The Marietta School Board passed the school councils request to implement a uniform dress code at West Side Elementary and MSGA last night. West Side’s uniform dress code consists of a polo-style shirt in navy or yellow with West Side Elementary and the school’s mascot on the left side. Students can also choose to wear their West Side T-shirts. Bottoms would include khaki pants, shorts, or skirts. Fridays will be designated as “Spirit Day”. MSGA unified dress code consists of a polo-style shirt in navy or light blue with white MSGA logo embroidery. Students can also wear their MSGA T-shirt. Choice of bottoms include khakis or jeans. All must be belted/affixed at the waist with shirt tucked in. Both schools have secured funding from outside sources.

The board will work to complete a uniform policy this Summer. Any school can then adopt a uniform policy for their school. The board will hold two public forums to comment on different uniform proposals and offer public input to the board.

Central office address: 250 Howard Street

May 19th from 5:30 to 6:30 pm
May 22nd from 5:30 to 6:30 pm

Be advised about the traffic situation, starting today, at Mill Street. Also, take notice of the upcoming possibility of more road closings near the railroad crossings as detailed below. WhitlockAvenue.com: keeping our citizens informed!

Streets temporarily closed in Marietta for railroad maintenance

MARIETTA, GA — CSX Railroad will temporarily close Mill Street at the railroad crossing in downtown Marietta for scheduled maintenance Wednesday, May 17 at 8 a.m. until Thursday afternoon May 18.

CSX performs maintenance of the crossings every two to five years to smooth and improve the efficiency of the tracks for personal vehicles and trains.

In addition, the city anticipates CSX will close Kennesaw Avenue at the railroad crossing May 22-23. CSX has requested the Georgia Department of Transportation close Whitlock Avenue at the railroad crossing near the Marietta Square May 31-June 1.

It looks like the city of Marietta has jumped on the Wifi bandwagon finally! Hopefully this will give us some good accessibility from our laptops or mobile devices when we are on the Square. Be sure to visit WhitlockAvenue.com’s Mobile Access Site to read and discuss your city while on your wifi device! What are your thoughts on this new service? Share your opinions below!

For immediate release
May 15, 2006

Marietta launches free public wireless Internet downtown, unveils directional signs during National Tourism Week

MARIETTA, GA — Marietta is making it easier to find the hotspots in the city by launching wireless Internet access around the historic Square and installing directional street signs to help visitors locate key attractions in town. To celebrate National Tourism Week, Mayor William Dunaway announced Monday free wireless Internet for the public downtown and new signs that guide visitors to the central business district.

“We want to make it easier for visitors and citizens to find the historic Marietta Square and other interesting places in the city,” Dunaway said. “Once they arrive downtown, the Internet access is just one more thing that’s available to make their visit more enjoyable.”

The city has installed 22 directional signs that guide visitors to the central business district from I-75, exit 265, driving along North Marietta Parkway to Church Street and into the Square. Signs also direct visitors along Powder Springs Street to the Marietta Conference Center, Laurel Park tennis facility, museums, Marietta Welcome Center and downtown parking locations. The blue and white signs with the city logo are consistent to help visitors easily recognize them while driving.

The free wireless Internet service is available on North, South, East and West Park Square near Glover Park, through an arrangement with American Fiber Systems, to users with a Wi-Fi enabled computer or personal digital assistant. The signal’s range is intended for visitors connecting from outdoor cafes or park benches, and its strength can vary.

For more information on how to get started using the service, visit the city’s Web site at www.mariettaga.gov.

###

Having lived within two miles of the Marietta Square for the better part of two decades, my memories of this historic place are innumerable to say the least. One of my favorite childhood memories to recall is how my mother and I would spend Saturdays on the Square.

With morning chores and dance lessons over, Mom and I would set out for the afternoon together. We window-shopped among all the antique stores that lined Church Street and North Park Square. As a little girl, I developed the habit of remembering all the things my mom pointed out. When special events came around, my dad would take me to the same antique shops to help him select gifts for my mom.

