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NEWS HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE JULY 2010 ISSUE

SMYRNA-VININGS NEWS
July 2010

Max Bacon Tells 'State of the City'

Smyrna Mayor Max Bacon tempered the bad news with nuggets of good news in his 2010 State of the City address July 8.

"Last year's presentation was somewhat negative," Bacon said, as he spoke to a joint meeting of the Smyrna Business Association and Smyrna Division of the Cobb Chamber in a packed room at the city's Community Center.

The city's proposed budget is $65 million , down 4.2 percent due to decline in property taxes. While the millage rate will stay at 8.99 mills for the second year, city employees will not get a raise this year.

"Facing a recession, you find out things you didn’t know you could do," Bacon said. "It scares you but it gives you the opportunity to some other things."

The city has implemented numerous cost saving measures over the past several years, including going to once a week trash pick up, cutting 11 full time and seven part time employees, and closing the Welcome Center to walk-in traffic. The city has consolidated the Parks and Recreation Department into Public Works.

The cuts made no reduction in public safety, the mayor said.

The city, which self-insures its medical insurance, is working to reduce health insurance and workers Compensation costs through wellness programs. But this means is now charging smokers up to $70 more a month for insurance. "It affects their health, so they ought to pay more," Bacon said.

"We had tried thinking outside of the box and doing things a different way," he said. "Our citizens understand why we have had to make cutbacks."

While much building has stopped due to the recession -- no new commercial building permit have been issued so far this year -- Bacon said that several projects were still planned or underway, including:

The crossings, a new Kroger a $20 million development by TriLand of Chicago. "It will be a catalyst to change that area," Bacon said. "If the economy was better it would be underway."

The former El Value Foods on South Cobb Drive is slated to become a Venture Outdoor sporting goods store.

According to published reports, Zip Code 30080 in Smyrna is one of only four metro Atlanta areas where housing prices have gone up.

"We are seeing a slow increase in building in subdivisions that have formerly been foreclosed," he said.

"I'm a happier guy than I was last year, I hope that this review was more positive," Bacon said.

Among the new and current projects underway in the city:

Jonquil Village : This project is an example of a good project impacted by the economic recession gripping the nation. Positioned at the corner of Atlanta Road and Spring Road, Jonquil Village completion remains stalled due to the difficulty of retaining construction financing in tight financial markets. The original owners remain committed to doing the project and Publix remains committed to building a new grocery store on the site. The City of Smyrna is looking forward to work resuming on this site, and desire it greatly.


• Belmont Hills: The story for Belmont Hills mirrors that of Jonquil Village . There is no new news to report except that if you have not seen the site lately, the buildings have been removed and the site is ready for construction to begin.


• The Crossings: The old shopping center on the Northwest corner of Concord Road at South Cobb Drive was rezoned a few months ago to a new site plan. The zoning remains Commercial as it is now, but when this property is developed it will look very different. The major tenant will be Kroger which plans to build a new modern store of between 95,000 - 100,000 square feet in size, or roughly double the size of the existing store on the opposite corner. The new store will also sell gasoline in an area out front. The shopping center owners are a major redevelopment firm out of the Chicago area called Tri-Land Properties. Tri-Land and City staff worked in advance of the rezoning to meet community wishes and significantly improve the appearance of the finished site. Items addressed were more landscaping, improved signage, and a big reduction in the number and size of the signage.


• Former Home Depot Landscape Supply Store Site: This is the site on the Southwest corner of the intersection of South Cobb Drive with the East-West Connector. The old store was torn down over a year ago and the site was filled in with additional dirt to raise it to meet road elevation. (The former Home Depot store sat down below the road and was hard to see.) Recently, the City Council amended previous rezoning of the site for a change in the first site plan proposed by the new owners, Columbia Properties, combining three parcels into two parcels. RaceTrac Petroleum plans to build a modern station on one of the enlarged parcels. Smyrna Eye Group, now located on Concord Road in Smyrna , plans to build a new modern building for their practice on the other parcel and then move to the new location.



SMYRNA VILLAGE PLAYERS PRESENT 'ALADDIN, JR.'

Princess Jasmine, played by Elizabeth K. Davis, and Aladdin, played by Jason M. Traylor, invite you to journey to the enchanted and magical land of Agrabah with Aladdin, Jasmine and Genie.  The Smyrna Village Players present, Disney’s Aladdin Jr. as this year’s summer musical production.  The show is fun for everyone, young and old alike.  This year’s show is directed by A. Tracy Evans and stars Jason Traylor of Campbell High School as Aladdin and Elizabeth Davis, a graduate of Whitefield Academy as Princess Jasmine. The Smyrna Village Players was started as an out reach ministry of Smyrna First United Methodist Church back in 1993. Auditions for the group are open to all and the cast is typical a 50/50 mix from the church and community. Director of Music and Arts for the church, Mrs. Lynn Dee Martin, says that this year’s production is especially exciting because it is the first all youth cast and several schools in Cobb County are represented.    Cast members are from Campbell and Lassiter High School, as well as from Whitefield Academy, Griffin, Nickajack , Norton Park and Kings Springs to name a few. The youth in the show range in age from 8-18 years of age.  Aladdin Jr. runs from July 22 - 24 at 7 p.m. at Smyrna First United Methodist Church 's fellowship hall.  Tickets are one for $8, two for $15, three for $20 and 4 for $25.  Additional tickets are $5.  Reserved seating is $8.  Tickets can be purchased at the church on Sundays or by calling 770-436-4108. For more information, call Smyrna First United Methodist Church at 770-436-4108. 

