Karla Tievsky’s Intown Suzuki class normally meets at Druid Hills Methodist Church. Taking advantage of some wonderful spring weather, the class met yesterday at John Howell Park for their spring recital. How awesome is it to live in a neighborhood that has three great parks??
Happy Spring, everyone!
For those who want to cheer on the runners – or if you simply want to avoid the traffic disruption – here’s the course description and map for the Summerfest 5K Road Race.
Runners will gather at the Yeah Burger parking lot beginning around 6:30 a.m. on Saturday June 1. The race will start at 8:00 a.m. at the corner of Lanier Blvd. and Virginia Ave. The finish line is on Barnett, near Adair, and runners will file from there to the Inman Middle School ball field for refreshments, awards and the running of the Tot Trot.
Course Description
1. START-Virginia Ave and Lanier Blvd
2. Go North on Lanier Blvd
3. Turn left on N. Morningside Drive
4. Turn right on Avalon
5. Turn LEFT on Lanier Blvd (staying on left side of island)
6. Make a clockwise loop just at University Drive and cross to the other side of the island
7. Go south on Lanier Blvd on the east side of the island
8. Turn left on McLynn
9. Cross Amsterdam/ Hancock at the island— McLynn changes to Rosedale Road (water stop at 1158 Rosedale)
10. Turn right on Stillwood
11. STAY STRAIGHT ON STILLWOOD, CROSSING NORTH VIRGINIA
12. Turn left on Los Angeles
13. Turn right on N. Virginia
14. Stay straight – North Virginia changes to Virginia Ave
15. Turn right on Hudson
16. Turn right on Lanier Blvd
17. Turn left on Virginia Avenue
18. CROSS NORTH HIGHLAND
19. Turn left on Todd
20. Turn immediately left on Rupley
21. Turn right on Adair
22. Turn left on Todd
23. Turn right on Highland View
24. Turn right on Barnett
25. Finish chutes and clocks on Barnett near Adair
26. Runners proceed north, getting water along the way and cross Virginia Ave onto Inman School fields for refreshments and awards ceremony
Course Map
The Long and the Short of It
The Short:
For sidewalk information: Peggy Berg (404) 512-9142; pegberg1111@gmail.com.
In Atlanta, sidewalk maintenance is the legal responsibility of the property owner. Such repairs may be done privately – which requires individual permitting applications for every repair, a cumbersome and costly deterrent to many citizens – or by City contractors. The City has done sidewalk repairs and replacements at $3.90 per square foot for many years; basically, this is the cost of the concrete, pour and finish.
The City spends closer to $10 to $12 per square foot including demolition, erosion control and related costs. We understand the City is revising the amount it charges property owners from $3.90 per sq. ft. to $10 – $12 to cover its costs. New pricing will go into effect with the City’s new budget on July 1. If the sidewalk abutting your property is in poor condition, now is the time to have it replaced.
The City has also been considering requiring homeowners who have broken sidewalks to have them repaired at the new higher price. The City faces significant litigation costs because so many people get hurt on our broken sidewalks. It needs sidewalk repairs for pedestrian safety and to control legal costs.
If repairs are made under today’s pricing – requiring payment by June 15, 2013 – the average Virginia-Highland homeowner’s cost would be about $1,200. When the new budget goes into effect, the cost to repair that same sidewalk could be $3,600 or more.
The VHCA is organizing a bundle of sidewalk repairs before the higher pricing goes into effect. The association will get you a price for your sidewalk and will also act as intermediary with the city to get the repairs made. If you cannot afford to participate, the VHCA has limited funds available on a first-come-first served basis to help. The VHCA can match up to $500 for neighbors with a financial need, while funds last.
To participate at today’s cost we need to have your check for the repairs no later than June 15.
To participate, or if you have any questions, contact Peggy Berg at (404) 512-9142 or pegberg1111@gmail.com.
The Long (Some History and Context):
Over the last 30 years, the challenge of improving sidewalks has been an enduring one for the residents of this community and for the Virginia-Highland Civic Association. The newsletters of the last three decades are full of stories on the subject.
Some municipalities pay to fix sidewalks from the general fund, collecting taxes from all property owners to cover the cost. Other cities, including Atlanta, make property owners responsible for sidewalks abutting their property rather than sharing the cost across properties with and without sidewalks. Given Atlanta’s budget and reluctance to increase property taxes, it seems likely that abutting property owners will continue to be responsible for their sidewalks.
In theory, the city can cite property owners, make repairs independently if the owner fails to act, and charge the property owner for the cost of repairs. In fact, the city has never made a systematic effort to require abutting property owners to fix sidewalks. But that may be changing.
The City is under increased pressure to improve sidewalks for several reasons. First, the sidewalk system has been allowed to deteriorate for so long that it has become a real problem for pedestrians. Second, broken and uneven sidewalks are dangerous; people fall and get hurt and sue the city, which is now dealing with many lawsuits and millions of dollars in liability losses. In addition, Federal ADA legislation requires sidewalk improvements; Atlanta is not in compliance.
Without a budget for sidewalks, and with increasing pressure from citizens who like to walk, from the courts and from the Federal government, the City needs a way to get sidewalks repaired. We are informed that pressuring property owners to comply with regulations and pay for repairs is one approach being considered. As an inducement, the City may also be considering ways to facilitate such payments by making it possible to pay for the repairs over time. Either approach would be better than the status quo; neither is certain.
We note the obvious: it is fundamentally wasteful of taxpayer dollars to spend millions on lawsuits and to budget no money at all to repair the sidewalks that are the underlying cause of the losses. The proposed 2014 City budget has not been adopted, but its current version contains no sidewalk line item, we are informed.
For years, the City has charged property owners $3.90 per square foot for sidewalk replacements – about $1,200 for a typical Virginia-Highland sidewalk 55 feet long and 5-6 feet wide. Unfortunately, revenue at that level only covers the cost of the concrete, poured and finished; it does not include the other costs of demolition, removal, grading, erosion control, insurance, etc. The City is planning to increase the charge to abutting property owners in order to cover their analyzed full costs, which will increase the fee to $10 to $12 per square foot, about $3,600 for the same size sidewalk calculated above.
Independent of city enforcement, VHCA has offered a variety of enticements over the years that offered to share costs of sidewalk repairs with homeowners. Those programs have usually been vigorously debated within the Board, with proponents pointing out that we all benefit from the walkability and safety of good sidewalks and opponents believing that all owners ought to meet their own responsibilities. A few – but not many – citizens have fixed their sidewalks with the assistance of the association.
As it turns out, unless a homeowner is doing a larger project, it’s not at all easy to find a contractor who’s willing to go through the considerable challenges of permitting a small repair without charging a (fair but hefty) fee for all the time required. It’s been a very real challenge, which has stopped many residents from repairing their sidewalks and induced others to do the work without permits or inspections.
Last year VHCA started a program to have neighborhood sidewalks repaired in bundles. Not surprisingly, it’s more cost effective for the City to do a bundle of sidewalks close together than to do single sidewalks one at a time scattered around the City. The VHCA canvassed owners along St. Charles Avenue and its cross streets (an area of particularly dire need) and an uncertain Board was convinced to subsidize part of the bill for those who needed help. A total of 31 sidewalk segments were in the bundle and VHCA delivered payment to the City on August 23, 2012. That bundle is scheduled to have concrete poured by early June.
When the City triples the price, it will be even more difficult for the neighborhood association to promote sidewalk repairs. With this in mind, we are assembling one final bundle of sidewalks prior to June 15 to take advantage of the $3.90 pricing that will soon be a thing of the past. The bundle is open to the entire neighborhood. If you have a sidewalk that needs repair, now is the time to get it organized. To participate in the bundle:
This is a chance to fix your sidewalk at a price that’s a lot cheaper than it will be in the future. That’s a real benefit to everyone; this is a community of walkers, which is good in all the obvious ways. We will be safer and more active with good sidewalks.
Call or email Peggy Berg with any questions about our sidewalks and about getting your sidewalk fixed. (404) 512-9142 or pegberg1111@gmail.com.
Atlanta Symphony Orchestra Brass Quintet
When the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra’s Brass Quintet takes the stage at this year’s 30th anniversary Summerfest, don’t be surprised to see one of your neighbors sitting down to perform. A second Virginia-Highland resident would have joined him, had he not been performing this season with an orchestra in another city.
Michael Moore
VaHi resident Michael Moore plays tuba in the quintet that will perform Sunday, June 2, from 12:15 – 1:15 pm on the festival’s main music stage. The quintet’s regular horn player, Richard Deane, also lives in VaHi, but has been performing this season with the New York Philharmonic.
In addition to Moore (Principal Tuba) and Deane (horn), the following ASO musicians are also VaHi residents: Justin Bruns (Assistant Concertmaster), Laura Ardan (Principal Clarinet), Bruce Kenney (horn) and Nathan Zgonc (trombone).
So, on Sunday during Summerfest, grab a bagel or two, come have brunch on the Inman ball field lawn and salute VaHi’s connection to the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra!
Is your Virginia-Highland home a fabulous classic bungalow, a stunning renovation, or an outstanding new build? If so, we want to hear from you.
The 2013 Tour of Homes committee is on the lookout for this year’s Elite Eight! Put your home on the tour and help raise funds for the neighborhood. Submit your home today for consideration. Please send up to three photos of your home (low-res photos of less than 1 MB only, please) and a brief description to melinda@muffleyhomes.com.
Entry deadline is June 5th so please don’t hesitate if you’re interested. Tour dates are December 7th and 8th.
We look forward to seeing everyone on the tour in December!
A small group of volunteers spent a few hours of their Mother’s Day showing a little pre-Summerfest love to Virginia-Highland’s iconic landmark at the corner of Virginia and N. Highland Avenues.
Organized by Nonie Daniels, the group removed winter annuals, amended soil, planted new annuals, put down pine straw and generally cleaned up around the island.
Scroll down for before/after pictures and some shots of the group in action.
The VHCA joins in those supporting the first annual Warren Bruno Memorial Ride to honor the legacy of a man who enriched the lives of so many in our community.
As the owner of flagship VaHi restaurant Atkins Park, Warren was one of the founders of Summerfest, and there’s no way we’d be having a 30th anniversary festival without his incredible support through the years. Warren was also an avid cyclist, so this tribute is fitting for a man who never missed a chance to bring family, friends and community together.
The ride will take place the morning of Sunday June 2 and start at the New Highland Park (corner of N. Highland Ave. & St. Charles Pl., across the street and just south of Atkins Park). Riders should sign in at 6:45 AM, the ride will start at 8 AM.
Registration is required. Register at http://wbmemorialridesummerfest.eventbrite.com/. When registering, donations may be made to the Leukemia Lymphoma Association in Warren Bruno’s name.
Ride on, Warren!
Following are comments made by District 6 City Councilperson Alex Wan in an email to constituents regarding neighborhood commercial (NC) legislation proposed for the Cheshire Bridge Road commercial corridor.
Click here to read an online version of the email.
I want to thank everyone for all of the feedback that you have provided me regarding the proposed Cheshire Bridge Road Neighborhood Commercial (NC) districts legislation – both those that support the effort and those that have raised concerns about its impact. Please know that I have been taking everything into consideration.
After careful deliberation, I have requested that the Planning and Law Departments to submit the following substitute legislation to the Zoning Review Board for consideration at its next meeting on Thursday, May 9, at 6:00 pm in Council Chambers at City Hall:
NC-4 Substitute Legislation for ZRB
NC-5 Substitute Legislation for ZRB
There are essentially two revisions to each. First, the legislation now applies only to adult businesses within NC-4 and NC-5 (versus all non-conforming uses as originally presented), and second, the amortization period has been extended from two to five years. It is my hope that the amended legislation, if adopted, will help the corridor realize as much of the vision set forward by the original Cheshire Bridge Task Force Study in 1999 as possible, while further minimizing the number of businesses that would have been negatively impacted by the legislation as it was originally proposed.
As clarification, these new versions are complete substitutes for the previous proposals, which will no longer be under consideration (put another way, these amendments are not in addition to what was on the table before but replace that language.)
I encourage everyone to continue participating in the legislative process, which includes the ZRB meeting on Thursday night where the board will hear the application again and may render its recommendation to Council on the proposal. The meeting is open to the public. However, public comment is limited to 10 minutes in support and 10 minutes in opposition, unless the board elects to extend that time.
Zoning Review Board Meeting
Thursday, May 9, 2013
6:00 pm
Atlanta City Council Chambers
From there, it moves to City Council’s Zoning Committee and then to full Council for deliberation.
As always, I continue to welcome your feedback and questions on this matter. Please contact me at (404) 330-6049 or awan@atlantaga.gov if I can be of assistance.
I appreciate the opportunity to be your voice in our city government.
Congratulations to VaHi resident Clarissa Mullig who recently won a Gold Medal in the national Scholastic Arts & Writing Awards, “the largest and longest-running recognition program for creative teens in the U.S.”
Clarissa will receive her award at a ceremony later this month at Carnegie Hall. She plan to attend Grady High in the fall.
Click here to read the Midtown Patch story with additional details.
Click here to read a February 2012 article on Clarissa that appeared in the Talk Up APS e-newsletter.
Due to excessive water saturation in the soil and the possibility of additional rainfall this afternoon, the triangle island cleanup event originally scheduled for today has been postponed until next Sunday May 12 at 1 pm. We know that’s Mother’s Day but we can’t postpone the cleanup event any longer and we’re hopeful that at least some folks will be able to spare a couple of hours, even on this special day.
No RSVP needed. Bring a water bottle and garden gloves if you have a pair. Contact Nonie Daniels at info@noniesgarden.com with questions, comments or suggestions.
Click here to read the latest newsletter from District 6 CIty Councilperson Alex Wan. The newsletter includes updates on the City of Atlanta 2014 budget, efforts to rezone commercial property along the Cheshire Bridge Rd. corridor, the Clear Creek Sewer Overflow project, free Atlanta Symphony Orchestra concerts in Piedmont Park, and more.
By: Denise Romeo
Tucked away behind some of the neighborhood’s more raucous eating establishments is one of Virginia-Highland’s hidden jewels, Pozolé Restaurant. This family friendly eatery is named after a Mexican specialty made with hominy (alkali-treated corn) and is served on special occasions. “Party soup” seems to be a good depiction of this restaurant’s kitschy, rustic décor and affable staff.
The bold cantina-style offerings range from plates of Chiliqules to al la carte salsas, tacos and quesadillas which truly provide something for every appetite. A kids’ menu illustrated by a staff member features kid-friendly eats and activities which, along with craft paper on the tables and plenty of crayons, keep fidgety youngsters (and parents) occupied. The pineapple salsa is just one example of the mild yet flavorful fare that can be enjoyed by kids as well as adults. Here’s the recipe:
Pineapple Salsa
2 cups grilled pineapple, chopped
1 red bell pepper, chopped
1 jalapeno pepper, deseeded and finely diced
½ bunch cilantro, finely chopped
1 red onion, finely diced
½ teaspoon salt
¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
¼ cup pineapple or lime juice
Combine all ingredients in a mixing bowl and mix together well. Refrigerate until ready to serve with crispy tortilla chips or as a compliment to grilled fish, chicken or rice.
Pozolé is well known for their sociable, artsy staff headed by manager Susannah Aaron who is fiercely protective of her younger patrons. She censors both the jukebox and the large television in the main dining area during family time. As the evening wears on, however, the clientele and the atmosphere mature as dating couples and late night roisterers enjoy Latin noshes and margaritas at the Tequila bar.
To celebrate Mexican heritage and pride, Pozolé (along with Creative Loafing and Limerick Junction) is hosting the 6th annual Cinco de Mayo Block Party which begins at 2:00 pm on Saturday, May 4th with face painting and balloon artists. “Cinco en Cuatro” will also feature bands Rocksploitation, Unzipt, Lunatics and others both inside and out. For more information, visit http://pozolerestaurant.com.
Local food blogger Denise Romeo has lived in the Virginia-Highland area for 23 years. She and her husband, Dom, enjoy spending time together cooking and entertaining. You can read more from Denise on her award winning blog at We Like To Cook!
It is with deep sadness that we write of the recent death of Alec Anthony Bruno. Alec was born on June 5, 1996 and passed away on April 23, 2013.
Alec’s father is the late Warren Bruno. Alec’s immediate surviving family members are his mother Sandra Spoon, brother Derek Bruno and sisters Madison and Grayton Bruno.
Funeral services will be held at The Catholic Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, 48 Martin Luther King Jr. Drive, SW, Atlanta, Georgia 30303 on Saturday, May 4th at 2:00 pm. Following the ceremony, a reception will be held from 3:00 – 5:00 pm at the Atlanta Contemporary Art Center, 535 Means St., Atlanta, Georgia, 30318.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made in Alec’s memory to American Whitewater. To donate online, visit http://www.americanwhitewater.org/content/Membership/donate/. In the comment block, indicate the contribution is being made in memory of Alec Anthony Bruno.
The VHCA is looking for residents who’d like to help the Communications Committee on a volunteer basis. The committee maintains the VHCA website and produces a semi–monthly newsletter (The Voice) and other updates as needed, contributes to news sources around Atlanta, supports fundraising efforts through the creation of communication pieces, writes articles and manages all aspects of communication to the community.
Ideally, we’d like to find volunteers to help in the following four areas:
If you’re interested in any of these opportunities to help, please email communications@vahi.org to find out more. Whether you have a lot of time on your hands or a little, we can find something for you to do.
The wait is over…the suspense has ended! The music line-up for Summerfest 2013 has been announced!
On Saturday, New Orleans indie rock band The Revivalists precedes singer/songwriter Jason Isbell, who headlines the event on Saturday evening. The music continues on Sunday with the popular, alternative rock group Drew Holcomb & the Neighbors headlining.
