Focus-November 2011.indd

Focus
Decatur
Inside:
Decatur
Emergency
management
prepared for
anything
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November 2011
Volume 22 • Number 4
Official Publication of The City of Decatur, Georgia
Happy Birthday
Mayor Emerita
Elizabeth Wilson
News
3City
12DBA
NEWs
14Decatur
events
Mayor Emerita Elizabeth Wilson celebrates her 80th
birthday this month. Wilson has remained active in the
community after retiring from the City Commission.
She is pictured with the Oakhurst Elementary kindergarteners near Harmony Park. Thanks to Andrea Berry,
who snapped the photo and shared with us.
20
School
news
Around
Town
22
Focus
Decatur
A Good Strategic Plan
and Steady Growth Keep
Decatur Healthy
I
t is hard to believe that we are moving toward the end of 2011. We
began the year celebrating the completion of a new strategic plan
that will lead our city forward over the next decade. Already we
have accomplished several of the tasks identified in the plan. The
strategic plan was used in drafting the city’s current budget and a report
card on our progress will be incorporated into future budgets to measure our success and progress as we present plans for the coming year.
As we reflect back on the year, we note several important milestones in our
business community. Sharian, Inc., recently celebrated 80 years in business in
Decatur and the Seventeen Steps celebrated 35 years. Boogaloos Boutique recently
threw an anniversary party to celebrate 10 years in Decatur, and Wahoo! has been
serving for seven years. On the other end of the
spectrum, the Iberian Pig celebrated its second
anniversary, Homegrown marked one year, and
the Square Pub held a chili-roasting event in honor of its first birthday. We also welcomed No. 246
and Big Tex Cantina this year and joined Billy and
Kristin Allin in celebrating their Cakes and Ale
business expansion. Work on CCP Games’s new headquarters is nearing completion so we will start 2012 welcoming this company and their employees into our
community. And let’s not forget the long anticipated reopening of Trackside Tavern after a fire destroyed that business almost three years ago.
Traditional, historic cities like Decatur will continue to evolve. Businesses will
open, businesses will close and local businesses will continue to grow and expand.
It is this slow, steady growth that keeps us healthy and allows us to adapt to changing markets. Our vision for the community as articulated in the strategic plan is
the constant that allows us to retain the fine character and special sense of community that make our city unique.
It has been a difficult time for many of our local businesses and many of our
residents over the past few years. Our businesses will tell you that it has been the
support of the local community that has kept them going. We do expect to see development return to our commercial districts as projects that were postponed by
the financial crisis begin to move forward again. We look forward to putting the
strategic plan into action, working together to help our existing businesses thrive
and welcoming new businesses to our community.
Focus on
Downtown
Development
The Decatur Focus is a joint publication of the City
of Decatur, the Decatur Downtown Development
Authority and the Decatur Business Association. It is
a newsletter intended to provide announcements and
information related to events, activities, and businesses
in the City of Decatur. The purpose of the newsletter
is to promote the city and encourage the exchange of
information among residents, business owners and the
school system. Letters to the editor, editorials or other
opinion pieces are not published. All press releases,
announcements and other information received for
publication are subject to editing. Information found
in the Focus is also posted on Decatur’s official website
at www.decaturga.com. The deadline for submitting
articles, announcements or advertising is the first day
of the month preceding publication. Contact: Editor, Decatur Focus, P.O. Box 220, Decatur, GA 30031,
404-371-8386; fax 404-371-1593; email: linda.harris@
decaturga.com.
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DECATUR CITY COMMISSION
Bill Floyd.........................................................Mayor
Jim Baskett.................................Mayor Pro Tem
Fred Boykin.................................Commissioner
Kecia Cunningham.................Commissioner
Patti Garrett.................................Commissioner
DECATUR DOWNTOWN
DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY
Board
Sheila Hunt, Chair
Fred Cavalli
John Drake
John Joyner
Fisher Paty
Chris Sciarrone
Betty Spiker
DECATUR BUSINESS
ASSOCIATION
Sean Dammann ................................. President
Wendy Watkins......................... President-Elect
Marc Brennan....................................... Treasurer
Morgan Rowe....................................... Secretary
Scott Drake................................... Past President
Design and layout: Lampe-Farley.com
Information for the FOCUS should be submitted by mail to Editor, Decatur Focus, P.O. Box 220,
Decatur, GA 30031, by fax to 404-371-1593, or by email to [email protected].
2 | Decatur Focus • November 2011
City News
Decatur Focus Updates
P
lease accept our apology for the extreme delay of the September issue of the Decatur
Focus. We know that by the time you received it, everything had already occurred.
Once we discovered the issue was missing we began our search to find out what happened. It turned out that the issue got lost at the Post Office. They sent the Focus to
their North East Metro facility to take advantage of a new machine designed to make the process more efficient. The Post Office was very apologetic and set a system in place for October
to correct the problem. The October issue was delivered to the Post Office on Friday, Sept. 30,
and residents began receiving their copies on Saturday, Oct. 1. We hope the situation has been
resolved permanently and that you are receiving this November issue in a timely manner.
We have also started posting the Decatur Focus online in what we call an e-pub format.
When you open the Focus, you should be able to scroll through it like reading a magazine.
In addition, you should be able to click the website links and email addresses and go straight
to the sites listed in both the articles and advertisements. We are trying this new format and
would like your feedback. Please send us your ideas and suggestions.
We appreciate your patience and understanding with the glitch in the arrival of the September Focus. The process of producing the Focus goes through many steps and it begins with
the community submitting information. We appreciate your support through the years and
the constant supply of information you send on a regular basis. Remember the deadline for
submission is the first day of the month preceding publication – the deadline for December is
November 1, etc.
Catalog Overload?
As the holiday season approaches, would you like to reduce the amount of
catalogs and other junk mail you receive? Take a look at the Catalog Choice
website, where you can control the catalogs, coupons, credit offers, phone
books, fliers, circulars, newsletters, and other unsolicited mail you receive. Best
of all it’s a free service. Just go to www.catalogchoice.org and sign up.
Accolades for Excellence
Last Homeowner’s
Night Dec. 6
Take advantage of the last Homeowner’s
Night of the year on Tuesday, Dec. 6, 6-8
p.m., in the Planning, Zoning & Inspections
(PZI) department at City Hall, 509 N. McDonough St. Residents can meet with city officials and discuss planning and zoning issues
related to individual properties. City staff
will be there to answer questions and provide
information on renovating or constructing a
home in Decatur.
Find out what the zoning allows, what construction is required, what inspections need to
occur, and how the permitting process works.
If you live in a historic house, you can find out
about possible tax incentive programs and any
location designation requirements. For more
information contact Nathan Soldat, 404-3704104, [email protected].
Calling Decatur 101
Graduates
We send out periodic
news and information to Decatur
101 graduates and
try to keep current
with email address
changes. If you are a
Decatur 101 graduate
and have not been
receiving email news and updates, please
send your email address to [email protected]. Or if you do not wish to receive
these updates and announcements, please let
us know that as well. If you are interested in
the 2012 Decatur 101 classes, sign up today
as we typically have a waiting list. For information contact Linda Harris, 404-371-8386,
[email protected].
Sanitation
Schedule
Thanksgiving • Nov. 24
Peggy Merriss, Andrea Arnold, and Meredith Roark accept Decatur’s Certificate of Excellence
from ICMA (International City/County Management Association) Executive Director Bob
O’Neill. ICMA recently recognized Decatur for superior performance in management efforts.
Normal services for Thursday,
Nov. 24, and Friday, Nov. 25, will
be on Wednesday, Nov. 23.
November 2011 • Decatur Focus | 3
City News
Nalley Tree
Campaign Takes
Root for Second
Season
Three Nalley Decatur dealerships
distribute free tree seedlings
T
he Nalley Tree Campaign enters
its second season and anticipates
planting 3,000 trees this year. Since
its November 2010 debut, there
have been more than 3,600 trees planted in
Decatur and DeKalb County. The City of
Decatur, DeKalb County, Trees Atlanta, Park
Pride and Keep DeKalb Beautiful have come
together as partners of the Nalley Tree Campaign once again, with the goal of planting
10,000 trees within the city and county in
three years.
