The park, at the corner of Anderson and Roswell streets, honors former Marietta mayor Joe Mack Wilson, and the first phase includes the statue “Forever Remember,” a project of the Kiwanis Club of Marietta. The remainder of the park will be completed and officially dedicated later.

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Forever Remember is for the families and loved ones of our first responders and military, Kiwanis Club of Marietta president Victoria Turney said. “It’s important to recognize and to salute those families and loved ones for their sacrifices every day.”

“Joe Mack had a passion for Marietta and loved the beauty of this city,” Mayor Steve Tumlin said. “He loved Kiwanis Club, and served our city as a legislator, businessman, husband, father, and also as mayor of Marietta,” he said. “When Joe Mack was mayor, he still had contacts with the Georgia Legislature that made the city of Marietta even better.”

“This is part of a project throughout Marietta to green up the entryways into the city, and create better public spaces and new parks,” city manager Bill Bruton said. “The project will make everything look a little bit nicer coming in, and really reflect the wonderful attitude we have here in Marietta by the looks of our streets, entryways and gateways coming in.”

Over the next several years, Marietta will be implementing the $25 million parks bond voters approved last fall, Ward 3 City Councilman Johnny Sinclair said. “This is a part of our master parks plan, and we will be adding several new parks to the city of Marietta in terms of active parks and greenspace.”

Encouraging revitalization of Marietta’s current parks and establishing new parks for active and passive use are goals City Council established as part of Marietta’s vision statement.

For more information, call Marietta’s Parks and Recreation Department at 770-794-5601.

The North Marietta Parkway is currently closed from Powder Springs Street to Polk Street and Whitlock Avenue is closed from the Marietta Square to McDonald Street.

This closure is due to falling trees knocking down several power poles in the area. This has caused a power outage in the immediate area and created traffic hazards requiring the road closure for repair and clean up. Crews are currently working to restore power and traffic flow however for the time being commuters are urged to use alternate routes around this area.

The North Marietta Parkway can be accessed from East of the Marietta Square or traveling around the loop.

Whitlock Avenue can be accessed from Waverly Way or Polk Street which are both open.

Repairs are underway however they will likely take several hours and could possibly extend into Monday.

Address/Location
Marietta Police Department
240 Lemon St
Marietta, GA 30060

Volunteers will meet at the Public Works Complex, 750 North Marietta Parkway, and receive trash bags, vests and a cleanup location, Keep Marietta Beautiful director Joan Ellars said. “Vests are required by law to be able to work on the roads.”
About Keep Marietta Beautiful

Keep Marietta Beautiful is a volunteer organization that works in the areas of litter prevention, beautification, community improvement and waste reduction. It is the mission of Keep Marietta Beautiful, the Marietta Clean City Commission, to generate environmental pride and a sense of ownership within the Marietta community.

The event is sponsored nationwide by Keep America Beautiful as part of the Great American Cleanup.

For more information or to volunteer, contact Keep Marietta Beautiful director Joan Ellars at 770-794-5606 or jellars@mariettaga.gov.

Marietta’s Public Works Department is beginning a program that offers to send an employee to homes to kill mosquito larvae and prevent adult mosquitoes by putting chemically treated briquettes in standing water on private property, including creeks, which are breeding areas for mosquitoes.

Photo Credit: via Flickr FreeBird

Residents with a mosquito problem can call Marietta’s Public Works Department at 770-794-5676 for help getting rid of the mosquitoes.

Marietta is also taking care of mosquitoes on city rights of way, operations manager Scott Lawler said.

To help prevent mosquitoes in the past, the Public Works Department sprayed Aqua-Reslin at night, which eliminated the adults but was not effective against the daytime biting mosquitoes.

