Community

Peachtree Corners shows support for Ukrainians

Published

3 years ago

March 3, 2022

Arlinda Smith Broady

Lights on the Pedestrian Bridge are shining blue and yellow in solidarity with a war-torn country half a world away.

Peachtree Corners has joined the throng of cities and governments throughout the world showing support for the country of Ukraine as is battles against an unprovoked invasion by Russia.

City officials unanimously agreed to shine the colors of the Ukraine flag on the pedestrian bridge.

“The reasons why we had the bridge built was to give people a sense of place,” said City Councilman Alex Wright. “When you see it, you know you’re in Peachtree Corners.”

But in designing the structure, the city had the foresight to add a feature that could make it even more special.

“There are four lanterns that can be lit with different colors to commemorate different events or holidays,” Wright said. “We used red and green around the end of the year and different groups have asked us to shine different colors like pink for breast cancer awareness.”

Although it was Wright’s idea to stand with the second largest country in Eastern Europe as it defends itself against the superpower, he admitted it was really a no-brainer.

“We built this to engage our constituents and from the reactions on social media, it looks like everyone agrees with our decision.”

Scores of passers-by have commented on the blue and yellow lights.

Wright disclosed that he has a personal reason too for wanting to advocate for the cause of freedom. His mother-in-law is a descendant of Ukrainian immigrants.

“That makes my wife and daughters all Ukrainian, too,” he said.

Local Ukrainian Faction

Familial ties with Ukraine are much more prevalent in this area than many would suspect.

Liliya Makhlaychuk-Sharma, a founding parting of Bair, Wilson, Sharma, a law office located in Peachtree Corners

Attorney Liliya Makhlaychuk-Sharma, a co-founder of Peachtree Corners-based law offices of Bair Wilson Sharma was born in the former Soviet Socialist Republic.

“I’m one of the lucky few in that my parents are here, and at least that part of the worry is a little bit easier on me. However, all the rest of my family and friends are still in Ukraine,” she said. “And as far as communication goes, it’s really it’s on and off. We kind of have to live by their schedule, because you never know when the air raid will begin again. So, they have to go into shelters. And obviously, the communication there is not great. They are also busy, busy saving their lives, busy watching what’s going on busy rebuilding little things, looking for food and everything.”

Even with spotty communication, Makhlaychuk-Sharma is overjoyed with the progress her countrymen are making.

“It’s definitely going bad for Russia, because as of the seventh day of the war, they lost more soldiers than in two years of the first war with Chechnya,” she said. “But we’re not overconfident. … And keep in mind that since the war started, there were 42 newborns. … Ukrainians are strong. Ukrainians keep going. But even when Ukraine wins, and when the war is over, we would need a lot of help on all fronts.”

How Can I Help?

Nataliia Onyskiv, president of the Ukrainian Congress Committee of America Georgia Branch which is headquartered in Peachtree Corners, said she’s heavily involved in passing along information about loved ones and raising funds and support for the war-torn country.

Nataliia Onyskiv (pictured in traditional Ukrainian outfit), president of Ukrainian Congress Committee of America Georgia Branch which is headquartered in Peachtree Corners.

“Being in America, we do have ways to help. However, just shipping supplies is not the most effective way, because we are far away. … There are already established structured funds that have their volunteers in their warehouses on the border with Ukraine. So what we do here we as UCCA, we started a fundraiser on the first day and we transfer money as we receive them to this reliable foundation. And these foundations, they take care of the rest. They purchase everything they need, directly from factories and plants in Europe.”

With the conflict, there are already reported scams and Onyskiv wants donors to know their money is going to do some good.

“We offer one easy way so you can take your credit card or debit card and we collect money and direct it to the people who need it. The website is ukrainianatlanta.org.”

The organization has planned a “Stand with Ukraine” rally for noon Saturday near the CNN Center at the corner of Marietta Street and Centennial Olympic Park. There are several similar protests staged across the globe in the hopes that more countries will support Ukraine and force Vladimir Putin to call off his troops.

