Dunwoody Crier - February 19, 2026

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Turf repairs planned at Brook Run as city examines field scheduling

By DYANA BAGBY newsroom@appenmedia.com

DUNWOODY, Ga. — The Dunwoody City Council is on track to approve $88,000 to repair the artificial turf fields at Brook Run Park.

But, it’s still up in the air about which groups can use the fields during certain

times of the year as the council considers finalizing agreements with partner sports organizations.

The council learned at its Feb. 9 meeting that heavy use of the two baseball fields and the two multi-use fields has caused undue wear and tear on the artificial turf. The fields were built as part of a $7.5 million overhaul of Brook Run Park. The baseball

fields, adjacent to Peachtree Middle School, opened in 2018, and the multi-use fields, located at the back of the park, opened in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Parks and Recreation Director Rachel Waldron said fixes to the fields would include adding infill, such as sand and crumb rubber, to the artificial grass at all fields; making seam repairs at all fields; and

APPEN MEDIA FILE PHOTO

Volunteers prepare food at the All Saints Catholic Church kitchen in 2023 for the annual Lenten Fish Fry. Knights of Columbus officials say hundreds of volunteers come out each year to help pull off the popular event, which kicks off this year on Feb. 20.

maintenance around the baseball fields’ batters’ and catchers’ boxes. A start date on the work has not been finalized.

The city would use Special Local Option Sales Tax II to pay for the $88,000 contract to Advanced Sports Group to make the repairs, Waldron said.

Knights of Columbus preps for All Saints annual fish fry

By JILLIAN DIMARCO newsroom@appenmedia.com

DUNWOODY, Ga. — The Knights of Columbus at All Saints Catholic Church in Dunwoody is prepping to kick off its annual Lenten Fish Fry at the church gymnasium Feb. 20.

Organizers say the event, running every Friday from 5-8 p.m. through March 27, has grown in size and impact.

“We’re proud that this has become a community-wide event,” said Bob Mitchell, a team captain for the fish fry and a Knight since 1997. “It’s open to the public, everyone is welcome, and we’re proud to be one of the largest fish fries anywhere east of the Mississippi.”

Founded in 1979, All Saints Catholic Church has been a fixture in the community for decades. In the mid-1990s, members of the Knights of Columbus launched the fish fry as a way to support charitable giving, one of the

organization’s central missions.

Last year, the Knights served a record 8,500 meals. At peak times, nearly 1,500 meals have been served during a single night. Guests may dine in or take meals to go. Entrée options include fried cod or shrimp, as well as broiled cod or salmon. Side dishes include New England clam chowder, french fries, macaroni and cheese, roasted red potatoes, cole slaw, green beans and hush puppies. Kids meals are also available. Pricing varies by entrée, with discounted options available for children.

Desserts, beer, wine, soft drinks and bottled water are offered for cash-only purchase, while iced tea and water are complimentary.

“The camaraderie of the guests and the staff is what makes this event happen,” Mitchell said. “We couldn’t do this without them.”

Learn more at https://allsaintsdunwoody. org/programs-events/events/fish-fry/.

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DeKalb withdraws ICE resolution

By ZOE SEILER zoe@appenmedia.com

DECATUR, Ga. — After deferring a resolution condemning recent immigration enforcement efforts, the DeKalb County Commission withdrew a resolution condemning recent shootings in Minneapolis by immigration officers.

The failed resolution also stated that immigration tactical teams are not welcome in DeKalb.

Commissioner Ted Terry moved to approve, seconded by Commissioner Michelle Long Spears. Commissioner Robert Patrick made a substitute motion to withdraw the resolution from the agenda, and Commissioner Mereda Davis Johnson seconded.

The withdrawal passed 4-3. Terry, Spears and Commissioner LaDena Bolton opposed the withdrawal. Patrick, Davis Johnson and commissioners Nicole Massiah and Chakira Johnson voted to withdraw the resolution.

Some commissioners and staff raised concerns about the mixed messages the resolution could send, as the county lacks authority to control Immigration and Customs Enforcement or prevent the agency from coming to DeKalb County.

