Issuu

Chamblee High grads nominated for Oscar ► PAGE 4 March 12, 2026 | AppenMedia.com | An Appen Media Group Publication | Ser ving the community since 1976

Dunwoody group offers scholarships County to open DUNWOODY, Ga. — College-bound high school seniors can apply for two $2,500 scholarships to be awarded by the Dunwoody Woman’s Club. Applications for the Student Achievement Scholarships are being accepted through March

23. Applicants must live or attend school in ZIP codes 30328, 30338, 30346, 30350 or 30360. The scholarships are presented to students who “demonstrate academic excellence, leadership, school and community involvement and an exceptional desire for higher

education,” according to the club. For more information or to apply, visit dunwoodywomansclub.com/ our -work/scholarships or email scholarship chair M.J. Hollander at scholarships@dunwoodywomansclub.com. — Dyana Bagby

ZOE SEILER/APPEN MEDIA

DeKalb County commissioners weigh the numbers during a budget presentation at a Feb. 26 meeting.

DeKalb budget anticipates property tax hike By ZOE SEILER zoe@appenmedia.com DEKALB COUNTY, Ga. — The DeKalb County Commission, at its Feb. 26 meeting, adopted the fiscal year 2026 budget. County staff anticipates a half mill increase in the millage rate, but the rate is set in the summer.

The fiscal year 2026 operating budget is estimated at $1.9 billion, an increase of $3.9 million over fiscal year 2025. DeKalb County’s fiscal year runs from January to December, but the budget is typically adopted in February or March. But the budget and millage rate

processes are separate and happen a few months apart. The millage rate determines how much residents and commercial properties owe in property taxes. It is typically set in July. The current millage rate is 12.42 mills for the general and hospital funds.

See BUDGET, Page 17

daytime shelter to aid homeless By ZOE SEILER zoe@appenmedia.com DEKALB COUNTY, Ga. — DeKalb County is planning to work with the Salvation Army to open a day center for unhoused residents on Covington Highway, outside of Avondale Estates and near Belvedere Park. The county wants to open the facility by April 1 or May 1 to provide shelter and wraparound services, such as meals, showers and medical and employment resources. The facility will be located at 3996 Covington Highway, a property owned by Peace Baptist Church. “It’s very important to be able to have a facility where individuals can hang out, socialize and get wraparound services prior to going to a shelter or going back to places where they currently house themselves,” Community Development Director Allen Mitchell said during a committee meeting Feb. 26. Plans for a day center came to light following a shooting at the Decatur Library on Feb. 2. The suspect in the shooting, Medicus Brown, does not have housing, according to court records. Statistically, homeless people are far more likely to be the victims of a violent crime than to commit one, advocates said.

See CENTER, Page 17

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Psychologist who pleaded insanity in causing crash to serve five years By DAN WHISENHUNT dan@appenmedia.com DEKALB COUNTY, Ga. – For seven years, the family of 5-year-old Miles Jenness sought justice for him and accountability for the driver who caused his death. That day came on Feb. 26, when Judge Courtney Johnson sentenced Michelle Wierson, 59, to serve five years in prison and 10 years of probation after a jury found her guilty but mentally ill on a felony charge of vehicular homicide. They also found her guilty on a charge of reckless driving. She will not be allowed to drive while she is on probation. There are medical and mental health requirements she must comply with for her entire sentence. Wierson, a licensed psychologist, pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity. Witnesses said Wierson did not brake before she slammed her Volkswagen into a Toyota Corolla on Midway Road at South Candler Street in Decatur on Sept. 27, 2018. The Corolla was stopped at a traffic light and Miles Jenness, a Winnona Park student, was in the back seat. Wierson was traveling 51 mph in a 25-mph zone. The crash fatally injured Jenness and also injured his father, Sam, who was driving the car. Miles died two days later. Wierson’s defense argued she was driving fast in 2018 because she believed God told her that her daughter was in danger. She was racing to save her when the crash occurred, her attorneys said. An expert hired by her defense team and an expert appointed by the court both agreed she was legally insane at the time of the crash in 2018. But prosecutors attacked the credibility of those experts, implying that they were protecting one of their own. “Are they circling the wagons to protect her?” prosecutor Josh Geller asked the jury. Geller and Senior Assistant District Attorney Helen Pott encouraged the jury to find her guilty but mentally ill. The jury’s verdict followed a week-long trial and a long day of deliberations. Before the jury delivered its verdict on Feb. 25, Johnson asked if they would like to break for the evening. The jury, which had begun its deliberations at 8 a.m., sent a note back that said, “We will not be longer than 7 p.m.” The jury returned around 6 p.m. The Jenness family hugged each other and sobbed after the verdict was read aloud. Wierson was handcuffed and taken to the county jail. She left the court wearing a blazer and dress pants. She returned the next morning in an orange jumpsuit. Wierson, speaking through her attorney during the sentencing hearing, apologized to the Jenness family.

DAN WHISENHUNT/APPEN MEDIA

Michelle Wierson is taken into custody Feb. 25 after she was found guilty but mentally ill in the 2018 death of Miles Jenness. “There are no words to capture the depth of my remorse, my sorrow,” Wierson said. “I want you to know, mother to mother, parent to parent, that I cannot imagine the grief that you bear, and I want you to know that if there was anything at all that I could do to help you heal, I will do it.” Leah Jenness, Miles’ mom, noted that Wierson passed up opportunities for a lighter sentence while she and her team fought the case for seven years. Previously, Wierson and her team rejected a plea deal that would’ve included two years in prison after Judge Johnson rejected a deal that included no prison time. “Why didn’t she throw herself at the mercy of the court, of us, our community, of the universe, and say, ‘I cannot believe I let my mental health get that bad. I will do everything to right this wrong, even a little bit,'” Leah said. She said if Wierson had done this, she would have responded with sympathy. “We do have sympathy,” she said. “We have never been out for blood, only justice and accountability, because that's what Miles deserved.” One of Miles’ childhood friends, Celie Howard, shared her memories of him and how his death affected her. She saw the crash happen from her front yard. She was 8 years old at the time and didn’t believe a 5-year-old could die. Howard is now a sophomore at Decatur High School. “I don’t know how I would be able to go back and tell my 8-year-old self that Miles only lives until 5 and it’s taken seven years for the person who killed him to even spend a day in jail,” Howard said. The sentencing hearing left everyone in tears, including Wierson’s attorneys, Bob Rubin and Kristen Novay. They are planning an appeal, but they said they understood the gravity of what occurred in 2018. Rubin choked up while noting he’s had numerous discussions with the district at-

torney to try to resolve the case. “I'm sorry,” he told the judge while he gathered himself together. “This is unprofessional.” Her attorneys previously asked Johnson to recuse herself from the case and asked for a mistrial during the trial. Johnson denied both motions. Seven people spoke in support of Wierson, describing her as kind, generous, and wise. She is also deeply remorseful, they said, but they felt the community is better with her in it than with her in prison. Wierson’s daughter, now 15, said she loves her mom “more than words can describe.” “The most important thing she taught me was to always assume positive intentions by assuming the best you believe a person can be and is the best version of themselves,” she said. “Even if they aren't, you believe they're trying to be.” Sanidia Oliver-Stone, a friend of Wierson, said the person the jurors saw during the trial is a stranger to her. The woman depicted on body camera footage and whose frantic voice was heard in a 911 call before the crash is not the woman they know. “The law exists to respond to harm,” Oliver-Stone said. “Medicine exists to respond to illness, and in this case, those two realities collided, and it's very difficult and complicated.” The Jenness family feels sympathy for Wierson’s daughter and was grateful to the prosecutors for sticking with the case, even when it became an uphill battle. The family agreed with the prosecution’s sentencing recommendation. “We can lay it down now and focus on Miles,” Leah Jenness said. The weekend after the verdict, the Jenness family marked what would’ve been Miles 13th birthday.

