The

CITIZENS REVIEW
June 2004
Special Election: Also included on the July 20 ballot will be a special election for: 1) Atlanta City Council President to fill an unexpired term 2) a referendum on whether to impose a special one percent sales and use tax in the City of Atlanta to fund water and sewer projects. Registration and Absentee Voting: There is still time to register to vote before the June 21 deadline. You can go to the State of Georgia website listed above or call the voter registration office at (404)656-2871. If you will be away or cant get to the polls, please vote absentee. You can request an absentee ballot application by calling (404)7307065 or pick one up at the Northside Library located at 3295 Northside Parkway. Fax the application to (404)7308839 and a ballot will be mailed to you. Ballots must be returned no later than 7 PM on Election Day.

Vol. 21

Newsletter of the Mt. Paran-Northside Citizens Association, Inc.

July Election More Important Than Ever

Your Vote Counts
General Primary July 20, 2004 General Primary Runoff August 10 Registration Deadline June 21
Primary Election: A primary is any election held for the purpose of electing party officers or nominating candidates for public offices to be voted upon in a general election (to be held on November 2). At the present time, recognized political parties in Georgia include the democratic and republican parties. Most judicial officers and some local county officers are elected on a non-partisan basis. These non-partisan candidates are included on both political party ballots in the primary. Offices to be elected include President/Vice President, U.S. Senate (to succeed Zell Miller), U.S. Congress (Districts 5, 6), Associate Justices of Georgia Supreme Court, District Attorney, Judges of Superior Court and Court of Appeals, Public Service Commissioner, State Senators and Representatives, Clerk of Superior Court, Probate Judge, Sheriff of Fulton County, Solicitor, Fulton County Surveyor, Fulton County Tax Commissioner, Judges, State Court of Fulton County and Fulton County School Board Members (outside the City of Atlanta). For more election and candidate information go to: www.sos.state.ga.us

There Can Be no Daily Democracy Without Daily Citizenship

Your vote in the upcoming Primary Election is extremely important. A low voter turnout could result in a loss for the most qualified candidates. Judicial races and the special election will be decided on July 20, not in November. We have an obligation to be informed and to choose the best candidates. Hope to see you at the polls, open 7AM to 7PM, July 20!

Ecological Disaster Created with Driveway Repair Permit

Neighbors are horrified at the disaster that took place at 1175 W. Conway and wonder how this could happen in our neighborhood and our city. This tragedy has resulted in the massive destruction of more than 60 mature trees, illegal dumping of some 550 truckloads of crusher run to widen and raise the driveway, along with the pollution of State waters. The remaining trees, whose roots are buried under the crushed stone, are now in jeopardy of dying too. On April 14, the citys Tree Conservation Commission (TCC) ordered the homeowner to pay $49,320 in recompense for illegally cutting trees. The TCC further ordered the citys arborist (who initially cited the homeowner with illegally removing only seven trees, but that later was changed to 21 trees), to return to the site to determine the number of stumps that were buried with crusher run to conceal the evidence. The TCC indicated that there would be more fines imposed after the actual number of cut trees can be determined. One commission member commented
Continued on Back Page

Fire Side Chat

By CAPTAIN KEITH SCHUMACHER FIRE STATION #27 B-SHIFT, 4260 NORTHSIDE DRIVE

Things are moving fast in the Atlanta Fire Department these days. One of the biggest things is, were changing our name to Atlanta Fire-Rescue, to more accurately describe what we do. We have recently put some new emergency medical equipment in service at Engine #27. We have a new Automatic External Defibrillator that gives us the capability to provide emergency medical service to children as well as adults who may be suffering a cardiac arrest. We also have a unit that can measure blood sugar accurately to a specific number rather than just a range, which greatly improves our care to diabetic patients. We now have a pulse oximeter, that fits on the tip of a finger to gives us a heart rate reading and tell us the percentage of oxygen in the blood, very important in medical emergencies. Another big move in the making is that our department is in discussions with the Fulton County Fire Department to implement a boundary drop. This plan would enable us to respond to emergencies from the closest emergency crew regardless of what jurisdiction the emergency is in. This would increase the number of units that each dispatch center has at their disposal. Fulton County dispatchers would be able to dispatch Atlanta units and vice-versa. The Mt. Paran-Northside community would benefit from this because it would nearly double the amount of fire apparatus available on either side of the city-county line.

Where Do We Go From Here?

