11 Temmuz 2012 Çarşamba
Janna Howard faces 43 counts of animal cruelty in ‘worst hoarding case’ in county history
[Ljava.lang.String;@7368137f
10 Temmuz 2012 Salı
9 Temmuz 2012 Pazartesi
The Saddest Blog I've Ever Written
To contact us Click HERE
Our animal shelter where we cared for 50+ dogs has been completely destroyed. See video:
We relocated all animals into a treatment building that is built on stilts. It was a very trying 2 months as the dogs were forced to live in a very crowded space. Healthy, sick, small, large, puppies...all were forced to live together. We always have promoted adoption, but it is not ingrained in the culture of Iquitos. However, the flooding provided an added impetus to get the word out.
We had a record number of adoptions in April and May, and now we are caring for just over 20 dogs. Incidentally, we shelter cats as well, but at another facility, in-town at our Vet Clinic. Our dog shelter is 30 minutes away by boat or land (currently only by boat, of course) from our in-town clinic. We got an emergency grant of $4000 from the Fundación 30 Millions d'amis (30 Million Friends) of France , and our supporters stepped up also, helping us raise an additional $1200.
Last week we completed work on a new, smaller, shelter at the highest point of our property. It is such a relief for the remaining animals to have space to roam again. You can see these photos on Facebook.
The effort has nearly destroyed us. We had to cancel our April Veterinary Trip. We are currently $500 short on paying our bills this month. Sadly, a matching grant Donor we depended on states that we misunderstood his original grant limitations. We hope to receive the money promised to us, but that will not occur for another 6-12 months.
I have never earned a salary as the Founder or Executive Director of Amazon CARES. I founded and supported Amazon CARES when I sold my part in my family's 125 year old jewelry business in 2005. Since 2004 I have supported CARES, but in late 2011 my money ran out. I have enough to live on, but not enough to continue supporting CARES in the same manner. Despite the fact that my travel to Peru will be severely curtailed, I am currently looking for full time employment to supplement my income and keep CARES alive. Luckily, we have a wonderful Director in Peru and a wonderful, loyal staff (at least for now...if we can't pay salaries that would probably change).
We still run very active ABC programs, and thankfully, these programs and the medicines needed are paid for by the Brigitte Bardot Foundation.
It is very hard to get grant money for shelters, however. The WSPA doesn't believe in sheltering, for instance. They believe that long term solutions are found through active ABC campaigns and Humane Education. We are very involved with both of these strategies as well. I would challenge any international animal charity of our size to rival our Humane Ed program, which has continued despite recent challenges.
However, we believe sheltering is an essential component. Many dogs are abandoned, especially litters of puppies, or dogs suffer from infections (mange, parasites) that can be treated easily. We have seen enormous transformations from former, sickly street dogs to beautiful, healthy adoptable pets. We are a no-kill shelter, incidentally.
As the flood waters reside we will need to continue rebuilding our shelter. The one we constructed quickly is well built, but too small. We may try to salvage a small part of our old shelter, but it is preferable to continue building another small shelter building on the highest land, adjacent to what we have already built.
We recently rescued a dog found starving to death on a small patch of dry land and surrounded by water. His owners had abandoned him. Even as we have improved our adoption rates, there will continue to be a need for shelter for dogs such as this rescue dog above. He will heal and be adopted, but it will require months of re-hab. We simply refuse to euthanize him, when he is a dog with a bright future as a member of somebody's family.
Funds are badly needed for reconstruction and for dog food.
I am sad to report that the survival of CARES is a matter of weeks, not months. There is no other charity like ours in the region. In a matter of a few years, much of the work we have done will have come undone.
Thank you for reading this blog. I am extremely saddened to reveal this heartbreaking news. If you can help us with a donation of any amount, we would be very grateful. Click here for more information.
Molly Mednikow
Amazon CARES Founder
We relocated all animals into a treatment building that is built on stilts. It was a very trying 2 months as the dogs were forced to live in a very crowded space. Healthy, sick, small, large, puppies...all were forced to live together. We always have promoted adoption, but it is not ingrained in the culture of Iquitos. However, the flooding provided an added impetus to get the word out. We had a record number of adoptions in April and May, and now we are caring for just over 20 dogs. Incidentally, we shelter cats as well, but at another facility, in-town at our Vet Clinic. Our dog shelter is 30 minutes away by boat or land (currently only by boat, of course) from our in-town clinic. We got an emergency grant of $4000 from the Fundación 30 Millions d'amis (30 Million Friends) of France , and our supporters stepped up also, helping us raise an additional $1200.
Last week we completed work on a new, smaller, shelter at the highest point of our property. It is such a relief for the remaining animals to have space to roam again. You can see these photos on Facebook.
The effort has nearly destroyed us. We had to cancel our April Veterinary Trip. We are currently $500 short on paying our bills this month. Sadly, a matching grant Donor we depended on states that we misunderstood his original grant limitations. We hope to receive the money promised to us, but that will not occur for another 6-12 months.
I have never earned a salary as the Founder or Executive Director of Amazon CARES. I founded and supported Amazon CARES when I sold my part in my family's 125 year old jewelry business in 2005. Since 2004 I have supported CARES, but in late 2011 my money ran out. I have enough to live on, but not enough to continue supporting CARES in the same manner. Despite the fact that my travel to Peru will be severely curtailed, I am currently looking for full time employment to supplement my income and keep CARES alive. Luckily, we have a wonderful Director in Peru and a wonderful, loyal staff (at least for now...if we can't pay salaries that would probably change).
We still run very active ABC programs, and thankfully, these programs and the medicines needed are paid for by the Brigitte Bardot Foundation.
It is very hard to get grant money for shelters, however. The WSPA doesn't believe in sheltering, for instance. They believe that long term solutions are found through active ABC campaigns and Humane Education. We are very involved with both of these strategies as well. I would challenge any international animal charity of our size to rival our Humane Ed program, which has continued despite recent challenges.
However, we believe sheltering is an essential component. Many dogs are abandoned, especially litters of puppies, or dogs suffer from infections (mange, parasites) that can be treated easily. We have seen enormous transformations from former, sickly street dogs to beautiful, healthy adoptable pets. We are a no-kill shelter, incidentally.
As the flood waters reside we will need to continue rebuilding our shelter. The one we constructed quickly is well built, but too small. We may try to salvage a small part of our old shelter, but it is preferable to continue building another small shelter building on the highest land, adjacent to what we have already built.
We recently rescued a dog found starving to death on a small patch of dry land and surrounded by water. His owners had abandoned him. Even as we have improved our adoption rates, there will continue to be a need for shelter for dogs such as this rescue dog above. He will heal and be adopted, but it will require months of re-hab. We simply refuse to euthanize him, when he is a dog with a bright future as a member of somebody's family.Funds are badly needed for reconstruction and for dog food.
I am sad to report that the survival of CARES is a matter of weeks, not months. There is no other charity like ours in the region. In a matter of a few years, much of the work we have done will have come undone.
Thank you for reading this blog. I am extremely saddened to reveal this heartbreaking news. If you can help us with a donation of any amount, we would be very grateful. Click here for more information.
Molly Mednikow
Amazon CARES Founder
Developer denies Buckhead Atlanta financing issues, says initial site plans, permit in place to begin start-up
To contact us Click HERE
OliverMcMillan has denied rumors shared with BuckheadView by veterans of Atlanta’s commercial broker community that problems with financing for the Buckhead Atlanta mixed-use development have been holding up construction work.
Richardson told BuckheadView today that pre-construction activities are underway and OliverMcMillan is working “diligently to get Buckhead Atlanta back under construction.” He added that the project continues “to be on schedule for a late 2013/early 2014 opening."
BuckheadView also asked Patrick Hill, with OliverMcMillan’s local public relations firm Jackson-Spalding, why OliverMcMillan had not been back to the SPI-9 Development Review Committee (DRC) with changes requested by that committee in February. The special public interest district (SPI) includes the Buckhead Atlanta site.
