Saturday, July 31, 2010

Home Sweet Home Makeover made easy in Dunwoody by Mary Trantow of Exquisite Interiors.

 Sold in 32 days and proper staging was everything.

Our family just marked the 1 year anniversary of moving into our home. Kristin fell in love with our current home the moment she saw it, and suddenly the boys and I were on the "let's move" bandwagon.

But the first step had to be selling our former home in a less-than-great economy and a sluggish real estate market. And the biggest challenge, our house was home to 3 very active boys and very much showed it. The prospect of having to transform our well lived-in home into a place that was open house ready seemed overwhelming. Not having cable or satellite we couldn't even get ideas from HGTV.

Luckily for us, we didn't have to look much further than across the street for help to our friend and neighbor, Mary Trantow. Mary is one of those people that can look at a room with LEGOs strewn across the floor, furniture reinforced with duct tape, and walls layered with original wallpaper and Kool-Aid stains and then say "this could be a great room for entertaining." Quickly we brought Mary on board our home make-over project.

Armed with paint colors, and a list of what to pack away, what to borrow or buy, and where to place it, Kris followed Mary's direction. It was a lot of work (I have to admit Kris did the lion's share - I did do some of the heavy lifting...) but when it was done, it was pretty much transformed into a different house. When Kristin emailed photos to family and friends their response was "This is NOT your house." And in truth, it really wasn't ours any more. We'd turned our house into someone else's - the next homeowners'. Maybe we were just incredibly lucky that it sold in 30 days, but I tend to give a lot of credit for the quick turnaround to our decorator, stager, and good friend, Mary Trantow.

When we moved into our current home, we decided not to wait until we were ready to move out again (which Kris says will be "never") to make improvements. So we had Mary come in and give us direction on paint, furniture and finishing touches and our family and friends are enjoying the results.

Whether you're planning on moving or just want to make your house a home you enjoy living in, I highly recommend getting in touch with Mary Trantow of Exquisite Interiors. Mary's phone is 404-277-1207 or marytrantow@gmail.com

Dunwoody bank robbery conducted by four men armed with pistols and assault rifle.

Friday, July 30, 2010

DeKalb Fire adds Advanced Life Support transport ambulance at Station # 12 on Roberts Rd in Dunwoody.

Photo of Station 18 Vehicle

Dunwoody has received word that DeKalb Fire Rescue has placed Rescue 12 in service today as an Advanced Life Support transport ambulance at Station # 12

Dunwoody School News - Construction Meeting on Aug 4th and School starts on August 9th.

School starts Monday August 9th

The DeKalb County School System announces a meeting to update community members and parents on Region 1 construction projects - including Dunwoody High School and Vanderlyn Elementary School. The meeting will be held August 4th, 6:00 PM at Peachtree Charter Middle School.

Dunwoody HS parents will have an opportunity to meet the new principal, Mr. Rodney Swanson, receive information regarding parking, traffic flow, and other important details to start the school year.

Dunwoody HS PTSO Newsletter - Back to School Edition.  Full of information re: construction, parking, etc., "Dunwoody Roar" - Back to School Edition

School Supply Lists and Dress Code Sales Information – Old Navy

Peachtree MS & Dunwoody HS Receive STEM Labs Grant

Stage Door Players in Dunwoody Presents Stephen Sondheim’s COMPANY – Two More Weekends, Through August 8, 2010

company-stage-door-players-5339-chamblee-dunwoody-road-atlanta-ga

As found on the distinguished 365 Atlanta site which highlights a new Atlanta area event everyday.

Stage Door Players, Dunwoody’s only professional theater company, was founded in 1974 as a Community Improvement Project of the Dunwoody Woman’s Club. The intimate space of the theater, which holds just around 100 patrons, makes seeing a show at State Door an experience like no other. With stadium seating only four rows deep that borders two sides of the stage, there’s not a bad seat in the house and patrons can truly feel like they are a part of the show.

Stage Door Players is currently presenting Stephen Sondheim’s COMPANY, a musical about a 35-year-old bachelor whose married friends all think he should be married, too.On the night of his 35th birthday, confirmed bachelor Robert contemplates his unmarried state. In vignette after hilarious vignette, we are introduced to “those good and crazy people,” his married friends, as Robert weighs the pros and cons of married life. In the end, he realizes being alone is “alone, not alive.” This innovative work by Stephen Sondheim is considered by many to have inaugurated the modern era of musical theatre

Directed by SDP’s Artistic Director, the passionate and talented Robert Egezio, with musical direction by Linda Uzelac and choreography by Jen MacQueen, this show is a laugh-out-loud hilarious look at married – and unmarried – life, peppered with poignant moments. The cast is local Atlanta talent – the Atlanta theater community is brimming with amazing talent and dedicated behind-the-scenes folks to make a complicated production like this one seem effortless. I saw the show last week and can say with certainty: it’s a must-see for any fans of theater, musicals, Sondheim, and anyone who strives to support the arts here in Atlanta.

The production runs through August 8, 2010. Showtimes are Friday and Saturday evenings at 8:00 PM, and Sunday afternoon matinees at 2:30. For tickets, you should visit the Stage Door Players website; tickets are available online through tix.com. For questions, you can call the Box Office at 770-396-1726.

Wednesday, July 28, 2010

AJC - Dunwoody sign ordinance stalls on tie vote

By Patrick Fox of the AJC
 
After 18 months of public forums, committee meetings and staff research, the City Council voted 3-3 Monday night on what was supposed to be a final draft of the law. The tie vote means the matter will be sent back to the city's planning department, which will develop a revised draft with the seven-member community council and seven-member planning commission.

The draft ran into trouble from the get-go. Councilman John Heneghan, noting late changes in the document, asked why the matter needed to be approved immediately. He said the draft, complete with more than three dozen recent alterations made late last week, should be presented for public review before being adopted.

"I believe it's a completely different version that has been seen via the community council and planning commission," Heneghan said. "I think we owe it to the citizens and the businesses to get a full reading of the community before we go forward to finalize this."

But Councilman Robert Wittenstein observed the ordinance had gone through the most thorough vetting process imaginable, and there was no need to delay. Besides, he added, the ordinance could be amended as needed in the future.

Opponents who spoke during the public hearing outnumbered proponents by more than 2-1. No one spoke directly against a specific provision, only the late changes that the public had not had time to review.
Those changes included revised dimensions for signs attached to building fronts and ground signs in front of businesses.

During the course of the discussion, Wittenstein offered seven additional revisions to the draft, a move which frustrated planning commission member Bob Lundsten. "This is a perfect example of your making a significant change... that I guarantee you nobody in this audience has seen," Lundsten said.

