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January/February 2016 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 Trees Atlanta: www.TreesAtlanta.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 Ensphere Services: 404-283-3186 Finders Keepers: 404-296-0285 FitWit: 888-534-8948 Halo Salon: 404-390-3629 Heather Tell, Atlanta Intown Realty: 404-219-4078 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 Oakhurst Electric: 770-256-7174 Oakhurst Market: 678-732-3109 Pam Hughes, Harry Norman Realty: 404-250-9900 Parent Coach Atlanta: 404-990-3187 Plants Creative Landscapes: 404-309-7175 Private Bank of Decatur: 404-809-3930 Pure Gas Station: 404-856-0393 Universal Joint: 404-373-6260 Shutter Works: 404-377-7907 Steinbecks Pub: 404-373-1116 SugarMoon Bake Shop: 404-377-3354 Wahoo Grill: 404-373-3331 Wahoo Wine & Provisions: 404-687-9463 Disclaimer: The Clarke Agency LLC publishes the Oakhurst Village Magazine monthly with the support of the Oakhurst Neighborhood Association (ONA). The content, including ads, articles and photos are not authorized or endorsed by ONA and do not necessarily reflect the views of the ONA, 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 Oakhurst 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 the Oakhurst Village residents to contribute content often! The Oakhurst Village Magazine staff reserves the right to modify, edit or not publish submitted content.
@2016 The Clarke Agency, LLC Mailing Address: 931 Monroe Dr. NE #282, Atlanta, GA 30308 Phone: 404-587-7887
JAN-FEB 2016
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PUBLISHER’S NOTE
Welcome 2016!
The holidays were warm and picturesque, as you will see in the pages of the magazine. Decorate Decatur provided some fabulous holiday scenes, a perfect backdrop for those that participated in the Latern Parade down Mead Road and the Holiday Tree Lighting at the Solarium with entertainment from the Oakhurst Community Choir. Now we look forward to helping our neighbor starting with the MLK Service Project. Oakhurst residents have also pulled together for Lydia Cochran who was hit by a car just before the holidays. The Decatur Business Association honored the Hometown Heroes of 2015—the folks that make Decatur so unique and prosperous. Of course, we can enjoy Harmony Park and the new streetscape that had hindered business as usual in the Oakhurst Village. And I know we all look forward to the Oakhurst Wine Crawl on March 5th to help us usher in Spring. As we usher in 2016, I hope you will enjoy reading about your neighbors in Oakhurst Village and please contact us with stories and suggestions. The Oakhurst Village magazine is provided free of charge and mailed to residents in Oakhurst Village. Anne Clarke OakhurstMag@gmail.com 404-587-7887
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JAN-FEB 2016
Above: Decatur’s Hometown Heroes for 2015. Below: Jim and Mickey Basket were recognized with a special Hometown Heroes presentation for their years of contributions in making the Decatur community a better place.
AROUND TOWN
2015 Hometown Heroes honored By PATRICK SAUNDERS psaunders@theGAvoice.com The Decatur Business Association (DBA) honored Hometown Heroes during the annual Holiday Meeting at the Courtyard Marriott Hotel on Tuesday, December 1st. With about 200 in attendance, the Decatur City Commissioners and DBA board members presented awards to the following 2015 Hometown Heroes: Sally Brozek Eli Dodson Larry Holland Sheri Kennedy Helen Lowenthal Lorri Mills Anne Morris Jeff Newbury Kathy Phillips Michael Rossi Clay Scarborough Danielle Suchdev Kelly Walsh Marty Wood
JAN-FEB 2016
And a special award was given to outgoing Decatur Mayor Jim Baskett and his wife Mickey for their many years of service to the city. Following the Hometown Hero presentation, the DBA announced their 2016 newly elected officers, which include: Tim Martin as president, Kyle Williams as pres-
ident elect, Susan Sparks as treasurer, and Lisa Bobb and Floyd Smith as co-secretaries. Past-President Marc Brennan and Member-at-Large Scott Drake were also recognized at the event. Continued on page 6
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Above right: Commissioner Brian Smith with Eli Dodsen. Above left: Fred Boykin, Patti Garrett and Scott Drake looking on at the Hometown Hero awards. Below: Tim Martin at the podium with Marc Brennan, far left; Susan Sparks and Kyle Williams far right.
2015 Hometown Heroes honored continued
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JAN-FEB 2016
The Rhame Family. Left to right: Julie, Sydney, Rhett and Skyler.
Julie Rhame: Oakhurst’s education powerhouse By JOSETTE MURRAY sowrite@bellsouth.net Upon meeting Julie Rhame, one’s first impression is of an easy smile and affable good cheer. Maybe it’s that air of congeniality, accompanied by her clear passion for excellence in education, that has made her so successful serving on the Decatur City School Board. She is retiring in January after having served for 12 years. Julie remembers clearly, as a second
JAN-FEB 2016
grader at Medlock Elementary, empathizing with the crying black students bused in after their school was closed. “I thought, oh my gosh, I’m going to try to do everything I can to try to make them feel welcome. And it was clear there was a huge achievement gap; they didn’t have the same resources we had. So when I finished a lesson, I’d help others. So since then I’ve always been passionate about the achievement gap. I’m an Aquarian, I worry about everybody,” she laughs.
