Focus March 2017

Focus

Register For summerCaMP

City of Decatur

PLAYBOOK INSIDE Clear zone

MARCH 2017 Volume 27 • Number 7

Official Publication of The City of Decatur, Georgia

What Can One Little Person Do?

O

akhurst Elementary School first graders, through their partnership with Decatur Better Together, explored what it means to be just, welcoming, equitable, inclusive and comNews 3 City

BUsiness 12 NEWs

passionate for their expedition titled “What Can One Little Person Do?” After completing their research, the first graders presented to the City Commission how they define and describe these words, as well as how Decatur, the community and

14 DBA NEWs

the world can work to be more equitable, just, welcoming, inclusive, and compassionate. In addition to the presentation, the students created a piece of public art based on their learning and gave it to the city for the public art collection.

DECATUR 15 EVENTs

School news 19

Focus City of Decatur

Decatur Retail Is Strong and Improving

R

ecently we’ve been hearing concerns about a loss of business in downtown Decatur, so we wanted to provide some updated data and information about our retail health. No doubt with the closing of local favorites Cook’s Warehouse and Yogurt Tap, it feels like commercial vacancies are increasing.

However, that is far from the truth. Decatur’s retail scene is going strong, and our shop local efforts continue to engage people in supporting small businesses. The downtown Decatur commercial retail vacancy rate is around 5 percent, which is Focus on significantly lower than the national averCommunity age of 11.3 percent. In 2016, the City of Development Decatur had a net gain of businesses and employees.

The handful of key storefronts that are currently vacant will most likely not be vacant for long.

There is still a lot of interest from prospective businesses, especially restaurants that want to open in Decatur. If you see a storefront remain vacant for what seems like a long period of time, chances are there’s work being done behind the scenes. Negotiating rent and obtaining permits are just two of the steps towards securing a business location. There are exceptions to the rule, but the majority of the time empty storefronts don’t signify a lack of interest or activity.

Events that promote shopping at local businesses are getting more creative and popular too.

This year the #OCTOPIDECATUR project engaged artists in Terrific Thursdays by creating art pieces that were hidden all over town for shoppers to find. Storefront Saturdays in April and September encouraged people to “Treat Yourself ” at participating businesses and enjoy raffles, prizes, pop-ups, specials and snacks. And the annual November shopping program that gives shoppers a $20 gift card to a local restaurant for every $200 spent at a local shop, has been a big hit since its inception in 2014.

In a perfect world, shops would never go out of business. Every shop would be ideally located for their customers, provide great service, sell the right mix of inventory to meet the needs of the trade area, and make enough money to be sustainable. In the real world, retailers come and go for various reasons: underperforming sales, significant life changes for the business owner, a move to online retail, etc. Fortunately for Decatur, when one store closes, another opens. That’s not to say we don’t miss retailers when they close, but it is part of the natural ebb and flow of the retail world, especially for small, independently owned businesses.

Remember that you can Keep It Indie-Catur by shopping local all year long. Take a look at what our restaurants and retailers have to offer and see what you can work into your regular routine. You might be surprised at what you find. And, if you are toying with the idea of joining our Decatur retail family, give us a call. We have ideas for retail niches that need to be filled and will gladly help you learn more about opening a business.

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

DECATUR BUSINESS ASSOCIATION Kyle Williams......................................... President Susan Sparks.............................. President-Elect Reshell Baldini...................................... Treasurer Lisa Bobb................................................. Secretary Tim Martin.................................... Past President

Design and layout: Lampe-Farley.com 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.

2 | Decatur Focus • MARCH 2017

City News City Commission to Launch Virtual Town Hall in March

Show your attic or your basement who’s boss!

T

Neighborhood Cleanup Days

he Decatur City Commission will launch a new Virtual Town Hall streaming video series beginning in March. Virtual Town Hall is a monthly series of discussions featuring individual commissioners discussing a different topic using the city’s streaming video system and Facebook Live.

The first Virtual Town Hall will feature Mayor Patti Garrett, who will discuss Decatur’s commitment to being a just, welcoming, equitable, inclusive and compassionate city and the activities and efforts around that commitment.

The community is invited to tune in to watch and listen and can submit questions related to the topic live via Twitter, Facebook, email or telephone.

For those who are unable to watch the live sessions, recordings of the sessions will be available on the website for viewing at any time.

Watch the website, DecaturMinute blog, and other social media sites for an announcement of the specific date and time of the first session. For information contact Renae Madison, 678-553-6561 or renae.madison@decaturga.com.

Have a Story You Would Like to Share?

T

Focus

Playbook AWARE & InsIde PREPARED

City of Decatur

EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT INSIDE

Clear zone

he Decatur Focus, the official newsletter of the City of Decatur, is supported Decatur Salutes Qualified Homeowners Hometown receive new exemptions by the city, the Decatur Business AsHeroes sociation and the Decatur Downtown Development Authority. The Focus is published 10 times per year and mailed to every household, business and professional license-holder in the city. January/February and July/August are combined issues.

The Decatur Focus publishes announcements 12 14 15 3 20 and information about the city of Decatur, including city services, downtown development, school news, business news, and news about individual residents and neighborhood associations. The purpose of the newsletter is to promote the city and encourage the exchange of information among residents, business owners, and the school system.

Submissions are encouraged and should be made by the first of the month prior to the month of publication (i.e., information that appears in the April issue should be submitted by March 1). The Decatur Focus also accepts advertising. For information about ad rates call 404-371-8386.

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. 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.

January-february 2017 Volume 27 • Number 6

D

ecatur is hosting Neighborhood Cleanup Days on Saturdays in March and April, to allow residents to dispose of bulky materials that would not normally be placed in pay-as-you-throw bags.

Each street has a designated Saturday.

More details, including the neighborhood schedules, are available online at decaturga.com/neighborhoodcleanup.

All items to be collected should be placed at the curb by 7:30 a.m. This ensures that we do not have to rerun routes for late setouts. Collections run until 3:30 p.m., or until finished – whichever is sooner.

Official PublicatiOn Of tHe city Of Decatur, GeOrGia

A

ll four proposals to expand property tax exemptions in Decatur were approved by voters in November, including a measure that will exempt homeowners over the age of 65 from school taxes beginning in 2017. The new school exemption is called the S-4 exemption.

