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Digital TV Converter Box Coupon Program
Please click
here for information regarding the TV Converter Box
Coupon Program.
For more information regarding
digital conversion please visit the following website.
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Decatur Playbook
The new quarterly issue of the Decatur Playbook is
here. Get more info. on Decatur Active Living programs, classes,
sport leagues, etc.:
Click
here to obtain one.
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Peanut Recall Update
For an updated list of all the products recalled for possible
Salmonella contamination, see the FDA's list of recalls.
Friends and family who do not
have access to the Internet can call CDC for a list of products
recalled at 1-800-CDC-INFO.
For information about the
outbreak and Salmonella the consumer can check the CDC website.
Consumers can also check the
American Peanut Council website
for a list of companies that are not involved in the recall and click
on Salmonella updates.
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Federal Legislative Alert
The National Recreation and Park Association launched a
campaign to defeat an amendment to the economic stimulus package that
would ban the use of those funds for local parks. The amendment,
proposed by Senator Coburn states: "no funds in the bill can be
used for any casino or other gambling establishment, aquarium, zoo,
golf course, swimming pool, stadium, community park,
museum, theater, art center, and highway beautification project."
Call Your Senators TODAY and Ask Them to Oppose the Coburn
Amendment That Prohibits Funding for Community Parks!
You can find contact information for your senator at www.senate.gov.
Federal House
of Representatives Page Program
For more information please click
here.
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New GoDeKalb Website and Newsletter
Click
here to view.
___________
Mayor Floyd of
Decatur Discusses Proposed Cap on Property Taxes. Click
here to view.
___________
N. Decatur Road
Improvements and Emory Village Roundabout
According to DeKalb County officials, road
improvements on North Decatur Road and the long-planned roundabout in
Emory Village are moving forward, as roadwork began in January.
The
roadwork consists of three phases. First, outdated water lines
along North Decatur Road through Emory Village will be replaced by
DeKalb County. This project began in January and is estimated to last
through March. Most of the roadwork schedule for the water lines
will occur at night (between 8 p.m. and 5 a.m.), with the exception of
Friday and Saturday nights. There may be some work done in the daytime,
but it is not planned for the roadway.
Read the complete article.
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DeKalb Crime Data Now Available Online
Just visit the DeKalb Police website
and click on the "CRIMETRAC" link at the bottom of the page.
If you have any challenges with
accessing the information, please contact J.A. Hightower.
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DeKalb County Homestead Exemptions
If you purchased your home in 2008, you have until March 1
to file for a Homestead Exemption in DeKalb County. To be granted a
homestead exemption, you must actually occupy the home, and the home
must be considered your legal residence for all purposes.
Homestead exemption applications
are accepted year-round in DeKalb County, but in order to be processed
in the current year, the application must be received by March 1 with
the tax commissioner's office.
Homeowners who receive the benefit of homestead exemption may also
apply for a property assessment freeze to help offset future increases
in property value.
Call (404) 298-4000 for more information.
WebLink: Georgia
Property Tax Guide & Exemptions
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In the News
Headlines from throughout Georgia and the Nation
Fulton Ties Grady Funding
to Fiscal Disclosure, Grady Seeks Help From Other Counties
Atlanta Progressive
News
About 20 activists
representing numerous local and state organizations gathered at the Capitol
Tuesday morning, February 03, 2009, to urge Georgia lawmakers to fully
fund the state's trauma care network and school nursing program.
To read more click here.
We the People Need a Lobbyist
Atlanta Journal Constitution
Roy
Barnes
Many
Georgians have watched with trepidation the growing influence of the
special interests and their private agents - their lobbyists - in
controlling public policy in the halls of our state Capitol. I,
for one, have come to the conclusion that since gifts blind the wise,
the only way we the people can combat this growing influence with our
elected officials is to hire our own "People's Lobbyist" and
make sure that he or she has an expense account with enough money to be
able to ply the General Assembly with the finest food and wine, tickets
to any event they desire, and maybe even a jet aircraft so our elected
officials can make sure they will not be tardy for their junkets.
To read more click here.
