August-September 2015 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 Angels Among Us Pet Rescue: 877-404-5874 Avondale Veterinary Hospital: 404-294-4800 Chip Wallace, KellerKnapp Realty: 678-429-9731 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 Lawrence’s Café: 404-373-4000 Linda Lehsten, Keller Knapp Realty: 404-784-8779 mCary & Daughters: 404-358-0610 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 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. When we do cover community events our writers and photographers will take photos and interview participants for inclusion in the Oakhurst Village Magazine ©2015. Mailing Address: 931 Monroe Dr. NE, #282, Atlanta, GA 30308
AUG-SEPT 2015
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PUBLISHER’S NOTE
Leaflet transitions to magazine
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Welcome to the Oakhurst Village Magazine where I will provide current and interesting neighborhood news with the support of the Oakhurst Neighborhood Association. This is a magazine created by the residents for the residents! Many of you will remember my days on the ONA board and my volunteer coordination of the ‘Leaflet’ monthly newsletter for the organization. Well, I have gone above and beyond that monthly newsletter to provide a full-scale magazine for the neighborhood. This first issue is for August and September to allow prep time for the regular monthly magazine launching the first of October. Each issue is direct-mailed to homes in the Oakhurst Village area. In this magazine you will find stories on Decatur Athletes, Gardening Tips, Recipes, Parenting Tips, a Real Estate Resource, and Home Matters including features on local families or their home like the Carlson’s home on the front cover. You will enjoy Business Features, Financial Tips, Health stories, a Pet Page and of course news from the City of Decatur and the ONA. The writers are just as local as the stories they contribute to the magazine. Feel free to submit your own story, photo or story idea to anne.clarke@me.com or just call me direct at 404-587-7887.
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OAK GROVE FAMILY MEDICINE 2840-A LAVISTA ROAD DECATUR, GA 30033
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Where doctor meets neighbor Oak Grove Family Medicine is right around the corner providing a wide range of healthcare services to prevent, diagnose and treat illnesses. Drs. Scott Ramshur, Benjamin Epstein and Katie Humphries can seamlessly utilize the resources that the DeKalb Medical network provides to ensure you receive the best care possible. A doctor who is familiar with your medical history brings peace of mind, so call 404.639.9180 today to schedule an appointment.
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404.639.9180 www.oakgrovefamilymedicine.com
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CITY NEWS Meet your Oakhurst Neighborhood Association (ONA) Executive Board: President: Derek Boudreau, President@oakhurstga.org Vice President: Meghna Patel, VP@oakhurstga.org Treasurer: Kate Swett, Treasurer@oakhurstga.org Secretary: John Schiener, Secretary@oakhurstga.org
Quarterly Meetings of ONA are open to the public on the 2nd Monday in January, April, July and October at 7pm in The Solarium at Old Scottish Rite, 321 Hill Street, Decatur, GA 30030. The minutes of the meeting are posted on the website: www.OakhurstGA.org. For general information please email: ONA@oakhurstGA.org.
ONA News from July 2015 meeting:
n The Oakhurst Dog Park has been saved from housing development! The City of Decatur denied Weaver Capital Partners a subdivision requests and the Boys & Girls Club could not settle on a deal with Weaver. n The Decatur BBQ and Bluesgrass Festival is Saturday, August 15 from 12noon to 8pm, featuring Dappled Grays,
From left: Oakhurst Neighborhood Association (ONA) executive board members: Derek Boudreau, Kate Swett, Meghna Patel and John Schiener
Beverly “Guitar” Watkins, Sailing to Denver, Michelle Malone Trip, Lockdown Blues Band, and Seven Handle Circus n Fall Block Parties are on tap where you will find a street blocked off the neighbors to gather and get to know each other in a fun, safe environment. For the Block Party Guide and permit please go to www.OakhurstGA.org/events. n The Hop-n-Shop redevelopment is moving forward with condo units above the redesigned market, new parking design, an outdoor area and bike racks, according to owner, Asif Hussain.
n School is back in session. Please be aware of traffic and children! n If you haven’t noticed the Oakhurst Street Improvement project is moving right along although a bit delayed the expected finish date is November 2015 according to Deputy City Manager Hugh Saxton. n Lana Harrison, General Manager for Snap Fitness expressed that all members have access to the Agnes Scott Pool facility. n ONA has started memberships to help support the neighborhood initiatives and events. Memberships are $10 to $50 Please contact ona@oakhurstga.org n Deputy Police Chief Keith Lee encouraged residents to register their bicycles and other property with the city. Crime of opportunity (car theft, burglary) increased in the summer according to the report available on www.oakhurstga.org. Residents are asked to be diligent; if you see something, say something.
ONA Events:
Hop-n-Shop owner, Asif Hussain, presenting redevelopment plans.
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This month is Jazz Nights at The Solarium; a series of free outdoor jazz concerts every Thursday in September. Concerts begin at 7pm and end at 9pm and are free to the public. Table reservations including 4 chairs, fresh linens and a candlelit centerpiece are only $25. Sponsorships are available and volunteers are always needed to help set up and breakdown Jazz Nights. Email: ona@oakhurstga.org for details.
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Decatur High School Basketball Center, Janay Williams.
