Clairmont Heights Civic Association

Join Decatur Active Living for two great Valentine’s Day celebrations. Both events will be held at Beacon Hill Center, 430 West Trinity Place in Decatur on Saturday, February 11.

Valentine Luncheon for Grades 1-3
11:30am, Cost $10 for children, parents are free.
Children in grades 1 – 3 are invited for an afternoon of good food and fun as we celebrate Valentine’s Day. Participants will receive a free 4×6 photo with their parent(s). Photos will be taken promptly at 11:30am and lunch will be served at 12:15pm. Entertainment will feature audience participation activities including poetry, readings, songs and more. The luncheon is $10 for children and parents attend for free.  Participants must reserve a space by February 6th. Call 404-377-0494 to register. For more information, contact Lee Williams, 678-553-6551 or lee.williams@decaturga.com.

Valentine Dance for Grades 4-5
6:30-8:30pm, $5
Let’s Dance! Children in grades 4 – 5 are invited for an evening of music, food, fun and friends! Celebrate your Valentine’s Day with dancing and games. Doors open at 6:30pm and participants will receive a free 4×6 photo. The cost is $5 and participants must register by February 6 by contacting Stacy Green, 678-553-6549 or stacy.green@decaturga.com. The event will be supervised by Active Living staff members.

Who would have known 10 years ago (2002)  people would be so accepting of kids running around with sticks.  That would be lacrosse sticks. .  As the Athletic Program Supervisor for Decatur Active Living it still amazes me today, that the sport many kids in Decatur had never seen or heard of, has become on of our biggest programs that we offer. From starting with two teams in the 10-11 division (no girls team) and now having a total of 12 teams (8 boys teams and 4 girls teams)  ranging from first graders to 8th graders is just one of the stories I like to ”brag” about.   The league currently uses Ebster, Renfroe and the Boys and Girls Club fields for games.  Practices fields are local fields in the City of Decatur.  League games are typically played on Saturdays and Sundays and Practices are held Monday-Thursday. Decatur is one of the only teams located within the perimeter.  Teams are often finding themselves traveling to Roswell, Forsyth, Alpharetta and Peachtree City for away games.  The fun and the excitement of the game, league and season helps to take your mind off the travel time.

Not only does Decatur Active Living offer League Lacrosse  in the Spring, but we offer a Summer Lacrosse Camp (Bulldog Lacrosse) a Fall Clinic and Lil’ Lax (for kids 3-5). 

Relaxing after a day of lacrosse

Lil' Lax Class

Pre Season Highlights: 

• The addition of girls lacrosse for grades 1st-3rd
• The increase of boys lacrosse from 2 teams in the 1st-3rd grade division, to 4 teams.
• Increase in the number of participants
• League filled two weeks before registration was scheduled to end. 
• Former Decatur Lacrosse players (Paul Gillig, Margaret Johnson and Kirby Dubose) returning as coaches

On Sunday, January 29th Decatur Active Living offered a free Lacrosse Clinic to new and returning players.   There were over 100 kids to come out to the clinic.  The clinic was offered to both boys and girls.  Thanks to the coaches that assisted and to Decatur High School Boys Lacrosse team for their continued support of Decatur Lacrosse. 

So many little ones

Learning to do a face-off

Learning the basic techniques

CORE Studio on the Old Courthouse Square will begin offering lunchtime yoga on Thursday, February 2nd. The class runs from noon until 12:45 and the drop-in cost is $5. Rose Caudle, the instructor, has a dance background and teaches yoga to the CORE Performance Company as well. The class is “all levels” and you will  leave feeling refreshed and energized for the rest of the day.

For more information, contact Rose at rosec@coredance.org.

It is Healthy Monday news a couple of days late, but worth sharing!

Headaches, indigestion, loss of appetite, muscle tension, sleep issues and allergic reactions could actually be signs of stress. Giving yourself time to pause, consider the situation and breathe deeply when you encounter these signals is the first step towards finding the cause and limiting it in the future.
 
Write down any unresolved symptoms that you experience this week, along with the situation that may have sparked them. Then consult with a professional who can help you develop better coping strategies.

