Northside Neighbor Podcast

Wine enthusiasts and arts supporters are invited to celebrate the 31st annual High Museum Atlanta Wine Auction with four event-filled days, March 22nd through the 25th.

The Wine Auction is the largest fundraising event for the Museum and the biggest wine auction in the United States benefiting the arts, boasting more than $37 million raised over the last 30 years. Approximately 145 wineries and restaurants will participate this year as the Auction celebrates its 2023 theme, “Party with a Purpose,” in the tents at Atlantic Station.

Since it launched in 1993, the Auction has provided significant funding for the High’s exhibitions and education programs. The Paddle Raise, benefiting the Museum’s Art Access program, has raised more than $1.9 million since it began in 2006. These funds provide teacher resources and museum access to more than 125,000 students throughout the state each year. The 2023 Wine Auction co-chairs are Audra Dial and Sandy Moon. Dial and her husband have attended the Auction for years, and they also served as Benefactor co-chairs of the event in 2022, which raised more than $3 million. Serving as an officer for both the Commanderie de Bordeaux and the Chaîne des Rotisseurs wine and food societies, Moon is well versed in the wine world and has been a part of the Wine Auction for the past 17 years.

The 2023 Special Guest of Honor is Sam Lando, owner of Lando Wines. After working with several global wine producers, Lando discovered his passion was working with Pinot Noir. In the middle of the 2012 vintage, Lando and his wife, Jennifer, decided to focus their efforts solely on winemaking. This year’s Special Guest Chefs are Duane Nutter and Reggie Washington of Southern National. After departing One Flew South — the award-winning restaurant in Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport — in 2016, the pair founded Southern National’s first location in Mobile, Alabama, which earned a 2020 James Beard Award finalist title. Returning to Atlanta was always the plan, and they’re now opening a second location on Georgia Avenue in Atlanta’s Summerhill neighborhood. This edition of the restaurant is slated to offer Northwest- and Louisiana-inspired food, pulling inspiration from local cuisines of Nutter’s former hometowns in Washington and Louisiana.

For more information, visit High Museum Wine dot Org.

Sandy Springs has set its sights on making City springs into a walkable and livable community over the next 10 years.

Sandy Springs Assistant City Manager Kristin Smith and developers Pond and Company Project Manager Jonathan Corona, presented the City Springs Master Plan Draft during the Dec. 20 mayor and city council meeting. The goal is to create something that will truly represent Sandy Springs.

City Springs Master Plan is a culmination of initiatives and themes from previous plans, intended to build upon the “legacy” of the Sandy Springs City Center Master Plan and city accomplishments over the past 10 years.

To do so, the city and Pond and Company reached out to Sandy Springs residents for feedback. From April to November, stakeholder roundtables, public open houses and pop-up events, were hosted to gain feedback on City Springs development. Residents also had the opportunity to provided feedback online.

The proposed mixed-use center will have retail, office and residential offerings, while striving to maintain a neighborhood feel. Destination restaurants, brewery cluster, artist studios and co-working spaces and town homes could find a home at City Springs. The plan also suggests expanding open spaces and improved connectivity to the rest of the city.

City Springs Master Plan includes plans to incorporate multi-modal paths, encouraging walking and bicycling as transportation methods. All recommendations are intended to be complementary to the area and environment.

The Gregory R. Ammon Family Foundation has made a donation of $200,000 to the Northside Hospital Cancer Institute Breast Cancer Program.

Through the financial contribution, the Ammon family hopes to help lessen the financial impact of breast cancer on patients and their families, creating a more personalized and intimate experience as they navigate their path through the cancer journey and alleviating some of the outlying stressors of daily life in addition to the already stressful experience of battling cancer.

The cause is especially close to the heart of the Foundation and the family behind it. Stacy Ammon, wife of Foundation trustee Greg Ammon, was diagnosed with breast cancer just after her 30th birthday, almost two years ago, and received treatment at Northside Hospital Atlanta. The donation will help patients and the families of patients, who are currently going through breast cancer treatment and are having a hard time paying for the essentials of life such as groceries, transportation and childcare. Northside Hospital Cancer Institute’s Breast Cancer Program is among the largest breast cancer programs in the country and one of the nation’s leading providers of breast cancer diagnostic and treatment services. Each year, more than 3,100 patients choose Northside as their trusted provider of high-quality breast cancer care.

Class AAA state champion Wesleyan led the way among local softball squads as several of its standouts were among the local players selected to the Georgia Athletic Coaches Association All-State teams.

