Friday, October 27, 2017

Harvest Festival and Haunted Trail RESCHEDULED for Sunday Oct. 29

Due to weather... moving the party to SUNDAY

FALL FESTIVAL & HAUNTED TRAIL – RESCHEDULED for SUNDAY 10/29, 5:30-8PM

The Clyde Shepherd Nature Preserve and Medlock Area Neighborhood Association are joining forces again for the Fall Festival and Haunted Trail. We will have a bonfire, s'mores, games & crafts, food for sale, and of course the HAUNTED Trail! No trick or treat but costumes are encouraged. All are welcome!

At the Preserve - 2580 Pine Bluff Drive, Decatur GA 30033.

Thursday, October 19, 2017

Brief recap of a longish MANA Community Meeting - October 16, 2017

UPCOMING EVENTS
     Scott Circle Greenspace Cleanup/Work day October 21, 9am - 12pm. Bring rakes and loppers if you have. Coffee provided
     Senator Renitta Shannon Hosting “How Gov Works & How to Resist Bad Policy Effectively” meeting October 25 6:00-7:30pm at the Scott-Candler Library
     MANA Haunted Trail and Fall Festival at CSNP, October 28, 5:30-8 PM FREE! Haunted trail, games, crafts, bonfire, music, food sales
     Holiday Bazaar at North Decatur Presbyterian, Dec 2, 10am - 3 pm
     UN Day Parade at ICS Nov 3, 9:45 am
     ICS Run for the World 5K/1 mi run/walk Nov 4, 9-10 am 

VOLUNTEER NEEDS

     October 21,  9-12 am Greenspace cleanup on Scott Circle
     October 28th, early pm to end of event, setup and breakdown of Haunted Trail and help manning the crafts and activities at the event. If able to volunteer, please email medlockassoc@gmail.com.
     November 28-29, flexible timing. Volunteers needed to hang wreaths. Usually done using a ‘divide-and-conquer’ approach. If able to volunteer, please email medlockassoc@gmail.com.

MANA Logo Contest
  • The 1st prize winner is Rebecca Huynh Thongkham, who created a clean and appealing design highlighting the intersection of our community with natural elements. This design is a wonderful representation of our neighborhood for letterhead and official communications as well as car magnets, license plates, or cling stickers.
  • The 2nd prize winners were Barbara Orisich and Kathryn Firago, who also drew inspiration from the abundant animal life and green spaces in the neighborhood. Their design is particularly appealing for flags and t-shirts.

Senator Elena Parent http://www.elenaparent.com/home/
     She has been working on raising awareness about the 2020 Census. Census Bureau is being intentionally underfunded. Census figures have huge impact on state and federal funding for our area and of course on legislative redistricting. Concerned about gerrymandering, voter suppression, uncontested seats.
     She is working on and supporting legislation that would form a non-partisan commission that would handle redistricting so that politicians can’t just choose their constituents. She and colleagues working on this issue have heard from many folks around the state who are interested in supporting the effort, and it seems to have bipartisan support.
     Thinks legislative season will be very busy. Expects lots of transit, religious liberty, and anti-immigration legislation to be pushed
     Hasn’t heard anything from City of Decatur on future annexation plans
     Constituents can email her at elena@elenaparent.com and ask to be added to newsletter

Commissioner Jeff Rader http://commissionerrader.com/

     Detailed explanation of SPLOST including how the revenues would be spent as outlined in the Blueprint for Progress, more info http://dekalbsplost.com and http://commissionerrader.com/reader-county-news/items/ehostsplost-referendum-placed-on-november-7th-ballot.html
     Early voting has already begun or vote November 7 (find polling place info here https://www.mvp.sos.ga.gov)
     The new owners of North DeKalb Mall are looking at taking down a lot of the old mall, Costco could still be on the table, possibility of adding residential. He will make sure they are reaching out to MANA zoning chair to coordinate and communicate with neighborhood
     Emphasized we should reach out if we need help with County issues, esp. if we haven’t gotten good response from specific county representative or agency we’ve contacted
     PATH extension should cross Clairmont by end of 2018
     County does have matching funds available for Greenspace projects
     Attentive to traffic issues in neighborhood. The county will be repainting lines on Desmond at Clairmont to address the unsafe driving practices in that area.

