Homestead Exemptions Due

A reminder to file for a homestead exemption with the city of Dunwoody by March 1. You may file online at http://dunwoodyga.gov/. You will be asked to include your Parcel ID and Pin number, which can be found on the DeKalb Tax site, and the clicking on the link that says Please click here for Basic Homestead and Property Assessment Freeze application.

Don't forget!

World Famous Fish Fry Starts Wednesday

The Knights of Columbus "World Famous Fish Fry" starts this Wednesday from 5-8 pm at the social hall at All Saints Church. Everyone is welcome to join the Knights for the most inexpensive dine-out family meal available! The fish frys continue every Friday night through April 3. Take out is also available.
The menu and cost is the same as last year:

• Fried cod, french fries or macaroni & cheese, cole slaw and hush puppies - $7
• Broiled cod, red potatoes and cole slaw or green beans - $7
• Salmon, red potatoes and cole slaw or green beans - $8
• Kids fried cod, french fries and macaroni & cheese - $4
• Clam Chowder - $2
• Beer or wine available for a $2 or $3 donation

All meals include iced tea or coffee.

Special Friend's Day

If you missed Special Friend's Day for first graders at Vanderlyn on Friday - you missed a lot! Not only did you miss a wonderful spaghetti lunch, but a great time with the kids. I can't wait to do it again (and as you can see, neither can Betsy Wagner - who cleaned her plate!).

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And you thought we had unsightly power lines in Springfield! The picture below is from India. Talk about an electric atmosphere!

Springfield Cub Scouts (and Parents) Get Muddy at The Lost Sea

Cub Scout Pack 434, including Victor Chiles, Andrew Mills, Kolby Rothbard and Jack Fiscella, spent part of their weekend caving at The Lost Sea caverns in Sweetwater, Tennessee. One of the highlights of the trip was a boat ride on the 4 acre underground lake, which is the largest in the country. The lake is stocked with some of the largest Rainbow trout you've ever seen.

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Kudos go out to Nancy Mills, who not only crawled through some of the tightest crevices of the cavern with Andrew and Talley, but was a trooper as she joined the boys - and girls - for a camp out in the cave (keep in mind there was no running water).

-And a big pat on the back to Trey Chiles, who selflessly skipped watching the Nationwide race at Daytona, to go spelunking with Victor and Macon (he did record it).-
A great time was had by all. No injuries to report!

Happy Valentine's Day, Congrats!

Happy Valentine's Day!!!

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Congratulations go out to Candy and Taylor Sterling, who welcomed into this world baby daughter Madison, born 12:19 am on Feb. 12., weighing in at 8 lbs, 3 ounces!

Dunwoody High Loses Football Coach

By TODD HOLCOMB
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

James Teter, who led Dunwoody to its first region football title in 15 years last season, will be the new head coach at Sequoyah in Canton, replacing Sid Maxwell. Teter was 41-34 in seven seasons at Dunwoody despite an 0-10 start in 2002. His 2008 team went 12-1 and won Region 5-AAA. Sequoyah was 10-2 last season under Maxwell, who left to start the program at the new Lambert High in Forsyth County. Sequoyah and Dunwoody have employed a similar Wing-T offense.
“They’ve got lot of tradition,” Teter said. “Coach Maxwell has done a great job with it. It’s a good opportunity to go up there and keep the tradition going. I appreciate the school giving me the opportunity.”
Teter cited family reasons for the move. He and his wife live in Canton and have three school-age children.
Teter indicated some of his Dunwoody staff might be invited to join him, but he wouldn’t know if teaching spots were available until meeting with Sequoyah officials Wednesday.
Teter met with Dunwoody players Monday for the last time. “We’ve done a lot of good things here,” Teter said. “When I first came, it was down a little bit. People respect our program now. It’s set up now for the next person to come in and do well. Some good kids are coming back.”
Teter’s hiring won’t be official until school board approval March 19.

A True Hero

In a day and age when many of our elected officials and sports stars let us down on a daily basis, it is rare to find a genuine American hero. When we do find one, we should not only celebrate their accomplishments, but learn from their experience.

US Airways pilot Charles Sullenberger is not only a hero because of his actions that saved the lives of more than 150 people, but he is a hero for what he did prior to that fateful day and what he's done since.

