News Briefs: Peoplestown agreement; music education; OK Cafe reopens

The city of Atlanta has reached an agreement with Mattie Jackson,  a long-time resident of the Peoplestown community who was determined not to lose her home to a storm water detention pond.  Mayor Kasim Reed’s office said in a statement that it has offered  offered Jackson, 93, the opportunity to stay in her home while the city pursues an alternative design option for the detention pond. The city has been buying property in the neighborhood to build the pond to prevent flooding, which has plagued the neighborhood for years.

The Gift of Music Foundation has announced a new program that will once again give elementary children who attend some Atlanta Public Schools the chance to benefit from music education. The new program, the “APS After-school Music Enrichment Program” will be led by Arthur McClenton, a long-time music educator and performer as well as a former music teacher in Atlanta Public Schools. This past summer, music education and band programs became the focus of media reports when several school principals decided to reduce or eliminate funding for band programs in their schools. More than a dozen teachers were affected, as well as hundreds of students. Initially, after-school band classes will take place at Bethune Elementary and West Manor Elementary. Bands will meet two days per week, with a goal of preparing the young musicians for public performances at the school and possible outside venues. The Gift of Music Foundation has plans to expand the reach of this program to other schools as soon as possible. For more information about the foundation and their programs visit
www.giftofmusic.org.

UPDATE: Buckhead’s landmark OK Cafe at the corner of Northside Parkway and West Paces Ferry is serving up its Southern victuals once again almost a year after it was heavily damaged by fire. Fans of the restaurant have been posting photos and sharing their joy at OK Cafe’s Facebook page.