Let Your Voice Be Heard!

The DeKalb Neighborhood Empowerment Initiative is hoping to hear from you! In partnership with the Live Healthy DeKalb Coalition, the DeKalb County Board of Health, OneDeKalb, and Georgia State University, they are conducting a survey of DeKalb County residents to identify opinions and concerns regarding DeKalb neighborhoods and access to health care. This information will be used in combination with focus groups and other community assessment measures to develop action plans to improve the condition of neighborhoods and the health of residents!

To let your voice be heard, just CLICK HERE. 

Memorial Service for Glenn Miller

A memorial service for Glenn Miller, a longtime Dunaire resident, will be held Tuesday, June 15th, at 1:00pm, at Rock of Ages Lutheran Church on Memorial Drive.  Our thoughts and prayers are with Glenn's wife Carrie in this difficult time. 

Dunaire Civic Association Meeting - Next Tuesday!

The Dunaire Civic Association will meet next Tuesday, June 8th, at 7:30pm, at the Indian Creek Baptist Church. Topics of discussion will include the Dunaire Community Pool, keeping Dunaire safe and secure, the Community Garden, and general neighborhood improvement ideas. All Dunaire residents are welcome to attend! 

Fun Local Things To Do This Weekend!

Looking for something to do this weekend? There are a lot of options!

* This Saturday morning, from 9am 'til noon, the Decatur Farmer's Market is hosting the grand opening of its new market in downtown Decatur on the corner of N. McDonough and Trinity (across from the Chick-Fil-A).  For more info, just click here. 

* This Saturday evening, you can live on the fringe at "Art from the Fringe." This multi-media event will feature painters, sculptors, jewelry exhibits, photography, video montages, fashion designers and more.  More than 35 talented artists and vendors, including our own Dunaire neighbor Stephanie Dean, will be exhibiting their work.  You can find "Art on the Fringe" this Saturday evening from 7pm until 11pm at the Bolton Village Center, 2011 Bolton Road - at the fringe of Buckhead and the Westside.  For more information, click here. 

*  On Sunday, from 2pm to 6pm, our neighbors in Pine Lake are hosting the first Pine Lake Home & Garden Tour. Eight homes and various gardens will be featured.  Tickets will be $15 and can be purchased at the Pine Lake City Hall Annex (the blue building). Proceeds from the tour will be used for the summer theater camp and the musicians' fund for Lake Fest.  Tours start at the beach house.  For more info, just click here. 

*  Also on Sunday is our weekly Dunaire Neighborhood Walk.  Every Sunday (weather permitting) you can join your neighbors for a walk around the neighborhood.  It's a great way to get a little exercise, meet your neighbors, and make some new friends.  We meet at the entrance to the pool area at 5:30pm.  

We'll see you around!

Tell AJC Reach To Stop Littering Our Neighborhood!

Dunaire neighbors take great pride in our community. Most of us work very hard to keep our neighborhood clean and our yards looking nice - and at least once a week, AJC Reach "delivery drivers" litter our community and our private property with unwanted plastic-wrapped advertisement fliers.  

Dunaire isn't the only neighborhood being bombarded with litter and trash from the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.  In fact, over 1.4 million pieces of AJC Reach trash are being tossed into Metro Atlanta driveways, yards, and streets each week - 1.4 million per week!  There is a growing movement to stop the AJC Reach from trashing up our neighborhoods headed by StopAJCReach.org.  If you want to know how to stop AJC Reach from littering Dunaire, just click here.  

From Viet Nam to Dunaire - The Story of a Dunaire Family on CNN

Dunaire neighbor and journalist, Jim Kavanagh, recently did a story on a local family for CNN's look at the Vietnamese diaspora.  The story chronicles the Nguyen family's long difficult journey from Viet Nam to a better life right here in Dunaire. 

From CNN.com...

Decatur, Georgia (CNN) -- The Vietnam War ended with the fall of Saigon 35 years ago this week, but Hong Nguyen will never surrender.

Nguyen's story is just one among millions from Vietnam's tragic war era, but it's also one that ultimately resolves in triumph.

