Access Atlanta > The Newcomer > Archives > 2008 > May > 16 > Entry
Newcomer Q&A, v. 3.
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
It’s Friday. It’s Q&A time, when The Newcomer blog researches answers to your questions and puts them out there for the curious masses.
If you’ve got a question — and I know I’m not the only one who does — send it to me at jgumbrecht@ajc.com or leave it in the comments section by the end of the day Wednesday to be answered in that Friday’s section.
Today’s questions, tell you how to handle scorpions, where to find the Poncey-Highland neighborhood and wonder where the knitters, sewers and other crafty-types go in this town to keep busy…
YOUR HELP NEEDED
From Jamie: I kind of like making stuff, doing stuff, sewing stuff, crafting stuff. I’m working on a few projects, but I don’t have a knitting group here, a favorite craft store or a cool fabric/quilting shop to drool in. HELP ME. Where do you go? Where do you find your fellow crafters?
QUESTIONS ANSWERED
From Reader Dee: Have you run into our scorpions yet?
That’d be a big, fat, gleeful no. And hopefully I can avoid that.
But since I like to know what I’m up against, here’s some info on the Southeastern scorpions, snagged from a 2006 AJC story by Jim Howell, a University of Georgia entomologist and author of Hey, Bug Doctor!
- The southern devil scorpion occurs in several Southeastern states, and is a continual resident of the Atlanta area. But it’s rarely a health hazard.
- They’re not insects, but arachnids related to spiders and ticks. “They use their large pincherlike front legs for defense, prey capture, climbing and courtship. Their stinger rests at the tip of a long, narrow ‘tail’ and is used for defense and killing prey. Adults reach a length exceeding 2 1/2 inches, and they may live up to three years.”
- They feed on insects, spiders, centipedes and small reptiles. Females are protective of their young. In the Soutwest, they like it dry, but here, they prefer moist habitats. (Go where the food is!)
- Scorpions aren’t usually aggressive, although they’ll use their pinchers and tail to scare others off. Touch ‘em, though, and you’ll be stung. “The venom from their sting produces a sharp sensation like a bee sting that may last for 10-20 minutes. Persons stung in the spring, when scorpions first emerge, have a more severe reaction because of the larger amount of venom present,” Howell wrote.
- Sticky boards on wall edges can catch a large scorpion in the house, but “sanitation and exclusion are the most effective long-term controls. Prevent entry by sealing any spaces that may afford access to your home. Remove piles of stone, wood and other debris near homes. Stack firewood off the ground to keep it dry, and when carrying wood into the home, inspect the pieces prior to carrying them in your arms. Use small gravel as a ground cover near the house, instead of a wood-type mulch.”
From Reader Bobo: What’s up with Poncey-Highlands..where the heck is that?
I don’t know if that’s a general question to the ether, but I wanted to know the answer. According to the Poncey-Highland Neighborhood Association, its boundaries are Ponce de Leon on the North, Moreland Avenue on the East, Freedom Parkway’s southern loop around the Carter Center on the South and the CSX Railroad Corridor on the West. The neighborhood is home to landmarks such as The Carter Center, Freedom Park and Manuel’s Tavern.
Permalink | Comments (11) | Post your comment | Categories: Questions & Answers
Comments
By Old Jeezy
May 16, 2008 8:28 AM | Link to this
Advice to Newcomers:
Stay off MARTA !!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5eXNClwV5AM
By Jeff
May 16, 2008 8:35 AM | Link to this
Jaimie:
Crafting: Michael’s and Hobby Lobby are two popular stores that I know for a fact you can find at some point in metro ATL (there is a Micheal’s on Barrett Parkway, in the shopping center where the McD’s/Olive Garden are).
Where to find fellow crafters: T and her mom are part of a scrapbooking club at our church. So I might suggest looking at the bigger churches in the area. While I primarily only know of the Southern Baptist churches, there are a few mega-churches in the metro ATL area, including First Baptist Atlanta (in Decatur, I think), First Baptist Woodstock, First Baptist Snellville, and Cross Pointe (James Merritt’s, a former President of the Southern Baptist Convention, church. Located off Sugarloaf Parkway at Satellite Blvd). Of course, my current church is not even a tenth of the size of the ones I just mentioned, and we still have the scrap booking thing. I just know for a FACT - because I was at an event there back in Januray - that First Baptist Woodstock has a TON of things going, and crafting type things wouldn’t surprise me if it was one of them.
By Maria
May 16, 2008 11:23 AM | Link to this
You know, I’ve lived in Georgia for 27 of my 28 years, and I think I’ve only seen one scorpion. Maybe their existence is exaggerated…? Or maybe I’ve just been lucky.
