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650 East Lake Dr Decatur, GA 30030 (678) 732-3109 oakhurstmarket.com
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BUSINESSES
FULL SERVICE AUTOMOTIVE REPAIR AND GAS STATION 249 E Ponce De Leon Ave Decatur, GA 30030 (404) 856-0393
FALL 2017 IMPORTANT CONTACT INFORMATION:
City of Decatur: ..............................................www.DecaturGA.org Police (non-emergency): ............................................404-373-6551 Fire (non-emergency): ................................................404-373-5092 Active Living (Recreation Center): ............................404-377-0494 Children and Youth Services: .....................................404-378-1082 City Clerk: ..................................................................404-370-4100 City Manager: ............................................................404-370-4102 Economic Development: ...........................................404-371-8386 Mayor / Commissioners: ...........................................404-370-4102 Planning & Zoning: ...................................................404-370-4104 Sanitation & Facilities Maintenance: ........................404-377-5571 City Schools of Decatur: ....................www.Decatur-City.k12.ga.us Dekalb County: .............................................www.Co.Dekalb.ga.us Agnes Scott College: ......................................www.AgnesScott.edu Oakhurst Community Garden Project: ....... www.OakhurstGarden.org The Solarium at Old Scottish Rite: ..............www.TheSolarium.org YMCA – East Lake: ................................. www.ely.ymcaatlanta.org YMCA – Decatur/Dekalb: .....................www.ddy.ymcaatlanta.org Samuel Jones Boys & Girls Club: ........ www.bgcma.org/club.jones
ADVERTISER PHONE LISTINGS:
Ace & A: .....................................................................404-373-4074 Avondale Veterinary Hospital: ..................................404-294-4800 Chip Wallace, KellerKnapp Realty: ...........................678-429-9731 Decatur Pest Control: ................................................404-296-4044 Dekalb Medical Hospital: ..........................................404-501-5200 Downtown Decatur Food Tours: ...............................770-999-9663 Finders Keepers: ........................................................404-296-0285 Griffin & Co. Insurance: ............................................404-378-2888 Hammertime Construction: .....................................404-525-3332 Heather Tell, Atlanta Intown Realty: ........................404-219-4078 Intown Expert Realty: ...............................................404-788-6729 Jack n Jill Consignment: ............................................404-508-0611 Linda Lehsten, Keller Knapp Realty: ........................404-784-8779 mCary & Daughters: ..................................................404-370-0999 Matador Cantina: ......................................................404-377-0808 Mezcalitos: .................................................................678-471-6135 MoJo’s Pizza: ..............................................................404-373-1999 Mustang Computers and Supplies .............................404-373-1321 Oakhurst Electric: .....................................................770-256-7174 Oakhurst Market: ......................................................678-732-3109 Pam Hughes, Harry Norman Realty: ........................404-250-9900 Plants Creative Landscapes: ......................................404-309-7175 Pure Gas Station: .......................................................404-856-0393 Scout Restaurant: ……………………………………404-496-6863 Second Life Store : …………………………………… 678-974-5671 Shelter Lending: ………………………………………404-277-6044 Steinbecks Pub: ………………………………………404-373-1116 Universal Joint: ..........................................................404-373-6260 Wahoo Grill: ..............................................................404-373-3331 Wahoo Wine & Provisions: ........................................404-687-9463 Wildheart Salon: ........................................................404-228-7365 Disclaimer: The Clarke Agency LLC publishes the Village Magazine bi-monthly with the support of the Oakhurst Neighborhood Association (ONA) and the Winnona Park Neighborhood Association (WPNA). The content, including ads, articles and photos are not authorized or endorsed by ONA or WPNA and do not necessarily reflect the views of the ONA or WPNA, The Clarke Agency or the Publisher. Therefore neither The Clarke Agency nor the Publisher may be held liable for the business practices of the advertisers in the Village Magazine. The content reflects the views of its authors and we have provided the email addresses of the writers for direct response. We encourage Decatur residents to contribute content often. The Village Magazine staff reserves the right to modify, edit or not publish submitted content.