COMMUNITY

AppenMedia.com/Dunwoody | Dunwoody Crier | March 12, 2026 | 3

Volunteers upgrade community center DUNWOODY, Ga. — Volunteers with the Dunwoody chapter of the Young Men’s Service League spent nearly 400 hours painting, planting and improving the Community Assistance Center building on Roswell Road in Sandy Springs as part of the Ultimate Gift Project. The sprucing up at the building, which houses the Community Assistance Center’s Canopy Thrift Shop and mini-mart, took place over three Sundays in October and November. During that time, 132 members painted benches, planted shrubs, spread mulch and weeded the garden and repainted the walls in the center’s mini-mart. The Community Assistance

Center is a human services nonprofit that works to prevent hunger and homelessness in Sandy Springs and Dunwoody. The Young Men’s Service League’s improvements support the Community Assistance Center’s efforts to create a dignified, uplifting and positive shopping experience for its clients and Canopy Thrift customers, according to Jessica Heidish, CAC volunteer manager. “Their engagement reflects a shared commitment to strengthening the community support system and ensuring neighbors in crisis are met with compassion and life-stabilizing support,” Heidish said in a statement. The Ultimate Gift Project is

YOUNG MEN’S SERVICE LEAGUE/PROVIDED

a chance for volunteers to learn leadership skills as well as empathy and responsibility in a hands-on way, said Kelley Patilla, president of the YMSL Dunwoody chapter.

“Together, we’re helping the Community Assistance Center provide a dignified, welcoming environment for every client, and that’s something we’re proud to support,” Patilla said in the release. The Young Men’s Service League is a national nonprofit organization whose members are mothers and their teenage sons who volunteer in their local communities. The YMSL Dunwoody chapter was founded in 2021 and serves the Dunwoody, Brookhaven and northeast Atlanta communities. More information is available at chapters. ymsl.org/chapter/dunwoody. — Dyana Bagby

Perimeter Chamber to present State of the City DUNWOODY, Ga. — Dunwoody Mayor L ynn Deutsch will deliver the State of the City address March 18 from 8:3011 a.m. at the Crown Plaza Atlanta Perimeter at Ravinia, 4355 Ashford Dunwoody Road. The city is partnering with the

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ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

Chamblee High alumni nominated for Academy Award By JIM BASS jim@appenmedia.com CHAMBLEE, Ga. — To many in the film industry, an Academy Award nomination is the highest honor one can achieve. For a pair of childhood best friends from Chamblee, it’s become a reality. Documentary director Ryan White and producer Jessica Hargrave are nominated for an Academy Award in the category of “Best Documentary Feature” for “Come See Me In the Good Light,” a film about poet and activist Andrea Gibson. The documentary follows Gibson as they come to terms with a terminal ovarian cancer diagnosis. It depicts how Gibson turned those tragic circumstances into a story about joy, humor and love alongside their wife, poet Megan Falley. The film premiered at Sundance Film Festival on Jan. 25, 2025 and won the Festival Favorite Award. It also marked White and Hargrave’s 15th project together. “I met my best friend when we were 10 years old. His name is Ryan White. He's still my best friend,” Hargrave said.

JESSICA HARGRAVE/PROVIDED

Jessica Hargrave and Ryan White, two childhood best friends from Chamblee, say they select their projects carefully because of the time investment.

weekend. Both still express their love for Atlanta and Both had high praise for the teachers how growing up there helped guide their Growing up in Chamblee at Chamblee High School. Hargrave said career paths. White and Hargrave met while teacher Lynn Farmer was a big supporter attending Kittredge Magnet School, and of the two becoming storytellers. White The stories come to us Hargrave said their time there had a also said that his love of film was heavily Once both White and Hargrave were significant influence on the people they influenced by Chamblee High School back in the same city, they began working would12-28-2016_HindsonMelton_01-19-11_HindsonMelton.qxp become. photography teacher Dave Smiley. documentary projects together. They 12/15/16 11:22Page AM on 1 12-28-2016_HindsonMelton_01-19-11_HindsonMelton.qxp 12/15/16 11:22 AM 1Page “Our elementary school was a real “[Smiley] taught me not only the power haven’t stopped since. melting pot of people with a ton of different of a nonfiction image, but the curiosity to White called Hargrave his “secret stories, and I do think that played a role go out into the world and observe and get weapon,” who knows him better than in sparking our interest in wanting to hear to know people,” White said. “It's probably anyone else in the world. White is grateful different people's perspectives and life the most fundamental skill I still use as a that stories now come to him after working experiences,” Hargrave said. filmmaker.” on enough films, despite the challenge of The pair began their filmmaking days Upon graduating from Emory choosing between them. as kids recording around Chamblee with University, Hargrave moved to Los Angeles “We're lucky to be at a point in our a VHS camera and trekking to the movie in 2004. White graduated from Duke careers where mostly the stories come “Serving our Theatre clients and community with honesty, integrity, “Serving and community withUniversity honesty, integrity, and courage.” theaters – our oftenclients Tara – every and then moved toand L.A. courage.” in 2008. to us. The challenge is we spend years on these films, so we have to be very selective,“ White said. “The ones we say yes to usually have some sort of magical ingredient and tend to come with new challenges that we haven't done previously. Jess and I love when a project scares us for some reason, that's usually a good barometer that we might want to learn more.” “Come See Me in the Good Light” originated in 2023 with a pitch by producer and comedian Tig Notaro, whom White and Hargrave had previously asked to look for a funny documentary. “Tig called and said, ‘I have an idea, and it's about my friend who's a poet and has stage four incurable cancer,’ and we both said that doesn't sound funny at all. Joy T. Melton Karen S. Hindson That sounds really dark,” Hargrave said. Attorney at Law Attorney at Law 770-939-3936 Hargrave said she hadn’t heard of 770-512-8383 770-939-3936 770-512-8383 404-702-7390 Gibson and both were hesitant. Notaro told 770-939-3936 them to watch an interview with Gibson at: Pointe Pkwy, # 500 Conveniently at: 1050 Crown Pointe Pkwy, #Conveniently 500 locatedlocated 1050 Crown first and both were quickly sold on their Atlanta, GA 30338 Atlanta, GA 30338 ability to have a poetic charm and humor

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despite the cancer diagnosis. "[Gibson] was so incredible in their perspective and in their ability to find joy at a time when most people knew and struggled,” Hargrave said. After agreeing to the project, filming began in January 2024 and was the fastest film that White and Hargrave completed, one they both cherished afterwards. “It's been the most beautiful experience of my entire filmmaking career,” White said. “Something about this film cuts straight to the heart, so it bonds you with your loved ones, or strangers, after they've seen it.” Hargrave was initially worried that the crew could be too “invasive” during such an intimate and painful point in Gibson’s life, and only grew comfortable after Gibson and Falley shared how open they were to the crew. “To be honest, when we started making the film, we thought that it was an end-of-life film,” Hargrave said. “Andrea thought that too, and when we started making it, Andrea said, ‘You'll be with me when I die.’” Upon the completion of filming, Gibson was still alive, so the team quickly edited the film and prepared it for a premiere at the Sundance Film Festival in hopes that Gibson would make it to see the film. Gibson was able to attend. “The audience, when the credits roll, most people didn't know whether Andrea was alive or dead, and they walked out onto the stage, and it was just one of the most emotional experiences,” Hargrave said. “So many people in the audience just burst into tears to know that they were still there.” Gibson showed their charming personality during a lively Q&A session and said that it was hard to process seeing themselves on screen. Gibson and Falley also expressed afterwards how well the film captured their partner’s personality. Gibson died on July 14, 2025, of ovarian cancer at age 49. The film has been available to stream on Apple TV+ and had a limited theater release, including a week-long run at Tara Theatre in February. The Academy Awards will be held on Sunday, March 15. Hargrave is excited about the film’s honor mostly because it will bring more recognition and help share Gibson’s story with the world. “Having that worldwide recognition helps bring attention to the film and helps more people to watch it and to hear Andrea's message, so we're so grateful for that,” Hargrave said. “It's such an honor and so many people put their hearts and souls into this project that we're so happy to see it rewarded and recognized in this way.”

Puzzles

er 3/12/26 Connect-It

PuzzleJunction.com

Connect-It

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 4, 5 and 5 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!

