Dunwoody works toward revamped, connected Village
By HAYDEN SUMLIN hayden@appenmedia.com
DUNWOODY, Ga. — With all of Dunwoody’s plans for the Village, ensuring the city and private property owners are on the same page is essential to growing it as a downtown community gathering spot.
That’s one takeaway from the Nov. 20 special-called meeting on “Repositioning Dunwoody Village” with members of the City Council, Development Authority, Art
Commission, Zoning Board of Appeals and residents.
The Urban Land Institute’s Technical Assistance Panel gave recommendations for how the city can implement its longterm vision for the Village, which revolves around its shopping centers.
Dunwoody Economic Development Director Michael Starling said the reaction from city officials and residents was enthusiastic. The next step for Starling and his team is to bring action items to the City Council.
“This really was not to come up with new recommendations,” Starling said. “It was to sort of jumpstart the conversation, re-energize the conversation. We’ve done a lot of planning around the Village.”
Locals consider the Village to be the heart of the city, a multigeneration community gathering spot pulling families, empty nesters and young adults to Mount Vernon and Chamblee Dunwoody roads.
See VILLAGE, Page 12
Weigh in on ‘Repositioning the Village?’
• What should the City of Dunwoody prioritize at the Village, pedestrian improvements, public art, gatherings or property acquisition?
• What type of development should replace the Dunwoody Post Office, retail space, a park or something mixed-use?
• What amenities, businesses or facilities are needed at the Village?
Crews lay groundwork for Ga. 400 expansion
By HAYDEN SUMLIN hayden@appenmedia.com
NORTH FULTON COUNTY, Ga. — Tree clearing in advance of the construction of the Ga. 400 Express Lanes project, widening the state route four additional lanes, has caught the attention of commuters and residents this fall.
Thousands of trees have been felled along the corridor, typically near exits that will be expanded and reconfigured as a part of the project.
In mid-November, most of the tree clearing has occurred at Mansell Road in Alpharetta and Holcomb Bridge Road in Roswell, just before the Chattahoochee River in Sandy Springs and around Union Hill Road in Forsyth County.
Next July, the Georgia Department of Transportation expects to begin heavy construction on 16 miles of optional, tolled express lanes between the North Springs MARTA station and McFarland Parkway in southern Forsyth County.
The project will include two express lanes in each direction up to McGinnis Ferry Road at the Fulton County border and one in each direction from there to McFarland Parkway.
Completion of the estimated $4.6 billion express lanes project is expected in 2031.
The project is designed to reduce congestion, improve travel times and expand transit options.
See LANES, Page 12
PHOTOS BY: HAYDEN SUMLIN/APPEN MEDIA
Signs of cleared right-of-way are spreading as the Georgia Department of Transportation continues work on the Ga. 400 express lanes project. Clearing work has already ended south of McFarland Parkway in Forsyth County. The Mansell Road exit in Alpharetta shows evidence of the work in progress.
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DeKalb County considering regulations for tire dumping
By ZOE SEILER zoe@appenmedia.com
DEKALB COUNTY, Ga. — Tire dumping has become a nuisance in DeKalb County, with 42 hot spots for illegally disposing of the material. The county commission is seeking to establish a penalty for this type of littering.
Commissioners discussed the legislation during an Employee Relations and Public Safety meeting on Nov. 24. The item was deferred to the Dec. 16 committee meeting.
The Georgia Environmental Protection Division manages scrap tire transportation by permitting generators, haulers and processors. In DeKalb County, there are 150 businesses permitted to generate tires and 15 haulers. There are only five disposal facilities across the state, and the closest one to DeKalb is in Fulton County.
A business must work with a carrier to transport the material to a disposal facility, but there may be a fee for delivery to the processing center.
“It is the unauthorized disposal of scrap tires in locations not permitted for waste processing or storage, such as public rights-of-way, undeveloped private land, park spaces and stream banks,” Policy Analyst Marcus Allen said.
He added that the primary driver is commercial entities, such as haulers or businesses, that may be trying to avoid paying commercial disposal costs charged by processing facilities. The perpetrators are not always the original
retailers.
“Frequent [dumping] sites include areas off major roads, commercial and industrial areas, and neighborhoods. Even in preschools, we’ve seen some issues like that. It can be anywhere,” Allen said.
In April, hundreds of tires were left outside the front gate of Little Linguists International Preschool off Covington Highway, according to Fox 5. In June, DeKalb County Police were investigating several incidents.
“Other locations include a business in the 3100 block of Marjan Drive, a business in the 2200 block of Lawrenceville Highway and a vacant business on Covington Highway at Covington Drive,” a press release from the Police Department said. “As part of this ongoing investigation, DKPD arrested a suspect on May 16 in the 3300 block of Memorial Drive. Investigators say the suspect was stealing resale tires from the location and replacing them with junk tires. He has been charged with theft by taking –tires and illegal tire dumping.”
