druid hills day a winner! wet weather creates camaraderie for burbanck park celebration · 2011. 7....

Wet Weather Creates Camaraderiefor Burbanck Park CelebrationBy Becky Evans

A group of more than 30 hardy souls gathered together under tents, braving the rain, onSaturday morning, October 31, to celebrate the re-opening of Burbanck Park, at the cornerof Clifton and N. Oxford, after completion of Phase I development.

Drew Schwartz,a Druid Hills HighSchool ninth gradeguitarist, led thegroup in a spiritedrendition of “ThisPark is Your Park,”with apologies toWoody Guthrie.Ciannat Howett,the Chair of theBurbanck ParkDevelopmentCommittee andEmory’s Director ofSustainabilityInitiatives spoke ofthe three-yearproject and praised all the members of the Development Committee. She recognizedvolunteers Connie Brilhart, Becky Evans, Sally Sears, and Tim Ralston with gifts of lovelyframed photos of Burbanck Park.

Dick Shuey, President of Druid Hills Civic Association, Lois Berthaume, President ofAlliance to Improve Emory Village, and Robert Rodriguez, Associate General Counsel ofEmory University, all thanked thevolunteers and the Emory staffwho worked in partnership todevelop the park and spoke ofthe park’s value as a beautifulcommunal natural place ofreflection.

Becky Evans paid tributeto Revival Construction’s ownerWright Marshall, whosecompany won the competitivebid and completed the Phase Idevelopment of the park, andto James Johnson, the Emorylandscape architect whodesigned and monitored theproject through the Emory andDeKalb County approvalprocess. She also expressedher appreciation to the Co-Chairs of the newly formed“Friends of Burbanck Park,”Mark Goldman and PerryMitchell, the key organizers ofthe celebration who havealready led workdays in thepark. She praised the 200community donors, who raisedover $53,000 for developmentof the park over the past threeyears, and pointed out theDonor Plaque Proof, listing all thedonors whose gifts totaled $250 or more.

Steven Darcy, Music Director of Glenn Memorial Methodist Church, closed the programby singing “Song of the Chattahoochee” by Sidney Lanier, music by Darsey. The weathercleared in the second hour so that the attendees who wanted to get down and dirty were ableto plant native shrubs and trees , most of which were recently purchased from Trees Atlantaand others contributed by Emory. Commissioner Jeff Rader led the way, with the assistanceof his daughter Audrey, in planting a silverbell tree near the entrance.

Please support our neighborhood sponsors, Octane and Panera Bread, who provided thecoffee and bagels for the gathering. Thanks to Emory’s Department of Sustainability

WINTER, 2009Volume 23, Number 4

CONTENTS

PRESIDENT’S COLUMN PG 3DHCA BOARD BRIEFS PG 3DHCA PARENTS NETWORK PG 4NEIGHBORHOOD OMBUDSMAN PG 4THE MENORAH PG 4SCHOOL NEWS PG 5BOOK CLUB NEWS PG 7FAREWELL TO A FRIEND PG 7ORIGINS OF THE CHRISTMAS TREE PG 7FALL FOR A JAPANESE MAPLE PG 8OBITUARY PG 8TREEMENDOUS! PG 9DHCA MEMBERSHIP APPLICATION PG 11

PRE-SORTSTANDARD

U.S. POSTAGEPAID

Permit No. 515Athens, GA

THE DRUID HILLS NEWSNewsletter of the

Druid Hills Civic Association

P.O. Box 363Decatur, GA 30031-0363

This Park is Your Park(with apologies to Woody Guthrie)For Burbanck Park Celebration

Oct 31, 2009, 9 to 11amChorus:

This park is your park, this park is my parkFrom Emory Village, to Clifton and Oxford, From the Fernbank Forest, to the Peavine watersThis park was made for you and me.

As I was walking a ribbon of sidewalkI saw above me the endless tree topsI saw below me the shaded valleyThis park was made for you and me

Chorus

I’ve roamed and rambled and I’ve followed my footstepsTo the sparkling mica of her slippery stepping stonesAnd all around me a voice was sounding This park was made for you and me.

Chorus

The sun was shining as I was strollingThe tree limbs waving and the fall leaves rollingThe fog was lifting a voice came chantingThis park was made for you and me.

Chorus

Druid Hills Day A Winner!By Chad and Lacy Henderson

Druid Hills Day 2009 wasa huge success, thanks to thecontributions of severalneighborhood organizations.DHCA, as always, provided arock climbing wall, moonwalk,and other free activities for thekids, as well as snacks, popcornand beverages. St. John’sLutheran Church grilled hotdogs and loaded them up withall the fixins. And OLPA(Olmstead Linear Parks Alliance) gave guided tours of the new-and-improved Deepdene Park, along with free trolley rides betweenDeepdene and Dellwood Parks, plus free ice cream from Jake’s. Thankyou to everyone who contributed to a great day in the park, and toeveryone who came out and enjoyed some of the best weather we’ve seenin Druid Hills all year!

CALL FOR NOMINATIONSThe DHCA Annual Meeting is not until February 21 of the New Year, BUT the

Nominations Committee has to begin preparing ahead of time (and this is the closestnewsletter to the deadline).

Nominations for Officers and Board Members of the Civic Association areneeded and welcome. PLEASE think about people who love the neighborhood, careabout the future of the neighborhood, and would set aside a little time (or alreadyare/have been) to do something for the neighborhood. (Yourself included!)

E-mail your nomination (name and address, even if only street, phone number)to [email protected]. Deadline: January 15.

The Nominating Committee is appointed by the DHCA President. BoardMembers serve three years. For descriptions of the duties of Board Members, as wellas all Officers, go to www.druidhills.org and click on “ByLaws.”

Continued on page 10

Robert Rodriguez and daughter Ella plant a tree.

HELP WANTED

Two Druid Hills Civic AssociationCommittees need volunteers!

Community and Lifestyle • Plan neighborhood events• Assist with fundraising for

neighborhood parks andcommon areas

• Create an increased sense ofcommunity in Druid Hills

To volunteer, please contactChad and Lacy Henderson at404-872-5964.~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Membership • Welcome new DH residents• Assist with administrative tasks• Create new opportunities for

residents to join DHCATo volunteer, please contactThomas Winn [email protected]

The DHCA is also looking for aCoordinator. To volunteer, pleasecontact Elliott Kyle at 770-481-1960or email [email protected].

2 THE DRUID HILLS NEWS Winter 2009

CIVIC ASSOCIATION OFFICIALSOfficers

President . . . . . . . . . . . .Dick Shuey . . . . . .874-0643 . .president @druidhills.orgFirst Vice President . . . .Cathy Vandenburg 377-4817 . . . [email protected]. Vice-President . .Elliott Kyle . . . . .373-4203 [email protected]. Vice-President. . David Hill . . . . . .474-4187 . . [email protected] . . . . . . . . . . . .Ken Gibson . . . . . .378-8884 . . [email protected] . . . . . . . . . . . .Jim Morawetz . . .378-3784 . . [email protected]

Division ChairsDivision 1 (City of Atlanta) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . [email protected]

Barbara Vogel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .377-1667Patricia Elam . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Division 2 (Ponce Corridor in DeKalb) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . [email protected] Ballou . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .378-6139

Division 3 (W. of Briarcliff & S. of University in DeKalb) . . . [email protected] Vicevich . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .249-9215

Division 4 (b/w Briarcliff, N. Decatur & Lullwater Ck.) . . . . [email protected] Riggin . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .862-1744

Division 5 (Between Peavine Ck., N. Decatur, & RR Lines) . [email protected] Riley . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Division 6 (W. of Briarcliff, N. of Univ. to S. Peachtree Ck.) . [email protected] O’Brien . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .435-0278

Division 7 (“University” Streets west of Emory University) [email protected] Shulman . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 377-7548

