New Local Message Board

This one is moderated, so it should be a lot better than the Topix board.  You can find it at http://www.douglastalks.com

Taste of…Summer!

Looks like the City of Douglasville has been reading my blog–at least the post about drawing more crowds to historic downtown.  And great that they’re incorporating the rained-out Taste of Douglasville into this as well!  Found this on  prlog.org, however, visitdouglasville.com doesn’t have it listed yet:

The day is filled with great food, fun, and an array of entertainment including live music and cooking demonstrations. Over 20 local restaurants will offer a variety of “tastes” so everyone can experience the fantastic flavors of Douglasville. Tickets are $1 each and will be sold at the event at the ticket booth. Each “taste” ranges from 1-4 tickets. With face painting, arts and crafts, treasure hunts, sand art, and more, the kids will have plenty of activities to participate in on the plaza. There will even be special children’s cooking demonstrations.

Entertainment on the main stage kicks off with Douglasville’s Got Talent, a talent show showcasing local and regional performers. Then the Inner Harbor AmeriCorps Drumming Band will take the stage energizing the crowd followed by the acoustical sounds of Dustin Benefield. The night of entertainment will be wrapped up by Turnstile treating the audience to original and cover band rock, alternative, and pop music.

So be sure to wear your elastic wasted pants and bring out the entire family and Hit the Bricks on Saturday, July 18th at the 2009 Taste of Summer!

2009 Taste of Summer begins at 1:00 p.m. and will continue until 9:00 p.m. in Downtown Douglasville. For more information on the 2009 Taste of Summer, please contact Kimberly Weaver at weaverk@ci.douglasville.ga.us or 678-715-6095. All Downtown Douglasville event information may be found on the Douglasville CVB website www.visitdouglasville.com.

A portion of the proceeds raised by ticket sales will go to the Cultural Arts Council of Douglasville/Douglas County. The mission of the Cultural Arts Council Douglasville & Douglas County is to nurture, guide and stimulate the enjoyment of and participation in the arts among Douglas County residents and visitors by providing an atmosphere conducive to the arts, broadening the spectrum of quality exhibits and performances available to the community, and fostering individual interactions with the arts through a wide range of satellite groups.

Low Attendance At Hydrangea Festival Flower Show

According to an article in today’s Sentinel, “more than 400″ people attended the flower show at the  festival.  If we are to assume the attendance was not much higher than this (because I am sure most went to the flower show), that was extremely poor turnout.  Is it worth spending $10,000 on next year’s festival?  The article does not state an estimate of how many actually attended the festival, how many went on the garden tours, how many showed up at the lectures…I think if the festival were to combine with another event, say the Taste of Douglasville, it MIGHT be more successful.  Taste of Douglasville is always popular, yet is always scheduled in May when there is a good chance it might rain…and this year’s was rained out, per several reports on Twitter.  Or plan a music festival in the plaza at the same time.  There are ways to make it more popular.  Bring in something that will draw crowds.  But when you plan a flower show and don’t offer food vendors, entertainment (other than choral groups), or something that will draw in a crowd, you’re not going to get a lot of people to show up. 

Take, for example, the Bluegrass Springfest in Villa Rica held in April of every year.  This year was the 19th annual festival.  For the past several years, they’ve been bringing in nationally-known acts.  This year it was the International Bluegrass Music Association-winning groups Mountain Heart AND the Steep Canyon Rangers.  Admission is free to the bluegrass festival, and there are food vendors, arts and crafts, and games for the kids–they even had a couple of Atlanta Braves players there, I think.  Whenever I go, I always have a hard time finding a parking place, and it’s because the festival is popular.  And it’s a two day festival.

This August Villa Rica will hold their first annual (I think) West Georgia Hot Air Balloon Festival.  They expect the attendance to be in the THOUSANDS and are booking bands right now (Mountain Heart, are you listening??).  I for one will definitely go–I have been to one hot air balloon festival before, in Augusta, and it was amazing to see all of the balloons up in the air at sunrise and then to see them all lit up at night.  The festival in Villa Rica will be open until 10pm on both days, so they will most likely have the balloons lit up.  Why didn’t Douglas County think of a festival like this??

