Volunteer in Forest Park

Looking for volunteer opportunities around clayton? Forest Park Recreation Center needs volunteers who can help out during afternoon and evening events. The  Youth Soccer program, in particular, is in need of  volunteers and coaches who can help its teams. If you want to find out more about volunteer opportunities at Forest Park Recreation Center or around Forest Park contact: 404-363-2908 or visit http://www.forestparkga.org/ to find out more information.

School Board Victory: Dr. John Thompson Booted

In April of 2008, Dr. John Thompson was selected to be corrective superintendent.  His duty was to aid the county school system in restoring accreditation. However in the year that he has worked in the county he  has accomplished nothing.  His divisive way of handling school administrators and fellow board members only contributed to the problems that Clayton schools already had . The only thing he did do was  further tarnish the name of Clayton County and drain the checkbook of the already financially struggling system. However on Saturday 15th 2009, Clayton’s new school board voted  unanimously to remove Dr. Thompson.SACS (the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools) stated that the removal of Thompson was a step forward. In place of the Dr. Thompson, Vayla Lee will take  the superintendent spot. A time line below provides an outline of Dr. Lee’s education career. (Provided by the AJC)  (http://www.ajc.com/metro/content/printedition/2009/03/15/claysuper0315.html?cxntlid=inform_sr#)

1993: Hired as teacher at Riverdale Middle School. Goes on to serve as an assistant principal and principal at two Clayton elementary schools, along with assistant superintendent

2005: Hired as assistant superintendent in Rockdale County schools

July 2007: Hired as Clayton chief of staff

November 2008: Appointed assistant superintendent of student support services

It is obvious that the school board is now ready to cooperate and hopefully,  they will finally lead  our school system back into the glory days of prime education and national acclaim.

There IS a plan for Clayton County! But…

There is a vision, but it comes with a catch.  It will only benifit Jonesboro, Mountain View (an unincorporated area in the north of Clayton), Forest Park, Morrow, Riverdale, and the South Side of Hartsfield. Sorry Collge Park, Lake City and Lovejoy. This comprehensive plan however will be implemented when (if) the South Side commuter rail from Atlanta to Lovejoy is created. If not, the plans are for naught. The rail is central in attracting commerce and redevelopment in the area. If there is no rail then most likely their will be no development. Each plan is long enough to deserve a post of its own. Therefore, for the next couple of Saturdays I will devout a post to a particular region in Clayton that is being redeveloped .Check the Clayton’s Vision section to get details and links to each areas’ plan.

Clayton Day March 14th

This Saturday representatives of the Clayton  Visitors Bureau and members of the the Clayton County Convention  will host Clayton Day at Barnes & Noble in Morrow. A day long event (From 10a.m. to 7p.m. ) celebrating the 150th anniversary of Clayton County.  There will be historians who will discuss the origins of Clayton, black, Indian and white settlers,  role in the development of Clayton, and the “Strawn Trail” . Also, a part of any purchase made at B&N this daycan be contributed to the Clayton County Visitors Bureau and the Clayton Convention. So come out and show your support for your county!

For More Information

http://www.news-daily.com/main.asp?SectionID=2&SubSectionID=&ArticleID=26810

Up and Coming Areas: Lake Spivey

For years the Lake Spivey area was nothing more than a collection of residential areas,which surrounded a rather large lake and sat on a 167 hole gof course, but in 2005 a group of homeowners, who were dissatisfied with the increasingly negative reputation of the city of Jonesboro, formed  Lake Spivey Community inc. A coalition of nearly 38 neighborhoods that are working ardently to separate its community from the surrounding Jonesboro .  Already, the area has been successful in obtaining the right to use the Lake Spivey name on postage in lieu of Jonesboro, it has hosted its first 5k ( a creative way to attract positive attention to the area, something that has become increasingly scarce in the last five years) ,and the creation of street signs which distinguish those neighborhoods that are a part of the Lake  Spivey area as opposed to the Jonesboro community. Some plans in the future include, developing a  strategic five year plan for the community, renaming hwy 138 (Stretches from Tara Blvd in the west to hwy 42 in the east),  to Lake Spivey Pwky, beautifying the Parkway, and the developing of commerce around the area. Could this be an up and coming town that overtakes the historic Jonesboro? Possibly, whatever the case, this is one community that is trying to make a difference.

Plans For Morrow

New Parks, Booming businesses, construction of an Olde town,  all of this in the middle of a recession. Where is this place? The city of Morrow in Clayton County Ga. Unlike some other cities in Clayton, Morrow is thriving because of  long term planning , aggressive marketing and a focus on customer service. Morrow is also redoing its look. With intersection face lifts, street pavings, and an increase in greenery, Morrow is geared towards success. This is one town in Clayton that is trying to make a difference.  This  is the type of improvement we want to see in the County. Now all we need to do is get the other six cities headed in a similar direction.

Full Article below

http://www.news-daily.com/main.asp?SectionID=2&SubSectionID=2&ArticleID=26783

Creating a Vision

Before we can start helping our community, we need a vision. One that can be achieved and is productive towards the advancement of Clayton. Personally I have a six point plan of what I think the priorities of the County should be (not listed in order of importance). Feel free to comment and make suggestions about the plan. This is our community so the vision should be formed by the community not necessarily one person.

