Clairmont Heights Civic Association

 From Jae Schmidt at Houndstooth Road:

SAVE THE DATE FOR OUR HEELS on WHEELS ANNIVERSARY RIDE: SATURDAY MAY 25TH 8:45AM

Please join us for a leisurely, fun, and festive Heels on Wheels (Sadie Hawkins style) anniversary ride beginning at Houndstooth Road with morning refreshments and rolling over to Oakhurst, Kirkwood, and back to Decatur in time to enjoy the Decatur Arts Festival. We will have a couple of stops along the route including a bite for those interested. Ladies are invited to bring along a friend, date, children, or pet! Our friends at the Atlanta Bicycle Coalition, Decatur Active Living, and Brooks England will be supporting the ride.

We have much to celebrate after our first year in Decatur and being the first Georgia bicycle retailer featured in Momentum Magazine! 

To celebrate we will be offering special sales and treats on the day of the event exclusively to participants.

Sounds like loads of fun and a great way to start off your Decatur Arts Festival Weekend!

Decatur Active Living invites you to participate in the 2013 Kaiser Permanente Corporate Run/Walk 5k as part of Team Decatur. This is a great opportunity to get fit and meet fun neighbors and community members.

This year’s run/walk will be held on Thursday, September 12 and begins in downtown Atlanta under the Olympic Rings. The run/walk concludes with the “World’s Largest Office Party” adjacent to Turner Field. Team Decatur members join together in the “team tent” and enjoy music, food and camaraderie. Everyone who registers under Team Decatur will receive a special Team Decatur dri-fit running shirt to wear during the event.

How to register? Click here and be sure to select Team Decatur from the provided list. You will be asked for a t-shirt size twice. One is the KP Run/Walk t-shirt and the next time specifies that you are choosing the size for the Team Decatur shirt which offers the option of getting a small. These shirts will be distributed before the race for you to wear while participating.

Everyone registered will be offered a free eight week training program to help them prepare for the event. For more information visit www.decaturga.com/teamdecatur or contact cheryl.burnette@decaturga.com.

The Bicycle South Ride to Stone Mountain is cancelled this morning due to the threat of thunderstorms moving in. Join us next month.

Hope to see you at the Decatur Arts Festival next weekend at the Bike Valet.

Keep on riding!

Thursday, May 16: Bike Decatur meets at 8 am at Decatur Recreation Center, 231 Sycamore Street. The meeting is open, so come on out and join in the discussion. The Bike Decatur night meeting is at 8 pm, McGowan’s Pub in Oakhurst. Check out the FB page at www.facebook.com/bikedecatur for updates on Bike Decatur.

Friday, May 17: Bike to Work Day. Stop by Decatur Recreation Center between 7 and 10 am for a refreshment break on your bicycle commute. We will greet you with coffee, juice and a pastry. And of course, a big smile!

Saturday, May 18: Beginner Group Riding skills, 10 am  – 1 pm. Decatur Recreation Center. If interested in attending register on WebTrac or  contact cheryl.burnette@decaturga.com before 5 pm on Friday.

Sunday, May 19: Bicycle South offers an easy no-drop ride to Stone Mountain Park, beginning at the store at 9 am. Refreshments at Bicycle South after the ride.

Did you kow that you can use an easy AP to log your miles? Click here to access Endomondo – it will also track your walking, running and more. Check it out!

It’s Bike to Work Week and Friday is Bike to Work Day!

Stop by the Decatur Recreation Center for a refreshment break on Friday, May 17 between 7 and 10 am for coffee, water and pastries before your bike commute to work. You will also be able to pick up a City of Decatur Bicycle Suitability Map which identifies roadways using three bicycle difficutly rankings to assist cyclists in choosing suitable routes to desired locations.

While food isn’t a cure-all when it comes to stress, what you consume has the potential to affect your body.

Alcohol, caffeine, and high-sugar foods can contribute to mood changes, excessive stress, and blood sugar disruption.

Foods rich in the vitamin B complex, on the other hand, may help you stabilize your mood and avoid stress, while those rich in antioxidants may help combat the free radicals released when your body’s stressed.

