CITY OF SMYRNA OFFERS COVID VACCINATIONS

The City of Smyrna is offering Covid vaccinations today, October 8, for Ages 12 and up. The city is extending the free community vaccination effort through October to help slow the spike. Vaccinations are available each Friday during September at the Smyrna Community Center (200 Village Green Circle, Smyrna. 

Offered at the Smyrna Community Center, Pfizer vaccine vaccinations are open for everyone ages 12 and up at the Smyrna Community Center each Friday afternoon, from 1 p.m. until 4 p.m. (200 Village Green Circle, Smyrna). No Appointment needed. Please bring ID. There is no cost. For ages 12 to 15, please bring a birth certificate or record of live birth (or passport). 

MABLE HOUSE HARVEST FESTIVAL SET FOR OCTOBER 9

The Mable House Harvest Festival is set for October 9 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.  The festival is presented by Cobb PARKS, and sponsored by Friends of the Mable House. It will be held at the Mable House, 5239 Floyd Road, Mableton. This family-friendly festival offers free parking and free admission.  

There will be lots of activities, including storytelling, children’s crafts, petting farm, old time games, a visit from Mother Goose and her helper, hayrides, tours and demonstrations in the Historic House: spinning, weaving, quilting and a blacksmith.  South Cobb Lions Club will be selling BBQ.  There will be live music all afternoon:  Strand Ole Opry, Katy Ruth Camp & Friends, Travis Cottle, Possum ‘n Taters, a bagpiper and Scottish dancers.

Happy Birthday, Smyrna!

The City of Smyrna will celebrate its birthday with concerts and fireworks on Saturday, October 9. The party begins at 5 p.m. and goes until 10 p.m.

Join others in downtown Smyrna for a special back-to-back lineup of powerful music with musicians who helped define the late grunge era through the 90s and beyond. No tribute bands here. This is the real deal! The city is delighted to present Sister Hazel and the Gin Blossoms in the same show on the Village Green in Smyrna.

Fall Book Sale

ANNUAL PUMPKIN SALE BEGINS AT SMYRNA FUMC

Photo by Cathy Lipsett

Pumpkins as far as the eye can see. The lot adjacent to First United Methodist Church, Concord Road, Smyrna, is filled with pumpkins large, small and in-between. The church youth are selling the pumpkins as part of their annual fundraiser for their Youth Ministries at SFUMC.

There is an honor box for payments outside of those times when staff is present and payments can also be made at Smyrnafumc.org

This Sunday, October 10, will celebrate a faith and blue initiative from 1 – 4 p.m. The police officers will be accepting donations of baby items for Tillman House. Donate two or more baby items and the police will buy the donor a pumpkin to decorate or keep. There will be a pumpkin contest for the best decorated pumpkin.

SMYRNA OFFERS COVID VACCINATIONS TODAY CONTINUES EACH FRIDAY THROUGH SEPTEMBER

The City of Smyrna is offering Covid vaccinations today, August 27, for Ages 12 and up. The city is extending the free community vaccination effort through September to help slow the spike. Vaccinations are available each Friday during September at the Smyrna Community Center (200 Village Green Circle, Smyrna. 

Offered at the Smyrna Community Center, Pfizer vaccine vaccinations are open for everyone ages 12 and up at the Smyrna Community Center each Friday afternoon, from 1 p.m. until 4 p.m. (200 Village Green Circle, Smyrna). No Appointment needed. Please bring ID. There is no cost. For ages 12 to 15, please bring a birth certificate or record of live birth (or passport).

According to information from the city, booster shots will be available in October for anyone who’s been vaccinated for 8 months.

Joseph Bennett Named Smyrna Policy Chief

The City of Smyrna has a new Police Chief. Joseph Bennett, who served as Deputy Chief under Lee, assumed the leadership role on the retirement of Chief David Lee. “I truly love this City and all who live, work, and play here. I take my position seriously and will do everything humanly possible to ensure the safety and security of those mentioned,” said Bennett.

Chief Bennett outlined his plans for serving in his new position. “Two of my first initiatives are to use education, technology, and human resources to lower the fatality rates on our local roadways. I also plan to work alongside our Fire Department to create a program that will provide tools and resources for our public safety professionals to increase their resiliency in an effort to help them live a healthier, more balanced lifestyle.”

Joseph Bennett grew up in the Smyrna area where he still resides with his wife Mary, his daughter Kaitlin, and son Joey. He is a graduate of Reinhardt College where he was awarded a Bachelor’s Degree in Organizational Management and Leadership and graduated from Columbus State University with a Master’s Degree in Public Safety Administration. He is currently pursuing his Doctorate in Public Administration from Valdosta State University.

Deputy Chief Bennett is a graduate of the Mercer University Public Safety Leadership Institute, Class 50 of the Georgia Law Enforcement Command College, the 248th Session of the FBI National Academy, and the Senior Executives in State and Local Government Program at Harvard University’s Kennedy School of Government.

