Attn: Current/Future Residents of The Emory Corridor (Atlanta, Savannah: transfer, middle school)

[TakeAhike]

Here is a good chance to learn more about the Toco Hill/North Druid Hills/Briarcliff Rd area. Since serious development is contemplated you can discuss the issues and enjoy yourself at the same time.

After this past month--I know I am the Scarlett O'Hara that plowed the back 40 and then whipped up a dress out of her Mother's green velvet curtains. So, ) --Look for me, TakeAhike in green velvet. jk

It is possible that I will wear something 'blue green'--a color I like goes well with the once red hair. Now a bit more auburn. 'Vintage'. '40 years on the vine and just a blossom' that is what I have said for a couple of decades now.

Lovin Decatur, surely you will be there--or be Square?

We need to 'Talk'--French food and Decatur and BHS. When I go back in BHS it seems so 'small' --as a student I thought it was huge. The cafeteria--still the same. I need to go look at the band room--fond memories there. James Pennington was the band director in my era, a perfectionist and I will never forget how he peered down the stand at me --last chair flute. 'Hopeless'--that is what he wanted to say. At least I had the perfect hairstyle--worked so hard on my hair and made my own A Line skirts. I thought they looked pretty good. Sewing is not my forte but I could make A Line skirts.

TakeAhike

Enjoying the rain--I really hope it rains every day.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~

**NDHRA 2nd Annual Cookout/Pool Party** Join your fellow NDHRA area
residents for a Community Meeting and the 2nd Annual Cookout/Pool
Party this coming Sunday, July 20!

All events will be held at Emory's East Campus (Clairmont Campus)
located off Clairmont road, just south of the VA Hospital. Meeting
will be held in room #211 of the Student Activity and Academic Center
(SAAC) at 2 pm. Pool party and cookout will begin at 3:30pm-5:30pm.
There will be a raffle for door prizes at the pool, and a great
selection of grilled food and side dishes for all- NDHRA members pay
only $5 for food and use of the pool, $10 for non-members. Plan to
join or renew your membership at the meeting. Don't miss it!

Directions to SAAC: Take Clairmont Rd. south towards Decatur. Pass
the VA Hospital on your right, and then turn right at the next
traffic light into the Emory East/Clairmont Campus. Follow the road
up the hill to the second entrance into the parking deck on your left
(parking is free). When you walk out of the parking deck, the SAAC is
the building directly across the street. Go to the Activity Center
desk for directions to Room 211 and tell them you are there for the
NDHRA Community Meeting and/or Cookout/Pool party. NDHRA will have a
check-in table outside of the meeting room. Call 404-712-2431.

~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~

[LovinDecatur]

TakeAHike, comment allez-vous?
Sadly, I'm summering on St Simons with my sister (husband is working in Europe) and won't make the NDHRA event this year (I was there last year).
I remember Mr. Pennington! Who was principal during your tenure at BHS? I was there during the Harry Jaynes - Ernie Hallford era.
And really, velvet in July? Tsk, tsk.

[Dignan]

BHS class of '85 here. I'm having a hard time remembering Mr. Pennington, though.

[LovinDecatur]

Originally Posted by Dignan

BHS class of '85 here. I'm having a hard time remembering Mr. Pennington, though.

He left about 1971...then came Lou Ceefus.

[TakeAhike]

Originally Posted by LovinDecatur

TakeAHike, comment allez-vous?
Sadly, I'm summering on St Simons with my sister (husband is working in Europe) and won't make the NDHRA event this year (I was there last year).
I remember Mr. Pennington! Who was principal during your tenure at BHS? I was there during the Harry Jaynes - Ernie Hallford era.
And really, velvet in July? Tsk, tsk.

I am 'Pea Green with Envy', LovinDecaturn. St. Simons=Paradise to me. My first beach, IIRC.

Anyway I love that place. 'Queen's Court'--my favorite place to stay --unless you can find one of the old cottages. Do not tell me if that is where you are staying. I want to do that again--eat crab salad in an old beach cottage on St. Simon's Island. My daddy loved to crab--at dusk. We swam all AM and ate crab salad and colored in our coloring books in the heat of the day and went out on the beach to collect shells and catch crabs near sunset.

Best vacations ever.

~~~~
I didn't make it either. Fingers crossed I may have found a 'Home'. Peachtree Corners--close to Jones Bridge Park--my grandparents farm was located there. I really hope everything works out. Then they can Semblerize the area and I won't have to worry any more. I just don't like the 'Plans' that I keep hearing about. My solitude is more important than more places to shop and more attracting more people to this area.

~~~~~~~

Harold Shuler was principal in '66. I saved my 'Shields'--we should have a BHS 'Generic' reunion---invite everyone from '61 to whenever it closed.

Where can we go in Decatur, LovinDecatur---you should organize this?

We had our prom at the Druid Hills Country Club---there was a rumor that Class of '66 was going to reunite there but I never heard if this happened or not. We are 'So Old' now--someone probably suffered short term memory loss and didn't follow through--.

