Legislative hurdles? Jumped.  Corn?  Mashed.  Here we go, via the Atlanta Business Chronicle…

Four years in the making, Independent Distilling Co. recently launched in a small warehouse on East College Avenue in Decatur, just a few steps from Blue Tarp Brewing.

So far, it’s been a love of labor for founders Michael Anderson, a fundraiser for Zoo Atlanta, and Tommy Williams, an entrepreneur with a background in franchising.

But now the pair is preparing to ship out its first batch of corn whiskey. It’s named Hellbender after an endangered Georgia salamander.

The team also plans to produce rye whiskey and rum.

Check. It. Out.

The arrival of the Decatur Arts Festival each year means that festival season is officially upon us.  So lace up your strolling shoes, prepare your stoic “I’m looking at art” face, add a couple of notches to your belt to accommodate the “Kettle Corn 5” you’ll be sporting by weekend’s end, and prepare for a lot of – adult and kid alike – whining regarding the rejection of a second King of Pops.  It’s festival time!

The Decatur Arts Festival starts this evening with ArtWalk around the city from 5-10p.  Check out the locations along this year’s walk HERE.  It looks like it’s going to be a warm, but lovely evening.

The Decatur Arts Festival is a DM sponsor

Feel free to use this post to make comments and ask questions about local issues not discussed here over the past week.

Comments close on Monday.

Everyone is encouraged to read through the city’s latest budget draft, which includes the highly readable “narrative” section, to get a sense for the city’s stated accomplishments in the past fiscal year and what’s on the horizon.

The city divides its goals for the coming year by the Principles listed in the city’s 2010 Strategic Plan.  Principle A, “Manage Growth, While Maintaining Character” includes to following “New Projects, Programs and Policies” for the coming fiscal year…

• Install a concrete chess table in the downtown district and in Harmony Park (Task 1D and 1E)

• Fund additional artistic bicycle racks in various commercial districts (Task 1D)

• Expand role of the PALS staff to become more active downtown ambassadors (Task 1E)

• Revise the calendar of City sponsored festivals and special events to replace some older events with new activities (like a Maker’s Faire) in partnership with local residents

• Complete the construction of the new Beacon Municipal Complex to anchor the western end of the Trinity Place corridor revitalization effort (Tasks 3B and 4E)

• Initiate the construction of Phase IV and Phase V of the downtown streetscapes program, intersection improvements at the North McDonough Street and Candler Street railroad crossings and the Oakhurst Business district streetscape program (Task 1A)

• Purchase additional umbrellas for tables around the Square (Task 1E)

• Work with private property owners to expand Decatur’s retail business offerings (Task 2A)

• Continue to expand programs like Sidewalk Saturdays, Small Business Week activities and implement a downtown sculpture gallery in partnership with local non profits to nurture a fun, festive, family-friendly atmosphere in our commercial districts (Task 2A)

• Extend the downtown storm drainage improvements to complete the replacement of the downtown storm drainage system (Task 1C)

A notice from Decatur Police…

On Monday May 19, 2014 the speed limit on the portion of Sycamore Drive within the City of Decatur was reduced to 30 mph. In addition, the City of Decatur has classified this location as a “residential zone.” The “residential zone” designation means the police officers are not required to extend a 10 mph grace before issuing a citation.

The Decatur Police Department will begin speed enforcement based on the reduced speed limit immediately, however warning citations will be issued for speed violations for the next 30 days. An exception to this will be violators whose speed would have been 10 mph or more over the previous speed limit.

Chris sends along this announcement…

If you would like to help place flags and/or flowers on the graves or memorials in the Decatur Cemetery in honor of those who were killed while serving in the military as part of your Memorial Day Weekend activities, please contact Chris Billingsley at [email protected]

You can also show up for any of the following:

• Friday, May 23, 6:00 P.M. Place Flags On Graves- Meet at the Veteran’s Rock in the new cemetery (enter Church Street gate and drive to area above pond).
• Sunday, May 25, 6:00 P.M. Place Flowers On Graves- Meet at same location described above, Veteran’s Rock.
• Monday, May 26, 5:00 P.M.- Brief Remembrance Ceremony. Afterwards we will pick up all flags and flowers from the graves