By H. LAMAR WILLIS Atlanta City Council Member, Post 3 At-Large

After two and a half years of serving on the Atlanta City Council (in large part due to the support I received from the Mt. Paran Neighborhood), I am pleased to report that change is afoot. But unfortunately, that change is not coming soon enough. The City is still short several hundred police officers; solid waste collection continues to be a problem across the city; water/sewer rates are going through the roof; gridlock is the norm; our parks are in a deplorable condition; scandals are continuing to reveal them- We have also implemented a program called ASAP. This stands for Atlanta Smoke Alarm Program. We believe that smoke selves, and the list goes on. So where do we go from here? alarms are the single most important appliance in your home. It took the City of Atlanta more than two and a half years to get They save lives! And, we suggest that you should change your into this situation. So we can all be assured that it will take the smoke alarm battery each time you change your clock. If you City more than two and a half years to get out. Yet we all hoped didnt change your battery when we had the recent time change, that we would have been further along on the path to recovery. do it now. If you would like assistance in testing, changing batThe difficulty in addressing many of the Citys most pressing teries, or installing a smoke alarm, free of charge, please call our issues revolves around two major deficiencies. The two missing Smoke Alarm Hotline at (404)865-ASAP (2727). ingredients are a lack of money and of efficient management. In recent Atlanta city budget talks, Atlantas firefighters were Therefore, to address many of these challenges the City must asking for minimum safe staffing, a fair pension and a raise in identify new or enhanced streams of revenue. First, Atlanta must pay to a level comparable to neighboring fire departments. We collect all revenue due. This isnt a novel idea; however, it has also discussed replacing the 1987 Ford Hose Tender at Station not been done well. Additional possibilities include the creation #27. We did OK, but not great. We were able to get 50 of the of a parking authority (parking meters and parking decks), the 203 needed positions to bring us up to national minimum safe enforcement of all parking and traffic violations, identifying cost staffing levels. We still need 153. We were able to get 2% of the saving measures through consolidation and/or outsourcing of city estimated 20% raise needed with an additional 2% to come in services, and identifying automation and management improve- July. Our pension was not addressed, nor was the Hose Tender. ments. The AFD Officers Committee will continue speaking at NPU Of course, more money could always help the City. However, (Neighborhood Planning Unit) and community group meetings without proper management/management controls it would all be to gain support for the 2005 budget process. As a department, for naught. In fact, a number of the Citys issues could be ad- we are stepping up in our improvements in the services that we dressed largely through the streamlining and implementation of provide to you in the hope that you will be there to support us. improved processes. The most likely place would be in the col- We need your help. Please call your Atlanta City Council reprelection of revenue owed the City as it pertains to solid waste. sentative and ask them to support your firefighters with at least While we have seen some changes at City Hall, there have not the same pension as the police and as much pay as neighboring been enough for the average homeowner to notice. The citizens firefighters. must demand that the Citys administration stretches itself to improve services, reduce and/or maintain costs (depending on the department), and create more public/private partnerships where appropriate. Citizens must also demand that the City Council exercise adequate oversight and develop thoughtful public policy that gets to the heart of all of these matters. Under the direction of Fire Chief Dennis Rubin, we are becoming a customer service oriented organization. Our essential mission and number one priority is to deliver the best possible service to you, our customer, Let us know how we are doing. Stop in and say hi. Bring the kids. We would love to see you.

City Charter and Consolidation

BY CLAIR MULLER

ATLANTA AIMS TO BE WORLDS FIRST WIRELESS CITY

Atlanta has begun development of Atlanta Fastpass to become the world's first truly "wireless city." This Wi-Fi Initiative will bring together both the public and private sectors to create this new high-speed wireless network, which will initially "go live" at Atlanta City Hall and Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport. "The public Wi-Fi initiative is a major step towards delivering Mayor Shirley Franklin's vision for a wireless Atlanta, as the City focuses on addressing the broadband conductivity needs of mobile residents and visitors," said Abe Kani, Chief Information Officer City of Atlanta Department of Information Technology. "We are thrilled that the City of Atlanta has selected Biltmore Communications to be its partner in this groundbreaking effort to create a citywide high-speed wireless network. We look forward to working closely with the City, with our schools and universities, and with key business leaders in the private sector to make Atlanta the biggest Wi-Fi city in the world," stated Jeff Levy, chairman and CEO of Biltmore Communications. Within a three-year period, the City will rapidly expand its wireless footprint and provide a service that will enhance educational opportunities for students and enable businesses in the City to improve workforce productivity, by giving workers the freedom to use their laptops and PDAs in the various locations throughout the City. It will also benefit Atlanta's backup communication network in disaster scenarios and make Atlanta more attractive as a convention and tourist destination. "By making technology available to the public, Wi-Fi brings important benefits to the community as a whole, bridging the digital divide," says Dr. Jabari Simama, Executive Director of the Mayor's Office of Community Technology. For additional information and continued updates on Atlanta Fastpass call (404)330-6633, or visit www.atlantaga.gov/Government/InformationTechnology.aspx

During the May 17 meeting of the Atlanta City Council, I introduced two important pieces of legislation concerning the creation of a Charter Review Commission to discuss various issues relating to the Charter of the City of Atlanta. While certain provisions of the Charter can be amended by action of the City Council, others, including any changes to the composition of the City Council, require action by the Georgia General Assembly and involve the consideration of a Charter Review Commission. The first resolution would establish the initial Charter Review Commission to deliberate briefly on the questions recently raised regarding the composition of the City Council. Specifically, as it is written now, it would be charged with studying four issues: The composition of the City Council; Election procedures for the City Council; Funding arrangements for City elections; and Administration and personnel practices from, or during, a vacancy. This resolution is being held in committee and I hope that action will be taken on it soon. The second resolution I introduced would have expanded the charge and composition of the Charter Review Commission to include an analysis of the feasibility of consolidating the governments of the City of Atlanta and Fulton County. Consolidation has been discussed in various forums over the years, but the discussion has never garnered serious attention. The Council voted to file this legislation and I have reintroduced a revised version to include an analysis of both Fulton and Dekalb counties. I believe it is time we undertake a serious discussion of the benefits consolidation would offer the City of Atlanta and the entire region. The Charter Review Commission is the perfect forum for just such a discussion. There is a growing need for regional planning and cooperation if we are to ensure that the Atlanta Metropolitan area remains competitive in the global market. Instead, the regions municipalities continue competing against each other for the precious few resources coming from the state and federal government, often at the expense of regional progress. As a result, the City of Atlanta and the entire Metropolitan region continue to face the growing list of problems stemming from urban sprawl. Just as the City is in the midst of a costly capital improvement program to improve its water and wastewater system, costly new growth is occurring on the fringes of urban sprawloften at the cost of reinvestment in our aging infrastructure. I am not one to suggest that consolidation does not raise numerous issues that will require a great deal of discussion. But now is not the time to ignore this debate. Instead, it is important that we engage in this debate and look seriously at the opportunities consolidation might provide. I look forward to the debate regarding this legislation, and I would especially appreciate any input from residents interested in this issue. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me at