Decatur High School Basketball Point Guard, Jayla Morrow
ATHLETE OF THE MONTH
Stars come out at Decatur High By JOSETTE MURRAY sowrite@bellsouth.net The Decatur High School Bulldogs basketball team, which achieved a 29-3 season, won Decatur’s first state championship in 43 years, and brought home the first AAA Region 4 Regional Championship ever for Decatur. Contributing to the team’s success were two players: Jayla Morrow and Janay Williams. Diminutive Point Guard Jayla, 5’4”, is the leading scorer, averaging 17 points a game, and Center Janay, 5’10”, averages an impressive 12 rebounds. Both get sheer enjoyment out of basketball, along with some self-discovery. “Basketball is more than a game to me. It’s the way I live, working through the kinks,” allows Jayla, and Janay discovered that she loves “working under pressure.” Jayla is the floor leader, “the coach on the court,” balancing the coach’s game strategy with the minute-to-minute challenges of the game. She has been playing since age 6 with her Dad, a “basketball fanatic” who is her role model and a “coach on and off the court.” What makes her special is her “ability to score from both the inside and fitwit_studio_7.5x3.5_print.pdf 1 the outside, and to hit the 3-point shot. She
makes things happen,“ said Coach Coleman. “When she is on her game, making the right decisions, few high school players meet her level.” Janay started wanting to play basketball in the 5th grade, when a cousin taught her the game. She is “probably the biggest reason we made it as far as we did,” said Coach Coleman. “She is one of the best I’ve seen at that particular position. In a game, nobody is going to out battle her; very few can get around her. Being so dominant inside, she can get the ball to her team mates and open the game on the outside, allowing Jayla to score.” For Janay, high school runs in the family: her mother played basketball for Decatur High School. She’s been on a team since the 7th grade and her role model is her brother, who plays basketball with her. He and her Mom critique her games. Both have no trouble defining what it is about the position they play that they like the most. For Jayla, generally the smallest player on the court, the turn on is looking out for each team player so everyone plays at her best. For Janay, it’s out-jumping her opponent, even though she often is the 7/1/15 AM and rebounding. shorter10:46 jumper,
Balancing the sport and schoolwork presents its challenges. Jayla is a self-confessed “gym rat” and Janay works out at Planet Fitness. During the season, after school activity always includes practice and training alongside studying and/or tutoring. Jayla notes that, with that, and after every game, “it’s really tiring – that’s where the commitment comes in.” By far, the toughest game this season was the championship game, which they lost to Augusta’s Laney High School. “We just weren’t ourselves, on our game,” they lament. “Hind sight is 20/20, but next year we’ll play smarter.” Now that the season is ended, both are looking forward to playing on the summer teams of the Amateur Athletic Union of the U.S. Lessons learned from playing include the need to “put in the work,” say Jayla. “There’s always somebody else working as hard as you. You have to play every game like it’s your last.” For Janay, it’s the rewards of discipline. “Play your hardest because you never know who’s watching. Never give up, even if you’re losing by a lot. Keep playing, encourage your teammates, have good sportsmanship, and never give up.” With such attitudes, it would be a safe bet that these two young women will go far.
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Left: The Carlton’s in their newly renovated spacious kitchen featuring a cooktop island. Above: The formal dining room looking out to the front yard from the kitchen. (Photos by Anne Clarke)
Reburbished with historical style
The Carlton’s Home on Maxwell Street By JOSETTA MURRAY sowrite@bellsouth.net
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he renovated slate blue house that is home to Eric Carlton and Sara Dimitri-Carlton and their three daughters sits welcoming beyond a manicured lawn. “I love our street and the old brick houses, and I love
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the mix. We didn’t tear anything down; we just added. We were shooting for the house to blend, not be overpowering” or out of character for the neighborhood, said Sara. In fact, an elderly man approached her one-day to say that he had grown up in the Carlton’s house. Sara invited him in and, on stepping into the living room; he exclaimed, “This is just how it used to be!” The old sec-
ond bedroom, he told them, was where his grandmother had lived. “This is where our parents stay when they come!,” Sara cried. “We showed him all the ways that we were trying to maintain the integrity of the house,” she said. Their careful attention extended to details such as ensuring Continued on page 10
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From top to bottom left: The cozy Living Room which opens to the backyard deck just off the kitchen bar area; The crafted staircase near the open kitchen area; Entering from the front door, you find the fireplace (with photos of the girls) and a comfortable living area.
Continued from page 9 that the bottom step of the stairway to the second floor had rounded corners, just as it used to. The house was originally a 1600-square foot two-bedroom, one bath with an attic room that had shelving and a sink. Eric wanted to do a renovation and, having lived in a Grant Park Victorian for 16 years, Sara coveted plenty of closet space and a pantry. The current 3050 square foot house is a dream fulfilled. They extended the back wall to allow for an open family room and master bedroom and the girls’ upstairs bedrooms. Eric’s must-have was an open stairway, for which he designed a custom-built wrought-iron rail in a 1930s industrial/Machine Age motif. The gabled entrance opens to a comfortably furnished living room, to the right of which is a dining room hosting an antique dining set. Both rooms were left untouched in the renovation, but for paint. A special painting technique in the dining room produced a textured glow that masks the old wall’s imperfections. From the living room, a short hall places you i n the center of the house, where the open stairs on the left invite you upward. To the right is a gleaming, modern kitchen. A large granite island and a breakfast bar overlooking a spacious family room dominate the home space. Throughout the lower floor, the walls are a lovely muted cream. Next to the family room, the master bedroom opens to a spacious screened porch overlooking the backyard. The porch in turn abuts a large deck opening to the family room, inviting entertainment. In fact, the porch is original to the house; it was disassembled, stacked in the back yard, and rebuilt when the extension was complete, right down to the original door hook. The beautiful master bath hosts a huge shower, large enough to make doors unnecessary. At the center of the house is the lightstained stairway to the second floor. A window at the top cheerily lights it, and a Continued on page 11
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Continued from page 10 large framed opening to the chimney’s brick graces the ascent. The original tiled attic room was transformed to a laundry room, three bedrooms and two baths for the couple’s daughters, twins Trevi and Nicole, 12, and Alia, 16. The girls’ rooms are democratically equal in size, which allowed for spare storage space under the back dormer. The couple, married 20 years this summer, chose Decatur for its schools. “We liked the neighborhood, and its proximity to downtown and our friends in Grant Park,” said Sara. “We were already going out to dinner at Steinbeck’s and Mezcalito’s was already one of our favorite restaurants,” Eric added. “I think we knew this part of Decatur better than some of the other areas we looked at.” Eric is a commercial real estate broker with an office in West Midtown and Sara is a psychologist with a Midtown private practice. In a world of renovation horror stories, the Carltons had a refreshingly positive experience with Hammertime Construction Company. On passing the house daily en route from school to their rental house, Sara and the girls would stop
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The new deck at the Carlton’s home featuring a large enclosed patio and exposed patio.
by to see what had been done. “Project Manager Mat Orchard expected and welcomed us and always had the checklist ready for us,” says Sara. “I can’t say enough nice things about them.” Trevi and Nicole attend Renfroe Middle School and 16 year-old Alia is in Decatur High. The twins are soccer enthusiasts,
while Alia’s interests lean more toward the writing arts. She is heavily involved in her school’s quarterly publication, Carpe Diem. In the renovation, Trevi wanted, and got, a window seat with storage beneath in her bedroom. Nicole scored a brightly colored hanging chair. And Alia has her own bathroom. A perfect world.
