The Porch Press - Serving the Historic Atlanta Neighborhoods of Grant Park, Ormewood Park, East Atlanta Village, Benteen Park, Glenwood Park, and environs

admin — Thu, 18 Apr 2013 10:22:57 +0000

East Atlanta Community Meeting Notes 03-12-2013

Kevin called meeting to order at 7:07 pm
Kevin asked newcomers to introduce themselves
- Laura and her husband just moved to Metropolitan Place
Police report, Zone 6 – Officer Mitchell (beat officer) and Officer Gonzales (field trainee)
APD trying to increase visibility in several ways:
- On foot patrols
- Efforts to meet business owners
Jeep Cherokees are a hot item of late, as they start very easily;
- Stolen vehicles are being used in robberies
Q&A
Closing
- February minutes approval; Ed moved to approve, seconded, approve
  - Steve noted that the February minutes failed to include his commendation of Rebecca’s January minutes
- New busines
  - Steve asked if we have any graphic artists to design a sign for encouraging Branan Towers residents to attend the monthly EACA meeting
- Kevin “heard” a motion to adjourn

Feel Good Shopping

admin — Thu, 18 Apr 2013 09:33:24 +0000

By Lauren Hise

There are many things about shopping consignment stores that make me feel good. The recycling issue is high on my list. I just hate to waste anything, including money, and who doesn’t like getting a good deal. That is my favorite thing to do!

Every car I’ve ever bought was previously owned. I figure let someone else buy it new, eat the initial new car expense, and then when I buy it a year later gently used with low mileage, I get it for half price! If half price is an option, I can’t understand why anyone would ever choose to pay full price. Plus, I like nice, high-quality things and just can’t afford to pay full price. I can buy almost-new designer items for the same price as brand-new department store items. Buying clothes, toys, and furniture used is not much different than a car. You can blow all your money on brand new, or spend less money buying previously owned higher quality items, and more of them! Almost all the furniture in my home was previously displayed. Much of my family’s clothing was previously worn, and most of my son’s toys were previously played with. This makes me feel proud and savvy. It’s a lifestyle for me, and a fun hobby, kind of a non-stop scavenger hunt.

A song that promotes secondhand shopping called “Thrift Shop” recently became popular. The lyrics state that if you paid $50 for a tee shirt you got swindled, pimped, and tricked. And then on top of it you will have the same shirt on as six other people when you go out, and that will not help you pick up women. The song is funny, but so true. When I shop retail, I feel duped. It’s not fun to wear what everyone else is wearing, furnish your home with generic Rooms-to-Go items, and worst of all pay full price. There is no wisdom or fun in that. I get a rush when I find a bargain price on something unique. It’s a rush that I can’t get at Wal-Mart, Toys-R-Us, or JC Penney. I don’t feel good shopping in those stores, because I know I’m paying more than I need to, and will most likely end up spending more than I can afford. It’s super fun to discover a rare treasure, and I love to show off those unique items that aren’t found main stream, all the while knowing I got an unbeatable price. That is what makes shopping enjoyable to me.

Let’s recycle the recycling issue, because it is important for us, but more so for our children. When we purchase used, we are helping our children’s environment by keeping those items out of landfills and preventing another from going into production. We each play a part in the reduction of waste, child labor, fuel, and much more. I am proud to do my part in helping our environment (and my pockets) by recycling, and thus supporting our local economy. Recycling is pretty easy, and shopping consignment is super fun. Oh, and did I mention you can make money by consigning too!?

Baby Love is a maternity and children’s consignment boutique serving expectant parents and children through size 5. Boomerang sells kids, juniors, and women’s consignment and locally made treasures. They are both located at 465 Boulevard SE, Atlanta, GA 30312. More information can be found at www.BabyLoveAtlanta.com or www.BoomerangAtlanta.com.

