Monday, June 4, 2012

MMCA News (June 4): Handing over the reins, and other news

Mason Mill Civic Association neighbors -

This will be my final news update as the President of your Association. I am most pleased - as we all should be - that John Bugge was elected our next President of the MMCA at the May 6 Annual Meeting.

I've greatly appreciated the support you have provided me during my three years at the helm, and together we have accomplished a great deal, following in the sizeable footsteps of my predecessor Harvey Nation. In stepping down, I now follow Harvey again by assuming the MMCA Executive Committee role of Immediate Past President. (This also means that we should send Harvey our thanks for his *many* years of leadership in all his roles, as he sails even further - and more literally - into retirement.)

You'll start hearing from John soon (I deliver him the nuclear football and launch codes - and our equally-valuable email list - later this evening), and I'll let him introduce himself further and set his own style and agenda. In the meantime, I do want to tell you that John and his family have lived on Mason Woods Drive for many years, most of which he spent bicycling back and forth to Emory's English Department. He will be a most deliberate, thoughtful, engaging, fun and wise leader, and I hope you all will help him and the MMCA team going forward.

Speaking of "the team," I am also very pleased that Mary Hinkel, who has displayed such remarkable perseverance and wisdom in orchestrating our neighborhood's efforts in traffic calming, was elected our Vice President, and that veteran Treasurer Pat Brittain was re-elected Treasurer. (The Secretary position is still open.  Anyone?  Anyone?) 

Full minutes of the Annual Meeting will follow soon. (I suppose. Not from me, though!)

Personally, I have been looking forward to spending my community time playing in the dirt, and getting it under my fingernails. I will be devoting my energies to stepping up our efforts to restore and preserve W D Thompson Park, and I will be at the forefront of getting our expected traffic islands planted and maintained when they do arrive on Mason Mill Road.

A roundup of neighborhood news appears below. And Facebook users - please follow us and join in the dialog - by "Liking" our page.

Thanks to all who help make our neighborhood such a great place to live.

Patrick Noonan
Immediate Past President, MMCA

***** Emory Community Meeting, Tues. June 5 *****
Betty Willis writes: "Please mark your calendars for our next quarterly community meeting scheduled for Tuesday, June 5, 6:30-8:00 PM, in the North Decatur Building, Rm. 155. [Park at the Lowergate South deck, which has a walkway onto the second floor of the North Decatur Bldg. Room 155 is on the 1st floor.]
    "As you know, these informal quarterly meetings are an opportunity to share information and discuss any particular issues of interest or concern to you with Mike Mandl, Executive Vice President for Finance and Administration. This will be the last community meeting before the July 31 vote on the regional transportation referendum so I encourage you to come participate in the informational discussion on how this will impact the Clifton Corridor.  Please extend this invitation to others in your neighborhood who may want to participate.  If you have any questions in the meantime, please feel free to call me at 404-727-5312.  I look forward to seeing you."

***** Mason Mill Road: Traffic calming heads to BOC final vote, Tues. June 12 *****
Our petitions and signatures were carefully reviewed and approved by the County. We have been added to the agenda of the 10:00am June 12 Dekalb Board of Commissioners meeting, so they can hold their final vote and - we fully expect - send the "go ahead" to the roads department. For FAQs and other recent updates, please see our blog.

***** Tax Assessments & Appeals *****
There has been a lot of email and coffee chatter lately about the recent County mailings containing updated assessments of property values. Note that there is an appeal process, but there is a relatively short window for *applying* for an appeal. Consult people with experience and/or expertise on this, but do not delay. Also, Commissioner Rader has weighed in on many peoples' concerns about flat or even rising valuations in a time of real estate deflation. Please visit Jeff's site for more information.

***** Candidates Fair, Mon. July 23 *****
There will be a Candidates Fair on Monday, July 23 from 7-9 PM, at the Greek Orthodox Church on Clairmont Rd. We'll provide more details about this event, which is sponsored by the Civic Association Network, as we get closer to the date.

***** Transportation Referendum , Tue. July 31 *****
The Clifton Community Partnership reminds us: "On July 31, Georgia voters... have an unprecedented opportunity to vote on a referendum for a 1% sales tax to be dedicated to specific transportation projects and improvements approved last October by elected officials representing 12 regions throughout the state. The Clifton Corridor Transit Initiative, which would provide much needed rail connectivity from Lindbergh MARTA station to the organizations in the Clifton Corridor, including Emory, CDC, Children's Healthcare, VA Med Center and surrounding neighborhoods, is slated to receive $700MM from the sales tax for construction of a light rail line...."  For more info., see the GDOT site.
    Update - June 13 event: Local governments and planning agencies are sponsoring "Wireside chats" with public officials, so voters can learn more about the Referendum in conferences over the telephone. CEO Ellis and Mayor Floyd will host one for Dekalb County voters at 7:30pm on June 13. Register by phone at 404.463.3227 or by visiting the web site.

***** Civic Association Network (CAN) - more resources on web site *****
The Civic Association Network is a loose association of neighborhood associations (including our own) around District 2 of central-north Dekalb County. Lately the CAN leadership has been adding more information and updates to their web site, so you might want to bookmark this as part of your personal listings of County resources, events and news.

