In this episode of Peachtree Corners Life, host Rico Figliolini sits down with Kristie Onorato, a longtime art educator at Wesleyan School, to explore the intersection of creativity, teaching, and personal artistic practice. Kristie shares her journey from studying art education at Ohio State to teaching across grade levels before finding her home at Wesleyan, where she has spent the past 15 years inspiring students through art.

The conversation dives into how creativity is developed, why problem-solving is central to the artistic process, and how Kristie encourages students to embrace imperfection and pivot when things don’t go as planned. She also discusses her own artistic work, sources of inspiration, from travel to everyday life, and what it means to create and let go of deeply personal pieces as she prepares for the Wesleyan Artist Market. 

Resources:
Wesleyan Artist Market:  https://www.artistmarket.wesleyanschool.org/
Wesleyan School: https://www.wesleyanschool.org

5 Key Takeaways

1. Creativity is universal—not optional
   Creativity isn’t reserved for artists. It shows up in problem-solving, communication, business, and everyday life. As Kristie puts it, we’re all wired to create.
2. The process matters more than the outcome
   Students learn more from how they think, adapt, and reflect than from the final piece they produce. The journey shapes the mindset.
3. Problem-solving is at the core of creativity
   Art teaches resilience—things go wrong, and you don’t start over, you adjust. That mindset carries directly into real life.
4. Inspiration is everywhere—if you’re open to it
   From travel to everyday observations, creativity comes from awareness. The key is being in the right mindset to notice it.

Letting go is part of the creative journey
Whether it’s finishing a piece or selling it, artists have to release their work—even when it’s personal. That’s part of growth.

Timestamp:
00:00:00 – Introduction and Wesleyan Artist Market overview
00:02:28 – Kristie’s background and path into art education
00:04:31 – Discovering a passion for teaching and creativity
00:06:16 – The role of creativity and faith in artistic expression
00:08:00 – Problem-solving and adaptability in the art process
00:10:01 – Student portfolios, reflections, and creative thinking
00:11:20 – Staying connected with former students
00:12:57 – Kristie’s personal art practice and school art shows
00:14:36 – Collaboration and group art projects
00:15:55 – Field trips and exposure to professional art
00:16:33 – Travel and inspiration, including Greece
00:18:10 – Observing patterns, movement, and color in nature
00:19:59 – Preferred subjects and creating for an audience
00:21:15 – Studio habits and creative environment
00:23:12 – Finding inspiration in everyday life
00:24:10 – Planning vs. improvisation in art
00:26:22 – Letting go of artwork and emotional attachment
00:29:17 – Closing thoughts and Wesleyan Artist Market details

In this episode of Peachtree Corners Life, host Rico Figliolini sits down with City Manager Brian Johnson for a wide-ranging conversation on the issues shaping the city today. From the growing deer population—now far exceeding recommended levels—to the legal realities of wildlife management, Brian explains how the city is working within state constraints to implement long-term, humane solutions. The discussion also covers major infrastructure updates, including the East Jones Bridge Road replacement project and ongoing improvements along Peachtree Parkway to ease congestion and improve safety.

Beyond roads and wildlife, Brian shares insights into the city’s new mobile app designed to improve communication with residents, as well as the ambitious effort to rewrite the city’s municipal code from the ground up to better reflect its evolving needs. From development projects and pedestrian safety to innovation initiatives like Curiosity Lab, the episode offers a comprehensive look at how the city is balancing growth, livability, and long-term vision.

