Issuu

Real Estate Reinvented

Presidental Hotel at Spaghetti Junction to be redeveloped ► PAGE 2

770.605.7545 | Together, Opening Doors

October 1, 2026 | AppenMedia.com | An Appen Media Group Publication | Ser ving the community since 1976

RESCUE MISSION

Dunwoody buildings housing State Farm offices for sale By HANNAH YAHNE hannah@appenmedia.com

BAGEL RESCUE/PROVIDED

Members of the Young Men’s Service League’s Brookhaven chapter lift bags of sorted bagels. Bagel Rescue will donate the bagels to its partner agencies in the area.

Nonprofit turns leftover bagels into a lifeline By HANNAH YAHNE hannah@appenmedia.com

STIEGLITZ

DUNWOODY, Ga. — Since founding Bagel Rescue in 2021, Erin Stieglitz has connected strangers in what she calls an “epic web of goodness” one bagel at a time. The concept is simple: volun-

teers collect unsold baked goods from local businesses and deliver them to housing shelters and food banks. But Bagel Rescue wasn’t always a nonprofit organization partnered with 88 restaurants and 175 receiving agencies across six states. It started during COVID-19

when Stieglitz wanted to bring a bagel breakfast to Northside Hospital employees. Her son called their favorite bagel shop – Goldbergs Fine Foods – and asked the manager if they would help. He agreed.

See BAGELS, Page 16

#1 TEAM COMPANYWIDE 2025 THE ROBIN BLASS GROUP

Atlanta Perimeter Office | 4848 Ashford Dunwoody Road, Atlanta, GA 30338 | HarryNorman.com | (D) 404-495-8233 (O) 770-394-2131 | Harry Norman, REALTORS® is an exclusive member of Forbes Global Properties in Georgia. Forbes® is a registered trademark used under license.

DUNWOODY, Ga. — State Farm’s Southeast hub, occupying two buildings in Dunwoody’s Park Center campus, is for sale amid discussions about increasing returnto-work requirements for the company’s nearly 7,000 Atlanta-based employees. Dunwoody’s Economic Development Director Michael Starling said the sale of the nearly 1.1 million-square-foot office buildings does not affect State Farm’s employment at the campus or its ongoing operations in the city. The sales price was not publicly available. Starling said the company’s building lease extends beyond 2035. More than $500 million in rent payments remain, according to the Atlanta Business Chronicle. State Farm partnered with KDC Real Estate Development and Investments to construct the three buildings on the corner of Hammond Drive N.E. and Perimeter Center Parkway N.E. starting in 2014. The 17-acre Park Center campus was completed in 2021 with direct access to the Dunwoody transit station, and State Farm secured long-term leases on Buildings 2 and 3 as they were completed. KDC purchased all three buildings in 2022 and has rezoning approval for a fourth site that would feature residential units, offices and hotels. That project has not yet moved forward.

45+ YEARS IN ATLANTA

2 | October 1, 2026 | Dunwoody Crier | AppenMedia.com/Dunwoody

NEWS

770-442-3278 AppenMedia.com 319 N. Main Street Alpharetta, GA 30009 HANS APPEN Publisher DICK WILLIAMS Publisher Emeritus CONTACT NEWS TIPS Contact reporters directly or send story ideas to newsroom@appenmedia.com. LETTERS, EVENTS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS Send your letters, events and community news to newsroom@appenmedia.com. See appenmedia.com/submit for more guidance. ADVERTISING For information about advertising in the Dunwoody Crier or other Appen Media properties, email advertising@appenmedia.com or call 770-442-3278. CIRCULATION To start, pause or stop delivery of this newspaper, email circulation@appenmedia.com or call 770-442-3278.

DEKALB COUNTY/PROVIDED

The planned redevelopment of the long-vacant Presidential Hotel at Spaghetti Junction is moving forward with plans to transform it into nearly 300 apartments.

Presidential Hotel at Spaghetti Junction will be redeveloped

RESS NP

UB CL

APPE

By DYANA BAGBY dyana@appenmedia.com

appenmedia.com/join

DEKALB COUNTY, Ga. — The planned redevelopment of the long-vacant 14-story Presidential Hotel near the interchange of Interstates 85 and 285 into an apartment tower is moving forward. DeKalb County officials have issued a land disturbance permit for the site at 4001 Presidential Parkway. Vacant for more than a decade, the hulking, empty building has long been considered an eyesore at the highly visible Spaghetti Junction. Aramar Investments LLC, an Atlanta-based multifamily investment and operations firm, plans to transform the tower into 282 marketrate residences through a complete interior renovation. The $53.3 million adaptive reuse project would include studio, one-bedroom and two-bedroom apartments, as well as four penthouse residences. The property will become fully residential, according to county officials. “This permit represents meaningful progress toward transforming one of DeKalb County’s most visible vacant

properties into a productive residential community,” DeKalb County CEO Lorraine Cochran-Johnson said in a news release. “The Presidential Tower redevelopment reflects our commitment to working with the private sector to address longstanding challenges, attract responsible investment and bring new housing opportunities to our county,” she said. “This is another example of how we are reimagining DeKalb and creating a stronger future for the people we serve.” Built in 1973 as the Presidential Hotel, the distinctive cylindrical tower became a landmark at Tom Moreland Interchange, known as Spaghetti Junction. Officials estimate that more than 426,700 vehicles pass the site each day. “Redeveloping this highly visible property will turn a longstanding challenge into a productive asset for DeKalb County,” said Jacob Vallo, DeKalb County chief development officer. “The project represents a significant private investment and demonstrates the market’s confidence in DeKalb as a place to invest, develop and grow.”

The hotel closed in 1987 after 14 years of operation. It later reopened as the Ramada Perimeter Northeast, with its ground floor eventually converted into a nightclub. Other owners pursued mixed office and residential uses before the property became vacant in 2012. “What was once a significant eyesore at the gateway to DeKalb County along I-85 and I-285 north is ready for a new chapter,” said District 1 Commissioner Robert Patrick. “Over the past six years, I have remained laser-focused on developing market-friendly solutions to help move this redevelopment project forward,” Patrick added. “I am encouraged by this milestone and excited about what the redevelopment of this long-vacant property can mean for the surrounding community and the future of DeKalb County.” The proposed redevelopment spans approximately seven acres and 150,000 square feet of building space. Plans call for 76 studio residences, 150 one-bedroom residences, 52 two-bedroom residences and four penthouses. The existing reinforcedconcrete structure has been gutted in preparation for a complete renovation.

AppenMedia.com/Dunwoody | Dunwoody Crier | October 1, 2026 | 3

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NEWS

4 | October 1, 2026 | Dunwoody Crier | AppenMedia.com/Dunwoody

PROVIDED

A map showing that, as of Sept. 23, there have been 14 mosquitos identified with West Nile Virus since July in DeKalb County. dunwoodyga.gov | 4800 Ashford Dunwoody Rd., Dunwoody GA 30338 | 678.382.6700 dunwoodyga.gov | 4800 Ashford Dunwoody Rd., Dunwoody GA 30338 | 678.382.6700

October Highlights

Spruill Center for the Arts

Create Dunwoody at Williamsburg Shopping Center | 10 a.m. - 2 p.m.

