Bright Side E-Weekly for Dec. 13

December 13, 2024 by

In this issue:

  • SMYRNA WONDROUS WINTER CLEANUP
  • MUSICAL AT LIFE CHURCH SMYRNA
  • OPTIMIST CLUB OFFERS SANTA PHOTOS
  • BRING ONE FOR THE CHIPPER
  • QUALIFYING TO BEGIN IN DECEMBER FOR TWO COUNTY COMMISSION POSTS
  • LOUIS DEFENSE COMPLETES INTENSIVE PROGRAM

Plus the latest calendar of events.

Bright Side News for December 13, 2024
View this email in your browser

Friday, December 13, 2024 • Just in time to plan your weekend

An “In-Between The Issues” look at events, people, dining, and entertaining in southern Cobb County, from the publishers of The Bright Side community newspapers of southern Cobb. Deadline for the January issue is December 27th. Contact us at news@brightsidecobb.com.


SMYRNA WONDROUS WINTER CLEANUP:
DECEMBER 14

On Saturday, December 14 Keep Smyrna Beautiful (KSB) volunteers will hit the streets to give Smyrna the gift of clean streets and good cheer. If you’d like to join this litter cleanup for ages 12+ you can start by filling out KSB’s online volunteer application. Register here.
Now Available! Read the Nov/Dec Bright Side


       


MUSICAL AT LIFE CHURCH SMYRNA

Life Church is holding a Christmas Musical on Sunday, December 15 during the 10 a.m. service. The musical is CAKE, Christmas Acts of Kindness Experiment. The church is located at 4100 King Springs Road, Smyrna. The entire community is invited and we hope to see you there.


OPTIMIST CLUB OFFERS SANTA PHOTOS

The Smyrna Optimist Club offers its annual Santa House Project in December. Partnering with The City of Smyrna who provides Mr. Santa Claus, the Optimist Club members volunteer to run the activity each weekend. Come have a photo made with Santa this year.
       
 Families, individuals, groups and even pets are welcome to visit with Santa. The Optimists will take an instant photo of you with Santa and your own photos are allowed. This photo opportunity and visit with Santa is offered for a donation only. 
       
The funds raised from the project go directly to the Smyrna Safety Foundation’s “Shop with a Hero Project,” where Fire and Police department personnel take children Christmas shopping. Each child is given money to shop with and attends a celebration luncheon. 
       
The Santa House schedule is as follows:  at the Taylor Brawner House on Atlanta Road from 6  p.m. to 8 p.m., December 6th,7th,8th,13th,15th,20th,21st, and 22nd.  No appointment necessary.


BRING ONE FOR THE CHIPPER

Keep Smyrna Beautiful is once again sponsoring their annual Bring One for the Chipper. This is a Christmas Tree recycling program to turn live trees into mulch. This year’s Chipper event will be on January 4 at the Home Depot, 2450 Cumberland Parkway, in Vinings from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Trees should be live, unbound, and free of flocking and other decorations. They will be recycled into much. Seedlings will be available as supplies last.
       


Place your advertising in the Bright Side eWeekly for only $25 per week
(minimum of 4 weeks).    
Contact Cathy Lipsett at 770-426-9388 or
by email at cslipsett@att.net for more information.


QUALIFYING TO BEGIN IN DECEMBER FOR TWO COUNTY COMMISSION POSTS

Thought the election season was over? That would be incorrect. The election season continues with two commission posts needing to be filled. A Cobb County Superior Court Judge ordered this special election after ruling the county’s use of home rule powers to draw its commission maps was unconstitutional.

The Cobb County Board of Elections and Registration (BOER) set the dates for the Special Elections for Cobb County Commissioner Districts 2 and 4. Those seats are currently held by Jerica Richardson in District Two and Monique Sheffield in District Four.

Qualifying will take place from December 18 – 20, and the Primary Election will take place on Feb. 11, 2025 and if necessary, a runoff election will take place on March 11, 2025. The General Special Election will take place on April 29, 2025.

The Cobb Board of Elections and Registrations (BOER) had to wait until after November’s General Election to set these dates, as they depended on a possible runoff (no runoff was necessary).  Advance Voting will be available for these contests at select locations. Only Cobb Commission Districts 2 and 4 voters will be eligible to vote in this special election.


LOUIS DEFENSE COMPLETES INTENSIVE PROGRAM

The Smyrna Police department is proud to announce that Major Louis Defense has successfully completed the 152nd Administrative Officers Course at the Southern Police Institute (SPI) through the University of Louisville.

