All the traditional signs of the end of summer have now passed - the start of local schools (a month ago for Dekalb!), Labor Day weekend, and our neighbor Emory getting back to its full schedules (and traffic volumes). This weekend is forecast to be the end of daytime highs in the 90s, although it will be another 10 days or so until we get a regular exposure to those cool, 50-something-degree nights that teased us a week ago.
Clearly the theme today is the imminent arrival of fall, and what that means for our neighborhood, and for the Association. It's a time when many of us get busier with our jobs and our kids' schools, true, but more of us are around to enjoy our neighborhood, and it is a good time for us to work together on some neighborhood business.
First, note that we've been able to secure a date for our Fall Picnic in Thompson Park: Sunday, Oct. 24, from 4pm to dark. Watch for a flyer requesting an RSVP and some volunteer help. Once again we will be inviting our Victoria Estates neighbors, so expect not only cool, dry October weather but a nice crowd of good people.
Also at the picnic, we will be offering to conduct informational walks through the Park, to showcase some of the projects that we have started (or are about to start) to help preserve it and, in some areas, restore its health - new signage, erosion control, invasive plant removal, trail and bridge relocation, etc. The picnic flyer will have more details about that, as well.
Our Fall general meeting is tentatively scheduled to take place 7-9pm, Thursday Sept. 30. We will distribute a final announcement and a flyer about that in the coming week, once we have confirmed the location.
This email blast contains a LOT of accumulated news from our surrounding areas, as well as many neighborhood updates (organized around our Committee areas, as usual). Before we get to that, I make a special note, a sad one, about the death of our neighbor Dr. Hobson "Hobby" Rice. Hobby passed away in his garden around mid-day on Aug. 5. The Rices are original residents of Mason Woods Drive, and their children all grew up on our street. Hobby, Louise and son Paul remained good neighbors to all of us for many years. Hobby's longevity in the neighborhood was surpassed only by his brilliant mind and warm spirit. I personally enjoyed "talking garden" with him; he was an aficionado of camellias, and he often stopped by to look at ours, and take some samples to propagate. I hope you will take a few minutes to read this short synopsis of Hobby's life, and share your condolences as you feel appropriate.
http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/atlanta/obituary.aspx?n=hobson-rice&pid=144518544
Hope to see you all at our Fall events!
Remember that our newsletters (and more frequent updates) are always available at our blog: http://masonmill.blogspot.com/
Best wishes on the weekend,
Patrick Noonan
President, MMCA
1129 Mason Woods Dr
mobile: 678-358-5961
P.S. If you didn't send in your 2010 dues earlier this year, please support the work of the Association (still the best deal in town, at $10/year) by mailing your check, payable to Mason Mill Civic Association, to our Treasurer, Pat Brittain (856 Vistavia Circle, 30033). Thank you!
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A Roundup of District News:
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First, some good news from local schools, starting with this note from the new PTA President at Briar Vista Elementary, Matt Huey (of Mason Woods Dr.):
"There is a lot of excitement and energy at BVE. This year the school begins offering both traditional and Montessori classrooms. Last year’s PTA delivered on their promise to improve the school by initiating and partially funding the resurfacing of the playground. Plans are in the works to replace the school sign and beautify the school grounds. Briar Vista has partnered with 2 local homeowners associations on these and other initiatives and hope to do the same with the MMCA. Please feel free to visit the school from time to time and track our progress. We are determined to make the school one of the best in the county."You can reach Matt at: president@briarvistapta.org
Mindee Adamson, Principal of Druid Hills HS reports:
"After the news of not making Adequate Yearly Progress, I thought I would share some good news! Druid Hills has been placed on Newsweek's Top High Schools in America list. We are one of 54 HS in Georgia, placing 479 on the list of schools throughout the country." http://www.newsweek.com/feature/2010/americas-best-high-schools/list.html
And coming soon, next to the Druid Hills HS: Betty Willis of Emory/Clifton Corridor Partnership reports:
"As many of you know, Emory - in partnership with Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta (CHOA) - is planning to build a new research building on the site of the old Turman dormitory complex on Haygood Drive. The joint research initiative will be dedicated to pediatric research and expansion of cancer research, new drug discovery and immunology."In addition, some of the small homes along Haygood have been demolished due to their condition, although construction on that stretch of Haygood is not imminent.