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HOME MATTERS
How to prevent
burglaries By DUNCAN COTTRELL, The Entry Enforcer, Duncan@EntryEnforcer.com Here are the options for “hardening the target” to defend against burglaries, gleaned from my experience in professional door and window reinforcing and repair. I’m happy to help my neighbors know what options they have (think free security consultation) and to give advice to those wanting to do their own installation. Call Duncan Cottrell (The Entry Enforcer) at 404-289-6960. Most break-ins happen by forcing in a door, which busts out the doorframe jamb and often breaks the door itself at the lock. The minimum thing you can do is to replace the strike plate screws with 3-inch screws, or replace the strike with a larger one
that takes longer screws. The next avenues of intrusion are the windows. They can be reinforced with window pins, burglar bars, and clear window security film.
For door security you have the following options:
(1) Install a wrought iron security door in front of the entry door. I call them “burglar bar doors.” (2) Install a special security storm door in front of the entry door. (Larson “Secure Elegance” or Anderson 4000 Series). Adds the advantage of weatherproofing. (3) Reinforce the door jamb and the door with one of the unobtrusive steel hardware systems now available, like Door Jamb Armor or Strikemaster. These are 4-foot long, white, steel plates that anchor to the frame and wall studs with long screws, thus backing the deadbolt and latch with steel instead of wood. Equally important is a Door Shield, especially if you have a fiberglass door. If you are handy and have the right tools, you can buy these and install them yourself, though usually there are complications. (4) There are good reinforcing solutions for double doors, especially utilizing a Nightlock door barricading device. (5) Once you are inside the house, there are several products you can put in place to prevent the door from being forced in. Nightlock, Door Chucky, & Door Guardian are some of the brands. (6) The deadbolt lock is an essential component of the security system. Most residential deadbolts are the relatively flimsy Grade 3. A better choice is Grade 2 or Grade 1. Best readily-available choices are Kwikset’s UltraMax or Schlage’s B560. High security deadbolts are the ultimate quality, but are expensive.
Options for window security:
1. Window pins to prevent the sash from being opened from the outside. 2. Dowel rods wedging the sash, preventing it from being opened from outside. Think “broom handle in patio door track,” only vertical. 3. Clear window security film; bonds to glass and holds broken shards in place. 4. Burglar bars. Double doors can be reinforced to resist forced entry. First the stationery door is made sturdy using special hardware. Then the jamb, door edge and hinges are reinforced as for single doors. Doors with glass are reinforced by: (1) changing to a double-keyed deadbolt and/or (2) installing clear security film, which bonds to the glass and keeps broken shards in place rather than falling out. My business, The Entry Enforcer (404-289-6960), provides and installs intrusion prevention products for single and double doors, including solutions for glass doors and windows.
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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
N’hood
List Price
Sale Price Sold Date DOM Beds Baths Sq. Ft.
140 447 129 161 249 258 447 346 118 365 139 219 123 515 545 901 151 503 310
Oakhurst Oakhurst Oakhurst Oakhurst Oakhurst Oakhurst Oakhurst Oakhurst Oakhurst Oakhurst Oakhurst Oakhurst Oakhurst Oakhurst Oakhurst Oakhurst Oakhurst Oakhurst Oakhurst
$1,100,000 $999,950 $899,900 $899,900 $899,900 $900,000 $850,000 $850,000 $850,000 $815,000 $799,000 $785,000 $789,999 $755,000 $725,000 $695,000 $675,000 $699,900 $669,000
$1,049,000 $962,600 $899,900 $887,000 $885,000 $865,000 $840,000 $840,000 $825,000 $810,000 $807,000 $765,000 $760,000 $755,000 $725,000 $675,000 $670,000 $665,000 $654,500
Maxwell Street Ansley Street W Hill Street Hood Circle East Lake Drive Madison Avenue 3rd Avenue 2nd Avenue W Hill Street Greenwood Avenue Hood Circle 2nd Avenue 1st Avenue E Lake Drive Mckoy Street 3rd Avenue Olympic Place W Pharr Road E Lake Drive
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6/12/15 7/31/15 7/31/15 7/1/15 5/15/15 6/26/15 7/24/15 6/12/15 5/1/15 7/22/15 5/15/15 3/24/15 7/10/15 7/30/15 6/18/15 7/7/15 6/5/15 6/29/15 5/29/15
4 14 73 22 34 8 123 95 23 5 17 108 20 25 33 23 44 71 29
6 6 5 5 6 5 6 5 5 5 4 4 6 4 5 3 4 4 4
6.0 5.5 4.0 4.0 4.5 4.5 4.0 5.5 4.0 4.0 3.0 2.5 3.0 3.5 4.0 3.5 3.5 3.5 3.0
4373 4250 3172 4000 4700 4098 3635 3500 3203 3000 2909 3032 3000 2628 2941 1848 3317 2617 2500
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Above left: The hugging pups photo that saved their lives! @Etowah Valley Humane Society. Above right: Saved! Cris Folchitto, the Angels Among Us Pet Rescue foster of Kala and Keira.
