NPU-T News

December 1, 2010: Honorary Membership in the Golden Key International Honour Society

Please join me in congratulating our former Non-Profit Council Chair, Melanie Wofford for her outstanding achievements; Melanie has been invited to an "Honorary Membership in the Golden Key International Honour Society" at GA State University!

Melanie has served NPU-T in coordinating our Non-Profit businesses, highlighting Cleopas Park and providing many other valuable services such as Grant Writing workshops and Home buying seminars.

Nia Knowles
NPU-T Chair

November 24, 2010: 2011 Neighborhood of the Year Award

The Board of Directors of Neighborhoods, USA (NUSA) is pleased to announce the opening of the competition for the 2011 Neighborhood of the Year Award. 2011 marks the 27th year that NUSA will recognize the outstanding work of neighborhood organizations, from all across the United States, for their efforts to improve the quality of life in their communities.

Neighborhoods, USA, the sponsoring organization for the award programs, is a national non-profit organization committed to building and strengthening neighborhood organizations. Founded in 1975, NUSA is the nation’s largest grassroots organization dedicated to sharing information and experiences for building stronger communities. It encourages networking and information sharing as a way to facilitate the development of partnerships between neighborhood organizations, government, and the private sector.

The 2011 Neighborhood of the Year Awards program will recognize exceptional accomplishments by neighborhood organizations during 2010. Awards will be given in three categories: 1) Physical Revitalization/Beautification in a Single Neighborhood; 2) Social Revitalization/Neighborliness in a Single Neighborhood; and 3) Multi-Neighborhood Project Partnerships. Judging will be based on the extent of innovation, grassroots participation and capacity building exhibited by the nominated organization.

A distinguished panel of judges will select four finalists in each category. Finalists will be invited to make presentations at the 2011 NUSA Conference to be held May 25-28, 2011 in Anchorage, Alaska, where a new panel of judges and will evaluate the presentations, select a winner in each category and then select the overall grand prize winner

In order to be considered for the 2011 Neighborhood of the Year Award, applicants must have completed a noteworthy neighborhood improvement project in 2010, and submit a completed application with the appropriate application fee postmarked by February 15, 2011. Eligibility requirements and application guidelines can be downloaded from the NUSA website, www.nusa.org/awardapplications.htm.

For additional information or questions regarding the Awards program, contact:
Robert Gibbons, Awards Program Chair
2011 Neighborhood of the Year Award
1950 E. Washington Ave., #1
Madison, WI 53704-5278
(608) 244-0582
robert.gibbons1@charter.net

For more information about Neighborhoods, USA contact:
Karen Harber, Administrative Assistant
Neighborhoods, USA
P. O. Box 20036
Dayton, OH 45420
(419) 927-4710
kharber1@woh.rr.com

For more information about the upcoming NUSA Conference in Anchorage, AK contact:
Sheli Dodson
2011 NUSA Conference Coordinator
(907) 227-4036
sheli@nusa2011.org
www.nusa2011.org

Novemer 18, 2010: Amended Urban Redevelopment Plan

The City of Atlanta has amended the Urban Redevelopment Plan. Download the PDF (605kb).

November 18, 2010: Public Works Call Center Moving

The Department of Public Works Call Center will be moving to the fourth floor of the Municipal Court Building, at 150 Garnett Street, to consolidate with the Department of Watershed Management's Call Center. In order to facilitate this move, on Friday, November 19, 2010, the Call Center must close 2 hours early at 3:00 pm. Calls after 3:00 pm will be prompted to call the next business day. The Call Centers first day of operation in the new building will be Monday, November 22, 2010.

After the move, the Call Center will not be able to receive or perform external telephone call transfers to and from departments housed at City Hall. Please provide and use the direct dial number of 404-330-6333 or the new e-fax number of 404-546-8704 to for communication with call center agents. All walk-in customer service issues will still be resolved at City Hall in Suite 4800. Customers may also continue to email us at: publicworks@atlantaga.gov.