Update your address books: Dekalb County has changed their its domain, effective July 1, 2010. You should replace all addresses at "NAME@co.dekalb.ga.us" with "NAME@dekalbcountyga.gov" . And please make sure you have bookmarked the address of our Commissioner, Jeff Rader, now at: jrader@dekalbcountyga.gov.
Speaking of the County, if you're the type of person who is interested in how local government sausage gets made, you might find this note and link interesting: "The County is embarking on a new Strategic Planning Process, which will obtain information from the community and employees on opportunities pertaining to public safety, infrastructure, services and economic development." http://www.dekalbcountyga.gov/strategicplan/
The Clifton Community Partnership (http://cliftoncommunitypartnership.org/) reports developments at/near Emory in their latest newsletters. In Emory Village, the new "Barnes & Noble @ Emory University" (1390 Oxford Road) opened during the summer. Hours are 9a-8p M-F, 10a-6p Sat, 12-6p Sun; free parking is available after 7pm and on weekends. In addition to supplying student textbooks, the store offers general reading books, computer hardware/software/peripherals, Emory insignia items, and snacks.
Across North Decatur Road, restaurant Saba has finally reopened after a fire last September. And of course, anyone who has traveled North Decatur in the past two weeks has noticed that the long-awaited construction of the roundabout at Emory Village has finally begun (http://cliftoncommunitypartnership.org/view/articles/view_one/&articleid=629). Visit CCP's site (and also, the Alliance to Improve Emory Village, at http://www.emoryvillage.org) for more details the roundabout itself as well as plans for a small park on the site.
Closer to home, the refurbishment of part of the Toco Hill shopping center continues (http://www.facebook.com/TocoHillsPromenade). If you haven't visited the "Promenade" section near the old theater (the Publix end) recently, you might take a look next time you're in the area. Parking, landscaping and store facilities are being upgraded, and there probably will be a significant influx of new businesses in the coming months. And did you know that Publix now offers online ordering with "drive-through" pickup, for an $7.99 fee? (http://www.publix.com/curbside/ )
On this note, by the way, Harvey Nation reports that VE neighbor Clyde Shepherd passed away in June. Clyde developed Toco Hills in 1956 (also Sage Hill). http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/atlanta/obituary.aspx?n=william-shepherd&pid=143627310
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Other Updates by Committee area:
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**Health & Safety**
Crime reports continue to be heavy in our vicinity, and relatively light - but not absent! - inside our neighborhood. Late summer reports include two burglaries (1000 block of HMR), and a house break and a theft from vehicles on McConnell. We also heard report of a "mugging/assault" in Merry Hills in late July; not sure of the details, and whether it was a separate incident from a domestic dispute in that same area around the same time.
From Emory:
"At approximately 8:30 a.m. on Tuesday, July 13, an Emory student crossing North Decatur Road at Emory Village was struck by a vehicle at the corner North Decatur and Oxford roads. Emory Police Department responded to the scene and is conducting a follow-up investigation. The vehicle involved in the accident, reportedly driven by a white female, initially stopped, but then left the scene. The student was taken to an area hospital, is listed in stable condition and is expected to make a full recovery."
Volunteers needed: Let us know if you'd like to serve as a Street Captain, to help distribute MMCA information to your neighbors, and serve on the Neighborhood Watch team.
**Zoning & Land Use**
We have been informed that the Mason Mill Road property in the shadow of the water tower has been sold; no firm details to provide at this time, but we have been told *informally* that the new owner is hoping to raze the property and build a new home, *not* apply for commercial zoning variance. We are keeping tabs on it; if you have confirmed details to add, please let us know!
**Social & Special Events**
Picnic! October 24! Watch for the flyer!
