The approaches to the Anneewakee Creek Bridge on Anneewakee Road have been dug out and steel rebars have been put in place; the forms are not yet installed, but the concrete will be poured tomorrow. The concrete will cure for about 3 days and then back-filling, compaction and paving can proceed.

Even before the flood, this bridge was scheduled to be replaced this year.  Work on the new bridge construction will begin soon, just downstream of the repaired bridge.

Source: Email from Mike Mulcare, Third District County Commissioner

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Posted via email from Out & About

  

According to an email received from Mike Mulcare, 3rd District Commissioner for Douglas County, the state DOT does not believe the bridge on Highway 166 can be saved. The GDOT found that the creek channel had dropped 10 feet and the bridge supports have probably been compromised.  They believe the entire bridge will have to be rebuilt and estimate that this will take anywhere from 8 to 12 months.

These are pictures of the westbound approach to Highway 166.

 

Fox 5 provided a detailed piece about the 166 bridge:

 

Mr. Mulcare checked the Capp's Ferry Bridge, which could be a viable alternative to the Hwy 166 bridge, and reported that a crane was on the bridge removing debris from the river abutting the bridge supports. State inspection will likely take place on Thursday.

Sources:

• Email received from Mike Mulcare, 3rd District Commissioner - Douglas County
• Fox 5 news

Posted via email from Out & About

  

I dropped by the Taste of Summer Festival in downtown Douglasville today.  The Taste of Summer started at 1:00 pm and ran until 9:00 pm.  Local restaurants provided the food, and music and tables were set on on O’Neal Plaza.  Entertainment encompassed a “Douglasville’s Got Talent” show, the Inner Harbour Drummers and an evening music concert.

With temperatures in the low 80s and a wondrously clear, bright and breezy day, the weather was simply perfect for such an outdoor event.  Douglas County residents responded in kind by showing up to enjoy the food and entertainment.

The Taste of Summer was hosted by the Douglasville Convention and Visitors Bureau.  If you missed today’s event, keep an eye out for it next summer.

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If you’re planning to stick close to home for the holiday weekend, you can still celebrate Independence Day in style with a fireworks display on Friday, July 3rd in Villa Rica, and a parade, festival and another fireworks display in Douglasville on July 4th.

In addition to the Independence Day Festivities, check out the Community Calendar to find some other fun activities for the weekend.

Friday, July 3rd

Villa Rica Fireworks Display:  6:00 pm – 10:00 pm

The Atlanta Rhythm Section will perform from 7pm until theFireworks Display begins. Face painting, inflatable slides and otheractivities for the youth are FREE.Limited parking is available at the park, and there are severallarge parking lots in the vicinity. A concession stand will beavailable at the park for refreshments. Bring your lawn chairs orblanket and enjoy the evening. Come be a part of the largest FireworksDisplay in West Georgia. Villa Rica Civic Center & Sports Complex.

The Villa Rica Civic Center & Sports Complex is located at 1605 Highway 61.

For more information: 770.459.7011

Saturday, July 4th

Douglasville Parade:  10:00 am – 11:00 am

At 10:00, You can start your day with the July 4th parade that starts on Church Street from Fairburn Road to Rose Avenue, then ends in Hunter Park.

4th of July Independence Day Festival:  11:00 am – 4:00 pm

Follow the parade to Hunter Park and stick around for the 4th of July Festival that benefits SHARE House (the Douglas County shelter for battered women and children).  Hunter Park is located at 8830 Gurley Road, Douglasville, GA. <<MAP>>

Douglasville Annual Fireworks Display: Dusk (around 9:00 pm)

Around dusk (around 9:00 pm) plan to be at Arbor Place Mall or the Sams/Wal-Mart parking lot to view the fireworks. Look at the sky towards the West Pines Golf Club on the north side of I-20 (directly across from Arbor Place Mall).

More Information

• Douglasville Independence Day Festivities
• Villa Rica Annual Fireworks Display

 

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This summer plan to drive over to the Fairburn Farmers Market.

The market features fresh produce grown by local farmers, baked items and arts and crafts from artisans around South Fulton County and adjoining counties, such as Able 2Farm, Bear Creek Farms, Bisa Gardens, Dan's Plants of Tyrone, Fresh Handmade Soaps & Gifts, Hunt's Family Garden, Lewallen Plants & Cuttings, Kyra's Kreations and Scharko Farms.

Local musicians also perform during the market.

The Fairburn Farmers Market is open every Saturday morning from May 9th through October 31st from 8:00 A.M. to Noon and can be found at the Historic Freight Depot, 30 West Broad Street (Hwy.29), Fairburn, GA 30213 (right in the heart of downtown Fairburn).

You can purchase fresh produce as it becomes available:

• Spring: Arugula, Asparagus, beets cabbage, carrots, collards, green onions, kale, lettuce, mustard greens, peas, salad greens, salad mix, spinach, fresh herbs, fresh flowers
• Summer: Cucumber, edamame soybeans, garlic, green bean, green onions, kale, okra, onions, peas, potatoes, sweet corn, swiss chard, tomatoes, blueberries, figs, summer squash, winter squash, zucchini, fresh herbs, fresh flowers
• Fall: Kale, peas, salad greens, salad mix, spinach, tomatoes, summer squash, gourds, winter squash, zucchini, fresh herbs, fresh flowers

Additional products are also available for purchase such as baked goods, bath/body natural products, preserves & jellies, soap, and bedding plants

When 

Every Saturday from 8:00am – 12:00 Noon from May 9 through October 31

Where

Historic Freight Depot
30 West Broad Street (Hwy.29)
Fairburn, GA 30213

For more information

• Questions about available produce:
  • Linda Scharko, 770.964.9074
  • Swain Hunt, 770.461.0829
• Inquiries about participating as a vendor:
  • Patrick Pallend, 770.969.6315
  • info@downtownfairburn.com770.964.9074

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Mark your calendar and plan to come to the Farmers’ Market on Opening Day!

Please Note:  Effective May 9th the Cotton Mill Farmers’ Market location is changed to 401 Rome Street.

For more information

Cotton Mills Farmers Market
Bradley Street ==> moved to 401 Rome Street
Carrollton, Georgia

Related Posts

Check out the Cotton Mills Farmers’ Market this Saturday

 

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photo credit: Deer Lick Park by mrpbody33

The ribbon-cutting ceremony for the new Dog Park at Deer Lick Park will be held Saturday, May 2nd, at 10:30 am.

The Dog Park incorporates 3 acres of Deer Lick Park, broken into a large dog area and a small dog area. The park includes benches, doggie water fountains (human water fountains are provided too), and pet waste stations. 

The park will be open for dogs (and their owners) directly after the ribbon cutting ceremony.  Stick around for the “Bark in the Park” event at the park that starts at 12:00 Noon.

Dog Park Rules & Regulations

1. Dog owner/handler is legally and financially responsible for the actions of their dog.
2. Park users and dog owners assume all risks related to dog park usage.
3. A dog handler must be 16 years of age or older to be responsible for a dog inside the off-leash area.
4. The following dogs are not allowed in the park: Vicious, dangerous or aggressive dogs; sick dogs; and dogs in heat; puppies under six (6) months of age
5. Aggressive dogs must be removed from the off-leash area immediately.
6. Dogs must not be left attended.
7. Dogs must be under voice control and in sight of owner/handler at all times and owner/handler must have a leash in their possession at all times.
8. Dogs must be licensed and vaccinated with tags displayed on the collar.
9. Limit of three (3) dogs per person per visit.
10. Dogs must be kept on a leash until inside the double-gated entry. Enter the first gate with the leash and remove it prior to entering the second gate. Do the reverse when leaving.
11. Only dogs less than 30 pounds are allowed in the small dog area. Large dog off-leash area is open to dogs of all sizes.
12. Children under the age of twelve (12) are not allowed inside the off-leash area, unless accompanied by an adult.
13. Parents should refrain from bringing toddlers and small children to the dog park. At no time will children be allowed to run with or chase after dogs in the park.
14. Owners/handlers must immediately clean up and properly dispose of waste left by their dogs and must cover any holes dug by their dogs.
15. No tobacco products, alcohol, drugs, food, drinks, or dog treats (including rawhide) are allowed in the off-leash area.
16. All bites are to be reported. If a bite occurs, you must exchange your name and phone number with the other owner/handler. Call the Deer lick Park office at (770)920-7129.
17. Professional dog trainers/walkers may not use this area to conduct business.
18. Bicycling, skateboarding, rollerblading, jogging or strollers are not allowed.

You can download the DeerLick Park Dog Park Rules and Regulations from the Celebrate Douglas County website.

Location:  Deer Lick Park, 2105 Mack Rd, Douglasville, GA 30135

Contact Information

Tanya Jackson
Recreation Superintendent
Douglas County Parks and Recreation
770.920.7129

 

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You can find everything, including the kitchen sink, at the Douglas County Freecycle website. 