3-18 “Ripcord” 6 Art Commission Meeting

Mainstage | Stage Door Theatre City Hall | 7:30 a.m.

Coffee with a Cop

Target Ashford Lane | 8 - 10 a.m.

Committee 8 Sustainability Meeting City Hall | 8 a.m.

Pizza with Police

Brook Run Park Great Lawn 6 - 8 p.m.

10 Ride and Seek

Public Art Bike Tour Brook Run Park | 10 a.m.

Master Gardener Talk: Fall is for Planting

Brook Run Park Greenhouse | 11 a.m.

Groovin’ on the Green

Slippery When Wet and HeyDreamer Brook Run Park Amphitheater | 6 - 9 p.m.

12 City Hall closed

13 City Council Meeting 15 Development Authority Meeting 20 Planning Commission Meeting 22 Community Scavenger Hunt 24 Halloween Farm Festival 26 City Council Meeting 29 Truck or Treat City Hall | 6 p.m.

City Hall | 5 p.m. City Hall | 6 p.m.

Vintage Pizzeria | 6:30 p.m.

Donaldson-Bannister Farm | noon - 6 p.m. City Hall | 6 p.m.

Brook Run Park 5 - 7 p.m.

Green Speak Series

OCT 29

City Hall | 6 p.m.

Regenerative Landscaping Dunwoody Nature Center | 6 p.m.

Municipal Court Amnesty Months

Gr��vin’

October | November 2026

OCT 10

1 Zoning Board of Appeals 2-3 Ceramic Bowl Sale 3 Explorefest

ON THE GREEN CONCERT SERIES

More mosquitos test positive for West Nile in DeKalb County By JIM BASS jim@appenmedia.com DEKALB COUNTY, Ga. — DeKalb Public Health has discovered several more mosquitos testing positive for West Nile virus across DeKalb County. According to a news release from Sept. 23, lab-confirmed positive cases have been picked up from Lithonia, Stonecrest, Tucker, Chamblee and unincorporated parts of DeKalb County including Belvedere Park and CandlerMcAfee. These findings add to confirmed positive cases in Brookhaven and North Decatur. In total, 14 mosquito surveillance trap locations have tested positive in various areas of DeKalb since July. Mosquitoes spread the virus. No human cases of West Nile Virus infection have been confirmed in DeKalb County. According to the Georgia Department of Health, one death from West Nile Virus has been reported and eight human cases have been confirmed in the state with the number expected to increase. Mosquito season lasts until October and the state department urged residents to protect themselves from

mosquito bites. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, about 2,000 people in the United States are diagnosed with West Nile each year, but that number is an undercount due to most infected individuals being asymptomatic. Symptoms include fever, headache, body aches, vomiting, diarrhea or rash. Severe illness can affect the central nervous system and result in hospitalization or death, according to the CDC. Elderly residents, individuals with compromised immune systems and those with other underlying medical conditions are at greater risk for severe complications from the West Nile Virus, including central nervous system infection. DeKalb Public Health recommends people to eliminate sources of standing water in their yards, and use EPAregistered insect repellents containing DEET (20%-30%), Picaridin, IR3535 or Oil of Lemon Eucalyptus while outside. To protect from mosquito bites, DPH also said to wear light-colored clothing, including loose fitting long sleeves, pants and socks.

Puzzles

ier 8/7/25 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 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!

Dunwoody Crier....................................October 1, 2026 | 5

Dunwoody Crier 8/7/25 Crossword

CITIES OF THE WORLD 1. City in Montana. Hurry up. Like a beaver. 2. Edible mushroom. Sheik’s bevy. City in Peru. 3. Swiss city. Bird of prey. Genre of music. 4. Gambling game. City in Belarus. Like a sheep. 5. City in Utah. Disney dog. Miserly. 6. Baby’s bed. Malian city. Spill the beans. 7. Beach sight. Fertile track in a desert. City in North Dakota. PuzzleJunction.com

2 3

/14/25 Sudoku7

World Cities 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, soaon. The connecting letter is outlined, giving you the correct number of letters for each 1. Montana city. Hurry up. and Like beaver. 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 the puzzle, line. Sheik’s But each here’srow, the catch! Theand clues are not in order - so the first clue in Line 1 may (or may not) actually 2. Edible bevy. City of Peru. Tothe solve themushroom. Sudoku column be formust the second or the thirdnumbers answer in 1that line. Got it? Good luck! box contain to 9. 3. Swiss city. Bird of prey. Music genre.

4. Gambling game. City of Belarus. Like a sheep.

5. Utah city. Disney dog. Miserly.

3 5

6. Baby’s bed. City of Mali. Spill the beans. 7. Beach sight. Fertile track in a desert. North Dakota city.

9 9 3

7 1

7 4 1 6

5 3 9 2 7 6

6 5

9 8

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

3 4 2 7 6 5 9 8 1

7 8 1 3 9 4 2 5 6

8 1 6 9 3 2 5 4 7

2 7 4 5 8 1 6 3 9

9 3 5 4 7 6 1 2 8

1 Comic Sandler 5 Nabokov novel 8 Destiny 12 Fight decisions 14 Peddle 16 Food thickener 17 Stave off 18 Roof overhang 19 Water stoppers 20 School assignment 22 Fissure 24 Three-way joint 25 Sandusky’s county 27 Ransacker 29 Waterford lass 32 Psyche 33 Aphrodite’s lover 34 First name in jeans 37 Choler 41 Came across 42 Looks up to 44 Sugary drink 45 Conundrum 47 Wild oxen 48 Auxiliary 49 Irritation 51 Nonstop 53 London attraction 56 Residence hall 57 Preceded 58 Resting on 60 Nonpoetic writing 63 Mishmash 65 Pitfall 67 Pontificate 69 Swill 70 Discharge 71 Fit for a king 72 Paving stone 73 Menu words 74 Plaything

8 15

21 25

22 26

23 27

51 55

58 64

69 72

56 59

60 66

61 67

4 6 7 1 5 3 8 9 2

62 68

71 73

Down 1 Wanted-poster letters 2 ‘93 Kevin Kline comedy 3 Some votes 4 Crumbs 5 Caesar’s hello 6 Letter opener 7 Blacksmith’s block 8 Craze 9 Banded stone 10 Circus performer 11 Highlands tongue 13 Rubberneck

15 Roxana author 21 Traffic sign 23 Cloaks 26 Hostile force 28 Heavy weight 29 Tastelessly funny 30 Popular cookie 31 Leases 35 ___ Appia 36 Annoyed 38 Acquire 39 Mythology anthology 40 Quaint dance 42 Curacao neighbor

43 Bar in court 46 Physics unit 48 Type of car 50 Actress Davis of Mr. Skeffington 52 Trial’s partner 53 Scarlett O’Hara, e.g. 54 Dimwit 55 Bellini opera 57 Red ink amount 59 Beach item 61 Palm starch 62 List abbr. 64 Choose 66 Educ. group 68 Building wing

See puzzle solutions on Page 20

What do you want to know about the community?

