Free-For-All Friday 8/19/11
Decatur Metro | August 19, 2011Feel free to use this post to make comments and ask questions about local issues not discussed here over the past week. Comments close Monday.
Feel free to use this post to make comments and ask questions about local issues not discussed here over the past week. Comments close Monday.
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A plug here, without shame, for the “Book the Brick” author auction taking place RIGHT NOW. Bids close Tuesday/Wednesday (depending on the author). Go to eBay and type in “Book the Brick” (quotes included) and, well, there you are.
Someone else buys the beer. You get to sit outside at the Brick. You get a signed copy of a book. You support youth literacy in Decatur. And best of all, you get to converse with the likes of Hollywood director Hal Needham, novelist Mary Kay Andrews, or Andisheh Nouraee, satirical swami and spinner of tales of now and yore.
Bid now and bid often! Brought to you by the Decatur Book Festival and Decatur Education Foundation.
Can you add the link for the easily-distracted folks who will click on something if put in front of their face but might not follow through otherwise?
Oh and DM: How come you do not have the link to DEF under “Decatur Non Profits”? Wouldn’t that be a good one to have there?
Because I don’t really think about those links very often anymore. Good idea though.
Thanks! Some of us still don’t know how to do that scan-the-barcode-into-the-smartphone thing and need old-fashioned links.
Wow that was fast! You obviously know what you are doing! Thanks!
DM rocks !
Double giggle! (Does anyone else get tickled when Steve breaks out a “rocks” or an exclamation point?! Gets me every time! :0)
At least someone’s reading my posts !!!!!!!!!!!
squeeeeee!!! :0)
I hope you’re indoors when you’re doing all that !!!!!!!!!!
Ha!!! It definitely wouldn’t do for me to walk around with one of those fancy phones reading the comments on here! I already catch myself laughing aloud sometimes when I’m recalling stuff! Just know that I read all your comments, and I’ll be giggling at the “rocks!” and “!’s” :0)
Here’s a link:
http://myworld.ebay.com/dbfauthorauction/?_trksid=p4340.l2559
I would like to point out that Hal Needham won an Oscar, but DM’s own Andisheh N. is kicking his ass right now in bids.
Please bid! I bid on 2 people and am currently winning….while meeting them both would be cool, I would like some competition.
I’ve watched the Oscars. That counts for something, yes?
Apparently, it does.
I wanted to see if I could get some suggestions on where to shop for organic, free-range meats and sea-food. We just returned to the Decatur area after spending the last three years out of state and were initially so excited about getting back to the Dekalb Farmer’s Market. The last couple of times I’ve been, however, I haven’t been so excited. There always seems to be one very unenthusiastic and slow person helping customers while 2 or 3 other people are just standing in the back of the meat counter. Yesterday I waited 15 minutes for two pork chops and to tell you the truth, I was a little sketched out by the whole pork counter. Bloody saran wrap was strewn around the meat trays and there were at least 5 slabs of meat with knives just laying on the cutting counter with no protection. And…I have to add this..do they have some sort of competition to see how many bags they can use per customer? Do people really need their wine and milk bagged? I’ll never forget my own again. 50 dollars of groceries and I needed 9 plastic bags??
Oakhurst Market (or Oak Grove Market if you’re on the north side) and Sawicki’s spring to mind.
Also, we have been members of the Riverview Farms meat CSA for the past 5 months and love the product. http://www.grassfedcow.com
Welcome back!
The Riverview Farm Truck stops regularly in Decatur and will be at Farm Burger tonight.
http://www.grassfedcow.com/farmmobile_schedule.html
For local-ish seafood — Southern Seafood on Lawrenceville Hiwy, or Crawfish Shack on Buford Hiwy.
Oakhurst Mkt has Georgia shrimp. They have local, organic dairy. They didn’t know where the cured salmon was from but thought it was farm raised. Produce I asked about was local but not organic.
I shop at YDFM regularly and based on observing other shoppers, many people do like to get lots of plastic bags. My experience is that the people staffing the cash registers and bagging your purchases are happy to accommodate your particular preferences.
I don’t buy meat often, but on those occasions when I do, it’s always very fresh and good. Have learned to look closely at the fish, though — it’s not always clearly marked when it’s been frozen. And I did get a couple of bad oysters (out of a dozen) one time.
I buy lots of dried beans and lentils and such but again, look closely now — found a pupa in the lentils one time. (For perspective, I can’t count the times I’ve bought dry staples at various Kroger stores over the years and wound up with bugs infesting my whole pantry. I think Kroger has a consistent warehouse issue.)
Inland Seafood? I know they’re just outside of Decatur but not sure if they have a consumer-level arm or are purely wholesale distributors.
i can’t comment on the farmer’s market, it skeezed me out as a child when it was at Medlock and i never recovered, but i was told by the nice lady at QT that the law requires them to put wine in a bag. you can’t leave the store without one.
Any recommendations on who to bid for? Any good strategies? For example, an author who is perhaps less well-known but would be great to hang out with for an hour?
I find Joshilyn Jackson to be an absolute HOOT.
You can check out her blog to see what I mean: http://www.joshilynjackson.com/ftk/
+1
Wish I could afford to bid – she’d get my money for sure.
Her books are great and her blog is hilarious!
Clyde Edgerton would be my pick. His talks in past book festivals have always been fun — lots of lighthearted stories and quick quips with other writers.
Bid for me. Free shipping.
You’ve swayed me, salesman!
On route to and from Clairemont Elementary this week I encountered a group of Renfroe students waiting for the bus at Huron and Seneca who were making a game out of dashing back and forth in front of oncoming traffic on Huron.
Please drive cautiously neighbors, I’m terrified that one of these kids is going to be hurt.
This happened on two separate mornings, and I alerted both the Decatur PD and the CSD transportation department each time, but wanted to put it here so that folks would know to approach the area with caution.
