Decatur

Focus
Decatur
Inside
Decatur
Education
foundation
impact
report
Clear zone
October 2012
Volume 23 • Number 3
Official Publication of The City of Decatur, Georgia
Remembering Alma Fleetwood
Fleetwood family and friends and bench designer Brian
Randall gathered recently for the dedication of the benches.
D
ecatur and the Decatur Business Association have honored the memory of Decatur
native Alma Fleetwood, who died unexpectedly in March 2011, by installing two
custom-built park benches, using funds donated by
the community. The Decatur Arts Alliance worked
with the city to commission the two artists chosen
to design the benches: William Staubach and architect Brian Randall.
Alma was all about positive communication
and she found no greater joy than conversing with
people. These benches, inspired by her spirit, provide places for people to stop, rest, enjoy our city
and talk with friends.
News
3City
BUsiness
8 NEWs
DBA
12
NEWs
13Decatur
events
news
21School Town
23Around
Focus
Decatur
Changes Invigorate
Downtown Shopping
and Dining
A vibrant shop-local campaign, a well-placed Visitor Center, and improved
parking options invite residents and visitors to shop, dine and linger.
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.
Clear zone
Shop Local Campaign
Focus on
Downtown
Development
The Decatur business community launched the “Keep it IndieCatur” shop-local campaign last month. Local businesses now feature the new logo in their windows and many
have purchased T-shirts with the logo for their employees.
You can now purchase one of these T-shirts to show your
love and support for your favorite locally owned business.
T-shirts can be purchased at our new Visitor Information tent on the square each Saturday.
With the holiday shopping season just around the corner, it is not too early to remind everyone
of the impact that locally owned businesses have on our community. Our local business owners
are usually the first to support school- and nonprofit-organization fundraisers with gift certificates and items for silent auctions. Many of them also provide a first job for local high school
students.
National statistics show that for every $100 spent in locally owned independent stores, $68
returns to the local economy. National chains only bring in $43, while shopping online brings
in no money to the local economy.
Visitor Center Coming Soon
Decatur resident Sherry Jackman has done an outstanding job as Decatur’s first Visitor Center
manager – especially since she has been operating without a permanent center to manage.
Sherry works closely with the new Marriott Courtyard to recruit conventions and meetings to
the conference center, and with the Downtown Development Authority to market the city of
Decatur.
Several months ago, Sherry began setting up a visitor tent on the square every Saturday to
answer questions, provide directions and sell Decatur logo items. We are excited to announce
that Sherry and the Visitor Center will soon have a permanent home at 113 Clairemont Ave.
The Visitor Center will share office space with the Decatur Arts Alliance at this location, providing a convenient information center just off the square and well placed just down the street
from the Marriott Courtyard. The Arts Alliance will host revolving exhibits featuring local artists and help enliven this long-vacant storefront. We anticipate the new center will open in late
November.
New Parking Meters
Over the years, we have explained the purpose of parking meters as a parking management
tool designed to encourage turnover at the most convenient on-street parking spaces. The idea
see FOCUS ON DOWNTOWN DEVELOPMENT page 4
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 linda.harris@decaturga.com.
2 | Decatur Focus • October 2012
DECATUR CITY COMMISSION
Bill Floyd.........................................................Mayor
Jim Baskett.................................Mayor Pro Tem
Fred Boykin.................................Commissioner
Kecia Cunningham.................Commissioner
Patti Garrett.................................Commissioner
DECATUR DOWNTOWN
DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY
Board
Sheila Hunt, Chair
Fred Cavalli
John Drake
John Joyner
Fisher Paty
Chris Sciarrone
Betty Spiker
DECATUR BUSINESS
ASSOCIATION
Wendy Watkins ................................... President
Morgan Rowe........................... President-Elect
Marc Brennan....................................... Treasurer
Diana Charles........................................ Secretary
Sean Dammann......................... Past President
Design and layout: Lampe-Farley.com
City News
Enter . . . if You Dare
Third Annual
Halloween
Decorating Contest
Amanda Owens Brown and
husband Eb won the 2011
Commissioners Cauldron
by summoning forth and
commanding a spooky army
of scarecrows (inset photo).
D
ecorate your home or business in the colors and traditions of the season
and enter Decatur’s third annual Halloween Decorating Contest.
Submit a photo to specialevents@decaturga.com by noon
on Monday, Oct. 29. Be sure to include your name
and address. Judges will make their decision Monday evening
and the winners will be posted on the Decatur website, the
DowntownDecatur Facebook page, and the
www.thedecaturminute.com blog. Winners will receive
special yard signs on Tuesday, Oct. 30, to display
throughout the week.
The winner of the
Commissioners Cauldron
will be presented at the
Nov. 5 city commission
meeting. If you have
questions or need more
information email Katie.
abel@decaturga.com or call
678-553-6573.
Linda Harris Named
Communicator of the Year
At its annual conference, held early
in September in Portland, Ore., 3CMA
(City-County Communications and
Marketing Association) named Linda
Harris Communicator of the Year.
Harris, pictured here with 3CMA Executive Director Dick Lillquist and
3CMA President Robert Tucker, is
deputy director of community development for City of Decatur and editor
of the Focus.
3CMA awarded the accolade to
Harris “in recognition of her commitment to quality local government
communication with diverse constituencies and leadership in raising
the standards for marketing, civic engagement and community branding
in Decatur, Georgia, and within the
3CMA family.”
October 2012 • Decatur Focus | 3
City News
Floodplain
Information
Available
The Decatur Engineering Department provides general floodplain
information on property located
within the incorporated city limits
of Decatur. The Decatur Library also
provides references on flooding and
flood protection. A map 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
ID number is needed to obtain this
information. Call 404-377-6198 or
email john.madajewski@decaturga.
com.
Last 2012
Homeowner’s
Night
Nov. 6 • 6-8 p.m.
The Planning/Development department will hold its final 2012
Homeowner’s Night at City Hall on
Tuesday, Nov. 6. Homeowner’s Night
gives Decatur residents an opportunity to meet with Planning, Zoning, and Inspections staff to discuss
home projects.
Find out what your zoning allows,
what construction is required, what
inspections must occur, and how the
permitting process works. For those
who live in historic houses, this is an
opportunity to find out about possible tax incentive programs and local designation requirements.
For more information contact
Amanda Thompson, amanda.thompson@decaturga.com or 404-3704104.
4 | Decatur Focus • October 2012
Help Make Happy
Holidays for Children
and Seniors
J
oin A Season of Giving/Christmas Decatur in making
the holiday season brighter for low-income children and
seniors in Decatur. You can help by “adopting” a child or
senior and shopping for them yourself or contributing
money toward gifts.
Over the past 18 holiday seasons, individuals, neighborhood associations, places of worship, businesses and clubs have come together to purchase gifts for our city’s children and seniors. Thanks to the
generosity of our community, A Season of Giving/Christmas Decatur
has served thousands of children and seniors. In 2011, the community
helped more than 600 children and seniors through the program.
