Dunwoody keeps property tax rate flat
Homesteaded residences should see no increase from city
By HAYDEN SUMLIN hayden@appenmedia.com
DUNWOODY, Ga. — Dunwoody overcame technical difficulties at City Hall July 8 to hear public comment on the 2024 property tax rate and new definitions in city code.
The audiovisual system failed over the weekend, leaving everyone using hand-held microphones throughout the July 8 City Council meeting.
In its major piece of business, the City Council voted unanimously to approve the property tax rate, maintaining a levy of 3.040 mills, the same as last year.
With a growth in Dunwoody’s tax digest – the overall value of property – this year, state law requires Dunwoody advertise a rollback millage rate
that reflects a levy that would produce the same amount of revenue as last year.
Mayor Lynn Deutsch said the city advertised public hearings for a tax increase of 5.81 percent over the rollback rate because of the requirement.
Robert Wittenstein, a former city councilman, said he doesn’t pay enough in city taxes. Wittenstein said the city should be working to raise the millage rate, capped in the city’s charter, to continue proving services.
“The cost of providing city services has gone up every year,” he said. “My Dunwoody city taxes have not gone up to pay for that.”
Wittenstein references the city’s freeze on the values of homestead properties, which is more
See RATE, Page 5
City councilmembers earn state leadership, training recognition
DUNWOODY, Ga. — The Georgia Municipal Association elected Dunwoody Councilman Tom Lambert to its Board of Directors during its annual convention June 20-25 in Savannah.
The city announced Lambert is the first sitting councilman elected to the 62-member Board of Directors. He holds a seat for the 2024-25 term as the District Three President – East, covering all of DeKalb and Rockdale counties.
Based in Atlanta, the Georgia Municipal Association is a voluntary nonprofit that provides legislative advocacy, educational, employee benefit and consulting services to all of Georgia’s 537 cities.
The 62-member board, composed of city officials across Georgia, governs the organization.
GMA CEO and Executive Director Larry Hanson leads program implementation with a staff of more than 100 full-time employees.
“We are pleased to have Councilmember Lambert serving in this leadership position,” Hanson said. “Councilmember Lambert is well respected by his colleagues, has a wealth of experience and insight and will provide excellent guidance to the GMA Board of Directors.”
GMA’s Board of Directors provides general oversight and guidance to the 536-member organization, adopts governance policies and advocates for cities’ legislative interests at the state and federal levels.
Lambert said he’s honored and grateful for the
CITY OF DUNWOODY/PROVIDED
Dunwoody resident Bill McCahan stands with elected officials, family and friends at the June 8 City Council meeting. McCahan and his wife Louise have spent decades volunteering hundreds of hours with local organizations and city boards.
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Six-car crash on I-285 kills one driver
DUNWOODY, Ga. — Dunwoody Police responded to a six-car crash on I-285 westbound at Chamblee Dunwoody Road July 8 around 4:43 a.m.
Dunwoody Police posted on X, formerly Twitter, around 6:15 a.m. to warn commuters along I-285 of heavy delays throughout morning commutes.
Officers said they arrived to find six vehicles involved in a crash.
The first collision involved three cars.
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All crime reports published by Appen Media Group are compiled from public records. Neither the law enforcement agencies nor Appen Media Group implies any guilt by publishing these names. None of the persons listed has been convicted of the alleged crimes.
Officers arrest resident for repeatedly calling 911
DUNWOODY, Ga. — Dunwoody Police arrested a 22-year-old female resident July 3 after she called 911 five times without an emergency.
Dispatch told officers that the woman was calling 911 and screaming but would not say what her emergency was.
An officer said he called the woman while en route to her residence and recorded it on his bodycam. The officer said the caller told him she was bored and did not have an emergency.
While the officer was on his way, he said the woman continued to call 911 and hang up without identifying her emergency.
According to the officer, he has delt with the same woman before.
The officer said he called the woman and asked her to exit her residence. The woman then said she was not coming out and began calling the Black officer racial slurs.
The woman refused to come to the door, saying she was in Alpharetta, after repeated requests from dispatch and officers.
Officers said Dunwoody Police were able
A short time after the initial crash, a second collision caused a chain reaction with several other vehicles.
Officers said one of the drivers involved in the initial crash was outside their vehicle, struck during the second collision and succumbed to their injuries on scene.
Officers said they transported five other people involved in the crash to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.
to ping the woman’s phone to her residence.