During the county’s Employee Relations and Public Safety Committee meeting, Allen said the material can cause environmental and public health issues, serve as a breeding ground for disease, and pose a fire risk. If left near roadways, they could pose safety risks to drivers and pedestrians. There is also a high cost to the county for cleanup.
If the litter is left on public property, the county assumes responsibility for cleaning it up. A
sanitation-beautification crew can collect them within three to five days if it is a small amount, but heavier equipment is needed for large amounts of tires, Allen said. He added that more resources are needed if they are in ravines or stream banks.
For private property, those owners are responsible for the cleanup.
“There are fines they will hand out, there are certain enforcement mechanisms that are utilized by the department, and those tire dumps are adjudicated in the courts,” Allen said.
Regarding amendments to the county code, the resolution, sponsored by Commissioner Robert Patrick, recommends establishing criminal penalties for the unlawful dumping of egregious litter.
County staff suggest setting a cap of 25 tires for personal use and imposing a fine of up to $1,000 or up to six months' imprisonment for violations.
In addition to actions filed by DeKalb, any state or federal agency could also seek its own charges.
Public works would continue to be responsible for the enforcement because it’s a solid waste issue, Allen said.
“The key is that enforcement does need to happen,” Allen said. “No matter the department that will take responsibility, as long as we have a strong apparatus for that enforcement, it can be public works, it can be code enforcement, but as long as those parameters are in place, we can move forward.”
City warns of scam using fake city email tag
DUNWOODY, Ga. — The City of Dunwoody is investigating a series of fraudulent emails sent to residents and businesses with planning-related applications, requesting electronic payments.
In a Nov. 26 alert to residents, the city said fraudulent emails are typically related to zoning and variance cases, as well as special administrative permits,
and request payment by electronic wire transfer.
“This is a RED flag,” the statement says. “[The City of Dunwoody] never uses wire transfers for these matters. Please DO NOT OPEN the invoice attachment or wire any funds.”
Some fraudulent emails appear to come from the Planning Commission,
which the city says typically does not send direct correspondence. Also, some emails have been sent from an address ending in “usa.com,” which is not a valid city email address.
If residents receive a suspicious email or have questions, the city asks them to call at 678-382-6757.
— Hayden Sumlin
Sandy Springs woman arrested in daughter’s death
SANDY SPRINGS, Ga. — Police arrested a Sandy Springs woman in connection with the death of her 11-year-old daughter after officers conducted a welfare check at her home Nov. 15.
The Sandy Springs Police Department said its officers were dispatched to the Laurel Grove condominiums on Saturday morning at 346 Carpenter Drive, just north of
I-285 off Roswell Road, for a welfare check requested by a concerned family member.
Upon arrival, officers said they found Shannon Grimes in her residence with her deceased 11-yearold daughter.
Sandy Springs Police detectives were notified and took over the investigation.
The department says Grimes was taken into custody and criminal charges are pending.
The department provided no cause of death or additional details. The arrest and incident reports are not publicly available.
The investigation remains active as of Nov. 18.
— Hayden Sumlin
TALK BACK TO THE CRIER
Why Brookhaven’s tax increase cannot, does not apply to Dunwoody
In a recent OpEd, I raised the concern that Dunwoody might face the same situation Brookhaven encountered when its millage rate exceeded its original charter cap. After a closer examination of the law, the two charters, and the authority granted to each city, it is clear that Dunwoody is governed by a very different set of limitations. Brookhaven’s actions have no legal impact on us, and Dunwoody cannot exceed its 3.04 mill cap without legislative action or a vote of the people.
When Brookhaven raised its millage rate above the cap written into its founding charter, many people naturally asked: Does this set a precedent for Dunwoody? The short answer is simple: No. It has absolutely no effect on us.
The reason is straightforward. The two city charters were written very differently, and only one of them includes a hard legal restriction that cannot be changed without action by the General Assembly or a vote of the people. That charter is ours.
Dunwoody’s charter contains a hard millage cap of 3.04 mills
When Dunwoody incorporated, voters were promised permanent
Talk Back to the Crier
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protection from runaway taxes. That promise was written into law:
“The city shall levy no more than 3.04 mills for general operations.”
This is not a guideline. It is not a suggestion. It is a binding restriction placed in our founding document and approved by the Georgia General Assembly. It cannot be changed by a City Council vote, a budget challenge, or Home Rule.
Under Georgia’s Constitution, Home Rule cannot be used to change a city charter. Millage caps are explicitly considered charter limitations, not dayto-day operational policies.
In Georgia, a city cannot change its own charter through Home Rule. Only the General Assembly can amend a city charter, and the process requires
a legislator to sponsor a bill, approval from the local delegation, passage by both chambers, and the Governor’s signature. That means Dunwoody’s 3.04 mill cap cannot be raised by City Council action or reinterpretation. It can change only if a state legislator files a bill or if the voters themselves approve it in a referendum.
Brookhaven’s founding charter included an initial starting millage cap and a preauthorized maximum millage level that the City Council could move toward without a referendum.
In other words, Brookhaven’s charter already contained an internal mechanism that allowed its council to raise the millage rate once the city matured. Dunwoody’s charter contains no such mechanism.