Basic Step Aerobics

Class meets every Monday for 8 weeks – beginning March 5th – April 23rd, 2012 from 5:45pm – 6:45pm.

Basic Step Aerobics is a fun and easy way to burn 300 – 600 calories in just one hour. The class consists of choreographed steps as well as freestyle moves.  The intensity of the workout will be determined by the speed, travel, and execution of your movements. You’ll burn fat, build muscle and increase your cardiovascular endurance. Step Aerobics focuses on abs, legs, thighs, buttocks and of course the heart.  You’ll boost your energy and improve your balance.  Step Aerobics will also improve your mental health by allowing you to release stress and have fun while meeting new people. 

The class fees are as follows:

8 sessions = $70

Walk in =$12

Cardio Strength

Cardio Strength Training – class meets every Tuesday for 8 weeks – beginning Mach 6th – April 24th, 2012 from 5:45pm – 6:45pm.

This power hour exercise class is sure to get you in shape.  You’ll use your large muscle groups in a variety of cardio workouts that will put your body in fat burning zone.  You will use a jump rope, resistance band, stability ball, weighted ball and dumbbells.  You’ll also engage in calisthenics (use of your own body weight) which will focus on your core strength. You will need to provide your own mat and weights for the strength training class.

The class fees are as follows

8 sessions = $70

Walk in =$12

Zumba

Zumba class meets every Thursday for 8 weeks – beginning March 8th – April 26th, 2012 from 5:45pm – 6:45pm

 Zumba is a Latin inspired cardio dance workout where you will burn 300 calories or more depending on how much you exert yourself.  You’ll have fun dancing while you tone and sculpt your entire body from
top to bottom.

The class fees are as follows:

8 sessions = $70

Walk in =$12

Fees are to be paid in advance to the instructor(s) prior to class.  Supplies are limited and are on a first come first served basis.  For more information, please contact Brenda Roberts-Claggette at: 706-474-2802 or email fitnessontrack@comcast.net

All Classes are held at Decatur Activie Living facilities. We are located at 230 W. Trinity Pl. behind the Decatur Police Department. For questions  about location and class schedules please contact Lee Williams at 678-553-6551 or e-mail lee.williams@decaturga.com.

Adair Dog Park Meeting         

Wednesday, February 1  

6:30pm at the Beacon Hill Complex -430 W. Trinity Place (Behind the Police Department)     

Decatur Active Living will host a dog park meeting to discuss the following items:

• review and have a discussion about exercise equipment and park amenities
• erosion issues and possible solutions
• dog festival ideas

For more information contact Gregory White, Active Living Director at 404-377-0494 or greg.white@decaturga.com 

Sunday’s weather forecast is sunny and in the mid 50s  – a good day to visit Woodlands Garden for Sundays in the Garden.  

The Garden invites the community to put on their walking shoes and explore Decatur’s seven-acre garden and Georgia Piedmont native plant habitat. Volunteers will welcome you and provide helpful information. Musical surprises await. Free and open to the public this coming Sunday, January 29 from 2 – 4pm. The garden is located at 932 Scott Boulevard, a nice walk or bike ride from downtown Decatur.

For more information about Woodlands, click here.

Decatur Recreation Center Construction enters week four and the process continues to be amazing.  I had a chance to see some of the gym floor being cut out last week and I started to reflect on all of the community activities that Decatur Active Living has hosted.  Check out the list below:

1. Decatur Youth and Adult Basketball Games

2. Senior Aerobics

3. Decatur High School Basketball Games

4. Country Dancers Jamboree

5. Nike Teen Women’s Summer League 

6. Decatur High School Volleyball Games

7. Line Dancing Jamboree

8. City of Decatur Health Fair

9. Youth Sports Parent Meetings

10. Halloween Carnival

11. Summer Camp Staff Orientation

12. Family Reunions/Community Rentals

13. Playgroups

14. Decatur High School Baseball Practice (Rainy Days)

15. Lacrosse Practices

16. Children’s Arts Festival

17. Decatur Book Festival – Children’s Event

18. Book Signings- Little Shop of Stories

19. Atlanta Symphony

20. 2011 Ice Storm the gym was opened to residents to come out and play.  Families and teens merged on the gym during those icy days.