PET ROUNDUP
Kala and Keira: the ‘hugging’ pups Two dogs rescued together are in a temporary foster home, hoping for adoption By ANNE CLARKE Anne.Clarke@me.com Kala and Keira, the hugging pups, photographed by Etowah Valley Humane Society just before being rescued from Georgia rural shelter by Angels Among Us Pet Rescue, Inc. (Angels Rescue) on Monday, July 20th have become quite famous. “That photo prompted us to rescue both pups together,” said Marla Olcott, a Founding Core Member with Angels Rescue. Angels Rescue posted the photo of the now infamous “Hugging Pups” on their social media pages with a story told from the dogs’ perspective:
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“I’m Kala. This is Keira. We’re so scared in here. The people working in the shelters see how scared we are but just told each other that today is our deadline. We have to have someone rescue us or we’ll be ‘next.’ Keira is black and not a ‘real boxer,’ just a mix. She’s so brave and tells me it will be okay no matter what happens. She tells me to be brave too but I don’t know if I can be. Can you see our faces. Keira knows what will happen. You can see it in her eyes. She’s putting on a brave face for sure but I can feel her heart beating fast while I’m clinging to her. If no one saves us, someone will take her away from me. I’ll see her as she goes down the hallway. She won’t come back and I’ll cry. They’ll come for me next and I won’t be as brave. We’ve comforted each other while we were here. She gave me hope when I had none. Now it’s over. Unless…” Continued on page 15
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“It is difficult to place a bully breed dog (like Keira) because of their reputation as well as the housing laws. We had to reach out to the community to gain a foster and funding so we could rescue them together.” —Marla Olcott, founding core member with Angels Rescue Continued from page 14 Kala, an 8-month old hound mix and Keira, a 1-year old boxer mix, were just hours away from being euthanized in a rural Georgia Shelter. The community, through social media, rallied behind the dogs to make sure they were both rescued. “It is difficult to place a bully breed dog (like Keira) because of their reputation as well as the housing laws,” Marla explained. “We had to reach out to the community to gain a foster and funding so we could rescue them together.” Well, Cris Folchitto stepped up to foster both dogs together. The photo touched her heart like many around the world. See Angels Rescue posted the photo of the two dogs hugging in a shelter pen then posted the after photo, saying SAFE. The post was shared 12,000 times in the first couple hours. The AngelsRescue.org website crashed with all the Internet traffic. By the next day, the organization was featured on ABC Nightly News with David Muir, Fox & Friends, CNN’s Headline News as well as media feeds as far away as Tel Aviv. “Their story touched the hearts of many,” said Luann Farrell, Founder of Angels Rescue. “The attention is educating the world on the plight of shelter animals in America,” she continued. Kala and Keira are safe in their foster home recovering from the Parvovirus. They will be spayed and microchipped before being officially adopted to a permanent home. The dogs are still bonded; “Kala is following Keira everywhere,” Cris tells us. “They have definitely bonded and we will want to find them a home together.” Since 2009, Angels Among Us Pet Rescue, Inc. a 501(c)(3) organization has rescued over 9000 dogs and cats from high-kill shelters in the state of Georgia. Their average veterinary expenses exceed $180,000.00 each month. So, the organization relies on individual donations spawned by social media, which started with a few hundred fans just 6 years ago. The average donation is $20 but with over 700,000 fans on Facebook today, Angels Rescue has been able to rescue more than 2000 animals just this year. In fact, the organization is now the largest volunteer-led foster-based pet rescue in the Southeastern U.S. Currently there are 452 active fosters who parent the 800 or more dogs and cats currently in the program. “The need to rescue pets from high kill shelters in Georgia is huge,” Olcott explained. “We can save more lives as long as we have foster homes and funding for their care.” Kala and Keira are looking for their forever home now that Angels Rescue has a temporary foster home. ‘Rescue One Until There Are None’ is the organization’s motto. To learn more about how you can help donate, foster or adopt an angel like Kala or Keira, go to www.AngelsRescue.org.
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GARDEN TIPS
The Wylde Center’s fall plant sale By JULIE HERRON CARSON jhcarson@bellsouth.net As temperatures finally begin to cool down, gardeners and backyard enthusiasts are invited to the Wylde Center’s fall plant sale, Sept. 1-Oct. 15, 2015 at the organization’s Oakhurst Garden, 435 Oakview Road in Decatur (www.wyldecenter.org). Over 50 varieties of lettuce, Asian greens, arugula, kale, Swiss chard and other cool season edible plants will be offered on a first come, first served basis. All of the vegetables have been propagated by the Wylde Center’s horticulture staff, while many of the other plants offered for sale will be provided by local growers and partner organizations. Proceeds from the sale benefit the numerous educational offerings at the Wylde The Wylde Center www.wyldecenter.org
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Center and help support the Atlanta non-profit organization’s four public greenspaces. “Our wonderful 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 thrive in Atlanta’s climate, and each plant is well-labeled. Because the Wylde Center’s mission is to inspire communities of environmental stewards, we encourage new gardeners to participate in the sale. Cool season greens are easy to grow, and delicious raw or cooked.” 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. Continued on page 17
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Continued from page 16
About the Wylde Center
In 1997, an idea took root in the Oakhurst area of Decatur, Ga. Neighbors Sally Wylde and Louise Jackson envisioned a community garden where children could learn about the natural world and enjoy hands-on gardening activities. With the purchase of a half-acre of property at the corner of South McDonough St. and Oakview Road, the Oakhurst Community Garden was born. From this small seed of an idea, the Oakhurst Community Garden blossomed and grew, and quickly became one of the area’s most popular gathering spaces, offering individual garden plots, educational programs, a destination for school field trips and other youth groups and social activities for all ages. Today, supported by members, foundations, corporations and donors, the non-profit has been re-named the Wylde Center to honor its co-founder and to better encompass its expanded range of properties and programs. The Wylde Center oversees four distinctive greenspaces including the Oakhurst
AROUND TOWN
Earth Day festival at Oakhurst Garden
Garden, a year-round educational program for all ages, social events and the Decatur City Schools’ Farm to School Program. Staff and volunteers engage children, families and individuals in activities designed to develop creative skills in sustainable urban living, organic gardening, health and nutrition. The non-profit has grown from a Decatur-based organization to one that is providing environmental educational services for metro Atlanta. Despite its robust growth, the Wylde Center has stayed true to its original mission of cultivating vibrant greenspaces for everyone to enjoy and inspiring communities of environmental stewards.
By JULIE HERRON CARSON jhcarson@bellsouth.net The City of Decatur, in partnership with the Wylde Center, celebrated Earth Day with a family-friendly festival at the Oakhurst Garden, 435 Oakview Road in Decatur. This year, the theme of the celebration is “garden gnomes”, with games, arts and crafts and decorations celebrating everyone’s favorite mythical garden residents. Participants enjoyed music, a costume contest, craft activities, scavenger hunts and performances by local artists. “Gnomes are known in folklore as creatures who inhabit natural areas,” said Stephanie Van Parys, executive director of the Wylde Center. “Kids love them because gnomes are small like they are, and often mischievous. We’ll call on our gnome friends to help us spread the word during our Earth Day celebration about the importance of caring for the earth through recycling, reducing our carbon footprints, gardening, and even just picking up trash.” According to www.earthday.org, Earth Day is the largest civic event in the world, celebrated on or around April 22 by people of all backgrounds, faiths and nationalities. Founded in 1970, the movement promotes year-round environmental awareness and action.
