East Atlanta Community Association
Newsletter
November 8, 2010 |
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| Greetings! |
Hello,
Tomorrow is EACA's Monthly Meeting. Keith Parsons, founder of the Georgia River Network, will discuss watershed issues and advocacy in East Atlanta. Also, the CIty's Department of Public Works will present the latest Streetscape plan for (a) Flat Shoals, between McPherson and Metropolitan, (b) Glenwood, between Joseph and Flat Shoals, and (c) McPherson, between Moreland and Flat Shoals. Your feedback is encouraged before construction starts in Summer 2011.
Enjoy this week's newsletter! |
EACA Election of Officers
| EACA will hold elections for officers at its December 14th Meeting. If you are interested in an officer position or interested in representing East Atlanta at NPU-W, contact Nominating Committee Chairperson, Henry Bryant (404-377-6148). If you are interested in participating on a Committee or Initiative of EACA, please contact Austin Dickson (678-772-3736).
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EACA Public Safety
| EACA's Public Safety Committee is looking for a neighbor with some technology skills! For a few years, an EACA volunteer helped our community crime reporter map out monthly activity within Beat 610 (East Atlanta). That volunteer has since moved from the neighborhood. If you think this 1-2 hour, monthly commitment is something you'd be willing to tackle, please contact publicsafety@eaca.net.
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Neighbor in Need is Taking Off
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EACA's Neighbor in Need initiative has received a $5,000 cash grant and a $5,000 matching grant. If it raises $5,000 independently, there will be $15,000 to help more neighbors in need. Recently, volunteers with the initiative have received:
- $1,300 from the pumpkin sale at the Farmers' Market
- $800 from Councilmember Archibong's budget
- $500 from The Porch Press
- $362 from Martha Brown United Methodist Church
You may donate to Neighbor in Need on EACA's website on this page; all donations are tax deductible. Help us reach our goal!
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Georgia Power Proposed Rate Increase
|  The Georgia Public Service Commission is currently taking public comment on the proposed rate increases by Georgia Power. A series of public hearings has already begun. Additional hearings are scheduled for November 8 and December 1. Both hearings start at 9:00 am and will take place at the first floor hearing room of the Public Service Commission offices at 244 Washington Street, Atlanta, 30334.
Those who have an opinion regarding this rate increase proposal are invited to testify at one of the hearings. Those who are unable to testify in person may write the members of the Public Service Commission at the address above or to email them. Email addresses can be found at PSC's website at www.psc.state.ga.us. The PSC is composed of five members who are elected statewide by the public and are responsible for ensuring that public utility rates and policies are fair to the public. The final decision on the rate increase will be made at the PSC's December 21 meeting at 10:00 a.m. Any rate increase would become effective in January 2011. |
| PARKatlanta Town Hall Meeting Series | |
 The City of Atlanta Department of Public Works and PARKatlanta are modernizing the city's on-street parking operations to improve convenience, access, fairness, and service for city motorists, residents, businesses, and visitors.
PARKatlanta has begun to respond to complaints/requests for parking enforcement in all areas including commercial and residential areas. Parking enforcement will be resourced in a greater amount than in recent years serving as an additional resource to the Atlanta Police Department.
We are holding a series of public town hall meetings in an effort to inform you about key elements related to on-street parking operations, state and municipal parking regulations, and the City's plan to further assist the community with acclimating to the program.
We would like to hear from you! If you are unable to attend, public comments may be sent via email to: parkingfeedback@atlantaga.gov. For more information please visit www.parkatlanta.org or contact the City of Atlanta Department of Public Works, at (404) 330-6739.
Monday, November 8, 2010
7:00 PM
Atlanta Civic Center - Piedmont Room
395 Piedmont Avenue
Atlanta, GA 30308
Monday, November 15, 2010
7:00 PM
Grove Park Recreation Center
750 Francis Place, NW
Atlanta, GA 30318
Tuesday, November 16, 2010
7:00 PM
Peachtree Hills Park
308 Peachtree Hills Avenue, NE
Atlanta, GA 30305 |
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DeKalb County Water, Sewer and Infrastructure Informational Meetings
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 County staff is currently assessing the water, sewer and infrastructure needs, and watershed experts have identified critical capital improvement projects that are needed over the next five years to ensure our water supply is adequate and safe for drinking, fire protection, our anticipated growth and development, and that the county is in full compliance with all state and federal regulations.
These meetings will provide an explanation of the repairs and upgrades needed in the water and sewer division, in order to preserve accessibility and maintain quality. Representatives from the DeKalb County Public Works/Infrastructure group will hold the following initial public meetings to discuss the upcoming infrastructure capital improvement projects (CIPs).
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Atlanta Public Schools 2010 Demographic Study
|  APS invites you to a community meeting on the 2010 Demographic Study. The Study is to help gain a clear understanding of various trends that are affecting enrollment
within Atlanta Public Schools.
