The Decatur Minute

Three public works vehicles have broken down today. As a result, yard waste pick up may happen later than usual today, or may not be picked up until tomorrow. We apologize for the inconvenience.

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City Schools of Decatur asked me to share the following:

CSD Superintendent Search- Community Input Needed
City Schools of Decatur Superintendent Search
Parents, Staff, Students and Community Members Invited to Participate in Online Survey and Community Forums

The Board of Education is very interested in your input as they seek to hire a new superintendent. City Schools of Decatur staff, students, parents and community members are invited to participate in this process by attending community forums and by completing a survey. This survey is designed to gather your perception on the importance of various characteristics commonly found in effective superintendents. The information will be used by the Board to determine the “Desired Characteristics” of our next superintendent.

The Superintendent Search Survey
Please share your thoughts by responding to survey linked below. The survey will be open until June 3, 2015.

To access the survey: www.ecrasurvey.com/Decatur

As you respond, please remember that all characteristics listed are desirable, but we are interested in knowing your perceptions about which characteristics are “most important” for City Schools of Decatur.

Superintendent Search Community Forums
The consultant firm, Hazard, Young, Attea & Associates, will facilitate four community forums to seek input on the most desirable characteristics and skills that our new superintendent should possess.

The community forums will be held in the Board of Education Room at the Central Office at the Beacon Municipal Center located at 125 Electric Avenue on the following days:

* Monday, June 1, 2015 at 6:30 PM
* Tuesday, June 2, 2015 at 6:30 PM
* Wednesday, June 3, 2015 at 6:30 PM
* Wednesday, August 5, 2015 at 6:30 PM

The Board members, along with Hazard, Young, Attea & Associates, appreciate your willingness to participate in this very important process and look forward to learning your perspective.

Thank you for taking the time to share your thoughts with the Board.

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Congratulations to the Spring 2015 graduating class of the Decatur Citizen’s Police Academy.  Participants attended evening classes for ten weeks covering various topics including criminal law, traffic enforcement, juvenile procedures, drug trends, use of force, criminal investigations, firearms safety & familiarization, crime in Decatur and community policing & crime prevention.  Participants also had an opportunity to tour the DeKalb County Medical Examiner’s Officer and DeKalb County Jail and ride along with a patrol officer for a shift to see policing from the inside. We want to thank all of the participants for spending time getting to know us and learning about our profession.

The next Citizen’s Police Academy course will be held Thursday evenings from September thru November 2015.  If you are interested in attending the Citizen’s Police Academy, please contact Lt. Jennifer S. Ross at Jennifer.ross@decaturga.com or 678/553-6613.

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From the Decatur Fire Department: 

Parents, do you want to be aware of your own driving behaviors? Do you want to help teens become safer drivers? Do you want to learn what you need to do during the supervised practice driving time with your teen? If you said yes, then you need to sign up for The Georgia Teens Ride with Parents Reducing Injuries and Driver Error program hosted by the Decatur Fire Department. This program was created by the University of Georgia Traffic Injury Prevention Institute to help parents and teens reduce teen crashes in Georgia. Many teen crash fatalities are preventable.

Location:              Decatur City Hall

Address:              509 N. McDonough St.

Date:                     June 13, 2015

Time:                     10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.

To register for the class, call 678-553-6583 or fill out this form and return by fax to 678-553-6585 or via email to Ninetta.violante@decaturga.com.

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Stroll around town tonight to see exhibits at various shops and restaurants and enjoy complimentary snacks and drinks. Beer will be on sale at East Court Square so drop by to visit beer sponsors Red Brick and Starr Hill, plus local brewers Three Taverns, Wild Heaven, Blue Tarp, and Twain’s.

Participating Business:

• Agnes Scott College
• Aimee Jewelry Boutique
• Art Institute of Atlanta-Decatur
• Boogaloos
• Butter & Cream
• Color Wheel Studio
• CORE
• Decatur Bikes
• Furry Tails Pet Shop
• Georgia Center for the Book – Decatur Library
• HomeGrown Decatur
• Makan
• Parker’s on Ponce
• Sq/Ft
• Squash Blossom
• Sycamore Gallery
• Trinity Mercantile and Design
• Vivid Boutique
• Wild Oats and Billy Goats
• Worthmore Jewelers

Click here for details or pick up an Arts Festival program at one of the participating businesses for a map.

