Friday, May 17, 2013
Joe Bennett of Avondale Estates, a member of the American Bass Anglers, talks about what kind of fish can be found in Lake Avondale.
Avondale Estates holds it annual fishing derby on Saturday. Residents will throw their lines into Lake Avondale and compete to catch the largest fish, the most fish and to be the oldest and youngest to catch a fish. Patch caught Joe Bennett of Avondale Estates, a member of the American Bass Anglers, casting in the lake Thursday afternoon. He won't be fishing in the derby--he's entered a competition at Lake Altoona--but talked about the variety of fish that can be found in Lake Avondale. The derby is 8 a.m. to noon and it's free. The event was rained out a few weeks ago.
Wednesday, May 15, 2013
Graduates of the Citizens Police Academy would ride around town in a decommissioned patrol car and serve as "the eyes and ears of the community." They wouldn't carry weapons or have arrest powers.
Avondale Estates may try to reduce crime with a "mobile neighborhood watch." The city commission will talk about Citizen Patrols during a work session that starts at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday in city hall. A memo to the commission says, "The program is entirely non-confrontational, having members contact 911 and report their observations." Though the commission hasn't decided whether to authorize the idea, a 10-page policy and procedure manual has already been compiled. (You can read it by going to the City of Avondale Estates web page and clicking on the "agenda items" link for the May 15 meeting, found in the meetings/agenda/audios/minutes section.) The manual says Citizen Patrol members would be volunteers who graduate from the Citizens …
Thursday, May 9, 2013
The designation is a step toward revitalizing the downtown. Tax credits are available for new and existing businesses that create jobs.
The City of Avondale Estates has taken a major step toward revitalizing the downtown business district. The Georgia Department of Community Affairs has designated that area an "opportunity zone." That creates a tax incentive for current businesses to expand and new businesse to locate there. A message from the city says that: Avondale Estates downtown has often been criticized because of its rundown look. The town's best known business, the old James Joyce tavern, shut down last year after several name changes and hasn't reopened. Other steps taken to revitalize the Avondale Estates include receipt of a $64,000 Livable Cities Initiative grant from the Atlanta Regional Commission; a walkability study; the sale and renovation of the large …
Thursday, April 4, 2013
The Avondale Estates City Commission and residents talked about the speeding problem on Kensington Road.
The Avondale Estates City Commission is looking for ways to reduce speeding on Kensington Road. Residents submitted a petition asking the city to investigate speed calming devices. They complain that drivers use Kensington as a cut-through from Covington Highway. Some of the options listed on the city website include: At a March 20 meeting, Mayor Ed Rieker said changing the intersection might remove the need for speed calming devices. "If we knock out the perception that's a good place to go, maybe we'll resolve the problem," he said. Lindsay Forlines said a big-picture fix is needed. "Speed humps are not enough," she said. Resident Ted Penrod told the commission he hated speed humps. "Let's use the speed humps as an absolute last resort…
Tuesday, April 2, 2013
Police said the vehicle was parked at a residence on Majestic Circle when the break-in occurred Monday night.
The City of Avondale Estates emailed this information about an auto break-in. On 04-01-13, at approximately 9:15 p.m., Avondale Estates Police Department units were dispatched to a residence located on Majestic Circle (3000 Block) in reference to an Entering Auto call. Upon arrival and initial investigation, it was noted that unknown person(s) had unlawfully entered the victim's vehicle and removed a number of electronic devices. The theft was reported to have occurred during the period of 6:00 to 9:00 p.m. while the vehicle was parked in the driveway. A check of the immediate area revealed that there were no reported witnesses or suspects observed. Anyone having possible information related to the incident is requested to contact …
Monday, March 11, 2013
A group of residents strolled around Avondale Estates with a walkability expert to find ways to make the town more pedestrian friendly.
About 35 people strolled around Avondale Estates on Monday as part of a walkability study guided by a transportation expert hired by the city government. Dan Burden, executive director of the Walkable and Livable Communities Institute, led the walk from city hall. The group stopped in the central business district, went down Avondale Road, used the crosswalk at Pine Street, and circled back to city hall on Franklin Street. Along the way, Burden talked about ways to make the city more accessible for pedestrians and cyclists. The ideas included more crosswalks and roundabouts. The study is funded by a Livable Cities Initiative grant from the Atlanta Regional Commission.
Wednesday, March 6, 2013
It looks like a birdhouse but it's really a place where children's books can be exchanged.
Avondale Estates has its first Little Free Library. The Avondale Estates Garden Club sponsored the Little Free Library, which poppped up recently on Dartmouth near the tennis courts. It looks like a big bird house and holds children's books for exchange. A number of Little Free Libraries can be found in Decatur. According to a story on Decatur Patch about Decatur's first one, two men in Wisconsin came up with idea of Little Free Libraries. They wanted to encourage reading and create spots where people in a community could gather.
Tuesday, March 5, 2013
The Postal Service won't require new residents of Avondale Estates' historic district to install curbside mailboxes. Mail carriers will deliver to the door.
Avondale Estates has stamped out the Postal Service's plan to change mail delivery. The Postal service wanted new residents in the city's historic district to install curbside mailboxes, but gave up that idea after pressure from city hall and U.S. Sen. Johnny Isakson (R-Ga.) "We have decided not to require the new residents in the City of Avondale Estates Historic District to install mailboxes on the street," wrote Salvatore Vacca, Atlanta district manager for the Postal Service, in a Feb. 15 letter to Isakson. (See attachment) For aesthetic purposes, the city prohibits curbside mailboxes for the 500-some homes and businesses in the historic district. Mail carriers depost letters in mailboxes attached to the house. The Postal Service went …
Monday, March 4, 2013
On March 11, a national expert will help the city assess what needs to be done to improve life for pedestrians and cyclists.
The City of Avondale Estates has hired a national expert to conduct a walkability study March 11. Dan Burden, executive director of the Walkable and Livable Communities Institute, will help conduct the assessment. Time magazine named him one of the world’s six most important civic innovators in 2001. The study is part of the city's plan to make the central business district more attractive, enjoyable and walkable. The first step is an assessment of the city's infrastructure to determine what hinders walking and cycling. The study will be held 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. March 11 with residents and business owners volunteering to participate. The walkability study is funded with a $64,000 Livable Cities Initiative grant from the Atlanta Regional …
Wednesday, February 27, 2013
There's no place in Avondale Estates to put a dog park that's acceptable to residents, said the chairman of the dog park committee.
After searching more than two years, Avondale Estates has given up the idea of building a dog park. Ad Hoc Dog Park Committee Chairwoman Martha McDermott said the city wanted the dog park but doesn't have the real estate. "Everytime we looked at a site we got pushback from the residents," McDermott said. "It went on until we ran out of places." The committee investigated using the city bird sanctuary, Willis Park, Fletcher Park and the North Woods. In an email newsletter, the city thanked the committee for its work and said "the implementation of a dog park will be delayed until the City is able to acquire or locate a suitable green space to dedicate to a dog park. ..." All were too close to residential areas and Willis Park became a cut-…
Shelby
3:57 pm on Wednesday, May 15, 2013
Sounds like a good idea, as long as discretion and oversight are given to those running the training and the program to accept and deny citizen volunteers who do not fulfill the standards of the program. This can be difficult if there are not enough participants. There should also be a procedure in place for other citizens to provide feedback and complaints to the appropriate department. more ›