Prevent Door Kick-Ins!

Oakhurst Leaflet
www.OakhurstGA.org
POSTAGE
Page 16
Leaflet Vol. 15, No. 3
March 2012
Oakhurst Leaflet
P.O. Box 362
Decatur, GA 30030
Celebrating Art, Jazz and Nature Like No Other Deep-Rooted Neighborhood
Successful 10th Annual
Martin Luther King Jr. Service Project
Lee Ann Harvey — [email protected]
The 10th annual Martin Luther King Jr. Service Project
partnership between the Decatur Preservation Alliance and
the City of Decatur was a resounding success! The gorgeous
weather brought out approximately 1,300 volunteers to do
home repairs and yard work, so our senior citizens can live
safely, comfortably, and affordably in their homes.
Prevent Door Kick-Ins!
Reinforce doorframes with steel.
The enTry enforcer
Home IntRusIon PReventIon
404-289-6960
www.entryenforcer.com
Save time and money
Introducing… THE KINDESTCUT
Eco-Friendly, Manual Lawn Care!
• Hand trimming and mowing!
• Hand aeration!
• Rakes and brooms – No blowers!
• No noise!
• No emissions!
• Healthier lawn!
• Affordable rates!
• Prompt, courteous service!
Good For Your Turf…
GREAT For The Earth!
Improve your eating habits
Rule your kitchen
THE
®
KINDEST
CUT
Zero - Emissions
Lawn Care
404 755-6170
[email protected] / kindestcutlawncare.com
Ashli Price
404-538-8066
www.plantoplate.com
This constantly evolving project reached new heights this
year. In addition to working on the traditional senior citizens
homes in need of major repairs, we included homes that had
much less demanding repairs. In all, there were 12 large-scale
projects and 10 small projects. All but one of these homes also
had yard work and/or miscellaneous items removed (broken or
obsolete items no longer usable). In addition, 23 other homes
had yard work and/or miscellaneous item removal. This
resulted in 45 Oakhurst area senior citizens benefitting from
this project. Also, the “Independent Communities” apartments of 14 people with disabilities living in five buildings in
Oakhurst had yard work done.
A total of 17 tons of yard waste and 30 tons of miscellaneous
items were removed. As a result of the wonderful weather, the
Landscaping committee developed more intensive work plans
for each home and sought work that would have a longer term
impact than just raking, such as the removal and control of
invasive plants like English ivy and privet. New this year were
roving gutter cleaning teams that cleaned gutters at 22 homes.
Continued on page 15
Register at www.TourDeCatur.com
Decatur Fire Department
Continuous Food Drive
to Support Local Food Banks
Lee Ann Harvey — [email protected]
An increasing number of families need assistance with feeding
their children. The City of Decatur is home to food banks run
by the Decatur Cooperative Ministry (DCM) and Decaturarea Emergency Assistance Ministry (DEAM). The Decatur
Fire Department has set a goal to help these food banks
meet these increased needs by developing a more continuous
resource for food donations. Food drives are generally held
during the holidays. However, hunger is a year-round crisis for
many families.
Continued on page 11
Inside This Issue
Trash Amnesty Dates
Oakhurst Eats — Bread Pudding!
Page 4
Page 14
Oakhurst Leaflet
Page 2
www.OakhurstGA.org
March 2012
Page 15
Oakhurst Leaflet
Successful MLK Service Project
Continued from Page 1
Oakhurst Neighborhood Association February meeting minutes
Oakhurst Leaflet
The Oakhurst Leaflet is published monthly. Our
mission is to provide an outlet for communication in
Oakhurst. No association or individual is liable for
the content. We provide content contributors e-mail
addresses so readers can communicate directly with
the author. We encourage our Oakhurst residents to
contribute often. The Oakhurst Leaflet staff reserves
the right to modify, edit, or not publish submitted
content. Ads are printed as delivered. The advertiser
is responsible for the ad quality. No additional
modifications will be made to submitted ads.
Oakhurst Leaflet Staff
Daniel Flores
Mark Sanders
Doug Keeler
Deb Baumgarten
EJ Sadler
Margaret Mary Riley
Georgia Bell
E-mail Content to
[email protected]
Circulation
Circulation is approximately 2,300,
delivered directly to homes by Oakhurst
Neighborhood Association volunteers.
To volunteer for delivery routes, please e-mail
[email protected]
Advertising Rates
[email protected]
Oakhurst Neighborhood Assoc.
P.O. Box 362
Decatur, GA 30030
1/2 Page
1/4 Page
1/8 Page
$160
$90
$50
Ad Deadline: March 15
Content Deadline: March 13
Crime is down! The Decatur Police Department presented the year-end crime comparison from 1996 thru 2011. There were a total of 1033 crimes in Decatur in 1996
compared to 691 total crimes in 2011. Most of the crimes are theft. There were no
homicides in Decatur in 2011. And the Clearance Rate for Decatur Police solving or
dispelling a crime is 31% which higher than the national average. The major concern
is theft of items outside the home or business like lawn chairs or lawn art--criminals
gain cash from scrap metal.
Peggy Merriss, Decatur City Manager, provided an update on the city-scape project
on East Lake, Oakview and Harmony Park. It seems that the 2008 approved federal
funds covering 80% of the project have not been requisitioned by the state of Georgia
because of new and cumbersome regulations from the Department of Transportation. “It is almost like building a highway,” explained Mariss.
Lee Ann Harvey provided an update of the Martin Luther King Service Project on
January 14, 15 and 16. There were 1300 volunteers who worked a total of 7628 volunteer hours in the Oakhurst neighborhood repairing, cleaning and providing junk
removal. Renovations and Repairs were done in 22 homes while yard work and junk
removal was done in another 44 elderly owned homes in the Oakhurst area. “In fact,
the volunteers removed 17 tons of yard waste and 30 tones of junk,” Harvey said.
