City of Decatur

Focus
Decatur
APRIL 2011
Volume 21 • Number 8
Official Publication of The City of Decatur, Georgia
Decatur High Wins
Mock Trial Competition
For the 10th consecutive year Decatur High
School won the Georgia High School Regional Mock Trial competition and advanced
to the state competition. Each school in the
region presents both the plaintiff and defense
sides of the case and competes against other
teams in the region. Each side consists of
three lawyers who deliver opening and closing statements and conduct direct and cross
examination of witnesses.
Participating students were: Plaintiff:
News
3City
DBA
News
10
(lawyers) Jessica Norton, Eliza Cote, Jackson
Spell; (witnesses) Micah Castle, Manal Sidi,
Caroline Taylor; Defense: (lawyers) Hannah
Lefton, Boone O’Neil, Molly Petrey; (witnesses) Henry Schunk, Molly-Emma O’Neil,
Markeith Conley. Timekeepers and back
ups: Liam Foskett, Ayanna Holt, Michelle
Orabueze, Natalie Lefton, Sam Flore, Chelsie
Allen and Morgan Johnson.
Teacher coaches from Decatur High:
Chris Parizo, Winston King; volunteer at-
15Decatur
events
torney coaches (all Decatur residents): Jodi
Dick, Richard Taylor, William Turnipseed
and Nhan-Ai T. Du.
During each round of the competition,
the evaluators also choose one attorney and
one witness as the best for the round. Out of
12 awards, Decatur took 10 – Jessica Norton,
Hannah Lefton, Eliza Cote and Molly Petry
as “best attorney” and Micah Castle, MollyEmma O’Neil and Markeith Conley as “best
witness.”
21
School
news
Around
Town
23
Focus
Decatur
Economic Development
Surges with CCP Games
W
ith the announcement that CCP Games is
moving its North American headquarters to
250 E. Ponce de Leon Ave. and occupying
40,000 square feet of office space, Decatur’s
economic development program got off to a great start in 2011. CCP
is bringing 160 jobs to downtown Decatur and plans to grow to 300
employees by 2013. It will be the catalyst to office recruitment that
Mick’s Restaurant was to restaurant recruitment in the 1980s.
We look forward to welcoming CCP to our city this fall when its office renovation is complete.
Since the company is headquartered in Iceland, expect to see some friendly Icelandic faces
around town . . . guess we need to do some research into
Icelandic festivals and see what we can recreate in Decatur.
On another positive note, the Decatur Holiday Inn
should be under new ownership by March 31. The new
owners plan an extensive renovation of the hotel and will
announce an affiliation with a new premium hotel brand
later this year. In the interim, the hotel will continue to
operate as a Holiday Inn while upgrades to the hotel rooms
are completed floor by floor. Plans call for the entire facility to be shut down later this year for
a period of six to eight weeks to allow for renovation of public spaces and exterior upgrades to
be completed. The new owners also negotiated a long-term lease of the conference center that
includes funding for renovations to that facility too. When this work is complete, the hotel and
conference center will reopen under the new brand name.
Focus on
Downtown
Development
Downtown Shuttle Service?
During the strategic planning meetings, we heard a number of suggestions about creating a
downtown shuttle service. We are exploring options for pursuing this suggestion in the downtown business district with a possible link to the Oakhurst business district. We know the success of a shuttle depends on short wait times, reliability and proper coverage area so we may
need to start with a smaller targeted area and then expand. Initially we are considering small,
expanded passenger-size electric golf cart vehicles as a cost-effective option. We would love to
hear your ideas about days and hours of service and activity centers that should be served first.
Would you be willing to pay a nominal fee to use a shuttle service or should it be free? We plan
to post a survey covering these questions on Open City Hall on the city’s website. However,
we’d love to hear from you as we continue to look at ways to move forward with this suggestion.
You can send your thoughts to [email protected].
Strategic Plan and LCI
Speaking of the Strategic Plan, we have concluded the planning process and now have a planning document to direct our work for the next decade. The final plan can be viewed at
contined on page 6
Information for the FOCUS should be submitted by mail to Editor, Decatur Focus, P.O. Box 220,
Decatur, GA 30031, by fax to 404-371-1593, or by email to [email protected].
2 | Decatur Focus • April 2011
The Decatur Focus is a joint publication of the City
of Decatur, the Decatur Downtown Development
Authority and the Decatur Business Association. It is
a newsletter intended to provide announcements and
information related to events, activities, and businesses
in the City of Decatur. The purpose of the newsletter
is to promote the city and encourage the exchange of
information among residents, business owners and the
school system. Letters to the editor, editorials or other
opinion pieces are not published. All press releases,
announcements and other information received for
publication are subject to editing. Information found
in the Focus is also posted on Decatur’s official website
at www.decaturga.com. The deadline for submitting
articles, announcements or advertising is the first day
of the month preceding publication. Contact: Editor, Decatur Focus, P.O. Box 220, Decatur, GA 30031,
404-371-8386; fax 404-371-1593; email: linda.harris@
decaturga.com.
DECATUR CITY COMMISSION
Bill Floyd.........................................................Mayor
Jim Baskett.................................Mayor Pro Tem
Fred Boykin.................................Commissioner
Kecia Cunningham.................Commissioner
Patti Garrett.................................Commissioner
DECATUR DOWNTOWN
DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY
Board
Sheila Hunt, Chair
Fred Cavalli
John Drake
John Joyner
Chris Sciarrone
Betty Spiker
DECATUR BUSINESS
ASSOCIATION
Sean Dammann ................................. President
Wendy Watkins......................... President-Elect
Marc Brennan....................................... Treasurer
Morgan Rowe....................................... Secretary
Scott Drake................................... Past President
Design and layout: Lampe-Farley.com
City News
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Decatur Welcomes CCP Games
International Gaming
Developer to Relocate North
American Headquarters Here
C
CP Games, a Reykjavik, Iceland-based digital
entertainment developer, is relocating its North
American headquarters to 250 E. Ponce de Leon
Ave. CCP will occupy 40,000 square feet of office space in Decatur’s downtown business district and is
expected to create 150 new jobs over three years, bringing its
staff total to 300 by 2013.
CCP is the developer of EVE Online, a science fiction-based massively multiplayer online
game (MMOG). The company is widely recognized as an industry-leading pioneer of the
single-server persistent universe architecture. Through this expansion, CCP North America
will support the needs of its growing company.
“Decatur offers the perfect blend of big city accessibility with a hometown feel that we
were looking for,” said Mike Tinney, president of CCP North America. “Georgia’s financial
climate combined
with Decatur’s
social climate
provides the ideal
conditions for continued growth.”
An Ideal Fit
for Decatur
An economic
market analysis
conducted for
Decatur last fall as
part of the current
strategic planning
process identified a
need to attract new
Press image for Eve Online, one of CCP’s MMOGs
commercial office
tenants to diversify the city’s job base and attract higher paying jobs. The report specifically
targeted creative industries as an ideal fit because of Decatur’s reputation as a thriving small
city with a business environment that encourages collaboration, supports small businesses
and nurtures creative energy.
The Georgia Department of Economic Development, the DeKalb County Development
Authority, Georgia Power and the Metro Atlanta Chamber of Commerce assisted with this
relocation and supported the city’s efforts to bring CCP to Decatur.
About CCP Games
Combining cutting-edge technology and artistic excellence, CCP is dedicated to providing
vibrant, compelling products that transcend the boundaries of conventional MMOs and facilitate social networking through virtual worlds. Privately held and founded in Reykjavik,
Iceland, in 1997, the company has offices in Atlanta, Shanghai, Newcastle and London. For
more information visit www.ccpgames.com.
2010
kids
learn about
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have fun!
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In This Issue
Kids Activity Book
Decatur’s annual Kids Activity Book, inside
this issue, is filled with games and puzzles
about Decatur government and city services.