The Administrative Officers Course is an intensive, highly respected 12-week educational program designed specifically for law enforcement command personnel.
Since August 2024, Major Defense, along with law enforcement leaders from across the country, has studied a range of crucial topics, including leadership, police administration, legal issues, and organizational performance and behavior.

The course is academically rigorous, and graduates emerge well-prepared to lead their agencies with professionalism and competence.
Since 1951, SPI has educated thousands of command-level officers, enhancing the effectiveness of police executives worldwide.

Major Defense’s successful completion of this program is a significant achievement. The knowledge and insights he has gained—alongside the perspectives of his peers nationwide—will have a lasting impact on his leadership within the Smyrna Police Department.

“Congratulations, Major Defense, and we look forward to seeing the positive influence of your enhanced leadership in our community.”

GET INVOLVED AT FREEMAN POOLE SENIOR CENTER

Seniors, are you looking for activities or need a place to meet new friends? Why not visit the Freeman Poole Senior Center located at 4025 South Hurt Road, Smyrna? Join a lunch and learn class, enjoy a cooking demonstration, play bingo or join a book reading club. Whatever your interest may be, there’s plenty to do at Freeman Poole.

Click here for a list of upcoming events.

4025 S Hurt Road, Smyrna 30082
(770-801-3400)
Visit Freeman Poole Senior Center’s website for daily activities

Veteran Connection meets the 2nd Tuesday each month at 10 a.m.

DECEMBER

The Pharmacy 
Monday, December 16 from 11 a.m. – noon
Free; Registration required 
Our local pharmacy can be a confusing or frustrating place to be at times.  As we age, the pharmacy takes a more important role in our lives.  Learn from an expert, F. Rocky Beeland, a clinical pharmacist with a large Atlanta hospital system, on how to make your interaction with the pharmacy smoother and less time consuming. Presented by B.E.S.T (Broadening & Enriching Seniors Together)      

Holly Jolly Sweater Party 
Monday, December 16 from 11 a.m. – noon. $5; Registration required 
‘Tis the season to rock your ugly sweater. Put on your best and most creative holiday sweater and join us for a holiday party with games, drinks, appetizers, and a prize for the best-looking holly jolly sweater. 

Snowy Pinecone Candle Jar Craft 
Wednesday, December 18 from 11 a.m. – noon 
$3; Registration required 
Learn how to use mason jars for homemade decorations with these Snowy Pinecone Candle Jars. Supplies provided. Presented by C. Freeman Poole. 

Mind Over Matter – Healthy Bowels Healthy Bladder 
Thursday, December 19th 
Free; Registration required
Mind Over Matter: Healthy Bowels, Healthy Bladder (MOM) is a researched and proven program designed to give women the tools they need to take control of bladder and bowel leakage. With practice, these new skills are proven to help you avoid or reduce leakage so you can keep doing the things that matter most to you. This is a 3-week workshop. Plan to attend all 3 two-hour classes.
Presented by Certified Mind Over Matter Instructors

Freeman Foodies 
Friday, December 20 from 11:30 a.m. – 1 p.m.
Lunch on your own; Registration required
Bonefish Grill
2997 Cobb Pkwy, Atlanta 300339

Toast to the New Year 
Tuesday, December 31 from 1 p.m.-2 p.m.
Free; Registration required 
Happy New Year! Let’s share a toast to our family, and a toast to our friends, far and near. A toast to the things that are yet to come and to the memories that we hold. 

BRIGHT SIDE CALENDAR 
FOR SMYRNA/VININGS/MABLETON/AUSTELL


December

14: WINTER CLEAN-UP. Sponsored by Keep Smyrna Beautiful. Register here.

23 – JANUARY 3: COBB SCHOOLS WINTER HOLIDAY

25: CHRISTMAS DAY

January 2025

4:  BRING ONE FOR THE CHIPPER: January 4. Instead of sending your tree to the landfill, recycle it! KSB will hold this annual event on Saturday, January 4, at The Home Depot, 2450 Cumberland Pkwy SE, Vinings. Details can be found at https://keepsmyrnabeautiful.com/bring-one-for-the-chipper/

Weekly Organizations
BOY SCOUT TROOP 220 meets every Tuesday night at 6:30 p.m. at Life Church Smyrna Assembly of God, 4100 King Springs Road (next to Griffin Middle School). For more information visit https://www.troopwebhost.org/Troop220Smyrna/Index.htm.https://web.cobbchamber.org/atlas/events/smyrna-area-council-state-of-the-city-11830/register

SMYRNA OPTIMIST: Meets every Friday, 7 a.m.to 8 a.m.at the American Legion Post 160, located at 160 Legion Drive. Visitors welcome. 

