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City approves North River redevelopment incentives By HANNAH YAHNE hannah@appenmedia.com

PHOTOS BY: JAMIE GODIN/APPEN MEDIA

Paveena Callozzo waves toward shore while paddling past a Murph’s Surf buoy during the Sandy Springs SUP Showdown at Morgan Falls Overlook Park Aug. 15.

Paddlerboarders tackle Chattahoochee during Sandy Springs showdown By JAMIE GODIN newsroom@appenmedia.com SANDY SPRINGS, Ga. — Dense fog hung over the Chattahoochee River Saturday morning, Aug. 15, as about 35 paddlers prepared for the inaugural Sandy Springs SUP Showdown at Morgan Falls Overlook Park. The six-mile stand-up

paddleboard (SUP) race was scheduled to begin at 8 a.m., but organizers held competitors near the starting line while waiting for visibility to improve. The race began at about 8:15 a.m., sending paddlers three miles upstream to Azalea Park before turning around for the trip back to Morgan Falls.

See PADDLERS, Page 15

A paddleboarder makes her way onto the fog-covered Chattahoochee River as other competitors gather in the distance for the Sandy Springs SUP Showdown at Morgan Falls Overlook Park Aug. 15.

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SANDY SPRINGS, Ga. — Sandy Springs City Council members are setting the stage for what they predict will be a “catalytic” redevelopment of the North River Shopping Center on Roswell Road. The council approved a $4.3 million incentives package for Woodfield Development at its Aug. 18 meeting, advancing the developer’s plans to replace the aging commercial center with a mixed-use neighborhood. Current site plans feature 336 apartments, 85 for-sale townhomes, retail and restaurant space, and a public park that will be deeded to the city after construction. Council Member Melody Kelley said residents want underutilized shopping centers to be redeveloped to offer new retail opportunities, for -sale housing and green space. She said these incentives are the city’s way of accomplishing that. “The incentives that we approved … are about delivering what the public asked for,” Kelley said. “The public wanted amenities built into these commercial developments.

See INCENTIVES, Page 15

45+ YEARS IN ATLANTA

2 | August 27, 2026 | Sandy Springs Crier | AppenMedia.com/Sandy_Springs

POLICE BLOTTER All crime reports published by Appen Media Group are compiled from public records. Neither the law enforcement agencies nor Appen Media Group implies any guilt by publishing these names. None of the persons listed has been convicted of the alleged crimes.

770-442-3278 AppenMedia.com 319 N. Main Street Alpharetta, GA 30009

Roswell man scammed out of $30K in elaborate phone scheme

HANS APPEN Publisher 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 Sandy Springs 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.

ROSWELL, Ga. — A local man handed over $30,000 in cash to a stranger for “safekeeping” after a monthslong phone scam convinced him his bank accounts were linked to a money laundering investigation. The Roswell man reported the incident to Roswell police officers Aug. 11. The scheme started in mid-July when the Roswell man got a call from someone he believed to be with American Express. The caller said someone was using a card in the local man’s name, and the call was transferred to someone who claimed to be with the New York City Police Department. After speaking with three supposed officers, the man learned NYPD allegedly had evidence that his Bank of America account was involved in money laundering for a cartel. He was then transferred to someone he believed to be with the FBI. They told the Roswell man that if he did not share information about his personal bank accounts with Fidelity Investments and Wells Fargo Bank, he would be detained. The Roswell man sent the caller a picture of the balances in both accounts but redacted the account numbers. The person on the phone requested the Roswell man buy a new phone so they could monitor him using the encrypted messaging app Signal. The man bought the phone for $1,200 and was told the supposed officers would refund him the money. A month later, on Aug. 10, the man logged into what he believed was his

PUBLIC SAFETY online Fidelity account. He received a notification that the account was compromised and was told to call a number. He made the call, which was answered by someone claiming to be from “Microsoft Word.” The person who answered the call told the Roswell man to go to Wells Fargo, withdraw $30,000, put it in a brown paper bag and meet him at 8610 Roswell Road. The Roswell man met with one of the alleged fraudsters between 7:30 and 8 p.m. that evening. The Roswell man provided a description of the subject, saying he was around 5’7” with a small build and black curly hair. — Hannah Yahne

Roswell traffic stop leads to drug trafficking arrest ROSWELL, Ga. — Roswell police recently apprehended a Dunwoody woman with multiple active arrest warrants at a traffic stop on South Holcomb Bridge Road. While searching her silver BMW, officers said they found Xanax and various forms of methamphetamine. Police first spotted the car allegedly speeding east at 60 mph on Holcomb Bridge Road while also failing to maintain its lane. A traffic stop was initiated at the intersection of Nesbitt Ferry and South Holcomb Bridge roads. When the officer approached the passenger side of the vehicle, the driver started convulsing before falling headfirst from the car onto the pavement, according to a police report. The officer called emergency medical services, turned the woman on her side and attempted to render aid. The report said the driver’s condition was inconsistent with what the officer expected during an active seizure. She remained responsive to painful stimuli and allegedly avoided the officer’s attempts to administer naloxone, an opioid-overdose antidote. Within minutes of medical services arriving, she regained consciousness but was in an altered mental state, said the officer.

Police identified the woman and found several active felony arrest warrants from Gwinnett County for possession of methamphetamine, theft of services and criminal trespassing, all with a nationwide extradition status. After the driver was transported to a hospital, police conducted a probable cause search of the vehicle. They allegedly found Xanax pills, two vials containing a clear liquid with traces of methamphetamine, plastic bags and three digital scales, one of which had residue from a crystalline substance. The same substance was found in the vehicle’s center console and around the gearshift and tested positive for methamphetamine. Police also took three cellphones into evidence. They believe them to contain records of communications or photographs that could contain digital evidence related to the possession and distribution of controlled substances. The woman is facing six charges, including trafficking of illegal drugs, possession of drug-related objects, speeding and an expired license. — Hannah Yahne

Atlanta man arrested after former boss reports theft ALPHARETTA, Ga. — A 22-year-old Atlanta man was arrested July 29 on a warrant stemming from a months-old case that accused him of fraud. Alpharetta police said a 33-yearold Milton woman reported to officers in April that she suspected the Atlanta man, who was her former employee, used credit cards from her business for unauthorized purchases. The purchases totaled more than $10,000, and the charges were made after the woman fired the man, police said. The man was charged with theft by taking of property valued greater than $1,500. Alpharetta officers were notified after the man turned himself into the Fulton County Jail. — Jon Wilcox

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AppenMedia.com/Sandy_Springs | Sandy Springs Crier | August 27, 2026 | 3

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4 | August 27, 2026 | Sandy Springs Crier | AppenMedia.com/Sandy_Springs

Family Fun Day coming to Sandy Springs Farmers Market SANDY SPRINGS, Ga. — Families are invited to a morning of fun, discovery and community connection during Family Fun Day Saturday, Aug. 29, from 8:30 a.m. until noon at the Sandy Springs Farmers Market. The free event transforms a visit to the market into activities and an interactive celebration of community service and local nonprofits. The gathering is hosted by the Sandy Springs Civic Roundtable in partnership with Volunteer Sandy Springs and the farmers market. Visitors are encouraged to stop by the Volunteer Sandy Springs booth to learn how individuals, families, students, retirees and corporate teams can discover meaningful volunteer opportunities throughout the year. Families can use a “community passport” to explore nonprofit booths, learn more about them and collect stamps for chances to win prizes donated by local businesses and community partners. The grand prize is four tickets to the Sandy Springs Theatre

