Connecting Hearts
5 inspiring stories of compassion
Creative Currents
Celebrating Decatur’s
artistic heartbeat
Charting Your Path
11 ways you can own 2025
Holiday Gift Guide
Our handpicked selection of heartfelt and unique gifts
Leaning in on the Spirit of Giving
WE WERE NOT SURE where to begin when we sat down to discuss our Winter Issue. But this much we knew: With so much going on in the world, the holidays offer us a moment to reconnect—with ourselves, with each other and with the values that bind us together.
So, we leaned into what it means to give back—to recognize some of the many people and organizations that define the heart of what the Decatur community is truly about. The issue you are reading now is a celebration of that spirit, a reminder that the true essence of the holidays lies not just in what we receive, but in what we share.
On the pages ahead, you’ll meet five local organizations whose compassion and dedication remind us that gratitude is more than a feeling— it’s an action. Whether it’s providing support to those in need, creating spaces where everyone belongs or simply offering a helping hand, these stories demonstrate the impact we can make when we come together. They inspire us to look beyond the presents under the tree and reflect on the connections we foster and the lives we touch. Every heartfelt gesture can translate into a lifechanging act, which is what separates Decatur from anywhere else. Our stories are stories about the unsung heroes who embrace the transformative power of giving.
And there is so much. As you flip through this issue, we invite you to pause and consider how you can carry the spirit of giving into your own holiday season. Perhaps it’s a small kindness, like shopping locally to support our neighborhood businesses. Maybe it’s volunteering your time, donating to a cause or reaching out to someone who could use a little extra cheer.
As you navigate the joy, and hustle and bustle of this holiday season, remember that every act of giving, no matter how small, creates ripples of hope and love.
Thank you for letting us be a part of your story this year. Here’s to a season filled with meaning, connection and plenty of holiday magic. We cannot wait for you to see what 2025 holds.
DECATUR LIVING, LLC
P.O. BOX 2589
DECATUR, GA 30031
PUBLISHER
Natalie Gregory
EDITOR
Michael J. Pallerino
MARKETING AND ADVERTISING MANAGER
Kelly O’Brien
CREATIVE DI RECTOR
Brent Cashman
PHOTOGRAPHY
Joshua Vensel
Kelly Thompson Raftermen
Kristen Hansen
Nikki Llewellyn
Arman Ashouri
Maddy Yoo
WRITERS
Carol Badaracco Padgett
Decatur Living Telephone: 404-550-5113 hello@decaturliving.com
Decatur Living is published quarterly by Natalie Gregory. Distribution is a minimum of 14,000 with up to 11,000 being mailed to households in Decatur, Druid Hills, Avondale Estates, Candler Park, Lake Claire and Oak Grove. Contents of this magazine may not be reproduced without written permission from the publisher. Advertisers and advertising agencies assume liability for content of all advertisements. The publisher does not necessarily share the editorial opinions expressed in Decatur Living Magazine. Personal decisions regarding health, finance, and other matters should be made after consultation with the reader’s professional advisors.
Natalie Gregory Publisher, Decatur Living
Giving Back, Moving Forward
Honoring Decatur stories of compassion and connection
THERE IS A SPIRIT OF GIVING and gratitude that shines brightly within the Decatur community. A spirit that reminds us every day that gratitude is not just something we feel, but something we do. In a time when the need for connection and compassion is greater than ever, we wanted to highlight some of the inspiring stories of Decatur’s difference makers. From community members extending support to those in need, these stories go beyond gestures and show us how the power and promise of stepping up can have a meaningful impact. On the following pages are snapshots of five local organizations and people who are doing the good work.
‘Let Us Help’
How Giving Kitchen is providing a bridge between crisis and stability
By Michael J. Pallerino
THE PATH OF THE STORM was as violent as it was unexpected, as devastating as it was methodical. Hurricane Helene took a few prisoners when it forced itself with brutal fury on western regions of North Carolina. Communities, nestled in the foothills and mountains, were ill-equipped for flash floods, landslides and road collapses. In the wake of the storms, food service workers needed help.
From her estimations, Jen Hidinger-Kendrick says Giving Kitchen has served more than 3,500 clients over the past three months since the storm—nearly 70% of all the food service workers the organization helped in 2023. Since its inception, Giving Kitchen has served more than 25,000 food service workers and awarded over $13 million dollars in financial assistance to food service workers in crisis. The grant assistance provided by the nonprofit helped reduce stress as businesses and families navigated different government agencies for help. As one client recalled, “Giving Kitchen gives blessings. It was the easiest and fastest support that I received.”
Giving Kitchen’s origin story comes from such an unprecedented challenge. After his devastating stage-four cancer diagnosis, wellknown Atlanta chef Ryan Hidinger and his wife, Jen, were blindsided.
With the help of Ryan’s colleagues and mentors, the couple were guided by a fundraiser. That initial event, which they called Team Hidi, raised almost $300,000 from the nearly 1,000 members of the Atlanta restaurant community that united to help. Giving Kitchen was born.