I could call my cousin--her DH is class of '65---Somebody/somewhere needs to organize an Event. The Class of '67 reunited last year---heard it was a great time. Lakeside/Briarcliff class. Half Barons/Half Vikings.

~~~~~~~~

LOL--I never met Ernie but I taught with LeAnn Hallford and met 'Rennie' several times at Christmas parties. What a family of Educators. They have a sister, Eunice --I think she is principal of an alternative school in/near Stone Mt. Strong lady--I am certain. They led the DeKalb School System at a critical time. Probably retired to the 'Farm' now. Well deserved, jmo.

~~~~
Welcome, Dignan/Class of '85. James Pennington had probably moved on by
'85, the legacy of Excellence still lingers--School of the Arts.

I believe BHS opened in '61--the class of '65 was the first to go all the way through, IIRC--then came the Booming class of over 600--in '66. Lakeside had opened by then and many students who would have attended BHS--'Had' to go to Lakeside.

LOL--Those of us 'Who Were Around' --Back Then--still remember the ever so important rivalries. Lakeside, Druid Hills, Cross Keys, Southwest DeKalb, Avondale, of course, Tucker--I cannot think of a rival high school that didn't beat us every year in football.

But, we had an outstanding Band/Chorus/Majorettes/Drill Team--'EXCELLENCE'---yes, the DeKalb School System of the '60's set high standards and students went on to achieve in every field.

'The Barons'--Be Pround of the Blue and Silver.

TakeAhike

[Dignan]

I briefly went to school with Ren Hallford. He attended BHS in '82 and maybe '83, but he ended up transferring out. I also had one of Manuel Maloof's sons in my class.

Even in '82, enrollment was declining. They started bussing in more kids from south Dekalb to fill the classrooms, but the handwriting was already on the wall -- the school would have to close. '87 was the last year. Had the school continued, it was said that the class of '92 would have only had 12 students.....although '93 would have been larger.

It's been awhile since I've lived in Atlanta, although I'm seriously considering moving back. But when I drive down Briarcliff or North Druid Hills, I no longer recognize the place. And that will be even more true if they put in these huge developments.

[LovinDecatur]

Originally Posted by Dignan

I briefly went to school with Ren Hallford. He attended BHS in '82 and maybe '83, but he ended up transferring out. I also had one of Manuel Maloof's sons in my class.

Even in '82, enrollment was declining. They started bussing in more kids from south Dekalb to fill the classrooms, but the handwriting was already on the wall -- the school would have to close. '87 was the last year. Had the school continued, it was said that the class of '92 would have only had 12 students.....although '93 would have been larger.

It's been awhile since I've lived in Atlanta, although I'm seriously considering moving back. But when I drive down Briarcliff or North Druid Hills, I no longer recognize the place. And that will be even more true if they put in these huge developments.

I also had a Maloof son in my class...they lived over in Creek Park Hills.
Ren and Ernie (my principal) were twin brothers...Ren went on to become Superintendent of DeKalb County schools. Both great guys.

[TakeAhike]

Originally Posted by Dignan

I briefly went to school with Ren Hallford. He attended BHS in '82 and maybe '83, but he ended up transferring out. I also had one of Manuel Maloof's sons in my class.

Even in '82, enrollment was declining. They started bussing in more kids from south Dekalb to fill the classrooms, but the handwriting was already on the wall -- the school would have to close. '87 was the last year. Had the school continued, it was said that the class of '92 would have only had 12 students.....although '93 would have been larger.

It's been awhile since I've lived in Atlanta, although I'm seriously considering moving back. But when I drive down Briarcliff or North Druid Hills, I no longer recognize the place. And that will be even more true if they put in these huge developments.

The Class of '87 was the end of an era, then. So, LovinDecatur--from '61 to
'87 --get in touch with the 'People' who can 'Do This'--we need to have a 'Farewell Party' of some sort.

Susan Medlock, a distant cousin of mine called me about the '66 reunion that didn't happen last year. She was Class of '67 or later but seemed to be on the phone committee---Diane Medlock was class of '66. I'll ask around ---Lee Tribble was the President of our class--I'll look in the Shield and get some other names. LOL--Dick McCoy is my cousin's DH--I'll bet he knows some of the Class of '65...we can do this. I am ready to get started--when LovinDecatur says The Word....

Perhaps there is hope, Dignan--

Go Here>>>
StandUp DeKalb - Take Action Message

And there is Don Broussard--running for Commissioner of District 6--time for a CHANGE OF LEADERSHIP ACROSS THE BOARD, jmo.

Briarcliff Heights is not in favor of massive development, FWIW.

Dignan, come on back and live in VA Highland. George Chong will find your dream home.

He really can do that. Ask him.

I love the area--hate the traffic and the incompetence which has plagued DeKalb for 'Too Long'. Calling today about the pedestrian walk signals at Briarcliff and Clairmont. I called on Briarcliff/N. Druid Hills in November '07 and they are working now. Dial '311' and DeKalb County will take the message. Give you a confirmation #. Vast improvement in service in the past year.

Cough--I attended a meeting and expressed an Opinion on this. Others should do the same, jmo. As Boortz has probably said, 1,000,000 times--'Hold your elected officials accountable...'