Have fun with it while you learn about how
Decatur works as a city. Multiple copies are
available for interested students, scout troops,
teachers, after-school groups, and other organizations that work with children.
The Activity Book is published every April
in celebration of Georgia Cities Week. For extra copies, email [email protected] or call
404-371-8386.
MLK Service Project
Seeks Applications
If you are 65 or older, on a fixed or lower
income, own and reside in your home within
the city limits of Decatur, you may qualify
for help with home and yard maintenance
and repair, free of charge through the Martin
Luther King Jr. Service Project. The 10th annual project will take place on the weekend
of Jan.14-16, 2012. The event is sponsored by
the Decatur Preservation Alliance in partnership with the City of Decatur.
If you think you are eligible for this program, or if you know someone who may be
eligible, please leave a voice message for Susan Cobleigh, Decatur Preservation Alliance,
404-371-4444, by Tuesday, May 31. State
your name, address, and telephone number.
Or send an email message to
[email protected].
April 2011 • Decatur Focus | 3
City News
What’s up with . . .
Building in Decatur?
A
s cities have grown over time governments have developed land use and zoning
regulations to ensure that the health, safety and welfare of the residents is protected
and that we can all live together compatibly. These regulations are modified over
time to reflect new building techniques and community goals. The Planning, Zoning
and Inspections (PZI) Division is responsible for this function for Decatur.
Building an Addition
Let’s say that you’d like to build an addition
onto your home.The first step is to research
the zoning requirements. The zoning ordinance determines where the addition can
be located and how large the addition can
be. Residential lots have a required rear yard
of 30 feet and the size of the house cannot
exceed 40 percent of the size of your lot. For
example, if you have a 9,000-square-foot lot
you cannot have more than 3,600 square feet
of floor area. Floor area is livable space that
is heated/cooled, like a bedroom. The zoning
ordinance also regulates how many families
can live on one lot. In most cases, only one
family can live on one lot. However some
properties are grandfathered, like duplexes,
and more than one family can live there.
Other Zoning Regulations
• You cannot park in your front yard.
• A deck can project up to 10 feet into the
required rear yard.
• Satellite dish antennas must be installed in
the rear yard.
• Lot coverage is limited to 40 percent of your
total lot area, unless your lot is less than
9,000 square feet; then there is a sliding
scale to determine the allowable lot coverage.
Submitting a Plan
Once the zoning requirements have been met,
you submit plans for a building permit. Building permits are required by city ordinance
when the value of construction is equal to or
exceeds $1,000 or the proposed construction
activities include any roofing or structural
work. Plumbing, HVAC and electrical permits
are required for new installations, replacements or removal of plumbing fixtures, HVAC
equipment or water, drainage, sewer, gas piping systems or electrical wiring. If you are un4 | Decatur Focus • April 2011
sure if your project needs a permit, just call us
and we will let you know.
Permit Application
The permit application requires the applicant
to submit plans that show how the project
will meet building construction code requirements. Construction codes establish the minimum requirements for the built environment
to safeguard the public health, safety and general welfare. An often-unrecognized result of
these standards is higher quality buildings that
hold their value longer with less maintenance,
which normally helps to maintain stable property values. As of December 2010, Decatur
began issuing electrical permits.
Who Can Obtain a Permit?
Not just anyone can obtain a permit. The
Georgia Secretary of State licenses plumbing,
electrical, mechanical and general contractors. Only individuals and companies who
are licensed in the state of Georgia can obtain
a permit. Examples of the types of licenses
include Master Plumber, Electrician, General
Contractor and Land Surveyor. You can find
out more about the licensing requirements
for construction at www.sos.ga.gov. Hom-
eowners can pull permits for projects they
would like to build themselves in very limited
situations and are responsible for knowing all
the applicable construction codes.
Construction Ordinance
City ordinance allows construction Monday
through Friday, 7 a.m.-6 p.m., Saturday,
9 a.m.-6 p.m., but no work on Sunday. At
certain points in your project, city staff will
inspect the work to ensure that it is being
built in accordance with the construction
codes. Once your project is complete you
will be issued a Certificate of Occupancy or a
Certificate of Completion.
The 2010 Strategic Plan has called for updating and revising our existing zoning and
construction codes to require more sustainable building practices. Building energy-efficient homes is one of the best ways to reduce
our impact on the environment. Stay tuned
for more information on these changes and
please visit us in PZI if you have any questions about building in Decatur. You can also
call 404-370-4104 or email Nathan.soldat@
decaturga.com. All of our forms and fees can
be found on the newly launched website.
Ed. Note: From time to time we receive questions about ongoing programs or projects. Periodically we publish this update column called
“What’s Up With . . .” to provide information
about those topics. If you have a “What’s Up
With . . .” topic you want updated in a future
column, submit it to Editor, Decatur Focus,
P.O. Box 220, Decatur, GA 30031, by fax to
404-371-1593, or by email to linda.harris@
decaturga.com.
Active Living Hosts ectively’
‘Communicating Eff the community to attend the second in its
department invites
ers, Friends and Family,”
The Decatur Active Living
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downtown Decatur.
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and connected lives. Join
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ecaturga.com. Learn mo
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678-553-6541
www.drsharman.com.
City News
Homeowners Nights Return
T
he informative Homeowners Nights held by the Planning, Zoning and Inspections
(PZI) department will return April 5, June 5, Aug. 7, and Oct. 2. The April 5 event will
be 6-8 p.m. at City Hall, 509 N. McDonough St. Homeowners can meet PZI department
officials to discuss projects, find out what construction is required, what inspections need to
occur, and how the permitting process works. Those who live in historic houses can find out
about possible tax incentive programs and any local designation requirements.
All the folks involved with the process will be available, including Amanda Thompson,
planning director; Rick Logan, building code official; Nathan Soldat, building and zoning permit technician; and Regina Brewer, preservation planner.
For information, contact Nathan Soldat, [email protected], 404-370-4104.
Spring Cleaning Days April-June
T
he Public Works department is pleased to support the 2011 Neighborhood Association
Spring Cleanup Days with up to eight employees and four trucks on the April, May, and
June Saturdays listed by neighborhood on the Decatur website, 8 a.m.-3:30 p.m., or until
finished, whichever is sooner. All items should be placed at the curb no later than 7:30 a.m.
Public Works employees will collect yard trimmings, building materials (that are not the
work of private contractors), tires, appliances (not containing Freon), and trash that would not
normally be placed in pay-as-you-throw (PAYT) bags. They will not collect liquids, dirt, bricks,
blocks, stone, rocks, concrete, or motor vehicle batteries or parts.
To see the schedule for your neighborhood, go to www.decaturga.com/Modules/ShowDocument.aspx?documentid=1735.
Decatur After-School Registration
F
or the first year in a long time, there will be no waiting in line to register for Decatur’s After School programs. Instead, there will be an After School lottery spin for the 2011-2012
programs on May 7. Register your children, K-8th grade, for the lottery spin through
April 29.
The Children and Youth Services division operates five K-third grade programs: Clairemont, Glennwood, Oakhurst, Winnona Park, and DRC Animal Crackers; one fourth-fifth
grade program, Fifth Avenue Whiz Kids; and one sixth-eighth grade program, Project REAL
at Renfroe. DRC Animal Crackers is open to children from all four K-third schools and will be
held at Beacon Hill in 2011-2012 due to construction at DRC. Children are bused to Beacon
Hill following school dismissal.
Visit www.decaturga.com/index.aspx?page=550 for detailed instructions on entering the
After School Lottery, forms and more details on programs, registration, and the Children and
Youth Services division.
Touch-A-Truck Day Rescheduled
Saturday, April 30 • 10 a.m.-1 p.m.