There was over $162,934.08 in donations to the MLK Service Project!
From your City Commissioners:
According to Representative Kecia Cunningham, the petition submitted by the 3rd
Avenue neighbors to install speed bumps was accepted and is being studied by the
transportation department. Mayor Bill Floyd was invited by City Commissioner Patti
Garrett to speak at the April Oakhurst Neighborhood Association meeting. And Jim
Baskett, Mayor Pro Tem/At Large Commissioner, announced that city officials will
have their annual retreat this weekend to discuss long term planning for the city of
Decatur.
Home repairs ran the gamut from laying a sidewalk so the
homeowner could safely get to the street to skilled weatherization projects with the help of the nonprofit organization
Southface Energy institute. Work done included but is not
limited to:
• 3 homes prepared for insulation (to be done at a later date)
by replacing crushed ductwork and air sealing ductwork. Two
truckloads of miscellaneous items were removed from one attic in preparation for insulation
• Stripped wallpaper and repainted walls
• Repaired the consequences of a longtime leaky kitchen sink
by repairing the floor and sub floor, replacing the sink, and
installing new counter tops and cabinets
• Reinforced the floor under a tub that was about to fall
through
• Replaced floors under a water heater.
• Installed attic stairs
• Electrician made repairs to a home that had service go out in
one-third of the home immediately before we started work on
the home
• Repaired and replaced toilets
• Installed new doors
For more information on the Project and how you can be
involved, contact Lee Ann Harvey, Volunteer! Decatur, at
[email protected] or 678-553-6548.

Join now
2 for 1
ONA Treasurer, Mark Sanders, reports that there is $6000 in the bank. The BBQ
and Blues netted $5150 for ONA in 2011. There will be an increased donation to
the Decatur Arts & Music festival for 2012. Mark said we expect the same yearly
expenses associated with the Leaflet, Block Parties, Insurance, Special Events and
regular community related grants.
Hurry, valid for first 50 new members
Offer expires 03/31/2012
—plus—
FREE Personal Training
Session Learn your FITNESS SCORE &
Continued on page 4
get on a workout plan. ($100 value)
Oakhurst Neighborhood Association
[email protected]
www.OakhurstGA.org
The ONA typically meets on
the 2nd Monday of each month
Decatur / Oakhurst
7 PM
678-705-1439
Anne Clarke — President
Mike Vajda — Vice President
Mark Sanders — Treasurer
Jennifer McGranaghan — Secretary
The Solarium
321 West Hill Street
Everyone is welcome to address the community
during the New Business Agenda Item
317 West Hill Street
snapfitness.com/decaturga
Bldg to the right of The Solarium.
—or— Try us with no risk!
7 Days FREE
Limit one per household. No cash value. Access card fee, other fees and some restrictions may
apply. Valid only for local residents on first visit at participating clubs. ©2012 Snap Fitness, Inc.
14
Page 14
Oakhurst Leaflet
Oakhurst Eats
Jami Moss Wise — [email protected]
I don’t like bread pudding. I don’t understand why anyone does.
I’m always hoping I’ll get more “pudding” than “bread”. But
every few months I fall for it. A restaurant server will rattle off a
dessert menu and gush, “And of course there’s our bread pudding.
You have to try our bread pudding.
I believe them. I believe this particular bread pudding will emerge
as the wonder everyone claims bread pudding is supposed to be.
It never is. It’s too sweet. It’s too dry. I might as well coat a loaf of
French bread in Aunt Jemima syrup and douse it with alcohol.
Enter Edna Lewis. Fans of Watershed may think of her as Scott
Peacock’s late friend and mentor, but she was around long before
then. Her 1976 book, “The Taste of Country Cooking” is a
must-read. The book beautifully describes the culinary traditions
of Freetown, a farming community in Virginia founded by freed
slaves. Though you might think my white farming family from
Tennessee wouldn’t have much in common with this community,
the recipes evoke many familiar memories.
Maybe that’s why I like Edna Lewis’s bread pudding. Its custard
base reminds me of the “boiled custard‚Äù that was a staple in
my grandmother’s kitchen and that offered comfort for everything from a sore throat to sadness. I’ve made several changes to
the recipe--most notably, substituting a nut topping for raisins.
But the bread pudding retains the old-fashioned richness of the
custard, and it is the best ever.
Bread Pudding
(adapted from Edna Lewis’s A Taste of Country Cooking)
Serves 4 - 6
1 cup chopped pecans or walnuts
3 tbsp. butter, melted
¼ cup brown sugar, firmly packed
Pinch salt
8 slices Italian bread, ½” thick
Softened butter, enough to spread on bread
2 eggs
1/3 cup sugar
1 ¾ cup whole milk
¼ cup half and half
½ plus ¼ tsp. nutmeg
1 tsp. vanilla
3
www.OakhurstGA.org
Preheat oven to 350. Mix together pecans, butter, brown
sugar, and salt in small bowl; set aside. Butter 1.5 quart casserole with softened butter. Butter bread and place in casserole,
enough to fit tightly and fill at least half full. Sprinkle ½ tsp.
nutmeg over top. Crack eggs into medium-sized mixing bowl.
Beat well with fork. Add sugar and stir well. Pour in milk
and cream, stirring as you pour. Stir in ¼ tsp. nutmeg and
vanilla. Pour over bread; casserole should not be more than ¾
full. Sprinkle nut mixture over top. Place in oven and reduce
heat to 325. Bake for 30 - 40 minutes. Serve hot with custard
sauce, below.
Boiled Custard Sauce
2 egg yolks, beaten
Pinch salt
1/8 cup sugar (or 1 ½ tbsp.)
