Mara Davis, Atlanta Radio Personality for 92.9 Dave fm, has taken her Wednesday show, Radio Free Wednesdays, on tour of metro Atlanta for the past 11 weeks. The tour ends with a final appearance at Glover Park on the Marietta Square this week.

On Wednesday, June 21 from 10 am to 3 pm, Mara will broadcast live from the historic epicenter of Marietta, where she will also be giving away free Dave fm gear and granting listener song requests. Residents and visitors alike are encouraged to stop by and say hello.

“Marietta’s got a lot to prove! We’ve been to 11 other cities and this is the final stop on the “perimeter passport tour,” said Mara. Let’s show Atlanta how our hospitality and community landed us among 10 of the best as a 2006 All-American City.

See you on Wednesday!

The Georgia Board of Natural Resources has adopted mandatory schedules for outdoor water use, and current conditions warrant the non-drought schedule as follows with no hourly limits:

* Odd-numbered addresses may water only on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays.
* Even-numbered and unnumbered addresses may water only on Mondays, Wednesdays and Saturdays.

Please adjust your irrigation timers and watering habits to follow these mandatory rules for outdoor watering.

This water conservation initiative will help preserve a precious natural resource, help to protect an increasingly fragile aquatic environment, and increase water supply opportunities for future generations.

For more information call Marietta Water at 770-794-5229 or visit Drought in Georgia.

Join the Cobb NAACP and city of Marietta for the third annual Juneteenth Celebration Saturday, June 17 from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. on the historic Marietta Square. The day includes family activities, food, vendors, entertainment, a health fair, giveaways and more. For information call 770-425-5757.

What is Juneteenth? Juneteenth or June 19, 1865 is considered the date the last slaves in America were freed. Although the rumors of freedom were widespread prior to this, actual emancipation did not come until General Gordon Granger rode into Galveston, Texas, and issued General Order No. 3 on June 19, almost two and a half years after President Abraham Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation.

It looks like the MRC can now buy property without the council’s approval. I wonder if this is a step in the right direction or not? Any thoughts? Thanks to the AJC for the story…

By CHRISTIAN BOONE
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Published on: 06/15/06

The Marietta City Council on Wednesday approved an amendment that gives the Marietta Redevelopment Corporation new authority to buy property without first getting the council’s consent.

The council also passed a new budget for fiscal 2007 and agreed to a franchise agreement with Comcast to be the city’s new cable television provider.

Only one council member, Rev. Anthony Coleman of Ward 5, voted against giving the redevelopment organization increased power. As presently constituted, the MRC has 11 voting members — its chairman, real estate broker Floyd Northcutt, formerly served on the city council, and the city’s mayor, Bill Dunaway, is a nonvoting member.

As part of the agreement approved on Wednesday, a city council member will join the MRC as a voting member, but Coleman said he’d like to see another added.

“When public tax dollars are concerned, you want as much oversight as possible,” Coleman said.

The council is considering appropriating $2.1 million in seed money to get the project under way.

The MRC, which currently acts as an advisory board to the city on issues concerning redevelopment, will now have the power to, for example, take out loans without the council’s consent.

A new working agreement that will effectively govern the MRC has yet to be completed.

The corporation is modeled after the RiverCity Company, a private, non-profit chartered to spur economic redevelopment in Chattanooga.

So far, growth and development watchdogs like Involved Mariettans Planning Actively for the City of Tomorrow have not taken a position on the MRC’s broadened authority, although IMPACT president Laura van Mever is optimistic about the group’s potential.

“It involves taxpayer’s dollars, so it needs to be watched,” she said.

“But from what I’ve seen in Chattanooga, I think there’s great opportunity here. The city doesn’t have the time to focus on the key issues of redevelopment, and I think it’s good to have a group where that is their primary mission.”

Thanks to the AJC for letting us know about this story! What are your thoughts and opinions on this story? Thanks for sharing!

Funds pour in to replace vehicle

By CHRISTIAN BOONE
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

A fixture of Marietta’s historic square was missing this past weekend, but a group of merchants, customers and well-wishers from across the Southeast is plotting his return.

Carriage driver Clint Small is recovering from injuries suffered 10 days ago when a van rear-ended his buggy. The driver of the vehicle — Noel Basquez, who turns 24 today — remains at large, said Nancy Bodiford, a spokeswoman for the Cobb County Sheriff’s Department. Basquez faces felony hit-and-run charges.

