From Patch Reports

Livable Buckhead Executive Director Denise Starling released a Ga. 400 Trail fact sheet Monday to give Buckhead residents information about the project.

According to the timeline on the Fact Sheet, trail construction is to begin in September 2013 with completion planned for July 2014. Conceptual and prelimnary design will continue through September of this year, with the final design work continuing through March 2013. Permitting will be carried out from April through Auguest 2013.

“With concept approval imminent, the team will begin meeting with individual property owners and trail neighbors to discuss their concerns and desires for the trail design,” Livable Buckhead last week in its monthly Buckheadlines newsletter.

In early January, the Ga. 400 design team met with GDOT, MARTA, city of Atlanta and Norfolk Southern railroad officials to present the initial concept and general alignment for the trail. Those groups are expected to annouce soon their approval of the initial design.

“Over the next few months, through numerous one on one and smaller group meetings with impacted property owners, concerns will be gathered and used to inform the actual trail design that is scheduled to be completed in early 2013,” the newsletter said.

Community concerns have been raised about trees, habitat, water, safey and noise, and the design team will be addressing those issues directly, the newsletter said.

Designers are mapping topoography to create base maps necessary for trail desgin, the newsletter said. “The maze of flags and markings are control points for the design work — they do not show you trees to be removed or the actual alignment of the trail…we don’t know any of that yet,” according to the newsletter.

Residents with questions and concerned are urged to contact Livable Buckhead at GA400@livablebuckhead.org.

The Saporta Report’s David Pendered looks at the project in an article published Monday..

Sharon Beals’ photographs reveal the delicacy and beauty of bird nests.

While Beals’ work shows the natural wonder of nests, the skill of birds in making them, she didn’t take the photos in the wild but at natural history and zoological museums in California. The beauty of vivid eggshell colors and the nests’ earth tones make for a rich visual experience. Along with eggs and nests, she also shows images of seashells and other natural objects.

An exhibit of Beals’ work is being shown at the Blue Heron Nature Preserve, co-sponsored by the Atlanta Audubon Society. The artist will appear at the Buckhead nature center on March 22 to discuss her work. Beals’ talk at 7 p.m. follows a reception at 6 p.m.

The artist spent three years taking her photos of archived nests in zoological musuems. They are printed in her book, “Nests: Fifty Nests and the Birds that Built Them,” recently selected by American Photo magazine as one of the Top 56 Photo Books of the Year.

The Blue Heron exhibit is an opportunity to see examples from collections only open to the scientific community, according to the Blue Heron web site. The museum images paradoxically show the nests’ combined toughness and vulnerability in their natural state.

Blue Heron Executive director Nancy Jones said she happened to discover Beals’ work on the Internet, and invited her to lecture and display her photographs here in Buckhead. Beals agreed, giving Blue Heron a notable exhibit. For more on Beals’ work, see www.sharonbeals.com.

From Patch Reports

The “Hunger Games” film stars will greet fans March 6 at Lenox Square, according to an announcement from the mall.

Previous reports wrongly said the stars would appear at the J.W. Marriott hotel in Buckhead. Instead, the cast, as part of a national tour, will set up beneath a tent in the mall’s front parking lot.

Liam Hemsworth, Leven Rambin, Dayo Okeniyi, Amandla Stenberg and Jack Quaid will make their appearance at Lenox Square from 5-6 p.m Tuesday, March 6, the announcement said. The gates open at 2:30 p.m. for the event, which is free and open to the public. No pets, chairs or alcohol are allowed.

Fans should RSVP on Facebook for the national mall tour event. http://www.facebook.com/thehungergamesmovie

The film, taking place in the mythical Panem, will be released March 23 by Lionsgate Films.

Are you excited about the futuristic film’s arrival? Are you planning to meet the stars at Lenox? Tell us in Comments what you are looking forward to from the movie.

From Patch Reports

The Buckhead Christian Ministry will mark its 25th anniversary by establishing an endowment fund with a lead gift from the Stuart and Eulene Murray Foundation, according to a news release.

The Murray Foundation’s gift over four years is the largest single donation in BCM’s history, the announcement said. Distributions from the endowment will support BCM’s mission to help poor and low-income people of all faiths meet their basic needs and become financially stable in the wake of a crisis.

In appreciation of the gift, BCM will name it location at 2847 Piedmont Road the Stuart and Eulene Murray Building. The naming ceremony, from 4:30 to 6 p.m. Tuesday, March, 20, is open to the public. Dr. Gil Watson of Northside United Methodist Church will lead the prayer and dedication. Following the ceremony, BCM will celebrate its 25th anniversary at its annual Appreciation Dinner. 

