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Touch-a-Truck is back

March 3, 2014 by Katie

touch a truck

My daughter, Molly, at her first Touch a Truck

Whenever anyone asks me what the best event we do in Decatur is, I am always torn.  Our Arts Festival is so cool, the is Book Festival impressive, and the Beer festival is fun (I mean, come on, its beer!) but hands down, the very best event we do here in the City of Decatur is the annual Touch-a-Truck!

Join Decatur Active Living on Saturday, March 8th from 10am until 1pm for the annual Touch-a-Truck Event. This fun community event gives children of all ages an opportunity to touch, explore and see their favorite trucks or equipment on wheels.  The City of Decatur and DeKalb County dump trucks, fire trucks, tractors, police cars and motorcycles and many other types of vehicles will be on display.

NEW! Decatur Active Living is celebrating National Nutrition Month at this annual event. National Nutrition Month is a campaign that focuses attention on the importance of making informed food choices and developing sound eating and physical activity habits. When you come to Touch-A-Truck, join in the effort by bringing any canned or non-perishable food item. All items will be delivered to DEAM, Decatur Emergency Assistance Ministry.

Touch-a-Truck takes place in the Callaway Building Parking lot located at 120 West Trinity Place, Decatur. In case of inclement weather, the event will be rescheduled for Saturday, April 19. For more information, contact Cheryl Burnette 678-553-6541 or cheryl.burnette@decaturga.com. Be sure to visit www.beactivedecatur.com for up to date information on all Active Living programs throughout the year.

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Special Needs Informational Meeting with Fire Dept.

March 2, 2014 by Casie Yoder, PIO

Announcement from Sgt. Violante of the Decatur Fire Department:

Special Needs Informational Meeting
Wed. March 12
Two opportunities to stop by: 10 a.m. or 6:30 p.m.
Fire Station #1, 230 E. Trinity Pl.

The City of Decatur Fire Department would like to meet with any families with children with special needs or medical issues. We want to continue responding in the best way possible to care for all families, including those with special needs. The meeting will discuss medical care, large scale events, and fire scenarios with families. In addition, we want to inform families about the benefits of using Smart 911 and exchange ideas on how to better dispatchers’ responses to emergency calls from families with special needs.

We need your participation and input to do the best job possible.  Please join us on March 12 at 10 a.m. or at 6:30 p.m. at the City of Decatur Fire Station #1.

The address for Fire Station #1 is 230 E. Trinity Pl., Decatur, GA 30030. If you have any questions regarding this meeting, please contact Sergeant Violante at Ninetta.Violante@decaturga.com or via phone, at 404-457-3289.

Children interacting with CIty of Decatur firefighters last fall

Children interacting with City of Decatur firefighters last fall

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Final phase of storm drainage improvements

March 1, 2014 by Casie Yoder, PIO

Depending on the weather, Reeves Contracting will start the last phase of the downtown storm drainage improvements at 7 p.m. tomorrow night (Sunday, March 2). Due to the volume of daytime traffic on Church Street, work during this period will be at night  between the hours of 7 p.m. and 5 a.m. The initial challenge will be to cross the intersection at East Trinity Place. At times, traffic on East Trinity will be reduced to one two-way lane with traffic control provided by police officers and flaggers. This will be adjusted as work progresses.

Once across East Trinity, Reeves will lay drainage pipe in Church Street up to the area just north of the entrance to the parking lot at 320 Church Street. During this period, the 300 block of Church Street will be open to local traffic only at night between 7 pm and 5 am.  Access to businesses and parking will be maintained during the evenings. Church Street will be open as usual during the day.  A flyer is attached describing the work and suggested detour routes.

This phase of the work should take about four weeks to complete. We appreciate everyone’s patience and good will during this project.

East Trinity-Church Street Intersection Traffic Control Plan

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Weekend Round-Up

February 28, 2014 by Katie

Photo from U Joint Facebook page

*Today is the last day to get the early bird pricing for Tour deCatur!   Click here for all the details

* Saturday is the Chicks in the City Symposium at the Wylde Center in Oakhurst 
The Sixth Annual Chicks in the City is a daylong symposium on how to begin and care for your own flock of happy healthy backyard chickens. The rapid growth of urban farming and the desire for healthy eating led the Wylde Center to offer this full plate of classes that engage and inspire both the curious and committed audience. Sign up quickly – registration limited to the first 100 registrants and tickets always fly fast! Contact Andrea@wyldecenter.org with any questions.