Here’s the complete line-up and schedule:
Saturday, June 1
12:00 – 1:15 pm: Frets on Fire
1:45 – 2:45 pm: The Famous Buddies
3:15 – 4:15 pm: Radiolucent
4:45 – 6:15 pm: The Revivalists
6:45 – 8:00 pm: Jason Isbell
Sunday, June 2
12:15 – 1:15 pm: Atlanta Symphony Brass Quintet
1:30 – 2:30 pm: Galen Crader
3:00 – 4:00 pm: Sailing to Denver
4:30 – 6:00 pm: Drew Holcomb & The Neighbors
For more information on the 30th anniversary Summerfest, click here.
See you at the band stage in June!
A general clean up of the triangle island at Virginia and N. Highland avenues, including some light maintenance and flower planting, is scheduled for this Sunday May 5 and organizers are looking for volunteers to help.
Volunteers should meet at the triangle this Sunday at 1 pm and bring garden gloves (if you have them) and a water bottle. No RSVP is necessary. Contact organizer Nonie Daniels at info@noniesgarden.com with questions, comments or suggestions.
Since 1989 Highland Tap has been a Virginia-Highland fixture, offering VaHi residents a quality steak house with a local connection. For close to a quarter century the restaurant has prepared steaks on an open wood-fire grill, the same way steaks were grilled when the neighborhood was first established over a hundred years ago. The ambience at Highland Tap is like no other restaurant in all of Atlanta, with a classic blend of stone walls and a 1920’s speak-easy atmosphere.
Highland Tap recently partnered with Georgia Grown and now offers fresh, locally grown meats, vegetables, and fruits. A couple of appetizers with a direct connection to Virginia-Highland are also offered: a freshly made Pimento Cheese, and three Georgia Cheeses served with black pepper and multi-grain crackers baked right here in the neighborhood by Earth Biscuit Foods.
The Tap now also offers a Georgia Grown seasonal vegetable plate and a variety of fresh salads served with Georgia Springer Mountain Chicken, Brasstown Beef, or Ahi Tuna.
The Tap urges you to come in and rediscover their mouth watering Prime-Rib, Angus Rib-Eye, Filets, and NY Strip steaks. The restaurant’s Brasstown steaks are made from grass and corn fed beef, and are packed with flavor coming off the hickory wood-fire grill… you will taste the difference!
Over the past two and a half decades, the Highland Tap has built a reputation of satisfying customers with an old-fashioned combination of quality food, great service, and award winning martinis – all at a reasonable price.
Highland Tap serves lunch Tuesday thru Sunday, 11 am to 3 pm; dinner Sunday thru Wednesday, 3 pm to 10 pm and Thursday thru Saturday, 3 pm to 11 pm; and brunch Saturday and Sunday, 11am to 3 pm.
Scroll down for images of some of the Tap’s popular menu items.
Highland Tap
1026 N. Highland Avenue
404-875-3673
http://www.nnnwcorp.com/highlandtapmain.html
The inaugural Atlanta Moon Ride – a 6.5 mile nighttime benefit ride open to all levels of cyclists – will pass through VaHi around 10 PM on Friday May 10. The APD will provide rolling road blocks for the group so traffic may be disrupted temporarily as cyclists pass through the neighborhood.
The ride is scheduled to start at Park Tavern at 10 PM. Riders will proceed east on Virginia Avenue, then turn right on N. Highland Avenue. The group will exit VaHi as they continue on N. Highland past Ponce De Leon Avenue.
Here’s some additional information on the ride from the event’s website:
To all you riders, bike enthusiasts and Atlanta bicycle community, come participate in our inaugural Atlanta Moon Ride, a 6.5 mile night bike ride through some of Atlanta’s coolest neighborhoods. Gear up your bikes with a head lamp, bust out the flair and get ready to ride the streets. (Costumes encouraged!)
This is a chance to safely cruise through Atlanta neighborhoods at night without having to battle traffic as our good friends with the APD will be blocking our route. This event is open to anyone who wants to hit the streets, whether you’ve got a street bike, a mountain bike, a wheel chair or a good ole cruiser. Bring the family! This is a fun ride, and is appropriate for any skill level so come ride with us!
Most importantly, 100% of the proceeds from this ride go to an awesome local charity, Bert’s Big Adventure. Bert’s Big Adventure is a nonprofit organization that provides a magical, all-expenses-paid, five-day journey to Walt Disney World® for children with chronic and terminal illnesses and their families. So get your bike, grab some friends, REGISTER online, and head down to the Park Tavern on May 10th.
For more information – including a route map – or to register for the ride, click here.
The Intowners real estate group (Julie Sadlier, Sandy D’Aprile and Peter Bade) is once again sponsoring an area in Kidsfest at Summerfest where children will be able to participate in painting a mural. Painting the mural has become a Kidsfest and Intowners tradition, and the VHCA is thrilled that Sadlier, D’Aprile and Bade have once again chosen to sponsor the activity.
The group is looking for a volunteer to help them create the design for the paint-on-canvas mural. For artists interested in volunteering to help, here are the requirements (please see image at right for example of previous year mural):
If you are interested in helping out with this most important Kidsfest activity and receiving a coveted volunteer t-shirt for your efforts, please contact Sandy D’Aprile at sdaprile@bellsouth.net.
By: Denise Romeo
Spring in Georgia brings with it the highly anticipated Vidalia® Onion season. Named as the official State vegetable in 1990, the Vidalia onion is a sweet onion of hybridized Granex parentage (or other similar varieties). Only onions grown in a production area defined by Georgia and U.S. law can be labeled as “Vidalia Onions.” Due to the low amount of sulfur in the soil, the onions grown in the region near Vidalia, Georgia are unusually sweet and mild. Vidalia® onions are hand-planted and hand-harvested each year, with sweet, juicy bulbs revered by chefs and cooks throughout the world. They are treasured not only for their size and their mild, sweet taste, but for their nutritive merits. They are low in calories, low-fat, low-cholesterol, sodium-free and packed with Vitamin C.
To celebrate the opening of Vidalia® Onion season, a four-day festival featuring a parade, arts & crafts, Miss Vidalia Onion Pageant and fireworks is held each year. The Vidalia® Onion Festival has been recognized by MSNBC as one of the “Five Don’t-Miss Festivals Across the U.S.” For the second year, the festival also included the Golden Onion Chef Competition.
The Golden Onion is a professional cooking competition in which 12 challengers display their skills and creativity. The 2013 roster included competing chefs from the mountains to the islands, from fine dining to casual eateries represent a cross-section of Georgia restaurants and cuisine. They were given one hour to prepare and present dishes featuring Vidalia® onions. Chef Daniel Chance of nearby Campagnolo Restaurant + Bar whose winning dish was a Scallop-Stuffed Vidalia® Onion with Onion Puree and Pickled Onion topped with fresh raw Vidalia® Onion, says “the flavor of the Vidalia® Onion is one of the few that can stand on its own or elevate any dish.”
For those Georgia natives who prefer to enjoy the illustrious state vegetable in its least assuming glory, fried onion rings are the way to go. These crispy-on-the-outside, sweet-on-the-inside rings have an extra crunchy coating.
Buttermilk Onion Rings
2 large Vidalia onions or other sweet onions
1 quart peanut oil
2 cups buttermilk
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
4 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon cayenne powder (optional)
Peel the onions and slice them crosswise into 1-inch-thick slices. Separate each slice into individual rings, and remove the slick thin membrane covering the inside of each ring.
In a heavy skillet over medium heat, or in a tabletop deep fryer, heat the oil to 375 degrees F and then line a baking sheet with paper towels and set aside.
Divide the flour between 2 large baking dishes and season each dish liberally with salt and pepper and 1/4 teaspoon of the cayenne (if using). Place the buttermilk in a large baking dish and season liberally with salt and pepper as well.
Work in batches, dredging some of the onion rings in one of the flour dishes and tap off the excess. Next, dip the rings in the buttermilk allowing the excess to drain off, and then dredge the rings in the second dish of flour, making sure to coat the rings evenly. Tap off any excess and transfer the batch of coated rings to the hot oil.
Fry the rings, turning once or twice, until golden brown and tender, about 4 minutes. Remove with a wire skimmer and drain on paper towel-lined baking sheet. Season immediately with salt. Repeat until all of the rings have been cooked. Serve hot with your favorite sauce or dip like Thai sweet chili sauce, horseradish cream, steak sauce or just plain ketchup.
For those of you die hard onion fanatics, make plans to travel to Vidalia this weekend for the 36th Annual Vidalia Onion Festival. Saturday’s events include an Air Show, Arts & Crafts Fair, Carnival, Onion eating contest, and the Charlie Daniels Band in Concert. For details, directions or tickets, visit http://www.vidaliaonionfestival.com.
Local food blogger Denise Romeo has lived in the Virginia-Highland area for 23 years. She and her husband, Dom, enjoy spending time together cooking and entertaining. You can read more from Denise on her award winning blog at We Like To Cook!
April is Community Service Month for Starbucks globally, and here in Atlanta the iconic beverage vendor’s teaming up with Atlanta Public Schools to do some sprucing up at Grady High. The event will be held April 27th from 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM.
“We’ll be doing some clean-up, painting and landscaping at the school,” says store manager Leigh Armstrong.
“There will also be football, basketball and art camps by Kids and Pros,” Armstrong says, “and those will be free for kids when parents volunteer.”
“We’re working alongside faculty, parents and students to invest in Grady,” Armstrong says, “and we’ll be holding an Executive Roundtable for seniors.”
Coffee, breakfast and a light lunch will be served to volunteers, according to Armstrong.
Armstrong says they’re shooting for 700 volunteers. Click here for more information or to register online.
This year’s A Taste of the Highlands – a benefit event for Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta – will be held Saturday May 18 from 2:00-5:00 PM in John Howell Park.
Click here to purchase tickets. Click here to visit the Taste of the Highlands website for more information.
Volunteer Tim Langan does battle with weeds along N. Highland Ave.
Resident volunteers and local business owners joined forces on Saturday April 13 to spruce up several areas around the neighborhood in the most recent event sponsored by the Keep Virginia-Highland Beautiful group.
“We had about twenty volunteers and strong support from local businesses like Paris on Ponce, City Storage, Urban Body Studio, Java Jive, J. Christopher, Atkins Park, American Roadhouse, Intown Ace Hardware and Highland Tap,” said event coordinator Kay Stephenson.
Stephenson said workers focused on picking up trash and pulling weeds at three main areas: Maiden Lane, Orme Park, and N. Highland Avenue from Ponce De Leon Avenue to Los Angeles (and east on Virginia Avenue).
A long line of trash bags filled with weeds and trash is evidence of the clean-up's success along Maiden Ln.
“I can’t say enough about the support we’re getting from some local business and commercial property owners,” said Stephenson. “Property owner Lynn DeWitt worked side-by-side with us pulling up weeds from tree wells and Paris on Ponce owner Dennis Baker worked actively with the team on Maiden Lane.”
After the event, volunteers were treated to lunch and a cold beverage at Highland Tap.
Volunteers enjoy lunch at Highland Tap after the clean-up.
Congratulations to the Grady High School girls track team which placed first in last week’s Atlanta Track Classic. The Lady Grey Knights took home the gold over second place Jackson High School and third place Douglass High.
The Grady boys track team finished third in the meet behind first place Mays High School and second place Carver High.
Individual medalists for the Grady girls and boys include:
Click here to read the Patch story on the Grady teams’ success.
Posting this introduction and link to Councilmember Alex Wan’s most recent District 6 newsletter.
Welcome to this edition of the Atlanta City Council District 6 eNewsletter. Click on this link for a recap of some of the important issues being considered by the Council. Please visit the District 6 web site for additional information, including our new District 6 calendar, a great resource for staying involved!
As always, I encourage your feedback and comments. Please contact me at (404) 330-6049 or awan@atlantaga.gov if I can be of assistance.
I appreciate the opportunity to be your voice in our city government.
- Alex
The Atlanta Volunteer Lawyers Foundation will conduct a workshop on consumer debt defense at the public library on Ponce De Leon Avenue (980 Ponce DeLeon Ave.) starting at 1:00 pm on Thursday April 25.
Part of the Lawyer in the Library series, the workshop will focus on how those in debt may be able to avoid debt lawsuits and garnishments.
The workshop is free and open to the public. Registration is not required.
A pair of financial workshops will be held at the public library on Ponce De Leon Avenue starting at 10:30 am this Saturday April 13.
“Knowing, Understanding and Conquering Your Credit Challenges” will be the topic covered by keynote speaker Mrs. Nedra White of the CDC Federal Credit Union in the first workshop.
Immediately following the first workshop, keynote speaker Ms. Deatra Riley, community development officer and financial education manager for CredAbility, will cover “Foreclosure Prevention: Early Intervention & Educational Information About Next Steps.” CredAbility is a 501c(3) nonprofit organization and HUD certified counseling agency.
The workshops are sponsored by Marable Home Retention Foundation, Inc., a 501c(3) nonprofit organization that provides financial workshops to inform people about simple yet essential budgeting and life skills to help enrich people’s lives.
The workshops are open to the public and free to attend. However, monetary donations and/or donations of nonperishable food items are requested.
Registration is required to attend. Call 888-677-6320, email contact_mhrf@marablefoundation.org or visit www.marablefoundation.org to register or for more information.
The Atlanta-Fulton County Public Library System invites you to attend a seminar/discussion designed to help make your next car buying experience is as good as it can be.
Tywone Thomas, author and award winning auto consultant will lead a discussion covering how to get the best trade-in value for your car, the importance of getting pre-qualified before you go to the dealership, understanding negative equity, the best time to purchase, and important tips to know before stepping foot inside the dealership front doors.
The program will be held at the library on Ponce (980 Ponce De Leon Ave.) on Tuesday April 9 starting at 6:30 PM. The program is free and open to the public.
The chair of the VHCA graffiti task force is recognizing new VaHi business WellStreet Urgent Care for contributing to the effort to fight graffiti in the neighborhood.
“This is a huge shout-out to WellStreet located at the corner of Ponce and Barnett (in the old Blockbuster building) for getting rid of the graffiti tags on the retaining wall abutting their property,” says task force chair Laura Voisinet.
“Like Blockbuster before them,” Voisinet says, “WellStreet continues the tradition of pitching in and cleaning up to rid our neighborhood of graffiti and litter. They are a prime example of a business embracing and enhancing our beloved neighborhood.”
Scroll down to see before and after pictures of the retaining wall.
Welcome to the neighborhood, WellStreet Urgent Care!
Inman Middle School
By: Nicole Foerschler Horn
There are several changes being proposed as well as updates for schools within the Grady Cluster. Following is a summary:
Significant Changes Proposed for Springdale Park Elementary (SPARK)
Ending Spark’s Extended Day
SPARK is one of a handful of schools with 30 minutes of additional instructional time. APS is considering ending extended day for SPARK. The Spark Parent Teacher Organization opposes this change for several reasons, including the potential impact it would have on recess, concerns about teachers’ planning time, and the extra time needed for SPARK students to transition between multiple buildings on campus.
Cutting Early Intervention Program (EIP) Teachers From 5 to 1
APS has announced it’s changing how schools will be allocated teachers for the Early Intervention Program (EIP), which will result in Spark losing 4 of its current 5 EIP teachers. The EIP teachers help students keep pace with the academic rigor of SPARK. There are more than 80 students currently served by EIP teachers and this population (as with SPARK’s overall population) is expected to increase next year. Without these teachers, SPARK will have a large community of children who will receive diminished academic support in the coming year. The SPARK PTO believes that cutting 4 of the 5 EIP teachers will have serious consequences for all of SPARK’s students.
If you have concerns or questions about the above topics, please email Superintendent Davis at ebdavis@atlanta.k12.ga.us; Karen Waldon, the Deputy Superintendent for Curriculum and Instruction at kwaldon@atlanta.k12.ga.us; Cecily Harsch-Kinnane, Board of Education at chkinnane@atlanta.k12.ga.us; and David White, East Regional K-12 Executive Director at dwhite@atlanta.k12.ga.us.
Davis Seeks Input on Inman Middle School Overcrowding
APS is seeking public input on Inman overcrowding through the end of April 2013. Superintendent Erroll Davis advised the Grady Cluster community that trailers will remain at Inman to provide additional classroom capacity needed for the 2013-2014 school year. APS has asked for public input on the Inman overcrowding situation. Comments and suggestions should be emailed before the end of April to InmanComments@atlanta.k12.ga.us. For additional information on the Inman capacity issue see http://www.cbsatlanta.com/story/21525472/aps-seeks-public-input-to-fix-overcrowding-at-inman-middle-school.
Inman Principal’s Coffee on Safety and Transportation
April 2, 2013; 6:00 PM; Inman Media Center
Please join Ms. Herrema for the next Principal’s Coffee. This month’s session will be held Tuesday April 2 from 6-7 PM to accommodate those that cannot attend the morning sessions. Topics to be discussed include safety and transportation. Elementary school parents from the cluster are welcome to attend.
Changes Across the Cluster: School Start Times
APS announced it is considering changing the start times for schools. APS said its goal for the new start times is to improve student safety, on time arrival, and avoid the purchase of 50 new buses. The proposed changes are:
| Current | Proposed New | |
| Springdale Park | Start time 8:00 am, Dismissal at 3:00 pm (this includes extended day) | Start time 7:45 am (with bus drop off from 7:00 – 7:15 am), Dismissal 2:15 pm |
| Inman | Start time 8:45 am, Dismissal at 3:45 pm | Start time 9:05 am (with bus drop off from 8:35 – 8:50 am), Dismissal 4:05 pm |
| Grady | Start time 8:15 am, Dismissal at 3:15 pm | Start time 8:30 am (with bus drop off from 8:00 – 8:15 am), Dismissal 3:30 pm |
The Springdale Park PTO and Local School Council (LSC) wrote a joint letter to APS in opposition of the new start times for SPARK. The PTO and LSC are concerned that children would begin to be picked up around 6:50 am, at which time it is still dark outside for most of the school year. The organizations are also concerned this earlier start time (and bus pick up time) will cause more parents to drive their children to school, which will create additional traffic problems on Briarcliff.