"My right as a citizen is being taken away from me," said Gerri Penn, a member of the zoning board of appeals. "You are making these changes and I have not, as a citizen and taxpaying residents of the city, had a chance to review it."

The council voted to allow most of the revisions on the basis that the full draft would be made available for public inspection before the ordinance is brought to another final vote. The full draft will be posted on the city's Web site, dunwoodyga.gov.

Dunwoody's Spruill Gallery - Katrina 5 years of Reflection


August 13 - September 11, 2010


Opening Reception:
Thursday, August 12, 6-9 p.m.

Spruill Center Gallery
4681 Ashford Dunwoody Road
Dunwoody, GA 30338

Atlanta artist Elyse Defoor presents X.U.ME, a visual journey that emerged from the X markings found throughout New Orleans in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.

Featured are New Orleans artists Krista Jurisich, Neil Alexander, Brian Nolan, Lori K. Gordon, Debra Howell, and Jan Gilbert.

Tuesday, July 27, 2010

Video of the July 26th Dunwoody City Council Meeting


Welcome New Dunwoody City Councilman Mr. Doug Thompson

Recap - proposed sign ordinance remanded back to Community Council, proposed Stream buffer allowances was approved, North DeKalb Cultural Arts Center was approved for purchase from County.

City of Dunwoody Charter and Ordinances are now on-line and searchable.


Monday, July 26, 2010

A vacation from the computer - almost a success.


This afternoon I returned from a vacation that was spent seeing family in Illinois and while I was away I actively attempted to also stay off the computer.  If you know me, you can imagine how hard that is.  I limited work e-mails on the Blackberry, stayed off the internet almost completely except for some Dunwoody meeting preparation and only blogged twice (missing girl who is now home safe and today's meeting announcement) therefore I consider it a successful endeavor.

Before my vacation I read this article and thought that my Wife, our marriage and our children's vacation memories were all worth me stepping away from the distractions and dedicating myself to them.

I'm glad I did it but the next time I step away from the computer it will not be immediately before a City Council meeting as I want to assure myself that I am properly prepared to speak on the items at hand.  That being said, I have a number of e-mails to return so if you sent me a message in the last week please be patient.  Thanks.

Sunday, July 25, 2010

Monday July 26th Dunwoody City Council Meeting Agenda

Monday, July 26th
Dunwoody City Hall
41 Perimeter Center East
Dunwoody, GA 30346
7:00 p.m. - Watch Live
Meeting Agenda
  • Proclamation Commending Tom Taylor.
  • Recognition of Officer Joseph Tomalka for Educational Accomplishments.
  • Introduction of Trina Gallien, Dunwoody Municipal Court Clerk.
  • Proclamation Commemorating One-Year Anniversary of Dunwoody Community Garden
  • Certified City of Ethics Presentation.
  • Presentation of Awards for the 2010 Fiscal Budget.
  • Resolution Establishing Park Facility Rental Fees
  • PUBLIC HEARING
    Proposed Text Amendments to Chapter 20, Signs, and Chapter 27, Zoning, Article III, Overlay District Regulations, §20-1276, Sign Regulations.
  • SECOND READ – Ordinance to Amend Chapter 20, Signs, and Chapter 27, Zoning, Article III, Overlay District Regulations, §20-1276, Regulations.
  • SECOND READ – Ordinance to Amend Chapter 16, Land Development, Article 2, §16-254(4) Regarding Permissible Uses Within the City 75-Foot Stream Buffer.
  • Update on speeding on Dunwoody Club Drive
  • Resolution Authorizing the Acquisition of North DeKalb Cultural Arts Center and Library.
  • FIRST READ – Ordinance Amendment to Chapter 4, Alcohol, for modifying the requirements relating to package sale distances from private dwellings.

Friday, July 16, 2010

Book suggests that Dunwoody should lead development with parks to create beautiful, exciting and fun spaces.


The City of Dunwoody has been in existence for about two years and we have implemented basic services at the same or better level of service without a tax rate increase. We are reviewing public safety needs and thinking of possible improvements, we have a plan for road and infrastructure improvements and soon we will also be reviewing our parks and public recreation spaces for improvements too.

I recently met with representatives of the Dunwoody Community Garden who want to expand the green infrastructure they have already installed, at public meetings I have heard residents suggest that the city should buy depressed or vacant properties for civic use, this evening I was talking to residents of the Village Mill area who want to preserve a 40 acre stand of trees that is privately held; and this Saturday I will be walking an "unbuildable" half acre lot with a stream running through it to see if the City should adopt the land. My point is that green space in Dunwoody is at a premium and besides developing what we currently have we may need to tart thinking about protecting other space that is available.  I hope that we will soon have a candid open dialog as a community to discuss our park wants and recreational needs so that we can then decide as a community how we could best move forward with this shared vision if it exists as I believe it does.

The article below is taken from the City Parks Blog hit home for me and I believe that it has a lot to say to both the residents and local politicians of Dunwoody who believe that we can improve our quality of life though improved access to public green spaces.



We asked Peter Harnik to answer some questions about his new book, Urban Green: Innovative Parks for Resurgent Cities, that covers how cities can plan for parks as well as how to create them in “all built-out” settings.

Your book addresses many age-old questions about parks and cities. Let’s start with the big one — how much parkland should a city have?

“Should” is the wrong verb. “Should” implies that the outcome is decided by planners. The right verb is “want”: “How much parkland do we as residents and taxpayers want?” It’s a political issue, and it’s got to be approached politically by building a base of active park supporters. Every city has a different geography, a different history and a different culture — it’s not one size fits all. I think people sometimes use the word “should” in the hopes that someone else will do the work for them. No great park system was created solely by planners using official standards.

But still — don’t even advocates need to know how their city compares to others?

Oh, definitely! That’s why I give some comparative numbers in the book and many more on our web page (at www.tpl.org/cityparkfacts). If you take a trip to Boston or Minneapolis and like what you see, you can compare what your city has with them — everything from acreage to playgrounds to recreation centers to swimming pools. Which is why I always say it’s not just about gross acreage. One place may have lots of young people primarily interested in sports fields, another may be tilted toward older folks who want walking trails through bird-filled marshes. The environment also matters: some cities easily support lush forested parks, others are built on arid deserts where trees are essentially alien species. But the most important factor is population density. Crowded New York and San Francisco have so much concrete everywhere that every added pocket park is magical. Roomy Jacksonville and Oklahoma City, with thousands of large suburban-style yards are already halfway natural even not counting their parks. Density has a major impact on how people think about parks and how they use them.

The subtitle of the book is “innovative parks for resurgent cities.” What does it mean for parks to be innovative?