*Jackson Pearce Book Release Party at Little Shop of Stories on Saturday

*Winter Luau at Universal Joint on Saturday at 4:00pm

 

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The Decatur Minute Refreshed

February 27, 2014 by Linda

Welcome to our refreshed Decatur Minute!

We launched The Decatur Minute blog back in 2008 to provide information about events, shops, restaurants, businesses, volunteer opportunities, and more to keep the community informed.  We started with a small team of bloggers who focused on different content areas.

Our scope evolved and broadened over the years to include city initiatives and services such as emergency notifications, changes in solid waste & recycling collections, announcements about upcoming meetings and much more.  Our small team of bloggers steadily increased and diversified.

So now six years later, it is time to refresh and renew by changing our masthead banner and posting short bios (and photos coming soon) of our bloggers and their areas of interest.  Click here to read all about them and put faces with their names.

Our blog team will continue to provide a variety of city-related information to keep you “in the know in one quick minute.”  If there are other areas of city information you would like to see posted here, let Casie Yoder (casie.yoder@decaturga.com) know.  Casie is our Public Information Officer and oversees The Decatur Minute blog details.

Remember also that we have three other official city blogs – Be Active Decatur, Decatur Tax Blog, and VisitDecaturGA – so check them out as well.

Thanks for reading The Decatur Minute and thanks for helping us keep the community informed.

 

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Co-existing with Coyotes

February 27, 2014 by Meredith

Every few weeks, I receive a notice in my inbox about a coyote sighting in a Decatur neighborhood. As annoying as this might sound, coyotes have adapted to an urban lifestyle and are here to stay, so co-existence is encouraged. The City of Decatur does not have a policy to remove coyotes. Here is a summary of information from the Stanley Park Ecology Society about co-existing with coyotes in an urban setting –

It is not normal for coyotes to attack or pursue humans, especially adults; it is a learned response to human behavior (e.g., feeding). You can discourage coyotes from hanging around your home by scaring them off your property and by removing coyote attractants, such as:

  • Accessible garbage or compost, including fruit that has fallen from trees or shrubs
  • Outdoor pet food and water
  • Neglected yards, garages or sheds that make an ideal habitat for rodents (the main source of a coyote’s diet)

While coyotes will prey on outdoor cats and small dogs, here are some things you can do to reduce the risk to your pets.

If you own a cat – The only way to guarantee your cat’s safety is to keep it indoors. Outdoor cats face potential death from cars, diseases, parasites, raccoons and dogs, in addition to coyotes.

If you own a small dog –

  • Keep your dog on a short leash while outside and avoid extension leashes
  • Supervise your dog when it is off-leash in the yard
  • Walk your dog at times and places that coincide with high pedestrian traffic
  • Keep your dog in front of you where you can see it
  • Dog walk with other people

If you own a large dog – Coyotes pose less risk to medium- to large-sized dogs. Keep large dogs on leash, except in designated areas, and discourage your dog from feeling comfortable with coyotes by preventing it from “playing” or interacting with a coyote.

For more tips on how to deal with coyotes and to report Decatur coyote sightings, please visit the City of Decatur Coyote Information Page, www.decaturga.com/coyotes.

Posted in Community, emergency management, Sustainability | Leave a Comment »

Upcoming Shop and Restaurant Events in Decatur

February 27, 2014 by Catherine

New Orleans Snoball Cafe: Celebrate Mardi Gras on March 4 with kingcake by the slice.

Big Peach Running Co.: 2014 Decatur Fat Tuesday Party, March 4 at 6:30 p.m. Register here.

The Iberian Pig: Five course wine dinner featuring Mas Doix Winery, hosted by co-founder and vinter Valenti Llagostera, Tuesday, March 4, 6:30 p.m. Call 404-371-8800 or click here for reservations.