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The USDA sent a press release with the following food safety tips as the weather warms up:

Offers Summer Food Safety Tips in Advance of Memorial Day Weekend

WASHINGTON, May 20, 2015 – Memorial Day weekend marks the unofficial start to summer, and many Americans will celebrate with cookouts, camping, road trips, and other activities that involve food. The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) is reminding families to take extra care not to let foodborne bacteria, which grows more quickly in hot weather, ruin the fun.

“This Memorial Day weekend and all summer long, I encourage families to get outside and enjoy our natural resources, national parks and forests, and the variety of food America’s farmers are able to provide,” said Agriculture Secretary Vilsack. “It’s important to remember that bacteria grow faster in the same warm temperatures that people enjoy, so extra care needs to be taken to prevent food poisoning when preparing meals away from home. USDA reminds everyone to use a food thermometer, and take advantage of resources like our FoodKeeper app to help with any food handling questions.”

Last month, USDA launched its FoodKeeper mobile app, which contains specific guidance on more than 400 food and beverage items, including safe cooking recommendations for meat, poultry and seafood products. The app provides information on how to store food and beverages to maximize their freshness and quality. This will help keep products fresh longer than if they were stored improperly, which can happen more often during hot summer days. The application is available for free on Android and Apple devices.

Due to a variety of factors, including warmer temperatures, foodborne illness increases in summer. To help Americans stay healthy and safe, USDA offers the following food safety recommendations.

Bringing food to a picnic or cookout:

• Use an insulated cooler filled with ice or frozen gel packs.  Frozen food can also be used as a cold source. • Foods that need to be kept cold include raw meat, poultry, and seafood; deli and luncheon meats or sandwiches; summer salads (tuna, chicken, egg, pasta, or seafood); cut up fruit and vegetables; and perishable dairy products. • A full cooler will maintain its cold temperature longer than a partially filled one.  When using a cooler, keep it out of the direct sun by placing it in the shade or shelter. • Avoid opening the cooler repeatedly so that your food stays colder longer.

Cooking on the grill:

• Use separate cutting boards and utensils for raw meat and ready-to-eat items like vegetables or bread. • Keep perishable food cold until it is ready to cook. • Use a food thermometer to make sure meat and poultry are cooked thoroughly to their safe minimum internal temperatures: o Beef, Pork, Lamb, & Veal (steaks, roasts, and chops): 145 °F with a 3 minute rest time o Ground meats: 160 °F o Whole poultry, poultry breasts, & ground poultry: 165 °F • Always use a fresh, clean plate and tongs for serving cooked food. Never reuse items that touched raw meat or poultry to serve the food once it is cooked.

Serving food outdoors:

• Perishable food should not sit out for more than two hours.  In hot weather (above 90 °F), food should NEVER sit out for more than one hour. • Serve cold food in small portions, and keep the rest in the cooler.  After cooking meat and poultry on the grill, keep it at 140 °F or warmer until served. • Keep hot food hot by setting it to the side of the grill rack, not directly over the coals where they could overcook.

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Follow FSIS on Twitter at twitter.com/usdafoodsafety or in Spanish at twitter.com/usdafoodsafe_es. USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer and lender. To file a complaint of discrimination, write: USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 20250-9410 or call (800) 795-3272 (voice), or (202) 720-6382 (TDD).

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Come out and join us for a Blue Sky Concert today at noon. The Beulah Boys will be entertaining the crown with dancing and singing-you don’t want to miss it! And don’t forget, it’s senior day!

Decatur elders, boomers, and seniors are a multi-generational audience that is on the move and living with energy! We plan these events so you can meet socially several times a year with other seniors to connect and enjoy. These outings are a collaboration of Lifelong Community, Active Living, and Police Outreach teams.

*Bring a sack lunch; Chairs will be set up for seniors
*Decatur seniors are all invited!

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Let your light shine and wind through downtown Decatur during this free community event. Gather at Color Wheel Studio at 508 E. Howard Ave. after 8 pm, then parade to the downtown square along with the Black Sheep Marching Ensemble.

Make your own lantern at home or attend a lantern-making workshop where supplies and guidance are provided. Start dreaming up your lantern now! For more info and lantern making resources visit decaturlanternparade.com.

See the parade route here. Please note the Decatur Lantern Parade is battery powered. Flying lanterns are forbidden.

The parade is a joint venture with Decatur Education Foundation.
Photo credit: Beate Sass

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The City of Decatur has issued a film permit to Shadowlight Pictures for a television project today.  The project will film at Ebster Recreation Center as well as on the Decatur Housing Authority property at the corner of Trinity and Electric Avenue.  Decatur police will be present at both locations.  We do anticipate intermittent traffic control for about twenty minutes in the afternoon. Your patience is greatly appreciated.

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