Carriage driver Clint Small (left), who was injured in a hit-and-run accident, and friend Neville Brewer ride around Marietta in this 10-year-old photo.

Meanwhile, Small is confined to his home, temporarily stripped of his livelihood. Yet he still smiles.

“Something like this makes you realize there are a lot of good people out there,” said Small, who sustained a lacerated liver and lacerated biceps muscle.

A newlywed Oklahoma couple and Small’ assistant suffered minor injuries. The horses were spooked, but otherwise fine, Marietta police said after the accident.

Small has escorted couples, children and tourists for 16 years in a custom-made carriage that cost $12,000. Since the wreck destroyed his carriage, he finds himself dependent on the kindness of friends and strangers. So far they have delivered.

“I really missed them on Saturday,” said friend and merchant Gerald Alvarez, who owns Jeweler on the Square. He has collected $1,500 toward the purchase of a carriage and hopes to raise $6,000.

Callers from Tennessee, South Carolina and Florida have offered to help. And a longtime friend and fellow horse enthusiast is filling in while Small recuperates.

“As long as he needs me, I’ll be there,” said Lynn Freeman, an electrical contractor, who owns a carriage similar to Small’. He said Small interested him in what has become a consuming hobby. Now Freeman is returning the favor, salvaging what might have been a devastating financial blow to Small.

“He’s a unique part of the charm of the historic square,” said Johnny Fulmer, president of the Marietta Business Association. “It’s no surprise to see people really reaching out.”

Meanwhile, Small is planning his comeback. He and his wife, Barbara, have put a down payment on a carriage built by Amish artisans in Berne, Ind. Small said he hopes to be back on the square in August. “We want to order another carriage just like the one we had,” he said. “That’s been the hardest thing about this, not being able to be with my animals.”

Way to go everyone! Check out the award that our precious city has earned!

ANAHEIM, Calif. — The National Civic League crowned the city of Marietta Sunday night one of the 10 best communities in the nation as a 2006 All- America City, the oldest and most respected community recognition award in the country. Nearly 600 communities began the application process, and Marietta beat other national finalists for the award, which recognizes exemplary grassroots community problem-solving. Winners in previous years have been honored at the White House.

Finalists participated in a final round of the All- America City competition in Anaheim, Calif., June 9- 11. Each delegation presented three innovative community programs to a jury of national civil affairs experts. The finalists’ presentations addressed a wide range of social and community issues, including youth, education, poverty, affordable housing and race relations.

Since 1949, the All-America City Award has 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 winner 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 win the All-America City award because only four other Georgia communities have won in the award’s 57-year history,” Marietta Mayor Bill Dunaway said. “It means the work we’re doing is among the best in the country, and it’s great that others recognize it, too.”

Dozens of community programs and organizations were cited in the city’s award application, and many were part of the Marietta delegation that competed before the jury.

“Everyone in Marietta should be proud, because winning the award is the result of the entire community working together every day,” Marietta City Manager Bill Bruton said. “We appreciate the community’s work for the great progress we’ve made the last three years.”

The National Civic League awarded Marietta because the city showed it is successfully resolving issues with active citizen involvement, volunteer and business resources, efficient government, community vision and collaboration.

In its application, Marietta demonstrated how three unique projects were solving challenges through community partnerships. The first was Marietta’s efforts to reduce crime and stabilize deteriorating neighborhoods by creating M-STAR. The citywide program combines community policing and computer analysis of crime trends with accountability of city staff and public involvement. M-STAR has resulted in many successes, the most notable being a reduction of crime.

The Marietta Revitalization Program was the second initiative submitted to judges. Its goal is to save the city from decline and create a stronger sense of community by balancing the city’s housing stock, stabilizing school enrollments, creating affordable workforce housing and revitalizing neighborhoods. The city has made substantial progress toward increasing the percentage of homeowners while reducing substandard rental units.

As part of its application, Marietta was required to show how it met criteria of the National Civic League’s Civic Index, a twelve-point self-evaluation tool that measures a community’s overall abilities to solve problems, including planning efforts and partnerships with community organizations such as the Loop Group.

Judges required a third program to benefit children, and the city explained how Marietta Reads, a citywide effort to foster reading and literacy, has increased student test scores and book circulation.

This is the first time Marietta has been selected a finalist and a winner, and the city should experience economic and community benefits as one of only 10 winners in this year’s national competition.