@2017 The Clarke Agency, LLC Mailing Address: 931 Monroe Dr. NE #282, Atlanta, GA 30308 Phone: 404-587-7887
FALL 2017
Village Magazine
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EDITOR’S NOTE
Taking in Fall Time to take out the blankets and sweaters, because fall is upon us! I have always treasured autumn since I was a child. The crisp leaves falling from the trees leaving a variety of beautiful shades on the ground to step on and listen to that oh-so-enjoyable crunch! Of course Hurricane Irma doused us with an immediate season change. But I particularly love to drive down Adams St the next few weeks to see the different phases of foliage change. That particular street with its astonishing beauty makes it feel like fall is happening right in front of me. Halloween is also right around the corner, my favorite holiday. Pumpkin everything is sure to delight us all! There are so many fall activities and festivals that I love attending with friends. Porchfest is coming up soon and is featuring many of our neighbors either hosting or playing for us all on the porches of friends throughout the neighborhood. The Young Emerging Artists festival should delight us with music and art from our K-12 students. Decatur Beer festival and other various Octoberfest fun will be filling the square with plenty for us all to do. I look forward to trick or treating with my son all around the neighborhood and checking out all the remarkable decorations and everyone’s costumes. We are sure not to miss Mathew Morgan’s haunted home on East Lake this year! All of the streets from Oakhurst to Winnona Park are filled with wonderful neighbors contributing with cool décor and treats for the children, not to mention the cheerful treats for adults too! The weather is just right to be outside enjoying all of the magnificent events in our neighborhood. —Lorelei Cooper, Managing Editor
Anne Clarke, Owner/Publisher
Rob Boeger, Graphic Designer
The Village Magazine is written by neighbors; for neighbors! Please email your story suggestions to OakhurstMag@gmail.com or call directly 404-587-7887. We publish every other month and are happy to hear about local news, accomplishments, events, and anything you all find interesting!
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Village Magazine
FALL 2017
DECATUR ARTS: DHS PERFORMS
Decatur High School announces new theater season By WENDY HOLMES DHSperforms@gmail.com Stages burst with excitement again this year, as Decatur High School performing arts announces its 2017-2018 season! The lineup adds an additional Fall musical, and again brings performances to venues throughout Decatur. Visit DHSPerforms. com for the latest updates and tickets. Here’s a sampling of what’s happening this Fall: Fall Chorus Concert (Oct. 12) The 160-member DHS Men’s and Women’s Choruses present a concert of choral music entitled “Go East!” Selections will include music of Germany, Africa, India, Russia, Japan, Thailand, Turkey, Germany, Estonia, Macedonia, Iran, and Ireland. Join us in the DHS Performing Arts Center on Thursday, Oct. 12 at 7 p.m. as we sing our way throughout the Eastern Hemisphere. “Seussical the Musical” (Dec. 2) The
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Village Magazine
Musical Theater Ensemble brings Dr. Seuss characters to life in this whimsical show! The show will be open to all, but if you have elementary school kids, expect them to come home singing – DHS is bringing the show at their schools. Winter Chorus Concert (Dec. 14) The DHS Men’s and Women’s Choruses join with the 7th and 8th grade choirs from Renfroe Middle School to present songs of “Family, Community, and Unity.” Join
us at the First Baptist Church of Avondale Estates on Thursday, Dec. 14 at 7 p.m. as we join together – 300 voices strong to celebrate our musical community. The DHS Performing Arts Association is also pleased to announce a new Sponsorship and Patron program for businesses, organizations, and individuals that would like to support the program – in the classroom and on the stage – throughout the entire school year.
FALL 2017
BUSINESS PROFILE: DOWNTOWN DECATUR FOOD TOURS
Unique walking tour celebrates first year in business By ANNE CLARKE OakhurstMag@gmail.com Downtown Decatur Food Tours (DDFT) celebrates its first year anniversary with 10 percent tour discounts throughout the month of October. A new business concept for Decatur, DDFT offers walking tours of Downtown Decatur every Saturday and Sunday that features great food, intriguing history and a unique culinary education. “We start at Taiyo for a taste of Taiwan and then leisurely work our way to three additional restaurants featuring the international cuisine of the city,” said Tracy Reddick, DDFT owner. Reddick conceived the idea to start DDFT during a walking tour she enjoyed in Atlanta. She thought how wonderful it would be to bring the concept to her own hometown of Decatur. After extensive research, hard work and a determined spirit, Reddick began Deca-
FALL 2017
tur’s first walking tour company in 2016. “I particulary enjoy talking to people about the details of the city’s history, architecture and culture,” Reddick explained, which can include tidbits about the early residents, street art and more.” She has enjoyed success in her first year of business and so far there has been no competition in the Decatur area for these walking tours. Eateries for the food tours focuses on Decatur’s authentic international cuisine and specialty shops in the downtown area. Friends, family, school and community groups or even perfect strangers can find plenty of fun and fellowship on the Downtown Decatur Food Tour. There are four regular tours scheduled on Saturdays and Sundays. Help Reddick celebrate her first year anniversary by booking your tour at DowntownDecaturFoodTours.com. Use the FALL10 discount code at checkout.
