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DBA Member News
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News and Events from the latest issue >Click for events offered by DBA members
Lyn's Column • Shop Local in the New Year Decatur retailers have expressed their appreciation to residents for the continued show of support during the holiday season. A number of retailers reported that Decatur customers made a point of telling them that they were only shopping “local” during the holidays. The Terrific Thursdays events in November and December brought out large numbers of shoppers. Thanks to all of you who committed to supporting our local businesses. The new year is going to be tough but we continue to work with our local business owners and our partners in the Decatur Business Association to find ways to market the city’s unique shopping and dining experience. Development Updates The Decatur City Commission approved the revised plan for the development of the 315 W. Ponce de Leon property. The developer and adjacent residents met several times in recent months and hammer out a compromise. The original plan proposed 218 apartment units in two buildings – one fronting Montgomery Street and the other on Ponce de Leon Avenue in front of the existing 10-story office building. This original plan also included street-level retail fronting Ponce de Leon and required a parking variance to reduce the number of required parking spaces in a new parking deck to be constructed. The approved plan removed the proposed building on Ponce de Leon, reduced the number of apartments from 218 to 160, and provided all of the required parking in a deck, eliminating the need for a parking variance. The project approved by the commission included 34 conditions that covered everything from the landscape requirement to screen the parking deck from adjacent residents to a prohibition on parking along Montgomery Street by apartment dwellers. The property owner agreed to a City Commission condition that prohibited any additional development proposals on the site for 90 days. This request allows city staff to prepare a recommendation for additional provisions in the city’s existing transitional zoning standards. This project and the development at the Trinity Triangle must move through the process of preparing construction documents and permitting so no construction is anticipated before the end of 2009. Parking Updates A Georgia Tech student has been working with city staff to develop a detailed parking survey of the downtown business district. She has identified more than 6,300 private and public off-street parking spaces in surface lots and parking decks and anticipates that number climbing to 7,000 spaces when all survey data is calculated. Her research is being added to a GIS system for further analysis and visual presentation. In addition to developing a comprehensive listing of parking spaces, her research will capture parking hours, fees, restrictions and public access, among other data. This project will help the city develop a comprehensive approach to downtown parking that will help manage downtown employee parking and assure adequate, convenient visitor parking. The final study should be completed during the first quarter of next year. City Manager Peggy Merriss Receives Pillars of Professional Excellence Award The Georgia City/County Management Association honored Decatur City Manager Peggy Merriss for her professionalism, her dedication to advancing the ideals of excellent local government management, and for the ethical and consistent manner in which she has aided other local government professionals throughout their careers. Only five other local government managers in Georgia have ever received this recognition. The Pillars of Professional Excellence Award recognizes how professionally administered local government improves the quality of government and community life in Georgia’s cities and counties; increases the acceptance and adoption of professional local government forms by drawing attention to the best that the profession has to offer; and demonstrates what exceptional local government management, ethical leadership and professional coaching look like. GCCMA selects only those individuals who stand out from their peers; persons who, if selected, will reflect positively on the GCCMA and help the association encourage and strengthen professional local government management in Georgia. Agnes Scott News Virtual Tour Named Best in Nation A group of high school juniors and seniors selected Agnes Scott’s virtual tour as number one out of a list of 100 college tours. The research was reported by CASE (Council for Advancement and Support of Education) in the October issue of Currents magazine. The creative design, ease of use and realistic portrayal of life as a Scottie helped make the tour the favorite among focus group members. According to CASE, these students were looking for sites that clearly pointed toward the tours and were ready to view in fewer than three seconds to provide an innovative, glitch-free introduction to the campus. With the leadership of Agnes Scott staff members Kerry Meyers, director of interactive communication, and Marilyn Hammond, enrollment manager, the award-winning virtual tour was designed by interactive production agency Realview TV. The Agnes Scott virtual tour was also named a Webby Awards Official Honoree earlier this year. In addition, the college’s website as a whole was given a merit award by Admissions Marketing Report. Evening Classes Offered in Graduate Program Agnes Scott College now offers evening classes for women and men graduate students enrolled in the Master of Arts in Teaching program. Beginning in the summer of 2009, all summer and fall classes will start at 5 p.m. or later. Women and men enrolled in the Agnes Scott M.A.T. program can pursue teaching certificates in one of five areas – English, math, biology, chemistry and physics. The program can be completed in one year by full-time students who begin with the summer semester and in two years by part-time students. Both full and part-time candidates will teach full time in the