MANA: neighborhood watch meeting [Sept. 19]

There will be a MANA Watch meeting on September 19 to discuss the options for and logistics of patrolling the neighborhood.

If you are interested in attending, please email manawatch@gmail.com

GA Natural Gas fundraising program benefits our elementary school (Laurel Ridge)

The closing of Medlock Elementary directed students in our neighborhood to attend Laurel Ridge Elementary. Here is a chance to help Laurel Ridge serve our students, via GA Natural Gas (GNG).

By joining the True Blue Schools Program, GNG customers can direct a $5/month donation to a school of their choice. This $5/month comes from Georgia Natural Gas, not the customer. Additionally, TrueBlue Schools' participants are eligible to receive an up to $0.15 per therm discount off their monthly gas bill.
GNG makes an additional $40 donation to the school for new GNG customers.

If you are a GA Natural Gas customer, go to http://www.trueblueschools.com. Select the "I'm already a customer" option and type in Laurel Ridge (the system will fill in the rest of the school information once you provide a few characters) and continue with the sign-up process. There's an option to look up your account number as well, if you don't have it handy.

Questions? Contact the Laurel Ridge GNG coordinator, Karen O'Leary, at yourpalkaren@hotmail.com

Volunteer and Tool Donation Day, Saturday [Sept 10]

from Chris Beck, President, Clyde Shepherd Nature Preserve

Join us this Saturday for our regular volunteer day from 9am to noon. We will also be accepting donations of new and used tools to replace those lost in the shed fire. Here is a list of tools and other equipment lost in the fire that we still need (although we welcome all tool donations).

• wheelbarrows
• 8 ft step ladder
• pole saw
• pruning saw
• mulch scoop shovel
• loppers
• hand pruners
• swing blades (the tools with long wooden handles and a metal blade at the end)
• trash tongs
• 10lb sledge hammer
• 2lb hammers
• first aid kit

Also we lost supplies that we use for the annual Harvest Festival.

• large cooler
• metal tub
• strands of outdoor lights
• spot lights
• 50ft extension cords
• extension cord splitters
• tiki torches
• small collapsible tailgate canopy
• long plastic folding table

All donations are tax-deductible. If you have tools that you would like to donate, but can't make it on September 10th, please contact us. You can make your tax-deductible donation to the Preserve online.

DeKalb Co. issues West Nile Virus warning

DeKalb County Board of Health is reporting an increase in West Nile Virus. Per an early August news release from the GA Department of Public Health,

“The problem of mosquitoes and West Nile Virus has escalated this year in Georgia, as well as the rest of the country -- with the virus causing more serious central nervous system involvement than in past years,” said J. Patrick O’Neal, M.D., DPH’s Director of the Division of Health Protection.

Last week, Dekalb Co. reported its first human case in Tucker, GA. Thankfully, the patient is recovering at home.

West Nile is one of several viruses that can be transmitted by mosquito bites. Late spring to early fall are peak mosquito season. As Labor Day weekend approaches and many of us hope to spend some time outdoors, it's a good time to review basic mosquito-fighting measures:

•   Wear long-sleeved shirts, long pants, and socks when outdoors, especially at dawn and dusk to reduce the amount of exposed skin
•   Consider using insect repellent containing DEET, Picaridin, IR3535, or PMD.  DEET offers protection against mosquito bites up to 5 hours depending on how much DEET is in the product. Picaridin also provides relief from mosquito bites. Be sure to follow the instructions on the label.
•   Set up outdoor fans to keep mosquitoes from flying near you.

Symptoms of WNV include headache, fever, neck discomfort, muscle and joint aches, swollen lymph nodes and a rash that usually develop three to 15 days after being bitten by an infected mosquito. The elderly, those with compromised immune systems, or those with other underlying conditions are at greater risk for complications from the disease. 

Visit the CDC's West Nile page for additional information.

Additionally, because mosquitoes can go from egg to adult in under 2 weeks, it is important to routinely check for and eliminate sources of standing water. Flower pots, pet dishes, wheelbarrows, trash cans or their lids, buckets, semi-permanent puddles created by air conditioner drainage or congested gutters and downspouts, forgotten pieces of plastic or tarps--any of these can become mosquito nurseries. Mosquito dunks (biological control for intentional reservoirs such as ponds and rain caches) are another way of breaking the mosquito breeding cycle.

Since mosquitos also transmit heartworm to dogs and cats, vigilance will benefit humans and pets alike. This may be particularly important this year, as reports of a shortage of the only drug used to treat heartworm-infected animals (Immiticide®) have surfaced in the local media as well as the AVMA website.

Emergency Preparedness [Sept. 10]

From MANA resident Jo Mitchell:

Announcing the upcoming 2nd Annual DeKalb Co. Preparedness Festival on Saturday, Sept. 10 from 10 AM – 3 PM. This year the festival will be located behind the First Baptist Church of Tucker at 5073 LaVista Road, Tucker. There will be food, music, children's activities, and displays by the professional and volunteer organizations who respond in a disaster. You’ll find information on fire safety, crime prevention, disaster preparedness, and pet and large animal crisis care. This festival is presented by DeKalb County CEO Burrell Ellis and the DeKalb Emergency Management Agency (DEMA). For more info: http://www.co.dekalb.ga.us/public-safety/dema-current-news.html

Click on the image below for full-size flyer.

If you have questions for Jo, you may reach her at  404-633-7007.

CERT (Community Emergency Response Team) is a program that trains citizens to assist in emergency response. Additional information on the program is available. MANA is encouraging its members to attend this activity and consider additional training. For example, emergency response plans could be coordinated through our Neighborhood Watch program.

More info on Dekalb Co. Emergency Management here --->This link includes additional information on the actual course as well as an application form.

Clyde Shepherd Nature Preserve is again shed-enabled

With the help of many neighbors and friends (and MANA's contribution of course), a new shed has been installed to replace the one lost to lightning earlier this summer.

The next step will be a tool donation drive; announcements on how to help replenish the tool supply will be posted at the Clyde Shepherd Nature Preserve website.

PATH update

The PATH bridge over the railroad tracks is now open. Crews are now working on pouring the sidewalk sections that lead to the bridge. Although there is no continuous sidewalk yet, it's open, it's walkable, and lots of runners, walkers, strollers and doggies were in evidence this morning.

New sidewalk: Medlock side

New sidewalk: Mason Mill side

Railroad tracks, from the bridge.