East Point's Spring Fling 2010

 In downtown East Point on Saturday, April 10, scores of people came out to enjoy a beautiful day and take advantage of the first Spring Fling, a community party to promote creative ways to reduce the amount of garbage thrown in the trash. 

  

Downtown East Point video

 A slice of life of downtown East Point:

 
 

Walking group steps off

A walking group started recently, just one of many opportunities around the neighborhood to get in better shape. 

Organized by Bryan Avenue resident Stacy Fizell, the group sets off Monday to Thursday  at 7 p.m. with folks walking between one and three miles. It meets at the entrance of Tri-Cities High School at Harris & Jefferson.

Here's what Stacy wrote to The Jefferson Park Hub:

• Why did you start this? What was your goal?

I started the group in order get some exercise and get in shape. Several of us had been talking about doing something for awhile and I figured starting out at the beginning of the year we be a good way to start the New Year.

• How far do you walk and how much time does it take?

We have one group that walks approximately 3 miles at a pretty good clip around the perimeter of the neighborhood and another group that is starting out with a mile that is a route down Winburn Dr. from the High School and back up Jefferson to the starting point.

• If a person cannot make all the walks, is that alright?

The group is open to all whenever they can make it. I set up a page on Facebook and post each walk as an Event so people can accept or decline the walks. This makes it easy to keep up with who and how many we should expect. No one wants to walk alone after dark so we want to make sure there will always be someone there to walk with. If anyone has any questions they can e-mail me at: stacyfizell@comcast.net or call me at (404)408-8535

• If a person isn't in the best shape, is that OK?

Yes! We have actually had several different paced groups that do the full 3 miles: one group that walks pretty fast, and another that follows closely behind.
We also have one group that is starting out with a mile for now and working themselves up to the 3 miles.

• How many people have been showing up?

We have had anywhere from 3 to 8 people. It's a good group that talks and cuts up most of the walk which makes it go by really fast.

• How long have you lived in the neighborhood? What street do you live on?

I have lived in the neighborhood 7.5 years and live on Bryan Ave. People that don't know me personally may know us as the Halloween House on Bryan......we have gone all out decorating and dressing up for Halloween for the past 5 or 6 years. This year several other neighbors joined in....we got 300 kids!

 PS: we have had several ask if dogs are welcome and the answer is yes!  But remember this is a fitness group so if your dog is slow and meandering like my Beagle you may want to leave him or her at home. 

An East Point Fitness Initiative is being kickstarted by the city's Park and Rec Department. You can try out a class of Cardio Blast, karate and F.I.T.T free. Also, see all the other recreation programs here.

The department is hosting an open house:

• Wed., Jan. 27, from noon to 2 p.m. 
• Sat., Jan. 30, from 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. 
• Call 404.270.7054 for information.
  

The renovation of Brookdale Park here in the neighborhood continues. Work on  replacing the tennis and basketball courts could begin in a month's time. Ward B City Councilman Lance Rhodes said the council awarded the contract at this week's meeting. And swings should be installed by the weekend.

City government closes for holidays

According to the city's Web site, offices are closed:

• December 24th & 25th - In observance of Christmas Holiday
• December 31st (Closed at 12noon - Half Day) & January 1st – In observance of New Year’s Day

Trash pickup on Tuesday appears to be on schedule.

Picture of East Point

The U.S. Census Bureau took a magnifying glass to communities with less than 60,000 people when it released the American Community Survey demographic estimates for 2006-2008.

The headcount helps determine how to distribute federal dollars for programs.

East Point comes in with 37,465 residents.

Here are some other bits of information (Numbers may not equal 100 because of  margins of error):

• Households
  
• In 2006-2008 there were 13,000 households.
  
• The average household size was 2.9 people.
• Families made up 59 percent of the households.
• The median age is 34.2 years.
  

•  Race:
• White: 6,573 or 18 percent
  
• Black or African American: 25,810 or 69 percent

• Education:
  
• High school graduation or higher: 80 percent
• Bachelors degree or higher: 22 percent

•  Housing
• Median house value: $153,400
• The median monthly mortgage: $1,339
• The median monthly rent was: $833
  
• The community has some 12,600 occupied homes, about 50 percent owner-occupied.
• About 6 percent of homes do not have telephone service.

• Economic
• The median household income was $43,523
  
• The average commute time was 33 minutes. And 58 percent drove to work alone, 20 percent carpooled, 15 percent took public transportation and 4 percent worked from home.
  
• For workers older than 16, the leading industries were in educational services, and health care and social assistance.
• More than 84 percent of residents worked in the private sector, 12 percent in the public sector and 3 percent were self employed.

Any surprises here for you?

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

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.

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.

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

A slice of East Point life

From pollution to the number of homeowners, an award-winning Web site grabbed tidbits of information about East Point in a friendly format.

Take a look.

What gives you pause?

Source: This We Know

http://www.thisweknow.org/l/GA/East_Point

East Point real estate picture

With deep price cuts to close deals and slow house sales, it is a buyer's market here, according to Zillow.

New information from the online real estate company shows the number of homes selling in the city has hit a 5-year low.

The value of homes in the city has also tumbled. Nearly nine out of 10 homes sold are valued less then they were in 2008. Figures for the Jefferson Park neighborhood were not available.

And home prices are dropping about 15 percent every 30 days, according to Zillow's statistics.

The percentage of homes selling in East Point hovers around 6 percent, the lowest level since 2003. Sales of homes peaked in early 2007 when 9 percent were sold. In Metro Atlanta and Georgia, the figure is 3 and 4 percent, respectively.

