tress (all tree and shrub removal was done after consulting Trees Atlanta and a resident ecologist/landscape architect).  Most of the shrubs and trees were prohibiting drivers' vision turning the corner and posing a traffic and/or public safety issue.  Removal of overgrown evergreen shrubs will improve pedestrian safety and visibility. We also aimed to create a maintenance free landscape as the current shrubs are growing out into the street and cover the welcome sign. 
 
Two volunteers used a chainsaw to cut out the shrubs and trees, while other volunteers pulled the cut limbs out and put them in trucks to be transported to an area where the city will collect them.  We also had volunteers painting the letters on the 'Welcome to East Atlanta ' sign, and others dug out a little ditch to hold mulch along the perimeter of the island.  While the trucks were dropping off the tree and shrub limbs, we were filling the truck beds with mulch (deposited in an area behind Wendy's on Moreland) and bringing it back to the island.  The volunteers then assisted with unloading and spreading the mulch.  After all of the shrubs were removed, we counted about 20 bags of garbage and 2 large bags of recycleables that were collected, including a gun!  We planted 2 prickly pears and some sunflowers to add some pizzaz to the area this year.  It will be a long term process to kill off the grass and establish some hearty, drought resistant plants, trees, and shrubs.

Thanks so much to all the volunteers who helped out on Earth Day and special thanks to:

• Pete Colbeson who tilled up the island for us prior to Earth Day
• Henry Bryant for providing replacement letters
  
• Robbie Astrove and Trees Atlanta who donated super duper killer for the shrubs and Bradford Pears we took out
• Steve's Tree Service who gave us a LOT of free mulch at short notice for the island
• Mrs. Winners who spontaneously donated 4 jugs of iced tea while we were out there
• Grant Central who gave us free pizza

Tire Round-Up

About 20 volunteers and six pickup trucks collected nearly 800 tires, with about 80 of those dropped off by neighbors at the collection points at the Bouldercrest triangle and Armor Tire.

The unofficial results put East Atlanta in first place among the neighborhoods in Councilmember Natalyn Archibong's district. Many thanks to Armor Tire for letting us set up there and for removing tires from rims and also many thanks to Councilmember Archibong for sponsoring this event.

We hope to someday not be able to find enough tires to win.

Brownwood Park

Thank you to all who participated in the Brownwood Park Earth Day Work Day!  We had about 70 volunteers help us compost, plant, mulch and fence the front, side and back beds of the Recreation Center.  Volunteers also planted native grasses and fenced the back side of the wildflower garden, almost finished the fence that surrounds the new rainwater collections system at the Recreation Center, cut vines from tree trunks and wiped out two piles of wood chips by mulching trees on the North side of the park.  Please enjoy the fruits of their labor this spring and summer as you walk the North side of the park.

A special thanks goes out to volunteers from Buckhead Church, Kilpatrick Stockton, and Georgia State University's Going Green Campaign.  A big thanks also goes out to Jamie Blackburn, a Friends of Brownwood Park member, who selected the plants, got them to our park and directed the volunteers through a successful morning, and to Andrew Walter for all the time and effort he has spent making the rainwater collection system one of the first installed on a City building.

Without the support of Park Pride and its Community Grant program, this event would not have been possible.  A big thank you goes out to all the staff at this wonderful organization.

Dear Parents,
 
East Atlanta Community Association's LEAP (Linking Education and the Public) Committee is conducting a survey on attitudes toward education in our community.
 
LEAP works to educate the community about East Atlanta area schools and daycare options and also sponsors activities for children.  It is part of LEAP's ongoing mission to bring families together and build the relationships necessary to support the changes needed in area schools. The results of this survey will be used to guide LEAP's priorities and efforts in the coming year and will be presented in full to the community at May's LEAP meeting.
 
This online survey will be open until May 1st and should take you 10-12 minutes to complete. Please click on the below link to access the survey:
 
http://tinyurl.com/LEAPsurvey2009

 

The East Atlanta Village Farmers Market is back every Thursday from 4PM to Dusk starting on May 7th in the parking lot of Village Hardware located at 1231 Glenwood Ave.  Some of our favorite farmers are back along with some new additions to offer between five and seven growers every week. Franco the cheese man returns along with Bernard's Bread Bakery.  www.farmeav.com

The Friends of Brownwood Park is hosting a benefit show featuring the funky sounds of  "Entropy and Friends" at The Earl on Thursday, April 30th, to raise funds to match a Park Pride Community Grant for park improvements. All funds raised will be used for the implementation of the first phase of the park's Vision Plan.

 

The East Atlanta community, with the help of Park Pride, developed the Vision Plan over a year-long period through a series of public informational meetings. To view the Plan, visit www.eaca.net. Some of the park improvements include new trails, more drinking fountains with dog fountains, an extended playground area, landscaping, and much more.

Purchase tickets in advance ($8) at www.badearl.com or at the door ($10).  If you can't attend and would like to donate to the effort - click HERE.

The weekly detailed crime report for April 4th - April 10th.

To learn more about the East Atlanta Security Patrol or to enroll, visit the EASP website (http://patrol.eaca.net). The cost to join the patrol is $50 per quarter, with a 50% discount for longtime residents and those 65+. To qualify, you must have lived at the same address for 20 years or be over age 65.  We also have a 20% discount for members of an APD-sanctioned Neighborhood Watch.  Please contact us if you're interested in setting up a Neighborhood Watch on your street.
 

If you have additional questions, please direct them to securitypatrol@eaca.net, or call EACA Public Safety Chair Myron Polster at 404-429-8815.

Join or renew your EACA membership today! Annual dues are $10 per household. As an EACA member, you can vote at EACA meetings on topics of interest within our community. Additionally, there are numerous local businesses who offer discounts to EACA members. See the official list of EACA member discounts and take advantage of them by showing your 2009 membership card throughout the Village.

You can sign up for your 2009 EACA membership and order EACA Yard Signs on-line! Pay electronically through your online banking site or via Paypal HERE.

 

Contact Information:
E-mail: newsletter@eaca.net
Website: http://eaca.net

Submissions:
If you're interested in submitting an article to the EACA weekly newsletter, send it to newsletter@eaca.net by the end of the day on Friday. Include relevant dates, times, locations and contact information, as well as details of the event or announcement.