Wesleyan swept the top honors in the AAA team, with junior Macey Cintron selected player of the year and senior Ryley Kutter pitcher of the year. Cintron has committed to play college softball at Duke, while Kutter is a College of Charleston commitment.

Four Wesleyan players were selected to the AAA first team — junior catcher Marjee Williams, senior infielder Christina McCoy and freshmen outfielders Shayla Bahr and Avery Tucker — while Wesleyan sophomore Sarah Wren was a second-team selection. The seven Wesleyan all-state selections led the Wolves (32-2) to their second consecutive state championship and fourth in six years.

Mount Vernon also has a big presence on the Class A, Division I team, with junior pitcher Grace Westmoreland, junior catcher Reagan Hickey and sophomore infielder Reese Hickey selected to the first team and junior infielder Lauren Dove chosen for the second team.

Westmoreland, Reagan Hickey, Reese Hickey and Dove led Mount Vernon (26-7) to the state tournament for the second year in a row.

A number of Northside standouts were selected to the AAAAAA team, with two North Atlanta players, junior catcher Leela Langston and senior infielder CeCe Smith, along with St. Pius X junior Nina Parker chosen for the first team and Riverwood junior infielder Jaden James and Marist senior infielder Katelyn Deguire named to the second team.

Two Northside players were named to the AAAA team — Pace Academy sophomore catcher Kate Grice for the first team and Lovett junior Ana Gore for the second team.

Three Atlanta schools have been selected for a grant to solve real world problems identified by the United Nations.

Atlanta Public Schools has collaborated with Ciena Corporation and Digital Promise to provide a unique learning opportunity for Benjamin E. Mays High School, Coretta Scott King Young Women’s Leadership Academy, and B.E.S.T. Academy 9-12 educators and students.

Through an application process, these three schools were awarded a $45,000 grant to provide digital tools and resources to engage students in the Ciena Solutions Challenge, where students solve real-world problems identified in the United Nations 17 Sustainable Development Goals that impact them and their individual communities.

Students will collaborate with each other to come up with a real-world problem they want to solve and use various tools and processes such as digital fabrication, coding, robotics, and media production that support student creativity, innovation, and invention to solve that problem.

Through this program, Benjamin E. Mays High School, Coretta Scott King Young Women’s Leadership Academy, and B.E.S.T. Academy now join a cohort of model schools participating in the Ciena Solutions Challenge. Teachers will gain professional learning experiences to guide their students through the creation of solutions to problems that affect them and the world that they live in.

Students that are a part of this initiative are encouraged to think critically about their lives both inside and outside of school to gain an understanding that they truly can make a change to those things that matter most to them.

We revisit our conversation with Freddie Stevenson. Freddie is a former fullback for Florida State and the Chicago Bears who has an amazing story, which can be read in his book or seen in the upcoming documentary of his life. From a Backyard in Brookhaven is made possible by the support of a family-owned business, Lights Over Atlanta. Lights over Atlanta is Atlanta's best outdoor lighting company and can be found on the web at https://www.lightsoveratlanta.com/.   Our second supporting sponsor is the team at Human Canvas, Atlanta. Andrea and her team at Human Canvas offer Atlanta's best men's haircut, conveniently located on East Andrews in the heart of Buckhead. To find out more or to book an appointment https://www.facebook.com/HumanCanvasLLC/State Farm Buckhead, led by Zac Gresham makes this podcast possible. Zac, and his team's, mission is to help people manage the risks of everyday life, recover from the unexpected and realize their dreams. Offering Home Insurance, Auto Insurance, & Life Insurance and more to the Buckhead, Brookhaven, and Sandy Springs community, there is no better option for insurance products - for more on Zac and the team at State Farm Buckhead https://www.zacgresham.com/auto/?cmpid=GB777#Buckhead #Atlanta #NorthFulton #Georgia #LocalNews  - - - - - - The Northside Neighbor Podcast is local news for Buckhead, Brookhaven, Sandy Springs and the entire Northside.  Northside Neighbor Register Here for your essential digital news.  This podcast was produced and published for the Northside Neighbor by BG Ad Group  For advertising inquiries, please email [email protected]   For more information be sure to visit https://www.bgpodcastnetwork.com/ https://www.drakerealty.com/ https://www.esogrepair.com/Learn more about your ad choi

The Sandy Springs Police Department is mourning the loss of one of its own after retired K-9 Igor died Dec. 14.

K-9 Igor was a 11.5-year-old Belgian Malinois and served the city of Sandy Springs as a Dual-Purpose police service dog for 10 years.

Igor was laid to rest after loosing the ability to walk due to a spine injury from years of service.

