Sunday, May 19, 2013
The live coverage is over, but replay the live blog to see what all the hype was about.
President Barack Obama gave the 129th commencement address speech on a wet and rainy Sunday afternoon, May 19th, at Morehouse College. Obama began his remarks to an excited yet wet crowd,most of whom had been seated as early as 6 am. at approximately 11:30 am. The sky opened just before the speech began, and the crowd was treated to a steady downpour throughout. Obama quipped that, “I would be out there with you, but the Secret Service gets nervous.” Obama was greeted with a big cheer when he emerged from a building adjacent to the stage with Morehouse College president John Silvanus Wilson, a former White House aide. The invocation was given by Rev. Raphael Warnock of Ebenezer Baptist Church, Martin Luther King, Jr.’s famous church. …
Wednesday, May 15, 2013
A new round of the 'Love Your Block' program is underway, but the deadline to enter to receive up to $1,000 in funds to support beautification projects has almost passed.
Want to start that community garden you've been dreaming of? Or paint that mural and plant that tree? Maybe build that bench or clean that blighted lot? In 2011, Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed launched the 'Love Your Block' initiative and challenged city residents to develop and execute their own neighborhood beautification projects. In the last year and a half, the Love Your Block Program has supported 53 neighborhood groups across the city and in every council district. See the I AM Atlanta website or below for a comprehensive list of grantees. Any neighborhood group can receive up to $1,000 in funds to support their beautification projects. But applications are due by Wednesday, May 15 by midnight. All non-profits, community groups, residents…
Monday, April 29, 2013
In case you ride MARTA, read about their new security protocols.
Our friends at MARTA have just sent Cascade Patch a press release about the security changes that they are implementing after the deadly Boston Marathon bombings. According to the written statement by Cara Hodgson, MARTA is "heightening security on the transit system." Hodgson says that there are no imminent threats towards the transit system or its riders, but that they want to be proactive and take this opportunity to be even safer. MARTA is taking the following proactive measures: The MARTA Police Department (MPD) is working directly with federal, state and local agencies, including the Massachusetts Bay Transit Authority (MBTA) and the Transit Security Administration (TSA) in Washington, D. C. to stay updated on any recommendations …
Wednesday, April 24, 2013
'APS needs to release these funds back to us.'
A parent at Atlanta Neighborhood Charter School has started a petition that urges Atlanta Public Schools to restore nearly $3 million in funding that the district is withholding from public charters. The petition on Change.org — which has 685 signatures already — says by withholding the money, APS threatens to destroy its charter schools and their academic success: Atlanta Public Schools is withholding $2.8 million from 5,000 students in public charter schools. In a few weeks, they will withhold at least $3 million more. Public charter schools will have lost more than $6 million. Our charter schools—most of which are among the highest performing schools in Atlanta—could be destroyed if Atlanta Public Schools (APS) continues on this path. …
The Atlanta Police Department main zone precincts will accept unwanted, unused or expired prescription drugs between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. April 27.
The Atlanta Police Department is participating in the Drug Enforcement Administration’s (DEA) National Drug Take-Back Day on Saturday, April 27, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. East Atlanta citizens can turn in unwanted, unused or expired prescription drugs for safe disposal. Learn more about the National Drug Take-Back Day. On April 27, the APD Main Zone Precincts will collect these drugs from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. Zone 5 will accept the drugs at their CID Precinct at 398 Centennial Olympic park Drive. Look up your zone here.
Tuesday, April 16, 2013
Tuesday's meeting will take place at McNair High School. Come join at any one of four face‐to‐face meetings or participate in an interactive online meeting to learn more about the process and to share your ideas.
Saturday, April 13, 2013
Rinker and Archibong are the only declared candidates for the District 5 seat on Atlanta City Council. They seek to represent residents in neighborhoods like Downtown, East Atlanta, East Lake, Glenwood Park, Kirkwood, Edgewood, Reynoldstown, and others.
Thursday, April 11, 2013
Observers say the issue of allowing guns on college campuses is likely to resurface. What do you think of the idea?
Georgia Senator Frank Ginn (R-Danielsville) introduced Senate Bill 101 this past legislative session, which would have allowed guns on university campuses. On Tuesday, during an Athens-area legislative delegation meeting with the ACC Commission and mayor of Athens, Ginn asked them if they had an opinion about the bill that failed to pass. How did they feel about having guns on campus? "For me, it's a volatile issue," Ginn said. "Between now and the next session, y'all maybe put that on the agenda for discussion." Commissioner Jerry NeSmith said that he supports the Second Amendment and that he himself has owned guns. He said he would prefer that Ginn work on the issues the Commission told the delegation are important for Athens. "Gun …
Saturday, April 6, 2013
A Feb. 19 incident involving a city garbage truck in East Atlanta left sand and a oily goo on May Avenue. It's still there.
EAST ATLANTA — The squeaky wheel may get the grease, as the proverbial saying goes, but when it comes to grease spills, it takes weeks of persistent phone calls to Atlanta City Hall. Such was the case of Rob Downs, a May Avenue homeowner who logged multiple telephone calls and e-mails to city officials in the Department of Public Works since February 20. Downs called public works offiials following an incident in which a city garbage truck broke down in May Avenue's 1300 block and spilled sand and a greasy susbstance. Despite initial promises from a customer service rep that he woud hear back from the DPW, he hasn't and the mess is still there. "It's been six weeks," Downs told East Atlanta Patch. "I still have not recveived any direct …
Grant Park Cooperative Preschool had sheep on campus last week as part of a Farm-to-School learning initiative.
GRANT PARK — Ellie Martin, coordinator for the volunteer group, Atlanta Farm-to-School, has been introducing farm-to-preschool concepts at the Grant Park Cooperative Preschool where she is on staff. Martin is the school’s naturalist, a new position created by GPCP last year. She has worked with the children to renovate the school garden, which is located across the street in the Garcia family’s background. When the question of how to get rid of overgrowth came up, Martin looked no further than Ewe-niversally Green, a company that offers “sheep for hire” for natural land management. Paid for by donations from GPCP families, a $600 fee covered the rental of a team of sheep for four days, a portable, in-ground fence to keep them contained to …
Kevin
7:28 am on Monday, May 20, 2013
It is a great honor for these graduates, and one they'll remember always. I was, however, more than a little shocked/disappointed at some of the President's comments. Like him telling the audience, "As an African American, you have to work twice as hard as anyone else if you want to get by." Huh? Is this post-racial? Why would he perpetuate a victim mentality? I think it's a smack in the face to … more ›