T
he Touch-A-Truck event that was rained out in March has been re-scheduled for Saturday, April 30, in the Callaway Parking lot at 120 W. Trinity Place. Come see and touch
all the trucks and vehicles from the city and some from DeKalb County. All ages are
invited to see, touch, and explore their favorite truck or equipment on wheels. The event is free
and open to the community. A City of Decatur fire truck, dump trucks, tractors, police cars,
motorcycles, bicycles, and many other vehicles will be on display. For information contact
Gregory White, 404-377-0494, or [email protected].
Deming Chen
Receives
Professional
Engineering
License
D
eming Chen, environmental
specialist in the Engineering
division of Public Works, recently received his professional
engineering license from the Georgia
Board of Registration for Professional
Engineers. Deming completed the state’s
licensing process, which involves education and training, industry experience,
and testing. The license signifies that he
is qualified to be a practicing engineer in
Georgia.
Deming has been the environmental
specialist for the Engineering division
since 2003. He draws upon his education
and field experience to assist with engineering projects that include storm water
detention system design, site engineering
for storm water runoff/drainage, and public infrastructure. He received his bachelor
of science in meteorology in 1992 from
Chengdu Institute of Meteorology; a master of engineering in hydrology and water
resources in 1995 from Chengdu University of Science and Technology; and a
Ph.D. in hydraulics and river dynamics in
2000 while working for the China Institute of Water Resources and Hydropower
Research. In 2003, Deming received a
master of science in civil engineering
from the University of North Carolina,
Charlotte.
April 2011 • Decatur Focus | 5
City News
SACS/AdvancED Recommends
Renewal of CSD’s District Accreditaton
I
n March the Southern Association
of Colleges and Schools (SACS)/AdvancED Quality Assurance Review
(QAR) team reported the findings of
their district assessment to the Decatur Board
of Education. Based on their comprehensive
review of the district, the team recommended
that City Schools of Decatur should remain
an accredited district. The QAR team praised
the district on the standard of governance
and leadership, stating that “board members
and the superintendent have a strong, positive, collaborative relationship,” earning the
district a rating of “highly functional” – the
highest possible rating.
SACS/AdvancED, an international accreditation organization, accredits schools
and districts that have met the
AdvancED quality standards, engaged in continuous improvement
and demonstrated quality assurance through internal and external
review. City Schools of Decatur
was successful in fully meeting all
seven quality standards:
• Vision and Purpose
• Governance and Leadership
• Teaching and Learning
• Documenting and Using Results
• Resources and Support Systems
• Stakeholder Communications and Relationships
• Commitment to Continuous Improvement
SEEN AROUND TOWN
Nathan Nobis sent in this photo of his daughter Saige
standing in front of their new car moments after putting
on their brand new City of Decatur license plate.
Send your favorite Seen Around Town photo to
[email protected].
6 | Decatur Focus • April 2011
The QAR team also commended the district on developing and
maintaining a “high quality of system employees [that] demonstrates
a culture of continuous improvement and professionalism.” The
team further praised the system’s
“sense of community among staff members,
stakeholders, parents and students that fosters a culture of excellence.”
In its recommendations, the team encouraged the district to continue to focus on professional development and targeted interventions and strategies to support success for all
students, two areas which are a focus of the
2011-2016 City Schools of Decatur strategic
plan.
Focus on Downtown Development
continued from page 2
www.decaturnext.com. The plan will be used each year as we prepare
the city’s budget and we’ll include an annual update and report card
in the city’s annual report to track our progress. A separate document
covering projects specifically related to downtown Decatur will also be
produced and will serve as the 10-year update to our Downtown Livable
Centers Initiative (LCI) plan.
The LCI program is sponsored by the Atlanta Regional Commission. Cities with approved LCI plans are eligible to apply for funds
through ARC to pay for transportation improvement projects such as
the streetscape improvements we have implemented over the years,
intersection improvements and bicycle lane construction.
Cities submit five-year updates on their LCI plans that summarize
their accomplishments and identify new goals for the next five years.
Decatur’s downtown LCI plan was included in the first group of plans
approved when the LCI program began in 2000 and ARC asked all
of these first-round cities to develop a more extensive 10-year update
in 2010. They also provided some grant funding to help with this effort. Because downtown development was an integral part of our city’s
citywide strategic planning effort, it seemed logical to combine these
planning efforts together.
In addition to the 2010 Strategic Plan, our planning consultants
are preparing a second document that pulls out goals and action steps
specifically related to downtown in a format that meets ARC requirements. This document will also be available at www.decaturnext.com
and on the city’s website under master plans. Thanks again to all of
you who participated in this planning effort. Your input helped us
produce a meaningful document that helps outline our work program
for the next decade.
City News
Oakhurst
Community Garden
Plant Sale
Sally Wylde Cultivating Life
Award to Be Presented April 19
T
he Sally Wylde Cultivating Life
award was established in 2010
by the Oakhurst Community
Garden Project and the City of
Decatur. The award recognizes Decatur
individuals and organizations who make
extraordinary contributions to our community and its natural environment. It is
presented to those who demonstrate qualities held dear and embodied by
Sally Wylde, an artist, environmentalist, activist, and
educator whose work and
life have inspired people
of all ages to become better caretakers of the earth,
of one another, and of
themselves.
The recipient of the 2011
inaugural Cultivating Life
award is Sally Wylde, who
passed away on Aug.
19, 2010. The award
will be presented to
Oakhurst Community Garden Project is
planning its largest spring plant sale yet with
50 varieties of tomatoes, 30 varieties of pepper, 20 varieties of eggplant, five varieties of
basil, and more than 200 varieties of herbs,
fruit trees, perennials, annuals, natives, and
succulents.
There will be an Oakhurst Garden member preview on Friday, April 8, 6:30-8:30 p.m.
The event will be open to the community
on Saturday, April 9, and Sunday, April 10, 9
a.m.-4 p.m.
Lettuce and other spring greens are available for purchase. Summer vegetable transplants will be available until June 15. Check
out www.oakhurstgarden.org for details.
Started in 1997, the Oakhurst Community Garden Project, 435 Oakview Rd.,
is a member-supported nonprofit teaching
environmental awareness through hands-on
gardening and outdoor education programs.
For more information call 678-642-4977 or
visit www.oakhurstgarden.org.
a member of her family at the April 17
Decatur Earth Day Festival.
A few years ago Sally and her husband,
Britt Dean, inspired by her work with
children from Fifth Avenue Elementary,
acquired a nearby, undeveloped half-acre
lot that was at risk for development and
the Oakhurst Community Garden Project
was born. As the Garden matured into an
established grassroots nonprofit organization with Sally at its helm, the lot
transformed into an urban oasis
with vegetable and floral plots, a
pond, art installations, beehives,
animals, and restored native habitats. As her vision for a place of
“secret wild spaces for children”
and hands-on environmental
education became reality, Sally
inspired countless neighbors of
all ages to become better
caretakers of the earth,
of one another, and
of themselves.
SEEN AROUND TOWN
Decatur Mayor Bill Floyd and members of Trees Atlanta helped plant a tree at
the inaugural Nalley Tree Campaign tree planting as part of Georgia’s Arbor Day
celebration in February. The planting took place in the Decatur Cemetery.
April 2011 • Decatur Focus | 7
City News
Seminary Names
Taylor Vice President
for Institutional
Advancement
Vernon S. Broyles, Jr., Leadership Center
Columbia
Theological
CenterBegins
Columbia
Seminary
Construction of Leadership Center
S
ite preparation is underway for Columbia Theological Seminary’s new Vernon S. Broyles Jr. Leader-
Lord Aeckship
Sargent
Project
Description
Center. The
$11.6 million
project is expected to be completed by Jan. 30, 2012.
images courtesy of Lord Aeck Sargent
The 30,000-square-foot facility at 701 S. Columbia Dr. honors the memory of Vernon S. Broyles,
Jr., a long-time friend of the seminary, pastor for many years at North Avenue Presbyterian Church
in Atlanta,
where
was also a prominent civic leader and advocate for social justice.