***** Spring-Summer Road Closings: Houston Mill and more *****
Atlanta Gas Light appears to be behind schedule in its pipeline construction beneath and alongside nearby roads. Their earlier published plan (see below) is only approximate now, but note that Clifton Road will continue to be impacted most of the summer.
  • Area of Work    Anticipated Start    Anticipated Duration     Lane Closure     Daily Schedule
  • Houston Mill Rd (Gatewood to Logans Knoll)    Week of April 16    5-6 working weeks    Northbound lane    Mon – Fri, 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
  • Houston Mill Rd (Mason Mill to Lavista)    Week of May 21    10-12 working weeks    Northbound lane    Mon – Fri, 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
  • N. Decatur Rd (Clairmont to Haygood)    Week of May 28    10-12 working weeks    Westbound lane    Mon – Fri, 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
***** Dangerous driving! North Druid Hills Road safety improvements needed? *****
You may be aware of the recent fatal crash along NDH. In related news, Jim Smith of NDVHA writes " The North Druid Valley Hills Association is making a concerted effort to obtain a stop light at one of the exits from their neighborhood. As part of these efforts, they have created a website to draw attention to the issue. On the site are stories by residents and pictures showing the dangers they face entering and exiting their neighborhood. The majority of accidents listed have occurred while sitting stopped, waiting for an opportunity to turn INTO their neighborhood. This section of North Druid Hills Road is extremely dangerous and anything that CAN can do to help force the county to put a light there (or put more pressure on the state if it's a state route) would be great."

***** Please Support your Association in 2012 *****
It's time to send in your 2012 dues. (Still the best deal in town, at only $10/year.) Please support the work of the MMCA by mailing a check, payable to Mason Mill Civic Association, to our Treasurer, Pat Brittain (856 Vistavia Circle, 30033). Alternatively, you can bring a check or cash to the picnic on April 22.

MMCA: Annual Meeting Sunday, May 6, 4pm

Mason Mill Civic Association neighbors -

On Sunday, May 6, please join us at the Annual Meeting of the MMCA (Intown Community Church, 4:00pm). Officer elections will be held, plus news, crime reports, real estate updates, and regular business. Residents from adjacent neighborhoods are most welcome to attend.

More on all that, plus a roundup of neighborhood news, appears below:

***** Mason Mill Road: Traffic calming approved by neighborhood, awaiting BOC *****
The petitions have been turned in, as we reported a few weeks ago. We're still awaiting word on when exactly the approved plan will be on the agenda of the Dekalb Board of Commissioners, so they can hold their final vote and - we hope - send the "go ahead" to the roads department. For FAQs and other recent updates, please see our blog.

***** Mary Scott Nature Park Celebration, Sat. May 5*****
The Civic Association Network reports: "Mary Scott Nature Park (4150 Briarcliff Rd) had its official ribbon-cutting a year ago this weekend. So, this Saturday (10am-1pm, 5/5/2012) we're throwing a 1st Birthday Party for MSNP, with cake, balloons and acoustic musicians.  It should be a good time to reflect on how far we've come and how far we've got to go."

***** MMCA Annual Meeting = Officer Elections, Sun. May 6 *****
As part of our business on Sunday, we will hold officer elections for the coming year. Nominations (including self-nominations!) are now open for our four elected positions. I will be stepping down after three years as President, and we do have some nominations in hand, but I encourage everyone interested in helping serve our neighborhood to consider running for a position. (Many hands makes light work - and good fun.)

Nominations received as of 5/2:
President: John Bugge    Vice-President: Mary Hinkel        Treasurer: Pat Brittain        Secretary: ---

***** Sunday Liquor Sales in Dekalb begin this weekend*****
The Civic Association Network reports that the County put the voter-approved Sunday alcohol sales plan into effect on May 1, which means that this Sunday, May 6, is the first effective day of the new law.

***** PDK Airport "Good Neighbor" Air Show & Open House, Sat. May 12*****
Dekalb's airport will be holding a special event on May 12, from 12-5pm, including aerobatics, formation flying, displays of restored antique planes, refreshments and family activities. Admission is free, parking is $5. More info at: www.PDKairshow.com

***** Emory Commencement, Mon. May 14 *****
It's that time of year again! A busy weekend of out-of-town traffic, followed by one horrendous Monday, and then... our roads quiet (a bit) for a few months. Mark your calendars, and remember that Clifton Road (and most surrounding roads) will be impassable on the morning of the 14th. And remember to build in time all weekend, to be patient with all the visiting parents as they attempt to navigate our erratic road system.

***** Spring-Summer Road Closings: Houston Mill and more *****
Atlanta Gas Light is continuing its pipeline construction beneath and alongside nearby roads. They appear to be somewhat behind the schedule they had published earlier (see below), and nighttime work continues on Clifton Road, but our own neighborhood will see more direct impact very soon.
  • Area of Work    Anticipated Start    Anticipated Duration     Lane Closure     Daily Schedule
  • Houston Mill Rd (Gatewood to Logans Knoll)    Week of April 16    5-6 working weeks    Northbound lane    Mon – Fri, 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
  • Houston Mill Rd (Mason Mill to Lavista)    Week of May 21    10-12 working weeks    Northbound lane    Mon – Fri, 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
  • N. Decatur Rd (Clairmont to Haygood)    Week of May 28    10-12 working weeks    Westbound lane    Mon – Fri, 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
***** Candidates Fair, Mon. July 23 *****
There will be a Candidates Fair on Monday, July 23 from 7-9 PM, at the Greek Orthodox Church on Clairmont Rd. We'll provide more details about this event, which is sponsored by the Civic Association Network, as we get closer to the date.

