Sara directs us this this webpage she’s set up for her indoor cat “Bo” who was accidentally let out last night on Avery Street in Decatur.  On her website she states…

He’s a big, fluffy tortoise-colored cat. He has no tags — he’s an indoor cat.

Please contact us if you see Bo. We’re heartbroken.

Contact info available on the webpage.

I was up in the North Carolina mountains a couple of weekends ago and came across this lovely pervious parking lot at Sunny Point Cafe in West Asheville.  Being a good, progressive little establishment, they even had a little sign highlighting the benefits of pervious parking surfaces.  I didn’t take a picture of it but as you can imagine it had a lot to do with run-off, etc.

So this got me thinking about Decatur.  Why doesn’t Decatur have more pervious parking lots?  What are the downsides other than – I assume – additional cost?

Back in March 2010, Decatur announced it was awarded $500,000, through the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant (EECBG) program through the State of Georgia.  The award would be shared with Dunwoody and Chamblee.

At Monday’s City Commission meeting, Decatur’s Resource Conservation Coordinator Lena Stevens approached with the commission with the first capital improvement project that Decatur would under take utilizing this grant: Glenlake Tennis Center.

According to Ms. Stevens letter to the City Manager (page 48 of the meeting materials PDF)…

The Glenlake Tennis Center was built in 1998.  Except for minor repairs, the building has not been altered since it was first built.  As they are original to the facility, the mechanical systems will likely be in need of replacement in the near future.  The proposed work includes replacement of the HVAC equipment, installation of an electric tankless hot water heater, additional insulation, weatherstripping, sealing ductwork, lighting replacements, and other energy-saving measures.

The $57,000 suggested project budget was unanimously approved by the commission and the project was awarded to Sol Construction, the only bidder on the project.

The Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant is also currently funding the DecaturWise energy efficiency rebate program, which Ms. Stevens mentioned at the commission meeting, had met its quota of 55 projects and was was already deemed one of the most successful programs of its type throughout the country.

• A Blessed Barbecue Feast and a Half-Century of Pilgrimages in Oak Grove [NYT]
• Woodward and Bernstein speaking at Emory next week [Emory]
• Another hilarious summary of “The History Twins” talking Turner Field circa 1991 [pecannelog]
• Stone Mountain’s adding a water playground [AJC]
• It’s finally beginning to feel like fall [AJC]