Eventually, the officer left the residence and secured a warrant for unlawful conduct during a 911 call.
The officer returned to the residence, spoke with the landlord and arrested the female resident.
Officers transported her to the DeKalb County Jail.
Dalton man arrested for meth possession
DUNWOODY, Ga. — Dunwoody Police arrested a 33-year-old Dalton man July 4 at the Hyatt Place hotel after employees reported him for trespassing.
Officers said they spoke with hotel staff around 12:30 a.m. about an unidentified man who would not leave the property after multiple requests.
An employee asked officers to have the suspect, who did not pay for a room, removed and criminally trespassed from the hotel.
Officers said they found the suspect locked in a stall in the lobby bathroom.
When officers asked the man to exit, they said he started shuffling around within the stall.
An officer said he stood on an adjacent stall and saw the suspect throw items in the toilet.
The officer said the suspect flushed the toilet when he saw him and exited the stall.
Officers arrested the suspect after he would not identify himself.
None of the victims have been identified.
Sgt. Michael Cheek, public information officer for Dunwoody Police, said the crash is under investigation and anyone with additional information should contact Officer William Smith at william.smith@dunwoodyga.gov.
For updates, check www.appenmedia. com.
During a search, officers said they found just under 1 gram of suspected methamphetamine and a glass pipe in his possession. A field test of the substance came back positive for meth.
Officers transported the suspect to jail for obstruction, possession of drug paraphernalia and possession of a controlled substance.
The suspect was also trespassed from the hotel, officers said.
Woman’s wallet stolen during visit to restaurant
DUNWOODY, Ga. — Dunwoody Police responded to a pickpocket call July after a 30-year-old Atlanta woman reported more than $1,300 in fraudulent charges.
The victim said she went to Perimeter Mall around 5:30 p.m. June 30 to sit at the Cheesecake Factory bar. After an hour there, she said she received notification from Navy Federal Credit Union of a $1,364 charge at Nordstrom Rack.
When the victim looked in her purse, she found her wallet missing.
The victim said she canceled all her credit cards and only knew of the one fraudulent charge.
Speaking with officers July 1, she said she contacted an employee at Nordstrom Rack for security footage of the purchase. The Nordstrom Rack employee told the victim that Dunwoody Police can retrieve the footage.
Officers said the investigation continues.
Union soldiers continued path to Atlanta, Decatur, July 1864
In the previous Past Tense, 20,000 Union soldiers marched through Dunwoody on July 17, 1864, on their way to Atlanta and Decatur.
After fording the Chattahoochee River, they followed the railroad bed of the future Roswell Railroad from Sandy Springs to where today’s Nandina Lane forks off Chamblee Dunwoody Road.
Along the way, they stopped at the home and well of Obediah and Salina Copeland, now the site of Dunwoody Springs Elementary School, for water and food. The story passed down from Salina to her granddaughter Lee Eula Copeland tells of a Union lieutenant returning one bag of food to the family when Salina begged him not to take everything.
At the fork of Chamblee Dunwoody Road and Nandina Lane, Dodge’s 16th Army Corps moved right, heading to what is now Ashford Dunwoody Road. At Nancy’s Creek, there was a skirmish between Confederate Colonel Dibrell’s brigade of Wheeler’s Cavalry and Dodge’s 16th Army Corps. Dibrell’s brigade was “driven across the creek and beyond Old Cross Keys,” according to a Georgia Historical marker located along Nancy Creek near Marist School. (Georgia Historical Marker, Dodge’s 16th A.C. Camp on Nancy’s Creek, July 17, 1864)
Cox’s Division, Schofield’s 23rd Army Corps crossed the Chattahoochee at the mouth of Sope Creek at Isom’s Ferry on July 8, 1864. They remained near Isom’s Ferry until July 17. Isom’s Ferry became Heard’s Ferry in 1868, when John Heard took over its operation.
When they finally moved, Hascall’s Division of the 23rd took Long Island Drive to Mt. Paran Road. Cox’s Division turned southeast on Johnson Bridge Road toward Nancy Creek and Old Cross Keys. (Georgia Historical Marker, General J. C. Cox’s division to Old Cross Keys)
Old Cross Keys was where Johnson Ferry Road met present-day Ashford Dunwoody Road. There was a crossroads settlement with a post office near the intersection. Federal dispatches, maps and reports of military operations in 1864 identify the location as Old Cross Keys.