Gift giving: Each child or senior referred to the program receives
approximately $100 worth of gifts (a mixture of toys and clothing for the children). If you
“adopt” a child or senior for gift giving, a “wish list” of their wants and needs will be sent to
you. Too busy to shop? Make a financial contribution instead and we will do the shopping for
you. Send contributions to A Season of Giving/Christmas Decatur, P.O. Box 220, Decatur, GA
30031.
Other ways to help: If you have a couple of hours available on a weekday, we can use
your help in the office checking phone messages, returning calls, making copies, preparing
mail-outs, and doing other light office work. Times are flexible.
For more information on “adopting” a child or senior, or on other ways to help, call 404-3788068 or email aseasonofgiving@decaturga.com.
Focus on Downtown Development continued from page 2
is to encourage downtown business owners and employees who park all day to use the many
parking decks located downtown so that on-street spaces are available for customers and clients
with short-term parking needs.
We know that carrying around a pocketful of quarters makes it difficult for our customers
and have been looking for the best technology available to make paying for parking as easy
as possible. We have tested a variety of new meters and tried new technology like pay by cell
phone.
Current plans are to install new meter technology throughout the downtown district that
will accept credit and debit cards as well as coins and an improved pay-by-cell-phone option.
Local businesses may also have the option to purchase smart cards to offer free metered parking for valued customers.
We will provide more details as final equipment is selected and installation schedules are
firmed up. We look forward to making your parking experience much easier in the very near
future.
Join our Ambassador Team
Decatur news,
Surveys of residents and visitors consistently cite Decatur’s strong sense of community and
welcoming
atmosphere. These traits are important to who we are as a community. We all play
up-to-the-minute,
an important role in creating this environment. Make a pledge to speak to everyone you meet
in just one click.
on the street in the next month. It is interesting to see the look of surprise on some faces when
they hear “Hi, how are you today?” from a stranger, but it is also worth noting how many folks
smile when they are greeted. Try it and see what happens.
City News
‘Most Fit’ Threepeat!
Congratulations, Team Decatur
T
eam Decatur completed its third KP Corporate
Run/Walk in September and for the third year
in a row won a trophy for the “Most Fit City.”
In addition, two Team Decatur members won
trophies in their categories: Kim Bentley won first place
in the women’s category. She works for DeKalb Medical, a
sponsor of Team Decatur since its inception. Kelly Walsh
won first place in the women’s masters category. She is a
member of the Active Living Board.
More than 170 people signed up to participate and
many trained together for weeks before the run/walk.
Team Decatur members are invited to participate in
the Grand Slam Challenge: run or walk in four out of six local races
and become eligible for a special prize. For more information email
Cheryl.burnette@decaturga.com.
Far left: Bill Adams and Mayor Pro Tem
Jim Baskett accept the “Most Fit City”
trophy. Left: Kim Bentley took first place
in the women’s category. Above: Kelly
Walsh with the first place trophy for the
woment’s masters category.
October 2012 • Decatur Focus | 5
City News
11th Annual MLK Service
Project Set for Jan. 19-21
T
he 11th annual Martin Luther King Jr. Service Project is a volunteer home
repair program that enables lower-income senior homeowners to remain in
their homes safely, comfortably, and affordably.
The project raises funds and brings together hundreds of volunteers to complete needed repairs, weatherize,
add handicap-accessible features and do yard work during
the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday weekend. The project
committee invites your business, neighborhood association,
place of worship or civic organization to join in the effort.
Sponsored by the Decatur Preservation Alliance in partnership with the City of Decatur, the MLK Service Project is
supported through grants and private donations, both financial and in kind. Your gift is tax deductible.
For more information about sponsorship and donations,
contact Paul Mitchell, sponsor@mlkserviceproject.com or 404371-4444. For information about volunteering, contact Lee
Ann Harvey, 678-553-6548, leeann.harvey@decaturga.com.
Holiday Ornament
Series Launched
The Decatur Tourism Bureau has launched an ornament series
for the holidays. The hand-crafted ornaments, available with
“Holidays in Decatur” or “Christmas in Decatur” inscribed, are
$18 each and available at Wild Oats and Billy Goats, 112 E.
Ponce de Leon Ave., and through the Decatur Tourism
Bureau, visitdecaturga.com. The first ornament
in the series was created by Malena
Bisanti-Wall, a mixed-media artist
whose work is featured at
Wild Oats and Billy Goats.
All proceeds go toward
creating the 2013
holiday ornament.
Malena Bisanti-Wall
6 | Decatur Focus • October 2012
City News
Get to Know Decatur’s
Largest Greenspace
Cemetery
Walking Tour
Brochures
Available
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Decatur,
Georgia •
8
Sect. 12
Sect. 9
Sect. 9
Sect.
9
9
11
Sect. 1
Sect. 8
10
Sect. 4
Sect. 5
13
Sect. 16, Cinerarium
4
USA
12
Sect. 2
Sect. 18.2
Office
3
Sect. 18.1
1
Sect. 7
2
BELL STREET
POND
14
MAIN ENTRANCE
GATE
Sect. 15
Part 1
Sect. 15
Part 2
15
16
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To arrange a group
through October.
.
metery@gmail.com
friendsofdecaturce
WaLKIN
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Sect. 11
Sect. 10
Sect. 10
Sect.
10
Saturday
7:30 a.m-3 p.m.
Office Phone
404-378-4411
our
6
7
Office Hours
Monday-Friday
7:30 a.m.-4 p.m.
CHURCH ST.
Join tour guide Cathy Vogel
for the last Decatur Cemetery Second Sunday Stroll
of the 2012 season. Stroll
through the historic section
of the Decatur Cemetery
and find out about some of
the city’s leading citizens.
Tours begin at 2:30 p.m. and
last about an hour. Meet
at the well house near the
Commerce Drive entrance.
, Part 2
5
every day
Grounds are open
sunset.
from sunrise to
that
Second Sunday Stroll Oct. 14
Sect. 13
Decatur
Cemetery
OLD
CEMETERY
17
40
39
36
34
WELLHOUSE
35
PEDESTRIAN
GATE
20
22
38
37
26
32
33
21
19
18
29 28 27
30 31
Sect. 6
cemete
rk
PEDEST
, Part 1
Decatu
r
, Part 1
Sect. 14
Photo by Gerald Huggins, from the 2010 Cemetery Photo Contest
Glenla
Sect. 13
STAIRS
A new walking tour brochure produced by City of
Decatur with assistance from Cathy Vogel, Victor Donham and other friends of the cemetery, provides an
overview of 40 of the most interesting sites at Decatur
Cemetery. Among them are the resting places of three
veterans of the American Revolution, a monument
standing over a field where numerous orphans are
buried, and the final resting place of Dr. Thomas Holley Chivers, who abandoned his medical training for
poetry and was described by Edgar Allen Poe as “one of
the best and one of the worst poets in America.”