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BUSINESS PROFILE
Saba Restaurant’s
Shane Mixon By JOSETTE MURRAY sowrite@bellsouth.net The Saba restaurants in Oakhurst and Emory Village are owned by a genial, lanky gent named Shane Mixon. At 6’7”, he’s not hard to spot at the popular eateries, where he could be performing any number of functions, from greeting to seating to serving, all the while making sure that his customers are happy. Saba is an Italian sweetener made from grapes. It also means “grandfather” in Hebrew, and Mixon has had more than one pleased customer come up and declare himself to be a “saba” as well. Mixon’s path here followed a circuitous route, given that he majored in scientific illustration in college. The artist in him still remains, as witnessed by the restaurants’ original tables, which were made by him. After graduation, office work just didn’t do it for him, and a series of jobs in restaurants seemed to better suit his gregarious personality.
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Owner of Saba Restaurant Shane Mixon
“Staff and regular patrons become family,” something that the sociable Mixon enjoys the most about being a restaurateur. What he likes least is the paperwork and bookkeeping, but to an observer, he might have added the demands on his time. He starts his day early at Emory, attending to the plentiful paperwork, check writing and meetings with vendors, and then moves to Oakhurst until 8:30 or 9 at night. As he is the entire catering Continued on page 19
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Interior of Saba Restaurant in Oakhurst Village, Decatur.
Continued from page 18 department, his days may also include “driving around Atlanta.” On the days without a catering order, he might slip home for a quick and luxurious nap in the mid-afternoon before returning to Oakhurst for the afternoon and evening shift. Being your own boss might demand 12+ hours a day, but it does offer some side benefits, too. He spends his leisure time, such as it is, generally being active, running and building things, like the tables. Emory, the senior Saba at nine years open, is the smaller venue. Oakhurst, open for 6 years, may be the longest-lasting restaurant in that location, a testament to its appeal. At the start, “It was tough to get past that in people’s minds,” says Mixon. “If you see something that’s changed 5 or 6 times, you almost wouldn’t even want to try the location, for two reasons: 1) you don’t know if it’s the same people, and 2) you just assume that it won’t stay there, so what’s the point?” Emory faculty and staff and neighborhood residents populate the Emory tables, following by students, while the Oakhurst Saba is a true neighborhood-gathering place. Regulars in true Cheers fashion patronize its full service bar. Drink specials in-
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clude Monday’s treat of a selection of wines at $15 a bottle, and Wednesday offers wine at $4 a glass, while Thursday is $3 Mojito day. An online review lauded the “good food at a great price” and the drinks: “They also have many other good cocktails for about $6-8,” said one satisfied customer. “Much better than the $10-11 drinks on Decatur square with obscure ingredients. No bitters, aperol, essence of bark, fleur de velvet in these drinks; just good cocktails with fresh juice and maybe some mint.” The catering/take out share of the business is a respectable 25 percent, but the sit-down trade dominates the customer base. Tuesdays at Oakhurst are popular, when kids eat free. Best sellers on the dinner menu include the pumpkin ravioli and the wild mushroom ravioli, and “the best meatballs in Atlanta,” Mixon proudly declares. “I’m not scared of the competition!” The vegan and vegetarian options are ordered at both locations, with Emory students perhaps taking more advantage of the vegan option. The favorite selection at lunch is the half-and-half combo of pasta and salad. In addition to shepherding his two businesses, Mixon consults with others opening restaurants, recently helping a friend open one in Indiana. He has no current plans to open another in the Atlanta area–“Two is plenty for now,” he smiles.
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COOKING TIPS
Life from the kitchen Owner, chief cupcake baker at Sugar Moon Bake Shop, Amy Christine
OATMEAL CREAM PIES
n 1 ¼ cup softened butter n 1 cup brown sugar (packed) n ½ cup granulated sugar n 1 ½ cup flour n 2 ½ cup oats n 1 egg n 2 teaspoon vanilla extract n ½ teaspoon salt n ¼ teaspoon cinnamon
CREAM FILLING n 1 cup softened butter n 4 cups powdered sugar (sifted) n 2-4 Tablespoons heavy whipping cream
By AMY CHRISTINE Amy@SugarMoonBakeShop.com Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, the great author of investigative fiction once said, “There is nothing more deceptive than an obvious fact”. This little pearl of wisdom is true in life, and it is true in the kitchen! I began baking from my home kitchen several years ago. When I opened Sugar Moon Bake Shop in 2012, I was challenged with converting my at-home recipes to larger scale, commercial equipment. I was thrilled when my cupcake recipes “scaled up” perfectly! No adjustments necessary – just multiply the ingredients by 10, or even 20, and I achieved the same result. Mass production. Whew, that was easy! No such luck, however, when I tried to scale up some cookie recipes. Specifically, my oatmeal cream pie cookie recipe was a disaster. We all know the characteristics of an oatmeal cream pie cookie. They are moist, chewy and DELICIOUS! When the ingredients in the recipe were increased evenly, my big commercial oven produced, pathetic, flat, crispy oatmeal cookies. I tried everything I could think of to fix the problem. Less butter? …No. More flour? … No. Refrigerate the dough longer? …Nope! This problem required professional intervention. So, I called up a master pastry chef and explained the problem. The “solution” he gave me was so complicated; I wouldn’t even attempt to explain it. His solution did not fix the problem, anyway. I got the same result — flat, crispy cookies. I gave up. About a year later, I shared this story with one of our Le Cordon Bleu baking interns. She was excited to help, and encouraged me to try again. We prepared the recipe as I had previously, so I could show her the problem. I was shocked when she pulled the cookies
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COOKIES Preheat oven 350 degrees. Beat buttered and sugars until creamy. Add egg and vanilla and mix well. Combine remaining dry ingredients. Add dry ingredients slowly to butter mixture on slow speed. Blend well. Refrigerate dough for 1-2 hours. Drop using a small cookie scoop (or tablespoon) 2 inches apart on a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper or baking mat. Bake for 10 minutes, or until golden brown. Let the cookie sheet cool for 2-5 minutes before removing cookies to wire cooling rack. FILLING Cream butter. Slowly add sugar on low speed. Mix on medium until fully blended. The mixture should resemble small pebbles. Slowly add heavy cream until desired creaminess is achieved. Spread 1-2 tablespoons of filling between two cookies. Enjoy. out of the oven. They were not flat. They were not crispy. They were perfect. What?! Still in shock, I glanced at the oven. We had failed to pay attention to the temperature and had baked the cookies 25 degrees lower than previous attempts. Of course! The commercial oven runs a little hotter than the home oven. Duh!! So, I learned a lesson that day. The answers to life’s little problems may not be as complicated as we would like to make them. The solution may be right in right in front of us. Frustrated? Stuck? Put it away for a minute and then revisit it. Because, perhaps like Paul McCartney wrote; “The movement you need is on your shoulder”. An obvious fact? Indeed. Perhaps even “elementary”. Enjoy this recipe! And if it the cookies come out a little flat and crispy, just turn your oven down.