spring semester, beginning in January and completing in mid-April. Upon completing Agnes Scott’s M.A.T. program, students will graduate with a master’s degree with T5 certification enabling them to teach in grades 6-12. For more information call Doug Talbott, program coordinator, 404-471-5168, or visit www.agnesscott.edu. Pregnancy, Mom & Baby Exercises Begin Pregnancy and Mom & Baby Water Aerobics classes are offered on Wednesdays and Sundays in January by Oh Baby! Fitness. The classes will run through May at Agnes Scott College. Mom & Baby Fitness and Mom & Baby Pilates are offered, as well as Pregnancy Yoga, Prenatal Toning and Pregnancy Water Aerobics. Daytime, evening and weekend classes are available at DeKalb Medical. Cost is $80 for a six-week session, $15 per class drop-in. To register online and view class schedules go to www.ohbabyfitness.com; or call 678-528-1390 for more information. Tastings and Decatur Travel Host Launch Party Tastings – A Wine Experience and Decatur Travel Agency will hold a launch party on Thursday, Jan. 29, 6-7 p.m., to announce details of a wine-tasting cruise collaboration in the Pacific Northwest. The party will be held at Tastings, 335 W. Ponce de Leon Ave. Guests can enjoy tastes of the Pacific Northwest that include signature wines, salmon pizza and Rogue Creamery cheese plates. Discounted cruise fares and onboard ship credits will be given away. The cruise – called Tastings on the River – is a seven-night Pacific Northwest trip on the Columbia River that sets sail Oct. 11, 2009, on the cruise ship Spirit of Discovery. Voyagers can taste their way from Walla Walla to Astoria through some of Washington and Oregon’s best wineries, restaurants, fruit farms and culinary schools. For more information contact Jo Giraudo, 404-514-7431, jgiraudo@decaturtravelagency.com. About Movement Pilates Studio Offers New Workout System About Movement Pilates Studio now offers the Gyrotonic Expansion System, an efficient way to work the entire body and a complement to Pilates. Gyrotonic’s circular, spiraling and undulating movements help increase the functional capacity of the spine, resulting in improved balance and coordination. About Movement is at 431 W. Ponce de Leon Ave. For more information, visit www.aboutmovement.com or call 404-373-9672. Parker’s on Ponce Steakhouse Opens Parker’s on Ponce, an independently owned steakhouse in the former Mick’s space at 116 E. Ponce de Leon Ave., is now open for lunch and dinner. Owned by brothers Christopher and John-Thomas Scott, it features a modern steakhouse atmosphere and a traditional steakhouse menu created by David Hartshorn. Parker’s offers an extensive wine list, a custom cocktail menu, and a micro beer list for beverage connoisseurs. The restaurant’s interior has been completely renovated. For information contact 404-924-2230 or jt@parkersonponce.com. Columbia Seminary Hosts Weekend for Prospective Students Columbia Theological Seminary will host a weekend Conference on Ministry for prospective students Feb. 20-22. The event provides an opportunity for college students and others who are considering ministry to gather information and experience the flavor of seminary life. Meals and lodging are provided. Participants may arrive early on Friday to visit classes and have lunch with students. The conference officially begins on Friday evening with a banquet and open houses with students and faculty. On Saturday morning, visitors will attend chapel and a class and may also meet individually with members of the admissions committee. The afternoon includes sessions on curriculum, admissions, financial aid, and student housing. Sunday morning, the conference concludes with bible study and the option of attending a local church service. For more information contact the Office of Admissions, 404-687-4517 or 877-548-2817 (toll-free). Register online at www.ctsnet.edu. There is no charge for the conference; however, a refundable deposit of $20 is required to confirm registration. Early arrivals may request lodging for Thursday night to attend Friday classes, but availability is limited. These rooms must be reserved in advance with the Office of Admissions. Total Fitness Control Offers One-Stop Shop Total Fitness Control, 431 W. Ponce de Leon Ave., is a one-stop shop for fitness, nutrition and all things related to health and wellness. TFC’s fitness professionals enable clients to take control of their health and fitness through one-on-one personal training, nutrition counsel and personalized dietary programs. To schedule a complimentary consultation, contact Tamekia McCloud-White, 404-941-7144; or visit www.totalfitnesscontrol.com. Animal Emergency Center Moves to New Hospital Animal Emergency Center of Decatur has moved to a new state-of-the-art hospital, 217 N. McDonough St., across the street from Decatur High School. The full-service hospital is staffed with a dedicated team of veterinarians and technicians and has a surgical suite, digital X-ray, ultrasound, on-site laboratory for blood work and urinalysis, and critical care and post-operative monitoring. AECD is open Monday through Friday, 6 p.m.-8 a.m.; Saturday, noon, to Monday, 8 a.m.; and 24 hours on all major holidays. Visit www.decaturanimalER.com for more information, or call 404-371-9774. Congratulations to Mingei World Arts, chosen as “The best place to shop for the person who has everything” by readers of Access Atlanta. Mingei is at 427 Church St. 20 Sycamore Place Gallery and Studios currently offers studio/gallery space rentals. A studio with a six-month lease and 24-hour access with natural light, kitchen and kiln access is $275 monthly. Studio rentals for specific short-term events are $100 weekly or $250 weekly. Call 404-377-7747 and leave your name and number or email sycsyl@yahoo.com. Bistro in a Box, 307 E. College Ave., Suite B, offers gourmet a la carte bistro catering for gatherings in homes or businesses. Choose from a variety of epicurean platters and dishes. The Bistro in a Box team offers innovative and creative ideas for any celebration. Call 404-941-7799 or visit www.thebistrobox.com.
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