Company’s production of “Anastasia” Dec. 11-27. “Family Fun Day is about bringing our community together in a way that is both enjoyable and impactful,” Jan Paul, chair of the Sandy Springs Civic Roundtable, said. “While children are having fun, families will also discover how easy it is to make a difference through local volunteer service.” Other activities include crafts for all ages, face painting, a bubble machine and outdoor games, like giant Connect Four and cornhole boards. The farmers market, taking place at the same time, will offer baked goods and local vendors. Volunteer Sandy Springs is a community initiative of the Sandy Springs Civic Roundtable, a nonprofit that, with its nearly 40 nonprofit partners, is on a mission to create a more vibrant community through collaborations with businesses, residents and other groups. For more information, visit volunteersandysprings.org. — Hannah Yahne

VOLUNTEER SANDY SPRNGS/PROVIDED

A girl tosses a bean bag during a game of cornhole at the 2025 Family Fun Day hosted by the Sandy Springs Civic Roundtable in partnership with Volunteer Sandy Springs and the Sandy Springs Farmers Market.

Sandy Springs introduces monthly Thursday Night Market SANDY SPRINGS, Ga. — Sandy Springs is introducing the Thursday Night Market, bringing together more than 30 local farmers, food producers, artisans and specialty vendors at the River Springs Shopping Center, 8610 Roswell Road.

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AppenMedia.com/Sandy_Springs | Sandy Springs Crier | August 27, 2026 | 5

Puzzles

Dunwoody Crier 8/27/26 Connect-It

Connect-It

Sandy Springs Crier................................August 27, 2026 | 6 Dunwoody Crier 8/27/26 Crossword

Across

1 Giraffe cousin 6 Renown 10 Pesky insect 14 Speeder’s bane 15 Legal claim 16 NV city 17 Karate experts 19 Consequently 20 18-wheeler 21 Foolhardy 22 Western ﬁlm classic, The Magniﬁcent ___ 23 Showman Ziegfeld 25 Tin can appliance 27 Large bird of prey, the Great ___ 31 Filth 32 Cereal grain 33 Condo division 35 Knitting ___ 39 All excited 41 Type of stare or cartridge 43 Diva’s song 44 Indicate 46 Moonshine mix 48 Mornings, for short 49 Burden 51 Gainsborough painting 53 Withstand 55 Hostel 56 Explosion 57 Wilted 60 Jason’s ship 64 Final notice 65 Embarrassed to the hilt

21 23 28

4 36

5 48

52 55

43 47

46 50

Dunwoody Crier 8/27/26 Sudoku7

Down 1 Globes 2 Curly cabbage 3 Comic Sandler 4 Appease 5 Aggravate 6 Chigger 7 Suffers 8 Modus operandi 9 Print measures

10 Healthy Chinese beverage 11 Audacity 12 Infuriate 13 Warner Bros. creation 18 Grizzly, e.g. 22 Arid 24 Singer Rawls 26 Walking papers 27 Egg on 28 The latest thing 29 Town on the Thames 30 ___ Abner 34 Scottish cap 36 Ho-hum 37 Airport pickup 38 Effortless

Fauna Speak

8/27/26 Kakuro PuzzleJun How to Solve: Each line in the puzzle Dunwoody above has Crier three clues and three answers. The last letter in the first answer on each line is 1. first Hurried. speak. Sailing with 2 masts. the letter ofSnake the second answer, and sovessel on. The connecting letter is outlined, giving you the correct number of letters for each answer (the answers in line 1 are 4, 5 and 5 letters). The clues are numbered 1 through 7, which each number containing 3 clues 2. the Conundrum. Kakuro, alsodemand. known as Cross Sums, is a challenging number puzzle, a crossword grid. The rules are easy for 3 answers on Chick thepuzzle, line.speak. Buteach here’sWorker’s the catch! The clues are not in order - so the first clue in Line solved 1 mayin(or may not) style actually To solve the Sudoku row, column and 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 li be for the second or third answer in that line. Got it? Good luck! box must contain the numbers 1 to 9. 3. Dog speak. Watery part of milk. Smooth-tongued.

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 an

4. Owl speak. Certain football player. The Old Sod.

67 Exploding star 68 Above 69 The Republic writer 70 Water pitcher 71 Sets 72 Brusque

1. Hurried. Snake speak. Sailing vessel with 2 masts. 2. Conundrum. Chick speak. Worker’s demand. 3. Dog speak. Watery part of milk. Smooth-tongued. 4. Owl speak. Certain football player. The Old Sod. 5. Donkey speak. Little angel. Spill the beans. 6. Indian princess. Found on the shoreline. Lion speak. 7. Breakfast sizzler. Lackluster. Horse speak. PuzzleJunction.com

FAUNA SPEAK

31 34

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!

PuzzleJunction.com

40 Kindergarten reward 42 Apprehend 45 Race track tipster 47 4th century barbarian 50 Computer key 52 Empower 53 Pasta shape 54 Gullible 56 Dog treat 58 Matinee ___ 59 Driving direction ﬁnders 61 Back 62 Catches on 63 Native Nebraskan 65 Dust remover 66 Pertinent

5. Donkey speak. Little angel. Spill the beans.

6. Indian princess. They are usually found on the shoreline. Lion speak.

2 1 4 2 4 9

7. Breakfast sizzler. Lackluster. Horse speak.

2 5 4

9 2

1 6

See puzzle solutions on Page 21

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

How to Solve:Copyright Kakuro,©2026 also PuzzleJunction.com 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.