***** Transportation Referendum , Tue. July 31 *****
The Clifton Community Partnership reminds us: "On July 31, Georgia voters... have an unprecedented opportunity to vote on a referendum for a 1% sales tax to be dedicated to specific transportation projects and improvements approved last October by elected officials representing 12 regions throughout the state. The Clifton Corridor Transit Initiative, which would provide much needed rail connectivity from Lindbergh MARTA station to the organizations in the Clifton Corridor, including Emory, CDC, Children's Healthcare, VA Med Center and surrounding neighborhoods, is slated to receive $700MM from the sales tax for construction of a light rail line...."  For more info., see the GDOT site.

***** Please Support your Association in 2012 *****
It's time to send in your 2012 dues. (Still the best deal in town, at only $10/year.) Please support the work of the MMCA by mailing a check, payable to Mason Mill Civic Association, to our Treasurer, Pat Brittain (856 Vistavia Circle, 30033). Alternatively, you can bring a check or cash to the picnic on April 22.

If you're a Facebook user, you can follow us there - and join in the dialog - by "Liking" our page.

Thanks to all who help make our neighborhood such a great place to live.

Patrick Noonan
President, MMCA
mobile: 678-358-5961

MMCA News (Apr. 23): MMCA: Picnic, meetings, elections, roads, rail

Mason Mill Civic Association neighbors -

Thanks to everyone who came out to our Spring Picnic. Special thanks to chefs Ann Hudson & Suzanne Phillips, and to all the rest of the volunteers who set up and cleaned up. We were pleased at the number of our friends and neighbors from Victoria Estates who joined us, as well.

Found at the picnic: a 9" dark green ceramic bowl, a 11" white ceramic plate, and a decorated serving spoon with wire and beads wrapped around the handle. If you're missing one of these, please call Hilary Ford at 404.248.9724.

Coming up soon: On Sunday, May 6, we will hold the Annual Meeting for the Mason Mill Civic Association (Intown Community Church, 4:00pm).  Officer elections will be held, plus updates and regular business.

More on all that, plus a roundup of neighborhood news, appears below:


***** Mason Mill Road: Traffic calming plan approved by neighborhood vote! *****
Mary Hinkel reports that her team collected - and formally submitted to the County, about 10 days ago - 115 affirmative signatures for the County's MMR traffic calming plan. This easily exceeds the County's required number, so once the County engineers review and certify the petitions, the Board of Commissioners will schedule their final vote. On BOC approval, the plan will be given to the Roads Department for scheduling. We'll let you know as we hear news about the progress along this path.

Many, many thanks go to Mary and her team of neighborhood volunteers, all of whom have put in an enormous amount of time over the past couple of years. It was with great skill and effort that they investigated the issues, engaged the County, got their expert attention focused on possible solutions, educated the neighborhood, surfaced and responded to our questions, involved us all in a constructive dialog about the process, and finally, collected the signatures required to turn what had become overwhelming neighborhood support into a formal authorization for the County's action. At our upcoming Annual Meeting, we will be sure to identify and recognize by name everyone who played a part in this process.

For FAQs and other recent updates, please see our blog.

***** Transportation Referendum: Town Hall Meeting @ Emory, Wed. April 25 *****
On Wednesday evening, Emory will be hosting a public meeting to discuss the July 31 vote that, if passed, would raise billions of dollars to improve the metro area's roads, trails and transit infrastructure through a 1% sales tax hike. (Flyer attached) The town hall will be held from 6:30pm-8:00pm at Glenn Memorial Church. For more information about the panelists, parking, and absentee ballot procedures, please link to their news bulletin.

***** Annual Meeting = Officer Elections, Sun. May 6 *****
As part of our business that day, we will hold officer elections for the coming year. Nominations (including self-nominations!) are now open for our four elected positions: President, Vice-President, Treasurer and Secretary. I will be stepping down after three years as President, and we do have some nominations in hand, but I encourage everyone interested in helping serve our neighborhood to consider running for a position.
Nominations as of 4/23:
  • President: John Bugge
  • Vice-President: Mary Hinkel
  • Treasurer: Pat Brittain
  • Secretary: ---

***** Spring-Summer Road Closings: Houston Mill and more *****
Atlanta Gas Light is continuing its pipeline construction beneath and alongside nearby roads. Our neighborhood will see more direct impact very soon. Here's what we have received regarding their continuing construction schedule for the coming months:

  • Area of Work    Anticipated Start    Anticipated Duration     Lane Closure     Daily Schedule
  • Houston Mill Rd (Gatewood to Logans Knoll)    Week of April 16    5-6 working weeks    Northbound lane    Mon – Fri, 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
  • Houston Mill Rd (Mason Mill to Lavista)    Week of May 21    10-12 working weeks    Northbound lane    Mon – Fri, 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
  • N. Decatur Rd (Clairmont to Haygood)    Week of May 28    10-12 working weeks    Westbound lane    Mon – Fri, 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
***** Emory Commencement, Mon. May 14 *****
It's that time of year again! A busy weekend of out-of-town traffic, followed by one horrendous Monday, and then... our roads quiet (a bit) for a few months. Mark your calendars, and remember that Clifton Road (and most surrounding roads) will be impassable on the morning of the 14th. And remember to build in time all weekend, to be patient with all the visiting parents as they attempt to navigate our erratic road system.

***** Candidates Fair, Mon. July 23 *****
There will be a Candidates Fair on Monday, July 23 from 7-9 PM, at the Greek Orthodox Church on Clairmont Rd. We'll provide more details about this event, which is sponsored by the Civic Association Network, as we get closer to the date.

