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MARCH 2016 Volume 26 • Number 7
Official Publication of The City of Decatur, Georgia
Mayor Patti Garrett Delivers State of the City Address
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t the January meeting of the Decatur Business Association, Mayor Patti Garrett introduced new city commissioners Tony Powers and Brian Smith, saluted new City Schools Superintendent Dr. David Dude, and delivered her first State of the City address, highlighting many of the accolades earned by the city, its departments, and its employees in 2015. Decatur resident, Emory professor, and former two-term U.S. Poet Laureate Natasha Trethewey provided the highlight of the evening when she read her poem, “Meditation at Decatur Square,” written last year for the 10th anniversary of the Decatur Book Festival. The poet autographed copies of the poem after the reading. See more photos from the meeting on page 16.
News 3 City
BUsiness DBA 11 NEWs 16 NEWs
DECATUR School 23 Around 17 EVENTs Town news 21
Focus City of Decatur
Better Together Community Action Plan
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n December the Decatur City Commission accepted the Better Together Community Action Plan (CAP) for Equity, Inclusion, and Engagement. The Better Together initiative is an outgrowth of the city’s 2010 Strategic Plan and focuses on Principle B: Encourage a diverse and engaged community. The 63 action items in the plan address specific ways to encourage a diverse and engaged community in three focus areas: An equitable and inclusive city – cultivating relationships across differences and creating conditions for all community members to thrive and participate fully in city life; Racially-just community policing – improving relationships between community members and law enforcement; and Diverse and affordable housing – preventing displacement of existing residents and supporting the development of a variety of housing types and prices. The plan calls for a variety of communication tools to update the community and highlight different aspects of implementation, including information in the Focus newsletter and on the city’s website. Look for the Better Together logo as we showcase Better Together initiatives that relate to or grow out of the plan.
more Better Together news on page 3
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 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: decaturfocus@decaturga.com. Clear zone
DECATUR CITY COMMISSION Patti Garrett...................................................Mayor Fred Boykin................................Mayor Pro Tem Scott Drake..................................Commissioner Tony Powers...............................Commissioner Brian Smith..................................Commissioner
DECATUR DOWNTOWN DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY Board Chris Sciarrone, Chair Linda Curry • John Drake Bill Floyd • Scott Kentner Tony Leung • Fisher Paty
Decatur Business Association
In January, Decatur Police participated in the new “Beyond Community Policing” training course with the Georgia Piedmont Technical College Law Enforcement Academy. The course culminated with a Lunch, Learn, and Listen event where officers and community members shared lunch and then had the opportunity to get to know one another and discuss questions and concerns that were brought to the table. Community members and officers found the opportunity to sit down and talk to be very positive. This will serve as a model for future training courses. At right: Officer Scott Roberts is pictured with Decatur resident Yvonne Druyen-Dodd. Information for the FOCUS should be submitted by mail to Editor, Decatur Focus, P.O. Box 220, Decatur, GA 30031, or by email to decaturfocus@decaturga.com.
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DECATUR BUSINESS ASSOCIATION Tim Martin.............................................. President Kyle Williams............................. President-Elect Susan Sparks.......................................... Treasurer Lisa Bobb................................................. Secretary Marc Brennan............................. Past President
Design and layout: Lampe-Farley.com
City News Introducing Decatur’s New City Commission Tony Powers At-large
Brian Smith District 2
Fred Boykin Mayor Pro Tem District 1
Scott Drake District 1
Patti Garrett Mayor District 2
Two new citizens joined the Decatur City Commission in January following elections in November. Brian Smith fills the District 2 seat vacated by Kecia Cunningham and Tony Powers takes the at-large seat that had been occupied by Jim Baskett. Commissioner Scott Drake was reelected to his District 1 seat. At their first meeting of 2016, the commission elected Patti Garrett mayor and Fred Boykin mayor pro tem.
Rotary Club Hears About the Better Together Initiative Decatur resident Alicia Philip, executive director of the Community Foundation for Greater Atlanta, spoke to the Decatur Rotary Club recently about Decatur’s Better Together Initiative. The Community Foundation gave a $25,000 civic engagement grant to help fund the process. Below are excerpts from her speech.
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hose of us who have been around Decatur for several decades know that, by almost any measure, this city is a tremendous success. It’s one of – maybe even the – most desirable place to live in the region. Success has its costs. As property values and taxes have risen, aging residents have found it hard to stay. Young families – in fact, all kinds of working people – cannot afford to live here either as homeowners or renters. Meanwhile, all around us, DeKalb County
is becoming more diverse in every way, economically as well as ethnically and culturally. Decatur bumps up against communities like Clarkston and Tucker that are among the most eclectic towns on the planet. All the while, Decatur has been trending in the other direction – less affordable, and thus less inclusive. Better Together is a citizen group that’s working to realize the plank of Decatur’s strategic plan that prioritizes, and I quote, “a diverse and engaged community.” It’s made up mostly of volunteers who represent a cross section of the community, plus a mix of city officials, including the chief of police. They came together to energize residents to create a Community Action Plan that addresses
housing affordability in particular, along with other barriers to inclusiveness. So far, it might sound like a task force that could be working anywhere. What sets Better Together apart is the open and innovative process that has been used for engaging people in the city and getting input for writing the Community Action Plan. This process is no cookie cutter deal. It was designed specifically for the unique dynamics and characteristics of Decatur. Better Together took about eight months’ worth of work to create and refine it. Using unrestricted funds that our donors have entrusted to us, the Community Foundation gave a $25,000 grant to develop the Better Together process and put it into motion. MARCH 2016 • Decatur Focus | 3
City News Decatur’s Public Restrooms
Georgia Teens Ride with P.R.I.D.E. Class
Wanted: Design Award Nominations
Public restrooms are available in these public buildings during regular business hours in downtown Decatur:
March 26 • 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Decatur City Hall 509 N. McDonough St. Hosted by Decatur Fire Rescue
Decatur City Hall 509 N. McDonough St. 8 a.m.-5 p.m. • Monday-Friday
Parents, do you want to be aware of your own driving behaviors? Help teens become safer drivers? Learn what you need to do during the supervised practice driving time with your teen? If you said yes to these questions, then consider signing up for the Georgia Teens Ride with Parents Reducing Injuries and Driver Error (P.R.I.D.E.) program. This program was created by the University of Georgia’s Traffic Injury Prevention Institute to help parents and teens reduce teen crashes in Georgia. Many teen crash fatalities are preventable. The P.R.I.D.E. class on March 26 will be hosted by Decatur Fire Rescue. To register for the class, call 678-553-6583, or contact ninetta.violante@decaturga.com.
