Good Parks = Good Health

http://cityparksblog.org/ has a great post up now:
"Evidence and a Framework for Health-Promoting Parks".

It includes a great Trust for Public Land report:
"The Health Benefits of Parks"
http://www.tpl.org/content_documents/HealthBenefitsReport_FINAL_010307.pdf

It also links to a American Journal of Preventive Medicine report:
"The Significance of Parks to Physical Activity and Public Health"
http://download.journals.elsevierhealth.com/pdfs/journals/0749-3797/PIIS0749379704003046.pdf

And here's another article on a report by three universities:
"Neighborhood greenness has long-term positive impact on kids’ health"
http://newsinfo.iu.edu/web/page/normal/9197.html?emailID=9197

"Previous work, including our own, has provided snapshots in time and shown that for children in densely populated cities, the greener the neighborhood, the lower the risk of obesity," said Gilbert C. Liu, M.D., senior author of the new study..."Our new study of over 3,800 inner city children revealed that living in areas with green space has a long-term positive impact on children's weight, and thus, their health."

Join Live Healthy DeKalb's Policy Committee/2009 Community Resource Guide

Join Live Healthy DeKalb's Policy Committee

WANTED
Persons interested in...
♦ Advocating for a healthier community,
♦ Engaging the legislature and community in public policy,
♦ Improving leadership and presentation skills, and
♦ Having FUN!!

DeKalb County Board of Health
Richardson Health Center
445 Winn Way, Room 380
Decatur, GA 30030
3rd Tuesday of each month
12:00 p.m. to 1:30 p.m.
*Lunch will be provided*

RSVP with Avian Wynn at 404-294-3808

2009 Community Resource Guide

The Office of Chronic Disease Prevention has completed its 2009 Community Resource Guide. The guide contains information on DeKalb community organizations that offer the following type of programs:

1. Youth physical activity
2. Adult physical activity
3. Youth nutrition programs or resources

4. Adult nutrition programs and resources

5. Healthy cooking demonstrations or resources

6. Pools (Public and/or private)

7. Walking tracks/trails

8. Tobacco cessation programs or resources

This is one of the most popular resources requested from the DeKalb County Board of Health and is distributed at all community events.

To obtain a copy of the new Community Resource Guide, contact Eryn Marchiolo, emmarchiolo@dhr.state.ga.us or 404-294-3775.

Enjoy Happy, Fit Holidays

Happy Holidays from the Decatur Active Living Staff!

And while you're enjoying the holidays, don't forget to take some time for exercise. Active Living is important every day!

Take a walk downtown, or to one of the many city parks, like Adair Park, Sycamore Park, Oakview Rd. Park, Oakhurst Park, the Glenn Creek Nature Preserve, Glenlake Park, McKoy Park, Waddell Park and many more. Walk the trails at Dearborn Park, a DeKalb County partially within the city limits. Check out the track at Agnes Scott for a run or brisk walk or jog.

For fun and fit indoor fun for the kids, check out city business Leapin Lizards. There are also multiple fitness gym's in the city, like Core Body Decatur and Snap Fitness. FYI: Take it from a former university HPE Instructor, dumbbells are a great workout for adults of all ages, male and female.

City residents with dogs can enjoy the newly enclosed Adair Park dog park, or our Glenlake and Oakhurst dog parks.

Those flexible & young at heart can enjoy the McKoy Skate Park. If the weather's nice, shoot some hoops at Ebster Park, Mead Rd. Park, Oakhurst Park, McKoy Park or Glenlake Park.

Again, from our staff, enjoy fun, fit and healthy hollidays!

Woof, Woof

Here's a new e-mail address for City of Decatur dog park comments, concerns and issues:
decaturdogparks@decaturga.com

See 'ya out at the Adair, Glenlake or Oakhurst dog parks!

Volunteer Coaches Needed – Make a Difference!

Volunteer Coaches Needed – Is There a Team in Your Future?
(from the Fall Playbook)

If you’re an adult who hasn’t played an organized sport for years, even decades, you probably can still remember the names of your coaches from childhood. Now – as a volunteer youth sport coach – you can make such a lifelong impression on young team members. The lessons learned from a good coach – teamwork, sportsmanship, work ethic, communication skills, respect for others– transcend sports. Why not attend a coaching clinic and sign up to coach in the coming season?

Rewarding and Fulfilling
While coaching is not an easy task, it can be a rewarding and fulfilling experience. Frank Lesesne, a city resident and longtime youth soccer coach, enjoys the aspects of coaching “beyond the soccer.” “It’s amazing how quickly kids can learn,” says Frank, who coaches on some of the same fields he grew up playing on. Lacrosse coach Don Rigger says, “Through coaching, I have become acquainted with families I would never have known otherwise. My life has been enriched in ways I could never have imagined. Kids I coached several years ago are now in high school and a few have gone off to college. Invariably when I bump into them around town, they greet me with a smile and are quick to fill me in with the latest adventures in their lives.”
Soccer coach Rob Pope says, “Coaching is great because you meet all the great kids who play the sport and watch them develop. Also, you get the great Decatur coaching shirt.”

Success Depends on Volunteers
Decatur Active Living offers a wide variety of youth athletics: baseball, basketball, cheerleading, lacrosse, soccer, softball, and swimming. Additional sports such as cross country, track and field, and volleyball are coming soon. The continued success of these programs depends on our youth coaches and the time and effort they volunteer.

In addition to coaching, volunteers are needed to assist in a variety of other ways. For example, Robin Hentz, “team mom” for the Decatur Gators Swim Team, says, “We asked each parent to volunteer for one or two meets, but most worked all five meets, and we even had more
volunteers than needed.”

Volunteer to coach youth sports and you’ll enjoy a truly rewarding experience. We need you to help us continue our success! If you would like to be a volunteer soccer coach, and/or coach another youth sport, or assist as a volunteer in other ways, contact Stacy Green, 678-553-6549, stacy.green@ decaturga.com.

Bird is the Word

Bird Watching is a fast growing activity, and a great way to get outside and enjoy nature.

http://www.atlantaaudubon.org/aaswww/education/education.htm#lab
Children in many parts of the metro area are learning to identify their avian neighbors through an Atlanta Audubon Society education program called LEARNING ABOUT BIRDS. The program is a wonderful opportunity to use your local park as an outdoor classroom, studying our fine feathered friends in their natural habitat. The LEARNING ABOUT BIRDS team can train a team of local park staff members and volunteers to lead the activities; no birding expertise
is necessary – just an interest in birds.

