06-28-2013 Sandy Springs Reporter

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June 28 — July 11, 2013 • vol. 7 — no. 13

Perimeter Business pages 9-15

Memory makerHistorian ‘addicted’ to

recalling city’s past

coMMuNity 3

i spy?Pros, cons voiced over city-installed cameras

coMMeNtaRy 8

With a bangWhere, when to celebrate July 4

out & about 18

Wonder womanDunwoody parade organizer

is ‘Energizer Bunny’

MakiNg a diffeReNce 19

by the riverMt. Paran-Northside residents fish, hike

WheRe you live 27

By Dan [email protected]

Sandy Springs isn’t playing around with business owners who won’t sell their property for the city’s new downtown.

If the owners won’t sell, the city will use its powers of em-inent domain to take their property.

City Council made the point at its June 18 meeting, vot-ing to buy two similar pieces of property along Roswell Road for two distinctly different prices.

The parcels are both .29 acres, both front Roswell Road, and are both adjacent to the former Target building on John-son Ferry Road that the city purchased for $8 million in 2008.

coNtiNued oN page 26


The Sandy Springs Planning Commission on June 20 en-dorsed the zoning needed for a controversial gateway develop-ment near Atlanta’s Chastain Park, but there’s still uncertainty surrounding a massive intersection realignment the project re-quires.

If Sandy Springs City Council approves the redevelopment project at its July meeting, it will mean the city must realign Windsor Parkway and Roswell Road. The realignment will cost between $3.7 million and $5.7 million, and will be paid for by Sandy Springs taxpayers.

Three options are being considered for the realignment. Un-der two of the three options, the old Sentell Baptist Church would be razed to make way for the project. Under the third op-

coNtiNued oN page 7

PHil MosiEr

tamara carrera, director of the community assistance center in Sandy Springs, leads the shopping cart parade during the center’s

“food ‘n fun festival” at Morgan falls athletic complex on June 23. the event raised awareness, food and funds to combat

local hunger and homelessness. another photo on page 22.

road project clouds gateway

development

eminent domain action draws

criticism

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Self-made historian embodies city’s spirit


Clarke Otten does what he wants and lives how he likes.

His eclectic Sandy Springs home contains arti-facts from around the world: statues, ornaments and old weapons. When a reporter visited him at his home for a recent interview, Otten wore blue jeans and a T-shirt fea-turing a picture of a giant lizard.

Otten, 60, has devoted the past few years of his life to recounting Sandy Springs’ heritage. The amateur histo-rian has done it so well that he received the Sandy Springs Society’s “Spirit of Sandy Springs” award. Past recipients include Mayor Eva Galambos, awarded in 1997 when she was still rallying resi-dents behind the idea of a new city.

The society has bestowed this honor since 1995, well before the city incorpo-rated in 2005.

But Sandy Springs’ history didn’t be-gin in 2005, Otten said.

Otten said he often finds interest in the city’s past at odds with the city’s pres-ent interests. He’s vocal about his opin-ion that city government needs to better protect its history.

“I get a surprising amount of support from the general public and a few peo-ple from the city,” Otten said. “There is an awful lot of indifference to history on the city’s part.”

City Councilwoman Karen Meinzen McEnerny said people are appreciative of Otten’s work. She said his lecture se-ries at City Hall in 2011 was well at-tended.

“He’s just wonderful,” McEnerny said. “He’s just really bringing the histo-ry of our community into the forefront.”

The history lessons aren’t always wel-come, however.

Otten found himself crosswise with the city and a local school in 2011 when he accused Holy Innocents’ Episcopal School of damaging a grave during its expansion project. The city said it could find no evidence the grave existed.

Otten keeps in his collection a chunk of the handmade brick that he found at the site.

“I learned my lesson with that,” Ot-ten said. “You can’t get everybody else to care as much as you care, they either do or they don’t.”

Otten cares. He grew up in Sandy Springs, graduated from high school, and received a little college education. He started a chain of auto repair shops, Professional Automotive Repair, that be-came so successful, it allowed him to re-tire.

He wandered the globe, visiting 66 countries. The economic collapse in

2008 and 2009 altered his travel plans. “When the economy failed, the first thing that happened is my travel budget disappeared,” Otten said.

With his suitcases stored away, Ot-ten found a hobby closer to home. He said Kimberly Brigance, director of pro-grams and historic resources at Heri-tage Sandy Springs, asked him to give an oral history about his time growing up in Sandy Springs. Otten said he had al-ways been interested in history.

He said recollecting Sandy Springs quickly turned into “an addiction.”

“It’s the research that intrigues me,” Otten said. “It has that calming effect, for people who have (obsessive-compul-sive disorder), of putting together pic-ture puzzles.”

For the last three years he’s been working on a book that he hopes will be the definitive word on what happened in Sandy Springs and, more important-ly, what didn’t. It’s currently at 400 pag-es, and counting.

He said what little has been written down are no more than “fables” unsub-stantiated by the facts. He sees his book project in some ways as a massive cor-rection.

“I think this is my real point of pur-suing this,” he said. “I feel like educat-ing local people in Sandy Springs about their rich cultural heritage will create a stronger sense of community.”

Otten’s research also took him in an-other direction. He founded a film stu-dio, Southern Heritage Productions, which will produce historical documen-taries.

He said he won’t focus solely on the Civil War, because that’s only a brief moment in time. The American Indi-ans, early settlers, struggling farmers and wealthy investors all played their part.

So what part does Otten play? Otten takes pride in helping Sandy

Springs residents better understand their roots. He also sees it as a way to leave a little part of himself behind.

“I don’t have any children,” Otten said. “What legacy will I leave? My lega-cy will be my research.”

DaN WHisENHuNt

clarke otten relaxes at home.

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C o m m u n i t y

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Bauman makes candidacy officialAndy Bauman

has announced he will run to represent District 6 on the San-dy Springs City Council.

District 6 cur-rently is repre-sented by City Councilwoman Karen Meinzen McEnerny, who has decided not to seek re-election. Dis-trict 6 is in the southwest corner of the city, south of I-285. McEnerny has been the district’s representative since the city incorporated in 2005.

The election will be Nov. 5.Bauman is co-

founder of the Sandy Springs Farmers Market.

“Whether ad-vocating to in-crease and im-prove city green space and parks, or for street, sidewalk and infrastructure im-provements in our neighborhoods, or initiating more civic events similar to the Farmers Market, I will do the hard work necessary to make things happen,”

Mayor is named to Holocaust groupMayor Eva Galambos has been ap-

pointed to the 15-member Georgia Commission on the Holocaust by Da-vid Ralston, speaker of the state House of Representatives.

The commission was established in 1986 by then-Gov. Joe Frank Harris, and became a permanent state agen-

cy in 1998. It was created to edu-cate Georgia residents about the con-sequences of hate, prejudice and discrimination through the lessons of the Holocaust. Members of the com-mission are appointed by the gover-nor, lieutenant governor and speaker of the House.

Bauman said in his campaign an-nouncement. “Proven leadership makes the difference.”

sPEcial

past, present and futureJim Squires, center, new president of the Sandy Springs Rotary

club, was joined by past and present Rotary leaders during an induction dinner at dunwoody country club on June 15.

from left, blake Mcburney, cheryl greenway, Ralph thurmond, Squires, J. barry Smith, alicia Michael and bob hagan.

City approves budget

Sandy Springs City Council on June 18 approved the city’s Fiscal Year 2014 bud-get, which begins July 1. The city made no changes to the proposed budget.

The $87.85 million general fund bud-get includes $10.7 million for public works projects, $3.2 million for parks and recreation, and $33.8 million for public safety services, mainly the Sandy Springs police and fire departments.

The city’s single biggest expenditure this year is $23.8 million budgeted as “other,” the bulk of which will go to pay for the city’s downtown revitalization project.

Poll workers sought for city

electionsCity officials are taking applica-

tions from people who want jobs as poll workers during the Nov. 5 elec-tions. Applicants must be at least 16 years old on Election Day and be U.S. citizens, according to the city’s website. Applications must be com-pleted by Aug. 1, and poll workers must complete a three-hour train-ing course, the website says. To ap-ply, go to www.sandyspringsga.gov/pollworker.

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Split city council sides with developer

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There will be a new 26-story office tower in Sandy Springs, but it will rise above a neighborhood that opposes the height of the looming structure.

At its June 18 meeting, City Council sided with Hines Interests Limited Part-nership in its request for a zoning vari-ance to raise its height limit from 18 sto-ries to 26. City Council voted 3-3, and Mayor Eva Galambos cast the tie-break-ing vote in favor of the developer.

Council members John Paulson, Di-anne Fries and Chip Collins voted “yes” with the mayor. Council members Tib-by DeJulio, Gabriel Sterling and Karen Meinzen McEnerny voted “no.”

Galambos’ vote came after several residents pleaded with the city to stand firm on its height restrictions. The res-idents, mostly from the nearby Mount Vernon Plantation apartments, cited numerous concerns, including blocking the sight of the skyline and shadows cast by the taller building.

Their words also recalled a time when Galambos and other city leaders formed Sandy Springs because of Fulton Coun-ty’s alleged indifference to north Ful-ton residents’ concerns. Galambos has served two terms since 2006 and has de-clined to seek a third.

Mary Jo Marx, a resident, said allow-ing the variance would be an echo of the county government Sandy Springs fled.

“I would ask the mayor and city council to vote against this proposal, for one primary reason,” Marx said. “Stick

with the foundations of our fight that you, madam mayor, led so well for so long against exactly this type of thing.”

Trisha Thompson with the Sandy Springs Council of Neighborhoods said the variance reminded her of the “bad old days” under Fulton County. “Even Fulton County gave us 18 stories here,” she said.

Galambos told the residents the building would have less density with the additional floors.

“The reason I’m supporting it is, the density is not higher,” Galambos told the residents. “The density is lower than you had approved. You’re better off.”

Hines, a company based in Houston, said many of the additional floors would be contained within parking decks be-neath the tower. The building will be lo-cated on approximately 4 acres at the corner of Peachtree Dunwoody and Ab-ernathy roads. The building will join three others in the Northpark Town Center project that began in the 1980s.

John Heagy, a senior vice president in Hines’ Southeast Regional Office in At-lanta, said the expansion would increase open space and green space at the prop-erty. He said the development’s proximi-ty to a MARTA transit station will make the building attractive to potential em-ployers.

“We want Northpark 700 to become a competitive asset for Sandy Springs, and our goal is to bring real life to this great site,” he said.

googlE MaPs

hines interests limited part-nership intends to develop this property into a 26-story office tower, over some local residents’ objections. for a larger version, go to ReporterNews-papers.net.

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C o m m u n i t y

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SIX FLAGS OVER GEORGIAincluding paSSeS to

terry Sult, Sandy Springs’ director of public Safety

cities say cameras help keep residents safeBy melissa Weinman

[email protected]

Amid the recent controversy sur-rounding national surveillance pro-grams, many may not realize that juris-dictions around metro Atlanta are using integrated camera systems to record city-wide security footage.

But proponents say access to video footage is an invaluable tool for public safety.

The city of Atlanta and Sandy Springs already have these systems in place, and the cities of Brookhaven and Dunwoody are consid-ering them.

Bob Carter is the gener-al manager of Iron Sky, the company that has helped to implement these integrated video systems. He said Iron Sky focuses on building networks for public safety technology.

Video is the most com-mon technology, but Carter said the company also uses things like GPS software and license plate readers.

“Our solution is designed to inte-grate with newer and effective technol-ogies as they become available,” Carter said. “Anything that gives an officer en-hanced situational awareness.”

Terry Sult, Sandy Springs’ Director of Public Safety, said the city used ex-isting traffic control cameras for its net-work.

“We’re not putting that much mon-ey into cameras, we prefer to use existing infrastructure and partner with compa-nies that already have cameras in place,” Sult said. “We’re taking advantage of those that would be going up for traf-fic management or sharing cameras with private companies so that we reduce the cost.”

Sult said the system features a Google map that shows where all the city’s calls for service are located.

“It shows where your patrol cars are on the map, your police cars, fire trucks, ambulances, and it also shows where the

cameras are,” Sult said. The city is now working to give back-

up dispatchers access to the system to give them the ability to do things like view the area where there have been re-ports of traffic lights out or debris in the roadway.

“We give them access to it so ideal-ly we don’t have to send a car when we don’t have to send a car,” Sult said.

Carlos Campos, a spokesman for the Atlanta Police Depart-ment, said the department launched its Operation Shield Video Integration Center in 2011. It cost about $8 million and was paid for using money from the Atlanta Police Founda-tion and the federal govern-ment.

Campos said the city has access to about 1,400 cameras in areas including Buckhead, Midtown and downtown Atlanta.

“There was already a great deal of existing infrastructure in downtown that we were able to tap into. That is one of the unique aspects of the [Video Integration Center]. We have a partnership with the private sector, so these are not just city-owned cameras,” Campos said.

Campos said the system has been helpful to Atlanta police.

“For example, during major events such as the Final Four, it provided us with situational awareness on a mass scale. We were able to provide live feeds on the ground into a Joint Operations Center. It has also been helpful in mon-itoring other major events. We have also recorded several major crimes on the system that have helped provide evi-dence to investigators,” Campos said.

