A reader points out this article on ABC’s Good Morning America website…

Former quarterback Danny Wuerffel has been diagnosed with Guillain-Barré syndrome, a rare autoimmune disorder that causes paralysis. Wuerffel, who lives in Decatur, Ga., noticed he was losing sensation in his legs and strength in his arms shortly after he battled a stomach virus June 4. It’s thought that his immune system started to attack the nerves that control movement and sensation, mistaking them for the virus.

Wuerffel’s strength is currently half of what it was, according to his wife, Jessica.

I can’t say that I’ve ever heard of Guillain-Barre syndrome, but the description in the article makes it sounds quite frightening.

All the best to Mr. Wuerffel and his family during his recovery.

From the Decatur Education Foundation’s Executive Director, Gail Rothman…

Several prominent Decatur residents who played an instrumental role in founding and building the Decatur Education Foundation were honored for their service at the Foundation’s May 20th Dinner. Leaving the Foundation board are members Candler Broom, Susan Cobleigh, James Eley, Bill Funk, Gayle Gellerstedt, Lyn Menne, Jimmy Smith, Judy Turner and Sara Turnipseed.

The Foundation welcomed to the board Andrea Arnold, Michael Baxter, Ann Berg, Han Choi, Derrick Gervin, Paula Herrema, Shelley Parnes, Roy Reese, Todd Speed and Leah Vaughn.

Ponce de Leon Heights resident Jayme Armour Leffler – who owns Armour & Co. in Va-Hi – got the AJC Homefinder-feature treatment in Sunday’s paper.

Of course, there are always many more pics online than in the physical paper, so even if you saw the feature yesterday, you still may want to jump over and check it out!

Then check out www.decaturresidents.com!

The website is run by neighbors wary of the 315 West Ponce development and includes a letter (excerpted on InDecatur yesterday) expressing their concerns.

What I found most interesting is another letter linked to on the site from the new owners of the property (DPC Decatur Investors) to their current tenets discussing improvements to the property they are planning to make. Here’s a key quote…

We are so excited about creating a mixed use town concept that will include an apartment community and a boutique hotel on West Ponce de Leon with a wonderful restaurant concept on the corner of West Ponce and Ponce de Leon Place. We intend to work closely with the community and the city to make our project one of the most attractive live/work environments in the Decatur submarket.

I wonder whether they will be willing to work with this new neighborhood group and listen to their concerns, because this email makes it sounds like they are really only thinking to their property line and not really considering the residential neighbors along Montgomery St.

Want my uneducated/unsupported prediction? They might get a variance for a taller structure close to the Wachovia Building, but the project will have to step down the closer their development gets to Montgomery St. As to the parking issue, I think the city commission will hold them to sufficient parking requirements…they’ve been working too long and hard on creating adequate parking to let it be negatively affected by such a large project.

The neighborhood group meets tonight Thursday January 3, 2007 7:30 – 8:30 pm at 1st Baptist Church 308 Clairmont Avenue 3rd Floor conference room (enter right side of building under the portico, take elevator to the 3rd floor)