Focus April 2006.indd

In This Issue
Focus on Downtown Development ....... 2
Decatur Greenspace News ..................... 3
Recreation News and Opportunities...... 4
Teapot Show at The Seen ..................... 5
News from Shops and Restaurants....... 7
From the DBA President ......................... 8
May Concerts Series Previews ............. 10
Official Publication of The City of Decatur, Georgia • April 2006 • Volume 16 • Number 8
Seen Around Decatur .......................... 13
Square Roots Celebrates New Ownership
The new owners of Square Roots are celebrating with an Open House weekend and storewide sale. Maura Buchman and Katie Epps will kick off the
festivities with an Open House cocktail party on Saturday evening, April 8,
6-9 p.m. Refreshments will be served and many local artists will be on hand
to welcome the new owners.
On Sunday, April 9, local folk artist Kathy Stalker, a.k.a. the “chicken
lady,” will be in the store painting and chatting with customers. Customers
can enter to win one of her signature pieces.
Square Roots features local folk artists, whimsical garden art, home accents created out of recycled products, fresh flowers, primitive country antiques, unique children’s gifts and much more. The shop has been featured
in Southern Living Magazine, Atlanta Magazine’s “Best of Atlanta,” Jezebel,
Delta Sky Miles Magazine, and Creative Loafing’s “Best of Atlanta.”
Maura Buchman was an employee of Square Roots for more than two
years. “It was a true fit when I started working here and it made perfect
sense for me to own it one day!” she says. Katie Epps adds: “I had always
dreamed of owning my own business. This felt right from the moment we
started talking about it!”
Square Roots is at 117 E. Court Square. Call 404-371-9900 or visit
www.squarerootsdecatur.com for information.
VFW Salutes Decatur Heroes
VFW Post 4706 recognized two
Decatur firefighters for their dedication to saving lives in the line of
duty. Captain Kevin Roy received
the Outstanding Firefighter award
for his ingenuity in arranging the
fire engine’s generator to provide
power to a patient’s life support
machine that had lost primary and
backup power during a power outage in a storm. This action saved
the patient’s life. Craig Dubose received the Outstanding EMT award
for his rescue of a trapped person
from a burning vehicle during an
auto accident.
INSIDE!
Look for the annual
Kids Activity booklet. It’s filled
with games and puzzles about
Decatur government and city
services. Have fun with it while
you learn how Decatur works
as a city.
Multiple copies are available for interested students,
scout troops, after-school
groups, and other organizations
that work with children. Call
404-371-8386 or email
[email protected] to
request extra copies.
Focus on
Downtown
Development
Just the Facts
THE DEBATE CONTINUES OVER THE PROPOSED MIXED-USE DEVELOPMENT ON
E. Howard Avenue. The project was denied by the Decatur Planning Commission and the developer requested that it be tabled by the Decatur City
Commission to give him time to refine compromise solutions to respond to
comments made by members of the planning commission.
Many recent emails and letters we’ve received indicate a number of misunderstandings related to this project. Here are the facts:
human scale height for the downtown commercial district. There was no height limit in
downtown Decatur before then.
1. This project did not require a rezoning.
The property for this proposed development
is already zoned C-2 downtown commercial
and has been used for commercial and industrial purposes for decades.
7. The E. Howard Avenue corridor is envisioned to develop into a mixed-use commercial corridor with a heavy emphasis on art
galleries and studios. It is anchored on the
east by the 70+-foot-tall Ice House and the
120+-foot-tall Philips Tower. Older buildings along the corridor offer an opportunity
to bring in additional restaurants and galleries that would be enhanced by the streetlevel retail included in the proposed project.
2. The proposed project met all of the zoning requirements including height, setback
and building plane that stepped the height
away from the rear lot lines of the four
single properties impacted.
3. There are only two areas where the
downtown commercial district adjoins single family properties – along the E. Howard
Avenue corridor (including this property)
and along the block of W. Ponce de Leon
Avenue between Ponce de Leon Place and
Fairview Avenue.
4. The Oakhurst commercial district and
the commercially zoned properties along E.
College Avenue are zoned C-1 neighborhood commercial, which is more restrictive
in terms of height limit and density.
5. At 80 feet, the property is not a high-rise
but a mid-rise similar to most new buildings
constructed in downtown Decatur.
6. The 80-foot height limit was adopted by
the City of Decatur in 1988 to establish a
8. Streetscape improvements proposed for
this area – and to be financed in part by private sector developments like this one – will
improve pedestrian linkage to the rest of
downtown and neighborhoods to the south.
9. Had the project been strictly retail or
office, it would have required no review or
approval. The residential component of the
project triggered the review process and was
a condition added in the 1980s to allow the
city to control the quality of housing projects in the downtown district.
10. The developer offered several options
including removing two levels of the wing
closest to the residential properties to lower
the step back from the required 60-degree
see Just the Facts, page 6
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 e-mail to [email protected].
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 1st day of the month preceding
publication. Contact: Editor, Decatur Focus, P.O.
Box 220, Decatur, GA 30031, 404/371-8386; fax
404/371-1593; e-mail: [email protected].