I’m not a crafty person, but a lot of my friends are, so I know this much: for general art supplies, go to Sam Flax. It’s on the Westside, off Northside Dr. It’s a really big place and lots of fun to browse. Every time I’m there I feel like I ought to take up sketching or something. My knitting friends have mentioned a yarn store called Knitch, which is just off N. Highland. I think they have some knitting groups and such. But if you don’t find one there, join Ravelry.com (it’s like MySpace for knitters?) and I’m sure that’s a great way to network with like-minded knitting folk.
Anything to avoid Barrett Parkway.
Seriously.
(One of the good things about being a Newcomer is that it really compels you to get involved and meet people. Me, I spent ages being complacent and hermitty. I’ve been writing fiction for years, and it finally occurred to me last year to find a writing group and start meeting other writers. And yet if I’d moved to another city after college, I’m sure I would have been like, “Oh my goodness, I MUST find a writing group!”)
By Jeff
May 16, 2008 11:37 AM | Link to this
Maria:
Actually, to get to the shopping center in question, you don’t have to use Barrett but for about 300’ or so off either 575 or 75. (75 from the south is the easiest, as it is two right turns. One onto Barrett, the other into the shopping center. two more - out of the shopping center and onto the interstate - puts you back on 575 South. Can you tell I’m one of those people that HATES making left turns??)
By jgumbrecht_0508aa
May 16, 2008 11:40 AM | Link to this
Maria you are sooooo right. I always know I need to move or adjust my perspective right about the time I start whining that there’s nothing to do. That’s simply not true. There’s a group for EVERYTHING in a city like Atlanta…it’s just a matter of finding it.
So did you have luck with the writing group? (Sheesh, I could use one of those too…)
By jgumbrecht_0508aa
May 16, 2008 11:43 AM | Link to this
And Jeff! Thank you for so reliably pitching in and offering help!!!
By Maria
May 16, 2008 12:03 PM | Link to this
Jeff: Ah, I know which shopping center you’re talking about. That’s not too bad. I’ve just had a vendetta against Barrett for a couple years, ever since I had a car accident there. Also, it always seems to me to be the most soulless of the mall / strip-shopping thoroughfares. I have a couple friends who used to live up that way, and every time I’d agree to meet them in their neck of the woods, we’d always end up eating at some wretched chain place. I’d be like, I drove all the way from Buckhead to eat at a freaking Chili’s?
Jamie: If you’re game, the Atlanta Writers Club is meeting tomorrow from about noon to 4:30 at Georgia Perimeter College (the main Dunwoody campus). They always welcome new members! There are about 400 people in the club, and probably about 100 who come to each monthly meeting. There are 2 or 3 speakers (professional writers, or people who work in publishing), networking time, and open mic presentations. It includes all types of writers, and all ages (though it tends toward an older crowd. At 28, I’m one of the youngest, if not THE youngest, who regularly comes to meetings). I’m really glad I found this group, and I’m always talking it up to people. (As you can tell!)
By Jeff
May 16, 2008 12:15 PM | Link to this
Maria:
As a former student of KSU who also spent some time working at Town Center Mall, I very much have a love/hate affair with Barrett. But I learned to manage it and now don’t mind using Barrett when I must (such as getting to Mountasia or as a relatively short and straight link between either 75 and 575 or 41 and 75). Fortunately for me, I don’t have to use it as much - only the RARE weekend when I am up in Cartersville and we decide to do something in Kennesaw.
By JJ
May 16, 2008 1:11 PM | Link to this
With regard to scorpions…I have lived in the Atlanta area for the past 30 years, in various parts of the city/suburbs. I have NEVER seen a scorpion here.
However, I have pulled more ticks off my two dogs in the last three weeks, than I have seen in my entire life. Big fat ones too……..One of my dogs got one up at Elachee Nature Center, and both of them have had ticks by just being in our front and back yards……what is up with that?
By Lynn
May 16, 2008 2:38 PM | Link to this
JJ - are you serious about the scorpians? Have you dug into any dark cabinets or closets lately? And they love old books that you haven’t opened in years. Trust me, they’re there….you just haven’t dug deep enough yet. I rarely see the adults unless it’s late at night and catch one crawling across the floor but babies are rampid this year and if you live anywhere near water, there’s more than a surplus around you. I use an exterminator twice a year and that keeps them out of the house but if I venture outside near the water hose they scurry from everywhere.
By lolliloo
May 18, 2008 8:52 PM | Link to this
Jamie, How do you get a recent newcomer to Atlanta to leave town for a few days and visit her old/new town?