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.
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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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