Hunter Richardson, development director for Buckhead Atlanta, responded to the reports of the rumors and BuckheadView’s other questions about the status of the project:
"OliverMcMillan continues to work diligently to get Buckhead Atlanta back under construction,” Richardson’s emailed statement said. “As communicated earlier, pre-construction activities are underway with the former Hi-Fi Buys building having been refurbished for its current use as Balfour Beatty's construction offices and Georgia Power in the process of under grounding the power lines on Buckhead Avenue. This effort is just weeks away from completion. Since much of this work is underground, it is not yet visible to the public. This work is part of the process of preparing to start construction.”
Richardson’s statement continued: “We continue to work with the DRC and the city of Atlanta to obtain the necessary approvals and permits to restart the development. We already have SAP (Special Administrative Permit) and SDP (Site Development Plan) approvals for Parcels A and C and are in the process of obtaining the framing permits to commence construction. We continue to be on schedule for a late 2013/early 2014 opening."
Richardson reported he has not been back to the DRC because, currently, he has the approvals needed to go to construction, and is focused on getting construction re-started.
In response to an inquiry from DRC member Denise Starling, after BuckheadView queried her earlier this week about the financing rumors and why OliverMcMillan had not reported back to the DRC, Richardson thanked Starling for her inquiry and emailed her this response:
"Briefly, we had not been planning on coming back to DRC in July as the next round of reviews by DRC are not needed for our next round of permits which are the framing permits. While we continue to work on open issues with City Planning on the Parcel B SAP, we have not yet nailed down the design/budget re the streetscape/landscape items proposed for Parcels A and C. Once finalized, we plan to return to DRC.”
Richardson explained in his memo to Starling: “Parcel B won't start construction until months after we start Parcels A & C and the streetscape work is a year out before it starts. I will keep you posted as to when we are ready for our next DRC presentation. Please note, not coming in is not a sign of a lack of progress, but rather a prioritization of efforts to get under construction."
Starling told BuckheadView earlier this week that the Development Review Committee had been expecting OliverMcMillan to come back every month since February with changes the DRC had suggested, but that OliverMcMillan has deferred doing so for months. The committee meets again next Wednesday, but from what Richardson told Starling and BuckheadView, they will not be at that meeting.
Starling told BuckheadView, "We're not holding this up (meaning construction) at this time."
Richardson had announced in April that Balfour Beatty, the construction firm for the Buckhead Atlanta project, would be moving in smaller cranes and other equipment that month to begin work on altering some of the infrastructure work that had previously been done by Ben Carter’s group when he began the former Streets of Buckhead project on the site.
Richardson said then that the infrastructure changes were necessary prior to beginning new construction because of changes OliverMcMillan had made in the design and focus of the project from what Carter had planned and because of some concerns about placement of pillars in the underground parking deck area.
However, as of July 4, there has been no indication Balfour Beatty, or anyone else, had started any of the work changing the present infrastructure or has even brought in any new equipment to deal with those issues. The only apparent work was that done on the former Hi-Fi Buys store.
Also, in April, Richardson announced the work Georgia Power was going to do in June to move the overhead power lines on Buckhead Avenue—which will be the center road of Buckhead Atlanta—underground. Richardson said today that Georgia Power has been working on that project for weeks.
BuckheadView gets emails almost daily, as well as queries on the street and in elevators, about the status of Buckhead Atlanta and when construction will begin anew. Residents and business leaders in Buckhead wonder if the hole in the middle of Buckhead Village will ever become a thriving retail, residential and office neighborhood within their community or just continue to sit there with pilings to nowhere pointing up from the hole.
Ben Carter originally announced The Streets of Buckhead would be open for business by the end of 2009. Of course that didn’t happen. OliverMcMillan bought the project from Carter and announced it would be changed from the Rodeo Drive high-style retail environment Carter had envisioned to a somewhat more modest and affordable concept. OliverMcMillan announced that the new Buckhead Atlanta would be open for business by the end of 2013.
However, those in the commercial real estate business doubt that is likely or even possible, since phase one construction has not yet begun and they say it will take at least 18 months, with good weather, to do complete that. It is now 18 months until the end of 2013.
However, OliverMcMillan does have a new model of the proposed Buckhead Atlanta, which it is showing around to market the project. BisNow online real estate news service got a video of the model recently in Las Vegas. To view the brief video, click on this link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SNDA3QeFkiA.
OliverMcMillan has denied rumors shared with BuckheadView by veterans of Atlanta’s commercial broker community that problems with financing for the Buckhead Atlanta mixed-use development have been holding up construction work.
 |
| Hunter Richardson, development director for Buckhead Atlanta, shown recently in Las Vegas with the new model for the mixed-use development. |
BuckheadView also asked Patrick Hill, with OliverMcMillan’s local public relations firm Jackson-Spalding, why OliverMcMillan had not been back to the SPI-9 Development Review Committee (DRC) with changes requested by that committee in February. The special public interest district (SPI) includes the Buckhead Atlanta site.
Hunter Richardson, development director for Buckhead Atlanta, responded to the reports of the rumors and BuckheadView’s other questions about the status of the project:
 |
| A close-up of he Parcel A area in the new Buckhead Atlanta model, which would be at the corner of Peachtree and Pharr roads. |
Richardson’s statement continued: “We continue to work with the DRC and the city of Atlanta to obtain the necessary approvals and permits to restart the development. We already have SAP (Special Administrative Permit) and SDP (Site Development Plan) approvals for Parcels A and C and are in the process of obtaining the framing permits to commence construction. We continue to be on schedule for a late 2013/early 2014 opening."
 |
| An aerial view of an older model of the entire development. |
Richardson reported he has not been back to the DRC because, currently, he has the approvals needed to go to construction, and is focused on getting construction re-started.
In response to an inquiry from DRC member Denise Starling, after BuckheadView queried her earlier this week about the financing rumors and why OliverMcMillan had not reported back to the DRC, Richardson thanked Starling for her inquiry and emailed her this response:
"Briefly, we had not been planning on coming back to DRC in July as the next round of reviews by DRC are not needed for our next round of permits which are the framing permits. While we continue to work on open issues with City Planning on the Parcel B SAP, we have not yet nailed down the design/budget re the streetscape/landscape items proposed for Parcels A and C. Once finalized, we plan to return to DRC.”
Richardson explained in his memo to Starling: “Parcel B won't start construction until months after we start Parcels A & C and the streetscape work is a year out before it starts. I will keep you posted as to when we are ready for our next DRC presentation. Please note, not coming in is not a sign of a lack of progress, but rather a prioritization of efforts to get under construction."
Starling told BuckheadView earlier this week that the Development Review Committee had been expecting OliverMcMillan to come back every month since February with changes the DRC had suggested, but that OliverMcMillan has deferred doing so for months. The committee meets again next Wednesday, but from what Richardson told Starling and BuckheadView, they will not be at that meeting.
 |
| Denise Starling |
Richardson had announced in April that Balfour Beatty, the construction firm for the Buckhead Atlanta project, would be moving in smaller cranes and other equipment that month to begin work on altering some of the infrastructure work that had previously been done by Ben Carter’s group when he began the former Streets of Buckhead project on the site.
Richardson said then that the infrastructure changes were necessary prior to beginning new construction because of changes OliverMcMillan had made in the design and focus of the project from what Carter had planned and because of some concerns about placement of pillars in the underground parking deck area.
However, as of July 4, there has been no indication Balfour Beatty, or anyone else, had started any of the work changing the present infrastructure or has even brought in any new equipment to deal with those issues. The only apparent work was that done on the former Hi-Fi Buys store.
Also, in April, Richardson announced the work Georgia Power was going to do in June to move the overhead power lines on Buckhead Avenue—which will be the center road of Buckhead Atlanta—underground. Richardson said today that Georgia Power has been working on that project for weeks.
 |
| Hunter Richardson is pictured at a Neighborhood Planning Unit-B meeting last September describing the various development Parcels (A, B & C) for Buckhead Atlanta. |
Ben Carter originally announced The Streets of Buckhead would be open for business by the end of 2009. Of course that didn’t happen. OliverMcMillan bought the project from Carter and announced it would be changed from the Rodeo Drive high-style retail environment Carter had envisioned to a somewhat more modest and affordable concept. OliverMcMillan announced that the new Buckhead Atlanta would be open for business by the end of 2013.
