Focus June 2010.indd

In This Issue
Focus on Downtown Development.............. 2
Decatur Part of $20 Million Grant............... 4
Creating Sugar Creek Garden...................... 5
Saturday Farmers Market Kicks Off ........... 6
Decatur Beach Party June 18....................... 7
Sidewalk Talk . ..............................................10
Celebrate the 4th of July in Decatur...........12
Official Publication of The City of Decatur, Georgia • June 2010 • Volume 20 • Number 10
2010 Decatur Design Awards
he City of Decatur and the Decatur Historic Preservation Commission held the 2010 Decatur Design Awards ceremony in
May at the Old Courthouse. The awards were established in
1997 to honor projects that demonstrate excellence in design,
historic preservation, adaptive use, and residential additions. Every year
the Decatur Historic Preservation Commission judges submissions and
selects projects that are exemplary. This year nine projects were chosen,
including Decatur’s striking Fire Station No. 2. Turn to page 3 for a complete list and more photos.
Decatur Fire Station No. 2, 356 W. Hill Street
City Budget Process
Under Way
The following are important dates in the
budget schedule for the City of Decatur’s
Fiscal Year 2010-11 budget process, subject
to City Commission approval.
May 17 – Formal Presentation of Budget to City
Commission and Adoption of Tentative 2010 Millage
Rate
June 7 – Public Hearing on Proposed FY 2010-11
Budget and Revised 2009-10 Budget and 2010 Millage Rate, 7:30 p.m.
June 21 – Public Hearing and Scheduled Adoption of Proposed FY 2010-11 Budget and Revised
2009-10 Budget and Adoption of Final 2010 Millage
Rate, 7:30 p.m.
All public hearings on the city budget will be held at
Decatur City Hall, 509 N. McDonough St. You may
also make comments via the Internet using Decatur’s
Open City Hall. See page 4 for information.
Copies of the FY 2010-11 Proposed
Budget and FY 2009-10 Revised Budget are available at Decatur City Hall and at the
Decatur Library, 215 Sycamore St. The information is
also posted at www.decaturga.com.
Sanitation Schedule
Independence Day Holiday
Monday, July 5, services will be on Tuesday,
July 6. Tuesday services will be Wednesday,
July 7.
Focus on
Downtown
Development
Strategic Plan Update:
Translating Our Vision into
Goals and Action
T
he community visioning phase of the city’s strategic plan update concludes on Saturday, June 5, when the last of the session three roundtables are scheduled. Since April, more than
600 Decatur residents have participated in a series of three
small group meetings to talk about what they valued about Decatur and
to offer suggestions for what the city should be like in 10 years. Facilitators from each group typed up the notes from their sessions and these
reports are posted on the www.decaturnext.com website. More than
2,800 bullet points were submitted from session one.
In addition to the regular session meetings, we worked with Jeanne Lee, a teacher
at Decatur High School, to gather high
school students to provide their input, and
we worked with the eighth graders in the
Renfroe Middle School Humanities classes
to gather their ideas too. All these suggestions will be incorporated into the list of
comments.
Consultants are now busy sorting the
bullet points into topic areas. They will
consolidate the information and prepare a
summary report over the summer. We will
post a variety of online discussion topics
at the Decaturnext website that will focus
on some of the more frequently mentioned
topic areas. We also plan to hold a series of
informal “meet-up” sessions to provide for
ongoing conversation.
In August, we will gather again as a
large group to celebrate our hard work, find
out about what we learned and meet the
planning team that will help us translate
our vision into a strategic plan with goals
The Decatur Focus is a joint publication of the City
of Decatur, the Decatur Downtown Development
Authority and the Decatur Business Association. It
is a newsletter intended to provide announcements
and information related to events, activities, and
businesses in the City of Decatur. The purpose of the
newsletter is to promote the city and encourage the
exchange of information among residents, business
owners and the school system. Letters to the editor,
editorials or other opinion pieces are not published.
All press releases, announcements and other information received for publication are subject to editing.
Information found in the Focus is also posted on
Decatur’s official website at www.decaturga.com. The
deadline for submitting articles, announcements or
advertising is the first day of the month preceding
publication. Contact: Editor, Decatur Focus, P.O.
Box 220, Decatur, GA 30031, 404-371-8386; fax
404-371-1593; email: [email protected].
DECATUR CITY COMMISSION
Bill Floyd.................................................. Mayor
Jim Baskett.............................. Mayor Pro Tem
Fred Boykin............................... Commissioner
Kecia Cunningham................... Commissioner
Patti Garrett.............................. Commissioner
DECATUR DOWNTOWN
DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY
and action steps to direct our work for the
next decade. Check in on our progress at
www.decaturnext.com and find out about
upcoming meetings and online discussion
topics. A very special thank you to all the
many volunteers who came forward to serve
as facilitators and to all of you who gave of
your time to attend and participate in the
roundtable discussions. It has been said that
“a community is only as good as its citizens
choose to make it” and you have proven
that you intend to do your part to help
maintain this special place we all call home.
Information for the FOCUS should be submitted by mail to Editor, Decatur Focus, P.O. Box 220,
Decatur, GA 30031, by fax to 404-371-1593, or by email to [email protected].