Timestamp:
00:00:00 – Introduction, sponsors, and episode overview
00:01:30 – Overview of topics: deer management, road projects, city updates
00:02:53 – Deer population study results and scale of overpopulation
00:04:30 – Legal limitations: why cities can’t directly manage wildlife
00:06:00 – Partnership with Georgia DNR and U.S. Wildlife Services
00:08:00 – How deer management will work (long-term, controlled process)
00:10:30 – East Jones Bridge Road project and bridge replacement details
00:13:00 – Additional roadwork: Peachtree Parkway (141) improvements and traffic flow changes
00:16:00 – Intersection redesign near Ingles & The Forum (safety improvements)
00:18:00 – Pedestrian crossings and roundabout plans at Peachtree Corners Circle
00:21:00 – City mobile app: features, service requests, and communication tools
00:24:00 – Municipal code rewrite: why the city is starting from scratch
00:28:00 – New challenges: EV charging stations, zoning, and regulation decisions
00:32:00 – ADUs (Accessory Dwelling Units) and housing considerations
00:36:00 – Development updates: townhomes, apartments, and The Forum plans
00:40:00 – Town Center improvements: restrooms, events, and Town Green updates 00:43:00 – Curiosity Lab expansion and innovation initiatives
00:46:00 – City events, community engagement, and closing thoughts

This episode of the Peachtree Corners Life Podcast features Dr. Paul Cable, High School Principal at Greater Atlanta Christian School, and Stephen Carter, leader of the school’s Business Innovation Program. The conversation explores how education is evolving beyond traditional classroom models to better prepare students for an unpredictable future.

Key Themes from the Conversation

1. Education as a Calling
Both guests describe education as more than a profession—it’s a form of ministry and service focused on shaping students as people, not simply transferring knowledge.

2. Personalized Learning at GAC
Rather than a rigid one-size-fits-all model, GAC emphasizes personalized experiences that help students pursue their individual passions and purpose. 

3. Real-World Learning Through the Business Innovation Program
A major example is the student-run Spartan Café, which operates as a real-world business laboratory where students handle:

• Customer service
• Inventory and operations
• Profit and loss statements
• Team collaboration and leadership

This hands-on approach helps students understand why they are learning skills instead of questioning the relevance of classroom lessons. 

4. Building “Agency” in Students
The program focuses on helping students develop agency, meaning they can:

• Set meaningful goals
• Gather resources to achieve them
• Ask for help when needed

This mindset prepares them for careers and challenges that don’t yet exist.

5. Responsible Use of AI in Education
The guests discuss how schools must avoid two extremes: banning AI entirely or allowing it to replace real learning.

Instead, GAC teaches students to use AI as a tool while maintaining human connection, creativity, and ethical responsibility.

6. Confidence Through Experience
Dr. Cable shares a story of a shy student who gained confidence working at the Spartan Café—illustrating how hands-on programs can transform students by helping them discover their abilities.

In this episode of Peachtree Corners Life, host Rico Figliolini talks with two talented Wesleyan School students preparing for the upcoming Wesleyan Artist Market. Samantha Halpin, a ninth-grade photographer, and Sarah Virginia Copeland, a tenth-grade entrepreneur and baker, share how they discovered their creative passions and what they plan to bring to this year’s market. From photography inspired by family memories to a small baking business built on a treasured pound cake recipe, both students offer a glimpse into how young creators turn inspiration into something tangible.

The conversation explores the creative process behind their work, the emotional side of sharing art with others, and what it’s like for young artists to sell their creations. Samantha talks about capturing meaningful moments through photography and the influence of her grandmother, while Sarah Virginia discusses turning family recipes into a growing small business. Together, they reflect on the excitement, challenges, and rewards of seeing others connect with something they’ve made.

Key Takeaways

• Student artists play an important role in the Wesleyan Artist Market, showcasing both creative and entrepreneurial talent. 
• Samantha Halpin’s passion for photography was inspired by her grandmother, who worked as a photographer capturing emotional moments. 
• Her photography focuses on capturing feelings and experiences that viewers can connect with when they see the image. 
• Sarah Virginia Copeland runs a small baking business, Sarah V’s Sweet Treats, centered around family pound cake recipes. 
• Baking and photography represent different creative processes—one carefully planned, the other often spontaneous.
• Both students describe the unique feeling of sharing something personal with others, whether through a photo or a piece of cake.
• Family plays a major role in supporting their creative work—from inspiration to helping prepare for the market. 
• The Wesleyan Artist Market gives young creators the chance to experience entrepreneurship, creativity, and community engagement.

