The City of Decatur send around this notice early this week to inform residents that starting next Friday, July 1st, we will need to separate our glass recycling from all other trash and recycling to get it recycled.

The message on the back is similar to the one posted on the city’s recycling page…

Separated glass collection services begin July 1, 2016.

New rules set by recycling facilities dictate that glass must be collected separately from other recyclables. Decatur residents will need two bins – one bin for glass only, and one for paper, plastics and metal. Residents will be responsible for providing the second bin, and there are no stipulations regarding type or color, though it should be 18 gallons or smaller. Your recycling will be picked up the same day as your garbage. See the City of Decatur single family residential waste collection schedule here.

The note on the reverse of the card also points out that the annual sanitation fee for the new fiscal year has increased from $250 to $275 to cover the cost for separated glass recycling.

The city has wrestled with what to do about glass recycling since early this year, as industry demand for recycled glass has declined and recyclers are now often refusing to accept it.   The city asked residents what they wanted to do and via an online city survey and 90% of respondents were willing to pay $25 to $35 more a year to recycle glass.

So that’s what’s happening.

Finally, will the glass actually be recycled?  According to the city’s glass recycling FAQ – YES.

Yes. The glass collected from the separated residential curbside program will be sent to a recovery facility called Strategic Materials. They are a processor for recycled glass used in a wide array of products such as containers, fiberglass insulation, and countertops

Volunteer Decatur sends along this announcement…

Decatur Beach Party organizers are offering a $500 Taziki’s Mediterranean Café gift card to the group who can sign up the most volunteers. The Beach Party happens Friday June 17, and volunteer shifts run three hours or less. You are almost certain to work with most if not all of your group. And once the volunteer shift ends, everyone gets a wristband to stay and enjoy the party for free. Plenty of spots for Set Up Friday morning and afternoon remain.

There are many ways to define “group” in this case! A “group” can be colleagues from work, church, civic or school organizations. Or it could just be a bunch of your friends who want to get the requisite volunteer hours in to receive an invitation to work the Beer or Wine Festivals. Interested? Email [email protected] for details, or call the Decatur Visitor Center and ask for Morgan, Megan or Sherry. The Visitor Center is open Tuesday-Saturday, 10-4.

From City Schools of Decatur…

City Schools of Decatur Superintendent Dr. David Dude is pleased to announce that William Heaton has been selected as the principal for Clairemont Elementary School.

Mr. Heaton has been a school administrator since 2004 and is currently the principal at Malcom Bridge Middle School in Oconee County. Prior to his tenure at Malcom Bridge, Mr. Heaton served as an elementary principal, elementary assistant principal, 5th grade teacher and 3rd grade teacher.

CSD received 44 applicants for the position. The first round interview team–including teacher, PTA, SLT, and district representatives–interviewed eight individuals and narrowed the field to three. The three finalists were invited back for an interview with the Superintendent and two additional SLT members, as well as a performance task evaluating a teacher.

“Thank you to all of the individuals that participated in this important selection process,” said Dr. Dude. “I believe that Mr. Heaton has the knowledge, experience, and ability to continue the great work that is happening at Clairemont Elementary.”

From the City of Decatur…

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, [email protected], 404-371-9583.

Photo courtesy of MILAGROS collective Facebook page

The Decatur Book Festival put out this release late yesterday announcing the creation of the Decatur Writers Studio…

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution Decatur Book Festival (AJC DBF), the nation’s largest independent book festival, is launching the Decatur Writers Studio, a dynamic new player in Decatur’s thriving literary community whose goal is to serve both established and aspiring writers.

As the AJC DBF enters its 11th year in September, it seeks to expand upon the work it has performed in carving out a larger slice for Decatur on the Southern literary scene. AJC DBF Founding Executive Director Daren Wang, who also is the founder of the Decatur Writers Studio, said the new organization’s mission is to provide writers a place to work and grow. DWS will launch on April 1.

“The Decatur Writers Studio is a natural extension of what we’ve been doing for the past decade with the Decatur Book Festival,” Wang said. “I’m excited to be able to forge new tools for local writers to learn from and support each other.”

The Decatur Writers Studio (DWS) will offer workshop-style creative writing classes led by instructors, including some of the area’s most accomplished authors. Classes will be limited to 12 participants, unless otherwise noted. The first slate of courses will include a workshop, titled “Fiction 101: How Making Up Stories Reveals Deeper Truths,” taught by Susan Rebecca White. White is an Atlanta native and the author of three critically acclaimed novels: Bound South, A Soft Place to Land, and A Place at the Table.

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CSD sent around this note to the community this morning…

As the system begins the process of drafting our next strategic plan, it is important that we get your feedback. Please take a moment to fill out the short strategic plan survey in the link below.

https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/decatur-city-ce

The survey will close at 5 PM on Thursday, March 17.

The survey can also be found on the CSD website at:

www.csdecatur.net

Thank you for being a part of this process!

Are you all ready for Tour deCatur this Saturday?

No?  We’ll attempt to help…

The event kicks off Saturday morning with the 1-Mile Fun Run/Walk at 8:30a, followed by the 5k at 9a and the “Tot Trot” at 10am. Staging area is Decatur High School at 310 N. McDonough.  On-site, race day registration will begin at 7:45am.

You can view the map for this year’s 5k HERE.  The Tour deCatur benefits the Decatur Education Foundation.

But there’s more!  There are two pre-race locations to pick up your race number and t-shirt ahead of time.

First, on Thursday March 10th you can pick up your number and shirt at Fleet Feet at 421 West Ponce from 4p-7p.

Second, you can pick up your number and shirt at the “Tour deCatur EXPO” at Ebster Recreation Center at 404 W. Trinity on Friday, March 11 from 4p-7:30p.  If you show up for this event, you will also be able to watch a bunch of good-sport CSD teachers take a pie in the face.  You can find more pre-race info and the full list of teachers HERE.

Though race #s and shirts will be available on Saturday, due to the expected high turnout, they are strongly urging everyone to pick up their race # in advance if at all possible.  According to the DEF website, “Picking up your number and shirt in advance will allow you to bypass the lines on Saturday morning and go straight to the football field at Decatur High School, which will be the waiting area for both the 1-mile and 5k races.”