This letter arrived from City Hall this morning. If you believe you are entitled to a city tax refund, watch your mailbox or your mortgage escrow statement. Post in the comments if you've received yours.
Dunwoody, GA – August 17, 2015 – The City of Dunwoody completed the distribution and mailing of homestead exemption refund checks to all Dunwoody homeowners who qualified for a residential property assessment freeze exemption for the purpose of city taxes over the three year period from 2012 to 2014.
Dunwoody homeowners qualifying for the refund will receive a check according to individual annual tax payment methods. Refund payments were distributed either directly to the taxpaying homeowner or to the homeowner’s mortgage company escrow account. All affected homeowners were sent a letter from the City of Dunwoody indicating refund amounts and distribution method.
Refund payment amounts will vary according to individual property assessment increases incurred over the three year period. The City is requesting all qualifying homeowners cash or deposit the checks, regardless of the refund amount, to help ensure accurate reconciliation.
The City of Dunwoody and the DeKalb County Tax Commissioner’s Office examined residential tax records from 2012 to 2014 and determined approximately one in five residential parcels within the city were not properly credited with the property assessment freeze exemption. The city then worked closely with Tax Commissioner’s Office to issue individual refund checks and expedite check distribution and mailing.
Dunwoody homeowners who filed and qualified for a homestead exemption and received an increased property assessment during 2012, 2013 and/or 2014 above what their assessed home value was in 2009 have been mailed a refund check. Approximately 2,748 residential parcels were affected based on analysis of the Dunwoody residential tax records for the three year period. The city issued a total of approximately $150,000 plus interest in property assessment freeze refunds for affected residential parcels.
For questions or concerns regarding property assessment freeze refunds please contact City of Dunwoody Finance Director Chris Pike at chris.pike@dunwoodyga.gov
The latest updates from SDOC Publishing Internet Solutions for our clients, our community, and the web design field. Our Dunwoody, Georgia studio serves clients all over the United States and Canada.
Monday, August 17, 2015
Wednesday, August 5, 2015
Help Name Dunwoody's New Park on Pernoshal Ct
Dunwoody, GA – August 4, 2015 – The City of Dunwoody offers an opportunity to get involved in creating a lasting impression on the city with a newly introduced contest asking residents to name the city’s newest park at Pernoshal Court.
The “Name Your Park” contest begins August 5 and runs through September 30, 2015 and provides an opportunity for city residents to vote on potential park names or provide a write-in name. Interested residents can participate in the contest by registering at the “Name Your Park” online contest portal at www.connectdunwoody.com.
The “Name Your Park” contest offers participants a chance to choose a favorite new park name from a list of five potential selections or provide a write-in idea for a potential park name. The five potential park name selections are Pernoshal Park, Hightower Trail Park, Muskogee Park, Old Buck Park, and Magnolia Park or a write-in name submission.
Contest participants will be limited to one vote per person. After all votes are submitted the winning name will be identified by city staff and announced by the Mayor and City Council on Monday, December 14, 2015 at the 6 p.m. City Council Meeting.
The new park, located at Pernoshal Court, will be approximately 5-acres and the largest newly-built park created since incorporation. In addition to the multi-use trail, the park will have a centralized pavilion/restroom facility, 162 parking spaces for park and trail users, passive and active open areas/fields for sports, and basketball courts with a pickle ball court overlay. The park construction is expected to be complete by the end of 2015.
“Name your Park” contest rules and additional details on voting procedures are available at the online contest portal at www.connectdunwoody.com.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
This contest/reaching out to the public to decide the identity of the new park is a classic case of Doing Something Right. There is enormous talent, skill, perspective, and insight about our city and region right inside our borders. That local citizen perspective (and skill set) should be the first go-to resource in building elements that contribute to our shared municipal identity. Bonus points for the write-in option.
IMHO - I would not name any of our parks or other city features after a single person. There is too much room for egos to get in the way and it would block the "organic" growth and evolution of identity. No disrespect intended to Liane Levitan, but the locals think of Brook Run Park as Brook Run Park. A space can be set aside to immortalize the efforts of individuals to establish a major feature (like a park) but leave naming the feature itself to the citizens.
Paving Dunwoody Roads, Timing, and Teachable Moments
(Insert picture here of Dunwoody ES, Vanderlyn ES, Dunwoody HS parking lots overflowing on to side streets during registration while road work continues on both Vermack and Womack.)
A picture of the streets-turned-parking-lots right outside of Dunwoody ES would have said all that needs to be said about schools and traffic. But it isn't the first day of school - it's Registration Day in DeKalb County and that means that our centrally-located intersection with 3 public schools in close proximity are packed to the gills. It wasn't safe to inch through the line while snagging a cell-phone photo of the above.
But wait, there's more.
Two much needed street improvements are also occurring at the same time. (paving on Vermack, a refuge island outside of Dunwoody ES on Womack)
Discussion was had on Facebook with Terry Nall about the construction and its timing. Terry reports that the contractor was required to complete work before the first day of school.
A picture of the streets-turned-parking-lots right outside of Dunwoody ES would have said all that needs to be said about schools and traffic. But it isn't the first day of school - it's Registration Day in DeKalb County and that means that our centrally-located intersection with 3 public schools in close proximity are packed to the gills. It wasn't safe to inch through the line while snagging a cell-phone photo of the above.
But wait, there's more.
