Dunwoody Nature Center's Cocoa and Candles, set for Sunday, December 6th

 

Sunday, December 6, 7 - 9 pm

Candles just won't stay lit in windy wet weather!  Dunwoody Nature Center's Cocoa and Candles celebration, set for Sunday November 22nd, got "washed out."  Instead of concluding Light Up Dunwoody  activities, Cocoa and Candles will just EXTEND the party this year, on Sunday December 6th at 7 pm. 

Stroll the trails, aglow with hundreds of luminarias created by the Dunwoody High Key Club.  Bring your flashlights to follow volunteers into the forest for a brief night hike.  Enjoy delicious coffee and cocoa, provided by our friends at Starbucks.  Listen to caroling Girl Scouts, and purchase goodies made by Signature Bank's great bakers. Roast marshmallows by the fire with Chamblee NHS students.  Add a few bottlecaps to DNC's first whimsical sculpture: a multi-fruited tree.  Thanks to many friends for contributing bottlecaps, and to B'nai Torah for preparing them.  Greet your Dunwoody friends and enjoy this special night.

FREE to all . . . the Dunwoody Nature Center's gift to the community!

Dunwoody Community Garden - Food Pantry Update and Plan for 2010

I love Pattie Baker's passion, she makes so many positive things happen in this city. I found this video which I just had to share as it is related to this blog post of hers. What's your passion? What are you doing about it?

If you are able to make a difference, then I believe that you have a responsibility to do so. Pick a topic and get to work.

Dunwoody Police - December's On the Beat Newsletter

Dec 2009 Dunwoody Police

Dunwoody Stage Door Players hosts 9th Annual Tim Redovian benefit performance and auction.

Jim & Sherrill Redovian are long standing pillars of the community and many of you may also recognize Jim's name since he is our local representative on the DeKalb County School Board. In November of 1996, their son Tim, an accomplished actor (see video below) at the age of 16 passed away suddenly of a viral pneumonia. Since that tragic event and in Tim's honor, the Redovian's created a non-profit charitable organization which has been funding scholarships to students with special talents in the performing arts.

The Tim Redovian Memorial Fund, presents the 8th Annual Night at the Theater, Holiday Boutique and Silent Auction at a special benefit performance of  the "G.I. Holiday Jukebox" performed by the Dunwoody Stage Door Players.   Make your reservations soon (678-488-6929) as you don't want to miss this exciting evening!  Show time is 8:00 p.m with final bidding on auction items during the intermission.  After the performance ends you will take home the items you won, plus wonderful memories of another enjoyable evening at a TRMF fundraiser!

G.I. HOLIDAY JUKEBOX

During WWII, Hollywood stars and starlets made it their duty to entertain "the boys." G.I. HOLIDAY JUKEBOX takes four Hollywood stars to the "front" for a holiday reunion. It's Christmas-time, the world is at war, but for a brief time, at peace as our four singing stars deliver some of the best music of the 1940's, framed by a collection of holiday and Christmas music, ranging from the classic to corny to silly and sentimental!

Wednesday, December 9th
Stage Door Players
5339 Chamblee Dunwoody Road, Dunwoody, GA 30338
Bidding and dinner begin at 6:30 pm
The G.I. Holiday Jukebox starts at 8:00 pm

Tickets are $35.00 and dinner is included
For information and to make reservations: 678-488-6929
or go to www.timredovian.org for more information.

Seating is limited so please make your reservations early.

In Memory of Tim

Callanwolde Concert Band, Holiday POPS on Dec 6th

http://www.calcb.org

City of Dunwoody Update by Councilman Robert Wittenstein

Dear Dunwoody Friends and Neighbors,

This is Thanksgiving weekend and I’d like to start by saying how thankful I am that Dunwoody residents have entrusted me with the responsibility to help lead our new city. I am humbled by the task and feel the responsibility deeply. I am often asked whether I’m enjoying my role as an elected official or whether it is what I expected. My answer is that it is time consuming but very rewarding. Thank you all for giving me the opportunity to serve.

I am tremendously thankful for our city staff. They do the hardest job every day. Warren Hutmacher has done a phenomenal job as City Manager. He was a wonderful choice and has done a great job. We have a city that operates quickly and efficiently and provides excellent customer service. We have vendor/partners who are performing well and being held to a high standard of performance.

Tuesday, December 1st marks our one-year anniversary of cityhood and it is appropriate, I think, to take a look back and a look forward.

In our first year, our challenge was to set up the city and establish a world-class police department. Chief Grogan has done an excellent job building a department that is responsive, professional and dedicated. Public safety will always be our number one priority and our largest annual expenditure.

In our first year, we have also answered the question posed repeatedly during the debate over incorporation: “Can we operate the city at a higher level of service than we were getting from DeKalb without a tax increase?” The answer is a resounding yes. We will end the year with a comfortable budget surplus despite the start-up costs we had to incur.

In 2010 we need to focus on planning. Next year, we will complete our 20-year city-wide Comprehensive Land Use Plan, a Transportation Plan and detailed re-development plans for Dunwoody Village and the Georgetown/Shallowford area. These plans will help guide our long range future. We have two more public meetings planned for January to seek resident input and I encourage you to participate. I’ll publish the dates and times next month.