Tree-planting season in Georgia runs
from October to April. The colder weather
allows root systems of young seedlings to establish before Georgia’s hot summer arrives.
Hot weather can be stressful for young trees
that must establish their root systems while
collecting water and nutrients for growth.
Between November and April, residents
can visit the showrooms of Nalley BMW,
Nalley Infiniti or Nalley Nissan on the 1600
block of Church Street during business hours
to pick up complimentary trees, including
Dogwood, Oak and Redbud. One-gallon potted trees will be distributed in the outlying
months of October and April, to ensure the
trees thrive in warmer weather. Bare-root tree
seedlings will be distributed the remainder of
the time. Planting instructions for each tree
will also be provided.
Visit www.NalleyDecatur.com for the
latest information on the campaign, and for
links to dealership Facebook pages where local “planters” can share their
planting stories and photos
online. For more information on participating in an
organized group
planting, contact
Susan Pierce
Cunningham of Trees
Atlanta: [email protected].
4 | Decatur Focus • November 2011
Gifts Due Dec. 3 for Decatur
Season of Giving
D
ecatur Season of Giving (formerly Christmas Decatur) is
looking for caring neighbors and community members to
help low-income children and senior citizens enjoy the holidays. Gifts are due on Dec. 3 – only weeks away! Here are the
ways you can help:
• Have a Wish List sent to you and buy gifts for a specific child or senior.
Spend approximately $100. You will receive a list of items with specific
sizes and wishes. If a child needs a warm winter coat, please make that your first purchase. We
also want every child to receive a book. If you purchase your book at Little Shop of Stories and
mention why, the shop will donate 20 percent of your purchase to Decatur Season of Giving.
• Send a check and one of our volunteers will do the shopping. Make the check payable to
Decatur Season of Giving and mail it to PO Box 220, Decatur, GA 30031.
• Consider working with your neighbors, co-workers, club or other organization to purchase gifts.
• Volunteer opportunities are available in the office on weekdays. There will also be volunteer shifts available in our distribution center during the first week in December (Saturdays, weekdays, and evenings).
For more information, to volunteer, or to obtain Wish Lists, email [email protected] or call 404-378-8068.
10th Annual Decatur MLK Service
Project Set for Jan. 14-16
The Martin Luther King Jr. Service Project is a volunteer home repair program that enables
lower-income senior homeowners to remain in their homes safely, comfortably and affordably. To sign up to volunteer to make home repairs or do yard work, please contact Lee Ann
Harvey, 678-553-6548, or [email protected]. Please note that volunteers must
be a minimum of 12 years old. You are invited to volunteer as an individual or as a group.
Sponsored by the Decatur Preservation Alliance (DPA) in partnership with the City of
Decatur, the MLK Service Project is supported through grants and private donations, both
financial and in kind. Your gift is tax deductible. To make a donation, visit www.decaturpreservationalliance.org and click on “Join or Donate,” or mail your check payable to DPA (designate
MLK Project) to Decatur Preservation Alliance, PO Box 1764, Decatur, GA 30031.
City News
Call for Artists:
Memorial benches to honor Alma Fleetwood,
beloved Decatur resident, employee and volunteer
C
ommunity members have donated
money to build two memorial
benches as tangible reminders of
the life of Alma Fleetwood. One
bench will be put on the square in downtown
Decatur. The other will be installed at Roy
Moss Park in College Heights where Alma
lived for many years. The City of Decatur,
the Decatur Arts Alliance, and the Decatur
Downtown Development Authority are
spearheading the effort.
The benches must be made out of a durable, low-maintenance material that will stand
up to hot summers and rainy winters for
many years. Whether you design with wood,
metal, or stone, we invite you to submit a
bench proposal. A jury will convene to select
the two benches to be built.
Alma’s Story
Ask anyone what they remember most about
Alma and the answer will be “her smile.”
Alma Fleetwood was a long-time resident
of Decatur. She worked for the city, first as a
crossing guard at College Heights Elementary School and later as a supervisor of the
downtown-parking program. She was well
known for her compassion, her love of people
and her willingness to give of her time and
talents to her community. She was a leader at
College Heights Elementary School PTA and
in the College Heights Neighborhood Association. She served on the board of the South
Decatur Community Development Corporation and was one of the biggest fans of the
Decatur Bulldogs.
Alma never met a stranger and made
everyone she met feel like they were her best
friend. If you ever tried walking with Alma
anywhere in Decatur, you knew it was going
to take twice as long because she stopped to
talk to everyone she met. From three-piecesuit professionals to street people and community characters, Alma treated everyone
with respect and compassion and knew their
life story. She embodied what we all think
about when we talk about sense of community and the Decatur way of doing things.
The idea of honoring
Alma’s memory by
creating and placing
benches in two areas
of the city came out
of our sharing stories
of Alma. Alma
was all about
encouraging
positive communication
and enjoying
people. These
benches will
allow her spirit
to continue by
providing a place
for people to take
time out of their day to stop, rest, enjoy our
city and talk with friends. We’d like to think
of Alma sitting on these benches and taking
delight in observing people walking by and
listening in on their conversations. Keep this
spirit of Alma in mind when you create your
design and help us honor her memory in a
lasting way.
Bench Guidelines
Guidelines for bench proposals may be found
at www.decaturartsalliance.org. Deadline for
submission of proposals is Nov. 21. For more
information contact Angie Macon, 404-3719583, [email protected].
Alma Fleetwood receives
the city’s Thomas O. Davis
Public Service Award for
2005 from City Manager
Peggy Merris and DBA
President Fred Cavalli
Open House to Review Environmental Sustainability Plan
The Decatur Environmental Sustainability
Board invites the community to review and
comment on the first draft of the Sustainability Plan, Thursday, Nov. 10, 6-8 p.m.,
in the City Commission Meeting Room,
Decatur City Hall, 509 N. McDonough St.
Decatur residents submitted hundreds of
ideas on how Decatur can become even more
environmentally sustainable during the 2010
Strategic Planning process. One of the tasks
in the final plan is to “Develop a citywide sustainability plan with the assistance of the Environmental Sustainability Board to address
issues such as the creation of a climate action
plan, initiatives such as an ordinance to limit
motor vehicle idling, and roof color standards
to reduce the heat island effect.”
In addition to looking at and comment-
ing on the draft plan, the open house will
include recycling demonstrations, rain barrels and other environmental initiatives to
explore. Please stop by any time between 6
and 8 p.m. For information about the meeting, contact Amanda Thompson, amanda.
[email protected]. For information
about the plan, contact Lena Stevens, lena.
[email protected].
November 2011 • Decatur Focus | 5
City
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Woodlands
Garden Sunday Stroll Nov.
27
Stroll through Woodlands Garden on Sunday, Nov. 27, 2-4 p.m., and enjoy the seasonal changes. Bring friends and relatives and walk off your Thanksgiving feast as you explore this sevenacre preserve. To enter, walk to the northeast corner of the Clairemont Avenue-Scott Boulevard
intersection at 920 Scott Blvd. – the first driveway on the left going east. Well-marked paths will
lead you through the groves, and volunteers will welcome you and answer questions. For more
information visit www.woodlandsgarden.org.
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Decatur Old
House
Fair Returns Feb. 18
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Attention historic-home owners
The Decatur Old House Fair returns on Saturday, Feb. 18, at the Decatur Courtyard Marriott
Conference Center, 130 Clairemont Ave. The
event is an all-day showcase of seminars, exhibitors, and hands-on workshops for old-house
owners. This year, in addition to the traditional
seminars, “short bites” on a variety of topics will
be offered. These will include electrical, plumbing, chimney repair, insulation, and more.