A UGA graduate, she put herself through school as a communications major. She and husband Rhett have had their home in Oakhurst for 19 years, and daughters Sydney, now 17, and Skyler, now 15, thrived at Oakhurst Elementary. In kindergarten, among 178 kids, Sydney was one of 12 whites. “The best decision I ever made was sending both my kids to Oakhurst Elementary,“ she says. “It was a phenomenal Continued on page 8
Oakhurst Village Magazine
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Julie Rhame receiving proclaimation from Decatur Mayor Patti Garrett.
Continued from page 7 school. When [the school population was] all black and they had 88-90% of students on free and reduced lunch, they were second in the district for highest test scores. They missed first place by two points to Winnona, which had less than 20% free and reduced lunch. So who was doing a better job? The only thing we could do to make it better was to make it more diverse; it was already a great school. It had a strong PTA and great, involved parents. There was no emphasis on test scores. I knew my kids were fine because they had me and they had their dad; I worried about the kids that didn’t have a champion.” Before she joined the school board, “Decatur was a split school system. It was great if you were white; but if you were black, your needs weren’t always being served.” All-white
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schools north of the tracks were crowded and minority schools south were under-enrolled, one with a single teacher per grade. The cost of maintaining the empty schools threatened the district with bankruptcy, and enrollments were declining. So it was that, just as she began working on the school board, schools were closed. “Closing three elementary schools freed funding for educational programs like the International Baccalaureate starting from 4th grade up. The K-3 schools were reduced from 4 to 3 and one grade 4-5 academy (still open and “bursting at the seams”) was established, where everybody came together. This saved money with economies of scale, providing more teachers per grade level, more interaction, and better instruction.” And importantly, all the kids knew each Continued on page 9
JAN-FEB 2016
Continued from page 8 other “before they hit Middle school, when the hormones kicked in.” Decatur is a popular place to live, but often such discussion is accompanied by “Oh, but the taxes. You pay for those great schools.” But the fiscal facts are surprising. “What most people don’t know is that, because we have repeatedly cut the budget and rolled the millage rate back, a Decatur
taxpayer in a $500,000 home only pays $15 a month more for education than a comparable one in DeKalb.” Julie is most proud of the Board’s success in exposing and lessening the achievement gap, raising the performance of those under-performing while not weakening that of the high performers. She foresees managing growth as the major future challenge. “For the last 6-7 years, Decatur has been the fastest grow-
ing school district in the state,” she said. That being so, the overwhelming passage of a $75 million bond was fortunate, which will fund construction of a new elementary school and further additions to the middle and high schools. Now that she’s retiring, “I have to find out what my next passion is,” she says. “I’ll certainly be spending more time with my kids before they leave.” One other thing is certain: she’ll remain an advocate for education.
Sydney Rhame on The Voice
Photo from The Voice via Facebook/SydneyRhame
Julie Rhame’s daughter, Sydney (at age 16), was on The Voice this summer. She wooed the judges and all of our hearts! Take a gander at the audition: www.nbc.com/the-voice/artists/ season-9/sydney-rhame
JAN-FEB 2016
Besides serving on the Decatur School Board, Julie also managed her daughters’ musical career since the age of 6 when she started writing and performing her own songs.
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Above left: The Oakhurst Community Choir performing in front of the Solarium at the Tree Lighting celebration. Above right: Latern Parade participants.
AROUND TOWN
Oakhurst Tree Lighting and Lantern Parade By ANNE CLARKE OakhurstMag@gmail.com The Oakhurst Tree Lighting celebration was held in conjunction with the Annual Oakhurst Cooperative Preschool Lantern Parade on Sunday, December 13th. All the children participated in lantern making and play time in the garden at the Oakhurst
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Cooperative Pre-school on West College Avenue before the procession started at about 5:30pm. The Lantern Parade traveled down Mead Road to the front lawn of The Solarium on West Hill Street where Boy Scout Troup 107 set up the holiday tree. With support from the Oakhurst Neighborhood Association and the Decatur Development Authority
the holiday tree was illuminated without a hitch. Then the Oakhurst Community Choir entertained the crowd in front of The Solarium until about 7:30pm. Karvana provided beverages and Revolution Doughnuts provided mini doughnuts. Folks also brought donated canned goods for the Baptist Church food bank. It was quite a beautiful night in Oakhurst Village.
JAN-FEB 2016
JAN-FEB 2016
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Oakhurst Tree Lighting and Lantern Parade continued
Volunteers and neighborhood families creating lanterns at the Oakhurst Cooperative Pre-School. Plus, photo’s of the Latern Parade participants on their way to the Tree Lighting.
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JAN-FEB 2016
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.