We also need to begin working on repaving. We are just completing a survey (done by a laser truck that has driven over every street in Dunwoody) of the condition of all our roads and next year we will begin repaving the ones in the worst condition. Road paving is done partly with city funds and partly with gasoline tax revenue collected by the state and distributed to local governments according to a complicated formula. We have submitted our paperwork to be included in the 2010 allocations but we do not yet know how much of the state funds we will have available. Getting this state money will drive the timetable for when we can begin repaving work.

Our other major challenge for 2010 will be to secure city control over the parks in Dunwoody so we can begin to rehabilitate them. The Dunwoody Nature Center, Dunwoody Park ballfields, Brook Run, the Donaldson-Chesnut House and the DeKalb Cultural Arts Center all need much better ongoing maintenance and long-term investment through a capital spending program.

Happy Holidays to everyone!

Regards,
Robert

Video & Audio of the Nov 23rd Dunwoody City Council Meeting

Agenda and Meeting Video

Passed by Consent Agenda
Approval of CVBD 2010 Budget.
Resolution to adopt taxi license fees.
Resolution to adopt escort services fees.
Certified City of Ethics Resolution.
Resolution to adopt Action Plan for Bicycle Friendly Community.
Chapter 14: Land Development and Environmental Protection, §11 Sedimentation and Erosion Control.

Defeated
Ordinance to amend Chapter 27: Zoning: Pre-submittal meetings.
Resolution to adopt Business Occupation Tax Schedule of Fees.

No Votes
PUBLIC HEARING – Amendment to Chapter 27: Zoning, Personal Care Homes
PUBLIC HEARING – Chapter 21: Signs
Discussion of golf carts.
Backyard chicken raising. (back to cc & planning commission.)

Audio

Intro   11232009_1.mp3
Public Comment  11232009_2.mp3
Consent Agenda    11232009_3.mp3
Pre-Submittal meetings   11232009_4.mp3
Business Taxes    11232009_5.mp3
Personal Care Homes    11232009_6.mp3
Signs & golf carts    11232009_7.mp3
Backyard Chickens   11232009_8.mp3
Public comment - end 11232009_9.mp3

Last Dunwoody Green Farmers Market of 2009 is this Wednesday

Dunwoody Green Market  Holiday Artist Market! November 25th, 2009

Dunwoody Post Office 1551 Dunwoody Village Parkway, Dunwoody, GA 8am-12noon

For those who may not be home for Thanksgiving, thank you.

With much gratitude, thank you.

Light Up Dunwoody was a little soggy but fun none the less.

Though there was a little sideways blowing rain, wind gusts and chilly temperatures this evening, the entire Heneghan family attended the Light Up Dunwoody celebration.  Kristin served on the DHA Light Up Dunwoody committee to help plan all of the evenings events, including the parade and booking the many entertainers. 

The only thing she couldn't plan was the weather, but that being said it was still a nice event with numerous school choruses and dance troops entertaining in the big tent.  Santa was there taking pictures, balloon animals and glow sticks were available to anyone who wanted one, hot chocolate was the drink of the choice and the sponsors in the tents were wonderful hosts.

In order to entertain Declan, my three year old, we walked from sponsor tent to sponsor tent to see what each had to offer.  My good friends Al and Tina Tiede from Horizon Windows & Doors were there with children's games which allowed me and Al to catch up on local events, I talked to my son Gavin's tutor Ms. Reeci from Huntington Learning Centers, the Fitness Center at Dunwoody Baptist had great information on their new Dynamo Swim School classes in Dunwoody starting soon for preschools and up.  (Kristin if you are reading this, please sign Declan up T/T swim lessons starting Jan 12th)  I talked to Marcia Anderson from Altus Healthcare & Hospice who had the best hot chocolate and a big thank you to the ladies at the Primrose School who entertained Declan with cookie decorating for a good 15 minutes.  The Dunwoody Police were collecting toys for their Christmas for Kids charity event, touring the inside of a DeKalb Fire truck is always fun and the dedicated ladies from the Peachtree Charter Middle School and Dunwoody High School kept my children's blood sugar from dropping to low with all of their home made baked goods.

Santa threw the switch to light the big tree and in the end I can truly say that my boys enjoyed spending several hours in the rain.

The community owes a special thanks to the Dunwoody Crier, the Dunwoody Homeowners Association and the Dunwoody Preservation Trust for hosting the event and thank you to the many volunteers, vendors, sponsors and entertainers who made it possible.  Please do come back again next year as my wife has promised better weather.

NOTE - I'm told that the Dunwoody Nature Center postponed the Coco and Candles event until Sunday December 6th.  Please check the DNC site for more info as it becomes available.

Dunwoody City Council Meeting agenda for Monday Nov 23rd

Monday, November 23rd
Dunwoody City Hall
41 Perimeter Center East
Dunwoody, GA 30346
7:00 p.m. - Watch Live

Agenda

• Approval of CVBD 2010 Budget.
  
  
• Resolution to adopt taxi license fees.
  
  
• Resolution to adopt escort services fees.
  
  
• Certified City of Ethics Resolution.
  
  
• Resolution to adopt Action Plan for Bicycle Friendly Community.
  
  
• SECOND READ: Ordinance to amend Chapter 14: Land Development and Environmental Protection, §11 Sedimentation and Erosion Control.
  
  
• SECOND READ: Ordinance to amend Chapter 27: Zoning: Pre-submittal meetings.
  
