Neighbor Spot Light
Previous Spot Light Postings and Beverly Woods News……
Posted January 2010
Special Thank You
… to Bob in Wakefield Forest for giving DJ a bicycle, making him One Happy Boy.
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… to our own Beverly Woods Melissa for making the gift possible. (Novermber 2009)
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Thank you Greg and Dana for hosting the Beverly Woods Neighborhood Watch Holiday Social on December 1, 2009.Special Announcements
Best Dressed for Holidays 2009
Drum roll please…..
For the “Most Enthusiasm Award,” the winners are:
- Tracy Belamy – Beverly Hills Drive
- The Erwin family – Stratford Arms Drive
Well done, well done! These two houses certainly showed off a lot of holiday spirit – the lights were awesome! Thank you to all who decorated this year for making our neighborhoods just a bit brighter during the winter!
Through Rain, Sleet, Snow or Gloom of Night….the goblins, ghouls, princesses and ninjas made their way through with umbrellas and raincoats….just like the Post Office. Plastic pumpkins and halloween bags were filled to the rim! The only reason I got home early was the haul was too heavy to carry; fingers were frozen and feet were wet, but a great time was had in Beverly Woods by these Trick or Treaters!
Thanks to everyone that made another positive childhood memory by taking part in this past Halloween night!
On December 1st, the Beverly Woods/Hills Neighborhood gathered together in one of our newest neighbors home to ring in the Holidays and discuss Neighborhood Watch issues.
There was great food, great friends and Holiday cheer. Over 30 people attended and made lots of new friends!
Ebony Phillips from the Office of the Solicitor Dekalb County joined us. She is the Community Prosecutor for the County and spoke with us about the growing problem with Juvenile Offenders and the County’s new response holding parents more responsible.
Be Safe!
Safety tips covered:
- Don’t leave GPS, electronic devices, computer cases or attaches in your locked or unlocked car, whether it is in your driveway or parked in the street. Just take it inside with you!
- Don’t leave packages in your car while you shop. Put them in the truck.
- Park in well lighted areas. Keep your front porch lights on at night! Our beautiful tree lined streets are dark and provide good cover for people with bad intentions. A well lighted area is a deterent.
- Be friendly, when you see a car in your neighborhood….Wave or say hi. Crooks don’t want to be noticed and you may just cheer up a good guys day!
- Travel or shop in pairs if at all possible. If something makes you uncomfortable about going out to your car alone while you are shopping, call Mall security for an escort to your car. Any store where you have been shopping will be glad to help you out to your car with your purchases as well. If they don’t, return what you bought!
- Before you leave a store, have your keys in hand. Don’t fumble for them at your car.
- Get to know your neighbor. Whether you speak the same language or not, concern for each other’s welfare and safety crosses all cultural boundries!
- Be a good neighbor…talk to each other and call 911 if you see something that looks suspicious. Our Police Department is begging for you to call.
. . . stories written by Melissa Slaughter are in the January 2010 DECAzette
Posted October 2009
Will you be my neighbor?
When our residents were recently asked what the best thing about our neighborhood is, a resounding ‘The People’ was the response.
Beverly Hills/Woods is lost in time…a friendly neighborhood like times gone by; a place where children play in the street and people wave when they drive by. I am charmed by our friendly neighbors and the community we have built here. We are an ageless melting pot of cultures and traditions and I am proud to call it my home. We may not have as much money as the celebrities in Beverly Hills, but we surely have as many bright and shining stars. Let me introduce you to some of them:
Dan Harris is a most recognizable neighbor. He stops and picks up trash during his run. Recently Dan has contributed his time to cleaning up the Chevron Station at the corner of Shallowford and Chamblee-Tucker, not to mention a huge mess from a Duplex on Shallowford. I saw it, I’m sure if you drove by you saw it too. Dan took a considerable amount of time and dedicated it to cleaning that mess up. Thank you, Dan! Dan is a funny man. He is very quiet, so you wouldn’t know it by looking at him. He likes Popsicles; mainly for the silly jokes on the sticks. He loves nature’s comedian the Raccoon and the majestic beauty of the Grand Canyon. Dan is a cool guy and I’m glad I know him. He doesn’t judge a book by it’s cover, after all that Frankenstein monster just wanted to be loved. He’s a simple man, not requiring a lot but appreciates the basics; like one and one always makes two.