Douglas County Freecycle, can be used by any one in the greater Douglas County, Georgia area who wants to "recycle" that special something rather than throw it away.

The goal of this group is to reduce waste by connecting individuals who are throwing away goods with others who are seeking them - whether it's a chair, a fax machine, a piano, an old door, or even the kitchen sink.

Douglas County Freecycle only has one constraint: EVERYTHING MUST BE FREE!

To get started with Douglas County Freecycle, you’ll need to sign up with Freecycle’s Yahoo! Group.

Yahoo! Groups

Yahoo! groups is a free web-based service that allows people with shared interests to meet, get to know one another, and stay informed. When you join Yahoo! Groups you’ll be able to share message archives, photos and photo albums, group event calendars, member polls and shared links.

If you’ve never joined Yahoo! Groups before, the first thing you’ll need to do is sign up with Yahoo! Groups.

Once you’ve signed up, you can sign in to Yahoo, inputting your Yahoo! ID and Password in the space provided, and then go to the Douglas County FreeCycle page to subscribe to the group.

Subscribing to Douglas County FreeCycle simply involves sending an email to DouglasCountyFreecycle-subscribe at yahoogroups.com   When you subscribe to Douglas County Freecycle you can choose the frequency of emailed communications: 

• Individual Email: If you want to get an email each time someone in the group posts a message or special notice immediately, as it is posted, choose this option.
• Daily Digest: If you want to get a daily email of up to 25 of the most recent posted messages and special notices, choose this option.
• Special Notices: If you want to only receive important email notices from the group moderator and plan to check the daily postings online, choose this option.
• Web Only: If you do not want to receive any emailed messages, but plan to check daily postings online, choose this option.

You can change these settings at any time.  Your subscription will be completed quickly and you can start reviewing the FreeCycle listings or post your own.

Posting & Reviewing FreeCycle listings

FreeCycle provides the following guidelines when posting messages:

1) NO POLITICS - NO SPAM

2) SUBJECT LINE: Use these phrases...

• OFFER: old couch
• TAKEN: old couch (Offerer posts when the item is taken)
• WANTED: old couch (Please use this one sparingly.)
• RECEIVED: old couch (When you receive your WANTED item)

3) CAN WE USE THE FREECYCLE NETWORK TO FIND NEW HOMES FOR PETS?

• NO pet WANTED posts of any kind
• No OFFER posts for dogs, cats, puppies, or kittens
• Fish, fowl, rodent, reptile, and farm animal OFFERs are allowed.
• Posts asking for and/or offering pet SUPPLIES are allowed.

4) NO TRADING PLEASE

5) FYI: RESPONSES GO ONLY TO OFFERER. It minimizes the number of emails.

6) PICK UP: Arrange as you like. Some members prefer to meet in a public
place. You DO NOT have to give an item to the first person to respond!
You are free to give or not give your item to any group member.

7) This group is NOT open to resellers at this time.

Everything offered or wanted must be absolutely, totally free, legal, and suitable for all ages. All local, state, and federal laws should be adhered to when giving away or transferring the ownership of any possessions.

To Learn More about the Freecycle Network, see http://www.Freecycle.org

Useful email addresses for DouglasCountyFreecycle are:

To post messages:    DouglasCountyFreecycle@yahoogroups.com
To subscribe:    DouglasCountyFreecycle-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
To unsubscribe:    DouglasCountyFreecycle-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com
To contact the List owner:    DouglasCountyFreecycle-owner@yahoogroups.com

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Derby Day is held every year at Foxhall Farm, a 1,200-acre horse farm that borders the Chattahoochee River in Douglas County, in celebration of the Kentucky Derby.

Plan to come and enjoy an afternoon of fun, sun, great barbeque and beverages (alcoholic and non-alcoholic) and watch the Kentucky Derby, live, on two big screens.  You will also have an opportunity to bid on travel packages and other items in both live and silent auctions and to enjoy the two live bands throughout the day and into the evening.

Tickets cost $60 in advance and $70 at the gate. All proceeds benefit the Shepherd Center's Therapeutic Recreation Program, which funds activities such as the Wheelchair Division of the Peachtree Road Race and the Shepherd’s Center’s annual Adventure Skills Workshop.

You can purchase tickets online.

Date

Saturday, May 2, 2009 - Gates open at 2 pm and close at 10:00 pm

Location

Foxhall Farm
8000 Capps Ferry Road
Douglasville, Georgia 30135

More Information

• Derby Day
• Email Anne Pearce or call 404.350.7302

 

 

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The Cultural Arts Council of Douglasville/Douglas County, partnering with the Douglas County Chapter of the American Business Women’s Association, hosts its annual Mad Hatter’s Tea Party on March 21.  There’s a session that starts at 10:00am for kids up to 6 years old and a session that starts at 1:00 pm for kids that 7 years old or older.  

Activities include flamingo croquet, sing-a-long music and storytelling sessions, an egg hunt, games, gift bags, a tea party/lunch for the children and a luncheon for mothers and grandmothers.

Tickets cost $25 for the first child and accompanying adult and $15 for each additional child and $10 for each additional adult. Contact the Cultural Arts Council to purchase tickets and for more information.  

More Information

Click here to download a flyer about this event.

Cultural Arts Council of Douglasville/Douglas County

Cultural Arts Center
8652 Campbellton Street
Douglasville, Georgia
770-949-2787

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Epilogue is a new book club in Douglas County and its first meeting is Saturday, April 25, 2009. 

Epilogue will read award winning books, starting with Pulitzer Prize winning novels.  The group will read “The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao” by Junot Diaz, the Pulitzer prize winner for 2008, for March’s meeting.

Epilogue will meet once a month at a local restaurant.  Books will be chosen at random from the list of Pulitzer prize winners.  The reading list for the next several months has already been formulated:

Month	Book	Author	Yr
4	The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao	Junot Diaz	2008
5	Gilead	Marilynne Robinson	2005
6	Olive Kitteridge	Elizabeth Strout	2009
7	The Keepers Of The House	Shirley Ann Grau	1965
8	Elbow Room	James Alan McPherson	1978
9	Guard of Honor	James Gould Cozzens	1949
10	A Good Scent from a Strange Mountain	Robert Olen Butler	1993
11	The Confessions of Nat Turner	William Styron	1968
12	Breathing Lessons	Anne Tyler	1989
1	A Summons to Memphis	Peter Taylor	1987
2	The Color Purple	Alice Walker	1983
3	To Kill A Mockingbird	Harper Lee	1961

If you would like to learn more about the Epilogue Book Club, call Julie at 678.321.6526 or send an email to julie@funfoodlife.com.

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4/24/2009 UPDATE
Unfortunately, if you've stopped by Sweet Box Bakery lately, you've been disappointed to find that the store is closed.  I have called to try to find out when the store might be reopened, but have never connected with anyone.  I'll post back any information I learn about the store.

I am disappointed that such a wonderful store ran into problems like this.  But, all is not lost!  Check out Sweet Teresa's Dessert Shop on Douglas Boulevard -- you won't be disappointed!

I met up with a friend of mine the other day at the brand new bakery in Douglas County: Sweet Box Bakery.  The restaurant is beautifully decorated, has free wifi and specializes in freshly baked European desserts.

I enjoyed a great cup of coffee with some brioche and European macaron cookies and my friend enjoyed a steamy cup of Hot Chocolate with a slice of cheesecake.  Yum!

If you’re looking for a great cup of coffee and something to satisfy your sweet tooth, stop by Sweet Box Bakery.  In addition to its walk in restaurant, Sweet Box Bakery delivers its tasty morsels to catered events.

Sweet Box Bakery is right across the street from Chapel Hill Middle School and is open Mondays through Fridays from 8:00 am to 8:00 pm and Saturdays from 9:00 am to 7:00 pm.

Contact Information

Sweet Box Bakery
4040 Chapel Hill Road, Suite V & W 
Douglasville, GA  30134 
213.841.9362

  

Now that television is going completely digital, I decided to recycle some of my old sets instead of purchasing digital converter boxes for them.

I looked around and found Aeris Services, located right here in Douglas County.  For a small fee, Aeris Services will recycle your old television sets, computers, monitors, and other electronic devices – I paid $10 to recycle my 25 year old, 32 inch television set.

Aeris has recently moved from Stewart Parkway to the Bankhead Highway.  Call Anthony Robertson to get directions to their new location.

Contact Information

Anthony Robertson:  770.655.7907

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This isn’t in Douglas County, Georgia, but sounds like a great way to spend the day.

