April 25 - Help Cleanup Hidden Cove Park!!

The Friends of Hidden Cove Park Invite You to Join Us on Saturday, April 25th for the THIRD ANNUAL HIDDEN COVE PARK AND EARTH DAY CELEBRATION

Park Clean-up Day

Ivy Pull and Trash Removal begins at 9 am, at the end of Westchester Drive (off Scott Blvd. near Westchester Elementary). Please bring you gardening gloves and a trash bag. It is suggested that volunteers wear long sleeve shirts and pants.

Hidden Cove is a beautiful new city park. Please come on out and help us pull ivy and remove trash and debris from the park.

Afterwards, please join us for a fun celebration behind Westchester Elementary School:
11:45 am - Beacon Dance Performance
12:30 pm - Pot Luck Lunch and Music
1:30 pm - Park Plan Presentation at the Westchester School Auditorium; Come see the master plan and be a part of the park's future.

Rain Date - May 2nd

For more info. on the Clean-up Day, please contact Scott at: scott@ncr-inc.com.

April Is Stress Awareness Month

April is Stress Awareness Month, and April 16th is National Stress Awareness Day, as sponsored by the non-profit Health Resources Network, http://www.stresscure.com/hrn/.

To assist with long-term stress relief, the American Counseling Association recommends, among other things, finding forms of exercise you enjoy and doing them often, and getting enough sleep and good nutrition.

For weight management, the American Dietic Association offers this:

People who keep physically active are more successful at losing and keeping off extra pounds. A physically active lifestyle offers many rewards in addition to weight management, such as heart health, strong bones, and stress relief. For weight management, experts recommend a combined total of 30 minutes of moderate activity on most days. Smaller amounts are OK, but try to accumulate at least 30 minutes a day. If you haven't been physically active, build up the time gradually. Focus on increasing daily physical activity, rather than setting unrealistic "exercise" goals. Pick an activity that you enjoy and are likely to continue, such as a brisk walk in the morning or a swim after work. Before beginning any exercise program, however, be sure to consult your physician.

So consider going for a walk or run through one of our many city parks, taking a fitness class at the rec. center, playing some pickup hoops at one of the city basketball courts, etc.

April 27 through May 1 - Air Quality Awareness Week

http://www.epa.gov/airnow/airaware/airaware.html
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's (NOAA) National Weather Service urge Americans to "Be Air Aware" during Air Quality Awareness Week, April 27 - May 1, 2009. Bicycling or walking for errands when possible helps not only with air quality, but your fitness level, and the City of Decatur is a very walkable city!

Monday: Ozone and Particle Pollution
	What is Air Pollution? What is Ozone? What is Particle Pollution?

Tuesday: What Causes Poor Air Quality
	What Affects my Air Quality? It All Adds Up To Cleaner Air - spring quiz

Wednesday: Keeping Your Lungs and Heart Safe
	Keeping Your Lungs and Heart Safe: Use the Air Quality Index to Protect Against Poor Air Quality Forecast Earth "Air Aware" Video Asthma Awareness Month

Thursday: How to Get Current Air Quality Information?
	Obtaining Current Air Quality Information Check Your Local Forecast and Current Conditions Check the Map of State and Local Air Quality Forecasts Check the Air Quality Forecast Guidance

Friday: What Can You Do to Help Make the Air Cleaner?
	What Can You Do to Help Make the Air Cleaner? National Rideshare Directory

Rec Center Master Plan Public Meeting Recap by InDecatur

Thank you to those who attended last night's Decatur Recreation Center Master Plan Renovation Public Meeting. Turnout was limited by the bad weather. The InDecatur blog covered the meeting well:

http://airbornecombatengineer.typepad.com/in_decatur/2009/04/rec-center-plans-revealed.html#more

The powerpoint presentation from last night's meeting will be posted online shortly.

This Saturday, April 18 - Confident City Cycling Class at Decatur Rec

http://www.atlantabike.org/content/418-Decatur

Confident City Cycling Class
presented by the Atlanta Bicycle Campaign and Decatur Active Living
10 am, Saturday, April 18th
Decatur Recreation Center, 231 Sycamore St.

Instructors: Jamie Adams and Josh Woiderski

See map: Google Maps

Price: $10.00

Join other cyclists to equip yourself with the knowledge you need to ride safely and with confidence on the streets and trails in your community. Joe Slade will be your instructor in this practical, hands-on class. You will receive classroom instruction, watch a video on interacting with traffic, learn bike handling skills, and take a practice ride with your instructor.

Content:

Laws affecting bicycles, the importance of visibility and predictability, lane positioning, intersection safety, interacting with
pedestrians, trail etiquette, bicycle safety checks, fixing a flat, on-bike skills, crash avoidance techniques, basic bicycling gear, and much more!

Audience:

People interested in bicycle commuting, recreational cycling, or occasional riding on city or suburban streets or trails.

Bring:

* bicycle in working condition (check to ensure you have brakes, etc)
* helmet
* comfortable clothing and sturdy shoes
* water bottle
* light lunch

Schedule:

* 10 am until 3 or 4 pm (there will be a brief session on Bike Commuting after the basic course)
* Class lasts about 5 hours. Arrive 15 minutes early. Bring lunch to eat during the video.

1. Classroom instruction on bike safety, laws, gear, lane positioning, etc.
2. Short video
3. Parking lot skills instruction
4. Practice Ride

Instructors are certified by the League of American Bicyclists.

Recommended for adults and children above age fourteen, this compact and comprehensive class will make you a safer and more confident cyclist.

Price: $10.00

Please call the Atlanta Bicycle Campaign at 404-881-1112 with any questions.

Walk or Bike to these City Events this week

Get some exercise by walking or bicycling to these city events this week:

Thursday, April 16: Jazz Nights in Oakhurst, 7 to 9 pm on the lawn of the Old Scottish Rite Hospital

Friday, April 17: DeKalb County Domestic Violence Task Force "Balloon Release at the Bandstand" on the Square, 11:30 am until 1:30 pm

Saturday, April 18: Earth Day Festival in Harmony Park in Oakhurst, 10 am until 3 pm, parade at 12:30 pm

Check www.thedecaturminute.com for upcoming city events and more!

Tonight, April 13 - DRC Public Input Planning Session

Decatur Recreation Center Project
Public Input Planning Session
7 pm, Monday, April 13
Decatur Rec. Center, 231 Sycamore St.

City Residents: You are invited to the next public input session for the Decatur Recreation Center master plan on Monday, April 13, at 7 p.m. at the Recreation Center, 231 Sycamore Street. The City of Decatur is developing a master plan to direct future improvements to the city’s 50 year old recreation center. The first session was held on Tuesday, Dec. 9 and focused on a review of the existing facility, an overview of recreation/community center facilities in similar communities and invited public discussion around a series of questions to identify program needs and priorities for the building.

Decatur’s Active Living division needs your help in planning how the building can be modernized to serve future community needs. After mid-2009, the Center will no longer be used for high school athletics. This offers an opportunity to consider its future use, especially the 10,000-square-foot gym. LP3 Architects have used information gathered at the December public meeting, from user surveys and from discussions with patrons to develop a preliminary plan for improvements to “the Rec.”

Meeting One Powerpoint