When cities are young, small and expanding, parks are added on the leading edge of the growth margin. They consist of natural lands that are donated or purchased — farms, forests, woodlands, wetlands, deserts. The process is known as conservation.

In older cities that are “all built out” there is nothing natural to conserve besides the already-existing parks. New parks there must be created through development rather than conservation. To make a park from a derelict parking lot, for instance, you wouldn’t conserve it — doing that would merely retain a derelict parking lot. You’d have to tear it up, regrade it, plant it, and fit it out with a playground or a sports field or a fountain or whatever the community wanted.

The goal in built-out cities is to use innovation — acquiring no-longer-needed parcels from other government agencies, sharing land with other users, utilizing previously wasted surfaces like rooftops and highway air rights, installing gardens in gap-toothed neighborhoods, pushing developers to donate land for parks, even just making better use of existing parkland. Every one of these approaches is happening in some city right now, and a few cities are doing almost all of them.

The book touches on the different kinds of parks, from social spaces to those nearly devoid of people but full of nature. How can cities deal with such a broad spectrum?

After Gertrude Stein said, “A rose is a rose is a rose,” you’ll notice she didn’t say “A park is a park is a park.” The large number of park types, ranging from insect-filled wetlands that have no human visitors to center-city brick plazas that have no grass and sometimes even no trees, can be confounding to any planning process and even to a general conversation. The vast number of activities that can and do take place in parks makes the discussion even more complex. I don’t use the confusing words “passive” and “active,” but I do like the new concept coming out of Portland, Ore., where planners talk of a spectrum that ranges from spaces of extreme sociability to spaces of extreme ecological purity. They created a three-way classification they call “people-to-people” places, “people-to-nature” places, and “nature-to-nature” places. The former two support different types of human recreation, the last is for pure conservation (or what some people are now calling “green infrastructure”). The Portland system is based on the relationship among experiences, settings, and activities, with experiences being paramount.

Are parks important in spread out cities and sprawling suburbs?

People with large yards don’t need parks as much for things like barbecue picnics, playing catch or kicking a ball, going to a playground, or sitting on benches, but they still need them for many other reasons: organized sports fields, greenway trails, large forest reserves. But there’s something else. As America seeks to reign in sprawl, we need nodes to build some density around. The most powerful nodes are probably transit stations, but I believe parks are just about as significant. If someone has a beautiful park a block or two away, he or she may be much more willing to live without a yard in a townhouse or an apartment in a walkable neighborhood with other nearby conveniences. It’s called park-oriented development and it could have a big impact on our cities and suburbs.

You suggest numerous ways cities can add parks — decking freeways, sharing schoolyards, using old landfills, greening rooftops, and much more. Is there a place to start? What do you say if a mayor asks you what’s the biggest bang for the buck?

Again, every city is different. Dallas has a below-grade freeway segment that is just crying out for a park deck to link uptown with downtown and serve as a seed for redevelopment. Boston happened to have a perfectly located 100-acre landfill that was all filled up and ready for conversion to sport fields. Space is so tight in Brooklyn that New York was forced to tackle the complexities of an agreement to use formerly locked schoolyards as after-school parks. The creative folks at Oakland Cemetery in Atlanta are committed to making that space as absolutely park-like and inviting as possible. The purpose of my book is to open people’s eyes to the many possibilities out there — all of them proven — but each will have to be analyzed on the local level as to feasibility.

If there is one piece of advice you could give to a city, what would it be?

I would say, “Lead with your parks.” The two blockbuster infill parks of the 21st Century — Millennium Park in Chicago and The High Line in New York — have each generated well over a billion dollars of redevelopment and renewal, not to mention tourist revenue and all-around “buzz.” It’s similar with innovative parks in St. Louis, Denver, Houston, Boston, Atlanta and other places. If park advocates and mayors create beautiful, exciting and fun spaces in the hearts of cities, developers, tourists and residents will quickly follow.

Thursday, July 15, 2010

Free discount prescription drug card for Georgia residents.


As shown on this Fox 5 video, Georgians can begin downloading a new discount prescription drug card.

The Georgia Drug Card is free and can be used at 60,000 pharmacies nationwide for both brand name and generic drugs. You are even able to price your medicines prior to visiting the store by doing a search for specific drug names via a zip code. There are no enrollment forms, no restrictions and no age or income requirements.

The card can be downloaded online. To download the card click here.

Here I thought I was talented playing Guitar Hero on the medium level?

Incredible little girl - watch the video.

Tuesday, July 13, 2010

Dunwoody's Chef Emily Myers teaches the basics of cooking at Cooks Warehouse


Chef Emily Myers of Dunwoody, owner of EmilyG's Jam of Love is featured on CNN teaching a basics of cooking class that she offers at the Cooks Warehouse in Brookhaven, Decatur and Midtown.  The link above to the CNN page has nine video segments of  the class embedded at the top of the story and it looks awesome.  So much so that I almost bought two seats for Emily's next class in Brookhaven but didn't pull the trigger until I verify a few other scheduling items.

Check out the upcoming classes being offered because many of them look like a good opportunity for a date night with the spouse or even a good girls night out event.

Dunwoody Tomatofest 2010 - July 14th

Tomatofest 2010 - This morning


Our farmers have been growing their tomatoes, you've been planning your recipes, and we've got some great new vendor specials just for Tomatofest!

We will have a children's activity tent sponsored by Dunwoody Nature Center, tomato recipe contest judged by two of our favorite chef's Rosemary and Michele Green. We will also have Chef Matt from Wildfire Grill doing a chef demo and Smokey's Farmland Band pickin'and strummin' some bluegrass tunes. There will be a free raffle for a beautiful basket of goodies from our vendors as well as plenty of tomatoes for sale!

Schedule of Events
  • 9:00 am - drop off your entries for the Cooking Contest to Market Manger Amy (please email your recipe and entry prior to the event to info@dunwoodygreenmarket.com)
  • 9:30 am - Cooking Contest Judging with Chef Rosemary & Chef Michele
  • 10:30 am - Chef Demo - Chef Matt from Wildfire Grill

Winners from the cooking contest will receive:
  • 1st Place - Certificate for "Michelle's Cooking with Confidence Class for you and up to 5 friends"
  • 2nd Place - $35 Gift Cert to Wildfire
  • 3rd Place - $25 Gift Cert for tomatoes from DGM Vendors

Cooking Contest Information can be found by clicking on the link below:
http://www.dunwoodygreenmarket.com/drupal/?q=node/90

We are located in the parking lot next to the Dunwoody Village Post Office 1551 Dunwoody Village Parkway Dunwoody, GA 30338

Open: April thru December - Every Wednesday 8am to 12pm

Video of the July 12th Dunwoody City Council Meeting

Video- First Three Hours

Video - Last Two Hours

It was a busy work session at the Dunwoody City Council, lasting over five hours but I have all the video broken into two segments for your viewing pleasure. We followed the agenda and much of the meeting concerned the Sign Ordinance which was discussed halfway through the the evening and is therefore split between the two videos. If you are looking for a specific segment please use that as a guide as to what video to start looking for your topic. 

