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.

East Point cars targeted by thieves

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:



 

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.

 

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

'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.

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"Chicago" on stage at Tri-Cities High School

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.

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?

Jefferson Park fundraiser at Oz

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.

 

 

Donors wanted for blood drive.

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.


easel.ly

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

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.

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

 

 

Missing Kitty

Chairman Meow has been missing 3 days and it is very unlike him to not come home when his Dads call him. He is wearing a dingy orange collar wtth no tags ( he pulls them off constantly). He is very friendly.

His Dads love him very much. He meows a lot.

IF ANYONE HAS SEEN HIM PLEASE CALL 404-831-7084 OR 404-281-3946.

Food trucks serving up hot food in East Point

UPDATE: According to the downtown development coordinator, food trucks are coming to Downtown East Point (in the Commons, once a month next to the East Point Farmer’s Market-more information will be in the Downtown Newsletter this Friday).

--

Food trucks in East Point?  Apparently efforts are underway to make East Point friendly to these restaurants-on-wheels.

Already, East Point has one food truck. The colorful Blaxican Food Truck - "Mexican soul food" - parks off of Washington Road, close to downtown.

Of course, Atlanta has its park.

I've emailed Erin Rodgers, the downtown development coordinator, to see what she can tell us about this project.

UPDATE: Food Trucks are Coming to Downtown East Point (in the Commons, once a month next to the East Point Farmer’s Market-more information will be in the Downtown Newsletter this Friday).

Free training program for the TriCities 10K and 5K run/walk

The fourth annual TriCities 10K Run and 5K RunWalk takes off on May 4 at 8 a.m.

The race raises money for www.themainstreetacademy.com

Organizers want to help people to cross the finish line:

FREE TRAINING FOR REGISTERED PARTICIPANTS

Starting today train with Orlando Daniels, 20 years experienced distance runner and trainer; Every WED, 7PM, Badgett Stadium (last session May 1). First timers and veterans learn basic running skills, techniques to improve your speed, strengthen your stamina and tone your muscles.

Badgett Stadium: 3636 College Street, College Park GA, 30337

SIGN UP NOW for just 20 BUCKS

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Local school fundraiser

Chick-fil-A Spirit Night

Please join The Main Street Academy tomorrow night, Tuesday - 2/26/13, from 4:30pm-6:30pm at Chick-fil-A on Cleveland Avenue for our monthly fundraiser.

As always, there will be activities for the children and they have a great playground.  Tell the cashier you are with TMSA and a portion of your total bill will be donated to the school.  Drive-thru is included.

TMSA is built on the foundation of our 8 Core Values.  It's important for both students and parents/guardians to keep these in mind as we gather in the community for school-related events.  We need to be "the proud face of TMSA" and have fun, but still mind our manners.  There should be no running or screaming at any of our partner establishments.  Please display the TMSA core value of Respect at our community events as if you were visiting a friend's home for dinner.

Thank you for your continued support of TMSA!

 

Social media now a police tool

EAST POINT - To track down the suspect of an armed robbery, city police used the newest tool in their arsenal: social media.

The gunman was caught on security tape, but there was no luck  in identifying the man, wearing a dark hooded sweatshirt.  So, police posted the video on Facebook and the East Point Police Department's Youtube channell. A tip came with a name and the suspect was later identified in a line up.

That's the success Sgt. Allyn Glover, a veteran police officer, sees as the department embraces Facebook and other social media.

"To date the page has been nothing less than a success. I feel that keeping everyone informed on the goings on in our city can only result in better communication and more success stories," said Sgt. Glover, the social media guy at the department.  A 16-year veteran on the force,  he is currently assigned as to the Major Crimes Unit in the Criminal Investigations Division.

Law enforcement have embraced social media. Nearly nine out of 10 law enforcement agencies now use social media, a part of the arsenal as walking the beat. The International Association of Police Chiefs surveyed 600 agencies and more than half said social media had helped solve crime.

