Free-For-All Friday 8/2/13
Decatur Metro | August 2, 2013Feel free to use this post to make comments and ask questions about local issues not yet discussed here over the past week.
Comments close on Monday.
- rss
Feel free to use this post to make comments and ask questions about local issues not yet discussed here over the past week.
Comments close on Monday.
At Home in Decatur
Ms. A
OakhurstMama
Chris Billingsley
jo
GaJoe
Steve
At Home in Decatur
fifi
sfmaster
Steve
DEM
Steve
Steve
Macarolina
Dear Friends and Neighbors,
Since announcing her candidacy for School Board, Annie Caiola has had the opportunity to meet with many Decatur residents and stakeholders who are passionate about education and excited about the future of City Schools of Decatur. Many have graciously offered to give their public support. We are proud to share with you a list of Annie’s supporters at http://www.annie4schoolboard.com/supporters
We are tremendously grateful for each and every person on this list, and we are equally grateful for those who have made the commitment to vote for Annie on Election Day!
was speaking with a 49-year old man, telling him yesterday was my son’s first day in school, and he remarked, “oh, man i remember that so well—the adjustment was really stressful for me. . . ” and the vividness of his emotional recall led me to think and talk differently with my son after school.
sometimes in the rush of our adult days, it’s easy to forget the internal drama our kids experience during these transitions.
Re: our “wood-loving” neighbors . . .
Hello all– I recall that earlier this year there was a discussion on retreat vs. repair termite bonds. I was wondering if anyone had a recommendation for a good, preferably local, termite company.
Also, does anyone know if a thorough, yearly termite inspection is a viable alternative to the retreat bond option? With that bond, if they find termite evidence they “retreat” by replacing the bait in the barriers, correct? But if there are termites in the home, then those have to be treated with pesticides and any damage repaired, and I don’t believe that is covered by a retreat bond. With only a yearly inspection of the bait stations, I’m just wondering if a yearly house inspection would provide the same service, i.e., catching any outbreaks before significant damage.
Basically, we inherited a bond when we bought our house, and feel like we are somewhat being held hostage. We’re not happy with the company—compared to others the yearly fee seems excessive, they only inspect once a year, and their customer service has been shoddy, to say the least. But if we go with another company, then we’d have to pay the original treatment fee for the bait station set-up all over again.
Thanks for any feedback/information!
Heh-heh. Heh-heh. He said wood loving.
HA! Well, actually the “he” is a she, so didn’t even cross my radar. But the BF will get a chuckle out of it!
I flipped a coin on the he/she thing. Was that Beavis or Butthead? I can never remember.
Oh, that was Butthead. As the mom of a teenage boy, that line (“Heh heh. You said _____”) is frequently heard around our house.
Drew Barrymore was dining at Iberian Pig last night. That was cool.
I wonder if she’ll come back tonight and order the same meal.
speaking of drew barrymore, i loved this:
http://www.accessatlanta.com/weblogs/buzz/2013/aug/02/adam-sandler-visits-tripp-halstead/
I don’t mean to alarm anyone, but I saw something scary this morning. As I drove down Clairemont toward the square, there were 2 cop cars with their blue lights on. All around them, swarming from seemingly every direction, presumably including underground, were little people. I mean, not like dwarves or midgets (if we can still use that term?), but, like, baby humans or something. Some were walking, some were running, some were riding little bikes and some were even accompanied by actual big-size humans. I think we are possibly being invaded by these creatures. Or else Decatur is the staging base for a Wizard of Oz remake. Either way, be alert my friends. And slow down on the roads in case these little people come in peace…
Oh no, they have escaped from the restaurants!
i’m pretty sure they don’t come in peace. thanks for the heads up.
We should have given the stroller Moms more respect–at least the little humans were contained then!
I asked my neighbors about these oompah loompah-sized creatures, and I am told they are called “children.” They have also been called, depending upon the situation, kids, chil-rens, offspring, carpet crawlers, money pits and juvenile delinquents.
But they are kinda cute when they are roaming in packs, aren’t they?
You forgot the rugrats.
The infestation seems to be getting worse every year. Certainly getting bigger and louder at our house. Pretty soon they will over run most buildings in Decatur proper
Warning to all those special drivers that believe the bike lane is your personal passing lane on my street:
There are now bulb-outs thoughtfully placed in front of the cross walks on my street! Looks like they will do major damage to the front end of your car if you drive into them. I will get a sick little chuckle out of it when I hear the “THUNK” as you hit one. No longer just a quiet “thump thump” of a turtle, this new obstacle will probably require a tow truck to get you out of or at least a trip to the alignment shop.
sorry if this posts twice, not sure where it went the first time I sent it. maybe moderation since I sometimes post from another device?
