Aug. 19 — This week, we spotlight a Rough Draft series that explores the impact of transformation on Atlanta’s west side. Stay tuned for periodic stories on how the development boom is shifting experiences for residents and businesses.
➜ In more news, Gary Stokan, the president and CEO of Peach Bowl, Inc., has announced his retirement at the end of the 2025-26 college football season. And, Northside Hospital has opened its fourth lung nodule clinic in Sandy Springs. We have specifics on the clinic’s multidisciplinary approach to screening, treatment, and patient education below.
📌 Plus, mark your calendars for the next Savvy Senior event, “Empower Your Financial Wellness Journey,” on Sept. 18. Panelists will discuss essential strategies for retirement planning and fraud prevention. Registration and more details are here.
And now for a few headlines:
💰 The Fulton Board of Commissioners will consider a $1.1 billion plan to build a special-purpose mental and medical health facility and to make repairs to the embattled Fulton County Jail.
🚨 A public memorial service for DeKalb County police Officer David Rose, who was killed during a shooting at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention earlier this month, will be held Friday at First Baptist Atlanta.
🏌️ The PGA TOUR Championship will once again bring the world’s 30 best players to East Lake Golf Club Aug. 21-24 to compete for the $10 million top prize.
🏠 The Atlanta City Council voted to ban short-term rentals in Home Park in response to unruly guests and fears of STRs taking over entire neighborhoods.
🌎 Dunwoody is partnering with Trees Atlanta for the fourth time to plant up to 80 shade trees in front yards across the city. Dunwoody residents can also now register for the City of Dunwoody’s 2025 Household Hazardous Waste Recycling Event scheduled for Sept. 13.
🏈 Gary Stokan, the president and CEO of Peach Bowl, Inc., will retire at the end of the 2025-26 college football season after two decades of leadership.
“Leading Peach Bowl, Inc. has been the honor of my life,” Stokan said in a press release. “From building longstanding relationships to giving back to our community, I’ve been incredibly fortunate to work with an exceptional team, dynamic board, generous partners, and a passionate college football fan base.”
🏖️ The last thing anybody has time for is an injury that disrupts their week. But, Peachtree Orthopedics is here to make life easier.
For 70 years, we’ve been committed to helping Atlantans return to the activities they love. At our 11 convenient locations, we have 43 leading physicians, all of whom are fellowship-trained, with specialties in every body part.
Injured in the evening or on the weekend? Skip the ER. Our UrgentORTHO clinic offers same-day, evening, and Saturday hours.
➞ It’s time to get back to doing what you love. Peachtree Orthopedics is here to help you Get Better.
This story is part of a series on the west side of Atlanta in which Rough Draft deep dives into how small business owners, residents, and visitors to the area view the boom in development and the issues it has created in a formerly industrial pocket of the city.
Kimberly Smith, early 50s
Grew up in Marietta, now living in Howell Station
🚶♀️ When Kimberly Smith was displaced by a fire at her Decatur condo in early 2025, she reached out to friends and family for temporary housing. It was unclear how long she’d need a place to stay, but she landed at her brother’s condo on the west side of Atlanta near The Optimist on Howell Mill Road.
“I’m very hooked on the Westside, even though all my friends and my groups are all on the northeast side [of Atlanta],” Smith said. “I love the walkability and the new Beltline because I’m an avid walker, so I’m enjoying being able to say, ‘Oh, let me just walk there.'”
➡️ Read more about Westside’s walkability and Smith’s experience here.
🫁 Northside Hospital Cancer Institute opened a new Lung Nodule Clinic on its Northside Hospital Atlanta campus, the fourth in an expanding network dedicated to the early detection and treatment of lung cancer. A team of lung specialists at the clinic provides robotic bronchoscopy, expedited diagnosis, and coordinated care, according to a news release.
“This clinic offers a multidisciplinary approach that not only focuses on the treatment of lung cancer but also early detection, patient education, and improved quality of life,” said Dr. Venkatesh Lakshminarayanan, pulmonologist and medical director of interventional pulmonology at Northside, according to the release.
Lung cancer is the second most common cancer in both men and women in the United States. The American Cancer Society estimates more than 226,000 new cases will be diagnosed in 2025. The release said early-stage lung cancer often has no symptoms, and suspicious nodules are frequently discovered incidentally or through routine screenings.
🌊 In 1891, Atlanta’s Mayor began spending the City’s money, secretly buying land on the outskirts of Atlanta. It wasn’t a case of embezzlement, just good-old business common sense.
In attempting to solve one of the City’s ongoing issues, the Mayor had made a decision that would not only affect every single Atlantan for decades to come, but a couple of our neighboring states, also.
🚰 It’s the tale of a thirsty people on this week’s Stories of Atlanta.
💡 Did you know Silver Streak has other newsletters that go deeper into what’s happening across Metro Atlanta?
➡ Stacks: Our newest newsletter covering Atlanta’s literary scene, author profiles, book reviews, and more comes out the second Sunday of each month.
➡ Sketchbook: All about Atlanta’s art scene. Artist profiles, art openings, museum events. Wednesdays.
➡ Side Dish: News about the food scene. Beyond just openings and closings, Side Dish includes recipes and a regular feature on pop-ups. Thursdays.
➡ Scene: The only newsletter focused on the movie world. Reviews, interviews, podcasts. Fridays.
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🖋️ Today’s Silver Streak was edited by Julie E. Bloemeke.
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