  
• PUBLIC HEARING - Business Occupation Taxes Schedule of Fees
  
  
• Resolution to adopt Business Occupation Tax Schedule of Fees.
  
  
• PUBLIC HEARING – Amendment to Chapter 27: Zoning, Personal Care Homes
  
  
• Ordinance to Amend Chapter 27: Zoning, Personal Care Homes.
  
  
• PUBLIC HEARING – Chapter 21: Signs
  
  
• Discussion of golf carts.
  
  
• Initiation of text amendments - Backyard chicken raising. (back to cc & planning commission.)
  

Wonderful Community Traditions - Light Up Dunwoody & Cocoa n Candles this Sunday evening

Light Up Dunwoody

November 22, 2009

4pm Parade from Dunwoody Farmhouse

4:30 Festival Begins

Entertainment under the Tent, PCMS Jazz Band, Balloon Sculptors, Bounce House, Visits with Santa, Photo Booth & Children’s Activities

Light Up Dunwoody Show Agenda

4:30 DHS Marching Band
4:45 Dunwoody Elementary Chorus
5:00 PCMS Marching Band
5:15 Chesnut Chorus
5:25 Vanderlyn Dancers
5:35 PCMS Majorettes
5:45 Austin Chorus
5:55 Kingsley Chorus
6:05 Pure Elegance Dancers
6:15 Vanderlyn Chorus

6:30 Light the Tree

Followed immediately by Cocoa & Candles at Dunwoody Nature Center 

Dunwoody Village looks so pretty all a-twinkle - and Dunwoody Park is like a fairyland when luminaries line the trails and boardwalk. Volunteers from local high schools and merchants help make it magical! Come to Dunwoody Nature Center for a night hike, a roasted marshmallow, and a cup of cocoa or coffee right after "Light Up Dunwoody." This is our gift to the community - admission is FREE for everyone.

Cleaning for a Reason assists Breast Cancer patients going through chemo.

http://www.cleaningforareason.org

If you know a woman currently undergoing chemo for breast cancer treatment, please pass the word to her that there is a cleaning service that provides FREE housecleaning - 1 time per month for 4 months while she is in treatment.

All she has to do is sign up and have her doctor fax a note confirming the treatment. Cleaning for a Reason will have a participating maid service in her zip code area arrange for the service.

This organization serves the entire USA and currently has 547 partners to help these women but could always use more in kind and cash donations.

Dunwoody Elementary is in need of U.S. Flags for the daily Pledge of Allegiance

Every day students all across this country start their day with a common morning ritual; they stand up, face the flag, put their hands over their hearts, and recite the Pledge of Allegiance. There's just one glitch to this tradition at Dunwoody Elementary. There are no American Flags in the classrooms!  This brand-new, state of the art facility was not equipped with any flags.  As a result, students recite the pledge while facing an internet picture, a small desktop flag, or a blank wall (where the "pretend" the flag is hanging).

In conjunction with Veteran's Day, the Dunwoody PTO kicked off its campaign to supply an American Flag for each of the 60 classrooms at Dunwoody Elementary.  The students created a variety of writings including poems, essays, letters, and even a cheer.  The writings will be forwarded to various veterans and civic organizations asking them to make contributions to help pay for the flags. 

If you would like to make a contribution, please send a check to the address below payable to DES PTO (enclose a note indicating that your donation is for the "flag campaign").

Dunwoody Elementary PTO

1923 Womack Road
Dunwoody, GA 30338

For more information on the flag campaign, please contact David Kopel at 770-551-0971.

Dunwoody Police Explorers paint Curbside Numbers for Jack and Jill, Late Stage Cancer Foundation

http://www.jajf.org

The Dunwoody Police Explorers have taken on a new challenge. Starting this month the Explorers will be painting house numbers on the curbs for citizens for a $20 donation. The Explorers plan to give 50% of all donations received from this to the Jack & Jill Late Stage Cancer Foundation.

Despite the advances in research, The American Cancer Society estimates 571,000 Americans died of cancer this past year and sadly expects this figure to remain exceptionally high for years to come. Cancer will claim thousands of Dads and Moms in their 20's, 30's and 40's leaving behind grieving children. The Jack & Jill Late Stage Cancer Foundation treats families to WOW! Experiences®, giving children who will lose their Mom or Dad to cancer a timeout to create indispensable memories as a family... while they can. As the national Oncology community admits, cancer is a diagnosis attacking the entire family. The Foundation flies in the face of Late Stage Cancer with smiles, joy, and a return to normalcy for these families.

The Explorers will be painting the numbers on Saturdays from now through the spring of 2010. They plan to present a check to the Foundation in the spring of 2010. If you would like to have your house numbers painted or just make a donation, please contact Officer Furman at (678) 382-6913. (The citizens making the request will need to determine if this is within the covenants of their neighborhood.)

Thank you,

Officer W. Furman

Community Outreach Unit

Dunwoody Police Department

41 Perimeter Center East, Suite 100

Dunwoody, GA 30346

Office: 678.382.6913  Fax: 770.396.4655

william.furman@dunwoodyga.gov

www.dunwoodyga.gov

www.twitter.com/dunwoodypolice

New drop off locations for Dunwoody PD - Christmas for Kids Charity

Please think about donating an unwrapped toy at a location below for Dunwoody's less fortunate.  Full details at the link below.

1st Annual Dunwoody Police - Christmas for Kids

Is social media a fad? I think not, in fact it looks as if you are fully participating.