The city police joined joined Facebook in early 2012.  While others may share vacation pictures or funny videos, the police are using the social media to share news about crime and develop better community relations. The police department uses the page to issue news releases, along with photos and videos of suspects and remarks from the community.

Facebook is the most popular outreach with social media, according to the police association survey. As of February, some 283 follow the department's page. In the future, the department may weigh whether to join Twitter.  Already, an account has been reserved by the department, but it hasn't been activated, Glover said.

Other parts of city government are turning to social media to get the word out. The city of East Point has been on the site since 2010 used Facebook to share community information. It has 435 fans.

Sgt. Glover responded via email to questions about Facebook.

When did the department first start using Facebook and what prompted using it?

We have been using social media since early 2012. We wanted to find better ways of using today's technology and felt that social media was a great way to accomplish that. We brought the idea before the Interim Chief Chase and he embraced the idea of using social media to better communicate with other agencies and citizens.

What has been one of the surprises for the East Point Police Department about using Facebook?

We were already very familiar with social media. We are happy to say that so far there have been no real surprises.

What has been a success of using Facebook?

As recently as last week we were able to identify an armed robbery suspect after posting a video on our Facebook and Youtube pages. Cobb County Detectives contacted us with a tip on who they believed the suspect was and he was subsequently identified with the use of lineups.

Any hiccups that the department wasn't expecting and it'd caution other police departments to avoid?

To date the page has been nothing less than a success. I feel that keeping everyone informed on the goings on in our City can only result in better communication and more success stories.

Does the department use other social media?

We use Youtube as well to post our videos. The channel is EastPointPolice. We have reserved a Twitter account but it's not active yet.

How many people at the department are responsible for the site? And how often is it updated?

I am the sole administrator for the social media sites. I review all correspondence that comes to me and post as needed. Chief Chase also monitors and posts on occasion. I have a Smartphone that allows me to keep the page updated at all times.

Can people submit tips via Facebook or should that be done over the phone?

Yes. We recommend that the submissions be done through our Facebook email as opposed to an open post. But yes.

 

Second Annual 'Love Feast' Saturday

Jeannine Henderson organized the community potluck she dubbed a "Love Feast." It is coming up on Saturday. She talked about how it got started and how others can get involved.  Check out the photo gallery below.

What was the inspiration and motivation behind this event?

That is an interesting story. I am the creator and administrator for the East Point Neighbors Give-Sell-Swap page on Facebook (think Freecycle meets Craigslist, but specifically for our area). Once the group reached 500 members, I felt a celebration was in order. We decided to do a potluck gathering. After some suggestions from residents, the potluck quickly evolved into an Appreciation for East Point's Police and Fire/EMT departments. Valentine's Day was coming up in about two weeks from the inception of the idea and I thought this would be a nice tie-in to include the holiday in a way. Since it was to happen around Valentine's Day I dubbed the event "Love Feast" because the event is all about showing our love and appreciation for our first responders who work hard to keep us safe and sometimes put their lives in the line. Last year we had around 125 people in attendance including our guests of honor. We felt that it was a great success and we received a lot of positive feedback from our first responders and citizens.

-Is this your own initiative or part of an organization?

The Love Feast is a labor of love that is organized and hosted by citizens independent of any organization. Citizens donate their time and resources to coordinate and execute the event. We also rely on donations and participation from Local Businesses. Last year's planning committee consisted of Matt and Ali Jewell, Isabel and Craig Jeffares, Kerry Kirwin-Milwood, Tim Baxley, Dennis Morgan, and myself. Turning Point Wellness Center was the first business to jump on board last year. They donated all of the paper goods used at the event along with a gift certificate for the raffle. Taco Pete, The Flower Cottage, and Oz Pizza also contributed by donating food or gift cards for the raffle. Some citizens also pitched in and offered prizes for the raffle. This year, TurningPoint Wellness has graciously offered to have their therapist on hand to pamper our hardworking first responders. Matt and Ali Jewell have again played an instrumental role in helping me spearhead our 2nd Annual Love Feast.