Two much needed street improvements are also occurring at the same time. (paving on Vermack, a refuge island outside of Dunwoody ES on Womack)
Discussion was had on Facebook with Terry Nall about the construction and its timing. Terry reports that the contractor was required to complete work before the first day of school.
The work on both Vanderlyn Dr and Vermack Rd was intentionally scheduled to be completed before school started back.
Anyone who has ever had a child in public schools even for a single year can see the problem with that logic. The "first day of school" is not the first day that activity gets heated in public schools. Teachers and staff return in advance to set up their classrooms and get other operations in order. then a few days BEFORE the first day of school is registration. Even with prepping paperwork through the summer, families have to show up on registration day to finalize it all. Dunwoody ES had a packed parking lot with overflow parking clogging both driveways. Parking for all three schools spread into the neighborhood side streets. A roundabout would have done nothing to ease the congestion at Dunwoody's most controversial intersection.
So what did we learn today?
1) Allowing contractors to schedule street work at the last minute results in a clusterf*** by any definition.
2) The "first day of school" is not a reasonable deadline for road work. Assume the contractors are going to wait to the last minute to finish up.
3) The real deadline should be a week before the first day of school, to get out of the way prior to registration.
4) Whoever made this decision can read a calendar but needs to brush up on the actual start-of-school logistics.
Remember an earlier post where I said it's time to stop making mistakes? This would be a good mistake to stop making. Fortunately it's an easy one to fix. Start construction projects around schools immediately after school lets out in May and mandate completion before August 1.
Best of luck to everyone in this new school year!
Saturday, August 1, 2015
A hole in Dunwoody's zoning code
Full Story
Dunwoody's zoning code is silent on the parking of personal aircraft. Any bets as to how long it will take to fill the hole?
Saturday, July 11, 2015
Dunwoody Home Business Update: Data through May 2015
Once again, the folks at the City of Dunwoody Code Enforcement department came through with the usual open records request of residential complaints.
Since December 2014, the number of substantiated complaints regarding home business owners in Dunwoody is:
There were four complaints filed against other homeowners with claims of "commercial activity" in various forms but could not be substantiated by code enforcement. Those cases were closed with a "no violation" note.
Again, the data straight from the City of Dunwoody itself confirms that home businesses and their owners are not an inherent nuisance that requires extra oversight or public hearings for customer contact.
This article in an issue of the Dunwoody Reporter last month features an interview with Dunwoody's code enforcement chief, Tom LaPenna, who offers some valuable insights into his job and ideas to make your code complaint stick.
Dunwoody code compliance officer’s job focuses on safety, aesthetics and signs
The article mentions last month's DHA meeting where LaPenna was a guest speaker. The meeting was also summarized on John Heneghan's blog where he ran down a list of common code complaints.
Here's the article - note the conspicuous lack of mention of home businesses.
That last one is important because John was one of the city councillors who struck down a change to our municipal codes that would have allowed home business owners to have limited customer contact with an administrative permit instead of the full SLUP required now. He also requested data from other cities regarding their rates of home business ownership and how they were regulated. Except for Doraville, all other cities in the survey had higher rates of home business ownership and less regulation with no increase in code enforcement problems.
Dunwoody City Council elections are in November and our Mayor and at-large council members are up for re-election. Of those running (to date) Denny Shortal, Lynn Deutsch, and John Heneghan have all stated consistent opposition to home business owners and their customers and have stated their support for procedures that force these homeowners to prove they are innocent of any nuisance activity after being presumed guilty, should they publicly request a permit for limited customer contact.
Dunwoody's own code enforcement data show that home business owners are not a nuisance. That includes those with clandestine customer contact. Should a home business owner vote for a candidate that wants to restrict an activity even if they are not causing a problem in their neighborhood?
This question will be explored again before November. Stay tuned....
Since December 2014, the number of substantiated complaints regarding home business owners in Dunwoody is:
ZERO
None of the documented home business owners in Dunwoody had any complaints lodged against them, regardless of their activities.There were four complaints filed against other homeowners with claims of "commercial activity" in various forms but could not be substantiated by code enforcement. Those cases were closed with a "no violation" note.
Again, the data straight from the City of Dunwoody itself confirms that home businesses and their owners are not an inherent nuisance that requires extra oversight or public hearings for customer contact.
Home business nuisances are the rare exception, rather than the rule, and can be addressed individually rather than restricting the majority. Just like animal owners.
No one has ever advocated for allowing "nuisance" activity. On the contrary, it is important to nip true neighborhood problems in the bud as they happen. What most people forget is that in the US system of jurisprudence, the burden of proof is on the one doing the complaining. When you report to the City, this isn't the same as your local homeowners' association meeting or over-the-fence gossip session. Filing a complaint requires PROOF. In this day and age of cameras on every smartphone, it isn't hard to capture photos and videos confirming your complaint.This article in an issue of the Dunwoody Reporter last month features an interview with Dunwoody's code enforcement chief, Tom LaPenna, who offers some valuable insights into his job and ideas to make your code complaint stick.
Dunwoody code compliance officer’s job focuses on safety, aesthetics and signs
The article mentions last month's DHA meeting where LaPenna was a guest speaker. The meeting was also summarized on John Heneghan's blog where he ran down a list of common code complaints.
Here's the article - note the conspicuous lack of mention of home businesses.
