Time To Drop The Stigma

August 9, 2008

Last winter an unfavorable article came out about Westview and southwest Atlanta that left us disappointed and angry at the author, Janna Elphinstone, and feeling the need to retaliate with a response article. The other day I visited NBC’s 11Alive website only to find myself disappointed at the news once again – an article wrongly making a stab at southwest Atlanta. In the screen captures you can see the homepage headlines: “Celebrities at Shooting Scene” with the location listed as “Southwest Atlanta”. Of course I was immediately shocked reading those headlines, franticly trying to think where “Club Dream” could be? I clicked on the article link only to notice a discrepancy – the location was listed as “Northeast Atlanta”! Sure enough, I typed in directions of how to get from my house to Club Dream and map told me to head to northeast Atlanta – 15 miles away from my southwest Atlanta home!

I don’t understand where the news gets it. The Westview and southwest Atlanta I know is a wonderful place – a place with beautiful, old historic Arts and Crafts style homes; a place where I greet my neighbors daily; a place where I enjoy dinner parties with neighborhood friends; a place where community members fight for causes like reopening fire stations and creating community gardens. In the meanwhile grocery clerks get shot to death in Roswell, people get tied up and robbed at gunpoint in the Briarcliff area, and 4-hour SWAT team stand-offs happen in Loganville…yet somehow southwest Atlanta remains the one with the stigma? Needless to say I was upset to see 11Alive wrongly accusing the southwest Atlanta area of a club shooting.

National Night Out Photos

August 6, 2008

The Westview Community Organization participated in the National Night Out on August 5th, 2008. The purpose of the nationwide event is to get neighbors out and mingle and get information about public safety. The WCO sponsored hot dogs and refreshments and passed out information ranging from fire detectors, to important phone numbers, to security video cameras. Zone 4 Police Lieutenant Deborah Cox, District 4 Councilwoman Cleta Winslow, and NPU-T Chair Kwabena Nkromo were some of the public figures that stopped by to show their support.

Please click on a thumbnail to enlarge:
Westview National Night Out Westview National Night Out Westview National Night Out Westview National Night Out Westview National Night Out

National Night Out 2008

July 31, 2008

It’s America’s Night Out Against Crime!

The “25th Annual National Night Out” (NNO), a unique crime/drug prevention event sponsored by the National Association of Town Watch (NATW), has been scheduled for Tuesday, August 5, 2008. The Westview Community invites you to celebrate this event with us!

Last year’s National Night Out campaign involved citizens, law enforcement agencies, civic groups, businesses, neighborhood organizations and local officials from over 10,000 communities from all 50 states, U.S. territories, Canadian cities and military bases worldwide. In all, over 35 million people participated in National Night Out 2007.

National Night Out is designed to:

  • Heighten crime and drug prevention awareness;
  • Generate support for, and participation in, local anticrime programs;
  • Strengthen neighborhood spirit and police-community partnerships; and
  • Send a message to criminals letting them know that neighborhoods are organized and fighting back.

When: Tuesday, August 5th from 6:00pm – 8:00pm
Where: Denny’s Supersave Parking Lot, 1562 Ralph Davis Abernathy Blvd, Atlanta, GA 30310
What: Food, Music, Fun, and Public Safety!

Help Save Number 7

July 14, 2008

In order to cut the city’s budget Mayor Franklin has ordered Firestation Number 7 to close its doors. Our neighbors in West End will now have to rely on the four surrounding stations – this includes Firestation Number 17 that is located in Westview. This move indirectly impacts Westview because our firestation will be required to cover a larger area.

Please visit the NPU-T website to stay up-to-date on all the activities surrounding the closure of Firestation Number 7.

Westview Neighborhood Cookout

June 23, 2008

The first annual Westview Neighborhood Cookout was held this past Saturday at Ontario Park. It was a huge success! Neighbors, police officers, firefighters, and local politicians were all in attendance. The community raised substantial funds and gathered donations to make it possible. There was food, music, games for the kids, and lots of great dialog. If you missed it this year make sure to catch it next year!

East and West Ontario Sidewalk Improvements

June 1, 2008

The City of Atlanta Department of Public Works continues to implement community improvement projects throughout the City as part of the $150M Quality of Life Bond Program!

Early June 2008, we will begin sidewalk construction activities, including the installation of ADA ramps and driveway aprons at the following areas:

Council District 10, NPU-T:

  • East Ontario from R.D. Abernathy to West Ontario
  • West Ontario from East Ontario north to R.D. Abernathy on both sides of the street

These projects are scheduled for completion within 90 days. Construction is located within the City of Atlanta’s right-of-way between the hours of 9:00 am and 5:00 pm unless otherwise indicated. Property owners are advised to remove or relocate any sprinkler lines or other fixtures, including landscaping, that may be installed within the right-of-way prior to the commencement of construction.

For questions concerning impact to the right-of-way fronting specific properties or concerns during the construction of this project, please contact the Department of Public Works at (404) 330-6739.

Westview Street Toppers

Street Toppers Unveiled Today

May 10, 2008

It is an exciting day for Westview! Today at noon the Westview street toppers will be unveiled at Ontario Park. Neighbors have been working for months to collect funds and spread the word about the street topper initiative. We raised funds for 49 street toppers, so we will be able to cover 2/3 of the intersections in the neighborhood.

Immediately following the unveiling ceremony we will be installing the street toppers. If you are interested in participating please bring a ladder and an Alan wrench.

Westview News

May 2, 2008

This month neighbors launched the first addition of Westview News. Westview News is a community newsletter that will be distributed to neighbors throughout the neighborhood. It will feature two or three articles a month about things going on in Westview. This month included an article about the street toppers and a brief history of the neighborhood. Read it here.

If you are interested in writing a story or helping distribute the newsletter please contact us.

West End Tour of Homes

May 1, 2008

Our neighbors in West End are reviving their Tour of Homes this weekend. The tour will feature 11 homes in the historic neighborhood. The dates and times are: Saturday, May 3rd and Sunday, May 4th. Both days are from noon until 5pm. Tickets are $15, and can be purchased on www.atlantawestend.com or at the Wren’s Nest (1050 Ralph David Abernathy Blvd).

Friday evening will kick off the weekend with a jazz concert at the Wren’s Nest Amphitheater. The concert will feature Theresa Hightower and goes from 7pm til 10pm. You are invited to bring your own food and drinks! Tickets can be purchased for $25 at www.atlantawestend.com.

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