Monday, July 12, 2010

Dunwoody double homicide investigation continues.


Incident: Death Investigation (Update)
Date: 07/12/2010
Location: 1962 Peeler Road, Dunwoody, GA 30346

The Dunwoody Police Department continues to actively investigate the deaths of Roger and Dot Abbott. Mr. and Mrs. Abbott were found dead in their home located at 1962 Peeler Road after DeKalb County Firefighters responded to a structure fire at that location. It was later determined the fire was started intentionally and the Abbotts were murdered. Both the Dunwoody Police Department and the DeKalb County Fire Department were on the scene within minutes of the call being received at 11:18 a.m. on July 1, 2010.

Detectives with the Dunwoody Police Department have been working tirelessly on this investigation since first responding to the scene. Additionally, arson investigators with the DeKalb County Fire Department, the Sandy Springs Police Department, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, the ATF, the Secret Service, and the FBI are all assisting our department.

The Dunwoody Police Department has committed every available resource toward the successful investigation of this terrible crime and to the apprehension of the person or persons responsible. Our Detectives have interviewed potential witnesses, collected evidence which has been sent to the crime lab, and are continuing to follow potential leads in this case.

On Monday, July 12, 2010, Chief Billy Grogan met with the Retired Old Men Eating Out (ROMEO), a group that Roger Abbott belonged to for many years, at their regularly scheduled monthly meeting. Chief Grogan provided an update on the investigation, listened to their concerns and answered their questions.

Although the Dunwoody Police Department would like to release additional details of the investigation, we cannot do so at this time. “The circumstances of any death investigation dictate what details can and can’t be released to the public. In this particular investigation, the release of specific information such as the cause of death, details of the circumstances of the deaths, or any investigative leads could potentially harm our investigation and could possibly interfere with our ability to successfully prosecute a suspect or suspects in the future,” said Chief Billy Grogan.

In general, the City of Dunwoody is a safe community. We urge all citizens to maintain their normal safety precautions by locking their doors, setting their alarms and reporting any suspicious activity by calling 911.

At this time, we have no information to indicate any direct threat or risk to any other person or group in our community.

Advance voting this week at Chamblee Civic Center from 7 am to 7 pm


Advance voting for the primary election is this Monday through Friday, July 12 through 16.

The primary election is July 20, a week from this coming Tuesday. You can vote this week, Monday through Friday, from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. at any of the following advance voting locations that are relatively near our community:

Chamblee Civic Center
3540 Broad Street
Chamblee, GA 30341

DeKalb County Fire Headquarters
Training Conference Room
1950 West Exchange Place
Tucker, GA 30084

Old DeKalb County Courthouse
101 East Court Square
Decatur, GA 30030

Click these links to see the Republican and Democratic sample ballots for this election. You can also click here to retrieve a sample ballot that is specific to your polling location.

Saturday, July 10, 2010

A Parks Bill for Everyone by Rep. Mike Jacobs

 Rep. Mike Jacobs

By: Representative Mike Jacobs

You may have seen recently in the news that the City of Dunwoody obtained the parks within its boundaries from DeKalb County at minimal cost pursuant to state legislation.

The legislation that enabled this to happen was amended into a bill that I sponsored, House Bill 203 (click for more information), but not before I changed the language in ways that benefit all of us, whether or not we live in the City of Dunwoody.

The parks language in the bill does not just apply to Dunwoody. It applies to every city in DeKalb County. So, for example, if the City of Chamblee or City of Dunwoody were to annex the areas containing Murphey Candler Park or Blackburn Park, or both, that city would be able to obtain those parks from DeKalb County for the same low cost. Also, if citizens in Brookhaven ever decide that they want to form a new city, that city would get the same deal in obtaining Brookhaven Park on Peachtree Road and Ashford Park on Caldwell Drive.

This is not to say that any such incorporation or annexation is imminent. That’s a decision that will remain primarily in the hands of our neighborhoods, and also in the hands of any city governments which might become annexation partners. The bottom line is that proper maintenance of local parks is one of the reasons that local citizens choose to become part of a city.

Some critics have suggested that this is stealing parks from DeKalb County and giving them to cities. I reject that notion. They’re not DeKalb County’s parks. They’re not any city’s parks. They’re public parks. One of the provisions that I insisted on including in HB 203 is a provision that says citizens who live inside a city and those who live outside a city have to be charged the same fees, to the extent there are fees, for the use of any park that is acquired by a city pursuant to the legislation. Thus, a city can’t charge residents of unincorporated areas more for using “city” parks and recreation facilities.

Evan and I take our kids to the playground at Brook Run from time to time. We don’t live in the City of Dunwoody. After the incorporation of Dunwoody, I’ve seen firsthand how DeKalb County has allowed the park to deteriorate. It affects all of us. I am confident that the City of Dunwoody will be a much better steward of the park.

HB 203 also deals with parks bond funds. There are approximately $7.5 million dollars in general obligation bond funds (not tax funds from the county treasury) that the City of Dunwoody says were promised for improvements to Brook Run prior to the 2006 DeKalb County parks bond referendum, but DeKalb County is now holding back these funds and won’t use them for Brook Run.

HB 203 provides that, if a city can prove to the satisfaction of a Superior Court judge that county documents and the statements of county officials in the run-up to a bond referendum guaranteed X amount of bond funds for particular projects at a particular park, and the county is holding back the funds, the city gets X dollars of the bond proceeds to use for those particular projects at that particular park.

The point is that county officials should be held to the promises they make to voters and taxpayers when seeking to win their votes in a bond referendum. This provision, too, is written to benefit other areas that may join DeKalb cities in the future.

Friday, July 9, 2010

Dunwoody City Council - Monday, July 12th (Parks, Business Taxes, Sidewalks, Police, Fire, 911, Zoning, Sirens & Court)

Monday, July 12th
Dunwoody City Hall
41 Perimeter Center East
Dunwoody, GA 30346
7:00 p.m. - Watch Live

Work Session Meeting Agenda


1. Dunwoody High School renovations update.

2. Discussion of the occupation tax process.

3. Park Facility Rental Fees.

4. 2010 Sidewalk Construction Capital Project.

5. Parks Master Plan discussion.

6. FIRST READ - Ordinance to amend Chapter 16, Land Development, Article 2, §16-254(4) regarding permissible uses within the City 75-foot Stream Buffer.