Presenters:
Dr. Jerome McKibben
McKibben Demographic Research
Mr. Matthew Cropper
Cropper GIS Consultants
Gary L. Mongeon
Bleakly Advisory Group, LLC
Tuesday, November 9th, 6:30-8:00pm
Inman Middle School Auditorium
774 Virginia Ave.
404.802.3200
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Career Fair
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Career Fair
Tuesday, November 9, 2010
12 Noon to 4 pm
Business Attire is Required
Bring Plenty of Resumes
Corporate Conference Rooms
Presented by the Partnership for Community Action, Inc.
Careers & Employment Services Program
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| DeKalb County's 2010 Neighborhood Summit and Green Expo | The Office of Neighborhood Empowerment - OneDeKalb - is gearing up for its 2nd Annual Neighborhood Summit on Saturday, Nov. 13, 8:00 AM to 1:30 PM (Breakfast begins at 7:30am) at Georgia Perimeter College.-Clarkston Campus. This year, the summit will be held in conjunction with the Green Expo hosted by our Green Commission. The goal is to give residents the tools they need to build a stronger community.
Last year's summit drew more than 500 citizens, representing more than 300 neighborhood and civic associations, who participated in community roundtables and presentations, and received valuable information on county services including neighborhood watch, greenspace and cooperative extension.
This year, classes will be held over many community topics such as:
· Planning and Development
· eConnect - How to connect your community to the internet
· How to fund your neighborhood projects
· Historic Preservation
· Community Gardening
· And many more
Join friends and fellow association members for breakfast and lunch, sign up for DeKalb's recycling program, particpate in workshops lead by DeKalb County department representatives, and much more at this year's Summit! See you there!
To register please visit here.
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What's Happening at Martha Brown
|  Beginnings Class: Interested in learning more about the mission and ministry of Martha Brown? The next class for new and inquiring neighbors will be Sunday, November 14th, 9:45-10:45am.
Common Grounds: For those looking for an alternative form of worship, please join us Friday November 19th at our next Common Grounds worship/coffeehouse at 7:00pm.
Community Pot Luck Dinners: On the first and third Wednesday of each month, please join us for a time of fun and fellowship at 6:30 in the fellowship hall. All are welcome.
Please email Pastor Heather if interested in any of the above.
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| Rescheduled Friends of the Library Event |
 The last 2010 event of the Friends of the East Atlanta Library is Friday, November 19, from 6 to 8pm in the Meeting Room of East Atlanta Library.
Social Hour will begin at 6pm with beer, wine and soft drinks for refreshment. At 7pm, a film documentary about the life of Stieg Larsson will be shown. Larsson is known for his trilogy: The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, The Girl Who Played with Fire, and The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest.
Bring your friends. Show your support for the library! |
| Heating Assistance for East Atlanta Seniors | |
Know a senior struggling to pay the heating bill? The Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) provides a one-time benefit those who meet eligibility criteria. The application process begins today and continues through November 30, 2010, for:
- Homebound households where all household members are homebound
- Elderly households (age 65 and older where all household members are 65 and over) for regular and crisis situations
- Elderly households (age 65 and over as above with the only other household members under age 18)
- Any life threatening crisis situation regardless of age of household members (proof of medical situation from a medical service provider required)
The benefit amount ranges from $310 - $350 depending on one's yearly income, and benefits begin distribution in December, 2010. Checks are issued to the suppliers of home heating energy or fuel, to offset heating costs for eligible households. For detailed information on LIHEAP and other county-based discounts for DeKalb residents, see this flyer.
**Please let the low-income seniors in your life and on your street know about this important program!** |
Save Seven Bulbs for the Burgess Garden
|  It's time to plant spring-blooming bulbs and the Burgess-Peterson Academy garden would love to have your extras. The Save Seven program asks gardeners to donate at least seven bulbs, one for each grade level at the school. The kids will plant the bulbs this month as part of weekly gardening classes that reach every student in the school.
If you have bulbs to share, please contact Michelle Rice at 4chisos@comcast.net to arrange pickup or delivery.
Note: The gardeners have noticed our local Lowe's and Wal-Mart have bulbs available at reasonable prices! |
Burgess-Peterson Academy Elementary Needs Your Input.
|  Burgess-Peterson Academy is applying for a $300,000 grant to enlarge and diversify its after-school program offering. What would you like to see included? What do you feel would most benefit the children of this community? Please fill feel out this brief, seven-question survey to share your ideas. Community input is important!
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East Atlanta's Community Center
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 Did you know that East Atlanta has a community center available for the public's use?
All it takes is a phone call or email to Lisa Marie Welch, facilities manager for the Brownwood Recreation Center. An East Atlanta resident for about a decade, Lisa Marie has previously worked for Big Brothers Big Sisters, Zoo Atlanta and The Children's School. She's an artist by nature, and shares her work, including, paintings, pottery, jewelry, handbags and other arts and crafts in seasonal shows throughout the year.
