EACA Newsletter for February 14, 2011

The Porch Press wants to make sure that everyone in East Atlanta is receiving their publication. Anyone living inside the city limits in East Atlanta not receiving the paper should call Genie Strickland at 404-373-3130. Please leave your street address as well as a name and number in case we have to call you back. Information can be emailed to Genie as well.

Kingfisher Academy Open House

Kingfisher Academy, the only secular, independent private school serving all the Southeast Neighborhoods is having open houses for enrollment on Wednesdays in February from 9-6. Interested parties should call for an appointment at 404-667-6951.

We serve families with children ages 3 to 8th grade, and we have a new space to show off at 158 Moreland Avenue. We're entering our 13th year and have always been honored to serve this side of Atlanta with a family friendly, affordable option for private schooling. Our children come from everywhere, and we celebrate the variety of families with which we work.

Celebrate Montessori Education Week

Montessori schools around the globe celebrate Montessori Education Week February 27-March 5, 2011. Montessori In Town, serving East Atlanta and other intown neighborhoods invites Atlanta parents to help
them celebrate by scheduling a visit to see a Montessori classroom in action. The school is now enrolling for Primary and Elementary Programs. Open Houses will be held at both campuses as follows: Thursday, February 17, 6:30 - 8:00 pm, at the Glen Castle Campus, 750 Glenwood Avenue SE as well as Sunday, March 20, 2:00 - 4:00 pm, at the Poncey-Highland Campus, 1085 Ponce de Leon Ave NE.

To kick off Montessori Education week, the school will host international
Montessori educator and consultant Lilian Bryan as she explores Language at
the Center of Human Development. Ms. Bryan will discuss the importance of
language and how it is essential to all learning experiences throughout
Montessori education. The lecture will be held Thursday, February 24 at 6:30
p.m. at the Glen Castle campus

.
To register for the lecture or to schedule a classroom observation please contact the school at 404-784-1038 or nikki@montessoriintown.com.

Montessori is a sensorially-based, concrete, "hands-on" approach to learning that leads the child to self-discovery. Learn more at www.montessoriintown.com

The Friends School of Atlanta

The Friends School of Atlanta (FSA) has added an Open House on Saturday, February 26, 10:00 am to noon, to accommodate continuing requests for information, including from many families in the neighborhoods affected by the recent school closings in DeKalb County. FSA has also arranged more tour dates for prospective families wishing to apply for the 2011-2012 school year.

The Friends School of Atlanta offers a values-driven education for students from Pre-K through grade eight. Founded in 1991, FSA remains the only Quaker school in Georgia. FSA's mission is to provide challenging academics in a diverse environment, drawing on the Quaker values of simplicity, peace, integrity, community, equality and stewardship to empower our students to go out into the world with conscience, conviction and compassion.

For more information about the school, tour dates and FSA's application process, please visit www.friendsschoolatlanta.org or contact Waman French, Head of School (404-373-8746 x8136; waman.french@friendsschoolatlanta.org) or Senator Scott, Admissions Coordinator ( 404-373-8746 x 8139; sscott@friendsschoolatlanta.org).

Burgess-Peterson Academy Visiting Teachers Program

Burgess-Peterson Academy (BPA) is seeking an East Atlanta family who is willing to serve as host for a visiting instructor who will be teaching Mandarin at BPA starting in March. BPA is participating in the Atlanta Confucius Institute Visiting Teachers Program. The program provides visiting teachers an American family to live with as well as the ability to learn the American culture for one calender year. Participating families must be located within walking or bicycling distance from the school. This is a great opportunity to share East Atlanta hospitality with an engaged young teacher and, in exchange, have an opportunity to learn first-hand about Chinese culture. Host families must be able to provide a private bedroom for their guest, but are not required to have children at BPA or in Atlanta Public Schools. Contact Principal Robin Robbins for more information at rcrobbins@atlanta.k12.ga.us .

Michelle Obama visited Burgess-Peterson Academy

Touting what she called a fundamental shift in how America lives and eats, first lady Michelle Obama made Georgia her prime stop Wednesday to celebrate the first anniversary of her "Let's Move" campaign aimed at improving children's health.

"You can't ignore the fact that we have a crisis with childhood obesity," said Burgess-Peterson Principal Robin Robbins, who greeted Obama when she arrived at the school earlier Wednesday among dignitaries that included Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed and U.S. Sen. Johnny Isakson.

Students practically tripped over each other to give Obama a hug, which she dispensed freely. She said President Obama loves to snack on figs; her favorite herb is basil; and that the kids need to read a lot and work hard if they wanted to be president -- which several declared they did.

Obama's garden tour was guided by two master gardeners who volunteer at the school, Adam Waterson and Michelle Rice. For more of this article please visit the ajc.

The Burgess-Peterson Academy Organic Garden Facebook page shares many thoughts and pictures of the garden and this day. Please visit here.

What's Happening at Martha Brown

Common Grounds Worship Coffeehouse: An alternative worship service. Good coffee, chill music, and storytelling. Friday, February 25th at 7:00 pm in the Living Room. Bring a neighbor or friend!!

New Choir: If you have been singing in the shower a lot but didn't know where to share your talents, come join us in our NEW CHOIR at Martha Brown. We can use the talents you have been hiding.

For more information on either please email Pastor Heather at marthabrownunite@bellsouth.net.