November 15, 2010: Installation of Handicapped Ramps

Project Description: Holderness Street / Westview Drive/ Fair Street / Rosser Street and Fountain Drive/Parsons Street
Project Limits: From Dekalb Place to Ridgecrest Road
Project Scope: Installation of ADA-compliant handicapped ramps within the City of Atlanta’s right-of-way
Council District/NPU: Council District 4, NPU-T
Construction Duration: Mid November 2010-Mid December 2011
Work Hours: Between the hours of 9:00am and 5:00pm unless otherwise indicated
Special Needs: In order to ensure seamless communications during the project, please identify and notify our offices of a community liaison to assist with any citizen arising as a result of the project.
Contact Liaison: Danita Ogandaga, Public Information Manager, (404) 330-6254 or via email to: dogandaga@atlantaga.gov

October 21, 2010: Zone 1 Halloween Safety Tips for Kids & Teens

Here's some tips that we have just for you kids, to help keep you safe on Halloween night! Some of these ideas are called "common sense" ideas, that means that they are things that you should know and use every day in life. You are never too young to learn!

Never, ever go into a strangers house or even ring their door for treats unless your parents are with you and say that it's okay. There are some people in life that aren't very nice to kids and you have to be careful. Always make sure that your mom or dad is within sight when you go out trick-or-treating.
Be careful when you cross a street. Make sure to look in both directions and make sure that there are no cars coming. If you have a little brother or sister with you, take their hand and help them get across the street, too. If the street has a stop light, wait until the cross walk light tells you that it's okay to cross now, but still check before you cross, look both ways.
If you are an older kid or young teen, and going out with friends, make sure that your parents know where you are going and who you are going with. This may seem like a pain but they are your parents and they love you. They just want you to be safe.
If you can drive and are taking a bunch of friends to a party, make sure that you have enough gas to get there. You don't want to run out on a dark street, all alone, like a bad horror movie!
If you parents give you a curfew, be home when they say. It builds trust between you and them and they are doing it for your own safety. If you are going to be late, call them and let them know.
Vandalism is never cool! Throwing eggs at cars and houses is not cool. Someone has to clean it up and it could be you, if you get caught. You can also be arrested and punished as a juvenile. So, don't think that it's fun only if you can get away with it. It's never the right thing to do! Think about how you would feel if someone did that to your house and how bad it would make you feel.
Hurting animals is never acceptable behavior! Some people use Halloween as an excuse to hurt cats and that is just wrong! Not only is it illegal in most places to hurt or torture animals and punishable by law, you should never hurt a helpless living thing.

Have fun on Halloween but keep it safe, have some good, clean fun and your parents will trust you for many Halloweens to come! Showing them how responsible you can be will give you a feeling of pride and make them see just how adult you really are.

October 7, 2010: MCCRI "The Gazette" Newsletter

The Morehouse College Community Revitalization Initiative (MCCRI) has come out with the first issue of its new newlstter, The Gazette. The issue will be available quarterly and contain information about the neuighborhoods surrounding the Atlanta University Center.

Read the first MCCRI "The Gazette" Newsletter issue.

August 30, 2010: City of Atlanta Implements New Parking Enforcement Zones

PARKatlanta, a collaborative initiative led by the City's Department of Public Works is enhancing our parking operations with new technology, single-space and multi-space solar-powered meters as well as enhanced signage and payment options.

In accordance with the recommendations of the Atlanta City Council Transportation Sub-Committee on Parking Enforcement, the Department of Public Works is enhancing the service levels for the PARKatlanta On-street Parking Management Program. We are implementing new parking zones including business, government, schools, entertainment and mixed-use zones in metered locations to accommodate the uses of particular areas.

Business/Government zone:

This is an area where parking is occupied by patrons of business or government offices with high need for turnover parking
Enforcement days are Monday through Saturday
Enforcement hours are 7 A.M. to 7 P.M.
Parking time limit is two hours

Mixed Use zone:

This is an area where historic buildings have multiple uses which include both residential and commercial but do not have onsite parking
Enforcement days are Monday through Friday
Enforcement hours are 8 A.M. to 6 P.M.
Parking time limit is three hours

School/University zone

This is an area where the majority of parking is occupied by attendees of post-secondary colleges and/or universities
Enforcement days are Monday through Saturday
Enforcement hours are 7 A.M. to 7 P.M.
Parking time limit is three hours

Entertainment/Restaurant/Hospital zones

This is an area where the majority of parking is occupied by patrons of theaters, museums, restaurants, other entertainment venues, and hospitals
Enforcement days are Monday through Saturday
Enforcement hours are 7 A.M. to 10 P.M.
Parking time limit is four hours

No metered on-street parking enforcement will occur on Sundays or City observed holidays. Please see the attached schedule for commencement dates for implementation on streets included in the new metered zone locations.

