS

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22 The Intentional Administrative Professional Virtual Conference April 22, 8:30am-1:00pm

Bridging the gap to INSPIRE, INFLUENCE and IGNITE! Are you an inspiring influencer who ignites others to action? The Intentional Administrative Professional (IAP) sets the bar for training excellence that inspires growth, builds influence, and ignites strategies to elevate your impact.

The IAP is the smart choice for today’s rising EAs, AAs, and other support professionals. Why? We bridge the gap! We tap into the pulse of the most relevant and important trends and challenges affecting the administrative professional community.

That is why you are invited to spend a day like no other.

Make this the year you embark on a future filled with professional success and achievement! We will have speakers giving tips on influencing others without authority, self care for the administrative professional, and so much more. All of the presenters have a wealth of knowledge in training Administrative Professionals through programs such as Negotiation, Organizational Communication, and Dealing with Difficult Bosses!

There will be great giveaways, too!

You can email us at: adminsrock@intentadmprof.com General Admission tickets $159.00 +$7.16 Presenters: Dr. Sandra Wright, The Wright Training Solutions; Alvin Albert, Esq. The Leadership Lawyer; Alicia Randolph, The "Fearless Coach"; Move It!https://www. eventbrite.com/e/the-intentional-administrative-professional-virtual-conference-tickets-141197564717

Join Dr. Sandra Wright's Southern Comfort & Grace Facebook Live on Thursdays 7pm. If you want something special for your children, here is her book Queen Imani: Queen Imani, Queen of Love and Smiles Queen Imani loves everyone in the Land of Love and Smiles. Suddenly, someone wants to come and destroy the love that surrounds this kingdom. Come with us on this journey to find out who that person is.

https://www.amazon.com/Queen-Imani-Love-Smiles/ dp/1518790844#reader_1518790844

Grandmama's World by Gwen Bullock This wonderful childrens book is illustrated by photographer Greg Newington, and is a great gift for children or new grandparents. For sale at the Chatt Hills Gallery in Serenbe for $10, and is a donation to the gallery.

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Book Section

paulette@betterdivorceacademy.com https://betterdivorceacademy.com/

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Book Section April Selections from Hills & Hamlets Bookshop and Underground Books: Hills & Hamlets Bookshop is a charming neighborhood bookstore in the Serenbe development of Chattahoochee Hills and was founded by the couple behind Underground Books in Carrollton.

Hills & Hamlets Bookshop is open on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays from 11 to 4, and we’re open 24/7 online at www.bookshop.org/shop/undergroundbooks and info@hillsandhamlets.com.

New in Fiction: Mother May I by Joshilyn Jackson AIR Serenbe alumna and New York Times bestselling author of the critically acclaimed Never Have I Ever returns with an even more addictive novel of domestic suspense set in rural Georgia. The story follows a mother who must decide how far she is willing to go to protect her child and the life she loves—an unforgettable tale of power, privilege, lies, revenge, and the choices we make, ones that transform our lives in unforeseen ways.

Buy here: https://bookshop.org/a/45/9780062855343 New in Memoir: AMORALMAN: A True Story and Other Lies by Derek Delgaudio Truth and lies are two sides of the same coin. But who’s flipping it? A thought-provoking and brilliantly entertaining work of nonfiction from one of the world’s leading deceivers, the creator and star of the astonishing theater show and forthcoming film In & Of Itself. Using his youthful notebook entries as a road map, Derek embarks on a soulful, often funny, sometimes dark journey, retracing the path that led him to a world populated by charlatans, card cheats, and con artists. As stories are peeled away and artifices are revealed, Derek examines the mystery behind his father’s vanishing act, the secret he inherited from his mother, the obsession he developed with sleight-of-hand that shaped his future, and the affinity he felt for the professional swindlers who taught him how to deceive others. And once he finds himself working as a crooked dealer in a big-money Hollywood card game, Derek begins to question his own sense of morality, and discovers that even a master of deception can find himself trapped inside an illusion.

