Wednesday, February 2, 2011

The 1st Annual Nalley Tree Festival Saturday Feb. 12


Decatur families and residents are invited to attend the 1st Annual Nalley Tree Festival, a celebratory kick-off for the Nalley Tree Campaign. The Nalley Tree Campaign is an initiative to plant 10,000 trees in city of Decatur and DeKalb County. The festival – being hosted by the Nalley BMW, Nalley Infiniti and Nalley Nissan dealerships in Decatur – will be held on Saturday, Feb. 12, from 12 – 3 p.m. at Decatur Square. For more information about the event, please visit www.NalleyDecatur.com.
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Dear Next Stop Decatur,

As a key Decatur community historian and news source, we wanted to let you know about the 1st Annual Nalley Tree Festival being held at Decatur Square on Saturday, Feb. 12, from 12 – 3 p.m. for potential inclusion on your blog.



The event is being hosted by Nalley BMW, Nalley Infiniti and Nalley Nissan, as the kick-off to its environmental, year-round Nalley Tree Campaign initiative to plant 10,000 trees in the City of Decatur and DeKalb County. It is a local business/community initiative being led by these three Nalley dealerships at the 1600 block of Church Street in partnership with several green businesses and organizations, including City of Decatur, DeKalb County, Park Pride, Trees Atlanta and Keep DeKalb Beautiful.



The Nalley Tree Festival, welcoming Decatur families and residents, promises to offer attendees music, children’s activities, as well the opportunity to learn more about planting complimentary tree seedlings in recognition of Georgia’s Arbor Day on Feb. 18. Though there will not be any historical pictures of Downtown Decatur, there should be ample new pictures of Decatur Square at this 1st annual event.



Please let me know if you have any questions. Also, if are interested in attending the event and/or speaking with someone about this local Decatur initiative, I’m happy to connect you with the appropriate contact.



On behalf of Asbury Automotive Group –



KATHERINE MASON

D 404-995-4516

Tickets Selling Fast for "r U smarter than a 5th Grader"

From : Andrea Berry

Monday, January 31, 2011

"Unknown" Coming Soon

Remembering John Barry - Out of Africa/James Bond Composer



----

Avondale Estates ends agreement with multi-use developer, anxious to try again

For the AJC

Nearly six years ago, Florida-based Century Retail was planning a sprawling, ambitious 375,000-square-foot mixed-use development in downtown Avondale Estates.

oday the single testament to the city's project with Century Retail – which filed for bankruptcy last fall -- is what locals call "the erector set" -- a two-story steel skeleton of building that has stood unfinished and untouched for 2 ½ years.

Last week, after years of discussion, acquisitions and accusations, the development agreement came to a quiet end during a Board of Mayor and Commissioners Regular Meeting.

“We are going to move forward in pursuing discussions with development companies," Mayor Ed Rieker said. "We want to get the word out that Avondale is developer friendly.”


full story at ajc

Sunday, January 30, 2011

The Valentines, Decatur


This picture is so good I had to feature it. It's from Flickr member Sheila and Scott
Good job on the photo.
Check out there flickr site here.

Friday, January 28, 2011

Burnt Fork BBQ Soft Opening Sat. Jan 29



--
Nick @ Decatur Metro is posting that Burnt Fork BBQ will have a soft opening tomorrow (Sat)
with limited menu.

Burnt Fork BBQ
614 Church Street
Decatur, GA 30033
(404) 373-7155

Tuesday, January 25, 2011

Peachtree in DeKalb to be closed Thurs & Fri.

By Megan Matteucci

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Peachtree Road near Peachtree Industrial Boulevard in DeKalb County will be closed Thursday and Friday.
Norfolk Southern will closed the 4900 block of Peachtree at 8 a.m. Thursday to make improvements to a crossing. The road will re-open at 5 p.m. Friday, county officials said.
ajc story

J.C. Penney Co. to Close Three Metro Stores

By Arielle Kass

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

J.C. Penney Co. will close three metro Atlanta locations as it works to increase profits.
The company is closing two under-performing stores: one at Southlake Mall and a J.C. Penney Home Store in Duluth. It is also closing a catalog outlet store in Forest Park as it exits the catalog business.

A spokesman for J.C. Penney, Joey Thomas, said the Southlake and Duluth stores no longer meet the company's "profitability threshold" and will close June 1.

The Southlake store has 147 employees, and Duluth has 38. Thomas said he did not know how many employees work at the Forest Park location. Employees will receive separation benefits, he said.

ajc story

Trackside Construction Update



--

Trackside should be ready to open in about 2 to 3 months

Sunday, January 23, 2011

HOT ROD WALT & The PSYCHO DeVILLES



-- Both photo's from The 2011 World of Wheels in Atlanta.
They were Awesome.


