Free-For-All Friday 2/5/16

Feel free to use this post to make comments and ask questions about local topics not yet discussed here over the past week.

82 thoughts on “Free-For-All Friday 2/5/16”


  2. So, who you taking in the Super Bowl? I have to go with Peyton and the Denver Broncos.

    1. I’m sorry, but Cam Newton is going to push him into retirement. That guy is the best player on the planet right now, which pains me to say as an Alabama fan. But I’m betting it will be the Panthers by at least two scores. They basically pantsed the Cardinals. Not looking good for the Broncos, I’m afraid.

      1. I’m hoping for a close game, but I’m afraid I have to agree. This feels a lot like the Seattle-Denver Super Bowl (and I picked Denver in that one, thinking it would be Peyton’s last chance).
        Denver’s defense would have to be even better than they were against N.E. just to keep it close. Not enough offense on Bronco’s side though. Carolina, 27-16.

        1. I’m hoping for a Denver win. It depends on two things. If Denver’s defense can play like they did two weeks ago then Cam is going to get frustrated and lose his cool. Also Denver can’t turn the ball over. Other teams have spotted Carolina a lead in the first quarter. If DirecTV Peyton Manning shows up then Denver wins. If cable Peyton Manning shows up and throws 2-3 interceptions then Carolina takes it.

      1. Ditto. And once again I’m reminded why I never bet on anything, much less sports. But one safe bet is that Von Miller is gonna make a ton of money next season.
        I will say that I was close on Denver’s score; their offense scored only 17 points.

  4. Neighbor hacked back the crepe myrtles that sit on our property line after I insisted we, as neighbors, let them grow. Now I’ve got to go find the real property line and have a conversation with yet another human that has a hard time listening. I don’t understand why they don’t just move to a culdesac community in Gwinnett. Please quit hacking your crepe myrtles…they are trees!

    2. If they sit on the property line, aren’t they as much his as yours? Doesn’t he have just as much right to “insist” on the treatment of the trees? Perhaps your neighbor isn’t the only one who has a hard time listening.

    3. If you both agreed to let them grow, I can totally see the annoyance. I am guessing that the neighbor did not verbally confirm though :(.

      If you have any methods of determining property line I would love to hear them. House next door to me is about to be renovated (this year sometime anyway).

      1. “If you have any methods of determining property line I would love to hear them.”

        Get a survey.

        1. From what I have researched a survey can cost approximately $58934509398698 and that’s too much for me! Hopefully I can get info when the house next door is officially purchased.

          1. They’ll need a survey to close (that’s my understanding anyway). Then you’ll be able to see the little orange markers on the corners of the lot. Take a couple pictures and Bob’s your uncle.

            2. Renovation does not necessarily require a survey. If the footprint is changing at all, however, it is more than likely.

              (Residential) Surveys typically run in the $400-500 range.

            3. Okay, had to Google this “Bob’s your uncle” thing. Had never heard it before. Straight from the most reputable source of all time, Wikipedia:

              …And Bob’s your uncle is an expression of unknown origin, commonly used in Great Britain and Commonwealth countries. Typically, someone says it to conclude a set of simple instructions, similar to the French expression “et voilà !”.

              “Bob’s your uncle” is an exclamation that is used when “everything is all right” and the simple means of obtaining the successful result is explained. For example: “left over right; right over left, and Bob’s your uncle – a reef knot”. Sometimes the phrase is followed with “and Nellie’s your aunt” or “and Fanny’s your aunt”. It is sometimes elaborately phrased Robert is your mother’s brother or similar for comic effect.

              Origin[edit]
              A.J. Langguth and others have suggested that the expression arose after Conservative Prime Minister Robert “Bob” Cecil appointed his nephew, Arthur Balfour, as Chief Secretary for Ireland in 1887; apparently surprising and unpopular. In this sense the expression also carried a hint of sarcastic envy or resentment, rather like “it’s who you know”; not “what you know” that gets results, or “easy when you know how”. Since then the meaning has become acknowledging, announcing or explaining a result or outcome that is achieved more easily than might be imagined.[1][2]

              Fascinating!