Sult recalled a particular incident where Sandy Springs police were able to review video footage to find a hit-and-run driver who fled the scene after hit-ting a cyclist.

Carter said “numerous, nu-merous events have occurred, es-pecially in Mid-town, where a camera sys-tem has helped to solve crimes, identified peo-ple in the pro-cess of commit-ting crimes. One of the most fre-quent ones is en-tering autos, peo-ple strolling the streets breaking windows. Nor-mal everyday is-sues are always occurring, and you can really make an impact there.”

Bob Mullen, a spokesman for the city of Dunwoody, said the city is preparing to set up a video system in Brook Run Park later this year.

“In the past several years, Brook Run Park has experienced a significant lev-el of crime including criminal damage to property, graffiti, and thefts from ve-hicles,” Mullen said.

Carter doesn’t be-lieve security foot-age infringes on pri-vacy because most recordings are taken in public places and only used in emergency situations.

“The idea is to make this informa-tion available so police can use it when they need it. They don’t have a monitor-ing operation. No one is sitting around watching it,” Carter said. “I think that’s the reality of it. No one is sitting around watching cameras all day.”

Sult said footage can also be used to hold police officers accountable. He said anything the city records is public re-cord.

“The tools are two-edged,” Sult said. “I think where the balance comes in is when you’re using them for accountabil-ity as well as solving cases, that’s where the Open Records Act helps. I’m a big fan of the Open Records Act.”

Sult said the im-portance of technol-ogy and video foot-age was evident in locating the Boston Marathon bombers.

“When you think about having to be prepared in today’s

age and the challenges we face, with ev-erything from active shooters to some-one who can put together a pressure cooker bomb …. You’ve got to be pre-pared, and if you can’t prevent it, you want to have every resource possible to be able to investigate and mitigate that situation,” Sult said.

for more about the debate on surveillance cameras, see

commentary page 8

filE

Surveillance video feeds from cameras installed along major roads in Sandy Springs

will assist officers in combating crime.

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C o m m u n i t y

SATURDAY JULY 6FIREWORKS IN SANDY SPRINGSFireworks will illuminate the skies above the King and Queen buildings in Sandy Springs as the community comes together in celebration of our nation’s independence.

Residents are encouraged to pack a snack, bring a blanket and enjoy an evening under the stars. Water stations will be located throughout the Concourse lawn. Pets, tents, outdoor cooking and personal-use sparklers will not be permi� ed.

Music 7:30 p.m. - Fireworks 9:45 p.m.Viewing Area at the Concourse Corporate Center Lawn

SANDYSPRINGSGA.GOV/FIREWORKS

Road project clouds gateway development

tion, the city would have to remove a Pop-eyes Louisiana Kitchen fast food restau-rant. Sandy Springs staff members haven’t made a final determination about which of the three plans is best, and there’s no of-ficial timeline for completion.

The road realignment became a factor after the Georgia Regional Transportation Authority issued its ruling on the mixed-use gateway development. Due to its size, GRTA assessed the project as a develop-ment of regional impact.

There’s not much dispute about the need for the road improvements. The city reported there were 103 accidents there from 2009 to 2013. The road would be realigned to a 90-degree angle. The op-tions have the potential to affect two exist-ing businesses: a funeral home or a Popey-es restaurant.

The funeral home owner, Communi-ty Funeral Service President D. Brooks Cowles, already has informed the city he has retained an attorney who specializes in eminent domain cases.

Uncertainty about where the road will end up going and how long the project will take makes the developer, JLB Part-ners, wary. “We’re going to need to find out pretty quickly a timeline on when that road moves,” Hudson Hooks with JLB said.

City Council, at its June 18 meeting, deferred approving the zoning so the proj-ect could go before the Planning Commis-sion.

The gateway development will be lo-cated at the intersection of Roswell and Wieuca roads. Traffic from the project will affect both Sandy Springs and Atlan-ta’s Buckhead community. The plan orin-

gallly presented by the developer called for 700 housing units, but during the June 20 meeting, the developer announced the plan will be reduced to 630 units.

Sandy Springs Planning Commis-sion Chairman Lee Duncan said during the June 20 meeting that he was having trouble separating the realignment proj-ect from the zoning. The Planning Com-mission’s sole job is making zoning recom-mendations to City Council. “We’re being asked to rezone a pretty intense piece of property here,” Duncan said.

Duncan asked Sandy Springs Commu-nity Development Director Angela Parker whether the commission should consider Windsor Parkway when making its deci-sion.

Parker said the city is fast-tracking the realignment project.

“The city is committed to making

this project happen quickly,” Parker said. “I think what’s before you is the zoning, but from the standpoint of executing, that project is a high priority with the city.”

The Planning Commission approved the project, while recommending the city allow only one business with a drive-through, and prohibiting construction traffic from using Roswell Road.

Residents and the developer found common ground on one key point: both wish there was more certainty surround-ing the Windsor Parkway realignment project.

Several residents of nearby neighbor-hoods mentioned the realignment proj-ect as they criticized the project’s proposed height and density. “We see the issue relat-ed to infrastructure is inextricably linked,” Cherokee Park resident Ron Comacho said.

coNtiNued fRoM page 1

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8 | June 28 – July 11, 2013 | www.ReporterNewspapers.net

COnTACT uS

Video cops and the next generation of

policingCities across the nation are see-

ing the lowest incidences of crime since the early 1990s. In the city of Atlanta alone, crime is down more than 53 percent – the safest this city has been since 1969.

As the margins for crime reduc-tion and resources get tighter, we will look to new technologies and innovative approaches to make our city safer. Most indus-tries in the past 20 years have progressed through technologi-cal advances. Innovations in software, hardware and process-es have yielded enhanced capabilities to analyze and manage data in ways never thought possible. There is no doubt that policing is undergoing a similar transformation toward tech-nology-driven strategies.

Consider for example Closed Circuit Television (CCTV) – the use of video cameras to monitor public spaces. While this technology is not new, recent advances in camera tech-nology and the introduction of computer-aided video an-alytics make it an invaluable tool for any policing strategy.

Cameras provide a safety component, and much-needed domain and situational awareness for police officers as they are deployed to the scene of a crime. They are a force mul-tiplier as video and analytics make it possible for one officer to monitor many “virtual police beats” 24-hours a day, sev-en days a week. Cameras help speed the process of solving

Who’s watching

the watchers?In the post-9/11 era, cities across

the U.S. have developed mass sur-veillance programs with the hope of improving security.

In recent years, the city of At-lanta has expanded its network of surveillance cameras. Throughout the city, you will see many cameras posted along sidewalks and busy in-tersections, and signs informing the public that they are being watched. Mass surveillance has now been ex-tended to Buckhead and Sandy Springs.

While we all want to live and work in safe communities, we must be aware of the potential problems that come from warrantless mass surveillance. Be-fore expanding the use of surveillance programs, we must en-sure there is sufficient oversight to safeguard our privacy and to protect against potential abuse.

The Iron Sky surveillance system has been implemented in many parts of Georgia. Iron Sky claims the technology has helped alleviate criminal activity. Reports on the effec-tiveness of surveillance cameras have been mixed, with many studies showing that the use of these cameras has had little to no effect in deterring crime.

Even if it is shown that these cameras can improve pub-lic safety, we must ensure there are safeguards in place so that we meet the need for public safety without jeopardiz-

“I think they’re a good thing. I think they’re necessary for

the safety of the community.”

Victoria Nalette

“It’s a good thing. I think it helps protect our community.”

Jay Jewell

“As you can see, I’m incognito…. I guess, in the

long run, it’s a good thing. It does make people take stock. I guess it keeps the evil-doers

from contemplating evil.”John Ryan

“I think they can be both. I think they can be great for deterring crime and also catch-ing criminals after the fact. At the same time, I think they can lead to paranoia, and they can make people act differ-ently than they normal-ly would, like by slam-ming on their brakes at

red lights out of fear of a ticket.”

Suzanne Desmond-Guba

“I like it for security. I don’t personally have anything to hide. I have three kids and I like as much security as is

available.”

Marcy Cooper

“I think they’re a good thing. I don’t think they cause any harm and they can do some

good.”

Caroline Tanner

STReeT TAlK Q: Are the security

cameras that now monitor us in public places a good

thing or a bad thing?

Asked at various public gatherings in Reporter

Newspapers communities

Continued on page 21Continued on page 21

KRiSTen COllinS

Law clerk with the American Civil

Liberties Union of Georgia and a student

at John Marshall Law School.

W. DAviD WilKinSOnCEO and president of the Atlanta Police

Foundation.

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Assoc. Editor/Digital Content Manager:Dan Whisenhunt

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Intown Editor: Collin [email protected]

Staff Writer: Melissa [email protected]

Copy Editor: Diane L. Wynocker

Director of Creative and Interactive Media:Christopher North

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Graphic Designer: Walter [email protected]

Advertising

Advertising Director: Amy [email protected]

Senior Account Executive: Janet [email protected]

Account Executive: Sylvia [email protected]

Sales Consultants: David Burleson, Linda Howell

Classified Advertising & Office Administrator: Deborah Davis

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Contributors

J.D. Moor, Phil Mosier

C O m m e n T A R y

Two sides don’t see ‘eye-to-eye’ over cameras

Perimeter BusinessA monthly section focusing on business in the Reporter Newspapers communities

By Joe Earle

Like many who work from home, Steve Miller used to meet clients at a coffee shop. He didn’t really care for it.

“Starbucks is loud and distracting,” he said.Miller describes himself as a business placement coach.

He helps people find jobs and helps employers find the right people. When he joined the hoards of office-less workers doing business from crowded shops and other public places, it often was hard to carry on the kind of con-versations he needed to have.

So he joined Roam.At its new facility, which opened in the heart of

the Perimeter business area in March, Roam offers a 16,250-square-foot collection of meeting rooms, work niches and, yes, its own coffee shop. It is designed to give its members a place that functions as an office. They can meet clients, hold company meetings or brainstorm with co-workers.

But Roam isn’t an office building in the traditional sense. Located at 1155 Mount Vernon Road, on the sec-

ond floor of a mall and above an Office Depot, it’s one of several metro Atlanta fa-cilities promising to create a new kind of office for workers learning to do business in a different way as new technol-ogies – smart-phones, laptops and ubiquitous WiFi connections – allow them to spend less time in cubicles and more time work-ing from home or elsewhere.

To explain Roam, Peyton Day, who had been in the hotel

Profile: ‘Basking’ in success –10Although Baskin-

Robbins store owner Shaheen Haque re-ceived a master’s de-gree in public health from Emory Univer-sity, she decided sit-ting behind a desk wasn’t for her.

Powers Ferry Landing –14Powers Fer-

ry Landing, locat-ed four miles from Sandy Springs, and close to the Cobb County line, is looking for ways to bump up its busi-ness profile.

Q&A: Israel and Atlanta trade –11Tom Glaser, retiring

president of the Amer-ican-Israei Chamber of Commerce’s South-east Region, discusses why Georgia and the Perimeter area attract so many Israeli busi-nesses.

Phil MosierRoam, located in the heart of the perimeter business district, offers a 16,250-square-foot collection of meeting space, work niches, access to high-tech equipment, and even a coffee shop.

Phil MosierPeyton Day settles into one of Roam’s conference rooms. Day is an investor in the Sandy Springs facility. Continued on page 15

New workplaces attract a new kind of worker

business and is among investors in the new Roam office facility in Sandy Springs, holds up his smartphone. “This,” Day said, “changed everything in how we do work. Now that you have one of these, you can work anywhere.”

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Baskin-Robbins franchise owner tastes success By Dan Whisenhunt

The décor of the Baskin-Robbins store in Sandy Springs looks like a busted piñata.

Children spend their birthdays at the two-story shop located at City-Walk. They make candle wishes in a room sprinkled with shades of pink and blue. Frozen cakes decorat-ed with a mother’s touch and cray-on-box colors of ice cream wait like temptation inside glass cases.

The aroma of cooked waf-fles greets each customer coming through the door.

Store owner Shaheen Haque said she didn’t expect her life’s work would be this sweet. She’s spent 28 years serving up scoops of famous ice cream flavors and loves her job.

“You meet people. You manage employees. You have little kids com-ing to you as customers. You have cakes,” Haque said. “It’s a very vibrant and happy atmo-sphere, compared to sitting in a cor-porate office with a desk and chair.”

Haque can win friends with a few words and melt hearts with her matronly smile. She’s not shy about promoting her company’s brand. Her sales pitch flows as easily as caramel dripping off a ladle.

Haque fell in love with Baskin-Robbins ice cream in 1985, when she took her first bite of the chain’s Pis-tachio Almond ice cream. She said that first bite “sold me on the fran-chise.”

Haque wasn’t thinking about the ice cream business back then. She was a graduate student at Emory University, finishing her master’s degree in public health. She saw a future of sitting behind a desk and taking orders. She decided it just wasn’t for her. “My personality wasn’t suited for this type of job,” she said. “I started thinking.”

She bought out the owner of the Baskin-Robbins store on Ro-swell Road and hasn’t looked back, though there were some rocky roads along the way.