Is Your Company Hiring? Solution

Solution

5 8 3 2 7 6 1 9 4

9 7 1 4 5 8 6 2 3

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4 5 7 9 8 2 3 6 1

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8 1 6 7 4 3 2 5 9

1 3 8 6 2 9 5 4 7

2 4 5 8 3 7 9 1 6

7 6 9 5 1 4 8 3 2

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BUSINESS

AppenMedia.com/Sandy_Springs | Sandy Springs Crier | August 27, 2026 | 7

MARTA riders want World Cup-level service to continue By HANNAH YAHNE hannah@appenmedia.com ATLANTA — Two months ago, Jackson Lee said his experience riding on Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority trains was “seamless.” MARTA trains were coming within 15 minutes of one another and he did not find himself waiting, particularly in the Five Points Station — a popular spot to transfer. MARTA reported a surge in ridership June 11 through July 15, driven largely by FIFA World Cup matches and watch parties. The system logged 4.7 million rail passengers over those 35 days and increased rail service to accommodate the crowds. On match and fan fest days, MARTA ran trains every five minutes. Manager of Communications Payson Schwin said MARTA ran four-car trains on the eastwest blue line, with a shuttle train on the green line running between Ashby and Bankhead stations. MARTA also deployed specialized shuttle trains to clear crowds from Mercedes-Benz Stadium and maintained standby bus fleets to respond to realtime ridership surges. A month later, Lee, a Midtown resident and Decatur native, said he has waited 20-25 minutes for trains at the Georgia State and Decatur stations, both on the blue and green lines. That was not something that happened during the World Cup, he said. “During the World Cup, it really showed me what [MARTA] can be in this city, but it’s not funded,” Lee said. MARTA receives no operational funding from the state. The authority’s primary source of funding is sales tax revenue collected in Fulton, DeKalb and Clayton counties and the city of Atlanta, which is supplemented by federal grants. For the World Cup, the authority received $8 million in federal funding, distributed through the Federal Transit Administration, to handle the increased frequency. While the authority made noticeable changes for a little more than a month, dedicated riders have also seen service scale back since tourists left town. “I think that the biggest thing for me was the more frequent trains on game days,” Decatur resident Stacey Mohr said. “I understand that maybe that’s not doable regularly, but that made it … so much easier.” A sense of security remains riders’ top concern Station-specific improvements, like increased signage and volunteers offering assistance, also made the MARTA experience better, riders said.

officer presence, according to a briefing given to local NPR affiliate WABE. According to WABE, MARTA plans to boost its police force to approximately 400 officers from the current number of around 270. The new railcars are expected to roll out in stages and be completely in place by 2030. Schwin said MARTA also plans to add transit ambassadors and more safety personnel during major events, including Labor Day weekend, when both Dragon Con and the Aflac Kickoff Game will take place in Atlanta. CITY OF SANDY SPRINGS/PROVIDED

The North Springs station — located at 7010 Peachtree Dunwoody Road in Sandy Springs — is the northern terminus for the red line of the Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transition Authority, more commonly known as MARTA. John O’Brien of Decatur said stations felt secure during the World Cup, with someone always on hand to help. He worries the system will now slide back into problems that make riders feel unsafe. “A lot of them were volunteers … but still, there was a security presence,” O’Brien said. “I noticed that immediately after it was over, they vanished. There’s not a policeman in any of the stations again.” As a regular MARTA rider since it launched in 1972, O’Brien said he has a vested interest in the transportation system. He loves the convenience it provides getting to the airport and how it enables him to easily explore neighborhoods and restaurants outside of Decatur. O’Brien thinks the biggest thing MARTA needs to overcome is a perceived lack of security. He’d like to see more officers patrolling stations, a critique shared by Dunwoody resident Matt Moseley, who has been consistently riding MARTA since 2012. Moseley said he’s “always felt at peace” on MARTA but takes that for granted; his fiancee has told him she feels uneasy and “on guard” while riding. “I wish they could create a better sense of safety and security,” Moseley said. “I want people to be able to relax when taking MARTA.” Behind the scrutiny, and how MARTA is responding MARTA made national headlines over the summer after several violent incidents, including a stabbing at the Georgia State station May 24, the fatal stabbing of 66-year-old Margaret Swan on a train May 30 and a shooting on a train June 5. Before World Cup matches started in Atlanta in June, the Federal Transit Administration was directed to investigate the transit authority’s security spending, safety protocols, and risks to riders and

workers. MARTA spokesperson Schwin said crimes committed in the authority’s jurisdiction are down 24% since 2025, and incidents on train lines have dropped from 200 in 2020 to 103 last year. Mohr said she noticed and appreciated the heavier police presence after the May and June incidents. She added that she doesn’t think MARTA has more safety issues than other cities’ transit systems. Atlanta resident Liane Hunter said the atmosphere on MARTA transit modes has improved over the past 15 years, and she doesn’t think those violent crimes are entirely reflective of MARTA. “I think maybe it’s more reflective of society as a whole, unfortunately,” Hunter said. “I think that there’s violence everywhere, and my experience with MARTA, specifically, is that I feel safe.” MARTA also received a $3.4 million grant from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to help cover additional security needs during the World Cup. MARTA Police Department officers worked 10- to 12-hour shifts six days a week, patrolling trains, stations, buses, transfer hubs and parking lots. Key department personnel also staffed the authority’s emergency operations center on all match and fan fest days starting June 11 to monitor developments and respond quickly. Schwin said riders can expect continued security improvements as MARTA rolls out its new CQ400 railcars. The authority will have a full-time police officer assigned to each train, the spokesperson noted. The new railcars also feature more than a dozen closed-circuit television cameras, microphones that can detect loud disturbances and alert MARTA personnel, and open gangways that allow officers to patrol every car in a train. The authority has been growing its police force to prepare for the increased

Riders wait on delayed railcars and more access MARTA delayed the launch of the new railcars in June while the authority works through a safety certification process. Once running, Schwin said the new cars will ride more smoothly and also be more mechanically reliable than the current ones. The spokesperson, however, didn’t indicate when the first set of new railcars would launch. Swiss train manufacturer Stadler is also equipping the rail system with new technology meant to improve performance and train frequency. Long-term capital programs will eventually replace aging rails, giving another boost to reliability, MARTA personnel noted. O’Brien said riders seem “perplexed and frustrated” about the delays surrounding the new railcars. Lee said he was also confused by the holdup. “I know they have been manufactured, and they were meant to be rolled out in June,” he said. Hunter said riders also want more trains and stops near places they actually want to go, including pedestrian hubs like the Atlanta Beltline or Pullman Yards, which have minimal station access despite being close to existing lines. She added that station amenities — like public art — would help riders see MARTA’s infrastructure “as a piece of the community instead of a safety hazard or a place where people are just getting from point A to point B.” MARTA personnel didn’t respond to a request for comment from Appen Media about potentially expanding rail access. Overall, Lee said he’d like to see MARTA get more funding to make the system more efficient and give commuters a reason to leave their vehicles behind. O’Brien said MARTA, with those promised improvements, has to make the case directly to Atlantans. “They’re going to have to prove that sitting in traffic three hours of your life every day is not an advantage over maybe a 40-minute train ride,” O’Brien said.

8 | August 27, 2026 | Sandy Springs Crier | AppenMedia.com/Sandy_Springs

BUSINESS

Summit Coffee brings new energy to Williams-Payne House By HANNAH YAHNE hannah@appenmedia.com SANDY SPRINGS, Ga. — Coffee and history enthusiasts alike can find something to enjoy at Summit Coffee’s newest location in Sandy Springs. Tucked on the bottom floor of the historic Williams-Payne House, the coffee shop is getting long-time residents, like Howard and Linda Reisman, into the building for the first time. “It’s so nice to have a little coffee shop like this … out in the woods,” Howard said. “It’s kind of neat.” The business is situated behind the Heritage Green, a city-owned park where the City Springs Entertainment Lawn is located. Guests can stroll the property with their coffee to explore the bubbling spring, sit underneath one of two gazebos or picnic on the grass. Co-owner Adam Cook said he and his 10 fellow owners wanted to expand to Sandy Springs after the Dunwoody community embraced that location so well. Three out of the five investing couples call Sandy Springs home. When the city put the site up for bid, Cook said the team envisioned creating a community hub where people can come have fun celebrations and hard conversations. Cook and his team started renovating the historic home in March. They framed the inside to include the coffee bar on the ground floor while building around the existing brick pillars. Summit Coffee’s art director Tyler Helfrich led the design efforts, and a friend, Kimberly Crosby, painted original pieces, like she has for the other Summit Coffee locations that Cook co-owns in Dunwoody, Brookhaven, and soon, Johns Creek. Now, the coffee shop is leaning into the history of the two-story farmhouse from 1869 rather than demolishing it. Visitors can walk on the home’s original hardwood floors, touch historic artifacts on display and read proclamations about the property. Julianna, from Dallas, Georgia, said she likes the historic feel of the coffee shop. She and a friend traveled to meet at the Summit Coffee in Sandy

ROI

matters.