James. Mitchell and Penny say that they love that our neighbors walk around the neighborhood on a regular basis. It makes the entire neighborhood feel safe and welcoming!
David Miller is a committed runner and someone we are all familiar with, but may not know his name. He runs like a deer through our neighborhood and is committed to our friendly neighborhood events. David says there is nothing like the splendor of a Maple tree in the fall. His favorite place is along the shore lines of the Great Lakes in Michigan and he loves Cincinnati Chili!
My friend Karla Tompkins and I have started seriously walking (I’ve got 20 lbs to donate if somebody wants them) our neighborhood. Karla loves the trees best and the friendly people. The great Oaks, Maples and Pines make our urban atmosphere tolerable, not to mention the Dogwoods and Magnolias. People wave enthusiastically as we walk and we look at each other and ask do you know them? It doesn’t matter; we wave back like we do, because we live in the friendliest neighborhood!
Cindy and Stephen have a glorious Oak in their backyard. It’s their favorite tree because it is so old and it is HUGE! Cindy loves the beauty of the mountains or the beach and Stephen’s spirit lives in the North Georgia Mountains. They both love their dog Spanky, the Chihuahua next door, Oso and Cindy can’t help loving Amos, too! Stephen admires Falcons and Hawks who soars so high observing everything and everyone, while Cindy thinks her cat Ellie, has the life!
Helena lives with her favorite pooch, Sophie. Helena and Dan Harris think the Grand Canyon is the prettiest place…if you haven’t been, you’ve got to go. Helena thinks there is nothing better than a great steak off the grill. Her favorite tree is a Magnolia, because of its spectacular blossoms. Learning about far away places in Geography was her favorite subject in school.
These are the people who make our neighborhood the
greatest and I am honored to call them my friends.
The Kid’s View of the Hills
As I had written in my previous edition of Mrs. Slaughter’s neighborhood, my best friends are the children I walk with almost daily. They are pictured here. Sadly, some have moved since this publication, but I know our spirit of friendship will live on in their hearts forever.
On our walks these children took notice of the trees and flowers, the
neighborhood dogs and cats, and our neighbors. They call out to speeding cars to slow down (I wonder where they got that from?). Here are some of their favorite things:
DJ loves Harry Potter because it is different and scary. He likes Amos, because he is so well behaved and doesn’t make him nervous. He likes hot dogs because they are salty and tasty. The tiger is his favorite animal because it runs fast. DJ likes to read, because when you read a lot you know better.
Janeth’s favorite book is 101 Dalmatians because she loves Dalmatians and they had puppies. She agrees with DJ, hot dogs are the best. Janeth likes Apple Trees because it makes Apples. Monkeys are her favorite animal. She likes going on the computer at school. Her favorite place to go is her cousin’s house to play.
Marlissa is Janeth’s younger sister. She loves her baby sister Tracy. Marlissa is the miniature version of the dog whisperer. A Chihuahua was recently loose in the neighborhood, no adult could come close to him for three days…Amos got his attention, but it was Marlissa’s arms he crawled into. Marlissa is a gentle spirit who skips quietly by while the other children chatter. At five years old she tends the younger children educating them on proper behavior.
Melecio is Janeth’s and Marlissa’s older brother. He rides his bike along with us on our walks giving me back up to the child tending when needed. Melecio has a gentle nurturing spirit with his three little sisters. His favorite food is Lasagna. He likes to make it, but he says his Mother makes it better. Melecio told me once he’d like to be a Chef or an Artist. He likes all the neighborhood dogs because they keep us safe.
