Bailey writes in…

A memorial fund has been set up for Madison Lewis who was killed last week in a car accident. If you would like to contribute please send checks to:

Cornerstone Bank

125 Clairemont Avenue

Suite 100 Decatur, Ga 30030

Makes checks payable to The Madison Lewis Memorial Fund

For any questions please contact Bailey Pendergrast —

Hot off the presses from the State Superintendent of Schools…

State School Superintendent Dr. John Barge named the 2011 Georgia Schools of Excellence in Student Achievement today, honoring 26 schools that have shown the greatest improvement or highest achievement across the state. Each of these schools will receive a $1,000 check from Georgia Natural Gas to be used however they wish.

…The Georgia Schools of Excellence are honored in two categories. Qualifying schools are chosen from each Congressional District in the following categories:

- Top 10%: Schools that are in the top 10 percent in Georgia as measured by assessments in reading and mathematics.

- Greatest Gains: Schools that demonstrated greatest continuous gains in student achievement for the past three years as measured by assessments in reading and mathematics.

And look who’s at #5 in Greatest Gains…

GREATEST GAINS

Congressional District, School, System

1. Matilda Harris Elementary, Camden County
2. Potter Street Elementary, Decatur County
3. Rosemont Elementary, Troup County
4. Pine Street Elementary, Rockdale County
5. Clairemont Elementary, City Schools of Decatur

You can check out to full list of honorees after the jump! Read the rest of this entry »

Decatur Active Living’s Water Fountain Committee needs your input!  Received this in my virtual mailbox yesterday.  (Do you think in 50 years, people will wonder why it’s called a “mailBOX”?)

The Decatur Active Living Board has formed a Water Fountain Committee to access Decatur’s public water needs. Some of the issues they seek to address include water fountain access, the location of public water fountains throughout the city, the reduction of plastic bottles, the cost efficiency of adding new water fountains, fountain maintenance and a needs-assessment for future water fountains. Ultimately, the goal of the committee is to increase access to public water fountains in order to support Decatur’ active lifestyle.

According to the 2010 US Census, the population of Decatur is 19,335 and currently Decatur has 14 water fountains. This works out to be approximately one fountain per every 1400 Decatur residents. How do we know if this is enough to meet the needs of our active population?

This is where YOU come in! Please take a few minutes to complete a short five question survey on water fountains in Decatur at http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/F38PJRS. Deadline for completing the survey is January 15, 2012. We look forward to getting your ideas and opinions.

Here’s probably the most interesting question of the six…

Would you, your business, or organization be interested in funding the full or partial cost of a water fountain with a permanent plaque recognizing you for your gift?

• GDOT wins $4 million to study Atlanta-Charlotte high-speed rail route [Fresh Loaf]
• Family of Madison Lewis thanks the community [Patch]
• Clairemont 3rd graders create Hidden Grove Park brochures [Decatur Minute]
• Pedestrians robbed at gunpoint in Ansley Park [Patch]
• Who are the young farmers of the “Organic Generation”? [NPR]
• Alcohol kills brain cells and 8 other “stubborn” brain myths [lifehacker]

Photo of of Santa with cobia at No. 246 courtesy of MellisaL via Twitter