Decatur Metro continues to evolve.  It can’t be stopped!  A few updates for you…

1.  Target locals without all the Craigslist clutter!  The once pay-to-play classifieds are now FREE.  While we had a bit of momentum on the pay classifieds early on, it became obvious that most residents didn’t want to pay for classifieds (yes, yes, Craigslist, I know), and that most businesses, who might be willing to pay, wanted more than a classified.

So, if you have info to pass along to the Decatur/DeKalb community, be it an Announcement, Available Job, Lost or Found object, a Garage Sale, some Merchandise, Real Estate, Services, Tickets, Vehicles, or Items Wanted, head over to the Classifieds section and post away!

2.  I’ve added an “Events” tab to the top of the page, which will take you to a new page that hosts the “Featured Events Calendar” in a monthly calendar format. Great for making plans in advance!

3.  And finally…Take your DM addiction on the road!  If you use an iPhone, iPod Touch or anything operating Google’s Android OS, viewing DM is now easier than ever.  Seriously, it’s awesome.   (Judd, it’s not an App, but it might just be the next best thing!)

Kaiser’s grand-opening of it’s downtown Decatur location tomorrow on Friday and if you’re big into hob-nobbing, it’s the place to be!

This Friday, Jan. 29 at 8:30 AM, Kaiser Permanente will open its new medical office in Downtown Decatur (ground level of the Artisan building at 201 W. Ponce De Leon and Commerce Dr.). You are cordially invited to attend the grand opening.

Dignitaries from state and county institutions will be on hand, including State Rep. Mary Margaret Oliver; DeKalb County Commissioner Jeff Radar; County Commission CEO Burrell Ellis; Bill Floyd, Mayor of Decatur; Jackie Ginn, president of the DeKalb Chamber of Commerce; and Scott Drake, president of the Decatur Business Association.

In conjunction with the opening, Kaiser has donated $10,000 to the Decatur Education Foundation, which according to a DEF press release will be used to “seed” the Farm-To-School program and… Read the rest of this entry »

UPDATE: Hmm…according to Carl, there has always been a T-Mobile sign in the Wolf window.  Oh well…can’t win ‘em all!

I heard buzz last week that there was finally some action inside the old Wolf Camera location at the edge of the CVS plaza on West Ponce.

Driving by this morning, I noticed a giant, pink sign in the window announcing a “T-Mobile Authorized Dealer”.

Does the neighboring AT&T store have some new competition next door?

As “part as part of a series called “The Great Global Business Adventure” , Portfolio.com is following the owners of Paddywax as they muscle through this tough economic time.  According to Portfolio, owner David Duncan will be blogging about his company throughout the coming year.

But Portfolio isn’t the only news org following the folks at Paddywax Candles these days.

The candle factory on DeKalb Industrial Way just announced that “The Evening News with Katie Couric” recently stopped to film a segment.   The piece is scheduled to air this Friday, January 29th during the 6p telecast.   In a recent email blast, Paddywax summed up the feature as “The husband-and-wife team behind the boutique fragrance company weigh in on small business’s impact on the Gross Domestic Product.”

Thanks to Christa and Patti for forwarding along the links!

The DNO e-pub put its nose to the grindstone and turned around two articles from last night’s State of the City and State of the Schools addresses at the Decatur Business Association meeting.

According to the DNO, school board chair Valarie Wilson highlighted the ongoing struggle with the state over school funding and relayed ways in which the school system has made advancements on the five key points of its strategic plan.

Mayor Bill Floyd then took to the stage, highlighting the city’s strong financial position in a tough economic climate, the ongoing effort to “get into the urban gardening business this year”, and the upcoming 2010 Strategic Plan.

Money, food, parking, zoning!?  It’s enough to make a local news junkie drool with glee.