Sounds like some parents need to know, all helicopter comments aside. Need any help with that?
My son is a kindergartner, so I’m afraid that I don’t know any middle school parents! I would appreciate any and all assistance. I figure this falls outside the lines of being a busybody
The way that I found out which school they attend was by calling the transportation department with their bus number. The woman I spoke with said, “Oh, those are middle school kids. I’ll email their principal right now!”
Thanks, it takes a village!
Sarene, I copied your comment and emailed it to the Renfroe Principal.
Awesome. That’s the kind of parent/citizen involvement that really makes a difference.
Congratulations on being proactive and not just whining.
Does that neighborhood have a Yahoo Board someone could post that on? That would be a quick way to alert more drivers, and possibly parents, who live near there.
Yes, the cglna yahoo group. Someone who is a member has to post.
Done. I’m betting one of the kids recently got hold of his parents’ DVD collection and watched the Frogger episode…
While driving south on S. McDonough last week, I had two teenaged boys carrying skateboards stroll nonchalantly across the street in front of me, mid-block, forcing me and the vehicle behind me to brake suddenly. Of course, when I blew the horn and wagged my finger at them, it elicited an obscene gesture. Whatever. They didn’t endanger themselves so much as what they did was disrespectful and inconsiderate, and also sets a bad example for younger kids who are typically going to be more likely to be in actual peril when doing something like that. I’d love for the schools and parents to loose a concerted blast of safety reminders at the older, bolder kids. (There was a time when I would have accosted those boys, gotten their names and tattled to their parents. Alas, I am older and lazier and in fairness to myself, would not expect the same response from the parents as I did 20 years ago.)
Thank you for honking at them. If it was my child, I’d want them to get that honk and scolding finger. To the great embarrassment of my children, if I see a child I know cycling without a helmet, crossing the street unsafely, or doing anything else reckless, I say something. Under a certain age, I do it with any child behaving recklessly; I have to admit that I am more cautious with kids beyond puberty who I do not know already.
Oh those 1991 parents, that was a good year, wasn’t it….
I’m responding to a blog left on Friday regarding the Renfro kids dashing in and out of cars…..
Thank you for communicating and posting this information on what was seen regarding the inccident(s). Two of the children were mine and thanks to concerned neighbors and watchers, the message as relayed to the appropriate persons to handle.
I always told my kids… Just because I’m not around, doesn’t mean MOM won’t find out.
Again, THANK YOU
I have wondered about the following for the 8 years we’ve lived in Oakhurst/Decatur: does anyone know how the numbered streets in Oakhurst (First through Fifth Avenues) came to be? Where were they counting from or to? It doesn’t seem to relate to Oakhurst Village, especially because 2nd runs all the way down to Flat Shoals or whatever that road is.
I would love to know too. I always assumed that it was a City of Decatur numbering since there was once a Second Avenue elementary school in Decatur (correct?) and there’s Fifth Avenue Elementary, now 4/5 Academy. But I’m noticing that only a sliver of First Avenue is in City of Decatur and all five numbered streets go down to around the East Lake Golf Club, with the exception of Second Avenue which keeps on going. Was there once a town/village there from which all those streets emanated?
And while we’re on the topic of those streets, are they officially spelled out, i.e. First through Fifth Avenues, or expressed as numerals, i.e. 1st through 5th Avenues? The City of Decatur maps spell them out but googlemaps uses numerals.
I don’t know the answer either, but I suspect the difference in spelling is due to the Post Office. They don’t like spelled-out names. They prefer numbers.
In a semi-related note, there is a street in northwest Atlanta off Bolton Road that is named Main Street. It’s certainly not Main to anything, purely residential and doesn’t go anywhere.
That’s okay. Try living on W Pharr Rd where for blocks one entire side of the street is W Pharr Rd and the other side of the road is E Pharr Rd NE. One side is Decatur, the other side is Atlanta. One side is numbered with 3 digits, one side is numbered with 4 digits. Delivery people LOVE us!
I always thought it was from when Oakhurst was its own incorporated town, but I am not familiar enough with the area to know which parts were part of the town and which parts are older/newer.
It may, but the numbers get higher closer to the village– also suggesting to me that the epicenter for numbering purposes was elsewhere.
Street names (1st, 2nd, 3rd, etc.) could have originated in East Lake, which was incorporated in 1908 and annexed by Atlanta in 1928. According to Wikipedia, 1st Ave. is the western border of East Lake. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/East_Lake_%28Atlanta%29
I’ll bet that’s right, STG. People today think of the Oakhurst Village as the commercial center of the neighborhood but, when Oakhurst was its own city, its commercial district / “downtown” was actually where the East Lake Marta station now stands. What we call Oakhurst Village today sprung up originally to serve the East Lake community.
Oh! I didn’t realize that. Anyone have any pictures of what the Marta station looked like when it was downtown Oakhurst? Was there anything left of it when Marta went in?
This comment is not directed at any one person here and it’s just an observation.
It seems there is quite a bit of school/education-related anxiety lately. Some of the comments made I understand and some I don’t. Maybe it’s always like this on DM at the beginning of each school year, but I hope it dissipates because it’s not healthy.
Giving up control as a parent is tough, I know. I put myself in time-out over this all the time – and that is also not healthy. Let’s all just take a deep breath and try to remember where and who we are, and that we can only do the best we can and encourage others (be supportive, not uptight) to do their best. Thanks.
Some of it may be helicopter parenting but some of it is parental involvement in schools which is probably the biggest factor is CSD success after teacher quality.
Issues brought up here at DM often cause a lot of irritation among the online personas but also often get addressed by CSD.
Whoa, whoa, whoa, Karass!! You need to put the espresso down and slowly back away from the keyboard. We gotta leave some space for Chadass to get his two cents in!!
Oh, darn. I hardly ever get to use the term “persona”!