HISTORICAL MARKER DATABASE WEBSITE
This Georgia Historical marker describes events of July 1864 along Nancy Creek at Ashford Dunwoody Road. It is located near Marist School.
Dodge’s 16th and Schofield’s 23rd met briefly at this crossroads on July 18. (Georgia Historical Marker, Old Cross Keys Marker)
Schofield’s 23rd went to the right on Peachtree Road and turned left on what is now Briarwood Road. The 16th Army Corps turned along what is now Chamblee Tucker Road and Shallowford Road on their way to Decatur.
Gen. William T. Sherman spent the night of July 18, 1864, at the home of Samuel House at Ashford Dunwoody Road and Peachtree Road. The home still stands and has been part of the Peachtree Golf Club since 1948. The House family had abandoned the home in anticipation of the Union Army’s arrival. Sherman issued a dispatch identifying his location. “I am at Sam House’s, a brick house well known, and near Old Cross Keys.”
These are just some of the events in the area during the month of July 1864, before the Union Army reached Decatur and Atlanta. In addition to the information provided by the Georgia Historical Society and their markers, this history came from “Charged with Treason, the ordeal of 400 mill workers during military operations in Roswell, Georgia, 1864 to 1865” by Michael Hitt and “The Campaign for Atlanta” by William R. Scaife.
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
GDOT creates virtual voyage through I-285 Express Lanes
By HAYDEN SUMLIN hayden@appenmedia.com
NORTH METRO ATLANTA — Residents now have a virtual glimpse of what their commute through the Perimeter will look like after the state completes the I-285 Top End Express Lanes project. It’s wild.
A bird’s-eye view included in a GDOT video shows the elevated express lanes – two on each side of I-285 – crossing over the Chattahoochee River, then above Roswell Road and Northside Drive in Sandy Springs. The project ties into new express lanes at Ga. 400, also elevated above the main thoroughfare. Northbound passengers could almost fist bump the King Building. Southbound express lanes run to Glenridge Connector.
The elevated express lanes are 50 to 60 feet above the general-purpose lanes.
David Hannon, with HNTB engineering, is working with GDOT to deliver its Major Mobility Investment Program, designed to address traffic hotspots throughout the state.
Hannon said during a virtual Q&A session July 9 that the I-285 Top End Express Lanes project will be constructed in sections. It will run from South Atlanta Road in Cobb County through Fulton County to Henderson Road in DeKalb County, adding two new, barrier-separated express lanes in both directions of I-285 and Ga. 400, alongside the existing general-purpose lanes.
As part of the I-285 Express Lanes project, the work includes new express lanes on Ga. 400 from just south of Glenridge Connector to the North Springs MARTA station in Sandy Springs. From that point, the work
Experience Matters. Because
GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION/PROVIDED
details on the project’s webpage, Collins said presented materials are subject to change.
To submit an online comment card, visit survey123.arcgis.com. Comments can be submitted until July 29.
Information shared at in-person meetings is also available in the project’s virtual meeting room. To access the interactive meeting room, visit 285topend.scoutfeedback.com.
Where express lanes sit
Heading east after New Northside Drive, the I-285 Top End Express Lanes return to street level to allow access to motorists traveling in both directions.
The I-285 Westbound Auxiliary Lane Extension, from Riverside Drive to Roswell Road, accommodates another street-level section, which sees the express lanes passing under the Mount Vernon Highway bridge.
merges into the jurisdiction of the Ga. 400 Express Lanes project, stretching 16 miles northward from the station into Forsyth County.
Bids on the Ga. 400 Express Lanes project are under state review.
The Major Mobility Investment Program includes the I-285 Express Lane Project, designed to relieve congestion in Metro Atlanta; the I-85 widening project that would relieve congestion near Braselton in Gwinnett County; the I-75 commercial vehicle lanes project to improve traffic flow in Macon; and the I-16/I-95 interchange project that would deal with congestion in Savannah.
Hannon said the I-285 Express Lanes construction will be segmented because of its large scope.
The project webpage divides the
proposed project into four sections, though the specific boundaries are not yet finalized: Top End, Eastside, Westside and Ga. 400. The delivery of three bridge replacements, completion of the I-285 Westbound Auxiliary Lane Extension and wrap-up of Transform I-285/Ga. 400 are all required in advance.
Hannon said some sections would be at-grade and others will be elevated.
To access the project visualization, visit youtu.be/3ay4ozwwPx0.