***** Transportation Referendum , Tue. July 31 *****
The Clifton Community Partnership reminds us: "On July 31, Georgia voters will... have an unprecedented opportunity to vote on a referendum for a one percent sales tax to be dedicated to specific transportation projects and improvements approved last October by elected officials representing 12 regions throughout the state. The Clifton Corridor Transit Initiative, which would provide much needed rail connectivity from the Lindbergh MARTA station to the organizations in the Clifton Corridor, including Emory, the CDC, Children's Healthcare of Atlanta and the VA Medical Center, as well as surrounding neighborhoods, is slated to receive $700 million from the sales tax for construction of a light rail line... The deadline for registering to vote for the July 31 primary is July 2."  For more information, see the Georgia DOT site.

***** Reminder: Thieves are Bad Guys *****
We've seen several car break-ins on our streets in recent weeks. Please remember to keep valuables out of sight, and ideally out of your cars altogether. Also, check your outside lighting - these thieves have come through in the middle of the night. Finally, report all suspicious activity to the police by calling 911.

***** Reminder: Trees are Good Guys *****
A neighbor wrote to me, in response to a recent news email: "Could you please remind our neighbors that Dekalb County has an ordinance about cutting down trees? All specimen trees require a permit; besides that, there is a limit as to how many trees can be cut down on a property per year. Trees are something our neighborhood and county prides itself in. They’re essential for life—let’s preserve them!!"

***** Reminder: We're Good Guys, Too. Support your Association in 2012 *****
It's time to send in your 2012 dues. (Still the best deal in town, at only $10/year.) Please support the work of the MMCA by mailing a check, payable to Mason Mill Civic Association, to our Treasurer, Pat Brittain (856 Vistavia Circle, 30033). Alternatively, you can bring a check or cash to the picnic on April 22.


If you're a Facebook user, you can follow us there - and join in the dialog - by "Liking" our page.

Thanks to all who help make our neighborhood such a great place to live.

Patrick Noonan
President, MMCA
mobile: 678-358-5961

MMCA News (Apr. 15): Three bulletins!

MMCA Neighbors -

Three quick news flashes (see details below), and a reminder:

--- From Mary Hinkel: Our traffic calming petitions surpassed the goal of 99. She delivered them to the County on Friday!
--- From Harvey Nation: Auto break-ins on Mason Woods Drive overnight Friday-Saturday. Keep alert
--- From Dianne Hiltman: Son Matt has made it to tonight's final round in the reality show "Full Metal Jousting."

--- From me: Picnic next Sunday, April 22. Please RSVP to MasonMillCA@gmail.com

Patrick Noonan
President, Mason Mill Civic Association

MMCA News (Apr. 7): Picnic, Roads, Elections

Mason Mill Civic Association neighbors -

Our Spring Picnic is just a few weeks away: Sunday, April 22 at WD Thompson Park, 4pm until dark. This week we will send out an email and distribute flyers to ask for RSVPs & volunteers. (We've already started sending out "good Spring weather" vibes, as you can see.)  Our Executive Chefs, Ann Hudson & Suzanne Phillips, will be in charge of the grill again this year, and we're all looking forward to spending a pleasant afternoon socializing and enjoying our beautiful park.

Also coming in just a few weeks: On Sunday, May 6,  we will hold the Annual Meeting for the Mason Mill Civic Association (Intown Community Church, 4:00pm).

As part of our business that day, we will hold officer elections for the coming year. Nominations (including self-nominations!) are now open for our four elected positions: President, Vice-President, Treasurer and Secretary.

I encourage everyone interested in helping serve our neighborhood to consider running for a position. We've got a great team, but some of us have been in our positions for several years now, and some fresh ideas and energy would be most welcome!

As I myself said at last year's Annual Meeting, this current (third) term as President would be my last. I'm looking forward to taking over Harvey Nation's job as "Immediate Past President" (and as a continuing member of our Executive Committee), so I can focus my volunteer energies on further conservation and restoration work in WDT Park.

Other officers may also welcome a chance to hand over the reins. Don't hesitate to contact me, or any of the other officers (John Bugge, Mary Hinkel, and Pat Brittain), if you have questions about roles and responsibilities.

Here's the latest roundup of neighborhood news -- including more key dates and spring events:

***** Mason Mill Road: Traffic calming at the finish line *****
Mary Hinkel reports that we *appear* to have surpassed our necessary 99 households signing their support for the MMR traffic calming plan! Her committee is carefully reviewing signatures and comparing them with County rolls (we don't want it to come down to hanging chads and such) in hopes that they can deliver the completed set of petitions to the County later this week, for final approval by the Board of Commissioners.

If you live on Mason Mill, Mason Woods or Vistavia and have not yet signed, you can still register your household's yes (or no) vote by contacting your street captain:

Mason Mill Road - Mary Hinkel, 404.235.5117
Mason Woods Drive - John Bugge,  404.417.0754
Vistavia Circle South - Jesse Gould, 678.362.3692
Vistavia Circle North - Richard and Patricia McAdam, 404.486.8686

For FAQs and other recent updates, please see our blog's traffic calming page.

