Tuesday, January 23, 2018

Dunwoody Homeowners Association annual meeting - Sun Jan 28th, 3 pm at St. Lukes. $40.00 dues requested - great value.


The Dunwoody Homeowners Association annual meeting will take place on January 28, 2018 at 3:00pm in the chapel at St. Luke’s Presbyterian Church at 1978 Mt Vernon Rd, Dunwoody, GA 30338. The public is invited to attend.

We are pleased to announce that Atlanta Journal/Constitution political reporter and Dunwoody resident, Greg Bluestein, will be our guest speaker. We will also get updates on the formation of the new Dunwoody weekend Farmer’s Market at Brook Run and Solarize Dunwoody. In addition, we will be announcing awards for DHA Business of the Year and Person of the Year and electing new executive board members.  

We hope to see you there.

Regards,

DHA Board of Directors
www.DunwoodyGA.org


http://www.dunwoodyga.org/Membership-Application

Please pay your $40.00 Dunwoody Homeowners Association Dues - it buys a lot!
Without the DHA we would not have the 4th of July Parade, Light Up Dunwoody or Food Truck Thursdays as these are Not City Events but instead they are presented by Dunwoody Homeowners Association and they need your dues to continue these services. 

Meeting tonight (Wednesday) of the Peachtree Gateway Council on Schools at Dunwoody High - 6:30 pm in Media Center

Sherry Johnson (Region 1 Superintendent)
Amy Holmes-Chavez (PGCS committee leader/Parent)
Jo-ann Kimbrough (CCHS Parent)
Randy Faigin David (PGCS committee/Parent)
John Martin (Chamblee Middle School Principal)
Ashley Doolittle (PGCS committee/Parent)
Rebecca Braaten (Chamblee Charter High School Principal)
Peachtree Gateway Council on Schools provides educational events for parents and the community at large to learn more about policy and planning issues affecting schools in the DeKalb County School District. PGCS also shares knowledge of activities and successful practices in Region 1 schools.

  • Wed, Jan 24, 6:30 PM - 8:00 PM
  • Dunwoody High School
    Dunwoody High School, Vermack Road, Dunwoody, GA
  • Dunwoody Cluster Schools "Meet and Greet"
    Wednesday, January 24th, 6:30pm
    Dunwoody High School Media Center

    Parents and the community are invited to meet our Dunwoody School Cluster Leadership. Meet the DeKalb County School District Regional Superintendent and the Regional Cabinet that supports our Dunwoody Cluster schools. Meet our Principals from Dunwoody High, Peachtree Middle, Austin, Chesnut, Dunwoody Elementary, Hightower, Kingsley, and Vanderlyn.

    6:30 Opening – Amy Holmes-Chavez (President of PGCS) meeting summary

    6:40 Ms. Johnson – introduces DCSD Region 1 Mico-Cabinet, remarks, Q/A
    Human Capital Manager - Mrs. Julie Moore-Fincher
    Transportation Manger - Mr. Harold Lewis
    Operations Manager - Mr. Winward Hines
    IT Specialist - Ms. Laura Crate
    Professional Learning Facilitators - (1) Dr. Jeffrey Dillard, (2) Ms. Kristie Fountian and (3) Ms. Elizabeth Barts
    Finance Specialist - Ms. Deborah Burns

    7:00 Principal “mini panel” – “happenings” at each school summary
    Peachtree Charter Middle School – Mr. Brian Heptinstall
    Dunwoody High School – Mrs. Priscilla Cole

    7:20 Open Q & A to Principals and Micro-Cabinet

    7:50 Closing  Introduce school parent leadership
    8:00 Close

    Sponsored by Peachtree Gateway Council on Schools: Your Region 1 Parent Council, serving the Chamblee, Cross Keys, Dunwoody clusters. Follow us on Facebook for info about Region 1 schools.

Monday, January 22, 2018

DeKalb County School District announces make up days of Feb 16th & March 9th.


DeKalb County School District (DCSD) will make up two of its four inclement weather days on Feb.  16 and March 9. A survey will be presented for options on making up the other two days. Potential make up day options could include a virtual learning day, the addition of a learning period to the regular school day, among others. We'll notify you when the survey is available.

Frontier Baseball at Murphey Candler Park is a very special program that I highly recommend!

Every child no matter the challenge deserves to play baseball.