Existing
building
andhe
site
The building,
surrounding
landscape
will behall,
integrated
into
The
project
will
incorporate
theVernon
80-year-old
formerly
a residence
which will
Columbia Theological Seminary’s new
S. Simons-Law
the
existing
campus
giving
the
impression
that
the
be
recycled
and
renovated
for
small
classroom
space,
faculty
offices,
study
areas,
the
seminary
bookstore,
Broyles, Jr., Leadership Center is a renovation and
building has
for many
The corner
of
addition
historic Simons-Law
studentA tower will be constructed
andtoanthe
educational
technology center.
andexisted
will serve
as the years.
main entrance
to the
Columbia
Drive
and
Kirk
Road
will
be
designed
as
residence
hall. Itcenter.
will beFlooring
transformed
into
a state-ofleadership
for the
tower
will be milled from a mature oak now standing next to Simons-Law.
a gateway with a monument sign. The park-like
the-art learning
facility withincludes
classrooms,
large
New construction
two classroom
wings. One will include three 75-seat classrooms, which will
atmosphere is an important factor, and extra
lecture
halls,
bookstore,
mailroom,
have
a mix
of fixed and
flexibleoffices,
seating and
and will be equipped with the latest educational technology. The secmeasures are to be taken to save significant trees
ampleond
study
spaces.
Thetwo
Collegiate
Gothic building
wing
will have
40-seat classrooms.
as the site is reworked.
dates back
the early
accommodate
Thetodesign
will 1930’s.
create a To
cloistered
courtyard with an arcade connecting to Simons-Law’s historic arch and
the seminary’s
for larger
scale
spaces,
providing need
a covered
walkway
from
the center of campusSite
to the
outside will
perimeter
of the
building.
drainage
be routed
from
its current release
including classrooms and lecture halls, the existing
three-story load-bearing masonry and concrete
building will be joined to a new one-story building
with entry tower, open air courtyard, and covered
cloister walks.
The Board of Trustees
of
Columbia Theologica
l
Seminary has approve
d
the appointment of
Doug Taylor as vice
president for institutio
nal
advancement. Mr. Taylo
r
comes to Columbia fro
m
Seattle Pacific Universi
ty,
a Christian institution
with a current enrollment of approximate
ly
4,000 undergraduate
and
graduate students, in
Seattle, Washington.
Mr. Taylor had been
senior major gifts offi
cer
at Seattle Pacific since
2009. He served there
as
director of alumni rel
ations from 1996 to 20
09.
He was also a teaching
leader for the interdenominational, multi-eth
nic Seattle Downtown
Men’s Bible Study Fellowship.
strategy directly into the existing watershed through
a quality control feature into an underground
detention structure that gradually releases into a
naturally landscaped ravine. In addition rain water
from the building itself is collected and detained in a
cistern for landscape irrigation as needed.
raging
Burrito
& taCo
Building plan
The layout of the building takes advantage of the
existing spaces of Simons-Law. Smaller seminar
rooms, study areas, and offices are located on a
double-loaded corridor that opens up to the study
areas providing natural light access throughout.
The new structure will attach to the existing at one
end to preserve the integrity of form between the
two buildings. The larger classrooms are arranged
around a single-loaded corridor that wraps around
to form a cloister between the new and old
Voted #1 since 1996
Enjoy onE of our 16 Craft BEErs
on tap or Margaritas on our
HugE gardEn patio
Decatur, Ga • 404-377-3311
ragingburrito.com
8 | Decatur Focus • April 2011
City News
Join Walk For
Lunch In May
Decatur School of Ballet Presents
End-of-the-Season Shows
alk For Lunch-Decatur is a
lunch hour walking program
scheduled for May 3-26, on
Tuesdays and Thursdays. The
program includes healthy lunches and benefits the Decatur Education Foundation. Walkers can organize teams or sign up individually for $25 at WalkForLunch.com. Participants
can pre-order healthy lunches from Subway
Restaurant, Pita Pit and Sammiches N’ Stuff,
all local Decatur
restaurants.
One-, two- and
three-mile suggest- Walk For Lunch and
Be Healthy!
ed courses lead to
$25
a centrally located
lunch pickup
station. Walkers
can start walking
from their own
location any time
between 11:30
a.m. and 1:15
p.m. At the lunch pickup station, walkers can
participate in daily activities and win prizes
from sponsors, relax and eat lunch and then
walk back to their home or business feeling
energized and renewed.
Walkers will be invited to attend a Health
and Wellness Expo and be given walking maps. They will also receive Walk For
Lunch-Decatur T-shirts, daily goodies from
sponsors and an opportunity to walk with
the mayor, Decatur firefighters, coworkers,
friends and neighbors. The walking program,
including lunch pickup, will take 30-60 minutes.
For a list of daily activities, promotions,
pictures and health tips, and to learn more
about the program, visit walkforlunch.com.
Curious about dance for yourself or your child? Here are two
opportunities to consider. Decatur School of Ballet, celebrating 63 years in downtown Decatur, will present its 2011 Annual Performances on Saturday, May 14, 7 p.m., and Sunday,
May 15, 1:30 p.m. and 4:30 p.m., at the Ferst Center for the
Arts at Georgia Tech.
Dancers six years old to adult will perform classical ballet,
tap, jazz, modern dance, swing dance, and theatre dance. Each
show lasts about two hours and includes guest appearances by
the Apprentice Ensemble, Junior Ensemble, Rhythm Keepers,
and Junior Rhythm Keepers of Decatur City Dance. All shows
are appropriate for all ages.
Tickets will be on sale at Decatur School
of Ballet, 102 Church St., through May 11.
After that date, tickets are available at the
Ferst Center box office. Younger children
will perform in demonstrations in the studio
theatre at Beacon Hill Arts Center May 1621. Admission to demonstrations is free, but
please make reservations through the studio
office, 404-378-3388. For a demonstration
schedule, visit www.decaturballet.com.
W
season
registration
Tuesdays and Thur
sdays
May 3-26 • 11:30
a.m.-1:15 p.m.
• Walk with the
Mayor of Decatu
r
on May 3
• Benefits the Decatu
r Education
Foundation
• Health & Wellnes
s Expo on May 3
• Lunches starting
at $5
• Organize a team
and
for the Team Challen compete
ge Award
• Free T-shirt, goody
massages, pedom bag,
eters, gift cards,
etc.
• and much more
...
Presented by:
Decatur Metro
logo final •
9/09/09
Thanks to our sponso
rs:
Benefits:
ecatur
etro
COMMUNITY
SMATTER
COMMUNITY
SMATTER
Register online
at www.walkforlu
nch.com
www.beactived
ecatur.com
walkforlunch_rev5.indd
1
3/2/11 10:08:53
AM
1 for $1 Pledge
For every walker who registers for Walk For
Lunch-Decatur, the program will give $1
to the Decatur Education Foundation. DEF
works to help Decatur youth realize their full
potential, not only in the classroom but also
through learning experiences that contribute
to personal development.
DBA Easter Egg
Hunt April 16
The Decatur Business Association invites the community to the annual Easter Egg Hunt on Saturday, April 16. The
Easter Bunny arrives at 10:30 a.m. and
the hunt begins promptly at 11 a.m.
Bring your basket and join the fun. The
event is free and open to ages 0-5th
grade. Visit www.decaturdba.com for
details and a list of sponsors.
SEEN AROUND TOWN
The first Are You Smarter
than a 5th Grader was a
smashing success. Pictured
are the adult participants
who competed against the
fifth graders. Watch a video
of the action at blip.tv/
file/4592233.
April 2011 • Decatur Focus | 9
DBA News
Decatur Resident Is Featured
Author at Book Signing
L
ocal author Robert Weintraub will read from his new book, The
House That Ruth Built, at the Decatur Library on April 18, 7:15
p.m. The event is sponsored by the Georgia Center for the Book.
