Feel free to use this post to make comments and ask questions about local issues not yet discussed here over the past week.
You do that while I continue to pull my hair out over server issues.
Month: September 2016
Makers Faire Atlanta Takes Over Downtown Decatur This Weekend
Lew sends along the details…
This weekend (Oct 1, 2), downtown Decatur will be swarming with Makers from all across the region for Maker Faire Atlanta 2016 http://atlanta.makerfaire.com/
This year the Faire has over 150 makers and will spread over the DHS football field, the green space on Trinity and Commerce (look for drones!) and the Ebster gym and parking area.
You can see robot battles, the Power Racing Series, fiber arts, 3D printing, woodworkers, hackers, startup companies, makerspaces and more.
The entire Ebster gym will be full of kids activities (Innovators Playground) and there’s even an Education obstacle course!
Decatur Makers (decaturmakers.org) has a large presence at the Faire, so if you want to pitch in and volunteer for a shift to support your local makerspace, sign up at http://signup.com/go/4s5zJF
You can also volunteer for the Faire as a whole by signing up at http://atlanta.makerfaire.com/
volunteer/
Five Decatur Mayors To Participate in “Mayor’s Mile” on October 8th
Kelly writes in with an update about the Oakhurst Fifth Avenue 5k and Mayor’s Mile, scheduled for the morning of Saturday October 8th…
Things are really shaping up for this fantastic event. Two of our commissioners came to F.Ave to talk to the kids about how health and fitness have helped them reach their personal goals and why running and walking is important to them. We have four former mayors and our current mayor (Elizabeth Wilson, Walt Drake, Bill Floyd, Jim Baskett, plus Patti Garret – a previous age group winner), all lined up to participate in the Mayor’s Mile that will start and finish in Harmony Park at 10am.
Registration for the 5K and the Mayor’s Mile is open through race day. www.oakhurst5a5K.com
Madison Avenue Soapbox Derby This Saturday!
I can’t believe it’s almost October, which means that the Madison Avenue Soapbox Derby is just around the corner!
This year’s beneficiary is REAP (Reading is Essential for All People) “a non-profit organization dedicated to improving reading proficiency in public school students through teacher training and enrichment.”
According to the Soapbox Derby folks, REAP ” was started by 3 local residents who knew that with the right tools in their teaching toolbox our dedicated public school teachers could make good readers great readers, and struggling readers into strong readers. The Derby Crew is very excited to be supporting such a great organization that is making a real difference for our teachers and children here in Decatur. Thank you for participating and helping to support an organization that is really making an impact on the kids in our community!”
Cool, right?
OK, so you may already know all about Madison Ave’s awesome Soapbox Derby and all the great stuff that goes along with it, but do you know the specific details of this year’s event yet? NO? Well here you go!
What you need to know…
10:30 Check in OPENS: Registered teams arrive, sign in, park your car
Enter Madison Ave thru Johnston Place beginning at 10:30. Look for the registration tent.
An adult must check in for their child regardless of team grouping.
Waivers must be signed before you proceed.DON’T FORGET YOUR HELMETS! NO HELMET, NO RIDE!
-Please note, at this time, we cannot make any changes to the team, team names or drivers. If you have not paid your registration fee you have been withdrawn from the race and we hope you can join us to watch the event.
Bake Sale Tent will have doughnuts for sale
11:00 Food area is open: Grab a bite to eat and prepare for racing!
- U Joint & Oakhurst Market tent
- Matador tent
- Bake Sale Tent – will also be selling race t-shirts
- Beer Tent
- SnoBayou Camper: New Orleans Snoballs
Activities for kids:
Face Painting ($3-$12)
Groovy Grandmas with their book Norah Bedorah and the Pink Doughnut with Sprinkles
Please remember to bring cash
- EVENT SCHEDULE:
12:00 pm – Judging begins (cars all at the top of the street)- 12:45 pm – Race introductions
- 1:00 pm – Race – ages 6 & under
- 2:00 pm – Race – ages 7 to 17
- 3:45 pm – Race – ages 18 and up
- 4:00 pm – Race over –Old Matt Donald’s Farm takes the stage
- 4:30 pm – Awards Ceremony and Check Presentation
- 5:00 pm – Band back on stage for second set
- 5:30 pm – That’s a wrap!
– This is a rough schedule. We cannot predict how the race will flow with over 90 drivers!
Please keep in mind that this is a grassroots event and we will do the best we can to stay on schedule.
It’s Time: Announcing the Oakhurst Porchfest 2016 Schedule
Last year’s Oakhurst Porchfest showcased 134 unique performances and we called it “a doozy.” Not sure what word’s appropriate now.
Presenting the line up for 2016 — 185 (!) performances on an equal number of porches, spread across a full six hours.
Like last year, we’ll have old-skool printed programs (available soon so stay tuned) matched with a Google Map showing porches, performers, times, food, and performer descriptions. Build your performance wish list on your computer or fire it up on your phone as you walk around and experience other stuff along the way. Here’s all you need to do:
On a Desktop
Your browser window will show both the menu and the map. Notice how the menu is broken up by category layers — times and logistics — that you can turn on or off. Working directly with the map, you can zoom in and see all artists for any particular street or area, color coded to reflect the time they’re playing. Click any performer and you’ll get specific details in the menu. Or, using the menu, click the drop-down arrow under each time slot and you’ll get the full list of performers. Clicking any particular one shows you their location on the map and gives you their details.
On Your Phone
Access the link using your phone’s browser. When the map appears, you’ll notice a white bar at the bottom labeled “Oakhurst Porchfest 2016.” Tap that bar and you get the menu. From there, it works pretty much just like on the desktop.
It’s that simple. So go check it out yourself now at www.tinyurl.com/oakhurstporchfest2016 and start planning your afternoon.
Further information and logistics are still coming together but as they do we’ll be releasing them here and on our website. Or, check our FAQ for all the basics.
See you October 8!
Free-For-All Friday 9/22/16
Feel free to use this post to make comments and ask questions about local topics not yet discussed here over the past week.
Work Begins on North McDonough 2-Way “Cycle Track” and Other Pedestrian Improvements
It’s been a long time since the city got word back in 2010 that it won an LCI grant to improve ped/bike facilities along North McDonough. But that’s how it goes with Federal and State dollars. Deputy Mayor Hugh Saxon was always very clear that it would take many years to work thru the red tape to get this project started.
But enduring all that red tape has paid off! All and all, the city has managed to find fed and state money that will pay for a little of two-thirds of the total cost of the $5.5 million project. No small feat.
But there’s no time to sit and gloat about our grant writing skills! To work!
Work has just begun on transforming the old up-down speed zone into a more pedestrian and bike friendly avenue.
How friendly? The Decatur Extreme Makeover website states that improvements include “reducing North McDonough to 2 vehicle lanes, wider sidewalks, and a 2-way “cycle track” on the west side of the street, along with traditional streetscape improvements and on-street parking. The project will also feature “green infrastructure” improvements to improve storm water quality.” (We’ve reported all this before, but they just summed it up so nicely.)
The project will also work to improve pedestrian accessibility and safety at the dreaded train track crossing. Additionally for the gasoline-addicted 🙂 “New traffic signals allowing protected left turns on all legs of the 2 crossings are to be installed as well.”
The city promises that the project will be noisy and inconvenient and will take between 12-18 months. But heck if it won’t be a whole lot purdier when all is said and done!