The brochure, in describing the 40 sites, provides
a glimpse of Decatur’s history. The 58-acre cemetery
dates to 1823 (it’s a full decade older than Atlanta) and
provides an interesting overview of how the nation’s attitude about cemetery design (and death) has changed
over the years.
The brochure includes a map of the cemetery, lots of
color photographs, and a short collection of “Cemetery
Manners” to ensure that the dignity of the site is not
compromised. Pick up a copy at the Cemetery Office or
at City Hall.
25
23
Sect. 6
24
COMMERCE DR.
tOur
October 2012 • Decatur Focus | 7
Business & Nonprofit News
A Sunny Centerpiece
Opens at Woodlands
W
oodlands Garden, the beautiful seven-acre nature preserve at 932 Scott Blvd.,
has created a sunny greenspace where the Morse family home used to be. Now
that the old brick house has been removed, the newly opened area offers a
pleasant contrast to the surrounding shady woodlands.
The Woodlands Board looked to its core values of sustainability and stewardship for guidance in planning the deconstruction of the house. Woodlands worked with Lifecycle Building Center (LBC), a nonprofit that sells collected materials in lieu of disposing of them. LBC
removed 5,200 pounds of oak flooring and sold it at below-market cost. The flooring customer
provided some of the labor for the floor’s removal, further reducing its price. A portion of the
proceeds from the sale will be used to teach people about green construction.
Woodlands also contracted with deconstruction and teardown experts Southern Demolition
and Environmental. In addition to performing required asbestos removal, the firm salvaged
mantels, ceiling tiles, window sashes, storm windows, 75-linear-feet of closet shelving, kitchen
cabinet fronts, and 20 cubic yards of bricks. Some of these items are still available for sale at the
company’s storefront. Details can be found at www.thedeconstructedhouse.com.
Explore the
Quaker Way
with Quaker
Quest
The Atlanta Friends Meeting (Quakers)
invites the community to Quaker Quest, a
series of Sunday afternoon programs this fall
at the Friends Meetinghouse, 701 W. Howard
Ave. Childcare will be available.
Topics will include:
Quakers and Equality • Oct. 7 and Nov. 11
Quakers and Jesus • Oct. 14 and Nov. 18
Quakers and Peace • Oct. 28
Quakers and Worship • Nov. 4
The program will begin with refreshments
at 1 p.m., followed by Quakers sharing their
experiences on the day’s theme, discussion,
and 30 minutes of Quaker worship. The program will end at 3:30 p.m.
The Atlanta Friends Meeting has worship
services every Sunday at 10 a.m. For more information, call 404-377-2474 or visit atlanta.
quaker.org.
Chalice Thrift
Now Open
Sunday in the Garden Continues
Every Sunday in October, 2-4 p.m., guides will
be on hand in the garden to show visitors around
while music is performed in the pavilion. As you
wander the garden paths, check out the ring of
trees made visible by the newly opened space and
enjoy the contrast of this new open area with the
shady woods. And if you know of a home about to
be demolished, be sure the owner is aware that recycling many of the materials will preserve some of our community’s virgin resources and help
make affordable building products more available to consumers.
8 | Decatur Focus • October 2012
First Christian Church
of Decatur
has opened
Chalice
Thrift, a
store that
raises money for its outreach ministries.
Chalice Thrift is at 200 Nelson Ferry Rd.,
Suite A, corner of Ponce de Leon Avenue and
Nelson Ferry Road, in the lower level of the
church.
The store is open on Tuesdays, 9 a.m.-1
p.m., Thursdays, 5-8 p.m., and Saturdays, 9
a.m.-1 p.m. Proceeds will benefit outreach
ministries and donations are accepted during
retail hours.
Visit www.chalicethrift.org or email chalicethrift@gmail.com for information.
Business & Nonprofit News
Oakhurst Presbyterian
Church News
Yard Sale Oct. 6
Oakhurst Presbyterian Church’s annual Yard Sale is Saturday, Oct. 6, 9 a.m.-2 p.m.
Members will be the vendors and the community is invited to stop by. Proceeds from
the sale will benefit the Preston Compassion Fund.
Clothes Closet Donations
The Clothes Closet helps families with clothes and school supplies, and is always
grateful for donations of clothes for all ages, including baby clothes. The Closet is currently collecting fall and winter clothes. “Job interviewing” clothes are needed, especially dress shirts and pants for men. Thanks to the BBQ, Blues & Bluegrass Festival
for a grant that covered the new storage area and shelves for the clothes.
Welcome, Christin Johnson
Oakhurst Presbyterian welcomes new Interim Associate Pastor Christin Johnson, a
recent graduate of Columbia Seminary.
Inaugural Jazz Concert
Oakhurst Presbyterian Church is proud to sponsor its inaugural jazz concert for All
Saints Day, Thursday, Nov. 1, 7:30 p.m. The concert will be in honor of “Saint” John
Coltrane (yes, he was made a saint by the African Orthodox Church). Jazz players
from all over the metro area will be a part of this interfaith concert in which we will
give thanks for the saints in our lives, including St. John Coltrane.
Admission is free, but donations for Decatur Emergency Assistance Ministry
(DEAM) and Heifer International are welcome. Childcare for children 5 and under
will be provided. The church is at the corner of East Lake Drive and Second Avenue.
For more information, call 404-378-6284, or visit www.oakhurstpresbyterian.org.
Lutheran Church
of the Messiah
News
Days for Girls Georgia
Days for Girls International provides washable feminine hygiene kits worldwide for women who would
otherwise go without. The organization works to keep
girls in school and improve women’s futures through
the distribution of these kits. Of the world’s 130-million out-of-school youth, 70 percent are girls.
Days for Girls Georgia meets the first Saturday of
each month, 11 a.m., at Lutheran Church of the Messiah, 465 Clairemont Ave. No sewing experience is necessary. The group also accepts donations of 100 percent
cotton flannel panties, girls size 14, and washcloths.
New Ministry
The people of the Church of the Messiah have developed a ministry called Jesus Cares, offering care for
neighbors with developmental disabilities and their
families. Through social time, Bible study, and support time for parents, the goal is to form meaningful
connections with neighbors. Sessions are held on the
second Saturday of each month at the church, 465
Clairemont Ave. Call 404-373-1682, or email lmessiah@bellsouth.net for information.
Step into Africa
at First Baptist
Step into Africa is an interactive exhibit that allows participants to experience the impact of AIDS on an African community through the eyes of a child. Decatur
Presbyterian Church, Decatur First United Methodist
Church, First Baptist Church Decatur and World Vision have collaborated to bring the exhibit, which was
launched in 2005, to Decatur.
First Baptist Church Decatur, 308 Clairemont Ave.,
will host the exhibit. Allow 20-30 minutes for the experience. Opening hours are:
Sunday, Oct. 7 • 11 a.m.
Monday-Friday. Oct 8-12 • 10 a.m.
