Dunwoody Crier - April 9, 2026

Dunwoody student wins state spelling bee for third time

By DYANA BAGBY dyana@appenmedia.com

DUNWOODY, Ga. — Peachtree Middle School student

Sarv Dharavane bested 19 others to win the Georgia State Spelling Bee for the third straight year after a g-r-u-e-l-in-g 350 words and 23 rounds of competition.

Sarv, 12, a sixth grader at Peachtree Middle, won the Georgia Association of Educators 65th Annual State Spelling Bee on March 20. The competition was held at Georgia State University.

He, along with runner-up, Sreeya Lakkimsetti, 13, a seventh grader from Stallings Middle in Columbia County, will represent Georgia in the Scripps National Spelling Bee Championships May 24-29 in Washington, D.C.

Last year, after taking the state title, Sarv finished third in the national spelling bee.

See SPELLING, Page 18

Dunwoody celebrates expansion of bike trail

By LYDIA MAGALLANES newsroom@appenmedia.com

DUNWOODY, Ga. — Dunwoody City Councilmember Joe Seconder and a group of his neighbors met at Brook Run Park on March 29 for a community ride to Piccola Pizza celebrating a new portion of bike path.

The addition is a 300-foot paved, double-wide sidewalk connecting two deadend cul-de-sac neighborhoods at Eidson Road and Cherry Hill Lane.

The expansion is part of the Dunwoody Bicycle Network, which consists of shareduse paths, cycle tracks, bike lanes and routes to connect parks, neighborhoods, schools and businesses.

See EXPANSION, Page 18

‘Night Swim’ artists talk slated for Spruill Gallery

DUNWOODY, Ga. — The public is invited to Spruill Gallery on April 19 to meet and hear from artists Hannah Ehrlich and Thomas Flynn II, whose work is featured in the “Night Swim” exhibition.

The free artist talk will be from 2-3 p.m. The gallery is at 4681 Ashford-Dunwoody Road.

“Night Swim” explores cycles of growth and decay through the artists’ memories and perceptions of personal history.

Flynn uses a color palette

inspired by his chronic aura migraines to create multilayered sculptural paintings influenced by the forest, which serves as a metaphor for self-perception. Ehrlich’s textile work examines memory and fear of loss. Her organic forms are built and then preserved under acrylic and latex paint, symbolizing a fossilization of thoughts and emotions experienced during the creative process.

See EXHIBIT, Page 18

SPRUILL GALLERY/PROVIDED Hannah Ehrlich’s “Obsession” is part of the “Night Swim” exhibit at the Spruill Gallery.

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DeKalb Police make arrests in illegal tire dumping cases

By ZOE SEILER zoe@appenmedia.com

DEKALB COUNTY, Ga.— DeKalb County police have arrested 10 people accused of illegally dumping tires in local neighborhoods since the start of the Digital Shield initiative in late 2025.

Most recently, DeKalb police responded to a complaint about more than 300 tires dumped at Temple of Faith Apostolic Church, 1860 Glenfair Rd. The tires were dumped in the overnight hours of March 21 and 22, according to a news release.

Officers were flagged down near Glenwood Road around 7:30 a.m. March 24 regarding suspicious activity involving tires. Police made contact with the suspect, who was operating a U-Haul truck containing about 30 used tires. As officers investigated, they found more tires behind Temple of Faith Apostolic Church.

The suspect was taken into custody and transported to the DeKalb County Jail. He faces two charges of illegal dumping. The case is active and ongoing.

“The work doesn’t stop for DeKalb County Police,” the news release says. “We will continue investigating to stop people who choose to create problems for others by illegally dumping tires in our neighborhoods.”

People can send anonymous tips about illegal tire dumping through the DeKalb County PD app or by texting “DKPD” to 847411, followed by the tip.

Policy approach to tire dumping

The DeKalb County Commission is also working on a tire-dumping policy to address egregious litter. In February, the Employee Relations and Public Safety Committee deferred action on the policy until April due to pending state legislation.

DeKalb County has asked legislators to consider allowing

More than 300 tires were dumped at Temple of Faith

Glenfair Rd. on March 21-22.

municipalities and counties to increase the fines for tire dumping. According to the General Assembly website, no bill addressing this issue appears to have been filed. The last day of the legislative session is April 2.

The county’s draft ordinance looks to address egregious littering and dumping of scrap tires by imposing harsher fines.

Dumping non-hazardous or non-biomedical waste would be a misdemeanor offense. If it is biomedical or hazardous waste, it would constitute a felony, and the fine could be up to $25,000. In both cases,

each day a violation occurs would be a separate violation. Violators could also be ordered to remove the egregious litter, repair or restore property, pay damages, or perform public service.

The ordinance generally regulates unlawful dumping, and the draft does not specify whether tires would be considered hazardous waste.

DeKalb County Policy Analyst Marcus Allen said the ordinance is in good shape for adoption, but by April, staff would have a comprehensive strategy to present to the county commission. The ordinance was deferred to the April 21 ERPS meeting.

Why are there so many all-white houses in north Atlanta?

By JON WILCOX jon@appenmedia.com

NORTH METRO ATLANTA, Ga. — All-white houses are popping up in subdivisions and communities throughout the north Atlanta area, leading some to wonder why.

Roswell resident Patsy Van Pelt said she noticed the trend while driving for an emergency visit to her veterinarian last year. Her 13-year-old English bulldog Stella suffers from chronic pancreatitis.

“I saw the houses and was like ‘what is going on?’” Van Pelt said. “I was just curious because I’m a house junkie.”

Van Pelt said since then she has noticed an abundance of white houses, often with black trim, in communities such as Milton, Alpharetta, Cobb County and Crabapple.

She admits she is a fan, but she also wonders why the trend is now so common.

“I do like the black frame windows. They look terrific,” Van Pelt said. “They’re kind of industrial, kind of a farmhouse. It’s just very interesting.”