DECATUR CITY COMMISSION
Bill Floyd ................................................. Mayor
Jim Baskett ............................. Mayor Pro Tem
Fred Boykin .............................. Commissioner
Kecia Cunningham .................. Commissioner
Mary Alice Kemp...................... Commissioner
DECATUR DOWNTOWN
DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY
Board
Sheila Hunt, Chair
Ed Bowen, Vice Chair
Fred Cavalli
Bruce Cohen
John Drake
John Joyner
Jim Philips
Betty Spiker
Decatur Business
Association
DECATUR BUSINESS ASSOCIATION
Jeff Hancock .................................... President
Jason Conn ............................. President-Elect
Laura Bevins .................................... Treasurer
Neil Dobbs........................................ Secretary
Fred Cavalli...............................Past President
Design and layout: Lampe-Farley Communications
2 | Decatur Focus • April 2006
CITY NEWS
Firearms Safety Kits Available
Project ChildSafe is a nationwide program dedicated to promoting safe and responsible
firearms ownership and storage. Through a partnership with the group, the Decatur Police
Department has a number of firearms safety kits available free of charge to the community.
The kits include a cable-style gun-locking device and a safety brochure covering a variety of
options for firearms storage.
Call 404-373-6551 or email [email protected] if you would like a firearms safety
kit, or ask for one at the police department front window.
Cycling Class Offered
The Atlanta Bicycle Campaign will host its Basic Effective Class at the Decatur DeKalb
YMCA on Saturday, April 29, 9 a.m.-2 p.m. The class is for bicyclists who would like to
ride more but don’t feel comfortable riding in traffic. It focuses on the principles of vehicular cycling, positioning on the roadway and at intersections, laws pertaining to bicyclists,
bike-handling skills, and emergency maneuvers. It also covers bicycle fit, helmet use, and
gear shifting. The techniques taught are designed to allow you to ride more confidently.
For information, visit www.atlantabike.org, call 404-881-1112, or email atlantabikeclass
@mindspring.com.
Join the Earth Day Celebration
Saturday, April 22 • Oakhurst
The Earth Day Celebration begins at 8:30 a.m. with the
Oakhurst Neighborhood Association (ONA) Neighborhood Clean Up. Then, educational and family activities will take place from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Oakhurst
Presbyterian Church, Oakhurst Park and the Samuel L.
Jones Boys and Girls Club, featuring Eric Litwin, arts and
crafts, a health fair, and a Wildlife Conservation program.
The Oakhurst Business Association will provide live music and
fun at Harmony Park throughout the afternoon and into the evening.
For more information call Oakhurst Presbyterian Church, 404-378-6284; email
[email protected]; call the Decatur Recreation Department, 404-377-0494; email
[email protected]; or visit www.decaturga.com.
Lamont Drive Pavement Replacement Project
The City of Decatur is scheduled to rebuild a section of Lamont Drive in May. All construction and associated work will be done within the city street right-of-way.
During construction, the section of Lamont Drive from Peavine Creek to Scott Boulevard will be closed to all through-traffic. However, local resident and emergency vehicle
access will be maintained.
The existing street pavement and base material will be reclaimed using a process known
as full-depth reclamation, a construction process that minimizes impact to trees, landscaping and utilities.
The project should take approximately a month to complete depending on the weather.
Thank you for your patience and cooperation during the construction, which may temporarily affect traffic flows from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Mondays through Fridays and from 9
a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturdays.
Contact John Madajewski at 404-377-6198 or email [email protected] if you
have questions or need more information.
News from Decatur
Greenspaces
The Decatur Preservation Alliance
and the Oakhurst Community Garden Project invite the community
to participate in these classes and
volunteer days:
Woodlands Garden Project
920 Scott Blvd.
• Wild Edibles Class, Saturday, April
15, 10 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
• Weekday Gardening – Wednesday
morning, April 5 and 19, 9-11 a.m.
Call 404-371-4444 or email
Kimberly@decaturpreservationalliance.
org for details.
Oakhurst Community Garden
Project
435 Oakview Rd.
Building a Labyrinth: Laying It
Out Temporarily and Making It
Permanent – Saturday, April 1, 1-4
p.m.
• Chicks and the City: Keeping
Chickens for Eggs, Compost, and
Endless Amusement – April 8, 10
a.m.-noon
• To “Bee” is to Do: Learn to Be a
Beekeeper – April 8, 1-4 p.m.
• Spring Plant Sale – Saturday, April
8, 9 a.m.-1 p.m.
Great deals on an array of more
than 40 types of flowers, organic
vegetables, herbs, ground covers,
shrubs, and trees – all locally grown.
• Workday – April 1, 9 a.m.-noon
Come and help with weeding,
mulching and other fun jobs to
prepare the garden for the coming
growing season.
For more information on Oakhurst Communtiy
Garden events, call 404-377-8675 or email
[email protected].
April 2006 • Decatur Focus | 3
CITY NEWS
Recreation Activities & News
The 15th annual Tennis Tournament is scheduled for May 8-14, with
both singles and doubles play. Registration deadline is May 5. Plan to
participate or come and watch the fun. Call 404-377-7231 for information.
Like to swim? Try the family swim at the Samuel L. Jones Boys and
Girls Club pool. Residents may use the pool twice a week for aquatic
exercise and family time. Call 404-377-7231 for cost and scheduling.
Choose a day camp or specialty camp for summer fun. Pictured are
participants in the adventure, skating, and fencing camps. Registration is ongoing until spaces are filled. Call 404-377-0494 to register.
Touch-A-Truck
at McKoy Park
Saturday, April 29 •10 a.m.-1 p.m
Come and see, touch, and explore your favorite big truck. You’ll find fire trucks, dump
trucks, tractors, police cars, motorcycles
and more. Lego table for the kids and lunch
available for purchase. Free. Visit www.decaturga.com for information.
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       
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       
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The DeKalb History Center
Congratulates Elizabeth Wilson
Our 2006 History Maker Award Recipient
Your decisions and actions made history and
changed the face of our community!
