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State parks on the chopping block Last week, Georgia's state park officials revealed that in order to cope with a 39% decrease in funding from the state, some historic sites and lodges may close entirely, while others will cut their hours in half.
From Cloudland Canyon to Sapelo Island, our parks preserve and protect some of our most beautiful places. A Georgia with no state parks is not what I want to leave our children.
You can help by sending an e-mail to the governor, asking him to save our state parks.
And please forward this on. We need a public outcry to turn this around.
Georgia's state park system includes 63 parks and historic sites all over the state. You can stay in a cabin in the mountains, find a shady spot for a picnic, or paddle on a cool lake, and at a price that everyone can afford to enjoy.
From the mountains to the coast, our state parks protect amazing vistas--including Amicalola Falls, the tallest waterfall in the southeast, a suspension bridge 80 ft above Tallulah Gorge and diverse wildlife like Leatherback sea turtles, Black bears, and Brook trout. All that is threatened by hefty budget cuts.
This year, the state parks budget was cut by nearly $4.5 million, a number that might go up after the governor's recent announcement that midyear budget cuts might be necessary. In 2010, the budget will be cut an additional $10.6 million, meaning that many historic sites will have to close their doors, maybe forever.
A Georgia without state parks would be a sad legacy for us to leave future generations. Please help us put a stop to these cuts by writing the governor today. |
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Healthy Belvedere Announces Summer Small Grants Awards
Healthy Belvedere has awarded $15,000 in grants to 10 community groups to support activities which encourage Healthy Eating and Active Living (HEAL) in the Belvedere community. The Healthy Belvedere program provides small grants ranging from $1,000 to $2,000 to local groups to promote healthy lifestyles with the goal to reduce the incidences, ill-effects and health disparities associated with chronic illnesses such as diabetes, obesity and cardio-vascular disease.
The following grants have been awarded:
G+G Organics
Kirby Childcare
Healthy Food Eater
Solomon's Porch Ministry
Saint Philip A.M.E. Church Health Ministry
White Oaks Hills Neighborhood Association
Hils of Help Outreach Ministries, Inc.
Oakhurst Medical Centers, Inc.
Christ the Lord Church
NWOLM |
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Emergency Groceries Available
Saturday, June 13, 2009
10:00 am - 1:00 pm
Hillside Presbyterian Church
1879 Columbia Dr.
Decatur, Georgia 30032
The following is required to receive food:
A valid government issued identification
Verification of housing
For more information send an email or call (404) 659-7119 |
Vote for Your Favorite Georgia Aquarium License Plate
Click here to order your plate
and vote for your favorite design today!!!
The winning design will be unveiled June 25th at the Aquarium. |
Are you a CityMommy Yet?
CityMommy is an exclusive invitation-only social networking site for smart, hip moms like you!
At our website you can:
Keep up with the latest news in pregnancy and parenting
Get and give great advice
View and add to your local events calendar
Share photos and videos
Start your own groups and use our chat feature
Find mommy-tested resources and make new friends!
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Notice of Fund Availability
Request for Proposal
Foster Grandparent Program
The Corporation for National and Community Service announces the availability of Federal grant funds to support the Foster Grandparent Program (FGP) in metro Atlanta, Georgia. The service area must include the counties of Fulton and DeKalb.
FEDERAL FUNDS AVAILABLE (approximately): $362,997
(Period covering (3/4 year) October 1, 2009 through June 30, 2010)
NON FEDERAL SHARE REQUIREMENT (CASH OR IN-KIND)
(Minimum 10% of the total budget)
We sincerely hope you will consider applying for sponsorship of the Foster Grandparent Program and invite you to attend a bidders' meeting on Wednesday, June 24, 2009
10:00 pm to 12:00 pm
Peachtree Summit Building
401 West Peachtree Street, Conference Room 18-C, 18th floor
Atlanta, Georgia 30308 (404)331-4646
If additional information is needed to assist you that determination, please contact (404) 331-4649.
Completed applications must be received by close of business, Friday, August 7, 2009 at the following address:
Bob O'Harra
State Program Specialist
Corporation for National and Community Service
401 West Peachtree Street NW, Suite 1600
Atlanta, Georgia 30308 |
| The Campaign To Save Paste
You can see all the details on the website.
Any help you can give spreading the campaign around would be great.
Here's some specifics on that:
Twitter: Please tweet it! Tweet it more than once (most of your followers don't see most of your tweets).
