Decatur Focus Newsletter, June 2020

INSIDE: Taking Action on Climate Change in Decatur City of Decatur Clear zone JUNE 2020 Volume 30 • Number 10 ocuOFFICIAL PUBLICATION OFs THE CITY OF DECATUR, GEORGIA FFamilies Create New Mural in Oakhurst More than 20 families in Oakhurst joined together to create a mural at the corner of Third Avenue and East Lake Drive (on the side of the old Bell- south building) to boost community spirit. SPECIAL SECTION INSIDE – CELEBRATE DECATUR’S GRADUATES FOR 2020 City of Decatur FY 2020-21 Budget Schedule The Decaturocu Focus is a joint publication of the sCity of Decatur,F the Decatur Downtown Development Authority and the Decatur Business Association. It is a newsletter Here are important dates in the budget schedule for the City of Decatur’s fiscal year 2020- intended to provide announcements and information 2021 budget process, subject to City Commission approval. The public hearings will be held at related to events, activities, and businesses in the city of Decatur City Hall, 509 N. McDonough St. Decatur. The purpose of the newsletter is to promote the city and encourage the exchange of information among residents, business owners and the school system. Letters June 1, 7:30 p.m. Public hearing on Proposed FY 2020-21 Budget and Revised 2019-20 to the editor, editorials or other opinion pieces are not Budget and 2020 Millage Rates. published. All press releases, announcements and other information received for publication are subject to edit- June 8, 6 p.m. Public hearing on 2020 Millage Rates (if necessary). ing. Information found in the Focus is also posted on Decatur’s official website at decaturga.com. The deadline June 15, 7:30 p.m. Public hearing and scheduled adoption of Proposed FY 2020-21 Budget for submitting articles, announcements or advertising is the first day of the month preceding publication. Contact: and Revised 2019-20 Budget and adoption of final 2020 Millage Rates. Editor, Decatur Focus, P.O. Box 220, Decatur, GA 30031, 404-371-8386; fax 404-371-1593; email: Copies of the FY 2020-21 Proposed Budget and FY 2019-20 Revised Budget are available at [email protected]. Clear zone Decatur City Hall and at the Decatur Library, 215 Sycamore St. The budget is also available at decaturga.com/budget. Following a formal presentation of the budget to the Decatur City Commission, the city will publish a legal advertisement with more detailed information about the budget amounts and again identify the public hearing dates and times. If you have questions or need additional information, contact City Clerk Meredith Roark, DECATUR CITY COMMISSION 404-370-4102, or meredith.roark@ decaturga.com. Check decaturga.com/budget for updates to the schedule and to view the online budget. Patti Garrett ....................................... Mayor Tony Powers .................. Mayor Pro Tem George Dusenbury .......Commissioner Fourth of July Celebration Canceled Lesa Mayer ........................Commissioner Kelly Walsh ........................Commissioner Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the city has made the difficult decision to cancel Deca- tur’s annual July 4th Celebration. We look forward to continuing the tradition next year. If you have questions, contact the Special Events Coordinator, [email protected]. Focus Combines July/August Issues The July and August issues of the Decatur Focus will be combined and available in mid-July. The combined issue will feature the city’s annual report. Send information for this issue by BOARD June 10 to [email protected] (as a word document or in the body of the email only; Chris Sciarrone, Chair no PDFs, please) or to ATTN: Decatur Focus, PO Box 220, Decatur, GA 30031. Darren Comer • Linda Curry Tony Leung • Conor McNally Noah Peeters • Lisa Turner Floodplain Information Decatur’s Design, Environment and Construction Division provides general floodplain information on property located within the incorporated city limits. The Decatur Library also provides references on flooding and flood protection. Decatur Business A map and information service is available for a $10 fee. This service provides inquirers with Association flood insurance rate map information and identifies whether a property is in a special hazard DECATUR BUSINESS area. An accurate street address or DeKalb County/Decatur Tax Parcel Identification number is ASSOCIATION needed to obtain this information. Call 678-553-6529 or email [email protected]. Susan Sparks ...............................President Daryl Funn .......................President-Elect SOLID WASTE AND RECYCLING HOLIDAY SCHEDULE Jill Joplin ......................................Treasurer Independence Day • Saturday, July 4 Emily Holden ..............................Secretary Kyle Williams .....................Past President Monday, July 6, trash and recycling pickup will be on Tuesday, July 7 Tuesday, July 7, trash and recycling pickup will be on Wednesday, July 8 Design and layout: Lampe-Farley.com Information for the FOCUS should be submitted by mail to Editor, Decatur Focus, P.O. Box 220, Decatur, GA 30031, or by email to [email protected]. 