Free-For-All Friday 7/7/12
Decatur Metro | July 6, 2012Feel free to use this post to ask questions and make comments about local issues not yet discussed here over the past week.
Comments close on Monday.
Feel free to use this post to ask questions and make comments about local issues not yet discussed here over the past week.
Comments close on Monday.
Latest from Decaturish
EcoNuke
FM Fats
FM Fats
Parker Cross
J_T
Parker Cross
Parker Cross
smalltowngal
Daydreamer
daggerscar
J_T
Stu2
Liz
Parker Cross
Parker Cross
I’d rather have a bottle in front of me,
Than have to have a frontal lobotomy.
I might be drunk, but at least I’m not insane.
-Randy Hanzlick
Wow, the Fulton County Medical Examiner is also a musician? Who knew!
I knew I recognized that name!
Makes me think of Dr Demento. Which is appropriate because FFAF brings out all the DMentos!
“Only the guy who isn’t rowing has time to rock the boat.” — Jean-Paul Sartre
This is just one of the things that makes our community stand out!
http://www.theagitator.com/2012/07/05/two-videos-two-cities-two-attitudes/
And I have no interest in visiting Newport Beach.
Favorite comment at the end: “Decatur is full of hippies, and great beer bars. But that’s why I loved it.”
I liked the last comment that describes Decatur’s taxes as “crazy ass high”. I’m going to remember to work that into the conversation the next time I see Andrea Arnold.
“Decatur: Where Taxes are Crazy Ass High, But Your Home is Assessed at $5,000 by the County”
Was going to put this in the morning metro, but I see it’s already taken on a life of its own here!
Wow, the recruitment video makes me proud of DPD. Many of us have had some questions about the high school resource officer program and the graduation incident, but at least we aren’t in Newport Beach! It’s nice to see the values that DPD avows.
One video would attract Andy Griffith. One would attract George Zimmerman. There are a good number of folks in this world who want Mayberry but see the only way to get there is with an iron fist weeding out those who don’t fit the mold.
Discuss.
I’m glad that unlike so many other cities (Conyers was the most recent I know of), we haven’t given up our Fourth of July fireworks. Despite occasional rain-outs, Decatur Fourth is always one of my favorite annual gatherings. Much thanks to the volunteers, musicians, local businesses and city employees who make it possible, and to the City Commission for resisting what must be the temptation to cut back on it to save money…
I too really enjoy the 4th in Decatur when we are in town. Fireworks display was great and I know a few organizations like the Decatur Business Association help support the cost behind the event. Like most things in Decatur it is a community undertaking….but nothing could happen without the City and Staff doing an all the hard work.
Would be interesting to see a map that showed all the fireworks shows around the Atlanta metro. We could see Decatur and Centennial Park’s fireworks simultaneously this year. But then we started hearing booms to the North and figured Lenox. And then to the south, Turner Field, we assumed.
You might have been hearing the fireworks in Cabbagetown. It’s a pretty amazing display put on by unlicensed amateurs.
Wish I’d been more timely with this: http://atlanta.curbed.com/archives/2012/07/03/the-star-spanglingest-atlanta-fireworks-map.php
And, although they couldn’t be seen from the Square, Stone Mountain, which started earlier and was a shorter show.
Totally agree. I love Decatur’s fireworks and think the whole thing has a really nice small town feel.
The temptation to cancel our fireworks gathering must be much less in a City designed and fostered to have a center where the gathering can occur, along side many businesses that can profit from the crowds. I love how these events are fun for residents and hopefully a boon for the businesses in the square.
Used to enjoy the COD fireworks years ago before it got soooo crowded. Don’t go anymore.
There are plenty of places besides the Square to see them, some several blocks away.
OMG!! I was last in Newport Beach in the early 70’s. I remember it being a bucolic scene of barefoot, bleach-blond surfer kids. We left Southern CA in the late 80’s and headed to Decatur for this very reason… The rats-in-a-trap feeling of CA makes the inhabitants crazy
Agree, that the City of Decatur does the Fourth of July just right. The parade is just our speed (short). And where else can one actually meet the candidates for all those obscure positions on the ballot? The fireworks are spectacular enough to be worth watching but are still uncrowded enough that one can always find a spot somewhere pleasant to watch.
Any info on the place by the Farmers Market with all the Egyptian statues?