The Inman and Grady PTAs and LSCs have not taken a position on the earlier start times for their respective schools.
If you have concerns or questions about the earlier start time, please email John Lyles at jlyles@atlantapublicschools.us.
Springdale Park Registration for 2013-14
Registration for the 2013-14 school year will be held April 1 – April 4 from 5:00 – 7:00 pm in the school cafeteria. APS allocates resources to schools based on enrollment so it is imperative that the school has accurate counts of who will be attending.
Suggested evenings to register are:
If your last name begins with A – H: April 1; I – P: April 2; Q – Z: April 3; any/all last names: April 4.
Again, these are suggested times only so please come when your schedule allows. Additionally, a notary will be available all evenings for a $2 fee per stamp.
Please park at 803 Briarcliff Road or 1246 Ponce de Leon Avenue or legal street parking – do not park next door at the Druid Hills United Methodist Church.
If you have any questions, contact Mary Stouffer at mrs30306@bellsouth.net.
30th Anniversary Festival Set for June 1&2!
In 1983, MASH ended an 11-year, 251-episode TV run, Vanessa Williams became the first African-American to be crowned Miss America and McDonalds introduced the McNugget.
Did you know ‘83 was also the year a group of Virginia-Highland merchants – led by late Atkins Park owner Warren Bruno – got together and threw a block party that would eventually become Summerfest?
Yes, it’s really been 30 years since the first Summerfest, and organizers are hard at work planning this year’s festival. Featuring a 5K Road Race and Tot Trot, one of the largest juried Artist Markets in the southeastern US and a variety of local, regional and national acts performing on the Music Stage, Summerfest has become one of the most popular of Atlanta’s seasonal festivals. With the addition this year of a Farmer’s Market, the 30th anniversary event is sure to be one you won’t want to miss.
The only way to get more out of your Summerfest experience than simply attending is to volunteer. If you’re receiving this email you’ve either helped us in previous years or expressed an interest in getting involved. Please support our incredible community by donating a few hours of your time at this year’s festival.
Volunteer shifts are generally 2-3 hours and you can choose to help with:
Volunteering is a great way to meet your VaHi neighbors and help ensure the success of the civic association’s biggest fund-raising event of the year. Volunteering can be a great way for high school or middle school students to get service hours and some of our best Kidsfest volunteers have been teenagers. You can even sign up for multiple volunteer shifts, if you like. Encourage your friends and neighbors to volunteer. Come join in the fun and go home with the coveted volunteer t-shirt!
We’re using VolunteerSpot again this year to help us organize volunteers – click the button below to sign up today! Don’t see the volunteer link below? Go to vols.pt/Xkk3qX.
For more information on volunteering, visit vahi.org/summerfest/volunteers/ or contact volunteer coordinator John Becker at jnbecker@me.com.
For more information on Summerfest, visit vahi.org/summerfest and don’t forget to like us on Facebook at facebook.com/vahisummerfest.
Thanks in advance for your support and we look forward to seeing you in June!
Karen Wilksa Photo Credit: Virginia-Highland/Druid Hills Patch
According to VaHi Patch, Karen Wilksa, an 8th grader who recently transferred to Inman Middle School from Finland, won second place in the multimedia category at the State Technology Fair.
Karen created her project – which explains mathematical functions by using photo drawings, text, and a voice-over – in math class.
Max Nevins, an Inman 7th grader, also participated in the statewide competition which included about 700 participants.
Here’s a link to the Patch story.
Volunteer Roger Harris cleans-up under a bench at the triangle while Bob Coomes chases down pesky weeds during last Fall's Keep VaHi Beautiful clean-up event.
Keep VaHi Beautiful, a group that formed last year to encourage VaHi residents and businesses to focus on keeping the neighborhood as clean and tidy as possible, will hold its second major clean-up event on Saturday April 13 from 8:00 AM to 12:00 Noon. The event is part of the group’s efforts to get the neighborhood looking as good as possible prior to this year’s 30th anniversary Summerfest.
Highland Tap will be supporting the clean-up event by providing Krispy Kreme donuts for early-arriving volunteers. In addition, volunteers will receive vouchers from Highland Tap good for either one complimentary beer, or a hamburger or chicken sandwich with fries or onion rings and a non-alcoholic beverage for the discounted price of $6. Volunteers can use the voucher at the post clean-up lunch to be held at Highland Tap. For those who can’t stay for lunch, the voucher will be good for 60 days from April 13.
Group co-chair Key Stephenson offers the following guidelines for volunteers and businesses who would like to help:
For volunteers:
For business owners:
Questions? Contact Kay Stephenson kay.stephenson@gmail.com (404) 431-2603 or Tim Langan t_langan@hotmail.com (678) 464-7268.
To like the group on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KeepVirginiaHighlandBeautiful.
Click here to read about the group’s first community clean-up event, held last October.
Over a hundred residents enjoyed picture-perfect spring weather and a picnic lunch catered by Osteria 832 and Atkins Park at the grand opening of the New Highland Park this past Saturday March 16.
Music was provided by Darin Seldes and his son Max, local merchant the indie-pendant had a crafts and games table for kids, and balloons were provided by ReMax Intowners (Sandy d’Aprile, Peter Bade and Julie Sadlier).
City officials were on hand to congratulate park organizers for their vision and commitment to fund-raising that led to this weekend’s grand opening.
Here’s a link to an online album with photos from the event. Scroll down for some of the day’s best photos.
And click here to learn more about how two vacant lots at the corner of N. Highland Ave. and St. Charles Pl. – where a public library once stood – became VaHi’s third public green space.
By: Denise Romeo
With St. Patrick’s Day this weekend, you may be looking for somewhere to “get your Irish on” and there’s no better place to do it than Atlanta’s oldest Irish bar, Limerick Junction. This genuine Irish pub has been a cornerstone of the Virginia-Highland restaurant scene since its doors opened 25 years ago this week.
The pub’s name comes from the only town in Ireland that actually grew around a railroad, much like Atlanta being built around the Southern railroad hub to the U.S. Midwest in 1836, when Georgia decided to build the line’s terminus here. The pub showcases original fixtures including school bench bar tables and the bar area which was originally an enormous linen cupboard from an Irish Manor House. If you look carefully you will notice that the mirrored doors of the cupboard adorn the dining area walls.
Since whiskey is considered the “water of life” in Ireland (“uisce beatha” in Gaelic), the bar boasts a large whiskey collection, more than 50 varieties of scotch, Irish and bourbon. The bar also features seasonal signature drinks. In the summer months, Manager Liam Murphy grows cayenne and jalapeno peppers in a flower box off the restaurant’s back balcony. The fresh jalapenos are used in mango-jalapeno martinis and the cayenne peppers to infuse tequila for their signature winter drink of chili-spiked hot chocolate.
Chicken Curry
When asked what they wanted people to know about Limerick Junction, Murphy and owner Gordon Kerr both responded, “Our full-service menu!” About a year ago the restaurant hired Chef Sean O’Neill who has since revamped the restaurant’s recipes, making the dishes more authentic and flavorful.
O’Neill is quick to point out that Limerick Junction is not a “chip shop.”
“We try to serve real Irish food; the kind you’d actually eat in Ireland,” O’Neill says. The menu includes traditional Irish dishes like shepherd’s pie (made with lamb), cottage pie (made with beef), Reuben sandwiches, and curry. Yes, curry!
Lamb Burger
According to O’Neill, curry in Ireland is like pizza in America. While it is not completely original to the culture, curry has been a popular dish in Ireland for over a hundred years. The restaurant imports their curry powder from Ireland to ensure authentic “Irish” flavor. Having tried O’Neill’s chicken curry, I can understand why it has become an Irish favorite. The chicken breast meat is marinated in lemon juice and thyme, seared with onions and peppers, tossed in curry sauce and served over fresh spinach and rice. The result is not too sweet or too spicy and has a wonderful lemony zing.
Toastie
The lamb burger is a special treat with a marinated pepper and onion salsa, goat cheese and spinach served on a toasted bun which becomes a generous helping of pleasing flavor combinations.
For those just wanting a nibble with their beverage, a “toastie” is for you. Toasties appear on menus throughout the motherland. Toasties are to Ireland what tapas are to Spain. Limerick Junction serves two versions: apple Swiss and BST & Swiss. To make one at home, try Chef O’Neill’s recipe:
BST & Swiss Toasties:
2 slices of good sandwich bread
2 teaspoons butter, softened
1 slice Swiss cheese
Healthy pinch of fresh spinach leaves (about 6-8 depending on size)
2 slices of fresh tomato
3 rashers, (slices of bacon cooked and crispy)
Butter one side of each slice of bread. Place one slice of bread on a sandwich press buttered-side down and place a slice of Swiss cheese on the bread. Add spinach, tomato and bacon slices, and then top with the second slice of bread placed buttered-side up.
Sammie Press
Close the press and allow to toast for 8-10 minutes. Resist the urge to open too soon; allow the sammie to cook throughout and for the bread to get nice and crispy. Trim the crusts and scraps from the sides and serve warm.
For a genuine Irish experience this St. Patrick’s Day, head over to Limerick Junction for live music inside and out and a holiday menu which includes traditional corned beef and cabbage, banger (Irish sausage) sandwiches, cottage pie, and fish & chips. Doors open at 12:30 PM with a $5 early cover charge ($10 later).
Limerick Junction Irish Pub
822 N. Highland Ave.
404-8874-7147
Local food blogger Denise Romeo has lived in the Virginia-Highland area for 23 years. She and her husband, Dom, enjoy spending time together cooking and entertaining. You can read more from Denise on her award winning blog at We Like To Cook!
American Roadhouse has been a VaHi favorite since 1989. The restaurant’s commitment over the years to providing Southern comfort food made from quality ingredients and service that’s warm and friendly has made it a destination for residents and visitors alike.
But did you know that, since late last year, Virginia-Highland’s bastion of breakfasts (and so much more) has been operating under new ownership?
Emile Blau, previously managing partner at Bones and general manager at Chops, bought American Roadhouse from former owner Ed Udoff last November. Blau and Udoff have known each other for thirty years and even worked together at Bones.
Blau says his love of Virginia-Highland was a key reason he purchased the restaurant.
“I grew up in Sandy Springs – as close to a native Atlantan as you’ll find – and have always loved this neighborhood,” Blau told The Voice. “VaHi truly is one of Atlanta’s great in-town neighborhoods and we (Blau’s wife Stacia is also involved in the business) knew this was the opportunity of a lifetime.”
Blau says his plans are to keep the restaurant fundamentally the same, but improvements have been made and there are more to come.
“Most people have seen that we’ve updated the restaurant’s look,” Blau says, “but the two biggest changes have probably been that on March 12 we started serving dinner (Tuesday – Sunday starting at 5 PM), and now we have a full bar and a reasonably priced wine list, including wine by the glass.”
Blau says the decisions to serve dinner in addition to breakfast and lunch and also to begin serving alcohol were driven both by economics and the desire to give his customers what they want.
“In this day and time we want to drive value for our customers,” Blau says. “We want to provide a place they can go for good food, a cocktail and maybe a glass of wine at a reasonable price. Doing so is no easy feat today in the face of tax increases, government oversight (permits), and rising food and fuel costs.”
Blau says feature menu items now include fresh fish, vegetarian options and Big Green Egg smoked BBQ.
Blau says the Roadhouse staff – many of whom have worked at the restaurant since it opened – was another reason that led he and his wife to make the investment in AR.
“We’re so very proud of the staff that’s here and continues to work so hard,” Blau says. “We know they’re a big reason folks come back time and again to American Roadhouse.”
One noticeable change at the restaurant that immediately caught the eye of this reporter’s ever-vigilant dog is the addition of “Hanna’s Canine Cookie Corner” just outside the front door where four-legged passers-by can enjoy a free biscuit and drink of water.
“Stacia and I are definitely dog people,” Blau says wistfully. “Hanna was our beloved Yorkshire Terrier who’s now playing in heaven with her grandma (my mother). She was with us for 13 years and taught us what unconditional love is all about. We love seeing the dogs walk their owners by the restaurant everyday and wanted them to be able to share a biscuit with our Hanna. The tagline on Stacia’s emails – ‘Be the person your dog thinks you are.’ – is one of the strongest guiding principles in our lives.”
Finally, Blau wants to remind everyone that parking is free in the lot adjacent to the restaurant (the posted $5 parking fee does not apply to Roadhouse customers), and that, with warm weather approaching, their patio opening is right around the corner.
If you haven’t been by in a while, stop in and check out the new and improved American Roadhouse. And if you’re out and about with your canine friend, stop by and share a biscuit with Hanna.
American Roadhouse
842 N. Highland Ave.
404-872-2822
Make it four straight state championships for the Grady High Jesters debate team.
The Jesters, coached by Mario Herrera and Lisa Willoughby, took home the gold at last weekend’s Varsity State Speech and Debate Championship held at the University of North Georgia in Gainesville.
Numerous individual Grady students won awards. According to VaHi Patch, senior Isabelle Taft captured two state titles, one in extemporaneous speaking and one in impromptu speaking. The twin titles were noteworthy because with them, Taft has won more state championships than any individual competitor in the history of the organization.
Here’s a link to the full Patch article.
Congrats to Ms. Taft and the Grady High Jesters from The Voice!
From announcing its first-ever native plant sale to planting native grasses and wildflowers along the Eastside BeltLine trail to kicking off walking tours of the new Atlanta BeltLine Arboretum, there’s a lot going on at Trees Atlanta these days. The organization’s communications manager Bethany Clark sent us the following update.
1st Annual Native Perennial Wildflower and Vine Sale
Trees Atlanta will hold its first-ever native plant sale Saturday April 6th from 8 AM to 1 PM at the organization’s Kendeda Center located at 225 Chester Ave. in Reynoldstown. Turner Broadcasting System, Inc. is the event sponsor and proceeds from the sale will benefit Trees Atlanta’s youth education programs.
The sale will feature native, pollinator-friendly plants, and will also specialize in perennials that will be planted along the Atlanta BeltLine’s Eastside Trail. The full plant list can be viewed on Trees Atlanta’s website at www.treesatlanta.org.
Trees Atlanta’s big annual sale is usually held in October, but this year the local tree-planting non-profit is introducing a new plant sale to coincide with its new education program: Birds, Butterflies, and Bees.
New Eastside Trail Meadow to Feature Native Grasses, Wildflowers
Starting in March and continuing through May, Trees Atlanta will plant 109,000 native grass and wildflower plugs along nearly 8.5 acres of the Atlanta BeltLine’s Eastside Trail. These plugs will grow into a native meadow that will become a much-needed source of nesting sites, food, and protection for birds, butterflies, bees, and more. Replanting native meadows is a new sustainable landscape trend in the southeastern U.S. In addition to creating natural habitat, the maintenance of meadows requires less fuel, water, and pesticides.
Trees Atlanta needs plenty of volunteers to help plant the meadow. Anyone interested in volunteering can find dates and location details for the three-month project at www.treesatlanta.org/calendar.
The meadow Trees Atlanta is planting this spring will be unique because it is growing right in the central urban context of the Atlanta BeltLine and its new Arboretum (see item below).
BeltLine Arboretum Becoming Reality
The Atlanta BeltLine Arboretum (ABA) is a continuous loop of natural areas around the Atlanta BeltLine. An arboretum (pronounced ar•bor•ree•tum) is a botanical garden containing living collections of woody plants, such as trees and/or flowers. While most arboretums are located at a single address, the ABA will be a linear arboretum that encircles the entire city of Atlanta.
The ABA is a collective effort of Trees Atlanta, the Atlanta BeltLine, and members of the surrounding community. Comprised of trees, native grasses, wildflowers, art, and much more, the ABA forms a natural connection between 22 miles of Atlanta neighborhoods, trails, transit, and parks, while also attracting wildlife to a continuous corridor of habitat.
You may have already noticed the 600+ trees that Trees Atlanta planted last fall on the Eastside Trail: magnolias, sassafras, long leaf pines, hornbeams, oaks, elms, tulip poplars, hickories, dogwoods, redbuds, and more are all part of the ABA. And that’s just on the Eastside Trail! The arboretum will continue to develop as the Atlanta BeltLine itself continues to expand.
When fully planted, the meadow on the Eastside Trail will consist of more than 43 different species of grasses and forbs (forbs being herbs that are not grass or grass-like). The species will be planted and labeled in such a way as to make identification as easy as possible for visitors and native plant enthusiasts. In years to come, similar meadows will appear along the entire ABA, creating one giant outdoor classroom.
Planting a project this big requires teamwork! Trees Atlanta is partnering with Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center on a research component to the meadow. On March 1st and 2nd the Center conducted workshops to train community volunteers, contractors, and design professionals to properly install meadows and collect data for the ABA’s first research project and paper.
From March through May, the planting will take place. Hundreds of volunteers will be needed to help Trees Atlanta plant the meadow. If you are interested in volunteering, Trees Atlanta will lead plantings on select weekday and weekend mornings from 9 AM to 12 Noon in March, April, and May. Check the Trees Atlanta calendar for information and to RSVP: www.treesatlanta.org/calendar.
Docent Walking Tours of the BeltLine Arboretum to Start on April 12
Beginning April 12, Eastside Trail visitors will be able to register for an Atlanta BeltLine Arboretum Docent Walking Tour. The walking tours will be led by well-trained experts called docents who will help tour-goers explore the Eastside Trail while focusing particularly on the horticultural collections and interesting facts about the BeltLine. The walking tour takes approximately 90 minutes and begins from an easily-accessible trailhead in Inman Park. Each docent will prepare his or her own unique talking points to spotlight native trees, architectural interests, key historical stories, and more.
To take advantage of this free walking tour, which is offered all year so you can experience every season of the ABA with a trained docent, contact Kate Baltzell at Trees Atlanta at KateB@treesatlanta.org. Online registration will begin soon. Special group accommodations will be available.
