Early voting has begun
Friday, May 1 — A record number of people cast their ballots this week as early voting for Georgia’s primary elections got underway. Hayden Sumlin recently provided a Sandy Springs voting guide to help you keep track of what will be on your ballot.
🗣️ Hayden also has this wrap up from the Republican and Democratic debates for Secretary of State hosted by the Atlanta Press Club and Georgia Public Broadcasting. The Republican candidates include former Sandy Springs City Council member Gabriel Sterling; and Fulton County Commissioner Dana Barrett is on the Democratic ballot.
🗳️ If you’re looking for ways to learn more about the candidates running for many of Georgia’s statewide races, check out the Atlanta Press Club Debate Series before you cast your ballot.
☔️ More showers are expected on Saturday, clearing out in time for a sunny Sunday. Temperatures are forecast to be in the 60s both days.
🎶 The City Springs Theatre Company will close its 2025-26 season with a production of “Mean Girls” running from May 1 to 17. The musical features a book by Tina Fey (who also wrote the screenplay for the film), music by Jeff Richmond, and lyrics by Nell Benjamin. “Mean Girls” opened on Broadway in 2018 and the West End in 2024. Get more information here.
💚 The annual Juneteenth Celebration is returning on June 19 from 5 to 10 p.m. at City Springs. Presented by the Sandy Springs Foundation in partnership with the cities of Dunwoody and Brookhaven, the event draws more than 4,000 attendees from across the metro Atlanta area.
👩🏼🍳 The Select in City Springs named its first female executive chef, Lorien Vilchez. Vilchez has extensive experience from some of Atlanta’s top restaurants.
SANDY SPRINGS SNAPSHOT: Sandy Springs Police welcomed Officer Citta back to work after he sustained serious injuries in a crash in September 2025.
😱 If you’ve been thinking it’s time to upgrade your living arrangement, check out this Sandy Springs house owned by actor Josh Brolin that just hit the market.
Thanks for reading!
The Rough Draft team
🌞 Whether you’re searching for family-friendly activities at Lake Oconee, planning a relaxing lake vacation, or hoping to recreate the “good old days” with your kids or grandkids, this is the perfect place to slow down and make lasting summer memories. Plan your nostalgic summer getaway at Lake Oconee. SPONSOR MESSAGE
Sandy Springs Planning Commission approves 21-home subdivision
🏡 The Sandy Springs Planning Commission voted 3-2 to recommend approval of a rezoning that allows for 21 single-family homes on five residential lots at Spalding Drive and Pitts Road.
In its justification for approval, the planning department cited increased demand for single-unit detached housing in Sandy Springs outpacing production. There are limited opportunities to add more homes within Sandy Springs, a built-out city.
Some residents were opposed at initial community meetings late last year, citing fatigue from nearby construction work, existing traffic delays, and concerns about the subdivision’s main entrance at Spalding Springs Court. Many got on board after changes were made in response to community feedback.
👉🏼 Read more about the proposed new subdivision.
Gonna be a homebody… Gonna have a house party
SPONSORED BY ATLANTA HOMES & LIFESTYLES
🏠 The Southeastern Designer Showhouse benefiting Solidarity Sandy Springs is open to the public for tours now through May 10 (Mother’s Day!).
💐 Located near Chastain Park, the newly constructed private residence features the work of Suzanne Kasler and 20 other celebrated interior designers. From a pool with sunken firepit to a wellness “hub” with sauna, steam, cold plunge and gym to an F1-inspired game room, the 10,000-plus-square-foot house delights at every turn.
The Sandy Springs community garden helping neighbors in need
👩🏻🌾 Community gardens run by passionate gardeners across metro Atlanta are contributing thousands of pounds of fresh produce per year to food pantries, soup kitchens, and free food stands. Whether the land lends a few acres or a handful of plots, an abundance of fruits and vegetables is being donated to neighbors in need.
Atlanta Community Food Bank founder Bill Bolling spoke to a crowd of about 200 members of Temple Emanu-El, a Jewish synagogue in Sandy Springs, in 2004. Bolling’s talk sparked the creation of a community garden. Twenty-one years later, the Temple’s Garden Isaiah (pictured) donates between 1,000 and 2,000 pounds of food per year to the Community Assistance Center about two miles from the synagogue. It doesn’t get more local than that.
Read Logan C. Richie’s full story on the impact of Atlanta-area community gardens.
North Springs SHARK Club spreads kindness at Sandy Springs Rotary
🫶🏼 A few years ago, North Springs High seniors Clara Peres (third from left) and Felipe Camargo (second from right) co-founded the Students Helping Achieve Real Kindness Club (SHARK), hosting various activities at events to fundraise for creative community service initiatives.
