Presenting the Big Check at May's Meeting

The results are in for our annual music festival / fundraiser Riverfest 2010, and it was a huge success! Nearly tripling last year’s proceeds, Riverfest brought in $7,746.90 which brings our two year total to over $10,000.

John Pamplin, the Chairman of the Riverfest Committee, was on hand to present the check to Jeremy Jones at the May RNA Meeting. “To put this in context,” John said, “we had about $100 in our account a little over a year ago. Today things are fundamentally different. We now have the means to raise money to support our local charities and start community marketing and beautification projects.”

The Riverfest Committee presented a list of suggestions of what to do with the funds, but the job of deciding how to spend the proceeds will rest with the Association. A new Projects Committee is being formed to undertake this task – if you would like to get involved with this new Committee, please contact our newly appointed Projects Committee Chairman Keith Sharp at 678-778-8774.

John also stated that this would be his last Riverfest, due to an upcoming out-of-state move, but he encouraged everyone to pick up where he left off. “Take this and run with it,” he said at last night’s meeting. A replacement Chairman for the Riverfest Committee will be selected soon – check back for details.

UPDATE: Audio of the May RNA Meeting has been posted to the RNA Archives page.

When:  May 8, 2010 from 12:00 noon until 9:00 pm
Where: 2125 Bolton Road
Cost:  $10 adult entry & BBQ / $25 adult entry, BBQ & Beer

For more info:  www.riverfestatlanta.com

Dear Constituents:

I have recently been made aware of MARTA’s proposed service changes.

MARTA NEEDS YOUR INPUT

Decisions are being made that could impact you!

MARTA must develop a financial plan that makes it possible for the Authority to “live within its means”.  The Authority’s Board of Directors must approve a balanced budget no later than June 30, 2010.

The information herein is just one illustrative example of a proposed service modification plan that could be recommended to the MARTA Board of Directors to help address the gap in their funding resources.

I urge you to attend one of the following community forums:

Monday March 1st
6:00 – 8:00 pm
Maloof Auditorium
1300 Commerce Drive
Decatur, GA

Tuesday March 2nd
6:00 – 8:00 pm
Adamsville Recreation Center
3201 Martin Luther King Jr Drive
Atlanta, GA

Examples of Some of the proposed changes in District 9:

• Route 1:  Marietta Boulevard/Centennial Olympic Park – Discontinued Service New proposed Routes 21 and 99 would provide service along Jesse Hill Ave., Coca Cola Pl. and Piedmont Ave. segments. New proposed Route 99 would provide service along the Martin Luther King, Jr. Dr. segment.  New proposed Routes 32 and 51 would provide service on Marietta St. between Forsyth St. and Ivan Allen Jr. Blvd.  New proposed Route 12 would provide service on the Howell Mill Rd segment between 10th St. and Chattahoochee Ave..  New proposed Route 37 would provide service on Chattahoochee  Ave. between Hills Ave. and Marietta Blvd and Marietta Blvd between Bolton Dr. and Coronet Way.  New proposed Routes 37 and 60 would provide service on Coronet Way between Marietta Blvd and Bolton Rd segments.
  Service will no longer be provided on Edgewood Ave. between Piedmont Ave. and Marietta St.; Marietta St. between Edgewood Ave. and Forsyth St.; Marietta St. between Ivan Allen, Jr. Blvd and Howell Mill Rd; Howell Mill Rd between Marietta St. and 10th St.; Huff Rd, Ellsworth Industrial Blvd and Marietta Blvd; Chattahoochee Ave. between Ellsworth Industrial Blvd and Hill Ave.; Bolton Pl., Bolton Dr.; Coronet Way between Defoors Ferry Rd and Moores Mill Rd, and Moores Mill Rd between Bolton Rd and Coronet Way.
  
• Route 12:  Howell Mill/Cumberland
  Proposed modification includes Route 12 maintaining service along 10th St. between Midtown Station and Howell Mill Rd, Howell Mill Rd between 10th St. and West Wesley Rd, West Wesley Rd between Howell Mill Rd and Northside Dr. (current Route 44) and Northside Dr. between West Wesley Rd and Northside Parkway (current Route 44). New service on Moores Mill Rd between Northside Parkway and Howell Mill Rd.
  Service will no longer be provided on 10th St. segment between Howell Mill Rd and Brady Ave., Brady Ave., Howell Mill Rd segment between West Wesley Rd and Moores Milll Rd, and North Creek Office Park.
  