315 Madison Avenue
Oakhurst
$899,900
$800,860
11/9/15
15
4
3.5
3466
234 Winter Avenue
Oakhurst
$749,000
$725,000
11/25/15
24
4
3.0
2740
316 East Lake Dr
Oakhurst
$599,000
$595,000
10/29/15
84
4
3.5
2678
162 Mead Road W.
Oakhurst
$699,000
$205,200
12/10/15
65
4
3.5
3300
127 W. Pharr Rd.
Oakhurst
$710,000
$699,000
11/2/15
5
5
4.0
3100
9 Charter Square
Oakhurst
$745,000
$700,000
11/30/15
17
4
2.0
3310
226 W. Benson Street
Oakhurst
$675, 000
$655,000
10/6/15
61
4
3.0
2100
114 Lenore Place
Oakhurst
$634,900
$625,000
11/3/15
49
4
3.5
2594
106 Lenore Place
Oakhurst
$628,700
$615,000
9/21/15
28
4
3.5
2594
133 Madison Avenue
Oakhurst
$600,000
$600,000
10/22/15
34
4
3.0
2548
183 Feld Avenue
Oakhurst
$525,000
$525,000
11/16/15
5
3
2.0
1505
232 Jefferson Place
Oakhurst
$489,000
$484,000
8/31/15
14
3
2.5
1744
152 Jefferson Place
Oakhurst
$489,000
$483,000
11/20/15
18
3
1.5
1828
910 East Lake Drive
Oakhurst
$459,900
$453,000
10/16/15
12
3
2.0
1574
120 W. Benson Street
Oakhurst
$435,000
$410,000
11/20/15
27
3
1.0
2000
548 McKoy Street
Oakhurst
$399,900
$392,000
12/23/15
9
4
2.0
2628
116 5th Avenue
Oakhurst
$399,999
$385,000
11/6/15
25
3
2.0
1835
308 Spring Street
Oakhurst
$395,000
$385,000
9/25/15
24
2
1.0
1408
138 Cambridge Avenue
Oakhurst
$384,000
$364,200
10/28/15
23
3
1.0
1288
538 Ansley Street
Oakhurst
$358,000
$315,250
11/16/15
35
2
1.0
1200
618 Adams Street
Oakhurst
$325,000
$315,000
9/9/15
45
2
1.0
1058
312 East Lake Drive
Oakhurst
$299,900
$277,000
9/30/15
75
3
2.0
1984
JAN-FEB 2016
Oakhurst Village Magazine
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Snap Fitness Decatur, a 24-hour community gym at Agnes Scott College Campus.
BUSINESS FEATURE
Snap Fitness ‘big’ gym amenities By JOSH BAGRIANSKY snap.decatur@peakfitsolutions.com A New Year means new goals. And when it comes to fitness, Snap Fitness Decatur (Oakhurst) provides a unique gym experience that makes those goals more attainable than ever. While joining a new gym may be intimidating to some, Snap isn’t your typical large corporate gym, and their personalized
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approach will make you feel comfortable and at home. Nestled inside the Agnes Scott College parking deck, the gym provides an intimate and personable environment, avoiding the hustle and bustle of one of the bigger gyms. But, as a member, you can still enjoy “big gym amenities,” with an indoor pool, outdoor track, and tanning bed all on site. Snap is also open 24/7, making it extremely accommodating for anyone with a hectic schedule.
If you’re looking for a little personal attention, Snap has you covered. All new members receive a free Fitness Coaching Session to get you on the right track towards reaching your fitness goals. Snap also offers several class options, as well as oneon-one training with one of Snap’s certified Fitness Coaches. I know that sometimes all it takes is a little nudge in the right direction. Snap Fitness Coaches, like myself, are very knowledge-
JAN-FEB 2016
able and will provide the necessary motivation and workouts to help clients reach their goals. We want our clients to push themselves, have fun, and most importantly, feel good about their self when they leave the gym after a session! You’ll find all of the necessary equipment on hand, as well. Snap carries various types of free weights and machines for lifters of all levels. If you are looking to burn off a few extra calories, then hop on one of cardio machines and enjoy Cardio Theater during your workout. “I have worked with and patronized many gyms over my lifetime, and none of them provide something for everyone like we do,” Snap Fitness Decatur General Manager Lana Harrison said. “We have an
JAN-FEB 2016
amazing community at Snap Fitness Decatur, which makes it a joy working, and working out here!” Most Snap-goers live within three miles of the facility, meaning smaller crowds, and thus a quiet and relaxed place for a workout. This may be especially attractive to members who work out during the standard pre- or post-work rush hours. While you might find yourself waiting for a treadmill or bench at another facility, Snap members can enjoy their workouts unimpeded, and without any distractions, at any time of the day or night. Larger gyms can provide an intimidating environment, while smaller, cheaper gyms often offer very little when it comes to having the right equipment, or personalized
touch that is often required for members to achieve their goals. But at Snap, the staff believes you’ll get the best of both worlds, as you can enjoy “big gym amenities” while still enjoying the low-pressure, laid back, clean, and friendly environment of a community owned and operated business. If you’re looking for a new gym in 2016, stop by any time for a free tour. You’ll surely be greeted with a warm smile from someone who genuinely cares about helping you find the best path to your fitness goals.
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Rick Berg photographed on a charity ride for Multiple Sclerosis (MS). Now he plans to ride across the country.