2 | Decatur Focus • JUNE 2020 CITY News Decatur June Walk Challenge How many miles will you walk this month? Join Decatur Active Living for a June walk challenge. We challenge you to walk 40 miles for the month – that’s only 10 miles per week. You can do it! Prizes will be given to the top 100 walkers. Remember to practice physical distancing during your walks. For more information and free registration, visit decaturga.com/walking. #iwalkdecatur #stayactivedecatur CONGRATULATIONS! Glennwood Estates Creates Outdoor Art Gallery Stroll In May, the Glennwood Estates neighborhood trans- formed into an outdoor art gallery. “Art-In-The-Yard” invited people to stroll around the neighborhood and enjoy art while practicing safe distancing. Dozens of neighbors displayed their created and collected art in their front yards: paintings, pencil and chalk drawings, photography, ceramics, gar- dening, tapestry, and more. Contributing artists ranged in age from 3 to 60+. The event included the artwork of Mary Louise C., who promoted the stroll, a storytelling challenge about aliens by Bella, and a collective project titled “Birds of Glennwood Estates,” displayed by Glennwood neighbors on Birch Street from their balconies. Musical artists enhanced the visual artwork. They included Beth Kelhoffer and Sy Burnett of Comfort Food and The Flock playing popular folk music, and Robert P. Cushing, a pianist and composer, performing classical, late-romantic, modern and original compositions through the front windows of his home. Artists and strollers alike were uplifted and felt more connected to their neighbors through this community experience. Assistant Fire Chief Ninetta Violante recently earned “Fire Marshal” designation. JUNE 2020 • Decatur Focus | 3 BUSINESS & NONPROFIT News Imagining Community Differently During COVID-19 f you visited the L’Arche Atlanta house around noon on a typical week- day, before the COVID-19 pandemic, you might have found one house assistant at home, quietly preparing that evening’s dinner. Now, with so- Icial distancing in place, if you visited the L’Arche Atlanta house at noon, you’d find the dining room filled with core members (adults with disabilities who live in the L’Arche house) and house assistants eating lunch together. L’Arche residents, like many of their Decatur neighbors, are using this time of sheltering-in-place to strengthen their relationships with each other. L’Arche (it rhymes with “marsh”) is French for “the Ark,” a place of safety and refuge. L’Arche Atlanta is part of an international federation of 154 communities, 17 of which are in the United States. The L’Arche Atlanta home opened in Oakhurst in 2012, and a second home is expected to open in Decatur next year. In L’Arche homes adults with and without disabilities live together in community. No one is viewed as a client, patient, or recipi- ent of services; core members and house assistants share their lives with each other as a family. Because L’Arche seeks to overcome social isolation for people with disabilities, the current stay-at-home reality presents a particular challenge. House- hold members miss getting out into the broader community. Terry misses his girlfriend, whom he used to see every day in his day program. John misses going to Kavarna for coffee with friends. Corbin misses bagpipe practice. Pat- rick misses working as a greeter for the Gwinnett Stripers. Everyone misses the friends and neighbors L’Arche regularly invites to the house for dinner. L’Arche assistants have responded quickly and creatively to the challenge of overcoming isolation during the pandemic. The house team has re-scheduled and shifted routines to have more assistants at home for more hours of the day. Core members have changed how they engage with each other and with the broader community: lots of art proj- ects, FaceTime calls with friends and family, attending church online, reconnecting with old friends, Bingo nights, and board games. Birth- day celebrations, an important part of community life, now involve guests joining via Zoom. To learn more about L’Arche Atlanta, visit larcheatlanta.org or email Megan Denton at [email protected]. Decatur Makers and First Christian Church Create a Little Free Pantry First Christian Church of Decatur has partnered with Decatur Makers to set up a Little Free Pantry on their property along Ponce de Leon Avenue to support those with food insecurity in Decatur. Through the team’s creative and innovative skills, the makers designed, built, and painted the pantry to mimic the style of the church. It was installed to provide food and water to those in need during the the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as in the future. Everyone is encouraged to leave nonperishable items, or take what they need. For more information, visit decaturmakers.org. 4 | Decatur Focus • JUNE 2020 News BUSINESS & NONPROFIT Arts Alliance Shares Virtual Fine Arts Exhibition Although the Decatur Arts Alliance was unable to present its Fine Arts Exhi- bition for 2020, art lovers can see the 69 pieces selected by jurors in a virtual exhibition hosted at decaturartsfestival.com.

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