However, those in the commercial real estate business doubt that is likely or even possible, since phase one construction has not yet begun and they say it will take at least 18 months, with good weather, to do complete that. It is now 18 months until the end of 2013.
However, OliverMcMillan does have a new model of the proposed Buckhead Atlanta, which it is showing around to market the project. BisNow online real estate news service got a video of the model recently in Las Vegas. To view the brief video, click on this link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SNDA3QeFkiA.
Ponies found wandering through north Buckhead
To contact us Click HERE
The headline on the Mt. Paran-Northside Citizens Associationwebsite read: “Found, Two Shetland Ponies (REALLY).” The two ponies were discoveredwandering through north Buckhead along Conway Drive around 1 a.m. Saturdaymorning.Jim and Leigh Dunlap figured out a way to corral the two poniesin their back yard until the rightful guardian was able to track them down andtake control of the situation.
The headline on the Mt. Paran-Northside Citizens Associationwebsite read: “Found, Two Shetland Ponies (REALLY).” The two ponies were discoveredwandering through north Buckhead along Conway Drive around 1 a.m. Saturdaymorning.Jim and Leigh Dunlap figured out a way to corral the two poniesin their back yard until the rightful guardian was able to track them down andtake control of the situation.
Buck Hunt Week 4 was a piece of cake and involved some reading; now here are the clues for Week 5
To contact us Click HERE
It is the beginning ofanother week, which means it is time to reveal the locations of last week’s twoBucks on the Street and time to offer the first set of clues to the locationsof this week’s two Bucks as part of the 11-week Buck Hunt contest.
First, let us give theinformation about last week’s Bucks on the Street, located at theIntercontinental Hotel in Buckhead and the Southern Art restaurant and at theBarnes & Noble book store at the Peach Shopping Center, both locationsalong Peachtree Road at different parts of Buckhead.
Buck 7: Locatedat the Intercontinental Hotel/ Southern Art restaurant, was designed by artist TaylorArnold (http://taylorarnolddesigns.com/home.html) and is sponsored by Southern Art restaurant (http://southernart.com/) It is a waiter holding a red velvetcake, one of the desert specialties of Chef Art Smth, who has made severaltelevision appearances including Top Chef and Top Chef Masters, where hequickly became an audience favorite.
Smith was also featuredin an episode of Extreme Makeover: Home Edition where he lent a hand to adeserving family that has devoted their lives to providing meals for the lessfortunate members of their community. Smith recently completed the filming ofthe pilot episode for the ABC television show Time Machine Chefs, (Over EasyProduction Inc.)
Buck 8 islocated at the Barnes & Noble book store in The Peach Shopping Center at2900 Peachtree Road in Buckhead. It was created by the Art Institute of Atlanta(Under the Direction of David Moyers) by designers and team leaders Nicollette McCrea, William Gerber, KandusJohnson and Jasmine Grant.
This Buck is stilllooking for a sponsor. A cool factassociated with this Buck is that Barnes& Noble originated in 1873 when Charles Barnes opened a book-printingbusiness in Wheaton, Illinois.
Check back to this storyon BuckheadView to learn the winner of the Week 3 winner of the Buck Huntprize, a $25 gift card to Target, to be announced later today
But, this is anotherweek and here are the first set of clues for Week 5 of the Buck Hunt contest:
Buck 9 Clue 1
Buck 10 Clue 1
What is the Big Buck Hunt?
Each week 2 Bucks will be “revealed” through clues announcedevery Monday and Wednesday. Participants must locate the mystery Bucks, take acreative picture of the bucks and email it to tom@batma.org .
On the following Monday, locations and winners will be announcedon www.livablebuckhead.com/buckhunt. A poll will beincluded at the bottom of the page for people to vote on their favorite photo.
For every photo (max one per buck) that a person sends in, theywill get a drawing ticket in the virtual drum. A winner will be drawn from allof the tickets in the drum at the end of the contest period and the winner willbe announced.
Weekly Prizes: An entry will be pickedat random each week for a $25 Target Gift Card.
Bonus Creativity Prize: At the end of thecontest, whichever photo has the most votes on the Livable Buckhead Websitewith win a $50 gift card to a wonderful restaurant! (And free entry for thewinner and a guest to a VIP event in the fall).
Grand Prize: Weekend staycationincluding: 2 Nights at the Mandarin Oriental in Buckhead, dinner for two at awonderful restaurant (exact Location to follow) and free entry for the winnerand a guest to a VIP event in the fall. For full rules and details please go to www.livablebuckhead.com/buckhunt.
It is the beginning ofanother week, which means it is time to reveal the locations of last week’s twoBucks on the Street and time to offer the first set of clues to the locationsof this week’s two Bucks as part of the 11-week Buck Hunt contest.First, let us give theinformation about last week’s Bucks on the Street, located at theIntercontinental Hotel in Buckhead and the Southern Art restaurant and at theBarnes & Noble book store at the Peach Shopping Center, both locationsalong Peachtree Road at different parts of Buckhead.
 |
| Buck # 7 at the Intercontinental Hotel |
Buck 7: Locatedat the Intercontinental Hotel/ Southern Art restaurant, was designed by artist TaylorArnold (http://taylorarnolddesigns.com/home.html) and is sponsored by Southern Art restaurant (http://southernart.com/) It is a waiter holding a red velvetcake, one of the desert specialties of Chef Art Smth, who has made severaltelevision appearances including Top Chef and Top Chef Masters, where hequickly became an audience favorite.
Smith was also featuredin an episode of Extreme Makeover: Home Edition where he lent a hand to adeserving family that has devoted their lives to providing meals for the lessfortunate members of their community. Smith recently completed the filming ofthe pilot episode for the ABC television show Time Machine Chefs, (Over EasyProduction Inc.)
Buck 8 islocated at the Barnes & Noble book store in The Peach Shopping Center at2900 Peachtree Road in Buckhead. It was created by the Art Institute of Atlanta(Under the Direction of David Moyers) by designers and team leaders Nicollette McCrea, William Gerber, KandusJohnson and Jasmine Grant.
 |
| Buck #8 is at Barnes & Noble |
Check back to this storyon BuckheadView to learn the winner of the Week 3 winner of the Buck Huntprize, a $25 gift card to Target, to be announced later today
But, this is anotherweek and here are the first set of clues for Week 5 of the Buck Hunt contest:
Buck 9 Clue 1
Buck 10 Clue 1
What is the Big Buck Hunt?
Each week 2 Bucks will be “revealed” through clues announcedevery Monday and Wednesday. Participants must locate the mystery Bucks, take acreative picture of the bucks and email it to tom@batma.org .
On the following Monday, locations and winners will be announcedon www.livablebuckhead.com/buckhunt. A poll will beincluded at the bottom of the page for people to vote on their favorite photo.
For every photo (max one per buck) that a person sends in, theywill get a drawing ticket in the virtual drum. A winner will be drawn from allof the tickets in the drum at the end of the contest period and the winner willbe announced.
Weekly Prizes: An entry will be pickedat random each week for a $25 Target Gift Card.
Bonus Creativity Prize: At the end of thecontest, whichever photo has the most votes on the Livable Buckhead Websitewith win a $50 gift card to a wonderful restaurant! (And free entry for thewinner and a guest to a VIP event in the fall).
Grand Prize: Weekend staycationincluding: 2 Nights at the Mandarin Oriental in Buckhead, dinner for two at awonderful restaurant (exact Location to follow) and free entry for the winnerand a guest to a VIP event in the fall. For full rules and details please go to www.livablebuckhead.com/buckhunt.
APS superintendent provides one-year update on investigation into the test cheating scandal
To contact us Click HERE
On July5, Superintendent Erroll B. Davis Jr. posted an open letter to students,parents, employees and the public in general on the Atlanta Public Schoolswebsite updating the progress made in the test cheating investigation over thepast year. The following is the text of that letter
Dear APS students, parents,employees, and supporters,
Much progress has been made inaddressing district educators accused of wrongdoing by state investigators inthe spring 2009 Criterion-Referenced Competency Test (CRCT) case.