Dunwoody Crier.....................................March 12, 2026 | 5

YOU CERTAINLY CAN 1. Tennis move. Chicken, e.g. You can wear ‘em. 2. Road sign. You can kick ‘em. Farm machine. 3. You can throw ‘em. Slightly open. Bar buy. 4. Wanderer. It’s got you covered. You can spend ‘em. 5. Seed covering. You can shoot ‘em. Kind of jet. 6. Busybody. Night stalker. You can steal ‘em. 7. Pillow covering. You can lose ‘em. Stinging insect. PuzzleJunction.com

2 3 4 5 6

/12/26 Sudoku7

Can How to Solve: Each lineYou in the Certainly 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 1. Tennis move. Chicken, e.g. You can wear letter ‘em.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 3 answers on You the puzzle, line. Butkick here’s‘em. the catch! Theand clues are not in order - so the first clue in Line 1 may (or may not) actually Tothe solve the Sudoku each row, column 2. Road sign. can Farm machine. be formust the second or the thirdnumbers answer in 1that line. Got it? Good luck! box contain to 9. 3. You can throw ‘em. Slightly open. Bar buy.

4. Wanderer. It’s got you covered. You can spend ‘em.

5. Seed covering. You can shoot ‘em. Kind of jet.

6. Busybody. Night stalker. You can steal ‘em.

8 1 5 4 4 9

7. Pillow covering. You can lose ‘em. Stinging insect.

8 9 2 1

7 3 8 1

8 2 6 7 9

How to Solve: To solve the Sudoku puzzle, each row, column and box must contain the numbers 1 to 9.

Solution 5 3 4 6 1 7 2 9 8

9 6 7 2 4 8 5 3 1

2 1 8 5 9 3 7 4 6

7 2 1 4 5 6 9 8 3

6 5 3 7 8 9 4 1 2

8 4 9 1 3 2 6 5 7

4 8 6 9 7 1 3 2 5

1 7 5 3 2 4 8 6 9

3 9 2 8 6 5 1 7 4

How to Solve: Kakuro, also known as Cross Sums, is a challenging number puzzle, solved in a crossword style grid. The rules are easy: A number above the diagonal line in a black square is the sum of the white squares to the right of it. A number below the diagonal line is the sum of the white squares in the sequence below it. You may only use the digits 1 to 9, and a digit can only be used once in any sequence.

Dunwoody Crier 3/12/26 Crossword

Across

PuzzleJunction.com

15 16 14 1 Secret society 6 Come clean, with 17 19 18 “up” 21 22 20 10 Neighbor of Senegal 23 24 25 26 14 Big dos 15 Wagon part 29 30 27 28 16 Director Reitman 31 32 33 34 35 17 Like the press, maybe 37 38 39 36 19 Lady of Spain 20 Circle segment 41 42 43 40 21 Delhi native 44 45 23 Honor 26 Blast from the 49 46 47 48 past 27 Founder of 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 Scholasticism 58 59 60 57 29 Hawk’s opposite 31 Sushi condiment 62 63 61 32 Spanish sparkling white wine 65 66 64 33 Blunder Copyright ©2026 PuzzleJunction.com 36 Anon’s partner 37 Chivalrous 13 Ludicrous 65 Ship part 39 Gawk at 39 Diamond Head 18 Depot 66 Auto pioneer 41 Deadly poison locale 22 Astronomical Citroën 43 Canal site 40 “Get the picture?” sighting 44 Distraught woman 41 Prohibits 24 Have on Down 46 Line to the 42 Rue 25 Priest’s robe audience 44 Drone, e.g. 27 Dazzles 1 Baby’s first word, 47 Leave the straight 45 Opera soprano 28 Church section maybe and narrow Maria 29 Metric unit of 2 At a distance 48 Boiling mad 46 Kind of flu volume 3 Chicken dish 49 Inhumane 49 Comedian Drew 30 Clouded 4 Charged particle 51 Hike 50 Trolleys 32 It keeps an eye 5 Pack animal 52 Waxy covering of 54 Lingerie item on TV 6 Electrical unit a bird’s beak 57 Tehran’s land 33 Restaurant 7 Former spouses 53 Basilica part 58 Good name promotion 8 Bed support 55 Engine sound 61 Facts and figures 34 Moon of Saturn 9 Highway hauler 56 ___ meridiem 62 Gaelic language 10 Center 35 Dead-end jobs 59 Letters before an 63 Fort Knox unit 38 “The loneliest 11 Skirt alias 64 Spotted number” 12 Hawaiian veranda 60 Beachgoer’s goal

See puzzle solutions on Page 21

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BEARS 58, TIGERS 56

SPORTS

ALEX POWELL/PROVIDED

Cambridge senior Carter Higdon goes up for a jumper on Tucker’s Adarian Johnson, No. 23, and Julian Glenewinkel, No. 22, at Cambridge High School Feb. 28. Higdon broke the school’s single-season scoring record in the second-round game against Tucker.

Cambridge heads to Elite Eight with 58-56 victory over Tucker By ANNABELLE REITER annabelle@appenmedia.com

2023 2026

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MILTON, Ga. — Cambridge boys basketball outlasted Tucker’s comeback attempt 58-56 in the Sweet Sixteen matchup Feb. 28 to advance to the program’s first Elite Eight appearance. Bears forward Carter Higdon broke the school’s single season scoring record that night with a game-high 26 points. It was previously held by Matthew Cleveland, who scored 610 points in a season for Cambridge and is now in the NBA G-League and averaging over 18 points a game. Cleveland said after last year’s Sweet Sixteen loss to Jonesboro, the team was down in the dumps about losing five seniors who got significant minutes and “didn’t have this in mind” in reference to making the Elite Eight this year. “Guys like Avery [Joe], Chandler [Bowen-Jackson], Bryson [O’Kelley], my brother Jordan, stepped up huge in their roles,” he said. “At McDonalds after the game, we were talking about how we trust each other guarding and we’re in help side every time.” Head coach David Akin got a shower from players’ water bottles in the locker room, but his wife wasn’t deterred by the water to give him a postgame hug. “All the praise and glory goes to God and just providing us the strength and

endurance to withstand Tucker,” he said. “We talk about how offense tells us how much we’re gonna win by, but defense wins the games.” Cambridge led for the first half and into the second until Tucker cut the deficit to one possession in the third quarter. They finally took the lead in the final frame after a foul on a shot from beyond the arc. Tucker showed toughness in critical moments, forcing turnovers and 10-second violations, but couldn’t finish the job at the end of the game. Four scorers in double figures just wasn’t enough. Tucker senior Adarian Johnson blocked a Cambridge shot with 10 seconds left in the game and attempted the Tigers’ final shot of the season that hit the back of the rim. Higdon was contesting and grabbed the rebound to secure the win for the Bears. The loss put a period on the sentence of head coach James Hartry’s career. He announced in January that he would be retiring after this season. Freshman Vance Wilder Jr. was Tucker’s leading scorer and led the fourth-quarter comeback with 21 points. His free throws took the lead for the Tigers for the first time and he followed it up with a contested 3-pointer to cement his statement performance.

AppenMedia.com/Dunwoody | Dunwoody Crier | March 12, 2026 | 7

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Bizarre Coffee serves unique flavors of coffee and cocktails at its location in downtown Roswell, 1090 Alpharetta Street.

