Update from APS on timing around the Mary Lin expansion & renovation project:

Mary Lin Elementary School Phasing Plan Narrative
 
Phase 1– North Site Demolition and Underground Site Utility Work
Time Frame (July 22, 2013 – September 23, 2013)
 
Phase 2– New Two Story Addition/Renovation
Time Frame (October 7, 2013 – April 28, 2014)
 
Phase 3 – New One Story Administration Addition/Renovation
Time Frame (June 16, 2014 – November 17, 2014)
 
Phase 4 – Lower / Main & Upper Classrooms / Restroom Renovation
Time Frame (June 2, 2014 – July 31, 2014)
 
Minimize disruption of school and neighborhood activities:
 
Hogan Construction will take all safety measures to assure that all school personnel, construction personnel and surrounding community are not exposed to an unsafe environment.  Hogan Construction Group in conjunction with Mary Lin Elementary School will establish a safety zone perimeter fence or barricade around the areas of construction and strictly limit access to personnel that have legitimate business within the zone.
 
Hogan Construction Group will take all measures necessary to minimize construction noise and dust while school is in operation as well as minimize disruption to the neighboring community. Our plan is as follows:

• Prior to mobilizing construction activities, Hogan will initiate a planning session where the program manager and school officials to review our proposed plan and provide their input. These discussions will include plans for minimizing disruptions to normal school operations.  Important school functions will be included in our construction schedule so they can be tracked and potential disrupting or conflicting activities avoided.
• Construction traffic will flow on Candler Park Drive and Oakdale Road.  Construction entrances will be located on Candler Park Drive and Oakdale Road. Construction traffic to and from the site will be limited to the hours between 9:00 am and 2:00 pm.  No construction traffic will be allowed in or out of the site between 8:00 am to 9:00 am and between 2:30 pm to 3:30 pm. A flagman will be stationed at each construction entrance to control traffic in and out of construction site.  The local neighborhood will not be disturbed by construction traffic. This will be closely monitored by Hogan Construction Group.
• A minimal amount of parking will be allowed at the construction staging area.  The majority of construction parking will at an offsite location.       
• We will minimize major construction activities while school is in session (site utility work, concrete pours, bolting structural steel etc.).
• We will schedule system tie-in (electrical, fire alarm, intercom, plumbing, etc.) inside existing schools during off school hours and on weekends. We will have all new system completed before shut down of existing systems to minimize down time. All of this work will be carefully coordinated with school personnel.
• No loud music on the construction site will be permitted. Hogan Construction Group will consult with local city regulatory agencies on noise ordinance.

From Eric Rubenstein, Environment Chair

Based on the Publix Marathon early season performance, I decided to enter the CPNO into the Atlanta Marathon's "Adopt a Mile" campaign for the October 27th race.  The prize money gets bigger -- with a minimum of 30 cheerers, CPNO is awarded $3500.  It can go as high as $8,000 if we get really crazy!

The Atlanta Marathon course starts and finishes at Atlantic Station near Midtown Atlanta. The 26.2 mile course gives participants a tour of Atlanta, running past well known Atlanta sites and neighborhoods including Centennial Olympic Park, the Georgia Aquarium, Turner Field, Grant Park, Inman Park, Virginia-Highland, Oakland Cemetery, Old Fourth Ward, Piedmont Park, Morningside and Buckhead.

We will be judged based on number of volunteers, how creatively we're dressed, how loud we can get, how long we stay, how well we clean up, and can even earn an extra $500 if the runners judge our mile best.  In August, I will find out what mile along the 26.2 mile track we have - and will communicate details once I have them,

The money we raise as a result will go toward a fitness initiative for our kids.  So get the word out and hold the date - October 27 - to show the runners some love and connect with your neighbors at the same time.  Write me at environment@candlerpark.org, as always, with any questions you may have.  Thanks everyone!

Are you a webby person who is looking to get more involved in the neighborhood? Look no further, here is the perfect gig for you!

I took the reins as webmistress in 2009, and after nearly five fun-filled years of maintaining this web site, it will soon be time to pass the torch. I'm planning to stick around until November, so ideally we'd find someone to step up as webmaster in the next month or two. That will allow for some overlap which will help to create a smooth transition.

