Chatt Hills News ~ August, 2022

Official Publication of the City of Chattahoochee Hills, GA

CHATT HILLS NEWS

Issue 8 Volume 3 www.chatthillsga.us

AUGUST 2022 Features

Events

Arts in Chatt Hills

City Government

Our Community Page 3

What’s Happening Locally?

Page 13

Local Artists Page 16

Stay Informed Page 21

Bear Creek Nature Center

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MAYOR TOM REED

Hello, Chattahoochee Hills!

My message this month will once again highlight a couple of important and topical current issues.

We’ve just started the decennial renegotiation of the Local Option Sales Tax (LOST) with the other cities in Fulton County and the County itself. Some background: the Local Option Sales Tax is the sales tax collected countywide on all retail sales (including those made by folks from other counties and tourists), and then redistributed to the cities and the county on the basis of some agreed formula. In pretty much every county in Georgia, the split is based, for the most part, on population; the counties use their portion to underwrite “municipal” service in the unincorporated areas of their county, and the cities use it to do the same.

Historically, Fulton County has followed the same path.

When I was involved in the last LOST negotiation 10 years ago, that was the pattern we followed, as Fulton County reduced its share from around 15% to about 5%--in line with the reduction in their non-municipalized population (since about 10% of the residents of the county had moved from Unincorporated Fulton County into the cities of Sandy Springs, Chattahoochee Hills, John’s Creek, and Milton).

We were expecting the same this time. With the formation of the City of South Fulton, the county’s share was expected to decrease again, but as a group we were shocked when Fulton County asked for 35% (a six-fold increase!) to serve a current non-municipalized area of just over 1 sq mile (all around Charlie Brown Airport) with fewer than 900 residents! Their justification—wrapped up in some sort of “new math” I didn’t recognize—was patently ridiculous, given their population share is now less than 1%. The one bit of good news is that their stance has galvanized the cities’ opposition, and all of the cities are united in fighting this ridiculous offer (even Atlanta, a modern-day first!). Using a strict interpretation of the law (which considers factors other than just population), the cities have come back to the Country with a realistic and fair offer of just under 3%.

Here’s the problem: the cities and Fulton County must all agree and sign the final document, or the LOST will sunset. And if that happens, those LOST taxes will have to be replaced by an increase in our local property taxes. That gives Fulton County huge leverage, since it’s easy for them to walk away from too low a number, even if it is technically correct, because it will have minimal effect on their huge budget. But doing so would cause huge damage to all of the cities where their own constituents live, and which provide local services to those constituents! So, if you know your current Commissioner, Khadijah Abdur-Rahman, or our new redistricted Commissioner, Marvin Arrington Jr., please reach out to them and ask them to treat our cities fairly! An amount that is equivalent to almost 15% of all of our property taxes is at stake and would require moving our millage rate from the 9 mils I have proposed for 2023 to 10.2%.

With respect to the Movie Studio Hamlet that has gotten so much attention recently (most of it based on rumor or misunderstanding, best I can tell), I have one thing to say, and one request. The fact is that this application just came in, and the process has just started. We’re still reviewing the numbers and the plans for their fit with the Chatt Hills zoning, and doing the cost/benefit analysis of the impacts of the development, both in terms of the positive impacts (like a much needed boost to our tax base, jobs, permanent land preservation, etc.) and the negative ones (like traffic and roads impact, for example). This process will move through a series of public Council and P&Z meetings over the next few months, where the community at large will have an opportunity to weigh in as well.

Here is what I respectfully ask of you. Please approach this conversation with an open mind and try not to get caught up in the rumor mill. Come to the meetings if you can, or watch them on Zoom to hear the work being done, so you can hear the facts. Remember that all of this work is being done by citizen-neighbors that you voted for, good people who have given freely of their time to learn about our zoning and research the facts. These are the people who show up do the work required to come to the right answers for our city. The studio project is not a “done deal” by any stretch, and I want you to know that our decisions (including my recommendations and those of the Planning & Zoning Commission and staff, and ultimately whatever decision the Council makes) will be made on the basis of these assessments and on our common understanding of the best long-term benefit to the citizens of Chattahoochee Hills, both now and into the future.

Thank you, and be well – Mayor Tom Reed

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OUR COMMUNITY

Stop by Chattahoochee Hills City Hall (6505 Rico Rd) to see the special exhibit on Bear Creek Nature Center during the months of Aug-Sept.

The Chatt Hills Community Outreach team is featuring Bear Creek Nature Center this month, a special destination for residents and tourists alike.

Bear Creek Nature Center is a private non-profit that aims to spread the joy of nature and the outdoor world.

Since opening in the Spring of 2020, its goal is to teach people of all ages in our community about our environment, hoping that they will cultivate a personal awareness, appreciation of, and participation in the natural world, especially of our native ecosystem.

Follow the path to the Nature Center On any given day, Bear Creek Nature Center receives its share of visitors, from those who wander off the beaten path or decide to extend their hike from Cochran Mill Park, which adjoins the property. Once there, first-time visitors discover many reasons for returning, including the Nature Center's environmental exhibits and education,

and outdoor recreation areas ideal for family picnics, larger gatherings, or day hikes.