“The moment Ryan took to the stage, he declared his cancer diagnosis a gift,” recalls Jen, Founder. “While the money helped us take care of expenses, our mortgage and utility bills for Ryan’s final year, it allowed us to focus on Ryan’s medical journey. But it wasn’t just about helping Ryan. In his words, ‘Use these funds to help others like me...’ That was the real lightbulb moment. It wasn’t just a man battling cancer, or a chef working toward his dream restaurant, but the beginning of tapping into a cause far bigger than we could have imagined.”
Today, Giving Kitchen is a nonprofit that helps food service workers in crisis by providing stability through referrals to a network of low or no-cost community resources. Food service workers who have experienced an injury, illness, housing disaster or death of a family member also receive financial assistance to cover living expenses. It also offers free QPR suicide prevention training to food service across the country. The 45-minute
Chef Ryan Hidinger and his wife, Jen Hidinger-Kendrick
course comes with a certificate that encourages food service workers to question, persuade or refer a teammate experiencing suicidal thoughts.
In its continued pledge to support restaurateurs everywhere, Giving Kitchen encourages restaurants to participate in initiatives like its “Dining with Gratitude,” which works to increase community awareness of Giving Kitchen and educates employees about the services it offers. It also has downloadable
posters and flyers for restaurant managers to post and share with their teams. In addition, supporters are encouraged to make a donation or spread the word about Giving Kitchen to food service workers.
“From founding Board members to long-standing supporters, the Decatur community has been an incredible source of support and inspiration to the work we do at Giving Kitchen,” says Jen, who in 2019 was awarded with the prestigious James Beard Foundation’s “Humanitarian of the Year” award on behalf of Giving Kitchen. “We simply could not do the work we do without the generous financial support of our donors and partners. We are able to not only serve the State of Georgia, but any food service worker in America.”
Ambassadors for Belonging
How L’Arche Atlanta is bringing people of all abilities and disabilities together
RICARDO HAS ALWAYS cherished his involvement in the L’Arche Atlanta community. As a long-time participant in L’Arche’s “Online Trivia” and “Y’all Belong Here” gatherings, he has had an up close and personal look at the initiatives the nonprofit, house-based community delivers for people with and without intellectual disabilities. This past June, after he was selected as a delegate for a visit to L’Arche United Nations, Ricardo’s gratitude took on an even more cherished meaning.
Inspired by his moment on the global stage, Ricardo walked away with a greater admiration of how L’Arche provides an inclusive, supportive space where all voices can be celebrated and heard. “I believe in creating an environment where everyone feels empowered to live authentically, and I am grateful to be a part of a community that shares that vision.”
Known as the Ambassadors for Belonging, the L’Arche community is a beacon of hope where people with and without disabilities are welcomed with open arms. Ambassadors refers to individuals who actively and compassionately promote inclusivity and community. The philosophy fosters an environment where both Core Members (individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities-I/DD) and Assistants are able to share valued and connected daily interactions.
At a recent “Y’all Belong Here,” an online community gathering, Jody Stephenson, board member, and founder and CEO of SitterTree recalled how truly moved she was by the atmosphere of authenticity, connection and genuine laughter. “It felt special and effortless, a testament to the incredible spirit of our community. This gathering provided a wonderful opportunity for people with and without disabilities to come together and truly get to know one another, without even leaving home.”
The secret behind L’Arche’s approach is the innovative opportunities it creates within the community. Take its home-based services, where L’Arche assistants work to cultivate belonging through meaningful relationships with L’Arche house members. While the assistants are
It Takes a Village
not medical professionals, they are top-notch community providers trained to administer medication and recognize potential medical conditions. Each receives training focused on understanding individual needs, fostering relationships, and supporting Core Members via person-centered planning.
Through its community events like dances, open mic nights and community meals, and its CONNEXIONS groups, L’Arche offers ways to provide hope, encouragement and freedom. And thanks to its advocacy efforts with groups like the Georgia Council on Developmental Disabilities (GCDD, L’Arche is able to help educate and influence legislators on issues affecting Georgians with disabilities.
This is where the joys of witnessing personal growth and community connections are so powerful. It’s L’Arche’s hope that people who serve with them take away feelings of warmth, inclusion and inspiration. You can join L’Arche’s efforts by volunteering, attending events or donating to support the community.
By fostering spaces of inclusion, connection and celebration, L’Arche Atlanta reminds us that everyone’s gifts have value—and together, we can create a world that truly embraces diversity.
How Amplify My Community is using music to help people in need
IT TAKES A VILLAGE. That’s what Mike Killeen, Christine Mahin and Drew Robinson recall when they think of the early days of the Amplify My Community musical festival. It started as a group of friends who loved music and wanted to make a difference. The village part is the most important. The village is home to the countless local businesses, individuals and city officials who donated their time, money and efforts into transforming a vision into a reality. And don’t forget the artists—an increasingly growing group of singers and songwriters who not only believe in the show, but the cause.