¾ cup whole milk
2 – 3 tbsp. rum
Heat milk to scalding but do not boil. Beat yolks in a bowl.
Stir in salt and sugar. Pour hot milk into egg mixture, stirring as you pour. Clean out saucepan and pour in milk/egg
mix. Heat on medium burner, stirring frequently until mix
coats on back of a wooden spoon. Remove from burner and
set pan in bowl of ice water, stirring constantly for a few
minutes. Add rum and stir. 
Oakhurst Presbyterian Update
Caroline Leach — [email protected]
It’s Disco Party time at Oakhurst Presbyterian Church on
Saturday, March 24, 2012 from 6:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. Find your
good time clothes from the 1980s and join us for our annual fund
raiser to raise scholarship funds for camps and conferences for
our youth. In addition to dancing and music there will be a Silent
Auction, Bingo, pizza and other activities for all ages. Consider
donating a service or item for the Silent Auction and promote
your business. The Clothes Closet is staying busy! The Oakhurst
community is much appreciated for its donations of gently used
clothing. Clothes for all ages are accepted but baby supplies and
equipment are really needed. A tax donation letter is provided
upon request.
Join us during this season of Lent and Easter for prayer, study and
service---the basics of this season of reflection. Classes on Sunday
begin at 10:00 a.m. and worship at 11:00 a.m. Visit OakhurstPresbyterian.org for information or call 404-378-6284. 
March 2012
Oakhurst Leaflet
DeKalb County Hosts Household
Hazardous Waste Event March 31
The third Household Hazardous Waste Event will be held
on on Saturday, March 31, 8 a.m. to noon at the DeKalb
County Central Transfer Station, 3720 Leroy Scott Dr. in
Decatur (just off Camp Circle, behind the jail at Memorial
Drive and I-285.)
The event, sponsored by Keep DeKalb Beautiful (KDB)
and the DeKalb County Sanitation Division, in partnership
with Clean Harbors Environmental Services, Inc., offers
county residents an opportunity to dispose of their household hazardous wastes properly and free of charge.
Household hazardous waste products are those that contain
potentially dangerous chemicals. These products should not
be mixed with regular trash and can be potentially harmful to the environment if not disposed of properly. DeKalb
County encourages residents to take advantage of this
opportunity to clear their homes of unneeded or unused
household hazardous waste and to help keep county landfills and the environment safe for everyone.
Please make sure to bring only items on the items accepted
list or they will be turned away.
Items accepted:
• Aerosols
• Mercury
• Batteries
• Adhesives
• Flammables
• Lawn-care products
• Automotive products
• Fluorescent bulbs
• Photo Chemicals
• Hobby and artists supplies
• Paints and paint-related products
• Cleaners and swimming pool chemicals
Items NOT accepted:
• Bio-hazardous/Bio-medical waste
• Agricultural waste
• Ammunition
• Explosives
• Pharmaceuticals
• Radioactive materials
• Non-hazardous waste
If you have questions about the event or would like to
volunteer, please contact Keep DeKalb Beautiful at
(404) 371-2654 or [email protected].

Page 3
Dr. Sandra Elizabeth Ford Receives a Legendary Humanitarian of the Year Award From
The Dominique Wilkins Foundation
Vickie Elisa — [email protected]
Amid a silent auction including autographed photos of President Obama and Frank Sinatra, glitz, glamour, over 400 guests
and a celebrity red carpet, Dr. S. Elizabeth Ford received a Humanitarian of the Year Award from the Dominique Wilkins
Foundation on February 23rd at the Fox Theatre.
As district health director of the DeKalb County Board of
Health, Dr. Ford was honored along with Clayton County
Commission Chairman Eldrin Bell, TV personality Jocelyn
Dorsey, community activist Lila Womak, music producer
Dallas Austin, sports personality Deion Sanders and cable
television executive Ted Turner.
Dr. Ford was nominated for the 2012 Humanitarian Award
for her stellar work at the DeKalb County Board of Health
tackling severe health problems such as childhood obesity,
infant mortality and diabetes using innovative approaches and
partnerships. For example, DeKalb was the only county in
Georgia to receive federal Communities Putting Prevention to
Work grants totaling $5.6 million to create smoke-free environments and to reduce obesity and to improve nutrition.
“It was quite humbling to receive such praise and recognition
with other such well known recipients and to be presented
the award by my hero, Dr. Satcher.” said Dr. Ford. Dr.
Ford reminded the attendees of the silent, yet critical, role of
public health in touching every one, every day, from inspecting restaurants, to addressing outbreaks, to helping to create
smoke-free environments.
Funds raised at the event will support the American Diabetes
Association and the STARS Leadership Foundation to reduce
diabetes and to mentor at-risk youth. 
Pictured (L to R): Lila Womack, Dr. S. Elizabeth Ford, Val Archer, Jocelyn
Dorsey, Eldrin Bell and Deion Sanders Rear: Dominique Wilkins
4
13
Oakhurst Leaflet
Page 4
www.OakhurstGA.org
March 2012
Oakhurst Leaflet
2012 Neighborhood Cleanup Days Announced
The 2012 dates for Neighborhood Clean-up have been announced! On Saturdays from 8 a.m. to 3:30
p.m. during April, May and June, different parts of Decatur will be allowed to throw away items not
normally allowed in the trash. These include: yard trimmings, building materials (that are not from private
contractors), tires, appliances that do not contain Freon (think refrigerators and freezers), and trash not
normally placed in the usual Pay-as-You-Throw (PAYT) bags. Items that are NOT allowed include: liquids,
dirt, bricks, blocks, stone, rocks, concrete and motor vehicle batteries or parts (other than tires). Keep in
mind that all items should be placed on the curb no later than 7:30 a.m. to assure pick-up.