21. Garage Sale

22. Mike Glenn Hearing Impaired Camp

23. Carter Wilson ” Fastbreak Basketball” Camp

24. Badminton Play

25. Table Tennis Play

Keep enjoying the outdoors even when the weather is cold. Exercising in cold weather burns more calories because your body works harder to stay warm. Be sure to protect yourself from the elements.

• Check with your healthcare provider if you have heart disease, diabetes or asthma as exercising in cold weather may be too stressful for you.
• Wear thick socks, gloves, and a hat. Use sunscreen to protect your skin, even on overcast days. The sun’s rays can pass through clouds.
• Dress in layers of comfortable, technical fabrics. Wear a turtleneck made from wicking material as your inner layer to draw moisture away from your body. As a middle layer, wear lightweight fleece that traps warm air. For a top layer, wear a breathable waterproof fabric.
• Allow more time – up to 10 minutes – for a gradual warm-up.
• If your hands or feet feel numb, return indoors.
• Do your final stretches indoors, where it is warm.

Winter walking tips from The Walking Deck by Shirley Archer, and published by Chronicle Books.

Whitney from FitWit invites you to join them for a week for free, a $49 value. The offer is from January 30th to
February 3rd at any of their locations: Grant Park, Decatur High School and Midtown.

This is a great opportunity to check out why FitWit is so popular andwhen you sign up for your free week, you’ll get 3 additional bonuses:

1.      6-Week Healthy Eating Meal Plan & Nutrition Guide
2.      Invitation to our next “Eat Well” presentation on Feb. 4 at 9 am
3.      Body Analysis and Measurement Session

To sign up, please email whitney@fitwit.com before Janaury 27th  and indicate your preferred location. Time slots vary by location.  For more information on FitWit, click here.

Be sure to visit the Kaiser Permanente website, EveryBody Walk!, an online educational campaign aimed at getting Americans up and moving. They are working to spread the message that walking 30 minutes a day, five days a week really can improve your overall health and prevent disease. The site provides news and resources on walking, health information, walking maps, how to find walking groups, a personal pledge form to start walking, as well as a place to share stories about individual experiences with walking. There is even an ap for both Smartphones and IPhones.

Also on the site are links to their partners, including Walk For Lunch, which will begin in Decatur on March 13th. So what are you waiting for? Start walking more today!

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It can be tempting to focus on just one variable when deciding if a food is healthy, but even calories don’t tell all. It’s important to also choose nutrient-dense foods: a high fiber, vitamin rich meal will keep you fuller, longer and help you eat less overall. Nutrition labels list how much of each nutrient is in a serving.
 
Use nutritional labels this week and see if you’re getting the most bang for your bite! Try replacing some of your empty calories with nutrient-dense foods.

Saturday January 14th was a great day for a service project. Ebster Teen Club participated in it’s second MLK Service Day Project.  We had a total of 10 teens to participate. Our teen were split into 2 teams and were assigned to different locations. Tavelus Johnson and Irin Pitman (Ebster Recreation Center Staff) assisted the teens with their assigned duties. Both teams were assigned yard work, that also included removal of debris.

The weather was perfect for a yard clean-up day.  Once we arrived at our location we found that another team was already busy at working preparing the yard.  We introduced ourselvs and found out that this team was a family that had volunteered from Sandy Springs. We were suprised to find out that they had heard of this great event all the way in Sandy Springs. The dad informed us that his daughter had volunteerd during last years MLK Weekend, so they decided to make this year a family event.

What a great way to remember all the great works and service that Dr. Martin Luther King passed on to our generation.  This is what service is all about giving of of your time and effort to make someone elses day a little brighter. Working with people from different backgrounds and cultures helps makes the heavy lifting a lot lighter. This was a great experience for our teens and staff alike. They are already looking forward to next years MLK Weekend.

Decatur Active Living is excited to offer the Walk for Lunch program for three months this Spring! We will begin walking in March and continue through the end of May every Tuesday and Thursday. We had a great group of walkers last year who enjoyed getting to know each other while getting fresh air and exercise during their lunch hour.

