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FALL • BACK TO SCHOOL 2017 IMPORTANT CONTACT INFORMATION:
City of Decatur: ..............................................www.DecaturGA.org Police (non-emergency): ............................................404-373-6551 Fire (non-emergency): ................................................404-373-5092 Active Living (Recreation Center): ............................404-377-0494 Children and Youth Services: .....................................404-378-1082 City Clerk: ..................................................................404-370-4100 City Manager: ............................................................404-370-4102 Economic Development: ...........................................404-371-8386 Mayor / Commissioners: ...........................................404-370-4102 Planning & Zoning: ...................................................404-370-4104 Sanitation & Facilities Maintenance: ........................404-377-5571 City Schools of Decatur: ....................www.Decatur-City.k12.ga.us Dekalb County: .............................................www.Co.Dekalb.ga.us Agnes Scott College: ......................................www.AgnesScott.edu Oakhurst Community Garden Project: ....... www.OakhurstGarden.org The Solarium at Old Scottish Rite: ..............www.TheSolarium.org YMCA – East Lake: ................................. www.ely.ymcaatlanta.org YMCA – Decatur/Dekalb: .....................www.ddy.ymcaatlanta.org Samuel Jones Boys & Girls Club: ........ www.bgcma.org/club.jones
ADVERTISER PHONE LISTINGS:
Ace & A: .....................................................................404-373-4074 Avondale Veterinary Hospital: ..................................404-294-4800 Butch Whitfield, Harry Norman Realty: ...................404-897-5558 Chip Wallace, KellerKnapp Realty: ...........................678-429-9731 Decatur Pest Control: ................................................404-296-4044 Dekalb Medical Hospital: ..........................................404-501-5200 Downtown Decatur Food Tours: ...............................770-999-9663 Finders Keepers: ........................................................404-296-0285 Griffin & Co. Insurance: ............................................404-378-2888 Hammertime Construction: .....................................404-525-3332 Heather Tell, Atlanta Intown Realty: ........................404-219-4078 Jack n Jill Consignment: ............................................404-508-0611 Kirkwood UCC Church: ............................................404-590-5683 Linda Lehsten, Keller Knapp Realty: ........................404-784-8779 mCary & Daughters: ..................................................404-370-0999 Matador Cantina: ......................................................404-377-0808 Mezcalitos: .................................................................678-471-6135 MoJo’s Pizza: ..............................................................404-373-1999 Mustang Computers and Supplies .............................404-373-1321 Oakhurst Electric: .....................................................770-256-7174 Oakhurst Market: ......................................................678-732-3109 Pam Hughes, Harry Norman Realty: ........................404-250-9900 Plants Creative Landscapes: ......................................404-309-7175 Pure Gas Station: .......................................................404-856-0393 Scout Restaurant: ……………………………………404-496-6863 Second Life Store : …………………………………… 678-974-5671 Shelter Lending: ………………………………………404-277-6044 Steinbecks Pub: ………………………………………404-373-1116 Universal Joint: ..........................................................404-373-6260 Wahoo Grill: ..............................................................404-373-3331 Wahoo Wine & Provisions: ........................................404-687-9463 Wildheart Salon: ........................................................404-228-7365 Disclaimer: The Clarke Agency LLC publishes the Village Magazine bi-monthly with the support of the Oakhurst Neighborhood Association (ONA) and the Winnona Park Neighborhood Association (WPNA). The content, including ads, articles and photos are not authorized or endorsed by ONA or WPNA and do not necessarily reflect the views of the ONA or WPNA, The Clarke Agency or the Publisher. Therefore neither The Clarke Agency nor the Publisher may be held liable for the business practices of the advertisers in the Village Magazine. The content reflects the views of its authors and we have provided the email addresses of the writers for direct response. We encourage Decatur residents to contribute content often. The Village Magazine staff reserves the right to modify, edit or not publish submitted content.