Thanks to our sponsors…
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       
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4 | Decatur Focus • April 2006
DeKalb
History Center

 
Agnes Scott College; City of Decatur; Decatur
Business Association; Decatur Downtown
Development Authority; Decatur First Bank; DeKalb Convention &
Visitors Bureau; DeKalb Library Foundation, Inc.; Jean and Jerry
Eichkoff; Bill & Sydney Floyd; Georgia Power; McCurdy & Candler,
LLC.; Rutland Contracting; South Decatur Community
Development Corporation; Judy Turner; Vision Properties and
Wilson, Morton and Downs, LLC.
CITY NEWS
Blue Moon Designs Announces Specials
Blue Moon Designs, a shop specializing in home furnishings, décor and lighting, is located in Houston House, 418 Church Street, the historic home built in 1905 by Decatur’s
first doctor. In December 2005, Blue Moon celebrated the 100th birthday of Houston
House.
Blue Moon announces these events and special offers for 2006:
• Feng Shui classes resume in May with certified Feng Shui practitioner Roberta Grant.
(Two-hour classes for $20; must pre-register to be assured a space; walk-ins welcome if
space permits).
• Watch for the monthly “Full Moon” Sale – a one-day discount on one sale item.
• Choose an Egg – Get a Discount basket. For two days (Good Friday, April 14, and
Saturday, April 15) at Blue Moon’s register, choose an egg from the basket when you are
ready to pay and receive the discount inside the egg on your highest-priced item.
Also: shop for great treasures for Mother’s Day and Father’s Day; spruce up your home
and porch with Blue Moon furniture; visit “Blue Heaven” (Blue Moon retail upstairs) for
new and previously loved items; try massage therapy upstairs by appointment with Melissa
Saunders (gift certificates available).
For more information, call 404-378-1114.
Oh Baby! Fitness Offers Pregnancy Pilates
Oh Baby! Fitness offers Pregnancy Pilates classes in April. Learn how to tone and strengthen
your body as it goes through the remarkable changes of pregnancy. The unique workout
uses a modified sequence of Pilates exercises designed especially for pregnant women. Pilates helps strengthen a pregnant woman’s pelvic floor, improves balance and alignment
as the body grows bigger and helps reduce lower back pain. No prior Pilates experience is
needed.
Oh Baby! Fitness offers a variety of prenatal classes including: Pregnancy Aqua, Pregnancy Yoga, Total Body Toning, Birth Ball Fitness and Toning, Fitness & Yoga Combo – a new
class that incorporates yoga, toning and aerobic exercises. Postnatal classes include: H2Oh
Baby (water aerobics), Mom & Baby Yoga, Mom & Baby Fitness, Pilates & Ab Recovery,
Stroller Workout and Mom & Toddler Yoga.
Classes are offered at locations throughout Decatur, including the Solarium and Tessitura music studio in Oakhurst, the Wellness Center at DeKalb Medical Center, Agnes Scott
College and Emory University’s Clairemont campus.
Find out more and register online at www.ohbabyfitness.com or call 678-528-1390 for
more information. Classes are $60 for a six-week session or $12 for one-class drop-ins.
Temple Gallery
Extends Hours
DeKalb Council for the Arts’ Temple Gallery is now open every second and fourth
Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Plan to
stop by on April 8 and April 22 to see the
exhibits. The Temple Gallery is a nonprofit
gallery committed to bringing innovative
art and artists to the community. All events
are free and open to the public. For information call 404-371-8826 or visit www.
dcarts.org.
The Seen Gallery
Presents Atlanta
Teapot Festival
The Seen Gallery, in conjunction with
the Signature Shop and Mudfire Gallery, presents the inaugural Atlanta Teapot Festival, featuring more than 100
artists from across the United States
and abroad. The festival opens at all
three galleries on Saturday, April 15.
The Seen Gallery’s opening will
be from 6 to 11 p.m. and will run
through May 16, with juried selections
and invited works by Lisa Stinson,
Mitchell Zwick, Kimberly Dean, and
Joanna Stecker.
Visit www.atlantateapotfestival.com
for details on the festival or www.theseengallery.com for information about
The Seen Gallery.
Holy Trinity Parish Preschool to Open
Holy Trinity Parish Episcopal Church in Decatur announces the opening of Holy Trinity Parish Preschool in September. The preschool will serve families with children ages
1-4 with a half-day preschool program.
The focus of the school is to create in each child a foundation of trust in others. They will
work with students to build positive relationships by using language, problem solving, and
conflict resolution. Small class sizes ensure individualized academic plans within the group’s
thematic lessons. Open houses will be held in the spring at 515 E. Ponce de Leon Ave.
Call 404-377-2622 ext. 216 or email [email protected] for information and dates
of the spring open houses.
April 2006 • Decatur Focus | 5
CITY NEWS
Coaching Connection: Attract
Perfect Customers
The Coaching Connection, a Decatur-based
group of trained and certified professional life
coaches, is hosting a series called “Attracting
Perfect Customers: The Power of Strategic Synchronicity.” The four-week course is designed to
help business owners attract “perfect” customers
and increase profitability.
Participants can attend on Mondays: April
10, 17, 24 and May 1, 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m., with
Wendy Watkins, CPCC, ACC, of PassionFruit
Creative Business Growers; or on Wednesdays:
April 12, 19, 26 and May 3, 4-5:30 p.m., with
Laura Biering, MM, CPCC, of True Voices
Coaching and Facilitation.
The cost is $247. For more information or
to register, call 404-373-7615, or email thecoa
[email protected]. All classes are
held at 403 W. Ponce de Leon Ave., Suite 117.