7. FIRST READ – Ordinance to amend Chapter 20, Signs, and Chapter 27, Zoning, Article III, Overlay District Regulations, §20-1276, Regulations.

8. H.E.A.T. Grant discussion.

9. Fire Services discussion.

10. E-911 discussion.

11. Roberts Drive Park Donation discussion.

12. Municipal Court Contract discussion.

13. Emergency Sirens discussion.  (fwiw - saw Decatur has these.)

Thursday, July 8, 2010

Thoughts on the Dunwoody Charter Cluster by a parent who helped rewrite the Peachtree Middle School Charter.


My friend Donna Nall is the past Chair of the of the Executive Council at Peachtree Charter Middle School and was tasked at rewriting the School Charter for approval by the State. Below is the latest from her blog where she describes the process and expounds on the possible educational improvements under a Cluster Charter System.

Donna, our children are so much richer with parents like you and your team who dedicate so much time and talent to improving the community. Thank you.



Yesterday, I trekked to the Georgia Department of Education's Charter Schools Committee meeting to receive their blessing on Peachtree Middle's charter renewal petition. I sat with several representatives from Peachtree and Kingsley Elementary School, whose charter is also up for renewal (and was approved!).

Behind the scenes, when most folks were busy with lots and lots of other stuff, Peachtree parents were wrestling with, researching, adapting, surveying, and writing a new charter for Peachtree, one with tremendous latitude for curricula, scheduling, staffing, use of designated funding, and waivers from state and county restrictions.

The committee praised Peachtree for its academic rigor and the fact that the innovations in our last charter became standards for the entire county (seven period schedule, daily PE, world languages, et al). Then they questioned us sharply about our AYP (Annual Yearly Progress) scores in science and math with 8th graders (we're suffering the same pangs as the rest of the state thanks to the new curricula), our attendance zone (we accept every student who lives in our district, plus we have a lottery and waitlist for other students - we're too full to open any more spots), where our funding comes from (I think they forgot that as a conversion charter we're funded primarily by DeKalb County - but were really interested in the vitality of our Foundation, which funds teacher training, technology, additional curricula and materials, and capital projects such as new signage and a watering station for the track and field area).

Our 90+ document covered every single question with such clarity that the questioning lasted just a few moments. Then they agreed to submit charter to the State Board of Education. This morning. I'm watching the webcast for that final blessing.

Working on a charter is a keen balancing act between optimistic boosterism and a grounded grasp of reality. I embrace the idea that every student has value and deserves the best possible education. I also believe that Dunwoody must have superlative schools - I demand no less as a parent, a taxpayer, a homeowner, and a volunteer in the schools.

We have made major gains in recent years thanks to savvy Dunwoody parent volunteers, great teachers, and some key school administrators - and in spite of sometimes backbreaking and mindless directives from the county school system.

There is so much more we can do.

It's time to focus on developing a Dunwoody Charter Cluster for our schools. Dan Weber has been working at the grassroots level on this concept (and not just for Dunwoody - Chamblee is discussing the possibility, too.)  This umbrella Charter Cluster would give Dunwoody the kind of local control we need for our schools.

I predict that a Charter Cluster would engage our community much the same way becoming a City did, by creating a sense of ownership and empowerment that has been lacking in the one-size-fits-all county administration system. Local businesses will be far more likely to support schools when they see a direct connection between their donations and the results in Dunwoody schools. Parents will get even more involved because their voices would not get lost in the cacophony far across the county. There are resources and talents available in the community that will impact the schools with far-reaching benefits. And accountability will be immediate and dealt with proactively - if something isn't working, it won't take a Titannic-sized tugboat to turn things around.

Yes, we'd still be subject to DCSS for funding, staffing, and transportation. But the recently enhanced Charter Schools Law gives Charter schools tremendous flexibility in spending, scheduling, curricula, obtaining outside resources, and choosing curricula and materials that are far more specific to student needs at the local level.

Just as important, a Charter Cluster allows each school within the cluster to adapt even more locally. The needs of each school, from elementary to high school, are not always the same.

So, some "what if's" for a Dunwoody Charter Cluster:

1. What if we add a career track academy to Dunwoody High so that all students could graduate along the path that best suits their needs, whether college or skilled job placement? (DHS already has Mass Communications and Finance academies.)

2. What if we mandate balanced enrollment in our elementary schools? Convert the 4-5 school to all grades AND renovate the Shallowford School property.

3. What if we rethink the middle school model and offered parents the option of a K-8 school instead?

4. What if we operate on a balanced schedule, ie year round school with three-week breaks between sessions and a five-week summer break?

5. What if we move Dunwoody High's schedule later in the day to embrace the reality that high school students have a different inner sleep clock than the rest of us?

6. What if we establish a Cluster Foundation to pursue the millions of dollars in grants and resources available to schools? This funding would give Dunwoody tremendous flexibility in capital projects, classroom technology and materials, stipends to support teachers and administrators, and so much more.

7. What if we have a capital campaign to build our own sports facility? (There's space - we just have to be creative in WHERE the stadium is located.)

8. What if there is a direct link between multi-family and high density zoning approval and school capacity?

9. What if parents' mindset inverts from an all-consuming focus on their elementary school to feeling part of a continuum that culminates in Dunwoody High School? The best school districts in the nation are not labeled "XYZ Elementary School" - they're identified by the HIGH SCHOOL.

10. What if each school can spend the funds allocated by the county according to their specific needs? There will be accountability, but there will also be tremendous flexibility (no more America's Choice or Springboard or other canned edu-fluff).

That's just a start.

I realize that my kids likely won't benefit directly from a Charter Cluster (one graduates next year, the other enters High School in 2011), but my family will. Because we're here in Dunwoody for the long run, and it's the right thing for our community.

Donna Cannady Nall

Dunwoody Homeowners Association Meeting - Sunday Night

Dunwoody Homeowners Association
Board Meeting - (Open to the Public)
Sunday, July 11, 2010, 7:30 P.M.
North DeKalb Arts Center, Room 4
5339 Chamblee Dunwoody Rd, 30338

AGENDA

Welcome Board Members and Visitors

Announcements and Political Campaign speakers
(one minute limit per speaker)

1. Approval of Minutes – for June 6, 2010 Regular Board Meeting

2. Presentation (D. Crean or K. Hundley) from the Rotary Club about a Fall event

3. Community Affairs
Parade Update, Pam T.
DHA update on Adopt-A-Spot Landscaping / Maintenance, Bill R.
Code Enforcement, Gerri P.