For more information about the City of Atlanta's parking enforcement program, please visit: www.PARKatlanta.org or call (404) 330-6739.

August 30, 2010: Park Pride Fall Grant

Do you have an interest in improving the parks and green space in your community? Want to make a difference in a City of Atlanta Park? If so, apply for our Fall 2010 Micro Grant.

Park Pride provides small matching grants to neighborhood groups to implement park improvement projects. Applicants may apply for up to $1,000 of the grant funds in two ways: Neighborhood Planning Unit sponsored projects or undesignated projects. Each application must include a letter of support from within the NPU for consideration. Should additional funds remain, undesignated projects will be considered from outside the one NPU endorsed project.

Deadline for applications: September 30, 2010

For questions or concerns please contact Ayanna Williams at 404-723-3116 or Ayanna@parkpride.org.

August 4, 2010: Solid Waste Program Changes FY11

Effective September 13, 2010 yard trimmings will be collected bi-weekly on the same day as your household garbage. Recycling collection will continue weekly on the same day as garbage collection.

Recycling
The Department of Public Works is committed to working to ensure that the City's reaches its full potential to improve current recycling programs and policies. In accordance with the City of Atlanta FY11 budget, we will continue to offer weekly pick up of recyclables as well as a larger bin upon request. You may use your own larger covered bin as long as it is clearly labeled "Recycling". To request stickers or a larger recycling bin, please call the Department of Public Works Customer Service Center at (404) 330-6333, or submit an email request to: publicworks@atlantaga.gov.

There is a new service fee as part of the 2010 annual solid waste bill to equate/accommodate market demand and cost of operations. The new $88 annual rate is minimal in comparison to that of private haulers, whose average is at least $10 monthly. The City of Atlanta is pleased to have minimized its service fees for at least the past 15 years. The City of Atlanta solid waste bills are distributed based on the City's fiscal calendar, however fees are applicable January – December of the current year.

Items eligible for curbside recycling collection include:

Newspaper
Aluminum cans
Glass bottles and jars (remove the lids)
Steel (tin) cans
Plastic: all food containers and plastic bottles (please rinse out) – NO PLASTIC BAGS, HOSES, PIPES, or FURNITURE
Mixed paper
Office paper
Junk Mail
Telephone directories
Boxboard (cereal boxes, tissue boxes)
Shredded paper tied in a clear plastic bag
Magazines
Catalogues
Cardboard: broken down or cut to fit in the bin (KEEP IT DRY!)

Other Recycling Resources: www.earth911.com / www.keepatlantabeautiful.org / www.dca.state.ga.us

Need a Bigger Recycling Bin?
The City now offers a large bin upon request. Call 404-330-6333 or send an email to publicworks@atlantaga.gov OR use your own covered bin or covered trash can and label it "Recycling."

Yard Trimmings
Collection of yard trimmings is changing to every other week to accommodate the staffing resources available.

Effective September 13, 2010 yard trimmings collection will occur every other week based upon the day of your household garbage collection. Customers whose household garbage collection day is Monday or Tuesday will receive yard trimmings collection every other week beginning Monday September 13 or Tuesday September 14, 2010. Customers whose household garbage collection day is Wednesday or Thursday, will receive yard trimmings collection every other week beginning Wednesday September 22 or Thursday September 23, 2010.

Yard Trimmings includes plant material such as leaves, grass clippings, branches not to exceed 4 ft in length and 6 inches in diameter, Christmas trees, flowers, roots, wood waste and other material commonly thrown away in the course of maintaining yards and gardens.

Plastic bags containing yard trimmings will not be collected. Yard trimmings may only be set out in paper yard trimming collection bags (also known as kraft bags) not exceeding 25 lbs., or a container clearly labeled "yard trimmings".