Copies of the book will be available for purchase and signing by
the author.
The House That Ruth Built is the untold story of Babe Ruth’s 1923
Yankees and their first championship season in the brand new Yankee
Stadium. The book is filled with stories of New York and baseball and illuminates the singular year that made the Yankees the storied franchise of
today.
Robert Weintraub is a sports columnist for Slate, contributes to the annual Football Outsiders Almanac, and has written regularly for Deadspin.com, ESPN.com, The Guardian, and Play
magazine, among other media. He is also a freelance television producer working for Turner
Broadcasting. A native New Yorker, he has lived in Decatur since 2005 and is married with two
small children.
The book will be available beginning April 4 at Little Shop of Stories. For more information
go to robwein.com or facebook.com/TheHouseThatRuthBuilt.
Oakhurst Community
Garden Photography
Contest
Oakhurst Community Garden Project is sponsoring a photography contest, open to all photographers 18 and over, amateur or professional. The
challenge: take pictures in the Garden or at Garden
projects or events that fit the following categories:
1. Digging In – photos of the community working in the Garden or at Garden-related programs.
2. Life in the Garden – photos documenting the
things that live and grow in the garden.
3. Garden Party – photos from Garden events
and parties, such as Earth Day, plant sales or past
Martinis in the Garden events.
Prizes will be awarded to the top three winners
in each category and these photos will be auctioned
at Martinis in the Garden. A selection of the overall
top photos will be featured in a local showcase. On
all photos submitted, the photographer retains the
rights to the photos but the Garden may use them
for marketing and promotion; a photo credit will
always be given.
For more information, visit www.oakhurstgarden.org and go to Photo Contest.
10 | Decatur Focus • April 2011
Andrew Johnston Authors New Book
Decatur resident Andrew Johnston has authored a
new book, Holistic Strength Training for Triathlon.
Whether you are training for triathlon or training for
life, much more goes into a successful program than
sets, reps, and load. How one thinks, breathes, drinks,
eats and sleeps has just as much impact on a person’s
physiology as how one moves. The book addresses all
of the variables.
Holistic Strength Training for Triathlon is available through Andrew’s website, www.triumphtraining.com, as well as Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and
various cycling/triathlon stores throughout the United States. A portion of the proceeds will be donated
to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.
Our House Celebrates Week of the
Young Child
Our House, located in Decatur, is a child development center for homeless preschoolers.
The center is accredited by the National Association for the Education of Young Children
(NAEYC), a distinction shared by only 8 percent of childcare centers in Georgia. Each
year, NAEYC holds the Week of the Young Child, which is April 11-15 this year, with the
theme “Early Years are Learning Years.”
Our House invites you to help celebrate young children by volunteering to read to a
child at Our House or making a gift in support of quality early childhood education for
children in our community who are most in need. To volunteer contact Nadiya Boyce,
404-378-0938, or to make a gift, visit www.ourhousega.org.
DBA News
Scene at the February DBA Meeting
Black History Month Program • February 22 • Old Courthouse on the Square
Tuesday
April 26
Presentation of the
2011 Thomas O. Davis
Public Servant Award
The Solarium • 321 W. Hill St.
5:15 p.m. Networking
reception
6 p.m. Program
www.decaturdba.com
April 2011 • Decatur Focus | 11
DBA News
Sidewalk
Talk
m
News fro
’s
Decatur
t
storefron
d
n
shops a s
t
n
restaura
tizer, just $4, features fresh-cut, homemade
potato chips that are served with a side of
creamy ranch onion dip then topped at the
table with fresh cracked black pepper. Now
through May 1, download a certificate for a
free Ted’s Chips-n-Dip appetizer at http://bit.
ly/gyRzX6.
Ted’s Montana Grill has added two new
offerings to its menu: Signature Steak Salad
and the permanent
addition of Ted’s
Homemade Chipsn-Dip. Ted’s Steak
Salad is an entréesized salad that
starts with grilled,
center-cut sirloin
served on a bed of
mixed greens, cucumber, crumbled
Bleu cheese, smoky
bacon and sliced vine-ripened tomatoes. The
salad is finished with a sweet balsamic glaze
and crispy fried onion straws, and priced at
$14. Ted’s Homemade Chips-n-Dip is back
by popular demand. This generous appe-
Ale Yeah!, a new beer specialty
store, is now open at 906 W. College
Ave. Stop by and welcome owners
Eddie Holley, Cisco Vila and Jay
Edwards and check out their wall-towall showcase of select craft beers.
They also feature food selections
from local businesses. For information, visit www.aleyeahbeer.com.
In March Homegrown Decatur
celebrated its six-month anniversary. The market has grown to 80 local artists
and craftspeople and continues to add work
weekly. Some of the artists offer classes and are
busy planning summer camp offerings. Stop
by Homegrown Decatur at 412 Church St.
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12 | Decatur Focus • April 2011
While you are at it, welcome the market’s
neighbor, Kismet, a jewelry shop featuring a
variety of merchandise.
Blue Caboose now offers handmade baby
gifts. The store has become a neighborhood
destination for popular name brand and
boutique consignment clothing for babies
and toddlers. In the spirit of recycling, it also
carries overstocked apparel, new eco-friendly
toys, and gifts. Blue Caboose is expanding
its offerings to include handmade items by
Decatur moms, local artists and designers.
For those with creative talent, this is a great
opportunity to make extra money while
showcasing your work to the community.
Call 678-612-5868 or stop by Blue Caboose,
308 W. Ponce de Leon Ave., to share your
work. For more information visit www.decaturbaby.com.
Congratulations to The Cookie Studio,
whose moon pie was featured on the cover of
Atlanta magazine. Try one yourself – drop in
at 743C E. College Ave.
DBA News
Architect Launches New Website
Decatur Craft Beer
Tasting Festival
Calls for Logos
T
he Decatur Craft Beer Tasting
Festival is looking for a logo for
the fall 2011 festival. The selected logo will be used on the souvenir
T-shirt, the tasting glass and the festival
website. The winner will receive $300,
two admissions to the festival and two
T-shirts. The deadline is June 15. For
more information and a copy of the
submission form and guidelines, visit
www.decaturbeerfestival.com or call
Katie Abel, 678-553-6573.
Richard M. Stevens Architect LLC, an award-winning, fullservice architectural design firm based in Decatur, has a
new website: www.rmsarchitect.com. Richard specializes
in sustainable, contextually sensitive residential design,
primarily in older, developed neighborhoods and intown
historic districts. His projects include new homes, additions,
renovations, and historic restorations. Call 404-377-1499 or
email [email protected] to schedule a free consultation. For information visit www.rmsarchitect.com.
Village Vets Welcomes Two Veterinarians
The Village Vets welcomes two veterinarians to the team. Deva Prather, DVM, and Adam Calcutt,
DVM, reside in Oakhurst with their families and bring additional experience and knowledge
to the practice. Dr. Calcutt is at the Decatur 24-hour hospital and Dr. Prather joins the LilburnStone Mountain team in April. The Village Vets will also launch a new location in late spring –
The Village Vets of Buckhead. Visit www.thevillagevets.com to learn more.
Decatur Residents Start
Cycling Club
Decatur residents Cynthia
Cook and Andy Rogers have
formed a Decatur Cycling
Club called RoadHard. They
are seeking Decatur residents with a love for cycling
and plan to participate in
and support worthy, philanthropic causes as well as
support the local businesses
that make the community
strong. The club’s inaugural
charity event will be the
Atlanta to Athens Ride benefiting the Multiple Sclerosis
Society that will take place
May 21-22. The team’s primary sponsor, Bicycle South, RoadHard Cycling Club founder
Cynthia Cook is pictured at the MS
will provide jerseys and bike 2010 Challenge with Karen Brierley and
service.
