After being a big hit with residents – and DM readers! – last year, the “Decatur Biggest Loser” competition is returning in February with a portion of proceeds again benefiting the Decatur Education Foundation.  Here’s the release, courtesy of Marcia…

Decatur Biggest Loser Weight-loss Challenge Returns Feb. 1

Sponsored by CertaPro Painters and Pinnacle Fitness Bootcamp, a portion of the proceeds benefits DEF

For the second year, two local Decatur businesses, Pinnacle Fitness Bootcamp and CertaPro Painters, are teaming up to sponsor the Decatur Biggest Loser Weight-loss Challenge, a six-week fitness contest designed to improve awareness of healthy habits and challenge the Decatur community to live a healthier lifestyle. Grand prize winners in the men’s and women’s categories will each win $250 in cash, one month of Pinnacle Fitness Bootcamp sessions and $400 in CertaPro Painters gift certificates for painting services. Prize packages will also be awarded for second and third place men’s and women’s winners.

“We had such an amazing response to our Biggest Loser Challenge last year, we just had to do it again,” says David Nash of Pinnacle Fitness Bootcamp. “Weigh-in day was a lot of fun, with participants all fired up to make a change for themselves and support the DEF. We are so proud of our prize winners, but in the end, everyone who participated came out a winner with better health and fitness habits.”

The contest kicks off with a weigh-in at Leapin’ Lizards, 185 Sams St. in Decatur, on Saturday, Feb. 1,7 am–10:15 am. All body weights are kept private – progress is tracked via percentage. Upon registration, each participant receives a weight-loss packet and water bottle. The final weigh-in event is Saturday, March 15, 7 am–10:15 am. Winners will be announced at 10:30 am, and also notified by email.

Says 2013 Decatur Biggest Loser contest winner Thomas Van Soelen, “The Decatur Biggest Loser Challenge was critical to my health. Thanks to Pinnacle Fitness Bootcamp and CertaPro Painters for offering this opportunity to make a needed change!” (Read more of Thomas’s story at PinnacleFitnessBootcamp.com.)

Register by Feb. 1 (must be 18 to participate). Five dollars of each $20 registration fee goes directly to benefit the Decatur Education Foundation. Participants who decide to supplement their weight-loss efforts with rigorous Pinnacle Fitness Bootcamp workouts can sign up for four weeks for only $40. And if you’re among the first ten to register, CertaPro Painters will pick up the tab (new customers only).

Photo of David Nash / Pinnacle Fitness and Jeremy Rhett / CertaPro

Michael sends along this announcement…

The Community is Invited to the Decatur Bulldog Basketball Community Night on Friday, November 22

The Decatur High School Basketball Coaches invite the community to the third annual Decatur Bulldog Basketball Community Night at the Decatur High School Gymnasium this Friday night, November 22, at 6 PM.

• This is a free, fun-filled event celebrating the beginning of the high school basketball season.
• Come meet the 2013-2014 Decatur High Girls’ and Boys’ Basketball players and coaches.
• Watch Decatur High students play their teachers in the annual Student-Faculty game.
• Watch faculty from the different schools battle each other in the Schools Skills Competition.
• Win game jerseys, tickets and other prizes in competitions for all ages.

Bring your family; bring your friends. If you’ve never seen the new Decatur High Gym, that alone is worth the trip! Join the fun this Friday night at the Decatur High Gym, 310 N. McDonough Street.

My apologies!  See my corrections below and in the headline.

On the agenda for tonight’s Decatur City Commission meeting: providing $1 million more to renovate Ebster Pool.

Back in August, the city estimated $1 million to renovate Ebster Pool with the following new amenities:

• Changes to the pool to reduce its length from 25 meters to 25 yards and to widen the pool to provide 8 lanes for competitive swimming.
• Overhead lighting to allow longer hours for swimming meets.
• New mechanical systems to replace the original filtration tanks and pumps installed when the pool was built over 30 years ago.
• Complete renovation of the bathhouse to include new men’s and women’s changing rooms, a family changing room, new staff office.
• New lift for disabled swimmers, new water fountains, fencing and other amenities

Now a letter from Deputy City Manager Hugh Saxon states that the pool renovation will cost an additional $1,094,000 to complete the project as part of the Beacon Hill complex development.  That’s an extra $94,000.  Mr. Saxon says that there are still funds to in the project’s larger budget to cover the increase.

In an effort to limit costs Mr. Saxon notes…

…we are planning to re-use existing shade structures and to rough-in a spray pad. As we get closer to completing the entire Beacon project. We’ll be better able to determine whether we can add back the equipment for the spray pad.

At Monday’s City Commission meeting, the commission approved the plan for the renovation of Ebster Pool, which has been an on-and-off topic of discussion for the past year or so.  According to the meeting agenda, “The plan includes the following elements:”

Asst. Director of Decatur Active Living Cheryl Burnette sends in this announcement…

Decatur Active Living is partnering with Licensed Cycling Instructor Neil Walker to offer Traffic Skills 101 this coming Saturday at the Decatur Recreation Center. This class is designed to teach adult cyclists how to use a bicycle with confidence and competence for pleasure, utility and sport under various highway, climate, terrain, and traffic conditions.  The class is organized into three levels: The Basics, Bicycling in Traffic, and Enjoying the Ride. Participants should bring their bicycle and helmet.

The class meets Saturday, July 20 from 10 am until 4 pm and is recommended for adults or children over 14 years of age. Cost is $50 and registration is at http://cyclesandchange.org/programs/class-registration/.