Tracy Reddick, Downtown Decatur Food Tours owner
Village Magazine
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COVER STORY: MATHEW MORGAN
Oakhurst electrician provides helping hand Serving local community, providing Halloween fun is more than just work for Mathew Morgan By CAYLA HOWARD me@caylahoward.com Mathew Morgan exemplifies the tightknit Oakhurst Village community that thrives because of hardworking small businesses. He is Oakhurst’s very own, quite well known, electrician who founded Oakhurst Electric in 2009. Mathew started working as an apprentice electrician in 2003 and became a licensed electrician in 2009. Morgan learned early on — at the age of 8-years-old, in fact — that he wanted to run his own company. “I’ve always wanted to be in business for myself — it’s just fun,” he confides, “I love knowing that I’ve made a house better.” Mathew’s love for entrepreneurship began at a surprisingly early age. Always one to do things for himself, he started earning money early on by mowing his neighbors’ lawns or selling hamsters to the local pet store. In fact, his early business endeavors were so successful that his parents opened him his very own checking account — at the age of 13! So, how did Mathew become an electrician? Much like his earlier business endeavors, Oakhurst Electric came about as a way for him to continue doing what he loves — working for himself and lending a helping hand to his neighbors. When asked what he would want others to know about Oakhurst Electric, Mathew responded, “People keep me asking if I’m going to expand my company and the answer is no, because I can’t guarantee quality.” He does all of his own wiring. This way,
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he can guarantee that every screw is tight, and every wire is wrapped the correct way.
Making lives better
For Mathew, though, doing his own work is more than just quality control. “I love when people call me when something’s broken and I can make their lives better,” he says about his electrician work. “When I first started this, I put a small ad in the local paper, and then I got my first call from someone who lived around the corner
and it just went from there,” he confides. Oakhurst has been the center of where he has worked and set up shop. Serving Oakhurst and the surrounding areas is more than just about a work location for Mathew, however. “I’ve always liked working for myself and I’ve always liked working with my hands,” he speaks passionately about his work, “And I want to stay mentally engaged and, luckily, I also like to stay good — and electrical is sort of the perfect mix of that. It’s the same thing
FALL 2017
COVER STORY: MATHEW MORGAN
Left: Mathew Morgan on the job, in a typical tight spot under a home handling electrical repairs. Right: Haunted Halloween costumes at the Morgan house. over and over but every house is different, every client is different.” For Mathew, each home is a new story, a new adventure, waiting for a helping hand. Mathew shows his deep appreciation for his community in many ways, from providing quality service to friends and neighbours in Oakhurst to volunteering in local organizations with his wife, Jill. “I’m doing what I love all the time, whether I’m working or not,” he says cheerily. “I have an 87-year-old neighbor that I change lightbulbs for. That’s how you treat people: you see where you’re needed and where you’re not. I do everything I can to keep her electrical issues off her radar—and we make cookies [occasionally], too.” To boot, Mathew and his wife, Jill, are actively involved in their community and regularly volunteer at a few organizations, including Paws Atlanta, NPR, SPLC, Union of Concerned Scientists, Fernbank and more.
Exploring new Halloween setups
Not only is Mathew a good neighbor and a licensed electrician, but he also applies his technical skills in creative ways to benefit his community. Every Hallow-
FALL 2017
een, he applies his electrical skills to produce a spooky, fog-filled environment for his neighbors in Oakhurst. When asked how he started his Halloween setup, he responded, “I started dressing in a big, black coat and I’d jump out and scare the kids when they came by for Halloween candy.” So, it was relatively low tech. “But then I thought to myself … what’s ambiently scary?” Mathew started putting up corn stalks in his front yard to create the desired, spooky effect every year on Halloween. “I take my dad’s trailer and I drive up to North Georgia and buy 1,200 stalks of corn. I take both fogger machines and fog all the corn.” Spooky, indeed. When asked if he had any new tricks up his sleeve for this coming Halloween, Mathew alludes, “You could say I’m exploring new avenues for fog distribution for better coverage.” So, what does that mean? “More fog!” Jill calls over her shoulder from the front yard. In fact, on a previous Halloween, there was so much fog at the Morgan residence, the Morgans had no choice but to relocate the fog machines. However, this only opened up the yard for more Halloween fun and creativity.
Eventually, Mathew designated the front yard for the smaller kids, and moved the fog machines and spookier decor into the back yard for the brave of heart—that’s where the Morgans keep the good candy. “It doesn’t hurt that the address is 10/31, the day of Halloween,” Mathew says with a laugh, “I didn’t plan it that way, but it works out.” Eerily enough, Halloween is this Oakhurst electrician’s favorite time of the year. So, if you’re a fan of spooky fun, foggy goodness, and Halloween candy, be sure to swing by the Morgan residence this Halloween. You won’t regret it. When discussing future plans for Oakhurst Electric and Mathew’s role in the community, he confided, “Everything’s so close and everything is so community oriented — and I love it. When I see people I don’t know, it’s because I haven’t worked for them yet, but I’ll get there.” Whether it’s lending a helping hand to a neighbor, providing quality electrician services to the community, or using technical skills to bring a bit of Halloween cheer (or fog!) to the residents of Oakhurst, it seems there isn’t much Oakhurst Electric’s Mathew Morgan can’t do.