Division 8 (Emory U., N. Decatur Rd. to S. Peachtree Ck.) [email protected] Foust . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .633-9932

Division 9 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . [email protected](D.H. Golf Course, Decatur fork of Peavine Ck. & RR Lines)

Steven Misner . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .373-1523

DHCA BOARD OF DIRECTORSPast Presidents

Div. Name Phone Email5 Jim Morawetz 378-3784 [email protected] Bruce MacGregor 378-6040 [email protected] Jeff Rader 378-5070 [email protected] Rolf Grun 373-5831 [email protected]

Ex OfficioCivic Association Network (CAN) rep

Judy Yates

Freedom Park 1 Allen Bradley 373-3711 [email protected]

DeKalb Civic Coalition (DCC)4 Judy Yates 373-2112 [email protected]

Neighborhood Planning Unit1 Jim Heerin 373-3626 [email protected]

Communication and Lifestyle4 Chad & Lacy Henderson 872-5964 [email protected]

Land Use 5 Bruce MacGregor [email protected]

HP Liaison Atlanta Landmark District1 Alida Silverman 377-9621 [email protected]

HP Liaison DeKalb Co9 Chris Leeth [email protected]

Greenspace Initiatives/ Peavine Watershed Alliance1 Becky Bracewell 378-2749 [email protected]

Membership4 Thomas Winn [email protected] Network1 Claudia Edwards [email protected]

Beth Blaney [email protected] Safety 2 Jeremy TurnerTour of Homes and Gardens & Artist Market

Joanna Stroud–Artists Market ChairBecky Evans–Revenue Chair

Transportation Ron Foust [email protected]

Druid Hills News Editor 5 Mary Angela Whyte 373-0291 [email protected]

Druid Hills News Managing EditorJennie Richardson 373-1837

NPU1 Jim Heerin 373-3626

Class of 20119 Mary Emma McConaughey4 Rolf Grun4 Thomas Winn2 Carolyn Riordan1 Joanna Stroud7 Karen McCown9 Chris Leeth

Class of 20102 Clarke Weeks1 Thomas Clements1 Marshall Orson4 Chad Henderson5 Paul Shanor2 Jeremy Turner4 David Winston6 Mike Lancaster

Class of 20097 Becky Evans1 John Hudson7 Tom Cross9 Tammy Ellerbe 7 Nill Toulme

Claudia Edwards9 Douglas Grimm

THE DRUID HILLS NEWSNewsletter of the Druid Hills Civic Association

P.O. Box 363, Decatur, GA 30031-0363, Voicemail 404-523-DHCAPublished by Volunteers

NEWSLETTER EDITOR Mary Angela WhyteBUSINESS MANAGER Barbara Morey, admin.druidhills.org, 404-523-DHCA

MANAGING EDITOR Jennifer Richardson, [email protected] & DESIGN Julie Edwards

NEWSLETTER COMMITTEE Faye Andresen, Tammy Carroll, Becky Evans, Ken Gibson, Lacy and Chad Henderson, Susan Merritt-Jordan,

Paula Refi, Merl Reid, Dick Shuey, Alida Silverman, Donna Toulme, Leila Whipple, Mary Angela Whyte

Your Letters Are Welcome

Get the MostOut of Your

Advertising DollarsThe Druid Hills News is published inApril, July, September and lateNovember. It reaches thousands ofpeople who live, shop, and work inDruid Hills. With thousands of copies ofeach issue distributed in the area, thepublication’s advertising rates are abargain for businesses that want to reachDruid Hills customers. For informationon ad sizes and pricing:

404-523-3422 (DHCA) www.druidhills.org/news/advertise.htm

email: [email protected]

Druid Hills NewsdeadlinesThe deadlines

for the winter issue are:

Advertising— February 1 Copy— February 8

Publication will be in mid-March

Subscribing to the Druid Hills NewsWhile residents of Druid Hills receive the newsletter each

quarter by bulk mail, those who leave the neighborhood often wantto stay in touch. How can they do that? It’s easy—take out asubscription.

This is what you do: Find the membership application—in thisissue it’s on page 11. Fill it in, joining at whichever level you choose.The least expensive is $25. In the section entititled MembershipInvolvement and Interests, in the center of the application, write“DHN subscription” in the line “Other—specify.”

Send the application and your check to the regular post officebox address (see the bottom of the application) and you’ll continueto know what’s going on in the old neighborhood.

Let Us Know!The post office is changing its bulk mailing software,

which may cause problems. If your home is not receiving theDruid Hills News in the future, please contact us.

Emory no longer sponsors a recycling site at the

Emory Village CVS. Recyclablesmay be taken to Whole Foods on

Briarcliff, DeKalb County firestations and libraries, andDeKalb Farmers Market.

To join the County curbsiderecycling program,

call 404-294-2900 or visitwww.co.dekalb.gov.us

Sign up for complimentary E-Alerts for news, events, neighborhood updates, and more,

at [email protected] is how to sign up for E-Alerts – the civic association’scurrent means of keeping you up to date about current and

impending events in Druid Hills. The elert system replaces the paper notices you used to get in or

on your mailbox. It is less expensive and more efficient.

1. Go to our website, www.druidhills.org2. Click the "sign up today" button & complete the form.3. Click "subscribe" button. There, you’ve done it!

Important NumbersPolice – General Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . .404-294-2000Animal Services—Stray Animals . . . . . . . . . . . .404-294-2996Animal Services—After Hours . . . . . . . . . . . . .404-294-2519Board of Health—DeKalb . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .404-294-3700Chamber of Commerce-DeKalb . . . . . . . . . . . .404-378-8000Code Enforcement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .770-724-7940DeKalb Community Relations (Police) . . . . . . . .404-286-7955DeKalb Medical Center . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .404-501-1000DeKalb Medical Center – Hillandale . . . . . . . .404-501-8000Elections . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .404-298-4020Family & Children Service (DFACS) . . . . . . . .404-370-5000Gov. Off. Of Consumer Affairs . . . . . . . . . . . .404-656-3790Homeland Security/Gangs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .770-216-4926Human & Community Affairs . . . . . . . . . . . . .770-322-2950Information—General . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .404-371-2000Keep DeKalb Beautiful . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .404-371-2654Law Department . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .404-371-3011MARTA-Complaint Line . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .404-848-4800Mental Health Emergencies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .404-892-4646Neighborhood Watch . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .404-286-7955Planning & Development . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .404-371-2155Records (Police Information) . . . . . . . . . . . . . .404-294-2512Recreation, Parks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .404-371-2631Roads, Drainage, Trees Down, Pot Holes . . . . .404-297-3840

After Hours . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .404-294-2523Sanitation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .404-294-2900Sight Obstructions (Roads) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .404-294-2041Sheriff ’s Department . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .404-298-8000Street Lights, Speed Humps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .770-492-5200Storm Water Management . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .404-297-2570Tax Assessor’s Office . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .404-371-2509Tax Commissioner (property tax) . . . . . . . . . . .404-298-4000Traffic Signal Malfunction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .404-297-3929Voter Registration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .404-298-4020Water—Billing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .404-378-4475

Emergency . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .770-270-6243Women’s Resource Center . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .404-688-9436Zoning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .404-371-4915

Winter 2009 THE DRUID HILLS NEWS 3

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President’s Columnby Dick Shuey

DHCA Board Briefsby Ken Gibson

(full minutes will be posted on www.druidhills.org)

August 19, 2009Board Training, Session #3: Division ChairsRobert Ballou, District 2: Keeps in contact with police, deals with graffiti, created a website focused on crime watch,holds regular meetings on crime and other neighborhood issues. Responsibilities of Division Chairs as outlined in the bylaws were reviewed.Letter Drafted to Realtors concerning the Historic District:The letter should be part of a package from sellers during listing, including information about DH Historic District, andadvise realtors to disseminate information about HPC guidelines to prevent confusion & problems 501(c)(3)–Report on details for creating a 501(c)(3) organization to supplement our current 501(c)(4) organization. Theimportant difference is that the 501(c)(3) gives a tax incentive in attracting charitable gifts & grants. We would berequired to educate the public and make improvements such as installing sign toppers and street lights, maintainingroundabout, and buying parkland, showing we are decreasing the government’s burden.Division ReportsDivision 1: Morning traffic on Ponce de Leon has increased since the new school opened due to pedestrians crossing

Ponce de Leon, carpooling, and busses making left turns from Briarcliff. Division 4: Residential parking signs have been installed on Oxford Rd.Division 5: The new but imprecise Land Use plan in DeKalb County which has been hidden from the public is a major

departure in land use and zoning. While it may or may not be bad, it needs to be scrutinized (details onDHCA website).