JONQUIL CITY INVESTMENT CLUB open membership now happening. Jonquil City Investment Club is an all-female organization that encourages women to learn more about investing and applying financial knowledge by investing small amounts of money ($25) in the stock market.  We meet on the first Thursday of each month to learn from a licensed investment broker and discuss the performance of our investments.  Now is a great time to invest in the stock market while it is static.  Have fun with us riding the wave to the top!  For additional information, contact Cindy Acker, Senior Partner, at jcic2004@yahoo.com.

THE JONQUIL CITY KIWANIS CLUB meets on Tuesdays from 10-11 a.m. at the Wolfe Center at 884 Church St.  Smyrna,30080. All are welcome.  Please come early for fellowship and refreshments.

SMYRNA BNI: Smyrna Business Exchange BNI, the largest and most successful BNI Chapter in all North Georgia (including the Atlanta Metro area) meets Thursday mornings from 7 a.m. until 8:30 (networking, coffee and breakfast starting at 6:45 a.m.) The group meets at Smyrna First Baptist Church, 1275 Church St SE, Smyrna. Enter behind the church in the “Welcome Center.” You can reach them online at: bniatl.com

TOASTMASTERS MEETINGS! T-Toasters of Vinings is once again holding live meetings every Wednesday night starting at 6 p.m. Our meetings are held at 2727 Paces Ferry Rd, Building 2 in the 3rd floor conference room. Look for our banner and come join the fun! For more information visit t-toasters.com or email amberenson@gmail.com.

VININGS CUMBERLAND ROTARY CLUB. In person weekly meeting, and on zoom, every Wednesday at 12 noon. The meetings are held at Copeland’s of New Orleans, 3101 Cobb Parkway, Vinings. For more information, go to viningsrotary.org, or contact Shawn Bendig at shawnbendig@att.net or 404-374-6027

SMYRNA ROTARY CLUB meets Tuesdays at 12:15 p.m. Join for a warm welcome, great fellowship, wonderful speakers, and community, national and international service projects. For more information, email Smyrna Rotary Club at f2@nfiweb.com.

GIRL SCOUTS. Girl Scout Troop 625 (K – 6th Grades) is recruiting! We have age level meetings for Mondays or Thursdays at Austell First United Methodist Church. Contact us at 470-399-3629 or troop625rocks@gmail.com.
 

Groups

RELATIONSHIPS IN RECOVERY. The oldest meeting on campus meets every Saturday night at 7:30 p.m. in the Pro North building at Ridgeview Institute, 3995 S. Cobb Drive, Smyrna. A 12-step format meeting helping people in relationships with the many aspects of recovery. 

 

E-mail your organization’s calendar news to news@brightsidecobb.com. Please send in a Word format as short as possible and no flyers. Calendar items also go into the electronic weekly every Friday. To subscribe to the eWeekly go to www.brightsidecobb.com and click on the red button.

NOTES AND NOTICES

 

EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES

ENVIRONMENTAL SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATIONS OPEN: Keep Smyrna Beautiful offers a $4,500 scholarship for a student currently pursuing or planning to pursue a degree in an environmentally related field. Applications are due March 2, 2025. Must be a resident of Smyrna or currently enrolled in Campbell High School or Whitefield Academy. More details here: https://keepsmyrnabeautiful.com/school-partnerships/

MONTHLY RECYCLING CENTER TOURS. The City of Smyrna Recycling Center offers monthly tours on the third Friday of the month (except for holidays) at 9 am. You can register to attend by visiting: https://keepsmyrnabeautiful.com/education/
 

SERVICES


GOOD RASCAL DOG TRAINING: Certified Dog Trainer offers Private Dog Training in your home or other mutually convenient location.  Positive, gentle methods make training fun for dog and owner. Licensed, Bonded and Insured.  For details, see our website: www.mygoodrascal.com. To set up a consultation, email: gary@mygoodrascal.com or call 770-401-7945.

