East Atlanta Community Association
  Newsletter
August 24, 2009 
In This Issue
Brownwood Park Fitness Programming Survey
Solid Waste Collection Schedule Change
DeKalb Public Library Events
MARTA Reductions in Service
EASP News & Information
Bringing Brownwood Rec Center Back
EACA Public Safety in Uninc. DeKalb
Upcoming East Atlanta Meetings
EACA Public Safety
2009 EACA Membership
East Atlanta on Facebook
Join Our Mailing List!
Quick Links
 
 Greetings!
EACA Logo
Hello!

See this week's newsletter for information on DeKalb County's volunteer neighborhood patrol program, a East Atlanta Security Patrol update, and a very brief survey on fitness programming in Brownwood Park.

 Brownwood Park Fitness Programming Survey
Programming opportunities are being sorted through to get the community involved and enjoying Brownwood Park and Recreation Center.  Please help us gauge the interest in fitness programming by answering six questions in the following survey:

http://preview.tinyurl.com/brownwoodfit

 City to resume weekly recycling, garbage, and yard trimming collections
CITY OF ATLANTA
DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS
SOLID WASTE SERVICES
 
NOTICE OF CHANGE TO SOLID WASTE COLLECTIONS SCHEDULE
 
We are pleased to inform you that beginning the week of September 14, 2009 we will resume weekly collection of household garbage, recycling, and yard trimmings. Please place your Herbie, recycling, and yard trimmings containers at the curb after 7:00 pm on the day before your collection.  Remove your containers by 7:00 pm on your collection day. 
 
For Customer Service, please call (404) 330-6333 or email to: [email protected]
 
Please note: Public Works will also be distributing this public notice at your September NPU meetings as well as via media outlets including print, radio, and television publications.  Customers will receive this notice via hand delivery during route servicing.

 DeKalb County Public Library Events
DeKalb Country Library's Fall programming can be found HERE. Checklist Image

The Children's Fall programming calendar can be found HERE.

 MARTA's Modifications to Rail & Bus Services - Effective 8.15.09


Beginning August 15, 2009 there were many changes to both MARTA's rail and bus services. These changes have been implemented in efforts to control costs as MARTA continues to face financial challenges. Please see the linked document for the full scope of the changes (note - the .25 rate increase does not go into effect until October 1, 2009.

 East Atlanta Security Patrol News & Information
EASP LogoThe East Atlanta Security Patrol will be accepting new members for the next week up until August 31, for those wishing to begin service on September 1st.  One of our more popular services is Out of Town notification, where we will notify EASP officers of your absence, and they will provide extra patrols for your residence while you're away.  In addition, we offer the option to forward your request on to Safe Watch and Zone 6, thus gaining even more patrol coverage.  Just fill out a form, attach it to an e-mail and we'll forward it on to the parties you choose.  For anyone subscribing before September 1 for three months, we'll charge just $65.  Better still, you can try the service for the month of September, and if you're not satisfied, we'll refund $50 at the end of the month.  If you're planning to be out of town for Labor Day, this is a great opportunity to get extra patrol coverage without risking more than $15.  Hopefully you'll like the service and help support more patrol hours for our community.
 
While East Atlanta has experienced some increase in crime in the past few weeks, it's been largely targeted at sheds, garages and crawlspaces.  And cars are always a target if tempting items are left in plain view.  Last week in East Atlanta, there wasn't one attempted home burglary reported, but these softer targets are still being hit.  One of the keys to successfully stopping crimes is to report every occurrence.  We will receive more police patrols if we report all the crimes that occur in our neighborhood.  Just a few days ago, an armed robbery was reported in the EAV, and APD arrested the perpetrators within about an hour.  That's not to say they can solve every crime, but they can't solve it if they don't know it happened.  And they can't fully acknowledge patterns of criminal activity on a street or area as quickly if residents don't bother to report the crimes that do occur.

To learn more about the East Atlanta Security Patrol or to enroll, visit the EASP website (http://patrol.eaca.net). There is 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 [email protected], or call EACA Public Safety Chair Myron Polster at 404-429-8815.
 Bringing Brownwood Rec Center Back - With Your Help!
Checklist Image As many of you know, Brownwood Recreation Center has been closed for more than a year due to the City's budget woes. The East Atlanta Kids Club has entered into an agreement with City of Atlanta to reopen the facility.

EAKC and EACA will now be managing the Rec Center (and paying for its upkeep). Kids Club activities will return next week, and other community-oriented activities will begin there soon. 

We've spent the last few months renovating -- painting, installing carpet, upgrading the computer lab, creating a new classroom space, building a storage room, etc. Virtually all of this work has been done by volunteers and supported by generous sponsors and donors. In our efforts to get the center in shape for a variety of community uses, we could now use some additional help from you, the community.

Below is a list of some of our current needs -- things and services. Please let us know if you can help with anything.

This effort to reclaim our recreation center and turn it into a vital community space will be ongoing, and it will truly be up to all of us to make it thrive.