That last one is important because John was one of the city councillors who struck down a change to our municipal codes that would have allowed home business owners to have limited customer contact with an administrative permit instead of the full SLUP required now. He also requested data from other cities regarding their rates of home business ownership and how they were regulated. Except for Doraville, all other cities in the survey had higher rates of home business ownership and less regulation with no increase in code enforcement problems.
Dunwoody City Council elections are in November and our Mayor and at-large council members are up for re-election. Of those running (to date) Denny Shortal, Lynn Deutsch, and John Heneghan have all stated consistent opposition to home business owners and their customers and have stated their support for procedures that force these homeowners to prove they are innocent of any nuisance activity after being presumed guilty, should they publicly request a permit for limited customer contact.
Dunwoody's own code enforcement data show that home business owners are not a nuisance. That includes those with clandestine customer contact. Should a home business owner vote for a candidate that wants to restrict an activity even if they are not causing a problem in their neighborhood?
This question will be explored again before November. Stay tuned....
Friday, July 10, 2015
Car Crashes into Dunwoody Home - July 10
According to all of the local news sources (AJC and the 4 TV stations) a car crashed into a home at about 4 AM on Brook Ridge Drive. The driver died but the exact cause isn't released yet.
If you are commuting in or through Dunwoody via Dunwoody Club, Mt Vernon, etc, it's going to be messy for a while.
CBS 46 story
WSB-TV Story
If you are commuting in or through Dunwoody via Dunwoody Club, Mt Vernon, etc, it's going to be messy for a while.
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| From CBS 46 |
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| From WSB |
Wednesday, July 8, 2015
Dunwoody Food Truck Thursdays - July 9
Dunwoody Homeowners Association’s Dunwoody Food Truck Thursdays
Brook Run Park 5 PM until Dark
Dinner Vendors
On Tapa The World
Blaxican Food Truck
(DWG top pick. Try the quesadillas. You'll never look at collard greens the same way again!)
Genki Noodles and Sushi
Mac the Cheese
MIX'd UP
(DWG top pick. The ONLY vendor my kids prefer! Tastes for the grownups too.)
Nectar
Pressed for Time
The Pup Truck
Dessert Vendors
Monday, July 6, 2015
New Fines for Passing Stopped Garbage Trucks?
We already know about emergency vehicles and school buses, but now the new Georgia law is adding garbage trucks to the list of vehicles you need to be careful about passing on the road, or risk a big fine.
From now on, if you want to pass a garbage truck, you have to move a full lane over.
If it's impossible to do that, then you have to drop down to ten miles under the speed limit while passing.
The complete story from CBS 46
CBS46 News
The text of the new law
I hope to see some commentary from Dunwoody PD on how they will enforce this new law on Dunwoody's streets, especially at the stereotypical rush hour.
From now on, if you want to pass a garbage truck, you have to move a full lane over.
If it's impossible to do that, then you have to drop down to ten miles under the speed limit while passing.
The complete story from CBS 46
CBS46 News
The text of the new law
I hope to see some commentary from Dunwoody PD on how they will enforce this new law on Dunwoody's streets, especially at the stereotypical rush hour.
48 in 48 | Mass Website Creation Event for Atlanta's Non-Profits
Calling all Atlanta nonprofits: #48in48 is building 48 FREE websites for 48 nonprofits in 48 hours this Fall! Sign up today to be a part of it! http://bit.ly/48npsu
Are you an Atlanta nonprofit in need of a great website to get the word out about your cause? Sign up for #48in48 to get a free website and $25k worth of value in just 48 hours! http://bit.ly/48npsu
SDOC Publishing signed up as both a designer and developer to be part of this event to jump start a local non-profit organization. I'm waiting to see which NPO I'll be matched up with to support.
SDOC has supported NPOs in the area for years and now we're going to join forces with other like-minded developers to give back to our metro community.
Are you an Atlanta nonprofit in need of a great website to get the word out about your cause? Sign up for #48in48 to get a free website and $25k worth of value in just 48 hours! http://bit.ly/48npsu
SDOC Publishing signed up as both a designer and developer to be part of this event to jump start a local non-profit organization. I'm waiting to see which NPO I'll be matched up with to support.
SDOC has supported NPOs in the area for years and now we're going to join forces with other like-minded developers to give back to our metro community.
Saturday, July 4, 2015
Happy July 4th, Dunwoody!
The news lately has been more distraction than information about current events.
This is why we're all here and why we have the right (and obligation) to speak up when something is wrong.
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.
This is why we're all here and why we have the right (and obligation) to speak up when something is wrong.
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.
Thursday, July 2, 2015
Dunwoody Food Truck Thursday - July 2
Cross whatever you have two of for fair weather tonight and through the weekend.
Between Food Truck Thursday and all of the July 4 celebrations in the area (Norcross Fireworks, Dunwoody Parade, Chamblee Fireworks, Sandy Springs fireworks) you may not have to cook dinner for days!
Between Food Truck Thursday and all of the July 4 celebrations in the area (Norcross Fireworks, Dunwoody Parade, Chamblee Fireworks, Sandy Springs fireworks) you may not have to cook dinner for days!
Brook Run Park
5PM til Dark
Sponsor
Musical Guest
Brad JacksonAdult Beverages
Moondog GrowlersDinner Trucks
Tasting Maine
(DWG Top Pick Expensive but worth every cent)
(DWG Top Pick Expensive but worth every cent)
Dessert Vendors
King of Pops
(DWG Top Pick. Unique flavors and still kid-friendly)
(DWG Top Pick. Unique flavors and still kid-friendly)
Simply Done Donuts & More
(first time at DFTT)
(first time at DFTT)
Tuesday, June 30, 2015
INTRODUCING: Georgians for Local Area School Systems (GLASS)
www.glassnow.org
Georgians For Local Area School Systems is an advocacy group working to amend the Georgia Constitution to allow the formation of independent school districts in order to improve student learning and graduation rates.