468 Moreland Ave SE.

Oakhurst Garden's Chicks in the City

On the wings of Oakhurst Garden's wildly popular "Chicks in the City" classes comes the full day of urban poultry-keeping. On February 26 the second annual Chicks in the City Symposium offers attendees a full plate of essentials on backyard chickens. Taught by local experts, the five sessions highlight how-to's from coop design to breeds and from chicken first aid to getting started with backyard poultry. Returning again this year and broadcasting live for his radio show, Andy Schneider, The Chicken Whisperer will participate in the Symposium.

With urban farming on the rise, and as concerns about how food is made increase, this timely full day of workshops will engage and enlighten both the committed "locavore" and the merely curious alike. New topics this year are chickens as food, predator proofing your coop and first aid. This year we will also have a silent auction to familiarize you with the best local chicken care products.

The Chicks in the City Symposium runs from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30pm on Saturday, February 26 and will be held at the Decatur Recreation Center, 231 Sycamore St., Decatur, 30030. Cost is $65. Oakhurst Garden members and City of Decatur residents pay just $50. Pre-registration is requested and limited to the first 100 registrants. Register at www. Oakhurstgarden.org

B*ATL

B*ATL is looking for a person to Chair the Civilian Living History program, "Civil War to Civil Rights", in the East Atlanta Village in July. The B*ATL organizing committee (a fun group) has started meeting now. Work with and direct actors and neighbors who portray characters from history including casting, scheduling, costuming, wrangling and participating in bringing history to life. If you think you might be interested in helping to shape this event please contact B*ATL committee chair Henry Bryant, 404-377-6148 or

hbryant@mindspring.com

B*ATL is the annual event commemorating the historic Civil War Battle of Atlanta which happened across our area and in our neighborhood in 1864. Thousands of people show up at various programs throughout the area.

Get Fit, Relax and Party at Brownwood Park

Brownwood Recreation Center now offers two ways for folks to stay fit and healthy. The center has pilates and yoga classes running four days a week.

Instructors from popular urban boot camp FitWit are leading the pilates and yoga classes. Pilates are offered on Tuesdays and Thursday (7:15 pm to 8:15pm); contact Lane at trainmelane@yahoo.com for class details. Yoga is offered on Wednesdays (7:15pm to 8:15pm) and Saturdays (9:00 am to 10:15am); contact Amy at yogaeav@gmail.com. Both classes cost $8 to $10 per class.

Brownwood Recreation Center is also available for community use for a variety of parties, classes, and meetings. All it takes is a phone call or email to Lisa Marie Welch, Brownwood facility manager. If you or a group would like to have an event - or series of events at the rec center, check the calendar at www.eastatlantakids.org, then contact Lisa Marie or 404-624-0747.

The rec center has been managed by EAKC with the support of EACA, East Atlanta Beer Fest and other sponsors and partners since the city closed the center in 2008

Friday Food for Firefighters

Since early November 2010, your neighbors have provided a home-cooked meal for firefighters at Station 13 every Friday night. We're calling it Friday Food for Firefighters, or FFF, since we love acronyms. If you would like to provide a meal for four to six firefighters some Friday, please check out the web-based scheduler:

Password: friday
Click "Edit"
Sign up for a date with your name and meal
Click "save this version"

If you have questions, please contact Beth-Ann Buitekant, who is overseeing the schedule. Beth has lived in East Atlanta since 1984. Having suffered from losing her home to a fire many years ago she would often think about the firefighters working there. After supplying treats at various times, she realized she wanted to do more with this program being the result.

Please consider getting involved because the more people signed up the less effort it will take on any one person. Neighbors have already signed up through February! So, if you have the ability to provide food one Friday evening on occasion please sign up. Meals should be delivered between 5:00 and 5:30 pm, and the firefighters have requested no pork products. This new program is an easy way to literally serve your community.

East Atlanta Security Patrol Update

The week of Feb 6-12 continues an unusually low crime period for Beat 610 in East Atlanta. There has been just one crime reported this week, a burglary on Maynard Terrace.

Only two significant problem areas at the moment. A couple of properties under renovation in the vicinity of Rockland and Clifton have been burglarized. And Village Walk subdivision has had three burglary attempts between 11 pm and 3 am since January 14th, all while residents were home.

A very quiet week again for the period Jan 30 - Feb 5. East Atlanta had one burglary and one auto theft. The burglary was an A/C unit from a property under renovation.

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.

EACA Public Safety - Weekly Crime Report

The weekly crime reports for weeks 3-6 are below:

The significant arrests report for weeks 3-6 are below:

January Crime Report

January Trends

Upcoming Area Meetings

Branan Towers Bingo

3rd Tuesday of the month (02.15), 6pm

Branan Towers, 1200 Glenwood Ave., SE

Burgess-Peterson Academy PTA Meeting

February 15, 6pm

480 Clifton Street., SE

Grant Park Neighborhood Association
Meetings: 3rd Tuesday of the month (02.15), 7:30pm
Zoo Atlanta - ARC Building - Ford Conservation Room
800 Cherokee Avenue, Atlanta, GA 30315

Atlanta City Council

Meetings: 1st and 3rd Mondays of the month (02.21), 1:00 pm

City Hall, 55 Trinity Ave SW

DeKalb County Board of Commissioners

Meetings: 2nd and 4th Tuesdays of the month (02.22), 9:00 am

Maloof Auditorium, 1300 Commerce Dr, Decatur

Neighborhood Planning Unit, NPU-W

Meeting: 4th Wednesday of the month (02.23), 7:30pm
Martha Brown United Methodist Church, 468 Moreland Ave SE

EACA Membership