Oakhurst Neighborhood #1 – April 7, 2012
Maxwell Street
Third Avenue (Eastlake to Northern)
Oakview Road (East Lake Drive to Second Avenue, south side
from Second Avenue to 1736 Oakview Road)
Second Avenue (East Lake to Northern)
Fourth Avenue
North Fourth Avenue
Fifth Avenue (Oakview to Northern)
Gordon Street
Northern Avenue (north side only)
First Avenue
Oakhurst Neighborhood #2 - Saturday, April 14, 2012
East Lake Drive (Oakview to W. Pharr)
Fayetteville Road
Underwood Street
W. Pharr Road (Fayetteville to East Lake)
Russell Street
Spring Street (East Lake to Oakview)
McKoy Street (north of W. Hill)
W. Hill Street
E. Hill Street
Adams Street (Oakview to W. Hill)
E. Benson Street
W. Benson Street
Sterling Street
S. McDonough Street (Oakview to Hill)
Oakhurst Neighborhood #3 - Saturday, April 21, 2012
Ansley Street (from Kings Hwy to Oakview)
Greenwood Avenue
Greenwood Place
Evans Drive
Jefferson Place
W. College Avenue (from Mead to Kings Hwy)
Olympic Place
Mead Road
Oakview Road (from S. McDonough to East Lake)
Green Street (100 Block)
Oakhurst Neighborhood #4 – April 28, 2012
Winter Ave (east side only)
Johnston Place
Bryan Place
Beatty Place
Madison Avenue
East Lake Drive (from Park Place/College to Oakview)
Third Avenue (100 through 400 blocks only)
Feld Avenue
Leyden Street
Cambridge Avenue
Hood Circle
W. College Avenue (Mead to Cambridge)
MAK Neighborhood – Saturday, May 12, 2012
South McDonough Street (West College Avenue to Oakview
Road)
Ansley Street (South McDonough Street to Kings Highway)
East Hancock Street
East Davis Street
College Place
West Dougherty Street
West Davis Street
West Hancock Street
Adams Street (West College Avenue to Oakview Road)
Kings Highway
West College Avenue (South McDonough Street to Kings Highway)
College Heights Neighborhood – May 19, 2012
W. Pharr Road (S. McDonough to East Lake)
E. Pharr Road (northside from S. McDonough to S. Candler and
both sides east of S. Candler)
Adams Street (McKoy Park to W. Pharr)
Spring Street (Adams to East Lake)
McKoy Street (W. Hill to W. Pharr)
McClean Street
Garland Avenue
Griffin Circle
S. McDonough Street (Hill to Pharr)
Lenore Street
Driftwood Terrace
Driftwood Place
Brower Street
Midway Road
S. Candler Street (Buchanan to E. Pharr)
Buchanan Terrace
Chevelle Lane
Candler Drive
Candler Pointe Way
Dr. Lee Goldenberg of
My personal experience
with chiropractic care
In June 1998, my life changed.
I had my spine checked, and:
•Mylowbackpainimproveddramatically.
•Myheadachesandmigraineswentaway.
•Mysinusproblems/allergiesdisappeared.
•I’vebeensickonlyoncein13+ years.
•Ithelpedresolvemyanxietyandpanicdisorder.
•Withregularchiropracticcare,mywifeand
childrenhaveNEVERhadtotakeover-the-counter
orprescriptiondrugs.
Make 2012 your year to
START THRIVING!
Call Dr. Lee today for
your consultation:
201 W. Ponce de Leon Ave
in Downtown Decatur
404.805.1235
optimalbodychiropractic.com
Neal & Wright LLC
Your Family... Your Business...
Your Firm!
Big Issues for
Small Businesses
March 24, 2012
10:00 - 11:30 a.m.
Neal & Wright LLC presents a new
free legal seminar focusing on special
issues confronted by small (and larger)
businesses, including:
* ownership strategies,
* entity selection,
* buy-sell agreements,
* leases,
* and many more TBD topics.
Please join us for coffee and
Flying Biscuits! RSVPs requested
but not required. RSVP at
[email protected].
All free seminars are held at the
Neal & Wright LLC office conveniently
located in Downtown Decatur.
Visit us online for directions
and more information.
Because I Said So!
Susan Eppley — [email protected]
Dear Susan,
I need your help. My son is struggling with homework. He’s classic
ADD (passive) and struggles to complete his work on time. He’s
got an Individualized Education Plan (IEP) through the school
but in an inclusive classroom so he’s not pulled out and he is
required to complete all the work that the other students do.
My son is currently a C+ student and I’m okay with that, as long
as his grades don’t fall below a C average. When I try to teach
him concepts on his homework, he struggles to understand. I get
frustrated because he sometimes argues with me that the assignment is actually different than what’s on the paper and since I
wasn’t in the class, I don’t know how to help.
He’s going to be in the 5th grade next year and I don’t know
how I can continue to help him complete his work and teach him
math concepts. I don’t want our afternoons dominated by homework hassles. Can you help?
I’m happy you wrote to me. I suspect a lot of parents can
identify with your predicament.
First of all, I’d like to congratulate you on accepting something a lot of parents today have trouble accepting: not all students are A students! Your acceptance of your son’s academic
ability (which, by the way, may very well increase with time
and your son’s maturity) as well as your appropriate expectations (“as long as his grades don’t fall below a C average”)
makes a good start to creating the afternoons you crave. And
now for my advice: stop helping your son with his homework.
You see, the only person who can solve your son’s homework
problem is your son. Your involvement in helping him is actually enabling his problem.
