INTRODUCING - Dunwoody Chamber of Commerce Version 4.0

This is the fourth incarnation of the Dunwoody Chamber website, and the third since the site was recreated in Drupal.  Mr. Boyken and I had a little sit-down in his office soon after he was elected as Chairman of the Board and we had an in-depth conversation about how he wanted the Chamber presented to the public.  Sleek, upscale, and simple.  The above design is the result.

We moved some information around and reorganized some categories so don't be shy about using the "Search" function in the red menu bar.  

The most obvious upgrade is the "infographic" scrolling images on the front page.  Don't be fooled by how simple these "slideshows" appear.  There is a lot of complex programming behind the scenes that makes it work.  Kind of like the gears on a classic Swiss watch.  The greatest challenge was making it simple for the office staff to change these images in and out as necessary.  Check back once in a while and you'll see some new surprises!

This week we're going to go through the post-launch punch list and continue the updates.  This includes planning for an all-new mobile version and possibly a smartphone app.  The first time the site went live I discovered some technical issues undocumented features that need to be accommodated.

It's important for every major organization to have a web presence that is unique to them.  All of my themes, including those for content management systems, no matter how complex, are custom made from scratch.  I would hate to be the guy who had a website launch, then the public notices that the "custom design" is actually JSN Epic for Joomla (free version) with all of the default color and appearance settings unchanged.  Talk about a rip off!  (Hypothetically of course....)

Please enjoy using the new interface with all of the functionality you have come to expect from the Dunwoody Chamber site.  The "Contact" link is the best place to ask a question or report a bug.

Off to First Monday Networking!

Last Chance to Check Your Computer for the Doomsday Virus

This is not a hoax.  There is a real virus threat out there this time.  A check that will last less than a minute will provide priceless peace of mind.

The Background:

Several years ago, an internet crime ring based in Estonia released a virus that would redirect an internet user from legitimate sites to fraudulent ones.  The gang stole millions of dollars from victims around the world and eventually got nabbed by the FBI late last year.

But the malware is still out there and your machine could still be affected.  If it is, you will not be able to access the internet.

What You Should Do:

There's a quick and easy check to see if your computer has been infected.
Visit this site, set up by the FBI that will determine if your machine has been compromised by this virus.

http://www.dns-ok.us/

If you see a big icon with a green background, you're golden.  Nothing to worry about.

If the icon has a red background, your machine is infected and it's a good thing you got to it now!

You can learn how to fix your machine at this site:  http://www.dcwg.org/fix/.  There is a list of links at the bottom of the page to free tools that will clean you up in time for Monday.

More information is available here from the FBI.

Always, always, always keep your antivirus software up to date and do not click on links in emails or on pop-up ads that you do not know.  Do not use your credit card on sites that are not encrypted.  And DEFINITELY do not hand out your bank information or social security number, or other personal data to individuals who call you, no matter what they try to say.  Be careful out there!

July 4th Parade - the Spirit of Dunwoody

This recap has been making the rounds in my head since lunchtime Wednesday but I had a killer job commitment to square away first (which will be the subject of another post) and my grey matter is officially fried to a crispy golden brown.

Any event, including parades that have over 130 entries and over 30,000 spectators is a logistical juggernaut.  What is a relaxed holiday morning for most families is a study in "how to handle Plan B" by the organizers.

First - the BlackHawk chopper landing.  My husband was in the Village gathering Nectar of the Gods (coffee) when it approached and tried to land - at least three times.  He came back giggling about how tents were blown around like toys and how could anyone not think that the after-parade party setup would need to be better secured?  It was only later we heard that someone was injured and the story instantly became not-funny.

Second - Dunwoody Police reported on their Facebook and Twitter pages that a child either fell off or jumped off a float and then was caught under the trailer.  I saw the golf cart take off down Mt. Vernon in response, and I remember thinking that it had to be a medical emergency.  Every parade parent's nightmare.  This is why I haven't marched in the parade with my own kids yet.

Third - if the initial delay due to the injury wasn't enough, a classic car stalled out.  How did we know this?  Because the boy scouts accompanying the car pushed it to the end of the parade.

Commitment

It would have been easy to just ditch it in a side street and keep it moving.  These boys had some serious guts - and leg muscles - to keep their entry going.

Any one of these events could have derailed the entire day.  But they didn't.  The parade organizers, police, EMS, and anyone else involved in running this parade dealt with the situation, assisted those who needed help, and kept the parade going.  That is what I call commitment and civic pride.

Couple that with having Georgia's largest 4th of July parade hosted by a private not-for-profit, as well as a variety of fireworks displays around the area (we're regulars at Chamblee's display in Keswick Park) and you have a full day's worth of old-fashioned, small-town, family holiday fun, guaranteed to wear out the most energetic kid and the production requires little to no tax money for Dunwoody.

Safety is always a conversation at parade time.  I imagine it will be an even bigger topic in 2013.  Unfortunately, there's not much the parade organizers and marshalls can do to enforce individual common sense in a 30K crowd.

Case in point:  THE POTATO.

I almost didn't believe Bill and Stacy during a DHA meeting when they said this exhibit was joining the parade.  Giant anything is a crowd-pleaser!  I still think it would have been funnier if someone "forgot" to tell Publix that it would be parking in their lot.

Again, logistics with making sure the trailer can navigate Dunwoody Village Parkway, where to put it at the end of the parade, etc.  In spite of the above incidents that found their way through the crowd before this part of the parade came, in spite of the newly-heightened awareness of safety this year, you still had the scene below:

The left wheels of the semi had to pull all the way to the left of the road to line up the trailer.  That front bumper and fender are no more than 18-inches away from the curb.  And what is on the curb?  Kids hanging out, of course, while their parents hang out right along with them.  Believe me if my kids were on that side of the street I would have yanked their little behinds off that curb faster than you could say "french fries".  This close call could have been the fourth big glitch of the day but thankfully, it wasn't.

The parade is an example of why I'm proud of Dunwoody.  No matter what else is happening in government, our jobs, our neighborhoods, good or bad, there is always a time to put "every day" aside and enjoy all that we have in common.  

Happy July 4th!

GoDaddy is having issues

Some customers who host their sites on GoDaddy noticed error messages starting at about 7 PM last night.  I couldn't change their DNS to backup and the customer support line has had busy signals for almost 12 hours.

If you host with GoDaddy, you're going to have to ride this one out.  Don't know if this was a DoS attack, straight hacking, or just a system failure.  Post a comment if you hear anything!

How to Write a Creepy Real Estate Offer

1)  Create hand-written "form letters".
2)  Use red ink.
3)  Send copies to home addresses at random from a bulk database export.
4)  Ignore whether the property is listed for sale or not.
5)  Use yellow, lined paper, instead of a company letterhead.
6)  Only use your first name, don't include your last name.
7)  Include a phone number but no other contact information.
8)  Don't explain why you're interested in buying a property that is not on the market.
9)  The return address on your envelope should be a "MailBoxes Etc" location in Buckhead.