In 2010, EACA and the East Atlanta Kids Club (EAKC) created the Brownwood Recreation Center Community Committee, a group of neighbors who guide the decision-making, programming and financial well-being of the Recreation Center, previously closed by the City of Atlanta. The group meets regularly, and if you have ideas or would like to help with the operation of the Recreation Center you may email Lisa.
If you or a group would like to have an event - or series of events - at the Recreation Center, check the calendar linked on EAKC's website; then contact Lisa Marie at lisamarie@eastatlantakids.org or 404-627-8050.
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Improvements in Brownwood Park
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 As you stroll through Brownwood Park, you will see significant enhancements to its safety and beauty.
Over the past two weeks, Cascade Springs Forestry has cut and chipped significant quantities of the Park's most prolific exotic pest shrubs and trees: Chinese Privet, White Mulberry and Thorny Olive Elaeagnus. Over the next six months, English Ivy, Chinese Liriope (Monkeygrass), Kudzu, Japanese Stiltgrass and Japanese Chaff Flower will be controlled with herbicides suitable for use in urban greenways. The contractor, Terry Sutton, and his team have proven to be careful operators in urban park environments and are sensitive to community concerns.
The control of exotic pest plants is an initial phase in the implementation of the Park's Master Plan. Management of the Park's vegetation will continue over the course of the coming year, though results are noticeable right now. Funding for this project has been provided by Trees Atlanta, Park Pride and the East Atlanta Beer Festival.
If you'd like more information on these non-native, invasive plants, visit the Georgia Exotic Pest Plant Council. If you'd like more information on how you can get involved with EACA's Parks and Greenspace work, contact the Committee's Co-Chairs, Laird Ruth and Mary Yetter, at parks@eaca.net.
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| Farmers Market - ONLY A FEW WEEKS LEFT! | 
The East Atlanta Village Farmers Market is going strong through Thanksgiving. In fact, they've added new vendors. Come support your local farmers market every Thursday night from 4:30 to 7:30 at 1231 Glenwood Ave.
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November Events at the East Atlanta Library
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Teeny Tiny Tales
Tuesdays, 10:30 a.m.
Children will enjoy stories, songs, puppetry and crafts. Ages 18-36 months.
Reservations are required for groups of 10 or more.
Pre-School Storytime
Wednesdays, 10:30 a.m.
Children will enjoy stories, songs, puppetry and crafts. Ages 3-5.
Reservations are required for groups of 10 or more.
Kids In The Kitchen
Saturday, November 13. 2:00 p.m.
An interactive reading of Lois Ehlert's Eating the Alphabet with related crafts and activities to follow.
Kids Crafts
Monday, November 15. 3:30 p.m.
Children will make easy crafts that can be taken home or displayed in the library.
Ages 5-12. Reservations are required.
Let's Play! Game On at Your Library
Friday, November 19. 3:30 p.m.
Children will play fun and exiting games on the Nintendo Wii. Ages 5 -12.
Reservations are required.
East Atlanta Branch, a part of the Atlanta-Fulton Public Library System
400 Flat Shoals Avenue
For information call 404.730.5438
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East Atlanta Security Patrol
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 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 easp610@gmail.com, or call EACA
Public
Safety Chair Myron Polster at 404-954-1568.
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| EACA Public Safety - Weekly Crime Report | |
The weekly crime reports for weeks 41-44 are below:
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| Upcoming Area Meetings |
DeKalb County Board of Commissioners
Meetings: 2nd and 4th Tuesdays of the month (11.09), 9:00 am
Maloof Auditorium, 1300 Commerce Dr, Decatur
East Atlanta Community Association, (EACA)
Meetings: 2nd Tuesday of the month (11.09), 7pm
Branan Towers, 1200 Glenwood Ave., SE
South Atlantans for Neighborhood Development, Inc. (SAND)
Meetings: 2nd Thursday of the month (11.11); 7:30pm
Beulah Heights University Student Center, 892 Berne Street
Atlanta City Council
Meetings: 1st and 3rd Mondays of the month (11.15), 1:00 pm
City Hall, 55 Trinity Ave SW, Atlanta, GA
Branan Towers Bingo
3rd Tuesday of the month (11.16), 6pm
Branan Towers, 1200 Glenwood Ave., SE
Grant Park Neighborhood Association
Meetings: 3rd Tuesday of the month (11.16), 7:30pm
Zoo Atlanta - ARC Building - Ford Conservation Room
800 Cherokee Avenue, Atlanta, GA 30315
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2010 EACA Membership
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Join EACA today! Annual dues are $10 per household per year. As an EACA member, you can vote at EACA meetings on topics of interest within our community. Email questions to membership@eaca.net.
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.
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| 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.
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