JUNE 2020 - Dunwoody Reporter

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JUNE 2020 • VOL. 11 — NO. 6

Dunwoody Reporter WORTH KNOWING

Women veterans find online home P18

HEAD FOR THE HILLS PAGES 21-27

CELEBRATING THE CLASS OF 2020 PAGE 14

City Hall eases into limited reopening

Playing for the pandemic reopening

BY JOHN RUCH johnruch@reporternewspapers.net

AROUND TOWN

On pandemic politeness P20 PHIL MOSIER

ROBIN’S NEST

A crowd of roughly 100 people gather May 23 at the Shops of Dunwoody in Dunwoody Village, drawn by a band playing at Porter Brew & Que as a pandemic reopening event. The brewpub had reserved tables outdoors, while many others enjoyed a new open-container district in the Village that lets people wander and sit with drinks from any local establishment. The tables were spaced for social distancing, but many in the larger crowd did not observe distancing. The city later said the band and seating lacked permits. The restaurant’s manager said he believed city officials gave the OK and that the event was a boost for the business in the pandemic struggles.

A hike down memory lane P19

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Restaurants seek elbow room for distanced dining BY JOHN RUCH johnruch@reporternewspapers.net

From picnic tables in parking lots to dining on strips of shopping center landscaping, restaurants returning after pandemic shutdowns are looking for room to spread out for social distancing. And no one knows how long that will last. Or how long it can last. Can restaurants survive with the lower capacity as they spread tables apart until the pandemic is

contained or a vaccine is found? How long will neighbors and city inspectors have patience for seating snatched from parking spaces and sidewalks? Experts and local restaurateurs say the pandemic could push the industry to a trend of building in more outdoor dining and drive-thrus. “As a longer-term trend, I think ‘alfresco’ and outdoor seating has always been a See RESTAURANT on page 31

City Hall began a limited reopening with “skeletal staff” handling Municipal Court payments for four hours on May 18. Dunwoody became the first City Hall in Reporter communities to make a reopening move after two months of pandemic closures. It also came the same day that neighboring Chamblee announced its return to live City Council meetings last week went wrong when an attendee — reportedly a councilmember, according to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution — later proved to have COVID-19. That could affect thinking about Dunwoody City Council’s similar in-person comeback, which would happen no earlier than mid-June, says one councilmember. In Dunwoody, the experiment is part of a first phase of reopening City Hall at 4800 Ashford-Dunwoody Road, which had been closed to the public since March 14. Now its doors are open 8 a.m. to noon Monday through Friday, though residents are still encouraged to use online and phone services if possible. Limited reopening of certain park amenities began the same day. The city says that a second phase with fewer restrictions could follow on June 1 if all goes well. “City Hall opened today with a skeletal staff of about 10, with most working onsite for only part of the day,” said Dunwoody city spokesperson Jennifer Boettcher in an email. “They worked remotely, along with the majority of staff members, during the See CITY on page 6


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