Donna Shaw Murphy, Alpharetta Realtor and 400 North Realtors

row

Association president, said she too has noticed the abundance of white homes.

Within the past few years, she has seen increasing numbers of white homes and thinks there are a few reasons that explain why it’s happening. White and off-white facades can appeal to younger homebuyers who make up a large proportion of those in the market, she said. Clean shades can offer a modern look and make a home

At Appen, community engagement is essential, and we want to answer your questions. Here is a recent inquiry we can answer for you. Send new ones to appenmedia.com/ask.

appear newer and fresher, even when it is older.

In fact, she said she has seen prices increase for many older brick homes after they are whitewashed. The price increase is sometimes comparable to new homes.

“It helps to compete with new construction, and it really adds value,” she said. “It’s amazing.”

Those seeking white homes may not be averse to color, Murphy said. Often those homebuyers will accent their white interiors with colors, which are more easily changed than wall colors.

Murphy said she expected the white trend to be tapering off by 2026, but it appears to show no signs of slowing.

Like all fashions, home trends change with time, she said. In the 1990s and early 2000s, colored walls and bricks were all the rage.

That’s why sometimes older home

LANEIKA Atlanta

buyers may find the all-white color schemes off-putting, but that’s what makes her work as a Realtor important, she said.

“They’ve grown up with a very traditional home, and so they think it has no personality, and they’re not going to be attracted to it,” Murphy said.

Forsyth County Commissioner

Todd Levent said he also has noticed numerous white homes in his community. There, white homes are often connected to a farmhouse style of architecture.

He also thinks white is often a smart choice because it makes repainting easier.

White homes have become increasingly common there in the past eight years, he said.

As commissioner, he said his personal tastes have little bearing on zoning and other decision making. He said he aims to give residents the option to decide what kind of house they want to live in.

“It’s a free market, and if you’re buying an expensive house, you should be able to pick what you want,” Levent said.

Lemonade Days 2026 supports Donaldson-Bannister Farm

The annual Lemonade Days Festival at Brook Run Park runs from April 22-26.

The fundraiser began in 1999 following the devastation of the April 1998 tornado which struck Dunwoody.

The event is the largest fundraiser of Dunwoody Preservation Trust. Money raised goes toward the ongoing rehabilitation and maintenance of the historic 1870 Donaldson-Bannister Farm, owned by the City of Dunwoody and managed by Dunwoody Preservation Trust.

Before I review the fun activities of Lemonade Days, consider a few fun historical facts about the farm and the six families who owned the property. Each fact was shared by the families or discovered by Dunwoody Preservation Trust research of the home and land.

Vermack Road was once known as Donaldson Drive, named for W.J. and Millie Adams Donaldson

who built the home in 1870 after receiving land from Millie’s father. Their son, Will Donaldson, wanted the name to remain Donaldson Drive, but a disagreement with the county commissioner led to the road name change.

Before purchasing the former Donaldson home and 26 acres of the land at an auction in 1932, Lois Pattillo attended Agnes Scott College. She was a skilled golfer in the 1920s, playing in the 1924 Atlanta Women’s Golf Association tournament. The first round of the tournament was played at Brookhaven Country Club. (Atlanta Constitution, May 4, 1924)

When the next owners, Charles and Flossie Roberts, moved away from the home, they included household and farm items in the sale. Those items included an electric butter churn, a buggy, a coal stove, two jersey cows, a mule and harness.

Between 1946 and 1956, Henry and Leila Ogden owned the home. Leila Ogden and Nan Ramsey hosted a celebration for teacher Nettie Austin at the farm in 1949. The property was known as Boxwood Farm at the time, because of the numerous boxwoods

Lemonade Days proceeds benefit the maintenance of Donaldson-Bannister Farm, pictured here in 1935 as new owner Lois Patillo remodeled the home and built a

barn.

planted by Lois Patillo Bannister.

There were six 150-foot greenhouses on the farm between 1956 and 1975, when Frank and Hortense Smith were owners. Frank Smith owned a popular Atlanta nursery business at the time.

Horses and donkeys lived at the farm during the time when Linda and David Chesnut were owners.

DRIVEWAYS

The animals were often visited at the fence by neighbors in the area. Linda’s parents bought her first pony from the Ogden family back in the 1940s.

“When I was a child, you had to pack a lunch to come out here,” she recalls.

Come to Brook Run Park next week for Lemonade Days and enjoy the carnival rides, food, music and beer garden while also helping preserve Donaldson-Bannister Farm.

Two new rides have been added to the carnival rides this year, The Fireball and Jumping Jumbo. A petting zoo and pony rides will be available on Saturday from 10 a.m. until 6 p.m.

On Saturday, April 25, a 5K run, produced by Junction 311 Endurance Sports, will be held at 8 a.m. in the park.

For more information and a detailed schedule for each day, visit dunwoodylemonadedays.org.

Award-winning author Valerie Biggerstaff is a longtime columnist for Appen Media and the Dunwoody Crier. She lives in Atlanta. You can email Valerie at pasttensega@gmail.com or visit her website at pasttensega.com.

Each line in the puzzle below has three clues and three answers. The last letter in the first answer on each line is the first letter of the second answer, and so on. The connecting letter is outlined, giving you the correct number of letters for each answer (the answers in line 1 are 5, 5 and 4 letters). The clues are numbered 1 through 7, with each number containing 3 clues for the 3 answers on the line. But here’s the catch! The clues are not in order - so the first clue in Line 1 may (or may not) actually be for the second or third answer in that line. Got it? Good luck!

CAN WE TALK?

