East Atlanta Community Association
Newsletter
March 15, 2010 
In This Issue
The Atlanta Preservation Center
Atlanta Public Schools Community Meeting
EACA Beautification Day
TECH HIGH Open House
Burgess Peterson Academy
NCS/ACMS Merger
Know a Teenager Looking for a Summer Job?
Fiddlin' John Carson's 142nd Birthday Celebration
Run Before You Crawl 5K
Downed Utility Lines?
Sweetwater Brew Your Cask Off Benefit
Georgia's biggest & best parks Conference
BeltLine Events
DeKalb County Neighborhood Stabilization Program
An Evening Conversation with Mayor Kasim Reed
Crime Prevention and Safety Day
East Atlanta CourtWatch
EACA Public Safety Crime Reports
East Atlanta Library Events
Join Our Mailing List!
Quick Links
 Greetings!
EACA Logo
Hello!

Shouldn't you be out training for the upcoming 5K?
 
Thanks to Urban Cannibals for offering a discount for those who helped out with the Sunday EACA clean-up in the Village!  There was a great turnout yesterday as well as at EACA's Monthly Meeting last Tuesday.  APD's gang unit, Interim Chief Joel Baker of Atlanta Fire Rescue, Major John Dalton of Zone Six (APD), and other guests made for an engaging meeting focused on public safety.
 
See below about other happenings in and for our area, and... Happy St. Patrick's Day!  If you can't make it to Savannah, invite your friends to celebrate here in East Atlanta!


Enjoy!!
The Atlanta Preservation Center: The 7th Annual Phoenix Flies
The Atlanta Preservation Center promotes the preservation of Atlanta's architecturally, historically and culturally significant buildings, neighborhoods and landscapes through education and advocacy.

The Atlanta Preservation Center's annual celebration of historic sites, the Phoenix Flies, will take place March 6 through March 22, 2010.  During those 17 days 45+ historic sites will offer over 160 FREE events ranging from guided walking tours, bicycle tours, bus tours, to lectures and storytelling, to open houses, and more!  For more information please visit The Phoenix website,
www.phoenixflies.org
, or call 404.688.3353 x14.
   
Local events include:

Historic Sylvester Cemetery Guided Walking Tour
Take a guided tour of this cemetery that was begun in 1838. Sylvester Cemetery is the final resting place of many of East Atlanta's earliest settlers, including the Terry, Brown and McWilliams families, Civil War veterans and Fiddlin' John Carson, the father of Country and Western music.
 
Saturdays, March 13 & March 20, 10 am
Meet at corner of Braeburn Cir & Josephine Ave SE in East Atlanta 30316

Presented by : Historic Sylvester Cemetery Foundation, www.sylvestercemetery.org

B*ATL - Battle of Atlanta in East Atlanta
Join a guided walking tour along the front lines of the Battle of Atlanta. Stroll where soldiers fought and died. See important Civil War sites. Hear stories of the major players in the battle and neighborhood history.
 
Sunday, March 20, 4 pm
Reservation required: 404-688-3353 x14
Tour start location will be given with reservation confirmation.

Presented by : B*ATL - Battle of Atlanta Commemoration Organization, www.BATLevent.org
Atlanta Public Schools Community Meeting


NOTICE OF COMMUNITY MEETING





The Atlanta Public Schools will hold a Community Meeting on the proposed FY2011 budget.
 
THURSDAY, APRIL 1, 2010

The meeting will begin at 6:00 pm.
 
 
BURGESS-PETERSON ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
480 CLIFTON ST, NE
ATLANTA, GEORGIA 30316

EACA Beautification Day
A great big thanks to all of the volunteers who came out on Sunday the 14th to clean up the village.  Even with the overcast and somewhat chilly weather we had 14 wonderful people (and Ted the dog) turn out to help make the Village and our community a prettier and safer place to visit, work and play.  We peeled away stickers from poles and signs and pretty much anything to which a sticker could be attached. The group
picked up trash in most all of the parking lots and sidewalks.  We spread mulch just  north of The Midway which really transformed that area. Volunteers filled the tree wells in front of The Midway with pine bark to suppress weeds and retain water (plus it looks nice).

We had a great turn out with lots of new faces who enthusiastically went right to work.

Also, thank-you to Urban Cannibals for rewarding the volunteers with a coupon for their fantastic Sunday Sundaes.  Several delicious treats were enjoyed!!!