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Words of Wisdom Essay Topic
Alltel invites all current and prospective students of
America's participating black colleges and universities to enter the
Words of Wisdom essay contest by answering this poignant question:
The election of our country's first African American
president that the dream of change can become a reality.
As a people, we've shown what we can do when called upon
for change. How are you being called to build upon this new
spirit of change?
To learn more click
here.
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MetLife Foundation
Community-Police Partnership Awards
MetLife Foundation and the Local Initiatives Support
Corporation (LISC) are partnering for the eighth year to
recognize, sustain and share the work
of innovative partnerships between community groups and police to
promote neighborhood safety and revitalization.
For more information click
here.
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Legislative Survey
Do you support imposing a $1 increase on the
cigarette tax in Georgia?
Click Here
to take survey.
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CHANGE IN DATE AND VENUE!
DeKalb House
and Senate Public Hearing
Tuesday,
February 10, 2009
7:00 pm
DeKalb Tech
Conference Center
495 North
Indian Creek Drive
Clarkston,
Georgia 30021
For more
information email
Rep. Stephanie Stuckey Benfield.
Directions to DeKalb Tech Conference
Center: From I-285 - Exit 41 at Memorial Drive. If NORTHBOUND, turn
right and go to 4th light. If SOUTHBOUND, turn left and go to
5th light. At the light, turn left into rear DTC parking lot,
then turn right. At the 2nd parking lot opening, turn left.
Parking is available underneath, in rear and in front of
Conference Center. Elevator located in parking lot under the building.
If traveling west on Memorial Dr., after Rays Road, turn right at the
4th light into the rear parking (pass Publix and Office Depot).
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Georgia
Legislative Update
Governor
Perdue Announces January Revenue Figures
Governor Sonny Perdue announced today that net
revenue collections for the month of January 2009 (FY09) totaled
$1,575,265,000 compared to $1,837,297,000 for January 2008 (FY08), a
decrease of $262,032,000 or 14.3 percent. The percentage
decrease year-to-date for FY09 compared to FY08 is 4.8 percent.
Legislation
Amending
HOPE Trigger Reductions (HB 157)
-Georgia's lottery is the envy of all lotteries around
the country. Known as one of the best performing year after year it
is able to provide thousands with the Hope Scholarship and Pre-K.
With that said, the House voted today for HB 157, 159-0.
In 2004 the General Assembly passed legislation that
requires book allowance for the HOPE Scholarship to be cut in half if
the state has to use reserves to pay for the programs. The fear was
that expenses would outpace lottery revenues.
But HB 157 changes that by saying book allowances would
only be cut after lottery revenues dropped well below the cost of the
program. The hope is to keep the 2004 law from going into effect and
denying books for HOPE scholars. Some students can pay as much as
$400 for books per semester.
Projections indicate there will be a $55.8 million
increase in HOPE and Pre-K expenses and current lottery revenue
figures cannot keep up with this pace. Consequently, this would wipe
out books for HOPE Scholars.
Georgia Nuclear Energy Financing Act (SB 31)-would
provide for a utility to recover from its customers the
costs of financing associated with the construction of a nuclear
generating plant. The bill was adopted by the Senate Regulated
Industries and Utilities committee.
Transportation Sales Tax (SB 39)-was
overwhelmingly approved by the Senate 52-3. The bill allows
special transportation districts across the state to offer referenda
calling for a 1 percent sales tax to be used to fund transportation
projects in those districts. Enabling legislation for SR 44 was also adopted
by a vote of 53-2.
In other news, House Republican leaders introduced
legislation calling for a state-wide sales tax increase, subject to
approval by the voters in 2010, to go for transportation projects.
Included in the legislation is a list of projects on how the funding
would be spent. This is expected to raise $25 billion over 10 years
and then end at that time. It would be managed by the State Road and
Tollway Authority and an oversight committee would be charged with
making sure the money is spent on the approved projects. The Governor
would have three appointments and the Lt. Governor and Speaker of the
House would each have four appointments.
Trauma Funding (HB
148)-would establish a fee on vehicle
tags to fund trauma care. HB 160 would increase fines
on "super-speeders" to fund trauma care in Georgia.
