🌱 Local Mother Headed To Court + Sandy Springs Garden Club Donation

Hello all. It's me, Nicole Fallon-Peek, your host of the Sandy Springs Patch newsletter — back in your inbox with everything you need to know about what's happening locally.

But first, your local weather:

• Tuesday: Showers and a heavier t-storm. High: 84 Low: 66.
• Wednesday: A t-storm around in the p.m.. High: 80 Low: 63.

This great local business sponsors the Sandy Springs Patch newsletter. We love what they do, and we think you will, too:

Attention music lovers! Don't miss out on The Roswell Music Festival, a one-day, ticketed event on Saturday May 20th. This exciting festival will take place in Historic Downtown Roswell, featuring six amazing bands, tent vendors, and local businesses serving up delicious food and drinks. You won’t want to miss original and tribute bands covering classic rock, soul, funk, country and blues music — including the incredible talents of Southern Avenue (Blues), End of the Line (Allman Brothers), Funk You (Funk, Dance), Frankly Scarlet (Grateful Dead), The Highwaymen Show (Willie Nelson and Johnny Cash), and TROY (Soul, Pop). Tickets are on sale now!

Click here to get your business featured in this spot.

Here are the top three stories today in Sandy Springs:

1. Asia Calabrese-Lewis, a Georgia mother, has been accused of drowning her 22-month-old daughter in a pond in Sandy Springs and is facing charges of felony murder and cruelty to children. Security footage reportedly showed Calabrese-Lewis walking her toddler toward the pond and then calmly returning without her daughter and with no clothes on. Despite attempts to save the young girl, she died at the hospital. (FOX 5 Atlanta)
2. The Sandy Springs Garden Club donated funds to help create a children's reading garden at the Sandy Springs Library in Georgia. Working with W Design Landscape Inc. and the Sandy Springs Conservancy, the club placed seven boulders on the library's grounds to provide new outdoor reading spaces for children. Officials expressed delight in completing the project in partnership with the Sandy Springs Conservancy. (Appen Media)
3. An Ohio high school orchestra teacher, Brandon Gordon, has been charged with multiple counts of child exploitation as part of a years-long investigation into his online activities. He allegedly had illicit conversations with someone he believed to be a girl under 16 years old. The Roswell Police Department, which worked with the Defiance Police Department, arrested Gordon, and he is expected to be extradited to Fulton County to face charges including electronically furnishing obscene material to minors, child molestation, and two counts of solicitation of sodomy. (FOX 5 Atlanta)

Today and tomorrow in and around Sandy Springs:

Tuesday, May 16

• Signature Luncheon: Cassius F. Butts at City Springs (11:30 AM)
• State Farm Virtual Career Connection, Hosted By Community Assistance Center (1:00 PM)
• EXPLORE: Lost Corner at 7300 Brandon Mill Rd (7:00 PM)

Wednesday, May 17

• Around the Wetlands: Gunby Creek Wetlands Wander at Cochran Shoals Unit, Atlanta (10:00 AM)

From my notebook:

• Sandy Springs Youth Sports thanks the volunteers who helped prepare for the closing ceremonies. They also congratulated the champions, coaches, and participants on another successful and competitive season and expressed their excitement for the next one. (Sandy Springs Youth Sports via Facebook)
• The Carpool tribute band offers a nostalgic experience, recreating the iconic sound and vibe of The Cars. The event will take place at the Heritage Amphitheater Lawn on Jun. 4, with free lawn seating and reserved table seating available for purchase, as well as pre-ordered refreshments from the City Springs culinary team. (Sandy Springs Gov.)
• An online fundraiser has been launched to help cover the funeral costs for a one-year-old girl, Nirvana Oliver, whose body was found in a retention pond in Sandy Springs. Her mother, Asia Calabrese-Lewis, was charged with murder after being arrested, and the family is seeking answers as to why the tragedy occurred. (WLTX)

More from our sponsors — thanks for supporting local news!

Featured businesses:

• Atlanta Academy — (Visit website)
• Add your business here

Featured events:

• Maya Eventov Artist Show : Textures of Nature (May 20)
• Youth Mental Health Public Policy Forum (May 20)
• Microchip & Vaccination Clinic for Dogs & Cats - Low Cost (May 21)
• GO Kickball Summer Social, Coed, Adult Leagues - Registration Deadline June 8th (June 8)
• Add your event

Featured gigs & services:

• Masonry work (Details)
• Add your gig or service

Now you're in the loop and ready to start this Tuesday! I'll see you soon.

— Nicole Fallon-Peek