inDECATUR

Ildiko wins 1/31/2009 Corner Pub Chowder-Off

Ildiko, from Hungary, won this year's Corner Pub Chowder-Off.

This blogger couldn't hear the name of the Honorable Mention winner in the video. Anybody know it?

Here are the judges:

Here's a video including some still shots, Josh announcing the winners, and some city boys trying to sing like country boys:

The Corner Pub contributed 20% of all proceeds to the Trackside Employee Fund.

For a larger image of the winner and her award, see the continuation.

Service for George Czarkowski, Doc Al's dad

Gerri delivered a great memorial service for George Czarkowski, the father of Doc Al, owner of the Trackside Tavern. Pat, Doc's best friend, read a touching letter from George's wife, who could not come down from NJ because her 92-yr-old mother depends upon her.

This memorial was set up next to the guest register:

George served in Korea before serving 35 years as a firefighter in New Jersey. The momentos indicate his interests.

The inset image is when the Tavern was temporarily renamed "Jersey George's Tavern" when Doc and Pat went to Key West for a week, leaving George with some duties at the pub.[Unfortunately, it was taken head-on so the flash blocked out the image of George. Somebody will probably post a good image soon.]

George was relieved of a two year fight with cancer. As Gerri said (loosely paraphrased), sometimes God takes the disease, and sometimes he takes the person from the disease.

Having just lost a cousin to cancer on almost the same day, and having lost a mother to cancer in the 60s, this blogger finds consolation in that thought.

Lots of Decatur "active living" announcements

231 Sycamore has about a half dozen new posts covering active living events in Decatur and Atlanta.

Rather than post on each of them, inDECATUR will simply point you in that direction.

Selected events may be covered in later posts, as the dates approach.

DHS Career Awareness Week

Lauri McKain-Fernandez, the DHS principal posted this on her Blogging Bulldog blog and e-mailed requesting local blogs mention it:

Our Career and Technology Department has spent a lot of time and energy educating our students about the careers and experiences that await them after high school. Next week, the department is hosting our annual Career Awareness Week. Many parents and community members will take part in the events, explaining their career and the training it took to accomplish success in their given field. Please see the events below. The community is welcome to participate, and is in fact, critical to the success of this experience. Please contact Mr. Duane Sprull at dsprull@csdecatur.org if you are able to participate.

At the very least, expect to see our students Monday afternoon scouring the city for businesses who are participating in a Scavenger Hunt. If you see teenagers who look lost, please offer your guidance!

See the full agenda by day at her blog, linked above.

More big promises from President Obama

President Barack Obama on Saturday promised to lower mortgage costs, offer job-creating loans for small businesses, get credit flowing and rein in free-spending executives as he readies a new road map for spending billions from the second installment of the financial rescue plan.

The White House is deciding how to structure the remaining half of the $700 billion that Congress approved last year to save financial institutions and lenders. An announcement was possible as early as this coming week on an approach that would use a range of tools to unfreeze credit, helping families and businesses.

Obama's message, largely repackaged from a week of White House statements, was as much for the country as it was for lawmakers: Pass the separate American Recovery and Reinvestment Plan [Over $800B, only 21% of which will enter the economic bloodstream in FY 2009 -- see yesterday's post & comments] or things are going to get worse.

Republicans pledged to work with Obama. But they cautioned against treating government spending like a "trillion-dollar Christmas list" and renewed their opposition to much in the bill.

Yahoo News

Fourth of value of average DeKalb home has evaported in a year

Average home prices in DeKalb County plummeted 27 percent last month, compared with December 2007, largely because of a growing number of foreclosures.

The average sales price for single family homes declined from $208,671 in December 2007 to $151,935 last month, according to a report by the DeKalb Association of Realtors.

DeKalb’s price decline is worse than the overall metro Atlanta drop of about 13 percent last year. Home prices in the county were dragged down by a rash of foreclosures in south DeKalb, said Tal Kramer, a real estate agent with ReMax Communities.

“It has one of the highest percentages of foreclosures going on,” Kramer said.

