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Friends School of Atlanta 5th annual Beloved Community Dialogue

January 19, 2015 by Casie Yoder, PIO

For more information:           Nancy Bent, 404-373-8746 x8135

nancy.bent@friendsschoolatlanta.org

Friends School to Hold Panel on Education Integration as a Public Good

On Saturday, January 31, 2015, The Friends School of Atlanta (FSA) will hold its 5th annual Beloved Community Dialogue, featuring an intergenerational panel discussion on how a fully integrated education is good for everyone. To be moderated by Dr. Elizabeth DeBray, Professor of Education at the University of Georgia, the panel will also include Elizabeth Wilson, Mayor Emeritus of Decatur and longtime civil rights activist, and Maurlia Upchurch, an FSA alum and current junior at Duke University, among others. The conversation will focus on how an integrated education is ultimately for the good of the individual as well as the public, based in the belief that access to and diversity in education is critical to a thriving society and very much a civil rights issue, especially when our schools are becoming alarmingly resegregated.

Founded in 1991, The Friends School of Atlanta remains the only Quaker school in Georgia. Every day at FSA, the faculty and staff strive to instill those values in its students deemed essential for building the all-inclusive Beloved Community envisioned by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., where differences are embraced as strengths, not feared, and every single person is respected as an individual of infinite worth. Like Dr. King, Quakers believe that through empathy and respect for others and personal integrity, connections can be made that can resolve even the fiercest disputes between nations, religions, cultures or individuals. As the work to build Beloved Community in our society moves forward, FSA seeks to make a critical contribution by instilling the Quaker values of equality, integrity and community in its students and by hosting these dialogues that are designed to educate and ultimately uplift us all as we realize our individual and collective capacities for peace making and community building.

The Beloved Community Dialogue will be held at the FSA campus at 862 Columbia Drive in Decatur and is open to the public. General admission is $10 per ticket. Premium tickets are $100 each and include invitation to a reception with the esteemed panelists. The reception for premium ticket holders begins at 5:00 pm, and the panel discussion will take place from 6:00 pm to 7:30 pm. For more information about the event and purchasing tickets, please visit the FSA website at www.friendsschoolatlanta.org or contact Nancy Bent, Director of Advancement: 404-373-8746 x8135; nancy.bent@friendsschoolatlanta.org.

The Friends School of Atlanta, offering a pre-K – 8th grade program, has a mission to provide challenging academics in a diverse environment, drawing on the Quaker values of a simplicity, peace, integrity, community, equality and stewardship to empower students to go out into the world with conscience, conviction and compassion. More information at www.friendsschoolatlanta.org.

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Free 2015 code update training

January 19, 2015 by Casie Yoder, PIO

The City of Decatur’s Design, Environment & Construction Division with support by SAFEBuilt, Inc. will host a 2015 code update training session on Thursday, January 29.

SAFEbuilt, Inc. will provide a training opportunity to the local contractors regarding:

1.       2015 Code updates primarily focused on the National Electrical Code,

2.       Basic Residential Code brace wall provisions focused on the APA prescriptive design,

3.       Basic residential project plan review process and plan set requirements.

This free training session will take from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. in the Leveritt Public Works Building, 1st floor Community Room, 2635 Talley Street, Decatur, GA 30030.

All those who are interested in attending should send an email to Gary Mullinix, Interim Building Official, at GMullinix@safebuilt.com, or sign up in person at the Design, Environment & Construction Division permit counter.

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Adopt a pet this month for free

January 18, 2015 by Casie Yoder, PIO

4113 newyear prf_1

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Phase V Downtown Decatur Streetscape improvements

January 16, 2015 by Casie Yoder, PIO

The City Commission has awarded the contract for construction of Phase V of the Downtown Decatur Streetscape Improvements to the low bidder, GS Construction of Lawrenceville. Construction is expected to start in February.

The project will provide new streetscape improvements in the following areas:

East Trinity Place:          

  • South side only between North McDonough Street and Church Street.
  • Both sides between Church Street and Decatur Fire Station No. 1.

Church Street:      

  • Both sides between East Howard Avenue and East Trinity Place.