Most homeowners who are over the age of 65 already have an age-65 exemption known as the GH-2. Taxpayers with the GH-2 on their accounts will automatically receive the new S-4 school exemption. No application is needed.

Qualified homeowners who have never applied for the GH2, such as those who turned 65 during 2016, should visit City Hall, 509 N. McDonough St., to apply before March 15. Please bring a photo ID showing age and address. City Hall is open Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Homeowners over 62 with incomes under $50,000 may also qualify for another new homestead exemption approved in November – the GH-3. If the homeowner’s Georgia taxable net income, plus the income of his or her spouse and the income of any resident family member totals less than $50,000, then the homeowner is eligible to apply for this new GH-3 exemption.

The exemption will reduce the taxable value of a home by $15,000 for a projected annual savings of approximately $160. To apply, come to City Hall prior to March 15 with a copy of your most recent available tax return and a photo ID showing your age and address.

Two other ballot questions that were approved do not create new exemptions but expand existing ones. Homeowners do not need to re-apply to receive the full benefit. The increased exemption amounts will be granted automatically.

Homeowners who turned 62, 65, 70, or 80 during 2016 are encouraged to call the Decatur Revenue Division, 678-553-6743, to determine if they have become qualified for an exemption for which they were not previously eligible. To qualify for any age-based exemption, the claimant must be the age specified before Jan. 1 of the tax year for which the exemption is sought.

Further information on Decatur’s other homestead exemption and tax relief programs can be found at decaturga.com/homestead.

City News

BUsiNess News

DBA News

see page 5

New hometown hero Myles Baker noticed that a south McDonough street home was on fire and alerted the occupants, then persisted in urging them to safety.

DeCATUR eVeNTs

sChool News

Acceptable Items • Yard trimmings • Building materials (that are not from the work of private contractors) • Tires • Furniture • Appliances (not containing Freon) • Trash that would not normally be placed in pay-as-you-throw (PAYT) bags Unacceptable Items • Liquids • Dirt • Bricks • Blocks • Stone, rocks, or concrete • Motor vehicle batteries or parts If you have questions, contact Sean Woodson, sean.woodson@decaturga. com or 404-377-5571.

Hang on to your old electronics gear. Electronics Recycling Day at Decatur Public Works is May 13.

MARCH 2017 • Decatur Focus | 3

City News NE Ea W L sta st La OCATI tio ke ON n n MARTA ! or th lot

Touch-a-Truck Returns March 25 Join Decatur Active Living on Saturday, March 25, 10 a.m.-1 p.m., for Touch-a-Truck. Participants can touch, explore and see 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: School Bus Safety City Schools of Decatur will have a school bus on site where children can learn about school bus safety.

Register Your Bike Ride your bike to the event, have it registered by the Decatur Police Department, and receive a special bike pin.

Food Drive Celebrate National Nutrition Month by bring-

4 | Decatur Focus • MARCH 2017

ing a canned or non-perishable food item to the event. 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.

Ride the Train!

This year’s Touch a Truck event will be held in the north lot of the East Lake MARTA station.

Visitors are encouraged to ride the train to the event and make this a family field trip. Parking is limited so consider riding the train, walking or biking to the event.

In case of inclement weather, Touch-a-Truck will be rescheduled for Saturday, April 15. For more information, contact Cheryl Burnette, 678553-6541 or cheryl.burnette@decaturga.com.

Decatur Neighborhood Alliance Meeting Wednesday, March 15 6:30 p.m.

Decatur Recreation Center 231 Sycamore St. epresentatives from Decatur neighborhood associations, block associations, condominiums, townhomes, Homeowner Associations (HOA), apartment complexes and those interested in starting a neighborhood group are invited to attend the March Decatur Neighborhood Alliance meeting.

This meeting will focus on identifying neighborhood geographic boundaries and on ways to partner with adjacent neighborhoods.

There is also a great deal of interest in succession planning for neighborhood boards and committees.

One way to do this is to get more neighbors involved.

Come and share your successes and challenges with building and maintaining neighborhood leadership. Meetings are open to all neighborhood leaders; neighborhoods are encouraged to send one or two representatives.

To confirm your neighborhood’s attendance at the meeting and provide any updates to your neighborhood association’s listing that is currently posted on the Neighborhood Alliance page, contact Lee Ann Harvey, leeann.harvey@decaturga.com, or call 678-553-6548.

Light snacks will be provided.

To see a current neighborhood list, visit decaturga.com/neighborhoodalliance.

R

City News City of Decatur Receives Georgia Speaker of the Year Award

T

he City of Decatur was selected, by members of the Barkley Forum of Emory University, as the 2016 Georgia Speaker of the Year for its “innovative and ethical leadership in implementing the Better Together Action Plan.”

Since 1967, the Barkley Forum has recognized individuals or groups that exemplify outstanding and effective communication that aligns with the organization’s values: creating space for deliberative dialogue in pursuit of the public good.

The Georgia Speaker of the Year Award is presented at an annual banquet. Past recipients who have been honored include Ralph McGill, Andrew Young, President Jimmy Carter, Benjamin Mays, Senator Zell Miller, Ted Turner, Johnnetta Cole, former first lady Rosalynn Carter, and Mayor Shirley Franklin. Decatur is the first city to receive the award.

Better Together is a citizen-led, government-supported effort to build deeper connection, understanding, and mutual respect within the Decatur community. The process facilitated a substantive community conversation around the myriad differences – in culture, race, age, abilities, politics, economic resources, and more – that make us who we are.

For more information about the Community Action Plan and Better Together Advisory Board, visit decaturga.com/city-government/ resident-boards-commissions/better-together-advisory-board.

Decatur Preservation Commission Seeks New Members The Decatur Historic Preservation Commission has two openings and is seeking residents who are interested in serving on the board that oversees and approves proposed changes to local landmark properties and to properties located in Decatur’s five local historic districts: MAK, Clairemont Corridor, Old Decatur, Parkwood, and Ponce de Leon Court.

The board meets monthly at City Hall on the third Tuesday, 6:30 p.m., and also hosts the annual Decatur Design Awards program.

Applicants should have demonstrated a special interest, professional experience, or education in history, preservation, architecture, landscape design, or real estate. To apply, visit decaturga.com/city-government/residentboards-commissions to complete a Statement of Interest.

