Wednesday, March 27, 2013

Easter Weekend Events at Jefferson Ave Baptist Church

From the Jefferson Avenue Baptist Church:

Annual Easter Egg Hunt.

Saturday, March 30 beginning at 11 a.m. For children Elementary Grades and younger.
Bring your own basket and meet in the Fellowship Hall at the church at 10:45. Following the Easter Egg Hunt we offer all Easter Egg Hunters and parents a light lunch back in the Fellowship Hall.

Decorating the Community Cross

The Jefferson Avenue Baptist Church Flower Committee has set up a "greened" Cross on the front lawn and is asking anyone who would like to bring flowers, blooms, or other vegetation of color from your yard/garden/etc. to help us decorate the Community Cross. Members of the Flower Committee will be at the cross beginning at noon on Saturday, March 30.

Celebrating Easter at Jefferson Avenue Baptist Church. We invite you to worship with us this Easter weekend.
At 7 a.m., we will hold our annual Easter Sunrise Service on the front steps of the Sanctuary (facing Jefferson Avenue). Everyone is invited.
At 10:30 a.m., we will offer our Easter Sunday service, in the Sanctuary. All are welcome and a Nursery is provided.

Need more information, please call the church at 404.767.0582 or email us at jeffersonchurch@att.net.

Monday, March 25, 2013

East Point cars targeted by thieves

policecarJPHUB

EAST POINT - Stolen cars are a problem in the city.

The February crime report from the East Point Police Department shows a spike in stolen cars, in addition to an increase in crimes involving guns.

Reports of serious crimes in the city in February totaled 402, that's is a 33 percent increase compared to February 2012.

Stolen Cars


Police handled 79 reports of stolen automobiles in February, with six trucks/buses reported being stolen.

That is a 58 percent increase from February 2012.

Robberies


More residents are being held up too, particularly by people with guns.

In February, police investigated 22 reports of robbery.  That is a increase of 36 percent from a year ago.

But people using guns while committing the crime jumped 61 percent, from 5 incidents to 13.

Here is the comparison:



 

Saturday, March 23, 2013

Hollywood arrives on the doorstep of Jefferson Park

Jefferson Avenue home becomes a film set. Photo by Brian Frey
 

EAST POINT - Filming for the movie Prisoners closed a main roadway through the city, filmed in local homes and gave a resident the chance to say thanks to a leading man for taking on a controversial role.

Shutting Down Cleveland Avenue


Atlanta Medical Center, South Campus, was the backdrop to the filming of this ?. Police shut Cleveland Avenue for much of this past week. Cars and other traffic was diverted through the neighborhood, causing some walkers to be concerned about speeding cars.

There was even a Christmas/holiday scene, where a tall pine near the intersection with Jefferson Terrace was circled with white lights to make it look like the holidays.

Extra shooting In local homes


An 11th hour request to shoot in local homes had residents to open their houses to cast and crew. Shooting was done at homes on Jefferson Terrace and on Jefferson Avenue.

Said Jeannine Henderson, of Jefferson Terrace:
They filmed in my basement, I had no idea this was going to happen, total chance.

I made cupcakes for the crew and Hugh Jackman and Maria Bello. I made them Coca-Cola cupcakes one day and Red Velvet with Pecan Brittle the next day.

It was an unforgettable experience.

A pastor thanks Jake Gyllenhaal


Pastor Paul Graetz and spouse Robert Mixon opened their home to film crew, including Jake Gyllenhaal.

Pastor Graetz posted on Facebook about an encounter he had with the actor:
After the filming of the movie Prisoners wrapped up in our living room yesterday, the best moment for me was to personally thank actor Jake Gyllenhaal. I wanted to say thank you as a Pastor... on behalf of all the gay and lesbians of the world for being willing to make the film, "Brokeback Mountain." Many actors would have been hesitant to take on a role like that. I thanked him for telling a story of love that is everyone's story who have been oppressed by inequality thinking or struggled with self acceptance. I wanted him to how much I appreciated his stand and how much the kind of Christian Church I represent appreciated it as well. So again, Thank you, Jake for your role in creating greater awareness and contributing to the higher consciousness of equality for all. We all thank you.

He also said, that he took the role without hesitation knowing that it was ground breaking and would have an impact. He was delighted to hear that it was received so well by many.

 

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Pastor Paul Graetz, left, and husband Robert Mixon. Photo by Brian Frey

Friday, March 15, 2013

'Hinokishin' in Jefferson Park on Saturday, March 16

Jefferson Park residents:
My friends the Fujimoto family, who live on Jefferson take periodic litter sweeps of our Jefferson Park streets and Bryan Park. The Fujimotos pick up litter in the spirit of HIROKISHIN, which translates to expressions of gratitude in the Japanese faith called Tenrikyo.

