Who Else Saw This Coming? Anyone paying attention to discussions about Dunwoody Apartments, that's who.

Apartments focus of controversy in Dunwoody  (AJC)

(I caught someone using the AJC servers lurking around on this blog a few days ago.  Now we know why....)

Federal fair housing suit filed against Dunwoody, code enforcement (Crier)

(AJC article has comments about code violations and opinions of Dunwoody Glen and Lacota residents.)

Articles lurked by the local news media in advance of these articles:

What exactly is Dunwoody being "transparent" about?

Dunwoody City Council wants to buy the "Northchase" apartments....

(Highlight was the YouTube mashup of Star Wars vignettes "I've got a bad feeling about this...."

Here's an article no one is talking about.
Because it doesn't fit the legal agenda at hand.

Christmas For Kids Returns Early in 2013

Lawyers can be hired and cries of "racism" can be thrown around like candy on Mt. Vernon at the 4th of July.  But when the chips were really down - when families in these apartments lost their homes and belongings in a fire, it was Dunwoody Police and Dunwoody residents who stepped up to provide for their needs.  I know this because I was there.

My Inspiration

I learned graphics the old-fashioned way:  apprenticing at the School of Hard Knocks.

My Uncle Charlie has been a commercial artist in New York City since I was born.  He always made sure I had art supplies to play with and to learn from.  Professional-grade markers and paper to calligraphy sets.  I learned how to draw different fonts, create effects with just ink and paper, and how to blend colors and draw what I could see:  either with my eyes, or just what was behind them.

It wasn't until years and years later that his influence became my living instead of just something to play with.  In fact, it was Chaz who developed the first draft of SDOC's corporate logo when I was just getting off the ground.

Chaz is (finally....) on Facebook.  (Thank you Cousin Janet for dragging your dad into this century.  How big was the monkey wrench????  ;-P   )

https://www.facebook.com/chaz.pastels

Back to the Drawing Board for Friday

The real issues happening in my office today.  Happy Friday!

How to Choose a large-scale Content Management System
(click to view original size)

Zoning Rewrite Hype-Free Zone: What does it really say?

The newly-revised zoning ordinances are easy to read.  Yet, so many have no idea what is in them.  Or worse - they do know and continue to distribute misinformation about both the words and intent.

The ratification process has started.  Both Community Council and Planning Commission have reviewed the rewrite and passed it with revisions noted in their minutes

Planning Commission Summary

Community Council Summary

Neither of these commissions, comprised of Dunwoody homeowners, objected to the standards in the proposed code regarding the restructured regulations for home occupations.  Not even with an edit.  So out of the blue, we have the usual objections and concerns in spite of the Sounding Board's and consultants' attempts to write an ordinance that will codify the best practices that home business owners employ to maintain their community "feel", and limit or prohibit practices that could lead to the degradation of the community's quality.

Here's what the ordinance actually says.  Commentary in red for clarification of some of the worst misinformation.

