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The Lake Claire March 2020 ClarioThe Lake Claire Neighborhood Newspaper • www.LakeClaire.orgn V.28, #3 Janie Wright by Some of her friends t happened at the end of Janu- Lake Claire activism. Janie, through Iary. Our neighborhood lost Janie research, determined that they were Wright. We lost a bright, shining using half of her driveway as their jewel of a person who created and setback, and fought them based on lived in beauty. Maybe you were imminent domain. Eventually the lucky enough to see her house or SRO was successfully defeated. How her magical backyard. Perhaps you different the neighborhood character met her on the street, delivering the might have been without Janie’s ef- Clarion for many years. Though qui- forts to preserve it in the face of de- et and gentle she was always first to structive development. meet and welcome new people to the Janie also was one of a small group neighborhood. There were so many that organized Lake Claire’s first ways that Janie contributed to our Tour of Homes, sometimes called The lives. Here are just some: Lake Claire Tour of Funky Homes and In 1989, before Cohousing began to Gardens, which became an annual think of building at their location at event for many years. It featured the Connecticut and Dekalb Avenues, a homes of neighborhood artists and developer tried to build a Single Room craftspeople who had hand-renovated Occupancy Housing project (SRO) at their homes in creative ways. Janie that location. Janie, who lived next created a beautiful, artsy t-shirt and to the empty lot, was instrumen- great map and brochure for it, among tal in organizing our fledgling Lake other contributions. Claire Neighbors civic organization Janie’s booth at the annual neigh- who came to see Janie and buy a beautifully thought out Thank-You and larger neighborhood into what borhood Arts and Craft sales brought piece of her art. This was a benefit note. When she needed to speak her became a crystallizing moment for in customers from all over the city to all the other artists. Each year she mind, she always phrased everything donated all the proceeds from her with sensitivity and often with witty “Big Lou” gourd ornaments (see pic- humor. ture page 3) to help feed Big Lou the Over the years several stray cats Biracial History Project Free Emu at the Land Trust. found comfort and shelter in her yard Janie could transform old, dis- and on her porch. Adopted cats found Walking and Bike Tours carded objects into amazingly beau- a dependable source of food, a bed by Edi/th Kelman tiful works of art (see picture of the warmed by a heating pad on a cold he Early Edgewood-Candler in Candler Park. Reservations are chair on Page 3). She was detailed, winter night, and a kind and patient TPark Biracial History Project is required; call 404-577-2553 (limited purposeful, and endlessly creative. hand they could learn to trust. partnering again this March with the to 20 guests). Walking Tours are Janie’s home reflected her multitude When anyone was overwhelmed Atlanta Preservation Center to offer scheduled for Wednesday March 11, of artistic talents and hard work, with a chaotic task, Janie was able free Walking & Bike Tours during 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m., and Saturday adorned with paintings, intricate to step in with her incredible orga- the Phoenix Flies month-long cele- March 14, 1-2:30 p.m. shell art, stunningly painted gourds, Cont. on p. 3 bration of greater-Atlanta ’s historic Bike Tour with Civil Bikes is on and masterful mosaics. sites. Our guided tours visit 1870s– Saturday March 7, 11 a.m.-1:30 p.m. Janie was thoughtful. She always 1980s African American legacy sites followed up any little thing with a Cont. on p. 12 Nurture Nature: Neglect Your Lawn! hy poison the earth when you crab apples and peaches and cher- weeding, it is easier to use chemi- Wcan have wildflowers at your ries—are in full glory, and the woody cals to keep seeds from germinating, feet and songbirds in your trees with- shrubs, cascading with blossoms, are and to kill the ones that germinate out even trying?! like something out of a fairy tale: for- anyway with even more chemicals “Nothing is so beautiful as Spring,” sythia and quince and lilac and brid- (chemicals = poison). Giant bags of the poet Gerard Manley Hopkins al veil spirea. She notes that what we fertilizer and gallon jugs of Roundup This is a close-up of the new Lake wrote, “...when weeds, in wheels, mostly call “weeds” are gifts, arriv- are still stacked in Lowes and Home Claire softball jersey. Games started shoot long and lovely and lush.” A ing, through no effort at all, to feed Depot, and the foul chemical stink March 1, and all are on Sundays. 