Friday, July 27, 2012
Mike Killeen founded Poverty is Real -- an organization that's putting on fund-raising shows this weekend at Eddie's Attic.
- VOLUNTEERS IN THE NEWS
- Ralph Ellis
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Friday, July 27, 2012
Mike Killeen wanted to give back to the community, but working in a soup kitchen didn't excite him. He turned to his passion: music. Killeen founded Poverty Is Real (PIR), a group that's putting on fund-raising concerts this weekend at Eddie's Attic, the folk club in Decatur. The goal is to raise $10,000 for Decatur Cooperative Ministry, which helps poor and homeless people in DeKalb County. Since organizing its first show last summer, PIR has evolved into a full-fledged organization with an operational board, a fund-raising wing and a business plan. They'll do four events for this year -- Decatur, Athens, Asheville and Nashville -- and are shooting for 10 events next year. On another level, PIR is a bunch of friends having fun together. …
Friday, June 29, 2012
He's a fitness enthusiast who helped start Team Decatur.
If you see Michael Harbin around town, he'll probably be wearing his neon green Team Decatur T-shirt. He's an enthusiastic recruiter for the group that participates in the Kaiser Permanente Corportate Run/Walk 5k and Fitness Program. Decatur has fielded the only city-sponsored team in the downtown Atlanta event that draws thousands of corporate workers. Team Decatur has grown from 130 people in 2010 to 256 last year. Members walk and run together during the year and develop team spirit. They all wear the bright green T-shirts, too. Harbin hopes to hit 300 participants this year. "Part of this is to make fitness fun and social," he said. "Some people can't see getting out by themselves and walking." Harbin, 63, played a major role in …
Thursday, May 24, 2012
Chris Billingsley will retire from Decatur High after 35 years.
Chris Billingsley, the social studies teacher chosen to speak at the 2012 Decatur High commencement, wants to make sure people know a couple of things about him. First of all, he wants to explain the comments attributed to him on the Facebook fan page that a student created to collect his sayings. Stuff such as, "When I see a student's head motionless on the desk for 15 minutes, I know that they are in DEEP PRAYER." And, "GOOD NEWS EVERYONE!!! You were not my worst class today! That was FIRST PERIOD!" And, "Don't get on my bad side! 'Cause deep down I'm just a MEAN OLD WHITE MAN who should have retired 5 years ago." Said Billingsley, who really is retiring now: "I did say those things but I only did it to get the attention of the kids. The…
Wednesday, May 16, 2012
Don Rigger started the recreation leagues that now feed the Decatur High lacrosse team.
Don Rigger brought lacrosse to Decatur. Need proof? Go to Bulldog Stadium on Wednesday night and watch the Decatur High team battle Pope High in a semi-final game for the state championship. The action starts at 7:30 p.m. Many of the Decatur players learned the sport from Rigger years ago in recreation department leagues. He's still instructing them today as a community coach on the high school team. "I remember thinking when these guys get to high school they're going to have years of lacrosse under their belts," said Rigger, whose real job is with the Environmental Protection Agency. "All that lacrosse IQ is developed by playing together over years." Greg White, director of the Decatur Active Living Department, said Rigger has a passion …
Suzan
8:01 pm on Friday, July 27, 2012
Jaberson and Charles: I think you have too much time on your hands to feel the need to even post a comment like yours. Go take your negative energy and do something positive for the community as Mike is doing very successfully. more ›