The

CITIZENS REVIEW
Newsletter of the Mt. Paran-Northside Citizens Association, Inc. April 2007

Vol. 23

Photos: Officer Jim Hendrix

Sandy Springs Home on Northside Drive Burns Dec. 25th Barking Dog Wakes Two All Escape Without Injury WEST CONWAY FIRE STATION NEVER ALERTED
But the real story started NINE months before on

April 24, 2006: Fire at 4725 Northside Drive

By TODD FRYBURGER Northside Drive

The recent fire at 4555 Northside Drive on December 25 serves to illustrate that improvements must be made with regard to coordinated emergency services response for the Mt. Paran-Northside neighborhood. I would like to take this opportunity to share the details of another incident which occurred in the same general area almost a year ago. My family lives at 4719 Northside Drive. This location is near the intersection of Northside Drive, Garmon Road and West Garmon Road, approximately 100 yards North of the Atlanta city limits, in the new City of Sandy Springs. Our home is located 1.35 miles North of the City of Atlanta fire station located at the intersection of Northside Drive and West Conway, 5.33 miles Southwest of the Fulton County (now City of Sandy Springs) fire station located at the intersection of Johnson Ferry Road and Sandy Springs Circle, and 3.42 miles West of the City of Atlanta

fire station located near the intersection of Wieuca Road and Roswell Road. All of these distances are the fastest, direct driving routes. On the evening of April 27 at about 11:46 PM, we were awoken by several loud explosions. As we looked out our bedroom window, we saw the flames of a fire on the property next door to us, which is located at 4725 Northside Drive. We immediately called 911 at 11:47 PM. The 911 operator explained that the fire had been reported several minutes earlier, and that the fire department had been dispatched to the scene. I quickly dressed, grabbed my wifes cell phone and ran towards the site of the fire. Our neighbors property is comprised of almost six wooded acres in a ravine, with an older ranch-style home next to a small lake. The home is set back from Northside Drive by about one quarter mile, and is served by a driveway that may best be described as a narrow, broken jeep road. The driveway is somewhat hidden, and there is no sign displayed to indicate

the street address. As I ran down the driveway, I heard two more explosions, noted that the flames had grown considerably, and was dismayed that I did not yet hear any sirens. I called 911 for a second time at approximately 11:53 PM using the cell phone. This time, as the cell phone was being served by a tower located within the City of Atlanta, when the 911 operator learned of the address, she had to transfer my call to Fulton County 911. The call was taken by the same 911 operator I had spoken with the first time. When I gave the address and nature of the emergency, the operator rudely stated that you have already reported this, a response is on the way, and then disconnected the call. I continued down the driveway towards the home. As I approached I could see that a minivan parked several feet from the back door of the home was engulfed in flames. It is my understanding that the vehicle had an electrical malfunction which triggered
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IN AND AROUND THE NEIGHBORHOOD

Firemen Enjoy Annual Christmas Appreciation Lunch

CHASTAIN PARK MASTER PLAN

A VISION FOR THE FUTURE

By JUSTIN WIEDERMAN Co-Chair, Master Plan Committee

Photo by Joel Moscow

From top left: Officer Jim Hendrix, Lynne Moscow, Firefighter/EMT Willie Blankenship, Firefighter Jeff Burton. From bottom left: Harrington Witherspoon, Fire Captain George Coleman, Officer George Robertson

Every year since December 1999, the Mt. ParanNorthside Citizens Association provides Christmas lunch to the dedicated firemen at Station 27 (corner of Northside and West Conway). In keeping with that tradition, on December 20 MPNCA board member Lynne Moscow dished up lunch and some holiday cheer to the B-shift firemen and two security patrol officers. Everyone enjoyed the delicious homemade pound cake baked by Coronado Drive resident, Harrington Witherspoon.

Neighbors Behind the Scenes at the

Southeastern Flower Show

The Mount Paran Woods Garden Club (MPWGC) had a presence again this year at the 20th Annual Southeastern Flower Show in February at the Georgia World Congress Center. MPWGC member Mary Dodson, celebrating her 14th year with the Flower Show, spent two days training clerks for the show, and clerked herself with the judges panel during the show to help select the Certificate of Excellence award winner this year. Angi Evert, also a loyal MPWGC member, was busy this year facilitating entries to the show, and identifying and cataloging over 800 entries to the show. Thanks to our Garden Club members for helping to bring this fabulous show to the southeast and helping to make it the huge success that it was.
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In October 2006, the Chastain Park Conservancy entered into an agreement with the consulting firm EDAW to develop the Chastain Park Master Plan. The Consultant was selected at the conclusion of a 6-month procurement process developed in close consultation with our partner, the City of Atlanta. The Master Planning process provides an unique opportunity for all of us to make Chastain everything it can be for our community. The most important part of the process was hearing from you! Thousands of neighbors gave thoughtful consideration to the future of our park by taking the time to go to our website: www.chastainparkconverservancy.com and complete the 10 question survey that ended February 28. The technology for the electronic survey allowed only one entry per IP address (one survey per person). The Master Plan provides an incredible opportunity to create a forward vision while maintaining our sense of heritage and an appreciation of the history of the Park. The Mission of the Conservancy is to Restore, Enhance, Maintain and Preserve Chastain Park. With these guiding principals the Master Plan will also provide a mechanism for coordination between Operating Partners, like NYO, the Horse Park, the Pool and the Amphitheatre while providing opportunities for generally enhancing the Chastain Park experience. In June 2006, the Conservancy signed an agreement with our Partner, the City of Atlanta, to maintain large portions of the Park and also to complete a Master Plan based on the Conservancy mission. The Master Plan provides a framework for the future and as this process develops, the Conservancy will be actively engaged in communicating and seeking input from the Community. At the end of February, the electronic survey will close and the results will be tabulated and ultimately serve as a basis for the planning efforts. In the 3rd quarter of 2007, the Consultant will begin the process of developing alternatives for restoration, recreational opportunities, traffic circulation, special event management and much more. The Conservancy is optimistic that a final Master Plan will be presented to the Community at the beginning of the 4th quarter of 2007. The results from this process will provide a framework for the future of Chastain Park.
See Related Article: Park Improvement Projects on Back Page

22nd Annual Meeting

About 70 neighbors attended the October 18 annual meeting at Jackson School. The meeting was brought to order by Association President Yolanda Adrean. After the election of officers and board members, the Association's political committee presented a candidate forum for candidates for the Fulton County Commission. Brenda Smith and Lynne Moscow moderated the forum asking each candidate to respond to a series of questions about the state of the county. Neighbors also had time to ask questions and were given a sample of the November 7 general election ballot. Also at the meeting was visiting Boy Scout Alexander Thomas, working on his Citizenship badge, accompanied by his mother, Sarah.

Photos by John Feeley and Joel Moscow

TRANSPORTATION TUNNELS Should we put traffic underground?

By CLAIR MULLER Transportation Chair of Atlanta City Council Member of Atlanta Regional Commission

Photo by Shel Schlegman

Karen Handel: sworn in, in 2006, as Georgia's first Republican secretary of state. The office has responsibility for the state Elections Division, oversight for professional licensing boards, and regulates securities, businesses, and charitable organizations, among others. Karen pledged to reform the election process, including centralized voter registration, paper trails and audits. For more information, log onto www.sos.state.org