Board
Sheila Hunt, Chair
Fred Cavalli
John Drake
John Joyner
Chris Sciarrone
Betty Spiker
Decatur Business
Association
DECATUR BUSINESS ASSOCIATION
Scott Drake ...................................... President
Sean Dammann....................... President-Elect
Marc Brennan....................................Treasurer
Kash Ahmed .................................... Secretary
Ann Berg....................................Past President
Design and layout: Lampe-Farley Communications
2 | Decatur Focus • June 2010
CITY NEWS
Decatur Design Award Recipients for 2010
139 S. Columbia Dr. Renovations/Historic Preservation
148 Erie Ave.
Addition
223 Superior Ave.
Addition
332 Spring St.
Addition
411 Glenn Circle
Addition
417 Oakland St.
Renovation
122 Wilton Dr.
Addition
235 Wilton Dr.
New Construction and Landscape Design
Fire Station 2
New Construction
Each recipient received a certificate from the city signed by Mayor Bill Floyd and an honorary plaque that can be mounted on the building.
139 S. Columbia Dr.
Addition to 411 Glenn Circle, including new kitchen and family room
Addition to 223 Superior Ave., including new terrace dining room
June 2010 • Decatur Focus | 3
CITY NEWS
Open City Hall an Option
for Public Input on Budget
New this year is the option to comment
on the Budget on Open City Hall. You
can get to Open City Hall from the
front page of www.decaturga.com. Click
on the link and register and add your
comments. All comments will be added
to the public input received at the public hearings and be part of the official
record.
Fire Hydrant Tests
Fire departments across the country are
required to service fire hydrants twice a
year, usually in the spring and fall. NFPA
and ISO require that this inspection be
done to ensure the hydrants have proper
water pressure and operate as they are
designed.
The Decatur Fire Department will
test fire hydrants in June. During the
pressure testing and flowing of the hydrants the water can become cloudy due
to disturbance within the water pipes.
This condition is temporary and usually
clears up quickly. For information call
404-373-5092.
Floodplain Information
Available
The Decatur Engineering Department
provides general floodplain information
on property located within the incorporated city limits. The Decatur Library
also provides references on flooding and
flood protection.
A map information service is available for a $10 fee. This service provides
inquirers with Flood Insurance Rate
Map information and identifies whether
a property is in a Special Flood Hazard
area.
An accurate street address or DeKalb
County/Decatur Tax Parcel Identification number is needed to obtain this information. Call 404-377-6198 or email
[email protected].
4 | Decatur Focus • June 2010
Decatur Included in $20 Million Grant
to Improve Energy Efficiency
T
he Southeastern Energy Efficiency Alliance (SEEA) recently received a $20 million
grant to roll out a program of innovative, large-scale building retrofits for homeowners and businesses from the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Retrofit Ramp-Up
initiative. This regional organization will partner with a dozen communities of varying sizes
and characteristics, including two cities in Georgia – Decatur and Atlanta.
SEEA plans to start this program in June. Each community will use a different approach
to increase the energy efficiency of small and large residential, commercial and public buildings. This diversity will allow SEEA to test and evaluate a variety of models in both smaller,
more rural, and larger, more metropolitan areas.
The program’s goal is to provide residents and business owners with streamlined access
to energy audit capabilities, financial incentives and support to make energy efficiency upgrades possible. It will serve as a “one-stop” source for information on efficiency, rebates,
tax incentives, and project financing. It will simplify the process to encourage residents and
businesses to take action. A large portion of the funding will be used to provide direct rebates and/or other financial incentives that lessen the cost of the upgrades.
The Decatur Preservation Alliance (DPA) will provide administrative support for Decatur’s program. The DPA will market this opportunity to Decatur residents and guide
interested participants through the process. Decatur First Bank has committed to exploring
options to make low-interest loans available to participants to finance the remaining costs
of the upgrades.
Decatur Housing Authority Encourages Sustainability
The Decatur Housing Authority has partnered with
local community gardening
advocate maMa Dirt to create a community garden for
senior residents at Oakview
Apartments on Oakview
Road in Oakhurst. The
groundbreaking ceremony
was held on Earth Day in
April.
Residents and volunteers are working together
to prepare the ground for
planting and growing fresh
vegetables. Residents will
maintain the garden and
share its bounty. Growing some of their own
vegetables will help senior
residents reduce household
grocery bills, increase social
interaction, achieve healthier lifestyles, and become
more self-sustaining.
CITY NEWS
Creating Sugar Creek Garden
S
ugar Creek Garden is the newest
site of the Oakhurst Community
Garden Project. It is located in the
floodplain behind Oakhurst Presbyterian Church at East Lake Drive and
Second Avenue (across the street from the
dog park). The new garden broke ground
in April and is receiving support from the
City of Decatur as a pilot for the Decatur
Urban Agriculture Initiative (DAI). The
initiative focuses on access to fresh, healthy
food for Decatur residents.
The garden hosts “farm-like” rows for
growing annual vegetables, tended by the
community and aimed at production. The
site will host fruit trees, shrubs and brambles, perennial vegetables and a medicinal
herb meadow. Part of the project is to pilot
perennial vegetables and medicinal herb species, especially those native to our Piedmont
region yet not widely propagated locally.
Like the OCGP, the mission of the new
garden is community involvement and
educational opportunity. Ongoing volunteer efforts and education classes for adults
and children will be available through the
OCGP.
Lindsey Mann is the project manager
for the new garden. Lindsey is a resident of
Oakhurst and her house adjoins the floodplain. She has envisioned this garden since
arriving in the neighborhood in 2006. She
is founder and director of Sustenance Design, an edible landscape company focused
on integrating sustainable solutions into
homes and communities around Decatur/
Atlanta. Her main goal in establishing edible gardens, such as the Sugar Creek site, is
to encourage self-sufficiency and abundant
health for earth and people.