Moderation seems to be in overdrive today. Maybe DM needed to give his interns something to do, and no one showed up in a blue dress.
I certainly hope the City paints these curbs in a visible color to prevent this sort of thing. Signed, No Fan Of People Driving In The Bike Lane.
Looking to the east.
Saturday, just before dawn, there is supposed to be a neat alignment of the crescent moon, Mars, Mercury and Saturn.
Can anyone recommend a location within walking distance of downtown that has a clear, unobstructed view to the east-northeast?
The Appalachian Trail.
Oh wait, that’s not within walking distance.
Only place I can think of is the top of the public parking deck that people use to watch the fireworks.
It’s funny but most of the parking decks in town have taller buildings to the east. The north end of the deck above Thumbs Up might work.
I’ve been thinking about the railroad right-of-way in front of Renfroe or the bridge at Sam’s Crossing.
Too many damn trees and streetlights in this town.
What about the MARTA Plaza?
How about the cemetery?
You might be right about Sam’s Crossing being the best spot.
Also, “Mountainview Rd” was called such because I beleive at some point you could actually see Stone Mountain. Not sure if a vantage point will be sufficiently tree-less to see clearly though.
Trip Report
Slept through the 5:30 alert on my iPhone but woke up at 6:00. The sky to the east was brightening already. I didn’t have time to get to Sam’s Crossing, instead walked over to the old freight depot on E Howard. Crescent moon was beautiful. You could see the full dial of the moon very clearly.
Jupiter (not Saturn as I wrote earlier) was bright nearby, but there was too much light in the sky by then to see Mercury and Mars which should have been just below it.
We live in a quite town at that hour — more runners and dog walkers than cars.
You have any friends living in the Artisan?
I live in the Artisan. And own a telescope. And it is relatively useless.
One of my (few) gripes about condo downsizing — there is simply too much light pollution in downtown Decatur (not a complaint – true of any similar area), and it is hard to find a shaded spot where my eyes can light adapt and stay that way. At my previous home in Dekalb, I would always setup in a shadow in my backyard that protected me from most of the local ambient light, at the expense of only having a view of a certain segment of sky.
On the positive side, I find a quality set of binoculars is satisfying for events like this (which I missed).
BTW — if you have never done it, head over to NASA’s website and sign up for Spot-the-Station updates. It sends you emails when the International Space Station is transiting over your area. It is astoundingly bright (brightest object in the sky when it is high enough), and if you just glanced at the sky for a few seconds, you would think it was just an airplane.
I know this is not what you asked for, but the observatory at Fernbank is free Thursday and Friday nights. They have several telescopes, not just the big one. It is well worth the visit.
http://www.fernbank.edu/observatory.htm
The intersection of North Decatur Rd and Church St. has a pretty good view in that direction. I would park at Church’s Chicken or the Methodist church across the street. If my two-year-old wakes me up early enough (as he often does on weekends), I might be there myself!
The park by the tracks on Howard?
Bright yellow house, big blue palm on W. Ponce. Not judging at all, just wondering if there’s a story behind a very unusual home design.
What is the word the RMS/HS bus times?
My kids ended up walking yesterday, when it didn’t come.
Today they didn’t even try and just walked.
(Not that I mind. I like them walking, but I have heard nothing from the school)
Ours was about 20 minutes late getting to the stop yesterday. Not sure about today.
from yesterday, Principal McKain’s email;
We did not have major issues with the buses this morning, but if the time listed for your pickup differed from the time it arrived, please understand that it takes a while to work out the kinks with transportation. Bus routes will be updated as needed. Please call 404-370-4400×928 or email if you have specific questions.
email from Principal McKain;
We did not have major issues with the buses this morning, but if the time listed for your pickup differed from the time it arrived, please understand that it takes a while to work out the kinks with transportation. Bus routes will be updated as needed. Please call 404-370-4400×928 or email if you have specific questions.
Did you sign up for the DHS notifications? They sometimes send stuff out. I think I got a letter from the school about the buses. This posted online, plus http://www.csdecatur.net/transportation/DHSRMS1314.pdf
Also, Simone Elder, Transportation Director for City Schools of Decatur
758 Scott Boulevard, Decatur, GA 30030
404-370-4400 extension 928 or by email at .