In addition to removing standing water, adding the environmentally friendly briquettes to standing water is the best option to eliminate mosquitoes, Lawler said.
Other things you can do

Eliminate standing water

• Keep gutters clean and free of debris

• Keep lids on outdoor garbage cans

• Drill holes in the bottom of recycling bins

• Remove all standing water on property

• Store boats so water drains

• Remove or cover all old tires stored outside

• Drain or flush all birdbaths

• Drain all large toys that are stored outside

• Store all yard tools properly

• Maintain pools and ponds

• Remind neighbors to eliminate breeding sites on their property

• Repair leaky pipes and faucets

• Screen rain barrels and openings to water tanks

• Eliminate weeds and tall grass

Protect Yourself

• Wear long pants, long sleeved shirts and socks

• Use insect repellant containing DEET (Note: Read carefully and follow manufacturer’s instructions. Do not use on infants or pregnant women.)

• Make sure open doors and windows are screened

• Stay indoors when mosquitoes are active

A counterclockwise circulation of traffic around the Square will be maintained for access to parking and businesses on the Square. All other local traffic will be detoured, and through traffic with a destination outside the Square is encouraged to use North and South Marietta Parkways.

A resurfacing contractor will begin milling and paving the street during the week of April 5. Most of the work will take place in the evenings and at night to minimize impact on businesses and traffic. Motorists should expect work to be ongoing 24 hours a day on the Square for the next couple weeks.

An efficient transportation system, which places a high premium on the quality of life of Marietta’s citizens, is a goal City Council established as part of its vision statement.

For more information, call Marietta’s Public Works Department at 770-794-5650.

The purposes of the MRC are to strengthen the economic and residential base of the city of Marietta by revitalizing neighborhoods, commercial areas and other distressed properties. The MRC’s primary roles are to advise the City Council on redevelopment matters, to facilitate efforts by the private sector to invest in the community, to make strategic real estate investments in blighted areas, and to assemble properties for redevelopment where needed.

In other news, Council appointed Terry Lee to the Board of Lights and Water board of directors to fill an expired term.

The mission of the BLW is to provide high quality, reliable and competitive utility services to customers and a fair return to the citizens of Marietta.

In other business, Council reappointed Kenneth Carter to the Planning Commission (Ward 5) for a three-year term expiring on March 12, 2013.

The Planning Commission reviews and recommends for adoption to the appropriate governing authority or authorities a comprehensive plan and amendments for the development of its political jurisdiction, reviews and recommends for adoption to the appropriate governing authority or authorities a zoning ordinance or resolution and map for its political jurisdiction and reviews and recommends for adoption to the appropriate governing authority or authorities regulations for the subdivision of land within its political jurisdiction, and to administer the regulations that may be adopted.

In addition, they reappointed Rev. James O. Speed to the Ethics Committee for a two-year term expiring April 9, 2012, and reappointed Jerry Gentry to the Ethics Committee for a two-year term expiring May 8, 2012, as recommended by the Ethics Committee.

The Ethics Committee helps ensure the city’s elected officials maintain an effective code of ethical behavior, a goal City Council established as part of Marietta’s vision statement.

Positive citizen involvement in decision-making, through boards, community organizations, and community meetings is a goal City Council established as part of Marietta’s vision statement.

For more information, call Marietta’s City Clerk’s Office at 770-794-5526.

“False alarm dispatches from police are the number one call for service in most cases,” Glen Mowrey of the Security Industry Alarm Coalition (SIAC) said. “For the police department to operate efficiently, these have to be reduced.”

“In the past two years the Marietta Police Department’s alarm management program, which involves all principles of community policing and problem-oriented policing, has reduced alarm calls by 65 percent,” Mowrey said. “This is one of the top in the nation we’ve had in several years.” The police department has seen a 26 percent decrease in the number of total calls for service as a result of the drop in false alarms, he said. “The results of the program are really outstanding.”

As a result of the ordinance, Marietta Police officers have more time to devote to proactive work on the streets, follow up on investigations, community policing, and are able to respond to calls faster, Mowrey said.

The SIAC looked at several aspects of Marietta’s alarm management program including the beginning of developing the program, which included bringing in stakeholders, members of the alarm industry and the community to look at the issue of false alarms, Mowrey said. “The program was then brought before City Council with the best practices for reducing false alarms,” he said. “Council approved the practices, and the ordinance was put in place.”

“The next aspect the SIAC examined was the building and tracking program, which really sets Marietta’s alarm management program apart from a lot of other programs I’m working with,” Mowrey said. “As a result of the program, the police department is able to operate more efficiently and better use officers’ time,” he said. “The department and city are to be commended for the job you’ve done.”