1. Pakistani language. Spa. Winter pear.

2. Fellow. Celt’s language of Ireland & Scotland. Theater presentation.

3. Language of the Western Pyrenees. Dutch cheese. Cheerless.

4. Choppers. One of the languages of India. Be quiet!

5. Priest of the East. Little green man. Language of Sri Lanka & India.

6. Prima donna. Mid-East language. Sell.

7. Language of Seoul. Mexican treat. Triton.

1 Pakistani language. Spa. Winter pear

2. Fellow. Celt’s language of Ireland & Scotland. Theater presentation

How to Solve: Each line in the puzzle above has three clues and three answers. The last letter in the first answer on each line is the first letter of the second answer, and so on. The connecting letter is outlined, giving you the correct number of letters for each answer (the answers in line 1 are 4, 5 and 5 letters). The clues are numbered 1 through 7, which each number containing 3 clues for the 3 answers on the line. But here’s the catch! The clues are not in order - so the first clue in Line 1 may (or may not) actually be for the second or third answer in that line. Got it? Good luck!

3. Language of the Western Pyrenees Dutch cheese. Cheerless.

4. Choppers. One of the Languages of India. Be quiet!

5. Priest of the East. Little green man. Language of Sri Lanka and India.

6. Prima donna. Mid-East language. Sell

7. Language of Seoul. Mexican treat. Triton

Tune-Up Projects

Kitchen Tune-Up

Paint Cabinets

New Countertops, Sink & Faucet

New Backsplash

Cut Down 2-level Island

Bathroom Tune-Up

New Countertops, Sink & Faucet

Enlarge Shower Shower Glass Shower Safety Full Remodel

Kitchen Remodel

Total Cabinet Replacement

Large Island

Optimize Cabinet / Appliance Locations

Open Concept –Move Walls

OPEN SATURDAYS

9-5 Mon-Fri • 10-4 Sat

Showroom – Design Center 10591 Old Alabama Rd. Connector Alpharetta, GA 30022 (near Northpoint Mall)

Projects

Bathroom Remodel

New Larger Shower

Vanity Replacement –Cabs, Counter, Sink

Free Standing Tub

Floor Tile, Wall Tile

Plumbing Fixtures

SPRING 2026

MONDAYS – APRIL 13 – JUNE 1, 2026

Dunwoody Baptist Church

1445 Mt. Vernon Rd., Dunwoody, GA 30338

10:00am – 11:00am

INTRODUCTION TO BEHAVORIAL ECONOMICS – Shai

Robkin introduces students to key concepts designed to help people and organizations make better decisions and avoid common pitfalls that result from instinctive human behaviors. Behavioral economists start by asking how humans actually behave in the real world. The course covers basic theories of evolutionary psychology, automatic vs. controlled thinking, heuristics (simple procedures that people use unconsciously to reach decisions on difficult questions), prospect theory and inaccurate perceptions of risk, the role of chance, public policy and choice architecture, and when and when not to trust experts.

10:00am – 11:00am

HOLLYWOOD THE RISE AND FALL OF JEWISH DOMINANCE

– Rabbi Scott and Karen Colbert will show, through film and discussion how immigrant Jewish entrepreneurs built the American film industry and shaped U.S. culture, identity and mythology through the Hollywood studio system; and how the “Jewish moguls’” obsession with acceptance led to the end of their dominance in the industry.

10:00am – 3:00pm

OPEN MAH JONGG – Bring your own Mah Jongg card and come play. There is no instructor for this weekly session. Play is bases on National Mah Jongg league rules.

11:00 am – 12:30 pm

MAH JONGG (NEW) – Rhea Berger will guide in playing with the 2026 Mah Jongg card. Become familiar with the new card and learn strategies for winning. Class size is limited to 10 attendees. Prerequisite:6+ months playing Mah Jongg. This is NOT a beginner’s class. Play is based on National Mah Jongg league rules.

11:30 am – 12:30 pm

EVOLUTION 101 – Clive Gillon presents an introduction to the Theory of Evolution Topics include “What is Evolution?”, “How Evolution Works,” “Natural Selection,” “Human Evolution” and “Evolution & Viruses.” We will also learn about Charles Darwin and the infamous Darwin Awards.

11:30 am- 12:30 pm

DEMONSTRATIONS/STRIKES/PROTESTS/REBELLIONS

– Betsy Jones will cover the Haitian Rebellion of 1798 (the first time an enslaved people rose up and won their freedom); the Lawrenceville Strike of 1912 when thousands of immigrants from dozens of countries went on strike demanding better pay and better working conditions ---- first time a Union defeated management; the 1899 Newsboy strike; Gandhi’s Salt March; and the French Revolution as taught from the ColdPlay song Viva La Vita (on the way to the guillotine -- King Louis supposedly gave a speech sharing his love for the French people hoping they would understand what he had tried to do for them...the speech was drowned out by the raucous crowd but enough was heard that 200 some years later it made a great song).

Tuition is $60 for 2 classes.

SCHOOLS

DeKalb Schools faces finance questions

By JIM BASS jim@appenmedia.com

DEKALB COUNTY, Ga. — Nearly two months have passed since the DeKalb County School District released its first iteration of school closure scenarios on Feb. 11, sending shockwaves through the community.

The scenarios are part of the school district’s redistricting initiative, called the Student Assignment Project.

As communities respond to the second round of scenarios released March 20, questions remain about the scale of proposed closures, building changes and grade restructuring.

In a feedback session in Dunwoody following the release, Interim Superintendent Norman Sauce said that the process was ongoing and subject to change.

“I’d be lying to you if I told you that every answer is available this evening. It’s not,” Sauce said.

At the district’s press conference for round two of closure scenarios, reporters pressed Sauce with questions. Behind the line of reporters, however, stood vocal community member Kirk Lunde, who wanted to ask one question — Where is the money for the capital projects?

About the Student Assignment Project

The district’s Student Assignment Project has been in the works since 2024 and is in response to a nationwide issue: declining enrollment. Currently, the district has about 90,000 students and 110,000 seats and is making major changes in hopes of becoming more financially efficient.

The current proposals focus solely on buildings; boundary and program changes will follow in later phases. No decisions have been voted on yet, and there will be several iterations of the plan before the board votes on a finalized plan in fall 2026.