We always need more volunteers, so please consider coming out for an hour or two of your time at the next clean-up day in April.
  A special note for those looking for things to do with their children.  What a great way to help your kids learn a valuable lesson of community involvement.  This month included a family with their son.  I am betting he might think twice before littering in the Village, or anywhere else for that matter. 

TECH HIGH Open House

For a map to the school please click here.
Please visit www.techhighschool.org for more information on the school.


Burgess Peterson Academy Tours

THINKING ABOUT
SCHOOLS?


Which area elementary school is designed with classrooms surrounding a secluded courtyard with a new playground, picnic tables and an organic garden watered from rain barrels?

Here's a hint.  It's the same school with its own computer lab, media center, science lab and dedicated art and music rooms.

Need another hint?  This school has low student-teacher ratios and state of the art interactive white boards in most classrooms.


Here's your last hint.  If you live in East Atlanta, your elementary school age child is guaranteed a spot.  And it's
FREE

Come see why parents are buzzing about East Atlanta's public elementary school! 

Burgess-Peterson Academy will host tours for prospective families on February 24, March 17, and March 31 at 10 AM and 7 PM.  

The school is located at
480 Clifton Street at the corner of Glenwood and Clifton, less than a mile east of East Atlanta Village.

Childcare will be available for the 10 AM tours.


Please RSVP at [email protected].




Burgess-Peterson Academy Wins a Target Field Trip Grant
On January 6, 2010, Coach Jackson was notified that she had won a Target Field Trip for $800.  She plans to take the Student Wellness Ambassadors and the gardening students to Callaway Gardens to visit the Cecil B. Day Butterfly Center.  Recently the garden was expanded from two to seven raised beds and a circular stone bed to grow a butterfly garden.  The students who tend to the garden will have an opportunity to learn about flowers that attract butterflies, the butterfly habitat and different species of butterflies on their field trip.  Callaway Gardens has a wonderful exhibit that is enclosed so that the students will be able to walk among the butterflies and observe them in their different states of development.  The award-winning film, On Wings of Wonder, plays continuously on two wide-screen monitors in the center's multi-purpose room, explaining the life cycle of butterflies.  We are all looking forward to the students embracing the knowledge, and applying what they learned to their own garden.  The trip is planned in the latter part of May.  

NCS/ACMS Merger
After many meetings and much input from various stakeholders,  a draft version of the charter petition for the Atlanta Neighborhood Charter School is now completed.  If you are interested in the impact of the NCS/ACMS merger, please read the linked document.  The time for any remaining comments or concerns from the community is now.  There will be two more public opportunities to ask questions or provide input.  The first and best chance is tonight, March 8th at 7:00 at ACMS, 820 Essie Avenue in Ormewood Park.  After that, there will be a joint meeting of both boards at 6:30 pm at NCS on March 15th, where the charter will be voted on.  You may also contact one of our East Atlanta representatives this week, Kelly Simons ([email protected]) or Myron Polster ([email protected]), to express your views or ask questions.
 
One of the biggest questions emerging from these discussions is the nature of the merged school's attendance zones and the impact on East Atlanta families.  The proposed attendance zones for the combined school will remain as is.  For K-5, East Atlanta remains in the secondary attendance zone, while for 6-8 we remain in the primary attendance zone.  Particularly for those East Atlanta families looking at NCS for kindergarten, it continues to be uncertain how many spots if any there will be from year to year.  The waiting list for the 2010-2011 school year is much shorter than it was for 2009-2010, but the reasons for that are not totally clear.  Some of that may be increased competition from Parkside and Imagine Wesley, there may be fewer school-age kids from the primary attendance zone of Grant Park and Ormewood Park, or some other factors may be at work.
 
As for grades 6-8, children from East Atlanta have not had any trouble enrolling at ACMS in its first few years of existence.  In fact, more kids from the secondary attendance zone are currently enrolled than from the primary attendance zone, which includes all of NPU-W.  One of the big changes resulting from the merger is that 5th graders will have priority for registration in grade 6.  Whether that means that more kids from the K-5 primary attendance zone will continue onto 6th grade is anyone's guess, but that could potentially take away spots away in grades 6-8 from East Atlanta families.  Grade 6 will have capacity for 72 kids versus 60 in the fifth grade, so for most of the life of this 5 year charter, it appears likely that middle school access will still be good for East Atlanta.  This is because NCS is usually well under the 60 child capacity in their fifth grade classes, and quite a few kids don't continue on to ACMS for middle school.

The charter petition is for 5 years, so if you have young children, this merger may be of interest to you.  Please take some time to review the charter and provide input in whatever manner you desire.