Buy here: https://bookshop.org/a/45/9780525658559 New in Picture Books: Carpenter's Helper by Sybil Rosen, with illustrations by Camille Garoche From Whitesburg, Georgia author Sybil Rosen, a warm, wonderful picture book that gently reminds us of the importance of respecting our natural world and highlights the joys and rewards of helping others. Join a girl as she helps a mama and papa bird build a nest in her bathroom, hatch their eggs, and teach their babies to fly away.

Buy your SIGNED copy here: https://www.undergroundbooks.net/pages/books/7403/ sybil-rosen-camille-garoche-illust/carpenters-helper-signed-first-edition

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Arts Section

Eileen Wilson: eileencwilson@gmail.com

Featured Artist Eileen Wilson My best art memory is sitting around a neighbor’s kitchen table, third grade, looking out on the Connecticut River, playing with paper, paste, and scissors.

I planned on returning to this free play one day. Schooling drew me through pre-med, then into an irreversible studio and plein air watercolor love. Painting environs were New Orleans, Arizona, and Florida.

My employment passions coalesced into a reclamation resale business for a couple of decades, eventually leading to Atlanta area interior home makeovers and renovations. Recent years have been occupied beading, constructing found object jewelry, assembling collage, metal work, and fused glass kiln.

A year ago the inspiration arrived to design lightweight kinetic earrings in a nontoxic process with minimal supplies—paper, glue, scissors, and watercolors/ inks. My joy is hunting elements that speak to movement. Each piece is assembled on a sprocket wire allowing a pendulum movement of anywhere from 3 to 5 to 7 pieces. The kinetic energy displays an understory from the movement— words, images, and reflective elements.

Some of my paper jewelry is sold in a coordinated gift box. These are shown in the images.

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Arts Section Amy Peterson Morgan Boszilkov Malinda Lively

Judy Walker Brandon Murphy

GW Harper

Wanda Hughes Julie McKinney

Ken Shephard

Gail Foster

Logynn Ferrall

Co-op members are: Adrienne Anbinder, Malinda Lively-Arnold, Janice Barton, Greg Blount, Morgan Boszilkov, Logynn B Ferrall, GW Harper, Gail Foster, Wanda Hughes, Ann Jackson, Robert Lederman, Julie McKinney, Brandon Murphy, Amy Peterson, Ken Shephard, Karin Slaton, Tom Swanston, Judy Walker and Eileen Wilson| 9057 Selborne Lane & Paint Space, 10625 Serenbe Lane Unit A. Open by appointment: 818.434.5436 www.chatthillsgalleryserenbe.com CHATT HILLS NEWS - APRIL 2021 - SUBSCRIBE TO CHATT HILLS NEWS

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Arts Section

FRASER JONES

Adán Bean AIR Serenbe Frances Focus Fellow 2021 - awarded to a storyteller with deep ties to the American South.

(April 1 - 30) Adán Bean is an accomplished spoken word poet, emcee, storyteller, and voice-over talent hailing from the small town of Massillon, OH but has called Atlanta home for over a decade. A 2019 TEDx speaker and 2017 National Poetry Slam song winner, he represented Atlanta on the 2015 and 2017 Java Monkey Slam teams for the National Poetry Slam Competition.

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Sharon Shapiro AIR Serenbe Atelier Focus Fellow 2021 - awarded to a visual artist working in the style and tradition of classical realism.

(April 1 - 30) Since 1995, Shapiro's paintings and works on paper have been exhibited in numerous venues and solo shows in Atlanta, Chicago, Boston, and Los Angeles. In 2009, the University of Central Missouri published a hardbound catalog featuring her work to accompany an exhibition examining female identity in contemporary art. Her work is included in several prominent collections throughout the United States, such as The Museum of Contemporary Art of Georgia (MOCA GA), Atlanta, GA, and the Tullman Collection, Chicago, IL.

Fraser Jones (May 1 - 15) Fraser is a documentary filmmaker living, creating, and gardening in his hometown of Atlanta, Georgia. His current work, Where the Butterflies Go, is a comedic nature documentary that seeks to help preserve and save the Monarch butterfly.

www.airserenbe.com

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Charlotte Abotsi AIR Serenbe SWACC! Focus Fellow 2021 - awarded to a spoken word artist with a commitment to community and collaboration.

