Chadwick writes in…

Tree Canopy Goal? There’s a Festival for that!

Ever since the new tree ordinance was proposed, I have been talking with my friends in the design and horticulture community about the issue. Many understood why Mayor Baskett took the tough step of proposing a new ordinance; however, they were pained that a few individuals had created a situation where the community as a whole could face punitive measures for an environment they did not help to create.

At the commission meeting on the 21st, Commissioner Drake’s comment about trusting the citizens of Decatur and the commission’s discussion about an incentive based solution to the problem really resonated with my peers. Just like The Brick Store is with beer, or Farm Burger is with hamburgers, or The Kimball House is with oysters, etc. etc.  – we have talented people  in our community that are at the pinnacle of horticulture, and want to share that with their fellow citizens. It is in this spirit that we have marshaled our talents and resources to launch this initiative.

However, it is up to the community to make this a success. Our goal is to plant 366 trees, which is 10% of the commission’s goal for the city to reach by 2039. If we are able to get close to this goal in 2.5 months what the city proposes should take 2.5 years, we hope that it may shift the landscape in the deliberations about the best way forward. And we hope to plant a lot of awesome trees at great value to the community and have fun in the process!

TO DO THIS WE NEED HELP! We need volunteers with backs, volunteers with trucks, people to volunteer to work booths, people in the horticulture community that can offer consultations, and sponsors – my email is listed in the flyer attached.

The eighth annual AJC Decatur Book Festival Presented by DeKalb Medical starts in only 72 days away. Following yesterday’s press launch, we have lots of information on this year’s event. Here are some highlights:

The keynote address will be delivered by Congressman John Lewis, author of March, the first in a graphic novel trilogy, on August 30th — 50 years (and two days) after delivering his famous speech during the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom as chairman of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee. Mr. Lewis is a man who has long known that words matter.

The revolution is at hand, and we must free ourselves of the chains of political and economic slavery. The nonviolent revolution is saying, “We will not wait for the courts to act, for we have been waiting hundreds of years. We will not wait for the President, nor the Justice Department, nor Congress, but we will take matters into our own hands, and create a great source of power, outside of any national structure that could and would assure us victory.” For those who have said, “Be patient and wait!” we must say, “Patience is a dirty and nasty word.” We cannot be patient, we do not want to be free gradually, we want our freedom, and we want it now. We cannot depend on any political party, for the Democrats and the Republicans have betrayed the basic principles of the Declaration of Independence.

Caldecott Honor winning author/illustrator Tomie dePaola will present this year’s kidnote address. His new book, Strega Nona Does It Again, features his beloved heroine.

Other amazing authors coming this year include Richard Blanco, Marcia Clark, Lev and Austin Grossman, Lily Koppel, David Levithan, Robert Morgan, Jason Mott, Naomi Wolfe, and Zane. Want more? Look here. Want even more? Here’s the entire list to date.

Saturday’s parade will be led by Jerry Pinkney, Caldecott medalist and author/illustrator whose new book is The Tortoise and the Hare. Tom Angleberger, author of The Surprise Attack of Jabba the Puppet, will kick off Sunday’s parade.

art | DBF is perhaps the most exciting edition to this year’s festival. A multitude of arts organizations will be bringing their creativity to downtown Decatur. This could be truly amazing.

This year’s poster was created by author/illustrator Dan Santat…

The AJC Decatur Book Festival’s website has all the news!

This Week

George Packer, author of The Unwinding: The Inner History of the New America, Wednesday, June 19th at 7pm, Carter Library, $10 or free with the purchase of the book.

Temple Grandin, author of The Autistic Brain: Thinking Across the Spectrum, Wednesday, June 19th at 7pm, First Baptist Church Decatur, sponsored by Georgia Center for the Book, free.

Neil Gaiman, author of The Ocean at the End of the Lane, Saturday, June 22nd at 7pm, sponsored by Eagle Eye Book Shop, tickets long sold out but I believe you can still order a signed copy.

Ren and Helen Davis, authors of Atlanta Walks: A Comprehensive Guide to Walking, Running, and Bicycling the Area’s Scenic and Historic Locales, Monday, June 24th at 6:30pm, Decatur Library, sponsored by Georgia Center for the Book, free and includes a walking tour of Decatur starting at 7:30.

Mary Kay Andrews, author of Ladies’ Night, and Claire Cook, author of Time Flies, Monday, June 24th at 6:30pm, Book Exchange, $7 and you must RSVP.

Dorthea Benton Frank, author of The Last Original Wife, Monday, June 24th at 7pm, Margaret Mitchell House, $10.

Kent Wascom, author of Blood of Heaven, Wednesday, June 26th at 7pm, Highland Inn Ballroom, sponsored by A Cappella Books, free.

Catherine announces over on The Decatur Minute that Decatur Wine Festival tickets are now on sale at Ticket Alternative for $35 a piece.  This year’s fest will take place on the Square in Decatur on November 3rd from 1-4pm.

In related news, Decatur Beer Festival tickets go on sale this coming Monday, Sept 17th at noon.  I’ll post a reminder that morning and we’ll see how fast they go this year!

Tim points out that the 2012 Decatur Craft Beer Festival logo is up on their website.  And here it is!

Here’s part of the official press release from Ryan Klee at Lenz Marketing…

The third annual Decatur Green Fest—hosted by the Dogwood Alliance—will kick off the Decatur Business Association’s Concerts on the Square series on Saturday, May 7 with a FREE, day-long festival featuring live music, green tasting of local organic produce and food, beer, a showcase of equal exchange and other fairly-traded products, green organizations and vendors, art featuring recycled materials, and a children’s activity area. The event runs from 3 – 9:30 PM.

Please PleaseRock Me—a Beatles spin-off of the Yacht Rock Revue musical act—will headline the event and perform at 7 PM on the Dave FM Stage. Nathan Beaver, an alt-country musician on Decatur’s Red Eye Gravy Records, will perform at 6:15. The live music begins at 3 PM.

John Beal, also known as “John the Baker,” is the organizer of the event. “It’s an honor to work with my fellow organizers, the City of Decatur, our generous and committed sponsors, and especially the good people dedicated to this vital cause,” he said. “They all know that they are making a difference in the world.”

More info on this year’s event, HERE!

(And make sure to check out DM’s newest ad sponsor “The Rain Barrel Depot” at this year’s event!  It’s a local company and they’ll be selling some of their most popular models at this year’s event.)