School Board Accountability (SB
84)-would require more accountability
of local school boards by standardizing board ethics policies and
board training, clarifying law delineating the roles and
responsibilities of superintendents and board members and
creating minimum qualifications for board candidates. The
bill also gives the state the
ability to find responsible citizens to serve on school boards when
existing members fail to serve the interests of their students.
Events
Chief Justice
Set to Retire
Chief Justice of the Georgia
Supreme Court Leah Ward Sears gave her final State of the Judiciary
speech today before a joint session of the General Assembly. Justice Sears
was the first African American women appointed to the Georgia Supreme
Court, by then Governor Zell Miller. She was also the youngest
Supreme Court Justice appointed having been named to the state's top
court at the age of 36. Justice Sears will be retiring this summer
and will be replaced as Chief Justice by Justice Carol Hunstein.
Governor Perdue will name her replacement to the bench.
In her speech she said,
"We are frequently reminded that government cannot do
everything. And that is true. Government cannotdo
everything, and in times like these, government cannot afford to do
everything. But there are some things that only government can
do, and these things it must do well. Administering justice
under the law is a function that only government can fulfill.
The determination of guilt and innocence, property rights and
parental rights, legal privileges and power are judgments only
government can make. Administering justice is one of the
reasons governments exist. If we neglect this fundamental
obligation to the people, we break trust with them, and ultimately,
lose their confidence. And for government, public trust and
confidence is everything."
In conclusion she noted,
"Finally, I want to thank the people of Georgia for giving me
this extraordinary opportunity. I want to thank the millions I've
never met personally who are simply good, solid, hardworking people.
Those who voted for me, called me with their words of support, sent
me notes and wrote me letters along the way. They were the ones who
decided - not once, not twice, but three times - that I was worth
keeping around by electing me to office."
United Way of Metropolitan Atlanta Legislative
Update
Extension of
Legislative Session
A busy week ended with the Georgia General Assembly, at
day 15 of a maximum 40, agreeing to slow their work down, concluding
this year's session during the week of June 22nd.
Between now and March 25th, they will officially meet Tuesday through
Thursday, saving five days in June to wrap-up and adjourn.
This unprecedented move gives lawmakers time to prepare for a number
of different scenarios. First the Governor may need to revise
the state revenue estimate downwards forcing even more budget cuts,
and at this point nobody is really sure by how much. January revenue
collections were 14.3 percent less than collected in January, 2008.
Second, lawmakers will be able to factor the effect of a
Congressional stimulus package, not yet
passed, into the state budget. And finally, by tying up most of their
work by March 25th, lawmakers will be in a position to override some
of Perdue's anticipated vetoes, including one to restore $428 million
in Homeowners Property Tax Relief Grants
this year.
Budget
Lawmakers convened to contend with a $2.2 billion budget
deficit which grows to $2.8 billion by restoring the Homeowner
Grants. The state's declining revenue collections could push
the deficit well beyond $3 billion.
For more than a decade, Georgia has systematically cut all of the fat
from its budget. When these lean times arrived, there was
nothing left to trim but the health and human services Georgians now
need most.
The dollar figures associated with each budget cut don't begin to
convey the pain needy Georgians will feel, but readers who want these
can find them among the Georgia Budget & Policy Institutes' publications.
As more breadwinners lose that paycheck, basic needs must still be
met - the rent or mortgage, food, utilities and transportation - but
with fewer DFCS eligibility workers, even those of us who qualify for
help won't get it.
When we lose health insurance, we won't be able to rely upon the
county health department or a community clinic. Instead, we
risk ending up in a hospital emergency room, forcing us into
bankruptcy.
Some of us will become eligible for Medicaid, but Georgia may be unable to contribute
enough matching funds to cover us or the care we need. And while
Congress has reauthorized law increasing
resources for PeachCare, coverage depends upon state matching funds
(25 percent) and family premiums.
Children traumatized by unstable conditions experience
developmental and learning challenges. At best, they will find
themselves in an overcrowded classroom and without access to a school
nurse. If we ourselves need to retrain for a new career,
educational resources may not be at the ready either. And for
those lucky enough to land a job, don't count on any help with
childcare expenses to tide you through.