The Marietta Police Department has the highest percentage of reducing false alarms in the past three or four years out of approximately 60-70 agencies across the country Mowrey is working with. “Marietta’s alarm management program is a sustained program because after the first year numbers seem to drop off,” he said. “The Marietta Police Department’s numbers have stayed steady.”

Mowrey encouraged alarm users to pay attention to their alarms, to help make the program work for the city. “Ninety percent of false alarms and activations in Marietta and across the country are human error,” he said. “The Marietta Police Department has done a great job of educating the public about the program, which will ultimately change alarm users’ behavior.”

City Council passed the alarm ordinance in July 2007. Alarm users are allowed up to two false alarms without penalty a year, and then fines will be assessed.
Register your alarm

Under the ordinance, every residential and business alarm user in the city of Marietta must obtain a free permit from the city. The permit registers an alarm system with the city for tracking purposes, and permits are not transferable. Each new occupant of a dwelling or business must apply for a new permit, and failure to register an alarm is subject to a $100 fine.

Complete the registration form online
Enforcement

The ordinance allows alarm users up to two false alarms each 12-month period with no penalty.

Beginning with the third false alarm, fines will be assessed as follows:

* First and second false alarm: no charge
* Third through fifth false alarm: $50
* Sixth false alarm: $100
* Seventh false alarm: $100
* Eighth false alarm: $250
* Ninth false alarm: $250
* Tenth and over false alarm: $500
* Failure to register: $100

Violations of the ordinance are civil in nature and do not constitute a misdemeanor or criminal charge.

There is also an appeals process for alarm users who receive fines for false alarms.

For more information, call the Marietta Police Department at 770-794-2364.

The artwork of each artist will be displayed at The Strand for a month, and Art Walk will be the opening night for each exhibition. Patrons can admire a variety of art as well as an unmatched view of Glover Park while enjoying a glass of wine, beer, or a mixed drink from The Strand’s terrace, just named “Best Place to See & Be Seen” by Cobb Life, during the following First Friday Art Walk events:

* Friday, April 2, 6-9 PM – Artist: Linda Flournoy
* Friday, May 7, 6-9 PM – Artist: Eduin Rosell
* Friday, June 4, 6-9 PM – Frank Buckner
* Friday, August 6, 6-9 PM – Nita Burge
* Friday, September 3, 6-9 PM – Claire Dunaway
* Friday, October 1, 6-9 PM – Brandon Hunt

“We like to say that The Strand is not only a place for the performing arts, but also the fine arts,” said Earl Reece, executive director at The Strand. “We’re proud to display original art from local artists at The Strand including oil and acrylic paintings, photography, and even scratch-board art. We’re honored to present the public a myriad of incredible local art.”

Here is more information on the upcoming featured artists at The Strand:

Linda Flournoy

The award-winning artist Linda Flournoy is a native of Oklahoma and was educated at Oklahoma State University with a Fine Arts major. In recent years, she has traveled a new direction with her art and has focused on painting marshes she photographed in St. Simons Island and South Africa as well as Italian landscapes. Her medium of choice is oil on canvas.

Eduin L. Rosell

Born in Havana, Cuba, Eduin Rosell planted his roots in Kennesaw in 2004 and focuses his free time on creating vividly colorful and often Latin-inspired art. The subjects are varied, but classic cars, performing arts, people, and architecture, such as The Strand, can be found in Rosell’s collections. Rosell generally paints in acrylic but dabbles in other mediums including oil, charcoal, illustration, and digital art. A selection of Rosell’s work can be viewed on www.EduinRosell.com or Facebook users can become a fan of “Eduin Rosell.”

Frank Buckner

A Georgia native, Frank Buckner began drawing and sketching at an early age. But his love of painting grew from a trip to the mountains and his wife’s gift to him of brushes and paints. Today, his work continues to evolve, but color is still what intrigues the self-taught artist. Buckner’s art consists of a mix of bold colors and compelling shapes and can be found in private and corporate collections throughout the country. The artist credits his wife of 42 years, and his “favorite collector” for inspiring him to cultivate his passion.

