If you would like to submit a question or two to the Decatur City Commission candidates for this Wednesday’s live online debate (at 8pm), please submit your questions by tomorrow evening.

So far there have only been a handful of questions submitted, so don’t come crying to me later when OUR live, online debate becomes “Decatur Metro Asks the Four City Commission Candidates All His Own Questions”!  (What color should I paint my house? How much longer can I force Decatur business owners to honor my “Green Decatur” bag?  Do these pants make me look fat?  Just kidding.)

I’m not sure if this is part of it, but if people are wary because I proposed giving both name and street name when posing a question, I officially withdraw that piece of it.  Now just provide me with your full name and address so I can verify residency, and I’ll only use your first name (no more street address) when posing the question to your commission candidates.

Send your questions to decaturite[at]gmail.com

From the Alliance to Improve Emory Village via Clairmont Heights Civic Association…

Georgia Power is completing its phase of roadwork in Emory Village, which includes the burial of utility wires in a new duct bank under the street. The new conduit should be in place by Nov. 1. Separately, the Emory Village roundabout and streetscape work is expected to be open to bid by contractors in November with construction starting in early spring 2010.

Enough talk!  Just do it already! 

Salli writes in…

Are there any fun events for adults going on in or around Decatur on Halloween? The Twain’s party sounds fun, but I thought I would see what else is out there.

Thanks!

I’m a bit outta the loop in terms of other ghoulish “adult” functions around Decatur, so I’m appealing to you gentle readers.

Both InDecatur and city commission candidate James Radford have posted extensive articles about last week’s meeting at Decatur Heights Baptist Church, regarding the “Peer Support and Wellness Center” at 444 Sycamore Drive in Decatur Heights.

At issue is whether the facility  – which aids people with mental health problems – classifies as a “licensed personal care home”.  If so, it can operate within a residential neighborhood (i.e. R60) without variance.  When I first contacted the city’s planning director Amanda Thompson about this issue way back in May (after receiving a note from a resident in the district) she said that the city was still determining whether this was indeed the case.

However, in late June/early July, Thompson visited the facility and determined it did qualify as a “personal care home” for the following reasons…

Read the rest of this entry »

On November 15th, the Solarium will host “Junktique”, an “upscale community yard sale” that benefits Oakhurst Elementary School.  Part yard sale, part artist market, part entertainment, Junktique sounds a lot like some sort of Decaturite nirvana.  (Buy stuff, drink, AND support a local school!?  So this is what Aristotle’s fourth level of happiness feels like!)

For $35, you can be amongst other vintage sellers on the Solarium lawn.  However, be warned…the word “vintage” is only open to so much interpretation.

From Junktique’s website…

Vintage is…

furniture that you would buy yourself, cool home furnishings, jewelery & accessories, other cool stuff!

Vintage is not…

items the Salvation Army won’t take, moldy paperbacks from the basement, boutique products you sell (see Artists’s Market page).

I guess the moldy paperback sellers will have to create their own festival that supports local education.