The city’s Linda Harris sends along this press release…

The Decatur Tourism Bureau recently hired Sherry Jackman as the Visitors Center Manager. Sherry is a Decatur resident who has been in the travel and tourism business for the past 20 years.

In 1995, Sherry co-founded Conyers Travel and grew the business from a start-up to over $1.5 million in sales within three years. She managed large corporate accounts, including a professional umpire’s league for the American Basketball League, the American Heart Association and Snapple Beverages, group tours as well as individual travelers and managed a staff of five travel agents.

While in Conyers, Sherry was active in the community, serving on the board for two non-profits. She served as Vice President of Project Renewal, a domestic violence shelter and intervention facility and Rockdale Emergency Relief, which supported families with unexpected emergencies. She chaired several fund raising activities including a golf tournament which raised over $25,000 – the largest in its history to that date.

Sherry was also an active member of the Conyers Kiwanis Club and served on their Board of Directors, the Rockdale Chamber of Commerce serving on several fund raising committees, and was nominated as Small Business Person of the Year in 2002.

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Now let me start off by saying that I haven’t done a lick of research into the hurdles the city would have to be overcome to actually dispose of compost accumulated from around Decatur.  Perhaps the City’s Lena Stevens will step in and set me straight on that.

But the recently released first draft of the city’s Sustainability Plan goal “Promote the Expansion of Food Composting” got me thinking, “How hard would it be to get Decaturites composting?”

After doing a bit of looking around and some sporadic noodle-scratching, I determined, “Not that hard at all!”.  And I’m not even talking about implementing the kind of militant composting prescriptions of the Pacific Northwest (San Fran, Seattle), which require composting under penalty of “liens, fines, and other fees.”   While Decaturites are often pointed to as some of the most liberal Georgia residents, most actual residents know that if you fly a bunch of us over to the piney lakes of Washington State many of us “progressives” would sound down right conservative.  (“Where’d you get that plastic grocery bag son?  Atlanta, eh??”)

Why do I have such blind and unsubstantiated faith in the potential ease of convincing Decaturites to compost?

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Brent sends in a couple photos of the Decatur Christmas tree arriving on the Square this morning.  It’s huge!!

Remember that the tree lighting ceremony is this Thursday at 7pm.

Sadie writes in…

Month of Merry showcases the growing number of specialty shops and restaurants in Avondale Estates, Ga. each Thursday evening, December 1 – 22, 2011. Developed to promote and encourage holiday shopping across the city’s unique small businesses, Month of Merry visitors are invited to explore and discover all participating shops along the North Avondale Road corridor.

Month of Merry offers extended hours at shops and restaurants to allow more time for folks to shop after work and to come from other areas of metro Atlanta. Most participants will be staying open until at least 9 p.m. on Thursdays through December, offering a variety of specials, open houses, discounts and refreshments to holiday shoppers.

THE KICK-OFF

Adams Apples is the place to kick-off the Month of Merry experience on Thursday, December 1, from 6-9PM. There will be complimentary shopping bags, treats from participating businesses, chances to enter for door prizes, and even a visit from Santa Claus. With its central location and readily available parking, Adams Apples is a terrific first stop for Month of Merry.

PARTICIPATING BUSINESSES

Month of Merry is proud to have among its inaugural participants a diverse representation of Avondale Estates’ small, independently owned businesses.

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• Selig to discuss Walmart plans with Decatur Heights residents tomorrow night [AJC]
• Profile of new business “Out of the Pan” right off Decatur Square [Patch]
• Half the AsianCajuns celebrate Sunday alcohol sales in Decatur [AsianCajuns]
• President Obama’s fam pick up Phantom Tollbooth in D.C. [Little Shop]
• A setback for electric cars [NYT]

Amazing 3D photo of Atlanta during the Civil War courtesy of ThroughView (h/t: Thomas Wheatley)