Why not just gather a bunch of people passionate about music and causes and start a musical festival? And then, give all the money away. Easy, right?
“We believe, and still do, that music has the power to bring together people of different backgrounds and beliefs,” says Killeen, who also is a local musician, and President and CEO of Lenz Inc.
For Killeen, Robinson and Mahin, Amplify My Community, the name it was given, would help raise money and awareness for local-based, nonprofit organizations. The plan was to give every dollar raised at the concerts to the charities. The thought was instead of these groups spending any more time holding fundraisers, etc., Amplify My Community could be an avenue to help. “Honestly, we didn’t know how to do it, but we thought we could figure it out,” Killeen recalls. “Part of the process was that if we were going to do this, it would take everyone.”
That first show was small, but cathartic. In 2011, the Amplify team secured Eddie’s Attic and brought in the Lindsay Rakers Band, The Bitteroots and Trances Arc. They identified the Decatur Cooperative Ministry as the organization it wanted to help and raised $6,000.
“Fundraising has become increasingly difficult for nonprofit organizations,” says Drew Robinson, Amplify co-Board Chair and Senior VP at Newmark. “Charities typically rely on grants, individual donations and event-based fundraising. Grants are highly restrictive in their specificity; individual donations can be somewhat sporadic; and event-based fundraising can create a tremendous burden on time. Our gifts are unrestricted and can be used in any way they see fit.”
Take what the Decatur Cooperative Ministry did with an Amplify donation. The nonprofit used the gift to transition 75 families from living in hotel rooms to permanent housing. Funds also have been used to keep people from homelessness or on need-based school supplies, college scholarships, student meals, mental health resources, etc.
Moving from the intimacy of that first show, Amplify continues to grow. Over the past 13-plus years (a 2020 pandemic blip aside), the event has hosted artists like the Indigo Girls, Lucinda Williams, Mavis Staples, Patty Griffin, Melissa Etheridge, Ben Harper, Jeff Tweedy, The Jayhawks, Rodney Crowell, Dawes, Blind Boys of Alabama, Shawn Mullins, The War & Treaty, and others.
A recent addition has been the small stages on Friday evening, where locals can see free shows and events at local restaurants like the Brick Store Pub, Mellow Mushroom, O’Sullivan’s, Leon’s, The Marlay and The Reading Room. Amplify also hosts events in Athens, Georgia; Nashville, Tennessee; Asheville, North Carolina and Charlottesville, Virginia. “To walk around the town and hear live music pouring out of so many businesses warms our hearts,” says Mahin, Festival Director and the brainchild behind the event’s weekend-long concept.
In a time when music and community together still matters, Amplify rolls on. “The Decatur community has meant everything to us,” Mahin says. “From immense support from the City of Decatur and its leadership, to the local businesses and volunteers who make us go, we are indebted and more inspired than ever.”
The Problem Solvers
Inside the Decatur Education Foundation’s mission to make each student’s journey a priority
By Michael J. Pallerino
THE PROBLEMS ARE not always the first thing anyone sees, especially when it comes to children. But they are there. In too many cases, the obstacles are more than anyone could expect to face. Food insecurities; a lack of clean, weather-appropriate clothes or shoes; struggles with behavioral health. In the four core pillars the founders of the Decatur Education Foundation (DEF) so compassionately established more than
20 years ago, removing obstacles like these were paramount, especially when it comes to learning. The other pillars—providing empowering opportunities, supporting educators and programs, and strengthening community initiatives—were also critical to the tenets of providing equal opportunities for all. “When these basic needs aren’t met, students aren’t available to learn, and oftentimes, when students have disciplinary problems, these are the underlying reasons,” says Meagan Berardi, Executive Director.
Since 2002, Decatur students have been the primary focus of DEF, whose mission is to ensure that each has the tools they need to learn
and thrive. The Foundation grew from a group of Decatur residents who saw disparities in opportunities among students and decided to do something about it. Over the years, DEF has worked with the Decatur community to expand learning opportunities and eliminate inequities caused by systemic racism, income inequality, food insecurity and the lack of behavioral health support. Today, its support network includes the City Schools of Decatur, the City of Decatur and the Decatur Housing Authority, as well as a wide range of community organizations.
The credit goes to the DEF team, today led by Berardi, who returned as Executive Director after serving as Director of Community Engagement and Director of Programs and Partnerships from 2014-2019. “The ways we address these systemic issues change as the needs change, but DEF is working hard to build an inclusive community for all people. We support mental health issues in our schools through our school student centers. We offer grants for special education summer camps so that all students have the opportunity to experience camp. We are dedicated to fostering an equitable and antiracist environment.”
