The Decatur Minute

Artist Chosen For MARTA Overpass Mural Project in Decatur

April 12, 2016 by Linda

The Decatur Arts Alliance and the Steering Committee for the MARTA Overpass Mural Project in Decatur announce the artist chosen for the project is the MILAGROS Collective. The MILAGROS Collective, from New Orleans, LA and Miami, FL, consists of Felici Asteinza from San Pedro Sula, Honduras and Joey Fillastre from Lakeland, Florida.

Felici and Joey have extensive mural experience including a Public Art Commission for the New Orleans Public Library; 2015 Murals in Greensboro, NC hosted by the Elsewhere museum and funded by ArtPlace America; an Art in Public Places mural on the Yates Parking Garage in Jacksonville, FL, and more.

What set the MILAGROS Collective apart, though, according to Angie Macon, Director of the Decatur Arts Alliance, was their extensive community engagement experience in creating their murals and other pieces. According to Angie, they have a commitment to and an excitement for the community engagement process around their projects.

Creation of the MARTA Overpass Mural includes a strong commitment to community engagement as part of the grant from the Atlanta Regional Commission. In addition to the mural artist, the project also includes a community engagement consultant Joy Bailey Bryant with Lord Cultural Resources.

The next steps for the process will be to introduce the MILAGROS Collective to the community and begin the series of stakeholder community engagement meetings in May. Estimated completion of the mural is in the Fall of 2016.

For information about the MILAGROS Collective and to see samples of their past work, visit http://milagroscollective.com. For more information about the MARTA mural project, contact Angie Macon, admin@decaturartsalliance.org, 404-371-9583.

Posted in Community | 2 Comments »

It’s National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week

April 11, 2016 by Lt. Jennifer S. Ross

Whether you call them dispatchers, communications officers or 911 operators, the fact remains that police and fire personnel would be lost without them. April 10-16, 2016 is National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week. This week is not only a time for public safety personnel to drop by the 911 center and say thank you, but a time for everyone to take a minute to appreciate how complex of a job our communications officers have and the important role they play in keeping everyone safe.

Decatur communications officers duties include answering 911 and non-emergency calls, dispatching police and fire to calls for service and monitoring their radio traffic for requests and issues, operating and monitoring the NCIC/GCIC database from everything to driver’s license and warrant checks to stolen vehicles and all while assisting anyone that comes to the front window of the police department with a variety of questions or requests.

Our communications officers deal with the same stressors that the rest of public safety personnel deal with, but while tethered to a console. They grow to know our voices by heart and are along for the ride whether we are rushing to a critical call or fighting a person, a fire or boredom during long winter night shifts. They are behind the scenes, often invisible, but a lifeline to our community members, police officers and firefighters. Please take a moment to send a quick note to jennifer.ross@decaturga.com to thank our communications officers this week. We will be putting all of your responses together to share with all communications staff.

Posted in Community | 5 Comments »

This Week in Decatur: April 10-16

April 10, 2016 by Catherine

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, April 13
• Decatur Farmers Market, 4-7 p.m.

Thursday, April 14
• Lunchtime in the Studio at CORE, 11:45 a.m.-1 p.m.

Friday, April 15
• Third Friday Bike Ride, 6:30 p.m., Decatur Recreation Center.

Saturday, April 16
• Decatur Farmers Market, 9 a.m.-1 p.m.
• Winnona Park Neighborhood Yard Sale, 8:30 a.m.-3 p.m.
• Happy Record Store Day! Go visit DecaturCD for some fun.

Posted in Community | Leave a Comment »

April 9 Decatur Trees 101 Canceled

April 7, 2016 by Linda

The April 9 Trees 101 class has been canceled and will be rescheduled soon!

When: 10:00 – 12 Noon Saturday April 2, 2016 and ~~April 9, 2016~~
Where: Woodlands Gardens, 932 Scott Boulevard, Decatur, GA
How much: FREE (for 20 City of Decatur homeowners only)
How to sign up: Email India Woodson at India.Woodson@decaturga.com with your name, Decatur address and contact information (must have email response with seat number from me for verification)

Email India Woodson at india.woodson@decaturga.com if you want to be notified of the re-scheduled class. We will also put up a blog post once we have a confirmed date.

Posted in Community | Leave a Comment »

The First Outdoor Film Is Coming to Ebster’s Herring-Trinity Terrace on April 30th!

April 7, 2016 by Shirley

Agnes Scott College Programming Board and Center for Student Involvement presents Homeless the Movie on Saturday, April 30th at the Ebster Recreation Center’s Herring-Trinity Terrace. Jonna Greer, Assistant Director of Student Activities has worked closely with the City to bring this event to fruition.
Come out and join us as for a great movie under stars and learn more about a culture that is a reality in our community.

Doors will open at 7pm
Film start at 8:00pm
Followed by a Q&A session with the director/producer

Tickets are $5 and can be purchased at: www.freshtix.com/events/homeless-the-movie
We also want to put a spotlight on local heroes like DCM and give all the net profit to assist with the great work that they are doing to help the homeless in the local community.

Posted in Community | 1 Comment »

Should Decatur Pass on Glass?