Volunteers from the Audubon Society prepare kits of materials with instructions for a dozen lively activities enabling kids to learn: Parts of a bird, Atlanta’s ten most common birds and how to identify them, What birds need to survive, Migration routes of birds who fly through
Atlanta in the Fall and Spring, Dissecting an owl pellet, and The Food Web – who eats whom.

For more information about working with the Audubon Society, contact Marcia Klenbort, LEARNING ABOUT BIRDS volunteer, at marcia.klenbort@comcast.net or visit http://www.atlantaaudubon.org/.

Avoid Cabin Fever: Youth Soccer Mini-Camps!

AVOID YOUR KIDS CATCHING CABIN FEVER !!!

Keep your Decatur kids active over the holidays!
Play Soccer with Decatur Active Living & FC Atlanta!

We are hosting two mini-camps for boys and girls ages 8 through 13:
Camp I: Mon., Dec. 29th & Tues., Dec. 30th
Camp II: Mon., Jan. 5th & Tues. Jan. 6th
Location: Ebster Rec. Center & Field, 404 West Trinity Place
$40 per child per session; Please pay at the Mini-Camp site

Schedule:
8:30 - 9:00am: Drop off

9 - 9:45am: Warm up and Speed & Agility Training

9:45 - 10:30am: Technical Skill Work

10:30 - 11am: Topic of the Day/Snack

11am - 12:15pm: World Cup Tournament

12:30 pm: Pick up

For more information and questions, please contact Dan Magee,

Dan.Magee@decaturga.com or 678-553-6541

Wanted: Lacrosse Referees

http://www.galaxref.com/
http://gwlub.com/aboutus.aspx

Lacrosse is booming in Georgia, and there is a major need for more ref's.

Interested in becoming a lacrosse official? The Georgia Lacrosse Officials Association, GLOA, is actively recruiting new adult officials for the Spring 2009 season of boys/men's lacrosse. For more information, check out our Think Lacrosse page or complete our new/interested officials form. If you are interested in girls/women's lacrosse, please visit the Georgia Women's Lacrosse Umpire Board website at: http://gwlub.com/default.aspx.

Even More Lax in the C of D

Very cool news: Agnes Scott is adding women's lacrosse as a varsity sport. Lacrosse is already big in the City of Decatur, and this helps make it even bigger. Down the street, Emory has a successful women's lacrosse club team. Nicolle Williams is the head coach for Agnes Scott Lacrosse. Feel free to contact her at: nwilliams@agnesscott.edu for more info.

This Friday - Holiday Hoops!!!

Decatur Active Living presents “HOLIDAY HOOPS"
A Night of Basketball for City Residents ages 9 to 17 yrs. old
5:30 to 11 pm, Friday, December 19th
Decatur Rec. Center, 231 Sycamore St.

Come out and enjoy a night of fun and basketball!Pizza, punch, music, fun and games and lots of basketball will be provided.
Kids ages 9-12
5:30 - 8 pm
Teens ages 13-17
8 - 11 pm

Cost: $5.00 per person
Volunteers Needed!!

For more information please contact Stacy Green at 678-553-6549 or Stacy.Green@decaturga.com.

Hands On Atlanta Summer Youth Fellows 2009 Internship Application

Hands On Atlanta Summer Youth Fellows
2009 Internship Application

Hands on Atlanta

Since 2003, the Summer Youth Fellows program has been providing high school students with the opportunity to earn money while serving the community. Interns will work part-time for eight weeks at a nonprofit organization where they receive a stipend and transportation assistance; exposure to the professional workplace; and the opportunity to develop a project.

Eligibility: Applicants must be:• at least 14 years of age• residents of Fulton or DeKalb counties• a current high school freshman, sophomore, or junior with a minimumcumulative GPA of 2.0 or 70 at the time of application.

Atlanta Hawks Toys for Tots

The Atlanta Hawks are teaming-up with Kia Motors and the United States Marine Corps to assist underprivileged children in the Atlanta area this holiday season. Starting with the Hawks – Cavaliers game at Philips Arena on 12/13 and at any participating Greater Metro Atlanta Kia Retailer from 12/12-20, the team is collecting new, unwrapped toys which will benefit the “Toys for Tots” program. The Hawks will also be collecting toys vs. Charlotte (12/15) and vs. Boston (12/17). Fans donating a toy will be able to receive a voucher good for two complimentary tickets to a select upcoming Hawks game (maximum one voucher per person). Visit www.hawks.com for more details.

Decatur's own Charlie Slater/Table Tennis Star featured in AJC

City of Decatur resident and "active adult" Charlie Slater featured in AJC article below. Charlie stays in shape by playing high level table tennis and walking around our city at least 5 times per week. Table Tennis can be a surprisingly good cardio workout when played at a high level, and is one of the few sports where age doesn't make a difference. When it comes to Table Tennis, Charlie says, "Bring It" to any young whippersnapper!



http://www.ajc.com/search/content/health/stories/2008/12/15/workout_table_tennis.html

Table tennis will keep you in shape - no joke
By ELSA K. SIMCIK
For The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Monday, December 15, 2008

• How he got started: Charlie Slater, 65, has been playing table tennis since he was nine years old. “I played with the landlady’s daughter in the basement,” said Slater, who lives in Decatur. “She had a table down there and she used to beat me all the time.”
• How he got serious: Slater said he played a little in college but got more competitive while working for Delta Air Lines as a computer programmer. He competed in Delta’s annual tournament and was even tournament director for several years. “I’ve been pretty serious for the last 30 to 40 years,” said Slater, who is now retired from Delta and works part-time as a math tutor and substitute teacher.
• A breakdown of his sport: Slater explained that the term “ping pong” is actually copyrighted by Parker Brothers so the correct term is table tennis. While here in the United States we’re more likely to see people casually hitting the ball back and forth in their basements, table tennis is a much bigger deal in places like China, where it’s considered to be the national sport.
• Defending his sport: Slater said that people often laugh when he says he plays table tennis competitively. “I like the fact that this sport is very misunderstood in the United States,” he said. But as he explained, when it’s played correctly, “there’s a lot of movement. You aren’t just standing there waiting for the ball; you’re moving to where the ball is; you’re swinging pretty hard. It’s just a question of intensity.”
• Competing: Slater plays in a league through the Atlanta Georgia Table Tennis Association at the Chastain Park gym. He’s also registered with USA Table Tennis, where he has a rating. “Basically, the higher the number, the better you are,” explained Slater, who said his rating of 1,500 puts him about in the middle of the 7,000 players across the country. “The top guy, I’d be lucky to get a point playing against,” he said. Slater attends a few tournaments a year, including some local Atlanta games, the Delta tournament and the Huntsman World Senior Games in St. George, Utah.
• The physical benefits: “If I were playing all day long in a tournament, I’ll feel it in the legs. You’re gonna build up the leg muscles,” he said. Plus, it’s great cardio: “No doubt about it,” he said. “My heart rate is up. I’m sweating. It’s a workout, no question about it.”
• His workout week: Besides his weekly table tennis matches, Slater said he’s pretty faithful about walking in his neighborhood at least five times a week. He covers about a mile and holds eight-pound weights in each hand.
• Bringing people together: “I’m meeting all kinds of people from all kinds of countries,” Slater said of playing at Chastain Park every Tuesday. “It’s kind of an equalizer. It’s a sport you can play and not really worry about the language.”
• His next challenge: “My goal is to just improve,” said Slater. “Your rating can keep going up.” Plus, he said he likes to try and beat every young person (in the 18-to-25 age group) that he comes across.
• His favorite thing about it: Slater said, “I feel at age 65 I’m at the top of my game. That’s encouraging. I’m getting better with age.”