A year ago, state investigatorsreleased their report that named 178 APS employees for participating in varioustesting improprieties associated with the conduct of the 2009 CRCT. Aftertaking a few days to read the 400-page report, I either removed or placed everyemployee named in the document on administrative leave. I also replaced 43principals and the four regional administrators over the schools.
At the time, I was constrainedfrom taking further action against most of these employees because the evidenceneeded to move forward was in the hands of the Fulton County District Attorney,who was reviewing the material gathered by the state investigators forpotential criminal charges. In the meantime, most of the employees named in thereport remained on administrative leave with pay while the wheels of justiceslowly turned.
Late last year, the FultonCounty District Attorney permitted APS attorneys to review evidence in selectedcases so that we could begin the process of preparing administrative cases toterminate employees accused of wrongdoing. I am pleased to report that we haveexperienced progress in this area.
To date, 10 educators have beenterminated through the tribunal process. One hundred and twenty-seven employeesnamed in the report have resigned or retired. One employee was exonerated by atribunal. Twelve employees have been reinstated because of insufficientevidence to bring administrative cases against them. And only about 30employees remain on administrative leave from this matter.
Judging by the progress thathas been made in resolving these cases so far, my expectation is that the vastmajority of these cases will be adjudicated within in the next several months.Tribunal hearings are scheduled through August for the remaining employeesnamed in the investigation report. And, I am fairly confident that none of theeducators named in the report will be on the payroll by the end of the calendaryear, except for those reinstated because of a lack of evidence to bringadministrative cases against them.
I have believed all along thatthe only way to finally put this sad episode behind us is to effectively dealwith the individuals who stand accused by state investigators of activelyparticipating in testing improprieties and cheating. If they are culpable, itis vitally important for these individuals to be off the district payroll andout of APS once and for all.
Over the past several years, wehave instituted highly effective measures to ensure the integrity of thetesting environment since the spring 2009 CRCT administration. These measuresinclude locked safe rooms to store testing materials in all schools thatrequire keys and electronic access cards for entry; security envelopes withtamper-proof safety strips to hold test forms and answer sheets; the two-personrule for counting and accounting for testing materials; and strict chain ofcustody procedures for accessing and handling testing materials.
Sincerely,
Superintendent Erroll B. Davis, Jr.
On July5, Superintendent Erroll B. Davis Jr. posted an open letter to students,parents, employees and the public in general on the Atlanta Public Schoolswebsite updating the progress made in the test cheating investigation over thepast year. The following is the text of that letter
Dear APS students, parents,employees, and supporters,
 |
| Erroll B. Davis Jr. |
Much progress has been made inaddressing district educators accused of wrongdoing by state investigators inthe spring 2009 Criterion-Referenced Competency Test (CRCT) case.
A year ago, state investigatorsreleased their report that named 178 APS employees for participating in varioustesting improprieties associated with the conduct of the 2009 CRCT. Aftertaking a few days to read the 400-page report, I either removed or placed everyemployee named in the document on administrative leave. I also replaced 43principals and the four regional administrators over the schools.
At the time, I was constrainedfrom taking further action against most of these employees because the evidenceneeded to move forward was in the hands of the Fulton County District Attorney,who was reviewing the material gathered by the state investigators forpotential criminal charges. In the meantime, most of the employees named in thereport remained on administrative leave with pay while the wheels of justiceslowly turned.
Late last year, the FultonCounty District Attorney permitted APS attorneys to review evidence in selectedcases so that we could begin the process of preparing administrative cases toterminate employees accused of wrongdoing. I am pleased to report that we haveexperienced progress in this area.
To date, 10 educators have beenterminated through the tribunal process. One hundred and twenty-seven employeesnamed in the report have resigned or retired. One employee was exonerated by atribunal. Twelve employees have been reinstated because of insufficientevidence to bring administrative cases against them. And only about 30employees remain on administrative leave from this matter.
Judging by the progress thathas been made in resolving these cases so far, my expectation is that the vastmajority of these cases will be adjudicated within in the next several months.Tribunal hearings are scheduled through August for the remaining employeesnamed in the investigation report. And, I am fairly confident that none of theeducators named in the report will be on the payroll by the end of the calendaryear, except for those reinstated because of a lack of evidence to bringadministrative cases against them.
I have believed all along thatthe only way to finally put this sad episode behind us is to effectively dealwith the individuals who stand accused by state investigators of activelyparticipating in testing improprieties and cheating. If they are culpable, itis vitally important for these individuals to be off the district payroll andout of APS once and for all.
Over the past several years, wehave instituted highly effective measures to ensure the integrity of thetesting environment since the spring 2009 CRCT administration. These measuresinclude locked safe rooms to store testing materials in all schools thatrequire keys and electronic access cards for entry; security envelopes withtamper-proof safety strips to hold test forms and answer sheets; the two-personrule for counting and accounting for testing materials; and strict chain ofcustody procedures for accessing and handling testing materials.
Sincerely,
Superintendent Erroll B. Davis, Jr.
8 Temmuz 2012 Pazar
CARES in Jeopardy due to Record High Floods
To contact us Click HERE
Iquitos is suffering the ravages of the highest river water levels in the past 25 years.
Amazon CARES has mobilized volunteers in Iquitos, Peru. As the water crept closer toward our no-kill shelter, we began to heavily promote adoptions.
Every single shelter animal was saved! In the absence of dry land, 50+ animals were forced to live together in a crowded building. Luckily, adoption figures for April have reached a record high of 18, alleviating some of the crowded conditions.
It is very heartbreaking to watch the total loss of our beautiful animal sanctuary, which we have added on to and fortified over many years.
.jpeg)
Thanks to generous Donors, a grant from the Fondation 30 millions d'Amis, and wood donated by the municipality of Belen, we have begun the process of building a new structure as quickly as possible. The new, smaller kennels are being built at the highest point of our property.
For comprehensive coverage of the damage inflicted upon Amazon CARES and our facilities, please read our Spring newsletter. While there, be sure to subscribe!
The Peruvian Jungle, which makes up almost 60 per cent of the country, is the rainforest region inthe north and eastern part of Peru, and in which 2 big rivers, theMaranon and the Ucayali, flow together to form the Amazon River. Iquitos, the capital of Loreto, is located on the Amazon River, but is unreachable by road.
Loreto, one of Peru's 25regions, covers most of the north easternportion of Peru. Loreto has wide river flood plains, which are covered with rainwaterand usually are swamped. Most of the rainoccurs between January and June; monthly rainfall is greatest in March.
For more information about the Loreto region: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Loreto_Region
Iquitos is suffering the ravages of the highest river water levels in the past 25 years.Amazon CARES has mobilized volunteers in Iquitos, Peru. As the water crept closer toward our no-kill shelter, we began to heavily promote adoptions.
 |
| Crowded Conditions for Animals |
Every single shelter animal was saved! In the absence of dry land, 50+ animals were forced to live together in a crowded building. Luckily, adoption figures for April have reached a record high of 18, alleviating some of the crowded conditions.
It is very heartbreaking to watch the total loss of our beautiful animal sanctuary, which we have added on to and fortified over many years.
Thanks to generous Donors, a grant from the Fondation 30 millions d'Amis, and wood donated by the municipality of Belen, we have begun the process of building a new structure as quickly as possible. The new, smaller kennels are being built at the highest point of our property.
For comprehensive coverage of the damage inflicted upon Amazon CARES and our facilities, please read our Spring newsletter. While there, be sure to subscribe!
The Peruvian Jungle, which makes up almost 60 per cent of the country, is the rainforest region inthe north and eastern part of Peru, and in which 2 big rivers, theMaranon and the Ucayali, flow together to form the Amazon River. Iquitos, the capital of Loreto, is located on the Amazon River, but is unreachable by road.
Loreto, one of Peru's 25regions, covers most of the north easternportion of Peru. Loreto has wide river flood plains, which are covered with rainwaterand usually are swamped. Most of the rainoccurs between January and June; monthly rainfall is greatest in March.