Saturday, Oct. 13, 9 a.m.
Sunday, Oct. 14, 11 a.m.
Free tickets and additional information are available
online at www.worldvisionexperience.org/decatur.
October 2012 • Decatur Focus | 9
Business & Nonprofit News
DFUMC Women’s Prison
Ministry Adopts New Logo
Decatur First United Methodist
Church, 300 E. Ponce de Leon Ave.,
held a summer-long graphic design
competition to create a new logo for
the Arrendale Women’s Prison Ministry. The winning logo was designed by
Mark Jones, a graphic design instructor at Decatur Career Academy.
The logo depicts a woman holding
a child, indicating the work the ministry is doing at the prison children’s
center. The bars in the background of
the logo fade toward the top of the design to indicate the re-entry of
women into society. The logo also includes the Methodist flame and
cross. Decatur First volunteers sponsor visitation, provide legal advice,
and donate toiletries, paint, and rocking chairs to the facility.
Scottish Heritage Sunday at
Decatur Presbyterian
Kirkin’ o’ the Tartan Oct. 28
Decatur Presbyterian, 205 Sycamore St., will celebrate its Scottish heritage on Sunday, Oct. 28, 10:15 a.m., with a Kirkin’ o’ the Tartan service. There will be a blessing of the tartans during the service, with an
accompanying skirl of bagpipes. A reception will follow on the front
lawn of the church. Everyone is welcome.
Common Ground
Real Estate Opens
Storefront Office
Common Ground Real Estate’s new storefront office is in the Artisan
Building, 201 W. Ponce de Leon Ave., Suite 119. The team of eight real
estate professionals offers more than 20-years’ combined experience
in the industry. In 2011, Common Ground’s first year in business, the
team closed more than $10.1 million in sales.
Expansion plans include a commercial division, foreclosure avoidance team and REO division. For more information call 678-4082473, email info@commongroundrealestate.com or visit www.commongroundrealestate.com.
10 | Decatur Focus • October 2012
Park Overlook
Preview of Homes
Ten new homes in Park Overlook on S. Candler Street
are nearing completion, and
some are ready for move-in.
Homebuilder Monte Hewett
Homes invites Decatur residents to come by and take a
look. The development is
adjacent to the Oakhurst and
Winnona Park neighborhoods and backs up to Dearborn Park.
The four-bedroom homes with basements are priced from the low
$600,000s and have features that include chef ’s kitchens, open floor
plans, and large master suites. The architecture is designed to complement Decatur’s historical character and charm.
The homes are open daily including weekends, with tours by sales
agents Ted Blocker and Weslee Knapp. For more information, visit
www.montehewetthomes.com or call Ted at 404-918-4455 or Weslee
at 678-358-4321.
Storytelling in Decatur
Meet the Dark Side
for Halloween
Saturday, Oct. 27 • 7 p.m.
Kim Weitkamp, nationally
renowned storyteller, singer
and songwriter, will take center stage at the Friends School
Auditorium, 862 S. Columbia
Dr., to present a blend of
story and horror. She will
perform original stories and
songs from her latest album,
Head Bone Rattles, as well as
selections from her upcoming
release Dead Bird Singing.
Two regional performers, Shannon McNeal and Anthony Vinson,
will also be featured on the program. Shannon performs humorous
down-home Deep South tales that chronicle her adventures growing
up in south Alabama and later moving to Atlanta. She is the originator of the monthly Stories on the Square at Eddie’s Attic. Anthony is a
comedic-storyteller and humorist who will perform stories illuminating the “farce side” of the Halloween season. The performances are
sponsored by the Southern Order of Storytellers. For information visit
www.spooky-stories.com or call Shannon, 404-626-4453, or Anthony,
770-231-1831.
Business & Nonprofit News
Agnes Scott
College News
Women’s Leadership and
Global Issues
Agnes Scott College, 141 E. College Ave.,
is taking its focus on women’s leadership and global issues a significant step
further, thanks to a half-million-dollar
pledge from alumna Sarah B. “Sally”
Gladden ’65 and her husband, Joseph R.
Gladden Jr., former Agnes Scott board
chair. The gift will be used to launch the
Women’s Global Leadership Initiative,
which will include a certificate program
designed to provide Agnes Scott students
with the skills and experience they need
to lead in solving global issues.
Quality of Life Ranking
A Good
First Year
The Florio brothers and
their employees at Sapori
Di Napoli, 314 Church St.,
would like to thank the
Decatur community for
making their first year a
success. They write, “We
can hardly believe a year has
passed and we’ve truly enjoyed meeting all of our customers. Sharing our culture
and passion for food with
the community has been a
pleasure.” Look for the latest
additions to their menu, including locally made mozzarella specialties.
ASC’s quality of life for students is among
the best in the nation, according to the
Princeton Review’s 2013 Best 377 Colleges rankings, based on student surveys.
ASC was ranked No. 8 nationally in the
Review’s “Best Quality of Life” ranking.
The review summed it up this way:
“Great location. Gorgeous campus. Superb academics. That’s how a typical
Scottie sums up the argument for Agnes
Scott College, a small all-women’s school
located a stone’s throw from Atlanta.”
Campbell Hall
Transformation
Thanks to a $6 million gift from the Robert W. Woodruff Foundation, Agnes Scott
will transform its historic Campbell Hall
from science labs into an innovative living and learning community. The planned
renovation will create state-of-the-art academic and instructional facilities on the
ground floors and suite-style rooms for
up to 96 students on the second and third
floors. The renovation will be designed to
meet the standards for LEED Silver certification for green building design.
Wild Oats & Billy Goats, 112 E. Ponce de Leon Ave., will hold its
second annual Children’s Art Show on Monday, Nov. 5, 6-9 p.m. The
exhibit will showcase the talents of the K-5 students in City Schools of
Decatur. Attendance is free. Visit www.wildoatsandbillygoats.com for
information.
October 2012 • Decatur Focus | 11
DBA News
Linda Harris
Receives
Alma Fleetwood
Spirit Award
L
inda Harris, deputy director of
economic and community development for Decatur, is the 2012
recipient of the Alma Fleetwood
Spirit Award. Wendy Watkins, president
of the Decatur Business Association, presented the Award for 2012 at DBA’s August
meeting at Harbour Bar. The award was
created in memory of long-time Decatur
resident and City of Decatur employee
Alma Fleetwood, who died in March 2011.
The award honors the city employee who
embraces and maintains the overwhelmingly positive spirit of Alma, who always
had a smile, a kind word and a hug for
everyone.
Linda Harris (front and center) sits with
members of Alma Fleetwood’s family, DBA
president Wendy Watkins, and Tammy
Washington (back row, far right), winner of
the first Alma Fleetwood Spirit Award.
Meeting
Reminder
October 23
The Wylde Center/Oakhurst Community Garden, 435 Oakview Rd.