27-10.30 Home Occupations
27-10.30-A. Purpose
The home occupation regulations of this section are intended to allow Dunwoody
residents to engage in customary home-based work activities, while also helping to
ensure that neighboring residents are not subjected to adverse operational and land
use impacts (e.g., excessive noise or traffic or public safety hazards) that are not typical of residential neighborhoods.
27-10.30-B. Type A and Type B Home Occupations
Two types of home occupations are defined and regulated under this section: Type A
and Type B.
1. Type A Home Occupations
Type A home occupations are those in which household residents use their home
as a place of work, with no employees, customers or clients coming to the site.
Typical examples include telecommuting office workers, writers, consultants,
artists and crafts people.
2. Type B Home Occupations
Type B home occupation are those in which household residents use their home
as a place of work and either one non-resident employee or customers come to
the site. Typical examples include tutors, teachers, photographers and licensed
therapists or counselors.
27-10.30-C. Exemptions
1. Personal Care Homes
Personal care homes are not regulated as home occupations and are exempt
from the home occupation regulations of this section. Personal care homes are
allowed as indicated in the use tables of Sec. 27-4.20 and Sec. 27-5.20. Supplemental regulations applicable to some personal care homes can be found in Sec.
27-9.150
2. Day Care
Day care uses are not regulated as home occupations and are exempt from the
home occupation regulations of this section. Day care uses are allowed as indicated in the use tables of Sec. 27-4.20 and Sec. 27-5.20. Supplemental regulations applicable to some day care uses can be found in Sec. 27-9.70.
Federal law prohibits the outright banning of home-based daycare as long as all required licenses are obtained.
3. Bed and Breakfast
Bed and breakfasts are not regulated as home occupations and are exempt from
the home occupation regulations of this section. Bed and breakfasts are allowed
as indicated in the use tables of Sec. 27-4.20 and Sec. 27-5.20. Supplemental
regulations applicable to bed and breakfasts can be found in Sec. 27-9.30.
27-10.30-D. Prohibited Home Occupations
The following uses are expressly prohibited as home occupations:
1. any type of assembly, cleaning, maintenance or repair of vehicles or equipment
with internal combustion engines or of large appliances (such as washing machines, clothes dryers or refrigerators);
2. dispatch centers or other businesses where employees come to the site and are
dispatched to other locations;
3. equipment or supply rental businesses;
4. taxi, limo, van or bus services;
5. tow truck services;
6. taxidermists;
7. restaurants;
tattoo, piercing;
fortune telling or psychic services
(These were redacted for duplication.  One of the most frequent misstatements is that "anyone can open a massage parlor or such as long as they have only one customer at a time.  Not true - any type of establishment that is banned from residential zoning districts is also banned as a home based business.  The code does not allow for adult entertainment, fortune telling, medical services, etc.)
8. funeral or interment services;
9. animal care, grooming or boarding businesses; and
10. any use involving the use or storage of vehicles, products, parts, machinery or
similar materials or equipment outside of a completely enclosed building.
Bottom line, engaging in any of the above occupations from home, or anything that is prohibited in a residential zoning district, is an automatic code violation when a complaint is filed and penalties get levied.  
10.30-E. Where Allowed
1. Type A Home Occupations
Type A home occupations are permitted as of right as an accessory use to a principal use in the household living use category. Type A home occupations are subject to the general regulations of Sec. 27-10.30-F and all other applicable regulations of this section. More than one Type A home occupation is allowed as an accessory activity.
One more:  the business owner has to be living in the home as their residence.  For the record, I advocated that only home OWNERS should be allowed to be home business owners.  Apparently, that is not legally permissible.  Anyone allowing a home they own but do not live in as an outlet for their own business is in violation and code enforcement can penalize them as soon as a complaint is filed and confirmed.
2. Type B Home Occupations
Type B home occupations may be approved as an accessory use to a principal
use in the household living use category only as expressly stated in Sec. 27-10.30-
G. Type B home occupations are subject to the general regulations of Sec. 27-
10.30-F, the supplemental regulations of Sec. 27-10.30-G and all other applicable
regulations of this section. Multiple Type B home occupations are prohibited as
an accessory use to a household living use, and a Type A home occupation may
not be conducted with a Type B home occupation.
Limits the amount of activity around the home in question.  Will some try to have multiple businesses anyway?  Probably.  But if a complaint gets filed with evidence, this is the standard that gets applied.
27-10.30-F. General Regulations
All Type A and Type B home occupations are subject to the following general regulations.
1. Home occupations must be accessory and secondary to the use of a dwelling
unit for residential purposes. They may not change the character of the residential building they occupy or adversely affect the character of the surrounding 
neighborhood.
(Emphases added.  The whole point is to define what activities are detrimental to a neighborhood and which are not.  The proposal that home occupations will inherently negatively impact a community is void.  The consideration has already been addressed.  )
Home occupations may not, for example, produce light, noise,
vibration, odor, parking demand, or traffic impacts to that are not typical of a
residential neighborhood in Dunwoody. Home occupations must be operated so
as not to create or cause a nuisance.
(Again, the point is to avoid nuisance behaviour.  One of the great fears that gets repeated often is that even with a limit of one customer at a time, having many customers back-to-back would nullify the neighborhood protections.  Not so.  If that many cars are using a business, then an aggrieved party may snap a picture or video and identify both a noise, pollution and general "nuisance" violation to code enforcement.)
2. Any tools or equipment used as part of a home occupation must be operated in
a manner or sound-proofed so as not to be audible beyond the lot lines of the
subject property.
(see above)
3. External structural alterations or site improvements that change the residential
character of the lot upon which a home occupation is located are prohibited.
Examples of such prohibited alterations include construction of parking lots, the
addition of commercial-like exterior lighting or the addition of a separate building entrance that is visible from abutting streets.
(Prevents converting homes and lawns to store fronts with parking lots.  Again, mitigates the action that fuels most fears in this regard.)
4. Signs that directly or indirectly, name, advertise, or call attention to a business,
product, service or other commercial activity occurring on the subject property
are prohibited.
(Signs for contractors or anything else are permitted, just not for an occupation on the premises.)
5. Home occupations and all related activities, including storage (other than the
lawful parking or storage of vehicles), must be conducted entirely within the
dwelling unit.
The area devoted to the conduct of all home occupations present on the property is limited to 25% of the dwelling unit’s floor area or 500 square feet, whichever is less.
7. No window display or other public display of any material or merchandise is allowed.
(See above #4)
8. The use or storage of hazardous substances is prohibited, except at the “consumer commodity” level, as that term is defined in 49 C.F.R. Sec. 171.8.
9. Only passenger automobiles, passenger vans and passenger trucks may be used
in the conduct of a home occupation. No other types of vehicles may be parked
or stored on the premises.
(Even if it's just a take-home car from a non-home-occupation, it has to be a passenger vehicle or don't park it in the driveway.  Allows for bumper stickers, decals, and even car wraps on private vehicles used for more than just business, but does not permit a commercial parking lot.)
10. The provisions of paragraph 9 (above) are not intended to prohibit deliveries and
pickups by common carrier delivery vehicles (e.g., postal service, united parcel
service, FedEx, et al.) of the type typically used in residential neighborhoods.
27-10.30-G. Supplemental Regulations for Type B Home Occupations
Type B home occupations are subject to the following regulations in addition to the
general regulations of Sec. 27-10.30-F.
1. Customers or clients may visit the site only from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. No more than
2 clients or customers may be present at any one time, except that up to 3 students may be present at one time in a teaching-related home occupation (e.g.,
tutor or music/dance instructor).
(The thought behind this was two occupants of one car visiting at one time.  Addresses concerns about increased traffic.  Also addresses concerns about the hours of operation and sets limits commensurate with limits on residential contractors, landscapers, and others commonly used in residential neighborhoods.)
2. One nonresident employee is allowed with a Type B home occupation if no customers come to the site at any time. Home occupations that have clients, customers or students coming to the site at any time may not have nonresident
employees. For the purpose of this provision, the term “nonresident employee”
includes an employee, business partner, co-owner or any other person affiliated
with the home occupation, who does not live at the site, but who visits the site
as part of the home occupation.
(again, intended to address traffic questions)
3. No stock in trade may be displayed or kept for sale on the premises and no onpremise sales may be conducted.
(Apparently, city hall has removed specialty parties like Pampered Chef and Southern Living at Home are not considered "home businesses" so this section does not apply to that segment.)
4. Teaching-related home occupations are permitted as of right.subject to the administrative permit procedures. All other Type B home occupations are subject
to approval of an special land use permit administrative permit in accordance
with Article 23.
accessory use, but the general regulations of Sec. 27-10.30-F apply to the combined home occupation uses.
(For the record, I advocated in Sounding Board for all owners with customer contact to be permitted, including tutors.  However, this population is the least compliant of all business owners in Dunwoody.  To make matters more complex, most Dunwoody residents, even those vehemently opposed to acknowledging that home business owners may operate without a negative impact, have supported home-based instruction,, as well as other home businesses in some way at some time.  This includes City Council members, committee and commission members, and board members of both DHA and DNCA.  And county employees.)

As much as I would like to speak to these thoughts in City Council tonight, I have a previous engagement.  I am working.  At home.  With my husband as a business consultant.  Administering various tasks. Writing proposals. Taking care of my customers.  Same as most home business owners.  Which is why you don't hear them speak up that often.  They're minding their own business, making a living, and maintaining their property so they are contributing positively to their communities.

Google search engine changes. Again.

Catching up on the news in actual work:

Google is modifying their search algorithms.  Again.

Google has quietly updated the link schemes document under their Webmaster guidelines to add large-scale guest posting, advertorials and optimized anchor text in articles or press releases to the list of types of links that violate their guidelines.
The new guideline examples that were added to this document include:

• Large-scale article marketing or guest posting campaigns with keyword-rich anchor text links

• Advertorials or native advertising where payment is received for articles that include links that pass PageRank

• Links with optimized anchor text in articles or press releases distributed on other sites.

The comments in this article are the best insights to the latest machinations.  Online press releases have been used as a "white hat" solution for more then 10 years to build links to websites and thus, improve page rank.  Some will allow keywords to be made into links - but as usual, too much of a good thing raises red flags at Google:  too many keywords in one article linked to the same website = spam.

Read the comments:  Google's attempts to force hand-crafted content and links may backfire and even the best-crafted, most well-intentioned content writing may end up in the abyss as collateral damage.  Clearly, the struggle isn't over and both Bing and Yahoo are emerging as major players.

Your best bet:  diversify your advertising.  Search engine results are still critical to a website's visibility but the most successful enterprises use everything from radio and TV to billboards (large and small), coupon offers (Groupon, etc) and real-life in-person promotions.  Make sure you have a QR or similar code to get visitors to your site via the exploding mobile use market.