I typically side with the CSD. And whatever naaman says.
Most folks are on both sides–tremendous, engaged supporters of CSD but also having opinions, concerns, and questions as parents and taxpayers. Now, one can argue whether speaking up on a blog is the right way to speak up but that’s true of any blog issue. Some folks never read blogs, some read but never or hardly ever post. That’s fine.
Well, I hope he says something soon because I’m about to bite a hole through my tongue trying to hold it!
Yes, involved parents is obviously a very important part, but how can you put that ahead of good teachers?
I will refer everyone here to TeeRuss’s comments about how every chopper/anally-on-time/over-involved parent should realize that any hiccup we have at CSD is because it is a successful school system and the administration is not a star chamber bent on ruining you or your children’s lives.
(Thanks, Chadly, you rook!)
I could’ve sworn he was at least a bishop…
No, no, no he’s a knight all the way: three up two over–two up three over…
YEP. He nailed it.
(Alas, Chadass… once a badass…now… a rook on a scouter…)
My personal order of why CSD is a good to very good system striving “to go from good to great” would be:
– Teacher quality
– Parent involvement (both at home and at school)
– Reasonably small schools with a small community feel to them
– Mostly stable, functional families, regardless of income
– A functional and competent administration for the most part
– High level of donations of money, time, and skill to school organizations
– High functioning community environment with good connectedness and support amongst members
– A school board that fits well with the administration
– A tradition of participatory community involvement that counteracts cynicism, apathy, or flight to private school
– Fairly high economic security for a substantial proportion of residents
You know, what’s humorous here–or, to the layman, funny– is that, aside from the stupid name, my on-line “persona” is the same as my real life personality. (Imagine what my wife and kids have to put up with day in and day out.)
Hey Mr. DM, put ‘what’s humorous here–or, to the layman, funny’ on a tee shirt and you’ll have me as a customer.
@Karass: I apologize, I read your initial response as putting good teachers after involved parents and not before–honestly, you should’ve called me out for it. I jumped the gun and I apologize.
This is a blog where people vent, and freely express ideas that they probably don’t otherwise. So you’re likely to see a lot more btching, moaning, or general thoughts you wouldn’t hear from a neighbor, or picking your kids up at school.
It’s not as serious as you make it out to be.
If you think someone is beating their child, then I would agree, that would be unhealthy parenting. But people venting about the system, or even questioning what’s best for children, is not a sign of “unhealthy” parenting tactics for the reasons I said above. Not really nice to frame it in that way either.
Look back at the school posts, when they start getting really heated, an administrator responded in some manner or directly jumped in. (Just a couple of weeks ago actually) Those complaints grabbed attention, they were addressed in some form, and that’s not a bad thing.
Never said anything about unhealthy parenting. Sorry if I hit one of your nerves but i have no interest in telling anyone how to parent their kids. But it’s a fair comment that moaning about schools, whether on a blog or at a neighborhood party, is unhealthy when its excessive. Do your thing if you think something needs changing or improving. You may even find that i agree with you and that i want to help. But if it is a whining or moaning complaint, i doubt i will even hear much of what you have said. But it’s all good. Peace.
I’ve sat on the sidelines of the CSD vs. ‘rents issue for years now, initially with little interest in either. But the site got dragged into it because CSD wasn’t doing a great job of communicating with parents in some instances.
The “breaking point” for me was the High School/Middle School lock-down a couple years back, where parents were FREAKING OUT about the event and CSD didn’t have an efficient way to get the word out. CSD wanted to communicate only the way it wanted to communicate, even while the rest of the community had already jumped into (and expected) more efficient means of communicating (ie, the internet).
Honestly, I think there are valid points by both the CSD supporters and detractors. That’s why the debate stays so mind-numbingly fresh day in and out. Yes, there are parents out there who have unrealistic expectations of CSD, but there are also instances where some members of the administration seem to show their hand, and for me personally, it can sometimes sound a bit too much like exasperation.
All that said, the Asst. Superintendent (and Mr. Roaden while he was Communications Director) are now very good about responding to questions and concerns I bring to them.
I truly believe that the supporters and detractors are the same folks; it just depends on the issue, child, school, period of time, CSD staff involved, where folks stand at any given moment. “Skeptics” and “champions” are probably better terms than “supporters” and “detractors. We skeptics are champions 99% of the time–when talking to colleagues at work, with our children, with relatives who cannot believe we would use Georgia public schools, teachers, and with our pocketbooks. But on this blog, some of us have morphed into the skeptic who raises their hand and says…..”Excuse me, but…” Hopefully we do not attack individuals. Skeptics recognize that CSD School Board members, administration, and staff (with a possible exception or two, but not many) and are good, competent people, not saints, but good people; they just could improve some aspects of their communication and decision-making and, in fact, some of those improvements are happening. We reward them in person; but are skeptical as online personas. You need the skeptics. If they didn’t exist, someone else would have to do it. A wise teacher once told me something like “When you speak up for your child, it benefits a whole lot of other children because they will all benefit from whatever improvement you are suggesting.”
I look at DeKalb County Schools and APS and wonder how could such cheating, corruption, toadyism, favoritism, promotion of cronies in the face of a budget crisis, go on for so long. There had to be skeptics there but I guess the system was too big for them to have affect. I truly am grateful that CSD is in such good shape that the proposed improvements, concerns, and/or questions of skeptics are about making a good system even better for all the children in Decatur, not about a toxic educational system.
“effect”, not “affect”. The skeptics probably had plenty of distressed affect, but apparently not much effect until the AJC got involved.
