[Editor’s Note: Last week the caption beneath Roswell’s flamingos was incorrect. Below is the correct information.]

Follow that Flamingo - Can You Spot the Flock?

In preparation for the Trilogy Trolley Crawl, Roswell’s Historic House Museums are sponsoring “Spot the Flock” contest!  Each day from August 10th –August 14th there will be a flock of flamingos in a different location throughout the city of Roswell. Whoever calls 770-640-3855 first at noon each day and gives the location of the flamingos, will win a ticket to the Trilogy Trolley Crawl party held on Saturday, August 22nd.  So get out your binoculars and go birding!  Call 770-640-3855.

Join us on August 22nd from 7:00pm-11:30pm for a fun filled celebration at Roswell’s three historic homes. Barrington Hall will cater to the parrot head in all of us at the Barrington Hall Key West Beach Bash featuring A1A – the “official” Jimmy Buffet Tribute Band. Swing Meets Jazz at Bulloch Hall where the atmosphere of New Orleans comes to life featuring the swinging tunes of Gwen Hughes & the Retro Jazz Kats plus Swing Dancers. Smith Plantation transforms into the streets of old San Antonio for an authentic southwestern fiesta featuring Mariachi Sensacion and Salsa Dancers. Trolleys will transport guests from party to party site.

TICKETS: $30.00 per person in advance & $35 at the door (includes 3 drink tickets + 3 sampler plate tickets) Additional drink tickets & sampler plate tickets available for purchase at each site. Tickets go on sale June 18th at each property, the Roswell Visitors Center and The Chandlery. Also, be sure to look for us on at Alive After Five. For general information about the Trilogy Trolley Crawl call, 678-639-7500.

Transportation Master Plan Open Meetings

The City of Roswell Department of Transportation will be making minor updates to the City’s Transportation Master Plan (TMP) in the next year.  The TMP serves to guide future projects funded by the City addressing needs from all modes of transportation including bicycles, pedestrians and vehicles.  A major update of the TMP will occur when the City updates its Comprehensive Plan, currently scheduled for 2012.

The following dates and locations have been selected to encourage public involvement:

 •    Tuesday, September 1, 6 p.m. at City Hall Room 220

This meeting will also include information about the safety and operations of upcoming roundabout projects in Roswell

•     Thursday, September 10, 6 p.m. at East Roswell Park on Fouts Road

•     Thursday September 17, 6 p.m. at Roswell High School

Residents, business owners and interested stakeholders are invited to attend one of the scheduled open houses to learn more about the update process, and to provide their feedback.  Attending guests should expect a 15 minute formal presentation followed by a question and answer session. 

For more information call 770.594.6420 or visit our web site at www.roswellgov.com.

Alpharetta Walmart Announces Big Changes

The Alpharetta Walmart, located at 5200 Windward Parkway, recently began an extensive renovation. The store will receive a full remodel from the inside out and will represent the latest in Walmart’s store design and customer experience.  The new design is based on feedback from customers and will feature a clean, open and bright new look in the store with wider aisles, low-profile shelving, bright interior paint scheme, and lighting and easy-to-read signage to help customers find the products they need.    “We are excited to bring an improved shopping experience to our customers,” said Store Manager Jim Smith. “We listened to our customers and are redesigning the store to make shopping at Walmart even easier,” he added.  Every department of the store will be updated including all new shelving, signing, flooring and product assortment. The store will also feature a new layout designed to make shopping for everyday items easier and faster by aligning the products customers purchase the most.  The store will remain open during the renovations, including all departments and services. Maps of the store layout will be available at the entrance and directional signage will be located throughout the store.  The majority of construction and moving will be completed during the overnight hours to make shopping easier for customers.  The Alpharetta Walmart is hiring 75-100 temporary associates to help with the remodel.

 
Remodelling of the Walmart at 5200 Windward Parkway, Alpharetta began July 19, 2009 and isexpected to be completed October 21, 2009.

GET the Cotton Patch Gospel

 Georgia Ensemble Theatre (GET) opens its 17th season on September 3, 2009 with Cotton Patch Gospel, a co-production with downtown Atlanta’s Theatrical Outfit, directed by Tom Key. Georgia Ensemble Theatre is the Official Resident Professional Theatre Company at the Roswell Cultural Arts Center, 950 Forrest St., Roswell, GA  30075.  Information is available on the Theatre’s website at www.get.org.  Cotton Patch Gospel is written by Tom Key and Russell Treyz. Music legend Harry Chapin composed the compelling music, mostly in a bluegrass style, in what would be his last work before his death in 1981.

