Friday, July 29, 2016

This Fall ABC's New Series with Kiefer Sutherland


Emmy- and Golden Globe-winning actor Kiefer Sutherland (“24”) returns to primetime in a conspiracy thriller as Tom Kirkman, a lower-level cabinet member who unexpectedly becomes president after a devastating attack on Washington. He will struggle to prevent the country and his own family from falling into chaos, as he is thrust into one of the most difficult presidencies in history.

Video Friday - Elvis Presley - C'mon Everybody


Thursday, July 28, 2016

Sharknado The 4th Awakens Sunday 7-31


Eye on The Muffler Man

                                         Roadside Attraction in East Point, GA

 The Muffler Men History
From: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Muffler_Men
Muffler Men (or Muffler Man) are large moulded fiberglass sculptures that are placed as advertising icons, roadside attractions or for decorative purposes, predominantly in the United States. Standing approximately 18–25 feet tall,[1] the first figure was a Paul Bunyan character designed to hold an axe.[2] Derivatives of that figure were widely used to hold full-sized car mufflers, tires, or other items promoting various roadside businesses.

International Fiberglass of Venice, California constructed most Muffler Men. While the fiberglass figures are no longer manufactured, many still exist throughout the US with a few in Canada. At least four remain on U.S. Route 66, including Chicken Boy and Gemini Giant.[3]

Muffler Men have made appearances as characters in the comic strip "Zippy the Pinhead" by Bill Griffith, often in conversation with Zippy. Two books have been devoted to the distinctive roadside figures[4][5] and the July 2012 issue of AAA New Mexico Journey devoted its front cover to their 50th anniversary.

Wednesday, July 27, 2016

A Large redevelopment Planned for North Druid Hills Road.

From: http://www.tonetoatl.com/2016/07/developer-hoping-for-grand-slam-in.html#more
 Atlanta-based Oak Hall Companies, a developer of commercial, medical and residential properties, is proposing

This is not the first time the 11.5 acre parcel has been targeted for redevelopment.

As recently as 2014, John Weiland Homes planned to redevelop 59-70 townhomes on the property, but eventually abandoned its plans. Ashton Woods, another residential developer, sought to build 43 townhouses and 104 condo units in 2004, but also abandoned their plans. In both cases, the developers were put off by the cost of removing 12,000 cubic yards of dirt and slag, and then putting it all back (minus the slag).  The slag, or "stony waste matter separated from metals during the smelting or refining of ore" was dumped there by the E.V. Camp Steel Works, a steel foundry that operated close to the nearby railroad tracks until the 1950s.
a large redevelopment on North Druid Hills Road.  The company wants to build 78 townhomes in place of the Grand Slam Golf & Baseball (aka Hidden Valley Driving Range) facility at 3352 North Druid Hills Road. The development would be called "Provence Park."  To begin this process, OHC is requesting that DeKalb county rezone the parcel from C-2 & M (Industrial) to RSM (Small Lot Residential).

Monday, July 25, 2016

Bike/Ped crossng at E. Trinity Pl. Restored

From thedecaturminute.com
Good News

Bike/ped access across E. Trinity Place has been restored!

As of today (7.21.16), bike/ped travelers from S. Candler Street (northbound) and the PATH trail (eastbound) can now safely cross E. Trinity Place. Likewise, bike/ped travelers coming from Barry Street-N. Candler Street – E. Howard Ave. can now safely cross E. Trinity near the Magnolia tree at E. Howard and E. Trinity Place.

Changes Will Continue

As many of you know, major storm drainage work is currently taking place on E. Trinity.  As the project continues, the location of the bike/ped crossing on E. Trinity WILL shift.  Changes will also come about due to the upcoming Candler Street Railroad Crossing Overhaul. Ultimately, the E. Trinity Place crossing will be in a different location.  (Some may notice that the current location of the sidewalk ramp is close to a fire hydrant; this is temporary). For the same reasons, as the school year begins on August 1st, plans are underway to re-rout students away from this area.

Info

For more information, please contact the Design, Environment & Construction Division at 678.553.6570 or visit the City’s new website Decatur Makeover 

Wednesday, July 20, 2016

Decatur Boogaloos Moving Sale

 From: http://www.tonetoatl.com/2016/07/bits-bites_31.html#more
The original Boogaloos boutique on West Ponce de Leon Avenue in Decatur is currently having a "Store Moving Blow-Out Sale."   The store, which opened in Decatur in 2001, subsequently expanded to TOWN Brookhaven (2009) and Ponce City Market (2016).   A store employee  confirmed that the Decatur store will not be reopening in Decatur and is instead "moving to Ponce City Market."

Monday, July 18, 2016

City of Decatur a finalist in the Play Everywhere Challenge

Wouldn’t it be great to have one of these in Decatur?

From: https://beactivedecatur.com/ 
 Wouldn’t it be great to have one of these in Decatur?

The City of Decatur was selected as a finalist in the Play Everywhere Challenge, a $1 million national competition that will award outside-the-box ideas to make play easy, available, and fun for kids and families in cities across the U.S. The Challenge is hosted by KaBOOM!, a national non-profit dedicated to bringing balanced and active play into the daily lives of all children, particularly those growing up in poverty in America.

The City of Decatur created an innovative plan for a Pedal to School Bike Bus and a renewal of the bus stop on Trinity Place into a play space. The project was selected as a finalist out of a pool of more than 1,000 applications nationwide. Winners will be announced in early fall, 2016.