Visit www.sustenancedesign.net for
more information.
Volunteer Opportunities
Ongoing: Tuesdays, 4-7 p.m.; Fridays, 9 a.m.-noon;
alternating Saturdays, 9 a.m.-noon. Regular volunteers eligible for work-trade for garden produce.
Task-focused workdays: Projects include establishing
a blueberry understory and preparing soil for the
herb meadow.
Youngsters were encouraged to take
part in the planting festivities.
Mayor Bill Floyd takes the green-thumb test.
David Junger, assistant city
manager for public works.
Oakhurst Garden Director Stephanie Van Parys with City Manager Peggy Merriss.
June 2010 • Decatur Focus | 5
CITY NEWS
Tessitura Makes
Music with Google Kids
For the second
year in a row,
Ms. Lynnette
of Tessitura
in Oakhurst
Village was
invited to
spend a morning at Google’s
Midtown office in Atlanta.
Ms. Lynnette,
Google employees and
their children had a blast singing, dancing,
playing drums, shaking shakers, jumping through hoops and playing guitar for
Google’s “Bring Your Kid to Work” day
in April. Google’s creative approach to the
corporate environment combined with Ms.
Lynnette’s gift for engaging children’s natural creativity through music and movement
activities made for a fun-filled morning for
everyone.
For information on Tessitura’s music
and movement classes for children from
birth to seven years, including the summer
session starting in June, visit www.MyTessitura.com or email [email protected].
Decatur Tote Bag Coupons
Remember to redeem your coupon for a
free reusable Decatur tote bag. Bring in the
coupon that came with your tax notice to
Decatur City Hall, 509 N. McDonough
St. (Monday-Friday, 8 a.m.-5 p.m.) or
Decatur Public Works, 2635 Talley St.
(Monday-Friday, 7:30
a.m.-4 p.m.). You must
redeem your coupon by
June 5. You may also
purchase additional bags
for $2.
6 | Decatur Focus • June 2010
Decatur Farmers Market Kicks Off Saturdays
Georgia Congressman Hank Johnson and Decatur Mayor Bill Floyd cut the ribbon officially opening the
Decatur Farmers Market’s Saturday location at the corner of N. McDonough Street and Trinity Place.
They’re joined by Greg and Nicole Coleson, co-owners of the market. June harvesting should fill the
market with plenty of new produce. Learn more about the market at www.decaturfarmersmarket.com.
Focus Combines July/August Issues
The July and August issues of the Decatur Focus will be combined and will come out in
mid-July. The combined July/August issue will feature the city’s Annual Report. Send information for both July and August by June 10 to Editor, Decatur Focus, P.O. Box 220,
Decatur, GA 30031 or by email to [email protected].
Youth Baseball Opening Day Parade
Youth Baseball opens on Saturday, June 5, with an Opening Day Parade for all t-ball and
league baseball participants. The parade will begin at McKoy Park at 11 a.m. The first pitch
will take place at noon.
Plan to join the fun. Convertibles and volunteers are needed. Contact Stacy Green, 678553-6549, or [email protected] for information.
Holy Trinity Announces Camps
Sign up now for Holy Trinity camps for 2-7 year olds (science
camps also available for children up to 10 years old). Children
4-7 can learn about their environment in a camp called Gateway to Green; younger children can participate in Motion Explosion (for 2 year olds) and I Spy (for 3 year olds).
To register visit www.holytrinitypreschool.org ($35 registration fee holds your spot) or call 404-371-1310. Camp weeks
are July 12-16; July 19-23; August 2-6; August 9-13; and August 16-20. Fees are one week, $80; more than one week, $75
per week. Hours are 9 a.m.-noon. Pay $15 extra and your child can stay until 1 p.m.
Holy Trinity Parish Preschool is at 515 E. Ponce de Leon Ave.
city NEWS
Decatur Beach Party June 18
C
Celebrating 25 Years of Fun in the Sun!
elebrate the beginning of summer at the annual Decatur Beach Party Friday, June
18, 5 p.m. until midnight. Decatur brings in 60 tons of sand and turns its landlocked square into the Decatur Beach complete with a kids’ boardwalk, live music,
dancing, food court, and more. This year the Beach Party celebrates its 25th year.
Attendees can start the evening with a visit to Decatur Beach, set up on Ponce de Leon
Avenue with plenty of sand and sand toys. The expanded Kid’s Boardwalk area – “Ponce
Fun Pier” – will be set up next to the sand. Sand buckets filled with a box supper and toy
are available for children for $5.
On the Community Bandstand on the square The Reputations will play beach music
from 5 to 8 p.m. At 8 p.m. Terry Lee and the G.T.’s will play live from the main stage on
the MARTA Plaza. Beachgoers can enjoy dancing on the plaza until midnight.
The Food Court will be set up on E. Court Square between the beach/boardwalk area
and the main stage, serving hamburgers, hot dogs, funnel cakes, beer, wine and soft drinks.
No outside food, beverages or coolers are allowed into the festival area.
Tickets are $6.50 in advance at www.decaturdba.com or $10 at the gate. Children 12
and under are free, limit two per paying adult. Kids’ boardwalk tickets will be for sale inside
the event. For more information visit www.decaturdba.com or call 678-553-6573.
The Decatur Business Association produces the Decatur Beach Party. The event is an
annual fundraiser and proceeds help fund other free events, including the Easter Egg Hunt,
Concerts on the Square, Blue Sky Concerts, and the Bonfire/Marshmallow Roast. Proceeds
are also used for projects that benefit the entire community such as the Wayfinding Kiosk
signs on and around the square.