How to give input
Kyle Collins, GDOT communications strategist for public-private partnerships, served as the moderator for the two-hour discussion with Metro Atlantans.
Major I-285 intersections with I-75, I-85 and Ga. 400 show some divided, elevated express lanes to manage vehicles heading along different routes.
At the Mount Vernon Highway bridge over Ga. 400, there is an access point to the elevated express lanes.
As the Transform I-285 project crosses into DeKalb County, there is an access point at Perimeter Center Parkway.
After Chamble Dunwoody Road, the express lanes return to street level with access points before elevating after North Peachtree Road. As a part of the project, Cotillion and Savoy drives will be converted to one-way traffic.
Dunwoody City Councilman John Heneghan said the lack of a connection to Peachtree Boulevard (Ga. 141) may leave his constituents dealing with increased traffic congestion.
The I-285 Top End Express Lanes project visualization shows elevated roadways over the Chattahoochee River at the Cobb-Fulton border. The project’s express lanes vary between street-level and elevated roadways to allow access throughout the corridor. See GDOT, Page 12
“The purpose is sharing key details about the latest design concept and draft environmental impact statement, or DEIS, for the project,” he said. “Please keep in mind this is a preliminary design concept, so it’s not yet final.”
While residents can view design
Heneghan said a trip to an Atlanta Braves game from Peachtree Corners, for example, may see drivers cut through Dunwoody to gain access to the express
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restrictive than the statewide floating homestead exemption on ballots in November.
Whether or not state law passes, Dunwoody’s law will still be in effect, staff said.
More than 80 percent of Dunwoody homeowners, like Wittenstein, have a permanent freeze of their home’s value for tax purposes.
Because of the restrictive freeze and 1-mill homestead exemption, the city says homesteaded properties should see no increase in their municipal tax bill this year.
Commercial properties and nonhomesteaded residences will likely face an increase in city taxes. While the city kept the same property tax rate as last year, homeowners who are not homesteaded do not qualify for the 1-mill reduction or restrictive freeze. About 16 percent of homes in Dunwoody are not homesteaded.
The freeze also goes away if a homeowner sells, puts in a pool or adds a second story, which is rare. When someone buys a home in Dunwoody, they have to apply for the homestead exemption and are eligible for the 1-mill reduction and city freeze. The advertised 5.81 percent increase in tax revenue over the rollback millage rate is an aggregate of the county’s reassessment in Dunwoody.
Three other residents joined Wittenstein in asking for higher city taxes.
At the first two public hearings on the tax rate, June 26-27, some residents spoke against an increase over the rollback rate.
City updates codes
Because of legal vulnerability in city code related to drug rehabilitation centers, Dunwoody has enacted moratoriums on the facilities, which expire Aug. 14.
As a solution, the city now defines community residences and recovery communities as places that treat disabled citizens. Personal care homes, supportive living communities, mental health facilities and drug rehabilitation centers are classified as either a community residence or recovery community based on the number of residents.
The proposed text amendment includes 1,000-foot buffers from schools, and facilities must be a half-mile from one another.
Mayor Lynn Deutsch clarified that the public hearing is for a code change, not a rezoning of any parcel.
members, said empirical studies show drug rehabilitation facilities have a negative effect on property values and quality of life in residential areas.
“I believe that the concerns of our members are well-founded,” she said. “We ask that the city take them into consideration.”
Planning and Zoning Manager Paul Leonhardt said the current proposal provides pathways for small and large facilities while preventing clustering and maintaining protections for community input.
Wittenstein said the reason he came to the meeting was to speak about the code change.
“I think this ordinance falls short in how we ought to be treating the most vulnerable among us,” he said. “I encourage you to make some changes.”
He also said most care homes are good neighbors, and some concerns about nearby facilities are unfounded. Wittenstein also opposed the special land use permit required for facilities in residential and community areas.
City staff said drug rehabilitation and care facilities rarely receive code enforcement complaints.
After objections from Councilman John Heneghan to new code definitions, Mayor Deutsch asked Leonhardt to address questions before a vote next meeting.
City recognizes stalwart
Councilwoman Stacey Harris led a special recognition of Dunwoody resident Bill McCahan in front of a packed crowd of his friends and family at City Hall.
McCahan and his wife Louise are longtime community volunteers, involved in Kingswood Church, Citizens for Dunwoody, numerous committees, the Dunwoody Homeowners Association and Preservation Trust.