          2. We have small metal stakes at the front corners of our property. They can easily get covered by grass/debris and they are not right at the curb because of the city right of way. You probably have them too.

          3. You should have received a platt with boundary lines & square footage when you bought your house. Look in your files and see if you saved it.

    4. Not that I agree with his choice of landscape maintenance, but if they are boundary trees, he’s got every right to maintain the portions over his property as he sees fit. Regardless of your insisting, in a neighborly way, to do otherwise.

      1. If it really is a boundry tree then the neighbor should have only pruned the half on their property and left the other half alone creating a fantastic looking half crapeicide half unmolested tree. Sounds like they did the whole thing. I kinda side with the neighbor who asked not to prune (not the Gwinnett comment though…I take offence as a born and raised Gwinnettian 😉 ) There really is no coming back from pruining the wrong way and all they had to do was google how to properly prune them and met at a middle ground for each.

        Of course we havent heard the other side of the story. Maybe the tree is wholly on their property.

    5. “I don’t understand why they don’t just move to a culdesac community in Gwinnett.”

      Been a while since I have seen that comment. Just to clarify, anyone who doesn’t share your values isn’t worthy of living in Decatur? Gotcha.

      1. I grew up in a cul de sac (in Gwinnett, no less). It was awesome as a kid. Free reign for my bike rides!

    6. General crepe myrtle pruning rule: if the branch is thicker than a pencil, don’t prune it! (just trying to turn the debate to a gardening debate vs the less fun legal debate)

  6. Jacob, the pressure-washing guy has spent all his college money on snow-boarding. He’s home for mid-winter break for the next 10 days.

    If you need anything on your property cleaned, de-gunked, or pressure-washed, text him at 404-309-9863

    1. It looks like Jacob has graduated from being “the pressure washer kid” to being “the pressure washer guy”. Pretty soon, he’ll be “your neighborhood pressure washing professional”. Whatever he is called, give him a call as he does a great job and I’m sure could use some beer money.

    2. He showed up on time to give a quote. Showed up on time to do the work. Did a good job. I recommend him. How many contractors can you say that about?

  8. I need a recommendation for someone to help figure out a complicated drainage issue on our property. Had to wear rubber boots just to get from the back door to the car during this week’s morning rainstorm. Enough is enough.

    1. I need the same thing. We are having some significant flooding issues in our yard and carport during these monsoon-like rains. Any ideas?

      1. Not sure if it would work for you, but we had drainage problems in the yard years ago, and we hired a landscape architect who checked the drains and then altered them/improved them. It involved tearing up part of the yard, adding a bunch of gravel, etc. But completely fixed our issue.

    2. Many in Decatur have drainage issues due to the highs and lows of the neighborhood. In all of ATL actually.

      A landscape architect is exactly what you need. I used CM Residential (cmresidential.com). I actually had so much drainage that it soiled the dirt/clay and created a sink hole.

      You may need some french drains and regrading of the area that drains. Good luck and I hope it’s not too costly.

    3. We just had a dry riverbed put in to divert the tremendous water coming out or our neighbor’s yard towards our house. We had a big problem on christmas eve. They came and did within a week. It worked well with the latest deluge last week.

      It’s a smaller operation but prompt and did a great job cleaning up after themselves –

      Zach is the owner (678) 672-9769

      http://www.pondandstormwater.com

  10. Anyone know when Marco’s Pizza across from DHS opens? Looking forward to affordable pizza option in Decatur.

    1. Within the week, I’ve been told. They were supposed to open in January, but electrical issues delayed them.

  12. Has anyone filed a complaint with animal control regarding constantly barking dogs? If so, please share your experience with the process and whether it ended up helping the poor dogs.

    1. I did a few years ago. I contacted Decatur PD on the non-emergency line, and they referred it to Dekalb. The next day, Dekalb showed up at my door, we spoke, and the problem was resolved that same day.

      In our situation, the owner was leaving the dog outside in the back yard at night. It was constantly barking to be let in, so I assume the officer instructed the owners to bring him/her inside.