Dear Friends,
The Secretary of States office was in the news recently when some of DeKalb Countys voting equipment was listed on eBay. The equipment (voting cards, supervisor cards, and card encoders) was discovered in furniture auctioned by DeKalb and subsequently purchased by a company in Canton which then posted the equipment on eBay sometime at the end of last year. When my office learned of this in mid-January, we immediately made arrangements to take possession of the equipment and to re-secure all voting equipment in the state. Fortunately, the equipment had been used for training purposes and was not utilized in any way during the 2006 elections. Further, this equipment could not be used in the future by outside parties. Nonetheless, this was a serious breach that underscores the importance of inventory control. In implementing additional measures, we have three goals: 1) determine precisely what happened in DeKalb; 2) prevent similar breaches in the future; 3) re-secure the current equipment inventory and ensure the integrity of the system and the process for our next round of elections. The additional measures include: outside audit (already underway) of DeKalbs elections processes, new audits in every county verifing equipment inventories and review procedures; upgrades to voter access cards and supervisor cards; application of a unique identifier in all cards to signify completion of the upgrades; and reprogramming of all encoders. Yes, these measures mean additional work for the counties, but it is important and I am pleased to report that all of the counties have been supportive. I take my role as guardian of the states election process very serious, and I am going to do what is necessary to ensure integrity in our process and maintain confidence among our citizens. Thank you for your support and your prayers. If I can ever be of assistance, please contact my office at 404-656-2881. Sincerely, Karen C. Handel Secretary of State
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As someone who fought for a decade to put Atlantas sewage into underground tunnels, I know the value of tunnel technology. I am interested that the Reason Foundation has come forward with the recommendation to put our transportation corridors into underground tunnels. Mind you, I am not always pleased with the Reason Foundations ideas, such as privatizing everything from Atlantas airport to Atlantas water supply. But, in Atlanta, where traffic gets worse every day, and the prospect of even more surface roads which would swallow Atlantas greenspaceand sidewalk spaceand quality of life space, designing underground transportation tunnels for commuters seems to be an idea we can explore to see if it could decrease congestion of surface streets and allow for a more pedestrian friendly environment and TRANSIT above-ground in our cities. The City of Atlanta has learned that sewer tunnels work, and they are much less disruptive to the general public than shallow-dug sewers as they are being constructed. They are bored into granite 100-300 feet underground, much as Chicagos sewer tunnels were built decades ago to solve their clean water issues. Bostons transportation big dig was a surface dig, not a bored tunnel, and should not be compared to what is being suggested here. Transportation tunnels in other countries should be studied for their effectiveness, cost and safety. For years, prior to, and after being elected to Atlanta City Council, I have opposed misguided rampant construction of urban highways. Often, instead of alleviating traffic, they have contributed to increased congestion, while separating neighborhoods and reducing greenspace and hampering pedestrian access. As weird as it sounds, the surface-based road solutions have often had the opposite effect. Now the City of Atlanta is searching again for congestion remediation, and transportation tunnels are an interesting approach. Lets explore this immediately. That however, should not be the sole direction for transportation solutions. As our city becomes more vertical, there are multiple transportation needs to be metfor economic growth, for pollution solutions, for quality of life. I still believe that Atlanta (and the region) should emphasize TRANSIT more and morefor our above-ground transportation. Just one example of need is our changing demographics. The senior population is increasing. They are coming to be near their children, for the weather, for entertainment, and many other reasons. The PAM (Piedmont/Atlantic/Metro) region that stretches from Birmingham to Tennessee is one of the fastest growing metro regions of the U.S. The 2000 Census shows that Georgia ranked eighth in the nation in net migration of those 60 and older. Surprisingly, there are more 60 and older migrants moving from Florida to Georgia than vice versa. Their transportation demands cannot solely be met by freeways. We must build population centers and transportation access that can address their needs.I like underground transportation tunnels for commuters and above ground streets for residents who want parks and greenspace, sidewalks, transit and safe cities in our wonderful climate.

In my Opinion The Effectiveness of Reform Is Dependent on Ordinary Citizens Like Us.

BY JOHN GORDON The Highlands, NW

Two days before most of us sat down to Thanksgiving dinner, Katherine Johnston, a 92 year old Grandmother, was shot and killed by plain clothes policemen in her own homemere miles from where we live. The Officers fabricated information for their no knock warrant and then busted down Ms. Johnstons John Gordon door, guns blazing. Like many, this story hit me hard. I am saddened by this tragedy and outraged by the actions, the ensuing cover-up, the now admitted planting of marijuana and the desperate lies by some of the Police Officers involved. Neither Ms. Johnston nor her relatives violated any laws. The over zealous policemen simply got it wrong. Those brave men and women who wear the badge to protect us are being overshadowed by some bad apples that too frequently show up in the news, in our great city. I had my own unfortunate experience at Lenox Square several years ago, which provided me insight into the potential for abuse of our trust. We have witnessed the incident at the airport when Dianne Barnes was thrown to the ground by an Atlanta Policeman that incident by the way cost you and me a reported $500,000! And now the heart breaking tragedy of Ms. Johnston at Thanksgivingall against the backdrop of an eighteen month backlog of citizen complaints before the police internal affairs department. I have reached out to Ms. Johnstons neighbors, including one of their PastorsRev. Anthony Motley. Ive reached out to say I share their grief, disappointment and outrage and that this is a matter of concern for our entire community. I have been to Ms. Johnstons home and learned what life is like in her former neighborhood. I have also attended several meetings between concerned citizens and city leaders, asking them to acknowledge that there is a problem within the police department, fostering a culture of disrespect for the rights of ordinary citizens. We have advocated that Ms. Johnstons tragedy be used as a catalyst to improve our city by insisting upon: ACCOUNTABILITYthe truth must continue to come out and the individuals punished for crimes committed; It appears District Attorney Howard is committed to doing so; RESPONSIBILITYpublic officials must acknowledge that Ms. Johnstons death is not an isolated incident; but, rather one in a series, that reflects a culture of disrespect for individuals basic rights and liberties; REFORM lasting change must occur to bring real improvements. Currently, the police investigate themselves. I have learned this is ineffective. I am pleased to report that our city council unanimously adopted an ordinance on March 5 (sponsored by Council members Martin, Young and Willis) establishing a citizen panel to review and advise the police chief on citizen com-

plaints. The citizen panel, complete with subpoena powers, is patterned after similar successful boards, already existing in virtually every city our size in the nation. This is just a beginning. The effectiveness of this reform is dependent on ordinary citizens like us being vigilant to help ensure this board is followed though on. Ms. Johnstons neighbors have asked where members of the business community are in addressing these issues. They have asked what the response would have been had Ms. Johnston lived in Buckhead. They seem to have a point. We can change that. It would be significant in so many ways if our neighborhood reached out to Ms. Johnstons to continue to help right this wrong. I encourage you to communicate your concern with a simple short email to our city officials. It will go further than you can imagine, to maintain focus on this important issue. Finally, there is going to be a luncheon to help reassure elderly people who live in Ms. Johnstons former neighborhood, along with Chief Pennington. I will supply details as they become available. I hope you might consider attending. Thank you for your attention to this important matter. Please contact me if you would like to discuss this further. (678) 778-5745; johnjohn@gdp.com

Tom Brereton to Lead The Galloway School

The Galloway School has found the leader who will carry the schools innovative vision into the next era. Incoming head of school Tom Brereton is a seasoned educator well-suited to lead The Galloway School, Atlantas Linda Martinson, Elliott Gallaway, Tom learner-focused independent Brereton on campus school in Chastain Park. The heart and soul of a school is defined by the quality of its relationships, Brereton says. The respect, trust, and collaborative spirit evident at Galloway speak volumes about the heart and soul of this community. Brereton is a graduate of Cornell University (BA) and Colgate University (MA), and former head of The Miami Valley School in Dayton, Ohio. He will succeed Dr. Linda Martinson, Galloways headmaster from 1995 to 2007, who announced that she will retire at the end of this school year. We celebrate the growth especially financial, physical, and operationalDr. Martinsons tenure has brought to our school, says Board Chair Steve Morgan, and were looking forward to the fresh growth Toms leadership will bring to our community in the days to come. Remarkably, Brereton will become only the fourth head of school in Galloways history, a testament to the schools stability and continuity of leadership. The Miami Valley School, where Brereton spent 20 years as head of school, shares Galloways roots in progressive educational
Continued on Page 10

A PERFECT FALL EVENING FOR THE ANNUAL NEIGHBOR GET-TOGETHER

The annual neighborhood social was held at the Harris Trail home of Debbie and Stephen Goot in October. About 150 neighbors were treated to a delicious supper catered by Atlanta Ala Carte amid the magnificent fauna and flora in the picture perfect rear yard. Several elected officials and candidates also came making for some lively and interesting conversation. Everyone enjoyed and appreciated the Goots warm hospitality in opening up their beautiful home to our neighborhood!
More photos page 11