ATHELETE PROFILE: RICK BERG
Oakhurst resident plans cycle trip to Portland By RICK BERG (intro by Anne Clarke) RickToPortland@gmail.com Oakhurst resident, Rick Berg, is going to ride a bicycle from Portland to Portland. That is Portland Oregon to Portland Maine; starting on the day he turns 55 – March 17, 2017. Rick plans to see over 100 families and friends during his 6,000 mile cross-country ride. These are all folks that receive his 2-page annual holiday letter. “I’m so excited about this, I am shaking,” expressed Rick. The Rick-To-Portland trip planning be-
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gan in December when I called my high school friend Bob S. in Portland Maine. I told him I was thinking of hiking the Appalachian Trail next year. His reaction: “That’s cool, but you aren’t a destination person. You are good at taking journeys and sharing observations that most people overlook. What journey would mean something to you?” Talk about a friend who knows you. He was right. During our call, the concept took shape to begin a physical journey to see friends, to see the USA and to test my (self-imposed) limits. So on December 11th, the official planning has begun for
‘wheels up’ in about 15 months. I have 3 lists: Things To Learn, Things To Buy, and Things To Do. Examples include: LEARN: how to camp, how to ride with weight. BUY: a new bike (recumbent?), a lightweight tent. DO: Create an agenda that is open to variables, and cancel the newspapers. This is where you, my neighbors, can help. I would appreciate any and all advice about the journey / ride. Some background as to what generated the 140+ name holiday mailing list. I have moved 25 times in my life. I was
JAN-FEB 2016
Above left: Rick Berg’s holiday letters sent out this year. Above right: Rick Berg’s plotted route Portland, OR to Portland, ME.
born in Vietnam, lived in both Cuba and and went to proms at DHS. This annual holiday mailing letter Italy and went to 10 different schools before graduating from high school. Along the became the basis for the Rick-To-Portway, I met some really cool people I want- land ride. I want to see as many of these ed to stay in touch with. So for the past 30 friends as I can, on a bike. When I first years, I have been sending out a two-page mapped out the ride using GoogleMaps/ annual holiday letter to those friends and Bike, the trip was 8,000 miles, so I had to family that I wanted to stay connected with. eliminate Florida, Texas and Minnesota But I didn’t write the letter most of the so that I could make it to Portland Maine time. Instead, it was ‘written’ by my son Ben before the snow sets in. The second major part of the trip is when he was born 22 years ago and then joined 4 years later by his brother, co-au- to challenge myself physically. Who says thor Sam (who just graduated from DHS). you can’t do something like this at my The year-end review of the life of the Bergs age? Many close friends have influenced was always written through their eyes; from me in the past few years as they have run when they got visits from Santa at age 5 to Ironman races, gone biking 175 miles in fitwit_studio_7.5x3.5_print.pdf 1 7/1/15 when they made the Varsity sports teams a day,10:46 andAMrun ultra-marathons of 50+
miles as they turned 50. My milestone is different. Seven years ago I beat stage-4 cancer in my throat. I feel that now is my time for a new challenge. One that I choose! I have started to write a chronicle of what it takes to prepare for and complete a six thousand mile bike ride, with an occasional adult beverage. You can follow the trip by sending me an email (RickToPortland@gmail.com) to join the blog or via Twitter @RickToPortland or FaceBook/ RickToPortland. And, (and this is a big and), I would appreciate any and all advice on the journey/ride. —Rick Berg, 439 Ansley Street, 404-310-1817
C
M
Y
CM
TRX
YOGA
INDOOR ROWING
MY
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CMY
K
2191 COLLEGE AVE. ATLANTA, GA 30317
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Photo of Downtown Decatur area. The city of Decatur was designated as a Walk Friendly Community - Silver award.
HEALTH MATTERS
The city of Decatur awarded Silver Walk Friendly Community Designation By CHERYL BURNETTE Cheryl.Burnette@decaturga.com The Pedestrian and Bicycle Information Center has re-designated the City of Decatur a Silver Walk Friendly Community for its walk-ability initiatives and programs. Sponsored by the U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Highway Administration and FedEx, Walk Friendly Communities is a national recognition program aimed at recognizing communities for their commitment to pedestrian safety. The City of Decatur, with a population around 20,000, has a strong commitment to improving pedestrian issues and walk-ability. All City departments work together to
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achieve this goal. Decatur Active Living offers a variety of programs to get the community out walking including Team Decatur, Walk With a Doc, Bright at Night Walks and Sunday Strolls. The City also has a very strong Safe Routes to School Program that is a model for the state. The committee was also impressed with the new Unified Development Ordinance and the Downtown Decatur Streetscape Design. The ordinance provides guidelines, which help ensure that the city will continue on with its dense development pattern and active uses that, attract pedestrian travel. The City of Decatur is among three communities recognized in the latest
round of Walk Friendly Communities including Charlotte, NC and Philadelphia, PA. The Walk Friendly Community designation, awarded from bronze to platinum, is given to applicant communities that have demonstrated a commitment to improving and sustaining walk-ability and pedestrian safety through comprehensive programs, plans and policies. To date, 57 communities in the U.S. have been designated as Walk Friendly Communities and only one, Seattle, WA is a platinium-level walk friendly community. For more information on Walk Friendly Communities, please visit www.walkfriendly.org.