Speakers will give expert advice on how to restore and maintain your old house.
This event is the only one of its kind in Georgia and the southeast. Volunteers are needed to
help with the planning committee and on the day
of the event. All participants get a free ticket to the fair. To volunteer, contact Regina Brewer,
[email protected], or 404-371-8386. For more information, visit www.decaturoldhousefair.com.
Volunteer Training Sessions for CATCH
Healthy Habits Program
The CATCH Healthy Habits: Healthy Living for All Ages program aims to help combat childhood obesity by engaging adults 50+ years old to teach children in grades K-5 about healthy
habits and good nutrition. The program offers an innovative and fun way to make a difference
in children’s lives by encouraging healthy behavior, wiser food choices, and increased physical
activity.
Volunteer applications for the program are being accepted by the Metro Atlanta RSVP Volunteer Program, sponsored by the Atlanta Regional Commission, Area Agency on Aging. Volunteer training sessions will begin in January for Decatur and other metro Atlanta locations.
Call 404 463-4554 or email [email protected] for more information.
6 | Decatur Focus • November 2011
City Staff Earn
National and
Statewide Notice
Regina Brewer, Historic Preservation
planner for the City
of Decatur, has been
elected to serve on the
board of directors of
the National Alliance
of Preservation Commissions (NAPC). The
alliance represents the
nation’s preservation design review commissions, providing technical support and managing an information network to help local
commissions accomplish their preservation
objectives. NAPC also serves as an advocate
at federal, state and local levels of government to promote policies and programs that
support preservation commission efforts.
Regina currently staffs the Decatur Historic
Preservation Commission, which oversees
the McDonough-Adams-Kings Highway
(MAK), Clairemont Corridor, Ponce de Leon
Court, and Old Decatur local historic districts.
The Georgia Department of Community
Affairs (DCA) presented Lyn Menne the
DCA Outstanding
Leadership Award “for
providing exemplary
leadership in the field
of downtown development.” Lyn also
recently graduated from the Atlanta Regional
Commission’s (ARC) Regional Leadership
Institute (RLI), a comprehensive leadership
program designed to prepare community,
government, business and nonprofit leaders
to work collaboratively in addressing regional
issues. Congratulations!
BeActiveDecatur.com
Every Body • Every Day
City News
Honor Veterans
in Decatur
Cemetery in
November
T
he community is invited to
attend a memorial ceremony
on Veterans Day, Friday,
Nov. 11, at 11 a.m., to honor
the men and women who fought for
our country. The service will be held
in Decatur Cemetery in front of the
American Legion memorial (use the Bell
Street entrance).
For the third year, the Friends of
Decatur Cemetery (FODC), in conjunction with the American Legion Harold
Byrd Post 66, will coordinate the placement of American flags on the graves of
the veterans of all wars who are buried
in Decatur Cemetery. Last year, they
located the graves of more than 900 veterans buried in the cemetery.
Attendees will also be among the first
to see the newly implemented Master
Plan renovations in the cemetery.
On Saturday, Nov. 5, the FODC,
American Legion Post 66, Decatur Boy
Scouts, and Decatur volunteers will
place the flags, beginning at 9 a.m. The
project is funded by contributions from
Victoria Collier of Collier & St. Clair, an
elder and disability law firm, and Martha Clinkscales of Personal Care.
Most of the veterans were identified
by surveying the cemetery and locating the military markers. FODC also
solicited information about additional
as-yet-unidentified veterans from relatives of veterans. FODC has formed a
Decatur Cemetery veterans database
as a reference resource. If you know of
additional veterans interred in the cemetery, please contact David Crenshaw,
[email protected], before Nov.
11 with the information to help ensure
that as many veterans as possible are located and honored.
The spacious and historic Decatur
Cemetery is the oldest burial ground in
metro Atlanta and is located off Church
Street at Bell Street.
November 2011 • Decatur Focus | 7
City News
The James Linton Moore
Family: A Century in Decatur
by Jimmy Moore and Hutch Moore
I
n 1911 James Linton Moore and Susan
Ansley Moore moved from Atlanta to
302 S. McDonough St. in Decatur. Their
seven children all grew up in Decatur.
Most of their 11 grandchildren lived or grew
up in Decatur as well. Hutch Moore, a great
grandson of James and Susan Moore, has
lived in Decatur throughout his life. Thus,
the Moore family has been a continuous
Decatur presence for a century.
Mr. Moore, known as Lint, was a gifted
machinist and the inventor of the AutoSoler,
a machine that nailed soles onto shoes. Mrs.
Moore, known as Susie, raised the children,
kept an orderly home and loved to play
Rook. Older grandchildren, who called her
Nanny, happily recall her fried chicken and
deep-fried doughnuts sprinkled with granular sugar. She was a Southern cook, after all.
On Father’s Day weekend this year, 40
descendants of Lint and Susie gathered to remember their family history. They came from
Wisconsin, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, the
Carolinas, the Atlanta area, and, of course,
Decatur. Hutch Moore’s wife, Debbie, and
their children Berkeley and Gaines as well as
his mother, Mary Moore, were there as well.
The family weekend began with the Beach
8 | Decatur Focus • November 2011
Party in Decatur. Grownup Moore grandchildren had fond memories of times spent on
the Decatur square and throughout town. All
of Lint and Susie’s children graduated from
either Boys High or Girls High in Decatur.
Eight of their grandchildren graduated from
Decatur High. The oldest Moore child, Lillian, started first grade at Winnona Park
in 1911. The youngest grandchild living in
Decatur, Susan Whitenton, graduated from
Decatur High in 1971. For those 60 consecutive years, there was at least one member
of the Moore family attending Decatur city
schools.
On Saturday, family members gathered at
the corner of S. McDonough and Daugherty
Streets in front of the Agnes Scott heating
plant, where the family home once stood.
While children as young as three ran and
played and blew soap bubbles, older family
members walked among the trees in a slight
drizzle and talked about what they remembered.
There were memories of the buzzing of
the overhead electric wires that powered the
trolley and of the rumble of coal going down
the chute of the heating plant. There was the
ever-present ticking of the mantel clock, the
hiss of the gas heaters, and, of course, the
long talks late into the night on the big front
porch with its green-and-white awning.
From the old home site descendants went
to Decatur Cemetery where Lint and Susie
are buried, as well as five of their offspring,
three of their in-laws and one grandson. The
smallest children placed roses and rose petals
on the graves.
Saturday night several of the family members ate dinner near the square. (A grandson
reflected that in 1911 his grandparents would
not have had a choice of Thai restaurants
nor would they have drunk Chinese beer in
Decatur). There was talk of the past and the
present, of future plans of college students
and the hopes and dreams of little children.
Four generations of Moore descendants
attended the celebration of a century in
Decatur. Some had never met one another.
The youngest of the family will not remember the event, the oldest will never forget it.
And yes, there were even some who can still
taste and smell that glorious fried chicken.
Editor’s Note: Congratulations to the Moore
family for their longevity in Decatur and thanks
to Jimmy and Hutch for submitting this article.
City News
Walk or Roll to School Day
Paula Gwynn Grant
Named Decatur
YMCA Volunteer
of the Year
Paula Gwynn Grant
is the 2011 Volunteer of the Year for
the Decatur Family
YMCA. She is DeKalb
County’s director of
communications and
community development for the Housing
Authority, and is a
familiar face around Decatur and on local
television. She has volunteered her time
to the Decatur Y since 2004 and currently
serves on the board of managers.
Paula sponsors children for summer day
camp and seniors for aqua aerobics. Every
summer and throughout the year, she gives
time and resources to help underserved
children enjoy the Y. She is a parent advisory board member for the First Tee of East
Lake, a patient volunteer for the Atlanta Interventional Institute and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, and a
volunteer for Catholic Charities in Atlanta.
The Decatur Family YMCA is at 1100
Clairemont Ave. For information call 404377-9622.