Know a Teenager Looking for a Summer Job?

Atlanta Workforce Development Agency will be accepting applications from now until March 31st

To apply for a summer job you must:

  • Live in the City of Atlanta
  • Apply online at www.mayorsyouthprogram.org
  • Be 16 - 18 years old
  • Meet eligibility requirements
  • Register for Selective Service (males 18 years of age)
  • Submit the following eligibility documents
    • Georgia State ID or picture ID
    • Social Security Card
    • Birth Certificate
    • Proof of residence (lease or utility bill)
    • Work permit
AND ONE OF THE FOLLOWING
    • Recent food stamp award letter
    • Recent TANF award letter
    • Recent Social Security Income (SSI) award letter
    • Proof of foster care
Please bring your eligibility documentation to:
Atlanta Workforce Development Agency
818 Pollard Boulevard SW
Atlanta, GA 30315
404.658.9675

Monday through Friday 8:00am - 5:30pm.

Note: Jobs will be assigned on a first come, first served basis for those submitting all eligibility requirements. 



Fiddlin' John Carson's 142nd Birthday Celebration

C E L E B R A T E   with  US!

 
Fiddlin' John Carson's 142nd Birthday Celebration 
(Father of Commercial County Music: 1st in Radio - 1922, 1st in Records - 1923 and 1st in Stage - 1913, 55 years King Fiddler 1879 - 1934)
 


Saturday, March 27, 2010
11:00 am to 2:00 pm at Cabbagetown (Part 1)
3:00 pm to 5:00 pm at Sylvester Cemetery (Part 2)
(Approx. 10 minutes travel time between locations)

Part 1 on Carroll St. in Cabbagetown (vicinity of Boulevard & Memorial Dr,
Atlanta, GA near Historic Oakland Cemetery and the old Fulton Bag Cotton Mill)
(This is where Fiddlin' John performed on the street corners over 110 years ago)
 
Part 2 of the Celebration will continue at the Grave Site of Fiddlin' John Carson at Historic Sylvester Cemetery.  (You will know the Carson Plot by the White Wall and tall monument on Fiddlin' John Carson Lane.)  The Fiddlin' John Carson Award will be presented at Sylvester Cemetery to renowned fiddler, Frank Maloy.  Come experience the history of Sylvester Cemetery!!!  Donations to the Sylvester Cemetery Foundation will be accepted.

We will have bluegrass, country, western and gospel music!  The Cowboy Gunfighters and the Leprechaun will perform.
 
EVERYONE WELCOME !  Bring your chairs.  Musicians bring your instruments and join in!

For information:  Fiddlin' John Carson Productions (404)292-7340 or (404)281-5389

Run Before You Crawl, East Atlanta Village 5K and Pub Crawl
Checklist Image
The Run Before You Crawl 5k and Pub Crawl is Atlanta's premier race slash pub crawl, in fact, we are fairly certain it is Atlanta's only race slash pub crawl.  This first annual event will take place in and around the East Atlanta Village on April 10th, 2010. The race begins and ends in beautiful Brownwood Park. In between you will meander through the East Atlanta Business District

Because this 5K is aimed at people with a proclivity for drinking we have elected for the race to begin at 9:00 am.  The Pub Crawl will begin at 10:30 am. We realize this is early, but just think, it will be 11:30 in Nova Scotia, and that's nearly noon. The Pub Crawl will visit The Earl, Holy Taco, The Flatiron, The Midway Pub, and The Glenwood and end at 1:30 pm.

The Run Before You Crawl 5k does not discriminate on the basis of age or physical fitness (or on any basis for that matter).  For that reason you are welcome to register for the pub crawl or 5K individually.   March 14 to and including race day entry fees are $25 for the 5k, $10 for the pub crawl, or $32 for both.  Just because we choose not to discriminate on the basis of age, does not mean that the State of Georgia will not.  All pub crawl participants must be at least 21 years of age.

The average person burns 500 calories in the average 5K.  [Warning: This is a fabricated self-serving statistic] Why not throw those calories right back on by drinking a beer or seven.

All proceeds from this event to end all events goes towards the East Atlanta Village and making it a safe place to shop, dine, and drink.

Have You Seen Downed Lines?



Have you seen utility wires, telephone lines or metal cables on the sidewalks in East Atlanta?  Loose wires in the pedestrian path can trip people up and cause serious injury.  You could win a prize by reporting wire hazards in March.