Submit the statement, or questions regarding this board, to Planning Director Angela Threadgill, angela.threadgill@decaturga.com, or Historic Preservation Commission, Decatur City Hall, P.O. Box 220, Decatur, GA 30030.

Publix Georgia Marathon March 19 The Publix Georgia Marathon is coming through Decatur on Sunday morning, March 19, and the community is invited to participate.

Decaturites are needed to help place “Burma Shave”-style signs along the route to welcome the runners into our city.

Volunteers will pick up signs from city hall on Friday afternoon, March 17, and place them in specified locations in the city on Sunday morning at 5:30 a.m. A placement distribution list will be provided at signage pick-up on Friday.

There will also be an official cheering section on Ponce de Leon adjacent to the Old Courthouse, on Sunday at 7:30 a.m. Noisemakers, signs, and your cheers are needed to help remind the runners that Decatur has the best cheering section of all.

For more information on the marathon and to volunteer, contact Shirley Baylis, 678-553-6573, or email shirley.baylis@decaturga.com.

MARCH 2017 • Decatur Focus | 5

City News

The Facts on

Flooding in Decatur

A

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.

Documented flooding problems have occurred along Peavine Creek at a condominium complex near Coventry Road. Along Peavine Creek Tributary, two houses on the south side of Garden Lane, and two houses on the south side of Lamont Drive, are subject to occasional flooding. Five houses damaged by flooding at the end of Westchester Drive were purchased by the City of Decatur with help from FEMA and converted to green space.

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 6 | Decatur Focus • MARCH 2017

at some locations in Peavine Creek, 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 identi-

fies 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. If you would like more information, contact the Design, Environment, and Construction Division at 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 at 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 located 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 Design, Environment and Construction Division 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. Do not 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 1-888-891-0938. 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 Staff from the Drainage Section 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, DEC office, 1st floor, 2635 Talley St.

MARCH 2017 • Decatur Focus | 7

City News MLK Service Project:

Amazing Work Done During Beautiful Weekend

T

he 15th annual Martin Luther King Jr. Service Project benefited from beautiful weather that brought out approximately 1,170 dedicated volunteers. They made repairs at 32 homes of senior citizens and also “repaired” the yards at those homes and cleaned the gutters.

The signature project this year was transforming a kitchen and other spaces in the home of a senior in a wheelchair, to offer better accessibility. Some of the many steps involved in transforming the kitchen to be more appropriate for someone in a wheelchair included redoing plumbing and electrical; installing new base cabinets with an opening for a wheelchair; installing new countertops, sink and faucet; installing new wall-hung pantry cabinets; cutting additional shelves to fit the cabinet; and installing a donated gas stove with accessible front controls.

Making homes safe and affordable for seniors is a high priority. Volunteers rebuilt steps; stabilized a bathroom floor in danger of collapse; added grab bars in bathrooms; replaced doorbells that didn’t ring; installed weather-stripping; and replaced light bulbs.

Floors were repaired to prevent tripping hazards and prep work was done for two handicap ramps that will be completed after the project weekend. Decatur firefighters helped

Mr. Eli’s kitchen before . . .

8 | Decatur Focus • MARCH 2017

with safety by installing or replacing batteries in smoke detectors. Professional electricians, plumbers, HVAC, and roofers ensured that the homes were safer and corrected issues to reduce utility costs.

The Yard repair team cleared out invasive plants and raked leaves – as many as 100 bags of leaves in some of the yards. This year, the MLK project partnered with the Active Living Mr. Eli rolls up under his new sink and countertop

. . . and after

Division and Oakhurst Dog Park volunteers to redirect 200 bags of yard waste to the Dog Park to control erosion.

If you or one of your neighbors is a senior who needs home repairs, call 678-553-6548 or email leeann.harvey@decaturga.com. For more information about the project, visit mlkserviceproject.com.

City News Active Living Salutes Bike Month with School Poster Contest May is National Bike Month and Decatur Safe 2016 2016 Poster Contest Poster Contest Routes to School invites you to 1st Place 2nd Place participate in Cara Ethan Holecek Donald Decatur’s second annual Bike to School Month poster contest.

Children in grades k-8 are invited to design Last year’s winning posters by (from left) Cara Holocek (kindergarten), Ethan Donald (2nd grade) and Isaiah Guerreri 2016 Poster Contest 3rd Place posters illustratIsaiah Guerrieri meeting in May and poster art will be featured South, the contest sponsor. Judging will be ing bike safety. For example, the poster could in the May Decatur Focus newsletter. based on creativity, inclusion of bike safety show a child using hand signals, or it could Poster submissions are due March 10. For theme, and originality. Age and grade will stress the importance of wearing a helmet or more information on how to enter, visit deplay a factor in the judging. The winning poststaying in a single file. Creativity is encourcaturga.com/srts or contact cheryl.burnette@ ers will be made into posters to be displayed aged. decaturga.com. Entry forms are available at throughout the city during May. Winners will A panel of judges will select four winners each participating school. also be recognized at the City Commission who will receive gift certificates from Bicycle Glennwood Elementary School / kindergarten

Oakhurst Elementary School / 2nd grade

sponsored by

Clear zone

sponsored by

Clear zone

sponsored by

Clear zone

Oakhurst Elementary School / 2nd grade

Scouts Salute Ryan Taylor Boy Scout Troop 2600 volunteered to pressure wash and stain memorial benches dedicated to the late firefighter and inspector Ryan Taylor at stations one and two for their Eagle Scout service project. Plaques paying tribute to Ryan have also been placed on both benches.

MARCH 2017 • Decatur Focus | 9

City News Residents Attend Listen and Learn with Decatur PD

Wylde Center Salutes Gipson Pat Gipson was recently saluted as 2016 Wylde Center Volunteer of the Year. She has stuffed and sealed thousands of envelopes, organized T-shirts, filed plant sale signs, and handled many more tasks while volunteering in the Wylde Center office for the past several years. She lives in the Oakhurst neighborhood and enjoys growing flowers in her garden.

Decatur residents, Better Together Advisory Board members, representatives from Decatur Active Living and the Decatur Education Foundation joined officers for a Listen & Learn Luncheon as part of the “Beyond Community Policing” course at Georgia Piedmont Technical College Law Enforcement Academy.