Agnes Scott
Receives Record
Number of
Applications
October 5 was International Walk to School Day, and
students from all over Decatur laced their shoes up
tight and hit the sidewalks. Many also attended a
Walk to School pep rally on the square the evening
before. Top: students arrive at Glennwood Elementary. Above left: Students from St. Thomas More at
the pep rally. Above right: walking to the new
4-5 Academy at Fifth Avenue. Below: Renfroe
Middle School participated as well.
Agnes Scott College has received the highest number of applications in its history this
fall – more than 2,280, up from last fall’s
record-breaking 2,117 applications. The 227
first-year students of the class of 2015 include
women from 25 states and U.S. territories,
and six countries: China, Ghana, India, Pakistan, Turkey and Vietnam. About 56 percent
are from Georgia, 33 percent are from other
states and 11 percent are international.
Agnes Scott College is at 141 E. College
Ave. For information call 404-471-6000 or
visit www.agnesscott.edu.
November 2011 • Decatur Focus | 9
City News
Little Shop
Presents: ‘Wimpy
Kid’ Book Signing –
and Snow!
Saturday, Nov. 19 • 11 a.m.-4 p.m.
Meet author Jeff Kinney at Little Shop of Stories, celebrate the release of his latest book,
Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Cabin Fever – and
play in the snow!
The event will open
with snow activities
and hot chocolate.
Jeff will speak at
noon next to the
snow area. The book
signing will begin at
12:15.
Purchase your copy
of Diary of a Wimpy
Kid: Cabin Fever before Nov. 19 at Little Shop
of Stories and you will receive a free ticket
for your family for the book signing line,
while supplies last. Signing-line tickets will
be available beginning at 10 a.m. on Saturday,
Nov. 5, in the store only – not over the phone,
by mail, or by email. You must purchase a
copy of the new book
from Little Shop to
obtain a ticket.
Any remaining
tickets for the signing line will be given
out the morning of
the event while supplies last. The rest of
the event is free and
open to the community.
Jeff will sign all
books purchased
at Little Shop of Stories for the event. Because
of the expected size of the crowd, he will not
personalize books or sign any names, but will
sign his own signature only.
Little Shop of Stories is at 133 E. Court
Square. For more information visit www.
littleshopofstories.com, or Facebook @ LittleShopofStories.
10 | Decatur Focus • November 2011
Decatur Presbyterian Church Advent/
Christmas Services and Activities
Decatur Presbyterian Church invites the community to participate in these services and
activities.
Wednesday, Nov. 30 – Service of Healing and Wholeness, 6:30 p.m., Chapel
Sunday, Dec. 4 – A Sustainable Christmas, 11:30 a.m., Fellowship Hall, $6. After the
worship service, there will be a light lunch and eco-friendly craft making in Fellowship
Hall. Reduce, reuse, and recycle for a sustainable Christmas.
Wednesdays during Advent (Nov. 30, Dec. 7, Dec. 14, Dec. 21) – Worship and
reflection, including special music, 12:15-12:45 p.m. After the service, lunch will be
available for $5.
Wednesday, Dec. 14 – Children’s Christmas Program, 6:30 p.m., Sanctuary
Saturday, Dec. 24 – Christmas Eve Services:
3:30 p.m. Service for Young Children and their Families
5:30 p.m. Child-led Christmas Eve Service featuring the Carol, Chapel Choirs
10:30 p.m. Lessons and Carols featuring the Chancel Choir
Sunday, Dec. 25 – Christmas Day at Decatur Presbyterian Church
Fellowship with coffee and snacks, 9:30 a.m.; Worship, 10:15 a.m.
Decatur Presbyterian Church is at the corner of Church and Sycamore streets (just
across from the MARTA Plaza). For information contact Kathy Morse, kmorse@dpchurch.
org, 404-378-1777, or visit www.dpchurch.org.
Columbia Presbyterian Hosts Advent Festival
On Sunday, Dec. 4, Columbia Presbyterian Church, 711 S. Columbia Dr., will hold its annual Advent Festival, 4-6 p.m. Activities will include gingerbread house making, cookie
decorating and other crafts in preparation for the Christmas season. There will be a light
meal and a candlelight service to end the festival. The event will be held in Hazelwood
Hall. Learn more at cpcdecatur.org.
Mailbox Brigade Spreads Holiday Cheer
The Decatur Mailbox Brigade decorates mailboxes with fresh
holiday greenery and a handmade red bow to raise money for
Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta (CHOA). You may purchase
this decorating service for yourself or as a gift for someone. The
cost per mailbox is $40. New this year is the option of having
a blue bow although there is a limited number and you must
specify that color.
The Decatur Mailbox Brigade consists of members of the
Decatur Friends Group, residents of Decatur and Druid Hills
who help raise money for CHOA. The Decatur Friends Group is
one of 35 groups in the Atlanta area that collectively raise more
than $2 million for CHOA every year.
Orders for mailbox decorating must be placed by Nov. 10.
Orders placed after that date should include a $10 late fee. Final cut-off is Nov. 27. Mailboxes are decorated between Nov. 25 (the day after Thanksgiving) and Dec. 4.
To participate, send your check and information to Nikie Barfield, 511 Ponce de Leon
Place, Decatur, GA 30030. Include your name, address, email and phone number. All orders will receive a red bow unless specified otherwise. For information call 404-226-1324.
City News
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Visit Worthmore Jewelers and see
the sterling silver cuff links made from
wine barrels in celebration of the 10th annual Decatur Wine Festival on Saturday,
Nov. 5, and the Art Walk on Friday, Nov.
4. Worthmore is at 117 E. Court Square.
For information call 404-370-3979 or visit
www.Worthmorejewelers.com.
Executive Chef Richard Velazquez has
joined the culinary team at Feast Restaurant. Rich, as his friends call him,
comes from Bistro VG in Roswell. Before
that he worked for many years with the
Dick and Harry’s restaurant group. He
brings a wealth of knowledge and culinary
expertise along with an eye for detail. Visit
Feast and enjoy his new fall menu.
Feast offers a Thanksgiving buffet.
Make reservations and enjoy. The restaurant will be open for lunch parties during
December and can customize your celebration. Holiday parties are also welcome.
Feast can accommodate all group sizes and
the heated tent can hold up to 50. There
is no additional charge to rent the space.
Feast is at 314 E. Howard Ave. Visit www.
FeastAtlanta.com for information.
New Orleans SnoBall Café (NOSC)
congratulates St. Thomas More for winning Spirit Week. NOSC presented the
church with a check for 10 percent of all
Snoball and Popcorn sales within the contest period. During Terrific Thursdays in
November and December, NOSC invites
you to come in while shopping and receive
a free sample of the POP-of-the Day. You’ll
find festive New Orleans Gift baskets, Slap
Ya Mama, Punch Ya Daddy, and Chayj’s
New Orleans Sweets, along with gift certificates for your shopping list. NOSC’s
gourmet popcorn, offered in more than 50
flavors, makes the perfect gift for students,
co-workers, family and friends to enjoy,
especially during holiday season. For store
hours and other information, visit
www.NewOrleansSnoBallCafe.com.
Coming in February – It’s a New Stay!
Courtyard by Marriott Atlanta Decatur Downtown/Emory & Conference Center
Bert Haifley, general manager, sent these “after” photos to show what the Courtyard by Marriott Atlanta Decatur Downtown/Emory and Conference Center will look like after the renovation. Currently the hotel at 130 Clairemont Ave. is closed for renovation and remodeling. To
keep up with its progress, visit the Facebook page at Courtyard Atlanta Decatur Downtown/
Emory (opening 2/2012). To schedule a conference or meeting after the opening, contact
Thomas Harrison, director of sales, 678-244-9310, thomas.harrison@decaturconferencehotel.
com, or Bert Haifley, 678-244-9300, [email protected].