Village Magazine
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HOME MATTERS: SAFETY PRECAUTIONS
Halloween can be tricky By DUNCAN COTTRELL duncan@entryenforcer.com As Halloween approaches, the kids get giddy over the costumes they’ll wear and the candy they’ll get, and parents get weary worrying about those costumes, that candy and the safety of traipsing around after dark. Halloween is tricky when it comes to home security. Only on Halloween do we throw standard safety precautions out the window: n We signal that we’re away from home by turning the porch lights off
Continued on page 11
Halloween can be tricky when it comes to home security. Only on Halloween do we throw standard safety precautions out the window. (iStock photo)
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ChipWallaceRealEstate.com chip@kellerknapp.com 678.429.9731
10 Village Magazine
FALL 2017
HOME MATTERS Continued from page 10 n We happily open our doors to total strangers n We don’t think twice about people dressed in costumes
As the witching hour approaches, you can take simple steps to make sure there’s nothing outside that could cause injury to a trick-ortreater or be used to enter the home. Lock away heavy lawn furniture, so it can’t be used to break doors or windows. Be sure all ladders are behind locked doors. Keep pets inside. If you plan to be away during prime trick-or-treating time, consider setting lights inside the house on timers to simulate movement within the house and leaving a TV on a news station to simulate conversation. If you plan to use the porchlight-off signal for "no candy here," consider leaving all the outside flood lights on, so that there is some light around the home. If you have security cameras, consider what they can see. You might want to ad-
FALL 2017
If you plan on being away during Halloween trick-or-treating time, consider a light timer to simulate movement. (iStock photo) just them for Halloween night, to capture activity on the front porch or on the street outside your home. If you have a security alarm, be sure to set it. If something sets it off, it may scare the little goblins on the street but it will also drive off the dangerous “zombie” who plans to take advantage of Halloween's cover. If you plan to welcome trick-or-treaters with candy, keep the door closed and locked and check the peephole before you open the door. It’s risky to assume that ev-
ery knock will be a harmless child, especially as the night goes on. Notice the difference between a costume and a disguise. A 4-ft. Captain America on your doorstep is probably not a threat. A 5½-ft. “zombie” with a torn T-shirt, jeans and no makeup could very well be one. Halloween is great fun for families and for the neighborhood. With a little planning and a security-conscious eye, you’ll be able to enjoy the evening and the candy splurge that follows.
Village Magazine 11
AROUND TOWN: OAKHURST JAZZ NIGHTS Photos by Phil Coventry of the Oakhurst Jazz Nights Fall Concert Series which barely escaped hurricane Irma. Will Scruggs, pictured bottom left, kicked off the series. Faith Harris, top left, and Kermit Walker, bottom right, both returned to Jazz Nights after a 10 year absence while Mace Hibbard closed the September series.
Make Money. Save Money. Shop Smart.
404-296-0285
AVONDALE
404-377-1944
DECATUR
12 Village Magazine
Finders Keepers Consignment Stores
FOUR fabulous consignment stores filled with Home Furnishings and Fashions for Women & Men. fkconsign.com
404-634-6995
DECATUR
404-634-6995
DECATUR
FALL 2017
HEALTH MATTERS: LOCAL CARE
First class healthcare with Decatur charm By DR. MELISSA BLACK mpblackmd@empowerdecatur.com With autumn in the air, the fall colors and cool breeze bring relief from the heat of Hotlanta summer. Your kids are building spaceships from LEGOS®, reminiscing in song about the good old days when their mama sang them to sleep, which was actually last night. In a few minutes the kids across the street knock and the whole pack heads outside to swing light sabers and scooter. Two hours later you walk to Oakhurst Village for dinner, greeting friends along the way and relaxing in the neighborhood déjà vu of simpler times. Your spouse arrives home from work with a severe rash just before a day trip to Chicago. When you dial up the doctor, after a couple of rings her familiar voice greets you. This rash warrants a thorough physical exam. There’s a scourge of cellulitis rampant in town this week. Since the work travel deadline is looming, the doc stops by the office where you pop in, an easy stop on your walk home from dinner with no wait or hassle. A diagnosis is made, contagion ruled out and therapeutic cream dispensed from her supply cabinet. Sound familiar? Probably not. The common courtesy of after-hours care by a familiar doc seems a relic. Healthcare without the wait and red tape, ethereal. Such concierge level care has been reserved for executives, with a price tag to match. The tide is turning though, and healthcare practitioners locally and nationally are combining the charm of old-fashioned country medicine with modern technology to put the “care” back into everyday healthcare.