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Saturday, January 22, 2011

Burnt Fork BBQ to Open Soon

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--


Burnt Fork BBQ
614 Church Street
Decatur, GA 30033
(404) 373-7155

Friday, January 21, 2011

Medlock Elementary supporters trying to save School

From champion newspaper
Written By: Matt Amatto

For area residents and parents at Medlock Elementary, the battle to avoid the chopping block was already won. At least that’s what they assumed last year when a committee of community members failed to reach the consensus that would have closed the school. The community rallied then–waving signs, bringing children to meetings, creating slogans, doing what it could to apply pressure–and prevailed. However, the threat of closure has re-emerged.

A classic 1950s era building nestled in a quiet neighborhood of post-war bungalows, Medlock is again the target of a school system riddled with debt and desperately in need of state funds. On Jan. 4, the school board announced that up to 14 schools could close to help trim a surplus 11,000 seats.

full story at champion newspaper

Wednesday, January 19, 2011

Two Decatur Pools to extend hours this Summer

Mckoy Pool will add morning hours with Glenlake( below) providing evening swimming.


By Bill Banks

For the AJC

Coming off a week where most of the city was frozen or cloistered indoors, the Decatur City Commission had outdoor swimming on its mind during Tuesday night’s meeting.
The commission approved a proposal to keep two of the city’s three public pools open for more days this summer, at the cost of an additional $18,375. Historically, the city’s eliminated all weekday swimming once school begins in August.

But with Decatur schools re-opening on August 2 this year and with both Glenlake and McKoy pools attracting record numbers last summer, the city will keep weekday hours for both through Labor Day. McKoy will offer morning hours, with Glenlake providing evening swimming.

The city’s third public pool, Ebster, will close on July 31, at the end of the regular pool season.

Both Glenlake and McKoy pools were extensively renovated several years ago, which paid off in 2010. Glenlake had a record attendance of 20,317 swimmers, earning $30,696, while McKoy drew 21,480 for $30,252.
- Glenlake will add evening swimming.

photo credit: nextstopdecatur.com


ajc story

Tuesday, January 18, 2011

Monday, January 17, 2011

How would you 500 beers to choose from...Ale Yeah!


Champion News Paper has a great article on Georgia's First all craft beer store in Decatur... Ale Yeah!



by Ginger Kaderabek

A love of craft beer inspired friends to open Georgia’s first all-craft-beer store in Decatur. “We’re beer lovers. We’re excited by today’s beer renaissance and wanted to make a go in the all-craft business,” said co-owner Eddie Holley.

Ale Yeah! at 906 West College Ave. opened Dec. 15 and had a “great first week,” according to Holley, who runs the store along with co-owner Cisco Vila. Shoppers in the store expressed excitement at having more than 500 beers to choose from, and one was buying a large gift certificate as a Christmas present for a beer lover.

read full story @ Champion News

401(k) plans regaining steam

In sign of progress, many say they expect to restart match in within 12 months

By Russell Grantham

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

It’s not just jobs that have been slow to come back during the economy’s spastic recovery from the Great Recession. About half of the U.S. companies that suspended contributions to their employees’ retirement savings after 2008 haven’t restored them yet.
n a 401(k) plan, the worker voluntarily saves part of his or her pay in a tax-deferred account. The employer typically matches a portion of the worker’s contributions.

About one in five employers with 401(k) plans cut or ditched their matching contributions during the 2007-2009 financial meltdown, according to a recently released report from compensation consulting firm Towers Watson. The cuts were particularly prevalent at firms in the retail, manufacturing, media, communications and technology industries.

But, in a sign of potentially better times, most of the laggards say they expect to again start chipping in money within the next 12 months, according to Towers Watson.
full story at ajc

Sunday, January 16, 2011

Too important to shut down

From: The Atlanta Journal-Constitution


When an event like last week’s snowstorm freezes travel through metro Atlanta, the entire Southeast gets a chill.

Atlanta was founded as a railroad hub, and today it is one of the nation’s busiest transportation hubs, sometime called the “largest inland port in America.” Among its assets:

● Three major interstate highways intersect in the city: I-85, I-75 and I-20.

● Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport is the world’s busiest air passenger hub and has been ranked among the top 30 for freight.

● Major intermodal rail terminals — some among the nation’s largest — where container freight carried by trains from ports such as Savannah is transferred to trucks for delivery throughout country.

● Headquarters of major shippers such as UPS and the Saia trucking firm.

Saturday, January 15, 2011

Everybody's Pizza in Emory Village to Help Homeless Women

From The ajc

By Shelia M. Poole

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Everybody's Pizza in Emory Village is lending a helping hand to the Shearith Israel Shelter for homeless women.
Diners who come to the restaurant for lunch or dinner on Jan. 24 can help as well. Everybody's will donate 20 percent of a diner's tab to the Atlanta shelter. Go to www.sishelter.org , print out the postcard and present it to to server at the time of ordering. The restaurant is located at 1593 N. Decatur Rd.