(May 1 - 30) Charlotte Abotsi is an artist and writer who resides in Providence, Rhode Island.

She writes essays, poems, and screenplays and is an aspiring filmmaker. Her work seeks to discuss and disrupt the complexities of Black womanhood, and bring Black immigrant stories to the forefront. The youth director and slam master of the Providence Poetry Slam, Charlotte has competed in several international slams, and placed in the top 20 at the 2016 Women of the World Poetry Slam. Charlotte is a 2017 Feminine Empowerment Movement Slam winner.

Community

OUR CHURCHES Campbellton Baptist Church 8660 Campbellton Fairburn Rd Friendship Baptist Church 6090 Cochran Mill Rd www.friendshipbaptistchatthills.com Interfaith Fellowship at Serenbe www.facebook.com/ groups/1964824926878340/ New Hope United Methodist Church 7875 Atlanta Newnan Rd

Providence Baptist Church 6402 Campbellton Redwine Rd www.pbcrico.org Rico United Methodist Church 6475 Rico Rd Rivertown United Methodist Church 9325 Rivertown Rd Sardis Baptist Church 8400 Sardis Rd www.sardisbaptistch.com

Southside at Serenbe 10 am in the Oak Room of the Inn at Serenbe, 10950 Hutchenson Ferry Road. If you have questions contact Cathy Gailey at cgailey@remax.net or 404-456-6347.

Southern Crescent Unitarian Universalist Fellowship www.facebook.com/SouthernCrescentUUFellowship/ Vernon Grove Baptist Church 8440 Vernon Grove Rd

OTHER CHURCHES IN CHATT HILLS Many churches have suspended services and activities due to the COVID-19 precautions. Please check with the individual churches to get an update on their schedules.

Community

BRICKWORKS REPORT Chatt Hills Community Brickworks - Mar .

The Brickworks Food Pantry served 120 clients through our food bank in March, thanks to our wonderful volunteers who have reorganized our pantry space to allow us to better serve those in need.

Community Brickworks is a 501c3 nonprofit which supports the needs of our local citizens and people in the Chattahoochee Hills, Palmetto, and Fairburn areas.

New Classes Look for new classes as we add them. Any birdwatchers interested in an outdoor class? How about yoga? Just let us know on our FB page (Chatt Hills Community Library and Food Pantry). Or our website ( Community Brickworks. org) what you are interested in and we will take it from there!

Masks will be required, and class meetings will be outside.

Or call the Library at 770-463-6600 If you would like to see a class added, or would like to volunteer to teach a class.

Chatt Hills Library We have been organizing the Library! Much easier to find and check out books. Come in and check us out. Lots of new books, big print, children’s books. You won’t believe the changes! Library hours are Mon and Tues 12-3 pm, Thurs

Community Brickworks 6505 Rico Rd., Chatt Hills, GA 30268, 770-463-6600

12-6 pm. Computer use is also available during these hours.

And best of all, it’s all free!

Our pantry is: • Open Wednesday from 3:00-5:00PM • Clients may visit the pantry once a month and receive two bags after completing the Food Pantry Request Form. More if a large family.

• If there is an emergency need, text Carla Carrabino at 404-771-1418 • Emergency Assistance once a year, if available.

Newnan disaster relief aid. All donations for the next two weeks will go directly to aid our neighbors in Newnan.

Weds food bank will be open to Newnan residents each Weds, 2:00-5:00pm during April.

All donations are 100% tax deductible. Community Brickworks receives monetary donations as well as food, books, and school supplies all through the year. We are managed completely by volunteers with no paid staff. 100% of your donation is used in your community to help your neighbors.

Donations can be made through website CommunityBrickworks.org, and for more information.

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City Government Another Solid Waste Provider Now serving customers in the City of South Fulton and some areas of Chattahoochee Hills.

Worldwide Disposal Services, LLC P.O. Box 1323, Fairburn, GA 30213 (678) 975-3271.Office (678) 331-5018 fax www.worldwidedisposalservices.com

City of South Fulton Implements Ban on Single-Use Plastic Products

Are You Behind On Your Rent?