Gardening among the Graves Friends of Decatur Cemetery have expanded their Tuesday morning gardening group by adding a second group for weekend gardeners. This group is under the guidance of Jim Toney, Loie Valentine, and Nick Richwagen, who will determine specific projects.

If you are interested in Gardening among the Graves – either weekend or the regular Tuesday morning groups – contact Friends of Decatur Cemetery (FODC) at friendsofdecaturcemetery@ gmail.com. Note: Times and frequency for weekends will be determined as interest is gauged.

Putting you in your landscape.

CALL US TODAY:

404.309.7175 CMYK

65/60/60/45 30/10/60/0

BACKGROUND

Adopt a Path Would you or your group like to “Adopt a Path” in the historic section of Decatur Cemetery? The Friends of Decatur Cemetery group is looking for volunteers to help restore the granite pathways among the grave lots.

The 1881 cemetery landscape plan provided for these pathways, many of which have become obscured by vegetation over time.

Email friendsofdecaturcemetery@gmail.com for more information.

10 | Decatur Focus • MARCH 2017

0/0/0/0

IS NOW

Decatur Volunter Coordinator Leeann Harvey

City News 2017 Decatur Design Awards

Call for Nominations

I

n celebration of National Preservation Month in May, the City of Decatur and the Decatur Preservation Commission recognize and honor projects or individuals that promote excellence in preservation, design, sustainability, and advocacy.

Projects must have been permitted and completed within the last five years and must be located in the city of Decatur. For application requirements, contact Angela Threadgill, angela.threadgill@decaturga. com, or go to decaturga.com/city-government/city-departments/ planning-and-zoning/design-awards.

Nominations must be received by Friday, March 24, and must be turned in at the Design, Environment and Construction Division, 2635 Talley St., Decatur, GA 30030. The ceremony will be held in May.

Touch-A-Budget Returns Tuesday, March 21 • 5-7 p.m.

Marta Plaza Get an up-close and personal look at the city’s budgeting process at the free TouchA-Budget event. See what “pending spending” is planned for the FY 2017-2018 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.

The Decatur Recreation Center, 231 Sycamore St., will serve as the rain location.

CSD’s Dickerson Earns Davis Award Jeanne Vaught and Susan Bennett are the daughters of Thomas O. Davis

Deputy City Manager Hugh Saxon Mayor Patti Garrett

Decatur School Board Chair Annie Caiola

City Schools Superintendent David Dude

DBA President Kyle Williams

Robbin Dickerson

Lifelong Community Coordinator Leeann Harvey

R

obbin Dickerson, social worker and family support specialist with the City Schools of Decatur (CSD), is the newest winner of Decatur’s Thomas O. Davis Award for public service.

Robbin has dedicated herself to helping Decatur’s less fortunate students and their families. She is CSD’s (McKinney-Vento) Home-

less Liaison and supports homeless children to see that they have equal access to the fine education provided by the city schools. Robbin has also been instrumental in seeing that all CSD families are able to benefit from the city’s Season of Giving program, which provides holiday gifts for low income children and seniors.

The Decatur Business Association established the award in memory of Thomas O. Davis, the city’s attorney from 1968 until his death in 2000. It is given every year to a public servant who inspires others and exemplifies honesty, integrity and professionalism in the performance of his or her duties.

MARCH 2017 • Decatur Focus | 11

Business & Nonprofit News New Faces at Core Dance Core Performance Company has two new staff members, Nia Schooler and Elizabeth LabbeWebb, and three new dancers, Scott Wheet, Rose Kazanowski, and PhaeMonae.

Elizabeth Labbe-Webb joined Core Dance as director of development last September and was recently named to the newly created executive director position. She previously served for 10 years as executive director of VSA Arts of Georgia, a statewide multi-disciplinary arts organization working with people with disabilities and other under-served populations.

Nia Schooler joins the administrative staff as resources manager. She is a long-time resident of Decatur and previously worked with the Decatur Education Foundation. She has been an active advocate of arts-in-education initiatives in the City Schools of Decatur for the past nine years.

The three new dancers recently made their Core Dance debuts in the Atlanta premiere of Life Interrupted, a dance/theatre work that was created to honor the experiences of the U.S. citizens of Japanese descent who were interned on American soil during World War II. The new company members will also be a part of the upcoming Walk, a meditative dance work that will be performed at site-specific locations in the Atlanta area in May. March Focus 2017

First Baptist University: Food City forNews Thought, Care for the Soul

Art Classes at Sycamore Place Gallery Come paint, cartoon, collage, create from clay, build sculptures, do printmaking and more.

Sing, dance, and climb the magnolia trees.

Learn art history through storytelling.

Join Ms. Sylvia and friends in the mornings: Ages 4-11 • 9 a.m.-noon Extended lunch, noon-1 p.m.

Join Ms. Moira Nelligan for the Art of Music in the afternoons: Ages 8-14 • 1-4 p.m.

Extended day from 4-5 p.m.

Learn traditional singing, dancing and instrumentation. The emphasis will be on traditional Americana music. After 1 p.m. art will be offered in keeping with the weekly themes.

First Baptist University at First Baptist Church Decatur offers Class Offerings food for thought, care for the soul and body, and service to the May 31-June 2 • Jackson Pollack community, motivated by and grounded in Christian faith.

Abstract Expressionism The spring term begins March 8 and ends April 26. All classes June 5-9 • Picasso and Matisse are free, though you may be encouraged to buy reading materiParis Tea als.

June 12-16 • Frida Kahlo and FBU spring term course options include the Epistle of James, Haveand a Story YouenrichWould Like to Diego Share?Rivera - I really would like this to go in this issue, bu voice class for adults, LGBTQ support group, total body conditioning, marriage Mini Mexican Murals there isn’t any space it can wait. ment class.

June 19-23 • Arabian Nights and Classes begin at 6:30 p.m. and in most cases end at 7:30 p.m. An optional dinner is available The Decatur Focus is the official newsletter of theTales City of Decatur. Supported by the City o Calligraphic in the church’s Carreker Fellowship Hall for $7, starting at 5:30 p.m.

