Riverfest 2012 is just around the corner. This year will be the fourth annual, family friendly fundraiser event and will benefit Riverwalk Atlanta, a new park on the Chattahoochee River, IN RIVERSIDE. The event will be held on Saturday, May 12, beginning at 12 noon until 10pm at the Argos Cement Plant (formerly LaFarge), 2520 Paul Avenue NW, Atlanta Georgia 30318.

To help with Sponsors, please assist us to connect with your employer, or people you know in other companies. A warm introduction helps to get the appointment, to share the vision and explain the benefits.

Vendors make the event more interesting. Do you have a neighbor or a friend who makes crafts, art, or a service they would like to sell and advertise?

The Silent Auction is another opportunity for companies and people to donate items or services to help our fund raising efforts.

We also need help for set up the day before, and for clean up the day after the event. Many different volunteers are also needed the day of the event. From checking in sponsors and vendors, to selling beer, selling Riverside garb, water, sodas, people to supervise the bouncy houses, VIP services and more.

If you can’t make the meeting, please contact Keith Sharp, 678-778-8774 about sponsor levels and opportunities, and Cindy Poortinga, 404-227-2876 for information about becoming a vendor. If you are able to help the day of the event or the day before or after please email your hours of availability, job preferred, and questions to Keith Sharp <keith@oksharp.com>.

The time is here to do something really great for Riverside and the surrounding areas, get to know your neighbors and have a great memory for us all to be proud of. Thank you for your participation.

On behalf of the Riverside, Whittier Mill Village and Vinings on the Chattahoochee neighborhoods, I would like to announce the Tri-Neighborhood Cleanup Day happening this Saturday from 9am til 1pm.  We have been attempting to pull together our neighbors that share the James Jackson/Bolton Road crossing into more community projects and events.  This will be our second official gathering and our first attempt to bring people together to help cleanup our streets, parks, and facilities in the area.

This Saturday we will meet in the vacant lot at James Jackson and Bolton Road across the street from the Chevron/Bailey’s BBQ starting at 9am.  We will send you off into one of three groups: 1. Street Cleaning of James Jackson and Bolton, 2. WMV Park “hill” cleaning, 3. an inside job for those wanting to beat the heat (TBD).

The fine folks at FBC Chattahoochee will have bagels, doughnuts, drinks, etc at the welcome table and we will be giving out a $5.00 coupon to Hottie Hawgs just for showing up to help.  Hottie Hawgs will also have some post-clean specials at the restaurant to welcome us in from the heat.

Please try and make it out this weekend and join us for a few hours of cleaning and community.

thanks and see you there.

WHAT: Tri-Neighborhood Cleanup

WHEN: This Saturday from 9a – 1p

WHO: You, me, him, her, us, we, them

WHY: To build community and to clean up our area

WHERE: Meet at the vacant lot (look for the welcome table) across from the Chevron at James Jackson/Bolton Road

John Pamplin presenting the Riverfest 2011 proceeds of over $6,500

Our 3rd annual Riverfest Music Festival was a great success, and the Riverfest Committee was on hand last night to present the “big check” to the Association at last night’s meeting.  John Pamplin, Chairman of the Riverfest Committee, presented a check for $6,523.52 in net proceeds to Jeremy Jones to benefit local charities and community projects.  Riverfest has raised over $16,000 since 2009!

“I really want to thank the members of the Riverfest Committee for stepping up and doing most of the work – Riverfest would not happen without their committed effort,” John said as the check was being presented.  Keith Sharp handled corporate sponsorships, Kathy Hearn managed the bands, Fred Jacobsen was crucial with several aspects including the sound system and early meetings, Beth Highley made our awesome flyer, Don and Joann Penovi helped coordinate registration volunteers, and Cindy Poortinga wore multiple hats with vendors and the silent auction.  There are many volunteers who helped set up the event, serve beer, etc. – your efforts are sincerely appreciated!

Now the decision of how to spend the money rests with the Association – the Projects Committee will meet soon to discuss ways to best utilize this year’s funds.  Watch out for announcements in the coming weeks, and get involved to help get things done.  Next year’s Riverfest will be an even bigger event, planned for a new venue, so we truly need volunteers to help out for 2012.  ”This event directly benefits individuals in this neighborhood,” John said, “and if you needed that kind of help, wouldn’t you want others to step up and say yes?  Then please volunteer next year – get involved – make a difference.  That’s the essence of Riverfest, to build our community.”