The City of Decatur and the Decatur Preservation Commission annually recognize and honor projects or individuals that promote excellence in preservation, design, sustainability, and advocacy. If you want to nominate a project, contact Angela Threadgill, angela. threadgill@decaturga.com, or go to decaturga.com/city-government/city-departments/ planning-and-zoning/design-awards.
Decatur Recreation Center 231 Sycamore St. 8 a.m.-8 p.m. • Monday-Thursday 8 a.m.- 6:30 p.m. • Friday 9 a.m.-4 p.m. • Saturday Ebster Recreation Center 105 Electric Ave. 11 a.m.-6 p.m. • Monday-Friday 9 a.m.-4 p.m. • Saturday Decatur Police Department 420 W. Trinity Pl. 8 a.m.-7 p.m. • Monday-Saturday Old DeKalb Courthouse 101 East Court Square 9 a.m.-5 p.m. • Monday-Friday Decatur Branch, DeKalb Library 215 Sycamore St. 9 a.m.-9 p.m. • Monday-Friday 9 a.m.-6 p.m. • Thursday-Saturday 1 p.m.-6 p.m. • Sunday DeKalb County Courthouse 556 N. McDonough St. 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m. • Monday-Friday Maloof Building-DeKalb County 1300 Commerce Dr. 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m. • Monday-Friday
NEIGHBORHOOD CLEAN UP DAYS Beginning in early April, Decatur Public Works staff will make its way to every neighborhood in the city for Saturday collection of bulky trash, tires, appliances, furniture, or anything that doesn’t fit neatly into Pay-as-You-Throw Decatur trash bags. For a street-by-street schedule and information about what cannot be collected, visit decaturga.com/ neighborhoodcleanup 4 | Decatur Focus • MARCH 2016
New in Blue Please welcome Officer J. Rogers, Cadet D. Davis and Officer D. Ikegwu to the Decatur Police Department.
Submit Your Postcard Designs
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how us your Decatur, and be a part of the Decatur Postcard Project for 2016. Go to visitdecaturgeorgia.com/ about/decatur-postcards-project.
City News Touch-A-Budget Returns Tuesday, March 29, 5-7 p.m. • Decatur Recreation Center, 231 Sycamore St. et an up-close and personal look at the city’s budgeting process at the free Touch-A-Budget event. See what “pending spending” is planned for the FY 2016-17 city budget and how it supports the 2010 Strategic Plan principles developed by Decatur residents. Talk to representatives from all city departments and play budget games for prizes. For information, check decaturga.com/budget.
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2016 Citizen Survey Mailed in February Deadline to Return Is March 11
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very other year for the past 10 years, the City of Decatur has surveyed its residents through the National Research Center (NRC). The NRC sent out a postcard notification announcing the 2016 survey to a random sample of Decatur residents in early February. If you did not receive a postcard, you were not one of the households randomly chosen this time. The data from the survey is used by the city in its budgeting, strategic, and annual planning processes. The survey is completely anonymous and we only get the final tabulations from NRC. The actual survey was mailed out twice, on Feb. 5 and Feb. 12, to the random sample. Participants have until March 11 to return responses via mail or online. We have had a 40 percent response rate for the past five surveys, which is fantastic – but we want more. If you have any questions regarding the survey, contact Budget and Performance Measurement Manager Meredith Roark, meredith.roark@decaturga.com, or call 404-370-4102.
Participate in Decatur’s Comprehensive Plan Update
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ou are invited to attend public input meetings in March and April to help start preparation of the City of Decatur’s 2025 Comprehensive Plan Update. We want to hear from those who live, work, and recreate in the community. There will be a variety of opportunities for the public to comment and contribute to the update that will be easy and fun for everyone who cares about the way our community will grow in the future. The State of Georgia requires every local government to update its comprehensive plan every 10 years to retain its qualified local government status, which enables Decatur to obtain state and federal assistance funds. The update is due October 31, 2016. What’s the difference between a Comprehensive Plan and the city’s Strategic Plan? The Strategic Plan provides a broad view that includes the community’s vision, guiding principles, and specific goals and tasks that direct the city’s work over the next decade. The Comprehensive Plan covers topics related to the physical infrastructure of the city. It also helps prioritize the implementation of the goals developed during the strategic planning process. Because the required 10-year Comprehensive Plan update falls five years after our 10-year Strategic Plan was adopted, it provides a great opportunity for a five-year review of the 2010 Strategic Plan. It also helps us begin to focus on the development of the next Strategic Plan in 2020. Stay informed on the Comprehensive Plan Update by watching the City of Decatur website and future issues of the Decatur Focus for project information and meeting announcements. For more information, contact Angela Threadgill, 678-553-6575, or angela.threadgill@ decaturga.com.
March Public Input Meetings
April Public Input Meetings
Economic Development, Population, and Transportation Wednesday, March 16 • 7-9 p.m. Decatur Recreation Center 231 Sycamore St.
Affordable Housing, Historic Places, Land Use, and Natural Resources Wednesday, April 20 • 7-9 p.m. Public Works Community Room 2635 Talley St.
Saturday, March 26 • 10 a.m.-1 p.m. As part of the Touch-a-Truck event Callaway Building Parking Lot Commerce Drive at Trinity Place
Sunday, April 24 • 1-4 p.m. As part of the Earth Day event Oakhurst Garden 435 Oakview Rd.