Notable Neighbors
Whitewater Creek neighbor, Sandra Adair, has been appointed to the Board of Equalization (BOE). After completing the required 40-hour course, Sandra began serving on the board in April. BOE members are also required to take an annual 8-hour refresher course. The threeBill Rau member BOE was established in 1993 to resolve appeals of tax assessments in the city of Atlanta and Fulton County. Mt. Paran Road neighbor, Mary Lou Floyd, was recently appointed to Keep Atlanta Beautiful, formerly known as the Atlanta Clean City Commission. The groups mission includes keeping Atlanta free of visual pollution through education, ownership and enforcement.
Jo Ann Rau

We appreciate the willingness of these neighbors to work to make a difference in their city, state and world! Please email us about your notable neighbors: or

Neighborhood Briefs
Help Wanted
To design a new Mt. Paran-Northside Citizens Associations Website or maintain the current site through www.neighborhoodlink.com/atlanta/mountparan If you are interested in helping with this worthwhile neighborhood project, please send an email to It can be what you make it!

Introducing the Chastain Park Conservancy

The Chastain Park Conservancy was formed last fall by combining efforts from the Chastain Park Civic Association and a grassroots organization called People for Chastain Park. The 501(c)3 designation was received in record time. The board consists of J.P. Matzigkeit, President; Justin Wiedeman, VicePresident; Kirk Oppenlander, Treasurer and Mary Dodson, Membership Chair. Ray Mock, formerly with Park Pride, is the Executive Director of Operations. The mission of the Conservancy is to restore, enhance, maintain and preserve Chastain Park. Initial volunteer efforts have cleared overgrown areas, spread mulch throughout the park and reopened picnic and grill areas. Safety and security will always be the highest priority. There are also long term improvements to make the park even better. Volunteers meet the first Saturday of every month at the Conservancy barn at 4001 Powers Ferry Road. Work projects run from 9 AM to Noon and there is something for all ages. There are patron levels for every budget and every dollar is tax deductible and goes straight to the park. Our founding sponsors include Cox Enterprises, Harry Norman Realtors, Odd Job Tree Specialists and StarkWhite. For information about joining the Conservancy go to website, www.chastainparkconservancy.org, or call (404)2372177. Come join the fun and help the park become even more of a jewel for our area.

Chastain Horse Park Fence Plaques Raise Funds

In 1999 Chastain Horse Park replaced the old dilapidated Chastain Stables with a new facility offering programs for children and adults with disabilities and children-atrisk, private boarders, and lessons for the general public. The Clubhouse opened in 2000 and has been the site of over 500 festive occasions including wedding receptions, corporate functions and birthday celebrations. And beginning this summer, the Horse Park will be installing 2 x 5 brass plaques on the fence along Powers Ferry and W. Wieuca Roads as part of its 2004-2005 annual appeal. Plaques are $250 ($235 is tax deductible) with proceeds going towards capital improvements as well as therapeutic student scholarshipsa great way to have a visible presence at this historic landmark. For more information call (404)252-4244 ext. 32, or log onto the website at www.chastainhorsepark.org for information on upcoming events, program information, volunteer opportunities, facility rental and donations. Chastain Horse Park is a 501 (c)(3) nonprofit organization. Kathy Farrington

Galloway Buddy Groups Clean Up Chastain Park

Over 500 Galloway students spent an April morning in Chastain Park. Grades 5 through 12, in mixed buddy groups of older and younger students, walked from Galloway to the Master Grill in Chastain Park. Before they or their teachers began working, they were welcomed by Elliott Galloway, founder and headmaster emeritus of The Galloway School and Ray Mock, Director of Operations for Chastain Park Conservancy. While not only celebrating the Earth that day, they also served their community by helping to restore Chastain Park to its original beauty by spreading wood chips to stop erosion, clearing underbrush that had crept onto pathways; removing invasive weeds; and clearing trip hazards to make the Park safer. Their efforts helped reclaim space that can be used by all park visitors. Mock told the group that, using the national standard of dollars per volunteer hours, 500 volunteers working 3 hours represents over $20,000 value to the city of Atlanta. Nancie F. Smith

The Lyric Celebrates its 25th Anniversary Season

The Atlanta Lyric Theatre continues their summer warehouse series the first Thursday in June at 8PM. Dan Britt, fabulous baritone, will sing every Thursday evening with a different artist through August. The concerts are free though a $20 donation is welcome. Refreshments are included. The warehouse is on Marietta, not far from the Atlanta Humane Society. Go South on Howell Mill, South of 10th Street, Howell Mill and Marietta meet at a point. At this traffic light take a sharp right, then look on your left. See free parking and follow the crowd down the drive. The warehouse only seats about 75 people, so no microphones are needed. Come early to get a seat. No reservations are needed. And, mark your calendar now for an evening of entertainment by the Lyric Orchestra and members of the company at the The Grand Night of Singing on Saturday, October 2, 2004 at the Sheraton Grand Ballroom. For more information on this black-tie gala fundraiser, the 2004-2005 Season, and special events go to www.atlantalyrictheatre.com Paula Hill

Kudzu Alert
Originally imported from Japan, kudzu now covers over seven million acres of the Southeastern United States and has had a significant impact on life. It is one of the most invasive vines. Please be on the lookout and get rid of it. Call the Fulton County Extension Service for advice on how to remove Kudzu. For more information, go to www.treesatlanta.org.