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AROUND TOWN
Community Clothes Closet By CAROLINE LEACH carolineleach47@gmail.com For many years, Oakhurst Presbyterian Church has sponsored a Community Clothes Closet for the community. We invite you to clean out your closets and bring clean clothes to the church to be given to those in need. Our Community Clothes Closet serves over 900 families each year. The closet is open on Mondays and Wednesdays from 9:00am-12:00noon. Please bring the clean, gently used clothes for all ages. We request that you not leave bags at the door. We can provide you a letter of donation for your taxes. Call the church for information about activities and the clothes closet at 404-378-6284. Oakhurst Presbyterian Church has been on the corner of East Lake Dr. and 2nd Ave. since 1921. We welcome many groups into
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Gibson ‘Nibs’ Stroupe of Oakhurst Presbyterian Church
our church including Boy Scout Troop 107, the oldest continuing scout troop in the metro area, 3 Girl Scout Troops, Senior Social, community meetings, and we partner with the Wylde Center’s Sugar Creek Garden Hagar’s House , the Georgia Interfaith Power and Light, and Black Lives Matter among others. We are a multicultural church who seeks to support and grow spiritually together with our adults, families, young adults, youth and kids!! Come and meet your neighbors in worship and mission on the corner of East Lake and 2nd Ave.!
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FINANCIAL HEALTH
Unretirement: The financial implications of working longer A growing number of people plan to work past traditional retirement age, and not for the reasons you might suspect. Here are three key questions to ask yourself if you’re planning to extend your career. More than half of respondents surveyed in the Retirement 2.0SM study by Ameriprise Financial plan to retire gradually by working less or consulting.¹ While some plan to stay on the job for financial reasons, far more say they will do so to stay mentally and socially stimulated, according to the study. As Chris Farrell, Senior Economics Editor for American Public Media’s Marketplace and author of Unretirement, writes: “The tantalizing promise of unretirement for younger generations is realizing that they will have much more time to better merge their careers and the search for meaning, to pursue job flexibility and creative variety, over a lifetime.” So what should you consider if you plan to keep working?
1. Will you need to supplement your income?
“The first thing to ask is: Will you need to replace 100% of your current income, or will you be able to scale back?” says Dennis Mashuga of Financial Planning Advanced Advice at Ameriprise Financial. “Many can reduce their costs of living after leaving regular employment, but you’ll want to sit down with your financial advisor and work through different scenarios.” If you end up working part time, consulting or starting your own business, you can still draw on your retirement savings to supplement your income. “As long as you are 59½ or older, there are no tax penalties for taking distributions from your retirement portfolio,” Mashuga says. In addition to perks such as health insurance and paid time off, staying on with a company can also have long-term benefits. “If you continue to work at your current employer or roll your 401(k) plan to another employer with a compatible retirement plan, you don’t have to take your required minimum distribution, which is usually required at age 70½,” Mashuga says. This means your retirement portfolio can continue to grow until you are ready to retire.
2. How will it impact your Social Security?
If earning an income allows you to delay taking your Social Security, the payoff can be considerable. According to the Social Security Administration, benefits are more than 75% higher at age Continued on page 23
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Continued from page 22 70 than if you begin collecting at 62 (the earliest age you can file). If you decide to take Social Security to supplement your unretirement income prior to the full retirement age of 66, keep in mind that doing so could reduce your benefit. For example, if you’re younger than 66 during all of 2015, $1 will be deducted from your Social Security benefit for each $2 you earn above $15,720 — otherwise known as “excess earnings.” “That said, the definition of excess earnings is interesting,” Mashuga says. “For example, if you bought rental real estate, income not deemed to be ‘for occupation’ can be excluded from your earnings.” If you are planning to work past retirement, Mashuga recommends exploring the types of exempt income that won’t reduce your Social Security benefits, such as investment earnings, dividends and capital gains.
3. What are the tax considerations?
Up to 85% of your Social Security benefits are subject to taxation by the federal government, and some states also tax Social Security income. “Additional earnings could affect the amount that is taxed, but good income planning may allow you to reduce or mitigate that impact,” Mashuga says. “For example, if you have extra income and meet all the eligibility requirements, you may be able to use your employers’ salary deferral plans or IRAs to reduce your taxable income.” Working past traditional retirement age might also put you
in a different tax bracket than you had previously anticipated, so you’ll want to make sure your portfolio is appropriately balanced between tax-deferred and taxable investments. “In short, you’ll want to sit down with your financial and tax advisors well in advance and look at your long-term picture,” Mashuga says. “Taxes have become more complicated now, so it’s best to look five or 10 years out for your retirement income distribution planning.” ¹These results are from the Retirement 2.0SM study, an online survey commissioned by Ameriprise Financial of 3,010 Americans conducted between February 27 and March 12, 2015. All respondents are between ages 35 and 65 and have at least $100,000 in investable assets. Some may have retired from their primary career, but remain in the workforce. The sample was distributed across generational group as follows: 1,518 Gen Xers (ages 35–50) 1,492 Boomers (ages 51–65)
Article Reprint: © 2015 Ameriprise Financial, Inc. All rights reserved. P1 - 8/15 *Ameriprise helped pioneer the financial planning process more than 30 years ago. We have more CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ professionals than any other company in the U.S. as documented by the Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards, Inc., as of Dec. 31, 2014. Privacy & Security Center Chris Farrell is not affiliated with Ameriprise Financial. PBD.ad.OakhurstVillage-04.pdf 1 6/18/15 3:29 SIPC. PM Ameriprise Financial Services, Inc. Member FINRA and
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FOR THE KIDS
Should parents give children chores? Dear Susan, My mother-in-law thinks I’m a mean mom. My husband tells me to ignore her and I’ve tried but she’s starting to get to me. Here’s the issue. I have three boys. They are 3, 7, and 9. I give each child chores to do on a daily basis. They still have time to play and get homework done. But my mother-in-law doesn’t understand how I can sit and read a book while the kids are doing “my job.” She believes that children should go to school and play. They will have enough to do when they’re older. I believe my kids should help out around the house. Who’s right? Worried in Lenox Park Dear Worried, I’m not going to say one of you is “right” and the other is not. But I will tell you that I do not think that you are mean. In fact, I think you’re a very smart mom to give your sons chores. Here are the top 5 reasons it’s healthy to give your children chores (feel free to cut this article out and leave it on your fridge for “you-know-who”).
