Farmer's Market Season is Upon Us! 

Dear EAV neighbors, EACA and Emory are conducting participatory research on the knowledge and participation in the East Atlanta Farmers Market. We have been conducting focus groups, interviews, and meeting with key stakeholders.  Please take a few moments to fill out this survey regarding the East Atlanta Farmers Market. If you have questions regarding the survey please e-mail president@eaca.net

East Atlanta Farmers Market is looking for chefs and home cooks to facilitate Cooking demonstrations at the East Atlanta Farmers Market 2014 Season. Come and show off your cooking skills, family recipes', and favorite dishes, utilizing all of the great produce, meats and fruits from our own farmers market. EAVFM welcomes all chefs and cooks. If you are interested please e-mail maryyetter@Hotmail.com.  

 Growing Congregation in Oakhurst to merge with Historic church in East Atlanta

On April 6, Eastside United Methodist Church, previously located in Oakhurst, moved into Martha Brown United Methodist Church in East Atlanta. The two congregations merged, with Eastside's lead pastor, Rev. Timothy Lloyd, moving with the congregation to preside just in time for Easter, bringing about the church's own resurrection.

"We are a forward-thinking congregation, very passionate about social justice and working with the underserved, and now we are moving to an area where we can do just that," said Rev. Lloyd. "I feel confident that this will be a wonderful coming together of a congregation in need of a place to grow and a congregation in need of growth."

Eastside UMC formed in 2011 under the name of Oakhurst UMC because of its location. "Soon after, we changed our name to Eastside to better reflect the demographic of the people who come to the church," said Rev. Lloyd. "It's a wonderful coincidence that we are now moving to East Atlanta."

Eastside is moving from a storefront on 630 East Lake Drive to the historic church at 468 Moreland Avenue that has been home to a Methodist congregation for 120 years, and known as Martha Brown UMC for several decades.

"And not only are we committed to continue Martha Brown's tradition of being outwardly focused, we will honor the name and her legacy by preserving the historical memorabilia housed there and transferring the name to a significant part of the building."

According to officials with the North Georgia Conference of The United Methodist Church (NGUMC), the move offers Eastside a permanent home rather than a rented space, which they were occupying in Oakhurst. Also, it keeps an active United Methodist congregation at the Moreland Avenue church where membership has been declining.

Churches of all denominations in urban areas across the country have been on the decline in the last few decades. Established in 1894, Martha Brown's congregation has dwindled recently to a few dozen in attendance, but has remained a stalwart in the community for outreach. The church hosts an art group, mother and infant play group, self-help groups for addiction and many other organizations and will continue to do so under the name Eastside.

"Martha Brown has been an important part of the United Methodist Church's life in the city. This part of Atlanta, in particular, has seen incredible change and growth over the last several decades," said Phil Schroeder, NGUMC's Director of Congregational Development. "What an incredible opportunity that a young, dynamic congregation can be a part of an historic congregation's rebirth."

Eastside plans to hold its first public worship service at the new location with the newly merged congregation on Easter Sunday, April 20 at 9:30a.m. and again at 11a.m. All are invited. To learn more, visit their website www.eastsideatl.org/eastside- move

Help Out with NPU Survey!!

Interested in Joining a Local Classic Movie Group?

After a half hour of commercials and two hours of explosions at the local multiplex, have you ever had the feeling that there must be a better way to spend a Saturday night?

A classic film appreciation group is looking for congenial movie buffs interested in viewing, learning about, and discussing the greatest films of all time. Life is Too Short to Watch Lousy Movies screens classics in a Southeast Atlanta home theater on the first Saturday of every month. Regular participation with guaranteed seating and space-available participation are both available, and there is no charge for the films or the programs.

The movies are recognized classics, the majority from Hollywood's Golden Age, the rest from other eras or countries. Regulars are polled to insure that the films chosen aren't ones that everyone has already seen. Programs include a cartoon and/or short subject, Coming Attractions, the feature film, and clips and commentary on personnel and genres, with thoughtful discussion interspersed. The group has been hosted since 2007 by a longtime film buff and former member of the late Atlanta Film Society with a 10,000-item video library. 

Meetings are conducted like a friendly, laid-back seminar. To enrich the discussion, participants read one or two short articles before each meeting. And for the efficient operation of the group, attendees are asked to give advance notice if they are unable to attend a film; to discuss the film's merits, not its shortcomings or any controversial issues it might raise; and to consider a voluntary contribution of two dollars per session to help defray the cost of prizes for the movie trivia contests.

The seminar is made up of both long-time film buffs and more casual movie fans. The group's wide-screen, surround-sound home theater seats 15, and typical attendance is a dozen or so. As one of the regulars has said, "There is no better way to spend a Saturday evening in Atlanta!"

For more information or to sign up for the mailing list please visit the group's website at ClassicFilmAppreciation.webs.com or email Steve at ClassicFilmAppreciation@gmail.com. To get a sense of the members, check out their Facebook page at Facebook.com/ClassicFilmAppreciation. 

