Homer’s homecoming
Mar. 6 — It’s been a busy week for candidates qualifying to run for elected office across the state. Hayden is putting together a wrap-up on what’s in store for Sandy Springs this election year. Be on the lookout for his report on Rough Draft’s website, and we’ll have the full scoop for you in next week’s newsletter.
☔️ The spring-like temperatures will continue through next week, but off-and-on showers are expected through the weekend, so keep your umbrella handy.
🚧 Paving continues as part of the Mount Vernon Highway Project. Drivers will want to avoid Boylston Drive through Friday afternoon.
🚔 Sandy Springs Police arrested a man charged with pushing kids into a fountain as they rode past him on their bikes.
👨🏻🚒 The Sandy Springs Fire Corps is recruiting new members to provide essential support to firefighters and first responders. Learn more here.
🪕 Sandy Springs is looking for local musicians to perform at the Farmers Market this season.
🥅 It’s not too early to start thinking about summer camp for your kids. Sandy Springs is rolling out a selection of camps for children of all ages, including Kids’ Yogaland, Abernathy Arts Camps, soccer, tennis, and gymnastics. Learn more here.
🚍 MARTA officials continue installing new fare collection equipment as part of its Breeze system upgrade across the transit network. Here in Sandy Springs:
➡ The faregates are closed at the Sandy Springs Station, so riders should use the emergency gates.
➡ At the North Springs Station, riders are advised to give themselves a few extra minutes to follow signs to the east faregates.
SANDY SPRINGS SNAPSHOT: To celebrate the start of Women’s History Month, @visitsandysprings honored Dr. Eva Galambos, known as “the mother of Sandy Springs.” Rough Draft recently profiled the city’s first mayor and the impact she made on the community.
🙋🏾♂️ Let us know if there are any stories you’d like to see in future newsletters,
Hayden and the Rough Draft team
Sandy Springs Police shut down illicit massage parlors in ongoing investigation
🚨 Sandy Springs Police Department detectives are searching for Christina Chi Ling Han, known as “Sandy,” in connection with an ongoing investigation involving allegations of human trafficking and illicit sexual activity at massage parlors around the city.
In late January, the SSPD conducted “Operation Sandy Springs Guardian,” arresting eight men for soliciting an illicit sexual act at a hotel off Powers Ferry Road.
The SSPD’s statement says the massage parlor investigation, coined “Operation No Safe Haven,” remains active and ongoing, with three women arrested and charged on Feb. 19 with solicitation for a sexual act.
🚫 Read Hayden’s full report on the investigation.
One Day of Jewish Overnight Camp Magic
SPONSORED BY CAMP JUDAEA
✡️ A Day at CJ is a one-day camp adventure for rising 1st – 4th graders to experience the joy of Camp Judaea, a values-driven, Israel-centered Jewish overnight camp.
Your child will enjoy a full day of Israeli dance, archery, the ropes course, art, animals, and lunch in the dining hall, with Hebrew and Israeli culture woven throughout. Parents get a guided tour of campus, then free time to explore the area on their own.
➞ Space is limited. FREE to attend. June 21 or July 19.
Fulton County Jail crisis sparks debate between leadership
🏢 The facility that Sandy Springs Police rely on to house people charged with felonies is facing challenges with its leadership.
Fulton County Commission Chair Robb Pitts and Sheriff Pat Labat disagree on how to resolve the unconstitutional conditions at the Rice Street jail, legally required by an agreement with the U.S. Department of Justice. However, they are working together.
In February, the court-appointed consent decree monitor, Kathleen Kenney, reported that Rice Street’s inmate levels are not sustainable given existing staffing shortages, warning that a court-mandated population cap may be necessary to maintain safe conditions.
Since 2021, more than 30 people have died in custody at Fulton County’s main jail. Violence against inmates and detention officers, burst pipes, and fires have continually plagued the county’s main jail.
📍 Read Hayden’s full report on this ongoing situation.
Homer the Town Turtle returns to Campbell-Stone
🐢 Campbell-Stone Sandy Springs residents gathered outside the retirement community’s main lobby on March 2 to welcome back Homer the Town Turtle, one of 75 statues created to raise money for the city’s incorporation in the early aughts.
More than 20 residents at Campbell-Stone gathered with members of the Sandy Springs Society and Mayor Rusty Paul to unveil the statue after a month-long professional refurbishing.