“Regardless of the state of our economy, there are always people who are thrust into financial crisis by uncontrollable events such as illness, abuse, or job loss. This endowment will give BCM a permanent foundation, so that we can continue providing effective help for families that need to start again,” BCM Executive Director Helen Cunningham said in a statement. “This is such a unique opportunity for a human service ministry. Our board has dreamed of this for more than a decade, and we are deeply grateful to the Murray Foundation for adopting our vision and leading the way.”
 
Foundation trustee Joe McDonald said in a statement, “we are pleased to be a part of this defining moment in BCM’s history. BCM is a well-managed organization, and we believe strongly in their work. We have full confidence that this gift will be used wisely so as to make greatest impact on our community now and well into the future.” 
 
BCM, headquartered in Buckhead, serves people living in 15 zip-codes, stretching from Doraville to Fulton Industrial. Services are provided by a team of volunteers and professional social workers and include food, clothing, rent and utility assistance, new-worker support, life-skills training, transitional housing, mentoring and highly-personalized case management.

Happy Feb. 29, a date that comes around once every four years. The year 2012 is a Leap Year, which means it has 366 days instead of the usual 365.

This Leap Day is added on Leap Year in the Gregorian Calendar, so that the earth’s time doesn’t fall behind the sun’s time. Here is an Infoplease article that explains it all. And check out Twitter’s HappyLeapDay tweets.

Are you one of the people born on Feb. 29 on a leap year who celebrate their birrthdays every four years? Let us know, or tell us about your experiences in Comments. Here is an article from the Honor Society of Leap Year Babies.

This can be a happy day for businesses, if it adds an extra day of sales to the year’s profits. Since it’s a free day, why not take off and do something fun?

Those who want to start the day off early with a bit of sporting excitement can check out the Six Nations Rugby tournament at Fado Irish Pub. 

Or, if you prefer to learn how wine pairs with music, go to the Tasting Notes event this evening at the St. Regis. Wine and music sounds like the perfect way to bid February farewell and welcome March.

For a complete list of happenings today and through the weekend, see the Buckhead Patch events calendar.

If you’re planning something special for Leap Day, let us know in Comments.

APS Superintendent Erroll B. Davis Jr. will hold a community meeting on his redistricting plan from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Tuesday, March 13, at North Atlanta High.

The meeting for School Reform Team 4, schools zoned to North Atlanta, is among several Davis will hold across the city, according to the APS Web site.

After receiving the concluding demographers’ report on school redistricting, Davis is to submit his proposal to the Atlanta School Board, which will make the final decision.

The demographers have received community comments on Options A and B, which includes their plans for reducing overcrowding in Buckhead schools. Davis has said he will not be bound by the demographers’ report in making his recommendation to the board.

Here is the complete schedule for Davis’ meetings:

March 12 — SRT 1 and 4 NW
Schools zoned to Douglass, Mays, Therrell and Washington
Location: Douglass High School — 6:30-8 p.m

March 13 — SRT 4 NE
Schools zoned to North Atlanta
Location: North Atlanta High School — 6:30-8 p.m.

March 21 — SRT 3
Schools zoned to Grady and Jackson
Location: Jackson High School — 6:30-8 p.m.

March 22 —SRT 2
Schools zoned to Carver and South Atlanta
Location: Carver HS — 6:30- 8 p.m.

Buckhead Patch, along with other Atlanta and Georgia patches, is beginning a weekly contest to choose the best businesses in our community.

We start this week with the Best of Buckhead’s Chinese restaurants, from Buckhead Patch’s Places listings. Also, please write a review of your favorite Chinese place to dine and, give us your comments. If one of your favorites is not on our list, please let us know in comments.

The Buckhead Patch editor will choose the winner, based on poll results, comments and reviews. Please just vote once. The voting ends at 9 a.m. Friday, and we’ll announce the winner. Each week, we’ll select the Best of Buckhead in different categories.

Chin Chin Chinese Cuisine

Grand China Restaurant

Hong Kong Harbour Restaurant

Stix and Steaks (formerly Chopstix)

Canton Chopsticks

The Pagoda

Phoenix and Dragon

Dragon D. Fast

Grand Buffett

Bamboo Luau’s Chinatown

Oriental Delight

Mandarin Express

You can also participate in the Best of polls for neighboring Patches. Here is the link to Midtown’s. To see the selections for best Asian cuisine in Brookhaven, go to this link. 