***** Spring-Summer Road Closings: Houston Mill and more *****
Speaking of traffic... As we have mentioned in previous news blasts, Atlanta Gas Light has been doing pipeline construction beneath and alongside nearby roads.They've recently turned the corner from Clifton onto Houston Mill Road, so our neighborhood is about to see more direct impact. Here's what we have received regarding their continuing construction schedule for the coming months:
  • Area of Work    Anticipated Start    Anticipated Duration     Lane Closure     Daily Schedule
  • N. Decatur Rd (Scott  to Clairmont)    Underway (January)    10-12 working weeks    Westbound lane    Mon – Fri, 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
  • Clifton Road (Michael Street to Houston Mill)    Week of Feb. 13    4-5 working weeks    Northbound lane    Sun – Thurs, 7:00 p.m. – 5:00 a.m.
  • Clifton Road (Houston Mill to Clifton Way)    Week of March 8    3-4 working weeks    Northbound lane    Sun – Thurs, 7:00 p.m. – 5:00 a.m.
  • Houston Mill Rd (Clifton to Gatewood )    Week of April 1    1-2 working weeks    Northbound lane    Sun – Thurs, 7:00 p.m. – 5:00 a.m.
  • Houston Mill Rd (Gatewood to Logans Knoll)    Week of April 16    5-6 working weeks    Northbound lane    Mon – Fri, 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
  • Houston Mill Rd (Mason Mill to Lavista)    Week of May 21    10-12 working weeks    Northbound lane    Mon – Fri, 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
  • N. Decatur Rd (Clairmont to Haygood)    Week of May 28    10-12 working weeks    Westbound lane    Mon – Fri, 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
***** Haygood Road - closings completed *****
Haygood Road (between Druid Hills HS and Clifton Rd) has been closed for a couple of weekends to permit placement of the new pedestrian overpass between Emory's new and newer pediatric centers. This enormous arch structure is now in place - go visit it if you haven't already seen it! - and Emory expects only occasional lane restrictions as they complete its construction this spring and summer.

**** Hazard Waste Disposal Day ****
Several residents reported being turned away when they showed up for the County's March 31 disposal day. It seems County facilities were overwhelmed by the turnout; we will find out and report back when they plan to add some additional opportunities for us to safely and properly rid our households of our accumulations of paints, solvents, pesticides, etc.

**** Global Health Action Anniversary Gala, Mon. April 23 ****
Our neighbor on Clairmont Road, Global Health Action, is celebrating its 40th Anniversary with a gala at the Atlanta History Center on April 23. GHA Executive Director, Ms. Robin Davis RN MN, writes: "It will be a wonderful evening with Dr. Paul Farmer as our speaker. He is the subject of the award-winning book 'Mountains Beyond Mountains,' and Chair of the Global Health and Social Medicine Department at Harvard. I hope you and several of our neighbors will attend and join us in celebrating 40 years of service and impact!"

***** Candidates Fair , Mon. July 23 *****
There will be a Candidates Fair on Monday, July 23 from 7-9 PM, at the Greek Orthodox Church on Clairmont Rd. We'll provide more details about this event, which is sponsored by the Civic Association Network, as we get closer to the date.

***** Transportation Referendum , Tue. July 31 *****
The Clifton Community Partnership reminds us: "On July 31, Georgia voters will... have an unprecedented opportunity to vote on a referendum for a one percent sales tax to be dedicated to specific transportation projects and improvements approved last October by elected officials representing 12 regions throughout the state. The Clifton Corridor Transit Initiative, which would provide much needed rail connectivity from the Lindbergh MARTA station to the organizations in the Clifton Corridor, including Emory, the CDC, Children's Healthcare of Atlanta and the VA Medical Center, as well as surrounding neighborhoods, is slated to receive $700 million from the sales tax for construction of a light rail line... The deadline for registering to vote for the July 31 primary is July 2."  For more information, see the Georgia DOT site

***** Registering complaints with Dekalb County *****
Also from the Civic Association Network, a timely reminder given the recent graffiti attacks on the abandoned property on Clairmont that is adjacent to our McConnell neighbors: "I imagine a lot of folks already know this link by heart, but for those folks who want to report an abandoned car or a business selling alcohol to minors or illegal signs or graffiti or... You get the idea... http://63.170.23.47/DP1/metroplex/DekalbCounty/customerservice/selectbyservno.asp "


***** Support your Association in 2012 *****
It's time to send in your 2012 dues. (Still the best deal in town, at only $10/year.) Please support the work of the MMCA by mailing a check, payable to Mason Mill Civic Association, to our Treasurer, Pat Brittain (856 Vistavia Circle, 30033). Alternatively, you can bring a check or cash to the picnic on April 22.

If you're a Facebook user, you can follow us there - and join in the dialog - by "Liking" our page.

Thanks to all who help make our neighborhood such a great place to live.

Patrick Noonan
President, MMCA
mobile: 678-358-5961

MMCA News (Mar. 14): Roads, Green Stuff, Red Stuff, Foodstuffs


Mason Mill Civic Association neighbors -

Here's the latest roundup of neighborhood news -- including some key dates and spring events:


***** Support the MMCA in 2012 *****
It's time to send in 2012 dues for the Association. (Still the best deal in town, at $10/year.) Please support the work of the MMCA by mailing a check, payable to Mason Mill Civic Association, to our Treasurer, Pat Brittain (856 Vistavia Circle, 30033). 


**** Clairmont, Decatur and Druid Hills road closings, Sun. March 18 *****
From Emory sources: "The annual Publix Georgia Marathon & Half Marathon will take place this Sunday, March 18, beginning at 7:00 a.m. from Centennial Olympic Park. As in previous years, part of the marathon route runs from downtown Decatur along Clairmont Road, on North Decatur Road heading towards Emory, and briefly on Clifton Road and Fishburne Drive. Runners exit Emory’s campus via Dowman Drive. Travelers on these roads should expect lane closures and possible delays until approximately noon on Sunday. For more information on the Publix Georgia Marathon and the route, please go to http://www.georgiamarathon.com/  "

***** Haygood Road - closing again, Fri.-Mon. March 23-26 *****
Haygood Road (between Druid Hills HS and Clifton Rd) will be closed again starting Friday evening, March 23. It will remain closed until early Monday morning, March 26, to permit further construction of the new pedestrian overpass between Emory's new and newer pediatric centers.