Round two proposes closing 22 elementary school buildings and converting four others into early learning centers or a high school annex. Four middle school buildings would be repurposed for specialized programs, with the middle schools relocated.

Specialized schools, including DeKalb School of the Arts, Kittredge Magnet School, DeKalb Arts Academy, Wadsworth Magnet School, Elizabeth Andrews High School and DeKalb Early College Academy, would all be relocated. Four high schools would become 6-12 schools. Three elementary schools would convert to K-8 schools. Four middle schools would become elementary schools. Towers High School would also become a middle school.

The financial concerns

The second round of proposals lists 11 new capital improvement projects, several of which would be implemented at the proposed 6-12 schools. Separately, there are 13 building expansions in the scenario.

There are also two capital projects already designated for funding and awaiting construction at Druid Hills High School and Stoneview Elementary.

A notable financial caveat appears in the round two scenario map, within the description of Briar Vista Elementary School’s potential expansion:

“Expansion programs may need to be spread out over multiple SPLOSTs.”

The district is discussing the upcoming Education Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax (ESPLOST VII) plan this spring. The voter-approved 1 percent sales tax serves as the primary funding source for capital projects.

In the current scenario, the total for future capital projects would be 26 schools going into ESPLOST VII and beyond, including the already-approved $185 million Druid Hills High School project.

According to an April 2025 ESPLOST priorities sheet, excluding roof replacements, parking additions and security upgrades, roughly 22 schools received major construction projects under ESPLOST V and VI

combined, which covered 2017 to 2026.

Following one of six feedback sessions held by the district to gather feedback on round two, Karen Quiros, a parent with children in both the Dunwoody and Chamblee clusters, posed a lingering question she felt had not yet been addressed. “How are they going to pay for it?”

“Where does this magical money [come from] to blow up Chestnut [Elementary] and double it in size and all that? Like, there’s no money for that,” Quiros said. “We don’t have the money for the facilities we already have, right? But nobody can answer that question yet.”

Tracy Brisson, a candidate for the District 4 board seat, called it “fiscally unsound and morally appalling” to ask the board to make these changes using ESPLOST, which will be on the ballot in November 2026.

“I think in [ESPLOST VII], 30 to 40 percent of that is already taken for projects that have been approved and then you are going to have IT and buses with big transportation issues …,” Brisson said. “So you really only have one or two construction projects you can fund, and then everything else would have to go in about six years. So what are we doing here?”

Finance:

Continued from Page 8

In a Decaturish school board District 2 candidate forum, incumbent board member Whitney McGinniss said she thinks the process is necessary, but she doesn’t agree with every scenario and shared concern on the data being used. She also called for a scaled-back proposal.

“I share parent and community concerns that some of the data has not been accurate and should be reassessed,” McGinniss said. “The other thing that I’ve asked for is a more modest or scaled-back SAP proposal that would include only changes that can be fully funded in ESPLOST VII.”

“Particularly in district two, a lot of the closures would depend on expansions of other schools, and right now we don’t have the money to pay for that,” McGinniss added.

In response to a question about how much money the district would save if these changes occurred, a district spokesperson said it was “too soon in the process to determine a specific fiscal impact.”

“It’s important to note that the goal of SAP is not solely cost avoidance, but rather to ensure we are using resources responsibly while providing equitable,

high-quality learning environments for all students,” the district spokesperson said.

What is the timeline and what comes first?

The current scenario is unlikely to stay the same. During a Dunwoody cluster feedback session, board member Andrew Ziffer said there would be “lots more iterations” following the second round, but didn’t specify how many.

“This is a five-to-10-year project planning what we’re doing for the next five or 10 years,” Ziffer said. “I don’t think people kind of grasp that, but we are talking about this all as if it’s happening tomorrow. It’s not happening tomorrow. It’s going to happen over a very long period of time.”

In the round two scenario, all changes, including closures and expansions, are listed for being a “nearterm,” “near-medium-term,” “mediumterm,” “medium-long-term,” or a “longterm” project, although the terms are not clearly defined in years.

Here is a look at what would come first, given the round two scenario:

“Near-term” changes

• Fairington Elementary School closes.

• Browns Mill Elementary School closes.

• Redan Elementary School closes.

• Vanderlyn Elementary School would be converted into a high school annex.

• Bob Mathis Elementary School would be converted into an early learning center.

• Freedom Middle School would be replaced by a new middle school adjacent to Clarkston High School.

• Bethune Middle School would become an elementary school.

• Towers High School would become a middle school.

• Hightower Elementary School would be fully rebuilt and expanded.

• Livsey Elementary School’s expansion has not yet been defined, though several proposed closures depend on it.

• Columbia High School would receive an expansion.

“Near-medium term” changes

• Oakview Elementary School closes.

• Canby Lane Elementary School closes.

• Columbia Elementary School closes.

• Flat Shoals Elementary School closes.

• Kelley Lake Elementary School closes.

• Rowland Elementary School closes.

• Toney Elementary School closes.

• Columbia Middle School would move to Towers High School, leaving the building available for a specialized program.

• Cedar Grove Middle School would convert into an elementary school.

• Cedar Grove Elementary School would convert into a middle school.

• McNair Discover Learning Academy would convert into an early learning

center.

• Ashford Park Elementary School would be converted into an early learning center.

• Clarkston High School would be modernized.

• Redan High School would become a 6-12 school building.

• Martin Luther King Jr. High School would become a 6-12 school building.

• Miller Grove High School would become a 6-12 school building.

• Miller Grove Middle School would become an elementary school.

• McNair Middle School would become an elementary school.

• After becoming a middle school, Towers High School would receive a capital improvement project.

Across the feedback sessions held districtwide, parents frequently asked about the financial situation alongside the district’s 600 elementary school enrollment minimum goal, the gradeband changes, the use of third-party vendor HPM and the reason why their own school was closing.

Among the thousands of responses the district collected, both verbally and in writing, during round two was South DeKalb resident Gina Mangham, who voiced her concerns and urged the district to focus on the human impact the changes would have.