Chief Bennett began his tenure with the City of Smyrna Police Department in March of 1995. During his tenure, he has held assignments in various positions within the police department to include Uniform Patrol Division, Community Oriented Policing Unit, Street Crimes Unit, Assistant Commander of the Criminal Investigations Division, E-911 Director, and Commander of the Administrative Services Division. He served as a Marksman on the department’s SWAT Team for 10 years and was the Commander of the Team for three years.

Deputy Chief Bennett was named Optimist International Law Enforcement Officer of the Year in 1997 and was a Cobb Chamber of Commerce Public Safety Recognition Awards Nominee in 2000 and 2015. He currently holds active memberships in the Georgia Association of Chiefs of Police, FBI National Academy Associates, and the Georgia 911 Directors Association. Chief Bennett holds Georgia POST certifications as an Intermediate and Advanced Peace Officer as well as Supervisory, Management, and Instructor Certificates. In his off time, he enjoys jogging, biking, and spending time with his family.

SUNTRUST PARK BECOMES TRUIST PARK

The Braves ballpark, originally known as SunTrust Park, has a new name. In mid-January Truist and the Atlanta Braves revealed the new name and look of our ballpark. We are excited to share the new logo and a few renderings with you so you can see what the new name will look like inside and outside of the park, said a Braves executive. 

            During the renaming event,Truist also announced that they will refurbish one youth baseball/softball field a year for the next ten years and dedicate them to our home run king, Hank Aaron.

            It was also announced that for the month of April (except for Opening Day) kids can come to a Braves game for free, courtesy of Truist. Beginning March 2, fans can come by the OnUp Experience in The Battery Atlanta to sign up and then go to the Braves ticket windows to redeem (more details to come).

            For full information about the Truist Park experience visit braves.com/truistpark.

Carrying On After Allan

The Bright Side is a good-news newspaper, but every now and then a cloud passes over the sun. A dark cloud passed over the Bright Side family – and the Lipsett family – last week with the passing of Allan Lipsett.

He and I have published the Bright Side as a team since 2007. It is a joy to bring you the news of the Smyrna, Vinings and South Cobb area, introduce you to new businesses, and keep you posted on the latest events. Allan and I have worked together to bring you the news each month, and now the Bright Side will continue without his important and steady hand.

Our family is so grateful for the kind outpouring of love from the community. From the Jonquil City Kiwanis Club to the Smyrna, Vinings, and South Cobb Business Associations, to taking pictures at many events around town, Allan spent many days in this community and both of us have made many friends.

For those who did not know Allan, or who have not yet seen it, you can see a glimpse of the interesting life he led here or in this month’s Bright Side, which is now arriving at homes and available at various places in the area. We are proud to share this month’s issue, late though it is. Thank you for your patience and understanding.

Know that the Bright Side will continue. It must, if only because we know Allan would have wanted it to.

-Cathy Lipsett, Publisher

WellStar Vinings Health Place Is VBA Business of Year

WellStar Vinings Health Park was named the Vinings Business Association’s “2019 Vinings Business or Organization of the Year.” The award was presented Dec. 3.

WellStar and the three other finalists were presented at the November luncheon to their business ideas and successes. Other finalists include Cobb Community Foundation, Cumberland Community Improvement District (CID), and Crispina Ristorante & Pizzeria.

“All of these nominees are winners,” said Chairman Glenn Christian. “We have been working to get the word out that Vinings is a special place.”

Loretta Usry, executive director, Health Parks South, thanked the VBA. We have everything yunder one roof.

 “We have been in the running for this quite a while and we are thrilled to be in the community. We provide many services to the community and we give back to the community in part through our indigent care fun,” she said.

The Vinings Health Park has been open for two years and its 162,000 sq. ft. building at Atlanta Road near I-285 is fully occupied.

“The whole concept is one stop shopping,” said Joe Brywczynski, senior vice president of WellStar Health Park Development. “We hope you are wowed by your experience.”

The third of five WellStar Health Parks, Vinings saw 200,000 patients the first year and some 250,000 the second.

The three other nominees include:

Andriano Djula and Raffaele Crispino opened Crispina Ristorante & Pizzeria at Paces Mill and Cobb Parkway some five years ago.

The restaurant and the newly opened Crispina Grill in the same shopping center provide a traditional Neapolitan style, southern Italian menu.

Djula said, “We work together and provide excellent family tradition recipes.”

 When we opened it would not have been possible without working with local schools and supporting the local businesses.

The Cobb Community Foundation works with some 500 non-profits, using a donor advised funding model to collect and disperse contributions. Currently it oversees some $550,000 in funds.

“We have one purpose and that’s to support the nonprofits in Cobb and encourage giving,” said Bruce Clayton, board chairman.

The Cumberland area has grown since the Cumberland Community Improvement District (CID) was formed some 31 years ago.

Kyethea Clark, Director of Operations for the CID, said this was the first CID in Georgia as commercial property owners agreed to tax themselves to fund transportation and community improvements.

Three decades ago the area was retail and office/commercial but has added many residential properties in the past several years. “Jobs and  Housing has balanced out to make this a more vibrant area,” she said. “Now you have people who stay here to do things, such as go to the Battery.”