Someone asked me the other day regarding the value of social media and it took me awhile to describe the various aspects of it. This video does the job nicely by describing the facts and figures of those various aspects I was trying to describe. To the readers of my little blog, whether you are reading this on the web, viewing an RSS feed, reading this on the daily e-mail newsletter, found it on twitter or in some other way; thanks for being part of the social media "fad". Click the link below if you do not see the embeded video.

Social Media Revolution

Historic Home Tour & Holiday Boutique benefiting the Dunwoody Preservation Trust

Charles Woodall House at 7865 Nesbit Ferry Road

Tour Dates
Friday, Dec 4 — 10 a .m . - 5 p.m .
Saturday , Dec  5 — 10 a .m . - 5 p.m .
Sunday , Dec  6 — 12 noon - 5 p.m .

Lunch

Enjoy a  lovely lunch each day of the 1854 Holiday House tour - just $6.00 per person.  The menu will include a bowl of soup from one of Dunwoody's favorite restaurants, a small sandwich or bruschetta, and dessert.  Hot or cold drink also included. 

Lunch will be served in the darling "Guest House" of the historic Woodall home.  Plan to lunch with us - between 11 and 2 on Friday or Saturday, and from 12 to 2 on Sunday.

Gift Boutique

Shop our gift boutique during all hours of the tour. You'll find a lovely assortments of gifts, jewelry, hand-painted scarves, painted furniture and more. Also available are fresh poinsettia plants.

Wreaths

Don't decorate your door until you've visited the 1854 Holiday House! Gorgeous, decorated wreaths donated by individuals, organizations and companies will be on sale.

Raffle Tickets

Purchase a raffle ticket during your visit for one of several great prizes including a bronze decorated Christmas tree valued at $2,500.

Tour tickets are $10 and are available at David Long Interiors, David's Flowers, Artichoke Design, Southern Comforts, Georgetown Hallmark and The Copper Pig.
http://dunwoodypreservationtrust.org

Super H Mart near Brandsmart is now open.

I know very little about this store, but a new grocery store near the South East corner of the City has to be a good thing. The store looks huge from the outside and I have heard good things about the food court and sushi therefore I am sure I will be stopping in soon.

Super H Mart
6035 Peachtree Rd., Bldg B
Doraville, GA 30360

Tis the holiday season - be aware of your surroundings.

We wanted to notify everyone of a strong arm theft that occurred on Monday night at Perimeter Mall. A customer had just purchased a laptop from the Apple store and was leaving the mall. An unidentified, young black male, approached the customer from behind and grabbed their arm, causing them to drop the laptop. A brief struggle ensued and the black male picked up the laptop and fled the scene on foot. Video surveillance showed that the suspect was possibly in the store at the same time as the customer and followed them outside. This occurred at approximately 8:30pm near Maggiano’s.

We want to remind everyone to be diligent in their awareness. Suspects such as these target victims that they feel are not aware they are there. Remember to always make eye contact with those people around  you and look over your shoulder every once in awhile to check behind you. We are entering the holiday season and crimes such as this will increase. If you feel you are being followed, contact one of the security officers to escort you. As always, if you see a suspicious person or vehicle, don’t hesitate to call 911 and report it.

Thank you,

Officer W. Furman

Community Outreach Unit

Dunwoody Police Department

41 Perimeter Center East, Suite 100

Dunwoody, GA 30346

Office: 678.382.6913  Fax: 770.396.4655

william.furman@dunwoodyga.gov

www.dunwoodyga.gov

www.twitter.com/dunwoodypolice

Dunwoody City Council Meeting of Nov 16th with full audio and video

Dunwoody held a special voting meeting to change our workers compensation insurance which we did under necessity and then a motion was made to reconsider the 2010 Budget regarding the City Council health insurance line item which failed to pass when a vote was taken.  There was a small break and then the regularly scheduled work session was held whereby no votes were taken.  It was a long emotionally draining evening so I will just let you listen to the audio and video if you are so inclined.   Reminder that the video allows you to jump ahead but I recommend that you have the agendas in hand when doing so.  Links below.

Please feel free to talk amongst yourselves, I'm going to bed as I have a dentist appointment (with Dr. Marsha Gordon - highly recommend) in about 6 hours and then a full day of work following.  Good night.

Video of Nov 16 Special Voting Meeting and published agenda

Audio 1. Start of meeting

Audio 2. Public Comment

Audio 3. Workers Compensation Insurance

Audio 4. Reconsideration of 2010 Budget - City Council Health Insurance

Video of Nov 16 Regular Work Session and published agenda

Audio 1. Start of meeting & public comment

Audio 2. Introduction of Michael Smith, Public Works Director.
   Introduction of Adriane Creety, Assistant to the City Clerk.

Audio 3. Discussion of backyard chicken raising ordinance.

Audio 4. Discussion of proposed CVBD FY 2010 Budget.

Audio 5. October financial report.

Audio 6. Resolution to adopt fees related to:
   Taxi licenses and escort services

Audio 7. Discussion of business license ordinance.

Audio 8. Certified City of Ethics discussion.

Audio 9. Discussion of Dunwoody Village Design Review Advisory Committee.

Audio 10. Update on contract award for Dunwoody Village TE design.

Audio 11. Discussion of Action Plan for Bicycle Friendly Community.