1. Improve accessibility around the County by unifying Clayton cities. (ie. Connect Morrow and Riverdale and Lovejoy with Jonesboro etc.) Currently each city has their own plan which is reasonable , granted they are in different locations, but their needs to be a central goal for every city in Clayton. If the Cities are all placed on one agenda, there will be surely increased growth in all areas and faster change.

2. An aesthetically pleasing county is always a plus. Improvement is needed on existing  parks and major road ways such as 138 , Tara Blvd,  I-75, etc.  New parks need to be created to increase greenery around county. The cities also need to invest in creating a unique identity for their towns. Whether it is adopting their area’s school colors or creating their own, they need something to distinguish themselves from other areas in the county.

3. Let’s allow  Atlanta to have the buissness and commerce, Clayton is traditionally a “bedroom community” and in a sense we should keep this aspect. However, unlike those communities that were created  during  in the fifties and sixties , Clayton should become a haven for good living and great  recreation. For instance Atlanta Beach, has the potential to become a powerhouse water park. One that could rival the likes of Lake Lanier or  SixFlags  white water. The only reason people would go to Atlanta is for work, but all life should stay in the Clayton area. Also, alot of the reason youth in Clayton get involved in gangs or drugs, because their is  nothing to do in the county . There needs to be a positive alternatives and organizations that promote youth involvement in productive activities.

4. Clayton badly needs to improve on its transit and transportation. One thing that would improve the county drastically is the addition of the Clayton commuter rail, however we can not rely on that because of the current issue for finding funding. In the mean time, Clayton can improve current sidewalks and create more to connect Clayton Cities. The Clayton bus system needs to be expanded to reach all around the county.  Bike lanes need to be created to promote more clean air transportation and the County should implement a trail system which connects all County parks.

5. The county should pursue the magnet school proposal and become a power house in the math and sciences. The best way to separate the kids who want to learn and those who want to act up is by separating them into various magnet schools. Their is already a proposal for this and as residents in the community we should back it vigorously. Residents should also rally behind Clayton State University. To most it is still considered a community college. This is far from true and as citizens we need to dispell this myth at all cost. It is a University which is quickly gaining both national and international attention. Also as residents we need to begin attending school council meetings for our public schools. Even if you do not have kids, it is essential that we are involved. We have to keep them accountable at all cost. A strong educational system makes a difference between a strong county and a weak one. 

6. Finally, we need to begin changing the face of Clayton county. We can do this by sending in positive reports of progress to our local newspapers and news stations. We need to start fun events that attract people out of their homes and into the cities of Clayton. There is no sense of identity we don’t associate ourselves with the places we live in. That’s just sad. Yet we can begin forging this idenity by focusing on our strengths. One of which is our diversity. Clayton is an extremely diverse county , but it is a quality which is widely ignored by the media. If Clayton promotes diversity, if it promotes its accessibility, its great schools, and its positive recreation I’m positive Clayton will rise above the mess it is currently mired in and will become a beautiful, safe, and enjoyable community we  all want it to be.

 

Volunteer in Morrow

One of the ways to help a community is to be in a community. Morrow Tourist Center needs volunteers. Open 8:30 am to 5:30 pm Tuesdays through Saturdays. Hours and days worked are flexible, yet there is a minimum of 2hrs per month . If there  are any questions please call 770-968-1623 

Copy link to application

http://www.morrowtourism.com/volunteerapplication.pdf

Community Introduction

A recession, a rising crime rate, a failing school board and county officials who are not doing  ANYTHING to make a difference, this is Clayton’s time to rise. If you are an angry resident who wants to make a difference in the Clayton County Community, this blog is designed exactly for you. However, this is not a place to whine about problems, this is a place where problems get solved. You post a problem that you see in the community then residents put their heads together to figure out how to solve it. It is our duty as the citizens of the community to make it better. For to long we have relied on incompetent officials. Now is the time to make a difference.

Be prepared to put on your hard hat and  grab a shovel, because we got a lot of  work to do if we want to make Clayton an enjoyable and prosperous place.

So please come in,  introduce yourself and  give your suggestions of what needs to be done and how we should go about accomplishing it. All this is about is making the Clayton Community a better place

What can we do now?

Calling all artist: Now is a chance to make a huge impact on the community by drawing! 

The Clayton County Department of Parks and Recreation is looking for a  logo. From March 5th to March 31st, people of all ages can submit logo designs in attempt to put a brand on Clayton parks and recreation facilities. This brand will be used on the county web site, letterheads, brochures, T-shirts and will be displayed throughout Clayton park systems. Some include Reynolds Nature Perserve in Morrow, Gerald Matthews Sports Complex in Lovejoy, International Park in Jonesboro, the Frank Bailey, Charley Griswell, and the Wilma W. Shelnutt senior center.

For more  information copy the link below

http://www.news-daily.com/main.asp?SectionID=2&SubSectionID=&ArticleID=26771