Evaluations are scheduled for February 3rd - Register today!

https://vimeo.com/185678694


Welcome to Murphey Candler Baseball Frontier Baseball! This Spring will be our 8th season of Frontier Baseball! I still cannot believe how Frontier has grown so fast and now means so much to so many people. Parents, I have seen firsthand how Frontier changes these kids' lives. So many parents have commented to me that they never thought they would see their son or daughter on a baseball team. And then they found Frontier. And the unexpected benefits continue to amaze me, from the pride of being able to wear their own Team Jersey on their school's spirit day, or the increase in self confidence in these kids. It is truly a gift.

We look forward to having you and your family at Frontier Baseball at MCLL, and please email me at frontier.baseball@gmail.com with any questions you may have.    Adam J. Wickley

About
Frontier is a low stress, fun baseball program for kids with ADHD, ADD, Apraxia, Speech Delays, Dyslexia, Auditory Processing Disorder and other executive or sensory challenges. Frontier is exclusively a Murphey Candler Baseball program.

Basic Facts:
  • When: Frontier plays each Spring, generally February through May, with time off for spring break.
  • Where: Frontier is played at Murphey Candler Park in Brookhaven, Georgia, located just 1 mile off of I-285 at the Ashford Dunwoody Road (Perimeter Mall) exit.
  • How Often: There is only 1 event (either a game or a practice) per week, either a Saturday or a Sunday. Sunday events are always after 12:00 noon
  • Ages: Frontier has three age groups.
    • Frontier I is for 6 through 9 year olds
    • Frontier II is for 10 through 12 year olds.
    • Frontier III is for 13 through 16 year olds.
  • League Size: There are typically 8 to 12 teams in the Frontier League. Approximately 100 kids play in Frontier each Spring Season.
  • Who Can Play: All areas of Atlanta are welcome! Even if you do not live nearby, the 1 day a week program makes it easy to participate. We have families from Peachtree City to Gainesville that play.
  • Experience: NO EXPERIENCE IS NECESSARY!! Even if your son or daughter is older and has never played baseball, they are perfect for Frontier.
  • League Structure: Games and Rules are adapted to the needs of the kids. For instance, we keep innings short to keep their attention, the teams small, and use machine pitch so they have a better chance to hit the ball (Frontier III is coach pitch). Also, all of the coaches are Dads with kids that play in Frontier. So they "get it".
  • Fundamentals: Even with the adaptations, we also strive to make Frontier as close to real baseball as possible, implementing fundamental baseball but without the pressure and stress of competitive little league. Frontier also has the same uniforms as the rest of Murphey Candler Baseball.
Common Questions:
  • My son has never played baseball. Is that ok? Absolutely. Frontier was started to give kids a chance to play baseball that have never been able to play before.
  • I am not sure my son can do this, how do I know? It's a common question. Then you see him at the first practice with his friends from school and it all changes. Trust us.
  • Is Frontier co-ed? YES! Frontier had several girls play last Spring.
  • How do I know if Frontier is a good fit for my son or daughter? Generally, we do our best to fit everyone into Frontier unless there is a safety or significant behavioral concern. See our Eligibility Statement below for reference.
History:
Frontier Baseball is ground breaking and unique to anything else as far as we know. The idea was formed in 2011 when its founder, Adam Wickley, was trying to find a place for his son Jackson to play a sport. Like so many kids similar to him (he has ADHD and Auditory Processing Disorder), he wanted to play baseball, but the social component kept him from playing mainstream sports. But he also was not a fit for other "Special Needs" leagues. He was caught in the middle with no place to play. So after unsuccessfully finding a place for Jackson, Mr. Wickley and MCLL decided to create a new League for kids just like him, and an idea was born. Four years later it has taken on a life of its own, providing life changing experiences for both parents and kids.

Eligibility Statement:
Murphey Candler Baseball promotes special needs baseball opportunities through both the Challenger and Frontier Leagues. The Frontier League is specifically designed for certain disabilities such as ADHD, ADD, Apraxia, Dyslexia, Speech Delays, Auditory Processing Disorders and other challenges that would not require the use of a full time "buddy" on the baseball field as does The Challenger League. Frontier is a machine pitch and coach pitch league, and as such, safety on the field is of utmost importance. Therefore, participation in Frontier requires that a player be diagnosed with at least one of the above conditions, be able to play without the use of a full time "Buddy" and not be a threat to the safety of themselves or others. This determination shall be at the discretion of the Program Director, League Director and Murphey Candler Baseball.