July 28, 2010: Fulton County Burglary Task Force

Visit the link at Fulton County's website for information on the Burglary Task Force and ways to reduce/prevent burglaries in your community. Also, there is an online survey they are asking the community members to complete: http://hadenoughalready.com

July 28, 2010: City of Atlanta increases rebate for SHINE Pilot Program

The City of Atlanta is excited to share with you, our stakeholders, news on the SHINE – Sustainable Home Initiative in the New Economy – residential energy efficiency rebate program. We have increased our rebate to $2,000, up to 25% of the cost for qualified improvements.

Quick Steps to take part in the SHINE Pilot Program:

Please review the SHINE Participant Forms for a list of qualifications.
You may contact any contractor registered with the Home Performance with Energy Star Program to complete an assessment.
- http://www.georgiapower.com/energystar/es_contractors.asp
- The cost of the assessment is approximately $400 range and varies based on the characteristics of the home. There is a 50% rebate (up to $200) from Georgia Power.
- Note that only contractors qualified with the City of Atlanta may perform the actual improvements under the SHINE rebate program. The SHINE rebate is in addition to the GA Power rebates (see attached brochure) and the Federal Tax Credit (http://www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?c=tax_credits.tx_index).

As we're just getting started with our pilot program, you may contact me Aaron Bastian (abastian@atlantaga.gov) directly for additional assistance.

July 28, 2010: Atlanta Police Foundation Update

The Atlanta Police Foundation made great strides against our ambitious agenda in the first six months of 2010. While our goal of helping to make Atlanta a safer city is eternal, tangible progress against that goal is being realized through numerous programs and initiatives put into place by APF and APD and supported by our friends throughout the city who share our mission.

Our momentum has been bolstered by implementing a focused education and communication campaign directed at city residents and elected officials. The Atlanta business community has rallied to this cause – with volunteers, increased financial contributions and political support for those citywide initiatives that will increase the size of the police force and reduce crime, making Atlanta a better place to live, work and play.

Our work over seven years to increase awareness of public safety issues culminated in late 2009 during the APF's yearlong awareness campaign. 2009 provided the APF with a monumental moment to not only draw attention to the public safety needs of Atlanta, but also allowed the Foundation to identify crucial public safety priorities with Mayoral candidates, law enforcement executives and other key stakeholders.

Campaign to Increase Awareness
In the fall of 2009, the APF sponsored a televised debate on public safety among the leading candidates for Mayor. That debate firmly established public safety as the pivotal issue in the Mayoral election and helped to garner firm public safety commitments from each candidate.

Formulation of a Plan to make "Public Safety First"
The Foundation, with the assistance of multiple working committees and business partners, developed a series of reports that provided the Mayor proven solutions to improve public safety in Atlanta. The reports identified key priorities and provided recommendations for best practices aimed at building a world-class police department. These recommendations focused on increasing police visibility, stemming attrition, police effectiveness, APD leadership, APD communications and enhancing crime fighting technology.

Implementation of the Six Public Safety First Priorities (First half of 2010)
2010 for the Foundation has been an excellent year for progress as its programs and initiatives have continued to be successful. Mayor Kasim Reed has not only embraced a partnership with the Foundation, but has also implemented many of the APF's Recommendations for a Safer Atlanta. Notable APF milestones by priority in 2010 include:

Increased Police Visibility and Stem Attrition

APF has worked aggressively with APD and the Mayor's office to fill the 170 vacancies created by the 2008 budget cuts and hiring freeze. A new recruitment process, including a state-of-the-art career website developed by APF, cuts the recruiting time from four to two months and will enable APD to hire more than 300 officers this year, more than twice the 138 hires which the city has averaged for a decade.
Our comparative studies of departments across the country demonstrate that APD can reach an accepted threshold of officers per capita for large urban cities if it increases its officer base by 100 per year for five years, ultimately boosting its officer corps from 1,751 today to 2,000 in 2012. The long term priority is to reach 2,300 officers by 2014.
To stem APD attrition, currently averaging 10 percent annually, APF recommended yearly "in-step" raises to APD officers and the implementation of a career ladder within the department. Mayor Reed took the APF recommendations to heart and successfully worked with the Atlanta City Council to approve a 3.5 percent pay hike for police officers and an additional 100 police officer positions in the 2011 budget.
Additionally, our studies of departments across the metro Atlanta area, as well as around the country, have shown that APD is lacking in the number of vehicles and other equipment. Our proposal for a $4.7 million increase in the budget for cars and new equipment has been adopted by the Mayor.
APD knows a more educated police force leads to a more professional department, helps officers understand the importance of education in the field and increases morale. To help APD officers advance their education, and address officer retention, APF has awarded more than $51,000 this year through its Scholarship Reimbursement program. To be eligible for the program, an officer must have served at least two years and sign an agreement to remain on the force for an additional three years. Scholarship recipients must maintain a 3.0 grade point average and attend an accredited university.

Police Effectiveness

The partnership between the APF and the APD continues to pay dividends through the Crime Stoppers Atlanta program. This year the program has expanded with three new initiatives to get more criminals off of the streets in the metro area. Thanks to Crime Stoppers Atlanta callers, more than 132 dangerous criminals have been put behind bars and that number continues to climb each week.
The first new initiative, Fugitive Stoppers, is coordinated through a partnership with the U.S. Marshal's Service and other metro law enforcement agencies. This program targets violent criminals currently wanted in the metro area. This multi-jurisdictional program is critical as a recent U.S. Marshals report notes that fugitives will commit between 10 and 12 crimes before they are apprehended. This program has already shown great promise with numerous arrests of violent offenders, including the notorious "Pantyhose Rapist."
In the fall of 2010, the Campus Crime Stoppers Atlanta Program will launch through a partnership with the Atlanta Public Schools. The campus program is designed to create a safer school environment and give students a safe avenue to report crimes in their community.
Lastly, burglaries, in this current economic climate, have been a major concern of Atlanta residents. Therefore, Crime Stoppers Atlanta and the Fulton County District Attorney's office have formed a new program, Burglary Stoppers. The program is a multi-jurisdictional initiative that combats burglaries and the resale of stolen property in the city of Atlanta and Fulton County.

APD Leadership

The Atlanta Police Foundation presented Mayor Reed with a plan to conduct a national search for the new chief of police. APF President and CEO Dave Wilkinson were named members of Mayor Reed's Committee of Community Leaders to help search for and select candidates for the position in partnership with search firm Russell Reynolds. This search led to the recent appointment of Chief George N. Turner as Atlanta's 23rd police chief.
With 28 years of experience at APD, and an engaging leadership style that relates well with the rank and file officers, Chief Turner has already made great strides on improving morale and building esprit des corps in the force. Chief Turner will continue to work closely with the APF to address our shared public safety priorities: an increase in police visibility; the need to stem attrition; the need for a well-trained, effective police force; the importance of communicating early and often with the community; and investing in crime-fighting technology. These priorities will lead to a world-class police department, which will, in turn, lead to safer streets and a better-served community.

APD Communications

APF, APD and Mayor Reed worked collaboratively to lay out an aggressive plan to restore momentum in creating a safer city and building a world-class police department. Elements of this plan include internal and external communications programs.
APF, with its partner communications agency MS&L, trained Chief Turner and his command staff in communications strategy. APF also developed a communications framework for APD that calls for close coordination with the Mayor's office and the APD command staff, with support from the APF, and the development of a comprehensive communications plan to better engage the citizens of Atlanta.
An effective communications plan needs vision and leadership. The APF recommended the hiring of a full-time public relations and communications expert for the APD. The APF and the Mayor's office worked diligently to identify the best and brightest candidates in the city. In May, the new Public Affairs Director for the Atlanta Police Department was hired and has hit the ground running, implementing a new communications strategy for the department.
Chief Turner continues to meet with every NPU in the city and will launch by end of year a new interactive website – developed and funded by APF – to better engage citizens. Chief Turner has embraced the mandate to be "visible" at major civic events and crime scenes.

Enhanced Technology

APF's video surveillance proposal – linking public and private surveillance cameras and managing them from a central source – is being adopted across the city by APD, commercial real estate developers and private companies. A pilot program is currently in the planning phase and is expected to be operational in the fall of 2010.