Finally, we know that in troubled times, more of us suffer mental
depression, abuse alcohol and drugs, or are prone to child abuse and
domestic violence at home. But we shouldn't count on much help,
because the resources won't be there. Even those of us not
directly affected by the recession or housing crisis must contend
with the blight posed by vacant properties that make our
neighborhoods unsafe, but supports to do so are few.
Charities alone won't be able to fill these needs. Please call or
write your legislator to ask his or her help in restoring cuts now
under consideration. Most of these are to be found in the
Departments of Human Resources, Community Health and state education budgets.
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DeKalb County
Budget Hearings
A Message
from DeKalb County CEO Burrell Ellis
To make your priorities our county
government's priorities, one of the most important tools in our
toolkit is our annual budget. This is how we pay for a county
government that gets the job done for you, delivering the services
you expect on time, within budget, and with a smile.
The first budget of our new
administration is now out. I want to share some of the highlights
with you, especially:
The national -- indeed global -- economic downturn has had a
significant impact on what we can spend. To bring the 2009 budget
back into balance, I have cut $189 million from departments, but I am
confident that all of our county departments will be able to continue
the level of service and professionalism that you expect.
The budget strongly supports public
safety and continued projects of the 2006 Bond Referenda.
The establishment of a Chief Public
Safety Officer to oversee and coordinate the operation of Police,
Fire Rescue, Medical Examiners Office, the Juvenile Court, the
Recorders Court (which has reportedly lost millions of dollars in
revenue in the recent past) and to upgrade our 911 emergency computer
software (which is severely inadequate).
Continuation of the 18-month Master
Police Officer incentive plan designed to retain senior officers who
attain this designation.
The allocation of 52 new positions to cover the scheduled new library
openings during 2009.
Continued expedition of implementing
the 2006 Bond Projects -- construction of Transportation, Library and
Parks and Greenspace Projects.
Continued focus on upgrading public
safety facilities, equipment and capabilities. The recommendation
includes $1.5 million to continue the process of converting all
public safety communications (radios) to state-of-the-art digital
platforms. The computer system in the county's 911 Emergency Center
is severely inadequate and must be fixed.
For more information on the 2009 budget, please visit their website.
Tuesday,
February 10, 2009
7:00 pm -
8:30 pm
Stephenson
Middle School
922 Stephenson Rd.
Stone Mountain, Georgia 30087
Wednesday,
February 11, 2009
7:00 pm -
8:30 pm
Torah Day School
1985 LaVista Rd., NE
Tucker, Georgia 30329
Thursday, February 12, 2009
7:00 pm -
8:30 pm
Exousia
Ministries
2652 Bond St.
Lithonia, Georgia 30058
Tuesday,
February 17, 2009
7:00 pm -
8:30 pm
St. Timothy United MethodistChurch
5365 Memorial Dr.
Stone Mountain, Georgia 30083
Thursday,
February 19, 2009
7:00 pm -
8:30 pm
Berean
Community Center
2440 Young Rd.
Stone Mountain, Georgia 30088
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Community
Calendar/News
Vote for
Atlanta Women's Pro Soccer Team Name
Visit their website or the Georgia State
Soccer Association website for more
information about the contest and the team.
DeKalb County Habitat of Humanity
Applications
Being Accepted for Homeownership
March
13, 2009 Deadline
For
an application click here.
DeKalb NAACP Centennial Celebration
Thursday,
February 12, 2009
7:00
pm
Saint
Philip A.M.E. Church
240
Candler Road SE
Atlanta,
Georgia 30317
PRISM Community Forum
Thursday,
February 12, 2009
St.
Timothy United Methodist Church/Fellowship Hall
5365
Memorial Drive
Stone
Mountain, Georgia 30083
League of Women Voters Legislative Day
Wednesday,
February 10, 2009
8:00
am - 11:00 am
Central
Presbyterian Church
201
Washington St. SW
Atlanta,
Georgia 30303
Belvedere Little League Baseball Registration
February
7, 14, 21 and 28, 2009
12:00
pm - 4:00 pm
Shoal
Creek Park
3630
Glenwood Road
Decatur,
Georgia 30032
For
more information call (404) 289-3073.
