The Decatur Minute

The Conrad N. Hilton Foundation selected The Task Force for Global Health (The Task Force), an international organization dedicated to addressing large-scale health problems primarily affecting people living in extreme poverty, as this year’s recipient of the Hilton Humanitarian Prize—the world’s largest humanitarian prize.

The Task Force has been a pioneer in global health since its founding 32 years ago, and it currently reaches hundreds of millions of people in 151 countries through programs focusing on neglected tropical diseases, vaccines, field epidemiology, public health informatics, and health workforce development. The organization collaborates with partners in diverse sectors, including pharmaceutical companies and health agencies in other countries, on comprehensive disease control and elimination programs.

They will receive $2 million in unrestricted funding and join 20 other nonprofit organizations that have received this Prize during the last two decades, and will be honored at this year’s international Humanitarian Symposium in New York on September 30.

The City of Decatur Municipal Court announces the upcoming 2016 Amnesty Program. The program, which begins August 15, 2016, and goes through October 15, 2016, offers amnesty to individuals to resolve past-due traffic citations and active bench warrants for failure to appear in court. It is important to note that a failure to appear in court may have resulted in a driver’s license suspension.  The goal and purpose of the Amnesty Program is to help restore as many drivers as possible to legal status to drive on Georgia roadways, and to avoid more harm to their driving history with additional charges and fines. Amnesty will save individuals money because warrant and other fees, if any, will be waived.

Individuals with outstanding violations may walk in to the City of Decatur Municipal Court, Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. from August 15, 2016 to October 15, 2016, and from 9:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Saturday, October 8, 2016 to resolve their outstanding violations without facing any additional charges or costs. Any person with a failure to appear warrant, which resulted in a license suspension, who pays the fine to resolve the original citation violation, will receive documentation to submit to the Department of Drivers Services to have their driver’s license reinstated. If the original violation, such as DUI, driving on a suspended license, or no insurance, requires a mandatory court appearance, individuals should appear on Amnesty Saturday, October 8, 2016.

The court encourages anyone who believes they may have an outstanding matter in the City of Decatur Municipal Court to take advantage of the Amnesty Program.  The City of Decatur Municipal Court is located at 420 W. Trinity Place, Decatur, GA, 30030. Contact us at 678-553-6655 or visit the city’s website at https://www.decaturga.com/city-government/city-departments/municipal-court/2016-amnesty-program for more information.

This is a weekly blog post that lists all of the events and sales going on around town. It will be updated daily. If you would like to add an event, email Catherine.lee@decaturga.com.

Wednesday, Aug. 10
• Decatur Farmers Market, 4-7 p.m
• Hands-on Tapas Making Class at The Iberian Pig, 7 p.m.

Thursday, Aug. 11
• Wine Tasting event at Wahoo! Grill, 6:30 p.m.

Saturday, Aug. 13
• Decatur Farmers Market, 9 a.m.-1 p.m.
• Decatur BBQ Blues & Bluegrass Festival, noon-8 p.m.

The Decatur Police Department would like to announce that Scott Richards has been promoted to Deputy Police Chief.  Deputy Chief Richards is taking over for Deputy Chief Keith Lee who retired last Friday, July 29, 2016 after 27 years of service.

Deputy Chief Scott Richards.

Deputy Chief Richards grew up in Stone Mountain and joined the Decatur Police Department in 1994.  He is a graduate of Georgia State University, with a B.S. in Criminal Justice and a graduate of the University of Louisville Southern Police Institute’s Administrative Officer’s Course where he achieved Dean’s List recognition for academic achievement. Throughout Deputy Chief Richards’ career with the Decatur Police Department he has worked as a patrol officer, field training officer, patrol supervisor, instructor, supervisor over the training division and served as captain over the patrol, special units and support services divisions.  Deputy Chief Richards most important role is that of being a husband and father to two beautiful daughters.  Congratulations to Deputy Chief Richards!

 Photo Credit: Jenna Mobley

The Decatur Farmers Market has been chosen to be a site for the USDA’s Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Program this year! This grant provides low-income seniors with coupons that can be exchanged for fresh fruits and vegetables with authorized farmers at local farmers markets. This project came to the Decatur Farmers Market as a partnership between the Atlanta Regional Commission, the Georgia Department of Public Health, and Wholesome Wave Georgia.