JAN-FEB 2016
HEALTH MATTERS
Get in shape: Tips to keeping your New Year’s resolution! By Benjamin A. Thoele, MS, CSCS FitWit and The FitWit Foundation ben@fitwit.com Every January, people make New Year’s resolutions to get in shape. They start running, join a gym, and vow to eat better. And every February, people return to their previous routines while the pressures of work and family overwhelm their fitness goals. This time of year, people stop going to the gym, continue to eat unhealthy foods, and lose all the enthusiasm that they had only a month ago to better their health and appearance. It’s a fact; people make resolutions and fail to keep them. Don’t lose heart though. This doesn’t make us bad people. It doesn’t automatically mean that we lack character or discipline; it may simply mean that we lack the tools necessary to make effective changes in our lifestyles. If you made a resolution to get in shape this year, allow me to offer some tips to help you keep it: 1. Write it down—If you have a fitness goal, write it down, and be specific. Don’t write, “I want to lose weight.” Write “I want to lose 10 pounds by my birthday.” Have a specific target for your goal and give yourself a deadline. But don’t stop there. Write down your workouts on your personal schedule. If you want to workout three times a week, put the workouts on your calendar at the beginning of the week. There will be a smaller chance that you’ll skip your workout as the stresses of the week pile on. Write down your food intake, too. Most people know what foods are good for them and what foods aren’t. The problem is that people are not truly deliberate about their diet. By writing down everything you eat, you’ll see how much bad food you’re actually eating, and be more motivated to select healthier foods. 2. Bring a buddy—Physical activity is always more enjoyable with other people. Find a friend, relative, or coworker who has similar fitness goals as you, and commit to reaching your goals together. Not only will
JAN-FEB 2016
Group session at Fit Wit Decatur.
your workouts be more enjoyable, but you will also have additional accountability to your fitness partner, which will further motivate you to stick to your regimen. 3. Have fun—Choose a form of exercise that you enjoy. This is vital. If you don’t like to lift weights, don’t join a gym. If you don’t like to run, don’t commit to running three miles a day. Play a sport, dance, go for walks, do yoga or Pilates, or whatever you enjoy. For most people, increasing their physical activity even moderately will yield results. In fitness, it all works, so choose an activity that you enjoy. 4. Strive for variety—In fitness, it all works, but nothing works for very long. Experiment with other types of workouts and activities to find additional methods of exercise that you enjoy. Keep doing what you like, and discard the rest. See tip 3. 5. Put your money where your mouth is—When you commit your hard-earned cash you will be more likely to stick with a new program. You’ll want (and deserve) to get your money’s worth. But be smart about it. See Tip 3. Sign up for something
you know you’ll like. If you don’t yet know what you like, join a group fitness class that offers variety of workout styles, or join a fitness center with several types of classes. You may even consider hiring a personal trainer that is experienced in multiple exercise styles. 6. Assess your progress—How you measure your progress will depend on your goal. If your goal is weight loss, then you’ll need to step on the scale on a regular basis. If you want to run faster or further, you’ll need to do a timed run. Shoot for an assessment directly related to your fitness goal every week. Once a week will give you enough time to see some results, but will be frequent enough for you to change something in your regimen if you’re not seeing the results you want. By following these tips, while thousands of people hang up their running shoes, and let their gym memberships expire this month, you can take deliberate, meaningful steps to reaching your fitness goals and keeping your New Year’s resolution to get in shape! For more fitness tips, go to www.fitwit.com.
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AROUND TOWN
Oakhurst teen hit by car By ANNE CLARKE OakhurstMag@gmail.com A car on E. College Avenue at S. McDonough hit Lydia Cochran, 12, a seventh grader at Renfroe Middle School on Wednesday, Dec. 16 while she was walking home. The driver was not charged but did stay at the scene of the accident. Lydia sustained 2 skull fractures, and fractured both her pelvis and tibia. Her parents, Chuck and Rachel, are thankful that Lydia does not have a spinal cord injury. But she has endured surgeries to relieve the brain swelling and for her leg and pelvis. Lydia is expected to have a long stay at Egleston Children’s Hospital in Decatur. Oakhurst neighbors have rallied around
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the family to provide support. The Kupersmith’s set up a GoFundMe.com page to help Lydia’s family with the mounting medical expenses. They also set up a CaringBridge.com page to monitor Lydia’s progress. The Oakhurst Baptist Church (Deacon Donna Woolf) set up a meal program for the family through LotsAHelpingHands.com. Lydia is a member of Renfroe’s first Lego League Robotics team as well as an avid skateboarder. She will have a long road in rehabilitation at Scottish Rite Hospital after her medical treatments. So far her progress is good! You can follow Lydia’s progress with regular updates at: http://www.caringbridge.org/ visit/lydiacochran/
Renfroe Middle School student, Lydia Cochran, 12, was hit by a car on Dec. 16. She is expected to have a long stay at Egleston Children’s Hospital in Decatur.
JAN-FEB 2016
FINANCE
Investing vs. paying off debt By MARGIE ARCHER, CRPS® ADPA® margie.archer@wellsfargoadvisors.com Vice President - Investment Officer and Portfolio Manager The debt dilemma. The process for eliminating debt is anything but an easy-to-solve financial equation. Many people wonder if they should pay off their debt as quickly as possible or invest their money, letting debt payments run their course. The answer depends on whom you ask. Theories about balancing investing with debt vary widely. Some financial experts say freedom from debt is the most important goal. Others say it’s more about the math: Your money should go toward investing if your investments earn a higher rate of return than your debts cost you. Still others focus on the emotional aspect: how comfortable are you with a certain level of debt?