Audio 12. Update on Radar Signs. Sussessful reduction in speed - signs two weeks out.

Audio 13. First Read: Ordinance to amend Chapter 14: Land Development and Environmental Protection re: Sedimentation and Erosion Control.
Audio 14. Discussion of amendment to Chapter 27: Zoning: Pre-submittal meetings.

Audio 15. Discussion of amendment to Chapter 21: Signs §12: Non-Residential Zoning District Sign Regulation.

Audio 16. Discussion of Census 2010 Complete Count Committee. Great Dunwoody census preview here.

Audio 17. Discussion of utility contractors.

Audio 18. Initiation of text amendments.

Audio 19. Public comment

Huge Agenda for Dunwoody City Council on Monday Nov 16th - watch from home

Monday, November 16th
Dunwoody City Hall
41 Perimeter Center East
Dunwoody, GA 30346
7:00 p.m. - Watch Live

Monday is going to be a long night for the Dunwoody City Council but in case you are interested in watching from home, I plan on streaming the live video to the web, please click the link below on Monday for the video feed.

http://www.ustream.tv/channel/dunwoodycc

A special called voting session will start at 7 pm followed immediately by the work session (non-voting). The agenda shows that the special session was called because of the Workers Compensation Insurance issue and then it looks as if we will be looking at the 2010 budget again.

The work session has the following items on the agenda.

1. Introduction of Michael Smith, Public Works Director.

2. Introduction of Adriane Creety, Assistant to the City Clerk.

3. Discussion of backyard chicken raising ordinance.

4. Discussion of proposed CVBD FY 2010 Budget.

5. October financial report.

6. Resolution to adopt fees related to:

• a. Taxi licenses
• b. Dating and escort services

7. Discussion of business license ordinance.

8. Certified City of Ethics discussion.

9. Discussion of Dunwoody Village Design Review Advisory Committee.

10. Update on contract award for Dunwoody Village TE design.

11. Discussion of Action Plan for Bicycle Friendly Community.

12. Update on Radar Signs.  Sussessful reduction in speed - signs two weeks out.

13. First Read: Ordinance to amend Chapter 14: Land Development and Environmental Protection re: Sedimentation and Erosion Control.

14. Discussion of amendment to Chapter 27: Zoning: Pre-submittal meetings.

15. Discussion of amendment to Chapter 21: Signs §12: Non-Residential Zoning District Sign Regulation.

16. Discussion of Census 2010 Complete Count Committee. Great Dunwoody census preview here.

17. Discussion of utility contractors.

18. Initiation of text amendments.

As always, the council appreciates your review and comments of the material being brought up for discussion.

Dunwoody HS students only take four classes per day under Block Scheduling. Does this need to change?

I just learned of this Block Scheduling situation and many Dunwoody parents want it changed. If you know about this, please post your opinions both pro & con.

On Monday, November 16th at 6 PM, the Dunwoody High School PTSO and School Council are hosting an informational meeting about various school day scheduling options for the 2010-2011 school year. This meeting will be held in the cafeteria. Our speaker will be Ms. Stacey Stepney, DCSS Director of High Schools. We invite all DHS stakeholders, including future parents and community members to attend.

Wikipedia - Block Scheduling

Block scheduling is a type of academic scheduling in which each student has fewer classes per day for a longer period of time. This is intended to result in more time for teaching due to less class switching and preparation. It also allows for a student to take four electives, rather than two, or three.

In some cases, such as in medical school or other intensive university program, a block schedule means taking one class at a time, all day, every day, until all of the material is covered. A normal university course might then be completed in three or four weeks of focused effort on a single topic. When used as a supplement to a normal academic term, instead of the normal schedule, this approach is sometimes called a mini-mester.

Conversion to block scheduling became a widespread trend in American middle schools and high schools in the 1990s, but around the late 2000s, the scheduling is switching back period scheduling.[citation needed] Prior to that, many schools scheduled classes such that a student saw every one of their teachers each day. Classes were approximately 40-60 minutes long, but under block scheduling, they became approximately 90 minutes long.

However, many American high schools still use the traditional eight- or nine-period day, and consider block scheduling to be one of many ill-considered education reform schemes.

Part of the motivation for block scheduling is to prepare students for taking end-of-grade/end-of-course standardized tests used to measure student achievement (and in some school districts, teacher pay and school funding). Another is social--to foster cooperation among students. This is done by having students work in groups (called "cooperative learning") to help them learn from each other, rather than have classes that focus on teacher-delivered content, as some experts believe that students learn better from peers than from professionals.

There is other research out there but most I see is negative.

http://www.emtech.net/block.htm

http://www.schoc.org/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderfiles/analysisofblockschedulingreport3.pdf


http://www.jefflindsay.com/Block.shtml

http://blogs.phillyburbs.com/news/bcct/bensalem-schedule-to-change/

Dear future Dunwoody bank robbers...

Another Dunwoody Bank Robbery - Bank of America on Jett Ferry

Is it just me or am I noticing that our banks here in Dunwoody are being robbed on an almost weekly basis, with another one happening just today. Am I noticing this because I am always looking for interesting news stories to share or maybe it's because I'm on the City Council or maybe, just maybe people are just so desperate in these hard times that the number of robberies are in fact up. I am not sure of the crime rate stats but I think I have a solution.

Dear future Dunwoody bank robbers,

I am thinking about proposing a new law, here goes...

