Runoff elections
Nov. 21 — Early voting starts Saturday for the runoff elections for Sandy Springs Mayor and City Council District 4. Keep reading for a wrap up of Rough Draft’s candidate forums we hosted Nov. 20, as well as where and when you can cast your vote early.
But first, some local headlines…
👏🏼 Leadership Perimeter announced Stacy Garmon as its new executive director.
🤔 Sandy Springs residents can provide input on design guidelines for the city’s commercial and mixed-use areas online if you missed the in-person meeting this week.
🚨 A Sandy Springs mother has been charged with murder in the death of her 11-year-old daughter.
🙏🏼 Don’t forget to put on your stretchy pants before partaking in your Thanksgiving meal. The Rough Draft Sandy Springs team is thankful for our subscribers.
Sandy Springs mayoral candidates face off in Rough Draft forum
🔥 Rusty Paul and Dontaye Carter addressed social media exchanges that sparked controversy as they took part in a candidates’ forum sponsored by Rough Draft Atlanta on Nov. 20.
The campaign heated up when State Rep. Esther Feuer Panitch, D-Sandy Springs, made a post on social media endorsing Paul. She said the city’s Jewish residents need a mayor who will specifically name the threats they continue to face and stand up for the Jewish community, implying Carter didn’t. In a reply to the endorsement post that included those comments, Paul said he was humbled by her words and endorsement.
Carter responded on social media by sharing a statement he made on June 2 after the anti-Semitic attack made in Boulder, Colorado, in which he said Sandy Springs has seen a rise in anti-Semitic and anti-Arab hate. He said Jewish residents in the city have every right to be concerned.
“Hate doesn’t stop at one door – it spreads, and tears at the community that connects us all,” Carter said in his post.
➡️ Read more about the forum here, and watch the complete program here.
CITY COUNCIL DISTRICT 4 RUNOFF FORUM
🧑🏽💻 District 4 runoff candidates Frank Roberts and Michelle Sullivan also participated in a Rough Draft forum. Hear how they plan to serve the district if elected.
Lights, laughter, and holiday cheer with Miracle on Peachtree festivities
SPONSORED BY LIVABLE BUCKHEAD
🎄This holiday season, Buckhead shines bright with festive cheer for the whole community!
Warm up with two festive hot chocolate crawls, give back at the wreath decoratingfor first responders, and don’t miss the lighting of a 24-foot tree in Charlie Loudermilk Park, featuring live music and festive llama photo ops. The holiday fun never stops!
✨ Events begin Fri., Dec. 5. Visit Livable Buckhead’s website for all the Miracle on Peachtree details.
Early voting — know before you go
🗳️ Sandy Springs residents will return to the polls for early voting from Saturday, Nov. 22 through Wednesday, Nov. 26. The runoff election day will be Dec. 2.
The Fulton County Department of Registration and Elections will open 14 early voting locations, including two in Sandy Springs:
- North Fulton Annex, 7741 Roswell Road, Sandy Springs.
- Sandy Springs Library, 395 Mount Vernon Hwy., Sandy Springs
The polls will be open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Nov. 22, noon to 5 p.m. on Nov. 23, and 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Nov. 24 to 26.
Neither location will host an absentee ballot drop box. Other early voting locations can be found on the county’s website. During the advance voting period, Fulton County voters may cast their ballot at any of the locations. On election day, they must vote at their assigned voting precinct. Polling places will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Dec. 2.
Empowerment Center opens in Sandy Springs
✊🏼 The Community Assistance Center (CAC) brought its career and adult education services together with the grand opening of its Empowerment Center on Nov. 13.
Executive Director Francis K. Horton III said the Empowerment Center was the first project completed in its $18 million, three-year Compassion in Action capital campaign. CTJ Construction completed renovations of the second floor of the CAC’s building at 1130 Hightower Trail in Sandy Springs. Holder Construction donated all the furniture for the Empowerment Center.