“If we withdraw this resolution, we are conceding, and we are becoming complicit,” Terry said. “What this federal administration is trying to do [is] take over our elections. They’re trying to deport 12 million people, most who came here legally and are caught up in a broken immigration system.”

AAPPEN PRESSCLU B

The resolution states that 20 percent of DeKalb County residents are foreignborn.

“The Board of Commissioners recognizes that the diversity of our population is the county’s greatest strength and that our economic vitality depends on the health, safety, and successful integration of all residents,” the resolution says.

Commissioner Terry introduced the resolution in response to the fatal shootings of Renee Good and Alex Pretti in Minneapolis by Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers. The resolution condemned the incidents stating that "Operation Metro Surge" tactical teams are unwanted and are a threat to the public peace in DeKalb County.

“These surges are occurring as Georgia becomes a national hub for mass detention, with the Folkston U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Processing Center expanding to become the largest such facility in the United States,” the resolution said.

Terry introduced a substitute resolution on Feb. 10 that also allocates $250,000 to Decide DeKalb to facilitate a stakeholder committee process of

local immigrant and refugee-serving organizations. The committee will identify and implement programs promoting health and basic safety, according to a news release.

“We are watching families lose their SNAP benefits because of their immigration status,” Terry said in the news release. “People are unable to go to work due to fear. People in our community are hurting. We not only need to speak out about what's happening but also put our money where our mouth is and support our neighbors through this time.”

The resolution included amendments from other commissioners:

• Declaring support for state Sen. Kim Jackson’s (D-District 41) Senate Bill 389, which says that federal officers cannot conceal their identity with masks.

• Supporting U.S. House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) and Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) in pushing policy demands that must be met by Feb. 13 to secure Democratic votes to fund the Department of Homeland Security. Their demands include that officers cannot enter private property without a judicial warrant, immigration agents cannot wear masks and would be required to display their agency, ID number and last name while on the job and prohibit enforcement near sensitive locations.

• Rejecting any new ICE facilities in DeKalb County. No plans have been made to construct immigration facilities in DeKalb, and the county has not expressed interest in a facility.

• Reaffirming DeKalb County’s status as a “Welcoming County.”

Residents continued to speak in support of the resolution. Jonathan Mann criticized the deferrals.

“Renee Good was shot in the head and killed on Jan. 7. On Jan. 13, this board received a non-binding resolution calling for the withdrawal of federal tactical teams in DeKalb County, like the one that took the life of Renee Good,” Mann said.

The resolution was deferred until Jan. 27. Pretti was shot by Border Patrol agents on Jan. 24. The item was then deferred to Feb. 3.

The commission held a special-called meeting on Feb. 3 following a committee of the whole meeting. Commissioners called the meeting to order, tabled its two agenda items and went into executive session.

“As best as I could tell, it evaporated before my eyes. As best I could tell, the special meeting was adjourned so that you could meet in executive session,” Mann said. “You [met] behind closed doors for roughly 2 ½ hours. Time enough, I would imagine, to consider the killings weeks earlier and DeKalb’s plans

for avoiding more of them here.”

The executive session was called to discuss personnel and litigation. Commissioners could not discuss the ICE resolution in executive session, but, with little discussion afterward, it appeared they had done so behind closed doors, Mann said.

“When you emerged, there wasn’t a debate or a conversation or even a word of explanation about what had happened or what might still be happening,” Mann said. “The issue was deferred until today.”

Cheryl Dudley worried that immigration officers would monitor the upcoming elections.

“These folks will make it where people, again, are too scared to vote,” she said. She added that ICE has been taken over by a federal administration that’s participating in unrestrained violence.

“They are abusive. They engage in racial profiling,” Dudley said. “They are not qualified. They are ignoring judges' orders. They are going into houses without warrants.”

Stephen Binney also criticized the deferrals. The resolution is non-binding and wouldn’t keep immigration officers out of DeKalb County, but Binney said it’s important for the commission to take a stand.