Decatur, the Decatur Business Association and the Decatur Downtown Development Auth While there is no charge for FBU courses and registration is not required, helps with plan26-30 • ARTchitectural Gardens the Focusit is published 10 times per June year and mailed to every household, business and ning to know if you are coming – and especially if you are bringing children and/or teenagers. in the city. andJanuary/February Monet professional license-holder and July/August are combined iss Contact Edwina Cowgill, ecowgill@fbcdecatur.com or 404-373-1653 ext. 2230, to confirm your July 5-7 • Katy DeMents Krankies The Decatur Focus publishes announcements and information about the City of Decatur attendance and childcare needs. Complete course information is available at fbcdecatur.com/fbu.

Panoramic Puppet Theatre

including city services, downtown development, school news, business news, and news ab individual residents and neighborhood associations.

The purpose of Klee the newsletter is to pro July 10-14 • Kandinsky and the city and encourage the exchangeKinesthetics of informationPaint among to residents, Music business owners, and school system.

L’Arche Atlanta Names Board Members

July 17-21 • Georgia O’Keefe Sun be over the Desert L’Arche Atlanta, an organization that provides residential services to adults withare special needs, and should Submissions encouraged submitted by the first of the month prior to the of publication (i.e., information that appears in April issueand should submitted by Mar has four new local leaders on its board of directors: July 24-28the • Magritte thebe Surrealists The Decatur Focus also accepts advertising.

For information about ad rates call 404-371-83 Demetrice Williams is the senior director of Special Events and Community Relations at By the Sea Agnes Scott College.

Julyopinion 31-Aug. 2 • Romare BeardenAll press releases Letters to the editor, editorials, or other pieces are not published.

Haqiqa Bolling is a counselor at Renfroe Middle School in Decatur, serves on Decatur’s Paints to Jazz announcements, and otherBetinformation received for publication are subject to editing. ter Together Advisory Board, and has been a long-term member of the Community of Hospitality, a partnership organization from whom L’Arche leases a homeInformation on Mead Rd. found in the Focus is also posted on Decatur's official website. The deadline fo more information, visitof decaturartclasssubmitting articles, announcements, orFor advertising is the first day the month preceding Jasmine Terry Okafor is a development specialist at the Association for Clinical Pastoral es.com, call/text Ms. Sylvia, 404-377-7747, publication.

Contact: Editor, Decatur Focus, P.O. Box 220, Decatur, GA 30031,or404-371-8 Education, a national organization with offices in downtown Decatur. email ms.sylvia.cross@gmail.com. fax is 404-371-1593; decaturfocus@decaturga.com.

Jim Swartz is a labor law attorney at Polsinelli, a national firm, and a resident of email Decatur.

L’Arche has a house in Oakhurst serving four individuals. For more larCityinformation Commissionvisit to Launch Virtual Town Hall in March cheatlanta.org.

12 | Decatur Focus • MARCH 2017

The Decatur City Commission will launch a new Virtual Town Hall streaming video series beginning in March. Virtual Town Hall is a monthly series of “Town Hall” discussions fea individual Commissioners discussing a different topic using the city’s streaming video syst and Facebook Live.

Business & Nonprofit News A Decatur Walk Star This month’s Decatur Walking Superstar is resident Michelle Andotra who moved from West Cobb to Decatur for the quality of life. In the midst of juggling work, family, and personal peace, Michelle walks her two young children to two different schools in the mornings, and then cultivates peace by taking MARTA to downtown Atlanta for work.

Do you know of someone in Decatur who is a Walking Superstar? Send your nomination to cheryl.burnette@decaturga.com for consideration.

Listen and Learn at Woodlands Garden

W

oodlands Garden, the eight-acre public garden at the corner of Scott Boulevard and Clairemont Avenue, is open for free on a daily basis. This spring come explore the trails at your leisure, but also learn something new. Thanks to funding support received from the Decatur Craft Beer Festival and the Decatur BBQ Blues and Bluegrass Festival, Woodlands is launching a newly developed audio tour for visitors.

The audio tour stops can be found throughout the garden and will change with the seasons.

In the spring a visitor might learn about spring ephemerals, such as trillium, that call the garden home. A visitor in winter could learn to identify the native beech tree, which holds on to its leaves long into the season. In addition to seasonal audio tours, the garden will offer a youth-friendly tour too, to make this experience something the entire family can enjoy.

The next time you take a walk along the Woodlands trails, look for signage providing access details to the audio tour. Visit woodlandsgarden.org for more information.

Kudos!

Studio A2, a full-service architecture and interior design firm in Decatur, was voted the “Best of 2016” Residential Architect Firm by Atlanta Home Improvement Magazine. This is the second year in a row that Studio A2 has won this award.

Summer Camp for 3-6 Year Olds June 5-9 • 9 a.m.-noon First Christian Church of Decatur 601 W. Ponce de Leon Ave. In June, First Christian Church of Decatur will offer summer day camp for children ages 3, 4, 5, and 6. Registration begins April 1. Online registration forms will be available on that day.

For more information, visit decaturdisciples. org or call the church office, 404-378-3621.

MARCH 2017 • Decatur Focus | 13

DBA News

tti Mayor Pa elivers Garrett Dhe State of tress City Add ity address,

C te of the In her Sta nuary a J e at th presented catur of the De r meeting on, Mayo Associati e th d Business te gh ett highli the Patti Garr arned by e s e d la o c c a many ts, and its epartmen o city, its d 6. She als es in 201 l o o h c employe s , Caiola ie n n A d pdate invite give an u to , ir a h c hools of board of City Sc te ta s e on th Decatur.

Annual Easter Egg Hunt Saturday, April 8 • 10 a.m.-noon

Meeting Reminder

MARCH 28 Solidcore 150 E. Ponce de Leon Ave. 5:15 p.m. Networking reception 6 p.m.

Program

14 | Decatur Focus • MARCH 2017

Gather friends, family, and neighbors, and hop over to First Baptist Church of Decatur, 308 Clairemont Ave., for the annual Easter Egg Hunt. The Easter bunny will arrive at 10:30 a.m., and the hunt will begin at 11 a.m. There will be other fun activities as well. The event is presented by the Decatur Business Association in partnership with the First Baptist Church of Decatur.

Decatur Events Need Dinner Plans? We’ve Got You Covered Lutheran Church of the Messiah invites the community to a monthly tamale dinner fundraiser. On the first Monday of every month, homemade tamales are sold to help fund a group visit to a sister synod in Guatemala. In the past, the church provided school supplies for children and menstrual hygiene kits for girls, and organized a sewing class.