 

On September 14 from 1:00 – 4:00 p.m. Persimmon Creek Vineyards in Clayton, Georgia will open up their vineyards to the public and decant their award-winning wines at tasting stations throughout the lovely grounds.  While visiting the tasting stations, you will sample wine from the nearby harvest-ready grapes and learn about the vines, the winemaking process and the history of the farmland.  Each wine will be paired with a tasty morsel from Whole Foods Market.

Persimmon Creek Vineyards is a 110 acre estate near Lakes Burton, Seed, and Rabun and was purchased by the Hardman family in August 2000.  Sixteen acres of the property is devoted to the vineyard. 

The event costs $50 for the general public and you can register on-line through the Georgia Organics website

Contact Information

Persimmon Creek Vineyards
81 Vineyard Lane
Clayton, GA 30525
706.212.7380

  

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Douglas County Habitat for Humanity has been building houses in Douglas County for hardworking, lower-income families since 1991.  Last fall, Douglas County Habitat for Humanity merged with Cobb County Habitat for Humanity to form Habitat for Humanity of Northwest Metro Atlanta.  This new entity will serve Cobb, Douglas and Paulding Counties.

The Habitat for Humanity team started putting up siding and completed a rear deck and inside insulation last weekend at its current project located at 6899 Upshaw Mill Road in Douglasville.

Volunteer opportunities are available at the Upshaw Mill home for the next several weeks:

August 9th - 3 volunteers are needed
August 16 - 15 openings
August 23 - 4 openings
September 13 - 4 openings

Volunteers of all skill levels are welcome. Workers should be 18 years old or older (unless prior arrangements have been made).

Work starts promptly at 8:00 am and continues until mid afternoon. Lunch will be provided by Chick-fil-A on Fairburn Road.

Please plan to arrive by 7:45 am. You can park your car at Keith Park on Thompson Street and walk about a block to the building site. Please wear comfortable work clothes, work boots or heavy shoes (no open toed shoes please) and bring along some work gloves, hammer, and tool belt (if you have them) and a hat and suncreen.

Directions from I-20 to Keith Park

Go Northwest on Campbellton St/Chapel Hill Road toward Hospital Drive
Continue on Campbellton Street across GA-78/Broad Street (Campbellton Street will become Dallas Highway/GA92)
Make a slight left onto Thompson Street
Go for about 3 miles. The road ends at Keith Park.

For More Information

Tavia Pauling, Executive Director
Douglas County Habitat for Humanity
P.O. Box 2211
Douglasville, GA 30133
770.489.8883
director@douglascountyhabitat.org



Technorati Tags: Habitat for Humanity

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Gum Creek Farms will also be at market with Pork and Lamb.  That means roasts, bacon sausage, chops, etc.

Directions

Take 166 West to Hwy. 61 exit and go south to Carrollton. This road changes names but continues to the downtown square. At the Square turn left onto Bradley Street. Go 2 blocks. Look for tents in the parking lot on the left.

Contact Information

Wendy Crager 
770.537.3720 
cottonmillfm@yahoo.com
Cotton Mill Farmers’ Market website

Related Articles

Check Out the Cotton Mill Farmers' Market this Saturday


Technorati Tags: farmers' market, Carroll County

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You can make a lifelong difference in an abused and neglected child’s life by becoming the child’s voice in the court system as a Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA).  Pamela Butler, a former CASA recipient who is now a college student, summed up CASA’s role nicely:

“When you’re young, no one listens to you.  To give a child a CASA is to give them a voice.  To give them a voice is to give them hope, and to give them hope is to give them the world.”

A brief history of CASA

CASA was conceived in 1976 by Seattle Superior Court Judge David Soukup after he became frustrated about having to rule on decisions involving abused and neglected children without having sufficient information.  Judge Soukup formulated a program, tapped into social resources, and raised funding to recruit and train a corp of community volunteers to act as the child’s voice by speaking up for the best interests of abused and neglected children in court proceedings.

Judge Soukup’s pilot program was so successful that judges across the country began using citizen advocates in their courts.  The passage of the Victims of Child Abuse Act in 1990 fueled the spread of the CASA program throughout the United States.   Since 1977, CASA advocates have helped more than 2,000,000 children find safe, permanent homes.

Today there are more than 950 CASA program offices with more than 59,000 trained CASA volunteers in the United States.  Last year, CASA volunteers spoke up for 243,000 children - about half of the children that are in the child welfare system in this country at any given time.

CASA’s ongoing mission is to support and promote court-appointed volunteer advocacy for abused and neglected children so that they can thrive in safe, permanent homes.

CASA receives most of its funding through the Department of Justice’s Office of Juvenile Justice Delinquency Prevention.  More than 90% of charitable contributions directly support CASA programs.

Become a CASA Volunteer

CASA volunteers work one-on-one with a child or sibling group in the foster care system.  They serve as fact-finders for the judge by thoroughly researching the background of their assigned cases.  CASA volunteers interview the child and everyone that has a significant impact on the child’s life (parents, foster parents, social workers, teachers, etc.) and make recommendations to the court on behalf of the child.  In essence, the CASA volunteer is a foster child’s “watchdog” for the duration of their court case to make sure the child’s case is resolved quickly and appropriately.

You don’t need to have any special skills or education to become a CASA volunteer.  Simply put, you must care about children, be 21 years old or older, and pass a criminal background and fingerprint check.  Furthermore, you’ll need:

• To be committed to the program:  Typical cases take 1 to 2 years to resolve and require anywhere from 10-20 hours per month. 
• To maintain objectivity: CASA volunteers develop an independent, objective and non-judgmental assessment of the child’s current situation by researching case records, speaking to family members, teachers, doctors, lawyers, social workers, etc., and even visiting the child’s home.
• Communication skills:  CASA volunteers prepare written reports that outline their recommendation for a child’s permanent placement; and they stand up for the child in court when they present their recommendations to the judge.

Support & Training of CASA volunteers

New CASA volunteers complete 40 hours of training that is broken out between classroom training and courtroom observation:

• Thirty (30) hours of classroom training covers a wide variety of topics such as juvenile court procedures, effective child advocacy techniques, cultural sensitivity training, and child sexual abuse, early childhood development and adolescent behavior. 
• Ten (10) hours of courtroom observation of relevant cases.

After training is completed, advocates are sworn in as Officers of the Court and then they have the legal authority to conduct research on behalf of the child and to report findings and recommendations to the court.

Volunteers also complete 12 hours of in-service training each year.

CASA in Douglas County

CASA established a Douglas County program office in 1999, called Children’s Voice: CASA, Inc.  In a recent conversation I had with Dawn West, Executive Director of Children’s Voice, I learned that there are approximately 200 children in the Douglas County foster care program.  Children’s Voice has matched up 54 Douglas County CASA volunteers with 128 of these children.

Children’s Voice: CASA, Inc. is planning a volunteer orientation in late September/early October and will schedule new volunteer training this Fall.  Volunteer training is usually broken up into ten, 3 hour classes, offered once or twice a week, in the evenings from 6:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.

If you are interested in making a lifelong difference in a child’s life, please consider becoming a CASA volunteer.  To learn more about the upcoming volunteer orientation and training in Douglas County, please contact:

Children’s Voice: CASA, Inc.
8700 Hospital Drive 3rd Floor
Douglasville, GA 30134
Phone: 770-577-7228
Email: casa@co.douglas.ga.us

For More Information

• National CASA website
• Georgia CASA website
• CASA Volunteer Factsheet
• Everyday Heroes- CASA informational video (Windows Media)

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One of Douglas County’s hidden gems is the Geltner Nature Preserve and Bird Sanctuary.  The Geltner Nature Preserve consists of 186 acres of pristine wilderness that fronts a portion of Anneewakee Road between Chapel Hill Road and Highway 92.

Its rolling hills, expansive forest of mature hardwoods, and it’s numerous waterways and wetlands provide an ideal sanctuary for deer, beavers, and a wide variety of birds.

Anneewakee Creek and Crooked Creek run through the property forming Lake Monroe.  Beavers have created another lake by building an enormous dam that spans over 200 feet and is more than 50 years old.  The beaver lake provides an undisturbed sanctuary for ducks, geese, blue heron and other wildlife. 

The gently rolling hills are covered with mature hardwoods, wetlands, and creeks.

If you drive down Anneewakee Road, you will notice the Monroe lake dam on the North side of the road.

You’ve probably never seen this view of the dam (taken from the property on the west side of the dam).

A brief history of the property

The Geltner property was originally part of a 404 acre parcel that was purchased by Jan Scarbrough in 1945 from a sawmill operator who was harvesting the land for its timber.  Jan renamed the lake from Lake Turnipseed to Lake Monroe in honor of his mother.  The land had not been developed and had no amenities except for two old farm houses.  Around 1947 the Rural Electric Administration brought electricity to the area, and in 1948, Jan sold half interest of the property to his sister Geraldine to fund renovation of one of the farm houses.  After Jan and his brothers renovated the farm house, Jan and his extended family, including his mother, brothers (and their families) and sister Geraldine, moved to the property from Buckhead.  