PHOTOS BY: HANNAH YAHNE/APPEN MEDIA

Guests chat over coffee in the bottom level of Summit Coffee at the Williams-Payne House in Sandy Springs. Springs after seeing a video of the space on TikTok. Trinity Stone lives in Sandy Springs and said she has not frequented other coffee shops since discovering Summit Coffee. “You get the perfect mixture of the outdoors, the sightseeing, the outside patio … I love it,” Stone said. She said the two hours of free parking is another reason to keep coming back. Before Summit Coffee moved into the space, the Sandy Springs Garden Club and the Sandy Springs Society worked together to upkeep the Williams-Payne House as the Heritage Sandy Springs Museum. Cook said before they started doing renovations, he and fellow co-owners invited historians and community members who shared stories of being married out back and museum curators who recognized original furniture from the 1860s. They honored the work of these organizations by naming rooms after them, their names now brandished on the wall. “People have done a lot of life here,” Cook said, “and we want to respect that.”

Summit Coffee opened a new location at the Williams-Payne House, 6075 Sandy Springs Circle, in Sandy Springs in July.

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BUSINESS

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Popular pizzeria to relocate to former Off Leash building By JON WILCOX jon@appenmedia.com ALPHARETTA, Ga. — A building that once housed a dog park cafe concept will soon welcome a popular pizzeria. Crust Pasta & Pizzeria, currently at 131 S. Main St., plans to move across the street to 142 S. Main St., a restaurant manager said. The restaurant’s new building was previously home to Off Leash, which closed in December 2024. Property near the pizzeria’s current location is expected to undergo expansive development with the construction of a major shopping and dining project. Alpharetta District Places is expected to come in behind the strip mall that now houses the pizzeria and a number of other businesses, but the developer has no plans currently to demolish or alter the current building, McKibbon Places President Erik Rowen said. A joint venture between Market District Development and McKibbon Places, Alpharetta District Places broke ground in June and is expected to consist of four buildings, nearly 100 surface parking spaces and 34,000 square feet of retail and restaurant space. Rowen said his group’s plans are to improve pedestrian activity and create a beneficial environment for all businesses in the area. Brad Weiner, managing broker for Alpharet-

ta’s Realty on Main real estate firm, said the area around Crust Pasta & Pizzeria is well suited for restaurants, with easy access for pedestrians and proximity to the downtown district. He said he thinks Alpharetta District Places could improve the value and standing of nearby businesses, including the pizzeria. “The downtown sector has exploded with a tremendous amount of high-density residential,” Weiner said. “The whole purpose of coming into the downtown area is because everything is so accessible and walkable.” Although Weiner said he thinks the busy intersection at South Main Street and Old Milton Parkway could challenge some businesses, the pizzeria’s already-developed customer base could carry it through. “That is the one biggest detriments of the corner. I have an opinion as to why Off Leash didn't succeed,” he said. “That corner is tough to navigate because there's medians, and the traffic at that light at Main and Old Milton is just horrific.” Donna Murphy, president of the 400 North Realtors Association, said she thinks the former Off Leash building is a “prime location” and one that will only improve. “It’s got so much more potential in the future,” she said. Alpharetta District Places could potentially increase the value of adjacent property, she said. “You know, in real estate, it’s location, location, location,” she said.

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The building at 142 S. Main St. that once hosted Off Leash will welcome popular Alpharetta pizzeria Crust.

August 27, 2026 | Sandy Springs Crier | 10

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12 | August 27, 2026 | Sandy Springs Crier | AppenMedia.com/Sandy_Springs

COMMUNITY

Forsyth fashion show saddles up to fight cancer By DEAN HESSE dean@appenmedia.com FORSYTH COUNTY, Ga. — Local cancer survivors, dressed to the nines in western wear, strutted down the runway with confidence and attitude during Cowboy Couture for the Cure, an Aug. 14 fashion show benefiting cancer research. The evening, which honored cancer survivors and celebrated caregivers, included dinner, a silent auction and line dancing. Proceeds benefited the American Cancer Society. Among the models strutting the runway was 101-year-old Tachia Rivas, a bladder and kidney cancer survivor who is marking one year free of cancer. She said she embraces each day with gratitude and hopes she can inspire others to keep fighting, cherish every moment and believe that hope is stronger than fear. The show, held at the Forsyth Conference Center at Lanier Technical College in Cumming, served as the kickoff event for the 2027 North Georgia Cattle Baron’s Ball. The ball will be held on Feb. 27, 2027, at Reid Barn on Majors Road in Cumming. It aims to bring communities together around a shared goal — finishing the fight against cancer. Barons’ balls started in Dallas in 1974 and have evolved into one of the cancer society’s premier fundraisers. Next year’s North Georgia ball will be the first one held in North Fulton and South Forsyth. Learn more about the North Georgia Cattle Baron’s Ball at nfsf.acscbb.org. — Photos by Dean Hesse

A cancer survivor modeling western wear tips his hat during the Aug. 14 Cowboy Couture for a Cure fashion show in Cumming.

Line dancers perform at the Aug. 14 Cowboy Couture for a Cure fashion show in Cumming.

Tachia Rivas, a 101-year-old bladder and kidney cancer survivor, struts the runway at the Aug. 14 Cowboy Couture for a Cure fashion show in Cumming.

A cancer survivor turned model twirls on the runway at the Aug. 14 Cowboy Couture for a Cure fashion show in Cumming.

NEWS

AppenMedia.com/Sandy_Springs | Sandy Springs Crier | August 27, 2026 | 13

GROVE AND BARREL PROVISIONS/PROVIDED

Grove and Barrel Provisions, a Mediterranean-inspired market, opened Friday, Aug. 14 in the Alpharetta City Center.

European-inspired market opening in Alpharetta City Center By HANNAH YAHNE hannah@appenmedia.com ALPHARETTA, Ga. — Business owner Josep Juncosa is bringing his passion for hosting and southern European food traditions from Barcelona to the Alpharetta City Center with the opening of Grove and Barrel Provisions.

The Mediterranean-inspired market, which opened Aug. 14, features a selection of European products, including olive oils, rice, pastas, canned and brined goods, coffees and some of Juncosa’s favorite wine labels for patrons to enjoy. Grove and Barrel will also host private group experiences and plans

to partner with local restaurants to supply high-quality ingredients. “Alpharetta City Center has always been a place where I could immediately feel at home,” Juncosa said. “Growing up, sharing the table with my friends and family was a cherished experience, and I learned how powerful simple but quality ingredients could truly be.