Trees Atlanta thanks Kaiser Permanente for helping to make the Atlanta BeltLine Arboretum Docent Program possible.
For more information on these programs, please visit www.treesatlanta.org or contact Bethany Clark at 404-681-4892.
Virginia-Highland Civic Association Monthly Meeting
7:00 PM, Monday March 11 2013; Ponce de Leon Ave. Library
Meeting Agenda
Call to Order
Adoption of Agenda and Approval of Minutes
Reports from Police and Fire Representatives
City of Atlanta Officials
Other Elected Officials and Guests
Planning Committee: Lola Carlisle
> Addition of new member Jess Windham
Variances
V-13-017, 617 Cresthill Ave NE
V-13-019, 1049 North Virginia Avenue NE
V-13-028, 750 Drewry Street NE
VHCA Goals and Budget for 2013
Fundraising
> Summerfest update – Pamela Papner
Parks: Lauren Wilkes-Fralick
> John Howell Park report
> New Highland Park grand opening event – Pamela Papner
Safety
> Sidewalks Update – Peggy Berg
New Business
Calendar Items: Lola Carlisle
Adjournment
Here’s a link to District 6 City Councilmember Alex Wan’s latest eNewsletter with updates on his efforts to introduce legislation to gradually reduce legal, non-conforming land uses along the Cheshire Bridge Road Neighborhood Commercial District; local intersection upgrades related to the federal Safe Routes to School (SRTS) program; the proposed new Falcons stadium; and distribution of larger recycling carts to city residents.
The land purchased by the Virginia-Highland Civic Association at the corner of North Highland Avenue and St. Charles Place is now an incredible rain garden/green space for the community to enjoy! Please join your neighbors for a celebration of this tremendous achievement on Saturday, March 16th, Noon to 2 PM.
The event will feature:
The event will be a grand celebration by the Virginia-Highland Civic Association and the many neighbors who supported the creation of this wonderful new park. We’re expecting sunny skies and temps in the 70′s so come help celebrate the park and the arrival of Spring in VaHi!
Special Offer from Ten Thousand Villages
In support of the new park’s dedication, local merchant Ten Thousand Villages is donating 10% of proceeds to the new park from customers who make a purchase any time during the month of March AND present one of the following:
Greg Tanner and his family live a few hundred yards west of Orme Park. In January Tanner heard some unconfirmed reports of coyote sightings by neighbors on Elkmont whose properties abut the creek that runs through the park. Hearing the reports reminded Tanner of a time a few years ago when a neighbor’s daughter witnessed what she described as “a small German Shepherd” killing her cat in their backyard early one morning.
“Based on this activity,” Tanner says, “I thought it would be interesting to see if I could capture the real culprit on film.”
In mid-February Tanner placed a digital infrared trail camera along the creek between Monroe Drive and Orme Park. The first photos he got were of a small, Airedale-type dog that could have been mistaken for a coyote from a distance.
“I continued checking the camera and captured images of squirrels, my neighbor’s new cat…then a flash of a big bushy tail,” Tanner says.
That’s when the plot thickened.
“I decided to leave the camera up just to see what we would get,” Tanner says. “I figured we’d see raccoons, opossums, maybe even neighborhood kids.”
Tanner didn’t have to wait long before hitting pay dirt.
“Last night I retrieved the SD card and brought it back to the house,” Tanner told The Voice on February 28. “When I plugged it into the computer I first saw what I expected: squirrels, birds, the neighbor’s cat – then the next six frames were clearly the coyote.”
Tanner says he hopes his captured images serve as a wake-up call to neighbors who sometimes let their small pets roam free at night.
“Coyotes are here to stay,” Tanner says, “and if they’re eating rodents behind the restaurants and Ansley area grocery stores that border the creek, that’s one thing. I’m just glad I don’t have small pets to worry about. Anyone who does should really keep them indoors at night.”
In addition to promoting neighborhood vigilance, Tanner says he and his wife are using the experience as a lesson in urban wildlife for their two young sons.
“My eight year old, Duncan, excitedly asks every night, ‘What was on the camera today, Dad?’” Tanner says. “It’s becoming a pre-bedtime viewing event several times each week.”
You can see the images taken by Tanner’s video camera below.
For more information on why we see coyotes in urban neighborhoods and some best practices to help us coexist with them, read VHCA board president Jack White’s related article.
By: Jack White, VHCA Board President
Coyote sightings have been reported intermittently in VaHi and adjacent neighborhoods for the last decade. Coyotes have been in the metro Atlanta area for at least a quarter-century, often using riparian and power line corridors that offer relatively safe entry and passage. A coyote was recently photographed in the Orme Creek stream corridor near Amsterdam and Monroe (see related article on the VHCA website); in all probability, they have been with us for some time, along the stream in this area as well as on Rock Creek, which is mostly in a culvert in our neighborhood but surfaces permanently at the east end of Amsterdam, at that road’s intersection with McLynn Avenue and Hancock Drive.
I attended a meeting on urban coyotes and the challenges they pose for humans sponsored by the Druid Hills Civic Association in late January. Druid Hills and Decatur have a fair amount of streams and wooded habitat suitable for coyotes, and sightings of the animals had sparked some residents to employ trappers. The trapping had itself provoked strong opposition from other residents; anecdotes and counter-anecdotes of trespassing, disappearing cats, and dogs and other animals inadvertently caught in traps had followed.
Three speakers presented at the meeting. The first was Chip Elliott, a professional trapper who had been hired by a few residents to work in the area. He emphasized that he checked his traps every 24 hours, lawfully placed them only on private property with specific permission, and that the traps themselves didn’t injure any animals that were caught, including neighbors’ dogs, who are required – he noted – to be on leash when not on their owner’s property. (With regard to coyotes, the absence of injury in the trap itself is a distinction without a difference, he acknowledged; state law requires killing captured coyotes. He declined to say in the meeting how he did that; shooting them is the ‘most common way’, he agreed afterward.)
Coyotes, he asserted, are a real menace to small animals like cats – especially packs of feral cats, which he reports having seen “completely wiped out.” (A link to Mr. Elliot’s business is below.)
The second speaker was Dr. Chris Mowry of Berry College, who is in the midst of a decade-long study on coyotes’ half-century long eastward expansion from the Rockies and their adaptation to eastern habitats. Coyotes are highly adaptable and live in groups of varying sizes dominated by an alpha pair. His work suggests that coyote reproductive habits are quite variable; there is evidence that their numbers rapidly adjust to the available territory and food supply. They are wide-ranging ‘feeders of opportunity’, attracted to areas with abundant supplies of easy-to-acquire food. Among their favorite urban sources are outdoor pet feeders, road kill, and easy-to-reach compost piles. In a pinch, coyotes – like deer – will munch on vegetable gardens or fruit trees. (A link to Dr. Mowry and his extensive research is also below.)
The final speaker was Mary Paglieri, from the Little Blue Society (link below) in the San Francisco area, a group that emphasizes behavior modification approaches to human-animal conflicts. Her group uses tactics like habitat modification, noise generation, visual changes, and the introduction of new scents to bring about changes in behavior. Her experiences were compatible with the lessons learned from Dr. Mowry’s research; killing coyotes spurs them on to rapid increases in reproduction and a return to unpopulated areas. Trapping, she concluded, was mostly useful for the trappers’ bottom lines – the more coyotes they trapped, the more there will be to trap. It’s perhaps counter-intuitive, she said, but “If you want fewer coyotes, stop killing them.” The key to getting along with them, she averred, was taking steps to make your own yards and grounds less attractive to them.
An interesting variety of questions and anecdotes followed, both in the meeting and in informal discussions afterward. Some citizens had heard anecdotes of attacks on humans; at this session no one proffered any evidence of such occurrences in Georgia, other than those that had occurred when handling coyotes that were already trapped.
There are visual and confirmed reports of attacks on cats, although there were also many tales of coyotes simply ignoring small pets. The reports of coyotes reducing feral cats populations provoked mixed reactions. Several pet owners pointed out the obvious contradiction of objecting to coyotes’ pursuing prey while ignoring sanctioning the well-documented damage that our own cats do to bird and small animal populations. Eliminating feral cat colonies – some of which, like coyotes, are sustained by deliberate human feeding, ironically – was beneficial, they argued. Several studies of the diet of urban coyotes suggest that the degree of cat-coyote conflicts are exaggerated, however emotionally wrenching they may be to humans. Ms. Paglieri observed that most such losses occur when a cat is roaming alone at night.
(A link to a 1-3-13 NY Times article on a report on the impacts’ of cats on birds and small mammals by the Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute and the US Fish and Wildlife Service is also below.)
Also active at this meeting were Linda Potter, Assistant Director at AWARE (Atlanta Wild Animal Rescue Effort); Janet Kessler, a naturalist and wildlife photographer and Meta Larsson, a Candler Park resident who, together, co-founded Coyote Coexistence; as well as Dr. Larry Wilson of the Fernbank Science Center. Ms. Potter joined many others in disputing the assertion that traps were benign and do not harm animals. A report of a broken leg suffered by a dog in a trap at Durand Mill was cited; asked separately about that topic, Mr. Elliot reported no specific knowledge of it and pointed out that all dogs should be on leashes.
Those of us who have spent a lot of time in riparian corridors have seen coyote tracks for years and have occasionally bumped into the animals themselves. Most are quite cautious around humans and retreat rapidly; occasionally some are curious and linger on the edge of woods. Dr. Mowry suggested that those that become publicly bold and incautious around humans may have been feeding routinely at homes, either via their own initiative or through the deliberate actions of humans who admire them. He urged education on the importance of not feeding any wild animals, a practice that endangers both the animals and humans.
The consensus of the biology and wildlife communities is that coyotes are here to stay and that they pose few (if any) dangers to humans. We can all do our part to reduce their impacts on pet populations by not feeding any animals outside, reporting and removing road kill promptly, fencing our compost piles, and – most of all – reducing or eliminating our beloved pets’ unmonitored outdoor time.
Here were the takeaway Best Management Practices from the meeting:
1. Specifically, do not feed coyotes. (Some people do, and it acculturates the animals to human residences and people, and it specifically increases the chances of unpleasant outcomes.)
2. Don’t feed pets outside. If you feel you must, remove their dishes promptly.
3. Don’t let pets roam outside in unfenced areas. Just as other smaller species are vulnerable to our pets, our pets are vulnerable to others.
4. Fences may not be perfect solutions – coyotes are indeed wily – but proper fences are a deterrent and can help a lot.
5. Call Animal Control to promptly remove road kill and carcasses.
6. Distinguish between ‘problem’ coyotes – those that boldly intrude into human spaces – and the huge majority of occasional and seldom-seen coyotes who keep to themselves. We have been living with them quite successfully for a long time.
And finally: Dr. Mowry is very interested in coyote sightings for his study. Please report definite confirmed sightings at this link: http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/7HM7KQP
Some links of interest to related topics:
Coyote Coexistence: “Neighbors for Coexistence.”; http://coyotecoexistence.com/
Dr. Chris Mowry’s page at Berry College: http://facultyweb.berry.edu/cmowry/Coyote_Research.html
Fernbank Science Center coyote talk by Dr. Mowry in 20102: http://fsc.fernbank.edu/coyote.html
Little Blue Society: ”Human-Animal Conflict Resolution; “Sustaining a Healthy Coexistence Between Animals & Humans; www.littlebluesociety.org
NY Times article on a coyote control program in the Denver suburbs that emphasizes ‘hazing” - see ‘vexing’, above – as well as the occasional use of other methods: http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/10/24/learning-to-live-with-urban-coyotes/
NY Times article on the impacts of domestic cats on bird populations: “That Cuddly Kitty is Deadlier Than You Think”: http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/10/24/learning-to-live-with-urban-coyotes/
Trapping: Chip Elliott; http://www.wildliferelocator.com/
On February 14, 2013 reports from four sidewalk sub-committees were presented to members of City Council and city government. Links to the presentations can be found below. Peggy Berg, Chair of the VHCA Sidewalk Committee, presented on red tape in the city’s sidewalk process and on neighborhood initiatives.
The sub-committees recommended a comprehensive approach to managing Atlanta’s sidewalks, including realistic funding.
The Committees reported that Atlanta’s approach of “unmanaged risk features poor management of the overall system, extreme risk of liability and negligence lawsuit losses and a kick the can down the road political strategy” and notes that “unfortunately for this administration, the can is now so rusted that kicking it down the road would be a breach of fiduciary responsibility for tax funds and gross negligence in terms of public safety.”
Peggy Berg, VHCA Board, presented for the sub-committees on red tape and neighborhood initiatives. Sidewalk Sub-Committee February 14 presentation final
Sally Flocks, President and CEO of PEDS, presented for the sub-committees on policy and funding: Sidewalk Task Force presentation-recommended reforms Sally Flocks
The second annual Intown Ten Road Race will take place on the streets of Virginia-Highland this Sunday March 3. Race start time is 8 AM. Streets should be clear of runners by 9:30 AM. There will be no road closures for the event, but traffic will be stopped at intersections as runners pass.
Race organizer Rob Glancy says around 700 racers have pre-registered and that ‘limited race day registration’ will be available for those who want to participate but missed the pre-registration cut-off.
More information is available at http://intownten.com/news/info/.
Here’s a turn-by-turn description of the race course:
Race starts at 8 AM
Start is at near 935 Virginia Circle (Todd & Virginia Circle )
Go west on Virginia Circle
CROSS BARNETT
Turn RIGHT on Arcadia
Turn RIGHT on Virginia Avenue
Turn RIGHT on Barnett
Turn RIGHT on Greenwood Ave
Turn RIGHT Ponce de Leon Place
Turn LEFT on Virginia Avenue
Turn RIGHT on Kanuga
Turn RIGHT on Monroe Drive
PASS Amsterdam at the light
Turn RIGHT on Sherwood Road
Turn RIGHT on North Morningside
Turn RIGHT on North Highland
Turn RIGHT on Courtenay – Courtenay merges to Amsterdam
Turn right on Brookridge Drive – bear right across the Orme Park bridge
Turn LEFT at Brookridge/Orme Circle/Elkmont (signs are confusing)
Turn or bear RIGHT on Elkmont
Turn LEFT on Park Drive
CROSS VIRGINIA AVENUE STAYING SOUTHBOUND
Turn LEFT on St. Charles
Turn LEFT on Barnett Street
Finish on Barnett just past Adair and proceed past clocks and chutes.
Atlanta Public Schools officials met Thursday evening at Grady High School with parents and other concerned citizens to discuss this week’s shooting at the high school, as well as issues related to it.
Officials praised Grady administrators and staff for their quick response to the incident. However, there was acknowledgement of gaps in existing security procedures.
Here’s a link to a Patch article written by a Grady parent with details on the meeting as well as a transcript of the live blog from the event.
This year’s A Taste of Inman celebration will be held Thursday March 7 from 6:00 – 8:30PM. Current and prospective Inman families, friends and neighbors are all invited to come celebrate the Inman Middle School community! Enjoy tastings from more than twenty fabulous restaurants, live entertainment, a raffle and general camaraderie.
A Taste of Inman would like to thank these most generous local businesses: American Roadhouse, Atkins Park, Cafe Intermezzo, Cameli’s Gourmet Pizza, Corner Tavern, Doc Chey’s Noodle House, Genki Noodles & Sushi, Mac the Cheese Truck, MetroFresh, Mi Cocina, My Coffee Shop, New York Butcher Shop, Olive Bistro, Osteria 832, Pig N Chik BBQ, Rita’s Italian Ice, San Francisco Coffee, Six Feet Under, Stir It Up, The Mercantile, The Wrecking Bar & Wisteria.
For more information on tickets, sponsor tables and volunteer opportunities, visit http://www.inmanmiddleschool.org/tasteofinman.htm. And please consider sponsoring a ticket for one of our wonderful Inman teachers and staff who do an outstanding job each and every day for our community’s teens.
Questions? Please contact Inman PTA members Alexis Buchanan, Event Chair, alexis_buchanan@yahoo.com or Mary Stouffer, VP/Fundraising, mrs30306@bellsouth.net.
If you’re thinking about repairing or replacing the sidewalk adjacent to your home and you’re a fan of hexagonal pavers, you might want to follow the lead of Ann and Anthony Guy.
The Guys recently redid the sidewalk that runs along the Adair Avenue side of their home (see before/after pictures below) using pavers recycled from St. Charles Avenue. VHCA volunteers collected the pavers that the city was planning to discard when new sidewalk was installed on St. Charles last summer. The pavers were stockpiled so that neighbors with a ‘paver passion’ can retain the look of the neighborhood’s original sidewalks.
The money the Guys paid for these recycled pavers goes into a special VHCA fund. The fund will be used to provide financial assistance to other neighbors who would not otherwise be able to participate in the next bundle of sidewalks assembled by the VHCA sidewalk committee.
A limited number of additional hexagonal pavers are available to others who want to do as the Guys did. Pavers are $6 for VaHi residents, $8 for non-residents. Contact Peggy Berg at 404-236-9064 or pegberg1111@gmail.comfor more information or to order pavers.
Before, looking eastbound
After, looking westbound
Bring a picnic blanket and dish to share with your neighbors to the Friends of Orme Park pot luck dinner on Sunday March 24 from 5-7 PM.
Kids can participate in a cake walk and there will be an Easter blanket full of neighborhood goodies to raffle off.
Come out and join in the fun.
Friends of Orme Park is inviting all interested parties to come out and help spruce up the park on Saturday March 23 from 9-11 AM.
They’ll be doing some clipping on the Elkmont side of the park and cleaning up around the main entrance as well. Please bring tools and gloves if you can.
Arturo Cruz-Tucker, 2013 Summerfest Kidsfest chair, has put out a call for committee members to help plan this year’s event.
Kidsfest 2012 was a huge success and organizers are determined to do even better at this year’s 30th anniversary festival the first weekend in June. The Kidsfest committee needs help with planning, securing sponsorships and helping supervise the arts, crafts and games during the festival. Committee members not only get the satisfaction of helping out with one of the most important parts of Summerfest, but you’ll leave the festival with a coveted Summerfest volunteer t-shirt!
