Fall 2011 Presenting Smyrna Presenting Smyrna is a periodic update of happenings in and around Smyrna. City of Smyrna Utilizing Energy Efficiency and www.smyrnacity.com Conservation Block Grant Funds to Help with Village News Eco-Friendly Initiatives Smyrna Public The City of Smyrna has been awarded grant The City of Smyrna proposes to have the Celebrates its 75th Year funds from the Energy Efficiency and Conser- biodiesel processing plant fully operational by Enriching the Lives of vation Block Grant (EECBG) Program and will January 2012. Area Residents 2 use the money to further the City’s ecological efforts. The initiatives will target the conver- Eco-Friendly Grant Funds Will sion of the City’s service fleet from diesel fuel Enable the City to Convert Existing to biodiesel, reducing fossil fuel consumption Traffic Signals to Energy Efficient Help Ensure Your Home and fossil fuel emissions, and will also target Remodeling Projects upgrading the City’s current traffic signals to Lighting Technology are Done Correctly by energy efficient models. In addition to the Biodiesel Program, the Obtaining Proper Permits An existing Public Works building is being City of Smyrna plans to use EECBG grant from the Community expanded to create an area for two 55-gallon funds to replace existing traffic signals with Development biodiesel processing plants with assorted storage energy efficient LED traffic signals. The LED Department tanks and containers. In addition to the facility Traffic Signal Project will allow the City to 2 improvements, funds will be used for associated convert several intersections with traffic signals start-up costs such as collection containers and that have incandescent light bulbs to light drums. With two 55-gallon biodiesel processors, emitting diodes (LED) for greater energy ef- ficiency and cost savings. One of the project’s City of Smyrna the City estimates the maximum production of Events biodiesel to be 2,200 gallons of biodiesel per objectives is to reduce energy consumption for 3 month or 26,400 gallons per year. Biodiesel the City’s remaining intersections with incan- Production Program objectives include reduc- descent light bulbs by 25 percent by 2030. The recommended intersections are: ing fossil fuel (diesel) consumption of service Beauty is a Bargain at the vehicles by 25 percent by 2020, reducing fossil rrWindy Hill Road and Road. 25th Annual “Jonquil fuel emissions by 25 percent by 2025, and sav- rrCumberland Blvd and Springhill Pkwy. Gold Rush” 4 ing approximately $25,000 per year (estimate at time of grant application). rrSpring Road and Cumberland Boulevard. In addition to reducing fuel consumption rrHawthorne Ave and Roswell St and costs and fossil fuel emissions, the proposed Matthews St. Free Document program will enhance the maintenance of the Shredding Event in Along with providing energy cost savings Smyrna! City’s service vehicles, extend the life of ser- and reducing energy consumption, the pro- 4 vice vehicles, reduce the City’s dependence on posed program will reduce the maintenance foreign oil, and can improve the operation of of the City’s traffic and pedestrian signals and the City sewer system by reducing the amount reduce the risk of worker-related accidents Keep Smyrna Beautiful of cooking oil in the system. due to the decrease in required maintenance Launches New Litter The program will be implemented and oper- of the traffic and pedestrian signals. The pro- Prevention Program 4 ated in-house by City of Smyrna employees. gram will be managed by the City of Smyrna’s Public Works will oversee the construction of Community Development Department. the building addition, assembly of the processing For more information on the Biodiesel Pro- plants, collection of the cooking oils and produc- duction Program and the LED Traffic Signal tion of the biodiesel. The program will be run Project, (as the projects/programs develop) with existing staff and no additional staff will be visit the City of Smyrna website at www. hired for the implementation of the program. The SmyrnaCity.com. Y public will have the opportunity to participate in the program. Presenting Smyrna The Jonquil City with beautiful parks, thriving businesses, great location, and bright plans for the future. Smyrna Celebrates its 75th Year Enriching the Lives of Area Residents