CAC Program Director Doris Pereira, Greater Perimeter Chamber Executive Director Adam Forrand, Rep. Lucy McBath, Sandy Springs Mayor Rusty Paul, and Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta Vice President Karen Leone de Nie joined Horton to cut the ribbon opening the Empowerment Center. (pictured)
Horton said that in 2024 the CAC looked at numbers and results and saw that 77 percent of the people who came to them for help worked at least one job.“They needed to upskill, they needed to reskill so they can move their families toward stability,” Horton said.
👉🏼 Read more about CAC’s Empowerment Center.
Lovett School receives largest donation in its history
🏫 The Lovett School announced Nov. 19 a record-breaking $30 million commitment from the Rollins Family, the largest single donation in the school’s 99-year history.
According to a press release, the transformational commitment, among the largest single gifts to an independent school in the country, bolsters the One Lovett Campaign, strengthening priority investments in faculty support, student opportunities, and financial aid, as well as future-facing campus development.
The gift honors Rita Anne Rollins ’72, the oldest child of Randall and Peggy Rollins, who tragically passed away in 1970. The gift will support the construction of Rita Anne Rollins Hall, which will bring together makerspaces, media studios, a new chapel, performing arts venues, a dining commons, a learning commons, and an expansive campus green.
In attendance for the announcement: Pam Rollins ’75, Tim Rollins ’81, Amy Rollins Kreisler ’88, Meredyth Cole, Head of School, John O. Knox Jr. ’88, Co-Chair One Lovett Campaign Committee, Eileen Keough Millard ’80, Co-Chair One Lovett Campaign Committee. (pictured)
📍 Read more about the donation.
What’s doin’ around Sandy Springs
🎙️Nov. 21: Poetry Open Mic Night at Phoenix & Dragon Bookstore
💪🏾 Nov. 22:Fit4Mom Body Boost at Heritage Park
🧺 Nov. 22: 20th Anniversary Picnic in the Park at City Springs
🌶️ Nov. 22: Bowls of Steel Chili Cook Off at Mutation Brewery
🎶 Nov. 22:Jessia Vosk: Sleigh at Sandy Springs Performing Arts Center
🧙🏾 Nov. 24:Wicked Movie Party at The Springs Cinema and Taphouse
🗓️ Add your event to our free, online event calendar.
The Sports Section
IN PARTNERSHIP WITH SCORE ATLANTA
🏈 FOOTBALL
- Holy Innocents’ (8-3): Friday @ Athens Academy (9-1) / (Second Round)
- Lovett (6-5): Season Completed
- Mt. Vernon (6-5): Friday @ Fellowship Christian (8-1) / (Second Round)
- North Springs (1-9): Season Completed
- Pace Academy (3-7): Season Completed
- Riverwood (1-9): Season Completed
- Westminster (2-8): Season Completed
🏀 BOYS BASKETBALL
- Holy Innocents’ (1-0): Saturday vs. Woodward Academy (1-0)
- Lovett (2-1): Monday vs. North Atlanta (3-1)
- Mt. Vernon (2-0): Friday @ Dunwoody (2-1)
- North Springs (0-3): Friday vs. St. Pius X (2-0)
- Pace Academy (0-1): Monday @ Holy Innocents’ (1-0)
- Riverwood (0-2): Friday vs. Mt. Bethel Christian (1-0); Saturday vs. Furtah Prep (1-3)
- Westminster (3-0): Friday vs. KIPP Atlanta (2-1)
🏀 GIRLS BASKETBALL
- Holy Innocents’ (0-3): Saturday vs. North Paulding (2-0)
- Lovett (1-3): Dec. 2 @ Hapeville Charter (0-1)
- Mt. Vernon (0-2): Friday @ Dunwoody (2-2)
- North Springs (0-3): Friday vs. St. Pius X (0-2)
- Pace Academy (1-0): Saturday vs. Lakeview Academy (2-0)
- Riverwood (2-3): Friday vs. Mt. Bethel Christian (1-2)
- Westminster (4-0): Friday vs. KIPP Atlanta (0-2)
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