Friendship forest Clarkston Ga

Friends of Friendship Forest is hosting another volunteer work day

on March 26 from 9am to 12pm.

Among other activities we will be assembling and mounting bat boxes and butterfly boxes. There will be a brief report on what we are planning for this spring and summer.

People who have questions can contact Warren Hadlock

Whadlock@CityofClarkston.com or  Vinh Glover through facebook at FRIENDS OF
FRIENDSHIP FOREST.

Clarkston Ga Mayoral state of the city  speech

Clarkston Ga residents are invited to an event next week that features the mayor giving a state of the city address.

Monday Oct 4th, at the Clarkston Community Center

Mayor Howard Tygrett will give his take on the year past and what’s next for the small DeKalb County city during the event. The speech begins at 7 p.m. Monday at the Clarkston Community Center’s Angora Hall on College Avenue.

City of Clarkston State of the City address

All city of Clarkston Ga residents are urged to attend!

Bring your friends and tell a neighbor!

Directions to the Clarkston Community Center:

• Take I-20 East to Decatur (Augusta) from downtown Atlanta
• Take I-285 exit (67, Macon/Greenville) just past Columbia Drive exit, stay to the left towards Greenville
• Take exit 40 (Church Street/Clarkston)
• Turn right off of the exit towards Clarkston
• Drive straight about ½ mile to first light. (intersection with overpass – N. Indian Creek Dr.)
• Turn right and Clarkston Library is on the left (approx. 2 blocks)
• The Clarkston Community Center (3701 College Avenue) is behind the Library.

Click to see them larger!

Bountiful crop lands Clarkston Ga farmer in legal trouble

Clarkston vegetables Get man in trouble with Dekalb Co

CLARKSTON, GA (CNN) - A Georgia man is headed to court to pay over $5000 in fines over how many vegetables he can grow on his land – even though he gives them away. Code enforcement says until recently, the farmer had too many vegetable plants for his property in Clarkston, just outside Atlanta.

Steve Miller’s profession is landscaping, but his passion is growing organic vegetables. That passion landed the Clarkston man in court. Before he rezoned the land two months ago, DeKalb County Code Enforcement cited him for illegal growing crops and using unpermitted workers.

“I never realized this could get me in trouble,” Miller said. “In fact, it was a shock when I was told I couldn’t have this many vegetables.”

Miller says he sells some of the food at area farmers markets and gives some away to friends. When he applied for rezoning, his attorney says the county put the charges on hold but are now seeking $5,000 in fines.

“How are they protecting the public, health and welfare of the citizens of DeKalb County by prosecuting this man on previous offenses that are now no longer offenses,” said attorney Doug Dillard.

Alice Rolls, executive director of Georgia Organics, predicts more cases like this as vegetable gardens make a comeback.

“As agriculture comes back into urban areas we are dealing with old laws on the books,” she said.

Miller says he’ll likely spend more than $27,000 on the zoning fight, admitting that’s a lot of money to grow greens.

More From WSB

DEKALB COUNTY, Ga. — DeKalb County is suing a local farmer for growing too many vegetables, but he said he will fight the charges in the ongoing battle neighbors call “Cabbagegate.”

DeKalb county suing Clarkston Ga man over growing too much food!

Fig trees, broccoli and cabbages are among the many greens that line the soil on Steve Miller’s more than two acres in Clarkston, who said he has spent fifteen years growing crops to give away and sell at local farmers markets.

“It’s a way of life, like it’s something in my blood,” said Miller.

Too Much Food is fined - while too many tires and junk cars get free pass!

In January, Dekalb County code enforcement officers began ticketing him for growing too many crops for the zoning and having unpermitted employees on site. Miller stopped growing vegetables this summer and the charges were put on hold as he got the property rezoned.

Two weeks after approval, however, his attorney said the county began prosecuting the old charges, saying he was technically in violation before the rezoning.

“It should go away. I think it borders on harassment,” said Miller’s attorney Doug Dillard.|

Miller faces nearly $5,000 in fines, but he said he plans to fight those citations in recorders court later this month.A county spokesperson said officials can’t discuss the matter while it is in court, but neighbors were quick to come to his defense.

“When he moved here and I found out what he was doing I said, ‘Steve, you’re the best thing that ever happened to Cimarron Drive. And I still say that,” said neighbor Britt Fayssoux.

From AOL News by Dave Thier

“There’s a fine line between urban agriculture and backyard gardening,” said Michael Wall, communications director for Georgia Organics. “Since this is an emerging issue, there are going to be some gray areas. “Most of the time,” he continued, “it’s the laws that need updating.”

Time for a change in DeKalb Co zoning laws!

Does Dekalb Co have nothing better to site near Clarkston?

In Georgia, as across the country, many municipalities are making compromises to encourage new, productive land uses. Earlier this year, New York’s underground apiarists scored a victory when the city agreed to make beekeeping legal, and allowances for backyard chickens have been enacted in many cities, such as Seattle and New Haven, Conn.

Sometimes, however, it takes a case like Miller’s to motivate change. He’s glad that the county was able to help him rezone his land, but still stung by giant fines he incurred.

The county refused to comment as the case is still pending, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports.

Take ACTION today!

Take action!

Write or call Dekalb county immediately and stop this nonsense!

Directors office 404-371-2155

Quality investigations 404-371-2167

Land Development 404-371-2365

planninganddevelopment@co.dekalb.ga.us

DeKalb Co planning and Zoning

330 West Ponce de Leon Avenue
Decatur, Georgia 30030

Bless your animal family

Bless your pets and animals

Blessing of the animals

Saturday, Oct 2 10:00am at Clarkston United Methodist Church, Clarkston, GA

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

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

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!

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