As ’s oldest city-operated 5. Mrs. J.W. Estes 1962-1966. library, and perhaps the only city-owned 6. Mrs. Evelyn Ashton 1966-1967. library of its kind and size, the Smyrna 7. Mrs. Kathryn Jones 1967-1982. Public Library has been a mainstay in 8. Mrs. Doris Morris 1982-1987. the community for multiple generations. In 2011, the library continues its legacy 9. Ms. Laurel Best 1987-1995. by celebrating its 75th year as an ever- 10. Mr. Michael Seigler 1995-present. growing educational resource for area With a collection of 5,400 volumes, residents. the first library was built on King Beginning as a joint project between Street in 1961 and was designed to the Smyrna Men’s and Women’s Clubs, house 12,000 books. The 4,000 square the library initially consisted of only one foot building cost $54,000 and was shelf of books housed in the Smyrna paid for by city funds and donations. Area residents have the opportunity to Women’s Club. The Smyrna Public Li- It was at this time that the city became utilize the library’s job seekers resources, brary opened September 15, 1936, with responsible for operating the library. meeting space, enjoy art displays and ex- 600 books that were collected mostly Additions were made to this location in hibits and participate in reading groups. by young boys with wagons in tow who 1969 and 1973. The Friends of Smyrna Library organiza- tion also offers volunteer opportunities. asked the town’s residents for donations. Modern Facility Moves Commemorative book bags featuring The annual budget for the library in the Library into the New 1939 was $360 with the library receiving the 75th anniversary logo are available $20 a month from the W.P.A. and $5 a Millennium and Features the at the Smyrna Public Library and Com- month from the Men’s and Women’s Clubs. Latest Technologies munity Center for $10.00. Additionally, the library is featuring a special 75th The current library is a 28,000 square The following is a list of library direc- anniversary exhibit by Bill Marchione foot facility that was dedicated in 1991. tors through the years who have helped through October 31. transform the single-shelf collection to The wide range of resources include a the comprehensive resource it is today: collection of over 100,000 books and Visit the Smyrna Public Library at 100 Village Green Circle, Smyrna, Georgia, 1. Mrs. Callie Jay 1936-1944. audio-visual materials, free Internet and Wi-Fi access, comprehensive online 30080 or online at www.SmyrnaCity. 2. Mrs. Floy Williams 1945-1954. library and a reference collection of over com. Y 3. Mrs. Clarence Tower 1954-1957. 10,000 volumes emphasizing genealogy 4. Mrs. Mazie Whitfield Nelson and military history. 1957-1961. Help Ensure Your Home Remodeling Projects are Done Correctly by Obtaining Proper Permits from the Community Development Department When considering home remodeling Determining if Your Project projects, it’s important to contact the Requires a Permit Community Development department to obtain the proper permits. This ensures The City requires permits for all new the repairs are completed safely and are residential homes as well as new decks, compliant with both state and local ordi- new roofs, remodeling, accessory struc- nances. State law requires that contractors tures (sheds or outdoor fireplaces), pools, performing work be licensed with the retaining walls over four feet in height, state and covered by a code compliance HVAC installation or replacement of bond. State contractor licensing safe- mechanical equipment. Permits are also guards consumers and protects against required for plumbing work involving re- faulty, inadequate work by contractors. locating water and sewer lines, or for the

continued on page 3 2 Fall 2011 The Jonquil City with beautiful parks, thriving businesses, great location, and bright plans for the future. Help Ensure Your Home Remodeling Projects are Done Correctly by Obtaining Proper Permits from the Community Development Department continued from page 2 installation of water heaters, but are not Essential Tips for Hiring a rrMaking sure that you have a written required for replacing fixtures. Contractor contract for all work to be performed, If you are replacing or repairing doors, including labor, materials and cleanup. When hiring a contractor to make windows or siding on a home, you are rrNever pay the entire cost of a project home improvements or repairs, it’s im- not required to have a building permit. before the work is completed. portant to be aware of potential scams. Although a new driveway or fence Some tips for choosing a qualified pro- Additional information and tips for does not require a permit, the home- fessional for your project include: hiring contractors can be found on the owner is required to comply with City rrVerifying that the contractor is Georgia Secretary of State’s website at: ordinances regarding required setbacks properly licensed with the Georgia www.sos.georgia.gov/plb/contractors/ from the property line. Y Secretary of State’s office. Tips%20for%20Consumers.pdf. Community Development staff are rrConfirming that the contractor has available to answer questions about general liability insurance. permit or setback requirements by phone at (770) 319-5387.

