Be green, save some green, replace your toilet.

Consider the humble toilet bowl. Maybe you do your business and run. Maybe your commode doubles as a library.

It doesn't matter. What does matter is the porcelain fixture in every house can be a drain on water resources.

Let's say the toilet in your home was last replaced with a model after 1994. Compared with a new WaterSense toilet, a two person home uses an additional 1,200 gallons a year to do the flush. That is enough water to do 29 loads of laundry.

According to the EPA's WaterSense site, new toilets use 20 percent less water per flush, but perform as well as older toilets that use much more water to do their business.

To help spur this water conservation effort, the city for a second year is partnering with the Metropolitian North Georgia Water Planning District. Homeowners who replace their toilets may get a rebate check of either $50 or $100 to for upgrading old toilets to water-saving units. 

A person could qualify for a rebate if you purchase a water-saving toilet and meet the following requirements:

• Own or rent a single family residential home built in 1993 or earlier.
•  Are up to date on your water bill payments 
• Purchase an eligible toilet after September 28, 2007 and have an original toilet receipt. Some $50.00 rebates are available for 1.6 gallons of water per flush or less $100.00 rebates are available for Water Sense toilets with 1.28 gallons of water per flush certified toilets.
   

For more information visit the web site at www.northgeorgiawater.org/toiletrebates or call 404-463-8645.




photo:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/veisto/ / CC BY-NC 2.0

Weeding, mulching makes JP shine

Residents cleaned up the flowerbeds and stone markers at the entrances to Jefferson Park in time for next week's tour of homes.

Helping out at dawn's early rise Saturday, around 8:30 a.m., were: Alan Martin and Dena Harris, of Blount Street, and neighborhood association president Clay Davis, of Harris Street.

Band takes the field

Before the Friday night kick-off, students from Tri-Cities HS in the band practiced their own moves. 


Tri-Cities High School Band from Andrew Nelson on Vimeo.

Photo Friday

The Tri-Cities High School marching band makes its way into the stadium before Friday's home football game.
The football team lost a close one, 25-28, against Mays High School.  

Make weekend plans

If you are wondering how to spend your valuable weekend time, consider some of these activities:

Friday:

Tri-Cities High School football, 7:30 p.m., at home. Fee.

Saturday: 

Clean up neighborhood stone markers. 

Meet at 8 a.m., at the marker at the intersection of Jefferson Avenue and Winburn Drive. Free.

Destination Downtown festival

Noon to 7 p.m. in downtown East Point. Free.

Sunday: 

Beginner Program at the Dick Lane Velodrome

The successful beginner program for basic track skills and velodrome etiquette returns. It begins at 10 a.m. and runs until 1 p.m. Fee is $60 and it includes bike rental.

Save a buck and see the neighborhood

Act now and save a few dollars for the popular tour of home tickets.

From the JP Neighborhood Association:

The 2009 Jefferson Park Tour of Homes and Gardens is well underway!

This year's tour will feature nine showcase homes and gardens, an artist market, a variety of raffle items (ranging from gift cards to Delta flight simulator time!), and an expanded menu at the food court.

This year's tour will be held in October on the 10th and 11th, and tickets are now available!

To purchase your tickets at a special internet advance purchase price of $12.00, click at the
Jefferson Park Neighbors Association at jeffersonpark.org

Online tickets must be purchased no later than 5:00 PM on Friday, October 9th; tickets purchased at the event will be $15.

Polls for elections open in 32 days

Polls for the city's election open in a little more than a month. But to be able to cast a vote, residents need to be registered.

That deadline is fast approaching: Monday, Oct. 5.


(At left, a sample ballot. Click to enlarge.)

Fulton County is responsible for handling registration. To get all the details and forms to perform this civic duty, see the county election Web site.

The department's phone number: (404) 612-7020


You can register by mail, but the application must be postmarked by Monday. And there is a whole list of items you need to supply to get on the election rolls.

To get a voter registration form - here - and print out and save time standing in line.

Today's Poll

Downtown East Point is the place to be

With games, vendors selling crafts, and bragging rights in the chili cook off as a prize, the Destination Downtown celebration Saturday will be lively.

Four bands - playing everything from Latin rhythms to jazz - will give the party a spark.

Streets will be closed to give folks an opporunity to stroll the heart of the community, support the new stores and restaurants and visit with neigbhors. Last year, an estimated 5,000 people came out.