UPDATED Now it's a race (three, actually)

From Reporter Newspapers:

Calling themselves the “clean sweep candidates,” three long-time Dunwoody residents declared their intention to run for seats on Dunwoody City Council.
Jim Riticher, Henly Shelton and Sam Eads said they plan to run as a slate of candidates. Riticher said he plans to run in District 2. Shelton said he will run in District 1 and Eads said he will file for election in District 3.

What makes these new entries interesting is that this is the first time an "official" self-proclaimed slate has run for city office.  In our first elections, the people who ran (or were asked to take an office) were already heavily involved in the formation of the city and had the background and tools readily available to step into their new roles as a startup.  It wasn't a surprise that they knew each other and had some history working together to some extent, especially since 46K is still considered a "small town".  You can't help but run across someone you know in politics or business.

Now that Dunwoody is better established and has some history behind it, the pool of candidates and approach to campaigns and offices is evolving.  There had to be some planning that went in to this to find candidates who qualified for each of the three districts and were like-thinking enough to run as a group.  These three gentlemen claim they are not involved in any of the major established organizations or recently-aggregated advocacy groups in Dunwoody, so time will tell what their connections really are.  

And with as many news outlets, mailing lists, and bloggers out there, we *will* find out, guys....  if there's anything in the closet, clean it out now.  Don't forget to behave yourselves.  Contenders who seem to be publicly getting involved with the city for the very first time will have every move under scrutiny and a moment's indiscretion can derail your plans.  Ask Ellen Fix if you doubt it.

First question asked by any interviewer is going to be:  what have you done as part of Dunwoody before now?  Which leads into qualifications for office, etc.  And if they are distancing themselves from the Chamber, from the DHA and other groups, how are they going to work with these and other advocacy groups if they are elected?

The current candidate list for November 2013  (Post a comment if there's a Facebook link I couldn't find)

District 1 (West)

Denny Shortal

Henly Shelton (individual FB profile)

District 2 (Central)

Heyward Wescott

Jim Riticher
(Blog created with Riticher's name above, can't tell if it's real or a spoof)
Then we have this little gem.  Given the neighborhood I live in and what it looks like on October 31, as well as my past history of frequenting sci fi and comic cons, I'm not going to pass judgement on costumes in public.

Photo from http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/962653/posts

District 3 (East)

Doug Thompson

Sam Eads

Dunwoody Observations?

Background -

I received the following letter this afternoon with a request to post it on the DWG blog.  It seems to address some of the methods behind the latest rounds of complaints and protests.

I didn't write this and there is nothing in the email to indicate who did.  But just for the sake of discussion, here it is, unedited.  If the author wants to chime in and claim this piece, the comments are open.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Dunwoody Observer
-------------------------------------
Dear Community,

There has been much conversation, press coverage and distribution of propaganda regarding the political happenings of the City of Dunwoody.

It seems time to open the kimono (so to say) and outline some rational information for thought.

1.) Tax Income Distribution: The important thing to keep top of mind is that tax proceeds funneled to the City is the primary income stream for the City to compensate crucial Community safety staff and provide improvements to the City and its residents. Previous similar tax increases & resultant tax income was diluted throughout the County of Dekalb and spread across the County geography to fund County service providers. (For which the origination and quality is under investigation, based on the recent indictment & suspension of Burrell Ellis.)

2.) Inflation Happens: Taxes will increase with inflation. Period. Whether the additional tax funds go to the County Services or the City Services, there will be an increase taxpayers will eventually be subject to.... When distributed among a larger population, a 2% tax increase may result in less than a 0.5% increase in focused support to Dunwoody residents. It seems noteworthy to highlight that our tax dollars currently being discussed are now 100% focused on Dunwoody.

3.) Demographic of Opposition: If we take time to closely observe the make-up of the vocal opposition of the City of Dunwoody's planned progress, it is quite interesting. The demographics are primarily made up of over 55+, maybe even best characterized as over 65+, citizens. Amazing people, who shaped this City and most likely are living on meticulously planned retirement incomes.

Quite frankly, inflation and additional costs are understandably scary and unwelcome to this segment of our population. After all, when their retirement years hit and they planned on enjoying Mai-Tai's in Hawaii...they instead watched the stock market crash, the real estate market crash and we have no idea what type of financial impact may have subsequently incurred.

However, this segment of the populations also has significant tax exemptions extended to them as Senior Citizens and therefore contribute a minimized amount of tax revenue.

4.) Furthering Education: Having witnessed the Accreditation issues and the School Board CEO ousted, the opposition group was interestingly not in attendance at large at the meetings key to shaping the education opportunities of our next generation. Why is the primary focus on their personal finance and tax situations with little regard to supporting the growth, sustainability and next generation of our beloved Dunwoody? What does this communicate to the community?

5.) Emotional Rhetoric: There is a self-demonstrated structure of the communication pieces of this "opposition" segment primarily focusing on emotion versus fact. The flyers distributed throughout Dunwoody regarding Charter Commission meetings and their stated "issues", were emotional, name-calling and without any statistics for the reasonable community to consider and evaluate. Unfortunate, self-imposed, characterization of anger and emotion was all this piece communicated, versus a legitimate communication piece.

6.) Respect: There is no known vocal resident or City Official who has an "agenda" to ignore the sage advice of our "forefathers". There is a lot of respect for our "forefathers.". Unfortunately, those so active in the "opposition camp" do not seem to be offering a lot of rational / fact-based advice to the community at large.

7.) Voting: We ALL had our times at the polls. We are all stakeholders. CEO's of publicly traded companies do not issue a vote for every spending decision made. Nor does the President of the United States. Its quite simply, the American way. Our "voice" is heard at the polls. "Shareholders" all have a right and structured platform in place to provide constructive / actionable feedback. It is crucial to not circumvent these channels and the feedback is presented in a structured, productive and fact-based manner.

8.) Cost: The result of emotional politics is cost: The cost of the community's time and money. Emotional approaches create additional costs the community must absorb as we watch the delays in the work committees. They are forced to manage non-fact based, emotional campaigns of Citizens who offer complaints rather than solutions. Is the rhetoric costing us more than the actual proposed tax?

9.) Balance: Free Speech? YES! Balanced Government? YES! If you want to contribute, it appears that contribution, accompanied with a balanced, fact-based discussion, is always welcome in Dunwoody. If you have a plan, share it! If you have a concern, outline it with facts and statistics.

If communications are not based in fact or intended to "educate" the reader, these communications distract from and stunt the focus and growth of the community. Take time to consider the economic impact on your neighboring Citizens and if they are to "educate and promote" a point of view or if they are simply "name-calling" communications.

10.) Legacy: The last point that I would ask the "opposition" camp and all those observing the actions of this camp to consider is this.... Would you want your children (or your grandchildren) to live in and invest in real estate, businesses and a community fraught with people who oppose progress? People who don't show up in droves to support the next-gnereation's education but instead show up in droves to air unproductive emotions? Would you advise your children to live among people fighting the building blocks key to continuing to grow an astute, independent, self-sustaining community? Would you call that "a good investment" for a community? Dunwoody was established by quality, intelligent, hard-working leaders. Don't distract from or destroy their legacy. Take time to consider the progress the next-generation is trying to fund is key to ensuring this community maintains its status of an elite Perimeter community to call home.