For more information about the Loreto region: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Loreto_Region
The Saddest Blog I've Ever Written
To contact us Click HERE
Our animal shelter where we cared for 50+ dogs has been completely destroyed. See video:
We relocated all animals into a treatment building that is built on stilts. It was a very trying 2 months as the dogs were forced to live in a very crowded space. Healthy, sick, small, large, puppies...all were forced to live together. We always have promoted adoption, but it is not ingrained in the culture of Iquitos. However, the flooding provided an added impetus to get the word out.
We had a record number of adoptions in April and May, and now we are caring for just over 20 dogs. Incidentally, we shelter cats as well, but at another facility, in-town at our Vet Clinic. Our dog shelter is 30 minutes away by boat or land (currently only by boat, of course) from our in-town clinic. We got an emergency grant of $4000 from the Fundación 30 Millions d'amis (30 Million Friends) of France , and our supporters stepped up also, helping us raise an additional $1200.
Last week we completed work on a new, smaller, shelter at the highest point of our property. It is such a relief for the remaining animals to have space to roam again. You can see these photos on Facebook.
The effort has nearly destroyed us. We had to cancel our April Veterinary Trip. We are currently $500 short on paying our bills this month. Sadly, a matching grant Donor we depended on states that we misunderstood his original grant limitations. We hope to receive the money promised to us, but that will not occur for another 6-12 months.
I have never earned a salary as the Founder or Executive Director of Amazon CARES. I founded and supported Amazon CARES when I sold my part in my family's 125 year old jewelry business in 2005. Since 2004 I have supported CARES, but in late 2011 my money ran out. I have enough to live on, but not enough to continue supporting CARES in the same manner. Despite the fact that my travel to Peru will be severely curtailed, I am currently looking for full time employment to supplement my income and keep CARES alive. Luckily, we have a wonderful Director in Peru and a wonderful, loyal staff (at least for now...if we can't pay salaries that would probably change).
We still run very active ABC programs, and thankfully, these programs and the medicines needed are paid for by the Brigitte Bardot Foundation.
It is very hard to get grant money for shelters, however. The WSPA doesn't believe in sheltering, for instance. They believe that long term solutions are found through active ABC campaigns and Humane Education. We are very involved with both of these strategies as well. I would challenge any international animal charity of our size to rival our Humane Ed program, which has continued despite recent challenges.
However, we believe sheltering is an essential component. Many dogs are abandoned, especially litters of puppies, or dogs suffer from infections (mange, parasites) that can be treated easily. We have seen enormous transformations from former, sickly street dogs to beautiful, healthy adoptable pets. We are a no-kill shelter, incidentally.
As the flood waters reside we will need to continue rebuilding our shelter. The one we constructed quickly is well built, but too small. We may try to salvage a small part of our old shelter, but it is preferable to continue building another small shelter building on the highest land, adjacent to what we have already built.
We recently rescued a dog found starving to death on a small patch of dry land and surrounded by water. His owners had abandoned him. Even as we have improved our adoption rates, there will continue to be a need for shelter for dogs such as this rescue dog above. He will heal and be adopted, but it will require months of re-hab. We simply refuse to euthanize him, when he is a dog with a bright future as a member of somebody's family.
Funds are badly needed for reconstruction and for dog food.
I am sad to report that the survival of CARES is a matter of weeks, not months. There is no other charity like ours in the region. In a matter of a few years, much of the work we have done will have come undone.
Thank you for reading this blog. I am extremely saddened to reveal this heartbreaking news. If you can help us with a donation of any amount, we would be very grateful. Click here for more information.
Molly Mednikow
Amazon CARES Founder
We relocated all animals into a treatment building that is built on stilts. It was a very trying 2 months as the dogs were forced to live in a very crowded space. Healthy, sick, small, large, puppies...all were forced to live together. We always have promoted adoption, but it is not ingrained in the culture of Iquitos. However, the flooding provided an added impetus to get the word out. We had a record number of adoptions in April and May, and now we are caring for just over 20 dogs. Incidentally, we shelter cats as well, but at another facility, in-town at our Vet Clinic. Our dog shelter is 30 minutes away by boat or land (currently only by boat, of course) from our in-town clinic. We got an emergency grant of $4000 from the Fundación 30 Millions d'amis (30 Million Friends) of France , and our supporters stepped up also, helping us raise an additional $1200.
Last week we completed work on a new, smaller, shelter at the highest point of our property. It is such a relief for the remaining animals to have space to roam again. You can see these photos on Facebook.
The effort has nearly destroyed us. We had to cancel our April Veterinary Trip. We are currently $500 short on paying our bills this month. Sadly, a matching grant Donor we depended on states that we misunderstood his original grant limitations. We hope to receive the money promised to us, but that will not occur for another 6-12 months.
I have never earned a salary as the Founder or Executive Director of Amazon CARES. I founded and supported Amazon CARES when I sold my part in my family's 125 year old jewelry business in 2005. Since 2004 I have supported CARES, but in late 2011 my money ran out. I have enough to live on, but not enough to continue supporting CARES in the same manner. Despite the fact that my travel to Peru will be severely curtailed, I am currently looking for full time employment to supplement my income and keep CARES alive. Luckily, we have a wonderful Director in Peru and a wonderful, loyal staff (at least for now...if we can't pay salaries that would probably change).
We still run very active ABC programs, and thankfully, these programs and the medicines needed are paid for by the Brigitte Bardot Foundation.
It is very hard to get grant money for shelters, however. The WSPA doesn't believe in sheltering, for instance. They believe that long term solutions are found through active ABC campaigns and Humane Education. We are very involved with both of these strategies as well. I would challenge any international animal charity of our size to rival our Humane Ed program, which has continued despite recent challenges.
However, we believe sheltering is an essential component. Many dogs are abandoned, especially litters of puppies, or dogs suffer from infections (mange, parasites) that can be treated easily. We have seen enormous transformations from former, sickly street dogs to beautiful, healthy adoptable pets. We are a no-kill shelter, incidentally.
As the flood waters reside we will need to continue rebuilding our shelter. The one we constructed quickly is well built, but too small. We may try to salvage a small part of our old shelter, but it is preferable to continue building another small shelter building on the highest land, adjacent to what we have already built.
We recently rescued a dog found starving to death on a small patch of dry land and surrounded by water. His owners had abandoned him. Even as we have improved our adoption rates, there will continue to be a need for shelter for dogs such as this rescue dog above. He will heal and be adopted, but it will require months of re-hab. We simply refuse to euthanize him, when he is a dog with a bright future as a member of somebody's family.Funds are badly needed for reconstruction and for dog food.
I am sad to report that the survival of CARES is a matter of weeks, not months. There is no other charity like ours in the region. In a matter of a few years, much of the work we have done will have come undone.
Thank you for reading this blog. I am extremely saddened to reveal this heartbreaking news. If you can help us with a donation of any amount, we would be very grateful. Click here for more information.
Molly Mednikow
Amazon CARES Founder
Government Support for Animal Health Not Guaranteed
To contact us Click HERE
Veterinarians from South Africa and Russia are in Peru working with the CARES team to sterilize street animals. The trip began on June 19 and will conclude on July 2.
Despite a publicized and signed contract with the Punchana municipality, on the third day of our public and animal health campaign, officials were no-shows! As our volunteers waited for transportation to Punchana, and our Peru Director Bruno Antoine called various authorities with no response, we reached the conclusion that officials had decided that a vacation day took priority over public health.
A government contract in Peru, signed with much fanfare and media attention, does not guarantee the promised support.
It was a lost opportunity for the people and animals of the Bellavista-Nanay neighborhood of Punchana. These people have been hard hit by recent floods and the post flood situation. In fact, local health officials recently enacted an emergency plan due to the outbreak of Leptospirosis, a potentially deadly disease transmitted from animals to humans.
This is the sad reality Amazon CARES faces during nearly every Veterinary campaign.
 |
| Harri of Amazon CARES captures a street dog as part of our TNR Campaign |
A government contract in Peru, signed with much fanfare and media attention, does not guarantee the promised support.
 |
| A Mobile Clinic in BellaVista-Nanay |
This is the sad reality Amazon CARES faces during nearly every Veterinary campaign.
June Trip Success. Vets Needed for August!
To contact us Click HERE
On the heels of the June Veterinary trip ending, we have a great itinerary planned for our August Veterinary Trip. See details and a map of destinations on the trip page of our website.