Bringing weird to Roswell: Bizarre Coffee opens doors By HANNAH YAHNE hannah@appenmedia.com ROSWELL, Ga. — Bizarre Coffee owner Sabrina Kaylor knows how important the first cup of the day is. Each customer is asked, “How can I make your day?” when they approach the counter. Employees at Bizarre are called Daymakers and are ready to do just that. “The opportunity to make such an impact in such a short interaction is really valuable,” Kaylor said. “And we try to teach them that that will compound over time and compound in people’s lives.” The local chain has a presence in three communities and its reach is growing. The brand started as a booth at a Canton farmers market. In 2020, its first storefront opened in downtown Canton. “We just kind of figured it out as we went,” Kaylor said. “It’s been very much bootstrapped, and it’s been a really awesome experience.” Bizarre Coffee continued to expand with a location in Woodstock in 2023. Its third location in downtown Roswell, 1090 Alpharetta Street, opened in February. Another is under construction in downtown Acworth. “We have been really lucky,” Kaylor said. “The people who we get to serve every single day are the best.” What Bizarre Coffee is serving is just as odd as the name implies. Signature drinks on its menu incorporate flavors that aren’t typically paired with coffee, like Froot Loops and lemon. Kaylor sees it as a way to keep surprising her customers – but not too much. When making the spring menu, she made sure to bring back a blueberry

latte for the fourth year because people beg for its return. The menu changes each season, and even if the same items return, they’re often made differently. Bizarre Coffee has started using house-made syrups to further hone its craft and please the community. Kaylor said it has been cool learning a new skill and being able to revamp the syrup flavors they offer. “It’s just awesome to see people come back and taste it in its different forms,” Kaylor said. “It's just been really cool to see that be well received as we’ve evolved.” Social media has been a big part of cultivating Bizarre’s brand. Their Instagram account has nearly 30,000 followers, and multiple videos highlighting new drinks and carrying giant cocktails have gone viral across their social media. They got a lot of attention when Kaylor announced she would dabble in craft cocktails at the Roswell location. She said the 3,500-square-foot space lent itself to add something fun and fresh to the menu. One flavor Kaylor was adamant to include on the menu was guava, something she grew up loving in South Florida. It’s mixed with black tea and vodka to make a cocktail called a Guava John. Another signature drink combines espresso, soju and yuzu, a Japanese citrus. “It’s a new thing to us,” Kaylor said, “so we wanted to make sure that those cocktails would be representative of things that we already do but in a way that exceeds expectations.” Bizarre Coffee in Roswell is at 1090 Alpharetta St. A ribbon cutting was planned for March 11 from 3:30-4:30 p.m.

BUSINESS

AppenMedia.com/Dunwoody | Dunwoody Crier | March 12, 2026 | 9

Cumming pilot forges business selling fictional robots By JON WILCOX jon@appenmedia.com FORSYTH COUNTY, Ga. — Something inexplicable awoke inside David Leyva when the Forsyth County resident saw a toy robot sitting in a Tokyo shop. Specifically, it was an RX-78 from the Japanese science fiction anime Gundam series, a franchise that has spawned numerous television shows, movies, novels, manga and plastic model kits. For Leyva, who grew up making models of military jet aircraft, the robot was simultaneously familiar and electrifyingly new. “It’s weird to explain, but it just really inspires you,” Leyva, 46, said. “It really opens your imagination, like, ‘Wow, imagine if this was real. How gigantic this thing would be.’” That experience started Leyva on a path that would hijack his free time, lead him to an enormous like-minded fan community and inspire him to start a business that now outearns his job as an airline pilot. Looking back, Leyva said he could never have guessed the model robot would open so many doors. But he admits the pieces were always there inside him. More than a decade after his fateful experience in Japan, Leyva, a husband and father of two, is the proud owner of The Gundam Place, which boasts a storefront at 580 Atlanta Road in Cumming, warehouse and almost a dozen employees. As a kid, Leyva was fascinated by military aircraft, painstakingly assembling the plastic parts with glue. He spent many hours building the kits, which included some of his favorite aircraft like the F-16 Fighting Falcon and F-14 Tomcat. That childhood interest developed into a dream to one day fly, and as Leyva grew older he left behind the models and pursued the rigorous training to become a pilot. He now flies for a major airline in a senior role. “I worked all my life to be where I am as a professional,” he said. “It took me 40 years to become a captain.” Building obsession But amid his career and life goals, Leyva found a pleasant distraction in the world of Gundam, a hobby he admits became an obsession. After long days spent as a father and pilot, he often would recede to his desk to build Gundams. “Once everybody at home goes to bed, and I have a couple hours on my own, I start building,” he said. “I just forget everything. There’s nothing else at that point.”

The Gundam Place owner David Leyva builds a model.

PHOTOS BY: DAVID LEYVA/PROVIDED

Model kit enthusiasts mingle and dive into their work during a building session at The Gundam Place in Cumming. As a pilot, Leyva said he appreciates the realistic detail of the robots. Unlike the more fantastical fictional machines like Transformers, Gundams are grounded in rational technology and engineering. A pilot sits at the controls within an aircraft-like cockpit. The metalalloy chassis are covered in removable armored plating. Each weapon-covered limb is movable, allowing the builder to imagine they are assembling a real, futuristic piece of military hardware. “You start putting it together, and you start seeing how it’s transformed into an arm or a leg, and everything moves like it would in real life,” he said. “Those pieces are becoming like a freaking machine, like pistons and so many details. Everything works, and it starts looking like a robot.” Leyva, who now has built almost 50 of the models, quickly became hooked. “It was weird. I even thought, ‘Wow, I have never been like this,” he said. “It was like holy cow, I can’t stop buying these things.” Model opportunity Leyva admits his wife, although supportive, shared no part of his interest, leading him to seek out others who shared his interest. After connecting with some groups on Facebook, he learned his experience was hardly unique. That realization sparked an idea inside him. “Everybody was desperate to get the new model kits,” Leyva said. “I started thinking, ‘Well, this could be an amazing business.’” He started buying the kits wholesale and selling them online, using Google and social media to advertise. Customers were eager to take them off his hands, and some who lived in

the Atlanta area began messaging him if they could avoid shipping costs with inperson pickups. Leyva obliged, meeting local fans in person in shopping mall parking lots. The meetups became so frequent he decided to purchase a warehouse to store the robots, doing retail business out of a small storefront there. A promotional partnership with a popular Gundam influencer and burgeoning word-of-mouth notoriety led him to finally open a shop dedicated to in-store purchases. Leyva never looked back, and his business has since found a level of success that still surprises even him. “Every year, I get surprised,” he said. “It just keeps happening. We grew at least 30-40 percent every year.” Robot shop Tucked into an unassuming strip mall, the shop is easily overlooked, customers said. But once found, Gundam aficionados have found it represents a kind of home to them. On a February afternoon, firsttime-visitor and Cumming resident Chris Holte said he had no idea the shop existed in his backyard. Holte, who works in sales for a traffic control safety company, said he was pleased to find such a wide selection of models and customers and staff who share his interest. At home, Holte said he has little opportunity to talk about the robots with his wife, who often rolls her eyes at his niche interest. “It mostly goes in one ear and out the other,” he said, chuckling. “She likes to make fun of it.” The shop’s walls are lined with shelves of more than a hundred model kits, providing an impressive selection,

sales advisor Jason Tang said. The space also includes plenty of stimulation for the imagination. A 6-foot-tall robot costume stands at the entrance, and numerous dioramas and models, some valued in the thousands of dollars, sit behind clear display cases. Gundam community But The Gundam Place also offers something less tangible than kits and perhaps more important, a sense of community, Tang said. While assisting Holte, Tang was pleased to see long-time customer Smeet Patel, who has spent almost $10,000 at the shop over several years. Patel, who now counts as one of his friends, often stops by to visit and enjoy a bit of friendly banter about Gundams or otherwise. Like Patel, many have found the shop to be a place to connect with others. The models are available for purchase from internet vendors, but many local Gundam fans prefer to stop by in person, Leyva said. An after-hours monthly model building meetup routinely attracts anywhere from a 20 to 40 or more. Tables fill the floorspace during those nights, allowing customers to spend long hours chatting and forging friendships. An annual gathering night attracts hundreds, requiring the shop to sometimes rent out additional space next door. “Those are on another level,” Leyva said. Leyva said he never could have imagined a chance encounter with a model robot could enrich so many aspects of his life. He is deeply thankful for the business opportunities the hobby has created for him, and he still finds time to revel in the world of Gundam. But perhaps most of all, he is glad to be a part of a warm community that forges real relationships through an imaginary world. “It makes me think it was worth all the effort,” he said.