This is the spirit we are bringing every day to Grove and Barrel Provisions and we can’t wait to share it with the community.” Alpharetta City Center, a 26-acre mixed-use development, is located in downtown Alpharetta at the intersection of Main, Academy, Broad, Market and Commerce streets.

Fulton County issues property tax bills amid digest delay By HANNAH YAHNE hannah@appenmedia.com FULTON COUNTY, Ga. — Property tax bills were mailed to Fulton County residents Aug. 15, following a Fulton County Superior Court judge’s authorization to send out temporary bills based on valuations in the preliminary 2026 tax digest and last year’s millage rates. Fulton County sought a temporary collection order from the court after there was a delay in submitting this year’s tax digest to the Georgia Department of Revenue. The state department has to certify the tax digest before taxing authorities can

set their annual millage rates. Local governments depend on property tax revenues to provide services, and a delay in certifying the tax digest postpones the issuance and collection of property taxes. It also delays the millage rate process, which is the rate at which local municipalities within Fulton County calculate property taxes. Taxpayers will have the opportunity to provide input during the millage rate-setting process. Johns Creek adopted a tentative millage rate of 3.492 in July; Alpharetta held steady at 5.750 mills. In June, Sandy Springs approved its budget that included a millage rate of

4.731. Fulton County Schools will be proposing an increased rate of 18.08 mills. Once millage rates have been set, final property tax calculations will be made. A refund or revised tax bill will be issued only as needed. If a taxpayer overpaid, they will be refunded with interest. Fulton County residents living outside the city of Atlanta must pay their property taxes by Oct. 15. Tax bills can be viewed online at fultoncountytaxes.org. If you are a property owner and do not receive an expected tax bill by Sept. 15, contact the Fulton County Tax Commissioner’s Office at 404-613-

6100. If taxes are not paid by the due date, interest will begin accruing the next day and continue until the bill is paid in full. An additional 5% penalty will be charged on the 120th day after the due date and will continue to accrue 5% every 120 days thereafter until paid in full, up to a maximum of 20%. The Fulton County Tax Commissioner’s Office accepts partial payments, but interest will accrue on the unpaid principal balance until the balance is paid in full. Property tax payments can be made online at fultoncountytaxes.org/ propertyTax/search or by telephone at 404-613-6100.

14 | August 27, 2026 | Sandy Springs Crier | AppenMedia.com/Sandy_Springs

SPORTS

Roswell tops Walton in Corky Kell + Dave Hunter Classic By ANNABELLE REITER annabelle@appenmedia.com ATLANTA — The Roswell Hornets wrapped up Week 1 of the Corky Kell + Dave Hunter Classic Aug. 13 with a 32-20 comeback victory over Walton. It was a statement win for the Hornets, who some outlets predicted to suffer a loss at Mercedes-Benz after losing several major contributors to graduation last year. In the 2025 regular season, the Raiders and Hor nets met, with Roswell coming out on top by a game-winning field goal. This time, the Hornets scored 25 points unanswered in the middle of the game after the Raiders put up 14 quick points in their first two possessions. Walton found the end zone once more, but it wasn’t enough to overcome Roswell’s midgame surge. Quarterback Matthew Schletty, who rushed for the Hornets’ last two touchdowns, is a newcomer to the Hornets this year after starting the last two years for Alpharetta High. He told Appen Media the new program feels like “a family.” “Right when I got [to Roswell], they came in and they took me as one of them,” he said. “I feel like everybody wants to win just as bad as I do. Winning this first game in the Benz, the way we did it, feels really good.” Three-star edge Jaxon Holly, who also transferred this year from Alpharetta, scored the Hornets’ first touchdown via a pick-six following a tipped pass. Holly was named player of the game by Score Atlanta. “[This moment] means a lot, bro,” Holly said after the game. “We’ve got a lot of work to do over the next few games, so the vibes will be good and we’ll get a lot of work in.” Head Coach Jonathan Thompson gave the credit for the win to his defense. “Even when we weren’t able to punch it in offensively, defense just kept battling, and they put us in really good situations,” Thompson said. “I think we’ve made a lot of strides defensively because of our staff and our kids. We got a really good defensive staff, and I think that made the difference tonight.” This year, Rusty Waters returned as the Hornets’ defensive coordinator, and the staff also added four time All-Pro selection Justin Houston to oversee the linebackers. Houston led SEC linebackers in sacks his junior year at UGA, second in the conference only to Nick Fairley, and was voted No. 26 by fellow players on the NFL Top 100 Players of 2016.

WMSPORTOGRAPHY/PROVIDED

Roswell juniors Sean Smith and Oshawn Walker talk to Appen Media after defeating Walton Aug. 13 during the Corky Kell + Dave Hunter Classic at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. “We’re going all the way; we’re going to the state championship,” Walker said. “You can expect [that] we’re going to dominate, do our job, we’re gonna play together and we’re gonna go all the way. No team can stop us.”

CHARLIE TURETSKY/PROVIDED

Roswell quarterback Matthew Schletty falls to his knees after reaching the end zone for the second time against Walton Aug. 13 during the Corky Kell + Dave Hunter Classic at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.

[This moment] means a lot, bro. We’ve got a lot of work to do over the next few games, so the vibes will be good and we’ll get a lot of work in.” JAXON HOLLY Roswell player Holly, linebacker Jake Smith, back Christian English and tackle Oshawn Walker were major defensive strongholds to keep Walton at bay

down the stretch while the offense got to work. Walker, a junior, expressed his confidence in his team.

Hunter stops by his namesake The Corky Kell + Dave Hunter Classic annually marks the traditional start of the GHSA football season. Launched in 1992 as the High School Football Classic, it was later renamed in honor of Corky Kell, the Wheeler coach and Cobb County athletic director. Kell was diagnosed with a terminal illness in 1994 and asked his close friend Hunter, the longtime Brookwood coach, to keep the Classic going. Hunter did, and, in 2023, his name was also added to the event’s title. The retired GHSA executive committee member started his coaching career 60 years ago. Hunter, who now suffers from the lung disease pulmonary fibrosis, made it to Day 2 of the Classic that bears his name and that of his late friend. He witnessed the Broncos beat Cambridge 52-7. “I’ve been under the weather for a little while and so it’s a struggle, but I wanted to try to make one of the events,” Hunter told Appen Media. “This was the day. I thought [the Broncos] were going to have a good team, and they proved me right.”