Igor was responsible for numerous Firearm and Tracking finds and responsible for millions of dollars of narcotics seizures. Igor and his team were also responsible for several high profile arrests and apprehensions. Igor was not only a beloved member of the police force, but was beloved by his handler, Officer Sean Hanse and the Hanse family.

The Atlanta Police Department H.E.A.T Unit will use a new grant to develop and implement strategies to reduce local traffic crashes due to aggressive and dangerous driving behaviors.

APD is one of 21 law enforcement agencies in Georgia to receive a Highway Enforcement of Aggressive Traffic grant for the Federal 2023 Fiscal Year. Referred to as a H.E.A.T. grant, Atlanta Police Department’s award totals $134,528.

The goal of the H.E.A.T. program is to combat crashes, injuries, and fatalities caused by impaired driving and speeding, while also increasing seatbelt use and educating the public about traffic safety and the dangers of DUI.

H.E.A.T. grants fund specialize traffic enforcement units in counties throughout the state. The program was designed to assist Georgia jurisdictions with the highest rates of traffic crashes, injuries and fatalities with grants awarded based on impaired driving and speeding data.

As law enforcement partners in the Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over DUI campaign and the Click It Or Ticket seatbelt campaigns, the Atlanta Police Department will also conduct mobilizations throughout the year in coordination with GOHS’s year-round waves of high visibility patrols, multi-jurisdictional road checks and sobriety checkpoints.

Class AAA state champion Wesleyan led the way among local softball squads as several of its standouts were among the local players selected to the Georgia Athletic Coaches Association All-State teams.

Wesleyan swept the top honors in the AAA team, with junior Macey Cintron selected player of the year and senior Ryley Kutter pitcher of the year. Cintron has committed to play college softball at Duke, while Kutter is a College of Charleston commitment.

Four Wesleyan players were selected to the AAA first team — junior catcher Marjee Williams, senior infielder Christina McCoy and freshmen outfielders Shayla Bahr and Avery Tucker — while Wesleyan sophomore Sarah Wren was a second-team selection. The seven Wesleyan all-state selections led the Wolves (32-2) to their second consecutive state championship and fourth in six years.

Mount Vernon also has a big presence on the Class A, Division I team, with junior pitcher Grace Westmoreland, junior catcher Reagan Hickey and sophomore infielder Reese Hickey selected to the first team and junior infielder Lauren Dove chosen for the second team.

Westmoreland, Reagan Hickey, Reese Hickey and Dove led Mount Vernon (26-7) to the state tournament for the second year in a row.

A number of Northside standouts were selected to the AAAAAA team, with two North Atlanta players, junior catcher Leela Langston and senior infielder CeCe Smith, along with St. Pius X junior Nina Parker chosen for the first team and Riverwood junior infielder Jaden James and Marist senior infielder Katelyn Deguire named to the second team.

Two Northside players were named to the AAAA team — Pace Academy sophomore catcher Kate Grice for the first team and Lovett junior Ana Gore for the second team.

Several Northside volleyball standouts were among the players selected to the Georgia Volleyball Coaches Association All-State teams.

Class AAAA state champion Pace Academy led the way on the AAAA team, with junior Grace Agolli selected as player of the year and Cat Monroe as coach of the year.

Other Pace players chosen were senior Briea Craft and juniors Ellie Siskin and Dhru Lalaji, along with Lovett junior Emma Duffield and Westminster junior Ellie Myers. Lovett junior Kennedy Campbell was an honorable mention selection. St. Pius X junior Isa Boyd was selected to the AAAAAA team, with St. Pius senior Nina Shaw a honorable mention selection. Wesleyan senior Lauren Van Wie was named to the AAA team, while Wesleyan junior Avery Daum was chosen to the honorable mention category. Van Wie and Daum led the Wolves to the AAA quarterfinals.

Whitefield Academy sophomore Elizabeth Cella was selected to the Class A team.

Pace’s Academy’s Craft and Wesleyan’s Van Wie were also named to the American Volleyball Coaches Association’s All-American team, which is comprised solely of senior players.

Craft, who has committed to play college volleyball at Memphis, was a third-team selection, while Wesleyan’s Van Wie — a Pennsylvania commitment — was an honorable mention choice.

Craft and Van Wie were also named to the all-senior American Volleyball Coaches Region 3 team, along with three St. Pius players — Shaw, Kelly Stevenson and Abby Williams — as well as Westminster’s Carleigh Franklin and Marist’s Faith Henley.

Metro-Atlanta residents will once again be able to witness the storytelling of Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater at the Fox Theatre Feb. 16 through 19, 2023.