Nguyen was a Republic of Vietnam army major stationed in Da Nang when the port city was bombarded by the enemy North Vietnamese army in late March 1975. Commanders in Saigon, 380 miles to the south, offered no guidance or information, he said.

"It was total chaos," Nguyen, now 74 and living in Decatur, Georgia, said through an interpreter. "The only thing anyone knew was that something was wrong. Nobody knew the details, so everyone was on the run."

Nguyen gathered up his wife, Que Pham, their seven children and the family dog and headed for Da Nang's Tien Sa port, hoping to escape on a boat. Thousands of others in the city of half a million had the same idea.

To read the rest of this amazing story, just click here.  

The Dunaire Spring Cook-Out!

This year's Dunaire Spring Cook-Out had a large neighborhood turnout and was a fantastic success! Virginia and Tony cooked up more hot dogs and hamburgers than the Varsity on game day, and long-time Dunaire residents and new neighbors mingled and forged new friendships. Special thanks to Virginia for all of her hard work in making the event so nice. We look forward to seeing everyone next year!!

Dunaire Neighborhood Spring Cook-Out is This Friday!

Our annual Dunaire Neighborhood Spring Cook-Out will be held this Friday, April 23rd, from 6:30pm until 8:30pm at the pool pavilion. This is a great opportunity to get connected with your neighborhood and make some new friends.  Come by anytime and enjoy food and drinks provided by the Dunaire Civic Association. 

In other neighborhood news, the pool clean-up was a great success and we had a really good volunteer turn-out.  We were able to get the pool drained, the surrounding area cleaned up, and the pavilion ready for Friday's cook-out.   A follow up is being planned to paint the pool and make sure it's looking its best.  And, it's not too late to join the pool for the upcoming season.  For information about pool membership, contact Virginia Barber, or e-mail DunaireNeighbors@aol.com.  

Dunaire News!

The weather is beautiful and we have a lot going on in our neighborhood! 

*  Thanks to Stephanie and Bill, who have done a great job of getting the Dunaire Community Garden up and running, and Adrienne and Adam who took the time to mow the grass.  We're expanding a bit this year, and getting ready to plant a flower garden on the other side of the gray blocks.  Garden plots are already being worked and planted, but it's not too late to choose a plot and participate.  Just contact Stephanie or e-mail DunaireNeighbors@aol.com for information. In related news, Decatur Farm to School is hosting a viewing of "Dirt: The Movie" at Decatur High School at 310 McDonough Street in downtown Decatur.  Tickets are just $5, and proceeds benefit the Decatur Farm to School Project.  

*  Don't forget...this Saturday, April 17th, from 9am until 3pm,  is the Dunaire Community Pool clean-up day!   We'll be cleaning up, painting, and getting the pool area ready for the summer season.  It'll be a great way to contribute to your neighborhood, and get to know your neighbors!  And, it's not too late to join the pool...contact Virginia Barber, or e-mail DunaireNeighbors@aol.com for more information.  

*  The Dunaire Annual Spring Cookout is scheduled for Friday, April 23rd, at 7pm, and the pavilion.  All food and beverages will be provided by the Dunaire Civic Association.  For more information contact Doug Yancey or Virginia Barber.  See you there!  

*  A Dunaire Neighbors walking group is being organized for Sunday evening walks around the neighborhood.  Get out of the house, get some fresh air and exercise, and meet your neighbors.  We'll meet every Sunday (weather permitting) at 5:30pm on Collingwood at the entrance to the Community Pool area. For more information, contact Carolyn or Joe, or e-mail DunaireNeighbors@aol.com.

A Note From Our District 86 State of Georgia Representative

Dear All,

In an effort to make sure that everyone is counted in the census, I am sponsoring a service day to educate people about the census and what it means to them.  We'll meet at my house on Saturday, April 17th, at 9am.  I have included more details - including my address - below.  For more information, please contact my office at (404) 656-0202.

Thank you again for the honor of serving you in the Georgia House of Representatives and for your continued support.  

Love and Light,

Karla

Who?  Anyone who is able to volunteer time to improve the community.