FULTON COUNTY

COVID-19 Emergency Rental Assistance Program For Residents Outside City of Atlanta •

Online applications starting in March

•

Rent & utility assistance for eligible renters affected by the COVID 19 pandemic

•

Income limits and other eligibility requirements apply

Payments will be made directly to landlords and utility companies.

Additional details will be provided closer to the March 1 launch date.

Many Chatt Hills residents shop in City of South Fulton. www.fultoncountyga.gov/renthelp

Aimed at reducing the negative impacts of single use plastic products, a City of South Fulton ordinance banning certain plastic bags and containers became law in March of this year.

The measure, which was approved by city council members in October 2019, became effective on September 1, 2020.

To ease the burden on consumers and businesses impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, the council adopted an amendment last August postponing the ban for six months.

Items prohibited by the ordinance include: plastic cups, straws, and food containers, as well as plastic grocery, newspaper, door-hanger, and laundry/dry-cleaning bags.

City officials continue to permit the use of bags and containers that are certified compostable, 100-percent recyclable, or created using recycled materials.

FULTON COUNTY

Fulton County

Senior Well-Checks Are you a Fulton County resident age 60+?

Are you experiencing isolation?

Do you have a loved one who checks in on you? If no, are you interested in a well check from Senior Services?

Department of Senior Services is now providing periodic well checks for those seniors in need at no cost to you.

For more information contact our office at seniorservices@fultoncountyga.gov or La Tanya D. Walker at 404-612-7188.

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City Government

CDC Get the latest Coronavirus (COVID-19) information HERE.

The State of Georgia has a new COVID-19 hotline. If you believe that you are experiencing symptoms of COVID-19 or have been exposed to the novel coronavirus, please contact your primary care doctor or an urgent care clinic.

Please do not show up unannounced at an emergency room or health care facility.

CALL THIS HOTLINE: (844) 442-2681

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City Government Living Virtual has Become a New Norm It has been over a year since COVID-19 made its historic impact on our world and changed how we live in so many ways. Not only have we taken washing our hands, social distancing, and mask wearing to new levels as the new norm, we also have had to learn to expand our ability to do almost everything virtually, whether we want to or not. But what if doing things virtually is not an option for everyone?

What if there is no access to a computer, smart phone, or tablet, a good or at least reliable internet connection, or a third-party solution to our virtual needs? Well, the City has two things on the horizon that may help with some of these challenges.

The first thing on the horizon, although not in the immediate future, is a cellular tower being raised at Cochran Mill Park. This cellular tower is what is known as a monopole, which is more aesthetically pleasing, and is going to be erected just past the entrance to the park, on the left side and well into the wood-line. The Council will be considering the lease agreement with Verizon on Tuesday, April 6th. Per the lease agreement, Verizon has until January 2023 to have the tower in place. Verizon has to pay an $8,000 signing bonus to the City and $26,000 per year for the lease. While additional revenue to offset the cost of providing City services is always beneficial, our negotiations with Verizon were predicated on the notion that the City is in dire need of additional cellular connectivity options for our citizens, visitors, and public safety responders in Cochran Mill Park.

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Robert T. Rokovitz, MPA, ICMA-CM

The second improvement to our virtual services will be the ability to pay online for some City services. Currently, the City only has the ability for people to pay traffic citations online.

That is about change. However, we have partnered with Government Window to create a portal to allow online payments for many more things, such as business licenses, inspection permits, alcohol licenses, special event and film permits, annual park passes, and parking tickets.

Today Government Window supports a complex network of over 900+ government agencies, facilitating every type of e-payment and providing real-time reconciliation and analytics throughout. They are the payment leader in the state of Georgia and growing rapidly throughout the U.S. This service will be at no cost to the City, and instead will be covered in similar fashion to other online bill payment systems in which there is a small service fee collected by the third-party vendor. Payments can be made using Visa, MasterCard, Discover, American Express, and eChecks. The City will still continue to accept cash, checks, and Visa for those who choose to pay in person and avoid the fee.