Behold that which blessed my US Mailbox this afternoon.

Address redacted.  If you know my family, you know where we live.  ;-)

When I googled the phone number, I found this website:  http://www.onlinemediainteractive.com/fastsaleformyhouse/needtosell.html

I'm guessing home flippers.  Anyone else get one of these creepograms?  Or know the company where the phone number led?

By the way, if "Bajja" is reading this, your offer is respectfully declined.

Is Dunwoody getting its own girls' party place?

A while back I posted about my (and my daughter's) experience with Pink Pastry Parlor in Alpharetta and bemoaned the fact that indoor play and party spaces were rare in a city that is so concerned about opportunities for children.

It looks like that may change...!

Behold Sweets 'n Dreams, a new storefront in the Shops of Dunwoody that is going through the process to build out and open.  It is promoted as a party facility/event center/bakery and may be one of the things that our retail centers have been missing for a while.

Check 'em out on Facebook!
http://www.facebook.com/SweetsnDreams

Street/Summer Fair Vendors Wanted for Input on Media Article

I received an email this morning from Independent We Stand, an advocacy organization supporting and promoting the value of local independent businesses.

A reporter for a major news publication has approached Independent We Stand looking for entrepreneurs who have been vendors at street fairs and other outdoor summer events. They're seeking examples of lessons learned from these business opportunities – what to do and what not to do to. The entrepreneurs should be in only their second or third year of business and have some wisdom to share based on what they learned as an outdoor vendor last summer or the summer before. Do you fit the bill or know someone else who does? Just reply to this email or email us at media@independentwestand.org!

Dunwoody and its neighbors are chock full of these kinds of enterprises!  If you are a small biz entrepreneur or solopreneur who as ever set up shop at Lemonade Days, the Dunwoody Music Festival, or the Dunwoody Arts Festival, this may be a golden opportunity for you to showcase your wares to a wide media audience!

While we're at it, I'll bet some of the vendors at the Dunwoody Green Market would fit the bill too.  Ditto for the new generation of food trucks that are hitting the streets to carve out their niche.  (I still think the Hail Caesar idea is hysterical!)

Drop a line to Independent We Stand above and give the media another reason to put Dunwoody-grown brands on the map.  (Tell Bill I said "hi" when you email!)

Rezoning Questions Go Gently Down the Stream

Over the weekend I received this message from Joe Seconder via FaceBook and per his request I'm glad to pass it on:


Subject: Invite - Dunwoody Stream Buffer Educational Forum

Hi All,

On behalf of the City of Dunwoody’s Sustainability Commission, you are cordially invited to attend the Dunwoody Stream Buffer Educational Forum at 7 pm on Thursday, June 28th at Dunwoody City Hall.

As we embark on defining stream definitions, this forum can help educate those who may be making the future decisions/

The Forum will cover: Benefits of Stream Buffers, Stream Buffers as Regulatory Tools to Promote Surface Water Quality, Variance Processes, Types of Streams – Which should be protected with buffers?

There will be a panel of experts as well as an opportunity for questions following the panel discussion.

Scheduled Panelists include representatives from:

·         Georgia Environmental Protection Division - Stormwater Unit, Watershed Protection Branch
·         Georgia Soil and Water Conservation Commission
·         Atlanta Home Builders
·         Upper Chattahoochee Riverkeeper

City Calendar click posting here
Facebook Event click here

Many thanks,

Joe Seconder
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
During my morning cup(s) 'o joe (sorry, Joe, couldn't resist.  It's that kind of Monday!)  I ran across this entry on John's blog.


Dunwoody Zoning Code Rewrite Meeting - Fri June 22nd
Date: Friday, June 22, 2012
Time: 12:00pm – 1:30pm
Location: City Hall
41 Perimeter Center East

In partnership with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the City will present recommendations for sustainable practices to be incorporated in the Zoning Code Rewrite.  This meeting is a result of a technical assistance grant the City received earlier this year for the Building Blocks for Sustainable Communities Program, Green Building Toolkit.

A consultant team led by Code Studio and YR&G is currently working with EPA to assess and make recommendations to the Zoning Code that will be based on sustainable sites, water efficiency, and energy conservation.  This opportunity capitalizes on the rewrite process to advance the incentives and regulations related to sustainable practices to further the City’s sustainability mission.  The presentation is the culmination of assessments made through the EPA Green Building Toolkit, consultant review of existing code, and technical staff input.

The public is invited and encouraged to attend to contribute to the process to ensure a sustainable future for the City of Dunwoody.  The meeting will be streamed and a video posted for members of the public who are unable to attend at the scheduled time.


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
At the first Zoning Rewrite Sounding Board meeting, we figured out what issues needed to be addressed.  First, we learned that our input was going to be extremely limited.  "Priority" issues that had been already discussed in one of the Land Use plans were strictly off the table, even for discussion or questions.   So the sounding board had no choice but to address popular issues where the comprehensive plans are silent. That's a rant for another day.

We knew that City Hall/Council expected the consultants doing the writing and the sounding board/public attendees giving their input to address all of the questions around "streams", starting with their definitions.  The sounding board tabled this to address it in its own meeting because there was NO way it could be tackled alongside other questions.  It was just too big, too involved, and there was too much data to absorb and sort out.

Which brings us to today.  At first glance, I have some questions....

1)  Why are there two meetings?  Two different times and days?  Are there two different panels?  Two different sets of goals for these gatherings?  That's how it looks.  And both are supposedly put on by "the City" and "the Sustainability Commission"?  First thing I thought of when I saw the Facebook event and then John's blog pointing to an event on the City's website was that the left and right hands aren't talking to each other.

2)  As was pointed out in the comments under John's post, why is this on the City's calendar, but not on the ZoningDunwoody.com website, which according to the City employees involved is supposed to be THE central point for all communications on this project.  Neither of these events are posted or mentioned in any way.

3)  If the City expects its citizens to be involved in these meetings, you need more than a week's notice.  You also need to rethink having a meeting that fills the entire lunch hour for people who work and have families to care for with activities in the summer months.  Video is fine for a recap but I thought the point was to increase involvement?

So is this just a goof?  Or is the talk of citizen input so much lip service?  Or was someone between a rock and a hard place and there was literally no other time/date/place for this presentation?  Clarification is needed, please.

Behold, the reasons why sounding board held off on discussing "streams" with the consultants writing the code.  It's enough that there's a lot of questions that need answers but the data and the people distributing it seem to be all over the place.  Not even on the same page.  Personally, I haven't formed any opinions yet, and no one is forming them for me.  However I do know the following:

--No one has suggested "eliminating stream buffers".  Whoever started that rumor, knock it off.  It isn't true and you're not helping your cause by spreading it.

--I intend to be very careful about adding restrictions to someone's property.  Especially if "streams" aren't on their official property survey or deed and until now, no one has noticed them.  It's easy to wave the "sustainability" flag when you don't have to pay for the effects of new regulations dropped in your lap out of nowhere.  I hope that at least one of these scheduled meetings explains to affected homeowners why their "streams" are so important and require protection if the state, county, and city haven't bothered to document them.