Local pharmacies
Consider a local pharmacy like McKinney’s Apothecary. Remedies are dispensed by a trusted familiar pharmacist who can offer reliable advice and amenities such as online refill orders and home delivery. If you do use a big box retailer, first check the price on GoodRx.com, because cash prices for drugs can differ by $100 or more depending on the pharmacy. That’s a lot of LEGOS.
Direct primary care
Some docs have embraced slow medicine
FALL 2017
by cutting the cord between primary care and insurance. People pay into a co-op for care, much like community supported agriculture. In direct primary care (DPC), extended office visits, email consultation via digital portal, occasional after-hours care, and telemedicine are provided by your physician for a low monthly fee. Often included are deep discounts on labs, tests, medications and specialist consultation as well. A map of direct primary care practices can be found online at www.dpcfronteir.com.
Surgical Care
The direct care model is so simple, even some surgeons are joining the movement. Dr. Christopher Vaughan M.D. of Freedom Orthopedics in Dunwoody offers flat rate cash pricing for fracture management and orthopedic surgeries. Surgery Center of Oklahoma offers deeply discounted rates for a wide range of major surgeries. You can go to their website and click any body part to see the actual cost of major surgeries when red tape is eliminated.
Health cost share
Direct care is ideal for people with high deductible health insurance or those who desire more personalized care. Insurance coverage is still essential though in case
more expensive specialty or surgical services are needed. Cost sharing plans like Liberty Health Share and Medi-share are an ACA-allowed alternative to conventional health insurance. These plans offer coverage of major medical expenses for a fraction of the cost of usual health insurance.
Healthy at home
Your cured spouse catches a red eye, and an hour later your spaceship engineer wakes with a fever. Not wanting to wake the baby, you check vital signs with a home digital monitor and dial up a video chat with your pediatrician. The progeny, appearing ill but not ominous, consents to an ear exam via smartphone otoscope with an image transmitted in seconds. A diagnosis is made and antibiotic prescribed, but the baby just went to sleep and your only car is at the Hartsfield economy lot. Have no fear. The apothecary delivers. At dawn he arrives with bubble gum flavored amoxicillin and a smile. Here’s to a healthy Decatur sunrise and another crisis averted. Melissa Black M.D. is a family physician and founder of Atlanta’s first direct primary care clinic, Empower Family Medicine. Located in downtown Decatur at 209A Swanton Way, Learn more at www.empowerdecatur.com.
Village Magazine 13
DECATUR ARTS: YOUNG EMERGING ARTISTS
YEA festival a huge success By ANNE CLARKE OakhurstMag@gmail.com The Young Emerging Artist (YEA) festival was a huge success with over 60 students, grades K-12, showcasing their art direct to the public on Saturday, Oct. 1 in the Oakhurst Village Harmony Park. The festival also featured about 15 different student musical performances on the stage. “The students are able to learn art as commerce,” explained Angie Macon, executive director of the Decatur Arts Alliance. With tents lining the park, 2 and 3 person teams of students show off their individual creations from jewelry, paintings, photography, drawings, culinary delights and handcrafted goods all for sale by the students. The adults, including parents,
FALL 2017
were only the customers at this event. “We are so proud to provide a venue that connects our creative students with an arts loving public and get students to consider art as a career,” explained Mason. The wildly popular one-day event, now in its third year, allows young artists gain practical experience in event organization, marketing, and sales of their artwork.
Village Magazine 15
PET ROUNDUP: BLESSING OF ANIMALS
By BETTY SAYE Decatur Presbyterian Church, 404-378-1777 What a perfect day for the blessing of the animals, led by Dr. Speed on Saturday, Oct. 7 on the Terrace Garden of Decatur Presbyterian Church at the corner of Church and Sycamore Streets. The blessing of pets and animals is often celebrated on Oct. 4, the feast of St. Francis of Assisi, or near that date. This custom is conducted in remembrance of St. Francis of Assisi’s love for all
16 Village Magazine
creatures. St. Francis (1182-1226) was a monk who founded the contemporary order of Franciscans. Animals, among many other things, knew him for his vow of poverty and his special connection. A Blessing of Animals witnesses to God’s and the Church’s love, care and concern for creation. As we recognize our mutual interdependence with God’s creatures, the Church’s witness of stewardship of creation is strengthened. It is also a service with special appeal to children. Please enjoy the photos from this years’ blessing of the animals.
FALL 2017
REAL ESTATE RESOURCE Home sales were supplied by Keller Knapp Realty via the Multiple Listing Service (MLS). The information has not been verified and may not be listed by the office or agent advertised on this page.
Address
Area
List Price
Sale Price Sold Date DOM Beds Baths Sq. Ft.