Haque moved the location to CityWalk in 2006, hoping she would be a part of Sandy Springs’ down-town renaissance. While the down-town plans haven’t moved as quick-

ly as Haque expected, she said she’s found new op-portunities at her much larger CityWalk address.

The second story be-came a party room and it’s

something Haque credits with keep-ing her ice cream shop afloat during the economic meltdown.

When the economy crumbled in 2008 and 2009, she stretched her company’s dollar by working more hours at the store. Her uniform shows faint tatters at the shoulders and 31 flavors (and then some) of ice cream stain the brim of her visor.

“You have to know how to man-age your numbers,” Haque said. “That’s the key factor to your sur-vival. You have to control product waste. You have to control payroll cost.”

Baskin-Robbins store owner Shaheen Haque, left, with employee Michael Star. Haque says working with teenagers is part of what makes her job worthwhile.

Dan Whisenhunt

Perimeter Profile

The store is never far from Haque’s thoughts. When she visited Turkey for one week in November, she had a video conference with her employees every day.

Haque said the teenagers she em-ploys in the store are part of what makes the job worthwhile. In 28 years, she’s seen many grow up, be-come successful and return to her shop with their own children in tow. She thinks she can take some credit for their success. Two of Haque’s chil-dren are doctors and they worked in the store when they were teenagers.

“They have learned some of their management skills from Baskin-Robbins,” Haque said.

The dessert fads have also tried to take a bite of her ice cream shop’s profits. Cupcakes, cakes and pies are all contenders, but frozen yo-

gurt currently reigns as the dessert fad king.

Frozen yogurt shops offer cus-tomers a myriad of toppings, but Haque doesn’t see the fad toppling ice cream’s enduring appeal. Haque conducts market research by visit-ing nearby shops.

She said that full-fat ice cream is healthier than nonfat yogurt, partic-ularly when customers eat their yo-gurt with a pile of sugary toppings.

That master’s degree in public health came in handy, she said.

“I think it will take time for peo-ple to catch up and realize that hav-ing a serving of yogurt with all that toppings heaped up on it is worse,” Haque said.

And when they do, Haque will be waiting for them behind the counter at Baskin-Robbins.


www.ReporterNewspapers.net | June 28 – July 11, 2013 | 11

Q How did the American-Israel Chamber of Commerce’s Southeast Region get its start?

Why was it created? Has its purpose changed through the years?

A AICC was organized in 1992 through the sup-port of the Jewish Federation of Greater Atlanta

and the Consulate General of Israel. The original impe-tus was to help Israel absorb the huge number of new immigrants (mostly from the Soviet Union, but also from other countries, including Ethiopia) by stimulat-ing business relationships geared for the U.S. market as a way to create jobs in Israel.

Over the years, the mission has changed into much more of a mutual benefit as many new jobs were also created in the Southeast through our programs and initiatives. Since our founding over 21 years ago, the chamber has been involved in completed transactions between Southeast and Israeli companies valued at over $1 billion.

The Southeast (Alabama, Georgia, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina and Tennessee) is now one of the top five centers of activity for Israeli compa-nies, and most of the major corporations in our region do business in Israel or with Israeli companies.

Q The American-Israeli chamber’s Southeastern U.S. regional office is in Sandy Springs. What

brought its operations here?

A I have lived in Sandy Springs since moving to the Atlanta area in 1992 to start AICC. Originally,

we were in the Jewish Federation’s office in Midtown, and then next to the consulate’s office on Spring Street. In 2000, we moved the office to Lake Hearn Drive, just inside the Perimeter, and four years ago, we relocated to The Pointe on Northridge Road, just off Ga. 400. It is a very convenient location for our members, guests and Israelis who are visiting the area.

Q How are business relations between Israel and Georgia, and the Southeastern United States

now? How have they changed over the last two de-cades?

A Business relations are excellent. We have a great deal to offer Israeli companies as they look to en-

ter the U.S. market through the Atlanta-Southeast por-tal. Our local and state governments, economic devel-opment agencies, and technology associations are great partners, and we can open doors for them to potential strategic partners, investors and customers. As compared to 20 years ago, Israel is now a technol-ogy entrepreneurship powerhouse -- the “Start Up Na-tion.” We can learn a lot from the Israelis as we seek to develop our own economic base in the Southeast. And local companies are now quite receptive to the idea that “if it came from Israel, you ought to take a good look at it.” This was certainly not the case when we started.

Q What attracts Israeli businesses to Georgia?

A Number one is Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta Inter-national Airport. With their global orientation,

Israeli companies need easy air access, which Atlanta provides throughout the Americas. Our costs of living and doing business are also significantly lower than the other regions they typically consider (primarily Boston, New York and Silicon Valley). We have one of the coun-try’s fastest-growing Jewish communities, and also a sizeable Israeli community in Atlanta.

Q What sort of Georgia businesses succeed in Is-rael?

A The Coca-Cola Co. was the first major Georgia company to dominate the Israeli market, and

through the years, Coca-Cola has earned the reputation as Israel’s most respected brand. Subsequently, The Co-ca-Cola Co. has been mining Israel for technologies re-lated to ingredients, water, energy and the supply chain.

BellSouth (now AT&T) was another big winner in the Israeli market when they established Israel’s second mobile company, Cellcom, in 1994, and subsequently sold their interest at a huge profit. AT&T also taps into Israeli technology, and has one of their four Foundry operations in Ra’anana, Atlanta’s sister city in Israel.

NCR just acquired an Israeli company, Retalix, for $650 million, and this was our 2013 Deal of the Year. But it’s not just the huge Georgia corporations that benefit by doing business with Israel. We’re see-ing small and medium-sized enterprises succeed in Isra-el and partner with Israeli companies.

Q How did metro Atlanta become one of the top five centers in the country for Israeli

company activity?

A About 35 of [the Israeli businessses in Geor-gia] are in metro Atlanta, and the Perimeter

area, Roswell, and Alpharetta are among the favored lo-cations. Atlanta has been a favored location for them as a result of our efforts through the years, working with our economic development partners, to promote the area to Israeli companies and service them through our “headquarters” programs that provide an easy landing.

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Openings

Barberitos, a quick- service restaurant specializing in burritos, tacos, salads, quesadillas and nachos, celebrated their grand opening in with a ribbon cutting on June 20. Owner Jim Purcell shares the scissors with Sandy Springs Councilwoman Karen Meinzen McEnerny, surrounded by friends, employees, and representatives from the Sandy Springs/Perimeter Chamber and Keller Williams.The restaurant is located in the Prado Shopping Center at 6210 Roswell Road.

Dog City Bakery owner Marcia Lain, center, right, with Sandy Springs City Councilman Gabe Sterling, center, cuts the ribbon at the store’s grand opening on June 8, surrounded by friends, employees and Chamber representatives. The company, located at 6309-1D Roswell Road in Sandy Springs, offers handmade treats and cakes baked in-house, as well as holistic dog food, toys, collars, beds and fashionable accessories.

The Brookhaven Chamber of Commerce sponsored the June 4 grand opening of Buckhead Fight Club’s newest location at 3293 Buford Highway, Suite 500, in Brookhaven. City Councilman Joe Gebbia, left, and Mayor J. Max Davis, right, were in charge of the ribbon cutting as company owner and professional boxer Terri Moss, center, smiles in approval. Buckhead Fight Club is the home of the Boxing Chicks, one of the largest women’s boxing/boxing fitness programs in the Southeast, which welcomes women of fitness levels, amateur or professional, to train with Terri Moss.

Chambers, local officials welcome new businesses

New businesses offering every-thing from tacos to boxing lessons to holistic dog food are starting up in the Perimeter market, one of the largest commercial areas in metro Atlanta. Here’s a sampling of recent ribbon cuttings formally marking the opening of new busi-nesses in the area. Photos were provided by the Sandy Springs/

Perimeter Chamber of Commerce and the Dunwoody Chamber of Commerce.

In a Snap Imprints owner Neil Wiesenfeld, center, with scissors, celebrates the opening of his store with Councilwoman Dianne Fries, second from right, members of the Sandy Springs/Perimeter Chamber of Commerce, SSPC Ambassadors, family and friends. The company, located at 220 Hammond Drive, Suite 308, in Sandy Springs, offfers in-house embroidery, monogramming and digital printing.



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with the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation, has released the sec-ond-annual Thumbtack.com Small Business Friendliness Survey show-ing that Atlanta ranked among the friendliest cities in the country for small businesses. This is the second year in a row that Atlanta has made the list, with the city earning an A- rating, and ranking in the Top 10. Other cities on the list included Austin, Vir-ginia Beach-Norfolk, Hous-ton, Colorado Springs and San Antonio. To see the full ranking, visit thumbtack.com.

IT company opensComputer Generated Solutions (cg-

sinc.com), a provider of technology so-lutions and services, has opened a new office at Perimeter Center. CGS’s new location will house sales and IT sup-port staff for their software solutions, and will serve as the main office for their Leadtec division.

PulteGroup relocates

PulteGroup (pulte.com), one of America’s largest homebuilding companies, will relocate its corporate headquarters to 100,000 square feet of Class A office space in an yet-to-be-determined Buckhead building. The company will bring 300 jobs to the city.

Novelis honoredBuckhead-based Novelis (novelis.

com), which makes and recycles alumi-

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num rolling, was named Metals Com-pany of the Year at the inaugural Platts Global Metals Awards ceremony held in London. Novelis president and CEO Philip Martens was named CEO of the Year.

Lenox Square stores on the move

Lenox Square (simon.com) in Buckhead has announced the addition of Vince Ca-muto, Invicta, Tumi and Ba-chrach to its retail roster. In addition, there have been ex-pansions of the Lacoste and A|X Armani Exchange stores,

and relocations of Brookstone, Original Penguin and Carol’s Daughter.

Modani Furniture opens showroom

Modani Furniture (modani.com) has opened a new showroom in Buckhead, at 3221 Peachtree Road. The store offers furniture and accessories for the living room, bedroom, office and more.

Banking for a CURE

Sandy Springs-based Affinity Bank has formed a new partnership, Banking for a CURE. If at least 500 new custom-ers open charitable checking and money market accounts with Affinity by Oct. 31, 2013, the bank will donate $50,000 to CURE, which helps children with cancer and their families. No donation is required by those opening the new ac-counts – the bank will make the dona-tion to CURE on their behalf. For more information, visit myaffinitybank.com/cure.



and entertain-ment venues could do the trick.

“I hope it does take off,” he said.

Cindy Coombs, direc-tor of leasing with Newmark Grubb Knight Frank, said the Central Perim-eter office mar-ket is boom-ing because it has amenities Powers Ferry Landing doesn’t. She said the Central Perimeter is more walk-able and close to a MARTA transit station, perks corporations flood-ing the Perimeter Market find ap-pealing. There are bus stops along the river at Powers Ferry Landing, but there’s limited ability to walk to work from them.

She said some customers like se-clusion.

“The really cool thing about this area is when you get here, you feel

like you’re in the woods,” Coombs said.

But is Powers Ferry Landing’s identity getting lost in those woods?

Businesses and civic leaders said it shouldn’t be, because there’s loads of potential.

Sandy Springs City Councilwom-an Karen Meinzen McEnerny told attendees of the Chamber event that once people discover Powers Fer-ry Landing, they will be amazed by what they find.

“This is an undiscovered gem in terms of an office market,” she said.

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Powers Ferry businesses seek an identity of their ownBy Dan Whisenhunt

Business leaders can recite a list of what’s lacking in the Powers Fer-ry Landing commercial district, but they also can name its strengths.

Geography is not one of them, and that’s part of the problem.

The district is close to the Cobb County line and Chattahoochee River, four miles from the city of Sandy Springs. It’s in the city lim-its, though many people don’t make that connection.

Powers Ferry Landing is home to several high-profile companies, in-cluding IntercontinentalExchange and Graphic Packaging, but the community suffers from a bit of an identity crisis. It doesn’t have one, business leaders say.

Nearly a year ago, city and busi-ness leaders gathered for a brain-storming session on how to bet-ter market the area. Sandy Springs Chamber President Tom Mahaffey said there had been talk of creating a Powers Ferry Business Alliance, but there was little progress. The concerns expressed then were still

on the minds of the people gathered at the Sandy Springs/Perimeter Chamber of Commerce after-hours event on June 25, held at 1600 Riv-eredge Parkway.

“We’re working on an identity,” said Ron Comacho, chair of mar-keting and communications for the Sandy Springs/Perimeter Chamber of Commerce. Comacho’s specific task for the event was unveiling a potential logo for the area. He held up a placard that said, “Powers Fer-ry Sandy Springs” and received en-couraging applause.

“It’s not the Galleria,” Corey Hooper, a vice president with Sun Trust Bank, said while sipping wine. “But it’s not Sandy Springs. It al-most has to represent itself.”

Hooper said Powers Ferry Land-ing doesn’t lack opportunities. He endures a brutal commute to get to his job.

Mike Laney, a property manag-er for the 1600 Riveredge Parkway building, said Powers Ferry Land-ing has good restaurants and neigh-borhoods. He thinks a better mix of uses that includes more restaurants

Dan WhisenhuntRon Comacho unveils powers Ferry Landing logo.