WHERE AS, the City of Dunwoody seems to have more banks per square inch vs other communities and
WHERE AS, the City of Dunwoody banks seem to get robbed more often then other communities and
WHERE AS, every bank robber photo I have ever seen has a baseball cap or other hat on...

I by the the authority of this blog make baseball caps and other hats illegal to be worn inside any Dunwoody financial institution otherwise you will be considered an armed and dangerous bank robber upon entry and subject to us opening an immediate can of whoop ass on you.

You have been warned, now have a nice day.

Juveniles, Caught and Released

News Clip

Juveniles are not only released on a point system in the city of Atlanta and Fulton County, I am told by the DeKalb Officers that it is also occurring here in DeKalb.

Guessing that Dunwoody would be the same.

Holiday Festival at Dunwoody United Methodist - this Saturday

http://www.dunwoodyumc.org/holidayfestival.htm

Dunwoody United Methodist Church
Saturday Nov 14th from 9 to 4

122 Artisans, Huge Silent Auction, Gourmet Shop, Book Nook, Attic Treasures, Casseroles to Go, Photos with Santa, Children's Crafts, Pony Rides, Moonwalk, and much, much more!  Don't miss it.

Personal Note: Last year I attended the Holiday Festival at Dunwoody United Methodist Church and had my sons photo taken with Santa. I can attest that this is the real deal, the jolly fat man himself and that the guy sitting at the sold out shopping mall is a fake. Santa & Mrs. Claus will be there from 9-12 & 1-4. You will receive two 5 X 7 photos on Saturday after the visit with Santa. They will also email the photo to you that same day so you can print any size picture you prefer. The cost is only $15.00 with 100% of the proceeds going to Habitat for Humanity.

Junior League presents the American Girl Fashion Show on Nov 14th

More Information

This show is a must-see for every American Girl! From historical dolls to Bitty Babies to contemporary fashions, audiences will be entertained by everything American Girl! This is a charity event with the proceeds going to support women and children’s project of the Junior League of Gwinnett and North Fulton.   

The American Girl Fashion Show will be held

November 14th, 2009 at Villa Christina’s Retreat of Dunwoody

Show times:    10:00 am, 1:30 pm and 5:00 pm 

10:00 am & 1:30 pm shows are $30.00

5:00 pm show is $37.00

A light fare will be served at the 10:00 am and 1:30 pm shows. The 5:00 pm seating will be a dinner show. We encourage girls to dress up for a special evening out!

Dunwoody News Tidbits- Veterans Day and everything else I could find of interest.

To commemorate Veterans’ Day, here are some overjoyed "children" greeting their returning soldiers. These reunion videos—for me, at least—shed a tiny beam of light on how emotionally draining being a military family can be. They’ll also make you want a dog.  Click here and then find a soldier to thank for his or her service.

Correction to a post from yesterday, the State Legislators are coming to Chamblee United Methodist on Thursday evening not DUMC.

Here is some video of Dunwoody Village Parkway which was closed mid-day on Tuesday due to flooding.


The JCC is hosting the 18th Annual Book Festival November 10 - 22 with lots of great authors but unfortunately Batgirl and Aerosmith video vixen Alicia Silverstone was forced to cancel.  Seriously, the lineup is impressive, check it out.

Get gross at the Dunwoody Nature Center this Saturday, at 10 a.m. Prepare to get in touch with your yucky side as you go on a "scat" hunt. Discover the grosser side of those cute and charming butterflies. Come prepared to get a little dirty!

Dunwoody Community Council discusses a SLUP (Special Land Use Permit) application on Thursday for some site improvements at All Saints Catholic Church.

City of Dunwoody Sustainability Commission Meeting happens early Thursday morning and would welcome interested members of the community to join them.

The Dunwoody Crown Plaza Ravinia is the first and only Green Globe - certified hotel in the State as documented by Sustainable Pattie Baker.

Dunwoody High School Football Wildcats enter the first round of the playoffs at home (Chamblee @ 7 pm?) on Friday against the Elbert County Blue Devils.

DHS PTSO and School Council will hold an informational meeting on Monday, November 16th at 6:00 pm in the Cafeteria regarding the school schedule options for the 2010-2011 school year. The speaker will be Ms. Stacey Stepney, DCSS Director of High Schools.

Attention Peachtree 8th grade students & parents - Dunwoody High School is having an open house for prospective students this coming Sunday from 2 - 4.

Watch the video of Phillippe Cousteau, conservationist, educator and Animal Planet's Chief Ocean Correspondent visit to Dunwoody Elementary.

Brian, a Dunwoody resident with too much time on his hands created these two humorous video clips featuring the City Council; Country Style & Disco Style which I figured I would share.  Enjoy, because we the council got a kick out of laughing at ourselves.

Video of the Nov 9th Dunwoody City Council Meeting

Click the photo above for video of Monday's night City Council meeting. 

So far my trial of putting live meeting video to the web has been a success though I know the number of live viewers are rather small, but then again we haven't discussed anything really controversial either.  To watch the council meetings live the web address will never change, therefore please bookmark it, it is...  http://www.ustream.tv/channel/dunwoodycc

 Agenda for Monday Night

• Ordinance to amend Chapter 27: Zoning: Pre-submittal meetings.  Deferred for 1 meeting
  
  
• Resolution to enter into a Cooperation Agreement with the PCID. Approved
  
  
• Appointment of Mario Miles to PCID Board.  Approved
  
  
• Ordinance to amend Chapter 21: Signs §12: Non-Residential Zoning District Sign Regulation. 12 story change approved - last second change deferred back to Community Council.
  
