Medline LCI: Charrette update

Jen Price @ Sycamore Consulting sends an update about the charrette that took place on Saturday:

Photos courtesy of Jen Price. Click to enlarge.

"The charrette went very well!  The weather did throw a wrench in our plan for the walking portion of the charrette but we ended up using the space outside of a vacant shop in Patel Plaza to show the typical size of a pocket park as well as the size of a small community garden plot (first two photos).  Tony at Intown ACE Hardware let us borrow all of the items which was so very nice of him. Dunkin' Donuts sponsored breakfast.

The turnout was good for a full day Saturday commitment.  We had some people leave early and a few that came during the workshop portion (35 at any given moment).  Commissioner Rader came and stayed for just about the entire day.
 
We are hoping to have a public open house to review the draft Master Plan in May."

CAN: Candidates' Fair [Apr 27]

The "summer election" is happening on May 20. Please review the flyer below for information about what is at stake. Note that the voter registration deadline is April 21.

SAMPLE BALLOTS: http://web.co.dekalb.ga.us/Voter/CurrentElectionInfo.html. Note that these countywide sample ballots will contain districts and municipalities that will not apply to every individual.

ADVANCE VOTING INFO: http://web.co.dekalb.ga.us/Voter/pdf/GPAdvanceVotingSitesTimes.pdf

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Medline: Charette Schedule [Mar 29]

Jen@ Sycamore Consulting wanted to share the
Charette Schedule

9:30 - 10:00 AM :: Registration, light breakfast & open house

10:00 - 10:30 AM :: Welcome, overview & purpose

10:45 - 11:15 AM :: Visit tactical demos (weather permitting, this will involve a short walk from Patel Plaza, south along Church Street to the adjacent vacant car dealership to view a few scaled greenspace ideas, crosswalk treatments, etc. )

11:30 - 12:15 PM :: Virtual study area tours -we've divided the study area into 3 districts.  When we return to Masala, we'll show a video tour of the 3 districts to provide more context.

12:30 - 4:00 PM :: Working lunch & charrette - attendees will select 1 of the 3 districts to study.  At their study table, they'll discuss and sketch ideas for transportation, land use, and greenspace solutions for their district.  At the end, each table will report their draft solutions.

4:00 - 4:30 PM ::  Next Steps & Wrap up.

Jen says "It's a pretty packed day, but we hope it will be interactive, engaging and fun for those who will participate.  We are encouraging people to commit to the whole day, however, if you cannot,  we hope that you'll be able to drop by at some point during the charrette."

For all the details on the Medline LCI, see https://sites.google.com/site/medlinelcistudy/home

Free Pet Vaccinations from Lifeline / DeKalb County

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ATLANTA, GA – (March 24, 2014)  LifeLine Animal Project and DeKalb County Animal Services invite DeKalb County pet owners to attend "Healthy Pets DeKalb" on Saturday, April 5th, from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., at Wade-Walker Park, 5585 Rockbridge Road in Stone Mountain.  The event will offer over 400 free vaccinations provided by a licensed veterinarian, free pet food and much more!  No registration is necessary for this first-come, first-serve promotion.

“LifeLine offers veterinary services and pet education directly to pet owners in our communities who need them,” says Debbie Setzer, community outreach director for LifeLine. “These resources improve the quality of life for pets and their families, prevent unplanned litters and decrease the number of animals ending up in shelters,” she explains.

For more information on Healthy Pets DeKalb, please email community@LifeLineAnimal.org  or call 678.883.2FIX (678.883.2349).

County will address damages at Clyde Shepherd Nature Preserve

Last March 4, several neighbors reported work at the Clyde Shepherd Nature Preserve (CSNP) that caused noticeable damage. The source of this disruption was heavy equipment operated by DeKalb Co. Watershed Management. Neither the CSNP nor the property owner were notified about the project [CSNP is privately owned but maintained by volunteers who, over many years, have invested thousands of hours into developing and maintaining trails and signage].

On March 20, MANA sent a letter to Commissioner Jeff Rader that read as follows:

Dear Commissioner Rader: 

We were greatly alarmed to learn of the recent destruction of green space within Clyde Shepherd Nature Preserve, a privately-held and volunteer-run asset to our neighborhood. It is our understanding that DeKalb County Department of Watershed Management began work along the sewer easement without making any notification to the landholder. While this action alone is disturbing enough, we were utterly appalled to see the large tract cut through the preserve and across one of the newest trails. Furthermore, we observed large pits dug into spaces that are not within the sewer easement. The creation of these craters further destroyed natural habitat in a space that is dearly beloved by the neighborhood and by many who visit from surrounding areas.

It is clear that the sewer line along Peachtree Creek needed improvements and that these repairs required Watershed Management to access the space through the preserve. However, the blatant disregard for the property owner and the inability to perform the work in a manner consistent with protocol by following established easements is yet another reminder that there are portions of our County government that remain dysfunctional. 

We know that you recognize the value of the Clyde Shepherd Nature Preserve to our community and appreciate the efforts of their board members and many volunteers who have worked tirelessly to maintain this green space as a vital asset to our neighborhood and all DeKalb County residents. Therefore, we ask that you give your full support to the board as they negotiate reparations from Watershed Management.

On March 21, CSNP President Chris Beck met with Commissioner Rader and the head of the Watershed Management--both were dismayed about the situation. CSNP will be filing a claim against the County outlining recommendations for restoration at the Preserve, and the County will assess the damage and then respond to the claim.

We will keep you posted on this issue.

DeKalb County Animal Services' "Adopt a Lucky Charm" special

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LIFELINE ANIMAL PROJECT OFFERS SPECIAL ADOPTION RATES DURING ‘ADOPT A LUCKY CHARM’ PROMOTION AT DEKALB COUNTY ANIMAL SERVICES

 

ATLANTA (March 20, 2014) -- You don’t need a four-leaf clover to get the luck of the Irish this St. Patrick’s Day.  LifeLine Animal Project invites you to adopt your lucky charm at DeKalb County Animal Services (DCAS) and receive special adoption rates during their ‘Adopt a Lucky Charm’ promotion.  During the month of March, any dog or puppy may be adopted for only $40, and any cat and kitten may be adopted for only $25. Standard adoption screening criteria still applies.  Adopted pets will be spayed or neutered, microchipped, vaccinated, heartworm or combo tested and dewormed.  

 

According to DCAS Director Susan Feingold, there are plenty of ‘lucky charms’ waiting to fill your life with love.  “We have so many great dogs and cats who are ready to become loyal family members,” she says.  “Their luck will change for the better when you adopt one, and so will yours.”

 

To see pictures of available animals at DCAS, or for the shelter’s address or adoption hours, please visit www.dekalbanimalservices.com. 

Medline LCI Study Charrette [Mar 29]

To RSVP for this event, go to medlinedesigncharrette.eventbrite.com

via Jen, from the Medline LCI Study Team:

We’ve put the final touches on our upcoming Design Charrette for the Medline LCI.  It will be held at Masala Indian Restaurant located in Patel Plaza on 3/29.  A light breakfast and lunch will be provided.  We hope that we can count on you to help us spread the word about the event to your networks, neighbors and other interested stakeholders.  Please encourage people to pre-register at:  medlinedesigncharrette.eventbrite.com. It should be an exciting and interactive event!

The community survey will remain open leading up to the Charrette.  Please continue to encourage folks to take the online survey, especially if they cannot attend the design charrette: https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/MedlineLCI

You can also visit the Medline LCI website to learn more about this study and review documents from previous presentations and community meetings.