The Sandy Springs Rotary Club invited North Springs students in the SHARK Club to its April 27 meeting to learn about how the organizations can work together in the future.
Peres, president of the SHARK Club, said she wanted to start a club in the summer of 2023, and Camargo jumped at the opportunity to help.
“We ended up having a meeting at our local McDonald’s, and that’s where SHARK Club was born,” Peres said. “And the funny thing is, originally, Shark Club was supposed to be a marine biology club. That went out the window … we wanted to help out the community, everyone around us.”
🦈 Learn more about the SHARK Club.
What’s it Worth?
SPONSORED BY ATLANTA FINE HOMES SOTHEBY’S INTERNATIONAL REALTY
🏡 Set behind gates on 2.3± acres in Sandy Springs, this nearly 15,000-square-foot estate features a pool, fireside pavilion, outdoor kitchen, sport court and indoor gym. The home offers six bedrooms, seven bathrooms and three half bathrooms.
❓ Guess the price below!
🌞 Whether you’re searching for family-friendly activities at Lake Oconee, planning a relaxing lake vacation, or hoping to recreate the “good old days” with your kids or grandkids, this is the perfect place to slow down and make lasting summer memories. Plan your nostalgic summer getaway at Lake Oconee.
SPONSOR MESSAGE
What’s doin’ around Sandy Springs
🏮 May 2:Sandy Springs Lantern Parade workshops at City Springs
🧺 May 3:Concert by the Springs: Brother Maven at City Springs
📈 May 5: Power Sessions for Growth: A Tool for Business Relationships at Greater Perimeter Chamber
✂️ May 6: Crafting Buddies at Sandy Springs Recreation and Parks
🗓️ Find more events on the Rough Draft calendar.
The Sports Section
IN PARTNERSHIP WITH SCORE ATLANTA
⚾️ BOYS BASEBALL
- Holy Innocents’ (23-7): Friday vs. Landmark Christian (22-10) (Game 3 – If Necessary) (GHSA Playoffs)
- Lovett (21-8): Friday vs. Fellowship Christian (23-9) (Game 3 – If Necessary) (GHSA Playoffs)
- Mt. Vernon (13-12): Season Complete
- North Springs (12-20): Season Complete
- Pace Academy (15-15): Season Complete
- Riverwood (12-18): Season Complete
- Westminster (8-20): Season Complete
🥍 BOYS LACROSSE
- Holy Innocents’ (9-9): Friday @ Allatoona (15-3) (GHSA Playoffs)
- Lovett (14-3): Friday vs. St. Pius X (7-10) (GHSA Playoffs)
- Mt. Vernon (10-5): Friday @ Starr’s Mill (15-3) (GHSA Playoffs)
- Pace Academy (13-5): Friday @ Whitewater (15-3) (GHSA Playoffs)
- Riverwood (11-8): Season Complete
- Westminster (7-8): Friday @ Cambridge (8-10) (GHSA Playoffs)
🥍 GIRLS LACROSSE
- Holy Innocents’ (9-7): Friday @ Cambridge (14-4) (GHSA Playoffs)
- Lovett (13-5): Friday @ Pace Academy (8-8) (GHSA Playoffs)
- North Springs (6-11): Season Complete
- Pace Academy (8-8): Friday vs. Lovett (13-5) (GHSA Playoffs)
- Riverwood (9-9): Season Complete
- Westminster (8-8): Friday @ Mount Paran Christian (10-6) (GHSA Playoffs)
⚽️ BOYS SOCCER
- Holy Innocents’ (14-5): Friday vs. Atlanta International (10-6) (GHSA Playoffs)
- Lovett (9-9): Friday vs. Athens Academy (8-4) (GHSA Playoffs)
- Mt. Vernon (13-4): Friday vs. Darlington (9-4) (GHSA Playoffs)
- North Springs (6-11): Season Complete
- Pace Academy (10-8): Friday vs. Benedictine (15-4) (GHSA Playoffs)
- Riverwood (14-5): Tuesday vs. Johns Creek (20-1) (GHSA Playoffs)
- Westminster (6-13): Friday vs. Clarkston (11-1) (GHSA Playoffs)
⚽️ GIRLS SOCCER
- Holy Innocents’ (13-4): TBD (GHSA Playoffs)
- Lovett (15-3): TBD (GHSA Playoffs)
- Mt. Vernon (7-5-2): TBD (GHSA Playoffs)
- North Springs (9-5): Season Complete
- Pace Academy (10-8): TBD (GHSA Playoffs)
- Riverwood (19-1): Monday vs. Roswell (15-2) (GHSA Playoffs)
- Westminster (13-3): TBD (GHSA Playoffs)
School records do not reflect April 30 matches.
