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.
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.
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.
***** Dangerous driving! North Druid Hills Road safety improvements needed? *****
- 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.
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.
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Patrick: Thank you for your service to our community. We are very lucky to have you as a neighbor and friend.
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