City of Brookhaven, Georgia

Make sure your voice is heard and vote! Tomorrow, Nov. 3, is Election Day. If you have not voted yet, make sure to do so. In-person voting: Find you closest polling location on the DeKalb Voter Information page, https://www.dekalbcountyga.gov/voter-regi/voter-information... Absentee voting: An official absentee drop box is located at Brookhaven City Hall parking lot. Voters can drop off their ballots until 7 p.m. on Election Day. Dekalb County officials will empty the box. City Hall, 4362 Peachtree RD

Happy Halloween! Keep these tips in mind as you celebrate today: Wear a mask: A costume mask is not a replacement of a two layered cloth mask. ... Don’t trick-or-treat in large groups: Provide trick-or-treaters with individually packed goodie bags for grab-and-go. Avoid crowds: Remember that that under current City ordinance, organized gatherings of 30 or more people on City-owned property remains prohibited. Use caution: Make sure you can be seen after dark when walking alongside the road and consider wearing bright clothing or using a flashlight. Keep ‘em clean: Wash your hands frequently and take hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol when trick-or-treating. Overall, let’s keep each other safe this Halloween.

Celebrate outdoors or virtually. This year opt for lower-risk activities, like pumpkin carving with household members, to lower the risk of exposure to the virus. While there is no cancelation of trick-or-treating, we do ask that everyone take the necessary precautions to keep safe and avoid exposure to the coronavirus. Remember that under current City ordinance, organized gatherings of 30 or more people on City-owned property remains prohibited. ... Learn more about safely celebrating Halloween and other holidays: https://www.cdc.gov//2019-/daily-life-coping/holidays.html

From Sandy Springs, Georgia: City News - road closure alert affecting Brookhaven next week: Wednesday, Nov. 4. 9am-3pm. Tree removal on Windsor Parkway between Peachtree Dunwoody Road and the city limit. The road will be closed and a detour will be in place during removal, weather permitting.

It's time to "fall back" to standard time on Nov. 1 A perfect occasion to winterize your home A timely Brookhaven reminder to all residents that Daylight Saving Time ends Sunday, Nov. 1, at 2 a.m. when clocks are turned back one hour to 1 a.m. This is also a prime opportunity to plan for safety.... This is the time that families should check the batteries in their smoke alarms to make sure they are in good working order, but there is a lot more to consider to ensure household safety preparedness, said Brookhaven Emergency Management Coordinator Paul White. This is a good time to prepare for winter weather. Our region gets some of its coldest conditions with ice and freezing rain in December, January and February. Residents are encouraged to take additional precautions when adjusting to Eastern Standard Time. A few timely tips to keep in mind: 1. Purchase or restock a home emergency supply kit, which should include first aid supplies, battery-operated radio, prescription medicine, Sterno canned heat, disposable eating utensils, and water purification tablets. 2. Have water and non-perishable food supplies to last at least three days on hand. 3. Configure personal cell phones and devices for automatic weather alerts. 4. Check for extra flashlight and lantern batteries. 5. Be sure to have a National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) weather radio on hand for 24/7 updates on severe weather alerts. 6. Insulate water heater and pipes, especially external spigots. 7. Replace HVAC system filters. 8. Have a supply of rock salt or similar melting product on hand for driveways in case of an icing event. 9. Have a whistle on hand to signal for help. 10. Manual can opener. 11. Moist towelettes, garbage bags and plastic ties for personal sanitation. 12. Have a wrench or pliers nearby to turn off utilities. More information about severe weather conditions can be found at the National Weather Service website at: https://www.weather.gov/ffc/svrclimo.

The Peachtree Creek Greenway has been reopened to the public. However, the Briarwood Road Trailhead parking lot will remain closed through 6:00 PM on Friday, October 30th due to construction at the new Public Safety Building.

Your voting jurisdiction may offer alternatives to in-person voting for people at higher risk of severe illness from COVID-19. Learn more about steps you can take to help protect your health this election season: https://bit.ly/31AmNZX.

At its regular business meeting on Oct. 27, the Brookhaven City Council voted to approve funds for the Langford Park project. The funds will transform nearly 1 acre of land into a pocket park in the Brookhaven Heights neighborhood. Brookhaven and DeKalb County agreed last year to jointly purchase the property at 1174 Pine Grove Ave. from the Langford family. The park is named for Corporal Robert C. "Bob" Langford in memory of Corporal Langford's service in the United States A...rmed Forces and the sacrifice of his life during the Vietnam War. The Council agreed to transfer $141,746.86 in residual HOST funds to the project, and Brookhaven Heights residents are contributing $16,000. This park is going to be a wonderful addition for District 3 residents, said Councilwoman Madeleine Simmons, who represents the area. I am grateful that the park’s neighbors have spent time fundraising to add additional dollars to fund the park, and I look forward to seeing their ideas for this greenspace. Public input meetings to gather ideas for park features will be announced at a later date.

Due to the power outages affecting parts of Brookhaven, today’s Gateway South virtual workshop will be postponed until Thursday, November 5, at 11:45am. Please the see the project webpage (www.brookhavengatewaysouth.com) for additional information.

Good morning - Just a reminder to all - if you see downed power lines, stay clear. You never know if they are live. If there are any trees blocking roadways, please report it on Brookhaven Connect. Brookhaven Connect is a free smart phone app. Once you are in Brookhaven Connect you can enter the address and upload photos or video of the issue. You can track the response and see other requests in the area that are pending or closed. You can also report issues on Brookhaven Connect on Brookhaven’s website here: http://ow.ly/tkaE30kb9zv

Stay safe and dry as Zeta approaches!

At its regular business meeting on Oct. 27, the City of Brookhaven appointed the initial members to its new Social Justice, Race and Equity Commission. The City Council approved a resolution establishing the Commission in September. The members are: David Alexander, Rene Alvarez, Shahrukh Arif, Charlene Bowden, Davis Burnett, Vena Cain, Karen Cariello, Loven Collins, Chris Corces-Zimmerman, Amy Corn, Jose Hardy, Josh Hearshen, Jeremiah Hinson, Monique Hudson, Danita Knight, T...ywana Minor, James Moses, Catherine Murithi-Wohl, William Naglich, Kirk Nelson, Janis Niesse, Melissa Owen, Matthew Paetzhold, Marco Palma, Tiffany Russell, William Thomas, Conni Todd, Anibal Torres, Kathy Wells, Beth Wendl, and Thomas Woodward. In light of recent unrest and demonstrations, we felt it necessary to not only start a conversation, but also enact a framework that will result in real action, said District 3 Councilwoman Madeleine Simmons, who spearheaded the effort to establish the Commission. We need a forum to have open conversations on race, diversity, social justice and equity. I look forward to the Commission’s discussions, proposed initiatives and recommendations. The Council appointed John J. Funny as the Chair of the Commission prior to naming the volunteer members, who were required to complete an application process. Funny serves on the City’s Planning Commission and the board of the Brookhaven Police Foundation. Issues of social justice, diversity, equity, and inclusion are best addressed when the entire community is engaged, said Funny, who came up with the idea for the Commission. I’m very excited to serve as Chair of the Brookhaven Social Justice, Race and Equity Commission at the pleasure of the Mayor and Council. I look forward to working with the appointed members, Mayor and Council, and the community at-large to continue the work of building and nurturing a sense of a diverse community.

Heavy rain is forecasted Thursday. Stay notified of safety alerts and warnings issued in Brookhaven by signing up for Brookhaven Alert. Brookhaven Alert is a free service provided thru the Smart911 app. It is available on both IOS and Android devices. Learn more: https://www.brookhavenga.gov/brookhavenalert