Brookhaven’s actions do not and cannot set a precedent for Dunwoody Some have suggested that Brookhaven’s move opens the door for Dunwoody to do the same under the broad language of Home Rule. This misunderstands Georgia law. Home Rule allows cities to manage local operations, but it does not permit them to amend or override their own city charters. Any financial limitation written into a charter, like Dunwoody’s 3.04 mill cap, can be changed only through legislative action or a vote of the people.
Brookhaven raised its millage because its charter gave it that authority. Dunwoody’s charter does not. Their decision has no legal impact on ours.
Dunwoody promised its residents tax stability and that promise still stands
When Dunwoody became a city, one of the core selling points was fiscal restraint. Voters were told that taxes would remain predictable and capped, and the charter was written to guarantee that stability.
See ROSS, Page 15
‘The Candy of the South’ and other sweets manufacturers
In 1923, candy manufacturing was big business in Atlanta. More than 4,000 people in the city worked in candy factories. There were several candy companies, but four were identified in the Atlanta Chamber of Commerce publication “City Builder” as the largest. They were Nunnally, Norris, Block and Schlesinger Candy Companies. (The City Builder, 1923, “The Sweets Center of Dixie,” Atlanta History Center archives)
James Nunnally began Nunnally Candy Company in 1884, manufacturing and selling boxed chocolates in Atlanta. The company produced 5 million pounds of candy a year and was known by the slogan “The Candy of the South.” Nunnally had 10 retail stores across the U.S.
When James Nunnally married Cora Winship, a cousin of the CocaCola Woodruff family, he combined his candy business with Coca-Cola connections. He built Nunnally’s, a soda fountain on Peachtree Street facing Luckie Street.
In 1920, James and Cora’s son Winship took over the family business. Winship Nunnally served on the boards of Delta Airlines, Coca Cola Company, Trust Company of Georgia, Lowry National Bank and First National Bank. He built a summer house along the Chattahoochee River off Spalding Drive, where the Sandy Springs neighborhood River Oaks is now located.
PROVIDED
Nunnally Candies featured its manufacturing facility at Edgewood Ave. and Ivy Street in this 1906 advertisement from The Atlanta Georgian newspaper.
Norris Candy was the newest candy manufacturer among the top four as of 1923. The factory was located on Peachtree Street. The Norris recipes included pecans from the Southern U.S., but they also incorporated imported nuts and fruits.
Advertising for Norris Inc. appeared in national publications, such as the Saturday Evening Post. A Norris employee had the job of searching the art centers of Europe for new candy
box designs.
A.L. Norris, owner of Norris Candy Company, entertained dealers who sold his candy at his Dunwoody summer home. In 1927, more than 500 guests enjoyed music and dance at his home on Chamblee Dunwoody Road and on the grounds of Sirron Gardens, his nursery business. (The Constitution, Sept. 1, 1927, “Dealers in Norris Candies are feasted at barbecue given by A. L. Norris at Sirron Farms”)
The Norris house was later destroyed by fire, but the guest house remains on Sirron Court.
Roy C. Head worked for Norris Candy for 25 years, then decided to start his own candy business in 1933. He planned to use Georgia products whenever possible. (Atlanta Constitution, “Head will make candy in Atlanta”)
Head owned property on both sides of Chamblee Dunwoody Road, including where Boxwood Farms is today. One of the Head family homes still stands on Chamblee Dunwoody Road.
Another home in Dunwoody with ties to Norris Candy was that of Earl Smith, who was a salesperson for the company. That home was also on Chamblee Dunwoody Road but was demolished to make way for new construction.
Among the other top four candy companies in 1923, Frank E. Block Company was the oldest, dating back to 1866. Harry Schlesinger Candy Company began in 1888. Block Candy produced 9 million pounds of candy and 10 million pounds of crackers and cakes in 1923. From 1928 until 1936, the company was located at 512 Means Street in Atlanta in a building that still stands.
Schlesinger Candy was best known for its peanut butter kisses, also known as “Charlies.”
Award-winning author Valerie Biggerstaff is a longtime columnist for Appen Media and the Dunwoody Crier. She lives in Atlanta. You can email Valerie at pasttensega@gmail.com or visit her website at pasttensega.com.
VALERIE BIGGERSTAFF Columnist
Connect-It
3 clues for the 3 answers on the line. But here’s the catch! The clues are not in order - so the first clue in Line 1 may (or may not) actually be for the second or third answer in that line. Got it? Good luck!
PAINTERS
1. Angler’s bait. “Haystacks” painter. Mouse-like mammal.
2. “Christina’s World” painter. Longing. Hare Krishna, e.g.
3. Attention getter. “Naked Maja” painter. Sci-fi character.
4. Guinness, e.g. Cash holder. “Sugaring Off” painter.
5. Hard roe. Crucifix. “The Persistence of Memory” painter.
6. “The Ballet Class” painter. Bone dry. Wooden shoe.