There are two opportunities this week (Aug. 22nd-28th) to help out Riverside. Many people have been asking how to help out and this is a great way to do it.

August 24th – This Tuesday at 8:30am we will begin breaking ground on the beautification project for the Riverside monument at the “Y” in the road at Bolton and Hollywood. Thibaut at Le Jardin Francais and Tierson at Boutte Tree are heading this project and need you help. They will begin the soil phase of this project removing several cubic feet of Georgia clay and replacing it with soil that will be more suitable for a good growing environment. We need your help with shoveling dirt, directing traffic, and any other work that needs done. This will all take place in front of the Simmon’s Seafood building and every body we can get is much needed. We all realize that this is during a work day but try and make it out to help your hood or recommend someone you know in the area that works from home or has non-traditional work hours.

August 28th – The Riverside Residents Association is laying the sod on the children’s soccer field and they need your help with that project. Arrive at 8:00am at the soccer field at the intersection of Main and Hollywood (southeast corner) and bring work gloves. This project is a great way to help the children of Riverside and you will be able to meet some important people in Riverside that help make a difference everyday.

Please PLEASE PLEASE try and make it out to one of these two volunteer efforts. I really hope that we can get people out on Tuesday especially as that will be the tough day for people to make it out.

Jeremy Jones, President
Riverside Neighborhood Association, Inc.

This year seems to be quickly moving along, and for many of us living in Riverside, Fall just can’t seem to get here quick enough to satisfy our yearning to cool down.  Between the hotter than normal temperatures that we’ve experienced from early June through through July, to the tropical moisture that seems to be enjoying a lengthy visit to our area, we might as well have been in the “Dog Days” all Summer long.  many outside activities have been relegated to early morning or late evening hours, unless bathing by or in a great swimming pool somewhere.  Some may say that this is normal, when in fact, the temperatures we’ve experienced are usually only experienced for a couple of weeks at most each year, rather than a couple of months.  Hopefully this is simply a side effect of El Niño and/or La Niña, and nothing more permanent.

Whatever the case may be, please be sure to keep yourself hydrated when performing outdoor activities, such as working in the yard and garden, walking and jogging, or simply being outdoors having fun with the family. Allow for rest periods, in the shade or indoors, when working in excessive heat for lengthy periods of time. Wear sunscreen, hats, sunglasses and other protective clothing to prevent over exposure to the damaging sun rays.  Don’t forget to provide shade for and give plenty of water to our loving outdoor pets. Never leave pets or children unattended in cars, even with windows cracked and providing water. The interior car temperatures will quickly rise to 170+ degrees in the sunlight and heat, which can be lethal, not to mention criminal with consequences.

For the house, keep blinds, shades and draperies pulled to assist in preventing many of the suns rays from becoming added heat inside your home.  Consider doing laundry in the much cooler early morning or late evening hours. Try using your grill more often for less kitchen clean up and heat created during the cooking process. You may even consider applying a window film to your windows, available from local hardware stores to “do-it-yourself” types, like me, or from a professional vendor located in the Metro Atlanta area.  These films can also provide added security to your home, depending on type used, in addition to blocking upwards of 70% of the suns heat causing rays.  Do this can help in reducing your utility costs and in keeping your home much cooler.  Don’t forget that there are tax credits available for purchases made through the end of 2010, both state and federal, that can be applied to cost saving measures like this that increase the energy efficiency of your homes. Ask your vendor or retailer for more information, or find more information available to you at US Department of Energy:Consumer Energy Tax Incentives

I’ve applied a window film to the windows in my home, which immediately caused a drop in my electrical bill the following month to the tune of about $60.  I highly recommend it, but bear in mind that individual results will vary.  The film I used was purchased at a local big-box home improvement store, costing about $35 each.  The roll is 3 feet wide and 15 feet long, and claims to cover 3 standard-sized windows, although there are other sizes that can be purchased.

The bottom line…always enjoy life, but remember to do it safely during these extreme conditions.

Barry D. Batts

RNA Vice President