Residents of Statham, along with their friends and neighbors, are all invited to raise a spoon to Statham Boy Scout Troop 789 on Saturday, Jan. 21, 2012. From 5 to 9 p.m., the Statham American Legion will play host to a Chilifest Fundraiser to benefit the troop. Those who choose to “dine in” at the legion will enjoy an all-you-can-eat chili feast for just $6. Children 5 and younger can enjoy the same for just $2. Those who wish to show their support for Troop 789 but take their chili to go can purchase a one quart take-out container filled with piping hot chili for just $5. Mark your …
Didn’t find exactly what you were hoping for under the Christmas tree this year? No problem, residents and neighbors of Bethlehem. Between terrific local businesses such as the Judson House Coffee Shop & Southern Gifts and major chain stores such as Target and Belk in the Barrow Crossing Shopping Center, the post-Christmas possibilities abound. Pop by Judson House for a piping hot cup of coffee or caramel apple cider and a fresh baked pastry, then peruse the eclectic collection of unique home décor and gift items. The Judson House will be open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. all week until Friday and …
Boasting a wide array of features spanning the gamut from a calendar of events and city news updates to important city contacts and business permit information, the easy-to-navigate city of Auburn website also includes links for kids. In step with Auburn’s mission to promote eco-friendly initiatives among its citizenry, by providing links to environmentally-driven games and activities, the city is appealing to its pint-sized population. Through links to sites such as the Environmental Protection Agency’s Student Page and Stormwater Coalition’s Kids Playhouse and activities such as Make a …
Taking a cue from its tagline “It’s Better in Braselton”, the North Georgia town is continually striving to provide the very best to its residents and visitors. With a jam-packed calendar of events already planned from spring through the holiday season in 2012, in a recent post on the “Work, Live, Play in Braselton, Georgia” Facebook page, event organizers begged the questions, “What was your favorite event?” and “What do you want to be sure we do again?” As it currently stands, below is the latest schedule of events for the town of Braselton in the coming year: April 28 and 29, 2012 — …
There is nothing quite like the addition of a dog or cat — or both — to a family to enhance the happiness of a home. From belly scratches and games of fetch to sandpaper kisses and the motorboat hum of a satisfied purr, a pet can become a “bone”-afied member of the family within a mere matter of days. Imagine the looks on your children’s faces when they find a new dog or cat under their Christmas tree this year. When adopting a pet from Barrow County Animal Control, that person isn’t just acquiring a gift for his or her family — they are also giving the gift of life. The sad truth is dozens …
It’s that time of year. There’s a nip in the air and the sky waxes grey. With a cozy throw over the lap, a steaming cup of tea or hot chocolate in one hand and an e-reader in the other bookworms everywhere will be curling up with their favorite e-books this winter. As a matter of fact — thanks to the Jackson EMC Foundation — e-books will soon be available for check-out through the Piedmont Regional Library System serving Barrow County. Statham Public Library recently posted a link to a survey on its Facebook page asking readers to convey which genres of books they would most like to see in e-…
Bethlehem First United Methodist Church — located at 709 Christmas Ave. in the heart of downtown Bethlehem — is busy putting together last-minute preparations for its annual live nativity pageant later this week. Under starry skies Thursday, Dec. 22, and Friday, Dec. 23, the church will sponsor a re-enactment of the story of Jesus Christ’s birth before a multitude of church members, residents and visitors. The scene will be played out during two showings both nights — at 7 and 8 p.m. — lasting approximately 30 minutes each. Admission is free, and attendees should plan to bundle up and …
The city of Auburn is one of a growing number of municipalities that have embraced the power of social media to reach residents. Through Auburn’s Facebook page, the city will often announce grand openings, promote local businesses and share the news about the latest happenings around town. Just within the past couple of weeks, Auburn’s trusty Facebook administrator has listed a number of area salons for holiday party-goers who may be interested in having their hair and nails done, dispelled any fears from residents who didn’t realize the storm sirens were part of a regularly scheduled test …
The town of Braselton urges residents, friends and neighbors to help them fill the shelves at local food pantries in an effort to ensure that no one in the Braselton area goes hungry this holiday season. With a campaign that kicked off in early 2011 and consisted of several drives at area events, the recent efforts of the local community of The Village at Chateau Elan — resulting in the collection of hundreds of nonperishable items for The Vine Food Bank and Zion Baptist Food Bank of Braselton — was perhaps the most successful to date. Led by Braselton Councilwoman Peggy Slappey and organized…
City of Winder government offices will be closed from noon Thursday, Dec. 22, through Monday, Dec. 26, in observance of the Christmas holiday. Winder City Hall will also be closed Monday, Jan. 2, 2012, in observance of a long New Year’s weekend. Winder police and fire departments will remain fully operational during each of these city hall closures. In the event of an emergency, residents should dial 9-1-1. Will you receive the gift of time off in observance of the holidays from your employer? If so, what do you plan to do with the time? Tell us in comments. Check back every Thursday for a …
