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SMYRNA-VININGS NEWS
May 2009
Smyrna To Honor Fallen Heroes On Memorial
Day
Smyrna will pause
to pay tribute to veterans and their families at the annual
Memorial Day Ceremony May 25 at the Cobb County 20th Century
Veterans Memorial. The ceremony begins at 10 a.m. with
seating beginning at 9 a.m.
The event is sponsored annually by the
City of Smyrna, American Legion Post 160 and the Veterans
Memorial Association.
The Twentieth Century Veterans Memorial
Park was built in 2002 with private donations on city
donated land. Inscribed marble pavers honoring veterans are
still on sale for $50 each, along with clay pavers at $35.
Information is available at City Hall, the Library or
Community Center.
The ceremony will open with a flyover
by 3 UH-60 Blackhawk Helicopters from the 1-171st Aviation
Bn., Dobbins ARB. The 116th Army Georgia National
Guard Band will provide music and the Campbell High School
Jr. ROTC Bn. will join the 94th Airlift Wing
Honor Guard. There will be a static display of helicopters
and various military vehicles beginning at 8 a.m. and after
the ceremony until 12:30 p.m. There will also be a rock
climbing wall provided by the Georgia National Guard
available for youngsters on King Street adjacent to the
Memorial from 8 – 9:50 a.m. and after the ceremony from
11:15 – 12:30. Emcees for the event will be Major Larry
Moyers, Director Jr. ROTC Bn., Campbell High School and
Colonel (retired) Ron Davis, President Veterans Memorial
Association.
The public is invited for barbeque and
fellowship following the ceremony at the American Legion
Post on Legion Drive, Smyrna.
Speakers and
participants in 2009 Memorial Day Ceremony include:
Ed Laporta, a WWII veteran and Smyrna
resident who participated in the North African invasion
landing with the 1st Armored Division at Oran,
Algeria. He was captured by the Germans in February 1943
while on a reconnaissance mission at the Kasserine Pass,
Tunisia, and remained a POW until liberated by American
soldiers in May 1945.
Captain Melvin Pender Jr. US Army,
retired, a Smyrna resident who served two tours in Vietnam
including one as an Infantry company commander in the 82nd
Airborne Division. He represented the Army and America in
the 1964 and 1968 Olympics in Tokyo and Mexico City winning
a Gold medal in 1968 in the 4 x 100 meter relay. Mel was the
first African –American track coach at the United States
Military Academy serving in that capacity for eight years.
Sgt. Ryan Scott, a US Marine Corps
reservist in the Smyrna based B Company, 4th
Recon Battalion. He served two combat tours in Iraq in 2004
and 2006 and was wounded during the 2nd battle of
Fullajah (Operation Phantom Fury). He is now a full time
police officer with the City of Atlanta.
SSgt. Troy Campbell, of Kennesaw, a
parachute rigger serving with the Smyrna based B Company, 4th
Marine Recon Battalion. He served a combat tour in Iraq in
support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.
Ms. Gisel Person was born in a small French village east of
Paris in 1931 and has vivid memories of her father’s
participation in the French resistance during WWII and of
the liberation of her small village in August 1944 by
American soldiers when she was but 13 years of age. Years
later she married an American serviceman, moved to the US,
became a US citizen, and now resides in Conyers. She is an
art curator in Atlanta and actively participates in events
with the French Consulate in the metro Atlanta area.
Vinings Couple Engaged At Pace House
When Gina Hand
decided to spend the day touring historic sites around
Atlanta with her boyfriend, Jonathan Langley, she never
dreamed that the day would end the way it did.
The couple had spent a beautiful day in
February looking for picture opportunities with a friend and
photographer, Karen Tabler, who had promised Jonathan a
couple’s photo shoot as a birthday gift.
Little did Gina know that Jonathan had
planned a special night for them at the Pace House in
historic downtown Vinings, their last stop on the tour and
one of Jonathan’s favorite spots.
After taking their last pictures, Karen
pretended to go to her car to get something so she could
leave the couple alone. Jonathan found a small gift
container on a bench near the property and prompted Gina to
open the box.
Inside the container was a fortune
cookie. The fortune read “The next few moments will be
absolutely unforgettable.” In the meantime, Jonathan pulled
out a ring, dropped to one knee and proposed to Gina.
After Gina accepted, Jonathan led her
inside the Pace House for a romantic candlelit dinner that
he had prepared.
