Update V: Much of the Scott traffic is getting directed through downtown Decatur.  So far it looks like things are moving surprisingly smoothly – though certainly more congested.  This may be because much of the traffic is backed up into the Ponce Heights neighborhood.

Update IV:Another update from the City Manager…

Latest update. Georgia Power is on the scene at Scott Boulevard with two crews. A tree brought down multiple poles which will require Georgia Power to replace the lines and re-thread the lines to the poles. Scott Boulevard is now closed to traffic from West Ponce de Leon to Coventry. It is estimated that GA Power will be working until at least 3:00am Thursday morning to restore power so expect that Scott Blvd. will be blocked and use alternate streets if you must travel in the area.

Update III: Deputy Police Chief Keith Lee says there is a “major tree down” and that it looks to be a “long-term problem.”

Update II: From City Manager Peggy Merriss….

A large tree has fallen and is blocking Scott Boulevard between Coventry and Pinetree. Traffic is being detoured off of Scott Boulevard. Public safety and public works staff are on-site. Power lines are down so Georgia Power will have to give the okay to clear the lines. Please avoid the area if at all possible.

Update: In a comment, AMB says there’s a tree down at Coventry.

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Scott Boulevard is currently closed at Nelson Ferry. Not sure the other end of the closure, but at least down to Coventry.

Decatur Fire and GA Power are on the scene. Couldn’t get clarification on what happened. Heard a loud bang/pop about 45 minutes ago. Power is out in adjoining neighborhoods.

More as I know it. Obviously avoid the area in a car at all costs. Traffic is totally backed up.

Here’s mine.  Though it didn’t have such a slick cap on the back.

Thanks to Joe for coming up with the question!

Marietta Street, Atlanta GA (pic submitted by brianc)

Pre-kvetching: Congratulations to Natasha Trethewey, the Charles Howard Candler Professor of English and Creative Writing at Emory University, who on June 7, 2002, was appointed by the U.S. Library of Congress as Poet Laureate.  This is as big as it gets.

Kvetching

This Week: Richard Ford, author of Canada, Friday, June 15th, 7pm, Barnes & Noble in Buckhead, free.

Sigh. I would have been thrilled to have Richard Ford at Little Shop of Stories for a reading and signing. I feel strongly about Canada (as does Andre Dubus III in the New York Times Sunday Book Review) and have been happily recommending it at our store. Instead, Ford is going to B&N. Just look at their corporate announcement of Ford’s visit. Look at their description of Canada: the “Overview” was written by the publisher, the editorial reviews from other publications, “The Barnes & Noble Review” that isn’t written by Barnes & Noble, and the collectively meaningless customer reviews. Did anyone at B&N bother to read Canada? Anyone? Not just at this B&N, but in the entire company?

Sigh.

Post-kvetching: I have very mixed feelings about Barnes & Noble. They’re a huge competitor in a tough market in an industry going through tremendous upheaval, and they have obviously done a lot of things right over the years. B&N is going through major changes of their own; Microsoft is investing $605,000,000 in a yet-to-be-created subdivision of B&N that combines online and college bookstores. This will quite likely result in spinning off B&N’s bricks & mortar stores. The fear within publishing is that the stores may go the same way as Borders which would result in the unemployment of many truly knowledgeable and engaging B&N employees and even more communities without a bookstore. Little Shop and other independent bookstores are on the same side as B&N in regard to the Department of Justice lawsuit against Apple and some major publishing houses. And I’m more than a little jealous of the Nook.

Post-post-kvetching: Read books as literature. As art. If you are interested, please go to B&N and listen to the great Richard Ford on Friday. Or go to other wonderful author events this week.

Other Wonderful Author Events This Week

Jen Marlowe, author of The Hour of Sunlight, Thursday, June 14th at 7pm, Jimmy Carter Library, free.

Congressman John Lewis, author of Across that Bridge: Life Lessons and a Vision for Change, Saturday, June 16th, 2pm, St. John’s Lutheran Church Elca, free.

Sonya Cook, author of Sweet Auburn Desserts: Atlanta’s ’Little Bakery That Could’, Monday, June 18th, 7:15 pm, Decatur Library Auditorium, sponsored by Georgia Center for the Book, free.

• Boston-based fund purchases downtown Decatur building with long-term Emory lease [AJC]
• DeKalb Commission orders work stop on soap box derby racetrack [AJC]
• Walmart applies for land disturbance permit for Suburban Plaza [MANA]
• New karate camp in Decatur [Be Active Decatur]
• Camp Sunshine celebrates 30 year legacy [Patch]
• The “Antidote” to E-Books [NYT]