“We need a scalpel, not a machete,” Mangham said.

Importance of skin checks for mature skin

Brought

Dr. Kehinde Olumesi of Epiphany Dermatology - Brookhaven

As skin matures, it undergoes various changes that necessitate regular skin checks to ensure overall skin health. Differentiating between age spots, healthy moles and potential skin cancers is crucial. Age spots, often appearing as flat, brown, or black spots on sun-exposed areas, are generally harmless but can be mistaken for more serious conditions. Early detection of skin cancer, including melanoma, basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma, significantly increases the chances of successful treatment. Therefore, routine skin examinations are essential for mature skin to maintain health and catch any issues early.

Addressing skin conditions and rejuvenation procedures

Dermatologists can assist with a variety of skin conditions and rejuvenation procedures for mature skin. Common issues such as dryness, age-related pigmentation and conditions like rosacea, psoriasis and eczema, which can persist or develop with age, are also addressed with specialized care plans. In addition to treating conditions, dermatologists offer rejuvenating procedures to enhance the appearance and health of mature skin. Treatments such as chemical peels, laser rejuvenation and injectable treatments like BOTOX® Cosmetic and dermal fillers can reduce the appearance of wrinkles, improve skin texture and promote collagen production. These procedures not only rejuvenate the skin but also boost confidence and overall well-being. Establishing a relationship with a dermatologist ensures that your skin receives comprehensive care tailored to its evolving needs, promoting long-term skin health and vitality.

Women’s healthcare expands in North Fulton

Compassionate OB/GYN care is now in your neighborhood

Women’s health needs evolve at every stage of life— from adolescence and family planning to pregnancy, midlife transitions and beyond. To better serve the North Fulton community, Wellstar has opened a new OB/GYN office, expanding access to comprehensive, personalized care supported by Wellstar’s extensive network of women’s health experts, including Dr. Brianne Anderson and Dr. Jordan Rush.

We provide a full spectrum of obstetric and gynecologic services for adolescents and adults, including preventive exams, reproductive and menstrual health support, fertility and pregnancy care, and treatment for conditions such as fibroids, endometriosis and polycystic ovary syndrome. Care is centered on prevention, early detection and shared decision-making, ensuring treatment plans reflect patients’ lifestyles, goals and overall health. That philosophy guides every interaction.

“Women deserve a physician who listens, who takes time to understand their goals and who partners with

them through every phase of life,” said Dr. Anderson. “My goal is to create a space where patients feel comfortable asking questions and confident in their care.”

For expectant mothers, prenatal care extends beyond routine visits. Patients have coordinated access to advanced imaging, lab services, experienced hospital-based delivery teams and maternal-fetal medicine specialists for high -risk pregnancies. This integrated approach supports both physical and emotional well-being while allowing families to receive high-quality care nearby.

Wellstar North Fulton Medical Center is a Level II Maternal Care Center, providing 24/7 care by boardcertified obstetricians and anesthesia providers. Immediate access to cesarean delivery services ensures women receive high-quality care in a setting equipped to support both routine and more complex pregnancies.

The labor and delivery team provides a personalized environment for childbirth, with options including water labor to help manage pain and create a more comfortable, individualized birthing experience.

What sets Wellstar apart is a “one-stop” model designed to care for the whole person. Women who need specialized treatment for complex gynecologic conditions benefit from seamless access to a coordinated network of experts across obstetrics, gynecology, imaging and women’s specialty services. This close partnership between OB/GYN physicians, surgical specialists, imaging teams and hospital services creates a seamless experience—from routine appointments to advanced care centered around each woman’s unique health needs.

“At every age, women’s health is about more than a single appointment,” Dr. Anderson said. “It is about taking care of the whole person.”

As women enter perimenopause and menopause, Wellstar continues to provide personalized gynecologic care focused on symptom management, hormone therapy, bone and heart health, and wellness planning. With expanded OB/GYN services in North Fulton, women now have convenient access to trusted, care designed to support them through every stage of life— right here in their community.

Visit wellstar.org/womenshealth to learn more about comprehensive women’s care. To schedule an appointment at Wellstar OB/GYN in Roswell, call (470) 267-3100.

Riding the wave… or getting caught in it

Brought to you by –

Leah Burnett, Summit Counseling

One of the best times in my personal life I can remember is living in Southern California for a couple of years during graduate school. I was lucky enough to live a 5- minute walk from the beach and the bustling Pacific Ocean. I lived in Huntington Beach, a place very well known to surfers around the world. So, I told myself upon moving there that I would learn to surf. I followed through with my vow and took a lesson. After a few tries, I was able to stand up and ride a wave with nothing but the water and a thin foam board holding me up. Inevitably there came times when I attempted to stand up knowing I was going to fall right back into the water. I wanted to grow and become stronger, so why not right? The problem is when you go for a 5-foot-tall wave and you’re used to surfing 1–2-foot waves, everything feels 5x faster and more intense… including the crash. I can remember a time when I paddled my heart out for a “too big” wave. All at once, I found myself paddling over the quickly forming wave as I let it lift me higher until I had no choice but to try and stand up. The momentum was too strong, and I couldn’t hold it together. In an instant, I fell straight down the 5-foot wall of rushing water until I was no longer above the wave or deep under it (which is preferable), but I was caught in the middle of it. If you have never been caught in a crashing Pacific Ocean wave while attached to a surfboard, I can promise you it is nothing short of what can only be compared to being caught in a washing machine set to heavy duty. The only way to get through it is to let it pass. The more you struggle and fight against it, the more tired you will become and the more difficult it will be to swim to safety once it has passed. There is common DBT skill that is used when teaching emotional

PROVIDED

Leah Burnett, M.A., Licensed Associate Professional Counselor

regulation called “riding the wave”. But I want to take it one step further. Because knowing it will pass is one thing, but choosing to embrace it and allow it to wash over you is another. I like this metaphor of surfing because it reminds us that sometimes we can’t ride the wave perfectly. We get caught in it and it feels like it will never pass. But emotions, while incredibly uncomfortable at times, are not bad. They are simply indicators of some part of us that need care and attention. Often, the more we struggle and fight against our emotions, the harder it makes it for them to pass. Next time you feel an uncomfortable emotion, I invite you to try and not fight it. But rather be curious about it, sit with it, ask it questions, and trust that it will pass without you having to do anything to force it to go away. Most importantly, give yourself grace for feeling emotion in the first place. Riding the wave can be easier said than done, but just like surfing, you will get better with practice.