September 16, 2009”Greening Druid Hills” Proposal–Proposal to make Druid Hills a model of a sustainable community. Greening DruidHills will establish a web site with tips, logs & forms, car pool matching, resources, and a lobby for local governments. Roundabout Maintenance on North Decatur Rd.–Two signs installed were immediately stolen. Two more signs in reservewill be set in concrete.Traffic Issues• Consideration to remove Clifton/Oxford intersection island with a 3-way stop similar to the Ridgewood/Clifton

intersection or a small circle.• Street sign toppers show commuters Druid Hills a residential area. Consideration of signs or monuments at entrances,

especially at Clifton/North Decatur. • Traffic calming crosswalks needed on N. Decatur west of Emory village, left turn lane on Briarcliff at PonceLand Use:Pure night club: The court ruled in favor of the community that Pure is not a restaurant and revoked the certificate ofoccupancy. (details on DHCA website)Zoning Ordinance Update: The proposed ordinance first seen by the Commissioners on September 15 is complex.Major elements of the draft:a) Existing single family zones remain but with allowance of accessory dwelling units within the main structure or as

accessory structures (mother-in-law suites & carriage houses)b) New zones for mixed uses with higher densities and increased heights and sometimes reduced setbacks and parking

requirements.c) “Shared parking” for mixed use areas.d) Density bonuses for provision of workforce housing and “green development.”e) General reduction of setbacks, parking & loading requirements, and tree save provisions.

October 21, 2009Yardsale Proceeds Contribution –The Medlock Park was severely damaged with this year’s floods. A proposal to donate$2500 raised from the $25 fee for the annual yard sale to the Druid Hills Youth Sports was approved unanimously. Greening Druid Hills Proposal–DHCA will support this project and include a link on the DHCA website. Burbanck Park Proposal –Emory, the owner of the land, will maintain the park with cutting grass and blowing leaves. A$1000 per year donation was approved as a Supplemental Landscape Fund, added to the existing greenspace budget forroundabout island plantings. Oakdale Trees Project –The neighborhood is prepared to plant 43 shade trees on Oakdale. DHCA will donate four treesto St. John’s church ($260) and support Trees Atlanta with $500 membership.Division ReportsDivision 1: Springdale School problems. The School Board does not appear to be following city requirements for

approval on many levels.Division 2: Division 2 has subdivided into four sections. Three sections have crime watch organizations and have held

meetings. Division 5: Concern that students are creating disturbances in neighborhoods close to Emory,.Division 6: Recent flooding and sewage problems.Division 8: Complaints and frustrations with COA process for Emory Grove neighborhood, designated as “minimalist.”

H C has power to prevent upgrading homes even in appropriate ways.

The Board of Directors of the DHCA has for a longtime considered establishing a master plan for futuredevelopment of the neighborhood. The thought has beenthat it would be better to be proactive than to be reactiveto the development plans of others. Finally, at the August2007 board meeting, it was agreed to begin work on such aplan and Max Creighton agreed to be the point person andlead the Master Plan Committee. One of the first issues tobe addressed by the committee was the scope of the plan.

By the March 2008 board meeting the committee hadbeen formed and met, and reported that they planned tobring something to the Board in the near future. At theJuly 2008 board meeting, the committee presented acomprehensive approach to developing a master plan thatwould require the assistance of a consultant. They reportedon their progress in identifying the areas that a consultantshould address, including a review of all DHCA policiesconcerning land use, legal issues surrounding zoning/landuse inconsistencies, differences in County and City zoningand land use, traffic and transportation, and communityinvolvement and oversight. Hiring a consultant to produceprofessional results would require a significant financialcommitment.

During the ensuing discussion, it was acknowledgedthat a master plan would make a good internal document,but it was questioned how useful it would be. It wasemphasized that before any substantial amount of money iscommitted, we need to have a reasonable assurance thatthe development of such a master plan would be welcomedby the DeKalb County and City of Atlanta governments,and that they would be likely to adopt it as an integral partof their respective comprehensive planning processes. Itwas also agreed that we must be ready to proceed before wesolicit proposals from consultants.

The committee went back to the drawing board tofind ways to accommodate the board’s concerns. Insubsequent meetings with the executive committee during2009, the master plan committee was urged to break thedevelopment down to phases that that could be fundedover a period of time and, most importantly, to obtaininput from County officials before proceeding. At theSeptember 2009 board meeting, the committee reportedon a draft master plan that was taking a different directionto accomplish the original objectives, while responding tothe concerns of the board and suggestions fromCommissioner Jeff Rader.

Committee members had met with CommissionerRader, who was supportive of the process and sympatheticto the zoning needs of our community. He emphasizedthat development outside the Druid Hills Historic Districtthreatens to affect the Druid Hills community. Forexample, the Emory Commons and Sage Hill areas areespecially in need of LCI (Livable Community Initiative)grants from the Atlanta Regional Commission fortransportation improvements. The master plan committeeacknowledged that the transportation parts of its plan alsoneeded some adjustments.

It also became apparent that the most effective way forDruid Hills to establish a master plan for futuredevelopment that would be supported by the County is towork within the parameters of the Historic Districtdesignation. To that end, the committee decided to finishthe task of establishing the Historic District with thedesignation of character areas (areas that share commoncharacteristics). Six character areas currently exist:Divisions 1 & 2, Emory Grove, Parkwood, UniversityHeights, and Chelsea Heights.

The purpose of establishing additional character areasand having them adopted by the Historic PlanningCommission is to strengthen our Historic District as ashield against inconsistent or inappropriate zoning anddevelopment. If we have guidelines for all areas, it will beeasier to preserve these areas in an appropriate way. Withmore specificity, protection measures like an overlay areabecome more valid. The costs of creating guidelines can bespread out over time by working on one area at a time.

The Chelsea Heights Guidelines are a successfulexample of defining the appropriate characteristics of onearea. There, the residents of the area had direct input inestablishing the characteristics of their neighborhood. Thisprocess should be the model for establishing new characterareas and revisiting the six existing character areas, asneeded.

The Master Plan Committee is now beginning workon identifying Historic District character areas, developinga corresponding zoning overlay, becoming a stakeholderparticipant in the LCI for Sage Hill– Clairmont/EmoryCommons corridor, and addressing other non-LCItransportation issues. This is one project in which theentire neighborhood can and should play a role.


DHCA Parents Network Halloween and Other Happenings

by Tammy Carroll

Give the gift of family fun!

Treat your friends and family to

a year of wonderful experiences

with a gift membership, gift tickets

or a one-of-a kind gift from our

Museum Store.

Visit fernbankmuseum.org for details.

767 Clifton Road, NE Atlanta, GA 30307

Bill Gryboski, Neighborhood OmbudsmanBy Alida Silverman

Ombudsman, noun – 1. A man who investigatescomplaints, reports findings, and mediates for settlements,especially between aggrieved parties such as consumers orstudents and an institution, an organization, or acompany. 2. A government official, especially inScandinavian countries, who investigates citizens’complaints against the government or its functionaries.