Just the Facts
continued from page 2
plane to a 45-degree plane. He also offered to
lower the building from 35 feet to 25 feet where
it abutted the single family properties and remove an entire floor of the residential wings,
reducing the height from 80 feet to 70 feet.
Both options were rejected by the neighborhood committee.
These facts are offered to help put to rest
rumors that rampant rezoning of single-family properties for commercial projects is just
around the bend.
The City of Decatur and the Decatur
Downtown Development Authority clearly defined the downtown commercial district for Decatur in 1982 with the adoption of the Decatur
Town Center Plan. Decatur continues to be recognized as a model for Smart Growth development strategies specifically because of the Town
Center Plan and our approach to implementing
the goals and guidelines of this plan.
We realize that in the two areas where the
downtown commercial district adjoins singlefamily properties there is room for additional
refinement of the guidelines, and we intend to
work to find an acceptable compromise.
6 | Decatur Focus • April 2006
Icon Painting Class at Holy Trinity Parish
Holy Trinity Parish is offering a class in iconography the week of April 17. Students
will paint the icon The Archangel Michael. Tuition for the class is $200 and includes instruction, prepared boards, brushes, gold leaf and pigments. Classes will meet Monday
through Friday, April 17-21, 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Registration is due by April 7 and a deposit of
$75 is required.
Instructors Judy Langford and Sandy Kezar are from Bradenton, Florida. They have
taught iconography for many years and this is their third year teaching at Holy Trinity.
Both are established artists with works in both public and private collections.
For more information and registration call Holy Trinity Parish, 404-377-2622. If
you have questions about the class, email Sandy Kezar at [email protected]. The class
will be offered to a limited number of students.
Tropical Smoothie Café Offers Healthy Eating on the Go
Tropical Smoothie Café is a new quick-serve restaurant for people who like to eat
healthy even when they’re on the go. The café serves gourmet wraps, special sandwiches, salad, and soups, as well as smoothies.
All smoothies are made with fresh fruit and turbinado sugar. Supplements for
smoothies are offered, including soy and whey protein, energizer, fat metabolizer and
more. The wraps and sandwiches are all made with low sodium, quality Boar’s Head
meats. Cookies are freshly baked.
Breakfast starts at 8 a.m. weekdays with bagels, muffins and bagel sandwiches and
special breakfast wraps. Enjoy fresh brewed Hawaiian coffee and a selection of juices.
Tropical Smoothie also offers catering for events or office meetings, with a variety of
menu selections to choose from.
The café is at 335 W. Ponce De Leon Ave. and features outdoor seating. Hours are
Monday-Friday, 8 a.m.-8 p.m.; Saturday 10 a.m.-8 p.m.; and Sunday noon-8 p.m.
Call to order ahead: 404-687-9575.
Decatur Arts Festival Poster to Be Unveiled
Mark your calendar for Thursday, May 4, 5-7 p.m., and join the Decatur Arts Alliance as they unveil the
2006 Decatur Arts Festival Poster. This year’s poster was designed by folk artist Maurice Cook, seen here
adding finishing touches to one of his works, who will be on hand to sign posters. The event will take
place at the Old Courthouse on the Square. For more information, visit www.decaturartsalliance.org.
DBA NEWS
Tidbits from Decatur Shops, Restaurants & Services
One Step at a Time Celebrates Five Years
One Step at a Time, the elite running store in the Oakhurst
Business District, celebrated its fifth anniversary on March 1.
Proprietor Charles Cope, a retired math teacher and a lifelong
runner, looks forward to many more years. “With all the runners
in Decatur, we should have our own running store,” says Cope.
“This is even truer now than five years ago. Many thanks to what
has become a legion of loyal customers.”
Visit One Step at a Time, 650-B East Lake Dr., or call 404377-1030 for information.
Duck’s Keeps It Real
Welcome to Duck’s Cosmic Kitchen – a new bakery and bistro
in East Decatur Station. Duck’s “keeps it real” by baking from
scratch and using the freshest, highest quality ingredients available. They also believe in having fun and providing an enjoyable
experience for customers.
Located at 111-D New St., Duck’s offers both carry-out and
indoor dining in the Satellite Room. They also do catering. Visit
www.duckyscookies.com for information or call 404-371-8823.
Call for Motorcycle Art and Artists
The Seen Gallery will present a show beginning Saturday, July
22, that revolves around motorcycles – the machines themselves
and the lifestyle. Interested artists are invited to send submissions
to The Seen Gallery, Suite 7A, 321 W. Hill Street, Decatur, GA
30030 or by email to [email protected].
Requirements are: seven images (slides, jpegs, photographic
prints) of currently available work (including retail prices), artist bio and statement. The ending date of the show has not yet
been established. Contact the gallery at 404-377-0733 or email
[email protected] for more information.
Alexia Features New Items
Alexia Gallery owner Corinne Herbst has just returned from two
jewelry and craft shows, bringing back a number of new items.
Included is work by well-known jewelry designer Carolyn Tyler.
Pieces by other new talent will arrive periodically throughout
the summer. Stop by often to see work by local artists: Kristen
Organ’s metal clocks and playful jewelry, Ann Davis’s bold African beads, Char Hill’s colorful scarves, and Martha Hightower
McClatchey’s popular silver work. Visit www.alexiagallery.com
for information.
Little Peeps Art Gallery Offers Classes
Little Peeps Art Gallery “for children and children at heart” is
open for business. The gallery at 810 Church St. offers children’s art classes, Mommy and Me toddler classes, adult workshops, a professional artist gallery and a children’s art gallery.
Contact Michelle Abeyta for information at 404-687-1192 or
[email protected]; or visit www.littlepeepsartgallery.com.