1 9 3 8 2 7 4 6 5

Solution on next page

5 2 8 6 4 9 7 1 3

24 28

ASK APPEN

Solution 6 5 9 2 1 8 3 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.

Across

PuzzleJunction.com

Submit questions at appenmedia.com/ask or scan QR code.

COMMUNITY

6 | October 1, 2026 | Dunwoody Crier | AppenMedia.com/Dunwoody

Georgia Knows Media training open to community groups ATLANTA — The Georgia chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists is rolling out its Georgia Knows Media education program to community organizations across the state. Groups can now request SPJ Georgia’s free training, which helps Georgians combat false and misleading information while also building trust between communities and their newsrooms. The training — which can be delivered through online or in-person formats — is provided by volunteer facilitators, including journalists, journalism educators and certified community members. Participants will leave the training, which runs for about an hour, with

practical tools to evaluate news sources and recognize misinformation. They will also have a better understanding of the editorial process and the SPJ Code of Ethics followed by professional journalists. Attendees will receive a certificate of completion and the resources needed to provide their own Georgia Knows Media sessions to friends, family members and other groups. “Our program’s goal is to give people tools to figure out ‘what’s real’ in today’s confusing media landscape, which is full of AI slop and false information,” said Joshua Wilson, the chapter’s vice president and media literacy chair. Wilson is also the managing editor of

Appen Media Group, which owns seven newspapers and numerous digital news properties in metro Atlanta. Learn more SPJ Georgia will host an online

Georgia Knows Media session from 6-7:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 15. After the training, there will be time for questions about the program. To register and receive the link to the Zoom session, email spjgeorgia@ gmail.com. Community organizations can also email the chapter to request their own training, but groups are advised to do so at least 30 days in advance of any event. SPJ Georgia is also seeking sponsors interested in helping expand the program. Email the chapter to learn more about those opportunities. For more information, visit spjgeorgia. com/gkm. — Hannah Yahne

Children’s ranked No. 1 pediatric hospital in Southeast ATLANTA — Children's Healthcare of Atlanta has been ranked as the No. 1 pediatric hospital in the Southeast and Georgia, landing itself among the nation’s top pediatric hospitals for 2026-27 on the U.S. News & World Report Best Children’s Hospitals list. The report ranks hospitals for excellence in outcomes, program structure and national reputation in 11 pediatric specialty areas, with the

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AppenMedia.com/Dunwoody | Dunwoody Crier | October 1, 2026 | 7

GFWC Dunwoody Woman’s Club

Thank you to our 53rd Annual Dunwoody Home Tour Sponsors Friday, October 2, 2026

Diamond Sponsors Appen Media / Dunwoody Crier Dentistry with a Difference Rachel Provow, HOME Real Estate Linda Mote Friday, October 2 10-2 pm

In Loving Memory of Nancy D’Ardenne

Gold Sponsors Jane L. Boney ~ Susan and Dohrm Crawford Dunwoody Fine Art Association Dunwoody Gallery ~ Dunwoody Nature Center E. 48th Street Market ~ Face Haven Fitness Together ~ Donna and Tom Fullilove H&A International Jewelry Ltd. Josephine’s Antiques & Fine Linens Judy & Grace Boutique ~ Terry and Alan Kemp LookinGood Hair Salon ~ Rita Lynch Maximos Gyro & Kabobs ~ Monterey Wealth Dr. James Reilly, DDS Stage Door Theatre ~ Vintage Pizzeria Silver Sponsors Judy and Paul Bertrand ~ Martha Blondheim Budget Upholstery ~ The Capital Grille Carol Ciepluch ~ Sharon and Tom Clark Lori and Nicholas Desoutter Dunwoody Village Ace Hardware Judie Erickson ~ Funwoody Restaurants Deborah Gault ~ Prelude Bookstore Barbara and Jay Pryor Vicki and Bruce Strahan ~ Pat Troxel

Platinum Sponsors Ken, Karen, Michael, and Walker Ashley in memory of Toine Ashley Maria and Tony Barnhart Faye and Steve Cashwell Beverly and James Clark Club Pilates Dunwoody Dunwoody Animal Medical Center Dunwoody Preservation Trust The Enchanted Forest ~ The Hanna Family Kerry Arias Team Realtors, Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Georgia Properties Donna and Greg Knowlton Jo Ann and Robert Kostkan Lauderhills Fine Jewelry Diane Norris ~ OnPoint Wealth Publix Super Markets Charities Jan Slater ~ Spruill Center for the Arts Thornton Law Firm Zurn Plumbing Service Friends of the Tour: Mary Jane and Todd Hollander ~ Kay Moe Novo Cucina ~ Anne Davenport ~ Sheila and Arif Jiwani Brenda and David Quickel ~ Pattie Simone and Rob Schreiner Shari and Steve Wassell

In gratitude to our in-kind and other contributors: Spruill Center for the Arts ~ Dunwoody Homeowners Association ~ The Enchanted Forest ~ Judy & Grace ~ Pat Fiorello ~ GoFar Atlanta Cart Rental ~ Mount Vernon Printing

8 | October 1, 2026 | Dunwoody Crier | AppenMedia.com/Dunwoody

COMMUNITY

Global Village Project expands space for refugee girls By JAMIE GODIN newsroom@appenmedia.com DECATUR, Ga. — When Ehsoe Moo first walked into Global Village Project as a student, she could not speak English. She remembers watching teachers speak to her and wanting to respond, but being unable to find the words. “It was scary since I didn’t know any English at the time,” Moo said. “In my heart, I want to say something to them, but I cannot.” What she could understand was how she was being treated. “I feel the love, the care of those teachers, and how they were very kind and nice to you,” she said. “I feel a sense of belonging.” Years later, Moo is back at the school, this time as a teaching assistant helping girls who remind her of herself. “I feel like I’m the bridge between the student and the teacher,” she said. She is also part of what Global Village Project hopes to make possible for more girls as the school begins its first year on a new permanent campus at 2135 Shamrock Drive. Global Village Project is a tuitionfree nonprofit school for refugee girls who have experienced significant interruptions in their education. The

JAMIE GODIN/APPEN MEDIA

Blessing, 15, left, teaching assistant Ehsoe Moo, center, and Jeanine, 17, work together at a table at Global Village Project’s new campus in Decatur. Global Village Project permits current students to be identified by first name only under its media consent policy. school plans to gradually increase enrollment from about 45 students to roughly 100 over the next three years as it grows into the new campus. This year, students range in age from 11 to 19, with an average age of about 13, and come from 10 countries. They have generally been in the United States

for less than three years and have missed between three and six years of school, Global Village Director of Development Lane Strickland said. The school previously operated out of Decatur Presbyterian Church, where space limited enrollment to about 45 students. Strickland said Global Village Project was turning away an average of about 44 percent of applicants because it did not have enough room. This year, Head of School Allison Ezell said the school received 48 applications and admitted 18 new students. “Even in the first week of school, I had three families still just come and walk in the door and say, ‘Here’s my daughter,’” Ezell said. That demand reflects the gap Global Village Project is designed to address: refugee girls with interrupted formal education who may be placed in traditional schools by age despite having very different academic needs. Rather than using traditional sixth, seventh and eighth grades, Global Village Project organizes students into three academic levels called forms. “We pick the girls with the highest needs,” Strickland said during a tour of the new campus. “The girls who are like, ‘No, miss, only know my ABCs,’ or can’t do a math test.” All teachers at the school are certified in English for Speakers of Other Languages, or ESOL, and English-language instruction is incorporated across subjects. The school’s model includes science, technology, engineering, arts and math (STEAM) education, social-emotional learning, and a mentorship program that continues helping students as they transition into public high schools and, later, college and careers.