10 | March 12, 2026 | Dunwoody Crier | AppenMedia.com/Dunwoody

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AppenMedia.com/Dunwoody | Dunwoody Crier | March 12, 2026 | 17

Continued from Page 1 The shooting brought new attention to the number of homeless people who depend on the library’s services. Many unhoused individuals frequent the library and the Decatur Recreation Center on Sycamore Street. The county is planning to do more to support them. County officials planned to hold a news conference on Feb. 11 to announce a new day shelter and enhanced wraparound services for homeless people in the community, but it was postponed and never rescheduled. During a recent finance committee meeting, Superior Court Clerk Debra DeBerry said that unhoused individuals often hang out inside the courthouse lobby in Decatur. The county provides warming and cooling centers overnight, but there are few options available during the day. “We don’t have a place for individuals to actually socialize and get correct benefits, get an entree to housing during the course of the business day, from 9

Budget: Continued from Page 1 The total millage rate comprises six tax levels, resulting in a combined millage rate of 20.81. The rate has remained unchanged for some time. A half-mill increase would generate about $22.6 million. For a home value of $350,000, it would be an increase of about $65 on the property tax bill, budget Director T.J. Sigler said during the county commission meeting on Feb. 10. “We feel like there are goals related to housing affordability, caring for the unhoused, community health, workforce and economic development, and several others, that we feel we need to address,” Sigler said. “The best way to do that is potentially through a modest increase in the millage rate.” Approving the budget doesn’t bind the commissioners to a specific millage rate. Commissioner Michelle Long Spears wondered what would happen if the budget is approved but the millage rate doesn’t increase. During a Finance, Audit and Budget Committee meeting on Feb. 25, COO Zach Williams said the county staff would plan spending as presented in the budget. “If we move forward and implement this budget based on a half mill increase and did not get the half mill increase, then what that would mean is these programs would be a one-year program,” Williams said. “The funds…about

ZOE SEILER/APPEN MEDIA

Community Development Director Allen Mitchell presents a plan to open a homeless day center during a Planning, Economic Development and Community Services Committee meeting with Commissioners Nicole Massiah, Michelle Long Spears and Ted Terry Feb. 26. a.m. to 5 p.m.,” Mitchell said. The building has a lobby area with a serving area, sink and refrigerators. It would be able to accommodate up to 100 people during the day. The center would operate from about 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., six days a week. The facility will accommodate children and pets. “A day center is a safe, welcoming facility. It has meals, nutrition, hygiene services, support services,” Mitchell said. “In this center, it goes to your immediate needs, which are basic hygiene and meals, pathways to housing. It gives case management and job assistance.”

Mitchell added that after the day center closes, individuals can be transported to an overnight shelter or go back to wherever they are staying. The Salvation Army and the county plan to provide transportation. There is also a MARTA stop in front of the building, Mitchell said. Wraparound services will include mental and behavioral health, medical resources, job assistance, substance recovery support and case management. Individuals will receive lunch and snacks during the day. They will have access to laundry machines, computers,

$22 million worth, would come out of fund balance, out of reserves, and we would not have the ability to sustain that, so we would not have an annual allocation.” He added that planned housing programs, and potentially others, would not happen without an increase to the millage rate.

Firefighters will receive a $500 per month housing allowance, sick leave compensation and holiday pay. The county will also cover their health insurance premiums. The county is mirroring recruitment and retention efforts implemented for the police department. During a recent committee meeting, Police Chief Greg Padrick said the department had a 91 percent retention rate in 2025. Williams anticipates similar results in the fire department. Here are some other budget highlights from a memo from CEO Lorraine Cochran-Johnson: • Housing and Affordability The amended budget establishes a new Housing Office to implement a comprehensive strategy aimed at increasing housing affordability, decreasing homelessness, and supporting the unhoused population. The initial investment in 2026 is $12 million, with ongoing annual funding of $15 million beginning in 2027. This investment enables the County to leverage partnerships through housing investment bonds and maximize impact. • Workforce and Economic Development The amended budget invests an additional $1.9 million from the General Fund in WorkSource DeKalb, including $1.3 million for expanded operations and service delivery and $600,000 for the summer youth employment program, bringing the total proposed General Fund contribution to $2.5 million for fiscal year 2026. Additional investments include $100,000 for the Chamber of Commerce

General fund The county budget comprises the general fund and several other funds, including police, fire, hospital, sanitation, airport, and water and sewer. The budget anticipates $612 million in general fund revenue and $582.9 million in expenditures. The largest increases in general fund expenditures come from emergency management and fire and rescue. In the general fund, Fire and Rescue could see a 58 percent increase in their budget from $10 million in 2025 to $15.8 million in 2026. Some of this increase is due to a new contract with American Medical Response to provide ambulance services. The contract costs about $15 million per year. Since it will likely take effect in July, the budget includes $7.5 million to cover the 2026 costs. The budget includes a greater compensation package for firefighters, totaling about $2 million. The entrylevel pay will increase from $53,040 to $55,000. The salary for fire captains will increase 20 percent. To avoid compression, the assistant and deputy chiefs will see a 10 percent salary increase.

charging stations, phones and mail services. Mitchell added that the goal is to help unhoused individuals at the day center begin the intake process to secure housing. The building has restrooms but no showers. The Salvation Army would partner with Hope Through Soap to provide mobile showers twice a week. COO Zach Williams said the county initially identified Frontline to operate the day center, but decided to move forward with Salvation Army. The Salvation Army previously operated a day center for homeless men at 2090 N. Druid Hills Rd. in Brookhaven. The county is still working on the lease with Peace Baptist Church and the contract with the Salvation Army. Both agreements would be for one-year with options to renew. The estimated cost to get the center up and running is about $1.2 million. It will be funded through the county’s general fund. Editor Dan Whisenhunt contributed to this article. and $75,000 for the Urban3 Land Value and Revenue Analysis. • Healthcare Access The amended budget provides $1.4 million to MedCura Health to purchase and operate a mobile healthcare unit and establish a new point of contact. These funds are coupled with $1.5 million from the initial fiscal year 2026 budget for Mosaic Health to expand healthcare access across DeKalb County. Fund balance One goal of the 2026 budget is to build the fund balance, the county’s reserve fund. The projected ending general fund reserve balance for fiscal year 2025 is $78.8 million, which is about 1.6 months of expenditures, Sigler said during the county commission meeting on Feb. 10. The fund balance for all other tax funds was $51 million at the end of 2025. The proposed 2026 budget increases general fund reserves to $108 million, about two months of expenditures. In total, the reserves for all tax funds would be about $162.8 million. “We’re still working on the CEO’s directive to increase the fund balance to four months of operating expenses in her first term, which would be equal to 33 percent of the budget by 2029,” Sigler said. He added that increasing the reserves will require reducing some expenses. For more information about the budget, visit dekalbcountyga.gov/budgetoffice/office-management-budget.

18 | March 12, 2026 | Dunwoody Crier | AppenMedia.com/Dunwoody

GET OUTSIDE, GEORGIA!

OPINION

The best way to keep your head above water It was, as I recall, about this time of year but a lot of years ago. It was near the end of winter. I remember that the winter that year had been cold and gray and a little depressSTEVE HUDSON Columnist ing. But spring was just around the bend. You could feel it in the air. The sun was out, and we were about to ease our canoe into the cold, clear waters of the Chattahoochee below Buford Dam for the year’s first float, an easy trip downriver to the takeout at Settles Bridge. Things are always better when it’s about to be spring, and celebrating the season’s impending arrival from the seat of a canoe is just icing on the cake. Yeah, things were looking pretty good. Just around the bend… For a while, the river had been too high for safe paddling. But at last condi-

tions were ideal. So, we found ourselves at the boat ramp below Buford Dam, a great place to start a float on the Hooch if you time things right and avoid water releases from the dam. We loaded the boat and put on our life jackets and pushed off into the flow. Float time would be three to four hours, plus or minus stops to throw a lure toward those bankside brush piles where the big brown trout lived – wild, streamborn trout that just might defy your imagination. The state record brown trout – a leviatan of near-Biblical proportions, weighing 20 lbs. 14 oz and measuring a nice 31.5 inches long – would eventually come from just such a brush pile. But that was still years in the future. The question just then had to do with what might happen right then. Would we tangle with a big brown trout? Hope springs eternal when spring’s coming and you’re in an angling state of mind, so spinning rods were ready in the bottom of the canoe, and we’d already made a few casts. Joe said he thought he’d

CITY OF DUNWOODY NOTICE TO THE PUBLIC OF PROPOSED AMENDMENT TO ARTICLE IV, SECTION 4.01.; ARTICLE IV, SECTION 4.02.(c); AND ARTICLE IV, SECTION 4.03. OF THE CHARTER OF THE CITY TO DESIGNATE THE TITLE AND NUMBER OF JUDGES; CONFIRM THE AUTHORITY OF JUDGES; AND CREATING TERM LIMITS PLEASE TAKE NOTICE pursuant to O.C.G.A. § 36-35-3 that the City Council for the City of Dunwoody will hear and consider a proposed amendment to the Charter of the City at 6:00 p.m. on April 13, 2026 and 6:00 pm on April 27, 2026 at Dunwoody City Hall, 4800 Ashford Dunwoody Road, Dunwoody, Georgia 30338, to amend Article IV, Sec. 4.01. by designating the title, number, and confirming the powers and duties of judges; Article IV, Sec. 4.02.(c) to create term limits; and Article IV, Sec. 4.03. by adding the word “chief” to same. A copy of the proposed Amendment is available for viewing and consideration by the public at Dunwoody City Hall by contacting Municipal Clerk Sharon Lowery and is also on file with the Clerk of the Superior Court of DeKalb County as required by O.C.G.A. § 36-35-3(b).