Bill Gryboski,a 12-year residentof Druid Hills,came to EmoryUniversity in 1979from Connecticutas an undergrad.He liked Emory’sneighborhood. Ifirst heard abouthim from someonewho called him“the mayor ofOakdale Road,” soI was intriguedsince I live onOakdale. As Ilearned more, Icould see how thedescription cameabout but, really, Ithink ombudsmandescribes better what Bill does. Good communicationskills, knowing what needs to be done, and a clearexpectation that government will do its job if properlynotified have resulted in quite a record.

A partial listing of a few of Bill’s recent projects: • repair of sidewalks/curbs along Oakdale Road in

County/City - ongoing• grinding/removal of tree stumps in ROW in Dekalb

County/City- ongoing• repair of the historic bywalks – all in County by

Dekalb County- ongoing• clearing/cleaning of bywalks by Dekalb County-

quarterly• storm sewer maintenance by both Dekalb County and

City of Atlanta• identification and coordination of In Bloom’s adoption

of the Lullwater roundabout, sponsored by the DHCA• historic streetlights on Oakdale Road effort (with

others) – in the works• speed humps for Springdale/Oakdale/Lullwater in

County (dormant)

Next? As a Druid Hills neighbor, I say “THANK YOU!”

(just as Bill thanks the various commissioners and sectionheads as they deliver).

The fall colors and beautiful weather were the perfect setting for the 2nd annual Parents Network Halloween Partyon Sunday, October 25. The committee hosted a fun gathering with delicious pot-luck dishes, a candy corn guessinggame, piñatas, and pumpkin decorating. Around 40 families came out to support the Parents Network effort to developfriendships, discuss neighborhood changes, and build enthusiasm for more events throughout the year.

The Parents Network committee would ideally like to host a family-friendly gathering each season. They arecurrently discussing the idea of a holiday cookie decoratingevent that would include a visit from Santa. They are alsoexploring options for a volunteer/charity experience that theycould coordinate and sponsor. The network is always lookingfor additional ways to bring Druid Hills' parents together. Ifyou have any suggestions for what the Parents Networkcould do for the neighborhood, please email the committeeat [email protected].

Another way to bring Druid Hills' families together isthe Parent Network's new web-based forum. The committeewould like to extend appreciation to David Hill, theDHCA’s VP of Communication. He has worked diligentlyto create a new secure online Parents Forum, where memberscan post discussion topics, ask questions, or easily referenceother neighbors' recommendations. It can send emails ofeach post or simply remain a favorite online site for sharingthoughts with other Druid Hills parents. The committeehopes this new tool will encourage membership and motivate parents to share more questions and ideas.

If you've been meaning to join the Parents Network but aren't members of the DHCA, you can join online at theDHCA website: www.druidhills.org.

For more information about the DHCA Parents Network or about any of the events listed above, please [email protected].

Jamie Orson, Paden Carroll, and Harrison Reeves pose at theParent Network Halloween Party

Kate and Daisy (foreground) Gryboski usethe recently repaired bywalk.

The MenorahOn each night of

Hanukkah, the menorah is litto commemorate a miraclewhich occurred after the Jewsproclaimed victory over theSyrian armies in 165 B.C.E.When Jews came to rededicatethe Temple-which had been defiled by the Syrians-they found only one small flask of oil with which tolight the menorah. This flask contained only enoughoil for one day, yet the lamp burned for eight days (bywhich time a fresh supply of oil was obtained).

• In Israel, the Hanukkah menorah is called theHanukiyah

• Menorahs come in all shapes and sizes. The onlyrequirement is that the flames are separated enoughso that they will not look too big and resemble apagan bonfire.

• Ancient menorahs were made of clay. They consistedof small, pearl shaped vessels, each with its ownwick, which were arranged side-by-side.

• Today's menorah, which stands on a base fromwhich the branches sprout, resembles the holyTemple's menorah and started to appear towards theend of the Middle Ages.

source: www.history.com/content/hanukkah/hanukkah-tradition


School Newsby Susan Merritt-Jordan

A satellite division of the Global Text Project is up andrunning at Ben Franklin Academy. The project to create freeelectronic textbooks for use around the world is aninternational effort managed by Richard Watson, University ofGeorgia Terry College of Business professor, and his friendDon McCubbrey, a professor at University of Denver DanielsCollege of Business. Ben Franklin Academy established apartnership with the Global Text Project at UGA after a BFAstudent did an internship with the organization to fulfill hiswork-study requirement last year. The partnership will giveother BFA students an opportunity to participate in theGlobal Text Project as electronic text and graphic formattersand proofreaders, while earning work-study hours. Thestudents are to be credited for their editorial contributions inthe introduction to the textbook they are scheduled tocomplete by spring.

The Mary Lin Education Foundation has set its2009/2010 capital campaign goal at $20,000, most of it for thepurchase of Promethean interactive whiteboards to completethe fourth and fifth grade classrooms at Mary Lin ElementarySchool. The foundation’s long-term goal is to purchase theelectronic boards for all the classrooms at Mary Lin.

An advance look at The Paideia School’s annual ArtVisions event in November appeared in the last issue of TheDruid Hills News. Some local school fundraisers scheduledfor 2010 include benefits for Druid Hills High School PTSAEnrichment Fund and DHHS Athletic Foundation, Saturday,February 6, and for Fernbank Elementary Foundation,Saturday, March 13. For more about these events asinformation becomes available, and to learn more about ourneighborhood schools, visit their websites, listed below:

Briar Vista Elementary School: www.dekalb.k12.ga.us/briarvista

Mary Lin Elementary School: www.marylinelementary.com

The Paideia School: www.paideiaschool.org

Ben Franklin Academy: www.benfranklinacademy.org

Druid Hills High School: www.dekalb.k12.ga.us/druidhills

Fernbank Elementary School: www.dekalb.k12.ga.us/fernbank

Shamrock Middle School: www.dekalb.k12.ga.us/shamrock

Springdale Park Elementary School:srt3.atlantapublicschools.us/springdale

Druid Hills High School Open House

Saturday, January 9, 201010:00 a.m. – 12:00 noonPlease join us to celebrate the

completion of our renovation

and opening of our new building!

All are welcome!

Auction to BenefitDruid Hills High School

Contact Co-Chairs: Donna Toulme, [email protected]

404-373-6662Elena Braswell [email protected]

404-377-9319

Against a backdrop of the worst economic crisis inmore than 75 years and state cuts in education spending,parents at Druid Hills High School (DHHS) are doingwhat they can to enable students to continue to excel inDeKalb County, Georgia. The DHHS Athletic Foundationand PTSA are hosting the school’s second annual auctionto benefit academics, arts and athletics at DHHS. Funs &Gains will be held on Saturday, February 6, 2010, at theCox Hall Ballroom on the Emory University campus.

Visit www.druidhills.cmarket.com to learn moreabout this event and the on-line auction that will open inJanuary 2010.

One of the oldest schools in DeKalb County, DHHSwas founded by Emory University in 1914 for children ofthe faculty. Today DHHS serves families and studentsthroughout DeKalb County, and in 2004, it was namedan International Baccalaureate school. In 2007, DHHSreceived a Platinum Award for Greatest Gains in StudentsMeeting and Exceeding Standards from the GeorgiaGovernor’s Office of Student Achievement.

Winning Homecoming float: Class of 2010

The Beginning of Druid Hills SchoolBy Lella Dillard Whipple – Forwarded by Jack McFarland from Frank Albertson(As told informally by the first principal at the request of Mr. W. D. Thompson at the time of the dedication of the secondbuilding.)