At the heart of the Nature Center is its 6,000 squarefoot lodge. The main level features a spacious room with a variety of wildlife exhibits around its perimeter, leaving plenty of space in the center for special events like the Reptile Rally or school programs. Additional classroom space is available on the lower level.

The exhibits extend outdoors and include a wildlife exhibit space as well as static exhibits that the community may find especially interesting. The pollinator garden, created by volunteers, is designed to attracts bees, butterflies, moths, hummingbirds, or other beneficial creatures that transfer pollen from flower to flower. The composting exhibit demonstrates the steps in creating a composting bin and the benefits of minimizing solid waste. And the rain barrel exhibit illustrates how to collect and hold rainwater for when you need it most – during periods of drought, to

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Sat, September 10th

Bat Fest 2:00 pm - 8:00 pm

Photo by Vicky with A-Z Animals

6300 Cochran Mill Rd Chattahoochee Hills, GA 30268

Food Trucks

Hike & Canoe

Animal Encounters

Crafts & Activities

$5 for non-members FREE for members

@bearcreekATL 770-306-0914 bearcreeknaturecenter.org

BEAR CREEK NATURE CENTER Conservation, Education, Community water plants, wash your car, or other household use.

The outdoor space features miles of hiking paths, a oneacre wildlife pond, handicapped-accessible boardwalk and dock, a pavilion, and the Helen Selman memorial garden.

As a part of the special feature this month, Bear Creek Nature Center and Chatt Hills Community Outreach have partnered to offer a free Chattahoochee Hills Residents Day at the Nature Center on August 27.

It's gettin' Batty at the Bear Creek Nature Center Bear Creek Nature Center is officially welcoming a baby Egyptian Fruit Bat to the colony at Bat Fest on Saturday, September 10th. Visitors can meet the baby's older colony members who are themselves newcomers since the start of 2022. A friend of the center is graciously donating a larger enclosure for our growing colony, and we are working to spruce it up just for them. We hope that you will join us on September 10th to celebrate the strides these unique creatures are making in advocating for their species and bats all around the world.

Location:

Phone: Website: Facebook: Hours: Admission:

6300 Cochran Mill Rd. Chattahoochee Hills, GA 30268 770-306-0914 www.bearcreeknaturecenter.org www.facebook.com/bearcreekATL Tuesday-Saturday, 11 AM – 4 PM $2 per vehicle. $3 per person aged 3 and up.

Check Facebook for changes in dates and times.

We are welcoming many new animals into the center.

Please consider helping us in this effort by donating items for use in our animal welfare, environmental education, and conservation efforts. You can visit our Target registry at the following link: https://www.target.com/ gift-registry/gift/bearcreeknaturecenter, or simply contact us at bearcreeknaturecenter.org to learn more about donating or volunteering. We can't do what we do to support wildlife and education without neighbors like you.

Thank you!

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OUR COMMUNITY

Chatt Hills Gravel is Full of Beautiful Suprises… Editor of Chatt Valley Cycling The secret is out about gravel cycling in South Fulton County, and the experience is only getting better as Chattahoochee Hills embraces cycling tourism. Some cyclists still find it hard to believe that a continuous loop of nearly 20 miles of gravel roads can be found in Fulton County.

Add the beautiful pastural settings of Chattahoochee Hills, the water falls of Cochran Mill, and the hamlet of Serenbe, and you have a cycling destination unlike any other in Atlanta.

The 20-mile gravel loop is better known as the “Dirty Sheets.” The name pokes fun at another cycling route in the area, the “Silk Sheets.” A number of Atlanta-based Century rides utilize the “Silk Sheets” as part of their route, so the area is popular with cyclists. Many chose Cochran Mill Park as the starting point for their ride. The park offers plenty of parking, restrooms, and trails to multiple waterfalls. Cochran Mill Park seems to be a place frozen in time with old mill ruins, steel guider bridges, and artifacts that makes one curious as to the history of the area. Mountain bike trails at Cochran Mill complete the trifecta of cycling opportunities in the area. The park offers more than 19 6

miles of trails.

The Dirty Sheets offers a collection of surprises including a lot of climbing. The town of Chattachoochee Hills is not surprisingly a community of hills and the gravel loop ascends many. The route provides just under 1000 feet of climbing and a mix of grades from 2-5%. The gravel loop is considered an intermediate cycling experience. Even though the loop utilizes public roads, cars are scarce on the loop. Cyclists spend much of the experience cycling through managed forests and farms. Many cyclists not only appreciate the remoteness of the route but feel a bit safer given they’re not competing against vehicles for space.

One of the newest surprises along the Dirty Sheets is the Chattahoochee Hills Barn Quilt Tour. The exhibit features a beautiful collection of more than 38 quilt designs attached to local barns, buildings, and silos in the area.

The Chattahoochee Hills community has joined together to offer visual surprises around every turn of gravel, and the Barn Quilt Tour brings attention to the rich heritage of the Chattahoochee Hills area. Find detailed info on each Quilt at the Quilt Tour website.

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OUR COMMUNITY On this day I chose to visit a couple of local shops in the area.