The Town Turtles of Sandy Springs originated in 2003, a few years before the city’s incorporation, when Ingrid Blunt and Jan Collins of the Sandy Springs Society conceived a creative way to raise money.
👉🏼 Read more about Homer’s homecoming.
🌆 At The New School, the City of Atlanta is an essential classroom. Our students explore their passions through year-long internships, an entrepreneurship class where they start their own businesses, and extended projects addressing real-world problems. From TNS, they go everywhere! Accepting applications. Learn more here. SPONSOR MESSAGE
The Sports Section
IN PARTNERSHIP WITH SCORE ATLANTA
🏀 BOYS BASKETBALL
- Holy Innocents’ (25-3): Friday @ Walker (25-5) (GHSA Semifinals)
- Lovett (16-15): Season Completed
- Mt. Vernon (28-3): Friday @ Darlington (28-2) (GHSA Semifinals)
- North Springs (9-15): Season Completed
- Pace Academy (23-7): Saturday vs. Cambridge (18-12) (GHSA Semifinals)
- Riverwood (13-14): Season Completed
- Westminster (22-5): Season Completed
🏀 GIRLS BASKETBALL
- Holy Innocents’ (23-6): Friday vs. Greater Atlanta Christian (23-8) (GHSA Semifinals)
- Lovett (13-11): Season Completed
- Mt. Vernon (1-19): Season Completed
- North Springs (4-17): Season Completed
- Pace Academy (13-11): Season Completed
- Riverwood (5-20): Season Completed
- Westminster (19-8): Season Completed
⚾️ BOYSBASEBALL
- Holy Innocents’ (5-5): March 11 vs. KIPP Atlanta (2-3-1)
- Lovett (6-4): Tuesday vs. North Paulding (9-2)
- Mt. Vernon (4-1): Saturday @ IMG Academy Black (5-2)
- North Springs (3-10): Friday @ St. Pius X (5-5)
- Pace Academy (2-4): Monday @ Creekside (3-2)
- Riverwood (5-6): Tuesday vs. Creekview (2-8)
- Westminster (3-4): Tuesday vs. Roswell (10-3)
🥍 BOYS LACROSSE
- Holy Innocents’ (2-3): March 12 vs. Midtown (3-2)
- Lovett (7-0): March 14 vs. Vestavia Hills, AL. (3-0)
- Mt. Vernon (3-0): Monday vs. Dunwoody (5-0)
- Pace Academy (3-2): March 13 vs. North Atlanta (1-3)
- Riverwood (3-4): Monday vs. North Atlanta (1-3)
- Westminster (1-2): March 14 vs. Blessed Trinity (4-4)
🥍 GIRLS LACROSSE
- Holy Innocents’ (3-1): Tuesday vs. Pace Academy (3-2)
- Lovett (4-2): Tuesday vs. Midtown (1-3)
- North Springs (0-4): Monday @ Lakeside-DeKalb (4-1); Tuesday @ Wheeler (1-1)
- Pace Academy (3-2): Saturday @ Mountain Brook, AL. (1-2)
- Riverwood (3-2): Friday vs. Peachtree Ridge (0-5)
- Westminster (1-3): March 12 @ Buford (2-4)
⚽️ BOYS SOCCER
- Holy Innocents’ (3-2): Tuesday vs. Washington (0-3)
- Lovett (3-3): Tuesday @ Carver-Atlanta (0-1)
- Mt. Vernon (0-2): Friday vs. Mt. Bethel Christian (0-1)
- North Springs (3-4): Friday vs. Tucker (2-2)
- Pace Academy (1-4): March 13 vs. Northgate (3-2)
- Riverwood (2-4): Friday @ Pope (6-1)
- Westminster (1-4): Tuesday @ Kell (1-5)
⚽️ GIRLS SOCCER
- Holy Innocents’ (3-0): Tuesday vs. Washington (1-1)
- Lovett (3-1): March 12 @ Therrell (4-1)
- Mt. Vernon (1-2): Tuesday vs. Mt. Bethel Christian (0-1)
- North Springs (2-3): Friday vs. Tucker (3-1)
- Pace Academy (1-3): Tuesday vs. Creekside (1-4)
- Riverwood (6-0): Friday @ Pope (4-2); Tuesday vs. Creekview (2-4)
- Westminster (6-1): Tuesday @ Kell (0-4)
School records do not reflect Thursday’s matches.
Baraonda’s ravioli recipe involves, but does not require, a pasta maker.
🧑🏼🍳 Get the full recipe here and let us know if you give it a try!