The webmaster role includes the following duties:

• Sign up for emails from various sources to stay up on what's going on in the area. (e.g. google alert on 'Candler Park,' and email blasts from local schools, our public officials, East Atlanta Patch and Va-Hi Patch).
• Solicit submissions from neighbors at monthly membership meetings and other CP events.
• Post relevant announcements and upcoming events to the site. Volume can vary, but it's generally 5-10 posts per week.  
• Post general info prior to major events happening in Candler Park (e.g. festivals, movie nights).
• Respond to requests that come in through the Contact Us link on the web site. Includes inquiries about neighborhood-related things like where to buy a CP banner as well as non-CP things like how to rent park pavilions and where to get a recycling bin. This is a great way to learn how things get done around CP and the city!
• Occasionally update other areas of the site, particularly seasonal areas like the Pool page.
• Check the message board and associated comments from time to time, to see if any posters are requesting a response or more information about something.
• Prior to monthly membership meetings, send an email blast (done through Mailchimp) with the meeting agenda as well as updates on neighborhood happenings. Occasionally send email blasts for other notable neighborhood events.
• Maintain the Facebook page - easy since web site posts flow through to the FB page.
• Send pertinent updates to the CP parents email list and the CP safety email list on an ongoing basis.
• Work with committee chairs to ensure their information makes it to the site, FB page, etc.

The role is more editorial & operational than technical, though a familiarity with HTML and Photoshop is definitely helpful.

We are also looking for someone to provide back-end development support when we need software modifications. The site is currently running on the Drupal content management system. Anyone familiar with Drupal and / or PHP could be a big help here. This is less time-intensive and you'd only be called upon when new functionality or a change to existing functionality is needed; this is generally a few times a year.

If you're interested in either the webmaster or developer gigs -- both unpaid but very fun and rewarding! -- please contact me by email here or at 404-819-5060.

Thank you!

Kate

Midsummer Music Festival is produced by 790 The Zone. Candler Park Neighborhood Organization is not affiliated with this festival. Get all the festival information at the festival web site.

Festival hours:

• Friday, June 14: 4pm – 11pm (Street Food Truck & Artist Market Happy Hour)
• Saturday, June 15: Noon – 11pm (All Day Music & Food Festival)

See the music line-up here.

By Donna Palmer

For a while now, there has been a lot of neighborhood discussion and debate around festivals in Candler Park -- their size, challenges, and benefits to the neighborhood. So, last fall a committee was formed and after a few meetings we decided to put together a survey. Committee members and CPNO members were solicited for their input and these suggestions were then compiled into a 14-question survey that is now available HERE.

Our goal is not to advocate for any particular viewpoint but to gather data from all who live and work in Candler Park. Please take a few moments to complete the survey. The information we gather can then by used as a guide to the future of our neighborhood and the park.

From Scott Jacobs:

The first meeting of Urban Gardeners of Candler Park is scheduled for Thursday, 13 June, 7:30 pm, at 569 Candler Street NE. If folks could RSVP at gardenersofcandler@yahoo.com, I could count chairs.

As of today there is a sign up at Mary Lin saying "Renovation and Addition brought to you by APS and SPLOST."

The design review committee (which includes members of the Mary Lin Local School Council as well as an adjacent neighbor rep) is meeting with APS on June 21. In the meantime, we have an inquiry into APS to request more information about project timing and phasing, and will post whatever we find out. Stay tuned.

From Peter Bluestone, CPNO Treasurer:

CPNO is putting the Fun back in Fundraising!

Come to Manuel's Tavern, Wednesday evening, June 26th for a fundraising brainstorming session from 7:00-9:00ish in the New Bar Room (turn right from the main entrance, and it's just past the pinball and video games).  CPNO will be providing complimentary food and drinks, to keep the ideas flowing.  

As you may recall, part of the spirited 420 Fest debate involved the amount of money CPNO raises from the affiliated road race. Last year the 420 Fest road race proceeds amounted to about 50% of our net revenue. The future of the 420 Fest is unknown. If the 420 Fest were to move or CPNO were to decide not to produce the race, there would be a large hole in the budget. In addition, another source of CPNO revenue, the Messenger, is also in transition.

If CPNO is going to continue to do great things, such as the Master Plan, we need fundraising ideas, and lots of them.  And if free food and drinks wasn't enough motivation, we'll also throw in a free CPNO vintage T-shirt for all who attend. See you there!