GLASS representatives contacted me earlier this year after I completed Nancy Jester's commissioner website as they were getting ready for the new legislative season. They needed a website that was modern, credible, and easy to maintain so it will become a resource for both the general citizenry and elected officials. The logo was created by Heyward Wescott and the site theme was customized to match.
The website itself is in WordPress with a few easy add-ons to display a calendar, a Facebook feed, and multiple infographic slideshows. We completed the text information last night and set up the menu so more can be added when the time comes.
SDOC is pleased to support our community in this effort. The strength of any municipality relies in part on the strength of its schools. If the current status quo isn't doing the job, then it's time to try a new idea.
Enjoy!
Monday, June 29, 2015
Redevelopment By Neglect
Question:
Your community needs meeting space. The inherited resources are limited. You make sure to mention all of the wonderful activities and resources and citizen groups in your community when you make a speech, but you can't decide how to splice the locations for these elements in your budget.
You have historic properties and other civic properties available. How do you use them to benefit your community?
Answer:
You don't. You let them rot for years until you can justify eliminating what you don't care for due to costs. Then you hope the people who want to use them will just go away.
Next question:
How do you engage with and accommodate citizens with various priorities that are praised at civic functions but wrestled with in less-visible scenarios?
Answer:
Is it the same as the first answer?
Stay tuned...
Your community needs meeting space. The inherited resources are limited. You make sure to mention all of the wonderful activities and resources and citizen groups in your community when you make a speech, but you can't decide how to splice the locations for these elements in your budget.
You have historic properties and other civic properties available. How do you use them to benefit your community?
Answer:
You don't. You let them rot for years until you can justify eliminating what you don't care for due to costs. Then you hope the people who want to use them will just go away.
Engineer says Brook Run Theater needs to be gutted http://t.co/kNwtkdGTye
— Reporter Newspapers (@Reporter_News) June 29, 2015
Next question:
How do you engage with and accommodate citizens with various priorities that are praised at civic functions but wrestled with in less-visible scenarios?
Answer:
Is it the same as the first answer?
Stay tuned...
Friday, June 26, 2015
Death or Taxes
Nancy Jester Town Hall Meeting - How To Appeal Your DeKalb County Property Value Assessment
Wednesday 1 July, 2015 7.00pm - 8.30pm
Dunwoody City Hall 41 Perimeter Center East, Dunwoody, GA 30346
Home business owners with licenses anywhere in DeKalb County: check your tax assessments. Your home is assessed $265 for sanitation. However, your actual bill is likely to be $400 just because you have a business license. Even if you do not produce any more trash than any other household. Even if you are following every regulation to the letter. Even though your home is designated as a residential area. If you possess a 8.5 x 3.6 inch piece of paper, the County has reserved the right to re-designate your home as a "commercial" area and increase your taxes.
Make sure to ask your local elected representatives and others running for office if they believe you should be fined for having a business license and why. I plan on doing so and remembering the answers on election day.
If you live in Dunwoody, this meeting is even more critical. It turns out that if you own your home, and your home has increased in value, you are entitled to a refund due to a snafu at City Hall.
Per the AJC, quoted on the Georgia Pundit blog:
The refunds will be paid as a result of reporting by The Atlanta Journal-Constitution and questions raised by Sen. Fran Millar, R-Atlanta, and DeKalb County Commissioner Nancy Jester.AJC Article (requires subscription)
The error occurred because Dunwoody officials didn’t notify the county, which handles the city’s tax billing, after voters approved a tax exemption during a November 2010 election, said Dunwoody Finance Director Christopher Pike. The measure passed with 81 percent of the vote.
The tax break provides residents with a discount on the city portion of their tax bills to negate tax increases caused by rising home values.
“It’s great news that the oversight was uncovered and remedied, but it’s still disturbing that this could be something that’s voted on and then all of a sudden it’s one big nevermind,” said Al Tiede, who has lived in Dunwoody for 24 years and believes he’ll receive a refund.
It’s unknown how many people are owed refunds and how much money they’ll receive. DeKalb Tax Commissioner Claudia Lawson said her office is reviewing tax bills from 2012 to 2014, and she plans to have more information next week.
Once the county recalculates taxes, the city will be billed and then refund checks will be mailed to residents, Lawson said.
GA Pundit
It's time to stop making mistakes, gang. From slicing and dicing city codes during ratification to create massive loopholes to "forgetting" to inform DeKalb County of tax changes, to personal zoning tweaks that come dangerously close to ethics violations, to petty battles that lead to legal settlements and long-standing citizen feuds, Dunwoody is at risk of becoming the corrupt incestuous enclave that our critics have claimed we always were. Don't get me started on the philosophy of "redevelopment by neglect" approach being taken with the theatre at Brook Run. Lots of talk of community pride, and then (to quote my friend Al above) "Nevermind".
It's an election year. Start paying attention to the details and taking them seriously if you want to earn (or keep) your seats.
Let's hope no one running for office commits a JMax between now and November. There's enough excitement to come.