Led by Artistic Director Robert Battle, the 2023 Atlanta engagement will showcase the passionate spirit and extraordinary technique of Ailey’s dancers in five exciting performances featuring premieres, new productions and repertory favorites.

The inspiring finale of all programs will be Alvin Ailey’s must-see American masterpiece “Revelations,” acclaimed around the world for sending hearts soaring and lifting audiences to their feet. Since its debut in 1960, “Revelations” has been seen by more people around the world than any other modern dance work moving audiences with its powerful storytelling and soul-stirring music, evoking timeless themes of determination, hope and transcendence. Springing from Ailey’s childhood memories of growing up in the south and. attending services at Mount Olive Baptist Church in Texas, “Revelations” pays homage to the rich cultural heritage of the African-American and explores the emotional spectrum of the human condition.

To help introduce young audiences to the magic of Ailey during Black History Month, a school-time performance Feb. 17, at 10:30 a.m. will engage and enlighten Atlanta students. The hour-long program, moderated by one of the dancers, will give young audiences a peak behind the scenes into the world of dance and introduces young audiences to the magic of Alvin Ailey’s must-see masterpiece, “Revelations.”

Longtime Atlanta radio personality Matt Chernoff joins Backyard in Brookhaven to discuss his radio career and how he has seen media change in the last quarter century.  From a Backyard in Brookhaven is made possible by the support of a family-owned business, Lights Over Atlanta. Lights over Atlanta is Atlanta's best outdoor lighting company and can be found on the web at https://www.lightsoveratlanta.com/.   Our second supporting sponsor is the team at Human Canvas, Atlanta. Andrea and her team at Human Canvas offer Atlanta's best men's haircut, conveniently located on East Andrews in the heart of Buckhead. To find out more or to book an appointment https://www.facebook.com/HumanCanvasLLC/State Farm Buckhead, led by Zac Gresham makes this podcast possible. Zac, and his team's, mission is to help people manage the risks of everyday life, recover from the unexpected and realize their dreams. Offering Home Insurance, Auto Insurance, & Life Insurance and more to the Buckhead, Brookhaven, and Sandy Springs community, there is no better option for insurance products - for more on Zac and the team at State Farm Buckhead https://www.zacgresham.com/auto/?cmpid=GB777404-551-4650 #Buckhead #Atlanta #NorthFulton #Georgia #LocalNews  - - - - - - The Northside Neighbor Podcast is local news for Buckhead, Brookhaven, Sandy Springs and the entire Northside.  Northside Neighbor Register Here for your essential digital news.  This podcast was produced and published for the Northside Neighbor by BG Ad Group  For advertising inquiries, please email [email protected]   For more information be sure to visit https://www.bgpodcastnetwork.com/ https://www.drakerealty.com/ https://www.esogrepair.com/Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Police arrested 23-year-old Antonio Marquavius Brown for the murder of 77-year-old Buckhead resident Eleanor “Ellen” Bowles.

Brown was arrested December 12th and charged with murder, aggravated battery, possession of a knife during the commission of a felony, elder abuse and hijacking a motor vehicle. Police say Brown was transported to Fulton County Jail without incident.

At around 5:30 p.m. December 10, officers responded to a report of an unresponsive woman in the Paces West Terrace neighborhood. Police say Brown was attempting to rob Bowles of her Lexus SUV when she was murdered. Bowles suffered multiple stab wounds and died on scene. Bowles’ son, Michael Bowles, was on his way home for the holidays and found his mother upon arrival.

Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens said a resident spotted Brown on December 12 and alerted police, leading to his arrest. Bowles’s vehicle, a 2021 Lexus SUV, was stolen but has since been recovered in DeKalb County.

Engel and Völkers Buckhead launched What’s New Atlanta, a video social media platform created to preview new home communities under construction throughout the Greater Atlanta area.

Each video segment includes an onsite tour of a brand-new community with insight from the building team. New segments are added frequently, and viewers have the option to join a VIP list to receive the earliest information on their choice communities. What’s New Atlanta is the brainchild of Shirley Gary, owner and CEO of Engel and Völkers Buckhead Atlanta and Engel and Völkers Atlanta North Fulton, who has worked with the region’s top home builders for decades. The award-winning social media platform has already featured single family homes, townhomes and master-planned communities in popular locations like Atlanta, Sugar Hill, West Midtown, Cartersville and more. Each episode provides real estate agents and homebuyers with an on-demand resource for new homes, and is sponsored by New American Funding, McMichael and Gray and Presidential Relocation Services.

Totes to Tots Inc., is hosting its 21st annual Totes to Tots backpack and suitcase drive for foster children in Georgia.