Thanks to the sponsors, which include the City of Decatur, the Decatur Downtown
Development Authority, Eagle Rock Distributors, Barefoot Wine, HLM Financial, Holiday
Inn Decatur, A-1 Amusements, Vulcan Materials, Leapin’ Lizards, Nanston Dental and
Standard Parking.
Free
Sand!
Remember, when the Beach Party ends at midnight everyone is welcome to load up the sand
and take it home for a sandbox, garden or playground. It is free! Just bring your vehicle and
load up the sand anytime after midnight or during the rest of the weekend. Many thanks to
sponsor Vulcan Materials, which donates the sand every year.
June 2010 • Decatur Focus | 7
DBA NEWS
Agnes Scott College in the News
Seen Around Town
The Decatur Rotary Club recently announced its annual Community Grant
recipients. The Community Grants Committee solicited grant proposals and
awarded them based on specific criteria, focusing on local programs that
serve at-risk youth or promote literacy. Pictured are: Far left, Decatur Rotary
President Bryan Downs and far right, Community Grants Committee Chair
Rev. James Brewer-Calvert. Recipients included representatives from Decatur
Education Foundation, Decatur Cooperative Ministry, Decatur-DeKalb YMCA,
DeKalb Library Foundation, DeKalb Rape Crisis Center, Friends of Refugees,
Mommy and Me, Global Village School, Our House, Outreach Development Unit
of the Girl Scouts of Greater Atlanta and United Methodist Children’s Home.
Decatur’s
only plastic
surgery
practice
Look Refreshed. Feel Great. Be Happy.
Specializing in cosmetic
and reconstructive
plastic surgery, including
facelift, eyelid surgery,
breast reconstruction,
augmentation and lift;
and body contouring
procedures.
Lisa M. DiFrancesco, MD
PLASTIC SURGERY
404-377-3474
One Town Center
150 E. Ponce de Leon Ave., Suite 190
[email protected]
www.drdifrancesco.com
Double board-certified in plastic surgery and surgery.
Affiliated with DeKalb Medical, Piedmont Hospital,
and Emory Midtown.
8 | Decatur Focus • June 2010
Introducing “smart lipo”
laser-based liposuction.
Nonsurgical offerings
include Botox®,
Juviderm®, skin
rejuvenation and
Latisse®.
RecycleMania Champion
gnes Scott College is the top-ranked college in Georgia
and No. 35 nationally in this year’s RecycleMania Grand
Champion Division. RecycleMania is a national college and
university recycling competition. About 600 colleges and universities signed up for the 10-week competition, which pits institutions
all over the country against each other in several categories to see
which school can recycle the largest portion of their waste.
The Grand Champion Division is based on a school’s combined
results in the Per Capita Classic and Waste Minimization competitions and takes a school’s size into account. Agnes Scott’s cumulative recycling rate was 44.5 percent. The average cumulative waste
pounds per person was 51.57, almost half that of other Georgia
colleges competing in the waste minimization category. The college also placed No. 11 nationally in the Food Service
Organics Division, with 17.6 pounds of food recycled (or composted) per person.
Agnes Scott was the first college in Georgia earlier this fall
to compost in its residence halls. The college also successfully
launched its campus-wide, single-stream recycling program, which
eliminates the need to separate recyclables, the previous fall. Recycling and composting, part of the college’s goal to move closer
to producing zero waste, are also part of a much wider strategy to
reduce Agnes Scott’s environmental impact.
To learn more about sustainability initiatives at Agnes Scott
College, visit www.agnesscott.edu/about/sustainability.
A
Environmentally Responsible
gnes Scott College was included in The Princeton Review’s
“Guide to 286 Green Colleges,” developed in partnership
with the U.S. Green Building Council and focused on institutions of higher education that have demonstrated above-average
commitment to sustainability. The Review chose the schools based
on the “Green Rating” scores they received in summer 2009 when
it published Green Rating scores for 697 schools in its online college profiles and/or annual college guidebooks. Of 697 schools that
The Princeton Review gave “Green Ratings” to in 2009, the 286
schools in the guide received scores in the 80th percentile or higher.
A
Aquatics for Kids Offered at Holiday Inn
Infant Aquatics SE featuring SwimKids of Georgia is a swim
school for children 6 months to 6 years old. Lessons are taught
from the pool at the Holiday Inn/Decatur Conference Center.
Morning, early evening and classes for working parents are
offered. Infant Aquatics are for children 6 months to 4 years;
SwimKids for children 4 to 6 years. Group lessons are also
available.
For information visit www.infantaquatics.com or contact
Nadyne Siegel Brown, [email protected].
DBA NEWS
From the DBA President
M
ay and June are two of my favorite
months in Decatur and I want to
take some time to thank those who
make this possible. With Concerts
on the Square we had five Saturday and four
Wednesday concerts in May. In the past five years that I have been
involved I have never seen such large crowds and great atmosphere
for these events to take place. I want to thank our co-chairs Wendy
Watkins and Jeremy Warner for a great job and everyone is looking
forward to September concerts as well.
Now June . . . and the Beach Party. Our co-chairs Morgan Rowe
and Butch Whitfield have done an amazing job the past few years
and I can’t wait to see what’s in store in a few weeks. This is the
DBA’s largest fund raiser and allows us to put on other events for
the community, but most importantly it allows us to help fund
projects and initiatives that serve our business members and community at-large. So please come out and join us on Friday, June 18.
Buy your tickets in advance online at www.ticketalternative.com/
Events/11302.aspx and thanks for supporting the DBA.