Decatur Featured Twice in Georgia Trend
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n the February issue of Georgia Trend magazine, Decatur is cited as one of nine bike-friendly cities in Georgia. The article by Christy Simo notes that bicycle tourism is a growing trend in the state that can help showcase unique outdoor assets and draw people for organized bike rides. It highlighted the Stone Mountain Trail, which is part of the PATH system that goes through Decatur, as a trail to try. Decatur was also one of four communities featured in an article titled “Cities Mean Business – Four Communities Take Innovative Approaches to Welcoming New Companies,” written by Candice Dyer and Ralph Ellis. The article highlighted Decatur’s “Yes, if ” rather than “No, because” philosophy for working with and attracting new businesses, and included Blue Tarp Brewing Company and Three Taverns Brewery as examples. MARCH 2016 • Decatur Focus | 5
City News
The Facts on
Flooding in Decatur
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lthough the city is located at the top of the watershed, Decatur periodically experiences minor to moderate localized flooding. These conditions are a symptom of the fully developed nature of the city. Several flood problems were documented in a January 1988 report prepared by the City Manager’s Office. Flooding problems have occurred along Peavine Creek at a condominium complex near Coventry Road. Along Peavine Creek Tributary, five houses at the end of Westchester Drive, two houses on the south side of Garden Lane, and two houses on the south side of Lamont Drive, are subject to occasional flooding. Two isolated locations in the upper Peavine Creek Basin, Landsdowne Avenue at Hibernia Avenue, and an area along North Candler Street, have some problems with flood damage due to poor localized drainage. Occasional flooding on South Fork Peachtree Creek Tributary has been a continuing problem for property owners in the vicinity of Willow Lane just downstream of the Church Street crossing. In 1971, a flood on this tributary resulted in substantial personal property damage near Landover Drive and North Decatur Road. Potential for flood damages appears to be minimal in the southern half of the city, which is drained by Shoal Creek and Sugar Creek Tributary. The lack of any significant history of flood damages to residences and other buildings along Shoal Creek and its tributaries is due to the absence of development on the floodplains in the southeastern section of the city. Because of extensive storm drainage improvements in the past, no recent flood damage problems have been experienced along Sugar Creek Tributary. Although damage to buildings generally is limited, ponding behind drainage pipes and culverts and flooding of streets, driveways, parking lots, and yards are a recurring concern at some locations in Peavine Creek,
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Shoal Creek, and South Fork Peachtree Creek Tributary basins. For example, the Peavine Creek basin often experiences flooding problems. Channel erosion and damage to drainage and bank stabilization structures are also a problem in some areas of these three basins. As a result of basin improvements, areas drained by Sugar Creek Tributary have been relatively free of ponding or erosion problems for many years. City Flood Services Decatur’s Design, Environment, and Construction Division provides general and sitespecific flood and flood-related information on property located within the city limits. To obtain site-specific responses, individuals making inquiries must provide a survey of the specific property and elevation data relating to existing structures and site topography. The Design, Environment, and Construction Division and the Decatur Public Library also have reference documents on flooding and flood protection available for review. A map information service is available from the division for a $10 fee. This service provides inquirers with the current 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 number is needed to obtain this information. Anyone desiring this service should contact the Design, Environment, and Construction Division, 404-370-4104. What You Can Do Several of the city’s efforts depend on your cooperation and assistance. Here is how you can help: • Do not dump debris or throw anything into the ditches or streams. Depositing debris, trash, and other items in ditches and streams is a violation of the city’s Solid Waste Ordinance Section 82-38. Even grass clippings and branches can accumulate and clog channels. A clogged channel cannot carry the necessary volume of water. When it rains the water has to go somewhere, usually flooding yards and streets, thus damaging property and endangering public safety. Every piece of trash contributes to flooding. • Individual property owners are responsible for maintenance of the creeks and drainage ditches on their property. Please do your part and keep the banks clear of brush and debris. In addition to maintaining the public roadways and public drainage facilities, the city can help remove major blockages from the creeks, such as fallen trees. • Please report the depositing of debris and trash into streams and storm drains and blockages to the Design, Environment, and Construction Division, 404-370-4104. • Check with the division before you build on, alter, re-grade, or fill on your property. Such activities in floodplains are strictly regulated and permits may be needed. • Report illegal construction activities to the Design, Environment, and Construction Division, 404-370-4104.
City News City of Decatur Design, Environment, and Construction Division 404-370-4104 • decaturga.com Floodproofing There are several different ways to protect a building from flood damage. For example, you can re-grade your lot or build a small floodwall or earthen berm. These methods work if your lot is large enough, if flooding is not too deep, and if your property is not in the designated floodway. Please note that permits are required prior to undertaking these and similar activities. Another approach is to waterproof your walls and place watertight closures over the doorways. This method is not recommended for houses with basements or if water will get more than two feet deep. You can also consider raising the house above flood levels. You may drive by and check out the dwellings at 504 Westchester Dr. and 249 S. Columbia Dr. to see examples of elevated buildings. Many houses, even those not in the floodplain, have sanitary sewers that back up into the basement during heavy rains. This may be due to stormwater infiltration into the sanitary sewer line. A plug or standpipe can stop this if the water doesn’t get more than one or two feet deep. These can be purchased at a hardware store for under $25. For deeper sewer backup flooding, talk to a plumber. The above measures are called floodproofing or retrofitting. More information is available from the Decatur Engineering Department or the Decatur Public Library. Please note that re-grading or filling in the floodplain requires a permit. Also, any alteration to your building or land may require a permit from the Design, Environment, and Construction Division. If you know a major flood is coming, you should shut off the gas and electricity and move valuable contents upstairs or raise items off the floor. Fortunately, the flooding experienced in Decatur is localized and most floodwaters will recede within a matter of a few hours. However it is unlikely that you will get much warning, so a detailed checklist prepared in advance will help ensure that you don’t forget anything.
Flood Insurance If you don’t have flood insurance, talk to your insurance agent. Most homeowners insurance policies do not cover damage from floods. However, because the City of Decatur participates in the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) and implements activities that exceed the minimum NFIP standards, you can purchase a separate flood insurance policy at discounted premiums. This insurance is backed by the federal government and is available to everyone, even for properties that have been flooded in the past. There is a 30-day waiting period from the time the insurance is applied for until it becomes effective. Some people have purchased flood insurance because the financial institution required it when they got a mortgage or home improvement loan. Usually these policies just cover the building’s structure and not the contents. Property owners need to verify with their insurance agent what the extent of contents coverage is available. During a flood in 1990, the damage to the contents of a property near the South Fork Peachtree Creek Tributary exceeded the damage to the structure. At last count, there were 202 active flood insurance policies in the city of Decatur. If you are covered, check out the amount and make sure you have contents coverage. Remember: even if the last flood missed you or you have done some floodproofing, the next flood could be worse. Flood insurance covers all surface floods. Flood Safety Do not walk through flowing water. Drowning is the number one cause of flood deaths, mostly during flash floods. Currents can be deceptive; six inches of moving water can knock you off your feet. If you walk in standing water, use a pole or stick to ensure the ground is still there. Do not drive through a flooded area. More people drown in their cars than anywhere else. Don’t drive around road barriers; the road or bridge may be washed out. Stay away from power lines and electrical wires. The number two flood killer after drowning is electrocution. Electrical
current can travel through water. Report downed power lines to the Georgia Power Company by dialing toll free 1-888-660-5890. If your house or other structure is flooded, contact the power company to turn off the electricity. Some appliances, such as television sets, keep electrical charges even after they have been unplugged. Don’t use appliances or motors that have gotten wet unless they have been taken apart, cleaned and dried by qualified personnel. Look out for animals, especially snakes. Small animals that have been flooded out of their homes may seek shelter in yours. Use a pole or stick to poke and turn things over and scare away small animals. Look before you step. After a flood, the ground and floors are covered with debris including broken bottles and nails. Floors and stairs that have been covered with mud can be slippery. Be alert for gas leaks. Use a flashlight to inspect for damage. Don’t smoke or use candles, lanterns, or open flames, unless you know the gas has been turned off and the area has been ventilated. Inspections – Repair and Maintenance Activities The Drainage Division of the Design, Environment, and Construction Division is available to conduct site visits to review flood, drainage, and storm sewer problems and determine if corrective repair or maintenance action is the responsibility of the city or the private property owner. For more information regarding this service or to request an inspection call 404-370-4104. Learn More For more information call the Design, Environment, and Construction Division or visit decaturga.com and follow the links to the floodplain information. Copies of this document can be obtained at Decatur City Hall, 509 N. McDonough St., or the Leveritt Public Works Building, 2635 Talley St.
