A new “Future Metropolis Index” report from Zipcar – the national car-sharing program – ranks Atlanta near the top in many interesting categories.  The index is designed to “recognize cities that demonstrate smart urban planning and policy-making.

Atlanta ranks 7th overall among the 36 cities analyzed, with these rankings in the five individual categories…

• #1 in Innovation, determined by the number of universities and Wi-Fi hot spots per residents (?)
• #17 in Sustainability, determined by miles of bike lanes and percentage of hybrid cars
• #5 in VIbrancy/Creativity, determined by park acres and arts-related jobs (Atlanta ranks #1 in arts jobs, according to the study)
• #4 in Efficiency, determined by % of commuters that use public transportation and the number of “unlinked” trips on public transportation
• #32 in Livability/Optimism, determined by homicide and burglary and unemployment rates

Who knew that Atlanta such an innovative, creative, efficient city with some trouble being sustainable and looking on the bright side of life??

From the City of Decatur website…

• New Location for Spring Electronics Recycling Day 2012!
• WHEN: Saturday, March 17th, 9 am -1 pm
• NEW LOCATION!: Decatur Public Works, 2635 Talley St.

*Enter on Talley Street from Columbia Drive

Please note, styrofoam will no longer be collected at Decatur’s Electronics Recycling Day. This material will be accepted at the new Paper Shredding and Styrofoam Recycling Event on March 31st from 9 a.m. – 1 p.m.

Don’t throw away that old cell phone, camera or PC component! Save it and recycle it at Decatur’s free Electronics Recycling event. This event has been hugely successful at diverting electronic equipment from landfills, where they may contaminate soil and water.

The next event takes place Saturday, March 17th from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Decatur Public Works located at 2635 Talley Street. Electronics dropped off that day will be sorted and disassembled into raw materials or cleaned for re use.

Recyclables must be dropped off during the hours of the event. Early drop-offs are not possible. Almost anything with an electrical cord can be recycled except microwave ovens.

TV’s will be recycled for a minimal fee of $10 cash only per TV set with exact change. There is no charge to recycle other items. Any metro area resident can participate.

For additional information call: Sean Woodson – Solid Waste Superintendent 678-898-8562

Head over to the city’s website for the list of acceptable items.

It’s election day around the great state of Georgia once again and you know what that means!  Open thread on a Tuesday!!  Wacky.

Let us know about lines at your polling station (don’t know the location of your polling station?  Well it looks like the State’s website has crashed so you’ll have to dig through your files and find your precinct card.)

Discuss that and/or any hilarious antidotes about Sunday Sales you’ve been sitting on for a few weeks now.  It’s a magical day of madcap of voting madness!

As reported in this month’s Decatur Focus – which is not yet online – the city will being a complete renovation of the south lawn of Decatur Square starting next month.

The circa 1970s lawn is in rough shape and requires a complete overhaul to make the area amenable to grass.  According to the Focus…

The work this spring will remove the soil down to the top of the MARTA station, which is only about 18 inches below the surface.  Drain lines will be repaired and a new irrigation system installed.  A gravel drain bed will be added, a special compact-resistant soil mix used and a hardy turf laid that can stand up to high traffic.

According to the newsletter, the result will be something akin to an athletic field and should allow for better drainage than the standing pools of water that loiter there now after a heavy rain.

New trees will also be planted, including some near the wonderful, large concrete air vent for the MARTA station below.

As a result of construction, all festivals this year are working to accommodate no lawn usage this year.  Case in point – on the next page of the Focus – the Easter Egg Hunt on March 31st is moving to Fist Baptist’s front lawn this year.