I would like to say thanks to Cheryl Burnette, who handles the
special events for the city, our concert series sponsors Suntrust and
Wachovia, and all the local businesses who co-sponsored specific
concerts.
— Scott Drake, DBA president
Meeting
Reminder
Decatur Business
Association
June Meeting • Tuesday, June 22
5:15 p.m. Networking reception
6 p.m. Program
Where: Eddie’s Attic
515 N. McDonough St.
Visit www.decaturdba for more information.
Former Decaturite Geoff Achison Slated to
Perform at Eddie’s Attic June 13
Native Australian and recent citizen of Decatur Geoff Achison will
play only one show in the Atlanta area to cap his spring tour of
North America. Joining him onstage at Eddie’s Attic, 515 N. McDonough St., will be legendary Randall Bramblett and his all-star
band, featuring Grammy winner Yonrico Scott and Grammy nominee Ted Pecchio. Achison has also promised to feature special guests
throughout the evening.
The June 13 show will begin at 8 p.m. For more information,
visit www.eddiesattic.com.
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June 2010 • Decatur Focus | 9
eventS
Sidewalk Talk
Farm Burger Opens
What’s up with Decatur
restaurants and retailers
Welcome to Blue Elephant Book Shop, which will hold its grand opening in
Decatur on June 5. Blue Elephant is moving from N. Decatur Road to 407 W.
Ponce de Leon Ave. (two doors west of Taqueria del Sol, two doors east of Dancing Goats Coffee Bar, and directly across the street from Watershed and Farm
Burger restaurants). Stop by and welcome them, or call 404-728-8955, or email
[email protected] for information.
Congratulations to Forbici for Hair, which celebrates its 15th anniversary in
Decatur in June. The shop will feature art by Emily Kennedy and Woody Hickox and the community is invited to visit. Hair styling will be offered at a discount rate. Owner Marty Kennedy thanks her clients, friends, and businesses for
their support. Forbici is at 227 N. McDonough St., next door to Books Again.
Call 404-378-4046 for information.
Check out Stewart Clink’s Top Five restaurants on Citysearch and see a write up
of Universal Joint. The PGA golfer and 2009 British Open champion picked
five favorites in his hometown and Universal Joint made the cut. Clink says, “To
find that small-town, feel-good burger stand, look no further than U-Joint –
their burger is what a good burger should be – simple. Plus it goes great with almost anything from behind the bar.” See the write up at atlanta.citysearch.com/
list/157981.
Farm 225 announces the opening of a sister operation, Farm Burger, in downtown Decatur at 410
W. Ponce de Leon Ave., next door to Watershed.
The restaurant is a collaboration of Farm 255
owner and farmer Jason Mann and restaurateur
George Frangos.
The restaurant’s burgers are made from 100
percent grass-fed beef from cows raised on southeastern pastureland, and sourced from the same
farms that supply 255, including their own operations Full Moon Farms and Moonshine Meats.
The beef is from cows that are never fed hormones, antibiotics, or grain, and will be dry-aged
and ground fresh on site.
Farm Burger’s menu is seasonal and its space is
convivial and comfortable. Build your own burger or enjoy one of the specials, sides and snacks.
For more information visit www.farmburger.net.
Garden View Massage, 215 Church St., Suite 109, has expanded its hours
of operation. The practice’s Reduced-Rate Clinic will open Monday-Friday at 7
a.m., and close at 8:30 p.m. The additional hours will provide more opportunity
for nine-to-fivers to experience the benefits of regular massage therapy. Garden
View Massage offers online appointment scheduling, and is open seven days a
week, in the purple building next to Twain’s. Visit www.gardenviewmassage.com
or call 404-377-2909.
Steinbeck’s, at 659 East Lake Dr. in Oakhurst, has scheduled a June 19 lobster
boil. For $25, diners can enjoy lobster, corn on the cob and potatoes. Reservations are required. Learn more at www.steinbecksbar.com.
515-B N. McDonough St.
Decatur, GA 30030
404.377.4976
www.eddiesattic.com
'
'
eddies attic is decaturs
only rooftop
tavern & grill--a great place for you
and your friends to bask in the great
spring weather, indulge in nightly
drink specials, & enjoy our free happy
hour buffet on fridays!
10 | Decatur Focus • June 2010
EVENTs
Columbia Seminary Residence Hall Earns LEED Gold
The new residence hall for Columbia Theological Seminary students, opened last summer, has
earned the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Gold Certification by
the United States Green Building Council. It is
the first facility in Decatur to earn LEED Gold
Certification and is expected to use approximately
50 percent less energy than a conventionally constructed facility. An energy-monitoring system in
the entry lobby allows students and visitors to see
real-time energy consumption as compared with an average building performance.
The architecture firm of Lord Aeck Sargent designed the three-story structure, which includes studio, one-, two- and four-bedroom apartments; a recreation and workout area accessible to students, faculty, and staff; a community kitchen with indoor and outdoor seating and fireplaces; a laundry area for residents; and mechanical and facilities support spaces.
Green design strategies include an exterior building envelope with above-average insulation
values, energy efficient windows, and a geothermal mechanical system that provides low
operating costs and a long life cycle.
In addition, the residence hall’s orientation minimizes east and west exposures to reduce
sun angles, thus reducing unwanted glare and heat gain. Nearby trees provide natural sun
shading from the south. Large windows take advantage of natural light, provide access to
views and use sunscreens to reduce direct solar gain where appropriate. To improve energy
efficiency, lighting includes motion sensor switching, energy efficient lamps.
