Erin sends along info for next week’s Decatur Farm to School Showcase at Renfroe…

You are cordially invited to the Decatur Farm to School Showcase on April 27, 2010 to enjoy local hors d’oeuvres and celebrate the successful completion of the first Farm to School Teacher workshop series. Participants will have the

opportunity to hear first-hand experiences from teachers and catch a glimpse into the day of a life of a Decatur student immersed in gardening, local food investigations and hands-on taste testings.

The Showcase will be held at Renfroe Middle School 220 West College Avenue Decatur, GA 30030-5299

The ribbon cutting for the “Yes to Yum” Garden will begin promptly at 5:15pm.

Please RSVP [Here] by April 17, 2010 or email: erin@georgiaorganics.org

Here come the festivals!!!

The Decatur Green Fest will kick off the 2010 Decatur Business Association’s Concert on the Square series next Sunday, May 1st.

The event will feature:

• Live Music from 3pm – 9:30pm
• Free compact fluorescent light bulb exchange courtesy of Atlanta Light Bulbs, Inc.
• Green tasting of local organic produce and food by Five Seasons, Leon’s Full Service, and many more
• Beer provided by Athens’ microbrewery Terrapin Beer
• Exciting new organic beverages provided by Bionade
• Showcase of Equal Exchange and other fair traded products
• Green organizations and vendors presenting information and products.  (2009 : 58 exhibitors)
• Showing of artists who work with recycled materials
• KidZone – Children’s activity area

Both committed and potential volunteers can meet-up at Eddie’s Attic on next Monday evening April 26th at 6pm to learn about volunteer opportunities.  You can find a bit more info on this event on the Fest’s Facebook page.

Rachel sends in this announcement and call for support…

This year Decatur Active Living will be hosting Laxapalooza, a two day lacrosse tournament featuring 24 recreational boys and girls youth lacrosse teams from across metro Atlanta. Laxapalooza will take place on Saturday, May 8th, and Sunday, May 9th on playing fields across the City of Decatur. This event will bring hundreds of players and their families and friends into the City for two full days of fun and excitement.

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Use this post to ask questions and make comments about local issues not discussed here in the past week.

Comments close on Monday.

Assistant City Manager Lyn Menne writes in that the locations originally slated for some of the smaller Decatur Strategic Plan meetings – which begin next week – HAVE CHANGED.  The list of updated locations can be found on DecaturNext.com, as well as after the jump.

The city will be calling residents and sending emails out to participants in the next couple days to inform them of the location changes and remind them of their meeting times.

Happy planning!

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From Hank Johnson’s re-election office…

President Barack Obama announced Thursday his endorsement of Congressman Hank Johnson, who represents Georgia’s Fourth Congressional District.

“Congressman Johnson has done an outstanding job,” said President Obama. “Together, we are fighting to renew our economy. Together, we passed historic health care reform. I am proud to stand with Hank and support his re-election.”

“I am proud to have President Obama’s endorsement,” said Johnson, who is running for a third term. “I am determined to continue our work to move America forward.”

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Mmmm…delectable Decatur….mmmm….

A curious Nubbs writes in…

On the radio this morning I heard that Taste of Decatur was happening this weekend on the Square…this was the first I have heard about it – have I been living under a rock? Is this really going on? They said tickets were $10, over 50 restaurants were participating and some boutiques and restaurants were giving away free stuff. Just looking for confirmation that this really is happening this weekend.

According to the worldwide internets, Taste of Decatur is indeed happening this weekend, though I’ve not heard much and haven’t been contacted directly about it.  Here’s the official website, which gives a good deal of info, including a list of participants (but no specifics as to what individual restaurants and shops will offer).

That said, if you’re a participating business and know what you’ll be offering for the event, feel free to provide details in the comments section below.

Also, today only (Thursday) you can get half-price tickets for the event on Living Social. [via Carl]

From the DeKalb Rape Crisis Center website…

Join us on Saturday, April 24, 2010 at historic Agnes Scott College, 141 E. College Avenue, in Decatur for the 19th Take Back the Night 5K and 1 Mile Walk/Run.  April is Sexual Assault Awareness month and working together, we can raise awareness, change attitudes and help prevent sexual assault.

This is the perfect race for runners who do not like to get up early! The 1 Mile begins at 5 p.m. and the 5K starts at 5:30 p.m. Rain or shine. The race course begins at the Agnes Scott track and winds through Oakhurst and East Lake. The race concludes back at Agnes Scott with a lap around the track.

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I don’t usually promote promotions for other news groups, but WABE’s Earth Day promotion is pretty cool.

For everyone who makes a pledge to WABE [today], the station – in partnership with Trees Atlanta – will plant a tree in their honor in metro Atlanta. This offer is for EARTH DAY only. And it’s for everyone who makes a pledge at any amount. The trees will be planted along the Atlanta Beltline Arboretum, which, when finished will be the longest arboretum in the country. Donations can be made through our home page: www.WABE.org

A max of 4000 trees will be planted.

Thanks to Daren for forwarding! Sketch above from the Atlanta Beltline Arboretum Conceptual Plan

Wow, we sure have come along way in two weeks!

Two weeks ago, Georgia’s House transportation chair stated that he had “not been inundated” with calls from voters to get a transportation bill passed.

But then forces were rallied, Facebook pages were created, MARTA vandalized their own buses, and Atlanta business leaders were rounded up and sent to the State Capitol to plead their case.

And last night, after three legislative 40 day “years” of trying, both houses of the Georgia legislature finally passed a bill.  That bill would divide the state into 12 regions, where a “roundtable” of local, elected officials would be tasked with coming up with a list of transportation projects, which would then go before the region’s voters, who would decide whether the proposed list was worth an additional 1-cent sales tax.

Oh, and MARTA would get a three-year reprieve from being forced to use only 50% of its revenue on its operating budget.  No one yet knows what this means for all those bus routes that are currently slated to be cut, but I’m sure MARTA will let us know in due course.

Sonny still has to sign it, but his peeps sound upbeat about it.

A good day for Georgia!  The legislature is letting us do something!  Hooray!