TO the ONLINE PERSONAS playing the “valuable role” of SKEPTICS:
Y’all have GOT TO STOP dissecting every damn thing the CSD administration does!!! What good comes from airing every single complaint y’all have on here? Sure, y’all get the satisfaction of knowing everything’s out in the open, but aside from that, do y’all stop to think about the damage it also does?! Where’s the payoff in working yourselves up into a frenzy? How are y’all helping to strengthen parents-CSD relations? How does it help motivate those of us who don’t have a kid in CSD to want to support our schools? It always kind of amazes me that y’all brag about the CSD positives and the parents’ roles in them, yet y’all never seem to notice y’all’s part in causing mistrust and sometimes adding to the communications confusion. Y’all want positive changes? THEN DEAL WITH IT AS REAL LIFE PEOPLE IN A GROWN UP WAY!!! Throw yourselves wholeheartedly into the PTAs, SLTs, and SRTSs, and seek to build true partnerships! Attend the school board meetings to ensure you’re hearing what’s really happening! Figure out where there are legitimate concerns, ask for guidance in getting answers, and set out to resolve them – yes, by going through the bureaucratic steps!! And please!please!please! include Dr. Edwards and the CSD administration when y’all are passing out the praise!!!
I completely agree that any skeptic or champion worth their salt ought to be attending School Board meetings (or at least some of them–if you attend all the time, you’re viewed a little funny), joining the PTO and serving on committees, running for SLTs–some very skeptical types have been overwhelmingly elected by parents, volunteering in the classroom, donating to the DEF, using their Publix Partner card, clipping boxtops, otherwise raising money for the school, helping their child be rested and prepared for school, etc. I of course don’t know the real life folks behind the skeptic and champion personas on this blog but I’ll bet most of them are doing much of those supportive activities. I’m more worried about quiet but apathetic or cynical folks who have checked out and no longer care about what happens to CSD.
I agree that it’s frustrating when folks seem to be apathetic to something that you care about deeply. It’s important to try to keep in mind that we don’t know what’s going on in other people’s lives, and it may not necessarily be apathy at all. Family stresses, employment stresses, and/or personal turmoil could be in play. Or maybe they’re uncomfortable mingling with folks they perceive to be smarter (or suspect of just being nice to their face and saying something entirely different behind their back). Or it could be a matter of them being generally satisfied with how things are being run and not having or choosing to use their spare time to be actively involved.
I differ in what I think is more detrimental: disinterested parents in a well regarded school system or online skeptics putting every CSD decision through such intense (and far harsher than you’ve put it) scrutiny and rarely allowing for decisions to play out. To me, there’s more harm caused by the latter.
“You need the skeptics. If they didn’t exist, someone else would have to do it.” I’m asking y’all to be brave and to handle concerns in an upfront and real life way. Explore constructive solutions to legitimate concerns on here. Just don’t pick apart the administration or let discussions sink (as they so often do) to bitter, unproductive levels. It doesn’t serve anyone well.
I think you are right on target. I don’t know what you have in mind for what would be a reasonable thing to discuss and what is a decision that “should be played out” and not targeted for criticism. I suspect, though, that the discussion about the tardy lines would fit the latter description. In the grand scheme of things, it’s not that big of a big deal, and it’s probably something you can generally trust the principal and administrators to address and address appropriately. Noting those kinds of things sometimes is helpful to alert the administration to an issue they may have missed, but I agree folks shouldn’t get their panties in a wad about low level stuff. In contrast, I hope you agree that larger policy decisions, such as school start times, grade configuration, IP or no IP, transportation plans, the board’s respect for SLT control over schools, etc., are reasonable targets for discussion is such a wonderful forum as this.
I don’t think you can rank good teachers, involved parents, strong principals and the other factors mentioned by Karass as the important components of a good school. All are necessary. Great teachers will tell you they can’t get anywhere without help from home. Involved parents will stand and give testimony to the amazing results a good teacher can achieve and the wreckage a poor teacher creates. Enduring a few critiques that may amount to micro-managing seems to me to be a small price to pay for encouraging the general involvement that is so important for good schools.
Tom-
Policy decisions can certainly benefit from being hashed out on here. It’s the hows & whats that determine if discussions are helpful or not. When a thread turns ugly, it not only hurts the folks targeted, but detracts from the actual concern. The best threads shed light on an issue, and bring out things that CSD may not have considered. For example, the comments on buses combining/ tougher stance on distances gave them a heads up that the community might be receptive to options previously off the table. You’re right that the tardy slip thread falls into eye rolling territory for me– not because it wasn’t an interesting tidbit worth posting, but because of the amount of fretting + folks wanting to get in their slaps at CSD. (DHS students: Be on time.)
What shouldn’t happen is for folks to come on here thinking that they’re going to dictate CSD’s course of action. That’s not how it works nor should it be. CSD doesn’t always get it right. When folks work themselves up into a rabid lather over a misstep, it likely has the unintended effect of delaying CSD action because they don’t want to be seen as giving in to bullying ways. ( Can CSD ever really win? When they do act quickly to fix a situation, the reaction on here is usually pretty smug…) Anyway…
YES! Raise issues! Ask questions! Brainstorm ideas! Make a criticism– just do it in the spirit of reaching the desired goal. Don’t nitpick to death every single school item because y’all run the risk of burning up credibility, and, YES!–exasperating the fool out of some of the administration and some of the rest of us!
I completely agree that being quiet doesn’t mean that someone is apathetic, cynical, or checked out to private school. I just think that skeptics and champions (and many are both!), quiet or outspoken, contribute more than the apathetic . I admit that it’s unfortunate that folks always speak up more when they see a problem than when things are going well but that’s true for any business, organization, government entity. I always try to comment positively about CSD when I can but the posts are often more about problems than happy announcements. That’s just the nature of a blog. DM does post lots of CSD-related events and announcements, but hardly anyone comments, not skeptics, not champions. Case in point: The above announcement/comment about F.AVE and Decatur Arts Alive got no replies at all.
Why don’t folks start sending in positive posts about things they think are going really well at CSD? Or mention them on FFAF? Maybe this would balance the skepticism (that is also valid and is probably never going to go away completely.) I’ll go comment on F.AVE now.