Tamales sell out quickly and pre-orders are encouraged at tinyurl. com/preorder-tamales. Each plate includes two tamales (pork, chicken, or vegetable) and sides of rice and beans.

Pick-up dates are March 6, April 3, May 1, and June 5 at 5 p.m. Preordering will open about two weeks before the actual monthly pick up and close the Thursday before at 11:30 p.m.

We look forward to providing a great meal for you.

Lutheran Church of the Messiah is at 465 Clairemont Ave. For more information call 404-373-1682.

DEDICATED. EXPERIENCED. RESPECTED.

Vega String Quartet at Agnes Scott College Thursday, March 30 • 7:30 p.m. | Friday, March 31 • 2 p.m.

T

he Agnes Scott College (ASC) music department closes the fifth season of the Kirk Concert and Master Class Series in March with the Vega String Quartet. The Kirk series is funded by the James T. and Ella Rather Kirk Fund, which supports academic programs in history, music, literature, art, and philosophy.

The Vega String Quartet will present a concert on March 30 and a Master Class on Friday, March 31. Both events are free; however tickets must be reserved for the concert on March 30 at VegaatASC. brownpapertickets.com.

The Vega String Quartet is the Quartet in Residence at Emory University and includes Elizabeth Fayette and Jessica Shuang Wu, violins; Yinzi Kong, viola; and Guang Wang, cello.

The quartet has performed in major venues, including Weill Hall and Zankel Hall at Carnegie Hall, and Bargemusic and Duke Hall at the Royal Academy of Music, London. The quartet captured four of the top six prizes at the 1999 Bordeaux String Quartet competition as well as top prizes at the National Society of Arts and Letters String Quartet competition.

All performances will take place at Agnes Scott College in Presser Hall (Maclean Auditorium), 127 S. McDonough St. Parking is available in the West Parking Facility on South McDonough St., directly across from the performance venue. All events and parking are free and open to the public. For more information, call 404-471-6049 or email music@agnesscott.edu.

Expert, uncompromising legal representation when you need it most.

• Personal Injury and Wrongful Death • 150 E. Ponce de Leon Ave., Suite 260 • Downtown Decatur 404-253-7860 • doug@carllp.com • www.carllp.com C&A-2col-ad-focus.indd 1

5/14/14 4:47 PM

MARCH 2017 • Decatur Focus | 15

Decatur Events School News

Tour deCatur Race in March Bring your family and join other community members for the 15th annual Tour deCatur 5K race on Saturday, March 11.

Before the Race Come to Ebster Recreation Center, 404 W. Trinity Place, for the Tour Expo on Friday, March 10, 4-6:30 p.m. Enjoy activities, pick up race numbers and watch teachers take a pie in the face.

Register at tourdecatur.com or at the Tour Expo. Same-day registration and number pick up is also available starting at 7:30 a.m. in the Decatur High cafeteria.

Race Day Come for a warm-up by FitWit on the field at 8:15 a.m.

New this year Due to construction on N. McDonough Street, both the 1-mile fun run and the 5K

will begin on Commerce Drive, behind the high school.

Participation in this community event helps support the Decatur Education Foundation’s (DEF) many programs and initiatives, including the mentoring programs: REACH, Opportunity Partnership and Partnership for Career Achievement, for which DEF is currently recruiting mentors for the 201718 school year.

For more information about mentoring, visit decatureducationfoundation. org/mentoring. To learn how funds from Tour deCatur are used to support Decatur’s kids, visit decatureducationfoundation.org/impact.

Amplify Decatur Music Festival in April Featuring three-time Grammy winner Lucinda Williams Americana artist Lucinda Williams is the headline act for the Amplify Decatur concert series on April 22. The festival will include performances by Noah Gundersen, John Moreland, Packway Handle Band, and Kristen Englenz. General admission tickets are $40. They are available at AmplifyDecatur.org and through Ticketfly.com.

All funds raised will be directed to Decatur Cooperative Ministry (DCM) to support its efforts to prevent and alleviate homelessness in Decatur and DeKalb County. Since Amplify was founded in 2011, it has raised and donated more than $110,000 to DCM, including nearly $60,000 from the 2015 and 2016 concert series. This is the second annual outdoor music festival on the square in downtown Decatur. The Amplify concert series is presented by Lenz and produced in partnership with Eddie’s Attic.

Amplify My Community is grateful for the support of the City of Decatur, Downtown Development Authority and the Decatur Business Association DBA, as well as Georgia Urology, the Leafmore Group, The Pinewood, Lockman Homebuilding, Decatur Package Store and the Feinberg family.

The mission of Decatur Cooperative Ministry is to help families facing homelessness settle into safe, stable homes and build healthy lives filled with peace, hope and opportunity. Visit decaturcooperativeministry.org.

16 | Decatur Focus • MARCH 2017

Decatur Events Earth Day, Birthday Sunday, April 23 Oakhurst Garden 435 Oakview Rd. This year’s annual Earth Day event at the Wylde Center will include a special celebration of the center’s 20th birthday. A festive parade begins at 12:30 p.m., with Earth Day activities scheduled 1-4 p.m. Attendees will enjoy cake, children’s activities, live music, food vendors and much more. Free for all.

Rain or shine. Come help the Wylde Center celebrate 20 Wylde Years. For information visit wyldecenter.org/earth-daybirthday-2/.

Decatur City Dance Presents Let’s Tap!

Saturday-Sunday, March 25-26 Uhry Theatre at Druid Hills High School 1798 Haygood Dr., Atlanta

“Let’s Tap! Hoofing to the Music of Michael Jackson” will be presented by the Rhythm Keepers and Junior Rhythm Keepers tap companies.

The Rhythm Keepers are “Workin’ Day and Night” to present a performance to which the audience “Never Can Say Goodbye.” The Junior Rhythm Keepers will take the audience through the “ABCs” of tap, and remind them why they love the video choreography and music of “Beat It,” “Bad,” and “Smooth Criminal.”

There will also be a guest performance by Decatur School of Ballet’s Rug Cutters, who will make you want to “Shake Your Body Down to the Ground.” Trust that the show will be a true “Thriller”!