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New workplaces are designed for a new kind of worker

In Buckhead, Atlanta Tech Village is creating new “co-working” office spaces aimed at technology and re-lated companies, and targeting tech start-ups. A five-story, 1980s-vintage marble-and-glass office building at 3423 Piedmont Road is now undergo-ing a $5 million renovation to create the new workspace.

Some companies already are at work in the partially-renovated build-ing. Once construction is complete, the building will offer open offices where young tech entrepreneurs can work side by side, conference rooms, expandable offices for growing com-panies, and places where workers can get away to play ping-pong or table-top shuffleboard, community manag-er Karen Houghton said during a re-cent tour for potential clients. “It will be a very different building,” said Houghton said.

The operators of Roam and At-lanta Tech Village say their facilities aren’t traditional office buildings. For one thing, they look more like college dorms or classroom buildings than high-rise cube farms. They offer com-fy couches where workers can plop down with their laptops and places where people can write on the walls, if they want to. At Atlanta Tech Vil-lage, workers ride scooters through the building’s open hallways.

Jim Wade plans to move his new insurance busi-ness specializ-ing in digital sales from more tradi-tional Buckhead office space into Atlanta Tech Vil-lage after the first of the year. He hopes the envi-ronment will help him attract young-er workers. “It’s as much as anything else, a recruiting tool and a place for them to work rather than a stodgy old office building,” he said.

For small business owners, the al-ternative office facilities promise flex-ibility. Roam can handle meetings ranging in size from two people to 200, Day said. Both Atlanta Tech Vil-lage and Roam sign their customers to memberships, not leases.

“People today want to keep their options open. They want to be nim-ble,” Day said. “You can add employ-ees here or remove employees. It’s month to month.”

That appeals to Blake Sanchez, a 27-year-old engineer who’s CEO of a two-year-old, six-employee company.

“This is our office,” he said one recent afternoon as he and his marketing di-rector Erynne Ligeski typed away on laptops in one of Roam’s booth-like workspaces. “It’s very cost-effective. It has this flexible space.”

Sanchez said he usually meets with two or three employees at his office at Roam while his other employees work elsewhere. “We started out at my apartment, when there were just two of us,” he said. “That’s definitely not a place to meet clients. [Here,] we get a clean conference room with all sorts of high-tech stuff.”

Software subcontractor Robert Hudson said he works at Roam’s fa-

cilities four days a week because it al-lows him to con-centrate on his job. “Instead of work-ing from home, I work here because my daughter wouldn’t let me work at home,” he said.

The new fa-cilities also offer business owners a chance to meet and exchange ideas with like-minded folks, their own-ers say. As more people work from home – and, according to a recent Wall Street Journal article, a 2006 gov-ernment study found that 42.6 people in the U.S. worked outside an office – some are finding that distractions such as children, dogs or housework can get in the way of their productiv-ity.

“What we’re finding is that when you go home to work, there’s a fac-tor called social isolation,” Day said. “When you collaborate, you become more productive.”

Jeff Thompson, a commercial real estate consultant, found that get-

ting out of the home office helped his work. “I’m more productive when there are other people around,” he said. “Things at home can be disrup-tive. I get a little cabin fever.”

Now he can do his job from his vir-tual office. One recent afternoon, he was hard at work in a booth next to the one Sanchez, the engineer, was

using as his office and just a couple of dozen feet from the one where Mill-er was interviewing clients. And, of course, he was just a quick walk from Roam’s in-house coffee shop.

“A lot people who walk through think this is like a coffee bar – a Star-bucks with meeting rooms,” Day said. “But it’s so much more than that.”

Phil Mosierat left, Blake Sanchez, president and Ceo of pyrodynamics, left, works alongside erynne Ligeski, marketing director for the company, at the Roam office. Above, Jeff Thompson, a commercial real estate consultant, said getting out of his home office helped his work.

“What we’re finding is that when you go home to work, there’s a factor called social isola-tion. When you collaborate, you become more productive.”

peyton day, Roam investor

Continued FRoM page 9

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Marriage and DivorceSaturday, July 6, 12:30-1:30 p.m. – Join others for “Dollars and Sense of Marriage and Divorce.” Topics include: Money matters before you say “I Do”; Now that you are hitched, living the “I Dos”; If your “I Dos” become “I Don’ts.” Free and open to the community. For adult au-diences. Registration required by calling the San-dy Springs Library at 404-303-6130. 395 Mount Vernon Highway, Sandy Springs, 30328. Email: [email protected] with questions.

Downloading eBooksFriday, July 12, 10-11 a.m. – Do you have a Nook eReader and would like to know how to download free library ebooks? Then check out this free workshop. Open to the community. For adults. Registration required by calling 404-303-6130. Sandy Springs Branch Library, 395 Mount Vernon Highway, Sandy Springs, 30328. To learn more, email: [email protected].

Get Published Friday, July 12, 1-3 p.m. – Guest novelist David R. Smith shares his ex-periences in writ-ing adventure nov-els and offers advice in getting your first book published. Free. Open to mid-dle and high school youth. Registration required. Sandy Springs Branch Library, 395 Mount Ver-non Highway, Sandy Springs, 30328. To sign up or to ask questions, call 404-303-6130 or email: [email protected].

Teen Filmmaking Friday, July 12, 1-3 p.m. – Learn what goes into filmmaking, from writing a script to the im-portance of production planning to the actu-al production. Session includes a demonstration using professional- grade equipment (cameras, boom microphones, clapboards, etc.) Learn how engineering, math and technology are used in set designing, and how special effects are created us-ing technology. Free. Open to the public. Ap-propriate for ages 12-18. Registration required. Buckhead Branch Library, in the large Meeting Room, 269 Buckhead Ave., NE, Atlanta, 30305. Call 404-814-3500 or email: [email protected] to sign up or to learn more.

PeRfORming ARTS

Kids’ Concert Thursday, July 11, 10:30-11:15 a.m. – The Alicia Etchison con-cert includes acoustic fin-gerstyle guitar songs for children. Free, and open

to the community. Suggested audiences: Infant, toddler, preschool and elementary school. Buck-head Branch Library, 269 Buckhead Ave., NE, At-lanta, 30305. For more details, email: [email protected] or call 404-814-3500.

Brookhaven MoviesThursday, July 11, 8:45 p.m. – The Atlanta Foundation for Public Spaces’ summer movie se-ries continues with a showing of “Parental Guid-ance,” starring Billy Crystal and Bette Midler, at Town Brookhaven. Rated PG. Free. The pub-lic is welcome. Movie starts at dusk. Approved lawn chairs only. No outside food, drinks or cool-ers (except water). Town Brookhaven restaurants will participate. For more details, go to: www.af-fps.com or www.facebook.com/TownBrookhav-en. 4330 Peachtree Rd., NE, Brookhaven, 30319.

Concerts By The Springs

Sunday, July 14, 7 p.m. – The A-Town A-List band, which performs pop music “with an edge,” brings their unique sound to the stage at the upcom-ing Concerts by the Springs event. Free, and open to the community. No pets. Picnic baskets, coolers and blankets are welcome; no outside tables. Food and beverages available for purchase. No smoking. Her-itage Green, on the Sandy Springs Entertainment Lawn, 6110 Bluestone Rd., Sandy Springs, 30328. Questions? Visit: www.heritagesandysprings.org or call 404-851-9111, ext. 4. To learn more about the band, go to: http://atownalist.com.

COmmuniTy

Butterfly FestivalSaturday, July 13, 10 a.m.-3 p.m. – The 14th annual Fly-ing Colors Butterfly Festival at the Chatta-hoochee Nature Cen-ter opens. See hun-dreds of butterflies as they are released, and check out the “butter-fly encounter” tent, al-lowing you to hand-feed more than 250 free-flying butterflies. Enjoy live music, photography and entomology exhib-its, arts and crafts, and face painting. Kids encour-aged to wear butterfly costumes for the butterfly parade. Food trucks on site. Festival continues Sunday, July 14, 12-5 p.m. $8 for members; $12 for non-members; free for children 2 and un-der. Call 770-992-2055, ext. 236 or visit www.chattnaturecenter.org for more information. 9135 Willeo Rd., Roswell, 30075.


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Music Time Wednesday, July 3, 10:15-10:45 a.m. – Join others for a high-energy, interactive music and move-ment program that will have you and your baby sing-ing and jamming with an array of child-friendly musi-cal instruments! Led by Ms. Jennifer, Buckhead’s early childhood music specialist. Free and open to all. Ap-propriate for ages 3-11 months and their caregivers. Buckhead Branch Library, 269 Buckhead Ave., Atlan-ta, 30305. Call 404-814-3500 or email: [email protected] to find out more.

Bead FunMonday, July 8, 3-4 p.m. – Explore different ways to express your creativity with beads. Free, and the public is welcome. For ages 13-17. Open to the first 10 participants. No registration required. For groups of five or more, call the branch at 404-848-7140 for an appointment. Brookhaven Branch Library, 1242 N. Druid Hills Rd., NE, Brookhaven, 30319.

Craft ClosetTuesday, July 9, 4-5 p.m. – Dig into the Brookhaven Library’s Craft Closet, and make some-thing fun out of the bits and pieces left over from previous crafts. Open to the first 10 participants. For groups of five or more, contact the branch for an ap-pointment. Free and open to the community. For ages 5-12. 1242 N. Druid Hills Rd., NE, Brookhav-en, 30319. Call 404-848-7140 with questions and to sign up.

“BEE” HealthyWednesday, July 10, 10:30 a.m.-12:15 p.m. – “Buzz” into the Buckhead Library for hula hoop fun, and to make food art you can eat. Learn it’s fun and healthy to be an active, busy bee! Hula hoop activity from 10:30-11 a.m.; health work-shop begins at 11 a.m. Diabetes awareness includ-ed. Free, and appropriate for youngsters ages 5-12. All are welcome. Registration required by going to: http://diabetesfun4kids.eventbrite.com, calling Fe-licia Clift at 404-955-8352 or visiting the branch. 269 Buckhead Ave., Atlanta, 30305.

Dig in the DirtWednesday, July 10, 3-3:45 p.m. – Sarah Brodd, of the DeKalb County Cooperative Exten-sion, shows you how to have fun with dirt! Regis-tration begins July 1. Free, and everyone is welcome. For ages 5-12. Open to the first 15 participants. Call 404-848-7140 or visit the Brookhaven Branch Li-brary to register. 1242 N. Druid Hills Rd., NE, Brookhaven, 30319.

Magic ShowWednesday, July 10, 4-4:45 p.m. – Bill Packard, the “Magic Man,” combines mag-ic, comedy, music, puppetry and special effects to “wow” you. Free. For preschool and elementary school au-diences. Northside Branch Library, 3295 North-side Parkway, NW, Atlanta, 30327. Email: [email protected] or call 404-814-3508 for more details.

Edible Sciences Thursday, July 11, 10:30-11:30 a.m. – Want to learn about “edible science?” Topics in-clude: the dry ice mystery; making Play-dough; “gooey goop” (cornstarch and water); how does popcorn pop; fun with Pop Rocks candy; find-ing iron in cereal, “s is for Skittles,” and making candied apples. Free and open to the communi-ty. Sign-up required and started June 20. For el-ementary and middle school youth. Additional session from 2-3 p.m. Children may sign up for one session only. Sandy Springs Branch Library, in the Meeting Room, 395 Mount Vernon High-way, Sandy Springs, 30328. Email: [email protected] or call 404-303-6130 to reg-ister or with questions.

Turtle ToursSaturday, July 13, 11 a.m.-12 p.m. – Heritage Sandy Springs’ “Turtle Tours,” an edu-cational series appro-priate for children ages 2- 5, continues. In this program, museum mas-cots “Sandy” the Chip-munk and “Spring” the Turtle celebrate the Fourth of July. Free; donations encour-

aged. 6075 Sandy Springs Circle, Sandy Springs, 30328. For more information, email: [email protected], call 404-851-9111 or visit: www.heritagesandysprings.org.

Ancient EgyptSaturday, July 13, 3-4 p.m. – Ms. Leah provides ancient Egypt-themed activities for the whole family! Sign up required and started June 20. Free and open to the public. Suggested au-diences: preschool and elementary school youth. Sandy Springs Branch Library, in the Meet-ing Room, 395 Mount Vernon Highway, San-dy Springs, 30328. Email: [email protected] or call 404-303-6130 to register or for additional information.