**** Birds & Bees. Well, Bees. *****
From the list-serv of the Civic Association Network, an informal alliance of neighborhood associations in our District: "This is the time of year that healthy bees swarm. Swarming is a natural process of reproduction and isn't anything to worry about. If you see a tornado like swirl of bees getting ready to land or if you see a cluster of them in your neighborhood or park please call Cassandra Lawson at 678.431.5350. Cassandra is a certified beekeeper who works for Oakhurst gardens and The Frazer Center among other non-profits, and she will relocate them to a happy new home. cassandrasbees.com  "

**** Embrace our Green Space Race, Sat. March 24 ****
We also received this from the Civic Association Network: "All area residents are invited to participate in the second annual fun run/walk/bike/skate event to support our local parks.  If you joined us last year you know this was a lot of fun!  Please mark your calendars and register for a community event that has an activity for every age and fitness level.  We look forward to seeing you on Saturday, March 24th at the Oak Grove UMC parking lot....There will be a 2K walk for seniors and kids, a 5K run/walk, a 10K run, a 10K skate, and a 20K bike ride.  All routes are well marked and wind through lovely central DeKalb neighborhoods. For participant safety, police are posted at busy intersections and volunteers at some turns. The cyclists will start promptly at 10AM, followed immediately by the skaters, then the 10K runners, 5K runners and lastly the 2K walkers.  All events wi! ll be completed before noon.  These events are non-competitive. Great post race snacks provided by local restaurants." More information and registration are available at: www.embraceourgreenspacerace.org

***** Code Red: Dekalb County's new emergency notification system *****
Our County has started using the Code Red system for automatic notifications of critical time-sensitive community news, including tornado alerts, evacuation notices, missing children, etc. To sign up to receive these notifications on your telephone or mobile devices, go to the County web site, and then look for the link to Code Red: http://www.co.dekalb.ga.us/

**** Code Green: Hazard Waste Disposal Day, Sat. March 31 ****
The AJC reports that Keep Dekalb Beautiful is sponsoring a recycling drive for household hazardous waste on March 31 at the county’s central transfer station: "The event is designed to divert potentially hazardous materials away from Seminole Landfill. Examples of items that will be accepted are: adhesives, aerosols, batteries, cleaners, flammables, fluorescent lights, lawn-care products, mercury, paints, photo and swimming pool chemicals. Items NOT accepted include bio-hazards, medical and agricultural waste, pharmaceuticals and non-hazardous waste. The event runs from 8 a.m. to 12 noon March 31 at the central transfer station, 3720 Leroy Scott Dr., Decatur (near the intersection of Memorial Dr and Kensington Rd). More information: 404-371-2654 or kdb@dekalbcountyga.gov.   http://www.ajc.com/news/dekalb/recycle-hazardous-household-waste-1363781.html

***** Spring Picnic, Sun. April 22 *****
 Save the date: Sunday, April 22, at WD Thompson Park, 4pm until dark. In a week or so, we will start asking for RSVPs & volunteers, and we will suggest items to bring.

***** Good Eating. ..coming to Emory Point *****
The Atlanta Business Chronicle reports (March 2-8 edition): "A new restaurant row near Emory University is taking shape. Cousins Properties has signed three more eateries for its Emory Point development... across from the CDC... Many of the restaurants will front Clifton Road, and most will have outdoor dining. The goal is to encourage pedestrians from the nearby university, hospital and research campuses." Among the newly-signed leases are La Tagliatella (pasta and pizza), Tin Lizzy's Cantina, and "health-minded" Fresh to Order. Last November, leases were announced with Marlow's Tavern and Which Wich Sandwiches. Other announced tenants to date include CVS, Jazmin Spa, Solar Dimensions tanning spa, Carriage Cleaners and Jos. A. Bank Clothiers. Retail and restaurant openings will begin starting late fall 2012. (The first residents of the over 400 apartments located above the commercial establishments will start moving in in August or September.)

***** Mason Mill Road: Traffic calming vote collection nearing completion *****
We now have received over *90* households' signatures in favor of the traffic calming plan. We have until late April to deliver the required 99 households to the Board of Commissioners for final approval. If you live on Mason Mill, Mason Woods or Vistavia and have not yet signed, you can help us complete this step by contacting your street captain:

Mason Mill Road - Mary Hinkel, 404.235.5117
Mason Woods Drive - John Bugge,  404.417.0754
Vistavia Circle South - Jesse Gould, 678.362.3692
Vistavia Circle North - Richard and Patricia McAdam, 404.486.8686

Please make sure your household's signatures will be valid, by checking the County's property database and confirming whose name(s) need to be on your petition to represent your household.

For FAQs and other recent updates, please see our blog's traffic calming page.