The original Pace House was built by
Hardy Pace, one of the first settlers of Vinings, before the
Civil War. The house was destroyed during the war, and
Solomon Pace, the son of Hardy Pace, rebuilt it soon after
at the same location. The Vinings Historic Preservation
Society (VHPS) maintains the property today.
The VHPS is very happy for the couple
and thrilled that the Pace House was chosen to be a part of
their memorable day. The VHPS wishes the couple only the
best.
Taylor-Brawner Park Dedicated
The City of Smyrna
dedicated the crown jewel of its parks bond program with the
opening of Brawner Hall in Taylor-Brawner Park in April.
“This is the crown jewel of our park
bond program,” said Mayor Max Bacon. “It’s absolutely
beautiful.
The Taylor family built a house on the
property and introduced the first jonquil bulbs to the area.
Later, the Brawner Sanitarium, later Brawner Hospital was
founded in 1908 by Dr. James Brawner.
“It was on this site that the Taylor’s
planted the first Jonquil bulbs,” said Lillie Wood, chair of
the Taylor-Brawner House Foundation.
“Things have changed since then,” the
mayor said. The city bought the land from the Cobb and
Douglas Community Services Boards in 2005 and “we made the
decision to have a park here.”
Brawner Hall now includes classrooms
and a meeting room on the first floor and city offices on
the second floor. The Hall and the Taylor-Brawner House are
both available for rental through the city’s Parks and
Recreation Department.
The project, including developing and
landscaping the park are and renovation of the historic
building totaled $9.3 million and was begun in October 2007.
Much of the building is original including the lobby stairs,
entryway columns on floors, the porch deck, railings and
columns.
The park includes walking trails,
playground, wedding gazebo, picnic pavilion, and outdoor
covered classroom, bio-retention pond, swings, fountains and
parking.
Celebrity Basketball
Game
The Smyrna Stars team up with Harlem Legends to present
"A Father’s Day Celebration" Celebrity Basketball Game. The
Harlem Legends Michael Douglas and Shorty Coleman came out
to promote the event with the Smyrna Stars teams at the
Jonquil Festival.
The Harlem Legends are a group of former Globetrotters
and NBA players that will dazzle you with their "basketball
magic." The 2nd Annual event will be held June 13, at 7 p.m.
at Southern Polytechnic State University. Game tickets for
this fun, family entertainment are just $10 in advance, and
$15 at the door.
For more information please visit our website at
www.smyrnastars.com or call 678-910-2823. From left are
Michael Douglas, Kwanya Martin Brandon Walker, Larry
‘Shorty’ Coleman and, in center, Dandre Gray.
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SOUTH
COBB NEWS
May 2009
Wyatts Named South Cobb Citizens Of The
Year
Glenn and Eileen Wyatt of Atlanta West
Carpets were named the South Cobb Citizens of the Year May
14 by the South Cobb Rotary Club and the Cobb Chamber of
Commerce.
The Wyatts are
both natives of the Austell area and graduates of South Cobb
High School.
"The award
spotlights people who make South Cobb a better place to live
and work," said Rotary member Ben Crusselle. The Wyatts are
the 24th recipients of the award.
In 1972 Glenn and
his parents, Glenn Wyatt Sr. and Billie Wyatt formed the
business while on a camping trip. Mrs. Wyatt, who worked at
Coats and Clark at The Threadmill, joined Atlanta West in
1982.
"The Wyatts are a
true American success story," said Cobb Commissioner Woody
Thompson, "not just in their business but in their family
and community life." For 35 years Atlanta West Carpets has
been headquartered in the Austell area. During that time the
Wyatts and AWC have supported local charities, including
Sweetwater CAMP and the Community Health Center and the
Mable House Concert Series as well as participating in local
school activities from PTA to band and drama programs and
sports programs.
Friends,
relatives and Rotary members filled the room at Presbyterian
Village and gave the Wyatts a standing ovation when their
names were announced.
"They have made
an amazing life by what they give back to the community,"
said Darlene Duke, executive director of CAMP and a former
Atlanta West employee. She noted that the Wyatt's generosity
allowed CAMP to buy the modern structure it now occupies
that once was the AWC headquarters.
"They have
established Atlanta West as one of the outstanding floor
covering businesses in the state of Georgia," said banker
Adam Ogburn. "They can be trusted to do what they say they
will do and they treat their people fairly. They are truly
servant leaders."
"There are a lot
of deserving people who could have been nominated for this,
and we really appreciate the honor," Mrs. Wyatt said.
