From the AJC’s recap of this past weekend’s three days of volunteering…

Saturday through Monday, a record 1,220 volunteers participated in the 9th annual Decatur Martin Luther King Jr. Service Project.

“What you basically have here,” said Project Chairman James Matthews,“is a good old fashioned barn raising.”

Volunteer coordinator Lee Ann Harvey is one of three people who created the Service Project, beginning in 2003. Although a smattering of volunteers are highly skilled fixer-uppers, most, she said, are “unskilled laborers.” Many come from school or church groups, businesses. Some volunteer individually.

From the Emory Wheel…

United States Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano will address graduating seniors at Emory’s 166th Commencement ceremony on May 9.

…Napolitano was not on the final list that the Commencement Speaker Advisory Committee — which includes both students and administrators and is responsible for suggesting potential speakers — submitted to University President James W. Wagner last spring, but was among those initially considered.

…Napolitano will address an expected audience of more than 14,000, including approximately 3,600 graduating seniors. She is the first female speaker to address the graduating class since Marian Wright Edelman, an activist for children’s rights, delivered the keynote in 2006. Previous Commencement speakers have also included California Gov. and actor Arnold Schwarzenegger (R) in 2010, former President of Mexico Vicente Fox in 2009 and Home Depot co-founder Bernard Marcus in 2008.

A new vice-chair has also been selected.  From the City Schools of Decatur…

On Tuesday, January 18th, members of the City Schools of Decatur (CSD) Board of Education unanimously selected Marc Wisniewski, former board vice-chair, to assume the position of 2011 board chair. Mr. Wisniewski has served on the board since 2001 and represents district 1, post A of the City of Decatur. Board members also unanimously chose Bernadette Seals to assume the position of 2011 board vice-chair. Mrs. Seals was elected to the board in November 2007 and represents district 2, post A of the city.

The Schumacher Group reports on its blog that it has sold Sprouts Cafe in Emory Village and that the location will soon become a “cool and hip taqueria and bar.”

Photo courtesy of Schumacher Group