Trenches Correction

admin — Thu, 18 Apr 2013 09:31:12 +0000

By Henry Bryant

Scott Petersen has been a regular contributor to the Porch Press over the years as well as a community activist and officer in the SAND organization. He has also done a lot of good work and advocacy for the environment and history in Atlanta and Dekalb County with special emphasis on his home base here in the Porch Press area. In last month’s paper he had an article “Civil War Trenches” that contained several errors.

Readers were not able to take advantage of his offer for tours and more info because the email was incorrect. If you are interested in finding out more about the Civil War fortifications along the Chattahoochee River on the west side of town, Scott’s email address is scottppetersen@yahoo.com. Scott also knows a lot about the old Atlanta Prison Farm and ConstitutionLakes area just off of Moreland Avenue south of the Starlight Drive-In.

The Porch Press apologizes to history buffs out there, but the editors mistakenly corrected the spelling of Intrenchment Creek to what they assumed was the proper spelling with an “E” instead of an “I.” Historically the name of the creek uses the “I” spelling, and it shows up on early maps that way. Scott had it spelled correctly as Intrenchment Creek.

I spent a good amount of time last year researching General Walker in initial work to restore the monument to him. The WalkerMonument is located in East Atlanta at I-20 and Glenwood Avenue where the General died. I would like to correct a couple of statements about General Walker’s relevance to the Porch Press neighborhoods.

First, the area behind the giraffe habitat at Zoo Atlanta is commonly known as FortWalker. It did not get that name until well after the General was killed in the opening moments of the Battle of Atlanta. The fort in Grant Park, originally known as Battery K, was in place even before the fortifications were added to encircle the city of Atlanta, which was in the current downtown area. Lemuel P. Grant, Grant Park’s namesake, is given credit for scouting and engineering the fort and city fortifications in 1862-63.

In those years, General Walker was in Mississippi near Jackson with his troops as support in the Battle of Vicksburg. He went on to Tennessee and was at the Battle of Chicamauga during that time. He most likely would not have had time for scouting trenches in southeast Atlanta. On July 9, 1864, General Walker crossed the ChattahoocheeRiver at Bolton Road making his way towards the city, traveling through it and encamping on Peachtree Street near present-day Brookwood. He then moved further north to join the fighting at Peachtree Battle only days before the Battle of Atlanta. He was then ordered on a 15-mile march down and around south Atlanta to attack the Union lines on Flat Shoals and Moreland Avenues on July 22.

General Walker and General Hardee did spend one hellish night in the area of Intrenchment Creek and the Atlanta Prison Farm. Unfortunately for them, it was in the middle of the night, and they were lost. The nearest documented battle lines seem to be north of there, off of Bouldercrest Road (General Smith for one). If there was any time for digging trenches, that is where they would be.

General Walker died in battle here and was seen as a hero by the citizenry of Atlanta for having led the effort to protect the city from the invading Union Army. The Confederate Soldier’s Home, which housed veteran troops who had marched with Walker, was located on Confederate Avenue. To those men he was certainly a hero. The General was also from a prominent Georgia family. For those reasons, streets, high schools, and other landmarks were given his name as our neighborhood developed on the historic battlefield.

Intrenchment Creek, as it leaves the doorstep of Cabbagetown (today in culverts underground) on its way to the Atlanta Prison Farm and the South River, was a natural barrier between the opposing forces in our neighborhoods on the west side of the Union lines. There may have been some hurriedly dug trenches in the area of the creek. The creek gully itself may have served as a trench providing cover from miniballs. Many times what is thought to be a Civil War trench today was really an agricultural terrace from yesteryear, put there either before or after the War.

This year’s Battle of Atlanta commemoration for the battle’s 149th anniversary will be held this summer between July 13 and 21. The BATL tours and other programming are a good way to learn more about this history in its sesquicentennial years. The website at .

Get Ready for Some Financial Spring Cleaning

admin — Thu, 18 Apr 2013 09:29:48 +0000

Submitted by Paul Harrison, written by Edward Jones

Spring is in the air – or, at the very least, it’s on the calendar this month. And if you’re like many people, you may be looking forward to doing some spring cleaning around your house and yard. But this year, why not go beyond your physical environment and do some “sprucing up” of your financial situation?