About Movement/Decatur Hot Yoga Present Workshops
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About Movement Pilates Studio and Decatur Hot Yoga are presenting two Yamuna Body Rolling
workshops in April. Instructor Melissa Wirsig and has just returned from a week-long internship at
the flagship Yamuna studio in New York. Yamuna Body Rolling reeducates muscles and stimulates
bone, creating positive, permanent changes in the body.
Yamuna Body Rolling For Foot and Knee
Saturday April 8 from 4:30 until 6 p.m.
This class will teach the use of plastic half-spheres called Foot Wakers, powerful tools for improving
foot function. Foot Wakers actually re-educate feet, stimulate reflexology points, strengthen arches,
increase range of motion, and stimulate and elongate the muscles of the calves, thighs, hips, and
lower back. Intensive work with Foot Wakers can rehabilitate foot problems while also improving
the rest of the body.
Yamuna Body Rolling For Low Back and Hip
Saturday April 22 from 4:30 until 6 p.m.
Partipants in this class will do a series of routines using 6- to 10-inch balls to work specific muscles
in detail, creating suppleness in tight areas and optimizing range of motion.
About Movement Pilates Studio and Decatur Hot Yoga are located at 431 W. Ponce de Leon Avenue. For more information, call 44-377-4899 or visit www.decaturhotyoga.com
404-327-4871
SELLING HOMES IN DECATUR
SINCE 1986
MIRIAM MATHURA, GRI, ABR�
[email protected]
April 2006 • Decatur Focus | 7
DBA NEWS
Seen at the February DBA Meeting
FROM THE DBA PRESIDENT
The Decatur Business Association is gearing up
for its spring events for the community. Plans
are underway for the May Concerts on the
Square and Blue Sky Concerts. We will hold the
Blue Sky Concerts at the Community Bandstand and the Concerts on the Square will once Jeff Hancock
again hit the road with concerts at Columbia
Seminary, Agnes Scott College, Oakhurst’s Harmony Park and
the Arts Festival. Details will follow next month. In the meantime, enjoy the photos from our February Black History Month
celebration, put together by Mayor Emerita Elizabeth Wilson.
If you are interested in joining DBA, visit one of our monthly meetings. On April 25 we will meet at Carpe Diem restaurant, with networking and reception beginning at 5:15 and the
program at 6 p.m. The meeting is sponsored by DeKalb Medical Center and will feature a special DMC presentation.
April with YPOD and Young Bucks
Young Professionals of Decatur (YPOD) teams up with
the Young Bucks to present
Annabelle Gurwitch, author
of Fired! Tales of the Canned,
Cancelled, Downsized and
Dismissed. The meeting will
be held on Thursday, April 20, at the Carter Center
Library. Network from 7-7:30, and the program
begins at 8. Free for members of YPOD and Young
Bucks and $10 for nonmembers. The event is sponsored by Firenze Marketing and Friends of the AJC
Decatur Book Festival. Visit www.youngpods.org
for more details.
8 | Decatur Focus • April 2006
DBA NEWS
Join the Spring Stroll on April 22
Alexia Gallery, Boswell Gallery and Creative Spirit are
hosting a Spring Stroll, Saturday, April 22, noon-8 p.m.
Creative Spirit and Alexia Gallery are at 335 W. Ponce de
Leon on the ground floor of the new condos. Boswell Gallery is just across the way at West Ponce Place behind Viet
Chateau and across from Café Lily.
Be the first to visit some of Decatur’s newest shops and
your old favorites. Start at any of these three galleries and
see what is hot for spring at each one. Enjoy light hors
d’oeuvres and beverages fitting spring and the time of day. Spring Sunflowers by Rory
The owners of Alexia Gallery have just returned from Powers, Boswell Gallery
two major buying shows and have added many new wood, glass, pottery and jewelry
artisans, including nationally acclaimed gold jewelry designer Carolyn Tyler.
Don’t miss this opportunity to view many new spring-inspired masterworks from
some of Boswell Gallery’s distinctive artists.
And, if you haven’t shopped at Creative Spirit’s new location yet, now is the time.
With more than 50 local artists, the gallery is featuring new work by several local potters. Come and meet the artists and take home a treasure!
For more information, call Becky at 404-377-0141, or visit www.boswellgallery.
com, www.alexiagallery.com, or www.csgallery.com.
Oh la-la Calms and Invigorates
Welcome to Oh la-la Salon and Spa in downtown Decatur. Oh la-la is an Aveda Salon
with a relaxing, calming, invigorating atmosphere. Come and treat yourself to a new
hair color or cut while relaxing by the lavish waterfall. Sip a cappuccino or selected teas
and enjoy a facial or therapeutic body treatment. The salon’s diverse stylists will consult
with you on what you want. Hair extensions? Just highlights? A complete makeover?
Oh-la-la is also proud to offer the new non-surgical face lift treatment that can erase
years from your face and is one of Hollywood’s biggest secrets.
The salon is at 224 E. Ponce de Leon Ave. Salon Director Jacqueline Perk invites
you to stop in or call 404-378-2988 to find out about special offers and packages.
Sevya Presents Handcrafts from India
Sevya is now open for business at 222 E. Ponce de Leon Ave., under the Decatur Renaissance condos. “Sevya” means caring through service; caring for humanity and for
the environment in which we live.
Sevya products are hand-made with the finest natural fibers and materials. Sevya
works with artisans throughout India to enhance their marketing capacity and preserve
the traditional and eco-friendly methods of handicraft production. Revenue earned is
used to fund development programs throughout India.