If you feel stressed this week, increase your vitamin B and antioxidant intake by opting for veggies (especially dark leafy greens), whole grains, beans, nuts and seeds.

The Monday Campaigns is a national movement backed by leading public health schools that dedicates the first day of every week to health. Every Monday, individuals and organizations join together to commit to healthy behaviors that help end chronic preventable diseases. For more information and healthy tips, click here.

Get Kids Moving and Eating Healthfully this summer.

Volunteer to CATCH Healthy Habits!

 

The CATCH Healthy Habits Program allows you to make a difference in the life of a child, in your community, and improve your health, too!  In the CATCH Healthy Habits Program, adults age 50+ teach children in grades K-5 healthy habits for a lifetime. The children and adults have a lot of fun as they learn together how to stay healthy and fit. Volunteers work together in teams, so you are never by yourself. All training and class materials are provided free of charge.

CATCH classes are one-hour long and are conducted once a week for a period of eight weeks. This summer CATCH classes will be held at several locations in the Atlanta metro area beginning the week of June 3 through the week of July 30.  Volunteer training will be held May 22 and May 23 at the Villages at Carver YMCA, in southwest Atlanta.  CATCH Healthy Habits is a wonderful way to improve your health and celebrate healthy living in your community, so join us! To volunteer or receive more information about the CATCH Healthy Habits Program, visit the CATCH Healthy Habits website www.oasisnet.org, or contact Mary Newton at ARC at 404-463-3119 or mnewton@atlantaregional.com.  CATCH Healthy Habits- It’s Contagious!

http://www.pedbikeimages.org / danburden

If it doesn’t rain again all weekend, here are a few options to help you celebrate Bike Month:

Tonight, May 10
Bike Decatur Mobile Social is at 6:30 pm. Meet at the Church Street MARTA for a leisurely 5-6 mile ride around Decatur. Decorate your bike and join us!

Saturday, May 11
Sam’s Freight Room Ride is at 2pm (tomorrow and every Saturday). Meet at 415 E Howard Avenue for an easy 11 mile ride through Avondale Estates, Oakhurst and Decatur. No drop ride and really nice folks. They usually go for pizza after the ride.

Ride Leaders Mike Masters and Mike Sheehan will host an Intro Group Riding Skills Clinic. Meet at Glennwood Academy, 440 East Ponce De Leon Avenue, Decatur GA 30030, ready to ride at 1:30pm. The clinic starts with a group discussion covering the basics of bike safety, rules of the road, and group riding skills. There will be time for questions and answers on a variety of cycling topics before the ride begins. Following the group discussion, we will put theory into practice on a 5 mile group ride around Decatur. Participants are encouraged to reconvene at Fellini’s Pizza after the ride for refreshments and socializing. For more information click here.

Since it is National Bike Month, it is a great time to review the Rules of the Road.

• Bicycles are vehicles and MUST obey traffic laws! Traffic laws that apply to vehicles also apply to bicycles. Bicyclists must obey stop signs, speed limits and traffic signals just as they would if driving a car.
• In Groups, ride no more that two abreast and as a courtesy ride single file when traffic is present in your travel direction.
• Ride on the right. Georgia Law states that bicyclists should ride as near to the right side of the roadways as possible. Bicyclists can move from the right when turning left, when avoiding hazards, when the lane is too narrow to share safely with a motor vehicle, when traveling the same speed as traffic and when passing another vehicle.
• At night, be seen!  Every bicycle must be equipped with a white front light and a rear red reflector, each visible from 300 feet. Rear red lights may be use as well.
• Don’t hit the road without a helmet! Bicycle helmets are a good idea for everyone, and required by law for every bicycle rider younger than age 16. They must be fastened on securely.
• Three Foot Rule. Motorists are required to pass cyclists by a distance of at least three feet.

Let’s all obey these rules and stay safe!

Decatur Active Living and Bike Decatur have produced a Bicycle Suitability Map for the city rating the road conditions for cycling as well as showing the location of bike lanes, water and bike parking. You can download one here, or stop by the Decatur Recreation Center or the Visitors Center to pick one up.