Friday, January 14, 2011

New Look for Decatur Focus


photo courtesy of Decatur Minute

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
From The Decatur Minute:

City of Decatur residents, businesses and DBA members be on the lookout for the January/February issue of the Decatur Focus – we are debuting an entirely new look with glossy paper that is SFI (Sustainable Forestry Initiative) certified and has six extra pages of copy and two extra pages of advertising.
Read more

Thursday, January 13, 2011

DeKalb's Snow Storm Bill $662,000 and Growiwng

From The ajc

By Megan Matteucci

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

DeKalb County has spent more than $662,000 responding to the storm, county officials told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
As of Wednesday afternoon, DeKalb had spent $210,000 on overtime for road crews, $48,000 for salt and sand, and $262,000 for fuel for the salt trucks, county spokesman Burke Brennan said. The county also spent $5,625 to pay fleet maintenance workers who worked overtime putting chains on emergency vehicles and responding to wrecks, and $135,000 for watershed management crews who had to address water and sewer problems during the storm.

There were no major extra expenses for police and firefighters, who rotated staffing the Emergency Operations Center while on shift, Brennan said. The only additional cost for emergency personnel was $300 for food and water.

The county also spent another $1,000 on food and lodging for other essential administrative staff.

Officials said they anticipate additional expenses, particularly for road crews who will continue to treat icy roads throughout the week.

Tuesday, January 11, 2011

DeKalb Vet to Conduct the First Animal Stem Cell Procedure

From the ajc
By Megan Matteucci

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

A Stone Mountain veterinarian clinic says it is scheduled next week to conduct the first animal stem cell procedure in Georgia.
Loving Touch Animal Center in Stone Mountain is scheduled to launch the new technology on a 12-year-old Border Collie suffering from severe arthritis and spinal problems. The dog, named Sam, is a former championship jumper who had to retire because of arthritis, a spokesman for the clinic said.

Veterinarians say stem cell therapy can be used to treat dogs, cats and horses suffering from osteoarthritis, hip dysplasia, and tendon and cartilage injuries. The procedure is about $1,800 for dogs and $2,400 for horses, which is less than half the cost of the old procedure, vets said.

Monday, January 10, 2011

Decatur Snow 50 Years Ago

To view with black background click on picture.

This Decatur snow picture was taken 50 years ago this month (Jan 61).
Taken from the old court house you see North McDonough St. On the left you can see the Decatur Theatre. -Playing at The Decatur Theatre this day was BUTTERFIELD 8 starring Elizabeth Taylor
and Laurence Harvey--
All the buildings on right were torn down for the new court house.

Check out Flickr Member HamWithCam Photos


Click on photo for his pictures.
He has some great pictures.

Sunday, January 9, 2011

City of Decatur and Dekalb Schools Closed Monday

The City of Decatur and Dekalb Schools will be closed Monday due to Snow.
link to WSBTV.COM

The Green Hornet Starts Jan 14, 2011

Decatur native helps underground homeless population in Las Vegas

From the AJC
By Bill Banks



When Matt O’Brien spent Christmas back in his hometown of Decatur, he kept receiving a steady stream of text messages, all from Las Vegas, where he’s lived the past 13 years, working as a journalist and short-story writer.



“Thanks, man, for getting us out of the tunnels,” read one. “Cold and rainy ... this week,” said another. “Can’t imagine being down there for the holidays.”

Many in his hometown remember O’Brien, who turned 40 last year, as the sharpshooting point guard for Decatur High, averaging nearly 19 points a game as a senior in 1987-88. Later he played college ball at Georgia State and West Georgia.

What he certainly never anticipated was that he’d become point person for Vegas’ 200 miles of underground flood channels, which at various times house a homeless population of up to 1,000 people.

“I really can’t find any other place in the world like Vegas, where so many people live underground,” O’Brien said during his recent return home.

In the past two years O’Brien has partnered with HELP of Southern Nevada, an organization specializing in chronic homelessness, to literally bring tunnel residents out of the dark. By now, O’Brien estimates, about 70 people have turned their lives around. Essentially this means they’ve found housing while getting treated for health issues, including various addictions, physical illness and mental disorders.

Full story at ajc

Saturday, January 8, 2011

Remembering Elvis



Elvis Presley in Atlanta at The Omni - Dec. 30 1976

Monday, January 3, 2011

" r YOU smarter than a Glennwood 5th Grader ? "

From: Andrea Berry of decaturedtv.com

Click image to buy your tickets.
This should be good and/or funny.

enlarge image

Saturday, January 1, 2011

Run With The Dogs - Frostbite 5K - Jan 8th 2011


Above is a very good video made for the 2nd Annual Run the the Dogs.