But bottom line - improve the communication, folks.  Your messages will be taken more seriously if you seem like you're on the same page.

More Pubs, More Jobs - O'Brian's Tavern

Has anyone else noticed that since our new Mayor was elected there's been a sudden proliferation of beer-serving establishments?  Hmmmmm....  Coincidence?  You make the call.  (Kidding, guys, kidding!)

There's another Tavern operated by the Dunwoody Restaurant Group opening in the Mt Vernon Shopping Center (same center as the Dunwoody Bakery, CVS, Camelot Jewelers, the old Ace Hardware, etc etc etc).  O'Brian's is opening soon and they're hiring cooks.

Check out their ad on CraigsList:
http://atlanta.craigslist.org/nat/fbh/3063590340.html

There are similar ads for a general manager but that one's been open for a while and I have no idea if it's been filled.

So there's O'Brian's, then there's Marlow's going in the Village, the Tavern, Firkin & Gryphon and a slew of others.  Anyone have Liefmans Kriek on tap?

More Filming at Dunwoody High?

The tents, the trailers, and the cryptic directional signs are back up at Dunwoody High School.  There are also trailers hauling around 50s-era classic cars that would make the Ivy Riders drool.

Lots of scuttlebutt on IMDB and other entertainment outlets about both feature and TV movies being filmed somewhere in Georgia but there's nothing solid on this location.  Anyone have anything?  Post a comment!

Who will fill the old Arby's restaurant in Williamsburg?

At the DHA meeting last night, we learned that both Chik-fil-A and Starbucks are considering moving in to what used to be Arby's in Williamsburg.  (Bill - sorry I couldn't make it.  Work deadlines.  See ya next meeting, 'K?) You couldn't ask for a better scenario:  it's already built out for a restaurant, it has a drivethru, there are no zoning conflicts or variances needed.  So it's no surprise that there's more than one interested party.

Take the officially unofficial poll:
Which establishment would you prefer to replace the old Arby's in Williamsburg?

Diverging Diamond Interchange Video

Courtesy of the Dunwoody CVB.  Real-time view of navigating the much-touted DDI.  Even in the rain, it looks like drivers don't have much to fear.  Keep your eyes on the road, your cell phone in your pocket, and your bumpers between the lines and you're fine.

Greater Perimeter Business Expo on June 1

The Dunwoody Chamber has joined with the Sandy Springs Chamber for this year's Expo.  All of the exhibitor spaces are filled and the ballroom at Westin Atlanta Perimeter North is supposed to be packed.

Come out and see what your neighbors are doing.  Yes, the neighbors.  These are the people whose work keeps homeowners taxes down by paying the lion's share of Dunwoody's revenue.  Business people and homeowners are often one and the same in our little town.

If you are a small business owner and decided not to exhibit, there is an important place for you too:  The Expo is going to be the biggest networking event in town today.  Bring your cards, your promo items and be ready to shake some hands.  There's always time to make some new contacts.

The Expo is free and open to the public from 10 AM to 4 PM.  More info is at www.gpbe.org.  Even the parking is free.  ;-)

Take some pictures too - I expect that I'll be adding to the photo slideshow on that front page early next week!

View Larger Map

Water Infrastructure: Don't Let This Happen In Dunwoody

(Edited for clarity 6/1/2012)

From the Channel 46 website:

DEKALB COUNTY, GA (CBS ATLANTA) -

The pipe that caused water to flow through a DeKalb County neighborhood was on a list of pipes that needed to be replaced because they were too old.

DeKalb County spokesman Burke Brennan said more than 50 percent of the county's water and sewer lines are more than 25 years old, and about a third are over 50 .   

"These are lines that we have identified as needing to be replaced and, throughout the street within the next year or two, we're going to be replacing the entire water line," he said. "Today it's just a patch, but this is an old line. It could happen again but we're eventually going to put in a new water line off of here."

Angelo Diaz lives in a house off of Rockbridge Drive that was the most severely affected by the flooding-turned-mud.

"Yesterday as it was getting dry, I was hoping it would just be water, but then when that level came down I noticed how much mud was around," Diaz said.

A restoration crew contracted by DeKalb County was assessing the damage on Thursday.

"They didn't say they were going cover things but they did say to make a list of everything that's coming out and put a value on it," Diaz said. "I'm hoping for the best, that they'll be 100 percent responsible for it."

Brennan said that anybody with a claim can contact the county's risk management department and file a claim.

"They'll take a look at and if we're at fault we will deal with it," Brennan said.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I get that the city has to be a group of multitaskers that don't have the luxury of handling one issue or problem or plan at a time.  The article above refers to water and sewer lines specifically. Dunwoody is in similar dire straits with its stormwater system that was inherited from the same county that neglected the water lines that failed in the news story.  There is similar potential for a catastrophic failure in the stormwater system as well.  The infrastructure issues identified at the beginning of this administration have not gone away and still need to be addressed even as splashier headlines get attention.

Memorial Day 2012

UPDATED: The Report is Released

No commentary and comments are closed.

Here's the press announcement.

Here's the report.

Councilwoman Bonser responds.

"America's Supernanny" is casting in Atlanta

UPDATE:  application deadline has been extended to May 30.

Shed Media US, producer of reality/unscripted shows such as "Who Do You Think You Are?"  on NBC and "World's Strictest Parents" on CMT is looking for families to participate in a new version of the "Supernanny" series in Atlanta.

Specifically, casting is looking for:

• Families with children ages 5 - 17
• Families with more than one child
• Families who are challenged with unique circumstances regarding their children and would like some extra help with addressing them and are willing to participate in a TV show.

About the "Supernanny":

AMERICA'S SUPERNANNY is looking for families that could benefit from the help of child/teen expert, DEBORAH TILLMAN. She founded and runs 3 successful full-time daycare centers in Virginia where she’s worked with children & teens for years; she regularly presents workshops on childcare throughout the country, and she’s the author of Stepping Out on Faith, a guide to operating a quality childcare center. She holds a BA in Business Administration from Upsala College, a Master’s degree in Early Childhood Special Education from The George Washington University, and has also studied at Oxford University.
The production crew will be interviewing families the last week of May and early June, so they have requested that applications be submitted by May 25, 2012.

Get a printable application here. (MS Word)

For more information about the show or to apply online, please contact:
Casting Director Robyn Kiyomi

rkiyomi@shedmediaus.com

(323) 904-4680 ext. 1154 phone

(I spoke to Robyn earlier today on the phone and she is super-nice and easy to talk to!)


Feel free to pass this along and refer families that you think may be interested!

You can also print a flyer below for more info and contact options.

Help DeKalb Pets at Stars & Strikes this Sunday

Commissioners Elaine Boyer, Stan Watson & Sharon Barnes Sutton have joined forces to host an event on Sunday, May 20th from 5:00 PM until 7:00 PM to help fund a spay/neuter program for pets of DeKalb families in need of assistance. The event is at Stars & Strikes in Stone Mountain & will include activities such as bowling, laser tag, bumper cars, video games, etc.