Local non-profit serving Seniors needs office space - I CARE, Inc. (Interfaith Companion And Ride Express)

http://www.icareseniors.org/
I CARE (Interfaith Companion And Ride Express) is a 501(c)(3) Non-Profit organization which provides
Free transportation to DeKalb County Seniors (55 +) to their medical appointments
by utilizing Volunteer Drivers, who use their own vehicles.

NEEDED: OFFICE SPACE for I CARE, Inc.

ICARE, Inc. a 501 (c3) Non-Profit Corporation, is looking for a new "home." 

I CARE’s needs are minimal- approximately 15’ x 15’, would be sufficient to:
  • House two desks, file cabinet, two computers, and two printers.
  • Internet access (we could install our own Internet).  We have our own phones to conduct business. 
  • Additionally, we would occasionally conduct volunteer driver interviews, host meetings with funding partners, board meetings, collect mail, etc. 
  • Volunteer/Program Coordinator, Shannon Streiter, and Director, Tom Simon, work at the office and at home, so there is flexibility.
If you know of any space that might be available to fit our needs (ideally in the Decatur area, but we are very flexible) we would greatly appreciate any insight, ideas, and thoughts. Being a small Non-Profit, FREE space would be ideal.

For more information, please contact:
  • Tom Simon, Director, I CARE, at 404-377-2273 or 770-378-8999
  • Shannon Streiter, Volunteer/Program Coordinator at 404-377-2273 /404-376-6415
I CARE, Inc. has been in business since 1998 in Decatur, providing FREE transportation to DeKalb County seniors, in order for them to get to their medical appointments and remain healthy, continue to be productive members of their community, and allow them to continue to “Live in Place” which is what all Seniors want.

Sunday, January 21, 2018

Dunwoody Nature Center to receive 40 year usage agreement from City - allowing long term fund raising.

http://jkheneghan.com/city/meetings/2018/Jan/012218_Facility_Usage_Agreement_Dunwoody_Nature_Center.pdf

Tomorrow the Dunwoody City Council will hold its normal bi-monthly City Council meeting starting at 6 PM where there it is a very light agenda honoring our police officers of the quarter.  We will also hold a special called meeting of the Dunwoody Public Facilities Authority starting at 5:30 where we will be voting upon a 40 year facility usage agreement with the Dunwoody Nature Center.  Once this agreement is in place it will allow a large scale capital campaign to move forward expanding the services being offered at that location.

Monday, January 22nd
Dunwoody City Hall
4800 Ashford Dunwoody Rd
Dunwoody, GA 30338
Agenda

Administration of Oath of Office to Public Facilities Authority Member Tom Lambert.

Facility Usage Agreement with Dunwoody Nature Center.




Agenda

Recognition of Dunwoody Police Department Officer and Employee of the 4th Quarter.

Monday, January 15, 2018

DeKalb County School Board finalizes 2018 school year calendar - kids return August 6th.


Plan your summer accordingly.

Thanks to DeKalb County School Board Member Stan Jester for posting this now approved calendar on his blog as I was looking for it to plan my family's summer.  If I needed it, I guess some of you may need it as well.  Enjoy.  John

Points of Interest
The 2018-2020 school calendars contain the following features:
• Balanced Calendar – 90 instructional days each semester
• 5 identified inclement weather days each semester (10 total per year)

Calendars
2019-2020 Calendar
2018-2019 Calendar
2017-2018  Calendar
2016-2017  Calendar
2015-2016  Calendar

DeKalb Schools 2018 – 2020 Calendar
DeKalb Schools Calendar 2018-2019 2019-2020
Pre-planning Jul 30 – Aug 3, 2018 Jul 29 – Aug 2, 2019
First day of school Aug 6, 2018 Aug 5, 2019
Labor Day Sep 3, 2018 Sep 2, 2019
Fall Break (Including Columbus Day) Oct 4 – 8, 2018 Oct 10 – 14, 2019
Election Day/Teacher’s Workday Nov 6, 2018 Nov 5, 2019
Thanksgiving Break Nov 19 – 23, 2018 Nov 25 – 29, 2019
Last day of 1st semester Dec 21, 2018 Dec 20, 2019
Winter Break Dec 24, 2018 – Jan 3, 2019 Dec 23, 2018 – Jan 2, 2020
Post planning 1st semester/ Pre-planning 2nd semester Jan 4, 2019 Jan 3, 2020
First day of 2nd semester Jan 7, 2019 Jan 6, 2020
Martin L. King Day Jan 21, 2019 Jan 20, 2020
Feb Break (Including President’s Day) Feb 15 – 18, 2019 Jan 14 – 17, 2020
Professional Learning Day Mar 8, 2019 Mar 13, 2020
Spring Break Apr 1 – 5, 2019 Apr 6 – 10, 2020
Last day of school May 23, 2019 May 21, 2020
Post planning May 24, 2019 May 22, 2020