Public Safety First Campaign Update

APF announced its Public Safety First Campaign in June, aimed at raising more than $7 million by 2012 for the APD. The campaign targets private sector support for the Foundation's mission to create a safer city and first-class police department, including increasing police visibility, mobilizing community partnerships and securing additional resources to fight crime.
Our fundraising efforts – including board gifts, special events and membership – have been extremely successful. We've raised $2,111,082, surpassing our fundraising efforts in years past.
Violent crime is down 23% in the first six months of 2010. The morale among officers at APD is high. Mayor Reed has shown a commitment to public safety that marked his campaign and the Mayor and city council have shown political courage in supporting the necessary budget increases to make our city safer.
The Atlanta Police Foundation has been a leader and partner in each of these initiatives. We know that the job of making our city safe never ends. We are proud of the work we've done, the relationships we've nurtured and the momentum we've achieved at the start of Mayor Reed and Chief Turner's new administration.

July 24, 2010: Arborist Inspections at City Parks

The John Howell Memorial Park playground has been closed until further notice. We have inspected the trees today surrounding the playground. As a precautionary step, minor forestry work will be completed as soon as possible.

The Howell Park playground will reopen in the near future. There are approximately 102 playgrounds that our arborist will inspect over the next few weeks. We want to keep the families and children safe while using the playground equipment.

Our thoughts are with the families who were involved in the incident and we hope the prognosis for the injured child will continue to be positive.

- Commissioner George Dusenbury City of Atlanta
Department of Parks, Recreation and Cultural Affairs

July 28, 2010: West End Temporary Street Closing

On August 7th, 2010 Hopkins Street will be closed between Ralph David Abernathy Blvd and Oak Street from 10:00am to 3:00pm due to an event happening at the West End Church of Christ.

July 19, 2010: Plan 2040 - Atlanta's Future

ARC invites you to participate in its online public meeting at your convenience to help develop policies for the future of the Atlanta region. Your opinions will help shape the region's future through Plan 2040. Review the facts then take a few minutes to give ARC your ideas or to ask questions that might impact policy decisions.

Please join the Plan 2040 Onloine Public Meeting at www.atlantaregional.com/plan2040.

This online public meeting is available 24/7. For more information, please call 404.463.3272 or e-mail plan2040@atlantaregional.com.

July 14, 2010: Senate Resolution 821

Senate Resolution 821: Multi-Year Construction Agreements

What Is Senate Resolution 821?
Senate Resolution (SR) 821 amends the Georgia Constitution and allows the Department of Transportation to enter into multiyear construction agreements. Currently, Georgia DOT is required to have all the funds when a multi-year project contract is signed. SR 821 would allow Georgia DOT to pay for the project as it is being constructed.

For example, if $3 million of a $10 million project is spent in the first year of the contract; then the remaining $7 million could be used that year on another project. Motor fuel revenues in following years would be used to pay project costs in those years when the costs are actually incurred. It is the same concept of installment payments that we use in our daily lives.

For more information visit: www.dot.ga.gov/sr821

July 13, 2010: American Community Garden Association's 31st Annual Conference

This year's national conference is here in Atlanta. Don't miss your chance to meet several of the most knowledgeable community gardeners and horticulturalist from around the country. This year's theme "A Holistic Approach to Building a Sustainable & Healthy Communities: The Choice is Yours" features keynote speaker, Dr. Yvonne Sanders-Butler—creator of Sugar Free Schools. This year's conference includes informative workshops, bike tours & community garden tours.

Dates: August 5-8
Location: Loudermilk Center (Downtown Atlanta)

Register: http://communitygarden.org/learn/training/annual-conference/conference.php
Scholarships are available.

June 22, 2010: BeltLine - Atlanta Connected

The Atlanta BeltLine is a public works project that is transforming the face of our city. Many plans for this redevelopment have been established and construction activities are currently underway. As we continue to grow, it is important to stay connected to the community to make sure residents are able to be informed and provide feedback on the progress of this effort.

For this reason the BeltLine Partnership has developed a brochure that shares with residents the various opportunities to get involved and stay aware of what is happening with the BeltLine. There are always new events going on around the BeltLine. Residents can participate in community planning meetings as well as special event days that bring neighbors out into the development corridor.