Druid Hills School, with its lovely pagan name, had its beginning in the three small rooms behind the stage ofEmory University’s chapel, in late September 1919. This chapel or assembly hall was a temporary wooden buildingused for gatherings of all kinds on the campus. The anterooms to the stage were designed perhaps for dressing roomsin college theatricals.

The school was first called Emory Grammar School. It was in the DeKalb County System with Mr. Carroll, thecounty school superintendent at the time. The first teachers were Lella Dillard, principal, and Ethel Pike, ofLaGrange, and Eugenia Cassidy, of Tennessee, as assistants. Emory University furnished the building and DeKalbCounty paid the salaries, which were $75.00 a month. The school session began at 8:30 in the morning and closed at12:30 so as to give Miss Pike and Miss Cassidy the afternoons for their classes at the university. Both were graduatestudents majoring in education.

There were 43 pupils enrolled that fall, spread out over seven grades. Miss Pike taught first and second; MissCassidy, fifth and sixth; and I, the principal, taught third and fourth and the one girl in the seventh. These childrenhad widely diverse backgrounds, coming from homes of professors in the School of Liberal Arts who had just movedup to the new university and were living on the campus (some of the faculty had settled in Atlanta); from homes ofthe postmaster, storekeeper, carpenters; and from country homes that were already there when the university beganbuilding. Some of the faculty children had lived abroad and knew more than one language. Then there were the four“millionaire children” from the home of Mr. Walter Candler, on Lullwater Road, near the entrance to Emory, amongthem the little boy who signed his name “Asa Candler IV.” All forty-three of these children were sweet and wellbehaved, as I remember them.

This temporary wooden assembly hall, set in the midst of Emory’s marble buildings, was nearest the AnatomyBuilding, I remember clearly, for I can still see the children turning up their little noses, as they passed it every day,and commenting on the “awful smell” of disinfectant that always seemed to be blowing our way.

The immediate reason for organizing the Emory Grammar School, which later became Druid Hills School, wasthe “mud-up-to-the-hubs” on the roads leading to the campus in the early days. There was not a foot of pavingbeyond Lullwater, and North Decatur and Clifton Roads had the heavy traffic of trucks loaded with buildingmaterial. These trucks churned the mud in wet weather which left deep ruts when the mud dried. Getting thechildren in to Atlanta schools seemed almost impossible.

One morning I had a phone call from Dr. Howard Odum, president of the university. He wanted me to come tohis office to discuss the possibility of organizing a grammar school for the Emory University children. Severalprofessors who had children were at this meeting. They offered me the place as principal. I had an AB degree, alsomusic and vocal expression degrees, and had done post graduate work at two schools. Following this I had taughtseveral years, having taught second grade in Decatur two years, and expression and dramatics in Hawkinsville schoolfor three years. After these years of strenuous work, I was planning to take a year off during 1919-1920. When Dr.Odum offered me the Emory school, I accepted at once. I guess it was my pioneering instinct, for those were indeedpioneer days.

We opened the school the following Monday morning with a large group of parents and children present. Afterthat, the school was completely turned over to the three teachers. There was no interference from anyone, nor evenany suggestions. Mr. Carroll visited us frequently to bring supplies, and he always praised the school.

Yes, I felt like a pioneer in a covered wagon that first fall at Emory. Everything was new and life was difficult.No wonder the parents didn’t interfere - - - they also were too busy just trying to exist. There was not a coloredperson for miles around, it seemed, so there were no cooks or washwomen, and most of us had never done withoutthese two commodities. There were no “home-wash” laundries then, or if there were, it was too difficult for theirtrucks to get out to Emory. The nearest grocery stores were at “Little Five Points” and out at Decatur. Kampers was

Continued on page 9

The Origin of the Christmas Tree Germany is credited with starting the Christmas tree tradition in the 16th Century when devout Christians

brought decorated trees into their homes. The Christmas tree custom gradually became popular in other parts ofEurope. In England, Prince Albert, husband of Queen Victoria, made Christmas trees fashionable by decorating thefirst English Christmas tree at Windsor Castle with candles and a variety of sweets, fruits and gingerbread in 1841.

Of course, soon other wealthy English families followed suit, using all kinds ofextravagant items as decorations. Charles Dickens described such a tree as being coveredwith dolls, miniature furniture, tiny musical instruments, costume jewelry, toy guns andswords, fruit and candy, in the 1850s.

Most of the 19th Century Americans found Christmas trees an oddity. The first recordof one being on display was in the 1830s by the German settlers of Pennsylvania. In 1851a tree was set up outside of a church. The people of the parish thought it such an outrageand a return to paganism and asked the minister to take it down. By the 1890s, Christmasornaments were arriving from Germany and Christmas tree popularity was on the risearound the U.S. Electricity helped introduce Christmas lights, making it possible forChristmas trees to glow for days on end. With this, Christmas trees began to appear intown squares across the country. All important buildings, private and public, signaled thebeginning of the Christmas holiday with the tree ceremony.

Early Christmas trees had, in place of angels, figures of fairies - the good spirits, thoughhorns and bells were once used to frighten off evil spirits. In Poland, Christmas trees usedto be decked with angels, peacocks and other birds as well as many, many stars. In Sweden,trees are decorated with brightly painted wooden ornaments and straw figures of animalsand children. In Denmark, tiny Danish flags along with mobiles of bells stars, snowflakesand hearts are hung on Christmas trees. Japanese Christians prefer tiny fans and paperlanterns. Lithuanians cover their trees with straw bird cages, stars, and geometric shapes.The straw sends a wish for good crops in the coming year. Czechoslovakian trees displayornaments made from painted egg shells.

A Ukrainian Christmas tree has a spider and web for good luck. Legend has it that apoor woman with nothing to put on her children's tree woke on Christmas morning tofind the branches covered with spider webs turned to silver by the rising sun.source: www.theholidays.com/christmas/history/xmas_tradition


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Books of foreign lands, other times, and different ways of life have always provided bookclubs the types of reading experiences that spur spirited conversation. Then again, reading aboutclose to home often offers insight into the normal (and maybe not so normal) of our lives.

Armchair travelers all, the Beer and a Book Club members were carried to WWII and post-war Hong Kong inThe Piano Teacher by Janice Y.K. Lee. Although written along the lines of a screenplay, the story is rich in historyand introduced strong characters. In The Lemon Tree, by Sandy Tolan, the club joined a young Palestinian man whoreturns to his Israeli homestead after his family had fled 19 years earlier, only to find it occupied by an Israeli collegestudent whose family had fled Europe for Israel during the Holocaust.

Deepdene Book Club enjoyed trooping to WWII France with a young girl in Sarah’s Key by Tatiana de Rosnay.Although the ending seemed a bit contrived, the book was well received. Again, starting in WWII but moving toChina, Deepdene read Shanghai Girls: A Novel by Lisa See. This book, about two sisters from 1937 until 1957, gavethe readers an opportunity to discuss the plight of the Chinese people during and after the war. Then they moved tothe East Coast, first to Maine with a crowd-pleaser, Olive Kitteredge by Elizabeth Strout, and on to Charleston withPat Conroy’s South of Broad. Olive, they decided, is a memorable and fascinating character and the book worthy ofits recent Pulitzer Prize. Pat Conroy’s book is a bit contrived but easy to read.

Wine Women & Words and Last Tuesday’s Book Clubs traveled the same path, reading Girl with a DragonTattoo by the Swedish author Stieg Larsson. A page turner, the book drew high praise from both clubs. They thentraveled to the oh-so-close to home 1960’s Mississippi to read Katherine Sockett’s The Help. The book chroniclessouthern family maids and their decision to record their personal stories. It was rated well written and readable.W,W & W moved on to Shelter Me, the debut novel by Juliette Fay with the story of a Massachusetts woman’s yearof transformation after the death of her husband, while Last Tuesday moved to WWII’s The Guernsey Literary andPotato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows. This is a delightful story of how a book club duringNazi occupation changed the lives of every island member.

