Kosher BBQ Contest Takes Over Brook Run in October!

Back in May, Dunwoody Food Truck Thursdays incorporated Kosher food trucks and related providers with MJCCA sponsorship.  It was a smash!  Largest turnout at FTT EVER.  Playground was packed.  Almost caused panic attacks over traffic and whether the neighboring community could handle it.  (Just kidding - had to get a jab in on those who use "traffic" as an excuse to stall everything.)  The only drawback was the guy with the beef ribs ran out before I could get to him.

Looks like we all get another chance at Beef Rib Perfection in October.  The competition was posted at FTT and now it's official.

All info including team sign up, videos, the works is below.  Remember, this is Kosher, so there are going to be more rules and regs than your typical BBQ fight to the finish.

Thanks to everyone for marking a day on my calendar when I don't have to cook!

Sunday, October 18, 2015

Brook Run Park

11:30 AM to 3:30 PM

Free Admission for visitors
See website for contestant entry fees

Kids stuff, "Live entertainment" (that must be required or soemthing)

Dare someone to enter the Kosher Pickle Eating Contest!

http://www.theatlantakosherbbq.com

Dunwoody City Tax Refunds are Coming

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

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.

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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.