I disagree with Karass’s assertion that supporters and detractors are the same people. In some cases, yes — some folks actually comment about the issue at hand, whatever it is. But there also seem to be people who only comment about CSD when they see an opportunity, however slight, to register criticism. Others — including me — generally take a position in defense of CSD, in response to what seems like more or less incessant carping and sniping. Making candid comments about policy issues in an open forum is a good thing, but that’s not what Deanne was talking about. In contrast, micro-scrutiny of every little thing in search of a reason to criticize how CSD is run, is not healthy. We’re all smart enough to know the difference, which is why I don’t agree with Tom that we have to accept one in order to have the other.
I agree with Deanne that Dr. Edwards and the rest of the administration deserve some credit for what CSD is and what it has achieved in recent years. Repeatedly singling out teachers and parents for praise when celebrating CSD’s successes, while pointedly ignoring the administration, is unfair and divisive.
One more thing….IMO something that contributes to an atmosphere of sniping is the frequent insertion of “free Westchester” or the like into any and all threads that have the tiniest shred of a connection with CSD. (I realize that hasn’t happened on this thread — yet — but I’ve been sitting on this comment for a long time and this seems like an appropriate time to get it out of my system.) I understand that some people feel it was a mistake to close Westchester; and that some consider re-opening it would be a good idea (for various reasons, if I understand correctly). I respect those opinions, but I respect them DESPITE the constant reminders. There was a lot of strife in the community over the 2004 K-5 reconfiguration, and a good portion of it centered around closing Westchester. I believe we have largely moved past most of that now. Continually referring to it in current conversations, without context or absent a specific recommendation about why it’s being brought up, simply conjures faint (or sometimes, not so faint) echos of that contentious time because it implies a dismissal of contrary opinions. That doesn’t contribute anything positive to discussions about the present or the future.
Personally, I’ve notice a subtle (perhaps not that subtle) shift in the tenor of community engagement with CSD and wonder if others who’ve been around a while notice it too. I can’t say it’s something definitive or systemic but I can say that it’s something I’ve personally observed on many occasions.
At the various times over the years when the community has rallied together to support and help improve their neighborhood school (my personal experience was associated with Oakhurst but I know previous endeavors for Clairemont and Westchester have been discussed here), it seemed their collective message to CSD was “How can we help you do your jobs? What gaps in personnel or resources can we help fill? Here is our time, energy and passion for a strong school that you can leverage to best effect.”
At some point, however, the public conversation seems to have shifted somewhat. Now, at least to me, if feels a lot more like “Let me tell you how to run a school system. Let me show you what works better in the classroom. How can we, the parents, secure more power so that we can control more decisions?”
I’ve known many room parents, volunteers and tireless contributors over the years and I respect them all greatly. However (and I’ve said it before here on DM), at the end of the day, I still trust experienced educators with my child’s education far more than I trust my neighbor (and far, far more than I trust a neighbor I’ve never met and who is in no way accountable to me).
So that’s it. I think there are a lot of us in the community who are neither micro-managers nor apathetics. We simply trust the system because, trending over many years, they have shown positive results. They haven’t aced everything but they continue moving in a positive direction. In the real world, that constitutes progress. I don’t need an MBA to know that punishing results is a losing strategy.
Some folks’ constant need to “watchdog,” scrutinize and criticize every little thing, at least speaking for folks like me, is just exhausting. It’s a Chicken Little thing. At some point, they lose their credibility and just get tuned out.
Both your & stg’s comments are very thought-provoking for me, a person who has no children (much less in the CSD schools), but who knows that a strong school system is a very good thing for a city/town/neighborhood to have, both for quality of life & property values. I think you’re correct in your impressions about the attitudes of many of the posters whose focus seems to be lasered in on the schools’ every little misstep. One wonders if it’s occurred to them that if they don’t broaden their sphere of interests, their lives are going to seem pretty pointless once their kids grow up & out of the system, & maybe they should expand their horizons a bit now so they don’t lose their collective sh!t once they’re finally faced with an empty nest. I can’t imagine what kind of guests they’d be at dinner parties– but then, they probably don’t bother to socialize with anyone whose very narrow interests parallel their own, so I guess the rest of us won’t have to find out!
I definitely won’t wear my DM t-shirt to any upcoming dinner parties!
Bravo! Well said Scott.
I am taking to heart what Scott is saying about “Chicken Little” and I agree that issues can be overblown. But:
1. This is a blog. Maybe we shouldn’t have blogs. I’ve been hearing that blogs have become the new haven for angry folks. But so far, this blog doesn’t seem too angry.
2. CSD is a system charter. Parental feedback and involvement are givens and not just positive feedback.
3. Once a school system decides on a course, money is spent, buildings are built, programs are changed, and/or teachers are hired/reassigned/let go, and children grow up quickly. So the time to speak up is at the time of an issue. In my experience, multiple parents have to speak up multiple times in multiple ways. The good news is that, in CSD, this often has positive effect. Conversely, if you don’t speak up and things go awry, you may regret it. In fact, sometimes it is noted that the community didn’t seem concerned.
4. CSD leaders are sturdy. And I’m glad because that’s part of their job. I am not worried about any of them leaving because of DM posts or comments. Nor do I think this is ruining CSD’s allure. If I were thinking of moving to Decatur, I would find the open discussions on DM to be a plus.
But I am going to try hard to post as many “positive” comments about CSD as “negative”. I love the concept of a Parent Portal for the post-elementary students.
Whoever thought of that and is maintaining and improving it deserves kudos.
Karass-
Now don’t be throwing out the baby with the bathwater! :0)
Short version:
Happy posts: Good!
Issues posts: Good!
Helpful comments: Good!
Snarky comments: Good!
Ugly comments: Not good!