@2017 The Clarke Agency, LLC Mailing Address: 931 Monroe Dr. NE #282, Atlanta, GA 30308 Phone: 404-587-7887
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Village Magazine
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EDITOR’S NOTE
Back to school, back to reality
As our hottest summer days wind down and the kids go back to school, most of us are readjusting to our normal routines. New schools for some, the last year for others, no matter which we are all rushing to get that list of supplies so we are ready for the first day of school! The hustle of sports and community activities is in full swing. We love to see the little changes that brighten our everyday lives, like the new, colorful crosswalks in Decatur, particularly by Winnona Park Elementary School. The little ones did a wonderful job expressing Wildcat pride painting the crosswalks in the Exhibition of Learning on the last day of school. This time of year brings us some of our favorite community events. The BBQ and Blues Festival will satisfy the appetite for local food and tunes. Come sample some of the best local BBQ while enjoying the sounds of great live music. For our jazz lovers, consider bringing your picnic to Oakhurst Jazz Nights every Thursday in September. The free Fall Concert Series on the lawn of the Solarium never disappoints! Also, we all anticipate Porch Fest in October. There are over 160 bands scheduled so far. Get your fellow neighbors to help host or participate in the fun. As summer becomes fall, these are definitely some of my favorite Oakhurst activities. It is fantastic to see local art, music, and food come together and shine. The cover story about Angie Macon is an example of our treasured neighborhood and the people that make it truly colorful! She helped bring Porch Fest to fruition, and, as the Executive Director of the Decatur Art Alliance, she helps bring culture and light to our community. As the kid’s head back to school, the City of Decatur reminds us of bike safety. We all should be mindful of the kids walking, riding and playing after school. Let us enjoy this busy time of the year but try to soak up the last bit of summer by the pool! The Oakhurst VILLAGE Magazine is written by neighbors; for neighbors! Please email your story suggestions to OakhurstMag@gmail. com or call directly 404-587-7887. We publish every other month and are happy to hear about local news, accomplishments, events, and anything you all find interesting! Lorelei Cooper, Managing Editor Anne Clarke, Owner/Publisher Rob Boeger, Graphic Designer
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CITY NEWS: DECATUR HONORED
KaBOOM! Designated City of Decatur as Playful City By CHERYL BURNETTE Cheryl.Burnette@decaturga.com National non-profit KaBOOM! honored City of Decatur with a 2017 Playful City USA designation. This makes the City of Decatur one of 258 cities recognized for putting the needs of kids and families first as part of the Playful City USA program. The city continues to offer various safe and engaging play spaces within the parks and green spaces. They took it a step further with a creative approach to turn a vacant area into an opportunity for play. “I can't think of a better designation for the City of Decatur! Using public art, parks, playgrounds and spaces such as our new MARTA mural and KaBOOM! play space, the city strives to offer a variety of places to stop, be playful, have fun and engage with friends and neighbors. We are proud to be a Playful City!” said Mayor Garrett.
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Playful City USA honors cities and towns across the country for putting the needs of families first so kids can learn, grow and develop important life skills. These communities are transforming ordinary places into playful spaces and using play as a solution to the challenges facing their residents. “We are thrilled to recognize City of Decatur for putting kids first,” said KaBOOM! CEO James Siegal. “The well-being of our communities starts with the well-being of our kids, and play is critical for them to thrive. It is our collective responsibility to ensure that all kids get the childhood they deserve filled with play.” To see the full list of Playful City USA communities and to learn more about making play the easy choice for kids, visit kaboom.org/ playfulcityusa. You can also take part in the conversation with leaders across the country using #PLAYceforkids on Twitter and Facebook.
Photos courtesy Decatur Active Living of the KaBOOM! play space under the MARTA mural.
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CITY NEWS: WINNONA PARK CROSSWALKS
School awarded grant for the crosswalk safety project By LORELEI COOPER OakhurstMag@gmail.com Winnona Park Kindergartners painted the crosswalks near their school with Decatur Public Works staff this summer. As part of the “My Community and Me” learning expedition, Winnona Park students and teachers collaborated with Decatur Public Works Department’s Design, Environment and Construction Division to paint the crosswalks with safety and school spirit in mind. The school was awarded a grant from the Winnona Park Elementary Parent Teachers Association for the project that will make the crossing much safer. As your kids head back to school, drive by Avery Street to see the Wildcat Spirit painted right on the crosswalk!
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Left: Winnona Kindergartners painting the cross walk this summer (Photo via Facebook) Right: The finished crosswalk sporting the Winnnona Park school colors. (Photo by Lorelei Cooper)
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COVER STORY: ANGIE MACON
A true champion of the arts Executive Director of Decatur Arts Alliance has undeniable energy, enthusiasm for art and life By ANNE CLARKE OakhurstMag@gmail.com If you have ever been to a festival in Decatur, you probably ran into Angie Macon. I should say, you have been part of her work. As the Executive Director of Decatur Arts Alliance she has that undeniable energy and enthusiasm for art and life. Art is life in this case. “No one person has done more to connect the people of Decatur with arts and creativity than Angie,” said Scott Doyon, Executive Director of the Oakhurst Porchfest. “I spent five years thinking about doing Porchfest, then I met Angie and we had the first one launched in three weeks,” he exclaimed. Now in its third year, the Oakhurst Porchfest boasts over 180 musical acts performing on 180 home porches in one day! Angie studied Economics at the University of North Carolina and moved to Decatur after college. It was probably around the 1996 Olympics when Angie started volunteering in Decatur as a way to involve her children in the community. “I wanted the kids to see that it was cool to volunteer at the arts fest,” she said. By 2008, the Decatur Arts Alliance had hired Angie full time. During a year where the economy had taken a turn for the worst, Angie was tasked with leading an art organization. Decatur seemed to defy the odds, as Angie would say, “it was a testament to the community that Decatur Arts Alliance thrived during bad times.” Mayor Patti Garrett would agree explaining that under Angie’s leadership, arts in Decatur have grown and flourished. In fact Decatur’s oldest festival, the Decatur Arts Festival, has also grown in both size and stature. “Angie is a true champion for the arts
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“Angie is a true champion for the arts who is willing to think creatively and form partnerships to bring a vibrant art scene to the city of Decatur.”