***** Keep Dekalb Beautiful - Great American Cleanup, Sat. April 28 *****
From the County: "Every year Keep DeKalb Beautiful (KDB) participates in the Keep American Beautiful "Great American Cleanup" initiative. Last year, more than 80 groups of volunteers removed over 25,000 pounds of litter from 168 miles of DeKalb County roadways!  We ask that you sign up as we beautify DeKalb again. The cleanup will take place on Sat., April 28 from  9am-1pm."  We hope to register a group from the Mason Mill Civic Association to conduct a trash and debris pickup along our roads and in our park. If you would like to volunteer some time that day, please email me at pnoonan8@gmail.com 

***** Mason Mill Civic Association - Annual Meeting & Officer Elections, Sun. May 6 *****
Save the date: Sunday, May 6, Intown Community Church,4:00pm. As part of our business that day, we will hold officer elections for the coming year. I encourage anyone interested in helping serve the neighborhood to consider running for a position. We've got a great team, but some of us have been in our positions for several years now, and some fresh ideas and energy would be most welcome! As I myself said at last year's Annual Meeting, this current (third) term as President would be my last. Unlike my similar statement the year before, this time it's final - I want to take on Harvey Nation's job as "Immediate Past President" (and continuing member of the Executive Committee) but focus my additional volunteer energies on further conservation and restoration work in WDT Park. Other officers may also welcome a chance to hand over the reins. We will ask for formal nominations (and self-nominations) later in the spring, but if you're interested and have some questions now, don't hesitate to contact me, or any of the other officers.




***** Spring-Summer Road Closings: Houston Mill and more *****
As we mentioned in our previous news blast, Atlanta Gas Light has been doing some pipeline construction beneath and alongside nearby roads. Their work hits *very* close to home starting in a few weeks, and lasting all summer. Here's what we have received as a construction schedule for the coming months:

  • Area of Work    Anticipated Start    Anticipated Duration     Lane Closure     Daily Schedule
  • N. Decatur Rd (Scott  to Clairmont)    Underway (January)    10-12 working weeks    Westbound lane    Mon – Fri, 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
  • Clifton Road (Michael Street to Houston Mill)    Week of Feb. 13    4-5 working weeks    Northbound lane    Sun – Thurs, 7:00 p.m. – 5:00 a.m.
  • Clifton Road (Houston Mill to Clifton Way)    Week of March 8    3-4 working weeks    Northbound lane    Sun – Thurs, 7:00 p.m. – 5:00 a.m.
  • Houston Mill Rd (Clifton to Gatewood )    Week of April 1    1-2 working weeks    Northbound lane    Sun – Thurs, 7:00 p.m. – 5:00 a.m.
  • Houston Mill Rd (Gatewood to Logans Knoll)    Week of April 16    5-6 working weeks    Northbound lane    Mon – Fri, 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
  • Houston Mill Rd (Mason Mill to Lavista)    Week of May 21    10-12 working weeks    Northbound lane    Mon – Fri, 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
  • N. Decatur Rd (Clairmont to Haygood)    Week of May 28    10-12 working weeks    Westbound lane    Mon – Fri, 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.

***** Transportation Referendum , Tue. July 31 *****
The Clifton Community Partnership reminds us: "On July 31, Georgia voters will... have an unprecedented opportunity to vote on a referendum for a one percent sales tax to be dedicated to specific transportation projects and improvements approved last October by elected officials representing 12 regions throughout the state. The Clifton Corridor Transit Initiative, which would provide much needed rail connectivity from the Lindbergh MARTA station to the organizations in the Clifton Corridor, including Emory, the CDC, Children's Healthcare of Atlanta and the VA Medical Center, as well as surrounding neighborhoods, is slated to receive $700 million from the sales tax for construction of a light rail line... The deadline for registering to vote for the July 31 primary is July 2."  For more information, see the Georgia DOT site.




If you're a Facebook user, you can follow us there - and join in the dialog - by "Liking" our page.

Thanks to all who help make our neighborhood such a great place to live.

Patrick Noonan
President, MMCA
mobile: 678-358-5961

Monday, March 5, 2012

MMCA: Election, environment, roads, kitties

Mason Mill Civic Association neighbors -

Here's another roundup of some important neighborhood news -- and a lot of key dates for the spring:

***** Primary & Alcohol Voting, March 6 *****
In addition to the presidential primary election, the March 6 ballot will permit us -- and all citizens of unincorporated Dekalb -- to decide whether to allow Sunday sales of alcohol, as permitted by a new state law. (Yes, many other areas in the metro Atlanta area already have held their local referenda; localities were allowed to schedule their votes in conjunction with an existing ballot question or primary election, in order to avoid additional costs.)

***** Haygood Road - closed March 9-12 *****
Haygood Road (between Druid Hills HS and Clifton Rd) will be closed starting Friday evening, March 9. It will remain closed until early Monday morning, March 12, to permit construction of the new pedestrian overpass between Emory's new and newer pediatric centers.

**** Emory's Quarterly Community Meeting, March 13 ****

Emory holds informal quarterly public meetings, which are an opportunity to share information and discuss any particular issues of interest or concern with Mike Mandl, Executive VP for Finance & Administration.  The next meeting will be Tuesday, March 13, from 6:30-8:00 PM., in conference room 5-C, in the 1599 Clifton Road Bldg. (Turn off Clifton Rd into the same entrance as the Emory Conference Center; the 1599 Building is the first building on the right, with parking in the rear. Park on the visitor level, and enter into the main lobby from that level. Take the elevator to the fifth floor and look for signs for 5-C.)

**** Detour: Kittens ****
We interrupt this news stream to let you know that Ramesh Mani of 1120 McConnell has several beautiful grey kittens in need of a good home. (I've seen the pictures - they sure are beautiful.)  Please contact him directly via email.