June 2004

The Crime Report

The Mt. Paran-Northside Citizens Association produces this public safety report for the benefit of our neighborhood. If you see suspicious activity, or are the victim of a crime, call 911 and then report the details for this newsletter to our Security Patrol (404)310-7361 or Jo Ann Rau (

Security Patrol Activity

During the months of June through December,

Security Patrol Information

The Mt. Paran Security Patrol is a neighborhood-funded patrol staffed by retired Atlanta police officers. The officers patrol our neighborhood and the Randall Mill Civic Association neighborhood Monday through Friday and additional weekend hours as crime patterns dictate. The patrol checks doors and windows daily while you are out of town and picks up newspapers. The fee to join the patrol is $150 a year and covers the time period from January 1 to December 31. The fee for new residents will be pro-rated. Subscribers receive a mailbox decal, telephone stickers and access to the security hotline as well as daily surveillance of your house and property. For information on joining, or to meet the patrol officers, call (404)310-7361. Be sure to leave a message during off-duty hours and either Officer Cole or Officer Hendrix will call you back.

Logged 5711 miles patrolling our neighborhood Made 1436 house checks for traveling subscribers Responded to 50 alarm calls Investigated 28 suspicious persons or autos Investigated 1 break-in (house under construction) Investigated 5 incidents of vandalism Investigated 6 incidents of larceny Found 2 open doors
January: Mailboxes damaged on Cave Road during the night. Water balloons or water-filled plastic bottles thrown at pedestrians from different vehicles. Suspicious person ordered checks and checked a mailbox on Paran Place daily until checks were delivered. When checks were stolen and cashed, the bank called to inform the victim and the account was closed. February: Door-to-door sales people reported on Cave Road and Northside Drive. Kids throwing snowballs with rocks inside at cars on W. Conway at The Highlands. Mailbox damaged on Fairfield. Drunk driver hit mailbox on Sentinel Post and vehicle got stuck in yard and caught on fire. White female driver was arrested and the breath test showed more than three times the legal limit. Suspicious person begging for money on Mt. Paran at Regency Court. Suspicious person ringing doorbell late evening on Swathmore. Suspicious vehicle reported on Musket Ridge. Mail stolen from mailbox on Cave Road. Owners identification and social security number used to cash checks. Bank called to inform homeowner of a suspicious person trying to cash checks in his name. March: Someone took items from an unsecured house being remodeled on Harris Valley. Mailbox damaged on Mt. Paran Parkway. City inspectors were called about illegal tree cutting on West Conway. (See Citizens Review front-page article.) April: Kids reported throwing ice at a jogger on Harris Trail. Mailbox damaged on Randall Mill Road. Mail stolen from mailbox on Davis Drive. Auto tag stolen from car on Garmon Road.

Security Patrol and Crime News: Dont be a Target

A Message from Officer Cole
Its important to know your contractor. Ask if he uses day laborers and if so, dont hire that company. During neighborhood rounds, he regularly sees boxes for new lawn equipment and other large items at the curbside, days before trash is scheduled for pick-up. These boxes send a message to thieves driving through the neighborhood to come and get it. Its best to break the boxes down to conceal the contents or wait until the day of trash pickup to put them at the curb. And, remember to have someone maintain the water level in your pool if you are away traveling.

SECURE YOUR PREMISES AND VEHICLES

By Officer Jim Hendrix Mt. Paran Security Patrol

To keep your home safe and unwanted people out, have several layers of protection. Install motion detector lights above your garage and add dusk-to-dawn lights on the back side of the house. Survey your house the way a burglar might during the day and night. Look for areas where you are vulnerable. Pay attention to lighting, landscaping and unlocked doors, particularly sliding glass doors and garage doors. When selecting a home, burglars look for easy targets. They want to get in and out quickly. They also want to remain unseen. A burglar will bypass your home if it looks risky or requires too much effort. Many homeowners dont take time, or simple steps, to burglar-proof their homes until they have a problem. To help keep your home from becoming a burglars next target, consider these tips. Install a peephole or wide-angle viewer on your entry door. Drill holes and place simple metal pins in double-hung wooden windows. Rearrange furnishings or valuables, such as a silver collection or computer, so they are not easy to see from the outside. Arm your alarm system, even when you are home. Surveys found that in 34 percent of homes with an alarm system, that the systems were not turned on at the time of the break-in. If you have an alarm system, be sure the alarm company lawn sign can be seen from the street. Burglars often bypass a property with visible alarm signs. Although break-ins can occur at any time, the FBI says most take place during weekdays and daytime hours. There are simple ways to keep your vehicle from becoming a target. Do not leave valuable items inside (Cell phones, handbags, laptop computers). Take your keys and lock your vehicle. Some people will walk into your driveway just to see if any items are left inside and unsecured. If they are, they wont be there when you return.