All placements are full except for VETERINARIANS. We urgently need licensed Veterinarians for this amazing trip, August 11-26. Due to our urgent need, we can offer discounts on the trip fee. If you are a Veterinarian, or know of one that might be interested, please share this blog with them. For thoughts on the June trip, keep reading...
The June Veterinary Volunteer Trip has just ended. Vet Nurse Yelena Poveda, a native of Russia, commented
 |
| Bruno Antoine, Director of CARES Peru, welcomes Veterinary Volunteers to our Iquitos based clinic. |
On the heels of the June Veterinary trip ending, we have a great itinerary planned for our August Veterinary Trip. See details and a map of destinations on the trip page of our website.
All placements are full except for VETERINARIANS. We urgently need licensed Veterinarians for this amazing trip, August 11-26. Due to our urgent need, we can offer discounts on the trip fee. If you are a Veterinarian, or know of one that might be interested, please share this blog with them. For thoughts on the June trip, keep reading...
 |
| South African Vet, Jackie Terblanche with Russian Vet Nurse, Yelena Poveda. |
"I am back from the jungle to civilization, here in Iquitos, and I'm about to pack my bags and go back to my country tomorrow night.The trip was fantastic! I was very glad to meet with the Peruvian doctor and with my colleagues the vet techs from the Amazon CARES clinic. Together with two vets from South Africa, we made a fantastic team! We worked hard to treat and sterilize animals in Iquitos and in the villages along the rivers. We also had a great time together exploring the jungles and fishing. I think these relationship won't end here!!!
The people in the area where we worked were amazingly friendly and warm, it was a true pleasure to do what we could for them.
Overall, a great experience, and if some of my friends the vets or vet techs want to volunteer for this unique project, visit their trip page on their website."
By the Numbers: June Veterinary Volunteer Jungle Trip
To contact us Click HERE
The June 17-July 1, 2012 volunteer trip has wrapped up. We hosted 2 South African Veterinarians, Jackie Terblanche and Kyle Perrin and Russian Veterinary Assistant Yelena Poveda.
This was a small crew that worked hard in Iquitos and in the jungle.
In total:
We owe much gratitude to the Fondation Brigitte Bardot and Embrace Pet Insurance for their continued support of our Veterinary campaigns.
Everyone had a great experience. There was much work, but also great times sightseeing and getting to know one another.
Many more photos are available on our Facebook page in Spanish. While on Facebook, please like our English Amazon CARES page too!
we have Veterinary volunteer trips August 11-26 and also in October. Readers of this blog will already know that our August trip is full, except for licensed Veterinarians. We URGENTLY need Vets and will discount the trip fee. Learn more.
The June 17-July 1, 2012 volunteer trip has wrapped up. We hosted 2 South African Veterinarians, Jackie Terblanche and Kyle Perrin and Russian Veterinary Assistant Yelena Poveda.
This was a small crew that worked hard in Iquitos and in the jungle.
In total:
- 102 animals were spayed/neutered;
- 141 animals received non-surgical treatments;
- 126 Albendazole anti-parasite pills were distributed to people living in river communities.
We owe much gratitude to the Fondation Brigitte Bardot and Embrace Pet Insurance for their continued support of our Veterinary campaigns.
Everyone had a great experience. There was much work, but also great times sightseeing and getting to know one another.
Many more photos are available on our Facebook page in Spanish. While on Facebook, please like our English Amazon CARES page too!
we have Veterinary volunteer trips August 11-26 and also in October. Readers of this blog will already know that our August trip is full, except for licensed Veterinarians. We URGENTLY need Vets and will discount the trip fee. Learn more.
7 Temmuz 2012 Cumartesi
Buckhead CID executive director to address BBA
To contact us Click HERE
Jim Durrett, executivedirector of the Buckhead Community Improvement District (CID), will speak atthe Buckhead Business Association’s Weekly Breakfast at 7:30 a.m. Thursday, July12, at the City Club of Buckhead.
“Jim Durrett comes tous with a wealth of expertise in transportation, land use and creative livablecommunities,” notes Catherine Cattles, 2012 president of the BBA. “Welook forward to hearing from him about his mission to make Buckhead a morewalkable and liveable urban environment, including his plans for improvements tothe transportation network and public realm that connect people and placeswithin the Buckhead community, despite limited resources.”
Prior to joining theBuckhead CID, Durrett was founding executive director of the LivableCommunities Coalition, a not-for-profit organization formed in 2005 to promotesmart growth development in the Atlanta region. Prior to that, Durrettserved for five years with the Urban Land Institute (ULI), an organizationdedicated to land use and real estate development issues, as the foundingexecutive director of ULI's Atlanta District Council.
Durrett formerly waswith the Metro Atlanta Chamber of Commerce as the vice president ofEnvironmental Affairs, and was the senior vice president and chief operatingofficer of The Georgia Conservancy.
He began hisprofessional career as a hydrogeologist in the DeKalb County office of GolderAssociates, an international geotechnical and environmental engineeringconsulting firm.
Durrett is activelyinvolved in the community and currently serves on the following boards: MARTA board of directors (which he chaired in 2011); Livable CommunitiesCoalition board of trustees; Project Interconnections advisory board; and VSAArts of Georgia board of directors. He is a member of LeadershipAtlanta’s Class of 2013.
From 1998 to 2005,Durrett was a member of the Georgia Environmental Advisory Council, appointedby the Governor to advise the Georgia Department of Natural Resources, theGeorgia Environmental Protection Division and the governor on environmentalpolicy matters. He was a member of the inaugural class of the Institutefor Georgia Environmental Leadership and a participant in the RegionalLeadership Institute.
Durrett chaired theadvisory committee for Georgia For a Lifetime, an initiative of the GeorgiaCouncil on Aging. He also has served on numerous collaborative committeesand task forces working on growth management, affordable housing andenvironmental issues in the state of Georgia.
An Atlanta native, Durrettattended the Westminster Schools in Atlanta and earned a bachelor’s degree inEconomics from the University of Virginia and a master's degree in Geology fromthe University of Georgia. He completed post-graduate work inhydrogeology at the University of Texas. He lives in DeKalb County withhis wife, Pat. They have two sons, James and Ryan, both attendingcollege.
Jim Durrett, executivedirector of the Buckhead Community Improvement District (CID), will speak atthe Buckhead Business Association’s Weekly Breakfast at 7:30 a.m. Thursday, July12, at the City Club of Buckhead.
“Jim Durrett comes tous with a wealth of expertise in transportation, land use and creative livablecommunities,” notes Catherine Cattles, 2012 president of the BBA. “Welook forward to hearing from him about his mission to make Buckhead a morewalkable and liveable urban environment, including his plans for improvements tothe transportation network and public realm that connect people and placeswithin the Buckhead community, despite limited resources.”
 |
| Jim Durrett |
Durrett formerly waswith the Metro Atlanta Chamber of Commerce as the vice president ofEnvironmental Affairs, and was the senior vice president and chief operatingofficer of The Georgia Conservancy.
He began hisprofessional career as a hydrogeologist in the DeKalb County office of GolderAssociates, an international geotechnical and environmental engineeringconsulting firm.
Durrett is activelyinvolved in the community and currently serves on the following boards: MARTA board of directors (which he chaired in 2011); Livable CommunitiesCoalition board of trustees; Project Interconnections advisory board; and VSAArts of Georgia board of directors. He is a member of LeadershipAtlanta’s Class of 2013.
From 1998 to 2005,Durrett was a member of the Georgia Environmental Advisory Council, appointedby the Governor to advise the Georgia Department of Natural Resources, theGeorgia Environmental Protection Division and the governor on environmentalpolicy matters. He was a member of the inaugural class of the Institutefor Georgia Environmental Leadership and a participant in the RegionalLeadership Institute.
Durrett chaired theadvisory committee for Georgia For a Lifetime, an initiative of the GeorgiaCouncil on Aging. He also has served on numerous collaborative committeesand task forces working on growth management, affordable housing andenvironmental issues in the state of Georgia.