Building a community That individualized approach is especially visible in Form One, where teacher Johna Meldau works with some of the school’s newest students. “I allow them a lot of movement because they’re not used to sitting at a desk for eight hours a day,” Meldau said. “I want to encourage them to build community with their peers as well. Building community is a big part of our school.” The classroom is deliberately colorful and flexible, Meldau said. Some students may be 15 or 16 while still learning to read independently in English. That same approach extends to the library, where books are organized by reading ability while still offering age-appropriate material for teenage beginning readers. “She doesn’t want to read ‘Duck Duck Goose,’” Strickland said of an older student learning to read. “We have really specific books that are for someone more advanced in their socialemotional learning, but also learning English.” The school incorporates traumainformed practices into its classrooms. Lamps are often used instead of bright overhead lights, students can step away when overwhelmed and teachers make time to talk through difficult emotions. Meldau said that can include forms of comfort some schools might avoid, including hugs. For her, it is part of providing the “attention, love, support, comfort and safety” some students need after experiencing war, displacement and resettlement. At the same time, she said, teachers work to encourage creativity, independence and the ability to speak up. “Think outside the box and use your voice,” Meldau said. “We’re not destined for one path in life.” That emphasis on education as a source of independence also resonates personally with Board Chair Morli Desai. Desai said her maternal grandmother grew up in British India, where schools were available for boys but not girls. Her grandmother nevertheless learned to read and later made education a priority for her children. Those children became the first generation in the family to attend college and later immigrated, Desai said. “I see that in these girls, where they are the ripple effect for their families, for their families’ families, for their kids and their generation,” Desai said. The new campus gives Global Village Project more room to expand that work.

See PROJECT, Page 19

PAST TENSE

OPINION

AppenMedia.com/Dunwoody | Dunwoody Crier | October 1, 2026 | 9

The congregation of Prospect Methodist Church in Chamblee gathered in 1926 to celebrate the church centennial.

CHAMBLEE FIRST UNITED METHODIST ARCHIVES/PROVIDED

Chamblee First United Methodist Church celebrates bicentennial On Oct. 3 and 4, 2026, Chamblee First United Methodist Church will hold a bicentennial celebration weekend. The bicentennial logo VALERIE BIGGERSTAFF for the church summarizes the Columnist history with four words, “Deeply rooted, ever growing.” Two hundred years ago, a group of settlers founded Prospect Methodist Episcopal Church in what would later become known as Chamblee. In the early years, they met in homes or shared space with a neighbor church, Prosperity Presbyterian. Before the 1820s, the land that is Chamblee and DeKalb County was once home to the Muscogee Nation, sometimes referred to as the Creek. The Land Lottery of 1821 allowed for certain people to draw in a lottery for 202 ½ acres after the Muscogee were forcibly removed from their land. Twenty-four-year-old Benjamin T Watkins of Oglethorpe, Ga. purchased Land Lot 309 in the Lottery. That lot would become part of Chamblee, including the home of Prospect Methodist Church. (“First United

Methodist Church, Chamblee, Ga.,1826-1976”) The first Prospect building was a split-log house where the Shallow Ford crossing met Peachtree Road. The next church was built in 1847. The building was “…of frame construction, weatherboarded with rough boards, had simple windows, and apparently no ceiling. There was no stove or fireplace for heating.” (“History of Prospect Methodist Episcopal Church” by S. T. McElroy) The church had two front doors, a common practice for the time. The men entered the door on the right and sat on the right side of the church, while the women entered and sat on the left with their children. A warranty deed for 2 ½ acres was executed in 1851 by John Y. Flowers, serving as executor of the estate of John W. Reeves. The deed listed Samuel House, Stephen Tilly, Alfred T. H. Pool, and Jabez M. Loyd as trustees for the church. With the arrival of the railroad, changes came to Chamblee and Prospect saw the need for a new church building. A new structure was built in 1885, still with two front doors. Prospect Methodist Church continued at this location, 5706 Peachtree Road until 1966. The building still stands. Seeing the need for a new and larger church home, 38 acres of land was

purchased on Chamblee Dunwoody Road. A ground-breaking ceremony for First United Methodist Church of Chamblee at 4147 Chamblee Dunwoody Road was held on April 18, 1965. The church opened its doors in 1967 at 4147 Chamblee Dunwoody Road. (“First United Methodist Church, Chamblee Georgia 1827-1976”) This property was part of 1100 acres purchased by William R. Wallace, a Confederate veteran, soon after the Civil War ended. He operated a sawmill on the west side of the road. The Wallace family were active members of Prospect Church. Later, the land became part of Dr. Luther Fischer’s estate known as Flowerland. The bicentennial celebration will include tours of Prospect Methodist Cemetery on Oct. 3 beginning at 10 a.m. The historic cemetery is located behind the old Prospect Church building. Sunday Oct. 4 will be Heritage Day at the church. A ministry open house will be held at 12:30 p.m. The sanctuary will open at 1:30 p.m. and worship service will be at 2 p.m. There will be a barbecue supper on the grounds at 4 p.m. Heritage Hall, the church’s amazing display of church history and photographs, will be open to visitors. Former and current members, neighbors and those who want to

know more about the church are all welcome to attend. Visit chambleeumc. org/chamblee-first-umc-bicentennial for more information, to sign up for a cemetery tour and to RSVP for Sunday’s events. A new bicentennial book includes church and community history, telling the story from the early days of Prospect to today’s Chamblee First UMC. The book, written by Dr. Ray Dunahoo and Rob Suggs, honors the history of the church and the city of Chamblee. The efforts of several church members and employees made the book possible. It is available for purchase on the website. Thank you to Linda King, director of hospitality and membership at Chamblee First United Methodist Church, for sharing her knowledge and the church archives. Looking to the future, the Chamblee Rail Trail will cross the front lawn of the church. CFUMC sees this as an opportunity to continue to welcome neighbors and serve those in need, just as they have for 200 years. Award-winning author Valerie Biggerstaff is a longtime columnist for Appen Media and the Dunwoody Crier. She lives in Atlanta. Write her at pasttensega@gmail.com. Learn more at pasttensega.com.

10 | October 1, 2026 | Dunwoody Crier | AppenMedia.com/Dunwoody

COMMUNITY

A demonstrator standing near Plaza Fiesta in Chamblee points a sign protesting federal immigration policies toward Buford Highway during a Sept. 20 rally. The University of Georgia chapter of the Lambda Theta Phi Latino fraternity organized the rally with support from 50501 Georgia.