New Car Jacking Scheme

Imagine...You walk across the parking lot, unlock your car and get inside. Then you lock all your doors, start the engine, shift into reverse. Habit! You look into the rear-view window to back out of your parking space and you notice a piece of paper, some sort of advertisement, stuck to your rear window. So, you shift back into park, unlock your doors and jump out of your car to remove that paper (or whatever it is) that is obstructing your viewwhen you reach the back of your car, that is when the car-jackers jump out of nowherejump into your car and take off your engine is running, your purse is in the car, and they practically mow you down speeding off in your car. Be aware of this new scheme. Just drive away and remove the paper that is stuck to your window later and tell your friends!

Overall Crime in Atlanta Down 11%

The City of Atlanta's 1st quarter Uniform Crime Report statistics show a 10% decline during the first three-months of 2004 compared to the same period in 2003. Although Atlanta has been noted to have the highest violent crime rate in America, there is a turnaround in the making! Since Chief Richard Pennington arrived in Atlanta in August of 2003, he has developed a department-wide plan of action that includes the most extensive reorganization in APD history to help meet the Mayor's commitment to make Atlanta a safer city. "I am gratified by the continued downward trend, our Commanders will continue to be held accountable for tracking crime trends in the City and reporting their strategies and progress in our weekly COBRA
Continued on Next Page of Crime Report

More Crime News: Be Careful Now, Not Sorry Later

Victim of Identity Theft Gives Advice
By A NEIGHBOR

Atlanta Crime Stats Drop

Continued from Previous Page of Crime Report

To all Mt. Paran-Northside Readers: I was the victim of stolen mail/credit cards/access checks and more, about 6 months ago. They attempted to cash checks in Florida, and North Carolina. These checks weren't "washed," they somehow had facsimile checks made within days of the theft. They used my ATM card (unsuccessfully), cashed access checks and wired the money to Nigeria; they charged thousands on a stolen major credit card. They had a fake North Carolina license with my name on it, and if a friend of mine at a store in Sandy Springs had not called me it could have been worse. The United States Post Office and the Fulton County Police tried to set up a sting but were unsuccessful. The man was driving a new white Cadillac with Gwinnett County plates. He was using a stolen cell phone. Also, my wife and my three college-aged kids all have accounts and credit cards. They can hit any of these. It took me 3 months to straighten this out. Fortunately it cost me little by fraud but a lot in security expense and time. Here are my recommendations: 1) These people are sophisticated and bold. Be watchful take down numbers. These individuals are often immigrants (yes, this is stereotyping). Both the US Postal inspector and Fulton County Police were very helpful. 2) Invest in a locking mailbox. You can get various inserts (will require a stone mason to insert) or free standing units on line for $200-400. They aren't foolproof but do make it more difficult. Otherwise get a Post Office Box. 3) Take out an account with Equifax to warn you of anyone trying to establish a line of credit in your name ($5/month). This can be done online. 4) Stop access checks and shred receipts. 5) Remove your Social Security number from all checks, etc. 6) Begin online banking and check your account several times weekly. I picked this up 2 days after they tried to pass the first check in Ft. Pierce, Florida. I now had the recipients name; this enabled me to stop everything with a few phone calls. 7) Remember, debit cards are more dangerous than credit cards. 8) My credit card companies were not as helpful as they could have been. Its probably best to have as few credit cards as possible. 9) When out of town, have someone check your mail daily. 10) If you change one account number, change them all. All they need to steal is a couple of bank or credit card statements. You would not miss them for weeks or until the next cycle. 11) Don't think this can't happen to you. I was way too smug. 12) Don't ever give out any vital info by phone unless you are sure who you are talking too, or online unless it is a secure site. Thiefs are going to continue to work our neighborhood until we stop them. It is affluent, the houses are widely spaced, and we are near several interstates. If anyone else has any suggestions please share them with all of us.

(Command Operations Briefing to Revitalize Atlanta) meetings. I applaud my officers for their hard work and commitment on behalf of our residents and visitors, said Chief Pennington. It is a proven fact that an adequately resourced and well-managed police department can reduce crime dramatically in just a few years. Atlanta has one of the lowest ratios of officers per square mile of all large cities in the country. And nearly a third of Atlanta residents agree that most police officers are not able to answer every call, regardless of the seriousness of the call. In this too, we will see a dramatic improvement. In April, Mayor Franklin welcomed 53 new officers in the Atlanta Police Department. This was the largest number of officers to graduate at one time in the Academys history. The next class is scheduled to graduate 30 new officers as well. This is very exciting, says Mayor Franklin. I attend the weekly COBRA meetings and can see the improvement right down to the Zone. During the first two years of my term, we spent a great deal of time putting together the master plan to make Atlanta a city where Downtown and all other neighborhoods are places where people are unafraid to walk, park, play or work, day or night. Now we are in the implementing phase of our plan and these results prove our plan is working.

Stats-at-a-Glance
Homicide is down 28% Rape is down 16% Robbery is down 21% Burglary is down 20% Larceny is down 8% Auto Theft is down 8% For more information about the Atlanta Police Department or to view crime prevention tips and weekly crime statistics visit their website at www.atlantapd.org

If You Are a Victim of Identity Theft Call:

Equifax1-800-525-6285 Experian1-888-397-3742 Trans Union1-800-680-7289

Elvis Has Left the Luncheon

Crissy Klaus was a fantastic host to some 60 neighbors attending the May Ladies Luncheon at her Monte Carlo home. The highlight was a white-suited Elvis who dropped by to sing his own songs as guests watched from the circular veranda by the pool. We toured the house, admired the decorations and art, and enjoyed Bill Hewetts fabulous catered lunch all adding to the fun of meeting new neighbors and catching up with old ones. Watch for emails with details of our next Luncheon sometime this fall.