7. Norse thunder god. Le Cirque painter. Muddy up (the water).
1 Angler’s bait. “Haystacks” painter. Mouse-like mammal.
2. “Christina’s World” painter. Longing. Hare Krishna, e.g.
How to Solve: Each line in the puzzle above has three clues and three answers. The last letter in the first answer on each line is the first letter of the second answer, and so on. The connecting letter is outlined, giving you the correct number of letters for each answer (the answers in line 1 are 4, 5 and 5 letters). The clues are numbered 1 through 7, which each number containing 3 clues for the 3 answers on the line. But here’s the catch! The clues are not in order - so the first clue in Line 1 may (or may not) actually be for the second or third answer in that line. Got it? Good luck!
3. Attention getter. “Naked Maja” painter. Sci-fi character.
4. Guinness, e.g. Cash holder. “Sugaring Off” painter
5. Hard roe. Crucifix. “The Persistence of Memory” painter.
6. “The Ballet Class” painter. Bone dry. Wooden shoe.
7. Norse thunder god “The Circus” (Le Cirque) painter. Muddy up (the water).
City unveils ‘Art for All’ public exhibit at Wildcat Park
DUNWOODY, Ga. — The Dunwoody Art Commission unveiled “Art for All,” a public art exhibit featuring 12 vibrant sculptures and dynamic pieces, at Wildcat Park off Roberts Drive Dec. 1.
Installation of the sculptures, some of which appear as traditional street signs, began in late November.
The Dunwoody Art Commission worked with ConsultArt to curate the exhibit, which is scheduled to run for up to two years. Each piece is made with durable, weather-resistant materials suitable for long-term outdoor display.
“These colorful, engaging, and thought-provoking pieces will give
residents and visitors a new reason to stop by Wildcat Park and stay awhile,” Mayor Lynn Deutsch said.
“I’m so pleased to see our public art program expanding and becoming more accessible to everyone.”
The artwork is spread throughout the 12-acre park to encourage exploration.
The following artists and their works are featured: Phil Proctor’s Tethered Sail; Gordon Chandler’s Bob; Scott Froschauer’s You Are Enough, Take Note and Interstate Now/UROK; Julia Hill’s Flying Fish; Etienne Jackson’s Forward, then Back.
Huelani Mei contributed Kaelyn’s
Butterfly Wings; Corrina Sephora created Red Pillars: Being Before Becoming; Luke Martin presented O-verload; Jeff Repko contributed Reach; and Matthias Neumann created Basics #68.
Some of the installations are traditional sculptures. Some ask the onlooker to be mindful of the present moment while in nature.
Art Commission member Bobbe Gillis said he is delighted to see “Art for All” at Wildcat Park come to fruition.
“My hope is that this is the first activation of this kind and that we will continue to promote meaningful
and creative installations throughout Dunwoody,” Gillis said.
Dunwoody formed its Art Commission in 2020. The seven-member board meets once a month at City Hall to develop policies, procedures and guidelines for public art.
The city encourages residents to implement art to be enjoyed and appreciated by the community. Any Dunwoody property owner, leaseholder of a property in Dunwoody, nonprofit or artist living or employed in Dunwoody may submit an application for an installation.
— Hayden Sumlin
Wildcat community fundraises for Dunwoody football stadium
By HAYDEN SUMLIN hayden@appenmedia.com
DUNWOODY, Ga. — Catherine Mootz’s toddlers are not yet playing organized sports, but the Dunwoody mom is loaning some of her public relations expertise to the effort to build a high school stadium.
“I heard a little bit about this initiative and immediately said yes because this is
something that is going to benefit my city and my kids’ future,” Mootz said. “This has been a push for over 20 years. I think the Dunwoody community has really been trying to make this happen.”
The “Bring it Home” campaign is the community’s latest effort to get a stadium at Dunwoody High School large enough to meet the required seating capacity of 3,000 seats for hosting varsity football games and other large gatherings.
The goal is to raise $1.5 million through alumni donations, support from residents and corporate sponsors.
Mootz said her husband grew up in Dunwoody. She decided to get involved with the roughly 12-member committee leading the fundraising effort after her friend and DHS alumnus Amber Boozer sought out her professional expertise.
Dunwoody resident and father of three Tyler Gaines reignited the effort to get a high school stadium, starting the “Bring it Home” campaign and getting the DeKalb County School Board’s approval in early August.
“We are really looking to the community to raise this money to make this happen,” Mootz said. “The entire project is 100 percent privately funded through donations, so DeKalb County has nothing to do with the money raised or donated or building the stadium.”
The Georgia High School Association requires Class 4A high schools like Dunwoody to have a total seating capacity of 3,000.
Meanwhile, with only around 1,000 seats in its stadium, the Dunwoody Wildcats travel south across I-285 to Chamblee High School for home varsity
SHOP LOCAL EAT LOCAL READ LOCAL
football games.
Organizers say the community will finally be able to gather under the lights to cheer, celebrate and connect with 2,000 additional seats, improved accessibility and a modern press box.