Harris said she’s proud to call the McCahans her friends after they welcomed her family to Dunwoody 20 years ago.
Mayor Deutsch thanked McCahan for his volunteer efforts with the city and commended his mentorship.
“Your civic leadership has made a real difference for Dunwoody,” Deutsch said. “Our council and our community are so incredibly grateful for your service.”
McCahan thanked the many people in the room, including the mayor and longtime Councilmember Heneghan for their dedication to the city.
“We became a city long before we were a city,” he said.
After laughing along with McCahan’s remarks, the entire room gave him a standing ovation.
Kathy Adams-Carter, speaking for Dunwoody North Civic Association
“Bill McCahan is a class act, a true gentleman who has worked tirelessly for a better community,” Heneghan said after the meeting. “We are privileged to have him call Dunwoody his home.” Continued from Page 1
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Healthy approaches to using social media
listening to music you like, journaling, or art can all be other forms of selfcare.
Social media plays a central role in how we communicate, share information, and connect with others. However, there can often be cons to social media and our use of it as well. It is essential to approach social media use mindfully to maintain mental and emotional well-being.
Setting boundaries is crucial. It is helpful to establish specific times of day or specific amounts of time for checking social media to prevent it from dominating your entire day. This can help prevent feelings of overwhelm or anxiety that can arise from constant connectivity. Social media can be a great way to relax or distract from stressful situations, but there are also many other ways to recharge. Going for a walk, watching a movie/tv show,
It's easy to fall into the trap of comparing yourself to others or feeling inadequate based on others’ content. Remember that social media often presents a skewed version of reality, showcasing highlights rather than the full spectrum of human experience. If you find yourself feeling negatively impacted by social media, consider taking breaks or unfollowing accounts. Lastly, use social media as a tool for positive connection and selfexpression. Engage in communities that align with your interests or values and participate in meaningful conversations. By approaching social media with intention and self-awareness, you can harness its potential to enhance your life while safeguarding your mental health.
Brought to you by - Maddie McGarrah, M. Ed., Summit Counseling Center
Education solutions for every mind, every age
Brought to
by - Eaton Academy
Eaton Academy offers multiple programs, both in person and online, since a “one size fits all” approach to education is not effective in today’s world.
Academic Programs
The full-day K-12 school with its 5:1 student-to-teacher ratio allows instructors to address students’ individual learning styles. Through the use of STEAM-related activities and multisensory instruction, students achieve academic and personal success. The challenging, college-prep curriculum is delivered in a safe, nurturing environment.
For students with more significant academic and social needs, the Pace Program helps them develop life skills and independent living strategies. This approach is perfect for students on the spectrum, those with developmental delays, and individuals with other scholastic challenges. Pace students follow the traditional school day and work to develop greater self-sufficiency and independence, on their way to earning a high school diploma.
The Independent Study Program (ISP), tailored to students’ schedules and academic needs, permits individuals to work at their own pace. The tutorial setting
enables aspiring athletes and performers to work toward graduation while following their dreams. Some students enroll in ISP
EATON ACADEMY
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A Challenging Approach to Education that Features:
• STEAM-Oriented Classrooms
• Attention to Individual Needs
• Customized College-Prep Programs for K-12
• 5:1 Student: Teacher Ratio
• Independent Study Classes for Credit
• Supportive, Nurturing Environment
• Post-Graduate Options Available
to accelerate their scholastic work; others seek academic remediation. ISP arranges the one-to-one sessions on a schedule that accommodates the students’ needs for flexibility. Sessions can be in person or online.
Post-Graduate Programs
LEAP is designed to help individuals strengthen their life skills in order to achieve greater independence. Participants benefit from job readiness training, life skill development, and scholastic support.
The LIFE program places young adults into their own apartments. Participants meet with a LIFE coach several times each
week for support with topics such as budgeting, hygiene, roommate relations, and housekeeping.
Supported Employment prepares young adults for the workplace. Assistance is given with resume writing, applying for positions, and keeping a job.
College Exploratory offers individuals college level, non-credit courses so they can gauge their readiness for university life.
Eaton Academy is the ideal place for families to discover education options and independent living solutions. Whatever students need, Eaton works to create the perfect education solution for them.
GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION/PROVIDED
Xavier James, Georgia Department of Transportation’s public-private project manager, gives an overview of the Top End I-285 Express Lanes project during a virtual Q&A session July 9.
GDOT:
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lanes.