Shopping on the Square with Mom always included lunch. Along West Park Square sat the Dunaway Drug Store. Inside, there was a small grille and we’d stop in for a club sandwich and milkshake. Each time my mom would remind me that up north it’s called a “grinder and a cabinet.” I thought it so strange that they would rename their food after furniture.

This morning, I decided to walk up to the Square for breakfast and a little shopping at the Marietta Farmer’s Market. The weather was ideal for such an outing. I picked up a paper on my way to the Three Bears Café. I sat outside, read, enjoyed a healthy breakfast, and basked in the quiet beauty of my surroundings. Afterwards, I walked around the corner and a little down the street to the market.

A small crowd of people hovered around the fresh selections of produce set out by local farmers and vendors. I overheard more than once that most of the produce came in from Florida and it wasn’t quite produce season yet for Georgia. Late June and July is when the market will be filled with Georgia fruits and vegetables.

Other vendors offered homegrown spices and plants, homemade honey and bread, and handmade soaps and creams. After buying a few tomatoes, cucumbers, and peaches and some soap and lotions, I headed back home thinking that next time, I’ll be sure to bring my mom along with me.

I can’t remember the last time I enjoyed a quiet morning on the Square. I felt as though I rediscovered a simple pleasure from my past that I will be sure to experience again.

Let us know what simple pleasures you treasure about the Square. We’d love to hear about it!

Marietta City Council unanimously passed a revision to its ethics code this week that they believe is among the strongest they’ve seen. The code sets out disclosure of their ownership of property, conflicts of interest and activities as elected officials.

All seven members of City Council and the mayor worked together over 40 hours — sometimes as late as midnight — to draft the new ethics code, which city leaders think is among the strongest in Georgia.

Today, the Marietta School board will have a special session at 11:30 am to review several proposals regarding uniforms in the following Marietta City Schools: Westside Elementary, Marietta Sixth Grade Academy and Woods Wilkins Center.

The MDJ is reporting:

School board member Jill Mutimer said the three proposals, if approved, would not set a precedent for the rest of the school system.

“The three proposals each have been submitted separately,” she said. “Uniforms are not a board policy.”

School spokesman Thomas Algarin said the discussion is in its second phase after the schools made requests for uniforms at a May 9 board meeting.

Ms. Mutimer said if approved, the uniform plans call for parents to purchase the necessary clothing. She did not say how much each uniform would cost parents. The district would advertise a request for proposals to solicit a vendor for the uniforms.

She added the schools have plans to raise money outside its budget for scholarship money to help families who cannot afford the uniforms.

Ms. Mutimer said the schools are examining a uniform requirement for several reasons.

“They have said they feel it will help them enforce the dress code more effectively,” she said. “They said it would help with discipline.”

She said the theory is that uniforms would allow students to focus on academics rather than their clothes.

What do you all think? Are uniforms in the Marietta School system a good thing? Share your opinion below!

Congrats to our city for being selected as a finalist for the best in the nation!

Marietta selected All-America City finalist among best in nation
May 11, 2006
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

MARIETTA, GA — The National Civic League has selected the city of Marietta as a 2006 finalist for the All-America City Award, the oldest and most respected community recognition program in the nation. Only five percent of the communities that began the application process were selected as finalists for the award, which recognizes exemplary grassroots community problem-solving.

Since 1949, the All-America City Award has encouraged and recognized civic excellence, honoring communities of all sizes in which citizens, government, businesses and volunteer organizations work together to address critical local issues. Being selected a finalist substantiates Marietta is a model for the nation with extensive planning efforts and approaches to facing difficult challenges in innovative and collaborative ways.

“The city is honored to be chosen a finalist, because it means the work we’re doing is among the best in the country,” Marietta Mayor Bill Dunaway said. “It doesn’t mean we’re perfect, but says we’re being innovative and working with the community to solve our problems. I think what we’re doing is wonderful, and it’s great to know others recognize it, too.”

This is the first time Marietta has been selected a finalist, and the city should experience economic and community benefits as one of only 34 finalists in this year’s national competition.

