Dental assisting school in Sandy Springs, GA

SANDY SPRINGS, Ga. (Atlanta Now News at 10) – Reports show kids returning to school are dealing with more mental health issues than ever, and a local non-profit is launching a program to provide some relief.

Kendall White, 15, is an athlete at Norcross High School and a client at Medical & Sports Massage, where Denise Leslie, the founder and CEO of the practice, has provided therapy for pain and stress for 10 years.

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“I train a lot as an athlete, and I recognize that recovery is definitely going to be a part of my development, and Denise has helped me with all my aches and pains in getting through sports and school,” White said. “Balancing training for sports and all the schoolwork, especially with advanced classes, can be very stressful for students,” she said.

Leslie provides mainly physical therapy for White, but she says there’s an urgent need to address the mental health issues youth are facing. “The students that I see have an enormous amount of stress and anxiety, and it shows itself through fatigue, lack of focus, lack of personal hygiene,” said Leslie.

She plans to do a stress and anxiety study on ten youth, between the ages of 12 and 24, through a year-long research program. Her non-profit, Hands to Heal GA, is raising $20,000 to provide these services at no cost.

“We’re going to be teaching mindful meditation, we’re going to be doing restorative yoga, and we’re going to teach the students how to journal,” Leslie said.

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A CDC report released in March showed more than one-third of high school students reported they experienced poor mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2021, and more than 40% reported they felt persistently sad or hopeless.

School counselors and administrators witness the problems first-hand, including Keisha Gibbons, the assistant principal at Jean Childs Young Middle School in Atlanta Public Schools. “We’re experiencing the whole gamut, from students having low self-esteem, to students that are having social skills issues,” she said, explaining how the issues have a negative impact on their academics.

Gibbons helped launch The Den at Young Middle School to address the crisis by providing therapy, counselors and social workers.

Leslie says her program will provide additional options. “We’re going to be able to show through this work that we’re able to stabilize the symptoms and also get to the root cause of the trauma,” she said.

School officials welcome more options. “When we have creative minds with innovative thoughts and resources, that is what’s going to change the trajectory of what our students are experiencing,” said Gibbons.

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Hands to Heal GA hopes to meet its fundraising goal by December. For more information, click here.

Athens' parks and trails are among the beneficiaries of funding set aside in the latest SPLOST. The sales tax dollars will allow for upgrades to include a renovations to recreational water features, a new sewer line, more shade a dog parks, water fountains, renovated playgrounds, a boat launch and a reconstructed Murmur T

Here is a breakdown of some of the projects already underway and planned for the future:

Bishop Park

The schematic designs for Bishop Park improvements recently were approved by Athens-Clarke County commissioners. About $3.8 million was set aside for those upgrades.

The schematic designs looks at the pool at Bishop Park, the largest and most heavily used pool in Athens, as well as the only pool available for swim-team activities.

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At the government's request, a group of local residents who used the pool came up with a list of “must haves” for the new design, which included replacing the current pool, remodeling the pool house and addressing use of the pool for competition swim, recreational swim and aquatic programs.

The design being sent to the commission shows an eight-lane competition pool, a leisure pool and bleachers. In a meeting this month, commissioners approved changes to the initial plans to include more pool lanes, diving boards and a splash pad.

A tentative schedule was laid out for how long the project will take:

Memorial Park

At Memorial Park, Athens residents will see active construction, including a new sewer line project and upgrades to the dog park, according to Kent Kilpatrick, director of Athens-Clarke Leisure Services.

He said the dog park is closed due to the construction and it could be spring before it reopens.

As far as the sewer project, Kilpatrick explained that the current system is old and catches stormwater runoff from the Five Points neighborhood.

Athens officials recently proposed finding a means to add shade to the dog park, and to install water fountains at Memorial and Bishop parks.

Sandy Creek Park

Kilpatrick said Sandy Creek Park is under the “conceptual design” phase for its improvement project. The project is for an all inclusive playground.

“Sandy Creek Park has ... two of our oldest playgrounds in our entire park system,” said Kilpatrick.

The goal is to replace the playground beside the beach, which Kilpatrick said is perhaps the most popular playground.

Sandy Creek Nature Center is also being revamped. Kilpatrick said that some of the older exhibits are being refurbished through SPLOST funding.

While that project is currently under way, it is in the design and planning stages. Kilpatrick said that the work will be scheduled either late this year or early next year.