Paddlers:

NEWS

AppenMedia.com/Sandy_Springs | Sandy Springs Crier | August 27, 2026 | 15

Continued from Page 1 The event was organized by the Sandy Springs Recreation and Parks Department in partnership with Murph’s Surf. Jane Jarrett, leisure coordinator for Sandy Springs Recreation and Parks, said the city wanted the event to build on a paddling tradition established by High Country Outfitters, which held its Stand Up for the Hooch race before the COVID-19 pandemic. “We wanted to pay homage to High Country Outfitters,” Jarrett said. “They used to operate a Stand Up for the Hooch [race] from probably about 2016 to 2019, and then, of course, COVID happened, and so the race didn’t continue.” Jarrett said the city brought the concept back while putting its own spin on the event through its partnership with Murph’s Surf. Racers competed on an open section of the Chattahoochee, with swift-water rescue personnel and other safety crews positioned along the course. Organizers warned participants before the start about changing river conditions, submerged obstacles and the heat expected as the morning progressed. Organizers also offered an adaptive athlete division supported by Catalyst Sports, though no adaptive athletes entered this year’s race. Adaptive sports are designed for athletes with disabilities. Jarrett said including adaptive athletes is a priority across the races she organizes for the city. “With all the races that I put on, I always have an adaptive athlete component, too,” Jarrett said. She said she hopes adaptive athletes will enter future races. William McCracken of Asheville, North Carolina, finished first among the men, followed by Mitch Cherry of Atlanta

Incentives: Continued from Page 1 So, that’s what they’re going to have at this one.” The incentives package includes waiving approximately $1.7 million in recreation impact and permit fees. City staffers are also requesting that the Sandy Springs Development Authority authorize a 10-year property tax abatement on construction of the apartments. If approved, the abatement would waive an estimated $3.4 million in property taxes over 10 years, or about $2.5 million in today’s dollars

PHOTOS BY: JAMIE GODIN/APPEN MEDIA

A paddler moves through the water during the Sandy Springs SUP Showdown at Morgan Falls Overlook Park Aug. 15.

Caio Melo approaches the finish with his Pomeranian aboard his paddleboard during the Sandy Springs SUP Showdown at Morgan Falls Overlook Park Aug. 15. and Allen Alquist of Dunnellon, Florida. Amy Carlson of Canton, Georgia, finished first among the women, followed by Emmye Cherry of Atlanta and Robbin Rolader of Woodstock, Georgia. First-place finishers received $250, with $100 awarded for second place and $50 for third. Organizers plan to bring the SUP Showdown back to Morgan Falls in 2027. concessions in this seasonal installation that is quickly becoming an annual tradition for many families.

Second-place finisher Mitch Cherry, left, receives a high five from third-place finisher Allen Alquist as first-place finisher William McCracken looks on during the awards ceremony following the Sandy Springs SUP Showdown at Morgan Falls Overlook Park Aug. 15.

using a proposed 8% discount rate. Council Member Andrew Chinsky said the redevelopment will allow the city’s tax base to increase, and the property will be viable for years to come. “We’re actually going to come out ahead when you consider the value of the park to the city and the increase of taxes we’re going to have because it’s not a vacant shopping center anymore,” Chinsky said. Council members said they hope the project motivates more redevelopment projects in the north end of Sandy Springs. “This did not happen overnight,” Kelley said. “This is the culmination of … just over a decade of work and planning. It is just the beginning.”

Trail costs, fire department equipment OK’d In other business: • Council members agreed to spend an additional $56,146 for project costs related to the Path 400 Multiuse Trail Extension Project, which, when finished, will extend the existing 5.1mile path starting at Loridans Drive North to the Georgia 400/Interstate 285 interchange. Project costs have risen by nearly $281,000, and the city requested and received additional federal funding. The city is splitting the cost with the federal government, which is covering 80% of the project’s total costs. • Council members approved continuing the city’s inmate housing contract with the Lumpkin County Sheriff’s Office at a rate of $55 per

inmate per day plus uncovered medical expenses. Inmates sentenced for a misdemeanor or a county or city ordinance violation will be sent to Lumpkin County. • The council approved adjusting budget revenues in its Community Development Block Grant fund to include more than $1 million in funds remaining from the previous fiscal year, which ended June 30. • The council authorized the city’s fire department to replace $2.9 million of equipment, maintaining an apparatus replacement program initially adopted in 2018. The funding is available in this year’s budget, with financing provided through PNC Equipment Finance at a rate of 4.81% for six years.

16 | August 27, 2026 | Sandy Springs Crier | AppenMedia.com/Sandy_Springs

OPINION

GET OUTSIDE, GEORGIA!

The joy of rediscovering my dad’s prized popping bugs The other day, on the radio, I heard a story about artificial intelligence agent gone rogue. The short version: There was this one AI system which somehow escaped its handlers and (as the story put STEVE HUDSON it) “broke out of the Columnist sandbox” and took over another AI system. But free-range AI is nothing compared to free-agent washing machines. Bet you haven’t heard about those, have you? I thought not. Just remember you read it first here. And here’s how I know it’s a thing: Do you recall our water incident? The one that upturned our otherwise peaceful life and then sent us packing to the hills while repairs are being made? Remember that? I’m convinced that the whole thing started right when we began talking about maybe getting a new washing machine, a sleek and sexy one with buttons and knobs and multi-colored lights? Yeah. Did the old washer overhear us plotting? Did we make it mad? They hear everything, you know. Washing machines don’t miss a beat. They’re smart – deviously smart – and even play cheery little tunes when the cycle’s done. How nice, we think. How cute! But maybe they’re just trying to distract us. Maybe it’s all part of their plan. Yeah, it’s all sunshine and light with washing machines. Until it isn’t. But I digress. The sunshine and light part went away when water from the washer somehow ended up on the floor…and in the carpet…and the sheetrock...and, well, pretty much everywhere. As it turned out, getting rid of the water was easy. Massive 747-sized fans and hulking dehumidifiers made short work of that. But then the repairs came. They’re still going on, and while they are we’re hiding out in an AirBNB up in the hills. But I’ve got to say that it’s not all bad, because our temporary home-awayfrom-home comes with a lake, and the lake comes with a whole bunch of fish. Lakes are made to be fished, of course, so on Day 2 of our exile I picked up my flyrod and carried it to the water. I made a cast, had a hit and caught one of the biggest breams I’d ever seen. “Wow,” I said. I sent a photo of the fish to my wife, who was back at the AirBNB putting

A stash of popping bugs found inside an old tackle box. things together in the kitchen. “Wow,” she said. After supper, we both went to the water. She promptly caught one even bigger than mine, and then another, and then one more. I picked up a few more too. Maybe, I thought, exile isn’t going to be so bad. But I was going to need more flies. And for those big bream, what I’d really need was something beefy. What I’d need was popping bugs. Popping bugs are named for the sound they make as you work them on the water. That sound – a deep, liquid galoompf – was part of the soundtrack of my childhood, and I suppose that it (like the memories) will be with me for the duration. The next day I stopped to visit my Mom. We sat at the round kitchen table, looking past the orchids growing in the window, out past the boat dock, out to the pond where Dad had so often fished poppers for his beloved bass and bream. He could make almost any popper do magic things, but his favorite was always one he called the Peck’s Popping Minnow. Developed by Earnest H. Peckinpaugh of Chattanooga, Tenn., in the early 1900s, it featured a high-floating cork body adorned with some artfully added feathers. On the water, it suggests a struggling minnow, and bass and