At last count, Onyskiv said there are nearly 20,000 Ukrainians in the state of Georgia. Her organization has several hundred active members, but after living under Soviet rule, many aren’t keen to “join” anything.

“We come together to enjoy our language and our culture,” said Makhlaychuk-Sharma. “We don’t force people like back in the days of the Soviet Union to ‘belong to the Communist Party.’”

The freedom and unity felt here in the United States is something both women hope their country can rebuild.

“We have a great and trustworthy government,” said Onyskiv. “We were in peace up until the invasion.”

While many are fleeing Ukraine for foreign borders, coming to this country isn’t an option for most.

“Unfortunately, there is no refugee war refugee status for Ukrainians right now in the United States. So, Ukrainian people cannot just come and claim refugee status. It’s not in place. And I’m not sure whether that’s going to be in place soon. So it’s not as easy,” said Makhlaychuk-Sharma.

But Onyskiv is hopeful that it will come about eventually.

“I received a lot of phone calls from American citizens. And I feel huge, huge help and support. People call and ask, ‘What can I do? How can I help?’ They offer their housing. And believe it or not, I have a note where I write down all the phone numbers, it looks it looks very messy, but I’m keeping track of every contact,” she said.

At the end of the day, Ukrainians near and far are uniting and are grateful for the worldwide efforts to keep them free from a Russian takeover. This area has shown that it is living up to the words of one of its greatest native sons.

“Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere. We are caught in an inescapable network of mutuality, tied in a single garment of destiny. Whatever affects one directly, affects all indirectly.” Martin Luther King Jr.

Contact Ukrainian Congress Committee of America Georgia Branch: ukrainianatlanta.org, 404-259-0824 or 6460 Spalding Drive Suite B Peachtree Corners, GA 30092

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Arlinda Smith Broady

Arlinda Smith Broady is part of the Boomerang Generation of Blacks that moved back to the South after their ancestors moved North. With approximately three decades of journalism experience (she doesn't look it), she's worked in tiny, minority-based newsrooms to major metropolitans. At every endeavor she brings professionalism, passion, pluck, and the desire to spread the news to the people.

City Government

The Future of Law Enforcement in Peachtree Corners: Community Meeting

Published

4 days ago

April 14, 2025

Peachtree Corners Magazine staff

Flyer for a community meeting regarding law enforcement in Peachtree Corners.

The City of Peachtree Corners will hold an important public meeting on May 8 to discuss the future of law enforcement in our community — including the potential creation of a city police department.

This meeting will feature a presentation by City Manager Brian Johnson on the findings of a comprehensive Police Analysis & Staffing Study that evaluated the feasibility and projected costs of forming a city police department based on current workload, crime levels and community demographics.

The presentation will also include budgetary considerations, comparative models and the advantages and disadvantages of a county vs. city police department.

Following the presentation, there will be time for a Q&A and open dialogue.

In-person attendance is limited to 300. First come, first served. A livestream option will be available for those who can’t attend in person.

After the meeting, a follow-up survey will be available on the city’s project page.

Meeting details

The Future of Law Enforcement in Peachtree Corners

Date/Time: May 8, 2025 at 7 p.m.

Location: Christ the King Lutheran Church (5775 Peachtree Parkway)

For more information, visit peachtreecornersga.gov.

Community

Registration Now Open for Light Up the Corners 2025

Published

1 week ago

April 9, 2025

Peachtree Corners Magazine staff

The starting line of a community race with green, inflatable start archway and dozens of racers and specators.

It’s time to sign up for the best (and only) Glow Run and Twilight Trot in Peachtree Corners!

Registration is now open to participate in this year’s Light Up the Corners race, scheduled for Saturday, August 16 at The Forum. The 1k Twilight Trot will start at 8 p.m., and the four-mile Glow Run begins at 8:30 p.m. Once the runners have done their thing, a fun post-race party will follow.

