Free-For-All Friday 3/2/10
Decatur Metro | April 2, 2010Use this post to make comments and ask questions about local issue not discussed here in the past week.
Comments close on Monday
Use this post to make comments and ask questions about local issue not discussed here in the past week.
Comments close on Monday
Latest from Decaturish
Who is starting a fund to pay for Vernon Jones’ discrimination judgment? I got a plugged nickel to toss in.
Reminder: Trash Amnesty Day Starts Tomorrow! Oakhurst “Neighborhood #1″ is up first. For specifics on streets, check out DM’s Events Calendar.
All this talk of a new strategic plan is really overshadowing the need for a far-more-important Zombie Strategic Plan. Who’s with me?
Task 1: Bond referendum to build massive fence around Decatur Cemetery.
Are you sure those zombies are local folks? More likely trouble makers from outside the city limits.
I think if you want to frolick in Decatur’s zombie parks you should have to buy a permit and wear a tag.
LOL What does a Decatur zombie park look like?
Are they operated by the Decatur Inactive Living Department?
Close. It’s the Decatur Active Dying Department.
Ba-dump-TSH! Dm’s on FI-yah with the humour today!
comedy gold!
however. we do need to make a Decatur Strategery Plan for the coming Zombie Apocalypse.
Anti-Zombite!
Everyone should check out Rachael Sage at Eddie’s Attic next Wednesday! Seriously, she’s fabulous.
CAN ANYONE STOP THOSE DEKALB NEIGHBOR NEWSPAPERS FROM APPEARING IN MY DRIVEWAY SEEMINGLY ONCE A WEEK????????
I haven’t found a way but thankfully mine shows up on trash night, so I just drop it in the bag as I’m taking it out to the curb.
Yes, I can.
All you have to do is convince all their advertisers to move over to DM.
I actually emailed them and they stopped delivery. Although I do have to email them an occasional reminders.
I’m surprised it’s a legal business practice – to just throw it on everyone’s driveway once a week. The least they could do is provide a clear notice on how to opt-out of delivery.
Thanks, Russ! The city I used to live in had an ordinance against such practices. Not sure if Decatur (or unincorporated DeKalb where I live) has such a thing.
Only if you stop the Yellow Pages from showing up once or twice a year. Last time it happened at the gallery, I called and asked them come and pick them back up which, to my amazement, they did. This was of course after asking if they really thought people used them any longer and inquired as to whether I could speak to whoever was in charge of their environmental protection program as I wanted to know how many trees they sacrificed every year.
Come ‘on, Fred. Is picking that paper up and dropping it into recycling all THAT much trouble, in exchange for freedom of the press?
Diane, if Fred says he doesn’t read it anyway, how does forcing him to immediately bin it once a week contribute to the freedom of the press?
Amen. They do go to recycling as it is, but Freedom of the Press [note the caps] does not give them the right to throw things in my yard that I didn’t ask for. It’d be like me taking old Creative Loafings and tossing them in your yard. As a newspaper reporter and publisher for 13 years, I value the Freedom of the Press as much as anyone, but would prefer to get my local news from Decatur Metro… and the Loaf.
People mail me things I didn’t ask for. I get flyers on my windshield, taped to my mailbox, on my front door. That’s how they make money. This newspaper tells advertisers they are delivering it to so many homes, so that’s what they do.
Actually, I think they DO have a legal right to deliver that paper to your property.
You may consider it a nuisance, but I don’t think it’s illegal.
I think Creative Loafing, The Sunday Paper and other publications COULD pay someone to deliver the publication to your front lawn. And I could be wrong, but I think that right does have something to do with freedom of speech/the press.
That seems fishy. I live on a main road. Some people drop candy wrappers on my yard. Maybe a soda bottle. I get kids’ homework from time to time and even the rare condom wrapper.
And the DeKalb Neighbor. All of which I didn’t ask for. All of which I throw away. Because it’s all trash.
I’m not saying it’s not legal or that it’s some big deal. But it is a nuisance. Russ, thanks for the link.
Scott ate my homework!!
Careful out there kids. Daren sent in photographic proof yesterday afternoon that the rooster is still hanging out around E. College Ave.
At 8:30 am there were four cops standing on Commerce looking up the hill into the underbrush at him.
Where is that hawk? That should take care of the rooster threat!
Awwww, poor li’l Rooster– he’s just an avian trying to make it in America!
By any luck does anyone know anything about trying to reduce one’s property taxes by appealing the assessed value of a property in DeKalb county and/or the City of Decatur?
First:
http://www.decaturga.com/cgs_citysvcs_atr_taxesandfees.aspx
Assessments
The City of Decatur receives all property assessments from the DeKalb County Board of Tax Assessors. If you feel your appraised value is incorrect, you may contact the DeKalb County Tax Assessor’s Office at 404/371-0841 or visit the website atwww.co.dekalb.ga.us/propappr.
Appeals
If the assessed value of your property has been appealed to the DeKalb County Board of Tax Assessors, it will be noted on the face of the tax bill. Properties currently under appeal are billed at eighty-five percent (85%) of their proposed assessed value. Depending on the final determination of the assessed value of the property, you will receive either a bill for additional taxes due or a refund for overpayment. You are still responsible for paying the full amount shown on your bill by the payment deadline.