Photos by Joel Moscow and Shel Schlegman

The City of Sandy Springs

New Tree Conservation Ordinance and Administrative Guidelines

By KAREN MEINZEN McENERNY City of Sandy Springs City Council, District 6

Lets frame the issue: On February 6th, the Sandy Springs city council passed an ordinance that further regulates what owners of real Property in Sandy Springs can and cannot do with their trees in terms of removal. We struggled to ensure that property rights of individuals were balanced with protecting the Tree Canopy in Sandy Springsa tree canopy that characterizes our lovely neighborhoods. the same neighborhoods your city Council and Mayor have pledged to protect. Lets look at the two sets of numbers that have a bearing on tree protection.The current City of Atlanta ordinance protects (requires a permit for removal of) all trees over 6 Diameter. The City of Sandy Springs is now protecting trees larger than 18 in Diameter at Breast Height (DBH) by requiring a permit (at no cost) subject to certain conditions as determined by the City arborist. It was thought that this higher diameter would provide greater flexibility to homeowners in particular to remove trees for installation of a garden, sand box, or a lawn, or retaining walls. (Hazardous trees can be removed at any time as long as documentation of their condition is provided to the arborist). The second set of numbers is the percentage of Tree Canopy Coverage stated as a percent of the lot that is used to determine if the trees larger than 18 DBH can be approved for removal by the arborist. The Tree Ordinance set that at 30% versus the national standard for urban environments at 40% (per the American Forestry Council) the City of Atlantas tree canopy coverage was reported to be 27% by Trees Atlanta. Sandy Springs is using a combination of these two sets of numbers by setting limits on both the 1) Diameter of trees being removed and, 2) the target Tree Canopy Coverage percentage of 30%, that if exceeded on your lot, will allow the arborist to approve removing the larger trees above 18. On major site work, as is the case when a new home is built or on larger commercial projects, all trees within the buildable area of the lot that are not in the front rear and side setbacks, can be removed subject to the arborist approval. This Tree Conservation Ordinance received the public support of the Greater Atlanta Home Builders Association and the Atlanta Board of Realtors as it (i) provides flexibility on approved Tree removal within the buildable area and (ii) removed the time consuming requirement on major building permitted projects to go before the Board Of Zoning Appeals to receive approval to take down the largest trees a/k/a Landmark Trees. That decision now lies with the arborist. (* Directly adjacent landowner will be notified and can appeal but the general public has no rights to speak for or against at the BZA hearing on the matter). It is the first tree ordinance in the State of Georgia that uses the Canopy coverage percentage as a method of protecting trees. Trees in the Buffer area (side and rear setbacks) are protected if they exceed 18 DBH and there are also requirements of an owner on adjacent property undergoing development to protect the critical root zone of the Boundary Trees located on your property (not undergoing development). These are significant protections to the neighbors. Lets get some additional background on these sets of numbers ...As you remember from my earlier article, the Tree Ordinance has been under review since July 2006 when a balanced group of 7

community citizens, builders and landscape professionals was convened to work with the public to come up with a recommended Tree ordinance. Their ultimate findings suggested that (i) only 3 trees per year could be cut and among others, (ii) that pine trees be accorded Landmark Tree status (those especially large grandfather trees in excess of 27 DBH) ; (iii) that the target residential Tree Canopy Coverage of the lot post development be no less than 50% . (This tree canopy coverage/ benchmark is the measured square footage of the shade that is cast by the trees on a particular lot.) The good news is that the clear cutting of tree canopy on all property has been stopped. No one was in support of that wholesale deforestation. But, many people including myself feel that the new tree ordinance did not go far enough. Consideration of scientific data is a prudent part of decision making. For example, based on the Environmental Impact Study conducted for the Georgia 400 extension (south of I-285), removing all the trees less than 18 DBH equates to 95% of all the trees (number of) located in the 5 scientific samples of fully treed property. Those samples inventoried every tree by size, species and frequency in the sample area. Further 18 DBH or less represented removal of 55% of the basal area (width/cross section) of the tree trunks which is a common sense measure of how large the tree canopy being removed is. I advocated unsuccessfully to a 12 DBH and below standard which removed only 30% the basal area. Also I was unsuccessful in increasing the Tree Canopy Coverage benchmark to 50%, as recommended by the Citizens Advisory Committee headed by the citys consultant Ed Macie. Mr. Macie is the Director of the Southeastern Division of the US Forestry Service and has indicated that The citation for the recommended canopy for urban environments is http://americanforests.org/ resources/urbanforest/treedeficit.php I have funded a lot of their science over the years and trust their methods. The cap and trade provision of the (Sandy Springs) ordinance must be removed with a canopy (coverage) less than 30%. This (the cap and trade provision) is the incentive where developers are paid back (from the Tree Bank) if they exceed the canopy (coverage i.e. leaving more than 30% coverage on the lot post development). This provision will only work if the canopy (coverage) requirements are set aggressively high. With a 30% canopy (coverage) standard, the tree bank will only be paying out! So Mr. Macie believes 30% canopy coverage is not enough to sustain our canopy with all the re-development occurring and recommended 50%. So where do we go from here to see if the Tree Ordinance is working to preserve, protect and enhance our Tree Canopy in Sandy Springs? First we need to measure our existing Tree Canopy in Sandy Springs to get a benchmark on exactly what we have. Is it 27%; 40%? That coverage is currently unknown. Secondly we need to re-measure this canopy in 6-9 month increments to see what we are losing. Finally, within a year consider convening another Citizens Advisory Group to suggest warranted changes in the Tree Ordinance in place. If 30% canopy doesnt work, maybe 50% will. Same to reducing the 18 diameter and up protected trees to 12 DBH and below. For more information or to post your comments, there are several website sources: www.sandyspringsga.gov.org where, under zoning, you can find the Tree Conservation Ordinance. Also under City Council and my name at the very end will be the complete power point presentation on the Ordinance from my February 12 Town Hall Meeting. www.sandyspringscitizen.org is a privately maintained website to review and post comments of other citizens on the Tree Conservation Ordinance. And you can email me at karen.mcenerny@sandyspringsga.org
See related article on Page 10

Fire on Northside
Continued from Page 1

the fire. The owner was backing-up another van parked next to the minivan in an effort to save it from the fire the heat had blistered the vans paint. Flames licked the sides of the home, blistering the siding, giving concern that the fire would spread to the home any moment. Several windows in the home were broken, likely from one of the explosions. Trash cans and other items adjacent to the minivan were on fire, and we feared the fire could also spread to a detached garage, which was full of combustible items. The residents were attempting to hold the flames at bay using a garden hose, but this effort was futile given the low water pressure. After confirming that no one was injured, I called 911 for a third time at 11:58 PM, as I still did not hear any sirens. My call was again received by a City of Atlanta 911 operator, then routed to a Fulton County 911 operator. That call was taken by the same 911 operator who had answered my two previous calls. That operator again treated me rudely, stating that there was nothing further that she could do. I carefully explained to her that unless the fire department responded immediately, the fire would spread to the entire home. The operator then stated that the call had been reported as a vehicle fire, therefore assigned a lower priority. She then put me on hold. After 30 seconds a gentleman took the call, explaining that he was a supervisor. I explained to him the nature of the emergency, emphasizing that unless the fire department responded immediately, flames would engulf the entire home. He said since the call had been reported as a vehicle fire, and given a lower priority, that a lesser amount of equipment had been dispatched. He upgraded the call, and said that additional equipment was being sent. I further explained to him the nature of the locationthat the home was one quarter of a mile down a very poorly maintained driveway, and that unless the fire department was able to get a truck to the home, they would have to run almost a half mile of hose line from the closest fire hydrant. I also explained that the driveway was not marked, and that I would stand in front of the driveway to direct the responders when they arrived. According to the timer on the cell phone, our call lasted approximately 00:06:14 (it was now 12:05), and ended when I told the dispatcher that I finally heard sirens. After another ninety seconds, I saw a pumper fire truck approach the intersection of Northside Drive, Garmon Road and West Garmon Road heading South on Northside Drive. The fire truck started to proceed South onto Garmon Road. As I was standing in the middle of the road in front of the driveway at 4725 Northside Drive, I yelled and waved at the fire truck to get its attention. It stopped, backed-up, then turned East onto Northside Drive. The time was now 12:07 AM, a full 20 minutes after my initial call to 911. I told the driver that the driveway was in extremely poor shape. He was able to slowly make his way to the home, arriving there at about 12:08. A policeman from Fulton County arrived on the scene about 12:09 AM. An
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ambulance arrived 12:11. About 12:12, a snorkel fire truck arrived together with a fire chief SUVthese vehicles also initially proceeded South onto Garmon Road, but turned when I waved to them. Upon arrival, these vehicles remained parked on Northside Drive, but the firemen exited and walked down the driveway to the home. Fortunately, the first fire truck was able to extinguish the fire before it spread to the home and garage. I have often heard that an extra two or three minutes to respond to a call might be the difference between a house burning down or a house being saved, even the difference between life and death. I could not agree more. I felt the 20 minute response time to this incident was unacceptable. I also sensed there were failings in how my calls were handled, and how the call was dispatched. Over the next few days, I learned from other neighbors that they had also called 911, and that some of those calls were made several minutes prior to my initial call, therein the true response time approached an astonishing 25 minutes. In speaking with the firemen onsite, I learned that they were dispatched from the Fulton County/City of Sandy Springs fire station located at the intersection of Johnson Ferry Road and Sandy Springs Circle, 5.33 miles away. In my opinion, a proper coordinated emergency response program would dispatch equipment from a location with the most appropriate, available equipment which afforded the fastest possible response, regardless of boundary or jurisdiction. If this were the case, then a response would have been dispatched from the City of Atlanta fire station located at the intersection of Northside Drive and West Conway (1.35 miles away), or from the City of Atlanta fire station under contract with Fulton County located at the intersection of