It’s National Bike Month and Decatur has a couple of fun activities planned this week that you won’t want to miss.

On Thursday, May 9, we are offering a FREE Introduction to Bicycle Commuting at the Decatur Recreation Center from 6:30 – 8 pm. Learn from two cyclists who commute to work and most everywhere else on their bikes. To register, contact cheryl.burnette@decaturga.com or call 678-553-6541.

 Bike Decatur and Decatur Active Living join forces for the Bike Decatur  Mobile Social on Friday, May 10. Meet at Church Street MARTA station at 6:30 pm for a leisurely 5-6 mile ride through Decatur neighborhoods. All levels are welcome. We will stop off for refreshment at one of Decatur’s water holes after the ride. Meet other cyclists and have a nice evening. Helmets are required. The ride will be cancelled in the event of rain, but we have our fingers crossed for sunshine! Decorate your bike and join us for a fun evening.

Please like Bike Decatur on Facebook!

 Thousands of children across the country will be strapping on helmets, kicking up kickstands, and putting their mettle to the pedal as they ride their bikes to school on Wednesday, May 8, in celebration of the second annual National Bike to School Day. All of Decatur’s K-3 schools, Renfroe Middle School and St. Thomas More School will be participating and competing to see which school has the highest percentage of bicyclists.

Bike to School Day encourages a bike-focused celebration in the month of May and builds on the popularity and success of International Walk to School Day, which is celebrated across the country – and the world – each October.

National Bike to School Day is part of National Bike Month, celebrating 56 years of promoting cycling. For a list of bicycling activities in Decatur, click here.

Often the actual serving size of our favorite foods is significantly smaller than we assume.

When checking nutrition labels, be on the lookout for the suggested serving size. It’s at the very top and can help you avoid some serious damage to your diet.
Learn about portions this week by laying out some of your favorite snacks according to their suggested serving size. Consider whether or not the amount matches your usual consumption.

For more Healthy Monday tips click here.

Please join the City Commissioners and the Board of Education for a short groundbreaking ceremony at the new Beacon Municipal Center on Tuesday, May 7, at 8:30am. The ceremony will take place at the Atlanta Avenue entrance to the construction site.  Parking is limited- the best option is probably on West Trinity Place at Adair Park so walk, bike or carpoo if possible.  When the construction is completed in the spring of 2014, the Beacon Municipal Center will house a new Police Department and Municipal Court, new Ebster Recreation Center with a full-size gym operated by Active Living and teh City Schools of Decatur’s Central Office.  A major storm water management facility will be built under Ebster Field.  Cost of the project: $38 million.  

  

The Clairemont Kindergarten students have become scientists, authors, illustrators, and actors as they have learned about animals found in Glenlake Park.   Additionally, each student has written and illustrated a nonfiction, informational text to be shared with the Decatur community, which will be housed in the CL Little Library at Glenlake Park.  The Little Library project is an initiative by Little Free Library (www.littlefreelibrary.org) whose mission is “To promote literacy and the love of reading by building free book exchanges worldwide.”  Special thanks to the Clairemont Kindergarten staff and parent Vance Shofner who designed and built the Little Library.  Also this Little Library has a solar light so you can see inside the Little Library when it is dark.      

Help bring in the summer with Decatur KeenAgers and other city residents by enjoying a day of fun, laughter, food, games, exercise, entertainment and music. The 12th annual KeenAgers Picnic will be held on Thursday, May 16th at McKoy Park from 10:30 am until 2 pm. All active adults are welcome to attend.

Must be a City of Decatur resident or a KeenAgers member.

This event is free, however we ask that everyone bring either a
side dish or a dessert to share. Hotdogs will be provided.

Please carpool if possible as parking is limited.

McKoy Park is located at 534 McKoy Street in the Oakhurst section of Decatur.

For more information, please contact Cheryl Burnette cheryl.burnette@decaturga.com or 678-553-6541.

