The history of the big box

This Advertising Age article provides a historic perspective on "big box" discount stores:

Walmart, Target, Kmart, Kohl's Lead 50 Years of Retail Revolution: Shaking Up Retail Landscape, Big Four Discounters Reshaped Our Idea of Shopping

Creative Loafing reports on Walmart's move into cities

Follow the link to Creative Loafing's Walmart Cometh cover story, subtitled The big-box retailer and progressive's worst enemy moves closer to the heart of metro Atlanta.

Lord love a (wood) duck

For additional information on wood ducks, visit the  Ducks Unlimited website.

This announcement relates to the trails behind Druid Hills Middle School (known as Shamrock Middle School to the faithful):

Dear neighbors,

We are fortunate to have the rare and incredibly shy wood duck nesting in our neighborhood. In order to encourage their successful mating, we will be closing the blue trail soon so that the birds can have the solitude they need. Please respect the barricades closing the trail and do not go around them.

We have also noticed an increase in vandalism along the trails. So far there have been three bird houses broken, numerous trail markers removed, spray painting on several trees and the tree house, a fire built ON a picnic table in the DH middle school outdoor classroom, and rip rap moved from the banks of homeowners. We suspect this is mischief being had by some typical teens. If you are the proud parent of teens in the neighborhood, could you please speak with them about respecting the hard work that others have done to create these trails and outdoors classroom. Also, please respect the privacy of thos e living along the trail or creek.

Please share this with surrounding neighborhoods, many of whom enjoy these trails.

Carol Hayes, Chair
Burnt Fork Watershed Alliance

Notes from the town hall meeting with DeKalb CEO Burrell Ellis [March 13]

The meeting started promptly at 7pm. Mr. Ellis fielded questions from the audience until around 8:40pm, sometimes with added comments from departmental directors. For complaints about County services, the CEO directed a staff member to collect the person's contact information for follow-up.

1) Animal Services Task Force Report

The majority of the questions related to the DeKalb Animal Services Task Force report. Around 20 (?) audience members wore red shirts to show their support for this cause. Mr. Ellis explained the shelter's deteriorated state came to his attention soon after his election, which led to the establishment of the task force; in response to the first question of the evening, he stated that "we have a problem with animal services." He explained that he received the task force report around 2 weeks ago and in the interim, has held several meetings and visited the shelter as well. As a result of these findings and in discussion with the Board of Commissioners (BOC), 10 new positions have been approved. These will be both for individuals to work on the field and at the kennels. These individuals will be cross-trained so that they can be nimble as far as performing multiple tasks (e.g. help with adoptions). 

DeKalb Co. Animal Shelter: Call to Action [March 13, ongoing]

WSB reports on the DeKalb Animal Shelter situation. It ain't pretty.

For a show of concern, join tonight's Town Hall meeting to take place today (Tuesday, March 13) at Eastlake YMCA at 7:00 pm.

The article links to the report (released mid-February). Here's are some disturbing quotes:

While modest efforts at improvements have been undertaken during the tenure of and prior to the Task Force, the facility is dirty, malodorous, wet and dark. The DASE Center is physically located at the bottom of a hill on an old landfill behind the County’s jail and coroner facilities and adjacent to an incinerator used to dispose of the thousands of animals euthanized in the shelter. During periods of heavy rain, a number of areas on the property experience standing water, particularly areas in the parking area and along the side of the building. Standing water that collects in the grassy area along the side of the building often seeps into the building, flooding the office space used by the enforcement officers. Furthermore, flooding in the parking lot makes some parking spaces close to the building inaccessible. During the Task Force tenure, an issue with standing water at the rear of the facility in the animal intake area was addressed. . . . 

North Decatur Presbyterian recognized for environmental stewardship

For excellence in worship and education, North Decatur Presbyterian Church in Decatur won the Light Award at the Sixth Annual GIPPY Awards.  

North Decatur Presbyterian Church took a systematic approach to worship and education in 2011. As a result, Creation care became a part of the rhythm and practice of the congregation. For each season, North Decatur Presbyterian encouraged spiritual growth opportunities and took concrete steps to reduce their ecological footprint. . . .

Read all about it here.

Dog found -- East St. in Decatur