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Buckhead – Lenox SquareAn Atlanta summer tradition for more than 50 years, Lenox Square will celebrate

the Fourth of July with musical entertainment, food concessions and the largest fire-works display in the Southeast. New in 2013, Lenox Square will showcase “Atlanta’s Next Legend,” local singer Wesley Cook. Enjoy family-friendly fun outdoors in the mall’s parking lot. Evening culminates with a signature, 20-minute fireworks dis-play, accompanied by a patriotic musical soundtrack. When: Thursday, July 4, 10 a.m.-10 p.m. The mall’s shops and restaurants open 10 a.m.- 6 p.m.; live music gets under way at 6 p.m.; fireworks scheduled for approxi-mately 9:35 p.m. Where: 3393 Peachtree Road, NE, Atlanta, 30326, Lenox Square How much: Free; no pets For more information: 404-233-7575 or www.simon.com/mall/lenox-square

Buckhead – Atlanta History CenterWrap up your Fourth of July week by experiencing what the holiday has meant

throughout American history. Take part in activities, demonstrations, and perfor-mances that highlight Independence Day traditions from 1776 through today. Meet Thomas Jefferson and participate in a re-enactment of the signing of the Declara-tion of Independence! Enjoy making and tasting hand-cranked ice cream, learning historic dances and songs, sharing Fourth of July memories, and competing in lawn games and trivia for patriotic prizes. When: Saturday, July 6, 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Where: Atlanta History Center, 130 West Paces Ferry Road, Atlanta, 30305. How much: Included with general admission. Free parking; food available for pur-chase; picnics welcomed. For more information: 404-814-4000 or go to: www.atlantahistorycenter.com.

ChambleeCelebrate the holiday in Chamblee, beginning at 5 p.m. with a kids’ bike pa-

rade from Chamblee Middle School to Keswick Park. Children will enjoy a mul-titude of activities, including train rides from 5-8 p.m. Bring a picket basket and enjoy the sounds of the “Mike Veal Band,” and end your July Fourth evening with a fireworks show. When: Thursday, July 4, 5-10 p.m.; music by the “Mike Veal Band” at 6 p.m.; fireworks at approximately 9:15 p.m. Where: Keswick Park Soccer Field, 3496 Keswick Drive, Chamblee, 30341. How much: Free admission. Concessions from local businesses will be available throughout the evening. For more information: www.chambleega.com, under the Parks & Recreation link, or contact Loren Roberts at 770-986‐5016 or [email protected].

DunwoodyThe annual Dunwoody Fourth of July parade, the largest in the metro area,

kicks off a morning of marching bands, clowns, candy, floats, antique cars, gov-ernment officials and local celebrities. The 2.7-mile route, which winds through the city along Mount Vernon Road, with an end point at Dunwoody Village, features something for everyone. Post-parade festivities include barbeque, ven-dor booths, kids’ activities and live entertainment. The event attracted over 2,500 participants and 32,000 spectators in 2012.When: Thursday, July 4, 9 a.m. Where: Parade steps off at Mount Vernon and Jett Ferry roads, Dunwoody, 30338, and ends in the Dunwoody Village parking lot. How much: Free. For more information: Call Pam Tallmadge at 770-393-9647 or www.dunwoodyga.org/Dunwoody-4th-of-July-Parade

Sandy SpringsThe city of Sandy Springs

rolls out a fireworks show in 2013, on July 6, from the Concourse Corporate Center lawn. Sit back and enjoy live music, with fireworks set to go off at 9:45 p.m. Water will be available, and complimen-tary popsicles will help keep kids cool. The public is en-couraged to pack snacks and a blanket, and bring soft-sided balls, Frisbees and other kid- and crowd-friendly toys. Pets, tents, outdoor cooking and personal-use sparklers are not permitted. When: Saturday, July 6, 6:30 p.m.; live music by the band “Shiloh” gets under way at 7:30 p.m.; fireworks sched-uled for 9:45 p.m. Where: Concourse Corporate Center, Five Concourse Park-way, 30328. How much: Free admission. Complimentary parking avail-able in parking decks Five and Six; handicapped parking in deck Four. For more information: www.sandyspringsga.gov or call 770-730-5600.

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Work starts in January. Commit-tees start meeting. Spreadsheets fill with data. Volunteers recruit and train scores of other volunteers.

Pam Tallmadge watches over it all. About six months later, on the morn-

ing of July 4, everything comes togeth-er as Dunwoody’s annual Fourth of July Parade – which residents of the north DeKalb city claim is now the biggest event of its kind in the metro area – steps off on its 2-plus-mile march down Mount Vernon Road.

“I love the parade,” Tallmadge said. “The parade is my favorite volunteer job I’ve ever done. Who doesn’t love a pa-

rade?”Tallmadge, co-chairwoman of the

parade since 2006, jokes she’s known around town nowadays as “Parade Pam.” She, co-chair Penny Forman, and their volunteer crew make sure Dunwoody’s annual holiday to-do comes off without a hitch.

On July 3, Tallmadge marks the start-ing spots for all the units registered to take part in the parade. Once the parade starts, Tallmadge said, she actually runs alongside to make sure everything is in the right place and stays there. “I am the parade police,” Tallmadge joked one re-cent afternoon during a chat at a local

coffee shop. What keeps her coming back? “I

have a ball doing it,” she said. “It’s a cel-

ebration rolled into a party rolled into a Mayberry-patriotic-Dunwoody [event].

Who loves a parade? Dunwoody’s Pam Tallmadge surely does

CONTINuED ON PAGE 20

“I love it. July 5 is kind of like Christmas afternoon at our

house. It’s over. All my email gets really quiet. I’m like,

‘Where did my friends go?’”

– PAm TAllmADge

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Parade co-chair is ‘one of those people who pull the wagon’

… It’s a small-town thing.”The parade’s not her only volunteer

job. Tallmadge has held PTA and other school-related posts, run scout groups, served as swim team mom, sung in the church choir. In recent years, she’s over-seen the DHA’s annual Light Up Dun-woody, its outdoor Christmas light show and celebration.

“She is the Ener-gizer Bunny of volun-teers,” said Bill Gross-man, secretary and past president of the DHA.

Last year, the homeowners group awarded her its “Citizen of the Year” award for her vol-unteer work. After the presentation, for-mer Mayor Ken Wright joked she was Dunwoody’s Wonder Woman. “I’m sur-prised you don’t have a cape,” he said.

She’s won plenty of fans for her vol-unteer work in Dunwoody.

“The world is only made up with two or three percent of the people who actu-ally get things done,” said current Dun-woody Mayor Mike Davis. “She’s one of the people who pull the wagon.”

Dunwoody residents take pride in the parade and its success. The event, sponsored by the DHA and the Dun-

woody Crier, a community newspaper, draws more than 30,000 to the north DeKalb city, the DHA says.

“It’s kind of amazing that right here in Dunwoody, we have the largest pa-rade,” Tallmadge said. “It’s kind of spec-tacular.”

The Dunwoody Women’s Club staged the city’s first July 4 parade in

1976. It continued for five years and then ended for lack of a chairperson, the DHA website says. The parade was re-vived with DHA sponsorship in 1991,

and has been growing ever since. Now, “anybody who’s home on the Fourth is at the parade,” Tallmadge said.

Once things get going, spectators have lots to see. Tallmadge expects this year’s parade, which begins at 9 a.m., will include up to 170 spots for entrees. That’s up from about 120 when she took over.

The parade includes everything from marching bands to displays from churches to military veterans to a group that likes to dress up as pirates. About 50 floats will roll past the gathered parade-watchers. Tallmadge hopes to someday attract the Oscar Mayer Wienermobile.

New this year? Horses. An eques-trian color guard and a horse-drawn stagecoach advertizing a national bank chain are both signed up to take part. “We’ve never had horses before,” Tall-madge said. “We have had dog units – the ‘pug club,’ the ‘Westy club’ – but not horses.”

The parade’s final spot, she said, goes each year to DeKalb County san-itation workers. She said they’re greeted in Dunwoody’s July 4 parade with the

kind of enthusiasm usually reserved for Santa Claus in most community Christ-mas parades. “They always get big ap-plause,” she said.

As she closes in on her eighth July 4 parade, Tallmadge has no plans to give up her post any time soon.

“I love it,” Tallmadge said. “July 5 is kind of like Christmas afternoon at our house. It’s over. All my email gets real-ly quiet. I’m like, ‘Where did my friends go?’”

CONTINuED FROM PAGE 19

fIle

Members of the Dunwoody Chamber of Commerce march in the city’s 2012 Fourth of July parade.

C O M M E N T A R Y


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Next generation of policing

Who’s watching the watchers?CONTINuED FROM PAGE 8

CONTINuED FROM PAGE 8

ing our citizens’ right to privacy. Camer-as used in Iron Sky surveillance have ex-tremely high-tech capabilities, and if left in the wrong hands, they could poten-tially pose a threat to privacy.

The Iron Sky surveillance system ad-vertises on their website that the cam-eras have pan-tilt zoom capabilities, high-definition megapixels, remote site monitoring, integrated map interface, and one-click access to floor plans and cameras within buildings. Additionally, the police can access these cameras 24- hours a day, 365 days a year.

One concern is whether the tilt-and-zoom technology will only be used in public spaces. We must assure citizens that it will never be used to zoom into a private home or office. The use of cam-eras should be limited to public spaces and protocols should be established to avoid privacy violations.

Other issues that can come from mass surveillance include deterring law-ful expressive activities, such as politi-cal demonstrations, which are protected by the First Amendment. We are con-cerned that these cameras could be used to monitor certain political or religious

groups, and that it could lead to great-er racial profiling. Recently, the ACLU filed a lawsuit against the New York Po-lice Department for their unlawful sur-veillance of the Muslim community. The NYPD used cameras that were pointed toward the entrance of mosques to mon-itor their activities.

A study of a British surveillance cam-era program showed that minorities were 2 ½ times more likely to be moni-tored. That same study showed that one in 10 women was monitored for voy-euristic reasons. In San Francisco, a po-lice officer was suspended after using surveillance cameras to ogle women at the San Francisco International Airport.

In order to ensure that the pow-er of these cameras is not abused or potentially left in the wrong hands, there needs to be transparency about how the images are collected, stored, reviewed and used. The public needs to know who has access to these imag-es, and how the information is shared with other parties.

There must be sufficient oversight to ensure cameras are being used in a way that maintains residents’ reasonable ex-pectation of privacy.

crime after it occurs as was demonstrat-ed in the aftermath of the recent terror-ist attack in Boston. But, perhaps most importantly, cameras provide a deter-rence factor when would-be criminals know cameras are in the area.

A study by the Urban Institute found that in Chicago cameras were respon-sible for a 12 percent decline in crime when deployed in Humboldt Park. The study also identified a 25 percent drop in crime in Baltimore roughly four months after cameras were installed.

Atlanta is at the leading edge of this state-of-the-art revolution in law en-forcement. Our system is unique in that the bulk of cameras will consist of exist-ing private sector cameras that monitor public spaces: sidewalks, streets, parking facilities.

Our Operation Shield Video Inte-gration Center (VIC), inaugurated in 2011, captures live, real-time video of more than 2,000 private and public se-curity cameras in high traffic areas of downtown, Hartsfield-Jackson Atlan-ta International Airport, Midtown and Buckhead. By 2017, we expect to have more than 10,000 cameras trained on public spaces in the city, supporting our uniformed officers.

The video system will be fully inte-grated with the 911 Computer Aided Dispatch (CAD) system, monitored by video analytics software and managed by police officers. Integration and ana-

lytics are important because it is impos-sible for one officer to effectively mon-itor thousands of cameras. In fact, it is highly unlikely for one person to mon-itor two camera feeds without missing some details. The video analytics soft-ware constantly “monitors” the video feeds and alerts the officers monitoring the network when a 911 call is made or other triggers are identified, such as abandoned packages left on a street.

For Atlanta, video integration is just one component of a larger, technolo-gy-driven public safety strategy known as “Operation Shield.” Through Oper-ation Shield, we are combining a mul-titude of previously independent po-licing tools into a dynamic network. Public and private cameras, the 911 emergency system, license plate read-ers, arrest records and other databases are being integrated to assist in crime prevention, and in identifying, track-ing and apprehending suspects when crimes are committed.

Operation Shield ensures that we accomplish three law enforcement im-peratives: first, deter crime and terror-ist attacks; second, expand the eyes and ears and presence of law enforcement throughout the city; and third, speed the investigative process when crime does occur.

We are living in a high-tech world, and we are embracing it to improve pub-lic safety and make Atlanta the safest, large city in the nation.


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Here’s Looking at You!

To view more photos visit ReporterNewspapers.net. Submit photos @ [email protected]

Presented by

Photos by PhIl MosIer

For a good causeAbove, young Brookhaven entrepreneurs Christopher Barclay, 13, back, and Nick

Joiner, 11, left, try and entice customers such as Jada Bartolozzi, 11, center and

her sister Auri, 9, right, to buy lemonade and chocolate chip cookies from their stand on Johnson Ferry Road, across from Waddeston Way, on June 23.

At left, from left, Nick, Wil Brown, 12, and Christopher make it a group effort as they pour some lemonade for a waiting

patron. The boys sold drinks and cookies for 50 cents, with some proceeds going

to their favorite organization, “Relay for Life,” which raises funds to fight cancer.

PhIl MosIer

Nice hat The Community Assistance Center’s first-ever “Food ‘n Fun Festival” had cooperative weather on June 23 at

Morgan Falls Athletic Complex, with the original date canceled due to storms.

Attendees enjoyed a decorated shopping cart contest and parade, and lots of

family-friendly activities. Right, Polly Warren, director of Youth Leadership Sandy Springs, sports a lobster hat,

while pushing her shopping cart entry with husband Rick by her side.