THE WORKOUT

To learn more about competitive table tennis check out the Atlanta Georgia Table Tennis Association at http://www.agtta.org/ or USA Table Tennis at http://www.usatt.org/.

Wii'd like to hear from you! Do you use your Wii game system to work out? If so, e-mail us at myfavoriteworkoutajc @gmail.com.

"I just love riding...It's like a double-shot of caffeine in the morning"

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/28235890/
Leaner nations bike, walk, use mass transit
Link found between 'active transportation' and less obesity in 17 countries
The Associated Press

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. - Jim Richards is no kid, but he loves to ride his bike. At 51, he has become a cycling commuter, pedaling 11 miles from his home in the suburbs to his job in downtown Knoxville.
"It really doesn't take that much longer" than driving, he insists.
And he gets 40 minutes of exercise twice a day without going to the gym, which he attributes to a 20-pound weight loss.
New research illustrates the health benefits of regular biking, walking or taking public transportation to work, school or shopping. Researchers found a link between "active transportation" and less obesity in 17 industrialized countries across Europe, North America and Australia.
"Countries with the highest levels of active transportation generally had the lowest obesity rates," authors David Bassett of the University of Tennessee and John Pucher of Rutgers University conclude.
Americans, with the highest rate of obesity, were the least likely to walk, cycle or take mass transit, according to the study in a recent issue of the Journal of Physical Activity and Health. The study relied on each country's own travel and health data.
Only 12 percent use active transportation in the United States — 9 percent walk, 1 percent ride a bike and 2 percent take a bus or train — while a quarter to a third are obese, the study said.
By comparison, 67 percent of commuters in Latvia, 62 percent in Sweden and 52 percent in the Netherlands either walk, bike or use mass transit. Latvia's obesity rate is 14 percent, the Netherlands' is 11 percent and Sweden's is 9 percent.
A similar pattern was found in Canada (19 percent active transportation, 23 percent obese) and Australia (14 percent active transportation, 21 percent obese).
Overall, Bassett said, "Europeans walk three times as far and cycle five times as far as Americans."
How to get more walking?The authors say it's more than lifestyle choices that lead Americans to use their cars more. Europe's compact, dense layout and infrastructure are more conducive to getting around without a car.
Europeans on average walk 237 miles and cycle 116 miles per year; U.S. residents walk 87 miles and bike 24 miles. Bassett and Pucher calculated that translates into burning off 5 to 9 pounds of fat annually for Europeans compared to only 2 pounds for Americans.
While the analysis doesn't prove that transportation keeps obesity levels down "they make an excellent case," said Susan Handy, who heads the Sustainable Transportation Center at the University of California at Davis.
"The question, then, is what do we do?" said Handy, who was not involved in the study. "How do we get more people walking and bicycling in the U.S.?"
Anne Lusk, a research fellow at Harvard School of Public Health, said the study's results make sense.
"What I found most exciting about this excellent research is the applicability," she said. "The issue then becomes should we improve our transit, walking or bicycling opportunities simultaneously or should we focus on one of the three?"
Lusk said her first choice is bicycles — and not just because of global warming, fluctuating gas prices or the economic downturn. When Dutch researchers asked people to match emotions with various forms of travel, she said, "The greatest emotion was joy for bicycling."
Richards rekindled his love affair with a two-wheeler a few years ago while visiting bike-friendly Sweden.
Back home, he has a couple of things going for him. Richards lives in a medium-size Southern city where police officers can be found patroling on bikes and the mayor sometimes cycles to city hall.
The car is still king here, like most places in the United States, but Knoxville has developed a 41-mile greenway system that keeps Richards mostly on paved trails and off city streets.
He also works for an environmentally conscious employer. The country store-themed Mast General Stores of Valle Crucis, N.C., pays Richards and his co-workers $4 a day to ride, walk or catch a bus rather drive than their car.
After a year, his annual checkup shows the results: his heart rate, blood pressure and cholesterol all are down.
"I just love riding," he said. "It's like a double-shot of caffeine in the morning."

Woof, Woof: decaturdogparks@decaturga.com

The City of Decatur has three dog parks for city residents:

-Adair Dog Park, at Adair Park, which can be accessed on West Trinity Place or Adair St.

-Glenlake Dog Park, at Glenlake Park on Church St.

-and Oakhurst Dog Park, on East Lake Dr. adjacent to the Boys & Girls Club:

http://www.decaturga.com/cgs_citysvcs_rec_dogparks.aspx

We have a new e-mail address for dog park comments, concerns, issues, etc.:

decaturdogparks@decaturga.com

As always, we welcome the feedback of city residents!

New Glenlake Pool House Coming Soon

If you drove by Church St. today, you may have noticed that the Glenlake Pool House, decades old, has been demolished. A newer, slightly large pool house will be built at the same location. The new pool house will make getting ready to swim, changing, showering, restroom access, etc., much more convenient. The new pool house should be ready for the 2009 swim season, opening Memorial Day Weekend.

For more info. on the Glenlake Park Master Plan, please visit:
http://www.decaturga.com/cgs_citysvcs_ced_bondprojects_glenlake.aspx
and
http://www.decaturga.com/client_resources/cgs/citysvcs/ced/bondfund/glenlake%20park%20-%20phase%201%20illustration.pdf

Just some of the reasons why this is the most family friendly city in the Peach State!