Serenbe offers a number of shops, restaurants and. the Pro Bike Repair bike shop. The shop offers bike sales, repairs, and rentals and is convenient to the Dirty Sheets. After visiting Pro Bike Repair it was time to scoot down the street to the Blue Eyed Daisy coffee shop. The shop offers a wide variety of pastries, sandwiches, and more. The Dirty Sheets does not pass directly through Serenbe. However, the hamlet is located less than a mile from the loop and is easily accessible.

Some cyclists visit Serenbe during their ride and others simply go by the Blue Eyed Daisy afterwards.

Tips to consider when riding the Dirty Sheets Gravel Loop The Dirty Sheets loop never closes, so cyclists may ride the loop year around rain or shine, 24-7. Parking is available at Cochran Mill Park dusk to dawn. If you’re going to ride the loop after dark, you’ll want to park in the New Hope United Methodist Church parking lot or behind the Chattahoochee Hills City Hall. Sections of the loop are quite remote and there are no stores or amenities along the loop. It’s important to take a phone, tools, lights, food and drink when planning a ride on the Dirty Sheets.

I recommend riding with a friend or group if it’s your first time. The route is an enjoyable experience both clockwise and counter clockwise.

For more information visit: http://chattvalleycycling.com

Pro Repair Bike Shop, open Tuesday-Sunday 10am-6pm 9222 Selborne Ln, Palmetto, GA 30268, (770) 693-7335, highendglen@gmail.com

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OUR COMMUNITY Chattahoochee Hills Eventing changed its name to Bouckaert Farm!

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OUR COMMUNITY Chef Justin Phommasith Creates n3 Meals Performance-based meals that fuel lifestyle, health, and wellness

By: Laurie Searle In 2021, when Justin Phommasith worked as the head trainer for Orangetheory Fitness in Atlanta, he would often prepare meals to take to work. A co-worker asked for a sample, and before Justin knew it, he was spending his Saturdays at home in Chattahoochee Hills, preparing performance-based meals for co-workers and friends.

The success of his meals inspired Justin to take a new direction along his career path. In April 2022, he combined his passion for fitness and food and created n3 Meals – a chef-inspired meal prep service that fuels lifestyle, health, and wellness.

Justin’s culinary journey Like father, like son, Justin’s love for the culinary arts was passed down to him from his father, Chef Tano Phommasith.

Tano was born in Laos and grew up in Honolulu, Hawaii. He started working at the age of 15 as a cook in a family-owned Rama Thai Cuisine restaurant in Honolulu.

When he came of age, Tano moved to Illinois and attended the Culinary School at Kendall College in Chicago. His culinary career offered many executive chef assignments across the Southeastern United States, and eventually brought him to Carrollton, Georgia, where he now owns and operates the Little Hawaii Restaurant and Bakery 27 Café with his wife Cristi Phommasith.

Justin grew up in Gurnee, Illinois, and attended the Illinois Institute of Art in Chicago with a focus on culinary arts and hospitality.

After school, he moved to Carrollton, Georgia, and began working at Little Hawaii.

Justin said, “I started working at the second Little Hawaii location in Father and Son, Chefs Tano and Justin 2010. It was larger Phommasith

Chattahoochee Hills resident Justin Phommasith prepares n3 Meals that fuel lifestyle, health, and wellness. than the first restaurant, seating 130-140 guests, and was located on Rome Street near Carrollton’s popular town square. I had the opportunity to learn the business from the ground up. Working side-by-side with experts in the industry, I did everything from washing dishes, food preparation, and menu development, to large-scale catering. When Little Hawaii moved to its current location on Cedar Street in 2020, it also opened Venue on Cedar, with over 5,000 square feet of event space for any occasion, from wedding rehearsals to full-scale wedding ceremonies and corporate events.”

Adding physical fitness to the mix After working for Little Hawaii for nearly 10 years, Justin took a break to focus on his second passion – physical fitness. He continued his education and received certifications as a Nutrition Coach and as a Personal Trainer from the National Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM). He began working as a head coach at Orangetheory Fitness, where his responsibilities included leading group fitness classes for up to 45 members, and teaching the biomechanics of running, resistance training, and rowing.

Through his ongoing education and practical experience, Justin began to see the correlation between food and fitness. “I noticed that some folks would seem sluggish after a dinner of pizza and soft drinks the night before – what

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OUR COMMUNITY I call a food hangover,” he said. “I also noticed that others who ate balanced meals of protein and carbohydrates had better athletic performance and faster recovery times. I began to wonder why.”

Justin learned that macronutrients (carbohydrates, proteins, and fats) fuel activity and bodily functions, and that the key to athletic performance – and overall wellness – was to balance the energy in versus energy out equation.

Using himself as a test subject, he experimented with different recipes to see which would sustain him through his demanding physical day. One of his early successes was a ground turkey dish made with stir-fried onions, ginger, and green beans served over brown jasmine rice.

The meal not only aided his endurance, it caught the attention of his friends and co-workers who first asked for samples, then asked for weekly supplies. With an unexpected customer base, Justin saw an opportunity to grow a business.

“I realized that everyone’s looking for an edge, but few look at the number one supplement they take every day – food,” he said. “I thought that if I prepared performance-based meals, I could help people fuel their lifestyle, health, and wellness, and see it as an investment in themselves. I wanted others to experience the same satisfaction I felt when I started investing in myself, too.”