Water efficiencies include rainwater collection for landscape irrigation and water saving
plumbing fixtures. Indoor air quality is protected through low VOC adhesives and coatings. Recycled and regional construction materials were used, and construction waste was
recycled and reused to the greatest extent possible.
Columbia Theological Seminary is at 701 S. Columbia Dr., Decatur.
Holy Trinity Parish Installs Solar Array System
Holy Trinity Parish officially dedicated its
solar array panels in April. They are on the
south roof of Tisdale Hall and include 20
Suniva PV modules generating 4.7 KW of
power. The system is connected back to the
Georgia Power electrical grid and the power
generated will offset a portion of Holy Trinity’s monthly electrical bills.
A primary purpose of the array is to promote earth stewardship and to provide a
visible symbol of sustainability. A web-based
monitoring system allows parishioners to view power generation data. OneWorld Sustainable was the solar array contractor and Georgia Interfaith Power and Light was instrumental in helping to put this project together.
Holy Trinity received a GIPPY Award, given annually by Georgia Interfaith Power and
Light (GIPL) to honor faith communities that exhibit “exemplary work incorporating
creation care into the life of their congregations.” Holy Trinity won the Power Award for
installing the solar array along with other power-related improvements and Green Team
activities.
To see the solar array at work, go to www.htparish.com, click on Green Ministries and
then on Solar Array Monitor.
Georgia Center for the Book:
25 Books All Georgians
Should Read
Some of Georgia’s most acclaimed novelists, poets, and nonfiction authors, including three Pulitzer Prize winners, are on the
new list of “25 Books All Georgians Should
Read,” selected by the Georgia Center for
the Book.
The list includes 11 novels and short story collections, three volumes of poetry, and
11 nonfiction books. Pulitzer Prize-winners
on the list include James Alan McPherson,
Taylor Branch, and Douglas Blackmon.
Four first-time authors also made the list:
Amanda Gable, Lauretta Hannon, Deirdre
O’Connell, and Jessica Handler.
William W. Starr, executive director of
the Center for the Book, said the selection
and promotion of the list “is a significant
way for us to recognize the extraordinary
literary talent we have in this state.”
Visit www.georgiacenterforthebook.org
for information.
Library Offers Downloadable
Audiobooks
Through a new service, OverDrive, DeKalb
County Public Library patrons can check
out new releases and popular titles as downloadable audiobooks, using their own Internet access and a library card.
The library has an initial collection of
more than 300 audiobook titles, including
The Help, by Kathryn Stockett, SuperFreakonomics, by Steven Levitt, Impact, by
Douglas Preston and books from the Twilight saga series by Stephenie Meyer.
Currently patrons can check out two
titles at one time and can choose the length
of their check-out time from a range of one
to three weeks. The downloads automatically expire at the end of the check-out
period, so patrons do not have to worry
about lost items or late fees. Patrons also
can place requests for books already
checked out.
For more information about OverDrive,
visit dekalblibrary.org and click “OverDrive” under the eLibrary tab.
June 2010 • Decatur Focus | 11
EVENTS
Celebrate July 4 with Parade, Concert, Fireworks
Join Decatur’s Fourth of July Pied Piper Parade as it winds through downtown Decatur.
Decorate your wagon, ride your bike, skate or walk in this event. The City Commissioners will lead the parade in the mini-firetruck. Neighborhoods and organizations are
encouraged to make floats and join the fun.
Parade lineup is at the First Baptist Church
of Decatur at 5:30 p.m. The parade begins at 6
p.m. It ends at the Community Bandstand on
the square with a presentation of colors and the
Star Spangled Banner. Anyone may participate
in the parade but those with vehicles must
register by calling 678-553-6573 or emailing
[email protected].
The concert features the Callanwolde Concert
Band and begins at approximately 7 p.m. in the
Community Bandstand. Fireworks begin at dark
(approximately 9 p.m.) and are shot from the top
of the DeKalb County parking deck. Many thanks
to the Decatur Business Association for its annual
contribution toward the cost of the fireworks.
For information visit www.decaturga.com or
call the 24-hour Decatur Events Hotline at
404-371-8262.
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12 | Decatur Focus • June 2010
EVENTS
Help Organize Team Decatur for
Fall Kaiser Run/Walk
Puppet Show Presented by Waldorf School Faculty
Thursday, June 24 • 6-8 p.m. • Holiday Inn
Decatur Conference Center
The Active Living Board invites the community to
learn more about participating in a citywide Team
Decatur for the annual Kaiser Permanente Corporate
Run/Walk & Fitness Program. If you are interested
in finding out about Team Decatur or getting your
company, church, neighborhood, neighborhood association, nonprofit organization or any other group
involved in the effort, please join us at the June 24
informational meeting.
The Kaiser Run/Walk features a training program
that is included with registration and kicks off July 26.
The program culminates with the signature 5K run/
walk and picnic in downtown Atlanta on Sept. 16.
The Decatur effort will encourage businesses,
neighborhoods, organizations and residents to join
Team Decatur for the community training program.
For information check the Active Living Blog,
231 Sycamore Street, for updates, email
[email protected], or call 404-377-0494.
The Waldorf School of
Atlanta performed its
original puppet show
Journey Cake, Ho! at the
Atlanta History Center’s
Sheep to Shawl event in
April. The puppet show is
based on the 1953 book
by Ruth Sawyer. The
story was told and sung
by WSA faculty member
Jill Hendrix and accompanied by Matthew Shelton on guitar and harmonica. The puppets were made by the Waldorf School of Atlanta kindergarten faculty. The three human characters in the show – Grumble, Merry and Johnny –
are marionettes made of a wooden skeletal base wrapped in wool and then felted.