Here are a few possibilities to consider:

• Clean your portfolio of “clutter.” When you go through your house, you may find some clutter in closets, storage areas, on top of desks, under beds or just about any other place. Your investment portfolio also may contain clutter, in the form of investments that no longer meet your needs. Consequently, it’s a good idea to “de-clutter” your portfolio periodically by selling those extraneous investments and using the proceeds to help purchase others that may be more effective in helping you make progress toward your financial goals.

• Consolidate your investments in one place. As you clean your house, you may find that you have many common items, such as brooms, hammers, duct tape, and so on, scattered among various rooms. It might be more efficient to keep all such objects in one central location; this can help prevent you from needlessly replacing or duplicating them. As an investor, you may have an IRA with one financial services provider, an old 401(k) with a different one, and some other investments with yet another institution. If you consolidated all these investment vehicles with one provider, you might be able to save some fees and expenses. Perhaps even more importantly, by uniting all your investments in one place, you may find it easier to follow a central, unified investment strategy.

• Check for gaps in your financial strategy. Every spring, it’s a good idea to check your gutters for leaks, your sidewalks for cracks, and your paint for chips. By doing so, you’ll help protect your home and surroundings. To help protect your family’s future, it’s important to have adequate life and disability insurance.

• Plant seeds for growth. When spring arrives, it’s time to plant the seeds for your flowers and vegetables. As an investor, you also have to be concerned about growth. Specifically, you’ll want to consider investments that have the potential to grow enough to help provide the financial resources to meet your long-term goals, such as a comfortable retirement. Consequently, you should review your portfolio to determine if it contains an appropriate amount of growth-oriented vehicles for your individual objectives, time horizon, and risk tolerance.

• Seek professional assistance. When you’re tidying up for spring, you may find some jobs that you can’t do alone, such as cleaning a heavily stained carpet, unclogging a blocked drain, or trimming the highest branches on a tree. For these tasks, you might need to call in trained professionals. It’s the same with investing: You can do some things on your own, but for complex tasks such as creating and maintaining an appropriate investment strategy, you may need to work with a financial professional.

Consider putting these spring-cleaning tips to work soon. They may just help put some sparkle and shine into your financial house.

Library News

admin — Thu, 18 Apr 2013 09:28:45 +0000

By Henry Bryant

The East Atlanta Library has been without a children’s librarian since Heather Draft left in the fall to move back north. She had been a favorite of kids and parents since arriving a year ago. Then last month East Atlanta’s Branch Manager Librarian Kenneth Wayne Thompson tendered his resignation after seven years serving at the branch. Kenneth has moved on to become the Director of Libraries in Davenport, Iowa and is now also off to a colder climate.

The children’s librarian position at the East Atlanta Library has not yet been filled by a full time staff person, although extra staffing has been provided from other branches on a temporary basis. Library hours have also been cut recently to cover county budget shortfalls making staffing easier. Meanwhile, librarian Shannon Duffy has been brought in as interim Branch Manager. With lots of experience as a children’s librarian at other branches in the system, she has lots to offer at the branch in light of the current staffing situation. She lives in southeast Atlanta and is very familiar with East Atlanta and the surrounding area. If you haven’t met her yet, stop in and say hello!

Sheep Grazin’ at Grant Park Cooperative Preschool

admin — Thu, 18 Apr 2013 09:26:30 +0000

Sheep “attend” school – Photo by Rebecca Wallace

By Rebecca Wallace

Cats, ladybugs, swans, the Mud Monster, and now sheep? Yes, sheep. Ellie Martin, coordinator for the volunteer group, Atlanta Farm-to-School, has been introducing farm-to-preschool concepts at the Grant Park Cooperative Preschool (GPCP) where she is on staff. Ellie is the school’s interim Naturalist, a new position created by GPCP in 2011 and first filled by Susan Edwards who is currently on maternity leave. “The Naturalist works closely with the classroom educators to facilitate explorations of our natural surroundings and use the environment as a learning lab,” said Gabriela Garcia, GPCP Executive Director.