Dear Greene’s,
Love that you have decided to venture into beer and wine. Hate that you close at 7pm. Last night my $$$ went to the Oakhurst market as a result at around 7:11pm. IMO, you should stay open to at least 8pm if you are selling drinks.
Kind regards……………………………
It’s like going to school in South Carolina, where all the liquor stores close (or used to close) at 7pm.
In their defense, they were open til 9 on July 4. Went over during the Concert Band’s intermission to top off my growler…
Actually, SC used to have to close at local sunset, which could be as early as 5:30 during the winter.
What are the CoD rules regarding sheds? Do you need a building permit if it’s just a relatively inexpensive, ready-to-assemble one? How close can they be to the property line? Thanks!
I am not sure about the CoD rules, but it is usually a good idea to talk with your neighbors first!
We learned last year that you do need a permit, even for the standard Home Depot variety of shed. In addition to property-line issues they are concerned about things like increasing the impermeable coverage of your lot (depending on what kind of flooring you are using). I believe the required distance from the property line was somewhere around 3-4 feet.
You mean about regulations, or just to be neighborly before you put it up?
Tag on question: Can a structure put in the backyard have plumbing/toilet? This has come up before as a no-go, but around town, I know I have seen detached garages that have been converted to a living space. What’s the deal with this?
A backyard structure, if you want the most freedom to situate it, can have everything except a stove. If it also has a stove (i.e. a full kitchen), it counts as a dwelling and the side and rear setbacks are more restrictive.
Right now you just can’t put in a stove, I believe. But all that could change with the zoning ordinance updates.
When are Dekalb County property dances due?
Last year I paid the first installment in mid-September; second installment the first of November.
sorry–daughter talking about dancing. That would be Dekalb County taxes!
Man, the dancing sounded like so much fun! I was thinking roving folk bands and spontaneous May poles and line dancing!
Monday’s, ONA meeting will have community updates, police report, updates on BBQ Blues Festival and discussion with Oakhurst resident and attorney regarding the property tax appeal process
Monday, July 9th 7pm – Solarium / all are welcome
http://www.oakhurstga.org
I don’t have kids and don’t really pay all that much attention when out in Decatur. But I may have my nephew (12) visit for a week. What are the rules for how late kids can be in bars that are also restaurants? Thanks all!
Seems to be up to the place. ie Brick Store — whenever. Twains — not after a certain hour.
You’ve seen those two hawks that live on top of the glass building right? We need to have a naming contest for them.
Hawkeye and Trapper John
Same-sex couple? Decatur welcomes them, of course!
Yes. They are a same-sex couple and they’re vegans, too.
And they do not own a car but either walk, fly, or roll.
I second Cheryl’s nomination!
Bill and Elizabeth if they’re male and female.
It’s really quiet in here. J_T must be stranded on a island without 4G.
And everyone’s on vaca.
Awww, didja miss me? Wasn’t stranded on an island, just helping a friend move from East Atlanta/Kirkwood (egads, south of the tracks and even scarier than Oakhurst!) to Chamblee (OMG, there’s a Walmart WITHIN the city limits!). But I’m better now, safe and sound in this Paradise on Peavine Creek! Watching tennis and thinking about buying a Subaru. I may even look into the whole baby-making process to take advantage of the wonderful schools you people are always complaining about
So that is why you were in Kirkwood on Saturday. I knew there was a good explanation!
there are videos on the internet that show you how the baby making process works.
In my experiences, all it takes is a few margaritas.
I had four. And three Jagers. So I should expect a baby J_T in about nine months? I think I’ll check out the interweb videos ww mentioned just in case I didn’t do it right yet…
You are going to be the most high-maintenance pregnant person. I feel for your wife.
I can’t even pretend to be offended because it’s so true. On the bright side, it appears my “morning sickness” today was just a hangover.
Adoption is real big in Decatur too.
Down to the last week to appeal Dekalb County property appraisals. If any of these scenarios applies, will you please comment?
1) appealing the land value portion of the total
2) appealing based on a Special Hazard Flood Area
3) appraisal reduced after conversations with someone in the appraisers’ office
Will you share first hand knowledge about the county’s position on the greatly increased land and greatly decreased structure values?
Where kin ah get me one of them there “Stop Wal Mart” signs fer mah proppitty?
…seriously. I want one.