Harvard Book Club chose to partake in Charlie Wilson’s War by George Crile and Loving Frank by NancyHoran. Loving Frank is the fictional account of Mamah Borthwick Cheney and her involvement with Frank LloydWright. Then the club was lucky enough to join not only Kat, the eleven-year-old heroine of The ConfederateGeneral Rides North in this great coming-of-age story, but host the author, Amanda Gable. Drawing high praisefrom all quarters, Gable’s first book was 15 years in the making and many were fortunate to hear this Decaturresident at the Labor Day Book Festival.

Not only do we have local writers close to home, but Cathy Boring of Proud Mary Book Club recently spottedSalman Rushdie at the local Publix. Mustering the nerve to introduce herself and profess her love for his books, shewent blank when asked about current reading. It was a missed opportunity because Mr. Rushdie would haveappreciated the club’s choice of Vanished World by Chris Lowrey; a book about Muslims, Christians, and Jews livingtogether in medieval Spain. The club then chose a most appropriate follow-up, People of the Book by Geraldine Brooks.Tackling a shameful chapter in our history, local writer and Pulitzer Prize winner Douglas Blackmon’s book Slavery byAnother Name chronicles the enslavement of black Americans in forced labor camps after the Civil War until WWII.

The club agreed the book was bothshocking and heart-breaking in itsfactual accounts of brutality andinjustice during the era.

Reading can be one of the bestways to travel, to experience new anddifferent worlds and to see one’s ownworld a bit differently. Local bookclubs are fortunate to have localwriters willing to share their personaljourneys and give us insight into theirprocess. So, take the time toappreciate such a wonderful learningcommunity. And remember – nexttime you make your grocery list, besure to jot your reading list on itsback side. You never know when youmight bump into the likes of SalmanRushdie in the produce aisle.

BOOK CLUB NEWS:_____________Out in the World and Here at Homeby Faye Andresen

Farewell to a FriendAvid book club member, friend and neighbor on North Ponce, Mary

Disney, age 56, passed away on August 20, 2009. Mary had suffered fromrheumatoid arthritis since the age of 16, yet she never let this disfiguringand painful disease slow her down a bit. She never complained and wasnever bitter. Quite the contrary, Mary was like a ray of sunlight in anysocial setting. She was active in many charitable causes, traveledextensively, and was the center of her family – husband Michael Harneyand daughters Anna and Rebecca. Mary was a role model for strength inthe face of adversity.

Mary was a member of at least three book clubs that are now raisingmoney to endow a bench in Deepdene Park in her memory. The benchwill be a quiet, lovely place to sit and remember Mary or simply to readone of her beloved books in the park across the street from her house.Contributions for the bench are still welcome to honor the memory of this

lovely woman. For information, contact [email protected].


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Please support the Paideia School Varsity Baseball Team

by recycling your Christmas Tree!

Saturday, January 2 • 9 a.m.-3 p.m.Cost: $15.00 for regular trees • $20.00 for trees over 6 feet tall

To schedule a tree pickup, email [email protected] or call Scott Metzloff at 404-538-2877.

The baseball team would like to thank Marcia Weber and Gardens to Lovefor their support of the tree recycling effort!

Fall for a Japanese Maple By Paula Refi

Few species incite plant lust as surely as a well-grown Japanese maple (Acer palmatum). Every gardener wants at leastone, and more acquisitive gardeners turn into dedicated collectors. With their extraordinary form and outstanding foliage,Japanese maples are stunning four-season landscape features. Winter reveals their elegant branching, almost like livingsculpture. Delicate leaves emerge in spring in a range of colors from pale green and pink, to reds or burgundy. Theirbrilliant foliage is most effective in fall, which is an ideal time to plant (some would say enthrone) one in the garden.

Choosing from among the hundreds of named varieties can be a daunting task. Determine the tree’s desired maturesize, shape and color before making a selection. The five- to nine-lobed leaves are delicately tapered, creating theremarkably fine texture that is the signature of the species. Some varieties have palm-shaped leaves (hence, the palmatumdesignation), while others are more thread-like, with finely toothed margins (the dissectum group). The largest canmature to 20 feet. Others remain like weeping shrubs, more broad than they are tall. Consider all these characteristicsbefore deciding on a tree’s placement.

With age, a Japanese maple becomes an important focal point. A single specimen creates an especially elegant effectsited near water, where the reflection magnifies its beauty. Several may be grouped as understory trees at the edge of awoodland. In a postage-stamp patio garden, a tall variety can function as a major landscape element, even casting a littleshade. A weeping threadleaf selection works well on a slope. Surprisingly, a small Japanese maple will thrive contentedlyin a container for many years.

The more brilliant Japanese maples garner the most attention, but there are situations where varieties with pale greenand chartreuse foliage are better choices. This is the case if the plant is seen against red brick, a dark fence or in the shade,where the pale foliage provides more vivid contrast. What grows beneath the tree is important as well. Avoid distractingannual color; a tidy groundcover that forms a green carpet is all that’s needed. Possibilities include mondo grass, liriopeand Japanese pachysandra.

Several Japanese maple cultivars have proven themselves in Southern landscapes over the years. Among the reliableperformers, ‘Bloodgood’ is widely available and matures to more than 20 feet. It has a reputation for displaying thedeepest red foliage and retaining that color in the heat of summer. ‘Oshio beni’ is shorter and has orange-red leaves thatturn to flame in autumn. ‘Sango kaku’, the coralbark maple, is prized for the unique winter effect of it red branches. Itsfall foliage is clear yellow.

Among the red dissectum cultivars, ‘Red Dragon’ and ‘Tamuke yama’ are recommended. ‘Viridis’ is the industrystandard in the green-leafed category. ‘Waterfall’ is similar in color, but more pendulous. Both have yellow fall foliage.

Many gardeners believe that Japanese maples are always expensive. While it is true that mature “museum quality”maples bring a princely sum, small trees are very reasonably priced. They are exquisitely beautiful at any age, and there ismuch enjoyment to be had in nurturing a young tree whose loveliness improves with time. Plants labeled as seedlings aresometimes available. They lack the pedigree of named cultivars, but they do have majestic structure and pretty foliage.The color sequence from spring to fall will be unpredictable but invariably pleasing. Seedlings are a good choice forgardeners who like to be surprised.

Japanese maples thrive in ordinary well-drained soil in a range of exposures from sun to light shade. Avoid locationsin wind and baking afternoon sun that will damage the delicate leaves. They suffer from few significant pests or diseases,although Asian ambrosia beetle has been observed in recent years. The beetles bore into limbs and inoculate them with afungus, for which there is no effective treatment.

Every garden, regardless of its size, has a spot for a Japanese maple, and there is a candidate for every gardeningbudget. Don’t be afraid to lose you heart to one this fall.

ObituaryLauretta McKenna Miller died unexpectedly at her

home on July 23, 2009. The cause was a heart attack.She was seventy-seven years old.

Lauretta and her husband Stan moved to Atlantain 1979. They purchased their home in Druid Hills in1985. Both previously were teachers at privatepreparatory schools in Virginia. In Atlanta, Stan, acomputer analyst, taught computer information systemsat Clayton State College prior to his death in 1993.Both were avid outdoors people and campers, and Stan’sashes were taken to the Georgia mountains.

Lauretta received her undergraduate degree fromRadcliff University and later earned two Mastersdegrees, one in political science. Besides her teachingexperience, Lauretta worked in the State of Georgia’sComputer Department until her retirement after twentyyears of service.