Wieuca Road and Roswell Road (3.42 miles away). It was most unsettling to note that I could have personally run from my home to the fire station on Northside Drive, notified them of the fire, and they could have responded faster that the actual elapsed response we received from the Fulton County fire station in Sandy Springs. As such, I reached out to our representative on the Sandy Springs City Council, Karen McEnerny (District 6), as well as Mayor Eva Galambos. They, in turn, tasked City Manager John McDonough to examine the details of this incident. The results of that investigation were set forth in the May 9, 2006 letter written by Fulton County Deputy Fire Chief Charles Millican, that is reproduced in the box below. This report validated the response time we experienced (it is important to note that the times listed above represent those from when the fire department received the dispatch). It was most helpful in setting forth the facts, including the misdirection to the Northside/ Powers Ferry/I-285 location. It also highlights key areas for improvement. I have also drawn a number of conclusions. The process/procedures used to prioritize and route 911 calls must also be reviewed. The response/attitude of the 911 operator was wholly unacceptable. Moreover, even if the call was reported as a vehicle fire, the operator should have been trained to further question the nature of the emergency. By simply asking is the vehicle near a structure which may be endangered, she could have discerned the true nature of the emergency, and would have assigned the appropriate priority and level of response. It is important to note that the use of cell phones can be a complicating factor when placing a call for emergency

services. When a 911 call is placed from a home telephone, that call is routed to the operator serving the jurisdiction of the physical location where that phone service is provided. When a 911 call is placed via a cell phone, that call is routed to the operator serving the jurisdiction of the physical location of the cell tower which is receiving the cell phone signal. In all likelihood, my call was received by the tower located behind the Country Store at the intersection of Mt. Paran Road and Northside Drive, and was routed to the 911 operator in the City of Atlanta because that is where the cell tower is located. This is an issue all members of the Mt. Paran-Northside Association should be aware of, as our neighborhood effectively straddles the Sandy Springs and Atlanta border; is located within Fulton County; and is bordered by Cobb County. Hence not only do we face issues associated with what equipment should serve what calls where, we also face possible delays as cell calls are routed between 911 operators. In my opinion, 911 service should be ubiquitousthe operator should discern the location of the incident, then coordinate the dispatch of the most appropriate, available equipment, rather than put part of this decision-making in the hands of the telephone switching system, or worse, based upon how a particular municipality contracts for its 911 services. There are emerging technologies that in the future may help to solve this problem (location triangulation based upon relative signal strength, as well as GPS technology), but it will likely be several years before it is incorporated into the 911 system. I have great respect for the City of Sandy Springs in taking control of its destiny from Fulton County, and accelerating the launch of its own fire department late last year. However, there is another issue that residents of Sandy Springs who live on the southernmost border of the city adjacent to the City of Atlanta need to be aware of. Given that the closest fire station is located at the intersection of Johnson Ferry Road and Sandy Springs Circle, responders may have to cover up to six miles to reach an incident. This means that the transit time alone will likely be between six and nine minutes. However, this does not account for any other variables in the equation, such as the time it takes to route, log and dispatch the call. Hence, a response for this neighborhood could realistically take ten to fifteen minutes. This could truly mean life or death in the event of fire, a heart attack, choking or other emergency. It is my understanding that Sandy Springs has an objective to achieve a response time of six minutes or less 90.00% of the time, but simple math illustrates that for many in our neighborhood, this is not possible due to the logistics. Hence, it seemingly makes more sense to better leverage the fire station at Northside Drive and West Conway to serve this portion of the neighborhood, when possible. In closing, I have found the City Council of Sandy Springs to be extremely interested in providing the best possible emergency services to our community. I am certain that they would be most willing to take these two incidents into consideration for purposes of improving coordinated emergency response in the future. Moreover, they clearly recognize that emergency services should not be a political football, and a proper response should seamlessly transcend city boundaries, with a proper means to transfer costs/provide reimbursement between jurisdictions after the best response possible is provided, and the life/welfare of all citizens has been secured.
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In my Opinion The Private Property Issue as it Relates to the Tree Ordinance is a Red Herring.
By PATTY BERKOVITZ Crest Valley

SANDY SPRINGS LAUNCHES ENHANCED EMS PROGRAM

The Hope is to Save Lives
By JOHN C. FEELEY Davis Drive

If you think that you can do what you want on your property you are mistaken. Just because you own a lot does not mean that you can put up any house that you wish. You have to meet minimum heated floor requirements, set back requirements, easements and you have to follow codes and construction hours and, by regulation, you must keep your grass cut and your lot tidy. You can't store your Patty Berkovitz, Sandy Springs trash any place you like on your property and you can't keep old vehicles and you are even restricted on how many of those you can keep in your driveway, and all for a very good reason. We live in a community and as there are more and more people and we are pushed together, then the community must have standards and rules because there is a cause and effect for everyone in that community. One property owners actions can affect all the others. There are certain things that we have to have to live and those things are generally protected assets of the community and the way we protect them is with buffers, easements, and permitting. Water and air are the two elements that mean life or death for human beings. Trees are the link between the two. Long time residents of the city will tell you that our rain fall amounts have changed in the last dozen years. We have droughts and water restrictions that were unheard of until recent years. What is different is the loss of our tree canopy, (not population growth) at least 65% in the Metropolitan Atlanta Region since the Olympics. We have removed the trees and created a heat island of pavement and rooftops that keeps the rain from reaching the ground. This is measurable by satellite imaging and Atlanta has been spotlighted and discussed in an extensive article in National Geographic as one of the worst in the United States. I believe that our tree canopy must be regulated in order to protect, clean, and renew our air and water which makes it a quality of life issue affecting our health and welfare which is what our government is charged by charter to do. Property Rights is easy to confuse with eminent domain. It is disingenuous of the Mayor and Council to put this forward as though they were protectors of property rights, when in fact, it is being used as a justification for their own personal opinions (as opposed to b es t av aila b le sc ienc e). The discussion on the board had more to do with their personal opinions on whether they like trees or pines. The message was clear that while pretending to defend "Property Rights" what they really meant is, they find the community process inconvenient and time consuming, so let's skip the community and let staff make all the decisions so they don't have to be bothered with the community at the BZA or hearing from folks cause they don't have the time and can't be bothered cause they have more important things to do and consider. Thank You Karen McEnerny for your courage to stand up for your constituents and those in Sandy Springs that don't know that they need protection yet. Forward thinking leadership that is in line with the wishes of the people who voted to make this a city is the type of leadership we desperately need."
See related article on Page 7

Sandy Springs launched what hopefully will be the premier Emergency Medical Service (EMS) in the area emphasizing state-of-the art initial care by first responders in treatment of myocardial infarctions (heart attacks), sudden cardiac death, and strokes. The Fire Rescue Department is working with emergency physicians from Emory University School of Medicine to implement evidence-based John Feeley, Sandy recommendations from the American Heart Association that are proven to be life-saving in these conditions. Rapid response in these conditions is essential. An analysis of responses by Fulton County in 2005 shows that more than 60% of all calls entail medical emergencies, such as cardiac arrests or strokes, said Mayor Eva Galambos. We want 1,000 people over the next year to be trained. This goes beyond our emergency responders and includes, staff, the public, the Council members and me. The program will involve use of quick response vehicles, staffing of paramedics and Emergency Medical Technicians (EMTs) on fire vehicles, availability of Automatic External Defibrillators (AEDs) on all city emergency vehicles (including police cars) including appropriate training in CPR and AED use for all personnel. The City is also fostering a city-wide program aimed at the public on CPR training and use of AEDs which are becoming more available especially in public places where people gather (e.g., churches, theaters, airport terminals). Even some private individuals with high risk are acquiring them in their homes. Our goal is for the Sandy Springs Fire Department to become the pre-eminent first response fire and rescue department in the metropolitan Atlanta region, said Chief Jack McElfish. By having these devices and holding these training sessions, we are going to also make Sandy Springs a very safe place to be. For more information on the City of Sandy Springs, visit www.sandyspringsga.org or call 770-730-5600.

