I personally recommend Frontier Baseball League at Murphy Candler for kids with Mild Challenges - Registration is Open / Space is Limited.

Every child no matter the challenge deserves to play baseball.

Evaluations are scheduled for February - Register today!

 Video

Video

Welcome to Murphey Candler Baseball Frontier Baseball! This Spring will be our 10th 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 first hand 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.

Let's toast Mayor Denis Shortal one last time at "The Duke" as he raises money for the Dunwoody Police Foundation

Elections are over, school is winding down and I have been enjoying this holiday season a bit by slowing down on city duties to appreciate those around me.  I hope you are able to do the same. 

Thursday evening I will be toasting da Mayor at The Duke, which is the newest pub being offered by the Dunwoody Tavern Group located next door to Fogo de Chao on Ashford Dunwoody.   Please stop by between 5 & 7 as 20% of all sales will be graciously donated by The Duke to the Dunwoody Police Foundation.  If you don't have dinner at the Duke, think about patronizing one of the many restaurants in the area as there are so many great options that would really appreciate serving you.

After a quick cocktail and appetizer with my bride, we will be hanging with the boys who run the What's Up Dunwoody podcast Empire to see some movie they are hosting.   If you haven't checked out Matt & Justin on What's Up, please do so as they are informative, entertaining and maybe just a bit goofy as the photo I stole above clearly shows.  

The world needs more goofy.

City of Dunwoody to buy Waterford Swim Tennis for park land and future trail system connecting neighborhoods.

Resolution Authorizing the Purchase of Property from the Waterford Neighborhood Association

City staff has performed all due diligence for the purchase of two land parcels located 4565 Dellrose
Drive, Tax Parcel No. 06-310-01-035 (3.39 acre parcel), and 2371 North Peachtree Way, Tax Parcel
No. 06-310-01-005 (3.77 acre parcel), from Waterford Neighborhood Association for a total of 7.16
acres.

Staff respectfully requests that Council (1) authorize the purchase of the lots located at 4565
Dellrose Drive and 2371 North Peachtree Way for the sum of $125,000 (2) authorize the City
Manager to execute the necessary documents following satisfactory review by legal counsel.

Dunwoody City Council Agenda for Monday December 9, 2019

Monday, December 9, 2019
Dunwoody City Hall
4800 Ashford Dunwoody Rd

Dunwoody, GA 30338

6:00 p.m. - Watch Live

Agenda

Acknowledgment and award presentation to Officer J.B. Tate for 30 years of service to law enforcement.

Proclamation - "Terry Nall Day"

Resolution Adopting the Statewide Mutual Aid and Assistance Agreement

Resolution Amending the Budget - Reeves/Young contract change order for Brook Run Park

Resolution Amending FY2020 Budget and Approval of Facilities Custodian and Management Contracts

SECOND READ: Text Amendment to Chapters 24 and 25 re Clean Indoor Air

Approval of the Parks and Right of Way Maintenance Contract

Approval of an Agreement with the Chiefs Futbol Club

Resolution Authorizing the Purchase of Property from the Waterford Neighborhood Association

Resolution Amending the 2019 Budget to purchase Waterford

Approval of Intergovernmental Agreement with Gwinnett County for Radio Access

SECOND READ: Text Amendments Regarding Telecommunications Regulations (Chapter 27)

Approval of Mutual Aid and Assistance Agreement With the City of Chamblee, Georgia

Approval of a Contract Amendment with Blount Construction for 2020 Paving

Resolution Declaring Furniture and Equipment Remaining from the City Hall Move as Surplus Property and Authorizing the City Manager to Dispose of the Property

Award of Contract for Purchase of Properties at 4553 and 4555 North Shallowford Road

Approval of a Contract with ConnectSouth

SECOND READ: RZ 19-02: Kathy Zickert, attorney for the Owner, on Behalf of GMC Real Estate Acquisitions, LLC, Owner of 11 Ravinia Parkway, Dunwoody, GA 30346 Seeks the Following to Rezone the Property From its Current OCR (Office, Commercial, Residential) District Conditional Zoning Classification to an PC-2 (Perimeter Center) District

SECOND READ: MA 19-02 Laurel David, Attorney for the Owner, on Behalf of JSJ Perimeter, Owner of 84, 130, and 140 Perimeter Center East, Dunwoody, Georgia seeks a Major Modification to Conditions of Zoning

Resolution Establishing a Temporary Moratorium on the Acceptance of New or Revised Applications For Special Use Approval, Permitted Use Approval, or Building, Land Disturbance, Site Plan and Design Review or Other Permits For Any Construction in the Dunwoody Village Overlay District

Discussion of Public Art

Christmas for Kids is in the final stretch for donated toys, please assist Dunwoody’s under-privileged children.