  
• Resolution for Dunwoody Village Livable Centers Initiative (LCI) Application.  Approved
  

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Dunwoody Kidnapping Victim describes his 15 hour ordeal. Rewards available for information.

Newsclip 

Dunwoody Kidnapping Victim describes his 15 hour ordeal. Rewards are being offered for the arrest and conviction of the offenders. Incident happened at the Broadstone of Dunwoody apartment complex on North Peachtree Road which is currently operated by Gables Residential.

Dunwoody to look at the chicken issue again - much stricter than Roswell proposal.

I believe the Dunwoody City Council will be discussing Back Yard chickens again on Monday, November 16th. The proposed ordinance would allow eight chickens (no roosters) and the birds would need to be caged and housed appropriately. The proposed Dunwoody ordinance can be found here and it is much more strict that the proposed Roswell chicken ordinance described in the story above.

On Monday the USA Today had an article on back yard chickens with Andy Schneider "the Chicken Whisperer" being quoted.  It should be a lively discussion.

Correction: State Legislators come to Chamblee United Methodist on Thursday evening.

Rep. Mike Jacobs put out a press release regarding a Thursday evening Legislative Town Hall Meeting. He didn't name names of who will be attending but I am sure it will be informative.

• All of the senators and representatives who represent portions of DeKalb County will be hosting a public hearing this Thursday, November 12, at 7:00 p.m. in the Fellowship Hall of Chamblee United Methodist Church, 4147 Chamblee Dunwoody Road.  All topics are “on the table” for discussion.
  

Come see Dan, Fran, Mike & Jill as well as possibly Stephanie, Mary Margaret, Michelle, David, Ron and a list of others answer your questions. 

Help your fellow Dunwoody residents, please bring a toy to Monday Nights City Council Meeting.

Dunwoody Police Department

1st Annual Christmas for Kids

Dear Dunwoody Community,

Since April 1, 2009 my colleagues and I have been overwhelmed and amazed by the support that the citizens of Dunwoody have given us. The continuous show of appreciation is truly a blessing and goes a long way.  So much has been accomplished since April 1^st and it could not have been done without the support of our great community.

This holiday season, we’d like to reach out and join forces with our citizens, businesses, and officers alike to make this Christmas a memorable one for the many children of Dunwoody who are less fortunate.

Like most communities, the City of Dunwoody has some children who will not be able to have a special Christmas because their families can’t afford it.  Most of these children live on the east side of Dunwoody in four apartment communities. Many of these children love Dunwoody police officers and like you, express their appreciation every chance they get. Nothing warms the heart of a Dunwoody officer more than when those children run out and meet the officers on patrol just to say hello or take a peek inside a cruiser. Many of these same children will surely have a tough Christmas because of the state of the Nation’s economy and this, my friends, is not acceptable.

Our plan is to sponsor as many needy children as we can who reside within the city limits of Dunwoody. We hope to collect at least one gift for each pre-registered child. Registration will begin immediately after sufficient community support is gathered and commitments are made. On a chosen day prior to Christmas Day, we will invite the children (along with Santa Claus, who happens to love this idea and has already committed his support) to an ideal location for a party. The Christmas for Kids party will consist of refreshments and all the other merriments that will surely put a smile on a child’s face. We hope that all our supporters can also attend and share in the joyful festivities.

Here is what we need:

• New, unwrapped gifts of all types, for all ages from infants to early teens.  Toys will probably be the most ideal and best received; especially by the little ones.
  
  
  WE CANNOT ACCEPT CASH, CHECKS, OR GIFT CARDS
  
  
  

• Volunteers for collecting and wrapping gifts, and for organizing the party.
• Refreshments, decorations, and lots of Christmas gift wrap and tape!
• A nice clean outfit for Santa as his is old and needs to be replaced.

Registration will be administered primarily by and through Dunwoody officers who regularly encounter these families and their children.  Considering that this event is a first, there may be adjustments made along the way, but Dunwoody police officers are experts at making things happen in a short period of time.

This will surely be an event worthwhile for everyone involved and one that these children won’t soon forget!

If you or your organization can help, please contact Officer Fidel Espinoza at fidel.espinoza@dunwoodyga.gov or our Chief’s Executive Assistant, Liz Stell at liz.stell@dunwoodyga.gov or 678/382-6906.

Thank you in advance.                Officer F. Espinoza

Video of the newly installed Dunwoody Speed Tables on Village Creek Drive.

Councilwoman Adrian Bonser informed me that the City had installed the new traffic calming devices (speed tables), on Village Creek Drive, just off Womack. This morning I watched about six cars go by and as the video below shows, several of them were going pretty fast but most did slow to cross over the device. Video.

Dunwoody Football lost in a close game but don't forget the pancakes on Sat Morning.

 
My son Riley and I attended the big game Friday night and we really enjoyed not only the football action but also the half time shows. Dunwoody put on a typical marching band routine and it was good but St. Pius's rock band musical extravanganza with electric guitars and a full rock band accompaniment played a little Jetro Tull, Frank Zappa, Michael Jackson and ended it with KISS' Rock and Roll All Night. I should have whipped out the video camera, but didn't think of it at the time.  It was pretty cool.