New Leadership Coming to Galloway

Continued from Page 5

Editors note: We are pleased to introduce In my Opinion to the pages of The Citizens Review. Email opinions to jobillrau@aol.com to be reprinted in the next issue.

philosophy. While at MVS, Brereton cultivated and sustained a healthy, supportive, and intellectually vibrant school. His deep commitment to rigorous and broad experiential education echoes The Galloway Schools own innovative approach. Like beloved founder Elliott Galloway, Brereton began his career in education as a teacher, an experience that taught him the value of respectful and trusting relationships with students. Galloway believes that teachers, students, and parents act as partners in the enterprise of learning. School leadership demands the same commitment. Im honored to join The Galloway School community and excited about forging these relationships. The Galloway School looks forward to welcoming Tom Brereton, along with his wife and four children, into the community this coming July. 10

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A Trip to the Recycling Plant

Dont flatten cans; No needles, please!
By SUE AND GORDON CERTAIN North Buckhead Civic Association

The Dreamsan Recycling Group (DRG) Materials Processing Facility is located in Southwest Atlanta, about twenty miles from North Buckhead. After a long drive through western Atlanta, the bright pink Dreamsan trucks parked in the large parking lot were a signal that we had reached out destination. John Hayes, General Manager of Dreamsan, told us about the facility and the fuchsia trucks, and took us on a tour. He explained that the recycling program is under the Atlanta Solid Waste ProgramDonna Owens is over this unit. The recycling field is a constantly changing field. Dreamsan is both a hauling firm and a recycling business. We were curious about why the special trucks which used to sort recycled material at the curbside are no longer used. Now Dreamsan uses garbage trucks which pack everything in one unsorted load. He said they switched because they had been limited in the kinds of items that could be recycled. As more and more recyclers, like Dreamsan, have moved to single stream collection, the system is more flexible and efficient. This should allay the fears of some residents who have suspected that everything was really going to the landfill. Single-stream collection has many other advantages. The cost of the garbage trucks is much less. They are more flexible in what they can collect, and can collect more if truck contents are separated at the recycling center. Previously, some materials werent in the program because of the side-loader collection there werent enough compartments on the trucks. Now, much more can be recycled due to the single-stream program. We toured the inside of the massive warehouse-style building. Even though it was a wintry day, the facility was smelly. While its impossible to heat due to trucks coming in and out all day, the assembly line stations have space heaters. Trucks come in and dump out all their contents onto a conveyor belt, which moves the mixed contents up onto separating stations about fifteen feet off the ground. We saw workers stationed along the conveyor belt, picking out their recycle items and throwing them into the massive bins below. Each bin contains separate kinds of material: Plastic #1 (soft plastic like milk cartons), plastic #2 (harder plastic like water bottles), aluminum cans, steel/tin/mix cans, white glass, brown glass, green glass, and paper were some of the bins we saw. We saw massive bales of materials bound with what looked like steel wire: one would be plastic #1, one plastic #2, one mixed paper, and one aluminum, for example. These were baled after the employees had separated them on the conveyor belt and thrown them into separate bins. These bales are shipped out to the markets. Dreamsan can accept shredded paper: put it in a plastic or paper bag for recycling. Shampoo containers, laundry
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detergent containers, dishwashing liquid containers, water or juice plastic bottles: if they say #1 or #2 in the triangle on the bottom, put them in your recycling bin! Things like toys and furniture that people put in the black bins cannot be John Hayes and Sue Certain at Dreamsan recycled. Neither can broken glass, but if in doubt, put it in the recycle bin and let Dreamsan decide. The rules have changed. Now, Dreamsan collects any kind of aluminum: foil, pie tins, not just drink cans. Dont flatten cans, because flat items get lost in the disc screening process. (This also means less work for you.) We saw their machine which crushes cans (steel and aluminum) and blows them out to be packed into bales to be sent to their market. John said, never put hypodermic needles in any way, shape, or form in the recycling bins: not in a milk jug or any other way. This is serious for them since workers handle every item. If a recycling line worker gets stuck with a needle, they have to go through a $3000 month-long, stressful screening process. A supervisor is going through this now. The city of Atlanta no longer has a landfill, so all garbage goes to a transfer station. It costs Atlanta in excess of thirty dollars a ton to unload waste there, so anything that is recycled helps reduce your annual solid waste service fee. For everything thats recycled at Dreamsan, there is a demand and a market. For example, paper, cardboard, aluminum and steel may go to Newell. Glass is in demand and, when recycled, becomes new glass and fiberglass insulation. Plastic goes to Mohawk who may make it into carpet. More plastic goes to Ansley, to make new plastic containers. Some recycled plastic is used to make synthetic pine straw. These are just some of the markets and some uses of items that Dreamsan recycles. All of their markets are in the Southeast, by design. They could sell offshore, but they dont.

Notable Neighbors
Congratulations to Harrogate Drive neighbor and author, William Rawson Smith, on his recently published book, Villa Clare - The Purposeful Life and Timeless Art Collection of J.J. Haverty.
William Rawson Smith

Mt. Paran-Northside Citizens Association past and present presidents witness history as Shel Schlegman, Lynne Moscow, Brenda Smith and Yolanda Adrean attend the swearing in ceremony of Karen Handel, Georgias first Republican Secretary of State.

From left: Shel, Lynne, Brenda, Yol anda

See Related Article on Page 4

Neighborhood Briefs
Do the Red Carpet At the Film Premiere of Georgia Rules
The Georgia Campaign for Adolescent Pregnancy Prevention (G-CAPP), announced its 2007 fundraising event, the Southeast premiere of the upcoming movie Georgia Rule starring: Jane Fonda, Lindsay Lohan, Felicity Huffman, and Dermot Mulroney. Co-chaired by Jane Fonda and Aaron Rents CEO and Northside neighbor, Charlie Loudermilk, this event will be held at the Woodruff Arts Center in Midtown on Monday, May 7. Hollywood cast members, as well as national celebrities will walk the red carpet and participate in the silent auction before the film debut. The fundraiser will include a private cocktail reception followed by a live auction that will allow guests to bid on several one-of-a-kind luxury travel packages and celebrity experiences. Following the auction, guests will preview the film about an unruly girl who is sent by her mother to live with her grandmother, and finds out that some ties, like those of family, cant be broken. I had such a wonderful time making this film and I am so happy to share it with some of my close friends while raising awareness about the work were doing in adolescent pregnancy prevention, said Ms. Fonda. G-CAPPs annual fundraiser has been one of Atlantas most talked about affairs every year for the past decade. With support from the business community and private contributions, this event has raised more than $8.7 million to benefit G-CAPP. Last years event was picked as one of the Atlanta Journals Best Of for 2006. For corporate sponsorship and patron participation information please call G-CAPP at (404) 475-6051 or visit www.gcapp.org Funds raised will further G-CAPPs mission to eliminate teenage pregnancy in Georgia. With G-CAPPs efforts, teen pregnancy has declined 30 percent, saving Georgia taxpayers $227 million in 2004 alone. Janet Costello

High School Student Auditions for Les Miserables

Summer Stage Theatre Company offers a unique, professional, and supportive theatre experience through a variety of opportunities which help aspiring actors grow as performers. Every ensemble member is featured in their productions and expected to collaborate as a company. Through their work, the Company hopes to inspire audiences, and, ultimately, create future theatre patrons. The Summer Stage Theatre Company is looking for high school students for its upcoming production of Les Miserables School Edition. We will be holding auditions for Les Miserables in Early May. Rehearsal dates are: June 11 through June 21. Performance dates are June 22 and 23rd. For more inform a t i o n c o n ta c t Ch r is t in a H o f f, D ir e c to r , a t Christinahoff@gmail.com or 404-452-2006; or the Summer Stages website: www.summerstagetheatreco.org Evelyn Hoff

Do you Believe in Miracles? These women do!

The Miracle Workers celebrated their guilds formation with a kick-off coffee on February 9. Members will assist the Marcus Institute in a number of capabilities including volunteering, community outreach, special events and advocacy. Mt. Paran-Northside Association neighbors, Dot Cohen and Janet Costello, are founding members and officers of the newly formed guild. The Miracle Workers welcomes new members; to join, please contact Sharon Young, Director of Outreach at Youngs@marcus.org or 404-419-4083 for member information. The Marcus Institute, founded by Billi and Bernie Marcus, assists children with developmental disabilities. The Institute has rendered services including diagnosis and treatment to over 30,000 children since its inception in 1991. Janet Costello

Help Give Back a Smile

The Atlanta Smiles Foundation will be having a VIP party on April 26 at Rosalinda and Steve Rayman's home to celebrate the kick-off of the Foundation and also to invite any neighbors who would be interested in seeing Kenny Rogers perform at the Celebration of Smiles on May 17 benefiting The National Give Back a Smile Program in Atlanta. The Atlanta Smiles Foundation, Inc. was set up to provide pro-bono restorative and cosmetic dentistry to women and children who are survivors of Domestic Violence and to facilitate the National GBAS of the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry. For more information, you can email Dr. Dina Giesler at drgiesler@earthlink.net or call 404-262-7733. Editors note: special thanks to all the contributors in this issue. Email jobillrau@aol.com your articles, ideas, events, tips and photographs for the next issue of The Citizens Review. And your opinions are will always be considered for reprint in In My Opinion our new neighbor op-ed columns featured in future issues. 13

Best Bid Helps Victims of Genocide in Darfur

I am at work at GSU in a Post BAC Program in visual arts, and have been concerned and making art about the genocide in Darfur. I would like to offer a full color painting that I made recently to our neighbors for bid with all proceeds going to DOCTORS WITHOUT BORDERS, one of the few organizations that has been able to get into crucial areas and help. . For color photo, size and more information, email me at temmebl@earthlink.net Bids start at $75 and the best offer will be accepted until the end of April. Temme Barkin-Leeds

Lost Pets Phone Home or, The Next Best Thing

Have you ever wished that a wandering dog or cat found in the neighborhood could just tell you where he lived or show you the way to take go home? Well the next best thing to unite a wet, cold, hungry, or just lost little friend, with the family that loves and misses him, could be a neighborhood pet registry kept up to date, with photos, by a dedicated volunteer. And that volunteer could be you. Please think about helping to solve one of the on-going problems in our neighborhood. Help keep our pets safe and home where they belong. Email to volunteer: jobillrau@aol.com

What is Under the Gold Dome?