Times are changing all around us... As a community, we must thrive or we will wilt. If we do not embrace this change, we will have seen our bloom and best days in years long past.

To the Opposition camp, please consider your next moves wisely. If it is considered hard to be educational and factual about your issues without name-calling, then consider no longer distracting from your fellow citizens time and money and let our City do its work to continue the growth of Dunwoody.

Sincerely,

A Dunwoody Observer & Resident

You Decide - One Big Party or Trail of Tears?

Dunwoody Parks & Rec is opening the first phase of the much-debated Brook Run Trail.

Dunwoody, GA – July 19, 2013 – The City of Dunwoody Department of Parks and Recreation celebrates the grand opening of Phase I of the Brook Run Park multi-use trail with a “Wheel-a-Palooza and Pedal Parade.” The special grand opening event and parade begins at 10:00 a.m. at the Brook Run Park trail entrance, between the playground and skate park, on Saturday, August 3, and includes a bike/vehicle decorating contest judged by local celebrities.

Entire Press Release

Lots of debate, yelling, screaming, red shirts, impromptu YouTube videos, hyperbole, shouts of praise, and "wait-and-see" surrounded this project. So which is it? Is the first phase of the trail a devastating blow to an "urban forest", or is it a necessary development that makes said "urban forest" usable and enjoyable by a wider range of citizenry?

Show up on August 3 and decide for yourself.

Comments are open.

And They're Off...

Dunwoody elections will include local district council members in November.
That is, each of the three districts will elect a representative that is only voted on by residents of that district.

Here's the current lineup:

District 1 (West)
Denny Shortal

District 2 (Central)
Heyward Wescott

District 3 (East)
Doug Thompson

No one else (as far as my "IN" box is concerned) has declared their candidacy. So it's too early to speculate as to how heated the process will get.

I do predict that if the seats are contested there will be some arguments as to whether the merits of each candidate should be debated by those living in different districts, who will not be voting on them.

Any more hats flying in?

Zoning Rewrite - no more ice cream trucks!

The Zoning Rewrite has passed Community Council in June with some modifications.

Here are the full details

CC seemed to be satisfied with the boundaries defining home occupations, backyard gardening,  garage sales, subdivision redevelopment, and other stereotypical "hot button" issues that the usual suspects are afraid of.

But ice cream trucks are a nuisance.

You head that right, gang!  Because food trucks are "in" and required clear definitions to be allowed, traditional ice cream trucks with their little bells and calliope tunes are banned.

Quoted from the above memo at City Hall.  (emphases added)

It is important to note, the attached meeting minutes from the Community Council meeting
provide information on all the topics discussed. While the majority of topics received
clarification during the scheduled meeting, Staff was charged with looking into the
correlation between food trucks and ice cream trucks. The drafted ordinance, in Chapter 27,
Article 8, defines food trucks as “a licensed motor vehicle or other mobile food dispensation
unit that is temporarily parked outside of the right-of-way and in which food items are sold
to the general public.” Pursuant to Section 18-19(b)(16), ice cream trucks would fall under “sound trucks,” which are mechanical loudspeakers or amplifiers on trucks or other moving
or standing vehicles for advertising or other commercial purposes. Such vehicles are
declared to be loud, disturbing, and unnecessary noise in violation of the noise ordinance
regulations. Therefore, because of the noise they emit and the fact that retail sales are not
a permitted use in residential districts, ice cream trucks are prohibited. 

My kids want to start a riot.  Who's in?

Happy July 4

IN CONGRESS, July 4, 1776.

The unanimous Declaration of the thirteen united States of America,

When in the Course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature’s God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.–That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, –That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shewn, that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security.–Such has been the patient sufferance of these Colonies; and such is now the necessity which constrains them to alter their former Systems of Government. The history of the present King of Great Britain is a history of repeated injuries and usurpations, all having in direct object the establishment of an absolute Tyranny over these States. To prove this, let Facts be submitted to a candid world.

He has refused his Assent to Laws, the most wholesome and necessary for the public good.
He has forbidden his Governors to pass Laws of immediate and pressing importance, unless suspended in their operation till his Assent should be obtained; and when so suspended, he has utterly neglected to attend to them.
He has refused to pass other Laws for the accommodation of large districts of people, unless those people would relinquish the right of Representation in the Legislature, a right inestimable to them and formidable to tyrants only.
He has called together legislative bodies at places unusual, uncomfortable, and distant from the depository of their public Records, for the sole purpose of fatiguing them into compliance with his measures.
He has dissolved Representative Houses repeatedly, for opposing with manly firmness his invasions on the rights of the people.
He has refused for a long time, after such dissolutions, to cause others to be elected; whereby the Legislative powers, incapable of Annihilation, have returned to the People at large for their exercise; the State remaining in the mean time exposed to all the dangers of invasion from without, and convulsions within.
He has endeavoured to prevent the population of these States; for that purpose obstructing the Laws for Naturalization of Foreigners; refusing to pass others to encourage their migrations hither, and raising the conditions of new Appropriations of Lands.
He has obstructed the Administration of Justice, by refusing his Assent to Laws for establishing Judiciary powers.
He has made Judges dependent on his Will alone, for the tenure of their offices, and the amount and payment of their salaries.
He has erected a multitude of New Offices, and sent hither swarms of Officers to harrass our people, and eat out their substance.
He has kept among us, in times of peace, Standing Armies without the Consent of our legislatures.
He has affected to render the Military independent of and superior to the Civil power.
He has combined with others to subject us to a jurisdiction foreign to our constitution, and unacknowledged by our laws; giving his Assent to their Acts of pretended Legislation:
For Quartering large bodies of armed troops among us:
For protecting them, by a mock Trial, from punishment for any Murders which they should commit on the Inhabitants of these States:
For cutting off our Trade with all parts of the world:
For imposing Taxes on us without our Consent:
For depriving us in many cases, of the benefits of Trial by Jury:
For transporting us beyond Seas to be tried for pretended offences
For abolishing the free System of English Laws in a neighbouring Province, establishing therein an Arbitrary government, and enlarging its Boundaries so as to render it at once an example and fit instrument for introducing the same absolute rule into these Colonies:
For taking away our Charters, abolishing our most valuable Laws, and altering fundamentally the Forms of our Governments:
For suspending our own Legislatures, and declaring themselves invested with power to legislate for us in all cases whatsoever.
He has abdicated Government here, by declaring us out of his Protection and waging War against us.
He has plundered our seas, ravaged our Coasts, burnt our towns, and destroyed the lives of our people.
He is at this time transporting large Armies of foreign Mercenaries to compleat the works of death, desolation and tyranny, already begun with circumstances of Cruelty & perfidy scarcely paralleled in the most barbarous ages, and totally unworthy the Head of a civilized nation.
He has constrained our fellow Citizens taken Captive on the high Seas to bear Arms against their Country, to become the executioners of their friends and Brethren, or to fall themselves by their Hands.
He has excited domestic insurrections amongst us, and has endeavoured to bring on the inhabitants of our frontiers, the merciless Indian Savages, whose known rule of warfare, is an undistinguished destruction of all ages, sexes and conditions.

