AWARE (Wildlife Rescue) Art Auction [Oct 2]

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3rd Annual Art for Armadillos Art Auction

AWARE is the largest and only wildlife rehabilitation center in metro Atlanta that treats all native species of wildlife. Auction proceeds and your financial contributions allow this important work to continue.

Tickets:
http://awarewildlife.givezooks.com/events/2014-aware-art-auction

Location:
The Solarium at Historic Scottish Rite
321 West Hill Street
Decatur, GA 30030

Date/Time:
Thursday October 2nd, 2014​
7:00-9:00PM

Hosted by AWARE Wildlife Center
678-418-1111
http:www.awarewildlife.org/contact/

About the Event:
Enjoy an evening of live music, hors d'oeuvres, and bidding on fantastic local art while supporting the rehabilitation and education efforts of Atlanta Wild Animal Rescue Effort (AWARE). Each paid ticket also includes 2 raffle tickets for a chance at one of our door prizes.

"Blueprint for DeKalb" website now available [& Sept 30 info meeting]

Commissioner Gannon's Blueprint for DeKalb project has launched a website. The Blueprint identifies the need for comprehensive solutions and governmental transparency as critical in revitalizing the County's health and reputation. The Blueprint argues for fixing the County rather than fragmenting it. For an opportunity to learn about the Blueprint and ask questions, please attend the meeting scheduled for September 30th at 6:30 PM in the Maloof Auditorium in Decatur.  

The website includes position papers on ethics, internal audits, purchasing, elections, HOST and city hood. Thanks to Deanne for forwarding this information.

---

(From Commissioner Gannon's Office)

NEWS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                                                                                  CONTACT: Davis Fox
404.371.6353

DeKalb Citizens Group Calls for Reforms
In the wake of swirling charges of corruption, a group of engaged DeKalb citizens is bringing forth recommendations to reform DeKalb County government. The diverse group of neighborhood leaders has been working since February to draft the Blueprint to Redefine DeKalb County. The Blueprint is a framework for reform - it addresses: procurement policies, ethics, inefficient operations and the stale political environment.   Today the Blueprints Leadership team called a public meeting and launched a website www.BlueprintsDeKalb.org

“The voices of citizens must be heard to change the direction of DeKalb County,” said Patricia Killingsworth, a member of the Blueprints Leadership Team. “We hope citizens from across DeKalb County – north, south, in cities or outside – will use this current crisis as an opportunity to press for meaningful reforms, and that our elected officials will engage and take their responsibility for promoting ethics and transparency in DeKalb County government seriously.”
“DeKalb needs comprehensive solutions that are as big as our problems,” said Gil Turman another member of the Blueprints Leadership Team. “Many levels of government must be involved and our business and private sector leaders must also press for change.”
www.BlueprintsDeKalb.org contains:
·       The original Blueprint showing the group’s principles
·       A progress report to the Operations Task Force
·       A survey to obtain feedback from the public
·       Draft position papers written by citizens
The position papers include recommendations to ensure more accountability, transparency and efficiency. Among the recommendations are:
·       An internal audit watchdog that reports to an independent body
·       Ethics reform, including removing Board of Ethics appointments from the CEO and Board of Commissioners
·       Greater transparency in purchasing, budgeting and operations to allow citizens to more carefully monitor County government
·       A straw poll to consider term limits and non-partisan elections

The Blueprints Leadership Team will review these reforms in a community meeting on September 30th at 6:30 PM in the Maloof Auditorium in Decatur.  

For more information contact BlueprintDekalb@gmail.com

Community Meeting with Atlanta Councilman Alex Wan [Sept 17]

from MANA acting President Lynn Ganim

Special MANA meeting

Atlanta's District 6 Councilman Alex Wan will present information about the City of Atlanta and what would be involved if our neighborhood chose to be annexed into Atlanta, one of the several possibilities that have been suggested for our area.

He will speak on Wednesday, September 17, at 7:00 at North Decatur Presbyterian Church.

As has been said many times, even though many of us would like to be left as we are in unincorporated DeKalb County, others are discussing—even planning— changes to our future, and it’s critical that we inform ourselves so that we can make our own educated decisions. Please plan to attend this important informational meeting.