Over the next 35 years, the property was used by various family members as their primary residence and at times as a weekend retreat.  In 1962 Jan made the property his permanent home and lived there until he died in 1980.

In 1960 Jan and Geraldine divided the property up between them.  Geraldine loved the rural setting and hoped to make it her permanent home, but when she married Mr. Dan Geltner, she moved to Pittsburgh, PA.  Geraldine returned regularly and dreamed of moving back permanently and building a cottage on a point that juts into the lake, opposite the Lake Monroe dam. 

Geraldine never realized her dream, but because she wanted to make sure the land remained in its natural state, she did the next best thing. . . In 1997 Mrs. Geltner donated the land to the Atlanta Audubon Society, who in accordance with Mrs Geltner’s wishes, worked with the Chattowah Open Land Trust to place a perpetual conservation easement on the land that prohibits the development of the land and ensures that it will remain a nature habitat for Douglas County wildlife.

The Geltner Nature Preserve and Bird Sanctuary remains undisturbed in its pristine condition to this day.  The Atlanta Audubon Society has recently begun evaluating the most appropriate way to open the property up to the public.  Programs under consideration include hosted nature walks that may occur as early as this Fall.

Google Maps

Lake Monroe (formerly known as Turnipseed Lake)

View Larger Map

 

View Larger Map

About the Atlanta Audubon Society

The Atlanta Audubon Society works to promote the enjoyment and understanding of birds and to conserve and restore the ecosystems that support them.  The AAS is the metropolitan Atlanta affiliate of the national Audubon Society and has more than 4300 members in the Atlanta metropolitan area.

More Information

Atlanta Audubon Society
Box 29189
Atlanta, GA  30359
770.913.0511

National Audubon Society
225 Varick Street
7th floor
New York, NY 10014
212.979.3000

Thanks to Don Scarbrough Sr and Don Scarbrough Jr (Mrs. Geltner’s brother and nephew, respectively) for contributing history and pictures for this article.  The Don Scarbrough families currently reside in Douglas County just a few miles from the Geltner Nature Preserve and Bird Sanctuary.

Related Articles

Hunters in trees put on notice

 

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Douglas County residents went to the polls today to vote in the Primary Election Runoffs.  The unofficial results are as follows:

County Board of Education District 5 (Republican)

	Votes	Percentage
Jeff L. Morris	660	65.54%
Rickey Roland	347	34.46%

 

United States Senate (Democrat)

	County Votes	County Percentage	State wide Votes	State wide Percentage
Vernon Jones	786	38.14%	126,576	40.2%
Jim Martin	1275	61.86%	188, 329	59.8%

You can view the full detail of the election results:

• Douglas County election results by precinct
• Georgia Election Results (Secretary of State’s office)

 

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I recently had the pleasure of visiting the Birch Knoll Alpacas farm on Anneewakee Road.  Birch Knoll Alpacas is a 14 acre farm owned by Bari and Andy Horisberger. 

The Horisbergers began their alpaca farm in 2002 with three female alpacas and have grown the farm to a small herd of 17 alpacas (11 females & 6 males).  Eight of the females are currently pregnant.

The day I stopped by, most of the girls were inside the barn catching a breeze from a large cooling fan. 

Alpacas are gentle creatures that do not bite (they don’t have any upper teeth), but may spit when they are upset or angry.  On this day, the alpacas were just a little curious! 

 

Female alpacas have one baby a year after an eleven month pregnancy.  Most of these females have a baby in the oven.

The male alpacas hang out in an open air barn in a separate corral away from the females.

The alpaca greeting party – isn’t he a handsome boy!

What I learned about Alpacas

Alpacas are the smallest member of the camelid family and are close cousins to the llama, vicuna, and camel.  Alpacas are originally from the Andes in South America, but have been in the United States since the 1980s.  There are approximately 120,000 Alpacas in the United States.

The alpaca is not a pack animal.  Unlike the camel and llama, the alpaca is bred exclusively for fiber.  Alpaca fiber is silky soft and warm like cashmere but is hypoallergenic and won’t scratch like wool.  The hair is hollow which makes it excellent insulation on a cold day.

Birch Knoll alpacas are sheared once a year in April.  The alpaca fiber is then sent to Georgia Mountain Fiber in Blue Ridge, GA to be processed.

There are two different alpaca breeds: 

• Huacaya (pronounced wah-KI’-ya): The huacaya is the most common alpaca and produces a wavy or crimped fleece.  Birch Knoll alpacas are hacayas.
• Suri (pronounced surrey):  The suri is quite rare and produces a silky fleece that clings to itself in a way that resembles dreadlocks.

Loose huacaya alpaca fiber that was sheared last April from Birch Knoll alpacas.

Before processing

The alpaca fleece is processed into roving to be spun into yarn. 

Alpaca yarn can be knitted, crocheted or woven into luxurious socks, scarves, gloves, hats, sweaters, blankets, rugs, etc.  You can even get an alpaca teddy bear!

Alpacas come in a variety of colors, but all but one Birch Knolls alpacas are white, beige, and light fawn (Birch Knolls has one black alpaca).  The light colored alpaca fleece is beautiful as is, but it can also be dyed into just about any color.

National Alpaca Farm Day

On September 27, 2008, from 10:00 am – 5:00 pm, Birch Knoll Alpacas will participate in National Alpaca Farm Day by opening up its farm to the public.  Mark your calendar and plan to visit the farm to meet the alpacas and learn more about these delightful creatures!

You’ll also get to see a local artist spin alpaca roving into yarn, and you can start your Christmas shopping early by browsing through the farm store for alpaca roving, batting, yarn and other alpaca gift items for yourself and others on your gift list.  Birch Knoll Alpacas will be raffling off a 12” alpaca teddy bear for $1.00 a ticket.  Raffle proceeds will be donated to the Quechua Benefit, a charitable organization dedicated to providing relief to the Quechua Indians who live in the the alpaca farming regions of South America.

For more information

Bari & Andy Horisberger
Birch Knoll Alpacas
3634 Anneewakee Rd.
Douglasville, Georgia 30135
770.577.2250
birchknollalpacas@hotmail.com
www.birchknollalpacas.com

 

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Douglas County Transportation Center

Gas prices have fallen over the last couple of days, but if you’ve got a long commute to work or school, your commute costs are probably still more than you’d like to pay.  You might want to check out the alternative transportation options you can get through Douglas County’s RideShare program.

Douglas County’s RideShare program provides VanPools, Express Bus Service to major metropolitan destinations, and Carpool matching services to Douglas County residents.  The RideShare program was formulated in 1986 and its offices are located in the Douglas County Transportation Center that is behind the Courthouse.

The Transportation Center serves as a multi-modal hub for VanPools, Carpools and Express Bus Service and is open Monday through Friday from 5 a.m. to 7 p.m.  There are 650 parking spaces for residents who use its services.

VanPools

Douglas County’s RideShare program currently operates 42 daily vanpools to locations throughout the Atlanta metropolitan area.  Riders meet vans at central locations scattered throughout the County to be driven to work.  Vans drop off and pick up riders near their work destination and return riders to their original departure location.

• Vans depart from central locations throughout the County Monday through Friday some where between 5:00 a.m. and 7:00 a.m.
• Vans return to Douglas County some where between 2:30 p.m. and 5:00 p.m.
• Vans accommodate between 7 to 15 riders
• A sample of vanpool pickup locations include Thornton Road, Post Road, Brownsville Road & Hwy 92 (old SaveRite parking lot); Publix at Chapel Hill Road; KMart shopping center parking lot on Hwy 5.
• A sample of vanpool destinations include the Federal Correctional Institute in Talladega, AL; Alpharetta/GA 400; the Atlanta Airport; Buckhead; Downtown Atlanta; Midtown; Cobb County; Decatur; North Druid Hills; Norcross; Perimeter Center.

See the Douglas County Rideshare 2008 Route Schedule to view a current and comprehensive list of vanpool routes.

Costs for vanpool services range from $60 - $108 a month based on the round trip mileage of the commute and related parking costs (if required).

Vans are wheelchair accessible.

Express Bus Service

 

photo credit: Express Bus by Dedra Morrison

The Georgia Regional Transportation Authority (GRTA) provides express bus service to Douglas County residents Monday through Friday known as XpressGA.  Buses are luxury coaches with plenty of legroom, reclining seats, luggage racks, electrical outlets in some cases and reading lamps.

