Just received this press release…

As announced in the March issue of Decatur Focus, the Decatur Fire/Rescue Department is offering a Citizen’s Fire Academy. This will give interested community members the opportunity to learn who the Fire Department is, what they do and how they do. Graduates will be in a position to assist the Fire Department as Decatur CAPS (Citizens Assisting Public Safety) volunteers, allowing them to actively and productively support the Department in things ranging from emergency operations to community outreach. Active volunteering at the completion of the class is encouraged, but not required.

During the six-week program, participants will become familiar with the personnel and mission of the Department and be trained in a wide variety of skills ranging from CPR and blood pressure screenings to chain saw safety and many other skills. They will also have a chance to ride on emergency calls. “We’re not always putting out the fire,” said CAPS Fire Coordinator Brent Orth. Decatur’s Fire Marshal, Capt. Stephanie Burton, said the department hopes to tap into the professional skills of citizens in all walks of life, no matter whether they are doctors, lawyers, carpenters, or practice some other vocation.

Fire Academy classes will take place at 6:30 p.m. every Thursday from May 3 through June 7. Interested folks can find more details and an application form here: http://www.decaturga.com/index.aspx?page=644

Take advantage of an opportunity to learn about and serve your community !

Commissioner Fred Boykin writes in…

The 7^th annual Georgia Rides To The Capitol bicycle ride is tomorrow, Tuesday, March 27^th. The Decatur part leaves from the East Lake MARTA station at 10:45 a.m. Mayor Floyd will be leading the ride and we have over 35 mayors and elected officials joining us.  There are over 25 Decatur school students and parents joining in as well.

If folks have some free time and would like to join us, please do!

More information is available at: www.GeorgiaRidesToTheCapitol.org

Karen writes in…

 The Friends of the Decatur Library will host their traditional Arts Festival book sale on Saturday, May 26, 2012 from 9:00am to 3:00pm on the front lawn of the Decatur Library, weather permitting. Thousands of gently used fiction, non-fiction and children’s books, DVDs, and CDs will be offered for sale at low prices starting at $.50. Cash or check only. All proceeds benefit the programs and collections of the Decatur Library. No admission cost. The next sale will be during the Decatur Book Festival on September 1, 2012. Donations of gently used books are always welcome at the library at 215 Sycamore Street, Decatur, GA.

Lew writes in…

Here are a couple of items from the DHS Band which may be of interest. More details at http://www.decaturband.org/

1.  Washing o’ the Green

We are having a car wash this Saturday, March 17, 9 AM – 1 PM at the upper parking lot at DHS.  Bring by your vehicle and start getting rid of that pollen!

2.  Visiting Band from Mexico

Over the week of March 19 – March 26, Decatur will be hosting 61 guests (kids and adults) from the high school in Tuxtla-Gutiérrez, Chiapas Mexico, which we visited last year.  This exciting cultural, linguistic, and musical exchange includes several highlights which have impact on the whole community including:

•   Performance at the DHS Varsity Soccer game on 3/20
•   Seeing the DHS play “Robin Hood Prince of Thieves” which runs 3/22
•   3/4 in the Performing Arts Center
•   Mexican guests interacting with the CSD K-12 Spanish classes
•   A jam session with local student bands and our guests at Sammiches n’ Stuff on 3/22
•   A special musical performance at the Tour deCatur on 3/24

We want to thank our sponsors which include Lampe-Farley Communications, Zest Atlanta, Intown Ace Hardware, Taco Mac, The City of Decatur and the City Schools of Decatur.

See http://www.decaturband.org/spring-2012-chiapas for a updated itinerary and contact Lew Lefton, if you have any questions or comments.

Debra sends along this author alert…

Anne Lamott

March 23, 2012

7:00 p.m.