The Director of Transportation is in and out of the office, if you leave a message or send an email you will receive a response.
Any suggestions or recommendations for local dog-walkers?
Frogs to Dogs on Hosea Williams Boulevard in Kirkwood.
+1
+1,000! Tad or Amelia rock! Tad’s been walking our dogs for 6 years, and has NEVER missed a trek. They love him…
The folks at Petmeisters can’t be beat. They take our dogs out every day. Craig is their leader, so if you talk to him tell him that Libby and Shyla sent you his way. They can be reached at 678-640-1858 or at petmeisters . com.
I like Petmeisters too!
By the way, Petmeisters sends you a photo of your dogs each day. For the first year, I collected all the photos and made a short video. It was fun to see our pound puppy grow through the video. Thought you might enjoy… http://youtu.be/PZNDK6eHVn8
Loved it! Mighty cute dogs you’ve got there! :0)
Tricia’s Petsitting, (404) 284-1883. Tricia was our daily dogwalker and petsitter for 11 years, from 2001 to when we finally had to say goodbye to our elderly dog in 2012. She is absolutely dependable, trustworthy, and caring. Your pets are in good hands with Tricia!
Craig with Petmeisters is the best! (678) 640-1858
Anyone have a recommendation of an audiologist they have had a good experience with?
My elderly mom loves her audiologist, Liz Ramos at ENT of Georgia in Decatur near DeKalb Medical Center. Liz is very patient, personable, and skilled. In Liz’s hands, Mom’s transition to hearing aids was smooth and successful. We got Liz’s name from an caregiver support group I attend, and the recommendation was a good one.
484 Irvin Court, Suite 140, Decatur, GA 30030
404-297-4230
http://www.entofga.com
Yes, my sister in law is an Audiologist.
Dr. Victoria Hamilton 404-697-9090
Sheepish (the yarn store on Ponce Place near Big Tex) has two adorable kittens available for adoption. Both are female, one gray tabby and one gray/tan spotted. I think they are 8-9 weeks old. Very friendly and playful . Adoption paperwork is through DeKalb County Shelter but these kittens have been in foster home since birth, never at the shelter.
Take lunch and a smile to an elder. Join the local Meals on Wheels team! I just switched my monthly route from a Friday to a Saturday, so I’d love to help Senior Connections find a replacement. Meals on Wheels volunteers are especially needed for Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday routes in the Decatur area.
For those participants who are socially isolated, your visit is much more than an answer to hunger. It’s a precious human connection. Please give it a try. Go to http://www.srconn.org to learn more.
Let me second this. I have had my Tuesday route in Cobb County (near my office so I can get out at lunch time) for about 8 years. It is as rewarding as it is important.
Anyone know what happened at the intersection of Commerce and Ponce this morning? I drove by at about 9:15 and there was a fire truck and tons of police.
What is going on with the “police situation” at Phoenix Cooperative Preschool? There’s a notice on the CSD Web site.
Apparently a guy called into the school and said he was sitting in the parking lot with a bomb and they had 5 minutes to get the kids out. The kids were evacuated to the Boys and Girls Club and Oakhurst Park. Doesn’t sound like they know who made the call, but all of the kids are safe and reuniting with their families.
Does anyone know of a good person that knows how to apply Satin Polyurethane on floors?
A month ago I had my floors sanded and re-coated with “3 coats of Polyurethane” by a local company; at first the floors looked really good but 30 days later oh boy . Every day they are noticeably worse, as if he applied liquid wax. We do not wear shoes inside the house and the humidity is controlled. I figure I get someone good now to apply the real 3 coats before I have to re-sand the floors again. Thank you
Does anyone know of a good person that knows how to apply Satin Polyurethane on floors?
A month ago I had my floors sanded and re-coated with “3 coats of Polyurethane” by a local company; at first the floors looked really good but 30 days later oh boy . Every day they are noticeably worse, as if he applied liquid wax. We do not wear shoes inside the house and the humidity is controlled. I figure I get someone good now to apply the real 3 coats before I have to re-sand the floors again. Thank you
Call the Solarium and ask who they are using these days. I think, after one or two refinishings that didn’t hold up and/or required too much maintenance, they found a good source (and the appropriate finish).
Can anyone tell me why school starts so early in the year? There are a couple of obvious downsides:
1) Massive air conditioning needed for the entire month of August
2) Messes up family vacations for people whose relatives start in Sept.
What are the upsides?