Wednesday, May 27, 2015
INTRODUCING: Learning on the Log
Learning on the Log is an activity center and preschool for children with a variety of developmental delays that focuses on teaching them how to build relationships. For many children with autism, ADHD and related disorders, summer camp and team sports are not an option. LOTL fills that void with programs that emphasize what campers can do, rather than what they can't.
Learning On the Log - Part 1 - What is Learning on the Log? from Jim Ross, CinematixHD on Vimeo.
I learned of LOTL when I was looking for day camp and preschool options for my then-3-year-old son who has severe ADHD and sensory processing disorder which led to developmental delays. The preschool he had been attending kept repeating how much trouble he was and was taking time and resources away from the other kids in class. An occupational therapist recommended LOTL for preschool and for day camp. PJ took to the program right away and his ability to function in a classroom gradually improved, as well as his willingness to talk. To quote his teacher, Miss Wendy, "Anyone who thinks this child can't be taught can go suck it." That was the first time I wasn't judged because my son wasn't hitting the standard milestones "on time".
However, their original website did not convey the quality and depth of the programs. The staff were using a DIY website builder provided by Network Solutions. I don't care how "easy" those programs are made to appear on commercials, DIY kits are very difficult to use and get a professional result.
The new site that I built is based in Drupal 7. This CMS allows for fine-tuned permissions for each user that has to interact with the site either as a family registering for programs or an administrator managing their content. The theme was designed around their logo and other branding styles and is built in HTML5 and CSS3 with JavaScript to make it completely responsive. (Give it a try on your tablet or phone - all of the content and blocks visible on your laptop or desktop can also be accessed on your smaller devices.)
The content types were customized so that an office administrator can just add the type of information they want (front page news announcements, blog posts, the slideshow of sponsors in the bottom right corner) and it shows up where it belongs. No one has to torture themselves figuring out how it works, just follow the steps to add the information and it just goes where they want it to go.
There is a fully-hosted e-commerce system. First to launch is the swag shop with t-shirts and tchochkies. Later on, this will be expanded to include an online class/activity reservation system. That should be live and working no later than January. Again, the facility's admin staff were instructed in how to manage the store merchandise independently, review their reports, track stock levels, etc. The payment gateway is a combination of PayPal and WorldPay, the latter accessed via PayPal's Payflow system, acquired from VeriSign.
Newsletters are distributed via Constant Contact. Self-hosting newsletters is more trouble than it's worth between authentication setup and spam algorithms. That "Newsletter" box at the top of each page will start the double-opt-in process to sign up.
Other third-party integrations include Facebook (using the new Page Plugin that replaces the deprecated "Like Box"), Instagram, and Twitter. Videos are embedded individually from YouTube and Vimeo, as well as a slideshow of videos introducing Learning on the Log on the front page. Like all of the other content types, the staff can change the videos, including the slideshow, at any time through a custom interface created for that purpose in only a couple of steps.
Each page has the ability to display a completely different full-width header image. During editing, a selection of photos is available. The admin selects the one they want to display on each page with a checkbox in only a second. Stay tuned as more images are added to the site for use on different pages and blogs.
The next stage has begun development. In the final version of this site, families will be able to establish accounts and register for classes or day camp right on the site and then check out through the shopping cart already established.
I'm especially proud of this project. Even with all of the features, building and designing it was a one-woman job. I hope all of LOTL's families and friends enjoy and have an easier time accessing their childrens' programs.
Wednesday, May 20, 2015
If you embed your Facebook page into your website, read this update!
(Talk with your webmaster if any of this sounds like Greek.)
For years, it was possible to use a variety of methods, including IFRAMES to embed a Facebook page (or a Facebook group, if you found the trick) into a website. You could engage your customers and draw them to your social media with a "Like" button, a scrolling view of page posts, and a list of other "Like"-ers. A great way to draw attention to your Facebook community without paying FB for it. ;-)
On June 23, 2015, the rules are going to change.
Facebook is upgrading their API (application programming interface) and the popular "Like Box" will disappear.
It will be replaced with the Page Plugin app. (https://developers.facebook.com/docs/plugins/page-plugin)
The interface that sets the size and source of the embedded box remains the same. However there are two important differences in how the plugin displays:
1) The width of your new "box" is set in pixels and can no longer be set as a percentage of the width of the page or sidebar where it's embedded.
2) Embedding in your page requires JavaScript just inside the tag and a second script in the location where you want the box to appear. That means, no more IFRAMES or other alternative methods.
If you are using a content management system (eg, WordPress, Joomla, etc) to maintain your website and you have been using a plugin or module to embed your Facebook page, check with the developer ASAP to determine if they will upgrade their plugin to accommodate the new rules.
SDOC is in the process of evaluating all of our clients websites and upgrading their source code so their Facebook embeds will continue to appear properly. We are manually embedding Facebook's scripts into the theme (look and feel) files without the use of modules or plugins for those customers using open-source content management systems.
There's plenty of time to make the change so give us a call or contact your webmaster ASAP to ensure your social media integrations will still look great after June 24!
For years, it was possible to use a variety of methods, including IFRAMES to embed a Facebook page (or a Facebook group, if you found the trick) into a website. You could engage your customers and draw them to your social media with a "Like" button, a scrolling view of page posts, and a list of other "Like"-ers. A great way to draw attention to your Facebook community without paying FB for it. ;-)
On June 23, 2015, the rules are going to change.