Neither one nor the other
One approach is to start with the smallest debts first to eliminate at least some of your debt burden and interest payments in a timely manner. It also makes sense to pay off high-interest debts like private student loans and credit card debt more quickly. Federal student loans and mortgages might be lower priorities, because their rates are often lower and their terms are longer. Vehicle loans might fall somewhere in the middle. Tax considerations might also come into play. It’s personal. As you divide and conquer debt, don’t forget to consider the emotional side of your strategy. If paying off a certain debt will help you feel more secure, you might want to go with your gut feeling. You’ll enjoy a growing sense of financial freedom as you stay on course and get your debt under control. As it shrinks over time, you may find you have more funds available for enjoying the present and focusing on the future. Investments in securities and insurance products are: NOT FDIC-INSURED/NOT BANK-GUARANTEED/MAY LOSE VALUE. Wells Fargo Advisors, LLC, Member SIPC, is a registered brokerdealer and a separate non-bank affiliate of Wells Fargo & Company.
Perhaps the answer is a balanced approach to wealth management. If you’re like most people, you’ll need to manage finances for both present and future needs. That means paying off some debt today while simultaneously investing with an eye on the future. Although your decisions should take into account your own needs and circumstances, consider the following guidelines for handling debt in light of investing goals: Save for a rainy day. Before paying down debt (beyond required payments) or settling on an investment strategy, make it your first priority to put funds aside for an emergency reserve. We recommend six months or more of living expenses; an absolute minimum is three months’ worth. These funds should be in traditional savings or very short-term, highly liquid, non-volatile investments. Your future first. As a general rule, your long-term investment plan should take priority over applying extra amounts toward debt. Be careful as well not to let “lifestyle creep,” a tendency toward more expensive tastes and luxury consumption, impede your investment outlook. By contributing to a long-term investment plan as early as possible, you may set yourself up for a brighter future. If paying down debt is also a priority, you’ll want to examine your personal budget to decide how much to direct each month toward investing and how much toward debt repayment. Just remember, there are no magic numbers. In general, the best advice is to make sure your investment strategy fits your financial expectations for the future. Prioritize your debts. With an emergency fund in place and your investment strategy up and running, putting any extra money toward your debts is also a smart way to go. But how do you decide which debts to pay down first?
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2016 Oakhurst Wine Crawl The 2016 Oakhurst Wine Crawl is Saturday, March 5 from 4pm to 7pm. There are limited glasses available so purchase tickets early! Tickets are available at the Universal Joint (uJoint) or the Oakhurst Market for $30 (cash only) in advance and $35 (cash only) on the day of the event. All ticket sales are final! The Oakhurst Wine Crawl is a Rain or Shine event featuring varietal tastings at over 30 businesses in the Oakhurst Village. The event starts at The Solarium at 231 W. Hill Street where participants will show a valid identification and pick up their logo wine glass. The Wine Crawl is sponsored by the Oakhurst Neighborhood Association (OakhurstGA.org) to promote neighborhood projects such as: the Oakhurst Arts & Music Festival, the Oakhurst PorchFest, the Decatur Education Foundation, the Decatur Preservation Alliance, the Oakhurst Garden,
the Oakhurst Thanksgiving Dinner, Oakhurst Jazz Nights, and the Christmas Tree Lighting. Each ticket holder must be 21 or older to participate in the Wine Crawl. Please bring valid identification to the event where every ticket holder receives a logo wine glass. Programs are limited at the event so please use the iPhone App that can be downloaded FREE on iTunes.apple. com/app/Wine-Crawl. The Fur Bus will be back again for complimentary transportation from Harmony Park to the College Avenue businesses, running every 15 minutes with the last pick up at 6:30pm. Special thanks to Marc Brennan and his Universal Joint restaurant for coordinating the event and creating fabulous wine selections! Support the Oakhurst Village by participating in the Wine Crawl but please do not drink and drive.
Congratulations to Patti Garrett The City Commission elected Patti Garrett Mayor of the City of Decatur unanimously on January 4th. She has been active in the community since moving to Decatur in 2001 and the District 2 City Commissioner since 2009.
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Volunteers gathered at The Solarium for the annual Decatur Martin Luther King Jr. Service Project.
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14th Annual Decatur Martin Luther King Jr. Service Project By LEE ANN HARVEY leeann.harvey@decaturga.com Last year over 1,200 Volunteers turned out for the 2015 Decatur MLK Jr. Service Project, which honors the vision of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and reflects the reason for the federal holiday. In Decatur it is a ‘day-on’ rather than a ‘day-off ’ as most volunteers would say, or in this case, a weekend of service to the senior citizens in the Oakhurst Village neighborhood of South Decatur. The Decatur MLK Service project repairs homes so these senior citizens continue to live safely, comfortably and affordably in the homes that they have lived for decades and where they have raised their children. This year, the Decatur Preservation Alliance in partnership with the City of Decatur hopes to eclipse the number of volunteers participating with the MLK Service Project charity event. In 2015, Approximately 1,270 enthusiastic volunteers donated approximately
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VOLUNTEER SHIFTS (HOME REPAIR and YARD WORK)
Volunteers may sign up to work one or more of the following shifts (please see below for volunteer positions with different shift times): Saturday, Jan. 16: 9am to 1pm and 1pm to 5pm. Sunday, Jan. 17: 1pm to 5pm Monday, Jan. 18: 9am to 1pm and 1pm to 5pm. 10,160 hours of their time to these projects. The estimated value of these volunteer hours was $226,000 (based on Independent Sector’s value of a volunteer hour). A total of 30 homes were repaired. Decatur’s Martin Luther King Jr. Service Project embodies the teachings of Rev. Dr. King and the spirit of the King Holiday, the only federal holiday observed as a national day of service. Decatur’s senior citizens are the foundation of what our community is today. The Project leadership and volunteers are honored to join the community in showing our appreciation and giving back to them.