This is a call for committee members to help plan and supervise the event only. Another call for volunteers to help with activities during the festival will go out in the next few weeks.
If you’re interested in helping organize the 2013 Kidsfest, please contact Arturo at 678-901-9683 or vahi.cruztucker@gmail.com. Thanks in advance for your support and we look forward to seeing you in June at Summerfest!
APS Board to Vote on Proposed 2013 Calendar on March 4
The Atlanta Public Schools’ Board will vote on the proposed 2013-14 school calendar at its Monday March 4 meeting. The meeting will start at 2 PM and will be held at the APS Administrative Building at 130 Trinity Avenue, SW.
Under the proposed calendar, school will begin on August 5, 2012 and end on May 23, 2013. Here is a link to the proposed calendar: https://docs.google.com/a/jmhconsulting.com/file/d/0B378-nEOL4TuTm5qUGdzY2NMWlE/edit?usp=sharing
Monday’s meeting will include two opportunities for in-person public comment. Community members may sign up at least one hour prior to the beginning of the Committee of the Whole meeting to address the board regarding a specific action item on the agenda. Community members may address the board on any topic at the regular community meeting by signing up between 5 and 5:50 PM or by calling Dr. Howard Grant’s office at 404-802-2200 one hour prior to the meeting.
Pre-K Lottery Application Process Begins Next Week
The 2013 Pre-K lottery application process will begin next week and you can submit your application each Wednesday in March. Go to the APS website to learn more:
http://www.atlanta.k12.ga.us/Page/982
For the upcoming year, there is a pre-K program in the Grady cluster at Hope-Hill Elementary. If you are interested in APS pre-K program, please visit the website to learn more.
Grady High Students Earn Advanced Placement Awards
The Virginia-Highland – Druid Hills Patch is reporting that 77 Grady High School students have earned AP scholar awards in recognition of exceptional achievement on the College Board’s Advanced Placement exams.
Highlights include:
Click here to read the full Patch article.
Rick Addicks for The New York Times
In case you missed it, The New York Times ran a great article on the Eastside BeltLine trail on Valentine’s Day. Very gratifying to see the national recognition the BeltLine is receiving. Even nicer to know it’s just a short walk away.
Click here to read the NYT article.
Congratulations to the Grady High Draggins for winning their 14th consecutive mock trial regional championship. The Draggins defeated the Atlanta International School in the finals this past Tuesday February 12.
The state competition will be held March 16 in Lawernceville at the Gwinnett Justice Center.
Click here to read a Patch story on Grady’s impressive accomplishment.
Way to go Draggins and best of luck at the state competition!
By: Denise Romeo
Valentine’s Day always conjures up images of roses and chocolates. The Valentine’s Day gifts of our youth were usually foil-wrapped, milk chocolate cones produced by The Hershey Company. Today chocolate is as widely varied as wine, micro-brewed beers or designer olive oil, from coveted Belgian chocolates to handcrafted specialty chocolates.
Most Atlantans do not realize how lucky we are to have a true chocolate maker in our midst. A chocolate maker buys and roasts cocoa beans and grinds them into chocolate, while a chocolatier uses existing bars (called couverture) to create their confections. Kristen Hard, owner and founder of Cacao Atlanta, is both the first bean-to-bar chocolate maker in the Southeast and the first female bean-to-bar producer in the U.S. There are approximately 20 chocolate makers currently in the United States; conversely, there are hundreds of chocolatiers.
One might envision the life of a chocolate whisperer as being that of champagne-sipping glamour rather than the muck-trudging adventures Kristen endures to secure her carefully-sourced cocoa beans, including an overnight stay in a broken-down car in the Peruvian jungle while four months pregnant. With a mischievous smile she adds, “It was worth it to bring home the best beans for our customers.” Once she has the beans at her 3000-square-foot “laboratoire” in Inman Park, she roasts the beans, removes the shells and breaks them into small pieces. A paste is then formed, refined and kneaded to develop flavor, and at last the chocolate is tempered and poured into molds.
Kristen’s latest marvel is the “Love Bar” which is a 75% dark chocolate bar created from Hispaniola cocoa beans. The beans have been fermented and dried in the sun on a small, family-owned estate in the Dominican Republic. This bar is wonderfully full-bodied; not overly sweet with natural undertones of raspberry and coffee. Other seasonal offerings include the Valentine’s Day Sweet and Spicy Box of Love (with 12 flavored artisanal chocolates including cayenne passion fruit, strawberry pate de fruit, white chocolate rosewater, Aztec aphrodisiac, raspberry thyme, and almond marzipan) as well as chocolate flowers to celebrate Spring. Kristen is excited to be doing her three-foot chocolate rabbit again this year for Easter and will feature a selection of irresistible Easter eggs and bunnies.
And for those of you who would like to do more than woo your sweetheart with a box of truffles this year, it is not too late. You can immerse your sweetie in the world of chocolate at one of five 40-minute classes taught by Kristen herself on Valentine’s evening. The class will feature a brief educational talk, three ounces of chocolate to craft your own confections, hot cocoa, cookies and pastries. Classes are held at the Inman Park factory store. For more information, please visit http://www.cacaoatlanta.com/events.
Local food blogger Denise Romeo has lived in the Virginia-Highland area for 23 years. She and her husband, Dom, enjoy spending time together cooking and entertaining. You can read more from Denise on her award winning blog at We Like To Cook!
HoneyBubble – a bubble tea, fine tea and dessert emporium – has opened at 798 Ponce de Leon Avenue, next door to China Dragon. The shop is a collaboration between two Atlanta residents who wanted to make bubble tea and serve it in a sleek, relaxed environment.
For those not familiar with bubble tea (which I wasn’t), Wikipedia offers the following:
Bubble tea, also known as pearl milk tea, boba milk tea, or boba, is a Taiwanese tea-based drink invented in tea shops in Taichung, Taiwan during the 1980s.Most bubble tea recipes contain a tea base mixed with fruit or milk. Ice-blended versions are usually mixed with fruit or syrup, resulting in a slushy consistency. Most bubble teas come with small chewy tapioca balls, commonly called “pearls” or “boba.” There are many variants of the drinks, and many types are used and ingredients added. The most popular bubble drinks are bubble milk tea with tapioca and bubble milk green tea with tapioca.
Each drink at HoneyBubble is tailored to customer taste. Whole milk, soy milk and Lactaid are options in creating your perfect bubble tea “cocktail.” No white sugar is used to sweeten HoneyBubble’s drinks – only pure honey and brown cane sugar.
HoneyBubble’s focus is on mixology and beverage options, and they’ve chosen to let the dessert experts take care of the sweets. French-style macaroons, croissants and scones from Alon and cupcakes from the Atlanta Cupcake Factory can be purchased to complement your beverage. Frozen treats from Atlanta artisans Honeysuckle Gelato are also available.
A few interesting factoids about HoneyBubble:
For members of the Nextdoor Virginia-Highland online community, a review of HoneyBubble by David Eckoff can be found on that site.
Make a point of stopping in soon to check out HoneyBubble Tea Shop!
Photo Credit: Brian Gross
Photo Credit: thrillist.com
Photo Credit: thrillist.com
Photo Credit: thrillist.com
Photo Credit: thrillist.com
Photo Credit: Brian Gross
Photo Credit: thrillist.com
Piedmont Park expansion continues at the park’s far northern end near Ansley Mall. This phase of expansion comes after completion of a 26-acre expansion in 2011 that included two dog parks, the Greensward Promenade plaza and fountains, and the Six Spring Wetlands. The past two years has given the park conservancy time to raise additional funds for this year’s expansion.
The additional 53 acres to be added this year include Piedmont Commons, The Northwoods and Piedmont Gardens (see map). Challenges include “excavating industrial waste, whacking away gnarly masses of invasive kudzu, breaking up concrete creek beds, shoring up erosion and helping build a new utility and irrigation infrastructure” in the Piedmont Commons area.
Read the full story at Midtown Patch
Anyone ready for a summer festival?
June’s still a few months away, but rest assured planning is well under way for this year’s 30th Anniversary Summerfest. And if you’re a seamstress – or a ‘seamster’ for you needle-wielding males out there – your skills are sorely needed. If you enjoy sewing and creative expression, the VaHi Recycle Shop team wants to put your talents to good use. We depend completely on the gracious volunteers in our community to transform left over Summerfest t-shirts from years past into fun and eclectic items to be sold in the Recycle Shop booth. Best of all: every penny we make goes right back to our neighborhood. Materials and guidance will be provided. So, if you like to sew (pun intended) and you’re interested in helping out, please contact Suzanne Scully at scullysuzanne@gmail.com. Samples of some of last year’s creations can be seen below.
See you in June!
Virginia-Highland Civic Association Monthly Meeting
7:00 PM; Monday, February 11, 2013; Ponce de Leon Library
Agenda
By: John Becker
I can’t count the number of conversations I’ve had with fellow VaHi residents about the new Eastside Beltline trail and all the wonderful things it brings and will bring in the future to life in Atlanta’s urban communities. Most, if not all, of those conversations have been with adults, though, and I hadn’t thought about the impact the trail might have on the city’s younger residents.
Thanks to Brian Gross for posting on NextDoor Virginia-Highland this link to a blog post on the Beltline website (originally published on the Inman Park Advocator) written by Will Taber. Taber’s a student at Grady High who lives in Inman Park and when you read his blog you’ll have an even better understanding of how 2.5 miles of strategically-placed concrete pathway can be a complete game-changer for all of us.
Jonathan Peterson’s son is a friend of Taber and his post in response to Brian’s provides even more insight:
Will is one of my son’s best friends – they’re freshmen at Grady, and the Beltline is a total game-changer for them. When they first hit Inman Jr. High, the VaHi/Morningside and Candler/L5P kids didn’t know each other and couldn’t spend time together outside school without parents running the shuttle bus. With the fear mongering and helicopter parenting that you see all over, it’s great to see something that makes our kids more independent and makes their world bigger instead of locking them away in front of the TV.
If you haven’t done the Eastside Trail yet, I can’t encourage you enough to get out there and check it out. I can almost guarantee you’ll see someone else on the trail you know. If not, say hi to someone you don’t know and make a new friend.
You’ll want to plan your travel carefully the morning of March 17 as the Publix Georgia Full and Half Marathon races return to Virginia-Highland.
Organizers expect over 16,000 runners to participate this year. Both races will start and end in Centennial Olympic Park and all runners will pass through VaHi. Following is a list of full and partial road closures and the times you may want to avoid these areas.
For more information on the Publix Full and Half Marathon races and the Luckie 5K race, click here.
7:13 – 9:30 AM (Half Marathon runners)
N. Highland Ave. (from North Ave. to Virginia Ave.): All lanes closed to traffic; no roadside parking
Virginia Ave. (from N. Highland Ave. to Park Dr.): EB lane only open to traffic
7:17 – 9:45 AM (Half Marathon runners)
Park Dr. (from Virginia Ave. to Piedmont Park bridge): All lanes closed to traffic; no roadside parking
8:25 AM – 12:35 PM (Marathon runners)
Stillwood Dr. (from Briarcliff Rd. to Los Angeles Ave.): EB lane only open to traffic; traffic must turn south on Briarcliff
8:30 AM – 12:45 PM (Marathon runners)
Los Angeles Ave. (from Stillwood Dr. to N. Highland Ave.): EB lane only open to traffic; traffic must turn south on N. Virginia to Briarcliff
N. Highland Ave. at Los Angeles Ave.: EB Los Angeles can turn south on N. Highland
Los Angeles Ave./Brookridge Dr. (from N. Highland Ave. to Elkmont Dr.): EB lane only open to traffic; traffic must turn south on N. Highland
Elkmont Dr. (from Brookridge Dr. to Orme Circle): EB lane only open to traffic; traffic must turn east on Crestridge
Orme Circle (from Elkmont Dr. to Park Dr.): NB lane only open to traffic; traffic must turn east on Elkmont
8:35 AM – 1:00 PM (Marathon runners)
Park Dr. (from Orme Circle to Piedmont Park): All lanes closed to traffic
by Brian Gross
On Feb. 7, John Wolfinger and I attended the City and BeltLine’s Open House about the planned improvements to Ponce de Leon Avenue.
Here were the improvements discussed: note, #3 is a very big change!
1. Resurfacing of Ponce between Juniper and Briarcliff/Moreland (GDOT)
2. Pedestrian safety improvements between Piedmont and Briarcliff/Moreland (GDOT)
3. Improvements from Boulevard/Monroe to Freedom Parkway. (BeltLine)
This would reduce the number of traffic lanes from three in each direction, to two wider lanes in each direction but add:
a) a center lane for turns and with some pedestrian islands and
b) as far east as Ponce de Leon Place, a bike lane in each direction. The bike lanes will be buffered from the car traffic by barriers approx. 1 to 2 feet wide. Unfortunately, the road is not wide enough so that the bike lanes can stretch as far east as Freedom Parkway.
The City rep told us there is not a fixed date, but he expected the work to be completed in the summer.
4. Ponce City Market Plaza Interface (BeltLine)
- A plaza that will let pedestrians walk between the BeltLine and the rail shed along the east side of Ponce City Market. (The rail shed will be turned into retail and food outlets). The BeltLine is hoping that funding will also allow for a ramp at North Avenue.
Well, that will connect Ponce City Market – but what about access from Ponce itself, without going through the Market? (I asked). The City planning rep told me that there are plans for a ramp to the BeltLine from the CVS on Ponce and also the Ponce City Market is considering an elevator from the top level of the rail shed down to street level.
On a related note, here are some links to some additional projects underway in Midtown: project descriptions on the Midtown Alliance website and a recent progress report published on the Midtown Patch site.
Please also see the full handout from the event below, and the map presented:
(note: a “HAWK” signal is a signal at a mid-block pedestrian crossing)
On Saturday March 16th from 8:00 AM – 12:00 Noon, Morningside Presbyterian Preschool (MPP) will be partnering with Atlanta Paint Disposal (http://www.atlantapaintdisposal.com/) to collect and recycle or dispose of household items in an environmentally friendly manner. The collection site will be the parking lot of the preschool located at 1411 N. Morningside Drive. A small fee will be charged to dispose of most items and 15% of event proceeds will go to MPP to help fund preschool environmental projects. Please see fee schedule below.
This is a great way to clean out your home, care for our Earth, and support a worthy cause. Hope to see you there!
Latex Paint
Five gallon bucket: $15.00; two gallon bucket: $6.00; one gallon can: $3.00; one quart can: $1.50; one pint can: $1.00
Oil Paint
Five gallon bucket: $20.00; one gallon can: $4.00; one quart can: $2.00; one pint can: $1.00; spray can: $1.50
Other Items
Auto batteries: $10.00; propane tank: $10.00; tiki oil: $5.00/gallon; Monitors/TVs (under 25″): $20.00; large screen TVs: $125.00; shredding: $5.00/banker’s box; hard drive shredding: $20.00/HD; passenger tires: $20.00/each (tires can be mounted or unmounted but can have no water in them)
Free Items
Clothing, shoes, computers, cell phones, crayons, laptops, cameras, printers, tape players, VCR, DVD, other electronics (except TVs and monitors) and microwaves.
The location of a future new 6th grade academy and other capacity issues are expected to be on the agenda when Grady High hosts a State of the Cluster meeting this Thursday February 7 at 6:30 PM. The meeting is open to the public and all interested parties are invited to attend.
Click here to read a Patch story about the upcoming meeting and to view a January 31 letter from APS Superintendent Errol Davis to the Inman Task Force regarding capacity issues. In the letter Davis acknowledges last week’s meeting with members of the VHCA board of directors and their discussion of concerns raised in an analysis of the three Task Force-recommended academy sites. The analysis was done by Aaron Fortner of the planning firm Market & Main at the request of the VHCA.
Click here to read VHCA board president Jack White’s comments about their meeting last week with Davis and to view a copy of Fortner’s presentation. Fortner will provide insight on his analysis at this month’s regular meeting of the VHCA board (Mon. Feb. 11, 7 PM, Ponce library).
By: Peggy Berg, VHCA Safety/Sidewalks Committee
Dr. Randy Guensler and his "Sidewalker"
Did you know that Atlanta, like many cities, doesn’t have an inventory of its sidewalks? We don’t know how many miles of sidewalks we have, where they are or aren’t, or where repairs are needed. This makes planning for pedestrian access, ADA compliance, and efficient use of sidewalk funds very difficult.
Dr. Randall Guensler, Professor in the Transportation Systems Engineering Group at Georgia Tech, (http://transportation.ce.gatech.edu/guensler) has developed an innovative new approach to assessing the condition of our sidewalks. Dr. Guensler, a Virginia-Highland resident, fitted a tablet device onto a wheelchair and programmed the rolling contraption to take video, measure cracks and bumps, and upload latitude and longitude coordinates to a mapping system. Volunteers can quickly be trained to maneuver the wheelchairs. That’s right…Atlanta is about to have a cost effective way to collect information on our sidewalks, develop an inventory, and assess sidewalk conditions.
Dr. Guensler will demonstrate his “Sidewalker” at this month’s VHCA board meeting (Monday Feb. 11, 7 PM, Ponce library). Pedestrians, potential volunteers and interested parties are welcome.
Inman Middle School
By: Jack White, VHCA Board President
In December, the Inman Task Force formed by school board representative Cecily Harsch-Kinnane issued a report on the two issues it was asked to consider: (1) whether a 6th or 8th grade academy would be a better short-term solution for the Grady Cluster’s overcrowding, and (2) potential sites for such an academy. The Task Force preferred a 6th grade academy and named three possible sites, two of them in Virginia-Highland (one next to the existing Inman building, and the other being the block south of Cresthill Avenue and west of Monroe now occupied by about eight private homes that would be torn down.)