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From: www.active.com

Date

Saturday, January 08, 2011 @ 9:00 AM

Update: Rain Date: January 16


9:00am 5K Run

Where

Decatur High School on McDonough Street
310 North McDonough St

Fees

General Registration - $20 until Dec. 20th, $25 thereafter
City of Decatur teachers/students - $15 until Dec. 20th, $20 thereafter

Brief Description

A chilly run through the City of Decatur with Decatur Bulldog supporters and their four-legged friends. This race is part of the City of Decatur Grand Slam Road Race Series.

T-SHIRTS

100% cotton long sleeved t-shirts guaranteed to all pre-registered participants and available for race day registration while supplies last.

AGE GROUPS

Overall 1st & 2nd place M & F runners, Masters 1st & 2nd place M & F runners and top three M & F finishers in each category: 11 & under, 12-14, 15-19, 20-29, 30-39, 40-49, 50-59 & over 60. Dogs participating will receive a special prize.

RACE INFO

Ed Williams, Race Director 404-327-7738 email: roadraceservices@comcast.net

SPONSOR INFO

Bill Ainslie 404-373-2366

Additional Information


The 5K run begins at 9:00 am, rain or shine. Registration will take place in front of Decatur High School beginning at 8:00 am..

Decatur High School, Renfroe Middle School, Glennwood Academy and City of Decatur elementary school students, parents, alumni, friends, neighbors and runners of all levels are invited to participate. Runners are invited to run with their dogs in a special group.

All proceeds will be used by the Decatur Bulldog Boosters to help fund the sports programs at Decatur High School and Renfroe Middle School.

The race will begin and end in front of Decatur High School on North McDonough Street in Decatur. Parking is available in the upper parking lot off Howard Avenue.

Happy New Year

Friday, December 31, 2010

Saturday Night Live Original -What is Love.

East Court Square in the 1940's

This is a very good picture of East Court Square in the 1940's the stores line East Court Square.
Adams Department store, F.J. Cooledge & Sons,The Bootery Shoe Shop, Tatum's Drug Store.
Photo from Vanishing Dekalb.
Back then shoppers had to circle the square looking for a parking spot, today they can still circle "sort of" but it's only like a half circle on E. Court Sq. and then you have to turn right on E. Ponce de Leon.

What Makes a New Year's Resolution Work?



From Gail @ Decatur Education Foundation
What makes a resolution work?
If it's clear, measurable, memorable - your resolution has a better chance of sticking.
If others know about it, even better.
And if you approach it in steps, you'll stay motivated and on track.
An end-of-year gift to the Decatur Education Foundation meets all the criteria for a resolution that can be kept.
It's a clear commitment. It's measurable (in impact and tax deduction). It's memorable - just ask those who started scholarship funds, which give year after year.
It makes a public statement about you and your support of education.
And it represents another incremental step in our community's effort to help every child in Decatur reach his or her full potential.
Will you resolve to make a year-end gift right now?
If so, go to www.decatureducationfoundation.org - click on the "Donate" link at the top of the page - and fill out the simple form (a gift to our general fund allows us to use the money it where it is needed most).
Thank you - and best wishes in 2011!
Gail

Wednesday, December 29, 2010

Southwest DeKalb band heads to Rose Bowl parade

From the ajc

By Megan Matteucci

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

The Southwest DeKalb High School marching band will appear on national television Saturday for the 122nd Tournament of Roses Parade.
The 230-student band will march in the national parade, which will be broadcast at 11 a.m. Saturday.

The band departed Wednesday for Pasadena, Calif., a DeKalb schools spokesman told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. This is the second time in five years that the school band has participated in the parade.

The Tournament of Roses’ president, Jeff Throop, visited DeKalb three months ago to present the school with an official Rose Bowl Parade flag.

Southwest DeKalb and Central Carroll High School from Carrollton are the only Georgia schools participating in the parade, which features 15 marching bands, officials said.

The New Court House Fountain circa 1965


The Fountain/pond in front has been filled in for years with plants and flowers. If they still had it, just think of all the coins they could collect

Tuesday, December 28, 2010

Celebrate New Year's at Wahoo! Grill.


New Year's Nosh at Wahoo!

Celebrate the arrival of 2011 with Southern bistro flair at Wahoo! Grill. Savor chef Christian Speigal's locally loved and regionally acclaimed dinner menu or select from the evening's special, featured dishes that celebrate the freshest ingredients of the New Year. New Year's features include:

Starter
Caramelized scallops over chive polenta with wild mushrooms and porcini oil

Soup
Crab bisque

Entrees
Black truffle ravioli with lobster in a wild mushroom and cognac cream sauce

Pistachio-encrusted grouper with lemon Nage, sun dried tomato and thyme rice and sauteed spinach

8-ounce filet with crab meat, whiskey peppercorn sauce, garlic chive mashed potatoes and sauteed asparagus

Dessert
Kahlua mocha cheesecake with Baileys whipped cream

To reserve your New Year's Eve experience, please call 404.373.3331.