Weather on Saturday is supposed to be sunny and in the 70s.

The fall tradition is sponsored by a variety of local establishments, who come together as the East Point Main Street Association, a group focused on enhancing the central business district of downtown East Point.

The festival opens at noon. The schedule of events: 

• Noon - 1:00 pm - Water Seed (Rhythm & Blues)
• 1 pm - Free Face Painting (til around 4:00 pm)
• 2 p.m. - 3 p.m. - Guru Fish (Light Rock Band
• 3 p.m. - 5 p.m. - Alicia Y. Rumba Brava (Latin Band)
• 5 p.m. - 6 p.m. - Dog/Puppy Show begins in grassy area of the "Commons"
• 5 p.m.  - 7 p.m. - Ron James and the Truth (Jazz Band)
• 7:30 pm - Kid's Zone & Silent Auction Closes
• 8 pm - Closing remarks and announcement of contest winners 

View East Point's historic downtown in a larger map

Real Estate Report in Jefferson Park

Photo: Zillow.com

Property Transfer Report - 2547 JEFFERSON TER.

Sold May 29, 2009

$126,000

View Larger Map

Help out in the communtiy

October is a busy month here in Jefferson Park.

This fall's big event is on Columbus Day weekend, October 10 & 11, which is the 7th Annual JP Tour of Homes when homes and gardens are showcased.

And in time for the neighborhood's big Tour of Homes, volunteers are needed to spruce up the entry ways to the neighborhood and around the place.

A work crew on Saturday, Oct. 3, will be cleaning up and planting flowers around the Jefferson Park's brick markers. The work will be easier with a few people who can lend a hand for a few hours next Saturday morning.  The work begins at 8 a.m.  

Contact jpnapresident@gmail.com if you're interested in bringing some tools and getting dirty. 

The following weekend is the  JP Tour of Homes. Volunteers are needed for ticket sales, home duties, and other tasks.

Don't be shy. Contact jpnavolunteer@gmail.com to lend a hand.

Here's what is needed on Saturday, Oct. 10, and Sunday, Oct. 11:

• people to work three-hour shifts, from 11am - 2 pm & 2 pm - 5:15 pm  
• Volunteer for one or both days at a shift that works best! If you can only work the entire shift, this is ok.   

For your troubles, you get a ticket to the after party to mix it up with all the JP Tour members, homeowners and other volunteers.

Contact  vanessabryan@bellsouth.net  with

• Your Name
• Your Contact #
• Your Preferred Day(s) & Shift Time(s)

Where is it? UPDATE

One wise guy called it 'Yosemite Sam's hat.'  It is not.  Neither is it a magnolia leaf.

It is a dogwood flower etched on the stone markers welcoming people to the neighborhood, as a loyal reader correctly pointed out. 

But his location guess was off. It is the marker at the intersection of Jefferson Avenue and Winburn Drive. 

Three weeks running and no one has claimed the grand prize. 

And a map to guide you to the Where is it? contest locations:

View Jefferson Park neighborhood in a larger map

Tri-Cities football defeated

It was not  pretty.

The neighborhood's high school football time fell to 1-3 in the 2009 season.

Saturday night, the Bulldogs were outplayed on the gridiron by Banneker High School.

The final score was 37-0.

Friday, the Bulldogs are back at the Dog Pound when they face the Mays Raiders.  Kick off is at 7:30 p.m.

Week in Review

The JP Hub this week covered:

• A sobering look at East Point
• How the great flood of 2009 knocked out the city's water intake pipe 
• Yard sales around the neigbhorhood.
• A gardening class for folks who want to grow their food
• Where is it? contest mapped out.
  

Today, you still have time to enjoy the yard sale, which runs from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. 

Or the gardening class is today also. Call Rashid Nuri at 404.520.8331 for details. 

Enjoy your weekend.

Photo Friday

Another entry in the Where is it? contest.

Name the location of the photo and get you name in written in the history books as the first winner of the Jefferson Park Hub Where is it? contest

More than 20 homes participate in Saturday's yard sale

More than 20 homes are putting out treasure or trash, depends on your point of view, for Saturday's neighborhood-wide yard sale. 

Bleary-eyed shoppers can begin checking out the goods at 8 a.m., while late risers have until 3 p.m. to check out the sales. 