The VHCA Planning Committee asked Aaron Fortner – the principal at Market & Main and our municipal consultant for several years – to analyze a number of important factors outside the purview of the Task Force, particularly the traffic, policy, and planning implications and impacts of construction at the two VaHi locations. His firm compared such outcomes at those two sites to a third location also recommended (less enthusiastically) by the Task Force: the Howard School located in the Old Fourth Ward.
The Market & Main analysis is available here.
Well aware that APS will consider many factors in reaching this decision and facing an announced end-of-January deadline, we very much wanted this information and these concerns to be in front of APS Superintendent Erroll Davis before he acted. Accordingly, members of the VHCA Planning Committee met with Superintendent Davis and other APS officials last week to present the findings contained in the Market & Main report.
Our discussion with Superintendent Davis was cordial, detailed, and thorough; he specifically asked about the history of the neighborhood, the Civic Association, and its historic support of public education. Davis spoke carefully, as he always does, making several key points: (1) His anticipated January deadline for a decision will not be met; (2) He is looking for a site that could accommodate a middle school in the future, though he did not say that one would be built; (3) None of the locations recommended by the Task Force is ideal, and APS is reviewing many options, including the original three sites.
The Market & Main report makes no recommendation as to what location should be picked, but we are aware that the conclusions in it may not be welcomed by anyone who believes that expansion at the Inman or Monroe sites is the only acceptable outcome to the attendance challenges facing the Grady cluster. The report focuses on the overall impacts of building in VaHi – increased traffic, non-conforming land use, congestion – and the implications that flow from them, specifically those that might contribute over the long run to permanently altering the residential character of the neighborhood.
Such challenges exist in many contexts independent of possible new school construction. The popularity of the Beltline has heightened traffic/pedestrian conflicts on an already-stressed Monroe (where both the Piedmont Heights Master Plan and the Beltline Plan suggest changes), and pedestrian safety on Briarcliff is a very real concern for those walking to SPARK. A separate public meeting next week at Inman Middle School will hear about pending traffic changes intended to relieve congestion on Ponce. The neighborhood has existing un-built commercial and residential capacity, the eventual utilization of which is very likely to exacerbate today’s traffic challenges.
The permanent impacts of unplanned construction in our neighborhood outside the Comprehensive Development Plan require especially thorough consideration. Our primary goal – as it is frequently is in such matters – was to examine the traffic and policy issues in a professional context with an independent planner, and that is what Market and Main provided.
As always, please let us know your thoughts about the report. Aaron Fortner will be at our next VHCA meeting (February 11th, 7 PM, Ponce library) to amplify on his work.
Gabriella Rich, a student of Georgia State University, recently wrote a paper on Virginia-Highland. The purpose was to conduct a community analysis, identify strengths and weaknesses of our neighborhood and provide suggestions on areas in need of improvement. We found the paper to be informative and wanted to share it with VaHi residents. Click here to read Gabriella’s paper.
Thanks to Gabriella for selecting Virginia-Highland and for sharing her insights with us.
Historic maps lovers rejoice! A 1928 detailed topographic survey of Atlanta is now available online and includes Virginia-Highland roughly from Inman School on south. Our new Historic Maps page provides you the links. For future reference, the Historic Maps page is linked from our site’s menu under “Planning/Variances” and then “Preservation/History”, as well as from the A-Z index.
The new page also links you to our amazing collection of original plat maps from the era that VaHi’s subdivisions were built; the 1949 aerial survey; and the 1911 and 1920 Sanborn fire maps.
For those with an interest in Atlanta’s history before VaHi existed, an entire 1878 city atlas was also recently made available online. We can also direct you to the full resolution version of the beautiful 1871 “bird’s eye view” illustration of Atlanta.
The Great Frame Up and the Virginia-Highland Civic Association are partnering to help raise funds for improvements at John Howell Park, the 2.8 acre park at the geographic heart of the Virginia-Highland neighborhood.
The Great Frame Up, located at 1409 N. Highland Avenue, has commissioned City Prints Map Art, creators of fine art map prints, to create a beautiful map print of the Virginia-Highland area. Prints are on sale now exclusively at The Great Frame Up. Cost is $40 with optional custom matting and framing available. For even more value, the Great Frame Up is also currently offering a 30% discount coupon on frame moulding with every custom framing order.
50% of print sale proceeds will go toward planned improvements at John Howell Park. Click here for more information on John Howell Park, including a recently awarded $50,000 grant from Park Pride that will also help fund the planned improvements.
Click here to visit The Great Frame Up website for more information and to print out the 30% discount coupon.
If you’re looking for another reason to feel good about living in a place where you can send your kids to Grady High, you’ve got one.
The Atlanta Business Chronicle announced today that its Education Guide, which comes out later this week, ranks Grady as tops in the city of Atlanta for students’ SAT scores. Click here to read today’s announcement.
Kudos to the students and teachers at #1-ranked Henry Grady High School!
Atlanta’s Department of Watershed Management has proposed revisions to the Post‐Development Stormwater Management Ordinance to promote the use of Green Infrastructure techniques on new and redevelopment projects in the City, and to address specific problems that have emerged since the original ordinance was adopted in 2004. The ordinance was presented to City Council’s Utilities Committee on January 15, 2013, and will be considered again on January 29, 9:30 a.m. in a public meeting at City Hall.
Click on the document below for more information.
By Denise Romeo
Many people do not know that the term Mardi Gras actually means “Fat Tuesday.” Fat Tuesday is the last day of the Carnival season that begins January 6th which is the twelfth day after Christmas, (yes, like in the song). Fat Tuesday is the last opportunity to celebrate before Lent which begins on Ash Wednesday. This pre-Lenten carnival has Roman Catholic origins and is celebrated in New Orleans, as well as Brazil, France, Germany and…Atlanta!
Several neighborhood restaurants and bars have Fat Tuesday celebrations, but few more energetic than the festivities at D.B.A. Barbecue. This chef-owned, casual restaurant located behind the community post office goes all out with plenty of beads, Cajun-inspired menu items and specialty drinks like Hurricanes and Louisiana pints to add to the authenticity of the evening.
According to Assistant Kitchen Manager George Jewell, in addition to their regular Southern barbecue menu, the evening’s offerings will include fresh oysters, gumbo and several po’boys including battered shrimp, fried oyster and Andouille sausage. With a little prodding, George, an Atlanta native who has worked at D.B.A. for three years, shared the technique for composing the perfect Andouille po’boy including the formula for making Creole mayonnaise. You’ll need:
1 hoagie roll
2 links of Andouille sausage
2 tablespoons Creole mayonnaise*
½ cup coleslaw
Cut the Andouille links lengthwise and place on a hot griddle to sear and heat through. Place cut bread on the griddle to warm as well.
Make Creole mayonnaise by mixing equal parts Creole mustard and mayonnaise together until fully combined. Add salt and pepper to taste and add a drop or two of Tabasco sauce if you like a little kick.
Spread both sides of heated bread with a generous amount of mayo and then lay seared sausage cut side up on bread. Top the sausage with coleslaw and serve with Cajun-spiced fries or a side of red beans and rice.
To experience this amazing sandwich first hand, mark your calendar for Tuesday, February 12th and head on over to D.B.A. Barbecue for beads, live music and delicious food.
* Creole mayonnaise served with homemade pretzels will make the perfect snack for the Superbowl Sunday, February 3rd!
Local food blogger Denise Romeo has lived in the Virginia-Highland area for 23 years. She and her husband, Dom, enjoy spending time together cooking and entertaining. They’ve tried to instill their love for cooking and culinary exploration in their two teenage sons. You can read more from Denise on her award winning blog at We Like To Cook!
by Brian Gross, Communications Committee
I recently stumbled across a 9-month-old post about a house for sale at 811 N. Highland. Built in 1911, 7 bedrooms, 7 bathrooms and a carriage house. It’s said to have belonged to a St. Louis doctor, Dr. Edwin Wiley Grove. Dr. Grove was a self-made millionaire most famous for “Grove’s Tasteless Chill Tonic”, which contained quinine but without the bitter taste. Some sources claim that by 1890 more Grove’s tonic was sold than Coca-Cola.
Dr. Grove’s tonic riches enabled him to buy real estate. Here in our ‘hood, in 1912, he developed what is now Atkins Park (the three “Saint” streets east of N. Highland). Originally “St. Louis Park” (Grove lived in St. Louis), he changed it to Atkins Park to honor a family friend and mentor, Col. Atkins – a man who had served both in the U.S. House of Representatives as well as the Confederate Congress.
In northwest Atlanta along what was until recently Bankhead Highway, Grove developed the streetcar suburb of “Fortified Hills”, later renamed Grove Park, where the now hard-scrabble streets are named after Grove’s daughters.
Grove was active in developing hotels in Asheville, North Carolina. You may have been to the beautiful Grove Park Inn, dedicated by Williams Jennings Bryan and where seven presidents have slept. Connecting the historical dots can lead you to some unexpected places!
By: Nicole Foerschler Horn
Atlanta Public Schools’ Calendar Community Input
APS is seeking community input on next year’s school calendar. The School Calendar Forum in our community will be held at Inman Middle School on Monday, January 28th from 5:30 PM until 7 PM.
Click here to see the proposed calendar: http://www.boarddocs.com/ga/aps/Board.nsf/files/933T2S754BB0/$file/20130114%20calendar%20draft%20final.pdf
As reported in The Buckhead Patch last year, the three general models for school calendars are:
Balanced Calendar: A “balanced” calendar features 8-9 week blocks of instructional days with weeklong breaks evenly distributed throughout the school year. A balanced calendar usually includes a 9-10 week summer break.
Traditional Calendar: A “traditional” calendar features long blocks of instructional time with limited breaks during the school year. A traditional calendar usually includes a 10-11 week summer break.
Year Round Calendar: A “year round” calendar usually features 8-9 week blocks of instructional time with 3-week breaks distributed throughout the year. In a year round model, intersessions are provided for students during these breaks with opportunities for catch-up and enrichment, if funding is available. A year round calendar usually includes a 5-week summer break.
School Start Times: Proposed Changes
APS announced last week it is considering changing the start times for schools. The proposed changes are:
Elementary: Start time 7:45 (with bus drop off from 7:00 – 7:15), Dismissal 2:15
Middle School: Start time 9:05 (with bus drop off from 8:35 – 8:50), Dismissal 4:05
High School: Start time 8:30, Dismissal 3:30
The proposed changes were presented to the Atlanta Board of Education on January 14 and will be voted on during the February 4th meeting.
For more information about the proposed changes, read the Midtown Patch article: http://midtown.patch.com/articles/aps
If you are interested in speaking at the upcoming BOE meeting, you may sign up at 5 p.m., prior to the board meeting.
Navigating through Common Core: An Interactive Workshop for Parents
APS will host an interactive discussion with parents about Common Core. Discussion topics include:
The two regional meetings for the Grady Cluster are scheduled for January 31:
10 AM – Noon: Crim High School, 256 Clifton Avenue, SE, Atlanta GA 30317
6 PM – 8 PM: Drew Charter School, 301 East Lake Boulevard, Atlanta GA 30317
If you have questions, contact APS Family Engagement Specialists Shelia Cornelius or Renee Shields at 404.802.3820.
Congratulations to Grady High School’s Posse Students
Three of the twelve APS seniors recently named 2013 Posse Scholars (each earning a four-year, full-tuition scholarship worth approximately $100,000) are from Grady High School. The awards come from The Posse Foundation, which recruits students who demonstrate extraordinary academic and leadership potential and sends them to college in supportive, multicultural teams called “posses.” Join us in congratulating Grady High seniors:
Named in December, Posse Scholars will spend the rest of their senior year and the summer – January to August – participating in intensive college-preparatory training sessions every week. Then, throughout their college years, scholars will continue to receive support and development in the form of mentoring, retreats, internships and other meaningful activities. The Posse Foundation administers a rigorous college access and youth leadership program that boasts a college graduation rate of 90 percent.
Again, best wishes and congratulations to the 2013 Posse Scholars across APS!
The Clermont Hotel has been sold to a team of Nashville and New York developers who intend to turn the property into a boutique hotel. The bellwether of the “old”, bawdy Ponce de Leon Avenue stands on its southern side at Bonaventure. The Clermont was built in the 1920s and was closed on orders of county health inspectors in 2009. No word on the fate of the (in)famous Clermont Lounge in the basement, a magnet for visiting celebrities and known for its aging strippers (read more at the Business Chronicle or at the AJC).
The team that bought the Clermont also owns the Oliver boutique hotel in Knoxville, Tennessee, in which they also renovated a historic landmark.
It seems that new and interesting development to Virginia-Highland’s immediate south is unstoppable and not just limited to the massive Ponce City Market project. At the Stove Works in Inman Park there are plans to add an epicurean market (read more at Creative Loafing or Atlanta Intown).
Did you know Virginia-Highland has one of the most established neighborhood watch programs in all of Atlanta? Nearly all of our streets are monitored by a Street Captain who forwards safety reports to residents and helps keep them connected and aware of issues in their immediate area. Street Captains also coordinate occasional get-togethers for residents on their street, because we’ve found that folks who know each other tend to look out for one another.
But there are still a few streets that need captains. These streets include Ponce de Leon Place (except for a few condo buildings that do have captains), Monroe Drive, and St. Louis Place. If you live on one of these streets, please consider volunteering for this simple but important job. Email us at safety@vahi.org and we’ll send you more details. Many existing Street Captains would also appreciate assistance so please let us know if you can help, regardless of where you live.
Don’t know who your Street Captain is? Email us at safety@vahi.org and we’ll let you know.
Thanks!
The VaHi Safety Team
The popular Decatur Old House Fair returns Saturday, February 2 at the Decatur Courtyard Marriott Conference Center.
The Old House Fair is an all-day showcase of seminars, exhibits and hands-on workshops for owners of older homes. This year’s event will build on a portfolio of seminars to include waterproofing basements, fireplace restoration, tree care, and tax incentive programs for historic houses. We’ll have our usual traditional seminars but will also be offering “short bites” for specific house styles including Victorians, Foursquares, Bungalows, Ranches, and more. This year’s event will focus on preserving the old while bringing in in the new. Keep an eye out for the Living Social deal that offers great pricing on tickets.
For information contact Regina Brewer at regina.brewer@decaturga.com or call (404) 371-8386.
The Atlanta Homeless Registry is seeking volunteer help this week conducting a survey of the homeless in the metro Atlanta area.
The Registry needs volunteers to help conduct surveys with homeless people living in unsheltered locations and emergency shelters around the city. All volunteers will be trained and placed on teams supported by professional outreach workers and the APD’s HOPE (Homeless Outreach, Prevention and Emergency) services team. There are two survey shifts: Thursday January 17, 6 PM – 12AM and Friday January 18, 12AM – 6AM.
The goal of the Atlanta Homeless Registry is to create a by-name registry of people living on our streets and in our shelters, enabling us to prioritize those most vulnerable and those most at risk of dying on the street so that they can be connected with housing and other services that meet their needs.
The Atlanta Homeless Registry is sponsored by the Office of Mayor Kasim Reed’s Unsheltered No More initiative, United Way of Greater Atlanta, Hands On Atlanta, and Central Atlanta Progress, in coordination with the national 100,000 Homes campaign. Unsheltered No More is a partnership between Mayor Kasim Reed and community leaders to dramatically reduce street homelessness in Atlanta.
According to former VHCA safety committee chair John Wolfinger who plans to participate in the event, the first shift is full but volunteers are still needed for the second shift on Friday from 12AM – 6AM. Wolfinger says if you volunteer, list your affiliation as the Virginia-Highland Safety Team. If you’re interested in traveling together to the event, you can email Wolfinger at jjonww2@earthlink.net.
For more information on the event or to sign up, visit: www.unshelterednomore.com/registry.
VHCA education committee chair Nicole Foerschler Horn says if you didn’t have a chance to attend the CINS meeting last night at Grady High School, the Midtown Patch has a great summary that’s well worth the read. APS is talking about new security measures for our schools as well as changes to the school day schedule. Here’s a link to the article: http://midtown.patch.com/articles/aps.
Park Pride announced last month it was awarding a $50,000 matching funds grant to the Friends of John Howell Park for improvements to the west side of the park, including the volleyball courts and sidewalk. The project will take place over the next year and a half. The Friends of John Howell group will begin fundraising efforts immediately to raise the remainder of the funds needed to match the grant. If you are interested in getting involved with the Friends of John Howell Park group please email us at parks@vahi.org.
Click here for a Patch article with more information on the grant.
By: Nicole Foerschler Horn
Grady Debate Tournament, Traffic and Volunteering
Grady’s debate team The Jesters is getting ready to host their big debate tournament of the year, “The Quest for the Dream” regional tournament on January 11th and 12th. This tournament enhances the prestige of the Grady High School speech and debate team and is a major fundraiser for The Jesters.
What does the tournament mean for Virginia-Highland? The tournament is held at both Grady High School and Inman Middle School, using hundreds of classrooms and common facilities at both schools. Tournament preparation begins at 2:30 p.m. on Friday, January 11. First rounds of the tournament start at 5:00 p.m. and conclude by around 10:00 p.m. Friday. The tournament resumes on Saturday morning at 8:00 a.m. (with preparation starting at 6:30 a.m.) and lasts until about 9:00 p.m.
According to Grady, 500 debaters and 150 judges from Georgia and nearby states will participate in the tournament. The entire debate team and many parent and community volunteers will also participate. Expect heavier than normal vehicular and pedestrian traffic and overflowing parking lots at each school.
This is an amazing event for the Grady Jesters and a wonderful opportunity for students from across the country to experience the unique beauty of our neighborhoods and schools. If you’d like to volunteer to help with the tournament, contact Janet Kishbaugh at janetkishbaugh@gmail.com.
If you have gently used books, appropriate for children in grades K-5 (especially 3-5), please consider donating them to Springdale Park Elementary. SPARK keeps several shelves of books in the cafeteria which students can enjoy each day during their lunch period. We are in need of a few more books, particularly for our older children. Both fiction and non-fiction books are needed. You can drop off any books you care to donate at the SPARK front office.