MARCH 2016 • Decatur Focus | 7
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RECYCLING DAY
Saturday
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City News
ENTER HERE
& Shredding, too!
TALLEY ST.
Electronics Recycling
DECATUR PUBLIC WORKS 2635 Talley St.
Recycle this hardware for free Adding machines Answering machines Batteries, any kind Cable converter boxes Cables Calculators Component parts Computer mouses Computers Copiers Digital cameras Digital projectors DVD players Electric lawn mowers Fax machines Garden equipment GPS receivers Game controllers Keyboards
MARTA PARKING
PUBLIC WORKS
9 am-1 pm Styrofoam Recyling
AVE.
Label makers LED/LCD monitors Mini-towers Pagers PDAs Portable CD players Portable game players Printer cartridges Printers Radios Remote controls Routers Scanners Servers
Speakers Stereo equipment Telephones Telephony equipment 3-in-1 devices Typewriters UPS units VCRs Workstations Zip drives Fee required to recycle cathode ray tube equipment (exact change only): monitors $5; TVs $10
Your favorite recycling events — combined! Recycle your old electronics and Styrofoam, and safely shred and recycle your documents all in one place. It’s simple and convenient. Just drop off your recyclables 9 a.m.-1 p.m. (Sorry, early drop-offs are not possible.) Since we started in 2005, we’ve diverted more than 1,000,000 pounds of electronics from landfills. Contact Sean Woodson at 404-377-5571 or sean. woodson@decaturga. com for more information and last-minute updates, or visit decaturga.com/ electronicsrecycling.
Paper Shredding
Styrofoam recycling
This is a great opportunity to ensure that your important personal documents are disposed of properly. AAA Security Shredding provides secure on-site document shredding, and all shredded documents will be 100 percent recycled. Most document types are acceptable, including bills, invoices, correspondence, canceled checks, tax records, financial statements, purchase orders, and blueprints and maps. These items cannot be shredded: Cardboard, glass, plastic, magazines, napkins, newspapers, paper cups and plates, plastic or spiral-bound notebooks, phonebooks, three-ring binders, and trash.
• Make sure foam has the “6” symbol on it • Rinse and separate food service containers from other foam • No straws, lids, tape or stickers • No foam peanuts or insulation material
8 | Decatur Focus • MARCH 2016 2015
City Touch-a-Truck Offers Hands-On Fun and More Saturday, March 26 • 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Callaway Building parking lot • 120 W. Trinity Place
The Touch-a-Truck event, hosted by Decatur Active Living, gives children of all ages an opportunity to touch and explore their favorite trucks or equipment on wheels. City of Decatur and DeKalb County dump trucks, fire trucks, tractors, police cars and motorcycles, and many other types of vehicles will be on display. Activities will include:
News
Publix Georgia Marathon March 20
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he Publix Georgia Marathon is coming through Decatur on Sunday morning, March 20, and the community is invited to participate. Volunteers are needed to staff the two hydration stations: one at the East Lake Marta Station and one in downtown Decatur on Clairemont Avenue. Volunteers will hand out water to the runners and cheer them on. Contact Shirley Baylis to get the link to sign up as a volunteer specifically for Decatur. Decaturites are also needed at the official cheering station on Ponce de Leon adjacent to the Old Courthouse, on Sunday morning at 7:30 a.m. We need signs, noisemakers, and your loudest cheers to help remind the runners that Decatur has the best cheering section of all! For more information on the marathon, contact Shirley Baylis, 678-553-6573, or shirley.baylis@decaturga.com.
City of Decatur Receives Walking Superstar Award
School Bus Safety City Schools of Decatur will have a school bus on site where children can learn about school bus safety. Car Seat Installation Demonstration Learn how to properly install child safety seats. Decatur Fire and Decatur High School senior Reginald Vaughn will demonstrate the correct installation. Bring your questions and keep your children safe. Ride Your Bike Ride your bike to the event, have it registered by the Decatur Police Department, and you’ll receive a special bike pin. Bring a Can or Two Celebrate National Nutrition Month at this event by bringing a canned or other nonperishable food item. All items will be delivered to DEAM, Decatur Emergency Assistance Ministry. The National Nutrition campaign focuses attention on the importance of making informed food choices and developing sound eating and physical activity habits. In case of inclement weather, the Touch-a-Truck event will be rescheduled for Saturday, April 23. For more information, contact Cheryl Burnette, 678-553-6541, or cheryl.burnette@decaturga.com.
Greg White and Cheryl Burnette are pictured with Sally Flocks, president and CEO of PEDS, after accepting a PEDS 20 Years Strong Walking Superstar award for the City of Decatur. The presentation highlighted Decatur’s transitoriented development, the creation of places and activities worth walking to, people-friendly public spaces and the Safe Routes to School program. Sally Flocks said to Cheryl in an email, “Congratulations to you and others who have made Decatur such a great place to walk.”
MARCH 2016 • Decatur Focus | 9
City News MLK Service Project
+ 1300 Volunteers 47Homes D
ecatur’s 14th annual Martin Luther King Jr. Service Project brought together community members and volunteers from throughout the metro Atlanta area. Longtime volunteers and first time volunteers, skilled professionals and unskilled, came out to personify Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s vision of a “beloved community.” More than 1,300 volunteers helped repair 34 homes of senior citizens during the threeday event. They also did yard work and landscaping at those homes and 13 more during the three-day weekend. Yard crews filled 1,200 lawn and leaf bags during the first shift of the weekend. Some volunteers worked to deep-clean homes and paint. Others helped organize and distribute more than 1,200 tools rented from the Atlanta Community Tool Bank. The project included many technical and complex jobs as well – replacing portions of fallen ceilings, bracing sagging floors, renovating kitchens by laying new linoleum, removing layers of old kitchen flooring, installing new cabinets, furnaces, a washing machine, refrigerator, stove, window unit, and more. Volunteers demolished a cement porch and replaced it with wooden stairs; replaced rotted floors and subfloors; and repaired water damage. Plumbers repaired leaks, including from toilets not being properly attached. Electrical problems that had been identified during the assessment of the homes were rectified by electricians. At the end of the project, the Community Center of South Decatur (CCSD) provided a celebration dinner for the volunteers and senior citizens at the Solarium, the base of operations that CCSD had opened up to the project volunteers for the weekend. Learn more at mlkserviceproject.com.