Kristin Smith.
Brick Store Pub/Leon’s
Full Service will join forces
with other businesses in
Decatur to host a benefit
dinner on Monday, April 18,
where 10 percent of the profits will go towards supporting RoadHard and the Georgia MS Society.
The team is looking for riders and volunteers to join in the effort.
Volunteers can help with route support, publicity efforts and logistics
coordination. For information visit Road-Hard-A-Decatur-GACycling-Club on Facebook for details. Or contact RoadHard Team
Walk the Labyrinth April 5-7
First Baptist Church of Decatur invites you to Walk the Labyrinth.
The portable labyrinth belonging to Piedmont Hospital will be at First
Baptist Decatur (corner of Clairemont and Commerce), Tuesday to
Thursday, April 5-7, 8 a.m.-7 p.m., for anyone who would like to walk
and meditate. Enter through the church office on the right side of the
building, go straight down the hall and turn left at the welcome banner. The labyrinth will be in Carreker Hall. Visit www.fbcdecatur.com
for information.
Kids Get Fit at Decatur Jazzercise
Decatur Jazzercise now offers a weekly kids class on Tuesdays at 3:15
p.m. The classes are specially designed for children ages 5-12. The
45-minute class is filled with aerobic dance fitness, strength training,
games, giggles and lots of fun. Classes are offered in five six-week
sessions through the school year. The new session begins April 12.
Decatur Jazzercise is at 114 New St., suite A. Visit www.jazzercise.com
for information.
April 2011 • Decatur Focus | 13
DBA News
Terra Cotta Properties Participates in Room Service Atlanta
D
ecatur-based TerraCotta Properties is participating in Room
Service Atlanta during the week
of April 26-29. Room Service is
a nonprofit group that encourages designers
to take on group projects that benefit area
homeless shelters. Current efforts are focused
on Nicholas House, a nonprofit organization
that promotes the self-sufficiency of families
suffering from homelessness by addressing
the causes. Fourteen designers will work to
redesign the Nicholas House during that
week.
Decatur resident Ili Nilsson, co-founder of
TerraCotta Properties, said the company will
donate time, resources, and furniture. They
are working to redesign the lounge area of
the Nicholas house, which is used as a living
room for more than 45 people.
TerraCotta Properties, established in 2005,
is a residential design and construction company with more than 30 years of combined
experience in architecture, interior design
and construction. Past work includes commercial projects for Fortune 500 companies
and residential projects in downtown Chicago, waterfront Sweden, and the Caribbean.
One Day Without Shoes for TOMS April 5
S
quash Blossom and Little Shop of Stories are hosting a One Day Without
Shoes event April 5. This annual day
was established by TOMS Shoes to
raise awareness of the impact a pair of shoes
can have on a child’s life. The two Decatur
shops are inspired by the idea that curiosity (sparked by people going without shoes)
leads to conversation, which leads to action
and change. The event will take place on East
Court Square between 11 a.m. and 5 p.m. Everyone is welcome to come out and show support, and of course, to come without shoes!
About TOMS Shoes: In 2006, American traveler Blake Mycoskie befriended children in a village in Argentina and found they
had no shoes to protect their feet. He created
TOMS Shoes, a company that would match
every pair of shoes purchased with a pair of
new shoes given to a child in need.
FA BU
F a c e
About Squash Blossom: Squash Blossom offers casual and funky clothing, shoes,
jewelry and accessories. Lines include Free
People, Tulle, Michael Stars, Frye, Dansko,
TOMS and others. The shop is at 113 E.
Court Square.
About Little Shop of Stories: Show us
your 10 toes and we’ll show you a 10 percent
discount and make a donation to TOMS. The
shop is at 133 E. Court Square.
437 Superior Avenue
Decatur
S p a
Nationally awarded by Allure© Magazine for best facial, three years
running, come find out why!
At Fabu, we care about our clients. We believe in what we do, and strive everyday to give you the
highest quality and most beneficial treatments. Enjoy our relaxed and peaceful atmosphere, and
experience for yourself how we are more than a spa, we are a family.
*facials
*skincare
*massage
*magic manicures
*organic & non-organic peels
*microdermabrasion
*gift boutique
*waxing
*makeup
*lash extensions
*spray tan
*steam body treatments
*lash & brow tinting
*spa packages
*gift certicifates
404•377•6363
www.fabufacespa.com
335 West Ponce De Leon Ave, Suite D
Decatur, Georgia 30030
Mention this ad and recieve 20% off any single service! *For new clients only
14 | Decatur Focus • April 2011
3BR/2.5BA
$429,900
Charming 1935 Tudor in City of Decatur School District. Lovely
addition with oversized master suite, office/nursery, large sunlit
den. Hardwoods throughout, granite counters, stainless appliances,
one-car garage, basement storage and huge fenced backyard.
Alison Michaels-Fandel 404-668-0550
Monica Lee 404-392-9663
adamsrealtors.com
404-688-1222
Decatur Events
Georgia Romance Writers
Meet in Decatur
Early Registration for Conference Due May 1
Georgia Romance Writers (GRW), a chapter of Romance Writers of
America, meets on the third Saturday of every month, 10 a.m.-1 p.m.,
at the Holiday Inn Decatur Conference Center. GRW is made up of
approximately 200 professional writers, nearly one-third of whom
are multi-published in book-length fiction. A nonprofit organization,
founded in 1982, GRW is dedicated to bringing quality women’s fiction to the market.
Registration is now open for the Moonlight & Magnolias 2011
Conference, Sept. 29-Oct. 2, at the Holiday Inn Decatur Conference
Center. If you register for the conference by May 1, you will receive
a guaranteed second editor/agent appointment or publicity for published authors.
The conference’s featured speaker is Karen White, New York Times
bestselling Southern Literature author. The keynote speaker is Eloisa
James, New York Times bestselling Historical Romance author and
Shakespeare scholar. The conference features 30+ workshops, Maggie
Awards, editor and agent appointments, raffles, critiques and a literacy
book fair.
For details and to register, visit www.georgiaromancewriters.org.
Arts Festival Poster Unveiling
T
his year’s Decatur Arts
Festival poster will be
unveiled Thursday, May
5, 5-7 p.m., at the Old
Courthouse on the Square. The
event is free to the community. Be
one of the first to see the artwork
from Decatur resident Mary Pousner. Visit www.decaturartsfestival.
com for more information.
Relocating
With Your
Brood?
Experience. Knowledge. Patience. Results. Emilie Markert.
2260 N. Druid Hills Rd., Atlanta, GA 30329
[email protected] 404-235-8900 C: 404.915.8222
Realty Associates of Atlanta
Markert
Helps Make It
Happen.
Hurt to walk
_______
the dog ?
Let’s talk.
So if it hurts to walk, let’s talk. Call 404.501.TALK
or email [email protected] to:
• Speak with a Joint Solutions Center specialist for questions
about joint pain
• Talk to a hip or knee replacement patient who has been
through the Joint Solutions Center
• Register for a FREE physician-led hip or knee seminar
Ranked Top 5% among U.S. hospitals for Overall Orthopedic Services by HealthGrades® in 2011.
DM-171 HTW_dog_DecFocus.indd 1
12/8/10 10:32:50 AM
>Ask your veterinarian about SFVS
>Canine orthopedic specialists
>Board-certified surgeon Dr. Jen Newton, DACVS
>Full range of surgical services, see www.sfvs.com
April 2011 • Decatur Focus | 15
Decatur Events
April Sundays in the
Garden at Woodlands
Don’t miss spring’s beautiful blooms and musical
surprises at Woodlands Garden, 920 Scott Blvd.
(near the intersection with Clairemont). Put on your
walking shoes and explore Decatur’s seven-acre garden and Piedmont native plant habitat every Sunday
in April from 2 to 4 p.m.