Park Pride's Annual Inspiration Awards
Nominations
due by February 13, 2009
For
more information please click here.
Donations for Children in Transitional Housing
Initiative
for Affordable Housing
To
make a donation call Lisa Wise at (404) 299-9979.
DeKalb Neighborhood Stabilization Program
Meeting
Information
session for real estate professionals
Saturday,
February 14, 2009
10:00
am - 12:00 pm
Maloof
Auditorium
1300
Commerce Drive
Decatur,
Georgia 30030
Help Southern Hope Humane Society
Adopt
a Stuffed Pet
For
more information click here.
Poor Peoples Days at the Capitol
Wednesday
and Thursday, February 11-12, 2009
9:00
am
9
Gammon Avenue
Atlanta,
Georgia 30315
For
more information call (404) 622-7778 or by email.
Greenprints 2009
March
25-26, 2009
Hyatt
Regency Atlanta
265
Peachtreet Street NE
Atlanta,
Georgia 30303
For
more information click here.
Georgia Afterschool Institute 2009
March
10-12, 2009
Holiday
Inn Conference Center
To
register click here.
Providing Resources & Opportunities that
Matters
PROM
United
Way Women's Legacy-DeKalb
To
make a donation or for more information contact Cheryl Flowers.
Magical Morning for Children
Stories
and Fairy Tales
Tuesday,
February 10, 2009
11:00
am
Decatur
Recreation Center
231
Sycamore Street
Decatur,
Georgia 30o30
Free STD Testing
Wednesday,
February 9, 2009
10:30
am - 2:30 pm
Georgia
Perimeter College
Clarkston Campus
Building
N-2130
555
N Indian Creek Drive
Clarkston, Georgia 30021
HBCU Career Fair
Wednesday,
February 11, 2009
10:00
am - 2:00 pm
SAM
NUNN ATLANTA FEDERAL CENTER
The 1924 Rich's Building
100 Alabama Street SW
Atlanta, Georgia 30303
Lunch and Learn Seminar
Reducing Health Disparities and Increasing
Health Outcomes
Thursday,
February 12, 2009
11:30
am - 2:00 pm
Bohan
Auditorium
DeKalb County Board of Health
Richardson Building, 2nd floor
445 Winn Way
Decatur, Georgia 30030
Death Penalty Forum
Thursday,
February 12, 2009
7:00
pm
Georgia
State School of Law
Room
201
140
Decatur Street
Atlanta,
Georgia 30303
For
more information contact the Georgians for Alternatives to the Death Penalty.
Leapin' Lizards
Valentine's Day Parents Night Out
Saturday,
February 14, 2009
7:00
pm - 11:00 pm
185
Sams Street
Decatur, Georgia 30030
Dangers Threatening DeKalb Teenagers and How to
Protect Them
Dunwoody
High School PTSO
Thursday
February 12, 2009 (Adults Only)
6:30
pm - 8:30 pm
Dunwoody
High School
5035
Vermack Road
Dunwoody,
Georgia 30338
The REAL State of the Union
Georgia
WAND
Tuesday,
February 10, 2009
7:00
pm
Hillside
Chapel and Truth Center
2450
Cascade Road
Atlanta,
Georgia 30311
For
more information contact Georgia WAND at (404) 524-5999.
New Family Registration Period
City
Schools of Decatur
This
registration will take place at the Central Office at Westchester
(758 Scott Blvd., Decatur, Georgia 30030) on February 2-27 from 8:00
am - 4:30 pm. This information can also be found on our website
(www.csdecatur.org)
and on the registration webpage.
Meet Children's Author Jeff Kinney
Wednesday,
February 11, 2009
4:30
pm
Decatur
Recreation Center
231
Sycamore Street
Decatur,
Georgia 30030
For
more information visit the Little Shop of Stories website.
3rd Annual Decatur Concert
Hosted
by the Dogwood Alliance
Saturday,
May 2, 2009
3:00
pm - 9:00 pm
For
more information contact Cheryl Burnette, Beth Bond or John Beal.