Peachtree Corners continues to push forward on what “smart city” can really mean—and in this in-person episode of Peachtree Corners Life, host Rico Figliolini sits down with City Councilman Phil Sadd (Post 1, District 1) to unpack the biggest initiatives shaping the city right now. From public safety innovation to trails, traffic, redevelopment, and housing, Phil walks through what’s happening, why it matters, and what residents can expect next.

Leading the conversation is a new Drone as First Responder pilot that can launch automatically from certain 911 priority calls—arriving on scene in seconds to provide real-time awareness, improve safety, and support de-escalation before officers arrive. The episode also covers major quality-of-life and economic development efforts including Crooked Creek Trail, workforce/affordable homeownership in Mechanicsville, updates on The Forum redevelopment, the new public innovation park Curiosity Corner, and upcoming mobility projects like the Peachtree Parkway lane conversion and the Winter’s Chapel corridor multi-use path open house.

Key takeaways

• Drone as First Responder (DFR) is launching as a pilot with Brinc (integrated with Motorola’s dispatch ecosystem), and Peachtree Corners is one of five partner cities—and the only one in Georgia.
  
  
• Crooked Creek Trail is a major long-term project (about 1.3 miles plus spurs) with heavy environmental and safety constraints due to waterway/EPA requirements; construction is still roughly two years out.
  
  
• Mechanicsville workforce homeownership plan uses ARPA funds for land acquisition (about five acres) and a public-private build model with price caps and anti-flip protections to keep homes affordable long-term.
  
  
• The Forum redevelopment is moving toward execution: Barnes & Noble relocation enables a 125-room boutique hotel on the corner; multifamily plans are updated to below 300 units, with parking decks designed to be visually screened by buildings; target start is early 2027 (funding-dependent).
  
  
• Curiosity Corner is a public innovation park in Technology Park with shaded seating + connectivity, plus testing for things like Pipedream underground delivery, drone delivery, and EV programs; projected completion this spring.
  
  
• Traffic improvement on Peachtree Parkway: converting an existing southbound turn lane into a third straight-through lane to reduce bottlenecks; funded via SPLOST with state permission.
  
  
• Winter’s Chapel multi-use path (Phase 2) open house: joint city involvement due to corridor “zigzag” boundaries; open house is Feb 12, 5–7.
  
  
• Public safety discussion focuses on improving the county partnership: Phil emphasizes better communication, better data/metrics, a potential satellite office in Peachtree Corners, and addressing staffing shortages rather than rushing toward a new department vote.
  
  

Peachtree Corners is changing fast—and a lot of the biggest conversations residents are having right now come down to the basics: traffic, infrastructure, and safety. In this episode of Peachtree Corners Life, host Rico Figliolini sits down with City Councilman Eric Christ—fresh off another term—to break down what’s happening, why it’s happening, and what it means for day-to-day life in the city.

From the new “jug handle” traffic pattern at Holcomb Bridge Road and Spalding Drive to major planning around bridge replacement on East Jones Bridge, Eric pulls back the curtain on how decisions get made across city, county, and state responsibilities. The conversation expands into what’s next for Technology Parkway, redevelopment at The Forum, the city’s deer population report, and how Peachtree Corners is thinking about practical public safety improvements without turning it into a political shouting match.

Resources:City of Peachtree Corners
website: https://www.peachtreecornersga.govEric Christ contact page: https://www.peachtreecornersga.gov/directory.aspx?EID=32Eric Christ campaign site: https://www.votechrist.org

Key takeaways

• Holcomb Bridge/Spalding changes are GDOT-driven (State Route 140) and designed to improve north-south throughput; left turns from Spalding are rerouted via Weatherburn Way and River Exchange.
  