Bring your friends and family for these free
events (service dogs only, please) and take in the
beauty of evergreen and deciduous native azaleas,
Florida and pagoda dogwood, highbush and late
lowbush blueberries, and arrowwood and maple leaf
viburnums, among many others.
Guidebooks for kids and maps are available, and
volunteers are there to welcome you and provide
helpful information. To find out more about Woodlands, go to www.woodlandsgarden.org or call 404371-4444.
Charles Cope, Proprietor
650-B East Lake Drive • Decatur, Georgia 30030
404-377-1030 • www.1stepatatime.net
Custom Fitting • Personal Service
16 | Decatur Focus • April 2011
Decatur Events
Community Shred Day April 16
The Community School and Eagle Secure Shredding invite
the community to Community Shred Day on Saturday, April
16, 10 a.m.-1 p.m., in the parking lot of the First Baptist
Church of Decatur.
Bring your old tax records, bills, bank statements and
other confidential documents and have them shredded on
site and recycled by Eagle Secure
Shredding. Donations of $5 per
bankers box (maximum of 10 boxes
per patron, please) are welcome
and all proceeds will support the
Community School, a school for junior and high school students with
Autism Spectrum Disorders.
The First Baptist Church of
Decatur is at 308 Clairemont Ave.
Visit www.thecommunityschool.
net for more information about the
school and the event. The event will
be held rain or shine.
Shred
Baby,
Shred!
World
Laughter Day
Sunday May 1
The fifth annual World Laughter
Day celebration in Decatur will
be Sunday, May 1, 2-3:30 p.m.,
in the Community Bandstand
on the square in downtown
Decatur. This year the event
features contests for those who
choose to wear outfits or costumes. Prizes will be given to
adults and children for silliest,
most colorful and most flamboyant categories. Some of the early
donors of prizes are Fabu Spa,
The 17 Steps, GrandCamp Adventures, and Intown Ace Hardware (Scott Boulevard).
Come early for some drumming to help you loosen up.
Bring your friends, young and
old, the more the merrier. Every
year on the first Sunday in May
thousands of people around the
world gather to laugh and spread
good feelings. Read more about
it at www.laughteryoga.org.
Decatur World Laughter Day
is hosted by Jean Woodall, assisted this year by Celeste Greene
and other laughter professionals. The event is a free gift to the
community. For more information contact Jean, 404-378-1673.
Experience is not
Expensive…It’s Priceless!
“30 Years of Putting Nice People in
Fine Homes”
Exceptional, Personalized Service
Experience, Insight, Integrity
PAM HUGHES
404.851.0732 / 404.250.9900
[email protected]
www.pam.hughes.harrynorman.com
Spring Session Enrolling
NOW!
Jazzercise Decatur Fitness Center
114 New Street, Suite A, Decatur
(in East Decatur Station, near Leaping Lizards)
jazzercise.com ● (800) FIT-IS-IT
Tuesdays 3:15pm-4:00pm
April 12 — May 17
Ages: K — 5th grade
April 2011 • Decatur Focus | 17
Decatur Events
Mike Killeen
Celebrates
Release of ‘Poverty
is Real’
Jazz at Historic Scottish Rite in April
Jazz Nights at historic Scottish Rite begins its eighth season on Thursday, April 7, at 7 p.m. The
candlelight concert series is held in the Scottish Rite courtyard, 321 W. Hill St. Thanks to local
sponsors, the concerts are free.
Visit www.oakhurstjazznights.com or email [email protected] for details on
the lineup and information about reserved tables.
Oakhurst Presbyterian Hosts Gospel Fest
and Emory Slavery Discussion
Oakhurst Presbyterian invites the community to two upcoming events:
Decatur musician Mike Killeen is celebrating
the release of his third full-length album –
“Poverty is Real” – with two shows at Eddie’s
Attic on Friday, April 22. The shows start at
7 and 9:30 p.m. Mike’s band, The Dregs, will
join him for two high-energy performances.
Spencer Smith and Nathan Beaver will open
the 7 and 9:30 p.m. shows, respectively.
The album, produced by Will Robertson,
is available at www.MikeKilleen.com and
select stores, including Decatur CD, and Wax
‘N’ Facts in Little 5 Points. It will be available
through iTunes and all major online merchants beginning April 26.
GREEN FEST
RETURNS MAY 7
celebration
Decatur continues its
third annual
of Earth Day with the
Saturday, May
Decatur Green Fest on
The event
re.
ua
7, 3-9 p.m., on the sq
activities,
’s
ren
includes music, child
ic local
an
org
recycled art projects,
duce,
pro
e,
ffe
and fair trade food, co
and
es,
rag
ve
be
a variety of beer and
artists.
ds the day
Decatur Green Fest en
the Square,
on
with the first Concert
Business
tur
ca
presented by the De
Please
tes
ori
Association. Local fav
lining.
ad
he
be
Please Rock Me will
el,
Ab
tie
Ka
ll
For information ca
678-553-6573.
18 | Decatur Focus • April 2011
“Rediscovering Ourselves: The Heritage of Slavery and Emory University,”
Saturday, April 16, 10 a.m.-noon. A discussion with Emory scholars and students as they
share their journey of seeking to come to terms with slavery and Emory University.
Annual Gospel Music Fest, Saturday, April 30, 6:30 p.m., in the church sanctuary.
Donations benefit the youth scholarship fund for summer camps and conferences. If you are
interested in being a sponsor, call 404-378-6284 or email [email protected].
PushPush Theater
and Film Camps
Decatur’s PushPush Theater is accepting
enrollment for June and July summer
theater camps. The camps will focus on
a classic text and will use theater, film,
and improv to enhance participants’
imagination, communication, confidence, and collaboration skills.
Camp one is scheduled for June 13
to July 1, and camp two from July 11
to July 29. Visit www.pushpushtheater.
com or email pushpushtheater@gmail.
com for more information.
‘From Fur to Feathers’ at The Seen Gallery
“From Fur to Feathers” will open on Saturday, April 30, 7-10 p.m., featuring animal-oriented art
that will be on display through May 25. The gallery wishes to draw attention to the plight of abandoned and displaced animals and will donate 10 percent of all proceeds from the show to Ahimsa
House (www.ahimsahouse.org), a Decatur-based nonprofit organization dedicated to helping the
human and animal victims of domestic violence across Georgia reach safety together.
During the day on Saturday, April 30, and Sunday, May 1, local animal rescue organizations
will offer animals for adoption in front of the gallery. Other local businesses and individuals are
invited to become involved in the effort. Call the gallery, 404-377-0733, email art@theseengallery.
com, or email Ahimsa House, [email protected], to discuss ways to contribute or to offer
animal/pet-oriented items for sale.
The Seen Gallery, 415 Church St., offers art classes for adults and older children. Check
www.theseengallery.com for details.
Decatur Events
Celebrate Earth Day in Decatur
Sunday, April 17 • 12:30-4 p.m.
Oakhurst Community Garden, 435 Oakview Rd.
Earth-Friendly Parade – starts at 12:30 p.m. in Harmony Park, in the center of the Oakhurst Business District. Decorate your bike, wagon, stroller
or yourself and join the Feed and Seed Marching Abominables Band.
Festival – 1-4 p.m. Cake contest, crafts for the children, a raptor show,
food vendors, the community pavilion, live music and lots of fun!
This year’s event features more than 30 earth-friendly vendors
and nonprofits in the community pavilion, including the City
of Decatur recycling trailer. New this year is a Community
Phone Book Recycling project sponsored by PitStop. Bring
your old phone books to fill up a portolet. Let’s see how many
phone books we can fit in there.
The winner of the Earth Day T-shirt design contest will
be announced and the T-shirt will be on sale at the event.
The contest was open during March to students in kindergarten through 12th grade. Finalists’ designs will be on display at the
Decatur Library during April. The 2011 Sally Wylde Cultivating Life Award will
also be highlighted.