Jefferson Park Neighborhood Association put up this great map:



View Jefferson Park Yard Sale, September 26, 2009 in a larger map

Flood forces city to close water supply system

The flooded Chatahoochee River forced the East Point to shut it's water pipes, leaving the community with a 15-day water reserve. 

According to a news release from Mayor Joe Macon, the city is following it's emergency contingency plan and continues to supply drinking water to residents and businesses.

"These measures have anticipated the worse case scenario based on my observations at the facility and potential damage due to record breaking flood levels of the Chatahoochee river," Macon said in a release.

Drinking Water is partially drawn from the river. However, the flood drowned the facility in Douglas County that draws the water into the city's water system and forced it's closure.

Now city leaders are focused on getting parts, like water pumps and essentials, ready for when the waters recedes and repairs can begin, according to the Wednesday release. 

East Point uses about 7 million gallons a day to quench its thirst, water the lawns and provide for business needs.

Federal disaster aid has been requested. The city may be reimbursed to fix the problem.

Press release:

East Point Intake Facility Underwater!

Please be advised that the Intake Facility (Raw Water Pump House) located in Douglas County adjacent to the Chatahoochee River has been shutdown due to the current flood stage of the river.

As a result, we have initiated our Emergency contingency plan that will entail the emergency procurement of parts and services to assure the power supply and pumps and motors can be reactivated as soon as possibe from the time the river flood levels crest and recede to levels that will permit inspection, maintenance and reactivation of the pumps that provide raw water to our plant.

The current raw water supply is 15 days based on the available storage capacity and average usage(7 mgd). I am requesting Fire and Police to take the appropriate action to notify those establishments that may be impacted if the worst case scenario presents itself.

These measures have anticipated the worse case scenario based on my observations at the facility and potential damage due to record breaking flood levels of the Chatahoochee river.

As stated by the Fire Chief, the Governor has declared a local State of Emergency for 17 counties and has also asked President Obama to declare a National Disaster. If this occurs we will be eligible for reimbursement of cost associated with this emergency.

We are keeping records of all the operation and maintenance expenses incurred as a result of the flooding for potential Federal reimbursement.

Drying out and looking ahead

 

Rainfall, picture from National Weather Service, via AJC

The good people at Truly Living Well Natural Urban Farms, on Washington Road, are trying to get in a Saturday class for would-be gardeners as Mother Nature's deluge of rain. 

Meanwhile, if you have some time this afternoon, Lovin' It Live, a  live food establishment in downtown East Point, will be at the farm at 3353 Washington Rd., East Point. Cooks will show people how to prepare dishes from the seasonal crops. 

This Saturday, the class on natural and organic urban agricultural methods will try again. Rain canceled the last two attempts . This focuses on fall planting and covers everything from soil preparation and composting to crop management to insect control.

It is a get-your-hands-dirty type of experience conducted at the East Point farm. 

Folks leave not only with new knowledge, but some fall seeds to plant.

The cost is $35 per person. Class size is limited. To reserve a seat, mail a check to:

         Truly Living Well
         P.O. Box 90841
         East Point GA 30364

For further information contact: K. Rashid Nuri at 404.520.8331

View Larger Map

 

Where is it? contest revealed

The Where Is It? contest continues. No reader figured out where the gnome reclined.
The map shows the location for the garden ornament. 



View Jefferson Park neighborhood in a larger map

Yard Sale-apooluza --UPDATE

--

Today is the last day to reserve a spot for Saturday's neighborhood-wide yard sale.

Contact Randy Nash at randytnash@bellsouth.net or 404-202-2411 to get in on this event. 

 

Jefferson Park neighborhood Association:

The Jefferson Park Community Yard Sale will take place rain or shine on September 26th from 8a.m to 3p.m. Residents will have until September 21st to turn in their Yard Sale application and fee of $10.00 in order to be included in this year's sale. If this is the 2nd sale you have had this year, then your fee will be $15.00 as the city charges more for the second permit.   As with last year's sale, JPNA will provide each homeowner with a yard sale sign and contribute with advertising for the event. It's encouraged that each participant post their own ad's on free sites such as Craigslist and AJC in order to draw a larger crowd.  A map with each of the homes participating in this year's event will be available in the coming weeks at www.jeffersonpark.org. If anyone needs a map, permit, or any other information prior to the sale please contact Randy Nash at randytnash@bellsouth.net or phone 404-202-2411. This is a great time to grab a friend and go find a treasure or two!