She had strong interests in both local and nationalissues. They included loyal support of the Druid HillsCivic Association as a Director and as a Division Chair.She became an avid champion of public radio andAtlanta station WABE. She was also a life-longDemocrat. In retirement, she attended Elder Hostels inPoland and Ukraine.

An accomplished writer, Lauretta began composingarticles on Druid Hills issues almost from the time ofher arrival. Her work appeared regularly in the nowdefunct Decatur/DeKalb News Era as the “Druid HillsLetter” column, in the Druid Hills News (DHN), andlater in “News and Events,” a sheet sponsored by theAlliance to Improve Emory Village. Some of thesepublications are available on Google, while the DHN isalso preserved with the records of the Druid Hills CivicAssociation at Emory’s Special Collections department.

On Saturday, September 5, 2009, The Rev. John L.Roddy, Rector of St. Hilda of Whitby Parish of theAnglican Catholic Church, conducted a brief service inher back yard, where friends witnessed the scattering ofher ashes. She is survived by a brother, Fred McKenna,of Altamont, Florida.

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TREEMENDOUS! WHO: Trees Atlanta, Spence Rosenfeld and Arborguard, Druid Hills CivicAssociation and Oakdale Road Neighbors. Special thanks to Sean Riggin,Division 4 Chair, who coordinated the project and to Amy Durrell and MilesHall, who communicated with neighbors on their blocks.

WHAT: Treewatch Program, begun almost 10 years ago in Druid Hills (andthen stopped). After a tree planting demonstration on St. John’s LutheranChurch’s corner, teams of Trees Atlanta volunteers planted almost 40 trees –oak, beech, maple, American elm, dogwood, redbud, tupelo, crape myrtle (3in a planting strip). Many of the volunteers were from Emory.

WHEN: Saturday morning, November 7

WHERE: Oakdale Road between Ponce and North Decatur – front yards

WHY: Replacement of street tree canopy we are losing as old trees are lost.April storms were a wake-up call for Oakdale Road. (DHCA is still waiting tohear from DeKalb County about being allowed to do remediation on three ofthe nine street trees slated for demolition by the County arborist. The Countyhas no care/remediation program.)

the only grocery that delivered, and it added a whopping price for doing so, which was perfectlylegitimate. Not all the families had cars in those days, and those who had them would get stuck inthe mud in bad weather.

The street car line stopped at Emory’s entrance gate and turned back to Atlanta. The 20minutes schedule often lengthened to nearly an hour. The car stop was so isolated we ladies didnot like to wait there alone, and we always telephoned for someone to meet us on our return home.There was not a building from Mr. Candler's cream brick home on Lullwater Road to Mr. W. D.Thompson's red brick home on the corner of North Decatur and Clifton. Other houses onClifton Road were Dr. Edgar Johnson’s, the Gordon Stipes’, the Howards’, the Coopers’ and theArthur Tufts’. My mother and I lived with my sister and her husband, the Gordon Stipes, acrossfrom the site of what is now the Emory Hospital nurses’ home.

The two outstanding events of that first fall at Emory Grammar School were the Thanksgivingand Christmas programs. All the parents came. I remember that Marie Goodyear sang, and ExaRumble, Lellita Stipe, Rachel Johnson, and Melissa Jack recited, and these and all others were inthe plays. I hesitate, though, to begin naming personnel for fear of leaving out some.

At Christmas time my bachelor beau, from Hawkinsville, came to Emory to see me and hepersuaded me to marry him during the holidays. Perhaps I should have made him wait till theschool term ended - - - but he had already waited. I regretted giving up the school, but I was notunder contract, I was just helping out in an emergency. When I called Dr. Odum he veryunderstandingly granted me a release from my job. He assured me he had other graduate studentsfrom which to draw. Miss Ruth Calhoun was the one who took my place.

A few days later, on the last day of 1919, ours was the first wedding in the beautiful marblechapel in Emory’s School of Theology. There had been one marriage ceremony there with only awitness or two, but ours was the first wedding with guests and “all the trimmings.” Mrs. W. P.Melton and a group of other faculty wives decorated the chapel, and Emily Melton sang. MildredEakes played the wedding music, my brother Fielding gave me away, and my Uncle Walter Dillardperformed the ceremony. My husband, Lucian Whipple, known as “Colonel,” or “LawyerWhipple,” throughout these parts, brought me back to South Georgia to “live-happily-ever-afterward.”

A few years later, on one of my visits back to Emory, the three little Stipes proudly took me tosee their new school. And there was the magnificent brick building with its imposing new name ofDruid Hills School, not on the Emory campus now but near enough to seem always a part of theuniversity, someway. Then later, another fine building was erected.

The beautiful, level grounds are indeed a contrast to that slanting, rocky, scrub-oak hillside ofthe first school. When I think of the makeshift beginnings in the crowded little rooms of the bigwooden shack of Emory’s temporary chapel, I am proud of how the school has grown to more than2000 students now in the splendid, big buildings, and I am very proud of having been associatedwith its pioneer days. May Druid Hills School go on to greater glory, always keeping in view thebuilding of character and high ideals along with its material growth and its imparting ofknowledge.

Druid Hills School…continued from page 5


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Initiatives, who provided the recycling and compostingcontainers so the celebration was a zero waste event.

A good time was had by all in attendance, despite theearlier rain showers, and perhaps because of theimmersion in mud!

Please drop by Burbanck Park on your next visit tothe village, or in your walk along Clifton Road. The parkis a “pack in, pack out” environment, so please take yourtrash with you. If you are interested in volunteering withthe “Friends of Burbanck Park,” please contact eitherMark Goldman at [email protected] or PerryMitchell at [email protected].

Major Donors to Burbanck Park Cornerstone

Druid Hills Civic Association, Revival Construction, Honor Cobbs, Becky & David Evans

OakMelinda Burbanck Miller & Family, George Palmer Burbanck & Family

BeechDonna Brogan, Connie & William Brillhart, Bruce & Dell MacGregor, Henry Ricks, Jr., John & Linda Robitscher,CSX Corporation, Emory Village, LLC, Mary & Wendell Reilly, Donald Williams, Pam Woodley & PerryMitchell, Stephanie & Scott Wright

HickoryLois & Don Berthaume, Mary & David Bower, Martha & Toby Brooks, Mark & Alisa Christensen, Mark &Marlene Goldman, Bonnie Gordon, Billy & Carolyn Hall, Hilary & Rick Hargreaves, Mark Hillard & BetsyHalford, Catherine and John Howett, Asa & Laurie Humphries, Kenneth & Susan Krieger, Nancy Newton &David Glass, Chuck Palmer, Daniel Pollack & Sally West, Jeff & Elise Riley, Carolyn & Robert Riordan, JohnSteinhaus, James & Dorothy Thompson, Sheila Willis & Robert Rodriguez, Robert Bliss Foundation

MapleJohn M. Allen, Scott & Becky Bracewell, Susan & Philip Brachman, George & Dora Brown, Martine WatsonBrownley, Laurie Burton, Nancy Chambers, Ben C. Clark, Jr., Pamela Cornwall Duncan, Kirk Elifson & ClaireSterk, Cokey & Tammy Ellerbe, Stuart & Joanne Finestone, Martha Foster, Denise & Steve Garlow, Cathie &Mike Gay, James Goettl, Dr. and Mrs. David Goodchild, Dr. & Mrs. James Goodchild, Dr. & Mrs. JamesGoodchild, Rebecca & Drew Graham, William Gryboski, Steven Harris & Wendy Weeks, Charles Hatcher, Charles& Winnie Hoover, Ciannat Howett & Cullen Marose, Dr. & Mrs. M. C. Lin, Michael & Nancy Mandl, LeighAnne & Matt Mazzawi, Laura, Ray, Megan & Dylan McLaughlin, Amy & Steve Misner, Kathy & Jim Morawetz,Thomas & Sally Pearson, Susan & David Peterson, Dr. Frank M. Pickens, Tim & Julie Ralston, Arthur & PattySchiff, Paul & Jennie Shanor, Dr. and Mrs. Donald J. Shure, Norman Slawsky & Marcia Abrams, Sidney Barr &Larry Sperling, Clarence & Patty Styron, Mike & Lisa Terry, Margaret Van Deman Blackmon, Arthur & LaurieVinson, Clarke & Janet Weeks, J.P. Whitehead III & D.T. Maslia, Alliance to Improve Emory Village, The PeavineWatershed Alliance