2009 Penny MacHenry Hydrangea Festival

I think there was definitely a larger turnout than last year, though it was still pretty hot.  Pics can be found here:  http://home-and-garden.webshots.com/album/572871122CkraTF  I’m still in the process of uploading, so there are more pictures to come.  I’ll also have video on YouTube later–will add the link to this post later.

Villa Rica Bluegrass Springfest

If you didn’t go today…you REALLY missed a FANTASTIC show by Mountain Heart.  This is the second time they’ve played the festival, but I don’t have pictures of the first time because I forgot my camera.  If possible, their show was even better than the first time they played the festival in 2007.  You can find lots of pictures and videos at http://entertainment.webshots.com/album/571418518EWYPcz?vhost=entertainment.  I’m uploading the last of the pictures now, and after that I’ll start uploading the videos.  Videos will be at http://www.youtube.com/user/douglasnews07

The festival will continue tomorrow with Steep Canyon Rangers headlining the festival from 2pm-4pm.

Local Woman Wins Medal

Congrats to Elana Meyers of Douglasville, who earned a silver medal in the women’s bobsled event at the 2009 World Championships.

SNOW!!!

Pics and a video can be found at http://community.webshots.com/album/570324736AeGrlE?vhost=community with more to come in the next few minutes.

Douglas County Events

DOUGLAS COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE TIP LINE: 678.486.1253
Help keep our Community safer! Call to report a crime or a criminal! Your call can remain anonymous!

Think there’s nothing to do in Douglasville?  Think again!

American Legion Post 145 Breakfast
January 3, 2009- February 3, 2009 : 9am to noon
Made to order breakfast: pick or choose what you want, order only what you can eat, no sharing please. Eggs,Biscuit,gravy, home fries, pancakes, toast, grits, bacon,sausage,french toast,fried bologna.  Includes beverage$6.00/children under 12 are $3.00  Every Sunday until further notice
For more information, contact Carolyn Gish/Frank Ilnicki at 770-947-9727/489-1605 or steelersfans4@bellsouth.net.

January 20, 2009- February 16, 2009 : 6:00 AM-7:30 A.M.
Where? Boundary Waters Aquatic Center
This program is for Adults age19 and up. It will include all skill levels from beginner to ex-competitive swimmers. Great for those who are preparing for triathlons, but not limited to triathletes. We will work on all four strokes, turns, technique, core strength, proper muscle care, endurance, and breath control. Join us Tuesday and Thursday Mornings @ 6AM Ongoing DC Resident $50.00 mo.OUT of county $65.00 mo.
For more information, contact Julie Ivey at 770-489-2175 or jivey@co.douglas.ga.us.

Super Bowl Party
February 1, 2009: 5:00 p.m.
Where? Woodie Fite Senior Center
Super Bowl Party for adults over the age of 55.
For more information, contact Rhonda Case at 678-626-5630 or rcase@co.douglas.ga.us.

February 3, 2009: 10:00 a.m.
Where? Citizen’s Hall, Douglas County Courthouse
The Douglas County Board of Commissioners will hold a Public Hearing during its regularly scheduled 10 a.m. meeting on Tuesday, February 3rd, in Citizen’s Hall of the Douglas County Courthouse, 8700 Hospital Drive, to consider the following:
proposed changes to the Douglas County Code of Ordinances concerning Historic Preservation in Article XXI of Chapter 6.
The Public is invited and encouraged to attend and participate in the Public Hearing.
For more information, contact Lisa Watson at 770.920.7266 or lwatson@co.douglas.ga.us.

