Local teens team up to help fight deadly disease
African American soldiers passed through Camp Gordon
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Community looks back, moves forward at homeowners’ meeting By CARSON COOK carson@appenmediagroup.com DUNWOODY, Ga. — Community leaders reflected back on the city’s history at the Dunwoody Homeowners Association’s annual meeting Jan. 26. Founded in 1970, this year is the 50th anniversary of the organization. DHA President Adrienne Duncan said the group is focused on many of the same efforts as it was decades ago, like improving quality of life for residents and energizing Dunwoody Village as the center of the community. “The value in the overlay district is not in the styles themselves, but in the very act of defining this place as special,” Duncan said. “Dunwoody wants to remain a small town, no matter how big metro Atlanta becomes. The new heart is worth sweating the small stuff and getting the details right.”
Duncan also spoke of new challenges, warning that political polarization, poor communication and mistrust have the potential to tear the community apart. “Trust is the foundation on which the rest of our quality of life is built,” Duncan said. “When you’re trying to propose policy for a diverse community with a wide range of needs or solve a problem that’s been festering for years, compromise is the only way forward … without compromise based on trust and the goodwill of citizens, there will be no improvements.” The annual meeting is a time for the homeowners association to acknowledge exceptional Dunwoody residents. This year the Community Service Award went to Despina Lamas, Michelle Fincher and Leah Marques, the founders of the public-school advocacy Facebook page “Educate Dunwoody.”
See MEETING, Page 12
CARSON COOK/Crier
From left, Despina Lamas, Michelle Fincher and Leah Marques speak as the founders of the public-school advocacy Facebook page “Educate Dunwoody” on Jan. 26 at Dunwoody United Methodist Church. The trio was awarded the Dunwoody Homeowners Association’s Community Service Award for their work to improve public schools.
Rotary Club donates money to help struggling families By ADAM DARBY adam@appenmediagroup.com
book in addition to coats and blankets. “[We] realized that Kingsley had a problem with families that were receiving 6 66 66 6 66 6 food and during this period of time [the DUNWOODY, Ga. — Anita Augello, a Holidays], were unable to get it,” Augfamily volunteer at Kingsley Elementary ello said. “We realized that we needed to School, gave a presentation Jan. 24 at step in and do something. We live in the the Rotary Club of Dunwoody focusUnited States. This is a country where ing on the impact of the organization’s people are supposed to help each other… recent grant donation. if every person did one thing; you know The club donated $2,500 to help feed what a great world this would be?” Kingsley families struggling financially Four years ago, Claudia Augelloduring the holidays. With the help of Smith, Anita’s daughter and the mother @ @ parent @ @ volunteers and faculty members, of two children attending Kingsley, @ @ more than 50 low-income families were 1 3/4/19 11:16 Page11 03-06-19_HAbannerBlue.qxp_Layout 11:16 AM AM Page @ @ provided @ 03-06-19_HAbannerBlue.qxp_Layout noticed many of the famiwith Thanksgiving03-06-19_HAbannerBlue.qxp_Layout food bas- 1 13/4/19 03-06-19_HAbannerBlue.qxp_Layout 3/4/19 11:16 AM Page 1 students’ 1 3/4/19 11:16 AM Page 1 @ Students were also each given one lies undergoing personal struggles and kets. @ @ @ @
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is that they want parents to come in.” harsh living conditions. Through their Kingsley is the smallest elemeninvolvement with the Rotary Club, she tary school in Dunwoody. Many of the has received generous donations durstudents live in lower-income families ing the holidays for the past three years. struggling to feed, house, and clothe their This past year marks the club’s largest children. Augello-Smith recently heard grant donation. With the help of her accounts of certain Kingsley families with mother, she was able to assemble the multiple children sharing a one-bedroom food baskets handed out to any Kingsley apartment. With help from the school and family that could use a holiday feast. its surrounding community, many fami“We never realized just how big it was> > lies were able enjoy a nice meal together. going to be…that’s what I like about > > our > > school. Everyone is helping everybody,” > > “We support our amazing school lead> believe > > that > ership in helping every child to succeed said Augello-Smith.> “I strongly > > > everything > > > >is >and that starts with the school being a for my girls or for the> school, > going to thrive the more they see > > parents > > > > about >this school > [involved]. The great thing See ROTARY, Page 12 >
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