Sorry if this has already been answered somewhere else…
“upside” – Fall Break.
Beaches and Disney are a lot less crowded and lodging is much cheaper than in July. My family enjoys Fall Break more than Spring Break. I don’t think I would ever take my family to Disney or the Orlando theme parks again at a different time of year, as along as there is a Fall Break. I think that the teachers like it too (the extra breaks, that is).
Feeling grumpy about pedestrian lights in and around Decatur. You gotta push the button, which button not always clear, seems like 1/2 the time I stand there waiting for a walk signal even though a green light for cars but no walk sign, making me wonder if I pushed the button, sometimes just trying to figure out when to go even with no walk signal.
Maybe it’s me but I am sure some of them are not fully working.
Other places I’ve lived and visited they just have a pedestrian signal, we don’t have to push buttons and wonder.
Add that with the overgrown sidewalk up commerce (coming from College) I’m feeling like a second class citizen as a pedestrian.
Guess there is probably a committee I should join…..
Thanks for listening I needed to vent…
I hear ya! And sometimes it’s very difficult to press the button if you have a stroller (I would also assume same is true for a wheelchair or scooter). Especially the light right at the corner of Trinity and N. McDonough(on the S W corner).
A committee on pedestrian issue has just been appointed. The show of interest was so great that they couldn’t take everyone who applied to be part of the group. Not sure who is in charge of the actual committee but I know Cheryl Burnette in Decatur Active Living was involved in the organizing. Send comments about specific problem areas to her. I’m sure she will pass the info on to the committee.
I have a friend from out of state, planning a surprise party for his wife here in Decatur. She thinks she is coming to visit me (bwahaha!)… Any way, friends and family will be flying in for the soire… I had recommended my friend book at the Courtyard Marriott, but, alas, he waited too long to book the 6-10 rooms needed.
SO…
Do any of you fine folks have recommendations in City of Decatur that might work, or even Atlanta? We’re aiming for safe and MARTA accessible!
Thanks in advance!
My dad stays in the Holiday Inn Express near Publix, and likes it. They may have a shuttle for a larger group, or catch the bus on Clairmont. If you are looking for train Marta, the hotels on Peachtree Center stop (Hyatt is closest).
Peachtree Center area is probably the best bet. Along with the hotels that connect to the mall/ Marta station, Residence Inn is also very close to MARTA–especially now that the escalator on that side has at long last reopened. When is the party?
The weekend of August 23. Thank you for the guidance!
A week before Dragon Con, the Book Fest, etc…you should be good!
I think there is a new Hyatt Place or something like that a block from the station as well.
The midtown hotels are an option. Loews and the W among others. They are close to MARTA and lots of good bars/restaurants plus Piedmont Park. Superior to Peachtree Center or downtown if you ask me.
I would like to recommend myself! My name is Windsor Jones. I am a junior at Decatur High School, and currently walk dogs before school. I love working with them, but I would only be able to walk your dogs if you live near me. I live near the Avondale Marta station. Please contact me at if you are interested.
Thanks!
well done, Windsor. i like your initiative, and though i don’t have any dogs that need walking, if i did, i’d give you shot.
Anyone else had the pleasure of meeting the pair of panhandlers that seem to have set up operations in Decatur lately? Saw them for the third time in a week, twice in the CVS parking lot. I only mention it because their spiel comes complete with what may or may not be a real infant. Middle-aged black gentleman chases down folks, usual thing of “I don’t usually do this, but we ran out of gas, just need a few bucks to get the rest of the way” at which point he gestures to a beat up van a little ways away in which sits a white woman well past childbearing years nevertheless cradling a very realistic looking baby.
I’ve turned them away enough times now that he doesn’t approach me anymore. Curious if anyone else has had a run in with them and if you could tell if it’s a real baby or not. Obviously a bit concerned if it is.
Yes, lump. He approached me as I was making an ATM withdrawal downtown about a week ago.
I use Delta and there’s usually a parking guy making sure people don’t use the lot and walk off, so that’s kind of surprising that they’re able to be so visible and get away with it. I haven’t personally witnessed it, but if it’s a maroon van, it may be the same people doing it at Publix. “My kids are hungry…” The maroon van crew do it on a very regular basis from what I have heard.
Trying to slip in under the FFAF deadline: can anyone recommend a local appliance repair person to take a look at a 2-year-old dishwasher that has mysteriously sprung an epic leak?
Ray Regus
404 634 1960
Can fix anything
Thanks!!!