The work includes new sidewalks, street trees, lighting and street furniture. When the project is near completion, both streets will be milled and resurfaced.

Depending on the weather, the project will take 9 – 12 months. While there will be some inconvenience throughout construction, access to businesses is to be maintained throughout the project, except for short periods when a sidewalk or driveway is being removed or replaced. The city will have an on-site project manager to answer questions, help with construction issues and provide information about the project.

We appreciate everyone’s patience in finally getting this project started and look forward to a productive 2015.

Phase V downtown Decatur streetscapes Feb2015

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Water update, sinkhole update

January 16, 2015 by Casie Yoder, PIO

Water pressure appears to be restored throughout the City of Decatur after yesterday’s water main break. Thankfully there was no need for a boil advisory. CSD students returned to school today at the regular time.

The sinkhole on Northern Ave will be fixed by this evening and the road will then re-open to all traffic.

city-of-decatur-logo-2in

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Water Main Break Alert

January 15, 2015 by Lena

UPDATE from DeKalb County Department of Watershed Management, 2:47 p.m.:

At this time we have achieved the needed isolation of the large line and are making the final repair on it. The main system has been pressured back up to meet the needs of our public and should not pose an issue during the repair. We should be back to normal within 48 hours once the repair is completed, we have made sure the water quality is acceptable in that line and place the line back in service.

Thank you for your patience on this.

Many thanks to our field crews and plant staff for the long hours and diligence in helping to minimize the issue and sticking with it in the weather.

UPDATE from DeKalb County, 1:01 PM: 36-inch line issue on Park Hill Drive near Glenwood

Event Summary:

On January 13 early in the morning we had an issue develop on Park Lane with our 36 inch transmission line. Our crews began isolating the line for repairs and stabilized the site in preparation for work to commence when the line drained. The area was isolated without incident and the work process was ongoing. No pressure our outages were reported after isolation.

At some point in the late evening January 14, an issue developed with a valve that caused the leak area to pressurize and subsequently start flowing again. This leak started affecting the tank volumes in the area and also the system pressure. Our crews again went into the system and checked the valves to try and determine where the issue was. During this time we also isolated some storage tanks in the system and monitored the plant pressure to assure we had water.

Our dispatch office sent out the notices of the water issues at 11:07 AM Tuesday and again on Wednesday at 12:44 PM.

About 9:30 we found the valve issue and affected a repair on the valve which seems to have brought the issue under control. Pressure is building back in the system now and our crews are preparing to make the repair on the line which should be completed within 24 hours. At that point we will start bringing all of the system back up to normal.

The line in question is a 48-36-24 inch main transmission line originating in Scottdale/Clarkston and going south of I-20. The pipe has been identified as having manufacturing defects and was part of a national legal action. DeKalb County identified this pipe as having issues that fit the criteria of the identified defect and subsequently put the replacement in the Capital Improvement Program (Item 26) to secure a design and bid for the replacement of the line. Due to the size of the line, a majority of it being in main roadways and its length the process takes several years to complete.

UPDATE FROM DEKALB COUNTY 11:30AM: DeKalb County crews are on the scene of a water main break on Parkhill Drive in Decatur which is causing low water pressure in many areas throughout DeKalb County including Atlanta, Avondale, Clarkston, Decatur, & Scottdale.  This is a 36” pre-stressed concrete pipe which is over 40 years old.  This is a project that is scheduled under the County’s $1.35 billion CIP plans.  We are expecting repairs to take up to two days to complete.  During this time customer may experience drops in water pressure.  There are no boil water advisories at this time.  We will be providing updated to the news media, the county website and Twitter/social media as the work progresses.

UPDATE 10:54 a.m.: At this time the County estimates it will take until at least 1pm to get the system isolated and stabilized to permit an improvement in pressure.

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There has been a break in a 36 inch water main at South Columbia and Parkhill Drive. While the break is outside of the city, parts of the City of Decatur and Avondale Estates may be experiencing low water pressure.

We do not have an estimated timeline for repair, but will continue to post updates as they are available.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact Casie Yoder, casie.yoder@decaturga.com, 404-371-8386.