  
• Expect a learning curve: signage improvements + GPS/map updates should reduce “habit” left turns over time.
  
  
• East Jones Bridge vehicle bridge replacement (early 2026 target): a 9–12 month project with an expected full road closure for ~4 months during the bridge swap, creating major detours.
  
  
• Pedestrian infrastructure gets folded in: the plan includes sidewalks on both sides; a newer pedestrian bridge may be relocated into the trail system; the new bridge is expected to sit higher for flood standards.
  
  
• Technology Parkway AV lanes are likely being rethought for a real-world test environment: AVs are faster now, and companies prefer mixed traffic; plan includes restriping, removing the “armadillos,” and adding shared-lane bike markings + a small trailhead parking area.
  
  
• The Forum redevelopment is a multi-year, phased evolution: Barnes & Noble moving (into the former Old Navy space), a parking deck shifting toward the Peachtree Parkway side, and residential/hotel components discussed as later phases (more like 2027–2028 timing).
  
  
• Deer population is a real scale issue: estimate shared in the conversation is 2,700+ deer (~193 per square mile vs ~25 in a natural setting); next step involves USDA Wildlife Services planning.
  
  
• Public safety discussion is framed as “service levels”: exploring options like a precinct presence, staffing visibility, and contract improvements—while acknowledging the long-term county policing framework.
  
  

Timestamp:

• 00:00 – Welcome and introduction of Eric Christ
• 02:00 – Holcomb Bridge Road traffic changes explained
• 12:00 – East Jones Bridge replacement plans
• 23:00 – Autonomous vehicle lanes and Curiosity Lab updates
• 34:00 – The Forum redevelopment and future timeline
• 44:00 – Deer population study and wildlife management
• 49:00 – Public safety, policing, and community concerns
• 01:12:00 – Final thoughts and how to contact Eric Christ

Should Peachtree Corners Form Its Own Police Department? 

Join host Rico Figliolini and City Manager Brian Johnson as they discuss the community’s big debate: whether Peachtree Corners should establish its own police force. From budget breakdowns and crime data to resident concerns and next steps, this is a conversation every local should hear.  Watch, comment, and share your thoughts. This live simulcast stream was previously recorded.

Five Podcast Takeaways (Revised)

1. Local control & service levels: Brian explains that a city-run department could keep officers dedicated inside Peachtree Corners—improving presence, familiarity, and response times—because they wouldn’t be pulled to countywide calls.
   
   
2. Budget reality, not a shock: Peachtree Corners currently generates about $11M toward policing via the county; a right-sized city department is estimated at ~$12.2M, leaving roughly a $1.2M gap that could mean about $70/year for a median ~$400k home—if the city covered it purely via millage (other offsets could reduce that).
   
   
3. Specialized units won’t vanish: Critical teams like SWAT/bomb disposal would still respond through interagency frameworks; other needs (e.g., ballistics) could be handled via GBI or paid partnerships. The emphasis is on matching resources to how often the city actually needs them.
   
   
4. Modern policing toolbox: The conversation highlights tech-forward tactics—crime center in the cloud, LPRs/cameras, and drones—as force multipliers to investigate efficiently, deter repeat offenders, and avoid risky pursuits.
   
   
5. People strategy matters: A smaller agency (projected ~52 officers vs. Gwinnett’s ~936 authorized) can compete for talent with targeted incentives—take-home vehicles, advanced training, slightly higher pay, and even housing set-asides marketed to first responders. Next steps include a professionally administered survey and neighborhood-level meetings; only if warranted would the topic be brought before city council for consideration.

Timestamp:
(00:00:00) Introductions and context on the recent public meeting.
(00:01:18) Community reaction and the range of opinions voiced.
(00:09:35) Understanding the millage rate and how city funding would work.
(00:15:15) Recent crime incidents and concerns about safety.
(00:17:56) Community feedback and key takeaways from the meeting.
(00:21:32) Access to specialized units like SWAT and how those services would continue.(00:24:33) Population growth and hiring strategies for a city police force.
(00:28:12) Technology and modern policing tools proposed for the city.
(00:32:10) Next steps: professional survey, targeted community meetings, and timeline for decision-making.
(00:37:54) Final thoughts and upcoming election context.