Photographs by Crissy Klaus and Jo Ann Rau

More Neighborhood Briefs

Women who love to play golf, or want to learn!
Please join us for the Starlight Children's Foundation Annual Ladies Open at Reynolds Plantation, on Lake Oconee, Monday, September 27th, 2004. The event is a fun-packed day of golf and gathering for all levels of play. Don't miss this wonderful opportunity to support the Starlight Children's Foundation, a non-profit organization that touches hundreds of thousands of Georgia's children that are terminally or seriously ill. Entry fee is $200 per person, with $150 of that donation going directly to the children. Don't miss the many fun activities on and off the course, including raffles, silent and live auctions, Tiffany gifts, hole-in-one Jaguar prize, and much more. The format is a scramble, so everybody looks like a good golfer. New golfers can opt for a clinic and nine holes if eighteen holes is daunting. Please contact your neighbor at melissalowe@mindspring.com or Starlight Children's Foundation directly for more information (404)982-0508. Melissa Lowe

Entertained in a Paris Salon on Garmon Drive

Ida Wooldridge was an exceptionally generous and gracious hostess to over 50 neighbors attending the February Ladies Luncheon. Her home, with the piano and tall atrium, provided the perfect backdrop for a knock-out performance by baritone Dan Britt singing, among others, To Dream the Impossible Dream. Bill Hewett catered, and Idas two dogs were so cute some even thought they were fake! The ladies luncheons are hosted three times a year in some of the neighborhoods finest homes. Its a great way to meet, greet, catch up on the news and have great fun!

Gazebo adds Charm to Station #27

You may have noticed a new addition in front of the Fire Station at the corner of West Conway and Northside Drive. Chris Sirokman is a candidate to become an Eagle Scout, and the gazebo he designed and built in front of Station #27 is his project to reach that goal.

Tips for Cleaner Streets and Safer Neighborhoods

Yard Trimmings refer to leaves, brush, grass clippings, shrub and tree pruning, including tree roots, branches not exceeding 4 feet in length and 6 inches in diameter, discarded Christmas trees, nursery and greenhouse vegetative residuals. Leaves, grass clippings and pine straw should be placed in paper bags (no plastic) manufactured for yard trimming disposal, and should not exceed 50 pounds. These items will be picked up during regular garbage collection, on your regular day, during the 1st and 3rd weeks of the month. Bulk Rubbish refers to materials with a total weight, volume and/or size that is too much for the Citys residential trucks. This includes appliances, large furniture, large piles of tree branches, large metal or wooden playground equipment or similar items and combinations of these items. Call the Bureau of Solid Waste Services, (404)330-6333 to schedule appointments for pick-up. The city will never collect the following: building materials and construction debris (lumber, roofing, siding, gutters, bricks, concrete), hazardous materials (automobile parts, wet paint, tires) and trees cut down by contractors.
Editors note: special thanks to all the contributors in this issue. Email with ideas, events, tips and photos for the next issue of The Citizens Review.

Year Ends as Warren T. Jackson Looks Ahead

Weve just completed another fabulous year at Warren T. Jackson Elementary. Our students have achieved at extraordinarily high levels and their successes are our successes. We are proud of our 5th grade graduates who are moving on to Sutton, Westminster, Lovett, Pace, Woodward, and beyond. Congratulations to them and to their parents who have supported their achievements. After months of discussions and negotiations, it looks as if the addition to Jackson will actually happen. R.J. Russell has the contract to build an eight classroom addition to the building as well as to retrofit our gymnasium to serve as a multi-purpose room. We have been crowded for a long time and look forward to this addition to relieve the stress of 650 students in a building built for 450. We do not anticipate any significant increases in the number of students we serve, although as young families move into the neighborhood, we are proud to be their school of choice. We will do all we can during construction to minimize the negative impact on our neighbors and look forward to inviting you all to the dedication of our new addition in December, 2004. Lorraine B. Reich, Principal

Unwanted Littering: The Best Reason to Spay and Neuter

By Mary Louise Floyd

Each day in the United States 70,000 kittens and puppies are born, many abandoned or unwanted. This tragedy is not the fault of our pets. They are just doing what nature programmed them to do. Because we are at the top of the food chain, it is our responsibility to care for Gods creatures we have chosen as pets.

Sure, theres a lot we cant control even though we practice the most vigilant, conscientious pet care. But theres a lot we can. Uppermost is the sterilizing of our pets if we dont plan to breed them. According to the Atlanta Humane Society, failing to spay or neuter our pets can result in: Aggression towards humans and other animals (common with male dogs). Marking territory by urinating inside the home.
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Karen and Glen Sturm, Bildon Construction, Fieldstone and Limmus Building Supplies. The viability of these plantings is assured by a new irrigation system. In addition to enriching the quality of our neighborhoods life, Mount Paran Woods Garden Club provides financial support to the Oakhurst Community Garden Project, Shepherd Spinal Center, and the Atlanta Botanical Garden. The Oakhurst Project in Decatur teaches environmental awareness to diverse local students through hands-on gardening and outdoor education programs. The garden clubs support to Shepherds therapy garden provides therapeutic recreation for people with spinal cord injuries and related neuromuscular diseases. Mount Paran Woods Garden Club is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization whose membership is dedicated to community service. If you are interested in becoming a member, contact Julie Bennett, membership chairman, (

