Beginning Grandmother

But learning fast . . .

Georgia Marshall and grandson Charlie,
Piedmont Hospital, March 17, 2012

FYI: On the ballot March 6: 1% sales tax vs. higher water-sewer rates

The March 6 ballot includes a continued Atlanta local option 1% sales tax, to be dedicated to the completion of the City's water and sewer improvements currently underway. Without this tax being continued (in effect since 2004), city water and sewer rates would likely increase by 25 to 30 percent. These rates are already the highest in the country.

The logic behind the tax is getting 'other people' to pay part of the cost of the project.

Costa Rica

Robert & Georgia Marshall, Carol Sleeth & Don Kenagy;
aboard Star Flyer, Puerto Caldera, Costa Rica

Lullwater Estate residents Robert & Georgia Marshall (unit 54) and Don Kenagy and Carol Sleeth (unit 739) are traveling in Costa Rica this month. Robert has posted a number of photos from the trip on his Blue Fish Lodge blog (which is normally about their Lake Burton cabin).

Gold ribbons are up in honor of Patrick Chance

Thanks to all the neighbors that helped make the gold ribbons to honor Patrick Chance and his battle with childhood cancer (Neuroblastoma). Patrick will be honored and remembered  by hundreds (and probably in upwards of 2,000) friends and family tomorrow afternoon.  Druid Hills will be covered in gold bows - gold being the color representing the fight against childhood cancer- in honor  of Patrick and how he and his family  "pressed on" and lived life fully for 5+ years  in spite of the forbidding diagnosis.

I was so pleased to see how many neighbors offered their support! Here is a picture of our gathering and also want to thank Paul Murdoch for his assistance in putting up the gold ribbons this afternoon.

Carolyn Johnson, Georgia Marshall, Ann Owen,
Laura Lee Robertson, Clarke Weidlein, Peggy Fuller

Clarke Weidlein

Reducing water consumption

Atlanta is one of the most expensive cities in the country, for domestic water. For years, the City put off upgrading the sewer system, and now the bill has come due. We pay a bit more than 2 cents per gallon, and the average Lullwater Estate unit used about 91 gallons per day in 2011.

If you have a water meter in your unit, you can benefit monetarily by reducing your water consumption. And if that gives you a warm glow, other than in the wallet, so much the better. (If you don't have a meter, you should try to conserve water as well, but you'll have to share the benefits of your efforts with all the other non-metered units.)

Here are some things that will help reduce your water usage.

• Replace old (pre-1996) toilets with new low-flow toilets. Old toilets (like the ones originally furnished with our units, when they were built in the 1980's) use about 3 to 4 gallons of water per flush. New, low-flow toilets use just over a gallon. A low-flow toilet costs about $100 at Lowes or Home Depot. If you are even modestly handy, it's an easy project, swapping one out, and the instruction sheet included in the box is easy to follow. Or, hire a plumber. Replacing a frequently-used toilet can reduce your water consumption significantly (say, 20 gal./day).
• Put a flow-control valve on your shower head, and use it to reduce the flow to the lowest comfortable setting. This is a low-cost item available at the home-improvement stores, and easily installed if you can operate a wrench and a roll of teflon tape.

Flow-control valve

• Replace a top-loading washer with a front-loader. This only makes sense, economically, when replacing a washer is necessary, but it will save 20 to 30 gallons per load of laundry. Besides saving on water, you'll save even more on energy for heating water.
• Be aware of how much water you're using with other uses, like drip irrigation, for example. Check your meter before turning on the system, and then again, afterward. Water costs us about 2 cents per gallon; are you okay with how much is being used?