Sevya features a wide range of fine art, clothing, home furnishings, jewelry, and gift
items. Drop by and welcome them to the neighborhood. Call 404-377-9070 or visit
www.sevya.com for information.
See New Kids’ Apparel at Salon Red Kids/Hoopla
Stop by Salon Red Kids and Hoopla to see their new spring kids’ apparel and “new
mommy” accessories. SalonRed Kids/Hoopla is at 123 E. Ponce de Leon Ave. Call
404-377-6914 for information.
Spring Watercolor Classes
at Creative Spirit
Well-known local watercolor artist Gail
Novak continues teaching watercolor classes
at Creative Spirit Gallery. The classes are
designed for beginners as well as those with
some painting experience. Students explore
the many uses of this extraordinary medium. Several students have continued to
paint with Gail and enjoy her ability to take
the stress out of learning something new.
The eight-week spring series begins
Monday, April 10, 7-9 p.m. Class size is
limited to eight students, so call the gallery
at 404-377-0141 today to register. Cost is
$120.
The gallery is at 335 West Ponce de
Leon Ave. Free parking behind the 335
West Ponce building can be accessed at the
west end near Nease’s Needlework. Current
hours are Tuesday through Saturday, 11
a.m.-7 p.m.
That Pottery Place Offers
Week-long Art Camp
Attention all campers (ages 6-11) – sign
up for That Pottery Place’s fun one-week
program for children. The week is filled
with activities, including clay building,
pottery painting, children’s arts and crafts,
and more. Pick from four themed weeks of
fun, Monday-Friday, 9 a.m.-2 p.m. on the
following dates:
June 12-16 • Travel Week
June 19-23 • Nature and Garden Week
July 17-21 • Safari Week
July 24-28 • Beach Week
The program is $160 per camper with
a 10 percent discount for families with two
or more kids enrolled. Call 404-371-4557
to make a reservation or visit
www.potteryplacedecatur.com.
Also, plan now to enjoy the potterypainting experience with your mom. Come
in on Mother’s Day and Mom will receive a
20 percent discount.
April 2006 • Decatur Focus | 9
EVENTS
Concerts on the Square Back on the Road
The Concerts on the Square series is going back on the road for the
first three concerts in May. Mark your calendars now and plan to
pack your picnics and hit the road:
May 6
May 13
May 20
May 27
nce
a
i
l
l
A
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o
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t
va
ser
Decatu r Pre
&"Swine" n
A t tio
DeKalb Symphony at Columbia Seminary
Fletcher Dozier at Harmony Park in Oakhurst
Morgan Rowe at Agnes Scott College
Lekan’s Funk & Soul Revue at the
Arts Festival/back on the square
Watch for more information
in the May Focus, visit www.
decaturga.com, or call 404371-9583. Concerts on the
Square, sponsored by Wachovia Bank, are held every
Saturday night in May and
September.
ti
@ Func
ve.
oward A
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8
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You’re Invited
Featuring works by new and established artists, including Holle
Black, Erin Smith, Christine Tyler, Jill Alikonis and Bill Bibb.
Tickets: $75, or VIP table sponsorships for $1,000 (includes
signage and program listing.)
Tickets available at www.decaturpreservationalliance.org,
or call 404-371-4444.
Blue Sky Concerts
Remain in the Bandstand
Blue Sky Concerts, sponsored by
SunTrust Bank, are
held every Wednesday
in May from noon to
1 p.m. They will remain
in the Community
Bandstand on the square.
Look for details in the
May Focus and at
www.decaturga.com.
2006
Time for a change?
Call EMILIE MARKERT
Selling Decatur with TLC…
Since 1984
RE/MAX Executives, Inc.
404-378-9300
Outstanding Agents, Outstanding results
10 | Decatur Focus • April 2006
April 28
Friday,
7-11 pmon:
EVENTS
Jazz Nights at Scottish Rite Return
Join the Fun at the DPCC Spring Carnival
The Oakhurst Neighborhood Association and the Community
Center of South Decatur present Jazz Nights at Scottish Rite,
a four-week candlelit concert series at the historic Scottish Rite
Hospital. Bring a picnic to the hospital lawn, 321 W. Hill St., and
enjoy jazz under the stars from 7 to 9 p.m. Blankets only, please.
The concert series is rain or shine; the Solarium at Scottish Rite
provides a wonderfully intimate concert experience in case of inclement weather.
Scheduled performers are Joe Grandsen, April 6; The Serenata
Band, April 13; and Nicole Chillemi, April 27. The performer for
April 20 has yet to be determined.
Visit www.oakhurstjazznights.com for details about the performers and directions to the concert site.
April 28 • 6-8 p.m.
Decatur Presbyterian Children’s Community Carnival will feature
moon-walks, pony and train rides, games, food, music and more.
The carnival will be held at Decatur Presbyterian Church, 205
Sycamore St. It is open to the public.
DPCC is a learning environment for children ranging in age
from three months through kindergarten. The program includes
indoor and outdoor play, art, music, literature, science, social studies, and reading and math readiness. Classes run from September
through May. For more information call Ellen McClure, DPCC
director, 404-378-1770.
Decatur Library Presents Hair of the Dog
Theatre Decatur announces a children’s theatre
production, Paint, to be
performed:
April 8, 15, 22, and 29,
11 a.m. and 1 p.m., and
April 16 and 23, 2 p.m.
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10/06/2005 10:03
Call
404-373-5311 or visit www.theatredecatur.com.
Hair of the Dog, named Best International/World Band by the Creative Loafing in 2005, will play at the Decatur Library on Tuesday,
April 25, at 7 p.m. CL says Hair of the Dog “isn’t limited to one
trick, and on any given night it may rip through a stack of classic
country tunes, or a perfect Delta blues riff.” For more information,
contact Friends of Decatur Library at 404-380-3070.