10 | Decatur Focus • MARCH 2016
Business & Nonprofit News Cakes & Ale Voted No. 1 by Atlanta Magazine
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THE 50 R E S TA U RBAENSTT S
ongratulations to Cakes & Ale, named the No. 1 restaurant in Atlanta Magazine’s January restaurant issue. The article points to Cakes & Ale’s originality, ability to draw from different ethnicities in its dishes, and consistency as a restaurant one can visit on a casual weeknight or for a special evening out. Billy and Kristin Allin, owners of Cakes & Ale and residents of Decatur, thank the community for its support and for allowing their restaurant to be part of the growth and spirit of Decatur. They are involved in the community in a variety of ways, including working with the Wylde Center, the Decatur Education Foundation, dine outs for the Decatur Farm to School, and a variety of fund-raising events. Kristin was named a Decatur Hometown Hero and the Allins received awards for the historic renovation of the restaurant at 155 Sycamore St. For more information call 404-377-7994. Other Decatur restaurants earning a spot in the magazine’s “50 Best Restaurants” roundup included No. 246 (#15), Revival (#23), Chai Pani (#32), Taqueria del Sol (#34), and Kimball House (#35).
WE RANK ED ’EM!
O U R FAV O RITE
P L AC ES T O E AT R I G H T N OW
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CA K E S & ALE
F E AT U R NEVER T ING OO MAN Y COOK S IN TH E GUNSH MAPPIN OW KIT G T H E WA CHEN TERSHE D GENO PA S TA A ME NAT O M Y AT B O C C ALUPO TA B L E A RT AT A TLAS
Chef Billy Allin evokes both the Old and New South
Athlete Recovery Center Opening
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thletes’ Potential is expanding – and opening a one-of-a-kind physical therapy and athlete recovery center in Decatur. The purpose of the center is to help people achieve their athletic goals – whether it’s running a 5K, doing CrossFit regularly, or competing in an Ironman Triathlon. Dr. Daniel Matta DPT spent six years on active duty in the U.S. Army. He left the military to work as an international educator for strength coaches and a consultant for military Special Operations groups. The center cites the comprehensive facilities used by the elite military groups Dr. Matta works with as its model.
The center is the first facility of its kind in the southeast and offers one-on-one performance-based physical therapy with an average visit rate of three visits before being able to return to what you love to do. Therapists have access to recovery technology such as Whole Body Cryotherapy and RecoveryBoots Compression. Stop by the office in the Acme building, 533 W. Howard Ave. (next to Thinking Man Tavern), for more information, or visit athletespotential.com, call 770-744-3146, or email info@athletespotential.com. MARCH 2016 • Decatur Focus | 11
Business & Nonprofit News Rutledge Alcock Becomes Office of Design
Wild Oats & Billy Goats Celebrates Six Years on the Square
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ndrew Rutledge and Danny England launched Office of Design, formerly Rutledge Alcock, in January. Since 2004, the team has been creating thriving environments through purposeful design, bringing progressive yet realistic innovation and imagination to every project. Office of Design provides design services to owners and developers working in multifamily, municipal, and hospitality/retail environments. Partners Rutledge and England have more than 32 years of design experience between them. The company is located at 619 E. College Ave. For more information visit officeofdesignarch.com.
Welcome, Body & Brain Yoga & Tai Chi
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ody & Brain Yoga & Tai Chi opened in Decatur in December at 308 W. Ponce de Leon Ave. It offers a unique form of yoga/meditation/tai-chi training, Korean in origin, which focuses on energy work and chakra balancing. For more information visit bodynbrain.com/decatur or call 404-254-2564.
Wild Oats & Billy Goats, 112 E. Ponce de Leon Ave., is celebrating its sixth-year anniversary in March. The gallery will offer 20 percent off a huge selection of artists’ work March 12-14. It will open a second location at 765 Mid Broadwell Rd. in the community of Crabapple, in Milton, Georgia, on March 14. The new location will have works from new artists, as well as some of the favorites from Decatur. Owner Weatherly Munroe (inset) serves on the Decatur Tourism Board and coordinates Decatur’s holiday ornament project each year.
Mackintosh Law Opens on the Square
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hen Brooks Mackintosh decided to open his own law practice, he wanted it to be in the heart of Decatur, where he has lived for the last 10 years. Mackintosh prepares wills, trusts, medical directives, and powers of attorney. He also works with local business owners on business succession plans. Operating a local law practice is a change of pace from Mackintosh’s earlier career, in which he investigated and prosecuted financial fraud cases for the U.S. Department of Justice and the U.S. Treasury. Those duties took him to courtrooms around the country and as far afield as Australia and South Africa. In opening Mackintosh Law, he sought to practice in a more cooperative area of law, while engaging more directly with the local community. The law office is at 1 W. Court Square, suite 410. For more information contact Brooks Mackintosh, 404-793-2510, email brooks@mackintosh.law, or visit mackintosh.law. 12 | Decatur Focus • MARCH 2016
Business & Nonprofit News Decatur Resident Donates $24,000 Money Will Support Behavioral Health Program for Area Youth City of Decatur resident Meredith McCoyd is a thirdgeneration DeKalb County native who learned at an early age about giving back to the community. When she was 15 years old, her mother had her volunteer with the Winn Way Clinic – which is a part of the DeKalb Community Service Board (CSB). McCoyd continues to give back to the organization today. She has served on the board of directors for DeKalb CSB for the past three years. Recently she donated $24,000 to assist in funding a new innovative program. Called the Prevention and Early Intervention Program (PEIP), it aims to assess, engage, support, and treat young adults who are in the early stages of schizophrenia. The program uses a social media platform to connect youth and their families. It also helps to build relationships and create a meaningful social support network. On Saturday, March 19, DeKalb CSB will host the Psychosis Early Intervention Conference at the Carter Center in Atlanta. This full-day specialty conference will have some of the top researchers in the county speaking on the latest scientific findings in the developing area of early schizophrenia and psychosis. To find out more about the conference visit dekcsb.org/get-involved/ psychosis-early-intervention-conference. To learn more about the Prevention and Early Intervention program, visit georgiapeip.org.