From Patch Reports

Marilyn W. Midyette, chief executive officer of Girl Scouts of Greater Atlanta, will speak at the Buckhead Business Association’s weekly breakfast meeting Thursday.

Midyette will speak about the Girl Scouts’ 100th anniversary, and the organization’s impact on shaping girls into future business leaders, according to a BBA news release. 

“Marilyn Midyette defines what it means to be a successful businesswoman,” said BBA President Catherine Cattles in a statement. “As Girl Scout cookie season is upon us, it is important to remember that cookie sales are not only a fund raiser, but also a tremendous opportunity for girls to develop and exert leadership roles. We are honored to host such a positive role model, and advocate for girls and young women throughout Metro Atlanta, as the featured speaker at the BBA weekly breakfast.”

As chief executive officer, Midyette has such responsibilities as oversight of the council’s strategic planning process, finance and operations management, marketing and communications, fund development, membership growth, volunteer support and development, program delivery and compliance.

Prior to joining Girl Scouts of Greater Atlanta in October 2008, Midyette was  regional vice president of the Business Services Group at Sprint Communications.

She serves as a member of the regional board of directors for the Alzheimer’s Association of Atlanta, the College of William and Mary Fund Development Board and is secretary of the Mount Paran-Northside Citizens Association.

Midyette and her family are members of Northside United Methodist Church and live in Atlanta.

This Thursday will also be Visitors’ Day; all first-time guests may attend the weekly breakfast for free. The regular charge for guests is $20.

The Buckhead Business Association’s Weekly Breakfast Series takes place each Thursday from 7:30 a.m. to 9 a.m. at the City Club of Buckhead. Tickets are $10 for BBA members and $20 for visitors and guests. Validated self-parking is available. For more information, see the BBA website at www.buckheadbusiness.org

Future speakers include Ed Baker, publisher of the Atlanta Business Chronicle, March 8; Kevin Rainwater, retirement plan specialist at Atlanta Capital Group, March 15; and Chris Clark, pPresident and CEO of the Georgia Chamber of Commerce, March 22.
 

From Patch Reports

Livable Buckhead Executive Director Denise Starling released a Ga. 400 Trail fact sheet Monday to give Buckhead residents information about the project.

According to the timeline on the Fact Sheet, trail construction is to begin in September 2013 with completion planned for July 2014. Conceptual and prelimnary design will continue through September of this year, with the final design work continuing through March 2013. Permitting will be carried out from April through Auguest 2013.

“With concept approval imminent, the team will begin meeting with individual property owners and trail neighbors to discuss their concerns and desires for the trail design,” Livable Buckhead last week in its monthly Buckheadlines newsletter.

In early January, the Ga. 400 design team met with GDOT, MARTA, city of Atlanta and Norfolk Southern railroad officials to present the initial concept and general alignment for the trail. Those groups are expected to annouce soon their approval of the initial design.

“Over the next few months, through numerous one on one and smaller group meetings with impacted property owners, concerns will be gathered and used to inform the actual trail design that is scheduled to be completed in early 2013,” the newsletter said.

Community concerns have been raised about trees, habitat, water, safey and noise, and the design team will be addressing those issues directly, the newsletter said.

Designers are mapping topoography to create base maps necessary for trail desgin, the newsletter said. “The maze of flags and markings are control points for the design work — they do not show you trees to be removed or the actual alignment of the trail…we don’t know any of that yet,” according to the newsletter.

Residents with questions and concerned are urged to contact Livable Buckhead at GA400@livablebuckhead.org.

From Patch Reports

Artists involved in the”Question Bridge: Black Males” exhibit at the Chastain Arts Center will have a roundtable discusion on the themes of the exhibit.

The discussion will be from 5 to 7 p.m. March 24 at the Galloway School, according to a city of Atlanta announcment. Artists Hank Willis Thomas and Bayate’ Ross Smith, rapper Killer Mike and others from the Atlanta community will talk about themes of love, identity, community and family. Those wishing to attend can RSVP at chastainarts@atlantaga.gov.

Question Bridge, on display at the Chastain Arts Center through March 24, uses 1,500 video exchanges in which the contributors serve as subjects and interviewers. The exhibit simulates a stream-of-consciousness conversation between 150 black males weaving their ideas together to form a mass dialogue surrounding issues of contemporary existence, the announcement said.

The exhibit Includes on view are two-dimensional works by the three collaborators of the exhibition. Hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday and 10 a.m. through 3 p.m. through March 24.

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