SOUTH COBB NEWS
July 2010

TAEKWONDO CHAMPIONS

After many months of training, three young men in Austell had the opportunity to compete in the 2010 AAU National Taekwondo Tournament. Kenneth Summerlin, Anthony Mendez and Brant Breazeale boarded a plane to Fort Lauderdale, Fla. in June, each student hoping to fulfill the dream to be a national sparring champion. To reach this level each competitor must qualify at a regional or district AAU tournament. Competitors from all over the country show up to fight for that coveted title of ‘National Champion’ …. best in the whole country. These three students are members of ‘Team Gateway;’ they train at Gateway Martial Arts in Austell under Master Denis Ogle. We are so proud of these elite students at Gateway. Kenneth Summerlin won the Gold Medal in the Advanced Adult Heavy Weight Division. Anthony Mendez won the Gold Medal in the Advanced Adult Feather Weight Division. Brant Breazeale won the Bronze medal in the Black Belt Junior Welter Weight Division. Congratulations to all the competitors that filled the Broward County Convention Center and gave it their best over five days of competition. These three students were able to complete this part of their taekwondo journey due to funding from ‘The Journey Fund’, a memorial fund established to assist martial art students in their pursuit of their inner warrior spirit. From left are, Brant Breazeale, Anthony Mendez and Kenneth Summerlin.

Veteran Honored 

World War II Veteran Ed LaPorta was honored by Blue Moon Pizza owners Kelvin and Mandy Slater along with Mayor Pro-Tem Wade Lnenicka and a host of friends and relatives July 11. The 93-year-old Smyrna resident and former Prisoner of War (POW) was given a special tribute at Blue Moon Pizza, located at 4600 West Village Place , Smyrna . Participants included Wade Lnenicka, Smyrna Mayor Pro-Tem; Ron Fashano, Commander, Melbourne , Fla. , American Legion Post 81; Kelvin Slater, Owner, Blue Moon Pizza; and many more.  

“It is with great pleasure that we host this well deserved tribute to Ed LaPorta,” said Kelvin Slater. “Eddie is a loyal Blue Moon customer and a joy to be around,” he said.

 

Born in Italy in 1917, Ed LaPorta migrated to the United States with his parents when he was 16-years-old. He later joined the United States Army in 1940 where he began his basic training at Fort Knox , Kentucky , and helped to create the 1st Armored Division. LaPorta participated in the invasion of Oran , North Africa and surrounding areas for 3½ years prior to being captured by the Germans at Kasserine Pass , North Africa .  He remained in captivity for 27 months, in prison camps, until World War II ended in 1945. LaPorta was awarded several medals for his service including three Purple Hearts.

 

“It is an honor and a privilege to participate in this tribute to Eddie LaPorta,” said Mayor Pro-Tem Wade Lnenicka. “He is a true American hero, and I sincerely appreciate his contributions to our country,” said Lnenicka.

Summer Candlelight Concerts

The South Cobb Arts Alliance begins its 2010 Candlelight Concert Series with summer concerts at the Mable House Barnes Amphitheatre.  The concerts are free to the public and in partnership with Cobb County Parks , Recreation and Cultural Affairs.

The schedule includes:

July 24 -- The Big Chicken Chorus, a men's chorus with barbershop quartet type harmonies. www.bigchickenchorus.org.

August 28 -- Montana Skies, the duo offers a "new acoustic” sound pairing of cello and guitar. www.montanaskiesmusic.ning.com

September 11 -- Kayla Taylor Jazz www.kaylataylorjazz.com.

September 25 -- Roxie Watson, a blend of bluegrass, country, western and blues, www.roxiewatson.com.

Concerts are held at the Mable House Barnes Amphitheatre, 5239 Floyd Road , Mableton GA 30126 . Concerts are 8 - 10 p.m. Gates open at 7 p.m.
Table (seats four) sales are available (no refunds): Single concert: $ 45, Season (six concerts): $ 245. Reservations can be made by calling 770-819-3285.
Attendees may bring their own food and beverages. Concessions will be open.
 
Concerts are sponsored by the South Cobb Arts Alliance, in partnership with Mable House Barnes Amphitheatre and the Mable House Arts Center

 

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