Austell Honors Beverly James
Boyd
Beverly James Boyd, a long time member of the Austell City
Council and Cobb School Board, was honored in April with the
M.L. Lamar Lifetime Achievement Award by the Austell
Business Association.
Beverly James has been a leader in education and an
effective community worker. She was a member of the Cobb
County Board of Education from 1988 – 1992, and served as
Chairman in 1991. Currently she is serving in her third
term as a member of the Austell City Council. She
served as mayor pro tem, finance chair and community affairs
chair.
"I
am so proud of her," Austell Mayor Joe Jerkins said. "We're
just like a brother or sister."
The
mayor described Mrs. Boyd as "the city's designer," after
redesigning and decorating City Hall, the new gazebo and
several city parks. "She's gotten the city looking better
than it's ever looked and save the citizens hundreds of
thousands of dollars," Jerkins said
Former county commissioner Butch Thompson praised her work
on getting the first county community center in south Cobb,
the Ron Anderson Center in Powder Springs. "She has been
involved in doing many things for the community," Thompson
said. "When she says 'listen to me sugar,' you better
listen to her."
"Thank you for this honor," she said. "I have not done this
these things by myself I have had good teams and good
leadership," Ms. Boyd said
Her service and
accomplishments include being a Lifetime Member, Austell
First Baptist Church; Member, Cobb County Commission for
Children and Youth – Appointed by the Georgia State Senate;
Served on Board of Directors of the Powder Springs Youth
Association and Powder Springs Civic Association ; Austell
Women’s Club – First Vice President; Cobb County March of
Dimes; Charter Member, South Cobb Cancer Society; Member,
Cobb County Arts Alliance; Appointed as first woman to serve
on the Cobb County 1% Tax Commission; plus service to the
PTA at several schools and the South Cobb council.
"It is well known throughout the community, her church and
any activity she’s involved in, and we hear it often – 'If
you want something done and done right…call Beverly Boyd,'
said the nomination submitted to the ABA.
Free Concerts At Mable House Amphitheatre
Come spend the summer with the South
Cobb Arts Alliance and enjoy a variety of music during the
2009 Candlelight Concert series. These concerts are FREE to
the public, and are held in partnership with Cobb County
Parks, Recreation and Cultural Affairs.
The schedule
includes:
Kerry Ayres &
Rambunctious -- June 27, 8 p.m. Oldies/Rock ‘n Roll,
www.rambunctiousband.com.
Cedar Hill --
July 25, 8 p.m. Bluegrass Entertainment, www.duck-wave.com.
Delta Moon -- Aug
29, 8 p.m. Swampy, Southern Blues, www.deltamoon.com.
Kayla Taylor Jazz
Quintet -- Sept. 12, 8 p.m. Jazz/Vocals,
www.kaylataylorjazz.com
Concerts are held
at the Mable House Barnes Amphitheatre, located at 5239
Floyd Road, Mableton GA 30126. Please call 770-819-3285 for
additional information. This is a family friendly covered
venue. Concerts are held rain or shine. Gates are open at
6:30 pm, concerts start at 8:00 pm. Parking is free.
Season Tables
(seats four) are available for $ 140. Individual tables
(seats four) are available at each concert for $ 40 (no
refunds). These sell out fast, so plan now.
Bring your food
and drink, or if you choose, Mother’s Finest will be running
the concession stand.
We look forward
to seeing you in the crowd!
Share Your Garden Goods
Imagine the vines sagging under the
weight of bright red tomatoes. Picture your zucchini squash
growing faster than you can cut it. What about green beans
that just seem to grow before your eyes! Does this sound
like your garden?
More than ever,
families right here in our community can make good use of
those extra veggies. Please consider donating extra produce
from your garden to the Sweetwater Community Action Mission
Program.
Peas or okra,
tomatoes or cucumbers, squash or corn. Whether it’s a mess
or a bushel, bring it on by! Sweetwater CAMP is located at
6289 Veterans Memorial Hwy., Building 12-A in Austell or
call Jay Cantrell 770-819-0662, ext. 12 for more
information.
Austell Road Study
Rescheduled
The
meeting on the Austell Road Access Management Study
originally planned for May 12 has been rescheduled for
Tuesday, June 30.
The Cobb
County Department of Transportation is spearheading an
effort to examine access management along Austell Road and
has selected a consultant team to conduct the Austell Road
Access Management Study. The first meeting was held in
February.
For more
information, please contact the Planning Division, planning@cobbcounty.org,
770-528-1679
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