INTERIOR DESIGN CONSULTING: Give your home a NEW LOOK for fall! Have a professional Interior Designer arrange your furniture and accessories to look their best, give you design ideas, and a plan for future purchases. Full Interior Design Services also available. Call or text Creative Interiors 404-569-9665

PLACING NOTES AND NOTICES ADS: Holding a garage sale? Selling or renting your home, need an employee, tutoring, teaching, or in –home child care? We accept short reader ads for a fee of $25 per 50 words. The ads, with check, should be mailed or delivered to The Bright Side, 3330 Cumberland Blvd, Suite 500, Vinings, GA 30339.  Ad copy should also be e-mailed to: ads@brightsidecobb.com. Check or credit card payments accepted. Home-based business ads accepted only if they do not conflict with our display advertisers. Home sale ads are for homeowners only. For information, call 770-426-9388 or e-mail to ads@brightsidecobb.com
 

VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES


INDIVIDUAL VOLUNTEER RECRUITMENT. Throughout the fall, Keep Smyrna Beautiful will continue regular volunteer events, including Community Cleanups, Storm Drain Marking, and Adopt-a-Mile. Interested in volunteering? Fill out our online volunteer application, which can be found at https://keepsmyrnabeautiful.com/volunteer/


HELP WANTED


AD SALES POSITION OPEN. The Bright Side newspaper is looking for a self-starter to join our team in advertising sales. The motivated team member will be able to call on local businesses to tell them about advertising opportunities with The Bright Side. This is a 1099 commission position with lots of potential for the right person. If interested in interviewing, contact Cathy Lipsett at 770-426-9388 or by email cslipsett@att.net


EXTRA COPIES
 

EXTRA COPIES: Looking for an extra copy of The Bright Side? Copies are available each month in the Smyrna Library, the Smyrna Community Center, and Jonquil Publix Atlanta Road, Smyrna; Mableton Pharmacy, Floyd Road Kroger; and in Austell: The Treadmill. Also available at advertiser locations. On our website, www.brightsidecobb.com, sign up for out electronic weekly that has more local news and calendar items every Friday.

BRIGHT SIDE NEWSPAPER ADVERTISING 


REACH OUT to potential new customers/clients through the electronic and print editions of The Bright Side. Give me a call or email and let’s see how a Bright Side ad can benefit your business. I also welcome good news about people in the community. Give me a phone call at 770-426-9388 or email me at cslipsett@att.net

And if you know someone who would like to receive our electronic weekly edition, have them visit my website at brightsidecobb.com, click on the red button, and fill out the information. Can I save a space for your advertising? Call me at 77-426-9388 or email me at cslipsett@att.net.

In addition to direct mail delivery to homes, extra print copies of The Bright Side are available at the Smyrna Public Library, at the Jonquil Publix on Atlanta Road and at Vickery Hardware, at the Treadmill, Austell, the Floyd Road Kroger and Mableton Pharmacy.

Cathy Lipsett
Publisher/owner, The Bright Side Newspaper for Southern Cobb
 
The electronic weekly is a publication of Lipsett and Associates, Inc., publisher of The Bright Side Newspaper. Publisher and editor is Cathy Lipsett with electronic design by Peter Lipsett. 
Advertisers: Reach New Customers
Advertisers, the Bright Side is the best way to reach thousands of homes within a few minutes driving time of your business. The deadline for each issue is the 23rd of the month. Publication is the first week of the upcoming month. Send to ads@brightsidecobb.com.
 
Notes And Notices
Holding a garage sale? Selling or renting your home, need an employee, tutoring, teaching, in-home child care? We accept short reader ads (up to 50 words) for a fee of $25 per month.

Email the ad to ads@brightsidecobb.com and send checks to The Bright Side, 3330 Cumberland Blvd. Suite 500, Vinings, GA 30339. (No copy accepted by phone) and received prior to our deadline of the 23rd of each month. Publication is in the first week of the following month. We also accept credit card payment. Home-based business ads accepted only if they do not conflict with our display advertisers. House for sale ads are for homeowners only. For information, call 770-426-9388 or e-mail to ads@brightsidecobb.com.
Share Share
Forward Forward
Copyright © 2024 The Bright Side, All rights reserved.
You are receiving this email because you opted in via our website, by email, or by personal request to the Bright Side.

Our mailing address is:
The Bright Side
3330 Cumberland Blvd SE
Suite 500
Vinings, GA 30339-5997

Add us to your address book


Want to change how you receive these emails?
You can update your preferences or unsubscribe from this list.

Email Marketing Powered by Mailchimp

Filed Under: Blog, Current, News