Nitty Nitpicking comments: Not good!
Neverending Ax-Grinding comments: Not good!
(There’s other forums for the last 3. Let’s at least set out thinking we might achieve something good with what’s said on here! And, Karass, we’re counting on you to help keep folks focused on the goal! :0)
I have to be clear that I have no control over either skeptics or champions! I am not even in control of my own family’s opinions! Some folks on this Board seem to know each other but I do not know other posters unless they use their given names. For all I know, you are my husband!
HA!!! Lordy, the earful your husband must be getting! “On the blog they’re sayin…!” Make sure you’re being sweet enough to make up for all our carrying on! :0)
(Just sayin’ it’s best when the wrangling’s done by folks who care most about the topic. )
I’m not sure that’s it.
“At some point, however, the public conversation seems to have shifted somewhat. Now, at least to me, if feels a lot more like “Let me tell you how to run a school system. Let me show you what works better in the classroom. How can we, the parents, secure more power so that we can control more decisions?””
So blame for this is to be place solely on the shoulders of parents? Aren’t evolving relationships generally two-way streets?
Noting a change in the tenor of the conversation does not imply responsibility, or justification for such, in either direction, DM. It simply notes the change. I liked the spirit of how shared roles seemed to play out better a few years ago but am more than aware that things change. But the change can still seem like a bummer, regardless of what (or who) it was that brought it on.
And to Karass, just to be clear, I’m not longing for some spirit of “Hooray for everything.” There will always be things that need work and, you’re right, a charter system means working them out collaboratively. That’s all good. My point was simply that, in my earlier experiences, this seemed to play out publicly as “You’re smart. I’m smart. Let’s do this.” These days — and maybe it’s just that there was not as robust a public conversation (such as DM) on display before — I see a little too much “What do we have to do to get CSD’s head outtta their ass? Let’s show ‘em how it’s done.”
That seems like a step backwards to me and, in many instances and based on my experiences with CSD as a parent, I think it’s unfair. But be clear I’m not trying to characterize every exchange over ever school-related topic. As I said before, some folks are very involved in the schools and I say Lord Love ‘Em. It’s more of a trend-spotting thing.
Do you think there’s been a notable change in the tenor of conversation from the administration?
I don’t disagree with anything you said, but I sometimes feel like the impetus of this whole thing is too chicken-or-the-egg to single out one side or the other.
When are we going to get a Valero Update from Andisheh? I believe some fresh paint has been applied to the minimart since this evolving story was last covered, yet I’ve seen no mention of it in the mainstream media.
Speaking of Andisheh, lots of learnin’ and gigglin’ going on over here as my son devours Americapedia! Favorite section so far compares terrorist groups to boy bands. What a treat!
We tweeted it last Saturday.
Jumpin’ on Lyics Only Guy’s train:
It’s the latest wave
That you’ve been craving for
The old ideal
Was getting such a bore
Now you’re back in line
Going not quite quite as far
But in half the time
Everyone’s happy
They’re finally all the same
’cause everyone’s jumping
Everybody else’s train
Off latlie, I’ve spellinf issues, lo siento.
I do love The Cure, but I think it’s about time for Robert Smith to stop with the makeup and hair. Now he’s just a creepy caricature of himself.
True. I think, though, he may be even creepier without it, and, the guy still kills it on guitar.
I’m a little disappointed. Valero gas tastes the same as Citgo.
You better have a picture of this.
Re: taste: I think it’s “internal combustion” not “internal consumption.”
Well spoken, RScott.
Are we in more of a flight pattern than we used to be in Decatur? We were walking our dogs in Decatur Heights the other night, and trying to chat with a neighbor along the way, and could barely hear each other there were so many planes flying over.
Nothing has really changed. It’s just that sometimes the planes are more noticeable than others due to atmospheric conditions, wind, etc.
BTW, when Hartsfield is operating east-to-west, we don’t get the planes. It’s only when operations are west-to-east.
Didn’t Hartsfield lower their ceiling and thus have PDK lower their ceiling to 5000 ft last spring (2010)?
I don’t think that ever happened. The planes going over my place are at the same altitude they always have been.
I’ve noticed that the planes definitely look lower this summer.
They’re the same height, just bigger.
Maybe I got taller.
the loud planes were a huge peeve of mine a few years back. If they really bother you, I advise calling the airport to lodge a noise complaint. When I called 2 or so years ago, the airport rep said hardly anyone had called to say the planes were loud. When the plane noise is loud enough to scare our dog when the dog is inside the house, the planes are too loud (and ok, our dog is a scaredy pants). Not sure if calling now will change anything, but calls logged now may help prevent any lowering of the flight paths in the future. To share airport noise concerns, call 770-43 NOISE (number taken from airport noise mitigation report online).
Some years ago…early 1990’s ?,… this was an issue that got a good amount of press. I think the results were that the aircraft outbound from Atl. Hartfield-Jackson were required to stay out over I-285 as they turned up and out of the airport and away from downtown Decatur.
I remember some maps being published showing the history of actual flight paths and the corrective path. Can’t recall if it was in the AJC or the Dekalb Neighbor, but it was in one of them.
After my complaint call a few years ago, the airport sent me maps showing flight patterns on certain dates. I think the newish noise started w/ the flight paths for the new runway, but I could be mistaken.
A friend of mine was talking to one of the ladies who owns the dry cleaners in the front of the Watershed/Farm Burger building on W. Ponce in Decatur. Turns out the dry cleaner ladies own the building – who knew? – and they have had a LOT of interest in the Watershed space. They can’t disclose any real details yet but apparently one person owns a restaurant in New York and is looking in the Atlanta area.
Growlers question:
Does the new Growler store fill bottles from other stores?
Ale Yeah will fill another store’s bottle with the gov warning.
Oakhurst Mkt will fill only their own bottles (so crossing it off the list for growlers but mmm their pimento cheese is good!)