5:15 p.m. Networking reception
6 p.m. Program
Sponsor:The Wylde Center
Visit www.decaturdba.com for
updates and information about
the Decatur Business Association,
including information on the Foundations of Business quarterly seminars, events, and meetings.
www.decaturdba.com
12 | Decatur Focus • October 2012
Decatur Events
On The Same Page Announces
Fall Events
O
n the Same Page is a citywide reading initiative whose goal is to foster a community of readers by bringing families together around the same book. The program
continues with Newberry Award winner Holes, by Louis Sachar. The jigsaw-puzzle
adventure has become a modern day classic since its publication in 1998. The
program includes a treasure hunt, shoe drive and party. The culminating event is a visit by the
author, Louis Sachar, on Friday, Dec. 7, 7 p.m., at Presser Hall, Agnes Scott College.
Upcoming OTSP events include:
Saturday, Oct. 13, 1-3 p.m. – Habitat for Humanity Work Day, sponsored by Intown Ace
Hardware. Space is limited so email info@weareonthesamepage.org to sign up.
About the Book
Friday, Oct. 19, 6:30 p.m. – Kids and Companions Book Group Discussion. Little Shop book
group is open to kids ages 8-11 and the adult of their choice.
In the current OTSP family reading selection, Holes, Stanley Yelnats is under a
curse. He was wrongfully accused of stealing a pair of shoes belonging to a famous
baseball player, and as punishment he has
been sent to Camp
Green Lake, a boys’
detention center in
the middle of the
desert. Day in and
day out the boys at
the camp are forced
to dig holes five feet
wide and five feet deep
in order to build character.
There is no lake at
Camp Green Lake, but
there are a lot of holes,
and Stanley quickly discovers there is more going on than character building. What exactly is the warden
looking for? Who was Kissin’ Kate Barlow?
And when will Stanley and his rotten luck
catch a break? Stanley and the D-tent boys
try to dig up the truth.
Saturday, Oct. 20-Saturday, Nov. 3 – Shoe Auction and Shoe Drive. The Atlanta Braves have
donated sneakers to be auctioned. Be the owner of cleats worn by Chipper Jones, Freddie
Freeman, Tommy Hanson or Kris Medlen by participating in the online auction at www.
weareonthesamepage.org. Stop by Little Shop of Stories, 133 E. Court Square, to see the
shoes in person. All proceeds benefit Our House, Inc., the childcare and support center
for homeless families located in Decatur as well as On The Same Page. Bring new and
gently used shoes to Little Shop during the same two weeks to be given to the families at
Our House.
Thursday, Oct. 25 – Decatur Day of Reading. The Decatur City Commission will issue
a proclamation declaring Oct. 25 Decatur Day of Reading. Everyone is encouraged to
spend 30 minutes that day reading.
Saturday, Nov. 3, 4 p.m. – Movie Screening at DHS Auditorium. The movie Holes
(2003) stars Shia LaBeouf and Sigourney Weaver. The whole family is invited to enjoy
the free movie matinee and see how the movie measures up to the book.
Treasure Hunt – Visit the eight participating Decatur locations, solve the clues, and
come to Little Shop of Stories for your reward. Clue 1: Find the place where people
rest, a plot by a magnolia is the best . . . for the rest of this clue and all of the others, visit www.
weareonthesamepage.org or go to Little Shop.
Tourism
Bureau Logo • 4/19/11
More events will be featured nextDecatur
month.
Coordinators
of On The Same Page include Little
Shop of Stories, 133 E. Court Square, in conjunction with the Decatur Book Festival, the
Decatur Education Foundation, and Decatur Rotary Club. Visit www.weareonthesamepage.org
or contact info@weareonthesamepage.org
for
more information. Gray scale logo
Flat logo
Textured logo
Check out the
Decatur
Tourism
Blog
www.visitdecaturgeorgia.com
Decatur news in just one click.
October 2012 • Decatur Focus | 13
Decatur Events
What’s Up at the
Wylde Center?
435 Oakview Rd.
Free Family Events
S’mores 4 All –
Saturday, Oct. 20 • 6-8 p.m.
Costume contest, pumpkin carving contest, live music,
paint the new Little Free Library box, and S’mores for
all. Local Girl Scouts will assist children with S’more
making. Prizes will be available for contest winners.
Leaf Pile and Drumming
Saturday, Nov. 10 • 6-8 p.m.
Live drumming and fun in the giant leaf pile. Come
early for the family drum class at 5 p.m.
Register for these events at www.wyldecenter.org.
Fall Plant Sale Runs through Oct. 15
More than 50 vegetable plant varieties are available,
including lettuce, Asian greens, arugula, kale, Swiss
chard, and more, in the front yard of the Wylde Center’s
garden house. The fall plant sale is based on an honor
system. All plants are well labeled and priced. Prices
include sales tax. Come anytime during daylight hours,
choose what you would like to purchase, and pay by
dropping exact cash or a check made out to OCGP in
the locked mailbox next to the front door. We check it
daily. Visit www.wyldecenter.org for information.
Annual Run for Justice
Nov. 10
T
he Atlanta Legal Aid Society hosts
its 21st Run for Justice in
Oakhurst on Nov. 10.
The event benefits the general operating fund of the Atlanta
Legal Aid Society. The
5K course begins and ends
at One Step at A Time, 650
East Lake Dr. Jogging strollers, kids and pets are welcome.
Awards will be presented to
the top 5K finishers and teams
in a variety of categories, including pets, children and strollers.
Families, corporate, church, school
and community teams can participate. All participants receive a dri-weave Tshirt. Race day volunteers are needed to monitor the course and register participants.
Registration is $25 in advance and $30 after Nov. 4. The race and walk begin at
9 a.m. Register online at www.active.com or www.rungeorgia.com. The Run for
Justice is a qualifying run/walk event in the City of Decatur’s Grand Slam Fitness
Challenge.
The Atlanta Legal Aid Society, Inc., provides civil legal services to persons
with very low incomes in Fulton, DeKalb, Gwinnett, Clayton and Cobb counties. Last year, Legal Aid attorneys assisted more than 50,000 people and handled
more than 20,000 cases, primarily involving housing, family, and senior citizens
issues.
The Community School
and Eagle Secure Shredding are sponsoring
Shred Day on Oct. 27.
Drop by the First Baptist
Church of Decatur, 308
Clairemont Ave., between 10 a.m. and
1 p.m. to have your
confidential documents shredded
on-site and recycled.
Donations of $5 per bankers box
(maximum of 10 boxes per patron please) are welcome.
All proceeds will support The Community School, a
school for junior and high school students with autism
spectrum disorders. Visit www.thecommunityschool.net for
more information about the school and the event. Paper
shredding only. Rain or shine.
Fall
SHRE
14 | Decatur Focus • October 2012
Decatur Events
Oakhurst Arts and
Music Festival
Saturday, Oct. 13
T
he 15th annual Oakhurst Arts & Music Festival is Saturday, October 13,
10 a.m.-7 p.m., at the center of the
Oakhurst community in Harmony
Park. The festival includes live musical performances all day long, a free arts activity area for
children, a local artists market and a community
area featuring Decatur-based nonprofit groups.