There are several ways you can help:

· Purchase ticketsat www.helpdekalbanimals.com. Tickets are $30 for Adults, $20for Kids under 12, or a Package of 4, any ages for $80.

· Donate items suchas leashes, collars (new or slightly used) & laundry detergent (which willgo directly to DeKalb Animal Services for laundry needs). The items willbe collected at the event.

· Circulate our website & press release to friends & family to help promotethe event.

There is much to be done to reverse the horrible situation at DeKalb Animal Services & this is a step in that direction. To help get a handle on the massive number of animals euthanized annually in DeKalb (approximately 5,000) we need to educate the public more and provide assistance to those who have good intentions, but cannot afford to fix their pets. After hearing from many concerned constituents at the commission meetings and reading the influx of emails, Commissioner Boyer wanted to do something to help. She consulted with several members of the Animal Services Task Force and the head of Animal Services and the consensus was that a spay/neuter program would go the furthest to help raise awareness and slow the inflow of animals into the shelter. The program will be implemented through LifeLine Animal Project, who is our partneron this endeavor.

Print the flyer below for more info, including sponsorship opportunities.

(Here ya go, Twinkletoes Bob!)   All of the pets I've ever had (including my current ones) have all been rescued strays so I'm glad to lend some PR for this event.

Dunwoody Village Brusters is Open!

Here's their main site:
http://www.brusters.com/localstores/index.asp?storenum=823

It's right next to (what used to be) Dunwoody Pediatrics.

Here's the page with job application info.  Apparently they like to do things offline so you can print out an application from this page, or ask for one at the store in person.

Now I just have to convince my three munchkins that having ice cream in a store like this is just as good as chasing the ice cream truck down the street.  ;-)

Rumor Has It...Not Everything Belongs on the Internet

If there is anything we have learned from the explosion of the Internet in 1995, it's that no matter how much technology is created, people - human beings - don't change.

The utopian ideal promoted when email services began, both at home and at work, was that faster communication would make the world "smaller" and make it easier to share ideas and information.

However, not all ideas are benign and not all information is reliable.  It is the human part of us that has to discern the difference.  Then that same human part has to decide whether and how to distribute it.  That requires turning off the machines.

My old medical research job trained me for that kind of discernment.  All of us in hands-on clinical research were required to take an intensive seminar in medical ethics with an extensive history component.  

The VP of Translational Research, who was always the "go to" person for international media contacts, summed it up thusly:  "If you're not sure about whether a decision is right, whether it's in research, or a pharmaceutical company in your stock portfolio, think about how it will look on the front page of the New York Times.  Because that is where it is going to end up."  

It's more than just print media and television now.  It's more than just journalists who may or may not take heed of the ethics and standards they learned in journalism school.  Now everyone is their own journalist and standards vary with the individual.   But the majority of the machines that store and transmit the information belong to someone else.  

Take Facebook for example.  Read their terms of service some time.  Everything you post on Facebook, they own and can do with it whatever they wish.  Some acquaintances who have been working with Facebook's marketing leadership had some disturbing opinions about them.  Such as "generation y-ers who have all of this data and little idea what to do with it and shaky ethics on the best of days."

Google seems to be more benign - they don't claim ownership to any posted content.  But they have streamlined the cross-referencing of content across platforms (Google Checkout, YouTube, Blogger, etc)  So they may not claim ownership but they've made it easy for someone else to exploit what you add to it.  I'm not one for conspiracy theories but that one scares the hell out of me.

So when the Internet is used to transmit evolving information - especially in legal cases - the consequences can be more severe.  The ability to be objective and treat all parties fairly fades.  There is potential to violate civil rights.  Notice it's not the machines that make information more deadly - it's the people using them.  People using machines rather than their own discretion and the oft-ignored "Power" button.

Yes, I'm leading up to last night's City Council meeting and the surrounding media.

No one is going to be served best by manipulating evolving information on this case on the Internet.  Within moments of John posting the agenda item (with no commentary, just the text of the resolution) there was speculation on the reason for the resolution (which was confirmed at last night's meeting) and conclusions drawn that the City Attorney had already been fired (which was untrue.)  See how fast a single fact was spun out of control?  

I'm not going to opine over who to trust, because I still don't know.  I'm not privy to the facts involved, by choice.  But I do think this is one for the human beings to work out in real time, with face-to-face consequences, to protect the rights of all involved and leave the machines out of it.  Use some human discretion and the "Power" key, at least until the scenario has played out.

(Good commentary from Kerry DeVallette on this issue last night.  He points out some reasons that I think this process should remain offline.)

Dunwoody Marketplace - Critical Mass

I called it.  I SO called this one....

From Dunwoody Patch:  Dunwoody Green Market Seeks New Home

From the article:

The U.S. Postal Service has told the Dunwoody Green Market that it needs the parking lot where vendors operate on Wednesdays eight months of the year and that the market will have to find a new home.
The financially troubled agency is closing the Dunwoody Carrier Annex at 4444 North Shallowford Road and is moving those operations to the Dunwoody Post Office. That move will begin on Friday, May 18, according to a supervisor at the North Shallowford Road address who referred further questions to the main Atlanta Post Office. Officials at the main branch did not return a call requesting comment.

Back in August 2011 - almost 9 months ago - I posted this article:

Opportunity Knocking:  Dunwoody Needs a Permanent Community Marketplace

From the blog post:

US Post Offices are by definition federal land. City ordinances don't apply. So while the DGM is in the Post Office's good graces, the market opens every Wednesday - legally. 

How lucky do you feel existing at the whim of the Feds? I wouldn't. The USPS can revoke its permission at any time. They can close that location and sell the land, which they routinely threaten to do.

The land isn't going to be sold, but it is going to be used by the rightful owners.  The article from Patch goes on about how vendors were told casually by federal employees that they are going to be evicted in just under three weeks and that city officials are taken by surprise.  You can moan and complain to the sky about how slimy and uncouth that (lack of) legit communication is.  You'd be right.  But here's the problem:  the USPS has every right in the world to do so.  The DGM has been operating at the feds' pleasure and pleasure time is up.  IMHO, no one has any right to be surprised.

So the recommendation from August 2011 is more urgent than ever:  a landlord or other entrepreneur has a huge incentive to open a permanent community marketplace where the farmers, artisans, other businesses can pay a proportional rent and set up shop weekly.  The blog post above had the complete list of advantages.

So what have we learned here?

• Don't rely on the feds or other government agency to just *give* you what you need to run your business.  The USPS scenario is Exhibit A.  The land the DGM was camped on was considered a long-term solution rather than a short-term stopgap.  Big mistake.  Always have a plan in place for long-term land/property use.  If your Plan B involves continued squatting, you're setting yourself up for scrambling again and again.
  
