Do you fancy yourself an Atlanta business and/or industry leader?  Then City Schools of Decatur needs five minutes of your time!

Diane forwards this CSD request sent out to parents this morning…

City Schools of Decatur (CSD), in partnership with DeKalb Technical College, has been awarded a $3.025 million grant to create the Decatur Career Academy (DCA). We at CSD are conducting a survey to solicit information from metro Atlanta’s business and industry leaders. This information will be used to inform school leadership about potential DCA program offerings in order to support our students’ transition into the world of work. It will also aid the DCA as it prepares for the renovation and construction related to the Georgia Career Academy Grant.

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A couple comments and a question actually.

First, I’ve finally gotten around to taking 5 minutes and posting a “comment policy” at the top of the site.  Those who have been around awhile have a good idea of how things work around here, but I realized it was a bit unfair to assume newcomers would just figure it out, even though that method seemed to be working pretty well.

Second, I’m curious to know people’s thoughts on attaching a “Thumbs Up” option to comments, where instead of feeling obligied to respond, you could show your support for a comment by clicking the ‘thumbs up’ button.  (Think Facebook’s “Like” option.)

I’m currently on the fence about it, because on one hand I like the idea of letting more folks weigh in who aren’t necessarily comfortable with commenting, but on the other, I’m a bit worried it might turn into a competition about who can write the most popular comments, as opposed to truly speaking their minds.  I’m curious what the rest of you think.

Third, a bit of DM trivia!  The first commenter – who was not a fellow blogger – who still comments frequently on the site is none other than Parker Cross, who first commented way back on the 10th of October 2007, a mere two weeks after the site first launched!

I never even realized this until I went back digging into the comments.  Thanks for all the years of input “Parker”!

Map of the 2010 Tour deCATUR route.

Gail writes in…

The 8th Annual TOUR deCATUR Road Race is just 17 days away! The Early registration deadline has been extended to March 1. All proceeds of this community event support programs of the Decatur Education Foundation which promotes academic achievement and enrichment opportunities for all the children and youth of Decatur. Register today for the 5K, 1 mile or Tot Trot at www.tourdecatur.com. After March 1 registration cost goes up to $25.

Threats of annexation seem to bring people together. Remember how Decatur’s last annexation attempt united the city’s northern neighbors?

The latest College Avenue annexation attempt by Decatur and Avondale has spurred one DeKalb County Commissioner and many of the area’s business owners into action.

According to a recent article in the Champion Newspaper (h/t: Next Stop), Commissioner Kathie Gannon and some area business owners will meet up on this coming Saturday to discuss ways to improve the area’s appearance.

“We’ll be doing any kind of things that we can physically do and make a difference in terms of appearance,” she said. “Every single issue we can address, and there should be no reason for annexation.”

Gargiulo said she and several other business owners have created a list of improvements to businesses along the street that leads into Avondale Estates’ Tudor-themed gateway. That includes picking up trash, tearing away decrepit fencing and repainting some businesses’ exteriors.

It seems a noble goal, and one that would accomplish many of the two cities’ end-games without a controversial annexation.  However, if annexation doesn’t pass the GA legislature, it will be interesting to see how committed folks are to beautification efforts without any looming threat.  I don’t doubt the sincerity of the effort, but when any group is motivated primarily by a threat, it’s often tricky to sustain momentum once that threat disappears.

Meanwhile, Stephanie Stuckey Benfield continues to search for that elusive 10th vote from the DeKalb delegation, in order to bring the annexation bill to the floor of the GA House.

As DM’s Events Calendar shows, George Winston kicks off the Eddie and Agnes series tonight at Presser Hall on Agnes Scott’s campus.

In a recent interview with the AJC, Winston explains why he’s DRIVING from California to the Decatur event and why he’ll be performing without shoes.

Q: We know you don’t want microphones at this show in Decatur. What else can audiences expect from the performance? Will you perform in your socks?

A: Yes, shoes make too much noise on the floor. And I don’t like the sound of a miked piano. I’ll be playing fall and winter songs. Some Vince Guaraldi, folk and melodic piano, New Orleans R&B. I’m sure the drive over will inspire something, too. I have yet to make it to the Great Plains, Tennessee and Alabama. I want [the journey] to affect what I play. We’re all influenced by the seasons whether we think about it or not.

Sock-tip to the AJC’s Jamie Gumbrecht.

Tickets for the event can still be purchased HERE.