In every stage of these Oppressions We have Petitioned for Redress in the most humble terms: Our repeated Petitions have been answered only by repeated injury. A Prince whose character is thus marked by every act which may define a Tyrant, is unfit to be the ruler of a free people.

Nor have We been wanting in attentions to our Brittish brethren. We have warned them from time to time of attempts by their legislature to extend an unwarrantable jurisdiction over us. We have reminded them of the circumstances of our emigration and settlement here. We have appealed to their native justice and magnanimity, and we have conjured them by the ties of our common kindred to disavow these usurpations, which, would inevitably interrupt our connections and correspondence. They too have been deaf to the voice of justice and of consanguinity. We must, therefore, acquiesce in the necessity, which denounces our Separation, and hold them, as we hold the rest of mankind, Enemies in War, in Peace Friends.

We, therefore, the Representatives of the united States of America, in General Congress, Assembled, appealing to the Supreme Judge of the world for the rectitude of our intentions, do, in the Name, and by Authority of the good People of these Colonies, solemnly publish and declare, That these United Colonies are, and of Right ought to be Free and Independent States; that they are Absolved from all Allegiance to the British Crown, and that all political connection between them and the State of Great Britain, is and ought to be totally dissolved; and that as Free and Independent States, they have full Power to levy War, conclude Peace, contract Alliances, establish Commerce, and to do all other Acts and Things which Independent States may of right do. And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes and our sacred Honor.

Dunwoody's 4th of July Always Goes Swimmingly

This year, probably more literally than others.

This is the official DHA parade rain policy, straight from dunwoodyga.org

Rain Rain Go Away Come Again Another Day!
SAFETY IS OUR PRIORITY!
We will not cancel the night before.
We will setup and be ready to go even though there might be some drizzle – or even some claps of thunder – by parade time it could be gone.
Dunwoody Police will determine if a delay is required.
Dunwoody Police will make the decision at 9:00 AM if it looks like an electrical storm and we cannot proceed safely.
For the latest information, please like Dunwoody Homeowners Association on facebook.
Boy Scout Troop 266 BBQ Meals:
If the parade is cancelled and it is raining then anyone with meal pre-orders can pick up their meals at the Troop tent. If it is lightning, then please come to the back of Dunwoody United Methodist Church for pickup.

In other news, Chamblee has postponed their fireworks until Sunday, July 7 (same time, 5 - 10 PM)

If you're a parent like me who is seriously, if regretfully, reconsidering slogging the household through soggy ground, camping out in the usual spot and waiting til 9 AM to determine if the parade will happen, consider the following option:

Jeronimo's is open on July 4, while most indoor play spots are closed.

Happy July 4th!

UPDATED. Christmas For Kids Returns Early in 2013

Report on drive by CBS Atlanta News

Dunwoody Police are starting a special Christmas For Kids drive this weekend (June 29 & 30) to assist the 10 families that were displaced by the fire at Lacota Apartments this week.

From Channel 11 (with video)

60 residents displaced by DeKalb County apartment fire

Photo from Dunwoody Police via Facebook

From Dunwoody Police via Facebook

Christmas for Kids is being called to action! As some of you might already know, an entire building at the Lacota Apartments was lost to a fire on Wednesday June 26th. We’ve learned that 10 families lost everything. Fortunately, the families were relocated to other apartments in the same community but are in need of clothing of all sorts for young and old, males and females. Household goods and non-perishables are also needed. We’re partnering with our friends at I Care Atlanta and coordinating a weekend clothing and food drive. If you’d like to donate come to the Georgetown Plaza and look for the I Care Atlanta truck and Dunwoody Police Van. Personnel will be on sight. Donation times are as follows:
Saturday June 29th 9 AM to 1 PM
Sunday June 30th 1 PM to 5 PM
If you have any questions contact Sgt. Fidel Espinoza at 678-382-6913.

DPD will also post updates on this drive via their Facebook page. They are also willing to make arrangements to pick up larger items (furniture, etc) if you contact Sgt Espinoza above for details.

The apartment complexes on PIB are just as much a part of Dunwoody as any other community or subdivision.  Let's turn out in force and get these families the help they need in this tough time.  It's the same thing we would call for in support of any other family or homeowner in town.

Talkin' Trash

I saw a DeKalb County truck lifting piles of branches off the curb on Tilly Mill this afternoon.  Debris of that size and amount requires a specialized crane-equipped truck.  I've heard some grumbling about how long it has taken for DeKalb to remove the storm-damaged trees.  However, you'll probably be surprised to know that removing debris of that magnitude is not covered by our regular trash fees.  The crews on the trucks need your help and cooperation in removing whatever fell during that storm.

From the City of Dunwoody via Facebook:

Storm Debris Pick-Up
The City has reached out to DeKalb County Sanitation Department regarding the remaining storm debris.

The county will pick up the debris from the storms. However, the limbs, sticks, and leaves must be properly prepared for pickup.
Standard Pick-up:
1. Limbs should be cut into 4-foot or shorter lengths
2. Tied and bundled or placed in proper containers
a. Approved containers include durable metal and plastic containers or durable biodegradable paper bags
3. Weight may not exceed 50 lbs
4. Call DeKalb Sanitation at (404) 294-2900 if there are large piles of yard debris at the curbside not meeting the restrictions, or if your yard debris has not been serviced on the scheduled day by 2:00 p.m.
Special Collection:
Special collection services are provided for a fee to residents to properly dispose of yard waste that is unbundled or cannot be lifted by hand and other large debris items. These special items are collected using specialized vehicles and are not included in the annual residential assessments. For scheduling call DeKalb Sanitation at (404) 294-2900.
You can visit the DeKalb Sanitation website at http://www.co.dekalb.ga.us/publicwrks/sanitation/san_Residential_Special_Pickup.html
You can also contact them by email at sanitation@co.dekalb.ga.us.

While on the topic of trash, be mindful of what you put out on the curb twice a week.  There's a perception that anything you put out, DeKalb Sanitation will pick up.  Not only is this not accurate (paint cans come to mind...) but it can be downright dangerous.  

From CBS Atlanta (emphases added)

Two injured when oxygen tank explodes in Marietta garbage truck

MARIETTA, GA (CBS ATLANTA) -
Two people were injured Friday morning, when a discarded oxygen tank dumped into a garbage truck exploded.
It happened around 8 a.m. on Brentwood Drive in Marietta.
William Smith sustained serious injuries to both eyes, and was taken to Wellstar Kennestone Hospital. He saw an eye specialist on Friday afternoon. Marvin Markham suffered a laceration to the cheek, and was treated at the scene.
It's something the two sanitation workers on their normal route did not expect.
"I heard it, it woke me up," neighbor Eva Board said.
A neighbor put two oxygen tanks out with the trash. One exploded.
"There was like an explosion. It was literally like a bomb," neighbor Freda Heyen said.