By EDWARD LINDSEY

State Representative If history is a true barometer, this session of the General Assembly will see over 1500 bills introduced in the House and another 500 or so in the Senate. Some will be silly, such as proposing red clay as the Official State Dirt, but others will have a profound affect on Georgians pocketbook and lives. Three proposals in particular bear close watch to residents here in Buckhead capping property tax reassessments; requiring that impact fees collected for transportation purposes be spent in the area where they are collected; and creating a new County of Milton in North Fulton. The first two proposals I am sponsoring. The last proposal creating a Milton Countyrequires a close watch by all of us. Capping Property Tax Reassessments Last session, I proposed HR 162, a constitutional amendment that would cap property tax reassessments at no more than 3% or the rate of inflation, whichever is less. After much effort, we were able to get the proposal out of the powerful House Ways and Means Committee but were unable to get it to the floor before the end of the session. On day one of this years session, we reintroduced the proposal under the appropriate title of HR 3. Over thirty states already have similar protections for property owners in place and it is time for Georgia to be added to the list of property owner friendly states. The logic is simpleyou should be taxed on your investment in your property and not on some unrealized possible increase in value set by a bureaucrat. This is a proposed constitutional amendment so it will take two years to work itself through the House and Senate before it can be placed on the ballot for voter approval in 2008. Nevertheless, we are off to a fast start. Thirty-seven House members have already signed on as co-sponsors. Impact Fees Impact fees have been assessed by local governments for over a decade against new development in our area and around the state. The purpose is to offset the cost to improved infrastructure caused by the new development. This is particularly needed in the area of transportation. Unfortunately, Atlanta and other local governments have misused these fees by redirecting raised revenue to other projects not impacted by the new development. This has led to Buckhead losing millions over the past decade in badly needed transportation and infrastructure improvement dollars. We have introduced HB 25 to combat this problem and see to it that money raised in Buckhead for transportation improvements gets spent in Buckhead. County of Milton Supporters of a new County of Milton contend that Fulton County taxes are too high compared to other urban counties, that the County Commission allows scandals such as the mess in the Fulton County Tax Assessors to go unchecked for too long, and that a bloated County bureaucracy provides mediocre services to its residents. They are right on these points but their proposed solution leaves many questions for Buckhead and Sandy Springs residents. Four questions need to be asked by Buckhead and Sandy Springs residents on this issue: 1. Where is the dividing line? 14 Unclear. There has been a great amount of speculation as to where the dividing line will be between Fulton and the proposed Milton County. Ive heard folks proclaim the south boundary to be anywhere from the Chattahoochee River to Virginia Highlands. Most Milton County advocates, however, place the boundary line at the northern Atlanta City limits line and no further south. This is good for Sandy Springs but simply unacceptable for Buckhead. North Atlanta is already the most overtaxed area in the state and to ask it to bear an even greater tax burden for the past sins of the Fulton County government is grossly unfair. 2. Will there be tax savings for the new residents of Milton County? Wait and See. A primary motivator for a new Milton County is the hope for lower taxes. The jury is still out on this question. Now that so much of Fulton County has been incorporated into cities, the three biggest expenses for the county are MARTA, Grady Hospital, and the justice system. Long term bond obligations mean that even a new Milton County will continue to be responsible for MARTA and Grady Hospital. A new county starting from scratch will face enormous start up cost for a justice system including a new courthouse, jail, clerks office, sheriffs office, state court judges, etc. Quite wisely, the advocates for Milton County are holding off on pushing forward with their proposal until economic studies are complete on the costs for starting a Milton County. We will have to wait and see what the results of that study will be. 3. What are the hurdles for creating Milton County? Formidable. The proposal requires a 2/3 majority in both the Georgia House and Senate. The measure must then be voted on statewide. If approved by all Georgia voters, the measure must then return to the General Assembly to draw up the specific boundaries. Then the measure will go back to local residents for a referendum on the new county. If all goes according to plan, it would take between three to four years to accomplish. Opposition to the proposal could come from a number of directions in the General Assembly including: 1. concern over the impact of the change on the remaining residents of Fulton County; 2. the financial impact of this move on the Metro Atlanta economy; and 3. whether this move will spur similar movements in other parts of the state. At the present moment, these concerns make passage of the proposal through both chambers of the General Assembly unlikely. In addition to the political hurdles, legal obstacles also exist. Under the present Georgia Constitution, when a new county is created all of the residents of the existing county have a right to vote on the proposal. (In other words, everyone from Johns Creek to Palmetto in Fulton County could vote.) The advocates of Milton County want to change that requirement in their proposed legislation by allowing only the residents of the new proposed county to vote on the change. There is a question, however, as to whether that change is doable under the Federal Voting Rights Act because it would disenfranchise everyone in the City of Atlanta and south Fulton from the decision. This legal wrangling will likely further delay the timeline for the new county or could derail it all together. 4. Are there other alternative reform measures? Yes! Regardless of where residents of Fulton County stand on the question of Milton County, we need to move forward with
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2007 ASSOCIATION MEMBERSHIP:

NEVER TOO LATE TO JOIN

Gardening Tips
By PIKE FAMILY NURSERIES

Spring has Sprung!

Remove faded blooms from spring flowering bulbs like Daffodils and Hyacinths, but allow the leaves to die back naturally. After blooming, bulbs store food for the next year through photosynthesis. Buy Azaleas and other spring flowering plants while they are in bloom so you know what color you are getting. Time to fertilize Fescue lawns for the second time. For best results, fertilize Fescue for the first time in early March, then again six to 8 weeks later. Fertilize warm season grasses like Bermuda and Zoysia when grass is at least 50% green. This usually happens in mid to late April. Be prepared to protect flowers and newly planted shrubs in the unlikely event of a late season frost. Plant warm season vegetables and annuals after the threat of frost has passed. Fertilize and prune spring blooming plants such as Azalea and Forsythia, after these finish blooming. Buy summer blooming plants now while selection is best. Cannas, Dahlias and Gladiola are beautiful choices. Plant them later when soil temperatures warm to 65 degrees or more. Dont trash your Easter Lily when it quits blooming. Plant it outside, cut off the spent flowers, remove the plant from the pot and plant it in a sunny spot with good drainage. Dont cut off the leaves until they yellow. They may not return exactly on Easter Sunday, but you should see beautiful white lilies again next year.

And Receive a Neighborhood Directory

Although some people pay membership and security dues before the annual statements are mailed in early January, statements are mailed to everyone. Oftentimes phone numbers, email addresses and even names change. Although we never print or share email addresses, other changes are needed so that the most current information can be printed in the directory. All paid members receive a directory but only those that pay prior to the directory going to the printer can have their names starred. Now you can mail your membership and security patrol checks in just one self addressed envelope, which is enclosed with the statement. Be sure to include the form(s) and take the time to print your information legibly, especially phone numbers and email addresses. For more info or to ob form, contact Membership Vice Chair, Debbie Goot: You can also mail your $25 membership check to MPNCA or $150 security patrol check to Mt. Paran Security Patrol as follows: Debbie Goot, Atlanta, GA 30327.

