Breaking bread
Friday, Sep. 18 — Rough Draft’s next dinner club in Sandy Springs takes place on Tuesday, Sept. 22. Our dinner clubs are a great way to meet like-minded neighbors for thoughtful conversations and community building at some of your favorite local spots. Grab a friend or attend by yourself. Take the short quiz and grab your spot today!
🌤️ We’ll have temperatures in the upper 80s this weekend with chances of rain each day. The weather is forecasted to be in the 70s next week, feeling more like the temperatures we look forward to this time of the year.
🍁 The cooler temps are hitting just in time for Sandy Springs’ fall festivals to kick into high gear, from the Blue Stone Arts & Music to “OktoberFEAST” and Spooky Springs, check out the lineup here.
🥾 The Sandy Springs Conservancy announced the city council is expected to consider a grant application next month to fund a 1.6-mile addition to the Morgan Falls Trail system. The conservancy, a citywide nonprofit dedicated to parks, trails, and greenspace in Sandy Springs, is encouraging residents who share enthusiasm for the proposed riverside nature trail to contact their respective council member.
👸🏼 The Sandy Springs Performing Arts Center is offering 25% off tickets to Cinderella on Friday, Oct. 2.
Have a great weekend,
The Rough Draft team
Mayor Paul warns state legislative plan could impact Sandy Springs revenue
🏡 Officials in Sandy Springs and cities across Georgia are warning that the state legislature’s plan to phase out homestead property taxes would strip away the revenue that pays for police, parks, and paving.
At the Sept. 15 Sandy Springs State of the City, Mayor Rusty Paul said the Georgia General Assembly “doing away with” taxes on primary residences would cut a third of the city’s revenue, essentially “defunding” public safety departments.
“There is one threat on the horizon that I want to talk about … it’s a tough subject because it sounds so attractive,” Paul said. “You’ve got to understand what the ramifications are … I’m all in favor of doing away with homestead property taxes as long as the legislature will allow us to have alternative forms of revenue.”
Paul, former chair of the Georgia Republican Party, said cities, counties, and school districts need a plan to recoup revenue if property taxes on homesteads are removed. He said he does not think a one-penny sales tax will do it.
👎🏼 Read more about Mayor Paul’s concerns with the state phasing out homestead property taxes.
Oglethorpe alumni are making an impact
SPONSORED BY OGLETHORPE UNIVERSITY
🤝 Atlanta is shaped by people who choose to invest their talents in something bigger than themselves.
Across the city, Oglethorpe alumni are making an impact through healthcare, the arts, nonprofits, public spaces, and community organizations that help Atlanta thrive.
→ Their careers may take different paths, but they share a commitment to service, leadership, and creating opportunities for others. Here are story highlights on just a few of the graduateswhose work is strengthening Atlanta and helping shape its future.
The state of Sandy Springs
🚰 Attendees of this week’s State of Sandy Springs also heard Mayor Paul’s updates on the city’s water system and development plans for City Springs.
Mediations were scheduled to begin this week with Atlanta officials over control of the Sandy Springs water system. Atlanta provides water for Sandy Springs and owns the water system.
“We’ll find out how serious the City of Atlanta is in working with us to solve the most basic, important asset that any government can provide, which is water,” he said. “We are determined that we shall operate the water system in this town, no matter what it takes, no matter how long it takes.”
ALSO
Construction on the second phase of the city’s downtown district, called City Springs 2.0, may begin as early as next year. Construction was expected to begin two years ago but stalled due to financing difficulties and market constraints.
Holy Innocents’ ‘Friday Night Lights’ goes dark
🏈 Neighborhood protection efforts reigned supreme at this week’s Sandy Springs City Council meeting, with Mayor Paul casting the tie-breaking vote to deny Holy Innocents’ Episcopal School a special event permit for a “Friday Night Lights” homecoming game.
After a public hearing to consider the Mount Vernon Highway private school’s appeal of city staff’s decision to deny the permit (pictured), council members split the vote 3-3. Council members Andrew Chinsky, Mary Ford, and John Paulson supported the one-night-only use of field lighting for the Oct. 2 homecoming game. Council members Frank Roberts, Melissa Mular, and Melody Kelley voted against the permit, which sent the decision to Paul.