There are two routes that pickup and return to the Douglas County Transportation Center:

• Route 460: Transportation Center to downtown Atlanta
  • Five commuter coaches depart the Multi-Modal Transportation Center every morning headed to downtown Atlanta
    • Morning departures occur between 5:30 am and 7:30 am in 30 minute increments.
    • One morning coach departs Arbor Place Mall at 7:12 am with a stop at the Transportation Center before proceeding to downtown Atlanta
    • Riders are dropped off at the following locations:
      • Central Ave. at Mitchell St. (Atlanta City Hall)
      • Martin Luther King, Jr. Dr. at Peachtree St
      • Martin Luther King, Jr. Dr. at Forsyth St
      • Forsyth St. at Five Points MARTA Station
      • Forsyth St. at Luckie St. (GSU Rialto Theater)
      • Peachtree St. at Ellis St. (Georgia Pacific)
      • Peachtree St. at Peachtree Center (MARTA entrance)
      • Peachtree St. at Baker St. (SunTrust Bldg.)
      • Ivan Allen, Jr. Blvd. at Alexander St.
      • West Peachtree St. at Civic Center MARTA station.
  • Seven commuter coaches return in the afternoon to the Multi-Modal Transportation Center
    • Commuter coaches leave the Civic Center MARTA station around from 3:10 pm to 5:45 pm, with subsequent coaches leaving in 15 to 30 minute increments.
    • Riders are picked up at the following locations:
      • W. Peachtree at Civic Center MARTA Station
      • Peachtree St. at Baker St. (SunTrust Bldg.)
      • Peachtree St. at Peachtree Center (near MARTA elevator)
      • Park Place at Edgewood Avenue (Woodruff Park)
      • Pryor St. at Upper Alabama St. (Underground Atlanta)
      • Forsyth St. at Martin Luther King, Jr. Federal Center
      • Mitchell St. at Central Ave. (Atlanta City Hall)
      • Mithcell St. at Washington St.
  • Route 460 includes two reverse commute coaches from the Civic Center MARTA Station to the Transportation Center and Arbor Place Mall in the morning and two returning from Douglasville to Civic Center MARTA station in the afternoon.

 

• Route 461: Transportation Center to Midtown Atlanta
  • Five commuter coaches depart the Multi-Modal Transportation Center every morning headed to Midtown Atlanta
    • Riders are dropped off at the following locations:
      • Forsyth St. across from MLK, Jr. Federal Center
      • Forsyth St. at 5 Points MARTA Station
      • West Peachtree St. at Civic Center MARTA station
      • West Peachtree at North Avenue MARTA Station (at Ponce de Leon Ave.)
      • West Peachtree at 5th St.
      • West Peachtree at Peachtree Place (Midtown MARTA station)
      • West Peachtree at 14th St.
      • West Peachtree at Arts Center MARTA Station
      • Spring St. at 17th St.
      • Spring St. at 5th St. (Technology Square, GA Tech East Campus)
      • Civic Center MARTA Station
  • Five coaches return in the afternoon.
    • Riders are picked up at the following locations:
      • West Peachtree St. at Civic Center MARTA station
      • North Avenue at Ponce de Leon Ave. (MARTA Station)
      • West Peachtree at 5th St.
      • West Peachtree at Peachtree Place (Midtown MARTA station)
      • West Peachtree at 14th St.
      • West Peachtree at Arts Center MARTA Station
      • Spring St. at 17th St.
      • Spring St. at 5th St. (Technology Square, GA Tech East Campus)
      • Civic Center MARTA Station
      • Pryor St. at Alabama St.
      • Forsyth St. at MLK, Jr. Federal Center
  • Route 461 includes two reverse commute coaches from the Civic Center MARTA Station to the Transportation Center in the morning and two returning from Douglasville to Civic Center MARTA station in the afternoon.

Roundtrip tickets cost $5 and one way tickets cost $3.  Senior Citizen discounts are available.

XpressGa provides free transfers to MARTA at any MARTA stations that are served by XpressGA.

Xpress coaches are wheelchair accessible.

For more information on this service, see www.XpressGA.com. 

Carpool Matching Services

photo credit: The Atlanta Skyline by Jake Walker

If you commute to locations that are not covered by a vanpool or express bus service, Rideshare offers free carpool matching services:

• Rideshare maintains a list of people who have expressed a desire to carpool and will attempt to match you up with people who work in the same area and who work the same hours as you. 
• Rideshare also participates in the Atlanta Regional Commission’s RideSmart program (formerly known as 1-87-Ridefind).  RideSmart is a carpool/vanpool referral service that is funded by the Federal Highway Administration, the Georgia DOT and the Atlanta Regional Commission.

If you’d like to use these carpool matching services, call 770.949.7665 to talk to a RideShare Customer Service Representative.  You can also register with the RideSmart program.

You and the other parties in the carpool should work out the costs/rules of carpooling beforehand.  Things to consider include:

• policies about smoking, music, cellphone use, food & beverages, waiting times, driver/car rotation schedule
• payment & when payment is expected
• vacation/sickness notification

Another carpool resource that is not a part of Douglas County’s Rideshare program that you might check out is the Georgia Carpool Center.

Guaranteed Ride Home

Rideshare provides a Guaranteed Ride Home emergency service to get you home if you have to leave work early or if you miss your return trip home. The Guaranteed Ride Home emergency services provides up to five free taxi rides home each year.

Contact Information

Douglas County Rideshare Staff

• Gary Watson, Director
• Davidae Walker, Assistant Director
• Patricia Lynch, Programs Assistant
• Jerie McGinnis, Customer Service Manager
• Vickie Safford, Customer Service Assistant
• Ira Dorin, Operations/Fleet Manager

Douglas County Multi-Modal Transportation Center
8800 Dorris Road,
Douglasville, Georgia 30134
770.949.7665.

See Also

• Douglas County Rideshare program
• Douglas County Rideshare, Vanpool and X-Press Bus System FAQs 
• Douglas County Multi-modal Transportation Center map & directions
• RideSmart

 

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Last weekend I drove over to Carrollton, Georgia to check out the Cotton Mill Farmers’ Market.  The Farmers’ Market features fresh seasonal produce that is grown by West Georgia and East Alabama farmers.  In addition to fresh produce, you can also find herbs, plants, cut flowers, free range eggs, grass fed beef, lamp, pork or chicken, handmade soap, jams and jellies, whole wheat, stone ground breads and pastries, honey, raw mill cheese, organic coffee beans, pottery, rustic furniture and wrought iron ornamentals.

The selection of produce changes every week depending on what’s in season, so you might want to sign up for their weekly newsletter.  (You can see the 7/12/2008 newsletter at the end of this article.)

The Cotton Mill Farmers’ Market was started in 2002 with 28 farmers and has grown each year since.  The Farmers’ Market is held from 8:00 am to noon, every Saturday, starting in April and running through September. 

Some of the produce I saw last weekend included fresh herbs (garlic, shallots, arugula, basil, parsley); free range eggs, sweet corn, different varieties of squash, cucumbers, tomatoes, green beans, okra, blueberries, watermelon, peaches, blackberries, honey, and whole grain muffins . . . well some of these items wouldn’t be considered produce, but you get the gist of it. 

Here’s a walk through of my Farmers’ Market experience:

Plants, flowers, tomatoes, fresh eggs, blueberries. . .

Honey. . .

 

Potted plants . . . 

 

Some nice sunflowers . . .

homemade soaps and more blueberries . . .

stainglass window ornaments and decorative stepping stones . . .

Pottery . . .

fresh tomatoes!

The farmers and other vendors are a jovial bunch of friendly souls and I truly enjoyed meeting them and talking to them.  I look forward to returning on another Saturday.

Directions

Take 166 West to Hwy. 61 exit and go south to Carrollton. This road changes names but continues to the downtown square. At the Square turn left onto Bradley Street. Go 2 blocks. Look for tents in the parking lot on the left.

Contact Information

Wendy Crager 
770.537.3720 
cottonmillfm@yahoo.com

More Information

• Cotton Mill Farmers’ Market website
• Downtown Farmers' Market-Linking the Farm to the Community

7/12/2008 Newsletter

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UPDATED on 7/31/2008 to include link to recorded debate

The Atlanta Press Club conducted a debate between Vernon Jones and Jim Martin, the two democratic candidates that will face off in the August 5th primary runoff election. 

The debate was held on Tuesday, July 29th from 7:00 pm to 8:00 pm, and was moderated by Scott Slade (WSB Radio) with a panel consisting of Nwandi Lawson (GPB ), Charles Richardson (The Macon Telegraph) and Dick Pettys (insider Advantage).

You can listen to the recorded debate here:

2008 US Senate Race – 07/29/2008 

More Information

Georgia Public Broadcasting, Atlanta Press Club debates

See Also

U.S. Senate Political Debate (held on July 13th between Dale Cardwell, Vernon Jones, Rand Knight, Josh Lanier, and Jim Martin

 

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For any hunters that have been using the Geltner / Audubon Nature Preserve on Anneewakee Road as their private hunting ground:  Time to relocate your diggs to a new location.