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City Government Congratulations to Councilmember Ruby Foster

Ruby was recognized for her civic contributions by Representatives Thomas of the 65th, Bruce of the 61st, and Bazemore of the 63rd in the following House Resolution 345.

A RESOLUTION Recognizing and commending Ruby Foster; and for other purposes.

WHEREAS, Ruby Foster has long been recognized by the citizens of this state for the important role that she has played in leadership and her deep personal commitment to the welfare of the citizens of Georgia; and

WHEREAS, she has diligently and conscientiously devoted innumerable hours of her time, talents, and energy toward the betterment of her community and state, as evidenced dramatically by her passion and tenacity for advocacy for those in need within her community; and

WHEREAS, with extensive experience in organization management, budgeting, reporting, and event planning, Ruby served with distinction for 30 years as an account administrator at Valassis Incorporated and has a longstanding history of volunteer and civic involvement; and

WHEREAS, as a result of her passion for public service, Ruby was elected to the City Council of Chattahoochee Hills in 2020, an accomplishment which made her the first female and African American to ever serve in this position; and

WHEREAS, Ruby's significant organizational and leadership talents, remarkable patience and diplomacy, keen sense of vision, and sensitivity to the needs of the citizens of this state have earned her the respect and admiration of her colleagues and associates; and

WHEREAS, this distinguished gentlewoman has given inspiration to many through her high ideals, morals, and deep concern for her fellow citizens, and her vision and unyielding commitment to excellence have set the standard for public and civic service; and

WHEREAS, it is abundantly fitting and proper that the outstanding accomplishments of this remarkable and distinguished Georgian be appropriately recognized

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES that the members of this body recognize and commend Ruby Foster for her efficient, effective, unselfish, and dedicated service to the State of Georgia and extend the most sincere best wishes for continued health and happiness.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Clerk of the House of Representatives is authorized and directed to make an appropriate copy of this resolution available for distribution to Ruby Foster.

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City Government Call to Order Mayor Reed called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m.

Councilmembers in attendance were Ruby Foster, Richard Schmidt, Laurie Searle, Camille Lowe, and Troy Bettis. All members were present. Also present was City Attorney Rick Lindsey.

Review and Approval of Agenda Councilmember Schmidt made a motion to approve the agenda. Councilmember Searle seconded. The motion passed unanimously.

Approval of Minutes 1. Minutes of the Regular Meeting of February 2, 2021 Councilmember Searle made a motion to approve the minutes of the Regular Meeting of February 2, 2021.

Councilmember Foster seconded. The motion passed unanimously.

Presentations / Proclamations (None) 1. American Red Cross Month Proclamation and

Presentation regarding Red Cross Services Mayor Reed read a proclamation declaring March 2021 as Red Cross Month. Susan Calderon, local resident and American Red Cross representative; Terry Bardour, Executive Director of the Greater Atlanta Region (via videoconference); and Chandra McElhaney, Program Manager for Disaster Services (via videoconference), were present to discuss American Red Cross services that are available to the community.

Public Comment Renee Prince, 13015 Hamilton Road – asked if it was true that a pipeline was going in towards Serenbe and if it is something that the citizens of Chattahoochee Hills have to pay for.

Mayor Reed said that we do not normally do Q & A during Public Comment, but he would answer Ms. Prince’s questions. Fulton County is running a sewer line in the rights-ofway down Wilkerson Mill Road and Atlanta Newnan Road.

The project is being funded directly from Fulton County operating funds.

Action Minutes ~ Regular Meeting of the Mayor and Council City of Chatt Hills March 2, 2021 / 6:00 p.m.

Staff Reports Financial Update: City Manager Robbie Rokovitz Mr. Rokovitz reported on the financials as of February 22, 2021. The city is 64.7% through the fiscal year. Revenues are 95% of the amended budget including Fund Balance and the proceeds for the capital lease. General Fund operating expenditures are 59.7%, and expenditures for all funds are 40%.

