Party with the Past at Westview Cemetery

November 3, 2014

The Atlanta History Center has facilitated a series of events scattered throughout the city to highlight historic Atlanta landmarks. The events are called “Party with the Past” and are designed to get young professionals interested in history. So what better way to get these young people out than to entice them to the historic landmarks by offering them a cash bar where they can mingle with their friends and at some point listen to a speaker inform them about the history of the location?

The event series has been a huge success, and Westview residents were lucky enough to finally have a Party with the Past event held in their own neighborhood at the Westview Cemetery. On Halloween eve no less! Fittingly attendees were encouraged to dress up in Halloween costumes.

Westview Cemetery President, Charles Bowen, and Public Relations Manager, Grant Myers, talked about the 130 year history of the cemetery and the individuals that are buried there. Attendees were additionally surprised by an impromptu concert by violinist Paul Mercer in the Mausoleum’s Abbey.

To view additional photos of the “Party with the Past” event at the Westview Cemetery visit the Atlanta History Center Facebook page.

BeltLine Westside Transit Meetings

October 9, 2014

The Atlanta BeltLine hosted two meetings at Fulton County Central Training on Langhorn Street to discuss transit options for the Westside.

During the first meeting, held on September 25, 2014, residents were presented with a variety of transit options. Residents were then asked to provide their input by rating their favorite and least favorite options for various portions of the proposed transit line with colored green and orange dots.

During the second meeting, held on October 9, 2014, residents were presented with narrowed down options based on the feedback that had been provided at the previous meeting. After the presentation residents were encouraged to leave sticky notes with comments.

September 25th Presentation: Atlanta BeltLine/Atlanta Streetcar West Transit Route Options and MARTA Connectivity Study Group Presentation I (PDF)

October 9th Presentation: Atlanta BeltLine/Atlanta Streetcar West Transit Route Options and MARTA Connectivity Study Group Presentation II (PDF)

To see photos of the BeltLine Westside Transit meetings view the photo gallery below or visit the Westview Facebook page.

Sheep at Enota Park

October 9, 2014

2014 Kudzu Removal Program

Each year the Atlanta BeltLine, Inc. teams up with Trees Atlanta to complete invasive plant removals around the Atlanta BeltLine Corridor and in future Atlanta BeltLine park land. Invasive plant removal is vital to creating and maintaining healthy urban forests in the City of Atlanta.

This year, Trees Atlanta has hired a herd of sheep to eat acres of kudzu growing in Atlanta’s greenspaces, and the herd will be working in Enota Park in Westview.

In order to keep all of the surrounding neighbors informed, Trees Atlanta has provided several sheep FAQs:

Q: Do the sheep stay onsite all night?
A: Yes. The sheep stay onsite 24 hours a day and will eat weeds even at night.

Q: Why are the dogs in with the sheep?
A: The dogs are guardian dogs and are there to protect the sheep from stray dogs, coyotes, and other threats. The guardian dog is not particularly friendly toward pet dogs, so please keep leashed dogs away from the fence.

Q: How often does the shepherd check on the herd?
A: The shepherd checks on the herd at least once a day to make sure that none have escaped, that there is adequate water and food, and to feed the dogs.

Q: How long will it take the sheep?
A: The sheep should be onsite for no more than a week at Enota Park and three to four weeks at Boulevard Crossing Park.

Q: What are the sheep eating?
A: On this particular site they are eating Japanese hops and kudzu.

Q: How do you keep the sheep in one place?
A: The white fencing is a temporary, moveable electric fence. It keeps the sheep on task and out of harm’s way.

Q: How quickly do the sheep eat invasives?
A: The general rule of thumb is that 30 sheep can consume 1 acre of invasives in 2 weeks, depending on the weather and the type of vegetation being eaten.

For any questions or in case of emergency please contact either:
Brian Williams
Trees Atlanta
O: 404-681-4901
M: 912-856-1600

Jennifer Chandler
Shady Brook Sheep
M: 706-248-3745

Invasive Plants
The United States Department of Agriculture defines an invasive species as non-native (or alien) to the ecosystem under consideration and whose introduction causes or is likely to cause economic or environmental harm or harm to human health.