“Lying low in fear may be the smart play at this time, but it is not the right play. I do not like to live in fear, and I refuse to do so when I have a choice,” Binney said. “We all hope you on the commission feel the same way and will vote to support us while we all take a stand against racism, fascism and stand for freedom.”

Nicholas Robson, a senior at Druid Hills High School, asked what steps the commission plans to take to ensure that every student, regardless of immigration status, has a safe and welcoming environment in which to learn. He requested statements regarding the current camps where ICE has been placing people.

“They’re not getting water,” Robson said. “They’re not getting medication. They’re not even getting their period products. It is unjust. It is not OK, and we need to stand against it.”

Gilda Pedraza, executive director of the Latino Community Fund Georgia, urged the commissioners to make a public statement through the resolution.

“The resolution would affirm the idea that local government exists to serve and protect all of your residents, not just some,” she said. “When one of the most progressive counties in the state is afraid to speak against tyranny, we have lost our first line of defense. Recognizing and protecting immigrants aligns with both moral responsibility and practical governance.”

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SCHOOLS

DeKalb moves to renovate schools listed on draft closure list

By JIM BASS jim@appenmedia.com

DEKALB COUNTY, Ga. — Several of the 27 schools on DeKalb County Schools' recently released closure list have renovation projects either currently under construction, just finished construction, or awaiting construction.

The district has 138 schools and about 20,000 empty seats it can’t fill due to declining enrollment.

The district shocked thousands of people when the Student Assignment Project published its first list of potential school closures Feb. 11. The SAP is the name for DeKalb County Schools redistricting and consolidation process.

Chief of Operations Erick Hofstetter said no projects already approved will stop.

“All facilities with active construction projects will continue through completion as planned,” Hofstetter said.

DeKalb County Schools plans to finalize its school closure list in late fall.

Although these schools are only being considered for possible closure, the district has reiterated that it will continue to seek uses for the buildings.

Community feedback will inform the district’s decision-making and numerous engagement meetings are planned.

No schools will close during the 2026-27 school year, and boundaries and school programs will not be evaluated until building closures are finalized.

Once the list is settled, the closure process will proceed gradually over six to eight years. The community has already begun making its voice heard in the form of social media posts, emails and survey responses.

One factor the school district is using to make its decision is the buildings’ Facility Condition Assessment (FCA) scores, a measure of each building’s condition, and the utilization total, calculated by dividing the number of enrolled students by the school’s capacity.

Third-party vendor HPM, which is assisting the district with planning, includes this data on its dashboard.

Towers, Lithonia and Cedar Grove High Schools are slated to turn into middle school buildings. Bethune, Champion Theme, Lithonia, McNair and Miller Grove Middle Schools would turn into elementary schools.

These recommendations do not include magnet or specialized schools which will be discussed at a later time.

Buildings under renovation

Some schools on the list, including Ashford Park Elementary and Kingsley El-

ementary, are undergoing major building renovations while facing closure.

On April 21, 2025, the board approved a $23.5 million contract with The Winter Construction Company for Ashford Park Elementary School HVAC replacement and renovations.

Construction began in November and the project is expected to last until 2027.

In a December SAP update, Executive Director of Student Assignment Sarita Smith said the community has expressed concern about overcrowding at the school.

In 2025, Ashford Park had the highest utilization total of any school in the district, 171.3 percent, exceeding the second highest, Lakeside High School, by 42.5 percent.

Kirk Lunde, who served on the SAP Committee, said he did not know off the top of his head why Ashford Park made the list, but he speculated it had to do with the facility not being big enough to meet the school system’s needs. He said the district plans to have each elementary school seat a minimum of 600 students.

District data show the school’s capacity is 480 students. The school has trailers to accommodate student overflow, and it currently has more than 800 students.

“It’s not big enough,” he said.

The board also approved a $1.5 mil-

lion contract for equipment needed for the ongoing HVAC renovation at Kingsley Elementary School in October. The approval, however, has not been executed and is on hold pending SAP results, according to a DCSD spokesperson.

Construction still on horizon?

Many of the 27 schools have seen recent construction projects approved for security upgrades and new HVAC controls, but a few schools were on the docket for major Education Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax (ESPLOST) projects.