Mayor Patti Garrett
who is willing to think creatively and form partnerships to bring a vibrant art scene to the city of Decatur,” Mayor Patti Garrett said. The city of Decatur identified cultural arts goals in the 2007 Cultural Arts Master Plan, which included establishing a public art fund, temporary public art initiatives and raising awareness of the arts in Decatur. The city has partnered with the Arts Alliance for the Decatur Artway Sculpture project. You may recognize the sculpture in Harmony
Park or the sculpture in front of the Solarium. Both are part of a 2-year residency program under the Decatur Artway program. The MARTA Mural is another partnered project hatched a few years ago that come to fruition in 2016. Angie pulled together the Decatur Arts Alliance with multiple entities to gain the funding and approvals for the project, which included a KaBOOM! playscape. The bridge mural design by Milagros Collective blends the coloring into the
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COVER STORY: ANGIE MACON
Left: School kids crossing, Decatur Arts Alliance MARTA mural project championed by Angie Macon at W. Trinity and Atlanta Road. Right Top: Two of the traffic signal box art. Bottom: One of the 32 miniature secret doors. (Courtesy photos) surrounding foliage while KaBOOM! added the benches and hanging chimes under the bridge. This is definitely a creative use of space at W. Trinity and Atlanta Ave., across from the Decatur police station. Another creative use of public space is the Decatur Box Project spearheaded by Larry Holland of Fishbone Art with the support of the Decatur Arts Alliance. A variety of artists were commissioned to paint the traffic signal boxes in Decatur from young emerging artists to more acclaimed artist. There are over 20 traffic signal boxes painted to date, for the loctions, go to FishboneArtDecatur.com/box-locations. “Angie is a dynamic and enthusiastic promoter of the arts in Decatur. She consistently identifies needs and figures out ways to partner and collaborate with others to make them happen,” explained Linda Harris, who serves as the city liaison to the Decatur Arts Alliance on the Arts Alliance board. Angie collaborated with the Dekalb Library Foundation to create the Book is Art Illuminated exhibition that will feature two white glove nights in August. “This is probably the only show of its type in the south, Angie said. “And it is a great use of space in the library.” Angie also worked with Holland to facilitate the Decatur Secret Door project featuring 24 artists. Miniature secret doors
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were inspired by fairy doors, which first appeared around the world over 100 years ago. There are 32 miniature secret doors in Decatur with another 20 planned for the future. How fun it would be to take the kids on a scavenger hunt to find the secret doors painted on buildings like McKoy Park, Mojo’s Pizza and the Oakhurst Garden. For a list of doors, the artist and locations, go to www.SecretDoorsDecatur.com. Inspiring children to enjoy and produce art seems to be the most exciting part of Angie’s job. The Young Emerging Artist (YEA) project is a hands-off approach to guiding K-12 grade school kids through the business of art. “It teaches that art is commerce,” Angie explained about the third year of YEA programming. The children submit their art for consideration (by Sept. 1) if accepted, they will have an art booth at the YEA Harmony Park event in October. They are expected to engage their audience and sell their own art at the event. “YEA is the only youth art event inside the perimeter,” Angie said. “And it is not limited to the City of Decatur students. But, of course, she is excited to present the art show in Oakhurst Village and focus on the neighborhood where “every house has a kid.” As she continued, “Oakhurst has free parking and with the outdoor stage feel of Har-
mony Park, the kids get excited about art.” As Angie and I walked over to Harmony Park during the interview, I was reminded of her passion and the days of the Decatur (Oakhurst) Arts & Music festival. She had her dog and was orchestrating the set up booths while directing a delivery truck when we first met. I had some ideas about an event supporting a dog park and she would just say “lets do it.” As I served on the Oakhurst Neighborhood Association board, I always knew Angie would make work fun from gaining funding to creating and implementing events. Mayor Patti Garrett would agree Angie was an incredibly fun person to be around. “Angie and I love to walk and our paths will frequently cross as we walk throughout Decatur, she, of course would always have her sweet dog with her,” she said. That disengaging style has translated to success for Decatur. Even in our interview, she wanted to make sure the story was focused on the art and not her personally. When I think about the arts in Decatur, I am reminded of a quote from Karen Paty, Executive Director of the Georgia Council for the Arts who is also an Oakhurst resident: “The arts are a vehicle to transfer and celebrate local history and culture and to develop a sense of community by defining a collective identity of place.”