Christmas For Kids Program

 

The City of Dunwoody Police Department brings the Dunwoody community together to collect new and unwrapped gifts for deserving Dunwoody children from newborns to age 15 years old.

The Dunwoody Police Department Christmas for Kids (CFK) program began in 2009 with the goal of bringing our community together to collect new and unwrapped toys and gifts for Dunwoody’s underprivileged children between the ages of newborn to 15 years old.

Officers work together with I Care Atlanta, Inc. to hold a Christmas celebration at a local facility where Santa and his Elves (along with a toy soldier or two!) arrive to greet deserving kids and their parents and enjoy a festive celebration complete with gifts and activities for the kids as well as snacks for the whole family.

Our event is the second week of December so please don't wait...we need those toy donations! You can drop off your donations at the police department at any time.

If you have questions feel free to email Lt. Fidel Espinoza at fidel.espinoza@dunwoodyga.gov

Christmas for Kids is a community effort and is only made possible by the generosity of our citizens, businesses, and other local organizations.

Check out the Christmas for Kids Video!

Please donate unwrapped toys to Dunwoody City Hall, 4800 Ashford Dunwoody Road Dunwoody, GA 30338

Light up Dunwoody is this Sunday from 3 to 5:45 at the Farmhouse, new Mayor and Council to throw the switch, Christmas for Kids needs your toys.

First Mayor and Council lighting the farmhouse

November 24, 2019 3:00 – 5:45 pm
between the Cheek-Spruill House at the corner of Mt. Vernon and Chamblee-Dunwoody Road 
Light Up is Dunwoody’s traditional community event to welcome the holiday season! Festivities begin surrounding the Cheek-Spruill House at 3:00 pm and conclude with the lighting of the tree and menorah just after sunset at 5:30 pm. The seven members of Dunwoody's 2020 city council, including Mayor elect Lynn Deutsch will be throwing the switch at Light Up Dunwoody. The Dunwoody Police will be collecting toys for Christmas for Kids.  Local musical and dance entertainment perform throughout the afternoon. Santa will be on the lawn of the Cheek-Spruill House ready for visits and photos, along with his sleigh and live reindeer! Face Painting, Cookie Decorating & more merriment await attendees.

Free, family friendly event! Refreshments will be available for purchase.

Thank you to the sponsors of Light Up Dunwoody!

Presented by:

Deck the Halls Sponsor

Elves Magic Sponsors

Jingle Bells Sponsors

Santa's Helpers

Councilman Heneghan raises questions on the process of selling the Shallowford property in Dunwoody

Document Link and bid package is here

As I said last week when this item was added to the City Council agenda, this new back 3-acre piece is being added into the sale of the front piece (2 acres and the Emory building) and I just don't like the manner in which it is being done.

• I voted against putting this piece of property up for sale on Monday and not on the merit of it being excess property that the proceeds could go towards green space or redevelopment funds for another corner of the city but on the principal of the details of the sale.  The Emory medical building at 4555 N. Shallowford property has been on the market since July and the bid opening date was just pushed back, it appears to join another piece up for sale.  City Council announces on Monday that 4553 Shallowford buildings sitting on the three acres behind the 4555 building is now for sale and the city tacks the sale into the sale of the 4555 building bid whereby the combined bids will be opened on the 4th of December.  
• Having the back parcel advertised for just two weeks, compared to the other parcel for many months seems wrong.  I am able to see that not one additional person or company had downloaded the sale packet for the new property since we approved the additional land sale, therefore, I question if this larger parcel which is prime for redevelopment is getting the visibility that it should?
• The back parcel is larger than the front, yet it is a tack on the smaller property offering with no advertising together that this is a large 5-acre piece of land.  
• The formal zoning for both pieces is Planned Development whereby the city intended to put civic spaces there (if we didn't find a good city hall somewhere else) therefore the land has little or no zoning allowances without coming back to the city to rezone. 
• The City had no price on the front piece and stated an asking price of $2.268 Million for the back.   Why?
• Without zoning being in place someone might buy it for future townhomes when maybe the desires of the community and council prefer a 5-story medical or office complex?  Council hasn't discussed this matter, therefore, buyer beware.
• This real estate transaction may be fully legal as it is being advertised but I believe it has the appearance of not being completely above board, not transparent enough for me; therefore, I raised many of these questions on Monday and voted against it as did Mayor-elect Deutsch. 
• It will be interesting to see the bids, who knows maybe the DeKalb County School System would want to buy this property for a new school?