It’s the second consecutive year that the private school in southwest Sandy Springs has appealed the decision by the community development director and city manager to deny its special event permit. Last year, the permit was approved, and Holy Innocents’ held a nighttime game on campus under the lights for the first time in school history.
💡 Read more about the decision impacting Holy Innocents’ homecoming game.
What’s it Worth?
SPONSORED BY ATLANTA FINE HOMES SOTHEBY’S INTERNATIONAL REALTY
🐓 Originally built in 1900 and tucked completely out of view from the street, this historic Sandy Springs farmhouse features four bedrooms, a renovated kitchen, and a pool. The property also has a chicken coop, a vegetable garden, mature fruit trees, and an operational well.
❓ Guess the price below!
City Springs’ ‘Les Miz’ – an ambitious task that mostly works
🎭 When the City Springs Theatre Company decided to mount the first local production of “Les Misérables” in over a decade, Sammie Purcell, Rough Draft’s associate editor and entertainment journalist, thought that would be a tall order.
Based on Victor Hugo’s novel of the same name, “Les Misérables” is completely sung-through, and the music, by Claude-Michel Schönberg (lyrics from Herbert Kretzmer), requires a massive amount of vocal stamina and range. The City Springs production is directed by its artistic director, Shuler Hensley, who is a “Les Misérables” veteran, having played the character of Javert on Broadway. But still, it’s an ambitious task to take on for the company as it heads into its ninth season.
⚔️ Read Sammie Purcell’s full review.
What’s doin’ around Sandy Springs
🤭 Sept. 18: Funny Fridays with Joel Byars at City Springs
🩺 Sept. 19: Walk with a Doc at Morgan Falls Overlook Park
🏓 Sept. 20:Pickleball for Prostate Tournament at Sandy Springs Racquet Center
🪴 Sept. 21:Plant Bingo at Pontoon Brewing
🧎🏽♂️ Sept. 21:Sound Bath Meditation at City Springs
🗓️ Add your event to our free, online event calendar.
The Sports Section
IN PARTNERSHIP WITH SCORE ATLANTA
🏈 FOOTBALL
- Holy Innocents’ (4-0): Friday @ Therrell (2-2)
- Lovett (3-0): Friday @ Wesleyan (2-1)
- Mt. Vernon (2-2): Friday vs. Mt. Bethel Christian (3-0)
- North Springs (1-3): Sept. 25 @ Westminster (0-3)
- Pace Academy (0-3): Friday @ Lithia Springs (2-1)
- Riverwood (0-3): Friday @ Westminster (0-3)
- Westminster (0-3): Friday vs. Riverwood (0-3)
🥎 SOFTBALL
- Holy Innocents’ (6-8): Monday @ Whitefield Academy (15-3); Tuesday vs. Temple (5-13)
- Lovett (3-10): Tuesday vs. Walker (1-12)
- Mt. Vernon (12-4): Tuesday vs. Galloway (5-8) (Doubleheader)
- North Springs (5-12): Sept. 18 vs. TBD
- Pace Academy (11-4): Tuesday vs. Douglass (5-9)
- Riverwood (11-4-1): Sept. 28 @ Marist (11-6)
- Westminster (8-8): Tuesday @ Whitefield Academy (15-3)
🏐 VOLLEYBALL
- Holy Innocents’ (15-6): Saturday vs. Atlanta Classical Academy (12-15); Saturday vs. Fellowship Christian (20-7); Saturday vs. Midtown (15-6)
- Lovett (12-6): Saturday vs. Atlanta Classical Academy (12-15); Saturday vs. Pebblebrook (17-13); Saturday @ Lakeside-Evans (15-11)
- Mt. Vernon (12-14): Tuesday @ Mount Pisgah Christian (22-15); Tuesday vs. Fellowship Christian (20-7)
- North Springs (4-14): Sept. 28 @ Osborne (12-16)
- Pace Academy (10-9): Sept. 24 @ Woodward Academy (15-6); Sept. 24 vs. Northgate (12-17)
- Riverwood (24-8): Sept. 29 @ Alpharetta (15-9)
- Westminster (24-4): Tuesday @ Lovett (12-6)
School records as of Thursday, Sept. 17
