Dunwoody feeder football signals success for program’s future ► PAGE 3
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Brook Run light show goes on — eventually City-sponsored display to run through Dec. 28
DeKalb County provides more than 13 locations By CATHY COBBS newsroom@appenmediagroup.com
By CATHY COBBS newsroom@appenmediagroup.com DUNWOODY, Ga. — Like 2020, the tree lighting event at Brook Run Park didn’t go exactly as planned, but in the end, it worked — eventually. First there was the on-and-off rain that fell and then stopped minutes before the Dec. 12 ceremony, then the fact that Dunwoody, like the rest of the world, is operating under COVID restrictions, which meant that people were wearing face masks and keeping a respectable distance from one another. About 150 people decided to brave the iffy weather for the opportunity to attend the evening, which included the illumination of more than 25,0000 lights around the park, as well as inaugural lighting of the tree in the children’s playground area. “It’s going to be great to celebrate the light at this dark time,” Dunwoody Mayor Lynn Deutsch said prior to the ceremony. “Dunwoody’s citizens are going to be able to enjoy this incredible display every night for the next two weeks.” But the best laid plans sometimes don’t work out as envisioned. Deutsch and the member of the City Council counted down from 10 to 1, and she “flipped” the switch, but nothing happened. After a few seconds of nervous laughter, the entire park, including the tree, lit up, and the applause was genuine.
Dunwoody rolls out early voting for runoff
CATHY COBBS/CRIER
The tree lighting, even though the weather was iffy, went off on Saturday night, with about 150 residents attending.
“That was so 2020,” said Dunwoody resident Nancy Junay, who attended the event with friend Kathy Simmons, who came from Columbia, SC to visit relatives and see the first-time ceremony. “If we’ve learned anything from this year, it’s that nothing really goes as expected.”
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DUNWOODY, Ga. — When the Dunwoody Library opened its advanced voting location Dec. 14, city officials were urging citizens to vote early, but not too early. “During the general election, the first day was the busiest,” Dunwoody Mayor Lynn Deutsch said. “After that, it was more manageable and there was barely a wait. So, considering that weather will probably play a factor, it may be better to wait until the second or third day after the polls open to go vote.” DeKalb County Board of Voter Registration announced last week the operating hours and locations for the Jan. 5, 2021 runoff elections, which will decide both of Georgia’s Senate seats. The special election will determine whether two Republican incumbents, Sens. David Perdue and Kelly Loeffler, keep their seats. If their Democratic challengers, Jon Ossoff and the Rev. Raphael Warnock, both win, Democrats will claim control of the Senate. The library polling location, at 5339 Chamblee Dunwoody Road, one of 13 locations in DeKalb County, will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday, from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 19, and from noon to 6 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 20 and 27. On Christmas Eve, the location will be open from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m., and on New Year’s Eve, from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. According to the voter registra-
tion board, COVID-19 safety protocols will be in place at all in-person voting locations. Poll workers will be wearing masks and face shields and will use hand sanitizer frequently and voting equipment will be cleaned hourly at a minimum. In addition, workers will provide voters a disposable stylus to use while voting. The board strongly encourages citizens to wear masks and practice social distancing while waiting in line. The library was the only early voting location in the city for the Nov. 3 general election. Deutsch said the majority of the Dunwoody’s voters took advantage of early or absentee voting. “While we don’t know how many people voted at the library location, we do have some statistics that show that most people voted either early or absentee,” she said. “Fifty-six percent voted in person early, 31 percent voted absentee, and 13 percent of Dunwoody voters voted on election day.” Dunwoody Communications Director Jennifer Boettcher said Dunwoody City Hall, at 4800 Ashford Dunwoody Road, has an absentee ballot drop box located outside the main entrance, as well as DeKalb Fire Station No. 12 at 5323 Roberts Drive. “Voters are already stopping by and using these locations for the runoff,” Boettcher said. The complete list of absentee dropoff or early voting locations can be viewed online at www.dekalbvotes.com.