DeKalb Farmer’s Market parking lot (pic courtesy of Marcia)

This Remarkable Week

Not since the Decatur Book Festival – okay, I realize that this was only last month — have so many accomplished authors visited the Atlanta area in a single week. Just check out this list: actress and author Gena Gershon, musician and author Eric Litwin in concert, pop-up art genius Matthew Reinhart, Eragon author Christopher Paolini, the incomparable David Sedaris, Pulitzer Prize-winning author Robert Olen Butler, and social critic Camille Paglia will each be in town this week.

Gena Gershon, author of In Search of Cleo: How I Found My Pussy and Lost My Mind, Wednesday, October 24th, 7pm, Presser Hall, Agnes Scott College, sponsored by Georgia Center for the Book, free.

“The Center for the Book doesn’t often have the opportunity to present celebrities outside the literary world, so we’re excited to be able to present a special appearance by the popular film and television actress Gina Gershon. She is the author of a new book that ought to have a wide appeal to pet lovers, especially cat fanciers: it’s ”In Search of Cleo,” all about the star’s desperate and surprising two-month search for her beloved lost cat Cleo. Along the way, roaming through the back streets of Los Angeles, Gershon met up with an astonishing group of real characters, from hippies to mystics, and even encountered Ellen DeGeneres, who joins in the search and recommends her own pet psychic. … This will be a free event with no tickets or reservations. Please, no memorabilia. Ms.Gershon will only sign copies of her book at this event.”

Eddie Owen Presents Eric Litwin in Concert, New York Times bestselling author of Pete the Cat Saves Christmas, will perform at the Red Clay Theatre in Duluth along with Michael Levine, Saturday, October 27th, 12 p.m. This is in celebration of the release of the fourth Pete book. You may be unaware of what a national phenomenon that James Dean’s Pete the Cat has become: these picture books have easily outsold all other picture books in the U.S. this year. Advance tickets are $10 for adults, $8 for kids. Click here for more information.

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There’s a new report out by the CSD Annexation Workgroup on the CSD Annexation blog and its extensive.   It includes not only the workgroups final three recommendations, which includes opposing the currently proposed annexation areas, but also financial and enrollment evaluations by annexation area

I haven’t had sufficient  time to digest this entire report yet, but wanted to give folks the link now, so you can start reading/conversing and not have to wait for my clumsy summary.   The workgroup’s own summary notes that CSD is “hampered” by the lack of available space both to renovate existing school buildings or to build another elementary school (on a mandated 6 acres of land)  to accommodate new students as result of annexation. They go on to assert that overburdening classrooms will “change the scope and delivery” of the school system’s educational services.  And raising the millage rate – since as enrollment rises, state funding is simultaneously declining – threatens to drive some current city residents out of the city.

The workgroup recommends 1) opposing the currently proposed annexation areas, 2) but supporting annexation of partial parcels.  And 3) continuing to collaborate with the city on potential annexation areas.

Chime in below with additional observations from the report you deem interesting and/or important.  There’s a lot in there.