Among projects that have been waiting for project funding are a Rock Chapel Elementary building system renovation for $35 million, a Stoneview Elementary building system renovation for $35 million and a $7.4 million plan to add parking to schools, including Canby Lane Elementary, Columbia Elementary, Flat Shoals Elementary, Stone Mill Elementary and Stone Mountain Elementary.

On Feb. 9, the board approved an ESPLOST V program contingency that moved several remaining project budgets off the list, signaling that ESPLOST V is now at full commitment with no more major projects forthcoming.

See RENOVATE, Page 12

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, with each number containing 3 clues for the 3 answers on the line.

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!

GROUPS

1. Rock bottom. Fashionable. Group of witches.

2. Toss. Group of criminals. Cold weather warmer.

3. Syrup type. Fixed costs. Group of bees.

4. Theater group. Door sign. Mountain pool.

5. Juicy fruit. Group of cattle. Burger condiment.

6. Sporting group. Office note. Heavy drinking vessel for Beowulf.

7. Musical group. Pub game. Cookbook suggestion.

1 Rock bottom. Fashionable. Group of witches

2. Toss. Group of criminals. Cold weather warmer

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. Syrup type. Fixed costs. Group of bees

4. Theater group. Door sign. Mountain pool

5. Juicy fruit. Group of cattle. Burger condiment

6. Sporting group. Office note. Heavy drinking vessel for Beowulf.

7. Musical group. Pub game. Cookbook suggestion

FULTON COUNTY SUPERIOR COURT/PROVIDED

A Fulton County judge ordered Sandy Springs to turn over documents it previously withheld. The city has not yet complied with the directive. Appen Media has now spent $100,000 in legal bills pursuing the long-running lawsuit over access to public records.

$100,000:

That’s the cost

to fight for public records

CARL APPEN Director of Content and Development carl@appenmedia.com

Dear reader, With so much happening in the news and in our day-to-day lives, you might not have seen this update: A Fulton County judge recently ordered Sandy Springs to turn over previously withheld documents to Appen Media in an ongoing public records lawsuit.

We've now been in court for almost three years, pushing for public access to police incident reports the department is trying to withhold.

During that time, we've written a few stories and columns about the case. Plus, our newsroom has been able to produce some hard-hitting articles based on limited records we've been able to obtain thus far.

But to date, I haven't mentioned one critical piece of information:

Our small, locally owned newspaper group has now spent nearly $100,000 fighting for these records.

Why?

Because it matters.

Transparency begets transparency. The inverse is also true.

These are reports that police

This article first appeared as an email the author sent Appen Media and Sandy Springs Crier readers on Feb. 6. Help support the newsroom today at appenmedia.com/join.

Opinions: Appen Media aims to present a variety of views in its opinion pages. Send your thoughts, questions and letters to pat@ appenmedia.com.

departments across the state regularly release to the public. And yet, we have been unable to access them from Sandy Springs without going to court.

We do not have endless resources – far from it.

But we do have our readers, and I hope this example shows you why that's so important.

If you believe these records should be public, consider supporting our work.

You can make a recurring or onetime gift at appenmedia.com/join. Alternatively, you can mail a check to 319 N. Main St., Alpharetta, GA. 30009. Just make it out to Appen Media Group and put “Records” in the memo.

Thank you for your support and continued readership.

Phil Stovall recalls some standout movie moments

A Past Tense article on Atlanta’s early movie history reminded Phil Stovall of his memorable moments at local theatres. Stovall grew up near Wieuca and Roswell Road. He moved to Dunwoody in 1987 along with his wife Rebecca. His earliest movie recollections are Saturday morning trips to Buckhead Theatre in the late 1950s and early 1960s to see a movie for the special price of 10 cents. His parents would drop off Stovall along with his older brother and sister.

After the movie, the three children would stop at the shoe repair shop next door for a 5-cent, 6-ounce Coke. They also enjoyed observing watch repairs at Mr. Stephens’ shop while waiting to be picked up. If the children had enough time, they walked to the bowling alley across the street. The bowling alley had duck pins and children in the rear of the alleys worked as pin setters.