If your son daydreams while his teacher explains a math concept or describes the homework assignment then let him suffer
the consequences of his actions (or inactions). You’ll know
there’s something for you to do if your son comes home with
a note from the teacher or bad grades on his report card. But,
since you’ve set expectations for your son, I suspect that your
son will rise to the occasion.
Enjoy homework-free afternoons!
Susan
www.nealandwright.com
Page 13
12
Page 12
5
www.OakhurstGA.org
Oakhurst Leaflet
Continued from page 2
Oakhurst Presbyterian Church announced its continued
outreach for the Clothes Closet and the upcoming special youth fundraising event featuring a silent auction,
bingo, pizza and a whole lot of disco music.
Lance Netland of Good Growth Dekalb asked for
support in their fight to stop the building of a super
WalMart at Suburban Plaza – N. Decatur at Scott Blvd.
ONA has reached out to Representative Karla Drenner
in Avondale Estates to inquire about the impact of
WalMart in that community.
ONA President Anne Clarke announced upcoming
events: a call for volunteers at the Wine Crawl and the
proposed expansion of Jazz Nights by Edward McNally.
The Solarium wedding season will not allow May Jazz
Nights this year. On the topic of the Solarium, Clarke
clarified rumors that the solarium and adjoining buildings are not for sale and that “all tenant leases are secure
and the mortgage is current”, according to Lorri Mills
from Progressive Redevelopment Corporation, owners of
the buildings. On the subject of events, Clarke said that
Bruce Cohen of Vision Properties had not yet clarified
the parking situation on his property (Big H) during Oakhurst special events. ONA had offered Vision
Properties a sponsorship package based on his continued
support of Oakhurst in providing parking at no cost
to attendees. Clarke mentioned the Wine Crawl smart
phone app designed by Michael Gaertner and the Decatur Dash app from Terri Michel. Both apps keeping the
community informed on the events in the area.
As always the Oakhurst Neighborhood Association
welcomes new neighbors to the community and new
attendees at the monthly meetings. Please join us at 7pm
on the Second Monday of each Month at the Solarium.

There’s
a new
blog in
town!
© 2012 Michelle LeGault — [email protected]
If you
like food
& travel
you will
love...
BradBellPhoto.com
A fusion of food, travel, & photography!
Page 5
Oakhurst Leaflet
What you need to know about Georgia law as your
child turns 13, 15, 16, 17, 18 and 21
ONA February meeting minutes
ONA agreed to allow The Decatur Fire Department to
collect food donations at Jazz Nights to help community
organizations feed the hungry. ONA welcomed Edward
McNally who will be the new Jazz Nights committee head
handling the Thursday night events in April and September.
March 2012
What do your child’s 13th, 15th, 16th, 17th, 18th and 21st birthdays have
in common? As they turn each of those ages, one or more Georgia laws
will begin to apply to them.
On their 13th birthday, two important areas of law apply. At age 13 children
can be sued, or held responsible in civil law for “torts” (negligent or intentional
acts or omissions that cause harm to another person or property). Examples
are personal injury or slander. When they are less than 13, they have a defense
of “infancy”. In a 1992 Georgia Supreme Court case, two nine-year old boys
who allegedly set fire to a gasoline can which then severely burned a 7-year old
boy were too young to be sued for the injured child’s damages. Other cases in
which the children were too young to be held responsible for torts include a
12-year old male student who seriously injured a female student’s eye while on
a school outing and a nine-year old boy who deliberately aimed a slingshot at
another boy’s head and caused him to lose an eye. However, had these children
been 13 years old, they could have been held responsible for these “torts”.
As a parent, you cannot be held responsible for damages resulting from your
child’s “tort” unless you negligently allowed your child access to a weapon
or other inherently dangerous item with which your child would likely hurt
someone (think guns, knives and the like) or you knew, because of previous
actions, that your child was prone to this specific dangerous activity and you
failed to prevent it. Courts will look carefully at any known prior similar acts
by your child to determine if they are similar enough to the current situation
to impose liability on the parent for failing to prevent it. Whether your
homeowner’s liability and/or umbrella insurance would step up and provide
a defense and/or pay on a claim is beyond the scope of this article.
Your child’s 13th birthday also allows treatment as an adult in criminal law if he or
she is charged with certain crimes. Between their 13th and 17th birthdays, children
who are charged with certain delinquent acts can be treated as adults. They will
be tried in regular adult criminal court (superior court, not juvenile court), and, if
convicted, sent to a youth confinement unit in an adult prison until they turn 17, at
which time they can be housed with adult offenders. If there is adequate funding,
they will receive some types of training, such as academic or vocational training, as
well as counseling in substance abuse and violence prevention.
The delinquent acts that can get a juvenile sent to superior court are those that
would be a crime if committed by an adult and are punishable by death, life
without parole, or life in prison, such as armed robbery or arson. These types
of offenses may be tried by either the juvenile court or the superior court.
There are many reasons why you and your child might prefer that the juvenile
court hear the case and it is important to try to keep the case in juvenile court.
Another path to adult criminal court is to be accused of committing one
or more of the “seven deadly sins”: murder, rape, voluntary manslaughter,
Continued on page 6
DI ST I N C T I V E HOM E S I N
SOLD
740 East Lake Drive $749,000
4BD/3.5BA
UNDER CONTRACT
NEW CONSTRUCTION
120 Adams Street $599,000
916 East Lake Drive $589,000
4BD/3.5BA
Michael Redwine
404.394.4071 cell
404.874.0300 office
[email protected]
www.atlantamoderns.com
AtlantaFineHomes.com
4BD/3.5BA FMLS: 4301585
Successfully representing luxury homes in the
Oakhurst area since 2009. Offering
marketing for Intown homes in all price ranges.