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Home elevators

Is it the right choice for your home?

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Aesthetics – Through-the-floor elevators are shaftless and spacesaving. A medium-sized cabin only requires a footprint of 43 ¼” by 42 ¾.” Custom floor panels, ambient lighting and seating are available options that can blend with your interior design.

Features– Pollock elevators are whisper quiet, provide external controls on both floors and an easy-to-read diagnostic display. Three available sizes allow for a user in powered mobility equipment plus a caregiver to travel safely and comfortably. Pollock lifts support up to 507 lbs.

Care and MaintenancePollock home elevators have been manufactured outside of Belfast, Ireland since 1983. They are made to withstand the rigors of daily use, but

should a service issue arise, Mobility Plus Alpharetta will continue to service your unit for the lifetime of the product.

Stairlift, Vertical Platform Lift or Elevator? Someone who can easily and SAFELY walk and transfer from one chair to another but just needs help navigating stairs is a candidate for a stairlift. This user does not have to use powered mobility equipment in the home, nor do they have a diagnosis that might evolve to this point. Vertical platform lifts are ideal for someone who is using a powered mobility device all or most of the time within the home but isn’t necessarily traveling between floors. They just need to span a shorter lifting distance of garage steps for example. VPL’s also can have a higher weight capacity than elevators (up to 750lbs vs. 507lbs). This is an important consideration if one is using a complex rehab chair (which can weigh over 350lbs in many cases) and will also need a caregiver with them during travel. Elevators are a great choice to add value to the home and to move between floors with the most ease and style.

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Iran War has extended beyond the gas pump

The war is no longer content to express itself at the gas pump. It has begun diffusing across asset classes with a speed and synchronicity that feels less like coincidence and more like a realtime demonstration of macroeconomic transmission under stress — equal parts textbook and stress test, with a dash of “are we really doing this again?” energy.

Households, of course, encountered the first shock in the most visible place: gasoline prices. That’s the macroeconomy’s version of a push notification — loud, unavoidable, and mildly insulting in its timing. But the second-order effects have moved quickly, and more quietly, into housing finance — where the consequences are less visible but far more consequential.

What looked like the early stages of a spring recovery in the housing market has been abruptly interrupted. Mortgage rates, which had been easing, have reversed course with notable speed. On the eve of the strikes, the average 30-year fixed mortgage rate sat at 5.99 percent. Within days, it climbed to roughly 6.5 percent, briefly touching 6.625 percent at the start of the week. For a $500,000 mortgage, that translates to an increase of more than $200 per month in carrying costs — effectively a geopolitically imposed surcharge on homeownership, delivered without debate, vote, or even the courtesy of fine print.

From a macro-financial perspective, the mechanism is straightforward. Heightened geopolitical uncertainty triggers a risk-off adjustment, placing upward pressure on Treasury yields — the benchmark underpinning mortgage pricing. The transmission channel is linear; the lived experience is anything but. What markets register as a shift in the yield curve, households experience as a direct contraction in affordability.

Or, put less academically: geopolitics has entered the chat, knocked over the furniture, and raised your monthly payment.

The implications for housing activity are already materializing. Mortgage applications for home purchases have declined by more than 12 percent week-over-week,

underscoring the sector’s acute sensitivity to interest rates. While 12 percent may sound incremental, housing operates at the margin.

Small changes in financing costs can produce outsized effects on transaction volume — because for many buyers, the difference between “just affordable” and “out of reach” is often measured in basis points, not broad economic narratives.

Focusing exclusively on mortgage rates, however, risks missing the broader macroeconomic picture. Housing outcomes are jointly determined by income expectations, labor market stability, consumer confidence and credit conditions.

A geopolitical shock of this magnitude does not move these variables in isolation. It introduces volatility across all of them simultaneously, amplifying its aggregate effect.

Or, translated: it’s not just that borrowing got more expensive — it’s that committing to a 30-year mortgage suddenly feels like signing a long-term contract in the middle of a plot twist you don’t fully understand.

This is where standard models begin to intersect with behavioral reality. Under heightened uncertainty, the option value of waiting increases. Households rationally defer large, irreversible investments. Buyers pause, reassess, and, in many cases, step back altogether — not because the desire to own a home has disappeared, but because the confidence to act on it has weakened.

The American Dream hasn’t been canceled. It’s just… buffering.

For now, it sits in a kind of economic limbo — finger hovering over the snooze button — waiting for clearer signals from markets, policymakers, and a geopolitical landscape that seems determined to keep rewriting the script mid-scene. And until that clarity arrives, the housing market, like much of the economy, will remain caught between resilience and hesitation — still standing, but thinking twice.

DC Aiken is Senior Vice President of Lending for CrossCountry Mortgage, NMLS # 658790. For more insights, you can subscribe to his newsletter at dcaiken.com.

The opinions expressed within this article may not reflect the opinions or views of CrossCountry Mortgage, LLC or its affiliates.

Finding seasonal scents in the garden

We often think the enjoyment of our garden is a sensory experience for our eyes. The colors, shapes and textures of the flowers and leaves, as well as the additional visual interest of pollinators and birds, are how we envision gardens. But there is a sensory experience that we might not think about, although sometimes it attracts our attention when we least expect it. That is scent. We are fortunate here in the Atlanta area that our climate allows us to incorporate plants with scents during every season to complement the visual experience. Here are a few options, season by season, to incorporate into your garden and how to layer them into the landscape.

