InTheNews
For Immediate release: November 18, 2008 SANTA CLAUS IS COMING TO TOWN You better watch out! You better not cry! You better not pout! Santa Claus is coming to town! Yes, Santa Claus is on his way to Newnan, Georgia. Santa Claus will make his grand entrance into the city of Newnan on Friday, November 28th at 6:00 p.m. After arriving on the Newnan Fire Department’s antique fire truck, Santa will be seated on the north side of the Courthouse square. Children are encouraged to bring their Christmas lists and wishes. Santa will be available until 8:00 p.m. New this year, there will be a professional photographer on hand to take pictures of the children with Santa. The pictures will be made available for purchase online. The website will be provided that evening for parents. According to Main Street Director Linda Kee, downtown Newnan is beautiful during the holiday season, and the arrival of Santa has been a long tradition for the city. This year with the all the construction going on downtown Main Street has added many holiday decorations geared toward children so they can remember growing up how beautiful their hometown looked. “All the wreaths and garland are hung, and the lights will be on. Most merchants will have holiday displays, and there’s a festive mood in downtown. We are all anticipating Santa’s arrival so we will all know the holiday season is officially here,” said Kee. For more information on Santa’s arrival and all of Main Street Newnan’s downtown holiday events please log onto www.mainstreetnewnan.com
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Main Street Newnan Releases 2008 Christmas Ornament
Main Street Newnan has released the first Christmas Ornament in their new series just in time for Holiday Open House on November 9th. The three dimensional, pewter ornament will replace the Christmas balls that were produced in series I. The 2008 ornament features the Carnegie Library in observance of the city of Newnan’s ongoing renovation project scheduled to be completed in 2009. The back of the ornament features the history of the Carnegie Library. “We have had a very positive response from everyone that has seen these ornaments!”, says Linda Kee, Director of Business Development. “After fifteen years it was time to start a new series. We had sold out of many of the old ones so people could no longer get a complete set. This set will feature a different landmark each year and will make an excellent collector’s item as well as great gifts. We will never make more than 1,000 so get them quick!” The ornament will be available in many of the downtown stores including Scott’s Bookstore, Morgan’s Jewelers and R.S. Mann Jewelers. The ornament will sell for $10.00 and each comes in its own presentation case. The remaining series I ornaments are available at the Main Street Office. Contact Ashley Chalker at achalker@cityofnewnan.org for more information and availability.
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Pickin’ On The Square this Saturday, November 8, 2008 Main Street Newnan wants to remind everyone about Pickin’ On The Square for this Saturday at 11 a.m. This event gives local music enthusiasts the opportunity to come down and play around the Historic Courthouse Square. This is an informal event with no registration. It is free to participants and to the public. “Wayne and I are excited about the opportunity to gather on the Square for an afternoon of music. We want people to come to play or come to listen. Everyone is welcome from beginners to advanced pickers. This is good family fun, exactly what downtown Newnan is all about!” says event organizer Art Arace. Linda Kee, Director of Main Street Newnan says, “We have been exploring the option of street performers for years. This will give us the opportunity to see how it will work in our downtown and how receptive the citizens will be to this. We have such a wealth of local talent in our community that I was tickled when Art approached us with the idea. Art and his wife Merry have been faithful supporters of our program for years. The addition of Musicology, a local music teaching studio located in downtown Newnan, and both the Alamo and Espresso Lane that specialize in showcasing local talent, have given us the base to provide wonderful family entertainment in downtown Newnan. The event is the idea of local bluegrass enthusiasts, Art Arace and Wayne Walker. This event will give both professionals and amateurs the chance to meet new friends and even form new music partnerships thereby promoting more arts in the city of Newnan. ‘Most importantly, it is free family fun that is close to home with great shops and restaurants,” said Linda Kee, Main Street Newnan director. The event will be on November 8th at 11:00 a.m. Performers are welcome up until 7:00 p.m. For more information contact the Main Street office at 770-253-8283. |
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: MAIN STREET NEWNAN’S Join Main Street Newnan for the annual Fall Art Walk on Friday, September 12th from 5:00 – 8:00 p.m. in downtown Newnan. Artists from Coweta County and the Atlanta metro area will have their collectable, quality artwork on display in many downtown stores. The artist will also be available to answer questions and discuss the artwork. Some of the artists will include Newnan High School’s AP Art Students at Mann’s Jewelers, Bob Shapiro at Hit the Trail, Eunice Nichols and Ellie Farrington at Espresso Lane, and Craig McMillan and Georgie Dunn at Flint Gallery of Panoply. “This is third year for the Art Walk. We are excited and it should be a great experience. We encourage people to come stroll the streets in historic downtown Newnan while viewing some of Georgia’s finest artists. There is also an opportunity to meet the artists and talk about their work. While you are downtown, browse through the unique stores and have refreshments or have dinner at one of the superb restaurants. It’s just a wonderful way to spend an evening,”said Linda Bridges-Kee, Director of Business Development and Main Street. For more information on these and other Main Street Newnan events, please visit www.mainstreetnewnan.com or call 770-253-8283.