What?  Census awareness.

Why?  To ensure that the community is not undercounted in the 2010 Census.

Where?  Rep. Drenner's home at 218 Ivy Glen Circle, Avondale Estates, GA  30002.

When?  Saturday, April 17th, at 9am. 

PRISM Meeting This Thursday!

Pride Rings In Stone Mountain (PRISM) will host a public meeting this Thursday, April 8th, at 7pm. PRISM acts as an umbrella neighborhood organization for the "Heart of DeKalb" neighborhoods, including Dunaire. PRISM seeks to advocate, promote the economic health, excellence in education and recreational and cultural pursuits of the central DeKalb area. All are welcome. This month's meeting discussion will focus on DeKalb County and DeKalb community organizations and the services that are provided to individuals and families in the area.  PRISM meets at the St. Timothy United Methodist Church, in the Fellowship Hall, at 5365 Memorial Drive.  For more information, just click here. 

The Dunaire Neighborhood Pool Needs You!

Summer will be here before you know it, and it's time to get the Dunaire Pool ready for the summer season. Pool membership fees are, unfortunately, necessary to cover the cost and upkeep of the pool, the volleyball court, and the picnic shelter. The Dunaire pool will be open from May 31st, through September 6th.

Memberships for the 2010 summer season are available now, and are very reasonable - $250 for a family, $175 for a couple, and $125 for an individual membership. (just $75 for a senior 55+ membership).  Guests of members are welcome at just $1 per day. For more information, or to join, call Virginia Barber. If you need her number, please e-mail DunaireNeighbors@aol.com. 

Volunteers are needed to help with the opening of the pool, and to add pool chemicals during the summer months.  Volunteers are also needed to help put a fresh coat of paint on April 17th, from 10am until 3pm.  Come on out and contribute to your community.  

And, remember, the Dunaire pool not only provides family fun here at home, but as a rare neighborhood amenity, it helps maintain and increase the value of the homes in our community.

Dunaire Spring Cleaning

The Dunaire entrance clean-up was a nice success.  About 12 bags of trash and recyclables were picked up, raked, gathered, and bagged.  Even a few old tires were hauled away.  THANK YOU so much to all who came out to make sure that our first impression is a good one! 

First Impressions Are Everything!

 

It's a great time for a little neighborhood spring cleaning!  Come out and join the Dunaire neighborhood entrance clean-up - because first impressions are everything!  We'll meet this Saturday, March 20th, at 10am, at the Collingwood entrance to pick up litter and trash that has accumulated.  Garbage and recycling cans will be provided - just bring some gloves and some neighborhood pride.  A future date will be set to tackle the Kingswood Drive entrance.  See you Saturday!

Don't Forget To Spring Forward!

Daylight Saving Time begins this Sunday, March 14th...so don't forget to turn your clocks ahead one hour Saturday night before you go to bed. 

And, just as a safety measure, many fire departments suggest that folks change the batteries in their smoke detectors when they change their clocks, because Daylight Saving Time provides a convenient reminder to do so, and studies show that a working smoke detector more than doubles a person's chances of surviving a house fire. 

PRISM Meeting This Thursday!

Pride Rings In Stone Mountain (PRISM) will host a public meeting this Thursday, March 11th, at 7pm. PRISM acts as an umbrella neighborhood organization for the "Heart of DeKalb" neighborhoods, including Dunaire. PRISM seeks to advocate, promote the economic health, excellence in education and recreational and cultural pursuits of the central DeKalb area. All are welcome. PRISM meets at the St. Timothy United Methodist Church, in the Fellowship Hall, at 5365 Memorial Drive.  For more information, just click here. 

Cash Rebates For Appliances

Thanks to the Georgia Energy Efficient Appliance Program, now is a great time to replace any old appliances with more energy efficient, Energy Star, appliances.  According to the state's website...

"Georgia residents who replace an existing appliance with a new ENERGY STAR qualified appliance purchased on or after February 12, 2010 are eligible to apply for the rebate. Approved applicants will receive a Visa® Prepaid Card via mail. Online purchases are not eligible for a rebate. ACT NOW! This program ends as soon as funds are exhausted. Please note that you must make the appliance purchase before applying for the rebate. For questions or to apply by phone, please call 1-866-296-1633."