Winter

• Daphne (Daphne odora) is a real treat to the senses. It flowers in January and February when the weather is dreary and cold and we gardeners are dreaming about spring. It has very fragrant, white to pink flower clusters. Daphne is an evergreen woody shrub that grows slowly in an area that is part sun, part shade.

• Paperbush (Edgeworthia chrysantha) is botanically related to Daphne. While it is deciduous, it is also is a winter bloomer with very fragrant flowers. Before the leaves fall off in the fall, the buds form and look like a white ball. From January to February the flowers begin to open and are a tight cluster of white tubular flowers with yellow centers.

Spring

As the garden awakens from winter, spring is one of the most aromatic seasons and offers numerous options for the garden.

• Star Jasmine (Trachelospermum jasminoides) is an intensely fragrant, evergreen vine with white flowers, opening in late spring. It is excellent on trellises, arbors, or fences. Jasmine prefers four hours of morning sun.

• Hyacinth (Hyacinthus orientalis) is a fragrant spring flowering bulb that is planted in the fall. It grows to a height of less than 12”, and the densely clustered flowers come in white, pink and purple. Perfect to plant along a sidewalk.

• Sweetshrub (Calycanthus floridus) is a deciduous ornamental shrub with fragrant, dark red flowers that blooms in April and May and prefers full sun. It is deer resistant

• There are several native deciduous

About the author

This week’s “Garden Buzz” guest columnist is Joan Fiore, a Master Gardener since 2020 and Johns Creek resident. She is a lifelong gardener and studied horticulture at NC State University. Her favorite plants are perennials, as well as plants that surprise us with a scent that enhances our experience in the garden.

garden can make our senses come alive.

• Gardenia (Gardenia jasminoides) comes in many sizes, everything from low growing varieties, perfect for the front of a border or along a sidewalk or pathway, to varieties that are taller and can be used as a backdrop or foundation planting. All are evergreen and have white flowers that come in a variety of shapes with a recognizable aroma.

Some newer varieties (‘Phenomenal’ and ‘Sensational’) can withstand our humidity. Lavender wants full sun and well-draining soil.

Fall

• Sweet Autumn Clematis (Clematis terniflora) is a vigorous vine with masses of small, white fragrant flowers in the fall. Perfect on a trellis, arbor or fence.

• Abelia (Abelia x grandiflora) From late summer into fall this plant produces fragrant white/pink tinged bell-shaped blooms. This semi-evergreen shrub grows 3 to 6 ft tall and wide.

Tea Olive (Osmanthus fragrans) blooms several times during the year, when you least expect it. The insignificant white cluster flowers of this plant are very aromatic. The shrub itself is very useful in the landscape as a hedge or backdrop with its dark green leathery evergreen leaves.

azaleas that are found in our area of Georgia. Piedmont Azalea (Rhododendron canescens) features white to pink flowers and a muskysweet, honeysuckle fragrance. Alabama Azalea (Rhododendron alabamense) has white blooms with a yellow blotch and a lemony-spice fragrance. Florida Flame Azalea (Rhododendron austrinum) sports fragrant yellow to orange flowers. Typically, these plants prefer a woodland environment.

Summer

We spend more time outside in the warmest season, so the scents in the

DEATH NOTICES

Stephen Bridgman, age 87, of Roswell, GA passed away on March 29, 2026. Arrangements by Northside Chapel Funeral Directors & Crematory.

Patrick Brown, age 85, of Roswell, GA passed away on March 25, 2026. Arrangements by Northside Chapel Funeral Directors & Crematory.

Gail Connell, age 71, of Alpharetta, GA passed away on March 27, 2026. Arrangements by Northside Chapel Funeral Directors & Crematory.

• Chaste Tree (Vitex agnus-castus) This plant was named because it was believed that it decreases libido. It is a deciduous, aromatic shrub in the mint family. In the summer it produces showy, blue lavender flower spikes that attract butterflies and pollinators. It is grown either as a small tree or large shrub.

• Roses (Rosa species) are very much a part of the summer landscape, and many varieties have a beautiful scent. Hybrid tea roses are often fragrant. Other fragrant roses that do well in Georgia include ‘Belinda’s Dream’, ‘Teasing Georgia’ and ‘Gertrude Jekyll’ to name a few.

• Lavender (Lavandula species) can be grown in Georgia even though their preference is for heat and low humidity.

Wolfgang Fechtel, age 89, of Alpharetta, GA passed away on March 27, 2026. Arrangements by Northside Chapel Funeral Directors & Crematory.

Peggy Fell, age 77, of Alpharetta, GA passed away on March 24, 2026. Arrangements by Northside Chapel Funeral Directors & Crematory.

Mary Fink, age 89, of Roswell, GA passed away on March 29, 2026. Arrangements by Northside Chapel Funeral Directors & Crematory.

Happy Gardening!

North Fulton Master Gardeners, Inc. is a Georgia nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization whose purpose is to educate its members and the public in the areas of horticulture and ecology in order to promote and foster community enrichment. Master Gardener Volunteers are trained and certified by The University of Georgia Cooperative Extension. Previous Garden Buzz columns are featured at: https://appenmedia.com/opinion/ columists/garden buzz/.

Save the date for NFMG’s 2026 signature events: Garden Faire on April 11th. Learn more at nfmg.net.

Jacqueline Heiser, age 88, of Johns Creek, GA passed away on March 30, 2026. Arrangements by Northside Chapel Funeral Directors & Crematory.

Gary Patterson, age 69, of Alpharetta, GA passed away on March 25, 2026. Arrangements by Northside Chapel Funeral Directors & Crematory.

Edna Santoro, age 96, of Roswell, GA passed away on March 29, 2026. Arrangements by Northside Chapel Funeral Directors & Crematory.

Expansion:

Continued from Page 1

Seconder, an avid cyclist and longtime proponent of sustainable transportation, said the vision began in 2020, then became reality in 2023 with the passing of the Trail Master Plan after years of tedious planning.