Host Rico Figliolini sits down with David Codrea, co-founder of Greenleaf Capital Partners and The Ride Lounge, for a lively conversation about turning challenging properties into community assets—and turning a lifelong love of adventure into a family-friendly car club in Peachtree Corners. David traces his path from swinging hammers on 1800s rentals to leading large-scale acquisitions across the Southeast.They dig into creative reuse—think vacant call centers reborn as pickleball hubs or spotless facilities for premium dog treats—as well as the patient, conservative financing that keeps projects resilient. David also shares the story and spirit behind The Ride Lounge: a social, story-driven car community where members actually drive their cars, bring the family, and connect.

Key takeaways

• How David evolved from hands-on landlord to co-leading diversified real estate investments across eight states.
  
  
• Why adaptability beats nostalgia: repurposing underused spaces (from call centers to pickleball courts).
  
  
• A conservative playbook: fixed-rate debt, amortizing loans, and cash-flow discipline.
  
  
• Creative tenants matter: examples like Farm Hounds turning a tired building into a food-grade facility.
  
  
• Adventure as leadership lab: hiking 50 state high points with his daughter and embracing calculated risk.
  
  
• The Ride Lounge origin story: a welcoming car club focused on people, stories, and road time—not velvet ropes.
  
  
• Community heartbeat: family-friendly events, open Friday hangouts, and space for meetings and small gatherings.
  
  
• Expansion plans: scouting new Ride Lounge locations around Atlanta and beyond—and inviting bold ideas.
  
  

Resources: The Ride Lounge (ride-lounge.com)
Greenleaf Capital Partners (greenleafcp.com)

Timestamp:
(00:02:35) David’s early beginnings in real estate and move to Atlanta.
(00:06:42) Buying properties after the 2008 crash and the importance of flexibility.
(00:08:57) Adapting commercial spaces to new trends like pickleball.
(00:12:49) Cash flow philosophy and conservative financing.
(00:14:10) Advice for young entrepreneurs entering real estate.
(00:15:01) Adventures, risk-taking, and leadership lessons.
(00:17:11) Hiking the highest points in all 50 states with his daughter.
(00:23:53) Creating the Ride Lounge—vision, purpose, and community.
(00:28:21) The Ride Lounge as a social space with events and family-friendly gatherings.
(00:32:18) Expanding the Ride Lounge concept to more locations.
(00:33:56) Community outreach and events like Pedal Fest.

In this episode of Peachtree Corners Life, host Rico Figliolini spotlights three remarkable student artists featured in this year’s Wesleyan Artist Market. Eighth graders Kimberly Wang and Nika Jensen, along with sixth grader Carter Jensen, share their creative journeys—ranging from edible art like fruit jellies and peppermint bark to handmade jewelry and custom-designed bags.

Kimberly talks about her love for food art and balancing sweetness with fruity freshness, while Nika and Carter discuss building a jewelry business that also gives back—donating proceeds to families in the Philippines. This isn’t just an artist market; it’s a showcase of purpose-driven, globally inspired young talent. The event runs April 25–26 at Wesleyan School and is open to the public.

✅ Podcast Takeaways:

• Kimberly Wang creates handmade edible treats, balancing flavor and freshness for the show.
  
  
• Nika and Carter Jensen co-run a jewelry and fashion accessory business, inspired by global travel and cultural experiences.
  
  
• Nika donates part of her proceeds to support families in the Philippines.
  
  
• All three students are deeply involved in extracurriculars—from musicals and marching band to math club and academic bowl.
  
  
• The Wesleyan Artist Market features 24 student artists and over 70 professionals—open to the public April 25–26.