Decatur Concierge Opens for Business Decatur Concierge, a new business launched in February, is designed to help people stay organized and take care of time-consuming tasks. The membership-based service, cofounded by Stephanie DiLorio and Bridget Smith, offers practical solutions for busy people. Decatur Concierge works with members to plan for the coming months and create an action plan to stay on top of all the to-dos. From shopping to home maintenance coordination and party planning to home organization, Decatur Concierge takes care of practical tasks to save you time. To learn more about membership, visit decaturconcierge.com or contact Stephanie DiLorio at 404-548-8502. To learn about flexible work opportunities, contact Bridget Smith at bridget@decaturconcierge.com.
Trinity Mercantile & Design Hosts Fundraiser Friday, March 4 • 6-9 p.m. • 116 E. Trinity Place Trinity Mercantile & Design, a home furnishings and gift store with a full-service interior design studio, will host a fundraiser to benefit Dwell with Dignity. The community is invited and members of the design community are encouraged to attend. Dwell with Dignity is a nonprofit agency dedicated to creating soothing, inspiring homes for families struggling with homelessness and poverty. They provide and install home interiors for families, including items such as furnishings and art, bedding and kitchen supplies, and food in the pantry. All of this is done with the labor of dedicated volunteers and the generosity of dedicated donors. For more information visit dwellwithdignity.org.
CCSD Distributes Community Grants The Community Center of South Decatur distributed $9,000 in local community grants in December. The funding was generated from CCSD’s Barbecue Blues and Bluegrass Festival, which is held in August of each year. Grant recipients included the Decatur Education Foundation, Woodlands Garden, the MLK Service Project, Global Growers, the National Association on Mental Illness-DeKalb chapter, and Our House, Inc. CCSD is a nonprofit organization founded in 1979. Its mission is to preserve and maintain the Solarium at Historic Scottish Rite as a sustainable community resource, to be used for the assistance, education, and enjoyment of the Decatur community.
Welcome Dr. Black Dr. Melissa Black, M.D., is now welcoming new members to Empower Family Medicine, 209 Swanton Way. For a small monthly fee, members have direct access to their family physician with expertise in integrative and functional medicine, chronic disease management, acupuncture, and preventive health. In addition to personalized primary care, Dr. Black is also happy to talk to community groups, from children to seniors, on nutrition and wellness. To learn more, visit empowerdecatur.com or call 404-981-6278.
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Business & Nonprofit News
Wylde Center Plant Sale Now Open
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ooking for seedlings and herbs to plant in your spring vegetable garden? Be sure to stop by the Wylde Center plant sale, 435 Oakview Rd., for great selections. The sale is open each day from sunrise to sunset. You will find more than 100 varieties, including kale, broccoli, Swiss chard, Asian greens, lettuce, peas, and so much more. Proceeds from the sale support the Wylde Center’s environmental education programs and greenspaces.
Sally Wylde Cultivating Life Award
Nominate an Environmental Hero Nominations due March 31 he Sally Wylde Cultivating Life Award annually recognizes an individual or organization in Decatur making an extraordinary contribution to our community and its natural environment. Established in 2010 by the Wylde Center and the City of Decatur, the award is presented to those who demonstrate qualities held dear and embodied by Sally Wylde, an artist, environmentalist, activist, and educator whose work and life have inspired people of all ages to become better caretakers of the earth, of one another, and of themselves. If you know of such a person or an organization, submit your nomination by March 31. The form may be found at wyldecenter.org/ sally-wylde-cultivating-life-award. Email your nomination to stephanie@wyldecenter.org. The award will be presented on April 24 at the Decatur Earth Day Festival.
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Chicks in the City Symposium Saturday, March 26 • 9:30 a.m.-5 p.m. Atlanta History Center • 130 W. Paces Ferry Rd., Atlanta
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he Wylde Center and the Atlanta History Center have teamed up to present the annual symposium Chicks in the City. This will be the fifth year for the popular program designed for people who own, or wish to keep, a backyard flock, but the first one co-presented by the two nonprofit organizations. Tickets are $65 for the symposium ($50 for Wylde Center or AHC members), or $30 to only attend the afternoon reception ($20 for Wylde Center or AHC members), and may be purchased at wyldecenter.org. Chicks in the City is for anyone interested in raising chickens in their own yard. From novice to expert and even for those who are just thinking about the benefits of adding fresh eggs to their diet, the symposium will provide instruction in a fun and lively atmosphere. Topics to be covered include: Chickens 101 (Getting Started with Chickens), Chickens 102 (Now Your “Girls” Are All Grown Up), a virtual Atlanta Urban Coop Tour, Chicken Health and Wellness 102, and Avian Flu. Attendees can choose from a variety of interactive sessions led by local chicken experts, and visit the Atlanta History Center’s flock of Rhode Island Red and Plymouth Rock hens at the Smith Family Farm on the AHC campus. A lunch break will allow attendees to enjoy an outdoor picnic or to purchase food from onsite food trucks. There will also be a late afternoon reception and silent auction at the Smith Family Farm. For more information visit wyldecenter.org or atlantahistorycenter.com.
Business & Nonprofit News Historical Highlights from the Historic Preservation Commission
Leila Ross Wilburn Architect of Beautiful Decatur Homes
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n honor of Women’s History Month we focus on Leila Ross Wilburn, one of Georgia’s first female architects. She was born in Macon and relocated to Decatur in 1895. After graduating from Agnes Scott College at 21, she traveled throughout the country with camera in hand, exploring, studying and documenting residential architecture. Returning home, she studied her collection of more than 5,000 photographs and created plan books of home designs for contractors and house builders, becoming the only female published architect in the South during that time. In 1907, John Mason and Poleman Weekes purchased property that became Decatur’s first residential subdivision. Ms. Wilburn, by this time a renowned architect, was employed to design the homes for it. Today, this subdivision is known as Decatur’s
Resident Cited for Philanthropy Congratulations to Welcoming America founder and Decatur resident David Lubell, who was selected to the Chronicle of Philanthropy “40 Under 40” list of trailblazers crafting innovative new approaches to problems affecting our world.