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HOME MATTERS: SAFETY DRILLS
Safety comes with practice Let your children show you how By DUNCAN COTTRELL duncan@entryenforcer.com Our kids know the value of practicing things to get good at them; they do it every day in school, on the soccer field, at the piano or with the flute. When it comes to being safe at home, practice can save lives. In my house, we practice for three dangerous and scary situations, and we do it six times a year: 1. Dangerous weather conditions – March and July Continued on page 11
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HOME MATTERS: SAFETY DRILLS Continued from page 10 2. Home intrusions – if someone tries to come in while we are home (November and June) 3. Fire or smoke ( January and September) 1. DANGEROUS WEATHER CONDITIONS In my home, we all know to head to the basement when a tornado warning is issued, and we have a set place to go and wait out the storm. I keep a radio, spare batteries, candles, bottled water and a flashlight there at all times. We’ve recently added a small box of granola bars, nuts and raisins (things with a long shelf life). We practice and discuss: n Why this is a safe place? n What should we take with us? n How long do we stay there? n We double-check our supply expiration dates & batteries 2. HOME INTRUSIONS If someone tries to enter the house,
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the basement may not be the best refuge. We have a safe room designated for this circumstance. I still have a landline in my house, and there’s an extension with an old-fashioned (not wireless) phone here. With it, I don’t have to remember to pick up a cell phone in this kind of emergency. There is water and a flashlight, too, but that doesn’t make the room safe. I suggest three changes to make a room safer than any other place in the house: First, change the way the door operates. That is, mount hinges so the door swings out instead of in. Second, reinforce the doorframe with steel. And Third is to install a deadbolt on the door. We practice and discuss: n What does a home intrusion look and sound like? n For the children, they go immediately and don’t wait for parents. n What to do once behind the secured door n How long to stay (if older children are home alone, they could need guidance on how to judge safety)
3. FIRE AND SMOKE If someone detects smoke or fire in the home, we will get out of the house immediately. We’ve designated a meet-up spot as the mailbox at our neighbor’s house directly across the street. We practice and discuss: n When to exit n What to take or what not to take n What to do about those who can’t get out on their own (infants, pets, elderly or disabled) n Alternative ways to get out of the house, if the most obvious route is blocked n What to do once outside – alert neighbor to call 911 if a cell phone was not on hand If your household has children in it, consider letting them set the schedules and run the drills, while you keep an eye on the discussion points. Everyone is more likely to make the safest choices if they’ve had the chance to consider the emergency and walk through the process to reach safety, before that adrenaline starts pumping.
Village Magazine 11
GARDEN NEWS: WYLDE CENTER’S 2017 BEER GARDEN AND SILENT AUCTION
Overhead photo of Beer Garden crowd by the Wylde Center. Photos of event participants enjoying the food, fun drinks, silent auction and live music by Anne Clarke.
Meandering throught the Oakhurst Garden Wylde Center’s annual beer garden event By STEPHANIE VAN PARYS Executive Director, Wylde Center stephanie@wyldecenter.org After a rainy week, the clouds parted just in time for the Wylde Center’s annual Beer Garden and Silent Auction Fundraiser in late June. Hundreds of guests gathered at Oakhurst Garden to enjoy local brews, craft cocktails, delicious food and live music by The Benders. The evening was presented by Chip Wallace of Keller Knapp Realty and raised over $30,000 for the Wylde Center. All the funds raised goes directly to support Wylde Center's
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five gardens and extensive environmental education programs that include Decatur Farm to School and weekly programs at the Decatur Housing Authority. Participating breweries included Monday Night Brewing, Oak BrewPub, Sweetwater Brewery, Three Taverns Craft Beers, Wild Heaven Craft Beer, Treehorn Cider, UrbanTree Cidery and Terrapin Beer Co., while tasty treats were offered by Farm Burger, Pallookaville Fine Foods, Queen of Cream, Matador Cantina, Southern Food Revival and Cakes & Ale. VIP Ticket holders also enjoyed craft cocktails from IDC Independent Distilling Company and Kimball House.
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FAMILY MATTERS: DEKALB COUNTY LIBRARY
Reading 1,000 books before kindergarten dation provides funding for participation materials which include a book bag, starter book, reading lists and a Family Reading Log to record the book titles. Reading the same story multiple times counts! Babies and young children love repetition. More than 6,000 participation bags have been distributed throughout the system’s 22 branches, by DeKalb Medical, at the DeKalb Board of Health and at DeKalb County Head Start centers. More than 30 families have completed reading 1,000 Books in the past year.
By CANDY SUGARMAN Foundation Assistant, DeKalb Library Foundation sugarmanc@dekalblibrary.org On a recent rainy morning, dozens of small children and their parents eagerly awaited the opening of the Toco Hill-Avis G. Williams Library, which was hosting the 1,000 Books Before Kindergarten Summer Reading Program kick-off. 1,000 Books Before Kindergarten, funded by the DeKalb Library Foundation, encourages parents to read early and often to their babies and young children. Veronica Winley, who is the Library’s 1,000 Books Before Kindergarten Ambassador, led the parents and children through interactive stories and songs during the event. An experienced storyteller, she uses props, singing, dancing, and character voices to capture the
children’s imaginations and interest them in books and to demonstrate to parents techniques they can use to achieve the same goal. The DeKalb County Public Library began promoting 1,000 Books Before Kindergarten in 2016. The DeKalb Library Foun-
How can you help support quality programming such as this at DeKalb County Public Library? Become a DeKalb Library Foundation donor and partner. You can make a onetime donation or monthly recurring donations in any amount. For more information or to donate go to dekalblibraryfoundation.org.
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Village Magazine 13
FAMILY MATTERS: SAFE ON ARRIVAL
Back to school safety tips By CHERYL BURNETT Cheryl.Burnette@decaturga.com The first day of school is fast approaching so it is a good time to review safety rules with your family. The City of Decatur encourages children to walk and bike to school through the Safe Routes to School Program, and we want them to arrive at school safely. WALK SAFELY! n Children should always walk on the sidewalk or path and cross only at crosswalks or at traffic signals. Obey the crossing guards! n Look left, right and left again before crossing the street. n It’s a good idea to make eye contact with the driver of a vehicle before crossing. n Be careful at driveways where cars may back out and not expect a pedestrian.
