Celebrating Juneteenth
Friday, Jun. 19 — Today is Juneteenth, which marks the day the last enslaved African Americans learned they were free. Sandy Springs, Dunwoody, and Brookhaven are holding a joint Juneteenth Celebration at City Springs. The family-friendly event includes live performances, immersive art exhibitions, and educational exhibits.
💚 Hayden Sumlin recently wrote about Sandy Springs City Council Member Melody Kelley and her efforts to bring Juneteenth celebrations to our city.
👉🏼 Rough Draft compiled a list of other Juneteenth events taking place this weekend around Atlanta.
🌤️ The weekend should be partly sunny with temperatures in the mid-80s, but it’s going to feel sticky outside with increased humidity.
🧑🏽 Visit Sandy Springs has a list of activities to do with your dad or father-like figure to celebrate Father’s Day on Sunday.
⚽️ World Cup watch parties are still ongoing at CityBar. & Cafe, including the Sandy Springs Clubhouse for the Friday, June 19 matches.
🗳️ Fulton County will have a new commission chair next year after Commissioner Mo Ivory beat current chair Robb Pitts in Tuesday’s runoff election.
📱 Sandy Springs Recreation and Parks Department launched a mobile app and desktop software that will provide a more streamlined experience when registering for programs, camps, events, classes, and making facility reservations.
🔨 Officials at North Springs High School shared footage of their new building that’s scheduled to open August 2027.
🚔 Sandy Springs Police Sgt. Leon Millholland was featured in a recent episode of The Diner Sessions sharing an unexpected friendship he made while on duty.
Sandy Springs Snapshot: Rough Draft readers participated in our inaugural dinner club at Baraonda in Sandy Springs this week. More than 50 diners were paired with like-minded people at several restaurants around Atlanta to enjoy good food, meet new friends, and support local journalism. Sign up now for our next dinner club taking place on Tuesday, July 21.
Thanks for reading!
The Rough Draft team
✨ Early bird tickets are now on sale for Community Assistance Center’s CAC Annual Gala on Sat., Sept. 19 from 6 to 10 p.m. Join us for an inspiring evening supporting neighbors and building a stronger, more stable community. SPONSOR MESSAGE
Sandy Springs City Council extends contract for school zone speed cameras
🛑 The Sandy Springs City Council approved a three-year extension of its contract with RedSpeed for school zone speed cameras. Gov. Brian Kemp signed House Bill 651 into law this year, which revises and adds transparency measures on how local governments can operate school zone speed cameras. The new state law will restrict enforcement to an hour before and after school.
The compromise, falling short of an outright ban on school zone speed cameras, requires periodic local referendums, consistent penalties of $75, clearer warning signs, and camera accuracy testing.
Sandy Springs Police Maj. Mike Lindstrom advocated for extending the city’s contract with RedSpeed at the June 16 city council meeting. (pictured)
🚘 Read more about the city’s use of school zone speed cameras.
ALSO
🚨 The city council signed an agreement to house inmates at the Alpharetta Detention Center at this week’s council meeting. The Sandy Springs Police Department and Municipal Court used the Smyrna Municipal Jail for short-term inmate housing since 2018, but the facility permanently closed on June 2.
📍 Read more about Sandy Springs’ new contract for inmates.
Run for Dads. Fight Prostate Cancer
SPONSORED BY PROST AWARE
💙 Celebrate Father’s Day with purpose at run4DAD 2026. This family-friendly event invites you to honor the dads in your life while supporting prostate cancer awareness and research.
Choose from a 5K run, 1-mile walk, or kids’ race—there’s something for everyone. Gather your friends, bring the family, and enjoy a meaningful morning of movement and community impact. Make this Father’s Day weekend one to remember by giving back and showing up.
➞ Join us Sun., June 21, and run for the dads who matter most.
Construction to cause increased congestion at major Sandy Springs interchange
🚧 The Georgia Department of Transportation announced that construction for the SR 400 Express Lanes project is now underway. As a result, drivers will likely experience increased traffic congestion at the I-285 and SR 400 interchange in Sandy Springs during peak travel periods and on World Cup match days.
Segment A extends north from the North Springs MARTA station in central Sandy Springs to Roberts Drive south of the Chattahoochee River and has two sections under construction.
GDOT’s announcement says early construction activities will continue near Exit 5 at Abernathy Road and the North Springs MARTA station. Work underway includes grubbing operations ahead of concrete barrier placement, lane striping, and new roadway signage.
Residents and commuters can expect to see crews working on the southbound shoulder between the Spalding Drive bridge and Abernathy Road ramps in preparation for future traffic shifts.
🦺 Read more about GDOT’s latest construction news.
Providing summer meals for Sandy Springs youth
🥪 The Community Assistance Center’s annual summer program “Meals for Kids” is now underway, distributing food weekly to families with school-age children who qualify for free or reduced-price meals in Sandy Springs and Dunwoody.
Last summer, CAC provided more than 15,435 meals to 1,097 children in the Central Perimeter community, including a part of the city of Doraville within Dunwoody’s school districts.
The “kid-friendly, easy-to-prepare” food items include a variety of fresh and prepared food that families can select from every week, now through July 31. The CAC’s two Sandy Springs Mini-Markets are open Monday through Friday, from 9:30 a.m.–1:00 p.m., at 8607 Roswell Road and 120 Northwood Drive, Suite 150.
🍎 Learn more about “Meals for Kids.”
✨ Early bird tickets are now on sale for Community Assistance Center’s CAC Annual Gala on Sat., Sept. 19 from 6 to 10 p.m. Join us for an inspiring evening supporting neighbors and building a stronger, more stable community. SPONSOR MESSAGE
What’s doin’ around Sandy Springs
🫖 June 20: Sip & Sculpt Pottery Workshop at Just Love Coffee Cafe
🐲 June 20:Summer Anime Cosplay at Battle & Brew
🏳️🌈 June 21:Singles Mixer Pride Edition at Battle & Brew
🧘🏾 June 25:Community Yoga with YEM at Windsor Meadows Park
💃🏼 June 25:Ladies Night Live Music and Dancing at The Select (every Thursday)
MARK YOUR CALENDAR
🗓️ The Sandy Springs Performing Arts Center will have a full lineup of activities this fall, transforming the venue into a comedy club, jazz lounge, and wellness retreat.
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