Pieces of debris flew as far as four houses away. Supervisor David Tiggs said this is a reminder of the danger of the job.
"It could have been a little bit more, it could have been the loss of an eye, but we ask homeowners to call us and notify us when they have items such as this, so we can tell them how to dispose of it properly," said Cobb County Sanitation Supervisor David Tiggs.
Police said the oxygen tanks came from a home where a woman recently passed away. Her son, in from out of town, pulled up as CBS Atlanta was on the scene.
"I had cleaners come through, and I'm not sure what was put in the trash bags that I took out," Justin Schmidt said.
As soon as he learned someone was injured, Schmidt said, "I got to get down there. I've got to go to the hospital."
Neighbors hope this serves as a reminder for everyone to be careful what you throw out.
"It is very scary. These gentlemen do us a great service, and we need to take care of them, and be responsible and think about what we put out at our curbs," Heyen said.

Sanitation is one of the few departments that DeKalb gets right.  The crews on the trucks deserve some consideration from us to stay safe on their routes.

Dunwoody at Dusk Starts Tomorrow

The Chamber and CVB have had plans in the works for months on this summer series of events at Dunwoody's many "hearts".  

Park Place is first up.  Many of you are going to be on your way home through the Perimeter anyway so it's a great chance to stop off and enjoy the samples, entertainment, special offers and raffles.

Both Alon's and McKendrick's are among the participants.  Enough said!

Up to the minute news is on Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/DunwoodyAtDusk

Current list of specials and offers at the first Dunwoody at Dusk at Park Place on June 21.

INTRODUCING: WineShoe Atlanta

Open the site and you're there - this is WineShoe decked out for  a  paired wine/cheese tasting.

www.WineShoeAtlanta.com

When I received an email from Nora Wiley with an RFP for a new website, the first question in my head is, "Where did she come up with "Wine Shoe"?

The Answer:  someone in the City of Atlanta made a typo in her applications for a wine shoP.  After a ton of red tape and still no correction, she decided to leave the name as is.  WineShoe Atlanta was born.

WineShoe is a boutique wine store, wine classroom, and event facility in Castleberry Hill, on the ground floor of the Castleberry Point Lofts.    Castleberry Hill was an industrial district in the 1920s and has been revitalized as the hippest, coolest, artistic  sector of the city.  Think Rent or La Boheme.  Think Flashdance.  Except these factories-converted-to-lofts are far more upscale.

Nora collects wine from "off the beaten path" vineyards all around the world and hosts tasting classes in the shop.  Not only frequented by locals, it is a popular destination with downtown employees who work within walking distance and tourists soaking up the funky art-community atmosphere.  Visitors from Georgia to as far away as New Zealand have booked her wine tasting classes weeks in advance.

WineShoe Atlanta is the kind of project website designers drool over.  My only directive was "Be creative." WineShoeAtlanta.com has to reflect and portray the creative, artistic, and hip neighborhood where it resides.

The website is based on WordPress with a custom theme that goes beyond the standard trap of giant rectangle color blocks and an obligatory generic slideshow.  Nora has collected an impressive library of images from her professional photographer friends.  Those images became the backgrounds of the site:  there is no need for a photo gallery.  The fun and finesse of WineShoe comes through on every page.

From a functional standpoint there were two critical elements.  The site had to have an impressive mobile component.  More than 15% of WineShoe's visitors are using a mobile device - a huge percentage, even factoring in the recent jump in tablet usage.  Most sites in my repetoire average 5-7% mobile usage, even with mobile friendly features.

WineShoe's mobile website with the menu expanded.
All functions available on the desktop/laptop site are  usable on tablets and smartphones.
An essential for a destination for shoppers on the go, whether from work, or visiting tourists.
iPhone/iPad users can add a desktop icon to their device to access the site quickly and linked phone numbers  make calling the shop easy with just one tap.

The website also needed an on-board event ticketing system where visitors register for classes and the Nora can manage the reservations.  Before now, they were using Booking Bug which was too awkward and not very engaging.  The current system combines event ticketing with eCommerce.  It even accommodates the Living Social, Groupon, and SweetJack deal vouchers available periodically.  It is now very easy to book a wine class, or several, and check out securely.

It is also easy to book WineShoe for private parties and corporate events.

It takes less than a minute to securely register for a wine tasting class at WineShoe.

Nora reports that business is up since the new WineShoe debuted.  She even booked two weddings in record time.  Oh wait, didn't I mention the weddings?  Adjacent to WineShoe is a gallery called "The Wiley" that has become the hottest indie wedding venue in the area.  Nora offers wine tasting activities for bachelorette parties and as part of the wedding reception.  Now that WineShoe is launched, the next project is its companion site:  Wine Shoe Weddings.  I expect that one to debut in a few weeks.

Enjoy!

Dunwoody-Style Moneyball

What is a "Dunwoody" Festival?

My three kids and husband (read:  four kids) and I were hanging out at the first Food Truck Thursday in Brook Run and I was mentally making notes on which of these mobile enterprises had mobile-friendly websites, who promoted the event on their site, their social media, and who had visible QR codes on their trucks.  My next post was going to be a commentary on the new necessity of mobile-friendly websites and web media.  (It's still in the hopper, I promise.)

Five years into existence and the race is on for THE ultimate "festival" experience.  Everyone has an idea for a "community" event.  One that will "bring everyone out".  Just have fun.  And of course - earn some money, or lay the groundwork and name recognition for money-making in the future.  Every idea floated around from the DHA to the Chamber, to the CVB, to City Council itself is conceived somewhere else and a local fan wants to copy or "recreate" it.

So instead of going with personal tastes and other subjective criteria, let's go straight to the stats and eyeball what works and what doesn't.

The most successful "community events" in Dunwoody (in no particular order)

• 4th of July Parade
• Lemonade Days
• Light Up Dunwoody
• Arts Festival (Mother's Day weekend)
• Food Truck Thursday launch

Least Successful:

• Dunwoody Fair (by unknown promoter)
• Music Festival 2011

This isn't including one-offs like "ChickStock" at the newly-opened Chick-fil-A on Jett Ferry that was covered by local news outlets.

Successful festivals and events in Dunwoody - whether they are longstanding traditions or recent developments - have the following traits in common:

1. Food
2. Shopping
3. Entertainment that is geared toward or engages children

"Live Music" is the huge fad in recent years.  However, there is little to show that live music is a big draw in Dunwoody.  When the chili cook-off changed over to a dedicated "music festival", attendance numbers dropped off, in spite of professional promotion and a headline act of national talent.  Even earlier, in 2010, with Banks & Shane as headliners, there was more attention paid to the chili, city logo reveal, and fireworks than the performance.