**Traffic & Transit**
Two detailed updates from our Committee Chair, Mary Hinkel:
1. Regarding the MMCA's Spring vote to investigate traffic calming measures: "Mason Mill Road qualified for a traffic calming study. The initial petition required the signatures of eight Mason Mill Road residents. The studies are only conducted during the school year. Once school is in session we will follow-up to see when the study will be conducted. This initiative is in response to Mason Mill residents’ concerns about cars speeding up and down the curvy road. "
2. Mary also represents our neighborhood on the Stakeholder Advisory Committee for the Clifton Corridor Transit Initiative:
"Transit alternatives are being studied by MARTA and the Clifton Corridor Transportation Management Association (CCTMA) to enter the Federal Transit Administration’s project development process. The study is looking at the need for high-capacity transit connections between Lindbergh Center and Emory and Decatur/Avondale. This corridor’s transportation issues are expected to worsen as the corridor continues to add people and jobs. The population is estimated to grow by 20% from 2005 to 2030; employment in the corridor is expected to increase 43%.
"Six potential transit corridor routes have been studied. Three of these routes are now advancing to a more technical screening analysis. The three alternative routes include: #1 CSX Rail – Lindbergh to Avondale along the CSX line; #2 North Druid Hills from Lindbergh to Avondale and #3 Briarcliff from Lindbergh to Decatur
"Please take a moment to review a virtual public meeting and take a survey concerning the kind of transit alternatives needed in the Corridor. The 15-min. presentation is an excellent overview of the process to date: http://www.itsmarta.com/virtual-presentations.aspx.
**Park, Public Space & Environment**
Some neighbors in both the MM and VE neighborhoods have reported very disturbing "tree health" news that we all need to be aware of. A resident on Mason Woods Drive reports the death of a very large oak tree due to a bore or post weevil. Another neighbor, in VE, reports that an arborist examined her large, dying oak tree and concluded that it was ambrosia beetle, also an infestation that can spread to other trees. If you see dying trees, especially large ones, or the early signs of insect infestation (sawdust, early browning, dead tips), take action immediately (for example, call an arborist). If insect infestations are left untreated and get loose in our neighborhoods and parks, we could face a disastrous and permanent change in the beauty, environmental health and property values of our neighborhood.
Two items from from our Commissioner's email updates, the "Rader Digest":
1. Mason Mill Park: "The county has officially selected a contractor for construction to improve the day-use area of Mason Mill Park (30033). The construction costs, not to exceed $2.1 million, will be funded by the county parks bond. The improvements include a full-scale play area, new dog park, relocated parking spaces, and improved storm water management. The day-use construction is the first phase of a $7 million master plan for the entire park. To see the plans for the day-use area and the entire park, see links at the bottom. The plans reflect the consensus of county citizens at five public meetings from September 2008 to February 2010. In conjunction with the day-use renovations, PATH has contracted for a path over the railroad tracks in Mason Mill Park in order to connect that park to Medlock Park."
2. South Fork Peachtree Creek Trail: "One of the county's goals for its green space has been to create connectivity among the parks. The connectivity fosters a stronger sense of community and provides a transit option to those seeking to leave behind their cars. District Two is about to take another step towards that goal by connecting Mason Mill Park (30033) with Medlock Park (30033). A new pedestrian pathway will be installed as part of Phase Two for the South Fork Peachtree Creek Trail. The pathway, a 10-foot-wide concrete trail, will include a pedestrian bridge over the railroad tracks that run through Mason Mill Park. The county is seeking to expand the connectivity further by connecting Mason Mill Park with Spring Creek Road (30033) and Emory University (30322)."
Mason Mill Park Day-Use Plan (1.5 MB)
Mason Mill Park Master Plan (9 MB)
**MMCA Executive Committee**
The Executive Committee of the MMCA (your elected officers) meet for coffee once per month, every month, to review neighborhood issues and to make plans for the Association. Please let us know what's on your mind, so we can better serve you and all our Mason Mill neighbors!
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