Intown Office - 404.874.0300
© MMXII Sotheby’s International Realty Affiliates, Inc. All Rights Reserved. The Yellow House, Josephine Trotter, used with permission. Equal Housing Opportunity. Each Office Is Independently Owned And Operated.
Page 6
Oakhurst Leaflet
What You Need to Know
Continued from Page 5
armed robbery committed with a firearm, aggravated sodomy, aggravated
sexual battery and aggravated child molestation. The superior court has sole
jurisdiction over a juvenile charged with committing one of these crimes.
When your child turns 15, s/he can apply for a learner’s permit, or Class P
instruction permit from the Department of Driver Services. Learner’s permits
are just that — they are not a license for your child to drive around with a
bunch of friends. In fact, law enforcement can and will charge your child
with violating the law if they are found to be driving without an able-bodied,
properly licensed person who is at least 21 years of age in the front passenger
seat who is able to take over for them in case of an emergency.
When your child turns 16, s/he is no longer required to attend (public, private
or home) school, as Georgia’s compulsory school attendance law only applies
between the 6th and 16th birthdays. If, however, s/he has a truancy problem, s/he
will need to be withdraw from school since s/he will not be legally “emancipated”
until she turns 18. If you don’t withdraw your truant child, and s/he has accumulated roughly seven unexcused absences before turning 16, both of you could
come under court supervision (like probation with conditions such as community
service, attending school regularly and reporting in to a probation officer) for
some period of time and, as a parent, you could face a misdemeanor charge and/
or a fine between $25-$100, up to 30 days of jail and/or community service.
www.OakhurstGA.org
March 2012
Page 11
Oakhurst Leaflet
DFD Continuous Food Drive
With respect to driving privileges, if your 16-year old has successfully completed an approved driver education class and meets all of the other requirements
(aside from age), s/he can get a class D driver’s license. Class D driver’s licenses
are quite restrictive. A class D driver’s license holder may NOT: (1) drive
between midnight and 6:00 AM; (2) drive at any time when more than three
other passengers in the vehicle who are not members of the driver’s immediate
family are less than 21 years old; (3) drive with anyone who is not a member
of his family during the 1st six months after obtaining the class D license; (4)
drive with anyone who is not a member of his family and who is under the age
of 21 during the 2nd six months after obtaining the class D license.
Continued from Page 1
The problem is especially bad during the summer months
when children cannot take advantage of the National School
Lunch program that offers free or reduced-price meals to students. The Fire Department will collect food donations at City
of Decatur events, including Jazz Nights in Oakhurst. Drop
off your food donation at Fire Station #2 when you come to
the event or stop by any time. Suggested donations include:
Rice, grits, pasta
Pasta/spaghetti sauce
Canned meats: stew, tuna, salmon, chicken, pork and beans
Cereal
Peanut butter
Jelly/jam
Small boxes of corn muffin mix
Macaroni and cheese
Canned fruit
Canned vegetables: tomatoes, corn, spinach, turnip greens, English peas
Canned soup
Non-fat dry milk
Sixteen also is the age of sexual consent.
When your child turns 17, s/he can obtain a class D driver’s license without
having taken or passed driver’s ed. S/he must have a valid instruction permit
which is not under suspension and have not been convicted of specified violations in the previous 12 months prior to applying for the license. S/he is also
now considered an “adult” for criminal purposes, although s/he cannot vote or
withdraw herself from school without the consent of a parent/legal guardian.
Please donate items low in sugar, sodium and fat whenever
possible. Personal care products are also appreciated, including toothpaste, tooth brushes, bath soap, deodorant, laundry
detergent, toilet tissue, and paper towels.
A word about school and driver’s licenses: if a child less than 18 years of age withdraws from school without being home-schooled or enrolled in a GED program or
having earned a high school diploma or equivalent, s/he will not be able to obtain
a learner’s permit or driver’s license. Further, if a child under 18 has dropped out
For more information please contact:
Fire Chief – [email protected] or (404) 370-4141
Assistant Fire Chief – [email protected]
Volunteer! Decatur – [email protected] 
Continued on page 10
Buying or Selling
in Oakhurst?
Contact your neighbor and
intown real estate specialist!
sold!
sold!
222 Melrose Ave. $539,000
Gorgeous historic renovation;
4br/3ba with high-end finishes
www.222melrose.com
324 Kings Highway $549,000
Gorgeous historic renovation;
4br/3ba and 2700 sq. ft.
www.324kingshighway.com
928 East Lake Dr. $669,000
All-brick Tudor Craftsman;
more than 3,000 sq. ft.
www.928eastlake.com
138 Fayetteville Rd. $599,000
The Oakhurst Castle – 3br/3ba
plus office, two-car garage
www.138fayetteville.com
312 Fayetteville Rd. $449,900
New construction under $450K;
4br/3.5ba with gorgeous finishes
www.312fayetteville.com
621 East Lake Drive $625,000
New construction in heart of
Oakhurst; 4br/3ba + bonus room
www.621eastlake.com
3
www.ChipWallaceRealEstate.com
678.429.9731 or [email protected]
Stop by our office in Oakhurst Village!
715 East Lake Drive • Decatur, GA 30030
10
Oakhurst Leaflet
Page 10
What You Need to Know
Continued from Page 6
of school without graduating and has been out of school for 10 days in a row, or
has at least 10 unexcused absences in the current or previous academic year or has
violated certain specified school conduct rules (such as possessing or selling drugs
or possessing a weapon on campus or at a school event, certain sexual offenses, or
threatening, hitting or causing personal injury to a teacher or other school staff, or
“causing substantial physical or visible bodily harm to or seriously disfiguring another person”, his or her driver’s license (or learner’s permit) will be suspended. The
child will receive an official notice from DDS and, if s/he does not send a written
request for a hearing within 10 days of receipt of the notice, the permit/license will
remain suspended for a year, unless certain exceptions apply.