Leadership DeKalb
Celebrates Silver
Anniversary
C
ongratulations to Leadership
DeKalb, which recently held its
annual meeting and celebrated its
25th year of leadership training,
community contributions, and more than
1,000 graduates who are socially conscious
community leaders. Nearly 150 metro area
leaders gathered at Agnes Scott College to
honor several distinguished leaders for their
efforts in the community and to recognize
new and retiring members of the Leadership
DeKalb Board of Directors. The organization
will continue celebrating at the 25th Anniversary Class Reunion on Dec. 1.
Pictured below is DeKalb County CEO
Burrell Ellis, ’96, who was honored with the
2011 Sue Ellen Owens Leadership Award for
his work to unite the community through
OneDeKalb, also known as the Office of
Neighborhood Empowerment. Eric Greenwood, ’06, immediate past chair of the board,
passed the gavel to Arnie Silverman, ’07, as
the new chair-elect for 2011-2012.
Leadership DeKalb is a 501(c)3 nonprofit
organization based in Decatur. For information visit www.leadershipdekalb.org; find
them on Twitter @LeadersofDeKalb or
Facebook at www.facebook.com/LeadershipDeKalb.
November 2011 • Decatur Focus | 11
DBA News
Business
Buzz
Welcome to the DeKalb Chamber
of Commerce, which has moved into
the Two Decatur Town Center building,
125 Clairemont Ave., Suite 235. Visit
www.dekalbchamber.org for information about the organization.
Congratulations to Richard Lenz,
who was featured in a recent Atlanta
Business Chronicle Executive Profile
article, “Sound of Music Moves a Serial
Entrepreneur,” by Urvaksh Karkaria.
The article includes information about
Lenz’s boutique music label Red Eye
Gravy Records as well as his entrepreneurial spirit. Lenz is the owner of
Lenz Inc., www.lenzmarketing.com,
which handles website design, creative
services, public relations, media buying
and marketing strategy, with a specialization in healthcare and nonprofit
organizations. Congratulations!
DeKalb Medical has launched a Percutaneous Coronary Intervention (PCI) program. PCI, also known
as coronary angioplasty, is a minimally
invasive procedure that allows cardiologists to examine and immediately unblock blood flow to the heart. DeKalb
Medical’s PCI program helps patients in
cardiac emergency get life-saving treatment faster because it eliminates transfers to other hospitals in many cases.
In addition, with timely access to PCI,
patients return home quicker.
12 | Decatur Focus • November 2011
Common Ground Real Estate Group
Earns Recognition
C
ommon Ground Real Estate Group at Keller Williams is a growing team of eight real estate professionals dedicated to the needs of buyers, sellers, and investors. Located in downtown Decatur,
the team has served the community for more than 10 years
and every client represents a long-term relationship.
Barb Rowland, one of the founding partners of the team, was recently named “Best Real
Estate Agent” by readers of the GA Voice newspaper and is also one of the top 10 producing agents in the DeKalb Board of Realtors. In addition, the Atlanta Business Chronicle has
named their company the second best place to work in the Atlanta area.
Common Ground sponsored the “Concerts on the Square” in May and September this
year, along with the Decatur Business Association and other community-serving organizations. It has also helped facilitate the founding of a Decatur chapter of Business Networking
International (BNI), which is dedicated to promoting business by sharing referrals.
For information call Barb, 404-314-9092, or visit commongroundrealestate.com.
New Web Venture Designed to
Get Pets Home Safely
B
illed as “Your Pet’s Homepage,” GetPetsHome
(GPH) is a pet-related website. It offers a
QR-coded ID tag that, when scanned with a
QR-reader on a smartphone, links directly to
a pet’s homepage – making it easy to contact the owner,
vet, or even the pet-sitter if a pet gets lost. The URL is also printed on the tag, so it can be
typed into a web browser if a smartphone is not available. Each pet’s homepage can list medical and behavioral notes, and owners can upload photos and videos to share with family and
friends. GPH is free to use, there are no monthly fees, and users can create a separate page for
each pet. The QR-coded tags start at $7.99 for an ID Card and 4 Tag Combo, and they’re now
available at the GPH online shop.
Shawn Vinson, a Decatur art dealer and photographer, partnered with Dr. Will Draper
of The Village Vets to develop the concept. Kevin Bell, an IT professional and engineer who
maintains the networks at The Village Vets in Decatur, Stone Mountain and Buckhead, built
the website. For more information visit www.getpetshome.com or www.thevillagevets.com.
Cakes & Ale: Morning, Noon and Night
T
he Bakery at Cakes & Ale is open for breakfast, lunch, afternoon snacks, and wine
and desserts at night. The Bakery opens each morning with coffees and pastries
(croissants, bagels, English muffins, breads) made daily by hand. Coffees include
espresso drinks, French press and pour-overs using Counter Culture Coffee beans.
Lunch begins at 11:30 a.m. prepared by local chef David Sweeney. The ever-changing
lunch menu reflects the seasons and the best produce available from local farmers. The Bakery is open all afternoon for coffee and snacks. At night, the Bakery transforms into a dessert
bar offering wine, beer, coffee and sweets.
Hours are Monday 7:30 a.m.-3 p.m., Tuesday to Thursday 7:30 a.m.-10 p.m., Friday and
Saturday 7:30 a.m.-midnight. The Bakery is adjacent to Cakes & Ale restaurant in its new location at 151 Sycamore St. with outdoor patio dining on Church Street.
DBA News
Take the Passion Test
What if there was a test that you could not
fail? What if taking this test would add more
success and satisfaction to your life?
The Passion Test from the NY Times bestselling book of the same name is one of
those experiences.
O Magazine features this life enhancing process in its November issue. Wendy
Watkins, of PassionFruit Creative People
Growers and the incoming president of the
Decatur Business Association, will facilitate
a Connect with Your Passion workshop on
Saturday, Dec. 10, in Decatur. If you are curious about what Oprah is
buzzing about and how to take this test, go to www.thejoyfactor.com/
events/passion-test-workshop to learn more.
Meeting
Reminder
We thank the Decatur Business Association, which
donates some of the proceeds from the annual Decatur
Beach Party to sponsor part of the July 4th fireworks. This
year the fireworks were rained out on July 4th, but were
held in September after a DBA Concert on the Square.
Introducing FORM: New Yoga
Concept Opens in Decatur
F
rom power yoga – a unique style incorporating music and
high energy into an athletic Vinyasa flow – to Anusarainspired and strengthening Pranakriya, FORM Studio offers
a variety of yoga styles taught by experienced teachers. The
studio is located in the Function: building, 508 E. Howard Ave.
Morning, evening and weekend yoga classes are available for
students in all levels of practice. “Yoga has brought so much to me
personally that I wanted to share it,” said FORM’s founder, Michele
DeHaven. “Since we began yoga at the office three years ago, we have
grown as a team and as individuals. This raised the idea of sharing
with others and providing a space for teachers to instruct in their own
unique style.”
Michele tried several types of yoga and was recently inspired by
a very active and intense practice based on Vinyasa, now offered by
FORM. For class times and offerings, visit FORM on Facebook, at
facebook.com/formyoga, where updates are posted daily. Classes are
$15 each, cash or check only.
Tuesday, December 6
Decatur Business Association Holiday Party
Agnes Scott College • 141 E. College Ave.
5:15 p.m. Networking reception
6 p.m. Program: Recognition of 2011
Hometown Heroes
Heroes
2010 Hometown
www.decaturdba.com
November 2011 • Decatur Focus | 13
Greene’s Fine Foods
Extended
Hours
Deals
& Treats
Through
Dec. 15
The list of participating
shops and restaurants
is certain to grow, so
check decaturga.com for
updates.
Alexia Gallery
335-B W. Ponce de Leon Ave.
404-373-1969
www.alexiagallery.com
Mingei World Arts
Blue Elephant Books
407 W. Ponce de Leon Ave.
404-373-1565
www.blueelephantbookshop.com
A free page-a-day booklover’s calendar or
Steve Berry paperback for anyone with a
purchase of $25 or more as long as supplies last.