Ellie is working with the children to carry on the renovations of the school garden started by Susan last school year. When the question of how to get rid of overgrowth came up, Ellie looked no further than Ewe-niversally Green, a company that offers “sheep for hire” for natural land management. GPCP hired the company in March and sheep are expected somewhere between March 26 and March 30.

Paid for by donations from GPCP families, a $600 fee covered the rental of a team of sheep for four days, a portable, in-ground fence to keep them contained to specific areas, and ample opportunities for the children to meet the sheep. Brian Cash, the sheep owner, also spent time with the children, speaking with them about environmental practices for clearing invasive plants.

“We believe that this will help instill in the children a deep respect for the earth, the animals and the interdependence of all living things,” said Ellie. Ellie also brought her own chickens to the opposite side of the yard during the four days to eat and turn up the invasive monkey grass.

With many families that are involved with the farm-to-school movement, GPCP is well on its way to being a model farm-to-preschool organization. In addition to the consistent garden education and frequent field trips to the park and zoo by classes from both the Grant Park and Cabbagetown campuses, the school will experiment with a warm meal program in the fall in which students help to cook locally purchased produce and share a warm meal for lunch.

“Starting with our littlest chickens is the most organic way to truly incorporate a farm-to-school way of thinking in our community,” said Leslie Grant, alumni representative on the GPCP’s board of directors and founding member of Atlanta Farm-to-School. “What we are doing here is fun, educational and healthy.”

For more information about the Grant Park Cooperative Preschool, please call 404-521-0440 or visit www.gpcp.org. You can also “Like” and follow them at www.facebook.com/GPCPschool. Find information on Ewe-niversally Green at www.eweniversallygreen.com.

Student Art from the Atlanta Charter School

admin — Thu, 18 Apr 2013 09:24:01 +0000

By Nathan Bubes, Art Teacher

The Atlanta Neighborhood Charter School (ANCS) hosts a talented student body. At the middle school, students develop their skills and discover their abilities in the visual arts. To get students rolling, they start with something basic, such as letter art. Letter art is something recognizable to all and learning some basic techniques, to give a visual presence for letters, allows student to express creatively a quote they find profound and powerful. To achieve their final draft, students were required to produce two prior drafts, each focusing on different compositional elements. The end result demonstrates that with practice and thought, ideas develop and technical skills increase when working within a drafting process.

The students’ art will be on display for the month of May on the Gallery Wall in the East Atlanta Library meeting room during regular library hours. To gain access and view the works, you can ask at the circulation desk. The library is located at 400 Flat Shoals Avenue in the East Atlanta Village. The show is sponsored by the Friends of East Atlanta Library and the Atlanta Fulton Public Library.

Grant Park Crime Report

admin — Thu, 18 Apr 2013 09:21:59 +0000

By Chris Newman (Grant Park Security Patrol)

In late February there was an arrest of three juveniles in a stolen car that was taken in a Grant Park carjacking. That arrest was on McDaniel Street to the west of the interstate. Since that arrest robberies and carjackings have stopped in the neighborhood. The neighborhood continues to have some problems with burglaries and the most recent have been on the far south end of the neighborhood on Mead, Robinson, Kendrick, and Confederate. The pattern has been the same as the earlier February burglaries. These burglaries have been occurring in the evenings, and typically a back door or broken window is the entry point. Typically laptops and jewelry are taken. Major Meadows has reported that his repeat offender officer is checking our area for any recently released offenders.

Security Patrol continues to remind residents and their guests to keep cars clean. With patrols at night, they seem to be seeing a decrease in vehicle larcenies, but as the weather becomes warmer, usually there is an increase in these types of crimes. Also there will be many visitors to the park and the zoo during spring vacations and that increased traffic presents an opportunity for thieves.

