News … Past News … November 2004

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The History of Light Up Dunwoody
By Ken Wright, President, Dunwoody Homeowners Association, Inc.

In the early 1990’s, Bill Grant was landscaping The Triangle (intersection of Mt.Vernon and Ashford Dunwoody) when his wife, Peggy, and Fran Fuchs of Enterprise Bank decided to light the holly tree, which was planted in 1982 by the Dunwoody Garden Club. They had a little ceremony with about ten attendees, and they lit the tree. In November 1995, the president of Dunwoody Homeowners Association lit The Triangle as a few dozen people cheered to kick off the holiday season.

Rick Jones was the next president of Dunwoody Homeowners Association in 1996, and Marion Jones was “appointed by marriage to give all the past volunteers a break and take over the lighting of the triangle.” They made it official by naming the event Light Up Dunwoody. Dick Williams, owner of the local newspaper Crier Newspapers, and Dunwoody Homeowners Association became sponsors. With their support, Marion took off in making Light Up Dunwoody a community event.

In the fall of 2001, Marion Jones and committee member, Mari Ann Gallant asked Dunwoody Preservation Trust if they could also light The Farmhouse. The weekend before Thanksgiving, hundreds of community members came out to listen to holiday music performed by Zephyr Band, to see Santa, and to help DHA’s president, Don Boyken, count down the official lighting of Dunwoody. The year of 2002 proved to be yet even greater, with Mari Ann (publisher of FYI Atlanta magazine) chairing the first Dunwoody Holiday Parade.

Light Up Dunwoody continues to grow, and we invite other property owners to join us in the holiday lighting. Come and enjoy one of Dunwoody’s most adored traditions. There are wonderful events planned for the community:

Light Up Dunwoody at The Farmhouse
Saturday, November 20th from 5:30 p.m. to 7:00p.m.

• DHA President, Ken Wright, counts down to light The Farmhouse and to kick off the holiday season.
• Holiday Music performed by Zephyr Band
• Hors d’oeuvres sponsored by Dunwoody Preservation Trust
• Lighting of the first official Dunwoody Holiday Tree located on the Dunwoody Animal Hospital lawn
• Boyscout Troup 266 will decorate The Triangle

Dunwoody Holiday Parade
Sunday, Nov. 21st at 2:00 p.m.

• Parade begins at Saint Luke’s Presbyterian Church, turning at The Farmhouse, and ending at Holway Dunwoody Coach House
• Visit with Santa, and his real reindeer

Cocoas and Candles
Sunday, November 28th 7:00 p.m.

• Dunwoody Nature Center
• Enjoy free cocoa & a walk through candle lit trails

Light Up Dunwoody 2004 would like to acknowledge the Dunwoody men and women who have served (or currently serving) in Iraq. Please call us with the names and contact numbers at the Dunwoody Homeowners Association office: 770-817-8100.

For more information about the Dunwoody Holiday Parade call:

• Mari Ann Gallant (770) 391-9790
• Jan Slater (770) 391-0489

For more information about Light Up Dunwoody, please contact:

• Marion Jones (404) 964-4113
• Margot Cole (678) 441-9080
• Charlene Thurman (770) 804-8300

Light Up Dunwoody Organization Sponsors

• Dunwoody Homeowners Association
• Crier Newspapers
• FYI Atlanta Magazines
• Dunwoody Preservation Trust