Blue Moon Designs
418 Church St.
404-378-1114
Boogaloos Boutique
Farm Burger
246 W. Ponce de Leon Ave.
404-373-3237
www.boogaloosboutique.com
15 percent off full price merchandise,
wine and hors d’oeuvres will be served.
Heliotrope
14 | Decatur Focus • November 2011
Boutique Karma
Parker’s On Ponce
340 Church St.
404-373-7533
www.boutique-karma.com
15 percent discount on any single nonsale item and offering refreshments.
116 E. Ponce de Leon Ave.
404-924-2230
www.parkersonponce.com
Free appetizer with a receipt from a participating Terrific Thursdays shop.
Café Alsace
Salon Red
121 E. Ponce de Leon Ave.
404-373-5622
www.cafealsace.net
Complimentary Christmas cookies with
the purchase of an entrée.
119 E. Ponce de Leon Ave.
404-377-3164
www.salonred.com
Salon Red Kids
Cook’s Warehouse & Sherlock’s
Wine Merchant
123 E. Ponce de Leon Ave.
404-377-6230
www.salonred.com
180 W. Ponce de Leon Ave.
404-377-4005
www.cooksandsherlocks.com
Sawicki’s
Farm Burger
410 W. Ponce de Leon Ave.
404-378-5077
www.farmburger.net
Green Mosaics
228 E. Ponce de Leon Ave.
404-371-5777
Greene’s Fine Foods
141 Trinity Pl.
404-378-2001
www.greenesfinefoods.com
Heliotrope
248 W. Ponce de Leon Ave.
404-371-0100
www.heliotropehome.com
HomeGrown
412 Church St.
404-373-1147
www.homegrowndecatur.com
250 W. Ponce de Leon Ave.
404-377-0992
www.sawickisfoods.com
The Seen Gallery
415 Church St.
404-377-0733
www.theseengallery.com
Wild Oats and Billy Goats
112 E. Ponce de Leon Ave.
404-378-4088
www.wildoatsandbillygoats.com
Worthmore Jewelers
117 E. Court Sq.
404-370-3979
www.worthmorejewelers.com
Boogaloos Boutique
Squash Blossom
113 E. Court Sq.
404-373-1864
www.squashblossomboutique.com
Sushi Avenue
308 W. Ponce de Leon Ave.
404-378-8448
www.sushiavenuedecatur.com
Sushi Avenue on the Square
131 Sycamore St.
404-378-0228
www.sushiavenuedecatur.com
The 17 Steps
235-M Ponce de Leon Pl.
404-377-7564
www.the17steps.com
Squash Blossom
Little Shop of Stories
133 E. Court. Sq.
404-373-6300
www.littleshopofstories.com
Mingei World Arts
427 Church St.
404-371-0101
www.mingeiworldarts.com
New Orleans SnoBall Café
340 W. Ponce de Leon Ave., Suite 100
404-617-0044
www.neworleans-café.com
Worthmore Jewelers
November 2011 • Decatur Focus | 15
Decatur Events
Beekeepers Club to
Install Native Plant
Pollinator Garden
T
he students of Decatur High School’s Beekeepers Club, with guidance from partner
EcoAddendum, will install a native plant
pollinator garden on the corner of Commerce Drive and W. Howard Avenue this fall.
The native plants will support bees from nearby
hives. This enables native pollinators throughout the
community to thrive, and adds to the aesthetic beauty
of Decatur. Attracting pollinators benefits the school’s
existing Community Vegetable Garden and brings
wildlife to the schoolyard environment, thus offering teachers and students another way to connect to
nature.
The EcoAddendum team will offer support in areas
of education and fundraising for the garden. By writing a grant, The Beekeepers Club will secure funding
as well as garden certification through the National
Wildlife Foundation’s School Yard Habitat Program.
To raise additional funds for the garden, DHS hosted
a successful plant sale in September. Thank you to the
members of the community who came out to support
the DHS Beekeepers Club’s efforts.
EcoAddendum, located one mile from Decatur High
School at 743-B3 E. College Ave., offers adult gardening and art classes, youth programs, and native
plant sales. The organization’s mission is to help heal
the environment by reintroducing native plants into
Georgia’s landscape through environmental education,
green space installation, and native plant sales. Attend
EcoAddendum’s Open House Nov. 3, where you can
purchase a plant for your own garden and donate a
plant to the Native Plant Pollinator Garden at DHS.
For more information contact Sarah Collman,
Decatur Tourism Bureau Logo • 4/19/11
[email protected], or EcoAddendum, 678732-9430, www.ecoaddendum.org.
Textured logo
Flat logo
Check out the new
Decatur
Tourism
Blog
www.visitdecaturgeorgia.com
16 | Decatur Focus • November 2011
Gray scale logo
Brushes and Bordeaux
Art show about wine and made from wine
N
o reason to cry over spilled wine . . . guest
curator Professor Robert Sherer and
Worthmore Jewelers will celebrate the 10th
anniversary of the Decatur Wine Festival
with an art show of works made from wine. An opening reception to meet the artist will be Friday, Nov. 4,
5-8 p.m. The exhibit will remain on display through
Dec. 4.
Worthmore Jewelers, Inc., founded in 1994, caters
to customers who want unique top-quality jewelry,
watches, and art offered in a fun and comfortable
environment. In 2008, Worthmore opened its second
location on the square in Decatur and thanks the community for welcoming it with open arms. Owner Harris Botnick says, “I frequently tell people if you need
a stuffy attitude, this store is not for you. If you love
unique jewelry, watches, art, and like to have fun, you
will love Worthmore.”
The store’s awards include Best of Atlanta and Best
to Do Business With. Worthmore was recently recognized by the jewelry industry as one of the Top Five
Design Stores in the U.S.
About the Artist
Robert Sherer began to experiment with wine painting
after traveling to Florence shortly after the attacks on
9/11. His tubes of paint and watercolors were seized
by airport authorities, but they allowed him to keep
his brushes. Robert explains that, “one afternoon while
I sipped my wine at an outdoor café, I pulled out my
brushes and dipped them in my glass of Brunello di
Montalcino and began my first wine painting.”
Robert is internationally acclaimed for his Blood
Works series and has shown his work around the United States and abroad, including an international competition in Paris. He is an art professor at Kennesaw
State University and as curator has made this show
available for currently enrolled art majors and faculty
from the university.
Decatur Events
3rd Annual Junktique to
Benefit Oakhurst Elementary
Christmas Tree and Wreath
Sale at First Christian Church
Nov. 12 • noon-5 p.m.
Solarium • 321 W. Hill St.
The First Christian Church will hold its annual Christmas Tree and
Wreath Sale beginning Nov. 28 until sold out. Quality trees and
wreaths will be available for sale on the church lawn, 601 W. Ponce de
Leon Ave. Free delivery within five miles will be provided.
Visit www.DecaturDisciples.org to pre-order and prepay. There will
be a discount on all orders received before Thanksgiving Day. Christmas Tree and Wreath sales benefit church and community ministries
in Decatur.
Junktique’s third annual fundraising event at the Solarium in Oakhurst
Village will feature an artisan boutique, a collectables yard sale, live
music, swing dancing, beer tasting, a hot wings cook-off, and a Kids
Corner drop-off area filled with fun activities. Come and enjoy tasty
food and beverages and the wonderful fall weather.
Vendors – space is limited and filling up fast! Sign up now at junktiquedecatur.com or email [email protected]. Artisan boutique: $50 for a booth; yard sale space: $30.
Junktique benefits Oakhurst Elementary School. Past events provided funds for ActivBoards and an outdoor classroom. This year’s
proceeds will go to teacher grants to enhance the classroom experience. Come and have a great time at the Solarium – and support a
great school in the community.
Winnona Park Elementary
Christmas Tree Sale and
Holiday Festivities
Winnona Park Elementary will host its annual Christmas Tree Sale on
Saturday, Dec. 3, beginning at 9 a.m. in the school parking lot. Fresh
Frasier firs from Banner Elk, N.C., will be delivered on the day of the
sale. Prices are $60 for a seven-foot tree, $70 for an eight-foot tree, and
$80 for a nine-foot tree. Fresh wreaths will also be available for sale.