Treasurer's report:
Charlie Charoenlap
  • Balance is pretty much status quo. Biggest expenditures were pool party, newsletter publication, while revenues were from new and renewing memberships.

Greenspace:
Ted Ward- Greenspace coordinator
  • Workday for floodplain lots (details above) Lisa Crowder memorial bench to be installed this week thanks to Matt Maguire for coordinating. Will have a dedication soon.
  • Received Park Pride Small Change Grant of $2200 to extend bridge across culvert into floodplain lots/Greenspace. 
  • Welcomes additional volunteers to help shape what the new Greenspaces can become.

Schools:
Tanya Myers-schools liaison and MANA Secretary introduced Claudia Rule, communications coordinator from ICS, who provided the following updates:
  • ICS really appreciates all the support and community of Medlock Park. Invite neighbors to come watch the UN Day Parade in front of ICS November 3rd 9:45AM. Will be brief road closure on Gaylemont 9:30-10 to accomodate the parade.
  • ICS Run for the World, November 4th, 5K & 1 mi certified run/walk up and down Medlock-there will be a partial road closure for that as well. Will update with more road closure specifics/logistics
  • Need Halloween Costumes for ICS students
  • Always accepting food items for ICS food pantry

Zoning:
Theresa Same, Zoning chair
     Working with County on Vol Repairs property that is currently in violation of ordinances and safety regulations, and hoping to see some eventual resolution (although the process itself is lengthy)
      She also mentioned the need to start thinking about what our options are with respect to the traffic volume around and in the neighborhood. The main thoroughfares are also state routes, which complicates addressing the neighborhood’s problem as the state’s goals are more related to maintaining the ability to move high volume traffic through the neighborhood.

Neighborhood Watch:
Barb Dalton, longtime MANA volunteer and Watch Coordinator is leaving the neighborhood. Will need more volunteers to step up to help with Watch.
     Watch is a success so far-reached initial goal of 300 homes subscribing
     120 vacation requests in first 105 days
     Officers are stopping folks for traffic related issue but not ticketing
     Will look into window decals for neighborhood cars
     $156/year dues per household to join
     If you check crimemapping.com most incidents are car break-ins. Continue to be vigilant, don’t leave valuables in vehicles.

Board Elections:
Theresa Same introduced the slate of proposed officers. No nominations were received from the floor and the following officers were elected (or re-elected) by verbal vote:
     Lynn Ganim - President
     Sharon Johnson - Vice-President
     Charles Charoenlap - Treasurer
     Tanya Myers - Secretary

Revisions to MANA Bylaws:
Lynn Ganim introduced the revised bylaws, which were approved by verbal vote.

Friday, October 13, 2017

Free Household Hazardous Waste Event [Oct 21]

via Commissioner Rader..

DeKalb to Host Free Household Hazardous Waste Event
October 21, 2017
8:00 am - 12:00 pm


Sanitation Division’s Central Transfer Station
3720 Leroy Scott Drive
Decatur, GA 30032

The event, sponsored by the DeKalb County Sanitation Division in partnership with  MXI Environmental Services LLC, offers event participants an opportunity to properly dispose of dangerous household chemicals that are no longer in use.

Hazardous materials such as aerosols, batteries, adhesives, flammables, lawn care products, fluorescent light bulbs, photo chemicals, artist supplies, paint and paint-related products will be accepted. Items such as agricultural waste, ammunition, pharmaceuticals, radioactive materials, and biohazardous and biomedical waste will not be accepted. Participants will be limited to 10 gallons of paint per vehicle.

Participation is free and only open to DeKalb County residents. Proper identification to prove DeKalb County residency may be requested.

For all upcoming meetings or events, click here

Have a wonderful weekend. 

Jeff Rader