Students rally at Plaza Fiesta against immigration policies By DEAN HESSE dean@appenmedia.com CHAMBLEE, Ga. — Students and community members gathered outside Plaza Fiesta on Buford Highway in Chamblee on Sunday, Sept. 20, to protest current immigration policies and call for recognition of the Latino community. The event fell during Hispanic Heritage Month, which runs Sept. 15 to Oct. 15. The event, called Aquí Estamos, or “we are here,” was organized by the University of Georgia chapter of Lambda Theta Phi Latino fraternity. Chapter President Jorge Escalera Valenzuela said it was meant to show solidarity against what he called a “humanitarian crisis.” The fraternity partnered with 50501 Georgia, which helped with permitting and safety. “We’re putting our own communities and our own families at risk just for the sake of a certain individual who doesn’t perceive you as human,” he said. “They don’t see you as part of the community.” Escalera Valenzuela moved to the U.S. as a child and became a citizen last year. He said immigration enforcement isn’t strictly a partisan issue, but it has become more frightening. “I’ve seen friends whose family members have been

deported,” he said. He pointed to the deportation of Luis Andrade, a fraternity brother at Texas Christian University, to El Salvador as a pivotal moment for the organization. He said holding the protest at Plaza Fiesta underscores how much Hispanic communities contribute to the economy. Alan Sosa, 22, a recent UGA graduate, said the fraternity’s mission continues after graduation. “Our values and our mission have always been to support our community, embrace our culture and enhance the next generation,” he said. “Even though it’s hot, even though there are so few of us, we still have voices.” Sosa said his father was arrested and deported by ICE agents in Florida when he was 4. “I just want you to imagine for a moment a four-year-old little boy lost in a store desperately looking for his father,” he said. “I don’t want you to feel sorry for me. I had a great life. My mom gave me and my sister a beautiful life, filled with love and perseverance.” His mother left Guatemala hoping for freedom and opportunity, he said. “She called it the American dream.” “What I want to see is more acceptance of the community,” Sosa said.

“My desire, ultimately, is that people can love each other.” “ICE has done so much damage to immigrants, and it just keeps ramping up,” said Bernard, who held a sign reading “Pro-America, Anti-Trump.” “If we don’t push back, it will keep growing.” Jenny, a volunteer with 50501 Georgia who declined to give her last name, said the group wants Latino neighbors to know they have support. “They have been under attack by our administration and by ICE, and we need to make sure that they know that we are here for them,” she said. She said the group is calling on local and federal leaders to follow the law. “We’re here to hold people accountable, particularly the leaders in our government who are abusing their power,” she said. Forest Park City Councilmember Hector Gutierrez, a veteran, told the students the community must keep organizing for those who cannot speak for themselves. “As Americans, we have to hold our country accountable,” he said. “We’re the children of immigrants, and this country was built by immigrants.” UGA student Stephanie Rios, a Mexican American, said ICE was founded

in 2003 to protect national security but has become a force policing families. She cited the agency’s growing budget. “The idea of profit over people has allowed the system to grow unchecked, and it’s time we hold our leaders accountable,” she said. Rios said her parents came to the U.S. in 2002 on worker visas. “They did everything they were told,” she said. “They got lawyers. They renewed their visas. They paid their taxes and never so much as got a parking ticket.” It still took 20 years for them to become citizens, she said, and they lived in fear of being deported and separated from their three daughters. “Immigrants and their children are your neighbors, colleagues and coworkers,” Rios said. Jenny encouraged attendees to vote, noting that early voting begins in midOctober. “Check your registration. Make sure you know your polling location,” she said. More information is available at 50501ga.org. Georgia voter registration status can be checked at mvp.sos.ga.gov/s/. — Photos by Dean Hesse

COMMUNITY

AppenMedia.com/Dunwoody | Dunwoody Crier | October 1, 2026 | 11

Demonstrators protest immigration policies during a rally outside Plaza Fiesta on Buford Highway in Chamblee on Sept. 20. The University of Georgia chapter of Lambda Theta Phi Latino fraternity organized the rally with support from 50501 Georgia.

The University of Georgia chapter of Lambda Theta Phi Latino fraternity organized a rally outside Plaza Fiesta on Buford Highway in Chamblee on Sunday, Sept. 20, to protest current immigration policies. About two dozen students and supporters including 50501 Georgia attended.

A demonstrator holds a Mexican flag and a sign toward Buford Highway during a rally outside Plaza Fiesta in Chamblee on Sept. 20. The University of Georgia chapter of Lambda Theta Phi Latino fraternity organized the rally with support from 50501 Georgia. to protest immigration policies.

Vi leads a chant during a rally outside Plaza Fiesta in Chamblee on Sept. 20, organized by the University of Georgia chapter of Lambda Theta Phi Latino fraternity with support from 50501 Georgia to protest current immigration policies.

A demonstrator holds a sign during a rally protesting immigration policies outside Plaza Fiesta in Chamblee on Sept. 20. The University of Georgia chapter of Lambda Theta Phi Latino fraternity organized the rally with support from 50501 Georgia.

12 | Dunwoody Crier | October 1, 2026

Sponsored Section

ISTOCK

Take control of your next remodel Brought to you by – Bath and Kitchen Galleria For decades, the relationship between homeowners and the home improvement industry has been defined by friction and unfulfilled expectations. While technology has revolutionized sectors like retail and banking, residential remodeling remains stubbornly resistant to progress. Year -after -year, consumer protection agencies report the same reality: home improvement ranks near the top of consumer complaint lists. According to John Hogan, president of Alpharetta based Bath and Kitchen Galleria, “there are 3 main causes and there is a 5 step process to fix this. • The overwhelmed contractor: The vast majority of remodeling businesses employ fewer than five people. The person swinging the hammer is often the same person

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REAL ESTATE REPORT • Sponsored Section

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14 | October 1, 2026 | Dunwoody Crier | AppenMedia.com/Dunwoody

REAL ESTATE REPORT • Sponsored Section

Does an LLC or Corporate protect all of your assets? Brought to you by – Holly Geerdes Estates Law Center USA No, and this is one of the most common misunderstandings I see. An LLC or corporation is not a blanket shield. It HOLLY GEERDES separates your Estate Law Center USA Top 5% Super Lawyer in Georgia personal assets from what happens inside the LLC. If you are sued over something related to your LLC's business, the person suing you generally cannot reach your personal bank account or home, only what is inside the LLC or corporation. That protection is valuable, but it has limits. The piggy bank problem The protection disappears if you treat the LLC or corporation like a personal piggy bank. If a lawsuit

happens and someone finds dinners out, personal purchases, or anything not genuinely business related, that blurred line can strip away the protection the LLC was supposed to give you. An LLC or corporation only protects you when it is run like a real, separate business, with its own bank account, clean records, and a clear line between company money and your money. What an LLC or Corporation doesn't protect Even a well-run LLC or corporation won't cover everything. If you personally cause harm, such as being at fault in a car accident on a business errand, you can still be held responsible. If you signed a personal guarantee on a loan or lease, your personal assets are on the line. And the LLC or corporation does nothing to protect your personal assets from lawsuits unrelated to the business.

commingle a dollar often overlook this. Keeping finances separate protects you during your lifetime, but it does nothing to transfer your company when you die. If your ownership interest is in your individual name, it will typically go through probate, a public, court-supervised process that can be lengthy and costly. Decisionmaking can freeze and access to business accounts can be delayed while payroll and vendors still need to be paid. This is true even if you own the company with your spouse or children, because each owner's share passes through that person's own estate. A will doesn't solve it either, since a will is carried out through probate. Even worse you haven't done any succession planning to prevent litigation and fighting over control over the company and distribution of income and profits between family members.