While the path is never an easy one, DEF’s success can be seen in the good work it does around each corner. Take its “Lighten the Load” and “Teacher Innovation Grants” programs, which assist underserved students and support school counselors with the resources necessary to fight the fight. The programs assist with everything from medical and vision expenses, clothing and school supply needs, and offer weekend food bags for students who rely on school meals.
“Each program is different,” Berardi says. “That’s why we mostly rely on the feedback of our students, educators and community members to help us measure the success of our work and to make any changes or improvements. Our teachers provide feedback through surveys, and they also share photos, videos, and quotes from their students all year long to show us the impact of the projects we’ve funded.”
Last spring, the Foundation awarded 19 college scholarships totaling $130,000 to a group of Decatur High Schools students. “These graduates are impressive in so many ways, but what makes DEF scholarships unique is that we focus on much more than just good grades (though
these students certainly have those too). Our scholarships honor the character, integrity, kindness, and inclusivity of our students,” Berardi says. “And each of these students is a part of DEF’s success story.”
The organization’s achievements over the years have been significant, but there is still much work ahead. “Our work simply wouldn’t exist without the Decatur community,” Berardi says. “Strong partnerships ensure we’re part of a coherent, cooperative approach to meeting the needs of Decatur’s kids.”
What’s next?
Why the question tops Wellroot Family Services’ priorities for foster care kids becoming adults
By Michael J. Pallerino
THERE ARE TIMES IT HAPPENS.
Times when some young adults in foster care turn 18 without having found a permanent connection or family to help in that next-life transition. It is in those moments that Allison Ashe stands tall. It is where, as CEO of Wellroot Family Services, she helps bridge the fragile connection between the two worlds.
According to the latest U.S. Department of Health and Human Services "AFCARS Report," there are nearly 11,000 foster care kids in Georgia, which includes ones in group homes, transitional living, etc. Since the pandemic, Wellroot has almost quadrupled the number of people it serves across its other programs. Over the past year, it has served more than 2,500 people, including families, children, young adults and training for community supporters.
Check out our online exclusive content that contine our story on Giving Back. decaturliving.com or scan the QR code.
The 150-year-old organization—an agency of The United Methodist Church in North Georgia—combines a faith-centered service and trauma-informed care approach with strong, evidenced-based practices that not only work in foster care, but across the entire continuum of care through a carefully crafted suite of programs. The Wellroot approach starts with prevention (keeping children from ending up in foster care in the first place), to support for family reunification and programs for youth transitioning out of foster care. "We meet them where they are and help them identify what they want to do next," Ashe says. "Young adults in our program work with an educational specialist to map a path to their goals."
While the critically important work has its share of success stories, it does not come without challenges. "One of the biggest we face is not having enough foster parents," Ashe says. "People are tired post-Covid and, as a result, Wellroot and other organizations like us continue to experience a drop in inquiries from families interested in fostering. This issue is a national and statewide issue."
And when there is not enough foster parent support, there comes a critical need to help young adults heading into the even more intense realities of life. One of the ways Wellroot helps is with its Transitional Living Program, which provides life skills training (cooking, financial budgeting, laundry, etc.), housing, tutoring, mental health support and career development. Wellroot provides 24-hour support in a community-based housing setting. It also assists with school applications, FAFSA, housing, and more, essentially helping guide its residents through the process of earning their high school diploma or GED, and advising them as they enter college or trade school.
"Right now, 76% of our Transitional Living Program clients are on track to graduate from high school or earn their GED," Ashe says. "As they move toward independence, 100% of our Independent Living Program clients will successfully gain employment, compared to only 50% of similar youth across the country."
Another vital ally is Wellroot's living complex, which includes two apartment buildings and one house. After completing a renovation several years ago, construction is underway on Phase 2 at the 750 E. Lake Drive property. The renovations will help the program serve more youth and include a community center to host on-site training and classes, holiday events and more. More help is on the way. This year, Wellroot purchased the Avondale Pattillo property, with plans to create a dynamic, healing, multi-use community campus serving children, youth, families and the wider Avondale/Decatur community. Future plans include consolidating Wellroot’s organizational headquarters on the site, as well as establishing long-term developments supporting Wellroot programs.
The rewards can be found in the victories Wellroot celebrates every year. "Last year, we had six young people graduate from high school or earn their GED," Ashe says. "We see them go on to college and succeed in college, we see them gain employment—and that’s not what normally happens in such scenarios."
Staging a Connection
How Decatur’s performing arts scene is building community
By Carol Badaracco Padgett
IMAGINE AN ELIXIR so powerful it can heal. Strengthen focus. Promote well-being. Instill self-confidence. Even soothe the hard scars of misfortune. Think for a moment about an elixir whose side effects include fast-acting reflection and long-term joy.
Decatur Performs is one of those elixirs. The 501(c)3 nonprofit is the kind of organization that can make a community’s art scene thrive. Devoted to supporting and promoting Decatur High School’s performing arts education, the group is manned by parent volunteers who focus on musical theatre and chorus, primarily, in both the classroom, and in outside activities and productions. Its functions include supporting teachers, fundraising and marketing and packing people in the seats at the school’s performances.