C o m m u n i t y


A bunch to munchAbove, Trees Atlanta, along with the Chastain Park Conservancy, hosted “Breakfast with the Sheep,” on June 21, at Chastain Park in Buckhead. More than 100 hungry sheep feasted on kudzu and other invasive plants. The public was invited to enjoy breakfast,

arts and crafts, and watch the sheep chew their way through various unwanted greenery. Above, left, Aubrey Dorough, 1, keeps her distance from the herd as the animals get ready to eat. Left,

a tagged participant would like to get started on breakfast.


Get in the gameAbove, the New ERA All Star Football camp came to Mount Vernon Presbyterian School in Sandy Springs, June 24-27, with many NFL

players on hand to teach skills to participants ages 8-17. Right, top, former San Diego Chargers Linebacker Takeo Spikes, left,

now a free agent, tosses the ball to Casey Rose. Right, Jonathon Logan concentrates as he gets a good grip on the football.

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inside

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sTanDOUT sTUDenTpage 18

Battle linesDeKalb representatives want districts redrawn

COMMUNITY 3

Scouts honorBuckhead, Ugandan

troops make connection

COMMUNITY 19

Yellow cardConcern continues over

soccer club’s plans

COMMENTARY 6

Egg roleThese creations are

not for breakfast

AROUND TOWN 7

Movie magicArea draws fi lm,

television productions

COMMUNITY 8

His ‘house’Southside youth center

bears his name

MAKING A DIFFERENCE 10

JuLy 15 — JuLy 28, 2011 • VoL. 3 — no. 14

By JOe [email protected]

A non-profi t group has begun collecting donations to fi -nance a study of the feasibility of creating a city of Brookhaven.

Citizens for North DeKalb announced recently that it had begun collecting donations through its website and by check. Th e group hopes to raise enough money to pay for a state-man-dated study by the Carl Vinson Institute of Governmental Af-fairs at the University of Georgia to examine whether a proposal to create a new city in the area makes fi nancial sense.

“We want to learn all we can about the municipal options that are on the table,” Doug Dykhuizen, president of the group, told members of the Brookhaven Community Connection on

SEE GROUP, PAGE 5

By MaGGie leeProperty owners in parts of northern DeKalb County will

see their taxes rise substantially under a new tax millage adopted by the DeKalb County Commission.

At the same time, the commission presented a list of de-mands for spending oversight changes, including a reduction in the number of county employees.

Th e tax rate for residents in unincorporated areas of DeKalb will rise by 4.35 mills, from about $8 on $1,000 of taxable val-ue of a property to about $12.35. Th at means the taxes on a $200,000 house could rise by about $180, county offi cials said.

Th e tax hike for Dunwoody residents will be lower, rising 2 mills, meaning the taxes will rise from about $8 to nearly $10 on $1,000 of taxable property value. Th at’s because Dunwoody provides some of its own services, like police. Th at could mean

SEE DEKALB, PAGE 4

Fast learner

PHIL MOSIER

Noah Rich, 5, listens to his father Mark, as he gets a bicycle lesson at Keswick Park July 9. Noah, who will attend

kindergarten at Murphey Candler Elementary School this fall, was so encouraged he learned to ride that afternoon. More photos on page 4 and online at reporternewspapers.net.

DeKalb council votes property tax hike, demand job cuts

Citizens group solicits donations for

city study

Splash downChattahoochee River

ready for riders

OUT & ABOUT 11

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Diamond Graders of America

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BuckheadReporter

www.ReporterNewspapers.netFUNNY MAN page 11

JuLy 29 — AuG. 11, 2011 • VoL. 5 — no. 15

Inside




Residents talk up a new park on Mountain Way

BY JOE [email protected]

When Gordon Certain fi rst moved to north Buckhead in 1975, he used to take walks along Mountain Way.

“It was just beautiful,” he said. “You couldn’t tell you were in the city.”

Th ings change, of course.Now, “all you’ve got to do is look up,” Certain said. “[You

see] the concrete cloud.”Th ese days, Mountain Way passes beneath those most ur-

ban of developments – Ga. 400 and MARTA trains. Th e wind-ing road, which connects North Wieuca and North Ivy roads, passes beneath the highway and the commuter train that runs through the area.

But Certain, who’s president of the North Buckhead Civic SEE NEIGHBORS, PAGE 3

Meister expresses con� dence in interim

school superintendentBY DAN WHISENHUNT

[email protected]

Nancy Meister introduced Interim Superintendent Er-roll Davis Jr. at a July 21 meeting at Garden Hills Elementary School and gave him her full endorsement.

“I believe he is the right man at the right time and here for the right reasons,” the District 4 Atlanta Board of Education member told the packed house.

Davis was drenched in sweat and had removed his jacket by the end of the night after taking more than an hour’s worth of questions from parents, students and teachers. Th e crowd fre-quently applauded his answers.

Davis takes over at a perilous moment for Atlanta Public Schools. Former Superintendent Beverly Hall left with a cloud of suspicion hanging over her head after a cheating scandal hit

SEE BOARD MEMBER, PAGE 4

Let the good times roll

PHIL MOSIER

Nicole Soileaul, left, swings with Darin Cornell as they enthusiastically get into a dancing groove at the Atlanta

Cajun Zydeco Association CD party and potluck dinner at the Garden Hills Recreation Center in Buckhead July 24. More photos on page 16 and online at reporternewspapers.net.

Pension pinchAtlanta budgets

feel the pain

COMMENTARY 6

Southern eatsLocal author praises purloo, moonshine

AROUND TOWN 7

Stage frightVeteran comic opens new club

OUT & ABOUT 11

Relax, refl ectEven clergy need to

take a holiday

FAITH 14

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String lover

Practice, practice says this cello master

STANDOUT STUDENT 18

DunwoodyReporter

www.ReporterNewspapers.netDunwooDy priDe page 16

July 15 — July 28, 2011 • vol. 2 — No. 14

Tax hikeDeKalb County Commission votes for increase, job cuts

commuNiTy 2

open doorsGeorgia Attorney General

favors transparency

commuNiTy 4

Super stallVacant schools post

requires action

commeNTaRy 6

egg roleThese creations are

not for breakfast

aRouNd TowN 7

movie magicArea draws film,

television productions

commuNiTy 8


bears his name

makiNg a diffeReNce 10

full pewsMormon church splits

to handle crowds

commuNiTy 15

inside




See Space camp, page 19

phil MoSier

Tom Bennett, left, with wildlife wonders and the North georgia Zoo & petting farm, gives Ben irastorza, 7, a rare chance to touch a skunk during a program for children and

parents at the dunwoody public Library on July 9. more photos on page 17 and online at reporternewspapers.net.

See ciTy couNciL, page 3

Close encounter

By Joe [email protected]

Jenna Shulman knew exactly why she and the others were building paper rockets in a Dunwoody gym.

She’d been to Space Camp before, the one in Alabama, and they’d made and launched similar air-powered rockets there.

“We put air in them and they went up into the air,” said Jen-na, who’s 11.

But launching rockets wasn’t the main thing she and her brother Seth planned to do during their week at the Marcus Jewish Community Center of Atlanta’s first Space Camp.

“We’re going to do a space mission,” Jenna said. “We’re

By Melissa [email protected]

Dunwoody City Council has postponed a final vote on the city’s parks bond proposal until its July 25 meeting.

City officials want a referendum, which will ask Dunwoody residents to vote on the issuance of $33 million in general ob-ligation bonds, to appear on the November ballot. The council will need to approve the referendum by the end of July in order for it to make it onto this year’s ballot.

Council members had several concerns about the bonds, which would be used to acquire land for city parks. It will equate to a 0.75 mill increase for taxpayers. One mill is equal to $1 for every $1,000 of the taxable value of a property.

In the future, a second $33 million bond issue will be put be-fore voters to develop park land, city officials have said.

City Councilman Denis Shortal wanted to know what inter-est rate the city could expect if voters approve the bonds, which the city would be responsible for paying back over a 30-year pe-

City Council puts off parks bond vote again

paper rockets and a kid-built shuttle take flight as an era ends

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Sandy SpringsReporter

www.ReporterNewspapers.netHands up page 17

July 15 — July 28, 2011 • vol. 5 — No. 14

Inside




Scouts honorBuckhead, Ugandan

troops make connection

commuNity 2

Skid marksLocal paving project

shifts gears

commuNity 3

All earsFulton schools leader

seeks feeback, opinions

commeNtARy 6

egg roleThese creations are

not for breakfast

ARouNd towN 7


bears his name

mAkiNg A diffeReNce 10

movie magicArea draws film, television

productions

commmuNity 8

Splash downChattahoochee River

ready for riders

out & About 11

See SANdy SpRiNgS pAge 4

See SANdy SpRiNgS AppRoveS, pAge 5

Pint-sized Picassos

phoToS By phiL moSieR

Aidan berry, 5, above, closely inspects his chalk-covered

fingers after making sidewalk creations at the Sandy Springs

farmers market on July 2.

Left, Hannah Rose Much, 5, and right, Alex berry, 5, twin brother of Aidan,

busily make their own chalk art masterpieces at the

market. more photos online at reporternewspapers.net.

By MelIssa [email protected]

Buckhead and Sandy Springs voters are telling state lawmak-ers they want to live in election districts that will strengthen rep-resentation of their neighborhoods.

Legislators listened to residents at a public hearing June 30 in preparation for the upcoming special session of the Georgia General Assembly in which the state’s legislative and Congres-sional districts will be redrawn to reflect changes in population.

Many of the speakers expressed hope that “communities of interest” – areas which share common beliefs and lifestyles – would be kept intact during the process.

By dan [email protected]

The Sandy Springs City Council on July 12 approved in-centives to lure a business into the city that claims it will cre-ate 289 jobs, but some council members said they were wary about what the city’s long-term economic development poli-cy would be.

“We need to give this a tremendous amount of thought,” Mayor Eva Galambos said.

The unspecified project planned for the Powers Ferry area, code-named “Project Gamma” by City Manager John Mc-Donough, will receive around $190,000 in incentives from the city. City officials did not name the company.

The pay-off for the city will be 289 new jobs with an addi-tional 50 expected in the next five years, McDonough said. Mc-

sandy springs approves incentives for ‘project Gamma’

Reapportionment: Sandy Springs voters

want new district

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Standout StudentsStudent Profile:

� Taylor Bradley � Senior, Marist

School

Taylor Bradley has helped build homes with Habitat for Humanity. She’s a member of the Na-tional Honor Society and has won awards for her scores on national Latin ex-ams.

But some of her greatest success has come on athlet-ic fields.

She has played numer-ous sports since she start-ed high school at Marist School, where she will be a senior in the fall. She has played golf and basketball, and has lettered for the var-sity track team three times.

And Taylor’s real passion is for fast pitch softball.

“It’s a team sport,” she said, “and you can nev-er have a single standout player – to win you have to work as a team and I love it. It’s given me so much, and opened so many doors with friends and relation-ships, and I’m so grateful for it.”

Taylor has participated in softball from age 7. By age 10, she was playing on traveling softball teams, like the At-lanta Flames and the Las Cruces Rebels, a team in New Mexico. With the Reb-els, Taylor competed in the Amateur Softball Association’s national compe-tition in 2011. She also has participat-ed in a regional showcase with Fastpitch Scouting Report, and was selected for the 2012 All American Games in Ak-ron, Ohio.

During her junior year at Marist, Taylor served as co-captain of the varsi-ty softball team. She has been chosen for both the All-Region and All-State soft-ball teams every year starting in 2010.

At the Marist School, she has been a starting member of the varsity softball team since her freshman year, and was named the Most Valuable Player dur-ing both her sophomore and her junior years.

In 2011, Taylor was named as a Fea-tured Athlete by the Archdiocese of At-lanta. In 2012, she was named a DeKalb County Athlete of the Week. Current-ly, Taylor is playing travel softball with the 18 and younger team, the Georgia Impact.

Coach Mike Trapani described Tay-lor as “the epitome of a team player.”

“She is all about what’s best for the team, whether that means she plays out of her normal position, or is asked to sacrifice an at-bat,” he said. “You have heard the phrase “Check your ego at the door”? Well, that’s what Taylor does as she steps on the field.

“She has truly been a delight to coach and I look forward to her senior year and watching her grow as a softball play-er and young lady in the years to follow.”

Asked what drives her, Taylor credit-ed her parents, both doctors.

“My parents are role models,” she said, “and they’ve driven and pushed me. But at the same time, I’m self-mo-tivated. When I want to achieve some-thing, I go out and do it.”

What’s Next:

Taylor is committed to Georgia State University, where she plans to play Divi-sion I softball. She plans to major in psy-chology, and she is leaning toward a ca-reer in therapy. “I want to help people, and I think that the major will allow me to do so,” she said.

This article was reported and written by Blake Flournoy, a rising senior at River-wood International Charter High School.

Do you know a standout high school student? Send nominees to [email protected].

E D U C A T I O N


Student Profile: � Jacob Jones � The Galloway School

Jacob Jones has known he wanted to do theater at The Galloway School ever since he started painting sets at 10 years old.

“Both of my older brothers did the theater program, so I grew up in that community,” Jacob said.

Throughout his time at Galloway, Ja-cob took on many roles, including fa-vorites as the Scarecrow in “The Wiz,” and the King in “The King and I.” “It was very challenging, but in the end, we had a great time and a really fun experi-ence,” Jacob said.