The latest numbers shows close to 70 percent of homes sold in East Point are being bought for less than the previous owner paid. (That figure excludes foreclosures.) The same category for Georgia shows 27 percent.

Desperate for some good news? Try this, the bleeding may have stopped or at least slowed. Home values appear to have hit bottom. The figures form Zillow show values are inching up, ever so slightly. 

Zillow Home Value Index

More East Point Home Values

Zillow is a an free online real estate company. Its figures used listings on its Web site and are based on its July' market reports.

East Point crime numbers bump up

Crime in East Point increased about 13 percent in 2008 led by more car thefts, burglary and property crime, according to new federal crime statistics.

The crime rate in the city increased 11 percent with 82 crimes per 1,000 residents.

  Or if you like bigger numbers: 8,240 crimes per 100,000 residents

Meanwhile, violent crime in the city fell about 6 percent, led by a drop in aggravated assault and forcible rape.

The crime rate in 2007 was 74 crimes per 1,000 residents.
    Or if you like bigger numbers: 7,415 crimes per 100,000 residents

The numbers are from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting program.  Here is the link. Or here to go right to Georgia crime numbers.

More information later:


Breaking down the numbers to specific types of crime:

Reported violent crime per 100,000 people:   

• 2008: 971 
• 2007: 1,047

 Reported property crime per 100,000 people:

• 2008: 7,269   
• 2007: 6,368

According to the AJC, East Point has the fourth highest crime rate per 100,000 persons in Metro Atlanta.

Mayoral forum--UPDATE

Future development in the city, crime and setting priorities for the community were a few of the key issues at Thursday's mayoral forum.

The four candidates told the crowded hall at East Point Christian Church their goals if elected for the next four years. The candidates are: Mayor Joe Macon, Earnestine Pitttman, Delana Morrissette and Threet Brown.

Erik Friedly, president of the Frog Hollow Neighborhood Association, moderated the 90 minute discussion. 

---

 Following the forum, the candidates stood together for photos. From left, Mayor Joe Macon, Earnestine Pitttman, Delana Morrissette, Threet Brown.

 ---

Macon said he wants another term in office to complete vital projects, especially the development of the downtown and the city common. After many years of financial uncertainty, the city is on track, he said. "It takes boldness. You can't be timid" leading the city, which requires decisions that not everyone likes, he said.

Pittman, who recently stepped down from her city council seat to run for mayor, said the community needs to start a vigorous program to lure commercial development here, especially to downtown and Sylvan Road area. City leadership needs to make long-term plans and set budgets to meet those goals, she said.  Pittman cautioned about the city taking on more debt.

Brown said he wants to bring a business mindset to city government, being proactive and responsive to community residents. "You have to get your financial house in order to move forward," he said. 

Morrissette said she sees a lot of promise in East Point and wants to make it the best place it can be.  She said a business-friendly community and a nice downtown would help its image.

 
A more complete report will be posted soon. But for now, view the 15 minutes of opening remarks by the candidates. (Technical difficulties interfered with recording Macon's opening. Sorry about that.)


East Point, Ga., mayoral forum from Andrew Nelson on Vimeo.

Students perform at the Tri-Cities High School arts center dedication

Students in the performing arts magnet program at Tri-Cities High School entertained the hundreds of parents, faculty and visitors at the dedication of the new arts center Saturday.


View New arts center in a larger map

The Visual and Performing Arts Magnet Program started with some 20 students in the 1990s and is now recognized as one of the most successful arts education programs in the Southeast. Students here have consistently won awards at competitions. (For more information about the school, see Thursday's post.)

Viola Turner, the director emeritus of the arts program, was honored at the dedication when the theater was renamed for her. It was in recognition for her work in laying the foundation for the program.


Scenes from the dedication:

The next best thing to owning a farm.

Urban Gardening Class
*Saturday, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
*3353 Washington Road, East Point.
*There is a $35 fee per participant.

***

The rows of green beans, herbs, okra are ready to be harvested at Truly Living Well Natural Urban Farms on Washington Road, East Point.

And for folks who would like to learn more about natural and organic urban gardening, they are invited to a one-day class to get their hands dirty.

The farm, under the direction of K. Rashid Nuri, is putting on a beginner's course to get ready for fall planting. The class covers from soil prep and composting to seasonality and weed/insect control.

Truly Living Well Natural Urban Farms is an effort to “provide the local community with healthy, nutritious vegetables, fruits, and herbs grown without the use of chemical fertilizers, pesticides, herbicides and other substances which have been proven harmful to one’s health and the earth that sustains us.”

It is part of a movement called Community Supported Agriculture, where a group of individuals or institutions support a farm by paying in advance for the produce. The supporters benefit from receiving “fresh-picked, wholesome, highly nutritious and above all, safe and delicious” produce throughout the growing season.

For more information, check out the Web site at: www.trulylivingwell.com


View Truly Living Well Natural Urban Farms in a larger map

First mile starts with the first step

Neighbors lace up their sneakers Thursday for the inaugural run of a new running club.

A Jefferson Avenue resident and others came up with the idea after running with the Tuesday Night Urban Run Club in Atlanta. (See the AJC article about the club here.)

The goal is to run three to five miles. Runners of all levels are welcome.

The Main Street Running Club meets for the first time on Thursday, Aug. 20, at Oz Pizza on Main Street. To help you find the place, here is a map. But most everyone knows how to find the pizza shop.


View Larger Map