Ale Yeah and Avellino’s: Homer Simpson Tasting with Jail House Brews, March 7, 5-7 p.m., $6.

Wahoo! Grill: Wahoo’s monthly wine club presents A Taste of Piemonte. Enjoy hand crafted wines from the Piemonte province in Italy along with complentary food pairings, March 5, 5-7 p.m., $26. Call 404-373-3331 for reservations.

Cakes and Ale: a special Sunday Supper to celebrate local author Susan Rebecca White. There will be a prix fixe menu, March 9, $85. Specific menu items will be announced here.

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Thank you, M.Cary & Daughters

February 26, 2014 by Casie Yoder, PIO

This year, the Decatur MLK Jr. Service Project decided to create an award to recognize participants that go above and beyond to support the project. The MVP Award (Most Valuable Participant) will be given out each year to a person or organization that has been identified for their exemplary contributions.

M. Cary & Daughters Plumbing was selected as the first recipient for the 2014 event. The business has worked with the program for four years, and donated thousands of dollars worth of time and resources.

Michelle Cary (center) accepts the 2014 MVP award from Mayor Jim Baskett (right) and Paul Mitchell.

Michelle Cary (center) accepts the 2014 MVP award from Mayor Jim Baskett (right) and Paul Mitchell.

“We simply could not do what we do without their skills to stop leaks, fix broken pipes and fixtures, replace toilets… you name it and they’ve done it,” says Paul Mitchell, chair of the executive committee.

Michelle Cary accepted the award at the City Commission meeting on February 18 and was overwhelmed by the recognition.

“This isn’t why we participate,” Michelle said quietly after receiving the award. Her humble nature reiterates why this award is so valuable. Contractors and individuals donate their time every year to this project with only one goal in mind; support Decatur’s low-income seniors.

Thank you to M. Cary & Daughters Plumbing and all the other donors to the project.

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Storm Drainage Improvements Update

February 25, 2014 by Catherine

Weather permitting, Reeves Contracting will begin by installing a short section of water line on Church Street near East Maple Street at 7 pm this evening (Feb. 25). Water service in this area will be shut off at 2 am for a couple of hours during the work.

Construction of the storm drainage line at the intersection of Church Street and East Trinity has been interrupted due to a conflict with a high pressure gas line.  Atlanta Gas Light is planning to raise the gas line to allow installation of the storm line to continue.

storm water

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Are you a morning person?

February 25, 2014 by Katie

If not, ignore this post and go back to your coffee and Facebook.  But if you are, then pay attention.

Some amazing Decatur residents are heading up the Hydration Station for the Publix Marathon (formerly the ING Marathon) at mile maker 11!  This is on College Drive where the race enters the City of Decatur in Oakhurst – right under the overpass for the East Lake Marta station.

Runners in downtown Decatur

We need volunteers to help hand out water. The race is March 23rd (Sunday), and you would be volunteering for a segment of time from about 6:30 am until 10:30 am, or any portion of that time you can commit to.  Your duties would be to prepare tables with cups of water and PowerAde and hand them out as the runners pass, to help clean up and to CHEER!!! KIDS ARE WELCOME AND ENCOURAGED TO HELP!

Hydration Station

Please help if you can!  The instructions for registering as a volunteer are as follows, but remember you gotta go on-line to register, since we are supposed to have a certain number of volunteers or the organizers start to panic.  Also, this ensures you get a free t-shirt!  PLEASE REGISTER FOR EACH PARTICIPANT – SO IF YOU ARE A PARENT AND CHILD, REGISTER FOR EACH OF YOU!!

Access the Group Volunteer Registration page directly from the following link:

http://www.doitsports.com/volunteer/join-protected-group.tcl?event_id=174848

Once on the group page, select Decatur/Oakhurst from the drop down menu. The password is do11 (case sensitive; use lower case).  This is Hydration Station #7 at College and Mead.   Complete the online registration form.  You will receive a confirmation email indicating you have signed up with your group.  Your group leader will contact you before the event with information and instruction.

Thanks in advance- lets show those runners how AWESOME we are in Decatur!

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