Checklist Image
 
PEDS, metro Atlanta's pedestrian advocacy organization, invites all metro Atlanta neighbors (that's you) to report wire hazards online at peds.org during the month of March.  The more hazardous wires you report in March, the more chances you have to win.  Learn how you can participate at peds.org.

Sweetwater Brew Your Cask Off Benefit
The Tastiest Way to Raise Money!!

Sweetwater Brewery presents Brew Your Cask Off Cask Ale Festival.

Making a difference, one cask at a time!  They have invited five of their favorite charities to join the ranks of guest brewers and create casks for "Brew Your Cask Off."  Vote here for the best cause (as well as learn more about the event), and they will donate $1 from every ticket sold to the charity with the most votes.  All five participating charities also have the opportunity to use their cask as an auction item at a fundraiser for the organization. 

Friends of Brownwood park encourages you to scroll down to the bottom of their page and vote for PARK PRIDE.  In addition, our friends at Midway are one of the folks that are helping Sweetwater put this festival together.  We can't think of a tastier way to raise money!

What: "Brew Your Cask Off" Cask Ale Festival
When: March 20, 2010. 6:00 PM - 10:00 PM
Where: Sweetwater Brewery
Price: $30 Online Pre-sale ($35 Day Of)

Georgia's biggest & best parks Conference

Park Pride's 9th Annual Parks & Greenspace Conference"The Role of Parks in the New Economy presented by The Home Depot Foundation
 


Monday, March 22, 2009
at the Atlanta Botanical Garden
Best-practice presentations from park experts from New York, Seattle, Washington, Chattanooga, Houston, Charlotte & Jacksonville.

Pre-Conference Events:
Saturday, March 20: Green Infrastructure Tour
Sunday, March 21: Community Garden Tour

More details on the 2010 Conference.   $89 only thru Feb. 5 -- register now!
BeltLine Events


Volunteer Night: Save the Date!

When: Thursday, March 18th from 5:30 to 7:30

Where: Park Tavern, 500 10th Street, NE, Atlanta, GA 30309
Mark your calendars to join BeltLine staff and volunteers for a fun evening learning about the variety of ways you can "Get Involved" with the BeltLine. Socialize with other volunteers, get updated on the latest BeltLine progress, and find a BeltLine volunteer opportunity that works for you. All current, future and potential volunteers are encouraged to attend!
DeKalb County Neighborhood Stabilization Program
DeKalb County Neighborhood Stabilization Program (NSP)
Home Buyer Information and Home Buyer Education Workshop

The new Neighborhood Stabilization Program (NSP) has provided emergency assistance to state and local governments to acquire and redevelop foreclosed properties that might otherwise become sources of abandonment and blight within their communities. The DeKalb County Neighborhood Stabilization Program (NSP) has two exciting ways you can take advantage of this opportunity!

TWO WAYS TO SAVE

Buy a foreclosed home that you identify within 6 DeKalb zip codes, and you could qualify for up to $25,000!

Or... buy one of our homes that that we have lovingly rehabilitated. No fussing with rehab and ready to move in!
 
Saturday, March 27, 2009
9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Porter Sanford III Performing Arts & Community Center
3181 Rainbow Drive
Decatur, GA , 30034
 
To Register, Contact:
D&E, The Power Group
(770) 961-6900
[email protected]

Please click for more information.
An Evening Conversation with Mayor Kasim Reed and City Officials
Checklist ImageOn Tuesday, March 23 a reception with several city officials will be followed by a question and answer session with Mayor Kasim Reed.  The event is brought to you by more than 15 SE Atlanta neighborhoods and organizations.   It will be held at the Bible Way Ministries International Church at 894 Constitution Road, SE.
 
Beginning at 6 PM, the reception will give you a chance to meet and chat informally with Atlanta City Council officials, including city council president - at-large and District members, and the new faces of the new Atlanta Police Department.  So far, Carla Smith as well as Ceasar Mitchell and Michael Bond have confirmed from the city council, and Assistant Chief Pete Andresen and Deputy Chief Ernest Finley have confirmed from the APD.  We expect to hear from APD Chief George Turner, and City Council members Natalyn Archibong, Aaron Watson, and others soon.  This part of the evening will be held at the fellowship hall of the church.
 
Immediately following the reception, at 6:45 PM, the audience will move into the sanctuary for the "Conversation with Mayor Kasim Reed," the Mayor's Q&A.  He will start at 7 PM sharp and answer questions previously submitted by the community until 7:45 PM.  Our Moderator will be AJC Editorial Writer Andre Johnson, who knows the city's issues intimately, and will be able to ask intelligent follow-up questions as necessary.
 
