Runoff reminder
Nov. 28 — We hope you had a happy Thanksgiving. We intended to keep today’s newsletter brief while the team enjoys time off for the holiday, but it turns out the happenings in Sandy Springs don’t take a break.
🗳️ Don’t forget we have an important runoff election for mayor on Tuesday, Dec. 2 — people in District 4 have two runoff races. Bob Pepalis reports early voting turnout was low, with only 5,207 people casting ballots through Tuesday.
👨🏽💻 When you’re not watching football or taking a nap this weekend, make sure you check out the Sandy Springs mayoral and City Council runoff forums hosted by Rough Draft so you’re prepared when you head to the polls on Tuesday.
✅ You can confirm your voting location here.
⚕️Sandy Springs will continue using Cigna for employee health insurance while it looks for a self-insured model for the future.
📚 Mount Vernon School announced a strategic partnership with Texas Tech University-Costa Rica to expand global opportunities for students enrolled in the Sandy Springs school’s Global Impact Diploma program.
🍸 The Rough Draft dining team just released their list of the best holiday bars around Atlanta, including Jingle Bar at Tre Vele and Winter Wonderland at The Select in Sandy Springs. Check out the full list here.
SANDY SPRINGS SNAPSHOT: Residents enjoying the Sandy Springs 20th anniversary picnic last weekend. Check out Bob Pepalis’ wrap up of the day.
COMING SOON
📫 Be on the lookout for the Sandy Springs Reporter Newspaper 20th Anniversary special issue, including stories about the city’s origin, pictures, and messages from our elected officials.
Thanks for reading,
The Rough Draft Team
Manny’s Band Foundation hosts community concert
🥁 A local nonprofit hosted a community concert this week at the Buckhead Theatre to celebrate the life of Manny Pargman and to inspire people to take action to prevent suicide.
Manny’s Band Foundation is a nonprofit started in memory of Manny, a Sandy Springs teenager who died by suicide last year. Manny’s family and friends started the foundation as a way to advocate for suicide prevention.
“It is my belief that Manny is not here because nobody in his life, including myself, bridged that general sense of awareness out there to the resources that could have helped him,” Ben Pargman, Manny’s father, said. “That’s the gap. That’s what’s missing.”
🎼 Read more about the Foundation.
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.
Sandy Springs to buy ballistic shields for police officers
👮🏼♀️ The Sandy Springs Police Department will buy lightweight ballistic shields costing $64,000 to protect its officers using its Confiscated Assets fund.
The Sandy Springs City Council approved an increase to the fund to $100,000 to cover the cost of the shields and for any other small tools and equipment the police department may need by the end of the year.
Seized assets confiscated by law enforcement agencies through forfeitures are called confiscated assets, according to a report to the city council. Governmental agencies may use these funds to cover costs associated with the forfeiture process. Funds that remain are distributed by court order for use by law enforcement agencies in support of law enforcement-related activities.
Sandy Springs receives GDOT grant to resurface additional streets
👷🏼 An unexpected $1.27 million grant from the Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT) will enable Sandy Springs to resurface sections of an additional 19 city streets.
The Sandy Springs City Council approved a change order during its Nov. 18 meeting to a contract with East Coast Grading to add the resurfacing using Local Road Assistance (LRA) funds distributed by GDOT. Public Works Director Marty Martin said the LRA funds came after the council awarded a $6.5 million contract to the company in May.
🚧 Find out which streets will be resurfaced.
What’s doin’ around Sandy Springs
🩰 Nov. 28: Roswell Dance Theatre: The Nutcracker at Sandy Springs Performing Arts Center (multiple nights through Dec. 7)
⭐️ Nov. 28: Merry & Bright! at Painting with a Twist
🐉 Nov. 29: Tanksgiving at Warhammer City Walk
🦃 Nov. 29: Post Gobble Wobble at Skate City Springs
🥾 Nov. 29: Onesie Wonder hiking at Island Ford Parkway
☃️ Dec. 3: Snow Day movie matinee at Heritage
🗓️ Add your event to our free, online event calendar.
The Sports Section
IN PARTNERSHIP WITH SCORE ATLANTA
🏈 FOOTBALL
- Holy Innocents’ (8-4): Season Completed
- Lovett (6-5): Season Completed
- Mt. Vernon (6-6): Season Completed
- 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’ (3-0): Friday @ Meadowcreek (6-0); Saturday vs. Cedar Grove (1-2)
- Lovett (3-2): Dec. 2 @ Hapeville Charter (1-2)
- Mt. Vernon (5-0): Dec. 2 vs. B.E.S.T. Academy (3-2)
- North Springs (0-6): Dec. 2 @ Marist (3-1)
- Pace Academy (0-2): Saturday vs. Hillgrove (3-1)
- Riverwood (0-5): Dec. 5 vs. Sequoyah (2-2)
- Westminster (5-0): Saturday @ North Atlanta (5-1)
🏀 GIRLS BASKETBALL
- Holy Innocents’ (2-3): Dec. 2 @ KIPP Atlanta (1-3)
- Lovett (2-2): Dec. 2 @ Hapeville Charter (0-1)
- Mt. Vernon (0-3): Dec. 5 @ Atlanta International (2-0)
- North Springs (0-4): Dec. 2 @ Marist (3-0)
- Pace Academy (1-1): Dec. 2 vs. Forest Park (0-5)
- Riverwood (2-4): Dec. 2 @ Winder-Barrow (5-2)
- Westminster (5-0): Dec. 2 vs. Greater Atlanta Christian (2-2)
🏈 Score Atlanta Game of the Week: Friday’s quarterfinals matchup between the Cartersville Purple Hurricanes (12-0) at the Kell Longhorns (10-2) will be televised live at 8 p.m. on Atlanta News First (Channel 46) and streamed digitally on the Atlanta News First (ANF) website/app and the NFHS Network.
Tune in at 7:30 for the Georgia High School Countdown to Kickoff for pregame festivities and our guest picker! Stay tuned after the game for the Georgia High School Postgame Show with game highlights and scoring results from around the state!
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