“Outside of Tyler, we've got Principal Tom Bass as part of the committee [and] Steve Fortenberry, who is a longtime teacher at Dunwoody High School,” Mootz said. “We’ve got some moms who are just experts in fundraising, event planning and community initiatives … I'd say our core group is maybe 10 or so. And you know, the one underlying factor is that we all live in and love Dunwoody and just want the best for our kids.”
The “Bring it Home” campaign is more than a fifth of the way toward its fundraising goal of $1.5 million with more than $313,000 raised at the end of November.
The “Bring It Home: One Family, One Field” campaign has an alumnus committed to donating a large lump sum, rumored to be around $1 million, separate from the community fundraiser.
“There is a donor who would like to remain anonymous right now, who is pledging a very large donation,” Mootz said. “We’re not really being public with the full amount of that yet … that will definitely help in making all this happen, but we still need the $1.5 million from the community in order to bring everything to life.”
The high school has one very famous celebrity alumni, speculated to be behind the large donation, but nothing has been confirmed yet.
With an estimated build time of nine to 12 months, the committee is aiming to hit its fundraising goal by February.
“As soon as we get this $1.5 million raised, we will begin construction,” Mootz said. “Our goal is to be able to play our homecoming game in our new stadium in fall of 2026.”
The most dangerous place for seniors
Brought to you by – Bath and Kitchen Galleria
The bathroom, a place we take for granted, transforms into one of the most hazardous areas in the home for aging seniors. With slippery surfaces, high tub walls, and the need for frequent maneuvering, the risk of falls—the leading cause of injury among older adults—spikes dramatically. John Hogan, President of Bath and Kitchen Galleria and Aging in Place Expert says, “Proactive bathroom modifications are not merely an upgrade; they are an essential investment in the long-term safety, independence, and dignity of our seniors.”
To mitigate the dangers, several specific aspects of the bathroom should be modified to create a supportive and accessible environment:
Shower and Bathtub: The single greatest fall risk is often stepping over a high tub wall. The ideal solution is a curbless or low-threshold walk-in shower to eliminate this barrier entirely. For added security, install a permanent shower seat or bench and a handheld showerhead to allow for comfortable, seated bathing. Shower floor should have non-slip tile surfaces.
Grab Bars: Strategically placed sturdy, professional-grade grab bars are critical. They must be securely anchored into wall studs, not just
the drywall. Placement is key: near the toilet to assist with sitting and standing, and both inside and just outside the shower/tub for secure entry and exit. Modern grab bars come in a variety of stylish finishes to seamlessly blend with your décor.
Toilet Area: A standard toilet can be difficult to use for those with limited mobility. Installing a comfort-height or raised toilet seat reduces the strain on joints and makes the transition from sitting to standing much easier. Pairing this with well-placed grab bars provides a significant boost in stability.
Flooring and Lighting: Replace slippery tile or remove loose bath mats and throw rugs, which are tripping
hazards. Install slip-resistant flooring throughout the bathroom. Finally, good lighting is paramount. Bright, even lighting—including motion-sensor nightlights—helps seniors navigate safely, especially during middle-of-thenight trips.
By implementing these thoughtful changes, the bathroom can evolve from a high-risk area into a secure, comfortable, and accessible space that supports an aging senior’s desire to age in place safely at home. For more information visit Bath and Kitchen Galleria’s showroom at 10591 Old Alabama Rd Connector in Alpharetta (no appointment needed) or call them at 678-459-2292.
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Myth: Will avoids Probate
A will alone doesn’t keep your family out of probate court. The truth is probate can drain time, money, and energy during an already emotional period. A wellstructured trust and estate plan ensures your wishes are carried out smoothly and your family is protected from legal complications.
Noel’s story is a real reminder of why planning ahead matters. When his wife
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See Video of Noe's Story below (Scan QR Code)
Experience Matters
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Community Assistance Center launches employment program
By HAYDEN SUMLIN hayden@appenmedia.com
SANDY SPRINGS, Ga. — The Community Assistance Center, serving neighbors in Dunwoody in Sandy Springs since the late ’80s, has introduced an employment hub designed to help Metro Atlantans upskill, reskill and secure better-paying jobs.
The Central Perimeter nonprofit welcomed local and state leaders to its new Empowerment Center at 1130 Hightower Trail in Sandy Springs Nov. 13. The building is just off Roswell Road (Ga. 9) in Sandy Springs’ North End.
The Empowerment Center expands the nonprofit’s free adult education and career services while introducing new workforce development programs to help clients and community members gain skills needed to secure betterpaying jobs and move more families toward long-term financial stability and independence.
In his opening remarks, CEO Francis K. Horton III said that in 2024, 77 percent of people who sought CAC services were working at least one job.
“They needed to upskill,” Horton said. “They needed to reskill, so they could move their families toward financial stability. The Empowerment Center was created in response to this need.”
The Empowerment Center offers free courses, including six levels of English as a second or other language, financial management and computer skills.
Career services offered include resume building, interview preparation, job coaching from experienced career advocates and job placement assistance.