Facebook is upgrading their API (application programming interface) and the popular "Like Box" will disappear.
 |
| This is the message you get if you are attempting to create a new "Like Box" for your website. |
It will be replaced with the Page Plugin app. (https://developers.facebook.com/docs/plugins/page-plugin)
The interface that sets the size and source of the embedded box remains the same. However there are two important differences in how the plugin displays:
1) The width of your new "box" is set in pixels and can no longer be set as a percentage of the width of the page or sidebar where it's embedded.
2) Embedding in your page requires JavaScript just inside the tag and a second script in the location where you want the box to appear. That means, no more IFRAMES or other alternative methods.
If you are using a content management system (eg, WordPress, Joomla, etc) to maintain your website and you have been using a plugin or module to embed your Facebook page, check with the developer ASAP to determine if they will upgrade their plugin to accommodate the new rules.
SDOC is in the process of evaluating all of our clients websites and upgrading their source code so their Facebook embeds will continue to appear properly. We are manually embedding Facebook's scripts into the theme (look and feel) files without the use of modules or plugins for those customers using open-source content management systems.
There's plenty of time to make the change so give us a call or contact your webmaster ASAP to ensure your social media integrations will still look great after June 24!
Thursday, May 14, 2015
Dunwoody Food Truck Thursdays 5/14 - Introducing Kosher Options
Sponsor
Musical Guests and Performers
Band and Choral Performances by Teens from The Weber School
Glass Slipper Entertainment (Princesses)
The Dunwoody Mermaids (Face painting)
Dance Performance (MJCCA Dance)
Gymnastics Exhibition (MJCCA Perimeter Gymnastics)
Adult Beverages
Dinner Trucks
Keith’s Corner BBQ (Kosher)
Goodfriend’s Grill (Kosher)
Incrediball Falafel (Kosher)
Bento Bus
Blaxican
Crepe Suzette
MIX'd UP
Pup Truck
Nectar
Tasting Maine
Pressed For Time
Goodfriend’s Grill (Kosher)
Incrediball Falafel (Kosher)
Bento Bus
Blaxican
Crepe Suzette
MIX'd UP
Pup Truck
Nectar
Tasting Maine
Pressed For Time
Dessert Vendors
Meet Tiffany - One of the girls who stops traffic on Mt. Vernon every day! - The Aha! Connection
Meet Tiffany - One of the girls who stops traffic on Mt. Vernon every day! - The Aha! Connection
From the AHa Cconnection:
Some warm and wonderful insights into the ladies who do the hardest job to make transportation bearable while Mt. Vernon Road is getting its upgrade.
It's not just Dunwoodians using this road. Those who complain of traffic also point out that many on the road are headed to/from Gwinnett and Fulton counties. If you have to be on Mt. Vernon and haven't found alternate routes during construction, pack your patience and don't take traffic frustration out on the flag girls. Pass the message on to our Fulton and Gwinnett neighbors too.
Some warm and wonderful insights into the ladies who do the hardest job to make transportation bearable while Mt. Vernon Road is getting its upgrade.
It's not just Dunwoodians using this road. Those who complain of traffic also point out that many on the road are headed to/from Gwinnett and Fulton counties. If you have to be on Mt. Vernon and haven't found alternate routes during construction, pack your patience and don't take traffic frustration out on the flag girls. Pass the message on to our Fulton and Gwinnett neighbors too.
Friday, May 8, 2015
Bears and Plane Crashes - what else could happen in Dunwoody this week???
The next time the honchos at Peachtree DeKalb Airport or the FAA start whining about neighborhood complaints of flight paths over houses, remind them of this video.
Anyone have a picture of the Dunwoody bear? We'll post it!
#DunwooodyBearWatch UPDATE:7:26 AM - According to Crowne Plaza Hotel Atlanta Perimeter At Ravinia staff a bear was...
Posted by Dunwoody Police Department on Friday, May 8, 2015
Tuesday, May 5, 2015
Celebrity Housing Needed in or around Dunwoody
Do you have a property where a celebrity could make themselves at home? Want to earn some rent?
Talk to Film Friendly Georgia, a firm dedicated to matching property owners with film industry needs.
I am in immediate need of furnished temporary housing somewhere in the Buckhead, Brookhaven, Dunwoody, Sandy Springs, Druid Hills, or Midtown areas (or somewhere close to these areas) for 60 days. A house with privacy, security and good sound barriers is preferred
Please reply with address and rental rate ASAP for immediate move-in.
If you have a location that fits any of these requirements please send jpeg photos under 100kb (600 x 480 pixels) as well as full ownership contact information, street address, city, county & zip to FFGpics@gmail.com
Talk to Film Friendly Georgia, a firm dedicated to matching property owners with film industry needs.
I am in immediate need of furnished temporary housing somewhere in the Buckhead, Brookhaven, Dunwoody, Sandy Springs, Druid Hills, or Midtown areas (or somewhere close to these areas) for 60 days. A house with privacy, security and good sound barriers is preferred
Please reply with address and rental rate ASAP for immediate move-in.
If you have a location that fits any of these requirements please send jpeg photos under 100kb (600 x 480 pixels) as well as full ownership contact information, street address, city, county & zip to FFGpics@gmail.com
Monday, May 4, 2015
DHA’s Food Truck Thursdays - May 7
Thursday will be a sunny day! Come join us at Brook Run.