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SPORTS

AppenMedia.com/Dunwoody | Dunwoody Crier | October 1, 2026 | 15

ST. PIUS X BASKETBALL/PROVIDED

St. Pius X senior basketball players assemble at a preseason game. The group is prepared to defend their state title this year after going undefeated last season.

Golden Lions basketball ready to defend state title By ANNABELLE REITER annabelle@appenmedia.com ATLANTA, Ga. — After losing seven seniors and four starters to graduation last year, the St. Pius X Golden Lions are prepared to surprise everyone with how they will bounce back this season. The lone returning starter, guard Max Etienne, committed to a top Division II schools earlier this month when he posted on Instagram his intent to attend the University of North Georgia. He will wear championship MVP Harris Reynolds’ former No. 2 for the Golden Lions this year. The team made program history last season when they completed their undefeated record by defeating Pace Academy 54-51 in Macon and secured the school’s first basketball championship. Head coach Will Cloyd is a 2008 graduate of the school and a former student reporter for the Dunwoody Crier covering sports. Cloyd is now

in his third year leading the varsity basketball team and shared with Appen Media his perspective on how the team has been coming along. “My goal every year for us is to reach our potential, and I think these guys are going to have great opportunities to do that,” he said. This year, they started up their offseason workouts after Memorial Day and attended the Wofford College team camp at the beginning of June. “Our first event was the Wofford camp, which is really great for just guys getting to spend quality time,” Cloyd said. “We also played some really good teams, and just got to spend time together, got to bond, and with so many new faces and so many guys in new roles, I really wanted those guys to understand that things are going to be different, and that’s okay. That’s totally fine, it’s part of the process.” Cloyd said the offseason “is all about working together in different stakes.” “Guys have different mentalities,

they have different roles,” he said. “They have different situations that they’re in, they may not have been in before. It’s a new team, no two teams are the same, every team is unique.” Cloyd said the senior class has capitalized on the chance to make a name and legacy for themselves. “I want to give these guys every opportunity to make this year special, because every senior has absolutely earned it,” he said. “I’ve known a lot of these kids since they were in fifth and sixth grade, and they have 100% earned the opportunity to put their stamp on this year and leave their legacy.” Before the school year started, the team was able to compete in several high-level state and regional events. They finished with a 5-3 record, and Cloyd said Etienne established himself then as a major threat. At the Georgia Basketball Coaches Association Live Period at LakePoint Sports in June, the team fell in a close 3-point game against another reigning

champion, 5A’s title holders Alexander. Next up for the Golden Lions is fall league at North Atlanta High which started several weeks ago. Cloyd said one reason the team is excited about this season is the new region shakeup, where Pius and Marist came into a region with Blessed Trinity, both of which are longtime private rivals of the Golden Lions. “Right now, there’s a lot of competition going on for minutes and for opportunities,” Cloyd said. “We lost a lot of guys, and some guys are really taking advantage of that, and I’m really excited for them to earn those minutes. They’ve had a taste for winning; they saw a group that did win a lot, and now they want to do it too.” Finally, the banners in the St. Pius X gymnasium are updated to reflect the championship from last season, filling a blank space that bothered Cloyd to his core. His players, he said, are determined to prove that last year was not a fluke.

16 | October 1, 2026 | Dunwoody Crier | AppenMedia.com/Dunwoody

Bagels:

COMMUNITY

Continued from Page 1 “I was really stunned by the hundreds of bagels that we picked up that day,” Stieglitz said. Stieglitz started collecting the eatery’s excess bagels and distributing them to frontline workers once a week during the 2020 holiday season. Other restaurants soon joined the cause. “[I wanted to do] just my little part in making things better … and bagels were the answer for me,” Stieglitz said. ‘Literally one relationship at a time’ Stieglitz and her friend, Amy Wilensky, worked together to find businesses where they could “rescue” excess bagels. So far, they have formed partnerships with 71 businesses in metro Atlanta. Stieglitz calls them her “bagel babies.” “Everything was built just piece by piece,” she said. “It was literally one relationship at a time.” The duo also recruited other volunteers, including Jake Greenfield, a recent Dunwoody High School graduate. He started volunteering with Bagel Rescue during his sophomore year. With his mom, he started picking up bags of bagels and delivering them to Stieglitz. Greenfield later struck up a conversation with Kristin HathawayHansen, executive director of The Rich’s Foundation. The Atlanta-based grantmaking organization supports nonprofits working in a variety of areas. During that chat, Greenfield said a “light bulb went off,” and he connected Stieglitz with the foundation. It later granted $25,000 to Bagel Rescue. That gift helped Bagel Rescue lease a delivery van and keep its work going. “I think there’s so many times in all of our lives … where we have a choice in that moment to put things together in our brains,” Stieglitz said. “What seems like such a small gesture made such a huge difference to Bagel Rescue.” An ‘opportunity to help’ As a junior, Greenfield took on an expanded role with Bagel Rescue and joined the nonprofit’s teen program alongside other high schoolers. The program gives teens a “behind-thescenes” look at running such an organization. The students recruit volunteers, lead delivery routes and facilitate community service projects, including making sandwiches and sorting deliveries. Greenfield said the best part of working with Bagel Rescue is seeing it grow throughout his hometown of Dunwoody. “It’s amazing we’re helping people,” Greenfield said. Dunwoody High senior Catherine Le,

PHOTOS BY BAGEL RESCUE/PROVIDED

Dunwoody High School students make sandwiches with bread donated to Bagel Rescue during a community service project. The nonprofit organization delivers the sandwiches to its receiving agencies.

Jake Greenfield stands with bagels he collected from a local business for Bagel Rescue while he was a student at Dunwoody High School. Greenfield started volunteering with the nonprofit organization as a sophomore and later joined its teen program. also the president of the school’s National Honor Society chapter, recently led one of Bagel Rescue’s sandwich-making projects. “We’ve worked with Bagel Rescue for a couple of years now,” Le said. “Their work and mission are admirable and something that we as an honor society are grateful to have the opportunity to work with.” Juliet Utreras, also a Dunwoody High senior, is a member of the nonprofit’s third teen group. She said the program gives young people a meaningful way to address food insecurity in their communities. “It’s hard when you’re a kid to

feel like you can actually make a meaningful impact or create change in the world, especially when you see people struggling,” Utreras said. “Bagel Rescue gave me the opportunity to help … to make a difference.” As president of the school’s Spanish National Honor Society, Utreras said she hopes to get its members more involved with Bagel Rescue in the future. ‘A huge impact, even with small things’ The nonprofit’s reach is steadily growing across the country. Volunteers have moved out of the Atlanta area and taken the mission with them.