The Community Assistance Center is also rolling out Thrive, its new workforce development program for clients facing financial hardships. It seeks to remove
COMMUNITY ASSISTANCE CENTER/PROVIDED
From left, Community Assistance Center Program Director Doris Pereira; Greater Perimeter Chamber of Commerce CEO Adam Forrand; CAC CEO Francis K. Horton III; U.S. Rep. Lucy McBath of Georgia’s 6th District; Sandy Springs Mayor Rusty Paul; and Karen Leone de Nie, vice president of community and economic development at the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta, hold onto the scissors at the Nov. 13 ribbon-cutting at the new Empowerment Center off Hightower Trail in Sandy Springs.
barriers that prevent clients from focusing on the skills needed to secure better-paying jobs that can transform their lives. Barriers vary among program participants and can include childcare, transportation, housing and tuition.
Participants benefit from Thrive’s holistic approach which integrates career training, personalized care management, financial assistance and access to the CAC’s full suite of wraparound services.
“Our new Thrive program is an exciting and bold new step for CAC,” Horton said. “This program will help facilitate transformational change in families, which means transformational change in our community.”
Horton emphasized that
transformational change is generational change.
“Through this workforce development program, CAC has a significant opportunity to positively impact generations of Sandy Springs and Dunwoody residents,” he said.
Karen Leone de Nie, vice president of community and economic development at the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta, delivered the keynote address.
Her team conducts research and builds networks of leaders who support economic opportunities for low- and moderate-income families.
She noted that a recent National Skills Coalition study found that 90 percent of Georgia jobs across all
industries require digital skills, yet onethird of workers lack the foundational digital literacy needed to be successful.
“Addressing the skills gap benefits everyone,” Leone de Nie said. “Programs like CAC’s Empowerment Center can bridge that gap and better meet evolving employment needs.”
Leone de Nie said the labor market represents a relationship between employers and jobseekers but not a simple one. In discussing solutions to achieving maximum employment in communities, she highlighted her team’s focus on the “three Cs”— community, capital and careers.
“It requires connectors like CAC to bridge the distance between employers’ needs and workers’ goals, especially as workforce needs evolve,” she said. “When communities collaborate and capital targets effective solutions, career pathways become more accessible to more people.”
The Empowerment Center aligns community partnerships, targeted resources and career support, putting the three Cs framework into action.
The celebration also featured a ribbon-cutting ceremony and facility tours.
Distinguished guests included, Sandy Springs Mayor Rusty Paul, Dunwoody Mayor Lynn Deutsch, Sandy Springs council members Melissa Mular and John Paulson, Greater Perimeter Chamber of Commerce CEO Adam Forrand and U.S. Rep. Lucy McBath of Georgia’s 6th District.
“Atlanta ranks dead last out of the 50 largest metropolitan areas in economic mobility,” McBath said. “In a state that touts its number 1 status for doing business, we should strive to move Atlanta to the top of the economic mobility list, too.”
Cellphone ban debate moves to high schools
By TY TAGAMI Capitol Beat
ATLANTA — A mandatory cellphone ban could be coming for all public high schools in Georgia after the positive outcomes reported by schools that have already implemented such policies.
A new state law will require every public elementary and middle school in the state to lock up students’ phones and other personal devices starting next fall, but many already have such policies in place, including at high schools.
Teachers have reported strong support, with 92% backing an extension of the ban to high schools, according to
a survey of 3,000 educators by Georgia Southern University detailed at a state Senate hearing Wednesday. And educators and advocates who testified recounted similar enthusiasm at their schools and among parents.
Teachers and administrators have seen academic gains accompany the silencing of phone notifications. Studies show distractions bump minds off task, sending students’ minds careering. Banishing cellphones has also removed a tool used by miscreants to bully peers, coordinate fights and unleash other mayhem.
Students behaved better at Lakeside High School in DeKalb County when the phones were taken away last
year, and they interacted with each other more, said Susan Stoddard, the principal there. “You heard the joyous fun of school in the hallways. They were talking to one another,” she said.
The district experimented with phone bans at several schools, then measured the impact.
“It was transformational academically, behaviorally and socially,” Stoddard said, noting that prior to implementation, classroom observers had counted an average of 16 notifications on each student’s phone every half hour.
That added up to nearly 300 disruptions per classroom each half hour, she said.
Similarly, Marietta City Schools banned phones in middle school last year. Superintendent Grant Rivera said district surveys found near-universal approval among teachers. He said the students themselves reported a 22% improvement in classroom behavior in the Georgia Student Health Survey, an annual questionnaire administered by the Georgia Department of Education. Rivera’s enthusiastic testimony about the policy during the legislative session last winter may have helped to convince lawmakers to back the lower grades prohibition. House Bill 340 passed with broad bipartisan support.
See BAN, Page 15
Village:
Continued from Page 1
The city has been working on plans for the Village since before the pandemic. “Repositioning Dunwoody Village” is all about action.
