Drew Valley Civic Association (DVCA)

DVCA Sign Committee

Check out the new website/ blog for DVCA Sign Committee. Keep up to date with progress, find out how you can help, and learn how to donate.

http://www.dvcasigns.blogspot.com/

MARTA station RFP delayed

News from MARTA Development:

MARTA plans to release the RFP sometime during the spring/summer of this year.
We are currently working with internal and external planning/engineering consultants to ensure that this project will be a great success!!!

Plans were originally to begin the FRP process Jan 2008

Drew Valley Litter

Hi Neighbors,

I recently received an email from a concern resident about all the flyers we receive littering our Drew Valley neighborhood. The ones stuck on our mailboxes, thrown in the driveway and the AJC bags every Thursday sometimes get left in the yard for days and even weeks.

Please try and get them out of your yard and throw them away or better yet recycle them as soon as possible so we can keep our neighborhood from looking littered. If you have an elderly or handicapped neighbor that has trouble getting them maybe you could give them a hand too.

Thanks so much.

Jodi Cobb
President
Drew Valley Civic Association

Township of Brookhaven?

From Rep. Mike Jacobs' Website

November 26, 2007

Does it really make sense for every aspect of local governance in every neighborhood in unincorporated DeKalb County to be controlled from Downtown Decatur?

This is one of the issues we will discuss during my town hall meeting on local government reform to be held this Thursday, November 29, at 7:00 p.m. in the Talmage Room of the student center at Oglethorpe University, 4484 Peachtree Road, in Brookhaven. The student center is best accessed using the side entrance to Oglethorpe located off of Woodrow Way.

Another issue that will be discussed is reining in the excessive power of the DeKalb CEO via House Bill 899, House Bill 894, or Senate Bill 52 (click for more information on each bill). Please tell your neighbors. I hope to see you there.

Arguably, services like planning, zoning, land use, code enforcement, building permits, and alcohol licenses that can be controlled by local neighborhoods at a very low cost, and have an immense impact on the quality of life in our neighborhoods, should be controlled more locally than the county level.

Virtual Tour of New Sembler Development

http://www.brookhavenplace.net/htms/vt.htm

Check this out- I think it just looks like a giant strip mall. hope I am wrong. Would be curious to know others thoughts ...

From The DeKalb County Police

COMMUNITY ALERT -- BEING SAFE AT HOME

The DeKalb County Police Department would like to increase your awareness and decrease your possibility of becoming a victim in your Home by:

1) Eliminate the visibility of valuables taken into the home (i.e. cash, high dollar electronics, etc.) by breaking down boxes and packaging and dispose of in garbage bags & covered cans

2) Utilize all security mechanisms installed in your home: i.e. locks, alarm                                                systems, light & sound timers: do not leave doors or windows open.

3) Business owners should avoid the practice of carrying cash to your place of residence; make deposits before the close of business.

4) Avoid establishing a traceable routine concerning the handling of cash or valuable items.

5)   Ask neighbors to keep a watchful eye for suspicious persons and unwanted    activity in the neighborhood.

6)   If you are in your vehicle and think you are being followed, dial 911 from a cellular phone advise your location and situation, change your route to a well lit & populated establishment.

7)   Remove any objects to aide a criminal: i.e. ladders, tools, projectile objects.

8) Communicate with your neighbors on any suspicious activity.

9)   Always call 911 for any suspicious persons, vehicles or activity seen in your community.

10) Dial 911 when occurring activities make you feel unsafe

*** Remember if you don’t inform the Police, the Police don’t know what’s happening in your neighborhood. ***

Al Fowler
DeKalb Police
North Precinct
Community Relations
Office: 404-294-2858
Fax:    404-297-3863
Visit the Yahoo! Groups site: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/dkpdcommrel/

Discussion of Brookhaven Development

Hello, I live in Grant Estates, and wanted to generate some discussion on the latest developments. I have become anxious/ frustrated with the LCI website (www.brookhavenlci.info/) as it has been updated only twice in the last 6 months.

Dresden: First, the Woodley project has taken entirely too long. The last rumor I heard was that Woodley went bankrupt on this project- any truth there?

Continuing, when will the rest of the Dresden development begin? J Patronis (Capital Partners) holds 2 plots of land. Parkside is between the fire station and Mom & Pops and Appalachee is across from Woodley’s Phase 2 development. LCI Website indicates that both plans have been denied.
Finally, I have noticed a series of abandoned houses closer to Peachtree on Dresden. Anyone have an idea who owns these and when development plans might begin? I have read the LCI plans but it indicates no actionable plans for these areas.

MARTA: From what I understand, the planning committee/ MARTA officials will begin to take proposals 1/1/08 or a revamped 6-story MARTA station. This will likely be another mixed-use building. My only hope is that it has a classic look and feel. I would speculate that the proposal process will take a few months and that construction will take 18 months, putting us will a new MARTA station around 2010.

Town: Brookhaven- I was actually excited about the idea of Sembler’s development off Peachtree. A park, some great non-chain restaurants, a location for “Screen on the Green”…. Then I saw the plans. This “new-age” town look is atrocious. Hopefully the renderings are off. Looks like something in midtown.

Thoughts?

Are You or a Teen You Know in an Abusive Relationship?

Did you know that 1 in 3 teens will be impacted by Teen Dating Violence? Read through the following Ten Warning Signs and please get help if you are in an abusive relationship!