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Kids riding bikes in Decatur with proper safety gear. (Photo courtesy Decatur Active Living) n Put down the cell phone and electronic devices and pay attention!
BIKE SAFELY! n Before your child rides his/her
bike, be sure to give it a safety check. Is there enough air in the tires? Do both brakes work? Check the saddle, hanContinued on page 15
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FAMILY MATTERS: SAFE ON ARRIVAL Continued from page 14 dlebars, pedals, and chain. If you need some repairs and are not able to do them yourself, bring the bike to a bike shop. It is worth the money to keep your children safe. WEAR A HELMET! Head injury is the leading cause of death in cycling accidents. Helmets should fit snuggly and cover the forehead – not more than two fingers width above the eyebrows. Parents – be a good role model and wear your helmet as well. n Learn hand signals. Cars cannot guess when a cyclist will be turning or stopping. Review hand signals with your child and teach them what road signs mean n Teach your child about road safety when riding a bike. Cyclists should ride with the flow of traffic and not against it. Ride with someone else if possible, and always ride single file. . Bicycles are considered vehicles and must obey the same rules of the road as cars.
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LIGHT UP! n All cyclists should have bike lights – a white one of the front and red on the back. Put the back light on flash when riding at any time of day. This will make riders more visible to cars. n If riding the sidewalk, make sure your child always yields to pedestrians. Children should be aware that sidewalk riding is actually more dangerous in many situations. Cars are not expecting a bike and riders should be especially cautious when approaching driveways and crosswalks. Bikes should be walked across, not ridden, in crosswalks. SCHOOL BUS SAFETY! n Children should stand at least three giant steps back from the bus stop while waiting on the bus. n Wait until the bus has come to a complete stop before getting off and never walk behind the bus. n If the child needs to cross in front of the bus when exiting, remind them to take five giant steps in front of the bus, make
eye contact with the bus driver, and cross when the driver indicates it is safe. Children should look left, right and left again before crossing. n For a list of the City Schools of Decatur school bus safety rules, visit http://www. csdecatur.net/departments/transportation/ DRIVE SAFELY! n Drivers should be on high alert in residential areas and school zones and watch for children on both the road and sidewalk. n Give pedestrians the right of way and look both ways before turning. n Put down your cell phone! It is illegal to text when driving. n Follow the speed limit and slow down in a school zone. n Stop for school buses with flashing lights! Flashing yellow or red lights indicates the bus is about to stop (yellow), has already stopped (red), or children are getting on or off. For more information on the Safe Routes to School Program visit www.decaturga.com/srts.
Village Magazine 15
BUSINESS PROFILE: ACE & A HEATING & AIR
Ace & A Heating & Air enters fifth decade in business General manager talks familyowned Decatur company's evolution over the years By PATRICK SAUNDER psaunders78@gmail.com When you have over 40 years’ experience serving a community's heating and air needs, you know you must be doing something right. Such is the case for Ace & A Heating & Air Conditioning in Decatur. Owner Sam West started the business with a brother-in-law in 1975, but they eventually parted ways, with West keeping the Decatur location and the brother-in-law taking a location of the same name in Tucker. General Manager Rick Coggins, who came on board in 1981, said that times have definitely changed in the heating and air conditioning industry over the years. “Back when I started in it, not every house in Atlanta was built with air conditioning,” he told Oakhurst Magazine. “We rarely do that anymore because most of them have already been converted.” There has also been an evolution in the type of refrigerant used, with different kinds being phased out over the years because of their ozone depletion effects. “Still haven’t proved it to me, but they say that,” Coggins said. The biggest change in recent years is the move to super high-efficiency systems like the ductless mini-split, which is smaller in size and offers greater flexibility for heating and cooling individual rooms than central heating and air systems do.. “That’s the biggest thing on the market right now, and that’s where we’ve seen our biggest growth over the last five years,” Coggins said. “These things have been around for 20 years, but they’ve just now become really popular.”