City of Dunwoody proposes sale of 5 acres of medical office buildings close to 285.

Full Sale Information and bid package is here

Link

Dunwoody Mayor Denny Shortal was honored with a proclamation at volunteer appreciation dinner.

PROCLAMATION

WHEREAS, Denny Shortal has been an involved member of the Dunwoody community for 36 years, including volunteer Athletic Director for eight years at St. Jude the Apostle Catholic School, a community pitching coach at St. Pius High School, has participated in athletic activities at the Shepherd Center, served as a member and current president of the Marine Corps Coordinating Council of Georgia, and as a faithful volunteer building homes for Habitat for Humanity with the Knights of Columbus; and 

WHEREAS, Denny Shortal served an integral part of the development of the City of Dunwoody. He was a founding board member and co-chairman of Citizens for Dunwoody, Inc., leading the organization and providing strategic direction that ultimately culminated in the community’s overwhelming approval of the incorporation of the City of Dunwoody; and

WHEREAS, Denny Shortal was elected during Dunwoody’s first municipal election on September 16, 2008, and served with distinction as one of the first Councilors of the City of Dunwoody until January 2015, when he was elected as Mayor. During his tenure on council he spearheaded initiatives that have provided a strong foundation for the City of Dunwoody by balancing competing projects and priorities while maintaining the tax millage at 2.74 mills; and  

WHEREAS, as Mayor, Denny Shortal is known for staying true to his principles,  working through critical issues by careful consideration of all angles and relevant information, he is also  known for his quick wit and astuteness when the occasion warrants, an "Oorah!" for his beloved U.S. Marine Corps; and

WHEREAS, in addition to his exemplary performance as  Mayor of the City of Dunwoody, Denny Shortal has demonstrated his commitment to the community through his influential membership in civic organizations in Dunwoody and across metropolitan Atlanta; and 

WHEREAS, after leading the City through incorporation and laying a strong foundation for the future, Denny Shortal’s decision not to seek re-election will allow him the opportunity to spend more time traveling and enjoying life with his family.  In all these pursuits, the City anticipates that Denny Shortal’s devotion of his time, talents, and energy will continue to be to the betterment of his community; now

NOW THEREFORE, I, Lynn Deutsch, Mayor Pro Tempore of the City of Dunwoody, Georgia, do hereby recognize and commend Denny Shortal for his selfless service to the City of Dunwoody.  I hereby proclaim November 14, 2019 as

DENNY SHORTAL DAY

in the City of Dunwoody and urge all citizens to join me in recognizing Mayor Denny Shortal for  his accomplishments, his professionalism and contributions to the community are an example and inspiration to his colleagues, his friends, and to his family. 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and caused the Seal of the City of Dunwoody, Georgia, to be affixed, this 14^th day of November 2019.

                                                                            

                                                                             City of Dunwoody

___________________________

                                                                      Lynn Deutsch, Mayor Pro Tempore

City of Dunwoody proposes sale of 5 acres of medical office buildings close to 285. @colliersatl @emoryhealthcare @NorthsideHosp

Full Sale Information and bid package is here

Link

On July 8, 2019 the Dunwoody City Council declared the front 2 acres containing the updated Emory building as surplus and therefore up for sale and on the November 18th agenda there is an item to declare the back 3 acres of the property, containing older one-story medical buildings as surplus; therefore putting the entire 5 acre block on the market.

With the Emory surgical center being completely updated a few years back and having a lease that expires in 2024, I am guessing they would be interested in obtaining control of the property.  The back 3 acres are prime for redevelopment.

The land was purchased for park and civic uses, therefore, I will be pushing that any proceeds from the sale, if it moves in that direction, would be reinvested into some other civic use to be used by the citizens.