Lemonade Days 2013 boasted new "live music" and yet, as the Dunwoody Talk blog noted, there was little attention paid to the bands.  The Food Truck Thursdays kickoff had crowds milling about the parking lot and grassy areas between the skate park and kids playground, and about two-dozen people paying attention to the acts that could not be heard anywhere near the trucks.  

The Nature Center has an annual concert series that seems to be an exception to the above but it is unclear whether visitors are coming for the music, or to enjoy the Center where they are already members.  Do the numbers for the concert series come even close to the Butterfly Festival, which fits two of the above three criteria?  Comments are open for more input.

Another observation is that it is irrelevant whether or not the festival and its vendors are from Dunwoody, or whether the sponsoring organization is "for profit" or "not for profit".  In the examples above, the only festival that makes money for Dunwoody is Lemonade Days:  the Dunwoody Preservation Trust raises money to preserve and improve properties around the city, minus whatever cash the carnies drive off with along with their rides and attractions.  (Update:  the carnival company is Dunwoody-owned, per the comments.  Confirmation pending.)

Chick-fil-A is a nationwide chain that makes no bones (pun intended) about their profit motive.  All hail the marketing department and their social media campaign with contest to bring about Dunwoody ChickStock!




Dunwoody Arts Festival - produced by Splash Festivals, based in Norcross.  Were there any artists selling wares that were based in Dunwoody?  I didn't notice any.

Food Truck Thursdays - the promoter is from Atlanta and only one of the five trucks is owned an operated by a Dunwoody resident.  (Update:  supposedly two, Hail Ceasar and one other - pending confirmation.)

Dunwoody Green Market - not mentioned above but outdoor markets are part of "the latest thing" in "community events" and warrants a review.  The mailing address for the organization is in Cumming and I could not find any Dunwoody-based or -owned vendors.

It doesn't seem like a big deal but consider:  Dunwoody as a city and community is losing money with most of these festivals.  Vendors and organizers set up shop to sell to the Dunwoody community, and then take the money elsewhere.  We're a cash cow.  Is that OK?  Or do we want to generate festivals and events that bring money into Dunwoody's coffers?

Comments are open.  Discuss.

Domain Name Registration Prices Are Going Up

When you renew your domain name, whether it's with el-cheapo GoDaddy or el-expensiveo Register.com, you're going to have to pay more.

According to an alert I just received from Register.com, VeriSign (the authority that doles out domain names) just upped their prices.   So your registrar (the company you bought your domain name from) is going to up their prices as well.  Note, they are not limited to just their cost increase.  Register.com promises only to pass on the actual cost; others can add on anything they want and are legally entitled to do so.

See below....

ICANN Registry Price Increases

VeriSign and PIR have announced the registry price for NET, ORG and NAME domain names are increasing their registration fee. This ICANN-approved rate increase affects all domain name registrars and resellers alike.

These registry-imposed increases are unavoidable. To minimize the impact, Our Partnerships group are only increasing our costs by the amounts imposed by the registry. Unlike some other registrars we are making no additional profit from these price rises.

Here are some of the questions that you may have on these increases:

Q: What is the increase and when do they take effect?

A: Please see the below chart which outlines the increase and corresponding date.



Q: What do I need to do to implement these changes?

A: Nothing. These new fees will be automatically reflected in your account beginning on the dates indicated above.

Q: Why are the registries imposing these increases?

A: The registries argue that they need the extra funding to build up their security and support infrastructure and keep up with the ever expanding growth of the internet.

Atlanta Ranks 6th for female entrepreneurs

Full article from the Atlanta Business Chronicle

Interestingly, Atlanta (or any other Southeast cities) were not even represented on this list of cities with vibrant start up communities. But for women looking to start businesses, Atlanta has emerged among the top 10 best places nationally. Intuit’s research found more than a third of businesses in Atlanta are owned by women, and there are 9.8 businesses per 100 Georgia residents.

This info comes as a surprise to exactly no one in Dunwoody.  Most of the start-ups I have interacted with were created by women (Lady Jane, Emily G's, and Dunwoody Bakery, for example).  The majority of the heavy lifting at the Chamber of Commerce is done by women too.

Starbucks who?

There was much wailing and gnashing of teeth when the Orchard Park Starbucks location closed.

But a new banner announces a new tenant for JavaU New York Butcher Shop that little spot on the corner between Jett Ferry and Mt. Vernon.

A Google search didn't turn up anything about this particular company so comments are welcome with more info.  Such as, is this a local shop, a local chain, or a growing regional/national chain.

Let's not forget Dunwoody Bakery also has high-end coffee available in a very comfy setting with all the amenities you need to go along w/ your cup 'o joe.  I snapped this shot below while looking for zucchini bread.  

While on the subject of coffee, I can't help but think of breakfast.  Saturday mornings.  And not having to trek into Sandy Springs or Norcross for chicken biscuits that my husband kids beg for.  The coffee isn't bad either.  The building is finished, the staff is hired, the Facebook promotions are rolling ahead.  The finishing touches are being added to the exterior as of this morning.

New pavement without crumbles, check.  Double drive-thru without taking over the entire parking lot, check.  Clear pedestrian crosswalks, check.  The beginnings of al fresco dining, check.  Spiffy new landscaping, check.  New Chick-fil-A location in Dunwoody's Williamsburg shopping area without having to brawl over zoning designation:  gold star.  Grand opening on May 2.  I'll be picking up chicken biscuits and big coffees in my slippers and pajama bottoms first thing on May 4.

Electronic Billboards are Coming to Dunwoody

Despite legal action and community fights, Dunwoody is about to receive electronic billboards all over the city.

In fact, many Dunwoody-area businesses have already started using them for advertising.

Ta-daaaaa!  (Gotcha!!!)
Miniature billboards such as the one above found in SOHO Office in Orchard Park are the brainchild of Chuck Renfroe, an advertising and traditional billboard specialist who found a way to place billboard advertising at a level where consumers will see it, without violating zoning ordinances or pissing off neighborhoods.

My first reaction, one day, when I stopped off to check my mail, was, "Hey wow!  What is that???"  The little screen was captivating and it sat discreetly on the service counter at the back of SOHO Office.  Apparently, a number of brick-and-mortar storefronts are hosting these billboards and the buzz is growing.

I immediately snapped the two pictures above, went straight home, blew off my "to do" list and got right on the phone to Chuck to learn more.  Chuck has mini billboards all over the North Atlanta metro region with rates and packages affordable for anyone.

In fact, I rented space in Dunwoody and Sandy Springs myself, almost on the spot.

Contact Chuck at dunwoodybillboards.com for information on how to create an advertisement for his billboard network, or to host a billboard in your establishment.  Tell him I sent you and I showed him some love on the DWG blog!