• Take your business sense seriously and work accordingly.  Microbusinesses, home businesses, family farms, artisans, other sole proprietors, are all part of the legitimate business community and all have a legitimate role to play in the economic development of Dunwoody.  If you want Dunwoody and your customers to take you seriously, you have to act the part.  Get a license.  Pay your share of taxes.  Find a venue that can accommodate the amount of business you conduct.  Pay your rent to the landlord, if it isn't you.  Or buy the property you want to operate from.  DGM has been dragging their feet on this one and now they're in a panic.  Will history repeat itself or will a permanent market be established?  Stay tuned.

I'm a little concerned about DGM proprietors discussing their future in terms of "we'll just see where we land".  How about "let's decide where we will go"?  I don't know of any successful business plan that leaves their location up to the four winds and the good will of government.  Even food truck operators have a route and location plan mapped out in advance.  Choose a location, negotiate a price, and work to build it.

Although I prefer to have as few strings as possible attached to free enterprise, the City of Dunwoody government can play a role in acknowledging the contributions uber-small businesses make to the community.  I can't imagine too many people would be upset if Dunwoody provided city-owned land for a market.  (I can think of a spot on North Shallowford that's open at the moment.)  Conversely, the City also has to hold these businesses responsible for paying their share of revenue just like any other business.

New Additions to Our Family!

Mr. & Mrs. Brown Thrasher of Briers North announce the recent hatching of four two chicks in their lovely, spacious nest inside the Duncans' backyard rose bush.  Mrs. Brown Thrasher would like to state that she will give the stink eye to anyone visiting while she is warming the babies.

Mom & Dad are gathering food.

If you look really closely and at the right angle, you can see one of the parents in their nest  

What?  What did you think a "new addition" meant??

*No one touched or disturbed the chicks.  The first picture was pure luck when I held my camera phone over the rose bush and hoped for the best.  The one below was trying to get a shot of the adult on the nest from the side.  Mom is back on the nest (with stink eye) and a handful of birdseed was tossed in the area so there's no danger of the adults leaving.

BOLO - Neighbor accosted this morning

A neighbor just posted an alert to our neighborhood messaging list.

This morning, his wife took his child to school and she was followed back to the neighborhood.  Instead of returning home she went down an adjoining cul-de-sac.  The person following her blocked her in with his truck and verbally accosted her.  He got out of his truck and so she dialed 911.  (And was routed to Gwinnett county because she was on a cell phone.  Always specify you're calling from City of Dunwoody when you have to use your phone to call for help.)  He eventually took off.

The details posted to the list were:

Red Chevy pickup truck

GA plate # BQ706Q

Man was wearing camoflage/army fatigues.

Dunwoody PD has been notified. If you see this person and/or their truck steer clear of them, because they obviously don't have both oars in the water.

Opportunity Knocking: Is Dunwoody "Camera Ready"?

It looks like the few film shoots in Dunwoody may not just be lucky flukes.  A film crew working on a project tentatively titled "Trouble With the Curve" borrowed Dunwoody High School during spring break.  Earlier this year, a project titled "Parental Guidance" used a home on Vermack for some of their shots.

Then Channel 2 aired this:


I know someone out there is going to criticize Mike and City Council for establishing "film guidelines".  I don't believe that it's a bad idea to have fees and use guidelines in place.

When I was in college, certain parts of my urban campus at Boston University were regular locations for scenes from "Spencer for Hire".  The first couple of times you saw the film crew set up, it was cool - you got to see all the techies and what happens behind the scenes.  If you were lucky you got a glimpse of Robert Urich or Avery Brooks at work.  Some students made pizza-and-beer money working as extras.

But that's just a couple of times.  After a while you got used to it.  Then finally the time came when you were late for class in a rainstorm, and you had to walk an extra half-mile because the film crew blocked off your usual route.  Or commuter students got screwed out of their assigned parking lot because craft services and actors' trailers were camped out there.  Then the whole thing just got old.

So when a community actively courts  the film industry, you also have to take measures to keep the circus inside the ring.  City Council is voting whether to approve the Film and Video Policy (with fees, natch) to ensure that film crews understand and stay within the boundaries of activity that are required for a peaceful neighborhood.  (For now - said "boundaries" and everything else that falls under 'zoning' is up for discussion as part of the rewrite project.)

For the most part, the policy is fair.  You don't realize how intrusive a film crew can be until you encounter one while having "one of those days".  You've got your standards in here - your application requirement, anything that has to be reviewed by a county-based service, insurance and liability, etc.  I would recommend cleaning up the vague terminology regarding "hardship" and "practical solution" in that section.  It leaves a lot of room for interpretation based on individual taste instead of a reliable standard to operate by.  Fertile ground for the local jerkoff to draw a line in the sand for a chance at a little payola.   The phrase that lets the city slide on its 5-day response time without penalty, or without benefit to the applying production company seems slimy.

Would these ordinances be in force if the film crew is working on county property, as opposed to city or private property inside city limits?  The last film project (with Eastwood and Timberlake) took place at Dunwoody High, so it was the school system and the county who had the authorization to issue a permit and permission to use the site, not the City.  Would Dunwoody itself have been able to enforce any ordinances under these circumstances?

In one of the previous examples, ("Parental Guidance") the work took place in a residentially-zoned home.  If the homeowners receive compensation from the production company for the use of their home as a set, do they risk being penalized for commercial activity in a residence?  Is this another "don't ask, don't tell" scenario that is so common in Dunwoody today?  If so, that could put a wrench in the City's film dreams.  The policy acknowledges the possibility of filming on private property, but is silent on the compensation or "commercial use" issue.  Major contradiction, folks.   Very obvious one, too.

While on the residential subject, the policy states that no permits are necessary except for "...guns in display of the public; public nudity; special effects such as fire, explosives, or pyrotechnics;  nondomestic animals; or
filming outside the hours permitted by the City’s Noise Ordinance."
Hel-LO!!  Production vehicles parked in the street!  Random bitching and moaning about traffic and parking will crescendo!  Even if there's no "filming" on the street, there is going to be some serious parking.  Sounds permit-worthy to me, if for nothing else than having police on hand to prevent collisions.

When the policy passes and becomes the law of the land - then what?  Is there going to be active marketing to Hollywood et al for locations?  Or a more passive approach that relies on word of mouth?

Georgia rolled out the "Camera Ready Communities" initiative as part of their own marketing to the film industry.   This program identifies contact people by county - not by city - to be liasons to assist interested film companies in setting up shop.  I'd like to think DeKalb County would have some sort of partnership with Dunwoody, for communication if nothing else.  My cynical side kicks in when we remember how much DeKalb just loooooooooooooves Dunwoody.

It wouldn't take much to replicate the county-by-county program at the city level.  Identify a contact person who will be familiar with ordinances and permitting, and that has a comprehensive understanding of Dunwoody's neighborhoods, facilities, features, etc to assist with location scouts.

You also have an opportunity for the Chamber and CVB to get into the act.  Include with the city packet a letter to the effect of:  "Welcome to Dunwoody Georgia.  We wish you success in your project while you film in our city.  Attached is a list of local enterprises that are willing and able to assist you with products and services you may be in need of during your stay."  Break them out by category:  Lodging, Transportation, Talent Agencies, Lighting and Staging, Catering, and any number of other skilled craft services.