“Winning the All-America City award should help Marietta attract and retain businesses, which generate jobs and a stronger tax base,” Bruton said. “This is the premier national award for communities, and winners have seen an increase in tourism, grants and better bond ratings.”

“The city appreciates the support of the sponsors who helped us compete,” Bruton said. “Their contributions enabled the entire community to win the All-America City award.”

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This weekend, you’ll have a chance to see the film, “The Other Side,” playing at the Atlanta Film Festival, Sunday night at 9:45 pm. The film, which was shot “100 percent in and around Atlanta,” according to Gregg Bishop, the movie’s director, gained approval at this year’s Slamdance Festival - an alternative to the widely-known Sundance Festival.

Bishop and the film’s producer, Chad Eikhoff - both Powder Springs natives - hope “The Other Side” will continue to win over audiences on the film festival circuit, but ultimately hope the film will be picked up by a large distributor so it can find mainstream success on the big screen.

Of note is the main car chase sequence, which was shot on the Marietta Square. Bishop mentioned that “many local people” worked on “The Other Side.”

If you’d like more information on the screening this weekend or the Atlanta Film Festival in general, visit the Atlanta Film Festval website

On Monday, the City Council voted to give $2.1 million to the Marietta Redevelopment Corp., as a part of a special land-buying fund. The MRC was asking the Council for this “seed money” so they can use it to obtain more money for acquiring land for redevelopment projects around the city. The Council did give approval for the funds, but only on the condition that one member of the Council be on the board of the MRC. This issue of an additional member on the MRC’s board of directors was a topic of debate amongst members of both City Council and the MRC.

With City Council split on the matter, Ward 3 Councilwoman Holly Walquist, was the swing vote. She agreed on giving the $2.1 million, but only if the additional member be added to the MRC’s board. The issue of taxpayer money being used for the seed fund elicited some reaction from Ward 7 Councilman Philip Goldstein, who said, “I strongly believe that if we are going to use city taxpayers’ money then there should be a council member on that board.”

With the MRC’s board expanding from 11 seats to 12 now, the newest seat will go to the Council’s Economic Development Committee Chariman, Grif Chalfant. The MRC will be required to submit quarterly and annual reports that detail their spending for each period of time.

Thanks to the Marietta Daily Journal’s Aaron Baca for information on this story.

Tucked among a row of outdoor eateries along North Park Square is a seemingly unassuming mediterranean grille also know as Efe’s. The menu posted outside features dishes in a foreign language, but recognizable to anyone familiar with some of the region’s more popular cuisinal offerings, such as kebabs and falafal. However, to capture the true essence of this establishment, you must venture inside, past the front of the house and down a small corridor. The end of the little hall spills into a more vast opening than you might expect with continous sofa-like seating that wraps around three sides of the room. The fabrics that dress the tables, seats, pillows, and walls boast the rich hues of gold and burgundy.

As you take a comfortable seat, you’ll need a few minutes to peruse the extensive offerings of mediterranean fare and Turkish dishes. Though, you shouldn’t begin your main course without a sampling of the Cacik or Falafel. Whether you opt for the Kebabs or one of the traditional Turkish dishes as the main entree, your portions will be generous, but if you want more flavor, go for the Kebabs.

After you order and have time to look around the room, you may notice that the seating does not extend past the tables along the wall. And if you are there on a Friday or Saturday night, you’ll quickly understand why. At 7:00 the quiet atmosphere instantly transforms as sounds of middle eastern melodies reverberate through the room. The gentle clanging of finger symbals introduces the feature entertainment for the evening: a belly dancer.

The décor, dining, and dancing culminates into a melting pot of a middle eastern experience. Though it doesn’t rank among the likings of Atlanta’s Imperial Fez, it is a great spot in our neighborhood for a dinner and a show with a foreign flare.

Looking to live closer to the square if you aren’t already? Walk to the historic downtown Marietta Square from this beautiful home in downtown Marietta, GA. Built in 1951, this house has 3 bedrooms, 2 full baths (both upgraded in 2001 w/Tile and the master with a Jacuzzi heated spa).

Beautiful refinished Hardwoods line the interior of the home and are also in the newly renovated kitchen (2002).

A cool front breakfast room also sits right off the kitchen which is a great retreat for reading and relaxing. The front porch on this home is huge measuring 42ft x 7ft for close to 300 sqft of entertaining space complete with 3 porch fans and plenty of room to have your outdoor parties. Click here for more details >>