**** Embrace our Green Space Race, March 24 ****
We have received this from the Civic Association Network, an informal alliance of neighborhood associations in our District: "All area residents are invited to participate in the second annual fun run/walk/bike/skate event to support our local parks.  If you joined us last year you know this was a lot of fun!  Please mark your calendars and register for a community event that has an activity for every age and fitness level.  We look forward to seeing you on Saturday, March 24th at the Oak Grove UMC parking lot....There will be a 2K walk for seniors and kids, a 5K run/walk, a 10K run, a 10K skate, and a 20K bike ride.  All routes are well marked and wind through lovely central DeKalb neighborhoods. For participant safety, police are posted at busy intersections and volunteers at some turns. The cyclists will start promptly at 10AM, followed immediately by the skaters, then the 10K runners, 5K runners and lastly the 2K walkers.  All events wi! ll be completed before noon.  These events are non-competitive. Great post race snacks provided by local restaurants." More information and registration are available at: www.embraceourgreenspacerace.org

**** Hazard Waste Disposal Day, March 31 ****
The AJC reports that Keep Dekalb Beautiful is sponsoring a recycling drive for household hazardous waste on March 31 at the county’s central transfer station. "The event is designed to divert potentially hazardous materials away from Seminole Landfill. Examples of items that will be accepted are: adhesives, aerosols, batteries, cleaners, flammables, fluorescent lights, lawn-care products, .mercury, paints and photo and swimming pool chemicals. Items not accepted include bio-hazards, medical and agricultural waste, pharmaceuticals and non-hazardous waste. The event runs from 8 a.m. to noon March 31 at the central transfer station, 3720 Leroy Scott Dr., Decatur (near the intersection of Memorial Dr and Kensington Rd). More information: 404-371-2654 or kdb@dekalbcountyga.gov.
http://www.ajc.com/news/dekalb/recycle-hazardous-household-waste-1363781.html

***** Mason Mill Road: Traffic Calming within Reach *****
We are getting very close to the finish line! Our street captains reported (as of Sunday) that we now have received at least *90* households' signatures. We have until late April to deliver the required 99 households. If you have not yet signed, you move things along by contacting your street captain:

Mason Mill Road - Mary Hinkel, 404.235.5117
Mason Woods Drive - John Bugge,  404.417.0754
Vistavia Circle South - Jesse Gould, 678.362.3692
Vistavia Circle North - Richard and Patricia McAdam, 404.486.8686

Please make sure your household's signatures will be valid, by checking the County's property database and confirming whose name(s) need to be on your petition to represent your household.

For FAQs and other recent updates, please see our blog's traffic calming page.

***** Spring Picnic, April 22 *****
 Save the date: Sunday, April 22, at WD Thompson Park, 4pm until dark. As the day draws closer, we will ask for RSVPs & volunteers, and suggest items to bring.

***** Annual Meeting, May 6 *****
Save the date: Sunday, May 6, location tba (probably Intown CC), times tba (likely 4-6pm). As part of our business that day, we will hold officer elections for the coming year. I encourage anyone interested in helping serve the neighborhood to consider running for a position. We've got a great team, but some of us have been in our positions for several years now, and some fresh ideas and energy would be most welcome! As I myself said at last year's Annual Meeting, this current (third) term as President would be my last. Unlike my similar statement the year before, this time it's final - I want to take on Harvey Nation's job as "Immediate Past President" (and continuing member of the Executive Committee) but focus my additional volunteer energies on further conservation and restoration work in WDT Park. Other officers may also welcome a chance to hand over the reins. We will ask for formal nominations (and self-nominations) later in the spring, but if you're interested and have some questions now, don't hesitate to contact me, or any of the other officers.

***** Spring-Summer Road Closings: Houston Mill and more *****
As we mentioned in our previous news blast, Atlanta Gas Light has been doing some pipeline construction beneath and alongside nearby roads. Their work hits *very* close to home starting in a few weeks, and lasting all summer. Here's what we have received as a construction schedule for the coming months:
  • Area of Work    Anticipated Start    Anticipated Duration     Lane Closure     Daily Schedule
  • N. Decatur Rd (Scott  to Clairmont)    Underway (January)    10-12 working weeks    Westbound lane    Mon – Fri, 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
  • Clifton Road (Michael Street to Houston Mill)    Week of Feb. 13    4-5 working weeks    Northbound lane    Sun – Thurs, 7:00 p.m. – 5:00 a.m.
  • Clifton Road (Houston Mill to Clifton Way)    Week of March 8    3-4 working weeks    Northbound lane    Sun – Thurs, 7:00 p.m. – 5:00 a.m.
  • Houston Mill Rd (Clifton to Gatewood )    Week of April 1    1-2 working weeks    Northbound lane    Sun – Thurs, 7:00 p.m. – 5:00 a.m.
  • Houston Mill Rd (Gatewood to Logans Knoll)    Week of April 16    5-6 working weeks    Northbound lane    Mon – Fri, 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
  • Houston Mill Rd (Mason Mill to Lavista)    Week of May 21    10-12 working weeks    Northbound lane    Mon – Fri, 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
  • N. Decatur Rd (Clairmont to Haygood)    Week of May 28    10-12 working weeks    Westbound lane    Mon – Fri, 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.

***** Support the MMCA in 2012 *****
It's time to send in 2012 dues for the Association. (Still the best deal in town, at $10/year.) Please support the work of the MMCA by mailing a check, payable to Mason Mill Civic Association, to our Treasurer, Pat Brittain (856 Vistavia Circle, 30033).


Remember, you can always browse our current and past news updates on the MMCA blog: [ http://masonmill.blogspot.com/ ]http://masonmill.blogspot.com/

If you're a Facebook user, you can follow us there - and join in the dialog - by "Liking" our page.

Thanks to all who help make our neighborhood such a great place to live.

Patrick Noonan
President, MMCA
mobile: 678-358-5961