It’s so random when Decatur pops up in the national media spotlight.

Laura points out that Winnona Park Elementary School book fair organizer Ilene Zeff is quoted in the currently most popular article on the New York Times’ website about the recent decline in picture book sales across the country.

Still, many children are getting the message [that their parents wanted them to read chapter books instead of picture books]. At Winnona Park Elementary School in Decatur, Ga., a recent book fair was dominated by chapter books, said Ilene Zeff, who organized the fair.

“I’ve been getting fewer and fewer picture books because they just don’t sell,” Ms. Zeff said. “By first grade, when the kids go to pick out their books, they ask where the chapter books are. They’re just drawn to them.”

It’s also weird that I started reading this article a couple hours ago, thinking I might post it for general conversation, but then abandoned it in a moment of distraction.

Anyway, I yield to Dave (of Little Shop fame) as to whether there’s merit to the premise of the article.  I just thought the Decatur reference was cool.

Atlanta Avenue, Decatur GA  (pic submitted by Andisheh)

The AJC is reporting that a man has been “shot in the head” near the 2070 block of Ridgedale Road in Kirkwood, and that Atlanta PD homicide detectives are en route.

Lord knows there are some rather vocal supporters of public transportation out there.

They could generally be described as the riders who ELECT to use public transportation over a car for their daily traversing.  They are a spritely bunch.  As passionate about their underfunded and underrepresented cause as any minority voice.

But have you ever noticed that it’s a minority without many kids?

It’s not like it has completely escaped me that transit-swingers are largely made up of young singles, DINKS, and retired persons, but I only recently became more acutely aware of what I’m terming “the kid-factor”.

What spurred me to this revelation?  Well, having a kid.

Bottomline: Having a kid makes taking public transportation HARDER.  Where once you could jump from feet to bus to escalator to train to bus to feet, now such hopping becomes a slog.  A slow, stroller-folding, elevator-riding slog.

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Remember Josh D. Weiss’ great Piedmont Park pillow fight pictures that we featured here back in March?

Well the organizers of that feathery violence, GrBlue Events, are hosting a nine-hour Pumpkin Fest on Sunday, October 17th in Centennial Park from noon til 9pm.  Here are the deets for those of you who like to be “in the know”:

Time: Sunday, October 17: 12:00pm – 9:00pm

Location: Centennial Park (By the fountain)

It’s time to get the Jack O’ Lanterns ready for the funnest holiday of the year.  Come by car, bus, or MARTA. Bring a pumpkin, and a carving kit. We will take care of your trash and pumpkin goo.

Judging of pumpkins will commence at 1:25pm Yes, there is a CASH prize. $50 goes to the best carving!!! So come on out and win yourself some free money.

** While this event is free, there will be a donation jar present for the Children’s Hospital of Atlanta. Donations are appreciated. **

Judging Criteria: 1. Originality 2. Craftsmanship 3. Humor