In the spirit of HINOKISHIN, please join us for a street litter sweep on Saturday March 16th.  We will meet at 10:00 AM at Harris and Jefferson and pick up street litter for an hour, then meet at the Fujimoto's house at noon for a refreshing glass of lemonade.

--Wil Miller

Learn more here.

[mappress mapid="76"]

Wednesday, March 13, 2013

"Chicago" on stage at Tri-Cities High School

Chicago musical


Students at the performing arts magnet school perform the fast-paced, entertaining story about gangsters in the Windy City.

Tickets can be purchased here.

Performance dates:

  • Thursday, March 14, 7 p.m.

  • Friday, March 15, 7 p.m.

  • Saturday, March 16, 2 p.m.

  • Saturday, March 16, 7 p.m.

  • Sunday, March 17, 4 p.m.

  • Thursday, March 20, 11 a.m.

  • Friday, March 21, 7 p.m.

  • Saturday, March 22, 7 p.m.

  • Saturday, March 23, 2 p.m.

  • Saturday, March 23, 7 p.m.

  • Sunday, March 24, 4 p.m.

Tuesday, March 12, 2013

Visions of downtown East Point: Historic district vs Open lawns



East Point City Council recently reviewed proposals for redeveloping the city center.

The issue has been quiet for months. Before the process was slowed, residents formed a Facebook group called the East Point Preservation Alliance. Advocates were concerned with plans to raze some 1930s era buildings, including City Hall and a now-closed city library.

The council heard from the second of two developers last month about their visions for downtown. Ward B Council member Lance Rhodes said the council would vote to move forward on one of these proposals. It may take up to two years to finish the project after a vote, he said. No date has been set for the council vote, he said

Here are key points:

Developer: East Point City Planners LLC

  • Knock down city hall to create a great lawn. This opens up the arched front of the city auditorium.

  • Build a new government center.

  • Relocate the closed city library by razing a city fire station. This creates another green space.

  • Close Linwood Avenue, between Church and East Point streets to create a city center.

  • Estimated price tag: $17.7 million to $18.1 million

  • Presentation


Developer: Manhattan + Gateway + Benoit + CCNA

  • Create a "district" concept with four dimensions: civic space, recreation, transportation oriented development, live & work space

  • Erect monuments and arches to establish the border of the district: Main Street and Church Street; Thompson Avenue and Cleveland Avenue.

  • Develop amphitheater and open space along Church Street

  • Preserve city auditorium.

  • Presentation


What do you like about the plans? Dislike?

Tuesday, March 5, 2013

Jefferson Park fundraiser at Oz

Pizza


Oz Pizza: Tuesday night, once Oz gets 20 separate receipts, they will donate 20% of said receipts to the JPNA.

Date: March 5, Oz Pizza, Main Street, East Point

Eats: Maritza & Frank's, Hapeville.

I headed to Hapeville last week to check out a new coffee shop that is getting a lot of buzz on a local Facebook groups. The place - Drip - seemed closed after its soft opening, but the stretch of two-story buildings on North Central Street was anything but.  This stretch of town has a number of unique, local establishments, from salons and a Thai restaurant to a bakery and drug store. The store fronts have their charm as originals, with no chain stores in sight. Those are found on Virginia Avenue, not too far away.)

After buying dessert for later during the day at the Buttersweet bakery, I wandered to Maritza & Frank's, a meat-and-two-sides southern diner on N. Central Street.  I had no trouble finding a table in the large dining room, where the tables are covered in red and white checkerboard plastic. It has the charm of a slightly worn, comfortable diner. Several people waited to pay their bills.  I found myself a seat in the corner.


View Larger Map // Inside of the restaurant


I checked the day's specials before the waitress brought over the lunch menu.  Being Friday and being I don't eat meat on Friday during Lent, I selected the tilipia. Given the option for fried or grilled, I went with fried.  A Foursquare recommendation praised the green beans, so that was my first side, my second, mashed potatoes, gravy on the side.  And to wash it down, a cup of coffee.


All in all, a solid meal.  The fish was done right and I am someone who doesn't embrace seafood.  There were two pieces of the freshwater fish on the dish. The white meat was tender, nicely battered. I feared  a fried fish would be greasy, but this was not. It was tasty. I did pick bones out of my mouth.

The sides. Green beans were good. If you can describe beans as al dente, these would be them. These kept their bite, instead of mushy beans that had been kept in hot water to long. The mashed potatoes were better with the gravy than by themselves.

Also, the meal came with two warm corn muffins.  Baked to just right color of a muffin, they had the classic flavor that makes them a southern favorite.

Coffee. Good, standard java.

All in all, the meal came out to about $12, including tip.