MARCH 2017 • Decatur Focus | 17

Decatur Events Decatur Farmers Market Returns: Events and Schedule

V

aishali and Aishvarya, sisters ages 9 and 6, can be found, along with their parents, at the Decatur Farmers Market as part of their ongoing community booth series. The sisters created GrandStories, a book that gives everyone a chance to easily create their own biographies. Stop by their booth to learn more about their book.

The Decatur Farmers Market is open Wednesday afternoons and Saturday mornings on the front lawn of Decatur First Baptist Church at 308 Clairemont Ave.

Opening Day Events Wednesday Decatur Farmers Market – Opening Day Wednesday, April 5 • 4-7 p.m.

Saturday Decatur Farmers Market – Opening Day Saturday, April 8 • 9 a.m.-1 p.m.

Decatur Farmers Market Schedule for 2017 Wednesdays April 12-Dec. 20 • 4-7 p.m.

Saturdays April 15-Dec. 16 • 9 a.m.-1 p.m.

Artists Paint Decatur:

Olmsted Plein Air Invitational Coming April 6 As part of the 2017 Olmsted Plein Air Invitational, more than 30 artists will spend Thursday, April 6, painting and documenting the city of Decatur.

The event will end at the Community Bandstand where you can see the artists’ paintings, vote on a “People’s Choice” award, enjoy live entertainment and purchase art.

The Olmsted Plein Air Invitational runs seven days in metro Atlanta, rain or shine, and features notable artists producing landscape paintings for public purchase in a variety of locations including Decatur. The organization is in partnership with the Atlanta History Center and the Olmsted Linear Park Alliance.

Plein air painting, or painting in the open air, is a familiar concept today but was revolutionary when the Impressionists ventured out of their studios to capture the effects of sunlight in the late 1800s. For more information visit olmstedpleinair.com.

18 | Decatur Focus • MARCH 2017

Decatur events

School News

Friends School Fifth it’s a Date to Stay up late!

Graders: ll Decatur Innovative residents, and everybody else, too, are invited to walk in the Decatur Lantern Parade on the evening of Inventors Friday, May 15. This is one of those “the-more-the-merrier”

A F

ifthevents, graders Thenow Friends School and be a part of helping soatplan to participate of Atlanta (FSA) are dreaming to make this lantern parade memorable.big partown of the inventions unit Make as your lantern at home or in the Innovation Lab. The unit began come to a lantern-making workshop the new year with aand great deal of research into where supplies guidance are providall sorts of inventions.

Then the kids created ed. Find out where and when by visiting either a windshield wiper or a conveyor belt decaturlanternparade.com. using Lego Robotics.

They worked in groups To participate, line up at Color Wheel of three or four to write code and invent Studio at 508 E. Howard Ave. after 8 p.m. a working model. hadled so by much The parade steps The off atkids 9 p.m.

Thefun with this project they managed to complete it Black Sheep Marching Ensemble and pawithin two class periods. rade guru Chantelle Rytter. The parade theitsstudents willcommunity invent something willNext wend way to the using only the materials at their disposal in bandstand in front of the Old Courtthe Innovation Lab. house on the square.

The parade community is invitedbytoColor come see the is sponsored kids in action.

You can even invent someWheel Studio, Decatur Arts Alliance, thing yourself.

The class is in session Decatur Education Foundation, and Mondays-Thursdays, 12:20-1 p.m. the Decatur Development Authority.

Your neighbor and intown real estate specialist.

Whether are buying or selling — or • Estate you Planning simply exploring your options — call me to • Wills & Trusts be sure you are positioned for success in • Probate today’s changing market.

Giving you the time and attention you deserve

As your family grows, you prepare for • Top 1%or producer, Atlanta Board of Realtors (2009 – 2014) retirement, it’s important to have a plan.

• More than 125 homes sold in City of Decatur since 2009 • More than 260 homes sold overall since 2009

One West Court Square, Suite 410, Decatur, GA 30030 chip@kellerknapp.com • 678.429.9731 (404) 793-2510 • Brooks@Mackintosh.law ChipWallaceRealEstate.com www.Mackintosh.law

20 | Decatur Focus • MaY 2015

LISA CRONIC, REALTOR® lisacronic@atlantafinehomes.com 678.641.4325

Decatur Resident for Over 20 Years AtlantaFineHomes.com | 404.874.0300 © MMXIV Sotheby’s International Realty Affiliates, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Equal Housing Opportunity. Each Office Is Independently Owned And Operated.

MARCH 2017 • Decatur Focus | 19

School News DHS Students Present Beauty and the Beast DHS Performing Arts Center 310 N. McDonough St. Step into Broadway’s “Tale as Old as Time,” where intelligent and beautiful Belle becomes a captive of the Beast, a prince trapped in the form of a grisly monster.

Watch as enchanted characters like Mrs. Potts, Lumiere, Cogsworth and little Chip help love grow to break the terrible spell before the last rose petal drops.

More than 70 Decatur High School students in the cast and crew are stepping back to provincial France as they prepare costumes, sets, and spellbinding production numbers to create an unforgettable experience.

March 11 and 12 • 2 p.m.

March 16 and 17 • 7 p.m.

March 18 • 2 p.m. and 7 p.m.

March 19 • 2 p.m.

Visit dhsperforms.com for tickets and information.

F.AVE Fourth Graders Give Back As an International Baccalaureate school, Fifth Avenue 4/5 Academy encourages students to take action based on what they learn at school.

Taking action in the community creates global citizens who are ready to contribute to society in a positive way. During Term 3 at F.AVE, a group of fourth graders were given the opportunity to plan their own learning celebration to occur on the last day before winter break.

Mrs. Clark’s class decided to organize a collection of candy, small toys, and supplies to work with. On the day before break, they used these supplies to make goody bags and cards for kids at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta. This action was selfless and empathic and demonstrates the true goal of an International Baccalaureate School.

Pam Hughes

37 YEARS of FINDING HOMES

for wonderful people... like you!

Experience is not Expensive…

It’s Priceless!