OAMF!
Oakhurst
Arts & Music
Festival
Join the Parade!
Local residents and groups are invited to participate in the
Oakhurst Arts and Music Festival Parade at 2 p.m. It’s fun and
it’s free! All entries are welcome.
Performances
Parade marshals this year are
school principals Bruce Roaden
11 am:Oakhurst Community
(4-5 Academy at Fifth Ave.) and
Music Collective
Mary Mack (Oakhurst Elementa1 pm:In The Wheelhouse
ry). The parade route is only one
3 pm:Sehwe Village
third of a mile and winds directly
Percussion
through the heart of the festival.
4 pm:Sydney Rhame
So get creative and have fun. Your
5 pm:The BooHoo
club, your team, your co-workers,
Ramblers
fellow dog owners, skateboarders
6 pm:Swamp Funk
or your kids’ decorated bicycles
Quartet
would all be great additions. To
enter yourself or your group in the parade, contact Angie
Macon, 404-371-9583
2012
New This Year: Dogtoberfest
The festival welcomes Dogtoberfest.
Participants can enter the costume
contest and do the parade walk. Register
for the costume contest at TajMaHound
and line up to walk in the parade at
1:30 p.m. The parade ends near Taj MaHound
and winners of the contest will be announced.
After the parade, enjoy the festival, which is
dog friendly and will feature dog-related
vendors, including art, jewelry, dog collars
and leashes, soaps and candles.
Oakhurst 5K Run
The Oakhurst 5K Run kicks off the festival each year. The race includes prizes for male
and female winners, plaques to the first, second, and third winners in each age category and
an official course record. The 16-minute-20-second
course record was set in 2001. Dogs and baby joggers
are welcome but are asked to start last for safety reasons.
October 2012 • Decatur Focus | 15
Decatur Events
School News
Flea Market and
Plant Sale
Oct. 19-20 • 9 a.m.-4 p.m.
T
he Fall Flea Market at the United
Methodist Children’s Home, 500
S. Columbia Dr., will include a
plant sale hosted by the DeKalb
Extension Service Master Gardeners in
partnership with the UMCH Auxiliary. All
proceeds will go toward campus beautification. A sandwich shop and bake sale are also
included.
Donations of used items are accepted for
the flea market any time. Just leave your
items on the right side of the porch of Atlanta
Cottage, which is behind the administration
building (the main building in the center of
campus). Receipt slips are available for tax
records.
The UMCH Auxiliary is always looking for
new members to help sort, price and move
items for the flea markets. Membership is
open to all. For information call 404-3275832 or visit www.umchildrenshome.org or
www.facebook.com/umchildrenshome.
Decatur City Dance presents
‘A Day with Mother Goose’
Thursday, Nov. 15, 6 p.m. • Friday, Nov. 16 • 7 p.m.
Saturday, Nov. 17 • 11 a.m., 2 p.m. and 5 p.m.
Beacon Hill Arts Center, 410 W. Trinity Place
Youngsters and grownups who are young at heart can help Mother Goose search for her missing
son Tom. In this dance theatre show, you will see Mother Goose (guest appearance by Dee Wagner) call forth “The House that Jack Built,” and you will be entertained by three blind mice, Little
Bo Peep and her sheep, Little Miss Muffet and a giant spider, and other Mother Goose favorites.
Last season’s shows sold out, so buy your tickets early. Tickets go on sale Oct. 25. For more information, call 404-378-3388.
Tellabration!
A Night of Storytelling
Nov. 17
The Southern Order of Storytellers (SOS) will present
its 23rd annual Tellabration! Saturday, Nov. 17, featuring
Andy Offutt Irwin and Georgia storytellers Betty Ann
Wylie and Alice Henry, with Tracy Walker as emcee.
The event will take place at the Friends School
of Atlanta, 862 S. Columbia Drive. Doors
open at 7:30 p.m. and storytelling begins at
8. Free, onsite parking is available.
Tellabration! is a night of storytelling
celebrated worldwide, featuring stories that
will appeal to ages 10 years and up.
Tickets can be reserved with Shannon
McNeal at ShannonMcNeal@att.net or 404626-4453. Tickets are $10 until Nov. 7, and
$15 after that date. Limited tickets will be
available at the door. Tickets are available online at www.Southernorderofstorytellers.org.
16 | Decatur Focus • October 2012
Save the Dates!
Storytelling Festival Set for Jan. 25-26
Kickoff Jan. 24 at Eddie’s Attic
The Southern Order of Storytellers’ 31st annual
Storytelling Festival will feature nationally renowned storyteller Elizabeth Ellis (below). The
festival will kick off with adult storytelling –
Stories on the Edge of Night – at Eddie’s Attic
on Thursday, Jan. 24, 8 p.m. All other events
and concerts over the following days will be
held at First Baptist Church of Decatur, 308
Clairemont Ave. Visit www.Southernorderofstorytellers.org for details and information.
Decatur Events
HomeGrown Decatur
Halloween Parade
Sunday, Oct. 28 • 4 p.m.
Join the spooky fun in downtown
Decatur at the second annual HomeGrown Decatur Halloween Parade.
Wear your costume and walk, ride or
skate through the streets of Decatur.
Neighborhood organizations, local
clubs and area businesses are invited
to participate.
New this year: a ghoulish marching
band, funky floats, the Atlanta Roller
Girls, a classic car parade and the
Dead Ends Hearse Club. More participants are added daily.
Parade line-up for walkers, bikers and skaters will take place
on the square at 3:30 p.m. Cars and floats line up at Decatur
High School at 3 p.m. Anyone can participate but vehicles must
be registered online at www.homegrowndecatur.com.
For more information contact Lori Ronca, 404-373-1147,
homegrowndecatur@gmail.com. See updates at the website and
Facebook page at www.facebook.com/HomeGrownDecaturHalloween.
Saturday, Nov. 3 • 1-4 p.m. • Rain or shine
Taste more than 500 wines from around the globe,
sample fare from Decatur’s finest eateries and enjoy live
music at the largest outdoor wine festival in the Atlanta
metro area. Proceeds benefit the Decatur Arts Alliance,
which produces the Decatur Arts Festival and many
other arts events, free to the community each year. For
tickets and information go to decaturwinefestival.org.
Music at the Decatur Library
Oct. 23 • 7-8 p.m.
Luis Stefanell, whose specialty is Latin American percussion, will play
at the Decatur Library Auditorium, 215 Sycamore St. Enjoy conga,
bongo, timbale drums, Native American flutes, and an array of world
percussion instruments from Africa, Asia and South America in a
performance highlighting Latin acoustic world music. Funding is provided by Friends of the Decatur Library and the performance is free to
the community. Call 404-370-3070 for information.