• Route 26:  Perry Boulevard/West Highlands
  Proposed modification includes Route 26 maintain service on Perry Heights, Perry Blvd, West Marietta St., Marietta Blvd, and Bankhead Station. Additionally, Route 26 will provide service on the Donald L. Holllowell Parkway segment between Bankhead Station and English Ave., English Ave. segment and Kennedy St. segments currently served by Route 11,  and North Ave. segment currently served by Route 27 & 99.
  Service will no longer be provided on Johnson Rd, Habershal Rd, Craftman Rd, Odesso Dr., Stanfield Ave., Sanford Dr., McCallie Blvd, Ajax Dr., Abner Terrance, Mary George Ave., and Abner Place
  
• Route 37:  Defoors Ferry Road
  Proposed modification includes Route 37 providing service to 17th St. segment between Arts Center and Northside Dr. (currently served by Route 113), Collier Rd segment between Hills Ave. and Defoors Ferry Rd(currently served by Route 137), Chattahoochee Ave. segment between Hills Ave. and Marietta Blvd (currently served by Route 1). Proposed Route 12 will provide service on the 10th St. segment between Midtown Station and Hemphill Ave.. Proposed Route 37 will continue to serve Bellemeade Ave., Defoors Ave., Coronet Way, Marietta Blvd and Bolton Rd as it currently does.
  Service will no longer be provided on Hemphill Ave., Northside Dr. segment between Hemphill Ave. and Bishop St., and Defoors Ferry Rd between Collier Rd and Coronet Way.      
  
• Route 44:  Northside Drive – Discontinued Service
  Proposed modifications to Route 12 will provide service to  West Wesley segment between Northside Dirve and Howell Mill Rd, Northside Dr. segment between West Wesley Rd and Moores Mill Rd, and Northside Parkway segment between Howell Mill Rd and West Paces Ferry Rd. Routes 37 and 60 will provide service to the Coronet Way segment between Bolton Rd and Marietta Blvd, Marietta Blvd, and Bolton Rd between Marietta Blvd and Coronet Way.
  Service will no longer be provided on Lindbergh Dr., Peachtree Hills Ave., Peachtree Battle Ave., Moores Mill Rd between Northside Parkway and Northside Dr., Northside Dr. between Moores Mill Rd and West Paces Ferry Rd, West Paces Ferr Rd, Northside Parkway between Howell Mill Rd and Moores Mill Rd, West Wesley Rd between Howell Mill Rd and Ridgewood Rd, Ridgewood Rd, Moores Mill Rd between Ridgewood Rd and Bolton Rd and Coronet Way between Moores Mill Rd and Bolton Rd. Additionally, direct service into North Atlanta High School will be discontinued.
  
• Route 50:  Donald L. Hollowell
  Proposed modification includes Route 50 providing service along Donald L. Hollowell Parkway from Bankhead Station to Bolton Rd, Bolton Rd segment between Donald L. Hollowell Parkway and Fairburn Rd, Fairburn Rd segment between Bolton Rd and Mercury Dr., Mercury Dr., Clovis Court, Croft Pl., Bolton Rd segment between Croft Pl. and Adkins Rd, Adkins Rd, Fairburn Pl., and Fairburn Rd segment between Fairburn Pl. and Bolton Rd all aforementioned segments currently served by Route 57. Proposed Route 58 will provide service to Atlanta Industrial Parkway and Donald L. Hollowell Parkway between Fulton Industrial Blvd and Atlanta Industrial Parkway.
  Service will no longer be provided on Donald L.Hollowell Parkway between Bolton Rd and Fulton Industrial Blvd. Additionally, proposed modification to Route 50 will no longer provide service to Atlanta Industrial Parkway.
  
• Route 52:  Knight Park – Discontinued Service
  Proposed modifications to Route 68 will serve Carter St. between James P. Brawley Dr. and Joseph E. Lowery Blvd.  Proposed Route 26 will serve Marietta Blvd segment between West Marietta St. and Donald E. Hollowell Parkway and Donald E. Hollowell Parkway between Marietta Blvd and Bankhead Station.
  Service will no longer be provided along Electric Ave., Magnolia St., Griffin St., James P. Brawley Blvd between Magnolia St. and Carter St., and West Marietta St. between Joseph E. Lowery Blvd and Marietta Blvd.
  