The Earth Day event is offered free to the community by Latham Home Sanitation, the Oakhurst Community Garden Project, City of Decatur Active Living
and Environmental Sustainability Board, the Waldorf School of Atlanta, Oakhurst
Cooperative Preschool, Agnes Scott College, and PitStop.
Oakhurst Community Garden is at 435 Oakview Rd. For more information
and a complete schedule, visit www.oakhurstgarden.org.
Caroline Herring Releases CD of
Children’s Songs
The Tale of Peter Rabbit, by Beatrix Potter, The Little House, by Virginia Lee
Burton, and Chicken Soup with Rice, by Maurice Sendak are the inspiration
for new songs from Decatur-based singer-songwriter Caroline Herring.
Her new children’s CD, The Little House Songs, will be unveiled Saturday,
April 16, at two matinees at Eddie’s Attic. The shows – at 10:30 a.m. and 1
p.m. – will celebrate the release of the CD and showcase the three books
in a unique musical setting, including full band arrangements, narrators,
movie-screen-size illustrations, and other special surprises for attendees.
“As the daughter of a librarian, I have loved books all my life,” Herring
said. “Now I love reading to my kids, and one of our favorite books is
The Little House. I decided to write a children’s album based on the
book.” The CD also includes pieces based on The Tale of Peter Rabbit and Chicken Soup with Rice. Decatur’s children’s bookstore,
Little Shop of Stories, will sell these books at the shows.
Eddie’s Attic is at 515-B N. McDonough St. Tickets
are $10 and may be purchased at www.eddiesattic.com
or 877-548-3237. Visit www.carolineherring.com for
more information.
April 2011 • Decatur Focus | 19
Decatur Events
Lunchtime in the Studio Concludes May 5
C
ORE (Several Dancers Core)
presents Lunchtime in the
Studio, a free dance and lunch
event on Thursday, May 5,
noon-1 p.m., at CORE Studios, 139 Sycamore St. A free lunch is provided by Johnny’s Pizza and Chick-fil-A, along with coffee
from Starbucks, to the first 40 audience
members. This is the concluding lunchtime
event during CORE’s 30th anniversary.
For more information contact CORE,
404-373-4154, or visit www.COREdance.org.
Learn the “who, what and when” of
Decatur’s past during the Second
Sunday Cemetery Strolls.
Take Back the Night April 23
T
he 20th annual Take Back the Night race is Saturday, April 23, at Agnes Scott College. Take Back the Night benefits the DeKalb Rape Crisis Center and is perfect for
runners who do not like to get up early. The one mile begins at 5 p.m.; 5K begins at
5:30 p.m.
A pizza party, entertainment and awards follow the race. Register at any Big Peach Running
store or on Active.com. Visit www.dekalbrapecrisiscenter.org for more information and details.
The center is also seeking volunteers and sponsors.
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transactions – MLS listings, pre-foreclosures, and foreclosures.
Second Sunday
Cemetery Strolls
Begin May 8
May 8 marks the beginning of another
season of the strolls, presented by Friends
of Decatur Cemetery, a project of Decatur
Preservation Alliance. Join longtime tour
guide Cathy Vogel as she leads a leisurely
stroll through the historic section and introduces you to some of Decatur’s leading
citizens of the past. Tours begin at 2:30 p.m.
and last about an hour. The tour season goes
through the second Sunday in October.
Put on your comfortable walking shoes,
bring your sunscreen and water bottle. For
more information call the Decatur Preservation Alliance, 404-371-4444, or visit
www.decaturpreservationalliance.org.
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School News
Oakhurst Elementary PTA
Prepares for ‘Spring into
Summer’ Auction
Let the bidding begin! Oakhurst Elementary’s annual Spring into Summer
online and live auctions are slated for
April. The online auction will open
for bidding on April 13 at 6 p.m. and
will end a week later on April 20 at
10 p.m. Online participants can bid on
items such as art from local artists, services
like interior design and landscaping, restaurant gift certificates, club
memberships and more. Anyone may participate, and all proceeds
will benefit Oakhurst Elementary.
The live auction will be held on April 29 from 7 to 11 p.m. at the
Solarium in Oakhurst Village and is open to Oakhurst Elementary
parents. This year’s event will be catered in part by Cakes and Ale,
and sponsored by Universal Joint and Steinbeck’s.
The online and live auctions are the school’s biggest annual fundraiser. Last year’s event raised approximately $12,000, which was used
in part to build the school’s greenhouse. This year, event organizers
hope to raise $12,000 to help fund the Oakhurst students’ many field
expeditions. For more information, visit www.oakhurstauction.com.
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April 2011 • Decatur Focus | 21
School News
City School Planning
for 2011-2012 Year
City Schools of Decatur is seeking students who plan to attend the 2011-2012 school
year who are NOT currently enrolled. If you have a student in this category, please
come to the Central Office at Westchester, 758 School Blvd., Tuesday-Thursday,
8-11 a.m or 1-4 p.m. to register. You will need to bring the following items with you:
• Parent/guardian picture identification
•Student certified birth certificate
•Student social security card
• Georgia immunization form (3231)
• Georgia hearing, vision and dental screening form (3300)
• Verification of residency (more info: www.csdecatur.net/registration)
Families whose students are currently enrolled do not need to re-­enroll.
Party Like a
Preschooler
Holy Trinity Parish Preschool
will hold its annual Party Like a
Preschooler event at the school,
515 E. Ponce de Leon Ave., on
Saturday, April 6, from 10 a.m.
to 2 p.m. Admission to the event
includes pizza, indoor and outdoor games, crafts, facepainting,
cake walks and an extraordinary
silent auction. Tickets are $2 for
children and $5 for adults. Visit
www.holytrinitypreschool.org
for more information.
ASC Students
Compete for
‘Greenest
Residence Hall’
Collegiate competition is alive
and well at Agnes Scott College
with the addition of a new technology that allows students to vie
for the title “greenest residence
hall.” The college will install
touch screen displays in two
first-year residence halls, Winship and Walters, which tell students – in real-time – how much
electricity their building is using
and has used in the past. The
displays also reveal how much
power the building is using compared to a rival residence hall.
The college is planning to add
displays in several other campus
buildings over time but chose the
first-year residence halls as the
best initial sites.
The data for the displays is
generated by the college’s “energy dashboard,” which tracks
electricity in seven buildings on
campus. Natural gas and water
tracking will be added in the
near future. The dashboard compares electricity use from building to building and tracks use
over time, both at different times
of the day and over a day, week,
month or year.
22 | Decatur Focus • April 2011
Around Town
Around
Town
Decatur resident and former
Mayor Michael Mears delivered
a guest lecture series in Istanbul
Turkey at the prestigious Bahcesehir University Law School. He
delivered a paper on the use of
scientific evidence in the criminal justice system in the United
States. He delivered seven lectures during his stay to approximately 150 students each day. In
addition, he published a paper in
Turkey, “The History of the U.S.
Federal Rules of Evidence.”
Remember, the Friends of the
Decatur Library seek gently
used books, in good condition,
for a sale to benefit library programs and collections. They are
unable to use old textbooks or
encyclopedia sets. Drop your
donations off at the security desk
on the main floor of the Decatur
Library, 215 Sycamore St.
Decatur resident Scott Drake
sends the news that Lil Jon, Atlanta music producer, rapper and
entrepreneur, has selected Decatur’s United Methodist Children’s
Home (UMCH) as his designated
charity while he competes on
NBC’s hit show The Celebrity Apprentice, which airs on NBC on
Sundays from 9-11 p.m. The Children’s Home is a member of the
Decatur Business Association.
April 2011 • Decatur Focus | 23
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 April 2011
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P.O. Box 220
Decatur, GA 30031-220
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Decatur, GA 30031
Decatur
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