Rebates are available on 20 qualified appliances...

Appliances:

* Freezers - $25

* Refrigerators - $50

* Clothes washers (MEF greater than 1.8, WF less than 7.5) - $50

* Clothes washers (MEF greater than 2.0, WF less than 6.0) - $99

* Dishwashers (less than 324 kWh/year, less than 5.8 gallons per cycle) - $50

* Dishwashers (less than 307 kWh/year, less than 5.0 gallons per cycle) - $99

Heating & Cooling Equipment:

* Room air conditioners - $30

* Center air conditioners - $99

* Oil furnaces - $99

* Air source heat pumps - $199

* Gas furnaces - $199

* Oil burners - $199

* Gas boilers - $199

Water Heaters:

* Water heater gas storage (EF > 0.62) - $50

* Water heater gas storage (EF > 0.67) - $99

* Water heater gas condensing - $99

* Water heater electric heat pump - $199

* Water heater gas tankless - $199

* Water heater solar (electric backup) - $199

* Water heater solar (electric backup) - $199

Dunaire Neighborhood Pool Meeting - This Thursday!

From Doug and Virginia:

There will be a Dunaire Pool meeting this Thursday evening at 7:30pm at the Indian Creek Baptist Church - in our normal room.  All are invited, whether you are a pool member, or not.  We will plan for the coming season and discuss funding for the year. 

See you there!

Spring Is Just Around The Corner!

Spring is just around the corner, and there are plenty of classes and workshops this month to help you get ready for outdoor activities...

The DeKalb Extension Service continues its Spring Gardening Series with "Identifying and Limiting Common Pests and Diseases of Vegetable," taught by Gary Peiffer.  An emphasis will be placed on environmentally friendly solutions.  This class will be held on February 23rd, from 7pm until 8:30pm, at the Main DeKalb Extension office at 4380 Memorial Drive.  The fee is $10, and you can get more information at DeKalb Extension.

The Oakhurst Community Garden "Growings On" Series will teach you how to "Grow a Native Garden from Seed," on Wednesday, March 3rd, from 7 to 9pm.  Native plants attract beneficial insects, hummingbirds, and butterflies to your garden.   The class fee is $20, and more information can be found here. 

Panola Mountain State Park begins its Saturday Mountain Hikes this Saturday at 10am.  This ranger-guided hike is tailored for people in good physical condition and last 2 to 3 hours.  The hikes are offered the third Saturday of each month, through the end of December.  You can find more info here. 

And, if spring isn't your thing, and you want to hold on to the last days of winter, Stone Mountain Park's Snow Mountain is still offering up a wintery good time for adults and kids.  You can tube down a mountain of snow every weekend, until March 7th at Stone Mountain Park.  For more information, check out Snow Mountain. 

A Rare Winter Scene in Dunaire This Morning

Get Rewards For Dining Out!

Do you get rewards when you dine out?  If not, you're missing out!  Rewards Network allows you to get airline miles, hotel points, tuition savings points, shopping points, or cash back when you dine at any participating restaurant.  You choose the program - and it's totally free to you! 

Here's how it works...

Just go to RewardsNetwork.com.  Then, click on the "Dining Programs" tab.  Decide if you want to get airline miles (American Airlines, Delta, Alaska Airlines, MidWest Airlines, Southwest, United, or USAir), college tution savings points with UPromise, points with Hilton Honors, Best Buy, or Priority Club, or you can contribute points to schools and non-profits through E-Scrip.  Membership in all of these programs is totally free to you.  You just need to register your credit or debit cards (up to 5), and then use your registered card when you dine out at participating restaurants!  That's it.  It's that easy.  There's no catch. 

If airline miles or Best Buy points aren't your thing, you can choose the cashback program by going to iDine.com. You start by getting 5% cash-back every time you dine at a Rewards Network restaurant.  Once you've spent $250 in a year at Rewards Network restaurants, you start getting 10% cash-back from every check.  And, once you've spent $750, you get 15% cash-back!  And it's totally free to register! 