The farm animals, a cow, pig, chickens, sheep and a donkey were also made by
felting wool.
For more information about Waldorf education and future puppet show opportunities visit www.waldorfatlanta.org.
PUSHING
Home. . .
Made Efficient, Comfortable, Safe
HealthGrades®, the leading healthcare ratings
company, independently has ranked DeKalb Medical
as the top 5% in the nation for Clinical Excellence
two years in a row and the top 10% in the nation
for Overall Orthopedic Services. Additionally,
DeKalb Medical received 5-Star Ratings in Hip
Fracture Repair for 2009-2010 and Total Knee
Replacement for 2010.
Call on Renewal for a Home Performance
with ENERGY STAR assessment. We’ll uncover
and fix your home’s energy loss problems and
safety hazards, which can lower your energy bills
and safeguard your family.
Call today! Qualify
for tax credits and
cash rebates.
For information about DeKalb Medical, or to discover
more about the HealthGrades® ratings, visit our website:
www.DeKalbMedical.org.
404.378.6962
For a reFerral to a DeKalb MeDical
physician, please call 404-501-Well.
RenewalSystemSolutions.com
124 S. Columbia Dr., Decatur
June 2010 • Decatur Focus | 13
SCHOOL NEWS
Mike Killeen at Eddie’s to Benefit DCM
Log Cabin Storytelling Begins June 16
Decatur singer-songwriter Mike Killeen will headline Eddie’s Attic
on Sunday, June 6, in a benefit concert for Decatur Cooperative
Ministry (DCM). Themed “Poverty is Real,” the concert begins at
7 p.m. and will feature opening acts by Lee and Lindsey Smith of
The Regulars Band and former Decatur resident Nathan Beaver.
The event will include a raffle and silent auction.
Killeen is currently working on his fifth album, also entitled
“Poverty is Real.” Between now and June 15, every $15 pre-order of
Poverty is Real will also generate a $5 donation to DCM – a local
nonprofit organization working to alleviate and prevent homelessness among families. For more information on Mike Killeen and
album pre-sales, visit www.mikekilleen.com. For more on DCM,
visit www.decaturcooperativeministry.org.
Tickets can be purchased at Eddie’s Attic and at www.eddiesattic.com. For more information or to contribute to the raffle or
silent auction, contact Bob Peach, 404-377-5365, ext. 5, or bob@
decaturcooperativeministry.org.
Join storyteller Fran Frantz as she presents stories and authentic
frontier crafts “with a twist.” Fran is a local historian and enthusiastic storyteller who creatively weaves fascinating tales of pioneer life
including children’s chores, entertainment, bartering and science.
Log Cabin Storytelling activities are on Wednesdays, June 16July 28, 10-11:30 a.m., at the historic Biffle Cabin, 720 W. Trinity
Place (behind the Swanton House).
The programs are for children ages 6-12. Ages 4-5 may attend if
accompanied by an adult. The cost is $6 per child per session.
Sessions feature open hearth cooking, candle making, butter
churning, pottery, weaving, and ice cream making. Tickets are required. Call 404-373-1088 x 20 or email [email protected] for
reservations or more information.
Decatur Court Kings Kick Off Season
The Decatur Court Kings and the World Basketball Association
(WBA) kicked off its 2010 season in May with a home game played
at Agnes Scott College. Founded in 2002 by Leroy McMath, the
WBA generates exposure for players who are trying to make it to
the NBA. Players seeking a career in basketball outside the NBA
also use the WBA as a stepping stone, according to McMath.
Markell King, the current Court Kings head coach, played in the
WBA and has played professionally in Lebanon.
Nine teams make up the WBA and six of the teams are in Georgia. Others are in Tennessee, Mississippi, and Florida. The season
consists of a combined 30 games. Home games include June 4, 11,
19, 27 and July 9, 16. Home games are held at Agnes Scott College.
For information visit www.facebook.com/pages/Decatur-CourtKings/137454122189 or www.wbacourtkings.com.
Art and Music Camps at 120 Sycamore
Place
Condo,
Cottage,
Castle?
Markert
Helps Make It
Happen.
14 | Decatur Focus • June 2010
Emilie Markert.
Experience.
Knowledge.
Patience.
Results.
RE/MAX Executives
314B Church Street
Decatur, GA 30030
404.378.9300
C: 404.915.8222
[email protected]
Summer art camps at Sycamore Place Gallery are offered weekly
through August for ages 3-9 and 9-12. Activities include hand
building with clay, papier mache, paint, pastel and collage, accompanied by music and walking tours. Campers can also climb
the magnolia trees outside and eat at Fellini’s next door on Fridays.
Children should wear old clothes and bring water for walks.
Camp costs: $125/week for five-day camps, $95/week for
three-day camps. Morning camps: 9 a.m.-noon. Extended lunch at
Fellini’s, noon-1 p.m., $15/day. Afternoon camps: 1-4 p.m. Themes: A Midsummer Night’s Surrealist Dream, Paul Klee’s Twittering Machines and Calder’s Circus, Picasso and Matisse and a
Paris Tea Party, Michelangelo’s Grocery list and Architecture, Da
Vinci’s Horses in Clay and Papier Mache, Mr. Damon’s Puppetry
Arts Center, and more.
For information and registration call 404-377-7747 and leave a
name and number, or email [email protected].