    2. I have not filed any complaints in Decatur, but have in previous residences. Animal control will possibly cite them, which may or may not do any good. Next option is for animal control to take the dogs, which will almost certainly result in the dogs’ deaths.

      Have you talked to your neighbors about the issue? I find that we are often eager to “report” people rather than work with them.

  14. February 5th and the Harmony Park landscaping still not complete? I have never seen it take so long to plant trees and bushes in my life. Remind me not to ever hire that landscaping company.

    1. Seems like they can’t be bothered to permanently stripe the new intersection either. the roads were resurfaced something like 6-8 weeks ago. Maybe that requires warmer temps to get good adhesion? These guys can’t seem to bring themselves to get one single aspect of the project to 100% completion.

      1. Not saying the weather is the cause in this case, but the last 6 weeks have seen few totally dry days (most important) that weren’t also too cold. The last two months we’ve had well more than double the normal amount of rainfall.

    2. The streetscape project is about 12% beyond the anticipated timeline. And there’s penalties in the contract for missed deadlines not attributable to weather.

      Folks need to chill and enjoy the sizable gift we’ve received, courtesy of our nation’s 122 million Federal taxpayers. Thanks, America!

    3. how about the burger place across from the high school. wasn’t that supposed to be ready fall 2015?

  16. Thought this was interesting. Most of what would have been Lavista Hills would be annexed by Chamblee if this idea comes to fruition.

    http://brookhavenpost.co/group-seeking-annexation-into-chamblee-releases-boundary-map/37283/

  18. I know it’s a wonderfully busy weekend in Decatur, but if you are looking for something else, Decatur City Dance has their Winter Dance concert on Saturday. Performances are at 2:00 and 7:30 at St. Pius Auditorium, and tickets can be bought at the door. Decatur City Dance is a local teen dance company, and if you have never seen one of their shows, you are missing out! Come on over to St. Pius, bring your kids, and support the local arts!

  20. Tonight and tomorrow at 7, make plans to come see one of the coolest and most uniquely Decatur events of the year…ROCK AND ROLL REVUE! This year’s show features four DHS student bands playing older music and one teacher band forced to play today’s hits. This event is fun, family-friendly, and affordable! Tickets are $5 for kids/students/teachers and $7 for adults. Both shows are conveniently located at the DHS Performing Arts Center. Email [email protected] (or comment here) if you have questions. ROCK ON!

  22. Any updates on the construction of the new YDFM? Seems like very little has been done since the trees were cut and the (massive) retaining walls were put up on the Dekalb Industrial side.

    1. The bunker is complete, blast doors installed. Hardware for the underground silos are delayed by the workers’ unrest in Freedonia, but should be ready by May Day. All now depends on fair weather and favorable winds. (That, and accurate train schedules in Bucharest.)

  24. Here’s a copy of a letter I wrote this week to the head of Decatur’s Sanitation Department to try and get to the bottom of the issue of glass in single stream recycling.
    In that Decatur has decided not to respond to my inquiry, it makes me think they don’t want to give us an answer. So I’m throwing this issue out here on Decatur Metro for any in sight anyone may have as to should be separating our glass from other recyclables and depositing the glass at one of the county’s drop off centers.

    ———————————————————————————————————————–

    Dear Mr. Woodson:

    My name is Jeff Long. I am a Decatur resident and the founder of the citizens group Reform DeKalb. I am interested in writing a follow-up piece on Decatur’s recycling program in lieu of today’s AJC article which reported that DeKalb County is no longer recycling glass as part of their single stream curbside recycling process.

    http://www.ajc.com/news/news/local-govt-politics/glass-must-be-dropped-off-to-be-recycled-in-dekalb/nqJnm/

    I was wondering if you would be willing to issue a statement as to what Decatur’s policy is currently, and what actions may be coming as a result of most metro municipalities no longer offering glass recycling. Will Decatur revert back to its former recycling plan of having a separate bin for glass? Or are there any plans for the city to discontinue curb side recycling of glass altogether? Any information you could provide would be greatly appreciated.

    Your written comments may be submitted to this address; [email protected] or I’d be more than happy to take your comment over the phone. I can be reached at 404-372-7448.