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For immediate release: June 2, 2008 CITY OF NEWNAN’S 4TH OF JULY PARADE Main Street Newnan kicks off Newnan’s Fourth of July activities with the 4th of July Parade at 6:00 p.m. on Friday, July 4th. The annual parade starts at the Veterans Park at the corner of Temple and Jackson Street and continues down Jackson and LaGrange to conclude at Newnan High School. The Newnan Rotary Club picks up the festivities from there with family fun and fireworks until dark. This year, Main Street is proud to announce Mrs. Norma Haynes; longtime resident of Newnan will serve as the Grand Marshal. Mrs. Haynes has been involved with many community projects over the years, including the Sesquicentennial and the 175th Celebration committees, the Coweta County Courthouse 100th Birthday celebration, the A. Mitchell Powell Jr. Library Board and most recently, the committee committed to restoring the Historic Carnegie Library. Above all, “Miss Norma” as she is affectionately known in the community, is best known as her role as the “Mother of Public Safety.” In the mid-1980’s, Mrs. Haynes became Coweta County’s first woman bailiff. While working in the court system, she became very close to those men and women who were involved in public safety and learned of their day to day issues. “It bothered me because these people, to me, were the strength of our community,” says Mrs. Haynes. In 1998, Mrs. Haynes went to the Chamber of Commerce and asked if they would support a Public Safety Appreciation Luncheon. They agreed and Miss Norma began soliciting donations from members of the community. The first year they served 150 and now, ten years later, they serve 400 public safety workers. Mrs. Haynes soon discovered that members of the community would often give over and above what was needed for a luncheon. She began the Public Safety Benevolent Fund under the Coweta Community Foundation. All money collected over the last nine years is currently in this fund. The Community Foundation is not able to issue money to help individual families so this money has been used for various equipment needs for the different public safety agencies. This year, with the support from Newnan Mayor Keith Brady, Newnan City Council, and the Coweta County Commissioners, a Public Safety Benevolent Fund was established to directly help employees and their families for medical or financial hardships. The Coweta Public Safety Training Center Advisory Board is made up of Mrs. Haynes; chair, Judy Bell, Lynn Blackburn, Tammy Cash, Gail Carnes, Ruth Ann Embrey and Tommy Godfrey. The new advisory board is able to help individual families for the different public safety agencies with the funds collected. During a time of war, Mrs. Haynes came through to assist Main Street in organizing the Support Our Soldiers (SOS) campaign. Through community donations, Main Street Newnan was able to send every Coweta County soldier serving in Iraq much needed supplies. "I do not in any way deserve this great honor, and I only accept it on behalf of every man and woman who serves in every area of public safety in this wonderful city and county in which I live. I do not represent myself - I represent these deserving, unsung heroes who are there for me days, nights and holidays,” said Haynes. I am honored to be riding in the parade with "all my children,” continues Haynes. “They, along with our troops in every foreign land, are truly the greatest people we could ever honor. I pray for their safety and ask God's blessings on them, on our city and county and on our country." If you are interested in being in the parade, contact Alise Cartledge at Main Street at 770-253-8283 or go to www.mainstreetnewnan.com and fill out an application. The completed application can be faxed to 770-253-8753 or mailed to 6 First Avenue Newnan, GA 30263. Applications must be received by Friday, June 29th. All entries are free to the public, and all participants must be ready to depart their designated location at 5:30 p.m.
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Published Tuesday, April 15, 2008 Photo by Jeff Bishop Dale Carroll, owner of the new Gridiron Grill, located on the northern end of the Court Square, hopes to open the doors of the new Cajun sports bar on May 19. New Gridiron Grill to give preview at Taste of Newnan By Jeff Bishop The Times-Herald There's a new Cajun sports bar coming to downtown Newnan's Court Square, and you can get a sneak preview of some of the offerings at Thursday's Taste of Newnan food festival from 5-8:30 p.m. Dale Carroll, owner of the new Gridiron Grill, located on the northern end of the Court Square, said that while 40 percent of the menu will be "typical bar food," the other 60 percent will be "authentic Cajun." Carroll said he "searched high and low" for an authentic Cajun chef. "We found one in Tallahassee that was born and raised in Baton Rouge, Louisiana," he said. Offerings of the Gridiron Grill at this year's Taste of Newnan might include red beans and rice, molasses cornbread, sliders, catfish po' boy with red cabbage slaw, bread pudding, and crawfish etouffee. Carroll is still in the process of deciding which items to proffer. Carroll hopes to open the doors of the new sports bar May 19. If the Newnan City Council approves the last of the paperwork at the May 13 council meeting, "we should be open for business," he said. Invitation-only test runs are being planned for the week of May 12. When the doors do finally open, lunch and dinner will be served seven days a week, he said. In the meantime, Carroll said, "Come by and taste the food and let us know what you think" at Taste of Newnan. Taste of Newnan will feature numerous local restaurants, nonprofits and caterers. Vendors will offer a variety of items, including homemade cakes, pies, breads, barbecue, fried Oreos, sweet potato souffle, ribs and hot