Donations of new age-appropriate backpacks, rolling suitcases, duffel bags and diaper bags will be accepted January 13 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., at Georgia Cancer Specialists Northside Hospital Administrative Annex. There are more than 10,000 foster children in Georgia — from infants to teenagers — many of whom must shuffle their belongings from home to home in garbage bags during relocations.

Totes to Tots aims to change that by giving every foster child in Georgia a brand new bag along with other essential items. Since 2002, Totes to Tots has collected and distributed more than 70,000 bags. Totes to Tots partners with the Georgia Department of Human Services to distribute the bags throughout every county in Georgia.

This organization represents compassionate recognition of the trauma often involved for children impacted by the child welfare system. Having a decent traveling case or overnight bag to carry a child’s belongings may seem like a small thing, but, in reality, these totes contain not only quickly gathered items, but the fears, uncertainties, hopes, and dreams of a child caught in a whirlwind not of their own making.

Totes to Tots was originally held on Martin Luther King, Jr. Day as a way to honor Dr. King’s vision of philanthropy and giving back to the community. The organization now provides year-round service in his honor. For more information and how to make a secure online donation, visit Totes to Tots dot org.Trinity School fifth graders charmed parents and audiences with their annual production of “The Nutcracker” December 9.

The students’ two performances were set to Tchaikovsky’s classic score and included dancing, elaborate costumes and set design, and epic battles. Highlights included the lovely Arabian Dancers, energetic Bakers, playful Candy Flutes, newly added dancing Snowflakes, and the ever-graceful Sugar Plum Fairy.

For the fifth time in six years, Riverwood International Charter School presented an original student-directed play, “The Juicebox Prologue” Dec. 8 and 9 in Riverwood’s Black Box Theater.

“The Juicebox Prologue” is a quirky, comedic, and somewhat autobiographical play about Riverwood’s own theater students and their ill-fated production of the musical “Footloose” — canceled just days before the show in 2020 due to the pandemic. The 45-minute show was written and directed by Riverwood seniors KB Braswell and Marilyn Abney.

“The Juicebox Prologue” is the fifth senior-run play performed in Riverwood’s Black Box Theater, an intimate performance space that seats 50-60 patrons and doubles as a Performing Arts classroom. As Directors, Braswell and Abney oversaw the rehearsal schedule, props, sets, costumes, music, and managing the student actors. The play presented the opportunity for Braswell and Abney to combine their passion for theater and writing with the Creativity, Activity, Service project, a critical requirement to complete the International Baccalaureate Diploma program at Riverwood. As part of the project, the Directors will donate the proceeds from ticket sales, $750 to the local St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. The Juicebox Prologue featured eleven actors and six additional students as the show’s crew.

Riverwood’s Drama Department will present “Little Shop of Horrors” March 16 through 18.. Abney will star as “Audrey” and Braswell will handle Stage Design. This will be the last Riverwood production for both students.

Welcome to the fourth episode of The Northside Neighbor's From a Backyard in Brookhaven.  Our guest for episode number four is Dan Corso. Dan is the President of the Atlanta Sports Council, a group that serves to facilitate the growth and development of sports in metro Atlanta by serving as a recruiter for major regional, national and international sporting events. To learn more about Dan and his team we would encourage you to visit https://www.metroatlantachamber.com/councils/atlanta-sports-councilFrom a Backyard in Brookhaven is made possible by the support of family-owned business, Lights Over Atlanta. Lights over Atlanta is Atlanta's best outdoor lighting company and can be found on the web at https://www.lightsoveratlanta.com/. #Buckhead #Atlanta #NorthFulton #Georgia #LocalNews  - - - - - - The Northside Neighbor Podcast is local news for Roswell, Alpharetta, Sandy Springs, and the entire Northside.  Northside Neighbor Register Here for your essential digital news.  This podcast was produced and published for the Northside Neighbor by BG Ad Group  For advertising inquiries, please email [email protected]   For more information be sure to visit https://www.bgpodcastnetwork.com/ https://www.drakerealty.com/ https://www.esogrepair.com/

The Georgia Department of Transportation 2022 triennial safety audit of MARTA “finds a strong commitment to safety and no major safety gaps or concerns,” according to a news release.

The audit examined MARTA’s heavy and light rail departments including operations and maintenance, training and communications, and equipment, structures, and signals.