Buckhead Theatre at 3110 Roswell Road opened on June 2, 1930. It was bought out and renamed Capri Theatre on June 29, 1962. After some time as a Cinema & Drafthouse, the theater became The Roxy and returned to the original name of Buckhead Theatre in 2013. (cinematreasures.org)

Phil remembers the drive-ins he visited

as a child, including Piedmont, NE 1-85 and sometimes a longer drive to the Bankhead/Bolton Drive-In.

“My favorite was the Piedmont, with a pretty winding driveway in, lit with little lights, all dressed in pj's ready to enjoy the cartoons intro,” he said. “Then all three of us would settle down to sleep in the back seat of the old Ford four door, and later in the Chevy station wagon.”

Stovall recalls seeing several movies downtown. He saw “The Longest Day” and “Gone with the Wind” re-release at Loew’s Grand Theatre. At the Fox Theater, he saw “In Search of the Castaways.” This film had an intermission, not unusual for 1962. While stepping out to the concession stand during intermission, Stovall remembers seeing the second half of the movie begin while he was still in line.

“The Sound of Music,” “The Longest Day,” “Fantasia” and “Ben Hur” re-release, “Lawrence of Arabia,” and “How the West was Won” were all movies Stovall saw in the 1960s and all had intermissions.

He remembers seeing the “How the West was Won” at the Martin Cinerama, featuring the new Cinerama format with a curved wide screen. The theatre was previously known as Tower, and after Martin it became Atlanta and finally Columbia Theatre before closing in 1987.

See STOVALL, Page 9

PROVIDED

This Jan. 17, 1964, ad for “The Sword in the Stone” at Cherokee Theatre in Brookhaven ran in the Atlanta Journal.

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Dunwoody boys basketball upsets defending champs

DUNWOODY, Ga. — Dunwoody boys basketball evened the series with 5A defending champions Tri-Cities High after defeating the visiting Bulldogs 8070 Feb. 3.

The first time the teams met this season, Tri-Cities notched a close 6966 win at home. When the Bulldogs came to Dunwoody, the Wildcats came out with fire, posting better shooting percentages in every category, outrebounding and posting more assists.

Tri-Cities scored the first six points of the game, but the Wildcats clawed ahead in the second quarter and never looked back.

Dunwoody went on a 14-0 run to take the lead in the second quarter, then posted another 14-0 spurt in the third to extend the lead to 17 points.

Junior guard Holden Verlander led the charge with 26 points on

Stovall:

Continued from Page 7

A few more movie memories include “The Sword in the Stone” at Cherokee Plaza in Brookhaven, before the theatre was replaced with a Kroger; “Dr. Zhivago” at the Plaza Theatre on Ponce de Leon; and second run films at North Springs Shopping Center Theatre next to a bowling alley at the corner of Roswell and Dalrymple Roads.

Stovall recalls his first car date, a 7 p.m. movie at the Fox with date Linda, followed by the Mighty Mo organ performance. He forgot to turn on his car lights

3-3 shooting from beyond the arc. Verlander also posted four rebounds, two steals and Dunwoody’s only block.

Senior guard Emerson Mitchell was close behind with a near double-double of 20 points, six rebounds and eight assists on a field goal percentage of 88.

Junior Trevor Lordo was the third and final Wildcat to score in double digits with 11 points, five rebounds and three assists.

The win over Tri-Cities cemented Dunwoody in the fifth seed for Region 4-5A.

All the Wildcats needed was one win in the region bracket to move on to the state tournament, but they fell short Feb. 10, losing to Chamblee 7162. It was Dunwoody’s third loss to Chamblee this season.

— Annabelle Reiter

after this one.

On his last night before leaving for college, Stovall and his high school sweetheart Jeanette went to the Midnight Sun for dinner, walked around downtown and saw “Paint Your Wagon” at the Georgia Theatre, next to the old downtown Macy’s.

Later, a reminder of that date and young woman arrived for him at college. It was the album soundtrack of “Paint Your Wagon.”

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.

