🌱Shrimp Recall+Commissioner Cochran-Johnson Dollar Store Restrictions

Hi there, friends! It's a fantastic Friday in Decatur-Avondale Estates and I'm back in your inbox with everything that's fit to print about what's happening locally, including updates on:

• Commissioner Cochran-Johnson's interview with the New York Times
• Avondale Estates receiving the Tree City USA Growth Award
• Lidl grocery store recalling its ready-to -eat Tapas brand Cocktail Shrimp

But first, today's weather: Occasional rain and a t-storm. High: 75 Low: 48.

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

1. Commissioner Cochran-Johnson of DeKalb County has been interviewed more than 20 times and was recently featured in a New York Times article for her willingness to address the rapid increase of dollar stores and similar retail store's negative effect within certain communities. After approximately three years of talks and research Commissioner Cochran-Johnson and the DeKalb County Board of Commissioners unanimously passed amendments to the DeKalb Zoning Ordinance which set distance requirements for SBDRS in hopes to decrease crime linked to these types of stores. The amendments were passed in December of 2022. DeKalb County is one of almost 50 counties that have enacted moratoriums on SBDRS. (atlantadailyworld)
2. DeKalb County Recreation, Parks and Cultural Affairs recently announced they will host the Summer Food Service Program this year from June 5 – July 21. This initiative makes it possible for school aged children to have nutritious meals during the summertime. In order to qualify as a site to serve meals, 50 percent of the children neighboring the site must meet the income guidelines for free and reduced meals that are set in the National School Lunch Program.
   The funding for the program derives from the U.S. Department of Agriculture. (Press Release Desk)
3. Lidl grocery store made an announcement yesterday that it is recalling its ready-to-eat Tapas brand Cocktail Shrimp by Lidl, 7-ounce package. The recall is due to the possibility of Listeria monocytogenes contamination. Lidl locations are in Atlanta, Mableton, Marietta, Decatur, East Cobb, Jonesboro, Peachtree Corners, Roswell, Snellville, Duluth, Lawrenceville, Suwanee, Woodstock, and Buford. (Yahoo News)
4. The city of Avondale Estates received the Tree City USA Growth Award from the Arbor Day Foundation. The city received the award for the second year in a row. Combined, Avondale Estates has received this award a total of 13 times. (Decaturish.com)

Today in Decatur-Avondale Estates:

• Art Exhibit — DeKalb County Public Library (10:00 AM)
• Webinar — Leveraging Video as a Crucial Component of Small Business Success (10:00 AM)
• JV/Varsity Girls Lacrosse @ Midtown — Decatur High School (5:30 PM)
• Varsity Soccer vs. Cross Keys — Decatur High School (5:55 PM)

From my notebook:

• The new playground at Decatur Legacy Park is almost complete. Thursday, March 9, at 4 p.m. will be the official opening celebration. (Decatur Active Living via Facebook)
• Congratulations to the eight congregations in Georgia who were recently recognized by Interfaith Power & Light for their work in caring for Sacred Earth, including UUCA - Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Atlanta, keep up the good work! (Georgia Interfaith Power & Light via Facebook)
• MARTA Police seek the public’s assistance to a report of shots fired near the Avondale MARTA station on Wednesday, March 1. This incident happened around 4 p.m. Decatur Police also arrived on the scene. Social media posts were made regarding the shooting. (https://decaturish.com/2023/03...)

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You're all caught up for today. I'll be back in your inbox tomorrow morning with another update!

— 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...

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