Theatre Decatur Children’s Performance
PM
Page 1
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Toys • Candy •
Books • Clothing •
Unique Baby
(located in beautiful downtown
Decatur under the same roof
as Salon Red Kids)
Hoopla, Inc.
123 E. Ponce de Leon Ave.
Decatur, GA 30030
404-377-6230
www.hooplakids.com
April 2006 • Decatur Focus | 11
EVENTS
Renfroe Auction ‘Greenwich on Ponce’ is April 21
DHS Student Arts Show
at The Seen
The Renfroe Middle School PTA’s fifth annual “Greenwich on Ponce” Spring Auction
will be held on Friday, April 21, at the Old
Courthouse on the Square. More than 200
guests attended last year, helping to raise a
record $24,155 in one night.
The event features live music, catering
by fine Decatur restaurants, and a winetasting by Banfi Vintners. Tickets are $25
per person and may be purchased by visiting www.renfroepta.org.
The auction is the major fund-raising
event for the Parent Teacher Association of
Renfroe Middle School, helping to reduce the
cost of student enrichment programs. Money
raised by the auction underwrites student
field trips, such as an annual field trip to
Tybee Island for hands-on science education.
On April 29, 6-9 p.m. come and enjoy the
work of Decatur High School visual art
students at The Seen Gallery, 321 W. Hill
Street.
Hosted by the Parent Teacher Student
Association’s cultural arts committee, the
exhibition will include artworks in various
media. Jazz music provided by student performing artists will be part of the entertainment during the Saturday evening event.
Visual art should be submitted to the
DHS art teacher, Wendy Keith-Ott, at
Decatur High School by April 13. Questions: contact Ms. Keith-Ott or call Rodney Grainger, 404-377-2241, or Mary Lou
Castle, 404-296-6220.
Old Courthouse Gala Supports Clubs, Field Trips
It also helps purchase art supplies and band
uniforms; helps teachers purchase classroom
supplies; and supports school clubs.
Area businesses and individuals can support community education by donating
goods or services, time or just by attending
the event. Sponsors will be honored in the
auction program, the night of the event,
and on the website. A private table for 8-10
guests may be reserved for $400.
Examples of items donated last year by
Renfroe teachers include a home-cooked
dinner for six; a personalized tour of Atlanta; a pool party; coaching or tutoring;
and artwork. For more information about
the auction, contact auction co-chair
Hadley Richarde at 404-313-7770, or
[email protected].
NATTO CARPET
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227 N. McDonough St.
404-378-4046
Need to Be
Kneaded?
Joan Rau
Certified Massage Therapist
404.784.2225
425 Commerce Dr., Decatur
[email protected]
12 | Decatur Focus • April 2006
Scheaf’s Painting
Scheaf’s Painting is now located in Decatur. We are a painting company that has served the metro Atlanta area for the past decade with
attention to detail on new and old homes. We pride ourselves on
customer service and efficiency to complete jobs in a timely and professional manner. Please feel free to call us anytime for a free comprehensive proposal on any of your interior or exterior painting needs
404-343-1349
SEEN AROUND DECATUR
SEEN AROUND DECATUR
Each year, Georgia high schools select
the student with the highest SAT score
to be named STAR student for his/her
school. The STAR student, in turn,
selects the teacher who has made the
greatest impact on his/her educational
career to be the STAR teacher. Decatur
High School’s STAR student for 2006 is
Virginia Newman; her STAR teacher is
Gerard Pendrick.
Coldwell Banker-the Bird Team and Home American Mortgage-Mark Moore
are proud sponsors of the Decatur Gators swim team. Pictured are Susan Bird
and Katina Asbell, with Maggie Hamilton, the team coach, and swim team
members. For information about joining or sponsoring call 404-377-0494.
More than 20 Agnes Scott students spent their spring break cleaning up
homes in hurricane-damaged Louisiana. They traveled to Lake Charles,
which was hit by Hurricane Rita. Non-traditional spring breaks are annual
events at Agnes Scott, according to Gue Hudson, vice president of student
life and community relations and dean of students.
Today:
Cold fish
Tomorrow:
Catch of the day
No more hiding. Show off what you’ve
been covering up for so long: your smile. Our
expert team of cosmetic dentists can help. A
beautiful smile begins with healthy teeth.
Call us at 404.636.1200 for a whiter,
straighter, more structurally sound smile.
Change your look, and you just might change
your outlook on life.
Saturday and
evening
appointments
available.
2058 North Decatur Road · Decatur, GA 30033 | www.bluecreekdental.com
On the corner of Clairmont and N. Decatur Rd., near Kinko’s.
April 2006 • Decatur Focus | 13
AROUND DECATUR
★ Andrew C. Hall, D. Max
Hirsh, and Mike McDaniel announce the opening
of Hall Hirsh & McDaniel, LLC, 150 E. Ponce
de Leon Ave., Suite 450;
404-638-5880. They practice in the areas of criminal
defense and civil litigation.
★ Working Title Playwrights
(WTP) continues its 2006
seminar series on April 29
with Writing for Children
and a panel that includes
Alliance Children’s Theatre
Artistic Director Rosemary
Newcott and Jon Ludwig.
Admission is $8 for the
general public and $6 for
Working Title Affiliate Playwrights. For information
contact 404-297-0904 or
[email protected].