Here's some less-than-140 character messages: #savepaste 75 artists band together to save Paste Magazine http://tr.im/lgbEDonate to save Paste Magazine - get 75 free tracks (including one from ME)! #savepaste http://tr.im/lgbEJoin me in saving Paste Magazine - get 75 rare & unreleased songs. #savepaste http://tr.im/lgbEFacebook: Please let your friends and fans know with invites, status updates, etc. Web: Got a place for some banner ads? We've got some! Link all banners here. Blog: Got a blog? An RSS feed? Please let folks know what we're up to. Oh, and you can win a cruise from our friends at Sixthman, too. Thanks for your support. We are optimistic - the campaign is already getting a great response. | |
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What You Need to Know About DTV
On June 12, the 4th Congressional District and our nation will transition to digital television when broadcasters begin airing exclusively digital signals - and analog television sets that are not connected to a converter box, cable or satellite will stop working.
Consumers can call 1-888-DTV-2009 or visit www.dtv.gov to learn more.
It is important that all households and families are prepared for the transition next week. Please share this e-mail with your friends and family who might be affected.
What Is The Digital TV (DTV) Transition?
Currently, many over-the-air stations are broadcasting in both analog and digital TV formats. By June 12, 2009, all full-power TV stations will broadcast only in digital. The DTV transition will affect those who watch free, over-the-air television (through a rooftop antenna or "rabbit ears"). If you watch over-the-air programs on an analog TV, you must take action now.
Why Are Broadcast Stations Switching to Digital?
Federal law requires the switch, which will free up the airwaves for police, fire, and emergency rescue communications, allow broadcasters to offer programming with better picture and sound quality and offer more programming choices, and allow for advanced wireless services for consumers.
What Should I Do to Be Ready?
You have three choices:
1. Connect your analog TV to a digital-to-analog converter box
Your local broadcasters might make the transition before the June 12th deadline, and some already have. So be ready. Digital-to-analog converter boxes are in stores and have a one-time cost of $40-$70. To help you pay for the boxes, the U.S. Government is offering two $40 coupons per household. (Please note that these coupons will expire 90 days after mailing). For more information on the coupons, visit www.DTV2009.gov, or call 1-888-388-2009 (voice) or 1-877-530-2634 (TTY).
2. Buy a digital television (a TV with a built-in digital tuner)
You do not need a High Definition TV (HDTV) to watch digital broadcast television. You only need a digital TV (or an analog TV connected to a digital-to-analog converter box). Plus, you should not need a new antenna if you get good quality reception on analog channels 2-51 with your existing antenna.
3. Subscribe to a paid TV service
If your TV set receives local broadcast stations through a paid provider such as cable or satellite TV, it is already prepared for the DTV transition. Cable companies are not required to transition or switch any of their channels to digital. However, if you have an analog TV that does not receive local broadcast stations through your paid provider, you will need a digital-to-analog converter box to watch digital broadcasts on that TV.
For More Information:
1-888-CALL-FCC (Voice)
1-888-TELL-FCC (TTY)
DTVINFO@FCC.GOV |
The "Summary of General Statutes Enacted at the 2009 Session" is now available online via the link at the bottom of the General Assembly home page at http://www.legis.ga.gov/ |
Simultaneous Chess Exhibition Life Master Dave Vest, 2008 State Champ and 3 Time GA Senior Champ will do asimultaneous exhibitionat the Ironman Chess Club on Tuesday, June 16, at 7:00 pm. Players may start later.This will be a great opportunity for any player wanting to play a real game with one of the top players in the Southeast. Players are expected to write their moves. It is standard for players to have 3 passes.
The fee will be $5 for children and $10 for adults. All proceeds will be donated to The Church of Decatur Heights . Additional donations to the church will be appreciated for their 9 years of support for chess.
Players can have their games reviewed by National Master Tim Brookshear as time permits.
Ironman Free Chess Club 1st and 3rd Tuesday each month, starts 6:45 pm at The Church of Decatur Heights, 735 Sycamore Drive in Decatur. Best club for Scholastic players. Contact Coach Tim Brookshear (770) 633-6718. |
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Come Join Me in Powering the Grid!
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| In the News
Atlanta Journal Constitution
State begins free service for parents seeking child care
For Lisa Perry Smith, volunteer work helping parents find quality child care began with a phone call that every mother dreads.
"Mrs. Smith, I'm sorry, but Jonathan has been hurt," a child care worker said of Smith's son three years ago. To read more click here.
Atlanta Journal Constitution
Parents have power to pick kids' school
A new Georgia law will give more parents the power to pick their children's schools.