TakeAhike

Both of the Hallford children--that's what they were when I knew of them have gone on to do major good in the county and state. LeAnn Hallford is one of the nicest people I have ever known. Developed breast cancer a few years ago. I hope she is all right now and relaxing for once. The woman worked 12-14 hour days. Idlewood Elementary/Jack Lavender, Principal--good times from 1970-1984 and it continues to do an excellent job for each and every student. I visit from time to time--some of the best teachers I've ever known taught there. I loved teaching at Idlewood.

Ann Edwards, Sally Hale, Ellen McKinnis, Carol Smith, Mary Sue Lindsey, Jackie Cartlidge, Gay Craig, Henry Doar, Sandra Roberts and me---LOL--what good years we had.

[LovinDecatur]

Originally Posted by TakeAhike

The Class of '87 was the end of an era, then. So, LovinDecatur--from '61 to
'87 --get in touch with the 'People' who can 'Do This'--we need to have a 'Farewell Party' of some sort.

Susan Medlock, a distant cousin of mine called me about the '66 reunion that didn't happen last year. She was Class of '67 or later but seemed to be on the phone committee---Diane Medlock was class of '66. I'll ask around ---Lee Tribble was the President of our class--I'll look in the Shield and get some other names. LOL--Dick McCoy is my cousin's DH--I'll bet he knows some of the Class of '65...we can do this. I am ready to get started--when LovinDecatur says The Word....

Perhaps there is hope, Dignan--

Go Here>>>
StandUp DeKalb - Take Action Message

And there is Don Broussard--running for Commissioner of District 6--time for a CHANGE OF LEADERSHIP ACROSS THE BOARD, jmo.

Briarcliff Heights is not in favor of massive development, FWIW.

Dignan, come on back and live in VA Highland. George Chong will find your dream home.

He really can do that. Ask him.

I love the area--hate the traffic and the incompetence which has plagued DeKalb for 'Too Long'. Calling today about the pedestrian walk signals at Briarcliff and Clairmont. I called on Briarcliff/N. Druid Hills in November '07 and they are working now. Dial '311' and DeKalb County will take the message. Give you a confirmation #. Vast improvement in service in the past year.

Cough--I attended a meeting and expressed an Opinion on this. Others should do the same, jmo. As Boortz has probably said, 1,000,000 times--'Hold your elected officials accountable...'

TakeAhike

Both of the Hallford children--that's what they were when I knew of them have gone on to do major good in the county and state. LeAnn Hallford is one of the nicest people I have ever known. Developed breast cancer a few years ago. I hope she is all right now and relaxing for once. The woman worked 12-14 hour days. Idlewood Elementary/Jack Lavender, Principal--good times from 1970-1984 and it continues to do an excellent job for each and every student. I visit from time to time--some of the best teachers I've ever known taught there. I loved teaching at Idlewood.

Ann Edwards, Sally Hale, Ellen McKinnis, Carol Smith, Mary Sue Lindsey, Jackie Cartlidge, Gay Craig, Henry Doar, Sandra Roberts and me---LOL--what good years we had.

She has fully recovered and is doing fine. I presume that you know that Ernie passed away a few years ago

[TakeAhike]

Originally Posted by LovinDecatur

She has fully recovered and is doing fine. I presume that you know that Ernie passed away a few years ago

My friend, who retired from Idlewood, mentioned that. She had some health issues herself --but Teacher that she was--carried on to the End. That takes something I didn't/do not have. So I have had 'several' careers--but respect those who are consummate professionals --like the Hallfords and my colleagues at Idlewood and Rock Chapel. I found the same professionalism, to a lesser degree in Savannah-Chatham. LOL--my coworker at Port Wentworth, a native Savannahian, went on to become principal of Marshpoint and now is the director? head of human resources for the Savannah-Chatham School System.

Contact: Mrs. Cindi Kobleur if you want to teach for Savannah-Chatham BOE.

She is a 'Pistol'---great lady. You will have to be 'Good' --she doesn't miss 'much'--believes in Excellence and What is Good for Children with her whole heart, mind and soul. A fantastic teacher of the Social Studies. We taught at Port Wentworth together.

I felt very fortunate to work with the 5th grade team--very dedicated teachers and Penny Maestretti, principal--knew how to run a school. I think she is a coordinator in middle school now--if you are interviewed by Penny--be at your very Best, my advice. She is/was an Administrator's Administrator--and if you need to she'll let you sit in her rocking chair and give you a hug.

I really wanted to 'Adopt' many of my students--good kids but just started out without much of a 'Chance'.

One child told me--'Ms. S, I want to sell the candy for the school but I would have to ask the drug dealers...' That still makes me want to cry.

Fortunately, teachers/administrators and parents wanted a better quality of education for the students and have done some very innovative things to keep the Savannah-Chatham school system upward bound.

Sometimes I think of 'Going Back' and teaching alternative school. I would need to recertify for high school but that is not impossible. I really like teaching those with challenges. Had a few myself and if you plant the right ideas at the right time it is amazing what can develop.



BHS--We were challenged to live up to some high standards and I am eternally grateful.

TakeAhike