Congratulations to the Grady Knights of Sound Pure Essence Dancers for winning a trophy in the Gold category on November 11 in the Battle of Dance Line competition at the Georgia World Congress Center. The competition between Atlanta-area high schools judges stand routine, attire, technique, choreography and dance routine.
The staffs of the Grady publications and broadcast programs traveled to San Antonio November 15 – 18 to attend the National Scholastic Press Association’s (NSPA) fall convention. The Southerner was inducted into the NSPA Hall of Fame for receiving All-American ratings for 10 of the past 11 years. Additionally, the Southerner received its eight Pacemaker Award, widely considered the Pulitzer Price of high school journalism.
The Atlanta Intown newspaper featured the College & Career Connection (CCC) in its December edition. It’s a great article on the history of the CCC and how the organization seeks to help all students at Grady High School. Check it out at www.atlantaintownpaper.com, page 39, for.
Join the Grady Book Club for discussions of recent and classic books. Meetings are on the third Monday of each month at 6:15 p.m. in the homes of members. See the Gradygram for meeting locations, or contact gradywritingcenter@gmail.com. Upcoming meeting include:
• January 21 – Everybody Was So Young: Gerald and Sara Murphy: A Lost Generation Love Story by Amanda Vaill
• February 18 – The Other Wes Moore by Wes Moore
By: Jack White, VHCA Board President
Bill Seay from the Piedmont Heights Civic Association (PHCA) will make a brief presentation on that group’s proposed new master plan at this month’s regular VHCA board meeting. The meeting is scheduled for Monday January 14 at 7 PM at the public library on Ponce de Leon Avenue.
Piedmont Heights, Virginia-Highland, Morningside/Lenox Park, and Lindridge/Martin Manor are the neighborhoods that comprise NPU-F. The PHCA defines Piedmont Heights’ boundaries as being roughly I-85 on the north, the (future) BeltLine on the southwest, and Piedmont Road on the south and east. The association is seeking NPU approval for their master plan, and part of that process involves giving adjacent neighborhoods the chance to hear about the plan first-hand.
The plan merits our attention, partly because the VHCA Planning Committee has been examining the planning implications of traffic issues on our major streets for some time, and specifically because the PHCA’s plan supports the BeltLine-adopted future recommendation of reducing Monroe Drive from 4 to 3 lanes north of Piedmont. The PHCA has had to contend with Monroe as a choke point for decades. Their thinking is shifting away from expanding that street’s capacity and toward trying to making it more pedestrian and cycling-compatible, characteristics it emphatically does not possess at this point anywhere along its length.
Given the new pedestrian/bike usage and increased crowds at the new BeltLine connection with Monroe in VaHi, this challenge is increasingly front and center for us as well. BeltLine usage is likely to increase dramatically this spring. As Monroe is currently the only formal entrance point the BeltLine trail from our neighborhood, pedestrian safety is a real concern.
Click here for more details on Piedmont Height’s proposed master plan.
By: Lola Carlisle, VHCA Board Vice-President
Interested in investing some time giving back to this wonderful in-town community that means so much to all of us? If so, we’d like to hear from you.
The Virginia-Highland Civic Association (VHCA) has much work to do and volunteers are needed! If you’re not familiar with the VHCA please visit our website at vahi.org to learn more about our neighborhood, the association and the many ways you can get involved.
Following are two current immediate needs but volunteers of all interests are always welcome. For more information or to volunteer, email board@vahi.org.
• The Historic & Preservation Committee is currently searching through old civic association documents, organizing them and digitizing as much as we can. We’d love an organized, tech savvy volunteer to take on this task. If you’d like to learn more about the committee and its goals look us up at http://vahi.org/planning/preservation/ or email us at preservation@vahi.org.
• Also, the Planning Committee is busy year round and the work this committee does is very important. The committee reviews zoning variance applications and monitors a range of development activities in our area and surrounding neighborhoods. As a start, we need an organized and somewhat tech savvy volunteer to help set up and attend meetings and create and post reports. Serving in this position will be a good way to begin to learn all about the Planning Committee, city zoning approval processes and more. To learn more go to http://vahi.org/planning/ or mail us at planing@vahi.org
I can say from personal experience that working with the association and its board and committee members of the VHCA is a rewarding experience. As a group, those who volunteer are fun to be with and inspiring, and the organization’s goals and achievements are worthy.
Thanks and we look forward to hearing from eager volunteers.
The Atlanta Christmas 5K road race will take place in Virginia-Highland from 8:00 – 9:30 AM on Saturday December 22. Registration is closed but you should be aware that traffic will be impacted during the race.
The race starts at Fire Station #19 on N. Highland Avenue, runs through VaHi and Morningside, and finishes up at Morningside Presbyterian Church.
Click here for a map showing the course route and streets effected. A street-by-street course route follows below:
• Race starts at Fire Station #19 (1063 N. Highland Ave)
• West on Los Angeles, Pass Crestridge Drive
• Turn Left on Elkmont Drive
• Turn Right on Park Drive
• Turn Right on Orme Circle
• Turn Right on Elkmont (Orme Circle merges to Elkmont)
• Turn Left on Brookridge Drive
• Turn Left on Amsterdam Ave – Amsterdam merges into Courtenay
• Turn Right on San Antonio Ave
• Turn Left on Amsterdam Ave
• Turn Left on Kings Court
• Bear Right on San Antonio – follow to Courtenay Ave
• Turn Right on Courtenay Ave
• Turn Left on Greenland Ave – stay right on Greenland – merges to Hillpine
• Turn Right on Wayne Ave
• Turn Left on Courtenay Ave
• Turn Left on North Highland Ave and proceed 90 yards to North Morningside Dr
• Turn Left on North Morningside Drive.
• Go 1/10th mile and turn Right into Morningside Presbyterian Church lot to the Finish Area.
By: Denise Romeo
The weather has finally turned colder making it feel like it really is December and the season for celebrating the holidays with friends and family. With everyone’s busy schedules it can be difficult to find a time when everyone can get together. And, let’s face it, while it is always wonderful to see everyone at holiday parties, the usual party fare can get a bit tiresome. If you have seen one cheese log, you’ve seen them all, right? So why not try something a bit different this year? Perhaps an after-dinner party with desserts and warm drinks with everyone gathering around a fireplace?
With this idea in mind, I popped into Urban Cottage to peruse their collection of cookbooks and to find some festive serving pieces. After a wonderful stroll through their treasure trove of goodies which are an eclectic mix of vintage and well-placed new items, I found some sturdy goblets perfect for cold or hot drinks as well as napkin rings, and pretty linens. A few doors down at Festivity, I picked up a cheese tray and knives to complete the ensemble.
Now what to serve? Normally, we would start the evening with cocktails; a favorite being gin and tonic. So in an “Ah-Ha” moment, we decided on “Gin Toddies” a sophisticated spin on the seasonal Hot Toddy to go along with artisanal cheeses (from Alon’s Bakery) and spreads (from Bella Cucina Porta Via) and some homemade pizzelles, torrones and amaretti.
Hot Gin Toddy:
1 teaspoon sugar
½ cup boiling water
1 tablespoon lemon juice
1 ½ oz. favorite brand of gin
Put a teaspoon of sugar in a heat proof glass or mug and add boiling water. Stir briefly to dissolve sugar and then add gin and lemon juice. Stir to combine and garnish drinks with your choice of cinnamon sticks, cloves, cardamom pods, star anise, or lemon slices.
It is not too late to get your party supplies or pick up the ideal hostess gift at one of our wonderful neighborhood shops and remember to eat, drink and shop locally on Thursday, December 20th at “Holidays in Virginia-Highland” with special promotions at participating shops and restaurants. For more information about the event, contact Jessica at info@urbancottageatlanta.com.
Local food blogger Denise Romeo has lived in the Virginia-Highland area for 23 years. She and her husband Dom enjoy spending time together cooking and entertaining. They’ve tried to instill their love for cooking and culinary exploration in their two teenage sons. You can read more from Denise on her award winning blog at We Like To Cook!
One of Virginia-Highland’s local business owners had the great honor of being selected as part of the team that decorated the White House for Christmas this year.
Laura Iarocci, owner of Faith Flowers on N. Virginia Avenue, was part of a team of 75 volunteers from all over the United Statues who arrived in the nation’s capital on Thanksgiving Day to begin their daunting task. The group spent the first two days sorting through and repacking ornaments and decorations from prior White House Christmases (many of the decorations are recycled and reused each year). The volunteers arrived on Sunday with truckloads of boxes and spent the next three days decorating every room in the White House. Mrs. Obama hosted a reception at the end to thank all the volunteers who participated.
Faith Flowers will hold an open studio day on Saturday December 15 featuring two local artists working in the studio. Photos from Holiday 2012 at the White House will be on display throughout the day.
Scroll down to view images from Iarocci’s trip.
Laura (right) and her daughter Allison at the White House visitor’s entrance. Laura created the wreaths on the windows.
Bauble Archway in the Lower Cross Hall connecting the East Room. Over 6000 ornaments were strung on these arches, all recycled from previous years.
The Armed Forces tree in the Blue Room.
The White House gingerbread house with pictures of the First Family and staff affixed to sugar glass windows. And yes, that's First Dog “Bo” front and center.
The Red Room Tree and mantel filled with fruit, all recycled from prior Christmases.
Michelle Obama’s vegetable garden recreated next to the gingerbread house.
Many of the ornaments were created by military families.
Hanging terrariums on the Green Room tree. Check out similar ones at the Faith Flowers studio.
Hanging terrariums on the Green Room tree. Check out similar ones at the Faith Flowers studio.
Laura’s favorite tree with hand blown glass ornaments in color bands around the tree.
Laura (left) and Chief White House Florist Laura Dowling
The dedication ceremony and grand opening of New Highland Park is scheduled for Saturday March 16, 2013 at Noon. In case of rain, the event will be held Saturday March 23 at Noon. Details on the ceremony and grand opening will be available in early 2013.
Local businesses in Virginia-Highland have worked together with others in Morningside, Poncey-Highland, Inman Park, and the Old Fourth Ward to produce a foldable, glossy, paper map of the “Highland Corridor”, which is now being distributed at local businesses.
Download the brochure as a PDF
Google map of businesses listed on the map – perfect for using on your smartphone or tablet.
“To The Trade Only” is the facilitator of producing these maps on behalf of the local businesses which make up the district. Barbara English of that company provided us with the story behind the maps:
Following on the heels of the very successful Virginia-Highland marketing pieces that were produced for the businesses as late as 2006, there was a void when the business association failed to maintain itself through organization of its members. The business leaders who were a part of it realized how much time and effort it took to market the area and run their own businesses too. To The Trade Only offered to collect a small amount of money from each of the business owners, organize the group into a workable marketing plan and get the maps printed and distributed to over 76 hotels, B&B’s, the Georgia Department of Economic Development, CNN Center, Peachtree Center, The Atlanta History Center and other points of public distribution in addition to the businesses on the maps.
A Facebook page has been launched, and regular newsletters to the business community are being sent to keep them informed of news that would be relevant to them. The maps are made available to any kind of event for gift bags or just to hand out. This includes weddings, realtors with open houses, etc.
As a marketing piece for the neighborhood association, part of the value of it is to make potential buyers and owners aware that the area is not only a desirable place to live, it is rich with resources which make the area attractive to residents as well as tourists.
It is To The Trade Only’s hope to continue to work with the local residents and businesses in marketing the area to everyone’s benefit. They organized a trade out with Atlanta Intown Magazine and will be seeking out anyone else who has a vested interest in making the Highland Corridor successful on many different levels.
Tour of Homes has produced a commercial. Have a look on YouTube!.
By: Nicole Foerschler Horn
Inman’s annual fun run is Saturday, Dec. 8 at 10 AM. Sprinters, runners, joggers, and walkers are all welcome both for the race and the after-race festivities. You can do it! Register now at www.InmanFrosty5K.com. Students can enter the password “eagles” to register for only $10.
Parents of prospective students are invited to learn more about Springdale Park Elementary School. The tour will be held on Wednesday, December 4th at 1 PM. If you are interested in attending, please contact Jeanine Rousso at jrousso@atlanta.k12.ga.us.
APS is conducting an evaluation survey for each of its principals. To take the survey through the Internet, you must first opt in by filling out an online form that requests your name, school, e-mail address, and identification as parent or community member. A link to the survey will then be sent to you by e-mail, though not immediately. If you do not receive the link within 24 hours of completing the opt-in form, contact Deandra Crumpler, 404.802.2711 or dcrumpler@atlanta.k12.ga.us. You may also fill out a survey for a school in your community, even if you do not currently have a child at the school, but you may have to opt in on separate days. Paper copies of the survey are also available in the front office and should be returned to the front office. To get started, go to Principal Survey Opt In. For more info, go to Flyer on Principal Survey
What: APS’ Human Resources – Hiring, Staffing, Leveling and Professional Development
When: December 12, 2012 – Noon
Where: Springdale Park Elementary School, 1246 Ponce de Leon Avenue, Atlanta, GA 30306
What: 2013 Legislative Agenda for Education
When: January 16, 2013 – 7:00 pm
Where: Centennial Place Elementary School, 531 Luckie Street, Atlanta, GA 30313
Faith Flowers, a European-style flower studio and school, has opened in the retail space at the corner of Virginia Avenue and Rosedale Drive.
Faith Flowers is an “open flower studio” where visitors can see floral designers at work in a wonderfully vintage setting. Located in a residential part of Virginia-Highland, Faith Flowers takes visitors back to an older Atlanta, when people walked to their neighborhood store for groceries. The space has a natural feel to it – wood floors and a loft ceiling (the latter feature being quite important before the advent of air conditioning).
Laura Iarocci, an internationally known flower arranger and teacher, owns Faith Flowers. Her most recent work includes decoration of the White House for Christmas 2012 (more on that in a future Voice article).
“Human beings have an innate attraction to flowers,” says Iarocci. “Scientific studies consistently show that flowers make people happy. Faith Flowers offers a range of ways to experience the joy that comes from flowers – from picking up a beautiful bouquet to taking flower arranging classes. “
Faith Flowers creates arrangements for weddings, events or any occasion, their flowers having graced the ballrooms of premier venues all over Atlanta. Inside the studio, Faith Flowers sells European hand tied bouquets and unique, natural arrangements ready to take home. Custom orders can be filled as well. The studio also offers unique gift items, including potted plants, succulents and floral related gift items. Flower arrangers can purchase an array of products and tools of the trade. Christina Perry Design has recently begun displaying its floral-inspired jewelry pieces.
For those who want to go beyond just a floral purchase, the Faith Flowers school offers classes for beginners and experts alike – anyone who loves flowers and gardening will enjoy the classes. Classes include “Flowers 101,” “Flowers from Your Garden,” “Weddings, Grocery Store Flowers” and more. There are even classes for children. Special classes for groups of friends, birthday parties, or corporate team building are available and guest designers are invited to teach regularly.
Iarocci is eager to get involved in the neighborhood and has even donated flower arrangements for some of the homes on this year’s Virginia-Highland Tour of Homes. She invites VaHi residents to stop by the shop to explore how the flower magic happens, or just check out their inspired window displays on your walks around the neighborhood.
Scroll down to see a few photos from Faith Flowers!
Welcome to the Studio!
European designs on the sidewalk outside the studio.
Guest designer Gudrun Cotteniere with Flower Magazine editor Margot Shaw.
Antiques & orchids
European table design by Belgian guest designer Gudrun Cotteniere
Owner Laura Iarocci teaches a class.
Students working together on European table design
Students in guest designer Holly Chapple's class wear the flower girl crowns they created.
The studio tablescape
Open house table display
Have you stopped by and checked out New Highland Park lately (corner of N. Highland and St. Charles)? If not, you should. Park construction is almost complete and it’s a great place to stroll through, stop to read or have lunch, practice soccer with your child, or just sit and enjoy the beauty that is VaHi in the fall. Here’s a link to an online album showing how a pair of undeveloped lots became VaHi’s latest green space in only a few months.
The land is owned by the Virginia-Highland Conservation League, Inc. It was purchased as part of a long-term plan to create green space in the Atkins Park area and to help revitalize the Atkins Park business node. Funds for construction of the new park came from three years of local fundraising efforts, including the “buy a brick” program and a $50,000 grant from Park Pride. Park organizers are very grateful to Park Pride and all the neighbors and nearby businesses that have made generous contributions. Funding to cover the mortgage payments comes from VHCA events like Summerfest and the Tour of Homes, and the VHCL will be seeking additional grants in 2013 and beyond to help reduce the loan balance, which is currently about $660,000. We appreciate your support in these efforts.
Work remaining on the new park includes:
- Installation of three light poles, scheduled for week of December 3.
- Installation of three benches and additional trash cans, scheduled for late December or early January
- Final connection of the water meter
- Completion of a few “punch-list” items and some additional plantings
Special note for those who purchased engraved bricks and for those who donated as “founders” ($1000 or more) for the new park:
The bricks will be integrated into the sidewalk area at the St. Charles entrance. Engraving has just completed, and the bricks will be installed probably within the next few weeks and certainly before the grand opening/ribbon cutting next year. The exact date for the grand opening/ribbon cutting is to be determined, but is likely to be in late February or March. The city has requested another drawing before permitting the install of the bricks. The founders plaque is “in process” and will be installed before the grand opening. Stay tuned for details on the grand opening/ribbon-cutting to be held in the first quarter of 2013!
The City of Atlanta recently distributed sturdy new recycling bins to VaHi residents, many of whom already had one of the large blue containers. If you received a new bin and don’t need it or don’t have room for it, VHCA Streets/Sidewalks Committee Chair Peggy Berg says to call the city’s public works customer service folks at 404-330-6333. At your request, the city will come out and find a new home for the bin with a resident who needs it.
SANTA’S COMING!