Holiday Bonfire and Marshmallow Roast

Thursday, Dec. 18 • 7-8 p.m.

On the square

We end our Terrific Thursdays with the annual Bonfire/Marshmallow Roast. Gather around the giant bonfire and roast marshmallows. Free. Sponsored by Decatur Business Association.

Breakfast with Santa
Saturday, Dec. 20 • 8-10 a.m.
Holiday Inn Select Decatur Conference Center
130 Clairemont Ave.
Join Santa for breakfast after he arrives on a Decatur fire truck.

Sponsored by Decatur Business Association.

7th Annual MLK Jr. Service Project
Jan. 17, 18, 19
The annual Martin Luther King Jr. Service Project is a volunteer home repair program that enables lower-income senior homeowners to remain in their homes safely and comfortably. The project raises funds and brings together hundreds of volunteers to work on house repair projects during the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday weekend. The project committee invites your business, neighborhood association, place of worship or civic organization to join in the effort.

For more info., please visit: http://www.decaturga.com/community_mlkworkday.aspx.

Be a Lifeguard or a Front Desk Attendant at a City of Decatur Pool!

Be a Lifeguard or a Front Desk Attendant at a City of Decatur Pool!
Great Pay, Flexible Schedule & an End of Season Bonus!

Seniors and Adults over 50: Looking for a part-time job? We are looking for summer pool front desk attendants!

Decatur has three pools: Ebster, Glenlake and McKoy. We are looking for city residents to be lifeguards and front desk attendants. Lifeguards must first complete a lifeguard certification course.
To apply online to be a lifeguard, please go to: http://www.searspool.com/onlineapplication.html.

To apply to be a front desk attendant, please contact Desiree Kaman (see contact info. below). The city's contractor for pool operations is Sears Pool Management.

For more information on the application process or any other questions, please contact Desiree Kaman, HR Director, Sears Pool Management, desiree@searspool.com, 770-993-7492.

Tips from SafeKids USA

http://sk.convio.net/site/DocServer/F-Toy_Pkt_Guide.pdf?docID=5721

Safe Kids USA:

Visit our toy safety website for tips and our toy buying guide.

Dec 19 - "Holiday Hoops" for City Residents Ages 9 thru 17!

Decatur Active Living presents “HOLIDAY HOOPS”

A Night of Basketball for City Residents ages 9 to 17 yrs. old
5:30 to 11 pm, Friday, December 19th
Decatur Rec. Center, 231 Sycamore St.


Come out and enjoy a night of fun and basketball!
Pizza, punch, music, fun and games and lots of basketball will be provided.

Kids ages 9-12
5:30 - 8 pm


Teens ages 13-17
8 - 11 pm


Cost: $5.00 per person
Volunteers Needed!!

For more information please contact Stacy Green at 678-553-6549 or Stacy.Green@decaturga.com.

Model Safe Routes to School Program

http://www.saferoutesinfo.org/case_studies/pdfs/CO.bearcreek.pdf

Parents at Bear Creek Elementary School in Boulder, Colo., are leading students and the entire school community into life-changing choices. The Car-Free Commute program at the school, only in its second year, has succeeded in engaging 70 percent of students in walking and bicycling to school consistently throughout the school year.
Bear Creek Elementary is an open enrollment school, which means a percentage of families opt in from outside the neighborhood and do not have school bus service. But 67 percent of students live within two miles of the school. Still, before Safe Routes to School, only 25 percent of students were walking or bicycling to school - most were being driven in the family car.

“A parent’s perception is a dominant factor in molding a child’s thinking,” observes Vivian Kennedy, parent volunteer and mother of three. Bear Creek’s SRTS program has effectively informed and encouraged students, who have in turn, helped facilitate parent participation.
“It’s a matter of honor and pride for the students,” says Kennedy. The school’s encouragement programs are moving away from prizes and focusing on innate pride in commuting choices. Through monthly tallies and public recognition, Bear Creek student’s efforts are recognized daily in the classroom and in prominent displays and events throughout the school.

Principal Kent Cruger serves as a role model for his students by hosting the Cruger Cup, a year-long challenge issued by the principal himself to his students to arrive at school every day without a car. At the beginning of each month, Mr. Cruger tries a new form of transportation — he has been seen on a foot-powered scooter, a skateboard and a unicycle, and regularly car pools with other area principals to school district meetings.

Bear Creek Elementary students accomplished the school’s goal of “zero cars in the Beak Creek lot” during International Walk to School Day 2008. “The empty parking lot was an astonishing sight — and a testament to how far we’ve come,” says Kennedy. Bear Creek Elementary families are “willing, ready and able to make the Car-Free Commute choice.”

Results
A City of Boulder study conducted during the first year of Bear Creek’s Car-Free Commute program (2007- 2008) showed a 36 percent reduction in cars and corresponding traffic congestion. During the program’s second year, students accrued 4,800 miles from 6,600 Car-Free Commute trips in a single month (September 2008). As a whole, the school’s culture is changing from motor-powered to foot-powered transportation. In surveys about the Car-Free Commute program, parents are saying “My daughter does not want to miss a day!” or
“My son refuses to take the car.” Students are inspired by the example set by the adults, and adults are prodded by their children into choosing Car-Free Commute — accounting for the 70 percent sustained participation achieved by the program. “We are trying to create a new culture of daily car-free habits in this young generation,” concludes Kennedy.

For more resources and information on Safe Routes to School, please visit the National Center for Safe Routes to School Web site at www.saferoutesinfo.org.

Renovating the Rec!

A big thanks to the over 50 people who came out on a rainy night for last night's Decatur Recreation Center Renovation Public Meeting. A lot of good comments and ideas were given.
We also want to hear from city resident teens, children and young adults. Check back here and on the city website for more information and public meeting announcements:
http://www.decaturga.com/cgs_citysvcs_ced_bondprojects_reccenterproject.aspx

AWARE/Arabia Mountain Nature Center

www.awareone.org

AWARE is the Atlanta Wildlife Rescue Rescue Effort, located in DeKalb County on Klondike Rd. near Arabia Mountian. Contact them at 678 418-1111 about their classes and programs, and visit them at 4158 Klondike Rd, Lithonia.

For great walking, running and biking approx 20-25 minutes from Decatur, visit the Arabia Mountain Nature Center, 3787 Klondike Road. Call them at 770-484-3060 for more information and the center hours.

CircusFit MOTIVATES KIDS TO MOVE!

http://www.circusfit.com/GetCircusfit/

http://www.circusfit.com/Team.aspx

WHY CircusFit?