AROUND TOWN
★Congratulations to 19
pre-kindergarten students
at Our House, Inc., who
have successfully completed
their school year and will be
moving on to kindergartens
throughout the metro area in
August. Our House, on Columbia Drive in Decatur, is a
NAEYC-accredited child development center for homeless children ages 6 weeks
through 5 years. For more
information, go to www.
ourhousega.org or call Amber
Buck, 404-378-0938.
★Keller Williams Realty Associates recently spent the
day cleaning, painting, organizing and doing landscape
projects at Hagar’s House, an
emergency night shelter in
Decatur with support services
for women and children. The
effort was part of the Keller
Williams community service
initiative called RED (Renew,
Energize, Donate) Day that
was created to unite Keller
Williams Realty offices and
associates in an international
day of service. Keller Williams
is at 315 W. Ponce de Leon
Ave., Suite 100.
★Decatur resident Carl Seville,
owner of Seville Consulting,
will present a green building and remodeling seminar,
“Green from the Start,”
which will award participants
with four Sustainable Design AIA/CEU credits. The
seminar, by the Southeast
Chapter of the Institute of
Classic Architecture & Classical America, will be June
19 at Historical Concepts’
Glenwood Park location, 490
Brasfield Square, Atlanta. For
information call 678-4473996 or email icasoutheast@
gmail.com.
★Congratulations to Renewal
Design-Build, which has
been recognized as a regional
winner of the 17th annual
Chrysalis Awards for Remodeling Excellence. The awards
program recognizes the nation’s best work in residential
remodeling. Renewal received
Best Kitchen Remodel in
the $50-$75k category, Best
Bathroom Remodel $40$60k, and Best Green Remodeling Project over $250k.
All three winning projects
are in Decatur. The Chrysalis
Awards are open to any professional remodeler or design
professional in the United
States. For information visit
www.RenewalDesignBuild.
com.
teaches Evidence and Criminal Procedure for upper level
law students. ★Congratulations to Michael
Mears, associate dean and associate professor at Atlanta’s
John Marshall Law School,
who has been voted 2010
Professor of the Year. Atlanta’s
John Marshall Law School
recently received its final
American Bar Association certification and was also recognized in the recent listing of
American law schools by U.S.
News and World Report. Dean
Mears serves as the Academic
Dean for the school and
★The Decatur High Class
of ’55 will hold its 55th
reunion on Friday, June 11,
8-10 p.m., in the new DHS
Performing Arts Center. The
event is open to any graduate of Decatur High School
and features the Roswell New
Horizons Band, a swing band
featuring Tommy Dorsey and
Glenn Miller-era tunes. Tickets are $3 at the door. For information call 404-378-5340.
A vibrant part of the new Decatur!
Leasing affordable urban chic
...with a neighborhood feel.
Visit us at our sister properties too:
ACME Lofts
2752 E. Ponce de Leon Ave
185/189 Sams Street
Main Office 111-C New St Decatur GA 30030
[email protected] 404.377.3095
10 years and still growing.
Fairfield Mortgage, in partnership with Decatur First Bank, has been
providing mortgage excellence for over a decade in the Decatur
area. We bring a unique perspective to our customers because we
concentrate on what we do best; delivering the right products and
the best customer service experience possible. As a result, more
customers return to us for their future home financing needs as
well as refer us to their friends and family.
If you are purchasing or refinancing a home...
...we have an array of low down payment programs for first time
home buyers and refinancing options for seasoned homeowners.
Or if you are a senior age 62 or older, ask us how a Reverse
Mortgage may be an option for you. No matter what age or stage
of the home buying process, we have hundreds of mortgage
programs to assist.
Like a tree planted years ago, we have stood
through many seasons. Because our roots
are deep and our base is strong, we will
continue to serve you through many more.
For more information please contact:
Jeff Hancock - Serving Decatur since 1999
Senior Loan Officer
Direct: 404-371-4500
Fax: 800-503-9829
www.JeffHancockLoans.com
Information subject to change without notification. Information provided should not be considered as a commitment to lend. Offer subject to property
and credit approval. Program and other restrictions may apply. Please contact your Loan Officer for further details. ©2009 Fairfield Mortgage
June 2010 • Decatur Focus | 15
pre-sorted
standard
u.s. postage PAID
Permit No. 199
Decatur, GA 30031
It’s not too late
to plug in.
Where To Next?
2 0 1 0 S T R AT E G I C P L A N U P D AT E
C I T Y O F D E C AT U R , G E O R G I A
Are You On A First Name
Basis With Your Bank?
Our Customers Are.
Eco Banking Services
Little Shop of Stor
ies Kids C
a recent fieldatrmipp visits DFB on
.
– Use any ATM and DFB will pay all fees
for the first 10 withdrawals a month
– E-statement Program allows for a
secured paperless banking experience
– On-Line Banking access 24/7
– After business hours & weekend
banking at our branch located in
Kroger in downtown Decatur
Main Office: 1120 Commerce Dr. Decatur, GA 30033 tel: 404.373.1000
Kroger Branch: 720 Commerce Dr. Decatur, GA 30030 tel: 404.373.3125
www.decaturfirstbank.com
DATED MATERIAL JUNE 2010
Plug in and be heard:
www.decaturnext.com
Printed on Recycled Paper
Over 650 Decatur residents are now
meeting with their Round Table groups.
If you were unable to participate, don’t
worry. As notable issues emerge, we’ll
also be presenting them online for
your consideration and comment.
P.O. Box 220
City of Decatur, GA 30031-220
Not signed up for the
Strategic Plan Round Tables?
You can still contribute online!