477 Chevelle Lane
Winnona Park
$850,000
$887,000
7/21/17
1
5
5.0
3208
227 Kings Hwy
Oakhurst
$389,000
$379,000
7/24/17
3
3
1.0
1440
506 E Lake Drive
Oakhurst
$450,000
$405,000
7/25/17
44
2
1.0
958
135 Hilldale Drive
Winnona Park
$575,000
$575,000
7/26/17
1
3
2.0
1968
937 Derrydown Way
Winnona Park
$899,000
$895,000
7/28/17
48
5
4.0
3281
716 S. Candler St.
Winnona Park
$650,000
$655,000
7/31/17
12
3
2.0
1650
124 Winnona Dr
Winnona Park
$500,000
$435,000
8/3/17
253
4
2.0
1626
164 Olympic Place
Oakhurst
$625,000
$625,000
8/10/17
3
3
2.0
2218
233 Jefferson Place
Oakhurst
$579,900
$570,000
8/10/17
38
4
2.0
2144
315 Benson St
Oakhurst
$469,900
$468,400
8/10/17
6
3
2.0
1900
212 Ridgeland Ave
Winnona Park
$499,000
$499,000
8/14/17
7
3
2.0
1584
131 W Benson St
Oakhurst
$539,900
$517,000
8/15/17
17
3
2.0
1348
112 Spring St
Oakhurst
$849,900
$850,000
8/18/17
4
4
3.5
2780
936 S. McDonough St.
Oakhurst
$849,000
$850,000
8/22/17
8
5
4.0
3141
755 Kirk Rd
Winnona Park
$1,195,000
$1,130,000 8/25/17
55
4
5.0
4340
631 E Lake Drive
Oakhurst
$780,000
$735,000
8/25/17
25
5
4.5
3205
323 2nd Ave
Oakhurst
$499,900
$449,900
8/25/17
129
3
2.0
1613
244 Innman Dr
Winnona Park
$469,000
$430,000
8/31/17
42
4
2.0
1555
102 Greenwood Place
Oakhurst
$425,000
$410,000
9/13/17
20
3
2.0
1718
1143 Conway Road
Winnona Park
$850,000
$845,000
9/15/17
99
5
4.0
3664
327 Kings Hwy
Oakhurst
$450,000
$461,900
9/15/17
4
2
2.0
1580
FALL 2017
Village Magazine 17
AROUND TOWN: OAKHURST POOL OPENING
Facility opens amidst delays due to hurricane While it did not make the scheduled opening because of Hurricane Irma, Decatur’s the first indoor pool opened in Oakhurst. The pool, a 5-lane 148,000 gallon aquatic facility, is a partnership between the Boys and Girls Club, Decatur Active Living and Dynamo Swim. Oakhurst pool is located at Samuel L. Johnson Boys and Girls Club at 450 East Lake Dr. with the entrance on the right side of the building. DPR Contractors was awarded the pool redesign contract in 2016 and completed the project in time for a September ribbon cutting if not for the weather distraction. Even so the newly designed pool is open for use. The pool will have a bather load limit of 50 swimmers at a time, which is recommended by the American Red Cross lifeguard to swimmer ratio. Lap swim will be available during open hours with the exception of 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. when the swim team trains. Free swim will be held on Saturdays and Sundays from noon until 4 p.m. when the lap ropes are removed allowing space for families to play. General pool hours are 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Friday; 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturdays; and noon to 4 p.m. on Sundays. Monthly adult swim passes are $50 for residents and $100 for non-residents; children swim passes will be $30 for residents and $60 for non-residents. Please visit DecaturGA.com for more information on the pool hours and pool passes.