Cotton Patch Gospel is adapted from Clarence Jordan’s “Cotton Patch” versions of the gospels of Matthew and John and asks the question, “What might have happened had Jesus been born in Georgia?” Jesus Davidson was born in Gainesville and baptized in the Chattahoochee. He preached on Stone Mountain and died in Atlanta. Cotton Patch Gospel examines how the people of today’s rural south may have reacted to the coming of the savior.

Cotton Patch Gospel  runs September 3-20, 2009, with performances on Wednesdays at 7:30pm, Thursdays through Saturdays at 8pm, and Sundays at 2:30pm.  There will be one Saturday matinee at 4pm on September 12th.  Tickets range in price from $25-$36, with student, senior and group discounts also available.  Tickets may be purchased online at www.get.org or by calling the theatre at 770-641-1260. All performances will be at the Theatre’s home at the Roswell Cultural Arts Center, 950 Forrest St., Roswell, GA  30075.

Georgia Ensemble Theatre’s 17th season will continue through the year with: the hilarious all-time audience favorite, Arsenic and Old Lace, November 5-22; a warming comedy about lasting friendship, The Men of Mah Jongg; January 7-24; What I Did Last Summer, a coming-of-age story about an American family in 1945, February 25-March 14; and finally, continuing Georgia Ensemble Theatre’s popular tradition of outstanding rock ‘n roll musicals, the all American music and dance sensation, Grease, April 8-25. Season and single tickets are on sale now. 

For information, call 770-641-1260, or visit us online at www.get.org.

Rep. Jones updates Legionnaires on Veterans Legislation

Representative Jan Jones of Alpharetta was the guest speaker at the general membership meeting of American Legion post 201 in Alpharetta on August 4th.

Jones, who represents the 46th District in the Georgia General Assembly, outlined various legislative initiatives and their impact on military veterans.  As the daughter of a now-retired career Air Force member, answered questions from the veterans present for the twice monthly dinner meeting.

Rep. Jones is a Republican and was appointed Vice Chair of the Education Subcommittee of Appropriations. She also serves as Secretary of the Reapportionment Committee and is a member of the Environment and Natural Resources and Education Committees. While in the legislature, she has focused on several initiatives, most notably spearheading the creation of two north Fulton County cities, Milton and Johns Creek.

Outside the legislature, Representative Jones is a former marketing executive. While at, HBO she served as a marketing director for 6 years and as an auditor and analyst for 2 years.

American Legion Post 201 has a membership of approximately 850 wartime veterans.

Fulton County Contracts For  Arts Council

The Fulton County Board of Commissioners at its July 15, 2009 meeting approved $2.4 million in Contracts for Services to community-based arts organizations for 2009-2010.

Projected to serve 5.2 million people, 104 unique arts and cultural organizations will ensure the availability of quality art programs for Fulton County residents. Residents can look forward to community festivals, art exhibitions, plays, music concerts, dance recitals, hands-on arts classes, and much more in the coming year due to this funding.

Through the Contracts for Services Program (CFS), the Fulton County Arts Council invests public funding, in the form of contracts for services, to support the programs of Fulton County nonprofit arts, cultural organizations and municipalities. The goals of the program are to foster artistic development, to support arts services delivery, and to serve as seed money to leverage additional corporate and private dollars for arts programming.

The Fulton County Board of Commissioners’ through the Fulton County Arts Council strives to strengthen the cultural health of individuals, organizations and communities by awarding funding to non-profit organizations whose arts programming supports the Fulton County Arts Council’s mission and goals.

Each application is reviewed by staff, a citizen panel, and the Fulton County Arts Council, before submission to the Board of Commissioners.

The Fulton County Arts Council administers the contracts. For more information, call 404.612.5780

ASO to Offer 4,000 Free Tickets

The Atlanta Symphony Orchestra will offer 4,000 free lawn tickets at the Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre at Encore Park on Saturday August 15.

The tickets will be made available immediately to all Fulton?County residents in partnership with the Fulton County Arts Council.

The concert will close the 2009 summer season for the ASO and will conclude with celebratory fireworks.

The ASO program will feature 16-year old guest conductor Ilyich Rivas in his U.S. professional debut.

The audience is invited to Text-Message questions for interview segments during a live On-Site broadcast to be shown on large screens.

A pre-concert “Top of the Lawn” Event will feature a conversation with ASO Insider Ken Meltzer and ASO musician Juan Ramirez

Themed cuisine will be offered on-site for concertgoers.