Mayor Denis Shortal's Final Dunwoody Town Hall Meeting - Tuesday November 19th 7pm at City Hall

Tuesday Night   7:00 pm - 8:30 pm

 
Dunwoody City Hall
4800 Ashford Dunwoody Road
Dunwoody, Georgia

Dunwoody Mayor Denis Shortal will hold his final town hall on Tuesday, November 19 at 7 p.m. at Dunwoody City Hall, 4800 Ashford Dunwoody Road. All members of the community are invited.

The meeting will start with a presentation by Mayor Shortal, followed by a transparent and informative dialogue. Questions or comments can be submitted in advance by emailing communications@dunwoodyga.gov. Notecards will also be available during the meeting for questions.

City of Dunwoody Public Open House - Zoning update for the Dunwoody Village Master Plan

SATURDAY

November 16

Community Meeting

Zoning update for the Dunwoody Village Master Plan

Vintage Pizzeria

2-4 p.m. (drop-in anytime)

The City of Dunwoody is updating its Village Master Plan for 2020 and beyond! The update will look at connectivity, public spaces, and the character of future development.  This open house is a drop-in format that you can join at any time. An overview of the effort will be provided along with details on the proposed changes to the Dunwoody Village zoning.

I wonder if news of new possible restaurants will be announced?

Dunwoody City Council Agenda for Monday November 18, 2019

Monday, November 18, 2019
Dunwoody City Hall
4800 Ashford Dunwoody Rd

Dunwoody, GA 30338

6:00 p.m. - Watch Live

Agenda

Recognition of Citizens' Police Academy #11 Graduates

Administration of Oath of Officer to Officer George Lin

Proclamation - Type One Diabetes Awareness Month

Presentation of 3rd Quarter 2019 Internal Audit Report 

Athletic Field Usage Report (Brent Walker)

FIRST READ: RZ 19-02: Kathy Zickert, attorney for the Owner, on Behalf of GMC Real Estate Acquisitions, LLC, Owner of 11 Ravinia Parkway, Dunwoody, GA 30346 Seeks the Following to Rezone the Property From its Current OCR (Office, Commercial, Residential) District ConditionalZoning Classification to an PC-2 (Perimeter Center) District

FIRST READ: MA 19-02 Laurel David, Attorney for the Owner, on Behalf of JSJ Perimeter, Owner of 84, 130, and 140 Perimeter Center East, Dunwoody, Georgia seeks a Major Modification to Conditions of Zoning 

Presentation of the Comprehensive Plan 5 year update-Kickoff Meeting

FIRST READ: Text Amendments Regarding Telecommunications Regulations (Chapter 27)

Resolution Authorizing an Increase to the City of Dunwoody 401(a) Plan

Resolution Authorizing a Merit Increase for the City Clerk

Resolution Authorizing Fifth Amendment to the City Manager's Employment Contract

Approval of a Tree Planting Contract for the Mount Vernon Road at Vermack Road Intersection Improvement

Approval of a Contract with Trees Atlanta 

Approval of a Contract Amendment with Lowe Engineers 

Approval of a Contract with ConnectSouth 

Approval of Internal Auditor Contract 

Resolution to Update the Community Development Fee Schedule

Presentation of Convention and Visitors Bureau of Dunwoody Financial Statements as of September 30, 2019 and Discover Dunwoody 2020 Budget 

Resolution Amending the 2019 Operating and Capital Budget

Approval of a Contract Amendment with Reeves Young

Adoption of a Memorandum of Understanding Between the City of Dunwoody and Atlanta Regional Commission for the Comprehensive Plan 5 Year Update Services

Speed Calming Device Fees (Mayor Shortal)

Adoption of Vulnerable Road User Ordinance (Chief Grogan)

Adoption of Decorative Display Policy (Bill Riley)

Joint Defense and Common Interest Agreement (Bill Riley)

FIRST READ: Text Amendment to Chapters 24 and 25 re Clean Indoor Air 

Resolution Declaring Property Located at 4553 North Shallowford Road as Surplus Property and Authorizing the City Manager to Dispose of the Property

Discussion of Public Art (Michael Starling)

City of Dunwoody Election breakdown by Precinct for November 5, 2019 #gapol

Above are the Dunwoody Mayoral election stats broken down by precinct, which shows that Lynn Deutsch won 12 of the 13 precincts with the only the Dunwoody Library precinct being won by Terry Nall which mostly covers the Branches Neighborhood.    Turnout numbers were low citywide in this election at about 25%, with a large discrepancy between some of the single-family precincts voting as high as 39% with the multi-family precincts voting as low as 10%.   Imagine what the turn out numbers would have been without early voting being so easy?

