Paul writes in…

I was up at N. Decatur Publix last night, hoping to get a movie from Blockbuster. They had closed early and it looks like they’re getting ready for a store closing sale (as is location at N. Druid Hills near Pikes).

Are Decaturites still watching movies? Are more people doing Netflix or Blockbuster express boxes or something else? Not breaking news, but does seem to be a sign of the times.

East Trinity Place Decatur, GA (pic submitted by Brandy)

That’s the question that the City Schools of Decatur is asking parents of would-be Pre-K students next year, after Georgia Governor Nathan Deal released his plans for the HOPE scholarship – which currently funds all Georgia Pre-K programs – earlier this week.

With Deal’s plan likely to pass, CSD is already informing families that Pre-K would most likely be cut to a half-day without an additional payment of $3,055 from families.  Head Start will pay the additional costs for their 20 Pre-K spots, according to a note from a parent on a local message board who spoke with Assistant Superintendent Thomas van Soelen yesterday.  Additionally, the roughly $3,000 tuition will not cover after-2:30p Chex Mix/Animal Crackers childcare.  Those costs will remain incremental, according to the note.

As a result of this massive, likely change in funding, CSD has canceled the current Pre-K lottery for the coming school year.  The number of full-day and half-day spaces/classrooms won’t be determined until CSD can get an accurate measure of how many students are willing to pay the $3,055 for full-day care.

Parents have until March 7th to let CSD know of their intentions.  UPDATE: You can read the full letter sent out by Superintendent Edwards HERE.  (h/t: KMT)

Angie forwards this along…

Please join us for the 4th Annual College Heights Auction Event tomorrow night – Friday, February 25^th at the Solarium from 7-10 pm. Everyone is welcome and admission is free! There will be live music – featuring the local band The Bitteroots – light food, cash bar and both a live and silent auction offering artwork, jewelry, services, 5 different vacation getaways, tickets to sporting events and other great items from our local supporting merchants.

Grab dinner and a drink at one of our local restaurants (and if you see Marc at the U-Joint, give him a thanks for helping us out!).

All money raised at the auction will directly support the school’s PTA activities, which promote quality educational services, healthy and safe environments and artistic opportunities for our City of Decatur children.

If you have any questions or if you would like to donate an item for the event (through tomorrow), please contact Stephanie Berkule at .

Here’s a bit more information on CCP Games’ pending move to Decatur from a press release I just received from Oakhurst Realty’s Fisher Paty, who along with Bart Lester, helped facilitate the deal.

CCP Games will be occupying three full contiguous floors in the building and the space is currently undergoing an extensive renovation. Accommodating CCP Games required the relocation and cooperation of seven existing tenants in the building, including Pattillo Construction Company, who constructed the building in 1962, and McCurdy & Candler, an original tenant to the building. As part of the agreement, the landlord will make improvements to the lobby of the building as well as the outside courtyard area.