13 players are confirmed, but the team New York Times writer recently bees and the butterflies. But in order they emit, even in sealed packages, is looking to build on this season noted that she says that poem to to have a lawn that unrolls from the will give you a headache if you linger from last year. If interested, contact herself every day because she can’t street to the door, a carpet of green long. To keep weeds at bay, home- [email protected]. think of any place more beautiful that remains green even when grass owners have dumped over 59 million than the American South in spring- is supposed to be dormant, one has pounds of pesticides onto their resi- time. The flowering trees—dogwoods to use a lot of chemicals and a lot dential landscapes in 2012, accord- THE CLARION IS PRINTED and redbuds and serviceberries, the of water. Instead of old-fashioned Cont. on p. 6 ON RECYCLED PAPER. Lake Claire Clarion @ www.LakeClaire.org March 2020 2 Lake Claire Officers for 2020 Clarion Staff The Clarion is published President: Joe Agee, [email protected] monthly. The deadline for adver- Editor: Beth Damon, [email protected] VP Finance & Treasurer: tising and editorial consideration Eileen O’Neill, [email protected] Advertising: Pat Del Rey, is the 15th of the month preced- VP Planning & NPU Rep: [email protected] ing publication. Letters to the Carol Holliday, [email protected] Distribution: Monique Mikrut, editor should be limited to 300 VP Zoning: Beth Grashof, [email protected] words or fewer. The opinions [email protected] VP Environment: Melissa Pressman, expressed herein are those of Layout: Véronique Perrot, [email protected] [email protected] the authors and not those of Lake VP Safety: Miriam Herbers, [email protected] Claire Neighbors, Officers, or Contact Lake Claire Neighbors at PO Box 5942, VP Communications: Nancy Dorsner, [email protected] the Clarion Staff. VP Fun(d)raising: Pen Sherwood, [email protected] Atlanta, GA 31107, 404-236-9526 or Cover banner photo by Sarah Education Chair: Annsley Klehr, [email protected]. www.lakeclaire.org. Coburn The Clarion Newspaper (and its predecessor Neighbors Monthly Newsletter and its predecessor Lake Claire Neighbors Flyer) has been written, edited, and distributed by volunteers since 1989. March Calendar And Now, the Clarion Presents: 1-8 Horizon Theatre presents Once, the Musical, (see article in last March/April Music in Atlanta month’s Clarion). And March 27-April 27, The Light, a roller coaster journey Sun. March 1 Diana Ross The Fox of laughter, romance, and despair that uncovers how the power of radical Mon. March 2 Diane Durette and love can be a healing beacon of light. www.horizontheatre.com/plays/the- Michael Tolcher Vista Room light/ Tue. March 3 Post Malone Infinite Energy Center Thu. March 5 Arlo Guthrie Variety Playhouse 1-10 Alliance Theatre, The Hertz Stage Goodnight, Tyler, (a contem- Thu. March 5 The Districts Terminal West porary and unexpectedly humorous drama. Depending on whom you ask, Fri. March 6 Lucero Terminal West Tyler Evans was “a beloved best friend, grandson, mentor, and fiancée,” or, Sat. March 7 Lucero Terminal West “Tyler Evans was a young Black man killed by a police officer.”). alliancethe- Sat. March 7 Pink Zeppelin Rock n Taco (Roswell) atre.org/production/2018-19/goodnight-tyler. Sat. March 7 Little Big Town The Fox Sat. March 7 Big Head Todd 4-29 Theatrical Outfit presents Indecent, by Paula Vogel and & The Monsters Buckhead Theater directed by Myra Hirsch. Based on the 1923 Broadway debut of The God of Sat. March 7 Southside Johnny Vengeance by Sholem Asch, it tells the story of a kiss between 2 female & the Asbury Jukes City Winery actors. Live Klezmer ensemble! Sat. March 7 Sturgill Simpson Infinite Energy Center 7-29 Alliance Theatre, Coca-Cola Stage Naked Mole Rat Gets Mon. March 9 Blood Orange Variety Playhouse Dressed, (an exciting family musical, book and lyrics by Mo Willems). Tue. March 10 Blood Orange Variety Playhouse alliancetheatre.org Fri. March 13 The Black Lips The Earl Sat. March 14 The Black Lips The Earl 7 & 21 Drum Circle at the Lake Claire Community Land Trust, Sat. March 14 Webster Sweetwater Brewery 8-11 p.m. Walk/bike/carpool to the Arizona Avenue dead-end. And see lots Fri. March 13 Erykah Badu & Common State Farm Arena of info on the Land Trust every month in the Clarion (this time, Page 9). Sat. March 14 Marc Broussard Variety Playhouse Sat. March 14 Here Come the Mummies Terminal West 11 to April 11 Actor’s Express Theatre Company presents Sat. March 14 Magnolia Express Cherry St. Brewing (Cumming) The Brothers Size, a powerful play that magnifies the struggle for freedom Sat.