Zen News – January
Earth without art is just “eh”
Peachtree City is the safest city in Georgia, to a recent ranking. Safe Home reviews and ranks security systems and offers crime prevention and security tips, and recently conducted a study to rank cities across the country according to safety. Using data from the U.S. Census from 2010 and FBI crime stats from 2015, researchers examined 37 cities in Georgia with at least 30,000 residents during the April 2010 to July 2014 time-frame. Peachtree City was named the safest in Georgia. It had a safety score of 90.36. Johns Creek was No. 2.With a population of 35, 202, Peachtree City had 18 violent crimes and 503 property crimes in a single year. Atlanta, which has a population of 464,710, had 5,203 violent crime and 25,556 property crimes within a single year. Its safety score was was 56.25. Only Douglasville (54.38) and East Point (25.88) trailed behind ATL on the list.
State Sen. Matt Brass, R-Newnan, was named chairman of the Senate’s Reapportionment and Redistricting Committee. After the 2020 Census, the committee will handle redrawing state and federal election districts.
Barbers on the Boulevard recently opened in Avery Park, just across from the Little Giant Shopping Center. They specialize in classic and modern cuts for men, beard maintenance and shaves. The staff includes owner/operator Debbie and her daughter, Chrissy. Walk-ins always welcome at their 10 The Boulevard shop, which is open Tuesdays thru Saturdays. Call 678-673-6810 or visit their Facebook page for more info.
Alison Wallace is stepping down as executive director of Bridging the Gap. She is taking on a new title as founder/director of community engagement. John Melia was named as interim executive director. Melia started the Wounded Warrior Project back in 2003 after being wounded in a helicopter crash and seeing how soldiers were treated. Bridging the Gap started in 2009 giving away food to those in need. It now provides food, showers and laundry services to the homeless, as well as local assistance and emergency shelter.
The Hil Restaurant is closing its location in Serenbe and will be moving to downtown Senoia. The new restaurant will be named Bistro Hilary, with an opening in downtown Senoia expected in January. The Hil has been around for 10 years and is named for Hilary White, the executive chef. Her husband Jim is the general manager. The restaurant is known for its farm-to-table approach.
The Department of Labor is shutting down its Newnan branch and will consolidate work in Carrollton. will be closing its doors in Newnan at the end of the year, but that’s not Labor Commissioner Mark Butler cited and improving job market for the consolidation. Individuals who used the Newnan office can use career offices in LaGrange, Griffin and College Park. Newan unemployment claims will be transferred to the Carrollton Career Center at 275 Northside Drive.
If you replace the “W” in Where, What, and When with a “T”, you answer the question.
Local Provision, a “one-of-a-kind culinary marketplace,” is set to open on Jefferson Street in downtown Newnan in February. According to a statement, “We have hand selected the finest culinary offerings from our favorite local farms and artisanal producers. More than just a destination for fine products, Local Provisions is built on the idea that lifelong friendships are forged over cooking, eating and sharing great food!”
Newnan Christmas Parade winners: Large Business: 1st place Lowes, 2nd place: Piedmont Newnan. Small Business: 1st Place: Jake Stanley State Farm, 2nd Place: Kettleworks. Non Profit/ Civic: 1st Place: Lukes’ Big Heart, 2nd Place: Coweta Lookouts. Church: 1st Place: Unity Baptist, 2nd Place: Foundation Christian. School: 1st Place: Coweta Charter School, 2nd Place: Western Elementary
Jess Barron, with Lindsey’s Realtors, is the 2018 Newnan Coweta Board of Realtors president. Congrats Jess.
Last month, 160 third graders and teachers from Newnan Crossing Elementary made their first field trip of the year to the Georgia State Capital, and had the added excitement of riding along with their state Senator. Newnan Senator Matt Brass (District-28) accompanied the students on their school bus ride to the Gold Dome. “Senator Brass showed our students what it means to be a caring and thoughtful legislator,” said 3rd grade teacher Ashley Vasconcelles. “The students were going to see first – hand our social studies standards in action.” Said Vasconcelles. “Senator Brass and his staff organized our day and made sure we were exposed to the many different parts of our state government. Several students, knowing the senator resides in Newnan, asked if he would be going to and from the capitol with us on the school bus.
The brain named itself
AOL has finally killed off AIM. If you have no idea what that means or what those acronyms mean, you’ve also never seen a rotary phone and have no idea what a phone booth is. AOL said the 20-year-old instant message service, once considered the premier program, “’tapped into new digital technologies and ignited a cultural shift’, but admitted ‘the way in which we communicate has profoundly changed.’
The long nightmare, er, detour is over at Greison Trail. Road crews created a large traffic circle (roundabout) at the intersection of Greison Trail and what will be the McIntosh Parkway. The parkway will connect downtown Newnan and Ashley Park.
Lotte Mart, an Asian grocery store, has closed their Newnan location at 1045 Highway 34 East, in the Walmart shopping center. The store was open just under a year.
Another closing: Pollo Tropical – Chicken on the Grill. Let’s face it, they probably had one of the worse locations for a restaurant imaginable with only one way in on Bullsboro Drive. Recent store posting: “We really appreciate our loyal guests and it has been our pleasure serving you. Unfortunately, we have made the hard decision to to close this location. We hope you will visit us at one of our other Atlanta locations.”
Rob Estes, co-founder of Can’t Never Could. died just before Christmas. He and his wife, Christi, created the foundation after learning he had glioblastoma, a type of brain tumor with no cure. Their foundation works to offer help to people facing life crises. Estes’ family asks that donations in his memory go to Can’t Never Could, Inc., 10 Sherwood Drive Newnan, GA 30263 or online at www.cantnevercouldinc.com
Trae Westmoreland was named the new president of the Coweta County Development Authority. Former president Greg Wright announced left this summer and was named senior director of community and economic development with Coweta-Fayette EMC. Westmoreland brings more than 15 years of sales and economic development experience to the authority. He spent seven years working at Georgia Power in Community and Economic Development, focusing on industry and business recruitment.
Excellent community effort – a fundraising goal of $70,000 for a new community playground at the old Howard Warner School has been reached. The Boys and Girls Club are now located at what is now a community complex. Howard Warner used to be a public school and later school offices. The Coweta Community Foundation sponsored the fundraising drive.
