UPDATE: The City of Decatur sent around a press release, which included this summary of actions taken by the city to receive the platinum certification…

After first achieving Green Communities certification at the Bronze level in 2009, and upgrading to the Gold level in 2010, the City of Decatur has renewed its certification at the Platinum level this year, the first local government to reach the highest achievement possible. Some of the actions Decatur took to become certified include:

• Developing an Environmental Sustainability Plan as direct response to a charge from the people of the city seeking to become even more environmentally responsible. The plan outlines goals and strategies that the city and community should take to deepen their commitment to serving as good stewards of the environment and resources.

• Expanding the Safe Routes to School program to include all eligible elementary and middle schools in the Decatur City Schools system along with College Heights Preschool and two private schools. An average of 55 percent of students participate in International Walk and Roll to School Day each year.

• Committing to building LEED certified facilities, the latest of which, Fire Station No. 1, is on course to obtain LEED Platinum. Sustainable technologies include high efficiency equipment and lighting, green roof garden, a geothermal vertical-closed loop heat pump system, solar water heating, rainwater harvesting and greywater reclamation. The building is designed to achieve a 33 percent reduction in energy consumption and in water usage.

• Supporting several community gardens with financial and in-kind support. At Decatur’s Kitchen Garden, more than 30 refugee families grow hundreds of pounds of fresh food each season, combating hunger that their families and neighbors face. The produce is also sold at the Decatur Farmers Market and a number of Decatur restaurants.

From the Atlanta Regional Commission’s website.  If you want to learn more about how local governments are graded in this certification process, click here.

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CSD sent out this note and posted it on their Facebook page…

All schools in the City Schools of Decatur will be in session tomorrow, January 16, 2015.

We received the following message from the DeKalb County Department of Watershed Management:
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 placed the line back in service.

UPDATE II: The Decatur Minute is also regularly posting updates on the status of the water main break from DeKalb County.

UPDATE: Here are links to the AJC story and the Decaturish story on the water outage

CSD just sent out this email blast…

At this time the City of Decatur is currently experiencing low to no water pressure due to a water main break on Columbia Drive. All of our schools are currently without water or experiencing low water pressure. We are asking parents to please pick your child up as soon as possible

Decatur’s Biggest Loser Contest is back for a 3rd year.  Marcia sends along the details and how to register…

The contest kicks off with a weigh-in at Pinnacle Fitness Center, 141 Sams St, Suite B1 in Decatur on Saturday Feb. 7, 8-10:30 am.  Registration is $30 (must be 18 to participate), and includes a weight loss information packet. Five dollars from each registration benefits the Decatur Education Foundation. All body measurements will be kept private, and progress will be tracked via percentage. Participants interested in one-month promotion can sign up for fitness classes at Pinnacle Fitness Center for only $40. Be among the first 10 to register, and CertaPro Painters of Atlanta will pay fitness class registration fee (new customers only). Early weigh-in is available on the preceding Wednesday, Feb 4, 6-8 pm.

Owner Jeremy Rhett of CertaPro Painters of Atlanta says, “The reason I like being a part of the Decatur Biggest Loser is because we get to see people make lifestyle transformations. David’s approach is not a quick-fix diet, his program helps people reach their goals with changes that can be sustainable throughout their lifetimes.”

To view the testimonials from the winners of the 2013 and 2014 Decatur Biggest Loser Weight Loss Challenges visit: www.PinnacleFitnessCenter.com

Program Benefits

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This sounds pretty tasty…

We received a tip late last week that Fresh to Order employees were saying that they would be opening this weekend, but we couldn’t confirm.  But a look yesterday revealed a patio of patrons and lights galore.

Looks like the report was right!  Fresh to Order is now open in the old Decatur Diner space at East Ponce and Church Street across from Leon’s.

Folks are always interested in knowing the next paint recycling event.  Here’s one coming up at the Phoenix School…