Greiby and Kaite have moved, but my heart will always be touched by
Greiby’s dancing spirit and the love she had for her baby sister. Kaite is
one of the most charming little girls I have ever met…but don’t make her mad; she’s a strong willed child with a tiger’s spirit.
These people make me sing….
I see trees of green…….. red roses too
I see em bloom….. for me and for you
And I think to myself…. what a wonderful world.
….
I hear babies cry…… I watch them grow
you know their gonna learn
A whole lot more than I’ll never know
And I think to myself …..what a wonderful world
Yes I think to myself …….what a wonderful world.
. . . stories written by Melissa Slaughter are in the October 2009 DECAzette
Posted July 2009
Mrs. Slaughter’s Neighborhood
Will you be my neighbor?
The coolest thing about our Beverly Woods/Hills Neighborhood is not only our trees, but our friendly neighbors. I try to walk for exercise in our neighborhood, but rarely am I breaking a sweat due to strenuous effort; it is usually because I am standing in the sunshine talking with a friendly neighbor who was out in the yard or popped out their door when they saw me pass. My best friends are people under 10 who join me in my daily walks with Amos…I’m told my nickname is the Pied Piper.
Let me tell you, the Shining Stars of Beverly Hills aren’t just in California….this is my introduction to some of my neighbors, if you don’t know them already.
Ron Fehd is one of our newest neighbors. He works at the CDC in IT, He likes to walk, garden, is a yoga practitioner, taught English in China for 3 years and is a new Grandfather. Congratulations, Grand Pa! His favorite color is green, loves blueberry bushes, Subaru’s and Spring is his favorite time of year. Ron has joined into our little community quickly. He is friendly, outgoing and loves his new neighbors.
Vanessa Platt is a long time resident, whose significant other was born in the neighborhood. Vanessa loves Pink, Birds of Paradise, Azaleas, Palm Trees and her favorite season is spring. Vanessa and I love 70’s VW Bug Convertibles! Vanessa runs her own Mobile Spa business and particularly enjoys working with Senior Citizens; especially taking care of their feet which are usually sorely neglected. Vanessa deals with stress by scrap booking, working out and a blow of Jamocha Almond Fudge ice cream (that’s another thing we have in common)! She stands for fairness, honesty, integrity and allowing others to voice their views and opinions without being judgmental. Yeah Vanessa!
John Martin is somebody y’all already know well, but did you know that he: loves seasonal beers (me too, but I love beer in any season). John is a funny man. He likes skunk cabbage (he’s being funny, he’s not into gardening), he likes the Chevrolet Corvair (maybe because they blow up?). John keeps a low profile, but makes a big impact on our community. He believes in a safe productive neighborhood and global strategy. He believes in bringing people together through their strengths. John believes that a leader supports you by giving you the tools to get your job done, by not forcing you to work outside of your comfort zone (when you are a volunteer), and also by removing the obstacles in your way. He’s not likely to call you, or knock on your door, but he’ll send an e-mail in a heartbeat. But, if you call him, he is likely to keep you on the phone for a long while. In John’s spare time he stumbles around on the Internet – a lot, builds model rockets, and plays around with electronics, and reads. John is waiting for his son to get a little older so he can share in those experiences. His favorite quote is from Kurt Vonnegut – “We are here on Earth to fart around. Don’t let anybody tell you any different.” So, and I quote, he “farts around – a lot’. John favorite color is green, because that is the color of his wife’s eyes.
Bill Lowe has lived in our neighborhood several years and has recently renovated and added a wonderful addition to his home. He has a small pond which he built for his rescued pet turtle. He thrives on solving problems. Not the equation type, but real world problems. Bill says that, “Wasteful government spending really irks me, and with enough like minded people, I can solve that problem…..among many other problems with the government as well. These are not overnight fixes, but long term solutions”. Bill keeps busy with his own home projects as a form of self therapy. For example: cutting the grass is a perfect mind numbing exercise and excellent cover while talking to himself out loud. Bill runs his own business, likes fast cars, classic cars and playing with engines.