U.S. health officials have identified a new epidemic impacting the youth of America – it is childhood obesity and inactivity and the number of children affected is staggering. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the percentage of children and adolescents who are defined as overweight has more than doubled in the past 20 years. If this trend continues, overweight children are more inclined to be prone to a host of weight-related illnesses, including diabetes and heart disease in adulthood. More info.

CircusFit MOTIVATES KIDS TO MOVE!

The spectacular circus performers at Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey® are also accomplished athletes who need to be in top physical condition, making them ideal “real life” role models who can encourage young people to be active and fit. Through the CircusFit Program, the Ringling Bros. acrobats, clowns, high wire and trapeze artists, and many of our other performer-athletes help show youth an awe-inspiring and action-packed approach to health and fitness – motivating them to get up and move with games and activities that are more play than work.

Dec 12 - Emory University BLOOD DRIVE

Emory University BLOOD DRIVE
Sponsored by the Division of Animal Resources
“Drive is in honor of Michelle Kulasiewicz”

Location: New Medical School – Lobby Area
10 am - 3 pm, Friday, December 12th
For an appointment, please log onto: givelife.org; Sponsor code: emory

All donors will receive a free gift and will also be entered into a drawing for a $1000 gift card.

Before you donate:
-Drink extra caffeine-free fluids, like water or juice
-Eat a good meal or snacks
-Get plenty of sleep the night before
-No intense exercise or heavy lifting after giving blood

Please bring a Photo I.D.

1-800-GIVE-LIFE (448-3543)

DeKalb Cooperative Extension 2009 Homeowner Gardening Series

www.dekalbextension.com
NEW APPROACHES TO SUCCESSFUL GARDENING EFFORTS
DeKalb Cooperative Extension 2009 Homeowner Gardening Series

$7 per person per class; $50 for series (10 classes)
All Programs are from 7:00-8:30 PM
4380 Memorial Drive, Decatur, GA 30032
For More Information: 404-298-4080

JANUARY 27th (Tuesday) 7:00-8:30 PM
“Growing Up – a Vertical Perspective”
Speaker: Paula Refi
Paula is a well known writer, speaker, Master Gardener and designer. She will use her artistic ability and knowledge of plants to show you a new garden perspective – growing upward.

FEBRUARY 10th (Tuesday) 7:00-8:30 PM
“Using Native Plants in the Landscape”
Speaker: Dave Funderburk
Dave is an avid gardener, scientist, teacher and a very knowledgeable speaker. Native plants are his passion which he loves to share with others.

MARCH 17th (Tuesday) 7:00-8:30 PM
“Basic Vegetable Gardening”
Speaker: Bob Westerfield, UGA Horticulture Specialist
Bob is a state extension expert on home vegetable gardening. He will share his gardening knowledge and show you how to join this “budding trend” of back-to-the-earth style of growing healthy produce for family and the community.

APRIL 14th (Tuesday) 7:00-8:30 PM
“Green as a Color, Designing with Foliage & Texture”
Speaker: Sara Henderson
Sara is a well-known writer, designer and speaker. Even shade areas can be distinctive and eye catching. No need for boring woodland gardens.

MAY 18th (Monday Night) 7:00-8:30 PM
“Creating an Outdoor Living Space – the Marvelous Patio”
Speaker: Tara Dillard
Tara is a designer, writer, speaker and a joy to listen to. Tara shares her creativity to bring us back outdoors despite the drought.

JUNE 16th (Tuesday) 7:00-8:30 PM
“Drought Tolerant Gardening”
Speaker: Joe Washington, Master Gardener
Joe is a media personality and a “new” master gardener. Joe shares his wisdom on how to plan your landscape to survive these severe Atlanta weather conditions.

JULY - NO GARDENING PROGRAM

AUGUST 11th (Tuesday) 7:00-8:30 PM
“Irises and Their Care – Versatile Plants for Many Locations”
Speaker: Carolyn Hawkins
Carolyn is a national Iris Society Judge and a well-known speaker. She will talk about iris varieties and their ease of growth.

SEPTEMBER 22nd (Tuesday) 7:00-8:30 PM
“Planning your Winter Landscape for Foliage and Fun”
Speaker: Cathy Henderson
Cathy is a well-known speaker, former teacher and a person who has years of practical experience in gardening and landscaping. Winter gardens do not have to be dull and unattractive. Use your imagination to plant for year-round interest.

OCTOBER 13th (Tuesday) 7:00-8:30 PM
“The Latest English Invasion – English Gardening in the USA”
Speaker: Averil Bonsall, DeKalb Extension Master Gardener Coordinator
Averil is an English Gardener and a DeKalb Master Gardener. She will share some good gardening ideas from across the sea!

NOVEMBER 17th (Tuesday) 7:00-8:30 PM
“A Tree for Every Situation”
Speaker: Gary Peiffer, DeKalb Extension Horticulture Coordinator
Gary is a forester, arborist and life-long tree lover. It is always time to plant more trees but let’s plant good ones and then grow them correctly.

DECEMBER - NO GARDENING PROGRAM

If you are looking for more homeowner gardening courses, please consider our North DeKalb Office (404-298-4075) or our South DeKalb Office –EEC (404-298-4080). Ask about topics, speakers and times for these great educational events.

Assorted Good Stuff

http://publichealth.gsu.edu/play/
PLAY is a policy research initiative of the Georgia State University Institute of Public Health in partnership with the Georgia Center for Obesity and Related Disorders (GCORD) of the University of Georgia and Medical College of Georgia focused on engaging multiple sectors. Supported by Healthcare Georgia Foundation, the major focus of PLAY is connecting emerging evidence around childhood overweight and obesity to prevention and reduction activities occurring throughout Georgia.

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Georgia Department of Human Resources
Nutrition and Physical Activity Initiative Monthly Newsletter
http://publichealth.gsu.edu/play/docs/nov08.pdf

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HHS releases physical activity guidelines.The federal government has provided physical activity guidelines to ensure health benefits in children, adolescents and adults. To learn more, read 2008 Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans.

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http://www.actionforhealthykids.org/gotuwc/index.php
Game On! The Ultimate Wellness Challenge is a year-long program that challenges America’s youth, their families and schools to incorporate healthy food choices and physical activity into their daily lives.