A controversial bill signed recently by Gov. Sonny Perdue gives parents the ability to cross neighborhood boundaries and select almost any campus in their district -- the closest ones, the ones with the best SAT scores, sports teams, etc. As long as there is room to teach the new students. To read more click here. |
Join Bring Trader Joes to Decatur Cause on Facebook
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DeKalb issues notice of proposed property tax increase
The DeKalb County Board of Commissioners has tentatively adopted millage rates which will require an increase in property taxes by the following percentages:
Unincorporated 3.73%
Avondale Estates Special Services 0.73%
Chamblee Special Services 0.43%
Decatur Special Services 1.33%
Debt Service 6.94%
All concerned citizens are invited to the public hearings on this tax increase to be held on the following dates, at the indicated times and locations:
Tuesday, June 16, 2009 at 10:00 am
Maloof Administration Building Auditorium
1300 Commerce Drive
Decatur, Georgia 30030
Tuesday, June 16, 2009 at 6:00 pm
Maloof Administration Building Auditorium
Tuesday, June 23, 2009 at 10:00 am
Maloof Administration Building Auditorium
The DeKalb County Board of Commissioners was required by State Law to publish only increases in applicable millage rates, excluding any budgeted millage rate reductions. The millage rates for the following are proposed to decrease below the Rollback Rate, as follows:
Millage Rollback Rate Proposed % Change
2008 2009* 2009** from Rollback
Unincorporated Debt Service 1.45 1.527 1.37 -10.28%
Atlanta Special Services 8.83 9.109 9.02 -0.98%
Clarkston Special Services 13.14 13.413 13.27 -1.07%
Doraville Special Services 12.55 12.746 12.67 -0.60%
Lithonia Special Services 13.21 13.948 13.34 -4.36%
Pine Lake Special Services 13.47 14.047 13.60 -3.18%
Stone Mtn. Special Services 12.95 14.576 13.07 -10.33%
*A rollback millage rate is computed to produce the same amount of revenue as the previous year excluding new growth.
** These millage rates are prior to the application of the Homestead Exemption from the Homestead Option Sales Tax. The Board of Commissioners granted a 58.3% Homestead Exemption for County operations and maintenance. Debt Service is excluded from these exemptions. The Board of Commissioners will consider the level of Homestead Exemption from the Homestead Option Sales Tax for 2009. |
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Community Calendar/News
PRISM Community Forum
Thursday, June 11, 2009
7:00 pm
St. Timothy United Methodist Church/Fellowship Hall
5365 Memorial Drive (one block east of Rays Rd.)
Stone Mountain, Georgia 30083
Farm to School Roundtable
Slow Food Atlanta and Georgia Organics
Tuesday, June 23, 2009
5:30 pm - 7:30 pm
Burgess Peterson Elementary School
480 Clifton Street, SE Atlanta, Georgia 30316
River Race and FestivalUpper Chattahoochee Riverkeepers
Saturday, June 13, 2009
Free Festival
10:00 am - 2:00 pm
Roswell Riverside Park
Family Night at Decatur Chick-fil-A
Monday nights
6:00 pm - 8:00 pm
There is face painting, balloons animals, buy one Kid's Meal get a Kid's Meal free and free Icedream for the kids!
Nonprofit Space Available for Lease
The Community Foundation leases these buildings for $1.00 per year to various nonprofit organizations, and the nonprofits cover all other expenses related to the property. The nonprofits pay the property taxes and reimburse the Foundation for the cost it expends in securing property insurance coverage. The nonprofit is also responsible for all maintenance and upkeep of the building.
Currently, the Child Development Association has office space available in their North Fulton building. Located in a building with other nonprofits, the collaborative environment is ideal for a small or midsized nonprofit. For further details, please contact Donna Smythe at (770) 992-4339 or dsmythe@cdakids.org. AIDS Walk AtlantaOctober 18, 2009
Piedmont Park
2009 Walk of HEROes
The DeKalb CSB is the safety net providerfor those in need of behavioral health care and developmental disabilitiesservices. Funds to support these serviceshave been shrinking with every year that has passed for the last ten years; however, the DeKalb CSB has not been shrinking from its responsibility to the community. With dignity and care, the DeKalb CSB has continuously responded to the community's needs. For more information or to sign up visit their website.
Step Up In Georgia
A non-profit agency located in Decatur (at 4122 E. Ponce de Leon Ave.) helps teach senior citizens how to become computer proficient. They are in need of gently used laptops for their computer lab. If you have a computer to donate, please contact India Pullin at (404) 580-1903 or indiapullin@yahoo.com.
