Clairmont Heights Civic Association

From Valerie Boss: Friends of Ira B Melton Park will host a workday on Saturday, April 20 from noon-2pm. The plan is to finish gravelling the muddy spots on the trail, but if that's not your cup of tea, feel free to come pull invasive plants or pick up trash. Please supply your own water and work gloves, and wear shoes appropriate for muddy conditions.  Wheelbarrows, shovels, and hand pruners are needed if you have them. All are welcome. The entrance to Ira B Melton Park is on Desmond Drive, across from Park Lane.

From Jonathan Cribbs in the Decatur - Avondale Estates Patch: " County Backs Out of Management Offer with Little Creek Farm Conservancy.  DeKalb County will continue to manage the horse farm alone, the conservancy was told last week.... "[Read more]

Third hand report with possible lessons for others from Dawn Forman in the Laurel Ridge neighborhood: "I just received this from a neighbor in Lindmoor Woods [in the area bounded by Lawrenceville Highway, 78, and I-285] and wanted to pass it along:  "Please share/post the following incident that occurred today around 10-10:30 am on Mayfield Drive (just on the other side of Lawrenceville Hwy from us) in the Lindmoor Woods area: 

From lakesidecityalliance.org via North Druid Hills - Briarcliff Patch: "ATLANTA (April 10, 2013) – The Lakeside Community Alliance announced today that its next community meeting will be April 18 at the Greek Orthodox Cathedral of the Annunciation on Clairmont Road in Northeast Atlanta.  The event, which is expected to draw hundreds of area residents interested in the
potential formation of a city of Lakeside, will be held from 7 to 9 p.m. at the church’s Carlos Community Center at 2500 Clairmont Road, NE Atlanta, 30329.

From April Hunt in the AJC: "Four different proposals swirling around could in theory create at least that many new cities in north and central swaths of Georgia’s third-largest county. But since the boundaries of these would-be cities overlap — mostly in commercial areas highly sought for generating revenue — the battle so far has focused on what the final landscape will look like, not whether the cities make practical sense.

From Pat Fox in the ACJ (h/t Jim Hutchinson in the Sagamore Hills neighborhood listserv, Digest #2530): ".... As residents demand more for their tax dollar each year, the new crop of north Fulton cities say they are delivering big time.

From Melissa Weinman in the Reporter Newspapers (h/t to Jim Hutchinson in the Sagamore Hills neighborhood listerv, Digest #2530.): Comments from GA Sen. Fran Millar, GA Rep. Mary Margaret Oliver, and county commissioner Jeff Rader on motivations, conflicts, and process in the recent rush to propose new cities in North DeKalb.   [Read more]

From the Druid Hills Civic Association website: "New this year, the tour will also feature a speaker series on the history of the neighborhood and a classic car show, sponsored by Lambda Car Club of Atlanta.  The event takes place: Friday, April 19,10:00 AM – 5:00 PM;  Saturday, April 20, 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM; Sunday, April 21, 1:00 – 5:00 PM.

Forwarded from several Dekalb rescue groups via the Sagamore Hills neighborhood listserv:  WE ARE IN DANGER OF LOSING ALL FUNDING FOR THE NEW SHELTER. Please read the info below. Sonali, who is on the Advisory Board has taken the time to write a very informative summary. We have worked tooooooo long and come this far to lose at the 11th hour. It does not take much time to send an email to the commissioners. At the last BOC meeting, very poorly attended by Advocates, the vote on this was deferred.

The Board will vote on the issue next Tuesday morning, April 9th.

From district 57 rep. Pat Gardner:  The 2013 session of the Georgia General Assembly came to an end at midnight March 28, with the House of Representatives and the Senate reaching final agreement on landmark ethics legislation and a $19.9 billion state budget for fiscal year 2014.  This report covers action during the final week of the session. I will provide a comprehensive wrap-up of the entire session next week.

From Stacey Abrams, House minority leader and rep. for district 89 which includes Druid Hills: The General Assembly has completed its 40-day session for 2013. Legislation that has passed both the House and the Senate is now before Governor Nathan Deal for signature.  Bills that failed to receive passage are dead for the year, but may be introduced in 2014.  Legislation that did not receive a vote remains eligible for consideration next year.  Below is a sampling of bills that have received action.

From Jonathan Cribbs in the North Druid Hills - Briarcliff Patch: "The Druid Hills Charter Cluster is now a nonprofit and is accepting donations.

This is Dana Borda on N. Superior Ave.  I would like to let our neighborhood know about some changes coming to Fernbank Elementary (this is from our Principal, Mr. Jason Marshall):  "It's official . . . we're moving! Our school will transition to Avondale Middle School over the next few months. May 31, 2013 is the last day the Fernbank building will be open to staff, students and parents. Construction on the new Fernbank Elementary building is scheduled to begin later in 2013 and we anticipate being in our temporary home of Avondale Middle School for 18-24 months.

From Jonathan Cribbs in the North Druid Hills - Briarcliff Patch: Tucker-based groups upset with the LCA cityhood proposal threatened to boycott the restaurant where the event had been scheduled.  [Read more]

For our gardeners: Join us for our annual Spring Native Plant Sale where CNC will offer plants for every garden...from full sun to full shade!  The CNC Greenhouse is