Saturday, January 13, 2018

Register today for City of Dunwoody’s MLK Jr. Day of Service: Monday, January 15th at 9am at Brook Run Park

Sign up today for service choice.
Warm clothing / food donations accepted too.


The City of Dunwoody invites citizens and community members to volunteer at the city’s Martin Luther King Jr. (MLK) Day of Service, taking place Monday, January, 15, 2018 at 9:00 a.m. at Brook Run Park!

The City of Dunwoody, in partnership with the Dunwoody-Atlanta Chapter of Jack and Jill of America, Inc. and in collaboration with Brighton Gardens, the Community Assistance Center (CAC), Country Gardens, the Dunwoody Nature Center, I Care Atlanta, Inc., The Daffodil Project and Trees Atlanta have come together to host the second annual MLK Jr. Day of Service in Dunwoody.

This is a FREE event for all ages to give back to the community. Sign-up for an opportunity to participate by visiting the Dunwoody Parks Registration Portal. Opportunities include: planting trees, cleaning up a Dunwoody park, daffodil planting, sharing time at local senior living centers, or completing projects at the CAC or at I Care Atlanta, Inc. Volunteers can also make a donation of a new or gently used coat or non-perishable food items to one of the donation bins on the day of the event at the pavilion at Brook Run Park.

Volunteers will check-in at 8:30 a.m.at the pavilion at Brook Run Park (4770 N. Peachtree Road, Dunwoody) where the morning will begin with registration, donuts, coffee, music and cool giveaways. Volunteers can either stay in Brook Run Park or drive to their selected volunteer location with a goal of concluding activities at 12:00 p.m.

Please sign-up at the Parks Registration Portal by clicking on the following link, signing in or creating an account and choosing your volunteer location: https://secure.rec1.com/GA/dunwoody-ga/catalog. Registration ends Sunday, January 14, 2018 at 11:59 p.m.

We hope to see you there!

Friday, January 12, 2018

City of Dunwoody to start replanting trees along Brook Run Baseball Field buffer.


The City of Dunwoody has released the drawings of phase 1 of the city's planting plan that volunteers from Trees Atlanta will be installing this coming Monday for MLK Great Day of Service. The trees chosen provide for a nice mix of hardwoods and evergreens to provide a substantial vegetative buffer to the fields.  Each of these trees is spaced approximately 2.5 times closer than would normally be spec'd. This was a request of the City, in order to give the project an almost immediate screen.

Based on concerns of the neighbors I requested that Mr. Brent Walker, City of Dunwoody Parks Director meet with the neighbors prior to the trees installation and he has agreed to be at the corner of Barclay and North Peachtree this Saturday at 10 am to discuss this plan to whomever would like to attend.  Below are links to the descriptions of the trees to be installed.

Friday, January 5, 2018

Thursday, January 4, 2018

City of Dunwoody - Mission, Vision and Values

Mission Statement  

The mission of the City of Dunwoody is to provide the highest quality of life for those who live, work or play in our community and to foster an environment where business can prosper. We will serve all stakeholders in a transparent manner with resourceful, efficient, progressive and professional leadership.

Vision 

Dunwoody is a city located in metro Atlanta, in northern DeKalb County, Georgia. Dunwoody o officially incorporated as a city on December 1, 2008. The City of Dunwoody will provide quality service to its citizens and support the largest economic engine in the Southeast by planning in a careful and thoughtful manner. Th e City of Dunwoody will be inventive, transparent and embrace responsible progress, tempered by the city’s rich history and strong desire to maintain a close and vibrant community atmosphere that values family life and the entrepreneurial spirit. Th e City of Dunwoody will continue to support and nurture a community dedicated to the preservation of family, education, religious institutions, and the environment.