STEVE HUDSON/APPEN MEDIA

bream just can’t leave it alone. “It’s the best there is,” Dad always said, and he must have bought hundreds of them over the years – many, I’m sure, to replace the ones I left hanging in trees. Anyway, Mom and I visited for a while. I told her about the fishing. She offered me sweet tea and a piece of cake. I asked if she’d mind if I went downstairs to see if there might be some popping bugs lying about. “You just help yourself,” she said, for she knew what a popping bug was and what it could do with big bream. The best ones always know. So, into the basement I went. I turned on the light and started to rummage about. That’s when I saw it: an ancient aluminum tackle box, a box that had been part of my childhood. And memory flooded back. I knew that Dad had kept his most-prized lures inside that box – Hula Poppers, Rapalas, and red-and-white Heddon’s spoons. But those went in the second tray down. The top tray, the place of respect and highest honor, was reserved for popping bugs – and the best compartments, the ones front and center, were always reserved for Peck’s Popping Minnows. Were there still any poppers in that

dented old box? There was one way to find out. With an unexpected sense of profundity, I picked up the box and set it on the workbench. Then I eased open the latch. Hinges creaked a little as I swung it open. Lo and behold, there they were. Popping bugs – at least a hundred of them. They had been in that box for a long, long time. Long enough that maybe I’d even used one of them myself all those years ago? I picked out a dozen or so, favoring yellow and white like Dad had always done, cradling them like old friends in my hand. Then I went to close the lid, securing the rest for another day. But then something caught my eye from the back corner of the bottom of the box. What’s that? I looked closer and there before me were two yellowed plastic containers, each holding a brand-new Peck’s Special Popping Minnow. I had found the holy grail, and it was pristine. About then I realized then that I was holding my breath. I exhaled, slowly, and reached deliberately to pick up the two little packages and timeless treasure that each contained. And for a time – how long? – I just stood there in the half-light of the basement, thinking of…what? Of memories from years ago? Of memories yet to come? I know I thought this: When my Dad first met the lady who would become my wife – the lady with whom I now share life and everything else and with whom I’ll share time on the water this very evening – he knew right away that I was onto something good. And when I told him that, yes, she was learning to flyfish, and that yes, she would even unhook her own fish, he’d looked me square in the eye and said, “Son, she is a keeper.” You remember things like that. After a while, I went back upstairs. Mom said I could have the popping bugs and the Peck’s poppers, too, if I wanted them. I did, so I wrapped them carefully and put them in a little box. Then I said goodbye and got back in the car. I drove slowly down the driveway, past the azaleas now resting from their summertime exuberance, past the shady pines and the sweetgum tree. At the end of the drive, I turned north, willing the GPS to take me home the short way (for home is where she is) and to the good fishing and all that’s yet to come. Isn’t it true? It all goes full circle. It does.

OPINION

AIKENOMICS

AppenMedia.com/Sandy_Springs | Sandy Springs Crier | August 27, 2026 | 17

Oil’s retreat gives mortgage rates a respite After weeks of geopolitical tensions helping drive mortgage rates higher, financial markets finally found a measure of relief as easing concerns over global oil supplies sent energy prices lower. The decline followed two developments investors viewed as reducing near -term supply D.C. AIKEN risks. Reports that the United Guest Columnist dcaiken.com States is pursuing diplomatic engagement with Iran, rather than immediate military action, eased fears of disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most important energy shipping routes. At the same time, OPEC+ announced another increase in oil production, signaling that additional supply could reach the market in the months ahead. Together, those developments removed much of the geopolitical “risk premium” that had been supporting crude prices. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude is trading near $80 per barrel, down roughly 5.3%, while Brent crude has fallen nearly 4.7% to about $84 per barrel, marking one of the largest one-day declines in recent months. For the mortgage market, lower oil prices carry implications beyond the gas pump. Energy costs influence inflation across the economy. As oil prices decline, transportation and production costs often ease, helping moderate inflation expectations. Investors typically respond

move was limited, it marked the first meaningful improvement in several weeks. The market’s attention now shifts from geopolitics to economic data. The Labor Department will soon release its monthly Employment Situation Report, one of the Federal Reserve’s most closely watched indicators. A softer -than-expected report could reinforce expectations that inflation continues to cool, providing additional support for lower mortgage rates. A stronger -than-expected reading, however, could renew concerns that interest rates will remain elevated for longer, reversing much of this week’s progress. For now, markets have welcomed a pause in geopolitical uncertainty. Whether that develops into a sustained decline in mortgage rates — or proves to be only a temporary reprieve — will likely depend on the economic data released in the days ahead. And finally, for what it’s worth: I’ll be on vacation next week. If history is any indication, mortgage rates have a funny habit of moving lower whenever I’m out of town. Here’s hoping that streak stays alive. IMAGE PROVIDED TO APPEN MEDIA

by increasing purchases of longer -term Treasury securities and mortgage-backed bonds, pushing yields—and ultimately mortgage rates- lower. That relationship was evident recently as Treasury yields edged lower, allowing mortgage rates to improve modestly after climbing to their highest levels in nearly two years. While the

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.

Local news, mostly fun days and many stories to tell

JOSHUA WILSON Managing Editor joshua@appenmedia.com

It’s time for me to say hello. I’m Joshua, the newish managing editor at Appen Media Group. I started in July and have been off to the races since day one, working with our incredible team to boost our news coverage of the Atlanta metro. I’m

having a blast. I’m relatively new to the metro. I previously lived in Macon, where I oversaw a small and scrappy news startup. I’m a native Mississippian, though, and the Magnolia State will always have a piece of my heart. I fell in love with the Atlanta area years ago during my first visit. I was born and raised in the sticks, so this sprawling place was truly “the Big City” in my eyes. I was captivated by the tall buildings, the numerous

things to do and yes, even the traffic. During that trip, I decided that one day I’d move to Atlanta. It took 15 years, but I finally did. I’m glad to be here and honored to be playing a key role in the perseverance and growth of our local news ecosystem. I’m a community journalist at heart. I’ve never aspired to work in the national news space. Instead, I’ve always enjoyed talking to locals about the issues that affect their daily lives — things like education, crime, healthcare access, economic development, government accountability and more. I care about an area’s quality of life, the transparency of its government and the civic participation of its people. I also care about telling captivating stories, highlighting people from every walk of life and doing my work in an ethical and fair manner. I think journalists, who advocate for transparency from other organizations, should themselves be transparent, and I

Appen Press Club Support local news that follows the story. Join the Appen Press Club today at appenmedia.com/join. often publish notes or explainers on how and why stories were covered. My commitment to you is to continue these efforts and to have fun while doing it. My career has been many things — strange, transformative, winding — but on 95% of the days, I sit down on my couch and think, “Well, that was a fun day. I made a difference, or at least I tried to do so.” I suspect most journalists share those same reflections, even if their number isn’t quite 95%. When I started in this business 21 years ago, newspapers were still king. Journalists were still respected. Advertising dollars poured

in and allowed for big staffs and ambitious reporting projects. Those things have certainly changed, but I will always believe in the value and future of local news. Without it, research has found civic participation drops, governments become corrupt and secretive, false and misleading information spreads, and communities become increasingly polarized. Local news, long the uncontested glue of a community, has lost some of its tack, but it hasn’t let go. I think the news business is in an exciting time of its life — a time to adapt, to hone our craft and to reconnect with audiences by finding new ways to reach them. I’m honored to be doing that work in this area and with this team. We’ll continue to grow, adjust and build on our solid foundation. Thank you for reading local news. I’m always just a note away, and I look forward to connecting with you.