We are looking for assistance in sharing this message with neighbors and other groups and would like your support in getting the word out. You can help by visiting our website and ordering a free set of brochures at http://beltline.org/GetInvolved/OrderFlyers/tabid/3505/Default.aspx. Select our "Getting Involved" brochure that will be delivered to you directly. You can assist us by taking this information to:

Your local NPU meeting or other community group meeting
A local school in your area
The library in your neighborhood
Local businesses that serve the community

Help get the word out today!

June 16, 2010: The Wrens Nest

From NPU-T Chair Nia Knowles: Good day Community!

I hope you are enjoying -or staying cool- on these HOT days :)

I want to remind some and invite others to view the Wrens Nest site, and join their mailing list for important community events. The Wrens Nest is a wonderful treat within our community that should be supported as much as possible. Many of our neighborhood associations hold events such as concerts, movie screenings and family fun day at this historical home.

On their site, I especially enjoyed reading the article "Everything You've Heard about Uncle Remus Is Wrong".

Take a moment and view their site: www.wrensnestonline.com

May 4, 2010: U.S. House of Representatives Page Candidates

This is directed to those of you who know someone who is 16 yrs. old and has a 3.0 GPA who might be interested in serving in the Obama Administration as a page. Help identify students to participate in this enlightening educational opportunity. http://pageprogram.house.gov

GENERAL GUIDELINES
During the academic year, Pages are required to attend the Page School in addition to their responsibilities as support staff to the Members of the House of Representatives. Pages live in the Page Residence Hall and receive a monthly salary. The following guidelines apply to all Pages:

Pages are required to maintain a neat appearance and a hairstyle that is appropriate for a business environment. Pages must also wear ID badges and uniforms at work and school.
House Pages follow the House Calendar, which is subject to change. Plans and airline tickets may have to be changed or canceled if the House calendar dictates it. Never purchase non refundable tickets based on the tentative calendar in the Page Handbook.
Pages are permitted to return home only on weekends when there are no Washington Seminars, except in cases of a family emergency. Pages will be unable to leave the Page Program to attend family, home school, or community activities or functions if they occur during the school or workweek.
Pages earn $20,181.00 annually, with a monthly gross salary of $1,681.75. Automatic deductions are made for federal and state taxes, social security, and the Residence Hall fee.

Pages are paid on the last working day of the month.

March 17, 2010: College Scholarship Links

Please pass this information on to family members, nieces, nephews, friends with children etc. We must get the word out that money is available. If you are a college student or getting ready to become one, you probably already know how useful additional money can be.

March 10, 2010: United States Census 2010

Count-Down To Census Time – Make Sure You Are Counted!

Beginning March 15th, families across the country will receive their 2010 Census survey in the mail. This confidential form has only 10 questions and takes 10 minutes to complete. It is very important that you keep an eye out for the form and return an accurate questionnaire as soon as possible.

The data collected on this form from every household in the country is critical. For 10 years, these numbers will be used to determine how more than $400 billion per year in federal funding is distributed to state, local and tribal governments. It also helps determine locations for new hospitals, improving schools, building new roads, expanding public transportation options and creating new maps for emergency responders. This is also the information used to reapportion the U.S. House of Representatives, re-district each state and determine the distribution of the Electoral College.

After the initial mail-back deadline, the Census Bureau will also begin hiring census takers to go door-to-door in their respective communities to collect data from those who have not completed the forms. Most of these jobs will target communities where the responses have been particularly low. Please call the toll-free Jobs line at 866-861-2010 for more information about these jobs.

February 11, 2010: Wires Endanger Walkers

Win Prizes for Reporting Hazardous Utility Wires in March!

Have you seen utility wires, telephone lines or metal cables on the sidewalks in your neighborhood or near your place of work? Loose wires in the pedestrian path can trip people up and cause serious injury. You could win a prize by reporting wire hazards in March.

HOW TO WIN

Find and record the location of hazardous wires obstructing the pedestrian path. Take photos if possible. Our printable form makes reporting easy.
Submit your wire reports and photos online at peds.org.
Cross your fingers.