Last weekend I worked with several other volunteers to clean up and post notices on illegal deer stands on the Geltner / Audubon Nature Preserve on Anneewakee Road. Hunters have until October to remove their deer stands from the property when the Atlanta Audubon Society volunteers will return to remove the deer stands and turn them over to the Douglas County Sheriff’s Department.

I took pictures of the deer tree stands we found, but there could be more.

Heading into the Geltner / Audubon Nature Preserve . . .

We come across a couple of camp sites that we disbanded:

First deer stand – this one’s been here for a long time:

Second deer stand – in a really beautiful setting:

Third deer stand – a pretty basic model:

Fourth deer stand – really more a chair than anything else

And in the midst of all this. . . these hunters are baiting the deer! What sportsmanship!

And here’s a blatently unethical and lazy way to hunt.  This feeding station is positioned in the middle of 3 or 4 deer stands making the hungry deer an easy target.

Fifth deer stand – another chair:

Sixth deer stand – we had to hunt for this one it was deep in the forest and camouflaged quite well.

We also picked up more than three truck loads’ worth of trash that was scattered through this beautiful forest.  It appears that some of the residents from the local neighborhoods have been using the property as a dumping ground.  Why, we even picked up someone’s kitchen sink!

Stay tuned for more information about this wonderful property.

 

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It’s July and the blueberries are ripe!  We all know that the antioxidants in blueberries help to keep us healthy, and if you’ve been to the store lately, you’ve probably seen blueberries there for about $2.50 for a pint container. 

Why not load up your kids and go pick some Georgia blueberries?  I haven’t found a Douglas County blueberry farm, but I’ve confirmed that there are blueberries at the following Carroll County farms:

Garmon Family Farm

337 Old Four Notch Road
Whitesburg, GA 30185
Phone: 770.214.8531
Email: garmonfamilyfarm@earthlink.net
Open:  By appointment only

Garmon Family Farm is a small family farm that grows muscadines, scuppernongs, pears, apples, seasonal garden produce, herbs, free range eggs and flowers. Their seasonal garden produces heirloom and specialty vegetables such as tomatoes, cucumbers, squash, salad greens, oriental vegetables, okra, peppers, herbs, and chard.

The farm is open by appointment only, so call before heading out to pick blueberries (July) or Muscadines and Scuppernongs (late September – October).

Blueberries cost $10 per gallon.  Cash only.  Picking containers are provided.  Call ahead for reservations.

Taylor Blueberry Farm

195 Clem Lowell Road
Carrollton, GA 30116
Phone: 770.832.6857
Open: Mondays-Saturdays from 7 am - 7 pm.

Blueberries cost $4.00 per gallon.  Cash only.  Picking and take-home containers are provided.

If you decide to go to a "u pick them" blueberry farm, leave your pets at home and be sure to bring plenty of water and maybe even some snacks or a lite picnic lunch.

  

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On Sunday, July 13, 2008, from 7:00 pm to 8:00 pm, the Atlanta Press Club, partnering with Georgia Public Broadcasting, hosted a debate between invited democrat challengers Dale Cardwell, Vernon Jones, Rand Knight, Josh Lanier, and Jim Martin, candidates for U.S. Senate.

The debate was moderated by Fedricka Whitfield, CNN, with panelists, Dawn Hobby, WALB, Albany; James Salzer, AJC; and Corey Dade, Wall Street Journal. 

The debate took place at Georgia Public Broadcsting and aired state-wide.   Here's a link to the recorded debate:

AP Debate - 2008 US Senate Race (D)

More Information

Georgia Public Broadcasting, Atlanta Press Club debates

 

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Starting in June and running through the end of September every Thursday morning, you can find the Douglasville WIC Market, which is a small farmers’ market of locally grown fruits and vegetables, in the Douglasville Health Center parking lot located next to the library on Selman Drive. 

Several years ago, when the Douglasville WIC Market first started up, I made a point to drive over to see what was there and I was disappointed to find just a few farmers selling produce out of the backs of their cars.  I expected the market to have grown somewhat from the time I first visited it.  But this morning when I made a special trip to the market, I found that things have not changed much from my initial trip there several years ago:

I walked around a little and saw some squash, tomatoes, a few peaches, and watermelons.

If you get a hankering for fresh, locally grown produce and happen to be in the neighborhood on a Thursday morning, drop by and see what's there, but I wouldn’t recommend making a special trip.

What is a WIC Market?

A farmers market that is designated as a WIC market is authorized to accept FMNP (Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program) coupons from eligible WIC participants.

“The WIC Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program (FMNP) is associated with the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children, popularly known as WIC.  The WIC Program provides supplemental foods, health care referrals and nutrition education at no cost to low-income pregnant, breastfeeding and non-breastfeeding post-partum women, and to infants and children up to 5 years of age, who are found to be at nutritional risk.

The FMNP was established by Congress in 1992, to provide fresh, unprepared, locally grown fruits and vegetables to WIC participants, and to expand the awareness, use of and sales at farmers’ markets.” (1)

Information

Douglasville WIC Market
6770 Selman Drive
Douglasville, GA 30134
Phone: 678-504-1056
Open: Thursday mornings 9am until noon (June – September)

(1) WIC Farmers Market Nutrition Program

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I discovered the West Georgia Animal Welfare League about eighteen months ago after I picked up a dog in the middle of the road one night.  I had recently adopted a dog, who was having some adjustment problems, and I wasn’t prepared to take on another new animal, so after searching around for a while I discovered the West Georgia Animal Welfare League.  I contacted WGAWL, told them I would be willing to foster the dog and asked if they could help me find a home for him.  Martina Hemming, the President and Executive Director of WGAWL, met with me and the dog, and graciously agreed to help me find him a home.

The West Georgia Animal Welfare League was formed in 2004 by a group of volunteers at the Douglas County Animal Shelter and achieved non-profit status in April 2006.  WGAWL relies on volunteers to execute its mission of helping homeless animals get a second chance at a great life.  WGAWL operates an independent, licensed non-profit Pet Adoption Center in Douglas County which offers fully vetted adoptable pets. 

WGAWL assists local County shelters by:

• Pulling special needs animals, such as pregnant and nursing pets, older pets, and pets with medical needs, who need a little bit of help and time to get adopted.
• Photographing county shelter pets for PetFinder.com
• Providing information to the community about pets currently available for adoption at the shelter, rabies control, feral cat control and care, free and low-cost spay and neuter programs, pet care, non-profit
• Assisting residents to place homeless pets
• Managing a spay and neuter fund and a LifeSaver Fund in coordination with the Atlanta Animal Alliance.

WGAWL maintains a close working relationship with the Douglas County Animal Control Shelter.  This relationship has effectively reduced the euthanasia rate in Douglas County through increased adoption rates – The Douglas County Animal Control Shelter currently boasts one of the highest adoption rates of any animal shelter in the Atlanta metropolitan area!

You can get involved with the WGAWL in several ways:

Adopt a Pet

There are many advantages to adopting your next pet from the WGAWL.  All of the pets are fully vetted and the animal’s temperament has been assessed.  The WGAWL will work with you to match you with the best pet for your lifestyle and family situation.  Many of the pets are already housebroken and have received some basic obedience training.

Become a Foster home for homeless pets

If you’ve ever attended any of the “meet and greets” at the local pet supply stores you may have met some of the wonderful pets that are awaiting permanent homes.  If you would like to give a shelter dog or cat the luxury of some space and time to find a perfect home, think about opening up your home and fostering a homeless pet.  Call 678.213.2143 to learn more about the program.

Volunteer your time

WGAWL offers many volunteer opportunities in areas such as fundraising, grooming, caring for orphaned puppies or kittens, working at adoption and other special events, animal transportation, veterinary care, and walking dogs.  If you are interested in volunteering some time to WGAWL, you can complete the volunteer information form on WGAWL’s website or send an email to volunteer@wgawl.org.

Donate Supplies or Money

WGAWL welcome donations of every kind:

• PayPal donations can be made online through WGAWL’s website
• Gift cards from grocery stores, office supply stores, home improvement stores, super stores and pet supply stores
• Gift certificates from KV Vet Supply are used for flea treatments, dewormers and other medications.
• Supplies, such as clean towels, blankets, comforters, dog beds, etc. (You can email martina@wgawl.org to arrange a pickup of the items you wish to donate).

Participate in WGAWL programs

PetMeds purchase program:  Use the WGAWL code at checkout whenever you purchase pet medications and vitamins from PetMeds either online (http://www.1800petmeds.com) or through phone order (1-800-738.6337), and 10% of the total cost of your order will be donated to WGAWL.

Inkjet & laser cartridge recycling program: WGAWL recycles used inkjet and laser cartridges to fund its spay / neuter program and to provide medical care for pets. You can arrange for your used cartridges to be picked up by emailing martina@wgawl.org.