DHA’s Food Truck Thursdays
Brook Run Park 5:00 PM till Dark
Sponsor
Musical Guest
Adult Beverages
Dinner Trucks
Dessert Vendors
Thursday, April 30, 2015
"Backpacks for Foster Children" - how it all turned out
Earlier this month, my daughter's 3rd grade class at Holy Redeemer kicked off their grade service project to support the requests of the Foster Care Support Foundation, which provides for the needs of foster care children across Georgia. We're very grateful for the support received from our local community after the first post. Maggie has written a thank you letter to each of you and those should be in your mailboxes any time now.
A total of $175 was raised via the DWG blog and SDOC Publishing matched those donations for a total of $350 contributed. The FCSF specifically requested backpacks, new underwear, and new socks. Backpacks are important because when a child is taken to foster care, the move is fast and the children have neither the time nor the luggage to pack. If they bring anything with them, it's usually in a trash bag and what they bring is whatever they can lay their hands on. Which isn't much, hence the need to change their custody. New underwear and socks are often an afterthought.
The big purchase day started off with those storms and tornado warnings rolling across North Fulton. Holy Redeemer's kids spent the second half of the day in the hallways and pod areas in tornado drill while the buildings were deluged with hail.
Each student was instructed to select items that were the same size and style that they would want to wear and carry with them. Maggie was looking for items suitable for another 9 year old gitl.
Backpacks from the luggage department. She wanted to make sure there was room to grab a favorite toy, maybe some books in addition to keeping essentials handy.
Checking out. All of the donations were used in one shot to purchase four sets of supplies for four girls. When all of the supplies were turned in at school, there were over 60 backpacks with new supplies and shoes for boys and girls.
Every grade at Holy Redeemer has a service project to be completed at some time in the school year. In this exercise, children learned about how to raise money for charity - either by doing extra chores, taking small jobs in their neighborhoods, or - in this case - the role of social media in advertising and corporate sponsorship in community service. Most importantly, they learned that not every kid out there has life as good as they have it at home and it is their responsibility as Christians and as human beings to help others to the best of their ability.
A total of $175 was raised via the DWG blog and SDOC Publishing matched those donations for a total of $350 contributed. The FCSF specifically requested backpacks, new underwear, and new socks. Backpacks are important because when a child is taken to foster care, the move is fast and the children have neither the time nor the luggage to pack. If they bring anything with them, it's usually in a trash bag and what they bring is whatever they can lay their hands on. Which isn't much, hence the need to change their custody. New underwear and socks are often an afterthought.
The big purchase day started off with those storms and tornado warnings rolling across North Fulton. Holy Redeemer's kids spent the second half of the day in the hallways and pod areas in tornado drill while the buildings were deluged with hail.
By dismissal time, the danger was passed, the sun was out, and we headed down to the perimeter Target to select the needed supplies.
Each student was instructed to select items that were the same size and style that they would want to wear and carry with them. Maggie was looking for items suitable for another 9 year old gitl.
Backpacks from the luggage department. She wanted to make sure there was room to grab a favorite toy, maybe some books in addition to keeping essentials handy.
FCSF also requested if possible, to send in new pairs of comfortable shoes. Maggie is searching here for the requested sizes. Because of everyone's support, she was also able to include a pair of new shoes (espadrilles or girls' sneakers) in each pack.
Every grade at Holy Redeemer has a service project to be completed at some time in the school year. In this exercise, children learned about how to raise money for charity - either by doing extra chores, taking small jobs in their neighborhoods, or - in this case - the role of social media in advertising and corporate sponsorship in community service. Most importantly, they learned that not every kid out there has life as good as they have it at home and it is their responsibility as Christians and as human beings to help others to the best of their ability.
Wednesday, April 29, 2015
Dunwoody Food Truck Thursday - April 30
Brook Run Park from 5:00PM till Dark
This Week’s Sponsor
Musical Guest
Additional Entertainment
Braves batting cage and freebies on the music field
Adult Beverages
Dinner Trucks
Dessert Vendors
Saturday, April 25, 2015
Take the poll to contribute to Dunwoody's Comprehensive Plan
Thursday, April 23, 2015
Dunwoody Food Truck Thursdays - April 23
Let's have some fun at Brook Run without the rain, shall we?
Time: 5 PM til Dark
Time: 5 PM til Dark
Sponsor
More Activities
Bounce House and Atlanta Braves BAT Team
Adult Beverages
Dinner Vendors
Dessert Vendors
Monday, April 20, 2015
"Backpacks for Foster Children" UPDATE and Many Thanks
Thank you to everyone who stopped by and read about Maggie's 3rd grade service project, or shared it via social media and email, and especially those who contributed. Every little bit helped to raise $175 for the purchase of requested supplies. SDOC Publishing is matching this total and will cover all admin costs. That means that $350 of supplies will be purchased for the project.
Originally we had planned to complete the purchase on Sunday. The storms had our family hunkered down at home. So Maggie and I will be headed out tonight and the donations will be turned into school tomorrow.
Thank you all again. Donors, please keep an eye on your mailboxes.
Originally we had planned to complete the purchase on Sunday. The storms had our family hunkered down at home. So Maggie and I will be headed out tonight and the donations will be turned into school tomorrow.
Thank you all again. Donors, please keep an eye on your mailboxes.