The parents who get involved with Decatur Performs understand the opportunity it affords kids to learn and flex their skills—an opportunity other classes may not. Sarah Satterfield is one of those parents. The Decatur resident and Savannah College of Art and Design graduate also serves as an executive board member and Executive VP of Decatur Performs, where she works closely with fellow board member and President Ingrid Anderson. “No matter where you are—socially, spectrum-wise or in any other way—and no matter who you are, there’s a place for you in the performing arts.”
Among the many skill sets Decatur Performs affords are life skills like public speaking and how to work as a team. Satterfield’s teenage daughter, a sophomore at Decatur High School, is a prime example of what the environment offers today’s arts-minded kids. An active part of the performing arts community since she was three, she currently is a member of the Decatur Ballet. “It’s a healthy and productive place for kids to focus their energy,” Satterfield says. “I’ve seen many kids who come out of their shells by being in these organizations.”
Qaden Daise is reinforcing a love of the arts that her mother and grandparents instilled. The17-year-old Decatur High Student has been an active member of the arts community at both the middle school and secondary levels. “Growing up, my grandfather was a big fan of classical music. When I’d go to Japan where he lives, he would listen to classical music with me. Also, as a young child, my parents took me to Color Wheel in Decatur (an after-school arts studio focused on creative growth and expression), so I was very immersed and learned about art and art history when I was very young.”
Even though her love of singing prompted her to join the chorus in the fifth grade, it wasn’t until recently that Daise loved herself as a singer. As a result, she came out of her shell as a singer and made the All-State Chorus, following a high school audition where she performed an aria—a short melodic piece of classical music that tells a story. After the experience, Daise had a positive realization. “I felt I was good at them and enjoyed the style. It sounded different from what I listened to at home or heard on the radio.”
By the time Daise arrived at Decatur High School, voice lessons became part of her repertoire. “I learned more of these classical pieces through school, [both] Renaissance and Baroque. Sometimes, the pieces of music looked really simple, [but] with the phrasing and small details it would become more and more complex. I like the challenge, plus the fact that the music was made so long ago. That inspired me. When a composer is writing a piece of music, they do everything on purpose and for a reason, to make people feel a certain way. Music is [sometimes] thought of as just an art form, but I see it in so many different things. It’s able to connect so many different people and potentially change their view on things. I find it interesting… how the brain reacts psychologically to certain notes or chords.”
Daise’s experiences as a student—under choral teacher Elise Eskew Sparks at the Decatur High School Performing Arts Center—exemplifies just how much performing arts can teach students. Through her Decatur connections, Daise snagged an internship this past summer with the Atlanta Opera.
Curing community disconnection
As a whole, the Decatur community is immensely impacted by Decatur Performs, as are the other community programs that are devoted to live performance and education. “There’s a true symbiotic relationship between the community and these kids who are the future of this community,” Satterfield says. “At Decatur Performs we want to get more visibility into this program. These kids perform better and are more fulfilled when they have a full audience to perform to and to celebrate them.”
Performers from Decatur are stunning audiences all around the metro area, showcasing the caliber of talent living and training in the DeKalb County suburb. Take Gus and Melissa Godbee, and their two oldest daughters, Greta, 11, and Willa, 10, who perform onstage in the Atlanta Opera’s chorus and children’s choir. “Our community has so many talented people (playwrights, musicians and others) and you see it shine through most with Decatur’s children,” Gus says. “Our older girls, Greta and Willa, had an opportunity to audition for the children’s chorus in Puccini’s
‘La Bohème’ this past opera season. The experience of auditioning was a unique one that taught them a variety of things, above all perseverance and believing in yourself.”
Part of the Atlanta Opera’s “La Bohème” project, the Puccini masterpiece originally was about the tuberculosis pandemic. But the Atlanta Opera’s creative director and co-director of the project, Tomer Zvulun, reworked the setting alongside his co-director, visual artist and set designer Vita Tzykun, to reflect New York City during the COVID19 pandemic. The two then paired their version of “La Bohème” with a performance of playwright Jonathan Larson’s “Rent,” set in New York City during the HIV/AIDs pandemic.
Opening a pathway for inclusion
From professional performers and performances to upscale high school theatre, Decatur is a hub for the arts today, as well as an incubator where audiences are free to consider social issues from different points of view.
The recent rendition of the off-Broadway musical “Hadestown” by Anaïs Mitchell by Decatur High School serves as the perfect example.
The modern folk-jazz-gospel version of the Greek classical tale of Orpheus and Eurydice was one of the community’s performance highs this past November. “‘Hadestown,’ was a very thoughtful production,” Satterfield says. “Socially, culturally and politically it connected to a
lot of different groups and people, and [with] what was on their hearts and minds.”