Sullenberger was a graduate of the United States Air Force Academy, who later served his country as a fighter pilot for the U.S. Air Force, attaining the rank of captain. By all accounts, he has been exemplary in all facets of his life.

Since his now famous incident, Sullenberger, a native Texan, has conducted himself with a sense of class and dignity that defies today's society. He has taken little credit for his courageous acts, and has shunned the spotlight. He did reemerge in the eye of the public this weekend by sitting down for an interview with 60 minutes. It was truly must-see TV! If you missed it, click here and then click on the small video boxes in the middle of the screen. All 30 minutes are well worth your time, and then some.

DHA Meets New Principal, Discusses High School Renovations and Billboards

The Dunwoody Homeowners Association was introduced to the principal at the new 4th/5th grade academy during Sunday night's meeting. Jonathan Clark, who's been an assistant principal at Dunwoody High School, says he's not only excited about the challenge of opening up a new school but the opportunity to stay in Dunwoody. Clark said the school is approximately 65 percent complete, and is scheduled to receive its certificate of occupancy in June. If you'd like to help choose the name of the new school and mascot, click here.


Dunwoody High School will be moving forward with its upgrades and expansion, thanks to the $21 million it secured through a recent county bond. The first priority is the HVAC system followed by 24,000 square feet of new classrooms and a 650-seat auditorium that can readily be converted to a theatre. The county initially said it would like the expansion to be vertical (adding a 3rd floor), but is willing to listen to the community on why horizontal might work best. Once a rendering is complete, the DeKalb County School System will present it to the community.


Remember the big uproar in December over a series of applications that were made to DeKalb County for the erection of 9 large billboards inside the city limits of Dunwoody? It's been more than two weeks since the city lifted its moratorium on new zoning requests, and the company that filed with DeKalb County has yet to file with the city of Dunwoody.

A New Listing in Springfield, Welcome to Dunwoody Sign

Although it is not technically in Springfield, the tri-level home at 1567 Womack Rd. that just came on the market this weekend is listed as being in our neighborhood. The four-bedroom, 3-full bathroom home is listed for $339,000. For more information, click on the link below.

Buyer Brief Page

The Dunwoody City Council meets again on Monday night at Dunwoody United Methodist Church, among the items on the agenda - the swearing in of the city's first three judges, and the presentation of the "Welcome to the City of Dunwoody" sign. The three judges are J. Antonio DelCampo, Hugh R. Powell, Jr. and Timothy W. Wolfe.

Vanderlyn Goes All Out, Bob on TV

It was Vanderlyn Visits Broadway Friday night at our elementary school with the auditorium packed with parents and friends soaking up the talents of our neighborhood children. Among the Springfield gang dazzling the standing room only gathering: Meredith Tjepkema, Isabelle Wagner, Richard Wagner, Maria Webber, Isabella Webber, Tally Mills and Andrew Hudson.

Kudos go out to Laura Hogan and Betsy Wagner for all their creative talent and hard work on the wonderful "Broadway" set, and to Laura and Dori Miller for their work on the variety show committee. (Click on photo to enlarge)

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Hopefully you'll be making the trek to your church of choice Sunday morning, but if you're not or if you have time before or after, and are bored out of your mind, I will be anchoring sports on CNN Headline News from 6 a.m. to 11 a.m. It's always a great release from the rigors of the real estate market.

Dunwoody Police Cars, Ground Hog Day, Super Bowl Comerical

Councilman Tom Taylor shows off the new Dunwoody Police Car.

If the new Dunwoody Police Department performs as well as its new cars look, we'll have an terrific police force! The new cars were on display at Saturday's job fair at the South Terraces on Perimeter Center Place. (See story)
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February 2 is Groundhog Day. If you put your faith in General Beauregard Lee of Lilburn groundhog fame, we will have an early spring. However, his Pennsylvania counterpart, Punxsutawney Phil, predicts six more weeks of winter. For the record, Phil has hit on 50 percent of his predictions, Gen. Lee on 33 percent!
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A tremendous Super Bowl Sunday night, with the Pittsburgh Steelers out-come backing the Arizona Cardinals 27-23. Best Super Bowl commercial? My favorite was the Troy Polamalu Coke Zero take off of the old Coke Mean Joe Greene ad from 1980.