The Challenge, developed in collaboration with the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, Target, Playworld, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, and the National Endowment for the Arts, attracted an outpouring of creative ideas to spark kids’ imaginations and get their bodies moving. Decatur’s idea came from a passion for getting kids more involved in Safe Routes to School.



“The Pedal to School Bike Bus is currently being used in Holland and is a great way for children to travel to school while getting exercise along the way. Riding a bike brings joy and good health, and the bike bus is particularly whimsical,” said Danielle Suchdev, member of the Pedestrian Advisory Committee.  “The bus will enable 11 children to bike themselves to school, departing from the Decatur Housing Authority.

“We were astonished at the number and quality of the applications we received,” said James Siegal, CEO of KaBOOM!. “To us, it shows a huge, untapped potential to reimagine cities with kids in mind, and boost their opportunity to get the play they need to thrive. And when kids thrive, cities thrive.”

Kids need play to grow up healthy, resilient and ready for life. Research shows play is vital to healthy brain development and is pivotal to how kids learn problem-solving, conflict resolution and creativity–in other words, the skills they need to succeed as adults. Yet today, too many kids, especially those growing up in poverty, are missing out on play because of families’ time pressures, the lure of screens, and a lack of safe places to go. Meanwhile, evidence shows missing out on the chance to play puts kids at risk for challenges ranging from obesity to anxiety to trouble adjusting in school.

“We’re thrilled at the possibility that Decatur’s kids could win this fantastic new opportunity to learn and develop from play,” said Cheryl Burnette of Decatur Active Living. “If we’re selected as a winner, we hope it will be just the beginning of a larger effort to make play a way of life for kids and families in our community and to have a way for more children to experience biking to school.”

Winners for the competition will be selected in fall 2016. To learn more about Decatur’s ideas for making play happen everywhere in the city,  contact Cheryl Burnette. To learn more about the Play Everywhere Challenge, including a gallery of ideas for what Play Everywhere could look like across the U.S. please visit http://kaboom.org/playeverywhere

Wednesday, July 13, 2016

Tiny House Festival July 30-31

From thedecaturminute.com

An exciting new festival is coming to Decatur! Could you live in 500 square feet or less? For tiny house enthusiasts, the answer is a not-so-small, “YES!” If you’re intrigued by the concept of tiny houses and small space living and want to learn more, join Tiny House Atlanta for the first-ever Decatur Tiny House Festival, Saturday July 30 and 31 in downtown Decatur. Approximately10 tiny houses will be available to tour, and experts on topics such as sustainability, minimalism, urban planning, zoning, and downsizing will be on hand to answer your questions.




Here are just a few of the fun and informative activities planned over the course of this 2-day event:

    Tiny houses will be on-site and open for tours.
    Vendors will be on hand explaining and promoting sustainable practices in the tiny house movement.
    Speaker Symposium will offer opportunities to learn from experts in different areas of the industry.



Tickets can be purchased here. A limited number of tickets will be available each day.



A portion of the event proceeds will go to the Decatur Housing Initiatives Corporation –a 501(c)(3) nonprofit entity overseen by the Decatur Housing Authority to enable the development of affordable housing, provide supportive services for low income families and children, and enhance opportunities for greater diversity in Decatur.

Tuesday, July 12, 2016

Some of Old Courthouse Lawn to be Refurbished

From: thedecaturminute.com
Some of Old Courthouse  Lawn to be Refurbished

Construction to refurbish the two lawn areas to the east of the Community Bandstand in downtown Decatur will begin Wednesday, July 13, 2016. The amount of pedestrian foot traffic across the lawn compacts the roots of the grass and keeps it from growing.

The City of Decatur has hired Plants, a local company, to install a new pervious system that allows the grass to grow through it while at the same time reducing the stress on the roots.

The construction area will be fenced off during the two week installation project and the two grassed areas will be fenced through the end of August to allow the new sod to get established. The project also includes additional landscaping designed to encourage pedestrians to stick to the sidewalks and use the lawn for passive recreation rather than using it as a shortcut.

Wednesday, July 6, 2016

AMC Season 3 of Halt and Catch Fire will debut Aug. 23

From: http://www.upi.com
NEW YORK, July 4 (UPI) -- AMC says Season 3 of Halt and Catch Fire will debut Aug. 23 with back-to-back episodes.

Starring Mackenzie Davis, Kerry Bishe, Scoot McNairy, Lee Pace, Toby Huss, Annabeth Gish and Manish Dayal, the show "captures the rise of the PC era in the 1980s, focused on four main characters attempting to innovate against the changing backdrop of technology," a synopsis said.
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"Following last season's critical reception, we believe that Season 3 is poised to take our show to the next level. While a strong, evolving technology narrative will continue to drive these next 10 episodes, the real story remains the emotional and psychological journeys of Joe, Cameron, Gordon, Donna, and Bosworth," showrunners and executive producers Christopher Cantwell and Christopher C. Rogers said in a joint statement.

"If Season 1 was a tale of the corporate boardroom and Season 2 chronicled a start-up, Season 3 is about the perils of a promising young company striving to join the ranks of the winners whose names still define the competitive landscape of Silicon Valley. Whereas Mutiny was once a rag-tag group of young coders full of limitless potential, the company now finds itself squarely in its adolescence, striving for corporate adulthood in a strange land where its future is far from guaranteed."

Saturday, July 2, 2016

Eye on Decatur - The Comet Pub & Lanes (Opening Soon)

The Comet Pub & Lanes at Suburban Plaza in Decatur  to Open Early July ( Opening Soon )