Pool Passes
Summer Family and Individual Pool Passes are now available for purchase at the Decatur Recreation Center, 231 Sycamore St. Please call Virginia at (678) 553-6544 with questions. Also, the newly renovated Glenlake Pool opens Friday from 5:00 pm to 7:30 pm, and at 10:00 am Saturday.
Season Pool Passes
City of Decatur Residents (please provide proof of residency) Individual (2-13 yrs) $50
Individual (14-59 yrs) $60
Household (5 or less) $125
Household (5 or more) $125 + 10 additional member
Non-City Residents
Individual (3-13 yrs) $85
Individual (14-59 yrs) $95
Household (5 or fewer) $175
Household (5 or more) $175 + 10 additional member
Planned Parenthood of Georgia
Kiss and Tell: A Sexy Date Auction!
Wednesday, June 10, 2009
6:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Uptown Restaurant and Lounge
201 Courtland Street
Atlanta, Georgia 30303
To get tickets or for more information visit their website.
Musical Booking at the Decatur Library
Featuring Corinne West
Thursday, June 11, 2009
7:00 pm
Decatur Public Library
215 Sycamore Street
Decatur, Georgia 30030
Second Annual Art-B-Que
Friday, June 12, 2009 7:00 pm - 12:00 am
The Alcove
2582 East College Avenue
Decatur, Georgia 30030
Saturday, June 13, 2009 10:00 am - 11:00 pm
Bart Webb Studios
2846 Franklin Street
Avondale Estates, Georgia 30002
THE 2009 Georgia GamesThe Georgia Games is proud to be back this summer with its annual Championship Games. The 2009 season kicked off with the Tae kwon do event, which brought in over 150 participants of all ages and skill levels and was a huge success, a great sign that this season is going to be the best yet! Online registration is up and running, not only is it convenient, but cheaper too! All online registration is offered at a discount. Atlanta Progressive News Fundraiser
APN has always been community supported, and we are so thankful to our readers who have come through for us time and time again with donations small and large. Click here to contribute.
Decatur Career Center @ Avondale Crossing Plaza
Resources, technology and support services have been designed to help Job Seekers secure employment, and to assist in the development of Micro- Businesses.
For more information contact Dee Dee Bullock at (404) 728-8635. Center located at 1295 Colubmia Drive, Decatur, Georgia 30032.
The White House Project
Go Run Dates Confirmed in Georgia
Friday and Saturday, June 26 - 27, 2009
Agnes Scott College
141 E. College Avenue
Decatur, Georgia 30030
Applications will open on April 1, 2009
House of Grace Free Health Care Services
The clinic, located at 3567 Covington Highway, Decatur, GA 30032, has the capacity to provide free health care services to 15 patients per evening. For more information call (404) 298-6078 or visit their website.
Spay and Neuter Your Pit Bull or Pit Mix
Atlanta Humane Society
For more information call (404) 875-6420 or visit their website. |
Job Announcements
Information is available at USA Jobs
You can search the data base for available jobs and post your resume online.
2010 Census Jobs Available
For more information, contact the local Census office or call the agency's toll-free jobs line at (866) 861-2010.
Careers.ga.gov Notification List
To find more extensive information about job opportunities with the State of Georgia including information about the State's Continuous Recruitment Job Titles, visit The Job Site.
GALEO Program Coordinator
Georgia Association of Latino Elected Officials - Position will focus on Youth Leadership & Census 2010 duties, including: developing partnerships, conducting research, analyzing trends, increasing civic engagement, youth leadership outreach program development, program research, definition, launching, and ongoing management. For more info on the position, qualifications and how to apply, visit their website.
Volunteer Opportunities
DeKalb Rape Crisis Center
To learn about ways to volunteer please visit their website.
StandUp for Kids
To see training calendar and to get more information, please visit their website.
DeKalb County Animal Services
DeKalb County Animal Services and Enforcement's volunteer program - Friends of DeKalb Animal Services - needs volunteers to play with the animals at the shelter and help pose them for photos. We are looking for people to come regularly, preferably once a week. M-F 10-5 or Saturday 10-4
DeKalb County Animal Services
845 Camp Road
Decatur, Georgia 30032
(404) 294-2996
For more information please visit their website.
Oakhurst Dog Park Committee
Volunteers for the Dog Park committee will be asked to assist neighbors, conduct permit checks, and help with fundraisers to add curbside appeal to the park. Each volunteer will be ask to serve for 1-2 hours. If you are interested in volunteering please send an email to ona@oakhurst.org. | |
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