The Georgia Insurance and Safety Fire Commissioner’s Office recently named Roswell Fire Marshal Paul Piccirilli as the 2009 Fire Official of the Year. This award recognizes a public fire official who has demonstrated outstanding leadership by improving fire and/or emergency medical services provided to Georgia citizens.

Paul has been involved in the field of fire prevention for more than 23 years. He was promoted to Fire Marshal for the City of Roswell in October 2004. While in the Fire Marshal position, he has made significant changes in operations, including:

The Knox Box Program – The City has over 500 boxes installed and over 70 gate switches installed at commercial, subdivision and multi-family complexes, as well as three single family residential Knox Boxes at Senior Citizen’s homes.

Providing positive customer contacts and educational programs to over 20,000 people through the use of our new Fire and Life Safety Center and Fire Safety Educational programs in the schools, day cares, churches and civic organizations.

Coordinating the GPS identification of all fire hydrants and data transfer to the firehouse data management program.

“Paul’s goals are always directed at dedication to his community in promoting fire safety and education, services that not only benefit the community but the firefighters as well,” explains Fire Chief Ricky Spencer. “I was honored to nominate Paul for Fire Official of the Year based on this dedication.”

COOKIES WITH THE CLAUSES

Santa and Mrs. Claus have a very busy schedule during the holiday season. That’s why we’re pleased that they have made time to visit with the children in Alpharetta at the Alpharetta Recreation and Parks Department’s Cookies with the Clauses event. The event will be held on Wednesday, December 9, 2009 at the Alpharetta Community Center, 175 Roswell Street from 12pm-2:30pm. Bring your camera to take your own holiday photo with the Clauses.

Children will enjoy decorating and making cookies while being entertained by a magician and face painter. A local disc jockey will spin your favorite holiday tunes to ignite your holiday spirit! There is no cost to participate in Cookies with the Clauses.

Alpharetta Recreation and Parks Department is proud to support the United States Marine Corps with their annual Toys for Tots donation drive. Each child is asked to bring a new unwrapped toy and drop it in the donation box in the lobby of the Community Center. Toy donations will be accepted from December 1st through December 9th. For more information, please call 678-297-6100 or email accprograms@alpharetta.ga.us.

CREATE HOLIDAY MEMORIES WITH YOU CARD

Give your child the gift of art and they will give you memories that last a lifetime.

Every child loves to be creative and surprise their loved ones with special gifts. Plus spending time with your child is one of the most rewarding experiences! Register for our Holiday Parent & Child Workshop and make this a memorable holiday season. The workshop, sponsored by the Alpharetta Recreation and Parks Department, will be held on Friday, December 4, 2009 at the Alpharetta Arts Center at Crabapple.

Your child will create an original arts and crafts gift while you make holiday cards or assist your young child with the craft. Children ages 2 and up are invited to attend with parent participation. You may choose from one of two time slots, 10am-12pm or 2pm-4pm. Space is limited, so please be sure to register your child to participate. The cost per child is $5 for City of Alpharetta residents and $7.50 for non-residents. You may register your child online at www.alpharetta.ga.us or in person at any Alpharetta Recreation & Parks facility.

Address: 12624 Broadwell Road, Alpharetta, GA 30004.

For more information, please contact Meryl Manfre at 678-297-6165 or mmanfre@alpharetta.ga.us.

GEORGIA ENSEMBLE THEATRE PRESENTS ECO-FRIENDLY PRODUCTION, "RIVER RAT AND CAT"

Georgia Ensemble Theatre (GET), North Fulton’s only professional theatre company, proudly announces the upcoming children’s theatre production, River Rat and Cat by Y. York, directed by Laurel Crowe. This endearing, eco-friendly play will be presented in cooperation with Fulton County’s Teaching Museum – North, and is sponsored by Macy’s and Northside Hospital. The play will be presented to school groups at the Teaching Museum November 30 through December 4, and on tour to schools from December 7 through the 11.

River Rat, a packrat who lives near the river, and Cat, a former house cat now living in the wild, are best friends who play, garden and even recycle together. Their unlikely friendship endures as they strive to make their forest home better. Children will delight at watching the adventures of Rat and Cat unfold, all the while learning about the world in which they live.

There will be one Family Performance open to the public on Saturday, December 5 at 11 a.m. at the Teaching Museum North, 793 Mimosa Blvd, Roswell. Tickets for this performance are only $7 each, with advance reservations strongly encouraged. Simply call 770-641-1260 for reservations or visit www.get.org for more information.

FOUNDER DAY TOYS FOR TOTS DRIVE UNDER WAY AT CITY HALLl

This year’s City of Johns Creek Toys for Tots drive, part of the city’s Founders Day activities, is now under way at City Hall through Dec. 15.

In addition, when you stop by to drop off a toy – or if you have other business at City Hall – please be sure to sign the four large holiday cards that will be sent to armed forces units serving overseas in combat zones.