• Route 53:  Grove Park
  Proposed modification includes Route 53 providing service along West Lake Ave. from West Lake Station to North Ave. (current Route 58), North Ave., Baker Rd, and Hamilton E. Holmes Dr. to Washington St. (current Routes 53, 59, 60, and 153), Washington St. (current Route 59), Ozburn Rd (current route 59), Allegro Dr. (current Route 59), West Peek Rd (current Route 59), Aline Dr. (current Route 59), Waterford Dr. (current Route 59), Skipper Dr. (current Route 59), Harwell Rd (current Route 59), and Kingston Rd (current Route 59). New service on North Ave. from Jetal Pl. and Baker Rd.
  Service will no longer be provided along Burbank Dr., Mayson Turner Rd, Chappell Rd between Mayson Turner Rd and North Ave., North Ave. between Chappell Rd and West Lake Ave., Jetal Pl., Baker Rd between Jetal Pl. and North Ave., Baker Ridge Rd, Dale Creek Dr., Collier Ridge Dr., Collier Dr. between Collier Ridge Dr. and Simon Terrence, Simon Terrence, East Simon Terrence, and Loghaven Dr.
  
• Route 57:  Collier Heights – Discontinued Service
  Proposed modifications to Route 56 include providing service along Hamilton E. Holmes Dr., Burton Rd, Linkwood Rd, Collier Dr., Fairburn Rd, Fairlane Dr., and Bolton Rd.  Proposed modifcations to Route 50 include providing service along the Bolton Rd segment between Donald L. Hollowell Parkway and Fairburn Rd, Fairburn Rd segment between Bolton Rd and Mercury Dr., Mercury Dr., Clovis Court, Croft Pl., Bolton Rd segment between Croft Pl. and Adkins Rd, Adkins Rd, Fairburn Pl., and Fairburn Rd segment between Fairburn Pl. and Bolton Rd.
  Service will no longer be provided on Gordon Rd, Fulton Industrial Blvd between current Gordon Rd and Amber Rd, Amber Rd, Alfred Dr., Crosby Dr., Bolton Rd between Croft Pl. and Fairburn Rd, Donald L. Hollowell Parkway between Bolton Rd and Fulton Industrial Blvd and Atlanta Industrial Dr.
  
• Route 58:  Bolton Road   
  Proposed modifications to Route 58 include providing service along Donald L. Hollowell Parkway, Hollywood Rd, Hightower Rd, Saint James Ave., Northwest Dr., Bolton Rd, Fulton Industrial Blvd to Atlanta Industrial Parkway. New service on Bolton Rd and Fulton Industrial Blvd. 
  Service will no longer  provided along West Lake Ave. between North Ave. and Donald L. Hollowell Parkway, Bolton Rd between Northwest Dr. and James Jackson Parkway, and Peyton Rd
  
• Route 59:  Skipper Drive – Discontinued Service
  Proposed modification to Route 60 will serve Hamilton E. Holmes Dr. from Hamilton E. Holmes Station and Joseph E. Boone Blvd.Proposed Routes 53 and 60 will serve Hamilton E. Holmes Dr. from Baker Rd to Washington St..  Proposed Route 53 will now serve the folllowing segments: Washington St., Ozburn Rd, Crescendo Dr., Allegro Dr., West Peek Rd, Aline Dr., Waterford Dr., Skipper Dr., Harwell Rd, and Kingston Rd. Service will no longer be provided along Collier Rd between Hamilton E. Holmes Dr. and Chilton Dr., Chilton Dr., Santa Barbara Dr., and Renfro Dr.
  
• Route 60:  Hightower/Moores Mill 
  Proposed modifications include Route 60 maintaining service along its current routing sans Arno Court. 
  Service will no longer be provided along Arno Dr., Abner Pl., and Arno Court.  
  