14TH ANNUAL DECATUR MARTIN LUTHER KING JR. SERVICE PROJECT Saturday, Jan. 16 - Monday, Jan. 18
Volunteers will primarily sign up to do home repair or yard work. The opportunity to volunteer is for all ages and there is always a need for a truck or other large vehicle for transporting materials! To volunteer contact: Lee Ann Harvey at leeann.harvey@decaturga.com or 678-5536548. Volunteers will meet at the Solarium at the Community Center of South Decatur, 321 W. Hill St. in Oakhurst, at least 30 minutes before the start of their shift. To make a donation, visit the Decatur MLK Service Project website (www.mlkserviceproject.com) and click on “ Donate!” or mail your check payable to Decatur Preservation Alliance (designate MLK Project) to Decatur Preservation Alliance, PO Box 1764, Decatur, GA 30031.
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FOR THE KIDS
2016 Parental New Year Resolution By SUSAN MORELY susan@ParentCoachAtlanta.com Just say “no.” That’s it. That is the only resolution you need to make as a parent. Just say “no” to your child at least once every day in 2016. Say “no” to requests for having something to eat before dinner, watching TV while doing homework, going to a friend’s house before chores are complete, and going to a party when no parents will be there. And don’t stop there. Say “no” to a Saturday movie with friends, to dessert after eating a good meal, to watching TV after all homework is done. I call this “because I said say-so” and it’s a gift to children (although they don’t see it that way). Saying “no” will cause your child to feel disappointed. That’s actually a good thing! When children learn to deal with life’s disappointments within the loving confines of their home, they will be able to handle life’s bigger disappointments at work, church, in relationships, etc. NOTE: If you are the rare parent who never gives in, always sets healthy limits and boundaries, and says “no” on a regular basis, then keep up the good work. No need to double down on “no.” For the rest of us, if we just take one day to notice how often we allow our children to do something we don’t want them to do we will be surprised. The exercise of saying “no” once a day for a year will change your parenting. So, this year, disappoint your children, say “no” daily, and watch them as they grow up to be resilient adults. Susan Morely owns www.ParentCoachAtlanta.com. Please email your parenting questions to Susan@ParentCoachAtlanta.com.
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HOME MATTERS
Reinforcing methods for your door By DUNCAN COTTRELL duncan@entryenforcer.com Your door can be vulnerable to intruders but there are methods that can keep your home safe. The typical break-in technique is to kick in or crowbar the door. The force drives the deadbolt and latch through the small amount of wood in the doorjamb, splintering the jamb, which is the primary vulnerable spot. Another vulnerable spot is the edge of the door at the locks, where it has already been drilled in two directions to install the locks. The hinge side of the jamb can be kicked in, though not as easily. Reinforcing the jamb and door edge with unobtrusive steel hardware is an effective defense, as Lisa in White Oak Hills, Valarie in Medlock Park, and several others will attest. Glass in the door or a sidelight near the locks can be broken to reach and unlock the deadbolt and doorknob. Full view glass doors are particularly vulnerable and difficult to defend. An alternative would be adding an auxiliary door designed for security to the exterior of the entry door.
when I come out and assess your home security. Once you, the homeowner, know all the options, you are able to choose what makes sense for you home. Duncan Cottrell, The Entry Enforcer, 404-289-6960 provides and install intrusion prevention products.
Four things you can do to reinforce doors with glass are: 1. Change the deadbolt to a double-cylinder deadbolt; that is one with a key inside as well as outside. This works well for halfview doors and smaller panes of glass. 2. Install an auxiliary security door. The wrought-iron burglar bar door (looks like a jail cell with curlicues) is effective but aesthetically unappealing to many folks. Larson’s or Andersen’s security storm door with shatterproof glass and 3-point locking is an attractive alternative and provides weatherproofing as well. Recently on the market is the security screen door, using cut-proof, stainless steel hurricane screen, with the 3-point locking system & glass that can be closed for weatherproofing. 3. Crystal-clear security film can be installed on glass with a super strong adhesive to keep glass shards from falling out if broken. This is especially good for full-view doors when the film can be installed under the trim molding but this has limitations. 4. There are barricading devices inside the door that block the door from being forced open, even if the lock is unlocked. Door Guardian and Night Lock are two convenient devices that I purchase direct from the inventors. These are some of the protection methods I explain in detail
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Decorate Decatur 2015 Photo via the Decatur Minute
Photos by Anne Clarke Congratulations to the Decorate Decatur 2015 winners (listed in red). Many of the participants in the holiday decorations were homes in the Oakhurst Village neighborhood. The Commission Cup Winner is 116 Landsdown Avenue. 916 W Ponce de Leon Ave 412 Adams St 111 Lucerne St 143 Erie Ave 139 Coventry Rd 204 Coventry Rd 308 Kings Hwy 252 Kings Hwy 267 Cambridge Ave 221 McKoy St 324 Spring St 219 Spring St 334 W Hill St 410 Fayetteville Rd 230 W Davis St 228 3rd Ave 467 E Pharr Rd 116 Lansdowne Ave 205 Adair St 107 Ridley Ln 368 W Ponce de Leon Ave 211 Willow Ln 736 Avery St 860 Sycamore Dr 304 Wilton Dr 211 W Hill St Neightborhood Winner: Parkwood Neighborhood Business Winner: Sharian Rugs