PLEASE TELL US ABOUT:

YOUR NEW NEIGHBORS

We need your help to keep up with new neighbors so tell us whenever you sell your house or see new neighbors moving in. Our hospitality committee has developed a welcome package for new residents that includes helpful information and some surprises. Please contact Anne Kala with the information and she will personally deliver a welcome bag: Are you new to the neighborhood? Did you forget to renew? Participation in your neighborhood association costs pennies a day. Cost of membership: 7 cents a day Cost of security patrol: 41 cents a day

Rep. Lindsey: Needed Regional Reforms

Continued from Page 14

other needed reforms. These include seeking additional regional and state support of Grady and MARTA, reorganizing the Sheriff and County Clerks offices, cleaning up the Fulton County jail mess, and shaking up the Fulton County Commission. We must not allow the debate over Milton County to take our eyes off these desperately needed areas of reform. Conclusion I appreciate the opportunity to represent you in the Georgia State House for another two years. My district includes Buckhead, Brookhaven, and lower Sandy Springs. I encourage you to let me know what is on your mind or any other issues by contacting me at 404-926-4155 or edward.lindsey@house.ga.gov.
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Return Service Requested

MT. PARAN-NORTHSIDE CITIZENS ASSOCIATION, INC. P.O. BOX 724153 ATLANTA, GEORGIA 31139 OFFICERS President/Yolanda Adrean Vice President/Communications/Jo Ann Rau Vice President/Membership/Debbie Goot Secretary/Jean Smith Treasurer/Jim Carter BOARD OF DIRECTORS Cameron Adair, Sandra Adair, London Andes, Pat Daly, John Feeley, Al Goodgame, Anne Kala, Howard Margol, Winn Martin, Jane Merrill, Marilyn Midyette, Ann OConnell, Dana Scavo, Pamela Tremayne, Marci Vincent, Richard Wilson EX-OFFICIO (PAST PRESIDENTS) Brenda Smith, Lynne Moscow, Sheldon Schlegman, Robert Hurst (d), 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

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

Association Newsletter and Crime Report Inside

PARK IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS

By RAY MOCK Director of Operations

In case you have not noticed, the Chastain Park Conservancy, in cooperation with our partners the City of Atlanta Parks Department and the parks operating partners, has recently completed many terrific park improvement projects including: Five water fountains were repaired and returned to working order and three new fountains were installedmost notably at the playground and south end of the park near the American Legion Post 140. A rustic storm shelter was constructed at the south end of the park along the path to provide a safe haven for those stranded during sudden storms. The pedestrian lighting first installed in 2005 to improve safety was extended along the PATH from Nancy Creek to the playground. Four new heavy duty wooden bench swings were installed at various locations in the park bringing the total swings to twelve.

photos by d.defilippi

The turf in the meadow below the playground was aerated and over seeded to begin the process of establishing beautiful green grass (isnt it wonderful!). Non-native invasive plants were methodically removed from the wooded natural areas in the north-end of the park. In 2007, the Conservancy plans to continue to work on enhancing the maintenance of the park, particularly the common areas. We are currently providing maintenance to the many neglected trees in the park. This is the first pro-active tree maintenance in many years. Fifteen new picnic tables are under construction and will soon be in the park. Another storm shelter, with water fountain, will be installed at the intersection of Powers Ferry and Stella near the amphitheater. This shelter will serve as a bus shelter, storm shelter, and a cab stand after concerts.
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April 2007

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.

Security Patrol Activity

During the months of September 2006 through February 2007, Officers Doug Cole, Jim Hendrix and Sergeant Ellis (J.R.)

Security Patrol Information

The Mt. Paran Security Patrol is a neighborhood funded patrol staffed by two retired Atlanta police officers and a part-time sergeant currently assigned to the motorcycle squad. Officer Doug Cole and Officer Jim Hendrix work full time and Sgt. Ellis (J.R.) works part-time. To date there are 456 patrol members of which 34 live in the Randall Mill Civic Association area. The patrol monitors the Atlanta police radio and responds to alarms in the area. 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 one of the patrol officers will call you back.

Logged 10,872 miles patrolling our neighborhood Made 2,474 house checks for traveling subscribers Responded to 47 alarm calls Investigated 65 suspicious persons or autos Investigated 12 incidents of vandalism Investigated 14 incidents of larceny Investigated 10 break-ins Found 3 open doors Assisted in 2 arrests

September: Suspicious people and autos throughout the neighborhood (some door-to-door sales). Neighbor on E. Beechwood reported witnessing several young men knocked over a jiffy Johnny but was unable to get a tag number. A golf ball was thrown through a window on Buckingham Circle. Neighbors reported a Hispanic female at various mailboxes on Garmon Drive. The woman was last seen on Harris Trail around 3 PM in a light grey vehicle, Georgia tag AKM 1672. October: Damage to mailbox on Buckingham Circle. Several suspicious people were reported in the neighborhood and two arrests were made. Burglary on Andover Drive where door was left unlocked. Door found unlocked on Beechwood Drive. Vehicle left running and unattended was stolen on Sentinel Post Rd. Lawn equipment taken from a trailer on Harris Valley. IPod was taken from an unlocked car and bike taken from the front yard on The Highlands. Two arrests were made. One was a door-to-door sales person on Regency Rd.; the other was a suspicious person who was hanging around a vacant house on Randall Mill Rd. November: Mailboxes reported damaged on Davis Drive, Harris Valley and Buckingham Circle. Break-in on Flintlock where the alarm was activated. Nothing reported missing. Garmon Road homeowner saw a vehicle leave the driveway. Her son came home to discover someone entered his garage apartment and took jewelry and cash. There was no alarm on the garage apartment and the gate to the property was left open. December: Several suspicious people were reported in the neighborhood. The front yard of a home on Mt. Paran Parkway was trashed. Break-in on Andover Drive for the second time. In both incidences the door was left unlocked. Pocketbook and contents were taken. Radio and tools stolen from a jeep on Swathmore.
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More Crime News: We Can Stop Crime Security Patrol Activity

Continued from Page C1

Teenage Vandalism Has to Stop

From time to time we have reported acts of vandalism committed by teens in the neighborhood (driving over lawns, bashing mailboxes, spray painting houses, etc.). Such an incident took place recently on Northside Drive and we want to remind parents and their teens that what may seem like "fun" to a teenager can result in very serious and costly offenses. Teens need to find another outlet and stop destroying property! Parents need to be aware of what their teenagers are doing during unsupervised hours and remind them that vandalism is not a prank. Depending on the degree, vandalism carries penalties of either a misdemeanor or a felony. In case you missed it in the July 2003 Crime Report issue, parents and their teens should be aware of the following law. Georgia Criminal Code 16-7-23. Criminal Damage to property in the second degree: a) A person commits the offense of criminal damage to property in the second degree when he: (1) Intentionally damages any property of another person without his consent and the damage thereto exceeds $500; (2) Recklessly or intentionally by means of fire or explosives damages property of another person; or (3) With the intent to damage, starts a fire on the land of another without his consent. b) A person convicted of the offense of criminal damage to property in the second degree will be punished by imprisonment for not less than one nor more than five years.

Christmas gifts and toys taken from a truck on Sentinel View. Car and truck broken into on Mt. Paran Road. January: Suspicious person reported on Northside Drive at Davis. Sandy Springs police were called but suspect got away before police arrived. Construction debris dumped in yard on Harris Valley. Several items taken from a garage on Mt. Paran Parkway. Jewelry reported missing from a home on Randall Court. There was no forced entry and items were discovered missing after workman had left the house. Landscape trailer with tools taken from Beechwood Drive. The truck was parked in the drive and had a lock on the trailer. The lock was cut and the tires on the truck were flattened. Attempted theft of a landscape truck on Garmon Ferry. The owner of the truck spotted and approached the three black males. The suspects jumped into a small grey Honda and drive away. The tag number reported by the truck owner turned out not to be a good number. February: Several suspicious people were reported going door to door in the neighborhood. Two damaged mailboxes were reported on Whitewater Creek. Burglary (TV and computer taken) on Davis Drive reported to Sandy Springs police. There was no forced entry. Rear of house spray painted on Northside Drive and reported to Sandy Springs police. Several items taken from an unlocked car on Randall Mill Road

DOOR TO DOOR MAGAZINE SALES

A February 21, 2007 The New York Times front page article, written by investigative reporters Ian Urbina, Bob Driehaus and Sean D. Hamill exposed the world of door to door magazine sellers hitting the streets of our cities from Louisville, Kentucky to Atlanta, Georgia and all points east and west. You know, all those great looking high school students with the neighborly stories of their mothers living just a block away, trying to earn their first trip to wherever with your help. Read on, and the next time the doorbell rings, dont open the door. Call 911 and the Mt. Paran Security Patrol, and help stop crime in our neighborhood. Be vigilant, not a victim. Just who is on the other side of your door? According to the The New York Times
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BEWARE: The CRIME du JOUR

More and more emails have been crossing our computers about women, both young and old, with children and alone, being approached by men in shopping center parking lots, at gunpoint, being robbed of their diamond rings. At Phipps Plaza, at the Publix shopping area across the street, at the West Paces Publix, at the gift shop next to Caribou in the Houston's shopping center, these brazen men have been reported selecting their next victim based on the size of their rings. (Both women who were robbed of their diamond rings in our neighborhood shopping centers were elderly, which makes them more vulnerable because the perpetrators
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More Crime News: We Need to Work Together

SANDY SPRINGS CRIME REPORT
By STEVE ROSE Lieutenant/Public Information Officer Community Affairs Unit

addition, we will begin operation in the business watch program. The department and its community-based programs have shown evidence that crime problems, long standing in Sandy Springs, can be effectively addressed. Communication with the City of Atlanta Police in communities such as Chastain Park is essential to the reduction of crime. We also welcome the Mt. Paran Security Patrol and their officers. Crooks have no real boundaries so many times well get significant information resulting from action taken by another agency. Security patrols, especially those staffed with off-duty police officers can be a tremendous asset.