CITY OF DUNWOODY NOTICE TO THE PUBLIC OF PROPOSED AMENDMENT TO SECTION 5.03.(a) AND SEC. 5.04.(b) OF THE CHARTER OF THE CITY TO AMEND THE DATE OF SUBMISSION OF THE PROPOSED BUDGET BY THE CITY MANAGER AND TO AMEND THE DATE OF ADOPTION BY COUNCIL PLEASE TAKE NOTICE pursuant to O.C.G.A. § 36-35-3 that the City Council for the City of Dunwoody will hear and consider a proposed amendment to the Charter of the City at 6:00 p.m. on April 13, 2026 and 6:00 pm on April 27, 2026 at Dunwoody City Hall, 4800 Ashford Dunwoody Road, Dunwoody, Georgia 30338, to amend Section 5.03.(a) and Section 5.04.(b) of the Charter of the City regarding the date of submission of the annual budget proposal by the city manager and to amend the date of adoption by council. A copy of the proposed Amendment is available for viewing and consideration by the public at Dunwoody City Hall by contacting Municipal Clerk Sharon Lowery and is also on file with the Clerk of the Superior Court of DeKalb County as required by O.C.G.A. § 36-35-3(b).

had a strike. But no fish. Maybe the fish would come later. Maybe the big surprise was just around the next bend. The river carried us along. Joe, who knew his stuff when it came to canoes, sat in the back seat and took care of the nuances of boat control. I sat in the front seat and mostly just paddled. Up ahead, another bend emerged. I squinted through the river mist, looking downstream, and that’s when I saw something unexpected. I squinted and blinked, clearing my eyes for a better look. What I was seeing appeared to be a pig – a large, bleached-beige pig – perched up in a tree about 6 feet above the surface of the river. One does not often see pigs in trees. So, I kept looking as we drifted along. The pig began to morph as we drew closer. Slowly but inexorably, it became less and less a pig. And then, all at once, I knew. “Do you see that?” I said to Joe. Joe had been quiet, but he spoke then. “Yeah,” he said. “But I was kind of hoping you didn’t.”

We drifted closer. The shape-shifting pig shimmered one last time and resolved, at last, into what we had hoped it was not. There was no mistaking it now. Limbs, torso, feet, hands, and all the rest were suddenly clear, hanging there almost upside down about a grave’s depth above the surface of the flow. The current picked up, carrying us on downriver. The Ga. 20 bridge was coming up. We paddled to the right bank and managed to clamber out of the boat and up the bank. We bushwacked through the undergrowth to the road, stepped out onto the pavement, and hailed a Department of Natural Resources truck which, miraculously, just happened to be driving by at that very moment. Later, there were sirens and flashing lights and even a helicopter. Somebody helped us drag the boat up to the road. Statements were given. Then we hitched a ride and retrieved our shuttle car, tied the canoe to the top, and drove to Joe’s house where his wife had made us pizza. At six o’clock we turned on the news and enjoyed our 15 seconds of fame.

See HUDSON, Page 23

CITY OF DUNWOODY NOTICE TO THE PUBLIC OF PROPOSED AMENDMENT TO ARTICLE I, SECTIONS 1.03.(b)(36), (37)(A), AND (43) OF THE CHARTER OF THE CITY RELATED TO SPECIAL DISTRICTS, BONDS, AND INTERGOVERNMENTAL CONTRACTS PLEASE TAKE NOTICE pursuant to O.C.G.A. § 36-35-3 that the City Council for the City of Dunwoody will hear and consider a proposed amendment to the Charter of the City at 6:00 p.m. on April 13, 2026 and 6:00 pm on April 27, 2026 at Dunwoody City Hall, 4800 Ashford Dunwoody Road, Dunwoody, Georgia 30338, to amend Article I, Sections 1.03.(b)(36), (37)(A), and (43) related to special districts, general obligation bonds, and intergovernmental contracts backing revenue bonds issued pursuant to law. A copy of the proposed Amendment is available for viewing and consideration by the public at Dunwoody City Hall by contacting Municipal Clerk Sharon Lowery and is also on file with the Clerk of the Superior Court of DeKalb County as required by O.C.G.A. § 36-35-3(b). CITY OF DUNWOODY NOTICE TO THE PUBLIC OF PROPOSED AMENDMENT TO ARTICLE II, SECTION 2.09.(a) OF THE CHARTER OF THE CITY TO CHANGE THE DATE OF THE FIRST MEETING IN JANUARY AFTER A MUNICIPAL ELECTION TO THE FIRST MONDAY, EXCLUDING LEGAL HOLIDAYS PLEASE TAKE NOTICE pursuant to O.C.G.A. § 36-35-3 that the City Council for the City of Dunwoody will hear and consider a proposed amendment to the Charter of the City at 6:00 p.m. on April 13, 2026 and 6:00 pm on April 27, 2026 at Dunwoody City Hall, 4800 Ashford Dunwoody Road, Dunwoody, Georgia 30338, to amend Article II, Section 2.09.(a) of the Charter of the City by changing the date of the first meeting in January after a municipal election to the first Monday, excluding legal holidays. A copy of the proposed Amendment is available for viewing and consideration by the public at Dunwoody City Hall by contacting Municipal Clerk Sharon Lowery and is also on file with the Clerk of the Superior Court of DeKalb County as required by O.C.G.A. § 36-35-3(b).

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Continued innovation in digital media has changed the ways in which people buy, sell and interact with products and services. It has caused businesses to reassess the ways in which it communicates with potential customers and advertises its products. It has been well documented that these changes have had a destructive impact on local newspapers, which continues to be a primary source for local news, but is no longer a primary source for local advertising dollars – historically the lifeblood for reporters and their coverage. At Appen Media Group we want to address this conflict head on, and build new and innovative approaches to monetizing local news and creating a sustainable future for local journalism in metro Atlanta.