Susan Morley susan@ParentCoachAtlanta.com www.ParentCoachAtlanta.com
Why giving kids chores is healthy:
1. Children who do chores acquire a sense of responsibility and belonging. This strengthens family bonds. 2. It builds healthy self-esteem: Although the act of mopping the floor may not feel very good during the job, it feels great to do something for the entire family that matters. 3. Children learn how to manage a household. There’s no better training than actually doing! Household management skills help children become self reliant and self sufficient. 4. Children learn to appreciate the effort of others. In other words, they become grateful for the work that other family members do to make their house a home. An attitude of gratitude is an essential ingredient in happiness. 5. Children who are responsible for meaningful household chores are less likely to feel entitled. People who don’t have entitlement issues are more likely to be adults who seek to serve others rather than seek to be served.
Three tips to remember when assigning chores to children:
1. As important as it is for children to have chores, it’s equally if not more important for parents to assign developmentally appropriate chores. For example, older toddlers can help wipe baseboards, preschoolers can help clear the table, early elementary aged children can sweep floors, older elementary can vacuum and dust, middle schoolers can help prepare meals, and teens can do most all household chores. Parents must also teach their children how to do the chores properly. 2. Once a child is trained on how to do a household chore, please keep in mind that the work being done is by a child. Requiring perfection will only create resentment and defiance from your child and will be incredibly frustrating for the parent. If a child is doing a sloppy job and you know he has the ability to do better, calmly tell your child to redo the job the correct way. Keep in mind that retraining may be necessary! 3. Finally, keep in mind that our children are just like us. They want to be appreciated for their hard work! So, praise your child for a job well done! No marching band is necessary to celebrate a shiny bathroom. A simple “Wow, this bathroom is sparkling! Thanks for your hard work,” will suffice. Good luck and let me know how things go! Susan Do you have a parenting question for Susan? If so, email her at susan@ParentCoachAtlanta.com
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HEALTH MATTERS
Healthy aging critical for Georgia’s older population By ANNE CLARKE Anne.Clarke@me.com Healthy aging is critical as Georgia’s older population continues to rise. Dekalb County Board of Health reports that in 2013, there were 200,695 seniors 50 and older living in DeKalb County: 53% were African Americans; 42% white; and 4% Hispanic. According to the 2013 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System Report: 22% of seniors self-reported having a disability; 32.1% were obese; and 33.3% were physically inactive. The leading causes of death are cardiovascular diseases, cancers, respiratory diseases, and mental and behavioral disorders. The City of Decatur Active Living Division strives to provide leisure and support services to enhance the quality of life for Decatur residents starting with the Walk With A Doc program. Residents are encouraged to join the free weekly walking program to maintain health, and learn about medical practices that support aging well. The walks are social, educational, empowering, and yes, exercise! They meet in the lobby of the Decatur Recreation Center and walk as a group (with a doc) for 2.0 to 3.0 miles outdoors. In inclement weather they use the indoor track at the recreation center and because of the heat, they provide a supply of orange sunbrellas! Medical professionals in the community as well as leaders of health and wellness opportunities are invited to walk and talk with us. There is a 3-minute intro and then the walk and a few cool down stretches upon our return. The walks seek out greenspace, sidewalks, and the PATH trails in Decatur, and an occasional juice bar! A few routes are through the commercial corridor but most are through neighborhoods and parks and feature water fountains. All the routes are listed in the walking tour brochure available online. There is always a volunteer from the public safety office to escort the walkers, typically a retiree trained by fire and safety. The average attendance is 12 and the average distance is
Decatur Recreation Center 231 Sycamore St. Decatur, GA 30030 404-377-0494 Hours: Monday - Thursday: 8 am until 8 pm Friday: 8 am until 6:30 pm Saturday: 9 am until 4 pm Sunday: Closed
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Residents walking with Decatur’s Walk with a Doc program.
2.5miles. There are no sign ups just the opportunity to show up! In addition to the Walk with a Doc program, the city of Decatur developed the Walk There! Decatur campaign. You may have noticed signage around the City showing how long it will take you to walk from one point to another location. The signs are located in the central business district, Oakhurst business district, East Decatur Station and on Clairemont near the new Marriott Courtyard hotel. Each sign is site specific and shows how long it takes the average person to walk to selected localities. Each location is assigned a QR code so that pedestrians with smart phones can map their way. In case you don’t have a smart phone, you can check the map on the backside of each sign. Being such a walkable city, Decatur encourages both citizens and visitors to park and Walk There! For more info contact: Tracie Sanchez, Adult Programs Supervisor attracie.sanchez@decaturga.com or 678-553-6559.
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Photo by Jessica Fern Hunt, ©FitWit 2015.
HEALTH MATTERS
Stay safe during sweltering summer sweat sessions By KIMBERLY TURNER Fitwit.com, WellATL.com Down here in the South, the summer heat can bring a whole new level of challenge to your outdoor workouts. From June through August, the average high temperatures in Hotlanta can top out in the mid to upper 80s. You could pack up your gear and head to air-conditioned comfort, but outdoor exercise is great for you and the heat itself can actually have some benefits too.
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Higher temps can improve your flexibility — thus the popularity of hot yoga studios — and some studies have shown that hot-weather training may lead to even greater gains than high-altitude training for elite athletes. If you’re going to sweat it out this summer, be safe about it with these tips for scorching summer workouts:
Hydrate! Hydrate! Hydrate!