We started during the summer of 2005 with five people CALL 911 WHEN YOU SEE SUSPICIOUS ACTIVITY sitting around a table looking at dozens of pieces of scratch THEN MT. PARAN SECURITY (404) 310-7361 paper scribbled with a wish list of officers, equipment, and a budget that would best serve the new city of Sandy Springs. A year later we rolled out a new department, new personnel and a new philosophy of addressing and more so, controlling crime. As we work closer and closer to the one-year anniversary of the Sandy Springs Police Department, you can see the Lieutenant Rose joined the Sandy impact on crime and our crime-control model that has proSprings Police Department in Februduced our success to date. ary of 2006 following his retirement Starting in July 2006, we began to see a decline in Part-One from Fulton County Police after 26 years crimes. This category consists of: of service. Homicide Following time spent in the uniform Arson and detective divisions, he took over the Aggravated Assault north Fulton Neighborhood Watch Pro Burglary gram in 2001. By 2006 he had developed over 118 Auto Theft neighborhood watch programs into a system of e-mail Felony Larceny networks utilizing weekly crime stats and other analysis Robbery Since that time we have contained the activity overall. Some information. Lieutenant Rose is a free-lance artist and writer whose categories show periodic increase and decrease depending on seasonal conditions such as the month of December. Crime work can be seen on the Atlanta Journal-Constitution stats, during this month usually show an increase. We have web site ajc.com/metro. Called View from a Cop the recorded an overall decrease in both crimes against persons blog is widely read by many people, some whom he believes to be very strange. His column also appears in the as well as property. Part of this success comes with the personnel that we have Sunday Northside print edition and on radio and Podemployed. All of the city police officers come with no less cast every Thursday from 4-6 p.m. on The Beat at than five years of street and investigation experience. An- www.radiosandysprings.com Steve is married to Sandy Rose, also retired from Fulton other factor is the shift system the uniform division uses. County Police and currently a detective with the Sandy Each watch, morning, day, and evening consists of two squads. Each squad works 10-hour days, four days on and Springs Police. They have four children and two grandchildren, two three off. Each day, shifts overlap for a total of six hours. One day each week, both squads on a given watch are work- dogs consisting of a Shih Tzu and a Rottwieller as well ing. This means that on one day each week, the number of as a python, and a neurotic gecko. Steve authors a weekly e-mail police activity from his officers on the street doubles. One squad will normally hane-mail at steve.rose@sandysprings.org dle calls and the other will address crime problems in target areas or conduct patrols in residential neighborhoods and business areas. Currently we are adding to the department by twenty officers. If you are not receiving regular email crime alerts Nineteen will be assigned to uniform and one will operate as from the Mt. Paran-Northside Citizens Association, a H.E.A.T. (High Enforcement Aggressive Traffic) unit. This then we dont have your email address. Please send it to MtParNorCitAssoc@aol.com And, add our address to is under a Governors Office of Highway Safety grant. We currently have 73 neighborhood watch programs in your on-line address book so our emails wont be operation. The second phase of neighborhood watch calls for caught by your internet providers spam controls. We the addition of 25 new programs in a six-month period. In respect your privacy and never share email addresses.

A View of Steve Rose

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DONT OPEN DOORS TO SALESMEN

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BE AWARE
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Two days after graduating from high school last June, Jonathan Pope left his home in Miamisburg, Ohio, to join a traveling magazine sales crew, thinking he would get to talk to people, party at night and see the country. TROUBLE AND ARRESTS Officer George Dahl estimated that the Louisville, Ky., Police Department had cited or arrested more than 70 magazine sellers in the last two years. Over the next six months, he and about 20 other crew members crossed 10 states, peddling subscriptions door to door, 10 to 14 hours a day, six days a week. Sleeping three to a room in cheap motels, lowest seller on the floor, they survived some days on less than $10 in food money while their earnings were kept on the books for later payment. By then, Mr. Pope said, he had seen several friends severely beaten by managers, he and several other crew members were regularly smoking methamphetamine with prostitutes living down the motel hallway, and there were warrants out for his arrest in five states for selling subscriptions without a permit. I knew I was either going to be dead, disappeared or I dont know what, Mr. Pope said. After persuading his manager to let him leave, Mr. Pope was dropped off, without a ticket, $17 in his pocket, at a bus terminal near San Antonio, more than 1,000 miles from home. More than two decades after a Senate investigation revealed widespread problems with these itinerant sellers, and despite several highly publicized fatal accidents and violent crimes involving the sales crews in recent years, the industry remains almost entirely unregulated. And while the industry says it has changed, advocates and law enforcement officials say the abuses persist. In interviews over seven months, more than 50 current and former members from almost as many crews painted a similar picture of life on the road. With striking uniformity, they told of violence, drug use, indebtedness and cheating of customers during their cross-country travels, often in unsafe vehicles and with drivers who lacked proper licenses. In Collinsville, Ill., Daniel Burrus scrolled through digital photographs of bloodied faces as he described how, on a crew he helped manage for several years, men who missed their sales quota were forced to fight each other. In Flagstaff, Ariz., Isaac James sat with his wife and newborn daughter as he told how his mag crewas they are typically calledstole checkbooks, jewelry, medicine-cabinet drugs and shoes from customers homes. Earlene Williams, director of Parent Watch, an industry watchdog group, said her organization got about 10 e-mail messages or calls a day, double the number since 2003, seeking help from sellers, their families or lawyers. Publishers Sweepstakes is a lot smaller than it used to be, and so the magazine industry is less able to get subscriptions that way now, Ms. Williams said, explaining why she was seeing an increase in problems with crews. And the telemarketing nocall list has also pushed the publishers away from telemarketing and toward door-to-door crews.
Editors note: The article from which the excerpt above was taken, was believed to be so important, that it was circulated in an email by an Atlanta Police Dept. Zone 2 neighborhood communications member of the Citizens Advisory Committee. The complete national news feature titled: DOOR TO DOOR: Long Days, Slim Rewards; For Youths, a Grim Tour on Magazine Crews appeared on Page 1 of The New York Times, February 21, 2007 and can be purchased on www.nytimes.com

believe they are less likely to put up a fight.)

Major Sellers, commander of the Zone Two police precinct, advises women not to wear diamond rings or flashy jewelry to go shopping at least for the time being. We should also get the word out to seniors, our families, friends in other neighborhoods, clubs, churches and synagogues. And, we all can help by keeping a watch out for single women in parking lots. The Atlanta police are taking these incidents very seriously and have beefed up patrols including some undercover. However, it is incumbent upon the shopping center owners and businesses to protect the public on a daily basis, not just during the holidays. Next time you are shopping and don't see evidence of security in our shopping centers, please take the time to talk to store managers and ask them to talk to the center owners. If you happen to know the shopping center owners, be sure to contact them yourself. These crimes are a stark reminder that everyone needs to be on guard, especially in Buckhead and our neighborhood shopping centers. Parking lots and garages can be dangerous places, so be alert to your surroundings. If you feel uncomfortable, trust your instincts. Return to the store or the mall and ask for Security to accompany you to your car. Let's take whatever action is necessary to ensure that our shopping centers provide a more secure environment for us and our loved ones. Start by lowering your chances of becoming a target. Leave your diamond rings at home, especially when parking and shopping alone.

TIPS EVERYONE CAN USE

Tip from Tae Kwon Do: The elbow is the strongest point of your body. If you are close enough to use it, do! People have a tendency to get into their cars after shopping, eating, working, etc., and just sit (using the phone, making a list, arranging packages, whatever. DONT DO THIS! The predator will be watching you, and this is the perfect opportunity for him to get in the passenger side, put a gun to your head, and tell you where to go. AS SOON AS YOU GET INTO
YOUR CAR, LOCK THE DOORS AND LEAVE.

A few things to remember when getting into your car in a parking lot, or parking garage: 1) Be aware. Look around you, look into your car, at the passenger side, and in the back seat. 2) If you are parked next to a big van, enter your car from the passenger door. Most serial killers attack their victims by pulling them into their vans while the women are attempting to get into their cars. 3) Look at the cars parked on the drivers and the passenger side of your vehicle. If a male is sitting alone in the seat nearest your car, you may want to walk back into the mall, or work, and get a guard or policeman to walk you back out. IT IS ALWAYS BETTER TO BE SAFE THAN SORRY. (And better paranoid, than dead!)

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