AJC Community Voices: Rodney Lyn, Institute of Public Health at Georgia State University

Sad news last week that the City of Atlanta is closing 22 of its 33 recreation centers. Here's a letter in response from Rodney Lyn, a faculty member from the Institute of Public Health at Georgia State University.

http://www.ajc.com/printedition/content/printedition/2008/12/06/lyned.html
Closing rec centers costs more in the long run
By Rodney Lyn
For the Journal-Constitution
Saturday, December 06, 2008

When concern is growing about epidemic levels of obesity and its related chronic diseases —- heart disease, diabetes and high blood pressure —- the announcement that 22 City of Atlanta recreations will be closed is disheartening.

These facilities directly affect the health and wellness of Atlanta’s citizens.

Critical to preventing heart disease and stroke —- the first and third leading causes of death in Georgia —- are adequate physical activity and weight control.

The American College of Cardiology and the American Heart Association recommend 30 minutes of moderate intensity exercise most days. According to the Georgia Division of Public Health’s 2008 report, only two in five Georgians are physically active.

Recently, the AJC reported, Georgia ranked 41 out of 50 states in the United Health Foundation’s annual overall health ranking. This was due, in part, to the staggering rise in the percent of obese Georgians from 11 to 29 percent in the last 20 years. The economic impact of obesity in Georgia in 2003 was about $2.1 billion dollars.

Safe, well-equipped neighborhood parks and recreational facilities are key links to increased physical activity and higher levels of walking. Atlanta recreational facilities also assist in efforts to combat the childhood obesity epidemic. Only 35 percent of middle school students and 36 percent of high school students attend daily physical education classes.

These centers run after-school programs that provide organized physical activity and outdoor play minutes from home. These opportunities keep our youth engaged in constructive, health promoting activities during after-school hours when adult supervision is often patchy.

Moreover, the inequities and inaccessibility of parks and recreational facilities in low-income neighborhoods has long been a topic among health disparity experts.

A good number of the facilities closing will inevitably be serving low-income communities that can least afford to lose the services. These are traditionally areas with a high population of African-American and Hispanic residents at high risk for chronic diseases. For Atlanta residents who do not live near an open recreation center, can’t afford a health club membership, and live in a neighborhood that is not conducive to safe outdoor activities, getting the physical activity they need will be far from easy.

Recognition of the significant role parks and recreational facilities play in promoting physical activity and cardiovascular health should be a catalyst for examining strategies for minimizing cuts to recreational facilities and ensuring they have support in the future.

> Rodney Lyn, an American Heart Association volunteer, is a faculty member in the College of Health and Human Services and the Institute of Public Health at Georgia State University.

Upcoming

Holiday Bonfire and Marshmallow Roast
Thursday, Dec. 18 • 7-8 p.m.
On the square
We end our Terrific Thursdays with the annual Bonfire/Marshmallow Roast. Gather around the giant bonfire and roast marshmallows. Free. Sponsored by Decatur Business Association.

Breakfast with Santa

Saturday, Dec. 20 • 8-10 a.m.

Holiday Inn Select Decatur Conference Center

130 Clairemont Ave.

Join Santa for breakfast after he arrives on a Decatur fire truck. Sponsored by Decatur Business Association.

7th Annual MLK Jr. Service Project

Jan. 17, 18, 19

The annual Martin Luther King Jr. Service Project is a volunteer home repair program that enables lower-income senior homeowners to remain in their homes safely and comfortably. The project raises funds and brings together hundreds of volunteers to work on house repair projects during the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday weekend. The project committee invites your business, neighborhood association, place of worship or civic organization to join in the effort. For more info., please visit: http://www.decaturga.com/community_mlkworkday.aspx.

Decatur Safe Routes to School: 2009 Walk & Wheel/Roll to School Days!

For information on the City of Decatur Safe Routes to School Program, please contact Greg White, 678-553-6543, or visit: http://www.decaturga.com/cgs_citysvcs_rec_srts.aspx.

Clairemont Elementary - Neil Norton and Nancy Garrison, Parent Volunteers
(There is not one scheduled for January due to holidays.)
Tuesday, February 10th – Theme: “I Love Walk and Wheel”
Tuesday, March 17th
Tuesday, April 14th
Tuesday May 5th

Glennwood Academy Walk & Wheel to School Days - Jane & Fred Boyken, Parent Volunteers
Wednesday, February 18th – Walk and Wheel Wednesday
Wednesday, March 4th – Walk and Wheel Wednesday
Wednesday, March 18th – Walk and Wheel Wednesday
Wednesday, April 1st – Walk and Wheel Wednesday
Wednesday, April 22nd – Walk and Wheel Wednesday
Wednesday, May 6th – Walk and Wheel Wednesday
Wednesday, May 20th – Walk and Wheel Wednesday

Oakhurst Elementary Walk & Roll to School Days - Beth Thompson, Parent Volunteer
Every Friday (Go Beth!!)

Winnona Park Elementary School Walk & Roll to School Days - Leslie Stuart, Parent Volunteer
(There is not one scheduled for January due to holidays.)
Thursday, Feb. 5th
Thursday, March 5th
Thursday, April 2nd
Thursday, May 7th

DeKalb County Board of Health Offers Flu Vaccine for the General Public/ What's EP?

DeKalb County Board of Health Offers Flu Vaccine for the General Public

The early vaccination effort is part of a flu prevention campaign by the Board of Health aimed at ensuring that everyone who needs a flu shot receives it before the flu season begins. The cost of the vaccine is $25. Checks (no out of state), cash, credit card, Medicaid and Medicare (part B) will be accepted. Persons must present a Medicaid or Medicare card at the time of the service. If you have Medicare that is part of an HMO; the flu shot is not covered by the Board of Health. Walk-ins are welcomed. You can get a flu shot Monday through Friday between 8:15 a.m. and 4:00 p.m.

Vinson Health Center
440 Winn Way, Decatur, GA 30030
404.294.3762

Services are offered Monday through Friday 8:15 a.m. to 4 p.m. For more information, please call 404.294.3700.

"What’s EP?" is a dynamic, interactive Emergency Preparedness Marketing Campaign that utilizes the talents of elementary age school children between the ages of 6-11 years old.

The message of the campaign is to encourage families to prepare for a disaster before it happens. Through the use of color, mnemonics and childhood enthusiasm, 23 students from DeKalb, Fulton, Gwinnett and Rockdale County Elementary Schools came together to craft a marketing message that speaks directly to their peers and their parents.

“Hey Mom, Do We Have a Safety Kit?” puts the question of preparing for a disaster squarely in the lap of mothers whose job is to create with the entire a safety kit that includes the Plan (9) Emergency Preparedness Supply Kit items: water, food, clothes, medications, flashlight, can opener, radio, hygiene items, and a first aid kit. This message is sure to create a “top of mind” list for the residents of DeKalb County and beyond. Every family should have a safety kit, at the ready, in case of an emergency.