18 8:00 am to 9:30 am

Turf:

Continued from Page 1

SPLOST II, a 1 percent sales tax, was approved by DeKalb County voters in 2023.

No opposition was raised by any council members, and a vote to approve the contract is slated for the Feb. 23 meeting.

Some council members did raise concerns about Waldron’s request to approve changes to its yearly agreement with Dunwoody Senior Baseball to use the Brook Run Park baseball fields.

The city partners annually with private and school sports groups for use of the four city-owned fields. Besides DSB, the city teams up with Rush Union Soccer, Dunwoody High School Boys Soccer Booster Club, Dunwoody High Stix Club, Dunwoody Wildcats Soccer, Dunwoody High School Softball Booster Club and the Atlanta Men’s Adult Baseball League.

DSB, founded in 1975, is a nonprofit baseball league for boys. Last year, the league agreed to hold fundraising tournaments between May and July. This year, the league is asking the city to be allowed to hold the tournaments an additional two months, from May through Oct. 31.

DRIVEWAYS & CONCRETE

DSB is also requesting a change to when the fields are open to “free play,” when fields are open for use by the community.

Free play is only permitted when the league has no scheduled games or tournaments. This year, DSB is asking for free play on the west field every third weekend in June and July from Saturday at 7:30 a.m. to Sunday at noon, and every Monday in June and July.

Last year, the city and DSB agreed

to allow open play on both fields during the third weekend of June and July and Mondays from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. during June and July.

Mayor Lynn Deutsch wanted to know why free play was only allowed in June and July. Councilman Joe Seconder said he wants to see metrics of how many Dunwoody residents are using the baseball fields.

Councilwoman Stacey Harris said she disagreed with giving DSB two more months for fundraising tournaments.

“These are city-owned fields and [DSB] is using them to fundraise,” she said.

“I’m tired of hearing the complaints that our citizens don’t have access to the fields because of pay-for-play and that they reap 100 percent of the profit,” Harris said.

In other action, the council:

• Voted 6-1 to approve a 90-day ban on the city accepting business licenses or proposed rezonings for vape shops. There is only one vape shop in the city, according to Deputy Community Development Director Paul Leonhardt. The moratorium would allow the city to create an ordinance to regulate vape shops only and not impact convenience stores or grocery stores that are already selling vapes, he said. Councilwoman Harris cast the lone no vote.

• Voted unanimously to approve an ordinance to restrict outdoor burning of yard waste.

• Voted unanimously to approve spending nearly $133,000 to purchase vehicle barricades for the Dunwoody Police Department. Chief Mike Carlson said the barricades would be used to provide more protection at large-scale events.

• Mayor Deutsch swore in new Dunwoody Police Department officer Terrence Kinslow.

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING

The City of Dunwoody Planning Commission will meet Tuesday, March 10, 2026 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 27, the general purpose of which is to create zoning regulations and procedures for vape shops and the sale of tobacco products and accessories.

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.

City of Dunwoody To Hold

A Location and Design Public Information Open House For PI(s) 0019785

Village Crossing Project

Dekalb County

On Tuesday, March 03, 2026 (date) at Vintage Pizzeria (5510 Chamblee Dunwoody Road) (location), the City of Dunwoody will hold a Public Information Open House concerning the proposed Village Crossing project. This project proposes to transform Chamblee Dunwoody Road between Womack Road and Roberts Drive through Dunwoody Village to provide context-sensitive, multimodal, complete street improvements including bicycle and pedestrian facilities.

The purpose of this Location and Public Information Open House is to provide the public with an opportunity to view the project, ask questions, and comment on the project.

The Open House will be held from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. It will be informal, and the public is invited to attend anytime during these hours. There will be no formal presentation. A court reporter will be available to allow the public an opportunity to make verbal comments about the project.

Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Information: The meeting site is accessible to persons with disabilities. Accommodations for people with disabilities can be arranged with advance notice by contacting Michelle Hirose at michelle.hirose@ dunwoodyga.gov or 678-382-6812.