• Route 137:  Collier Road – Discontinued Service
  Proposed modification to Route 12 includes providing service along 10th St. segment and Howell Mill segment.  New proposed Route 37 will serve 17th St. segment, Northside Dr. segment and Collier Rd segment.
  Service will no longer be provided on Hemphill Ave., Bishop St., Macaslin St., Deering Rd, Beck St., Emery St., Collier Rd between Howell Mill Rd and Defoor Ave., Defoor Ave. between Collier Rd and Bohler Rd, Bohler Rd, Cross Creek Parkway, and Defoor Hills Rd.
  
• Route 153:  H.E. Holmes Drive/Browntown – Discontinued Service
  Proposed modification to Route 60 include providing service to Hamilton E. Holmes Dr. and Hightower Rd.  New proposed Route 58 will serve Northwest Dr.. Service will no longer be provided along 6th St., Etheridge Dr., 7th St., James Jackson Parkway, Browntown Rd, Maldo Dr., Argyle Dr., Marco Dr., Bridgeport Dr., and Audrey Pl.

This is not a full list of proposed changes.  For more information and a complete listing, visit www.itsmarta.com or call (404) 848-5026.

On Saturday March 20, 2010 we will be having the first Riverside Community Cleanup Day of 2010 and I hope that you and your family will be there ready to help.  From trash on the streets to overgrown bushes blocking roadways, there is plenty to be done and this year we will have plenty of help to do it.  Congregants from Riverside’s Fidelity AME Church will be on hand to lend their support in helping to beautify our neighborhood as well as a work crew from Trinity Presbyterian Church on Howell Mill Road.

Specific details are still being worked out, but if you can help in planning and executing this event, please email me at president@riverside-community.org.  We are putting together a prioritized Plan of Action to accomplish the best results in the shortest time, so please send an email with specific areas that need to be targeted (be as specific as possible).

Michael Nolan
RNA President

We are planning a fundraiser to help this family to recuperate from such a tremendous loss, but right now there are immediate needs that must be addressed.  Red Cross Disaster Relief has stepped in to provide emergency housing for the next week through Thursday night, so the first thing we need to do is help clothe our neighbors.  The family’s clothing needs are noted here.

OTHER DONATIONS NEEDED:

UPDATE!  An anonymous donor has agreed to match all donations dollar for dollar up to $3,000!

MONEY:  As you might expect, we need money for this family as they have lost not only their home but everything in it.  Financial donations are tax deductible and can be made out to Riverside Residents Association and may be mailed to 2603 Smith Street NW Atlanta, GA 30318.

Money can also be deposited directly at any Wachovia branch in the U.S. into account # 2000-021-940-998, the name on the account is Riverside Residents Association Fundraising Account. Refer any questions to Michael at the phone number below.

FURNITURE & HOUSEWARES:  Any furniture or housewares may be donated to the family as well and an in-kind donation tax receipt will be issued to you.  This is a family of three adults with no children and they will need home furniture, linens, kitchen items and everything else we all take for granted every day.

For more information or to arrange to drop off a donation, please contact:

Michael Nolan

Riverside Neighborhood Association President

404-424-4498

Eight months later and I am honored by the vote of confidence that led to me being elected president of the Riverside Neighborhood Association.  Had you asked me just a couple of weeks ago I would have laughed at the possibility but that just goes to show how influential our residents can be.

I have to take the opportunity here to extend my sincere and heartfelt thanks to Don Penovi who has served this community tirelessly as president for the past two years.  Your efforts have not gone unnoticed and I want you to know how much I appreciate your work and your friendship.

There is a lot of work to be done in Riverside and when I accepted this role I agreed to do everything in my power to help make our neighborhood everything it can be.  It is important for you to understand that I can’t do any of it without your help and that’s why I am asking for every member of this community to step forward and get involved.  If you haven’t attended a neighborhood association meeting in a while, now is the time to come back.  The next meeting will be the first in the new year on January 19, 2010 at 7:00pm – what a great way to get a fresh start than by getting reacquainted with your neighbors?

In a depressed economy it is important that we strive to maintain property values as well as the appeal of Riverside as a home to current and potential businesses.  We can accomplish these goals in tandem if we work together to beautify our neighborhood.  That is why I will be calling on the residents to once again come together for neighborhood clean up dates to be announced in the near future.

If you have questions, comments or concerns, I want to know.  If you have ideas for ways to improve something I want to know about those too.  You should always feel free to email me, stop me on the street or give me a call.

Let’s make 2010 Riverside’s best year yet.

Michael Nolan