Nita Burge

Nita Burge, a Georgia native who lives in Marietta, is an oil painter who uses expressive brush strokes, rich color palettes, and discerning subject matter. No matter the topic of her paintings, the artist wants the viewer of the work to think, “How fun or wonderful is that? I love that too!.” Burge has a musical background which is often reflected in her artwork, along with other interests including dance, theatre, home, travel, and people.

Claire Dunaway

Marietta native artist and teacher, Claire Dunaway has drawn inspiration from her travels as well as family, canine camaraderie, faith, history, the great outdoors, and 800 elementary school students. With a B.A. in Fine Arts from Presbyterian College and an M.A.E.D. from the University of Phoenix, Dunaway works in charcoal, pastels, encaustic, and paint, sometimes venturing into photography, sculpture with ceramics, and printmaking. A selection of Dunaway’s work can be viewed on www.ClaireDunaway.com or Facebook users can become a fan of “www.ClaireDunwaway.com.”

Brandon D. Hunt

A multi-talented fine artist and graphic designer, the Iowa native Brandon D Hunt now resides in Atlanta and works in Cobb County. His art ranges from intricate hyper real color collage oil paintings to monochromatic landscapes. His inspiration can come from nostalgia or even from his dreams. Hunt received a B.F.A. from the Columbus College of Art and Design in Ohio where his focus was illustration. A selection of Hunt’s work can be viewed on www.BrandonDHunt.com.

Art Walk is a free self-guided tour of the Marietta Square’s eclectic art scene. Galleries, museums, cultural venues, restaurants and boutiques host artists within their businesses from 6 to 9 PM on the first Friday of every month from April through October (excluding July), rain or shine. Look for an official Art Walk banner in the window to identify the participating venues. Choose your own route, or begin at Art Walk’s Headquarters at “Artist’s Alley,” just outside of the Welcome Center or Cool Beans Café. Participants will receive a map with the locations of participating venues, and will get them stamped at each location. Be one of the first 100 to return the completed map (with at least 10 locations) to Art Walk Headquarters, and receive a gift bag. For more information about Marietta’s First Friday Art Walk, visit www.artwalkmarietta.com/.

More information is available at www.EarlSmithStrand.org or 770-293-0080, The Strand box office, Monday through Friday, 10 AM to 4 PM. Earl Smith Strand Theatre, 117 North Park Square, Marietta, Ga.

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OTHER BREW WITH A VIEW DATES:

April – October (Select Dates on Fridays & Saturdays)

Brew With A View

Brew With a View is back by popular demand! Meet with friends and enjoy a beverage and an incredible view of Glover Park and Kennesaw Mountain from the popular Cobb Terrace on The Strand’s rooftop. The terrace was voted “Best Place to See & Be Seen” by Cobb Life Magazine in 2010. No cover charge. Beer, wine & cocktails are available for your refreshment. Cash and credit accepted. 18+ to enjoy the view with friends. 21+ to enjoy alcoholic beverages. The Strand IDs.

April 2 – Brew (6-10 PM) / Art Walk Feat. Linda Flournoy (6-9 PM)

April 25 – Brew & Taste of Marietta (12 PM – 7 PM)

May 7 – Brew (6-10 PM) / Art Walk Feat. Eduin Rosell (6-9 PM)

May 22 – Brew (6-10 PM)

May 28 – Brew (6-10 PM) / Glover Park Concert

June 4 – Brew (6-10 PM) / Art Walk Feat. Frank Buckner (6-9 PM)

June 5 – Brew (6-10 PM)

June 18 – Brew (6-10 PM)

June 19 – Brew (6-10 PM)

June 25 – Brew (6-10 PM) / Glover Park Concert

Aug. 6 – Brew (6-10 PM) / Art Walk Feat. Nita Burge (6-9 PM)

Sep. 3 – Brew (6-10 PM) / Art Walk Feat. Claire Dunaway (6-9 PM)

Oct. 1 – Brew (6-10 PM) / Art Walk Feat. Brandon D. Hunt (6-9 PM)

**Check www.EarlSmithStrand.org for more dates later this summer**