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Owner Sam West and General Manager Rick Coggins (Photos by Patrick Saunders) And while the units themselves are more expensive, money can be saved thanks to the ductless mini-split's efficiency. It’s all about the seasonal energy efficiency ratio (SEER) rating; basically, the higher the SEER rating, the more energy efficient the unit is. Coggins said conventional units run from a 14 to a 20 SEER rating, while minisplits run up to a 35 SEER rating. “So there’s a tremendous savings in the cost of running one,” he explained. “And they’re especially great if you have a bonus room over a garage, an in-law suite in the basement or a screen porch addition like a sun room, because there’s no loss in it.” As for Ace & A’s busiest times of the year, Coggins said hands-down it’s summer. “The coldest day in winter does not even compare to the hottest day in summer in our business,” he said. While people worry about their pipes busting in the winter, they demand much quicker service when the AC goes out on a hot Georgia day. “We as a people have become very, very dependent on air conditioning over the years. I grew up never having air conditioning and never missing it. But once you have it and you lose it, it’s something people take
Ace & A Heating & Air Conditioning 2768 E. College Ave. Decatur, GA 30030 404-378-5060 www.aceanda.com for granted,” he said. It’s a notion that has helped keep the family-owned company in business for as long as it has. “We like to think that we treat our customers like they’re family also. We’ve got a lot of customers that have been with us for a long time, so we must be doing something right,” Coggins said. “We try to go out and give good value for the price. If you go out and get five estimates on replacing your system, we’re not going to the highest and we’re not going to be the lowest. We can’t do it as cheap as the guy that’s working out of his house that doesn’t have any overhead that probably doesn’t have workman’s comp insurance. We can’t compete with those guys. But legitimate companies, we give a lot of value for the price. It’s a business, so we’re here to make money, but we don’t want to make it all on one customer.”
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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
Area
List Price
Sale Price Sold Date DOM Beds Baths Sq. Ft.
323 East Lake Dr.
Oakhurst
$569,000
$576,500
6/9/17
4
3
2.0
1871
1329 Oakview Road
Oakhurst
$499,000
$495,000
6/19/17
3
4
3.5
2198
719 S. Candler St.
Winnona Park
$889,900
$880,000
6/19/17
42
5
4.0
3180
719 S. Candler St
Winnona Park
$899,900
$880,000
6/19/17
42
5
4.0
3180
620 3rd Avenue
Oakhurst
$559,000
$547,140
6/20/17
4
3
3.0
1710
102 Linore Place
Oakhurst
$600,000
$600,000
6/20/17
28
3
2.0
1998
133 W. Hill St.
Oakhurst
$599,900
$586,015
6/22/17
5
3
2.0
2529
333 Mimosa Dr.
Winnona Park
$425,000
$425,000
6/23/17
4
2
1.0
1394
41 McEvoy Lane
Winnona Park
$775,000
$775,000
6/23/17
1
4
4.5
2865
337 Mimosa Dr
Winnona Park
$459,000
$463,000
6/23/17
2
3
2.0
1737
822 S. McDonough St.
Oakhurst
$850,000
$839,000
6/26/17
68
5
4.0
3031
519 Candler St.
Winnona Park
$569,000
$583,000
6/26/17
1
3
2.0
1698
176 Olympic Place
Oakhurst
$755,000
$755,000
6/26/17
144
4
3.0
2556
506 S. Candler St.
Winnona Park
$739,900
$705,000
6/29/17
198
4
3.0
2400
123 Shadowmoor Dr.
Oakhurst
$525,000
$537,500
6/30/17
3
3
2.0
2009
945 Derrydown Way
Winnona Park
$899,000
$899,000
7/5/17
3
5
4.0
3281
105 Candler Pointe Way Winnona Park
$769,900
$769,900
7/6/17
23
4
3.5
2960
624 2nd Avenue
Oakhurst
$899,900
$875,000
7/7/17
41
5
4.0
3300
239 Greenwood Circle Oakhurst
$899,900
$863,300
7/7/17
3
4
3.0
3140
107 Hood Circle
Oakhurst
$519,900
$522,000
7/10/17
35
3
2.0
1244
451 E Pharr Rd
Oakhurst
$715,000
$720,000
7/14/17
20
4
3.5
2380
135 Kings Hwy
Oakhurst
$420,000
$400,000
7/17/17
50
2
1.0
1548
125 Hood Circle
Oakhurst
$999,000
$963,000
7/19/17
125
6
5.0
3661
144 Jefferson Place
Oakhurst
$585,000
$585,000
7/20/17
9
3
2.0
2116
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Village Magazine 17
HEALTH MATTERS: SELF PRESERVATION
Planning for physical, mental health changes By HANNAH BETH MILLMAN Manager, [solidcore] Decatur and Midtown hannahbeth@solidcore.co As the fun-filled, travel-filled, adventure-filled days of summer turn to the reading-filled, packed lunch-filled, new opportunity-filled days of back-to-school season, it is more important than ever that we, as parents and adults, take excellent care of ourselves so that we can take the best care possible of the ones that we love. Even those that are not parents still feel the shift in the energy as the new school year begins, and the toll that this shift takes on all of us. The good news: You have SO many incredible opportunities to take care of your health and wellness in and around the Decatur area. You just have to be the one to make doing so a priority! Believe it or not, the busy, back-to-school season is the very best time to implement some changes in your self-preservation plan.
18 Village Magazine
Your body was designed to try new things, both physically and mentally, so make a plan! You literally have your choice of yoga, cycle, barre, cardio, resistance training and cross training right here in Decatur! These specialized fitness studios usually have some type of new client offer, so take advantage and step out of your comfort zone. Each studio has its own special, unique community, so allow that space to be the place that you fall apart a little and rebuild before tackling the 1,427
things on your “to do” list on any given day. Not sure which fitness studio is the best fit for you? Give something like the Decatur Fitness Crawl a try! The next one is on Saturday, Oct. 14, and will be a fun-filled afternoon consisting of 20 minutes of barre at Pure Barre Decatur, 20 minutes of resistance training at [solidcore] Decatur and 20 minutes of focused, intentional cardio at Orange Theory Decatur with a run in between sessions sponsored by Big Peach Running Company. There will also be an after party to celebrate all participants! Tickets will be available on freshtix.com in September. The first Crawl sold out in just a week, so make sure to get your tickets early! Bottom line? Taking time for you is not just important it’s crucial. By dedicating a part of every day to your health and wellness, you are ensuring that you can give the most and the best to those in your life. Here’s to a happy and healthy school year – for YOU!