The second compelling message is on “Water Conservation.” The students provide practical, easy, and concrete ways to conserve water in every day situations. The message of water conservation is critical not only to residents of the entire State of Georgia, but throughout the world. Our students’ message ring out loud and clear,“Water is Precious in Georgia - Every Drop Counts.” The students provide practical and memorable suggestions on how to conserve water in Georgia. The conservation messages range from, “fixing your leaky faucets” to “turning off the water when brushing your teeth.”

What's EP?
443 Winn Way, Suite 553, Decatur, GA 30030
gjtate@dhr.state.ga.us
404-294-3810

Winterguard - Great activity for high school and middle school students

Check out Decatur Winterguard!

Winterguard is know as the "Sport of the Arts": http://wgi.org/about/whatiswgi.php.
It's a great activity for high school and middle school students, male and female. Practices are most Sundays at the Ebster Rec. Center, 404 West Trinity.

Please e-mail decaturwinterguard@gmail.com or Clay Duggan at clayton.duggan@gmail.com for information.

DeKalb County Board of Health - Status of Health Evaluation Survey

Status of Health Evaluation Survey

The DeKalb County Board of Health requests your assistance in evaluating the 2005 Status of Health in DeKalb Report. The purpose of the report is to identify priorities for health improvement and to serve as a stimulus for community action.

The survey will close December 12, 2008. Your response will assist us in developing the 2010 Status of Health in DeKalb Report and future reports. All information will be kept confidential and your participation is voluntary. This survey should take about 5-10 minutes to complete.

Please use the following link to proceed to the survey if you have not
already:
http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=_2fqBnog7qqtCH_2fl8uJxMp4g_3d_3d

Work Next Summer at a Decatur Pool! Lifeguards & Front Desk Attendants Wanted!

Be a Lifeguard or a Front Desk Attendant at a City of Decatur Pool!
Great Pay, Flexible Schedule & an End of Season Bonus!

Seniors and Adults over 50: Looking for a part-time job? We are looking for summer pool front desk attendants!

Decatur has three pools: Ebster, Glenlake and McKoy. We are looking for city residents to be lifeguards and front desk attendants. Lifeguards must first complete a lifeguard certification course.

To apply online to be a lifeguard, please go to: http://www.searspool.com/onlineapplication.html.

To apply to be a front desk attendant, please contact Desiree Kaman (see contact info. below). The city's contractor for pool operations is Sears Pool Management.

For more information on the application process or any other questions, please contact Desiree Kaman, HR Director, Sears Pool Management, desiree@searspool.com, 770-993-7492.

Article: Enjoying Exercise & Healthy Eating - The Party Isn't Over When You Get Healthy

http://exercise.about.com/od/plateausmotivation/a/enjoyexercise.htm

Enjoying Exercise & Healthy Eating
The Party Isn't Over When You Get Healthy
By Paige Waehner, About.com
Updated: December 2, 2008
About.com Health's Disease and Condition content is reviewed by our Medical Review Board

Are you annoyed by people who seem to enjoy exercise? What about people who eat healthfully with little effort? Why is it so easy for them and such a struggle for you? One simple reason could be time.
The longer you follow healthy behaviors, the easier they become and the best part is, you actually start to enjoy them. Your first step in getting to that happy place is to change your attitude.

The Party Isn't Over
What does a healthy lifestyle look like? For some people, it looks like a lifestyle without any kind of fun. You have to slog through boring workouts, avoid going out to restaurants and eat twigs and berries. What kind of fun is that? At first, it may look like you have to give up everything to lose weight, but what you gain from those changes is much more meaningful and satisfying. Not only will your body change, but your mind will change as well.

Can You Enjoy Healthy Foods?
Here's what will happen if you keep maintaining that healthy diet:
-Your priorities change. The way your body feels after a healthy meal will become more important to you than the instant pleasure of having something loaded with fat or sugar.
-You'll enjoy healthy food. Take it from the Junk Food Queen I used to be, you can live without chips and Cokes and you'll gladly give those things up once you experience how your body feels after healthier meals.
-You'll still enjoy your favorite foods. The only difference is the frequency. Now, instead of having it several times a week, you might indulge once or twice a month.
-You'll get rid of the guilt. By not indulging every time you want a treat, you'll savor it even more.
-You'll see food in a different light. Food becomes fuel rather than something that controls your life. If you exercise, you'll learn very quickly how food affects your workouts. Eating a heavy, fatty meal makes you tired and your workouts suffer. Soon, you'll want better workouts which will motivate you to eat better.
-You'll become more adventurous. Eating healthy often opens the door to more options than you usually give yourself. You'll try new vegetables and grains and experiment with herbs and flavors you've never tried.
-Your friends and family will benefit. Even if you're the only one eating healthy, those habits rub off on others. Being a good role model for your kids or co-workers is one way to teach them how to live healthy.
-You'll have tools to deal with temptation. Healthy eaters are much better at avoiding the usual pitfalls like party foods or overloaded buffets. They make an effort to eat regular meals so they're not starving, fill up on healthy foods first to eat less of the bad stuff, and choose a few quality treats to enjoy instead of everything in front of them.

These changes come over time, sometimes weeks, months or years of slowly working on your habits and choices. Allowing yourself this time is crucial for permanently changing how you look at food and healthy eating.
The positive changes don't just end there. Your feelings and perspective on exercise change as well.

If you're new to exercise, it may not cross your mind that working out is something you'll look forward to. During the first few weeks of exercise, your body and mind may rebel against your new workouts and you may wonder if you'll ever get the hang of it.
Like healthy eating, however, exercise actually becomes easier over time and, eventually, you even look forward to it. Here's what can happen when you make exercise a regular part of your life:
-You'll start to appreciate your body. It doesn't take much time to see improvements in strength and endurance when you start exercising. As you feel that strength grow, you may get excited about your workouts, wondering how much you'll lift next time or how fast you'll walk or run.
-Everything gets easier. Carrying groceries, taking care of kids, going up and down stairs - all of these things get easier and you may even get more done with your new found energy.
-Your confidence grows. The more you work your body, the more your body can do and following through on your exercise goals lets you know you can trust yourself. That self-trust is a key ingredient to a healthy life.
-You'll try things you never imagined. I've seen my clients go from being couch potatoes to running races, hiking up mountains and just enjoying life more. The stronger you get, the more confidence you'll have to branch out.
-You'll be inspired to change other areas of your life. This is exemplified by one of my clients in his 40s. When I met him, he worked up to 16 hours a day. As he started exercising, he looked at other bad habits that affected his energy and stress levels. He cut his hours, hired more people and started to enjoy his family and his life.
-Your health improves. Exercise can help with diabetes, heart disease, depression, anxiety and high cholesterol, as well as protect your body from some types of cancer.
-Your children will have a better chance at being healthy. As with healthy eating, being a good role model when it comes to being active gives your kids the know-how to be active themselves.
-You'll have more energy. You be more alert, focused and an annoyance to all those people in the office who are dragging towards the end of the day.