    Thank you,

    Jeff Long,
    Reform DeKalb

    1. Obviously you missed the followup piece in the AJC: http://www.ajc.com/news/news/local/for-now-decatur-to-keep-recycling-glass/nptgH/

    2. Other communities are wrestling with this. Recyclers are no longer taking glass. At some point, we will be told to toss it in the trash.

        1. We’re seeing the cost of seemingly untrainable citizens and the switch to no sorting.

          The glass would be useable if we would just sort it, but people were habitually so terrible at sorting that the idea was to go to no-sort option with the result that waste streams were mixed with lots of broken glass. If we had some reasonably located collection bins as in Europe for turning in glass, I’d be happy to use them.

          (Yes, I know the farmer’s market has bins, it just would be nice if there were more than just that location)

  26. Looks like the Lucibell gift shop next to Taqueria del Sol packed up and got out of Dodge one night recently. Great spot for a pizzeria. Somebody tell Jeff Varasano.

    1. Similarly, does anyone know what’s up with Vivid Boutique near Little Shop of Stories and Starbucks? Brown paper in the windows. (Perhaps Trader Joe’s would be interested in that space…..)

  28. Has anyone else had their trash cans disappear? A couple of months ago, the collectors threw them onto the trucks alongside the garbage, but I stopped them before they could drive off.

    This week, came home and cans and recycling bins gone. Is this something others experience? Or am I special?

  30. Decatur’s Lifelong Community Advisory Board is seeking your input on transportation issues in our fair city.

    http://thedecaturminute.com/2016/02/04/decatur-transportation-survey/

    I, personally, would like to see MARTA rail going north/south through Decatur station and shuttle buses running around town. What do you think?

  32. Reliable sources reporting there was a Rabid Racoon Lockdown at Glennwood Elementary today. Some good work by Decatur PD took care of the situation. No injuries reported.

      1. Now Rocky Raccoon, he fell back in his room
        Only to find Gideon’s Bible
        Gideon checked out, and he left it no doubt
        To help with good Rocky’s revival

        “Rocky Raccoon”

        -The Beatles

  34. In regard to property lines– lenders used to require a survey but haven’t for about 15 years. Approx. Cost for survey $350 to 400. You may call surveyors and get quotes. You can find a Plat of neighborhood on line but it does not show where your home is on the lot or where your driveway is. Fences may or may not be on the property line. A survey shows the location of yr building, fences, outbuildings, sidewalks and driveways. From that you may extrapolate position of trees and whose they are.

  36. Get or borrow a metal detector to find the little iron rods that mark the boundary. They are about 8 feet in from the street.