Baseball season has started so security patrol reminds residents who walk to Turner Field to be careful when walking home after the games. Try to walk with a group and leave the ballpark immediately after the game. In past years there have been robberies near the PhoenixPark on Georgia Avenue.

With the current level of support security patrol is able to continue with the weekend patrols Friday to Sunday. Sergeant Bailey, Officer Davis, and Officer Sluss will be on duty from about 6:00pm until 10:00 or 11:00pm, and occasionally from 10:00pm until 2:00am. Security patrol officers log in to the Zone 6 dispatch and respond to all 911 calls in our neighborhood. It is important that you call 911 if you see suspicious activities.

Thanks to all members for continuing support of the Grant Park Security Patrol (GPSP). Second quarter payment of $40 per household is due now. Members who pay annually will be sent an email reminder when payment is due. It’s easy to pay online but, if you’d prefer to receive a hard copy of the invoice with an envelope to pay by mail, just email GPSP. If you are already a member, please encourage a friend or neighbor to join.

And a reminder to all members to notify GPSP if you are changing email addresses: If GPSP does not have your correct address you will miss crime alerts, invoices and more. Members who join online can verify their payments at the Security Patrol section of . The patrol has converted to an email notification system so it is important to let the patrol know of any changes of email addresses. If you are still receiving a paper copy of the newsletter and invoice, patrol asks that you consider the switch. The email notification system has greatly streamlined the number of volunteer hours.

In case you are not familiar with GPSP, it is a nonprofit corporation run by volunteers. Membership costs $40 each quarter or $160 annually. GPSP uses that money to hire off-duty police officers to patrol the streets of Grant Park. During each patrol, the GPSP officer will usually pass each member’s house at least three times. If a member lets GPSP know that they will be out of town, additional attention is paid to their house while they are away. Since GPSP began over twenty years ago, burglaries in the neighborhood have dropped by 70% and some of that dramatic decrease can be attributed to the work of the GPSP officers. The more members GPSP has, the more patrol hours can be afforded, so please join! There is now a convenient online payment program. Just go to www.gpna.org and click on Security Patrol at the top. Please let GPSP know how useful you find the online system as it is regularly being tweaked.

Thanks to Botwinick and Botwinick, APCO Graphics, Paul Harrison of Edward Jones Investments, Oldfield HOA, and Adams Realtors for sponsoring additional patrol hours.

Local Trail Angel

admin — Thu, 18 Apr 2013 09:20:12 +0000

By Scott Petersen

The month of March marks the beginning of hiking season in Georgia. Each year, thousands of hikers from various backgrounds and skill sets converge on North Georgia to begin the long trek towards Maine along the Appalachian Trail. Whether attempting a thru-hike or section-hike, both seasoned pros as well as beginners are likely to encounter complications. As outlined by the Appalachian Trail Conservancy, both methods come with their own advantages and disadvantages.

Scott Petersen, a registered nurse who resides in the Porch Press area, addresses the need for rural nursing, focusing on the treatment of the most common ailments plaguing hikers. Commonly referred to as a “trail angel,” Petersen has a long positive history assisting hikers with complications which otherwise would lead to an early termination of a hike across America. Petersen offers comprehensive nursing care to hikers who acquire friction burns, blisters, minor muscular strains, and upper respiratory tract infections, as well as assessment in cases of coughs or other issues, flu, or any complications arising from the journey. Hikers are assisted on a sliding scale basis. More serious complications are referred to local county hospital emergency rooms.

In addition to practicing rural nursing, Petersen leads tours across Atlanta and Georgia, offering a unique opportunity to explore off the beaten path trails featuring historic landmarks and concentrations of wildlife.