Moving forward, Satterfield says Decatur Performs will seek ways to reach even more people who can benefit from the healing messages told so well through the performing arts community. “We’re partnering with Lost and Found Youth, which helps the LGBTQ+ community deal with homelessness.”
Along with Decatur’s youth involvement in the arts, Satterfield says there is a movement to reach the older side of the community—a group she believes can be positively impacted by the arts. “We definitely want to make sure we’re reaching the broader community, for instance, the senior community.”
As part of its initiative to expand its reach, Decatur Performs will be a part of the Decatur Arts Festival in 2025. “We have so many beautiful arts organizations [in Decatur], and we want Decatur Performs to be a part of that larger community, too.”
As Decatur’s performing arts scene continues to flourish, it offers a powerful blend of connection, inspiration and healing. Each performance—whether it’s a play, dance or live musical event—continues to forge pathways to a stronger, more connected community, proving that sometimes the most potent remedy is found right at center stage.
DISCOVER DECATUR’S ARTS SCENE
For a full listing of local performing arts groups, and more about Decatur’s vibrant arts community, visit us online.
Holiday Magic, Decatur Style
Your guide to some of the coolest local gifts
WELCOME TO THE “Decatur Living & Beyond Holiday Gift Guide.” In our charming little corner of the world, we’re all about celebrating the vibrant spirit of Decatur and its one-of-a-kind small businesses. This season, we’re thrilled to bring you a handpicked selection of heartfelt and unique gifts from our beloved town.
From cozy nooks filled with handmade treasures to quirky shops brimming with personality, Decatur is home to everything you need to make your holiday gifting extra special. Whether you’re shopping for family and friends or (let’s be honest) treating yourself, you’ll find delightful surprises that are as meaningful as they are memorable.
Best of all, every purchase is a chance to support the hardworking folks who make our community special.
The Hoptimist Classic Bumble
$19.99-$29.99 (depending on size)
Available in different sizes, the Bumble is a small kinetic sculpture that’s sole purpose is to spread joy. For people of all ages, it is made of sturdy materials and are intended to be interacted with.
Odd Bird Gifts
149 Sycamore St., Decatur oddbirdgifts.com
Magna-tiles Space
(32 piece set)
$53
For kids ages 3-99, Magna-tiles encourages learning through play by exploring cause and effect and other logic principles, while fostering the development of hand-eye coordination and fine motor skills. Includes first Shuttle with ample storage for all set pieces.
Clubhouse Kid and Craft
533 W. Howard Ave., Suite A, Decatur clubhousekidandcraft.com
Monthly Book Subscription
$250-$400
For readers of all ages, this monthly subscription offers the joy of discovering a new, thoughtfullychosen hardcover curated by expert booksellers. Each selection, packaged and ready for pickup, offers a celebration of great stories and unforgettable characters.
Little Shop of Stories 133 East Court Square, Decatur littleshopofstories.com
Darling Chemise $139
Adorable and affordable for the bedroom and anywhere else. The Chemise features lace side panels to match the all-lace robe. Available in Black and Ivory.
SIZES: XS/S-3L
Jenette Bras
307 A E. College Ave., Decatur
The 100% silk kimono is can be used as a dressing gown or a top layer to a basic outfit to transform into a perfectly bohemian stylish look. Fits sizes 2-14.
Squash Blossom 113 East Court Square, Decatur squashblossomboutique.com
Silk Kimono
Hand Crafted T.E. Wilcox Home Glass Holiday Ornaments
$28
Bring a unique sparkle this season with our Home Glass Holiday Ornaments— each hand-crafted to capture the spirit of the holidays. Approximately 3 inches in diameter, these one-of-a-kind glass ornaments from Decatur Glassblowing make each a special keepsake.
T.E. Wilcox Home
131 E. Trinity Place, Decatur tewilcox.com
The Eugene Hertzler Collection
$30–$200
Inspired by nature, these uniquely handcrafted pieces are created from fallen trees, enabling local artist Eugene Hertzler to turn any flaws into a work of natural beauty. The entire collection is 50% off through Dec. 31.
Wild Oats & Billy Goats
112 East Ponce De Leon Ave., Decatur wildoatsandbillygoatsdecatur.com
Authentic Vintage Oriental Turkish Rug
$225
Add a touch of timeless elegance with Authentic Vintage Oriental Turkish Rugs, the gift of luxury and comfort your loved ones will cherish for years to come. Each rug brings art to the floor, creating a unique and beautifully classic statement piece for any home.
Sharian Rugs
368 West Ponce de Leon Ave., Decatur sharian.com OUR GUIDE HAS SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE
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Avondale Estates Christmas Tour of Homes and Holiday Market
WE ARE SO EXCITED that our "32nd Christmas Tour of Homes & Holiday Market" will be held Sunday, Dec. 15, 2024, from 3 p.m.-8 p.m. (The Holiday Market is noon-6 p.m.). Six homes representing various styles of architecture in our city will be featured for the tour.