Please consider volunteering your time and money to this worthwhile organization.

Contact Info

West Georgia Animal Welfare League
phone: 678.213.2143
fax: 678.213.2144
e-mail: info@wgawl.org
website: www.wgawl.org

Please Note: WGAWL is currently relocating its Pet Adoption Center. Look for an announcement in August of their new location.

 

Add’l Resources

Douglas County Animal Control
1755 County Services Rd.
Douglasville, GA 30134
phone: 770-942-5961
website: www.petfinder.com/shelters/GA299.html

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Primary Elections will be held on Tuesday, July 15th.  Be sure to review Douglas County’s sample ballot for the election and be sure to bring a photo identification with you.  Acceptable photo identification includes:

• A Georgia driver's license (expired licenses are acceptable)
• Any valid state or federal government issued photo ID, including a free Voter ID card issued by the county registrar or the Georgia Department of Driver Services
• A valid US passport
• A valid employee photo ID from any branch, department, agency, or entity of the U.S. government, Georgia or any county, municipality, board, authority, or other entity of Georgia
• A valid U.S. military photo ID
• A valid tribal photo ID

To learn more about Georgia's photo ID requirement, see: www.GAPhotoID.com or call 877.725.9797.

Advance Voting

You can vote early this week, starting on Monday, July 7th, and continuing through Friday, July 11th, from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm at the following locations:

• Old Douglas County Courthouse, 6754 West Broad Street, Douglasville, Georgia 30134
• Boundary Waters Aquatic Center, 5000 Georgia Highway 92 North/166 East, Douglasville, Georgia 30135
• Deer Lick Park, 2105 Mack Rd, Douglasville, GA 30135
• Voters
  Registration Office, Douglas County Courthouse, 8700 Hospital Drive, Douglasville, Georgia 30134

2008 Election Dates

Make a note of these upcoming election dates

Dates	Description
July 7 - July 11	Advance voting for General Primary
July 15	Election Day for General Primary
July 28 – Aug 1	Advance voting for General Primary Runoff
Aug 5	Election Day for General Primary Runoff
Aug 8	Deadline to register to vote or change address for Special Election
Sept 8 – Sept 12	Advance voting for Special Election
Sept 16	Election Day for Special Election
Sept 29 – Oct 3	Advance voting for Special Election Runoff
Oct 7	Election Day for Special Election Runoff
Oct 6	Deadline to register to vote or change address for General Election
Oct 27 – Oct 31	Advance voting for General Election
Nov 4	Election Day for General Election
Nov 24 – Nov 28	Advance Voting for General Election Runoff
Dec 2	Election Day for General Election Runoff

 

More Information

• Contact Laurie Fulton at 770.949.2000 or lfulton@co.douglas.ga.us
• Georgia Secretary of State website

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On July 1, 2008, the Atlanta Press Club, partnering with Georgia Public Broadcasting, presented a debate between challenger Donzella James (D) and incumbent David Scott (D), candidates for the 13th Congressional district.

The debate was moderated by Helen Neill, WGCL, with panelists, David Zelski (Georgia Public Broadcasting), Tom Baxter (Southern Political Report) and John Hollis (Atlanta Journal-Constitution)

You can watch the debate here.

More Information

Georgia Public Broadcasting, Atlanta Press Club debates

Technorati Tags: 13th Congressional District

 

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The Douglas County Chamber Singers has been serenading the Douglas County community with quality choral music since 2002.  The Chamber Singers value and promote musicianship, proficiency, community spirit, enjoyment, and diversity.

With the help from and support of the community the Chamber Singers were honored to sing Mozart's Requiem with a combined choir from all across the United States, conducted by John Rutter, at Carnegie Hall in June 2007.  The Chamber Singers performed Mozart’s Requiem in their Spring 2008 concert and have been invited to perform the Requiem again in Vienna, Italy in the Summer of 2009.  You can hear their performance of Lacrymosa from their Spring concert by selecting the button below.

Played: 35 | Download | Duration: 00:02:53

The Conductor

Ms. Vickie Orme leads the Douglas County Chamber Singers.  Ms. Orme holds a BA degree in music education,  with an emphasis in vocal and choral music, and a Master's degree in music education and vocal performance from the University of West Georgia.  She teaches private lessons in piano, voice and violin and has taught music within the public school system. 

Ms. Orme has been involved in community choral groups all her life.  In addition to her work with the Douglas County Chamber Singers, she has conducted groups such as the Stars and Stripes Singers in Fort Bragg, North Carolina, and she has sung as a soloist at church functions, for the West Atlanta/Douglas Choral Society and for the U.S. Army Ground Forces Band in Fort McPherson, GA.  Ms Orme is currently a member of the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra Chorus.  Ms. Orme lives in Douglasville, GA with her family.

You can get involved with the Chamber Singers as a singer, as a supporter or as a guest at one of their concerts.

Sing with the Chamber Singers

Ms. Orme auditions new choir members throughout the year.  During auditions, Ms Orme will evaluate the quality and range of your voice and will assess your proficiency with reading music and singing a part.  You will be asked to:

• sing a prepared solo, which can be any classical, religious, or popular song you wish to sing. 
• sing a scale
• sight read an alto, soprano, tenor or bass part of a hymn.

Auditions are held throughout the summer and during the holiday break between the December concert and the start of rehearsals for the Spring concert.  If you are interested in joining the Chamber Singers, please call Vickie Orme at 770.489.0503 or Andrea Tingen at 770.949.3623 to schedule an audition appointment.

Singers pay annual dues of $75 to cover music and administrative costs.

The Chamber Singers are currently on break for the summer, but will resume its Tuesday rehearsals around the middle of August.  Rehearsals are held each week through the fall, winter and spring months, concluding with the Spring concert.

Support the Chamber Singers

Please consider supporting the Douglas County Chamber Singers with your tax deductible donation.  The Chamber Singers is a voluntary organization and do not charge any admission fees for any of its concerts.  Financial gifts are much appreciated because they allow the Chamber Singers to perform more music for the community. 

If you wish to donate to the DCCS, please mail a check, payable to DCCS, to:

Douglas County Chamber Singers.
4944 Revere Court
Douglasville, GA  30135

Come to a Concert

The Douglas County Chamber Singers hosts formal Christmas and Spring concerts each year as well as perform at community events scattered throughout the year. All concerts are free and open to the public. 

Be sure to check the Community Calendar here or the Douglas County Chamber Singers website later this year for the dates, times and location of their upcoming concerts. 

Contact Information:

Vickie Orme, 770.489.0503 
email: chambersingers@mindspring.com
website: www.douglascountychambersingers.com

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Just across the county line in South Fulton County you can hear some old time bluegrass music every Tuesday night at the Cedar Grove Community Center.

The music starts around 6:30 pm.  There’s a free snack bar and no admission charge.

Directions from Douglasville

Take 92 South across the Chattahoochee River.  Turn right on Cascade Palmetto Highway / GA154.  Go south for about 2.3 miles and turn right on Cedar Grove Road (there’s a gas station and flashing yellow light at the intersection).  Go down Cedar Grove Road for about a mile.  When you pass the elementary school on the right, start looking for the Cedar Grove Community Center (you’ll see a small building that looks like a house) with lots of cars parked out front.

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Biking on the Silver Comet Trail is a wonderful way to spend the day with family or friends. 

Starting in Smyrna, GA, the Silver Comet Trail spans over 60 miles, running through Cobb, Paulding and Polk counties.  By the end of summer 2008, the Silver Comet Trail will connect to the Chief Ladiga Trail at the Georgia/Alabama state line, extending the trail another 100 miles and terminating in Anniston, Alabama. 

The Silver Comet Trail is a great place to ride, walk or jog.  The paved, mostly flat trail, spans some beautiful and scenic vistas and you can ride as far as you want without having to worry about cars.  (The picture above is looking West from the Hiram, GA trail head)

The nearest trail head is about 10 miles North of downtown Douglasville in Hiram, Georgia (Paulding County). 

From the Hiram, GA trail head, you can head East toward Atlanta or West toward Alabama.  Heading West will take you through the nicest scenery.

Amenities

Benches are placed at various locations along the trail and there are plenty of rest stops with well maintained and clean rest room facilities located all along the trail. 

There are water fountains at rest stops, but the last time I biked along the trail I noticed that many of the water fountains were turned off (probably as a water conservation measure), so be sure to bring plenty of water. 

If you head East toward Atlanta, you'll pass some industrial areas and you will find some places along the way where you can stop for food - I remember passing a McDonalds.  Heading West toward Alabama will take you through some beautiful countryside, but you'll find little, if any, options for food along the way.  If you plan to make a day of it, think about packing a picnic lunch and stopping at one of the nice parks.