  38. There is much that divides our country today, in national and state politics and on many occasions, serious issues on this blog. But I want touch upon one thing that I believe unites us and that the love we have for our pets and how that can bring out our better angels. This is a story about a dog named Catah, named after a town that gave her a chance.
    Many of you think of me as that retired CSD teacher and (sometimes) hateful conservative but my real job is a property manager for a local company. We are in the housing renovation business and my job is to move a dilapidated and often abandoned house into something that a young professional would want to buy. This is what I was doing Wednesday morning when I arrived at a house not far from the Decatur city limits. The keys were suppose to be under the front door mat but were missing. That meant drilling the deadbolt and entering a house not knowing who or what’s inside. I have a routine, announce my presence, check each room carefully, shine the flashlight throughout and make sure it is safe to work. Except for a great deal of trash, the house was empty.
    It was time to secure the rear of the house when I walked through the kitchen towards a small inclosed porch. Opening the interior door, I noticed a filthy blanket on the floor and then, a slight movement. Dog! I quickly closed the door and watched through a glass panel. The dog was curled up and I could see clearly every rib and backbone. This dog was starving.
    Thinking that the dog was too weak to attack, I re-entered end the room. After a few whistles and clicks, a head slowly turned to stare at me. It had what my wife later called “the sweetest face”, a mostly gray coat with a white patch between orange eyes and a thin line of white to the nose. Slowly the dog turned away but in that brief moment when our eyes locked, I knew this dog deserved a second chance. And this is when the Angels of Decatur took over.
    The first one was my office manager Robin who, upon seeing a picture of Catah, was willing to drop everything and take the dog to her vet off Flat Shoals Road. My boss Eric called and said, “We are not going to condemn that dog to the pound”. Thinking that starvation requires special attention, I called my vet, Dr. Cyndi Fordyce at Church Street Animal Hospital, for advice. Without hesitating, she told me to “bring the dog in and we’ll see what can be done”.
    I wrapped Catah in a blanket and carried her to my car. She was as light as a feather even though later, I found out she weighed about twenty pounds. I was told to drive carefully and avoid bumps in the road that could damage internal organs. Throughout this time, the dog never made a sound, no whimpers, cries, or moans. It was only when I arrived at the hospital and sat down in a chair with the dog that it moved its head to my arm and made what could only be described as a sigh. That was hard and for the first time, tears were pouring down.
    It was tough for the staff as well but they examined Catah and Dr. Fordyce thought the dog had a chance. Over the next 36 hours, I called several times for an update. After receiving fluids, she began to improve and made it through the night. One of the vets told me that the dog had “perked up quite a bit” and had started to turn her head as she watched staff members move in and out of the area. Maybe it was the medicine, the physical attention or the constant “Good Dog Catah” but whatever the reason, we were all hopeful that she would make it.
    Unfortunately I heard sad news Thursday morning. Dr. Fordyce said Catah had too many problems, heart worms, kidney infection, intestinal issues and worst of all, starvation. In a tearful voice, she told me, “At least Catah had love, care and attention for the last thirty six hours.” Indeed.
    In addition to thanking the staffs at Mid City Management and the Church Street Animal Hospital, I want to tell you how willing to help Decatur Metro Nick was throughout. Once he was made aware of the situation, he was texting me about assistance and donations. He was willing to mobilize his readers in any way possible to save Catah. I am proud to call these people my friends. And also angels.
    I took a picture of Catah, and Nick has a copy but it may be too disturbing for most readers. Maybe he can crop a picture of Catah’s face and add it to this post.
    The next time you hear someone talking about why so many people are attracted to the City of Decatur, I hope you remember that there is much more to our town than the schools, police, bars or restaurants. I believe that the love expressed by individuals, businesses, churches and faith based organizations is one of our greatest assets. I experienced that love this past week. God Bless Decatur!

    2. Poor sweet girl. Rest in peace Catah. She was lucky to find you in her final days, Chris. I share your grief and wish we could have done more.

      If anyone has any experience in gathering donations for specific sick/hurt animals, I’d like to better familiarize myself with the process. We’ve saved our share of furry and feathered friends around here for years, but I’d like to know the best way to crowdsource payment for care if the situation should ever arise again.

      Thanks in advance.

      1. Seems the most efficient way would be to set up a gofundme campaign, or whatever the best site for that is, and post a notice here and also on faceboook. I’d be happy to have the funds sent to my escrow account or to set up another account for that to make sure all the money went directly to the intended recipient if that would help. You know I wouldn’t do this for people, but for a dog…

    5. Thank you, Chris for leading the effort to save this poor mistreated animal.

      A few years ago, a small starving filthy kitten staggered into my yard and I too, took him to Dr. Fordyce’s practice where I learned he weighed half of what he should have at his age. The kitten made improvements in 36 or so hours but sadly died the next day. Even though I’d only known him for two days, it still broke my heart.

      Dr. Fordyce’s team was so kind and caring and their commitment to helping animals extends to their pocketbook: Church Street Animal Hospital gives a discount on first services to anyone helping a stray.

    6. Chris, we may not agree on a lot of things, but thank you for helping this pup. It’s sad that she didn’t make it, but it would have been much more sad if she died alone on that porch without ever having known the love you made sure she felt. Now excuse me while I go chop an onion or something.

    8. Thought I would share this story.

      http://www.dailymail.co.uk/travel/travel_news/article-3437208/Tourist-flies-stray-dog-Charlie-home-LA-bonding-Peru-holiday-paying-treat-raw-paws-broken-skin-malnutrition.html

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