Channel 46 News recently did a piece on how neighbors in my neighborhood, East Atlanta, are using technology to fight crime in the area. The report focused particularly on an online forum, www.eavbuzz.net, which the neighborhood uses to disseminate information on recent crimes in the area.

Of course, it didn’t mention that we also use “The Buzz” to keep up with where everyone will be for happy hour on Friday, or what bands are playing in our neighborhood that night, or just to have massive discussions on books, movies, tv, religion, and politics. It didn’t mention the huge way that the Buzz has made an impact by helping animal lovers find homes for the strays in our area, or helped new parents find other new parents, or the growing information contained on the site about services in the area, recommended plumbers and handymen, zoning and code violations, area schools, and community associations.

The Buzz is a pretty cool tool, and I have to admit I spend way too much time on the site, but I have also met some really cool neighbors through it, and I think I can speak for most of the people in the EAV when I say that it has brought a lot of people together into a more close-knit community, where people help one another, and work together to improve the community we live in.

Members of the Buzz who actually live in nearby neighborhoods, but not in East Atlanta Village proper, have requested that the Buzz creators expand the Buzz to include other intown Atlanta neighborhoods, so now those living in Grant Park and Reynoldstown, have their own sites, too. Ormewood Park and Unincorporated Dekalb residents are still under the umbrella of the East Atlanta site, but they have their own sub-boards for information specific only to their area.

If you live in any of the Southeast Atlanta neighborhoods, or just frequent their establishments, be sure to check out the sites; they are a great local network of information.