Tomorrow morning it's pancake time at Dunwoody HS.

Dunwoody Wildcat Football Pancake Breakfast

Saturday, November 7, 2009

8:00 A.M. - 11:30 A.M.

Dunwoody High School Cafeteria

All You can Eat Pancakes for $6.00 Coffee, Juice, Milk and Bacon will be served, Kids under 5 eat FREE. All Proceeds will be used to support the Dunwoody High School Football Team
You can purchase your tickets at the door on November 7, 2009 or purchase your tickets in advance from any DHS Football Player.

Dunwoody City Council Agenda for Monday Nov 9th

 Monday, November 9th
Dunwoody City Hall
41 Perimeter Center East
Dunwoody, GA 30346
7:00 p.m. - Watch Live

Agenda

• Ordinance to amend Chapter 27: Zoning: Pre-submittal meetings.
  
  
• Resolution to enter into a Cooperation Agreement with the PCID.
  
  
• Appointment of Mario Miles to PCID Board.
  
  
• Ordinance to amend Chapter 21: Signs §12: Non-Residential Zoning District Sign Regulation.
  
  
• Resolution for Dunwoody Village Livable Centers Initiative (LCI) Application.

Live, Work and Play but where's the Play? Kaboom! states that Play Matters

In many of the development meetings I attend I always hear the mantra "Live, Work & Play" but to me the play aspect is always missing from the developers plans. For all of the thousands of housing units that were built off Ashford Dunwoody in the last ten years, where is the nearest park for children to play?  Where is the nearest playground?  Here is an even tougher question, where in the City of Dunwoody is there a public basketball hoop?  These questions are very hard to answer and they need to be addressed as part of our future city planning.

The playground group Kaboom! released a report earlier this month featuring 12 best practices in play from across the country. Entitled Play Matters, the report describes successful local initiatives to improve opportunities for play and draws conclusions about why they have worked. The group aimed to address three issues: 1) increasing the quantity of available play spaces and play opportunities; 2) improving the quality of spaces and experiences; and 3) increasing safe access to play. It also provides a summary of information linking play initiatives to positive outcomes in health, education, the environment and the economy.

I would also like to thank Kaboom! for the wonderful playground they helped install behind Chesnut Charter Elementary School several years ago as it serves not only the school children but also the community around the school.  Thank You.
Play Matters Case Summaries

Dunwoody Village conversation turns to Transportation and I keep thinking Complete Streets.

Tuesday evening there were about 80 people in attendance for the comprehensive land use meeting on the Dunwoody Village with about half of them being first time Comp Plan meeting attendees.  I took a strategic spot in the room (near someone whom I knew would be vocal) and turned on my recorder hoping that every other speaker wasn't on the other side of the room.  As a member of the city council attending a public forum I see it as my opportunity to listen and learn what the community wants without me interjecting my views into the conversation. 

Though this was a zoning and land use meeting, traffic was the major topic of conversation of the evening and I learned that we need to move quickly on the Comprehensive Transportation Plan that the council has budgeted for 2010. 

Everything that I have read and heard from our citizen's, points me to reviewing and possibly adopting a complete streets policy after the transportation plan is completed. My eyes and ears are still open to other options for transportation planning but that is how I am currently leaning and I will be sharing some of the philosophies of this transportation policy in the coming weeks and months.  Several members of the audience on Tuesday stated that our transportation planning should mirror the walkabilty and bikeability of the City of Roswell and guess what policy they just adopted? Yep, it is Complete Streets.

Below is the PowerPoint presentation from the evening and below that are my audio recordings.  (If you are reading this via an e-mail the PowerPoint presentation is not visible (but the link is) therefore you may want to read this on the web to check out some of the online tools that I am using to upload documents.)  The next Comp Plan meeting on the calendar is January 5th to discuss the Georgetown / Shallowford area but I believe the Georgia Tech students who were looking at Dunwoody Village will be reporting out in early December. Stay tuned.
Dunwoody Village Comp Land Use Meeting of Nov 4, 2009

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St. Pius will host the 5-AAA region championship game this Friday against the Dunwoody Wildcats at 7:30 pm, followed almost immediately by Pancakes.

Unbeaten St. Pius will host the 5-AAA region championship game this Friday against the Dunwoody Wildcats at 7:30 pm. The much-anticipated match-up will be a rematch of last year’s championship game, which Dunwoody won 20-14. St. Pius, 9-0 and ranked No. 4 in Class AAA, hasn’t won a region title since 1968 but is favored to beat Dunwoody. 

Come out Friday night at 7:30 and cheer for your favorite team.

St Pius Catholic High School

2674 Johnson Rd NE

Atlanta, GA 30345-1799

(404) 636-3023

After the exciting football game, bring the kids out for pancakes and possibly autographs.

Dunwoody Wildcat Football Pancake Breakfast
Saturday, November 7, 2009
8:00 A.M. - 11:30 A.M.
Dunwoody High School Cafeteria
All You can Eat Pancakes for $6.00 Coffee, Juice, Milk and Bacon will be served, Kids under 5 eat FREE.  All Proceeds will be used to support the Dunwoody High School Football Team
You can purchase your tickets at the door on November 7, 2009 or purchase your tickets in advance from any DHS Football Player.   Questions...contact Paige Hudgins jhudginsfamily@bellsouth.net