News - Transportation Talk
Sick of whining about the poor public transportation in Atlanta? Here’s your chance to do something about it. The Atlanta Regional Commission has just released a study on the safety of accessing transit stations and bus routes in metro Atlanta. The ARC will present its findings Wed., April 13. Attendees will have a chance to discuss how the ARC’s study can be used to influence policy and transportation funding. The meeting is sponsored by PEDS, a nonprofit advocacy group dedicated to making Atlanta safe and accessible to pedestrians.
The meeting will be held from 6:30-8 p.m. at the Central Library, 1 Margaret Mitchell Square. For more info, visit www.peds.org or call 404-873-5667.
CRIMINAL JUSTICE CONFERENCE: The W.E.B. DuBois Institute of Clark Atlanta University will hold its fourth annual spring conference Thurs.-Fri., April 7-8, from 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m. at the Thomas W. Cole Jr. Research Center for Science and Technology. The theme of the conference is “Criminal Justice and the African-American Community.” The keynote speaker is Georgia Court of Appeals Judge M. Yvette Miller. 223 James P. Brawley Drive. Register by phone at 404-880-8085 or online at www.scspp.org.
BACK TO THE FUTURE: CNN news anchor Stephen Frazier will moderate a discussion on Fri., April 8, about the way future trends will affect the study of arts, humanities and sciences at Emory University. The “Futurist Forum” will take place from 8:30 a.m.-noon in the Emerson Concert Hall of the Schwartz Center for Performing Arts, 1385 Oxford Road. Panelists include Theodore Shaw, president of the NAACP Defense and Educational Fund. Free. For more info, call 404-778-4312.
LIBRARY WEEK: The Atlanta-Fulton County Library System will celebrate National Library Week Sun.-Sat., April 10-16. The Central Library at 1 Margaret Mitchell Square will kick off the week with a performance by Earmail, a jazz quartet, Mon., April 11, 10 a.m. Live poetry and music events are scheduled at the library until 6 p.m. that evening. Other events will be held throughout the week. For more info, visit www.af.public.lib.ga.us or any library branch.
CABLE GRIPES: Fulton County will hold two public meetings to solicit concerns from cable subscribers. The annual meetings are required as part of the county’s cable franchise agreement with Comcast. The first meeting will be held Mon., April 11, 7 p.m., at the South Fulton Service Center, 5600 Stonewall Tell Road, College Park. The second meeting will be held Thurs., April 21, 7 p.m., at the North Fulton Service Center, 7731 Roswell Road. For more info, call 404-730-6456 or e-mail james.reeze@co.fulton.ga.us.
FOR THE KIDS: Help protect neglected children in the state foster care system by joining the DeKalb County Court Appointed Special Advocate program. CASA will host a volunteer orientation Mon., April 11, from 7-9 p.m., at 215 Laredo Drive, Decatur. Training and volunteer hours are flexible. For more info, call 404-378-0038 or e-mail dekalbcasa@dekalbcasa.org.
GREENSPACE CONFERENCE: Park Pride will host its annual Parks and Greenspace Conference in the Atlanta Botanical Garden on Mon., April 11, from 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Speakers include Mayor Shirley Franklin and former Home Depot CEO Arthur M. Blank. Registration for the event $85 through April 10, and $100 on April 11. To register, visit www.parkpride.org or call 404-817-6761.
MEDITATION LESSONS: The Healthy Choice Meditation Group will offer lessons in meditation to anyone directly or indirectly affected by HIV. The group looks to create a safe environment to learn meditation, which can help lower blood pressure and reduce stress. The meeting will be held Tues., April 12, from noon-1:30 p.m., at the AIDS Survival Project, 139 Ralph McGill Blvd., in the Bruce Almond Community Room. Free. For more info, visit www.healthymeditation.org or call 404-874-7926.
ATLANTA CLEANUP: On Sat., April 23, from 8 a.m.-3 p.m., Keep Atlanta Beautiful will host a cleanup of in the southwest part of the city. The cleanup will start at 903 Oakland Ave. To volunteer, visit www.atlantaga.gov or call 404-330-6897.
HEALTH SUMMIT: Dr. Jocelyn Elders, former U.S. surgeon general, will be the keynote speaker at the 2005 annual Women’s Health Summit on Thurs., May 19, from 8 a.m.-5 p.m., at the Loudermilk Center, 40 Courtland St. The speech is co-sponsored by the state Department of Community Health - Office of Women’s Health, and Mercer University School of Medicine. For more info, call 404-463-5040.
SOLID WASTE MEETINGS: Public meetings will be held in several Atlanta communities to help create a 10-year plan for waste reduction, collection and disposal. To find the time and place of your local meeting, visit www.atlantaga.gov/Calendars/PublicMeetings.aspx.
VOLUNTEER FOR THE ELDERLY: Senior Connections is looking for volunteers to help prepare and deliver meals to home-bound seniors. For more info, visit www.srconn.org or call 770-455-7602.
CALLING FOSTER PARENTS: Creative Community Services is urging residents to consider opening their homes to abused and neglected children. Foster parents receive monthly financial assistance for the living and medical expenses of each foster child. For more info, call 866-618-2823 or visit www.ccsgeorgia.org.
GOOD FOR GRADY: Grady Health System is recruiting volunteers to help in hospice, guest services, rape crisis and Hughes Spalding Children’s Hospital. Spanish-speaking volunteers are especially needed. Volunteers are asked to commit for at least three months. For more info, call 404-616-4360 or visit www.gradyhealthsystem.org.
CL EVENTS
POLITICAL PARTY: Creative Loafing’s next town hall meeting takes place Wed., April 13, 8 p.m., at Dad’s Garage Theatre, 280 Elizabeth St.
Want to publicize a political or civic event? E-mail publicagenda@creativeloafing.com.??