Babies at Zoo Atlanta Given Names

admin — Thu, 18 Apr 2013 09:13:12 +0000

By Kalia Edmonds

The two youngest great apes at Zoo Atlanta may have vastly different stories, but they now have one very important experience in common: Their friends and fans can officially stop referring to them as “baby orangutan” and “baby gorilla.” Pongo, the Sumatran orangutan, has been named by a passionate young lady with a lifelong love of wildlife, and Andi, the western lowland gorilla bears the name of the devoted partner, father and friend behind one of the Zoo’s most prolific scientists and conservationists.

Catherine Carlos, daughter of Atlantan Chris Carlos, enjoyed the honor of naming the 9-week-old male orangutan born on January 10, 2013. Catherine’s avid love of animals prompted her father, a longtime generous supporter of Zoo Atlanta, to surprise her with the opportunity as a gift for her recent 12th birthday. Catherine and her sister, Christina, who also shares this love for animals, visited the Zoo on Saturday, March 16, to see Pongo and to name him. Following extensive personal research, Catherine chose a name with significance for all of Asia’s critically endangered great apes. Her selection is the first word in the scientific name of both orangutan species: Sumatran orangutans, Pongo abelii, and Bornean orangutans, Pongo pygmaeus.

Born to Blaze via Caesarean section, 9-week-old Pongo and his mother have shared a story followed by thousands of fans, as Zoo Atlanta animal care professionals continue to work to reunite the pair. Thanks to their dedicated efforts and countless hours of training, Blaze has progressed to holding, carrying, and interacting with her son for several hours a day. Zoo staff is hopeful that Pongo can soon graduate to residing with his mother full-time, although he still relies on bottle-feeding and round-the-clock care.

Born to Lulu on March 14 and recently confirmed to be female, Andi the gorilla was named by Zoo staff in memory of Andy Pachman, the late husband of Tara Stoinski, Ph.D., the Zoo’s Director of Primate Research. Pachman passed away on March 9 following a heroic battle with cancer. The feminine form Andi is a tribute to Pachman’s indomitable spirit, his many years as an irreplaceable member of the Zoo Atlanta family, and his unwavering support of his wife’s career, which has been dedicated to the study and conservation of gorillas. Stoinski has authored or co-authored more than 50 publications on gorilla behavior and conservation and shares a joint appointment as Vice President and Chief Scientific Officer for the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund International, which has its global headquarters at Zoo Atlanta.

“Both of these newborn great apes are lights in the lives of the Zoo Atlanta family and invaluable public ambassadors for two critically endangered species. We’re pleased and proud for them to carry names that suggest not only hope for their species, but also meaningful reminders that individuals are capable of enormous positive change for wildlife and their habitats,” said Raymond King, President and CEO. “There are many tireless advocates here at the Zoo, but each of us owes a piece of our power and productivity to the friends and family whose love and support help us to accomplish the remarkable work done here.”

Both species are critically endangered. Now believed to number fewer than 7,000 in the wild, Sumatran orangutan populations have declined drastically in recent years as a result of habitat conversion to palm oil plantations, over-harvesting of timber, and human encroachment. Western lowland gorillas have faced similar declines, and as much as 95 percent of their wild population is believed to have been lost over the last two decades as a result of habitat loss and poaching.

Zoo Atlanta is home to the nation’s largest zoological collections of gorillas and orangutans and is a national center of excellence for the care and study of great apes. Both Blaze and Lulu were recommended to breed by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums’ (AZA) Species Survival Plan (SSP), which seeks to maintain self-sustaining, genetically diverse great ape populations in accredited North American zoos.

Andi can be seen with her mother on exhibit in The Ford African Rain Forest. This is the same world-class habitat her famous grandfather, the late Willie B., so memorably christened with his first steps into an outdoor environment 25 years ago this year. It’s hoped that Zoo Atlanta members and guests will soon have a chance to meet Pongo. Stay tuned for more news on Blaze and her son. Daily updates are available Monday through Friday on the Orangutan Baby Updates page on www.zooatlanta.org and weekends on Zoo Atlanta’s Facebook page.