Heneghan posted on his blog July 9 with links to his thoughts about the project going back to 2019 and communications from 2022 between the city and GDOT.
Currently, there is no connection at Peachtree Boulevard in the project plans.
Heneghan said the mayor and Dunwoody City Council are looking to push the eventual developer to add one.
Project timeline and cost
In March, GDOT released requests for feedback from private-sector entities that may be interested in financing the Top End I-285 Express Lanes project.
The public-private partnership, called P3, means state agencies tap developers to provide most of the funding and financing for the project.
HNTB’s Hannon said the expected
Council:
Continued from Page 1
opportunity to represent and advocate for the interests of District Three and Dunwoody.
“Decisions made at both the state and federal level can have a tremendous impact on our city,” Lambert said. “I am proud and excited to provide leadership and a voice on the issues of greatest importance to Dunwoody and other cities throughout Georgia.”
Also during the annual convention, Dunwoody City Councilman Joe Seconder received the Harold F. Holtz Municipal Training Institute Certificate of Recognition.
The institute, a cooperative effort
project cost is more than $10 billion.
“With a public-private partnership, the state only has to procure a fraction of that,” he said. “The developer is using financing and their own equity to fund the rest of the project.”
The idea is that the private entity will be reimbursed through toll revenue from the express lanes, Hannon said.
There are a lot of specifics depending on the private entity that finances the project. Questions, like whether they will maintain the entirety of I-285 corridor and not just the express lanes, are still up in the air.
The locations of sound barriers, the topic residents asked about most, are tentatively set, and will depend on the financier.
Hannon, addressing the project’s timeline, said construction is anticipated to begin sometime in 2027.
“It will give us enough time to procure a developer for the project, and then give them time to close financing,” Hannon said. “The expected construction duration for all phases is 8-10 years.”
of GMA and the University of Georgia, provides a series of training courses for city officials.
Hanson said it’s an important milestone.
“We congratulate Joe Seconder, and his dedication to professional development is an inspiration and a testament to the valuable resources and quality of service we strive to provide in local government,” Hanson said.
To receive a certificate, Seconder completed 42 hours of training, including at least 18 hours from required lists.
“During these courses, I learn best practices for municipal government and network with fellow local elected officials statewide, which helps me address the needs of the citizens of Dunwoody more effectively,” Seconder said.
Retirement is a lie when you get there
I am not one of those folks who plans a lot or sets many goals. I generally deal with life by moving forward and managing stuff as I encounter it – “ready, fire, aim.” It has served me well all these years. Almost 100 percent of my major “life decisions” were less than planned and frequently simply spontaneous decisions that generally worked out well.
Christina and I near literal retirement – as in 100 percent no working. Right now, we still are minimally involved in our media company, but soon even that minimal involvement will cease as we turn the company over completely to our sons, Hans and Carl. They have basically been running it on their own anyway for the past few years – and doing a better job than we ever did. I do hope to continue to write some and will probably continue to help out some with circulation, but that will be about it.
I have friends who counted down the days until they retired,
like counting down the last several thousand days, one at a time. I have never understood that. Like, how awful would it be to be doing something that you really didn’t like that much – for years? And I also recall how many folks that I know who – the first day of retirement – suddenly see the sun shining, the grass greening, and finally discover that pot of gold at the end of the rainbow. I don’t get that either. I mean, I get it, but I can’t relate to it very much.
It is not that I didn’t make any changes as I transitioned from “working” to “retiring.” I did make a few. I made the monumental decision to never, ever be in a hurry again – not for anything or anyone. I no longer run late yellow lights. I stopped speeding. I sometimes even turned down a road or two I didn’t know just because it looked interesting. And ironically enough, I almost completely stopped being late for anything.
When I stopped being in a hurry, I discovered that I also stopped getting mad or upset, generally –especially while out driving from point “A” to point “B.”
And that was a good thing, because coming to full stops at stop signs, driving the speed limit, and generally driving peacefully
NOTICE OF COMMUNITY MEETING
2480 and 2526 Mt Vernon Rd. and 2495 Jett Ferry Rd.
Applicant: Branch Mount Vernon Associates LP
Reason for Meeting: Applicant is seeking a rezoning to allow for a more diverse tenant mix in existing buildings
Location of Meeting: former Lidl/Sprouts store at 2480 Mt. Vernon Road, Dunwoody, GA 30338
Date and Time: July 31, 2024 at 6:00pm
DEATH NOTICES
Edna Dahlgren, 96, of Roswell, passed away on June 30, 2024. Arrangements by Northside Chapel Funeral Directors & Crematory.
