Reunited: Fluffy furry puppy & family

This adorable fuzzball is now safely home with family, yay!

Urban Chicken Symposium [Feb 25]

We know a lot of you are interested in urban chicken-keeping so here's an opportunity to learn more through the Urban Chicken Symposium, organized by the Oakhurst Community Garden. 

As to MANA chickens, well, we've heard DeKalb is working on changing regulations but to our knowledge, it is not legal to keep chickens in our district.

Click to enlarge.

Urban Chickens Symposium in the Heart of Oakhurst Village near Downtown Decatur February 25 

Eggstra! Eggstra! Poultry in Motion. 

On the wings of Oakhurst Community Garden Project’s wildly popular “Chicks in the City” classes comes a full day of urban poultry-keeping. On February 25 the Chicks in the City Symposium offers attendees a full plate of essentials on backyard chickens. Taught by local experts, the seven sessions highlight how-tos from bees and chickens to community co-ops. 

With urban farming on the rise, and concerns about how food is made increase, this timely full day of workshops will engage and enlighten both the committed “locavore” and curious alike. The Chicks in the City Symposium equips guests with all the resources needed to start an urban flock.  Several new topics will be covered including Baby Chicks by the Georgia Gardener, Walter Reeves.   

In an eggshell, the Chicks in the City Symposium runs from 8:30 a.m. to 4pm on Saturday, February 25 and will be held at the Oakhurst Church, 630 East Lake Drive, Decatur, GA. Cost is $65. Oakhurst Community Garden Project members pay just $50. Morning sweet tweets will be available for purchase from the Little Red Hen Bakeshop. Pre-registration is requested and limited to the first 150 registrants.  Register at Oakhurstgarden.org. Contact Andrea.zoppo@yahoo.com for questions. 

About the Oakhurst Community Garden Project Founded in 1997, and located on two acres at the corner of McDonough and Oakview in the Oakhurst neighborhood of Decatur, the Oakhurst Community Garden Project works to preserve community greenspace and cultivate the next generation of environmental stewards. We engage people of all ages to take charge of their own health and environment through hands-on gardening and outdoor education programs. Our classes, events, and volunteer projects also offer community members opportunities to enhance their own green spaces and sustainable living skills. Visit oakhurstgarden.org.

Correcting erroneous statements by APN

from the MANA Board 

Some of you may have seen a report on the Atlanta Progressive News website about the protest against Walmart at Suburban Plaza.  There are several inaccuracies in the report that we would like to correct.

Someone was quoted as saying that MANA was offered $250,000 for supporting Walmart. This is untrue. There was a person purported to be from Walmart at one of the first public meetings who was overheard saying that Walmart usually supports local schools and community projects that surround their stores.

We have always welcomed the support of the local business community for Medlock Elementary programs and other neighborhood activities such as the Senior Dinner. We will welcome any future contributions, however, none were offered in exchange for the parking variance support.

MANA agreed to support the parking variance because we felt that it was in the best interest of the neighborhood and our watershed to have as little asphalt as possible at the site, and it was our understanding that the project would continue even if the variance did not pass.

Lost Orange Tabby now FOUND

Update:   Plinko is back home with his family, YAY!! :)

Before / After view of creek (at Moody Jr. Bridge on Wood Trail Ln.)

Afternoon, Saturday (left) vs. Afternoon, Sunday (right). 

Enrollment Information for The International Community School (ICS)

1st Grade Art (from ICS on Facebook). Click to enlarge!

Last October, the DeKalb County School System approved a letter of intent from the ICS to relocate to the Medlock Elementary building.


A few months back, the DecaturMetro blog shared an email sent by the ICS school principal that outlines some of the history behind that decision.



MANA has just received the following enrollment information [March 9] and open house [Feb 4] announcement:

The International Community School (ICS), a tuition-free, public charter school, is accepting applications for the 2012-13 academic year.

Enrollment is awarded by lottery. ICS is accepting lottery applications for Kindergarten through 5th grade. The application is on the Admissions page of the ICS website and is available at: http://www.icsgeorgia.org/downloads/admissions/ICS-Application-201213.pdf 

The application deadline is Friday, March 9th. Applicants will be notified following the March 16th lottery. 

The ICS Open House for academic year 2012-13 will take place at the Decatur campus, 3260 Covington Highway, 30032, on Saturday, February 4, 2012, 10am-12 Noon. 

For more information, please contact the ICS Registrar at 404-499-8969  ext 11 or email registrar@icsgeorgia.org.

As soon as we know more, we will share.

FOUND White and black cat:

Friendly cat found! Neighbors have been taking care of it but if anyone knows who the owner is, or can offer to adopt, please see contact information below.