Trails: Firefly, Oconee Waterway, and Greenway

Several trail projects are under way, with the Firefly trail in phase three involving land acquisition. Also, the reconstruction of the Murmur Trestle is a particular focus at this time.

Demolition of the old Murmur Trestle, as it is called due to the inclusion of its image on the album cover of R.E.M.'s debut album "Murmur", took place last year due to the poor condition of the wood. In its place is a new steel and wood structure currently under construction.

Trestle Removed:Athens' 'Murmur Trestle' being removed, replaced as part of Firefly Trail construction

Firefly Trail and the Trestle:Athens-Clarke taking next steps in Firefly Trail project. Here's how the R.E.M. trestle will be incorporated.

This new trestle will house part of the Firefly Trail, a 39-mile “rail-trail” that will run through Clarke, Oglethorpe and Greene counties, following an abandoned rail bed between Athens and Union Point.

Kilpatrick called the construction of the new trestle “fascinating” and “spectacular” to watch.

“[We’re] trying to recapture the whole historic railroad bridge that was there before. And it's modernizing it a little bit, but also trying to capture some of that same look,” said Kilpatrick. “So they can actually see that bridge and construction which is quite a fascinating project going on currently.”

Meanwhile, a full water trail for the Oconee River is in the conceptual stage. A "Macon Highway Boat Launch Project" that would provide access to the Middle Oconee River for canoes and kayaks and would complete the first segment of the Middle Oconee Water Trail.

An extension to the Greenway trail is also under construction in Oconee Hill Cemetery.

“You could go into that beautiful historic cemetery and see how the Greenway trail is going to be following the river through the cemetery,” said Kilpatrick

2020 SPLOST projects

The newest iteration of the SPLOST has several approved projects for Athens parks, including a future Athens West Park on the west side of Athens. Not all projects, however, are under way.

Kilpatrick explained that as SPLOST money comes in, funding will be directed to various projects, and noted that some projects may not be funded for several years.

There is a current general park improvement project with a $6.7 million fund that can go toward any park for repairs and maintenance.

"We are fortunate in this community that we've got parks that are just loved to death and to that point, some of these parks are 30- to 40-years-old or older," said Kilpatrick. "So those funds help repave some parking lots where they're cracked or broken, or replace some pieces of playgrounds."

Kilpatrick said that the next project to be kicked off is at Beech Haven. This is a $4.5 million project to improve the park.

The first stage of the improvements would be creating a master plan for that site, with Kilpatrick saying that he hopes that master planning process begins in 2023. Following that, development of the first phase could take place in 2025.

Some of the ideas for Beech Haven, if funds allow them, include:

Other parks slated to have improvement projects funded by SPLOST include Tallassee Forest Nature Preserve, Bear Hollow Zoo and Holland Park.

“But those are all several years down the road because the money's got to be spread out,” said Kilpatrick.

The world's largest swim school franchise to open eighth Atlanta-area learn-to-swim facility

Aqua-Tots Swim Schools is preparing to open a 6,300 square foot, state-of-the-art swim school in Sandy Springs, Georgia, to serve families in Atlanta, Sandy Springs and Buckhead.

SANDY SPRINGS, Ga., Aug. 11, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Aqua-Tots Swim Schools, the world's largest swim school franchise, has announced its newest franchise location, opening soon in Sandy Springs, Georgia. Located at 5290 Roswell Road, at the intersection of Roswell and Mt. Paran Roads, Aqua-Tots Sandy Springs is scheduled to open in November 2022 as the eighth Atlanta-area location.

Aqua-Tots Swim Schools has been the leader in the swim instruction industry since 1991, offering comprehensive swim curriculum for children as early as four months old. With over 125 locations in 14 countries, families all over the world can experience dedicated, year-round, indoor swim facilities where their children can become safe and confident swimmers by completing the proven Aqua-Tots curriculum.

Aqua-Tots Sandy Springs is the thirteenth location for business partners, Andrew George, Jesse Rhodenbaugh and Tommy Fisher, who also own schools in North Carolina and Virginia. Upon opening the state-of-the-art 6,300 square foot facility, they will be ready to serve families in the Atlanta, Sandy Springs and Buckhead communities.