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PET ROUNDUP: LIFELINE ANIMAL PROJECT
New Dekalb animal shelter opens By KAREN HIRSCH khirsch@lifelineanimal.org A ribbon-cutting ceremony was held in July at the new DeKalb County Animal Services shelter, located near Dekalb-Peachtree Airport, to mark it's official opening. The new facility is double the size of the old Camp Road location. DeKalb officials and LifeLine Animal Project staff gathered to celebrate the opening of the beautiful new 33,440-square-foot facility, which sits on 5.3 acres of land. The new shelter features a 1,300-squarefoot clinic that includes a surgery prep area, surgery room, lab area, secure pharmacy storage and holding areas for animals scheduled for surgery. The clinic will provide spay-and-neuter services for animals adopted from the shelter, which is managed by LifeLine Animal Project. LifeLine Animal Project has been managing all operations of the Dekalb County animal shelter since 2013. The organization implemented a holistic approach to address shelter overpopulation that has resulted in unprecedented pets saved in Dekalb County. The new facility, located at 3280 Chamblee Dunwoody Road, will help continue the mission.
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Rebecca Guinn, LifeLine CEO leads Dekalb County representatives for the ribbon cutting opening in July, Pets waiting to be adopted at the new Dekalb County animal shelter. (Photos courtesy of LifeLine Animal Project)
Village Magazine 19
GARDEN NEWS: DECATUR HOUSING AUTHORITY
Wylde Center’s garden and nutrition programs at the Decatur Housing Authority By STEPHANIE VAN PARYS Wylde Center Executive Director stephanie@wyldecenter.org While the Wylde Center has been teaching people of all ages about gardening and growing food at our public greenspaces, we took the show on the road, so to speak, in 2010 when we formed an exciting new partnership with the Decatur Housing Authority (DHA). Our goal for the partnership is to provide garden and nutrition programs for DHA residents that focus on increasing garden knowledge, food literacy and food access. We started with a oneday-a-week program for youth. Now, just seven years later, Wylde Center staff manages programs for youth, adults and seniors. We were proud to be honored this past June as the Decatur Housing Authority’s 2017 Partner of the Year, especially since the DHA partnership is particularly close to our hearts. We see the impact of our programs each week, and the warmth and joy the participants show and share make it rewarding for our staff. It has
Putting you in your landscape. CMYK
become a collaborative effort, and a friendship between our two organizations that we will continue for many years. AFTERSCHOOL YOUTH GARDEN CLUB Our longest running programming at the Decatur Housing Authority has evolved over the many years we have been working with younger DHA residents. Our first years had us walking across the street to work on our plot at the Decatur High School community garden until DHA built the children a garden on DHA property. We also used to work with all of the children (70+) each week and now we work with 10-15 students for 5-week sessions. The students enjoy hands-on activities in their garden, and they harvest the produce, cook what they grow, and create easy, healthy, and delicious recipes. The youth have made bike-powered smoothies, hummus, and spaghetti squash in their weekly sessions. Continued on page 21
Above: Wylde board member Adele Gipson (2nd from left) with Wylde education staff members Sarah Dasher, Charlee Glenn, and Allison Ericson (left to right) at the DHA award ceremony to accept our Partner of the Year award. Picking Kale: Below: Students always participate in making their snack for their garden club program. (Photos by Wylde Center)
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GARDEN NEWS: DECATUR HOUSING AUTHORITY
Top left: Picking Kale: DHA youth pick kale from their garden that they will later turn into a fresh salad. Top right: Trinity Walk: Wylde educator, Sarah Dasher sows out seeds with the adult garden club program at their Trinity Walk garden. (Photos by Wylde Center) Continued from page 20 SENIOR GARDEN CLUB AT OLIVER HOUSE (SUBTITLE) In 2012 when Oliver House opened to its senior citizen residents, DHA invited Wylde Center to start a Garden Club program for its residents based on the success we were having with our DHA youth program. Waist-high garden beds were built onsite specifically for the seniors, and we had access to their community room. After five consistent years of programming, we now have 20 residents that participate each week. Garden club topics include what foods to eat to reduce inflammation, how to make tea using herbs grown in the garden, and ways to replace salt without losing flavor. Each session includes time in the garden and time in the classroom. Because some of the senior participants struggle with mobility issues, on harvest day, those that can harvest do, and the food is divided up among all of the class participants. To improve mobility, the residents requested yoga, which started last fall, and continues in 2017.
turn, share what they have learned with their friends and neighbors, helping to make Decatur a healthier and greener place for us all. Wylde Center is an environmental education organization that educates, cultivates green spaces and builds community in the areas we serve. For more information about our programs and garden, please visit wyldecenter.org. We are also on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook.
