Public Meetings: Railroad Crossing Improvements & Cultural Arts Master Plan

http://www.decaturga.com/cgs_citysvcs_ced_bondprojects_rrcrossings.aspx
Railroad Crossing Improvements at Candler and McDonough Streets

A community workshop to discuss the railroad crossing improvements will be held on Thursday, November 12, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. in the City Commission meeting room of Decatur City Hall, 509 North McDonough Street, in downtown Decatur. We hope you will be able to join us to learn more about this project.

As part of its capital improvements program, the City of Decatur is considering options for improvements to the railroad crossings at Candler and McDonough Streets in downtown Decatur. The purpose of the work is to improve safety and accessibility for pedestrians, bicyclists and others using these facilities. Measures required to implement a quiet zone in the railroad corridor will also be considered.

The project is based on Decatur’s 2008 Community Transportation Plan. A major goal of the Community Transportation Plan is to encourage healthy lifestyles and active living in Decatur.

The City has retained URS Corporation of Atlanta, a planning and engineering design firm, to help plan the project.

http://www.decaturga.com/newsflash.aspx
Cultural Arts Master Plan Public Input Meeting Nov. 18
The community is invited to a public input meeting for the Cultural Arts Master Plan on Wednesday, Nov. 18, 2009 from 7 – 8:30 p.m. in the City Commission Room, Decatur City Hall, 509 N. McDonough Street, Decatur, GA 30030.

This is the first public meeting to introduce the Cultural Arts Master Plan process and begin to get public input regarding the arts in our community. The Master Plan also includes an inventory of existing cultural arts facilities, programs and public art located throughout the city, identification of program and facility needs and recommendations for partnerships to meet these needs.

Please plan to join in the conversation! For more information email Linda Harris or call 404-371-8386.

More Fun Classes at the Oakhurst Community Garden Project

www.oakhurstgarden.org

Cooking

Cheap and Healthy Food
Come and learn techniques for saving money and eat dinner with Charli
Vogt, RN, who loves doing anything that involves the kitchen. She will
take you through the process of shopping, planning, preparing and eating
the meal. Research has shown that you save money if you go to the store
with a list. Each student will receive a grocery list, a planning form
for a week of food, and recipes for 4 different meals that are easy,
cheap and healthy. Plan to eat one of these meals with us. Use of the
pressure cooker and slow cooker will be covered. Check out Charli’s
Website: www.CharliVogt.com <http://www.charlivogt.com/>

Thursday, November 12, 6:30-8:30 p.m.
$25 for Garden members, $30 for non-members

Gardening
Worm Compost: The Basics of Great Worm P–P!
Learn about the benefits of composting with worms. According
to the EPA, approximately 10% of the waste stream is food and over 38%
of the waste stream is paper. These materials can be used as food and
bedding for a worm bin. It’s easy, fun, odorless and produces a great
soil additive! Class participants will learn how to house, feed, harvest
and care for their own worms. Be prepared to roll-up your sleeves and
make your own worm bin including the instructions and worms ready to
start composting. From ages 6 and up, accompanied by a parent.

Saturday, November 14, 10 a.m.-noon
$35 for Garden members, $40 for non-members

Art
Create a Holiday Glass Dish – Children welcome
Join Brenda Griffith in this all ages class as you create a 7.5 inch
round glass bowl using an assortment of colors. The glass will be
slumped over a mold, fired, and ultimately you will have new bowl
created by you just in time for the holidays. Class will take place at
Brenda’s studio at 2480 Memorial Drive. (4-9 year olds need to be
accompanied by an adult, 10 and up can be dropped off.) Each session is
limited to 8 participants/pairs.

Tuesday, November 17, 6-8 p.m.
$35 for Garden members, $40 for non-members. Fee includes 1 bowl per
person/pair.

Located at 435 Oakview Road, Decatur, GA 30030
To register: http://www.oakhurstgarden.org/classes.html

Friday – Free Soccer Clinic

Last Friday Free Soccer Clinic

*Please note per GA Soccer rules, this clinic is only available to children who are not registered with another GSSA Club.

5 to 6:30 pm, Friday, Nov 13th

Free Soccer Clinic for boys and girls 8 years old through 12 years old, at Ebster Field. Ebster Field is on Electric Ave. off of West Trinity Place, behind the Ebster Rec. Center and Decatur Police Dept.