Other Contributors to Burbanck ParkRuth & Paul Parker, Dick & May Spangler, Willy`s Mexicana Grill Inc., Amy & Roman Stankus, Dennis & KathyBerry, Michael & Lisa Terry, Judy Clairmont, Frederica & John Valois, James & Barbara Hund, Cathy & ArthurVandenberg, James Simmons, Millie Walling, Stefan Tigges & Nina Petkas, Tory & Thomas Winn, Ellen & GeorgeNemhauser, Richard & Elizabeth Woodcock, Robin Angel, Faith & Howard Levy, Sally Sears, William Partin &Kimberly Degrove, Herbert Benario, Robert & Barbara Andresen, Jean & David Bergmark, Kimberly & HamnerCollins, Natalie & Matthew Bernstein, A. Wright & Michelle Marshall, Carol Bush, John & Helen Patton, RichardColvin, James & M. C. K. Sutherland, Howard Cramer, Julia Abston & Mike Snider, Katherine & Andrew Davey,Caroline & David Adelman, Howard Frumkin, Mr. & Mrs. Frank Asbury III, Kathie Gannon, Wanda & StanBokoski, Robert & Jean Gerwig, Krista Brewer, Kenneth Gibson & Christine Moe, Cary and Charles Calhoun,Michael & Kirsten Jacobson, Leland Chung & Haiyen Zhau, Nancy James, Brian & Sherry Aynn Collins, SusanMerritt Jordan, Jennifer Cooper, Ann Kelley, Margarete Damerow, Katharine Kennedy & Daniel Waggoner,Jennifer Davis, Melinda & Dan Marshburn, David & Angelia DeFrancis, Mr. & Mrs. David Martin, Derek & AnnEconomy, Deborah Masalia & Paul Whitehead, Rick & Jacqueline Estes, Joseph & Jennifer Miller, J. D. Fleming,Lynn & Michael Moccio, Andrew & Susan Furman, William & Nancy Murdy, Thomas & Kasey Gryboski,Donald & Helen O`Shea, Andrew Higley, Ms. Mary Margaret Oliver, Vera Hiller, James Paddock, Karen & MarkHolzberg, Sophia Peterman, Joseph & Laura Iarocci, Merl Reed, Allen & Ellen Rosenthal, Jeff & Elise Riley, James& Pamela Thomas, Calita Robinson, Ms. Susan Toal, Andrea & Glen Sarvady, Nill & Donna Toulme, J. BenShapiro, John & Janet Tyler, Richard & Gayle Shuey, Pat & Rusty Ward

Opportunities to Further Improve Burbanck ParkThanks to the generosity and vision of many, Burbanck Park is now a beautiful reality, a neighborhood gem.

But implementation of the community-based plan has not been completed. For additional walking paths, for morenative plants, and for the Park to be well maintained, more funds are needed. Tax deductable donations should bemade out to “Park Pride,” noting “for Burbanck Park.” Checks should be mailed to Park Pride, 675 Ponce de LeonAve, NE, 8th Floor, Atlanta, GA 30308. Questions? Call Perry Mitchell at 404.373.0842 or Mark Goldman at404.373.5888.

Burbanck Park…continued from page 1

2010 Druid Hills Home and Garden Tour

& Artist Market -- April 16, 17, 18 --Mark Your Calendar Now!

With the end of a beautiful fall, planning for the2010 Druid Hills Home and Garden Tour & ArtistMarket is well underway! Next year’s event will takeplace April 16 - 18 and promises to be a visual treatfor all participants. Make plans now to tour some ofthe most beautiful homes in one of Atlanta’s oldestand most distinguished neighborhoods. Look forwardto attending the Artist Market with an array ofoutstanding artists from around the country.

Plus, there are still plenty of opportunities toparticipate in the 2010 event! The Tour & ArtistMarket committee welcomes anyone interested involunteering to join us in planning, as well as thosewho would like to become a sponsor or docent. ThePlanning Committee meets on the second Wednesdayof each month, from 11:45am – 1:00pm, at St. John’sLutheran Church, with attendees bringing a brownbag lunch. We welcome and need new volunteers ofall backgrounds - whether you are new to theneighborhood or a veteran resident looking for newways to connect and give back to the community.Several chair and committee positions are open. TheDruid Hills Home and Garden Tour & Artist Marketpromises to provide a fun and rewarding experience forall involved!• To become a volunteer on the planning committee,

contact Dick Shuey at [email protected]• To become a sponsor, contact Bonnie Wolf at

[email protected]• To serve as a home docent or as Artist Market staff,

and receive a free ticket to the 2009 Tour, [email protected]

So, don’t delay…mark your calendar for April 16-18 and plan to sample the splendor of some of DruidHills’ most stunning homes! Plan for a full day ofenjoyment for yourself and friends, have lunch withus, and attend the Artist Market, as well! For moreinformation, please call the tour hotline at (404) 524-TOUR or visit www.druidhills.org/tour.

Look for more information and exciting Tourhome previews and Artist Market highlights in thespring edition of The Druid Hills News!


Druid Hills Civic AssociationNot yet a member of DHCA? Use the form below and join today!

Join online at www.druidhills.org/join/memberform.htm

DRUID HILLS CIVIC ASSOCIATION—MEMBERSHIP APPLICATIONPlease [ ] enroll me [ ] renew me as a member of the Druid Hills Civic Association (DHCA). PLEASE PRINT:

Name(s):___________________________________________________________________________________

Address:____________________________________________________________________________________

City:__________________________________________________ State:_________ ZIP:_________________

Home phone:_________________________________ Work phone:__________________________________

Mobile phone:________________________________ Fax:_________________________________________

E-mail:_____________________________________ Occupation:___________________________________

Membership Involvement and InterestsPlease indicate your level of interest in the following areas on a scale from 0 to 10.(0 = Not at all interested 5 = Neutral 10 = Very interested)

____Public Relations/Communications ____Newsletter____Historic Preservation ____Membership Planning____Traffic/Urban Design ____Land Use/Zoning____Tour of Homes ____Flyer Distribution

____Peavine Watershed ____Other—specify______________________________

[ ] Please feel free to contact me for help

Annual Dues (Check one:)

____Individual/Family Member $25 - $49 Amount Paid: $_______________Sustaining Member $50 - $99

____Druid Member $100 - $249 Please make checks payable to Druid Hills Civic Association.

____Olmsted Member $250 or more Mail to: P.O. Box 363, Decatur, GA 30031-0363

"RESERVED"A small tract including the interior of a block off

Ridgewood Dr has recently been put up for sale. Thesite includes an area designated as "Reserved" on theoriginal subdivision plat map. Nearby neighbors haveapproached DeKalb County about purchasing the"Reserved" portion for Green Space, The DHCA Boardsupports the designation of this area as a ConservationPark, and has nominated the site for inclusion in theCounty's Greenspace Program. A conservation parkwould be historically accurate, given the original parceldesignation. To our knowledge, this is the only suchparcel in the neighborhood in private ownership. All theothers are either in public or non-profit ownership. Thesite development could be similar to that of Emory'sBurbanck Park, which DHCA also supports.

NATALIE GREGORY,


druid hills day a winner! wet weather creates camaraderie for burbanck park celebration · 2011. 7....

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