Questions posed to the panel included how to balance the Central Perimeter business district with low-density neighborhoods, what type of redevelopment the city can support to make the Village a downtown, how to make car-centric infrastructure more pedestrian friendly and what partnerships and tools are necessary to make it happen.
After speaking with city staff and officials, business leaders and residents, the Technical Assistance Panel developed a list of the Village’s strengths and weaknesses, as well as its opportunities and threats.
Some of the identified weaknesses are collaboration between the property owners and the city, misalignment between staff and City Council approvals and limited coordination across property owners.
While the Village’s tenant base is strong, there’s a chance that a downturn in the retail market will stifle momentum.
“There’s nothing in the recommendations that were much of a surprise,” Starling said. “There were a lot of questions about some of the pedestrian improvements and how to do that [and] how the Development Authority might go about working with the city to gain control of properties.”
The big question, Starling said, is whether the city and its Development Authority can buy some of the properties within the Village, like the Dunwoody Post Office, so it can sell to a developer or transform them into greenspace or a gathering spot.
“If you want to control sort of the future development, you’re going to have to control the property,” Starling said. “And we’ve been trying to do that. That’s not a new concept we have. We’ve reached out to the Postal Service to try to purchase
Lanes:
Continued from Page 1
Dynamic pricing is slated to manage toll rates in real time to keep traffic flowing, while transit vehicles and vanpools will be able to use them at no cost. The project also includes MARTA’s Bus Rapid Transit (BRT), giving buses dedicated access points along the Ga. 400 corridor.
This fall, contractors began finalizing design plans, completing environmental review, securing necessary permits, utility relocations and geotechnical investigations.
However, mounds of felled trees next to the state highway have the attention of residents and commuters.
GDOT P3 Project Manager Kyle Collins said all tree-clearing work will pause at the end of November, but crews will continue removing and hauling remaining debris throughout the corridor as part of normal cleanup operations.
“Trees are cleared for several
URBAN LAND INSTITUTE/PROVIDED
“Repositioning Dunwoody Village” looks at ways to improve the downtown district’s pedestrian connectivity and to find opportunities for redevelopment.
that property in the past, but this was just a very clear indication is that that’s where you need to start.”
Template in place
Dunwoody is using a similar approach employed by its Fulton County neighbor, Sandy Springs, which has bought up several properties south of its downtown district, City Springs.
Starling said there has been progress made since 2019, including a more attractive mix of retail tenants and some investment from business and property owners.
Still, the public perceives the Village as lacking a vision, signage and safe pedestrian experiences with lots of pavement, asphalt and traffic along Chamblee Dunwoody Road.
reasons including creating sufficient space for the new express lanes, establishing safe work zones, relocating utilities and preparing for future drainage and grading needs,” Collins said. “Certain areas were cleared first, including the Chattahoochee River, because those locations fall in the project areas where construction will begin soonest.”
Collins said next phase of tree clearing is expected to resume in spring.
The Ga. 400 Express Lanes project is being delivered through a publicprivate partnership, or P3, with SR 400 Peach State Partners, a union of local, national and international experts.
SR 400 Peach Partners is responsible for design, building, financing and operating the express lanes for 50 years with oversight from GDOT and the State Roadway Toll Authority.
The approach is thought to reduce the amount of public funding needed, while encouraging private-sector innovation to improve the customer
“Compared to six or seven years ago, there’s a lot more energy, a lot more activity, sort of better restaurants and that kind of thing, which is really what I think what citizens really wanted,” Starling said. “But there’s more to do … to build on all of this momentum.”
Instead of visiting a local business, patronizing it, then heading home, Dunwoodians are sticking around the Village longer, thanks in part to DASH Hospitality Group’s courtyard revamp and the greenspace outside of the Dunwoody Tavern at the Shops of Dunwoody.
The two main ones are the Shops of Dunwoody, owned by Asana Partners on the west side of Chamblee Dunwoody Road and the Dunwoody Village, which Regency Center owns on the east side.
“Right now, those entrances aren’t really aligned,” Starling said, “In regards to the Crossing project … it is a large investment, and you don’t want to move forward and miss an opportunity to align those entrances.”
The Village Crossing project, with federal dollars funding its design right now, gives the city an opportunity to transform the Chamblee Dunwoody Road corridor through the heart of the Village, making it safer and easier for pedestrians to traverse the downtown district.
Meanwhile, some residents are wary about sacrificing traffic flow for pedestrian improvements, but city planners don’t see the two being at odds.
Because most of the Village is private property, the city is searching for ways to incentivize owners to construct a pedestrian network within their parking lots to tie into the public network.
“Repositioning Dunwoody Village” puts the city’s goals on the radar of property owners, so that in the future, a parking lot repaving could incorporate a safer pedestrian crossing or two.
“I think you’re going to see more conversation about this between the Development Authority and the City Council,” Starling said. “One thing we want to do is get all the other groups, like Create Dunwoody, the Art Commission and others, pulling in the same direction as well.”
experience.
Collins said temporary lane closures will continue during off-peak hours to minimize traffic disruptions.
