Gary Yandura was named Brookhaven's first-ever police chief at a news conference on Tuesday morning held at Brookhaven City Hall. Now, he answers Five Questions from Patch: 1. What attracted you to the job of Brookhaven's first-ever police chief? Yandura: I was attracted by the diversity and makeup of the community, along with the challenge of starting the first police department from ground level. This is a once in a lifetime opportunity for me. 2. How familiar were you with the city and community when you applied? Yandura: I was familiar with the city. I had frequented the area because of …

European Wax Center is in the process of becoming one of Town Brookhaven's newest tenants. Here are Five Questions with Jason Cohen, who is bringing the retailer to Town Brookhaven. 1. So tell us about this new Town Brookhaven business. Cohen: We couldn’t be more excited about this venture and to be opening this spring in Town Brookhaven. We had the option to open anywhere in Atlanta and felt Town Brookhaven was the best location for this business. European Wax Center was recently named the America’s fastest growing franchise by Inc. Magazine and we are the first national brand to exclusively…

One of the newest retailers moving into Town Brookhaven is Sugarboo Designs. Here are Five Questions With ... Rebecca Puig, owner of the store.1. So tell us about this new Town Brookhaven business.Rebecca: We are opening Sugarboo & Co. in May of this year. Our main goal is that when people come in the store they have a fun experience. The store will be a little taste of everything-- old and new, vintage and modern, traditional and unconventional, but most of all whimsical. We will have a large variety of goods for all occasions. We want to be known as a one stop shop-- whatever gift you need…

Having been in Cherokee Plaza for eight years, Big Peach Running Company will officially open its relocated store in Town Brookhaven on Monday, March 18. Here are Five Questions With GM Jared Carlson: 1. So why the move to Town Brookhaven? Carlson: We have been located in the Cherokee Plaza shopping center since we first opened our doors in May of 2004.  Our goal from day one was simple - to grow the lifestyle  Whether that is running, walking, hiking, you name it.  Learning to take advantage of our great city.  Over the years, we have simply outgrown our current space.  With the development …

Editor's note: Marie Garrett was announced as Brookhaven's first city manager on Wednesday. Today, she answers Five Questions from Patch.1. Mayor Davis has said the city needs to hire a city manager before hiring a police chief. Now that you've been hired, what's the latest with a search for a chief of police for Brookhaven? Garrett: We have launched the search for chief of police today. 2. There have been reports of Brookhaven looking for a private company to collect its trash? Is this something that is being actively pursued? Garrett: We are currently exploring all options in regards to …

1. In this day and age of intense scrutiny, and especially considering the recent, hotly contested debate and vote over Brookhaven municipalization, why are you running for mayor? Davis: I am running to be Brookhaven’s first Mayor because I know we can significantly improve our community if we utilize our charter in the best and most efficient way possible. As a small businessman I understand what it means to make a payroll and how controlling costs is fundamental to a successful enterprise. The charter specifically allows our city to control costs through the local outsourcing of many city …

1. In this day and age of intense scrutiny, and especially considering the recent, hotly contested debate and vote over Brookhaven municipalization, why are you running for city council? Anthony: Part of the reason I am running for the District 3 City Council position IS the hotly contested debate and vote.  When I reviewed the Carl Vinson Institute feasibility study, studied the bill that created our City charter, and researched the process under which the City was incorporated, I became concerned with the minimal requirements allowing a small group of people to sit down with a map, draw …

1. In this day and age of intense scrutiny, and especially considering the recent, hotly contested debate and vote over Brookhaven municipalization, why are you running for city council? Eyre: I am running for the Brookhaven City Council District 2 seat to continue my public service work in a community I love and understand intimately, to support the issues that I have heard from residents will benefit District 2 and to fight the issues that they believe will be detrimental to the community, Having managed multi-million dollar competitive bid real estate development projects where my own …

  1. Why are you running for office? Mitchell: During the cityhood process, I never had intentions of running for City Council in Brookhaven. However, after the success of the incorporation efforts, I began to be approached by many of my neighbors and friends in the community and encouraged to run for office based on my local government experience in finance for a startup city in DeKalb County. I’m the only one running for Brookhaven office that has local government experience and I can hit the ground running like no other candidate. I understand the issues, challenges, and opportunities a …

1. In this day and age of intense scrutiny, and especially considering the recent, hotly contested debate and vote over Brookhaven municipalization, why are you running for city council? Stathis: After living in Brookhaven as a homeowner and taxpayer for 14 years, I have had the unfortunate experience of witnessing at best, benign neglect by our county officials of services for this part of DeKalb County.  I have been a very vocal advocate for my neighborhood in my attempts to get problems solved for our neighborhood by DeKalb County’s Board of Commissioners.   As a result of the frustration …