City of Smyrna Events For a complete list of village events visit www.SmyrnaCity.com Fall Jonquil Festival Holiday Lights and Market — Radio Disney Noon Year's Eve Saturday, October 22 NEW this year! December 31 10 a.m. until 6 p.m. December 2, 3 and 4 10:30 a.m. until 12:30 p.m. Sunday, October 23 Friday, 3 p.m. until 9 p.m. 200 Village Green Circle Noon until 5 p.m. Saturday, Noon until 9 p.m. It's Noon Year's Eve and Radio 200 Village Green Circle Sunday, Noon until 7 p.m. Disney AM 590 is ready to Shop the arts and crafts Market Village and Village celebrate! Join the City of Smyrna market — 175 vendors Green and Radio Disney for Noon Year's from across the country The tradition of holiday markets Eve — a GIANT dance party for — and experience a wide dates back to 1393 in Frankfurt, kids. Radio Disney will have selection of festival foods Germany. Advent markets, also known tons of great games, cool as you stroll through as Christkindl markets or Santa Claus contests and the best prizes. Smyrna’s Fall Jonquil markets, began in Germany but spread And that's not all ... there will Festival. Enjoy the Kid’s quickly throughout Europe. At one be a balloon drop at noon! Zone and Master Puppeteer, Peter time it was the only place and time of Listen to Hart as well as Scott Thompson year to buy Christmas tree ornaments. Radio Disney AM — acoustic music at the Veterans Throughout December, European old 590 or go to www. Memorial. For more information visit town squares are aglow with lights radiodisney.com/ www.SmyrnaCity.com. during these festivals and packed with atlanta and www. shoppers, artists and musicians. SmyrnaCity.com in Coming Home for the Holidays December for all Holiday Celebration & Christmas Holiday Lights and Market is an Tree Lighting event designed to bring this European the details. Tuesday, November 29 tradition to Smyrna. The event will 5 p.m. until 9 p.m. celebrate the holiday shopping and gift 200 Village Green Circle giving season by offering a unique and entertaining experience. Enjoy holiday festivities and musical performances at the Smyrna The Smyrna Holiday Lights and Keep us on your social radar. Community Center and see Santa light Market is an open-air market with Follow us at www.Facebook.com/ the big Christmas Tree on the Village a holiday theme with up to 100 CityofSmyrnaGA and www.Twitter. Green at 7 p.m. This event marks the artists and vendors (painters, potters, com/SmyrnaNews. Get regular and first official evening sculptors, photography, crafters), timely public safety notifications by of holiday lights in unique food offerings, a performance signing up to follow Smyrna, Ga. at the downtown. stage for seasonal music and acts, an www.Nixle.com, too. opening family-friendly night and festive lights. www.SmyrnaCity.com 3 Presenting Smyrna Keep Smyrna Beautiful Launches New Litter Prevention Program

Keep Smyrna Beautiful (KSB) events, Frisbees, t-shirts and other is joining Keep America Beauti- give-aways to promote the cam- ful (KAB) in the launch of a new paign. It links littering with other litter prevention campaign to help undeniable — and often humorous increase the awareness of the prob- — wrongdoings, such as “network- lem of litter. ing at a funeral,” “breaking up on The presence of litter in a com- Valentine’s Day,” or “giving a kid munity takes a toll on the quality of sugar at bedtime.” life, property values and housing On the website www.LitteringIs- prices. Weather, traffic and other WrongToo.org, visitors can share factors move litter into gutters, their own “wrongs,” including lawns and landscaped areas, al- uploading photos and videos which leyways and parking structures. De- will help generate more buzz for bris may also be carried by storm the problem of litter. drains into local waterways causing People can also take part via the serious potential environmental campaign’s Facebook page (www. contamination. facebook.com/LitteringIsWrong- Under the leadership of KSB Too) and on Twitter at www. www.LitteringIsWrongToo.org Board member Keith Bentley, KSB twitter.com/litteriswrong) with the will be using banners, volunteers at hashtag #litter or #litteriswrong. Y

Beauty is a Bargain at the 25th Annual “Jonquil Gold Rush”

Grab some Smyrna gold for your yard! October will usher in Keep Smyrna Beautiful’s 25th annual “Jonquil Gold Rush” with the delivery of 25,000 Carlton jonquil bulbs to the Smyrna Recy- cling Center. Each year as part of the project, hundreds of bulbs are donated to schools and planted on public lands. Don’t miss out on this opportunity to beautify your yard and to promote our status as the “Jonquil City” at a great price! The bulbs are only $12 for a bag of 50, and are also available at Backyard Feed and Seed, 1565 Roswell Street, and the Smyrna Museum and Welcome Center. Instructions for planting are included. Y

Free Document Shredding Event in Smyrna!

Piles of old papers getting you down? A free Document Shredding Day will be held on October 22 from 9 a.m. until 12 p.m. at the Wolfe Adult Recreation Center parking lot at 884 Church Street in Smyrna. Iron Mountain Document Ser- vices will provide the shredding free of charge. Shredding will be done on site and recycled. There is a limit of 100 pounds of paper per car (four file boxes). Papers must be dry, and no electronics, cardboard, binders, or plastic will be accepted. Other county sites will be Piedmont Church, 570 Piedmont Road, Marietta, 30066 and Marietta City Limits, 591 N. Marietta Parkway, Marietta. Call Keep Smyrna Beautiful at (770) 431-2863 for more information. Y

4 Fall 2011