Creating n3 As Justin began to assemble the ingredients for his business, he realized that his skill-set pantry was well stocked with culinary and fitness experience, but somewhat lacking in the business development department. He turned to his father for advice and got more than he bargained for; the father-son chef duo decided to partner and create n3 Meals together.

Utilizing the kitchen facilities at Little Hawaii as a homebase for n3 Meals solved the biggest hurdle of their new business. The kitchen was already fully outfitted with state-of the art equipment, including blast freezers, large refrigeration units, and ovens, which would have taken Justin years to afford on his own, and the popular restaurant was already well-known in Carrollton.

The partners worked on a business plan guided by the meal prep/delivery industry model. They would offer a variety of meal choices from an à la carte menu, as well as a three- and five-day Lifestyle Performance Plan for 10

Justin’s Ground Turkey Stir Fried was one of his dishes that inspired the creation of n3 meals. those desiring to optimize their weekly routine. Customers would order their meals online

by Wednesday each week for Saturday pick-up. Delivery would be offered for an additional charge to select regions in Atlanta.

While Tano helped set up Chefs Tano & Justin Phommasith the business accounts, filing the licenses and business plan and creating the accounting system, Justin took on the tasks of marketing and creating the website, two new skills he developed guided by the experience of his father. Justin said, “Creating a website is not for the faint of heart. Those who do it professionally make it look easy. For the rest of us, there are popular applications that don’t require computer programming skills, but there’s still a learning curve.”

With the administration tasks well under control, and a menu of delicious performance-based meals created, n3 Meals opened for business in April 2022.

About n3 Meals (as stated on the website) n3 Meals is committed to providing restaurant quality food and service with fitness professional planning.

With decades of combined experience in the food industry, n3 brings customer-focused meals with quality you can trust.

We put the time into selecting ingredients and our cooking techniques to create an experience that fuels performance. Our meals are designed to support accountability and save you invaluable time to focus on hitting your goals.

To learn more about n3 Meals and place an order, visitwww.n3meals.com.

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OUR COMMUNITY Chatt Hills Barn Quilt Trail

Black-Eyed Susan barn quilt added to hanger-barn at 10600 Hutcheson Ferry Rd. Aviation Family Lands Back Home Linda & Garry Kordowski-Jones have a passion for the aviation industry. They met at Eastern Airlines as young adults, followed career paths related to aviation, and recently circled back to Chattahoochee Hills, landing in the homeplace where Linda was raised.

The couple's property includes a family heirloom that makes them both smile. The airplane barn, known as "The Hanger," was used by Linda's father who flew recreational aircraft from his pasture airstrip.

When selecting a barn quilt, they chose a Black-Eyed Susan flower on a vivid red background, easily visible from the road or the friendly skies.

Country Living at its Best If a picture's worth a thousand words, the panoramic view of Linda and Garry's homeplace speaks volumes about country living at its best. A modest ranch home set back from the road; a pond in the backyard ripe for fishing and swimming; acres of open pastureland with room enough for flying recreational planes; and woodlands and trails worth exploring.

Linda spent 25 years growing up in this place she calls a "wonderland." A place that was safe to live in and play, with friendly neighbors who would help in a moment's notice, and the Rico Elementary and Palmetto High Schools that were the social center of this rural town.

After Linda and Garry married and started a life of their own in another community, they returned often to visit Linda's parents. When their son was born, he too would grow up loving the homeplace through his visits with his grandparents.

The opportunity to move back home came soon after Linda's father passed away in 2019. Both she and Garry had loved the homeplace, and it didn't take much convincing for them to make the move. As the couple works on renovating their home, Linda looks forward to reconnecting with her many friends, and enjoying the less stressful life of country living. Garry looks forward to one day raising Belted Galloway cows, also called Oreo cows for the white band that encircles the middle of their all-black coats.

For more photos and the hosts’ heritage story, visit: https://www.chatthillsbarnquilttrail.com/kordowski-jones. html For a map of the 38 barn quilts on the Chatt Hills Barn Quilt Trail, visit: https://www.chatthillsbarnquilttrail.com/tour-the-trail.html Heritage Story – Charles Kordowski Linda's parents, Charles Kordowski (Aug. 18, 1932 - June 22, 1922), and Catherine (Nov. 24, 1936 - Sept. 13, 2014) purchased their property from Charles Peek in 1965. The house was built in 1969 by the Thompson brothers, who lived nearby.

The following are two messages Charles shared about himself on social media.

Glassboro High School, NJ - Class of 51. Charles wrote: After graduation from GHS I took what local jobs were available, the Acme Super Market being my first place of employment. With this job, I purchased an automobile, learned to fly, and purchased an airplane. From graduation, was a carefree, happy time. Dating, flying and exploring the countryside.

Then at 21 yrs. old, I was drafted into the U.S. Army and shipped to Korea. There I served at K-1 Airbase with a SCARWAF unit. In 1954 I returned to the states and was discharged in Jan. 1955.

I purchased another car, another airplane, and used my GI bill for further flight training. In 1957 I was hired as copilot for Delta Air Lines. With a secure job, I married my

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OUR COMMUNITY old sweetheart and settled in Georgia and flew from Delta's Atlanta base. A wonderful career followed for the next 46 years. I had the opportunity to visit every state in the union and flights to Europe, Asia, the Caribbean Islands, Mexico, and the Far East. I flew everything from the Douglas DC-3 to the Lockheed Tri-Star, retiring from Delta in 1992.