When your child reaches 18, s/he is legally emancipated. This means that s/he
will be treated as an adult under the law, except for laws involving the consumption of alcohol. Thus, the contracts (including leases) s/he enters into are valid
and binding on and s/he can do a number of things without parental consent:
marry, move out of the house, enter the armed forces, obtain an abortion, retain
her own wages. 18-year olds are also entitled to change school districts or withdraw from school on their own. Once they turn 18, they are no longer subject
to the state’s child welfare laws and do not have to remain in foster care. They
are also entitled to vote in local, state and federal elections, if they satisfy other
criteria such as having a valid state-issued i.d. However, because they are still
considered relatively new drivers, 18-year-olds can still have their driver’s licenses
7
www.OakhurstGA.org
March 2012
Oakhurst Leaflet
suspended for certain specified convictions (which are the same as for those
under 21) or for accumulating 4 or more points in a twelve-month period. They
are also now eligible to apply for a regular Class C driver’s license.
Are Your Windows Secure?
Duncan Cottrell — [email protected]
Once your child reaches the age of 21, s/he may legally drink in Georgia,
is no longer entitled to a free secondary education and is no longer subject
to special traffic laws for drivers under 21. That is, a 21-year old goes being
at risk of driver’s license suspension for certain specified violations or one
conviction that carries 4 points to being able to accumulate 14 points every
two years before suspension on the basis of points. When driver’s licenses are
suspended for other than points is beyond the scope of this article.
If you or someone you know has ever experienced a break-in, you understand how scary home invasions can be. You may wonder if there’s
a single deterrent you could install to prevent future security breaches.
Unfortunately, no one component is the answer, however there are
various levels of protection for your home. Securing glass windows is
one component.
Typical double-hung windows (where the windows slide up and down)
have a pivoting lock where the two windows overlap. The window lock
is attached with short screws, which will readily pull out when a pry
bar is levered under the bottom window, allowing it to be opened. To
prevent this, window pins can be inserted into a hole drilled through
the wood frame of one window into the overlapping wood frame. A
special extractor tool pulls out the pins when you want to open the
window.
By now, you have probably gathered that “juvenile law” involves a lot of
different kinds of laws. Since at least 2009, efforts have been underway to
streamline, organize and update the actual juvenile code, i.e., the group of laws
and procedures governing juvenile court proceedings such as delinquency and
child protection. This “juvenile code re-write” can be followed in the news
or by visiting JUSTGeorgia’s website at http://www.JustGA.org/initiatives/
juvenile-code/sb-292-the-child-protection-and-public-safety-act.
*Thank you for reading this article. This article is meant to provide general
information and should not be relied upon for a specific legal problem. If you
need assistance with a specific legal problem, you are encouraged to consult with a
competent attorney familiar with the facts and laws unique to your situation.

256 GREENWOOD CIRCLE
Considering Buying or Selling in
the Decatur or Metro Atlanta area?
3 BEDROOMS + 2 BATHS * OFFERED AT: $225,000
This well maintained and updated home offers the
perfect combination of location, charm and value.
Just around the corner from downtown Decatur, but
also within walking distance of Oakhurst Village and
Oakhurst Elementary School, this home offers a
wonderful opportunity for a first time buyer!
Let me put my knowledge of the area and
current market conditions to work for you.
Up-to-date, relevant information is always
available at my blog:
120 E. PHARR ROAD
New
Exp ! The
ans Gyro
ion
Sys tonic
tem
about flexibility
about posture
about strength
3 BEDROOMS + 2 BATHS * OFFERED AT: $325,000
www.TerryMichel.com/blog
Terry Michel
Your Neighbor, Your Realtor
678-464-3858
www.TerryMichel.com
SOLD
This charming Oakhurst cottage has been
completely renovated & sits on a large lot with
tiered backyard deck. The kitchen has recently
been updated with granite countertops & stainless
steel appliances, and the expansive 2nd floor
master suite is truly spectacular.
For the glass parts of windows and doors, a tough polyester Window
Security Film is available. The security film is crystal clear, 4 mils
thick, and is applied from edge-to-edge on the inside of the glass with
a super-strong adhesive. If the glass is broken (think brick or baseball
bat), the glass shards don’t fall out. They stay in place because they are
bonded to the film, which is too tough to cut or tear. By holding the
glass shards in place, the film prevents the broken window from being
used as a point of entry. You still have to replace the broken glass (and
film), but an intrusion is prevented.
The most burglar-proof security for windows are fixed metal grilles or
burglar bars. To mitigate their unattractiveness, they can be custom
designed to match to the dividers or mullions on the window (leading
them to be called “invisible” window bars). Bars can be installed inside
or outside of windows and can be painted to match house colors. Fire
code requires that window bars installed in bedrooms are hinged with
an interior latch so they are easy to open in case of an emergency.
Finally, Security Screens can be installed. Usually custom made
to window dimensions, they resemble insect screens but are much
stronger--made from stainless steel wire held in a steel or aluminum
sub-frame (which appears to be part of the window), and are attached
to the window opening. They are available hinged for quick exits and
cleaning and the latch opens only from the inside. However, they
should not be confused with screen products sold by alarm companies,
which have alarm sensors woven into a regular nylon insect screen.
332 WEST BENSON
3 BEDROOM + 2 BATHS * OFFERED AT: $399,900
This classic Oakhurst cottage is currently being
renovated and restored to its original splendor by
premier area builder: Picture Perfect Renovations.
Featuring a great location within walking distance
of the vibrant Oakhurst Village, don’t miss the
opportunity to customize this wonderful home !
