Halloween is approaching at a full gallop! As the temperature and leaves begin to drop, head downtown to enjoy these frightfully fun fall festivities.
Amp Movie Night: Hocus Pocus
Friday, October 25, 8:30pm, The Amp on Bradley
Grab the kiddos and enjoy dinner at one of our many downtown eateries. Then, head to the Amp for movie night featuring the funny Halloween classic, Hocus Pocus.
Free
Youth Theatre: The Legend of Sleepy Hollow
October 25 – 26, 7:00 p.m., Carrollton Center for the Arts
The Carrollton Youth Theatre brings Washington Irving’s gothic story, The Legend of Sleepy Hollow, to the Danny Mabry Theatre stage, just in time for Halloween. In the play, a late-1700s school teacher named Ichabod Crane comes to Sleepy Hollow, New York, and finds himself at odds with a local named Brom Bones over a woman named Katrina. Meanwhile, the ghost of a soldier who lost his head to a cannonball during the American Revolution haunts the area every night in search of his missing head. Carrollton Arts Superintendent Tim Chapman said, “Our production this fall is full of special effects that will put you in the mood for Halloween.”
Tickets: $10 Adult $5 Youth
Carrollton Parks and Recreation Dept.: Downtown Fall Festival
October 26, 9:00 a.m. – 11:00 p.m., Adamson Square
Parks and Rec’s annual Downtown Fall Festival will bring candy, costumes and a carnival atmosphere to Adamson Square. The popular yearly festival features trick-or-treating around the square, free games and inflatables for jumping and sliding. Snacks will be available for one dollar, cash only. Children through the age of 12 are encouraged to come dressed in their best costume and participate in the costume contest, held at 11:00 a.m. at the Amp. PS: Don’t forget to bring a basket for trick-or-treating with the downtown businesses. Sponsored by Scott Evans Nissan & Scott Evans Chrysler/Dodge/Jeep.
Free
Wondering & Wandering is Genre-Blending Exhibit
Renowned surrealist painter, Carrie Ann Baade’s show, Wondering and Wandering, will open doors and windows of imagination at the Carrollton Center for the Arts, October 24 – December 7.
“Baade’s work is a beautiful blend of imagery inspired by paintings of the past and surreal figures that elicit both a sense of mystery and elegance,” said Marcella Kuykendall, Carrollton’s visual arts coordinator. “The artist reflects upon issues such as morality, politics and the individual quest for self-expression. Visitors will enjoy investigating the rich details and symbols in each work for the stories they hold and the fantastical worlds and characters they create.”
Baade uses remnants of Renaissance and Baroque paintings to create surreal landscapes inhabited by exotic figures. Her work has been exhibited in museums and galleries nationally and internationally, including the John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art and solo exhibitions at the Delaware Contemporary, Billy Shire Fine Arts in Los Angeles, the Ningbo Art Museum in China and the Museum of Contemporary Art in Jacksonville, Florida. Raised in Colorado, Baade now lives and works in Tallahassee as associate professor of painting and drawing at Florida State University.
The exhibit is sponsored by Walt D’Ambrosio and Susan Thomas. There will be a Halloween-themed opening reception featuring live musicians on October 24 at 5:00 p.m.
City Wins Award From Police Training Group
Carrollton hosted more than 150 officers from around the state when the Georgia Association of Law Enforcement Firearms Instructors’ 30th annual training conference was held here the week of September 23. The event is nicknamed “Train the Trainer” because instructors are taught current techniques, then carry that knowledge back to their agencies to train their officers. Carrollton has hosted the event for several years and has again been named host city for next year’s conference.
Each year GALEFI’s Board of Directors presents the Dale Moorefield Award for outstanding support of the organization, which is typically given to a firearms instructor who has shown dedication and leadership in promoting the group. The award was named after one of the founding fathers of GALEFI, in honor of his hard work to ensure Georgia law enforcement firearms instructors receive advanced, top-notch training. This year’s recipient of this prestigious award was the City of Carrollton.
GALEFI recognized Carrollton for the city’s outstanding support throughout the years the event has been hosted here. This year in particular, support was given by City Manager Tim Grizzard, Police Chief Joel Richards, Arts Center Director Tim Chapman, Street Department Director Mike Green, Recreation Department Director Peter Maierhofer and numerous other employees of the city assisted in preparation for the event. Plaques were presented to Grizzard, Chapman and Richards (accepted by Steven Davenport).