wings. There will also be a special "Wing Cook-off" where people can cast their votes at the Main Street Newnan hospitality booth for the best wing recipes. Food samples can be purchased with $1 wooden tokens, which are available in advance at Neighborhood Community Bank, Globe Telecommunications, Smart Solutions, The Pilates Loft, Synergy Fitness, Carolyn Barron Montessori School, Your Chef to Go, Sweet Sensations, Mann Jewelers, The Shops of Beard & Co., Morgan Jewelers, Whitley's Feed and Seed, Bank of Coweta, Costume Shop, Hit the Trail, Musicology, and Newnan Hospital Health and Fitness Center. The tokens will also be available at booths on festival night, but the lines can get long for tokens, which is why advance sales are offered. Main Street Newnan will accept applications for participation in Taste of Newnan through today at 5 p.m. For more information contact Main Street at 770-253-8283 or visit www.mainstreetnewnan.com. Other upcoming Main Street events include: * April 18th: Art Walk 5-8 p.m.; Jazz in Greenville Street Park 8-10 p.m. * May 2nd : Alive After Five from 5-8 p.m. * May 3rd : Market Day from 10 a.m - 2 p.m |
For immediate release: February 12, 2008 MARKET DAYS RETURNS TO DOWNTOWN NEWNAN Main Street Newnan's popular Market Day on the Square will be held the the first Saturday of each month from 10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. from April to December. The first 2008 event is planned for Saturday, April 5th. Vendors showcase homemade, homegrown, and handmade items. According to Main Street Coordinator Alise Cartledge, the Market Day events are expected to bring about 50 vendors to the square. Vendors feature items such as fresh produce, homemade baked goods, wood crafts, fresh Kettle Korn, jewelry, children's clothing and accessories, honey, artwork, soy candles, and even homemade pet items. There will be musical entertainment from Jerry Rogers and the 2008 Market Day media sponsors 92.5 The Bear and Magic 98.1. Cartledge encourages residents to come spend the day in downtown Newnan. In conjunction with visiting the Market Day booths, people can shop at many of the unique boutiques on the square and have lunch at one of the local restaurants. "Downtown Newnan is a great place to be! Day or night, there is always something happening here. Downtown offers great shopping, great food and great service. I invite everyone to come visit Market Days on the Square and be a part of this event around the historic courthouse square," said Cartledge. Applications are currently being accepted for 2008 Market Day vendors. Please visit www.mainstreetnewnan.com for an application. For more information, please call the Main Street Newnan office at 770-253-8283.
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The Mall has got it all By Jeff Bishop The Times-Herald Whether you're looking for grandma's old refrigerator or that life-size Marie Osmond doll you had as a child, your chances are pretty good of running across it at the Newnan Antique Mall on Temple Avenue. "We have a little bit of everything," said owner Tom Little. He said that customers often come to the antique mall to "buy back some memories." Maybe it's some knick-knacks that an aunt used to have in her window, or a Six Million Dollar Man lunchbox that you coveted back in the second grade. "Here's an old thread winder," said Little, pointing out an archaic piece of equipment. "You'd put different spools on it and wind it up to weave it, I suppose. I guarantee you, with all the textile mills we had in this area, someone will recognize it." Little said he became interested in "old stuff" by looking at old tools and old fishing tackle. He began to collect some of these items "and it all grew from there," he said. "I've just done a lot of looking, a lot of rambling around," Little said. He has 55 vendors who've done a lot of rambling and a lot of looking, too. That makes for a wide selection of items at the Newnan Antique Mall. For instance, one vendor has some dental equipment for sale. The items look like something one would have seen sitting beside a dentist's chair in the 1950s. "People just collect all kinds of things," said Little. "Some people collect pencils, for others it's figurines or coins." There are some secrets to getting the most out of your trip to an antique mall, Little said. "The main thing I've learned is that when you go through a store, when you get to the end, go back through in the opposite direction, back the way you came," he said. "You will be surprised by how many things you'll find that you didn't see the first time." Even if you don't find what you're looking for the first go-round, return trips can yield unexpected surprises, Little said. "It's hard to come in here and not find something," said Little. "But if you don't see what you want the first time, then come back a week or two later and it will probably be here." Not everything at the antique mall has been previously owned. There's a section called Amy's Treasure Box that's devoted to new clothing for children. "People can come and set up shop here and they don't have to deal with the insurance and all the paperwork," said Little. "We just manage the place for you." In the back corner, behind Amy's Treasure Box, is a section of the store that Little has made his own. "It's kind of the men's area," he said. Little has stocked the corner with a lot of the fishing tackle and supplies he's collected through the years, and also a canoe he built himself. "That's a real canoe and it's water-ready," he said. "When I get through using it here, I'm going to put it in the water and use it." So whether you're looking for primitive art, "Gone With the Wind" merchandise, or just something to read on a summer day, the Newnan Antique Mall probably has something for you, Little said. "We do appraisals, too," he said. "Come on by. You might be surprised." |