“Being a finalist validates the initiatives we’ve undertaken, and we should find it easier to attract and retain businesses, which generate jobs and a stronger tax base,” City Manager Bill Bruton said. “This is the premier national award for communities, and winners have seen an increase in tourism, grants and better bond ratings.”

“Everyone in the community should be proud because being a finalist is the result of the community’s work together,” Bruton said.

The Cobb Commission voted Tuesday to approve a $250,000 grant toward the Square’s Strand Theater renovation fund. However, the money won’t be given until the “Friends of the Strand” has raised $2 million (of a $5 million goal) . Friends president, Earl Smith, has suggested that tax revenue could be contributed to the fund, which might then see some donations coming in from charitible foundations. The fact that the Strand is a privately-owned property has caused some questions about the use of tax money for fund donations. Regardless of where the funds come from, Friends of the Strand hopes this county grant will spur on the project toward the grand opening goal of next summer (2007). For more information, go to Friends of the Strand website.

Atlanta has been making its mark on the music industry over the past several years by producing some pretty memorable makers such as Gladys Knight, R.E.M. John Mayer, Collective Soul, Shawn Mullins, and Travis Tritt and more recently in the hip hop industry, with artists, OUTKAST, Ludacris, and Ciara. The success of these artists has brought Atlanta to the forefront as prime soil for discovering raw talent. Some of this raw talent more often than not, grows up around Atlanta, much like local favorite, Zac Brown and his band.

Zac Brown, a Cumming native, is the regular Thursday night entertainment in Marietta’s own Dixie Tavern. This past Saturday, he graced the stage at Marietta’s Wild Wing. The city was certainly lucky to host this band twice in one week.

The music of Zac Brown Band seems to be a fusion of country, jam, rock, and Jimmy Buffet (because you know Jimmy Buffet is in a group all his own). His sound is also reminiscent of old school Dave Matthews with his accompanying violinist and the way Zac can work his fingers on those guitar strings.

The Zac Brown Band has begun to develop quite a following and a name for themselves. They’ve been mentioned on local radio station 92.9 Dave FM as local Atlanta talent to check out. They’ve opened for artists Shawn Mullins and Angie Aparro. Their self-produced CD has sold over 5,000 copies. They are currently on tour throughout the South.

So if you find yourself in Marietta without anything to do on a Thursday night, head over to Dixie Tavern or check the band’s official site for tour dates, to get hooked on this future break out band. Jump on the band wagon now and in a matter of time, you’ll be able to say, “I’ve liked this band ever since…”

The Marietta City Council continues to discuss the Historic Preservation Rules in place within the city. According to the MDJ, the meeting last night was quite interesting.

The historic preservation ordinance issue divided the council as Mayor Bill Dunaway used his veto Monday to keep a proposed change to the ordinance on a schedule to be considered at the council’s June meeting.

The story continues…..

Historic preservation rules permit property owners to keep their properties from being listed in a historic district if one is created by the city.

State standards do not include that provision.

If a property were listed in a historic district, its owners would be subject to restrictions governing how they could use their property and what they could do on it.

“I think there’s still a lot of confusion about what the new ordinance would mean if we adopt it,” Ward 3 Councilwoman Holly Walquist said.

Ward 2 Councilman Grif Chalfant exchanged heated words with Dunaway after Ms. Walquist said she planned to vote to put off debate on the ordinance.

“I’d appreciate it if you didn’t chastise my fellow council member,” Chalfant said, angry that Dunaway was arguing with Ms. Walquist.

Ultimately, Chalfant, Ms. Walquist, Ms. Lewis, Ward 7 Councilman Philip Goldstein and Ward 5 Councilman Anthony Coleman voted to kill Dunaway’s veto.

What are you thoughts on the issue of Historic Preservation for our community? This brings us to the issue of the beautiful trees in the historic downtown area.

Should the beautiful, large trees in our community be preserved as well as the historic homes and buildings? We now have a nice patch of treeless land at the new Walnut Grove development. At some point, maybe the city should require that larger trees be planted when a clear cut occurs. Does putting a sapling in the ground where a 100 year old oak once stood meet your standards? Share your opinion below!