Comparing turnout numbers from this election to last year's gubernatorial election is quite striking as 20,000 people voted last year, and only 7,000 voted in the Mayoral election.

Looking below at past citywide elections where there are no other state-wide elections, I guess the 25 percent turnout was to be expected but the jump of 7,000 additional registered voters between 2015 and 2019 is interesting as I do not believe the City has added that many residences except for a few townhome developments and the new single-family homes off Vermack as well as Shallowford.  I guess voter registration in anticipation of the 2018 election garnered quite a bump?

Update from Ms. Bev Wingate, the 2008 City Charter turnout was 43% with 24,239 registered voters and 81% voted yes for incorporation. (Thanks Bev!)

City of Dunwoody to hold Veterans Day Ceremony on Monday Nov. 11 at 10 am at Brook Run Park Veterans Memorial

Veterans Day Ceremony
Monday November 11 at 10 am
Brook Run Park Veterans Memorial

4770 N. Peachtree Road

The City of Dunwoody will hold its annual Veterans Day Ceremony at 10 a.m. on November 11 at the Brook Run Park Veterans Memorial (4770 N. Peachtree Road). The public ceremony is co-hosted by the Dunwoody Veteran Events Planning Committee and Dunwoody Parks and Recreation.
“Veterans Day is an important Dunwoody tradition,” said Bev Wingate, coordinator of the committee. “It is a time to commemorate and honor the many brave men and women who have sacrificed to defend our country and protect our freedoms. It is a time to express gratitude to them and their families for a debt that can never be repaid.”

Dunwoody Mayor Denis Shortal, Brigadier General USMC (RET), will be the keynote speaker. Dunwoody Police Major Michael Carlson, Georgia National Guard Captain, will serve as Master of Ceremonies.

The Dunwoody Veteran Events Planning Committee includes veterans, active military, and community volunteers. The committee works in conjunction with the VFW, Dunwoody Woman’s Club and Dunwoody Parks and Recreation to present veteran events.

Local students will play an important role in this year’s Veterans Day Ceremony. The Dunwoody High School Air Force JROTC, led by Kenneth Bennett, Lt. Col. USAF (RET), will present the colors. The Dunwoody High School Chorus will sing “The Star-Spangled Banner.”
Mayor Pro Tem Lynn Deutsch will give the welcome and lead the Pledge of Allegiance. Rev. Dr. David Lower, senior pastor at Saint Luke’s Presbyterian Church, will give the invocation. The ceremony is a rain-or-shine event.

Chesnut Parent Advisory Council, Dunwoody North Civic Association and the Dunwoody North Driving Club all speak with one voice rejecting the redistricting proposal presented by @DeKalbSchools

Formal Letters of opposition to DeKalb's Redistricting by Chesnut, DNCA & DNDC

Dear Dr. Green, Mr. Drake, Mr. Williams, Dr. Johnson and Board Members:

Thank you for inviting community feedback on the Austin Elementary Redistricting process. We write today to clarify Chesnut Elementary PAC’s position, based on stakeholder feedback, and thank you for considering our community’s needs. Unfortunately, we cannot approve any of the three redistricting options provided on Oct. 23rd, because none of them benefit our school. They all propose an overall reduction in our student enrollment and they all divide the DNCA neighborhood along the Tilly Mill corridor.

A. Splitting the DNCA Violates Redistricting Criteria and Hurts Chesnut

• Sending DNCA families east of Tilly Mill Road (area D of Option 2) to Kingsley does not comply with the first criterion (Geographic Proximity) of the Board Policy on Alteration of School Attendance Areas — by increasing their distance to school by 33 to 62 percent.
• At Chesnut, 40% of PAC Council parent seats and PAC Action Team parent volunteers are filled by parents in the DNCA area east of Tilly Mill Road. Withdrawing these families would significantly diminish parent leadership at Chesnut, to the detriment of the efficient running of Chesnut’s robust academic and community initiatives.