The goals of this program are to provide fresh, nutritious, locally-grown fruits, vegetables, herbs, and honey from farmers markets to low-income seniors and to aid in developing and expanding local farmers markets. Eligible participants in the program are those that are at least 60 years old and who have household incomes of not more than 185% of the Federal poverty income guidelines.

Participating seniors first attend an information session at their housing center which includes a demonstration of how to prepare the local, seasonal produce that is available at the market, along with an explanation of the nutritional value and benefits of choosing locally-grown, seasonal produce.

The following week, the seniors visit the farmers market for a market tour, a demonstration on doubling their SNAP benefits at the market, and for the distribution of their vouchers with an introduction to our authorized farmer – Ronnie Mathis from Mountain Earth Farms in Clarkesville, Georgia.

In Decatur, this program will run through July and August and will provide 200 seniors with $20 vouchers, that are then doubled to $40 through a partnership with Wholesome Wave Georgia, to bring a total of $8,000 into our farmers market.  Nationwide, this program serves almost 800,000 seniors purchasing local produce grown by about 20,000 farmers at almost 4,000 farmers markets annually.

For more information, contact the CFM Director of Educational Programming at jenna@cfmatl.org.

The Possibilities Are Boundless
Opening Reception
Friday, August 26 | 7-9 pm

Book Festival
Extended Hours
Saturday, Sept. 3 | 9 am-6 pm
Sunday, Sept. 4 | Noon-5 pm

White Glove Nights
Thursday, Sept. 15 and
Sept. 29 | 7-9 pm

Bookmaking for Kids
Thursday, Sept. 22
4-5:30 pm

Artist books take many forms – from handmade and lusciously tactile to linear and informative, abstract and questioning to sculptural and monumental. This juried show celebrates the book with a wildly varied collection of inventive and spectacular work that challenges expectations.

This year is the fourth edition of the artists’ book exhibition and we have a new location — the Periodicals Gallery of the Decatur Library!

Get a sneak peek of the collection at bookasart.com.

Who says the first week of school can’t be delicious? 

Global Growers and Makan are joining forces this Thursday to beat the back-to-school blues of bedtimes, homework, and packed lunches. The talented chefs at Makan will work their magic on Global Grower’s fresh produce and we will have a unique one-night-only special menu in addition to their full menu.

No tickets needed. This is an open event at Makan, and 10% of proceeds will benefit Global Growers.

We would appreciate it if you could share the event info (see attachment and links) among your networks. And of course we would love for you to join us for an incredible mix of Chines and Korean inspired food using locally grown produce from GG.

When: Thursday, August 4th, 2016: Drop in anytime between 5pm – 10pm
Where: Makan
Who: Global Growers and Makan
Why: Let’s Celebrate Back-to-School Together!

Facebook Event Page

The 2016 Citizen’s Police Academy (CPA) classes will be held Thursday evenings from September 1st thru November 3rd 2016.  Class times are 7:00 PM – 9:30 PM.  If you would like to learn more about police operations in general and how your Decatur Police Department works from the inside, this is a great opportunity to have many of your questions answered.  You will meet many of the officers who serve our department and go on a ride-a-long with an officer during a patrol shift.  CPA is also an opportunity to build new relationships with neighbors in your class and for interested CPA graduates, the chance to volunteer for the C.A.P.S. (Citizen’s Assisting Public Safety) program.

“Fall 2015 Citizen’s Police Academy Class”

Topics covered throughout the Citizen’s Police Academy include Department Functions & Staffing, Recruitment & Training, Criminal Law & Crime Trends in Decatur, Traffic Enforcement, Drug Trends, Firearms Familiarization & Safety, Special Units & Criminal Investigations, Use of Force, Juvenile Procedures and Community Policing & Crime Prevention.  There will also be opportunities to tour the DeKalb County Jail and the DeKalb County Medical Examiner’s Office.

Feedback from graduates of the CPA program:

“Take this class because it is great information and allows you to know so much about the community you live in and the police officers who protect you.”

“I have a better understanding of the challenges any police force has and how Decatur handles these challenges.”

“CPA is a glimpse into the life of the City of Decatur police department that allows you to truly appreciate and experience, first hand, the service they provide to us as citizens of Decatur.”

“I never realized all of the intricacies, pitfalls and difficulties of a police officer’s job; now I do.”

“This was such an interesting and informative look at our community and our police department.”

If you are interested in signing up for the upcoming Citizen’s Police Academy, please contact Lt. Jennifer Ross to request an application. Deadline for submission of applications is Monday, August 15, 2016.