543 EAST LAKE DRIVE
5 BEDROOMS + 3 BATHS * OFFERED AT: $439,900
This large family home features a great yard in a
prime Oakhurst location. Significantly expanded
and renovated, this home is situated on an extra
large lot with a two car garage. A welcoming front
porch greets your guests in style and the backyard
deck will keep them well entertained.
Page 7
see the results
431 W. Ponce de Leon Ave., Suite 10 • Decatur, GA 30030 • 404.373.9672
www.AboutMovement.com
For additional information or assistance with your home security plan,
The Entry Enforcer can help. Contact: [email protected];
404-289-6960. You can find out more at: www.EntryEnforcer.com

8
Page 8
9
Oakhurst Leaflet
Oakhurst’s Suburban Roots
David S. Rotenstein — [email protected]
Real estate development always has been integral to
Oakhurst’s history. Our neighborhood has its origins in the
grand plans hatched by subdividers and real estate speculators who envisioned a string of planned suburbs linking
Atlanta with its smaller eastern neighbor, Decatur. The
building boom Oakhurst is experiencing at the turn of the
21st century is the fulfillment of a Gilded Age dream of a
thriving middle class suburb. Oakhurst’s development history is visible in its street patterns and historic housing stock,
a mixture of ordinary
vernacular residences,
Craftsman-inspired
bungalows, and period
revival cottages.
In the years after the
Civil War, the area
now called Oakhurst
was rural farmland
connected to Atlanta
and Decatur by a few
roads and the Georgia
Railroad. In 1890 a
group of Atlanta entrepreneurs bought more than a thousand acres in DeKalb County. The Atlanta Suburban Land
Company carved out subdivisions with now-familiar names:
Kirkwood and East End. Other subdivisions with names
like Crichton Park, Candler’s Park, and Poplar Springs disappeared from local maps and memories.
Poplar Springs was laid out in the heart of what in 1910
became the Town of Oakhurst. The town enjoyed a brief
life as an independent municipality. It built a school,
planned water and transportation infrastructure, and had
an elected municipal government. In 1915, the state revoked
Oakhurst’s 1910 charter and Decatur annexed the town. For
much of the 20th century, the neighborhood experienced
cycles of stability and deterioration, racial transformations,
and revitalization. By the turn of the twenty-first century,
Oakhurst had become a trendy Decatur neighborhood with
a funky identity.
Incorporated in May 1890, the Atlanta Suburban Land
Company’s officers included president Aaron Haas, vicepresident J.S. Todd, secretary J.L. Logan Jr., and treasurer
W.A. Haygood. The company was capitalized at $270,000
and in a July 1890 article, the boosterist Atlanta Constitution
www.OakhurstGA.org
noted that no more than $15,000 of the new company’s
stock was held outside of Atlanta.
The day after the
company’s formation
was announced in the
Constitution, the newspaper reported that a
deal had been struck
between the company
and the Metropolitan
Street Railroad Company to extend its line
from Atlanta to Decatur
using “dummy engines”:
small locomotives. The
Constitution reported that the new railroad would be built
as a scenic corridor: “This avenue is to be a broad and beautiful one, laid off with a view to making it an elegant drive
from Atlanta to Decatur.” The paper added,
“Atlanta will be greatly benefitted [sic.] by
the opening up of such an avenue as the land
company proposes to open … the dummy
line along this avenue will do wonders in the
way of development.”
To make that development a reality, on July
24, 1890 the company bought 1,425 parcels
in DeKalb County from its officers and
board of directors. These parcels were among
large tracts of land the individuals had been
consolidating. Kirkwood and East End were
the company’s best-known subdivisions.
“This is the largest purchase of lands ever
made near Atlanta,” reported the Constitution
in July 1897.
Poplar Springs was a 92-acre subdivision the
company carved from 175 acres included in
the July 1890 purchase. The subdivision is
shown in plat prepared for the Atlanta Suburban Land Company by Hall Brothers, an
Atlanta-based engineering firm. Although no
official maps showing Poplar Springs have
been located, the subdivision appears to have
been named for springs situated on the property where the Spring Point apartments are
located. A 1912 plat filed in DeKalb County
land records shows the springs and surrounding features, including the East End School
March 2012
Oakhurst Leaflet
(later known as the Fifth Avenue School), a store, and the
modern street network.
Most of the lots were large, measuring 100 feet wide and
from 350 to 400 feet deep. The Consolidated Electric Car Line (dummy line) is
shown in the centerline of Metropolitan
Avenue, the street that became Oakview
Road. Park lands were reserved along
Hill Street and Oakview. The only
named roads in the plat were Fayetteville Road, Hill Street, Mead Road, and
Third Avenue.
The company marketed the properties
in its vast portfolio in the early 1890s
as “large, handsome” lots available at
low prices in a location convenient to Decatur and Atlanta.
It does not appear that Poplar Springs was marketed separately until 1896, after the company had gone into receiver-
Page 9
ship following the national depression of 1893.
By the spring of 1896, the company was aggressively
marketing Poplar Springs — now as “Poplar Springs Park”
— in the Constitution. Ads touting the properties hailed its
proximity to Agnes Scott and its location along the streetcar line. One ad described Poplar Springs as “the prettiest
place for an ideal home between Atlanta and Decatur.” The
advertisement, continued, “The handsomest subdivision
ever made near Atlanta.”
Many of the company’s lots had been sold as the economy
recovered in the late 1890s. The company had targeted
middle-class buyers at a time when families were moving
to garden city suburbs throughout the nation. In Atlanta,
Inman Park, Druid Hills, and Candler Park became
some of the most recognizable suburbs while others, like
Oakhurst’s Poplar Springs, became historical footnotes or
were forgotten altogether. 