"The Atlanta community is already family to us, and Sandy Springs continues to grow with many children in the area," said Rhodenbaugh. "Giving these families a neighborhood swim school will make the entire community safer. We're excited to offer Aqua-Tots' proven curriculum as we raise up safe and confident swimmers for many years to come."

In fact, participation in formal swim lessons can reduce the risk of drowning by 88% among children ages one to four years old, according to the National Institutes of Health. This is a proactive solution as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that drowning is the leading cause of unintentional, injury-related death among children in the same age group.

Those who pre-enroll in swim lessons prior to opening will lock in founder's pricing for as long as they are enrolled in lessons. Families can call to reserve a spot in small group (4:1 ratio), semi-private (2:1 ratio) or private (1:1 ratio) lessons before classes fill up.

Aqua-Tots Sandy Springs is also hiring swim instructors and front desk staff. "One of the amazing things about being a small business owner is bringing jobs to our area," said Rhodenbaugh. "We look forward to getting to know people in the community and building a team who is ready and willing to serve them with lifesaving swim lessons."

Those interested can apply at aqua-tots.com/sandy-springs/employment. Anyone interested in learning more about Aqua-Tots Sandy Springs or to sign up for swim lessons can visit aqua-tots.com/sandy-springs.

About Aqua-Tots Swim Schools

Aqua-Tots Swim Schools serves over 120 communities worldwide, offering dedicated, year-round, indoor swim instruction, community outreach and drowning prevention education to children of all abilities from four months to 12 years old. As the world's largest swim school franchise that is continuing to grow with 90 locations in development, Aqua-Tots' hand-selected instructors are passionate about teaching children how to remain safer in and around the water. The company uses tried and true curriculum, more than 30 years in the making and trusted worldwide to teach five million swim lessons annually. To learn more, visit aqua-tots.com or follow Aqua-Tots on Facebook and Instagram.

MEDIA CONTACT

Mike Steele(770) 325-3380[email protected]

Amy Lofgreen(480) 621-32263423[email protected]

SOURCE Aqua-Tots Sandy Springs

Editor’s Note: This op-ed is from Jody Reichel, the District 4 representative on the Sandy Springs City Council.

Sandy Springs is considering using public funds to build a Cultural Arts Center to house the Anne Frank Exhibit and a Holocaust Memorial. I wholeheartedly support the mission of the Georgia Commission on the Holocaust and educational initiatives related to human rights and justice. Based on what has and has not been presented to the City Council, I cannot support using taxpayer dollars on a Cultural Arts Center as it is currently conceived.

I will outline the considerations underlying my perspective.

Financial stewardship of the City

I have a duty as an elected representative to be a responsible steward of public funds. With that duty in mind, the proposed project raises several financial issues that require further deliberation before undertaking a project of this consequence. As of today, I cannot determine what this project would cost the city. Greenlighting a project without knowing its cost is fiscally irresponsible, separate, and apart from the project’s merits.

We don’t have a feasibility study to guide the proposal’s economic impact. Such a study would allow us to project revenues and expenses, including costs for added security. All area synagogues maintain paid security due to threats of violence, and the project may require similar enhanced security measures.

The most recent data on the operation of the previous Anne Frank Exhibit at Parkside Shops indicated that 7,000 visitors per year attended the Exhibit. That number consists primarily of students. The Georgia Commission on the Holocaust asserts that the Anne Frank Museum, once completed, could expect 20,000 – 40,000 annual visitors. By context, the Houston Holocaust Museum, the fourth largest in the U.S. at 57,000 square feet (eight times the size of the proposed Sandy Springs Exhibit), has 163,000 annual visitors, of which 44,000 are students. It has total functional yearly expenses of $7.5 million per public record.

Sandy Springs currently operates the Performing Arts Center at a $2 million annual loss. Before undertaking another project for which we don’t have a study, the city should ensure that the Performing Arts Center stabilizes financially.

Without a feasibility and cost study, the City must refrain from making an unknown financial commitment until and unless we have more considered information.

What is best for the Anne Frank Museum?

The Anne Frank Museum is culturally and educationally important, and its ultimate location should befit its importance and provide it with the stature worthy of its relevance. Again, the Houston Holocaust Museum is instructive. The Houston Museum is located, fittingly, in the museum district in Midtown Houston, housed near the Museum of Fine Arts and the Museum of Natural Science.