An Atlanta native, Durrettattended the Westminster Schools in Atlanta and earned a bachelor’s degree inEconomics from the University of Virginia and a master's degree in Geology fromthe University of Georgia. He completed post-graduate work inhydrogeology at the University of Texas. He lives in DeKalb County withhis wife, Pat. They have two sons, James and Ryan, both attendingcollege.
Councilwoman Felicia Moore to co-host 2012 Business Growth and Opportunity Meeting July 27
To contact us Click HERE
Atlanta City CouncilwomanFelicia Moore in partnership with the U.S. Small Business Administration,Invest Atlanta and the Atlanta Advisory Committee for InternationalRelations will host the 2012 Business Growth and Opportunity Meeting inDistrict 9 on Friday, July 27.
The meeting will takeplace from 10 a.m. until 12 noon at facility of Empire Distributors, located at3755 Atlanta Industrial Parkway. Atlanta Industrial Parkway runs off of DonaldE. Hollowell Parkway, just west of I-285 in Council District 9.
Moore, who alsorepresents a portion of the western part of Buckhead, said professionals willbe on-hand to inform businesses of tax credits and small business incentiveswhile doing business in Atlanta. Businesses will have an opportunity to receiveuseful information regarding programs to support the diverse needs of smallbusiness owners.
She encourages allbusinesses to attend. To register for the meeting call 404-330-6044 or email fmoore@atlantaga.gov.
Every year the U.S.Small Business Administration and its nationwide network of resource partnershelp millions of small businesses start, grow and succeed.
Atlanta City CouncilwomanFelicia Moore in partnership with the U.S. Small Business Administration,Invest Atlanta and the Atlanta Advisory Committee for InternationalRelations will host the 2012 Business Growth and Opportunity Meeting inDistrict 9 on Friday, July 27.
 |
| Felicia Moore |
Moore, who alsorepresents a portion of the western part of Buckhead, said professionals willbe on-hand to inform businesses of tax credits and small business incentiveswhile doing business in Atlanta. Businesses will have an opportunity to receiveuseful information regarding programs to support the diverse needs of smallbusiness owners.
She encourages allbusinesses to attend. To register for the meeting call 404-330-6044 or email fmoore@atlantaga.gov.
Every year the U.S.Small Business Administration and its nationwide network of resource partnershelp millions of small businesses start, grow and succeed.
Fulton Commission to discuss millage rate increase
To contact us Click HERE
The Fulton County Board of Commissioners is scheduled to discuss apossible increase in property tax millage rates at its meeting Wednesday at 10a.m. at the courthouse in downtown Atlanta.
Under consideration is raising county propertytax rates from 10.281 to 10.791 mills to help balance the $605 million generalfund budget, which funds the day-to-day operations. However, the rate hikemight not increase taxpayers’ burdens.
“It is expected the new rate will generate thesame amount of billing as last year,” county Finance Director Patrick O’Connorsaid in a released statement. “In other words, the revenue-neutral millage rate[of 10.791 mills] is the rate that will be used to offset the decline in valueof existing properties.”
He said the county will earn only $455 millionin income if the current rate stands, due to a $2.2 billion decline in taxdigest value for 2012 as received from the Board of Assessors’ office. That is anet reduction of $74 million, or 14 percent in county revenue.
The Fulton County Board of Commissioners is scheduled to discuss apossible increase in property tax millage rates at its meeting Wednesday at 10a.m. at the courthouse in downtown Atlanta.
Under consideration is raising county propertytax rates from 10.281 to 10.791 mills to help balance the $605 million generalfund budget, which funds the day-to-day operations. However, the rate hikemight not increase taxpayers’ burdens.
“It is expected the new rate will generate thesame amount of billing as last year,” county Finance Director Patrick O’Connorsaid in a released statement. “In other words, the revenue-neutral millage rate[of 10.791 mills] is the rate that will be used to offset the decline in valueof existing properties.”
He said the county will earn only $455 millionin income if the current rate stands, due to a $2.2 billion decline in taxdigest value for 2012 as received from the Board of Assessors’ office. That is anet reduction of $74 million, or 14 percent in county revenue.
Zone 2 reports violent crime down, arrest successes
To contact us Click HERE
The Atlanta Police Department’s Zone 2 Commander Maj. Van Hobbs told theboard of Neighborhood Planning Unit B July 3 “We look good in violent crime” inBuckhead. “We’re down in homicide, rape, robbery and burglary,” he said.
Maj. Hobbs said aggravated assault is up fromlast year but added it currently is dropping. Buthe emphasized the major problems are burglary and car larceny.
The major, whotook over command of Zone 2 earlier this year, saidpolice recently caught a suspect that shoplifted and then attempted to breakinto a car as well. When Zone 2 policecaught the suspect, it turned out he had an extensive criminal historyincluding robbery, burglary, larceny and auto theft. The suspect may beresponsible for many car break-ins in the area, Hobbs added.
“We tracked him back to break-ins in Zone 5,” Hobbs said. “Thearea he was in has not had another car break-in since he was put in jail.”
Additionally, he said catalytic convertors areoften stolen out of “large trucks they can get under easily or Element-typevehicles.”
Hobbs turned the floor over to Zone 2 Criminal Investigations Unit Sgt.Scott Ormond to discuss one of the recent successful arrests of a careercriminal thatis responsible for recent burglaries at Frank Ski’s restaurant on PeachtreeRoad in Buckhea and has confessed to numerous similar crimes in the area aswell.
The suspect was caught on video surveillance at Frank Ski’srestaurant and prints were lifted at another recent burglary at a Jersey Mike’ssandwich shop at 391 14th St. in Zone 5, which allowed police to get a name ofthe individual, have a warrant issued and ultimately allowing them to make anarrest.
Although the arrest was actually made in Zone 5, Ormond said the man wasa commercial and residential burglar who worked both Zone 2 and Zone 5.According to Ormond, the man has confessed to “eight and counting” offenses.
Zone 2 Community Prosecutor Tiffany Harlow, whois assigned to Buckhead by the Fulton County District Attorney’s Office, said careercriminals are still roaming the streets for a few reasons. “We’ve had a problemwith judges being really lenient,” Harlow said at the meeting. “Our guidelineshave been pumped up.”
She said it also makes it easier for criminalsto get off when victims do not show up to the court hearing, which happensoften. “It’s imperative the victims show and are given the opportunity tospeak,” Harlow said.
Harlow spoke about the importance ofparticipation in the Citizens' Court Watch program, which was created as a wayto include citizens in the criminal justice system.
NPU-B chair Sally Silver said it is just asimportant for the general public to show up during court proceedings to let thejudges know about the public’s concern about crime. “You may not be a victimthis time," Silver said, "but you may be next on the list."
Signsfor safe shopping
Signs like the one inthe photo are posted at points around The Peach Shopping Center, at 2900Peachtree Road in Buckhead, to help shoppers with pointers for making theirshopping a little bit safer. Here is the message to shoppers:
“Shop Safe. Say and Do Something.
SAY: If you seesomething, Call 911,
DO: Every Visit:
This property isprotected by Atlanta Police Officers. Violators will be prosecuted. A serviceof Accion Security."
The Atlanta Police Department’s Zone 2 Commander Maj. Van Hobbs told theboard of Neighborhood Planning Unit B July 3 “We look good in violent crime” inBuckhead. “We’re down in homicide, rape, robbery and burglary,” he said.
Maj. Hobbs said aggravated assault is up fromlast year but added it currently is dropping. Buthe emphasized the major problems are burglary and car larceny.
 |
| Zone 2's Maj. Van Hobbs |
“We tracked him back to break-ins in Zone 5,” Hobbs said. “Thearea he was in has not had another car break-in since he was put in jail.”
Additionally, he said catalytic convertors areoften stolen out of “large trucks they can get under easily or Element-typevehicles.”
Hobbs turned the floor over to Zone 2 Criminal Investigations Unit Sgt.Scott Ormond to discuss one of the recent successful arrests of a careercriminal thatis responsible for recent burglaries at Frank Ski’s restaurant on PeachtreeRoad in Buckhea and has confessed to numerous similar crimes in the area aswell.