Your name will be entered in our prize drawing each time you report a wire hazard. PEDS will hold drawings on March 17 and March 31. Prizes include a $75 Phidippides shoe store certificate, a high-tech pedometer and more. The more wires you report, the more chances you have to win!

PEDS, metro Atlanta's pedestrian advocacy organization, invites all metro Atlanta neighbors (that's you) to report wire hazards online at peds.org during the month of March. The more hazardous wires you report in March, the more chances you have to win. Learn how you can participate at peds.org.

January 26, 2010: Oglethorpe Avenue Sidewalk Installation

The Department of Public Works is pleased to inform you that the following project notification will be mailed to affected residents on Thursday, January 21, 2010, as well as publicized on other City publications.

In an effort to maintain seamless communications throughout the project, your assistance is requested in identifying a community representative that would assist us in providing notification to the community as needed.

The City of Atlanta Department of Public Works continues to implement community improvement projects throughout the City as part of the $150M Quality of Life Bond Program!

Early February 2010, we will begin sidewalk installation activities at the following location in:

Council District 4, NPU-T - Oglethorpe Avenue, from the south side of Peeples Street to Azalia Street

Construction will be located within the City of Atlanta's right-of-way between the hours of 9:00am and 5:00pm unless otherwise indicated. Property owners are asked to remove or relocate any sprinkler lines or other fixtures, including landscaping and brick mailboxes that may be installed within the City's right-of-way prior to the commencement of construction.

For questions concerning impact to the right-of-way fronting specific properties or concerns during the construction of this project, please contact the Department of Public Works (Danita Ogandaga) at (404) 330-6254 or via email to: dogandaga@atlantaga.gov.

January 20, 2010: The Pepsi Refresh Project

Pepsi is giving away more than $20 million in grants to fund your great ideas. This unprecedented program is called The Pepsi Refresh Project.

The action starts on January 13, when applicants will have 10 days to submit their ideas via www.refresheverything.com. The concept is powerful: Pepsi is seeking ideas that make us think, inspire us and ignite participation; Ideas that make good things better or improve situations; Ideas that refresh. The process is simple. Individuals pitch a plan. The public votes. The top projects win. And this process repeats itself every month for 10 months.

The Pepsi Refresh Project will award $5,000, $25,000, $50,000 and $250,000 to individuals and organizations that turn good ideas into projects that make a difference. The grant categories will be:

Health
Arts & Culture
Food & Shelter
The Planet
Neighborhoods
Education

Mark your calendar with some key dates for the program: Toolkits with tips on how to develop a grant application go live on December 23 at www.refresheverything.com. The first wave of applications for the program will be accepted from January 13-23. The first voting period opens on February 1.

Hurry up though - idea submissions will be accepted from January 13th to 24th - and you don't want to be late. If you need some inspiration and great tips, check out our submission tool kit.

January 20, 2010: Park Pride Inspiration Award 2010

MLK Jr. inspired us. Who inspires you? Nominate someone for a 2010 Inspiration Award.

You have until Feb. 12 to nominate for the 2010. Nominations Accepted in 3 categories:

Community
Corporate
Government

Download a nomination form. Learn more about criteria: http://www.parkpride.org/media-room/press-releases

January 12, 2010: "Go West" Photography and Video

On December 12th, 2009 NPU-T neighborhoods Westview and West End joined forces for the "Go West" Celebration. The day started off with a 5K Benefit Walk for Westview's new charter school, KIPP STRIVE Academy. Funds raised went towards a security officer for the school. The walk was followed by a groundbreaking at Lucile Avenue and Muse Street for Phase II of the West End-Westview BeltLine trail. The event was attended by community leaders, as well as Mayor-elect Kasim Reed. Immediately followeing the groundbreaking the Westview Community Organization hosted its annual Holiday Lunch at Fire Station 17. The lunch featured traditional homecooked food donated by Westview residents. A few hours break allowed neighbors to recouperate before West End Neighborhood Development's Cocktail Party at Hammonds House Museum. The party featured music by Spanky and The Love Handles and artwork by Lillian Blades.

View photographs from part of the day's events (click on a thumbnail to enlarge):