Of course, if you'd like to donate some cash to the cause, and help us to keep the lights on (literally), we'll take that, too. You can make a tax-deductible donation online at: www.eastatlantakids.org/donate (Be sure to put "for Brownwood" on the donation form. (You can also make a pledge to donate goods or services there, too).

Brownwood Recreation Center Wish List
Things we need: (please note: we need items in good condition).

. Refrigerator (Large, 20+ cu.ft, w/ top or bottom freezer)
. Microwave (over-the-range)
. 6' rectangular folding tables [8]
. 5' round folding tables (10)
. Padded folding chairs (80)
. Folding chair storage racks/dollies (2)
. Office Desks/Cubicle Work Spaces (6)
. Office Chairs (6)
. Portable Room Partitions (3)
. Bookcases (Tall) (4)
. Shelving system for storage room --heavy duty, 3' wide x 12' long shelves (4)
. Door (Metal, Commercial, hollow core, w cylindrical lock & closer) (1)
. Multi-line phones (6) & phone switch
. Couches (2) (for Teen Club area)
. Conference table - 10' + 
. Desk drawer organizers (4)
. Cooking pots & pans, utensils, silverware
. Chafing pans, racks (lg) (6)
. Vacuum
. Trash cans: 3 tall kitchen cans, 3 small office trash cans 
. Pool cues with intact tips (4); felt for pool table
. PA system
. Projector
. Large photocopier 
. Small Cabinet for 19" wide Computer Server (~22"-23" wide)
. Note: we do not need any computers, monitors or printers!

Services we need:
. Pest Control
. Custodial services
. Floor cleaning: Strip, clean & wax floor
. HVAC repair & maintenance
. Fix pool table: Re-felt surface; Screw corners together

You can reply here, by email, or make a pledge at www.eastatlantakids.org/donate 

Many thanks,

Jill
Jill Sieder
Executive Director
East Atlanta Kids Club
[email protected]

 EACA Public Safety in Unincorporated DeKalb
While EACA focuses a lot of attention on crime within the City of Atlanta, it has become Checklist Imageincreasingly apparent that our EACA brethren in unincorporated Dekalb County are besieged with crime far worse than we experience in Zone 6.  One of the first things we are promoting is the Dekalb County Volunteers in Patrol (VIP) program.  After receiving six hours of training to help identify crime and suspicious activity in their neighborhood, including a ride-along with an officer, residents take to the streets to help the police.  They are given cell phone numbers of Dekalb County police officers, and are encouraged to report crime day or night.
 
Our understanding is that beyond the training, the commitment required is just two hours per week.  This is not a lot to help improve the safety on your street.  The goal, much like that of Safe Watch, is to be non-confrontational and to simply report anything suspicious or illegal.  Volunteers are encouraged to patrol by foot or car and are given magnetic car signs and reflective vests emblazoned with the name of the program.
 
Volunteers must be 21, undergo a criminal background check and submit fingerprints. They must have proof of auto insurance and no moving violations in the last two years.
To learn more about the program and to sign-up for the training, please visit http://dekalbpolice.com/vip.html.  You can download the forms needed and get them over to South Precinct at your convenience. 


 WRFG Annual Labor Day Blues Barbecue
Checklist ImageHot blues music and 'cue will highlight Atlanta's only community radio station's annual Labor Day celebration on September 7 from 12:30 to 8:30 p.m., at the Park Tavern, located at 500 10th Street.

$15 donation at the door, children 12 and under are free. Advance tickets available now for $12 at www.wrfg.org. For more information, please call 404-523-3471 and see flier HERE.

 Upcoming East Atlanta Area Meetings
NPU-W Monthly Meeting
Wednesday, August 26th - 7:30 p.m.
Location: Martha Brown United Methodist Church
For more information, contact NPU-W Chair Ed Gilgor at [email protected]

NPU-W Monthly Land Use & Zoning Committee Meeting
Tuesday, September 1st - 7:00 p.m.
Location: Zoo Atlanta ARC
For more information, e-mail Ed Gilgor at [email protected]

East Atlanta Business Association Meeting
Wednesday, September 2nd - 2:00 p.m.
Location: East Atlanta Library
For more information, contact EABA President Marc Takacs at [email protected]

 EACA Public Safety - Weekly Crime Reports
Week 32 and 33 crime reports can be found below:
  2009 EACA Membership

Join EACA 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.
 
 East Atlanta on Facebook/Twitter
If you're a Facebook member, be sure to join both the EACA group and become a fan of the East Atlanta Village page, too! Click on links below to take you directly to each.
East Atlanta Village Page <--- East Atlanta Village Page
 
 
 
EACA Group <--- EACA Group


Checklist Image
Contact Information:
E-mail: [email protected]
Website: http://eaca.net

Submissions:
If you're interested in submitting an article to the EACA weekly newsletter, send it to [email protected] 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.