Charles Cope, Proprietor
650-B East Lake Drive • Decatur, Georgia 30030
404-377-1030 • www.1stepatatime.net
Custom Fitting • Personal Service
October 2012 • Decatur Focus | 17
Decatur Events
Reserve Your Tickets for
Decatur Ghost Tours
T
is the season for Decatur Ghost Tours, offered by professional psychic medium Boo Newell and paranormal investigator Teri Rice. The downtown route is easy walking and
wheelchair accessible. The tour takes about two hours and
participants experience both haunted places and Decatur history.
Participants are encouraged to bring cameras to capture their own
ghostly evidence. October tours run Thursday, Friday and Saturday
nights at 7:30 p.m. and begin at the Community Bandstand on the
square. Advance reservations are required. For information visit
www.decaturghosttour.com, call 404-296-7771, or email
decaturghosttour@yahoo.com.
BeActiveDecatur.com
Every Body • Every Day
Wearing contacts feels like some
sort of science experiment…
Put them in.
Take themDout.
rop them
Clean them.
.
Clean them in your mouth?
Why are you putting PLASTIC
in your EYES every day?
Maybe contacts
aren’t the answer?
STOP THE EXPERIMENT.
Get LASIK!
www.AlantaLASIK.com
Atlanta LASIK Center
404-294-3323
Blood Brother: Installations,
Paintings and Drawings by
Cooper Sanchez
Thursday-Friday Oct. 18-19 • 7-11 p.m.
Located at “The Gate Called Beautiful,” 424 W. Ponce De Leon
Ave., between Farm Burger and the Marlay Irish pub and
across from Dancing Goats Coffee.
Artist Cooper Sanchez worked with property owner and garden art
sculptor Chad Stogner to produce this art exhibit and installation.
Seeking to bring fresh eyes and light to the property for one night
only, Sanchez explores themes of local anthropology, fortitude and
vengeance, using materials such as red clay and slate. The entire space
is used with various installations and oddities as well as traditional
paintings and drawings.
Cooper Sanchez is an Atlanta-based gardener and artist who attended the New York School of Visual Arts and earned a degree in
fine art and illustration. He works with themes personal to his own
life, with aesthetic elements from southern folk art and European
classicism. For questions or to schedule a daytime viewing, call Matt
Benard, 404-213-2233.
Let’s Move Them Dogs!
Decatur Fitness Festival Oct. 27
The Decatur Booster Club will hold its second annual Decatur Fitness
Festival on Oct. 27, 2-5 p.m., at the Decatur High football stadium.
The event will be held in conjunction with the celebration of the
school’s Homecoming weekend and the celebration of its 100-year
anniversary. The free event is open to Decatur children of all ages and
will feature carnival-type games and activities, healthy food and fitness demonstrations. To become a sponsor or volunteer for the event,
contact Bernadette Seals, dbbfitnessfestival@gmail.com.
5
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
pam.hughes@harrynorman.com
www.pam.hughes.harrynorman.com
18 | Decatur Focus • October 2012
MOHAWK - SHAW
Decatur Events
‘Compassionate Boldness’ Fundraiser
Leapin’ Lizards
and Dean Donut The Pregnancy Center of Decatur, a nonprofit organization providing support to women experiencing
unplanned pregnancies, will host “Compassionate Boldness” on Sunday, Oct. 21, 3:30-5:30 p.m., at the
Monster Mash
historic Mary Gay House, 716 W. Trinity Place. The event includes hors d’oeuvres and refreshments, a
silent auction-style raffle featuring a weekend getaway and tempting gifts from local retailers, and a preDance Party
Oct. 27 • 10 a.m.-2 p.m.
Grab your mummy and dance if you
dare at Leapin’ Lizards’ annual Halloween Bash, featuring Dean Donut
and his Monster Mash Dance Party.
Hosted by Dean Donut, the party
is designed to thrill pint-sized boys
and ghouls along with their adult
companions. The event will be held
at Leapin’ Lizards, 185 Sams St.,
and includes trick-or-treat stations,
trick-or-treat bags, unlimited fun on
inflatables. a dance party, Halloween
costume parade, raffle prizes and
other age-appropriate activities
As a special event boooo-nus,
James Adam Hill Photography will
take photos of little ghouls in their
costumes. With a donation of $5
or five canned/boxed items for the
Atlanta Community Food Bank,
patrons will receive a complimentary
4x6 print of their trick-or-treater
mailed directly to them.
Tickets are on sale ($10 in advance, $12 at the door) for walkers
through age 10. Adults are always
free. Buy tickets at www.leapinlizardsplay.com or call 404-537-3030.
Candlelight
Vigil Oct. 18
To End Domestic Violence
The Women’s Resource Center to
End Domestic Violence will hold its
20th annual Candlelight Vigil at the
Community Bandstand on Thursday,
Oct. 18, 7 p.m. The Vigil program
includes performances, speakers
and the candle-lighting ceremony
remembering those in Georgia who
have lost their lives to domestic
violence. Participants are asked to
gather at 6:45 p.m. For information
visit www.wrcdv.org.
sentation by Executive Director Talli Moellering.
Proceeds will enable the organization to continue its mission of compassion and care to teen girls and
young women experiencing an unplanned pregnancy by providing free pregnancy testing, limited ultrasounds and information about pregnancy and related options.
Other services include long-term care through group classes and individual education with a focus
on parenting, building healthy relationships, and the basic life skills needed to be self-sufficient. Tickets
are $25. To purchase tickets or for more information about this event, sponsorship, or volunteer opportunities, visit www.pcdfriends.com or contact Jill Fossett, 678-628-4663.
Living the Green Life Series Concludes
From the Kitchen to the Medicine Cabinet
Take advantage of the last of the Living the Green Life classes offered free to the community at the
Decatur Library, 215 Sycamore St. The class, From the Kitchen to the Medicine Cabinet, will be held
Tuesday, Oct. 23, 7-8 p.m.
Join one of the Wylde Center’s teachers, Charli Vogt of Beyond the Measuring Cup, and discover
some of the food, herbs and spices in your kitchen that are support good health. Taste and learn about
food that restores health and provides comfort. Charli Vogt, RN, MN, MPH, and herbalist, has a private
practice in Decatur and helps many to be healthy in mind, body and spirit.
For information contact Andrea Zoppo, andrea.zoppo@yahoo.com.
To visit our
community and to
learn more about
becoming a resident
please contact us:
Come Home to the Best in Senior Living
At Clairmont Oaks everyday living is just the way you
want it—comfortable and convenient. You’ll be
delighted at the outstanding amenities and welcoming
atmosphere in our senior apartment communities.
Our Mission:
Clairmont Oaks provide
quality affordable housing
and services to older adults.
We welcome people of all
faiths and beliefs.
Clairmont Oaks
441 Clairemont Ave.
Decatur, Georgia
30030-1855
Phone 404.378.8887
Facsimile
404.378.8969
www.clairmontoaks.org
A Ministry of First Baptist Church Decatur
Follow us on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/clairmontoaks
October 2012 • Decatur Focus | 19
Decatur Events
Park Renewal Day – Make a Difference!