1042 West College Avenue
Decatur, GA 30030
(404) 373-3331



Decatur Depot - circa 1948

Check out that 1948 Cadillac

Sunday, December 26, 2010

A World's Fair look into the Future

East Decatur Station Unveils State’s Most Advanced Photovoltaic Commercial Rooftop System

From: atlanta.dbusinessnews.com
Atlanta - As East Decatur Station (EDS) carves out a unique live/work/play community in Decatur, its creators, Jack Honderd, Pat Murphy, and Chuck Bosserman, took an exciting step toward sustainability and installed a 147 kW photovoltaic (PV) system, one of the largest commercial rooftop systems in metro Atlanta and Georgia.

Made up of three different arrays, the system produces 198,134 kWh of energy a year and will help offset the electricity load. Though the increased presence of renewable energy is inevitable, the creators of EDS take the steps to reduce their environmental impact today not tomorrow.

The Georgia Environmental Finance Authority (GEFA) provided East Decatur Station with a rebate for the photovoltaic installation through the Clean Energy Property Rebate Program. Established in 2009 as a result of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA), the Clean Energy Property Rebate Program offsets up to 35 percent of the cost of installing renewable energy property, implementing lighting retrofits or building efficiency upgrades, subject to a maximum cap that varies depending on the technology installed.

GEFA provides assistance with projects that correlate with its mission to improve the quality of life for today and future generations of Georgians. The substantial contribution allowed East Decatur Station’s vision to become a reality.

Radiance Solar, an Atlanta-based solar engineering, procurement and construction firm EPC, installed the system, which is comprised of three state-of-the-art technologies:
Full story

Saturday, December 25, 2010

Merry Christmas



Happy Holidays from Next Stop...Decatur

Wednesday, December 22, 2010

Waffle House History Video



To view WSB Atlanta's story on the Waffle House Museum

From http:wafflehouse.com
The Waffle House® Museum is the site of the very first Waffle House® restaurant. It opened back in 1955 after two neighbors, Joe Roger, Sr. and Tom Forkner, decided Avondale Estates needed a 24-hour restaurant. Today, the chain they started has 1600 restaurants in 25 states. The restaurant has been restored to feel as though you are stepping back into 1955. In addition to the restaurant, the museum features Waffle House memorabilia from the past 54 years.
The Waffle House Museum
2719 East College Avenue
Decatur, Georgia 30030


Tuesday, December 21, 2010

Get your last minute Xmas Gifts @ Decatur Estate

From Maggie @ Decatur Estate

Hey all! Stop by for unique last minute gifts and stocking stuffers! Just mention you got this email and get an extra 10% off your purchase!!!!!!!!!!!!



Happy & Safe Holidays!



Decatur Estate & Wayback Antiques

2595 North Decatur Rd

Decatur Ga 30033

404-378-4889



Suburban Plaza Shopping Center

Monday, December 20, 2010

Decatur Named Georgia's "Most Walkable City"

From 11ALIVE.COM

By - Eden Godbee

Decatur, GA -- The City of Decatur has been named Georgia's "Most Walkable City" by Walkscore.com, a website that rates cities according to their "walkability." Decatur received a 66.5 walk score, which put its walk score just above that of Brunswick and Atlanta.

A score of 66.5, according to Walkscore.com, describes a "somewhat walkable" city meaning "some amenities are within walking distance." In rating cities, the site considers their city center, their population density, the cost efficiency of housing around businesses, whether they have public parks or spaces to gather, and their consideration for pedestrians, proximity to schools and workplaces and street design.

According to this site, people who live in walkable neighborhoods weigh 7 pounds less than people who don't. Also, their studies show that for every 10 minutes spent in a daily car commute, time spent in community activities fall by 10 percent.

Sunday, December 19, 2010

Several area malls including North Dekalb Mall are fighting to survive

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Near Decatur, the struggling North DeKalb Mall has emerged from the long recession as a virtual ghost town, with roughly 30 percent of its storefronts sitting vacant.

A stroll through Gwinnett Place Mall shows that a similar portion of its storefronts are dark. And Union Station Mall — the former Shannon Southpark Mall in Union City — shut down in early November, except for its Macy’s and Sears stores.

While most shopping centers are fretting these days about how good Christmas sales will be, the season could prove critical for a handful of metro Atlanta’s malls.

Better-than-expected retail sales reports for November also are buoying hopes a bit.

Still, signs of holiday cheer can be a bit thin at some malls.

On a recent weekday morning, a small crowd of parents and shoppers at North DeKalb Mall’s food court quickly evaporated after an orchestra of fifth-graders from Kittredge Magnet School finished their performance.