Janet Frazer, 84, of Alpharetta, passed away on July 7, 2024. Arrangements by Northside Chapel Funeral Directors & Crematory.
Eric Graves, 55, of Alpharetta, passed away on June 27, 2024. Arrangements by Northside Chapel Funeral Directors & Crematory.
Joel Kummins, 81, of Milton, passed away on July 3, 2024. Arrangements by Northside Chapel Funeral Directors & Crematory.
and not in a hurry tended to upset other drivers out there. Sometimes their faces turned red. Their horns blared, as if their hurry was my problem or my concern – and, well, it wasn’t. And I just didn’t care so much, especially since the vast majority of them weren’t in a hurry for a reason anyway, except of course the parents with multiple young kids. Being in a perpetual hurry was just how they live. And they wonder why they are on blood pressure medicine or why they never seem to have enough time. I did make a couple strategic decisions about my time and how I use it. I finally severed most of my connections to social media, including deleting my Facebook and Instagram accounts. My next step is to go the rest of the way and figure out how to cut, or greatly reduce, my remaining “screen use.”
At this point the majority of that time is spent on news sites, checking email and texts. Surely, that should not be hard to cut back on. I also have a theory that one of the reasons we all over-expose ourselves to “screen time” is that it gives us something to do with our hands. I remember when I first quit smoking that a huge problem was what to do with my hands if I was not holding a cigarette. I think the
NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING
phones are a similar thing.
So, anyway, I do find myself making a few changes for “retirement,” but honestly, it is not like “retirement” is much different than “work” for me – hence “retirement is a lie.”
I stay just as busy as before, but in different ways. I still run out of time to do stuff I want to do, hence my work on cutting screen time. I am spending more time with our grandchildren, something that gives me great pleasure. And while I have worked really hard to manage how I spend my time, I continue to run a time deficit.
I think I want to invent a “retirement theme” for myself. That theme is probably going to be something along the lines of “back to analog.” I want to distance myself as far as I can from anything digital and embrace more real/ human experiences – person-toperson encounters; time alone doing nothing; time spent in silence; more time spent reading (printed) books, especially those classics I have put off reading for decades. And yes, for sure, I actually do hope to do some more hiking, but when, where, and how far, well, I’ll probably know those answers when I start walking. I am in no hurry.
The City of Dunwoody City Council will meet Monday August 12, 2024 at 6:00 p.m. in the Council Chambers at Dunwoody City Hall, which is located at 4800 Ashford Dunwoody Road, Dunwoody, Georgia 30338 for the purpose of due process of the following:
Text amendments to the Code of the City of Dunwoody for Chapter 16 –Land Development Regulations, Article IV and other articles, the general purpose of which is to provide streetscape design standards for certain areas of the city and for other purposes.
Should you have any questions or comments, please contact the City of Dunwoody Community Development Department at 678-382-6800. Staff is available to answer questions, discuss the decision-making process, and receive comments and concerns.
Jeanne Motley, 77, of Roswell, passed away on July 8, 2024. Arrangements by Northside Chapel Funeral Directors & Crematory.
Nancy Riemenschneider, 85, of Roswell, passed away on July 1, 2024. Arrangements by Northside Chapel Funeral Directors & Crematory.
RAY APPEN Publisher Emeritus ray@appenmedia.com
North Fulton Community Charities, a non-profit in Roswell, Georgia, is seeking a Part Time Donor Operations Associate I.
This entry level hourly position is available now, averages 28 hours per week, and requires the ability to lift up to 75 pounds and work outside during the day.
NFCC have been serving individuals and families in the North Fulton area for 40+ years. Our Mission “To Ease Hardship and Foster Financial Stability in our Community”. We provide opportunities for the whole community to thrive. NFCC is committed to provide professional development and pathways for advancement to all members of the NFCC team. To view the complete job descriptions, please visit our website at https://nfcchelp.org/work-at-nfcc/. If you wish to apply, please send your resume to mjallad@nfcchelp.org .
EEO Statement: NFCC is an Equal Opportunity Employer. NFCC does not discriminate based on race, religion, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, non-disqualifying physical or mental disabilities, national origin, veteran status, or any other basis protected by the law. All employment is decided based on qualifications, merit, and business needs.