This annual event is not only an exciting community tradition, but also a fundraiser for the Why It Matters campaign at the Fowler Family YMCA.

All proceeds from registration goes directly to helping struggling families and children in the community benefit from the life-changing programs and services offered at the YMCA.

Individual registration is $40 through July 31; $45 if you register between August 1–14; and $50 if you wait to sign up on August 15 or 16. Those registering as a team of four or more will save $5–$10 per registration.

Sponsorships available

In addition to individual and team registrations, organizers also rely on the generosity and support of local businesses to make each year’s fundraising event successful. And this year is no different. If you’d like to support their efforts through a sponsorship, information can be found on the Light Up the Corners 2025 website.

T-shirt logo contest

Another way to take part is to enter the t-shirt logo design contest. Artwork and entry forms are due by May 16, and judges will be looking for one dynamic image to represent the Light Up the Corners Glow Run on the race banner, t-shirts and all multi-media.

The winning artist will receive a $1000 check, presented during the event. An entry form and additional details can be found here.

City of Peachtree Corners

Our Growing Deer Population: What to Do?

Published

2 weeks ago

April 2, 2025

Mayor Mike Mason

I want to take a moment to address an issue that has been increasingly affecting our community — the growing deer population.

Over the past few years, we have observed a significant increase in the number of deer within Peachtree Corners, leading to heightened concerns about public safety, property damage and ecological impacts. I want to share what we are doing to address these challenges and how you can be part of the solution.

The surge in the deer population poses several threats to our community:

1. Landscape damage: Deer feeding on ornamental plants, shrubs and trees results in significant property damage and costly repairs for homeowners.

2. Increased risk of deer-vehicle collisions: Frequent road crossings, often under low-visibility conditions, pose serious safety risks to drivers and passengers.

3. Adverse ecological impacts: Excessive browsing by deer diminishes plant diversity, impacting the availability of food for other wildlife.

4. Public health concerns: High deer densities contribute to an increase in ticks, elevating the risk of Lyme disease and other tick-borne illnesses.

To address these challenges, the City of Peachtree Corners is collaborating with wildlife officials from the Georgia Department of Natural Resources (GADNR) Urban Wildlife Program and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Wildlife Services.

These partnerships are vital, as GADNR holds primary authority over wildlife management, and USDA brings extensive experience in urban wildlife management. By working together, we aim to develop a comprehensive approach tailored to our community’s unique needs.

Based on recommendations from our partners, the City is actively developing a comprehensive deer management plan. The plan aims to mitigate the public safety, property damage, ecological and public health impacts caused by the growing deer population.

Here’s what we are doing:

1. Population surveys: Utilizing advanced tools like trail cameras and thermal imaging to accurately assess deer numbers.

2. Habitat assessments: Evaluating the impact of the deer population on local vegetation and biodiversity.

3. Community involvement: Updating the “PTC Report It” app to allow residents to report deer-related concerns and submit photographs.

4. Data analysis: Collaborating with federal and state partners to analyze data and determine a sustainable deer population for our community.

Once the assessment phase is complete, the city will adopt a deer management plan. Since many deer reside on private property, the plan will offer property owners city-supported options for managing deer. This includes educational programs, habitat modification techniques and access to targeted population reduction initiatives.

Our goal is to facilitate relationships between wildlife officials and residents to ensure a balanced approach that protects public safety, preserves property and maintains ecological integrity.

Here are a few ways you can help:

• Complete the Deer Impact Survey: Available online. Your input will help us gather valuable data on deer population densities and their impact.

• Report concerns: Use the “PTC Report It” app or go online to report deer-related issues and share photos.

• Stay informed: Follow our updates and participate in any upcoming GADNR workshops to stay informed about deer management efforts.

I truly appreciate your support and cooperation as we work together to address these challenges and protect the quality of life in Peachtree Corners. Thank you for being engaged and committed to our community.