Update from Friends of East Atlanta Library

The Friends of East Atlanta Library continues to welcome book donations for the next book sale, June 28.  Please drop off your gently-used book donations with the library circulation desk during operating hours.

We would like to thank the April library program sponsor, The Village Church of East Atlanta!   

Please LIKE the Friends of East Atlanta Library on Facebook to keep up with all library events!

How are you spending your Earth Day? Come to the Tire Round-up 4/26!

Celebrate Earth Day by rounding up old tires! Skip the gym and heave old tires, clean up the neighborhood and hang out with your friends and neighbors. Bring a truck or hop on board Tequila Sunrise! Hauling tires is fun work!

B*ATL Update!

2014 is a big year for your neighborhood, the City of Atlanta, and for B*ATL, organizer of the annual July event commemorating the Battle of Atlanta. This year is the 150th anniversary of this historic event. Over the next few months, you will see activities sponsored by the City, local history and civic organizations, as well as the BATL Organization which are designed to commemorate and reflect on this important event in America's History. Mark your calendar for July 12-20, 2014 - the dates for the annual BATL Event!

Follow BATL on Facebook to stay up to date about the planned city-wide and locally focused events, as well as a small dose of neighborhood history notices.

To kick the year off, BATL is joining with the Friends of East Atlanta Library and the Atlanta Fulton Public Library System to mount a showing of photos and documents about East Atlanta's history. The exhibit will be on the gallery wall in the library meeting space at 400 Flat Shoals Avenue. The show runs through April 10.

A large part of the battle took place near the library in the East Atlanta Village. The exhibit includes images dating from 1864 through the development of the battlefield after the Civil War. There will be an author talk for the new East Atlanta history book on March 29 in conjunction with the exhibit. The book includes a chapter on the Civil War in East Atlanta.

East Atlanta Community Association 2014 Membership Drive

Friday Food for Firefighters

It's always a great time to deliver a meal to our local firefighters, and it has been a little while since they have had a visit!

Providing a meal means having a cooked meal to hand over to the firefighters at Station 13 on Friday evening. The firefighters request food without pork.  A full kitchen is available to them at the fire station and they can heat something as needed. Meals should be delivered between 5 - 5:30 PM.

Sign up here (password is "friday") to see what dates are available for meals.  You might think about sharing different parts of a meal with friends--one or two people might provide the main meal, another could provide bread or a side dish or dessert.

Please call Beth-Ann Buitekant (404-455-8746) for information or with questions. 

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. There is also a 20% discount for members of an APD-sanctioned Neighborhood Watch.  Please contact the EASP if you are interested in setting up a Neighborhood Watch on your street.

Atlanta City Council, 1st and 3rd Mondays of the month.

Branan Towers Bingo, 3rd Tuesday of the month.

DeKalb County Board of Commissioners, 2nd and 4th Tuesday of the month.

East Atlanta Business Association, 1st Monday of the month.

East Atlanta Community Association, 2nd Tuesday of the month.

Grant Park Neighborhood Association, 3rd Tuesday of the month.

Neighborhood Planning Unit-W, 4th Wednesday of the month.

NPU-W Land Use & Zoning Committee, 1st Tuesday of the month.

NPU-W Transportation Committee, 4th Wednesday of the month.

South Atlantans for Neighborhood Development, 2nd Thursday of the month.

Please view the EACA calendar here for more information on locations.

As a valued EACA member, you have access to our EACA Rewards Program.  In partnership with local businesses, this program provides special promotions within the community when residents present their EACA Membership Card to participating businesses.  

Current EACA Rewards Member Benefits:

• Adore Me Studio - 10% off all regular price items through 12/31/2014
• Dance 411 - Get your 5, 10 or 15 class cards today for 50% OFF!  This deal expires March 31st. Click Here to get your card now! Use code: March2014 at check-out 
• Bound to Be Read Books - Get an extra 10% off the purchase of any used book (excludes rare/collectible books and special orders) through 12/31/2014
• Park Pet Supply - 25% off all pet toys for dogs and cats when you show your card!
• Homewatch Caregivers - 10% off all services through 12/31/2014
• East Atlanta Copy Center - 10% off any order over $5 when you show your card through 12/31/2014
• Max Eremine Photography - 20% off family portraiture and wedding photography through 12/31/2013
• The Galish Group Insurance Solutions - Free Smoke detector just for getting a home and auto QUOTE, no purchase necessary, valid through 12/31/2013 
• Traci with an Eye Graphic Design - 25% off all graphic design services (limit one discount per customer) through 4/1/2015
• Elder Tree Public House - 10% off on all food excluding already discounted food specials (eg., $5 burger night)
• We Suki Suki - Sandwich + tea $5 (29% savings!)
• Village Fitness - 10% off New Gym Membership
• Big Daddy Dog Biscuits - EAV Thursday Farmer's Market Special - Bag of Dog Biscuits $4.50 

Not a member?   Join today!  Annual dues are $10 per household or business per calendar year.  As an EACA member, you can vote at EACA meetings on topics of interest within our community as well as show your support to East Atlanta.

If you are a business interested in participating in this free program, find more information here.