18 | August 27, 2026 | Sandy Springs Crier | AppenMedia.com/Sandy_Springs

BRADSHAW’S BRIEF

OPINION

Appeasement just will not work I like Michael Smerconish. His Saturday morning show on CNN is appointment TV for me. His commentary is thoughtful and reasonable, and STEVE BRADSHAW I find myself Columnist agreeing with his decaturish@appenmedia.com take on things most of the time. But in a recent episode, he said something that struck me as off base. It was shortly after Democratic Socialists of America candidates had won primary elections in congressional districts around New York City. In response, Smerconish said the Democratic establishment would need to find a way to appease the DSA folks without blowing their chances to win in more competitive districts, or words to that effect. It was the word "appease" that struck me as off the mark. Based upon what I have seen from a distance, my interactions with local folks of the DSA mindset and my understanding of history, appeasement won't work. I would advise the Democratic establishment to steer clear of that strategy. Here it is important to make a few points. I think it is imperative that the Democrats take back at least the U.S. House of Representatives this election cycle. The Trump administration has proven itself to be a rogue operation. And the Republicans in Congress have proven unwilling to check the president's actions by operating as a coequal branch of government. This paradigm must be broken. However, whenever a DSA

candidate defeats a so-called establishment candidate in an already blue district, we come no closer to achieving that objective. By necessity, for the Democrats to win back control of the House of Representatives, they will have to win in districts currently represented by Republicans. Meaning they are not naturally left-leaning districts. Meaning they are not likely to embrace the DSA platform. Speaking of which, there are elements of the DSA platform that strike me as self-indulgent, shortsighted and not grounded in anything approximating reality. I will leave it to you to do your own research to discern if you agree with my assessment. But two platform items in particular strike me as "tells." One is a proposal to eliminate the U.S. Senate. The other is the replacement of the president and the Supreme Court with an executive and judiciary chosen by and subordinate to Congress. I interpret these platform items as a tacit recognition by the DSA that its proposals do not have broad appeal. Meaning U.S. senators must be elected statewide, rather than from highly gerrymandered congressional districts. Of course, the president must be elected nationwide. Does anyone who has even a rudimentary understanding of how our governmental construct is supposed to work think that things would be better if we had a unicameral national legislature that functions like the current House of Representatives? I don't think so. Aside from a platform that I cannot support, there is something else about this group that bothers

I think it is imperative that the Democrats take back at least the U.S. House of Representatives this election cycle. The Trump administration has proven itself to be a rogue operation.” STEVE BRADSHAW Former DeKalb County District 4 Commissioner me, and it is stylistic. Many of these folks demonstrate the two qualities that offend me most in other people. Those qualities are arrogance and intolerance. Arrogance in that they seem to be so sure that they are right. I don't think the word humility is a part of their active vocabularies. And intolerance in that they seem to regard those who don't agree with any of their policy prescriptions as heretics and sellouts and any other manner of pejorative adjectives. They cast themselves as revolutionaries determined to "tear it all down." This is why appeasement won't work. It is certainly not my intent to demean or disregard them in any way. On the contrary. I think a lot of these DSA types are very smart and very charismatic. This makes them attractive to a certain part of the electorate. But I think they know that as a standalone political party their

DEATH NOTICES Patricia Dendinger, age 94, of Roswell, GA passed away on August 16, 2026. Arrangements by Northside Chapel Funeral Directors & Crematory.

Robert Hausleiter, age 80, of Roswell, GA passed away on August 15, 2026. Arrangements by Northside Chapel Funeral Directors & Crematory.

Maryann Dunphy, age 94, of Roswell, GA passed away on August 12, 2026. Arrangements by Northside Chapel Funeral Directors & Crematory.

Gary Johnson, age 76, of Roswell, GA passed away on August 11, 2026. Arrangements by Northside Chapel Funeral Directors & Crematory.

Jackson Marcano, age 43, of Alpharetta, GA passed away on August 10, 2026. Arrangements by Northside Chapel Funeral Directors & Crematory.

chances of achieving their stated objectives are close to zero. Instead, they seem determined to hijack the Democratic Party. And if the Democratic Party — the party of FDR and Truman, JFK and LBJ, Carter and Clinton, Obama and Biden — allows this takeover to happen, then it will deserve what it gets. Considering this loud and growing movement, what is the Democratic Party to do? I can distill it to one word: Fight! Since most of these DSA types are big on supporting "fighters," the establishment Democratic Party should show these folks what a fight looks like. I was recently watching a show on MS NOW, and one of the panelists was haranguing the Democratic establishment. In response, former Democratic National Committee Chair Jaime Harrison politely but forcefully chided the other panelist, asking in effect: When you talk about the establishment, who do you mean? Do you mean the folks who have been organizing, raising money and getting Democrats elected across this country for years? Is that who you mean? I loved that spirited defense of normal. And I want to see more of it, especially from people who supposedly know better. Therefore, I'll be looking to at least some of the 2028 presidential candidates to see if they have anything approximating a backbone. Will they push back hard against the nonsense, or will they capitulate to crazy? The next president needs to be able to stand up to Vladimir Putin in Russia and Xi Jinping in China and a host of other bad actors around the world. But to earn my vote, candidates must first demonstrate that they can stand up to these well-meaning but misguided upstarts. For the sake of our party and the sake of our country. Finally, if I thought that reasoning with some of these folks and trying to come together as an actual "big tent" party was a viable option, I would certainly advocate for that. But based on what I have seen so far, I don't see that as feasible. There is no reasoning with revolutionaries. I sincerely hope that I am wrong. But if not, so be it. This reckoning is long overdue.

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Solution

2 1 4 9 4

G N A T F A M E O K A P I R E N O L I E N R A D A R E R G O B L A C K B E L T S S E V E N R A S H S E M I O P E N E R F L O D I R T G R E Y O W L Pu Dunwoody Crier 8/27/26 Kakuro O A T N E E D L E U N I T A R I A B L A N K A G O G Carol Tall A M S M A S H D E N O T E Mike Tasos Y grid. The rules a B O style E U L B D A O L crossword a in solved puzzle, number challenging a is Sums, Cross as known also Kakuro, Teichert Candice below the dia number A it. of N N right I the to E squares R white U the D of N sum E the is square black a in line diagonal the above The Small Business Advisor can only be used onc andRa digit G O M P1 to 9, A L theI digits of the&white S Tonly use A may B it.L You Suzanne Bobsquares Thomasin the sequence below R E D A S A B E E T O B I T William Tietjen P L A T O A T O P N O V A Lisa Tilt T E R S E S L E G R E W E Michael Townes

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2 5 4

One solution is the creation of a membership driven organization called the Appen Press Club that is dedicated to recruiting people and companies to join as members. Members pay recurring monthly or annual dues that are 100% dedicated to sustainable journalism. By providing predictable revenue, Appen Press Club members and partners help fund the salaries and expenses of local reporters who will no longer be subject to the whims of marketing budgets and an ever changing advertising world. In turn, those reporters will provide the readers they serve with highly researched and qualified journalism focused on subjects that directly affect their quality of life.

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3 2 SOLUTIONS

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Solution

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