a froggy symphony

With the temperature in the low 70's, the Clyde Shepherd Nature Preserve's spring peepers could not contain their passion...

For 13 seconds of resounding froggy come-hither, click here.

^. .^ "Find The One" @ Lifeline Animal Project ^. .^

LOOKING FOR LOVE THAT LASTS?

LIFELINE ANIMAL PROJECT INVITES YOU TO “FIND THE ONE” FOR ONLY $14 DURING FEBRUARY

ATLANTA (February 2, 2016) – ATLANTA, GA — It’s almost Valentine’s Day!  Feeling lonely?  Forget the internet.  Find your true love and take advantage of LifeLine’s “Find the One” promotion at one of LifeLine Animal Project’s shelters, including DeKalb County Animal Services (DCAS), Fulton County Animal Services (FCAS), LifeLine’s Dog House & Kitty Motel and LifeLine’s Cat Adoption Center.  

Throughout February, LifeLine Animal Project will help you “Find the One” with $14 pet adoptions on all dogs over 25 lbs.  This includes the pet’s spay/neuter, microchip and vaccines (a $250 value).

According to LifeLine Animal Project CEO Rebecca Guinn, everyone wins when a pet is adopted.  “Dogs and cats provide unconditional love which has been shown to have positive effects on their owner’s health,” she says.  “And when you adopt a shelter pet, you’re saving a life, so both human and animal reap the benefits.”

Whatever your needs, likes or limitations, there is a pet (or two) at one of LifeLine’s shelters who is perfect for you.  For adoption hours, locations and pictures of available animals, please visit www.dekalbanimalservices.com, www.fultonanimalservices.com or www.lifelineanimalproject.org.   

About LifeLine Animal Project

Founded in 2002, LifeLine Animal Project is a nonprofit organization providing lifesaving solutions to end the killing of healthy and treatable animals in county shelters, promote animal welfare and prevent pet overpopulation in metro Atlanta. As the managing organization for DeKalb County Animal Services and Fulton County Animal Services, LifeLine has dramatically increased adoption rates and decreased euthanasia rates by more than half at both shelters.  The organization also operates two low-cost spay/neuter clinics, which have performed 80,000 surgeries to date, and its own rehabilitative, no-kill shelter. Other outreach efforts include its Catlanta trap-neuter-return program, the first and largest in metro Atlanta, for stray and feral cats.  For more information, please visit www.lifelineanimal.org.

Sign the petition opposing Decatur's commercial annexation bill

City of Decatur's most recent annexation map, from
 http://www.decaturga.com/home/showdocument?id=5765

During the last legislative session, Representative Karla Drenner and others sponsored House Bill 663 to expand City of Decatur's boundaries via annexation.  That bill is still alive and could pass if enough senators support it.

Please read and sign the petition against Decatur's latest annexation plan, which outlines some of the reasons why this annexation is bad news for DeKalb County and particularly damaging to our public schools.

If you would prefer to contact our DeKalb senators directly, they can be reached as follows:

JaNice.VanNess@senate.ga.gov

steve.henson@senate.ga.gov

emanuel.jones@senate.ga.gov

gloria.butler@senate.ga.gov

elena.parent@senate.ga.gov

fran.millar@senate.ga.gov

gail.davenport@senate.ga.gov

Believe... in books

No set opening date yet but it's on their website!

Cosmic line-up: 5 planets for the price of 1

from http://www.usatoday.com/story/tech/sciencefair/2016/01/18/planets-morning-sky-january-february/78962134/

If you are up at the crack o' dawn over the next several weeks, face south to watch Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter and Saturn line up (but not in that order) for your personal enjoyment. If you miss them, there will be another show, evenings, next August 13-19.

According to USA Today, the last time this happened was in 2005. So, not a once in a lifetime happening but also not something you see every day!

Red-Winged Blackbird crossing

better quality, longer video available here.

Sunday double-luck... first, to catch a massive flock of red-winged blackbirds as it crossed Scott Blvd and again as it flew over Harrington Road heading to towards the Clyde Shepherd Nature Preserve (which is having a clean-up day tomorrow Jan 18). 3+ minutes of fly-bys and blackbird chatter... priceless.

Coming soon: connection between Ira B. Melton & Mason Mill Parks

via Commissioner Jeff Rader

Greetings:

Work will soon begin on the path linking Ira B. Melton to Mason Mill Park.  You may have already noticed the stakes for the portion that Ed Castro Landscapes will be improving.  Please note, this passage will be cleared with construction fencing to a wider width of about 10 to 14 feet just to allow for materials to be brought to the creek’s crossing.  Once complete, the path will only be 6 feet wide.  Additionally, the path will be constructed of a pervious composite material to ensure that the sediments in the flood plain don’t become mucky, making the trail impassible.  Also of note are three sections of the trail which will be improved with wooden crossings of drainage swales, again to prevent degradation of the forest floor.  We hope you enjoy these improvements.

See you out on the trail!

Jeff Rader, Commissioner
District 2, DeKalb County
www.commissionerrader.com
404-371-2863