Lay of the land: Councilman Wan's District 6 is outlined by a solid blue line; it abuts unincorporated DeKalb to its right. A dotted blue line further clarifies Atlanta city limits beyond District 6.  MANA is outlined in yellow. 

HorseFest @ Little Creek Horse Farm [Sept 20]

via Facebook...

"Little Creek Horse Farm, (just minutes from our neighborhood!) will be hosting their annual fall festival, "HorseFest" Saturday, September 20th from 12-4PM. This is a fun family friendly event which hosts riding and horsemandship demonstrations, pony rides, kid's crafts, carnival games, vendors, and food. Admission is $5 with kids 5 and under getting in free. Some activities cost extra with all profits going to benefit the Little Creek Farm Conservancy (LCFC). The event will happen rain or shine! Little Creek Horse Farm is located at 2057 Lawrenceville Hwy with our access road being off of Orion Dr. To learn more about HorseFest or LCFC, visit: www.littlecreekfarmconservancy.org"
LCFC is located at 2057 Lawrenceville Highway, Decatur, GA

Blueprint to Redefine DeKalb

Found on the DecaturMetro blog site, as a comment to the 9/5 Free-For-All Friday post:

1. Staci says:

   September 6, 2014 at 4:21 pm

   This Tuesday, come hear DeKalb County Commissioner Kathie Gannon discuss her Blueprint to Redefine DeKalb:

   Our DeKalb County reached a ‘tipping point’ in 2013: nearly everyone now agrees that fundamental reforms are due. Beyond that general agreement, reaching consensus proves difficult. Even listing a Top Ten of the issues, crises and challenges that brought us to this tipping point invariably raises disagreement on one point or another from one quarter or another. We all seem to be going our separate ways.

   To move forward we should consider, “what does reform look like?” Continue reading the Blueprint to Redefine DeKalb @http://www.kathiegannon.com/tl_files/documents/Blueprint%20to%20Redefine%20DeKalb.pdf

   Invite your neighbors, friends, neighborhood association and homeowner’s group to join you at this important and informative session!

   Tuesday, September 9 @ 7:00 p.m.
   North Decatur Presbyterian Church
   611 Medlock Road, Decatur 30033
   Sponsored by Good Growth DeKalb

   Reply

Update(ish) on Druid Hills Charter Cluster

The conversation continues regarding the Druid Hills Charter Cluster (DHCC) petition, although it appears to have become very one-sided in recent weeks. DHCC advocates have been pushing the district and school board over the last several months to put the revised petition onto the school board agenda for another vote. And information from the DeKalb County School District's (DCSD) perspective? Cue the crickets chirping.

Representatives from both DHCC and DCSD were invited to speak at the September meeting of the Emory LaVista Parent Council meeting. David Moore, legal counsel for DHCC, presented a lengthy history of the charter petition from origination (out of concern regarding disparities in learning achievement between the five feeder elementary schools) to today (a revised petition has been sitting at the county offices since May 1, 2014; any actions taken by DCSD are largely unknown). The representative from DCSD, Dr. Frazer, kept her presentation to a strict description of the charter application timelines as they are presented on the DCSD website. During the question and answer period, it was clear that Dr. Frazer was not going to or was not allowed to answer questions on anything other than timelines in a general sense. As one might imagine, this left the audience (and DHCC representatives) feeling rather frustrated and confused. You can read more about the ELPC board's response to this here.

This past week, the Druid Hills Charter Cluster published their account of interactions with the school district from the beginning of the process. It is, of course, one side of a two-sided story - but it is a disturbing read. Since DCSD and the board aren't talking, we don't know their perspective on the petition review and (non)approval.

The next school board work session and business meeting are scheduled for Monday, September 8, and based on the agendas that were posted Friday afternoon, there will be no vote or discussion on the DHCC petition. Cue the crickets again...

How long will this continue? Anyone's guess, it seems. However, even if approved, it is hard to imagine how such a ground-breaking charter cluster could ever be successful without these two parties entering into more constructive conversations.

Rainbow kismet

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Magic captured by neighbor John McQuiston at The Shire Little Creek Horse Farm, Thursday evening. Bill the Pony had just retired to the barn.