MAK Neighborhood, encompassing the McDonough-AdamsKings Highway area. In 2010, the MAK Historic District celebrated 100 years since its Wilburndesigned homes were created. The district has been listed on the National Register of Historic Places since 2013 and as a locally designated historic district since 1998. The MAK Neighborhood is now cared for by new generations who find comfort in its rich history and architecture. Take a stroll through the MAK Neighborhood to see and appreciate the beautiful homes designed by Leila Ross Wilburn. Photos: mak-decatur.org
Congratulations to Seven Twelve Oakview, a Thrive Homes Community, for being named Community of the Year and receiving the Gold Obie award in the attached-home category from the Greater Atlanta Home Builders Association. This is the most prestigious of the 14 awards Thrive projects earned at the 2015 Obie Award Ceremony in November.
MARCH 2016 • Decatur Focus | 15
DBA News
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DBA ess tur Busin The Deca ary u on’s Jan Associati e th d feature meeting d A y it eC State of th n of new tio c le e , ss dre d a readn a officers, a et Natash ing by po y. Trethewe
DBA President Tim Martin conducted the meeting.
School Board Chair Annie Caiola gave an update on the state of the City Schools of Decatur.
Poet Natasha Trethewey smiles as Commissioner Tony Powers introduces her.
Fire Chief Toni Washington, Mayor Emerita Elizabeth Wilson and Pamela Pryor attend the State of the City meeting.
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Decatur School Events news DhS robotics Easter Egg team Hunt March 19 builds Success with community Support
Hop on over to the front lawn of First Baptist Church of Decatur for the Decatur Business Association’s annual Easter Egg Hunt on Saturday, March 19. The bunny arrives at 10:30 a.m. and the hunt ach begins 11 a.m.Robotics, sharp. Arrive on time, because the bunny waits for no one! Rain loyearatFIRST an orgacation is the church gymnasium. This event nization whose mission is to inspireis presented by the Decatur Business Association in partnership First Decatur, 308 Clairemont Ave. youngwith people toBaptist becomeChurch scienceofand
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technology leaders, announces a nationwide design competition. The 2015 challenge was to design a robot that could stack six recycling bins on top of each other and then lift a large can and place it on top of the bins. Once the challenge was announced, the DHS robotics team brainstormed just how they would design a machine that could achieve this task. After narrowing down many options, the design team used computer-aided design (CAD) software to create the drawings. It took a few weeks of trial and error to build the robot, which stood up well in the heat of the competition. The DHS team made it to the quarterfinals in a field of 66 teams in the final tournament of the season. The 44 students on the DHS Robotics team gain valuable hands-on experience on the way to careers in engineering or other STEM-related fields. A coalition of funders – including the school district, corporate sponsors, private March 22 donations, and the Decatur Education Foundation – supplies the $30,000 needed annually to provide the materials, equipment, andTBA tourLocation nament entry fees to continue operating at a for updates, visit competitive level. decaturdba.com
Meeting Reminder
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top: Junior team members5:15 finalize p.m.preparations for a match with the smaller bots. Networking Reception
6 p.m. right: senior abigail Deweerth and sophomore Program Garnet simpson show off the team’s Frc robot design development.
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Butter & Cream • DeKalb Medical Private Bank of Decatur • Fidelity Bank Delta Community Credit Union
dancing
games
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The Decatur Business Association’s Beach Party, following a one-year Slide-the-City sabbatical, is officially returning to Decatur on Friday, June 17. Planning is under way and the committee would love to have some interested folks to help plan the event. The annual Beach Party is the DBA’s sole fundraising event and proceeds are used to fund free events throughout the year, including Wednesday Blue Sky Concerts and Saturday Concerts on the Square in May and September, and Fourth of July fireworks. Contact Shirley Baylis, shirley.baylis@ decaturga.com, 678-553-6573, for information.
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Decatur Events DHS Presents Once On This Island
T William and Mary Choir to Perform in Decatur March 20, 7:30 p.m. Holy Trinity Parish • 513 E. Ponce De Leon Ave.
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he 60-voice choir of the College of William and Mary in Virginia will perform in concert – and it’s free! (But donations are gladly accepted to help finance the choir’s next European tour.) This year the choir celebrates 93 years of choral singing at the second oldest university in the United States. Members represent a wide variety of academic disciplines. The choir makes 30 appearances per year, including four seasonal concerts. Its repertoire is drawn primarily from the great Western European choral tradition of the last five hundred years. It has appeared in concert in 14 European countries and has performed for Queen Elizabeth II; with the United States Marine Corps Band at the 1997 Presidential Inauguration; and on the Marine Band’s recording of Charles Cushing’s “Angel Camp” (released in 1998). For more about the performance and Holy Trinity Parish, call 404-377-2622.
he Decatur High School Drama Department will present Once On This Island, a high-energy musical with a cast of storytellers who animate a surprising twist to Hans Christian Anderson’s The Little Mermaid. To calm a frightened girl, storytellers relate the saga of Ti Moune, a peasant girl who saves and falls in love with Daniel, a rich boy from the other side of the island. When Daniel returns to his home, the island erupts as Ti Moune battles class and racial hatred to reunite with Daniel. The tale is filled with rhythmic song and dance. Performances are scheduled Thursday-Saturday, March 3-5, at 7 p.m., with a 2 p.m. matinee on Sunday, March 6, at the Decatur High School Performing Arts Center, 310 N. McDonough St. Tickets are $8 for students and seniors, $12 for adults. They can be purchased online at eventbrite.com/e/once-on-this-island-tickets-20477353315, from a cast or crew member, or at the box office. For more information: facebook.com/events/658608630945667 or decaturhighdrama.wordpress.com.
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Decatur Events Decatur City Dance Presents Let’s Tap! Saturday, March 19 • 6:30 p.m. Sunday, March 20 • 2 p.m. Adults $12; others $10; at the door $15 Uhry Theater, Druid Hills High School 1798 Haygood Dr., Atlanta.
Let’s Tap! features the Rhythm Keepers and Junior Rhythm Keepers tap companies, directed by Kyme Hersi-Sallid, with a guest performance by the Decatur School of Ballet Rug Cutters, directed by Birda Ringstad. The program includes high energy, toe-tapping dances from Spain, Africa, Brazil, Japan, India, Ireland, and America. Bring your tap shoes and join the performers on stage as they perform the Shim Sham at the end of the show.