1. In this day and age of intense scrutiny, and especially considering the recent, hotly contested debate and vote over Brookhaven municipalization, why are you running for city council? Hurst: First, full disclosure. I was a reluctant YES vote. I voted yes because DeKalb County failed to deliver value in basic services and have slowly become a high tax county. DeKalb refused to cut spending in 2008/09 when they knew tax revenues were collapsing. DeKalb refused to decrease property tax appraisals in 2008, 2009, 2010, and 2011 without going through the county’s archaic appeal process.  In 2011…

Editor's Note: Brookhaven's first elections as a city will take place on Nov. 6, 2012, with runoffs set for for Dec. 4, 2012. Brookhaven officially becomes a city on Dec. 17, at 12:01 am. Patch has contacted every candidate for mayor and city council, asking them to participate in our popular 'Five Questions With ...' series. We will publish their answers, unedited, in the order their responses are received, from those who choose to participate. And now, Five Questions With Hope Bawcom, candidate for city council district 3.   1. In this day and age of intense scrutiny, and especially …

  Editor's Note: Brookhaven's first elections as a city will take place on Nov. 6, 2012, with runoffs set for for Dec. 4, 2012. Brookhaven officially becomes a city on Dec. 17, at 12:01 am. Patch has contacted every candidate for mayor and city council, asking them to participate in our popular 'Five Questions With ...' series. We will publish their answers, unedited, in the order their responses are received, from those who choose to participate. And now, Five Questions With Rebecca Chase Williams, candidate for city council district 1. 1. In this day and age of intense scrutiny, and …

  Editor's Note: Brookhaven's first elections as a city will take place on Nov. 6, 2012, with runoffs set for for Dec. 4, 2012. Brookhaven officially becomes a city on Dec. 17, at 12:01 am. Patch has contacted every candidate for mayor and city council, asking them to participate in our popular 'Five Questions With ...' series. We will publish their answers, unedited, in the order their responses are received, from those who choose to participate. And now, Five Questions With Larry Danese. candidate for Brookhaven mayor. 1. In this day and age of intense scrutiny, and especially considering …

Editor's Note: Brookhaven's first elections as a city will take place on Nov. 6, 2012, with runoffs set for for Dec. 4, 2012. Brookhaven officially becomes a city on Dec. 17, at 12:01 am. Patch has contacted every candidate for mayor and city council, asking them to participate in our popular 'Five Questions With ...' series. We will publish their answers, unedited, in the order their responses are received, from those who choose to participate. And now, Five Questions With Ben Podgor, candidate for city council district 3. 1. In this day and age of intense scrutiny, and especially …

As the school year began at Woodward Elementary, the teachers, students and parents saw a familiar new sight: another new principal, the seventh in a short amount of time. But Melanie Pearch says she's in it for the long run. Brookhaven Patch caught up with her to ask her how she got into running a school, first week challenges and what she likes best about the area. What inspired you to go into school administration? Melanie: I'm from a family of educators and my dad was a principal, so I've always kind of been around that. While teaching, I took on little leadership roles and just from …

You’d be hard-pressed to find a more recognizable figure in Brookhaven than Ronnie Mayer. President of the Ashford Park Civic Association, business owner, community volunteer and civic leader, Mayer is known in some circles as the “mayor of Brookhaven.” But could that title become official, should Brookhaven vote to incorporate at the end of this month? Now, Five Questions With Ronnie Mayer. If Brookhaven votes to become a city, will you run for office? Mayer: Yes. I will run for something. It really is up to [Ashford Park Civic Association Vice Chair] Jim Eyre; he’s been told by dozens of …

State Rep. Elena Parent, whose district included much of Brookhaven, recently announced she would not seek re-election. Her district was drawn into another district as fellow Democratic state Rep. Scott Holcomb. On the last day of qualifying, Parent announced she had accepted a position as executive director of Georgia Watch. Now, Five Questions With ... Elena Parent So how did this position with Georgia Watch all come about? Parent: Due to a redistricting process last year that paired incumbent Democrat versus incumbent Democrat, my district was combined with the district represented by my …

  So how's the job been going? Ford: All is going very well. The city of Chamblee has outstanding directors and staff. Quite frankly that has made my transition into the city manager position a relatively easy one. Also, the interim city manager was Police Chief Marc Johnson and his extensive knowledge and diligent commitment to the success of the city has been key to a seamless transition and my ability to effectively manage the city’s resources. How did the inaugural Celebrate Chamblee Festival turn out this year? Ford: It was a great event. We had participation from several organizations …

The 2nd annual Brookhaven Beer Fest is Saturday, June 9, from 3-8 pm, and Brookhaven Patch recently caught up with Jonathan Colon, a Brookhaven Heights resident who is co-producing the event: OK, so how did this whole Brookhaven Beer Fest get started? Jonathan: As a Brookhaven Heights Resident and senior event producer at Atlanta Bar Tours, I wanted to bring something to my community that was a really fresh and enjoyable event to add for many reasons why Brookhaven is so great. So I did the leg work last year on permitting, location and much more. Then I assembled the right team of USA …