Front row: Ruth Anthony, Angi Evert, Ann Woodruff, Debbie Leet, Louise McDermott, Merry Carlos Back row: Dr. Laraine Kendall, Connie Hawn, Sally Hanna, Roberta Foley, Mary Lou Floyd, Cecilia Wright

Mount Paran Woods Garden Club Designs with All Colors of the Palette
By Mary Louise Floyd Public Relations, Mt. Paran Woods Garden Club

Spay or Neuter Cats & Dogs

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On May 3 and 4 Mount Paran Woods Garden Club members again applied their artistry to our three neighborhood parks. They replaced winter pansies with 50 flats of summer color. Louise McDermott and Roberta Foley, landscaping chairmen, drew bedding designs and selected the annuals, soil emollients, fertilizers and pine bark mulch. These three parks are the triangle of Cave Road and Mt. Paran, the island at West Conway and Broadland, and the island across from the Country Store. These pocket parks are among hundreds owned but not maintained by the city. Mount Paran Woods Garden Club spends $6000 annually to landscape and maintain these neighborhood greenspaces. This summer the parks will showcase blue salvia, chartreuse Jacobs Coat, orange zinnia, pink begonias and hollyhocks, red angel-wing begonias, black elephant ears, gold rudbeckia, purple scaveola, and multi-colored coleus and impatiens. Because of a destructive spring storm, last year the West Conway-Broadland Park was completely redesigned at a cost of $17,000, with $7000 coming from donations from area residents. What you see now is the result of nine months planning and fundraising by the garden club. A stacked-stone wall retains enriched soil in which a fifteenfoot white oak is centered. Also added were four chaste trees, two black gums, and two dogwoods, six with hazels, camellia and butterfly bushes. At the tips of the island triangle are clusters of crape myrtles. The beautiful stone wall provides a backdrop for alternating beds of perennial hosta and colorful annuals. This wall was donated by

The overwhelming need to escape (jump the backyard Fence, for example). Prostate and uterine cancer. The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals says, Spaying your pet before her first heat and neutering a male cat or dog before six months prevent pyomtra (pus-filled uterus), breast cancer (fatal to 50% of female dogs and 90% of female cats), testicular cancer and prostate disease. The ASPCA gives further reasons for pet sterilization on its website article Why Spay or Neuter? In our Neighborhood there are additional reasons to discourage your pet from roaming:

The leash law. Coyote and foxes, predators that have been repeatedly sited in our area. Research shows that pet mammals comprise only 1% of urban fox diet. The coyote, however, relishes a cat-snack. In truth, any small pet looks like food to the coyote. Signs advertising lost pets contribute to littering, not the proliferation of unwanted animal life, but the proliferation of visible pollution. These signs, stapled to utility poles, encourage the illegal posting of commercial signs that blight roadside landscape in Atlanta. In most cases, the pet owners never remove the signseven if the pet is recovered. Given the criminal, or simply unscrupulous-mind, it would be logical to assume that advertising a prodigious reward for the return of a missing animal no questions asked would encourage pet-napping in our affluent neighborhood.

June Gardening Tips

By PIKE FAMILY NURSERIES

Help Needed to Update Database

If you receive a newsletter addressed to the previous owner or CURRENT RESIDENT, then we dont have your name in our database. Please fill out the form below with your correct information so that we can include it in our neighborhood directory. There are currently 531 paid members. If you did not receive your 2004 Membership Directory, please contact Debbie Goot at If you are not a current member and would like to join, send $25 to the Mt. ParanNorthside Citizens Association, 4380 Harris Trail, NW, Atlanta, GA 30327 along with the form below. The Association maintains a large email list so that neighbors can be informed immediately of an important issue or crime alert. Email addresses are protected and will not be shared. Check one: __Address Correction or __Annual Dues($25) Please email form information to or send to Debbie Goot, 4380 Harris Trail, Atlanta, GA 30327 Last Name_________________First Name(s)_____________ Address___________________________________________ Telephone _____________Email_______________________