 B. Chesnut Willing To Share in Cluster Overcrowding

• Rather than lose students, we welcome a slight increase in enrollment.
• We are open to discussing scenarios, such as the addition of Dunwoody Elementary’s Area E on Option 2, that may slightly increase Chesnut’s enrollment, in an effort to equitably distribute the number of portables across the six Dunwoody cluster schools.
  
  Chesnut’s Reality: Not Severely Overcrowded
  
• With a current student enrollment of 473, Chesnut is actually 110% utilized.
• Chesnut’s stated School Capacity on Oct. 23 was misreported as 358, inflating Chesnut’s utilization rate to 135%, making Chesnut appear to be as overcrowded as Vanderlyn and more overcrowded than DES.
• Our school building’s actual Instructional Capacity is 428 students, as reported on the corrected Oct. 28th Facility Capacity Report.
• We challenge the 15% reduction applied to our 428 Instructional Capacity, termed the Scheduling Factor [a “reduction of total [student capacity] to account for the number of periods the room is not used and allow for teacher allotments”].
• While a Scheduling Factor of 85% may help determine classroom funding, when assessing our building’s Instructional Capacity, it is an unrealistic manipulation of the data, because homerooms are static. No homeroom class can be accommodated by utilizing a combination of classrooms during the 15% of the day each of the other rooms is not in use.
• Chesnut’s lower field is able to accommodate 4th grade in portables while leaving adequate field, track and playground space for students to play during recess. There is room for an additional trailer to accommodate a slight increase in our enrollment.

C. Adhering to Redistricting Criteria

We therefore urge you, as you consider rezoning options, to maintain or slightly increase Chesnut’s current size, and keep the DNCA area whole, in accordance with the following redistricting criteria.

• Primary Criteria
  1. Geographic Proximity - We ask all DNCA neighborhoods east of Tilly Mill Road remain in Chesnut district, as they are all closer to Chesnut than Kingsley (per above table). If Perimeter Gardens (Area E in Option 2) were rezoned to Chesnut, they would be .3 miles closer to school than they are to DES.
  
  2. Instructional Capacity - Any proposal that ultimately reduces the number of students at Chesnut will cause our small school to lose funding for teachers and instructional support staff, undercutting our proven method of delivering an excellent education for all students. We prefer to welcome additional students from overcrowded areas to retain our working education model.
  
• Secondary Criteria
  1. Safety and Traffic Patterns - Moving DNCA students east of Tilly Mill Road to Kingsley will add traffic to already congested main thoroughfares Tilly Mill Road and North Peachtree Road. Conversely, there are established Safe Routes to School that allow these students to walk or bike to and from Chesnut safely. If Perimeter Gardens were to be rezoned to Chesnut, they could utilize the existing DCSD bus route that serves Chesnut students at Columns at Lake Ridge.
  
  5. Intact Neighborhoods - After using the appropriate channels in the correct forum — Sept. 26th’s Round 1 Austin Elementary Redistricting Meeting — our voice was not heard. We ask again that the DNCA be kept intact. DNCA’s area encompasses community members on the west and east side of Tilly Milly Road, including: Dunwoody North, Andover Estates, Laurelwood Farms, Dunwoody Trails, Brafferton Square, Briers North, The Madisons, and Chestnut Landing.

D. Prioritize A Chesnut Rebuild

Lastly, we strongly request DCSD make a rebuild for Chesnut its first priority in addressing Dunwoody’s elementary school overcrowding, and expedite this project’s undertaking. Not only do we have the lowest Facility Condition Assessment (43.17) in the Dunwoody cluster, we have one of the largest properties, which we hope can be utilized to increase our capacity and eliminate the shortage of elementary seats in the cluster. Thank you for your time and consideration.

Sincerely,

Chesnut Parent Advisory Council

The great Dunwoody write in challenge - Kristin Heneghan has been declared the winner over Justin Dike, as well as other stats.

Justin Dike & Kristin Heneghan

Looking at the write-in stats is always interesting for me on an open uncontested race to see whose name might show up, be a neighbor, a celebrity or even a protest message.  The Dunwoody stats do not disappoint as there are write-ins for Mayor, and all three City Council seats.  Looking at the pdf, City Council race for District 1 between Stacey Harris and Robert Miller is coded a race 260, and it follows the Dunwoody Mayor write-in stats.  District 2 stats for the contest between Joe Seconder and Heyward Wescott are listed next as race 270 and finally, the uncontested District 3 race identified as number 280 had the most write-ins.

