Oglethorpe University: Certified Wildlife Habitat
The National Wildlife Federation (NWF) recently announced that Oglethorpe University has been certified as an official Wildlife Habitat site. Oglethorpe’s 105-acre campus attracts a variety of birds, butterflies and other wildlife, while helping to protect the local environment.
NWF began the Wildlife Habitat certification program in 1973, and has since certified over 75,000 habitats nationwide. The majority of these sites represent the hard work and commitment of individuals and families providing habitat near their homes, but NWF has also certified more than 2,500 schools and hundreds of business and community sites. The average habitat is between 1/3 and 1/2 acre, but certified sites range from urban balconies to thousand-acre areas.
Any habitat enthusiast can create a certified habitat and learn the rewards of gardening for wildlife. In order to become certified, a property must provide the four basic elements that all wildlife need: food, water, cover and places to raise young. It must also employ sustainable gardening practices. Habitat restoration is critical in urban and suburban settings where commercial and residential development encroaches on natural wildlife areas. In addition to providing for wildlife, certified habitats conserve our natural resources by reducing or eliminating the need for fertilizers, pesticides or irrigation water, which ultimately protects the air, soil and water throughout our communities.
For information, visit www.nwf.org or call 800-900-2656.
This article provided by the Brookhaven Buzz.

Just in time for the holiday season, The Fresh Market opened the doors to its fifth Atlanta location last month with a grand opening celebration. Located on 4405 Roswell Road, the specialty grocery store brings over 90 new jobs to the area and offers its customers high-quality products and superior customer service.
The Fresh Market is a true neighborhood market known for its inviting atmosphere, friendly staff and specialty items. Each store captures the charm of an old-world European market while classical music, Italian tile floors, antiques and soft lighting highlight the intimate setting. The Fresh Market also reflects the open-air markets with its attractive display of loose and unpackaged products, which allow customers to hand-select their own quality perishables for a unique shopping experience. The full-service meat and seafood counter, fresh bakery items, and bountiful produce department round out the Fresh Market’s offerings.
Hours are Monday through Saturday 9 a.m. – 9 p.m. and Sunday 10 a.m. – 8 p.m. For information, visit www.thefreshmarket.com or call 404-250-0852.
-Article from the “Brookhaven Buzz”, http://www.hometownnewsatlanta.com/farticles.htm

Mayfield Homes (Atlanta’s HBA Builder of the Year) has two homes left in Ashford Park. They are offering a $30,000 end-of-the-year Buyer Incentive for each one! If you are thinking about buying in the area, now is the time. Check out these awesome houses by clicking on the following links:

The $1 billion project, encompassing approximately 100 acres, which Sembler Co. has proposed for the intersection of North Druid Hills and Briarcliff Roads, will have an impact on the daily lives of thousands of Atlantans, and many residents understandably feel they have a personal stake in the consequences of the development, good or bad.
In meeting after meeting, Sembler has listened to residents make suggestions, share ideas, criticize, and vent their frustrations. “Because of the size and complexity of it, there have been a long list of meetings,” said Sembler spokesman Angelo Fuster. According to Angelo, a plan like this goes through 80 or 90 major changes between the time it’s introduced and the final layout.
Many fear that congestion and traffic gridlock will only be made worse by bringing a “mini-city” to one of DeKalb’s busiest intersections, and feel the impact on the quality of life for those living in this relatively low-key residential area will be more negative than positive. Others are concerned about selling school property, even though the school board’s decision to close the schools involved had already been made before the Sembler deal was put together. But some think the economic impact on the area will prove to be worth the “growing pains.”
Finding common ground has been difficult, but one thing most people do agree on is that Atlanta is getting bigger, not smaller, and will continue to do so. The roads are already crowded and will become even more congested with the passage of time. Growth and development must occur somewhere, but hopefully not “in my backyard.”
Fortunately, many in the area, even those with reservations about some aspects of the development, recognize the need for this location to finally live up to its potential, and are willing to listen to the development plans.
“The whole area needs to be revitalized, before it dies all the way,” says Ronnie Mayer, president of a nearby homeowner’s association. “It’s the best thing that could happen to the county. They’re not steamrolling everybody. They’re meeting with the community.”
“There has been no renovation of anything there in years,” Angelo says. Angelo is himself a DeKalb resident. “The principle element is traffic. How do we manage additional traffic? We’re studying over 20 intersections, at our expense, all around that area.”
“They are doing it methodically and looking at it carefully. It will be a bitter pill but will be better in the long run,” says Anne Williams, administrator/director of the Highlands Montessori School, which has been located for the last seven years at the corner of Briarcliff Road and North Druid Hills Road. “The city is looking 50 years ahead – and that’s what they have to do.”
A final report is being prepared by Alex Garvin, an independent consultant, recommending better traffic grids and improvements to the overall “public realm” even beyond the surrounding area, and there are still months to wait for rezoning agreements to be reached.
Is Sembler’s development the best thing for the city in the long run? Only time will tell, but for now, many residents feel that it is.
– Elizabeth Rice

The sixth annual Chamblee Community Wildlife Habitat Garden Tour is coming up. The tour will be held on Saturday, September 15 from 10am to 4pm. Tickets are $10, with proceeds benefiting the Chamblee Community Wildlife Habitat.
Advance tickets are on sale at Ashe-Simpson Nursery. Get your tickets the day of the event at the first home on the tour: 3747 Longview Drive.