Within minutes, the crowd was gone. Half the shops surrounding the mostly empty food court were vacant, as were roughly 30 percent of the storefronts in the mall. Few shoppers walked around.

“It looks worse than last time [she visited]. Decidedly. It makes me sad,” said Debra Scott Remlinger, who had come to North DeKalb Mall to see her son, Ian Remlinger, play the cello.


ajc story

Saturday, December 18, 2010

Frosty The Snowman



Someone asked why does Frosty The Snowman have a Broom ?


Answer: Frosty the Snowman's classic broomstick in hand may well be a symbol of the season, sweeping snow off doorsteps is common.

Christmas is 1 week from Today




You can bet the malls will be packed this week-end.
Good Luck.

Note: To view with black background click on picture.

Friday, December 17, 2010

Help spread the word about CALENDARS for Children's Healthcare of Atlanta


This sent in by childhoodcalendar.com/
Hello!

I wanted to remind you about the newest Children's Calendars.

Created by Atlanta photographer Oana Hogrefe, the 2011 calendars make the perfect holiday gift. In addition, proceeds go to Children's Healthcare of Atlanta.

Please help us spread awareness of these calendars! I have attached a press release below. Feel free to contact me with any questions.

Thanks for your consideration,

Melissa Bennett
Scholz Communications
Account Coordinator
678.499.8881

For Immediate Release

LOCAL PHOTOGRAPHER OANA HOGREFE ANNOUNCES 2011 "CHILDHOOD CALENDAR"

Annual Fundraiser Benefits Children's Healthcare of Atlanta

ATLANTA, GA - November 17, 2010 ”Local photographer Oana Hogrefe of Oana Hogrefe Photography, a boutique studio providing insightful and genuine portrait imagery of children, babies and families, announces the 2011 edition of the Childhood Calendar.

Each year, Hogrefe donates her time and photography skills to create a calendar to benefit a local child-centric charity. This year's beneficiary is Children's Healthcare of Atlanta.

â€Å“I chose Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta this year because it is an incredible local non-profit, providing exceptional care for half a million children each year,â€� stated Hogrefe. â€Å“I am so excited to see the generosity of so many who believe in this cause!â€�

The 2011 calendar's theme is a Timeless Pleasure and features children at play. The children were selected from open casting sessions advertised, and community members voted on their favorites to be featured in the final calendar. Proceeds from the voting also benefited CHOA. To date, the Childhood Calendar project has raised over $3,500 for the charity.

Calendars and more information can be found at www.childhoodcalendar.com.

About Oana Hogrefe Photography:

Oana Hogrefe Photography is a lifestyle and event photography studio in the greater Atlanta area that specializes in modern, truthful and fun, high quality keepsakes of families and growing children. Photography classes and teleseminars/webinars are offered through the studio for parents and beginner photographers. Owner Oana Hogrefe is an award-winning, established professional photographer and is committed to giving back to the community by donating her time and talent each year to several local charities. She is also an area coordinator and affiliate photographer with Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep.

Thursday, December 16, 2010

Last Terrific Thursday of 2010!

This sent in by Mingei World Arts
This is the Last Terrific Thursday of 2010.


Dear Marvelous Mingeisters--

We wanted to remind you that Thursday, December 16 is the LAST Terrific Thursday of the year! Come join the fun in Decatur: shopping, sipping and snacking from store to store and taking advantage of the great discounts offered on these festive evenings.

We'll be open until 10:00pm, serving up wine and nibbles and offering 10% off everything in the store!

We've been adding new items each week to tempt you. Be sure you swing back through even if you've visited us recently, so you won't miss any of the new arrivals.

Make your list and drop in for a browse! Here are a few things that have just arrived in the last few days!

Arghand pebble soap sets from Afghanistan
Arghan pebbles

5 assorted lovely soaps that look like river stones!
$15 a set

Moroccan tea glasses
teaglassesnew
Good for holidays sips
and hostess gifts!

New styles and colors
$6 each


Beaded bracelets
beaded bracelets from Guatemala
Fresh styles just in from Guatemala!

From $6 to $26


And, of course, there's plenty more, from the perfect stocking stuffers and folk toys, to that antique cabinet or dewali oil lamp you've been wanting... It's warm in here, and we are ready to help you polish off that gift list!

Sincerely,

Ellen and Ann
Mingei World Arts
427 Church Street
Downtown Decatur, GA
404-371-0101


Mingei World Arts

Last Terrific Thursday of 2010!

Wednesday, December 15, 2010

Darlene Love to Return to David Letterman's Late Night Dec 23,2010


Here she is from last year singing "Baby Please Come Home"
As David Letterman say's "It Ain't Christmas until Darlene Love sings this song."

In other Darlene Love news : Rock and Roll Hall of Fame 2011 inductions just announced will include Alice Cooper, Darlene Love and Neil Diamond.