And then — http://web.co.dekalb.ga.us/PropertyAppraisal/faq.html — but nothing else yet:
28. I disagree with my appraised value. Can I appeal?
Appeals can only be filed in response to an Assessment Change Notice. If you received an Assessment Change Notice you have 30 days from the Date Notice Mailed to file your appeal. Filing an appeal is easy. There is no form – simply write a letter telling us that you are appealing, and if possible, explain why you disagree with our value. You are welcome to attach additional information you wish us to consider. Please include your Parcel ID Number, the street address of your property, and a daytime phone number. We cannot accept fax or email appeals! Please be sure to hand deliver or mail your appeal POSTMARKED BY THE U.S. POSTAL SERVICE by the appeal deadline date shown on your Assessment Change Notice.
Additional information is available on our APPEAL PROCESS page.
Any ideas?
Like it says, you can only appeal in response to a Notice of Assessment Change. There are very few reasons the County can currently raise your assessment, though. O.C.G.A. § 48-5B-1, enacted last year when Governor Purdue signed H.B. 233, provides that “for taxable years beginning on or after January 1, 2009 … a moratorium is declared on all increases in the assessed value of all classes of all subjects of property which are subject to ad valorem taxation”. Although the statute provides for certain exceptions to this moratorium, none of the exceptions allow DeKalb County to increase the assessed value of the property in light of sales or the value of allegedly comparable properties. O.C.G.A. § 48-5B-1(e) expressly states that “[i]f property or interests therein are sold or transferred, the assessed value of such property for ad valorem tax purposes shall not exceed the most recent value established ….”.
Are there any plans afoot to have a Decatur Restaurant Week? (or did we miss it already?!) We enjoyed taking advantage of the recent Inman Park Restuarant Week, and would love to do the same in Decatur. We are out here a lot anyway, but it would be a good way to get some more travel-reluctant friends to make the Decatur venture and get to show off our Decatur chops…
This is the first year I have ever really majorly suffered from allergies. I know this isn’t Webmd but does anyone have an opinion on Zyrtec or Claritan or other? Zyrtec pretty much knocks me out and seems to be more expensive. I can’t really avoid going outside until the end of spring. The pollen count link on AJC sends you right to some allergy center which I imagine would be a little costly.
Most of the time, allergy medication are pretty specific to the individual. What works for one doesn’t work for someone else. Chlor trimeton, for instance, may as well be candy for my wife, but Claritin does the job. Likewise, Zyrtec does her no good. My advice is to try them until your get something that works for you.
I did the allergy shots years ago, and take a generic version of Claritin.
My allergist talked about allergies like a bucket. Your immune system is like a bucket, and if you can keep it from filling up (avoiding allergens), you can remain healthy.
So, bathing nightly, washing clothes, avoiding allergens as much as possible.
When my allergies really kick in (and they haven’t yet, although I’ve been outside plenty), the medication that really does the trick is good old Benadryl. Makes me sleepy, but it is a powerhouse for knocking out my allergic symptoms.
If it’s any help, you can now get a 120 count of generic Target-brand of Zyrtec for like 40 bucks. Pretty good for a 24-hour pill.
Neti pots work wonders too!
I second the neti pot….my first year using one and they are amazing….cheap, easy, and no side effects…
I second the neti pot comment–I haven’t had a sinus infection in 6 years, despite fairly heavy allergies. Claritin works well for me, and Target sells a generic that’s less than 50 cents per dose. I hate to take pills, but sometimes you just have to. And the showering and washing sheets, etc. also helps a lot.
Does anyone know anything about the horse park off of Scott Blvd (just before US 78, across from the QT)? How long has it been there? Is it open to the public?
website:
http://www.littlecreekfarmconservancy.org/LCFC/Home.html
Thanks AMB for the link. I’m wondering how I didn’t know about this place. I’ve passed that spot many times and had never seen any indication that there were horses there until a week ago.
Little Creek has had stables there since before 1968 when my sister started working there. It was a private stable then.
You should see the trucks line up on Manure Day!
You know, they’re not going to have Manure Day this year. I emailed the gal in charge, and she says it’ll be back next year. Oh cr-p!
I like cereal
to the person who placed the *WHERE THE SIDEWALK ENDS* sign where the sidewalk ends on scott — you made my day!
I miss Crescent Moon. . . . It was our go-to dinner place that made everyone in the family happy (comfort food, healthy food, healthy comfort food. . . .).
Parker’s on Ponce did a fabulous Easter brunch today– took out of town family there for it, and they were impressed with everything! I must commend them on their poached salmon & trimmings, plus their awesome shrimp & grits– delicious. For all my fellow Decaturites who celebrate the holiday: Happy Easter!
Thanks Cubalibre. My wife and I splurged at Parkers last year and it was worth every penny. And thanks also for mentioning Easter. Yours was the only FFFA that did so. It was a beautiful weekend to celebrate the most important day of the year. God Bless.