Fire Department Report: Greg Brett Chief Brett reported the current statistics for COVID-19 in Chattahoochee Hills. The YourTown Health vaccination site is running smoothly. It is currently operating twice weekly with an average of 200 vaccinations per day. The draft of the “Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Response Plans” has been provided to Council, and he is awaiting comments. The Emergency Medical Services response time is averaging 11 minutes 35 seconds, and Grady EMS’s response time is averaging 16 minutes 25 seconds. Chief Brett also gave the statistics for the department’s personnel and automatic aid response, and he reported that the ISO evaluation has been pushed out to 2022.

Police Department Report: Jim Little Chief Little reported the statistics for February 2021.

Call volume is trending upward, and the department is averaging 3.7 calls per hour. He gave an update on a case involving stolen motorcycles from a property on Cascade Palmetto Highway – one motorcycle has been recovered and a suspect arrested. Officers Ivey and French have started field training. The Bola Wraps have arrived and are being issued to officers. Sergeant Pearson has earned his Use of Force Instructor Certificate.

Public Works/Parks Report: Darold Wendlandt Mr. Wendlandt reported that the New Holland side arm tractor is out of service, so only one tractor is operational. The Arbor Day celebration on February 26th was a success. A swamp oak tree was planted at Rico Park in remembrance of Hugh Tyer. The city will be participating in a “Sweep the Hooch” event on March 27th. The lower hall restroom renovations are almost complete.

Community Development: Mike Morton Mr. Morton reported the building permit statistics for Feb-

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ruary 2021. There were 13 single family residential permits issued and a total of 18 building permits. The schedule of meetings for the Comp Plan update should be finalized soon. South Fulton Parkway will be closed for filming on March 8th, and there will be intermittent traffic control on Hutcheson Ferry Road for filming on March 9th. Currently, the only agenda item for the upcoming Planning Commission meeting is approval of the 2021 meeting schedule.

Public Hearing 1. Item 21-012: Public Hearing and Action to consider an application for a Full Pouring Alcohol Beverage License – Distilled Spirits, Wine, and Malt Beverages.

The name in which the license is to be issued –Gaia, LLC/Licensee – Richard Hammett, III. The location of the premises – 9445 Browns Lake Road.

Mayor Reed opened the Public Hearing. There was no public comment. Mayor Reed closed the Public Hearing.

City Clerk Dana Wicher presented the item. The application is for an annual full pouring license at 9445 Browns Lake Road that would apply to their equestrian events and events that have received a special event permit. The applicant was present and available to answer any questions.

Mayor Reed called for a motion on Item No. 21-012.

Councilmember Searle made a motion to approve Item No. 21-012. Councilmember Lowe seconded. The motion passed unanimously.

Unfinished Business There was no unfinished business.

New Business 1. Item 21-013: Approval of Concept E from “Gateway Signs Concept” proposal.

City Manager Robbie Rokovitz presented the item. This is part of the next phase of the contract for Wayfinding Program Services with ASI Signage. Hotel motel funds will be used to fund the fabrication.

Mayor Reed called for a motion on Item No. 21-013.

Councilmember Searle made a motion to approve Item No. 21-013. Councilmember Lowe seconded. The motion passed unanimously.

2. Item 21-014: Approval of a Memorandum of Understanding with Community Brickworks for the provision of Community Center and Library Services.

City Attorney Rick Lindsey presented the item. The MOU is with Community Brickworks, who operate their facilities and programs in the city hall building. The MOU has been amended this year to be clearer about maintenance responsibilities and payment of utilities.

Mayor Reed called for a motion on Item No. 21-014.

Councilmember Schmidt made a motion to approve Item No. 21-014. Councilmember Bettis seconded. The motion passed unanimously.

Mayor and Council Comments Councilmember Bettis said he continues to get complaints from residents about the striping on Hutcheson Ferry Road and Rico Road. He also said he appreciates the hard work that staff puts in.

Councilmember Lowe thanked Susan Calderon for the Red Cross services presentation and asked City Manager Robbie Rokovitz to share the information on their programs with residents.

Councilmember Searle thanked staff and Council for the Planning Retreat. A lot of information was covered, and everyone really worked together as a team.