What is Walk For Lunch?

Walk For Lunch is a fitness program that employees can do during their lunch hour. It includes power walking and intervals of strength and body toning exercises. This unique program  provides employees with the opportunity to meet other co-workers as well as members of the community. Walk For Lunch includes a signature branded Walk For Lunch t-shirt; trainer led group walks for every mile; direct access to a personal trainer; and all the fun you can have!

Walkers will check-in at noon and win prizes provided by our sponsors. Certified fitness instructors will lead you on a 1 – 3 mile power walk beginning at the Decatur Square.

For more information and to register, click here.

If January has gotten you fired up about fitness and you have been walking more, you may experience some calf tightness. With each step, your calf muscle contracts as the ball of your foot pushes off. Lengthen the muscle in the back of your lower legs, relieve calf tightness, and retain ankle flexilbilty with the following stretches.

Calf Stretch #1

• Stand with your feet hip-width apart.
• Take a generous step back. Push the heel of your back leg into the ground as you straighten your leg and lengthen your torso. Tighten abdominal muslces to support your lower back. Place hands on a wall. tree or mid-thigh for support. Avoid putting any pressure on your knee joint.
• Inhale. As you exhale, try to stretch more by sliding the heel of your back leg further away.
• Inhale deeply and exhale completely as you hold the stretch for 15 to 30 seconds

Calf Stretch #2

• Slide your back foot forward until your hip and torso are upright. Keep your back foot flat on the ground as you bend your knees and lower your hips downward.
• Repeat with your other leg.

Stretches from The Walking Deck by Shirley Archer.

Decatur High School vs South Atlanta

All 2011-2012 Decatur Active Living Youth Basketball Players will be allowed to attend Decatur High School’s Varsity basketball game free with one paying adult.  All players must wear their youth basketball shirt.  Participants please sit behind the goal located near the home team bench.

Girls game begins at 5:30pm

Boys game begins at 7pm

Come out and support Decatur High School Basketball.  Go Decatur!

New research from Southern California has foun that residents of neighborhoods with a central core of shops and services – a pattern typically found in older, traditional communities-walk nearly three times more often than do residents of neighborhoods whose nearest shops and services lie along a major arterial roadway, a pattern typically found in newer suburban development.  To read more:

http://www.theatlanticcities.com/commute/2012/01/what-neighborhoods-need-succeed-walkability/922/

There’s no doubt that music and mood are closely related- that’s why lullabies exist! Listening to happy, upbeat tunes tends to make you more cheerful than when you listen to slow, sad music.  Your emotional state plays a big role in how you perceive the world, so your favorite songs may actually help you have a more positive day.

Set yourself up for a better week this Monday by composing a CD or playlist of music that makes you smile or feel happy.  Listen to your tunes if you feel blue, start stressing or just want to enjoy

Decatur Recreation Center construction enters into week two and amazing demolition has taken place in this historic facility in the community. I was able to visit the facility on yesterday and captured the following pictures.  Renovation Fact: The gym bleachers will be reused as nice finishing for the walls in the front lobby.  Bond dollars at work.  Stay connected to the recreation center construction updates by viewing www. beactivedecatur.com

At Clairemont, Church Street and Commerce Intersections and Church Street Bicycle Lanes

 A community worshop to discuss alternative plans for pedestrian safety improvements at Clairemont, Church Street and Commerce intersections and Church Street bicycle lanes will be held on Thursday, January 12 from 6pm-8pm in the City Commission meeting roo of Decatur City Hall, 509 North McDonough Street, in downtown Decatur.  As part of the City’s capital improvements program, the purpose of the work is to improve safety and accessibility for pedestrians, bicyclists and others using these facilities.

The City has retaine the firm of Development Planning and Engineering to help plan the project, which will be partially funded through grants from the Georgia Department of Transportation.  An initial workshop to outline project goals was held in September.

The project is based on Decatur’s 2008 Community Transportation Plan and is a project in the 2010 Strategic Plan.  A major goal of the Community Transportation Plan is to encourage healthy lifestyles and active living in Decatur.