Leaves – a new way to keep the streets clean

Its the new street vac for the fall season leaves.

From old to new, we are ready for the fall season. Donated by Dekalb County. For the storm water utility program which the City now runs.

New Leaf Vacumn

Keeping the streets and water clean

Trapeze Networks helps Clarkston Police fight crime!

Clarkston PD Catches More Criminals With Trapeze Networks and Digital Ally Wireless Application

Affordable Wireless Video System Improves Police Department Record through Crime Rate Decrease and Better Officer Performance

Trapeze Networks, a Belden Brand (NYSE: BDC) and leader in enterprise wireless LAN equipment and management software, today announced that the Clarkston, GA, Police Department (CPD) has deployed a new wireless infrastructure and in-car digital video system from Trapeze Networks and Digital Ally, Inc. (Nasdaq: DGLY), Overland Park, KS. The system’s videos capture evidence, train officers and provides for superb resident safety.

Clarkston Police Department gets sophisticated video training

“Trapeze Networks is pleased that its solutions give the ability for the CPD to instantly transmit in-car surveillance videos which, in turn, contribute significantly to improving the city’s violent crime rate and citizen satisfaction with the police force,” said Trapeze President Dhrupad Trivedi.

“The robust feature set in the Trapeze Networks solutions guarantees the CPD’s wireless network has the highest levels of dependability and security needed to safely transfer the important video surveillance files.”

The CPD is utilizing Digital Ally’s DMV-500Plus In-car Video Systems which are fully integrated into replacement rear-view mirrors in its entire fleet of patrol cars to maximize ease-of-operation and use of space. The Trapeze Networks wireless network at CPD’s station provides a simplified way to quickly transfer very-large video files from the patrol cars to the station’s server.

This ensures the video evidence remains untouched and, therefore, untainted. Instead of manually downloading the video files, the CPD now records each police stop and automatically sends the video file wirelessly, saving staff time and ensuring compliance with court evidence requirements. The videos are also used as police officer training tools.

“The citizen complaint rate has dropped significantly since we installed the wireless network and cameras,” said Criss Hudson, Captain, Clarkston Police Department. “The officers love the new wireless video system that Trapeze and Digital Ally provide because it helps them improve their performance by studying the videos of their stops. Improving the validity of the evidence videos has strengthened the CPD cases, resulting in additional criminal prosecutions.”

Ken McCoy, Digital Ally’s Vice President of Sales and Marketing, said,

“With the easy-to-deploy Digital Ally in-car video systems running over the scaleable wireless network, the CPD will be able to quickly and easily equip new patrol cars as they are added to its fleet. Our application works with many wireless infrastructure solutions but we prefer Trapeze in this case because of its reliability.”

Clarkston Police focuses on Citizen safety

The Clarkston Ga Police department is continuing it’s goal to make the City of Clarkston safe for all of it’s residents.

News story from PR Newswire — August 12, 2010 at  IndianWeb:

Graduates at Clarkston Campus Perimeter College

GPC Economic Impact on Region Increases 7.5 Percent

Nearly 5000 jobs for half a billion dollars in total annual economic impact!

Georgia Perimeter College was recognized in a recent study for its tremendous economic footprint: The college provides 4,954 jobs that resulted in more than half a billion dollars in total annual economic impact. That’s a 7.5 percent increase over the previous fiscal year.

GPC had an 8.1 percent growth in enrollment for the spring semester, with a record 25,282 students taking classes.

College creates jobs and revenue

According to the economic impact study released today by the Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia, the 35-institution system provides more than 112,000 jobs and $12.7 billion in economic impact. The University System generated nearly 3 percent of the state’s total jobs during that time.

The report indicates that GPC’s economic impact has grown by more than $40 million from fiscal year 2008 to fiscal year 2009.

“We are proud of our contributions to the local and state economies, especially during these tough economic times,” said GPC President Dr. Anthony S. Tricoli. “Our ability to become a vital factor in the state’s economy can be directly attributed to GPC’s commitment to offering an outstanding education that is relevant, affordable and accessible. With a GPC education, students can start here and go anywhere.”

Student success helps society at large, according to a 2004 report by the Institute for Higher Education Policy. That report states that investment in college education produces increased tax revenues, decreased reliance on public assistance programs, lower unemployment rates, and increased voting, volunteering, and other civic activities. Other studies show that college graduates are healthier, contribute more to their communities, and raise children who are better prepared academically.

Students enjoy learning at Ga perimeter college - Clarkston Campus

Georgia Perimeter College, the third largest institution of the University System of Georgia, serves more than 25,000 students through four campuses and several sites in metro Atlanta. For additional information, visit www.gpc.edu.

Clarkston Campus

555 N. Indian Creek Drive
Clarkston, GA 30021-2361
678-891-3200

Press release courtesy of Beverly James

07/12/2010
Contact: Beverly James
Phone: 678-891-2686
Fax: 678-891-2966Author: Beverly James

Clarkston Ga – Small town with a big heart

Help us help each other
Clarkston Ga is home to thousands of refugees along with a diverse group of Atlanta residents. This small town in metro Atlanta has residents from over 80 countries speaking over 100 languages. The challenges are daunting but the rewards are unparalleled. Help us help each other here in Clarkston Ga.

Refugee assistance

Clarkston Ga needs Federal assistance to assist and integrate the large percentage of refugees that reside here. Our city government, infrastructure and public works needs help to provide the services needed in our city.

Beware of Roofer and rip offs!

Roofing scams - be aware of the signs

This is a thread about a roofing company and their scam I thought folks should be aware of..

Some roofers are not what they say they are – legitimate businesses, remember that Clarkston has at least a half dozen contractors and roofers that live here in out city – why not try one of them?

