David writes in that there are cards on the tables at Mexico City Gourmet alerting diners that they will be closing their doors permanently on December 23rd after 28 years in business.

A sad day for Greater Decatur, losing such a long-standing business.

Complete and total aside: My wife and I once met a guy on the Georgia coast who went to Emory in the 70s and the only thing he recalled (over and over again) was Mexico City Gourmet.  He was thrilled to hear it was still open.  I’m guessing he’d be crushed by this news.

Photo courtesy of City-Data

While ranking other people based solely on appearance is generally frowned upon in most circles these days, the ranking of trees – by age and size – is a perfectly acceptable way of celebrating of our leafy friends.

News has been slowly blowing around town over the past couple weeks that resident  Neil Norton got a White Oak over by the post office onto the Georgia Urban Forest Council’s Landmark and Historic Tree Register.  City Planner Amanda Thompson brought it to the City Commission’s attention during their last meeting and the DNO posted a nice follow up a few days later.

This got me thinkin’: what and where are Decatur’s other trees of note?  Turns out there are quite a few all over the city.

First, there are three other Decatur trees on the Georgia Urban Forest Council’s list, all at Agnes Scott.

There’s “Professor Dieckmann’s Magnolias”, planted by the long-time ASC professor back around 1905 where while walking one day, “took them [magnolia seeds] up with his pocketknife,” and planted them in front of Rebekah Scott Hall.”

There’s the “Battle of Decatur” White Ash, that “dates back to 1854. “The Battle of Decatur, the eastern front of the fateful Battle of Atlanta, was fought on this very spot ten years later.”

And then there’s the “Mystery Incense Ash”, the oldest and most – well – mysterious of the three trees.

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Chik-Fil-A Decatur, GA  (photo courtesy of Chad)

The Decatur Minute announced the winner’s of Decatur’s annual “Decorate Decatur” contest this morning.

The grand-prize  “Commissioner’s Cup”, was taken home this year by the residents at 176 Garland Avenue.  Among Decatur businesses, McGowans and Taste were deemed the best this year.

See the full list of all the winners over on The Minute blog.   Congrats to all!

Garland Ave Photo Courtesy of Decatur Minute

In response to budget cutbacks in DeKalb earlier this year that resulted in furlough days, no pay on holidays and no merit increases for DeKalb Police receiving no pay on holidays and no merit increases, the DeKalb Officers blog let it be known that the force would be writing fewer tickets this year in protest.

According to this morning’s AJC, officers followed through on the threat.  From May to November, DeKalb Police wrote 33% fewer tickets, costing the County “more than $5 million in revenue”.

DeKalb CEO Burrell Ellis’ budget for next year eliminates furlough days for police, but is asking for a second straight year for a property tax increase to cover costs.  The County Commission didn’t like that idea last year.  We’ll have to see how things play out this year.