First Baptist Church Decatur

 

Anne Lamott will be at First Baptist Church Decatur (308 Clairemont Ave, Decatur) on Friday, March 23, at 7 p.m., for lecture and signing of her new book, ”Some Assembly Required: A Journal of My Son’s First Son.” Lamott is the author of more than a dozen bestselling books and this delightful new nonfiction work is a vibrant, sweet and often funny account of a new and unexpected chapter in her life…grand-motherhood. Stunned to learn that her son Sam is about to become a father at the age of 19, Lamott kept a journal about the first year of her grandson’s life. It is full of wonderful, moving details that every parent and grandparent will understand and appreciate, as Lamott describes how relationships throughout her family change and evolve. Sam, Anne Lamott’s son, will join us for this event.

This program is sponsored by Georgia Center for the Book in partnership with the First Baptist Church Decatur Conversations Ministry. No tickets or reservations required; doors will open at 6 p.m.

This is even better than the made up post I put up about the budget process a couple years back!  From the Decatur Minute…

The City of Decatur is hosting a Community Budget Gathering on Wednesday, March 14 from 2:30-4:30 p.m. at the Brick Store Pub, 125 E. Court Square. Join Assistant City Manager Andrea Arnold and others interested in learning about the city’s budget process.

This is your chance to find out how the budget process works and give your input. This is the first of three meetings using this new format. The next meeting will be held in April in Oakhurst and the third one will be at City Hall in May. Click here to find the current 2011-2012 budget.

Space is limited so sign up today with Andrea Arnold, andrea.arnold@decaturga.com or call 404-370-4102.

Michelle writes in…

From the City of Decatur website…

• New Location for Spring Electronics Recycling Day 2012!
• WHEN: Saturday, March 17th, 9 am -1 pm
• NEW LOCATION!: Decatur Public Works, 2635 Talley St.

*Enter on Talley Street from Columbia Drive

Please note, styrofoam will no longer be collected at Decatur’s Electronics Recycling Day. This material will be accepted at the new Paper Shredding and Styrofoam Recycling Event on March 31st from 9 a.m. – 1 p.m.

Don’t throw away that old cell phone, camera or PC component! Save it and recycle it at Decatur’s free Electronics Recycling event. This event has been hugely successful at diverting electronic equipment from landfills, where they may contaminate soil and water.

The next event takes place Saturday, March 17th from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Decatur Public Works located at 2635 Talley Street. Electronics dropped off that day will be sorted and disassembled into raw materials or cleaned for re use.

Recyclables must be dropped off during the hours of the event. Early drop-offs are not possible. Almost anything with an electrical cord can be recycled except microwave ovens.

TV’s will be recycled for a minimal fee of $10 cash only per TV set with exact change. There is no charge to recycle other items. Any metro area resident can participate.

For additional information call: Sean Woodson – Solid Waste Superintendent 678-898-8562

Head over to the city’s website for the list of acceptable items.

DHS teacher Chris Billingsley writes in…

The Decatur High School Close Up Club will have a “Decatur Spring Clean” on Saturday, March 24, from 8:30 to 4:00.

This is a free service for Decatur homeowners but donations to help pay for a memorial wreath in honor of DHS grads killed in action while serving in the U.S. military will be accepted (donations in excess of the cost of the wreath will be used for miscellaneous expenses while in D.C.). A team of students and their adult supervisors will rake and bag leaves, spread mulch and pine straw, and do other kinds of yard work. Please contact Mr. Chris Billingsley, DHS teacher and Close Up sponsor (cbillingsley@csdecatur.net), for more information.

FYI- Because of the hard work of the Close Up students and their parents, and the generosity of many people from in and around the City of Decatur, all twenty-seven Close Up students will receive travel grants and a trip to Gettysburg, Williamsburg, or Mt. Vernon (at no cost to students and their parents). Any money raised from this final service project is just the icing on the cake for this year’s team. Thanks Decatur for all your help

Decatur Active Living’s Cheryl Burnette just informed us that tomorrow’s scheduled Touch-a-Truck has been postponed.  The rain date is April 21st.

Sorry kids.  Don’t “Thhhhhhpppptt” the messenger!