Read here: Roofers that rip off

This thread talks about a recent rip off and scam by a company that goes thru Atlanta.

Clarkston GA: Roofing scams are prevalent in Atlanta after a storm, take the right steps to protect your home and budget!

Clarkston's Dog park in the snow

Clarkston Ga has a great dog park!

My dogs LOVE the park, I like it cause its safe, shady and I get to meet lots of other dog lovers. Plenty of great company and dogs of all types and sizes.

Bring your pooch to have fun and make dog friends to:

Milam Park: 3867 Norman Road

Clarkston, GA, 30021

Dog parks in Metro Atlanta – Add Clarkston to the list

Here are a few regulars….

Clarkston Ga dog park

Dogs make friends at Clarkston's Dog park

Dogs love to play in the shady, tree filled dog park in Clarkston's Milam park

Dollar General passed P&Z for the new store, now they go before Council,

Dollar General comes to town

Cedar Pines renovation project has partnered with Dekalb County Community Development for the new build

Cedar Pines in the news

Not so secure in Clarkston

Clarkston Residents - be aware and be safe!

Clarkston Residents, we need to be “smart” about opening our homes to just anyone claiming to be a service person or selling upgrades, etc. DO NOT answer your door unless you have personally called for service on your security system. Read below:

Neighbors Worried About Suspicious Security Salesmen

DEKALB COUNTY, Ga. — Some people in central DeKalb County have reported suspicious knocks on their doors in the past two weeks. They said people are claiming to work for the security company, ADT, but they suspect it’s people casing out their homes to rob.

“The dogs picked up that something was going on and all of a sudden I heard a loud thump on my kitchen door. Someone had tried to open my door and couldn’t get in,” said Jeanette, who did not want her last name used.

Jeanette said she’s nervous about the incident. She already had security with ADT, but a man knocked on her door claiming he was there to upgrade it.

“I said, ‘Well, no one called and there is no appointment.’ He said, ‘Well, I just have to come in to fix your system,’” said Jeanette.

Clarkston neighbors get hit-on by would be thieves

In another DeKalb County neighborhood near Interstate 285 and Ponce de Leon Avenue, a different tactic was used. One homeowner told Channel 2 Action News reporter Carol Sbarge that a man came to her door and said if she put an ADT sign in her yard and neighbors then bought service, she could get service for free.

Some residents said they were suspicious when the people coming to the door weren’t in a company-marked vehicle. Neighbors said the people are either on foot or, in one case, on a bicycle. One woman said she noticed a man taking notes and writing things down as he went house to house.

Sbarge contacted ADT but has not heard back.

One resident said ADT told her they don’t send people out in neighborhoods to sell service or upgrades.

Jeanette said she asked the man for identification but he just pointed at his ball cap, which had ADT on it.

Jeanette said she is convinced the man was checking out her house to potentially break in.

“He looked professional but (when I) asked for ID, he couldn’t supply me with anything,” she said.

Posted on the WSBTV.com website on July 19: http://www.wsbtv.com/news/24309930/detail.html

Independence Day

The 4th of July was fun in Clarkston Ga this year
Local Clarkston Ga residents were invited to bring bicycles, cars, trucks, scooters, wagons, strollers and other vehicles decorated in patriotic colors and flags for a parade around City Hall on July 4th to celebrate Independence day. Local residents were treated to hot dogs, iced tea and patriotic fun!

More images from the Atlanta Journal Constitution – thanks!

Mike Shipman, left, and George Leonetti, right, decorate a truck for the first annual City of Clarkston 4th of July Parade at City Hall in Clarkston on Sunday, July 4, 2010. Curtis Compton, ccompton@ajc.com

Children and local residents are treated to some patriotic cake during the first annual City of Clarkston 4th of July Parade at City Hall in Clarkston on Sunday, July 4, 2010. Curtis Compton, ccompton@ajc.com

Council member Dean Moore decorates his “Green Machine” kickbike with red, white, and blue baloons as he rides in the first annual City of Clarkston 4th of July Parade at City Hall in Clarkston on Sunday, July 4, 2010. Curtis Compton, ccompton@ajc.com

Mayor Howard Tygrett is all smiles as he puts on a patriotic hat for the first Annual City of Clarkston 4th of July Parade at City Hall in Clarkston on Sunday, July 4, 2010. Curtis Compton, ccompton@ajc.com

Evan Brooks, 7, left, and his sister Hannah Brooks, 8, right, Clarkston, put on some patriotic glasses for the first annual City of Clarkston 4th of July Parade at City Hall in Clarkston on Sunday, July 4, 2010.   Curtis Compton, ccompton@ajc.com

4th of July is celebrated in Clarkston

The AJC covered out Clarkston Fourth of July event with great photos!
You can see all of their 4th of July images here – great fireworks pics too!

Clarkston Ga 4th of july

Red, white, and blue streamers decorate a bicycle wheel in the first annual City of Clarkston 4th of July Parade at City Hall in Clarkston on Sunday, July 4, 2010. Curtis Compton, ccompton@ajc.com

Joshua Black, 2, Decatur, with Elmo, are along for the ride in the first annual City of Clarkston 4th of July Parade at City Hall in Clarkston on Sunday, July 4, 2010. Curtis Compton, ccompton@ajc.com

Chester Bray, 69, Clarkston, hands out Americah flags at the first annual City of Clarkston 4th of July Parade at City Hall in Clarkston on Sunday, July 4, 2010. Curtis Compton, ccompton@ajc.com

Children are treated to plenty of goodies, including cake and pinwheels during the first annual City of Clarkston 4th of July Parade at City Hall in Clarkston on Sunday, July 4, 2010. Curtis Compton, ccompton@ajc.com