Exceptional | Personalized Service Experience | Insight | Integrity

Pam Hughes, REALTOR®

Direct: 404-851-0732

| Office: 404-250-9900 Pam.Hughes@HarryNorman.com | PamHughes.HarryNorman.com Sandy Springs Office | 5290 Roswell Road NE, Atlanta, GA 30342 | HarryNorman.com

and

Charles Cope • Proprietors • Kimberly Schoon

650-B East Lake Drive • Decatur, GA 30030 • 404-377-1030

www.1stepatatime.net • onestepatatimekids.com 20 | Decatur Focus • MARCH 2017

School News Congratulations to the

F.AVE Lego Robotics Team

Radioactive Marshmallows – a F.AVE Lego robotics team – advanced to the State Championship in February after competing at Georgia Gwinnett State College. The team won two awards: the highest score of any team in the robotics competition and best robot design.

F.AVE fourth grader Logan shows off team trophies.

This is simply an ad from the high school that we would like to include

Personalized hometown community banking

Around Town/Sidewalk Talk

Photo cutline Team Decatur recognized the 2016 Grand Slam Winners at the recent Run with the Runners and walkers braved the rain and thunderstorms to receive their award. For information on how YOU can become a Champion, visit decaturga.com/teamdecatu

Photo cutlinePhoto Members of Chic including Nile Rodgers: (center), Lester 'L2' Shaw, Folami (in turquoise dress), First Lady Michelle Obama and T Credit: The White House Decatur resident, Folami was recently invited to attend a private party hosted by Pre Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama at the White House. Folami, who h

Decatur restaurateur Mike Gallagher (Brick Store Pub, Leon’s Full Service, Kimball House) at left with the bank’s new Decatur President, Brent Adams.

Full-service community banking: From safe deposit boxes, checking and savings to lending options from mortgages and construction to SBA and other business loans.

404.809.3930 | PRIVATEBANKOFDECATUR.COM ONE DECATUR TOWN CENTER, SUITE 120, 150 EAST PONCE DE LEON AVENUE

24-hour emergency pet care and board-certified veterinary specialists.

All under one woof.

625 Dekalb Industrial Way, Decatur 30033 www.sfvs.com 404-924-2000

A division of Private Bank of Buckhead. Member FDIC. Equal Housing Lender.

MARCH 2017 • Decatur Focus | 21

School News A Celebration of Learning

W

estchester Elementary third grade students held their celebration of learning at the community bandstand in downtown Decatur. Their expedition was titled “Human Impact on the Natural World.”

Students investigated Georgia’s habitats and the adaptations animals make to survive.

They also studied how humans impact the lo-

cal environment in Georgia.

Experts from the Wylde Center, EPA, and CDC all shared their knowledge with the students so they could become educated about various environmental issues. Once students completed their research on a self-selected topic, they chose to use the free art movement to raise awareness about environmental issues such as air and soil pollution, global

Working for Strong Communities .since 1979.

warming, deforestation, and much more.

Each student completed a piece of art to go along with an informational writing piece.

The artwork was placed around the Decatur square. Viewers could scan the QR code on the back, which linked them to the website where they could learn about a specific environmental issue. Visit we3rdgrade1617. weebly.com/ to learn more.

Your neighbor and intown real estate specialist.

Whether you are buying or selling — or simply exploring your options — call me to be sure you are positioned for success in today’s changing market.

• More than 180 homes sold in City of Decatur since 2009 • More than 400 homes sold overall since 2009 • Top Ten Agent in Metro Atlanta: 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016

Please view all of our listings at www. adamsrealtors . com 458 Cherokee Avenue, Atlanta, GA 30312 404-688-1222

ChipWallaceRealEstate.com chip@kellerknapp.com 678.429.9731

22 | Decatur Focus • MARCH 2017

Around Town

Decatur PD Wannabe

#decaturga

Show off your Decatur on social media and share it with your neighbors. Email renae.madison@decaturga.com.

Team Decatur Runs with the Dogs

The Decatur Police Department is expanding its recruiting reach. Meet future officer Oliver. #youhavetherighttoremainprecious #becarefuloutthere

Tools of the Trade Team Decatur recognized the 2016 Grand Slam Winners at the recent Run with the Dogs 5k. Runners and walkers braved the rain and thunderstorms to receive their awards. For more information on how you can become a Team Decatur Grand Slam champ, visit decaturga.com/teamdecatur. #teamdecatur #somewhatmoist #runningintherain

Sgt. Bender shows members of fhe Cub Scout Pack 17, Den 12 Bears some police equipment during a tour.

Partying with the Obamas!

#lawandorder #decaturpd

For Decatur/DeKalb Residents

Folami

DeKalb County is one of 15 counties selected for the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES).

Residents will have an invitation-only opportunity to participate in NHANES. Individuals have been selected at random (in a process similar to taking names out of a hat) for NHANES. They include all ages, races, and ethnicities to represent the U.S. population as a whole. Respondents first participate in a health interview conducted in the respondent’s home followed by a health examination that takes place in one of three mobile examination centers.

Folami, a Decatur resident, was invited to attend a private party hosted by President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama at the White House. Folami, who has traveled the world performing legendary music with the soul band Chic, entertained during this very special occasion.

#surveyislegit #healthexam

#cestchic #whitehouseparty #partywiththepotus MARCH 2017 • Decatur Focus | 23

Think your doctor should listen to more than just your heart?

We’re With You.

We believe in “Personal Care” at the doctor’s office. By partnering with a network of specialists and a state-of-the-art health system, we give you the care you need and the attention you deserve.

Matthew W. Marchal, M.D. Robert A. Monett, M.D.

Katina R. Murray, M.D.

Anna W. Steinberg, M.D.

Christina Knox, PA-C

Call us for an appointment

404.501.6363

downtowndecaturfamilymedicine.com 200 East Ponce de Leon Avenue, Suite 110, Decatur, GA 30030

1104-DMED DMPG - DowntownDecaturFamilyMedicine 3.625x4.75.indd 1

12/2/16 3:47 PM

DATED MATERIAL MARCH 2017

Printed on Recycled Paper

P.O. Box 220 Decatur, GA 30031-220

Decatur Square.117 East Court Square.Decatur.404/370-3979 Amsterdam Walk.500-L3 Amsterdam Ave.Atlanta.404/892-8294 www.worthmorejewelers.com

Decatur

For love that's over the moon: Authentic meteorite, mokume gane, plus platinum or gold wedding bands and engagement rings.

Focus

Clear zone

pre-sorted standard u.s. postage PAID Permit No. 199 Decatur, GA 30031

He, She, Ze...

We All Love Equally