Tuesday, December 14, 2010

Major Renovations are in store for 3 Decatur Buildings

The Decatur Fire Station No. 1 built in 1958 to get major renovations in early 2011


The fire department, recreation center and public works facility are going to get big renovations this coming new year. First up will be the 1950's Decatur Fire Department located at 230 E. Trinity Pl. the station will have all the interior gutted and rebuilt, showers, dormitory space for men and women, and geothermal heating will be part of the new station.

The other two building to get renovations are the recreation center and public works facility.

The city will have to issue about $13.8 million in municipal bonds for the projects, said City Manager Peggy Merriss.

read more in detail at The Champion News

Welcome Video from City of Decatur

From The Decatur Minute

DeKalb County to get to Sewer Upgrades



From Fox 5

DECATUR, Ga. (AP) - DeKalb County has agreed to make sweeping improvements to its sewer system to curb overflows of untreated sewage.

The Justice Department and the Environmental Protection Agency said Monday that DeKalb will pay a civil penalty of $453,000 to be split between the U.S. and the state of Georgia. The county also agreed to launch $600,000 program environmental program.
full story @ Fox 5

Monday, December 13, 2010

Lakeside High School to get $24 Million Makeover

From The Champion News:


Lakeside High School is ready to see major changes as the first stage of a $24 million renovation project begins.

At the groundbreaking ceremony for the site, DeKalb County School System officials, faculty and students gathered Dec. 1 to celebrate the project’s long-awaited start.

“This process started about three to four years ago and it started with the idea that we were going to get a fine arts auditorium,” school Principal Joe Reed said.

“Obviously it’s gotten a little bigger than that. At this point as far as the process continuing the people chairing have gotten us from a fine arts auditorium to 25 additional classrooms...and all sorts of other things,” he added.

The audience applauded as Reed went on to thank those involved for “getting this thing way beyond what it was suppose to be.”

Railroad crossing @ S Candler & E College Ave Closed for Water Main Repair

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

The railroad crossing at South Candler Street and East College Avenue in Decatur will remain closed this week while DeKalb County officials repair a water main.

A water main under the train tracks burst last week, county officials said.

The county’s watershed department anticipates the crossing will be closed to all train and vehicular traffic for a week while repairs are made.

ajc story

Saturday, December 11, 2010

Holiday Bonfire and Marshmallow Roast Thursday, December 16 • 7-8 p.m.

Holiday Bonfire and Marshmallow Roast
Thursday, December 16 7-8 p.m.
Make plans to join the community and roast marshmallows around the popular 10' x 10' bonfire on the square. Enjoy special music and visit Santa in the Community Bandstand. Free. Sponsored by Decatur Business Association.

From: http://decaturdba.com/

Decorate Decatur Contest

From: http://www.decaturga.com/
Decorate Decatur Contest
Sunday, Dec. 19
Join in the communitywide decorating contest – turn on your holiday lights, light your luminaries, and be a part of the celebration. Judges ride through Decatur and pick 10 favorite homes, a business, a neighborhood, and an overall winner who receives the Commissioners Cup from the City Commission. Call 404-37... and leave the address of your favorite holiday house. Judges will ride by all the addresses on the list plus as many other streets as possible.

Attention Neighborhoods: If you would like a load of sand to use for luminaries for your neighborhood for Decorate Decatur, call 404-371-8386. You must have a space large enough to accommodate a load of sand and the truck delivering it.

>Click for a list and photos of the past winners

Friday, December 10, 2010

The Beatles @ Lenox Square


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Kudzu Antiques Event

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Annual Holiday Shopping Parties are back!

Join us for our popular annual Holiday Shopping Parties, with great SALES every weekend until Christmas.

Sundays are our special days, with free beverages and food from 1-7, and live music from 2-5. We have an amazing musical lineup the next four weeks:
Sun, Nov. 28 – Ever popular local recording artist Caroline Aiken.
Sun. Dec. 5 – Grammy award winner Yonrico Scott with guitarist Jody Davies
Sun Dec 12 – Mr. Music Man himself, Tom Wolf
Sun Dec 19 – Guitar virtuoso Craig Rafuse and friends

http://kudzuantiques.com/


2928 East Ponce De Leon Avenue
Decatur, GA 30030
(404) 373-6498


Guatemalan Bags @ Mingei - Coleccion Luna Trunk Show

Sunday , December 12th 1 pm to 5 pm
Mingei World Arts
427 Church Street
Decatur, Georgia 30030

Thursday, December 9, 2010

Santa Cop

By Megan Matteucci

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Santa will visit some DeKalb County children early this year. And he’ll be wearing a badge.
Santa Cop will take 50 special children on shopping sprees Saturday at the Wal-Mart on Lawrenceville Highway in Tucker.