“GALEFI is blessed to have a partnership with Carrollton,” said the organization’s president, James Perry. “You have no idea how many folks brag on how law enforcement friendly this community is. These folks love to come to this town because of that. We’re already looking forward to next year.”
GALEFI is the only organization in Georgia with the sole purpose of advancing law enforcement training in the area of firearms outside the basic police academy.
Main Street Grant Helps Restore 118 Rome Street
With help from a Carrollton Main Street Downtown Beautification grant, Norton Properties founder and CEO, Jason Norton, recently completed a total renovation of the building at 118 Rome Street.
“This building is absolutely beautiful,” said Main Street’s board president, Faith Mallory Wright. “Jason and his team have done a wonderful job preserving the building’s historic value while integrating modern accents to give it a fresh look. I am so happy to see these grant funds used in a way that enhances the look of our downtown.”
The $2,500 beautification grant offset some of the cost of renovating the building’s facade. Norton described the redesign of the building as “industrial minimalist.”
“I wanted to take what had become a neglected, tired space and bring it back to life,” said Norton, who graduated from UWG as an economics major in 2004. “This space is my most ambitious project to date, but it made sense because the location is right and the numbers work. My hope is that this space will attract a quality commercial tenant to further enhance our wonderful downtown community.”
The purpose of the Main Street Downtown Beautification Program is to stimulate downtown development, improve the visual image of properties within the Main Street district and generate pride in the community. Applicants may receive up to $2,500 per project and must match the grant funding, dollar for dollar. The grant money can be used for awnings, signage and exterior painting and staining on the building, trim and door.
For questions about 118 Rome Street, call (678) 941-3493. For more information about the Downtown Beautification Grant, please call Carrollton Main Street at (770) 832-6901 or go to https://carrolltondowntown.com/merchant-support.
Public Hearing: Mayor and Council Meeting Cancellation and Notice of Special Called Meeting
The City of Carrollton Mayor and Council regularly scheduled meeting for Monday, September 2, 2019 at 6:00 p.m. has been cancelled and rescheduled as a Special Called Meeting to be held on Monday, September 9, 2019 at 6:00 p.m. in the Municipal Court Room/Council Chambers of the Public Safety Annex located at 115 West Center Street, Carrollton, GA.
The September 9, 2019 Agenda for will be posted to the City website by 5:00 p.m. on September 2, 2019.
Anyone requiring special needs should contact Faith Pullen at City Hall at 770-830-2000 or fpullen@carrollton-ga.gov within 3 business days prior to the meeting.
Public Hearing: Mayor and Council Special Called Meeting / Work Session
The City of Carrollton Mayor and Council will hold a Work Session on Thursday, July 18, 2019 at 5:30 p.m. in the 3rd Floor Conference Room of City Hall, 315 Bradley Street, Carrollton, GA.
The purpose of the Work Session is to discuss the following items: variance request for The Bellamy student housing, citizen donation policy, CVB intergovernmental agreement, NSP construction bid and an executive session for real estate and litigation matters.
The public is invited to attend. Anyone requiring special needs should contact Faith Pullen at City Hall at 770-830-2000 or fpullen@carrollton-ga.gov within 3 business days prior to the meeting.
Downtown’s Amp Park Has Got Game
It’s game on at downtown Carrollton’s Amp Park thanks to new outdoor recreation equipment.
Carrollton Main Street recently installed outdoor gaming equipment in the park between the Amp and courthouse parking deck. The park now features two ping-pong tables, a foosball table, a chess table and cornhole boards, all made out of concrete to withstand the elements.
“During community workshops held last year for Carrollton’s Comprehensive Plan update, inactive parks were brought up several times,” said Main Street Director Aundi Lesley. “Many citizens said they would like to activate some of those parks and see those spaces better utilized. The Main Street Board and I thought the park in the heart of downtown, right behind the Amp, would be a great place to start.”
People can check out and return chess and checkers pieces, cornhole bags, foosballs and ping-pong balls and paddles at Otter’s Chicken right behind the Amp during their business hours or can bring their own game pieces.
“The community can play during our Main Street events, while waiting for a table at one of our restaurants or come hang out and play any day of the week,” Lesley said.
The gaming gear was purchased with 2018 Taste of Carrollton proceeds. A ribbon cutting for the new park equipment was held July 11.
To learn more, contact Aundi Lesley, Carrollton Main Street director, at 770-832-6901.