In 2025, Bagel Rescue expanded to Birmingham, Alabama, as well as Raleigh, North Carolina, and Portland, Oregon. The group also operates in Nashville, Tennessee, and Alexandria, Virginia. “We identified those cities as cities that have bagels to donate … and also areas of need,” Stieglitz said. In its first five years, the nonprofit has kept more than 1.7 million pounds of baked goods — bagels, breads and pastries — out of landfills. Volunteers have helped deliver 30,000 meals a week, with more than 4.4 million items donated to the group. Corporations are also recognizing the impact of Stieglitz’s organization and helping to grow Bagel Rescue. The nonprofit partners with around 20 Einstein Bros. Bagels locations in metro Atlanta. The chain’s leadership recently connected Stieglitz with three locations in Birmingham. “I know we will continue to grow into new markets,” Stieglitz said. “It’s going to be where we have some strong leaders and where we recognize that that’s a good place for us to be.” Stieglitz said she looks back at the organization’s humble beginnings — with hundreds of bagels stuffed in freezers in her garage — and feels full of joy. “I feel so lucky to get to be doing what I’m doing, and I feel like it happened just at the right time of my life,” she said. “Bagels are small, but we’re trying to show people that you can make a huge impact, even with small things.” To learn more about Bagel Rescue or to get involved with the organization, visit bagelrescue.com.

OPINION

AppenMedia.com/Dunwoody | Dunwoody Crier | October 1, 2026 | 17

PICT RIDER/ISTOCK

Rage against the machine It is hard to know where to start. And maybe just simply, “rage” is the logical place. Road rage. AI rage. Political rage. Inflation rage. Clean air and water rage. Immigrant rage. RAY APPEN Food rage. Pesticide Publisher Emeritus ray@appenmedia.com rage. Vaccine rage. Wage rage. Facebook rage. School rage. Education rage. Gun rage. Screen rage. Social media rage. Tat rage. Home-school rage. Government rage. Regulation rage. War rage. Faith rage. Musk rage. Coal rage. EV rage. Waiting in line rage. Rage, rage, rage. Freaking exhausting. Meanwhile some go about their daily lives miffed that they have to wait an extra 30 seconds in the grocery store because the special-needs clerk moves too slow, or because someone can’t find their voucher to pay for food fast enough, or on the way to the grocery, that old guy slows down to enter the roundabout. Blast the horn. White knuckle-grip the steering wheel. Drop some F-bombs,

Rage – anger by another name – is something we live with day in and day out – to one degree or another...Rage perhaps is a manifestation of a sense of powerlessness – the feeling that you have no control over your life.” rage. Beat someone. Culture anger in a petri dish and make it grow. Only the petri dish is you. What is happening? Has it always been like this? Or is it business as usual but maybe wearing slightly different clothes? Life is hard, I know, but does it have to be this hard? I am not unhappy; why should anyone else be unhappy? I got mine; go out and work and get yours. Alarmist? Buzz-killer? Whiner? Bad attitude? Maybe. Probably. Bueller? My dad always used to say that “no news is good news.” Which is to say that at least nothing bad is happening. I suppose. But he saw bad stuff every day – day in and day out. He was a doctor in a small town with his own practice.

He saw a lot of sick people. Then, on weekends he would do a 24 hour shift in the ER. He saw even more sickness – a lot more. I always used to wonder how he could still function and see so many people hurting – so many people in pain – and still be able to smile or carry on a conversation with his children or wife – talk about history class, the recital, or her book club. Maybe he couldn’t. Maybe he was just pretending to be interested or care. Maybe he just blocked that part of his life out – compartmentalized it – so there was enough room left over for something positive – something affirming – something with light. But when you do that – when one isolates part of themselves from themselves – from the

inside and the outside world, what is left? Ah, there is the rub. Is it enough? Rage – anger by another name – is something we live with day in and day out – to one degree or another. Everyone has their own personal 24-hour ER shift of some kind and has to choose or find a path to deal with it. The “stuff” today is probably the same as the “stuff” in the past, but if there actually is a difference, it may be that much of life today is amplified — which makes it harder to escape or compartmentalize. That is, it is getting harder to believe that because life is not awful, that it is good. I am not sure how sustainable that path is. Rage perhaps is a manifestation of a sense of powerlessness – the feeling that you have no control over your life. As AI evolves – as technology takes an increasing role in our lives – in how the world around us works, is viewed, and communicated – it is hard to imagine our ability to cope with it all improves in any significant way although perhaps — just maybe — we can learn to find more balance in simple things – the arts, music, giving, sharing, helping, caring and faith. That wouldn’t change what we must cope with, but it might change how we nourish our souls and sustain ourselves.

18 | October 1, 2026 | Dunwoody Crier | AppenMedia.com/Dunwoody

GARDEN BUZZ

OPINION

How lasagna gardening saved my 81-year-old back I am too old to dig! After turning 81 this year, I have realized that digging garden beds is just about over for me. However, I still want to create new garden beds. For those with similar physical JUDY PEACOCK limitations, I found Guest Columnist a solution: lasagna gardening, also known as sheet-compost gardening. This is a “no-dig” gardening method. One area of my yard needed definition. I wanted to create a bed of various shrubs and flowers. But when I attempted to dig holes, I found that previous owners had put gravel there and grass had grown over it. Every hole I tried to dig was like excavating into cement. So, I thought a berm would be the solution, but building a berm would require a lot of soil. Upon doing some research, I discovered the concept of lasagna beds, which use layers of different compostable materials to build rich soil. Here is the process to implement a lasagna bed: • Clear the area: Remove large weeds and tall grasses from the footprint of your future bed. • Lay down cardboard: Gather enough cardboard to cover the entire spot. You can also use five to six layers of black-and-white newspaper. Avoid sections with color print. The cardboard smothers the grass and weeds, gradually breaks down to add carbon to the soil, and creates a cool, dark place for earthworms to congregate. Wetting the cardboard down helps hold it in place, but it is not required. • Add woody debris: Collect and cover the cardboard with fallen twigs and dead branches found around your property. • Layer the green waste: Collect grass clippings and add them to the pile. If your lawn has been treated with chemical herbicides, do not use the clippings. You can also mix kitchen scraps and coffee grounds directly into this layer. • Finish with topsoil: The final layer is made up of bags of topsoil and compost. Essentially, you are building a large compost pile shaped directly into a planting bed. A successful sheet-compost system relies on a specific ratio of three key components: • Two-thirds brown material (carbon):

BECK DIAMOND/PROVIDED

A chart showing the layers in lasagna gardening.