The policy is only Step One.  In order to make Dunwoody "camera ready", City Hall has to ensure that knowledgeable pros are at the front desk when film companies accept their invitations.  If you're going to enact a policy at City Council, be ready to back it up with adequate city staff.  If City Hall is planning more than just a policy vote, it could be a win-win for everybody.  Don't make the mistake of throwing out a policy without the human resources and infrastructure to make it work in real life, outside Council Chambers where everything is hypothetical.

UPDATE: Brook Run Vandalism - REWARD

Updated 4/17/2012:
Well, someone's going to collect the reward!
From The Dunwoody Crier via Dunwoody PD:

An anonymous tip led the Dunwoody Police to five juveniles that are responsible for the damage to the community garden at Brook Run Park last month.
All have been charged with criminal damage to property 2nd degree, a felony.

“Actions have consequences and as you get older the consequences become more severe. This is a great opportunity for parents to engage their teenager in a conversation about decision making that may help them make better decisions in the future” said Chief Billy Grogan in a statement.
Of the five juveniles, four are Dunwoody residents and one a Roswell resident. They have been released to the custody of their parents.
The garden was vandalized during overnight hours of March 30-31. A $1,500 reward was offered for information regarding the damage.
Contact Det. J. Maldonado at 678-382-6925 if you have any further information about this crime.

If, after their due process, these kids are found guilty of the crime (vandalism on this scale = felony = crime.  It's not "just mischief".)  I still say that a big part of their penalty is sweat equity reimbursing the garden staff for the damage, including Home Depot and Costco for their contributions.  If found guilty they should also be required to work in the garden, because clearly they don't know how much work it takes to raise vegetables.  That's something they should learn.  They should also take a course at the Nature Center about indigenous wildlife, to appreciate what they destroyed.

They should NOT have the option of their parents bailing them out or otherwise excusing them from the work it will take to pay back what they've done.

That is all.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
From Dunwoody PD via Facebook:

DPD is investigating an incident of vandalism at Brookrun's Community Garden. Last night "hoodlums" pulled down the fencing, overturned planting beds, and trampled hundreds of dollars worth of flowers and vegetables. The suspects went as far as destroying bird houses and killing the bluebird eggs inside. Anyone with information please call DPD 678-382-6919.

(In short, someone destroyed hundreds of hours of work that our citizens put in.)

The Community Garden has offered a $500 reward for information leading to the capture of those responsible.  You can submit a tip anonymously here:  http://dunwoodyga.gov/Departments/Dunwoody-Police-Department/TIPS.aspx

WANTED: CARLOS SANCHEZ ESQUIVEL for Forgery

From Dunwoody Police via Facebook

WANTED-CARLOS SANCHEZ ESQUIVEL for Forgery, 1st Degree (F). Esquivel scammed a 27 year old victim who had received traffic citations from the DPD; advising her not to show up in court because she was in the country illegally. Esquivel further stated that he worked as a translator for the courts, and that he would be able to take care of the citations. Esquivel obtained copies of the victim’s citations and gave her falsified court documents in return - charging the victim over $1,000.00 in false court and probation fees. Victim was subsequently arrested for failure to appear in court.

Anyone with information regarding this suspect or similar incidents is asked to contact Det. R. Delima at 678-382-6914 or ronny.delima@dunwoodyga.gov.

You may also leave anonymous crime tips online via SUBMIT A CRIME TIP: http://tinyurl.com/8xjbkjd, or send an anonymous Text Message to C-R-I-M-E-S (2 7 4 - 6 3 7). Use the key word DPDTIPS at the start of your message.

For more WANTED persons, visit our webpage: http://tinyurl.com/7ta3dza

Gyro Gyro giveaway plus announcing lunch specials about this restaurant that Aha! Subscribers (including me) rave about! - The Aha! Connection

Gyro Gyro giveaway plus announcing lunch specials about this restaurant that Aha! Subscribers (including me) rave about! - The Aha! Connection

From the Aha Connection - a little restaurant in Dunwoody Point I pass every day on the school route is making a huge splash.  Gyro Gyro is getting rave reviews all around.

Like their FB page after your visit and you could win a (TBD) prize!

Now you have yet another reason to visit East Dunwoody.

Come on over to The Dark Side in 30360 - you know you want to!

Happy Easter

Is Dunwoody Getting All of its Money For ChatComm?

When Dunwoody incorporated, the city government became entitled to taxes and fees collected at various levels to support their services.  That was reinforced when Dunwoody joined up with Sandy Springs and Johns Creek in their ChatComm 911 service.  One of the taxes collected by the phone company is supposed to be set aside for ChatComm, instead of DeKalb County 911.

The utilities have been slow to get on the stick and realize that Dunwoody is its own city (with three four zip codes) and the taxes they collect have to be redirected.  Last year, I received a polite letter from Georgia Power that boiled down to "Oops, we just realized that even though you're in the 30360 zip code and our database classifies that as Doraville and/or Unincorporated DeKalb County, you're really in Dunwoody and we have to collect some more money from you.  So don't freak out when you see your next bill."  Good enough, at least they realized the update on their own and didn't let the backlogged charges get out of control before correcting it.

I wish AT&T was equally sharp.  As I scaled that mountain of paper that is on my desk this time of year, I noticed that the phone bill still had DeKalb County listed as the recipient of 911 taxes.  Being a good Dunwoodian, I got on the phone to AT&T customer service to point out the discrepancy.  How hard could it be?  Google Maps can show you where the boundaries of the city are and the fact that my home address is inside of them.  No brainer, right?

Called customer service number.  Went through the "press 1 for...." maze.  Got to a representative.  Explained the incorporation and change in 911 services.  "Oh that's a billing question.  Let me transfer you."

Get to billing. Confirm my account number.  Explain the 911 services change.  Again.  "I don't have anything to do with that, I just take payments.  Would you like to make a payment?"  Not on the phone, thanks.  "I can transfer you to customer service."  I just came from there.  "Well I can't change that from here."  Looks like I'm going back to customer service then.

Back to voice mail jail.  Dialing to get to representative.  Ask for a supervisor this time because First Dude wasn't quite on the ball.  Representative stalls me and I go through the tax question.  Again.  "Hmmmmm...  let me try to enter it manually." D-U-N-W-O-O-D-Y.  "No, it isn't taking it.  The city is dictated by the ZIP code."  But my city has three four zip codes.  "I understand but they're going to have to adjust the database."  Who is "they"?  Who do I have to be transferred to?  "Well you can't just call them.  You have to go down to your local government and have a statement signed by the mayor confirming that you're in a new city."  I have to get the mayor to write a letter?  "Yes, or some elected official."  But you can see on any map website that this is a city and what the boundaries are and where my address is.  "That's the procedure."  Ummmmm...  I think I need to call back later.  CLICK.

