🌱 1,300 Free Smoke Alarms For Georgia Residents + Senate Bill 62

Hi everyone! It's me, Cherryl Young/ MamaNyeMatters, your host of the Decatur-Avondale Estates Patch newsletter. A quick shoutout to Morning Brew for getting things brewing just for you! Now here's all the local news you need to know right now, including...

• 1,300 free smoke alarms are to be given out across Georgia.
• Recipients of the national Barry Goldwater Scholarship.
• National push against public camping while homeless.

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Here are the top stories today in Decatur-Avondale Estates:

1. Volunteers and staff at The American Red Cross of Georgia are reaching out to families in hopes to teach them the importance of fire safety. They are installing 1,300 free smoke alarms across Georgia as part of the Home Fire Campaign. The initiative started in 2014 and the Red Cross has installed 2.5 million free smoke alarms nationwide since then. (11Alive.com WXIA)
2. Two Georgia State University Honors College students, Max Budnick, and Emily Smith, have been awarded the national Barry Goldwater Scholarship. Both students are pursuing research in the fields of natural sciences, engineering, and mathematics. Only 413 other students nationwide have been recently named Goldwater scholars. (Press Release Desk)
3. Senate Bill 62 is being sponsored by 13 Republican senators. The majority of the senators are from small towns. This bill is said to be part of a national push against public camping while homeless. It has been promoted by the Cicero Institute and financed by Joe Lonsdale. It is currently awaiting Gov. Brian Kemp’s signature. (Atlanta Civic Circle)
4. The General Assembly has passed a couple of bills this year. These bills have updated the homestead tax exemptions for the city of Decatur, the City Schools of Decatur, and DeKalb County. Once the bills are signed by Gov. Brian Kemp they will be placed on the ballot as a referendum in November. Portions of the general homestead exemptions have been increased by the city and have created an exemption for owner-occupied homes on land managed through the Decatur Land Trust. (Decaturish.com)
5. It has been almost a year and a half since a home in The Brook Glen neighborhood in Decatur caught on fire and finally, the demolition has begun on the property. Neighbors say it has been an eye sore and it is cool that it is being fixed. "Better now than never," stated resident Waku Henry. (msnNOW)

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Today in Decatur-Avondale Estates:

• Art Exhibit — DeKalb County Public Library (10:00 AM)
• V Boys' Lax v. Midtown — Decatur High School (7:00 PM)
• Thomas Mullen's Blind Spots Book Launch Party (8:30 PM)

From my notebook:

• GIPL's Executive Director, Codi Norred, and The Rev. Winnie Varghese, Rector of St. Luke's Episcopal Church, will be in Atlanta on April 16 at 10:15 a.m. For "Forum on Faith-Based Care for Creation" Those interested may view it in person. (Georgia Interfaith Power & Light via Facebook)
• There will be a public meeting on Thursday, April 13 from 6:30 p.m.-7:30 p.m. The meeting is scheduled to take place at McKoy Skate Park. Add the public input for the design of the park here: americanrampcompany.com/surveys/decatur-skatepark/" (Decatur Active Living via Facebook)
• The public is invited to attend the Conversation of Understanding held this Wednesday, April 12, at 5:30 p.m. at Clairemont Elementary. Participation is both in person and virtually. (City Schools of Decatur via Facebook)

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• Atlanta Dogwood Festival VIP Experience (April 15)
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Now you're in the loop and ready to head out the door on this Tuesday! I'll see you around.

— Cherryl Young/ MamaNyeMatters

About me: Cherryl Young DBA MamaNyeMatters. I was born in Providence, Rhode Island and moved to Georgia in 2017. My first children's book, You Are the Pot of Gold at the End of the Rainbow was published in 2021. https://www.mamanyematters.com... I've worked in Atlanta and Gwinnett County Public Schools assisting children who have special needs. I studied Community Development @ Roger Williams University in Rhode Island. My Purpose In Life Is To Connect, Create, Inspire, Write, and Expand and I am ELATED to Be Here as a Contributing Writer @ Patch! Journey With Me...

Have a news tip or suggestion for an upcoming Decatur-Avondale Estates Patch newsletter? Contact me at Decatur@Patch.com