This week’s “Garden Buzz” guest columnist is Judy Peacock, a master gardener for fifteen years. A former resident of Atlanta now retired and living in Ellijay, GA., she graduated from the University of Georgia majoring in Art Education and has volunteered at the High Museum of Art in the Department of Children’s Education. Judy loves gardening and composing flower arrangements. She is a member of the Speakers Bureau of the North Fulton Master Gardeners.

Come visit us at the Alpharetta Farmers Market and the Sandy Springs Farmers Market. We will also have a booth at the Crabapple Festival in Milton on October 3, 2026. This includes cardboard, newspaper, shredded paper, dead leaves, straw, twigs, small sticks, wood ash or sawdust. • One-third green material (nitrogen): This includes untreated grass clippings, plant cuttings free of disease, and kitchen scraps like coffee grounds, eggshells, fruits and vegetables. Avoid meat or animal fats, which attract pests. • Water and air: Microorganisms need oxygen to breathe and water to digest materials. The pile must remain consistently moist, like a wrung-out sponge, but never soggy. Composting begins when microorganisms feed on the materials added to the compost pile. They use carbon and nitrogen to grow and reproduce, water to digest materials and oxygen to breathe. Planting and maintenance You can start a lasagna garden anytime, but the best time is in the fall, when brown leaves are abundant. Try to make the entire pile at least 3 feet tall since it will shrink to half that size as everything starts to decompose. Covering the pile with a tarp or black plastic helps prevent weed seeds from germinating,

JUDY PEACOCK/PROVIDED

Lasagna bed gardens supports plants and shrubs.

keeps heavy rains from washing away nutrients and traps heat to speed up the breakdown. When I was ready to plant, I added additional compost to each hole I dug as total breakdown had not yet occurred. The decomposition process is complete when the layers are indistinguishable. It typically takes six months to one year. I now have a pink weigela, pink quince and a viburnum growing nicely in this bed. I also added some bulbs and a pink Japanese anemone. I mulched the whole bed in pine straw. This fall, when the leaves begin to drop, I will sweep them into the bed to continue to build the soil. As the various elements break down into soil, I will top-dress with compost as I

would any of my garden beds. And again, cover the bed in pine straw to tidy it up. Best of all, as I age, I can keep creating new gardens without the backbreak. By letting nature's decomposers do the heavy lifting, lasagna gardening allows you to expand your landscape easily, one layer at a time. 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. Learn more at nfmg.net. Previous Garden Buzz columns are featured at https://appenmedia.com/ opinion/columnists/garden_buzz/.

AIKENOMICS

OPINION

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Washington stirs pot again, mortgage rates climb Just when it appeared tensions in the Persian Gulf might finally be cooling, Washington stirred the pot again. Fighting between the U.S. and Iran intensified, quickly D.C. AIKEN Guest Columnist sending oil prices dcaiken.com higher and once again, the bond and mortgage markets followed. We’ve seen this movie before. Whenever conflict escalates in the Middle East, financial markets immediately begin calculating the potential impact on the global oil supply. It doesn’t necessarily take an actual shortage to move prices. The possibility of disrupted production, shipping lanes or exports is often enough for traders to build a geopolitical “risk premium” into the price of a barrel of oil. And that matters far beyond what we pay at the gas pump. Oil is woven throughout the economy. Higher energy prices increase transportation,

Project: Continued from Page 8 For the first time, the school has its own auditorium, cafeteria, STEAM room and larger library, along with breakout rooms, dedicated guidedreading space and outdoor areas. Reaching the campus’ full capacity, however, will happen more gradually. Ezell said a school of 100 students will inevitably operate differently from one with 45. “We’ve got time to grow into that,” she said. The expansion will require additional teachers and staff, along with more formal systems as enrollment increases. Owning the campus also brings responsibilities the school did not have while renting space. “We’ve kind of gone from the renter to the homeowner,” Ezell said. “You realize that when the ceiling is leaking, oh, we have to fix that. We can’t just call downstairs.” The property is still a work in progress. Strickland said the school hopes to secure a grant for a playground and plans to develop additional outdoor space for activities such as soccer.

manufacturing, shipping and distribution costs. Airlines pay more for fuel. Trucking companies pay more for diesel. Manufacturers pay more to produce and transport goods. Eventually, some of those increased costs find their way to consumers. In other words: higher oil prices can mean higher inflation and inflation remains the bond market’s biggest enemy. When investors believe inflation may remain elevated, they typically demand higher yields to own longerterm bonds. That puts upward pressure on the 10-year Treasury yield, which is one of the most important benchmarks influencing mortgage rates. The chain reaction looks something like this: Persian Gulf tensions — higher oil prices — greater inflation concerns —higher Treasury yields — higher mortgage rates. Unfortunately, that chain reaction is playing out again. The average top-tier 30-year fixed mortgage has climbed to about 6.89%, its highest level since June 2025. We haven’t quite reached the June 2025 peak of roughly 6.97%, but we are getting uncomfortably close Sustaining that growth will depend on private support. Global Village Project does not charge tuition or receive local public education funding, Ezell said, relying instead on donations from individuals, corporations and foundations. As the school grows, leaders said they also want to preserve the small-school culture students have experienced at Global Village Project. “To have our dedicated space and to have the ability to kind of stretch out a little bit is such a gift,” Desai said. “We’ve got so much space now that it’s almost like, gosh, how do you keep the culture as cozy as possible?” Moo said that sense of closeness is something she remembers from her own time as a student. “When I see the students, I remember I was there in their shoes, too,” she said. “I feel I understand them more.” Returning as a teaching assistant has also given her a view of the work she never saw as a student, from teachers planning lessons to volunteers working individually with students and staff raising money to keep the school operating. “I never realized how patient the teachers are,” Moo said. Some students, she said, have never been to school, and explaining a new word or

Instead, mortgage rates are once again being influenced by events occurring thousands of miles away. That’s also why predicting where rates go from here is particularly difficult. A cooling of tensions and a retreat in oil prices could quickly provide some relief to bonds and mortgage rates. Additional escalation, however, could push oil higher and keep inflation fears and mortgage rates elevated. For buyers waiting for the “perfect” interest rate before purchasing a home, this is another reminder that the road to lower mortgage rates was never going to be a straight line. For now, keep one eye on the 10year Treasury and the other on the Persian Gulf. IMAGE PROVIDED TO APPEN MEDIA

to seeing a “7” in front of mortgage rates again. Perhaps the most frustrating part for homebuyers is that this latest move has very little to do with housing. Home prices didn’t suddenly surge. Mortgage demand didn’t suddenly explode. And the U.S. economy didn’t suddenly change overnight.

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. are, and they make you feel like you belong.” Moo choked up as she spoke about the people who had done that for her. “They want to see you win in life, to be successful, to get educated, to learn to read and write,” she said. “They believe in you.” “I really want everyone to know that it means a lot to have this school and environment,” she said. “I will never forget.”

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Blessing, 15, peeks from behind a copy of Change Sings: A Children’s Anthem, which she chose as her favorite book in the library at Global Village Project’s new campus in Decatur. Global Village Project permits current students to be identified by first name only under its media consent policy. concept can take time. “They’re so patient with us, even though it takes us a very long time to understand things,” she said. “They try to understand you as who you

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