There are over 10,000 participating restaurants on the Rewards Network program throughout the United States and Canada.  There are a couple of hundred participating restaurants in Metro Atlanta, and some close to Dunaire include Ledet Ethiopian in Clarkston,  Saba in Oakhurst, Eurasia, Mac McGee's, Amaryn's Thai Bowl, and El Tesoro in Downtown Decatur, and Selam, Mint Thai, Mexico City Gourmet, Cafe Istanbul, Pyng Ho , Ibex Restaurant, Madras Woodlands Indian, Lucky China, and Yami Sushi and Hibachi in the North Decatur / Emory Village area.  You can see if your favorite restaurants are on the program at iDine.com. 

Happy dining, Dunaire Neighbors!

Dunaire Community Garden News!

It might be hard to believe with this week's low temperatures, but spring is just around the corner, and Stephanie and Bill have taken leadership again in organizing for the Dunaire Community Garden. 

DeKalb County has installed a water system for the garden use.  There is an annual county fee of $200 for the garden, and that will be covered by a $25 per plot fee for participants. Last year's flooding demonstrated that raising some of the beds might be advisable.  Wood is available for doing so, and plot size is 4 by 10 feet, so any raised beds should meet those specifications. 

Soil testing is available through the extension service at 4380 Memorial Drive.  To have the soil tested, you just need to deliver about 1 1/2 cups to their office, which is open Monday through Friday from 8:30am until 5:00pm.  You can call (404) 298-4080 for details.  There is a small fee for testing.  Stephanie and Bill are going to have their plot tested, and will share the results. 

Please note that DeKalb County has set rules prohibiting any use of chemical pest controls and weed killers. 

Dave Butler, from the DeKalb County Parks and Recreation and Greenspace Department, will soon meet with the Dunaire Community Garden participants to talk about expanding the garden.  If you would like more information, or you would like to participate, just contact Stephanie and Bill, or e-mail DunaireNeighbors@aol.com. 

Dunaire Civic Association Meeting - This Tuesday!

The Dunaire Civic Association will meet next Tuesday, February 2nd, at the Indian Creek Baptist Church.  One of the candidates for the 4th District Congressional seat will be there to meet the Dunaire neighbors.  All are welcome. 

The Decatur Library's January Music Events

The Decatur Library at 215 Sycamore Street, in downtown Decatur, will host two musical events in January.

* Elise Witt and the Mezzanine Band will perform on Januray 14th at 7pm. Elise Witt is "a performer to remember with international savvy and personal charm." The concert will take listeners on a musical journey through gypsy jazz, smoky cabaret, funky swing and poignant ballads.

* Hungrytown will perform on January 28th at 7pm. The celebrated musical duo, Ken Anderson and Rebecca Hall, "play deceptively simple compositions firmly rooted in folk tradition where things are not always what they seem." You'll hear bluegrass, country, Celtic and folk, and maybe some old-time mountain music.

These events are FREE and open to the public!

U.S. Census Hiring For 2010 Census

The U.S. Census Bureau is recruiting applicants for temporary full-time and part-time positions in preparation for the upcoming 2010 Census.

Most of the positions will start hiring in January. Hourly pay ranges from $14.25 to $20.25 per hour. Employment testing is available by appointment only at the bureau's DeKalb County office at 5474 Memorial Drive, Suite A, in Stone Mountain.

An online practice test is available here. 

To qualify, an applicant must:

* Be a U.S. Citizen or be a legal permanent resident, or non-citizen with an appropriate work visa, and possess a bilingual skill for which there are no available qualified U.S. citizens.

* Be at least 18 years old.

* Have a valid Social Security number.

* Take a written test of basic skills.

* Have a valid driver's license.

* Pass a background check.

* Commit to four days of paid training.

For more information, call the DeKalb regional office at 404-239-2160

Support Dunaire's Business Neighbors!