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SOLUTIONS

8 1 5 4 4 9

Solution

M A L I F E S S M A F I A I V A N A X L E A F R O S D O N A M A I N S T R E A M E A S T I N D I A N A R C O L D I E A W A R D D O V E A N S E L M E R R C A V A W A S A B I O A H U N O B L E E V E R R E G R E T B A N S S E E C A L L A S M A L E C A R E Y A S I A N B R A S T R E E T C A R S R E P U T A T I O N I R A N K A R A T E R S E D A T A A N D R E K E E L E Y E D

9 2 1

8 2 6 3 9 7 3 Solution 8 1 Connect-It 7

2 H A B I T S T O P L O W

3 A J A R O U N D A R T S

4 C O I N S K I N O M A D 5 A R I L E A R A P I D S 6 B A S E S N O O P U M A

Solution

7 W A S P O U N D S H A M

5 3 4 6 1 7 2 9 8

9 6 7 2 4 8 5 3 1

2 1 8 5 9 3 7 4 6

7 2 1 4 5 6 9 8 3

6 5 3 7 8 9 4 1 2

8 4 9 1 3 2 6 5 7

4 8 6 9 7 1 3 2 5

1 7 5 3 2 4 8 6 9

3 9 2 8 6 5 1 7 4

8 5

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OPINION

Hudson: Continued from Page 18 “Two canoeists,” said the talking head, “discovered a body this morning while canoeing the Chattahoochee River below Buford Dam. It appears to be the body of a man who disappeared several months ago after falling into the river while floating with friends. The victim, it is reported, did not have on a life jacket at the time. Authorities speculate that the

body had been lodged on the bottom in a deep spot but was dislodged by recent heavy flows…” And that, friend, is the point of all this – not the story of the thing in the tree, which I will never be able to unsee, but the fact that it might have never happened if the victim had been wearing a life jacket. That’s the point, and as the weather gets warmer and the call of our rivers and lakes grows louder, be sure you don’t miss it: Life jackets are made to be worn, and you should wear yours when you’re

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on the water. What kind of person wears a life jacket? I do, every time – and I’ve been canoeing now for decades. My wife does, for it makes her much more comfortable when she joins me in the kayak or the canoe. The grandkids wear one always, no matter how well they swim. Anybody riding with me in my canoe wears one because you never know. To amplify the message, and to make life better for those who don’t (or won’t) bring a life jacket with them, life jacket

loaner stations are becoming more and more common at boat launches throughout the state. I’m really glad to see them, too. Don’t have your own life jacket? Then by all means borrow one. That’s what they’re there for – and put it on! You’ll feel good about it, I promise – good…and safe. Remember: There is no shame in wearing a life jacket. It’s what all the smart folks do. Even if you’re a seasoned boater, use your PFD every time you go out. It just might keep you alive to float another day.

Herald Headlines northfulton.com/newsletters

Database Administrator sought by Chois International Inc. in Norcross, GA to implmt comp d/base policies. Must have a Bach’s Deg in Comp Sci or IT. Resumes to: Ilmo Wang, Chois International Inc., 4320 International Blvd., Norcross, GA 30093. No calls.

DEATH NOTICES Joanne Curnyn, age 91, of Alpharetta, GA passed away on February 25, 2026. Arrangements by Northside Chapel Funeral Directors & Crematory.

Roxianna Draper, age 79, of Alpharetta, GA passed away on February 24, 2026. Arrangements by Northside Chapel Funeral Directors & Crematory.

Loretta Donnelly, age 79, of Roswell, GA passed away on February 27, 2026. Arrangements by Northside Chapel Funeral Directors & Crematory.

Patricia Getty, age 77, of Alpharetta, GA passed away on February 26, 2026. Arrangements by Northside Chapel Funeral Directors & Crematory.

James McIntire, age 84, of Roswell, GA passed away on February 25, 2026. Arrangements by Northside Chapel Funeral Directors & Crematory.

John Rhodes, age 79, of Roswell, GA passed away on March 1, 2026. Arrangements by Northside Chapel Funeral Directors & Crematory.

Jeanne Neal, age 93, of Roswell, GA passed away on February 26, 2026. Arrangements by Northside Chapel Funeral Directors & Crematory.

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Public Service Commission race headed to runoff election

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Wills Park brims with area visitors on Fourth of July By JON WILCOX jon@appenmedia.com

A girl waves an American flag as she dances to music by Davis and the Love at Roswell Area Park July 4.

PHOTOS BY: SARAH COYNE/APPEN MEDIA

Kendall, from left, John, Brooks and Reid Hill sit on a picnic blanket at Roswell Area Park to celebrate the Fourth of July.

Roswell crowd celebrates America’s 249th birthday By SARAH COYNE sarah@appenmedia.com ROSWELL, Ga. — Food trucks, live music and fireworks were on the menu for America’s birthday in Roswell. A crowd of over 1,000 piled into Roswell Area Park July 4 to celebrate America’s 249th birthday.

Kendall and John Hill travelled from East Cobb to bring their two little ones to the show. “The kids love it,” John Hill said. Baseball fields and multi-use fields were filled with families and friends awaiting the firework show at dusk.

See FOURTH, Page 23

OPINION

See FIREWORKS, Page 24

DR. INGRID REYES

DR. NATU MMBAGA

DR. ANNIE KIM

Two-year-old Cameron holds a beach ball at the City of Roswell Fourth of July celebration at Roswell Area Park.

Business owner crafts calm in the chaos

JON WILCOX/APPEN MEDIA

From left, Traci Foreman, Chris Foreman and John Hanley watch fireworks in Wills Park July 4.

► PAGE 8

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Biscuit eatery rises to meet high demand

Residents celebrate, remember meaning behind Juneteenth

By JON WILCOX | jon@appenmedia.com

JOHNS CREEK, Ga. — The heart of the holiday was shining through the music, food and fun of Creek’s Juneteenth celebration. As the sun set on a warm Saturday evening, Midway grandmother Matilda Riles sat in a lawnchair, watching her grandchildren play on the park lawn amid the sound of booming live music and mouthwatering aroma of food trucks. Before the fun started, Riles, who attended with three generations of family, educated the kids about the reason for Juneteenth. “It's a point in time when enslaved people no longer had to be enslaved, and certain places did not relay the message at the time that it should have been relayed,” Riles said. “And, therefore this is a celebration as to when the final group of people were told you no longer had to be enslaved.” Several thousand visitors descended on the city’s annual celebration at Newtown Park, 3150 Old Alabama Road, doubling last year’s attendance. The celebration resembled a giant block party with live music performances, chatting neighbors, plenty of food and rows of arts and craft vendors.

FORSYTH COUNTY, Ga. — The perfect biscuit is like a warm hug, said Brandy White, owner of Sawnee Mountain Biscuit Company. “It kind of warms your soul,” White said. “It feels like home to me.” Since 2001, the Sawnee Mountain Biscuit has operated out of a renovated mobile home at 104 13th St., serving perfect pillowy biscuits wrapped around eggs, cheese, bacon and other breakfast staples. With dozens of items on the menu, the restaurant features other tasty offerings from French toast to a house-made pimento cheese. Tucked into a sleepy neighborhood on the edge of Cumming, Sawnee Mountain Biscuit might easily be taken as another house, but locals say the squat, blue-clapboard building is one of the town’s best breakfast spots. Over the decades, the restaurant has earned a cult following in Cumming and the north Atlanta area, serving as many as 400 orders some mornings.

JON WILCOX/APPEN MEDIA

Brandy White holds her 1-year-old daughter, Lennon, at the entrance to her Sawnee Mountain Biscuit Company on 13th Street just outside Cumming.

FORSYTH COUNTY, Ga. — The Forsyth County Sheriff’s Office is working to complete converting an old elementary school into a law enforcement training center. Since October, the training center has hosted a public safety academy as part of a partnership between the sheriff’s office and University of North Georgia. The academy, funded by the

ROI

matters.

sheriff’s office, provides training for law enforcement officers in Forsyth County and surrounding jurisdictions, Capt. Rob Heagerty said. At an April 22 work session, the County Board of Commissioners discussed a proposal to allocate $47,993 for design services with ar chitectural firm Wiley Wilson to create plans, conduct inspections and

make changes to water heaters. The sheriff’s office wants to install showers and locker rooms at the building at 4805 Atlanta Highway, Heagerty said. The improvements are important because exercise and physical conditioning are essential in maintaining capable deputies, he said. The building already houses classrooms, meeting rooms, a cafeteria,

gym, simulator room and an empty wing where deputies can conduct building-clearing and other training exercises. The work is part of a second phase to transform former Midway Elementary School into a law enforcement training center.

See SHERIFF, Page 12

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County restores original funding to cultural arts

Children play in the lawn at Newtown Park during a Juneteenth celebration in Johns Creek June 21. JON WILCOX/APPEN MEDIA

ATLANTA — The Fulton County Board of Commissioners voted unanimously to restore funding for a program within the Arts & Culture Department to $3 million a year Sept. 17. While the unanimous vote reflects unity and bipartisanship, some commissioners criticized colleagues for the delay. The item, sponsored by Democratic commissioners Khadijah AbdurRahman and Marvin Arrington Jr. and Republican commissioners Bob Ellis and Bridget Thorne, includes an increase of $1.7 million for a previously requested program and its full $3 million in funding set aside in the 2026 budget.