Ten Warning Signs of an Abusive Relationship

History of discipline problems.
Blames you for his/her anger.
Serious drug or alcohol use.
History of violent behavior.
Threatens others regularly.
Insults you or calls you names.
Trouble controlling feelings like anger.
Tells you what to wear, what to do or how to act.
Threatens or intimidates you in order to get their way.
Prevents you from spending time with friends or family.

Could YOU be in an Abusive Relationship? Create a Safety Plan!

Do you know an adult that you can trust?
Plan in advance to have a safe place to go.
Keep money and your cell phone or calling card with you at all times.
Establish code word or sign so that family, friends, teachers and co-workers know when to call for help.

1-866-331-9474

1-866-331-8453

(TTY for deaf/hearing impaired)

National Teen Dating Abuse Helpline

Jennifer Ann's Group
www.JenniferAnn.org

Fight Teen Dating Violence!

From The DeKalb County Police

In the past few weeks, there has been an increase in fraudulent emails from various sources that are pretending to be from legitimate banking institutions, and you are requested to update your account information, or... as the emails go... your bank account will be "suspended".

These emails are supposedly from such banking companies as Washington Mutual [WaMu], Wachovia, Regions Bank, Fidelity Bank and others, some of which you may not even have an account with. So... what's going on with these emails?

These emails are sent out in mass, and are computer generated to go to as many possible email address combinations that the host computer can devise. So whether or not you have an account with the banking company who supposedly has sent the email isn't a concern of the sender. What is important is that if someone who does receive one of these fraudulent emails, they may reply and disclose financial identity information which will result in a financial disaster.

NO LEGITIMATE BANKING INSTITUTION WILL SEND YOU AN EMAIL ASKING THAT YOU UPDATE YOUR FINANCIAL IDENTITY INFORMATION.

If you receive any email asking for such information, DO NOT REPLY. If you have any doubts or questions, contact your local bank branch or fraud center for further information.

Other than receiving an unsolicited email that pretends to be from a legitimate banking company, how else can you tell that the email is fraudulent?

Read the email message carefully. You should notice that the grammar and words used to make up sentences are incorrect, and the messages aren't written in what would be termed "normal" business communications. Many of these email frauds originate in countries where English isn't the primary language, such as Eastern Europe and other areas.

So, when in doubt... don't reply and ask your banking company for assistance. If you have any questions, or need additional information, contact WL Swann with the DeKalb Police North Precinct at DeKalbPoliceNorth@Yahoo.com .

Georgia's Move Over Law Saves Lives

Georgia's new Move-Over Law says drivers must move-over for emergency vehicles stopped on the side of the highway. The law is meant to keep officers AND traffic violators safe from crashes with passing cars.

The Move-Over Law was passed in the aftermath of growing numbers of police, emergency technicians and DOT workers being killed during routine traffic stops, crash responses and highway construction projects around the nation. Right now, more than thirty states have Move-Over Laws on the books, with fines that range as high as a thousand dollars or more in some jurisdictions. The Move-Over fine in Georgia is an "attention-getting" five-hundred-dollars.

However, failure to obey the Move-Over Law can lead to consequences far more serious than fines. According to FBI statistics, traffic crashes claim the lives of more police personnel than any other cause of death in the line of duty, including shootings. The FBI says last year, forty-nine officers died in crashes across the country. Thirteen of those law enforcement officers were struck and killed by passing vehicles while they worked outside their patrol cars.

"Georgia's Move-Over Law was meant to reduce the number of injuries and fatalities to police officers, paramedics, firefighters, tow truck operators and highway maintenance workers," said Director Bob Dallas of the Governor's Office of Highway Safety. Reports show emergency vehicles of all types have been struck while parked beside Georgia highways, even while their emergency lights were flashing.

The Georgia Move-Over Law requires drivers to move-over one lane when possible if an emergency vehicle with flashing lights is parked on the shoulder of the highway. And if traffic is too heavy to move-over safely, the law requires drivers to slow down below the posted speed limit instead AND to be prepared to stop.

Move-Over-Law: Georgia Code, Title 40-6-16.

a. The operator of a motor vehicle approaching a stationary authorized emergency vehicle that is displaying flashing yellow, amber, white, red, or blue lights shall approach the authorized emergency vehicle with due caution and shall, absent any other direction by a peace officer, proceed as follows:
1. Make a lane change into a lane not adjacent to the authorized emergency vehicle if possible in the existing safety and traffic conditions; or
2. If a lane change under paragraph (1) of this subsection would be impossible, prohibited by law, or unsafe, reduce the speed of the motor vehicle to a reasonable and proper speed for the existing road and traffic conditions, which speed shall be less than the posted speed limit, and be prepared to stop.
b. The operator of a motor vehicle approaching a stationary towing or recovery vehicle or a stationary highway maintenance vehicle that is displaying flashing yellow, amber, or red lights shall approach the vehicle with due caution and shall, absent any other direction by a peace officer, proceed as follows:
1. Make a lane change into a lane not adjacent to the towing, recovery, or highway maintenance vehicle if possible in the existing safety and traffic conditions; or
2. If a lane change under paragraph (1) of this subsection would be impossible, prohibited by law, or unsafe, reduce the speed of the motor vehicle to a reasonable and proper speed for the existing road and traffic conditions, which speed shall be less than the posted speed limit, and be prepared to stop.
c . Violation of subsection (a) or (b) of this Code section shall be punished by a fine of not more than $500.00.