Challenge does not intimidate, but rather motivates Jacob to work harder. “I enjoy being outside of my comfort zone,” said Jacob.

While preparing for a musical fresh-man year, Jacob was required to take dance technique classes, a complete-ly new experience for him. He grew to love dancing, and by sophomore year, he joined the Dance Ensemble.

“My love of theater morphed into a love of the arts, and I’m now a big fan of dance,” said Jacob.

His newfound interest is aerial dance, in which he uses two vertical pieces of fabric attached to the ceiling in the cho-reography.

In the creative spirit of Galloway, Ja-cob decided to join the Galloway Jug Band, where he, along with other stu-dents and teachers, play old American folk songs with jugs, pots, pans and a washboard.

Jacob is just as passionate about help-ing people. When he was 13, he start-ed getting involved at P.A.L.S. (Pets Are Loving Support), an organization that provides pet care to those who are med-ically or financially unable to care for

their pets, and he continues to help out one day a month.

After Jacob joined the Galloway Ser-vice Board in high school, he encoun-tered an opportunity to travel to Nepal, which he received on scholarship with eight other kids from around the coun-try. Their mission was to provide run-ning water for a girls’ school in order to eliminate the hours-long trek up the mountain for water.

After his experiences abroad and through his reading, Jacob has become passionate about working for equality. “It’s not OK to put other people down for no reason,” said Jacob. “There’s so much work still to be done.”

When he’s not busy dancing or help-ing others, Jacob loves being outdoors. He’s particularly fond of hiking.

But during high school, it was rare to find a spare moment to head outside. “There were times when I felt like a cra-zy person for doing all that I was doing,” said Jacob.

Sometimes, he would have to stay up all night after rehearsal to study. “But it was all worth it,” he said. “I’ve made re-ally great friends.”

Jacob does not underestimate the lit-tle moments in life, taking advantage of every moment he has to touch anoth-er’s life. “Even as simple as giving an old lady a compliment on the street. There is nothing compared to seeing that smile, that kind of personal connection.”

What’s Next:

Jacob plans on attending Colorado College, where he would like to pur-sue aerial dance and psychology, as well as being outside and continuing doing charity work.

This article was reported and written by Elizabeth Wilkes, a student at North Springs Charter High School.

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C o m m u n i t y

eminent domain action draws criticism

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The city will pay $1.2 million for the parcel at 6204 Roswell Road owned by Dorothy K. Steinheimer, who was a willing seller. The city authorized using its powers of eminent domain to buy property at 6224 Roswell Road, cur-rently home to a Makara Mediterranean Restaurant, but offered only $440,000.

George Cotsakis Jr., the son of a for-mer Atlanta City Councilman, owns the property and is refusing to sell to the city. Cotsakis has declined comment. Attempts to reach Steinheimer were un-successful.

Mayor Eva Galambos, during the June 18 meeting, warned property own-ers that the council is “serious” about its downtown revitalization project. The city center will be located on Roswell Road just north of I-285 and will have mixed uses. It’s a decade-long effort ex-pected to cost upward of $100 million.

“It’s eminently plain that this council has adopted a plan for downtown Sandy Springs that includes a municipal com-plex which fronts on Roswell Road, and would occupy some of the land (where) this particular piece of property we’re talking about is located,” Galambos said. “We have made every effort, and continue to make every effort, to nego-tiate with each of the property owners. They get an appraisal and we get an ap-

praisal. I am happy to say that one of the property owners who was adamant that they were going to fight us is now com-ing around. I hope this one will come around because we want to be fair, but you cannot acquire a whole block by saying ‘Pretty please. Pretty please,’ so we’re having to get serious.

“I still hope that eventually all of these will be negotiated at arm’s length, with appraisals, but the council, with

this community, has decided to build a downtown, and you eventually have to take steps to do it, and that’s what we’re doing.”

Councilman Gabriel Sterling cast the only vote against using eminent domain.

City Attorney Wendell Willard said the purchase prices were based on inde-pendent property appraisals obtained by the city.

“We relied on an independent ap-

praiser to make a determination,” Wil-lard said.

Sandy Springs residents criticized the city’s actions in online comments posted on ReporterNewspapers.net.

“It is so very, very wrong to use em-inent domain to acquire property for this purpose,” Janie Barker wrote. “I had thought that the city of Sandy Springs would not resort to such shenanigans. I will certainly remember this when elec-tions come around.”

“The real truth here is that the city wanted to ‘punish’ the person not will-ing to work with them for being ‘unco-operative,’ whereas they wanted to re-ward the person willing to sell,” wrote Derek H. Baugh. “Government sucks, and the city of Sandy Springs is no dif-ferent.”

Concerns over eminent domain aren’t confined to the city’s downtown project, however.

Community Funeral Service Pres-ident D. Brooks Cowles has a 20-year lease at the former Sentell Baptist Church on Roswell Road. He’s con-cerned the city will take the church as part of a plan to realign the intersection of Windsor Parkway and Roswell Road.

He wrote to Sterling because of his earlier stance against using eminent do-main. In an email forwarded to the Sandy Springs Reporter, Cowles told Sterling he has retained an attorney who specializes in eminent domain cases.

The city will have to realign the in-tersection in order to accommodate the expected increase in traffic from a planned mixed-use development near the intersection of Roswell and Wieuca roads. Cowles asked if taking his prop-erty would violate a state law that re-quires property taken through eminent domain to be restricted to a public use for 20 years.

Willard said property taken for road projects are not subject to the 20-year re-striction.

“We’re not doing anything as far as con-struction of that road for a private need,” Willard said. “It is for the public need.”

coNtiNued fRoM page 1

BiNg MaPs

the city will buy the parcel at 6204 Roswell Road for $1.2 million, and has offered $440,000 for the property at 6224 Roswell Road in order to move forward on its downtown

development plans. for a larger version, go to ReporterNewspapers.net.

goodwill237 Johnson ferry Road

Makara Mediterranean

Restaurant6224 Roswell Road

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Richard and Phyllis Franco returned from their walk by the river, using a park that’s part of a sanctuary recognized by the federal government as part of the Chattahooche River National Recre-ation Area.

They’ve been married 53 years, and have lived within walking distance of the park for 38 years.

“We walk along the Chattahoochee every day,” Richard Franco said.

People fish and hike there. It’s peace-ful. It’s quiet. It’s also part of one of At-lanta’s large civic associations. Since 1984, the Mt. Paran-Northside Citi-zens Association has worked on preserv-ing that peace by keeping commercial development out of the neighborhood. Even the modest country store, opened in 1906 and a neighborhood treasure, didn’t succeed in expanding, according to a historical narrative published by the association.

The community’s boundaries are the Chattahoochee River to the north, West Paces Park Court to the south, I-75 to the west and Northside Drive to the east. It contains more than 1,000 homes, and 15 percent of it is in the newer city of Sandy Springs. Its residents include CEOs and civic leaders. District 8 City Councilwom-an Yolanda Adre-an lives there. It is zoned for Warren T. Jackson Elementary School.

The neighborhood claims it has been so successful in keeping commercial in-terests at bay that they don’t bother fil-ing zoning applications. The strict res-idential zoning keeps everything in check.

Jennifer Moyers, the association’s cur-rent president, is a relative newcomer to the area. She’s lived in the neighborhood for 10 years. Her sand-yellow home sits surrounded by trees, and is within walk-ing distance of the river. Moyers said she spends much of her time dealing with traffic and neighborhood security.

Residents are wary of their newest

neighbor. The new North Atlanta High will be located on Northside Parkway. “There are a lot of concerns about what’s going to happen with the traffic,” Moy-ers said.

Much of the traffic comes from an-other nearby amenity: an exit onto I-75. Southbound drivers can’t turn left – a measure meant to curtail traffic – and make speedy U-turns to head west, caus-ing accidents.

Moyers’ neighbor, Randy Merrill, got into an accident near that exit, caused by a car making an illegal U-turn. It broke his hand, but didn’t sour him on the neighborhood. He bought his house in 1991, and said he has been pleased with his decision so far.

“I think once you learn about the neighborhood, what sells it is the fact it really is a neighborhood,” Merrill said.

I-75 also offers residents convenience. Downtown Atlanta is a short drive away.

Mt. Paran-Northside contains sev-eral smaller neighborhoods with their own traditions. Moyers enjoys the local supper club. There’s also a community-

wide garden club, a membership social and, of course, the association’s board meetings.

Two amenities the neighborhood lacks are sidewalks

and bike lanes. Moyers said when the neighborhood formed, there was oppo-sition to sidewalks, but she said opinions have shifted in recent years.

“I’d love to be able to see it become more pedestrian and more bike-friend-ly,” Moyers said. “I think those are chal-lenges for us.”

The Francos said they worry about crime and were sad to see some of their neighbors lose their homes when the economy collapsed.

At the same time, they are encour-aged by what they see happening around them.

“I’m impressed that so many families use the park,” Richard Franco said.

Mt. paran-Northside residents put their homes first

DaN WHisENHuNt

Residents Randy Merrill, left, and Jennifer Moyers catch up on news.

SS

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Police Blotter

Editor’s note: For this issue, Sandy Springs Police Capt. Steve Rose’s

column is available online at ReporterNewspapers.net.

the following reports of incidents were compiled from

www.crimereports.com through June 23.

RobbeRy

� 5100 block of Powers Ferry Road – a rob-bery of a residence using a gun was report-ed on June 19.

buRglaRy

� 300 block of Summerset Lane – a burglary to a residence, using forced entry, was re-ported on June 10.

� 7600 block of Ball Mill Road – a burglary to a residence, using forced entry, was re-

ported on June 12.

� 600 block of Summer Crossing – a bur-glary to a residence, using forced entry, was reported on June 12.

� 6300 block of Vernon Woods Drive – a burglary to a residence, using forced entry, was reported on June 15.

� 5600 block of Cross Gate Drive – a bur-glary to a residence, without using forced en-try, was reported on June 15.

� 5000 block of Magnolia Bluff Drive – a burglary to a residence, using forced entry, was reported on June 16.

� 400 block of Summerset Lane – a burglary to a resi-dence, using forced entry, was reported on June 17.

� 1200 block of Marsh Trail Circle – a bur-glary to a residence, using forced entry, was reported on June 18.

� 1st block of Pointe Ridge Drive – a bur-glary to a residence, using forced entry, was reported on June 18.

� 7200 block of Hunters Branch Drive – a burglary to a residence, using forced entry, was reported on June 19.

� 6100 block of Roswell Road – a burglary to a non-residence, using forced entry, was re-ported on June 19.

auto theft � 6000 block of Roswell Road – theft of an

auto was reported on June 11.

� 5300 block of Roswell Road – theft of an auto was reported on June 11.

theft/laRceNy � 200 block of Sandy Springs Place – a larce-

ny from a building was reported on June 10.

� 6500 block of Roswell Road – shoplifting was reported on June 10.

� 400 block of Mount Vernon Highway – a lar-ceny from a build-ing was reported on June 10.

� 800 block of Heards Ferry Road & Riverside Drive – a lar-ceny was reported on June 12.

� 1st block of Bransford Road – a theft from a yard was reported on June 12.

� 5600 block of Kingsport Drive – a larceny of a bicycle was reported on June 12.

� 800 block of Johnson Ferry Road – a larce-ny from a building was reported on June 12.


� 5900 block of Peachtree Dunwoody Road – a larceny was reported on June 13.

read more of the Police Blotter online at

www.reporternewspapers.net

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� 700 block of Sandalwood Drive – a larceny was reported on June 13.

� 100 block of W. Spalding Drive – a theft was reported on June 13.

� 5900 block of Roswell Road – a larceny, articles from a vehicle, was reported on June 14.

� 7900 block of Roswell Road – a larceny was reported on June 14.

� 7800 block of Roswell Road – a larce-ny was reported on June 14.

� 6800 block of Peachtree Dun-woody Road – a larceny, articles from a vehicle, was reported on June 14.

� 400 block of Morgan Falls Road – a larceny was reported on June 14.

� 6500 block of Roswell Road – a larce-ny was reported on June 15.

� 2600 block of Summer Lake Drive – a lar-ceny was reported on June 15.

� 1st block of Concourse Parkway – a larce-ny, articles from a vehicle, was reported on June 16.

� 5500 block of Glenridge Drive – a larce-ny, articles from a vehicle, was reported on June 16.

� 7400 block of Peachtree Dunwoody Road – a theft was reported on June 17.

� 6000 block of Roswell Road – a larceny, articles from a vehicle, was reported on June 17.

� 6300 block of Powers Ferry Road – a larceny was reported on June 17.

� 5900 block of Peachtree Dun-woody Road – a larceny, articles from a vehicle, was reported on June 18.

� 1100 block of Huntcliff Village Court – a larceny of a bicycle was re-ported on June 18.

� 8900 block of Carroll Manor Drive – a larceny, articles from a vehicle, was reported on June 18.

� 400 block of Northridge Crossing Drive – a larceny, articles from a vehi-cle, was reported on June 18.

� 6000 block of Glenridge Drive – a larce-ny, articles from a vehicle, was reported on June 18.

