Also the “State of the Schools” address will be given by CSD School Board Chair Valarie Wilson.

Cheryl at the Decatur Minute writes…

The community is invited to join the Decatur City Commission for the annual State of the City Address delivered by Mayor Floyd and the State of the Schools Address delivered by Decatur Board of Education chair Valarie Wilson on Tuesday, January 26th at the monthly meeting of the Decatur Business Association. The reception begins at 5:15 pm and the program begins at 6 pm. The meeting will be held at the new Decatur High School Auditorium in downtown Decatur.

YES!  Sorry, I’m sure it had nothing to do with me, but I’m really excited to see the new auditorium being used in one of the ways I had publicly hoped.

In referencing AP article about the general strength of the health care industry during an economic downturn, Russ dropped an interesting little tidbit about the Decatur economy over on the Decatur Tax Blog…

Although I don’t know what commercial property owner’s vacancy rates are in Decatur, I estimate that at least 11 percent of office-based businesses in Decatur are tied in some way to the health care industry. (Our biggest sub-groups are mental health providers, physicians, and dentists.) That percentage is based off of the number of businesses that have a medical-related NAICS code.

From a business licensing standpoint, it does seem like turnover in retail businesses such as restaurants and shops is more common than healthcare businesses in Decatur, but there are no reports I can easily run in our business licensing system that would back up that observation.

There definitely has been a noticable influx of doctors and health care facilities in the past 2 years, with Kaiser’s spot along West Ponce the most obvious addition.

As first reported here on DM, Decatur and Avondale Estates have revived their attempt to pass state legislation that would annex 32 commercial parcels between their two borders.  This morning, the AJC’s April Hunt reports that this is the week when state legislators will review the plan.

In terms of its chances getting 10 DeKalb delegation signatures to bring it to a House vote, Hunt writes that Rep. Benfield is optimistic.

The owners haven’t changed their stance, but state Rep. Stephanie Stuckey Benfield said she is “encouraged” by talks with DeKalb’s 20 other House members who might support a vote. Ten delegation signatures are required for a House vote.

“We are getting an early start this year,” Benfield said. “I’ve been optimistic that this is the year.”

This squares with a comment Rep. Benfield made to me a couple weeks back, when I first covered this issue, saying “I think I’ve got a good chance of passing it this session.”

Read the rest of this entry »

Rebecca sends along this announcement from Oakhurst Cooperative Preschool…

Oakhurst Cooperative Preschool Enrollment Sessions Start Saturday January 23!

2010-2011 Enrollment Sessions: January 23, 28 and 30. Please visit
www.OakhurstCoop.com for details.

Explore what Oakhurst Cooperative Preschool can offer your family.

• Morning classes five days a week for children 2 – 4 years
• Everyday hands-on environmental education
• Commitment to parental involvement in education
• Nature-centered curriculum
• Nurturing community for families

OCP is also enrolling for a young two’s class to start February 2010. Children
who turned 2 by January 1 are eligible for enrollment.

Disclosure: Oakhurst Cooperative Preschool is a DM Sponsor