With one last work session and one remaining council meeting left for 2011, the city of Statham makes ready to bid a fond farewell to outgoing Council Member Joe Hayes. Hayes chose not to seek re-election to the Statham City Council during the November Municipal General Election due to other obligations. Assuming his place at the council table as of Jan. 1, 2012, will be incoming Council Member Perry Barton. Returning for another term next year is Council Member Hattie Thrasher, who was re-elected by Statham voters at the polls in November. In Statham’s December 2011 newsletter, the city …
Before the year officially comes to a close, Mayor David Brock and the Carl Town Council have a little business left to conduct. On Thursday, Dec. 15, there will be a public hearing at Carl City Hall regarding the 2012 budget, followed by the regularly scheduled town council meeting. Mayor Brock and the council will wrap up the year with a holiday gathering at the conclusion of the meeting. The evening kicks off at 7:15 p.m., and all residents of Carl are welcome to attend. On behalf of Mayor Brock, council members Cheely, Knight, Phillips and Shedd, Police Chief Terry Raber, Town Clerk …
With the holidays just a handful of days away, school children all over Barrow County are counting down the minutes to the last day of school before the long winter break. During the course of the next few weeks, the Auburn Public Library has some festive family fun planned. Preschool Story Time from 11 a.m. to noon Tuesday, Dec. 13Join Ms. Jeanine for Preschool Story Time featuring stories, finger plays, music, movement and crafts! Kid’s Art Club from 6 to 7 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 13Geared toward children ages 8 to 12, this activity allows kids to explore their creative side and costs only $1 …
As the holidays draw nearer, lots of terrific community events are in the works and it's all too easy to get lost in the shuffle between holiday parties, neighborhood gatherings, church events and small town parades. In order to have an event listed for free on the Braselton Visitors Bureau Authority Events and Festivals website, local businesses, churches and organizations are invited to download and complete an event form from the town of Braselton website. Submissions should include contact information, the event title, event location, event website, cost of entry and a brief description …
The city of Winder paid tribute to local businesses this week by announcing Christmas parade float winners following the holiday event hosted downtown last weekend. As the procession made its way down Broad Street on Saturday, Dec. 3, Mayor Chip Thompson, city council members and parade viewers had an opportunity to witness the creativity and originality of floats thoughtfully designed by local businesses and organizations. Among the winners were the Winder Housing Authority, Charlotte’s School of Dance and Bethlehem First Preschool and Kindergarten. Bringing home the top honor of Mayor’s …
For anyone who has a veteran on their holiday shopping list, the city of Statham holds the key to the perfect gift — one that keeps giving long after the Christmas ornaments have all been put away. Plans are currently under way for construction of the Statham Veterans Memorial Park on Railroad Street near the gazebo in the heart of historic downtown Statham. Residents are welcome to view drawings of the plans, which are on display at Statham City Hall. As thanks for their bravery and service to this country, the city is selling memorial bricks upon which the names of veterans will be …
Even though inventories in local stores are beginning to dwindle as holiday shoppers rush about checking items off of their gift shopping lists, small children across the nation are flipping through the pages of the latest big toy catalog for inspiration for their upcoming visit with Santa at the mall, and glorious twinkling lights are lining the houses and streets of small town America — the story at the heart of the Christmas season is still top of mind for many. From parents extolling the tale of Mary and Joseph to their children before bedtime to local churches reenacting that holy night …
Nothing beats the scent of a live Christmas tree — its heavenly aroma permeates the rooms of your home and the memories of your family members. For many, it’s just not Christmas without a real tree, while others look to artificial trees for the easy-assembly, pre-lit convenience to fit their busy lives. When trying to make the decision between an artificial tree and a live tree leading into the holidays, disposal may be top of mind for many. Well that decision just became a great deal easier thanks to the friendly elves at Auburn City Hall. The city of Auburn invites residents and neighbors …
Bright and early on Saturday morning, Dec. 10, residents of Braselton and their neighbors will have a rare chance to see bookworms of all shapes, sizes and ages lace up their running shoes for the fifth annual Braselton Run for Reading. Broken into two runs, a mild-mannered kid-friendly 2K will begin at 8:30 a.m. at Braselton Park, followed by a more brisk 8K at 9 a.m. All net proceeds from the event will go to support the Braselton Library at the heart of town. Last year, this event raised more than $2,800. The 2K will feature an “out and back” course starting at the corner of Harrison …
The holiday season will be in full swing in Winder during this weekend’s Christmas parade. Parade-goers should plan to arrive a little early to grab a great viewing spot downtown and take in some live performances designed to help warm up the crowd before the parade starts. Scheduled to begin its procession down Broad Street at 4 p.m., the parade will include appearances by local businesses, churches and organizations, as well as pageant winners and a very special guest — the Jolly Old Elf himself, Santa Claus. Throughout the parade and surrounding festivities, food vendors will be on hand …