Councilmember Schmidt said he has had some calls from citizens regarding the charter school. He said the school is failing, and he would like Principal Patrick Muhammand to let the city know what it can do to help them succeed. He asked if it was in the city’s scope to be involved, and City Manger Robbie Rokovitz said it falls under the Fulton County Board of Education and their state charter. Councilmember Schmidt also thanked Susan Calderon for her presentation and said he would like to see a blood drive in the city. Ms. Calderon said there are current restrictions due to COVID-19, but she would be happy to work with the city.

Councilmember Foster thanked everyone who participated in the Black History Month exhibit at city hall. She also thanked the Police Department for the opportunity to test the new Bola Wrap device. She announced that March is National Women’s month, and she thanked everyone for their support of the community outreach programs.

Mayor Reed thanked everyone who came out to the Arbor Day celebration. The fact that Hugh Tyer’s family and so many members of the Georgia Arborists Association were there reminded him what a quiet force for good Hugh Tyer was in this community. He also thanked everyone for their time and attention during the retreat. There is a lot of output from the retreat that will start feeding into the next work session. We are also rolling into our budget process and will be prioritizing and pushing forward some items. He thanked Susan Calderon for coming out and said he was looking forward to the opportunity to hold a blood drive here again.

Executive Session (None) Adjourn Meeting: The meeting adjourned at 7:12 p.m.

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City Government

Greg Brett, Chief of Fire, EMS & Emergency Management City of Chattahoochee Hills Greg.Brett@chatthillsga.us 770-463-1592, office, 404-441-9850, mobile

Why is there a burn ban from May until October?

I grew up in the country, mostly in rural Washington County, Georgia, where burning a corn field after harvest or burning piles of raked leaves, even the weekly burning of household trash, was a common thing. You burned what you thought needed burning—any time—and never thought more about it. I’m pretty sure the logic was this: “If you don’t get more going than you can manage, and if you don’t burn down somebody’s house or barn, well, go right ahead.”

Chattahoochee Hills is “country”—it’s true—but even if we are country, we are still situated within a large metropolitan area, and that means things are a little different for us.

Let me explain that.

Congress passed the Clean Air Act in 1963, which defined responsibilities for the Environmental Protection Agency to control air pollution; amendments in 1970 and 1990 further expanded federal and state responsibilities to control toxins and airborne debris released into our atmosphere. Today, Georgia’s Environmental Protection Division (EPD) and the Georgia Forestry Commission work together to help everyone understand and apply some of the federal, state, and local guidelines. Your fire department is part of those processes, too.

FACT: 40% of

After all, there are several Americans live in areas influential factors in the “clean that experience air” formula—overall quality of extremely unhealthy air based on emissions, weathlevels of smog er, and your health. pollution each year.

We recognize up front that Chattahoochee Hills is within Fulton County, and as such we are part of the metropolitan Atlanta area (sometimes referred to as the Atlanta Regional Commission or ARC, a consortium of counties including City of Atlanta and impacting many aspects of life in metro-Atlanta). The Georgia EPD and ARC carefully monitor how the ten metro counties comply with clean air regulations.

You already understand the need to reduce or eliminate pollutants resulting from various industries, but did you know that different grades of automobile fuel are sold at different times of the year? The EPD applies federal regulations within metropolitan areas with higher popula26

Requirements for burning vegetative debris are explained in the City’s “Open Burning” ordinance.

Burning of debris such as this occurring in a nearby unlicensed landfill can have major effects on local air quality for a long time.

Even though firefighters enjoy their job, an unmanaged fire can result in unnecessary response and detract from the department’s ability to respond to other emergencies … at all hours of the day.

tion and larger-scale roadway systems to allow lower- or higher-octane fuels depending on the season (summer or winter). The objective is to keep automobile emissions from increasing smog (which decreases air quality) over our area during warm/hot months.

Obviously, weather has a profound effect on air quality.

Warm temperatures and wind patterns can increase smog buildup and the movement of smoke. During hot and dry

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City Government times, there is a large increase of “other” particles blowing in our atmosphere. The Georgia Forestry Commission insists that unnecessary burning of vegetative debris not occur in an effort to protect our air quality and properties.