See JUNETEENTH, Page 10

ATLANTA — Fulton County Jail employee has been indicted in federal court for allegedly using excessive force against prisoners. The 47-year-old sergeant is accused of repeatedly using tasers on compliant, nonresisting pre-trial detainees on three occa-

sions last January and writing false reports about each of the incidents. “The (Justice Department’s) Civil Rights Division has zero tolerance for law enforcement officers who abuse public trust through excessive force and concealing their misconduct,” said Assistant U.S. Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon. “We will vigorously safeguard the constitutional

Dunwoody opens doors to refine future land-use By JON WILCOX jon@appenmedia.com

PHOTOS BY: HAYDEN SUMLIN/APPEN MEDIA

Front center, Ann Hanlon, executive director of the Perimeter Community Improvement Districts, holds the ribbon for phase one of the Ashford Dunwoody Road path April 3 while City Councilman Tom Lambert, front right, gets ready to cut it. The Perimeter CIDs and Dunwoody split the project’s $1.5 million construction cost.

Commercial partners and city celebrate new path By HAYDEN SUMLIN hayden@appenmedia.com

See FULTON, Page 20

Fulton jail staff faces civil rights indictments By DAVE WILLIAMS Capitol Beat

April 10, 2025 | AppenMedia.com | An Appen Media Group Publication | Ser ving the community since 1976

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By JON WILCOX | jon@appenmedia.com

County considers funding for sheriff’s training facility

2024 DR. JOHN REYES

June 26, 2025

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See BISCUIT, Page 6

County delays closing Alpharetta jail site

Pitts: Raising millage rate would be mistake

► PAGE 4

ALPHARETTA, Ga. — Thousands filled Wills Park to celebrate July 4 with a bang. Hours before darkness fell, friends and families filled the park’s lawns, Equestrian Center, trails and athletic fields. Everywhere, children played, cartwheeling, running, tossing balls and waving glow sticks. Alpharettan Lindsey Landis, her husband, two children and two dogs were part the crowd, passing the golden hour on a blanket laid out on the grass.

May 1, 2025

rights of all individuals, including those in custody.” “Abuses of power of this kind are unconstitutional, erode our community’s trust, and will be prosecuted,” added Theodore S. Hertzberg, U.S. attorney for the Northern District of Georgia. Solomon faces up to 10 years in prison for each federal civil rights violation and 20

Life Time Perimeter revives health club site ► PAGE 4

Summer Veggies Annuals Pollinator Plants and So Much More! Friday April 11- Sunday April 13

years behind bars for each false report. The FBI’s Atlanta Field Office is investigating the case based on a referral from the Fulton County Sheriff’s Office. This story is available through a news partnership with Capitol Beat News Service, a project of the Georgia Press Educational Foundation.

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Miniature goldendoodle Lexi cools off at the Milton city pool on Sept. 13. Canine companions gathered there to celebrate summer’s end. See the story and more photos from Sarah Donehoo on page 18.

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A look down the completed phase one of the Ashford Dunwoody Road path April 3 shows the two-way cycle track parallel to the revamped sidewalk.

DUNWOODY, Ga. — Dunwoody elected officials, city staff and Perimeter Community Improvement Districts Executive Director Ann Hanlon cut the ribbon April 3 on phase one of the Ashford Dunwoody Road path. “We’re super proud to partner with the city of Dunwoody on building this trail project,” Hanlon

said. “And we’ll look forward to many more phases to come.” A little over two years ago, the group gathered at the same spot near the corner of Ashford Dunwoody Road and Hammond Drive for phase one’s groundbreaking. Phase one of the corridor’s path includes a two-way raised cycle track separated from traffic by a wide landscape buffer

See PATH, Page 17

DUNWOODY, Ga. — The City of Dunwoody is streamlining development rules and updating its vision for the city’s future as part of a state-mandated overhaul. City officials and representatives from consulting firm TSW Design, which was tasked with creating a plan, gave a two-hour presentation about the changes April 1 during a special meeting at Vintage Pizzeria on Chamblee Dunwoody Road. Residents received and discussed the creation of a unified development ordinance and changes to the city’s comprehensive plan. Dunwoody is updating its comprehensive plan as part of a state mandate that requires an overhaul every five years, said Allison Stewart-Harris, an associate principal and planner at TSW. Stewart-Harris presented the changes to about 30 residents who attended the meeting.

JON WILCOX/APPEN MEDIA

About 30 residents fill a dining room at Vintage Pizzeria on Chamblee Dunwoody Road April 1 to hear a presentation by TSW Design planner Allison Stewart-Harris, who spoke on the city’s future land-use strategy.

ANSLEYRE.COM | 404.480.HOME 3035 PEACHTREE| ROAD, SUITE 202, ATLANTA, GA 30305 ANSLEYRE.COM 404.480.HOME 3035 PEACHTREE| ROAD, SUITE 202, ATLANTA, GA 30305 ANSLEYRE.COM Equal housing opportunity. If you404.480.HOME have an existing brokerage relationship, this is not intended as a 3035housing PEACHTREE SUITE 202,relationship, ATLANTA, GA 30305 solicitation. All opportunity. data believed to ROAD, be accurate but not warranted. Equal If you have an existing brokerage this is not intended as a

SANDY SPRINGS, Ga. — Sandy Springs announced that the Billboard Music Award-winning band Lit is headlining Friday night Sept. 26 at the third annual Blue Stone Arts & Music Festival. The festival will take place in the heart of Sandy Springs Friday, Sept. 26, from 4-10 p.m., and Saturday, Sept. 27, from 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Lit is an American rock band from Orange County,

See LIT, Page 9

HAYDEN SUMLIN/APPEN MEDIA

Motorists line up at the Boylston Drive signal to turn left onto Hammond Drive Aug. 14. Sandy Springs will begin work in September to realign Boylston to the east and eliminate a nearby traffic light.

CITY OF SANDY SPRINGS/PROVIDED

SANDY SPRINGS, Ga. — Sandy Springs contractors are set to begin work in September on realigning the intersection of Boylston and Hammond drives and removing a redundant traffic light. The city says work will last around 15 months, and the intersection will remain open during construction, but there will be occasional lane closures so crews can get the work done safely. Initially, city officials expected the project

to begin in mid-August. No explanation was given. Currently, there are two separate sets of traffic lights less than 100 feet away from one another, one at the Hammond Glen Retirement Community’s driveway and another at the office building next door. The new configuration will shift Boylston Drive to the east, aligning it with the Hammond Glen driveway and eliminating the traffic light at the driveway to the office building at 325 Hammond Drive.

Indicted superintendent resigns

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Early voting ends Oct. 31 for municipal elections ► PAGE 4

See story on Page 22

Wild Nest Bird Rehab finds roost at Legacy Park

► PAGE 24

See BOYLSTON, Page 8

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Hundreds attend Intown Ace Hardware’s annual Ladies Night ► PAGE 14

DeKalb School Board faces tough questions as district finds itself at crossroads

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INSIDE

Residents trying to pump brakes on I-285 express lane

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► PAGE 12

Realignment construction begins on Hammond-Boylston intersection

Sandy Springs said Billboard Music Award-winning band, Lit, is headlining this year’s festival Sept. 26-27 at City Springs.

October 23, 2025 | Decaturish.com | Locally Sourced News | An Appen Media Group Publication | Volume 1, No. 13

solicitation. All data believed to be accurate but not warranted. Equal housing opportunity. If you have an existing brokerage relationship, this is not intended as a solicitation. All data believed to be accurate but not warranted.

California, formed in 1988. They are best known for their platinum-selling 1999 power-pop punk album “A Place in the Sun” and its massive hit single “My Own Worst Enemy.” The band is set to headline the main stage Friday night at 8 p.m. In addition to Lit, the family-friendly festival features music all day long across multiple stages, an artist market with more than 80 vendors and a Kids Zone.

By HAYDEN SUMLIN hayden@appenmedia.com

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Billboard Music Award winner to headline Sandy Springs fest By HAYDEN SUMLIN hayden@appenmedia.com

See REFINE, Page 17

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