Did you know that in Beverly Hills/Woods we have people that actively look out for you by painting over graffiti, pick up trash and debris along Shallowford and Chamblee-Tucker, work as a team to rid the neighborhood of negative activity such as prostitution, drug activity, loitering for sex, and countless other issues? Did you know that through the efforts of these people you are living in a safer place? In Beverly Hills/Woods we have three neighbors who have completed Dekalb County’s VIP program and donate their time actively patrolling the neighborhood for you on a regular basis. Neighborhood Watch means a lot more that just calling 911 and alerting your neighbors to criminal activity. It means being a good, friendly neighbor. Beverly Hills/Woods is full of good, friendly neighbors that look out for each other. Join your Neighborhood Watch effort.
I hope to continue this feature in DECAzette; featuring old and new neighbors in an effort to bring us together through common likes and dislikes so, don’t be surprised when you appear in the next DECAzette!
. . . edited version included in the July 2009 DECAzette
Special Announcements
National Night Out celebration – August 2009
Mariano blessing – June 11, 2009
Corley blessing – June 13, 2009
Posted September 2008
James Yu, is the owner of the neighborhood business Atlanta Koi & Pond as well as a Beverly Woods resident.
Atlanta Koi & Pond is a jewel family business located on Shallowford Road. James and his wife, Irene, are proud owners of this business specializing in pond design and construction as well as breeding and selling a wide variety of Koi.
Years of experience give James the expertise to design and construct Koi ponds, converting areas of your home or business into a peaceful little paradise. Koi Ponds can increase property values, but more importantly provide peaceful hours of enjoyment. Ponds, large or small may be designed and constructed to include streams, waterfalls, lilies, lotus and other flowering water plants.
Properly installed filtering and aeration sytems are key to pond design providing a self contained healthy environment for the Koi. Other key considerations are keeping pond water levels tested and maintained for PH, ammonia, nitrates, nitrites and oxygen levels. Many come to James at Atlanta Koi & Pond when they discover ponds others designed and built for them were not done so properly. James has the expertise to suggest and provide corrective measures to bring such ponds up to his gold standard.
Did you know Koi can be hand fed and even petted? Did you know the Water Jewelery Koi variety life span averages 70 years?
Atlanta Koi & Pond has over 350,000 gallons of water gardens. You are invited to come by and enjoy the Gardens and Ponds which are on display at Atlanta Koi & Pond. You will surely be amazed at the beauty of the Koi filled ponds and pools in their peaceful backyard garden.
location: 3291 Shallowford Road
closed: Tuesday and Wednesday
phone: 770-454-6799
Oh, how wonderful it would be if Shallowford Road was lined with more such businesses. Thank you James.
Read and see photos of how James upgraded an area Koi pond.
Traffic Calming Speed Tables were installed in the Spring of 2008 on Beverly Hills, LaVenture, and Stratford Arms Drives. Please slow down, and drive carefully.
Posted March 2008
Massimo Mariano, Executive Chef at an Italian restaurant in the heart of Downtown Atlanta, is branching out and starting a new business cooking dinner in people’s homes.
Dining with Massimo: The Ultimate Dining Experience excerpt from 2/19/08 hometownnewsatlanta.com – Karen Rader
The very personal act of preparing and offering food to another is an expression of love and caring, providing nourishment for the body, the senses, and the soul. For Chef Massimo Mariano, preparing unforgettable interactive dinner parties is the ultimate expression of service to his customers through food. Using the freshest seasonal ingredients, Massimo will plan a four-course authentic Italian meal, served family-style to you and your guests in your home.
You may participate in the process, or relax and let Massimo do the work.He is dedicated to using delicious, light, and flavorful ingredients—such as pasta with tomato sauce, fresh basil and garlic—to create beautiful meals for all the senses.
For more information, visit www.DiningwithMassimo.com or call 770-458-0633.
Thank you to Massimo Mariano for hosting a wonderful National Night Out Block Party and Kenny Lyons for playing music all night long ! (8/05/08)
