Harmony Park, Decatur GA (pic submitted by David)

The Episcopal News Service is reporting that Reverand Sipo Elijah Mzimela “a leader in the struggle to end apartheid and a cabinet minister of former South African President Nelson Mandela, died Feb. 2 from complications of pneumonia.”  More recently, Rev. Mzimela was the owner and operated the African Arts store, Pambili, in the Artisan building in Downtown Decatur until it closed in 2010.

According to the Episcopal News Service, “the funeral will be held at 3 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 9, at St. Bartholomew’s Episcopal Church, Atlanta. Bishop of Atlanta Robert Wright will preside.”

Read more about Reverand Mzimela’s extraordinary life over on the ENS website.  (The AJC once had a great interview with Rev. Mzimela on its website at one point years ago, but it looks like it’s no longer available unfortunately).

The Saporta Report reports…

The Decatur-based Task Force for Global Health has received a five-year $28.8 million grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to establish a support center for neglected tropical diseases.

The grant will enable the newly-established Neglected Tropical Diseases Support Center to collaborate with other partners around the world to address gaps in research. The center will coordinate with partners to implement the research agenda for these diseases, while ensuring the quick translation of new solutions into the program policy.

The Gates grant will be officially announced on Tuesday, Feb. 5.

You may or may not have seen this mention in the boutique wineries post, but there’s an interesting new business, called Wine Workshop, that wants to open up in East Decatur Station.  A letter from Asst. City Manager Lyn Menne submitted to the city commission explains things…

We are currently working with a small business called Wine Workshop that plans to open in the East Decatur Station district.

In addition to selling wine kits and equipment for people interested in making wine and brewing beer at home, this operation also offers the opportunity for customers to come into the business to create a custom wine from a variety of wine kits.  The company will assist in bottling the wine and store it during the fermenting process.  Customers can create custom wine labels to apply to their bottles.  Each kit produces approximately 30 bottles of wine.  There are similar businesses currently operating in Sandy Springs and Woodstock.

The site’s Facebook page says the business is scheduled to open in April.