Project information may be viewed online at www.dunwoodyga.gov/ villagecrossing. Comments will be accepted concerning this project until Tuesday, March 17, 2026. Written statements may be submitted to:

Michelle Hirose Public Works Deputy Director City of Dunwoody 4800 Ashford Dunwoody Road Dunwoody, Georgia 30338

Public Notice: The American Liver Foundation’s Liver Life Walk Atlanta will take place at Brook Run Park on April 11, 2026. The walk takes place within the park from 9am-12pm.There may be increased traffic on North Peachtree Road, Peeler Road and Barclay Drive. There will be minimal interruption. For more information or any questions please visit https://liverlifewalk.org/atlanta/

Renovate:

Continued from Page 4

According to Chief of Operations Hofstetter, ESPLOST VI has enough revenue left to fund only one more modernization project, which he said is currently planned for Stoneview Elementary, one of the 27 schools facing potential closure.

Hofstetter said the actual commitment of funds will not be brought to the School Board until later this fall as the project is currently in design and supported by pre-construction activities.

“Please consider that the schools considered for closure or consolidation are by no means finalized and are merely a gateway to begin the community analysis and evaluation,” Hofstetter said. “Additionally, a school facility that may be ‘closed’ means it does not operate a district boundary school and may be repurposed into a specialty school or other innovative program school. In all cases, renovations will still be needed if it

is used to educate students, regardless of the grade band or purpose of the school.”

He said that some schools on the current closure list and slated for a planned project, including the new parking spaces project, may be delayed or paused, but he anticipates these projects will be a rare exception.

Some schools that are potentially closing have also recently concluded construction from major ESPLOST renovation projects, including Toney Elementary, McLendon Elementary, Henderson Mill Elementary and Midvale Elementary.

The district plans to engage with every community to gather feedback, then further assess the scenarios. To provide feedback on the scenarios, you can take the SAP survey by visiting dekalbschoolsga.org/SAP.

The website includes schedules for eight virtual and eight in-person feedback sessions beginning Feb. 23 and running through March.

Editor Dan Whisenhunt contributed reporting to this story.

In Memoriam

Barbara Artigue

July 8, 1941 - January 27, 2026

Surrounded by family, Barbara Danos Artigue passed away at age 84. Born in Harvey, Louisiana to Paul and Claudia Danos, Barbara attended West Jefferson High School and Soule Business College. She worked as a secretary at Pan American Petroleum in New Orleans, where she met and married her life-long companion and best friend, Wade “Jerry” Artigue. They moved to Lafayette, Louisiana and raised their three sons, where Barbara was deeply involved in the community, until moving to Dunwoody in 2020.

Barbara’s life centered around an extraordinarily tight-knit family of over 85 people, holiday gatherings, and “the Good Stuff” they shared on Gulf Coast beaches for 40+ years. She loved loud conversations, louder laughter, Louisiana foods, and a good rocking chair. She cooked, traveled, fished, lived, laughed, and loved life. She will be greatly missed!

She is survived by her husband Jerry, of 60 years; her children: Paul Wade Artigue, Andrew Artigue (Tracey), and Bradley Artigue (Jennifer); her grandchildren: David, Julia, Sophia, Alex, Brooks, and Giles; two great grandchildren; her brother, Paul Danos (Mary Ellen); her brother-in-law, Joseph Farizo; her sister-in-law, Teresa Van Vleet-Danos, and numerous nieces and nephews who knew her as “Aunt BeeB”.

She is preceded in death by her parents; her sisters and brother-inlaw, Janet Farizo, Melva and Salvador Barcelona; her brothers and sisters-in-law, Johnny and JoAnn Danos, and Anthony and Nora Danos.

A memorial service will be held in April at the home of a family member. In lieu of flowers, please consider a gift in Barbara’s memory to Emory Saint Joseph’s Hospital (giving.emory.edu) or to the charity of your choice.

Public Notice: Create Dunwoody’s Holi in Dunwoody will take place at Wildcat Park on Saturday, March 7, 2026, from 11:00 AM to 4:00 PM. Increased traffic may occur in the area, including along Roberts Dr, with minimal interruption expected. This is a free community event. For event details, visit www.createdunwoody. org/holi

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