🌱 Art Institute Of Atlanta Closing + Eyeglasses For Students

Hi all. It's me, Nicole Fallon-Peek, your host of the Sandy Springs Patch newsletter — here to tell you everything you need to know about what's happening in town.

But first, your local weather:

• Tuesday: Pleasant with some sun. High: 82 Low: 65.
• Wednesday: Cloudy with a stray thunderstorm. High: 76 Low: 63.

Here are the top three stories today in Sandy Springs:

1. The nearby Art Institute of Atlanta, after nearly 75 years in operation, has announced its closure at the end of September, citing challenging conditions exacerbated by the pandemic. This announcement has created shockwaves within the Atlanta art community, leaving students and graduates scrambling for alternatives. The closure will have a huge impact on the local art scene, as the school has been a significant place to gather in the city. The exact reasons behind the closure are yet to be fully disclosed. (Atlanta News First)
2. The Sandy Springs Rotary Club partnered with Vision to Learn to provide eyeglasses to students in need at Ison Springs Elementary School. The Rotarians used a $5,000 grant to support the nonprofit organization, covering approximately half the cost of the glasses for students. Vision to Learn's Georgia director highlighted the importance of proper vision for learning, with a significant number of students requiring eye exams and a high failure rate in Fulton County Schools. (RoughDraft Atlanta)
3. Ja’Keivious Arnold, 24, was arrested on Friday in relation to the death of 25-year-old Mitchel T. Dang, who was discovered beneath a parking lot staircase in nearby Atlanta. Arnold is facing charges of murder, robbery, and kidnapping. The incident was reported on Aug. 30 when police responded to a call about an injured person at a parking lot near Underground Atlanta, though the exact circumstances leading to Dang's death remain unclear. (11 Alive)

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Today and tomorrow in Sandy Springs:

Tuesday, September 26

• Social Security Seminar At Sandy Springs Public Library (6:00 PM)
• Dynamics Of A Living River: The Chattahoochee At Lost Corner Preserve (7:00 PM)

Wednesday, September 27

• Team Trivia At North River Tavern (7:30 PM)

From my notebook:

• Heads up house hunters: Five new homes are on the market in and around Sandy Springs! Learn more at the link. (Sandy Springs Patch)
• The Blue Stone Arts & Music Festival kicks off on Friday, Sep. 29, with free admission! This two-day event hosted by the City of Sandy Springs will feature live music on multiple stages. Learn more here. (City Springs via Facebook)
• September is "Library Card Sign-up Month" and you can sign up for a free library card here. Library cards allow you access to learn a new language or skill, gain free access to events, and more! (Fulton County Government via Facebook)

More from our sponsors — thanks for supporting local news!

Featured events:

• "A Conversation Today For The Care You Want Tomorrow" (September 28)
• FLAMENCO live music and dance concert (September 29)
• Atlanta's Trey Clegg Singers Kick Off Fall Concerts with "FEARLESSS" ! (September 30)
• Microchip & Vaccination Clinic for Dogs & Cats - Low Cost (October 8)
• Bernstein on Broadway (October 8)
• Add your event

Alrighty, you're all good for today! See you all soon for your next update.

— Nicole Fallon-Peek

Nicole Fallon-Peek is a journalist and copywriter with a degree in Media, Culture and Communication from New York University. She has served as a freelance reporter, managing editor, copy editor, and editorial director for a variety of B2B news outlets. She currently co-owns and operates content creation agency Lightning Media Partners.