Given that analogy, it’s reasonable to locate the Anne Frank Museum in one of the following locations: the Bremen Jewish Museum in Midtown, the Museum of History and Holocaust Education at Kennesaw State University, or adjacent to or within the Civil Rights Museum in downtown. To quote one constituent on the issue, the Museum “deserves a contextually correct placement.” The placement along Bluestone Road lacks physical prominence, at odds with the gravitas that the Museum should convey.

It is critical to point out that these other locations are not pipe dreams but completely realistic. Bremen has already stated that they would welcome the Anne Frank Museum exhibits. Kennesaw already has an existing museum that could house the collection. Asking what’s best for the Anne Frank Museum is the responsible approach. A more considered approach to identifying the proper home can be found in the New York Times article titled, U.S. Holocaust Museums Are Updating Content and Context.

As described in the article, sixteen Holocaust Museums are currently operating in the US. The Shoah Foundation, established by Steven Spielberg, acts as a partner and consultant to the Holocaust Memorial Resource and Education Center of Florida, set to open in Orlando in 2024. The article further states that some of the sixteen museums are teaming with the Shoah Foundation and looking to it for direction.

The Georgia Commission on the Holocaust should consider such a consultative relationship with the Shoah Foundation so that the Anne Frank Museum can achieve its objectives.

What’s best for the City?

My constituents and other citizens of Sandy Springs have provided significant input. Their consensus is that they are not clamoring for the Anne Frank Museum but strongly prefer creating trails, parks, and a thriving downtown with restaurants, retail, and recreational amenities. The city also needs to confront pressing issues, including a lack of sidewalks, stormwater planning, and thoughtful development in the northern part of the city.

The city has pressing needs that are now unmet. Approving this museum without a feasibility study would be the wrong choice for Sandy Springs.

Voice your opinion

The Sandy Springs City Council is voting on the terms of the Cultural Center proposal at its next meeting on August 16 at 6:00 p.m. The public is invited and encouraged to attend. You can register in advance by filling out the public comment card or sign up at the meeting. The meeting is in the Studio Theatre at Sandy Springs City Hall (1 Galambos Way, Sandy Springs, GA 30328).

Sandy Springs will apply for a $95,000 grant to start a pilot composting program designed to reduce solid waste.

Sustainability Manager Catherine Mercier-Baggett said Sept. 30 is the application deadline for the grant, which is being administered by the Georgia Environmental Protection Division’s Recovered Materials Unit.

Grant awards will be made in January 2023 and the city would not have to provide matching funds.

“There is between 20 and 30% of all household waste that is actually organic materials that can be composted. So you can imagine that means we would be taking to the curb a lot less garbage,” she said.

The city’s program would have two different aspects. Three centralized collection sites would have bins where residents could drop off their organic materials, which a third party would empty.

“For those who want to try to do this at home, we also would have about 1,000 bins that would be available for anyone who wants to try it in their backyard,” Mercier-Baggett said.

The grant application is being made with Dunwoody.

“We had a conversation and realize that they were looking at exactly the same thing that we are but at a smaller scale. So we’re partnering with them on the application,” she said.

The Master Gardeners of North Fulton and DeKalb County, Keep Beautiful organizations in North Fulton and DeKalb, and UGA Extension offices in the two counties will help educate the public on the program, she said.

The total grant request may change after conversations with Dunwoody, she said.

“After those two years, we would have to figure out first of all if we want to continue with this and also find a mechanism to keep it financially stable,” Mercier-Baggett said. “The quote that we received so far is $21,000 per year for three locations and that includes bringing back the compost to the community.”

“One of the concerns I would have at the drop-off locations is making sure that it’s picked up on a regular basis because it gets rather unsightly if it stacks up there,” Mayor Rusty Paul said.

He said many people do yardwork on the weekend and what they drop off may sit at the collection sites until the end of the week, which could cause problems.

Mercier-Baggett said she’s not certain that yard waste would be accepted because of the volume generated in the region. Food scraps and cardboard typically are accepted.

“The complaints I’ve heard about composting in the in the past is with food scraps and winding up with a lot of critters,” Councilmember Tibby DeJulio said.

He asked what is planned to solve that problem because nobody wants it in their backyard or area because of the “critters.”

The bins will be rolling carts that will close. The program has budgeted funds for some kind of enclosure or fencing for the collection site bins, Mercier-Baggett said.

“The company that we talked to has not had any issues with that because they are collecting twice a week,” Mercier-Baggett said.