Directions to the Hiram trail head

397 Seaboard Avenue
Hiram, GA  30141

• From the Bankhead Highway in downtown Douglasville, drive North on GA 92 for about 9 miles.
• Turn right on Oak Street (there is a traffic light at this intersection).
• Drive about 1/2 mile, and turn left on Seaboard Avenue
• Take Seaboard Avenue for a few blocks to the parking lot (Seaboard Avenue runs across the parking lot and you can park to the right or left of Seaboard Avenue).

To learn more about the Silver Comet Trail, see

• Path Foundation
• Trail Express

Additional links

Georgia Bicycle Safety Laws

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If you are looking for an opportunity to give back to your community, the Douglas County Literacy Council is looking for you. 

Studies have shown that approximately 14% of the total English speaking adult population in the United States are functionally illiterate.  That equates to over 30 million people in this country who are not able "to complete simple, every day literacy tasks, such as reading and understanding information in short, commonplace texts and simple documents.(1)"   The National Adult Literacy Survey indicates that 13% of Douglas County residents are functionally illiterate and another 32% of Douglas County residents can perform only limited literacy and simple quantitative tasks. (2)  Literacy experts believe these figures are understated.

Formed in March 1987, the Douglas Council Literacy Council has been tackling the illiteracy in this county for more than 20 years.  The DCLC offers free, confidential tutoring to adult students and is always in need of volunteer tutors.

I spent three very rewarding years as a volunteer tutor with DCLC.  When I contacted DCLC about getting involved, I was relieved to learn that DCLC provides a lot of support to its volunteers:

• New volunteers undergo 10 hours of training before they are matched up with a student.  Dr. Annette Cash, a professional educator, leads the evening training classes, held twice a week over a 2-1/2 week period of time. 
• DCLC assesses the existing skill levels of students prior to matching them with a volunteer tutor.
• DCLC uses the Steck-Vaughn "Reading for Today" sequential program for adults and provides all of the training materials to the volunteer tutor and to the student free of charge.
• DCLC has a great relationship with the Douglas County Library system.  DCLC tutors receive priority treatment in regards to their use of Library meeting rooms for student / teacher work sessions.

In addition to teaching adult students to read, DCLC provides continued support to any of its students who pursue their GED through the West Central Technical College's Adult Education Program.  DCLC also coordinates with the West Central Technical College to provide English as a Second Language (ESL) training to immigrants who do not speak English.

If you are interested in becoming a volunteer tutor for this worthwhile organization, please contact Noreen Herren at 770.949.2319. 

Contact Information:

Noreen Herren
Douglas County Literacy Council, Inc.
6279 Fairburn Road
Douglasville, GA  30134
770.949.2319

References

(1) The State of Adult Literacy 2006, ProLiteracy Worldwide

(2) National Adult Literacy Survey results.

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Did you know that Douglas County adopted a "no tethering" ordinance on January 15, 2008? The wording of the ordinance is somewhat ambiguous:

"An owner of a domesticated animal, whether vaccinated or not vaccinated, shall confine such domesticated animal within an adequate fence or enclosure or within a house, garage or other building to prevent the animal from running at large. No animal shall be tied or tethered as a permanent measure of restraint. No animal shall be left unattended on a chain, lead, runner, cable, rope, leash or similar tethering device." [see section 5-42 of the Douglas County Code of Ordinances]

Douglas County residents were given until March 15, 2008 to set up alternative methods of restraint. As the Douglas County Animal Control Shelter becomes aware of violations to this ordinance they will contact violators to inform them of the ordinance and follow up to assess compliance with the ordinance. Contact the Douglas County Animal Control Shelter for more information: 770.942.5961

More information:

Ordinance Amending the Animal Control Ordinance, Douglas County Code of Ordinances

Technorati Tags: pets, county ordinance

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I got my last driver's license at the Kroger's store on Chapel Hill Road.  But that site has been closed (the tag site, not the store) and now the only way to get a new driver's license is to leave Douglasville, unless you renew your driver's license through the mail.

You can get your driver’s license renewed at the following places, which are open on Tuesdays through Saturdays from around 8:00 – 5:00:

Location	Miles from Douglasville	Address
Union City	14 miles	537 Union Station Mall (formerly known as Shannon Mall) Union City GA. 30291
Marietta	17 miles	1605 County Services Pkwy Marietta GA. 30008
Newnan	21 miles	128 Bullsboro Drive Newnan GA. 30263
Atlanta	21 miles	445 Capitol Ave SE Atlanta GA. 30312
Forest Park	22 miles	5036 Georgia Highway 85 Forest Park GA. 30297
Carrollton	23 miles	502 Old Newnan Road (across the street from Carroll State Prison) Carrollton, Georgia 30117

More Information

• For driver's license information, call 404.657.9300 or 678.413.8400.
• website: Georgia Department of Driver Services

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So many times, we feel we need to go out of the county to participate in the things we enjoy and to meet others who share our interests.  But there are many options for you in Douglas County that you may not know about.  Some organizations worth exploring include:

Arts	Cultural Arts Center 770.949.2787
Biking	Bike Users Group (BUGs) atlantabike@mindspring.com 404.881.1112 see The Atlanta Bicycle Campaign for more information
Genealogy	The Douglas County Genealogical Society 770.456.2339 ijax@charter.net / paultrew@comcast.net
Gardening	Douglas County Master Gardeners info@dcdirt.org
Music	Douglas County Chamber Singers Vickie Orme, director
	West Atlanta / Douglas Choral Society (WADCS) Waverly Rainey, director, 770.920.1662 LuAnn Bryant, 770.920.7856
Needle crafts	Cherokee Rose Quilters Guild Denise, 770.942.8472
	Needle Nerds Julie, 678.321.6526, needle.nerds@mindspring.com
Photography	Sweetwater Camera Club Richard Nichols, 404.210.5985
Running	Douglas County Rogue Runners Johnny Buice, runlongjohn@yahoo.com

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Welcome to Fun Food Life! ~ a blog that provides a personal view into the organizations, agencies, activities, and events Douglas County Georgia offers to its residents.

Played: 610 | Download | Duration: 00:06:31

Hi, I’m Julie and the Owner and Editor in Chief of Fun Food Life! 

I have lived in Douglas County for over 16 years.  For many of those years I drove to Atlanta whenever I wanted to learn a new skill, participate in recreational activities, or volunteer my time to some worthwhile cause.  But I have discovered that there are an amazing number of opportunities for me to be involved in my own community...the place where I choose to live....Douglas County.  There are numerous organizations, churches, civic groups, parks and fine arts organizations all within a few minutes' drive from my home.

I created this site to collect and share the various resources, activities and organizations that are available to Douglas County residents.

Fun Food Life! consists of a family of complementary blogs:

• The Douglas County GA blog consists of informational articles about the various organizations, clubs, recreational facilities and activities within the County
• The Douglas County Events blog is updated regularly to include notifications of upcoming Douglas County events and activities that you might be interested in attending.  You can also check out the Community Calendar for a more comprehensive view of Douglas County activities and events
• The Out & About blog is where I post short posts about my personal experiences with the sights, sounds and activities in and around Douglas County

You can also follow @DouglasCountyGA on Twitter.  Upcoming Douglas County Events are posted automatically to Twitter and you can find these events easily by searching on the #DC_Event hashtag.

Commenting on Entries

I hope you’ll post comments to the articles here.  I love to see reader comments because they enhance knowledge and provide a sense of community.  To keep things positive and meaningful for all the readers here, please keep a few things in mind when posting comments:

1. All comments are moderated.  I’m all for freedom of speech, but inappropriate, irrelevant or spammy comments will be deleted.
2. Feel free to include relevant links to your own or someone else’s site in the comments you post.  Posting links to relevant websites promotes learning, shares knowledge, adds value to the conversation and improves the blog.
3. Irrelevant links will be deleted.  If you leave a comment with a link in it that has no relevance to the post you’re commenting on, the link will be deleted.

Subscribe to Fun Food Life!

You can stay in touch with Fun Food Life! by subscribing to its RSS feed.  All you need to do is add the feed to your favorite news aggregator and then you’ll be notified whenever a new article is posted here.

If you don’t use RSS you can sign up to get updates delivered to your email.  The email subscription service is provided by a third party (FeedBlitz) and you can sign up for it by clicking here and entering your email address and other requested information.

If you change your mind about your subscription, you can unsubscribe from either of these services at any time.

Rest assured, I will not violate your privacy. None of the information you provide will be used for any other purposes and I will keep all your details completely private.

If you’d like to know more about Fun Food Life! please feel free to call me at 678.321.6526 or email me at julie at funfoodlife.com

I hope you enjoy your visit here.  Check back regularly for updates and new information and be sure to let me know if you are aware of other opportunities that are not be posted here. 

Thanks for dropping by and I hope to see you again soon!

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