Take a look at the blooms on your rose bushes, hydrangeas and annuals. Most flowering plants are at their best during the month of June. This is because the late spring season is warm enough to encourage prolific blooms but not so warm that you can fry an egg on the pavement. As a general rule, rainfall is also more plentiful in the spring. So enjoy your flowers and the moderate temperatures while you can. All too soon, our steamy summer weather will be upon us and our gardening focus will turn to watering our plants, mowing the lawn and weeding our gardens. Did you know? Turf grasses perform best when maintained at the correct height. No more than 1/3 of the blades should be removed at any one time. Also, instead of bagging the clippings, leave them on the lawn. The heat will decompose the grass clippings in a matter of hours, releasing nitrogen into the soil. Create a butterfly garden for months of visual enjoyment. A butterfly garden should have at least one buddleia (butterfly bush). Abelia, azaleas, dahlias, gaura, lantana, pineapple sage, rose of Sharon, verbena and zinnia also attract butterflies. Plant Knock Out and Flower Carpet Roses for continuous color. These compact shrub roses, available in several colors, require little maintenance and are reliably black-spot resistant. Plant an instant lawn. Warm season sod varieties such as Bermuda, Zoysia, Centipede, St. Augustine are all available now. Tomato remedies. Blossom End Rot which causes ugly, dark blotches on the bottom of the fruit is caused by a calcium deficiency in the soil. Several products will correct this problem. Tomatoes that are splitting on the vine is caused by inconsistent watering, so keep the soil uniformly moist at all times. Snails and slugs can take a bite out of your annuals, creating large holes and ragged blooms and leaves. To control this, distribute a snail and slug bait or simply sprinkle sand in their paths. They will go out of their way to avoid the sand because of its rough texture. If all else fails, use the snail and slug's fondness for fermented beverages. Put out a shallow container of beer or sugar water mixed with yeast in the evening. The next morning, you will find a saucer full of submerged snails and slugs. Deadhead your annuals on a regular basis. Pinching off dead blooms helps to prevent seed production and pauses in blooming. Got weeds? Apply a post-emergent weed killer to your lawn using package directions. Make sure that the product you select is safe for use on your type of grass. Dont wait too late. Weed killers work best when temperatures are 85 degrees or less. Plant a hydrangea for long-lasting, summer color. The plant itself is rather inconspicuous, the large, highly decorative bloom clusters that appear in June, July and August are real attention grabbers. The new Endless Summer variety blooms repeatedly throughout the summer. Japanese Beetles can be distinguished by their metallic green heads and bronze colored wings. They are insatiable eaters and feed in groups as they devour leaves, flowers and fruit on many kinds of plants. To control these, use traps that contain both floral and sexual lures, chemical controls and/or grub controls.

Low-Carb Comfort Food

Mock Garlic Mashed Potatoes

1 medium head cauliflower 1 tablespoon cream cheese, softened 1/4 cup grated Parmesan 1/2 teaspoon minced garlic 1/8 teaspoon straight chicken base or bullion (may substitute 1/2 teaspoon salt) 1/8 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper 1/2 teaspoon chopped fresh or dry chives, for garnish 3 tablespoons unsalted butter Set a stockpot of water to boil over high heat. Clean and cut cauliflower into small pieces. Cook in boiling water for about 6 minutes, or until well done. Drain well; do not let cool and pat cooked cauliflower very dry between several layers of paper towels. In a bowl with an immersion blender, or in a food processor, puree the hot cauliflower with the cream cheese, Parmesan, garlic, chicken base, and pepper until almost smooth. Garnish with chives, and serve hot with pats of butter. Hint: Try roasting the garlic and adding a little fresh rosemary for a whole new taste. Yield: 4 servings; Prep time: 15 min; Cook time: 6 min Nutrition Information: Calories 153 Total Fat 12 grams Saturated Fat 7 grams Carbohydrates 8 grams

Return Service Requested

MT. PARAN-NORTHSIDE CITIZENS ASSOCIATION, INC. P.O. BOX 724153 ATLANTA, GEORGIA 31139 OFFICERS President/Brenda Smith Vice President/Communications/Jo Ann Rau Vice President/Membership/Debbie Goot Vice President/Security/Angelia Evert Secretary/Jean Smith Treasurer/Jim Carter BOARD OF DIRECTORS Sandra Adair, Yolanda Adrean, Sharon Giles, Al Goodgame, Greg Lyles, Dick Perkins, Alan Leet, Pamela Tremayne, Claus Halle, Dana Scavo, Glenn Sturm, Karen Swim, Marci Vincent, Richard Wilson. EX-OFFICIO (PAST PRESIDENTS) Lynne Moscow, Sheldon Schlegman, Robert Hurst, Edward Floyd, John R. Martin (d), Robert Miller, H. Clay Moore, Jr., J. Martin Turbidy Editors: Lynne Moscow and Jo Ann Rau Design & Typeset: Jo Ann Rau WEB SITE

Pre-Sorted First Class Mail U.S. Postage PAID Atlanta, GA Permit No. 3207

www.neighborhoodlink.com/atlanta/mountparan

Association Newsletter and Crime Report Inside

Neighborhood Ecological Disaster

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that this was the worst case she had seen in her four years on the commission. To date, the arborists have not returned to the site to determine the number of illegally cut trees. There are still a number of unanswered questions, including why procedures were violated. City officials have not explained how such a disaster could occur in a city that has laws and procedures that should have prevented it. The following hearings will be held on this matter. On June 10 at 2 PM in Atlanta Municipal Court, 170 Garnett Street, SW, the homeowner/defendant has been ordered to present his plan for correcting the damage caused by 550 truckloads of crusher run to his property and the adjacent stream and lake during a mischaracterized repair of a driveway. On June 16 at 6 PM in Atlanta City Hall, 55 Trinity Avenue, SW, second floor conference room, the homeowner will again appear before the Tree Conservation Commission. Only this time he will be appealing the recompense amount of $49,320 that the commission ordered him to pay for illegally destroying 21 trees. A large

turnout by concerned citizens at the court and the tree commission hearing will be recognized and could affect the outcome of this case. The Board of Directors of the Mt. Paran-Northside Association has recently formed a task force to encourage a complete and expedited review of these circumstances. They will be making recommendations on the course of action that needs to be taken to establish safeguards to prevent this type of damage from occurring in the future. The task force will communicate further information to the neighborhood through the Associations email network. In the meantime, if you would like to assist in this matter or be involved in any way, please send an email to: shelarchitect@comcast.net
Editors note: The city permit issued to this homeowner to repair his driveway allows the owner to make simple repairs like repaving. The footprint of the repaired driveway must remain the same as it was before the repairs. The permit allows the owner to replace the driveway in kind, but thats not what this homeowner did.