On Friday afternoon November 30 residents will gather at Orme Park from 4:00 – 6:00 p.m. for a visit from Santa Claus! Skip the crowds at the mall and come on out to have your picture taken with Santa for a $5 donation to the Friends of Orme Park. Friends of Orme Park pays for new sand for the sandbox and general upkeep of the park and playground. Residents will also decorate the Critter Tree so come out and join in the holiday fun for kids of all ages.
6TH ANNUAL CAROLING EVENT
On Sunday evening December 2 residents will gather at 6:30 for a dessert pot-luck and caroling around the Critter Tree. Hot chocolate and song sheets will be provided! Please bring a dessert to share with your neighbors.
By: Nicole Foerschler Horn
Inman Middle School is among the top 5% of Title I schools in the State of Georgia according to the Georgia Department of Labor. Inman Middle School is also one of only two schools in Atlanta Public Schools with the Highest-Performing School distinction.
Inman’s annual fun run is Saturday, Dec. 8 at 10 AM. Sprinters, runners, joggers, and walkers are all welcome both for the race and the after-race festivities. You can do it! Register now at http://inmanfrosty5k.blogspot.com/. Students can enter the password “eagles” to register for only $10.
Parents of prospective students are invited to learn more about Springdale Park Elementary School. The tour will be held on Wednesday, December 4th at 1 p.m. If you are interested in attending, please contact Jeanine Rousso at jrousso@atlanta.k12.ga.us.
Inman will be hosting a series of meetings for parents and students of rising 6th graders. The first meeting will be on November 29th at 7 p.m. in the media center at Inman. This is a meeting for parents only.
Also, parents of rising 6th graders, zoned for Inman Middle School, should have received in the mail the 2012-2013 Inman “Transition In” material. Included in that material is a special welcome from Ms. Herrema, this year’s “Transition In” schedule, a list of documents required for registration and other important information just for rising 6th grade families. If you live in an area zoned to attend Inman Middle School and have not received your transition mailing, please contact Inman’s 6th Grade Counselor, Ms. Tina Blevins, at tblevins2@atlanta.k12.ga.us or 404.802.3215. Parents of all 5th grade students zoned to Inman, but who are not currently enrolled in one of Inman’s feeder elementary schools listed above, should also contact Ms. Blevins if they plan to attend Inman next year so that you can receive future in-zone mailings.
Thursday, November 29, 2012, beginning at 8:00 a.m. in the Inman auditorium, Inman will host for parents the first of three “Grady 101″ presentations. This presentation is titled “Program of Study” and the presenters will be Grady staff members Ms. Blankenship, Lead Counselor; Ms. MacBrien, Transition Liaison; and Ms. Sabb, AP Coordinator/Instructional Coach. In addition, forms relevant to the presentation and a FAQ document will be distributed. The second presentation, “Student Support,” is scheduled to take place in January, and the third, focusing on clubs, teams and other aspects of student life at Grady, will be held in March. While there will not be a formal Q&A session as part of the presentation, questions can be submitted to Grady101series@gmail.com. A response will be sent to all emails. The presentation will be recorded and posted on both Grady’s and Inman’s websites. In addition, the forms distributed, including the FAQ, will be posted on both websites. Finally, a list of Grady parents willing to discuss their experience(s) at Grady will be distributed.
Brittany Beaumont, a first grade teacher at SPARK, was one of eight educators in Atlanta honored with the Atlanta Families’ Awards for Excellence in Education.
Superintendent Erroll Davis, Atlanta Falcons football players and Homer, the Braves mascot, were among those who surprised teachers in their classrooms with the news that each would receive a $7,500 grant. Each award includes $3,500 for a school project of the winner’s choice, $1,500 for a professional development opportunity to boost the educator’s effectiveness and a personal stipend of $2,500.
The award is designed to retain excellent teachers and school leaders, inspire other educators, and raise public awareness about the work of high-performing educators. Since 2005, Atlanta Families’ Awards for Excellence in Education has recognized outstanding teachers and school leaders for their commitment to excellence.
The aim of Ms. Beaumont’s project is to build strong foundational writing skills in students and give them the tools they will need to be lifelong writers. Through the implementation of this project, a writing culture will be established in the classroom that integrates writing skills into all subject areas. Students will be provided with needed resources and challenged to apply a variety of skills and strategies that will increase the quality and effectiveness of their writing. They will also make use of technology resources as they work to digitally publish their writing. The project will culminate with a writing festival where students will celebrate the art of writing and will showcase their best work to invitees: parents, administrators, community members, and local authors
“I’m so thrilled to have been selected as an AFAEE winner,” Ms. Beaumont says. “I’m really looking forward to implementing my writing initiative project and helping my students to become writers for life. I also look forward to sharing my experiences and resources with other teachers and students.”
The organization has raised more than $1 million for the awards program. For more information or to nominate a teacher for the 2013 awards, visit www.atlantafamilies.org.
APS is conducting an evaluation survey for each of its principals. To take the survey via the Internet, you must first opt in by filling out an online form that requests your name, school, e-mail address, and identification as parent or community member. A link to the survey will then be sent to you by e-mail, though not immediately. If you do not receive the link within 24 hours of completing the opt-in form, contact Deandra Crumpler, 404.802.2711 ordcrumpler@atlanta.k12.ga.us. You may also fill out a survey for a school in your community, even if you do not currently have a child at the school, but you may have to opt in on separate days. Paper copies of the survey are also available in the front office and should be returned to the front office. To get started, go to Principal Survey Opt In. For more info, go to Flyer on Principal Survey
Where are you going to go to find the most beautiful, long-lasting Christmas tree in town? To Inman Middle School, of course!
Hal and Tina Hollcroft, owners of Barefoot Mountain Farms, have been Inman fundraising partners for fourteen years (since Don Doran was principal at Inman). The Hollcroft’s love of farming and support of children in education has been a driving force in the relationship. Barefoot Mountain’s Fraser Fir Christmas trees are grown with care near Laurel Springs, NC in the heart of the Blue Ridge Mountains. This season’s sales will be in honor of Hal who lost his battle with cancer on February 2, 2012.
Tree sales begin November 23rd and the lot – located at the corner of Virginia and Greencove avenues – will be open Monday through Friday, 10AM to 9PM; Saturday & Sunday, 9AM to 9PM. Delivery and set up services are available.
Check out the Barefoot Mountain website at www.barefootmountain.com for a breathtaking view of the farm.
By: Denise Romeo
The sidewalks come to life each Saturday as neighbors scuttle by with empty shopping bags headed toward the Morningside Farmer’s Market located in the parking lot adjacent to Rosebud on N. Highland Avenue. The brainchild of culinary icon Guenter Seeger and former AJC “In-Season” columnist Cynthia Hizer, the MFM began in 1997 with a station wagon loaded with Georgia-grown vegetables, has grown to become Atlanta’s most popular organic market and is at the heart of the city’s farm-to-table movement.
The most recent Saturday offerings included a variety of seasonal greens (arugula, kale, mustard, chard and collards), sweet potatoes, red onions, fresh ginger, squashes, eggs and fresh meat products from MFM regulars Crystal Organic Farm, D & A Farm, Little Red Hen Farm, Riverview Farm and Woodland Gardens. Pure Bliss Organics sampled their newest granola flavor, while Magnolia Bread had a nice selection of fresh breads on hand including pumpkin sourdough, seeded country and blueberry bran muffins. Our perennial favorite, Hazelbrand Farm, featured their amazingly fragrant handmade soaps along with a few seasonal scents like “Winter Solstice” and “Frankincense & Myrrh.”
The sun was high in the sky as 2009 Top Chef Finalist Kevin Gillespie from Woodfire Grill began his cooking demonstration featuring fresh mustard greens chosen from Crystal Organic Farms just moments before. The chef was on hand earlier signing his new cookbook, “Fire In My Belly.”
Chef Kevin was in high spirits as he described the recipe he was preparing. Obviously comfortable in front of an audience, he casually chatted with the crowd as he worked, explaining how to peel ginger with the bowl of a spoon and describing the nuances of various types of greens. As he added the various ingredients, wonderful aromas wafted through the patio of Rosebud (graciously lent for chef demonstrations each week) culminating in a large pot of curried mustard greens and sweet potatoes.
As Chef Kevin dished about his cookbook and his new restaurant, Gunshow, scheduled to open in Glenwood Park in February, each audience member was passed a small portion on a plate. The pungent taste of the mustard greens and the sweetness of the sweet potatoes combined to make a vegetarian dish that was colorful and boasted a wonderful combination of flavors and textures.
Chef Kevin was obviously so familiar with this dish that he needed no recipe, adding spices and elements without specific measurement. We did our best to enumerate the ingredients and the procedures followed by Chef Kevin in hopes that you might try this recipe at home:
2 tablespoons clarified butter (or extra virgin olive oil)
1 medium onion, chopped
1 jalapeño pepper, seeded if desired, then minced
4 garlic cloves, minced
1 1-inch piece fresh ginger root, peeled and diced
1 ½ teaspoons curry powder
1 teaspoon mustard seeds
½ teaspoon cumin seeds
1 to 2 cups vegetable broth as needed
2 medium orange-fleshed sweet potatoes, peeled and cut into ½”-slices (about 2 cups)
1 15-oz. can whole peeled tomatoes, hand crushed
3-4 bunches mustard greens, stems removed, torn or roughly chopped
2 teaspoons light brown sugar (to taste)
1 tablespoon Tamarind paste (or lemon juice)
Salt and white pepper to taste
Chili paste to taste (optional)
1/3 cup fresh cilantro, chopped
Bring a small pot of water to a boil. Slice sweet potatoes into ¼”- ½” slices so they will cook more quickly. Parboil the sweet potatoes for 5 to 7 minutes until slices are tender, but not mushy.
While parboiling the sweet potatoes, remove stems from greens (these can be roughly chopped and parboiled with the sweet potatoes) and tear leaves into pieces. It will seem like an enormous amount of greens, but they shrink dramatically when cooked!
Drain sweet potatoes and set aside. Slice onion, jalapeno, ginger and garlic. Heat clarified butter in a saucepan over medium heat and add onion and jalapeno and cook until onions start to turn translucent, about 5 minutes. Add garlic and ginger to pan along with mustard and cumin seeds, and curry powder. Stir to coat and then add sweet potatoes, again stirring to coat. Continue cooking until vegetables begin to caramelize. If the vegetables are too dry or start sticking to the pan, add some broth or water.
Once the vegetables are tender and fragrant, add the crushed tomatoes and mix together well. Once the tomatoes have been fully incorporated and heated through, begin adding mustard greens in batches, folding the greens under the sauce. The greens will wilt and shrink as they cook. Keep adding and folding until all greens have been added to the pan.
Again, add more broth if the mixture seems to dry or sticks to the pan. The amount of time the greens need to cook depends on their tenderness. Add sugar and tamarind paste (or lemon juice) stirring to combine. Add salt and pepper to taste. If you like your curry to be on the spicy side, you can add chili paste to fit your taste. Serve immediately. If the greens are particularly piquant, chopped cilantro added as garnish provides a nice contrast. Chef also recommends that if you want to add a protein to the dish, chickpeas or lentils work well.
While the MFM runs year round, hours are abbreviated January-March and chef demonstrations run only through November. The next demo will be this Saturday, November 17th with Ron Eyster from Rosebud and The Family Dog working with cabbage from Woodland Gardens Organics. The demo will begin at 9:30 a.m.
For more information about the Morningside Farmer’s Market or for a calendar of upcoming events, visit their website at http://www.morningsidemarket.com.
Local food blogger Denise Romeo has lived in the Virginia-Highland area for 23 years. She and her husband Dom enjoy spending time together cooking and entertaining. They’ve tried to instill their love for cooking and culinary exploration in their two teenage sons. You can read more from Denise on her award winning blog at We Like To Cook!
Inman Middle School’s annual Frosty 5K Fun Run is scheduled for Saturday, Dec. 8 at 10 AM. Sprinters, runners, joggers, and walkers are all welcome both for the race – which runs mostly along the BeltLine – and the post-race festivities. You can do it! Register now at www.InmanFrosty5K.com.
Thanks to Whole Foods on Ponce, Phidippides, Judi Weber Designs, Midtown Bowl, Silver Smiles Orthodontics, The Maxim Law Firm, Southwest Rink at Park Tavern, FIG Partners, Epps Aviation, Fifth Group Restaurants, Rapid Signs and FitWit for stepping up to sponsor this year’s Fun Run. If you or someone you know has a business that might be interested in becoming a sponsor, please contact Adrienne Maxim at adrienne.maxim@gmail.com or Beth Downes at bethdownes@msn.com. And please let our sponsors know we appreciate them by patronizing them when you can!
Interested in helping out with the run as a volunteer? Come help, have fun, and get a t-shirt without breaking a sweat! Sign up today at http://www.signupgenius.com/go/409084AACAC292-inman.
The 4th Kidical Mass Atlanta, sponsored by the Atlanta Bicycle Coalition and the Sopo Bicycle Coop, is coming to John Howell Park on Saturday, November 10th at 10:00 a.m.
Kidical Mass is a family-friendly, law-abiding bike ride. The purpose is to teach kids, parents and caregivers safety skills and provide a ride in which to practice them. Organizers from the Sopo Bicycle Co-op and Atlanta Bicycle Coalition hope to build awareness of the growing presence of kids and families on bikes, as well as the need for all road users to respect others. Kidical Mass brings together families who bike to build a supportive bicycling community. Kidical Mass rides are comfortable for families just starting out and biking on city streets for the first time but don’t completely avoid traffic. There is safety in numbers, not just on a group ride like this but also in the day to day world of riding in the city. This ride helps families experience that comfort, and hopes participants will grow to incorporate biking into their transportation menus in the future.
The first ride in May 2011 was a hit, with 60 children and family members biking about 2 miles from Oakhurst to Downtown Decatur. Neighborhood residents on their porches fired up cell phones to photograph and film the “kidical” riders, who ranged widely in age, from toddlers on their parents’ bikes to older children and teens.
The Virginia-Highland neighborhood Kidical Mass will start at 10:00 a.m. at John Howell Park, at the corner of Virginia Ave and Barnett St. The ride will be a 1 to 2 mile slow-paced, family-friendly social ride. The route will combine residential and connector streets to raise awareness. No road closures are planned for the event.
This is a very slow-paced ride (avg. 1-10 mph). Riders are encouraged to share the fun by ringing bells, bringing noise makers, and waving to all. All types of bikes, trailers, trail-a-bikes, Xtracycles, longtails, bakfiets, long johns, tandems, folders, trikes, and whatever rolls are welcome. Organizers will give away Kidical Mass spoke cards andstickers at the ride start location at 9:30 a.m as the group gathers.
By law in Georgia, all children 16 and under must wear a helmet. Parents and caregivers are strongly encouraged to model that behavior as well as safe riding practices. The ride will stop as many times as necessary to make sure the group stays together. Streets will not be closed. Riders can join or leave the group at any point.
Guidelines for participants include personal responsibility (obey traffic laws and no group movements through stop signs and traffic lights), and parental responsibility for their own children by being aware of their location at all times.
Additional volunteers are welcome – to get involved, volunteer, or ask questions email corny@sopobikes.org.
Kidical Mass Atlanta information is available at atlantabike.org/kidical and sopobikes.org, or visit kidicalmass.org to learn more about this national initiative.
By: Nicole Foerschler Horn
Morningside Town Hall Meeting with APS Executives Set For November 14
John O’ Connor, APS Assistant Superintendent for Student Services and Vickie Cleveland, Executive Director for Special Education, will be on hand for a town hall meeting to be held Wednesday November 14th at 8:30 am in the Morningside Elementary Media Center. The event is open to all families in the Grady Cluster.
The Office of Student Programs and Services (OSPS) is composed of the following units: Department of Special Education - Counseling Services – Nursing Services – Psychological Services – Parent Involvement Program – Social Work Services – Homeless Education – Truancy Intervention – Student Support Team – Student Placement – Student Tribunal and Alternative Placement – Student Records.
Your are invited to come and learn about the Office of Student Programs and Services which provides comprehensive, collaborative and coordinated services to students, staff, parents and communities. OSPS ensures that all efforts focus on student success and the goals central to APS’ strategic plan. Additionally, OSPS supports acquisition of the skills essential to academic achievement, career and educational decision-making, and personal/social development. These programs are fundamental to providing wrap-around services.
Furthermore, the Office of Student Programs and Services develops and coordinates early intervention strategies to ensure that curriculum, instruction and behavioral practices best meet the educational needs of all students; provides parenting education opportunities; enhances family-school partnerships; develops community outreach; and establishes partnerships with businesses and human services agencies.
Light refreshments will be served. Please RSVP to the Special Education Committee Chairs, Michelle Constantinides at michelle.constantinides@gmail.com or Kim Martin at kcmartin6@comcast.net.
Support SPARK’s All-Star Book Fair
Springdale Park Elementary’s ALL-STAR BOOK FAIR continues online until November 10th. Buy books as holiday presents, to enhance your child’s library, or to donate to your favorite teacher’s classroom. This is a great way to support our neighborhood elementary school because a portion of the proceeds goes back to SPARK.
Visit http://onlinebookfairs.scholastic.com/default.aspx?f=3032128 to shop until November 10th. If you do not have a student at SPARK, please put VHCA in the “Classroom Teacher” box during the checkout process. All books are shipped to SPARK and we will deliver the books to your home.
Books will be shipped within three days of the close of the online fair.
Questions? Contact Lynne Kushner at lynnek@me.com.
SPARK Teacher Wins Outstanding Educator of the Year Award
Click here to read a great story on Patch about Brittany Beaumont, a first grade teacher at Springdale Park Elementary who was one of eight educators honored recently with an Atlanta Families’ Award for Excellence in Education.
Inman Middle School Named One of State’s Top Performing Title 1 Schools
Click here to read an AJC.com story about Inman Middle School being one of 46 metro Atlanta schools named to the state’s list of top performing Title 1 schools.