From the Decatur Extreme Makeover website…

AMLI Development will begin underground utility improvements necessary for the Callaway property development on Commerce Drive beginning Tuesday morning, May 30. These will require the periodic closing of single vehicle lanes on Commerce south of West Trinity Place during a roughly two week period.

How to manage

Two-way vehicle traffic will generally be maintained during the work, though flagman/directional efforts may cause minor delays. All sidewalks are to remain open.

Chris sent along a few photos from this year’s placement of flowers and flags on graves for Memorial Day.

And here’s a poem to commemorate the day, courtesy of The Poetry Foundation…

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Tomorrow’s News Today reports…

Marios and Kaliopy Kitas, owners of downtown Decatur’s Andryannis Greek Bistro, have sold their business.  The new owner, Christopher Sheehy, will reportedly convert the restaurant into an American eatery called “SideChick,” serving all three day-parts.  Pending inspections and such, Sheehy tells me he hopes to be open as soon as late June.  The Kitas, who opened Andryannis on Clairemont Avenue, just off E. Ponce de Leon Avenue eight years ago, plan to take a “nice summer vacation.” The family hinted at having plans to open elsewhere in the future saying, “visit our website or follow us on Facebook and Instagram to see our news and where we will be opening the next Andryannis Greek Bistro.”  Steve Josovitz of The Shumacher Group, Inc. represented the seller and assisted the buyer in the transaction.

You can read Marios and Kaliopy’s letter to the community on their website HERE.

Photo courtesy of Open Table

It’s Memorial Day weekend, which means its time to put on your sunglasses and head down to Decatur Square for the famous Decatur Arts Festival!

Art Walk begins this evening, with art exhibits – and free drinks and snacks! – all over the city.

Then tomorrow and Sunday, take a walk downtown and check out the extensive Artist Market, head over to the Bandstand for a diverse array of performers, an acoustic tent, storytelling, and comedy.  And much more!

From Decatur Police…

On Friday, May 26, 2017 at approximately 12:00 am, Decatur Police responded to The Pinewood Restaurant in the 200 block of West Ponce De Leon Avenue in reference to an armed robbery. An employee stated she was exiting the rear of the business when one suspect pointed a handgun at her, forced her to her knees and began asking questions about how many people were still inside and where money was kept. She was forced back into the restaurant and placed on the floor. Two suspects entered the business and rounded up the additional four victims inside of the restaurant.  The victims were placed on the floor with their hands bound and questioned about the whereabouts of cash. The suspects also demanded car keys, cell phones, wallets and weapons.  The suspects took cash from the business and the personal belongings (purses, wallets, phones, keys) from the five victims and fled. The business was closed at the time of the robbery. No injuries were reported. The suspects were described as follows:

Suspect #1: Black male, early to mid-20’s, approximately 5’5” with a slender build, wearing a dark (possibly gray) hooded sweatshirt, black mask, gloves, blue jeans and armed with a handgun.

Suspect #2: Black male, early to mid-20’s, approximately 5’8” with a slender build, wearing a black hooded sweatshirt, black mask, gloves, blue jeans and armed with a handgun.

Scary.  Glad no one was injured.

Schools out for Summer!

From Chris…

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

• Thursday, May 25, 5:00 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 28, 4:00 P.M. Place Flowers On Graves- Meet at same location described above, Veteran’s Rock.
• Monday, May 29, 5:00 P.M.- Brief Remembrance Ceremony.  Afterwards we will pick up all flags and flowers from graves.

Photo courtesy of Chris