[Source: Atlanta BeltLine]

To see photos of the sheep at Enota Park view the photo gallery below or visit the Westview Facebook page.

October Westview Community Organization Meeting

October 6, 2014

The Westview Community Organization gathered for its monthly meeting. The special topic for the evening focused on economic development in Westview and southwest Atlanta, which drew not only a large Westview crowd, but was additionally well attended from surrounding neighborhoods.

To see photos of the meeting view the photo gallery below or visit the Westview Facebook page.

Infrastructure Bond Meeting Photos

September 10, 2014

The City of Atlanta has determined that a $1 billion infrastructure project backlog currently exists. In an effort to address at least part of the backlog they are proposing a $250 million bond. As part of the process citizens are able to provide input through a series of meetings (June 2014, September 2014, January 2015) before heading to the polls in March 2015 to vote on the selected projects.

Westview has been very active trying to promote projects from the Westview Master Plan to be incorporated into the proposed infrastructure bond list. After the initial infrastructure bond meeting in June residents met to determine which priority projects from the Westview Master Plan should be proposed to the city. The community then continued with a heavy email campaign to city employees and councilmembers, followed by Executive Committee members meeting with members of Public Works. To further drive the point of the community’s strong desires to have Westview projects included in the bond referendum 32 community members showed up to the phase two meeting at Atlanta Metropolitan College.

To learn more about the infrastructure bond visit http://www.atlantaga.gov/infrastructure.

To view photos of Westview in action at the infrastructure bond meeting view the photo gallery below (click “continue reading”) or visit the Westview Facebook page.

Continue reading →

Julie Ann McKevitt BeltLine Mural Unveiling

September 6, 2014

Artist Julie Ann McKevitt painted a mural of dogwood blossoms at the underpass of Westview Drive (at Langhorn Street) as part of the annual Art on the BeltLine project. For her official unveiling she invited friends and neighbors to come out for “paint and popsicles” (#paintandpopsicles). Participants had fun getting creative with their “I was here” handprint marks next to Julie Ann’s mural, all the while enjoying cold popsicles.

To see photos of the BeltLine mural unveiling view the photo gallery below or visit the Westview Facebook page.

Kids Stop by Community Garden

September 6, 2014

The neighborhood “garden babies” came to visit the community garden and check on and harvest the vegetables that they helped plant. It is a beautiful sight to see how much our children remember what we teach them!

To see photos of the children at the garden view the photo gallery below or visit the Westview Facebook page.

Sunset Yoga at Stokes Park

September 4, 2014

Weekly yoga classes will now be taking place in Westview! A group of neighbors are organizing sunset sessions every Tuesday evening at Stokes Avenue Community Park.

Details: Meet at Stokes Avenue Park with your yoga mat every Tuesday at 7:00pm for a gentle sunset stretch in the grass. Cost is $5 per person or, if there are less than 4 people in attendance, the $20 minimum hourly fee will be divided by the number of attendees (e.g. $7 each for 3 people, $10 each for 2 people, $20 for a one-on-one session). In case of inclement weather the class will take place at a neighbor’s house – please email info@westviewatlanta.com for address.

Location: Stokes Avenue Community Park, 1556 Stokes Avenue, Atlanta, GA 30310

Time: 7:00pm to 8:00pm

To learn more about the yoga instructor, Xan, visit her website: http://www.xantaryn.com/yoga.html

Westview Splash Photos

August 23, 2014

The Westview Community Organization’s Special Events Committee organized another neighborhood outing, “Westview Splash,” to float down the Chattahoochee river with fellow neighbors. The trip started off proving to be a great team-building effort as everyone was trying to overcome rocks in the stream, followed by a relaxing float with dips into the cooling river water, and finally ended with pizza for the hungry rafters.

To see photos of the Westview Splash please view the photo gallery below or visit our Westview Facebook page.

August Westview Pizza Night

August 21, 2014

Neighbors got together, as every third Thursday of the month, to enjoy pizza at Westview Pizza Café. We are especially fond of the photo of our two new dads – who coincidentally dressed like twins for the evening!

To see photos of the Westview Pizza Night please view the photo gallery below or visit our Westview Facebook page.