Frank Hamilton Folk School
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Classes with an encouraging, communitybased approach by legendary musician Frank Hamilton and handpicked faculty on guitar, voice, ukulele, fiddle, banjo & mandolin. Come play with us! frankhamiltonfolkschool.org MARCH 2016 • Decatur Focus | 19
Decatur Events Oakhurst Resident Offers Handwriting Camps
Sycamore Place Gallery
Spring and Summer Art Camps
Certified in Handwriting Without Tears, Oakhurst resident Kara Campbell is offering two multi-sensory summer camps in handwriting:
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Printing Pros For rising 1st and 2nd graders July 5-8 and 11-14 • 3-4 p.m. The focus is on letter formation, sentence writing and developing stamina for longer writing tasks. Maximum enrollment is five students. The fee is $225 for all eight sessions and includes a Handwriting Without Tears workbook. Cursive is Cool For rising 3rd and 4th graders July 5-8 and 11-14 • 4:15-5:15 p.m. The focus is on letter formation, connections and legibility. Maximum enrollment is five students. The fee is $225 for all eight sessions and includes a Handwriting Without Tears cursive workbook. To register for camp contact Kara Campbell, 404-859-6628, or fourcampbells@ mac.com or handwritingwithmisskara.blogspot.com
aint! Collage! Sculpt! Dance! Storytelling! Learn about artists’ lives and develop your own artistic abilities. Ms. Sylvia and friends at Sycamore Place Gallery offer a multimedia approach to nature and the arts, in half-day camps for ages 4-11. Fees for morning camps, 9.am.-noon: $140/5days $95/3days $40/1 day Extended lunch from 12-1: $15/ family/day In addition, Ms.Wanda offers a multitiered approach to Creative Cartoons and Comics for ages 9-14, from 1-4 p.m., priced as above. Contact Sylvia.cross@gmail.com for information on registration. More information at decaturartclasses.com.
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School News
Decatur events Oakhurst Preschool it’s a Date Cooperative to Stay up late! Celebrates 10 and Years ll Decatur residents, everybody else, too, are invited
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to walk in the Decatur Lantern Parade on the evening of he Oakhurst Cooperative Preschool is celebrating 10 years in Decatur this Friday, May 15. This is one of those “the-more-the-merrier” year. What started as a drop-off playgroup with six children meeting in prievents, so plan now to participate and be a part of helping vate homes has blossomed into a fully-staffed preschool welcoming more to make this lantern parade memorable. than 60 kids from the ages of 2 to 5. In small classrooms, led by experienced Make your own lantern at home or teachers, children learn they are part of a community that values them. They also learn come to a lantern-making workshop about the world they live in and what they can contribute to it. where supplies and guidance are providThe founding families, with the guidance of school director and child development ed. Find out where and when by visiting expert Betty Wood, drew from the best practices of the Reggio Emilia, Montessori and decaturlanternparade.com. Waldorf educational philosophies, among others, to create a nature-based curriculum To participate, line up at Color Wheel centered on play and exploration and to offer children a safe, supportive environment Studio at 508 E. Howard Ave. after 8 p.m. in which they can explore their world with curiosity and confidence. The parade steps off at 9 p.m. led by The OCP began accepting applications in February and will continue until classes are Black Sheep Marching Ensemble and pafull. Interested families may contact oakhurstcoop.com/admissions/admissionsrade guru Chantelle Rytter. The parade overview and email us at admissions@oakhurstcoop.com to schedule a tour. Visit our will wend its way to the community facebook page: facebook.com/oakhurstcooperativepreschool. bandstand in front of the Old Courthouse on the square. Oakhurst The parade is sponsored by Color Elementary will host its annual Give a Hoot! spring auction on Thursday, March 19, 7-10 p.m., at the Solarium at Old Scottish Rite. Wheel Studio, Decatur Arts Alliance, The January/February Focus gave all Decatur Education Foundation, and the details but the website address was missing. VisitDecatur giveahootoakhurst.com. the Development Authority.
Give a Hoot!
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playful and creative and each family receives the acclaimed CDs and song books to1% continue developing their • Top producer, Atlanta musical abilities at home. Over Board of Realtors (2009 – 150 2014) classes are offered in metro Atlanta. Spring sessions starthomes sold in • More than 125 Developed by March 6–12, so call now City of Decatur since 2009 Rob Sayer for class times and • Moreathan schedule free 260 homes sold overall since observation class. 2009
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School News Renfroe Team Trashes Mobile Phone Trash
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obotics Team Trashformerz raised awareness of the problem of electronics waste in a presentation to Mayor Patti Garrett and City of Decatur Resource Conservation Coordinator Lena Stevens, hosted by Principal Jonathan Clark at Renfroe Middle School. The Renfroe team researched the widespread use of cell phones, which tend to be thrown away every two years as new features become available. Much of this e-waste is disposed of improperly and ends up in landfills in Africa or Asia, where it is shredded or burned in the open air. The team proposed a solution to replace the toxic chemicals with greener substances in the manufacturing of cell phone batteries, screens, and cases. The solution is supported by an implementation strategy that advocates
stricter regulations on the use of toxic substances in cell phones, backed by incentives for companies using greener alternatives, as well as public education to raise awareness of proper recycling methods. Team Trashformerz won third place overall champion in their district qualifying round, second place overall champion in the Super-
Regional round, and advanced to the state level competition held at the University of Georgia in Athens in February. The team joined more than 233,000 competitors from 80 countries in their exploration of the problems posed by trash as part of the 2015 First Lego League Trash Trek Challenge.
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to the n, who was recently re-elected Congratulations to Robert L. Brow senaand es tativ esen repr caucus of state State Transportation Board by a board veteran ear 10-y a is n Brow ict. Distr al tors from the 4th Congression ett and is pictured with Mayor Patti Garr and currently board vice chair. He address hosted by the City the of State the at in Boyk Mayor Pro Tem Fred s, is business, R.L. Brown and Associate Decatur Business Association. His located in Decatur.
Ted’s Montana Grill raised $85,040 in its Atlanta locations (including Decatur) during this year’s Dine Out to support No Kid Hungry’s mission to end childhood hunger – contributing to the $303,303 raised by all Ted’s locations nationwide. Pictured are Kristi Martin, president and chief operation officer, Ted’s Montana Grill; Diana Hovey, managing director for the Dine Out for No Kid Hungry; Governor Nathan Deal; and George McKerrow, CEO and cofounder, Ted’s Montana Grill.
ion, and retary for Food, Nutrit Agriculture Undersec observes on nn nca Co in Kev Consumer Services appleFamily YMCA enjoying children at the Decatur ded fun k, mil and low-fat sauce, wheat crackers, comrisk Afterschool Meals through the USDA’s Atm. gra Pro d Foo re Ca Adult ponent of the Child and re and Learning Ca ly Ear of ent tm par The Georgia De and the k Afterschool Program administers the At-Ris ia. org Ge in Program Summer Food Service
Many thanks to the 13 Oakhurst families whose children were all too young to officially participate in the MLK Jr. Service Project but who were inspired to be of service in an unofficial way by cleaning up 13-plus miles in Oakhurst during the weekend.
MARCH 2016 • Decatur Focus | 23
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