4. Messages & Updates from President
Wendy’s Perimeter Pointe
City of Dunwoody Liquor store distance requirements from Single family housing
Proposal for another group of garden plots at Brook Run
Light Up Dunwoody 2010

5. Board only discussion: executive committee meeting notes, proposal from Treasurer and Votes

Adjourn

COMING EVENTS: Next Regular Board Meeting – Sunday, August 1, 2010 , 7:30 PM – North DeKalb Arts Center, Room 4

We need more sharing of resources between Schools and the Dunwoody Community around them.

 Peachtree Charter Middle School Ball Fields

It is my belief that the DeKalb County School System needs to encourage more partnerships between the themselves and the communities they serve to maximize the use of the DCSS facilities, both building space and surrounding green space. With the proximity of the huge expanses of land at Peachtree Charter Middle School directly across from Brook Run Park, those rarely used ball fields could be used as active park land after school hours while Brook Run remains at least targeted for semi-passive use. I had a neighbor (yes Magoo, I'm talking about you) who just last week asked where in Dunwoody could he and his rugby friends could find a large piece of flat ground to play regularly. Peachtree Middle and Dunwoody High was my first answer but he said they were approached and were turned down. The land and amenities around the schools are primarily there for the students but they are were also paid for with all the citizens tax money, therefore those fields should be fully utilized when able to reasonably do so.

My friend Kim Gokce has been working very hard for the last year to form a public/private partnership to support students at Cross Keys High School. He will present his final proposal to the board of education on Monday, for approval of a school partnership with the YMCA to renovate the athletic fields so that the Y can form some very active after school programs on the school property. The Y will pay for the entire project, they just need the board's blessing.

Kim has an online petition of support and I hope that you can read more about the proposal here, visit the link below and choose to sign on as a member of the DeKalb County Schools community in the hope that more of these kinds of supportive partnerships can develop. Signing the petition is simply a show of support for Kim's effort and the YMCA's concerns for at-risk students, it is not a political statement of any kind. It is Kim's hope to mentor more school communities into forming similar partnerships and it is my hope that this will only be the first of many partnerships to come.

Here's the link -
http://www.gopetition.com/petitions/ymca-partnership.html

Thanks so much for your time!

John

Dunwoody United Methodist Church Teens Take Life Changing Trip to Brazil


11Alive - While many teenagers are spending their summer by the pool or at the beach, dozens of teens from Dunwoody United Methodist Church were in Brazil, working with bricks, mortar, and their hearts.

It was a journey lined with blood, sweat, and a lot of tears.

"I've just gotten so deeply passionate with the people," said teenager Margaret Heir with tears streaming down her cheeks as she prepared to leave the new friends she made while in Brazil. "I've gotten so close to God. They (the Brazilians) are just so amazing."

Seventy teenagers spent more than a week in Brazil, most of it in the mountains more than an hour from the glitzy beaches and hotels. They worked at a camp in the Brazilian countryside where local churches gather for worship services and conventions.

The chores here ranged from clearing paths through the thick sweaty jungle, to building additions to a church and cabins.

A member of Dunwoody United Methodist, 11Alive's Jerry Carnes joined the teenagers as an adult chaperone.

There were dirty jobs and even dirtier jobs that the teenagers completed with eagerness. Allison Rogg, who was covered with muck but smiling as she helped clean a pond...

Rogg described her trip as "amazing."

Through it all, the teens worked side-by-side with Brazilian counterparts. Some of them could speak broken English. The teens from Dunwoody knew maybe a word or two of Portuguese, the language of Brazil.

That didn't stop the teens from growing close. They found new ways to communicate. The Brazilians taught the Americans how to play soccer, while the Americans showed their new friends how to throw a football.

Often, the teens communicated with a hug. Lifelong friendships were formed.

"We love you," said Brazilian Alenildo Ferrira. "You mean so much to us. You're in our heart."

When the mission work was complete, the teenagers had to say goodbye to the people they'd known only a few days. There were hugs and eyes welling with sorrow. It was as if the teenagers from Dunwoody were saying good-bye to a dear member of the family.

"Friendships have formed and it's just one of the things where the spirit has moved us," said Brittany Sanders of Dunwoody United Methodist. "It's emotional.

"It's going to be an experience they're not going to forget," said Sanders. "I hope they don't forget it."

Wednesday, July 7, 2010

Local Candidate Forum tonight in Doraville - (U.S. House 4, GA House 81, GA Senate 40, DeKalb 7 and DeKalb County School Board 1)


Tonight - Thursday July 8th
Meet & Greet starts at 6 with Forum running from 7 to 9 p.m.

Candidate Forum featuring candidates for Congress, Georgia Legislature, DeKalb Commission and the DeKalb County School Board is scheduled for Thursday at 7 p.m. at Forest Fleming Arena in Honeysuckle Park in Doraville.

The event will feature candidates for the 4th Congressional District, State Senate District 40, State House District 81, DeKalb County Commission Super District 7 and DeKalb County School Board District 1.

Fleming Arena is at 3037 Pleasant Valley Drive, Doraville GA 30340.

Maybe I'll see you there?

Dunwoody July 2010 City Newsletter


Dunwoody 2010 Summer Newsletter

Dunwoody resident Bobbe Gillis makes run for DeKalb County School Board.

Bobbe Gillis

Dunwoody resident Ms. Bobbe Gillis splashed on to the campaign scene Monday with her first public event at the Dunwoody Parade by not riding in the back of a convertible, but instead she rode her bike along the two mile route.  Since all politicians were prohibited from walking the route, Bobbe was as far as I could tell, the only politician who traversed the route without the help of an electric or gas powered motor.

I am personally excited by Bobbe entering this race along side incumbent Jim Redovian and Ms. Nancy Jester.  I look forward to learning more about the candidates and where they stand on the issues.  The DeKalb County School System is now in a state of flux with the indictments and resignations of the upper management therefore a heated three way campaign for the school board seat will raise questions and issues that need to be discussed as well as inform the community of the candidates priorities for the future.  Once the July elections are over, I contend that this will be the local race to watch in November.



As reported by the Dunwoody Crier, Bobbe Gillis joins Nancy Jester and school board incumbent Jim Redovian on the ballot. Gillis and her husband and two children have been Dunwoody residents for 10 years, saying they moved to the city to take advantage of the public schools. Their daughter was graduated from the last fifth-grade class at Austin and will be a seventh-grader at Peachtree Charter Middle School this fall. Their son is entering second grade at Austin.

Gillis is a graduate of the former Henderson High in DeKalb and holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from the University of Georgia. She is the owner of Bobbe Gillis Professional Art Services. Through her company she has supported art programs in several Dekalb County schools by her active participation and donations. Dekalb County School of the Arts, Evansdale Elementary, Lakeside High School, Briarlake Elementary, Austin Elementary, Dunwoody Elementary, and Peachtree Charter Middle School have all been beneficiaries.

