EACA Newsletter for July 18, 2011

EACA is an all-volunteer organization dedicated to making this neighborhood great. Below is a summary of what EACA's members have been up to. In 2011, EACA has:

Produced 26 newsletters (including this one), which have reached 1,190 people and have covered over 100 unique stories since January 2011. Newsletters always contain continuously updated crime reports, meeting dates/times/locations and a touch of humor!
Organized 17 neighborhood cleanups, which have worked in seven different areas of the community and enlisted 56 total volunteers.
Led five neighborhood plantings with 62 total volunteers' help.
Maintained a rich and informative Facebook pages with pageviews off the charts!
Held five Monthly Meetings with six featured guest speakers, outside of the usual reports from APD and EACA Officers.
Received 54 new memberships and have sold 10 yard signs.
Continued its systemic removal of invasive plants from Brownwood Park's stream buffer, have repaired the gutters of the Brownwood Park Recreation Center and have wood chipped paths on the southern end of the Park.
Participated in every 2011 Stakeholder Advisory Committee Meeting of the I-20 East Transit Initiative.
Worked continuously with the City of Atlanta to oppose a second application for a cell tower at 469 Metropolitan Place; the application was denied on February 18.
Insured its Neighbor in Need initiative, so that it's fully covered as it makes emergency home repairs for low-income East Atlanta seniors.
Helped 12 East Atlanta seniors with $10,400-worth of emergency home repairs through its Neighbor in Need initiative.
Raised $1,300 flipping burgers and making pretzel necklaces at the East Atlanta Beer Festival.
Co-sponsored with the other neighborhoods of NPU-W six months of The Porch Press.
Advocated for the reversal a City of Atlanta decision to allow a large gas station at Ormewood and Moreland Avenues.
Leveraged $56,500 for the East Atlanta Village Farmers Market, through grants from the Georgia Department of Community Health and The Community Foundation for Greater Atlanta.
Led the effort - through its new Arts & Culture Committee - to bring two performances by two different artist groups to the East Atlanta Farmers Market.
Coordinated an all-ages playgroup - with 60 parents and 50 children - through its Parents Network.
Organized five age-specific playgroups, each consisting of about 12 children.

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. 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.

DeKalb County Youth Sport Summer Camps

In partnership with the DeKalb County Board of Education, DeKalb County Police Athletic League Plus presents its 2011 Youth Sport Summer Camps. For kids ages 8-16 camps are held at the Stephenson Middle School, 922 Stephenson Road in Stone Mountain.

Week Four, July 18 - 22: Track and Volleyball

Registration fee is $55, and hurry because camps are filling fast. For more information and to register please call 770.724.7468 or check it out on the web.

East Atlanta Library Events

East Atlanta Library

400 Flat Shoals Ave, SE

Atlanta, Ga 30316

Summer Story Time

Tuesday, July 19, 2011 @ 10:30am

All ages!

Registration is required for large groups.

Easy Crafts and Games

Wednesday, July 20, 2011 @ 10:30am

All ages!

Registration is required.

Registration for required events can be done at the library.

Summer Concert Series at Martha Brown UMC

Enjoy live music with your friends and neighbors! Join us for these family friendly concert events right here in the East Atlanta Village. With questions please call 404.622.1473 or email Pastor Heather

Sunday, July 24, 6:30pm. Michael Hester and Friends, bluegrass and acoustic music.

Sunday, August 7, 6:30pm. Ryan Keisshauer, contemporary praise and worship music.

Monday, August 22, 7pm. Summer Singers and Hope Sings Choirs. (Admission for this concert is $10/adult and $5/child).

Martha Brown United Methodist Church

468 Moreland Ave .

First Iconium Back To School Bash/Fun Day

Well, it's that time again! Last year all of you were excited about our Back to School Bash. If you thought that was good, this one is going to be even better! Not only do we plan to serve 100 plus kids in the East Atlanta community, we are adding this year.....waterside, obstacle course, games, food and FUN! This will be a community wide event.

School supplies will be available for all ages, and students must be present to receive supplies.

First Iconium gym and parking lot

August 6, 12-3pm

542 Moreland Ave .

Hope to see you there!

Trees Atlanta TreeKeepers Certification Program

TreeKeepers is Trees Atlanta's volunteer training and certification program that applies skill, appreciation, and pride to the stewardship of our urban forest. TreeKeepers consists of seven workshops, including indoor & outdoor activities, presentations, and engaging hands-on demonstrations. Each three-hour session takes place at the Trees Atlanta Kendeda Center, and is taught by Trees Atlanta staff or community tree professionals. Upon completion of the program, which includes volunteering 24 hours to tree projects, graduates will receive an official TreeKeepers hat, a native tree, a training manual, and a signed TreeKeepers certificate, as well as opportunities to put their new knowledge into action.

Event Dates: August 6, 13, 20, 27 and September 10, 17, and 24^Time:^{9am - noon
Cost: $ 65 for full certification (or $30 if you would like to attend a single class)}

Register now!

Sustainable Home Initiative in the New Economy (S.H.I.N.E)

The SHINE Gold program offers rebates to City of Atlanta homeowners for improvement projects that target how the entire house system uses energy.* Often referred to as a "whole house approach", the SHINE Gold program includes all improvements that collectively achieve a target energy use goal. Homeowners can receive a 25% rebate (up to $2,000) on the cost of qualifying energy efficiency upgrades. Qualified projects include, but are not limited to sealing leaky heating and air ducts, upgrading attic insulation, and caulking, weather-stripping, and window replacement.

*Homes need not be owner occupied.

For more information please visit here.

Tire Dumping: How You Can Help Stop It!

The City of Atlanta is currently developing a Tire Commission to combat the rampant and blatant dumping of tires and trash throughout the city. While the full scope of the Commission is not available at this time, one of the tenants is to hold tire companies accountable for illegal dumping and not disposing of tires per ordinance and statute.

As a part of developing this Commission, Council Member Natalyn Archibong's office is requesting the public's assistance in identifying locations where dump sites are or have been. Please send the locations to valencia612@bellsouth.net.

East Atlanta Security Patrol Update

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 EASP Organizer Myron Polster at 404-954-1568.

EACA Public Safety - Weekly Crime Report

Due to some clerical issues the weekly reports are unavailable at this time.

Upcoming Area Meetings

Atlanta City Council

Meetings: 1st and 3rd Mondays of the month (07.18), 1:00 pm

City Hall, 55 Trinity Ave SW, Atlanta, GA

Branan Towers Bingo

3rd Tuesday of the month (07.18), 6pm

Branan Towers, 1200 Glenwood Ave., SE

Grant Park Neighborhood Association
Meetings: 3rd Tuesday of the month (07.19), 7:30pm
Zoo Atlanta - ARC Building - Ford Conservation Room
800 Cherokee Avenue, Atlanta, GA

Transportation committee meeting, (07.25), 7pm

Please email transportation@eaca.net if interested in attending.

DeKalb County Board of Commissioners

Meetings: 2nd and 4th Tuesdays of the month (07.26), 9:00 am

Maloof Auditorium, 1300 Commerce Dr, Decatur

Neighborhood Planning Unit, NPU-W
Meeting: 4th Wednesday of the month (07.27), 7:30pm
Martha Brown United Methodist Church, 468 Moreland Ave SE

Atlanta City Council

Meetings: 1st and 3rd Mondays of the month (08.01), 1:00 pm

City Hall, 55 Trinity Ave SW

Neighborhood Planning Unit, NPU-W, Land Use and Zoning Committee

Meeting: 1st Tuesday of the month (08.02), 7:00pm

Martha Brown United Methodist Church, 468 Moreland Ave SE