Just a reminder that it's always a great time of year to support our local retail businesses and restaurants. It's up to us to help build a stronger local economy! Every purchase we make, and every choice to dine out locally, or grab a coffee locally, helps keep our neighbors working and our neighborhood strong.

The Original Pancake House and Dunkin' Donuts are great local places to get the day started. Applebee's has a "2 for $20" value menu, Madina offers authentic Somali and Ethiopian cuisine, and All Island Cafe serves some of the best Jamaican food anywhere. Pizza Walley ( 404-297-1960 ) and Magic Wok ( 404-298-9990 ) are super for take-out or delivery.

And, don't forget to shop locally at TJ Maxx, Publix, CVS and in Downtown Decatur and North DeKalb Mall.

If you have a favorite local business or restaurant...respond here and let us know!

Decatur Christmas Tree Lighting Tonight!

The Dowtown Decatur “Tree Lighting” will be held on Thursday, December 3rd from 7 until 8 pm. The Glennwood Choral Group will be entertaining with carols, and “sweet treats” will be provided. The tree will be lit at approximately 7:15 pm. Join the community on East Court Square as we gather for the lighting. Then stay in downtown Decatur for some holiday shopping and dining. Remember- it is one of the last three Terrific Thursdays, so a great opportunity to get in some holiday shopping while supporting our local businesses.

DeKalb Greenspace - Public Meeting Notice

DeKalb County will hold a public forum on Thursday, December 10, 2009 at 6:30 p.m. to update the community on the county’s Greenspace program. Since 2001, DeKalb has acquired more than 3,000 acres in additional parkland and greenspace. Anyone interested in learning more about the county’s Greenspace program is invited to attend. For additional information, please contact Mamie Ellis at 404-371-2082.

WHO: DeKalb County Greenspace Office

WHAT: Update on County’s Greenspace Program

WHEN: December 10, 2009 at 6:30 p.m.

WHERE: Maloof Auditorium

1300 Commerce Drive

Decatur, GA 30030

PRISM Needs Volunteers

PRISM (Pride Rings In Stone Mountain) is an umbrella organization for all of the neighborhood associations in heart of DeKalb County, Georgia. PRISM is lookign for volunteers who are committed to improving our local area. The PRISM Value Statement reads...

"We envision a strong organization of involved members that reflects the diversity of the community, provides information, advocates on behalf of the Heart of DeKalb, and promotes its economic health, excellence in education, and recreational and cultural pursuits."

For more information...http://www.prismdekalb.org

Georgia Power Refrigerator / Freezer Recycling Program

Dunaire has been chosen by Georgia Power as one of the approved pilot program areas for their new Refrigerator / Freezer Recycling Program. If you are a Georgia Power customer and you have a working secondary refrigerator or freezer that you want to recycle - Georgia Power will come pick it up for free, and give you $35. The next pick up days for Dunaire are December 14th and December 18th. For more information, click here. 

Dunaire Holiday Party!

Friday, December 4th - From 7:30-9:00pm at the Indian Creek Baptist Church

This is an event for ALL! Please bring your cultural celebration of food, custom or costume to this affair. Nothing is required, except you being there! Finger foods, soft drinks, and appetizers appreciated.

Contact Carolyn or Francis with any questions. 

Welcome To Dunaire!

Dunaire is a beautiful Metro Atlanta neighborhood, tucked away in a small forest, just off Memorial Drive in the heart of DeKalb County. The neighborhood is known for friendly neighbors, community spirit, and its peaceful character.

Dunaire consists of nearly 200 homes, as well as a community pool, a community garden, and a park and recreation area.

Our residents are able to take advantage of our central DeKalb location that is just 10 miles east of downtown Atlanta, and just a few minutes outside of downtown Decatur, and just a stone's throw from beautiful Stone Mountain Park. There are two MARTA transit stations nearby, Kensington and Indian Creek, that provide quick and easy commutes to downtown Decatur, downtown Atlanta, and Hartfield-Jackson Airport.

DeKalb County has grown into one of the most ethnically and socially diverse counties in the nation, and Dunaire reflects and embraces diversity with residents from all over the country and the world, and from many walks of life, coming together in a true spirit of community.