Trees are sold on a first-come-first-served basis and a portion of your
purchase is tax deductible. For more information, contact Beth Costello,
404-797-6255. A variety of holiday festivities are planned in addition to
the sale of trees and wreaths. Stop by and enjoy some holiday cheer.
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November 2011 • Decatur Focus | 17
Decatur Events
as established as
the neighborhoods
we serve.
More than 30 years ago, Bill Adams recognized
that vibrant intown communities were essential
to growth and quality of life in Atlanta.
Each successful home or business transaction
adds to the growing quilt of unique and
diverse neighborhoods, which form the south’s
largest urban center.
Our mission has always been to make our
clients — and the communities in which they live
Decatur Christmas Tree
Lighting Dec. 1
7 p.m. • East Court Square
O Christmas Tree, O Christmas Tree! The
third annual Decatur Christmas Tree Lighting will be Thursday, Dec. 1, in conjunction
with Terrific Thursdays. Little Shop of
Stories partners with other local businesses to make this holiday tradition
a success. The event starts at 7 p.m. on
East Court Square, and includes carols
from the 4/5 Academy, sweet treats, lots
of holiday cheer, and a special visit from a
jolly man in a red suit. Come on out and join
us for the celebration. Happy holidays!
and work — better off through their partnerships
with Adams Realtors.
Today, we are proud to continue our part in
building and nurturing this growing, common
landscape that we call home.
Helping Atlanta’s intown communities to thrive since 1979.
458 Cherokee Ave SE Atlanta, GA 30312
www.adamsrealtors.com | 404.688.1222
Joan Rau
Licensed Massage Therapist
404.784.2225
[email protected]
125 E. Trinity Pl., Suite 208, Decatur
A place of healing and rejuvenation
in the heart of Decatur
18 | Decatur Focus • November 2011
Pleasing Palette of Arts and
Food Featured at Holiday
Marketplace + Cafe
T
he 20th annual Holiday Marketplace + Café at
Clairemont Elementary, 155 Erie Ave., will take
place Friday, Dec. 2, 5:30-9:30 p.m., and Saturday, Dec. 3, 10 a.m.-8 p.m., in conjunction with
the Decatur Holiday Candlelight Tour of Homes.
Enjoy the holiday spirit
as the school transforms
into a lively and festive
market where more than
95 local and national artists
exhibit their wares. Shop
for unique handmade gifts,
paintings, glass art, photography, jewelry, pottery and
much more. Be sure to stop
by the café for mouthwatering homemade soups
and decadent desserts, as
well as toe-tapping tunes performed live by local musicians and carolers.
On Saturday afternoon, kids can join in the fun with
live children’s music and art activities sponsored by
Color Wheel.
Proceeds will benefit Clairemont Elementary School
educational programs. For more information, visit www.
DecaturHolidayMarketplace.com.
Decatur Events
Friday, Dec. 2 and
Saturday, Dec. 3 • 5:30-9:30 p.m.
Make plans now to attend the annual Holiday
Candlelight Tour of Homes, Friday, Dec. 2,
and Saturday, Dec. 3. The event is celebrating
its 29th year and is featuring homes in the
Winnona Park and Glenwood Estates neighborhoods. Points of Interest include the new
4th/5th Academy at Fifth Avenue, the historic
chapel at Decatur First United Methodist
Church, and the Clairemont Marketplace.
Tour-goers will enjoy the eclectic mix of
homes on the program. Historical features reflect the character and history of these neighborhoods. The homes on the tour also reflect
the personalities of the owners and include
such highlights as whimsical metal sculptures, a retro-style kitchen, and furniture
20
Holiday Candlelight Tour of
Homes Features Glenwood
Estates and Winnona Park
from India. One home was featured on
HGTV’s Groundbreaker program.
Natural lighting is a shared characteristic in many of this year’s homes,
with large windows letting in daylight
and providing a feeling of openness.
Proceeds from this year’s tour will
benefit four Decatur nonprofit organizations: the Decatur Youth Fund, the
Decatur Education Foundation, the
DeKalb History Center, and the Oakhurst
Community Garden Project.
The event planning committee welcomes
volunteers to help plan the tour. Volunteers
are also needed to help during the tour itself.
If you are interested in joining the Planning
Committee, contact Katie Abel, 678-5536573, [email protected]. If you are
11
29th
ANNU
AL
interested in volunteering for the tour, contact Lee Ann Harvey, 678-553-6548, leeann.
[email protected]. For more information about specific homes on the tour or details regarding ticket price and purchase, visit
www.decaturtourofhomes.com.
Brushes
&
BoRdeaux
In honor of the 10th Anniversary of the Decatur Wine Festival,
Worthmore/Decatur is hosting a thematic art exhibition and sale—Nov.4
through Dec.4—celebrating the subject of wine, curated by Robert Sherer.
All artworks are made from wine and are about wine. So, after feasting on the
best wines at the festival, visit Worthmore to feast your eyes!
Opening Reception Friday, November 4, 2011, 5 to 8 p.m.
Fine jewelry, watches and aRt...
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>Board-certified surgeon Dr. Jen Newton, DACVS
>Full range of surgical services, see www.sfvs.com
to do
Business with
Amsterdam Walk + 500-L3 Amsterdam Ave. + Atlanta + 404/892-8294
Decatur Square + 117 East Court Square + Decatur + 404/370-3979
www.worthmorejewelers.com
(Ask us about trading in your old gold jewelry. It's a great way to buy a great gift, update your jewelry
collection–or just increase the contents of your wallet!)
November 2011 • Decatur Focus | 19
School News
Holiday Fair at
Waldorf School
On the Same Page Continues
Meet Norton Juster, author of The Phantom Tollbooth
Saturday, Nov. 12 • 10 a.m.-4 p.m.
Preview night for adults:
Friday, Nov. 11 • 6:30-9 p.m.
O
n the Same Page (OTSP), Decatur’s citywide reading initiative, continues in November and December with these events:
T
Monday, Nov. 7 • 7 p.m.
Catch All Book Group Discussion at Little Shop of Stories
with Little Shop’s adult group. Feel free to join the fun.
Thursday, Nov. 17 • 7 p.m.
Discussion, Debate, and Spelling Bee at Little Shop of Stories. Which is better:
words or numbers? Would you rather live in Digitopolis or Dictionopolis? If you
have read the book and seen the movie, now it’s time to discuss. The evening
features snacks, readings from the book, discussions, a spelling bee and a debate
about the superiority of words vs. numbers.
Friday, Dec. 9 • 7 p.m.
The program’s grand finale features a visit from Norton Juster, author of The
Phantom Toolbooth. The event will be held in Presser Hall at Agnes Scott College. The program includes a special reading and signing. Leonard Marcus,
author of The Annotated Phantom Tollbooth, will interview Norton Juster. The
event is free and open to the community but is ticketed. Visit www.littleshopofstories.com for more information about ticket distribution.
The Phantom Tollbooth, by Norton Juster, was originally published in 1961,
making this fall the 50th anniversary of the beloved classic. In 1960, Mr. Juster
was an architect working on a nonfiction book for children about cities. Like
the protagonist in the novel, he got bored, and procrastinated on that project by
writing snippets about words and puns. This eventually became The Phantom
Tollbooth. Even while writing other books, Juster continued his profession as an
architect and a professor. He is now retired and lives in Amherst, Massachusetts.
On the Same Page thanks its partners: Little Shop of Stories, AJC Decatur
Book Festival, Decatur Education Foundation, and Decatur Rotary Club.