After retirement we settled on our farm in Palmetto, GA. With an airstrip in my back yard, we purchased a lake front home on Lake Martin, AL and flew between our 2 homes using a Lake Amphibian which could operate on water and land.

We were blessed with two lovely daughters, who we took with us on every vacation to all parts of the globe. We are now grandparents, blessed with three grandchildren.

When Charles was 82 years old, he wrote: Here I am at 82 years of age. The one thing I've learned of those years is that Life is what one makes it. Born in 1932 our family has seen the full impact of the Great Depression that overwhelmed our Nation. My parents eeked out a living and we made out.

We were poor, but didn't realize it, because everyone else around us was in the same shape. Perhaps that one thing I learned over those 82 years is that... Life is what you make it. Dream, yes dream, and do what it takes to fulfill those dreams. No one else will do it for you. I've fulfilled the dreams I've had... but yet there are still things I want to do on my bucket list. Pursuing those dreams is what makes life so wonderful. Charlie K.

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The Power of 10: How YOU can help advance the arts, culture and environment that enriches our community.

On Tuesday, July 19th, the South Fulton Institute will be launching "The Power of 10," a summer fundraising campaign.

The Goal: To raise money and raise awareness.

By compelling 40,000 people to give $10, the Institute can provide more free arts, culture, and environmental programming to local schools, libraries, senior centers, and other pillars in the community.

Here's what you can do to help!

Get Involved

Need Help?

Donate $10 at Southfultontinstitute.org

Example Text

Challenge your friends to do the same

Example Email

Share the Institute's Story

Example Social Media Post

770.463.1110

www.southinstitute.org

@southfultontinstitute

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EVENTS

Sat & Sun, 2:00pm - 5:00pm Weekend Wine Flights at The Wine Shop at Serenbe 9135 Selborne Lane, Chattahoochee Hills, GA

Saturdays in August, 2022 | 9:00am 1:00pm Farmers Market

July - October 29, 2022 Saturdays, 9am-1pm, Selborne Green in Serenbe Serenbe Farmers Market is proud to bring Chatt Hills residents and visitors the best local produce, meats, prepared foods, and artisans.

The mission of the Serenbe Farmers Market is to support the development of the local agricultural economy and to provide a platform in which to support small businesses to sell their products. Serenbe Farmers Market offers a variety of healthy food and artisan goods on a large green space surrounded by magnificent tall trees, giving you an immunity boost that you just won’t find in an asphalt parking lot.

If you’re interested in becoming a Serenbe Farmers Market vendor, CLICK HERE to read the guidelines and apply.

Excited to announce Weekend Wine Flights at the wine shop! Each week 3 new wines will be featured and paired with light bites. Served Saturday and Sunday, 2-5pm, $30 per person, no ticket or reservation needed. Stop by and see us!

Sat , 4:00pm Wine Tastings at the General Store

10642 Serenbe Lane, Chattahoochee Hills, GA 30268 Join me to taste wines from around the globe every Saturday $35/person with tasting notes and small bites.

Please email nadine@generalstoreatserenbe.com with any questions.

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EVENTS

Aug 20, 6:00pm - 10:00pm

Aug 20, 7:30pm

Art Farm at Serenbe presents Dad's Garage

LILLI LEWIS TRIO

The Lakeside Pavilion, 10950 Hutcheson Ferry Rd. Chattahoochee Hills, GA 30268 Tickets $20 - $40: https://bit.ly/3P4hWac *Please note that the 6:00 pm show is family friendly, while the 8:00 pm show will have "adult themes" that may not be suitable for children under 16.

Dad's Garage is a comedy improv theatre founded in 1995 and has been pushing the boundaries of theatre and comedy ever since. A mainstay in the improv scene, Dad's Garage has matured into a powerhouse of arts advocacy, community work, and, of course, a reliable place to find a belly laugh. Located in Atlanta, GA, Dad's Garage produces innovative, scripted, and improvised works that are recognized locally, nationally, and internationally for being undeniably awesome.

Come join us for two shows on August 20, 2022 6:00 pm: Kid-friendly 60 minute improv show 8:00 pm: Adult 90-minute improv show

Jordan's Ridge 8400 Atlanta Newnan Road, Chatt Hills, GA 30268 Tickets $30: https://bit.ly/3yJAJk Athens, Georgia native turned New Orleans Folk Rock Diva, Lilli Lewis is a powerhouse composer and performing artist with “storytelling with transformative empathy and classically trained poise.” Jewly Hight, NPR.org. Lewis is a voice for the voiceless in Americana, her third full album for Louisiana Red Hot Records, lauded by NPR, Rolling Stone, Offbeat Magazine and the New Orleans TimesPicayune. “One of the most powerful records of 2021, Lilli Lewis's Americana offers up 13 tracks of raw, unfiltered talent… jaw-dropping vocal stylings, sharp lyricism, irresistible hooks, and a needed perspective that's often overlooked…”

Lorie Leibig, TheBoot.com “A powerhouse performer adding her unique voice and talent to the national discussion of the state of social justice in America.”