Gillis has been a Girl Scout leader the last six years and teaches Sunday School at New Hope Church. She hopes to use her business background to implement change in the school system.

Dunwoody Community Garden at Brook Run looks to expand as it enters its second year.


On Thursday, I will be touring the Dunwoody Community Garden to hear details of a proposal for expansion and I already received a video outlining the proposed expansion that I thought I would share with you.  Brook Run Park by deed must stay 70% green space and the garden would easily be working towards that requirement and the beauty is that this would be usable productive green space that would be improving the park, improving peoples lives, as well as bringing visitors into the facility on a regular basis.  (The more regular visitors the safer the park.)

The only downside I see is that the community as a whole hasn't had a discussion as to the future best uses of the limited green space that we have here in Dunwoody and the revision to the Master Plan of Brook Run also has to happen.  Is this the best use for the property in question and if the garden is expanding shouldn't the dog park have the same right?  Even though I may personally love the idea of expanding the Community Garden at Brook Run, I still want to know what is the communities long term vision of the property so that the expansion, if deemed appropriate, will mesh with the other long term improvements.

What are your thoughts and future vision for Dunwoody's parks? 

Please check out the video below and then if you haven't visited the garden or the very back sections of the park, I highly encourage you to do a full tour of the facility.

Saturday, July 3, 2010

Heartbreakingly sad: Peeler fire investigation upgraded to homicide.

My prayers go to the family and I know that our Police Department, along with many other Agencies are working very hard to solve this case. Please understand that there is limited information available for release at this time and please do trust that the Department is working very hard to determine the facts, notify next of kin, as well as keeping the overall community safe.   Thanks for your patience,   John.

City of Dunwoody Update by Councilman Robert Wittenstein

Dear Dunwoody Friends and Neighbors,

First, a very happy Independence Day to everyone. I look forward to seeing many of you at the Dunwoody parade on Monday, July 5th.  I congratulate the Dunwoody Woman’s Club as this year’s honorees and thank them for getting the tradition started and for all they do for our community.

My heart and prayers go out to the couple killed on Peeler Road on Thursday. This is a horrific incident and I am confident that our police department and the county are conducting the investigation with care and competence.  

We continue to look at the advantages and challenges of taking over 911 emergency dispatch service from the county.   We have broadened our discussion to include looking at the feasibility of taking over fire service from the county as well as 911. (Emergency Medical Service is tied to DeKalb County. The only way for us to take over EMS is to get DeKalb’s permission to withdraw from their service area or petition the state to re-draw the EMS boundaries. Neither seems likely.)

Many of you took the time to provide answers to the survey I created last month. There were 229 responses. 57% of you responded that you supported our taking over 911 even if it meant a small tax increase. 24% responded that you thought we should stay with DeKalb and the remaining 19% thought we should take over 911 but only if we made cuts in police, roads and parks spending to pay for it.   Thank you to those who took the time to respond and to comment. I shared all the comments with the rest of the City Council and senior city staff.

As most of you are aware, we took over the parks properties from DeKalb County in June. We are now maintaining the parks and we have begun to make small improvements. This is reason for celebration! That said, we are horribly underserved by the parks we have inherited. At some point, as a community, we will need to make a commitment to create a parks and greenspace network for us, our children and our grandchildren. This will require an investment in land and capital improvements.

Also in June, we completed drafting our 20 year Comprehensive Land Use Plan. This fourteen month effort resulted in a document that provides a vision for Dunwoody. It is an incredible document and one we should be proud of. It has been submitted to the Georgia Department of Community Affairs for review and will be posted on our web site shortly.

This past week, Mayor Wright, Danny Ross and I attended the annual Georgia Municipal Association conference in Savannah (along with Warren Hutmacher, our City Manager, and Sharon Lowery, our City Clerk). The conference allows us to take training, participate in policy sessions and discuss issues with state lawmakers. We also get to meet our counterparts in other cities and discuss solutions to common problems. It was a very worthwhile conference.

Finally, please be aware that in a week or so I will send out an e-mail with the subject, “Endorsements”. I have had the privilege to meet and talk with most of the candidates who are running for office in the July 20 primaries and I’ll provide my thoughts. This won’t have any Dunwoody news in it, so if you are not interested, please feel free to delete it unopened. Either way, remember to vote on Tuesday, July 20.

Regards,

Robert

Rodney Swanson Named Principal of Dunwoody High School

The DeKalb County School System has announced that Mr. Rodney Swanson has been named as the new principal at Dunwoody High School. Mr. Swanson is an 18- year employee of the DCSS. He began his DCSS career at Chapel Hill Elementary School and later moved to Stone Mountain Middle School to teach social studies. He served as an assistant principal at DeKalb School of the Arts for seven years before moving into his most recent position as an assistant principal at Redan High School, where he helped guide that school through its renovation/construction process.

Mr. Swanson is married and has two sons: one a rising sophomore at Druid Hills High School and the other a rising 8th grader at Shamrock Middle School. 

Prior to being named as DHS Principal, Mr. Swanson met with representatives of the DHS School Council, including parents, a representative from the teaching staff and the business community representative, the PTSO president, and the construction liaison representative. After an hour and a half discussion, the group came away impressed with Mr. Swanson's qualifications and commitment to continuing the progress DHS has seen over the past several years. Mr. Swanson will lead the returning administrative leadership team of Assistant Principals Tamra Watts, April Keels, Tom Bass and Tom McFerrin. 

Look for Mr. Swanson in the 4th of July Parade with our Football team and band. Let's give him a warm Wildcat Welcome.

Recent DHS achievements includes:

1. Achieving AYP for the first time since the 2006-07 school year.
2. Increasing the number of students passing all portions of the Georgia High School Graduation Test on the first attempt from 81.94% in 2009 to 83.5% in 2010.
3. Ranking 76 out of 336 high schools (up from 132 in 2009) in GHSGT first time passage rate.
4. A 95% pass rate in English Language Arts (up from 90% in 2009) on the GHSGT.
5. A 97% pass rate in math (highest of all traditional high schools in DeKalb County) on the GHSGT, surpassed only by DeKalb School of the Arts (DSA) and DeKalb Early College Academy (DECA). 
6. A 95% pass rate in science (up from 89% in 2009 and the highest of all traditional high schools in DeKalb County) on the GHSGT, surpassed only by DSA, DECA and Arabia Mountain Magnet School. 
7. An increase in the number of AP courses offered from 17 in 2008 to 20 in 2010.
8. An increase in the number of students taking 3 or more AP classes from 48 in 2008 to 98 in 2009 to 106 in 2010. 
9. The most AP exams ever administered at DHS (666 exams). 
10. The initiation of the Dunwoody Arts Alliance, and presentation of the 2nd Annual Night of the Arts with inclusion of the community and DHS feeder schools. 