You can have my neighbors’. I’m getting danged tired of looking at them.
+1!
Can someone please tell me why there is not a larger controversy on here about the current Creative Loafing cover? SOME THINGS JUST CANNOT BE UNSEEN!
Well, now you got me all curious, but I can’t find it online.
Here you go: http://clatl.com/freshloaf/archives/2012/07/05/behind-the-scenes-cover-shoot-outtakes
I’m hoping they turn one of them into a Living Walls project!
Please oh please make this happen! :0)
Where are some places in downtown Decatur to get something notarized?
The Suntrust bank branch at Plaza Fiesta (corner of Buford Higheway and Clairmont Road) is open from 1 pm to 6 pm today (Sunday) — you might take a chance and see if they have a notary today (I’d bet they would). Otherwise, as Diane mentioned, all the banks have notaries on the weekdays.
I don’t know if they still do, but if you live within the city limits of Decatur the nice people at the Decatur City Hall used to notarize for free.
Not sure about downtown, but all UPS stores have a notary. The closest one is Clairemont and N. Decatur.
Thanks so much Louis!!! We went to Suntrust today. Better that I had hoped for. I didn’t think there would be anywhere to get something notarized on Sunday. Plus it was free since we have a Suntrust account.
Local neighborhood weather station back online. Sorry for the long hiatus…
http://www.wunderground.com/cgi-bin/findweather/getForecast?query=30030&sp=KGADECAT6
http://www.wunderground.com/weatherstation/WXDailyHistory.asp?ID=KGADECAT6
Wednesday, high of 79? (Weeping with joy.)
Thanks for sharing, Bub. I like to get my weather locally.
Hmmm. WSB’s noon news today mentioned a weather related site (no specifics) while briefly covering Monday’s big online virus threat. Not saying Bub’s up to no good, but since he didn’t elaborate on why he was plugging wunderground (and since googling it comes up w/some past issues), folks might wanna stick to the local weather folks for now.
Parker Cross (and others who already clicked on the links)- This AP article links to the FBI approved site to check for potential problems:
http://www.wsbtv.com/ap/ap/top-news/click-it-remember-to-check-computer-for-malware/nPpKN/
“…The announcement on Monday that the Weather Channel Companies, owners of television’s Weather Channel and weather.com, would buy one of its rivals, Weather Underground, set off howls of displeasure on social media platforms and around water coolers across the nation. The purchase price was not disclosed…”
In the eyes of Weather Underground’s ardent fans, the Weather Channel appears to represent the wrong kind of weather information: personality-driven sunniness and hype, they say, rather than the pure science of data.
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/07/04/us/as-weather-channel-buys-weather-underground-fans-fear-change.html
Hmm, you’re right. That does seem odd. I’ll pull the comment just to be safe.
I am so curious now!
I have been a follower and user of weather underground for 3 or 4 years with no issues or problems. In scope and detail, they have no rival.
FYI Deanne, this comment was indeed the real deal. No “online virus threat” or anything.
DM- I’m glad it turned out that way. It was one of those “damned if you say something/damned if you don’t” situations, and I went with what I thought might possibly be helpful to others.
Yep, just wanted to let you know. Cool to have a local weather station to check in with!
Rach, my bank — Fidelity — will notarize documents for me. Maybe yours will, too? Most lawyers are also notaries, as well. I’m guessing oodles of people who work at the courthouse are also notaries. None of that may help you on a Saturday or Sunday, however.
But if you gotta get it done today, Rach, find my telephone number — anywho dot com will work –and I might be able to give you a name of someone I know who is a notary and might help you in a pinch.
Our kid’s bikes were stolen off our front porch last night around 10:00. The lights were on and the sprinklers were running. We were CLEARLY home! We now have 2 very upset kids! Lock up your bikes people! We will not make the mistake of leaving ours on our front porch again! A big THANK YOU to the Decatur police who is always quick to respond!
Did they send the SWAT team?
Just watched a terrific profile of Luma Mufleh and her work with the refugee students in Clarkston. It was on CBS Sunday Morning Show. Great story. Here’s a link to it:
http://www.cbsnews.com/video/watch/?id=7414166n&tag=showDoorFlexGridLeft;flexGridModule
+1. Knew of the Fugees, but not as much as I do now. Great, touching piece (on one of my favorite tv shows).Inspired to go donate a few dollars to help get that school built.