For me, there is no difference - I pay the same $1.50 per month.  But the feasibility of the ChatComm conversion was based on the projection that phone taxes would be allocated to ChatComm and not siphoned off by the county.  How many taxes due to ChatComm are being lost because Dunwoody has three four zip codes, two three of which overlap with other municipalities?

If City Hall wants to collect all of the fees its entitled to, they're going to have to do some legwork.  AT&T at least isn't going to take the word of their customers or MapQuest.

(Thanks, Rick, for reminding me about part of 30350 being in Dunwoody.  That has to be worse - overlapping with another county in addition to other cities.)

UPDATE:  Terry Nall and John Heneghan forwarded this post to the City Manager's office when they read it and I received a very quick response from Kimberly Greer in Warren's office.  They did the legwork I suggested and it seems my experience was the exception rather than the rule.  I am very relieved that that is the case.  I still believe a full, regular audit of telecoms for ChatComm fees would be a good idea to make sure that these exceptions stay exceptions and don't become a regular feature.  Thanx, everybody!

Brusters Returns to Dunwoody!

Per the Dunwoody CVB--
Brusters Ice Cream is returning to Dunwoody Village.

All you parents with teens:  I hear a handful of summer jobs coming your way!

New Online Real Estate Scheme - WARNING

From WSB Channel 2
Criminals have found a new way to victimize potential renters using legitimate MLS listings.
Crooks have taken photos and listings, posted legitimately on MLS and created fake "for rent" listings.  It started on CraigsList (which most people know is not the most trustworthy of classified ad sites) but has been extended to other known real estate sites like Zwillow.  The fake listing asks renters to send money in exchange for the (non existent) keys to the property for sale.  The renter gets ripped off, and the property seller has all kinds of people creeping around their property, thinking they can rent it.

Realtors out there take note:  have someone in your office do a search on all of your real estate listing addresses and make sure that everything that comes up is a legitimate listing, and not a fake "for rent".

Link to the Channel 2 news story.

New Dunwoody-Owned Business Catering to Dog Owners Opening on April 14

My itty bitty neighborhood has a high percentage of all kinds of business owners and entrepreneurs.  Next month a new store is opening in Historic Norcross owned by another of my neighbors!

Grand opening is on April 14.  Check out www.dogbakery.org for the 411.

Festival Season is Coming - are you ready to make more sales on the go?

Spring and summer are festival times.  In Dunwoody, you have Lemonade Days and the opening of the Green Market, then there's the Art Festival, the Beer Festival and winding up with the Music Festival in the fall.  You've got similar festivals in Roswell (Alive After 5), Norcross (Norcross Art Fest) and Atlanta (Dogwood Festival).

All of these fairs are the bread and butter of many local artisans, microbusinesses, and family farmers.  The good news is that more mobile technologies for receiving payment are available to microbusiness owners and individual freelancers.  That means more opportunities for sales at fairs, especially those all-important impulse buys.

For all of you artisans and business owners out there who are going to make the regional rounds this summer, START PLANNING NOW.  There are lots of mobile options to choose from with a variety of equipment and costs.  Decide what will serve your customers best before you have to take your show on the road.

1)  Do I need a mobile online payment solution?
Is your business mobile?  Yes?  Then that's the answer.  Customers want mobile solutions, either by accepting their credit card on the spot, or even using their smartphone for payment.  That doesn't mean you have to forego cash and checks but those are just not enough anymore.

2)  Where do I start?  How do I find a solution?
They're not hard to find.  Google "merchant services" and you'll get a long list of companies of various sizes offering the ability to accept credit cards, including equipment at various prices.  The best place to start may be your own bank:  ask about merchant services where you do your regular banking.  Some offer the latest in mobile payment via smartphone (more below).    If you're dipping your toe into sales for the first time, many beginners start with PayPal.  PayPal was revolutionary in that it was the first service to allow individuals access to merchant services and the ability to accept credit cards without long term contracts or equipment purchases, and made transfers based on an email address.

3)  What are my options?

There's lots of 'em!  First, decide what kind of payments you want to receive at the market or fair.  Do you want to swipe credit cards?  Select an option that will plug into your cell phone via a smart phone case or even plugs into the audio jack.  Options include the new startup Square, which is a description of the device as much as a name.

Another option comes from Intuit, the same people who created Quicken, QuickBooks, and TurboTax.  GoPayment involves either an iPhone case with a classic card swipe device attached, or the new audio-jack-plugin model.  Downsides are this is only available for iPhone (not Android, etc) and Intuit has some higher-than-average fees for their services, per their usual.  Intuit financial options are usually better for more established businesses, rather than beginners.

Finally, PayPal is rolling out "PayPal Here", its own card reader.  It's not widely available yet, but when it is distributed it will be the most flexible (for both iPhone and Android), will accept the widest variety of payments/credit cards at a single rate for all card brands.  (This is important because many merchant services will process different credit cards at different rates.)  Downside is PayPal's transaction fee, at 2.7% of the transaction amount is well above the industry average of 1.5-ish %.

4)  Do I absolutely, positively, have to have a card reader?
Not necessarily.  Mobile banking and payments have made quantum leaps this past year alone.  Chase Bank has been pushing its personal QuickPay service in its TV ads.  All three of the above options have personal mobile payment features that allow payments via free smartphone apps, rather than a credit card.  However it may be worth the extra effort to cover all your payment bases.

When you finally decide on what option works for you, take some time to test it out with friends and family.  Then don't forget to advertise the fact that you're taking mobile payments.  Post it on your website, in your emails, your Etsy store, social media, your signage, wherever.  While we're on the mobile subject, make sure your print materials and merchandise tags include a QR code.  QR codes are (usually) square, 2-dimensional bar codes that can store much more and more complex information.  Use them to link to your website, your Facebook, or to download your contact information into your visitor's contact list.  If you use PayPal for payments, you can link to your payment gateway too.  Make your QR code online for free.

Online payments are not just for big businesses anymore.  Even individuals and private groups can use these tools.  If your club or civic association holds, say, an annual picnic or garage sale, or your extended family is organizing a reunion or vacation, these online payment tools can be very useful for collecting payments.

Have fun and have a great summer!  Best of luck to all of the artisans and micro-biz out there making a living this season!

Dunwoody JAMs

Have a great weekend, everybody!



Create a playlist at MixPod.com

BOLO - thieves posing as Dunwoody city workers

Full story with video from WSB-TV

I've had people come to my home and stroll into my backyard for the city, looking over the open drainage ditches.  This was legit, the guy had ID.

Helpful hints:

CITY HALL PHONE NUMBER:
678-382-6700

Dunwoody trucks have magnets with the city logo and name of the department on them.  If the truck isn't marked in some way, you might have a problem.  If you don't see a truck, call City Hall (or the cops) and get confirmation that a crew is in the area.  Call the police if you get one of these visits after hours.

ANYONE who comes to the door claiming to work for the city (or a utility, etc) should show you their ID on demand.  No ID, no admittance, no exceptions.  If s/he makes excuses or stalls or tries to give a reason not to show you ID, get on the horn to the police, ASAP.