– The Kennedy Center The self-professed Folk Rock Diva Lili Lewis returns to recording with a rootsy, country soul album that really hits the spot with its melancholy meditations and narratives.

- Americana UK

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EVENTS

Chatt Hills Community Outreach Special Events Sponsorship The City of Chattahoochee Hills hosts a variety of special events throughout the year, coordinated by the Chatt Hills Community Outreach (CHCO) initiative. The City shares a common goal with CHCO to offer events that foster camaraderie and help build a strong community by connecting residents with each other, city services, and local businesses.

Our FREE special events would not be possible without the support and partnership of volunteers, local community businesses, and organizations.

We invite you to join us in supporting our 2022 line-up of special events.

As a sponsor of our special events, we will acknowledge you in our promotional material and offer a half-page ad in our municipal monthly newsletter. You will receive a letter to share with your accountant as a

Aug 27, 7:30pm

qualified deduction for 2022 tax return to the Internal Renenue Service.

"Broadway in the Woods" featuring Megan Hilty The Lakeside Pavilion, 10950 Hutcheson Ferry Rd. Chattahoochee Hills, GA 30268 Tickets $150 - $200: https://bit.ly/3AL660c

Sponsorship Opportunities Harvest Festival October 15 at Town Green

Christmas in Chatt Hills Tony-nominated Broadway star Megan Hilty returns to the Art Farm at Serenbe for our "Broadway in the Woods" cabaret series.

Most recognizable for her portrayal of seasoned triple-threat Ivy Lynn in NBC’s musical drama “Smash”, Tony nominee Megan Hilty is a dynamic performer both on stage and on screen. Hilty most recently played Lily in “Annie Live!” on NBC. Before that, Megan had the great pleasure of filming “Patsy & Loretta”, directed by Callie Khouri for Lifetime. Megan was nominated for a Critics Choice Award for Best Actress in a Limited Series for her performance as Patsy Cline.

December 3 at City Hall For more information contact: Robert Rokovitz, City Manager, robbie.rokovitz@chatthillsga.us 770.463.8881 or Ruby Foster, ruby.foster@chatthillsga.us - Chatt Hills Community Outreach

Thanks to our Community Outreach Sponsor!

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Arts Section

Featured Artist

Lea Ann Slotkin Lea Ann’s artwork captures the intensity and extravagance of the natural world. By combining acrylics, collage, and other mixed media, Lea Ann translates the miracles she sees in the world around her, effortlessly combining wideeyed wonder with the skill and confidence of a mature artist. Her detailing and mark-making on her paintings bring emphasis to the subject matter pictured as well as the feeling behind the work. In her collage work, Lea Ann often incorporates bits of collected and found objects, giving her work a depth of character and a dash of nostalgia.

Lea Ann’s artwork has been collected and prized by private collectors throughout the Southeast. She is represented by the Atlanta Artist Collective, Trinity Mercantile & Design, and Chatt Hills Gallery, and she has collaborated with many other designers and professionals. Her work has recently been featured by the high-end design company Serena and Lily as part of their art offerings. Additionally, she has worked with the national custom framing company Framebridge. Her work has been featured in the design section of The Atlanta Journal and Constitution and on the set of a national television show.

Instagram: @leaannslotkin website: www.leaannslotkin.com

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Arts Section

Adrienne Anbinder

Ann Jackson

Robert Lederman

Judy Walker

Eileen Wilson

Gail Foster

GW Harper

Mary H Johnson

Brandon Murphy

Ken Shepard

Karin Slaton

Julie McKinney

Logynn B Ferrall

Malinda Lively

Greg Blount

Morgan Boszilkov

Tom Swanston

Wanda Hughes

Vinayak Godbole

Renae RD Simmons Walker

Adrienne Anbinder, Malinda Lively-Arnold, Greg Blount, Morgan Boszilkov, Logynn B Ferrall, Gail Foster, Vinayak Godbole, GW Harper, Wanda Hughes, Ann Jackson, Mary H Johnson, Robert Lederman, Julie McKinney, Brandon Murphy, Ken Shepard, Karin Slaton, Lea Ann Slotkin, Tom Swanston, Judy Walker, Renae “R.D. Simmons” Walker, and Eileen Wilson 9057 Selborne Lane & Paint Space, 10625 Serenbe Lane Unit A.

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Arts Section August 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 Thursdays through Sundays from 11am to 5pm, and we’re open 24/7 online at www.bookshop.org/shop/undergroundbooks and www. bookshop.org/shop/undergroundbooks and info@hillsandhamlets.com.

New in Romance: Love on the Brain by Ali Hazelwood From the New York Times bestselling author of The Love Hypothesis comes a new STEMinist rom-com in which a scientist is forced to work on her dream project—a neuroengineering project at NASA—alongside her nemesis…with explosive results.

Buy online: https://bookshop.org/a/45/9780593336847

New from Our New Poet Laureate: The Hurting Kind by Ada Limón An astonishing collection about interconnectedness—between the human and nonhuman, ancestors and ourselves— from National Book Critics Circle Award winner, National Book Award finalist, and U.S. Poet Laureate Ada Limón. "I have always been too sensitive, a weeper / from a long line of weepers," writes Limón. "I am the hurting kind." What does it mean to be the hurting kind? To be sensitive not only to the world's pain and joys, but to the meanings that bend in the scrim between the natural world and the human world? To divine the relationships between us all? To perceive ourselves in other beings—and to know that those beings are resolutely their own, that they "do not / care to be seen as symbols"? With Limón's remarkable ability to trace thought, The Hurting Kind explores those questions—incorporating others' stories and ways of knowing, making surprising turns, and always reaching a place of startling insight.