Register your team now to compete for the $1,000 Grand Prize
O
n Saturday, Nov. 3, volunteers will return to Dearborn Park to root out invasive
plants in the fifth annual Park Renewal Day competition. Each year, more than
150 participants at this event –competing for prize money sponsored by Renewal
Design-Build – clear more than an acre of English ivy and Chinese privet from the
park. The event is organized by Renewal Design-Build, DeKalb County Parks, the City of Decatur’s Active Living division, and Park Pride.
Teams will compete for the grand prize of $1,000. Second and third place winners will take
home $500 and $300, respectively. Each team’s assigned plot will be scored by local experts and
county park officials. A live band, food, and the awarding of prizes follow the competition.
Any group willing to help the park and raise money is eligible to compete. In past years,
teams have included school organizations, neighborhood associations, nonprofits, and Scout
troops. Last year’s grand prize went to Boy Scout Troop 18. The winnings funded scholarships
for boys who could not afford the Troop’s annual dues, uniforms, camps, and equipment. The
Decatur High School Super Close Up Club used their second place winnings toward travel
grants for their annual spring trip to Washington, D.C.
Interested groups should register as soon as possible; the event is limited to 10 teams. For
more photos and registration information, visit ParkRenewalDay.com.
The 10th annual Low Country Boil benefiting the Decatur Education Foundation is
Oct. 11, 6:30-10 p.m., at Leapin’ Lizards, 185
Sams St. Tickets are $60 ($40 for City Schools
of Decatur staff) and include all food and
two drink tickets, plus an event T-shirt. Visit
www.decaturlowcountryboil.com to purchase
tickets.
20 | Decatur Focus • October 2012
School News
Glennwood
Fall Festival
Sunday, Oct. 21
11 a.m.-4 p.m.
Join the fun at Glennwood
Elementary’s Fall Carnival.
Enjoy boardwalk games,
craft booths, a 20-foot inflatable slide, the Spooky Cafe,
Haunted House, cake walk,
costume contest and – new
this year – the scarecrow art
auction. Glennwood will benefit from all proceeds. Festival
sponsorships are available at
many levels and are much appreciated. All sponsors receive
advertising, tax benefits and
promotion within the community. For more information
contact Giffney Nagel, giffney.
nagel@comcast.net, or visit
glennwood.csdecatur.net.
Decatur Farm to
School Dine Out
Oct. 16
7-11 a.m. for
breakfast/coffee shops
5-9 p.m. for dinner/dessert
restaurants
Enjoy a quick and delicious meal at a select
area restaurant and a percentage of the proceeds will be donated to Decatur Farm to
School (DF2S). The organization’s mission
is to integrate fresh, whole, locally produced
foods into Decatur’s classrooms and school
cafeterias.
Participating restaurants include Mellow
Mushroom Pizza, Raging Burrito, Oakhurst
Market, Revolution Doughnuts, and more.
Funds raised will go toward supporting
teacher workshops, kitchen training for our
cafeteria partners, classroom and garden
projects, and student taste tests. Visit
www.decaturfarmtoschool.org for details.
Congratulations to Nick Richwagen (left), one of
22 University of Georgia undergraduates named
2012 CURO summer fellows by UGA’s Center for
Undergraduate Research Opportunities. Nick spent
the summer engaged in a faculty-guided research
project focused on obtaining usable biomass for
energy production, earned academic credit, and
will be invited to submit his research at the CURO
Symposium, UGA’s annual spring conference for
undergraduates. Nick is pursuing bachelor’s degrees
in biology and ecology and has studied under the
guidance of biological and agricultural engineering
professor K.C. Das (right).
October 2012 • Decatur Focus | 21
School News
Decatur Education
Foundation awards
$17,000 in Mini-Grants
Pictured are some of the happy recipients of the Fall
Mini-Grants for Instruction from the Decatur Education Foundation. The $17,000 given out this cycle
will support a diverse array of projects affecting all
K-12 students in City Schools of Decatur:
• a health and wellness fair at Oakhurst Elementary
• a bike derby at the 4-5 Academy at 5th Avenue
• an elementary math tutoring project at Clairemont Elementary
• funds to provide visits to college campuses for
Renfroe students
• start-up funds to properly mount and display K-5
student artwork in public venues
• purchase of fine art prints for a Hispanic cultural
arts festival at Renfroe, and
• funds to expand the choral library at Decatur
High School.
This list includes only a portion of the minigrants awarded.
Salisa Bacon
Business Consultant
Salisa@ConsolidatedCopiers.com
22 | Decatur Focus • October 2012
DEF awards grants twice each school year, in August and January. To see the impact
these grants have on students in Decatur, visit www.decatureducationfoundation.org and
read DEF’s impact report in this month’s Focus.
315 W. Ponce de Leon
Suite 325
Decatur, GA, 30030
404. 377. 3262
Around Town
Seen Around Town
Congratulations to Ca
kes & Ale Restaurant,
which received the Ge
for excellence in the cat
orgia Downtown Assoc
egory of Outstanding
iation Award
Sensitive Rehabilitatio
ceremony is Louis Pic
n/Restoration. Pictured
hulik, owner of the bu
at the award
ilding, with Cindy Eid
Affairs and Billy Peppers
son of the Departmen
, president of GDA.
t of Community
for
new baseball team
Decatur Rip Stix, a
city
the
t
en
res
r, will rep
players 10 and unde
the
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ou
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nts throu
at baseball tourname
ces at Oakhurst Park.
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state. The tea
g baseball, the team
In addition to playin
pport the Decatur
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shirt sales
activities such as Tby several Decatur
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Universal Joint, Quan
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Decatur police officers participated
recently in the National Night Out
celebration at the Decatur Housing
Authority.
October 2012 • Decatur Focus | 23
(Ask us about trading in your old gold jewelry. It's a great way to buy a great gift, update your jewelry
collection–or just increase the contents of your wallet!)
Printed on Recycled Paper
Amsterdam Walk + 500-L3 Amsterdam Ave. + Atlanta + 404/892-8294
Decatur Square + 117 East Court Square + Decatur + 404/370-3979
www.worthmorejewelers.com
P.O. Box 220
Decatur, GA 30031-220
to do
Business with
Focus
Fine jewelry, watches and aRt...
Decatur
See us for top quality resizing, repairs,
cleaning and maintenance — including
watch batteries — of all jewelry and watches.
DATED MATERIAL OCTOBER 2012
pre-sorted
standard
u.s. postage PAID
Permit No. 199
Decatur, GA 30031
Clear zone
somebody
yank your
chain?
Have you
outgrown your
current home?!
Ready to expand?
First-time Homebuyers are looking to buy now.
2012 is the time to sell & capture these
amazing mortgage rates.
1409 Peachtree Street NE Atlanta GA 30309 • leslie.erickson@prudentialga.com
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