LOCK YOUR DOOR.  Always.  Especially if someone is lurking outside.  You can figure out that Thief #1 was telling Thief #2 in Spanish that the coast was clear and he could get in while keeping the couple busy.

If anyone is cruising around claiming to work for the City of Dunwoody, it's OK to call the cops.  If the crew and their work are legitimate, there's no harm done.  If they're crooks, they'll get busted that much faster.

Let's be careful out there, folks.

An Open Letter to Dateline NBC and 20/20

No one in Dunwoody is going to fault yours or any other news organization for swarming around the Hemy Neuman murder trial.  It bleeds, so it leads.  That's life.

There are thousands of people who live here - LIVE, not visit for a story - who were all touched by this crime and who now collectively have to continue their lives with this added history.

If you get a Pulitzer, or an Emmy, or even a Nobel prize for your reporting, good for you.  If you report a story that well, you deserve your reward.

With that said:  Dunwoody is a city of people, not characters.  Dunwoody is not a freak show, or a media playground, or a setting for a sitcom.  Dunwoody is not a caricature of stereotypes designed to fill a sound bite, or to set up a witty remark in your script.  Dunwoody is every other city with people finding a way to live together both because of and in spite of our differences.  Even when there is a crime.

Find a way in your 45 minutes plus titles, teasers, and commercials to reflect that reality.

If you're having trouble understanding what Dunwoody, Georgia is beyond this crime and resulting trial, here's a primer to get you started.  Print and save.

• Dunwoody is a city where anyone in town can create the next "big idea".  When the economy went downhill in the past few years and took the housing market with it, our citizens didn't throw up their hands and give up on their lives.  They created their own companies with their own ideas from their everyday lives.  If someone lost a job, they created a new one in its place.  (Including yours truly and her website customers.)  Look at the statistics in our business community:  Over 80% of our licensed enterprises have fewer than 10 employees.  That is how good serious people provide for themselves, their families, and their city.
  
• Dunwoody is a city where as soon as a woman has a baby, or someone is ill or injured, a line of volunteers spontaneously forms to cook dinners or do housework until they get back on their feet.  We take care of each other.
  
• Dunwoody is a city where our religious community, however diverse, finds a way to support each other.  Every church and synagogue has social and educational programs that are open to the entire community, not just an individual religion or denomination.
  
• Dunwoody is a city that knows we can do things better ourselves.  When the county and state ignored our needs, we made them get the hell out of the way so we citizens could do it right with our own hands.  Doesn't mean every decision is perfect, but at least we're accountable to each other and we're making improvements that otherwise weren't going to happen.
  
• Dunwoody is a city that will come together to support our schools.  The county school system made it clear they're not going to put the needs of the students above their own crazy agendas.  So whether it's a public school, conversion charter, or private, the parents will get involved to make sure our kids get the education WE think they should have.  We physically work on the grounds, we pool our skills and talents and "pass the hat" to raise money and gather our resources.  Then after all of that we still stay vigilant to the day-by-day lessons our children are learning and be part of their education.
  
• Dunwoody is a city that is aware of people in need and will find a way to meet those needs.  There are fundraisers for the local hospitals.  Consignment sales where families hand goods down through houses of worship at a deep discount.  Some groups even invented ways of growing food for food banks, in addition to making donations from their own grocery trips.  Most of the charity goes on quietly, in private, where your cameras aren't interested in filming.
  
• Most of all, Dunwoody is a city that can be passionate and even pissed off with each other from time to time over the issue du jour.  We can scream, yell, blog, curse, and carry on all day long.  But at the end of the day we can leave the strife at the door and find a way to celebrate a good cause, or relax and have fun in spite of our differences.  Look at Taste of Dunwoody, or Lemonade Days or the Bike Rodeo at Brook Run, or the 4th of July Parade, or the Dunwoody Music Festival.  Everyone has a good time but doesn't pretend to sit around agreeing with each other.

Dunwoody is not a bizarre murder or an equally bizarre trial.  Dunwoody will not be defined by this one crime, however newsworthy.  You would do well to keep that in mind as you edit your stories.  Use the real Dunwoody in your backdrop rather than a sound bite or stereotype.  Who knows - your story might become accurate enough to earn you that Pulitzer.

GUILTY

This video and the other media reports sum it up.  These were a few random thoughts throughout the afternoon.

• A key reason Neuman is looking at a lifetime of Rorschach blots and license plates is because of the work of Dunwoody Police.  Grogan's crew can hold their own with any major police force in the area.
• I sincerely hope that the news media will knock it off with their images of Dunwoody Prep preschool.  They didn't ask for this PR nightmare, nor did the families whose children benefit from their programs.  No one wants their establishment to be remembered by the public as, "Oh, right, that's the place where...."
• Dunwoody Pediatrics staff seemed to hold it together when my children visited for their usual appointments after that day.  Impressive considering they were the first responders who tried to help.  This was the reason I decided early on not to pursue a medical degree - I couldn't handle it if a patient died on me.
• Dunwoody is not an homogenous city.  We don't all think and act alike.  Sometimes that's a good thing, sometimes it's a royal pain in the ass.  This time it's just plain 'ole bad.  I'm sure there are a lot of people - friends, neighbors, etc - looking at Neuman and Andrea Sneiderman and wondering, "How in the hell was I ever close to this person and not see this potential?  So now more of us are wondering...  who else is capable of this kind of crime and then lying about it?

Maybe now the city and our communities can pick up the pieces without TV cameras camped out at the Village or elsewhere in town.

Heneghan’s Dunwoody Blog: Help a Local Dunwoody Mother in Walmart contest “G...

Heneghan’s Dunwoody Blog: Help a Local Dunwoody Mother in Walmart contest “G...: Vote by clicking here Joi Sumpton of Dunwoody is the inventor of Step ‘n Wash, the first and only self-retracting step for public restrooms...

I had no idea this was invented in Dunwoody!  I remember seeing them at the Fernbank Museum when we took the kids last.

Click the link, and go vote!  I will never cease to be amazed at how much business is generated by Dunwoody moms and dads!

Georgetown Renaissance

This is the first time I've ever seen a municipality offer to sell land to a developer with stipulations as to the type of development beyond a zoning designation.  On the surface it looks positive, definitely thinking outside the box.  I'm withholding final judgement only because the path to redeveloping this segment of Georgetown is navigated through a tangled mix of legal questions over executive sessions, leaks from the same, and balancing finances after the failure of the parks bond initiative.  Pop some popcorn and someone pass me a beer, this is getting good!

Honest Auto Service

Before I was able to get my photos for the last blog post, I needed a flat tire fixed.  I trusted in my usual spot:  Danny at Tilly Mill Service Center.  Technically his auto shop is just over the line in Doraville, but he has served many Dunwoody families' cars for years.  My family has always been able to trust Danny and his crew for fair estimates, great work, and a speedy turnaround time.  He also keeps his property neat and clean.

If you're looking for a mechanic for major work, oil change, or fixing a flat when it was the LAST thing you wanted to deal with today, please consider Tilly Mil Service Center.