ADULT GARDEN CLUB PROGRAM One of our newest gardening programs is for adults living at Trinity Walk and Allen Wilson apartment communities. The Trinity Walk apartments were recently rebuilt, and the DHA included a garden for these residents and invited Wylde Center educators to create and run gardening programs onsite. The residents enjoy gardening, harvesting, and cooking food using healthy recipes. They aren’t the only ones learning. They give tips back to our educators on how to use ingredients to make their food and their lives healthier. FRESH PRODUCE IS DISTRIBUTED EACH WEEK In January, Wylde Center received a grant from Food Well Alliance to hire a farmer to grow produce for our DHA participants and start a Community Supported Agriculture program (CSA). Each week, our DHA participants (seniors, adults, and youth) receive a bag of fresh produce to take home and enjoy. Since, April, we have distributed 97 pounds. Our partnership with the Decatur Housing Authority has benefited both organizations, as well as the DHA residents. They, in
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Village Magazine 21
AROUND TOWN: BBQ AND BLUES FESTIVAL
Decatur BBQ Blues & Bluegrass festival (Photo via Facebook)
Decatur BBQ Blues & Bluegrass festival is a family-friendly event The 17th annual Decatur BBQ Blues & Bluegrass festival is set for Saturday, Aug. 12. Once again the festival will bring the sights, sounds and smells of classic southern BBQ from metro Atlanta staples along with 7-plus hours of original live blues and bluegrass music from aspiring and accomplished local, regional and national acts to Oakhurst Village.
22 Village Magazine
BBQ & Blues festival is a family fun event with two stages to delight the audience from 2 p.m. to 9 p.m. This is a family-friendly event that is fun for all ages, kids under 12 are free and general tickets are $15. The main stage will be in the parking lot at 630 East Lake Drive with another stage at Harmony Park (Oakhview & East Lake Drive). Proceeds
from the BBQ & Blues festival benefit Community Center of South Decatur (The Solarium) by supporting educational programs, community events and providing grants to other non-profit groups in the city of Decatur. Go to www.DecaturBBQfestival.com for tickets and information.
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AROUND TOWN: OAKHURST JAZZ NIGHTS
Another great season for Jazz Nights By ANNE CLARKE OakhurstMag@gmail.com Hundreds of jazz lovers will be headed to Oakhurst and picnicking at sunset again in September to enjoy some of the best jazz artists in the southeast. The Oakhurst Neighborhood Association (ONA) announces another great season of free outdoor jazz concerts this fall, beginning Thursday, Sept. 7. Fall Concert Series performer line up: 9/7 – Will Scruggs 9/14 – Faith Harris 9/7 – Kermit Walker 9/7 – Mace Hibbard All concerts are open to the public and begin at 7 p.m. on the lawn in front of The Solarium, 321 W. Hill Street. In case of rain, the concert will move inside The Solarium. Oakhurst Jazz Nights would not be
Thanks To Our Sponsors!!
possible without the support of the Solarium (Community Center of South Decatur) and the Decatur Development Authority. The Oakhurst Jazz Nights sponsors help fund the event, including: DoubleDome Web Technologies, Hamertime Construction, Heather Tell with Atlanta InTown Realty, Oakhurst Electric, Petmeisters Pet Sitting, Scout Restaurant, Oakhurst Market, Steinbecks, Oakhurst Realty Partners, Snap Fitness Decatur, UJoint, All Souls Church, Dan Barracliff State Farm Insurance, Wahoo Grill and Wine Provisions, KellerKnapp Realty,
H2H Wellness Centers and the Private Bank of Decatur. ONA community volunteers manage the event each night. Please reach out to concerts@OakhurstJazzNights.com to help for 30 minutes! While blankets and low back chairs are encouraged, the ONA does have bistro tables with 4 seats each for rent ($25). Go to OakhurstJazzNights.com to reserve a table, only 10 are available each night. Funds from Oakhurst Jazz Nights support special events and block parties in the community.
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of Pops * Private Bank of Decatur * Sugar Moon Bake Finders Keepers
Consignment Tree Service * Dr. Jordan, Compassionate Care Veterinary Service * D Stores hurst Market Inc. * The S 404-634-6995 404-296-0285 * Petmeisters * Progressive Redevelopment AVONDALE
FOUR fabulous DECATUR consignment stores filled with Home Furnishings and Fashions for Women & Men. Presented by the Oakhurst Neighborhood Association 404-634-6995
Thursdays 7-9 pm in April and Septembe April 2nd, 9th, 16th, 23rd & 30th * September 3rd, 10 321 West Hill Street (outside The Solarium 404-377-1944
DECATUR
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DECATUR
Village Magazine 23
PAST OAKHURST BUSINESS ASSOCIATION PRESIDENT | PAST BOARD MEMBER – DECATUR BUSINESS ASSOCIATION PAST CO-CHAIR OF DECATUR BEACH PARTY | OAKHURST ELEMENTARY AUCTION 2017 - AUCTIONEER
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