The children will be accompanied by police officers as they each pick out $200 worth of presents, said Leigh Vaughn, treasurer of the DeKalb Fraternal Order of Police.

After the shopping trip, the children will return to the FOP’s lodge, where they will meet Santa and have lunch.

ajc story

Wednesday, December 8, 2010

Downtown Decatur 9 Years Ago.


Notice in 2001 you see no art work on Johnny's New York Style Pizza on Church St.
This was before all the trees were put in.

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In 2001 Downtown Decatur was going through a lot street repairs

Santa's Coming to Wahoo Grill This Saturday


Space is limited so make your reservations soon.

1042 West College Avenue
Decatur, GA 30030-3507
(404) 373-3331

Tuesday, December 7, 2010

Strange Mystery object streaks across the sky

By Ty Tagami

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

It was a bird. It was a plane. Or maybe there was just something wrong with the video camera.
You decide.

A DeKalb County man happened to have a camera rolling when what looks like a fireball floated in the sky overhead last week. Or maybe it was just an optical illusion created by a passing aircraft.

Charsign Raymond, of Clarkston, was visiting a friend's apartment just west of downtown Stone Mountain when his friend's wife happened to drive up.

"She ran in and said, ‘Look, you've all got to see this," Raymond recalled.

Raymond, 39, had been playing with his video recorder, and he got out of the apartment in time to capture whatever it was in the sky.

It looks like a double-barreled ball of fire falling toward earth.

Raymond contacted the AJC last weekend with his find and later loaned a reporter his videotape so the AJC could publish it here.

ajc story

Sunday, December 5, 2010

The Perfect Tree

Christmas Vacation House

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Decatur to renovate remnants of Beacon Hill community, former all-black schools

From the ajc
By Bill Banks



The rambling 1950s-era brick complex, home to the police department and other organizations, is a nearly-forgotten piece of Decatur history.
o most residents, if they notice the buildings on the edge of downtown Decatur at all, they appear as drab relics of a past that has no connection to the city’s contemporary image.

Elizabeth Wilson wants to change that perception. To Wilson and other African-Americans who lived in Decatur 45 years ago or longer, the structures have a significance that’s at once symbolic, emotional and historic.

Earlier this year, when the Decatur City Commission approved financing for a master plan to renovate the complex, Wilson set about making sure everyone involved in the project knew exactly what they were dealing with.

“This was once called Beacon Hill,” she said, speaking of an area about three-quarters of a square mile, just southwest of Decatur’s square. “The primary thoroughfare was Atlanta Avenue, and it’s no exaggeration to say that this was our Auburn Avenue. These [buildings] were [all-black] schools called Beacon Elementary and Trinity High.”

It’s a history that Wilson knows intimately. She moved to Beacon Hill as an 18-year-old in 1949, and nearly a half century later became Decatur’s first (and to date only) mayor who was both a woman and African-American.

She can drive around the former Beacon Hill and map out a verbal grid of the district’s halcyon days, including at least a dozen streets that no longer exist. She points out where the Ritz Movie Theater stood, and where other businesses were, including Rogers Cab Co. , Mossman’s Grocery, Kilgore and Anderson’s Barbershop, Spates Barbecue Stand, LC’s Rib Shack, the Cox Brothers Funeral Home, Tom Steel’s Cafe (known for its sausage “splits” that cost 10 cents), George Sterling’s Cafe (whose splits were 15 cents because they had lettuce, tomato and, Wilson said, “real meat”) and Thankful Baptist Church, where Jackie Robinson spoke in the early 1960s.

ajc full story

Friday, December 3, 2010

The 2nd Annual Decatur Christmas Tree Lighting







On this cold December night the city of Decatur held it's 2nd annual Christmas Tree lighting, a big crowd turned out to see this event, Santa appeared on the roof top of Little Shop of Stories next to the tree and did a count down to the lighting, it was also Terrific Thursday for some late night Christmas shopping. A very fun event.

Thursday, December 2, 2010

Alternative Gift Market @ The North Decatur Presbyterian Church this Saturday

This sent in by David
Hi there,

I'm pretty new to Decatur--my wife and I moved from NYC a month ago to co-pastor at the North Decatur Presbyterian Church on the corners of Scott, N.Decatur, and Medlock. It's been a bit of a culture shock, but Decatur's been very friendly to us.

We've got a pretty neat event at the church this Saturday from 10-3 that I'd love you to post if you've got room. Every year, we host an Alternative Gift Market. We bring in local and national vendors to set up stands and they sell all kinds of hand-made, fair-trade, and socially-responsible goods, from clothes to food to artwork. The selection is great and you can have peace of mind that the money spent is supporting the workers and producers of the goods.

It's a one-day only thing, so we'd love for people to stop by as they're running errands and putting together Christmas gifts for family, friends, and co-workers!

Thanks for what you do for this city,
Peace,
David