This is a great opportunity for Decatur Rec. soccer players to get some free professional coaching by Atlanta Spurs FC Directors. Just bring yourself and be ready to have some fun! For more information, please contact Matt Holmes, 910-916-2773, matthewholmes55@yahoo.com.

*Please note per GA Soccer rules, this clinic is only available to children who are not registered with another GSSA Club.

Be Active Your Way Blog

Introducing the Be Active Your Way Blog

New Physical Activity Blog – Today HHS launched the new

Be Active Your Way Blog.

What is it? We designed the Blog to stimulate dialog among professionals who encourage Americans to get the physical activity they need according to the Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans. We’ve done this by asking several Supporter organizations to serve as Blog Contributors.

Where can I find the Be Active Your Way Blog? Visit us at

www.health.gov/paguidelines/blog/ .

March 22 – Park Pride’s 9th Annual Parks & Greenspace Conference

SAVE THE DATE!

Park Pride’s 9^th Annual Parks & Greenspace Conference

“The Role of Parks in the New Economy”

Sponsored by The Home Depot Foundation

Monday, March 22, 2010

at the Atlanta Botanical Garden

Green Infrastructure Tour Mar. 20; Community Garden Tour Mar. 21

More details at www.parkpride.org. Registration available Nov. 16th, 2009.

Active Living Facebook Page

The City of Decatur Active Living Department is now on facebook. Friend us so that you can stay current on all of the current and upcoming Active Living activities and events. Click the link below to check us out.

City of Decatur Active Living
Decatur Active Living

Create Your Badge

Last Adult Beginner’s Tennis Clinic for 2009

On Sunday, November 8, at 1:00pm Glenlake Tennis center will begin its final Adult Beginner’s Tennis Clinic for 2009. The classes will be held from 1:00 to 2:30pm for (4) consecutive Sundays. If you are interested, please contact Glenlake Tennis Center at 404-377-7231. You may also email Jabari Cole at jabari.cole@decaturga.com

American Community Gardening Association

www.communitygarden.org

The national 2010 American Community Gardening Association Conference will be held in Atlanta in August.

The Mission of the American Community Gardening Association is to build community by increasing and enhancing community gardening and greening across the United States and Canada.

The American Community Gardening Association (ACGA) is a bi-national nonprofit membership organization of professionals, volunteers and supporters of community greening in urban and rural communities. The Association recognizes that community gardening improves people’s quality of life by providing a catalyst for neighborhood and community development, stimulating social interaction, encouraging self-reliance, beautifying neighborhoods, producing nutritious food, reducing family food budgets, conserving resources and creating opportunities for recreation, exercise, therapy and education.

ACGA and its member organizations work to promote and support all aspects of community food and ornamental gardening, urban forestry, preservation and management of open space, and integrated planning and management of developing urban and rural lands.

The Association supports community gardening by facilitating the formation and expansion of state and regional community gardening networks; developing resources in support of community gardening; and, encouraging research and conducting educational programs.

Thanksgiving Canned Food Drive

Join Renewal in Donating Canned Goods to a Good Cause

www.renewaldesignbuild.com

Join Renewal Design-Build in celebrating the Thanksgiving season by donating canned food November 2-20, and help us meet our goal of 250lbs! The generous contributions will be donated to the Atlanta Community Food Bank.

We will pick up your cans! We will actually pick up your cans on Thursday, November 12th beginning at 9am. Or, you can drop them off at our office during normal business hours from November 2-20.

If you choose to have your cans picked up, please email kelly@renewaldesignbuild.com so that we may verify your home address.

Please have your cans in a bag – clearly labeled “Canned Food Drive”- and placed by your front door at 9am on November 12th.

Most Needed Items:
peanut butter
canned tuna
canned beans
canned soups, stews, and pastas
100% fruit juice
canned fruits and veggies
macaroni and cheese dinners
whole grain, low sugar cereals

** No glass containers, please!**

Grief Support Group – 2nd & 4th Tuesday of each month

GRIEF SUPPORT GROUP
3:00 – 5:00 p.m.
The 2nd & 4th Tuesday of each month
SUNRISE OF DECATUR
920 Clairmont Avenue, Decatur, GA 30030

Sponsored by Evercare Hospice & Palliative Care. Our Bereavement Support Staff gently walks you through the difficulties of grieving a loved ones death.

FOR MORE INFORMATION:
If you have any questions or would like to sign up in advance, please call Ande Temple, Bereavement Coordinator, 770-417-2018. Join us for as many sessions as you want.