The challenge posted by What's Up Dunwoody's Justin Dike to my wife Kristin to see who would get more write-in votes for the Ddistrict 3 race wasn't even close;  Kristin won by a landslide.

Full Write in stats for Dunwoody Election

Looking at other results, Dunwoody was by far the most popular location to vote early with 3,000 people doing so.

I haven't plugged the numbers into a spreadsheet yet but the turnout in Dunwoody shows that most precints where there is a high percentage of single family homes voted at a much higher rate vs where there is a majority of multifamily, for example Austin 40%, Tilly Mill 35%, Mt. Vernon East 37%, Mt. Vernon West 31%, Kingsley 35%, Dunwoody Library 35%, North Peachtree 18%, Dunwoody 17%, Georgetown Square 15%, Chesnut 15%, Peachtree Middle 11%.  To see the polling paces and maps check here.

DeKalb's final results (Unofficial & Incomplete that still need to be certified) are here.

Andrew Ziffer announces candidacy for DeKalb County Board of Education

https://www.andrewziffer.com

Below is the message from the candidate I received, as well as invitation to a campaign kick off this Sunday, Nov 10th for 3 pm at the Kingsley Swim and Racquet Club.  If interested in meeting Andrew he would be happy to discuss the future of our schools.

---

Dear Friends,

Many people are able to find fault with school and government institutions. Some of us try to influence the institutions to improve. Some of us contribute money hoping to make things better. A few of us volunteer to support the unmet needs of our community. And, sometimes, one of us raises our hand and volunteers to run for public office to make a difference.

I have raised my hand to say I can do better. I am excited to announce that I will be running for the District 1 School Board seat for DeKalb County in May, 2020.

For those who know me, I am not a politician. In fact, my wife, Janet, reminds me of this regularly. I am a business owner, a parent and community member.

There is no personal reason for me to run for this position. Janet and I have a good life and enjoy our family time together. Why do I want to rock the boat?

Well, the answer is clear to Janet and me. It’s the same reason we helped create the PHACE Syndrome Community many years ago – TO SERVE THE COMMUNITY.

Few people in District 1 are happy with the way the DeKalb Schools are being run. The incumbent has been elected twice, running with no opposition.

My platform is laser-focused.

• I will represent our community better with messages of partnership
• and not war with our school system
• I will represent our community better by reaching my hand across the table looking for solutions
• and not faulting the other side of the table for the problems
• I will represent our community better by listening more
• and talking less
• I will represent our community better by taking action
• and looking forward for solutions rather than looking back to complain
• AND I will represent our community by calling out misinformation, mismanagement, and fiscal irresponsibility

My focus as a DeKalb County School Board Member will be:

• Ensuring my actions support students in the classroom, first and foremost
• Improving the culture and climate of DCSD
• Changing the conversation in DeKalb County Schools from one of opposition and self-protection to one of partnership and long term planning
• Addressing deferred maintenance and facilities needs
• Ensuring that long term enrollment planning is accurate, regular, and matches facility capacity

I am excited about what the future holds and hope I can truly transform conversations in DeKalb County and District 1, and improve student’s lives.

Visit http://www.andrewziffer.com for more information.

Andrew Ziffer
Candidate District 1
DeKalb County Board of Education

Dunwoody Election Results - Congratulations Mayor elect Lynn Deutsch and Councilmembers Stacey Harris and Joe Seconder

I look forward to working beside you.

What's Up Dunwoody - Write in challenge against my bride Kristin Heneghan. Vote for her - not me.

Vote for Kristin Heneghan - Not Justin / Not John

I have had the distinct honor of serving on the Dunwoody City Council for the last eleven years and have put my name into the hat to do so for another four but I can attest that it wasn't done on a whim.  Serving on the City Council is truly a family affair and it wouldn't have happened without the full support of my beautiful wife, Kristin.   I am truely blessed to have her love and support.

Justin over on the "What's Up Dunwoody" empire, heard about me posting the write results for my elections when I have run unopposed and therefore publicized that he wrote himself in for my office in order to see his name show up in an official government document (other than those numerous birth certificates for his many children).  Later in the day, a neighbor gave a quick endorsement of who he was going to vote for (Lynn, Stacey, and Heyward) and then added that he was not voting for me but instead voting for a better candidate, my wife, Kristin.