Kit and Brad Shipe discovered Avondale Estates in 2010 when their son attended The Friends School. They originally bought a twobedroom/one bath English Cottage home on Dartmouth that was built in 1927 before it was “bumped up and out” by previous owners. The Shipes gave the kitchen a facelift and renovated all the bathrooms. Christmas at the Shipes invokes the presence of Kit’s mother, whose many decorations and needlepoint ornaments made her the “Christmas Diva” in her hometown.
Kris Byron and Ross Rubenstein returned to Avondale two years ago after they purchased a 1931 American Foursquare on Fairfield Plaza. The couple had lived in Avondale Estates in the early 2000s and were married at Lake Avondale. In 2023, they completed a large-scale renovation by demolishing part
of the sunroom addition and replacing it with a two-story addition, which included a new kitchen, family room, primary suite and screened porch. The Rubensteins celebrate the holidays by donating to their favorite charities.
In 2022, Tyler Weaver and Andrew Kennedy moved into their Dartmouth Avenue home, which had been a part of the Lee family for more than 70 years. The 1955 brick ranch home was a dream come true. While antique furniture, crystal and silver are just a few of their passions, nothing compares to their holiday collection. The Kennedys decorate the home with family items—some of which are more than 130 years old—and items picked up at estate sales and thrift stores. One exciting feature to look at is the Secret Garden. Located in the back, the light display creates a Winter Wonderland over the entire lot.
Sharon and Bob Wess moved to 56 Clarendon Avenue, where they have lived for 25 years. After Sharon was diagnosed with cancer, they found a wonderful 1960's style ranch home on Hess Drive. Before moving in, they updated the home with new appliances in the kitchen,
hardwood floors throughout, new doors and windows, and more than 70 lights. In 2022, Sharon lost her battle with cancer. This year, Bob is honoring her memory during the holidays with the help of several of their friends.
Amie and Dan Waltzer discovered Avondale Estates through their realtor, purchasing their 1965 Colonial and moving from Kirkwood six years ago. Since then, the Waltzers have remodeled the entire house: turning the garage into a living room and mudroom; changing the kitchen to include a separate dining area; converting the fourth bedroom into an office; and adding a new front porch, which was completed this year. As a Jewish family, they celebrate all parts of the holidays, including Hanukkah lights, candles and other holiday décor.
Sarah and Steven Hecht found their home on Ohm Avenue after they outgrew their home in Forrest Hills. Moving to a two-year old farmhouse in 2021, they added personal touches, including works by Atlanta artists. The most treasured is the mural along the upstairs hall, which was created as a montage of pictures from a book Sarah’s grandmother read to her as a child. The Hecht's home is decorated with a winter theme, including a menorah and stockings, as they celebrate both Hanukkah and Christmas.
The Avondale Holiday Market—Sunday, Dec. 15, from noon-6 p.m. at the Avondale Lake House—will include most of the old favorites selling their pecans, hand-knitted scarves, chocolates, honey, jewelry, photography, bird feeders, smoked salmon, jams and ornaments. Please stop by to support our market vendors and finish off your Christmas shopping list with one-of-a-kind gifts. While you are there, enjoy soup and sandwiches at the Holiday Market Café.
Pre-sale tour tickets are available on bigtickets.com for $25 or at Finders Keepers Furnishings, Garage Door Studio or Intown Ace Hardware for $20. On the day of the tour, tickets will be on sale for $25 at the Avondale Lake House. Small buses will be available for the tour from 3 p.m.-5 p.m. or 6 p.m.-8 p.m..
Contact Margaret at mplcvl@aol.com to s ign up for a spot on a bus. Margaret Lunsford, Tour of Homes Committee at avondaletourofhomes.com
Ready. Set. Thrive.
11 ways to prepare for an epic 2025
By Tim Martin
1 Donations to Your Favorite Charity
Rather than writing a check, you may wish to consider gifting appreciated stocks or funds from your Individual Retirement Account (IRA). Gifting appreciated securities, such as low-basis stock or mutual funds, will allow you to avoid capital gains tax and reap the benefits of a charitable deduction.
2 College Savings 529 Plan Contributions
Money saved in a 529 plan grows tax-free when used for eligible educational expenses. Many states, such as Georgia, offer additional tax benefits for residents who contribute to a plan within that state, thereby increasing the benefit of the contribution. The Setting Every Community Up for Retirement Enhancement (SECURE) Act expanded allowances on 529 plan fund distributions, which can now be used for K–12 private education, college, graduate school and vocational and trade schools.
3 Gifts to Family Members
If you are likely to leave an estate large enough to incur estate taxes, you might consider maxing out your gift allowance, which is $18,000 per person per year (meaning a couple can gift up to $36,000 per year to as many individuals as they want). You also can pay college tuition directly to the institution, so that money doesn’t apply toward the $18,000 gift allowance. There is no carryover of gift allowances from year to year, so gifts need to be made on or before Dec. 31.