� 1500 block of Riveredge Parkway – a lar-ceny, articles from a vehicle, was reported on June 19.

� 6300 block of Powers Ferry Road – a lar-ceny, parts from a vehicle, was reported on June 19.

� 4200 block of Spring Creek Lane – a lar-ceny, articles from a vehicle, was reported on June 20.


� 6700 block of Riverside Drive – a larce-ny, articles from a vehicle, was reported on

June 20.

� 6000 block of Harleston Road – a larce-ny, articles from a vehicle, was reported on June 21.

� 5400 block of Meridian Mark Road – a lar-ceny was reported on June 21.

� 1000 block of Johnson Ferry Road – a lar-ceny, articles from a vehicle, was reported on June 21.



� 800 block of Hammond Drive – a larceny, articles from a

vehicle, was reported on June 22.

� 700 block of Hammond Drive – a larceny, articles from a vehicle, was re-

ported on June 22.


aSSault � 100 block of Cimarron Parkway – simple

assault/battery was reported on June 12.

� 8200 block of Colquitt Road – simple as-sault/battery was reported on June 12.

� 400 block of Granville Court – simple as-sault/battery was reported on June 13.

� 100 block of Burdette Road – assault with a deadly weapon was reported on June 13.

� 300 block of Granville Court – simple assault/battery was report-

ed on June 13.

� 700 block of Hammond Drive – simple assault/battery

was reported on June 14.

�9000 block of River Run – simple assault/battery was reported on June 14.

� 1st block of Cedar Run ¬– terroristic threats were report-ed on June 14.

� 6700 block of Sunny Brook Lane – terroristic threats

were reported on June 15.

� 500 block of Northridge Road – simple as-sault/battery was reported on June 16.

� 4700 block of Roswell Road – simple as-sault/battery was reported on June 16.

� 5500 block of Glenridge Drive – simple as-sault/battery was reported on June 17.

� 1700 block of Jefferson Drive – simple as-sault/battery was reported on June 17.

� 900 block of Abernathy Road – terroristic threats were reported on June 17.

� 6400 block of Roswell Road – assault with a deadly weapon was reported on June 20.

� 1200 block of Hightower Trail – simple as-sault/battery was reported on June 21.

� 5300 block of Northland Drive – simple assault/battery was reported on June 22.

SS


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PHotos By PHil MosiEr

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SS


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BuckheadReporterwww.ReporterNewspapers.net

JAn. 11 — JAn. 24, 2013 • VoL. 7 — no. 1

inside

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in your inbox or sign up @Reporternewspapers.net


Members of Fulton County’s state legislative delegation said

they are going into this year’s session with a big-picture agenda.

Ethics, schools and transportation are among the broad range

of topics they intend to tackle this year. Th e legislature convenes

on Jan. 14. Rep. Ed Lindsey, R-Atlanta, is promoting his “parent trigger”

bill that will make it easier for moms and dads to form charter

schools, publically-funded schools that are more independent from

the school district than traditional schools.

While that’s the bill that’s generating the most discussion in

light of controversies at the Atlanta and DeKalb public school dis-

tricts, Lindsey said he also wants to focus on water management

and transportation issues.


It’s not particularly glamorous work signing agreements, sub-

mitting plans and conducting studies for a planned trail, Livable

Buckhead Executive Director Denise Starling said.

But Starling and other backers of a planned 5-mile trail along

Ga. 400 knew it would take time. Th at patience and attention to

detail may also be gaining them some support from neighbors liv-

ing alongside the project. Th e path will connect pedestrians, cy-

clists, skaters, Buckhead’s businesses, parks and schools to the At-

lanta BeltLine.Starling said planners presented 30 percent drawings to the pub-

lic in October and November, renderings that give an idea of what

the fi nished product will look like.

Th e public’s response? So far, so good, she said.

See LocaL, page 34

See LiVeaBLe, page 35

fulton county legislators

focusing on state issues ga. 400 trail plans 30 percent complete

pHil MOsieR

from left, ivan tiaseca, fatima Biviano, Lauren fitz and Karime Soriano seem loose and relaxed

before their roles in “pastorela de cristo Rey,” a christmas play performed during the three Kings

day celebration at the atlanta History center on Jan. 6 in Buckhead. the festivities, presented by

the mexican consulate, included traditional music and dance. more photos on page 30.

Keeping it light before show time

Back on track?long-stalled development hints at progresscommuNitY 3poised to runThree Buckhead council

members want to run againcommuNitY 4

Street feetGroup brings warmth, love to homelessmaKiNg a diffeReNce 8

Road blockBridge repairs close Deering RoadcommuNitY 2

party onsynagogue celebrates 125th anniversaryfaitH 6

tough talkGun control discussion needed nowcommeNtaRY 11unplain Janeliterary society reveres

novelist austencommuNitY 32

See our ad on back page

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$

educationguideWinter 2013pageS 13 - 28

Brookhaven

Reporterwww.ReporterNewspapers.net

JAN. 11 — JAN. 24, 2013 • VOL. 5 — NO. 1

Inside

Set to sell

Chamber of Commerce

ready for business

COMMUNITY 3

She’s fi rst

City hires fi rst

permanent employee

COMMUNITY 4

Street feet

Group brings warmth,

love to homeless


Tightly wound

Tennis center contract

being challenged

COMMUNITY 33

Party on

Synagogue celebrates

125th anniversary

FAITH 6

Warning shot

Gun control discussion

needed now

COMMENTARY 11

Unplain Jane

Literary society reveres

novelist Austen

COMMUNITY 34

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in your inbox

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BY MELISSA WEINMAN

[email protected]

As state lawmakers head back to the Gold Dome in 2013, they

have a lot to think about.

Each year, the state budget looms as a daunting task, and this

year is no di� ere

nt. Georgia is a balanced budget state, m

eaning

that tough cuts must be made when revenues are down.

“It’s going to be a di� cult � nancial year for the state. � e bud-

get picture in particular looks bleak,” said Rep. Scott Holcomb, D-

DeKalb.

� e hospital bed tax, which collects funds for indigent care, ex-

pires this year, Holcomb said.

“� at is going to be a pretty intense debate about whether that

tax gets extended or not extended. � ere’s s

ome pretty extensive re-

BY MELISSA WEINMAN

[email protected]

Brookhaven City Council voted Jan. 8 to delay a controversial

decision on adopting a new ordinance to regulate adult businesses.

On Dec. 17, its � rst d

ay of opeartions, the city adopted all of

DeKalb County’s ordinances, including one reg

ulating adult en-

tertainment businesses. But council is lo

oking to replace the coun-

ty’s ordinance with one that has been adopted by other cities in the

metro area, including Sandy Springs, Dunwoody, Johns Creek, and

most recently, D

oraville.

Attorney Scott Bergthold said the new ordinance is similar to

the one already in place in DeKalb County. It would ban the sale

of alcohol and prohibit contact between dancers and customers.

But Bergthold said “there are a number of constitutional de-

SEE LEGISLATORS, PAGE 36

SEE CITY COUNCIL, PAGE 38

Hands held high

PHIL MOSIER

Jenny Morgan, member of the Skyland United Methodist Church and altar prayer team, soaks up the “Friday Night

Fire Worship service,” on Jan. 4 in Brookhaven. The contemporary service, held the fi rst Friday of each month, is

an open gathering without an agenda or order, attracting people from all communities. Another photo on page 30.

Legislators gearing up

for return to Gold Dome

Council delays vote on

strip club regulations


$169each piece

prepaid


$

Education

GuideWinter 2013

PAGES 13 - 28

DunwoodyReporterwww.ReporterNewspapers.net

JAN. 11 — JAN. 24, 2013 • VOL. 4 — NO. 1

Going to be a busy year

PHIL MOSIER

From left, Rep. Wendell Willard (R-Sandy Springs), Rep. Tom Taylor (R-Dunwoody) and Sen. Fran Millar (R-Dunwoody)

discuss issues such as ethics reform, an independent school system for Dunwoody, and the state’s budget

woes at a legislative forum at Dunwoody United Methodist Church on Jan. 6. More photos on page 31.

BY MELISSA WEINMAN

[email protected]

As state legislators head back to the Gold Dome in 2013, they

have a lot to think about.

One local issue the state’s lawmakers may be asked to confront

is the controversy surrounding DeKalb County’s school board.

� e system was recently placed on accreditation probation by Ad-

vancED, the accrediting agency.

Sen. Fran Millar (R-Dunwoody), who chairs the Senate Ed-

ucation Committee, said at a recent forum that DeKalb County

schools are his No. 1 priority.

“I’m guardedly optimistic we can turn this thing around,” Mil-

lar said. A Jan. 17 hearing of the Georgia Board of Education is sched-

uled to consider suspending the DeKalb school board members. If

BY TOM ODER

A court order halting construction of a controversial multi-use

trail through Brook Run Park was extended after a boisterous Fri-

day afternoon hearing in DeKalb County Superior Court attended

by city o� cials and dozens of opponents of the city’s plan.

Judge Tangela M. Barrie said her temporary restraining order

against the trail will remain in e� ect until she holds a full hearing

on the matter. Barrie said homeowners who oppose the city’s plan

for the trail must convince her that its construction through the

forest in Brook Run Park should be permanently stopped.

Critics are upset the planned 12-foot-wide concrete trail will re-

quire removal of more than 300 trees. City o� cials say an equal

number of trees will be replanted.

� e judge’s decision to extend her temporary order capped a

two-hour hearing before a packed courtroom. Chairs were add-

SEE LEGISLATORS, PAGE 34

SEE BROOK RUN, PAGE 35

Legislators gearing up

for return to Gold Dome Court extends order

halting Brook Run trail

Inside

Hot stuffThree ongoing issues fi re up residentsCOMMUNITY 3Out the door?

Petition circulating to

remove school boardCOMMUNITY 4

Street feetGroup brings warmth, love to homeless


Unplain JaneLiterary society reveres

novelist AustenCOMMUNITY 32

Party onSynagogue celebrates

125th anniversaryFAITH 6

Warning shotGun control discussion

needed nowCOMMENTARY 11

Number onePolice chief named

‘Citizen of the Year’COMMUNITY 38

Scan here to get

Reporter Newspapersin your inbox or sign up @



$169each pieceprepaid


$

EducationGuideWinter 2013PAGES 13 - 28

Sandy Springs

Reporter


JAN. 11 — JAN. 24, 2013 • VOL. 7 — NO. 1

Inside

Roll call

Riverwood capping students

from other districts

COMMUNITY 3

Education

GuideWinter 2013

PAGES 13 - 28

Poker face

Council members vo

cal, coy

about 2013 election plans

COMMUNITY 4

Street feet

Group brings warmth,

love to homeless


Unplain Jane

Literary society re

veres

novelist Austen

COMMUNITY 32

Party on

Synagogue celebrates

125th anniversary

FAITH 6

Tough talk

Gun control discussion

needed now

COMMENTARY 11

You’re excused

DUI offenders get

second chance

PUBLIC SAFETY 35

Scan here to get

Reporter Newspapers

in your inbox

or sign up @


Put some pep in your step

PHIL MOSIER

Riverwood International Charter School coach Scot Waldrop, center, g

ets his ju

nior varsity girls’

basketball team fi re

d up as the Lady Raiders p

repare to take on the Creekview High School Lady Grizzlies

Jan. 4. The Lady Raiders eventually fell to

their opponent 43-15. More photos on page 31.

BY DAN WHISENHUNT

[email protected]

Operation Tennis In

c. in Decem

ber � led a law

suit to overtu

rn the

city of Sandy Springs’ decision to award a co

ntract to a co

mpetitor.

But disputing the contracts to run tennis ce

nters may be as

popu-

lar as the game itse

lf, public records and newspaper re

ports show. In

the past, disputes h

ave arisen

over contract

s to run tennis centers

in

Sandy Springs and at Blackburn Park, a D

eKalb County facility locat-

ed in what is now the cit

y of Brookhaven.

Operation Tennis’ la

wsuit alleges th

e winning bidder, Groslim

ond

Tennis Services, gave t

he city “bogus” th

ird-party evaluations of pre-

vious work. Some of the evaluations were w

ritten by people w

ho ap-

pear to work for Groslim

ond.

President Gery Groslim

ond denied those allegations. City At-

BY DAN WHISENHUNT

[email protected]

Members of Fulton County’s state legislative delegation said

they are going into this year’s session with a big-picture agenda.

Ethics, schools and transportation are among the broad range

of topics they intend to tackle this year. � e legislature convenes

on Jan. 14.

Rep. Ed Lindsey, R-Atlanta, is p

romoting his “parent tri

gger”

bill that will m

ake it easier for moms and dads to form charter

schools, publically-funded schools th

at are more independent

from the school district than traditional schools.

While that’s the bill th

at’s generating the most discussion in

light of controversies at the Atlanta and DeKalb public school

districts, L

indsey said he wants to focus on water management

SEE BIDDERS, PAGE 34

SEE FULTON, PAGE 2Bidders h

ave history of

raising a racket

Fulton County legislators

focusing on state issu

es


$ 169each piece

prepaid


$

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Volume 19 Number 6

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JUNE 2013

Dazzling Designs Books by Local Authors –Page 4

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