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Exceptional, Personalized Service
Experience, Insight, Integrity
PAM HUGHES
404.851.0732 / 404.250.9900
[email protected]
www.pam.hughes.harrynorman.com
20 | Decatur Focus • November 2011
he community is invited to the Waldorf
School of Atlanta’s (WSA) Annual Holiday
Fair on Saturday, Nov. 12. Children can enjoy
a range of activities including candle dipping,
jump rope making, face painting and an exciting trip
with the Vikings.
Magical one-of-a-kind shopping will be available for
children in the Enchantment Shop. The Fish Pond will
be fully stocked with more than 500 handmade fish and
water-themed treasures. The Pocket Lady’s cape will
give children a multitude of options for choosing special
items. An Artists Market and the Forest Shop will offer
gifts made from natural materials, including handmade
dolls, plant dyed yarns, wooden toys, jewelry, knitted items and toys. Food and live music will be offered
throughout the day.
The puppet show this year is Child of Faerie, Child
of Earth, based on the book by Jane Yolen. WSA parents
made the set and crafted the beautiful puppets for the
show. Several showings will be offered throughout the day.
Savvy shoppers will love the adults-only preview
night, Nov. 11, for shopping in the expanded Forest
Shop and the Artists Market. This is a great opportunity
to purchase Haba, Stockmar, and Ostheimer products
locally.
Admission to the event is free with fees for activities.
Waldorf School is at 827 Kirk Rd. Adjacent parking is
available at Columbia Presbyterian Church, 711 S. Columbia Dr. For more information call 404-377-1315, or
visit www.waldorfatlanta.org.
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School News
Decatur High Seniors Exceed
U.S. Average SAT Scores
R
ecently released Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) scores show
Decatur seniors scoring above state and national averages.
Eighty-nine percent of Decatur’s graduating class took the
SAT. The state average SAT composite score dropped from
1453 to 1445. The national average SAT composite score dropped
from 1509 to 1500. The Decatur average SAT composite score increased from 1513 to 1518.
The Critical Reading section on the
SAT offers the highest scores in Decatur.
The 516 average (800 is a perfect score on Decatur High Average
this sub-test) is 19 points above the nation
and 31 points above Georgia. Math continues to be an area where improvement
National Average
is needed. Decatur math scores stayed at
503. State math scores dropped to 487.
The gap between Decatur black and white students dropped from
495 to 421. Black students made significant gains, particularly in critical reading as scores increased from 417 to 441. Decatur’s black students outperformed other black students in critical reading, math, and
writing at the state and national levels.
1518
1500
?
Wondering
what’s going on
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Hometown?
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View a City of Decatur Residential Market Report
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4 0 4 . 6 4 2 . 2 2 2 7
431 W. Ponce de Leon Ave. | Decatur, GA 30030 | 404.373.9672
www.aboutmovement.com
November 2011 • Decatur Focus | 21
Around Town
The Seventeen Steps Celebrates
35 Years in Decatur
T
he Seventeen Steps celebrated 35 years in Decatur in October. In honor
of the anniversary stop in, make a purchase, and pick up a special post
card that can be used to receive 35 percent off any one regularly priced item. Decatur natives
Brenda Cobb, Julie Cobb and Susan Fleischman are the store’s mother-daughter team
– known for their personalized service and
complimentary gift wrapping.
The Seventeen Steps began in the basement
of the Trust Building literally at the bottom of
seventeen steps. From there the store moved to
121 Sycamore St., now the location of Iberian
Pig, to be more visible and easier for customers to
access. Patsy Thomas started the store in October
1976. Her daughter Karna Thomas Candler and
Karen Shinall took over the business until the fall of 1981 when the Cobb family purchased the store.
The store has been in three locations while owned by the Cobbs. In 1987 they
moved to 112 E. Ponce de Leon Ave, currently the home of Wild Oats and Billy
Goats and next door to what is now Parker’s on Ponce. From there, they moved
down the street to 205 E. Ponce de Leon, the current location of Noodle restaurant.
In 1999, they made a final move to 235 Ponce de Leon Place, near CVS pharmacy,
where parking is free and visible from the front door.
Through the years The Seventeen Steps has carried cards, calendars, puzzles,
candles, holiday decorations and gift items, Vera Bradley products, Crabtree & Evelyn products and more. The store is often a stop for event ticket sales: the Decatur
Garden Tour, Decatur Holiday Candlelight Tour of Homes, Garden of Eatin’, and
others.
Stop by and congratulate the Cobbs on their success and enjoy browsing
through their gift items. The Seventeen Steps will participate in Terrific Thursdays
with a variety of specials and specialty items.
Pictured is The Seventeen Steps in what is now Iberian Pig and the storefront in 1987 next to Buck’s/Mick’s and before Decatur implemented its ongoing
streetscapes program.
The Seventeen Steps at 121 Sycamore St. (top), 112 E. Ponce
de Leon Ave. (middle), and 235 Ponce de Leon Place (bottom)
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22 | Decatur Focus • November 2011
Around Town
Seen Around Town
Wa lk Fo r L u n ch W ra ps U p!
Mayor Pro Tem Jim Bas
kett joined Walk for Lun
for a lunchtime walk
ch founder Zuaquis Ro
to help bring the autum
n installment of the hea ss
lunch and fitness pro
gram to a close. The Wa
lthy
lk for Lunch program
return in the springtim
will
e.
A ut h or! A ut h or!
es
rray visits with Charl
l Board Chair Alice Mu
author as part of
the
Decatur Book Festiva
g
rin
no
ho
Lily
fé
ion at Ca
Frazier at a DBF recept
ning of his new book.
a for a reading and sig
his recent visit to Atlant
e first and
Decatur meets th
Kiwanis Club of
Feast
at
of every month
third Wednesday
orkw
et
Howard Ave. N
Restaurant, 314 E.
iately
ed
m
0 and lunch im
ing begins at 11:3
e
ar
s
or
on to 1 p.m. Visit
follows from no
is vian
w
Ki
e and share the
for
welcome – com
rg
.o
ne
ecatur.kiwaniso
sion. Visit www.d
information.
vites the
t Rebecca Hull in
Decatur residen
byterian
es
orth Decatur Pr
community to N
arket,
M
Alternative Gift
Church’s annual
for fair
op
Sh
10 a.m.-3 p.m.
Saturday, Dec. 3,
ably
on
as
re
y produced and
d
trade, sustainabl
an
l
oi
ive
fts, including ol
epriced holiday gi
us
ho
d
stine, clothing an
soaps from Pale
up and
Latin America, so
hold items from
products
re
d personal ca
brownie mixes an
ort people
pp
the U.S. that su
from projects in
from lofts
gi
elry and other
in transition, jew
organic
,
de
tra
ives, and fair
cal refugee initiat
at 611
is
C
DP
d chocolate. N
coffee, cocoa an
rsection of
Medlock Rd. (inte
tur Road-Scott
Medlock-N. Deca
Boulevard).
L o vi n g th e F ire work s
Walt Drake and 5-y
ear-old granddaug
hter Mclaine enjoy
fireworks in Septemb
the
er following the Co
ncert on the Square.
The fireworks were
rained out on July
4th.
November 2011 • Decatur Focus | 23
pre-sorted
standard
u.s. postage PAID
Permit No. 199
Decatur, GA 30031
PUSHING
Clear zone
Wednesday, October 12th 6 - 7 p.m.
Lifesaving Procedure for Heart Patients
For a reFerral to a DeKalb MeDical physician
or to reserve your space For these Free lectures,
please call 404.501.Well.
Parking is FREE and light refreshments will be served.
11-06-072 Decatur Focus Ad Revision.indd 1
9/8/11 12:25 PM
Printed on Recycled Paper
all seminars will take place in the
DeKalb Medical theatre on the north Decatur campus.
P.O. Box 220
Decatur, GA 30031-220
www.DeKalbMedical.org
Decatur
Thursday, November 3rd 6 - 7 p.m.
Treatment for Shoulder Pain
Focus
Thursday, October 13th 6 - 7 p.m.
Solutions to Hip Pain
DATED MATERIAL november 2011
Upcoming DeKalb Medical Talks