I know Georgia isn’t the most progressive of states when it comes to things like “the transportation of peoples”, but it rarely hurts to dream.

Check out this video from this year’s TED conference.  Gary Lauder proposes we would use less gas and create smoother traffic patterns if we could just break free of STOP and Yield signs.  He calls it the “Take Turns” sign, and the idea is essentially taking the traffic rules of a roundabout and applying them to three-way intersections.

Renfroe Middle School is getting in on the gardening craze.

Barrett writes in that the Decatur school with host “Renfroe Volunteer Garden Day” on March 27th at 10am, behind the old gym, to cultivate the beginnings of a new garden on school property.

According to Barrett, “The project is a collaboration between Renfroe, Project R.E.A.L., and the Oakhurst Community Garden. Project R.E.A.L. is the after-school program at Renfroe which is run by the City of Decatur.”

Photo above: Renfroe students planting seeds that will be transferred to the garden in April. (courtesy of Barrett)

Put away all your orange sweaters, today’s Saint Patrick’s Day the world around!

The Decatur Minute has a list of events going on in Decatur, while the AJC has a big, fat, bloated list of events going on around the metro.   And of course, don’t forget about DM’s Featured Events Calendar!

But what I’d really like to know is, who has an embarrassing St. Patty’s Day story to tell?

Photo Courtesy of the Internet

After hearing the news about the Decatur Farmer’s Market’s new Saturday time-slot, I followed up with a couple of questions; including asking about major hurdle of getting farmers on a Saturday morning when the popular Morningside market is in full swing.

Here’s Nicole Coleson’s response…

There are a few motivations. For the most part, the local community has been asking for it for years and the City is taking a more active role. Also, there are more farmers now then there used to be. Morningside is very well established and has a waiting list for farmers. We are attempting to do two things; provide an opportunity for the new farmers, and get Morningside farmers to participate in both markets. This has proven to be a challenge to staff but we have had some interest in dual-participation. If you know of any farmers or people interested in staffing a booth let me know.

But for now, we have a critical mass to get up and running. The other good thing is that we have organic coffee, bread, and pastries which have great appeal.

The Decatur Farmer’s Market website now also has a map showing exactly where the market will take place at the Trinity/McDonough intersection.  View it after the jump.
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Maureen Downey wrote an excellent profile of the Global Village School a couple days back in the AJC. The school, which opened in August, helps teenage survivors of war and refugee camps acquire the necessary education to attend and graduate from high school and college.

As Downey explains, the school – which teaches an “intense, extended five-day program” – grew out of a Saturday class at the International Community School on Covington Highway. Students get up as early as 4 a.m. and take trains and buses into Decatur every morning, looking to learn to speak better English and improve math skills.

The school utilizes donated classroom space at Decatur Presbyterian and students eat lunch everyday in Agnes Scott College’s dining hall.

Thanks to Adam for pointing out this great article!

The DNO e-pub reports that Decatur’s Active Living Director, Dan Magee, is leaving his position at the end of March to become Supervisor of Parks for Athens-Clarke County.

Magee tells the DNO that it is “very, very, very difficult to leave the City of Decatur”, but he sees Athens as a “dream job” and believes that Active Living’s Assistant Direct, Greg White, is “more than ready to run the show.”

All the best Dan!

Press release from Decatur High School’s Jon Reese…

Celebrating Creativity at Decatur High School

Thursday, April 15, 2010 at 7:00 p.m. Decatur High School Performing Arts Center $5 adults, $3 students (18 and under)

This event will showcase student creativity through visual arts, creative writing, dramatic scenes, instrumental and vocal performances, photography, and video shorts. An extended intermission will feature delicious samples from culinary arts students. This is a terrific opportunity for the city to see first-hand how the arts are alive and growing in the new performing arts center at Decatur’s flagship high school.

Photo Courtesy of Jon Reese: “Junior Nia Cole paints set pieces for the new theater’s first drama production, William Shakespeare’s “Hamlet.”

I’m unsure of whether I should be impressed or mumbling “Oh, please!” to myself after reading Creative Loafing’s “First Person” account of “Sid”, a homeless-by-choice Emory student.   However, there’s no debating it’s a compelling read.  Nice work CL!

Here’s the build up…

Editor’s note: First Person is a series of commentaries that gives voice to those not commonly heard in Atlanta media. In this instance, the subject’s real name is being withheld to protect him from a crackdown on his unorthodox living arrangement.

Sid is not the typical Emory student. He spends most of his time studying and hanging out with friends, but unlike his peers he goes home at the end of the day to a van he parks at the YMCA. Considering Emory’s tuition costs about $50,000 a year, a “kudzu leaguer” living out of his van and scavenging meals from dining hall leftovers might seem surprising, but Sid lives a Spartan lifestyle by choice. Sustainable homelessness is something to which he aspires, and he hopes to always live as simply as he does now.

From Superintendent Dr. Phyllis Edwards…

As you may know from the recent news, the State of Georgia is not collecting the revenue they anticipated because of the weak economy. This shortfall will affect all public schools in Georgia. At City Schools of Decatur, we have been working hard to create a responsible budget that allows us to keep our staff but we will need to make some cuts to account for the reduction of funds we will receive from the State. Currently, we are proposing a 3-day reduction in work year calendars for all of our staff (with the exception of 185 day employees) and a salary “freeze.” These proposals will be outlined in a public hearing so that we can receive feedback from our community.

I want to let you know that this public meeting will be held on March 17, 2010 at 4:30 pm and again at 6:00 pm to review the proposed changes to our salary scales for the 2010 – 2011 school year.

The meeting will be held in the auditorium at Westchester (758 Scott Boulevard, Decatur 30030). You are welcome to attend and let the Board of Education hear your opinions.

Thank you in advance for your understanding during these difficult times.

At last night’s city commission meeting, Public Works Manager David Junger informed the commission that the 30 mph speed limit recently approved by the commission had been rejected by the Georgia Department of Transportation and would have to be raised back to 35mph.

The resulting conversation revealed some interesting rules regarding setting speed limits.  First, local governments can put up speed limit signs that say whatever they want, but the only enforceable limits are those backed up by the GDOT.  Secondly, GDOT uses some sort of “85% rule” to determine road speed limits, though I must admit Mr. Junger was talking over my head at that point and yelling follow-up questions at my television went unnoticed.

So, the city commission begrudgingly approved replaceing the old 30mph signs with the old 35mph signs.  (The enforceable speed limit was never actually changed)  The move was made with the express intent that the city would now begin strongly enforcing the speed limit in the West Howard corridor.

City Manager Peggy Merriss reminded the commission – and those in attendance – that much of that strip of road is still a school zone with a 25mph limit during school hours.  According to Ms. Merriss, school zone fines are often in excess of $400 a pop.