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FALL 2017
AROUND TOWN: HURRICANE IRMA CLEANUP
Oakhurst community bands together in storm cleanup Oakhurst Village surely received its brunt of Hurricane Irma many residents were without power with the damage from large oak trees. The winds and rain wreaked havoc in our small community but luckily we banded together to support each other. At right is a photo of Brian Hammock who embraced his chain saw to help clear streets in Oakhurst. Courtesy photos
FALL 2017
Village Magazine 19
GARDEN NEWS: OAKHURST GARDEN
Wylde Center presents its Fall season Events include: Fall Plant Sale, S’mores for All and Deck the Wylde Wreaths By STEPHANIE VAN PARYS Wylde Center Executive Director stephanie@wyldecenter.org The Fall Plant Sale: (Sept. 2 – Oct. 14) is an eagerly anticipated annual event designed for gardeners seeking unique varieties of vegetables, herbs and perennials. Located at Oakhurst Garden, 435 Oakview Road in Decatur, plants for sale will include numerous varieties of lettuce, Asian greens, arugula, kale, Swiss chard and other cool season edible plants. The Wylde Center’s horticulture staff has propagated all of the vegetables, while local growers and partner organizations will provide many of the other plants offered for sale. Proceeds from the ongoing sale benefit the numerous educational offerings at the Wylde Center and help support the Atlanta non-profit organization’s five public green spaces. “Our plant sale coordinator and our volunteers have spent hundreds of hours sowing seeds in the greenhouse and potting up
plants for the sale,” said Stephanie Van Parys, executive director of the Wylde Center. “We only offer plants that we know will grow well in the fall, and each plant is well-labeled. Because the Wylde Center’s mission is to inspire communities of environmental stewards, we encourage all gardeners to stop by the ongoing sale.” The Plant Sale operates on a self-serve, honor system from sunup to sundown each day. All prices are clearly marked, and customers are asked to please deposit either cash or a check made out to the Wylde Center for their purchase total through the dropbox in the front door. Credit cards are accepted during regular business hours, Monday-Friday, 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. www.wyldecenter.org/fall-plant-sale-2017 S’Mores for All: (Sunday, Oct. 29) is a fun, family event during a beautiful time of year. Free for members with a suggested $10 donation for non-member families, the special event includes s’more-making around an open fire. The first S’Mores for All will be held at Oakhurst Garden (435 Oakview Rd. in Decatur) from 4-6 p.m., and the second will be held Sunday, Nov. 12 at Hawk Hollow from 4-6 p.m. Non-members may join the Wylde CenContinued on page 21
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20 Village Magazine
Neighbors using the natural resources at special Wylde Center classes as they get ready for the Fall creativity in the garden. Always a fun season in Oakhurst Garden.
FALL 2017
GARDEN NEWS: OAKHURST GARDEN
Left: Local children enjoy last years S'mores For All event at the Wylde Center. Middle, right: Sample wreaths made at last years' Deck the Wylde Wreaths, a fun, adult event at the Oakhurst Garden every year. Continued from page 20 ter at the event to receive free admission. Attendees are asked to RSVP in advance. www.wyldecenter.org/smores-for-all-2 Deck the Wylde Wreaths: (Nov. 29 - Dec. 2 and Dec. 5 - Dec 9) is a seasonal evening of wreath making for adults at Oakhurst Garden, 435 Oakview Road in Decatur. Participants will be provided with Balsam Fir wreaths, along with a variety of garden materials including dried berries, herbs and flowers, pine cones, dried magnolia pods, etc. to embellish the wreaths and create one-of-a-kind holiday decorations. All materials are included. The cost is $55 per person for Wylde Center members or $65 for non-members, with proceeds benefitting Wylde Center. Adults must register online in advance and may choose an evening from Nov. 29-Dec. 2 or Dec. 5-9 from 7-9 p.m. “This annual event has proved to be very popular with adult family members or groups of friends coming together to celebrate special occasions, or simply to step away from the holiday hustle and bustle for an evening,” said Stephanie Van Parys, executive director of Wylde Center. “We invite the participants to bring their own refreshments and beverages, including beer and wine to enjoy as they create their own unique wreaths, which they may take home that same evening.” Wylde Center staff will be on hand to offer suggestions and any needed help. Bows and other decorative accessories will be provided. Registrations will open Nov. 1 and close Dec. 4. To register, visit www.wyldecenter.org/wylde-wreath-making .
and individuals in activities designed to develop creative skills in sustainable urban living, organic gardening, health and nutrition. Despite its robust growth, Wylde Center has stayed true to its original mission of cultivating vibrant green spaces for everyone to enjoy, and inspiring communities of environmental stewards. Memberships, donations, volunteers and grants support Wylde Center. Visit www.wyldecenter.org for more information.