Fundraiser for Tripp Halstead in Brook Run Park in Dunwoody

Cornhole Tournament at Brook Run Park on April 27  11 AM to 3 PM

Registration Information

Registration Fee: $60 per team
Limited to the first 32 teams, each team has 2 players
Double Elimination Tournament

First Place Prize
Weekend Stay at Loews Hotel Midtown Atlanta
$85 dinner coupon at the restaurant Eleven at the Loews Hotel plus $100 cash.

Raffle
We will be having a raffle throughout the day of the event with several prizes to be given away. This list will be growing over the next few weeks.

Prizes
A one night stay at Atlanta Hilton and breakfast
A custom set of cornhole boards

Where

Brook Run Park, Dunwoody GA
4770 North Peachtree Road
Dunwoody, Georgia 30338

Driving Directions

Contact

Claire Smith
Sunshine on a Ranney Day
Claire@sunshineonaranneyday.com
Phone: (770) 364-6740
http://www.sunshineonaranneyday.com

Bill Williams
Bill's Woodworks
http://www.bwwoodworks.com


Like many moms and dads, I've been following the progress of Tripp Halstead, who had a traumatic brain injury when a tree limb fell on him at his daycare during Hurricane Sandy.  My son is Tripp's age, I can't help but stay up to date with him via Facebook and pull for him too.

The Halsteads have benefited from the organization Sunhine on a Ranney Day.  They have been hosting local fundraisers to assist the family with astronomical expenses.

My cornhole skills stink but I'm taking my family out to Brook Run on April 27.  Let's show some Dunwoody support for this family fighting for their son because it's what we would want our community to do if we were saving our own children.

OPPORTUNITY KNOCKING: ABC's "Shark Tank" to hold open auditions in Atlanta

Dunwoody has its fair share of entrepreneurs and this casting call could be your big break.

Based on the BBC and NTN hit, "Dragon's Den", entrepreneurs try to persuade millionaire investors to buy in on their product or company.  Whether they gain the trust (and investment) of the "Sharks", participants are guaranteed a huge nationwide audience.

CASTING CALL AUDITION SCHEDULE:

SUNDAY, APRIL 14th

THE FOX THEATRE

660 Peachtree St. NE

Atlanta, GA 30308

11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. -- Numbered Wristbands Distributed

12:00 p.m. -- Interviews Begin

More info from the show's official site is here:  http://abc.go.com/shows/shark-tank/casting

(Especially read the terms of use - very important when discussing your invention or business idea before a national audience.)

Who's going to represent Dunwoody to the Sharks?

INTRODUCING: 2013 Greater Perimeter Business Expo

www.gpbe.org

The Greater Perimeter Business Expo is back for 2013 and is again a joint effort between the Sandy Springs and Dunwoody chambers.  Sponsorships affordable for a wide range of businesses are still available, as are display booths in the ballroom at Crowne Plaza Ravinia.  This Expo is one of the best annual networking events in the area.  You learn a lot about your neighbors and the city around you when meeting them in a business environment, eye-to-eye.

This website is a significant upgrade from the original launched last year.  First, it is the Dunwoody Chamber's first step into Drupal 7.  Drupal is an extraordinary powerful open-source content management system (CMS) whose advantages include fine granularity of permissions.  (That means you can set up your site so each user or group of users you designate has different abilities to access different functions, or to have different experiences with content.)  This latest stable version of Drupal has built-in code that makes slideshows (like the sponsor filmstrip above) easier to install and maintain.  Unlike most Joomla and WordPress extensions/plugins, it isn't hard to have more than one slideshow or other animated feature.

The other major improvement is the site design:  it still reflects the original, but was updated to the most current design trends.  This theme is optimized as much for a tablet/iPad as for a desktop or laptop.

Finally, I didn't forget the smartphones!  It's not enough to design for horizontal rectangular screens anymore. Site visitors may use anything from an iPhone to a 60-inch TV screen.  There are several ways to accommodate this wide variety of screen sizes and proportions.  In this site, I used the latest technique called "responsive design".  That means the server where the site resides can "read" the screen size that is viewing it, then rearrange the elements and font size to fit.  You can access all of the same information and function as comfortably on your phone as on any other device.

Here's a simulation of how this same site looks on an iPhone:

The following is intended for my fellow web geeks and ChamberMaster users.

As of this date, ChamberMaster's SEO-optimized content modules are not compatible with Drupal 7.  D7 has javascript libraries included in core that make image/content sliders easier to install and optimize jQuery animated navigation associated with mobile devices.  However, there's a trade-off:  It is no longer possible to copy/paste or otherwise insert JavaScript of any kind into a Drupal page.  Not even one little line, even from Google or similar libraries.    So ChamberMaster's SEO-optimized modules will end up breaking your theme and navigation entirely, because they function by inserting JavaScript into the page.

Adding additional JavaScript requires including the script in an external file and declaring it in a theme, or referencing it in a module.  You can declare a javascrript in either the theme's .INFO file, or in the functions.php directory, to load the script on every page.  Or, download and install the "Javascript Libraries" module and your javascript can be called on a per page basis.  With the module, you can even load the script after the footer and speed up your page load time.

I've already been on the phone to Micronet to explain the conflict and the solution.  (SamC.?  Buddy?  You listening?)  To make ChamberMaster modules compatible with D7, the javscript will have to be exported to external files and referenced in the integration code.  Then the user would need a list of those scripts and reference them in their site's theme (or the Libraries module) while following the usual ChamberMaster page integration instructions.  I tried this with individual "plugins" like the search function and main business directory and it works when you edit the inserted code individually and build/reference your own .JS files.

Sitting in my chair, it's simple, if detailed, but I have no idea what Micronet would have to go through to modify their code for Drupal compatibility without fouling up another internal function on their side.  In theory, this should work equally well on Joomla, WordPress, SiteFinity, Expression Engine, and other CMS.  Those would not have to have the javascript referenced in their theme, as long as the ChamberMaster module references the location locally.

BTW - how did I get the event registration integrated into the GPBE site?  IFrame tags on the main registration page, lightboxes for breakfast and lunch registrations.  Not the most elegant solution, but it does work.  And with the new color/style management system in the admin side of ChamberMaster, it matches the rest of the site easily enough.  The Drupal 7 upgrade of the Dunwoody Chamber website is on hold until this conflict is resolved.

Birth of a New Dunwoody Tradition?

The Dunwoody Preservation Trust washed the Farmhouse in blue in honor of Autism Awareness Month.

(John's blog post on the subject.)

Why should the Empire State Building have all the fun?  Like Light Up Dunwoody, and the Fourth of July parade, our City's icon can be used to celebrate all kinds of events and commemorations that bring our diverse community together.

Is there any chance the DPT can make the Farmhouse lighting a regular event?  Red, white, and blue for July 4 and other national holidays?  Yellow for Lemonade Days?  (Only half kidding....)  With some forethought and planning the Farmhouse, a symbol of Dunwoody's past, could be used to make relevant statements about Dunwoody today.

Great idea, DPT!