We look forward to seeing you there!


Crime Prevention and Safety Day
Lowe's Home Improvement
Store and the Atlanta Police
Department - Zone 6 invite all

citizens to attend a entertaining and educational event.

Crime Prevention & Public Safety Day
Saturday, March 27, 2010,
11:30AM-2:30PM.  
 
The store is located in the Edgewood Shopping Center, at 1280 Caroline Street, NE off of Moreland Ave.

It is a Safety Day Promotion with Lowe's acting as the host for the police and fire departments, along with other vendors who will be there offering crime prevention and safety tips.
 
There are games planned for children plus our fearless firefighters AND a fire engine are scheduled to appear.  In addition, Lowe's is offering fun prize drawings for adults.  It is a community event filled with education and fun for all.

 
 East Atlanta Security Patrol

The East Atlanta Security Patrol (EASP) is an effort by the East Atlanta Community Association, Inc. (EACA) to enhance safety in East Atlanta.  Specifically, off-duty Zone Six Police Officers will be hired to perform additional patrols within Beat 610, which is the police designation for the East Atlanta community, beyond those presently being performed by the police.  The amount of time that the officers shall patrol will be determined by the level of support from the community in terms of membership.  Since more members mean more patrol hours, we encourage you to share this information with your neighbors and East Atlanta business owners.


Don't forget that the EASP responds to calls or contact from all community members.  Whether it's a crime in progress or an ongoing issue such as barking dogs or drug dealing, give us a call and we'll involve the appropriate resources to attempt to resolve your issue.  While this may seem like a disincentive to become a member of the EASP, members do receive tangible benefits such as extra patrols when out of town and patrol coverage based on the number of members in your street or area. 


To learn more about the East Atlanta Security Patrol, view updated news and notes or to enroll, visit the
EASP website.  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 404-954-1568.

 EACA Public Safety - Weekly Crime Report
The weekly crime reports for weeks 7-10 are below:


East Atlanta Library Upcoming Activities


All Atlanta-Fulton Public Library programs and events are free and open to the public. For a full list of all events at our 34 locations and any additional information, please visit www.afpls.org.
 
Teeny, Tiny Tales
Tuesdays, February-May. 10:30 a.m.
Children will enjoy stories, songs, puppetry and crafts.
Ages 18-36 months. Reservation is required for groups of 10 or more.
 
Pre-School Storytime

Wednesdays, February-May. 10:30 a.m.
Children will enjoy stories, songs, puppetry and crafts. Ages 3-5. Reservation is required for groups of 10 or more.
 
Kidz Crafts

Mondays, February 8, March 8, April 12, May 10. 3:30 p.m.
Children will make easy crafts to take or display in the library. Ages 5-12. Reservations are required.
 
Let's Play! Game On at Your Library
Fridays, February 12, March 19, April 23, May 28. 3:30 p.m.
Children will play fun and exiting games on the Nintendo Wii. Ages 5-12. Reservations are required.
 
Monday Night at the Movies
Mondays, February 15, March 15, April 19, May 17. 5:00 p.m.
Popcorn will be popping and juice will be flowing. Children will enjoy watching exciting movies with family and friends on our "Big Screen." All ages are welcome. Reservations are required.

East Atlanta Branch
400 Flat Shoals Ave.
SE Atlanta, GA 30316
404.730.5438



 
Upcoming Area Meetings
Atlanta City Council
Meetings: 1st and 3rd Mondays of the month (03.15.10), 1:00 pm
City Hall, 55 Trinity Ave SW, Atlanta, GA
 
Grant Park Neighborhood Association
Meetings: 3rd Tuesday of the month (03.16.10), 7:30pm
M.L. King Middle School, 582 Connally Street SE, Atlanta, GA
 
Branan Towers Bingo
3rd Tuesday of the month (03.16.10), 6pm
Branan Towers, 1200 Glenwood Ave., SE


DeKalb County Board of Commissioners
Meetings: 2nd and 4th Tuesdays of the month (03.23.10), 9:00 am
Maloof Auditorium, 1300 Commerce Dr, Decatur
 
Neighborhood Planning Unit, NPU-W
Meeting: 4th Wednesday of the month (03.24.10), 7:30pm
Martha Brown United Methodist Church, 468 Moreland Ave SE

2010 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.  Email questions to [email protected].
 
You can sign up for your 2010 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 become a fan of both the EACA Fan Page and the East Atlanta Village page, too! Click on links below to take you directly to each.
 

 
 
 
 


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