The part of DeKalb that saw the biggest drop in average price for the entire year, almost 45 percent, was near the Scottdale area, in the 30079 zip code. Belvedere Park, the 30032 zip code near Avondale Estates, had the second-biggest drop in value for the year, of almost 40 percent, said Kramer, who analyzed sales activity in all areas of DeKalb.

AJC

I would not count on seeing a 27% reduction in your property taxes. The 30030 zip code had a 1.4% increase. Assessments don't go down as fast as they go up. And, as the previous post mentions, you'll get no homeowner's grant from the state next year.

Don't look for homeowner tax break from state anytime soon

The House overwhelmingly approved legislation Friday that will force local governments to either raise taxes or cut spending this fall.

The legislation, sponsored by House Ways & Means Chairman Larry O’Neal (R-Bonaire), promises that the state will cover the homeowners’ property tax grants that homeowners have already received from their local governments. Gov. Sonny Perdue had cut the $428 million to pay for them out of the mid-year budget.

However, the legislation, which passed 117-55, sets up a formula for funding the grants in future years that all but guarantees they won’t be available again any time soon.

The Senate is expected to quickly move on the bill. Perdue has not said if he’ll sign it. He has been a critic of the grant program, which he said has not held down taxes as intended.

The program provides money to local governments to offset property taxes. The grants have saved many homeowners $200 to $300 a year.

Under the bill, the state would only fund the program in the future if state tax collections are strong.

JS | AJC | 1/30/2009

Preakness perfoms at Wordsmiths today

Atlanta trio the Preakness will perform at Wordsmith Books in Decatur on Jan. 31. Look for the band’s debut album in the spring.

It’s a great weekend for free and inexpensive entertainment options. In addition to great music of many styles, there are great options for those looking for Super Bowl alternatives. As Black History Month begins Sunday, you’ll find many related events that offer cost-efficient ways to observe, learn and enjoy. Gwen Ifill’s speaking engagement listed below is just the beginning. For more, try our complete list of Black History Month events.

LOCAL TUNES

Atlanta’s the Preakness has that ramshackle, lo-fi indie-pop jangle in its soul and the bands songs are as catchy as a bramble. Here’s a chance to see the local trio for free — and at an earlier hour than the usual club gigs. The band’s EP (formerly available on vinyl only) is now downloadable via iTunes, but the full-length debut album is coming any day now. A CD release gig is set for late March at the EARL in East Atlanta. 8 p.m. Jan. 31. No cover. Wordsmiths Books, 545 N. McDonough St., Decatur. 404-378-7166.

SH | AJC | 1/30/2009

Observe before entering a convenience store

Steve Rose @ AJC gives an example and some good advice:

An employee of the Shell Station in the 7800 block of Holcomb Bridge Road reported that just before 10 p.m. a man entered the store and pulled a gun. He ordered the employee to put money in a green back pack he placed on the counter. The suspect fled on foot west on Holcomb Bridge. The report noted that during the robbery, a man walked in the door, saw what was happening, and said “Hell no” and then left the store. He was not there when the police arrived—which brings up a good point. If you believe in Murphy’s Law and the fact this is a small world, which you should, here is a good piece of advice about convenient stores. At night, especially late, make it a habit that before you go in the doors, find out where the clerk is. Many times during a robbery, they’ll put the clerk in the back room or the cooler. The last thing you want to do is walk in on a robbery in progress like the guy did here. Just take a couple of seconds and do a quick look-see.

The same holds true when you return to your home.  If it appears someone is in your house, and you weren't expecting anyone to be there, call 911 and wait for the cops to arrive before entering.

Alternatives to public schools in DeKalb County

DeKalb County School Watch has some suggestions:

Metro Atlanta offers a wide range of private school options for students who are better suited to different educational environments. Some of the schools even specialize in particular areas of study or focus on helping with learning disabilities. However, with tuitions over $15,000 these schools can be out of reach for many. There is hope. Below I have listed some affordable - even free - alternative education solutions when traditional DeKalb public schools are not meeting your child's needs.