Justin, being the jealous type, took a that comment personally and has now challenged my wife (whom he has never really met) to a write-in challenge, and I'm not sure Justin knew who he was dealing with?

 2005 DHA Dunwoody Mom of the Year

If you don't know my wife Kristin let me explain that she is the most vivacious & effervescent woman in town. If do you know my bride, you know that I am merely a wallflower which fades into the background of her existence.  Kristin was a United Airlines Flight Attendant and aerobics instructor before I moved her from Chicago.  Upon arriving to Dunwoody and having children, she threw herself in supervising neighborhood playgroups, expanded into the community MOPS (Mothers of Preschoolers) program, assisted with the Dunwoody North Babysitting co-op, started the All Saint's Parents Night Out and then started volunteering with the Dunwoody Homeowners Association where she supervised events like Light Up Dunwoody.  As my three boys became older, she was room-mom, volunteered at schools then went on to become team-mom for most of the sports teams my kids played on.  At the Dunwoody North Driving Club, Kristin was the social director organizing every party and social event for 10 years, whereby my job was just putting away the chairs at the end of the evening.  Kristin goes out of her way to welcome new neighbors, to help friends in need, care for children, deliver home-cooked meals, or for close friends she even puts a balloon on your mailbox if it is your birthday.

Trust me, I am the introverted wallflower, and Kristin is the dynamic social butterfly who knows everyone's name and makes friends immediately upon meeting people for the first time.  I honestly believe most people elected me to the Dunwoody City Council only because I am related to her.

In this election, the Heneghan's are voting for Lynn Deutsch, Stacey Harris and Heyward Wescott to lead the City of Dunwoody forward.

But for the giggles of it, when it comes to the District 3 seat in Dunwoody, please don't vote for me on Tuesday - vote for Kristin.   Oh, and vote No on the Ethics item.   Thanks

Back to Future - Flick on the Dunwoody High School Football Field

Monday on the DHS Field

We hope to see everyone Monday night for our first ever "Flick on the Field"! �

Presented by Dunwoody Student Government and Game On!

Where: DHS Football Field and Wildcat Alley
When: Monday, 11/4, from 5:30pm to 8:45pm (movie begins @ 6:30pm); No school on Tuesday!!!
Cost: $3 for students and kids, $5 for adults
What To Bring: low lawn chairs and/or blankets
What Movie: Back to Future

http://dunwoodyalumni.org/game-on-capital-campaign

Last week of early voting at the Dunwoody Library from 8 to 5:30 through Friday

The polls are open the next four days for early voting for Dunwoody Mayor and the at-large City Council races at the Dunwoody Library, through Friday from 8:00 to 5:30 p.m.  Skip the lines on November 5th and vote at your convenience at the Dunwoody library on or before before November 1st.

In case you are not aware, the Dunwoody City Council has made this local early voting opportunity available to you the residents by funding this service through the DeKalb Board of Elections to a tune of $15,000.  We believe this is a wise investment in democracy ensuring that everyone has an opportunity to help decide the future of this fine city.  Other cities in DeKalb opt out of providing this service and we are happy to offer it.

Please research the candidates (in the links down below) and take advantage of this early & local voting opportunity.  For you die hard political wonks out there, you may be interested in the Dunwoody Campaign Finance website to see who is donating to whom and where the candidates are spending those politicial donations.  As far as I know, there are no official polls on where these races are headed, so please go cast your ballot.

The Heneghan's are voting for Lynn Deutsch, Stacey Harris and Heyward Wescott to lead the City of Dunwoody forward.

I recommend that you vote No on the Ethics question as it weakens ethics rules, not improves them.

Mayor

Lynn Deutsch   Lynn4Dunwoody.com

Terry Nall   TerryNallForDunwoody.com

City Council At-Large (District 1)

Stacey Harris   StaceyForDunwoody.com

Robert Miller   RobertMillerTime.com

City Council At-Large (District 2)

Joe Seconder   Joe4Dunwoody.com

Heyward Wescott   HeywardForDunwoody.com

City Council At-Large (District 3)

John Heneghan   Heneghan's Dunwoody Blog