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GRIN AND 'BEAR' IT What to know as black bear sightings rise ► PAGE 11
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July 23, 2026 | AppenMedia.com | An Appen Media Group Publication | Ser ving the community since 1976
Dunwoody OKs $6.3M Mount Vernon Road project By JAMIE GODIN newsroom@appenmedia.com DUNWOODY, Ga. — The Dunwoody City Council has unanimously approved a $6.3 million construction contract for the long-planned Mount Vernon Road improvement project, moving the infrastructure overhaul one step closer to construction while clearing up a funding shortfall that city officials
had previously identified. officials had previously identified. The council voted 6-0 to award the contract to Wilson Construction Management for improvements along Mount Vernon Road between Mount Vernon Place and Jett Ferry Road. The project is intended to replace aging underground utilities, improve traffic flow, and expand pedestrian and bicycle infrastructure along the corridor.
Although the council approved the contract, the city cannot execute it until DeKalb County approves its share of the project funding through the county’s Contract Administration and Business Services process. Public Works Director Michael Smith said that approval is expected to take one to two months. Smith also said staff had resolved what had previously been presented as roughly a $500,000 funding gap. Since
the project was last discussed in June, city staff reviewed the bid with the contractor and determined that a larger share of traffic control costs should be attributed to the county-funded water main portion of the project rather than the city’s roadway work. The adjustment increases DeKalb County’s contribution by roughly $200,000.
See PROJECT, Page 11
Seeds to Sow program builds leadership in young girls BY HANNAH YAHNE hannah@appenmedia.com
BLOSSOM GIRLZ/PROVIDED
Blossom Girlz founder Evelynne Sumlin, at far left, and fellow leadership team members Victoria Williams, center, and Jennifer Cushinberry at a community outreach event.
DEKALB COUNTY, Ga. — Enrollment is open for Seeds to Sow’s Blossom Girlz continuum, a set of empowerment programs designed to build confidence, emotional wellness and leadership skills in girls ages 5 to 17. The DeKalb County-based nonprofit is hosting an open house Saturday, Aug. 8, from 1:30-4 p.m. at the Five Forks Branch of the Gwinnett County Public Library System, 2780 Five Forks Trickum Road SW, in Lilburn. The informational event is free and open to the public. To register for the open house, visit seedstosowinc.com. Blossom Girlz uplifts girls by teaching financial literacy, social and
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emotional learning skills, and college and career readiness. Sessions are led by professionals with backgrounds in socialemotional development, creating a safe and culturally responsive environment for young girls. Founded by social worker Evelynne Sumlin, Seeds to Sow operates without a fixed location, bringing programming directly into the communities it serves through rotating venues across DeKalb and neighboring counties. The organization’s Blossom Girlz continuum includes five distinct tracks tailored to different ages and needs, including Blossom Besties, Girl Talk & Vibes, Bloom Beyond Bullying, Blossom Boss Academy and the Emerging Leaders Program.
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