 

-What do you hope it brings to the community?

My hope with any local endeavor is to bring people together and foster a greater sense of community. Since last year's Love Feast I have become a member of the East Point Main Street Association and also the Jefferson Park Neighbors Association. Both of these organizations focus on community. However, Love Feast is extra special to me because it evolved from something so simple and has so much heart behind it. With the Love Feast, my main objective was to give back to those who give so much of themselves and their time to keep us safe. They work while we are sleeping, they work on weekends, they work on holidays, and they are often away from their loved ones. Public safety jobs are not glamorous and they are not lucrative, these jobs are labors of love. You have to love what you do in these fields. I don't know of another community where the chief of police, additional police units, firefighters, and a public service worker with a backhoe would come out on the weekend in the pouring rain at night to rescue a drowing cat from a storm drain! Our first responders truly care about the citizens, even the furry ones!

-What is required of the participants?

We just ask that our neighbors bring a covered dish to share at the event and extend their appreciation to the first responders. We had some delicious food last year.Two residents even baked treats featuring the different public safety departments. There were cupcakes with the police, fire, and EMT insignias piped onto each cupcake with icing and another resident made heart cookies that said "Thank You." It is the little things such as this that show our first repsonders how much we appreciate them.

-How can someone get involved with this event?

The easiest way to get involved is to just come out (with a covered dish to share) for some great fellowship and to extend your appreciation to our first responders. In addition to having top notch first responders who genuinely care about their community, one of the things that makes East Point such a wonderful place to live is the amazing sense of community that our neighbors share for each other and our city. If someone wanted to donate their time or goods to the cause, they may contact me to coordinate.

-How has the response been from the public safety agencies in East Point?

They were thrilled! Nothing like this had been done before last year. Having members from all over the community come out just to shake their hand, give them a hug, and offer up a home baked dish made their day. The smiles on their faces made my week.

-What are the future plans for the event?

This is the second year for the event. We plan to make this an annual event. We may add another gathering in the Fall, most likely around Thanksgiving. Showing our appreciation around Valentine's Day and Thanksgiving seems like a great time to give back to our Police, Fire/EMT departments.

Gallery of the 2012 celebration

A new name for East Point's hospital following consolidation

EAST POINT - The Cleveland Avenue medical facility has a new name.

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New release:

Atlanta Medical Center Consolidates with
South Fulton Medical Center
and Becomes Second Largest Hospital in Georgia

Atlanta Medical Center (AMC) and South Fulton Medical Center have consolidated into one hospital with two campuses, effective Jan. 1, 2013. South Fulton Medical Center has been renamed Atlanta Medical Center – South Campus.

Now licensed as a 762-bed acute care hospital, Atlanta Medical Center is the second largest licensed-bed hospital in Georgia. With its main campus located in downtown Atlanta, the hospital’s South Campus in East Point, GA provides care to the surrounding communities of East Point, College Park, Hapeville and Camp Creek.

“Both of these hospitals have a long history of serving our communities,” said William T. Moore, president and CEO of Atlanta Medical Center. “We are pleased to provide even greater service to our patients by combining our strengths, providing quality health care to a larger region and offering a choice of location.”

The consolidation has been in the works since last spring, as the two hospitals explored ways to ensure long-term stability. On Dec. 31, 2012, the Georgia Department of Community Health issued a licensing permit recognizing Atlanta Medical Center as a 762-bed acute care hospital.

An academic medical center, AMC has been serving the community since 1901. With the consolidation, the hospital now has almost 3,000 employees and contractors; 580 physicians on its medical staff; and handles more than 21,000 inpatient admissions and 162,000 outpatient visits each year. Atlanta Medical Center offers comprehensive health care, including 24-hour emergency services, Level 1 trauma care, stroke treatment, women’s services, medical imaging, orthopedics, sleep center, pulmonary, cardiac care and bariatric surgery for weight loss.

Atlanta Medical Center is owned by Tenet Healthcare Corporation.