About the Wylde Center
For two decades, Wylde Center has been growing, educating and greening. From the seed of an idea in 1997, Wylde Center has blossomed into an environmental organization that oversees five distinctive green spaces, conducts a year-round educational program for all ages, partners with the Decatur Housing Authority to establish community gardens and healthy eating programs for DHA residents, hosts social events and delivers farm to school programming in Decatur and Atlanta schools. Wylde Center staff and volunteers engage children, families
FALL 2017
Village Magazine 21
AROUND TOWN: TRINITY WALK
Decatur Housing Authority officially opens Trinity Walk in downtown Decatur By JULIE HERRON CARSON jhcarson@bellsouth.net A crowd of dignitaries, Trinity Walk residents, local officials, project partners and neighbors gathered for the official opening of Phases I and II of Trinity Walk, the exciting redevelopment of the former Gateway Manor and Oakview apartments at 421 West Trinity Place in downtown Decatur by the Decatur Housing Authority (DHA). Following an invocation by Pastor David Lewicki of North Decatur Presbyterian Church, DHA Executive Director Doug Faust welcomed the event speakers: n Jon Abercrombie, Vice Chairman of the DHA Board of Commissioners n Fred Boykin, Mayor Pro Tem, City of Decatur n Laurel Hart, Housing Finance and Development Division Director, Georgia Department of Community Affairs n David Pedrick, Senior Technical Project Manager, Southface n Dakar Gibbs, Senior Vice President, Bank of America “Affordable housing is the foundation of a stable community,” said Faust. “Families are free to focus their energies on health, education and employment if they have a safe and comfortable place to live.” Trinity Walk features 121 one, two and three-bedroom energy-efficient apartment flats and townhomes in six contemporary, three-story buildings. Thirty-two of the apartments were created for the elderly and/ or disabled, while the remaining 89 units were designed for families. Trinity Walk’s first two phases are already fully occupied. In addition to Trinity Park residents, partners for the redevelopment include the City of Decatur, City Schools of Decatur, MARTA, Hudson Housing Partners, Sugar Creek Realty, Bank of America, Merrill Lynch, HUD, SK Collaborative, TERRACON, LM Consultants, Hemenway Group, LLC, McCurdy & Candler, LLC, Arnall Golden Gregory LLP, CohnReznick, LLP, Wylde
22 Village Magazine
From left: Decatur Housing Authority hosted a ribbon-cutting ceremony to officially open Trinity Walk in downtown Decatur. Participants included (L-R): David Pedrick, Southface senior technical project manager (pink shirt), Laurel Hart, Housing Finance & Development Division director, Georgia Department of Community Affairs, Dakar Gibbs, Bank of America senior vice president, Doug Faust, executive director of the Decatur Housing Authority, Melissa Heffner, chair of the DHA Board of Commissioners, Jon Abercrombie, vice-chair of the DHA Board of Commissioners, Fred Boykin, City of Decatur Mayor Pro Tem, Belinda Seats, DHA Board member, Bill Markert, DHA Board member, Haywood Curry, DHA Board member and Kells Carroll, Sugar Creek Capital acquisitions director. Photo by Judith Vanderver Photography Center, Bryant Pharmacy & Compounding and DeKalb County Cooperative Extension EFNEP Program. The architect for Trinity Walk is Lord Aeck Sargent and Kimley-Horn is the landscape architect and project engineer. Bradley Construction is the general contractor. www.decaturhousing.org These strategic partnerships were formed to create innovative solutions to development challenges and to build a transformational community that went beyond simply providing housing. Trinity Walk programming includes collaboration with Decatur Education Foundation as well as local citizens and businesses to create a mentoring program for low-income students. Plus, the STARS after school programs are available to assist younger students. The Trinity Walk apartment community was designed with a central Greenway that allows residents to move throughout the campus without interacting with cars at most street crossings. The Greenway features community gardens, a partnership with the Wylde Center, which will also incorporate cooking and nutrition programs.
The Trinity Walk property includes innovative storm water retention solutions. The site infrastructure minimizes the use of pipes to convey runoff, and instead, features a green system made up of enhanced bio-swales which naturally filter the water and return it to the soil, three bio-retention areas and an 8,000-gallon storm water cistern which captures roof runoff for irrigation reuse The nearly 6-acre Trinity Walk campus boasts two children’s playgrounds, an outdoor community gathering area, raised garden beds and a 1/3 mile walking trail. The onsite community Resource Center includes a fully-equipped computer room, recreational area, kitchen, classrooms and laundry facility. “Thanks to a far-reaching and innovative community partnership, DHA has been able to transform a deteriorated and obsolete housing project into a model apartment community that meets far more than just the need for affordable housing,” Faust explained. “Trinity Walk is a beautiful, sustainable, and functional community which will even further enhance the vitality, diversity and civic pride of downtown Decatur.”
FALL 2017
AROUND TOWN: DECATUR BBQ BLUES & BLUEGREASS FESTIVAL
Photos of neighbors having a great time at the 17th Annual BBQ & Bluegrass Festival coordinated by Michael Vajda (pictured top left). Photos by Anne Clarke
FALL 2017
Village Magazine 23
So far in 2017 a combined 52 real estate deals with over $20.4 million in sales. “Chris is great. Very knowledgeable about the area and detail oriented. She took note of our needs and wants and picked out houses she knew we would love. She goes over Chris Aiken and beyond her duties, especially if we were out of town, she'd go look at the house and Decatur resident report back to us. She made sure we weren't only content, but very pleased and satisfied chris@intownexpert.com with our home purchase.” (404) 735-6027 - Bought a home in 2017 “We could not have had a better experience working with Alex. She's incredibly knowledgeable, proactive (multiple times I would think of a question and then find she had emailed me the information before I could even ask her), responsive, professional, Alex Smith Meier full of great character (and fun!). We love our home and we wholeheartedly recommend Decatur resident alex@intownexpert.com Alex to anyone looking to buy or sell.” - Bought a home in 2016 (404) 788-6729
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