Wednesday, February 4th: Child Safety Seat Inspections by Safe Kids Douglas County
10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m., Babies R Us parking lot, 6875 Douglas Boulevard ~ drive-ups welcome but appointments appreciated
NEXT SCHEDULED DATE: FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 13TH, 4 – 7 P.M.
To schedule an appointment or for information on reduced fee car safety seats, call 770.949.5155
a program of Cobb and Douglas Public Health

Friday Night Gym and Swim
February 6, 2009: 6:00 p.m. – 11:00 p.m.
Where? Drop off at Deer Lick Park Activity Center
Night out for kids ages 13 to 15. Bring swim clothes for a trip to the Aquatic Center and gym clothing for games in the Deer Lick Gym. Kids must be dropped off by 6:00 p.m. and will not be available for pick up before 10:00 p.m.; Space is limited; must have 10 participants to make the trip; $25 per teen.
For more information, contact Tanya Jackson at 770-920-7129or tjackson@co.douglas.ga.us.

Saturday, February 7th: Contemporary Prints from South Africa Exhibit Opening at the Cultural Arts Center
6:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m., 8652 Campbellton Street ~ Open to the Public, Free Admission ~ an exhibition of lithographs, etchings and artists books created at Caversham Press in Kwazulu-Natal ~ On view through February 27th
GALLERY TALK AND TOUR: SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 8TH, 3 – 5 P.M.
www.artsdouglas.org, 770.949.2787

Saturday, February 7th: Douglas County Night at the Atlanta Hawks
7:00 p.m., Philips Arena ~ Hawks vs. Los Angeles Clippers ~ Youth Basketball Teams and Citizens Invited!
To order tickets or for more information, call Shaka Dennison, 404.878.3561 ~ groups welcome
a program of the Douglas County Parks and Recreation Department

Sunday, February 8th: Poker Tournament to Benefit the SHARE House
1:00 p.m., Irish Bred Pub, downtown Douglasville ~ $50 donation benefits the SHARE House, a shelter for battered women and their children ~ Grand Prize: Weekend for two at Beau Rivage Hotel and Casino, Biloxi
For more information, contact David, 770.853.9545, david@gastaffing.com

Tuesday, February 10th: Child Internet Safety and Awareness. It’s not just computers anymore…
7:00 p.m., St. Julian’s Episcopal Church, 5400 Stewarts Mill Road ~ Free Admission, Open to the Public ~ Presented by the Junior League of Douglas County as a Free Service to the Citizens of Douglas County ~ Presenter: Connie White of the ESafe Georgia Project which works in coordination with the US Attorney’s Office, the GBI and the Juvenile Justice Fund to promote Internet safety ~ program will include parental control features in cell phones, Wii, Xbox 360, MySpace, Webkinz, World of Warcraft, Second Life and more programs
www.jldouglascounty.org

Message Board

I’ve added some news and events to the message board and responded to a question someone had.  Hope you’ll visit the message board and talk about Douglas County!  The link can be found in the column to the left of this post.

Douglas County Sells Surplus

Edit: It looks like every single one of the auctions have been removed–don’t know if the auctions ended or all of them were pulled.  Kind of odd.  But the picture to the left can still be seen, which means it is somehow still on the GovDeals.com website somewhere.

View here.  The entire first page is a listing of various years of Ford Crown Victoria cars which were, in previous lives, former sheriffs’ cars.  Every single vehicle listing says “Vehicle may or may not have a key.”  How do you misplace keys to POLICE cars??  It ranges from copiers to computers to a filthy-looking cafeteria sink(though that can’t be the actual sink, right?  There’s got to be a stainless steel inset that’s missing.).  They list all items as “still in working order when removed from service”.  Which means, if they’ve been sitting outside all this time (as it looks like this cafeteria sink has) they might not work–or you might not want them in the first place.  Items that don’t have anyone bidding on them include “vintage phones” (which includes what looks like a corroded surge protector) and a John Deere weed trimmer that “need[s] work”.  The bid with the highest price right now is a 2007 Ford Crown Victoria, which is going for $3,510.