What's in store for you, if you keep trying your best, is a better life. It may not seem that way in the beginning, which is one reason many people quit before they experience these changes. Any new lifestyle change can seem overwhelming at first, but there is a secret to staying on track: Take it one day at a time, one healthy choice at a time. Stay with it and you'll finally see the bright side of exercise.

Rec. Center Renovation - Existing Building Illustrations

Click here for illustrations of the DRC: http://www.decaturga.com/cgs_citysvcs_ced_bondprojects_reccenterproject.aspx

The Decatur Recreation Center was designed and constructed in the late 1950s. Recreational programming has changed dramatically in the past 50 years. A master plan will identify changes needed in the building to meet current and future recreational program needs.

The public is invited to a meeting on Tuesday, Dec. 9, at 7 p.m. to discuss the future use of the Decatur Recreation Center. After mid-2009, the Recreation 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. The City of Decatur has employed LP3 Architects to prepare a master plan, schematic design and cost estimates for the “Rec.” Decatur’s Active Living Department needs your help in planning how the building can be modernized to serve future community needs. The meeting will be held in the social room at the Decatur Recreation Center, 231 Sycamore St., in downtown Decatur.

Free CPR Class This Saturday

From Asst. Chief Hatcher:
Just wanted to invite (and remind) everyone about the upcoming CPR this Saturday, December 6th, at the Decatur City Hall. The class starts at 10am. The program is free to all city residents, employees and their families (all non-city residents $25). If interested in attending or would like more information, please feel free to give me a call.

We are grateful for all of the support we have received for the CPR training program. Since October 2007, we have certified over 1000 students in CPR.

Assistant Fire Chief T.L. Hatcher
Decatur Fire & Rescue
230 East Trinity Place
Decatur, Georgia 30030
tim.hatcher@decaturga.com
Office: 404-370-4168

Saturday Holiday Show/Rec. Ctr. Display

Mr. Tone's Holiday Show
11 am, Saturday, Dec. 6th
Decatur Recreation Center, 231 Sycamore St.
$2 Decatur residents; $4 non-Decatur residents

Bring the family to see this one-hour performance by former Ringling Bros. clown Mr. Tone. Enjoy classic holiday song favorites in a sing-a-long style. Mr. Tone performs magic during the show. Please contact Lee Williams, 678-553-6551, with any questions.

While you're at the Decatur Rec. Center, you'll see our holiday display in the lobby. Thanks to staff member Chris Lewis for this year's display, with a penguin theme! Chris is also our staff's resident chef, and her tilapia is world-famous.

Active Transportation for America: A Case for Increased Federal Investment in Bicycling and Walking

http://www.railstotrails.org/whatwedo/trailadvocacy/ATFA/index.html

Active Transportation for America:

A Case for Increased Federal Investment in Bicycling and Walking

Active transportation is bicycling and walking as an everyday transportation choice. "Active Transportation for America" makes the case and quantifies the national benefits for the first time that increased federal funding in bicycling and walking infrastructure would provide tens of billions of dollars in benefits to all Americans. By making active transportation a viable option for everyday travel, we will cost-effectively reduce oil dependence, climate pollution and obesity rates while providing more and better choices for getting around town. Some may view active transportation as marginal, but bicycling and walking account for 10 percent of trips in the nation. Half of the trips in America are within a 20-minute bike ride and a quarter of trips are within a 20-minute walk, yet most are taken by automobile.

Read the report to learn more about how adequate federal investment in bicycling and walking will create healthier places for healthier people.

P.S.: Very interesting chart:
http://www.railstotrails.org/resources/images/whatwedo/trailadvocacy/atfa/32.gif
Increase in Miles Driven and Obesity

Official Press Release for Park Renewal Day

Park Renewal Day Makes Lasting Impact On County Park

More than 140 enthusiastic volunteers showed up on a cool Saturday morning to clear 12 truck loads of invasive plants and trash from Dearborn Park in Decatur. By the end of the inaugural Park Renewal Day, a joint effort of the DeKalb County Parks Department, Decatur-based Renewal Construction, and City of Decatur’s Active Living Division, more than an acre of English ivy and Chinese privet were cleared from the park.

The effort was part of an ongoing plan to restore native plant species in the park and provide trails for residents. S.T.R.I.P. (Strategically Tracking and Removing Invasive Plants) is an initiative of the Parks Department and many volunteers participated in a 2-hour training class prior to the event.

“I’ve directed a lot a community cleanups and workdays in our parks, and this was one of the best,” says Dave Butler, DeKalb County Greenspace Manager. “This event has shown to be a great example of how government, business, and the community can collaborate to improve a park for city and county residents. I want to thank Renewal Construction for their generosity and commitment to the community.”

Community celebrities including Georgia State Representative Stephanie Stuckey Benfield, County Commissioner Jeff Rader, Gary Peiffer from the Extension Service, and former NFL football player and Decatur native Clarence Scott judged the quality of the work done by each of the 11 teams in their assigned plots. Prize money, donated by Renewal Construction, was given to the four highest-scoring teams. The first prize team, appropriately named “Invasive and Persuasive,” took home $1,000. The money will be donated to the group’s church. Most of the groups were competing for charitable causes. Third prize winner, the Decatur High School Bulldog Booster Club, actually donated its winnings to a competing team of Decatur High students planning to attend President-elect Obama’s inauguration. “Their resolve, diligence and purpose were inspiring to all the parents on the DBB Team, as they represent not only the next generation, but one which embraces and serves their community,” says Bill Ainslie, DBB team leader. “Our donation, while not directly supporting our athletic teams, is still an investment in our kids and money well spent.”

The success of an event like this proves that when private enterprise and local government work together, the community can accomplish so much more. State Representative Benfield was impressed by the spirit and motivation of the day. “Making the clean up a competition was a fun way to get people involved. It really motivated people to do their best. I hope we’ll see similar events organized.”


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More pictures and information can be found at:www.philzenner.com and www.parkrenewalday.com.