April 7, 2016 by Lena

The City of Decatur is deciding whether to continue to keep glass in the residential curbside recycling program or remove it and send it to a landfill with other household waste. Your input will be helpful to this process.

>Click here to visit Open City Hall and take a 5-minute survey<

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Why is this necessary?

Metro Atlanta recycling companies have announced that they will only accept glass for recycling if it is separated from other materials. The City’s current recycling firm, Latham Home Sanitation, is obligated to pick up glass in Decatur through June 30, 2016; however, as of July 1, 2016, City of Decatur residents will no longer be able to mix glass with the other recyclables.

The Decatur Public Works Department and the City’s Environmental Sustainability Board are exploring options to address the new limits on glass recycling. The options are outlined below, along with their financial impacts on residents.

For more details and updated information visit decaturga.com/glass

What Are the Options?

Current Recycling Program
Cost: Annual Sanitation Fee $250

The Annual Solid Waste Fee covers the cost of offering co-mingled curbside residential recycling service in addition to household trash and waste, yard debris and other sanitation services.
Glass is mixed in with other recyclables and collected at the curb. This will no longer be an option after June 30, 2016

Option 1- Continue to Offer Residents the Convenience of Recycling Glass at Home by Separating Glass from Other Materials
Cost: Annual Increase of $25-$35

Resident separates glass from other recyclables and places it on the curb in its own container during normal collection day.

Option 2- Glass is Not Recycled and Goes to Landfill
Cost: Annual Increase of $10-15

Resident places glass in pay-as-you-throw garbage bags and the City of Decatur takes it to the landfill.
Currently glass makes up about 20% of most residents’ recycling.
Cost estimate includes $5 increase in Annual Solid Waste Fee and cost to the resident for purchase of additional pay-as-you-throw bags.

Please visit Open City Hall to give us your feedback. The survey should take less that 5-minutes to complete. If you have any questions about this issue contact Lena Stevens, lena.stevens@decaturga.com, 404-377-5571

Posted in Sustainability | 1 Comment »

Throwback Thursday: Decatur MARTA Plaza

April 7, 2016 by Catherine

Decatur is one of the few MARTA stations located underground on the east line and it’s pretty great. Instead of running along the train tracks as an elevated line, the MARTA tunnel diverges north just after the East Lake station so that the Decatur station is smack dab in the middle of the Decatur square – underground. This photo is from 1976. Pedestrians had to walk over bridges to get from one side of the square to the other during the lengthy construction process. There’s something kind of terrifying seeing downtown Decatur split down the middle by a giant trench, especially for those of us who have only known it as the Decatur Square – with grass, a fog fountain, and plenty of open space. Most people who come to our festivals on the square have no idea they’re standing just 18 inches above the ceiling of the MARTA station!

Posted in Transportation | Tagged #throwbackthursday | 1 Comment »

Neighborhood Clean Ups Start This Weekend

April 6, 2016 by Lena

The City of Decatur offers Neighborhood Clean-Up days once a year to help residents dispose of bulky items that don’t easily fit into Pay-As-You-Throw bags. Each street in the city is assigned to a Saturday between March and June.

The event kicks off this weekend with several streets in Oakhurst. Check the schedule below to find out when your street will be picked up.

> Neighborhood Clean Up Schedule 2016

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All items to be collected should be placed at the curb by 7:30 a.m. This ensures that we do not have to rerun routes for late set-outs. Collections run until 3:30 p.m., or until finished, whichever is sooner.

Acceptable Items
• Yard trimmings
• Building materials (not from the work of private contractors)
• Tires
• Furniture
• Appliances (not containing Freon)
• Trash that won’t fit into pay-as-you-throw (PAYT) bags

Materials we will not collect
• Liquids
• Dirt
• Bricks
• Blocks
• Stone, rocks, or concrete
• Motor vehicle batteries or parts

If you have any questions, please contact Sean Woodson at sean.woodson@decaturga.com or 404-377-5571.

Posted in Community, Events | Leave a Comment »

Siren Test Tomorrow

April 5, 2016 by Meredith

Tomorrow is the first Wednesday of April so we’ll be testing the tornado outdoor warning sirens at 5:00 p.m. The test should last approximately one minute. Should the weather become inclement, the test will be postponed until Thursday, 7 April 2016.

If you have questions or want more information about the siren system, check out the Siren page on the City’s website or contact Police Lt. Barry Woodward at 404-373-6551.

Posted in Community, emergency management | Tagged monthly test, siren, tornado siren | Leave a Comment »

This Week in Decatur: April 3-9

April 3, 2016 by Catherine

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.

Sunday, April 3
• Smoke & Glory – Smoked Brisket Showdown at Steinbeck’s, noon.

Monday, April 4
• Beer & Cheese night at Brick Store Pub

Wednesday, April 6
• Decatur Farmers Market, 4-7 p.m.

Thursday, April 7
• Oakhurst Jazz Nights, 7-9 p.m.
• Nikka Japanese Whisky Dinner at Makan.

Saturday, April 9
• Decatur Farmers Market, 9 a.m.-1 p.m.

Posted in Events | 2 Comments »

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