Yes, I do believe The Beer Growler in Avondale will fill other containers.
The Beer Growler filled our bottle from Ale Yeah last night, had to try their root beer! They also just need the gov warning. I like their 32 oz size, too. Nice addition to avondale! I am guessing the small size is store specific though. At least for now since no one else offers that size.
they have rootbeer on tap?!!??!?!?!?!
also, looking at their website, i think i really need to go checkout this one—
Ommegang Chocolate Indulgence $24.99 (comes w/ a glass!)
Dropped by at lunch today (and asked them about other stores’ bottles…no problem they tell me). Great concept, nice folks and a super selection of beers…Let’s hope it works and sticks around for a while.
I have a new book recommendation (following up from the great list that formed on last week’s FFAF)! I’m not done with it yet, but am enjoying it so much that I wanted to share: “The Geography of Bliss: One Grump’s Search for the Happiest Places in the World” by EricWeiner.
The author is an NPR correspondant and the book is a mix of scientific studies and anecdotes from his journeys in search of the happiest place in the world.
Maybe he should have just come to Decatur?
That book is such a great read! I found it totally fascinating, especially when he started exploring the most miserable parts of the world. Excellent book!
DM, now that you are re-hosted, how about lowering the cache times on the RSS feeds?
Anyone who knows or is a customer of Decatur-area landscaper Luke Simpson:
Luke’s truck and trailer and all his tools and equipment were stolen. That old Dodge pickup was probably 20 years old, and the trailer may have been older, so he’s not going to get much from the insurance company. There’s a barbecue-and-beans benefit to help him get back on his feet scheduled for 4-7 p.m. Saturday at the Corner Pub, or you may donate directly to the Luke Simpson Fund at Decatur First Bank. Please held Luke out — he’s always tried to do his best, and this is a rotten break for him.
Unveiling my new moniker today.
What do you think?
– (Formerly) Soon to be Neighbor
Um, I can’t really talk, but…
It’s close to the band …and you will know us by the Trail of Dead.
Hee-hee! See my inquiries to you over in the tadry slip thread…
FARK! “tardy slip”…
That is a tawdry slip you have on today.
If the high schoolers had the good sense to read this blog, they would have the makings of many a satirical article or play for themselves.
And further proof that all of us parents are just completely nuts.
Anyone have a good Place for window tinting on a new car? Looking for a good place local with some proven good work.
Careful that you don’t go too dark, esp on a front window. My husband got tinting, then got pulled over by a police officer who told him that the degree of tinting was illegal, think he got a ticket, too, and had to go back and lighten the tinting.
I wonder if the dark windows made it so attractive that the people who stole it just couldn’t resist. They used it to rob houses, then cut the catalytic converter out and trashed the auxiliary brakes and dumped it.
Lightining Auto Glass on Peachtree Industrial right off Clairmont. Fast – great prices – great service.
Sorry I don’t. But my kids will come over and sticker the mess out of them, you won’t even know it’s daytime.
Guy I’ve used for all of my bimmers is well south of decatur, down near stockbridge, but I’ve never had any problems.
His name is Cory – 678-873-4662
http://www.garciatinting.com
Been on lots of flights lately. Flights heading north, west, or Europe come over when taking off to the east. You fly almost right over Decatur highschool and turn west or get on a heading around north dekalb mall.
I say this with deep appreciation for all that firefighters and EMTs do in our little town… but…
I LOVE having the fire station on Trinity Avenue closed down! I can sleep through the night without the blaring sirens and blazing lights. It’s so much more peaceful around my neighborhood.
(Sorry.)
I get what you’re saying, but I think you are courting disaster saying it out loud!
It’s almost Happy Hour and no one has mentioned FAVE or Cakes and Ale. What’s up with that?
I will mention FAVE. Great school, great teachers, great parents, great spirit- all the students got a spirit shirt from the PTO.
Their big fundraiser is next Saturday-Decatur Arts Live!
Check out their website to donate…www.favepto.org
Decatur Arts Live is a great, fun cultural event for any student, not just FAVE students and not just arts-oriented students, from kindergarten through preteen! It’s got true professionals performing everything from dance to circus arts to storytelling to fine arts to drama to poetry to comedy and much more! In just its first year, last year, the event earned thousands of dollars for the 4/5 Academy which helped establish FAVE’s brand new PTO! And Parents: It’s not one of those kid events you just endure–the performances will interest you too! Families: Don’t miss it!
This event is destined to grow and become a Decatur staple, like the Book Festival!
Dinner at C&A tonight. Enjoyed it overall but cannot believe they’ve taken phatty cakes off the menu. (noooo!)
We reverted to ordering no dessert. Coffee was good, though.
I wonder if those phatty cakes will show up at Empire South?
Brianc,
I think you must have been eavesdropping on our conversation!
Surely Phatty Cakes won’t just reappear at ESS?
Yes, Phatty Cakes are at Empire State South. Not sure if they are an every menu item or just happened to be available when I was there a few weeks ago.
Not sure what your above post meant, but I hit the bakery at Cakes & Ale this morning for the first time. Good coffee and croissant. Nice space, though not exactly warm and inviting. Looking forward to the expanded breakfast options to come after the “soft opening.”
‘
I visited the bakery a couple of times this week.
The space/concept isn’t really what I was expecting of a bakery. Focus seems to be on counter service and sandwiches rather than on bread and baked goods for take out . I went thinking danish and coffee cake but found bagels and English muffins. There were some cookies and small eclairs but overall as many savory offerings as sweets. I’d call it a cafe rather than a bakery. That said, I’m sure the sandwiches and breakfast offerings will be great. The space is very nice . I’m not a coffee drinker but other customers said the coffee was excellent.
They still have work to do on calibrating the oven – my bread and scones were quite well done.