As required by the Federal Transit Administration, MARTA maintains and regularly updates an agency safety plan and that plan, along with authority safety procedures and practices are audited every three years through GDOT’s State Safety Oversight program. This year’s findings show a significant improvement in safety practices in all areas, with only 20 deficiencies and 16 areas of concern identified, compared to close to 100 such findings during the previous audit in 2019. A deficiency is defined as an item that doesn’t meet the established safety criteria; an area of concern partially meets those criteria. MARTA will review the audit findings this month and generate a corrective action plan for each item needing attention. 

Despite a strong showing in favor of the change, Juneteenth and Veterans Day will not be added to the Sandy Springs Holiday Calendar in 2023.

Adoption of the 2023 city calendar was originally proposed on November 15, but the matter was deferred after significant public comment in favor of the addition of Juneteenth and Veterans Day. Mayor and council revisited the discussion at the December 6 meeting.

Human Resources Director Jennifer Emery presented two options for the 2023 Holiday Calendar. The first being to add one floating holiday in recognition of Juneteenth and Veterans Day. The floating holiday must be taken within the calendar year. The second option was to make no changes and keep the calendar as it. Mayor Rusty Paul and city council members chose to keep the originally proposed 10 holidays and the floating holiday option. Many residents, once again, spoke in favor of the Juneteenth addition. Councilperson Melody Kelley spoke to the importance of adding Juneteenth, presenting both a factual and personal perspective. According to Kelley, 73% of Georgia cities have adopted Juneteenth and 87% have adopted Veterans Day as a city holiday. The cities include Atlanta, Augusta, Columbus, Macon-Bibb, Savannah, Athens, South Fulton, Sandy Springs, Roswell, Johns Creek, Warner Robins, Albany, Alpharetta, Marietta and Stonecrest.

Kelley also shared memories of her grandfather, who helped raise her, correlating personal memories with the importance of Juneteenth.

Michael Pauken has been named Interim Executive Director of the Sandy Springs Performing Arts Center at City Springs and will join the team this month.

Pauken has served as General Manager/Executive Director of the North Shore Center for the Performing Arts in Skokie, Illinois, since 2002. The North Shore Center is a 65,000 square foot, two theater complex containing a total of 1,185 seats. The Center has two resident theater companies and partners with several other organizations. More than 400 events and performances are held at the Center in a typical year.

During his time at the Center, Pauken brought programming in-house and presented more than 475 international touring and Chicago-based artists including Al Jarreau, Art Garfunkel, Boz Scaggs, Clint Black, Ed Asner, Graham Nash, Herb Alpert and Lani Hall, and the Indigo Girls, to name only a few.

A number of Pace Academy and Lovett players were among those selected to the All-Region 5AAAA football team.

Leading the way among the local contingent was Pace Academy junior wide receiver Terrence Kiel II, who was named a co-offensive player of the year, along with Hampton senior quarterback Conner Tolley.

Four Pace players were selected to the First Team Offense — senior offensive lineman and South Carolina commitment Trovon Baugh, senior quarterback Conner Phelan, senior wide receiver Kendall Evans and sophomore wide receiver Cooper Williams.

Lovett junior defensive lineman Christian Bell, senior defensive lineman Noah Claxton, senior linebacker Hayden Bernard, junior linebacker Michael Dollar and senior defensive back Anderson Beavor were named to the First Team defense. Pace junior defensive lineman Hevin Brown-Shuler and senior defensive back Davis Rice were also named to the Second Team defense. Lovett sophomore kicker/punter Conner Deviney was a First Team special teams selection.

The Second Team offense included a couple of Lovett players — sophomore running back Kalil Townes and junior wide receiver Luke Wallace — along with Pace Academy senior offensive lineman Kylen Shields.

Pace senior linebacker Frank Caldwell III and Lovett sophomore Talen Frett were named to the Second Team defense, while Pace senior kicker/punter Andrew Swann was a Second Team special teams selection. For a full list of players, please go to the Northside Neighbor website.

More than 200 students at Sandy Springs Charter Middle School see the world through new lenses thanks to Sandy Springs Rotary Club and Vision to Learn.

The Sandy Springs Rotary Club partnered with Los Angeles-based nonprofit Vision to Learn to provide prescription lenses to nearly 1/3 of students at the middle school during the first phase of distribution. In total, Sandy Springs Rotary Club has purchased more than 800 pairs of glasses for Sandy Springs students.

Club members and volunteers spent the mornings of December 7 and 8 handing out glasses to students at Sandy Springs Charter Middle School. Students were briefed on how to take care of their glasses and when to wear them. Vision to Learn was founded in 2012 by Austin Beutner in Northridge, California. He saw the need once he found out that so many students in the Los Angeles area were struggling in school, partly due to not being able to see the board or read clearly.