“No lane closures are planned to occur during major holidays or during designated high-traffic periods, and any necessary closures are coordinated to avoid significant disruptions,” he said. “Weekly traffic updates are posted on the project website.”
To check project updates, visit 0001757-gdot.hub.arcgis.com.
To subscribe to traffic alerts, visit mailchi.mp/f15cdcb7bf72/riidzbzo8a.
Collins said the lanes will be predominately at-grade throughout the corridor and generally located at the interior of the existing mainline lanes.
“Some portions will be built to the outside,” Collins said. “Most elevated sections are planned to tie into the interchanges.”
The idea is to have the Ga. 400 Express Lanes project tie into the planned I-285 Top End Express Lanes, which will be elevated on the outside of the existing corridor and extend north along Ga. 400 to the North Springs
MARTA station.
Sandy Springs City Manager Eden Freeman said she has been trying to schedule GDOT and its contractor to present an update to the public on the Ga. 400 Express lanes project for two months.
Freeman said she was told they could not come out and give any updates until after Jan. 1.
City Councilman John Paulson, a member of the Perimeter CIDs Board of Directors, said there was a high-level presentation to the group in October.
Paulsons said he wants the project team to introduce itself so the city and its residents can know what the construction schedule is and stay informed about the progress.
“They’re in Sandy Springs now cutting down trees,” Paulson said. “The contractor left a little door hanger on some of the houses on the streets right alongside of 400, but there really has not been much fanfare, much notice about it … I’d rather be told ahead of time what’s happening, rather than find out from a neighbor that got a door knocker.
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Ban:
Continued from Page 11
Rivera said Wednesday that he needed a similar ban at the high school level but lacked community support for it. Too many parents had grown accustomed to reaching their teens, he said.
He wished lawmakers luck if they tried to extend the prohibition.
A refrain among critics of a high school ban is that parents need to be able to reach their kids if a shooter enters the building, a concern amplified by what happened at Apalachee High School last fall.
Police counter that cellphones make schools less safe in an emergency by distracting students from following instructions.
Stoddard said she routinely told parents that students drill to stay silent when an active shooter enters the building. The ding of an ill-timed text could draw the killer to the classroom, she would explain to parents who complained about Lakeside High’s ban. “I had to be very blunt,” she said, telling them, “It could be the difference between life or death for your child.”
The main sponsor of HB 340 had excluded high schools from his bill precisely because he worried about a backlash from parents. This was
Ross:
Continued from Page 3
That promise has not changed.
Brookhaven’s recent decision is a matter for Brookhaven.
Its charter was written to give the city flexibility. Our charter was purposefully written to limit it.
If Dunwoody leaders believe the 3.04 mill cap should be revisited, the proper and honest path is clear: ask voters. Until then, the charter speaks for itself.
out of keeping with other states that prohibited phones from all schools, but Rep. Scott Hilton, R-Peachtree Corners, reiterated his concern about parent resistance at Wednesday’s hearing, counseling patience. He predicted that more parents and students would be receptive to the idea after rising high school students have experienced the benefits of phone-free middle school.
Sen. Ed Setzler, R-Acworth, a member of the committee, said he was “just wondering out loud” if that was a better course.
But Sen. Sally Harrell, D-Atlanta, seemed unwilling to wait.
The hearing was the last in a series by the bipartisan study committee that she has helmed with Sen. Shawn Still, R-Johns Creek.
The senators have been exploring the impact on children of electronic devices, social media and artificial intelligence. Harrell has been emphatic about introducing legislation that pushes back against the encroachment of technology companies into the lives of children.
“I have a feeling that this discussion is going to continue into the legislative session,” she said, “but with a bill in committee.”
This story is available through a news partnership with Capitol Beat News Service, a project of the Georgia Press Educational Foundation.
Brookhaven’s tax increase may have generated headlines, but it has zero bearing on Dunwoody’s tax authority. Our charter controls our city, and only our charter, not another city’s actions, determines what Dunwoody can and cannot do.
Brookhaven’s move should not be used as an excuse, a comparison, or a justification. Dunwoody’s taxpayers deserve transparency, fidelity to the law, and respect for the promises made when we chose to become a city.
DANNY ROSS
Founding member, Dunwoody City Council
NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING
The City of Dunwoody Zoning Board of Appeals will meet on Thursday, January 8, 2026 at 6:00 p.m. in the Council of Chambers of Dunwoody City Hall, located at 4800 Ashford Dunwoody Road, Dunwoody, Georgia 30338, for the purpose of due process of the following: ZBA 25-20, 2338 Delverton Drive, Dunwoody, GA, 30338: Variance from Sec. 27-58 to allow a deck to encroach into the rear setback.
Should you have any questions or comments, or would like to view the application and supporting materials, please contact the City of Dunwoody Community Development Department at 678-382-6800. Members of the public are encouraged to call or schedule a meeting with the staff in advance of the Public Hearing if they have questions or are unfamiliar with the process. The staff is available to answer questions, discuss the decision-making process, and receive comments and concerns.
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