I look forward to visiting again in a couple of weeks when they’ve had a chance to work out the kinks.
Okay, does anyone know if the rumor is true???? Is David Sweeney really going to head the new cafe at Cakes and Ale?! That would be so lovely!
Hadn’t heard that rumor . How amazing if it is true !!!
Soups and veggies dishes from David Sweeney on Decatur Square ? Right next door to dinners from Billy Alin and the Cakes & Ale crew ? That would be true food heaven !!!!!!
Tis true about Sweeney and C&A.
http://www.foodiebuddha.com/2011/08/22/david-sweeney-moves-to-cakes-ale-ian-mendelsohn-to-hf-bottle-shop-factoids/
This is good news indeed.
Woot!
I just went last night and had a cappuccino and yummy eclair. I consider myself a somewhat seasoned coffee drinker – and found it excellent. I think they use Counter Culture beans, one of my favorites.
I like the decor at Cakes and Ale’s bakery. Very light, clean lines, sort of a Swedish feel to it, and the exposed old facade is wonderful as a wall. The bakery has a much smaller selection than Alon’s, so far, and is more oriented around sit-in eating than taking food out, but it has an equally, if not more, European feel. I had forgotten what croissants are like in France. My latte was superb. I felt 100% more sophisticated and international as I walked out! The feeling lasted for at least 15 minutes before I started to wilt again on my walk in the heat and humidity.
If you are going to the farmer’s market tomorrow, be sure to sample the wares of the new lemonade vendor. I didn’t catch the gal’s name last week, but she is just starting out and is trying to make it. The lemonade was really tasty and the vendor is a sweetie.
I would like to invite all DM readers to a concert this Sunday, August 21, at 3:00pm at Holy Trinity Episcopal Church, Decatur, GA, and Monday, August 22, at 7:30pm at Martha Brown United Methodist Church, Atlanta, GA. Adults $10.00, Students $5.00, twelve and under free. The program is entitled American Songbook, a tribute to American composers and features the “Just-for-the-Summer Singers,” Thomas Eisnor , Director and “Hope Sings,” Russell Hallman and Cindy Burrell , Directors. The last segment features the songs of George Gershwin.
Self indulgent, but already inspired by Labor Day weekend here:
Untitled
A car full of lesbians heads out at ten
A drug deal gone bad goes pop, pop, pop in the not far distance
The last jet to Asia roars overhead; away
When Leaving Atlanta, you come to Decatur
where is not filthy graffiti
gone to roost with chickens
Two things: DM commentators (I will do the play-by-play…), we need a late night group–latest(earliest) post wins, and is it possible to thread jack FFAF?
I’ll play lol
I get up at 4:45 for work. What’s the prize?
Ooh, I’m forty now, if you really do get up that early, you win…uh, a Metro-wide shout-out.
Does anybody have recommendations for a good (i.e., reliable and reasonably priced) carpet cleaning service? Thanks!
i have heard fabulous reviews about accucare carpet & upholstery cleaning services…they are on my list to call this fall, for sure.
My best friend was in the area of the Decatur Diner earlier this week and observed a seafood and produce delivery being made using an unrefrigerated U-Haul truck. Mmmmmm.
Perhaps there were ice chests or dry ice, or other refrigeration not obvious to your friend?
Or perhaps this operation is just as “bootleg” as suspected. As previously mentioned here on DM by the founder of Crescent Moon, the guy who bought Crescent Moon and subsequently ran it into the ground and failed to pay workers and vendors, is allegedly a silent partner in the diner. Either way, myself and everyone I know has had a less than positive experience at the diner so I don’t recommend it when someone asks me where they should eat in Decatur. I thought the delivery of food in a U-Haul was just a sign of how the business is being run. I was not one of the DMer’s who hated the diner from the beginning solely based on the decor. I was looking forward to something in Decatur in the way of a late night alternative to Waffle House. Back to scattered and smothered I go.
Don’t know if this has been discussed before because I can’t search on my phone but I’m looking for recommendations for a good, local LAPTOP diagnostic/repair place or person. Trying to salvage a 3-year old Vaio with what appears to be a monitor/video issue. At a minimum will need to recover what I can from the hard drive, ideally would like to get it working if it’s not too expensive that it would just make more sense to buy a new one. Any suggestions?
For data recovery only:
http://www.datasaversllc.com
They are very well connected and could refer to top notch folks to help you with the other issues.
J_T,
Onyx Consulting repaired our Mac a few years ago and were great. They have moved to downtown Decatur, sort of next to/behind McDonalds.
Onyxconsulting.com
We’ve used Onyx, too and been happy with the service.
They charge a fee ($45 dollars I think ) to diagnose the problem and provide an estimate of repair costs. If you choose to have them do the repair work, the fee amount is applied towards the final cost.
With our MacBook, it took about a week to get the estimate and another week for them to complete the repair work.
Anyone have a suggestion for a local place that buys “old gold” (outdated jewelry, etc)? I thought it had been discussed in a previous FFAF but I can’t find it.
I thought Alexia had put an ad in the Focus that they bought gold, but can’t remember. You could ask.
Anybody know the details of Maddy’s shutdown?
Oh dear. We LOVED their ribs. And it had music and alcohol. What could go wrong?
Have been wondering the same thing. Is it for good? Makes me sad.
we were just there last sunday evening…not much of a crowd…seems they haven’t had a liquor license in 2 years…the music was really good, though, as was the food.
They closed without notice to the staff. Bummer.
hmm time to watch some 80s movies on netflix. watched Just one of the guys
now it’s some corey and corey time: Dream a Little Dream!
Love Dream A Little Dream! You should follow it up with The Lost Boys and License to Drive and my personal fave…Goonies!
lol I have a goonies poster in my living room, when it came out last november, I bought the Goonies Bluray collectors edition that came with a ton of stuff including a board game!!
total 80s crush- Meredith Salenger