Drought and high barometric pressure result in high probability of grass and woodland fires that are dangerous to homes and have huge effects on our atmosphere.

Each of us probably considers health and safety to be a top personal priority. Logically, when we protect the environment, we are protecting our own health, property, and so many other things that bear on ourselves and our community.

So, here’s the formula I mentioned earlier:

The City of Chattahoochee Hills is dedicated to protecting lives and property, so application of a local burn ordinance is managed daily by the Fire Department. There are recent modifications to Georgia law that affect agricultural and commercial properties.

To learn more: Chattahoochee Hills Open Burning ordinance https://www.chatthillsga.us/departments/open_burning_guidelines.php and to learn more Georgia’s “clean air” regulations https://epd.georgia.gov/

SMOG/TRAVEL + WEATHER + HEALTH = BURN BAN Final truth: Concern for air quality and (high) fire hazard are the reasons for a burn ban each year from May 1 until October 1.

Georgia Forestry Commission’s burning guidelines https://www.GaTrees.org

Insight- Air pollution is linked to serious health impacts, including heart disease, heart attacks and increased risk of death from lung cancer.

• For the last 15 years, Atlanta has averaged 40 ‘code orange’ days every summer (Code Orange: “children, persons sensitive to ozone, persons with heart or lung disease should limit prolonged outdoor exertion during the afternoon or early evening when ozone levels are highest” (Georgia Environmental Protection Division).

• CDC reports a 35% increase in emergency room visits for respiratory-related illnesses on “bad air” days • 11% of Georgia’s children have asthma – almost double the national average (American Lung Association of Georgia).

• Metro-Atlanta area fails to meet national health standards for both soot and smog—it is not expected to meet standards for next 10 years (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency).

SOURCE: Published by Southern Environmental Law Center, southernenvironment.org, 2021

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Trending Topic

Community & City

City of Chattahoochee Hills, City Hall, 6505 Rico Rd, Chattahoochee Hills, GA 30268, Phone: (770) 463-8881, www.chatthillsga.us

City of Chatt Hills: www.chatthillsga.us Chatt Hills Charter School: http://www.chatthillscharter.org/calendar Community Brickworks: www.communitybrickworks.org Serenbe Community: www.serenbe.com Acton Academy at Serenbe: http://actonacademyatserenbe.com/#ourstory

Event

We will be scheduling Special Called City Council meetings as dictated by circumstances. These will be virtual and open to the public.

City Council Work Session - Thurs., April 1, 6:00 pm City Hall - 6505 Rico Road, Chatt Hills, GA 30268

The City will take the following safety precautions: • The City Council room will be set up so that the council and staff are all at least 6’ apart.

• Any citizen attendees that want to attend in person will also be separated by at least 6’; capacity will be limited to the number of seats that can fit in the room under those conditions.

• The meeting will be streamed live. Check details on the City’s website.

City Council Meeting - Tues., April 6, 6:00 pm City Hall - 6505 Rico Road, Chatt Hills, GA 30268 Historic Commission Meeting - Mon. April 12, 6:30pm City Hall - 6505 Rico Road, Chatt Hills, GA 30268 City Council Work Session - Thurs., April 29, 6:00 pm City Hall - 6505 Rico Road, Chatt Hills, GA 30268

About Chatt Hills News The official newsletter of the City of Chattahoochee Hills, Chatt Hills News, is published monthly. This publication is compiled from submissions from the community and is available in public locations around the City, at City Hall, or via email subscriptions.

Email Subscriptions: To subscribe via email, visit the City’s Website: www.chatthillsga.us Or subscribe directly at this link: https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/su/w9cGwxA Print Copies: Residents of Chatt Hills who do not have Internet may request mailed copies by calling City Hall (770) 463-8881.

Article / Event Submissions: If you have a story, event, or suggestion for future articles, we’d like to hear from you. Please submit your information by the 15th of every month for publication on the 1st of the month to: chatthillsnews@chatthillsga.us

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