Toys for Tots began in 1947, when Maj. Bill Hendricks, USMCR, and a group of Marine Reservists in Los Angeles collected and distributed 5,000 toys to needy children. The 1947 pilot project was so successful that the Marine Corps adopted Toys for Tots in 1948 and expanded it into a nationwide campaign, which they have carried on ever since. The initial objective that remains as the hallmark of the program today is to “bring the joy of Christmas to America’s needy children.”

To participate, simply bring a new, unwrapped toy and place it in the collection box outside the reception area at City Hall, located at 12000 Findley Road, Suite 400.

CANDLELIGHT TOUR PLUS

Visit all three of Roswell’s historic sites in beautiful candlelight and enjoy festive holiday decorations and entertainment. One beautifully renovated private home in The Bricks, the oldest apartment building in the south that housed mill workers from the cotton mill on Sloan Street, will be open to the public on this day only. Barrington Hall’s theme, “I Collect Christmas” will display decorations from personal Christmas collections, Bulloch Hall will be celebrating “The Twelve Days of Christmas,” and Smith Plantation will feature “Winter Wonderland on the Plantation” featuring decorations by the Roswell Garden Club highlighting historic flora and fauna. The Candlelight Tour Plus will take place December 12 from 5 – 9 p.m. Adults: $20 in advance/ $25 at the door; Children: $10 in advance/ $15 at the door. For further information, visit www.southerntrilogy.com.

ANNUAL LIGHTING OF TOWN SQUARE & SANTA'S SECRET GIFTSHOP

Come join in the holiday spirit with the entire family at Roswell’s annual lighting of Historic Town Square on Saturday, December 5, 2009. The celebration begins at 5:15 p.m. and is free to the public.

This annual celebration includes performances by the Hillside Elementary singers and the River Eves Choir, followed by a special reading of ’Twas the Night Before Christmas with Roswell Mayor Jere Wood. Santa Claus will also be making a special visit to the Square. Pictures with Santa will be available at a nominal charge. Enjoy a cup of hot cocoa or Starbucks coffee during the festivities.

Once the Square is aglow, children 12 and under can hop on the trolley to shop for gifts at Santa’s Secret Gift Shop. The Gift Shop is located at 555 South Atlanta Street at Founder’s Square and will be open on Saturday, December 5 from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. and on Sunday, December 6 from 1 p.m. until 4 p.m. All the gifts at Santa’s Secret Gift Shop are priced affordably and free gift wrapping is available. Visit with Santa at the gift shop on Sunday. Proceeds from the Gift Shop benefit the Roswell Ramblers Senior Citizen Club.

For more information, please contact Mary Rummell with the Roswell Recreation, Parks, Historic and Cultural Affairs Department at 770-641-3950.

FULTON SCIENCE ACADEMY POST FULTON'S HIGHEST ITBS SCORES

For the second consecutive year, eighth graders at Fulton Science Academy are second to none in Fulton County, in terms of achievement on the Iowa Test of Basic Skills (ITBS). Eighth grade students at the charter middle school in Alpharetta posted the highest scores in all subject areas among the 23 schools in Fulton County with middle grades (fifth – eighth), scores that are significantly higher than the county average.

FSA students earned percentile scores of 80 in reading (Fulton County average, 56); 83 in math (58); 79 in language arts (60); 80 in social studies (58) and 81 in science (63).

FSA, which has about 500 students, has quickly earned a reputation as one of the state’s highest achieving middle schools since it opened in 2002.

BACK TO NATURE HOLIDAY MARKET AND FESTIVAL

Celebrate this festive season at the Chattahoochee Nature Center! On Saturday, December 5 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., shop, be entertained and taste the flavors of the season! Enjoy fresh pastries and espresso, hot chocolate or fresh coffee from Thousand Hills. Hear the holiday music provided by performers from the Centennial High Orchestra, the Peggy Stills School of Music and River Eves Elementary Chorus who will entertain you. Catch the natural spirit of the season at this holiday shop-around! Over forty local vendors with hand made products from ornaments to original art to candles to clothing will provide you an alternative to the mall! Choose from a wide array of wonderfully diverse items made by artisans and small businesses in our Kingfisher Hall as you ‘shop locally.’ Select from local hand-made goods to make your holiday gift giving special and find that perfect gift!

Kids will love this festival where they can listen to the music; make their own natural crafts such as picture frames and beaded jewelry, have their face painted and then take a snowflake scavenger hunt while you shop! Festivities conclude in time for you to join in with the Lighting of Roswell’s Town Square. Please carpool! General admission: adults $8, seniors $6, children $5 and children 2 and under are free. Visit www.chattnaturecenter.org for details. For additional information, call (770) 992-2055 ext. 236 or send a message to r.gilbert@chattnaturecenter.org.