The idea was to bring a vision clinic to the kids (at schools or Boys and Girls Clubs) to access whether they needed glasses and then to provide the proper glasses for them to be able to see and do better in school.

As of 2022, Vision to Learn has visited 5000 schools and Boys and Girls Clubs and has provided 350,000 children with glasses. They currently have 50 mobile clinics and over 200 employees working for them. 

A large contingent of football players from Marist, North Atlanta, Riverwood and St. Pius X have been honored for their accomplishments on the gridiron in the 2022 season with their selection to the All-Region 4AAAAAA team.

North Atlanta won two of the three top awards, with senior quarterback Trey Lennon selected as offensive player of the year and Jamie Aull as coach of the year. St. Pius X senior defensive back Jack Tchienchou was named defensive player of the year.

Marist had four players named on offense — junior running back Joseph Pizzo and senior offensive linemen Peyton Lamb, Kevin McDonald and Drew Prieto. Riverwood had three players on offense — senior tight end Levi Linowes, senior running back Walter Evans and sophomore offensive lineman Sean Poret.

North Atlanta featured two offensive players — senior wide receiver Jamie O’Kelley and senior offensive lineman Tyree Myles — while St. Pius offensive lineman Jack Woods was the only other local player named to the team on offense.

Marist had three of its players selected on defense — junior defensive lineman Luke Harpring, junior defensive back Casey Comerford and senior linebacker Colin Hare, while North Atlanta also featured three defensive players — sophomore defensive lineman Chase Linton, junior defensive back Xaden Benson and junior linebacker Connor Hughes. For a full list of players, please go to the Northside Neighbor website.

We revisit our conversation with Dave "D2" Rodriguez from Big Peach Running Company as we all began to plan those New Year's resolutions. . From a Backyard in Brookhaven is made possible by the support of a family-owned business, Lights Over Atlanta. Lights over Atlanta is Atlanta's best outdoor lighting company and can be found on the web at https://www.lightsoveratlanta.com/.   Our second supporting sponsor is the team at Human Canvas, Atlanta. Andrea and her team at Human Canvas offer Atlanta's best men's haircut, conveniently located on East Andrews in the heart of Buckhead. To find out more or to book an appointment https://www.facebook.com/HumanCanvasLLC/State Farm Buckhead, led by Zac Gresham makes this podcast possible. Zac, and his team's, mission is to help people manage the risks of everyday life, recover from the unexpected and realize their dreams. Offering Home Insurance, Auto Insurance, & Life Insurance and more to the Buckhead, Brookhaven, and Sandy Springs community, there is no better option for insurance products - for more on Zac and the team at State Farm Buckhead https://www.zacgresham.com/auto/?cmpid=GB777#Buckhead #Atlanta #NorthFulton #Georgia #LocalNews  - - - - - - The Northside Neighbor Podcast is local news for Buckhead, Brookhaven, Sandy Springs and the entire Northside.  Northside Neighbor Register Here for your essential digital news.  This podcast was produced and published for the Northside Neighbor by BG Ad Group  For advertising inquiries, please email [email protected]   For more information be sure to visit https://www.bgpodcastnetwork.com/ https://www.drakerealty.com/ https://www.esogrepair.com/Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Multiple Georgia schools have received hoax threats of an active shooting November 30, including Cambridge High School in Fulton County.

According to the Milton Police Department, an unknown source made a 911 call, claiming to be a Cambridge teacher shortly after 11 a.m. Police say the caller claimed shots had been fired at the school. Milton Police contacted Cambridge High’s administration, which reported no incidents they were aware of though they did put the school on a hard lockdown.

Out of an abundance of caution, officers did a sweep of the school while students remained inside classrooms. Police say they found no indication of shots fired, leaving the campus after determining the 911 call was a hoax. Fulton County Schools also said no weapons were found on campus. FCS spokesperson Brian Noyes said no other FCS schools have received calls Nov. 30.

At least six schools across the state received hoax phone calls November 30. At the time of publishing, no shooters or injuries have been reported. The first reports were of a gunman near the Savannah Early College campus. Savannah Mayor Van Johnson said no threats were found, but students were evacuated.

Buckhead Heritage Society, the city of Atlanta and Mayor Andre Dickens have restored the historical name of Bagley Park on Pharr Road.

Atlanta Councilmember Howard Shook submitted the legislation to reinstate the original name of the park. Atlanta City Council passed it unanimously November 21.