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BUSINESS PROFILE
It’s a family affair at M. Cary & Daughters plumbers Decatur plumbers thrive nearly four decades into service metro Atlanta area By PATRICK SAUNDERS psaunders@thegavoice.com When Mitchel Cary and his family moved to Atlanta from Brooklyn, New York in 1978, they ran into a bit of culture shock. “I don’t know why but in ‘78, the South wouldn’t hire a New York plumber, so my dad decided to start his own business,” says daughter Michelle. “And then in order to
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keep me and my sister out of trouble, because you know young girls are good at getting in trouble and because we wanted designer blue jeans, we had to work with dad in the summers.” Nearly 40 years later, the family business M. Cary & Daughters continues to thrive as they service the Decatur and metro Atlanta area’s plumbing needs. Michelle and sister Melissa took quickly to the work when Mitchel, a Master Plumber, recruited them in their teens. “The first time I got to bust out a plaster wall and not get in trouble for it I was hooked! When you get on the job site and you’re the only girls there and you get to take out walls
and stuff it’s pretty fun,” Michelle says. The uniqueness of the situation soon drew the attention of Ms. Magazine, who featured Michelle and Melissa in the October 1986 issue in an article called “Plumbers With A Twist.” At age 20, Melissa obtained her Master Plumber’s license, making her reportedly the youngest female Master Plumber in the Southeast. Michelle is licensed as well as a Journeyman Plumber. Nowadays, Mitchel has taken a step back from most of the dayto-day goings-on at the company, which Michelle says is mostly run by her and Melissa. The business not only stands out for being run by female plumbers in a mainly
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M. Cary & Daughters 404-370-0999 www.mcaryanddaughters.com
Mitchel Cary and his daughter, Melissa. She has grown up to become a master plumber.
male-oriented industry—they’ve also drawn attention for their marketing choices. Go to the landing page of the business’s website and you’ll be greeted by four female plumbers (including Michelle and Melissa) holding the tools of their trade and wearing pink hard hats. What’s with the look? “Honestly we were trying to do more of a “Charlie’s Angels” kind of thing and we had done these mockups ourselves where
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we had tub guns and sawzalls in our hands but we couldn’t get it just how we wanted it, so we decided to go with a photographer and he had some other ideas and suggestions, but it works,” Michelle says. Oh and one more quirk about their branding? Click on the arrow on their website landing page to get into the main website and what sound do you hear? A flushing toilet of course.
M. Cary & Daughters call themselves “The Old House Specialists,” which they attribute to working on turn-of-the-century homes in New York and then Grant Park, where they lived when they first moved to the Atlanta area. “We know how to work on crap that nobody knows how to work on. Growing up in New York, it’s different than growing up here. Here it’s ‘well I might could, I might could, I might could.’ Up there if you tell somebody ‘you might could,’ you’re fired and they’re going to get somebody that knows they can,” Michelle says. “So there’s not a whole lot of ‘can’t do that,’ it’s ‘make it happen.’ So we always learned the ‘make it happen’ scenario. You can’t find a washer for it? Make one. You can’t find this piece? Make something else work.” So what’s it like working with family as they approach four decades together sideby-side? Michelle doesn’t equivocate. “Working for your family is both challenging and rewarding, and I wouldn’t trade it for the entire world.”
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Mardi Gras with a Georgia Twist on Mead Rd. in Oakhurst. photo via Facebook.com/MeadRd.MardiGras
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Mead Rd. Mardi Gras By EMILY KEAN BERG keanbergkrewe@gmail.com
Save the Date Saturday (Samdi Gras) Feb. 6
“Throw me something, Mister!” If you think that is something you’ll only hear in New Orleans, think again!! Decatur has its own rockin’ Mardi Gras tradition. So grab your beads, decorate your bike, scooter or soap box derby car and come second line as we bring a little bit of Carnival to Decatur. The fun begins at Fifth Avenue Elementary on Oakview Road at 12:00noon. There will be face painting and float decorating and general merrymaking. Beads will be
provided and costuming is encouraged! The parade steps off at 2pm and we’ll march up Oakview to Mead Road then on to The Imperial, at the corner of Mead and West College. The Imperial will feature a special menu of red beans and rice, chicken and sausage gumbo and jambalaya. There will also be student musicians rocking the house. Proceeds from food and beer sales will support Decatur Education Foundation music grants for the Decatur City Schools.
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In 2015, we raised $4,000 and that money bought “gathering drums” for Westchester Elementary, Orff instruments for Glennwood Elementary and two pianos for Decatur High School’s Performing Arts Center. Let’s raise the roof at The Imperial and make sure ALL of Decatur’s schools can continue to grow their excellent music programs. For more information or if you would like to make a donation, please contact: Emily Kean Berg • Mead Rd. Mardi Gras Co-Founder & Media Coordinator (404) 309-1133 Laissez Les Bon Temps Rouler!!
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