The suspect was caught on video surveillance at Frank Ski’srestaurant and prints were lifted at another recent burglary at a Jersey Mike’ssandwich shop at 391 14th St. in Zone 5, which allowed police to get a name ofthe individual, have a warrant issued and ultimately allowing them to make anarrest.
 |
| Zone 2 Community Prosecutor Tiffany Harlow |
Although the arrest was actually made in Zone 5, Ormond said the man wasa commercial and residential burglar who worked both Zone 2 and Zone 5.According to Ormond, the man has confessed to “eight and counting” offenses.
Zone 2 Community Prosecutor Tiffany Harlow, whois assigned to Buckhead by the Fulton County District Attorney’s Office, said careercriminals are still roaming the streets for a few reasons. “We’ve had a problemwith judges being really lenient,” Harlow said at the meeting. “Our guidelineshave been pumped up.”
She said it also makes it easier for criminalsto get off when victims do not show up to the court hearing, which happensoften. “It’s imperative the victims show and are given the opportunity tospeak,” Harlow said.
Harlow spoke about the importance ofparticipation in the Citizens' Court Watch program, which was created as a wayto include citizens in the criminal justice system.
NPU-B chair Sally Silver said it is just asimportant for the general public to show up during court proceedings to let thejudges know about the public’s concern about crime. “You may not be a victimthis time," Silver said, "but you may be next on the list."
Signsfor safe shopping
 |
| Sign by the Chase Bank at The Peach Shopping Center. |
“Shop Safe. Say and Do Something.
SAY: If you seesomething, Call 911,
DO: Every Visit:
This property isprotected by Atlanta Police Officers. Violators will be prosecuted. A serviceof Accion Security."
Atlanta airs smoking ban for public parks and more
To contact us Click HERE
If you are one of those golfers at Chastain Park or the BobbyJones Golf Course who might light up a cigarette or take a puff on a cigarwhile waiting for the group ahead to take their shots and move out of range,enjoy it while you can, it might not last long.
Or maybe you enjoy a smoke while watching the youth leagues playat one of Buckhead’s Little League parks or are prone to light up whilerelaxing on a bench in Tanyard Creek or Memorial parks with your dog. Thosedays may go up in smoke very soon.
Smoking could soon be banned at Chastain Park, the Bobby JonesGolf Course and just about every other recreational area or public park inBuckhead if City Council approves legislation now before it. Oh, and Mayor Kasim Reed says he wouldapprove it.
Dist. 6 City Councilman AlexWan, who now represents a section of southeast Buckhead after the recentredistricting, and Councilwoman Joyce Sheperd are co-sponsoring legislation thatwould prohibit puffing on cigarettes, cigars or pipes in “city parks, athleticfields, aquatic areas, golf courses, tennis courses, hiking/walking/bikingtrails, playgrounds, off-leash areas, and spectator and concession areas.”
Shepherd chairs the council's Community Development and HumanResources Committee and it will discuss the legislation at its next meeting onTuesday.
Theproposed ban in Atlanta would follow similar moves by Alpharetta, Roswell,Duluth and Clayton County, among other local jurisdictions.
The legislation was written for penalties to be consistent withother park violations such as not cleaning up after a dog defecates in thepark. Depending on a judge’s ruling, such penalties can range up to a $1,000fine, six days in jail plus public service.
The Atlanta Police Department would be responsible for issuingcitations, but Wan doesn’t see police enforcement becoming the real deterrentso much as neighbors and park-goers self-policing one another.
Therules would affect hundreds of thousands of people who come to Atlanta's parksfrom intown or the suburbs for concerts and shows, such as those at theChastain Amphitheater. Piedmont Park alone attracts 3 million visits per year,according to a March 2007 study.
Accordingto an article by the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Councilwoman Sheperd said ittook a while for the Parks Department to convince her that a ban is a goodidea. But a couple of incidents — adults lighting up near children at a splashpad in her district, and widespread smoking during the Jazz Festival inPiedmont Park over Memorial Day — changed her mind.
"I'ma park person, and I've seen incident after incident where people were smokingall over the place and not being very respectful," she said. "I'mamazed that people will smoke around children and not think twice aboutit."
"Ithink, generally, there will be support" from the community, GeorgeDusenbury, commissioner of the city's Department of Parks, Recreation andCultural Affairs, told the AJC. "People see parks as places where kidsshould run free."
Wan,whose City Council district also includes Morningside and Virginia-Highland, toldthe AJC the goal is to increase greenspace and encourage active lifestyles. Smoking runs counter to that, especiallyin kid-centric areas like the skate park in the Historic Fourth Ward Park, hesaid.
InJune, North American Properties and CBRE Global Investors announced thatthey would begin enforcing a smoking ban in public areas of Atlantic Station,its mixed-use development located on 17th Street in Midtown.
Smoking is no longer permitted in Atlantic Station’s commonareas, including the Central Park green space and sidewalks. Non-smokingpolicies may vary for restaurants with al fresco dining areas. Designatedsmoking areas have been placed around the perimeter of the property in order tocontinue accommodating all guests.
If you are one of those golfers at Chastain Park or the BobbyJones Golf Course who might light up a cigarette or take a puff on a cigarwhile waiting for the group ahead to take their shots and move out of range,enjoy it while you can, it might not last long.
 |
| The Bobby Jones Golf Course in south Buckhead |
Smoking could soon be banned at Chastain Park, the Bobby JonesGolf Course and just about every other recreational area or public park inBuckhead if City Council approves legislation now before it. Oh, and Mayor Kasim Reed says he wouldapprove it.
Dist. 6 City Councilman AlexWan, who now represents a section of southeast Buckhead after the recentredistricting, and Councilwoman Joyce Sheperd are co-sponsoring legislation thatwould prohibit puffing on cigarettes, cigars or pipes in “city parks, athleticfields, aquatic areas, golf courses, tennis courses, hiking/walking/bikingtrails, playgrounds, off-leash areas, and spectator and concession areas.”
 |
| Alex Wan |
Shepherd chairs the council's Community Development and HumanResources Committee and it will discuss the legislation at its next meeting onTuesday.
Theproposed ban in Atlanta would follow similar moves by Alpharetta, Roswell,Duluth and Clayton County, among other local jurisdictions.
The legislation was written for penalties to be consistent withother park violations such as not cleaning up after a dog defecates in thepark. Depending on a judge’s ruling, such penalties can range up to a $1,000fine, six days in jail plus public service.
The Atlanta Police Department would be responsible for issuingcitations, but Wan doesn’t see police enforcement becoming the real deterrentso much as neighbors and park-goers self-policing one another.
Therules would affect hundreds of thousands of people who come to Atlanta's parksfrom intown or the suburbs for concerts and shows, such as those at theChastain Amphitheater. Piedmont Park alone attracts 3 million visits per year,according to a March 2007 study.
 |
| Joyce Sheperd |
Accordingto an article by the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Councilwoman Sheperd said ittook a while for the Parks Department to convince her that a ban is a goodidea. But a couple of incidents — adults lighting up near children at a splashpad in her district, and widespread smoking during the Jazz Festival inPiedmont Park over Memorial Day — changed her mind.
"I'ma park person, and I've seen incident after incident where people were smokingall over the place and not being very respectful," she said. "I'mamazed that people will smoke around children and not think twice aboutit."
"Ithink, generally, there will be support" from the community, GeorgeDusenbury, commissioner of the city's Department of Parks, Recreation andCultural Affairs, told the AJC. "People see parks as places where kidsshould run free."
Wan,whose City Council district also includes Morningside and Virginia-Highland, toldthe AJC the goal is to increase greenspace and encourage active lifestyles. Smoking runs counter to that, especiallyin kid-centric areas like the skate park in the Historic Fourth Ward Park, hesaid.
InJune, North American Properties and CBRE Global Investors announced thatthey would begin enforcing a smoking ban in public areas of Atlantic Station,its mixed-use development located on 17th Street in Midtown.
Smoking is no longer permitted in Atlantic Station’s commonareas, including the Central Park green space and sidewalks. Non-smokingpolicies may vary for restaurants with al fresco dining areas. Designatedsmoking areas have been placed around the perimeter of the property in order tocontinue accommodating all guests.
Kaydol:
Kayıtlar (Atom)