Eighty-three percent of Sandy Springs residents rated their quality of life "excellent" or "good" in the National Citizen Survey™ (NCS), which was conducted in Sandy Springs during the last part of 2010. Sandy Springs' ambulance service ranked number one out of 47 comparable cities in the survey. The NCS is collaboration between the National Research Center, Inc. and the International City/County Management Association.

"We are thrilled that our residents value the services that are provided to them," said Sandy Springs Mayor Eva Galambos, PhD.  "While it is wonderful to receive such positive feedback about our City's first five years, we continue working tirelessly to provide additional top tier services and amenities."

Some of the highlights of the results include:

• Fire Services: rated as "excellent" or "good" by 94 percent of respondents (#2 of 50 comparable cities*);
• Police Services: rated as "excellent" or "good" by 89 percent of respondents (#3 of 56 comparable cities*);
• Overall Direction of the City: rated as "excellent" or "good" by 76 percent of respondents (#3 of 41 comparable cities*);
• Economic Sustainability: Sandy Springs rated as an "excellent" or "good" place to work by 90 percent of respondents  (#6 of 41 comparable cities*);
• City Employees: 79 percent of respondents rated their overall impression of City employees as either "excellent" or "good" (#6 of 53 comparable cities*);
• Cleanliness of Sandy Springs: rated as "excellent" or "good" by 75 percent of respondents (#8 of 27 comparable cities*); and
• Public Trust: Overall image of Sandy Springs rated as "excellent" or "good" by 75 percent of respondents (#9 of 35 comparable cities*).

* Comparable cities are those with populations of 70,000 - 150,000 that have participated in the National Citizen Survey™.

The City of Sandy Springs celebrated Arbor Day on Friday, February 18, with a special tree planting at the corner of Sandy Springs Circle and Cliftwood Drive in Sandy Springs. To commemorate Arbor Day, a proclamation was read by Sandy Springs councilmember Karen Meinzen McEnerny who participated in the event organized by City Arborists Michael Barnett and Sandra DeWitt.

"We [planted] eight White Oaks, which are shade trees and will increase the tree canopy in the City," said Michael Barnett, Sandy Springs' assistant director of building and development and arborist. "Shade trees provide a great environment for growing other plants or just relaxing. This will be great for our environment, especially at this intersection so close to the school."

The event was held in conjunction with Trees Sandy Springs, a community initiative that is funded by private donations. "We are pleased and proud to partner with the City to plant trees that will increase the tree canopy in the city," said Nina Cramer, founder and president of Trees Sandy Springs. "Trees Sandy Springs is committed to watering and mulching the trees throughout their early years so the City doesn't have to take on this expense."

The Sandy Springs Police Community Affairs Unit has expanded it's schedule of self-defense classes for women that work or live in Sandy Springs to include monthly classes held at police headquarters.

"The popularity of the class has increased partially due to the teaching method and techniques used by instructor Brian Morgan," said Lt. Steve Rose. "He has a common-sense, no nonsense approach to providing accurate information and at the same time gives the students a friendly environment to learn in. He's humorous, informative and the students leave the session with the confidence we want them to have."

For more information on the class, contact Officer Larry Jacobs at 770-551-3328 or via e-mail.

The City of Sandy Springs is the first place in the southeastern US to begin an asphalt pavement preservation project called Hot-In-Place Recycling. This technique will be used on streets that were recommended by the City's pavement network evaluation. Hot-In-Place Recycling is a process of correcting asphalt pavement surface distress by softening the existing surface with heat, mechanically removing the pavement surface, mixing it with a recycling agent, possibly adding virgin asphalt and/or aggregate and replacing it on the pavement without removing the recycled material from the original pavement site.

"The benefits are two-fold," said Sandy Springs Public Works Director Tom Black. "First it has a smooth surface and will have a long life. Second, not only is it economical, it also provides minimal environmental effects."

Residents' inconvenience will be minimal during the execution of this project; one day to recycle and one day to micro-surface. Each treatment will take approximately an hour to cure.

View a list of streets in the program.

Sandy Springs Fire Rescue Department started a new program entitled Specialized Tactics for Operational and Rescue Medicine (STORM). The program uses hands-on skills for tactical emergency medical situations. Eighteen Sandy Springs, Dunwoody and Johns Creek Fire Rescue Technicians have been chosen to participate in the program in collaboration with the North Metro SWAT (NMSWAT) Team. STORM is the medical component to NMSWAT and will be called out each time the NMSWAT Team is called out for emergency situations.

Tactical Emergency Medical Support (TEMS) provides preventative urgent and emergent medical care during high-risk, extended duration and mission-driven law enforcement special operations. TEMS develops medical threat assessments, renders immediate medical care in austere environments and provides logistical support that furthers the health and safety of law enforcement personnel and reduces the incidences of injury, illness, disability and death associated with training and tactical operations.

Online registration for the Recreation and Parks Department's summer camps and classes will begins on March 14, 2011.  There are summer fun opportunities for all ages: preschool, youth and teens.

Some of the camps offered include: Day Camp, Sports Camp, Introduction to Tennis, Soccer, Gymnastics, Preschool Gymnastics, Mighty Mites, 31 Stories Discover Me, Creative Theatre and Act Up! Drama Camp and Middle School Summer Hangout.

To register online and for a complete schedule of summer camps and programs, visit Activenet or call 770-206-2035 for additional information.

When:  Camps will occur between May 31, 2011 and August 26, 2011. Each camp has a different schedule.
Where: Camps will take place at Hammond Park Gymnastics Center, Hitson Memorial Activities Center, Lake Forest Elementary School, Ison Springs Elementary School, Sandy Springs Middle School
Who: Classes for boys and girls ages four-14
Price: $45 and Up

 

CAPOEIRA

Capoeira is a Brazilian martial art disguised as a dance that will develop your body, mind and spirit through training and play. Regardless of sex, age or physical ability, capoeira is for everyone.
When: Saturdays, 3:00-4:00 p.m. (youth), Tuesdays, 8:00-9:00 p.m. (adults) and Saturdays 4:00-5:00 p.m. (adults).
Where: Hammond Park Gymnasium
Who: Youth Ages six-14 and Adults Ages 15 and up

IMPROV ABCs, ACTING BUILDS CONFIDENCE

When: Saturdays, March 19-May 14, 2011, 3:15-4:30 p.m.
Where: Hitson Memorial Activities Center, 85 Mt. Vernon Hwy.
Who: Children ages six-10 years
Price: $100

SPRING TRACK AND FIELD

The Sandy Springs Track and Field program teaches the proper fundamentals and techniques of how to run, jump and throw. Participants will attend four weekend track meets and participate in the GRPA District 7 Championships for a chance to qualify for the State Track Meet.
When: Information Meeting Tuesday, February 8, 2011 at 6:00 p.m.
Where: Hammond Community Building, 6005 Glenridge Drive
Who: Children ages seven-12 years
Price: $25
Info: E-mail Trevor Ramos

Registration for programs is available online via Activenet, or call (770) 206-2035 for further information.