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Decatur First Methodist Preschool and Kindergarten open house

January 13, 2015 by Casie Yoder, PIO

The January/February Focus has lots of information about upcoming open houses for schools in Decatur. Here’s information about one more:

Decatur First Methodist Preschool and Kindergarten Registration for School Year 2015-2016

 Decatur First Methodist’s Weekday Children’s Ministries includes a Preschool and Kindergarten program located at 312 Sycamore Street. Children ages 2 ½ (3 by December 31) to age 6 may attend our half day program which runs 9 am until 12 noon, Monday through Friday, mid August through May. Optional 12-1 enrichment classes are also available.

Classes offer many opportunities to play and learn while developing readiness for learning academic skills. Special features of the program include:

  • Small child-teacher ratio
  • Large classrooms
  • An outdoor playground
  • A rainy day indoor playroom
  • Music every day for every class
  • A weekly chapel service for the 4’s and 5’s led by the ministers of the church
  • Teachers who attend at least four preschool workshop classes each year, are CPR/ First Aid trained and all have completed a nationwide background check
  • Special programs: storytellers, musicians, puppet shows, Science To Go, Atlanta Gymnastics
  • Field trips to the Decatur Fire Station, Stone Mountain, Georgia Aquarium, Oakhurst Community Garden and more
  • Handwriting Without Tears curriculum
  • Option of extended day from 12 noon until 1 pm on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday
    • Spanish classes with Theresa Taube
    • Art classes with Myrna Hardjono
    • Storytelling Theatre classes with Christy Foelsch
    • Global Kids classes with Kara Campbell
    • Letter Bugs classes with Jessica Dykes
    • Junior Scientist classes with Myrna Hardjono and Kate Pawlicki
    • Yoga classes with Kara Campbell
  • Vegetable garden planted and maintained by the Kindergarten class
  • An active Parent Group with volunteer activities
  • Summer Smiles weekly summer camps

Please join us for an Open House on either Thursday, January 15th or Monday, January 26th from 9:15-10:30 am. Visitors, by appointment, are always welcome to visit our classes prior to the Open House dates. Call Joanne Hauserman at 404-377-5784, e-mail dfumpreschool@gmail.com or visit the website at www.decaturfirst.org.

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A Night in Paris- Father Daughter Dance

January 12, 2015 by Katie

A Night in Paris Father Daughter Dance (a fundraiser for Girl Scout Troop 28433)

A magical evening of memories for girls and that special parent in their life! 

  • When – Saturday, January 31st, 2015, 6:00 pm – 8:30 pm
  • Where – Decatur Rec Center, 231 Sycamore Street, Decatur, 404.377.0494
  • Who – Pre-K thru 8th grade girls and their escort!

What – Professional DJ & Photography Session $20 per couple; $5 for each additional girl

Purchase tickets here

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Update on railroad crossing closures

January 9, 2015 by Casie Yoder, PIO

CSX is expected to begin maintenance on the Atlanta Avenue railroad crossing the week of Jan. 19 for railroad tie maintenance. It will be closed for 2-3 days. Drivers, cyclists and pedestrians will be directed to detours at either the East Lake Drive or Commerce Drive underpasses. Work on the Candler Drive and McDonough Street intersections has been delayed further and a start date for these have not been confirmed. For more information, contact Project Civil Engineer Jennings Bell at 404-370-4104 or CSX Railroad at 877-835-5279.

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Extreme Cold Weather over the next 24 hours

January 7, 2015 by Katie

It’s going to get really cold the next couple of days, so just a reminder to keep pets inside (especially at night), check on any vulnerable neighbors to make sure they have heat, and wear lots of layers (long underwear, hats, scarves, gloves/mittens, heavy coats, etc.) when you go out and about. Please check on your senior neighbors, since they might not ask you for help otherwise. If they don’t have heat, ask them to call a relative or, if possible, invite them to your home. They might also be able to get assistance from the Martin Luther King Jr. Service Project, if there is a problem with their furnace. Contact Lee Ann Harvey, Lifelong Community Coordinator, at leeann.harvey@decaturga.com or 770-652-8593 and she can make arrangements to help them. Thank you for being good neighbors.

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