Join Certified Cycling Instructor Mike Sheeham for a FREE Introduction to Cycling Class this Saturday at Decatur Recreation Center. The class runs from 9-10 am. Attendees will learn about the ins and outs of owning and using bicycles as day to day transportation. The class is geared to beginners, but all levels are welcome to attend. Register here to access WEBTRAC and  register for class # 343010-07 or register at Decatur Recreation Center.

Then on Saturday afternoon, you may want to join instructors from the Atlanta Bicycle Coalition for a free Introduction to Group Riding Skills from 1 -3 pm. Meet at Glenwood Elementary School parking lot for tips on riding in a group, then go for a short 5-6 mile ride about Decatur to put your skills into practice. All levels are welcome, but must be able to ride your bicycle. Helmets are required! You do not have to register in advance for this class.

For more information on activities for Bike Month in Decatur click here.

  A Wylde Center, DeKalb County Public Library and  City of Decatur collaboration at the Decatur Library

Over the past few years, the interest in living a more green and sustainable lifestyle has grown tremendously. The Wylde Center, the City of Decatur, and the DeKalb County Public Library are pleased to continue their collaboration on offering you an exciting FREE series of classes in 2012 and 2013. Look for seminars and workshops that provide  information that is timely and current as well as leaving with a full list of resources that can be found at your local library and online.

NO REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED!
Unless otherwise noted, events take place at the Decatur Library, 215 Sycamore Street Decatur, Georgia 30030 For more information about this series, please contact
Andrea Zoppo, andrea@wyldecenter.org..

Attracting Bees and Butterflies

Monday, May 6, 10:00-11:30am
How many of you have heard about Colony Collapse Disorder?  The beekeeper goes to his hives and there is not a bee in sight, they have all disappeared?  Although that disorder is specific to honey bees, all pollinators have been declining in numbers, including butterflies, bats, and our native bees.   Did you know that there are about 4,000 species of native bees in North America?  At least 40 native bee species are in the Southeastern United States. In this class Pandra Williams will help you understand how you can support our native butterflies and bees personally, in your garden.   Learn how to identify and support three types of gentle native bees.   Learn about the five classes of butterflies and what you need to keep them coming back to your garden.  There will be a hand’s on project; the class will build a mason bee house together.

Decatur Celebrates With a Variety of Bicycling Opportunities!

• Every Saturday: Sam’s Freight Room Ride, 2pm, Meet at 415 E Howard Avenue for an easy 11 mile ride through Avondale Estates, Oakhurst and Decatur. No drop ride.
• May 4: Introduction to Cycling, 9 – 10am. Free. Spend an hour with certified instructors learning about the ins and outs of owning and using bicycles as day to day transportation. Register on WEBTRAC.
• May 4: Introduction to Group riding Skills, 1-3pm,. FREE. Meet at Glennwood Elementary School.
• May 8: Bike to School Day
• May 9: Introduction to Bicycle Commuting, 6:30 – 8pm. Free. Decatur Recreation Center. Register on WEBTRAC.
• May 10: Bike Decatur Mobile Social, 6:30pm. Meet at Church Street MARTA for a short ride around Decatur.
• May 13 – 17: Bike to Work Week
• May 17: Bike to Work Day: Riders are invited to stop by Decatur Recreation Center between 7 and 10 am for coffee and pastries before your bike commute to work. Decatur Bikes is also offering a refreshment stop  for Bike to Work Day.
•  May 18: Beginner Group Riding Skills, 10am – 1pm. Class includes one hour of self study. Register on WEBTRAC.
• May 19:  Bicycle South offers an easy no-drop ride to Stone Mountain Park, beginning from the store at 9 am. Refreshments at Bicycle South after the ride.
• May 25 – 26: Bike Valet parking is offered at the Decatur Arts Festival. Sponsored by Bicycle South and the City of Decatur.

 

Recent research shows that cultural activities, such as going to a museum exhibit or creating an art display, increase happiness and satisfaction in life while decreasing depression and anxiety.

Activities that involve being active in the creative process are more beneficial than passive and receptive activities (i.e. watching television).

This week, experiment with a creative activity that interests you–it can be anything from photography or painting to arranging flowers or singing.