Drink 17 to 20 ounces of water a couple of hours before your workout starts then another six to eight ounces for every 15 minutes of
exercise — whether you feel thirsty or not. When you’re done working out, grab another couple of glasses of water or sports drink to help you replenish electrolytes. Yes, that’s a lot of fluid, but think of how much you lose via sweat during a summer workout. Aim to keep your hydration at a good level throughout the day. (Hint: Check the color of your urine. It should be pale yellow. Anything darker can be a sign of dehydration). It is possible, though rare, Continued on page 27
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Continued from page 26 to over-hydrate, leading to a dangerous condition called hyponatremia.
Dress Appropriately
Your sweat needs to evaporate off of your skin in order to effectively cool you, so don’t wear clothing that traps heat and sweat next to your skin. As comfy as cotton tees are, they don’t do a great job of pulling moisture away from your body. Wicking material and/or breathable fabrics will do wonders to make you feel cooler and are totally worth the extra few bucks. And no matter how gothy you are or how much you feel like sporting head-to-toe black makes you look like a tough ninja, summer is not the time for a dark wardrobe. Throw on some light colors to reflect that heat. If you don’t believe it matters, put a black shirt and a white shirt in the sun for 10 minutes then feel the difference.
Timing Is Everything
It’s common sense, but it bears repeating: If it’s a Georgia scorcher, don’t head out at high noon and set up your workout mat in
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the direct sun. That’s just asking for trouble. Working out during the early mornings or evenings will help you avoid the hottest, most humid part of the day (10 a.m. until 3 p.m.). Also, shade is a good thing. Head to a leafy park for your workout or take a jog along a wooded trail.
Don’t Skimp on the SPF
Even if you find that glorious shady spot, you still need to apply sunscreen before every outdoor workout. You can end up with a wicked burn, even on a cloudy day (80 to 80 percent of the sun’s UV rays get through those fluffy barriers), and you don’t need us to tell you how dangerous that can be. Make sure you have an SPF of at least 15 — preferably higher — and that it’s waterproof since you’re planning to sweat.
Listen to Your Body
Your heart works harder when it’s hot — roughly 10 beats per minute harder once the mercury hits 75 degrees — and can circulate two to four times as much blood on a hot day in an effort to keep you cool. That’s why pregnant women and those with high blood pressure should
avoid the heat whenever possible. Your body does acclimatize to the heat and become more efficient at cooling, but that takes about two weeks. In the meantime, start with shorter, less intense workouts and work your way up. No matter how long you’ve been doing hot weather workouts, listen to your body and call it quits if you have any signs of heat exhaustion, like: n Dizziness or fainting n Headaches n Muscle cramping or weakness n Nausea or vomiting n Cold, pale, clammy skin n Heavy sweating If you have any of those symptoms, move to a cooler location, lie down and loosen your clothing, sip water, and apply cool, wet cloths to as much of your body as possible. If you continue vomiting, seek medical attention right away. A body temperature above 103 degrees, a rapid pulse, or hot, red skin can identify heat stroke, the dangerous step beyond heat exhaustion. If you get to that point, consider it a medical emergency and call 911 immediately.
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AROUND TOWN
Decatur event goes to the dogs! Written By: KRISTY GIBSON Edited by: SALLY PEEK Photographs by: JEANA NOLEN & KRISTY GIBSON On June 13th, Plants Creative Landscapes in Decatur hosted the 3rd Annual Paw Over Some Jack and Chow Down Event, benefiting Chap’s Chow Rescue and Georgia Jack Russell Rescue, Adoption and Sanctuary. Pam Dooley, owner of Plants Creative Landscapes located at 425 E. College Ave., opens up her warehouse each year to host the event, which has grown in support and attendance since 2013. This year, the event raised over $9,000.00 for the two rescue organizations! In addition to the successful fund-raising, attendees enjoyed great food, drinks, live music, raffle prizes, and silent auction items, as well as some very cool giveaways. Michael G. Chapman, founder & director of Chap’s Chow Rescue, and Donna Durham (Mama Donna), founder of Georgia Jack Russell Rescue, Adoption and Sanctuary, use the funds raised at this annual event to treat medical needs, and to place unwanted or abandoned pets in loving homes. These animals are rescued from animal shelters, found as strays, or surrendered by their owners.
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The entertainment line-up started off with The Morgan Rowe Band, followed by Jimmy Galloway. The subtle sounds of acoustic music provided a perfect background for mingling with friends and family, bidding on items in the Silent Auction, perusing the Raffle Ticket tables, and eating delicious snacks by Dennis Dean Catering and Laura Miller. And, the refreshing ice cold beverages for the very hot night were donated by local folks: Red Brick Brewing, Locust Brewing, Terrapin Beer Company, Creature Comforts Brewery, and Jim Davis. Continued on page 29
Above: Founders of the Georgia Jack Russell Rescue and the Chaps Chow Rescue; Below: Event Sponsors Pet Supermarket and Plants Creative Landscapes representatives.
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Continued from page 28 Items for the Silent Auction were also donated by local businesses, artists, and restaurants and included personal and pet merchandise and services, such as grooming, boarding, treats, training, art prints, photography, jewelry, and restaurant gift cards. There were also Braves and Zoo Atlanta Tickets, Disney Parks Passes, and Sweetwater Brewery Tasting Tours. Georgia Jack Russell Rescue Volunteer Kim Davis was the MC. Between musical acts, Kim kept the ball rolling by calling out raffle winners encouraging attendees to support the rescue organizations and the sponsors, and reminding guests to place bids on silent auction items in advance of the staggered table closings. Support for these organizations is ongoing throughout the year. They need donors, foster homes, and volunteers to help rescue and re-home abused, abandoned, neglected, and unwanted Jack Russells, Chow Chows, and breed mixes. They assist in finding loving homes where the quality of life, safety, and ongoing health needs are met. Dogs can be seen by appointment or at scheduled adoption events. Please consider donating to these res-
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The Silent Auction at the 3rd Annual Jack Chow fund raising event hosted by Plants Creative Landscapes in Decatur.
cues, or purchasing items for their dogs from their Amazon wish lists. If you are interested in adopting or fostering, find out if these breeds are right for your family. For more information contact Georgia Jack Russell Rescue, Adoption and Sanctuary by visiting
www.jackrusselladoptions.org, or Chap’s Chow Rescue at www.chaps.petfinder.com. And plan to join us for next year’s party at Plants Creative Landscapes for fun, food, drinks, art, and a great time to benefit these excellent organizations.
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