Call for Silent Auction Items
Breakthru House 40th Anniversary Celebration
April
16, 2009
Northside
United Methodist Church
Please
contact Kate Boyer at (404) 284-4658
ext. 2 for any additional information.
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Job Announcements
Georgians for a Healthy Future
Executive
Director Position
Please
send (via mail, e-mail or fax) a cover letter, resume, three
references, and a salary history to:
Terri Theisen
Theisen Consulting LLC
7140 Northgreen Dr NE
Atlanta, Georgia 30328
Fax: 770-396-2385
ttheisen@earthlink.net
2010 Census Jobs Available
For more
information, contact the local Census office or call
the agency's toll-free jobs line at (866) 861-2010.
Careers.ga.gov Notification
List
To find
more extensive information about job opportunities with the
State of Georgia including information about the State's Continuous
Recruitment Job
Titles, visit The Job Site.
Internships
Upper Chattahoochee Riverkeeper
For more information on how to apply, click here.
The Democratic Party of Georgia is
currently accepting Intern applications for the spring semester.
For more information visit the party website.
The White House Project
Women Helping Women Win Internship Program
To apply please send your resume and cover letter to Stacey Chavis. The subject
line should be Capitol Internship: Your Name.
The Institute for Responsible Citizenship
The Institute for Responsible Citizenship is currently
accepting applications for its summer leadership program in
Washington , DC . The Institute provides America 's best and
brightest African American male college students with unparalleled
networking opportunities, leadership development, and lifelong
mentorship. For more information click here.
Volunteer
Opportunities
DeKalb Rape Crisis Center
To learn about ways to volunteer please visit their website.
StandUp for Kids
To see training calendar and to get more information,
please visit their website.
Scholarships
The Jackie Robinson Foundation Scholarship
Program
Provides scholarships of up to $7,500 annually to
minority high school students showing leadership potential and
demonstrating financial need to attend an accredited 4-year college
or university of their choice.
For more information go to Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ's)
page, send us an email at requests@jackierobinson.org
or call (212)290-8600.
Columbus H. Hartwell-Young Visionary Scholarship
Award
All application materials must be received by May 1,
2009. For an application contact XTM Foundation at (404)
892-7726.
Summer
Programs
Breakthrough Atlanta (housed at The Lovett
School)
Breakthrough Atlanta is looking for motivated students
who want to participate in a six-year, tuition-free academic
enrichment program. Please visit their website for additional
information.
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Upcoming
Decatur Recreation Center Events
Decatur
Youth Lacrosse
Register now at the Decatur Recreation Center
Boys Lacrosse: Ages 7-14
Girls Lacrosse: Ages 9-14
Practices and games are held at local fields.
Volunteer coaches needed!
For more information, please visit their website or contact Stacy Green at (678)
553-6549.
Youth Soccer
Register now at the Decatur Recreation Center
Ages 4-6, 6-7, 8-9, 10-11 (age control date is Sept. 1st, 2009)
Practices
begin March 9th
Season
begins March 21st
Registration
Fee: $100 City of Decatur residents; $130 non-city residents.
Girls Fast Pitch Softball
Register now at the Decatur Recreation Center
Ages 9-10,
11-12 and 13-14 (age control date is Jan. 1st) Practices begin March
7th
Season
begins March 14th
Registration
Fee: $100 City of Decatur residents; $130 non-city residents.
Coaches Needed!
Volunteer coaches are needed and welcome. If interested,
please attend the free workshop on Thursday, Feb. 26, 2009, at
the Decatur Recreation Center at 6:30 pm.
Valentine Luncheon for Grades 1-3
Saturday, Feb. 14, 2009
11:30 am
Decatur Recreation Center
Valentine Dance for Grades 4-5
Saturday, Feb. 14, 2009
6:30 pm -
8:30 pm
Decatur Recreation Center
For more information on both events, please visit the website or contact Lee
Williams at (678) 553-6551.
Be a Lifeguard or a Front Desk Attendant at a City of Decatur
Pool!
To apply online to be a lifeguard, please click here.
To apply to be a front desk attendant, please contact Desiree Kaman, HR
Director, Sears Pool Management, at (770) 993-7492.
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