We look forward to welcoming Mr. Swanson into the DHS community and to working with him and our returning staff in our continuing quest for excellence.

Respectfully,

The Dunwoody High School Council and PTSO

Friday, July 2, 2010

Two people found dead inside burning Dunwoody home - investigation on going..


Incident: Death Investigation
Date: 07/01/2010
Location: 1962 Peeler Road, Dunwoody, GA. 30346

The Dunwoody Police Department is investigating two deaths that occurred at 1962 Peeler Road, Dunwoody, GA. The DeKalb County Fire Department was dispatched at approximately 1118 hours to a house fire. Upon their initial investigation, the bodies of two victims were located within the residence.

The victims have not been positively identified, and the cause of death is unknown at this time.

The scene is still under investigation by the Dunwoody Police Detective Division, the DeKalb County Medical Examiner’s Office and the DeKalb County Arson Investigator. More information will be released once it becomes available.

If you have any information regarding this investigation, please contact Detective Curtis Clifton at (678)382-6912.

Thursday, July 1, 2010

Dunwoody Area Fireworks and Monday's Parade

Saturday, July 3: Chamblee & Norcross

Chamblee Rocks!
Keswick Park Independence Day Festival: Chamblee Rocks!
5:30pm Kids games and activities open! Play games for FREE to win fun prizes or enjoy bouncing on inflatables, face painting, and more!!6:00pm Food Vendors open Karate Demonstration by Lewis Global Karate
7:00pm LIVE music by Mike Veal Band – back by popular demand our local boys take the stage for another rockin’ performance!
DARK – FIREWORKS! Enjoy the best display around!

Historic Downtown Norcross Lillian Webb Community Park

The City of Norcross Independence Day Celebration, observed on July 3rd, is a day full of great family fun. There are plenty of activities for all ages, including inflatables, kids games, and live entertainment.  Live concerts begin with “The Stephen Lee Band” at 4:30 and “The Woody’s” at 7:30 pm and of course, Fireworks begin at 9:30pm.

Sunday, July 4: Lenox Mall Fireworks

As cities across the U.S. host July 4th fireworks extravaganzas, Atlanta’s Lenox Square is home to the Southeast’s largest celebration, attracting more than 200,000 people annually. Lenox Square will present activities for the entire family, including live musical entertainment on the mall’s outdoor main stage; and a "Kid Zone". Culminating the evening will be the signature fireworks display, featuring thousands of fireworks bursting in air for approximately 20 minutes, accompanied by a patriotic musical soundtrack. Lenox Square’s legendary celebration is free and open to the public.

Musical entertainment from City Heat and Party on the Moon begins at 6 p.m.  Fireworks scheduled to begin at approximately 9:40 p.m.

Monday, July 5: Dunwoody Parade and Festival

On Monday, July 5, at 9:30 a.m., the Dunwoody Homeowners Association and the Dunwoody Crier newspaper will host the annual Fourth of July Parade featuring marching bands, floats, clowns, animal units and local celebrities. This year's parade theme is Dunwoody Salutes America's volunteers.  We invite all parade participants and spectators to join in the Parade Festival with live entertainment, kid's activities, BBQ, hotdogs and much more.

The parade route is 2.7 miles. Steps off from the intersection of Mt. Vernon and Jett Ferry at 9:30 a.m., proceed west on Mt. Vernon to Dunwoody Village Parkway. You can view a map of the parade route here.

Diverging diamond interchange coming to Ashford Dunwoody & I-285

Diverging diamond interchange

AJC reports - A new interchange at Ashford-Dunwoody Road and I-285 could be under construction this fall, thanks in part to a new infrastructure bank run by the state.  State officials said Ashford-Dunwoody would be one of the first "diverging diamond" interchanges in the U.S., designed so that cars that pass over the bridge will switch to the left-hand side of the road, to streamline all the turning in the area.

Wikipedia
A diverging diamond interchange is a rare form of diamond interchange in which the two directions of traffic on the non-freeway road cross to the opposite side on both sides of the bridge at the freeway. It is unusual in that it requires traffic on the freeway overpass (or underpass) to briefly drive on the opposite side of the road from what they are accustomed.

Like the continuous flow intersection, the diverging diamond interchange allows for two-phase operation at all signalized intersections within the interchange. This is a significant improvement in safety, since no left turns must clear opposing traffic and all movements are discrete, with most controlled by traffic signals.[1] Additionally, the design can improve the efficiency of an interchange, as the lost time for various phases in the cycle can be redistributed as green time; there are only two clearance intervals (the time for traffic signals to change from green to yellow to red) instead of the six or more found in other interchange designs. Some of the intersections in the design can be unsignalized. The left turn from the freeway off-ramp, for example, can form an auxiliary lane that then becomes an exit-only lane for the entrance ramp to the freeway in the opposite direction. Omitting the traffic signals for the left turn movements off the freeway only works well with single left turns and when short queues exist within the interchange on the arterial street.

Dunwoody Music Fest announced for Oct 23 & 24 at Brook Run Park

The Dunwoody Music Festival and
Chili Cook-Off is Back!

Brook Run Park

October 23 - 24, 2010
Saturday:  10 AM - 6 PM
Sunday:  11:30 AM - 6 PM

Applications are OPEN for Musicians, Artisans, Vendors,
and Chili Cook-Off Contestants

The Dunwoody Music Festival, sponsored by the Dunwoody Chamber of Commerce, is the 4th weekend in October.  This event takes place in Dunwoody, Georgia bringing in 30,000 plus people and 20 plus musical artists.  During this 2 day event our visitors will experience two full days of music.  There will be 2 stages, with approximately 20 plus performances, throughout Saturday and Sunday.  Visitors will find other activities throughout the day.  There will be a chili cook off, for the professional and one for the amateur, and an adult beverage area.  There will be activities for kids of all ages, including rides, and a climbing wall. Local artisans will be there for those who are looking for that special holiday gift.  Of course, there will be plenty of food and laughter for everyone.

Music is the universal language that encompasses the Globe.  Music touches patrons of all ages.  It is a part of our daily lives, our “family events”, and holidays. This festival is a wonderful opportunity to share music with others.  The Dunwoody Music Festival will have a full genre of music with many varied artists - jazz, blues, gospel, and country.  There will be a “Battle of the Bands” for the young musicians.  The Dunwoody Music Festival is a collage of music.

The Dunwoody Music Festival Committee is committed to developing and presenting a world class music festival that will continue to grow and be a destination event for all Music patrons.