SUCCESSFUL YEAR-END
PLANNING requires an effective understanding of both your current circumstances and how they might change next year. The uncertainty of the future makes it important that you plan now based on what we know today. It’s a sound practice to consult with your financial advisor, accountant and/or attorneys to make these determinations. With that in mind, here’s a brief end-of-year list of financial tasks you may wish to address.
4 Max Out Retirement Contributions
You have until you file your tax return next year to make a 2024 contribution to an IRA, SEP or SIMPLE, but 401(k) and Health Savings Account contributions are only deductible when made in the same calendar year. If you want to establish a retirement
plan for 2024 (if you are self-employed or own a business), the plan documents must be signed and put into place by year-end. You generally are able to contribute up to $23,000 to a 401(k) plan ($30,500 if you’re age 50 or older) and up to $7,000 to a traditional or Roth IRA ($8,000 if you are age 50 or older).
5 “Back-Door” Roth Conversions
If you have an IRA and low taxable income, you might want to convert some or all of those funds to a Roth IRA before the end of the year. Working together with your advisors, you may want to consider only converting an amount up to the limit of your current marginal tax bracket and make sure you have the cash outside of the IRA (i.e., aftertax funds) to pay taxes on the converted amount.
6 Spend your Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA)
If you still have money set aside in an FSA for healthcare expenses, see if you can order new glasses or schedule that dental work you’ve been putting off. Some companies offer a grace period into the spring or “FSA carryover” from one year to the next, but this is not commonplace. If your employer doesn’t offer these provisions, you’ll lose any unused funds once we ring in the new year.
7 Required Minimum Distributions (RMDs)
Once you turn 73 years old, you are required to take withdrawals from your IRA, SIMPLE IRA, SEP IRA or retirement plan account. Roth IRAs do not require withdrawals until after the death of the owner; however, the beneficiaries will be subject to the RMD rules. The penalty for failing to take the RMD is a 50% tax on what should have been withdrawn.
8 Consider Tax-loss Harvesting
Selling investments that have lost value can be a useful tax-reduction strategy for investors. This strategy involves selling stocks, bonds, or mutual funds that have lost value to help reduce taxes on capital gains from winning investments. You then can use those losses to offset any
taxable gains you have realized during the year. Losses offset gains dollar for dollar, and if your losses are more than your gains, you can reduce ordinary income on your current federal income tax return by up to $3,000. Of course, you don’t want to undermine your long-term investing goals by selling an investment just for tax purposes.
9 Review and Adjust Your Tax Withholding
If you or your advisors have determined that you are going to have a balance due on your federal or state tax return, consider increasing your withholding to cover the shortfall prior to year-end. Larger estimated tax payments at the end of the year still can expose you to underpayment penalties, but withholding is considered to have been paid ratably throughout the year.
10 Confirm Beneficiary Designations
Newly married, divorced, or had kids in the previous 12 months? Make sure to review Beneficiary Designations as they may be outdated. You can check and modify the beneficiaries on your retirement accounts or insurance policies at any time, but it’s a good idea to do this at least annually.
11 Identity Protection
You can obtain one free annual credit report per year from each credit reporting agency. With the increase in identity theft, you should strongly consider purchasing some type of identity theft protection as well.
Please seek the advice of a tax professional concerning all the above recommendations. All information is based on the current Internal Revenue Service website at irs.gov
Tim Martin has 24 years in the financial services industry. He is a graduate from the Goizueta Business School at Emory University and founder of Tim Martin Wealth Strategies, in Decatur, GA.
A Registered Representative, offering securities through NYLIFE Securities LLC (member FINRA/SIPC) A Licensed Insurance Agency 3655 Brookside Pkwy, Suite 400, Alpharetta, GA 30022. A financial adviser, offering investment advisory services through Eagle Strategies, a Registered Investment Adviser. Tim Martin Wealth Strategies is not owned or operated by NYLIFE Securities LLC or its affiliates, timmartinwealth.com
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Thankful for you
As we settle into the cozy winter season, we wanted to send a quick note of gratitude. The holidays are about appreciating the special people in our lives, and we are genuinely thankful for you.
Whether getting ready for gatherings with loved ones or enjoying quiet moments at home, we hope this season brings you warmth and happiness.
Here are a few places to consider calling home, just in time for the holidays!
All the best, Natalie and Sarah
Plan. Pr otect. Prov i de .
They say life doesn’t give you anything you can’t handle. But that doesn’t mean you have to handle it alone. These days, it’s more important than ever to make sure you have a financial professional by your side; someone who can help evaluate your needs, assess the current economic landscape and recommend a plan of action that will help protect your family’s wealth, lifestyle and dreams for the future Let’s get started — there’s no better time than now.
TIM MARTIN, LUTCF
1435-B McLendon Drive | Decatur, GA 30033 770.934.7511 | thmartin@timmartinwealth.com @TMAwealthstrategies@timmartinwealth TI MMA RTI NWEA LTH.COM