On Urban Spoon, customers give it 85 percent approval rating. And Foursquare, 5.7 out of 10 recommended it, or "mixed feelings."
If you're in the mood for southern food before exploring this stretch of Hapeville, with its unique shops, Maritza & Frank's would be a place to start. It is closed Saturdays.

 

 

Monday, March 4, 2013

Donors wanted for blood drive.

Armed Services Blood Program

From the Jefferson Avenue Baptist Church:
The LifeSouth Community Blood Center Bloodmobile will be at Jefferson Avenue Baptist Church this Saturday, March 9th at 10 AM.

The Blood Drive runs from 10 AM to 3 PM, and the Bloodmobile will be located in the Lower Church Parking Lot off the corner of Winburn Drive and Batavia St.

You must be 18 years old to donate blood (or 16 years old if you bring your parent/guardian) and weigh at least 115 pounds. We would encourage you to drink plenty of water before you donate (maybe beginning on Friday).

We invite the community to help "Save a life, give blood."

If you have any questions, please call the church at 404.767.0582 or the LifeSouth Community Blood Center at 678.432.0637.

#DoGoodATL : a call for photos of neighborhood goodness

Creative Loafing - Atlanta's other newspaper - is kicking off a new program for shutterbugs.
For CL's 2013 Neighborhood Guide, we're on a quest to find the good in Atlanta so we can spread the Karma throughout the city - and we need your help. This year we are launching our Do Good campaign, a series of grassroots partnerships with local neighborhoods to help them realize goals and projects they haven't been able to accomplish on their own, from beautifying a decaying neighborhood corner to starting a community garden to fencing in a new dog park. More about that soon.

As part of this project, we want our faithful CL readers to show us what good looks like in their neighborhoods. Think about it, and send us a photo of what you see. It could be anything from that piece of public art that brightens up your day to a neighbor picking up after their dog, and pretty much anything in-between. Maybe it's an annual neighborhood festival? An oft-overlooked park? Or a community organization that brings people together? Whatever the reasons, we want to see what makes your neighborhood great.

Send your snapshots to photos@cln.com or post them to Twitter or Instagram using the #DoGoodATL hashtag before March 8, 2013. Don't forget to include the location and a brief description.

Are any East Point neighborhood's showing off its best side?

Read more for details. Deadline is March 8.

 

 

Meetings on proposed "Cleveland Avenue Crossing" to replace abandoned apartments

UPDATE  - East Point planners and developers are to hold public meetings on a proposed WalMart on Cleveland Avenue

City council member Lance Rhodes sent out the notice:
Notice of Development Intent Sylvan Road/Springdale

Case Number:  2013P-006-03Duplantis Design GroupPreliminary Plat
CZIM Meeting :    03-12-13
P&Z Meeting:      04-18-13
Council Meeting:  05-20-13
Applicant Phone Number 404-567-5701

For the new readers of my emails, the CZIM is the public meeting where you can talk directly with the developer and P&Z staff. This meeting is held on the first floor of Jefferson Station in the P&Z Conference Room. The other meetings (P&Z and Council) are held on the fouth floor in the Council Chambers.

 

EAST POINT - One of the biggest redevelopment projects in the city in years is quietly moving forward.
City leaders expect the plans for the commercial/retail center, anchored by a WalMart store, to be submitted in November. Public meeting will be scheduled to review the plans for the site, at the corner for Cleveland Avenue and Sylvan Road.

Redevelopment title=
easel.ly

Sunday, March 3, 2013

"Chicago" coming to East Point's Tri-Cities High School stage

Lighting crew at Tri-Cities High School
Lighting crew at Tri-Cities High School getting ready for "Chicago."/Photo by Brian Frey 
 

EAST POINT - The Tri-Cities High School award-winning performing arts program is getting ready to put on the crowd favorite, "Chicago."

The musical's opening night at the Viola Turner Theater, on Harris Street, is March 14. Tickets can be purchased online here.

Chicago musical

Saturday, March 2, 2013

Food cooperative to serve local families

South Fulton Newspaper had the story first about this new program that'll deliver 40 lbs. of food monthly to needy families.
Tri-Cities Church, based out of East Point, is doing their part to provide hope for families who have fallen into dire circumstances.

The church is in the process of executing a family food cooperative through local schools — Hapeville and Parklane elementary schools and Tri-Cities High — in the south Fulton area.

Jamie Vernon, one of the pastors at Tri-Cities, grew up in the community and has a passion for giving back in his community.

Here's what is especially troubling:
 “Tri-Cities High School has some of the highest numbers of homeless students in Fulton County,” said Vernon. “There are many different levels, but one of the main reasons for the instability and transient nature for these families is food insecurity.”

Read more: Food cooperative to provide families assistance