Buy online: https://bookshop.org/a/45/9781639550494

New in Middle Grades: The Elephant Girl by James Patterson and Ellen Banda-Aaku, with Sophia Krevoy #1 bestselling author James Patterson and award-winning author Ellen Banda-Aaku deliver an unforgettable story of a girl, an elephant, and their life-changing friendship— perfect for fans of The One and Only Ivan, Pax, and Because of Winn-Dixie. Inspired by true events, The Elephant Girl is a moving exploration of the bonds between creatures and the power of belonging. For ages 10 and up.

Buy online: https://bookshop.org/a/45/9780316316927

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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 915AM & 11AM at One Mado. We'd love for you to join us and invite your friends and family! 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.

Sardis Baptist Church would like to invite everyone to join us Sunday August 7th for our Homecoming Celebration. Service starts at 11am. We will have Special Music by the Dixie Sounds.

Fellowship Dinner to follow.

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Community

BRICKWORKS REPORT

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

COMMUNITY BRICKWORKS UPDATE We are headlong into finishing our summer programs and working our way into fall. With school starting soon, Brickworks is supplying backpacks and school supplies for students in need in our area. A big thank you to Providence Baptist Church and Chatt Hills Southside Church for supplying us with filled backpacks. You can come to the Food Bank any Wednesday this month from 2:30-5:30 and pick up school supplies for your youngsters.

Our Christmas in July crafting session had seven attendees. All enjoyed making Christmas crafts in July!

Thank you to Bridgett Arrington and Laura Richard for sponsoring this session. Stay tuned for more classes this fall.

The Library Summer reading program was a great success. The kids enjoyed story time, crafts, music, and science experiments. We even had a visiting therapy dog, Ava, from Caring Paws. Thank you to owner Rita Collins.

Thank you to all of the volunteers who gave of their time and the parents and grandparents who brought their little ones for a little summertime fun at the library.

If parents would like more classes for youngsters during the school year, aged two and over, please contact Nan McGuffey at mcguffeyL@bellsouth.net.

Our food bank has been very busy this summer, averaging 15-18 families each week.

Thank you to all who are donating food.

Lisa Remley Community Brickworks CommunityBrickworks.org

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City Government Welcome Officer Elliott Garnes as our newest public safety professional within our premier and prestigious police department. He brings 11 year of experience in law enforcement with him.

We just received another addition to our police fleet. This was one of the donated vehicles from Brookhaven that they sold to us for $400. After upfitting, we have this Ford Police Explorer for about $1,200.

City Hall Art Room Renovation Update We are almost there! HVAC is in thanks to Scott Grey and Chatt Hills Air. Ken Hose is doing the electrical, and then the Bridge Group will be organizing the final face lift.

The Chatt Hills Artists Group is a registered 501(c)(3) charity, so we can receive qualified charitable distributions (QCDs) from an IRA. The Chatt Hills Artist Co-op Inc. (CHAC) is organizing this fundraiser. We are member-supported and consists of The Chatt Hills Gallery at Serenbe and The Paint Space.

After attaining nonprofit designation in 2018, we immediately embarked on a mission to help Chattahoochee Hills residents explore their creativity and express their own voices through art.

Your tax-deductible financial contribution can make all the difference. The completed renovation will provide an artistic space that will offer a variety of art classes and workshops for Chattahoochee Hills residents.

Just $5,000 to go! We can do it! https://donorbox.org/ chattahoochee-hills-city-art-room-renovation

let’s vote

9057 Selborne Lane | Chatt Hills GA 30268 | www.chatthillsgallery.com | admin@chatthillsgalleryserenbe.com

DONATE HERE

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City Government Tentative Millage Rate Being Reduced from 9.46 to 9.00 for Chattahoochee Hills The Mayor and City Council for the City of Chattahoochee Hills announces the intention to set the millage rate at 9.00 mils, a reduction of .46 mils from 9.46 set in 2021, on Tuesday, August 2nd, 2022 at 6:00 pm in the Council Chambers located at 6505 Rico Road, Chattahoochee Hills, GA 30268. This will be the first of three public hearings before the final adoption of the millage rate. The final adoption on this millage rate will take place after two additional publicly advertised hearings which are currently being advertised for Thursday, August 18th at 11:00 am and again that same day at 5:00 pm.

Each year, the board of tax assessors for Fulton County is required to review the assessed value for property tax purposes of taxable property in the county. When the trend of prices on properties that have recently sold in the county indicate there has been an increase in the fair market value of any specific property, the board of tax assessors is required by law to re-determine the value of such property and adjust the assessment. This is called a reassessment.

According to the Fulton County Tax Commissioner’s Office, the Net Digest increased 27.41% from $232,753,587 to $296,560,107. This increase yielded a full rollback calculation of .90 mills from 9.46 to 8.56 to remain “revenue neutral.” The recommendation is to provide a partial rollback of the millage rate to 9.00 that results in a 5.14%

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Robert T. Rokovitz, MPA, ICMA-CM

increase in property taxes due to higher assessments.