Sunday, April 12, 2015
Please Support Holy Redeemer 3rd Grade Service Project "Backpacks for Foster Children"
This is going to be one of those rare times I focus on my children in the DWG blog. :-)
My eldest daughter, Maggie is in the 3rd grade at Holy Redeemer Catholic School in Johns Creek, GA. Every class at HR has a community service project and the 3rd grade supports the Foster Care Support Foundation in Roswell (www.fostercares.org). FCSF visited with the 3rd grade classes to talk about their services and the children who need them. They went into detail about what kind of family situations cause a child to go into foster care and what their lives are like. They learned that foster children often feel forgotten and value simple things they own and can carry with them when they are picked up and transported to a home on short notice.
FCSF has requested new backpacks, socks, and underwear. That sounds really basic but these are items that children don't think to grab when they're being taken to a foster home. A backpack that is theirs and theirs alone makes the process easier.
All of the 3rd grade students are raising money to make the purchases and we are now in the final week. I am asking, if you are so inclined, to please donate to the cause using the secure PayPal button below. This donation gateway will be open until 12 noon EDT on Saturday, April 18. All monies donated at this time will be taken to purchase the items to be contributed to FCSF the following week during school.
As an added incentive (and as a lesson for my daughter in the role of corporate sponsorship in charity fundraising) SDOC Publishing Internet Solutions will match all contributions made, dollar for dollar up to $1,000. If you include your name and address, Maggie will send you a personal letter of thanks with a description of what your contribution made possible. I'll also follow up on the blog with how the donations are spent. There will be no overhead/administrative costs - all donations will go to purchasing items to support children in foster care.
Thank you in advance for your support.
UPDATE: The donation period is now closed. Thank you to all of our donors. Please stay tuned for a project update on Monday, 4/20.
ABOUT THE FOSTER CARE SUPPORT FOUNDATION
Foster Care Support Foundation is a volunteer driven 501(c)3 non profit. We collect new and like-new clothing, toys, and infant equipment to give free to Georgia's at-risk youth.
There are thousands of children in foster care and most of them are being cared for on half of what it costs for a child's daily care. The rest must come from the foster parents' own finances or the child may go without. We are here to help change the face of the forgotten child.
Foster Care Support Foundation receives no government funding and relies solely on donations from our communities, businesses, private citizens, faith-based and civic organizations for their support. Located at 115 Mansell Pl in Roswell GA, this program serves thousands of children throughout the State of Georgia each year.
CONTACT
Phone 770-641-9591 or 404-729-3374
Email: info@fostercares.org
Web: www.fostercares.org
OPERATING HOURS
Tuesday through Saturday 10 am - 2 pm
DISTRIBUTION CENTER
115 Mansell Place
Roswell, GA 30076
MAILING ADDRESS
Foster Care Support Foundation
3334 Trails End Roadd
Roswell, GA 30075
ON FACEBOOK
www.facebook.com/fostercares.org
My eldest daughter, Maggie is in the 3rd grade at Holy Redeemer Catholic School in Johns Creek, GA. Every class at HR has a community service project and the 3rd grade supports the Foster Care Support Foundation in Roswell (www.fostercares.org). FCSF visited with the 3rd grade classes to talk about their services and the children who need them. They went into detail about what kind of family situations cause a child to go into foster care and what their lives are like. They learned that foster children often feel forgotten and value simple things they own and can carry with them when they are picked up and transported to a home on short notice.
FCSF has requested new backpacks, socks, and underwear. That sounds really basic but these are items that children don't think to grab when they're being taken to a foster home. A backpack that is theirs and theirs alone makes the process easier.
All of the 3rd grade students are raising money to make the purchases and we are now in the final week. I am asking, if you are so inclined, to please donate to the cause using the secure PayPal button below. This donation gateway will be open until 12 noon EDT on Saturday, April 18. All monies donated at this time will be taken to purchase the items to be contributed to FCSF the following week during school.
As an added incentive (and as a lesson for my daughter in the role of corporate sponsorship in charity fundraising) SDOC Publishing Internet Solutions will match all contributions made, dollar for dollar up to $1,000. If you include your name and address, Maggie will send you a personal letter of thanks with a description of what your contribution made possible. I'll also follow up on the blog with how the donations are spent. There will be no overhead/administrative costs - all donations will go to purchasing items to support children in foster care.
Thank you in advance for your support.
UPDATE: The donation period is now closed. Thank you to all of our donors. Please stay tuned for a project update on Monday, 4/20.
ABOUT THE FOSTER CARE SUPPORT FOUNDATION
Foster Care Support Foundation is a volunteer driven 501(c)3 non profit. We collect new and like-new clothing, toys, and infant equipment to give free to Georgia's at-risk youth.
There are thousands of children in foster care and most of them are being cared for on half of what it costs for a child's daily care. The rest must come from the foster parents' own finances or the child may go without. We are here to help change the face of the forgotten child.
Foster Care Support Foundation receives no government funding and relies solely on donations from our communities, businesses, private citizens, faith-based and civic organizations for their support. Located at 115 Mansell Pl in Roswell GA, this program serves thousands of children throughout the State of Georgia each year.
CONTACT
Phone 770-641-9591 or 404-729-3374
Email: info@fostercares.org
Web: www.fostercares.org
OPERATING HOURS
Tuesday through Saturday 10 am - 2 pm
DISTRIBUTION CENTER
115 Mansell Place
Roswell, GA 30076
MAILING ADDRESS
Foster Care Support Foundation
3334 Trails End Roadd
Roswell, GA 30075
ON FACEBOOK
www.facebook.com/fostercares.org
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