★ Just Voices chamber chorus
performs Antonio Vivaldi’s
Gloria for orchestra, chorus
and soloists on Saturday,
April 1, 8 p.m., at Holy
Trinity Episcopal Church,
515 E. Ponce de Leon
Ave. The program will also
include traditional and
contemporary shape-note
hymns on texts by Isaac
Watts plus other works for
unaccompanied voices,
from the Renaissance to the
21st century. Admission is
free, and the audience is invited to enjoy refreshments
with the musicians after the
performance. For information contact 404-875-3266
or [email protected].
Night on Monday, April
24, 6:45-8:45 p.m. at
the church, 647 E. College Ave. Participants will
learn about cover letters,
applications, resumes and
networking and may drop
off a résumé to undergo a
critique. Then participants
will break out into small
groups led by members
of All Souls Fellowship.
These professionals represent fields such as business,
counseling, finance/accounting, nonprofit,
medical, law, engineering,
social work, architecture,
residential remodeling,
marketing/public relations,
entrepreneurship, information technology, ministry
and education. The event is
free and open to the public.
For more information, call
Michelle Potter, 678-3868131.
★ Congratulations to Raul
Trujillo, who was named
sales and marketing director for MundoHispanico,
Georgia’s largest Spanishlanguage newspaper. Trujillo will lead the advertising
sales staff and oversee mar-
1120 Commerce Dr.
Decatur, GA 30030
★ All Souls Fellowship will
host a Community Career
Ask Jeff!
Adams Realtors
on the Square
since 2003.
Jeff Hancock
Senior Loan Officer
JeffHancockLoans.com
404-371-4500
Q: My aging parents have a fixed income, a house
that has grown in value, and rising costs. They want
to stay in their home. What do you recommend?
A: Consider a Reverse Mortgage!
Tap into equity that can be used now for bills, repairs
and peace of mind. We’re your local resource for loan
products tailored to your financial needs.
The Sign
of Service
Abou
t Movement Pilates Studio
and
We love selling
Decatur!
Downtown Decatur Historic Grant Park
404.373.7771 404.688.1222
133 East Court Square 458 Cherokee Avenue
adamsrealtors.com
14 | Decatur Focus • April 2006
Full Service Yoga and Pilates Studio
Hot Yoga • Vinyasa • Iyengar • Yin • Kundalini • Prenatal/Postpartum • YogaKids/Teens
Yoga for Active Seniors • NIA • 5 levels of Pilates Mat classes • Yamuna Body Rolling
Private and Duet Sessions on the Pilates Apparatus
www.decaturhotyoga.com • 404-377-4899
AROUND DECATUR
keting campaigns for metro
Atlanta’s No. 1 language
weekly. The University of
Georgia graduate is a native
Atlantan, born to Cuban
parents who immigrated to
the city in the 1960s. He
and his wife, Mary Lynn,
live in Decatur with their
19-month-old daughter,
Adria.
★ Wit, Wisdom, and a Wonderful Mind: An Evening
with Terry Kay – Saturday,
May 13, 7-10:30 p.m., in
the Loft at Academe of the
Oaks, 146 New St. Awardwinning novelist and
screenwriter Terry Kay will
read from his works and
share his insights during an
elegant evening of dinner
and conversation. Tickets
are $150 per person and
may be purchased by calling 404-405-2173.
★ On Friday, April 14, teachers and students at Friends
School of Atlanta, 121
Sams St., will participate
in the International Day
of Silence and take a vow
of silence for all or part of
the day. The Day of Silence
was founded in 1996 at the
University of Virginia to
honor all people who have
been silenced because of
oppression, fear or ignorance. The Friends School
observance will include
presentations from members of the community who
can talk about oppression
around the world and efforts to stop it. For more
information, call 404-3708746.
students at Friends School
of Atlanta will celebrate
International Day at the
school. The event focuses
on exploring the history,
peoples and traditions of
other countries as a way to
encourage tolerance and
appreciation of diverse cul-
tures. For more information
about International Day,
call 404-373-8746.
WHEN EXPERIENCE COUNTS
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“25 Years of Putting Nice People in Fine Homes”
Exceptional, personalized service
Experience, insight, integrity
Sponsor, Breakfast w/Santa
Decatur Preservation Alliance Board Secretary
PAM HUGHES 404-626-3604
[email protected]
★ On Thursday, April 27, the
April 2006 • Decatur Focus | 15
There Are Bulldozers All Over Decatur, But Our New Offer Is Truly
2.8
www.decaturfirstbank.com
A real community bank®
Main Office
1120 Commerce Dr.
Decatur, GA 30030
404-373-1000
%
PREMIUM MONEY MARKET ACCOUNT
Annual
Percentage
Yield
Kroger Office
720 Commerce Dr.
Decatur, GA 30030
404-373-3125
Panola Road Office
Inside Wal-Mart
I-20 at Fairington & Panola
770-323-1242
Community Bank
Main Office
1010 Park Place Blvd.
Greensboro, GA 30642
706-453-9887
And always, Decatur First Bank customers enjoy FREE Internet
Banking, FREE ATM Usage (Ours and Other Banks’), LOW
Consumer and Commercial Loan Rates, HIGH Rates on
Certificates of Deposit, and GREAT Customer Service
Madison Office
Inside Wal-Mart
1681 Eatonton Rd.
Madison, GA 30650
706-342-4230
DATED MATERIAL APRIL 2006
Printed on Recycled Paper
P.O. Box 220
City of Decatur, GA 30031-220
PRE-SORTED
STANDARD
U.S. POSTAGE PAID
Permit No. 199
Decatur, GA 30031
Guaranteed through 6/30/2006. Minimum $15,000 required to earn interest.
Balances below $15,000 will incur $12 monthly service charge. Withdrawal restrictions apply.