When the total digest of taxable property is prepared, Georgia law requires that a rollback millage rate must be computed that will produce the same total revenue on the current year’s digest that last year’s millage rate would have produced if no reassessments occurred. The tentative rollback will result in a millage rate of 9.00 mils, a decrease of .46 mils. The proposed tax decrease for a home with a fair market value of $150,000 is approximately $21.00 and the proposed tax decrease for a non-homesteaded property with a fair market value of $400,000 is approximately $74.00. To estimate how much tax bills are for the City of Chattahoochee Hills, which is billed by Fulton County, the calculation is as follows: Assessed Value * .40 divided by 1,000 and then multiplied by the millage rate: If a home is assessed at $400,000, the taxable portion would be $400,000 x .40 which is $160,000. Divide $160,000 by 1,000 which is $160. Multiply $160 x the millage rate which is 9.00. That would be $1,440 in City taxes.

The City offers a homestead exemption of $15,000 which must be filed prior to April 1st of the respective tax year. There are additional exemptions for seniors age 65 and older and age 70 and older. Seniors in those age brackets may also qualify for additional exemptions up to including a full exemption after age 70 under certain income restrictions.

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Action Minutes ~ Regular Meeting of the Mayor and Council City of Chatt Hills July 12, 2022 / 6:00 p.m.

City Government Call to Order All members present.

4.

Review and Approval of Agenda, Passed 5-0 Approval of Minutes 1. Minutes of the Regular Meeting of June 7, 2022 2. Minutes of the Special Called Meeting of June 30, 2022 Passed 5-0 Presentations / Proclamations (None) Staff Reports Financial Update: Robbie Rokovitz Fire Department Report: Greg Brett Police Department Report: Jim Little Public Works/Parks Report: Darold Wendlandt Community Development Report: Mike Morton Public Hearing 1. Item 22-019: Public Hearing and Action on an Ordinance to amend the Charter of the City of Chattahoochee Hills, so as to amend the Corporate Limits of the City of Chattahoochee Hills by annexing property under the 100% method and so as to amend the Voting Districts of the City of Chattahoochee Hills and to amend the Zoning District of the City of Chattahoochee Hills; and for other purposes – the property is 5.04 acres on White Oak Trail in Coweta County.

Passed 5-0 2. Item 22-020: Public Hearing and Action on an Ordinance for a variance to the minimum depth of required buffers in the HM-MU (Mixed-Use Hamlet) District – the request is to reduce the required minimum district buffer from 150 feet to 50 feet for 5.04 acres on White Oak Trail in Coweta County. Passed 5-0 3. Item 22-021: Public Hearing and Action on an Ordinance for a variance to the limitations on the location of accessory structures in the RL (Rural) District – the request is to allow an accessory structure in the first layer (front yard) at 8440 Hearn Road. Motion to table passed 3-2, Bettis and Schmidt opposed

5.

Item 22-022: Public Hearing and Action on an Ordinance for a variance to the limitations on the location of accessory structures in the HM-MU (Mixed-Use Hamlet) District – the request is to allow an accessory structure in the first layer (front yard) at 44 Swann Ridge. Passed 5-0 Item 22-023: Public Hearing and Action on an Ordinance for a variance to the limitations on the number of entrances to farmette subdivisions in the RL (Rural) District – the request is to allow multiple farmette lots to have individual driveways connecting directly to the public road for property located at 12575 Hutcheson Ferry Road and 12200 Hutcheson Ferry Road.

Passed 5-0

Unfinished Business 1. Item 22-017: Ordinance to amend the Charter of the City of Chattahoochee Hills amending Section 2.07 changing the compensation of the Mayor and each City Council Member. Passed 5-0 New Business 1. Item 22-029: Approval of a Concept Plan for 123 White Oak Trail – the property is 5.04 acres on White Oak Trail in Coweta County. Passed 5-0 2. Item 22-030: Approval of a Concept Plan for Hutcheson Ferry Farmettes – property located at 12575 Hutcheson Ferry Road and 12200 Hutcheson Ferry Road. Passed 5-0 Mayor and Council Comments Executive Session (None) Adjourn Meeting The meeting adjourned at 7:27 p.m.

Town Hall Session (None)

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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.

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 who 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.

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.

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City Council Meeting - Tues., Aug. 2, 6:00 pm City Hall - 6505 Rico Road, Chatt Hills, GA 30268 Historic Commission Meeting - Mon., Aug. 8, 6:30 pm City Hall - 6505 Rico Road, Chatt Hills, GA 30268 Parks Commission Meeting - Tues., Aug. 9, 6:00 pm City Hall - 6505 Rico Road, Chatt Hills, GA 30268 Planning Comission Meeting - Thurs., Aug. 11, 6:30 pm City Hall - 6505 Rico Road, Chatt Hills, GA 30268

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

2022 PARKING PASSES NOW AVAILABLE The parking passes for Cochran Mill Park are now available. Visit City Hall for your application. The fees are as follows: • Residents – free • Annual car/truck - $25 • Annual 3+ axels - $35

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