“Now you get to meet new neighbors. It is also part of our trail network where you can use just neighborhood streets … then it’ll eventually connect to other larger paths within our city as well,” Seconder said.

North Dunwoody resident Andres Lopez-Delgado and his family plan on using those paths regularly. He and his family joined Seconder on the Sunday afternoon ride and ribbon cutting.

“We’re just really excited to see it come together,” he said.

Making communities more bikable positively improves public health and the local economy.

“When you look at what attracts businesses, they want to go to

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING

Officers from the Dunwoody Police bike patrol escorted a March 29 community ride celebrating the newest addition to Dunwoody Bicycle Network connecting Eidson Road and Cherry Hill Lane.

communities that their employees (and their families) want,” Seconder said.

He is inspired by how the Beltline has connected dozens of neighborhoods in metro Atlanta.

“We have these little nodes. Every couple of miles, we’ve got these different commercial centers, and we’re building it out from Brook Run Park,” Seconder said. “When you have people that get out of your cars and you’re seeing them face to face in person, it just brings this whole sense of community.”

Residents like Lopez-Delgado are trying to reduce their reliance on cars where possible.

“We’re committed to the lifestyle,” he said. “We made a choice early on that we were going to try and stay to one daily use vehicle and use bikes to get around the city otherwise. So we have two e-bikes, one of which is a cargo bike for my eight-year-old and fouryear-old to get to school and daycare every day.”

Seconder encourages residents to stay informed on the progress of the Dunwoody Bicycle Network by signing up for the city’s newsletter.

The City of Dunwoody Planning Commission will meet Tuesday, May 12, 2026 at 6:00 p.m. in the Council Chambers at Dunwoody City Hall, which is located at 4800 Ashford Dunwoody Road, Dunwoody, Georgia 30338 for the purpose of due process of the following:

RZ 26-01 & SLUP 26-01, 4725 Ashford Dunwoody Road: The Kroger Co. requests a rezoning to modify the zoning conditions for the property to allow the development of a grocery store with an associated gas station; a Special Land Use Permit for a drive-through pharmacy; and 4 concurrent variances to allow relief from design standards for drive-throughs and gas stations, streetscape requirements, and pedestrian circulation requirements.

MMSP 26-01, 4725 Ashford Dunwoody Road: The applicant, The Kroger Co., seeks a Major Master Sign Plan for 4725 Ashford Dunwoody Road, Dunwoody, GA, 30338.

Text amendments to the Code of the City of Dunwoody for Chapter 27, the general purpose of which is to adjust the Review and Approval Procedures of the Zoning Ordinance in order to comply with the updated Zoning Procedures Law (HB155).

Should you have any questions or comments, please contact the City of Dunwoody Community Development Department at 678-382-6800. Staff is available to answer questions, discuss the decision-making process, and receive comments and concerns.

Exhibit:

Continued from Page 1

“I think visitors to Spruill Gallery will be moved by the way Hannah and Thomas’ works occupy the visual space while contributing to the commonalities of the human experience — growth, decay, loss and memory,” gallery Director Shannon Morris said.

Ehrlich has exhibited at Sotheby’s Institute of Art, the Museum of Contemporary Art Georgia, the Marietta Cobb Museum of Art and the Swan Coach House Gallery. Flynn has recently shown work at ArtFields and the Swan Coach House Gallery and presented a 50-work solo exhibition, “To Catch the Sun Dreaming,” at Vaughn Gallery in Austin, Texas.

“Night Swim” will be on view through April 24. The gallery is open from noon-4 p.m. Sunday and 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday.

— Dyana Bagby

Spelling:

Continued from Page 1

Sarv’s victory this year came after Sreeya misspelled the word Okavango in the 22nd round.

Sarv correctly spelled the next two words, Aitchbone and Simal, to win the state title.

“I am extremely happy. More like ecstatic. I’m completely in nirvana!”

Sarv said in a statement. “I’ve come a long, long, long way to get here. I could have only done this because of every single person who has helped me along the way, including my principal and family.”

GAE President Lisa Morgan praised Sarv and Sreeya and wished them luck when they go to Washington, D.C.

“It’s inspiring to see the growth they’ve shown and the confidence they’ve demonstrated under the pressure of competition,” Morgan said in

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING

SPRUILL GALLERY/PROVIDED Thomas Flynn’s “We are not a rainbow; we are a prism’ is on display at Spruill Gallery as part of the ‘Night Swim’ exhibit.

the news release.

Sarv and Sreeya received first and second place trophies. Both received an all-expenses paid trip to the Scripps National Spelling Bee and $1,000 from GAE, an Apple iPad Mini from Horace Mann Insurance Companies, a $50 gift card from Best Buy in Cumming, an online subscription dictionary from Merriam-Webster and a one-year online subscription to Encyclopedia Britannica, a one-year online subscription to NewsO-Matic and a GAE Bee Champion lapel pin.

They also received the Samuel L. Sugarman Award, which is a 2026 United States Mint Proof Set.

Twenty spellers ages 9 to 14 from across the state competed in the spelling bee. They were the last standing out of 1,532 students competing in competitions in public schools, private schools, parochial schools, virtual schools, homeschools and homeschool associations. All contestants received a GAE State Spelling Bee lapel pin.

The City of Dunwoody City Council will meet Monday, April 27, 2026 at 6:00 p.m. in the Council Chambers at Dunwoody City Hall, which is located at 4800 Ashford Dunwoody Road, Dunwoody, Georgia 30338 for the purpose of due process of the following:

Text amendments to the Code of the City of Dunwoody for Chapter 27, the general purpose of which is to create zoning regulations and procedures for vape shops and the sale of tobacco products and accessories.

Should you have any questions or comments, please contact the City of Dunwoody Community Development Department at 678-382-6800. Staff is available to answer questions, discuss the decision-making process, and receive comments and concerns.

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