Values 

Goals  
The goals of the City of Dunwoody and its governing body are to make Dunwoody a better community, built on mutual respect and trust, and to promote and maintain the highest standards of personal and professional conduct among all involved in City government – elected officials; City staff; volunteers; and members of the City’s boards, commissions and committees.

Preamble 
The proper operation of democratic government requires that decision-makers be independent, impartial, and accountable to the people they serve. The City of Dunwoody representatives intend to act pursuant to the ethics as delineated in the Charter in order to promote and maintain the highest standards of personal and professional conduct in the City's government. All elected and appointed officials, City employees, volunteers, and others who participate in the City's government will subscribe to those ethics, understand how it applies to their specific responsibilities, and practice its values in their work. Because we seek public confidence in the City's services and public trust of its decision-makers, our decisions and our work must meet the most demanding ethical standards and demonstrate the highest levels of achievement in following this code.

As the governing body of the City of Dunwoody, we represent as follows:

(1) As representatives of the City of Dunwoody, we will be ethical.
(a) We are trustworthy, acting with the utmost integrity and moral courage.
(b) We are truthful, do what we say we will do, and are dependable.
(c) We will make impartial decisions, free of bribes, unlawful gi fts, narrow political interests, and financial and other personal interests that impair the independence of our judgment and actions.
(d) We will be fair, distributing bene fits and burdens according to consistent and equitable criteria.
(e) We will extend equal opportunities and due process to all parties in matters under consideration. If we engage in unilateral meetings and discussions, we do so without making voting decisions.
(f ) We will show respect for persons, confidences, and information designated as "confidential."
(g) We will use our title(s) only when conducting offi cial City business, for information purposes, or as an indication of background and expertise, carefully considering whether we are exceeding or appearing to exceed our authority.

(2) As representatives of the City of Dunwoody, we will be professional.
(a) We will apply our collective knowledge and expertise to our assigned activities and to the interpersonal relationships that are part of our job in a consistent, con dent, competent, and productive manner.
(b) We will approach our job and work-related relationships with a positive attitude.
(c) We will keep our professional knowledge and skills current and growing.

(3) As representatives of the City of Dunwoody, we will be service-oriented.
(a) We will provide friendly, receptive, and courteous service to everyone.
(b) We will be attuned to, and care about, the needs and issues of citizens, public officials, and city workers.
(c) In our interactions with constituents, we will be interested, engaged, and responsive.

(4) As representatives of the City of Dunwoody, we will be fiscally responsible and transparent.
(a) We will make decisions a er prudent consideration of their financial impact, taking into account the long-term financial needs of the City, especially its financial stability which are transparent to the City residents and businesses.
(b) We will demonstrate concern for the proper use of City assets (e.g., personnel, time, property, equipment, funds) and follow established procedures.
(c) We will make good financial decisions that seek to preserve programs and services for City residents.

(5) As representatives of the City of Dunwoody, we will be organized.
(a) We will act in an e fficient manner, making decisions and recommendations based upon research and facts, taking into consideration short and long term goals.
(b) We will follow through in a responsible way, keeping others informed, and responding in a timely fashion.
(c) We will be respectful of established City processes and guidelines.

(6) As representatives of the City of Dunwoody, we will be communicative.
(a) We will convey the City's care for and commitment to its citizens.
(b) We will communicate in various ways that we are approachable, open-minded and willing to participate in dialogue.
(c) We will engage in effective communication, by listening carefully, asking questions, and determining an appropriate response which adds value to conversations.

(7) As representatives of the City of Dunwoody, we will be collaborative.
(a) We will act in a cooperative manner with groups and other individuals, working together in a spirit of tolerance and understanding.
(b) We will work towards consensus building and gain value from diverse opinions.
(c) We will accomplish the goals and responsibilities of our individual positions, while respecting our roles as members of a team.
(d) We will consider the broader regional and Statewide implications of the City's decisions and issues.

(8) As representatives of the City of Dunwoody, we will be progressive.
(a) We will exhibit a proactive, innovative approach to setting goals and conducting the City's business.
(b) We will display a style that maintains consistent standards, but is also sensitive to the need for compromise, "thinking outside the box," and improving existing paradigms when necessary.
(c) We will promote intelligent and thoughtful innovation in order to forward the City's policy agenda and City services.