In the 1870s, freed slaved founded Mt. Olive African Methodist Episcopal Church off Pharr Road. In 1929, William Bagley purchased six lots there after being forced to flee his 84-acre Forsyth County farm in 1912. He was a well-respected community leader. While developer Frank C. Owens laid out a formal neighborhood that he called Macedonia Park in 1921, the area became known colloquially as Bagley Park. At its peak, around 400 families called Bagley Park home. Black-owned businesses, including a grocery store, a restaurant and a blacksmith, served them. It was also home to several churches, including Mt. Olive Methodist Episcopal Church and an associated cemetery. William Bagley died in 1939, and he and his wife, Ida, are interred in Mt. Olive cemetery.

The leading talents behind the Broadway’s “Anastasia” are celebrating their touring debuts during the 25th anniversary of the namesake film, “Anastasia.”

Twenty-three-year-old Veronica Stern takes the stage as Anya alongside costars Willem Butler, 23, as Dmitry and 32-year-old Ben Edquist as Gleb. Playing as part of Regions Bank Broadway in Atlanta’s 2022/2023 season, the Atlanta premiere engagement of “Anastasia” will play December 6 through 11.

This journey to the past transports audiences from the twilight of the Russian Empire to the euphoria of Paris in the 1920s, as a brave young woman sets out to discover the mystery of her past. Pursued by a ruthless Soviet officer determined to silence her, Anya enlists the aid of a dashing conman and a lovable ex-aristocrat. Together, they embark on an epic adventure to help her find home, love and family. The leading trio says they were exposed to theatre early on in their lives and immediately fell in love. Stern hails from New York where she grew up going to Broadway musicals and at around 12 years old, attended a performing arts summer camp. Butler said he was around four years old when he saw his brother in theater. Edquist recalls “stealing and eating the prop bagels” backstage of “The Fiddler on the Roof.”

The rest is history.

Unlike many Broadway musicals, audiences have already met most of the characters thanks to the film. One of the biggest differences, however, is Edquist’s character Gleb replacing the movie’s villain, Rasputin. Additionally, Butler said he thinks the stage version of Dmitry is grittier and dirtier than the movie version. Audiences get to see more of what he has been through during the revolution.

James D. Childs has been selected to succeed Father William Rowland, S.M. as the first lay president in the school’s 122-year history.

After an extensive global search, Childs was selected as Marist School’s next president effective July 1, 2023. Originally from South Bend, Indiana, Childs is the current president at Bishop O’Dowd High School in the Diocese of Oakland, California. He served as O’Dowd’s principal from 2016 to 2018 until being appointed president in 2018. During Childs’ tenure at O’Dowd, an urban Catholic high school with an enrollment of 1,250, he has provided mission-inspired and charism-charged leadership; completed a successful $40 million capital campaign for the construction of a new building; oversaw $4 million in capital enhancements to the campus; and worked with a dedicated faculty and staff to successfully implement a rigorous, college-preparatory curriculum.

Prior to O’Dowd, Childs served as president and principal at Mission College Preparatory Catholic in California, and before that as a religion teacher and director of spiritual life at Catholic schools in Indiana and North Carolina.

Childs earned a bachelor’s degree in English, Philosophy and Theology from the University of Notre Dame, going on to earn a Master of Theological Studies in Systematic Theology. He also holds a Master of Education in Catholic School Leadership from Marymount University. He is the co-author of two books and several articles focused on imaginative teaching of high school religion class. J.D. and his wife, Kate, have four children, ages 21, 18, 15 and 10.

The city of Atlanta is investing an additional $9.5 million in increased pay for the city’s workforce, including its first responders.

Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens previously announced a 2% cost-of-living adjustment for city employees, along with enhanced pay and bonuses for public safety and frontline workers, as part of his fiscal year 2023 budget passed in June.

City employees will see enhanced cost-of-living adjustments in their paychecks starting in January, with public safety personnel seeing even greater increases to aid in the recruitment and retention of police, corrections and E-911 personnel.

The city will increase the planned cost-of-living adjustment from 2% to 3.5%.

To aid in the recognition and retention of the City’s public safety personnel, the city will make further enhancements, including —

A total 9% cost-of-living adjustment for sworn Atlanta Police Department officers and E-911 personnel, 7% higher than previously announced, and coming on top of retention bonuses already awarded this year;

A total 7% cost-of-living adjustment for sworn Atlanta Department of Corrections officers, 5% higher than previously announced; and

An additional 1.5% cost-of-living adjustment for sworn Atlanta Fire Rescue Department personnel on top of already implemented raises this year which ranged from 7% to 15.5%.

City revenues, particularly from sales taxes and business licenses, have outperformed projections, leaving Atlanta with a stronger than expected reserve fund. Even after these investments, the city said it will maintain a healthy reserve fund exceeding requirements.